Troublemaker (A Jeremy Swayman x NHL AU)

Epilogue ~ One Year Later

Eastern Conference Final
Game Six

Jeremy

We were on the cusp of another trip to the Finals. There were five minutes left and we were tied. But I held strong. Going from sharing starts to being the starter had prepared me for this. It was nice to know that Linus was in the stands with his family and mine. 

And Stella. 

One year later and I'm still in that happy honeymoon stage. Andy says that it never really goes away. He would know since he's marrying his girl in three weeks. But then again, he's beein in love with his girl since he was 22. 

But now I've got to focus. Four minutes left and we need to score. I really don't want to end up in overtime, but I'll do what I gotta do. Consecutive trips to the Finals are not unheard of but it is rare.  But I wanted it. I wanted to prove that I had earned my Venza trophy. 

Three minutes. The plays had been in our offensive zone, but a loose puck slide down the ice and Austin fucking Matthews takes the puck. Fucker became captain of the Leafs at the beginning of the season and had guaranteed that the Leafs would bring home a cup. 

Not on my fucking watch. 

I track him as he picks up the puck and moves down the ice. I've studied him, I've watched, and I've learned.  He's going to deek me top glove side. He's been doing it to every goalie this year and has a 60% success rate. Except for me. I haven't let one in.  I crouch into position, and I watch as he tweaks his position. He's going stick side, I think. I've got this.  As he lets the shot fly, I get my blocker up and let it bounce in front of me.  He let that shot go from 50 feet away, so I have the chance to sweep the puck to Brad. I could see if got away from his defender, who was an idiot and stopped moving his legs when Matthews let the puck fly. 

Brad charges with David and Andy. They have a partial breakaway and a chance. Two minutes. They take the shot and miss but get the rebound. The fans in Toronto are screaming. We're up by one game and if they don't win, they are out. They want to force the tie to get overtime. But Andy Barber is a man on a mission. He circled the net and got it to our new rookie. Kid has magicians' hands and the little shit Michiagans the puck in. 

"Yes!" I roar skating toward the rest of my teammates. I get clobbered from the side as the bench guys get to me first.  We all skate together and celebrate in Toronto. 

After the traditional handshake and the presentation of the Prince of Wales trophy to Andy, who doesn't touch it before we hit the tunnel to our families. I see Stella with tear tracks and her trademark smile. "Hey goalie!" She called out with a smile. "Looking to score?"

I laughed but I made it to her and gave her a kiss. "Hey sweetheart. You look excited." 

She shrugs. "Just a little," she said with a giggle. "I'm so proud of you Jer. One more, baby, just one more series." 

I kissed her hard as I felt something slipped into my hand.  "Can I make you happier?" I asked her. 

"Well, no because..." but she stopped, and the room got deathly quiet. "Jeremy?"

I was down on one knee in front of her holding a little red box. "Stella, you have been my rock, my light, my strength and my love for over a year. And even through I'm not done with this season just yet, I want to ask you to stick with me, win or lose. So," I take a breath, "Stella Nicole Williams, will you marry me?"

I opened the Cartier box to show her the princess cut diamond solitaire that my grandmother had saved for me. Her hands were on her mouth before she nodded, and I smiled. Yes, Jeremy, yes! I stood up and picked her up and swung her around as everyone cheered. I put her back down and slipped the ring onto her finger. It was a perfect fit. It felt like fate. 

Later, on the plane home, I held my girl in my arms as she admired her ring. "When do you want to do this? Next spring or next summer?"

"I mean, we could wait. Then the baby could be a part of the ceremony." 

"Right, that would... be...what?"

"Or we could elope and just have a party later on. I mean I do want Leia and..."

I take her face in my hands. "Stella! Stop! Baby? You're, we're..."

A single tear ran down her face. "Six weeks. I have an appointment in two weeks. But," she pulled out a bag in her purse. It had a pregnancy test with two lines. 

"Oh my god, baby, we're having a baby!" I whispered yelled. I kissed her hard. My hand drifted to her stomach. "Hi baby." 

"Got a little troublemaker in the making, daddy." She brushed my hair back. "I love you." 

"I love you." 

The End