Love You Long Time (Duncan Keith)

69| What's Next

Alyssa

I've had my fair share of game 7's in my life. There was the 2011 series against the Canucks and the 2013 one against the Red Wings. But this one was different. This game seven meant a lot. They would have a chance to be the first team to win the cup in back to back years should they beat the Kings here at home tonight. The only thing was is that the King's wanted to get back to the finals to reclaim the cup that they won before the Hawks did last year.

The boys were pretty confident which was good. We all knew they were a good team, they've won plenty of games before and they just needed to win one more. We all had faith that they can do it.

As for me. Well I'm almost nine months along now and I was ready for this kid to be here. Duncan was too, but for two totally different reasons. It was obvious our honeymoon wasn't coming for another while and I guess that's okay. I didn't want to be pregnant while going around the world anyway, plus it'll be cool to make some memories with the baby once she gets here.

"I never get over how cool this is" Duncan admits as he rests his hand on my hockey jersey covered baby bump. It keeps moving and he holds his hand there.

"To you it feels cool. To me it is a tiny bit painful" I admit.

"Is there anything I can do to help" he asks.

"Get her out" I tease and he laughs.

"Soon" he assures me.

"Not soon enough" I sigh.

Eventually I find Tristan and we head to the UC. I send Tristan with Abby and Maddie before pulling Duncan to the side.

"What's up" he wonders.

"I know that this game tonight means a lot to you. But I want you to know that whatever happens, I am so proud of you. You're forever going to be the best player in my eyes and I'm so proud of what you've done" I insist.

"Awww thanks baby. Come here" he insists as he tries to pull me into a hug. He kisses my forehead and I smile as I tangle my fingers in his suit.

"I love you" I remind him.

"I love you too" he smiles back.

I eventually let him go and catch up with Tristan and Abby. We find our seats in the stadium and sit down to watch the game. It was almost too nerve racking, I don't feel like I should be here considering I could pop any day. I don't want us to score a goal and I send myself into labor.

"Are you good" Abby asks as she notices my death grip I had on my seat.

"I haven't been this nervous since... well since the last game seven we were a part of" I admit.

"They'll be fine. They always seem to do the impossible" she insists.

"Yeah. Like make my blood pressure go even higher" I joke and she laughs.

The third period ends in a tie which means it was time for sudden death over time. It was called sudden death for a reason, because at any sudden moment you feel like you're doing to die.

"I can't watch this" I mumble as I cover my face with my hands.

"It's okay mommy" Tristan says as he grabs my hands.

"Thanks buddy" I smile as I give him a quick kiss on his cheek. Can we really lose if we still have him?

The over time period gets started as we anxiously wait for someone to score a goal. And for that someone to be us. But about halfway through the first overtime periods the Kings score a terrible goal, but a goal nonetheless, and win this game seven sending them to the Stanley cup final.

It broke my heart seeing the guys so upset. I wasn't even mad hockey was over, I've had enough hockey in my lifetime to last me for the rest of my life. But those guys down there were some of my best friends. They took me in as one of their own and I loved them, all of them.

After the handshake line the guys salute the fans one last time for this season. I know it was hard to lose like this at home but they shouldn't hang their heads. They've accomplished so much in the last year and some. They should be proud of themselves and I hope they knew that.

After they leave the ice we wait for everyone to head out of the building before heading downstairs. We wait in the crammed hallway as reporters fill the locker room. The door was open and you can hear everything in there. It was so dead that you can hear the cameramen clicking buttons. Each player gave their interviews and Duncan was one of the last ones. I had a sleeping Tristan in my arms and we wait for him to finish up. I listen in to what he says to try and figure out what mood he's in.

"Is this a game you're going to think about for a while" someone asks him.

"I don't think so. It's not good to wallow in the bad. It's going to hurt for a while, but I have plenty more to look forward to. My wife is due any day so this means I get to spend those first few precious days with my girls. Of course I want to be playing hockey but the bottom line is that I'm not anymore. And I'm not going to let the fact that I'm not take away from me being a good dad or husband" he explains.

"Are you guy going on your honeymoon" someone asks.

"I mean eventually. But my mind is making sure my girls are safe and happy before we make any plans" he insists.

"What are you going to do to be ready for next season" someone asks.

"I'm not going to change much. We were a good team last year and a good team this year. We'll be a good team again next year. Tonight the puck luck wasn't ours, there's not much you can say about that. We gotta put this behind us and focus on our one goal again" he explains.

"And now that the seasons over, what are your offseason plans" someone questions.

"Easy. I'm going to have a baby, I'm going to remind my wife how much I love her, then when the time comes I'll be back in the ice."