From Boston to Pittsburgh With Love

Adriana's P.O.V.

Monday (5 Days Until Geno leaves)

*****

"Seriously?!" I laughed looking over at Geno was blushing pretty badly.

"I serious! No like snakes, they creepy!" He explains pulling sandwiches out of the basket and spreading a blanket out underneath the big Weeping Willow in the park.

Geno had been an absolute gentleman this morning, I couldn't believe it. When I had woken up I found him brushing his teeth and wheeling in a cart from room service that had just about every fruit imaginable and in the center a giant stack of pancakes. We had the most amazing breakfast together and just talked. It was actually the most amazing two hours I had had in a long time.

Geno said he wanted to take me out and for one day forget about life in the Lucic family. I was surprised to see that Geno had this all planned out. On our walk over to the park I asked Geno to tell me something he hadn't told anybody.

"Well I'll agree with you on the snakes!" I said inspecting the food that Geno had had prepared. '

"I bring a little bit of surprise for you." He said smirking at me as he unwrapped the food. "I know you miss America, so thought bring America to you."

I watched suspiciously as he unwrapped a container containing two, fresh looking cheeseburgers. Something I haven't had a chance to eat since I was sent here.

"Oh Geno! You didn't need to do that!" I say in amazement as I smell the burgers.

"Da. I want you feel happy with me. There more." He says grinning and taking on container after container. The next container he pulled out contained still steaming hot french fries. Followed by a container of what looked like Boston Baked Beans from Fanuel Hall, a place I had never told anyone about how much I liked. Geno pulled out a larger container containing a giant caeser salad with fried chicken. Finally he reached in and grabbed a small delicate package of chocolate chip cookies.

I looked at him as he lay on his side propped up by his elbow, the wind blowing his cologne in my direction, and I couldn't help but think how hard I was falling for this adorable Russian. "Oh, Ljubavi moj ,ti si zaista neverovatna. " I say stroking his cheek.

He chuckles and looks up at me through the corner of his eye. "English please!"

"Shit, sorry! I was trying to say I can't believe you would do this for me!" It might seem kind of dumb that I'm getting so choked up about something as dumb as food. But I really did miss my life back home in America and having some food from there helped cope the longing I felt to be there.

I didn't realize I was crying until Geno sat us up and was brushing tears off my cheek. "No cry here. I keep you safe." He wrapped me in one of the biggest hugs I had had in a while. We stayed wrapped like that for what felt like an eternity.

Geno pulled back first, "My sunshine always safe with me." He said stroking my hair, "Listen, I always keep you safe." The way he looked into my eyes made the whole world stop. It was like we were frozen in time.

He kissed my forehead and began to eat.

"Okay so let's make this a little exciting. Are you, Evgeni Malkin ready for me to ask ANY question?" I smirk over at him as he picks away at his salad. God did he look good in a beanie.

"Hmm...da! Give all you got!" He laughs and continues to eat.

"Are you willing to risk all of your share of the fries in exchange for complete honesty for whatever question I ask?" I ask winking at him.

"Um...of course!"

"Okay...hmm lets see. What is your best childhood memory?" I ask looking at his soft brown eyes.

He looked up at the sky and seemed to be thinking for a while. God I could watch this guy forever. It seemed like he wanted to put a lot of thought into this. The way he scrunched his lips together and stared up at the sky made me think that the childhood of Evgeni Malkin must have been either absolutely horrifying or the best childhood a kid could ask for. The Evgeni that I was getting a chance to know the past few days was nothing like the Evgeni that thousands of fans cheered for back in Pittsburgh. On the ice he always portrayed such a strong and fierce presence and yet here in the heart of Europe I was catching a glimpse at a young man who was much kinder and gentler than the media and the NHL gave him credit for.

Finally after what must have been a solid ten minutes of me watching him watch the sky Geno had come up with an answer, "I was five. Papa took Denis and me to pond near house. Papa say it time for me to grow up and learn to skate. I was scared but Denis help. Denis help me tie skates and stand on ice. Papa just watch. Denis taught me to skate that day. Made me fall in love with ice. I never look back. Ice is home for me."

When he finished I couldn't keep the tears locked up any longer. I just let them loose.

"Why you cry?! I sorry! I can change story!" He says quickly trying to hush away my tears.

"No! Geno...that was beautiful..."

I think Geno was genuinely confused but the look in his eyes after a moment of deep thought showed me he understood. He pulled me into his arms and we laid back looking up at the sky. I wanted to tell Geno more about how amazing I thought his story was. I couldn't believe he had shared such an intimate and personal detail with me. I could only think about how much he must really trust me to tell me about his brother and father.

The two of us laid under the tree for what felt like hours until Geno nudged my shoulder. "You only ask one question. My turn?"

I smiled over at him. Saying no to him was like saying you wouldn't help a puppy with a broken leg, "Of course my love." I smiled stroking his cheek.

"Did it hurt?" Geno asks looking over at me blocking the sun from my eyes, allowing me to take in all of his beauty at a closer angle.

"Did what hurt? Geno you have to elaborate...as much as I wanna be in that big head of yours I can't. So help me out." I ask confusingly up at the man who had seemingly captured my heart with one small grin.

"Leaving your brother. Would you able do again if need?" He asks fast in his broken English, laying back on the blanket.

Well that question came right out of left field. How am I suppose to answer that without crying? The relationship Milan and I carried was a complicated one at best. We had our ups and downs and for a large portion of my life I had blindly agreed to whatever he asked me to do. I had grown up under the impression and teaching that you needed to respect you elders, they knew what was best for you. It would take a solid week for me to accurately explain the relationship I had with Milan. And even though yea he went behind my back and did a pretty shitty thing, I still had an immense amount of respect for him. I still loved him even though he chose not to believe me. I know some would say I'm 'rationalizing' what he did, but in reality I'm just making sense of it all the best way I know how to. The hardest thing I ever had to do was leave Milan in Boston that day.

**Flashback**

I took a swig of water as we drove to the airport. The tension in the car between my mother and I was so thick you could cut it with a knife. I looked over at Milan driving and still felt anger bubble in my chest. Nope, forgiveness was a long ways away. I needed time, and space, and he was making sure I got a lot of space actually. The whole car ride to the airport was sat in silence, only the sports station softly humming from the speakers could be heard.

When we arrived at the airport drop-off everyone piled out of the car. They all stood awkwardly beside the car as Milan and I unloaded my bags from the trunk.

"You know I never wanted it to come to this?" He whispered at me as he heaved my duffle bag on top of the others.

I took a deep breathe before answering, choosing my words carefully, "Milan, I love you. You know that. You know I would never do anything to hurt you. And as much as I want to knock your teeth out right now I know you're only doing what you think is best...however wrong that may be." I watch as Milan stares in shock at my fierce words.

He nods his head slowly before drawing me in for a tight hug, "Look I panicked okay. There I admit it. But whether I'm right or wrong you still bucked my orders, and that isn't okay with mom or grandmother. I love you to the moon and back, you know I would do anything to protect you." He whispers his final goodbye, pulling back to reveal tears gathering in his eyes, before releasing me.

My grandmother and mothers swallowed me up, taking me away from Milan before I could figure out what just happened. The next 5 minutes went by in a blur, my mother gave me strict instructions as to my behavior that would be expected while in Prague and my grandmother telling me of what to expect at the social classes she was having arranged for me. My last hug was to Jovan who frankly I was more than pissed at, he quite literally sat idealy by through this whole ordeal and had done nothing in my defense.

My flight to Prague that afternoon was a mix of emotions.

***
Geno's P.O.V.

Why wasn't she answering the question? I know it was kind of abrupt and straightforward but it was my way of figuring out if she would be willing to make the move to Pittsburgh with me.

But instead of answering I was as she nervously bites her lip and stares up at the giant tree towering over us. Looking at this girl I had known the moment I had laid eyes on her that I wanted her forever; I wanted her to be my forever. I loved everything about her, from the way I was learning that she bit her lip when she got nervous to the messy black curls that fell down her back. And I wanted to be mine, forever; I didn't want her feeling uncomfortable around me.

"You no need to answer..." I say looking over at her. God was she beautiful, I think I could literally spend my whole day just staring at her.

"No it's fine...it's just hard to explain." She says tugging on her black curls.

"Try. I very understanding!" I say slapping on my goofiest grin, something I took a lot of ribbing about in the locker room back home in Pittsburgh. The guys thought I had "too many types of smiles"...I had no idea what that meant.

"it's just...well honestly I love Milan to pieces. And yea what he did sucked...royally sucked. But that doesn't mean I'll stop loving him. But yeah I mean I guess I always knew when I was in Boston with him that this wasn't going to last. I guess I've been kinda preparing myself to leave...just haven't found the right reason to leave yet..." She says looking up at me, causing me to get lost in her green eyes.
~

The rest of the afternoon I spend teaching her how to play chess. And let me say, the girl sucks but she looked pretty damn adorable trying to figure out how to beat me. Something that is near impossible feat; Nealsy and I play every plane ride together. No one else is willing to challenge us. But teaching this girl to play had to have been one of the funniest experiences of my life. I promptly laughed at her rookie mistakes causing her to blush an adorable shade of pink and bite her lower lip in shame. But it was well worth it.

After we finished up at the park I took her to this little gilato place down the road. As we walked our hands brushed against each others. I panicked, I had no idea how to handle this part of the relationship. With Oksana I had kind of always let her take charge, Adriana was different.

"You know Geno, I don't think it's the best idea if we hold hands in public. Too many risks of it getting back to my brother..." She said shyly.

"Course! Pretend I hold your hand right now." I say grinning down at her as out hands continue to brush against each other.

"I should probably head back to the castle...Greta is probably freaking out!" She says ideally looking around at the scenery.

"Right. I no want you to get in trouble, my sunshine." I say as we hustle back to the Range Rover.

We climb in and drive to the castle. Much to my chagrin we arrive quicker than I thought; I had been praying for some traffic or something to allow me more time with her. But as we arrived at the gate I knew to stop outside.

"I don't want them to see us to closely." She said somberly as she collected her stuff.

"Da."

"I had a lot of fun today G. Proably the most relaxing day I've had in a long time. I couldn't have spent it with a better person." She said as she leans in.

I meet her halfway, our lips touching in an explosion of electricity and passion. I wrapped my hand through her hair, silently begging her to stay. But before I could deepen the kiss she pulled away smiling.

"Goodbye my love." She smiles at me as she hops out of the car.

"Goodbye my sunshine." I smile at her.

Just as she is about to close the door she turns back to me, "You know Geno, my brother isn't as bad as I'm making him out to be. It's just when he gets into his protective mode he's goes kind of blind to the outside world. If there is anyone to worry about...it's my mother." She said as she closed the door.

Well that was just a pleasant goodbye. I watch from behind the gates as she makes her way down the drive and into the castle. As I drive back to the hotel I couldn't get me thoughts in order. I keep thinking about how I have one less day to convince her, and now out of all things to worry about she says her mother will be the number one problem...well this is just great.

As I lay in my bed that night I couldn't help but recall Adriana's words when she said she hadn't found the 'right reason' to leave her brother behind in Boston...maybe I could be that reason...hell I knew I would be. Call it cockiness or whatever you want, but I was determined to prove to this amazing girl that I was worth it.