The Wall

Hadlee managed to get the Tahoe valet parked at the airport. That seemed to be a whole lot safer than her trying to drive the giant thing around the terminal or inside a parking structure. She was ready to concede that with the baby coming they would need something between the Fiat and the Tahoe. Though, what if there was no they after she told Kevan? Hadlee shrugged her purse up on her shoulder and put a hand on her stomach "No worries little one, it will all work out." Hadlee made her way into the airport and looked at the incoming flights. She head to the baggage claim area to wait for Kevan's parents and brother. Hadlee wasn't sure what to expect.

Hadlee had fussed with what to wear all morning. Finally, KK told her to wear one of her Miller shirts so that she would be easy for his family to find. So, Hadlee was standing in the airport in her Miller shirt that said "When in doubt knock'em out", jeggings, and boots. She hoped to find his parents easily or at least his 6’ 7” brother. Kevan had assured her that his brother would recognize her. Their flight was not due to deplane for a few more minutes. She sat down and texted Kevan.

Hadlee: At the airport waiting.
Kevan: I might beat you home. Already at the Garden. Or do you want me to come to the airport?
Hadlee: No go on home. Check on Deke and the food.
Kevan: No worries babe. I can handle home. I know they will love you.
Hadlee: I hope so. Cathy, Kirk, and Cooper right?
Kevan: Yes
Hadlee: Here come the people. Love you.
Kevan: Love you too.


Hadlee stood up and watched the people circle around the baggage claim. This was one of the times being 5ft tall really sucked. She kept looking for Kevan's mom. She knew she would recognize Cathy. She had been around when she would FaceTime Kevan. She stood on her tiptoes and tried to find them. No dice. Hadlee was contemplating climbing on top of the seats when a large hand grabbed her shoulder.

"You are way too hot to be wearing a Kevan Miller shirt." said the giant holding on to her. Hadlee looked up at him. She was looking at Kevan's eyes, but not his face. Hadlee started laughing. She decided to roll with it and grabbed him and hugged him.

"Aww, you are adorable." cooed Hadlee "I'm the baby, so I've never had a baby brother." She squeezed him again before looking at his startled face. "But I do have 3 older brothers who mess with me constantly. So I have learned from the best."

"He's right you are scary as fuck," laughed Cooper "and tiny. What are you like 4’ 11”?"

Hadlee fixed him with her best pissed off Southern belle look "I am 5ft even Mr. Miller, and I am never without 4 inch heels."

"You're a munchkin," he said latching on to her and towing her through the airport to where his parents stood "and for some reason Kev is terrified of little you."

"Because he’s smart." said Kirk coming into their line of vision "I'm not sure your mother said anything about manhandling you brother's beautiful girlfriend."

"I'm sure Kevan has...." he didn't get to finish his thought because his mom smacked him in the stomach.

"Cooper Mason Miller, behave." said Cathy coming towards Hadlee "Oh, the pictures of you don't do you justice. You are gorgeous." Cathy hugged Hadlee. The next thing she knew Cathy was eyeing her from head to toe. "You are perfect for him. He said you were a collegiate all American too?"

"Yes, Ma'am" replied Hadlee "I have three national championships."

"She has three to Kev's one!" laughed Cooper "This is awesome. Anything else I need to know so I can give Kevan shit?”

"He is aware of my cheer stuff, Cooper." answered Hadlee "He puts up with it very well. Even when I drag him to the gym with me."

"Wait, are there cheerleaders roaming about?" he asked dropping an arm around her shoulder "I might like having a little sister."

"I swear, I tried to house break all three of them." said Cathy "I think I failed."

"No Ma'am," replied Hadlee "Kevan is kind of perfect."

Cooper made gagging sounds while hoisting his and his mother's luggage. Hadlee laughed and led them to the valet stand. "Why did you valet park?" quizzed Cooper "You could have just waited at the curb."

"Well," said Hadlee looking up at him "Then I would have had to drive his Tahoe in close to other vehicles. He likes the Tahoe, so I valeted it."

Hadlee started to pay the valet, but was preempted by Kevan's dad forcing money towards the valet. Hadlee started to protest but noted the look on Kirk's face was a lot like Kevan's let it go face, so she just said thank you. They all stood at the window looking for Kevan's Tahoe. When it arrived the valet helped stash all the luggage in the back.

"So munchkin," whispered Cooper "Want me to drive?" Hadlee turned around and gave him a huge smile then launched herself at him. Cooper caught her and laughed. Damned if Kevan's girl wasn’t hot as hell but that smile, damn. "Let me guess, you drive a Prius." he said as he opened the passenger door for her.

"I do not drive a Prius." she replied buckling her seatbelt.

"Monster truck?" deadpanned Cooper starting the Tahoe.

"Leave her alone Cooper" said Cathy.

"He isn't bothering me," laughed Hadlee "I have 3 older brothers and a hockey team. I'm tougher than I look."

"That's good, because you have ball of fluff written all over you." teased Cooper.

"Keep it up, Lil Brother. I'll show you my teeth." she replied.

"It's a BMW isn't it?" asked Cooper.

"Nope," she laughed "Keep guessing."

Kirk and Cathy both laughed. Cathy smiled at Kirk. She knew he was thinking the same thing. Hadlee would be a welcome addition to the family. Cathy was happy that Kevan seemed to settle down with Hadlee. She knew she was going to marry Kirk within 2 weeks of meeting him. She wasn't surprised at all when Kevan told her Hadlee was moving in with him. Hadlee and Coop bantered back and forth all the way to the hotel. Kirk and Cooper took the luggage in and checked in. After a few minutes they were back in the Tahoe.

"It's a jeep wrangler." said Cooper buckling up.

"My jeep is in Kentucky," answered Hadlee honestly "But that isn't the vehicle I drive in Boston."

"I totally get credit for that though!" replied Cooper.

They made the quick trip from the hotel to Kevan's apartment. She was excited to see Kevan. He'd only been gone for 24 hours, but 24 hours ago she didn't know they were going to be parents. Cooper circled towards the garage.

"I know!" exclaimed Cooper "It's a VW bug."

"Nope." laughed Hadlee as she directed him to Kevan's parking spot.

"Aren't you going to tell me?" asked Cooper.

"Nope," she laughed again "But I'll show you."

Hadlee saw Kevan standing in front of her Fiat. Hadlee was out of the Tahoe almost before it stopped. Kevan caught her. His parents were both laughing at them. Cooper was again making gagging sounds. Kevan hugged Hadlee tightly and kissed her. "I see you survived the family thus far."

"Your mom and dad are great. You get your I'm in charge look from your daddy." said Hadlee kissing him again before he sat her on her feet "I guess Cooper is alright." teased Hadlee "He's been trying to guess what I drive."

Kevan smirked at her. "Did you put him out of his misery?"

"No Sir, where is Deke?" she asked searching for the pup. Kevan nodded towards Greg. She smiled and headed into the building. Kevan leaned against her Fiat. He shook hands with his dad. His mom hugged and kissed him. Cooper sauntered towards him.

"How the hell did you manage that?" he asked nodding towards the door Hadlee disappeared through. "She is at least a 10.5 and that's before you add sassy and Southern." Kevan smacked him in the back of the head. "Plus, she won't tell me what she drives." Kevan nodded toward the Fiat.


"She give you a tick bro?" asked Cooper

"Coop, that is her car." he replied nodding at the Fiat again.

"You let her drive that tiny thing?" asked Cooper "You can pick it up."

"I don't let Hadlee do anything," answered Kevan "The sooner you realize that about girls you might have one of your own." Coop growled as Kevan put him in a headlock and pulled him into the building.

"This must be Cooper." said Greg laughing at the Miller boys "Hadlee and Deke took your parents upstairs." Kevan nodded and released Cooper. "I'm Greg." said the doorman "Does Miss Hadlee have him wrapped around her finger?"

"Soon" said Kevan leading Cooper to the elevator "You know Hadlee Belle."

"Just because you are pussy whipped," replied Cooper "Doesn't mean I'm going to be."

It was Greg's turn to start laughing. He would take bets that by the end of the night he is jumping doing everything Hadlee wanted.

"He has no idea." said Kevan "Wait until Kayleigh and Caro are here."

"No Sir" replied Greg "He might be terrified of Miss Caroline."

"Oh Greg, no letting her hide here." instructed Kevan "Dougie's family is in as well."

Greg nodded his understanding as the door to the elevator closed. Cooper and Kevan were still roughhousing when they came into the apartment door. Deke jumped from Hadlee's lap and started barking at Cooper's foot.

"What is that?" asked Cooper laughing at the furball

"Who is that" said Hadlee scowling "That is Deke, and he is offended you are messin’ with his daddy."

Kevan just started laughing. He seemed to laugh more with Hadlee around. She scooped up Deke and handed him to Cooper. "Deke, meet Uncle Cooper" she cooed at the furball. Cooper was staring at the fuzzball. It looked like a husky, but it was the size of one of those legally blonde dogs. He then started laughing remembering Kevan told him that Hadlee was a lawyer. He really wanted to find out if the tiny dog went to court with her. "See, Uncle Coop loves you."

Kevan's mom and dad were sitting on the couch watching the interaction. Hadlee wasn't fazed by the boy’s horseplay. She took it all in stride. Hadlee offered everyone drinks. Kevan joined her in the kitchen to help distribute drinks. Kevan handed his dad and brother beers. He opened a bottle of red wine for his mom and Hadlee. He poured them each a glass. He handed his mother her glass. Then ventured back into the kitchen. Kevan wrapped his arms around Hadlee and sat her glass in front of her. Hadlee snuggled into Kevan. She had missed him. She was beyond thrilled that he wasn't shying away from her in front of his parents. She wondered if they knew their bruiser son was a closet cuddlebug.

"Dinner's almost ready." said Hadlee "Go visit. I'll get everything ready."

"Need help?" he asked kissing her cheek.

"Nope, go hang out." she replied "I've got it under control."

As Kevan left the kitchen Cooper came in to grab another beer. "Do I get to snuggle?" asked Cooper striding towards Hadlee.

"Kevan, you're little brother wants to snuggle with you!" called Hadlee "I think it's sweet how much he misses you."

Kevan and his parents all cackled. "She is evil." said Cooper "Tiny, beautiful, and evil."

"What a sweet talker." replied Hadlee shooing him out of the kitchen.

"She is mean, Kevan." said Cooper

"I hear that a lot," answered Kevan "I don't see it." He winked at Hadlee who was busy putting food up on the kitchen counter. Kevan watched her and couldn't help smiling.

"She is beautiful and very sweet Kevan." said his mother. Kevan nodded. "She seems to compliment you well, and she can hold her own with Coop." Kevan nodded again. He was listening to his mom, but looking at Hadlee. Some days he still couldn't believe she was his. "So, when is he wedding?" asked his mom. Kevan flipped is gaze on his mother.

"We haven't really talked about it." he answered honestly "She’s moving in. But I think we will be looking for a bigger place."

"Bigger?" asked his mom.

"Yeah, I need a real dog." said Kevan loudly "Deke isn't much of a runner."

"Shut it, Miller!" she called from the kitchen "You are going to give him a complex. We aren't all designed to be big, mean, hockey machines."

"He's a couch dog." stated Miller "That's like a purse dog." he explained "Except Deke is too lazy to get in her purse." The furball beside him snored in agreement.

"Wait until ball season!" she called "He is going to be an excellent cheer pup."

"Ball season?" questioned Cooper "What kind of ball?"

"UK Basketball," said Hadlee looking at him strangely "Is there another ball season?"

"Oh yeah, you cheered for Kentucky." replied Cooper.

"I cheered at Kentucky darlin," she said winking at Cooper "Big difference. We have 20 National titles, those ballplayers have 8. They played ball so we’d have somewhere to train."

"Be nice!" called Kevan to his fired up belle. He looked at his brother "You’re on your own dude."

Kevan's parents were watching the exchange. His mom couldn't help but be excited. She could tell the only thing that Hadlee loved more than her beloved Kentucky was her little boy.

Notes

Okay I am totally pissed and sad about the shenanigans at the Draft. We've lost Dougie, Looch, Paille, Campbell, Soderberg, and Bartowski. We have a bunch of goalies and not enough defense. Good news is Miller is going to have a huge role on the blue line. Bad news I'm not sure we have enough ummph to be the Big Bad Bruins. We will see. If you missed it the most Bruin out of the draftees is Jesse Gabrielle. If Looch and Brad had a kid together you would get Gabrielle. Can't wait to see him in black and gold.