50 - Placenta Slovak

January seemed to fly by as soon as December ended. Anna had started following a diet issued by her doctor, and was continuously getting more ultrasounds. The only problem was that Ryan wasn’t always there.

Not that she blamed him- the Olympics were fast approaching, and she knew training was key. Sitting in the doctor’s office that day, Anna noticed a Buffalo newspaper sitting on the table next to her. Being bored in the waiting room, she flipped through it and stumbled upon an article:

Miller geared up for Vancouver
Despite injury, Buffalo goalie says he’s ready for the world
Ryan Miller is key to becoming the next golden goaltender on the anniversary of the Miracle on Ice representing Team USA at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. This feat seemed almost impossible to comprehend after the Sabres’ lanky goalie was cut by Vancouver Canuck Alex Burrow’s skate blade in the first period of a game in November.
“It was scary, but I recovered fast,” said Miller at a recent press conference, “I’m not worried about it. I take it day by day, but I’m positive I’m ready.”
Team USA coach Ron Wilson says he never doubted Miller for a second.
“We wanted him from the start, even before he made the cut,” Wilson states, “The injury came as a shock to everyone, of course, but the bounce back he has made is incredible. It just goes to show how determined he is about his game.”
Miller has also confirmed that his pregnant girlfriend, Sabres medic Jenna, will accompany him to the Games and lend moral support. It was speculated by his former teammate, Philadelphia Flyer Daniel Briere that Miller’s game was suffering due to his worry for their unborn child.
“I just want to be there for her,” he says, “We work together every day and things would seem strange without her for two whole weeks. She has friends who live [in Vancouver] and it would be great to see them.”
“I’m excited about this, and I cannot wait to start training.”

Anna ignored the fact that they got her name wrong and glanced at the newspaper’s date. It was from the end of December. She sighed, ready to put it down, when she spotted another article:

Pens retire number 25
Ceremony takes place to honor Max Talbot
The Mellon Arena added another banner next to Mario Lemeiux’s famous 66- Max Talbot’s 25. The Pittsburgh winger, who passed in a car accident in November, was honored in a pre-game ceremony last night at the team’s home arena.
Players called Talbot a, ‘hero’ and ‘a funny, all around great guy.’ Each took the opportunity to speak about their teammate as footage of Talbot’s career, including his famous Game 7 performance played on the jumbotron. The most notable speaker was Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who survived the accident.
“Max was my best friend and I will miss him,” Fleury said with a heavy French accent, “It has been very hard for me. It is still very strange to go to games without him.” This was the first time Fleury had spoken about Talbot since the accident. He finished his part in French, because, he said, “Max will understand what I am saying.”
“We’re still trying to make sense of things, but doing this is helping us heal,” Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said to the media before the ceremony, “A lot of us feel like we still have holes in our hearts, but it’s normal to feel this way.”
Both Crosby and Fleury plan to have small number 25s stitched to the left shoulders of their Team Canada Olympic jerseys in Vancouver, but if, “they tell us no,” Fleury said, “We will write the numbers on our sticks.”

Anna closed the newspaper and sighed. Thankfully, the doctor called her name.

-

“Placenta what?”

“Placenta previa.”

Ryan frowned, continuing to lace up his skate, “Ok, I read about this in the book somewhere...”

“It means that the placenta is unusually low in the uterus,” Anna explained, “It’s almost covering the cervix.”

Ryan stopped with his skate and looked up at her, “You’re scaring me. What does this mean?”

“It doesn’t mean anything yet, because it’s still a bit early,” Anna told him calmly, “Just, if it persists, it could mean a premature labour.”

The big brown eyes Anna had fallen for blinked at her with concern, “Maybe...maybe I should tell Wilson to let Tim Thomas-”

“NO,” Anna covered his mouth with her hand, “Absolutely not. YOU are going to be the starter. I am not letting you miss the chance of a lifetime. You’re in your prime!”

Ryan blushed a little, “Come on, now...”

“I’ll be fine,” Anna insisted, pecking him on the lips, “Don’t worry.”

“It is so goddamn loud out there,” Pat Kaleta whined as he walked back into the dressing room, “And it’s not even full yet. French people are nuts.”

Anna sighed, “I know. I’m friends with one.”

“Technically, she’s not French,” Ryan corrected, finishing that skate and going to the other, “But she’s just as crazy as them, I guess.”

“Carey’s not starting tonight,” Anna told him, “The other guy is, what’s his name...”

“The Slovak?” Derek Roy piped up, “Yeah, Halak. Think he’s any good?”

“I don’t know,” Anna replied, “Julia never mentioned him.”

“Evans, we need some help out here!” Tom called from the medical station. Anna sighed and went to respond, when suddenly she felt Kaleta grab her wrist.

“What, is this?” he said, lifting her hand so that the ring shone in the light, “Explain!”

Anna laughed a little, “Oh, well, Ryan...”

“She said yes?” Tyler Myers exclaimed from the doorway, “Congratulations!”

Ryan and Anna felt themselves being sandwiched in a hug between Kaleta and Myers, which, for the record, is one of the most uncomfortable things to experience.

“Guys...I need my lungs!” Ryan whined from beneath Tyler’s grasp.

Kaleta let go, “Pussy.”

Tyler gave Anna’s belly a loving pat, “You’re a lucky little one.”

Anna smiled for the first time in a long time. It felt like Pittsburgh all over, and in the best way. She was accepted.

-

Montreal dominated and defeated the Sabres 3-2. Ryan was unable to concentrate during his pregame meditation due to the noise, which Anna suspected had some effect, but it was clear that he didn’t care. Ryan was far too excited about the Olympics to let the loss get to him.

As she waited around the exit for Ryan, a short redhead came wandering around the corner, clutching her purse like it was a shield. Her wide eyes surveyed the area, looking for someone. She let them rest on Anna, who smiled at her.

“You looking for someone? Or an autograph?”

Anna felt stupid, seeing the red Montreal Canadiens shirt.

The girl flushed pink, “No, I’m looking for my boyfriend, actually...”

Anna nodded, “Who? Is he a player?”

The girl toyed with her pass around her neck, “Yeah...he’s a new guy on Montreal...I’ve never been here before, I’m kind of lost...”

“Oh, you’re at the visitor’s side,” Anna informed her, “Come on, I’ll take you over the the Habs dressing room. They should be out by now.”

Anna shouted into the dressing room, “Tell Ryan I’ll be five minutes!”

A sea of kissing noises greeted her, which Anna ignored. She took the girl by the arm and led her around the corner and into the hallway, “I’m Anna Evans, by the way. What’s your name?”

The girl shrugged, “Kirsten.”

Anna nodded, “You know Julia?”

“Price’s girlfriend? Yes,” Kirsten replied, still shyer than ever, “She’s really nice.”

Kirsten hardly said anything the rest of the way, but grew visibly nervous as they approached security.

“Pass?” the man in the suit asked.

Anna showed hers, than Kirsten’s.

“The little red can go, but you stay.”

Anna glared at him, “I’m taking her to see her boyfriend.”

“Uh huh. You’re on the visiting team. Given the events at the Vancouver game, the NHL has issued that all-”

“For shit’s sakes, I’m Ryan Miller’s fiancee,” Anna snarled at him, “And I’m pregnant. Approximately how much damage can I do? And after the game, no less?”

“Relax, Guy, she’s with us,” Julia McNeil said suddenly, appearing behind the security guards, “Come on in, Anna.”

The guard relaxed and stepped aside, allow both Anna and Kirsten to step through.

“Kirsten.” Julia nodded.

Kirsten smiled a little, “Julia.”
“Diet’a?”

Kirsten perked up instantly when a quiet, blue-eyed player in a dark suit appeared behind Carey. She immediately dashed through and over to him, happy to be with him at last. Anna instantly realized that Kirsten’s boyfriend was Jaroslav Halak, the goalie who was starting to take over Price’s place in net.

Which was exactly why Julia was so leery.

“And Julia McNeil rescues me again,” Anna said with a laugh, “What’s up?”

“It’ll be Price soon,” Julie reminded her, “And...by the sound of it...”

Julie reached out and took Anna’s hand, “You’re going to be a Miller!”

Anna blushed, “Yeah...how’d you know?”

“Oh, you know, news travels fast...” Julia sighed, “Did you two get our wedding invite?”

Anna’s face fell, “Yes, and I’m sorry, but we can’t make it. Ryan’s on Team USA.”

Julie became quiet, “Oh...”

“Maybe you could let Kirsten be one of your bridesmaids?”

They snuck a glance at the two lovebirds, who were speaking in broken Slovak in the corner.

“Jaro, wanna be a bridesmaid?” Julia asked him with a serious tone.

Halak put his arm around Kirsten’s waist, “Vypadnúť.”

Julie sighed, “The same to you, buddy."

Anna cocked her head at Julie, "How did you know what he said?"

"Easy. It's the same thing he always says to me..."