There's Things That Aren't Worth Giving Up

As Natalia stepped off the plane in Chicago, she turned around to make sure that Marty was still behind her as she tried to fight her way through the crowd at Midway Airport to get to the baggage claim. “Have they made the announcement that you were traded yet?” Natalia asked.

“Yeah, they announced it yesterday,” Marty told her.

“I’m surprised Summer and Olivia haven’t called us yet,” Natalia told him, speaking of her two best friends Summer Livingston and Olivia Martin, who both worked for the Blackhawks organization. Summer was a translator for the team, and she was dating Patrick Kane, while Olivia worked with team video and was engaged to Jonathan Toews.

“I’m actually kind of surprised myself,” Marty said with a laugh.

“Do you think we can head over to one of their places after we drop our stuff off?” Natalia asked as he pulled both of their suitcases off of the carousel.

“Sure,” he said with a small laugh as they made their way outside.

An hour later, they were knocking on the door of Olivia’s apartment. She was still living there until she and Jonathan were married, and then they were moving into a new house that they had yet to pick out. Olivia opened the door, and Marty and Natalia were immediately met with a huge hug and a squeal from Olivia. “I can’t believe you guys are here!” she exclaimed.

“Who is it?” they heard Jonathan ask, and Olivia let go of them to allow them to enter her apartment. “Marty, Natalia,” Jonathan said with a smile. “Hey, man, I’m so sorry about the trade,” he told Marty.

“It was bound to happen to someone,” Marty said with a shrug, while Olivia ran off to call Summer to let her know that the two of them were there. “It just happened to be me,” Marty continued.

“You’re really okay with this?” Jonathan asked.

“I don’t know if it’s actually settled in yet,” Marty admitted.

“How are you doing?” Jonathan asked, turning his attention to Natalia who stood there, shuffling from foot to foot.

Before she could answer, Summer came running into the apartment, with Patrick behind her. “Where were you guys?” Natalia asked, ignoring Jonathan’s question for a moment. “Liv just called you. Were you waiting outside the building?” she asked with a laugh while Summer gave her a hug and Patrick went over to Marty to say hi to him.

“We were on our way here anyway, but as soon as I heard that you and Marty were here, I stepped on the gas a bit,” Summer joked, making her way over to Marty and giving him a hug. “How are you, though?” she asked.

“Well,” Natalia began, walking over to Marty. “We have some news,” she announced, grabbing his hand with hers.

“Besides the fact that Marty was traded?” Summer asked. “Which, by the way, I am still extremely pissed off about,” she added. Patrick gave her a look, and Summer asked, “What? I am pissed about it! Why couldn’t they have picked someone else? Why Marty?”

“We have some other news,” Natalia interrupted before Patrick could respond to his girlfriend.

“Well?” Olivia asked expectantly, looking between Marty and Natalia.

Natalia looked up at Marty before looking at the other four, a smile on her face. “We’re engaged,” she announced. She watched as everyone’s eyes went wide before they all offered them their congratulations.

“When did this happen?” Summer asked excitedly, grabbing Natalia’s left hand to inspect her ring. “How did this happen?” Natalia launched into the entire tale, telling them exactly how he had proposed.

“So, does that mean that you’re moving to Minnesota, too?” Patrick asked, looking at Natalia.

Natalia looked at him and then up at Marty. “Um…well, we haven’t really discussed it,” she stuttered.

“Nice going, Pat,” Summer said, hitting him in the stomach.

“No, it’s probably something we should discuss,” Natalia said. “Um, Marty?” she asked, looking up at him.

“Natalia, you know that I want to spend my life with you. But, I know that your life is in Chicago, and if you want to stay here, then that’s fine with me. We can make it work with you in Chicago and me in Minnesota,” he assured her, and Olivia and Summer awed at his kindness, causing Natalia to glare at them.

“And, what if I want to go to Minnesota with you?” Natalia asked him.

“Really?” Marty asked her, not knowing if she was being serious or not.

“Yeah,” she said with a smile. “I mean, you’re who I want to be with. And, while I’m sure we can make it work with me in Chicago and you in Minnesota, I don’t want to have to try. I want to go with you,” she told him.

“I want you with me, too,” he told her with a smile.

“Why can’t you ever be sweet like that?” Summer asked Patrick, elbowing him in the ribs, as she watched Natalia and Marty.

Natalia started laughing as she listened to the couple argue. She turned to look at Jonathan and Olivia, asking, “Are they always like this?”

“Did you expect anything different?” Jonathan joked.

“Wait a minute,” Olivia spoke up. “You mean I just get you back and you’re leaving me again?” she whined jokingly. “What am I going to do without you while you’re all the way in Minnesota?” she questioned.

“Um, you’re going to be doing some unmentionable things with your husband,” Natalia answered, causing Olivia to blush. “Seriously, though, it’s not like I’m never going to see you. And, besides, I won’t be moving there until the preseason starts, so you’re stuck with me for a little while longer.”

“Well, I’ve actually got to go to Minnesota tomorrow,” Marty spoke up, and Natalia spun around to look at him. “I’ve got to go meet all the personnel and talk to the media,” he explained.

“Okay, so I lied,” Natalia laughed as she turned back to look at Olivia. “Apparently, I’ll be leaving tomorrow. But, I’ll be back,” she smiled. “But, let’s not think about that. Let’s talk about your wedding. And, Sum, don’t think I forgot about you moving in with Pat. I want to hear all about that, too,” she said as the three women sat down at the table, while the three men sat on the couch, turning the television on, avoiding the girl talk that was bound to take place.

A few hours later, Natalia and Marty were headed back to Natalia’s place, when Marty turned to look at her. “You know that you don’t have to go to Minnesota with me tomorrow,” he told her.

“Do you not want me to go with you?” Natalia asked, leaning her head to one side.

“No, that’s not it at all,” Marty said quickly. “It’s just, I know you just got back, and I’m sure you want to catch up with Sum and Liv. I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to stay here,” he told her.

“I want to go,” Natalia assured him. “I want to go see my new home,” she added with a smile.