Collide

"And that was it? She just left?" Troy asked Sidney two weeks later. Sidney didn't provide an answer. Instead, he gave his dad a glaring look, turned to leave the unfinished art studio and moved towards the staircase. He wanted to nap. Tomorrow started round one of the playoffs and he hadn't slept well in nearly two weeks.

At the top of the stairs he paused and listened to his mother reprimand his father, "Troy let it go. He doesn't want to talk about it."

"I just think things would have fared differently if that ghastly woman didn't try to claim her son to be Sidney's."

"Yeah, and I am just as upset that you boys left me out of that as much as CiCi is. No wonder Sidney hasn't been focused. And now it doesn't help that she is thousands of miles away and hard to reach. If only we could get ahold of her to tell her that it was negative."

"I don't think that will bring her back Trina."

"No, but talking to Sidney may help him out."

Sidney didn't want to hear anything more. He quietly slipped into his room, closed the door and climbed into bed. He pulled out his phone, turned it on and stared at the picture of CiCi on his screen. He missed her so incredibly much that it hurt. And as much as he hated to admit it, he just wanted to get the season over with and rush the summer along.

He tried calling her cell phone. Given that it was two in the afternoon, he figured she would be winding down from her day of whatever she was doing. He didn't expect her to answer. He never got ahold of her yet since her first day there. She simply called to tell him that she made it.

When her voicemail picked up, he choked back a quiet sob and just said simply, "I love you."

And instead of finding sleep, he quickly threw on some shoes and hurried back down the stairs to his car.

*****

"You have a new voicemail," Caroline said via Skype to CiCi.

"I can't listen to it. I want him to just move on. Get over me," CiCi sighed and looked at her voicemail messages. She wondered when it would get to the point that it was full and she would either have to delete them without listening or listen to them.

"How many has he left?"

"Fifteen. But he calls every day," CiCi explained.

"Ci, come on. Talk to him. he clearly wants you still, that isn't changing."

"He needs to move on from me," CiCi tried to justify.

"Listen, I am going to be completely blunt right now. You are being stupid. Sidney could give two shits that you can't carry a baby. He loves you. So you need to just admit that you are acting irrationally and listen to those damn voicemails!" Caroline exclaimed.

"For someone who thought I was crazy to be with this guy to begin with, you sure are trying your best to keep us together," CiCi said.

"Cesira, he came to see me. He sought out Maria too."

"When?"

"The day before the first round began. So over a week ago."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"He told me not to. He was desperate to just find out how you were doing."

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him the truth."

"What exactly did you say?"

"That you hate everything about the fellowship and are too scared to just leave."

"He probably ate that up."

"More like felt worse."

"But it doesn't change that he has a kid!"

"You really need to talk to Sidney."

"Care."

"CiCi, the kid wasn't his. Just...act surprised when he finally gets through to you to tell you. Or just come home and be happy again!"

"I can't leave. But I'll consider talking to him."

"He's looked awful on the ice. Taking shit penalties and losing focus. Hearing from you may just change that for him."

CiCi finally signed off of Skype and sighed. She fell back against the small bed and picked up her phone. It was nearly midnight which meant Sidney was probably just finishing up dinner back in the states.

She ignored the pile of voicemails and went straight to her missed calls list. His was the only name that repeatedly appeared in the list of contacts she had missed. Before she could change her mind she hit call and listened to the ring.

*****

Sidney was sitting at the kitchen island reading over some game minutes from the previous game against the Blue Jackets when he felt the vibration of his phone. He was about to ignore the call when he saw CiCi smiling at him.

His heart skipped a beat and he almost hit decline when he tried to answer the call. After nearly fumbling the phone to the floor he pressed it to his ear and said with a very shaky voice, "Hello?"

"Hey you," CiCi whispered.

"Oh God, it's so good to hear your voice," Sidney said as relief washed over him.

"I'm sorry, you know, for missing your calls all these weeks. I've been insanely busy," CiCi lied. In fact she wasn't at all busy. She spent her mornings sketching and listening to some high strung artists explain different painting techniques she knew all about. Her afternoons were free to paint or explore the city, but most of the time she returned to her little villa and slept or cried.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," Sid said, "Listen, I want to tell you something."

"I know, Sid. Care told me you came to her. I promised her I wouldn't tell you that I know, but I'm too tired to try to lie."

"Does knowing change anything?"

"I called, didn't I? What it doesn't change is that I am here and you are over there."

"She said you don't like it over there. Why?" She didn't hesitate. She knew why she hated it. He wasn't with her.

"I don't have anything to inspire me."

*****
"So, you two are talking again. That's a good sign right?" James asked as he, Sid, and Kunitz sat around after morning skate the next day.

"Sort of. She is staying over there and said she would try to call soon. But hearing from her finally let me rest a little easier last night," Sid explained, "It didn't change anything though. She still acted distant and withdrawn from the conversation."

"Well maybe it wasn't you that was making her withdrawn. You said yourself that her friends told you she isn't happy over there. Maybe it's so bad it is showing up in how she talks," Chris provided. He had a point, and Sidney had a renewed sense of faith that they would end up being back together and stronger than ever. If only he could convince her to just come home.

"Go to her," James said.

"When?" Sid looked at him with skepticism all over his face.

"After we win the cup damnit. She won't be here to celebrate so go to her and celebrate privately if you know what I mean." James emphasized his point with a little eyebrow wiggle.

"I think everybody knows what you mean," Chris said.

"She doesn't want me to come over. She said her schedule keeps her busy even on the weekends."

"I call bullshit. You want her, right?" Chris asked.

"Yes."

"Then I'm with James."

Sid groaned and leaned back into his locker, closing his eyes to shut everything around him out.

*****

CiCi wasn't paying attention to where she was walking, so she didn't notice that she was about to walk into a solid mass in front of her when she left her studio late Monday afternoon. Talking with Sidney the last few weeks have helped her to focus and produce some of her best art to date. Even her instructors had noticed the change in her and commented how pleased they had been with her progress.

Now, all she wanted was to get back to her villa, change and try to call Sidney. She hadn't heard from him since they lost to the Rangers nearly a week ago. And as she was focused on the ground and heading directly to her place she unexpectedly ran into someone and lost everything she was carrying in her arms.

"Oh my God! I'm so sorry!" She exclaimed without looking up. She watched as some of her sketches scattered across the cobblestone walkway.

She felt two hands reach out and cradle her face and she finally made eye contact with the person in front of her. She got a simple smile and a soft spoken hello. Without speaking she threw her arms around Sidney's neck and sobbed into his shoulder.

"You still give me butterflies." He whispered and kissed her hair.

"You're here. You're really here." Her grip tightened around his neck and lifted her head to look at his face. "Oh my god, my stuff!"

Sid laughed and leaned down to help CiCi pick up her papers. When they crouched down and reached for the same piece of paper they broke into an awkward giggle, looked at each other and leaned forward and brushed their lips together. When they broke apart, Sid tapped his forehead against CiCi's and sighed. "I'm so glad you didn't listen to me when I said not to come over."

"You knew I wasn't going to listen. And Mario told me I needed to."

"Mario?"

"He told me I didn't play to my potential during the playoffs and that I needed to figure this out before considering next season. I asked what he suggests I do and said to go to France."

"I knew there was a reason why I liked that man."

"Come on." He stood, reached out his hand and grasped hers then lead her in the opposite direction of her villa.

"Sid, my place is that way!" She pointed behind them, but didn't slow down. She felt a thrill to have him there holding her hand.

He stopped and looked at her. "You have a twin size bed?"

"Yeah."

"Were going to my hotel. Come on."

"But..." CiCi wasn't certain jumping right into bed was what they needed. But Sid was here and just as excited about finding her as she was being found. And she couldn't deny that feeling his lips pressed against hers and the grip of his hand around her fingers made her want more.

"Come on Ci, more space. Privacy. How many roommates do you have again?" He knew the number. During a handful of phone conversations he heard her trying to find some quiet space in her place.

"I'm in a two bedroom villa with three other people."

"From North America?" He knew the answer to that too.

"Not all of them, no." She smiled, she was catching on to the little game he was playing.

"You're not bound to that place. Just come with me for now. We can get your clothes later."

She couldn't deny how adorable he looked pleading his case. She opened her bag on her shoulder and threw the stack of papers she had been carrying inside then readjusted the bag on her shoulder. She was ready to forget about the day she had and how miserable she had been until she not so gracefully ran into Sidney in the street.

"Let's go then," she said with as much seductive skills she could muster. Sid broke into the grin she adored and grabbed her hand and pulled her along.

*****

Sidney's hotel suite's view was nothing short of breathtaking. CiCi knew Cassis was beautiful, never did she dream she would see if from a luxury suite high above the old cobblestone roads facing the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. She stood in front of the glass door that led out onto a private balcony and watched the setting sun cast shadows across the docks below.

"Sidney, this view is amazing," she said in an almost reverent whisper.

"I don't know. I'm really liking the view in here." She smiled at the cheesy line and turned to look at him. "I've missed you Cesira."

"I've missed you too, Sid." She walked over and sat on the edge of the king size bed. Her gaze never left him as he followed suit. She grasped his hands in her own and said, "I don't want to rush into anything. We've been apart for a long time. I'd rather we talk and be open and honest with each other."

Sid nodded in agreement, "Where do you want to start?"

"Tell me what happened with Katie."

Sid shrugged his shoulders, "There's nothing to tell. The kid wasn't mine. She was embarrassed to say the least. And it came out that there were three guys she suspected to be the father. So I now know what it feels like to be cheated on as well."

"Wow, and she couldn't just tell you that?"

"She said to me after the results were read that she left because she got pregnant and she didn't know who it could belong to."

"Another Penguin?"

"No. Thank God."

"And your performance after the Olympics? I can't really justify knowing you played shitty, but I read about it. You didn't look like you wanted it."

"I did want it, but I had personal issues to deal with which I couldn't shut off."

"Me?"

"A little bit, but I knew your mom was there to take care of you. This whole mess with Katie was the biggest. And to be honest, I just got sick of playing the same style of hockey for the team. A lot of us did. I suspect there will be quite a bit of change this off season. I mean, we've made it to the playoffs the last five years and underperform every year."

"You think you'll get a new coach?"

"Oh I know we will. That's the beauty of being the captain. I know things." CiCi chuckled at this. "Now you. You have had a pretty shitty start to the year."

"I wouldn't say that. Was I sad I missed the Olympics, yes. Did it suck that I had to have surgery? Of course! But the career change is exciting and I am looking forward to living the life of luxury in that big old house of yours."

"You still want to move in there with me?"

"Well, I imagine all my stuff is already there so yes." Sid pulled CiCi in for a hug and collapsed back on the bed where she rested against his chest, her arm draped across his torso.

"You know you made me mad too," Sid said after a few minutes of quiet cuddling.

"I know. I'm sorry for that." She nuzzled her face into his neck and breathed him in.

"You wouldn't let me explain. You just were upset that I didn't tell you right away." His hold around her shoulder tightened and he sighed. He could smell the light cinnamon scent and it calmed him.

"I know. And I understand why you waited to tell me now."

"Good. That's settled." Sid closed his eyes and pulled CiCi even closer than she already was. She hiked her leg over his and settled into the contours of his body.

"I love you," she whispered. When he didn't say anything back, she lifted her head. "I do, you know. I would have never left if this opportunity hadn't come up. Me loving you never changed."

"I know," he smiled.

"You aren't going to say anything?"

"Oh well, yeah but I don't want to be an 'I love you' slut," he erupted into loud giggles when her fingers started to dig into his hips tickling him.

Notes

It's not all sunshine and flowers for these two even though it appears! Stay tuned.