☆ Hello readers! ☆ Just a few things:

1. Thank you for 7k (ahhhhh) I absolutely can't believe it and I feel really lucky. Every time the number gets higher I keep thinking it's going to end there, so thank you for reading :))

2. This is the second last chapter of Ice Queen, it was my plan to end the novel between 60-70 chapters and call me cliche, but I didn't want to end on chapter sixty-nine. Anyway, just the last chapter and the epilogue after this. :(

I'm sad the book is coming to an end, but I'm so happy to have accomplished it. This book has twice the reads of my other three books combined and I'm so thankful for each and every person who reads xx

I wake up in bed and smile seeing where I am, I'm in Nate's room. I look around but I realize Nate isn't with me, I sit up and reach my hand up to feel my earring. I'll never take these out, they're so special.

I can smell something coming from the kitchen downstairs and I decide to get changed, pull myself together slightly. That nap did amazing things for me, I feel like a new person and I'm so glad I don't feel like I did this morning.

Even if I felt gross and I almost threw-up too many times to count, I had a lot of fun last night. There were so many good memories just from that night alone, I think there was a time where we stopped having mixed drinks and just took shots.

I take my hair down and start applying some concealer and mascara in front of the mirror in Nate's room. I smile the whole time looking at my earrings in the reflection. They had a clear stone in them, and twinkled sweetly in the light in the room.

I stop on my final sweep of mascara and see my phone vibrating next to me. Mel's name runs across the screen and I smile, answering it.

"Hey Mel!" I say cheerfully, capping my mascara. "What's up?"

"Nothing, I'm just checking in. You looked pretty rough this morning." She says quietly and I shrug, tucking my things back into my bag.

"I was, but I'm alright. I had a good shower, long nap and the Sharpie has been removed from my lower back." I say and she laughs uncomfortably.

"Sorry about that, given how sick you seemed it seems a little undeserved." She says.

"Mel I'm fine, I had a lot of fun. Thank you so much for the fun night out, I'm going back to my training schedule this week so I honestly needed it." I tell her. I could tell she seemed upset about how I got last night, I just wanted to assure her that I wasn't mad and none of it was her fault.

"Look I really fucked you up last night and I shouldn't have pushed you so hard. I was wrong about doing that." She pleads and I sigh.

"I'm not mad." I promise. "I'm really not, don't beat yourself up."

"You should be." She mumbles.

"Mel, as long as I've been alive everyone has walked on eggshells around me. Everyone thinks I'll break if they push me too far and for once I was glad to just be equal. I like hanging out with you because it's never about me being anything other than a teenage girl. Please don't treat me like everyone else does." I beg and I hear her laugh a bit on the other end. "Hangovers happen when people drink."

"I know." She sighs. "I really like hanging out with you too, I just thought.....I thought you wouldn't want to see me again after last night. I thought you'd be really upset." She says and I feel my face fall. "I was just calling because I don't want to lose our friendship before it really gets going."

"You aren't, I'm glad you called so I could tell you I'm not upset." I say quietly.

"Well I'm sorry anyway." She sighs.

"Apology accepted, let's just move on." I say and she laughs on the other end.

"Okay, but Nate's not mad either right?" She blurts out and I laugh.

"Mel!" I huff and she laughs again.

"I'm sorry, I just don't want him to not let you come over here again." She says and I laugh.

"Why do you think I called him and didn't let my brother get me?" I ask with a laugh of my own. "As far as I can tell, Nate got a kick out of it. He wouldn't stop laughing this morning, I think he enjoyed washing the explicit image off of my back."

"Oh god, tell him I'm sorry." She says, sounding mortified and I smile.

"Don't be, it was like a bonding moment." I say and she laughs.

"The couples that wash Sharpied tramp-stamps off together, stay together." She teases. "Well I'll let you go, I know this is your big anniversary day and I don't want to take up a whole bunch of it with my whining."

"Thanks....how did you know it was my ten year anniversary?" I ask and she laughs.

"Sash really? You wouldn't shut up about it last night, showing me your bracelet and gloating about how you and your boyfriend have known each other for ten years." She says with a laugh.

"I don't remember that." I mumble. "Well thanks for calling, I'll see if we can hang out again before school on Monday?"

"I'd love that!" She beams over the other end. "Have fun tonight, be safe!" She says and I hear the phone hang-up.

I shake my head to myself and toss my phone back onto the nightstand. I head down to the kitchen and see Nate at the stove scrambling eggs.

"Hey sleepy-head." He says and I smile taking a seat at the island.

"Hi baby." I say quietly, watching the eggs getting put onto a plate with bacon and an orange. He sets it down in front of me and then gets me a glass of orange juice, before joining me with a very similar plate.

"Breakfast is served." He whispers, kissing my cheek and pulling my stool closer to his. I just look at the plate and laugh knowing everything I've eaten today is more than I ever used to eat in one day.

"You're going to make me so fat." I mumble, but even I can't deny how hungry I am.

"I'll feed you as long as you're willing to eat." He says excitedly and I laugh. "I like seeing you enjoy your food again, not just eat it for sustenance."

"I don't know how long it's been since I ate a piece of bacon....maybe five years?" I suggest, picking up the piece to examine it.

"You mean I have to share my anniversary with your and bacon's five-year anniversary?" He teases and I laugh.

"Well bacon can take a back seat, this day is all about you and me." I smile, putting my hand on his and he grasps it tighter.

We start eating breakfast and I smile, eating my first real meal of the day.

"I never knew what a wiz you were in the kitchen." I tease and he chuckles, peeling his orange.

"I'm not really, I can just scramble eggs." He says and I shake my head remembering the amazing soup he made the weekend before nationals.

"Well the shchi you made me says different." I whisper, giving his hand a squeeze. "That was pretty amazing."

"That was different, I can't just sit down and cook something." He defends and I shrug.

"Well what sixteen-year-old does?" I ask and he laughs a bit. "So did you have a plan for the day or did you just want me to kick around here with you." He chuckles at that, but shakes his head.

"As much as I'd love that it's after one now and I think your family might like to see you at some point. You've been gone since yesterday morning." He reminds me and I nod, seeing his point. "I don't want them thinking I'm taking up all of your time or keeping you away from them."

"I assure you, they don't think that. But you're right, I should probably show my face for a while today." I sigh and he nods.

"How about, we finish breakfast and then I'll bring you home." He asks, putting his arm over the back of my chair. I nod but find myself disappointed to be sent home so soon. "Then I'll come get you at five-thirty and I'll take you on a real date."

Immediately the sting of me leaving is replaced by happiness. My body tingles all over and I find myself getting excited about the night out.

"Should I dress nicely?" I ask and he nods, leaning closer to give me a kiss.

"I promise this is going to be a really amazing night." He whispers and I wrap my arms around him. "Just me and you."

>

"Kate, I'm totally panicking." I say over the phone. "This is a huge date, huge. I don't own any other dresses or fancy clothes and I know this is supposed to be a really nice evening."

"You already wore the blue one we bought?" She asks and I sigh, putting my back on the wall in my closet and sliding all the way down to the ground.

"Yeah I did, and this is a special day I can't re-wear a dress." I whine and she laughs on the other end a bit.

"Alright, calm down. Why don't you just tell me what you have and we'll see if anything might work alright?" She says and I run my hand over my face.

"Okay." I sigh, getting up.

We go through an entire rack of clothes and nothing feels right. I know none of it is nice enough and I really want to make an impression.

"You know what Kate thanks for all your help, but I think I'm just going to go shopping before my date." I mumble and she sighs.

"Alright, well good luck. Sorry I couldn't be of more help." She says and I smile.

"You helped plenty." I remind her.

After a quick goodbye I start putting my clothes back in my closet. Then I grab my bag and start walking down the hall to see if Alex could take me to the mall.

"Sasha?" I hear mom's quiet voice say from her room and I backtrack going over to see her.

"Hey mom, what's up?" I ask and she smiles.

"Where are you going?" She asks and I sigh.

"I need to go buy a good dress to see Nate with tonight. This is our ten year anniversary of meeting, it's a big deal." I tell her and she smiles.

"I was actually cleaning out my closet, I wanted to know if you wanted some of my old dresses." She says with a warm smile.

"Do you think they'll fit?" I ask and she smiles.

"I used to be about your size young lady." She says going into her closet. She comes back with five hangers and tosses them on the bed. "Having you and the boys ended the dream of ever fitting back into any of these." She says and I laugh.

Most of the dresses where in a nineties style, but I thought they were wonderful. Short hemlines and open backs, I can't believe my mother wore these.

"Don't look so confused, I used to be very stylish." She teases and I smile.

Two of them weren't my style, they were very formal and stiff, perhaps a bit like office attire. She walks over and pulls one of the two out holding it up.

"I met your father in this dress." She mumbles and I raise my eyebrows.

"Then you should keep it, it's hardly my style and I know how important that night was to you." I tell her and she nods.

"I think you should wear this one." She says pulling a black dress out of the pile. "It's real silk."

"Really?" I ask and she nods.

The dress itself was gorgeous, spaghetti straps, high neckline and it tied together at the right hip. It seemed elegant, mature, but romantic all at the same time.

"Go try it on, there should be some wiggle room because you choose how tight to tie it." She says, sending me into her washroom and I smile enjoying this moment with my mother.

I pull it on and adjust the waist, just as mom predicted it fits decently. I don't quite fill it out on top but I can tie it tighter. I take a deep breath and open the door, stepping out into her room. Her eyes fill up with joy and I watch her put her hand over her mouth.

"Oh moya doch, it's gorgeous." She says, holding her arms out and I smile walking over to the mirror she stands in front of. "You look wonderful."

"Thanks mom." I whisper and she nods, resting her hands on my shoulders. "I love it." I absentmindedly run my fingertips over my collarbone and she swats my hand away.

"Stop that." She scolds. "I know that face, I wore it all the time back home. Don't fuss over things you can't control."

I find myself immediately turning around to hug her and she wraps me into a safe hug. Hugs I'd recently had the privilege of receiving on a more regular basis.

"Mom." I mumble and she nods.

"What is it?" She asks gently and I smile.

"I ate two meals already today." I whisper and she laughs a bit pulling back and kissing my forehead.

"I'm so glad." She whispers. "Sasha, I know you worry about your looks but your body has a way of working these things out." I nod along to her kind words and she smiles. "I'm very proud of you."

"Thanks mom." I whisper back and she doesn't let me go.

"Mom!" I hear Nik call from the hall and she laughs pulling back a bit to see him appear in the doorway with Alex.

"Are we interrupting something?" Alex asks and she shakes her head, kissing my cheek and letting me go.

"I was just helping Sasha get ready for her date." She says.

"Where'd you buy that dress?" Alex asks, furrowing his eyebrows. "It's pretty short."

"It's mine young man, watch your tone." Mom says in a warning voice and he raises his eyebrows.

"Ew, okay.....um, Nik has something to share." He says and mom walks over to the bed where she pats a spot for him to sit down.

"Right." Nik sighs, scratching the back of his neck. "I.....was approached to play hockey."

"Like your brother?" Mom asks and Nik shrugs.

"Not exactly, I'm being offered a place on a minor league team." He says and mom reaches her hand out to rest it on his shoulder. "They're offering to pay for my school, the games would be televised. Mom this is a really-"

She cuts him off there by wrapping her arms around him and he relaxes slightly, seeming caught off-guard by the sudden tender gesture.

"Are you serious?" She asks excitedly and he nods. "Why didn't you tell me? Darling, that's fantastic."

"I....wasn't sure if I was going to take it." He admits honestly. "Mom I got the offer in January, I told dad and it was like talking to a brick wall. I love hockey and I know this type of opportunity never comes around, but I....I was worried about Sasha." He mumbles and I move from standing across from him to his other side, giving him a hug.

"I love my family more, and Sasha's always been there as someone to talk to when dad wouldn't speak to me. I wanted to be there for her too." He mumbles and I almost tear up hearing the raw confession. "It would have been easier if she didn't beg me to go though." He teases ruffling my hair and I laugh.

"But after things got....bad here and everything blew up, in the midst of piecing it all back together, somebody also got a once-in-a-lifetime chance." He says elbowing me. "And it made me realize she's a lot stronger than I give her credit for. Mom, I took the offer. I'm leaving in the summer to start training." He says and she smiles.

"I'm so glad." She whispers and he gets another hug from her. "I'm so proud of you, of all of you." She says reaching her hand out to Alex. "I want you to know your father's very proud as well, I must have the most gifted children on the planet." She beams and we all laugh. "One son in pro hockey, one in college hockey and my daughter, who just applied for her Olympic try-out." She whispers. "Who could ask for more than that?"

"I don't know." Dad says from the doorway, interrupting the quiet family moment. But he certainly isn't hostile or angry, he looks happy. "You are taking that offer?" He asks Nik and he nods, standing from the bed.

"I am, training starts in July." He says and dad nods.

"I shouldn't.....I shouldn't have pushed you so hard when you were younger." He says quietly, coming closer. "That wasn't what you wanted, it was what I wanted." He admits with a sigh. "But it doesn't matter which kind of skater you are, you're my son." He says confidently, then I watch a tear threaten to escape his eye. "I'm proud of you Nikita, I am." He says and Nik nods.

"Thanks dad." He says quietly.

"Your mother's right, you're all incredibly gifted." He says. "And I haven't told my boys how impressed I am for a long time. Your sister convinced me to watch you play, and she was right, you're both wonderful. You're both talented, and while I confess I don't know exactly how hockey works.....there's no doubt in my mind that you're both incredibly accomplished athletes." He says and they almost look breathless at that compliment, I understand why, eight years of neglect tends to do that to someone.

"Thanks dad." Alex says, putting out his hand for dad to shake and dad happily does. He then gives Nik's hand a shake and I smile, happy to see them all making an effort.

"And as for you young lady....." He says taking both of my hands and pulling me to my feet. "Well you know I'm proud of you." He smiles and I smile too. "Is this your mother's old dress?" He asks, sounding almost amazed.

"Yes, I thought it was time someone else got some use out of it Andrei." She says in a nurturing tone, standing up. "It fits her perfectly."

"You look wonderful." He says and I smile, feeling it stretch to my eyes. "You're seeing Nate tonight?" He asks and I nod, looking at the floor. I was fairly certain I knew how my dad felt about Nate and I worried they'd never really get along. "Would you.....would you tell him I'd like to apologize for sectionals?" He says uncomfortably.

"You want to apologize unprovoked?" I ask and he laughs. "It must be a sign of the apocalypse."

"Well, I think it is the right thing to do." He says and I furrow my eyebrows.

"Who are you and what have you done with my father?" I ask and he laughs again. Everyone else is holding their breath, clearly not used to me teasing my father. My dad was learning to control his temper.

"And if he doesn't accept my apology, would you tell him at the very least I give my approval?" He asks and I find myself laughing now, from sheer joy and shock alone. "Clearly you two like seeing each other, I know he is good for you and that he supports your skating."

"He supports me in a lot more than that." I say, thinking about him picking me up off the sofa-bed this morning. "I'm sure he'd be thrilled dad."

"Sasha, I don't mean to interrupt but what time is Nate coming?" She asks. "It's five-fifteen?"

"What?" I ask frantically. "Oh no I only have fifteen minutes." I mumble and get my things together. "Shit."

"Language." Mom says and I laugh.

"Sorry, shoot." I correct and she sighs. "I need to hurry, sorry to interrupt. Thanks again mom for the dress." I call running down the hall to my room.

Spoiler alert, make-up and hair aren't meant to be done in a flash, there's a reason I made sure I had at least an hour. But after the heart-to-heart in the bedroom, suddenly that felt far less important. I totally lost track of time feeling like my family was starting to heal, of course wounds don't heal quickly, everything takes time. But I know we're doing the right thing and making progress.

I've burnt two of the fingers on my right hand so far, you never notice how hot curling irons are until you're in a rush. Then it's onto eyeshadow, fixing concealer, trying to bring some light to my face with bronzer and blush. Just as I get my lip gloss open I hear the doorbell right and I take a tense breath.

"Alex!" I call running the applicator over my lips. "Alex!" I call again, knowing Nate's waiting at the door.

"What is it little sis? Need some extra time to turn your pumpkin into a carriage?" He teases and I sigh.