In Your Eyes

James held two buckets of paint up. "Which one?"

Ali stared at him, and not because of the question about the paint. She stared at him because he was covered in it. Wearing a pair of Whalers shorts and a gray t-shirt with the sleeves cut off, he looked a sight. Not to mention the blotches of blue and white paint that covered parts of his face, arms, and one foot.

"Babe." Ali chewed her lip, doing her absolute best to not laugh. "Do you know what you look like right now?"

James glanced down at himself. "No?"

She went over to him, wheeled him around with her hands on his back, and then walked him towards the nearest mirror. They stood there looking at one another and at themselves. Ali didn't look any better than James, but she wasn't covered in paint. Her old high school t-shirt and homemade shorts made from an old pair of cut up sweatpants completed the sloppy look they were both sporting.

James let both arms down as he let out an exhausted laugh. "Yeah, a mess pretty much sums it up."

Ali hugged him around the waist from behind. "I think the blue really makes your tattoo stand out. It's quite stunning."

He wrinkled his nose. "You're not allowed to chirp me while I'm doing YOUR work." He turned from the mirror to face her directly, bending his head so his lips could press against hers. "But I don't mind. I'll be your paint slave."

"Ohhh jeeze, listen to you" Ali teased. "Soooo dramatic."

James had paint on his hands and it was still fairly wet, so he touched Ali on the nose, drawing a streak of blue. "Speaking of stunning--"

"--you ass!"

"Now we're even!" He picked the cans he'd been holding back up and handed her one. "Put that cute ass to work and come help me. We have one wall left."

She took a can from him. "But who's going to finish unloading all the patio furniture?"

James headed down the hall. "I'll get it later; I don't mind."

It was like this since day one when they came up with the idea for the lake house. Ali and James shared the duties and responsibilities with the entire process, and now that they were so close to being finished, each wanted their hands in the final touches. Ali knew how much this meant to James, and how much help it would be for them as a couple now living in Ontario in the summers. While she missed Pittsburgh dearly, the change of scenery and crowd was a refreshing one that she would now look forward to.

James felt exactly the same. It was a partnership he wasn't expecting would go so smoothly. He and Ali had done their first real project together, and it felt like a baby of his. This would be their house, even if it was seasonal, but they went into it together. It made him feel amazing, and the fact she dug into the entire process so eagerly only made him feel better.

"Ready?" He handed Ali a roller brush.

She held it up and they tapped theirs together like swords. "Ready!"

They got to it. Dipping, rolling, occasionally flicking paint at one another, then rolling some more. James had a small radio that played music from his iPhone, which filled the silence in between their chatter.

It was the room they didn't know what to do with; James suggested it function as an extra bedroom, Ali suggested a workout room. They decided not to decide right away, but they did agree on painting it last since it didn't need to be ready for the party.

"Did you talk to Sid yet?" Ali asked, dipping her roller brush back into the paint tray.

"He texted me back, that's all." James looked over as he painted. "He said he's in. Is Piper?"

"Oh yeah, she's in. Think they'll come together or separate?"

The couple looked at one another and smiled, knowing neither could truly answer that. With Sid, it was always difficult to tell, especially when it came to women.

"Has she said how it's going with him?" James asked. "Because I can't imagine..."

Ali shook her head and continued rolling her brush up and down the wall. She tried to think back to past conversations, but nothing was ever mentioned about whether she'd be 'introduced' to Sidney Crosby's lifestyle. It was still summer, after all.

"My question..." Ali said, halting. "Is whether or not she lasts through a hockey season with him."

James cracked up laughing. "Babe - I like your friend and all, but I give her exactly one month of a hockey season with him."

"Really?"

"It's Crosby, which is what I've been saying all along."

Ali watched James roll his brush. He covered twice the distance in half the amount of time because of his height. His muscles moved in ways that still mesmerized her; his lean body always a pleasant distraction. "Well in any case....do you think we should call him or something? We haven't exactly told anyone when this party is."

James tried to itch his head with his elbow, so Ali scratched it for him. They smiled at one another, and then got back to painting.

"I say we do it soon, because the summer isn't getting any younger" he answered. "What do you think?"

"I agree." She tried to think about Piper's schedule. "I vote next weekend."

James thought about it quietly. The sound of his and Ali's roller brush over the wall was the only sound in the room aside from the music. "Okay yeah, that should work."

"Does that give your guys some time to get their other halves in order or whoever they're bringing?"

"It should" James replied. "If it doesn't? Fuck 'em, it's our party." He flashed his wide grin at her, the hair about his mouth highlighting his smile.

"So next weekend then?" Ali's eyes met James', which were clearly shining with happiness.

"Yeah, next weekend." He set his roller brush down in his tray, resting his hands on his hips. "Next fucking weekend, all our buddies will be here and we'll go out in style."

Ali looked over her shoulder to see the proud look in his eyes and in his smile. It made her happy to see him so happy.

"And we'll close it out in our house" James said softly, coming up behind her. Resting his head on her shoulder, he trailed kisses along her neck. He pulled on the collar of her baggy shirt, exposing more of her shoulder so his mouth could cover more ground. "Our house, babe…"

She couldn't concentrate on painting. Not with his mouth doing what it did best. "You're distracting meeeee" she teased, halting her painting motions. "We'll never get this room dooonnneee…."

James' hand came around to move her jaw towards him. Their mouths met more sensually now, James pressing himself hard against Ali. When they separated, James closed his eyes and laughed into her ponytail.

"You have paint all over your face now, by the way."

Ali sighed.

* * *

Piper decided that there were four stages of Sidney Crosby: intense, relaxed, comical, and cuddly.

The last of those four was her favorite.

His arm cradled her firmly against his chest, his head tilted to the side and resting against hers. Piper could feel his slow and even breaths on the top of her head, tickling her every time he exhaled. It was the first night they had just gone to bed and didn't do anything physical, and it was amazingly comfortable. By the time her ferry landed and they got back to Sid's house, both of them were exhausted. They changed, climbed into bed, and talked for a while before drifting to sleep.

Now that Piper was awake, she realized what a really good moment it was that they'd felt relaxed enough to do that. Their relationship was moving along in the way that she'd hoped, and this was really all she wanted: to wake up next to him, in his arms, for no other reason than because it felt good and it felt right. That's precisely how they'd fallen asleep, and that's how she had awoken. Even though she was awake, she kept her eyes closed, not wanting to disturb Sid from his sleep. He needed it more than she did.

When he did wake up, it was another stage of Crosby Piper enjoyed, which she chalked up under the category of "cuddly". He stirred a little, lifted his head and opened his eyes the same time she did. When their eyes met, Sid smiled sleepily.

"Hey there, Bed Head." His voice was deep with slumber.

"Speak for yourself" Piper said. Indeed, his hair was unkempt in the best of ways. His dark waves and curls were tossed here and there as if they had had sex. In Piper's eyes, it looked perfect. The messier the better.

"How'd you sleep?" he asked. His fingers rubbed her head tenderly.

"Extremely well."

His smile broadened. "Glad to hear it."

Outside the bedroom balcony, the day was proving to be a cloudy one with rain likely on the way. Piper knew the telltale stratus that signaled a coastal storm; it blanketed everything, turning everything a shade of deep gray with little sunlight to cheer anything up. It crossed her mind that maybe this would allow them to remain in bed all day and ignore the world all together.

"You don't have anything planned today, do you?" Piper shifted her eyes upwards.

Sid touched her cheek just softly enough to send goosebumps all over her body. "Nope."

"So it's just me and you all day?"

"You got it." He kissed her forehead.

"Yay."

"Is there something you wanted to do specifically?" Sid asked. He saw a small smirk passed over Piper's face and he couldn't help but laugh. "Except that....because that's implied."

She sat up. "Implied, huh?" He nodded. "Well good, then let's just stay here."

"Have a day in? That interests you?"

"Yeah, why?" Piper stared at him, worried she'd just dropped the ball somehow.

"I think that's the best plan I've ever heard" Sid replied cheerfully. "I actually enjoy days where I don't have to do anything. Looks like rain anyways, eh?"

"It does."

"So let's have a rainy day in."

"Lets." She leaned forward, one hand resting on his chest as she kissed him. His lips were unfairly soft; his face lined with just a hint of dark stubble that tickled her mouth. He was the definition of sensory overload. "God, you're good."

Sid's eyes seemed to light up. "You do it to me."

"You keep saying that..."

"Because it's true."

What they were both thinking at that time was scarily similar: Sid was thinking what a positive influence Piper had been on him so far, and Piper was thinking just how lucky she was getting to wake up to a man who impressed her in ways she never thought possible. Neither said anything of course. They were still shy in that area, despite their comfort level with one another. Heavy feelings would come, but not that morning.

"I didn't make those lips" Piper sassed.

"Well you sure know how to use them" Sid sassed back. He saw Piper sigh, so he rolled on top of her, gaining a happy squeal in return. "Just give it up, Lake. You lost this one."

She grabbed his large wrists, for what it was worth. "I WILL win, though."

"Not against me" he said, nuzzling against her ear. "I have a tendency to win, remember?"

Melting at the sound of his voice, Piper had no choice but to secede. She wrapped her arms around his back, holding tight to an expanse of muscle she'd never tire of touching. She let Sid do the work she wanted all week, feeling his weight on top of her and the control of his strength as he led her to her first orgasm of the day.

*

They stayed in their sweats all day, remaining strict to their plans of staying inside while the rain poured down outside. Luckily for Piper, she was getting well versed at what to bring with her and how much of each type of outfit. She'd brought plenty of comfy clothes, and for her first choice, she went with a slate gray v-neck shirt and a slouchy pair of white knit drawstring pants.

Sid was his usual self in Piper's eyes: the complete package of snuggle-worthy boyfriend material in a black t-shirt and gray sweats. She stared at him as he came down the steps to the kitchen, refusing to believe he was actually real. It was impossible for someone to look that good all the time.

And yet, here he stands, she thought with a smile. She slapped his butt as he entered behind the large counter area, getting him to laugh.

This was Piper and Sid's pattern: consistently trying to make one another happy. The competitive nature they shared spurred this along, but they both just wanted the other to be happy. That much was plain.

Sid was mulling this over as he stood nack against the counter, arms crossed over his chest. He watched Piper as she went about his kitchen as if it were her own. It took her a few minutes, but she learned where everything was located and was soon constructing them a late breakfast. She instructed him to specifically not tell her where anything was so she could learn. As he stood by, he was impressed with how quickly she maneuvered through the large kitchen and found all that she needed.

He was also a sucker for what she was wearing; he found himself staring at her tight body and its perfectly placed curves more than he should have, especially since they'd just had sex. It was impossible to resist though, and he was only so strong. The white lounge pants she wore were thin enough that the light blue thong she wore beneath was visible. It was enough for Sid to lose interest in everything else around him.

What finally pulled his attention away was the sound of his cell phone ringing on the table. Piper glanced over from the french toast she was making as Sid took the call.

"Hey, what's up man?"

Sid made eye contact with Piper and smiled. She went back to flipping the toast and cutting up strawberries.

"No, not busy...how are things?"

She listened as she snipped the tops off the berries, slicing them in half and then adding them to a small bowl. As the conversation went on, she heard Sid snap his fingers. When she looked up, he placed a hand over the receiver.

"Got a sec?"

"Yeah!" She quickly placed the pan with the french toast off the burner, then went over towards where Sid was standing near the living room.

"Next weekend?" Sid asked into the phone. He pulled Piper close, then put his phone on speaker. The voice on the other line was a man's, which Piper didn't immediately recognize.

"So what - like get there Friday, leave Sunday type of deal?" Sid asked him.

"Basically whenever you and your girl decide to put some clothes on and make the trip. I won't even deduct points if you guys fuck on the way to the airport and it makes you late, either."

Piper now realized whose voice it was. She held a hand over her mouth to cover the smile that came when she heard James razzing Sidney.

"Still won't make up for every time you've ever been late to practice because you were busy fucking" Sid replied back to his friend. While he held the phone out so Piper could hear, he mouthed the words party next weekend? to her.

Piper shrugged, not really following and trying to not be heard on the line.

"Ali and I just finished painting last night, so it's ready to go. Just gotta get everyone here at the same time" James continued. "Stammer and Tavares are guaranteed, Skinner's the fucker who wanted this in the first place, so he'll be the first one here and the last one to leave…"

Sid laughed, envisioning guys he hadn't seen in a long time; most since their wedding, while some he hadn't seen since his last game against them.

"Even Staalsy's making an appearance."

"You gotta be kidding me." While Sid had spent some time at the wedding reception catching up with Jordan and his wife, it wasn't nearly the place to do the catching up they really needed to. Nealer's lake house might just be the perfect location, under the perfect circumstances. He missed his old teammate, especially Staalsy.

Sid locked eyes with Piper, putting his hand over the receiver again. "James wants to have a party at their--"

"--I know, Ali told me last week or so" Piper whispered. "I definitely want to go."

"Hey Nealer" Sid said, interrupting him. "Consider Piper and I in."

"Have you talked to her already?"

"Just did."

Piper saw Sid's brown eyes flick her way. They held a new kind of happiness in them, and it made her feel the way she was hoping she would: like this was their first, real chance to show up somewhere as a couple. She wanted to meet the people in Sid's life that mattered to him. Not to mention it would be hilariously fun to spend a weekend partying with Ali, which was an occurrence that hadn't happened since senior year of college.

"Oooohhhh-ho-HO! Hang on a sec, Crosby" James said, the volume of his already-animated voice growing. "You mean to fucking tell me she's THERE?"

"Staying all weekend" Sid replied cooly. He watched Piper giggle softly next to him. "So you know, I better get going--"

"--You gotta at least tell me what's going on with you two. Come on. Ali's only given me snippets of--"

"--In due time, Nealer. But for now, I gotta run. Our breakfast is getting cold."

"Breakfast?!? Ho-ly shit."

The laughter that was heard from James' end of the line made Sid laugh as well. He could just envision the tall forward's face, with his shit-eating grin and surprised look in his large eyes. It was enough to make him realize how excited he was to check out this new house of his. It was also Sid's turn to put James through the rigors he had to endure when he first met Ali.

"Fair enough" James said, still chuckling. "But you fucking owe me."

"Talk to you later, Neal" he said, cutting him off.

James was still cracking up when Sid hung up the phone. Piper folded her arms over her chest and met Sidney's proud gaze.

"So it looks like we're going Friday."

Piper nodded. "It does." She was already trying to figure out how this was going to work back in Bar Harbor at the studio. Hopefully they would find someone to fill in, and find that someone sooner than later.

"Do you want to fly there together?" Sid asked her.

"Well, honestly…" She paused, trying to quickly think through her schedule. "I don't know. Should I?"

Sid had an idea. It was a crazy idea, and likely wouldn't work out in the end, but if he didn't ask her…he'd regret the missed chance.

"Why don't you stay here all week?"

She heard the question, but it wasn't computing. "I'm sorry, what?"

Sid took her hands in his. "Stay. Don't go back to Maine."

"Umm, incase you don't remember, I run a business?" She felt his hands tighten around hers, but his eyes…so intense, so beautifully unique…looked at her kindly.

"Just stay the week. We'll fly up together, I'll even buy your ticket."

Piper clicked her tongue. "Sid."

"No, let me finish." He pulled her gently towards him until her body pressed against his. Slowly he slid his hands around her waist, holding her close. "Stay the week with me, and then we'll fly up and back together. Or you can fly back to Maine, it's fine with me. Whatever you want."

Her heart was racing at his request. This had never been done before, never, not in her lifetime and not with any guy she ever dated. None of the guys she ever dated were Sidney Crosby, and none of them looked at her the way he did.

"You can come watch me skate" he added, the corner of his mouth lifting enough to give his one cheek a small dimple. "That'd mean the world to me."

I want to watch him skate. I want to meet his friends. I want to be in his life more than Friday through Sunday.

Piper looked at him; she felt those hands on her waist, felt those wide hips against hers, felt the spark that shot up her spine to her head until she couldn't bother thinking anymore.

"Okay, I'll stay."

Sid's half-grin went full. "Really?"

She nodded. "I don't have nearly enough clothes--"

"--You won't need them" he said smoothly. "Honest."

Piper smiled. "But I don't even have a swim suit."

"We'll get you one."

His voice was calm and collected, but Piper knew Sid really wanted her to stay. She studied his dark eys, searching for a reason she shouldn't do it but she found none. All she saw was the want in his steady gaze.

What does Piper want?

Leaving any concern or worry about what she needed to do to ensure this could happen by the wayside, Piper wrapped her arms about Sidney's neck, her lips dangerously close to his but not touching.

"Thank you" she whispered, then leaned into him to thank him the way he deserved to be thanked. She felt him slide one hand up to the base of her neck, holding her in that strong grasp she now craved.

When their mouths parted, their noses remained touching. The heavy look in Sidney's eyes said it all, but just like Sid….he went one extra step further.

"No, Piper - thank you."

* * *

"She's fucking there already!"

Ali turned around on the dock, eyes wide. "Who!?"

"Piper!" James came trotting the rest of the length of their yard that lead down to their dock. "She's at Crosby's right now."

"No shit." The surprise was written all over her face. "Did you just talk to him or something?"

James was nodding as he readjusted his hat over his hair. "Yeah, I thought I'd call to firm up plans for next weekend, ya know? And sure enough, he slides it in there that she's there THIS weekend."

The garden hose Ali had been using to spray off their jet skis was dropped immediately with a thunk on the planks. "James! That's like….what?….three weekends in a row now?"

"I thought it was four?"

"No! It's three!"

They stared at each other, eyes wide as realization swept over them.

"Holy fuck, this is for real, isn't it?" James paced along the dock, thinking it through. "What do you consider a serious relationship?"

Ali was trying to process this information, even as he was asking about it. "I would say 3 weekends is serious." She looked up at him. "Right?"

"I don't know! You chicks do weird things when it comes to 'labeling'--"

"--Hey, I never did weird things when we were in the process of labeling" she replied, using air quotes. "Did I?"

James cocked his head to one side and frowned. "Allison."

She blinked, her brown eyes never wavering. "Is that a no?"

"Of course that's a no!" he said with a laugh. He nudged her lightly on the shoulder. "This isn't about us, anyways."

"True." She picked the hose back up. "So three weekends together is a relationship. We agree on that, right?"

James nodded and resumed his pacing. Because he'd just gotten back from his usual painful workout with Gary and the boys, he was still dressed in his workout gear, complete with bright neon shorts and shirt, tube socks up to his knees and his yellow and black Reeboks.

He turned on one heel and pointed. "The last time Sid was serious about a chick, it went on for two months before he invited the girl over."

"But that was in Pittsburgh" Ali reminded him.

"So?"

"He's different back there. You know that."

James considered it and knew she was right. Sid was a whole new man in the city he represented so seriously. He was more cautious and more private.

"Okay….so maybe three weeks isn't a relationship?" he asked.

Ali shook her head. "I don't know, and there's only one way to find out." She looked over at James and shrugged. "We ask."

"Next weekend. Yes. We ask."

"But smoooooothly" Ali added, turning the water back to the hose. "Sid is like a baby tiger in the woods...alone...easily frightened back into the grass."

James snorted out a laugh. "What the fuck? Where the hell did that come from?"

Ali shrugged and laughed. "Noooo idea."

"That's some National Geographic shit there, babe."

Ali put her thumb over the mouth of the hose and then pointed it right at him. James shielded himself with his hands. "HEY!"

She hurried towards him with the water pointed right into his chest, turning his lime green shirt a darker shade. "Don't make fun of my National Geographic metaphors!"

James took the bait and ran straight for her. He grabbed the hose and the hand she was holding it with, trying to turn the water on her. Ali put up a solid fight, keeping the water in the middle and shooting upwards between them and into their faces. James finally outdid her, grabbing the hose and turning it on her as much as he could.

"AGHH STOP JAMES!"

"NOPE." He grabbed her around her chest, holding her as still as he could while he pointed the running hose right over her head. He was laughing the entire time because she was laughing the entire time, even while trying to squirm out of his armlock.

Satisfied, James let Ali go, but kept the water running on her butt. She tried to get her bearings, wiping water from her eyes and pulling her dark hair, now heavy with water, away from her face.

Both stood facing one another, completely soaked.

"Still love me?" James asked, still holding the hose at her.

She smirked. "Yes."

"Good." The smile he wore was as innocent as he could make it.

Water was still running out and onto Ali. "Still love me?"

"Duh, babe."

"Good."

James continued to watch Ali as she squeezed water out of her long hair. "You're hot when your clothes are all wet and stuck to you, by the way."

"Same with you, I'd say." She nodded towards the shirt that clung to his tall frame, giving life to the lines of his muscles. "Pretty fucking hot."

Shifting his weight, James seemed to be debating something. He tossed the hose off to the side and pointed. "Let's go."

Ali looked behind at where he was pointing. "Where? What?"

"Jet skis. Let's go." He began to take his sneakers off, then his socks. "Come on - we clearly need a break. We've been busting our asses to get this place together and we've ignored all the fun! Let's take them out for their inaugural trip."

A grin spread across Ali's face. "Is it possible to love you even more right now?"

"Yes." He tugged his sopping shirt up over his head, which knocked his hat off to reveal his unruly hair. He left both items where they were, donning nothing but his tattoos, his shorts, and a smile.

Ali followed, taking her t-shirt off so she was only in her dark purple sports bra. She left her shorts on and kicked her flip flops off.

James tossed Ali a life vest and put his on. He got on the jet ski first, then took Ali's hand to help her down onto the spot behind him.

"Ready?"

Ali hugged him and rested her head on his shoulder. "Let 'er rip, babe!"

James gunned the small jet ski, and within seconds they were zipping out onto the water of the lake to finally have some fun after all their cabin work.

* * *

Piper slid the glass door closed that connected the living room to the outdoor patio. As she waited for Danika to pick up, she glanced back over her shoulder. Sid was getting a movie ready, even though the rain had stopped for the time being. They were well on their way to a very relaxed day in, and a movie was next on the docket.

Four rings went by before Dani picked up. "Hey!! You didn't show up this morning - which meeaaannnnssss…."

"Yes, yes, that's exactly what it means" Piper said with a smile. "I really was just trying to follow your instructions as well as I could."

"You get a gold star for this!"

"Thanks, hun." It might be the last one I get from you Piper almost said, but she held back. "So um, I need to talk to you for a second….it's about being here, actually."

"Sure! Shoot!"

Dani sounded entirely too chipper to realize that the flat tone in Piper's voice meant that bad news was on the way. Maybe it wouldn't be "bad" after all; maybe Dani would understand….or maybe she wouldn't.

"Well something's come up" Piper said to start. "And Sidney has asked me to stay the entire week."

Silence. Piper expected that.

"…So I think, given that we've got plans to fly to Ontario on Friday--"

Ontario!?

She sighed. "Yes, but it's to attend a housewarming party for my friend, Allison and her new husband--"

"Okay so you want me to cover the entire week then, essentially."

Dani now sounded as flat as Piper had sounded at the beginning of the call. It was clear that she was irritated, and Piper would've expected no less. She was literally calling, last minute, to cancel for five days worth of work.

"Yes, that's what I'm asking you to do" she responded.

Silence.

"And I promise when I get back next Monday..."

"Jesus Christ, Piper!"

"What!?" She blinked, feeling her guilt weighing its heaviest now. "Look, it's last minute, I know, but think of it this way - we'll get an extra week for the job advertisement to be spread around, and then on Monday, we'll get down to business and start interviewing--"

"--Down to business, huh? You mean you'll be getting 'down to business', because I'll be 'down to business' the entire time you're gone. And don't forget Amy, who has two toddlers and a fucking LIFE--"

"Hey, whoa whoa…..Danika….." Piper felt fear rising into her chest now, on top of the guilt. "I will call Amy next, I just wanted--"

"--You do whatever you want, Piper" Dani said, cutting her off. "You do whatever you want, on the schedule you want, and I'll pick up your pieces so you can live out this little fantasy of yours."

"It's not a goddamn fantasy, Dan."

"Well you're certainly ignoring reality!"

Piper rubbed her brow bone, closing her eyes, wishing away the guilty feelings she had and the hurt that was now a fresh wound cut by her best friend. "I get it. I know. I'm taking a chance here, okay? It could be the last time - I don't know. I just don't know what to do."

"Do whatever you want" Dani repeated. "Seems to be what you're doing anyways."

There was a click, and then silence.

Piper stared at her phone in disbelief. "Hello?" Nothing. Nothing on the line, just silence.

She looked through the giant glass windows of the living room to see Sid's warm smile as their gazes met.

Do whatever you want…Seems to be what you're doing anyways.

As he flopped down on the couch, he grabbed a blanket and waved her in. It should have excited Piper, but it made her sad. She had just been punched in the stomach, and rightfully so.

Accepting whatever came next and owning the consequences of it, Piper pushed Dani's call from her mind and went back inside to be with Sidney.

* * *

Notes

AGH. I just had to post this chapter sooner than later. I will always and forever be partial to Ali and James…and thus begins their larger spot in this story! :)