Collide

"Are you sure you're fine? You don't need me to come down? Because I can get your father to drive me down there," Diana said, "What about Sidney? Is he with you?"

"Mom, I'm just a little banged up. Some bruises formed overnight and my ankle is throbbing, but I can handle it. Don't risk driving in the storm to come down here. And Sidney is here through Friday. He goes to Detroit after Friday's game and will be back here Saturday after that game."

"I can come down Friday and spend the night with you."

"Mom, really it won't be necessary. I already have Sid hovering over me as it is. It will be nice to have a break from that." Sid grumbled from across the room and CiCi suppressed a giggle. In actuality he wasn't being overly protective, but she needed to say it in order to keep her mother at bay.

"Alright, but if you need anything you just have to ask. Are you taking the week off to rest?"

"I will. No I'm not. Just this Wednesday because Sid has the day off."

"Why aren't you taking the week sweetheart? Your body could probably use the rest."

"I'm resting today and I need my vacation days for February."

"What's happening in February?"

"Uh, the Winter Olympics in Sochi," CiCi revealed.

"Oh my god you can't go to Russia!"

"What? Why? I'm going with Sid's mom and will be staying with her and his dad."

"Why aren't you flying with Sidney?"

"Because the NHL chartered a plane for their players and one guest. His dad is flying with him."

"Why can't he go with Sidney's mom? Why can't you fly with Sidney?"

"Mom, of course you want to find flaws in this plan. Please don't. I'm looking forward to it."

"Fine I won't argue. So will you be up for Christmas?"

"That's the plan. We will be up on Christmas Eve and will be staying through Christmas. Sid has an away game on the 27th so we are going back Christmas day though."

"Okay, we will see you two in a couple weeks then. Unless you need me sooner! I'll let you go, okay? I love you."

"Okay mom, love you too." CiCi placed her phone in her lap and rested her head against the back of the couch. Talking with her mother was exhausting.

"Ahem, hovering?" Sid asked seriously. He remained in his seat reading a magazine and looking quite flippant.

"What did you want me to say? If I didn't she would be buzzing to be let in in less than an hour!" She exclaimed defensively. Sid chuckled softly, folded the magazine to the page he was on and placed it on the table in front of him.

"Would you like some lunch?" Sid asked changing the subject quickly. He leaned forward as he asked her, prepared to jump up.

"I'm not hungry." Of course she was, she was sound asleep when he leafy for optional skate and was stationed on the couch when he got back. She hadn't considered eating while he was gone.

"Cesira." He stared her down.

"Sidney."

"Stop being stubborn. You didn't eat breakfast and it's nearly 4!"

"Ugh! Fine!" She was actually quite hungry. And damn him for knowing her so well.

"What would you like?" He asked.

"Grilled cheese and tomato soup." She already had it in mind before he even asked.

"What makes you think we have those items in the house?"

"Because I went panic shopping with every other person in the city yesterday. And whenever it snows that's what I like to have."

"You're a strange bird," Sid laughed as he got up from his chair and walked into the kitchen. CiCi turned on the couch in order to see Sidney at work.

"Do you want some help?" She asked as he looked for the ingredients in the fridge.

"No," a muffled voice said back. In just a t-shirt and low slung sweats he looked completely relaxed and delectable in her mind.

"Margarine is on the door. Cheese is in the drawer."

Sid turned around after a few minutes with a sheepish look on his face and with the items she named in hand. "Smart ass," he mumbled.

"Hey! Are you being all bummy because I said you were hovering?" CiCi got to her feet and ignored Sid's cries to sit back down in order to get close to him. She got between him and the counter to get a good look at him. Finally, after an intense stare down, Sid cracked.

"I just, I was scared. You're pretty much the most important person in my world and when I got those messages last night I was lost. If it hadn't been for Pascal pulling me along I think I would have had a breakdown."

"But I'm fine! You don't have to worry."

"I always worry!" He stepped back and turned towards the pans in the cabinet next to the stove.

"Why?" CiCi pushed up off the counter and sat down on the island.

"Because I love you and I want to provide for you and you are hands down the coolest girl I know. I can't say person because Geno takes the cake on that one."

She threw a towel that was laying on the counter near her at his head.

"Hey! Watch it! I'm in the midst of a very intense season. Nothing at the head, please!" Sid was thankful that CiCi was sitting on the counter with a partially bum leg. If she were one hundred percent he would be darting out of the kitchen right now.

"Seriously, Sid!" She pouted, crossing her arms.

"Ci, you have to realize by now that if anything happened to you I don't know what I would do." Sid moved to stand in front of her again and snaked his hands up her bare thighs. "You are my happy."

"You are mine too," she whispered as she swallowed the tears that threatened to escape. She slipped her arms around his neck and placed a gentle kiss on his lips.

When they broke apart he said, "You do realize you're my world."

"I'm getting there. I'm not used to so much affection." She tickled his neck with her fingers.

"Mm, just all the sex," Sid teased.

"No, that's new. And amazing too. And oh my God I am dying here!"

"Ha! You're telling me. But you had go be all cocky last night."

"I was just excited to see you," CiCi whined as she drew Sidney close to her again. "I don't hurt. Honest."

"You just told your mom you did! No. No sex until the bruises are healed."

"Siiiidney!" CiCi whined.

"No. No I won't do it. No," he was adamant and shaking his head, but he wasn't moving away from CiCi. In fact, his hands wandered up her back under her shirt. "Maybe just a little," he said as he captured her lips with his.

"You can't resist me," she mumbled against his lips, a triumphant smile fighting to escape. His moan against her lips indicated his response.

As things started heating up, food forgotten on the counter, Sid pulled apart long enough to remove CiCi's shirt. Now she sat topless on the island, Sid snug between her legs and his hands wandering from her shoulders down towards her breasts. His lips found hers again and their tongues resumed their little dance.

But as his hand made contact with CiCi's right breast, she squealed in pain and he jumped away from her. "Fuck, babe. I knew this wasn't a good idea."

"No! Come here, just don't touch my boob." Sid looked incredulous.

"How am I not going to touch your boob? And no, I'm finally seeing the bruise on it. CiCi did your show them that last night?" Sid got close to her again. But she noted how he only touched her legs.

"It wasn't like this last night. It's not that bad, just don't touch it!"

"No, baby. Seeing this just reminds me that you're hurt far worse than you're letting on," he leaned down and picked up her shirt, "here. Put this back on. You need to get in to see your doctor this week babe."

CiCi begrudgingly took her shirt and placed it back on. Sid was right. Her bruises needed to be seen by a doctor.

"Come on. I'll fix you your sandwich and soup." He helped her off the counter and into a barstool as he turned back around to finish what he actually set out to start.

******

"Merry Christmas!" Nick shouted as CiCi walked through the door of the gallery the day before Christmas Eve.

"Ugh, you are way too chipper this morning," she claimed as she walked past his desk towards her office.

"How's the bum foot?" Nick asked as he followed her towards the back.

"I get to take the boot off. Thank The Lord it wasn't broken as they first thought. Maybe with that out of sight Sid will actually touch me."

"Awe honey, are you frustrated? Sexually I mean?" Nick leaned against the door frame and smiled wickedly.

"Of course I am! I miss sex, especially with him! And I know he's avoided it because he didn't want to hurt me. But come on! My bruises were gone like a week later!"

"You are so funny. When you first started here you were such a prude! Now you're all I love sex and you swear like you're a sailor!"

"I guess Sid brings out the good and the bad in me."

"No. Just the good sweetie." Nick left CiCi then to return to his desk. She sat back and thought about what Nick had said. Was she that different since meeting Sidney? She was definitely happier, her work was flourishing as a result, and her approach on life had been more take control and do what she wanted. She only hoped she was helping Sidney as much as she helped her.

She was lost in thought when her office phone began to ring.

"Cesira Barsi at Wood Street Gallery."

"God you sound sexy when you say your name," Sid said into the phone.

"Hey! Why are you calling my office?"

"You didn't answer your cell." CiCi glanced around her desk as she considered why her cell didn't ring.

"Because I left it on the charger in our bedroom. Damnit!"

"Rough morning?"

"Something like that. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Just checking in. Since you are off the next couple days will you be awake when I get home?"

"Do you want me to be awake when you get home?" She tried to come across as seductive.

"I think it is pertinent that you are."

"Oh really now? And why is that?"

"Because it has been nearly forty days since I've been able to sleep with you and it has been too damn long."

"That was probably the hottest thing you have ever said," she sighed, "Did you just call me to get me all hot and bothered? Because it's working."

"Ha! No, I did have a reason to call but I forget already. Guess you have that effect on me. I leave here in a few for morning skate then I have a nap so I won't hear from you until after the game."

"Babe, I have your routine down. I know the drill."

"Busy day at work?"

"Uh, getting things ready for First Night next week. Which will be loads of fun!"

"I sense sarcasm."

"Your Spidy senses are strong today."

"Don't like it?"

"No, it's nice. But then it's a bitch to get out of the city."

"But lucky for you, you only have to walk a block to get home. You don't actually leave the city. And when you get home I'll be there and we can celebrate the new year together!"

"Mm, tempting."

"Be awake when I get home Barsi. Preferably without clothes."

"And if I'm not?"

"Pleeeeeease baby?"

"That's not attractive."

"Eh, it works on me. I wanted to see if it worked on you."

"Negative. In fact, quite the opposite. Now be off and score a goal with the puck!"

"Hey! Good job! You called it a puck."

"Thanks. I'm remembering things."

"Alright, don't dwell on this conversation too much later ok?"

"Yeah, yeah."

"Hey!"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

"I love you too Sidney." CiCi couldn't hold back the grin as she hung up the phone. A day of work, an appointment with her hair stylist and a few last minute gifts to pick up stood between her and her man.

*****

Weather delays made the trip back from Ottawa a long one and what was supposed to be a 1 am arrival time turned into a 2:30 am arrival. Sidney couldn't imagine that CiCi stayed awake as she had promised earlier on the phone.

Sid had called her to see if she watched the atrocity that was the loss against the senators. When she said she had she proceeded to comment on how she would wait for him to "you know, boost your ego" as she had said. He laughed at the thought and was anxious to get home now more than ever.

When he finally walked through the door at nearly 4 in the morning he noted how there were candles that were once burning sitting along the island in the kitchen. Their wicks burned down to the end. Their scents intoxicating. The tree was still lit in the corner which made him smile when he saw it. Knowing it was set on a timer, he knew CiCi must have shut it off. So he wandered over to glance at the delicate ornaments they hung a few weeks back, and quickly flick the switch on the tree lights. As he leaned down to find the switch he noticed a few new presents under the tree. They were addressed to him and he wondered if they came in the mail from his family. Knowing how CiCi loved getting into the holiday spirit he assumed she went ahead and placed the brightly wrapped presents under the tree.

Once the lights were off he left his suit jacket and overnight bag across the back of the couch, kicked off his shoes and proceeded to undress as he walked to the bedroom. By the time he got to the partially closed door his shirt was crumbled on hallway floor and his belt was undone. He peeked through, and as he predicted, his sleeping girlfriend was curled up under the covers. Her bare back exposed slightly, her face towards his side of the bed and her long hair was completely gone.

"Well that's new. How long was I gone?" He said softly. He walked to his side of the bed, noticed how much younger she looked with the shorter bob and bangs across her forehead and determined he absolutely loved it.

He finished stripping down to nothing, if he couldn't be with her he could at least be skin on skin with her. And as he climbed into bed, burrowed under the covers the fatigue of the busy few weeks caught up and he was grateful for the sleep that overtook him almost as soon as he had CiCi wrapped up in his arms.

Notes

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