Disclaimer: I own nothing. Stephanie Meyer is a goddess and she owns everything. No copyright infringement intended.

A/N: Thank you to Breath-of-twilight for inviting me to participate once again. I hope you all enjoy this lil' ditty. The idea for this story came from my massive obsession with Hockey these days. Enjoy!

Category: Love is a Powerful Thing

Rated: M

Pairing: B x E

Beep… beep… beeeep

The microwave screamed at me from the kitchen. I jogged swiftly to retrieve my mediocre TV dinner before parking myself in front of the computer.

It was my favorite night of the week, chat night. I couldn't be bothered with the time it took to cook a decent meal, hence why I was eating the equivalent of cardboard, all for the sake of socialization.

I've been a regular in chat rooms since high school, but recently, I've joined a chat room for staff at the college where I'm the librarian. So far, I've met an assortment of wonderful University of Washington staffers, some of which I knew only by their screen names.

In my discovery of said chat room, I've met two female professors that have come to be my closest girlfriends. Rosalie Hale is a professor of mechanical engineering, and Alice Brandon is an art history professor, and by far, they are two of the smartest women I know.

I'm not a very outgoing sort of individual. I don't do well in social scenes, but without having to actually face these people, I've learned to come out of my antisocial shell. With the help of my girls, I felt quite outgoing. They've even gone so far as to get me to go out to a couple of local bars, as well as several school sporting events.

Last week, the girl's and I had embarked on a heated debate with the coaches of Udub's hockey team. The guys were complete gentlemen, even though they hadn't backed down, and they had clearly been wrong, at least, we thought so.

Rose and Alice were so smitten with them that they attended the next home hockey game. I had wanted to go, but a new shipment of books that needed to be put away had kept me in the library until well past midnight. From the report they'd given me the next day, I'd have thought they were both possessed. Although they hadn't actually spoken with the guys, both seemed to be completely enamored. You might say that they both had experienced love at first sight. Apparently, the assistant coach and the goaltending coach didn't know it yet, but both girls felt they had met their soul mates. Rosalie and Alice had yet to speak with them in person, but it was only a matter of time before we all crossed paths.

Both Alice and Rose said that if and when they did meet the guys in person, the head coach would be right up my alley. At first, I scoffed, but then, yesterday, the strangest thing happened.

I had just finished putting a book on the top shelf of our first row of stacks when I felt like I was being watched. I slowly descended the ladder and then slipped my heels back on my feet before turning and looking up at three men standing in the entryway of the library.

The men were all in matching track suits with the same husky emblem as the school on the front. The tallest man was what I could only describe as tall, dark, and handsome. He had a baseball cap on his head with his short dark hair peeking out of the bottom. His dimples were adorable, and his smile was infectious.

The man directly opposite him was tall, but had to be at least four or five inches shorter than the first man. His hair hung longer than the other two and was a wavy, dirty blond. He was just as handsome as the first man, and his smile was friendly, but not overly so.

The man in the middle was absolutely the most gorgeous man I had ever laid eyes on. He was taller than the blond, but maybe on an inch shorter than tall, dark, and handsome. His hair was brown, but the light that reflected through the library windows made red highlights appear throughout his locks. His eyes were a bright green, and they seemed to be sparkling. He had a chiseled jaw line and a five o'clock shadow that made me want to run my fingers up against it. They all stood there, neither saying anything.

"Can I help you, gentlemen?"

"We were actually looking for the sports section. We need to look up some information on specific sports and a couple of biographies on sports figures," the blond explained.

"Okay, give me one second, and I can take you there myself." I moved quickly over to my desk, grabbed a pen and paper, jotted down the section, and motioned for them to follow me. They remained silent the whole way back to the section, and I couldn't help but wonder which sports team they belonged to.

"Here we are. I'll leave you to it, then."

I started to walk away, but gorgeous green eyes met mine, and I finally heard him speak.

"Thank you, Ms…."

"Swan. Ms. Swan."

I quickly turned on my heel and headed back to the front of the library. I was so taken with him that I didn't want to stare like an idiot. It was best to just remove myself from the situation.

That was Monday. Now, it was Wednesday, and I couldn't wait to tell the girl's about what had happened. Maybe, they'd know who they were. Plus, I hadn't talked to them since Saturday after the game, and I missed my friends.

"Okay, Birdie. Let's get online and see who's there."

My cat, Birdie, was sitting precariously on the edge of my coffee table eyeing my TV dinner. I tried to situate myself when I heard my computer ping, alerting me that I was online.

betweenthestacks is online

lovetopuck is online

lovetopuck: Is that everyone's favorite librarian?

betweenthestacks: Yes. Is that everyone's favorite hockey coach?

lovetopuck: Assistant hockey coach to you.

betweenthestacks: Really? How many of you are there?

lovetopuck: Right now, three. Recently lost one to Arizona State.

artsydoll is online

betweenthestacks: Hey, girlie. Where have you been?

artsydoll: Soooo busy, you have no idea.

betweenthestacks: Where's Rose?

artsydoll: I don't know. Em, have you talked to her?

lovetopuck: Yeah, I just talked to her, actually. Said that she would be home late and to let you girls know that she'd talk to you tomorrow.

betweenthestacks: Oh, you've been talking with Rose?

artsydoll: Yeah, sorry, B, we haven't talked to you in a couple of days. We went to hockey practice on Monday and then out with the boys afterwards.

betweenthestacks: Oh

artsydoll: Are you upset with us?

betweenthestacks: No. When did you go?

artsydoll: Monday. You are mad, aren't you?

betweenthestacks: No. Hey, guys, I have to go, but I'll talk to you later, okay?

lovetopuck: Hey, where you going?

artsydoll: B, don't be like this, come on?

betweenthestacks: No, really, I'm fine. Talk to you guys later, bye.

betweenthestacks is offline

I felt like crap cutting Alice off like that, but I did feel a little left out. Plus, I've really wanted to talk to her about the three guys that had came into the library, and now, I felt like I needed to hold my tongue, especially in front of Em. What kind of name is Em? I guess it's better than referring to him as lovetopuck.

Shutting down my computer, and feeling totally unsatisfied with my whole evening, I cleaned up and headed to bed.

The next day, as I pushed a huge cart-full of books, I was bombarded by both girls.

"What's up, Bella? That wasn't like you at all last night," Alice squeaked at me, while flailing her arms wildly about.

"Nothing was up, per se. I've just wanted to hang out with you guys. I had something to talk to you about, but I didn't really want to do it online."

Both girl's stood staring at me in shock.

"Oh, god, Bella. We didn't even think about including you on Monday. We just figured that you were still busy." Rose was a very straight laced woman, and I couldn't detect any insincerity coming from her.

"Well, let's not worry about it now. I wanted to tell you guys what happened to me on Monday."

"Okay," they both said at the same time.

"I was putting some books away when these three guys came into the library. Oh my god, they were seriously so good looking, it was ridiculous."

"What did they look like?" Alice looked a little suspicious, like maybe she already knew something I didn't.

"They were all really tall. There was a dark haired guy, a blond haired guy, and a brunette, and seriously, they all had model good looks."

Alice and Rose looked at each other and smiled mischievously.

"What? Why are you looking at each other like that?"

"No reason," Alice sang in her sing-song voice.

"Why don't you meet us after work and we can talk about this some more. Plus, Valentine's Day is coming up next Monday, and we have that staff party we should definitely be going to." Rose could play it so much cooler than Alice, but I still knew they had something up their sleeves.

After a totally exhausting day, I dragged myself through the doors of the sports bar across from the college. I couldn't see the girl's anywhere in the bar section, and when I moved to dining section, I stopped dead in my tracks. There, at a huge table, sat the three guys from the library. There wasn't anyone else in the dining area, and they'd yet to notice me standing there.

"Do you need to be seated?"

I nearly jumped out of my skin. The host had literally crept out of nowhere, scaring the bajesus out of me.

"Um, yes, that would be fine. I'm waiting for two more, as well." The waiter was a creepy, little weasel of a man, and I could see him blatantly checking me out. I snarled at him in disgust as he brushed by my, rubbing against my ass as he walked by.

"Excuse me, I didn't mean to bump into you," he leered back at me.

Now, I'm not ugly by any stretch of the imagination, especially today. I was dressed in my grey pencil skirt with a high waist, a turquoise ruffled front, sleeveless top, and a pair of black, peep-toe stilettos. With my hair up, and my glasses still on, I'm sure I looked like a naughty little librarian. I was too tired to care, but if he got anymore handsy, I'd have to put him in his place.

As we approached the table where the guys were sitting, they all seemed to look up at the same time. I literally felt like all eyes were on me.

"Is that everyone's favorite librarian?" the tall, dark, and handsome bellowed.

I stopped dead in my tracks, confused at first, because there was only one person I knew that addressed me that way.

"Lovetopuck, is that you?" I couldn't keep the smile off my face, especially at the innuendo laced screen name. He jumped up out of his seat and scooped me up, swinging me around. I tried my best to keep it together, but I couldn't help laughing at the absurdity of the situation.

"Of course it's me, crazy, but you can call me by my real name. I'm, Emmett, and it's a pleasure to finally meet you in person. Oh, and this is Jasper, and Edward." Both guys stood up and shook my hand.

They were so distracting, with how handsome they all were.

"Well, it was very nice to finally meet you guys. It's nice to have a face to go with the screen names. I'm actually meeting Rose and Alice right now…"

"Well then, I think you're actually sitting with us, then." Edward quickly stood up and offered me his seat.

Emmett and Jasper shared a look but immediately were distracted as the girl's blew through the front doors.

"Hey, B. So, I see you met the guys?" Alice squealed.

"Yeah, I did." I could see Edward looking at me from the corner of my eye. Alice and Rose then shared a look with Emmett and Jasper. In that moment, I knew I'd been set up, and apparently, so had Edward.

As we all settled in to order, a different waiter came to take our drink orders before leaving us alone in the large dining room.

Alice and Jasper were smiling, laughing and sitting quite close to one another. Rose and Emmett were having a quiet conversation, and for their boisterous personalities, both seemed content in their quiet little bubble.

"So, sorry about not introducing ourselves the other day," Edward's said quietly into my ear.

I turned to him and smiled. He was heartbreakingly good looking. I hadn't even noticed how perfectly imperfect he was until I was sitting this close to him. His hair was a perfectly arranged mess, his green eyes were the color of emeralds, and his nose was slightly crooked. His jaw was so defined; it drew all of my attention to his perfectly pouty lips. I wanted to kiss him so badly.

"That's alright. How were you to know who I actually was?"

"It doesn't matter. A lady always deserves a polite introduction."

"Well, thank you for that."

We talked for what felt like hours. He told me all about the hockey team and how they were doing so well, and they were even looking like they may be contenders in the play offs. Edward told me that he had played in the NHL for a time with the Boston Bruins, but a blown out knee ended his professional career. All three of the guys had been brought on as coaches this year in hopes that they could turn the team around.

I told Edward all about being brought on as the new librarian and what a huge honor that was. The previous librarian had retired and had hand selected me to take her position. I was able to be in the career that I wanted, and I couldn't be happier.

After all of the plates had been cleared, and pitchers of beer had been emptied, we all stood at the same time to leave.

"So, are you guys going to come to our game on Friday?" Emmett just cut to the chase; there was no beating around the bush for him.

"Oh, we'll all definitely be there," Rose replied, throwing a smirk in my direction.

"And you'll be able to make it this time," Edward asked looking hopeful.

"Of course, I wouldn't miss it." I didn't want to sound too eager, but I was starting to believe that love at first sight did actually exist.

Emmett and Jasper led Rose and Alice out of the restaurant, and Edward and I followed closely behind. As soon as he was directly behind me, I could feel his hand resting at the small of my back. I had to do everything I could to not reach back and take his hand in mine.

"Can I walk you to your car?" Edward whispered softly in my ear.

"I'd like that."

Once outside, we all went out separate ways, promising to get in touch with one another before Friday.

Edward and I walked in companionable silence. The need to touch him grew with every step. I couldn't believe that I was having this reaction to someone so soon. I had never been a big dater, but I had been on my fair share of dates. In all honesty, Edward was eliciting reactions from my heart and body that no one had ever previously been able to.

He seemed like the perfect match for me. I had never thought that it would be this easy for me to find someone. I just hoped that Edward felt the exact same.

Half way to my car, Edward tentatively reached out and took my hand in his.

"Is this okay?"

"Yeah, it's definitely okay."

It was hard to keep the smile of off my face. He had been so sweet all night. I wondered how I had gotten so lucky to have even met him in the first place.

Finally reaching my car, I turned to him, and he surprised me by pressing his lips to mine. I closed my eyes and immediately sank into him. My hands moved of their own accord to rest around his neck, and his hands moved to my hips. Before I was ready, he slowly broke away from me.

"Sorry about that. I've been wanting to kiss you all night. It seemed like the right time."

"I'm glad you did. Thank you so much for the whole evening, and walking me to my car, too."

"It was no problem, really. So, I'll see you Friday?"

"Most definitely. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

The next two days passed in a blur. There was an influx of students in the library on both Thursday and Friday that I hadn't even had a chance to speak with the girl's, except for a few quick phone calls to nail down the details for Friday night.

I had gotten out so late on Friday that I was going to have to go straight to the game from work. Luckily, I had thought ahead and brought clothes with me to work. I couldn't imagine how cold I'd be sitting there in a skirt.

As I walked into the hockey arena, I started to get nervous. I definitely didn't like to go places by myself, and looking around, I didn't see a familiar face in sight. I started to get a little panicky until I saw limbs flailing wildly down in front. Rose and Alice where already sitting in prime seats, directly behind the home bench. I wasn't sure what kind of view of the game we'd have, but we'd definitely have a nice view of the backsides of the guys.

"Sorry I'm late, guys. I have been so crazy at the library, I…" My breath caught in my throat. There, standing in a gray suit, looking like sex on legs, was Edward, and he was staring directly at me. It was like the whole world ceased to exist and it was just the two of us. I wanted to go to him, but we were separated by a thick plexiglass. It lasted only for a few moments, and then the players skated out onto the ice, effectively drawing his attention away from me. I tried to not be disappointed, but I was just glad that he knew I was there.

"What was that?" Rose asked.

"Nothing," I said, trying to hide my blush.

"Oh, that didn't look like nothing. That looked like a man ready to eat a juicy steak after years of eating only vegetables. I knew you'd hit it off, but I didn't expect you to hit it off that well."

Ah, Rose, always the optimist.

Once the game actually got underway, everything seemed to move faster. Edward was so focused and handled the team with total dedication. I had never thought a man could be sexier than Edward was while directing the team. The three periods were over before I could blink, and in all the excitement, our team won.

The girl's had already made plans for us to meet the guys after the game back at the sports bar. When we entered, I couldn't believe the amount of people that were there to celebrate.

Once we actually found the guys, the chaos was getting the better of me, and I could feel my anxiety rising from all the bodies pressed in close together. After only an hour, I decided to call it an early night. Edward didn't want me to leave, but I didn't want to take away from his moment, and told him that I would get in touch with him on Monday.

Valentine's Day.

It had crept up so sneakily, that I hadn't actually even realized it. Dressing in a white pencil skirt, a blood red shirt, and red pumps, I strode into the library only to be greeted by the entire hockey team each holding a single red rose.

I was stunned speechless.

One by one, each player walked up to me, handing me their rose, and leaving the library. Some said nothing but offered sweet smiles, while other blatantly flirted with me. After all of them had handed me their roses and left, Edward was standing there by the stacks with a smirk on his face and a sparkle in his eyes.

"Bella, I have a question for you." He started to stroll towards me, until he was right in front of me.

"Will you be my valentine?" I was in utter shock. I had hardly spent much time with him at all, but I couldn't get past how much I liked him already.

I must have hesitated too long, because the smile faded from his face.

"Yes. I would love to be your valentine, Edward," I said shyly. Edward grabbed my hand that wasn't holding the roses and placed a sweet kiss on the top of it before handing me a red envelope, then turned to leave.

I stood there stunned for a few moments before moving to set down the roses. Quickly, I ripped into the envelope, only to find a single piece of white parchment inside. Written in elegant script was a single sentence.

Please meet me tonight at the staff party.

Edward

All day, all I could think about was Edward. I just couldn't believe that I had only met him a few days ago. He was my perfect man, and he liked me back.

The minutes ticked by slower than any in recent memory, and every time I looked at the clock, only five or ten minutes had past. The party was set for six o'clock, and administration expected me to close the library at five o'clock.

When the clock finally struck five, I was rushing around checking to make sure the library was empty. There hadn't been anyone coming in for several hours, now, but students frequently lost track of time in between the stacks.

Feeling confident that I had checked everywhere, I was just about to leave when I heard the library door shut. I spun on my heel to see who had come in, and there stood Edward.

Neither of us said a word, and you could feel an electric current in the air. Before I knew what I was doing, I moved passed him, locking the door before going to stand in front of him.

Linking our hands together, I brought his hands around to hold them at my back as I lay my head against his chest. Letting go of one hand, Edward brought it up to my face, turning my face towards him and taking my mouth with his.

Every second that passed, our kiss intensified. Soon, our hands were roaming over each other's bodies, desperately trying to grasp the other closer.

Surprising me, Edward scooped me up in his arms.

"Tell me where to go."

He didn't have to ask twice, and I pointed towards my office. Striding through my office door, he didn't even bother to kick the door closed. We were the only two in the library, and I could have cared less if we weren't.

Setting me down atop my desk, he moved to stand between my legs. Pressing as close as he possibly could with my skirt. I groaned in frustration, wanting more, but feeling totally hindered. I pushed back on him in order to stand up. Once standing, I had a moment of clarity. It was now or never, to step up and take what I wanted. Without breaking eye contact, I undid the back of my skirt, slipping it from my body and stepping out of it. Standing in front of him in my shirt, cheekies, and pumps was a little embarrassing, but the look on his face changed everything instantly.

He was a man on fire. I could see the desire in his eyes, and I felt it reflected in mine.

He attacked my neck while pressing his hands into my breasts. It felt like I was going to catch fire he was so hot.

"Can I have you?"

My head was so foggy that I didn't realize at first what he was asking, and then the light went on in my brain.

"Yes."

He grabbed my cheekies, effectively ripping them from my body, leaving me spread out on my desk for him. He dropped his trousers and slid a condom on his length. It all happened so fast it was like he conjured it from thin air.

Slowly, he pressed into me.

"Oh, Bella, so wet. Is that all for me?"

"Yes, Yes, Only for you."

Once completely sheathed in me, he started to move. Slow at first, then picking up the pace. He couldn't stop touching me and kept eye contact the whole time.

"God, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life, Bella."

His words were sweet, and it was so sexy hearing them come from his mouth.

His tempo picked up further, and our bodies were colliding over and over, making my entire being hum with pleasure.

It was only a few seconds later when I felt an explosion inside me, causing me to literally see stars. Edward was frantic, and soon was still above me, the look of pleasure on his face almost setting me off again.

We were both quiet for a few moments when Edward finally spoke, "I'm hoping that we can make a tradition out of this."

"Definitely, that sounds like a plan."

I hoped that we could do this every holiday.