In Your Eyes

Piper took James' advice.

She had to be quiet, but she took from him what she wanted and she took it quickly. Sidney held her in his arms as she came on top of him, feeling every ounce of frustration flow through her and onto him. He wasn't far from following, and within minutes, their breathing and bodies returned to normal.

The bed in the guest room was sizable enough that they could lay together comfortably, but the room wasn't large. In hushed voices, they continued talking for some time after their first official round of makeup sex.

Sid land Piper laid on their sides, facing one another. Reaching up, Sid gently caressed her cheek, flushed pink from their intimacy. "You are so beautiful."

"You're just saying that" she replied, leaning her face into his hand. There was an immediate contrast to their feel; where they had just been strong and needful, controlling her body with every timely thrust, they now felt gentle to the touch.

The corner of his mouth lifted. "Am not." He used his hand on her cheek to pull her into him, his lips touching hers for the one hundredth time that hour. Something felt different now, but a good kind of different. For the past few weeks, he and Piper had been in a dream-world. Everything was new and exciting and felt amazing, and while it still felt that way, they'd had their first "fight". Somehow the relationship, for what it was worth, felt more mature.

It still ate at his heart that he'd made her cry, and he would be making up for it for as long as he knew her. He couldn't handle living any other way.

Voices could still be heard outside in the living area of the cabin. To Sid, it sounded like just a few of the guys who were still awake were watching tv and laughing it up. While most had passed out by now, just a few remained awake and insisted on drinking more and talking until they passed out as well.

Their muffled voices provided the background noise Sid and Piper used to their advantage earlier. Even though Ali and James were right across the hall, Piper wasn't taking 'no' for an answer - she needed to feel Sid in the worst of ways, and she got what she wanted.

"Tomorrow I want to see your jet ski skills" Piper whispered.

Sid felt the soft pad of one of her fingers trail down the center of his chest, between his pecs, and down to the ripple of his abs. Post orgasm, his skin was still sensitive, so he flinched when she got to his sweet spot. Piper glanced up and smiled.

He pretended he didn't notice. "You don't want to ride together on one?"

She shook her head. "I just had my ride with you."

Her perfect pink lips curled upwards just the tiniest bit, and Sid fell in love all over again with her. "You call that a ride?" He had to laugh when he saw Piper's jaw drop. "Kidding, baby."

She tossed a smirk at him. Behind the closed door of the guest bedroom, it was the Sidney she knew and adored. Earlier, after they talked and rejoined the group, he'd done a complete 180 and acted around his friends just as he would act around her if they were alone. It scared her still to think that maybe, after all this, he'd still go back into his shell the next day.

After some time and a little more soft talk, they fell asleep facing one another. One hand of Sid's remained laced in the fingers of Piper's and stayed that way, even as she flipped over and spooned back into his arms. He never let go of her the rest of the night.

*

When morning came, everyone was slow to rise. James, surprisingly, was the first one to wake. He shuffled out to the living room and kitchen area, scratching at his mess of dark hair. He inspected all the people laying around his living room, then took a peek in the spare room they didn't know what to do with to see even more sleeping bodies, and then he decided to go back to sleep.

When he climbed into bed, Ali shifted slightly but remained facing away from him. "Anyone else up?" she asked, voice drowsy.

"Nope." He slid under the top sheet that was covering them loosely, snuggling up next to her. "Tons of fog out...might delay the water fun."

"I could stand to sleep for another 8 hours anyways."

He lifted a piece of her hair away from her cheek and kissed her. "Someone drink too much? Huuuhhh??" He watched as those espresso brown eyes he loved so much opened and shifted sideways.

"Jerk."

"You sound guilty."

"You took advantage of me." Ali rolled more of the sheet over her shoulders and pushed her head into her pillow, trying to conceal her smile.

"Lies." James kissed her cheek, trying to get closer to her so he could share of the sheet she was hogging. "You took advantage of me, and now you're stealing the damn covers."

Ali loosened her grip on the sheet and felt James finally close that final inch that separated them. It would always amaze her at how such a tall, gangly, oversized boy in a man's body could be so cuddly.

"Heard Crosby and Piper, too."

"What!?" Ali felt his smile against her neck.

"Yeah. They're up. For sure."

"They're not.....?" She turned her head to see James nodding. "Oh gross."

"Why is it always us who has to listen to other people fuck?"

Ali laughed. "Good question." She thought for a moment longer, feeling James' breath softly playing against her exposed skin. "Actually...maybe they had a dose of us last night." Her eyes moved to see his.

"God, I hope so."

"You HOPE so!?!?"

"Hell yeah!" James lifted his head. "For real, babe. I want Tavares to know I can go all fucking night and he's not the king of--"

"--Oh wow, okay, okaaaayyyy, I don't need to know what John is 'the king' of..."

James put his head back down. "True. No one needs to know that."

They lay together silently, James slowly falling back to sleep while Ali slowly mulled over thoughts that ran through her mind.

*

Across the hall, Sid and Piper were awake, and Piper was getting the best head of her life. She writhed and squirmed and panted and bit the pillow - did everything she could do to keep from moaning loudly, but Sidney had some sort of agenda...and he was seeing to it that he accomplished it.

"Jesusfuck Sid...Sid..."

Caramel eyes looked up at her and it was almost enough to push her right over the edge she was fearful of slipping from. Every motion of hers hung precariously on the motion of his perfectly skilled tongue; his mouth that was made for this...every motion of his large fingers pressing against her, changing from the softness of his tongue to the roughness of his fingers.

"Too much?" he asked.

"FUCK NO." Piper's eyes went wide and she clapped one of the pillows over her mouth.

Sid started to laugh, but when Piper's fingers buried themselves in his hair, he went back to treating her to yet another apologetic act of intimacy. He'd make her cum a second time, and a third if he had to. He ignored the raging hard on he had and spent every ounce of energy he had into giving Piper the pleasure she deserved.

*

Back across the hall, James' eyes popped open the same time Ali's did.

"Jesus."

Ali groaned and sunk deeper under the sheet. "We have the worst luck."

James lifted his head, ear pricked. "I only hear your girl?" He looked at Ali with question. She sat under the blanket, biting the hem of the sheet which she held up over herself in fright.

"I don't want to hear either of them."

"No, I think the Captain is running the show, if you know what I mean."

Ali made a face. "Ew, James."

There was a knock on their door that made them both jump.

"You guys awake?" It was Steven.

"WAIT." Ali frantically rolled out of the bed and grabbed her shirt which was on the floor. She threw on James' mesh shorts since they were closest, and then hopped back under the sheet. "Okay."

"Yeah, come in, Stammer."

The door opened and then just as quickly it closed. "Fuck me - do you hear that?" A shirtless Steven Stamkos stood before them, his blue eyes wide and a smirk on his face.

Ali felt terrible. "Oh no, not you too?"

He wiped a hand through his bed hair, still tousled from the wind and water the previous day. "Yeah. I mean - hell, great for Sid, eh?"

"Shit yeah" James replied. He pressed his back against the headboard. He swirled his hand on the spot next to him on the bed. "Wanna join me?"

Steven shoved him over and sat on the bed. Ali scooted over so the two large men could fit. For a minute she considered the luck she had at that moment. Women across the world would give their life savings to be in bed with two of hockey's best....but then she realized why they were all huddled together in the first place and her embarrassment for Piper came right back. Strangely enough, she was more used to this very occurrence than James or Steven knew.

"Morning, Ali."

She smiled. "Morning, Steven."

"Do you even hear Sid?" he asked them.

James and Ali shook their heads. "I'm actually used to this" she replied with a shrug. "I wasn't her roommate for almost three years and not do this a few times."

Both James and Steven's heads spun her direction.

"Please tell us more" James begged.

She looked between the expectant pair of eyes of the men and laughed. "You know, you really are all the same...."

"At least tell us if you saw anything" Steven said. "Because I gotta admit - your friend is a knockout."

Smirking, Ali nodded. "Yes, in fact, I was the lucky person to witness--"

There was another knock at the door, and all three heads turned.

"Yeah?" James called.

"It's John. Did I hear Stammer in there too?"

Ali slumped down into the pillows as James invited Tavares in. He, too, was shirtless and wearing a pair of blue Islanders shorts as he closed the door behind him. She watched as John sat on the end of the edge of the bed.

"Morning, Ali."

"Hi, John."

"So am I hearing this correctly?" he asked the three of them. "Across the hall?"

"That's why I'm in here" Steven replied.

"And I'm in here because I was trying to get back to sleep." James cleared his throat and nodded towards Ali, who laughed.

"Just leave those two alone." Ali was trying to be sympathetic and have Piper's back. "It's all make up sex and you know that shit has to go on or the entire event doesn't count."

Now, all three of the men looked at her.

"Doesn't count!?" John replied, his hazel eyes widening. "Women are so fascinating. And you think it's required, eh?"

Ali rubbed her face. "No - I didn't say that."

"She does." James grinned naughtily.

Steven knocked John in the shoulder. "And get this, man - she's heard Piper have sex before."

"And have seen her" Ali added. Steven's grin grew now that she finally answered his question.

James was sitting in between all of them with the dumbest smile on his face. "Fucking Crosby."

All three men shook their heads as they looked down at the mattress.

There was another knock at the door.

"Hey! Is there a party in there I wasn't invited to?" This time, it was Jordan.

"Come on in!" James yelled.

When he said this, Ali was already crawling out from under the bed sheet. In James' baggy, oversized shorts and the t-shirt she had on the night before, she looked quite the sight.

"Okay, if this is going to be some sausage-fest, I'm out." She tugged at the waistband of the shorts to keep them up as she walked to the door.

All the guys were watching her, noticing she had James' shorts on. They looked over and gave him a few quiet chirps, even as she headed out into the kitchen. It was the last thing she heard before Jordan closed the door after she exited.

Walking down the hall, she definitely heard Piper's voice, though it was somewhat muffled. She smiled, happy for her friend, and continued on down the hall.

*

Piper was absolutely floating. It was unbelievable what a little misunderstanding and a tiny fight could do to a man with as much drive as Sidney had.

When he was able to steal an orgasm from her with his mouth and tongue, he deemed all things forgiven, as did Piper.

The sun was finally rising above the fog that lingered outside the window as the two of them lay together, waiting to hear others start to wake up outside. The past twenty minutes was all about them, and they were fully immersed in the feels and sights of one another.

Now, they realized they'd been in bed for a while….yet they didn't hear anyone else awake.

"Think we should go out there?" Sid asked, playing with a single wavy curl of Piper's hair.

She smiled. "I'd rather stay in bed with you all day."

"We always end up doing that at least once when we're together."

They both chuckled, Sid twirling a hair around his finger. Piper was staring into his eyes, absorbing the fullness of his smile, his lips now slightly pink and even puffier from the work they just accomplished on her.

"We didn't spend all day in bed when you visited me" she said softly. The feeling of Sid's hands gently working through her hair was calming and soothing. Just when she thought she couldn't feel any better - Sid proved her wrong again.

His eyes remained on her hair as his hand played in its softness. "I'll put it on my list of things I want to do when I come back."

"Oh?" She felt butterflies rising. Every time Sid mentioned anything about the future, she felt a tingling sensation come over her. "Want to share this list, mister?"

He blinked, and his eyes were on her again. "Weeelll….there's staying in bed all day with you, obviously."

"Obviously" she repeated with a smile. "What else?"

"I want to meet your little brother, too."

Piper felt Sid's large hand very softly brush against her cheek. There was a look in his eyes that said there was more to this meeting Bailey than just getting to know him. It meant something to him, to see more of her family, to be a part of it….Whether he still felt guilty about the day before, or if he simply wanted to be more involved with her, Piper couldn't tell.

In any case, his gaze was as genuine as ever.

"I'd like that" she said. "He's going to shit himself when he sees you."

Sid leaned his head back and laughed. "Well let's hope not!?"

Piper also laughed, but the sound of several voices could now be heard coming from across the hall. She and Sidney sat quietly, listening as a few men's voices seemed to come from James and Ali's room. The door closed, and the voices moved down the hall, with silence returning to the hall outside.

The couple looked at one another.

"Guess they're up now." Piper shrugged. "Should we join?"

"We probably should." Sid leaned in and kissed her. "Shower first?"

"Together?"

He nodded.

Piper flipped the blanket over her naked body and pulled Sid up with her as she stood. Together, they walked into the small guest room bathroom, and proceeded to shower together

* * *

When Piper came out into the living room a half hour later, she was freshly showered, her hair was done with a barely-there amount of makeup, and dressed ready for the fun awaiting her that day. On top of her bikini, she wore a top she normally would wear to the yoga studio, the color of teal which matched her nail polish. About her waist was a pair of short white shorts with large white button detailing, giving it a very nautical look.

Emerging into the living room, she noticed all those already congregated there turned their heads in her direction. The stupidly large grin she wore grew even wider, although she couldn't help wondering why they were all looking at her.

"Morning, everyone" Piper said, brows slightly crinkling at the center.

"HI PIPER."

They said it in unison, and all the men standing or sitting around her were smiling at her like idiots.

She stood looking at them with apprehension. From her spot on the couch, Ali motioned for her to come sit next to her. As she did so, she looked to her for why everyone was acting so weird.

"They're chipper for having hangovers" she whispered.

Ali moved her eyes towards the kitchen area, which was visible from the living room over a wrap-around counter. James stood behind it, barely out of Piper's eyeshot, flicking his tongue rapidly and laughing. Ali shot him a glare.

"Hopefully you all weren't waiting on me?"

"No, not at all" Ali lied. She patted Piper on her slim thigh. "Besides, Sid's still getting ready, right?"

Piper gave her a smile. In all honesty, she wanted to burst. She wanted to tell Ali what Sid and her had done most of the night, and how she'd been treated that morning, but it would have to wait. There was still a part of her, which was still growing smaller and smaller, that wanted everyone to know her and Sid were serious; that Sid took back what he said and why he'd said it.

She sighed. Wrong method. It'll be noticeable on its own. They'll see.

Sidney finally came down the hall and all heads turned again. This time, the guys' greeting was much more boisterous and obnoxious than it had been to Piper.

"Hey Sid!" Jeff said, a greasy smile painted across his face. "Sleep well? Wake up feeling refreshed?"

Some of the guys laughed, and Sid merely smirked. "Slept great, asshole." He took at seat at the kitchen table where Jeff and Jordan had been sitting. He tried to not look at Piper, but it was too hard not to. She had moved her eyes backward from the couch where she sat next to Ali, and her bright smile lit up his world all over again. All he saw in that smile was love, and all he saw in her expression was the pleasure he'd given her, still very noticeable to him as he saw the glint in her sea green eyes.

Ali leaned in close to Piper. "So can I ask?"

Piper frowned. "Ask what?" She saw the look on Ali's face and already knew what was coming.

"Was it good?"

"Ali!"

"Well?"

She turned her head to look around, but most of the other guys, Sid included, were talking and laughing about whatever. They wouldn't hear her if she bragged just a little.

"Yes, it was awesome. Both sessions."

Ali laughed. "Yes!! So you two are solid now?"

Piper nodded happily. "I would say."

"Good! Now keep the details for later, because we have a lot of ground to cover, missy."

Thank God for Ali, Piper thought. While she was really excited to get out on the water, have a beer or two, enjoy the sun and get to know Sidney's friends even more - she would be just as content if her and Ali spent the day alone and talking. Catching up on everything and anything they needed to, or wanted to.

In the pocket of her shorts, Piper felt her phone vibrating. When she saw it was Danika who was calling, she quickly excused herself and went down the hall to have some privacy. In those few seconds, Piper realized how nervous she felt. She hadn't spoken to Dani in a whole week, despite many text messages to see how things were going. She took one deep breath, then answered.

"Dani?"

"Hi."

There was some caution in her voice, and yet - her normally cheerful tone still sounded flat.

"How are you? Did you get my texts?" Piper asked her.

"I'm fine, and I did." There was a pause. "I'm not bothering you right now, am I?"

"Oh my god, no. No - you are never bothering me." Piper wiped back her side-swept bangs, which just fell back into her eyes all over again.

"I guess I have just been thinking all week…" Dani continued, taking yet another pause. With every break, Piper became a little more nervous. "…And I want to apologize."

Apologize.

Piper felt relief sweep over her, and all the air she'd been holding in her lungs came out in a relieved whoosh. "Oh, Dani. I have to apologize to…I did not handle that well last week. I shouldn't have--"

"--No, no, Piper, I didn't handle it well. Honestly. You and Sid…I mean…" She sighed. "I don't know. I'm happy for you. I guess I just felt a little jealous of him."

"What?" Piper couldn't believe that. "Wait, you were jealous of Sidney?"

"Yes. Can we just leave it at that?"

She could, yes, but Piper couldn't believe she was jealous…especially of Sid. "Okay, but can we talk about this when I get home?"

"Sure. I just wanted to let you know now that I still love you. I never stopped."

Piper smiled, feeling even more relieved. "Just because I left for a week, I never stopped being your friend, you know."

"I know that now. Hence the jealousy." And then Dani laughed, and sounded more like herself. "I'm a terrible person."

"Oh my god, you are NOT!" Piper was also laughing. "You're crazy! But not terrible."

"Terribly crazy?"

Piper heard Dani's smile. "Maybe. Jury's still out on that."

"Fair enough. Thanks, Piper."

"Thank you, Dani."

Out in the living room area, voices were rising and laughter wafted down the hall. Piper turned away from the noise so that it wasn't too audible, but it didn't help.

"Wow, how many people are there? Have you been having a good time?" Dani asked.

"Oh yeah, tons of fun" Piper answered, hearing more laughter rising beyond the hallway. "The house is great, the water's even better--"

"--And Sid's been fucking you nonstop on the dock under the stars, right?" she said with a laugh. "Sorry - I have an odd idea of what a lake house is like."

Piper giggled. "I'll tell you all about that stuff when I'm home, too."

"Deal!"

"I should get going" Piper said sadly. She was enjoying her time on the phone with her friend, and wished they could talk more. Although the little amount they discussed was enough to make the day even better. "Looking forward to getting home again."

"You are noooot."

"I am! And don't argue it. Talk soon?"

"Yes please. Bye hun!"

"Bye, Dan."

As Piper walked back out into the open living area, James came around the counter. "Good! She's back!" He then clapped, getting everyone's attention. "Attention, Drunkards!"

All eyes shifted in his direction. Ali smiled when James' larger-than-life presence came into the living room.

"I call a jet ski first."

Steven slapped his hand on the kitchen table with a smack. "I call the other!"

Jordan stood. "I'm driving the boat, then."

"The HELL you're driving my boat!" James replied.

Ali stood up. "I'll drive the fucking boat!"

James pointed at her. "She's driving the fucking boat!"

"I'll drink!" Piper said, which was met with a chorus of hoots and hollers from the guys. She looked at Sidney across the room, who's smile essentially said it all: pride that she was his, happiness that she was feeling better, and gratefulness in the fact they still have a whole day together to spend having fun in the sun.

"That settles it!" James yelled. "Stammer, grab the cooler. We're off!"

* * *

Piper never had so much fun.

She rode with James on one of the jet skis as he and Steven raced. Ali sat behind Steven, the girls switching up who rode with who with every race they had. The guys were loving it, splashing them whenever they could. Both Piper and Ali were laughing up a storm with every turn; enjoying the water and the company equally.

Sidney took charge of one of the skis, racing Jordan this time, and Piper took a seat comfortably behind her boyfriend. He turned his head and gave her a quick kiss, then revved the small engine and off they went. Piper held onto his wide torso tightly, feeling the cool water splashing against her legs. As Sid went faster, they bounced over the water, and Piper couldn't help squealing and laughing as Sid went even faster. He was laughing the whole time as well, enjoying the fun they were having together.

Other boats and jet skis were out on the water, but the lake was so massive that it didn't matter where they went, they felt like they were alone. Once in a while, a boat would go speeding by, a giant inner tube tied by a rope hanging off the back. Screaming children zipped by, laughing as the boat pulled them along. Both Piper and Sidney waved to the kids, who waved back to them.

After a damn good trip, the couple brought the jet ski back to let others take a spin. Sid went back out for another spin with James while Piper came up on deck to find Ali sitting inside the boat's cabin. On the way in to join her friend, Piper grabbed her and Ali a beer. Cracking the cans, both girls kicked back on the chairs in the cabin and watched as the guys raced one another on the skis. They were able to finally catch up with one another. Ali asked Piper all about her night with Sid, never revealing her or the others could hear her moaning. Piper took her turn asking Ali about the 'baby conversation' they'd started the day before on the boat…but Ali kept it mostly hush-hush, filling her in minimally.

An hour went by before the guys were back and all on the boat. Ali took the helm, driving the boat over to a small bay where few houses were built. There they anchored, and every person on the boat took turns having a diving contest in the blue-green waters that surrounded them.

With the shore so close to where they were anchored, Sid and Piper kick-paddled over on their inflatable tubes. They came up on the rocky shore, the tall trees shading them from the hot summer sun.

Piper wrapped her arms around Sid's neck, feeling his gold chair rub along her arms as she held him tight. Their lips met in a passionate kiss, and when she pulled back, Sid's eyes were shining.

"What was that for?"

"Because I'm having fun and I got you alone finally."

Sid gazed down at Piper's pert breasts, pushed up and held perfectly by the bikini she wore. With beads of water dripping down the flat panel of her stomach; the gentle lines of her abs highlighted by the water. He grazed his hands over her skin, her waist in his grip. Pulling her into him more, Sid's hands then slid down to grab at her perfect ass, a handful of soft flesh in each hand.

"You're perfect" Sid uttered between kisses. "You know that?"

She shook her head no, the tip of her nose touching his. "No. I'm not even close when I'm next to you."

They kissed again, and then Sid brought one hand up to her face, holding it still. "Really, Piper. I never lied when I said I was falling hard for you. And I'm sorry for giving you reason to think otherwise."

The caramel brown of his eyes looked scared again, and Piper felt for him. She could see he was still struggling with the day before and his mistake. In a way, Piper was glad he learned a lesson, but in a completely different way…felt bad it had happened at all. Sid did not wear 'troubled' as well as he wore 'happy', and it was evident in those large eyes.

"Baby, listen" she said, her hand running through his wet curls. "I'm way past forgiving you. I believe you. But do you believe me?"

"Believe what?"

"That I want to at least try to be in your crazy life."

A slight breeze blew, chilling her thanks to the water still on her body. Goosebumps prickled along Sid's perfectly chiseled body as well, so she ran her hands along the ripples of his muscles.

"You believe it, right?" she asked again.

He smiled humbly. "I do. And it scares me."

"It scares me too" Piper admitted. "But I'm in if you are." She had to wait only a few seconds before Sid gave her the answer she was hoping for.

"I'm in it too."

* * *

Notes

So, so, so sorry for the lag between chapters. I have good reasons!

1) LIFE. Ugh.
2) Major winter storm in my parts and some serious snow shoveling going on here! :)
3) A momentary lapse into writer's block, but I think it's solved now!

In any case - forgive me for the slow update.
XOXO to you all!