Micah and Vero took up residence in the kitchen of the West home. Micah opened the backdoor so that she could see the boys who had settled in on the back patio. Paul was still holding Estelle. Damned if that wasn’t hot. Micah and Vero were both drinking lemonade. She couldn’t bring herself to drink wine in front of a pregnant woman. Micah was pretty sure that was considered cruel.

“Hey, crank that crock pot down to low!” called Pauly from the patio “It’s been on high long enough.”
Micah went over to the crock pot. She was staring at it intently when Vero joined her at the crock pot. “It is the little knob. It goes ‘ere for low.” She explained. Micah smiled at her sheepishly.

“I told you, I am in way over my head.”

“Is fine.” said Vero smiling at her “Paul ‘e needs people to need ‘im. And ‘e is not ‘ard on your eyes.”

“No,” laughed Micah “He’s not.” She took her seat beside Vero. Micah looked at the beautiful dark haired woman. She managed to look more put together pregnant than Micah ever did on her best days. Vero was wearing a beautiful sundress and wedge heels. She reinforced Micah’s idea that Paul was used to beautiful women.

“Micah, ‘ow did you meet Paul?” asked Vero.

“I didn’t realize that dishwashing liquid and dishwasher soap were two different things. So I put dishwashing liquid in the dishwasher. Per Deacon, I made the dishwasher puke bubbles. They were everywhere. A complete disaster, I lost two of the boys and flooded the entire kitchen. Deacon ran and grabbed Pauly to help me.” Explained Micah “They had talked about their neighbor Pauly all day, about cookies and snacks. Needless to say I thought Pauly was an elderly female. No clue that it was a hot hockey player.”

“Yeah, well I was expecting a boy Mike.” teased Paul coming to stand behind her. He handed Estelle to her mother “She wants her mommy. No hockeys.”
“Oui, no hockeys.” laughed Vero “She only wants hockey when she can try and skate.”

Paul checked on the crock pot. He seemed satisfied with it’s progress. He grabbed 5 bottles of Gatorade from the fridge. He headed outside after winking at Mike “It was a good surprise.”

Vero laughed. Estelle was busy gulping down her mom’s lemonade. The little girls dark brown pigtails were askew. She was babbling at her mother. The little girl was a tiny version of her beautiful mother. “So Paul, he came to the rescue?” asked Vero

“He pulled the boys from the bubbles, managed to stop the dishwasher, and haul me out of the bubbles.” replied Micah “It was a huge mess. I was a sopping wet mess. Drowned ginger rat.” Vero’s laugh rang out again. “Paul sent me upstairs and somehow turned cleaning the kitchen into a game. I was on the verge of giving up. I confessed I might have fudged a little on my ability to take care of the triplets.”

“Oh Micah” said Vero “ Fudged? ‘ow much fudge?”

“I have babysat before, and I have student taught. I can keep myself alive. So, I figured no big deal. They are just little boys, right?”

“Non,” laughed Vero “One baby is ‘ard. Three boys is insanity.”

“Yeah” sighed Micah “But Pauly has kinda stepped in. “

“Pauly ‘e does that.”

“He slept at his place last night, but other than that and the time he worked out with Kris, he has been helping me. “

“The better question is where will ‘e sleep tonight?” teased Vero. Micah blushed a furious red. Vero laughed harder. “Oh Micah, I am teasing. Well, mostly teasing. Judging from what we walked in on.”

“It hasn’t even been 24 hours!” exclaimed Micah.

Vero shrugged “When you know, you just know.”

“How did you know Flower was the one?” asked Micah

“We ‘ave been together since school. It ‘as always been Marc Andre for me.” She replied easily. Vero kissed her daughter “Now we ‘ave Estelle and this one on the way.”

“Well that’s just disgustingly perfect.”

“Oui.” answered Vero “Maybe Catherine and Kris are better role models.”

“Paul’s boyfriend Kris?” asked Micah

“Non, Jay is Paul’s boyfriend.”

“Jay?”

“James Neal, ‘e got traded to Nashville.” explained Vero.

“He dates Tori Lynn.”

“Tori Lynn keeps Jay in line.” laughed Vero “Jay wasn’t used to girls not falling for that lazy smile and messy ‘air. Tori Lynn is very good for Jay. And you are good for Paul.”

“I’m not so sure.”

“I am very sure.” replied Vero “I see everything. The first night with Tori Lynn and Jay, I say ‘e like Tori Lynn. ‘e was ‘olding ‘er ‘and. James Neal was not the type to ‘old ‘ands. Maybe above your ‘ead against the wall. But not just ‘old ‘ands.”

“He sounds charming”

“Jay is at best a reformed manwhore.”

“And you think this is like me and Paul how?” asked Micah

“Paul doesn’t just kiss random girls.” explained Vero “Paul isn’t the type that runs from girl to girl. ‘e won’t be out at all the bars and parties.” She eyed Micah as she spoke “And I bet that was not the first kiss we walked in on, no?”

Micah flushed red again “I might have kissed him first this morning.”

“Might ‘ave.” laughed Vero “Oh, you are going to be great. I will introduce you to the other girls that are in town. Break up day was yesterday. Everyone is scattering. We will have a girls day.”

“It might be hard to have a girls day with the triplets in tow.”

“We will leave them to ‘ockey with the boys.” shrugged Vero “I tell you they are good daddies. Pauly will not be going to Minnesota for a while. ‘e will ‘elp you.”

“What am I helping with?” asked Paul kicking his shoes off at the door. The triplets were shoving one another as they kicked off their shoes and sat them beside Paul’s flip flops. Why did the sight of all those shoes together make her heart thump in her chest.

“These ‘ellions.” smiled Vero. Estelle started laughing at the boys shenanigans.

“Upstairs guys, wash up. Then you can do your homework. And maybe catch part of a game.” instructed Paul.

“Can we watch the Hawks destroy the Preds?” asked Daylon

“We can watch them try.” replied Paul.

“Do you think Jay will score?” asked Deacon.

“If he pulls his head out of his….” Began Daylon before Paul cut him off.

Vero and Marc Andre were both laughing. Estelle was reaching for Devan who was the closest triplet to her. “The boy is right.” replied Flower.

“Don’t encourage him, Frog!” called Pauly washing his hands at the kitchen sink. He walked towards the stairs “I don’t hear water running.” Paul laughed as he heard the faucet turn on. “And use soap.” He heard a chorus of groans from upstairs. Soap was kryptonite to dirty little boys.

“Paul,” began Vero “You will watch the boys if Micah and I go shopping, non?”

“If you throw in Estelle and Flower it’s a deal.” replied Paul rummaging around in the cabinets. He produced a large metal bowl. “Ready for part two of making dinner?” he asked turning to Micah. He then looked at Vero “You guys staying for dinner?”

Estelle let out a huge yawn. Marc Andre smiled at his baby and stroked her dark hair. “It looks like the queen and the princess are both tired. So I think we will ‘ead ‘ome.”

“Are you sure?” asked Micah

“Oui,” said Vero “She is cute until she is tired. Then she is a terror.”

Micah heard the triplets before she saw them shoving their way downstairs. “Speaking of terrors. Boys, no fighting in the house.”

“Take it outside boys!” called Paul from the other side of the kitchen. Micah glared at him. “What?”

“How about no fighting period.” said Micah crossing the kitchen to Pauly.

“Totally not what you said, Mike.”

“Semantics, Paul Martin.”

“And on that note we will ‘ead ‘ome.” laughed Vero “Paul, you will give ‘er my number.”

“Yes Ma’am.” he replied with a mock salute.

Once the Fleury’s had left Paul called the boys in the kitchen. He made them sit at the table and do their homework while they worked on dinner. Periodically, one of them would answer a math question. He was managing to help the boys with their school work and help her with dinner. He really might be an American hero.

Paul was leaning against the counter between the table where the boys sat and the kitchen where Micah was boiling noodles for mac and cheese. She seemed more confident after hanging out with Vero. He hoped she would like Vero. He had already walked her through pulling the pork apart and returning it to the crock pot with the sauce they had picked. They had tossed potatoes in the oven. By the time they finished the homework dinner would be done. Paul was watching Micah.

“What?” she asked when she caught him staring.

“Nothing.” he said smiling at her.

“They’re making goo goo eyes at one another.” said Daylon

“Shut it.” replied Devan “I want Pauly to stay.”

“Notice they could care less if I'm here.” deadpanned Micah

“We love you too Mike!” exclaimed Deacon looking at his brothers fiercely.

Pauly started laughing at the three boys. They finished their math homework. He banished them to the rec room until dinner was finished. Paul fished the baked potatoes out of the oven. He sat them aside to cool. He checked on Micah’s pasta progress. He stepped very close to her and peered over her shoulder into the pot. Micah looked back over her shoulder at Paul “You don’t trust me to boil pasta?” She asked.

“Pasta looks fine.” replied Paul “I was just looking for an excuse to wrap my arms around you.” Paul wound his arms around her waist and pulled her against him. “You and Vero seemed to get along.”

“She’s a hard person not to like.” answered Micah “She beautiful and very charming.”

“You’ll like Carole-Lyne and Maureen too.” he replied.

“More Pens people?” she asked

“Duper and Kuni’s wives.”

“You don’t have to introduce me to your entire team, Pauly.”

“Maybe I want to.” he said giving her a little squeeze. She turned in his arms so she was facing him. Paul's hands settled on her hips. “I’d introduce you to Sid and Geno, but they are on a plane to the World’s right now.”

“World’s?”

“Big world wide tournament.”

“Why are you not there?” she asked looking up at him.

“It’s been a rough year.” he replied honestly “I need to step up.”

“I don’t know much about it, but I can’t imagine you not giving a 100%.”

“Sometimes it takes 110%.”

“You can find that 10%.” she responded. Paul dropped a kiss on her mouth.

“I hope so.”

“I know so.” she replied. She grabbed his hat and turned it backwards on his head. She pulled him closer to her. Micah’s lips descended on his. It went from a sweet reassuring kiss to fiery heat. He didn’t want to let go but they needed to get dinner on the table. Paul groaned as she nipped his lip. Damn. He wanted to keep this up, but he knew getting the boys ready for school took priority. Being a grown up fucking sucked sometimes.

“Okay, let’s get the mac and cheese in the oven.” instructed Pauly give her another small kiss “I am reserving the right to continue this discussion after the boys are in bed.” Micah nodded and turned back to her noodles.

He taught her how to make the sauce for the mac and cheese. Once it was combined and in the oven. She began setting the table. Paul worked along beside her. He was pouring milk in to glasses for the boys. Vero was right he would make a great daddy. She didn’t realize she had been staring at him until he smirked at her. Great now she was ogling him. Pauly fixed all five of the potatoes. She laughed at the amount of butter, sour cream, and cheese he put in the boys potatoes. The timer sounds and she pulled the food from the oven.

Dinner was a lively affair. Spilled milk, arguments over tonight’s hockey game, and pleading and wheedling so they didn’t have to bathe. Micah and Pauly made the boys clear the table and load the dishwasher.

“It’s probably safer to let them work the dishwasher.” teased Pauly.

“You are a cruel man, Paul Martin.” she groused. He snagged an arm around her middle and pulled her close.

“It’s okay, Mike.” said Deacon “We can help you.”

Micah laughed and rubbed his overly long hair. “Okay guys, if we are going to watch hockey everyone who was playing hockey needs a shower. I am not watching hockey and snuggling with smelly boys.” The boys all groaned.

“Closer to the live experience.” said Paul “Hockey guys are often smelly.” The boys laughed. Micah pointed up the stairs. The boys sighed in defeat. She watched Paul set the timer on the dishwasher to start after they went to bed.

Pauly grabbed her and planted a kiss on her lips. He turned her loose and flipped his hat around. He then put on his flips flops. He was almost out the door.

“Where are you going?” asked Micah. She then realized it probably sounded clingy. He’d dropped everything to help her.

“I’m following your instruction and going to take a shower. I am a smelly hockey boy.” he answered.

“I didn’t mean you.” she groaned.

“Not taking any chances.”

“I promise you are fine.”

“I’ll be back in 20 minutes.” he said giving her a smile “Because I’m definitely planning on snuggling you.” She watched him walk out the door. She shook her head. He kept her guessing. She then realized he was getting cleaned up for her. She flew up the stairs. What does one wear to snuggle a NHL player?

Notes