"When did you develop an interest in hockey?" Violet asked Mila rather suspicously. Although Mila has played soccer for years, she really wasnt interested in follwing any type of sports. All of a sudden she is wearing a Blue Jackets hoodie and so very excited to go to their Meet the Players event. Violet hoped she hadnt developed a crush on Jack, Taylor's brother, who was 15. He was a nice kid and a damn good hockey player, but Violet thought Mila was much too young to get herself involved with a high school boy.

"Well, Jack couldnt go to the Meet the Players party because he had a game and Taylor's mom isnt into that sort of thing. Jack hated to see the tickets go to waste and really wanted some of the players' autographs, so Taylor and I volunteered to go to get stuff signed for him" Mila said rather convincingly.

"Sounds legit..Have a good time!!!!", Violet said ,still not sure of Mila's true intentions. Violet had her own reason to worry about Mila's sudden interest in hockey.

Trencin June 1999
Violet was happy this was going to be her last figure skating competition, at 18 she had grown tired of the sport and lost all passion for a sport she loved so much as a kid. Her last competion found her in a small town in Slovakia, called Trencin. Violet wasnt impressed, there wasnt much to see or do in this area, unless you liked hockey.

Violet and her friends decided to check out a game, some of the players were around her age but very skilled. One them caught her eye the minute he hit the ice. He wasnt all that attractive, he had curly bleached blond hair and crooked teeth, but had the most charming smile and twikle in his eye. He was also a very fast and aglile skater, which was a big plus for Violet since she loved to watch people skate. He would shoot the pucks at the glass causing Violent to jump up in shock from the loud noise. He was a beast out on the ice, scoring two goals and two assists. He was sure fun to watch!

After the game, Violet and her friends, who were old enough to travel with out chaperones, congregated out by an old plague statue to sneak in a smoke and couple of drinks, they were soon joined by a group of hockey players who partook in the festivities with them. Violet immediatly made her presence known to the blonde skater who introduced himself as "Marian" in broken English.

Violet and Marian started taking shots of some sweet liquor and before they knew it they found themselves heavily making out in a dark alley. They next day she went over his house to watch movies, needless to say, not much movie watching was done that night or any other night they got together at his his house.

They were inseprable for the next two weesk, they would take turns watching each other skate and play, camp at a lake, check out Trencin castle and shop in Bratislava, they couldnt keep their hands off each othe either. Marian had dreams of playing in the NHL and was hoping to get drafted the next year, if that didnt pan out he wanted to be a men's clothing designer. Violet was all set to go to Ohio State in the fall to student finance, the future looked bright for them both.

Violet was devasted when she had to leave, they exchanged e-mails and promised to write, but nothing more was planned. Violet's flight home to Columbus was long and she was exhausted when she got home. Much to to her shock, he ex boyfriend, Rich, who she had broken up with a month before she left for Slovkia, was at the airport waiting for her with her parents. He immediately apologized to her for his cheating ways and vowed to change, Violet belived him. However, she told him about her fling with Marian in Slovakia, Rich understood and they made a fresh start.

Violet and Rich held off on having sex for a couple of weeks until Violet could get on birth control. Violet went to the doctor and much to her shock the nursing assistant told her. "Sorry, you can you are about 6 weeks pregnant!". Violet couldnt believe it and burst into tears, to make it worse she never heard a word from Marian after she came back even though she sent him a quick email to say she made it back safely and missed him.

She immeditately told Rich, who told her not to worry, that he would take care of the baby and raise her as his own. They got married in June 1999 and Mila was born one month early Feb. 14 2000. Little did they all know that Mila would share a birthday with her biological father.

Mila never bothered to look up Marian, although Rich and Violet were busy juggling school, work, and a small chlild, they both were wonderful parents to Mila, especially Rich who took great joy in spending time with her, teaching her how to play soccer and reading her bed time stories everynight. However, Rich couldnt stop his wandering eye and him and Violet divorced when Mila was 5.

Rich continued to be an excellent father, he coached Mila's soccer team , helped her with her homework and made her a huge part of his new life with his new wife, Sarah (a window with two small boys, who later had twin boys with Rich). Violet had a great job as a financial planner at Nationwide and datied a widower for years, but broke up with him because she got tired of living under the shadow of his dead wife. She has been single for 2 years and really doesnt mind.

Things turned out for the best bet there are times where Violet looks at Mila and has to look away. She has Marian's mouth, smile, deep set eyes and that twinkle in her eye. There are times Violet thinks that Mila deserves the truth, but when ever she sees Mila and Rich together, it breaks her heart to say something to ruin that bond between them. But one day the truth is going to come out and Violet must prepare for it.