The Compromise

Jessica winced as she watched the Flyers score their fifth goal, effectively ending the Penguins hope for a chance at the cup. She turned off the television, and sauntered back towards her bedroom. She knew she wouldn't hear from Sid for awhile. They still had post-game press to worry about, getting packed and back on the plane to fly home.

Which was for the best as she wasn't in the mood to talk anyways. Nearly a month had passed since they learned the news that they were expecting, and unexpectedly had that ripped out from under them. In that month she could count on one hand the number of times she saw Sidney. He had been busy with the end of the regular season and the start of playoffs. The games ran close together and his days off were spent practicing, running film, or something else hockey related. His phone calls were just as infrequent, or at least the ones that mattered. He called her every day to check on her, but any where they spent time actually talking for an extended period of time fell short. She almost liked it better that way, it made it easier for her to let go and try moving on from the torment of losing his baby.

•••••••••••••

Sid was exhausted. He slumped down in his seat on the plane and pulled his earbuds out so that as soon as he could he would drown out anyone around him and listen to music. He felt defeated, like he let his team down. He did nothing to help the team come back to try and tie the series up. They played horrible and it showed. They deserved to be eliminated, he felt.

He looked forward to going home and crawling into bed to sleep. He was emotionally drained too. He promised he wouldn't tell anyone, but the loss of the baby took a lot out of him and Jess. He wanted to be there as much as he could to let her know that she wasn't suffering alone, but the last month allowed anything but time spent with her.

He thought about going to her place directly from the airport, spend the next two days hiding out from the world and return to the city on locker clean out day. But he feared she wouldn't be happy if he did that. Her entire persona changed the day the doctor told her that she miscarried. In the end he decided he would wait until he spoke with her on the phone to see if she would be up for him visiting. He hoped so because he could use some TLC.

The flight was short, just under an hour and as soon as Sidney had his bags and was inside his car he slid his phone out of his pocket and dialed Jess. It rang several times before her voicemail picked up. He glanced at the time on his dashboard to find that it was early, not quite eight, so he didn't know why she didn't answer. She wouldn't be sleeping already.

He chose to start driving towards his house and if she didn't call him back before he reached home then he would try again once he was inside. But he wasn't even away from the airport parking lot before he felt his phone vibrating.

"Hey," Sid said softly into the receiver.

"Hey you," Jess spoke just as softly.

"I'm coming down."

"Good, I really miss you," Jess said.

"Oh, I miss you too. I'll be there soon," Sid was pleased to hear her voice and glad that she seemed to sound better than she had as of late.

"I love you," Jess interjected.

And his heart melted just a bit, his exhaustion almost forgotten. "I love you too Jess."

Sid quickly took the nearest exit so that he could head south, in the opposite direction of his house, down to a place where he felt more at home than his place in the city.

••••••••••••

Jess saw the headlights shine through the window and knew it was Sidney pulling into the small parking lot in front of the row of condos. She was ready to move passed the miscarriage and be the supportive girlfriend that Sid needed right now.

Jess was at the door to greet her weary looking boyfriend when he walked up towards the entrance. She opened her arms and he collapsed into her embrace.

"You look like you haven't slept in weeks," Jess said as she brushed her fingers through his curls, grown out to accompany his playoff growth.

"I feel really guilty saying this but I am so relieved this season is over with," Sid said as he breathed in her flowery scent. "This last month has sucked."

"Let's get inside. Where is your bag?" Jess asked as she noticed Sid wasn't carrying anything with him.

"All I have are suits. I'll go pick up some pants tomorrow while you're at school. I still have my spare sweats here right?" Jess nodded and closed the door behind her as she watched Sid strip off his suit coat and shoes in the middle of her small apartment. He threw the jacket over the back of the couch and proceeded to the bedroom, unbuttoning his cuffs and untucking his shirt in the process.

Jess locked her front door, turned off the living room lights and walked towards the faint glow of light streaming through the door of the bedroom. When she entered her room Sidney was already down to his boxer-briefs and lying face first on her side of the bed.

She scurried around to pick up the clothes he haphazardly threw on the floor in order to prevent some wrinkling. She knew he would send it to the dry cleaners, but the wrinkles they need to worry about should be caused from his wearing it and not rolling it up and leaving it on the floor. She found an empty hanger and hung everything up. Finally she turned towards the bed to see that Sid hadn't budged from her side of the it.

"Sid," Jess whispered when she climbed to the vacant spot on the bed, "baby switch me places."

Sid grunted something unintelligible, but never moved as Jess requested. She flopped back and tried to get comfortable, but it felt foreign having Sidney sleeping on her left rather than her right side. She gave up lying on her back and turned onto her left side so she could see Sid, even if his head was turned away from her. Knowing he was able to finally find sleep made her relax and soon sleep overtook her too.

••••••••••••

Sidney woke with a start several hours later. He barely remembered falling into bed and he certainly didn't remember Jessica coming into bed too. He turned onto his right side to face his sleeping girlfriend. It was still dark out and the moonlight streamed through the window casting a shadow across her soft features. She looked younger than she was, breathing softly and oblivious to being watched. He pulled her petite frame towards him by reaching around her waist and slipping an arm around under her neck. She responded to his movements and nuzzled closer to him. Her skin felt cool against his and he noticed how she hadn't been covered by the blankets. He smiled knowing she most likely kicked them off during her sleep.

"Sid?" He heard her speak.

"Shh, go back to sleep baby. I got you," he spoke.

"Everything okay?" She asked ignoring his quiet command.

"I just wanted to hold you, that's all," he said as he adjusted their entwined bodies so that he was lying on his back and she was pulled against his side, her leg hiked up over his, their feet tangled together. He managed to grab hold of the covers and pull them around their bodies.

"Jess?" Sid asked when sleep didn't immediately come to him.

"Hmm?" He heard.

"Why am I on your side of the bed?" He asked. That seemed to awaken her and she lifted her head and laughed.

"That's where you laid down first. I couldn't move you. I tried waking you up, but you were gone."

"Huh, funny." He considered what she said.

"Yeah." She rested her head back down on the crook of his neck. Before long she was breathing steadily again and he was still wide awake. He battled it out as to whether he should wake her up again or not. He knew sleep was not coming easy for her either and here she was, sleeping soundly entangled up in him. But having her pressed up against him was awakening needs that haven't been dealt with in over a month. All he could think about was how soft her legs felt and what he would give to have them around his waist at that moment.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead in an attempt to rouse her awake again. When nothing happened he kissed her again, this time running his hand up and down her back. She lifted her face to him, but didn't open her eyes. He brushed his lips across hers and felt her respond with a quiet moan. He took this as a sign of encouragement and pressed her back against the mattress leaning partially over her. Her eyes opened lazily and a smile spread across her face.

Sid moved to hover above Jessica and she welcomed the added weight of his body.

"Hi," she whispered.

"Is this okay?" He asked staring down at her. She nodded. His elbows gave out and his bare chest pressed against hers as he began to kiss her with more vigor and eagerness than he had in weeks.

"I've missed this," Jess said as Sid showered her face and neck with kisses. Her legs falling open for him to settle in between. She could feel his arousal through the thin material of their shorts. "I've missed you."

"Me too baby," Sid agreed stopping his movements. "We're okay, right?"

"Never better. Wanna practice making babies?" She wiggled her eyebrows up and down making Sid chuckle.

"Do you have any protection?" He asked after he stopped laughing.

"No, but I'm back on my pill." Sid knew that she had started back on it, but also knew it wasn't long enough to run the risk of another pregnancy.

"Maybe we should wait until tomorrow and you have to be up in a few hours for work." Sidney noticed the clock read 1:30.

"You woke me up to turn me down. You're a turd." She playfully attempted to push him off of her.

"Ah well since you put it that way," he laughed as she pinched his sides. "We could always do other things."

"Oh yeah?" Jess asked seductively as she successfully flipped them around so she was on top.

"I think you've already figured that out though," Sid moaned as she started to grind her hips with his growing erection. Jess boldly reached for the hem of her t-shirt and pulled it over her head. Sid automatically grabbed her breasts rolling her nipples between his fingers. He was completely turned on by her with her head thrown back and her body gently gyrating on top of his. The friction was beginning to be too much and he knew he wouldn't last long.

"Please Sid, can't we just do it?" She moaned, "I want you inside me." Sid sat up and captured a nipple between his teeth. His resolve was crumbling. He knew he would give in.

"If you get pregnant?" He asked as he switched to the neglected nipple.

"Then we are having a baby," Jess started tugging at her shorts. Sid stopped her from going any further.

"Seriously Jess, what if something happens like last time," he was concerned that she wasn't considering the repercussions. "I don't know if I can handle it if I lose you again like that." He stilled her hips so he could concentrate on their conversation.

"I promise Sid, I won't disappear like I did this last time. It was more shock than anything. We got this wonderful, albeit unexpected. news one week, and the next we find that we lost it. I think if we are knowingly running the risk of pregnancy I can be better prepared for the potential loss. Do you want me to have your children?" She asked softly. His heart went out to her when he saw the vulnerable look on her face.

"More than you know, Jess. So we aren't going to care if it happens sooner than later?"

"Sid I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you. If the rest of our lives starts now then so be it." She played with the curls on the back of his neck.

He smiled and flopped back down against the pillows. "I'm glad you're back."

"I'm glad that this is back," Jess said as she rocked against Sid's hips again.

“Oh yeah?” Sid gripped her hips to guide her back and forth. “It will feel even better once we get rid of these shorts.” Jess quickly stopped her movements and moved to remove both her shorts and Sid’s boxers. Sid quickly flipped them over so that he was settled on top.

His hands run up and down her body, causing her skin to break out in tingles and fire. "You're so beautiful, Jess." His voice was so quiet, She barely heard it, but his eyes were locked onto hers and she read his chapped lips. His eyes were wide and truthful and she felt her heart swell. He lets his arousal tease her, nudging at her drenched folds. She arched upwards, trying to force him into her, but he continued his teasing. His head rubbed deliciously over her clit and her insides flutter, desperate for him.

"Sidney, now!" She commanded, desire overwhelming her as she took in his naked form.

He put his weight on his elbows, his face only a few inches from hers, then slowly, he pushed himself into her. She felt a slight twinge of pain and She looked up to see his face twisted in controlled pleasure. His perfect, white teeth are clenched, causing his strong jaw to bulge in the sexiest manner. She lifted her hand to touch the rigid muscles. She had always loved his jaw. He paused when he's completely buried inside her, letting her get acclaimed to his intrusion.

"Oh god, you're so tight, Jess. It feels amazing," he whimpered, leaning into her fingers, his eyes screwed shut and his breathing haggard. After a few seconds, he pulled out, and then pushed back in and began to give it to her in an unhurried pace. Jess removed her fingers from his jaw and ran her hands up and down his bare torso, outlining his well defined muscles. She had seen him shirtless almost every day they were together since they started dating, but there's a huge difference between seeing him as he gets ready for bed, and seeing him while his muscles ripple as fills her repeatedly. She can hear herself moaning embarrassingly loud, but she can't seem to stop. It felt too good.

"Faster, Sid, faster," Jess begs, her voice utterly desperate.

She saw him smile down at her as she licked her lips, her mouth suddenly dry as she looked into his piercing brown eyes. The ones she looked at every day for months, the ones more familiar than her own. He picked up his pace, and leaned down to bite the tip of her nipple. She gasped and felt herself clench around him in response.

"I knew you'd like that," he mumbled against her breasts and he bites it again. "You like it rough, don't you?"

Jess nodded her head furiously, agreeing with him and she felt him pick up his pace even more, pounding her frantically. He moved one hand to her lower back, and tilted her pelvis up slightly; when he pushed into her again, he rubbed her sweet spot and she moaned even louder, her back arching, more skin breaking out in a thin layer of sweat. He attacked her breasts again, nibbling and sucking and kissing until She felt herself reach the edge.

"Come," Sid ordered, moving his lips back to hers. He kissed her deeply, pinching her left nipple between his thumb and forefinger and she did what he said, shouting his name and climaxing, pulsing around his thickness as it pumped into her, long and hard.

"That felt so good. I don't think I've ever felt anything so good," he moaned after her ripples fade—at least thirty seconds later. "Where do you want me to come?"

"Inside me, please," Jess panted. "We're covered." She wanted to feel him finish inside her so badly, it was almost frightening. Only him.

He nodded, kissed her again, and then plunged into her to the hilt, and came, groaning her name as she felt him spasm, his liquid filling her core. She moaned again, it felt so good.

They pant in unison, their chests pressed together, for minutes. He looked so happy, his grin only a few centimeters from hers. After their breathing had settled, he leaned down and kissed her again, his lips perfect with hers.

"You mean everything to me, Jessica," Sid whispered when he pulled away. "Sleep now. You have a couple more hours."

She buried her head in his neck, kissing away the sweat on his skin until her eyelids began to droop.

Notes