The Compromise

After the funeral James wanted to go back to his childhood home, instead he was sitting at a table secluded from his extended family and teammates watching the condensation roll down the bottle of water in front of him. Kristy and Rebecca had wandered off to help refill the buffet of food, his brothers had a pick- up basketball game going with their younger cousins, and his mother was mingling with the family and friends whom she rarely saw. His gaze shifted to his left when he saw his grandmother come sit by him.

"How are you holding up James?" She asked as she rubbed his shoulder affectionately.

"I'm fine," James replied tersely. He caught sight of Jessica sitting a couple tables over. Sid was standing a little ways back from her as he chatted with coach and Pascal. His grandmother noticed where his eyes diverted and smiled sadly.

"You miss her." It wasn't a question. He looked startled by her comment. He hesitated before responding, wanting to make sure Kristy wasn't in earshot.

"Of course I miss her."

"Then what is this game you two are playing?"

"It's not a game. We just didn't work anymore Nana."

"She is different with him," she noted as they watched Sidney sit down next to Jess. He appeared aloof next to her.

"She has to be, he is much more guarded in public. But he is also followed like a movie star Nan. He only wants her to be safe,” James explained with a short shrug of his shoulders.

"Yeah, but look at them," she pointed over at the table. James glanced in their direction to see Sid's arm draped over the back of Jess' chair, Jess turned towards Paul talking animatedly with him. Sid's attention was still with Pascal and Dan who joined them at the table.

"What am I looking at?" He was getting frustrated with his Nana. He knew she loved Jess and wished that they were together, but her ploy to get him to fight for Jess wasn't working.

"If you were sitting there you'd be completely zoned in on her," she said.

"Nana, things change. I want what is best for Jess. I want her to be happy. That's what is important to me." James caught Jess' eye and waved when she smiled at him.

Jess kept her distance all day from James, grieving for him at arm's length. He knew it was because Kristy was still here. His thoughts wandered to Kristy and how she seemed persistent in not leaving.

He had to give her credit, she put up a fight and he admired that. She challenged him, and the make-up sex was mind-blowing. But he knew that he wouldn't be marrying her nor having a lasting relationship with her. She was just fun for now.

"You still have that ring?" Nana asked.

James nodded, "I don't intend on giving it to anybody but her." He knew that came out wrong. He meant that he would not give someone else a ring he designed for another girl. It would feel wrong.

"That's my boy, you go get her." And with that James' grandmother got up from her seat and walked off. Little did his grandmother know, he didn't intend on messing around anymore. He would let Jess figure things out by herself.

•••••••

"Alright, well, call me when you get in," James said as he started to close the driver side door to Kristy's car.

"I will. When will you be home?" She asked.

James pressed his lips together refraining from saying that Whitby was his home, but he stopped himself. "I'll be back Sunday night. We have an afternoon game in Philly."

"Maybe I can come over when you are back in town," she suggested.

"Yeah, maybe. We'll see what time I get back in." James already knew he would be avoiding Kristy and he was beginning to blame his grandmother for it. If it wasn't for her meddling he wouldn't be wondering what would be the best approach to win Jessica back right now, not that he would act on it.

"Ok, I'll call you later," Kristy said on last time. James nodded, closed the door and tapped the roof before stepping away from the vehicle and watching it drive off. He let out a sigh of relief and felt some of the tension in his body release. He knew, even if he never got the chance to be with Jessica again, that Kristy was not it. Great sex or not.

He turned back towards the church hall to find very few people remaining. His teammates had left over an hour ago for a flight back to the states. They had the ice early on Long Island. James was given a reprieve from the game on Thursday, but was expected to be back with the team on Saturday in New Jersey. He was happy he could spend a couple extra days at home with his mom and younger siblings.

His mom was sitting with Jess and Rebecca chatting quietly when he approached their table. His mom looked up at her eldest and spoke first.

"That vile woman is never welcomed in my home again, do you hear me?" She said sternly.

"I know," James conceded.

"The audacity to behave that way in someone else's house. I mean she has some nerve. And then to try to get you to butt heads with Sidney and Jessica. That was out of line. I thought you told her to go yesterday when she wouldn't go to the funeral home."

"MOM! I agree with you, she was out of line. I didn't expect her to behave that way, but she did and she embarrassed me and caused Jess and Sid to fight. It's childish and I told her so."

"But she didn't leave."

"She is gone now. She won't be back." James sat down next to Jess and rested his head on his folded hands in front of him. He felt her reach over and rub his back comfortingly.

"When do you have to be back?" His mother's tone shifted from angry to sad.

"I am able to stick around until Friday. I have a flight booked for late afternoon."

"I get to have all my kids with me for another 48 hours. What about you Jess? Will you be staying as well?"

James felt Jess' hand pause on the middle of his back and he knew she was hesitating to answer.

"Uh, I actually have a flight for early in the morning to New York."

"You're quite the world traveler, aren't you sweetheart?"

"Ha, something like that. I'm pretty certain that this week had been a bit more draining than any of the other weeks during the school year so far," Jess laughed. She resumed her slow, circular motions on James' back.

"Come spend the evening with us over at our place, how does that sound?"

"Okay, sure. But I'd like to run back to the hotel to change," Jess said.

"Absolutely. James why don't you go with Jess and you two can pick up some pizza on the way home. We can watch movies and spend the night together."

James had a sneaky suspicion that his grandmother and mother were conspiring to push Jess and him together. James looked over his shoulder at Jess.

"Yeah, let's go James. We can get a couple pizzas from Pizza MaMia's."

"Why do you love that place?" James asked incredulously. He gave her a sour look causing all three women to laugh.

"It's good! Right Becks?"

"I'd have to agree. It's the perfect greasy, cheese smothered pizza."

"Ugh, you two don't know good food." James stood and moved to follow Jess towards the rental car they obtained three days before. James took the keys from Jess before she could protest and climbed into the driver's seat. Jess climbed into the passenger seat and pulled out her phone.

"Gotta call Sid to let him know you're in a car with me?" James asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"No, looking up the phone number for the pizza place ass," Jess retorted, "Besides, he already knew I would be spending the rest of the evening with you guys."

James shrugged his shoulders as he put the car in drive and pulled out of the parking lot in the direction of the hotel. Jess remained quiet and James started to feel bad about commenting on her need to check in with Sid. He knew he'd expect her to check in with him if she were far away just to know that everything was going smoothly so why wouldn't Sid?

"I'm sorry I implied that Sid had some tight reigns on you," James blurted out.

"I didn't think that was what you meant at all. Thanks for apologizing," Jess said, "Found the number for the pizza place. Want me to call?"

James gritted his teeth and nodded. He listened as Jess placed their order, maneuvering the car through rush hour traffic. He kept his mouth shut the rest of the ride to the hotel and parked in the outdoor lot a few minutes later.

"You can come up, or wait here, whichever," Jess said as she started for the door. James turned off the ignition and followed her out the car towards the entrance to the hotel. They rode the elevator in silence, Jess standing in front of James in the crowded box. He could smell her perfume, and it comforted him. He inhaled, closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall of the elevator. Being this close to her for so long now was only making his walls crumble. He knew his talk with his grandmother only exacerbated the situation now.

They were the last ones to get off the elevator and he was pretty certain he overheard the family who got off last mumble something about James Neal being in the elevator with them. James watched as Jess turned around to see if he were still with her and the smile she gave him warmed him. He had not felt a sense of calm since being told about his dad, but wasn't surprised that Jess was the one person who could bring that feeling back to him.

They walked into her room and Jess went immediately for her suitcase, overflowing with clothes worn over the last several days. She pulled out her trademark Stars shirt and a pair of yoga pants and walked into the bathroom. When she emerged James gave her the once over before doing a double take.

"You still have that?" James asked.

"And wear it proudly!" Jess exclaimed. She walked over to James and sat down next to him. He was about to make another snide comment about Sid and how he probably wanted to burn the shirt, but he chose not to.

"Do you ever wonder if this is all a really bad dream?" James asked and when he noticed the confused expression Jess had he continued, "Like part of me wishes I would wake up and it is last year. You haven't moved yet, my dad was still alive, minus the shitty start on a new team."

"Why would you want to go back though?" Jess asked.

"To make sure my dad got a check up so they could prevent the heart attack for one. Then I wouldn't be sitting in a hotel room in Whitby during the hockey season after burying him." James stared at the speckled carpet. He felt Jess push against him causing him to look up at her.

"Sometimes I wish that things didn't get complicated with us," he saw her get visibly tense, "Before you start freaking out, I'm not saying we should be together. It's just strange to think a year ago I was wanting to propose. Now you're with my teammate."

"I know what you mean. But I'm a firm believer that things happen for a reason."

James stood up and turned away from Jess. "The one person you told me to try and outshine ends up being the one person you leave me for."

"I was trying to make things work. I was waiting for you to decide that things weren't hard and that we could be together. You're the one who went back on his promise an started dating someone. Once that happened all bets were off."

"Do you love him?" James still had not turned to face Jessica. The way she was talking to him, he knew she was angry.

"What are you doing James?"

"I don't know. Let's just...let's just go eat gross pizza and watch movies with my family." James finally faced Jessica and waited for her to react. He half expected her to tell him to leave, but was pleased when she threw on her tennis shoes, grabbed her purse and walked past him to the door.

"You're paying for the pizza," she said over her shoulder as she opened the door. He laughed and agreed following close behind her out the hotel.

••••••••

James pounded on the door to Jess' hotel room fearing he may wake up other guests but knowing if he didn't Jess would be late. He had agreed to drive Jess to the airport last night so that he could have a car for the next two days.

He had been beating on the door for several minutes before the door swung open and and a very disheveled looking Jessica stood in front of him. Before he could greet her she dashed from the entrance towards the bathroom where James could hear her losing the contents of her stomach.

"Jess, do you need anything?" He said through the semi-closed bathroom door. After a pause he heard her groan a no.

"Are you sure? Want me to reschedule your flight?"

"No! I will be out in a minute." Ten minutes passed when Jess finally emerged from the bathroom, toothbrush and paste in hand.

"Alright, I'm ready," she said as she packed the last of her items in her carry on.

"Lose your dinner?" James laughed. He knew there was a reason he didn't eat that garbage.

"I shouldn't have eaten that pizza," Jess moaned as they walked out towards the rental car. James had taken her bag from her and led her to the passenger side.

The drive started out initially quiet. Jess rested her forehead against the cool glass of the window and James focused on maneuvering out onto the highway.

"So, would it be okay if I call or text you sometime? You know, if I need to talk or something?" James asked after driving for nearly twenty minutes.

"James, of course you can. I'm here for you and will continue to be for as long as you need me." Jess brushed her hand reassuringly along his arm.

"Thanks. The same for you, you know. I want to be your friend again." James could see Jess smile from the corner of his eye.

They remained silent the rest of the drive and as James pulled up to the terminal drop off. He parked the car in the loading zone and climbed out to get Jess' bag from the trunk.

"Well, thanks for refraining from throwing up in the car," James said as he handed her bag over. Jess chuckled softly.

"Yeah, no problem. See you Saturday then?"

"Yeah, I'll be there. I'm flying to Jersey tomorrow." James watched Jess carefully. She was fidgeting with something in her purse. "You have all your documents?"

"Yeah, I do. Thanks for driving me."

"Not a problem. I'll return the car tomorrow." Jess nodded and awkwardly wrapped her arms around James' midsection. James reciprocated the hug warmly.
Jess seemed to relax when he did this and leaned up to kiss his cheek.

"Bye Jimmy," Jess whispered.

"Text me when you land so I know you're alright," James rushed.

"I will."

"See you," James said as Jess picked up her bag and walked through the check in area. He watched her until he could no longer see her and then turned back towards the car. A relaxed feeling took over his body, something he hadn't felt since Dallas and he knew that everything was going to be okay.

Notes