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CiCi felt awful the next morning when she awoke next to Sidney. She didn't hear him come home or even try to wake her. 'He probably didn't,' she thought as she shifted out of bed as to not wake him. When it got to be 3 in the morning she could no longer keep her eyes open. She fought a good fight, but her body was screaming at her to let her sleep.

Now that it was closing in on 10 she knew she needed to get out of bed to finish packing their overnight bags instead of laying there staring at Sid. But he felt so warm and the thought of moving away from him was not appealing. She knew, though, if she put off moving from him any longer that they would be late getting to her parents' house. And the thought of being late for the traditional Barsi family gathering made her fear her mother's wrath.

Begrudgingly she climbed out of bed, found that Sid discarded all of his clothes as he came into their room, and started by cleaning up his mess first. When she picked up his dress shirt, she got a whiff of his cologne and the smell was intoxicating. She quickly threw the long-sleeved shirt around her frame, buttoned a few of the buttons and continued what she set out to do.

CiCi tried to stay quiet as she sauntered back into the bedroom about thirty minutes later. She double checked that she had all the presents for her parents, grandparents and for Sidney packed and near the door. Now she ventured into their walk-in closet and looked around for a bag to throw overnight clothes and clothes to travel home into. She found a large duffle bag on a shelf above Sid's suits and was reaching for it when a small velvet box fell down.

Panic struck CiCi almost immediately. Why would Sidney go against her wishes and buy a ring? And why would he try hiding it in their shared closet. She quickly picked it up, glanced through the opened door to see the sleeping figure in bed and opened the lid to sneak a peek. Inside was a beautiful set of diamond and garnet studs and some relief washed over CiCi. She quickly closed the lid, and positioned the box back where it had been hidden.

While she felt somewhat better knowing Sidney wasn't hiding a ring, part of her felt sad that it was just earrings. She hurried through his sock drawer and picked out a couple sweaters she thought he looked good in and threw them on the dresser in the middle of the room. As she was finishing up with her clothes she heard the soft shuffle of feet along the plush carpet.

"Hey," Sid said, his voice thick with sleep. CiCi turned to him and noticed with slight disappointment that he pulled on a pair of shorts from the dirty laundry.

"Hey yourself," CiCi said as she resumed packing their clothes.

"You look good."

"What? Packing your clothes for you? Acting like the little woman?"

"No. Hair," and he pointed to his own head as though that would clarify what he meant even more.

"Oh!" Her hands flew to her shorn hair and smiled sheepishly. "I cut it off."

"I can see that." He walked into the room further and sat on the floor near their bag.

"I'm sorry I wasn't awake when you got home. I know you were looking forward to my being up."

"No! Don't apologize. We didn't even land until almost 3. I didn't get home until 4. I would never expect you to still be up. Especially after working all day. I should apologize for asking you to stay up."

CiCi nodded in understanding and shuffled around the small room some more. She felt awkward in knowing what she found. And guilty for looking in the first place.

"Are we almost done in here?" Sid asked as CiCi leaned over him to reach for a pair of boots. He peaked up his shirt to see her naked body and he instantly felt his own body react to the sight.

"Uh, yeah! I took care of all of your things already. Just need to finish up with mine."

"Nice shirt."

CiCi looked down and noticed that Sid was looking directly up it. "Get your mind out of the gutter Crosby. Ain't nobody got time for that!"

"Ok miss sass. But you look good in my shirt and I just woke up from some pleasant dreams about my beautiful girlfriend."

"Oh is that right?"

"Yep." His hands tickled the sides of her legs as they inched upwards towards the hem of the shirt.

"You're not getting any now. We will be late."

"What time do the festivities start?"

"5."

"It takes an hour to get there Ci. No snow in the forecast."

"Yes, I'm aware. But we don't want to experience the wrath of my mother if we show up when the other guests are arriving."

"You're kidding, right?"

"I wish I was. Maybe I'll let you touch my boobs in the shower. Come on."

******

"And my grandmother will probably squeeze your cheeks a thousand times tonight."

Sid ran a hand across his scruffy chin in awe of the information CiCi was providing about her extended family.

"My cousins will know who you are. But they have already been informed to not act like idiots in front of you," CiCi continued.

"You should have just let me have sex with you this morning. I'd probably be more relaxed." He rested his head against the headrest and exhaled.

"You'll be alright. You're just wired because you're meeting my extended family."

"I'm wired because I just wanted to be in bed with you."

"You've made it forty days so far. What is one more? We aren't staying past lunch tomorrow and we can just be together all day however you want."

"Naked. It's been decided."

"Naked it is, then." Sid twined his fingers around CiCi's and pulled her hand up to his mouth, kissing it softly.

"Thank you for doing this."

"Babe, I want to be wherever you are for Christmas. Maybe next year my parents and sister can tag along."

"You think too far into the future."

"I never used to. But I know I'll be with you for the rest of my life."

Sid saying things like that made it hard for CiCi to not think about marriage even though she was adamant about waiting. She could do it. And be happy. If he planned to ask her sooner than she wanted, she could say yes and be happy. As long as he could be happy with her.

Sid pulled into the driveway just before 4 and the pair were greeted by CiCi's father.

"Merry Christmas you two!" Joe said as he leaned down to hug CiCi.

"Merry Christmas dad!" CiCi exclaimed as she returned the hug. Sidney was already unloading the bags and presents from the back of his SUV.

"Here, let me help Sidney," Joe said as he rounded the car to take a couple bags from Sid's grasp.

"Thanks Joe, merry Christmas."

"Dad were you waiting outside for us? It's cold."

"Oh, you know just needed a minute away from your mother. You're in for a real treat Sid. Diana hasn't stopped getting this place ready for days. Every time I try to sit down she has something else she wants me to do." He shook his head in disbelief. Sid laughed as he followed Joe towards the house with CiCi bringing up the rear.

Inside Sidney was met with the old rickety home decked out in festive decorations and beautiful lights everywhere. It was transformed into a truly impressive Christmas display. Something he wasn't used to seeing in someone's home. And the smell of fish. Throughout the house. He looked puzzled at CiCi and she chuckled. She knew he wouldn't expect it which was why she was trying to prepare him as best she could.

They snuck up to CiCi's old bedroom with their bags where Sid closed the door and turned towards CiCi.

"The smell."

"The old Italian tradition of seven fish on Christmas Eve."

"Oh! That makes sense now."

"Mom started the anchovies sauce for the linguini already. That is what you smell. It's delicious though. But she promised to make some salmon for you this year. She tends to go overboard with fried things. The kids tend to like that the best. But they go down to Wholey's and buy up the whole place it seems and there is never anything left at the end of the night."

"It smells delicious," Sid said as he pulled CiCi down on his lap, arms securely around her waist.

"I tried to warn you."

"I know you did babe. Let's go see what we can help with." He kissed her shoulder and she stood up from his embrace, pulling him up with her.

"Hey," she stopped him from going towards the door. "Thank you for spending our first Christmas together here with my parents."

"Absolutely." He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.

*****

"Cesira, he's just a delight. Do you think you'll marry him? You aren't getting any younger," CiCi Aunt Vicky said later that evening.

"Thanks. Yeah, we've yet to talk about marriage so I am not pushing that one. And thanks for pointing out how old I am," CiCi laughed and took a gulp of her champagne. She looked frantically around the room for Sidney, but he was nowhere to be seen. "Would you excuse me a moment?"

She turned away from her aunt and peaked into the kitchen. Sidney wasn't in there, where all her uncles stood and chatted around the remains of another successful Christmas Eve meal. In the family room sat her older relatives, but no Sidney. CiCi could hear her cousins kids shout and having a good time in the basement, so she ventured down there.

And to her surprise she found Sidney sitting on the couch with her ten year old cousin Evan and his little brother Garrett playing what appeared to be an intense game of hockey on the television. Sidney caught a slight glimpse of CiCi as she entered the room further and turned back to the game, determination written on his face.

"I wasn't allowed to play as the Penguins."

"Where did the Xbox come from?" She asked as she stood behind the couch and watched the game unfold. Little making sense to her.

"It's our old one! Uncle Joe hooked it up for us! So it's always here when he come to visit," Garrett explained. CiCi nodded and continued to watch as Sidney lost the puck to her ten year old cousin.

"So, Evan is playing as the Pens and you are?"

"The Canadiens."

"And why them?"

"I didn't pick my team. Garrett did."

"Good."

"Oh look Sid! Evan's going to score as you!" Garrett spoke excitedly. Sure enough, the video game character shot and scored, making the score now 8 to 3. The younger boys shouted with excitement as the buzzer sounded ending the game. Sid groaned, placed the controller on the coffee table and sat back.

"This is nothing like the real sport," Sid said in defense of his loss.

"Awe you are such a sore loser." CiCi ruffled his hair a bit.

"In my defense for a poorly executed game I need to say that I don't do this badly in real life. That and the controller wasn't working properly."

"Excuses Crosby!"

Just then CiCi's cousin Melissa appeared on the steps. "Boys, it's time to go! Say your goodbyes and come on up."

CiCi turned to follow her cousin up the stairs but stopped when Sidney reached for her. The young boys were running up the steps around them and were out of sight before long.

"I didn't want you to get trampled on," Sid explained.

"Did you have fun down here?"

"Hey, the boys asked me to play. I couldn't tell them no!" CiCi laughed and brushed a kiss along Sid's cheek before turning to go tell her family goodbye.

After all were gone and the house was picked up, Sid and CiCi quietly declined attending midnight mass with her parents explaining how Sidney got home extremely late. CiCi's parents understood, wished the pair a merry Christmas and told them they would see them in the morning.

As CiCi and Sid got ready for bed, CiCi found herself staring at Sid who had thrown on a pair of flannel pajama bottoms and a grey t-shirt. She secretly hoped he wouldn't have bothered with the clothes she packed him, but knew better. He wasn't exactly comfortable sleeping almost naked in his girlfriend's parents' house.

"How long does the mass last?" Sid asked as he walked into the bathroom and stood behind CiCi, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"I don't know. I haven't gone in years," she said as she finished wiping off her makeup. "My aunts kept asking when we are getting married."

"Why do you think I jumped on the opportunity to hide in the basement with your cousins' kids?"

"You're such a rebel." She squeezed his hands which were snug against her stomach.

"I couldn't bare the thought of dodging that question knowing that my answer is completely different from yours." He pressed his lips to her shoulder and averted his eyes from hers.

CiCi didn't know what Sidney meant by that, but hesitated in having him clarify his response.

"I just mean we ourselves both know where we stand on the marriage issue. I will marry you tomorrow, but I know you're not ready."

"You're that certain of us."

"I am that certain of us." CiCi spun around in Sid's arms and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Make love to me," she whispered pressing her forehead against his.

"Here?" He hesitated. He was nervous about getting caught.

"Yes. Please baby."

"I don't know Ci."

She pushed him away slightly, grasped his hand in hers and pulled him out of the bathroom, down the old rickety hallway towards her childhood bedroom. Closing the door behind Sid, he reached behind him and locked the door without looking. He couldn't take his eyes off of CiCi. The desire permeating off of her was all it took for him to agree to this one, brief moment of passion.

CiCi took control, pushing Sidney onto the full size bed and pulling his pants down far enough for his throbbing dick to stand out.

"No time for foreplay," CiCi explained with a slight giggle. She knew he didn't care, he was obviously turned on and she could feel for herself that she was too. She slipped her panties off and bunched her nightgown around her waist as she eased down onto him, filling her completely.

"I'm not going to last long," Sid spoke hoarsely. He pushed her hips down as he thrust upwards to fill her deeper.

"I don't care," she moaned. He sat up and crushed her body against his, burying his face in her neck.

"No biting!" CiCi admonished. Sid ignored her pleas, nipped a bit and then captured her lips with his. His hands held her cheeks as their tongues danced around together. Her gentle rocking motion leading them both to a more intimate release than they ever experienced.

And as they came down from their high, Sidney rolled them over so that he was on top. "Can we celebrate Christmas like this every year?"

"Hah! Ahh, I can go for that."

"Sorry it last three minutes. I promise to last longer tomorrow at our place," Sid whispered as he ghosted his lips along CiCi's cheek.

"Mm, forty one days. You lasted longer than I expected."

Sidney laughed a deep, breathless laugh and finally rolled onto his side and adjusted his pants. "Thanks."

"I'd marry you tomorrow too," CiCi whispered as she curled against Sid to fall asleep.

Notes

I had a different, sad ending to this chapter. But then I realized that it is Christmas in Sid and CiCi's world, and why out a damper on the holidays? Oh but it will be quite the damper when it does happen!

Oh my goodness and thank you for all the kind words! It's you who is making this story stay alive!