Captains Come First

James paused looking around the room at the faces of his family. Shock riddled their expressions. Candy sat in the centre of it all grinning happily like she was content with her work. "She's not a whore." James said. "Whatever Candy said is a lie. She's jealous of my feelings for Heather."

"Look James, we can sit here and listen to you lie to your parents about this slut or you can admit it and we can all have a nice dinner." Candy smiled taking a sip of wine

. "Candy you know I thought I knew you." James said shaking his head. "You were turned down for her job." He said with a mocking laugh. "You wanted to be her and now you're jealous. I thought that you had gotten over that."

"Please, James! She spreads her legs for anything in shin pads on skates. If you sent Pete up right now she'd probably kneel down and obey." Candy said flipping her hair. "She's almost had two children with two different hockey players! I'm surprised she hasn't bottled Crosby's sperm for later.

"So what is her job?" Deborah asked Her son.

"Why does it matter?" James asked raising his arms. "Heather has the kindest heart out of anyone I know. She's sweet, funny and she looks after us better than any of the staff on the team. "

"Yeah yeah, she's a Hooker with a heart of gold." Candy said pouring another glass.

"She's what they call a specialist. She's paid to be at our beck and call. Not all guys on the team partake. Look I wish i could explain this to you." James said pinching the bridge of his nose

. "Mom I've never seen James look at a girl like that before." Rebecca spoke up. "We all known what he usually brings home. Exhibit A" she said throwing a hand in the direction of Candy. Heather silently crept down the stairs. She could hear the things being said about her. She debated slipping out silently with her tail between her legs. But for some reason she chose to make a formal exit with dignity.

"James im gonna go." She said standing in the doorway. "I'll walk you to your car." He said gruffly looking at the group. The two exited the room walking outside. The brisk cool air hit Heathers face like the words she heard coming down the stairs. "Can you see why I didn't say anything about Avery?" Heather asked turning around. "He doesn't need all of this." She said throwing an arm to the door. "If enough people know, he'll find out his mom is nothing more than a common whore." She said tears forming in her eyes.

"Come back with me. I promise Candy won't be there." James said cupping her face in his hand.

"Why did you choose her?" Heather asked confused. "I...I don't know." He said turning away.

"She had a try out with me for the job, then we found out Sid's choice got picked. I thought she'd fill the void you know?" He said turning back around.

"No, I don know." Heather said opening the car door. "I have to go. I think the space will do me some good." She said climbing in to the Porsche. Grabbing the door James looked her in the eyes

"please promise me one thing." He said to her. It wasn't a question, more like a command. "Don't fall for him." James said with what looked like tears forming in his eyes. "If you want to fall, fall for me. I promise I'll catch you." He said Heather couldn't find the words to say. She gave a half smile as she did up her seatbelt and let James walk away giving her a silent wave as she drove off down the road back to Jason. His words echoed through her mind.

Fall for him? She knew she couldn't do that. It was against the rules. Plus Jason was being so considerate, so passionate about her. Their history alone made him the first choice. He already knew and loved Avery. Avery knew and loved Jason. But that was against the rules too. The drive to Jason's parents was confusing and stress ridden. She was almost there when her phone rang.

"Merry Christmas Andy" she said answering the phone, seeing his number.

"Heather what are you doing?" He said to her worry filling his voice. "Why did you go back to him?" He asked her.

"How did you find out?" She asked him. "Why are you so worried?" She said into the speaker phone. "His wife left him Andy. This could be it this time."

"Fuck heather you don't learn do you? You'll get your heart broken. You outgrew him a long time ago." Andrew said to her over the phone.

"He said he loves me. He gave me a ring." She said to him. She sat on the thought for a moment realizing how she sounded like a high school girl.

"Heather why can't you say no to this guy? Why does he have this hold over you? You said no to me and we have a son. The last thing you need is to lose your heart to somebody who'll just break it again." His words honest and candid -

--

She parked the car and knocked on the door. Jason's brother Matt answered the door welcoming her in with a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. Jason's family had always been welcoming. They'd known her many years and always knew without knowing directly the connection between Heather and Jason. Heather loved them but knew what she came here for.

"Jason. I need to talk to you can we go somewhere private?" She asked him after hugging him. He smelled so good, safe as he always did.

"Of course." He smiled as he led her up to a guest room.

"Jason, I believe you believe you love me." She started with a tear forming in her eye. "But we can't. I can't. I've forgiven you so many times before. Including over a baby." She said by now the tears steaming down her face. "I think you need to go back to your wife. And I need to go back to my husbands. All 31 of them." She smiled with a laugh.

He didn't put up a fight. He saw that this was hard for her. He knew, he understood. She didn't believe it was lack of loving her, but simply he wanted to see her happy.

"I can't go back to Ottawa with you. I'll go to a hotel tonight and fly out tomorrow." She said tears streaming down her face. "You should have this back too." She said removing the ring placing it in his hand.

"Be sure he takes care of you." Jason said. "Whoever he is." Jason said as he hugged her tightly. "I'm always going to love you Angel." He took her back to his home where she got her bags and left. She took the train out to Whitby walking from the station to James' home. She took a deep breath before knocking on the door. She hoped she was doing the right thing.

"James isn't here." His father Peter said opening the door. "But you're welcome to come in and wait. The rest of the kids are out with friends." He said. Heather entered the house sitting in the livingroom. "Hungry? Deb can fix you a plate?" He said as Heather shook her head no. The earlier confrontation left her speechless. "Listen," he said to her. "We don't exactly approve of your profession, but we do care that James cares for you." He said to her with a serious look. "If you're everything he says you are, then we approve. Not that you need it, but you have out blessing to be together." Peter said placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Thank you Mister Neal." She squeaked out. "Where is James anyway?" She asked.

"Taking Candy to the airport. They broke up and he booked her the soonest flight he could find." Peter said.

"Oh." Heather said looking at the floor. "I'm sorry." She said.

"I'm not, she's vile." Deborah said entering from the kitchen. "You can't fake the sincerity we see in you. Plus you've been around hockey for a long time from what James has told us. You know the lifestyle, the ups, the downs, he told us how you're there for the guys, you take care of them." Heather smiled. How quickly he'd gone from calling her a whore to being her biggest fan. The home phone rang. The caller ID said that it was James. "Does he know you're here?" Deborah asked in a whispered tone as Peter answered the phone. Heather simply shook her head. She quietly whispered to Peter not to tell James. "It'll be a nice surprise." She said smiling and patting Heather's hand.

"Well her flight isn't until 10:30. He's too stubborn to let her wait by herself." Peter said putting the handset back on the cradle. It was after 9 and Heather stifled a yawn. It had been a long couple of days emotionally and physically.

"I should probably call a cab. I'm sure that I can find a room somewhere." Heather said getting up from the couch.

"Nonsense. You'll stay here." Deborah said. "Even if James has to sleep on the couch." She laughed as did Heather.

"Thank you. You're so kind." Heather said.

"Deb, let them just share." Peter said shaking his head at her.

"Well...I guess...if they want to." She shrugged her shoulders looking to Heather.

"I don't think I can discuss this with you." Heather said with a hand over her face. The two women laughed do and hugged before she showed Heather to James' room. Heather changed into a pale pink modal jersey Babydoll nightie with spaghetti straps. Sliding under the covers it felt good to breathe in James scent. She soon succumbed to sleep.

James arrived home shortly after 11 tied from the day. He locked the front door climbing the stairs to his room. It didn't take long for him to figure out that Heather was there. He saw her red suitcase and a smile appeared on his face. He stripped down to his boxers pulling the covers up over him pulling her sleeping body tightly to his. His nose nuzzled her hair drinking in the smell of lilacs and orchids. He remembered asking her what scent she wore before as it was so intoxicating. Heather stirred in her sleep.

"James. You're back." She said turning towards him with a smile.

"Shh. No talking. Just be with me right now." He said stroking a stray hair out of her eyes. He kissed her softly on the lips. With that he said everything and nothing at the same time. "Just let me be the one to hold you tonight." He said as she closed her eyes snuggling into his warm chest.

Notes

♠ ♠ ♠ OMG kiddies! It's chapter 20 already! Leaving for the Winter Classic on Monday so we will see if I can knock another one out of the park before then.