{MADDISON'S POV}

"Have a seat Ms. James," Mrs. Jones said, as we walked into her office.

I sat in one of the seats in front of the large desk in the office and had Ava sit in the chair next to me. I watched as Mrs. Jones sat behind her desk, and opened a file that I'm sure was Ava's. She flipped through some of the papers in the file and than tapped her fingers on the file.

"It's Maddison. Please call me Maddison," I said, trying to smile.

"Well Ms. James we got Avalon's transcripts from Florida. Everything looks good with them. And considering that she is only in kindergarten, we don't need to take her grades into consideration. Everything looks good to get enrolled," she said.

"Great," I replied, enthusiastically. Earning a scowl from Mrs. Jones for cutting her off.

"But with that being said. Your behavior today in the hallway with another students parent was unexceptable. That fact of the matter is you slapped a person in the hallways of are school in front of other kids and parents. We do not tolerate that kind of behavior in this school. Especially from a parent," Mrs. Jones said frowning.

I was starting to think this woman had a scowl or frown permately etched on her face. Like she had no concept of what a smile was. Or maybe she just really disliked me for some reason. Than what she had just said hit me like a ton of bricks, my eyes widening. Were they seriously not going to accept her because of my actions. I mean as an adult I should have known better, but it had been a shock to me seeing Zach again. Plus the memories hitting me, it had just been a knee jerk reaction.

"Ok look I admit my actions were.... Ummmmmmm how do I put this? My actions with Zach were inappropriate," I responded.

"Zach?" Mrs. Jones asked, with a snort.

"Yes Zach," I responded, "Mr. Parise"

"So you think it's appropriate to call him Zach?" she asked, I swear under her breath she muttered an 'as if'. "Are you some kind of crazed fan? Because if you are than this will deffinately not work with your daughter. We pride ourselfs in the anonymity we have with our students and parents at this school."

I felt myself starting to get angry with what she was suggesting. That I was just some kind of crazy Zach Parise fan and that I was stalking him or something. I looked down at Avalon and realized that this wasn't the only private school in town. But it was the one that had come highly recommended to me by the Devils Orgninazation and it's players.

"Woah, woah, wait a minute" I said, and looked at Avalon again. "I am not some crazed fan girl of Zach Parise. Zach and I grew up together. Mine and Zach's relationship is complex. It's not something I feel comfortable discussing with you or around my daughter. Not that it's any of your business anyways. Now your school came highly recommended to me, but your school is not our only choice. Now it doesn't really matter to me if you believe me or not. But you can call Mr. Parise yourself and ask him, but if you are I would suggest you do it fast. I'm sure he has practice this morning."

I finished my tirade and thought I would feel better. But I didn't, if anything I felt angrier. Now it was up to Mrs. Jones what to do. We could go ahead and get Ava enrolled. Or she could think I was a completely crazy person and call security and have me escorted out of here. I watched in disbelief as she picked up the phone and started dialing a number.

'Oh mother of all that is holy, who is she calling?'

{ZACH'S POV}

I wasn't really sure what I was thinking. I don't know what exactly I was expecting while waiting outside the bathroom. But I guess I hadn't been expecting to be blown off. I had several scenarios running through my head on how it could have gone. I had always wondered how it would be to run into Maddison again. But none of them had been like that. She wasn't the same 'little girl' that she was years ago. Now she was a woman, a woman with a child. A child that happened to look a lot like me and Mariann.

I pulled into the Parking lot of the practice arena and parked. Slamming my head back on the headrest a couple of times.

Who's child was that? Why did she look so much like me and Mariann? Is it possible that I had another child? Is it possible that Maddisons child was mine? If she was, why didn't I know about her? Did Maddison hate me that much to keep something that important from me?

I slammed my palm down on my steering wheel and pulled out cell phone from my pocket. I turned it in my hands a couple of times. Thinking of who I could call and find out some information on Maddison. But even that was making me angry, because that would mean calling back home and people knowing. My own mother who adored Maddison probably knew, but why wouldn't she tell me.

I looked around the parking lot and noticed that Travis's truck was already in the lot. 'Good just the person I wanted to talk to. My good old buddy Mr. Travis Zajack.' I thought sarcastically.

I got out of my truck and headed inside the arena and into the locker room. It was still early enough that not many of the guys were there yet. In the locker room it was obvious Travis wasn't in there. Which meant one of two things, either he was already out on the ice or he hadn't made his way back here yet. I decided to head out to the ice early, maybe blow off some of this extra steam I had. I quickly changed into my equipment and grabbed my cell phone. Than headed out to the rink, where several of teammates were already. Just standing there watching as Travis skated around rocketing pucks into the net.

"What's going on?" I asked, as I walked up to Cam Janssen.

"Not sure Travis seems to be in a mood again. Even Marty's afraid to go block right now," Cam chuckled.

"Right," I replied, and put on my helmet before skating out.

"What's up man?" I asked, skating up next to him.

"Nothing," Travis mumbled, shrugging his shoulders and rocketing another puck.

"Come on man. We tell each other every thing," I said, emphasising the last part.

"It's nothing," he grumbled.

"Come on bro. How long have I known you? Is everything alright with you and Ally?" I asked.

"Yeah everything's great," he said sarcastically, coming to a stop next to me. "We're just fine and fucking dandy."

"Trav man, what's going on?" I asked worriedly. It was no secret that Ally and Travis had their fair share of fights, like the rest of us. But Travis seemed to take it harder than the rest of us.

"Ugh man I don't know. Ally and I have been fighting again lately," he sighed, running a gloved hand down his face.

When he turned to look at me I was shocked. He had dark circles under his eyes like he hadn't slept in days. He looked drained. His facial features looked strained. I knew it must be something major if he was looking like that.

"So funny thing happend this morning," I said, changing the subject off of him. Which he looked thankful for.

"Oh yeah, what's that?" he asked.

"So the funny thing is I had to take the twins to school this morning. Something about Alisha's car being in the shop. But anyways, so I take the twins in and I swear I see a woman who looks like Maddison," I say, seeing if I get a reaction. Which I do, Travis swallowed hard. "Which much to my surprise it was Maddison."

"Oh yeah?" he asks chuckling, while paling and rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

"Yeah. Yeah her and her daughter," I deadpan.

"She introduced you? She told you?" he asked clearly shocked, and obviously not surprised by the news.

"So you knew?" I asked, trying to keep my temper in check.

"Well yeah man. But you just said you meet her...." he said trailing off, realizing his mistake.

"So you knew she was here? You knew she had a daughter?" I asked, starting to get mad.

"Well yeah man. You would have figured it out sooner or later man. I mean with Carter getting traded here," he said, as way of an explanation. "Plus they stayed with us when they got here."

"What does Carter have to do with this?" I snapped, feeling defensive all the sudden.

"Well she is dating him. Actually she's engaged to him," he said slowly, like he knew I was about to really snap.

"She's with fucking Carter?" I hissed, my hands bawling up into fists.

"Yeah Zach, she's been with him for awhile now. So you meet Ava, what did she tell you about her?" he asked, now trying to change the subject. Why did he seem excited about the answer? Because obviously the kid wasn't mine, it was obviously Ryan fucking Carter's.

"What does it matter?" I asked sounding defeated, than turning and skating towards the bench.

For some reason I felt devestated all of the sudden. But why? Shouldn't I be happy for her. Shouldn't I be happy that her daughter is obviously not mine, but Ryan Carters. But I'm not, it actually hurts to think that the little girl that looks like me isn't mine. But it makes me furious thinking of her with Ryan Carter.

"Hey man, Ava's not Ryan's kid" Travis stated, coming up and grabbing my shoulder.

"What?" I asked shocked, looking over my shoulder and blinking.

"I know what your thinking man. Remember we've been friends along time. And Ava isn't Ryan's kid. Despite what she may tell some people. They haven't been together long enough," he stated, than started skating backwards.

"How old is she?" I asked.

"Five and a half man," he responded.

"So what are you saying?" I asked, feeling hope filling me again.

"Look man I shouldn't be saying anything. Ally will kill me if she finds out I was interfering. But as you said we've been friends along time and tell each other everything. We're like a couple of gossiping old women. Plus your my best friend and I can't keep things from you. But put the pieces together man and my bet is on you," he stated seriously, than skated off.

I thought about what Travis had just told me. I had another child and that child was with Maddison. Just than my cell phone starting ringing. Skating over to the bench and picked it up.

"Hello?" I answered, seeing it was the school.