~ Tales of Romance ~

Whispered Promises

Chapter 19

The soft light of a new morning lit Aleksei's way as he quietly left his wife, sleeping soundly, and headed for the kitchen in search of coffee. Still without electricity, he quietly stirred the glowing embers in the potbelly stove and fed it a few logs of wood. With a grateful look, he watched the tiny tongues of fire begin to devour their new meal.

Finding the old-fashioned coffeepot, already filled with water and ground coffee, he said a silent prayer of thanks for his wife's foresight, and placed the pot on the burner. Now all he had to do was wait.

A quick glance across the room, had him noticing the fire in the fireplace was also burning low, and considering it was their only source of heat, he headed across the room to feed that one as well. Passing the couch, he found himself sliding to a stop on the wooden floor, his expression filling with disbelief, amazement, relief, and something he didn't want to think about too closely, all at once.

There, lay Matt, with Emily sprawled willy-nilly across his chest, her pale curls caught in the stubble of his chin, her beloved blanket draped across her back and covering his upper body, but for his left arm that kept her snugly, in place against his chest. The gesture not only protective, but possessive. The big blanket that Dani had pulled up over the two hours before was now laying more on the floor than either of the sleeping figures, only one little corner lay caught on the toes of his left foot.

Aleksei ran a gentle caress over Emily's tussled curls, his smile widening as she murmured in her sleep, shifted her head the other way, and drifted back to sleep with a sigh. A good-sized circle, where Emily had indeed drooled, was a wet shadow on Matt's T-shirt.

Matt's eyes drifted open, blinked in surprise when he awoke to find Aleksei looking down at him and struggled to get his brain to form a coherent thought. Meanwhile, every muscle in his body complained. Who would have thought a little girl could create such pain? Then again, he was pretty sure he hadn't moved from the time she'd crawled on top of him, not wanting to disturb her peaceful sleep.

"Are you going to make a habit of this, Tanner?" Aleksei asked quietly, one eyebrow arching in question.

"What sir?"

"Stealing the ladies in my life."

Matt looked befuddled.

"First Dani, now Emily. Who's next, Jordan and Chloe?"

"Not to worry sir, two's about all I can handle at once," Matt quipped smugly, sending him a wicked wink, and taking a small amount of pleasure at the look of surprise that crossed Aleksei's face.

"Such arrogance, and from someone covered in drool!" Aleksei tossed back with a deep chuckle.

"At least I don't sound like a 'beastie' when I sleep," Matt challenged lightly.

"At least I won't be in pain every move I make today!" Aleksei stated, catching Matt's wince of pain as he shifted on the too-small couch.

"Point taken," Matt murmured, looking down when he suddenly felt Emily's brush a butterfly-gentle touch across his stubble covered chin, and found himself dissolving beneath her sky-blue eyes.

"You gots a scratchy chin," she stated quietly, smiling into his eyes.

"Not only that, I've got a spot on my shirt where a fairy slept!" Matt countered in a secretive voice.

Emily suddenly scrambled to her feet, her knees coming perilously close to Matt's lap and landing a solid hit to his upper thigh. Already he could feel the muscle clenching into a knot and his hissed in surprise and pain.

"Show me where a fairy slept," Emily pleaded, dancing with excitement.

Matt pointed to the spot on his T-shirt. "Right here."

Emily's little nose crinkled in disbelief and her lower lip fell into a delicate pout. "A fairy didn't sleep there; that's my drooly mark," she stated mournfully.

Matt struggled to a sitting position, and swung his long legs around, every muscle complaining, particularly his thigh muscle that was still throbbing painfully. "Well, Darlin', that's your opinion, and you're entitled to it. But I happen to believe, a fairy slept on my chest last night and that's the mark she left to prove it!"

Emily sent Matt a sidelong glance, full of consideration, before she turned to Aleksei. "Grampa 'Leksei, what do you think? Do fairy's leave marks like that when they sleep somewhere?"

Aleksei's wide shoulders lifted in a shrug. "I don't know, Princess. It certainly sounds like a reasonable explanation to me. Why else would there be some days when those magic rings are on your pillows and other days when they're not? Fairy's don't always sleep in the same place each night, you know?" Aleksei explained in such a reasonable tone that even Matt almost believed him.

"Wow," Emily sighed in astonishment, her eyes wide with joy and amazement. "I got to sleep with a fairy last night!" she whispered reverently.

Aleksei coughed at Emily's unexpected double entendre and ignored the dark look Matt sent him. Much to Aleksei's chagrin, he had no doubt as to Matt's sexual preferences; they clearly ran to his daughter! So there really was no issue as to his masculinity. Still, it was inexcusable to pass up a chance to take a cheap shot at the man who was stealing your daughter out from under your nose, and besides, it was so much fun!

"Can I go tell Mommy I sleeped with a fairy last night?" Emily asked to neither man in particular.

Matt cast a quick glance at his watch; it was still relatively early. "Why don't we give your Mama a few more minutes to sleep, then you can tell her. In the meantime, we'll find us something to eat. I don't know about you, but I'm hungry enough to eat a 'beastie'!" Matt stated dramatically, sending Aleksei a look of challenge, his words sending Emily into a fit of laughter.

"Sorry, Tanner, no 'beasties' today," Aleksei countered, shaking his head in feigned sorrow. "But I'm sure we can dig up some donuts and hot cocoa," he offered instead.

"With marshmallows?" Emily added.

"Of course with marshmallows, unless Matt and Dani ate them all the other night. You should have seen them; they were making pigs of themselves with the bag of marshmallows," Aleksei explained in a scandalized tone, scooping Emily into his arms and carrying her the short distance to the kitchen, where he placed her on the counter, her little legs dangling over the edge.

Making a show of looking for the marshmallows, Aleksei banged around in the small kitchen, his comical antics making Emily laugh, before with great drama, he presented the almost-full bag of marshmallows to Emily and told her to guard it with her life. As Aleksei went about the process of heating water for the cocoa mix, Matt wrapped the blanket around his waist, covering his long, bare legs and limped his way to the kitchen, sliding into the barstool next to where Emily sat on the counter.

With a grateful sigh, and a mumbled "Thanks," Matt accepted the steaming cup of coffee Aleksei placed before him, and took a tentative sip. Warmth and a heart-starting jolt of caffeine raced through his veins and made him feel less like he'd spent a few rounds with Mike Tyson. Sending Emily a mischievous smile, he murmured coaxingly, "Might I have one of those marshmallows?"

Emily looked to Aleksei.

"I warned you about him; he can't eat just one," Aleksei stated knowingly.

"Not true!" Matt stated in protest, sending her a puppy dog look that had her laughing softly. "I'll eat only as many as you want to give me."

"Yeah, and eat your fingers when you quit feeding them to him," Aleksei chuckled.

Emily looked from man to man, the bag of marshmallows held firmly in her lap, her tiny hands holding the bag close. "How about if I feed him only the same number of marshmallows I feed you, Grampa 'Leksei?"

Aleksei sent Matt a dark look, wondering what the younger man was up to that had him ready to play by his rules, when in the past, Matt had made it abundantly clear he would follow his own course of action.

"You get the same amount of marshmallows I do, correct?" Aleksei asked.

Matt nodded.

"No tricks?" Aleksei asked, his eyebrow arching sardonically.

Matt shook his head back and forth.

Aleksei knew something wasn't right, could feel it in his bones, and wondered what Matt was up to by suddenly being so solicitous. Against his better judgment, he muttered, "Okay, and opened his mouth as Emily slipped one large marshmallow gently into his mouth.

"My turn," Matt said, leaning forward so Emily could slip one of the sweet confections between his lips, and sighing heartily as the sugary softness dissolved against his tongue. "They're better stale," he offered casually.

"They are not," Aleksei disagreed, accepting another marshmallow from Emily.

"I like them stale," Matt explained, opening his mouth as Emily held a marshmallow to his lips.

"Well, I like them fresh!" Aleksei countered, nibbling on Emily's fingers as she slipped him another white piece of fluffy sugar.

And so it went, Emily feeding them each one marshmallow at a time, popping them into their mouths with increasing speed until suddenly neither man could fit another marshmallow into their puffed out cheeks, let alone chew the ones that were already in their mouths. Emily took one look at the two and burst into laughter.

Jordan chose that moment to leave her bedroom, and following Emily's cheerful laughter, found Emily sitting on the counter between the two men, with tears running down her cheeks, poking her fingers gently against their cheeks, and laughing uproariously. Jordan found herself fighting to keep from laughing herself as she looked at the two grown men, acting like two year olds, their cheeks filled with marshmallows and a helpless expression in their eyes. It took every ounce of control she had not to join Emily.

"Exactly how many of those things do you have stuffed in your mouths?" Jordan asked in her best 'mother' tone.

"Firteen," the two men responded in muffled voices.

"What?" Jordan asked, tilting her head to the side as if hearing their answer on an angle would make it easier to understand.

"They said 'thirteen'!" Emily answered brightly, her laughter starting all over again as she watched the two men smile at her with marshmallow grins.

Jordan hid her smile behind her hand.

"I thought you two could be trusted to take care of Emily. What kind of an example do you think you setting her by stuffing your faces with marshmallows to the point where you can't even speak?"

Their muffled explanations didn't resemble any language either Jordan or Emily had ever heard before, and Emily's peals of laughter echoed in the small room.

"Do you two think this is mature behavior?" Jordan scolded, looking to both men for answers.

Looking at each other, they both nodded their heads solemnly up and down, barely managing to keep from laughing, but unable to stop the little streams of saliva that trickled from the corners of their mouths, around the marshmallows.

Emily howled in laughter, and Jordan bit the inside of her lip to keep from falling under their humorous spell. With a huff of exasperation, Jordan scooped Emily off the counter, murmured, "Let's go see if your Mommy's awake yet," and with a final disbelieving look at the two men, sashayed away and into the bedroom Andie was using.

As soon as the door closed behind the girls, Matt and Aleksei spit the soggy marshmallows into napkins and tossed them into the small trash can under the sink.

"You are in such trouble!" Matt chuckled deeply, sending Aleksei a commiserating glance.

"And you're not?" Aleksei countered darkly, his ebony eyes sparkling with humor.

"Not even a little," Matt answered smugly, taking a sip of his lukewarm coffee and swirling it around his mouth, rinsing the last of the sticky sweetness of the marshmallows away.

"What makes you think that?"

"I can always claim the stupidity of youth!" Matt stated with a deep laugh.

"And I can claim I was influenced and coerced by the stupidity of youth! Peer pressure and being afraid of not fitting in, and all that stuff," Aleksei argued, sending him a look that dared him to challenge his reasoning.

The look Matt sent Aleksei was filled with humor and camaraderie. "You're really good!" he stated in reverence.

"I know," Aleksei agreed confidently, and sent the door that Jordan had entered only moments before a look so filled with love and longing Matt could feel it in his heart.

"How do you do it?" Matt asked Aleksei softly.

Aleksei's gaze returned to Matt's. "Do what?"

"Keep from exploding with emotion."

Aleksei's deep sigh spoke volumes, and hinted of both craziness and calmness. "I hang on by a very thin thread," he answered quietly.

"I'm not certain I understand."

"Your world can change in the flash of an instant," Aleksei murmured, his gaze taking on a faraway look, as if rolling back the years, and once again finding himself sliding down a mountain side, with Jordan by his side. "Don't ever take for granted tomorrow will dawn for you. I had the arrogance to believe that - once. It took me nearly losing Jordan to realize just what an over-confident bastard I had become. It was also Jordan who taught me just how wonderful life could be, simply sitting in a dark room, listening to the silence and holding the hand of the one you love." Aleksei speared Matt with a steady look. "I recognize so much of me in you. It's probably one of the reasons knowing you care about Dani scares me so much."

"I not only care about her; I love her, sir," Matt interrupted him.

Aleksei nodded in understanding. "It's difficult for a father to let his little girl go; to hand her into another man's hands for safe-keeping, but for some unknown reason, and much to my dismay," he growled, sending Matt a dark look, "I have the feeling I couldn't put her into better hands than yours."

Matt nodded solemnly, managing a barely perceptible smile.

"I like seeing my daughter happy, and for some God unknown reason, she's happy with you. I knew I never should have let her play hockey when she was little," he mumbled as an afterthought.

"She's a damn fine hockey player," Matt offered lightly.

Aleksei nodded in agreement. "She's damn good at everything; except hiding her feelings."

"She'll never have to hide them from me; I won't let her do it. I don't care if it means she's going to rant, rave, cry and throw things, or be so filled with joy she'll be jumping my bones every chance she gets. I want her for what she is; not who she is, and if that entails never stepping foot on the ice again, so be it."

Aleksei looked into Matt's calm, steady blue-gray eyes and saw every answer to every question he had. There wasn't a doubt in his mind; Matt loved Dani the way he loved Jordan; completely, without conditions or guidelines, and he said a silent prayer of thanks for the man that Matthew Tanner was.

"You do know, that if you ever hurt my daughter, I will have to hunt you down and kick the shit out of you?" Aleksei asked, more than a little seriously.

"I wouldn't have it any other way, sir," Matt stated with a brief nod, his eyes meeting Aleksei's in understanding.

"Good," Aleksei agreed only to suddenly jump as the sound of a cellular phone rang somewhere in the vicinity of their room. With a brief, "Excuse me," he headed for the bedroom, and the ringing cell phone, hoping, perhaps, they would get word it was safe to go home.

* * * * *

"Aleksei, do you know what day tomorrow is?" Whittaker's voice boomed across the cellular phone.

Aleksei rolled his eyes. "Hello to you, too, Frank. Everything okay?"

"Everything's fine here, but unless I find a turkey dinner with my name on it, tomorrow will be a day for the crapper!"

"Frank!" Dee's disgruntled voice sang out clearly and the sounds of a brief struggle for the phone ensued beneath Aleksei's ear.

When Frank's voice came again through the line, Aleksei knew who'd won the struggle for the phone. "Is it too much to ask for a simple Thanksgiving Dinner, with the people I love, on Thanksgiving Day?" he growled.

Aleksei's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "The people you love? Frank, don't tell me, after all these years, you're finally turning soft?" Aleksei teased his coach.

"Hell no! I'm just looking for a decent meal. I happen to know that considering your wife's fine attempts, but less than satisfactory results in the kitchen, the chances are pretty good you'll find you and yours an edible meal. I'm simply asking to be one of the 'yours'," he explained simply.

"Frank!" Dee couldn't believe his audacity.

"Is tomorrow really Thanksgiving, or are you just pulling my chain?" Aleksei asked skeptically, unable to believe he could actually have forgotten the holiday. Then again, the way the last few days had been, anything was possible.

"When it comes to food, I don't kid around!" Frank announced seriously.

"I got it," Aleksei sighed, realizing his coach had taken yet another step toward that 'curmudgeon' category everyone complained about. "Tell you what, I'll check around, see what I can find, and get back to you."

"You don't know where I am. How can you 'check around' Rocmanov?"

"You're right, Frank. I don't know where you are, and I don't want to know. But as soon as I can find something that with any luck will be reasonably close for all of us to get to, I'll let you know."

"Sounds rather iffy to me, Rocmanov," Whittaker complained.

"Unless you've got a better idea, it's the best I can do at the moment," Aleksei growled, absently rubbing his left shoulder as a dull ache traced a path to his elbow.

"Don't go getting all pissy with me, Rocmanov. I'm just trying to get us together for Thanksgiving," Frank growled back.

"Bull shit! You're letting your stomach decide what's important; we just happen to fall into the mix!" Aleksei stated darkly, the once dull throbbing in his shoulder sharpening to white-hot heat that speared down his shoulder into his fingertips, and had him clenching his hand involuntarily. The pain then squeezed a hard hand around his chest, allowing only shallow breaths to pass his lips, and his world spun crazily around him. "Christ&ldots;" he pleaded on a whisper and then fell heavily to the floor.

The cellular phone hit the hardwood floor with a loud thud.

Whittaker flinched at the sound of the phone obviously having been dropped and banging on the floor that sounded suddenly in his ear, swore heartily and then frowned when there wasn't any response from the other end. "For Christ's sake, Aleksei! What the hell are you doing?" Frank called loudly, sending Dee a worried look before calling his name again. "Aleksei&ldots;"

"Pissed him off to the point he hung up on you, huh?" Dee asked sarcastically, shaking her head in exasperation.

Whittaker's head shook back and forth, and in the background he could hear the sound of several voices, all speaking at once, and the sound of crying. "Something's wrong!" he stated flatly, his tone causing Dee to look up from the jigsaw puzzle she and Frank had been working on.

"What do you mean?"

"It's pandemonium," Frank murmured, fear clutching his heart.

"What are you talking about?" Dee asked worriedly, reaching for the phone Whittaker held out to her, and placed it against her ear.

"Frank! Frank!" Jordan's voice called fearfully into the phone.

"Jordan? It's Dee. What's going on?" Dee answered, sending Frank a searching glance and reaching for his hand, squeezing it comfortingly and sending him a brave smile.

"Aleksei's collapsed," Jordan murmured numbly, watching as Matt ran his hands carefully over her husband, and checked the bump and cut on the back of his head where he'd hit the floor.

"What?" Dee gasped in disbelief.

"I don't know what happened. Everything was fine and then suddenly there was this huge crash and when we got in here, he was laying on the floor," Jordan murmured quietly.

"Is he breathing?" Dee asked calmly.

Jordan nodded her head up and down in response.

"Jordan? Is he breathing?" Dee repeated her question, more sternly the second time.

"Yes."

"How's his color?"

"What?" Jordan asked in confusion.

"His color, Jordan. How is his color?"

Jordan ran her hands through her hair and gazed lovingly at her husband. "He's pale, but not as pale as he was. That's good, right?" she asked to everyone around her, not really expecting a response.

"Yes, that's good," Dee stated encouragingly. "Jordan, you need to get him to a hospital. You need to call Marcus and have him send his helicopter."

Jordan frowned. "There's a small hospital just a short distance from here, Dee, I'm sure they can take care of Aleksei there."

"Jordan, the little hospital there is fine at setting broken bones and taking care of bee stings and fish hooks in fingers. But if it's his heart, do you really want to risk losing valuable time if you do end up having to transport him to a facility better equipped at handling this type problem?"

Something in Dee's words set off warning flags in Jordan's head. "What do you mean, 'this type of problem'? What do you know and what aren't you telling me Dee?"

Dee shook her head in self-disgust. Now wasn't the time to be dealing with a Jordan who was thinking too quickly and catching every little nuance and word and picking up on things she wasn't meant to catch. "Nothing. I just think Aleksei needs to be in a larger, better equipped, facility. Call Marcus, Jordan. Call him now and don't waste anymore time."

"Dee, you know more than you're saying, and it's really pissing me off, but I'll do as you ask. However, I want you at that hospital and when we meet up, I won't be put off any longer. I want answers; succinct, straight, no bull shit answers!" Jordan stated darkly, rage replacing her fear and bringing a strange calmness with it. Something had been kept from her, and when she found out exactly what it was, and who all it involved, heaven help them all. Aleksei included!

"Agreed," Dee answered softly, rubbing one hand across her forehead as she pondered the conversation to come. She recognized Jordan's tone and it didn't bode well.

"As soon as I know where we're taking Aleksei, I'll let you know," Jordan stated in a no-nonsense voice. "Although, something tells me you already have a good idea and Marcus won't be terribly surprised by the call or the problem."

"Don't go looking for trouble, Jordan. You've enough on your plate at the moment. Just call Marcus, get Aleksei taken care of and then we'll sort this all out. It's really not as bad as you think," Dee stated encouragingly.

"Why doesn't that statement make me feel all warm and fuzzy, Dee?" Jordan raged quietly. "This is my husband we're talking about, and all indications point to him keeping something from me that he shouldn't have, something that could take him away from me and I simply will not allow that to happen. I don't care if I have to walk into hell and kick the shit out of Satan himself; I will not lose Aleksei!"

"Make the call, Jordan," Dee suggested quietly.

Without another word, Jordan ended the call with the press of a button, and then dialed Marcus' cellular phone, quickly explained the situation and listened in astonished silence as he told her step-by-step, what to do, where to go, and when to be there. He never allowed her the opportunity to express her outrage at his knowledge of what she obviously had been completely unaware, or question his instructions. Only when he demanded she repeat his instructions back to him aloud did she let her anger vent.

"Dammit, Marcus. I'm a grown woman, fully capable of remembering a few instructions. You've told me twice where we need to be and when; why do I have to repeat it back to you out loud?"

"Because given the situation, it would be easy to forget a pertinent detail or direction, and I want to make sure you've got everything straight," Marcus explained calmly, despite his racing heart. Aleksei was a long time friend, and he didn't like to think about the number of things that could go wrong and jeopardize his friend's life.

With a deep growl of rage and frustration, Jordan repeated his every word. "There. Does that make you happy now?"

"Nothing about this makes me happy, Jordan. I'm not doing this to cause you more pain. I'm simply following Aleksei's request. I had hoped never to have to be in this position," he stated sincerely.

"Yeah, well, when I find out exactly what's been going on, and for how long, Aleksei's liable to be calling you again to get his ass to safety," Jordan warned. "I refuse to be kept in the dark when it comes to my husband's life!"

"Everything Aleksei does is with you and the kids in mind," Marcus stated firmly.

"Yeah? Well this time he was out of his mind when he forgot to fill me in on his little problem," Jordan countered, sending Aleksei a look filled with so many conflicting emotions she couldn't decide whether to scream or cuddle him close and promise everything was going to be okay. The only thing she was certain of was the feeling she was about to explode.

"Perhaps," Marcus allowed. "Regardless, time is ticking; get Aleksei to the landing strip. The helicopter should be there within fifteen minutes."

"I'll see you soon, Marcus, and, thank you," Jordan offered quietly, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath as she fought against the urge to fall apart and rage at the same time.

The subtle sounds of life moving forward seeped into Jordan and calmed her shaky nerves. The sounds of subdued conversation, calm and up-beat, between Dani and Matt as they knelt on the floor beside Aleksei; Emily's mother quietly offering reassurance to her daughter as they watched Aleksei answer the questions Matt asked him; Emily's bright giggle as Aleksei pleaded with her to tell him that Matt hadn't kissed him when he'd been on the floor. All of these helped to keep Jordan from shattering into a heap of molten nerves beside her husband.

"Marcus is sending the helicopter; it should be here in less than fifteen minutes," Jordan stated quietly, sending her husband a searching look filled with sadness and fear and a hundred questions.

"Jordan, I'm sorry," Aleksei murmured tiredly, his eyes filled worry as he looked at his wife and the pain in her eyes.

"Not nearly as sorry as you're going to be," she countered dangerously; offering her assistance as Matt helped Aleksei to his feet and steadied him.

"It's really nothing to worry about," argued, swaying slightly before his world steadied before his eyes.

Jordan looked up into her husband's dazed expression, his still pale face, and snorted in disagreement. "Right, Rocmanov! You're the picture of vitality right this moment. Maybe we should put our sneakers on and see if we can't find you a marathon to run in so you can use up some of your excess energy!" Jordan growled testily.

"I can think of a better way to use up my excess energy than by running," he countered silkily, sending her a jaunty wink and a sexy smile when she looked up at him in amazement.

She couldn't help the smile the slowly spread across her face as she looked up at her devilishly handsome husband. When he turned on the charm, even if she was furious with him, she simply found herself dissolving beneath his wickedly devilish smile. "Rocmanov, the only thing that's keeping me from killing you right now is the fact you're so cute and too damn weak to fight back. But I'm warning you, for the record, as soon as you're back to full strength, I'm going to kill you; cute or not!" Jordan promised.

"So noted," Aleksei agreed and lowered his head to share a gentle kiss with his wife.

"Matt, the car's ready," Dani announced as she walked in find her parents sharing a kiss. Her eyebrows lifted in amusement. "Daddy, shouldn't you be saving your strength?"

"Giving your mother a kiss doesn't use up any energy," Aleksei countered, sending his daughter a smile.

"You're right. But the two of you never stop with just a kiss and what follows usually requires more than a little energy!"

Aleksei's eyebrow lifted sardonically, and the look he sent his daughter had her blushing. "I don't know that I want to be hearing this, especially in my weakened condition. You shouldn't know about such things," he teased her, enjoying the fact that her cheeks blushed an even rosier shade of pink.

"Daddy!" Dani moaned in embarrassment, sending Matt a quick glance, breathing a sigh of relief when she saw his attention was directed toward her father.

"You ready to go, Mr. Rocmanov?" Matt asked calmly.

"Do I have a choice?" Aleksei quipped.

"Move your ass, Rocmanov!" Jordan growled dangerously, her tone ferocious but her eyes filled with concern and fear.

"I guess I don't," he complained, and with the assistance of his wife, slowly made his way through the small cabin, down the outside stairs and into the awaiting Jeep.

Jordan turned to her daughter, pulled her into her arms and gave her a long hug. "I want you to stay here with Emily and Mrs. DuBois. Matt is simply going to drop us off at the helicopter and then he'll be back to get you all and you can drive to the hospital together."

"Which hospital will you be going to?"

Jordan shrugged her slim shoulders. "I'm sure the pilot will tell us and then Matt will know. We'll meet you there."

Dani kissed both her mother's cheeks. "Have a safe journey, Mama and take care of Daddy."

"You take care too, this mountain's roads aren't always friendly," Jordan stated haltingly, fighting away the images of so many years ago when she and Aleksei had nearly died on the same stretch of mountainous road that they would be driving on.

With one more tight hug and whispered 'I love you's', Dani watched as her mother slipped from her arms and into the back seat of the Jeep. Allowing Matt to drive, she gave him directions, over his shoulder, to the landing pad where, with any luck, the helicopter would be waiting for them.

When they pulled up ten minutes later, the helicopter was on-site waiting for them, loaded with a paramedic team that immediately took Aleksei in tow. Within only a few minutes, they had him loaded inside and wired him up to the various machines that would monitor his heart rate, blood pressure and blood-oxygen levels on the short journey to the hospital.

 "We'll see you soon," Jordan yelled over the sound of the helicopter's racing engine, pulling Matt into her arms for a thankful hug, the wind from the rotor blades sending her shades-of-copper hair swirling madly.

Matt nodded once in agreement and smiled encouragingly. "Aleksei's going to be fine," he yelled back.

Jordan smiled, wanting to believe his words. "You'll be careful going down the mountain!" It wasn't a question but a statement.

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Mrs. Rocmanov, we're ready to go!" one of the paramedics advised her, waving her forward and holding out a hand to assist her up into the helicopter.

With a final wave to Matt, the door closed behind her, blocking out at least some of the noise from the engine and rotor blades. Sliding into the seat beside her husband, she anchored the seat belt across her waist, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Aleksei's hand sliding across her own and squeezing comfortingly had Jordan's eyes drifting open, every emotion clear in their shining green depths.

"This isn't like the last time we were in one of these monsters," Aleksei stated calmly, his eyes willing her strength and courage. It had been so many years before, and it had been Jordan lying in the gurney, tubes and wires surrounding her; her heart beat almost non existent, her body broken, bleeding and limp.

"I know," she whispered brokenly, tears coming despite her attempts to stop the panic that was sweeping her up in its grasping arms.

"Don't be afraid. I'm not going anywhere; I promise!"

Jordan looked into her husband's ebony eyes, saw the determination and promise they held and knew in her heart somehow it would all work out and he would be all right. "I'm going to hold you to your promise," she warned him on a whisper.

"You do that," he countered, sending her a gentle smile.

After that, the helicopter ride passed in a blur of racing engines, whirring blades and beeps, whistles and tones as the medical gear relayed information to the awaiting hospital staff that stood on top of the hospital's rooftop and waited for the arrival of the infamous Aleksei Rocmanov.

* * * * *

Two hours later, after cellular phone calls back and forth, to Sergei and Chloe, and Dee and Whittaker, explaining the where's and what's of all that was going on, and having dropped the DuBois' off at a friend's house, Dani and Matt pulled into the hospital's parking lot. Sergei and Chloe, who had already been there for almost an hour, met them in the lobby.

"How's Daddy?" Dani asked, her green eyes flashing with concern as she slipped into her brother's welcoming arms.

"He's fine," Sergei offered calmly, watching as his sister slipped from his arms and gave Chloe a big hug. "He's with Dr. Harrison, right now. They've been running tests."

"Who's Dr. Harrison?"

"One of the best Cardiologists in the world, according to Uncle Marcus," Sergei offered.

"Uncle Marcus is here?"

"Yeah, he and Mom are 'talking'," Sergei stated, his eyes stating it was anything but a pleasant conversation.

"I can just imagine," Dani mumbled.

"All I can say is it's a good thing he's in a hospital during their discussion, because after Mom's through tearing him to pieces, there will be enough doctors close by to put him back together again," Sergei stated sardonically.

Dani grimaced. She could just imagine the fit her mother was pitching. One thing you didn't do was keep anything regarding her family away from her. Jordan would rather know the absolute worst scenario regarding a specific situation than be kept in the dark under the guise of 'not wanting to worry her'; Heaven help those who tried to protect her or tried to hurt her family. "She's really pissed, huh?"

Sergei snorted. "Mom's in a full blown rage that makes Mt. St. Helen's look like it was nothing more than a marshmallow roast. I'll be surprised if Uncle Marcus doesn't come away with size five footprints up and down his back after she's done walking all over him," he laughed lightly.

"Ouch!"

Chloe chuckled and added, "Sergei's right, I don't know that I've ever seen your mother that mad!"

"Yeah, both Dad and Uncle Marcus are really going to catch hell this time," Sergei agreed with a commiserating shake of his head. "He may come to wish it had been a heart attack instead of Angina; at least then Mom wouldn't be so ready to kill him."

"So it wasn't a heart attack?" Dani asked cautiously.

"Not so far as they can tell. His heart doesn't show any signs of damage that might indicate it had been a heart attack and the fact he's been being treated for Angina for a while now&ldots;"

"What?" Dani interrupted in disbelief.

"A little detail Dad forgot to mention to Mom,"

"Oh Christ," Dani muttered in disbelief.

"Exactly," Sergei agreed, knowing exactly what his sister was thinking.

"He didn't mention anything about it at all to her?"

"Not a word."

Dani thought back over the past few months and tried to remember if she'd ever seen any hints of her father having difficulty physically or bouts of pain and couldn't think of a one. "Do you remember ever seeing Daddy act like he was having chest pains or difficulty doing anything?"

"Nothing, and the fact that we didn't scares the hell out of me. Either we were totally oblivious or Dad did such a good job hiding it from us that he deserves an Oscar," Sergei growled angrily.

"Oh, Mama's going to kill him for this one," Dani predicted.

"As mad as she is right now, she'll probably nurse him back to health, get him back on his feet and then kill him for scaring her the way he did," Chloe suggested.

Matt looked at the three of them, shook his head in disbelief at their casual conversation and then scrubbed his face with his hands; perhaps he was simply trapped in some weird dream. When he dropped his hands, Sergei and Chloe and Dani were still there, watching him expectantly.

Matt looked a bit dazed. "Are you okay, Matt?" Dani asked in concern, sending Sergei and Chloe a worried look.

Matt shook his head, hoping it would dispel the strange sensation that held his body in its thrall, hoping he could escape back into a reality he recognized. It didn't.

"Matt&ldots;" Sergei called, waving his hand back and forth in front of his face, trying to regain Matt's attention.

"Hey Slug!" Whittaker's boisterous voice from behind him and the sudden slap on Matt's back had him jolting back to the present and struggling to regain the air in his lungs. Feeling as if he was coughing up a lung, Matt leaned over, put his hands on his knees, and struggled to remain calm as his breath slowly came back to him.

"For God sakes Frank. Why can't you say hello like every other normal person?" Dee complained, rubbing her hands in comforting circles over Matt's back, and leaning down to check on him. "Are you okay?"

With tear-filled eyes, and still struggling to catch a full breath, he managed to convey he was still alive to Dee, and even offered her a small smile of gratitude.

Whittaker looked at Matt in disgust. "Don't baby him, Dee. He's a hockey slug; they're tough!" he bellowed, sending Chloe a saucy wink.

Dani simply shook her head, her expression filled with exasperation.

"Frank, sometimes you're a complete moron!" Dee chastised him, sending him her own exasperated look.

"Bahhh," Whittaker disagreed, dismissing Matt with a wave of his hands. Turning his attention to Sergei, he asked jovially, "So, what's the scoop?"

Sergei gave him a brief rundown on what had happened thus far, where things stood at the moment, and what needed to be done next.

Nodding agreeably, Whittaker mumbled his agreement and with a loud slap of his hands stated, "Sounds like everything's under control. So, where's the cafeteria?"

Five sets of eyes watched as Frank meandered his way toward the information desk.

Matt, having finally found his breath, could only shake his head and mumble in astonishment, "You guys are fuckin' nuts!"

Sergei, Chloe, Dani and Dee all shared a look, and then nodded in agreement.

Slipping her arm around Matt's shoulders, Dani urged him forward and stated quietly, "Welcome to our world!"

 * * * * *

"Dr. Harrison, Mrs. Rocmanov is back," a nurse advised calmly over the intercom.

"Oh Christ!" Aleksei growled lowly, his eyes closing as he realized his reckoning day was upon him. While they'd been running various tests, Jordan had been ushered into a waiting area and told when the testing was over, she would be advised and could rejoin her husband at that time.

That time was now!

"Bring her on back, please," Dr. Harrison said, sending Aleksei a look of commiseration. "We'll explain everything to her. She'll understand," he offered hopefully.

Aleksei lifted one eyebrow sardonically. "You don't know my wife," he stated flatly.

Dr. Harrison smiled at his comment.

A knock sounded on the door and at the doctor's beckoning, opened to admit Jordan. Moving forward to greet her, Dr. Harrison extended his hand to Jordan, enfolded her small hand in his and introduced himself. Looking down into one of the most beautiful faces he had ever seen; he chatted briefly about nonsensical things, and offered her the seat beside her husband's.

Sinking gracefully into the plush leather chair, her eyes traveled over her husband's face, lovingly inspecting every feature, every nuance of the man she loved so well. Grasping her husband's hand, she laced her fingers with his and squeezed his hand comfortingly. The smile she bestowed upon him nearly melted the doctor's heart as he watched the pair silently communicate.

At Aleksei's node of agreement, the doctor quickly and succinctly explained that he had not suffered a heart attack, but was suffering from Angina and that it could be controlled with medication and by alleviating some of the stress in his life. He also wanted to check Aleksei into the hospital for the next two days, just for observation and additional tests, for the next two days, just to insure that there were no underlying or unfound problems that could become worse in the future if they went untreated.

Jordan listened patiently and calmly to the doctor's words, nodding in understanding when appropriate, but virtually silent during his dissertation. When the doctor had fully explained everything to her, he inquired if she had any questions.

"Only one," Jordan said softly, her eyes glowing brightly. "I want him to be one hundred percent healthy before I kill him. How long do you think that might take?" she asked pleasantly in a tone so sweet she might have been asking for a cookie to go with her cup of tea.

The look of surprise the doctor shared with Aleksei had a helpless laugh rumbling deeply within his chest and with a casual shrug of his broad shoulders, he stated to his doctor, "I told you, you don't know my wife!"

* * * * *

"I don't understand why I have to be on the cardiac floor; it's just Angina," Aleksei argued with the nurse as she settled him in his room.

From the foot of his bed, Jordan sent him a dark look. "Aleksei, don't you think you've created enough havoc for one day? You're skating on thin ice as it is. Don't give the nurses a reason to want to kill you too!" Jordan growled.

Aleksei cast the nurse a cautious look and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her send him an understanding smile.

"Be glad it's only for two days."

"But tomorrow's Thanksgiving," Aleksei sighed dejectedly.

"Considering the idiot you've been, you deserve to miss turkey!" Jordan countered angrily.

Aleksei sent his wife an 'I know I screwed up' look. "I didn't want to worry you."

Jordan's eyes widened in disbelief. "Well, guess what bub? You failed miserably. Next time you decide to 'spare me', forget it and let me worry. I do better when I know what the hell's going on!" Jordan stated haltingly, hating the tears that sprang to her eyes. "We're in this 'for better, for worse' Rocmanov. Don't you dare ever shut me out like that again!"

"It was never my intention to shut you out," Aleksei answered quietly, his eyes filled with sorrow and contrition. "I was just trying to keep this stupid condition quiet until the doctor's got the medication worked out and everything was on an even keel. There's so much going on right now, I didn't want to add anything else to your more than over-full plate."

Jordan stared at her husband; speechless, her mouth parted slightly as her mind whirled madly with all the things she wanted to say, wondering if she'd ever have the time to say them all to him. Slipping onto the bed beside him, their hips touching through the blankets, she took his hand in hers, kissed his palm and placed it against her beating heart. "Aleksei, the kids and I could walk away from everything right this moment if it meant keeping you healthy, and around, for another fifty years. You are all that's important in our lives, not all the medals, and awards and silver platters. We are a family, and as one, we stand solid - together - through everything! Don't you dare ever take it upon yourself to try to hold things together all by yourself!"

A small smile curved his lips. "I'll try to remember that," he murmured softly, leaning forward to share a gentle kiss with his wife.

"If it helps, think of us as Musketeers; one for all, and all for one!" Jordan suggested saucily, running her thumb across her husband's full lower lip, before she stole another gentle kiss.

"Can I be d'Artagnan?" he asked huskily, his ebony eyes gleaming with a sensual light.

Jordan's eyebrows lifted in amusement and her eyes flashed with humor. "Now why doesn't it surprise me that you would want to be that particular Musketeer? Sure you wouldn't rather be Porthos; he was the Musketeer who most loved life and fun, you know?"

"I'd rather be the Musketeer who slept with the Ice Queen," Aleksei countered with a lecherous grin, pulling her into his embrace and holding her tightly. The sweet scent of her Gardenia perfume surrounded him and he sighed in pleasure.

"No one's referred to me as the 'Ice Queen' in years, Aleksei," Jordan chuckled, amused by her husband's inferred entendre. It had taken years, but after the two had gotten married, and then won their Olympic Gold Medal, the press had finally quit referring to her as the 'Ice Queen'.

Aleksei smiled as he felt his wife relax in his arms. "I still can't believe they ever called you that in the first place; obviously they didn't have the foggiest idea what you were really like," he murmured, remembering his own astonishment at her true passionate nature. There was absolutely nothing icy about Jordan Jamison!

"More often than not, people only see what they want to see. Besides, it made for good press," she offered with a negligent shrug.

"Good for whom?" Aleksei asked, his voice a deep rumble.

"Depends on whom you ask. In the long run, though, it brought you to me, and that was certainly good!" Jordan stated, snuggling closer to her husband.

Aleksei smiled and kissed the top of his wife's head. "Better than good; wonderful!" he countered huskily.

In the quiet of the room, the two laid holding each other, Jordan's hand resting over her husband's heart, it's steady pulse beating beneath her palm. In subdued whispers, they shared memories and spoke of all they yet had to do; dreams to be fulfilled, and promises to be kept.

"Promise me you will never keep anything from me ever again," Jordan demanded firmly, her eyes holding his captive.

Aleksei's hand brushed over the silken skin of her cheek. "Never again, my love," her husband promised on a whisper.

Jordan's green eyes lit up with joy and a beautiful smile curved her lips. "Thank you. Now it's time you went to sleep d'Artagnan," she encouraged teasingly.

"As you wish, your highness," he answered huskily, unable to resist stealing one last delicious kiss from his wife's irresistible mouth.

When the nurse checked in on Aleksei thirty minutes later, she found both her patient and Jordan sound asleep. With an understanding smile, she carefully covered Jordan with a light blanket, turned off the lights and wished them both pleasant dreams before she closed the door quietly behind her.

* * * * *

Dee sat in astonished silence as she watched Whittaker take another huge bite of the sandwich he'd purchased in the hospital cafeteria, and wash it down with a swallow of black coffee that had obviously been sitting for too long. Dani, Chloe and Matt sat across the table from Whittaker and Dee, idly sipping at glasses of iced tea and watched as what remained of the sandwich disappeared in a few bites. Dee simply shook her head in disgust as a large belch escaped from Whittaker.

"Exactly what kind of sandwich was that supposed to be?" Chloe questioned her coach, her expression dubious.

"A surprisingly fine egg salad," Whittaker answered, wiping his face with the napkin and tossing it in a ball onto the tray.

"Eggs aren't normally gray, Frank. You were mislead," Dani stated teasingly.

Matt cringed as Dani voiced his personal opinion. Never in his lifetime had he ever seen an egg salad sandwich that looked like the one Whittaker had just inhaled. He could only imagine how long the egg salad had been sitting in some refrigerator. But then, was there a better place to get food poisoning than in a hospital?

"You all are just jealous because I got the last one!" Whittaker countered, offering up another large belch that had everyone at the table groaning as the smell of egg salad filled the air.

Varying comments of disagreement filled the air as Sergei rejoined the group, still talking on his cellular phone. His deep voice, obviously filled with excitement, had everyone directing their attention toward him.

"Thanks, Marcus. Thanks for everything! I'll have Dad give you a call as soon as he's awake," Sergei stated, saying good bye and then ending the call.

Five sets of eyes looked at him expectantly.

"Andrew's been caught. We can go home," he stated in relief.

Questions were fired from all corners and Sergei tried to answer them with the small amount of information Marcus had passed on to him. Finally, unable to stand the deluge of repeated questions, he held up his hand for silence and explained what little he knew. "According to Marcus, Andrew was apprehended breaking into his father's home; seems he forgot about their fancy security system. Anyway, he was arrested without resistance and he's back in police custody."

"What about Manning Senior?" Dani asked.

Sergei shrugged. "He wasn't even home. Marcus said he's been in California on business for the last two weeks."

"Just your basic dysfunctional family," Chloe murmured quietly, reaching for Sergei's hand and accepting his comforting squeeze.

"Who cares about the dysfunctional Mannings? I say, let's get the hell out of here and go home! Tomorrow's turkey day!" Whittaker bellowed, smiling broadly and slapping his hands down on the table.

Groans from around the table abounded.

"As sorry as I am to bring bad news after good, that's the life of a messenger. Dad's been invited to stay here for a couple of days. If all the tests come back okay, they'll release him on Friday," Sergei offered.

Frank's face fell. "But what about Thanksgiving?"

Dee slapped him lightly on his back. "Well, I'm sure they'll be serving Turkey Spam here at the hospital!" she suggested hopefully, her wicked laugh floating in the air as Frank sent her a disgust-filled look.

"Turkey Spam? It'll probably kill me!" he whined.

"You just ate an egg salad sandwich that looked like its expiration date was sometime last spring and you're worried about Turkey Spam? You are unbelievable!" Dee stated, shaking her head in disbelief.

His inelegant snort told her he disagreed with her. "I honestly don't know why I put up with you?" Frank mumbled, squeezing Dee's thigh under the table, their silent communication not missed by Dani and Chloe.

"Because I'm the only one who tolerates your cranky moods, horrendous humor, insatiable appetite, and barely tolerable coaching techniques!" Dee countered flatly, giving him a quick kiss on his cheek and scooting her chair away from the table.

Laughter sounded around the table.

"Where you off to?" Dani called, as Dee headed back toward the cafeteria line.

"To tell the cooks they're going to need more Turkey Spam tomorrow!" she quipped; laughing wickedly as Frank sent her a less than gentlemanly gesture.

Matt watched the exchange between the two and found himself both amused and bewildered by them. It was easy to see there was a connection between Dee and Frank, although they never acted like an official pair. But there were looks and touches and unspoken communiques that said it all. They got along like an old married couple that knew each and every little secret about the other and had learned to tolerate the differences between them that somehow filled the empty places in each of their lives. They were comfortable and happy and despite appearances otherwise, were mad about each other.

"Earth to Matthew," Dani's soft voice hummed in his ear. Matt turned his head, and his heart dissolved beneath the calm, green gaze of Dani's smiling eyes. "You okay?"

Matt scratched his head, not quite certain how to answer her. "How did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Turn out so normal when you're surrounded by lunatics!" he teased her softly, unable to resist touching her hand where it rested on the table.

Tingles raced up Dani's arm at his soft touch. "All of us are lunatics, at one time or another. I just do a better job of hiding my lunacy," she offered, sending him a slanted look filled with mischief.

Matt's eyes darkened. "I've seen your lunacy, Darlin'; I like it!" he murmured huskily, barely able to resist the temptation of her mouth that was only inches away. The fact she blushed rosily at his tone had his eyes glowing knowingly.

"You've had your own moments of lunacy, Mr. Tanner," she countered breathlessly, trying to subdue the urge to climb into his lap and devour him. Wouldn't that just shock the hell out of everyone left at the table?

"It's all your fault; you're a bad influence on me," he quipped, enjoying the way her eyes widened in surprise at his words.

"I am a bad influence on you?" she asked in disbelief.

Matt's blue-gray eyes flashed devilishly. "Yes, indeed. Every time I'm near you I'm overwhelmed with thoughts of how I'd like to influence you," he murmured silkily, his breath a warm caress across her cheek.

Dani's smile widened slowly, a wicked light glowed in the depths of her green eyes, and her hand traced a torturous path up his thigh beneath the table. "I like the way you think."

Matt's hand stopped Dani's path mid-thigh and he sighed in sensual torment. "Darlin', if you could read my thoughts right this moment, you might think differently."

"Am I supposed to be afraid of what you're thinking?"

"I don't know. You tell me. Does the fact that I'd be more than happy to ravish you right here on the cafeteria floor, under this table, in front of your family make you question my intentions toward you?"

"You have intentions toward me?" Dani teased.

Matt smiled wolfishly. "Oh, Darlin', my intentions toward you could make a Madame blush!"

Dani's eyebrows lifted questioningly. "What do you know about Madames?"

"Only what I've read, and if my Mama had even an inkling of the content of this conversation, she'd take to her bed for a week with an attack of the vapors!"

"Your Mama has vapor attacks?"

Matt smiled so sweetly it made Dani's heart skip a beat. "Only when it suits her, but it's a highly effective manner of getting things to go her way."

"Your Mama sounds wonderful."

Matt's wide, boyish smile, and smiling eyes said more than any words could have. It was clear he loved her to death.

"That explains why her son is the marvel that he is," Dani added softly.

Matt actually blushed. "I'm hardly a marvel, Darlin', just a good ol' boy from the South who tries to make his Mama proud."

Dani leaned over and kissed his cheek softly. "I've got news for you Mr. Tanner; you've succeeded, despite my bad influence on you!"

Matt's eyes ran over the classical features of Dani's face and he found himself breathless at the beauty before him. He knew the silken texture of her skin; knew where the few pale freckles that scattered across her cheeks hid, and knew the emotions that swirled in her lovely green eyes. He knew the way her breath caught and held just before his lips met hers and he knew the divine taste of her mouth. Yet, every time he looked at her, it was as if finding something new and magical that took his breath away. She was innocence and seduction, welcoming calm and rampaging energy, comforting calm and the wildness of the unknown, all wrapped up in one petite woman that looked like a fragile doll but was made of titanium. She was simply amazing!

"You're pretty amazing, too, Miss Rocmanov," Matt countered huskily, sharing one final soft kiss with her, and wishing they were somewhere that he could truly show how he felt, without her brother being merely a few feet away. Sometimes retreat was the better part of valor.

He only hoped he survived to see the spoils of war!

 Chapter 20

Matt pushed the button and couldn't help the smile the curved his lips when he heard the doorbell chime out a short Christmas carol inside the house. Wiping his feet on the doormat, as much as to keep warm as to remove the snow that had gathered on his boots, Matt breathed in the cold morning breeze, and listened as the sound of running feet came toward him and door opened before him. There, garbed in form-fitting black knit pants and a bulky red sweater, a silver garland boa draped around her neck stood Dani, flushed and radiating with joy. Her auburn hair was piled up on top of her head in a riot of curls with tiny red and silver silk poinsettia flowers peeking out from the shining mass. Her deep green eyes were shining and filled with joy and mischief, her flushed cheeks simply accented her alabaster skin, and her smiling lips were a glossy deep red that looked so delicious he wanted nothing more than to taste their sweetness. She looked beautiful and whimsical, and so seductive, she simply took his breath away.

"You're late!" she laughed, taking his hand and pulling him forcefully into the foyer, and closing the door behind him. Reaching up, she grabbed him by the lapels of his sheepskin coat and pulled his mouth down to hers, sharing a kiss with him that was brief but filled with so much heat his body flamed to life as soon as her lips touched his. As quickly as she pressed herself against him, she released him and stepped away, her eyes aglow with a teasing light. "You taste wonderful!" she purred in a sultry voice, her green eyes brimming with passion as she ran her hands down the front of his coat.

Matt reached for her wrists, stopping their subtle torment and pulled her toward him, gently twisting her arms behind her back and holding them against her waist, pushing his hips slightly against hers, leaving no doubt as to what she had, yet again, done to him. Looking down into her smiling face, he found himself amazed at the power she held over him. With a single glance, a brief touch, a sexy smile, she could set him on fire in a matter of seconds. He simply loved it! If someone had told him he would find himself so deeply involved - fine, call it what it was - love - with her in a matter of weeks he would have told them they taken one too many pucks to the head. But every minute it got easier to admit: he loved Dani with all his heart and soul, and knew she felt the same way about him. He was pretty sure life couldn't get much better. But here she was, plastered against his front, doing tortuous things to his body in the middle of her foyer and he didn't give a good God damn!

"Darlin', you keep wiggling against me that way, I'm going to be absolutely no good to you at all when it comes to hanging your Christmas lights," he murmured into her ear, his teeth tracing a tormenting path along her neck.

"Promise?" Dani asked on a breathless whisper, her eyes drifting shut as wanton pleasure raced through her veins and made her knees go weak, causing her to lean more heavily against Matt.

Matt's low groan of pleasure, vibrated in his broad chest, as her full breasts pressed against his coat, and her hips pressed temptingly against his pulsing passion. "You're a witch, Danielle Rocmanov," he murmured huskily, releasing her wrists and allowing his hands to curve over her shapely bottom, pulling her even closer to his surging heat.

Her sultry laugh, filled with joy and wickedness, simply confirmed his statement. "You're right! Now, the only question is, am I a good witch or a bad witch?" she asked, her eyes flashing with a sensually, mischievous look.

"Darlin', the way I feel right now, I can only hope there's a little bit of Mae West in you," Matt offered hopefully.

Dani's eyebrows lifted in a silent question.

"Her favorite quote was something along the lines of, 'When I'm good, I'm good, but when I'm bad, I'm better'!" he stated with a slightly frustrated, sexy, lopsided grin.

Dani's full lips curved into a sultry smile and her eyes flashed fire as she lifted up to her toes, pressed tiny, nipping kisses at the corners of his mouth, and at his wistful moan, covered his mouth with hers and drank deeply of the sweetness she found within. Her tongue languidly stroked his, their moans of sharpening desire echoed in each other's throats. With a final brush of her lips, as light as a butterfly's wings, Dani stepped away from Matt, and smiled seductively up at him. In a southern accent, that would have tickled his mother to no end, she slowly drawled, "Darlin', I shall endeavor to be a very wicked witch, just for you!"

"Miss Danielle, you're going to kill me," he stated in husky torment, his eyes darkening passionately to the color of a stormy sea.

"As slowly as I can manage," she countered silkily, her eyes echoing his passionate needs, her breasts lifting and falling with her erratic breathing.

Their fiery gazes held each other captive and their passions soared as they silently communicated their need for the other, and felt it build between them like a volcano slowly coming to life.

"Miss Dani, Miss Dani, when's Matt coming?" Emily called, her voice preceding her as she dashed into the foyer from the family room and came to a sliding stop before him.

"Very soon," Matt murmured quietly to Dani, his double entendre clear, his dark gaze filled with fire, and his body screaming with need.

"You're here!" Emily stated with glee, her blue eyes shining brightly, her blonde curls bouncing excitedly, tiny flowers identical to Dani's peeking from the curls. In fact, she was wearing an outfit identical to Dani's.

Matt cocked his head to the side, passed her a slightly confused look between the two and shook his head as if he were baffled. "Great! Now I'm seeing double," he teased Emily.

Emily laughed brightly. "No you're not. Dani and me is dressed like twins!"

Matt looked them both over, from the top of their heads to the ends of their toes. "'fraid not Princess," Matt stated in correction, shaking his head a bit dismally.

Emily looked at Dani and then down at her own clothes - the same black pants, same red sweater. With a slightly confused look, she looked back at Matt. "Yes we are!" she argued in a sing-song voice.

"Look again." Matt suggested.

Emily did as he asked, and found herself once again shaking her head in confusion. "We look just alike!" she insisted.

Matt sent Dani a dazzling smile, squatted to his knees to look at Emily face to face, and whispered something quietly in her ear.

Emily's sudden, bright gay laugh had Dani's eyebrows lifting in surprise, and her sending them a questioning look. With a quick hug for Matt, and a secretive look at Dani, she turned around and dashed back into the melee taking place in the family room.

"What was that all about?" Dani asked curiously.

Matt got up off the floor and came to stand before Dani, looking down into her glowing face. "It's a secret!" he whispered conspiratorially, tapping the end of her nose teasingly.

"It's not nice to keep secrets," she countered on a murmur.

Matt's broad shoulders shrugged. "Depends on the secret," he stated illusively.

"Ah." Dani acknowledged, her eyes taking on a slightly wicked look. "In that case," she replied cryptically, turning around and lifting her sweater, showing him her tight fitting pants that hugged her shapely bottom.

Matt's mouth went dry and his eyes widened in appreciation of the view. The sudden realization he didn't see any panty lines hit him like a gut punch and had his body flaming again to life. "Please tell me you're wearing panties," he growled deeply.

"It's a secret!" she countered wickedly, sending him a sexy smile and a taunting look.

"It's not nice to keep secrets!" Matt complained, knowing exactly how she would respond.

"'Depends on the secret!'" she stated teasingly, throwing his own words back at him, and then strolled slowly off toward the family room, and the noise level that was increasing with every step, her shapely, panty-line bare bottom, swaying enticingly.

Matt took a deep breath, hoping to calm his rampaging feelings and plucked at the front of his jeans that were painfully tight. Following slowly behind her, he mumbled to himself, over and over again, "Please be a bad witch! Please be a bad witch!"

Dani's laugh, wickedly playful and low; told him she'd heard his words and took great pleasure in the fact she was driving him crazy.

In merely a few steps, Matt caught up with her, spun her around and into his arms, and pulled her hips tightly against his own, his hands spread over the warm curves of her bottom. She gasped in awareness as the heat and strength of his passion stole away her common sense, and she pushed back against his manhood, a low growl rumbling deep in her throat.

"Seduction runs both ways, Darlin'," Matt warned her dangerously, just before his mouth lowered to hers and he devoured her mouth in a searing, delicious kiss that sent her senses exploding and turned her legs to jelly. Then, in what felt like only an instant, Matt lifted his mouth from hers, ending the kiss much too soon as far as Dani was concerned.

Dani's expression was dazed as she struggled to regain her equilibrium and stop her swirling senses. One look at Matt, as he concentrated on breathing slowly, and shifted his hips against the pressure in his jeans, told her he wasn't as unaffected as he pretended to be. "You're right, Mr. Tanner," Dani offered breathlessly. "I say, let the games begin!" She added daringly.

Matt shook his head in admiration. She was fearless. One eyebrow lifted challengingly. "Oh, Darlin', are you certain you want to start this game? Southerners are notorious for their seductive powers!" he warned her silkily.

"We Yankees have a few tricks of our own, Mr. Tanner; don't you worry your sentimental little southern head about anything," she offered challengingly. "I'm not only willing and able to make a run on the South - I'm ready to!" she stated in a soft, velvety voice.

Matt's heart thumped in his chest and his body surged hotly, despite his desire to remain calm. "Darlin', as you'll soon find out, there is absolutely nothing 'little' about southerners!" he stated huskily, his dark eyes daring her to look away.

She didn't! Instead, she lifted her chin defiantly. "You know why women are so bad at measuring things?" Dani asked softly.

Matt's shoulders lifted in a minute shrug. "No, why are women so bad at measuring things?"

"Because," Dani began, holding up one slim hand, her thumb and forefinger only an inch apart. "Men spend their lives telling them this is ten inches," she stated tartly, and with a final saucy toss of her head, left him standing there speechless.

Matt watched her disappear around the corner and heard welcoming cheers at her reappearance in the family room and could only shake his head in amusement. He didn't have a doubt in his mind she was going to best him at their little war and yet the thought of succumbing to her left him looking forward to all the torture, torment and teasing he was sure she was going to dole out. "I am so gonna lose this one!" he mumbled to himself cheerfully and followed the sound of laughter into the family room.

* * * * *

If there is such as thing as orderly chaos, Matt walked into it.

The huge room was filled with boxes, spilling with what looked like hundreds of Christmas decorations, and strings and strings of hopelessly tangled lights. Aleksei sat calmly on one long couch with bowls of popcorn and cranberries resting on either side of him. Carefully he helped Emily, who sat on his lap with a big dull needle, threaded with dental floss, string first two pieces of popcorn and then a cranberry into festive strands for the huge tree that stood in the corner beside the fireplace.

A quick glance at the tree had Matt tilting his head to the side. "Your tree's crooked," he offered needlessly.

"No shit, Sherlock! Thank God you spent those four years at college or you probably wouldn't have even noticed!" Whittaker growled from under the wide boughs of the lower limbs, where only his legs stuck out, as he fiddled with adjusting the stand.

"Thank you, Mr. Grinch!" Dee offered sarcastically, shaking the tree slightly and sending a shower of loose needles on to Frank as he continued to fidget with the stand. Casting a welcoming smile to Matt, she ignored Frank as he complained about the needles sliding down his shirt and followed Matt's silent hand signals as he directed her to pull the tree toward her and then held up his hand to indicate it was straight.

Jordan walked into the room, holding a tray filled with cups of hot cocoa, a bowl full of marshmallows, and a plateful of Christmas cookies. Casting a critical look at the tree, she declared it finally straight, and then groaned as Frank scooted out from underneath the pine boughs and stood up, scattering pine needles everywhere.

"You're vacuuming up that mess!" Jordan stated firmly, searching for a place to set down the full tray, and sighing in frustration as she realized every flat surface was covered with something that should have been somewhere else. "Where did all this junk come from?" she growled in exasperation.

"The attic!" everyone, but Matt, in the room chimed in loudly, the question obviously having been asked before.

Jordan found herself smiling at the silly response before she could stop herself. Giving up finding a spot to place the tray, she handed it to Matt, and said, "Hold this while I clear a spot, please."

"Yes, ma'am," he answered, not in the least surprised by her request. He'd held enough tea trays for his mother (not that he would ever admit doing so to anyone). What was one more tray? Meanwhile, Jordan went to work clearing boxes off of a console.

"Mom, wouldn't it be easier to simply throw this mess away and start all over? We're never going to get these lights untangled!" Sergei stated, coming in from the dining room, where he and Chloe had been trying to untangle the mass of tangled wires in his hands.

"That's what we did last year. Remember?" Jordan answered calmly.

 Sergei sent the lights a look of disgust. "These are the new lights we got last year? How did they come to look like this?" he asked in disbelief.

Jordan sent her husband a humorous look, and smiled as she watched a low flush crawl up his cheeks and found him doubling his efforts to help Emily string her popcorn and cranberries. "If you'll recall, the lights had to come down quickly because of that Alberta Clipper that was forecast for the beginning of the New Year. Your father was worried that if we didn't get them down immediately, we might have to leave them up until spring. So he took them down quickly."

Sergei sent his father a dark look. "And forgot to wind them up."

"The wires were frozen; I didn't want to break them by winding them up too soon," Aleksei countered with a sheepish grin.

"Is it safe to be handling them now or are they still frozen?" Sergei asked testily, holding up the mess of wires and lights.

"It should be safe to work with them now," Aleksei quipped, slipping a piece of popcorn into his mouth.

"Grampa 'Leksei, you're eating up all the popcorn again!" Emily scolded him lightly.

Jordan sent him a censorious look. At least the popcorn was plain and not doused with butter. "How many bowls of popcorn is that?"

"Who's counting?" Aleksei stated with a shrug.

"Four!" Emily answered loudly, holding up four little fingers.

"And we have how many popcorn and cranberry garlands?" Jordan asked Emily.

"Not enough!" Emily demanded, automatically opening her mouth for the piece of popcorn Aleksei offered her, and laughing gaily at Jordan's surprised expression.

"Partners in crime!" Jordan stated with a solemn shake of her head, but the happy light in her eyes belied her stern expression.

"Ma'am, I'm pretty good with lights. How about if I give them a shot?" Matt offered.

"What did I tell you about calling me ma'am?" Jordan asked, taking the tray from his hands and sliding it on to the now cleared surface of the console.

"Sorry, ma'am."

"Matthew!"

"Uh-oh, she's using your full first name. You're in real trouble now!" Sergei teased, tossing the mass of tangles lights at Matt and helping himself to a cup of cocoa, heaping a mound of miniature marshmallows on top of the steaming liquid.

"Old habits die hard - ma' - Miss Jordan," he stated with a chagrined look.

"I understand. But kill that one, would you please?" Jordan asked sweetly, swatting away her son's hand as he went after more marshmallows. "Do you mind? There's more than one person around here that likes marshmallows in their cocoa, like your fiancée." Jordan reminded him and looking around, asked, "Speaking of which, where is she?"

"In the loo!" Sergei stated with a British accent.

"The what?" Emily asked.

"Going potty," Aleksei explained.

"Oh." Emily nodded in understanding.

Jordan frowned slightly. Chloe seemed to be spending a lot of time in the powder room these days. "Is she feeling okay?"

Sergei shrugged lightly. "As far as I know. She's been a bit tired lately, but with all the extra hours we've been putting in on the ice it doesn't surprise me. Other than that, everything seems fine."

Jordan sent another look around the room. "And Dani?" she asked, puzzled that her daughter was missing as well.

Her only answer was a bunch of unhelpful shrugs.

* * * * *

"I do not believe this!" Chloe whispered in disbelief, her eyes filling with tears, as she looked at the thin early pregnancy test stick bearing a positive sign. "It's not possible!" she stated, shaking her head back and forth, as if that simple gesture could change the result that stared her in the face.

"According to this little plastic stick, it's not only possible, it is!" Dani countered, pulling her friend into her arms and hugging her tightly. "I'm going to be an Aunt!" she offered excitedly.

"Terrific," Chloe moaned, dropping her head into her hands. "And I'm going to the Olympics pregnant. I can just see the headlines now, 'Pairs Team Disqualified Because They're a Trio'!"

"You're over reacting," Dani argued.

"I'm unmarried, pregnant, and will end up ruining your brother's chances for an Olympic Gold Medal because I was stupid enough to get caught screwing around when I shouldn't have been," Chloe growled.

"The last I heard, it takes two to make a baby," Dani stated sardonically. "So?" Chloe countered.

"So, you're simply starting your family a little earlier than you'd planned. And you know Sergei is much more interested in you and your safety than winning any Gold Medal," she added softly, her eyes filled with compassion.