Captains Come First

Heather awoke the next morning feeling the warmth of two bodies beside her. She felt Marc-Andre's arms around her waist and had her own arms wrapped around Kris's middle with him facing her nuzzling her forehead. The two boys slept contentedly as Heather laid there with a shit eating grin on her face. Raising her head she saw that it was 8:30am. Team breakfast was in an hour with game day skate an hour after that. She heard her phone buzzing unable to reach it she tried to turn around without waking the other two. She managed to vault over a snoring Flower to grab the vibrating phone.

RealDeal: are you awake?
RealDeal: was hoping we could talk alone.
RealDeal: heading down to the gym will stop by your room after.

Well if anything she would give to him that he was persistent. Her anger for James had subsided a bit. She still wasn't happy with him but was beginning to come around a bit. Maybe she'd make a peace offering and meet him in the hotel's gym. She could use a good workout of the non sexual nature. She managed to inch her way down to the end of the bed, slithering and sliding like a snake through the untucked sheets. When she finally got out she wished that she had the nerve to take a picture. Flower had adjusted his position and was now being spooned by Tanger! Stifling a giggle she threw on a pair of Capri yoga pants, a sports bra and a hot pink workout top. Slipping her feet into her sneakers she grabbed her iPhone, headphones and room key and headed down to the gym.

James was the only one in the weight room doing hammer curls with free weights. "Need a spotter?" Heather said from behind him.

"Only if I can spot you." He said with a smile continuing his set.

"So I took some time to think and I'm sorry" Heather said as he set his dumbbells back on the rack.

"For what?" He said brushing his hands off and flipping some stray sweaty hair out of his face. This movement made Heather's mouth water her eyes narrowing.

"You know, being superbitch on the plane." She said with a half smile.

"Oh right." He said taking a sip from his water bottle. "We all have our days babydoll"

"Babydoll?" She asked with a grin. "Yeah. I thought it could be my name for you, seeing as you didn't like Angel" he said with a grin. Heather took a step closer to him with a small smile on her face.

"I like it" she said smiling. Their faces leaned closer together until their lips almost touched.

"I hope I'm not interrupting" came the voice of Sidney Crosby entering the room getting on a stationary bike.

"Yep, you definitely come up to my chin." James said to Heather. "I'm a good 6 inches taller than you" he added trying to cover up their almost kiss.

"Good try man" said Sidney from across the room.

"Shut up creature." He said leaving the gym then turned and gave Heather a wink. Heather climbed on the recumbent bike beside Sidney.

"So I missed you at dinner last night." Sidney said as he pedaled.

"Yeah I just had a lot on my mind. I needed some time alone" she said to herself. "I'm still getting used to my role you know?" Heather said.

"Do you ever miss your family?" Sidney asked. Normally Heather would evade the issue but Sidney already knew a lot about her delicate situation and troubled past. "I mean this is your first trip home and all" he added.

"Yeah it's a little strange being here." She said looking up at the tv that was playing sports highlites. "But my parents have my number, they know where I live and where I work. My dad's a Leaf fan so it's not like they wouldn't know I was coming to town" she added with a spiteful tongue.

"I couldn't imagine that." He said looking at her. "My parents are everything to me" he said.

"I used to feel the same way . Especially after Avery." Heather said.

"Maybe it could be that way again" Sidney said. "I don't know." Heather said

-----

Walking through the bowels of the ACC before the Leaf game brought so many memories back to Heather. So many memories here with Andrew, bringing a young Avery to games, it was a little surreal to her. She walked by the boys playing two touch.

"Deal me in boys" she said taking off her blazer leaving her in her suit pants, stilettos and blouse.

"You play? In heels?" Asked Geno with a laugh.

"Yeah why not, I used to dance onstage in heels after all." Heather said jumping in place.

"Hey Jame, bet she's still better than you" Pascal said with a laugh.

"Haha Duper." Said James as he held the ball. "We'll see about that." The boys began their game chirping as usual the first out was as predicted James, followed by Paul Martin and Heather was next.

"Told you James" said Duper as James headed over and the two began one of their UFC take down battles.

"Oh boys don't fight over me! There's enough of me to go around" Heather said grinning giving a kiss to both Duper and James lightly on the lips.

"Well if it isn't my girl." She heard a familiar female voice and turned around to it.

"Mom, what...why? What are you doing here?" She asked pulling away from the boys as some continued their game while others stood and watched Heather talk to the shorter blonde woman.

"Is that any way to greet your mother?" She asked holding her arms out embracing her in a half hug uncomfortably

. "I'm just very surprised Mother, especially seeing as I haven't heard from you since I moved to Pittsburgh." Heather said crossing her arms. "Let's go for a walk Mom, the boys have a game to prepare for." She said turning away nodding for the boys to continue about their business.

Sidney stepped up putting a hand on her shoulder "you ok?" He asked quietly.

"Yeah, just go get ready. I can look after myself" Heather said with a half smile.

"Ok" Sidney said smiling grabbing her hand giving it a small kiss. As she walked away.

"Awfully chummy with the players now aren't we?" She asked as they walked their way around the arena.

"They're my boys mom. They look at me being one of the few females around the team" she said brashly.

"That one in particular. Mr Crosby. He seems to be especially close" she said disapprovingly.

"We have become good friends mom" Heather said holding her ground.

"You never learn of you?" She said to her stopping with her hands on her hips. "Why can't you find a man who thinks like you? Who shares your faith?" She said. "Someone like David Booth from Vancouver. Too bad Mike Fisher is married." she added with a smile.

"Mom, I'm with the Penguins. I don't need your dating advice. How did you even get in here anyway?" She said rubbing the bridge of her nose in confusion.

"Andrew left me a ticket and got me a pass. He said he wanted us to talk for Avery's sake"

"Andrew" she muttered under her breath sighing.

"He's turned into such a nice man. Shame he married" she said. "You two were lovely"

"Mom get real. We were fuck buddies at most."

"Don't use that language with me Heather" her mother said. "Plus you did try it out when he was here in Toronto"

"Mom no. I think it might be best if you keep out of my life." She walked away as her mom grabbed her arm.

"Your father. He's very worried." "Then tell him to pick up a phone and call me mom ." She said throwing her arms up.

Beau Bennett had been a healthy scratch for the game came around the corner dressed in a navy suit "Heather are you ok?" He asked catching up to her.

"Fine Sunshine" she said giving him a weak smile. "Mom, Beau, Beau, Mom" Heather said doing the polite thing giving introductions.

"Mrs Gardiner" said Beau extending his hand to her.

"Hello" she said shaking his hand politely.

"Listen Mom, I have to go. I have work to do." She said shaking her head angrily. Beau put an arm around her as she turned around. One more time. Where is dad anyway?"

"Visiting your son in Italy. I go next week to join him. I just wanted one of us to see you." Her mother said with a tear in her eye. Beau looked at her confused and mouthed the word 'son'

"I'll talk to you later mom. Come on Beau. Enjoy the game." She said as they turned around.

"You have a son?" Beau asked her quietly. Heather sighed a big sigh.

"Yes. Come on. I'll explain on our way to the press box." Heather said starting to tell him the tale. She would have to apologize to the Neal's after the game as she was in no mood to fake her relationship with him at the moment.
-----

Heather sat in the visitors lounge waiting for James to come out of the dressing room. She wasn't looking forward to it but a promise was a promise. "Ready to go babydoll?" He asked putting a hand on her back.

"Feed me to the wolves Nealer" she said sighing.

"Hey is everything ok with you and your mom?" He asked turning her towards him looking her in the eye. Heather swallowed a huge gulp. She wanted to say mind your own business. At the same time she wanted to collapse and cry in his arms and confess every sordid detail of her life to him. Something about his beautiful eyes said 'trust me'. Her mouth went dry as she paused.

"Umm...yeah. They'll be ok" she said looking away then putting on a fake smile. "And you have a girlfriend to show off" she said tapping his nose. They were meeting his family at E11ven which was beside the ACC . Heather was apprehensive about doing this but James was so sweet.

"James!" Called his mother as they approached the table. "Oh I'm sorry about the loss tonight honey!" She said kissing him on the cheek embracing him in a big hug. "And Heather sweetheart, good to see you again!" She said hugging her taking Heather by surprise as she half heatedly hugged her.

"Heather you've met my mom and dad Peter and Deborah" Peter waved to her from his seat. "My brother Nick, and sister Rebecca"

"Hello" she said shaking their hands.

"Woah James this one's way too hot to be dating you" said Nick over his menu.

"Thanks Nick, I'll remember that if you ever bring a girl home" he said giving his brother the finger.

"So Heather what do you do with the Penguins?" Asked Rebecca eating her salad.

"I'm a media intern" she said as she thought in her mind time to turn on the acting chops. "I make sure your brother doesn't screw up too much on his interviews" she laughed.

"Well that's good, he needs it" said Peter. "A few I saw last season were not so good" The conversation flowed easily between Heather and his family explaining stories on how they met, their first date, things like that. Heather was almost fooling herself. She even got a hug goodbye from Rebecca, something that James said was huge as she never liked girls that he was seeing .

"Maybe that's because we're not actually together" Heather said as she got out of the cab and they entered the hotel.

"Nah," he said. "She just knows a good thing when she sees one" he added. "Our chemistry was so good it was almost like we were together" he said turning towards her in the elevator.

"James you know the rules" she said looking at him.

"Yeah," he said turning back to face the door. "The rules"

Notes