Hockey Rules (Bucky Barnes AU x NHL)

Best Friends Are Mean Sometimes

*~* Emma *~*

As I headed back to my office, I ran into the owner of the Ducks, Tony Stark. Literally.

"Oh god, sorry Tony."

"It's ok Emma. You ok?"

"Yeah, just distracted. I got the new guys set up in the locker room."

"Yeah, how are they measuring up?"

"Trevor's shy, Jamie's a gentleman and I don't have a read on Barnes or Rogers yet. I know they are best friends which is an advantage. Otherwise, I haven't seen them play yet."

"I should put you in team analytics. You're usually spot on."

"Happy to help, always, Tony." My phone buzzed with a new message.

Please Em, I love you. I'm sorry.

I rolled my eyes and said, "Sorry Tony. Duty calls."

Tony eyed me and said "Alex?"

"God, am I an open book?"

"No, but you only get that face when you are dealing with him." Tony chuckled.

"Ryan said the same thing. Need me to work on anything? I've got to get the new guys to the apartments after practice."

"Nope. Thanks, Em, for taking care of them." He pulled me in for a hug. "I'm sorry I traded him."

"It's not your fault, Tony." I understood about the trade. It was a business decision, not personal. I walked back to my office and closed the door. My desk phone rang.

'Emma." I answered.

"Hey princess."

"Hey daddy."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just a long day. Got the new guys here and I'm finishing setting up their stuff."

"You sure that's all?"

"Yes, dad. What's up?"

"I just missed my girl. Dinner tomorrow?"

"We have a game tomorrow. I need to make sure the new guys are good to go."

"Against who?" Dammit, I should have given him any other answer.

"Boston." I said softly.

"Sweetie..."

"Look I know what you are going to say. But I haven't missed a game unless I was sick and I'm not going to start now. It's been a few months. I'm ok. Ryan already got me a new jersey and everything. I won't go down to the locker rooms unless I have to. I'll just stay in the box."

"Ok Em. I understand. Maybe dinner the next day?"

"Sure dad. I love you."

"Love you too, Emma."

I concentrated on work for the next couple of hours until Ryan called and said practice was over. I headed back down and stood by the doors until the first guy came out.

"Hey squirt."

"Hey Barton." Clint Barton was the general manager of the Ducks. He's been here since we won the Cup. "How'd practice go?"

"Good. Coach thinks the new guys will fit in nicely."

"That's great! With Josh and Jacob out, it would be good to have defensemen we don't have to teach the ropes too."

"I love it when you analyze, Em. Are you waiting for the newbies?"

"As is the job, Clint. They almost ready?"

"I think you can walk in. You comin' tomorrow?"

"Yep, wouldn't miss it."

"Even with..."

"Even with, Clint. I won't let him take away this. I love this team. You know that."

"Whatever you say, hockey princess. You in my box?"

"Yeah. Nat said it would be ok."

"Of course. See you tomorrow." He leaves me with a hug and a kiss on the forehead.

I walked into the locker room. Most of the guys were dressed.

"Hey Em!"

"Hey Brick!"

"I really hate it when you call me that," John Gibson, one of our goalies said with a smile.

"Why? You're a brick wall. Nothin' gets by you!" I winked as I walked backwards away from him.

"You're gonna give him an ego," Rickard Rakell said.

"Whatever Rik Rak!" As I laughed and ran right into someone. I almost fell but strong arms held me up like I was being dipped. I looked up at a shirtless Bucky Barnes.

"You alright?"

It took me a minute to respond. "Uh, yeah, sorry. I should really pay attention." He put me back on my feet and smirked.

"You know, for hockey royalty, you should be better at balance," he said jokingly.

I narrowed my eyes. "Who told you?"

"I have my sources. Anonymous ones." He laughed as he shrugged on his shirt.

I looked around the room and conveniently the entire team refused to look at me. "When I find out who ratted, they will pay!" I yelled at the team.

Ryan just started laughing at me. "Getzlaf, I swear..."

"Em, you aren't gonna do anything! You're five feet nothin' and ..."

"Am in perfect position for punches in a certain area, Cap! Wanna go?"

The entire team were taking bets on this fight. Then Ryan tested his luck. "You couldn't do it if you tried, Emmalina!"

The entire team went quiet. Nobody calls me that. Not anymore anyways. That was Alex's name for me.

"That's it!" I yelled as I lunged for him. Strong arms once again stopped me.

"Hey Doll, Ya gotta calm down. Ya might kill him," Bucky said with a chuckle. The accent almost had me swoon.

"Let me go! He has it coming!" As the team started laughing, Ryan came over and kissed my forehead.

"Sorry Em. You made that too easy." He said with a laugh. I managed to get an arm loose and swung at his stomach, doubling him over.

"Ha! Told ya!" Bucky let me go to laugh at the captain trying to catch his breath. I straightened myself up and turned to the newbies. "Ready?" I said calmly as if nothing had just happened.

"Sure doll, lead the way," said Bucky with a shake of his head. "Cap, you gonna be ok?"

"Thanks for stopping her, Barnes. I'll live. Maybe. Rogers, Zegras, Drysdale, have a good night. Bye Emma."

I turned around and stuck my tongue out at the Captain. "I'm telling Paige." I ran out of the room.

Ryan's face paled. He looked at the new guys. "Don't ever let her become friends with your girlfriends or wives," he told them as the rest of the team howled.