Staal [A Jordan Staal Story] Thirty-Four

They got to Buffalo, went to the hotel to unpack, & then went to practice. Since the team has been working so well all year the practices were kept short & everyone worked hard. Practice ended with some suicides & a scoring/goaltending, the on where everyone on the team stands as close to the goal as possible & tries to push the puck behind whoever's in goal.
After showers everyone left the arena to find something to do with the rest of the day. Sid & Michelle went to go see a movie with Cassie & Geno; Miriya & Jordan were roaming the streets with gloves & sticks in hand; hoping that they could find a pick up game somewhere. They walked for a while & found a group of kids putting on ice skates at the side of a pond.
"Can we get in on the game?" Jordan asked.
"Sure, you`re Jordan Staal right?"
"Yep," Miriya & Jordan sat down on a bench to put their skates on.
"She`s gonna play too?" One of the boys asked.
"You think I can`t play?"
"I didn`t say that," he paused. "What position do you play?"
"Defense & don`t start with the you`re too short to play D you should play wing or something. I`ve gotten that all of my life."
"Yea, I wouldn't under estimate her, she kicks me ass all the time," Jordan said & gave her a hug.
"Wait are you Miriya Staal, the Penguins` announcer?"
"Last time I checked."
"Wow can I have you both autograph something for me?" He handed them a sharpie & puck.
They both signed, after tying their skates it was off to the ice. After Miriya handed out a few hips checks, blocked a couple shots & took a few of her own the guys stopped making fun of her & tried to avoid being on the other side of her slap shot at all costs.
There was no set time for the game & they stopped playing when it got dark. Everyone shed their gear, said good-bye, & left the pond. When Jordan & Miriya were about five minutes from the pond it started to snow. They both looked up at the sky, then down at each other & their lips met. Once they pulled away they continued to back to the hotel, hand in hand, & catching snowflakes on their tongues.
"I love you baby," Jordan said after pushing her against the wall when they were back in the hotel room. "You kicked ass today."
"Thank you & I love you too," she said then kissed him.
'KNOCK, KNOCK' Jordan pulled away & opened the door. "Hey Cass what`s up?"
"Nothing much, I take it you guys found a pick up game?"
"Yea, but they weren`t gonna let me play til they found out who I was," Miriya said.
"But then when they did she threw a few checks & they all shut up. She basically kicked their asses."
"Good job Mir."
"Thank you how was the movie?"
"It was ok, that is what I saw of it."
"I`d ask Sid or Michelle about it but I know they were worse than you were," Jordan said smiling.
"Yea, but you know you wouldn`t be much better."
"We never said that we would be," Miriya said & laughed.
"Hello?" Cassie asked when she picked up her cell phone. Miriya & Jordan couldn't hear what was being said on the other end so they sat & waited. "That was Geno," she said after hanging up. "We`re going to dinner, you wanna come?" "Only if we`re allowed, you sure you two don`t wanna be alone at dinner?" Miriya asked.
"Yea it`s cool if you come, I`m gonna go change so I`ll meet you down in the lobby.
Cassie went to her room; Jordan & Miriya changed out of their snowy clothes & went down to the lobby.
"Look Mommy it`s Jordan & Miriya Staal," a little boy said while passing through the lobby.
"It`s not very nice to point & I don`t think that`s them," his mom said pulling him along.
"But mom it is, can I see if they'll sign something for me?"
"Do you have anything with you?"
"No, but I can run & get something." He ran to his room & got a Penguins' jersey. He ran back & up to Jordan & Miriya.
"You`re Penguins' fan?" Jordan asked.
"Yea, I`m in town to see the game tomorrow."
"Well it`s good to see a fan," Miriya said.
Both Jordan & Miriya signed the jersey. "Thank you," he said & ran back to his room.
Geno & Cassie came to the lobby hand in hand; Miriya & Jordan were sitting on a couch waiting.
"So how have you guys been?" Geno asked.
"Good, a Guins fan found us, so we gave him an autograph," Jordan said.
"Sweet, well let`s go eat," Cassie said.
They went to dinner& had a lot of fun. They walked out of the restaurant & started back to the hotel when it started to snow again. Miriya & Jordan being the little kids that they are started skipping down the street.
"They`re such little kids," Cassie said & smiled.
"Yea, but while they`re off being five year olds I can do this" Geno said & kissed her. She of course kissed back.
Miriya & Jordan had skipped to a little park & Jordan had pushed her against a tree. Some snow fell from the branch above Jordan`s head.
"What was that for?"
"What, I didn`t do anything."
"Sure you didn`t." He threw a snowball at her.
She ran but he caught up & tackled her into the snow. They looked into each other's eyes, their lips inches apart.
"I love you."
"Well I love you too Jordan," She said just before his lips closed down on hers.
Geno & Cassie pulled away & decided to look for Miriya & Jordan. About five minutes later they found them in the middle of the park covered in a thin blanket of soft white snow. Miriya pulled away from the passionate kiss when she heard footsteps crunching in the snow & turned to see who it was.
"Oh hey guys, how are you?" she asked.
"We`re good, you guys done being five year olds?" Cassie asked.
"Yea I`m back to being twenty-five," Jordan said with a frown.
"Good it` s freezing out here, let`s get back to the hotel," Geno said helping both Jordan & Miriya stand up.
It continued to snow as they finished walking back to the hotel & it started to snow harder once they made it inside.
"Look how pretty," Miriya said. "I wanna play."
"But it`s too cold to 'play' outside, let`s go up to our room where it`s warm," Jordan said with a smile.
"Keep your clothes on your two," Geno said in a joking tone.
"Hey we`re married you can`t tell us what to do," Jordan said & his smiled widened.
"Goodnight guys," Miriya said as Jordan grabbed her hand & lead her to their room.
"Now where were we?" Jordan asked when they got into the room. Miriya pushed him against the wall & he put his arms around her waist. "Oh yea right here," He said & kissed her.
The next day the game went well & the Guins won 6-3. Jordan had a six point night, three of those being goals.
"Well that'll do it for tonight; Bob Grove is next for Penguins' hotline. Until next time this is Miriya Staal & Phil Bourque goodnight everyone."
"Good job tonight Staalsy."
"You too Bourquey, well I`m gonna go see Jordan."
Miriya ran down to the visitor's locker room & interviews were over. The whole team was standing around Jordan congratulating him.
"Baby you are amazing," Miriya said & kissed him on the cheek. "If my hat would have reached the ice from where I was sitting I would have thrown it."
"Don`t worry about it, you got to announce the best game of my career."
"I know baby, a six point game, you...I love you."
"Well I love you too," He kissed her. "I`m gonna shower."
Jordan walked to the shower & Miriya felt a tap on her shoulder. "What`s up?" she asked turning around.
"I don`t know what you did last night but Jordan played amazing today so keep it up," Colby said with a laugh.
"Alright, no problem," Miriya said & smiled slyly. "Good game tonight Army, I was saying your name a lot."
"Thanks Staalsy."
Back at the hotel that night Miriya pushed Jordan onto the bed & kissed him. "Congrats on a good game baby."
"Thanks," he barely got out before Miriya`s lips were pushed against his again. "I love you," he said after pulling away for a brief second.
"You too," she said into the kiss.
The Guins finished the season first in the league & won the President's trophy, but the Red Wings weren`t too far behind for second. In the east the Guins beat the Panthers four games to one, the Bruins beat the Thrashers four games to three, the Canes beat the Lightning four games to two, & the Caps swept the Sens four games to none. In the West quarter-finals Vancouver beat the Red Wings four games to tow, the Hawks beat the Sharks four games to three, the Ducks beat the Oilers four games to one, & the Kings beat the Flames four games to three.
Two weeks past & it was the start of the semi-finals, round two of the playoffs & everyone was nervous. The Bruins were going to be playing the Guins who had home ice advantage. The Pens had won the first two games, the B`s had come back o tie the series at two each after four games. Game five though fell on a Friday & the Guins won it in Pittsburgh. Game six was the next day & back in Boston. Though it would have only been a five hour drive on the bus they caught a plane so that they would all be back with enough time to get a good night's sleep before the game.
"Morning baby," Jordan said & kissed her cheek before rolling out of bed.
"Morning," she looked at the bedside table clock. "Mmm, it`s only seven-thirty, we`re taking a pre-game nap right?"
"Yea probably around two, but for now I`m gonna go shower, then I`ll make some breakfast."
"I love you," she said & smiled as Jordan walked into the bathroom. Once the water had started Miriya rolled out of bed, walked to the bathroom door & knocked.
"Yes?"
"May I join you?"
"You may."