Tongue Tied

Silence amongst the three girls as the arena boomed. None of them knew what to say. For months, Alex and Marina had been telling Leah to go for Jo. Neither knew he had a girlfriend. Alex was almost mad that Nathan didn't tell her about Jo's relationship status. She knew it wasn't his place to tell her though, but he could have told her to not get Leah's hopes up.

The Mooseheads came on the ice after their introductions. They shot on net for a bit. Leah sat with the jersey she had bought in her lap. Alex frowned at Jo, who had noticed, and just kept hitting a single puck against the boards. Nathan skated past him after a drill he'd finished. He frowned at his friend, looking up to the girls. He met Alex's eyes. He looked from her to Leah, then to Jo. He looked back at her and she nodded. He smiled at her before skating off.

"Put the jersey back on." Alex said, unbunching it. "He may be an asshole but he still needs the support."

"And he isn't happy with his girlfriend." Marina added. Leah cocked a brow at her as she slid on her jersey. "If he was happy with her, he wouldn't have made that comment and he wouldn't flirt with you all the time."

Alex nodded. "She's so right." She said to herself.

Leah stood, walking down the the glass. She tapped on it, right in front of Jo. He looked up, his eyes wide. She waved him over. He stood, taking off his helmet so he could hear. He pressed his ear to the glass.

"I'm still here to cheer for you." She yelled.

He shook his head. "I can't hear you."

She rolled her eyes. She looked to her left and saw a door. She tilted her head to it, walking over. Jo glided over. She opened it and he stepped off the ice. He towered her. The height difference was the same as Nathan and Alex's. She gave him a small smile. He returned it.

"You put the jersey back on." He said, surprised.

"I was trying to tell you that." She smirked. "I want you to know that I'm still here for you and it's whatever if you have a girlfriend. I can still be a friend."

"I'm not happy with her." He blurted. "I hardly talk to her, I just don't know how to end it."

She shook her head. "Tell her that and she'll end it." She chuckled.

"If I do it after this game, can I take you out after?" He asked.

Leah laughed again. "I guess, but you might not be done till late if you win." She stated.

"Then I guess we'll have to find somewhere open late." He grinned.

"Good luck." She called as she walked back to her seat.

Alex and Marina watched her like hawks. She came back and sat between them. They stared at her, waiting for her to tell them what happened. She just sat with a small grin and watched the teams. Alex and Marina looked to the ice to find Jo interacting with his team. They looked at each other then to Leah.

"Alright, spill." Marina nudged her.

"He told me he isn't happy with her but doesn't know how to end it with her." Leah spoke. "And then he said he'd do it after the game and he asked me out."

The girls did their share of gawking before Nathan's family showed up. Sarah sat beside Alex and squeezed hehe hand. Alex smiled at her. She said hi to Kathy and Graham as well. The anthem was sung before the teams lined up. Nathan and Jo were both starting. Nathan glided to the centre. Alex grabbed Sarah and Leah's hands. He won it.

The end of the first has Halifax up 3-0. Stephen MacAulay opened the scoring for them. Stefan took the liberty of scoring a goal and getting an interference call. Jo had scored a goal of the rebound of a beautiful breakaway from Nathan. Leah cheered loudly for Jo. Sarah cocked a brow at Alex, suggest Leah's action. Alex just shook her head.

In the second, Baie-Comeau got on the board. They took two penalties while Halifax took three, Nathan having a hooking call. Stefan blocked a shot, causing him to be a bit shaken up. That was one of the less eventful periods, but it was evident that the Mooseheads were in the game and were looking for their winning game.

The last period, Halifax added to their lead. Nathan scored a beauty. He saw a chance and did the same celebration he did the first night he saw Alex. She rolled her eyes as she cheered for him. The goal went under review, but was ultimately ruled a goal. Stephen added to his tally, scoring an empty netter. With a 5-1 victory, the Halifax Mooseheads had won the President's Cup.

As the clock wound down to the final seconds, gloves started flying. Sticks, helmets, everything. The guys filed off the bench and to the ice. They all huddled. The doors to the ice opened and the cameras ran out. All the family started racing down. Kathy stopped in front of Alex. She looked up at the woman with a smile. Kathy's eyebrows were furrowed.

"Are you coming?" She asked.

"What?" Alex questioned.

"You've been to more games than I have." Sarah called. "Come on!"

Alex looked from Kathy and Sarah to her friends. "I don't want to leave them." She frowned.

"They can come too!" Kathy said, gesturing to the doors.

The three girls walked behind the MacKinnons. Sarah held Alex's hand as she led them over. Alex held onto Marina who held Leah. They made it to the doors. The guys were still celebrating on the ice. Zach skated over to the girls. He pulled Alex into a hug, despite how disgustingly sweaty he was. He kissed her head before he moved on to their other two friends.

Jo skated over. He pulled Leah into a hug. She smiled as she hugged him. He moved onto Marina before he got to Alex. He made sure to rub his sweaty face on hers. She let out a groan. He pulled away with a smile.

"Nathan said he'd be over in a minute." Jo told her.

"That's fine. Go away and celebrate!" She shooed him away.

Jo and Zach skated back to the group. Alex watched as Kathy and Graham stood with Nathan. He held the cup as they took pictures. He finished, handing it off to someone. He skated towards the doors, stopping right before the red carpet. His eyes met Alex's. She smiled at him. He waved her over. She wobbled on the ice towards the red carpet. She reached it and ran to him. She leaped into his arms, her legs wrapping around his waist.

"Congrats, baby!" She cheered and he held her.

"Thank you for putting up with all this." He whispered. "I wouldn't have got here without you."

"I'm glad I could help." She chimed, still holding him close.

"I love you, Alex." He said. She leaned back in his arms, looking at his face. "I mean it. I love you."

She smiled, grabbing his face. She brought her lips to his, giving him a long, passionate kiss. Some of the guys wolf-whistled at them, but they were in their own world. She pecked his lips once more before she slowly pulled away.

"I love you and I'm more than proud of you." She told him.

"Do you know what today is?" He asked, still holding her.

"The greatest day of your life thus far." She sang.

He shook his head. "The greatest day of my life was the day I asked you to be mine." He whispered. "A year ago today."

Alex burst into laughter. "It was today." She shook her head as he lowered her. "Happy cup day and happy anniversary." She smiled before she kissed him again.

Nathan managed to talk his parents into a party at his house. Sarah and Alex cleaned the house up quickly before the team came back. Alex convinced the rest of her friends to come, and to bring things she needed. A mob of girls showed up with everything she had asked for. Sarah turned the sound system on and the night began.

The team showed up with the cup. Everyone cheered as the walked in. Instantly, everyone began drinking from it and doing what they could with it. It was almost as if they had won the Stanley Cup. Nathan came up behind Alex, kissing her cheek. She turned in his arms and captured his lips in a kiss. It was way too intimate of a kiss for in front of that many people, but neither cared. He pulled away slowly.

"I think we should make a trip upstairs." He mumbled to her.

She didn't argue as he pulled her along. He continued kissing her as he walked into his room. He swung the door shut behind him as his hands began to wander her body. She didn't stop him, but she pulled her lips from his. He continued kissing on her neck. She took a deep breath as he did.

"What if someone walks in, Nate?" She breathed.

"Worth it." He spoke against her skin.

There was no need for further argument. Their actions went further, getting heavier as well. Eventually, their clothes came off and they were in bed together. Just as things were about to reach their peak, Alex's phone began to ring. She groaned as she stood up. She took the blanket with her as she dug through their mess of clothing for her phone. She found it and answered.

"Hello?"

"Alexandria, where are you?" Linda Roy hissed.

"I'm at Nathan's, mom. He won the President's Cup. I'm not going to leave him." Alex explained, turning to Nathan.

What a time for her mom to call.

"After tonight, no more traveling. You're home." Linda demanded.

"That's so unfair! He's going to the M,"

"I don't care what he's doing! I'm telling you what you're doing!" Linda screamed. "Home tomorrow."

Alex hung up. She threw her phone on their clothes. Nathan stared at her, his eyebrows furrowed. She held her face in her hands. She felt her eyes water before she fully broke down. Nathan sat up but she laid down beside him. He pulled her into him as she cried. He didn't ask questions, he just rubbed her back.

"She said I can't come to the Memorial Cup." Alex sobbed. "I'm sorry."

"Babe, it's not your fault." He soothed her, kissing her forehead. "Maybe I could talk to her."

"No. She won't budge." She argued. "She makes me feel like shit, Nate. She thinks I've put too much into us and I'm stupid for it."

"I'm glad you have because you're everything to me." He confessed. "It's okay if you don't come. We'll be okay."

Notes