To Sweden With Love

It’s been a few weeks since we got back from Sweden. I still couldn’t believe that Derick flew all the way over there just to propose to me. That just makes me love him even more.

After going to Pittsburgh for Liv’s first baby appointment, I’m finally back in Ottawa. I need a little break from traveling so much.

It’s going to be the first time I’ve been in our new house since we bought it. Janie has been helping Derick as much as she can putting everything together. I just wish we didn’t have so much stuff.

While I was in Pittsburgh, Derick went to New York to pick up Blades to bring to our new home. I was thrilled to have him greet me as I walked in the front door.

“Somebody missed mommy!” I exclaimed as Blades jumped up at me.

Derick came out of the other room and greeted me with a kiss. “Oh, I did too!”

“I thought you were going to have to house put together by time I got back?” I said as I looked around.

“That was the plan, but…” He started.

“But?”

“I don’t know… I don’t have an excuse.” He sulked as he walked back toward the room he came from.

Carrying Blades, I followed Derick into the living room. I stuck the dog’s face in his and Blades licked his nose. “It's okay, daddy. You’ve been busy.”

“And you haven’t been here to help me.”

“Excuse me for wanting to be there for Liv.” I snuggled up next to him and put my head on his shoulder. “I’m tired of traveling so much.”

He put his arm around me and kissed the top of my head. “I think we're done for now.”

“But then the World Cup starts…” I sighed.

“Oh, I think Canada is playing in Pittsburgh?”

“Is that a subtle hint?”

“Maybe? I don’t know. Probably. Yes.”

I let out a small laugh. “Fine, we can go.”

I would at least get to see Liv and everyone else should be starting to come back to town.

---

Since we’ve agreed to take our time with moving into the house, we decided to paint the rooms. HIs parents and sister have been such a big help in the process.

Derick thought it would be funny to accidentally paint my arm… which turned into a full on paint battle.

“Excuse me,” I hollered.

“You are excused.” He put more paint on my arm.

I grabbed the brush that was sitting in the paint tray and brushed it on his cheek.

“Why must you paint the beard? Why?”

“Why do you have to be mean?” I crossed my arms.

“I’m not being mean, I’m just having fun.”

“Oh, so you think this…” I threw paint on the other side of his face. “...is fun?”

He gave me a look. “It’s only fun…” He brushed paint all down my arms. “...when I do it to you… There. My masterpiece.” He smiled as he stood back and looked at me.

I smirked and dipped my hands in paint. Placing my hands on his shirt against his abs, I said, “Just marking my territory.”

“What are you? A dog?”

“Dogs pee on things to mark their territory. I mean… I could do that instead.”

“Um, no thanks.” He said running his paint covered hands through my hair.

I groaned. “I hate you so much, Brassard. So. Much.”

“Should have thought about that before you said yes.”

“It’s gonna take me days to get this out of my hair.” I sat on the floor and pouted.

“Oh, stop it. It won’t take that long to get it out. Now come on, we need to finish this wall.” He held his hand out to help me up.

I pulled him down and ran my painted hands through his hair. “Now we’re even.”

Since he was lying on top of me, he just kissed me. “You’re cute when you’re mad.”

“I’m cute all the time,” I rubbed my hand on his beard. I bit my lip. “Red looks good on you.”

“Get used to it. I’ll be wearing it more often.” He kissed me again.

“I’d like it better if you wore nothing, to be honest.” I bit his lip.

“Oh? You mean…” He sat up and took his shirt off. “Like this?”

“Much better.” I ran my hands down his chest.

“You notice, we can do it just about anywhere?”

“I’ve noticed and I don’t care.”

Any place was good enough as long as I was with him.

--

A few hours after we had gone to bed, I abruptly woke up in the middle of the night. I sat up in the bed and turned the lamp on beside the bed.

“El? Everything okay?” Derick turned to face me.

“Yeah.. I think so. Just a bad dream.” I said getting out of bed. “Go back to sleep, I’ll be right back.”

He rolled back over and went back to sleep.

When I was sure he was asleep, I grabbed my purse and went into the bathroom. I sat on the edge of the tub, clutching my purse.

I felt sick to my stomach even thinking about the possibility.

There’s no way I could be…

We’re always extra careful…

I pulled out one of the few pregnancy tests I had stashed in my purse. It was a good thing Derick has never gone through it or else he’d be freaking out right now too.

I opened the box and took out the test.

I sat it on the bathroom counter as I waited for it to turn.

After a few minutes passed, I took a deep breath and looked.

Negative.

I took a big sigh of relief.

I tossed the test into the trash and washed my hands before returning to bed.

“You okay?” Derick asked as I cuddled up next to him.

“Yeah, I’m okay. Just felt a little sick.”

He pulled me close to him and kissed the top of my head as I fell back asleep.

---

A couple hours later, the sun shone through our bedroom window. We needed to get curtains as soon as possible. I was not having it with being awake at the ass crack of dawn.

I squeezed my eyes tight and pulled the covers up over my head.

“What time is it even?” I mumbled from under the blankets.

“Just after seven,” Derick said popping his head around the bathroom door frame.

“Whoever decided to have the sun rise this early needs to be sued.” I groaned.

A few minutes later, Derick was standing in the doorway holding the pregnancy test I had taken hours earlier.

“Uh, Ellie?”

I flipped the blankets down from off my head. “What?” I saw what he was holding and sat up. “Der…”

“Are-are you..?” He started to freak out.

“No.”

“Ellie, were you even going to te-- did you…? How are you ev--... Did I… Are you… I don’t know…!”

“Derick!” I stopped him. “I’m not pregnant.”

“Y-you’re not?”

“Did you even look at what it said?”

“N-no,” he said as he looked at it. “Oh, thank god.”

“Are you done freaking out now so I can explain?”

He stood silently.

“I’m late this month so I bought a few tests and I haven’t had to courage to take one until early this morning when I woke up from that dream… Besides, why are you freaking out? You didn’t when you found out Liv was pregnant!”

“Uh, I… It’s different when it’s mine!” He exclaimed. “Can you take another one to be sure?”

I groaned. “Ugh, fine I will. But it’s just going to say the same thing.”

He stood outside the door as I did the second test.

“That dream I had was that I was pregnant so I freaked out myself…”

He didn’t say anything.

“So…” I continued. “Are you ready to see this one?” I opened the door and held out the test. “See, negative.”

“Thank you… We don’t need any little Dericks running around yet.” He said kissing my head.

I hugged him. “No little Ellies either?”

“Not until after we’re married, at least.”

Good plan, Brassard.

---

We finishing painting within the week or so leading up to us going to Pittsburgh. Derick said his dad and some buddies will help move in the rest of our furniture and arrange everything for us. But for now, we have been living out of boxes. I think the only room we have completely done is the bedroom.

“Dude, come on.” Derick said as he saw me packing my Malkin jersey.

“What? You don’t like Geno either?”

He pulled his Canada jersey out of the closet and threw it at me. “Take this one instead.”

I held up the jersey against me and looked at it. “Dude, you ain’t even on the damn team.”

He rolled his eyes and mumbled, “snubbed.”

“If I have to wear this, you have to wear this one.” I held up my Crosby Canada jersey.

He snatched it out of my hands. “Fine, but only because he’s my buddy.”

I finished packing our bags and we were headed out the door. Nothing like last minute packing. The Brassard specialty.

---

We landed in Pittsburgh a little after seven in the evening. We rented a car and headed down to Carl’s.

“You know, I could have drove. I know where to go.”

“Why are we going to Hags? He’s not even there?”

“Liv has been staying with him. You know… He doesn’t want to leave her out of his sight.” I rolled my eyes.

“So the house is just sitting empty right now? Why can't we stay there?”

“It's more convenient to stay at Haggy’s. Plus I have strict orders from him to make sure Liv is okay.”

“Whatever,” he said as he pulled onto Hags’ street.

“What's your problem?” I pointed to the driveway he needed to pull in. “Don't you wanna spend quality time with your bestie?”

“It's not that…” he sighed. “It's not even that important.”

“Der…” I started.

“El, don't worry about it.”

“If something's bothering you, we should talk about it.”

“I've just been thinking a lot lately about that pregnancy test you took…” He confessed.

“Derick…”

“Ellie, no. Let me finish talking. I'm concerned something might be wrong if you didn't get your thing…”

“We’re going to the doctor with Liv… I can get checked out if you want me to…”

“Please, it would make me feel better about it. Don't get me wrong, El. I want kids, just not now. I'm not ready for them.”

I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “When you're ready, I'll be ready.”

I don't even want to think about having a baby when I have a wedding to prepare for.

---

It was the morning of the World Cup pre tournament games and all Derick could talk about was getting to hang out with the guys. He's been keeping up with a couple of the guys so we were able to go in and see them.

Like that made a difference, I have connections.

As we walked into the arena, the first two we saw were Geno and Sid.

“There they are, my duo!” I shouted as we approached.

“You still with this bozo?” Geno joked as he hugged me.

“Ha. Ha. Hey Geno,” Derick said, offended, as he shook his hand.

“Good to see again.”

“Hey Ellie,” Sid hugged me. “Derick.”

“He’s still mad about not making the team,” I laughed.

“Not mad, per say...“ Derick rolled his eyes.

“I mean, you could probably skate with us. Surely we have skates that’ll be good for you.” Sid suggested.

Derick looked at me and without even asking I told him to go right ahead. “I’ll just sit in the stands and watch.”

“We can hang,” Geno threw his arm around my shoulders. “Miss my Ellie.”

“I’m running off with my Russian now, I’ll see you later, babe.” I smiled and laughed as we walked away.

“So Geno,” I started before he stopped me.

“Girl, he good to you?”

“Yes, Geno, he’s great. I’ve never been happier.”

“Good, good. Don’t need to teach him lesson then.”

“No, no need for that.”

I picked a row to sit in just about twenty rows up from the glass. Just high enough to watch the guys practice. Geno went down a little closer and started shouting things at them.

It was hilarious just watching them shoot the pucks at the glass near where Geno was.

About an hour had passed before they wrapped practice up. I didn’t mind sitting there watching. I actually quite enjoyed it. How often do you get to watch Team Canada practice?

Derick met me on the concourse in front of PensGear. He was walking with John Tavares, Matt Duchene, Carey Price, Shea Weber, and Braden Holtby.

“Ellie!” Derick shouted as soon as he saw me. “I want you to meet some of the guys!”

“Oh my God.”

That’s all I could say.

“This is my fiancée, Ellie,” he introduced me to each of them.

“No need to introduce yourselves, I know who you all are.” I shook each of the hands, trying not to freak out.

“Nice to meet you, Ellie.” John said. “We’re going to grab something to eat. Care to direct us to a good place?”

“Uhh…” I was trying to think of a place without freaking out. “Blue Line Grille. It’s really good.”

I stood back as they started to exit the arena.

“You coming along?” Derick asked before following his friends.

“I think I’m just going to hang out here a bit.”

“You sure? You should come and get to know the guys better.” He smiled. “It’d mean a lot to me if you did.”

He put his arm around my shoulders and ushered me out the doors.

---

After spending a couple hours laughing and Derick telling the guys how we met, it was time for some World Cup hockey.

The first game was between the Czech and team North America. Team NA was made up of all the guys under twenty-three in both Canada and the United States.

At the end of the first period, team Czech Republic was leading one to nothing. I ran up to grab another beer. As I was standing in line, someone behind me said my name.

“Ellie?”

“Michael?” I turned around, surprised.

He gave me a hug. “How are you doing? You drink Canadian beer now?”

“Well… I am engaged to one now.” I flashed him my left hand, showing off my ring.

“Oh! Congrats! Who’s the lucky man?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“Try me.” He laughed.

“Derick Brassard… You know, Ranger… Well, Senator now.”

“Huh, no kidding… So uh… How’s Olivia?”

“She’s uh, she’s good. Her and Carl are doing well.”

“Carl?” He asked, confused.

“Oh, she didn’t tell you, did she?”

“No…”

“I’m sorry, I’ve said too much.” I turned around and ordered my beer.

“Make that two Molsons,” Michael said from behind me. “I got this.”

He paid for our beers and he walked me back down to my section.

“So who’s this Carl?”

“He’s uh… You know, Michael. I’d love to tell you, but I don’t think I should be the one telling you.” I took a swig of my beer.

“No, you’re right. It was good seeing you again, El. I’ve missed you.” We hugged before going our separate ways.

“Hey Michael…” I said before he walked away. “Do you… Do you want to come meet my fiancé? There’s some empty seats next to us, you can come down and join us.”

“I’d love to.”