Ally woke up in her bed all alone. The clock on the bedside table read 6:00 am. The sheets were cold beside her. Where was Evgeni? She walked quietly down the hall and checked on Nat. She was still asleep tucked in with Tux. She heard the shower running in Ash's room. Ally padded down the stairs and into the kitchen. Evgeni wasn't on the couch watching tv and he wasn't in the kitchen. Ally had no idea where he was. But her blender pitcher was in the sink. Ally shook her head. She pulled all the ingredients for French toast out of the pantry and fridge. She started whipping the custard. She was busy whisking in the cinnamon, vanilla, and sugar when she heard the front door open. She continued making breakfast. She placed the slices of bread in the casserole pan. She poured the custard over and put it in the oven. She set the timer for an hour.

Evgeni came into the kitchen to find Ally putting something in the oven. He waited for her to stand up before he wrapped his arms around her. "Evgeni you are cold" she cried. He pressed his cold lips against her neck. She shivered.

"I run" he said shrugging his shoulders. She turned in his embrace. His cold lips found her warmer ones. "I have game tomorrow. No skate so have to do something say in shape."

"You should have put on more clothes" she scolded "You'll freeze to death."

"Am Russian" he responded by way of explanation "Colder in Pittsburgh that here in Kentucky."

"I don't care if you are Russian I am not getting yelled at by Sid if you get the sniffles." she replied. She squealed when his cold hands found their way under her shirt. "Damn it Ev. Now I am cold."

"I fix" he said picking her up and carrying her to the couch. He sat down on the couch with her in his lap. He covered them both with the throw on the couch. Before she could protest his mouth found hers. Her fingers sank into his unruly sweaty hair.

"OH MY GOD" yelled Ashley grabbing Ally's hand off of Evgeni's face. Ally hid her face in the crook of his neck. "Allyson is that what I think it is?"

"Don't wake Natashka" said Evgeni quietly. He sat Ally on the couch and gave her a quick kiss. He stripped his shirt off and headed for the stairs.

"Oh no you don't mister. Your fabulous abs aren't going to distract me from that rock." Ashley pointed at the couch. Evgeni just laughed. And jogged up the stairs.

"I shower" he called back to Ally.

"Traitor" yelled Ally watching him disappear. "Coffee" she said looking at her best friend.

"Cofee? You have the Rock of Gibraltar on your hand. And you want to have coffee?" exclaimed Ashley.

"I'm making French toast casserole" responded Ally "Come on I need coffee for this discussion."

The girls made their way into the kitchen. Ally brewed a cup of coffee and handed it to Ash. She then brewed a cafe mocha for herself. Ally pulled herself up on the counter. She was watching Ashley. She wasn't sure where to begin.

"Nealer will be here by 3" said Ally

"So I have to wait until then for an explanation" inquired Ash.

"It's not exactly what you think" replied Ally "It's not on my left hand. I have not agreed to marry him."

"Yet" said Ashley.

Ally nodded at her. Ashley came over to the counter and hugged her. "I'm glad you stopped being so stubborn. He loves you both."

"I know" whispered Ally "But I am still scared. I know how fast it can change."

"I don't think he ever changed Ally. I think it was the machine around him. "

"When I had the melt down on Jay yesterday he told me that Ev bought me the ring the day I told him I was pregnant with Nat. He took Jay with him. Jay said he was ready. But it went sideways with his family and the NHL. Jay swears he always wanted us." explained Ally "Last night Ev basically told me the same thing. It's always been him. Only him. You know that Ash. It's why it hurts so bad. I don't know how I am going to let him walk out the door to Florida tomorrow."

"So don't. Go with him tomorrow." said Ash as if picking up and following him to Florida was even possible "You don't have to work. It gives you a few more days with him before he really has to go to Pittsburgh. He plays Florida tomorrow night then Tampa Bay Sunday. You and Nat can fly home Sunday after the game. "

"Did he put you up to this?" asked Ally.

"No" laughed Ash "It just makes sense. Ally you love him. But he can't survive here in Kentucky. You will have to make a serious change. I know you want Nat raised here. But where ever you raise her will be home. And I will miss you both like hell." Ally saw the tears run down Ashley's face. Her tears started a few seconds later. "I love you both. But you need to go with Evgeni."

"We love you too. I can't just leave you here." replied Ally.

"I guess I will have to get Sidney to fall in love with me so we can be together." laughed Ashley snuffling "But if he hurts you again I'm calling Neal and making him bring Weber so we can kick his ass."

"Deal" said Ally still crying. Both of the girls were crying when Evgeni came into the kitchen.

"What wrong" he asked striding toward them "No cry Ally."

"We are crying because she is going to marry you" said Ashley.

"Is not so bad" exclaimed Evgeni "No cry"

"They are happy tears Ev" replied Ally.

"Scare me" he answered "Marry me. No make me wait."

"Da" she replied. He scooped her off the counter and covered her in kisses. She couldn't breathe he was everywhere. He sat her back on the counter and whirled around.

He then grabbed Ashley and hugged her and kissed her forehead. "Love Ashley too. Whatever you say must be perfect. Cause she no agree last night. I promise no hurt her or Natashka."

"You better not G. Russian or not I will kick your ass. Even if I have to head hunt from every NHL team to get it done." replied Ashley "Now put that ring where it goes."

"You marry Evgeni?" he asked of Ally. He watched her play with the ring. She handed it back to him. He was confused for a minute before she held her left hand out to him.

"Da Evgeni." she said pulling him towards her. She kissed him. Saying Da before each kiss. He pushed the ring on her left hand ring finger and pulled her off the counter. She wrapped her legs around him so she wouldn't fall. "I love you" she said against his mouth.

"I love for always" he answered kissing her mouth.

Ashley was watching them her heart bursting and breaking at the same time. None of the adults heard Nat come into the kitchen.

"Do I have a baby brother yet?" she asked irritably. Her dark hair was still in bun from the previous day. She was clutching Tux in one hand. She was looking at her mother and father expectantly.

"Nyet" laughed Evgeni. He sat Ally back on the counter and picked up Nat and sat her beside her mother. His own eyes looked at him. He spoke with her in Russian. Ally was pretty sure he said not yet.

"You were right kid" said Ash nudging Nat's shoulder.

"I usually am" said Nat.

"And so modest" laughed Ash. She pointed at Ally's hand.

"I told you they were getting married" said Nat "I am going to wear a tux."

"Nyet" said Evgeni "White princess dress like Mama." She turned her little face towards Evgeni. She was giving him her death stare. "No give me mean look Natalya. I invent mean look. You both my world so both be princess on wed day."

Nat started talking to her father in Russian. She made him promise she could have a baby brother. He laughed. He explained that it might be a sister. Nat shrugged and hugged him.

"What was that all about" asked Ashley as she headed out of the room.

"No clue. I need to learn more Russian" replied Ally "Otherwise they will gang up on me."

"Nyet" said Evgeni "She want me promise her she have a baby brother. I told her might be a sister." He smiled as if promising his daughter a sibling 20 minutes in their engagement was normal. He watched her face. "I didn't say it be today." He was saved by the timer going off on the oven. She pulled the casserole from the oven. He glanced at it. He leaned over and kissed Ally. "I stay here I be too fat to skate."

Ally laughed at him. "I can fix you something else."

"Nyet" he said "I made shake earlier. I good."

"We aren't skipping lunch today." she admonished "But we might take a nap. I think someone will need one."

"We tell her" he asked. Ally nodded as he pulled Nat off the counter and sat her in her booster. "Big surprise Natasha"

"My baby brother?" she asked hopefully.

"She is just like you my stubborn Russian" said Ally setting a plate in front of Nat. She kissed him as she walked across the kitchen. His brows furrowed.

"I no stubborn. I just know what want." he answered "Nataska Uncle Jay coming to watch dance today."

"When he come" she exclaimed shoving casserole in her mouth.

"He will be here after your nap this evening." replied Ally "So after the matinee we will come home so you can nap. Uncle Jay will be here when you wake up."

She smiled at her mom "I need to bath. And find a pretty dress for Uncle Jay."

After wadding in her French toast Ally wiped her hands and turned her loose. Evgeni offered to bath Nat while she cleaned up the kitchen. Ash came in dressed for work. Ally shoved a container of casserole and a plastic fork at her. "Remember Neal and Tori Lynn will be here at 3pm."

"Hate her already" said Ash laughing.

"Be nice." called Ally as Ash left for work.

Ally headed up the stairs. She heard the tub running but only found Evgeni in the bathroom. She crossed the hall to Nat's bedroom and heard her talking. She was having an animated conversation with someone on her iPad.

"Natalya Evgeniya Shafer-Malkin" called Ally "who are you talking to?"

"The girl in Uncle Jay's bed" she replied.

"Jay" called Ally grabbing the iPad "Go straight to your daddy and take a bath." She instructed.

"By Tori Lynn" called Nat "Make sure you bring Jay here."

Ally looked at the FaceTime screen. She saw a beautiful brunette start to laugh "Bye Nat. Can't wait to meet you." The brunette was looking back at Ally "You must be Ally. Sorry if you didn't know she was talking to me. Neal is in the shower. He told me to answer her so she wouldn't be disappointed."

"I'm glad it's you and not some random." replied Ally as Evgeni came into the room. He leaned over her shoulder and smiled at Tori Lynn.

"G" called Tori Lynn "We will be there by 3:30 ish. No scratch that 4:30 y'all are Eastern time."

"Hey pretty" he answered "You take care of Lazy. Him fight yesterday."

"He is obviously soft in the head G" she replied. Evgeni grabbed Ally's hand and held it up for Tori Lynn to see. She squealed "I told you that you could fix it. I am so happy for you G. You too Ally. The dumbass loves you. He might also be soft in the head."

"What" asked Neal coming into the screen "I heard you yell"

"Damn it Jamie we have discussed the fact that covering your junk doesn't mean you are dressed." said Tori Lynn smacking him. He smiled stupidly at her. "Look at Ally's ring."

"About fucking time you gave it to her" said Nealer "What's it been 5 years since you bought it. Congrats. Dinner on me when I get there. Hey where is my best girl?"

Tori Lynn smacked him "I swear he has ADHD." Neal stole a kiss and darted off screen. "See you all soon"

"Da" said Evgeni "You and Ally no gang up on me and Lazy."

"No promises" said Tori Lynn "Hey Ally how dressed up are we talking for tonight?"

"Church dress" replied Ally "Jay doesn't need a tie."

"Got it." answered Tori Lynn "See you all soon. We have a Preds nutcracker for her."

"You didn't have to do that" replied Ally.

"Yes we did or Mr. More Money than brains would have bought her a puppy or something equally over the top and inappropriate."

Ally laughed. Jay yelled I heard that. Ally loved Tori Lynn already.

"Gotta go I hurt his feels." said Tori Lynn. They disconnected.

"Her I like" said Ally.

"Good her and Lazy be in wedding. And Sid, Pauly, Tanger, Sunshine, Flowers."

"We will figure it out" said Ally kissing him "Go bath Nat."

"Da my wife" said Evgeni stealing a kiss.

"Ev" called Ally "Can Nat and I go with you to Florida? Will it be a problem?"

"No I call coach and Sid." he said smiling at her "Love you. I'm score for you and Natashka."

Evgeni left Nat's room and went to fish Nat out of the big tub. She could hear their Russian discussion throughout the apartment. Ally should be scared to death. But all she felt was a sense of peace. Maybe this was the direction her life was supposed to be heading. Now to brace for Jay's arrival.

Notes