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In Your Eyes

Two

Sid was in his car driving from the rink back to his lake house when his bluetooth went off. A few rings sounded within his car as the electronic dashboard screen lit up with a name he was not expecting: Nealer.

He clicked the Receive Call button on his steering wheel as he turned onto the freeway. "Hey, Nealer! Welcome back!"

"Crosby! How the fuck are ya?"

"The question is: how the fuck are you?" He smiled when he heard his friend laugh heartily on the other line.

"Oh, I think you may already have an idea how I'm doing."

"Italy that good, eh?" Sid heard James sit down heavily on the other line, his happy sigh audible.

"It was a good idea, yes. Ali loved it, I loved it…you gotta go sometime."

"I'll pencil it in next chance I get" Sid joked. "When did you get in?"

"Two nights ago. Still trying to get back into the swing of things, and it definitely isn't going well. For both of us."

"I imagine that would be pretty tough." He rolled up to a red light and waited as opposite lanes crossed in front of him. "How's Ali doing?"

"She's great!" James dropped his voice a little, and Sid already knew what was coming. "Can I just say something? Why the fuck didn't anyone tell me honeymoon sex was twice as good as non-honeymoon sex?"

Sidney laughed. "I can't possibly begin to answer that."

"Let's hope you do someday, man…because holy shit."

James would always be James, even with a ring on his finger. Sid was shaking his head at him, even though he couldn't see, but he figured Nealer already knew he was.

"So are you back home?" James asked him. It now sounded like he was eating something, thanks to Sid's bluetooth that seemed to pick up every sound imaginable.

"For a while, yeah."

"Training with O'Brien?"

"You know it."

"You'll be back in town for the golf promo, right?"

Sid pulled onto the road that would lead back to his house, the dirt under his tires skiffing beneath the rubber. "My plans are to make it to that event with you guys, stick around for a few days, then come back. I have a feeling I'll be traveling a lot this summer." When Sid said this, his mind went to his phone call with Piper. If things went the way he wanted, that statement would be a true one.

"Right on. Ali and I were tossing around the idea of having a barbeque afterwards…kind of our own 'Welcome Back', but mainly just an excuse to drink. You in?"

"I'm definitely in. Thanks, Nealer." His mind was already exploding with so many thoughts at that moment, he almost didn't hear James say goodbye.

"Text when you're back, alright?"

"Will do. Later."

Sid sat in the driver's seat as the door to his three car garage lifted open. His mind was racing. If James and Ali had a barbeque and he went, he could ask Ali about Piper. Not only would it be great to be back with the people that made Pittsburgh feel like his true home, but the timing couldn't be better.

By the time he hauled his dirty gear and clothing into the garage and promptly threw everything he could into the washing machine, Sid did the only thing he really wanted to do all day…call Piper.

Glancing at his watch, it was 1 in the afternoon Atlantic time, noon in Maine. It was as good a time as ever, and he hoped he wouldn't be interrupting her day.

He leaned back against the kitchen counter, arms folded over his chest, one ankle crossed over the other. He squeezed the bill of his salt-stained Pens hat, feeling his nerves rising up from somewhere deep in his chest, waiting as each ring passed. Finally, Piper's cheerful voice could be heard.

"Well, well!" When Piper had seen his name show up on her phone, she stopped walking. Now, she ducked across the sidewalk to a bench nearby, taking a seat quickly to stop the shaking in her knees.

He chuckled. "Hello to you too. Busy?"

"Not anymore" Piper replied. Suddenly, the air out in the street seemed warmer than before. "What's up?"

"Thinking about you, just figured I'd call…since you seemed to think I wasn't going to."

She blinked. "How did you--"

"--I pick up on things; things most people don't. It's a talent and a curse."

She never let on she was nervous to trust him to call again. How the hell did he know? Was it that obvious?

"What other talents are you hiding from me, Crosby?" She exhaled hard away from the receiver of her iPhone, hoping he couldn't tell that she'd been thinking many, many naughty things when she'd asked that question.

"I'll let you be the judge" he replied, a playful flare in his voice.

Jesus Christ help me. His voice sounded deeper than before; it taunted Piper every time he spoke. If his voice alone did this to her, what would happen when she was near him again?

"You know, I've been thinking…" she began, hoping to distract her own dirty mind from the path it was striving to go down, "Our visit together…"

"Yeah? You have some ideas?"

Again with the hope in his voice. Piper felt her heart jump. "How long am I visiting for?"

"As long as you want."

"What if I overstay my welcome?" It came out sounding like she was teasing him, but there was some hidden truth in it.

"Impossible."

"Are you always this confident?"

"Always."

Piper sighed, mostly because she was close to swooning.

"Listen" Sid said, breaking the silence. "Just hear me out - I just want to see you again. No commitments, no pressure. If we hang for an hour or a week, it would make my hour….or my week."

She laughed softly, her hand moving over her mouth so he wouldn't hear.

"Sound okay to you?"

"Very much so."

"Good." Sidney started to pace again. If it kept going like this, he'd soon have a groove worn in the tile of his kitchen floor. "I just want to keep you smiling. You have a gorgeous smile."

Piper slumped down so far on the bench, she thought she might just slide right off onto the sidewalk. A cluster of tourists across the street glanced over, so she quickly pulled herself together and sat up straight again. "Speak for yourself" she replied, trying to find something better to say. "In fact, let me speak for you to save time - your smile hasn't left my mind since I first laid eyes on you."

Sid stopped in his tracks. "Really?"

Piper started to laugh. "Don't act like you don't know you're sexy."

"Can I admit something?" He rubbed the back of his neck, squeezing the muscle to keep his composure. "So much about you hasn't left my mind either, not since you approached me."

Another hesitation, much like their previous phone call, where Sidney seriously questioned why he felt the need to open up to this girl more than he normally would with anyone. If he would've known Piper was secretly freaking out right there on the public bench in the middle of downtown Bar Harbor, he wouldn't have worried as much as he was.

But Piper couldn't see him worrying, and Sidney couldn't see her worrying. They were more alike than they knew.

"Sounds like we're in a real pickle, huh Crosby."

He smiled. "I like pickles." He smiled even more when he heard her laugh at that.

"Kosher?"

"I'm a bread and butter guy, myself."

"So many treasures, so little time" Piper said with a grin. "I want to find them all."

Sid closed his eyes. Me too.

* * *

A week or so later, Sid found himself back in Pittsburgh. It felt more like coming home than it did when he went back to Cole Harbour, and he was okay with that. It's where he made his life, doing what he loved and with a team he loved. Pittsburgh was home.

When he met up with his teammates at the fundraiser, it felt even more like home. Most of the team was there, including the coaches and Mario Lemieux. Sid met up with Byslma to start, but then caught up with his teammates to golf with for most of the holes. His greeting with Nealer had the most fanfare, seeing as how it was the first time he'd seen him since he returned from his and Ali's honeymoon to Italy. They laughed and chirped one another, discussing James' trip and Sid's summer so far in Nova Scotia.

The rest of the fundraiser went on without a hitch. In between holes, the guys had a chance to chat, take photos with some of the boosters, and even sign autographs for fans who waited for them at the end of the day. Sid felt great, as did most of the guys. It was the perfect day in Pittsburgh: sunny, warm, humid but not too bad given the breeze, and just a few lazy clouds dotting the sky.

By the time 3 pm rolled around, the event was over and James rounded everyone up in the parking lot.

"So be at my place in a few hours?" he asked the group of guys.

"We bring anything?" Geno asked.

"Nah, we've got more than enough booze." James pointed at Sutter. "Your girl in town?"

"Yeah, I'll check in with her, but I bet it'll just be me" Brandon replied.

"Right on." James turned towards Crosby. "And you already said you're in, right Sid?"

He nodded. "Be there with bells on."

"Alright, so around 5 or 6 I'll fire up the grill, so come over whenever the urge hits ya." James slipped on his black sunglasses and flipped his hat around so the bill faced backwards. "And bring your swimming trunks. There's no way with this kind of heat we're not taking it to the pool by sundown."

He flashed his grin and jumped into his Mercedes. He gave a final wave as the others dispersed, heading towards their cars as well. Sid felt the heat inside his Range Rover when he climbed inside, flipping on the A/C as quickly as he could. As he waited for the vehicle to cool, he checked his messages on his phone...surprised as hell to see he had a text message from Piper.

P: Hey stud. :) Hope the Burgh is treating you well. Say hi to Ali for me if you run into her!

Sidney felt that familiar tingling in his limbs again while his heartbeat doubled in pace. A part of him wanted to wait to respond, but he couldn't do it. He'd be too busy later at Nealer's, and likely distracted enough to forget to check his phone at all.

S: Good to hear from you! Who you calling stud, anyway? Couldn't possibly be me. ;)

Halfway back to his house on the other side of the city, he heard his phone beep, signifying another response. He took a chance and checked it when he was stuck in traffic. Piper's response made him smile.

P: You know you're sexy. I'll prove it to you in a week or so when we're together.

Sid read the text three times before he had to accelerate to make up distance between him and the car in front of him. When he hit another red light, he checked the text again, just to be sure his mind wasn't making it up.

I'll prove it to you in a week or so.

Prove it.

"Fuck." He looked up and inhaled heavily, trying to steady himself. Visions of him and Piper, alone at his house, sitting on his dock, her skin against his, her long wavy hair falling down her back and tickling his face as he kissed behind her neck....

The week couldn't go fast enough.

* * *

"Mom?" Piper stepped through the screen door into her parents' kitchen. She could hear someone moving about in an adjacent room, so she set her purse down on the table and waited. Finally, her mother appeared from down the hallway.

"Hi babe." She gave Piper a quick kiss on the cheek and then went over to the sink. "What brings you down here this afternoon?"

"Just had some free time, so I thought I'd swing by and see what's shakin'." Her green eyes followed her mom, April, as she wrung a dishtowel out over the starch white sink basin, water trickling over her hands. "Busy cleaning, I see?"

Her mom rolled her eyes, a similar color to Piper's. Her brown hair was pulled up in a messy bun, a piece of light blue cloth tied around her head to keep back the wisps of hair that threatened to fall in her face. She gave her daughter that smart smirk she was known for, also very similar to the one her daughter had inherited. "Your father is having Tim over tonight, so I have to get the place ready."

"Oooo, nice." Piper walked over to a bowl on the counter with grapes in it. She picked a few of the light green fruit and popped them into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully. Her dad, David Lake, was the manager of one of the restaurants in Bar Harbor, which was locally owned by Tim Roche, a native downeast Mainer. Tim owned five of the same restaurants along the Maine coast, and her father managed one of them. They'd become fast friends, but a boss was a boss...and if April Lake could make her house into more of a home for Tim, she was going to do it.

"So can I join?" Piper asked, popping another grape into her mouth. "I want in on this."

"Oh...you can be in on it" April replied. She turned and faced her daughter with a smile. "Because I need you to babysit your brother during dinner."

Piper sighed. She knew coming over to the house would result in something unsatisfactory. "For how long?"

"Just tonight, dear. Nothing big."

"Where is Bailey, anyways?" She realized her normally rambunctious little brother wasn't anywhere to be found, and the silence now struck her as odd.

"I sent him over to Mason's to play while I cleaned" April said, a wavy piece of hair dangling by her ear as it fell from the bun. "Would you mind helping out?"

"Sure thing; I don't mind." While Piper tried to spend as much time with her ten year old brother as she could, the age gap was a bit hard to handle at times. Her parents had been set on having only one child, but Bailey had come rather unexpectedly, but was her parents' most unexpected joy. With Piper's business at the yoga studio she started only two years ago, it had become increasingly difficult for her to come over and hang with Bailey.

April came forward and cupped her daughter's face and kissed her. "Thank you. I'll pay you in leftovers from dinner."

Piper laughed. "And that - I will gladly take."

Her mom waved her hand as she made her way back down the hallway to finish cleaning. "Come, fill me in on stuff while I go about making this place look better."

Piper followed her mom through their little beach bungalow, the same house she'd grown up in her whole life. It was a cottage, but still spacious enough to house four through its history. Whitewash wood exterior was complimented by cool greens and blues inside the house; a true ocean color scheme complete with antiques her mother and father had collected from numerous summer flea markets across. It helped that her mother was an interior decorator, but her true passion was antiquing, which was evident throughout their entire house.

"So what's new anyways?" April asked her daughter as they went into the guest bedroom. Piper had to laugh when she saw her mom go about dusting along the top of the dresser.

"Why are you cleaning the guest bedroom?" She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the doorframe. "Tim's not staying the night, is he?"

"Hunny." April gave her a side-eye. "As if that matters to me if he stays or not."

Piper nodded, forgetting who she was talking to. "Fair enough."

"So no news from the yoga world?"

"Not from the yoga world...." She purposely left the statement hanging, simply because she wasn't sure how to break it to her mother that she'd met someone. Kind of. "Hey, do you know much about hockey, by chance?"

April stopped dusting and thought for a moment. "I know Wayne Gretzky. He was real big back in your father and I's day--"

"--Yeah, yeah, I know, but now." She smiled at her mom. "Because now would be a great time to tell me if you do."

Both of their smiles spread across their faces, only Piper's smile was much less apprehensive than April's.

"Whyyyyy?" she asked. "Did you meet someone?"

Piper was nodding and biting her lip. "Go on! Put the pieces together!" she teased her mom. She could literally see the gears turning as her mom thought some more.

"So you met someone?"

Piper nodded, smiling.

"And I bet you met him at Allison's wedding, right? If he plays hockey?"

Piper nodded again, her smile growing.

"What's his name!?"

"Sidney Crosby."

What came next, Piper had no idea would happen in a million years.

"Sid the KID?" April exclaimed. "PIPER!"

"What!??!!?" She started to laugh, mostly out of sheer surprise that her mother, of all people, knew his name.

"THE Sidney Crosby?" April repeated, still in shock. "Dark hair, dark eyes, built like a brick shit house--"

"Mother!" Piper was having a hard time keeping it together from the fit of giggles that was taking over. "You've heard of him?"

"My God, Piper - how HAVEN'T you?" She let out a gasp, which led to another laugh of her own. "And what did you two talk about?"

"I don't know....everything?" When Piper saw that wasn't a good enough answer, she gave in. "We've been calling one another for about two weeks now--"

"CALLING ONE ANOTHER? Oh my God, my daughter is dating Sid the Kid!"

"Mom, stop, we aren't dating." Piper was trying to get her facial expressions under control now, but that wasn't working either. She could care less who Sidney was, or what anyone thought of him. She didn't meet the superstar people knew him as...she just met an incredible man, with incredible looks, and an incredible knack for making her heart nearly stop beating whenever she talked to him or even thought about him.

"He's just such a great player, and I don't even follow hockey much, you know that" April replied. "Your father watches it quite a bit more, of course...but everyone around here knows the name 'Crosby'. He's Canada's prince, basically."

Then, in a playful gesture, April lightly slapped her daughter's shoulder with her rag. "And being this close to Canada, YOU should've known his name too! Shame on you."

Piper busted out laughing again. She loved her mom and all her animations, but this was too much. She wondered if maybe this very moment would someday come up in conversation between her and Sid. "Shame on me indeed" she replied. "Shame on me for giving him my number, too."

That got the best reaction out of April that Piper had seen yet. It led to her giving her mom the full recount of how they met, how Sidney called her just a couple weeks ago.....and how she was going to take the Cat over to Nova Scotia, where Sid would pick her up at the Port in Yarmouth.

"For how long?" April asked, her eyes wide with happy wonder at the entire tale.

"Well....we don't know yet." Piper hoped it would be an overnight, but she wasn't about to push it this early. "Probably just an afternoon."

"I am so happy for you." April took Piper in her arms and hugged her tight. "Really. After that last asshole you dated--"

"--Please don't bring him up." Piper broke the hug and saw the apology in her mother's eyes. "Let's just focus on the good guys for now, okay?"

"Good guy" April said with a wink. "And I think you may have one, from the sounds of it."

* * *

When Sid pulled up to James and Ali's house and killed the engine, he could already hear the music blaring. Grabbing his phone and keys, he walked up the sidewalk and went straight to the backyard where all the commotion was coming from. Though it was later in the evening, the sun was still hot and the humidity hadn't let up much. Sid felt a few beads of sweat starting to form on his forehead just from walking towards their backyard.

"CROSBY!"

His name lifted into the air from many of those that were already there; many of which were his teammates he'd just seen earlier that day.

"Crosby, come here!" A shirtless James Neal came trotting over, dressed in just his black and dark blue striped swimming trunks. They hung low on his waist and appeared damp; evidence he'd already taken a dive in the pool. "Glad you could make it" he said, wrapping an arm around Sid. He pointed with the can of beer in his hand. "We got the whole set-up tonight. Over there's the food, over there's the booze..." He nodded towards the hot tub on the deck and the inground pool nearby. "Hot and cold water choices available for your needs." Giving him a final pat on the back, James reached into a nearby cooler and grabbed another beer. "And this is for you to start with."

"Thanks, man." Sid popped the top and took a healthy drink of the cold beer. It felt good and refreshing, and the pool looked even better.

"Hey! There she is!" James lifted a hand at Ali as she came out from the house and onto the deck, closing the door with her foot behind. "Hey babe!?"

"Balancing act here, James...one sec!" She carried a heavy tray of food and drinks over to the wooden table near the grill. The table already contained bowls of chips and plates of appetizers, and now had several pitchers of mixer drinks for the liquor, which Ali set out from her tray. Her dark hair was pulled up into a ponytail, its length reaching down to the middle of her back. Her black bikini top stuck out from beneath a white ribbed tank top, her matching black bikini bottoms the only thing she wore beneath the waist. Silver aviator sunglasses and a pair of pink flip flops completed her easy summertime look.

When she finished setting up the table, Ali glanced over to where James and Sid stood. Her mouth immediately formed a giant smile. "Sid!"

"Hey Ali!" He waved, even as she came hurrying down the deck steps over towards him. She leapt into his arms, the scent of coconut lotion teasing his senses.

"I see someone got a tan in Italy" he teased, breaking their hug. "You look great...as always."

"Thank youuuu." She smiled at him, even as James snaked an arm around her waist, giving her a tiny squeeze. "Hi Mr. Neal."

"Hi Mrs. Neal."

Sid watched the newly married couple smile lovingly at one another, never missing for a second how their eyes seemed to tell a story between them; one that no one knew but them.

"You two are still in Italy, aren't you?" Sid said, taking another sip of beer.

Ali giggled. "Maybe...."

"Sure looks like it, eh Nealer?"

He had to pull his gaze away from Ali to answer. "Well we are all very much here now, right? And it's a FINE night in Pittsburgh, and the gang's all here, and I say we fucking party it up while we're all still here for a while." James finished his statement by giving Ali a little pat on her ass, which made her squeal. "Can I get a kiss, babe?"

Their lips locked for a moment, and then James took off in the direction of where a group of the guys were hanging by the pool. Ali lifted her sunglasses over her head, rolling her eyes when she looked back at Sid.

"He's about four beers in already, so you'll have to excuse him."

The corner of Sid's mouth lifted into a smile. "It's a common theme with him, eh?"

"Forever and always" she replied with a grin. "So what's your story? And what the hell is this about you not sticking around town for very long?"

"Yeah, I know...guilty as charged." He looked down at his beer, wondering how and when he should divulge the reason why to her. "I just....have training and stuff back in Halifax, you know." When he glanced up, Ali was giving him a sassy smirk.

"Spill it, Sid."

"Who says there's anything to spill?"

"Really?" Her smirk grew. "I can read your face like a book." She playfully nudged him in the side. "Why can't you stay for a while? This place is so empty in the summer. If you don't have a good reason, I'm not letting you go."

He laughed. "I'm afraid to tell you, now!"

From across the lawn, loud laughter and cheering rang out. Both Ali and Sid glanced over to see James, Sutter, and Fleury all doing shots. They slammed their shot glasses down on the table and more cheering ensued. James looked over towards the pair and waved his hand. "Get in here, you two!"

Ali looked at Sid. "You met someone, didn't you."

"Is it obvious?" he asked, wincing a little.

Ali could tell just by the way the corners of his eyes crinkled when he said it that he had. "Oh my god, you did! Does she live back home near you? Did you just meet her this summer?"

He shrugged, trying to hold back his grin. "I think who I met might throw you for a bigger loop than you think." He waited, watching Ali zero in on him with her keen eyes. "It's someone you know."

She blinked. "Someone I know?"

Sidney nodded. "Your old roommate, Piper."

Ali's jaw fell open. "PIPER?" She shook her head, the emotion on her face bouncing between humor and pure shock.

"We met at your reception. We just got to talking, and talking some more....and she gave me her number at the end of the night."

Ali gasped. "And I missed the whole damn thing!"

"Well....you were kind of busy" Sidney replied with a grin.

"True." Her deep brown eyes danced in the evening light. They were so expressive, so full of life; it had been one of Sid's weaknesses when it came to Ali. "So, do you like her? Are you still talking?" she asked him.

"Yes, we are...and yes, I really do." He smiled, hoping it didn't sound too ridiculous. "Do you approve?"

"DO I APPROVE?" Ali threw her head back and laughed. "Listen to you! OF COURSE I approve! My God, Sid - she's perfect for you!"

"Really?" Sid wasn't expecting that sort of response. Given the difficult, slightly murky history he and Ali, he wasn't sure of what kind of response he'd get over this whole thing. But what he was hearing was music to his ears.

"Of course!" Ali took him by the arm, leaning in closer to him. Sidney smelled a hint of flowery perfume mixing with her SPF lotion. "She's wild, she's fun, she's smart....Plus?" She leaned back and smirked at him. "She's real flexible."

Sid nervously chuckled. "I hate to ask how you know that--"

"--Oh god, you're all the same" Ali said with a roll of her eyes. "Her yoga business, silly."

"Ahhh, that's right." He'd nearly forgotten all about that aspect as he got lost in all the points Ali was making about her former college roommate. It was an idea Sidney had before, when Piper first told him what she did, and that she owned her own private studio. The bendy-twisty aspect popped into his mind a few more times since then.

"So." Ali folded her arms over her chest. "What are you gonna do?"

"She's coming to visit once I'm back in Halifax" he replied, slightly worried at the reaction she might have to that, but there was no reaction at all. "From there? Who knows."

"BABE!"

James called for her again from his spot near the pool with the others. The grin he wore on his face told Ali he'd had at least another shot since she and Sid had been talking. She waved, giving him the 'one minute' finger.

"You better go" Sid said, facially nodding towards the pool. "Nealer doesn't do 'patient' well."

Ali giggled. "True - but this isn't over, Mister." She pointed an index finger at him. "I still need to give you all sorts of details before you two meet up."

Those were the words Sid had hoped he'd hear all night, and really, since he'd been back in Pittsburgh. He wanted information, because he didn't want to screw up what could be his only chance with Piper.

Before he or Ali knew it, James came running up behind Ali and locked his arms around her waist. Ali squealed happily as James lifted her into the air, running with her in his arms all the way to the pool. Sidney watched as they both fell in with a giant splash, James pulling Ali in with him the whole way under. They bobbed to the surface, splashing at one another.

If Piper and I could be anything like these two.

Sid sighed, then downed the rest of his beer.

* * *

The smell of food and slowly dying charcoal from the grill still hung in the night air. The last few golden rays of the sun cascaded across the expanse of James' back yard, the faint orange tint now giving way to a pale blue over the land and those about.

Ali and a few of the others lounged casually in the pool, while many more continued drinking somewhat heavily as the night progressed. Geno and Sid had gotten into a rowdy discussion about who could do more push-ups, which led to an even rowdier face off between the two of them as they tried to outdo one another in a push up contest. Soon enough, everyone standing around were cheering them on, Bennett being the officiator of the entire event. The guys were neck in neck for a while, but Geno had had twice the amount of liquor Sid had, and finally let go and fell on the grass with an exhausted huff. Sidney stood in victory, but made sure to help Geno up off the grass with a friendly handshake at the end.

Lifting herself from the pool, Ali padded over to a nearby chair and grabbed a towel to wrap herself in. She made her way over to catch the tail end of all the commotion, watching as Sid came towards her.

"Nice job." She ruffled his dark hair, which was now damp with sweat. "You should take a dip - the water's perfect. First thing's first, though."

She took his hand, and Sid followed where Ali led him. She took them over to a set of lawn chairs that were unoccupied at the moment. Feeling a slight buzz from the alcohol he'd consumed so far that evening, Sid slumped down with a heavy thud in the chair next to Ali's. She turned towards him, her bare knees touching his.

"Make a mental note of everything I'm about to tell you, okay?"

He nodded. "Will do....but you don't have to do this, you know."

"I know, and that's why I'm about to proceed." Ali smiled. "First up: Piper's a bit of a firecracker."

Sidney laughed, knowing this fact all too well in just the few times he interacted with her. "I gathered."

"Which is good, right? She'll keep you on your toes, for sure."

"I'm hoping."

"She will." Ali readjusted the towel over her lap, leaving her bare from the waist up. She pulled her long hair to one side, wringing the water from its length. "Next - she's super athletic. So I think...if you want...you can suggest active things and she'll be all for it. You know, working out, going for a run, skating...even if she's never done it before, she'll do it. I've never known Piper to turn down a chance to try something new."

"That's good" Sid replied. "Really good."

"Even better?" Ali motioned for him to lean in closer, which he did. "I think she's pretty wild in bed."

Sid coughed on his own inhale, completely taken by what Ali dropped on him. She started to giggle beside him. "Easy! Eaaasy."

"Sorry." He cleared his throat, then looked at her. "And how do you know this?"

"I've heard her" Ali said plainly. "Come on, we were roommates! It was bound to happen, right? She sounds super fun, too."

His head was officially spinning, and not from the liquor. It was on his mind, because it was impossible to not envision what it might be like with Piper. Her thick, wavy, light brown hair begged for his hands to grab, her neck begged to be nibbled, her breasts begged for his mouth to lick. And now Ali was telling him she's heard her with a guy before? It was almost too much.

"What else?" he asked, if only to get his mind back on track.

"Hmmm....well - she loves waffles. Obsessed with waffles, actually. And all things natural and organic...you know, a total granola. She loves animals, theme parks, long walks on the beach..." Ali watched Sid make a face and she giggled. "No, really - she lives by the ocean for a reason. She loves the ocean." She patted Sid on the part of his leg exposed below the hem of his shorts. "You'll be fine, Sid. She's super cool. Just be yourself, and you'll win her over...if you haven't already."

Sid looked down bashfully. "I think I may have." His eyes lifted, and his smirk grew. "She is coming to visit."

Ali nodded. "A very good sign, my friend."

The pair kept their matching eyes on one another. Ali looked down, playing with the hem of her beach towel. "You know, Sid....If Piper lands you....." She looked up and rolled her eyes, letting a little laugh escape. "Just know this: Piper's going to be one lucky chick if you make her as happy as I think you will."

He didn't know what to say in response to that. Luckily, he didn't need to respond at all. Ali stood, leaving him with a smile as she moved back into the throng of people still drinking, one of which was her husband.

Coming up beside James, Ali pinched at the nonexistent fat at his waist to grab his attention. He smiled at her and instinctively placed an arm around her bare shoulders.

"Got a sec?" she asked him.

"Yeah, what's up?" His ocean-colored eyes, still vivid in the fading light of the late evening, became noticeably uneasy. "Everything okay?"

"Of course! I just wanted to tell you..." Ali glanced back to make sure Sid wasn't anywhere in earshot. "...that Sid has a crush on Piper Lake, my college roommate."

It took James a second before the name clicked, but when it did, his mouth formed a mischievous grin. "No way."

"Yes way. AND they're meeting up in a week once he's back in Nova Scotia."

James' face remained elevated in pure awe of his normally-private Captain. Now James glanced over his shoulder to make sure Sid wasn't nearby, then leaned into Ali. "So you're telling me that Sid might have a girlfriend?"

Ali was smiling as she nodded 'yes'. James scratched at the short beard about his jaw, debating the situation. Ali grabbed the arm covered in dark ink, pulling his attention back to her.

"Do not say anything."

"I know, babe, I know...It's Sid, after all."

"Exactly." She let go of his arm. "And if I find out you told anyone?"

James' expression spoke of nothing but naughtiness. "Then what?" He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. "A world famous Ali spanking?"

She slapped his hard ass beneath his swimming trunks. "Worse."

"Oh hoh? Reaaally?" One of his sharp eyebrows lifted. "Tell me more, Mrs. Neal...." He nuzzled against her neck, kissing her there as she leaned into him.

"I'm totally persuading you to keep your mouth shut with a blow job later, you know that right?"

"Yes, and it's totally going to work, too." James gave her another kiss. "Race you to the pool?"

"You're on!"

With that, they took off running.

* * *

By the time Sidney sobered up and drove back to his house, he was dead tired. His feet felt like lead weights, so walking up the stairway to his bedroom felt like a task. The sun and the booze and the pool left him exhausted, but happily so. The night had been a good one, and Sid hadn't be able to let go like that since the previous summer. Too much of his life was spent worrying, over thinking, planning, and then doing. But every now and then, he allowed a night like tonight...and it felt good.

He stripped down to his black boxers then fell face first onto the mattress with a bounce. He was just about to settle under the comforter when his phone went off. He reached his hand over, clumsily feeling across the wood of his bedside table. Three rings passed before his hand found his phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey Crosby."

Sid sat up at the sound of Piper's voice. "Piper! Hey..."

"You sound tired. Big day of golfing?"

"Hardly." He settled onto his back, pushing himself into the pillows. "James and Ali had a barbeque at their place."

"Did you tell her what I said?"

He could hear her smiling again. He loved how he could tell this about her, even just over the phone. "You'd be proud, because I did."

"What else did you tell her?" In her room in Bar Harbor, Piper was pushing herself up her bed and into the pillows as well. "Because I know you told her more than that." Please tell me you told her more than that, Crosby. Please.

"Maybe just a little."

Piper raised an eyebrow. "Intriguing and mysterious."

"That's all you're getting too" Sid replied, his hand resting on his abs. "Can't be too greedy."

He was slowly teasing her until she melted into a puddle, and she knew it. "Can I be greedy in a week?" Piper bit her lip, hoping it wasn't too much.

"Damn right you can."

She exhaled happily. "Can I admit something?"

The way Piper asked him the question made her voice sound just a tiny bit innocent. It made Sid smile. "Anything you want." He heard her exhale, as if she was getting ready to tell him some big news.

"I can't stop thinking about you and I'm really psyched to see you next week" she said, talking so quickly she almost ran all the words together.

Sid started to laugh. "Tell me more, but slower this time." That even got a giggle out of Piper.

"Fiiine. I was watching clips of you on Youtube. Is that weird?"

"Not at all" he said, both eyes going wide. He was surprised and flattered by the gesture. "Did you like what you saw?"

"I am fascinated by you, and I've only met you once."

"You didn't watch me do some dorky interview, did you--"

"--I watched you at some arena, handling a stick like a boss" Piper cut in. "You were flipping that puck around like it was on a damn string and attached to you!"

Sid laughed even harder. "Really!? And that fascinated you?"

"It turned me ON."

He nodded slowly, liking the way that sounded. Glancing down, he saw just the slightest bulge starting to grow beneath his boxers. "You know...you're turning me on just saying that, by the way."

"You just wait" Piper said, literally begging her mind to stop screaming at her to touch her own self at the thought. "I can handle a stick fairly well myself."

Sid ran his hand along his stomach, grazing the lines of his muscles, doing his best to not reach down beneath his boxers. His mind, now suddenly battling a need to jerk off, was wanting to fast forward through the next few days so he could just get back to Halifax. All the self control he had within him was going to be put to use in the next week.

"I think you're going to need to stay longer than an afternoon" he told her.

Piper felt the tingling below her waist double. The huskiness in Sid's voice and the way he phrased that made her want him even more than she had up to this point. "I think you may be right, Crosby."

* * *

Notes

I just *had* to do one more quick update to give you guys a little James and Ali :) After this, I will be updating about once or twice a week.

Enjoy! <3

Comments

I really really miss youre updates :(

Listor87 Listor87
9/24/14

I agree - the trade brought me to tears. Each time I think about it I cry. It won't be the same without Lazy running alongside G. I hope Nealer does great things in Nashville. He will always be a Pen, no matter what. Still trying to wrap my head around it as well as Matty, Joey V, Tanner, Elko and Orpik.......I just hope this new GM knows what he is doing. Sucks, it really does. I hope you decide to write again. Loved your stuff!! Here's hugs to you Winter OOOO - 73 days till puck drop!! Let's Go Pens!

KWeber8771 KWeber8771
7/29/14

6-28-14 ** A NOTE TO MY READERS **

As a result of James getting traded, I've found myself at a loss for words; a loss I'm not sure I'll be quick to recover from. The trade was a hard hit, and it will take some time for me to get over the initial hurt.

I wanted to post a message to at least tell all of you who have followed my stories up to this point that after this, I'm not sure how long it's going to be before I post a new story. James will forever be a Penguin to me, and likely to many of you as well. I'm just not sure how to go forward right now. As a result - I can't promise I'll be back, but I hope to be. I really do.

Let's let the dust settle and the hurt fade...and maybe we'll find one other again on this wonderful site.

Thank you all again for your support...It really has made writing so much fun for me, and I don't want to go forward with another story until it's fun again. Right now - that doesn't seem plausible.

I'll leave it open for any of you to message me anytime, if you'd like. I will occasionally check in just to see how everyone's doing. :-)

Regards,
Winter

Winter22 Winter22
6/28/14

Great story - you need to write one about Geno!!!

KWeber8771 KWeber8771
5/21/14

Omg. Seriously girl you never disappoint. Omg. I can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve. And what's to come for piper and Sid and james and Ali and the baby <3

kristinnx kristinnx
4/21/14