The Compromise

It was well after midnight when Sidney finally headed upstairs to go to bed. After the guests had all left, and his parents and sister has retired to their rooms for the night he stayed up making sure all the dirty plates and glasses had made their way to a garbage can or the kitchen sink. Jess had started washing platters, but she looked exhausted and he sent her to bed too.

But for some reason Sidney hadn't been tired, maybe it was the excitement of the evening. Maybe it was his nerves, knowing now he had permission to ask Jess to marry him. And he had the ring safely stashed away in the back corner of his equipment drawer in the basement. He wanted to run to her and ask as soon as her father gave his blessing, but he knew in front of fifty or so guests, one of which was an ex who had almost done the exact same thing nearly two years before, made him stop. It wasn't the perfect timing, but he knew he wouldn't be able to wait much longer. Her mother, after showing her the ring, squealed in delight and lectured him that he needed to ask before Christmas Eve. She wanted to brag to her siblings during their family gathering. His second Wade family Christmas Eve party he would attend, and his parents' first. That meant he had two full days.

After Jess went upstairs he ran down to the basement, grabbed the ring, and decided he needed to keep it on him constantly until he put it on Jess' finger. After, he walked through the downstairs turning off lights and alarming the house. As he walked upstairs he felt the weight of the ring box in his pocket. He would hide it in his bedside table for the night. He would make sure he wore something with pockets so he could keep it on his body tomorrow. When he walked into their room he found Jess curled up on his side of the bed still fully dressed in her dress, her flats still on her feet. He took in the sight and sighed. The ring was forgotten as he contemplated his next move.

At the foot of the bed he reached for her feet to remove her shoes. Her legs were cool to the touch, evidence that her heart rate had slowed in her sleep, slowing the blood flow. He ran his hands up and down her calves in an attempt to warm her and wake her up. She flinched in her sleep and attempted to move from Sid's soft grasp. She rolled onto her back, but didn't wake up. Sid chuckled softly, and moved to the side of the bed. He sat on the edge and leaned over Jess.

"Babe, wake up," he whispered close to her ear, "Let's get you out of your dress."

Jess moaned in response, but didn't move. Sid decided to take matters into his own hands and reached for Jess' hands. He pulled her into a sitting position and rested her head on his shoulder. It looked as though they were hugging, but he was struggling to pull the zipper to her dress down her back. After several failed attempts he had successfully gotten the zipper all the way down.

"Not exactly how I envisioned unwrapping my surprise," Sid mumbled mostly to himself. He was surprised when he heard Jess giggle and she fell off his shoulder and back against the bed. Her laughter increased in volume and tears were running down her face. "I didn't think it was that funny. You really are hurting my pride."

Sid feigned hurt and Jess opened her eyes and got her emotions in check. "Oh Sid, I'm sorry! I tried staying awake until you got up here but you took forever!"

"Just wanted to make sure everything was picked up and I had to turn off all the lights. And set the alarm." He looked down at the carpet and ran his hand across Jess' stomach affectionately.

"Are you going to finish what you started?"

"It's kinda hard to do with you lying down like that," Sid joked. Jess quickly rolled over to her side and climbed out of bed. She came around to stand in front of Sidney so he could reach her dress easily. She cocked an eyebrow in his direction, placed her hands on her hips and looked at him expectantly. She wanted him to undress her, and so he would. He stood up, pushed her hair off her shoulders and ran his fingers across the exposed skin to the cap sleeves of her dress. He leaned down and kissed where her bra strap sat on her shoulder and ever so gently he pushed her dress down her arms. It dropped quietly to the floor and Sid felt his breath catch in his throat. She stepped out of her dress and stood a few feet back from Sid. She let him look her over before stepping closer to him again and reached to unbutton his shirt. He let her run her fingers across the buttons as he quickly pulled the shirt tails from his pants.

When the shirt was stashed on the floor with her dress Jess pushed Sidney back onto the bed and she straddled his lap aggressively pressing her lips to his. He ran his rough fingers along the delicate lace covering her ass and dragged them higher to her bare back. Her skin was soft and smooth and he yearned to have his skin flush against hers. "This is my favorite in all those pictures."

"Even more than the one where I'm in your Rimouski sweater?" She asked innocently. She was right, he enjoyed seeing her wear his number and nothing else.

"You know I love all of them. This is just the first time you've given me the live show," he said as he leaned back on his elbows. Jess stayed upright and smiled shyly down at his lust-filled eyes. She could feel him beneath her, but she felt something else that was just as hard. Puzzled she rocked gently side to side to get a feel of what the object was.

"Uh, this is different. But if it's making you feel good," Sid said.

"What's in your pocket?" Jess asked, ignoring Sid. She continued to move but squealed when he grabbed her hips and flipped her onto her back.

"It's nothing!" Sid scurried into the closet and desperately started looking for a place to store the box, but he had a feeling she suspected what it was. He had the offending object in his hand when he heard Jess from just outside the door.

"Sidney Patrick what are you hiding from me?" He glanced up to see her standing in the door frame, her arms crossed pushing her breasts higher than her bra allowed. He still had the box in hand when he turned to her and clasped his hands behind his back. 'Well, not exactly how I expected to do this, but okay,' he thought.

"Jessica, we've been through a lot this past year, you said so yourself when you came to see me at the rink that one time." He paused and watched Jess' reaction. She was smiling softly at him. "But I don't want you to think for a second that I regretted any of it, because I would do it again for you if given the chance. You're my world. And if all of this," he gestured to the house with his arms revealing the small black box,"were to go away, I wouldn't care. I would have you and that is all I really need."

Tears were streaming down Jess' face. "Now you probably figured it out, mainly because I am no good at being coy with you, but you bring out the best in me and I never want this feeling to go away." He stepped closer to Jess, who stood in just her undergarments and he in his jeans. "I cannot think of a better way to do this," he grabbed one of her hands and knelt down on one knee. He could feel her trembling, but the nerves he felt earlier were gone. He knew this moment was the perfect moment. He popped open the lid to the box with one hand, glanced down at it briefly and then back up to Jess. She had an awestruck look on her face. She still had tears streaming down her cheeks. "Will you spend the rest of your life letting me try to make you as happy as you make me?" He held the ring out and waited. And the wait felt like hours before he heard her speak.

"Yes! Of course I will!" Sid felt like his face was going to split in half from the smile he produced after hearing her say yes. That was the best thing she ever said to him. He let go of her hand to retrieve the ring and slipped it onto her left ring finger. It fit perfectly. Then he felt her wrap her arms around his neck and he captured her lips with his own.

"I love you too Sidney! And this was by far the best year of my life. I cannot wait to spend forever with you," she said after breaking the kiss. Sid couldn't agree more. He easily stood up with her in his arms and lifted her without difficulty.

"We should tell people!"

"It's nearly 1 am," Sid explained as he carried Jess to their bed.

"But your parents are right down the hall."

"We can tell them when we wake up." He laid her down and he climbed on top of her. He kept his weight above her with his arms.

"The girls will still be awake because of the time difference!" Sid started to feel annoyed with her persistence to tell everyone at this minute that they were engaged.

"Jess," Sid started.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! It's just too good of news to keep quiet and I only ever intend on telling people once that I'm engaged!" Sid could see her point, it was exciting news.

"I love your excitement babe. I really do, but all I want to do is strip naked and make love to my future wife." Hearing those words seemed to do something to Jess because the excited look she had been casting changed to a look of want and desire.

"Your future wife," she repeated the last words. "That is by far the sexiest thing you've ever said to me."

Sid nodded and reached for Jess' panties. He sat back on his haunches and pulled her bottoms down her legs. He lifted her calf and ran kisses up her smooth thighs. He made his way up her stomach, dipping his tongue into her navel making her giggle at the touch. He met the edge of the corset bra she wore and stopped.

"You still have your jeans on," Jess pointed out while Sid attacked her neck with his lips. She reached in between their bodies to the belt buckle and managed to free him without pushing him away from her. He was hard in her hand and he yearned for him to be inside of her.

"Ouch," Sid groaned. "Your ring scratched me," he explained when she looked at him questioningly. He reached down, pushed his jeans off his hips and settled back between her legs. Jess pulled her hand away an looked at the offending piece of jewelry.

"Take off my bra," Jess instructed. Sid looked confused, but knelt back as she sat up for him to take off her last scrap of clothing. And they sat there, both completely naked, taking in one another. "We're engaged," Jess whispered.

Sid nodded, wrapped his hand around Jess' shoulder and pulled her flush against him. He kissed her with a passion he hadn't felt before. As they kissed he eased her back down and wasted no more time while he entered her.

They didn't waste the rest of the night, spending hours making love or sleeping in each other's arms. And they stayed in bed like Sid had hoped for, sleeping in as late as their bodies would allow.

******

Jess woke first, and was warm against Sid's chest. He was breathing steadily and looked so peaceful. She lifted her hand and stared at the ring she got only hours before. It was set in platinum and had a halo of small diamonds around a four carat center. It was everything she ever imagined her ring to be. And to know that never once did he allude to asking her, or she drop hints as to what she would like. This was just another reason why she knew he was the one and why she never hesitated when he asked her. He knew her better than anyone she knew. He proved that even when she didn't know him as she was recovering from the accident.

She still held her hand out admiring her ring when Sid's own hand reached up and twined through her fingers. She smiled at the action and studied their clasped hands.

"Didn't expect it huh?" Sid whispered into her hair.

"No. Is that what you were talking with my dad about last night?"

"Ha yeah, I was hoping to catch him alone. I had already talked with your mom and even showed her the ring. Then I knew I needed to talk to him. It just worked out that my dad and Mario and Dan were all there too."

"It was almost perfect. All the important men in your life."

"I thought the same thing when I walked over to them. It was nice. They all seemed happy that I wanted to ask you."

Jess twisted so she could look Sidney in the eyes. "I am so incredibly lucky."

"No, I am." Sid pressed a kiss to Jess' forehead and felt himself getting aroused again when a knock on their door startled them. Jess pulled the comforter higher up her neck and Sid moved so he was lying on his back.

"Are you two sleeping the entire day away?! It's nearly noon!" Taylor shouted through the door. "Jess and I wanted to go to the mall!"

Jess groaned, forgetting she had promised to go finish up some last minute Christmas shopping with the younger Crosby. "Give me fifteen minutes Tay! Does your mom want to come along?"

"Yeah, we will be downstairs!"

Sid looked sad that Jess was going to be leaving him, especially when he was ready to celebrate on their own for the rest of the day. "I'm sorry! She asked me last night. Had I known you were going to ask me to marry you I would have said no."

Sid laughed and rubbed his eyes out of frustration. He was ready to go again, that was for sure. He felt the bed shift, but refused to look at Jess as she got dressed. But he was surprised when he felt her weight straddle him and her body slide down onto his erection.

"What are you doing?" Sid moaned as she started to move up and down.

"I can be quick. Can you?" She asked, never slowing her pace.

"If you keep doing that, yeah. Fuck, babe!" Sid moaned quietly.

Twenty minutes later, they wandered down the hall to the stairs. Sid in a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. Jess with her hair pulled up into a bun on her head and her glasses secure on her face. She threw on jeans and an oversized sweater with some boots. Sid grasped her hand and they descended the stairs together. They couldn't stop grinning at one another.

"There they are! Sid I don't think you've ever slept that late before boy," Troy joked. He was sitting at the island, a cup of coffee and the Trib spread out in front of him.

"Yeah, I didn't go upstairs until after one. Uhm, guys, Jess and I have something to share with you." His grip tightened, but he wasn't nervous. He knew Jess was, and he assured her that his family knew he was going to ask and were thrilled. He looked at his mom, who had to obvious grin on her face and he smiled back, acknowledging that she was right.

"We're engaged!" Jess squealed flashing his family her hand. And all three of them swarmed in, spreading hugs and congrats, and welcoming Jess into their little family.

Notes