Ice

Kris POV

I walked into the doors of the locker room with a smile on my face. 
Bypassing all the guys, I went strait to my stall to set down my things and begin to put on my gear. 

" Tanger?" TK called, coming to stand beside me. 

I turned, still grinning," Yes?"

He gave me a wary, critical look. " Are you okay?"

I laughed," Of course!" i exclaimed," Why wouldn't I be?"

Staal made his way over as we. 

" What?" 

He frowned," Oh nothing, you're just giving Flower a run for his money with the glee there, buddy. Something you want to tell us?"

I looked down at my feet, raising an eyebrow as I looked back up at the blonde giant. 

" No?"

He groaned, turning to Tyler "Then what's up? I waiting to see some scratch marks or something? No guys that happy unless he's walking off some pretty damn freaky sex!" Jordy yelled. 

The whole room busted out laughing. 
" I have to admit!" Sidney yelled," You do see abnormally cheery! You gonna tell us what happened?"

I nodded, shrugging," Later" 

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Aurelie POV

I eventually dressed and slowly made my way out to the living room. 

Henri's head popped up from over the couch. 

I smiled as he pulled his tall body off the couch, coming to give me a hug. 

Henri squeezed me tight and we shared a good brother/sister embrace. 

" I'm sorry this visit has been so dramatic" I whispered into his stomach. 

Curse being so short. 

Henri sighed, stroking my hair. 
" No. Don't apologize. It 'ad to come out event'ly right?"

I nodded, pulling away and wrapping my cardigan around me. 

I walked into the kitchen, still wincing. 
Henri chuckled behind me. 
" Well, don't you look like someone who's been thoroughly fucked!"

I gasped, spinning around wide eyed. 

" HENRI!!!" 

He laughed. " I may be you brother, ma soeur, but I am still a man. I know that walk."

I blushed," Did-Did you hear?" I mumbled. 

His face paled, and he shuddered," No. Thank you. That would 'ave been too much. No. You mus' 'ave thick walls. "

There was an awkward silence. 

" Soooo!!" I began," Are you ready to go? Do you want to stop for lunch?"

He nodded, grabbing his bags. 
" We can just go to a drive thru, I don't mind. We're cutting it close anyway. "

I agreed, but poured a cup of coffee on a to go cup before following him out the door. 

" So, Mrs. Letang," Henri greeted as I climbed into the car, making me smile," What are your plans for the rest of the day?"

I shrugged, pulling out of the driveway. 
" Well, after I drop you off, I'm swinging by the pharmacy to pick up my antibiotics for my sinus infection, and then I'm going to pick up some food to bring to Kris at practice, and then take his nap with him, and then there's the game tonight!"

Henri chuckled as we turned on to the interstate 
" Sounds busy. "

I laughed. 
In our childhood in France, we were raised in the typical French way; to take the day easy,relax, don't get too stressed....and this American busy busy way of life is quite different. 

All too soon, our chatter passed the time and I found myself pulling up to the drop off at the Pittsburgh airport. 

I sat quietly, sadly as I watched Henri pull his suitcases out of the back. 

He walked around to my side and I got out, wrapping my arms around him. 

" I'm going to miss you" I cried. 

Henri kissed the top of my blonde head. 
" I'll miss you too. " 

We pulled away and I kissed both his cheeks. 
" Visit again, Oui?"

He nodded," Oui. I see you soon."

I waved as he walked into the building. 
A car horn broke me from my daze, and I ran around to hop into the car, pulling off. 

I drove to the small hole in the wall sandwich shop Kris loved, and bought him his usual. 
 Swiss and Turkey sub on Rye. 

" Tell Mr. Letang hello for me!" Mr. Colbert, the owner, called. 

I nodded, waving. 

When I got back into the car, I groaned. 

Everything hurts. 

But I still put it in reverse and drove the two miles to the Consol. 

Yawning, I parked in the back Players lot and walked up to the back door. 

" Good afternoon, Ms. Girad" Robby, the door guard greeted. 

I smiled," Hey Robby, how's Carol?"

The burly black man smiled at the mention of his pregnant wife. 

" Good. She's good ms. Girad. I'll let her know you asked. "

I nodded, slipping in the door, walking down the hall. 

Looking at my watch, I realized they would be in the  locker room by now, and took a left turn, simply walking in the double black doors. 

" Woman in the room! Cover it up!!" I yelled, adjusting the brown paper bag in my arms contains the sandwich and drink. 

" Aury!"
" Hey Aurelie!" 

I looked around, dropping the bag on the bench where kris should be. 

" Hey captain?!" I called. 

Sidney spun, hand holding up the towel on his waist. 

" Where's Kris?" I asked. 

He pointed to the showers. 

I nodded, and entered the hot, steamy room. 

Kris one of the only guys left, so I just leaned against the wall, waiting for him to notice me. 

I watched as the water ran down his muscular back, down his tattooed arm and over his cute little butt. 

I whistled, and he turned his head, laughing when he saw me. 

He turned off the water and grabbed the towel, wrapping it around him (sadly) as he walked out the greet me. 

" What are you doing here?" he asked, still smiling as kissed me. 

" I brought you food. " 

He did a small fist pump, making me laugh as I followed him into the locker room. 

Some of the boys cat called when they saw me emerge from the steam with him. 

I rolled my eyes, sitting on the bench and I handed him the paper bag. 

" Colberts. Oh I love you,wi-woman. " he caught himself. 

I playfully glared 

" Hey Aury!! How about you bring me some food too next time!!" Fleury called. 

Jordan agreed, walking over in his shirt and sweatpants. 

" Nice girlfriend you got there, Tanger. What'd she bring you?"

Kris rolled his eyes, pulling out a mango smoothie and and the turkey sandwich. 

Kris leaned down to kiss me and I responded, cupping his cheek with my hand. 

" WHAT IS THAT?!?" Jordan screamed, pointing at the hand I raised. 

And all of the sudden I had burly men surrounded me, and Jordan pulled my arm out, staring at the sparkly diamond. 

" Tanger, what is this? Did you propose? Is that why you're all smiley?" Sidney asked. 

I shared a look at Kris. He shrugged, taking a bite of his sandwich. 

Men. 

I sighed. 
" Actually, boys. We're married. " 

The room went silent. 

TK bust through the crowd. 
" You got married without me??" he asked, looking heartbroken. 

Kris wrapped a free arm around me. 
" We went to the courthouse yesterday. " 

" You have babies soon?" Geno added, making me blush. 

" Uhm..."

" Well, congrats, guys!" Sidney said, saving me and giving me a hug,clapping Kris on the back. The guys cheered, and I was pulled into several different hugs. 

" Hey hey hey, what's going on here?" Dan yelled, walking into the room. 

I saw Mario step into the room behind me. 
Kris squeezed my hand. 

" Uhm, Coach, Aury and I got married yesterday. "

Dan paused, shocked, but then smiled," Congratulations!" 
He hugged me quickly, shaking Kris's hand and then saying something to Mario before walking off to talk to the trainers about Geno's knee. 

Mario stared at me, surprised and sad. I walked up to him. 

" Hi,Mario."

" You got married? I know we aren't close, but I though you would at least tell me. "

I held back some tears," Mario, I was going to tell you today. It just happened last night. "

I looked back to see Kris getting dressed. 

" It's just," Mario began," I imagined walking you down the isle. " 

I nodded, sniffing. 

But then Mario opened his arms wide, and I grinned, running into his arms for a hug. 

" I've missed you, Leelee. I'm so glad Kris brought you back to me. " he said into my ear. 

" I'm sorry Mario. For everything. For being so horrible to you all these years."

And there, in the middle of a crowded, stinky locker room, the broken pieces of my life finally came together.