Let it Snow
You'll be Mine
Caroline walked into the Blackhawks’ locker room for her interviews with the team. She got assigned to the morning skate before their game against the Sharks. Smiling at her first victim of the morning, she made her way over to him. When she turned back to her cameraman, Fred, he counted down to one.
“Nick Leddy, how are you this morning?” She asked, smiling sweetly.
“I’m pretty good, Caroline, how are you?” Nick’s smile only made hers grow.
Nick knew Caroline from back home. She would practice her interviewing skills on him, while every other boy on his junior league would fawn over her older sister, Monica. They both were pushed into the background of the scene. Even if Caroline would try to talk to the other boys, Monica would come around taking their attention off of the young girl. He’s always had a thing for her, but she never noticed him.
“I’m doing great!” She giggled. “So what do you expect from tonight’s game against the Sharks?”
“You are never too sure when you get out there, but practices have been going great. So we might just win this thing tonight.” Talking with her always came easy for him.
“I know it’s hard to get home for Christmas during the season, but what have you come accustomed to here in Chicago to make it feel like home?”
“Being around just the team and my friends during the holiday’s kept me from feeling down about not being with the family. But that doesn’t mean I don’t miss them. And sometimes they even make time to come to me. However, this year they couldn’t make it.”
“Well, thank you for your time Nick.” After the Fred gave the signal that they have stopped recording, she turned back to Nick. “You’re family isn’t coming up this year?”
“Nah. Grandpa isn’t doing so well, so they decided to go visit them.” He shrugged his shoulders.
“Awe. I’m sorry to hear that Nick, tell them I said Merry Christmas though.” She began to look around for her next victim. He knew this. He watched her zero in on her next target, shaking his head at her weird antics. Turning back around, she hugged him. “See you later Nicky! Come on, Fred!”
Nick watched her as she walked over to Patrick Kane. She hugged him, laughing at something he said. She always had the greatest laugh. During the interview he had his arm around her shoulders, making her laugh the whole time. He felt pissed and sad at the same time; pissed that Kaner was getting her attention, but sad that he couldn’t make her laugh like that.
“Do you want me to tell her, or should I just sit here and watch you get pissed Kaner is all over her like usual?” The voice of Jonathan Toews filled his ears.
“Huh?” Nick glanced back at his captain.
Jon smirked at his teammate. “It’s plainly obvious you have a thing for Caroline.”
“I know.” He glanced back at the girl he liked since he was in his teens. “And I plan to get her to notice that this Christmas.”
“Good luck man.” Jon patted him on the shoulder.
“Thanks.”
♪♫♪♫
A few weeks later, when Caroline got home that night from dinner with her friends, she found a note and a box outside her apartment door. Picking them up, she unlocked her door and walked inside, setting them on the kitchen counter. Before she opened up the envelope, she turned on the radio, and the first song that came on was ‘Let it Snow’.
On the first day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
One golden locket.
-N.
She stared at the piece of paper confused, but she soon remembered the box that came with it. Quickly tearing the box open, there sat a small golden locket. She slowly picked it up out of the box and examined it. On the back was a key hole and on the back was engraved, ‘The best interviewer’. Flashbacks went back to the day of the morning skate, after her interview with Leddy.
“Well if it isn’t the best interviewer, I know,” Kaner grinned, pulling her into a hug.
But if it was Patrick, why did he sign the card with an N? Either to throw me off or it wasn’t Pat at all. Sighing, she placed the locket around her neck after she couldn’t pry it open.
♫♪♫♪
The very next day, when she returned home that morning from the gym, there sat another box and an envelope. After unlocking her door, she picked up both objects and went inside, turning on the radio. Once again, ‘Let it Snow’ filled the room. Ripping open the envelope, she pulled out the small piece of paper.
On the second day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
Two red bells.
-N.
Opening up the box, there sat two red bell ornaments, conjoined by a plaid bow and golden ribbon. It reminded her of the bells that once hung with the Leddy’s mistletoe. A second note fell out of the box when she pulled them out.
Hang them where no one will notice them. Maybe with some mistletoe?
-N.
♪♫♪♫
Today was the day before Christmas Eve. Each day since the first, Caroline has received a new gift and a new letter, and every time before she opens it she turns on the radio and ‘Let it Snow’ always comes on. She woke up this morning to an invite to the Hawks’ Christmas party, by Toews nonetheless. Sadly, her gift for today has yet to arrive. And surprisingly enough, every gift she has gotten so far has reminded her of Leddy, besides the locket that is. For some reason, I think it might just be Kaner, and he really is trying to throw me off. Upon arriving to the party, once she walked through the door, ‘Let it Snow’ started. Groaning, she spotted Nick and went right over to him. She was starting to get really sick of this song.
“Hey, Nicky,” she smiled, tapping Nick’s shoulder.
“Hey, Car.” He smiled, bring her into a hug. After he pulled away, he picked up the locket around her neck, smiling even more. “Nice locket.”
“Thanks,” she laughed, shaking her head. “Someone has been sending me gifts for ten days now.”
“Really? Who?” He smirked, cocking an eyebrow. It went unnoticed by her because she was searching for someone in the crowd.
“I’m not too sure, but I think it might be Kaner,” she shrugged her shoulders, causing him to frown. Before he could question her more, she quickly gave him a hug before running away into the crowd. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Nicky. For our un-tradition of our Christmas Eve game.”
“Yeah, see ya.” Nick sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“So, how is it going?” Jon asked, scaring him slightly.
“She thinks Kaner is sending them.”
“Huh, I wonder why. Weren’t they all pretty much based from your teen years together?”
“Yeah, that’s why I don’t get it either. Everything clearly points to me.”
♫♪♫♪
Caroline sighed, putting on her ice skates. After she questioned Patrick about the gifts last night, he said they weren’t from him. When she arrived at the skating rink, a box and note sat on the bleachers for her. It was another ornament; a snow flake. She has always loved the snow since she was little, but when it got too out of control, she hated it. However, the note today told her to meet them in Millennium Park at seven at night for my Christmas present.
“Nice snow flake,” Nick’s voice made her jump.
“Dipshit, don’t scare me like that,” she rolled her eyes, smacking him lightly on the shoulder.
“Sorry,” he chuckled, shaking his head. “You ready?”
“You’re so on, Nicholas.” She smirked, going out on the ice.
They started a friendly game of one on one. At one point Caroline would be in the goal, but after three goals she would move out and have her go. They continued to play for another two and half hours. After they felt like they were done, the made their way to the bench, laughing and pushing each other. She went to ask Nick something because after a while, she figured something out, but as soon as her mouth open, a voice not hers came flooding out.
“Coco!” Caroline groaned at the stupid nickname.
“Momo,” she turned towards her sister, watching her crinkle her nose at her nickname. “What are you doing here?”
“Mom, Dad, and I decided since you couldn’t make it for Christmas, we will come to you!” Monica grinned, eying the boy next to her sister. “Isn’t that great?”
“It’s fantastic,” Caroline murmur dripped with sarcasm, but her sister didn’t hear it. She turned towards Nick to apologize, but Monica came and sat down in between the too.
“Nick, right?” Monica batted her eyelashes.
Caroline became infuriated. Her sister always did this; either with the guy she liked or some random guy she just happened to bump into on the street and just said two words to him. I’m sorry. Nick never fell for her sister, but this time, when she looked at her so called best friend, he was laughing at something her sister said. Shaking her head, she went unnoticed by the two, and started taking off her skates. When she stood up, that’s when Nick took noticed in her.
“Car, where are you going?” He knew he was paying attention to her sister, but her sister gave him no choice. When he tried to look at Caroline, she would block his view, and touch his arm gently.
“Home,” she spoke quietly. Getting up, she had no intention of going back into the rink, but she forgot her snow flake. But what she saw when she walked back through the tunnel, made her heart shatter into a million pieces. There stood Monica and Nick kissing. “How could you.”
Barely hearing her, Nick pulled away from the surprise kiss. He saw the tears in her eyes, causing his heart to break. “Caroline, I-.”
“How could I what?” Monica looked at her little sister confused, wondering what she did wrong.
“Nothing,” she shook her head, and turned to leave. Before she did though, she looked Nick dead in the eye. “Don’t expect me to show up tomorrow.”
Nick watched her walk away. With his snow flake and heart. Sighing, he too walked away, leaving a very confused Monica behind.
♪♫♪♫
Despite her promise, she ended up going to Millennium Park, to escape her family. It’s not like they missed her, Monica was there. This Christmas morning she woke up to Monica shouting at her to wake up and to open presents. It wasn’t till the last present she took in the familiar box and envelope. Deciding to open it, she read the note first.
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
The key that holds my heart.
I know you don’t want to see me today, so here is the gift that I held onto till I was supposed to see you. I’m sorry about yesterday.
-N
Inside the box set another gold chain, but this time it held the key to her locket. She came to the park in hopes of finding him, but no such luck came of it. Caroline sat down on a snow covered bench and pulled her coat on tighter in hopes of fight off the winter cold. She didn’t care if her butt got wet, or she froze herself to death. As long as she was away from her family, she would be fine.
“Car,” the whisper made her jump, but she just sat there. She felt him seat next to her, sucking in a deep breath. “What are you doing here?”
She didn’t respond. She just handed him back the key to her locket. “I haven’t opened it yet.”
“Why?” He slowly took the necklace out of her hand.
“Because I didn’t think it would be appropriate if I opened it without you,” she finally turned her gaze to his, smiling softly.
He smiled back, unzipping her jacket slightly to find her locket. His gloved hands sent tingles down her exposed skin. She watched him as he slide the key into the hole and turning it. With a click, the locket popped open. He turned it so she could see what was inside. On the right side held a picture of the two when he was still in junior; she sat cuddled up to him on the benches, kissing his cheek. He had a goofy grin upon his face. On the left side were more engraved words. 'Notice Me’. Caroline smiled, glancing back up at Nick’s face, which sat centimeters away from hers.
“I’ve always noticed you,” she whispered. Leaning forward, she placed a soft kiss on his lips. As soon as their lips touched, ‘Let it Snow’ started to play through the park’s speakers, making her giggle in the kiss.
“What?” Nick asked, cocking an eyebrow.
“When we finally kiss goodnight,” she softly sang along. “I’ll hate going out in the storm. But if you’ll really hold me tight. All the way home I’ll be warm.”
“You’re such a goof ball,” he shook his head laughing, and placed his arm around her to kiss her once more.
“Nick Leddy, how are you this morning?” She asked, smiling sweetly.
“I’m pretty good, Caroline, how are you?” Nick’s smile only made hers grow.
Nick knew Caroline from back home. She would practice her interviewing skills on him, while every other boy on his junior league would fawn over her older sister, Monica. They both were pushed into the background of the scene. Even if Caroline would try to talk to the other boys, Monica would come around taking their attention off of the young girl. He’s always had a thing for her, but she never noticed him.
“I’m doing great!” She giggled. “So what do you expect from tonight’s game against the Sharks?”
“You are never too sure when you get out there, but practices have been going great. So we might just win this thing tonight.” Talking with her always came easy for him.
“I know it’s hard to get home for Christmas during the season, but what have you come accustomed to here in Chicago to make it feel like home?”
“Being around just the team and my friends during the holiday’s kept me from feeling down about not being with the family. But that doesn’t mean I don’t miss them. And sometimes they even make time to come to me. However, this year they couldn’t make it.”
“Well, thank you for your time Nick.” After the Fred gave the signal that they have stopped recording, she turned back to Nick. “You’re family isn’t coming up this year?”
“Nah. Grandpa isn’t doing so well, so they decided to go visit them.” He shrugged his shoulders.
“Awe. I’m sorry to hear that Nick, tell them I said Merry Christmas though.” She began to look around for her next victim. He knew this. He watched her zero in on her next target, shaking his head at her weird antics. Turning back around, she hugged him. “See you later Nicky! Come on, Fred!”
Nick watched her as she walked over to Patrick Kane. She hugged him, laughing at something he said. She always had the greatest laugh. During the interview he had his arm around her shoulders, making her laugh the whole time. He felt pissed and sad at the same time; pissed that Kaner was getting her attention, but sad that he couldn’t make her laugh like that.
“Do you want me to tell her, or should I just sit here and watch you get pissed Kaner is all over her like usual?” The voice of Jonathan Toews filled his ears.
“Huh?” Nick glanced back at his captain.
Jon smirked at his teammate. “It’s plainly obvious you have a thing for Caroline.”
“I know.” He glanced back at the girl he liked since he was in his teens. “And I plan to get her to notice that this Christmas.”
“Good luck man.” Jon patted him on the shoulder.
“Thanks.”
♪♫♪♫
A few weeks later, when Caroline got home that night from dinner with her friends, she found a note and a box outside her apartment door. Picking them up, she unlocked her door and walked inside, setting them on the kitchen counter. Before she opened up the envelope, she turned on the radio, and the first song that came on was ‘Let it Snow’.
On the first day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
One golden locket.
-N.
She stared at the piece of paper confused, but she soon remembered the box that came with it. Quickly tearing the box open, there sat a small golden locket. She slowly picked it up out of the box and examined it. On the back was a key hole and on the back was engraved, ‘The best interviewer’. Flashbacks went back to the day of the morning skate, after her interview with Leddy.
“Well if it isn’t the best interviewer, I know,” Kaner grinned, pulling her into a hug.
But if it was Patrick, why did he sign the card with an N? Either to throw me off or it wasn’t Pat at all. Sighing, she placed the locket around her neck after she couldn’t pry it open.
♫♪♫♪
The very next day, when she returned home that morning from the gym, there sat another box and an envelope. After unlocking her door, she picked up both objects and went inside, turning on the radio. Once again, ‘Let it Snow’ filled the room. Ripping open the envelope, she pulled out the small piece of paper.
On the second day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
Two red bells.
-N.
Opening up the box, there sat two red bell ornaments, conjoined by a plaid bow and golden ribbon. It reminded her of the bells that once hung with the Leddy’s mistletoe. A second note fell out of the box when she pulled them out.
Hang them where no one will notice them. Maybe with some mistletoe?
-N.
♪♫♪♫
Today was the day before Christmas Eve. Each day since the first, Caroline has received a new gift and a new letter, and every time before she opens it she turns on the radio and ‘Let it Snow’ always comes on. She woke up this morning to an invite to the Hawks’ Christmas party, by Toews nonetheless. Sadly, her gift for today has yet to arrive. And surprisingly enough, every gift she has gotten so far has reminded her of Leddy, besides the locket that is. For some reason, I think it might just be Kaner, and he really is trying to throw me off. Upon arriving to the party, once she walked through the door, ‘Let it Snow’ started. Groaning, she spotted Nick and went right over to him. She was starting to get really sick of this song.
“Hey, Nicky,” she smiled, tapping Nick’s shoulder.
“Hey, Car.” He smiled, bring her into a hug. After he pulled away, he picked up the locket around her neck, smiling even more. “Nice locket.”
“Thanks,” she laughed, shaking her head. “Someone has been sending me gifts for ten days now.”
“Really? Who?” He smirked, cocking an eyebrow. It went unnoticed by her because she was searching for someone in the crowd.
“I’m not too sure, but I think it might be Kaner,” she shrugged her shoulders, causing him to frown. Before he could question her more, she quickly gave him a hug before running away into the crowd. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Nicky. For our un-tradition of our Christmas Eve game.”
“Yeah, see ya.” Nick sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“So, how is it going?” Jon asked, scaring him slightly.
“She thinks Kaner is sending them.”
“Huh, I wonder why. Weren’t they all pretty much based from your teen years together?”
“Yeah, that’s why I don’t get it either. Everything clearly points to me.”
♫♪♫♪
Caroline sighed, putting on her ice skates. After she questioned Patrick about the gifts last night, he said they weren’t from him. When she arrived at the skating rink, a box and note sat on the bleachers for her. It was another ornament; a snow flake. She has always loved the snow since she was little, but when it got too out of control, she hated it. However, the note today told her to meet them in Millennium Park at seven at night for my Christmas present.
“Nice snow flake,” Nick’s voice made her jump.
“Dipshit, don’t scare me like that,” she rolled her eyes, smacking him lightly on the shoulder.
“Sorry,” he chuckled, shaking his head. “You ready?”
“You’re so on, Nicholas.” She smirked, going out on the ice.
They started a friendly game of one on one. At one point Caroline would be in the goal, but after three goals she would move out and have her go. They continued to play for another two and half hours. After they felt like they were done, the made their way to the bench, laughing and pushing each other. She went to ask Nick something because after a while, she figured something out, but as soon as her mouth open, a voice not hers came flooding out.
“Coco!” Caroline groaned at the stupid nickname.
“Momo,” she turned towards her sister, watching her crinkle her nose at her nickname. “What are you doing here?”
“Mom, Dad, and I decided since you couldn’t make it for Christmas, we will come to you!” Monica grinned, eying the boy next to her sister. “Isn’t that great?”
“It’s fantastic,” Caroline murmur dripped with sarcasm, but her sister didn’t hear it. She turned towards Nick to apologize, but Monica came and sat down in between the too.
“Nick, right?” Monica batted her eyelashes.
Caroline became infuriated. Her sister always did this; either with the guy she liked or some random guy she just happened to bump into on the street and just said two words to him. I’m sorry. Nick never fell for her sister, but this time, when she looked at her so called best friend, he was laughing at something her sister said. Shaking her head, she went unnoticed by the two, and started taking off her skates. When she stood up, that’s when Nick took noticed in her.
“Car, where are you going?” He knew he was paying attention to her sister, but her sister gave him no choice. When he tried to look at Caroline, she would block his view, and touch his arm gently.
“Home,” she spoke quietly. Getting up, she had no intention of going back into the rink, but she forgot her snow flake. But what she saw when she walked back through the tunnel, made her heart shatter into a million pieces. There stood Monica and Nick kissing. “How could you.”
Barely hearing her, Nick pulled away from the surprise kiss. He saw the tears in her eyes, causing his heart to break. “Caroline, I-.”
“How could I what?” Monica looked at her little sister confused, wondering what she did wrong.
“Nothing,” she shook her head, and turned to leave. Before she did though, she looked Nick dead in the eye. “Don’t expect me to show up tomorrow.”
Nick watched her walk away. With his snow flake and heart. Sighing, he too walked away, leaving a very confused Monica behind.
♪♫♪♫
Despite her promise, she ended up going to Millennium Park, to escape her family. It’s not like they missed her, Monica was there. This Christmas morning she woke up to Monica shouting at her to wake up and to open presents. It wasn’t till the last present she took in the familiar box and envelope. Deciding to open it, she read the note first.
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
The key that holds my heart.
I know you don’t want to see me today, so here is the gift that I held onto till I was supposed to see you. I’m sorry about yesterday.
-N
Inside the box set another gold chain, but this time it held the key to her locket. She came to the park in hopes of finding him, but no such luck came of it. Caroline sat down on a snow covered bench and pulled her coat on tighter in hopes of fight off the winter cold. She didn’t care if her butt got wet, or she froze herself to death. As long as she was away from her family, she would be fine.
“Car,” the whisper made her jump, but she just sat there. She felt him seat next to her, sucking in a deep breath. “What are you doing here?”
She didn’t respond. She just handed him back the key to her locket. “I haven’t opened it yet.”
“Why?” He slowly took the necklace out of her hand.
“Because I didn’t think it would be appropriate if I opened it without you,” she finally turned her gaze to his, smiling softly.
He smiled back, unzipping her jacket slightly to find her locket. His gloved hands sent tingles down her exposed skin. She watched him as he slide the key into the hole and turning it. With a click, the locket popped open. He turned it so she could see what was inside. On the right side held a picture of the two when he was still in junior; she sat cuddled up to him on the benches, kissing his cheek. He had a goofy grin upon his face. On the left side were more engraved words. 'Notice Me’. Caroline smiled, glancing back up at Nick’s face, which sat centimeters away from hers.
“I’ve always noticed you,” she whispered. Leaning forward, she placed a soft kiss on his lips. As soon as their lips touched, ‘Let it Snow’ started to play through the park’s speakers, making her giggle in the kiss.
“What?” Nick asked, cocking an eyebrow.
“When we finally kiss goodnight,” she softly sang along. “I’ll hate going out in the storm. But if you’ll really hold me tight. All the way home I’ll be warm.”
“You’re such a goof ball,” he shook his head laughing, and placed his arm around her to kiss her once more.
