Ice Dreams

Disclaimer: Characters in this story are my creation, as is the city of Bannen,(as far as I know, Canada doesn’t have a city named Bannen in it), and the hockey team is fictional as well. California doesn’t have a team named the Demon Dogs, that is my creation. The characters in this story are not based on any specific person, so any similarities are purely coincidental. I do not own any rights to the Stanley Cup, and I don’t make any money off my stories.

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I tried to keep the hockey facts as truthful as possible, so please excuse any slip-ups. While this is a story based on a sports team, it’s not my intention to focus completely on it, but instead on the romantic story. I also don’t bash hockey players in real life, as I’ve met a few and they are lovely people. It just works in my story for now. I was inspired from the recent playoff games, when this plot bunny jumped into my head. Please enjoy.

Warnings: angst, lemon, oral, death, fluff, language, m/f


** Asterisks indicate thoughts
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Chapter Twenty-One



“I know that the game last night did not go as well as we would have liked, but we can’t let it get to our heads.” Coach Richards had the entire team seated in a conference room, the white-haired Richards standing at the front. Some of the players looked dejected, while some, like Tom Welding, looked unaffected by the game. Eli was a mix of the two, sometimes showing fiery emotion, and sometimes steely-eyed. He knew he had to keep his focus if he expected to learn anything from last night’s game. Coach Richards did not look pleased, but more so with the outcome of the game, not with his team.

“Obviously we did not come out victorious, like we had hoped. That doesn’t mean anything though, especially in the playoffs. We have more than enough time before then to turn ourselves around and win. The playoffs don’t start until April, but it is worth talking about now as we head into December. We’d be fooling ourselves if we left everything until the last minute.” The room was silent, the men paying avid attention to their coach. Bruce Richards had never let them down before, and he wasn’t about to start now.

“The Demon Dogs are still the same team as they have always been. Fast, strong players, big in build and not afraid to get down and dirty to win. That isn’t all of it though. You have to make sure you pay attention to the skilled players as much as the goons. They don’t send the scorers on until they are certain they have broken down our defensives. We would be naïve if we thought they were just getting by with the physicality of their team. They have a lot of talented players, but we do also. The Warriors are capable of winning against them – all of you are.

“We have been analyzing tape after tape of games against the Demon Dogs, studying them and making comparisons. They annihilate every team they play against, and that should be enough to open our eyes. They’ve got something that we don’t quite have yet, and that is players getting in there more, getting physical, unafraid to lay out a few hits.”

Bruce let the team mull over what he had just said. It was true. While the Demon Dogs were comprised mostly of goons, they were getting the upper hand because they were hitters, and the Warriors were not. There needed to be a good balance of defense, forwards, and aggressiveness. Bruce didn’t want his team to turn into goons, but it was possible to land legal hits and increase their physical play.

After going into detail of what he was looking for in the Bannen Warriors, Bruce called an end to the conference, knowing that the players needed their rest. They had had a practice just that morning, followed immediately by the meeting. He could easily spot the sleepy looks of his players, not wanting to push them too much for fear that they wouldn’t be ready for the upcoming games. It was important that they don’t overwork themselves and get adequate sleep.

Dismissing the team, Bruce picked up his clipboard and file folders, leaving the room for his office. He had gone over the Demon Dogs tirelessly, intent on beating the long-time nemesis. He had hoped the Bannen Warriors could have turned things around in last night’s game, but they were unable to save themselves from a 5-2 defeat. The Demon Dogs had been 3 goals ahead of them, and none of them had been flukes. Could the Bannen Warriors possibly beat them come playoff time? Bruce certainly hoped so. He was counting on it. They could not go for four straight defeats in the playoffs due to the Dogs. He just couldn’t allow it.


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Eli stepped into his small townhouse, greeted by an exuberant Whitney. She was nearly vibrating from excitement, showering Eli with kisses as soon as he laid foot in the home they shared. Taking her in his arms, he grinned and planted a deep kiss on her lips. How could he have been so lucky, to be marrying the woman of his dreams?

“What are you so excited about?” He asked, kicking the door shut behind him. Whitney had a big smile on her face, eyes twinkling with life. She laughed, kissing him again.

“It’s a good thing we are getting married.” She said, circling her arms around his neck. He raised an eyebrow, a grin still on his lips.

“A good thing? It’s a great thing. Is that what you’re so lively about?” She pressed herself against him, giving him a tight hug. Bringing her lips to his ear, she spoke quietly.

“I’m pregnant.” As soon as the words left her mouth, Eli pulled back to look in her eyes. He looked shocked for all of two seconds, before his face lit up and his eyes grew wide.

“You’re…pregnant? As in, we’re having a baby?”

“That’s usually what pregnant means.”

“So, there’s a baby growing in here?” He said, poking her belly lightly. She laughed, swatting his hand away playfully.

“I suppose so. Do you know another place where they grow? We could double-check with the doctor, if you’d like.” She joked, pulling Eli down for another kiss. He could hardly stand still.

“We’re having a baby. We’re having a baby.” He grabbed Whitney, swinging her around the living room.

“We have to wait a little while, but yes, we’re having a baby.” Whitney confirmed, tolerating Eli’s antics. He set her down, gazing deeply into her dark eyes.

“Boy or girl?”

“What?”

“Are we having a boy or a girl?” Whitney laughed.

“I don’t know yet. The fetus is so small, it’s going to be awhile before the doctor can tell its gender. Do you really want to know anyway, or do you want it to be a surprise?”

“Do you want it to be a surprise?” He asked. She lay her head against his chest.

“Whatever you want. It doesn’t matter to me anyway. I don’t care what gender it is, so long as our baby is healthy.”

“I want to know.”

“Eli!”

“What? I do!”

“Okay, okay. That’s fine. When it’s time, we’ll ask the doctor. For now, we’re going to have to live in suspense. Can you handle it, my love?”

“…I guess. Man, wait ‘til the guys find out! It’ll be awesome.” Whitney laughed, filled with joy. Although she hadn’t planned on getting pregnant so early, it didn’t matter to her. She and Eli were more than financially stable, and they had all the love in the world to give her child. She knew that he would be as excited as she was when she was first given the wonderful news. How could she have been so lucky to end up with Eli?


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Hilary had been relentless in her pursuit of Graham the entire week. Denise was feeling her tolerance slip, getting to the point where she wanted to jump on the annoying woman and rip all her hair out. Graham was a little better off than she, maintaining his professionalism and trying his best to mask his aggravation. Hilary had always approached him in busy places, filled with hockey fans, and Graham didn’t want to give himself a bad reputation by mouthing off at her.

After a game against the Coyotes, Hilary had managed to slip into the basement where the dressing room was located, and waited for Graham to appear. He was less than pleased to see her there, displeasure growing into irritation when she leaned in to kiss him. This was not about Hilary pursuing him, Graham realized, but about one-upping Denise in everyway possible. He didn’t like being used, but knowing that it was only because of Hilary’s jealousy towards Denise annoyed him to no end.

He had pushed her away, but the look of determination in her eyes unnerved Graham slightly. She almost looked crazy, obsessed with Graham and his relationship with Denise. He had never been through something like this before, since hockey fans were usually gracious, or completely absorbed with the game, not his personal life. Hilary did not appear to care about hockey in the slightest, but instead was focused on his private life.

Graham had talked to Denise after the locker room incident, making sure she was filled in on all the information. This had gone from a pesky fight to a full-blown problem. Hilary needed to be dealt with, and fast. He couldn’t let her get in the way of his professional career, and make him look inappropriate to the fans. It would not be good for the team if word started going around that he was having an affair, if a reporter caught a picture of Hilary forcing herself on him.

Most of all, it was annoying for Denise. She loved him, and he loved her, and Hilary was trying to force herself somewhere in-between. It wasn’t possible though, she would never be able to come between him and his love. She didn’t realize that though, and even though he had told her numerous times, it wasn’t sinking in. Hilary had her own agenda, and nothing would stop her from achieving her goals. It was almost frightening, the drive Hilary had for ruining Denise’s happiness. Already she had forced herself on the events team for the Bannen Warriors, and now she was trying to create something with Graham where there was nothing.

Denise and Graham had brainstormed a few ideas that they hoped would push Hilary away, but so far nothing was working. Hilary had only one thing on the mind, and that was angering Denise. It was working too, Denise growing exasperated with Hilary messing with her man, trying to force herself on Graham. Couldn’t she see that he wanted nothing to do with her? Obviously not, since she kept on with it on a daily basis now.

“I don’t know what the hell would work.” Denise finally admitted, throwing her hands up in the air. Graham sat in front of her on the carpeted floor, the coffee table to his right. The possibility of bad press being created out of Hilary draping herself all over him frustrated him. He didn’t need it, he wanted to keep his personal life on the down-low. He was making such good progress in his game, so much so that he wanted the press to focus on that. He had the possibility of scoring fifty goals in the regular season, and he didn’t need Hilary to be the main focus of the media. If anything, the only woman he wanted to be photographed with was Denise.

“What if you talked to her?” Graham offered, bringing a scowl to Denise’s perfect face.

“Talk? Yeah right. She won’t listen. Hilary is dead-set in her ways. Nothing I say is going to change her. There is nothing I can do to get our seriousness across to her. She doesn’t give a shit about our relationship.” Graham pondered over what Denise had said, trying to come up with ways to make Hilary back off. He was overcome with a risky but possible idea, breaking out into a roguish grin. Denise was immediately suspicious.

“Well, there is one thing we can do.” He said, his devilish grin bordering on dangerous. Denise wasn’t sure if she should be feeling apprehensive.

“What are you thinking?” She finally asked, taking the bait. He leaned forward, placing his hands on her jean-clad thighs. The warmth radiating of his hands made her tingly.

“Hilary is living in a dream world if she thinks that she is going to come between us. I know she’s trying right now, but I also don’t think she really believes we have something serious going on between us. What better way than to show her?”

“I don’t follow.”

“Don’t be too quick to disagree. You know there is a big game coming up against the Devils, and she will no doubt be there. Since she was able to sneak downstairs, however the hell she did it, chances are she’ll do it again. What if she stumbled upon us in, oh say, a compromising position?”

“Elaborate.”

“She walks in on us having sex.” Denise blinked. Did she just hear that correctly? Graham wanted to stage it so that Hilary comes down to see him, only to come across the two of them shagging? Her immediate response was ‘no’, but she bit her tongue and thought about it. It could very well work. Hilary never quite believed that she and Graham were a couple, and her constant Graham-chasing was proving that. If Hilary saw them having passionate, wild sex, she wouldn’t dare interrupt, and it might be enough to make her disappear, permanently.

“I think that might actually work.” Denise said. Graham looked far too excited by her response, his eyes sparkling with liveliness.

“I’m sure it would work.”

“You look very enthusiastic over this.”

“I get to have sex with you in a semi-public place. That’s a dream come true.”

“Ahh, an exhibitionist. I should have known.” Denise joked, though the fire in his eyes was stirring a similar one in her belly. Was he really that eager to do such a thing? Now that he mentioned it, Denise could see what was so hot about it. Having sex, with the possibility of someone coming across them? It was dangerous and sexy at the same time.

“So, the Devils game?” He wanted to clarify. He could hardly believe that Denise would agree to it, without so much as a fight. She nodded, and he felt his heart leap.

“How are we going to do this though, so that she walks in, but no one else does?” Graham gave her that same roguish grin.

“A little bit of planning. I’m sure that Neil would help out. Leave it to me.”


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Amanda paced the grocery store, intent on preparing Neil a perfect dinner. Ever since he had cooked for her, filling her in on the mandatory cooking classes for athletes, she had been eager to try out her own culinary skills. He was so perfect for her, and she wanted to prepare him a wonderful meal that he would thoroughly enjoy. Just the shopping alone though was taking up a lot of her time, and it annoyed her slightly. It shouldn’t be this hard, yet she found herself walking up the aisles, not knowing what she should make.

Nearly defeated, she came across an advertisement for a new restaurant in town, specializing in steak and seafood. Neil loved steak and seafood. Ditching the idea of making dinner for him, she decided it was a better idea to take him out instead. They could turn it into a romantic date, since Neil had spent the last few days logging countless hours at the rink. He deserved the break, and she deserved the date.

Leaving the grocery store, she hopped into her car, pondering over what outfit she should wear to catch Neil’s attention. He always liked the slinky black dresses, and tonight was as good as any night to get sexy for her man. Her heart raced from imagining his reaction when he returned home.






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A/N: So sorry for the long wait. I was on vacation, so that's the reason for my disappearing act. Hope you enjoyed this, more coming soon! Please review! :)

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