I am Coming Home

Based off the song “Mama, I am coming home” by Ozzy Osbourne. They used this song for when Brad Richards came home. Here is the link to the video if anyone is interested in watching it:

A one shot fic based off  the Have A Little Faith In Yourself Series

Summary: Brad Richards finally returns to Tampa Bay for the first time after being traded.

Ronnie’s POV

St. Petes Time Forum in Tampa Bay, Florida

Times have changed and times are strange
Here I come, but I ain't the same
Mama, I'm coming home
Times gone by seems to be
You could have been a better friend to me
Mama, I'm coming home

January 19 2009, Brad Richards returned to the one city he grew up since he was 20 years old and knew that this return was going to be so emotional that he didn’t know if he was going to burst into tears when he stepped out onto the ice. All I know is that he asked me to be with him and I promise to be there on the bench with him cause Tampa did have a special place in my heart. I was on the bench with Brad when they won the cup in 2004 and this city helped me become a better person along with Brad.

Brad was sitting at his locker waiting for the game to start and he started tapping his skate, keeping his emotions with him right now. He looked around as he saw me talking to Marc Crawford about the game as I looked over and smiled at him.

“Coach, can you excuse me for awhile?” I asked.

“Yeah sure go ahead. I understand you and Brad have a big connection in this city,” Crawford answered.

I nodded as I walked over towards where Brad was and bending my knees. “You okay, baby.”

“Yeah, just memories filling through my mind right now from when I was drafted to when I won the cup to when I got that call I was traded to Dallas. I am going through so many kind of emotions right now: anger to happy to sad to wanting to cry when I hear the fans cheering for my name,” Brad whispered.

“I am so proud of you right now and it’s okay if you cry cause those fans are cheering on their former bolt who was traded to their team. I was the one who told my dad about you and he wanted you on this team cause he saw the same passion you had when he was playing. He knows you can be a leader on this team. Just go out there and play your heart,” I replied, smiling before kissing him on the forehead.

“You are amazing, you know that right?” Brad asked, looking at me.

“Yeah I do cause you are amazing to be around with,” I whispered.

Brad grinned at me before kissing me on the lips as James Neal and Brenden Morrow give out a few cat calls towards us. “Shut up, you two.”

“But it’s so adorable,” James snickered in the background before Jamie Benn smacks Neal on the shoulder as Neal rubs his shoulder.

Took me in and you drove me out
Yeah, you had me hypnotized
Lost and found and turned around
By the fire in your eyes

Marc Crawford gave the team a prep talk before the team got up and walked out towards the ice as they skated towards the ice and Brad skates around the ice, looking at the many signs the fans brought to the game. He grinned at one sign, Welcome home, Richie. Thank you for bringing Lord Stanley Cup to the Bolts in 04 and skated towards the bench as he saw me. He knew that he was going to make it.

A few minutes later, the anthem singer singed the national anthem and the fans cheered on their Tampa Bay Lightning. The puck dropped as Richards won the faceoff and passed the puck to Loui Eriksson who shot the puck at Mike Smith who saved the puck with his glove as they have a stoppage of play. The fans started cheering on as the song “Mama, I am coming home”  was blaring through the screen as Brad looked up and saw his name and a tribute video.

You made me cry, you told me lies
But, I can't stand to say goodbye
Mama, I'm coming home
I could be right, I could be wrong
Hurts so bad, it's been so long
Mama, I'm coming home

Selfish love yeah we're both alone
The ride before a fall
But I'm gonna take this heart of stone
I just got to have it all

I looked up with the team as I smiled and had a few tears in my eyes as I saw a clip of me hugging Richards after we won the cup. I smiled as Stu Barnes, one of the associate coaches rubbed my back. “This is is amazing, Stu.”

“I know…he deserves this,” Stu whispered.

“He sure does,” I replied as I looked onto the ice and saw Richards have a few tears in his eyes as he brushed them away. My guy was putting on the strongest face but I saw some tears of joy.

WELCOME BACK TO TAMPA BAY, BRAD RICHARDS, PA announcer Doug Newman announced as the fans gave Brad an overwhelming ovation.

Brad waved to the fans before he put the glove back on his hand went towards the face as the fans cheered him. He won the faceoff as he passed the puck to Loui Eriksson as he gave the puck towards Brad Richards who shot the puck and scored a goal.

Brad Richards scores a goal against his former team, the Tampa Bay Lightning on his return to Tampa Bay, Ralph Strangis yelled.

He went over to celebrate the goal with Loui and James along with Stephane Robidas and Nicklas Grossman. He then went back to the bench as I went over and tapped him on the shoulder.

“Nice goal, baby,” I whispered.

“Thanks. It felt good,” Brad whispered.

I've seen your face a hundred times
Everyday we've been apart
I don't care about the sunshine, yeah
'Cause mama, mama, I'm coming home
I'm coming home

The game felt like it was going fast but Dallas was holding onto a 2-1 lead into the third period and Richards scored a goal and assisted on James Neal’s goal. He knew this day was special and it was getting better as Marty Turco kept saving every shot the Bolts were shooting him. Before we knew it, the game ended with a 2-1 victory and Richards getting the number one star. It was amazing cause Brad deserved it. This was his night.

You took me in and you drove me out
Yeah, you had me hypnotized
Lost and found and turned around
By the fire in your eyes

An hour after the game ended, Brad smiled after getting ready and talking to the reporters about his return to Tampa Bay. He felt great about the win against the team. The reporters left as I walked towards his locker and went into his arms when he got up.

I kissed his cheek. “Amazing game, baby. What an amazing game!”

“It felt amazing,” Brad replied.

We left the locker room, happy and relieved. The return to this city was amazing for the team but it proved how much the Tampa Bay Lightning missed Richards. We shared a special day as Brad returned to Tampa after being traded last year. I know that this day will stick with us for a long time.

I've seen your face a thousand times
Every day we've been apart
And I don't care about the sunshine, yeah
'Cause mama, mama, I'm coming home
I'm coming home
I'm coming home
I'm coming home

Marry Me

This song inspired this beautiful one shot : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gEIHgVAkJE

A one shot fic based off  the Have A Little Faith In Yourself

Based off the song Marry Me by Train

Summary: Brad Richards knows that Ronnie Nieuwendyk is the one for him since they day they met in high school. He knows that he wants to spend his life with her.

Valentines Day of 2010-Dallas, Texas

American Airlines Center

Forever could never be long enough for me
Feel like I've had long enough with you
Forget the world now, we won't let them see
That there's one thing left to do

Brad Richards knew that Ronnie Nieuwendyk was the one for him and he knew from the beginning of high school to right now. The day she came to Tampa Bay after running away from her ex boyfriend, Sean Avery, he started falling for her again  and knew that he would protect her with his heart for the rest of his life. Even after he was traded to Dallas Stars, she stayed with him and her dad Joe Nieuwendyk, saw the love between both Brad and Ronnie. Joe was happy to see that his daughter finally found that love that she has been looking for.

Brad had set up the locker room with a few candles and flowers with the help of Joe and Brenden Morrow, someone that Brad has grown close to after he was in Dallas. He waited for Ronnie to come home inside the locker room as she was busy out with James Neal and his girlfriend, LC Spencer working on their wedding since James proposed to her on Christmas day. She sighed knowing that one day would happen but not noticing that today was that day. She walked into the locker room with James and LC seeing candles and flowers inside the locker room, not noticing the grins coming from James and LC’s faces.

Not that the weight has lifted
Love has surely shifted my way

Marry me, today and everyday
Marry me, if I ever get the nerve to say Hello in this cafe
Say you will, hmm
Say you will, hmm

Ronnie looked over and saw Brad smiling along with her dad, Joe and Brenden. She walked over towards Brad and saw him. “What is going on, baby?”

“I have a surprise for you,” Brad whispered.

Ronnie smiled as she looked away, not knowing what to do. She was nervous as hell.

“Ronnie,” Brad whispered, slowly lifting her chin with his hand so that their eyes met. “I can’t live without you. You are my world, the reasons I get up every morning. I came back here to be with you, I took the chance of coming back into your life because I had to know if we could be as great as I want us to be. My life was so dark before you came along. There was no bright light of my heart but…now there’s a light there, a bright one that won’t stop shining. Every single day I thank the heavens that I’m with you right now. I am not going to leave and crew that up again. My heart can’t take losing you.”

Ronnie smiled weakly as fresh tears cascaded down her cheeks, closing her eyes for a second to take in everything he had said. “Brad…” she whispered, not knowing what to say. He put a finger to her lips, quieting her.

“I’m here. That’s not going to change,” he said seriously, stroking her cheek lightly with his thumb. She nodded, shivering at his touch. “I love you more than anyone I have ever met and you know that.”  Brad's smile grew wider as he dropped onto one knee and popped the box open.  “Veronica Anna Nieuwendyk, will you marry me?”

Together could never be close enough for me
To feel like I am close enough to you
You wear white and I'll wear out the words, "I love you", and "You're beautiful"

Ronnie looked at James and LC as they nodded and then looked at Brenden who nodded along with her father also. She knelt in front of him and took his free hand in hers. "Yes, I'll marry you," She whispered, and drew him into a fierce hug, before planting her lips over his.

Ronnie’s engagement ring

Brad pulled away and removed the diamond encrusted ring from the soft cushion, slipping it onto the ring finger of her left hand. "I love you, Ronnie. I'll stick with you, through it all. I know we gone through so much crap and I know you are the one for me. I can tell, baby. Because without you..."he was interrupted by her lips on his and he totally lost his train of thoughts as the kiss became more intense.

Everyone started cheering and realizing that this was going to be the start of a beautiful beginning. They could really not get enough of each other. Every second the kiss lasted made them wanted more. They were so happy as ever and their tongues danced to the beat of their heart-filled hearts

When they needed a break to catch their breaths, Brad continued what he was saying before. "Because without you, I am not nothing and you mean everything to the world to me. I love you, and only you, because you’re everything I need. I love you just the way you are. Never change anything about yourself, because I’ve already fallen in love with this Ronnie, which I think is the best Ronnie. I’ve never met anyone like you everything I do, you know so much about hockey.  I don’t have much to offer you except all the love in my heart. And I promise that you will always have that. I promise you that I will always love you and I will always be yours." Her were watering and a tear trickled down her cheeks. "It's tears of joy, I hope?"
She smiled, "yes, they're tears of joy, baby."

Brad had just put his heart out to her. She finally understood that Brad loves her.

"Brad,” she whispered, “you make my life whole.”

“I love you,” Brad said as he kissed her softly on the lips.

“I love you, too,” she said.

“Congratulations, you two,” James and LC said as they went over and started hugging them both

“Thanks,” They replied as they hugged them back.

“A wedding and can I please design your dress?” LC asked.

“Yes, you can,” Ronnie answered.

“Yeah!” LC exclaimed as James grinned at his girlfriend’s enthusiasm.

Now that the wait is over
Love has finally showed her my way

Marry me, today and everyday
Marry me, if I ever get the nerve to say Hello in this cafe
Say you will, hmm
Say you will, hmm

Brad and Ronnie smiled as they kissed before looking at one another. Brad grinned at her and can’t believe that Ronnie said yes to his proposal “So when do you want your wedding?”

“I want to wait a few years before we get married and I want it to be in June after you guys win the Stanley Cup. I want a beautiful beach wedding.”

“Well then, baby, that’s what you are going to get.”

***

Promise me, you'll always be
Happy by my side
I'll promise too, sing to you
When all the music dies

 

Ronnie’s wedding dress

the wedding scene

June 20, 2014

Murray Harbor, Prince Edward Island

A few months later, the Dallas Stars won the Stanley Cup at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas against the Ottawa Senators and now it was the day of the wedding of Brad Richards and Ronnie Nieuwendyk. Both of them got ready for the wedding as Brad grinned while getting ready and hugging his father, Glenn.

“I am so proud of you son,” Glenn replied. “Ronnie is the best thing that has ever come into your life and I am so proud of you son. I am glad to have her in my life as a daughter in law.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Brad said as he walked out of the alter, behind a beautiful ocean and saw his best man, Vincent Lecavalier grinning at him too as he waited for the wedding to begin. He walked over and waited for Ronnie to come out.

The ceremony began as Ronnie  Nieuwendyk walked in arm with her dad, Joe Nieuwendyk  as she smiled at Brad who smiled back her. Brad walked down as Randy gave Ronnie her hand to him as he patted Brad on the back.

Both Ronnie and Brad walked back to where Reverend Eric Camden was as he began “Welcome everyone, to the wedding of Brad Richards and Ronnie  Armstrong. The beautiful ceremony of the commitment between these two as they become husband wife. Both Brad and Ronnie  wrote their own vows.”

Ronnie turned to Brad as she took his hand. “I, Ronnie, take you, Bradley Glenn Richards to have and to hold, from this day forward. In sickness and health. For richer or poorer, for better or worse. I promise, that I will love and cherish you. And deny all those that would come between us. I make this promise for eternity. I promise that I will keep forever...until the end of time. Til death do us apart. Brad its been said that there is one word that will free us from the weight and pain of life. And that word is love, and I believe that. It doesn't mean that it hasn't been hard or that it won't be. It just means that I found a stillness and bravery in myself with you. You make me brave and I will love you until the end of time. This I vow today."

“Last year we stood on a beach and I told you how much I loved you and how I would always, always protect you. And that day nobody believed that this would work. But I don't think anybody understood the love I had for you because if they did they never would have doubted us. So I wanted to marry you all over again in front of most of the world. Because today, when I look into your eyes my love for you only grows. Its even stronger now and that love will never waver. This I vow to you today and always, forever."

Ronnie smiled as tears ran down her face as she smiled at Brad as he smiled back.

Reverend Camden looked at both of them before asking, “do you Brad Richards take Ronnie Nieuwendyk to be your wife.”

“I do.” Brad slipped on the beautiful wedding ring onto Ronnie’s wedding finger.

“Do you Ronnie Nieuwendyk take Brad Richards to be your husband?”

“I do.” Ronnie slipped on the beautiful wedding ring onto Brad’s wedding finger.

“You may now kiss the bride.”

Brad walked towards Ronnie and took her face softly as he kissed her lips. He knew that his life was different and that he couldn’t love without Ronnie Armstrong. Now he can live with her and make her the happiest man in the world cause Ronnie did that for him.

And marry me, today and everyday
Marry me, if I ever get the nerve to say Hello in this cafe
Say you will, hmm
Say you will, hmm
Marry me, hmm