The One Night That Changed My Life Forever

Rachel's POV

I woke up to sunlight shining through the curtains. My thoughts instantly shifted to last night, what had happened, where was I, who was I with. My thoughts weren't jumbled for too long, as all the events of last night came flooding back. I relived that night again, remembering everything Pat and I had said, everything we had done, everything. I was brought back out of my thoughts as Pat shifted beside me and pulled me even closer to him.

"Good morning beautiful" he said sleepily.

"Morning, do you mind if we just stay like this for a while… I have no desire to start the day off quite yet."

"You will never here me complaining about you wanting to spend more time next to me like this Rach."

"Ok."

And that's what we did. As we laid there I thought about what all of this mean't, and all of the confusion running through my mind. I decided to push that aside however and just relaxed, and melted into Pat. It did't take long before I heard soft snores from the man beside me. He fell asleep again, unbelievable I thought to myself. I decided to take the time to just watch him sleep. He looked so peaceful lying there beside me. What is he doing with me? I wondered. I'm nothing special, I'm a nobody, what could he possibly see in me. But yet here I was lying next to Patrick. No, not the hockey player, or just player for that matter. No, I was lying beside the real Patrick. The one that not everyone got to see. Right on cue his eyes fluttered open tome staring at him, deep in thought. He burst out laughing. "You look like you are trying to burn a hole through me" he laughed.

"Hahaha sorry, got lost in thought. You looked to peaceful I didn't want to wake you."

"Not a problem, were you enjoying the view?" he added with a cocky smirk.

"Don't even start that Patrick Timothy Kane, you know that is not going to work on me" I laughed.

"You know, I could get used to this."

"Used to what?"

And that's when it happened, I can't say it was unexpected though. He didn't answer me, he just looked me in the eyes and smiled. I knew we were moving closer together, but at that moment nothing else mattered. It was just Pat and I, no one else. However there was someone else, and that someone being Derek decided at this moment to make an appearance at the door to Pat's bedroom. Our lips had briefly touched however before quickly breaking away as Derek's footsteps got louder, and closer. "Sorry, I hope I'm not interrupting anything" he said with a smirk. Both Pat and I glared at him saying nothing. "Ok you guys are creeping me out, but I was wondering where the Advil was?" Pat and I looked at each other, both remembering back to the first night when we had met. Instantly we were both smiling uncontrollably, and Derek was just staring there dumbfounded with a very confused expression on his face. "Am I missing something here? I'm sure I just asked for Advil…nothing too funny about that, is there?" he started off confident slowing as his statement turned into a question.
"Sorry about that man, we were just remembering our first encounter, and first night together. Let's just say it involved a lot of Advil and some pretty nasty hangovers" Pat recalled the events of the night to Derek.

"I see" Derek winked at me.

"Here let me get you that Advil" Pat stood up and walked out to the kitchen.

"Sooooo…What's going on with you two?" Derek asked.

"Well I really don't know, sometimes we are just best friends hanging out, and other times it's as though we both want more. I don't know what to say… It's all kinda confusing for me."

"That boy is head over heels for you, let me just say that I've never seen him this happy before, and I'm glad that it's you that makes him happy."

"Thanks, and just know that no matter what I will always be there of him. Whether it be as friends or as something more, I could never up and leave him. I like him too much."

"Well, it was nice meeting you. You're a great girl and I hope to see more of you. Drop by the restaurant sometime, and I'll cook you up something special. Take care of my little Patty. Alright I'm off, just gonna grab that Advil and I'll be on my way. Enjoy your day!"

"Hey Derek."

"Yah."

"Thanks, for being such a great guy and a great friend to Pat. He's lucky to have such great people like you in his life. I also am going to take you up on that offer, you are a great cook. Maybe you could come over and have dinner with us sometime. I'm sure Pat would love to see more of you. I can tell how much he's missed you."

"I want you to know that I feel the same about you being in Pat's life. I honestly think you are the best thing that has ever happened to him, and I say that truthfully."

"I haven't done much, but thanks. Bye Derek."

"See ya around Rach" and with that he left, closing the door to the bedroom as he left. I could here him and Pat talking and laughing down the hallway, then the closing of the front door. I snuggled back into the covers, letting the warmth cover me. Pat came back through the door, and made his way back in beside me. "So, what do you want to do today?" Pat asked.

"Well I was hoping we could just hang like this, and maybe cash in that rain check for the movie night we were supposed to have last night?"

"Haha yah, I like the sound of that." With that Pat grabbed the remote to the Tv. "What do you wanna watch Rach?" The way my name rolled off his lips was enough to give me butterflies. "Hmmmm I don't know why don't we watch some TV first and save the movies for the afternoon? I don't want to get up and put one in" I laughed, never wanting to have to move from this spot.

"Ok…soo any channel preferences?"

"Nahh, put it on sports. Maybe Sportscentre or TSN has something on?"

"Rach, we are in America. We don't have those but I will not complain. You know I love it when girls are into sports. I think it makes them incredibly sexy" he looked at me with smirk I had come to love.

"Well, aren't you just the charmer this morning. What's gotten into you?"

"Nothing" he said with a smile. I looked back up on the guide. "Wait! Stop go back" I whisper shouted.

"What?" Pat asked with a frightened look on his face.

"Stop that, look it's the episode you did a few years back after winning your first Cup. Can we watch it?"

"Sure, I mean there is nothing more interesting than watching yourself on screen" he winked.

"Yah, yah whatever superstar. You know you love it, so don't even deny it. Plus you snap your goal less streak this game, remember?

"Yes, all too well. Alright if we are going to watch it, we are going to watch it" Pat said trying to be serious while watching his younger self on screen.

It was weird to see the same man on screen sitting beside me, but I did enjoy watching the episode. I snuggled into Pat, resting my head on his shoulder. He turned and looked at me, and smiled. "What?'

"Oh, nothing. I just like having you here. I don't know where I would be if I hadn't met you. Probably at some bar, or at some random girls house sleeping off a hangover" he said shuddering as if what he was recounting was a nightmare.

"Yes, but you did meet me, and now look at you. You are much stronger than the first night when I met you. You were the bigger man in the whole ex situation, and you moved on. You should know that I feel the same. I could have easily slipped into a state of depression and despair, but you saved me and I wanted to thank you for that. "

"Rach?"

"Yah?" I said trying not to tear up, not wanting to seem weak.

"Look at me" he said with the sweetest of tones. It was then that I knew everything would be alright. As I looked up I knew what was coming. Our lips found each other, and I melted into his kiss. Wrapping my hands around his neck the kiss intensified, until we both broke away gasping for air. "Wow that was like- "

"I know" I said cutting of a speechless Patrick.

For the rest of the day we just relaxed together. We actually managed to keep ourselves off each other for the rest of the day. Pat made a fuss when I had to go home, trying to convince me that the better option would be just to stay over again. After taking a rain check on the sleepover, I made my way back home on foot. I declined Pat's offer to drive, which he was a little shocked about to say the least. After convincing him that it had nothing to do with him, he finally let me go. I stopped at a Starbucks on the way home to grab myself a warm drink for the rest of the walk home. I texted Ellie telling her I was on my way home, and that today was a much needed girls day. It was 12:30 when I got home. Ellie was on the couch watching TV, as I opened the door to our apartment, and threw off my coat and boots.

"Where were you last night missy?" she inquired smirking at me.

"Yes, I was at Pat's and no we did not sleep together…well we did sleep together but not like that!" I replied.

"Sharing a bed, I'd say you two are moving closer and closer to more than friends with everyday that passes" she laughed, flashing her I told you so grin at me.

"Yah, but that isn't even the best part."

"Continue…"

"Well…we kissed" I said quietly as I began to blush.

"I'm sorry I didn't here that. Did I hear something about a kiss? I'd say by the way your face is reacting I got it right" she smirked.

"Ok, fine. Yes we kissed. It's not a big deal." Who was I kidding. Of course it was a big deal, but I wasn't going to admit that.

"Wow, I mean I expected it to happen. I'm amazed at how surprised I am though. I mean I was practically trying to push you two together. You guys were so oblivious, I swear everyone saw it except for the two of you. So, like are you guys together now?"

"I don't know. I mean yah we kissed but after we both went on as though nothing happened and we were back to being just friends again. But anyways I want to have a girls day. That means no guy distractions. I've missed you El, and I know that's partially my fault, but I've got my life back in order, have gotten over Mike and I need my best gurl back. "

"What did you have in mind?"

"Shop till you drop?" I laughed at my own cheesiness.

"Sure I'll drive, let me get ready. By the looks of it you need to clean up a little too. Don't want people getting the wrong idea now do we?"

I looked down, and immediately understood. I was still in Patrick's shirt and his sister's sweats. I would have to return them soon. If someone looked at me now, no makeup, bed hair, and these clothes there would for sure have been questions on how I spent the night. I went into the bathroom, calmed my hair down and put it up. I did my make up, and found some presentable clothes. It took me a bit longer to get ready, but twenty minutes my best friend and I were out the door, ready to shop to our hearts content. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, but I knew I wanted a few nice things just incase Patrick and I became anything more than friends. I bought an assortment of everything ranging from dresses to shoes. I couldn't help noticing the stares that I would get every so often. El noticed them too, so we just decided that we had bought enough for the day, and headed to the food court. I really missed having a Tim Hortons at the food court, but I settled for a Banana Strawberry smoothie from Orange Julius. El got the same. I had always had a weakness for smoothies, something I passed on to El once we started living together. We found a table and talked about everything. We talked about our lives, work, school etc.. As we were talking we were interrupted by a little girl, whose mom apologized for her. "Excuse me" she said hesitantly.

"Yeah? What can I do for you today cutie?"

"Well I was wondering if I could have your autograph?" she said pushing forward a piece of paper and a pen.

"I think you have me confused with someone else I said" still shocked at the events unfolding before me.

"No, you are Rachel. You're the girl on the news. You are Patrick Kane's girlfriend" she said confidently.

I went to correct her which Ellie obviously sense coming and beat me too it. "She would love to sign that for you" she said smiling at the girl then at me.

"Alright what's your name?"

"Isabelle" the small girl replied.

I wrote:
To Isabelle. You seem like a wonderful girl. It was so nice meeting you. Rachel Carson XOXO.

I signed it with my scrawl at the end. "Now if you don't mind me asking, why did you want MY autograph? I said stressing "my". I mean wouldn't you rather have Patrick's?"

"You are just so pretty, and you seem so happy. I look up to you and I hope someday I can be as happy and pretty as you are."

This girl made me melt " I hope my kids are just like you. Now since you made my day, let me make yours." I pulled out my phone and broke the girls day rule and called Patrick.

"Hey Pat, I know this is out of the blue but I have a little fan here that I think would love to talk to you" I said smiling as I saw the girl understanding who I was talking too…

"Yupp here you are, thanks Pat."

I handed the phone to Isabelle, and after what seemed like hours she handed the phone back over, a huge grin on her face. "He wants to talk to you" she said as she gave me back the phone.

"Yah Pat?"

"So I heard that you have a fan, and I was wondering if you wanted to give her and her mom and whoever else is in their family a chance to come to our next home game, and then come down to the locker room after?"

"You would do that Pat?!"

"Anything for you, love."

I smiled. "One sec I'll see if she's interested, I have a feeling I already know the answer."

I turned towards Isabelle, "Pat wants to know if you and your mom want to come to the next home game with me?" She started jumping around, her mom just stood in shock, turning around to smile at me as her daughter told her the news. "I'll take that as a yes then."

"Hey, Pat you hear all that?"

"Yupp, I'll leave three tickets at will call instead of just yours."

"Hey Pat"

"Yeah."

"Thanks, and I'll see you tonight. With that hung up leaving him to mull over what had just happened.

"So Isabelle, the game is at 7 on Friday. I was thinking if it's ok with your mom that we meet up earlier on. Maybe go see the morning skate and hang with some of the guys after? Sound good with you?"

"Ye-ea-h" she stammered.

"I'll give your mom my number and I'll see you on friday. It was nice meeting you, and thanks for being a great girl" with that I stood up winked, smiled at her mom, and walked side by side with El. Ellie was silent until we got to the car, but as soon as we got in it was incredible how fast her mouth was moving. We got over the fact of how cute it was, and how sweet I had been. I just loved kids so it came natural to me. Once we made it home we unpacked our clothes and I dressed up a bit, making sure to look nice before texting Pat that I was on my way over. He obviously hadn't believed me when I said I was coming over earlier, or he just hadn't heard it. I however knew it was the first of those options. I knocked on the door, and it only took him a few seconds to open it. I went inside, dropped everything, turned to Pat and I lead him to the couch and sat down on his lap, and kissed him. It was a passionate kissed that conveyed so many different emotions, and somehow he understood. He knew that I wasn't ready to go too far yet, but he knew how to test my boundaries. When it got quite heated he pulled away smiling "Now, what may I ask was that for?"

"Just for being you. You were so great to that girl today, you seriously made her day hell, you made her year. I love seeing that side of you, and it just made me melt. I knew I had to give you a proper thank you, not just one over the phone" I smiled back at him.

"Well now that I know that, I'm just going to have to do more nice things for people" he winked.

"Yah, yah ok so what did I interrupt?"

"Absolutely nothing" he said pecking my lips. " I was just wondering what you meant earlier, but now I understand" he smirked and pulled me closer to him.

"I was also wondering if-if you would consider being my girlfriend?"

And there it was the question I had been waiting for. Obviously the media had beaten him too it, but to hear him say it, made my whole body melt. "I'd love too Pat" I replied snuggling in closer, relishing in everything that had just happened.

Notes