Forever and Always

Aaron and Madeline heard voices come from the long hallway past all the guests, she politely waved to Max Domi, her godfathers son, and one of Aaron's friends. Then they got to the two of them. "Fuck you!" She knew Morgan's voice when she heard it. "No, fuck you!" And that was Lauren's voice. "Seriously guys?" Aaron reached the dramatic first. "Sorry Aaron, sorry Madeline. I should go. I am so sorry, the party looks beautiful. I'll see you guys later."Lauren made a quick exit, looking very embarrassed about their very public fight. "I had Christine coming to get me from our own party because of the two of you." Morgan took a gulp of the scotch he was holding. "I am sorry. We should go back in there." He walked out of the alcove and down the hallway to the party. "He's drinking too much." Aaron nodded. "I'll tell the bartender to cut him off now." She smiled. "Thanks babe." Aaron walked towards the open bar as James Van Reimsdyk found her. "Whatup newly minted teammate." He gave her arm a nudge. "We've been like teammates for the last six years, just not officially." She replied as she hugged him. "Well I am happy you made the choice. I know the Rangers and Lightning were after you." They were after her but she couldn't say no when the Leafs came knocking. "Well we all make choices, this one was the right one." She walked over to Aaron wrapped her arms around his chest. "Hey you." He turned around and kissed her forehead. "I love you." He smirked at her. "I love you more Madeline Gilmore." He kissed her gently, softly, like he meant it.

They heard a clanking noise and turned to see Morgan on top of a table clanking his empty scotch glass. "I would just like to make a toast to my two best friends in the entire world. Aaron Ekblad and Madeline Gilmore or as I like to call them Ekmore." The crowd laughed as she leaned into him. "Growing up me and Aaron played in the same hockey circles. Even though I am two years older then him, everyone knew who Aaron Ekblad was even when I was ten years old. This kid could stop Sidney Crosby on a breakaway, he was an awesome defenseman and an awesome kid." She looked over at Sidney as he laughed and took a drink of champagne. "Madeline on the other hand I got to know when I got drafted almost five years ago by the Toronto Maple Leafs. She stood on that stage in Pittsburgh, next to her father, Dave Nonis and the rest of the Leafs front office. And handed me my Leafs jersey. From that day on we grew closer and closer and as some of you may know a little too close. I wouldn't be the man I was today if it wasn't for Mads Gilmore. Always standing behind me, always having my, always being there for me. A you got a good one, don't lose her, not again. I love you kids, and I can't wait to attend the Canadian wedding of a lifetime next summer! Congrats again you two." He jumped down from the table and hugged them reeking off alcohol. "Get him home." She mouthed to Nick Bjudgstad who nodded. Whisking him off without anybody seeing him. "I guess things aren't that great with him and Lauren." She nodded. It sounded like that. Maybe they shouldn't be getting married in a month. She had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. She didn't like where this was headed. "I think we need to make a toast now!" She smiled at her parents Tyler and Gabrielle smiling brightly at her. But all she could think about was Morgan. And the pain he was going through, there had to be more there.
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Morgan threw up into the toilet, Nick sitting behind him on Madeline's claw foot tub. "Dude how much did you drink?" Morgan retched again as Nick breathed into a hand towel. He handed it to Morgan, who wiped his face and leaned up against the wall. "A lot. I packed a few beers, like three at the house then more at the party. Open bar." Nick nodded. "Morgan I've been visiting Markham for a while now, since after Aaron's rookie season. You barely drink, like you never fully drink three beers on a given night. What's going on dude?" He groaned. "I just can't deal with Lauren. She's not the girl for me, but I proposed stupidly to get her off my back and now I have to marry someone I hate. I am stuck." Nick shook his head violently. "You are not stuck Morgs you can dump her. Be happy with another broad live your life." Morgan desperately needed company, he hated being lonely. He couldn't break it off with Lauren, he was too scared of what she would do. He needed Aaron and Madeline. They would know what to do. "I'll call them." Nick read his mind without him even having to say their names. "Let me grab you a pillow, and a blanket. I have a feeling your sleeping in here tonight bud." Morgan nodded. Nick left the bathroom, grabbing the throw blanket on Madeline's bed, and a pillow off her bed and bringing it into the bathroom for Morgan. "Here buddy." He sat down next to him as Morgan laid down on the floor, his head on the pillow. "Hey guys are you on your way home? Okay good. Morgan needs you guys. Alright see you soon. Alright, bye." Twenty Minutes later Aaron and Madeline were at the bathroom doorway, Nick stood up and mouthed "Lauren" they nodded. He walked out of the bathroom and out of the room, to his guest room. Giving the three best friends privacy.

"Morgan, Morgs get up." Madeline sat down on the Marble floor, and ran her fingers through his thick blonde hair, he cried into her lap. Morgan Rielly was having a mental breakdown right in front of them, stable, predictable, comforting Morgan Rielly, the one who was always there for everybody else when they broke down, was now breaking down right in front of their faces. "Morgan what is going on?" Aaron crouched down next to them. "I, I fucked up. I just didn't want to be lonely anymore, and she wanted more of a commitment so I did it, I asked the puck slut from Stoufville to marry me. Just so I wouldn't be lonely. I tried to love her, but I can't. She isn't the one. And now I am stuck." Madeline cried along with him. "You aren't alone Morgs, we're here together. All three of us. You have us. Now get off the floor and go break it off with Lauren. For good. Because Morgan you deserve so much more then her." Aaron helped him up. "I'll drive you man." He nodded. "Here goes nothing." He wiped the tears away. "Call me when your on your way back." Aaron nodded kissing her. "I love you." She wiped away her tears. "Love you Aaron Ekblad."

Morgan walked into the new house, he could hear Lauren upstairs. He ran up the stairs and into their bedroom. "Hey." She got up from the bed and went into to kiss him, he turned away. "Excuse you? Are you still upset about the party? I texted you that I am sorry." He waved her off as he walked into their closet. He opened up his duffel bag he used for away games and started filling it with shorts, and t-shirts. Throwing in a couple of pairs of flip flops and hats. "I am staying at the Gilmore's." She rolled her eyes. "Seriously?" He threw in his Toronto Maple Leafs Toiletry bag. "Yeah seriously. I'll give you two weeks to move out. I bought the house for us with my money. My money, my house. And I want the ring back." She gasped. "Are you breaking up with me? You can't break up with me Morgan! We're engaged. We're getting married in four weeks." He nodded. "My mother and Mrs. Gilmore are canceling the wedding as we speak. Ring please." She started crying, on cue. Drama queen Lauren. "You can not break up with me! I am Lauren Milton for fucks sake. You need me." He laughed. "I don't need you, you needed me. And guess what we're done." He zipped up his bag and let out his hand for the Tiffany and Co ring. "Now Lauren. You have two weeks to move out." He was trying not to break down right now. "Can we talk about this?" She said through her tears. "No. Ring now." She threw it at him and stormed out. He grabbed the ring and threw it into the bag. He walked down the stairs and out the front door, Aaron waiting by his car. "Ready?" He nodded. "Did you get the ring back?" He nodded. "You okay?" He shook his head. "Alright dude let's get back to the home base."

Some people were moving on together, and some were moving on apart. But nonetheless the kids of Markham were moving on, and the summer just begun.

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