The Compromise

Jessica finished washing the breakfast dishes and found herself staring out the window over the expansive backyard. Sidney's family was due in about an hour and her family was arriving for a barbecue around 2. She had only a limited time of wedded bliss to enjoy before they finally cracked and told their families that they were married.

And Sid did everything to make the week special. They didn't get out of bed until late Tuesday morning and spent the rest of the day lounging around their private pool. It wasn't until Wednesday did she even check her phone, although Sid was less successful in avoiding touching base with the outside world. Not that she missed too much from the outside world. Although she had a couple notes of congratulations on her Facebook wall from some of her friends, she didn't bother investigating into it further, and then Sid managed to distract her again for the rest of the day.

Thursday she had called home to invite her parents up for a cook out where she intended on telling them the news. She thought it strange when her mom agreed quickly and adamantly said, "Yes, we do have something to talk about young lady."
She began to suspect something, but she didn't know what her mother was upset about. And again Sidney managed to pull her away and distract her from her mother's call.

They managed to sneak into the jewelry store where Sidney bought Jess's engagement ring and buy two bands to wear. Jess' a dainty diamond encrusted band and Sid's a solid tungsten that looked modern and fit his simplistic personality. They dealt with the same jeweler who helped Sid with the engagement ring and was happy to keep the news of their 'impending nuptials' a secret. They played it off that they were marrying in the coming weeks and needed to walk out of the store with their bands.

Friday Sid finally caved and told Jess that it was all over the internet that the couple married in secret. It was strictly speculative and Sid's denial was addressed by all who covered it.

"Well that explains why my mom claimed we needed to talk when they get here tomorrow."

"You're not mad. Are you?" Sid asked as they lay in bed in the early evening.

"Is that why you've been checking your phone like crazy?"

"I've been dodging calls from Jen and Pat. Jen more so than Pat though."

"I guess I can't really be mad now. But I can already see the repercussions to your lying to the media."

"But I didn't want to tell them before we told our families! They don't need to find out about this that way. I want them to hear it directly from us."

"Yeah, I know you're right."

"Want me to make you forget about this?" Sid asked suggestively wiggling his eyebrows at her. She giggled and let him take over her body all over again.

Jess didn't realize she zoned out until she felt Sidney's arms wrap around her waist and his chin rest on her shoulder.

"Where did you go just now?" He asked gently. He watched out the window with her, waiting to hear her answer. He never pulled away and Jess glanced down to see his band on his left ring finger and she smiled. She loved seeing it there.

"I was just thinking about this week. And how our little blissed out world is about to end." Sid sighed and pressed his lips against the side of Jess' head. They got lost in each other and in their own thoughts long enough that they didn't hear the doorbell at first.

"What the hell?" Jess asked when their reverie was snapped back into reality.

"No clue, I thought your family wasn't coming up until this afternoon." Sid pulled away from Jess and moved towards the front of the house. "I'll see who it is," he said over his shoulder.

Sid got to the door just as it swung open and his parents and sister walked in. "Hey guys! How are you here? I was just about to leave to come get you!"

"We got an earlier flight. There wasn't a wait for it and no stupid layover," Taylor said as she brushed a kiss on her brother's cheek and walked towards the kitchen.

"We were just at the right place at the right time. We rented a car to get here. How are you feeling?" Trina asked as she wrapped her son in a hug.

"I'm great. Can't wait to get these teeth fixed." He watched as his dad sidled up to stand in front of Sid.

"You know I've been getting outlandish phone calls from pat. He said you are always easy to reach except for the last three days," Troy said.

"Yeah, I spoke with him earlier," Sid said sheepishly. He lead his parents to the kitchen where Jess and Taylor were already whispering quietly together.

"What are you two whispering about?" Trina asked as she walked over to Jess and gave her a brief hug.

"Just...something I noticed,"Taylor hesitated. She looked at Sid and he knew instantly that she was in on the news they were about to share. Sid arched an eyebrow at his sister and she signaled with her eyes to his left hand. He immediately placed it in his pocket and smiled sheepishly around the room.

"Your mother and I are going to go get settled in our room then we can help with this cookout," Troy said leaving the three younger Crosby's in the kitchen. When they knew their parents were out of earshot Sid turned to his sister.

"I knew it was true! Mom has been saying all week how sad she will be if she missed this." Taylor tugged Sid's left hand forward so she could get a good look at his simple band.

"We just went to city hall and got married by a justice of the peace. We want to do a wedding, but we also want time to plan it." Sid looked at Jess who was relatively quiet through the conversation.

"My mom is going to react the same way," Jess whispered with her lip quivering. Sid had her in his arms in seconds assuring her everything will be fine.

"We are adults, we can do what we want. Would it have been nice to have our families there when we did it, sure. But it's just the legal form, we can have a church ceremony still. That's the one we want everyone at."

"So it is true?" Trina asked, startling everyone in the kitchen. Sid hadn't expected his mom to be back downstairs so quickly and stood in front of her with his eyes bugging out of his head.

"Uh...listen...uh..." Sid stammered.

"Yes, Trina it is. Sidney asked me last Saturday to marry him. Instead of me agreeing I asked if he was sure he wanted to, what with all the drama I have brought in the past, and he said he would marry me Monday given the chance," Jess explained as she sidled up next to Sid and reached for his arm. He reacted by pulling her close to his side and squeezing her shoulder affectionately.

Trina looked between the pair with tears brimming her eyes. "Why couldn't you just wait? We could still have had a wedding this summer if getting married was so important."

"You two got married?" Troy asked as he overheard his wife speak. Anger seemed to flash across his face.

"Yes, we did Dad," Sid said never letting Jess go even as she tried to pull away and cower behind him.

"What the hell Sid? What were you thinking?" Troy bellowed.

"I was thinking how much I love Jess and how I don't want to spend a moment without her again! We may have actually followed through hastily but I don't regret it."

"What about your assets?"

"Don't even Dad." Sid turned away. Jess saw the same anger in Troy's eyes lighting a fire across Sid's. She knew Troy was alluding to a pre-nuptial agreement. And she didn't blame him. Sid was worth millions of dollars at such a young age, it only made sense to have one.

"No, Sid we didn't raise you to be irresponsible!"

"Me getting married to my fiancé was irresponsible? Or are you just worried that there is no pre-nup?" He spun around to face his parents.

"Sid, I could sign something."

"No! It's ridiculous for my parents to presume that our marriage isn't going to work out! And if for some god awful reason it didn't work out I wouldn't want any of it. You could have it all," Sid splayed his arms around indicating the house, "Because I'm not leaving. I'm never giving up. This is it for me and you know that."

"I wouldn't want any of it either," Jess whispered as she looked down. She felt Sid's fingers on her chin as he lifted her face to look at him. He studied her face, the sadness from the events transpiring evident all over. He kissed her lips, cheeks, forehead just to assure her that they were alright.

"I'm just sad that I didn't see it," Trina spoke up, "I'll never get to see my baby boy get married now."

"Mom, we want to have a wedding. You'll see it."

"Then why was it so important for you two to go get married on a whim?"

Sid didn't know how to answer that. But Jess did and turned towards Trina to explain.

"Because I wanted to get married without being scrutinized by people who don't know me or know what happened between me and Sidney. I couldn't bear the thought of standing up in front of hundreds of people who may or may not have a bad opinion of me."

"Jess, that shouldn't matter. Who cares? What matters is that the two of you are happy and ready to take on the world as a married couple." Trina smiled hesitantly at Jess, but she could tell that the older woman was still upset in their decision to marry so quickly.

"Well I still think it's irresponsible on your part Sidney."

"Whatever Dad. It's over with and I am happier in my private life than I've been in years. I have someone to come home to on long road trips and someone who will love and support me when I am beating myself up over a bad game. And all this could be gone tomorrow and I know Jess would care less."

"It's true. I could care less about the money. I just know Sid makes me happy and I try with all my might to make him happy."

"I just assumed by now you wouldn't be passing judgement on Jess dad. You know her, she's been around long enough. Hell, you helped in executing our reunion!"

"I'm not passing judgement on Jess. She's a great girl and I am happy that she is a part of this family. I am just disappointed in you."

"Well I guess that makes two of us then."

"What does that mean?"

Sid hesitated, considering his response. He knew he could hurt his dad by what he wanted to say, but he looked at Jess and saw her pleading with him silently. He gave her a half smile and turned back to his dad. "Nothing, it means nothing dad. I'm sorry for disappointing you."

"Can I be a bridesmaid?" Taylor piped in making Jess and Tina giggle at the youngest woman's enthusiasm.

"Yes, you can absolutely be a bridesmaid," Jess said reaching out to hug her sister-in-law.

"So we got married. But we want to do the wedding," Sid explained mostly to his mother and sister. His dad walked out of the kitchen without another word.

******
"You took the news so much better than Sid's parents did," Jess said softly to her mother later that evening as the two women stood in the kitchen cleaning off the dinner plates. The rest of the party was still outside enjoying the sun setting and the still warm temperatures. Jess watched as Sid picked their niece up and tossed her into the pool. Their nephews were running in opposite directions avoiding Sid and laughing as he chased after the younger of the two boys.

"I can imagine. Unlike you, he married into a family with less money netted in a year that he makes in a month."

"Mom, it has nothing to do with money."

"Oh I know sweetie. And I am sad just like Trina that we didn't see it, but I am happy to be planning a wedding."

"Yeah, nothing huge. We don't need to cause a scene. And it has to be done before training camp starts in September."

"I'll talk to Cindy after church tomorrow and find out what weekend is available. I bet they will fit you in, no problem."

Jess bit her lip to fight back a few tears, "Thanks mom. That means a lot to me and Sidney."

The women finished cleaning in silence and wandered back outside where the adults were all gathered around the two patio tables. Jess came around to Sid and sat down on his lap. "What is going on out here?"

"Nothing, they are talking about the Pirates and I am pretending I follow."

"You're so mean," Jess chuckled and squirmed when Sid tickled her sides.

"I'm just tired. Today went better than I expected, all things considering," Sid spoke softly reaching up to rub his hand along Jess' back.

"All things considering. So we are having a wedding after all. As long as it can be done before training camp in September." Sid nodded in understanding and secretly looked forward to seeing Jess walk down the aisle in a white gown. Jess caught Sid's full attention and could see how tired he was. He had a lazy look to his eyes and his hand movement on her back slowed to small circles on the exposed skin between her tank top and shorts.

"My parents are getting ready to leave babe," Jess whispered as she watched her mom round up the grand kids. Her siblings weren't there, which she was grateful for, but she loved that her mother dragged all four kids with her and Jess' dad. Them being there cut the tension and made breaking the news much easier for Jess.

"Did I fall asleep?" He asked sheepishly.

"Briefly," Jess said as she stood up from his lap. He groaned when he felt the weight of her being lifted and wanted her to retreat back to him as he was comfortable with her there.

"We are gonna get out of your hair you two. Sidney you look exhausted, those kids seemed to have worn you out." Janet commented as she leaned up to hug her new son-in-law.

"Didn't help that I didn't sleep well last night," he mumbled with a slight laugh in his voice. "I was too nervous about today."

"Nothing to worry about now, congratulations you two. It will make the ceremony later so much more bittersweet."

"If you think about it, you need a marriage license before a church ceremony anyways, let's just look at it that way," Jess justified.

Sid agreed, and said, "Thank you for coming up for this little cookout." He watched as Jess and her mother hugged.

After goodbyes were shared and Jess' family was on the road back towards home, the rest of the house guests dispersed to different corners of the house. Taylor informed everyone that she was going to call a couple friends to catch up and make some plans for the summer. Sid's parents insisted they were tired and retreated to their room for the night leaving Sid and Jess to their own devices.

"Let's go to sleep babe," Jess encouraged as Sid placed the last of the food in the fridge. She knew it wasn't extremely late, but she knew he was ready for bed.

"Yeah, alright." He followed Jess up the stairs, turning out lights and and setting the alarm in the process. When they made it to their quiet corner of the house, he closed the door and turned in just enough time to see Jess pull her top over her head exposing her bare back. And he instantly felt wide awake.

Sid swooped Jess up in his arms, inciting a small yelp from her, before crashing onto their bed with him on top of her. He smiled deviously at her as she stared wide-eyed at him.

"I thought you were sleepy?" Jess asked breathless. Sid didn't bother to respond, instead he captured an erect nipple between his teeth and bit softly on the tender flesh. She instinctively grabbed his unruly hair and pushed it back to watch him as he covered her skin in kisses. He looked up at her and let go briefly of her nipple and smiled a wide, toothless grin.

"I was until I saw you removing your clothes," he replied then returned to kissing her exposed skin.

"Hey, by the way, nice save earlier with my mom. You so weren't losing sleep for the reason you gave her!"

Sid stopped his actions on Jess' abdomen and glanced up at her again. "I certainly wasn't going to tell her I spent all night fucking your daughter. It was bad enough we told them we got married in secret!"

Jess laughed, grabbed a pillow from behind her and smacked him in the head. He feigned injury, groaned and rolled off the bed thusly ending his assault on her body. At least for the time being.

Notes

This is starting to wind down, I mean how much drama can two people live through in a lifetime? What do you think?