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Unexpected

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

I entered the house ready for a full out brawl with my dad, but he sat quietly looking out over the yard.
“Dad I need to say a few things.” he stood looking over at me raising his hand and shaking his head.
“Let me talk first, son.”
I didn't like the idea but I let him speak.
“You are my son and I love you, I just don't want you hurt. I know that you love her. I also know that your career is very important to you. You have to find a balance to all of this.” he waved his hand around my house. “I can talk to you till I am blue in the face but you are going to do exactly what you want. You will always be my little boy and I have to remember that you are a twenty five year old man. You have lived so much life already and that is hard for me to grasp. Most kids your age are just getting started but you have been away from home since you were 16. I am having a hard time dealing with the fact that you even have a girlfriend much less one that you want to marry.”
“Dad I do want that more than anything.”
“Son, let me finish. I want you to have everything you have ever dreamed of. I want everything for you that I never had. You are a young man who has the weight of Pittsburgh hockey on his shoulders and that in itself is a huge burden to carry. Your mother and I just want you to be happy. I shouldn't have called you and tried to cause trouble but honestly, I got a call from someone else and I was fuming when I picked up the phone. I shouldn't have said the things I did about Stephanie and I apologize for that. I have already spoken to her and apologized to her as well.”
“Wait you called Stephanie?”
“Yes son I did. I needed her to know that I was sorry. If she is that important in your life then she needs to know where I stand.”
“What did you say to her?”
“After I apologized for being an asshat, I asked her not to break your heart.” he looked down at the floor.
“Dad I am sorry I yelled at you and I would hope that that will be the last time you try and interfere in my personal life. I love her so much and I also know that we have only been together for a little time in the scope of things but she is my match. She is my everything and I couldn't imagine breathing without knowing she is mine.”
“Son, you do whatever you feel like you need to do. Your mother and I will support your decisions no matter what. Just so you know Taylor isn't speaking to me.”
“Why is she mad?”
“She is mad because I always fall off the deep end and make an ass out of myself. She wants you happy just as much as your mother and I do.”
I covered the small space that was between us and hugged my dad. Our relationship had always been strained but in this moment. This tiny moment I loved my dad and was glad he was here.

3 months later
Stephanie’s point of view

I had given Sidney a kiss and was walking out to the WAG’s box and sat slowly. I never felt like a part of this. They spoke to me but not really.
The game was intense.
“FUCK.” I screamed as Sidney was put into the glass and fell to his knees.
I started running trying to get to the ice.
I watched as Tanger and Flower pulled him to his feet and skated him over to the tunnel.
“Sidney.” I called but the staff wouldn't let me by.
“He is ok, just took a hard hit and needs to get himself back together. Go out and watch the game.” the trainer pushed at my shoulder.
I stood in the tunnel waiting on someone to talk to me. I needed to know he was really OK. I had seen him take hits over and over but never go down and not get up.
Malkin put the guy in the glass and started an all out brawl with the other team. When it was all said and done the power play gave the other team an advantage on the ice. Malkin and Tanger sat in the penalty box. The buzzer rang out and the game ended without me being able to see Sidney.
“He fine.” Malkin walked out of the locker room. “He told me give you this.” Malkin kissed me on the cheek and then grinned. “But on mouth from Sid” he laughed.
“Thank you are you sure he is fine?”
“He took a hard hit Stephanie, we all do.” Tanger spoke up.
“I know but it looked really bad.”
“It is just all precautions mostly. They just want to make sure he is fine.”
Flower’s reassurances didn't make the knot in my stomach any smaller. I was worried for Sidney for the first time in all the months I had been watching him. I had always thought of him as a machine. He would get checked then back up and skating again. It was just a gut wrenching feeling to see him getting lifted up by his teammates.
“He was a little dizzy so they are doing some tests to make sure he doesn't have a concussion.” Flower said rubbing my hand that I hadn't even realized he had taken in his own.
“Stephanie just breath, we would tell you if it was serious.”

I sat there surrounded by the guys as they talked about the fight and who had gotten good hits in. They would come to his aid everytime and it was nice to see the commodore these boys shared.

Sidney’s point of view

The stars were immediate. I was dizzy and wasn't sure if I could skate over to the bench. Flower saw me struggling and came over trying to help me to my feet.
“You OK?” he asked
“I am not sure I’m dizzy”
Tanger was there in the next moment and they helped me to my feet. I walked down the tunnel under my own power and was feeling better by the time the doctor was shining a small pinpoint light into my eyes.
“That was a hard hit. Are you feeling anything different now?”
“No I feel better, I was just a bit dizzy when I tried to get up, I saw little stars.”
“OK we are going to make sure you didn't sustain a concussion.”
“Can i see Steph?”
“Not right now. She is waiting in the tunnel.”
They did all kinds of stuff to me and I passed everything then did. I just kept wondering how Steph felt. I needed to know she was ok.
“You OK?” I heard Geno ask.
“Yeah let Steph know and give her a kiss for me.”
“Yes.” he stated and walked out of the room.
“I am fine guys I just took a hard hit. I will be fine.”
“You are not playing tomorrow per doctors orders.”
“What?”
“You heard me Crosby. Off the ice until they are sure you are fine. Be here tomorrow morning at 9 for a recheck and then we will talk about what's going to happen from here.”
I didn't want to be off the ice. I knew they were just looking out for me but I had taken worse hits.
I stepped out of the locker room looking for Steph. It was nice to see the boys sitting with her and I walked straight over and grabbed her up into my arms.
“Oh Sidney your face.” she looked up at my swollen cheek bone.
“It is just a bruise. It will be fine.”
“Are you OK, like for real OK?” she questioned me
“Yeah I think so. I was just a little dizzy.”
“It was the most frightening thing I have ever witnessed. I mean to see you fall and not get up was just...” I put my finger over her mouth to stop her sentence and leaned down to kiss her.
She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me to her.
I heard shuffling as the boys moved to the locker room.
“Listen I am going to go shower, can we just hit the house tonight?”
“Yes, I would like that.”
I stood under the spray of the shower remembering the time that I brought us to this point.
Her PR firm had moved her to Pittsburgh after hearing that we were dating. They thought it would be bad to have someone representing the Flyers and dating a Penguin. She was happy with the move and had found a nice little condo in the city. Our time together had become a constant. She was at every home game and ones that were close enough to drive to. Our lives had taken a turn as my family had taken her in as if she had always been there. My dad treated her better than I ever could have imagined and even Taylor loved her. We had gone to see Taylor play at my old alma mater a few times and Taylor was thrilled. The life we had hoped for was dropped in her lap because I was her boyfriend.
She missed Raven and would occasionally drop in on her in Philly and go to a Flyers game with her.
Max and Raven had seen each other a few times but it was nothing serious. Although I knew deep down he really liked her. I washed and tried to get the hockey pad sweat off of my body but I could always smell it. Guess it was burned into my nose.

“You ready?” I asked Steph as I walked out into the waiting area
“Yeah, lets blow this joint.”
“Crosby please no strenuous activity until we can test you again in the morning.” Coach Dan called, then smirked.
“You got it.”
“I can be on top.” Steph whispered into my ear as she pulled me closer.
“I am OK with that.”

I arrived at the clinic the next morning, went through the tests and waited on the results.
“It is in everyone's best interests if you take the next three games off. We don't want you to take a hit tonight and have some serious trouble.”
“Thats fucking garbage. I am fine.”
“Mr. Crosby, you are still showing some signs of a mild concussion and I think, as your doctor, that you should sit out a few. We can do the tests again next week and make sure everything is OK. It is all I can give you for now, but I need to to take this seriously. A hard hit tonight could end your career.
“Wait, end my career?”
“Yes, I think you need to take this time and evaluate what is important to you.” he stated it simply but left no room for negotiations. That was that. I was benched.
“If that is how it has to be, I really don't see any reason to continue to argue.” I stood walking out of the office. Dan stopped me in the hall. “We have all been there Crosby. Just take some time and get better. You will be back soon.”
I walked onto the elevator of Stephanie’s office building not feeling good about what had happened. I wanted to play and it was as simple as that.
“I am here to see Ms. Proulx.” I spoke to the gentleman behind the desk.
“Ok.” he picked up the phone and called Steph. “There is a gentleman here to see you.”
I smirked to myself cause he had no idea who I was. Must be the only person in Pittsburgh.
“Sidney, are you OK?”
“Yeah can we go to your office?”
“Yeah, sure.”
I followed her down the hall and took a seat in front of her desk. She sat down on her knees in front of me, concern drawing her features together.
“They fucking benched me for three games. I can't miss three fucking games. What the fuck am I supposed to do now.”
“Well, get better. Don't take this so hard, they are concerned for you. They want you one hundred percent when you skate back on that ice and honestly I don't think this is a bad thing. Go see your parents for a few days and chill.
“Come with me.”
“I wish I could but I have too much work to do. I want nothing more than to have a few days of SIdney time but it just isn't going to happen this week.”
I frowned down at her and watched as she rose back to her feet. She sat across my lap and hugged me to her. “I am glad you are OK. I was worried about all this.”
“It happens.”
“I know but why couldn't you play baseball?” she laughed and snuggled into my chest.
“I think I will stay home with you and just veg out.”
“Do whatever you think you should. Have you talked to your mom?”
“Not since last night.”
“She called me this morning to see if I had heard anything, call her please she is worried sick.”
“I will can we do lunch?”
“Yeah but I will need an hour or so, you can hang out here or I can call you when I am ready and we can meet up.”
“I have some running around to do. I will be back here in an hour.”
She kissed me gently then answered the phone that had started ringing.
I called my mom and explained the situation. She was grateful I was OK, but worried I wouldn't take the down time.
“Mom, I am going to ask Stephanie to marry me I decided yesterday as I was sitting in the medical room with my career in the balance. I want her to be with me always.”
“That is wonderful son. We love you and we also hope she says yes.” I laughed at my mom and told her bye. There was only one other person I needed to call.
“Hello?”
“Hi Mr. Proulx, this is Sidney. I really wish that I could do this in person but I can't so here it goes. May I have your daughters hand in marriage?” there was silence and I was beginning to wonder if I lost him.
“Are you absolutely sure this is what you want?”
“I have never been more certain of anything in my life.”
“Then if she will have you, welcome to the family.”
“Thank you sir.”
“This doesn't have anything to do with the hit you took last night does it?”
“Yes as a matter of fact it does. I realized as I was sitting there that I wanted nothing more than her comfort. I wanted her to be in there with me. She is my life and I want nothing more than to share all of this craziness with her.”
“Full circle son, full circle. Well congratulations if she says yes and if she doesn't don't forget this huge fan down in North Carolina.”
“I think she will.”
“Sidney?”
“Yes sir.”
“Don’t break her heart, or the hits I will put on you will remove you from the ice permanently, got it?”
“Yes I don't plan on hurting her ever.”
I drove over to Orrs Jewelry and looked at all the pieces they had. I knew her ring had to be special. I also knew that we had not talked marriage for over 3 months. I was ready to make it official and she had to say yes this time.
I browsed over the counter looking for the ring that would start it all. I knew it had to be special and it had to be her. I found a perfect ring and had the man pull it out. He was talking jewelry and I had no clue what he was saying all I could think about was how it would look on her hand.
“Its perfect.”
“This ring is over...” I cut him off and handed him my black amex and he smiled.
I didn't care how much it cost I would have paid my entire salary for a year to see her smile.

I fumbled at lunch trying my best to act normal. I was nothing if not a complete mess. I watched her eat her sandwich and then decided.

Stephanie's point of view.
He has been fumbling all afternoon. Maybe he does have a concussion. He is acting awkward and unsure of himself. I haven't seen him like this is months. I wonder what is going on.

Sidney's point of view

“It’s now or never.” I walked around the table and dropped to my knee. She just stared at me.
“Stephanie Proulx, you have been my rock and my shield. You have loved me through all of my bullshit. You have taken my crazy life and made it your own. I love the way you still smell like coconut even after you have been gone from North Carolina for months. You are my breath and my blood. My family and my life. There is nothing on this earth that would make me happier than you being my wife. Would you do me the incredible honor of marrying me?”
Her hands were covering her mouth and she just sat there for a minute. The entire restaurant was silent. I saw tears flowing down her face and I reached to wipe one of them away with my finger.
“Stephanie?”
“Yes” she whispered.
“Yes you will marry me?”
“Yes Sidney Fucking Crosby I will marry you.”
I pulled her from her chair as the restaurant erupted into shouts. They clapped for us and cheered. The smile on her face told me she wanted this. I thought maybe I was pushing her but I had to do this.
“You know this is going to be all over the place. Everybody in the restaurant had their cell phones going.”
“I am ok with that. I want the world to know.”
“My dad is going to flip.” she frowned.
“I talked to him earlier today.”
“You called my dad?”
“Of course I did, I needed his blessing before any of this could even happen.”
“What did he say?”
“Told me not to break your heart or he would kick my ass.” she smiled a warm smile over to me.

I reached for her left hand kissing the ring that had been there for less than a half hour, but I hoped would stay there for the rest of my life.
“We are really going to do this?”
“Yeah, I want this more than anything else.”
“More than the Stanley cup?”
“Ummm.” I got a slap across the chest “Yes even more than that, although you may have to sleep with Lord Stanley at some point in your life.”
“I could share a bed with you and Lord Stanley if I have too.” she rolled her eyes looking out over the city of Pittsburgh.

Stephanie’s point of view

“Dad?”
“Hey honey.”
“Sidney asked me to marry him.”
“Did you tell him no that you needed to come take care of your father?”
“Do I need to?”
“Of course not honey, you marry that man and live the life you deserve. Your mother would approve of your decision. I am certain of it.”
“Dad that means so much. I miss her and I am going to miss her being there.”
“She will be there I promise. You should be getting a package in the mail in a few days from your brothers and I.”
“Dad you don't have to...” he cut me off
“I did this because I want you to have it. I want you to be able to carry your mother with you always.”
“Thank you dad. Thank you. We will be down in a few months to visit. I can't wait to spend some time in the water.”

A few days later I wandered down the long driveway to Sidney’s house. He was making dinner in the kitchen. He didn't have a shirt on and I was noticing how his warm up pants laid across his hips just the right way.
“Stephanie!” he shouted at me
“What?”
“Did you hear anything I just said to you?”
“Uhhh no. I was lost in the view of my future husband.”
“I picked this up off your door step today. Your dad called said it had arrived.”
I pulled at the box trying to get it open. Sidney cut it with a knife from the kitchen, after I started cussing at the tape. I opened the box and found a note from my dad.
These were your mother's engagement ring diamonds.
I bought one when I proposed and added the other
on our twenty fifth wedding anniversary.
I took the ring apart and had earrings made for you.
I hope you love them.
Love, Dad
I sat and cried. I held the earrings in my hand knowing that the last time I had see these diamonds they had been on my mothers hand.
Sidney pulled me into a hug. “Are you OK?”
“Yes, I am more than OK.” he reached for the note and read it understanding what I had in my hand.
“Can I put them in for you?”
I raised my eyes looking up at him. He wiped the tears away with the pads of his thumbs.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
He placed the earrings in my ears “I don't want you to wear them out until I can have them made into screw-backs. I don't want you to lose them.”
“Thank you.”

1 year later

Sidney’s point of view

I stood with my dad, Talbo, Flower, Geno, and Tanger, waiting for Stephanie.
The doors opened and she stepped through them her hand laced around her dad’s arm.
I watched her intently, trying to keep my own emotions at bay. She smiled up at me and I saw a single tear drop fall down her face.
I wanted to kiss her, I wanted to kiss her now.”Just a few minutes and you can kiss me, forever.”
she smiled and grabbed my hands in hers.
“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”
“I do.” her father turned taking his seat.

“We are gathered here today to join Sidney Patrick Crosby and Stephanie Marie Proulx in holy matrimony.”
I completely zone out just looking at her. The diamond earrings shining in her ears, the diamond I gave her on her right hand. She looked stunning and I was having a really hard time concentrating on anything that was being said. I felt her squeeze my hands and knew that I had to listen.
“Sidney do you have your vows ready?”
“Yes”
He nodded and I started.
“Stephanie, I vow to love you with every breath I take. I vow to also eat your cooking even if you burn it, to always come home from away games and to never get jealous of my teammates. I promise to be the man you think I should be. I also promise to love you until the day I die.”

“Sidney, I vow to be that girl that you fell in love with so many months ago. I vow to wash your stinky practice clothes,and deal with your awkward tiny pockets problem. I vow to be a good example for our children as to how a marriage should be. I also vow to love you until the day I die.”

She smiled as we exchanged rings and then I could finally kiss her. I pulled her to me in a not so G rated way. She giggled and pulled back from me. “The boys have seen worse than that.” I said through my smile.
“Its not your boys I am worried about.” I looked up and saw her dad and three brothers sitting in the front row. “Oh them, they love me.”
“I am still their sister.”

We walked to the back of the church and waited for everyone to walk out. We took pictures for an hour to give everyone time to get over to the reception.
We stood in the hall waiting for them to announce us and I looked over at her covering her mouth with a small kiss, she smiled up at me.
“I’m Pregnant”
“What?”
“I found out three days ago. Just thought you would like to know.”
The door opened and we heard
“Welcome for the first time. Mr and Mrs. Sidney Fucking Crosby.”

Notes

Hope you enjoyed my SIdney Crosby. I had fun with this and hope you will enjoy Max and Raven's story. :)

Comments

Update soon!
BexH BexH
12/29/12