Quietly

Complete and total chaos is the only way to describe the week shaping up in front of Allyson Schafer. She was currently out on a social service complaint with a few Kentucky State Troopers. She was praying she would be home before 7 am when it would be time to get her daughter up and out the door for her first matinee show of the Nutcracker. She couldn't believe her baby girl was old enough to be in a ballet performance. She was pulled out of her thoughts by the troopers indicating that they could clear the scene. She managed to keep the kids from entering foster by placing them with the aunt temporarily. She hoped the drug addled parents could put their lives back together.

Natalya would be performing in six shows over the next three days. It was a lot for a four year old but her daughter loved the ballet. Her best friend Ashley joked constantly that Nat's love for ballet came from her Russian lineage. Allyson continually threatened Ashley over her need to push Ally back with Natalya's father. Ashley kept insisting that Ally could have a fairytale if she would just accept help from Nat's father. Some days Ally wondered if Ash remembered being there during the first ultrasound, in the room during all the doctor's appointments, helping her decided on the name for Natalya, her being in the birthing suite instead of Nat's dad, and being in court for the DNA results to tell them all that he was Nat's father. Ash had weathered the entire storm with Ally and with a smile. Ally was not nearly as forgiving as Ash. Between the two a day shows, work, being on call, and full time mommy Ally wasn't sure she would survive the week or even have time to look up.

Ally came into the apartment at 1:45 am. Ashley was asleep on the couch with Nat tucked in beside her. Ally picked Tux up and put him under her daughters arm. She loved that ridiculous stuff animal. It would be a crisis if he were lost during this crazy week. Nat wouldn't sleep, eat, or dance without him. Her daddy had handed her that stupid penguin the first time he came to see her. Natalya at age five believes the sun rises and sets around her father. She loves him with her entire heart. She speaks with him daily on the phone or via FaceTime on the iPad he got her. The same iPad that she is learning to read in both Russian and English. Ally picked both Natalya and Tux up and carried her to her bedroom and tucked her in. She smoothed back her wild dark curls and kissed her cheek. She had so much of her father in her. Some days it was more than Ally could stand.

"Bad case" asked Ashley as she walked to her room.

"More of the same. KSP seized about $10,000 worth of Oxycodone and Suboxone. Kids had to be placed out of the home. Both parents locked up." replied Ally "I'm going to try get some sleep before we start the show tomorrow."

"I am coming to all three of the night performances" said Ash "I have an awesome Nutcracker for her for opening night. It's a penguin."

"Great" said Ally rolling her eyes "Because we don't have enough penguins here."

"He called" chided Ashley "He talked to her. Ended up FaceTiming and reading her a story. No clue what he read to her it was in Russian. Might have been the repair manual for his hockey skates for all I know but I like listening to him."

"He always calls before he leaves wherever he is" responded Ally "He great with her when he is around."

"He would be around if you would let him."

"It didn't work"

"It's different now" said Ashley

"How is it different? I went through nine months of hell with him, his agent, his lawyers, his parents, and his legions of fans. I was called a liar, a whore, gold digger, and God knows what else. I'm not subjecting Natalya to it. I won't." spat Ally

"Do you think he would let them near Nat? You know he wouldn't. He is crazy protective of her and you."

"Really, Ash" asked Ally.

"Someday you will have to look at it from his perspective." began Ashley "Can you blame him for being skeptical?"

"It was hell Ashley." replied Allyson "I want to forgive him then I get mad and hurt all over again."

"Well go on to bed the tiny clown will be up by 7 am" said Ashley "I love you both."

"Love you too" said Ally shutting the door to her bedroom.

Ally flipped on the TV and it came up to the NHL channel. Apparently, Ash and Nat had been laying in her bed watch hockey. She saw the highlights from the night's game. No wonder he was in a good mood and read her a story, not that he wouldn't have if they had lost the game. He always had time for Natalya. Ally scrubbed her face listening to the start of the replay of the Pens game. She shrugged into his old shirt. No one needed to know she slept in it most nights. She set her alarm and laid down with the game playing in the background. The last thing she remembered hearing was the 1 on 1 interview with him since he scored the only Pens goal in the first period. Somehow just his voice could calm her, but that didn't matter she wasn't getting sucked back into any type of relationship with Evgeni Malkin.

Notes

I know I am bad. This has been on my brain since someone asked me to do a Malkin story. I am trying ladies. I promise not to neglect my other boys. In fact I think Marchy and Kayleigh have been fairly naughty since he got home.