In Your Eyes

Everything was already delivered to the house by the time Sid and Piper stepped off the plane and made the drive to Sid's neighborhood. It was his new house, the second one since he moved to Pittsburgh, and the last of its final touches were completed over the summer while he was gone. When he unlocked the door and stepped inside, he looked around with great pleasure.

Behind him, Piper stepped up and stood alongside. Both of them looked up at the vaulted ceilings of the foyer that split towards two separate wings of the house.

"Wow." Her voice was soft as her head stayed tilted upwards. "And this is your second house here?"

"Yeah." Sid looked around the corner of the adjacent room. "And this is the first time I'm seeing it since the final construction."

Piper was wondering what was 'wrong' with the last house that lead him to build this one, but she didn't ask. It was all fairly overwhelming. The private flight to Pittsburgh, the chauffeur service, the handshakes and the pictures with fans outside the airport: to say it was all fairly foreign and mind boggling would be an understatement.

Sid rubbed Piper's back and smiled. "What do you think?"

"I think what I see so far is amazing." She clasped her hand in his. "I want to see more."

Sid would not disappoint. He was just as excited to see the house as she was, despite having lived in it (kind of) for most of the last hockey season. As he led her about the various rooms, he saw the boxes the movers had brought in for him. Most of it was stuff from the Nova Scotia house, but a lot of it had been in safe storage while he was out of the city for the summer. Only the bare essentials had been left out so if he needed to visit Pittsburgh, he'd be able to live there for the time.

"Who's going to unpack all these?" Piper asked, letting her hand linger along one of the box tops. "And who brought them here?"

Sid went into his bedroom and flicked the light on. "The movers will be back whenever I call them; they're in charge of moving, unpacking, repacking....all of it."

Piper nodded. "Wow. To have it this rough." She saw him peek his head out of the bedroom, sideways smirk present.

"Sarcasm, I hope?"

"Of course."

"Good. Get in here."

She followed, walking into the bedroom he occupied during most of the year. It was twice the size of the one at his lake house, but without the view of a lake or the sizable deck. The walls were done in dark shades of gray, with one burgundy accent wall. The bed was on a simple mahogany frame, not all unlike the one he had at the lake house. Piper even had to wonder if it was the same one. His linens were also very similar to the others, but with a subtle change in comforter pattern. It was a typical bachelor bedroom, except it looked like it had been professionally decorated and brand new.

"I love it" Sid stated simply. He folded his arms over his chest, further surveying the job the construction workers had done. "This did not look like this when I left in June."

"Really?"

He shook his head. "All new accents. Lighting. Bed frame....Notice it from anywhere?"

"Actually...." Piper started to laugh laugh. "I wasn't going to say anything--"

"--So you noticed the sheets too, then?" Sid began to laugh along with her. "Dammit, I thought for sure I was safe."

Piper went up to him and ran her hands along the fabric of his button down shirt. "If you like something enough, its worth keeping around, right?" The smile that played across her face showed Sid there was more to that statement than an observation about bed linens.

"Exactly my thoughts." He bent his head, mentally making note this was their first kiss inside the Pittsburgh house. It was more comfortable, more familiar, and way less jittery than their first kiss had been at the lake house. It was exactly how he hoped it would be if Piper ever came to Pittsburgh.....and yet, here she stood with her hands on his chest and her lips on his.

"How long do we have?" she murmured.

"Not long, unfortunately." Sid nuzzled his nose next to hers. "But later...."

"How much later?"

"After practice."

"How long will that be?"

"Not sure..." Sid felt Piper just barely kiss along his jawline. "Hopefully not too long."

"Mmmm, good."

Her voice fell to that low, sultry tone Sid recognized as her yoga-voice. It hummed along his throat as she trailed kisses down his neck. His dick twitched at the feeling. "You're not going to send me to my first day back with blue balls are you...."

"Maybe." Piper glanced up guiltily. "But I'll behave. And...I'll be waiting for you right here when you are done."

"Here in the bedroom?"

She nodded. "Unless you want me to be waiting somewhere else?"

Sid felt her warm hands spread open the collar of his shirt, fingers playing over the chain about his neck. His body tensed, wanting more and needing more, but what he really needed - despite anything his body was telling him - was to get to the Consol Energy Center. "I don't want you anywhere but right here when I get back" he said, one finger lifting her chin so could read the look in her eyes. "Promise to wait for me?"

"Of course."

This time when they kissed, Sidney felt at home.

*

Sid felt more at home, of course, when he walked into the CEC and headed down the hallway towards the locker room. He was changed into his thin black Pens sweats, white socks pulled up to his knees, and a practice t-shirt that was mailed to him prior to that afternoon. It would be the new shirt they'd wear during pre-season training camp, which would be taped for upcoming episodes of In the Room.

Sid also received a call from Coach Bylsma stating he would be needed to hang around and do a few interviews that would also be taped for the first episode. He gladly agreed, and planned to do those during or shortly after their first day of conditioning.

The minute Sid turned down the hallway that led to the locker room, he heard the commotion already. The heavy wooden doors were open, the large Pittsburgh Penguins emblem prominent.

As he walked closer, he could pick out a few voices above the others: Nealer, Geno, and Fleury. He heard Geno's heavy accent in his laughter that resonated down the hall. It made Sid smile; he hadn't seen Geno in months - and was looking forward to things getting 'back to normal', or as normal as his life could be during hockey season.

When he walked into the locker room, it was if he'd never left. This was his true home. Bright lights above highlighted the details of the room, from the newly printed name placates to the famous words from Badger Bob Johnson. The room smelled of as fresh as it would all season; nowhere but down from here.

"SID."

All heads turned towards him, and then came the whooping holler of all the voices there. Geno was the first to hug him, taking him into a giant bear hug. He patted the tall Russian on the shoulder.

"Nice to see ya, G. How was the rest of your summer?"

"Summer good! But go to fast." His big grin was unmistakable; never changing and always humorous. "Yours?"

"Ahhhh, pretty decent, yeah" Sid replied, looking down at the strap of his workout bag. "But like you said - too fast."

"Lazy here, he say you have girlfriend?"

Sid looked in James' direction, but he was busy chirping Brandon Sutter and wasn't paying attention. Luckily for Sid, none of them were paying much attention since Geno greeted him. "Yeah, um….well, you know how it goes."

Geno folded his long arms across his chest. "Yeah? You like?" He nudged Sid in the arm. "She like?"

"She like, yes…." Sid had to laugh. "I like her too."

"Serious yet?"

Sid didn't want to get into this; not now at least. Of all the things they had to catch up on, Nealer would go and tell Geno about this one particular thing. "Pretty serious, but we'll see how it goes."

"Ladies love Sid" Geno laughed. "Always do! Crazy for Captain." He playfully shoved Sid and then trotted back over to the set of benches where the others were still gathered.

James turned, waving Sid over. "You're getting as bad as me, Cap."

"Impossible" he said with a smirk. He dropped his bag on the bench next to him. "What now?"

"Cold day in hell when you get here after me, eh?" James' grin grew as he leaned in closer. "Busy fucking beforehand or something?"

"Jesus christ, Neal! Not everything involves fucking, you know."

James' face went blank. "It doesn't?"

Sid cocked his head. "Besides...I'm not late, anyways."

"Uh huh." He rolled his practice shirt in his hands, then slipped it over his head and yanked it down over a long sleeve compression top. "All joking aside, how's it going?"

Rummaging through the bag to unload some of his gear, Sid shrugged. "Pretty well. She's in town, you know."

"I know, yeah - Ali mentioned something."

When Sid glanced up, James had one hand on his hip and his gaze was shrewd. "What?"

"How long is she staying?"

He sighed. "Can we not talk about this right now?"

"Have you asked her to stay long?"

"No." Sid stood and faced him. The look on his face never changed: James would always appear somewhere between wanting to burst into a fit of laughter, and wanting to punch someone's face in. It was what Sidney labeled Nealer'sserious face.

"She coming to our scrimmage in a couple nights?"

Why the fuck does he care? Sid wondered impatiently. "Yeah, she is, and she's coming to our pre-season opener." He held his gaze on James' as the forward did a slow nod.

"Good. Ali was hoping she'd stick around" he replied. "Will give her something to do in between studying."

Sid's eyebrows lifted. "Whoa. Is she going back to school?" He watched as James' face totally changed from one of keen interest to that of a proud husband.

"Fuck yeah she is. Going for that Master's she's been wanting."

"No way!"

"She upgraded from the hotel, too" James said, his entire posture changing. "She works in the tower now."

"The control tower?" Sid blinked in shock. "Wow, that's….that's amazing, Nealer. Good for her." In his mind, he was silently congratulating her. He actually felt a wave of gratification for her, and would definitely have to call her later to give a personal congratulation.

"Yeah. Pretty proud, myself. She always wanted this, and I'm in full support" James said. "Plus, her hours are better. Between part time in the Tower and taking a couple classes, maybe we could finally start to plan--"

He stopped. Sidney waited, but all James did was laugh nervously and then shrug it off. He went back to putting his trainers on while Sid remained standing, studying him. "Hey."

James didn't look up.

"What were you going to say?" He watched him as he tied the knot on his last trainer and stood.

"Nothing. Forget I said anything, k?"

Sid nodded, watching after him as he threw a hat on and went to leave the locker room. By the time he made it to the doorway, he was back to laughing and joking along with Tanner Glass as they both went out into the hallway.

"And so it begins" Sid mumbled to himself.

* * *

Ali plopped down onto the couch. "So why don't you just come over?"

"I don't know...I guess I could?" Piper was worried that the minute she left would be the minute Sid returned home. It had been four hours or so since he left for the arena, and not a text or call since then. She knew it would take a while, but what 'a while' was in the world of hockey training, she didn't really know. "Are you busy?"

"Hell no! Get your ass over here!"

Piper smiled. "Come pick me up?"

"Yes, and then I'll give you the grand tour and we'll drink wine and catch up."

"Sounds like old times, huh?" she said, and heard Ali laugh.

"And that, my dear, is why I'm so excited you're in town! Give me 10 minutes and I'll be right over, okay?"

"You got it."

The girls hung up and Piper looked around Sid's empty living room. It was big and hollow and could use a serious make over by someone with a vagina, but she wasn't intent on changing anything yet. She was just thankful and happy to be there, right now, right in this moment, sitting in Sidney Crosby's Pittsburgh home.

After fussing around with the various remote controls he kept for his tv, Piper gave up. While she was kind of bored and felt restless enough to try using one of the several remotes to Sid's tv, she was way too afraid to fuck something up and ruin what seemed to be a pretty expensive looking television and surround sound system.

Instead, she ventured outside to check out his private grounds he had fenced in behind the house. All very tidy, with simple landscaping that appeared well-tended. Inside, Piper went about the home and silently explored. Everything inside screamed masculinity; a pure bachelor pad through and through. Hard marble counter tops, sharp eaves and angular molding above the walls and doors, all done in a muted color palette. It was a handsome house, and was one Piper hoped to return to...maybe even live in someday.

No. Don't. Don't do that yet....it's still early.

The front doorbell rang and scared Piper practically out of her sandals. When she opened the door, she was tackled into a hug. A shield of long espresso brown hair was all she saw at first, but when she pulled away, she saw the friend she loved and adored.

"I am SO sooo glad you're here!" Ali exclaimed. "Actually, I can't BELIEVE you're here!! Did Sid invite you to stay? For how long?"

She nodded excitedly. "Yes! Just to see his first pre-game game....whatever that is."

"Our little boy really is growing up." Ali shook his head and smiled. "You lucky girl. Tell me everything."

One blonde, one brunette, nothing but chatter and tons of laughter - that was the car ride back to the neighborhood where James and Ali lived. Piper chose to keep her outfit on that she'd been wearing all day, leaving it at simple dark blue wrap-shirt with a low v-neck, slate gray skinny jeans, and a pair of closed-back sandals. It very slightly mirrored Ali's relaxed look of a thin white long sleeve shirt over a pair of gray knit shorts rolled at the waist, with almost blindingly-bright pink sneakers.

Having lived in Pittsburgh for a solid four years during college, she safely knew her way around just about anywhere in the city. But as she looked out the window of Ali's black SUV, she couldn't recognize where they were going. Ali oriented her as best she could, and Piper soon found herself on a side of the city she actually had never visited before.

When they rolled up the driveway near the end of the cul de sac, Piper stared up at a large, red brick house. While it wasn't the size of Sidney's home, it was more than adequately sized for the two of them....if not many, many more.

"Nice!" Piper said. She tapped Ali in the arm. "Isn't this just so crazy?"

Ali put the car in park and killed the engine. "You know, sometimes.....I look back to just a few years ago, and have to laugh." Her brown eyes centered on Piper, and they seemed to sparkle with the joy she felt at that moment. "I would have never, ever, EVER guessed."

"Us sitting here like this?" Piper gazed out at the attractive front entrance to the home and sighed. "I wouldn't have guessed."

They looked at one another and smiled.

With her hand in Piper's, Ali nodded towards the door. "Come on - I have lots to show you."

Piper followed as she was led up the curved front steps and into the home of the Neals.

The Neals Piper thought in awe. It may never sink in.

The house was as she expected...only much better. The touch that Ali brought to what was once a giant, empty house full of man-stuff seemed to have a very lived-in, comfortable feel. Picture frames were everywhere. Piper looked at them all as Ali explained who was who in many of them: James' family, his sister, his brothers, her family, their wedding. It was all there.

"This was last year" Ali said, holding up a small frame in their living room. "First Christmas as a couple."

Piper stared down at a smiling James and Ali, their heads together, a Christmas tree in the background all lit up and decorated in odd, but somewhat eye-catching decorations. "Oh my god, your tree!" She laughed and looked at Ali. "Where the hell did you find a penguin topper like that?"

Ali shrugged proudly. "I have my ways."

Piper replaced the frame back onto the small shelving unit where a large stereo system was set up. She let her eyes flow across the rest of the room, noticing a few throw blankets on the couch, a gaming system set up beneath the biggest flat panel tv screen she'd ever seen, and a laptop on the coffee table.

"Please, please, please do not judge when you see our bedroom" Ali pleaded, though her smile never left her face. "It's a wreck, and always will be."

"You know I don't care, hun!"

"Yeah, but still."

Ali turned and went up the stairs and Piper followed. She remembered Ali being the same way in college; no matter the mess, she always apologized, as if living in a tiny dorm room on campus wasn't a recipe for a mess. She was pleasantly surprised to see that the home looked similar to her and James' cabin: neat, put together, tastefully decorated.

....Until she got to the bedroom.

"Oh..........my god."

Rubbing her forehead, Ali let out a long sigh. "It's no use, I swear."

The internal laughter Piper tried holding in finally came out. She couldn't help it. At least two hoodies, a pair of shorts, three t-shirts, and a hat were in a pile off towards the farthest end of the large room. The bed wasn't made, although it didn't look totally bad; she'd definitely seen worse. Three hockey jerseys were displayed on the wall in glass shadowbox cases: One red and white, one green, and one in the familiar gold and black. All had the number 18 and the four letters that Ali now shared with her husband.

"Not bad, really" Piper replied with approval. "Although it looks scarily like our apartment around junior year."

Ali busted out laughing. "You know....you have a point! Good one, girl!"

"Minus the bottles of liquor and boxes of perogies we used to binge on." She continued giggling over the memories, even as Ali threw her head back and laughed.

"I FORGOT about that!" she said with a gasp. "Holy shit, we ate so. many."

Piper thought back to those long nights her and Ali would party with a few other of their friends, drink way too much, come back to their apartment and just cook a box of perogies and sit and watch HBO tv shows. Now that she thought back, every now and then, she could recall Ali have hockey on in the background. Sometimes, after a late evening's worth of studying on campus, Piper would come back to find Ali watching a game. It was always the Penguins, and she was always so enthralled by the game. Maybe it wasn't so crazy after all that Ali married James.

Her, on the other hand, was still too damn surprised to be with Sidney. And even as she thought this, a little jolt of excitement sprung up inside her in anticipation of what their evening may be like. Their first evening together in Pittsburgh.

"So." Ali placed both hands on her shapely hips. "What would you like to do now, ma'friend?"

Piper gave her a smirk. "I thought wine was next on the list after getting the tour?"

"I like the way you're thinking" Ali said. She wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her downstairs.

Piper watched her friend reach up into a top most cupboard and gathered two stemless wine glasses. She popped the cork on one of the many bottles of red wine that were resting on a large wood wine rack. Together, they went out onto the deck outside the living area. They took up their seats, flipped down their sunglasses, and toasted to their current reunion in Pittsburgh.

"It's not bad, this circumstance of ours." Piper swirled the crimson liquid within her glass. Lifting her eyes, she gazed out at the lush yard, the pool, the foliage of the trees swaying in the afternoon...deciding it was a life she could get used to.

"Tiz a true fact" Ali replied, taking a sip. She turned her head, her large silver aviators reflecting Piper's face back at her. "So when are you two getting married?"

Piper laughed so loud it turned into a cackle. "Please, Ali..."

She shrugged. "Don't count it out."

"I'm not counting it in" Piper stated. "Sid's.....different."

"Difficult."

Piper considered this. "That too...as you've said all along."

"But look at you guys!" Ali said, cheerfully raising her glass. "There's a reason I'm surprised you're here in town with him." She flipped her sunglasses up over her head so Piper could see her better. "He doesn't do what he's doing with you."

It was a statement Ali had also said all along, and it always gave gravity to her and Sid's relationship. Piper was excited to be in town, and even more excited for Sid to come back so they could really begin what promised to be a week of all brand new experiences.

"Does he always stay gone so long like this?" she asked Ali.

"Where? At practice?" She chuckled. "Sid's the first one there and the last one to leave. Always. But this is training camp - it'll be a while before they come to a set schedule."

"What do they do there?"

Ali crossed her legs, her shorts riding up a little to show more of her sun-kissed thighs. "Oh you know, all shit I don't really understand. Fitness tests and fat measurements and weird stuff. James loves it, apparently. Looks forward to it all year."

I really need to ask Sidney more questions. She took a drink of wine, letting the liquid filter through her throat and down into her stomach where it warmed her from the inside out. "What about practice? Is he the same then? First in, last out - that sort of thing?"

"And games" Ali said. "Especially games."

"Oh?" She took another drink, and thought about a refill.

"Some of the guys give interviews after the games, you know...guys like Fleury, sometimes James, depending on the outcome or whoever scores...But Sid? Sid always gives interviews. Every game. Pre-game, post game, mid-game. Doesn't matter." She threw a smile in Piper's direction. "They all want to talk to your man!"

"Huh." She spent the next minute or two absorbing what Ali told her. "Guess that doesn't leave a lot of time at home."

"But when they're there, they're fun as fuck."

They fell silent, quietly drinking their wine and enjoying the afternoon. Piper felt the heat of the sun as it sunk towards the horizon. Even this late in the day, the heat and humidity wasn't uncommon during September in Pennsylvania. It made her miss the smell of salt and the never-ending ocean breeze back in Bar Harbor.

The heat was also making her tired….or maybe it was the wine. Piper removed her sunglasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose. She figured all the activity of the day was finally catching up to her.

Ali glanced over casually, but saw the look that was on Piper's face and sat up. "You okay? Shit, was it something I said?"

"No, why?" Piper blinked, wishing whatever expression she wore would fade away.

"I know that look, and I know what it means."

"You know nothing."

"I know everything and then some." Ali raised one of her eyebrows smartly.

Piper knew better than to argue with a very determined Allison. It was the stubborn Italian in her. "How can something be wrong when we were just talking about how everything is so right?"

That caused Ali to pause. "True…." A sly smile played over her face. "So why the frown?"

She let out a long sigh, debating on telling her what was really troubling her or just making something frivolous up to kill the silence that hung between them. When her eyes locked with Ali's, Ali smiled.

"I get it." She reached across the arm of her chair to grab Piper's hand. "I get it, and you're not alone, and it's tough."

She already knows. Piper smiled uneasily. "Thank you." She squeezed her hand and felt Ali squeeze back.

"I'll be here for you no matter what, alright? Whenever Sid's an asshole, whenever Sid's not around, whenever Sid's in one of his bizaar 'zones' he gets in….I'll be here. And actually, so will James."

Piper clicked her tongue. "Come on! Really?"

"Yes! After he helped you at the cabin that weekend, he was all proud of himself and was so happy that night after we finally went to bed."

Laughing, Piper turned in her chair, slinging her legs over the armrest. "I can't believe it! That's awesome of him. Tell him I said thank you."

Ali mimicked her position, slinging her legs over her own armrest so that they were now facing one another. "Oh, he knows. He nearly had a boner over how he helped the situation that night. And truth be told, James owes Sid."

"Owes him?" Piper saw Ali nod, and she suddenly became confused. "For…..what?"

"Long story - but he owes him." She took a drink of her wine, draining the remaining liquid from the glass. "Refill?"

"Make it a double and you're on."

Up came the bottle and their glasses were topped off, leaving only another small amount in the bottle.

"So you're not going to tell me that story? After all the goods I told you about the first time Sid and I fucked?" Piper could feel herself loosening up.

Ali giggled. "You did spoil me with those details. However, this story isn't as good. Let's keep it to good stories, eh?"

Piper smiled wide. "Listen to you. All Canadian and shit."

"I've been adopted. What can I say?" Ali tipped the glass back, the corner of her eyes crinkled happily as she held Piper's gaze. "So is the sex still crazy?"

She let out a long groan. "Fuuuccckkk, is there a better word for crazy? Because we probably need to use it!"

"Ooooo you lucky bitch! Tell me more!"

Another glass and a half later, almost every account Piper could think of had been spilled to Ali in a fit of gushing gasps and silly giggles. It was as if they were freshman all over again, telling stories about a night out or a party they went to and dished all the fun details.

It felt really, really good to do. It was exactly what Piper needed, and very much wanted.

"So you now" Piper said, sloshing her wine a little as she lifted the glass in Ali's direction. "You seem to be all hush-hush about your hunk of a hubby."

Ali rolled her eyes, acting as if she was too embarrassed to tell.

"Don't' play the innocent one with me, Diserelli, I know better" she said with a giggle.

"Okay then - rough, thick, and goes fo-ev-ah. Need I say more?"

Piper's jaw fell. Ali simply sat back, beaming proudly while clutching her glass at her chest. "Too much?"

"UMMMM." She had to gather herself. "That's nowhere NEAR enough for me, you tease!"

…...Another half a glass later, they fell into a fit of uncontrollable laughter after Ali recounted her most favorite moments between her and James.

They fell back with a thud against their seats, staring at one another with awe and laughing about what they'd just told one another. Piper felt guilty, like she was looking in on a room of secrets that she shouldn't be peeking in on.

Ali on the other hand, was dying of all the juicy tidbits she'd be told about Sidney. It felt a little weird since she's known Crosby a long time…and knowing more about him, but it felt like she was being told stories about a big brother which bordered along the lines of being uncomfortable.

But what Piper told her was hot, she couldn't deny it. It was what she figured Sid might be like if you could pull him from the ice and from his own mind long enough to get it done.

"Fuck." Piper saw the time on her watch and sighed. "It's like 7."

"You're not leaving, are you?"

"No…." She sighed. "Well, I mean….yes, I probably should. Where the fuck are those guys anyways? They've been there since noon!"

"Probably filming or something like I told you. Relax."

Ali made it sound so casual, like it was just part of the deal. And maybe it was, but Piper didn't come to Pittsburgh to wait around for Sid. She came to experience his entire existence here…not wait while he worked all day.

It's worth it, though. He'll make it up to me. He's just that busy, and I'll get used to it.

It was then that they heard the loud noise of an engine approaching somewhere down the street. The noise got louder; the throb of a stereo and the roar of someone revving the engine further.

"James" Ali said, meeting eyes with Piper.

"What the hell does he drive?!?" she asked, eyes wide.

"A Ferrari." She made a face that was somewhat sour. "He's a 16 year old stuck in a grown man's body. Honestly."

The garage door around the front of the house could be heard, and then the noise of the powerful engine came to a hushed end, just as the door closed with a creak.

Two minutes flat, and the tall, lanky 16 year old stuck in a man's body appeared out on the deck. His smirk was as wide as it could get, his full smile on display.

"Well, well, well."

Ali lifted the empty bottle of wine and waved it by the neck. "Too bad, so sad!"

James' eyes grew. "No shit - you two ladies drank that whole thing?" He looked to Piper and she raised her glass at him. "I'll be damned."

"You got two drunk girls on your porch" Piper said, hoping she wasn't slurring her words. "You know what that means."

James ran his fingers over the stubble on his chin, pretending to think hard. "Hmm….Either a threesome, or you two have been talking about me this whole time."

"It's number 2, babe" Ali said with a grin.

"Figures."

Piper watched as he leaned into Ali and gave her a long kiss; when they pulled back, their gaze held for just a second, and they smiled.

These two, she thought happily. Love it.

"So." James turned to Piper now. "I have a message for you, incase I saw you. Crosby says it'll be another hour or so until he's done at the arena."

"What the fuck is he doing this whole time?" She stared at James, realizing he was already anticipating this question.

"He's got a meeting with Mario and Coach, and then one with Shero---"

"--Wait, wait, slow down." Piper held up a hand. "Who?"

James turned and looked at Ali. "Have you explained nothing?"

Ali laughed at him. "It doesn't matter who it is, babe - she knows he's doing meetings and interviews and such. I told her that."

"Well….okay" James went quiet. "So that's where he's at." He saw Piper's face fall, and he felt instantly bad. "But listen, Piper - it's not like this all the time. It's always madness the first day or so."

She saw the sincerity in his magnetic stare. As tipsy as she was, she felt herself remembering the sexy stories Ali had just divulged to her. It made her giggle a little.

Caught off guard, James and Ali looked at one another.

"I'm sorry…." Piper said, her laughter growing. She held out a hand, surrendering to the fit of giggles that sprung forth. "I was just….I don't know, I might be pretty tipsy right now."

James blew a raspberry. "And the sky is blue, my dear. You want a ride back to Sid's?"

"I want her to stay!" Ali cried. "Come on, stay, hun, staaaayyy. We can get James in on this truth or dare session---"

"--Truth or DARE?" The blue of James' eyes lit up. "For real, though?" he asked, lowering his voice a little.

Ali glared at him. "No, silly."

"Well, I mean…is there a chance? Or…"

"Babe!"

James let out a small laugh. "Okay, okay - worth a try." He turned and took the empty glass from Piper's hand. "Come on, Yoga Girl. I'll get you back to Sid's so you can do some downward dog for him later."

Piper hugged Ali before she left with James. "Thank you for this. I wish I could do this every night."

"Me too." Ali petted her hair with affection. "If this is real with Sid - we may have that chance someday."

That left Piper with an incredible feeling. Whether it was the wine or the euphoric lift she got from those words, Piper felt like she was finally becoming part of the hockey crowd. She'd always have Ali, after all. She said so herself. James really did like her; look at all he did for her already in their short friendship.

Piper knew what it was she felt: she felt lucky.

"Ready?" James swung his keys around one finger. "I'll even take you in the Ferrari."

Ali and Piper looked at one another.

"16 year old stuck in a man's body" Ali repeated.

"Love you, Ali" Piper said with a wave, and then she was off.

* * *

"Whoa." Piper felt the leather seats beneath her legs vibrate. "This is some car."

James shifted into a higher gear. "It was my splurge a couple years ago." Her glanced over, one wrist resting on the wheel. "Ali hates it."

Piper sighed. "She does nooott…."

"Hate is probably a strong word, eh?" He grabbed the stick and shifted, revving the engine a little as they hit the Parkway. "She likes my Mercedes better."

"So why the hell does Sid drive normal, boring SUVs when you are driving all these big things?" She was watching James' expression even though his eyes are on the road.

"How do I say this gently……Sid is a little……safe."

"Safe?" Piper blinked, clearing the fuzz from her eyes. "Isn't that a good thing?"

"If you like safe." James shrugged. "Seems you do, and there's nothing wrong with that."

"Yeah. I like safe. But he lets go with me."

Both of James' eyebrows rose. "Oh?" He smiled at her. "Are these what your 'truth and dare session' was with Allison?"

Piper knew he caught her red handed. Her gave her guilt away, and James' healthy laugh filled the care.

"Ohhhhh, he is gonna have fun with you!"

"He already has, baby!" She held up her hand, and James gladly slapped it.

"I like you, Piper. You're cool. Sid deserves someone like you."

She absorbed the compliment, feeling lucky again. She liked the way it felt. "Thanks, James." With her finger, she played at the knee of her jeans, scratching for no reason other than to give her something to do. "I hope it works out, you know?"

"Do I ever."

He geared down, turning the wheel with one hand while shifting with the other. Piper found herself staring at him; his height in the car made his presence seem so much bigger than hers. Coupled with the worn Under Armour shirt covering his body and his silver shorts, Piper realized just how much of a pure athlete James really was. Up until tonight, she'd only seen him in a tux, and predominantly shirtless.

Not a bad deal, either. She smiled to herself, making sure he didn't see.

Within a couple minutes, James pulled up to Sid's three car garage and killed the engine. "Come on, I'll walk you inside."

"No, really - it's fine." Piper opened her door. "I'm fine, I'm not even drunk, really."

James promptly got out of the car. He came around the side Piper was exiting, helping her out from the low-profile car. "Sid would never forgive me if I dropped you off and then you got lost."

Piper laughed. "Oh you think you're so funny, don't you?" She let him lead her up the steps to the the front door. "Ali said you were funny."

"Did she?" He smiled subtly. "Nice. I still have my touch." When they got to the door, Piper handed James the key and he unlocked it for her. "You'll be okay 'til he gets back?"

"Yeeesss." She stepped inside and leaned against the door. "Thanks again, James."

"Anytime." He pointed at her, his face going serious. "Glass of water and lingerie. You'll thank me later." He quickly replace that expression with a smile. "Kidding."

Piper laughed. "Byyeeee."

"Byyeeee" he repeated.

Piper watched him as he walked away, and then closed the door.

* * *

Notes