41 - Go

The lights dimmed on the stage and the room went silent. A giant screen let up, showing the Steadfast Foundation logo. Anna gripped Ryan’s hand nervously. It was now or never. She hoped Vesa had choreographed it right.

A song started blasting on the speakers. Anna recognized it as the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s ‘Zero’. Lights emitted the runway as the Buffalo Sabres walked out, one by one, clad in leather and wearing shades. The crowd started to go wild. The moving spotlight caught Ryan’s smile.

The song faded as the Sabres made their way to the back and turned into Loveshack. Laughter came from the crowd while Julia cartwheeled down the runway in neon clothes, followed by a very hyper Carey Price with spiked, sparkling hair. The two mouthed the words to the song and swung each other around, throwing out free Steadfast tee shirts to the people. Everyone was clapping wildly.

Once that song ended and erupted into the Joan Jett’s I Love Rock and Roll, showing it was time for the 80’s hair metal Chicago Blackhawks Toews and Kane to play their air guitars and make utter fools of themselves. Henrik Lundqvist and Michael Del Zotto strutted their stuff as classy pimps in suits to the Asteroid Galaxy Tour’s Around the Bend.

Irma Tremblay was getting ready for her big number when someone tapped her on the shoulder.

“Excuse me, but can you tell me where Ryan is?”

It was Mercedes, the girl who tricked Alex Burrows into almost killing Miller in Vancouver that day. Irma tried to remain calm, but her temper flared and got the best of her. Through gritted teeth she demanded, “The fuck are you doing here?”

Mercedes looked taken aback, “Um, I bought a ticket.”

“I mean backstage,” Irma snapped, “Get out before I call security.”

Mercedes waved a hand, “Chill out, sweetheart. I’m with the Sabres. And I have no idea who you are.”

“Oh, I know you, you insane, psycho bitch!” Irma hissed, “How dare you show your face here. You should be behind bars for that shit you pulled.”

Victor came to stand next to Irma, “Babe, what’s going on?”

Mercedes raised a penciled eyebrow, “Wait just a minute, you’re that Canucks scout! Gotta say, real classy banging the sloppy Hedman on the side.”

That was it for Irma. Several models had to jump out of the way as she grabbed Mercedes by her bony shoulders and pushed her down to the floor. Victor tried to restrain his girlfriend, but to no avail- when Irma was fighting, she was FIGHTING. Vesa Toskala saw the scene and immediately grabbed Pat Kaleta and Drew Stafford, who were able to separate the two.

“Ladies, that’s enough!” Vesa said dramatically before stomping off, “We’ve got a fashion show, here! Save the drama for your mamas!”

Irma tried to claw at Mercedes, “You’re just lucky I haven’t reported you yet, you dirty little-”

“Reported me for what?” Mercedes laughed, “I should report you for robbing the cradle.”

Irma went to punch Mercedes but Pat Kaleta held her back. Drew Stafford, however, had different plans. He loosened his grip on Mercedes and let her walk away. Pat looked at him, stunned.

“Irma, what happened between you and her?” Stafford asked.

Pat let Irma go free, “It’s not between us. It’s what she did to your goaltender.”

Stafford frowned, “How long until you go on?”

“I’m not on until for ten minutes,” Irma replied.

“Tell me what happened.”

Victor watched with a close eye as Irma explained everything to Stafford and Kaleta.

“...and it’s not that I like Miller, but I care about Anna, and the last thing she needs is for anything to happen to him. She needs his support.”

Stafford nodded, “That’s it, then. We’ve got enough proof.”

“Proof for what?” Irma was confused.

“We lost Daniel Briere and Brian Campbell because of that bitch,” Pat said bitterly, “Seriously. We can’t charge her for rape alone, but now attempted murder should get her ass canned.”

“Wait...rape?” Victor looked horrified.

“They had the biggest salary caps,” Pat explained, “So she tried to seduce them. Eventually she locked them in the medical room, and well...they were traded shortly afterwards. Lindy just told the press it was for a good trade, but that was the truth.”

“She went after Tom Vanek, too,” Stafford said, “But he doesn’t have the highest salary cap right now.” He smirked. “Guess who does?”

Irma’s mouth dropped open, “Why didn’t you let me kill her?!”

“Because jail would be way awesomer.” Pat concluded.

The Toronto Maple Leafs exited the stage just as the KISS medley ended, and the entire stage went black. People rushed around for the quickest costume change in history. Vesa was in the middle of a meltdown when she came to save the show- she, being the incredible Lady Gaga.

People started screaming as she walked out onto the stage and sat down next to a piano. Without a word she performed a makeshift version of ‘Speechless,’ making lighters and cell phones wave in the crowd. Drew Miller brought down the disco ball from the ceiling and the scene was complete.

Ryan stood backstage with Anna, watching Gaga perform. He felt his mouth go a little dry as he turned to her, feeling the lump in his pocket. Playoffs were nothing compared to his nerves now.

“Anna, I’ve got to ask you something.”

Anna nodded, “Ok?”

Ryan gently touched her arm, “Anna, I know we’ve only been together a short while, but I think that somehow what’s happened between us was supposed to happen. I feel like I’ve known you a lot longer, like I’ve known you for years...”

Anna swallowed, “Ryan, where are you going with this?”

“Anna Evans,” Ryan said, his hands shaking, “I...I...”

“Yes?”

“I love you.”

That was when the entire place when completely pitch black. Lady Gaga had stopped singing. The board above the runway lit up and showed the lyrics:

RA RA AH AH AH

ROMA ROMA MAGA GA OOH LA LA
The crowd sang along, “WANT YOUR BAD ROMANCE!”
Fireworks went off around the runway as the spotlight fell on Gaga, who stood on top of the piano with the microphone. The runway lit up to show Julia, Melissa, Luke and Carey crawling in something black and smudgy; the boys wore tight leather pants and nothing else.

Julia and Melissa pulled the boys up to stand and revealed that they were leather-clad, fishnet and heels girl cops. The took handcuffs from their belts and handcuffed the boys with their arms in the air. Several other couples followed suite, including the very pregnant Erica Stamkos and her husband Steven.

Ryan’s mouth dropped open. It was avante-guard. It was racy. It was dirty.

And it was pure genius.

As Lady Gaga broke into the chorus, the girls danced around the boys as if they were poles, swinging their hips and covering themselves in the black sludge. The audience went wild as the girls grinded on their boys and Gaga sang her heart out. Anna noticed Vesa knew all the words and the dance moves.

Gaga clapped her hands as Victor Hedman walked down the middle of the runway wearing a white t-shirt in addition to leather pants that read STAY STEADFAST. He was taken down by the naughtiest, sexiest cop of them all- Irma, the chief officer. She cuffed him and pulled him up as the other girls crowded around, dancing the final steps as Lady Gaga sang the last words.

And then, to top it all off, fireworks went off again and black and white confetti fell from the ceiling. It was the single most epic Steadfast Foundation Catwalk for Charity that anyone had ever seen. The applause was unbelievable.

“I’d like to call upon Ryan Miller, the man responsible for pulling together this amazing show,” Lady Gaga said into the mic.

Ryan sheepishly walked down the runway as everyone applauded, giving Gaga a nod as she handed him the mic, “Thank you, Lady Gaga. But I wasn’t the only one who worked on this awesome event. I’d like to call upon Miss Anna Evans.”

Anna, blushing, was pushed out onto the stage by Vesa, who was close to tears with the success of the show. She walked down the runway nervously as she joined Ryan. Gaga winked at her knowingly.

“Anna is my girlfriend,” Ryan said, “And while I was busy recovering in the hospital, she took the time to call some of her friends-” Alex Ovechkin cheered, “To help make this show out of this world.”

Anna nodded shyly. Ryan grinned at her.

“That is why I have decided to ask Anna...”

The crowd gasped. Lady Gaga clapped her hands excitedly. Anna’s mouth dropped open.

Just as Ryan was about to drop to one knee, several police officers entered the building. The room fell completely silent as they hauled Mercedes away in cuffs. Pat Kaleta looked more relieved than ever.

“Party time!” Luke Schenn screamed from seemingly nowhere; Melissa looked embarrassed. Drew hit the music on up in the control room and it seemed that everyone agreed. The hockey players/models jumped off the runway to mingle, sign autographs, run the silent auction and drink. Ryan looked disappointed.

“Sweetie, I’m so sorry,” Gaga comforted him, “But seriously...congrats on the little tyke!”

Ryan forced a smile, “Thanks so much for coming, Miss Gaga.”

Lady Gaga shrugged, “Anything for V-baby. Now I’ve got a bar mitzvah to hit.” She blew a kiss to Ryan and headed backstage.

Ryan turned to Anna. She smiled at him, “Don’t just stand here, silly. Go out there and celebrate.”

Ryan smirked, “All right. If you come with me.”

“Actually,” Anna touched her stomach, “Baby’s giving me a bit of trouble. I think I’m going to sit this one out.”

Ryan looked concerned, “Oh my god, are you ok?”

Anna smiled, “Of course. I’ll be in the lounge.” She gave him a quick kiss before walking backstage to exit to the floor.

By the time she made her way to her seat, Anna felt sick. She knew why the baby wouldn’t stop kicking wildly. It was almost like the little one knew that Ryan was about to pop the big question. The scary thing was that Anna was happy the police interrupted.

She had no idea what to say to him.