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you stretched on the ice while mitch stick handled next to her.

"you ready for tonight rows?" mitch asked you with a big smile.

"i think so." you smiled back at him.

this was your first game ever against boston.

you were a rookie for the leafs. you were really nervous when the year had started, but now you were really comfortable with all of your teammates. you and mitch were easily one of the closest duos on the team. you guys were always sitting next to each other in the locker rooms or at team meals. it was safe to assume that wherever mitch was you were also there and vice versa.

"the guys got your back if you need it." auston said, joining the conversation.

"thanks guys." you said gratefully.

you were on a line with mitch and jt. all of you guys had great chemistry and were a pretty consistent scoring line for the leafs.

the game began and you were being pestered by brad marchand the entire game.

"hey rowan. you're a little soft for the nhl eh. girls really don't belong here in the big leagues."

"you can't even take a hit without falling to the groud." marchand yelled at you with a laugh, "it's pathetic."

you tried your best to ignore his comments. they didn't really rattle you at all seeming as you had already had a goal and an assist in the game and were winning.

as you climbed onto the bench, you overheard mitch and john talking, "he's being such a fucking bitch."

"calm down marns. i can tell you she can handle it herself if she wanted to." john responded to mitch.

"i know, but it's pissing me off." mitch mumbled.

you shrugged it off and started a conversation with morgan rielly.

the next shift you thought you were safe from marchand, but shortly after you got on the ice the bruins changed and sent him on the ice to get on your tail again.

you were chasing a puck against the board. you passed the puck to mitch before you were slammed into the boards. you dropped to the ground in pain. you turned slightly to see who hit you. it was brad marchand.

"you can't even take a fucking hit rowan. what a joke." marchand yelled at you.

the whistle blew as all of your teammates who were on the ice went after him staring a scramble.

"it was a fucking late hit!" you heard morgan yell angrily.

the trainer ran out onto the ice towards you as you struggled on the ice.

"what hurts here?" the trainer asked.

you waved him off, "i'm good. i just need a second." you mumbled.

you stood up off the ice with a wince just in time to see mitch drop his gloves with marchand.

"shit." you whispered to yourself.

you skated towards the scrum to watch the fight go down. mitch just didn't fight it was as simple as that. physicality just wasn't his game at all. he made people pay with his talent not hitting.

mitch was outmatched, but it seemed that the adrenaline had taken him over. he was connecting punches. marchand had gotten the upper end on him. mitch threw marchand to the ground after a little bit of fighting. the refs pulled them off of each other.

you and the rest of the leafs tapped your sticks on the ice. mitch and marchand were skated off to the penalty box with a little bit of chirping on the way there.

you skated back to the bench. a few of the boys gave you some stick taps.

the athletic trainers came over to you again, "you good?"

"yeah, i'll be fine. i just need some ice after the game." you said.

they nodded and left you alone.

mitch was in the penalty box for the remainder of the game.

the leafs ended up winning 4-3 in regulation.

the whole team went and gave some goalie hugs before walking to the locker room to get dressed to go home.

you had carpooled with mitch so you met him at the car. mitch began to drive you back to your apartment. it was silent until you finally asked what you wanted to for a long time.

"what the hell was that mitch?" you asked.

"what?" he turned to you quickly before returning his attention to the road.

"the fighting." you exclaimed, "you could've gotten hurt."

"well i didn't like the way he was talking to you and obviously i'm fine." he responded.

"that's my problem mitch. if i wanted to fight him, i could've." you said, "we are battling for a playoff spot and you getting hurt wouldn't be very helpful."

"yeah yeah i know." mitch said, "but he was talking to you like you were nothing and you are everything but that."

"well thank you mitch, but it wasn't necessary. why do you care so much? he wasn't chirping at you." you muttered under your breath.

mitch turned into the nearest parking lot and turned to you. you got slightly uneasy.

"you know why i care rowan? it's because i care for you more than anything and he was speaking to you as if you weren't worth anything which is so far from the truth because you are everything to me. damn it, i care so much because i love you." he ranted to you.

you sat there surprised. it felt as if you were unable to speak. all you could do was stare at him with wide eyes.

mitch buried his face into the steering wheel, "fuck, i should not have said that."

you looked around the car nervously. your brain had been moving a thousand miles per hour. you had loved mitch for what felt like forever, but your brain had buried that real deep thinking that it was unprofessional and never going to happen.

"just- just forget i said that." mitch stuttered, turning his car back on.

"wait mitch!" you exclaimed.

he looked over at you, waiting for you to say something.

"are you serious?" you asked, "do you actually like love me?"

he sighed and nodded towards you.

you smiled and chuckled, "i have really really liked you for the longest time. i just thought it was only me-"

mitch cut you off by grabbing your face and kissing you.

"this is the best day of my life." he whispered to you.

"do you want to go on a date?" you asked, "we're already in the parking lot of a timmies."

"you wanna have our first date at a tim hortons?" he asked with a laugh.

"i mean, as long as it's with you." you shrugged, "i mean we don't have to, but it probably fits our personalities better than a fancy restaurant."

"that's true." mitch nodded, "just don't tell coach."

you chuckled, "wasn't planning on it."