Quietly

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Evgeni woke up to Natalya bouncing on his abs. "Uncle Jay fussed at me" she stated plaintively "He said I am not supposed to be outside without an adult. He is an adult."

"No he not" said Evgeni laughing "You not need open door even for Lazy without me or momma. You wake you momma. I go see about Lazy."

Evgeni pulled on a shirt as he took the stairs two at a time. He smiled when he saw Lazy and Tori Lynn.
Tori Lynn and Neal headed into the house. Tori Lynn wasn't sure what to expect. Neal grabbed her hand. "I love you. No need to be nervous." he said.

"Love you too Neal" she answered.

"I think you both love Evgeni" said G from the door ushering them inside. Evgeni grabbed Tori Lynn in a bear hug and swung her around the living room. "Come meet my Ally" smiled Evgeni sitting her on her feet "Pretty you and Ally no gang up on me and Lazy."

"G don't break my girl" laughed Neal. Geno grabbed him in a bone crushing hug as well. "or me you big Russian bastard."

"Uncle Jay said a bad word." said Nat coming to stand beside Neal.

"Uncle Jay says lots of things" laughed Tori Lynn

"He has to put a quarter in the swear jar." replied Nat.

James pulled out his wallet and handed Nat a twenty "That should cover me for the few hours I am here munchkin." He picked her up and popped her up on his shoulders "Where is this jar?"

"In the kitchen" giggled Nat kicking her tiny feet on James chest.

"What are you doing with all this cursing money? I know your momma and Aunt Ash have potty mouths."

"I'm going to Disneyworld." she said bouncing James sat her on the counter beside the jar which had been glittered and bedazzled to the point he wasn't sure what it had been in a previous life. Nat put the bill inside the jar.

"We can go Disneyworld any time you want" said Neal.

"No we can't James Deter Neal. Normal kid here." admonished Ally "What's with you all and the we can just drop everything and go to Disney."

James just turned his megawatt smiled on Ally. "Ally Cat we can take her Disney anytime we aren't playing hockey. Disney is apparently an American kid rite of passage."

"Yes but we can't having interfering Uncle swoop in and spoil her. That goes for you, Pauly, and Sid." replied Ally. Geno and Tori Lynn came into the kitchen. "God bless you Tori Lynn it's a full time job raising Jay."

"Mean" pouted Neal "too late she loves me."

"What do you think Ally? Pauly keeps telling me he is a better bet?" asked Tori Lynn. Ally cracked up laughing and Evgeni shrugged.

"Babe?" said Neal incredulously. Geno started laughing. "You too G."

"Pauly might be good but you no love Pauly."

Tori Lynn started smiling. Geno was right. He had been right about everything. "What are you some kind of Russian psychic?"

"Nope just know Lazy" replied Evgeni "Tell you that you like Lazy if give chance."

"You and your feels" said Tori Lynn giving Geno a squeeze "I blame you for this."

"You welcome" he replied. Tori Lynn looked around and Neal had disappeared. She heard Nat giggling. Well she knew where Neal was.

"They can play for hours if we let them" explained Ally "They usually run amok the entire time we are in Nashville. It was even worse in Pitt."

"He is a big kid. I took him to Dinosaur World near Cave City. He had a blast." said Tori Lynn "he has been so excited to get here."

"Jay has been a constant in her life. She sees him as a playmate."

"He definitely acts like a kid sometimes." Laughed Tori Lynn

"Jay really likes you. Or else he wouldn't have you here. He has never introduced Nat to any of his girlfriends." Explained Ally " he doesn't even let me meet them. So you are special. Now this is the part where I tell you not to break his heart. Be patient with him. Jay comes off overly confident but he can get his feelings hurt so easily."

"So your Russian has explained. I am pretty sure Neal has more of a chance of hurting me than I ever do of actually hurting him. He drives me crazy. He does ridiculous things. But I can't imagine life without him." Replied Tori Lynn "I love him. And it's insane. I am Bruins fan. Brad Marchand is my favorite hockey player."

"Pretty quit say that" admonished Evgeni coming into the kitchen "lazy you favorite now."

Tori Lynn shook her head and Evgeni laughed." I'm a Boston girl."

"Don't let Natashka hear that. She loves Lazy. She also love you mafia."

"So I heard. Calle will have to sign her jersey when they come down." replied Tori Lynn "and Matti, Prince, and Josi.

"No mafia around my baby." said Evgeni leaning into kiss Ally "no mafia for you either."

James came into the kitchen with Nat and tux on his shoulders. Tori Lynn decided Neal in his glass with messy hair was hot, Neal scruffy in hockey gear was very hot, but Neal with Nat might cause ovaries all over the country to explode. James and her were arguing about something.

"Ask her yourself brat" said Neal sitting her on the counter.

"Do you really sing songs with Florida Georgia Line?" Asked Nat

Tori Lynn nodded. Nat's eyes got big. "Will you come sing for me?"

"You have to get dressed for dance" said Ally "you promised."

"How about I get dressed with you and we can both surprise Jamie?" compromised Tori Lynn winking at James "Jamie can get my bag and my guitar."

"Will you you Uncle Jay?"

"What's it worth to you two?" He asked.

"A kiss" exclaimed Nat.

James leaned in an accepted the smacking kiss from Nat. He looked at Tori Lynn expectantly. She placed a kiss in the exact same spot as Nat. James growled and captured her mouth with his. They broke apart when Nat started clapping. Tori Lynn buried her face in Neal's neck.

"I'm gonna have a baby cousin and a baby brother" announced Nat "Aiden says when people kiss with their tongues you get babies."

" Natalya Evgeniya Schafer-Malkin stop saying that. We've talked about this." Fussed Ally. "Sorry" she said looking at Tori Lynn. Tori Lynn was looking at a bewildered Neal. She was trying not to laugh.

"G who is Aiden?" Asked James

"Is boyfriend. He kindergartener. I think I kill."shrugged Geno "I figure judge say he understand."

"He's 5" said Ally " maybe I'll talk to his momma. Upstairs young lady."

Nat held her arms out to Neal and he sat her on the floor. She took off out of the kitchen. Neal laughed. "Dude you are screwed" he said to Geno.

"Lazy just wait until you have baby Pretty boss you." responded G "you see."

James smiled at the thought of a miniature Tori Lynn. Holy fuck that should scare him to death. But he could picture her in sundresses at the lake. A lil girl that looked like Tori Lynn but with green eyes. He needed to put that on the to do list.

"Lazy have it bad. Daydream." Said G clapping a hand on his shoulder. "I help with bags." They fetched the bags from the Rover. They both quickly changed and settled in to watch the NHL channel. He had taken the bags upstairs and been banished by Nat. She informed Neal that they had to get pretty for him. He could hear Tori Lynn playing her guitar.

"Hey G" called Ashley coming in the door. She noticed the Rover in the drive but had forgotten Neal was there. Damn she had forgotten how hot he was. "You made it Nealer.

"Couldn't leave my best girls hanging" he replied "so you walking with me in this wedding"

"I guess. Maybe Sid since you are off the market" teased Ashley "where is this tamer of wild men."
"Upstairs playing guitar for Nat." He answered.

"So she is hot, sings, and is good with kids." groused Ashley. James smiled and nodded. "I think I hate her."
"You'll love her. She is from Kentucky." He scolded "be nice. I'll hook you up with a Pred"

"I need a roster with photos before I decide" pouted Ashley. Neal held out his phone so she could flip through his Instagram. "That one" she said pointing at Josi.

"Come down with Ally and Nat. Tori Lynn will hook you up with the mafia boys."agreed Neal "bring your dancing shoes. Those Swedes like to dance. Josi is a good guy."

"He is also not Swedish, James Neal!" Said Tori Lynn coming down the stairs. She had on a retro looking pink and black polka dot dress and a matching black cardigan. Her hair was up in a ponytail and her make up perfect. "He's Swiss. You must be Ashley. Nat has told me all about you. I'm Tori Lynn." Even in the black heels Tori Lynn was shorter than Ashley.

"Really she looks like a retro Barbie." said Ash looking at Neal "better hang on Nealer."

Tori Lynn laughed. Neal smiled at her and tucked her up against his side. Ally came down in red dress and heels. Neal let out a whistle. G smacked him. They were all standing at the foot of the stairs waiting for the princess to descend the stairs. "Now" called Nat. Ally told her yes. Nat came down the stairs in a green, red, and white Christmas dress. It was beautiful and had a fluffy tulle bottom. She had huge bow pinned in her hair that matched. She had tiny black heels on her feet.

"Excuse me Miss. Have you saw my best girl. She is about this tall" James gestured holding his hand up to her height "she was wearing my hockey jersey. She seems to have disappeared."

"Uncle Jay it's me! You and Pauly get confused by my make up!"

"No! Nat isn't a princess."

"I am too your Princess." she said "look!" Tori Lynn was laughing at his antics. James picked her up to inspect her.

"I guess you'll do" he said ticking her.

"Jay don't muss her up!" said Ally

"Oh it's the mom voice" said Ashley.

"It's okay, Tori Lynn yells all my names." shrugged Neal "Come on princess Natalya. We need to get your booster seat in the Rover. You and Tori Lynn can sing all the way to the recital."

"Jay" began Ally but she was interrupted by Evgeni "thank you" said G "it's easy to move I help."

"Enjoy the time with G. We'll stay behind you and I promise to watch them both. Ashley want to ride with us." said Tori Lynn grabbing Neal's suit coat.

"Sure so not gonna be a third wheel."replied Ash "I make sure we get there."

Tori Lynn and Ash started out the door toward the Rover. James was buckled into the back seat beside Nat holding a sparkly pink chevron bag. "Guess I'm driving" said Tori Lynn.

"We're watching Frozen" said James. Her cocky borderline obnoxious boyfriend was firing up DVD players in each seat for the bedazzled 4 year old in the booster seat next to him. James was wearing a charcoal gray button down with darker gray slacks. He didn't seem the least bit disturbed that Nat was leaving a trail of Christmas glitter all over him. Tori Lynn pulled onto the road and took a last glance in the rear view mirror. The Real Deal was currently holding hands with a four year old singing along to Frozen. She was wrong when she thought she couldn't love him more.

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