Can't Always Get What You Want

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Game days always seemed chaotic to Dougie. Morning skate, team lunch, naps, pre game, warm ups, the actual game, and then the team building road trip. Throw in Caroline, Dani Grace, and Jami and it had potential for disaster. He had been awake since almost 6:30 am. The clock beside him read 8:15am. He could have climbed out of the bed at any time but he knew it would be at least 2 nights before he would hold Caroline again. She was asleep on his chest. It never failed to amuse him that she ended up laying where she could hear his heartbeat. Her auburn hair was a mess and escaping the ponytail she had put it in. He was absently playing with her hair. He noticed the shades of red and brown streaking through it. I wonder if our kids will have red hair he thought. Holy hell. Kids. It was official Caroline had ruined him. But in the best way possible. He pulled the blankets back up over Caroline. She stirred against him. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled at him.


"Morning" she said "Don't you have to be on the ice soon."


"Yeah, I have to be there by 9:30" he replied "But I didn't want to wake you up. I won't get to snuggle with you for a few days."


"You have team building, then a day off, then home opener Hamilton. You get one night to get rid of me." she replied "Plus someone promised to introduce me to his parents."


"My parents, eh?"


"If you changed your mind it's okay" she said quietly. She was still laying on his chest but she wasn't looking at him.


"You are so not getting out of this Caroline Rader." he answered "Freddie thinks you are my imaginary girlfriend. Mom is dying to meet you. Dad will love you. They all will love you." Caroline didn't answer. He knew she was nervous about meeting them. "Caroline I love you that is the only thing that matters. You are what I want so that will make them happy. It's not some kind of test. It's more of show you off kind of thing." He moved so that they were laying face to face. "I love you. You know that." She nodded.


"It takes some getting used to Hamilton." she replied "It scares me to death how much I love you. I've never been like this with a guy. It's been a whole new world with you. I still keep expecting you to get bored with me."


"Not going to happen Caroline" he answered "You are stuck with me." He dropped a kiss on her mouth "But now I need to get to get ready for practice." Caroline sat up so he could get ready.


"Want breakfast?" she asked as he was digging in the closet.


"I'll grab a shake." he said "Stay in bed."


"No I'll fix while you get ready. In fact I will just make a pitcher for all 3 of you." she replied.


Caroline started a cup of coffee for herself before she began making shakes. Once she doctored up her coffee and took a few fortifying sips she began looking at the stuff in the kitchen. She was setting up the blender when Dani Grace joined her in the kitchen. Caroline pointed her towards the Keurig and coffee supplies. Dani Grace brewed he coffee as she watched Caroline dump things into the blender: vanilla protein powder, greek yogurt, key lime juice, a frozen banana, a crushed graham cracker, and a squeeze of honey.


"Damn Caro you are almost professional at that" laughed Dani Grace.


"I got this hockey mom stuff down" answered Caroline "We kept Baby K for a week. So I think we all managed to memorize some of the food stuff he needed. Plus Kayleigh has made up a bunch of these shakes that actually taste good."


Caroline was pouring the shakes in the boys to go cups when Reilly ventured down the hall into the kitchen. "Reilly boy I thought we discussed that pants had to be worn in the kitchen." Reilly looked down at his boxer briefs and shrugged. His hair was standing on end and he didn't look ready for practice. He stopped at the edge of the counter and grabbed Caroline's coffee cup. He was chugging the contents of the mug when Caro smacked him.


"Damn it Smith, you are like the little brother I never wanted." Caroline stuck another mug under the Keurig.


"You love me" he replied wrapping his arms around her.


"Smitty why in the hell are you naked in kitchen molesting Caroline in front of Dani Grace" asked McQuaid coming into the kitchen.


"Caroline loves me just as much as she loves Baby K but she won't admit it." said Reilly finishing her coffee.


"Not even close" said Caroline "Can we trade him for Baby K? He cleans up after himself and showers daily. Unlike Smith."


"I shower sometimes 2 or 3 times a day" said Reilly "You wouldn't trade me."


"Where is Jami" asked Caroline.


"She had practice this morning at 8:30. So she had to leave early." Caroline frowned at him. "I offered to drive her she had one of the girls pick her up. She will be back before you all leave for the game. She is going with you all tonight."


"Jami is coming with us" asked Caroline.


"Yeah, she is quitting being and Ice Girl. She has all her nursing stuff to do and cheer. So she was already planning on leaving the squad. It's not just me. But I already called Britt so she can regulate since you all will be with the WAGS tonight. Don't let them mess with her Caroline. Please."


"No worries, she will have me, Had, and KK. Plus Dani Grace will be there too." replied Caroline "We will take care of her Reilly boy."


"Still want to trade him for Baby K" asked McQuaid. Caroline was about to answer when he stole her second cup of coffee and took off down the hall.


"Yes" yelled Caroline after him "Baby K makes us coffee."


"I see we are all getting along this morning" said Dougie coming into the kitchen. He leaned in a kissed Caroline "What are you and Smitty yelling about?"


"She wants to trade me for Gears" yelled Reilly


"He stole both of my cups of coffee" sassed Caroline.


Caroline was busy pouring the shakes into the boys cups so they could leave for practice if Reilly decided to get dressed. She handed a shake to McQuaid. He thanked her. He captured Dani Grace and pulled her over to the couch. Caroline laughed because the shake ended up on the table and Dani Grace ended up in his lap. She handed Dougie his cup.


"Should I be afraid?" he asked looking at the green concoction "You've been over at Miller's for a week. That guy has more supplements and green stuff than any human I've met."


"No worries" she laughed "It's a KK shake. Key lime pie. She spent a few hours playing around with things Baby K liked and didn't like. We've got the hockey mom thing on lock down."


"It really does taste like a pie" called McQuaid "I think you have to be here every morning to make shakes."


"No sneaky kale or grass" asked Dougie still eyeing the green mixture.


"Try it you big baby" laughed Caroline. Dougie took a drink.


"You did good sweetheart" he gave her a quick kiss "Come on Smith we are going to be late." he called out.


"Deaf now Hamilton not at the rink." she fussed.


"I'll make it up to you later. You going to be here for nap time?" he asked


"I'll think about it Hamilton." she retorted. She turned to finish Reilly's shake and Dougie smacked her ass.


"Behave" he said as he headed down the hall to drag Reilly out. Reilly came out pulling on a shirt. The idiot had his toothbrush in his mouth and already had on his ball cap. He managed to pop his head free from the opening. Caroline laughed. He walked into the kitchen and grabbed his shake cup. He started to lay his toothbrush on the counter but Caroline stopped him.


"Reilly Smith don't you lay that germy toothbrush on the kitchen counter" she admonished. He stopped and then tossed it at Caroline. She fumbled but caught it. "Gross. I'm going to clean the toilets with it while you are gone." Smith, McQuaid, and Dougie were all laughing hysterically. "I know where you all sleep."


"We will be back by noon. Please don't scare Dani Grace off." instructed McQuaid. He gave Dani Grace a kiss as he ventured out the door.


"Love you" called Dougie "Please don't do horrible things to Smitty's toothbrush. See you soon. We have team lunch."


"Fine abandon us" said Caroline "We will meet up with Hadlee and KK for lunch. See you guys later. Tell Bartowski if he puts another bruise on you or Baby K I will remove his spleen from his body with an ice skate. I love you too."


"Damn I told you she is mean" said Reilly "No one listens."


"Shut it Smitty" called Caroline.


Caroline closed the door behind the boys. She flopped down on the couch beside Dani Grace. "Is it always this wild on game days" asked Dani Grace.


"Nah it's usually worse" laughed Caroline "No one had to forcibly remove Reilly from his bed."


"They really are over grown kids" said Dani Grace.


"Yep" replied Caroline.


"So you and Smith fight all the time." asked Dani Grace.


"Yep, he really is like a little brother." she answered "I like kid though. I am glad he and Jami are working it out. Speaking of which let's text the girls." Within minutes they had plans to meet for brunch at a small restaurant near Hadlee's office. It was going to be an eventful day.

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