The One Night That Changed My Life Forever

Patrick's POV

I just stood there watching my girlfriend interact with a cute 10 year old girl. She always seemed so natural with kids. I mentally scolded myself. Sure I love kids, but should I be even thinking of having my own. No! I was for sure not ready, so I pushed the thought to the back of my mind.

"So you must be the famous Isabelle I've heard so much about. I exclaimed then leant in towards her ear. "Honestly if you were a guy and just a little older, I would have been a little jealous. You are all that's been on her mind lately" I said chuckling as the little girl turned to me an smirked.

"Really?"

"Yes, really" I responded smiling. "Now let's get you and your mom settled. I'm going to have to leave you with Rach though. I have to get out on the ice for practice in a few minutes."

"Yah, that's no problem. I love Rach" she said purposely looking up and winking. I just looked in disbelief at the girl in front of me. There is no way she is playing my game, and beating me at it. Ahh well I guess I deserved it.

"Hey Pat?"

"Yah, Izzy? What's up?"

It was her turn to lean in and whisper in my ear. I bent down, intent on hearing what she had to say.
"Rach is a great girl, I can tell she loves you just from the way she looks at you. She may not know it yet but she does. I can tell that you will feel the same way someday too Pat. Don't mess it up."

"When did you? An 10 year old kid become so smart?" I was amazed at the words coming out of her mouth. Since when did an 10 year old girl know more about a relationship, our relationship than both Rach and I.

"I watch a lot of TV" she replied laughing.

"Thanks Izzy. I needed that'" I said laughing as I walked away from the beaming girl, and smiling at Rach as she was talking with Izzy's mom.

***
No one knew that Rach and I were official yet, and we decided that that was for the best, at least for a while. Rach was in no way prepared for what being my girlfriend publicly would do to her. It was already tough on her, seeing her face in the news, and I didn't want to pressure her into anything too quickly. I understood where she was coming from, and to be honest I was just happy knowing that she was here watching.

I was welcomed to the locker room with tons of confused glances and stares.

"What?" I said confused myself.

"Who's the girl?" Sharpie piped up first. His question quickly echoed by the rest of the team. "Yah who is it?" Captain Serious himself asked.

"Well… If you really must know. Which really you guys don't by the way" I said tossing a sarcastic glare around the room. "She's a friend of Rachel's, and a diehard Kane fan" I winked continuing " so I offered her and her mom a couple tickets to the game tonight, and I was hoping she could maybe come and hang with us after morning skate?"

"Wow, let me just say it. Our little Kaner has gone soft" Sharpie laughed.

"Shut up Sharpie, I have not. Besides what's wrong with doing a nice thing once and a while?" I questioned.

"Nothing." he turned back to his equipment, and like that the conversation was dropped. Morning skate went by fast, and soon it was time for Izzy to make her appearance. When I saw the door open and Izzy stick her head in I addressed the guys. "Guys this is Izzy, and Izzy these are the guys. Make your self at home as we get ready for lunch ok?"

"Thanks again Pat" she said sounding excited as she wrapped her little hands around me in a bear hug.

"Alright, go socialize with the rest of the team" I winked.

"K" she said as she turned and made her way over to where Jonny and Sharpie were getting changed. As soon as I saw them laughing I knew everything would be fine and I returned my focus back on the door, where my beautiful girlfriend had just walked in. She was welcomed warmly by the guys with choruses of "Hi Rach." "Nice to see you again!" "Keeping out of trouble?" I knew i had nothing to worry about at all. Everyone loved her for her, and it didn't matter whether or not anyone knew we were together, because in that moment I saw she was accepted into the Hawks family. Just by the way she interacted with the team, and the team with her I knew I would be getting bombarded with questions, and a lot of guys pleading with me to ask her out. If only they knew, I thought smirking. Everyone got changed into proper clothing, and a few of us made our way out to lunch. Tazer obviously invited Izzy seeing as he had fallen in love with the little girl, and Rach and Izzy's mom didn't need an invitation, it was just a given. The meal went by fast, and the girls left us to our pre-game rituals, and went in search of some Blackhawks apparel before the game.

"If you come back with a Toews jersey, you will be sorry" I texted Rachel as she left.

She smiled at her phone and I knew she got my text. A second later she looked at me and smiled, I just winked, and smirked as she continued on her way out of the restaurant and into the streets of Chicago. If any of the boys had any suspicions about what was going on between me and her, they sure didn't voice it. We paid the bill and made our ways to our respective hopes to take a much needed pre-game nap. "I like her" Toews said as he shut his car door and pulled out of the lot. "I like her too" I whispered to myself and smiled, probably looking like an idiot.

"You don't have to worry Babe, I couldn't do that to you" Rach texted back and with that I headed home and drifted off to sleep.

*********
Rachel's POV

As I walked down the street, Izzy's one hand in mine and the other in her mother's I couldn't help but smile. Who would have thought I would end up here? I had always thought Mike and I would get married, settle down and have kids, but now my whole future seemed different. Sure I didn't know what the future held, but for the moment I was happy, and that was good enough for me. Izzy was ecstatic once we had finally made our way into the Hawks store. She took her time looking at every jersey, and every player. I already had the jersey Pat had given me back when we were just getting to know each other. I smiled when I saw which jersey she wanted. I can't say I wasn't surprised. We payed for the little jersey with Pat's name and number on the way back and made our way back to her mom. I had to say though that I was a little disappointed that she hadn't picked a Toews jersey. Pat told me I couldn't wear one, but he hadn't said anything about Izzy sporting one. I settled for the next best thing, and offered my Toews on to Izzy's mom Rebecca, who kindly accepted my offer. The girls left to go home and have a little nap so that Izzy could be energized for the game and I mad my way over to Pat's. I found the spare key, which I had to convince Pat to hide better next time. I made my way in, and to no surprise I found Pat asleep in bed. I slowly made my way into the room and slid quietly under the covers. Pat instantly wrapped his hands around me, drawing me into him. "Hey he whispered his voice laced with sleep.

"Hey" I responded. "Sorry for waking you, now go back to sleep. I need you playing good tonight" I whispered back to him kissing his forehead.

"As you wish, my love" and with that we fell asleep, waking up only to the sound of his alarm going of, signalling that duty was calling.

"Good luck tonight, I'll be cheering for you" I said leaving Pat outside the locker room. I made my way back out to my seat, and waited with Izzy who was clearly over-excited for the game to start. The game went by quickly, with the Hawks winning 4-1 versus the Wings. It was a great first game for Izzy, and I had a nagging feeling that this would not be her last. As Izzy ran into the locker room, once she was given the okay. I hung back with her mom. "I just want to thank you for everything you have done for my daughter, you made her life worth it." "I just want you to know what an inspiration you are to her, and no matter what happens in life she will remember this moment. This is the happiest I have ever seen, her and it's all thanks to you. You are special, and Pat is lucky to have you."

"Thanks Rebecca, let me know whenever she wants to come. I have a feeling that would be every game, but yah just let me know and I'll bring her with me."

"Thanks again, and thanks for the jersey. When should I bring it back?"

"Are you kidding? Keep it. Plus I don't think Pat ever approved of that jersey, so it's going to a great cause. Speaking of Pat let's go rub that jersey in. After you" I said earning a smirk from Rebecca.

We walked into the room. Everyone was laughing at something Izzy had said, Rebecca and I just smiled at each other.

"Hey guys! Great game" I exclaimed.

"Thanks Rach" Jonny replied. "It's nice to see that someone here at least has a sensible jersey on" he smiled.

"Well if you must know Jon, that's actually the first jersey I owned, and well Pat forbade me to wear it so I decided to put it to good use" I winked talking just loud enough for Patrick to clue into what we are talking about.

He looked at me with a shocked, but amused look on his face. Knowing that this was the second time today he had been beaten at his own game. He mouthed "Later" so that only I could see it, and I knew I wasn't getting of easy this time.

Izzy and Rebecca, left a few minutes later thanking all the guys again. They of course invited her back whenever, and I made sure that we would hang again sometime soon. I honestly loved the kid as if she were my own.

Pat and I hit the club scene for a few hours, cutting the night short to the dismay of some of his tea mates who were loosing their wingman. I apologized blaming it on school, and how I had an early class in the morning, when I knew full well that I wasn't going to my apartment or school until tomorrow afternoon. We barely made it through the door, before we were practically on top of one another. This kiss was nothing like the one we had shared a week ago, when we had officially started dating. No this was a kiss that both of us knew was leading somewhere. At that moment nothing else mattered, I was Patrick's, and he was mine. Lying with him afterwards, just felt so right, and I felt like I would never regret this decision. He kissed my forehead, and whispered "I love you Rach."

I laid there just thinking about what I had heard, before responding a few seconds later. "I love you too, Pat" and at that moment I meant it with all my heart. I loved Patrick Kane, and he loves me were the thoughts going through my brain as I drifted of to sleep with Pat by my side. I slept better than I had in weeks, knowing that when I wake up, Pat would be beside me, loving me, and taking care of me. What more could a girl want?

Notes