Looking Up

-----Steve's POV

As Elle and I sit down to have an early breakfast together, her phone starts to ring, "It's my sister," she says just before answering the phone and pacing around the kitchen.

"Hey Jen!" she answers, trying to sound cheerful. She's been having a rough time after seeing how sick her father looked on Thanksgiving- plus it's harder now that I'm going on a road trip and I won't be back for another two weeks to be here for her.

"Really? That's what the doctor said?" she replies sadly, her voice cracking. I get up from the table and pull her to the couch and onto my lap to keep her from pacing- I don't like how this conversation is going so far.

"Well I'll try to get down today then..... yeah, tell them I'll be there..... I'll leave around noon, I just have to talk to Aunt Kate...... Thanks for calling me about it...... see you later, bye." She hangs up the phone and lets out a deep sigh. Elle buries her face in her hands and starts to tear up. I rub her back and pull her in for a hug.

"What's going on Bambi?" I ask softly.

"Well Jen said that they need my help at the house taking care of my father- plus I want to be there when he passes- which Jen said might be happening soon," Elle says between sniffles.

"I'm so sorry," I stifle, "is there anything I can do? Do you want me to drive you down there today before the game? I'm sure I can," I say as I mentally check the time of the practice and game in my head.

"No don't worry about it, honestly. You have to focus on hockey- that's your job. Thank you though," she smiles, lifting her head from my chest.

"You're welcome," I say and wipe a tear from her cheek, "don't be afraid to call or Skype during the next two weeks, I'll be available, especially for you okay?"

"Alright, but I really don't want to distract you," she laughs softly and starts to walk towards the dining room to continue her breakfast and I follow.

Before I get back to the table, I browse the calendar to double-check my times of flights, games, and practices for the next month. When I scan through 'December,' the day of the 13th says "Carolina Hurricanes Home 12PM" and underneath that is Elle's chicken scratch handwriting that says, "My 23rd birthday" with a little smiley faced etched in next to it. Crap! I totally forgot, there's just been so much going on- but I am so happy that I'll be in town for an entire week before I have to leave again. I'm going to have to think of something great to do for her. I walk to the table where Elle is halfway done her bowl of cereal.

"So, is there anything coming up soon?" I ask, seeing if she'll even remind me her birthday will be here shortly.

"Not that I can think of," she answers after taking a short pause.

"Are you sure?"

"Yep."

"Come on... Elle," I say and raise my eyebrows at her.

"Fine, it's my birthday," she huffs, "I just don't want to make it a big deal, especially this year."

It takes me a second to realize why she doesn't really want to celebrate it: her father.

"Okay, if that's what you want," I reply and I'm already thing of ideas of what to do for her birthday.

"It is, really. I'm sorry I won't make it to the game tonight."

"It's fine, no worries Bambi," I lean over and kiss her forehead just before taking a bite of my cinnamon raisin toast. We talk about her plans on getting to her parents, how long she is going to stay, and where I'll be going to on my road trip. I always enjoy sharing my mornings with her, since we both like being up early- well most of the time. I miss her especially whenever I'm on the road and I end up eating breakfast by myself; I always find myself staring at the seat across from me and imagine what we'd be laughing about if she were there with me.

When I get back from my morning practice, Elle is packing most of her clothes in a suitcase, so pull out mine and pack for my road trip. She starts to laugh when she notices what I'm doing, "I'm glad I have you," slips out of her mouth and she flushes from embarrassment.

"I'm glad I have you too," I grin and squeeze her hand softly.

Once she is done packing, both her and George's things, I help her load all of her bags in her small Honda Fit. After we exchange long goodbyes filled with multiples kisses and hugs, she makes her way towards her parents' house.

*****

-----Elle's POV

The next few goes by slowly and harshly- I didn't know taking care of my father would be this hard, not so much physically but emotionally. It also sucked because the Flyers have lost their fourth straight game, putting Steve and the rest of the team in a foul mood. We've been talking every so often since we're both so busy taking care of our different responsibilities. At the end of every day, I usually feel drained, but Steve keeps me going, whether if he just texts me or I see an interview of his- I know he is there for me.

As I am making lunch for everyone, I hear my phone start to ring from the next room and I run to get it.

"Hey!" I answer cheerfully.

"Hey you," Steve says and I can feel his smile through his voice, "how is everything?"

"Pretty good, just really busy keeping it all together," I half laugh pathetically, "Jen and I are making lunch for all of us," I say and Jen quickly shouts "Hey Steve!" into the phone -more like my ear- as she walks towards the fridge.

Steve chuckles, "Tell her I said hey back- and nothing much, just sitting in the airport with the guys," he sighs, "they've been asking about you and your dad- they hope you're both doing okay."

I smile to myself feeling thankful for their concern, "Well tell them all is good, but how have you been doing?" I ask remembering the past few losses.

He takes a short pause, "I'm okay, it's hard to feel confident but I'm doing okay."

"Well that's good, just keep your head up, okay?" I say and Steve thanks me. Suddenly hear my dad say something from the living room. "Hey, can you hold on- I think my dad needs me," I put the phone to my chest just after Steve says ok.

"Dad, did you call me?"

"Yes! Is that Steve?" he asks weakly but with a big grin on his face and I nod yes, "let me talk to him," he says.

I laugh and nod my head, "yeah," and put the phone back up to my ear, "Steve?"

"Yeah, everything okay?"

"Yep, my dad wants to talk to you for a second,"

"Alright," he chuckles. I pass the phone to my dad and they start to talk- my dad is laughing harder than he has in a while. I'm guessing Steve tells him some of the guys have been asking about him since dad says "Really? That's so nice of them tell them I said I'm doing great! I'm glad you and Elle are surrounded by some great people, son."

I freeze in my tracks when he says "son," and Jen raises her eyebrow at me and gives me a big smile as soon as she sees my face turn a bright shade of red. "Looks like Dad is expecting to hear wedding bells," she chuckles and elbows me in the shoulder as she walks away with her sandwich to the living room. My head starts to spin as I begin to think about Steve and I's relationship more and more- hopefully Steve doesn't get freaked out.

"Ellie! Come talk to Steve!" my father tries to shout so I can hear him and ends up coughing from straining his voice.

"Hey I told you no more yelling," I say to him as he hands me the phone.

"You know you can't stop me," he adds with a large smile.

"Yeah, yeah you're a real rebel dad," I laugh and roll my eyes as I bring the phone up to my ear, "hey Steve."

"Not quite," I hear a familiar voice say.

"Brayden, hey!" I reply.

"Sorry if you were expecting Steve- I just wanted to say hey," hey chimes sweetly- we talk for a couple minutes before Steve takes the phone back from him. I really am so thankful for how nicely the guys treat me- I never imagined becoming friends with such sweet guys. He and I talk on the phone until he has to board the plane to L.A. We say our goodbyes and I wish him luck once again before hanging up.

The day before the game, many of my cousins, aunts, and uncles come over to our house to watch the game- they know my father is going to pass soon so I'm guessing they want to spend as much time with him as possible before he goes. Jen and I spend the morning working on a lunch for everyone, but our mom kicks us out of the house and demands we have some fun, since we haven't left the house in over a week. We decide to go to the mall close by to kill some time.

"So, Elle," Jen pauses to say and I start to get worried.

"What? Is something wrong?"

"No, no, actually stuff is going good and I wanted you to be the first to tell you that I got a job in the city working with an insurance company and I'll be moving here in the summer," she smiles and I almost scream I'm so happy.

"No fucking way!" I yell over the radio.

"Hey! What the hell sis," she scolds me for using the f word, "I think you've been hanging out with hockey players way too much," she smiles and we both laugh and I hit her playfully on the shoulder. We spend a little while at the mall and get back home as soon as our mom tells us we can come back. Everyone is there and the game against the Kings is just about to start; I sigh in relief as soon as I see that Steve's picture pops up on the starting goalies title and everyone cheers when they notice it and tease me.

As the last horn sounds, signaling the end of the period, my entire family yells and claps- the Flyers win 2-1, a win for Steve. A half hour later, my phone starts ringing and I retreat to my bedroom where it is quieter to talk to him.

"Hey!" he yells as soon as I answer- I smile as soon as I hear Mac Miller's "Knock Knock," blasting through the locker room celebrating their win.

"Congrats! You did great!"

"Thanks so much, tell your dad I did what he said," he laughs softly and I can't help but smile.

"Oh really? I'll tell him- what did he say anyways?" I grin.

"That's between me and your dad. Well I gotta go the boys and I will be celebrating tonight! I love you, I'll text you okay?"

"Love you too, but don't worry about texting me- have fun!" I chime. We say our goodbyes and I head back out to the living room to where everyone is. I quickly tell my father Steve did what he said and his face lights up brighter than a Christmas tree.

-----Steve's POV

After the win at LA, we head to Columbus the next day. It was great to be home and be able to visit with old friends- but it was even better meeting up with Hartsy with the rest of the guys. It was weird not having him around in the locker room and deep down we were all feeling his absence since. On the days off, I call Elle and I can hear how disheartened she is about her father being so sick. She's lost all of her energy and I can tell she hasn't been sleeping at all. I feel so vulnerable not being able to be there for her and help her deal with the pain.

Many of the guys that are close to her on the team, call her and check up on her and try to distract her from her father's sickness. Every time they mention her, I thank them for keeping her and her family in their thoughts- of course the guys say it's no problem at all. Claude especially has been looking after the both of us, constantly asking if I'm okay and focused on hockey- he knows how stressed I've been being away from Elle during this time.

"You've gotta take a breather Mase," G says after we get out of our morning skate, sitting down next me while I have my face in my hands.

"I know, I know, this is just so hard you have no idea," I snap and immediately apologize after.

"Hey, it's okay. Let's hang out with Harsty till we have to get back here for the game tonight," he offers.

"Yeah sure, just let me call Elle first."

"Alright tell her I'll call her later?" G asks and pats me on the back before heading over to his cubby to change.

*****

After the game, the guys and I head straight back to our hotel rooms to get rest for the early morning flight back to Philly. Elle doesn't call or text so I don't bother to either- I didn't want to risk calling her and waking her up causing her to get less sleep than she already does. The next morning as we arrive to the airport around 5:30am, I'm talking to most of the guys while we wait at our gate when my phone rings. I mention it's from Elle and the guys exchange worried looks and I can hear murmurs around the small area- it's weird she's calling so early.

"Hey Elle," I answer and the guys stay quiet waiting for the news.

"Steve?" she says in a small fragile voice; my heart drops to the pit of my stomach- I've never heard her sound so devastated. "It happened, he passed away yesterday morning, I didn't want to tell you and distract your game." A lump forms in my throat and I try to think of what to even say. I run a hand through my hair and let out a deep sigh, "I am so sorry Elle, I'll be home in a few hours to be there with you, I'll drive down right when my plane lands okay?" Everyone lets out aw's, no's, and gasps once they realize what Elle has just told me.

"Okay," she responds softly and I can tell she's been crying.

"Listen it's going to be alright, okay? I promise," I coo into the phone hoping to comfort her better.

"Okay, thank you. I'm going to go, I need to be with my mom right now. Have a safe flight, I love you," she says and we hang up.

"I'm sorry buddy," Raffl says and pats me on the back.

"Let Erin or I know if you guys need anything Mase," Reader adds from behind me and I smile and thank him.

I rest my face in my hands and pray that the plane gets here as soon as possible- I don't want to be away from Elle for another minute.

Notes

Hey guys! Sorry it took longer this time to update- my professors are loading me up with homework since the semester is almost over (thank goodness). I already have more than half of the next chapter typed so it should be up soon! Hockey season is almost over and it's so sad, hopefully they win tomorrow. Thanks for reading and subscribing- and if you haven't already comment and subscribe! I love getting feedback!

By the way, once I get over the big bulk of homework due, I'll be working on a Claude Giroux story so be on the ready for that - I already have the premise down I just gotta write it! Thanks!