16- Black, 17- White, 18- Friends

16. Black

Ryan Miller walked through the city with a heavy mind. His hands were in his pockets, he was wearing a newsboy cap and a dark black houndstooth jacket; this way he wouldn't be easily recognized. Ryan needed some time to think, and perhaps make a plan.

His first idea was to jump in his car, floor it to Pittsburgh and go straight to the Consol Energy Centre, find Anna and make the world's most sorry apology. Either that, or he'd find out her address (Danny likely knew, and he was simply a text message away) and arrive at her house, drop to his knees and make the world's even sorrier apology. Both, he thought, sounded like suicide missions.

The second idea he had would be to somehow arrange a meeting with her before she started working at the HSBC and speak with her. Ryan wasn't sure to begin. "Hey, I hear I got you pregnant," didn't exactly sound like the best icebreaker.

The third would be to wait until she started working there and try not to be awkward in explaining her cared about the fact that she was having his baby. Easier said than done, given, as Danny had once told him, that Anna had a temper worse than Chris Pronger.

His last resort was to change his name, leave the city, eventually the country and become a European rent boy. Or jump off the Peace Bridge. Both sounded appealing.

The only thing Ryan knew was that he wanted to take responsibility. He wanted to go to Anna and tell her that he wanted to help her in every way possible. He wanted to take her hands in his and swear he'd do anything to make it better. He wanted to tell her how much he...liked her.

Ryan thought of his little brother Drew, all the way out in Tampa Bay. Drew was married and a Stanley Cup champion. Ryan was single and still hadn't made the playoffs in the past five years. But they were still brothers, and Ryan recalled he talked to Drew and spoke to him about everything. They were friends; long-lost ones, separated by the country's distance.

Despite his anger with himself, embarrassment and shame, Ryan decided that Drew would be the one to call. He had all the answers. He always did. It was as though the roles were reversed. He headed home to call his brother, ready to break the news and beg for a snippet of advice to get him out of the hellhole he called his life.

-

17. White

"I'm going to kill him" Irma Tremblay announced, gripping her coffee cup fiercely, "I really am."

"That's not an option, Irma," Brittany Crosby said tirelessly, "Unfortunately."

"Well, I'm going to put it as a last resort, then," Irma said, leaning back on the sofa, "It had to be Ryan Miller. That stupid, freaking-"

"Language!" Brittany hissed, gesturing to Gavin in the next room.

"Sorry," Irma rolled her eyes, "I'm just so surprised at Anna. She was always the tough one, you know? Always held her ground."

"Yeah, but she can't hold her liquor," Brittany said under her breath, "At least that night she couldn't. I can't believe Max didn't watch her."

"Don't blame me!" Max Talbot shouted from the other room, trying to help Gavin finish his Dora puzzle, "I was dizzied up too, you know!"

"We all were," Flower said from the easy chair, resting his chin in his palm, "There are pictures to prove it."

"I still have the best Facebook comments on them," TK said with a grin, "Seriously."

"Regardless, that doesn't solve the problem," Irma said, "That's why we're here, right Victor?"

Victor Hedman, Irma's boyfriend, looked up from his spot on the couch next to her, looking extremely bored, "Huh?"

"We're here to help." Irma nudged him.

"I'm just here because I was told there would be nachos," Victor said quietly.

TK snorted. Irma ignored him.

"Well Dan broke the news already," Sidney told them, "TK and Kris were there. Well, for the aftermath."

"She won't speak to us," Kris said sadly, "I feel like I'm in kindergarten again and no one wants to play with me."

Gavin came running over, "I'll play with you, Uncle Kris!"

Kris smiled, "I feel loved," and followed Gavin to the playroom to assist Max with the puzzle.

"It was a unanimous decision," Sidney continued, "And I believe it was for the best."

"Yeah, but it's one big slap in the face, don't you think?" Irma replied, "If I were pregnant and hormonal, like Erica-"

"Wait, Erica's pregnant?!" Brittany perked up.

"Yes!" Irma squealed, "Isn't it awesome? She and Steve have wanted kids for ages!"

"I KNOW! That is so-"

"Ladies, back on topic?" Max shouted from the playroom, "Where the heck is Dora's Map?"

"So everyone voted for this, then." Brittany said slowly.

"Yes," Sidney said with a nod, "Everyone except Max and Flower."

"I thought that we could take care of her," Fleury explained, "But now that this has been spoken about a bit more, I think she needs a change."

"And Max still wants to play big brother," TK said, "Cause he's a teddy bear."

"I am not!" Max growled.

"Ok then, can you explain where she's going to live?" Irma asked, crossing her arms.

"With Derek Roy," Sidney told her, "He's got a duplex, walking distance from the arena."

"And she'll be working as the medic for the Sabres?"

"Mmmhmm."

"Are you guys sick?" Irma said, "I mean seriously- just because Ryan knocked her up doesn't mean we have to force her to work with the guy. It's like making her pay for the damages!"

"I am sure that Anna may have some resentment for Ryan, but that will fade in time."

"Sid, please tell me you're joking."

"No, I'm not."

Irma shrugged, "Fine. It's a twisted plan, but the likelihood of those two falling in love and bonding over baby is pretty much 1 in a million. Isn't it, honey?"

Victor frowned, "Why did you paint this room white, Brittany? It's making me dizzy."

Then a hush fell over the crowd, bewildered by the tall, insightful Swede.

-

18. Friends

"Thanks, Daniel. I really appreciate it." Anna told Briere as he placed the last box in the moving van.

"Anytime, Anna," Danny replied, "You got the address punched in the GPS?"

"I sure do," Anna said, shrugging, "Man. I'm gonna miss this city."

"I felt the same way when I left Buffalo," Danny told her, "But Philly's my home now. Maybe you'll adapt to it sooner than you think."

"I don't know," Anna glanced at the Consol Energy Centre, "But it's not like I'm wanted here anyway."

Daniel put his arm around her, "You are wanted by everyone here, you understand? Dan only transferred you because he thought their facility and a change would better accommodate you. And don't think for one minute that it was personal."

Anna turned and hugged her friend, "I'm going to miss you."

Danny reached for the keys in his pocket after they let go, "You sure you don't want to say goodbye to Max and the guys?"

Anna nodded, "I'm sure."

They were better off without her, as far as she was concerned. And as Anna drove off, leaving Pittsburgh behind, Ryan Miller was picking up his home phone and dialling a long-distance number, only to be stopped by the sound of his front doorbell ringing.