In Your Eyes

"Well THAT was fucking dramatic."

James dropped his overnight bag on the kitchen floor just as Ali came in from the living room. She was wearing a pair of dark blue University of Pitt sweats that were rolled at the band and a white t-shirt that showed just a hint of her pink bra beneath. She had been eating from a small pint of ice cream, but held it away from James' dress coat as they hugged. In that moment, James took a second to really appreciate the ease of coming home to her after a road game.

"What happened? Tell me all about it." She took a seat on a stool next to their kitchen island, legs crossed and her spoon going back to working on the ice cream.

"Well, it started in the middle of the night, for some ungodly reason...." James removed his coat and hung it on the back of one of the chairs and then rolled the sleeves of his grayish-purple shirt. When he finished, he stood there staring at Ali. "You're not even gonna offer me some of that?"

Ali made a face as she licked her spoon. "Just tell me what happened."

"I can't keep up anymore, basically" he said, sliding onto the stool next to her. "I can't. I wash my hands of Sid and his chick. And I like her, too."

Ali's eyes went wide. "Ohmigod, what happened? Did something happen?"

"Are you gonna give me some of that ice cream?"

She shoved the container towards him. "Please tell me they're okay. I haven't heard from Piper in almost a week, so I just figured everything was fine and everyone was off doing their own thing?"

"It was fine" James said, scooping almost half the container's worth of ice cream out onto the spoon. "Until last night when he comes rapping on my door, asking me to look at Instagram pics." He took a bite and scooped some more. "Then - he fucking starts with the whining, you know how that goes. I just tried to set him straight. Piper's too cool for him to be a bitch over."

"James."

"Well he is! Or he was, anyways. I find out later from Duper that Sid was up even later that night talking to her on the phone, telling her how he thinks they're rushing things."

Ali's mouth fell open. "He did not."

James nodded, spoon scraping against the bottom of the pint. "I guess everything's okay, though. Sid wasn't any different after that...not in my eyes, anyways. Duper had a different opinion, but Duper always has a different opinion."

Sitting there quietly, Ali ran through what could've happened that would set Sid off like that. She knew he worried; she knew he was intensely private, and maybe all the adjustments he was making was a bit much for him...but he seemed just as happy, too. She just figured if anyone could handle all of that - it would be Sid.

"So I don't know" James continued, facially shrugging. "Guess he just had a moment there, worrying people would think he was dating a chick who already has kid. Not that it matters--"

"--Whoa, whoa, whoa, and whoa." Ali held out a hand and James' eyes shot up. "What the fuck?"

"Piper's brother came with her to the game." He stared at her blankly. "You knew she had a brother, right?"

"Well of course I did, babe."

"Okay, so Sid's problem is that he thinks the whole world's gonna think something that isn't true about her, or about him."

Ali took the pint and spoon back. "That's Sid's whole life as it is anyways, isn't it? People thinking he sucks. People thinking he whines. People thinking he dives. People thinking he takes cheap shots."

"That's what I told him. People are gonna think what they want, whether it's true or not." He watched Ali slowly mouth a spoonful of ice cream. "Guess it didn't work."

Nodding, thinking, slowly melting the ice cream in her mouth, Ali shrugged. "Guess he's gotta go at his pace, eh?"

"Eh." James smiled. "Convert."

"Whatever."

"Wanna go to the cabin next weekend?"

"Yes." Ali set the now-empty container and spoon aside. "Three day break?"

"Damn right."

She leaned in and kissed him. "Awesome. I have a surprise for you."

"Surprise?" He spun in the stool as Ali trotted back to the living room. "Coming home to you is getting better and better with every day, babe." Smiling, he double-checked the container to see if it was really empty...alas, it was.

"Here!"

James turned to see Ali holding a piece of paper before her. "What's this?"

"Just look." She handed it to him, clasping her hands behind her back and biting her lip excitedly.

"Holy fuck." James looked at her, his mouth lifting to form his charming grin. "You passed?"

She nodded rapidly. "A-minus on both mid-terms. Top THAT, Nealer!"

James stood up, arms open as wide as his mouth was. "Fuck ME you're amazing, babe! Great job!" He lifted her and spun her around in his arms as he hugged her. "Can I frame this?"

"Frame the final - that'll be the real test." Ali snapped her test papers back. "But I thought this was pretty cool. Let's use it as an excuse to go and party at the cabin."

James pulled Ali into his arms again. "As if we need an excuse."

"True."

They tilted their heads back and looked at one another with huge smiles, then sealed the moment with a kiss.

* * *

"Now draw your belly toward your spine, tipping your sit bones toward the floor...Remember to relax your neck so that your gaze comes inward to the floor beneath you..."

The class surrounding Piper mimicked her every move, some with expertise, others with one watchful eye always on her for guidance.

"Inhale at this point, then let your belly sink to the floor while your gaze returns to the space before you...Exhale."

She wasn't even listening to herself. Teaching a yoga class was as second-nature to her as walking or breathing; it wasn't something she had to think about, she just did it. A good teacher was present in the moment and passed that sense of awareness on to their class...But today, Piper was not that teacher.

"Come to sukhasana, or any comfortable seated position where you can be most relaxed." Gracefully, Piper moved into a cross-legged seating position and waited while her class got into the position of their choice. She looked around and smiled. "Now close your eyes and bring your hands together in front of your heart as we begin our moment of silent reflection."

It sounded like her voice, but Piper knew she was miles away from anything she was telling these poor people in front of her. Her mind was still in Montreal, her heart was still with Sidney, and her love for him was floating somewhere out of reach.

With an exhale, Piper did her best to come back to the moment. "Now...with your hands, allow just a tiny space between your palms, allowing this to signify the openness of your heart. Take a moment to focus on your intention for today's practice. Was it for increased flexibility? Was it for freeing yourself of pain? Was it for..." She paused, feeling tears stinging her eyes unexpectedly. "...was it for clearing your mind of heaviness, or for relieving your heart from the weight of something in your life?"

Breathe. In slowly...out slowly...Breath, Piper.

The tears still stung, but she focused enough on her breath to help them retreat from where they came. She blinked and looked around the room; no one was looking at her, they were all very present and within their own minds.

Like a good class should be. Like their instructor should be.

She sighed very quietly, trying to envision what she wished to open her heart to. Except her heart had been open for months now, and the doors were nearly slammed shut a few nights ago by the one she would've given it to.

Collecting herself, settling deeper into her sitting position, Piper opened her heart just a little more. "Try and focus on something you love...or someone...anyone in need of love this day, and open your heart to them. Let the energy of your spirit and your practice flow to them in hopes that they, too, can benefit from this moment."

The gentle music that filled the studio flowed along like a whisper. Those in the class were deep into their breathing, and Piper was deep into her thoughts. She'd never lost focus quite like this before, but she gave herself a break...she knew what her problem was. She just didn't know the answer.

"Lift your heads and open your eyes."

The class did. Piper looked around and gave them her best smile. "Namaste."

"Namaste" they echoed.

"Thank you and have a wonderful day."

Any other normal day of instructing, Piper would have waited around for questions or to chat with some of her usual students...but today, she rolled her mat and headed right for her office.

Once she was safely inside, she closed the door and locked it. Calmly, she took a seat at her desk and checked her phone. Nothing was there waiting for her.

Her heart sunk a little.

Fuck. What the hell am I supposed to do here.

Everything was on hold. While Piper hadn't said a word to anyone about the weird blip Sidney had just a few short nights ago, she couldn't help but feel a little bit in limbo. After that night, Sid called her the following morning, acting as if nothing happened. Piper played along, but only out of fear. The next few phone calls went as usual, and slowly, Piper felt as if maybe it was literally just a bump in the road and her spirits began to lift.

But she couldn't keep wondering and hoping. If he wasn't going to bring it up, she'd have to do it.

Again.

Taking a chance, she dialed his telephone number and waited. One ring went by, and then he picked up.

"Hi Gorgeous."

Piper smiled. "How are you?"

"Just got home, actually. How was your class?"

Terrible. Fraudulent. "It was okay....got me thinking, though..."

"Lay it on me."

His voice seemed happy enough. Piper wondered if it still would be following her call. "Well I know we kind of just skipped over everything that happened the other night--"

"--It was a lapse in judgement" he said, cutting her off. "I wasn't in control. I let a little thing get to me. Some stupid dream."

"Right, you told me that much...." Piper sighed. "I just feel like we need to talk about where we go from here."

"What is there to talk about?"

His voice hadn't changed yet. It remained cool and collected. Normal-Sid. Piper was wary though, even though she was a little relieved by that. "Well let's get the big one out of the way: am I still moving to Pittsburgh?"

Sid hesitated. "Do you still want to?"

"Why wouldn't I, Sidney?"

"Do you want to put up with a guy who loses his shit over a dream? How about over a few Instagram posts?"

Piper rolled her eyes. "I'm willing to forget it. Your concerns are human concerns; I'm not phased by them. It's just healthier if we talk about them. I feel like I've been tippy-toeing around you the past few days, and that's not us."

"I've been doing the same."

"Why!?" She almost laughed. What does he have to tippy-toe around for?

"Because I wasn't....ah, fuck, I don't know..." A low rumble came from his chest as he groaned, dissatisfied with himself. "It was as weak as a man can get, Piper. And if you hadn't noticed - I don't do 'weak' very well."

No man does, she thought angrily.

"So when I say I'm darting around the issue, it's because I want to. I don't want to talk about it. I just want us to move forward the way we wanted to....before I fucked up. When I was the rock you leaned on. When I was the dependable one, surprising you at your door because I wanted to see you...."

"You didn't fuck up. Quit saying that." She exhaled a tired sigh. "Did that damn concussion knock all the sense out of you?"

"That concussion was the best thing that's happened to me since I met you."

Sid's assertive tone surprised Piper almost as much as his words did. "....what do you mean?"

"It made me realize how much I care for you after all. It made me realize that my life feels fuller when I'm with you. Fuck, I'd give anything right now to be back on those flat rocks you took me to this summer, or on the trail we hiked. I'd rather be there than on the ice some nights. Do you know what that means, being who I am?"

She wiped at a tear that threatened to fall. "It means a lot; I know that much."

"So I don't want to lose you over something so fucking stupid."

Piper held the phone to her chest so Sid wouldn't hear her sniffle. She covered her mouth with her hand, teetering on the edge of maintaining control or just letting herself cry like crazy. Inhaling deep, she brought her cell phone to her ear once more. "So you do still want to be with me?"

"Yes, more than anything."

"Then why--"

"--Don't ask why. Let me handle that."

She nodded, though he couldn't see. "Okay."

"I'm trying, Piper."

"I know you are."

"Do you see why I've always just been alone?"

She wiped at another tear. "I guess."

"I want you to meet my parents."

He dropped it like a bomb and the combustion almost knocked Piper out of her chair. "What?"

"They're coming to Pittsburgh for this team building thing we're doing for In the Room....Cameras and dinners and the whole nine, kind of a 'back to your roots' segment. I want you to be a part of that."

"W-when?" she sniffled.

"Three weeks from now....if you can make it."

Three weeks. Piper felt her hopes lift a little. If she could only keep up with his pace. "I would love to be a part of that. I've been looking forward to meeting your parents for a long time."

Sidney laughed. "Don't say that too quickly. My dad is....."

"Difficult?" Piper said with a tiny smile.

"Runs in the family." Even Sid sounded as if he was smiling again. "They'll love you though, so you have nothing to worry about. It's probably long overdue."

"You haven't met my father yet" she said, hoping to even up the ante. "But there's time."

"A lot of time."

"Forever, really."

"And a day" Sid said with a soft chuckle. "I really do love you. And you really are gorgeous."

Piper leaned back in her office chair, the weight she'd been balancing on her shoulders now finally falling away. "And you really are challenging, but you really are worth it." She giggled, which was followed by a quick sniffle. "No offense."

"I'll get you back for that" he teased.

"I'm sure you will" Piper said with a smile.

* * *

"Pittsburgh approach, Delta 135, level fifteen thousand."

"Delta 135, Pittsburgh approach, turn left heading three two zero, descend and maintain nine thousand." Ali clicked two buttons on her panel, then readjusted her headset microphone. "Left to three two zero, down to nine thousand, Delta 135."

"Pittsburgh Tower, Delta 135 with you on the localizer two eight right."

Ali nodded. "Delta 135, roger, cleared to land two eight right." She gazed to her left out the massive double-paned glass windows of the Pittsburgh International Control Tower, watching as the flight she communicated with approached the runway. "Cleared to land two eight right, Delta 135."

"Roger, Pittsburgh Tower."

She waited until she had visual of the plane, gave her final command, and once Delta 135 radioed back they were taxying to their gate, Ali clicked her mic off. "Finally." She removed the large headset, which decreased the size of her head immediately upon removal. "The weekend has arrived!"

"And you've earned it" Paul, her instructor, told her with a grand smile. "Congrats on finishing."

"Thanks." She looked around excitedly. "I can't wait until I don't have to bother you anymore with this and I can….dare I say…..fly solo?"

Paul laughed. "You're not bothering me, Allison. It's my job to teach you! And I enjoy it. Although your weekend away sounds way more exciting than sitting here talking to pilots all day."

Ali was pretty excited. Ever since the semester began and summer officially ended, it had been a whirlwind of work, class, home, and then play. Sure, she spent plenty of time in between relaxing and going to games and just hanging with James when he was around, but a weekend away always seemed to set some hardwire refresh button. Even if it was only a three day break.

Paul, who had been instructing her for most of the semester in air traffic control operations, was more than pleased with how she'd been doing. He was happy-go-lucky with a side of serious, and he laughed easily. He was young for his 54 years of age, and apparently enjoyed instructing her. Ali liked him.

That being said…she couldn't wait to head home.

With a few final goodbyes and her official log-out from the tower, Ali headed home to pack. Her and James would be leaving later that morning once his skate was done, making the drive from Pittsburgh to their cabin near Toronto in an easy five hours. They had plans to spend the entire weekend at their cabin, bypassing even telling James' family they'd be in town. So it would be just the two of them. At their cabin. Alone.

Ali let out a long, happy sigh from inside her car. She couldn't wait.

Once home, she showered and changed, then threw a bunch of clothes into her weekend bag. She stood there, thinking to herself what she would need. The weekend was supposed to be mostly nice, but there was also plenty of rain in the forecast. Knowing this, Ali threw in some heavier clothes incase it would be chillier than expected. She also threw in one of two rather naughty pieces of lingerie just for the hell of it.

To help James out, Ali started packing a few of the bare necessities she knew he'd need, then left the rest to him. After that, she was ready to go. All she was waiting on was James.

In the meantime, her thoughts drifted to Piper and her situation with Sid. She still hadn't heard anything, and feared for her friend. She knew she should've reached out to her earlier, when James told her there had been some drama on their last road game, but she hadn't.

Let me correct that right now, she thought as she went to find her phone. She quickly typed up a text message, in hopes her girl would see it and reach out if she needed to:

A: Hey hun! Haven't heard from you in a while. Hope everything's still happy in paradise :) Heading to the cabin this weekend, but call anytime!

When James finally got home, it was like a free for all. Bags, food, music, liquor. It was obvious they both wanted a weekend away, and were too excited for words by the time they had everything they needed into James' Mercedes and were pulling out of the driveway.

Across town -- Sid was also driving, but was just heading home from the rink as James and Ali were leaving town. He spent an extra hour alone on the ice…just skating. Fleury decided to stick around with him, like the trustworthy friend that he was. He didn't ask any questions but merely skated in his large pads here and there with Sid, taking a few pucks at the net he sent his direction. It helped Sid clear his mind a little. They were approaching a three day weekend off from any games or required practices, and Sid wanted to make sure he went into the small break with his mind right.

As he turned the wheel and gunned his engine, he let the wheels of his SUV carry him home over one of the many highways leading out of downtown Pittsburgh. His mind wandered however, and the fact that he had Piper's cd playing as he drove only allowed his mind to wander further. He didn't mind, though. His thoughts about her were always good; the music playing made him feel closer to her, as if she was there riding beside him.

Like she should be, Sid thought.

A thought occurred to him at that moment.

Several months ago when Piper gave him the cd, she said to listen to the final track whenever he was by himself.

He wasn't even sure he'd gotten to the last track, or even heard it yet. Quickly - Sid pressed the skip button all the way to the 17th song on the cd, then turned up the volume.

It started slow…and of course, Sidney didn't recognize it at all. Piper certainly liked interesting music, but it was always really good, whatever it was.

As the song picked up in tempo, a woman's sultry voice filled the speakers. Whoever the artist was, Sid found her voice incredibly alluring. It dripped with emotion and was full of haunting romance. He focused on the lyrics, because there had to be a reason Piper wanted to him to listen to it when he was alone.

Love I get so lost sometimes
Days pass and this emptiness fills my heart
When I want to run away
I drive off in my car
but whichever way I go
I come back to the place you are…

Sid gripped the wheel tighter without even knowing it. Slowly, the outside world of skyscrapers and multiple bridges and rivers faded. The lyrics played on, and he felt touched by what he was hearing.

I know this song… he thought.

Listening more, he definitely recognized the lyrics. He couldn't place it though; the woman's voice was too enticing. The beat was alluring and exotic in a way, completely different from anything he'd heard before.

I get so tired of working so hard for our survival
I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive

"Fuck." Sid realized why Piper had wanted him to listen. The song was an athem; theirs, maybe. The song was more than just something he recognized - it was a projection of Piper.

He wanted to be with her more than ever. He didn't want her to be tired of working for their survival.

I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive.

Sidney shifted to a higher gear and revved his engine harder. He needed to get home, because he needed to get to the airport. She came to him without even blinking an eye when his headaches were getting the best of him and he'd been scared. He wasn't going to let another opportunity slip by when he could step up and prove he cared about Piper more than he could manage to properly tell her.

He needed to get out of Pittsburgh anyways. He wanted out, and road games didn't count. He wanted to be with Piper, and he would be.

Sid didn't like losing - and that included her.

*

Hat pulled low, small weekend bag tossed over one shoulder, Sid was able to get on a standby flight to Boston from Pittsburgh. From there, he'd have to wait a few hours. He wasn't sure what he was going to do for almost three hours until the small commuter jet would begin boarding and then deliver him to Bar Harbor.

He also wasn't sure whether he should surprise Piper like he did that summer, or if he should give her some warning.

He decided to do both.

At the gate in Pittsburgh, Sid laid out both plane tickets on his lap and took a picture with his phone. He sent the picture to Piper and waited. The second his phone lit up, he was answering it.

"Hi."

"What…………what am I looking at" Piper said, her voice cautious. "PLEASE tell me this isn't a joke."

Sid was smiling against the phone. "It's not a joke."

"You're coming here?"

"In about six hours, yes."

Piper inhaled. "SIX hours!??! SIDNEY!"

"Yes?" He was laughing, walking away from where he'd been sitting, so as not to disturb anyone else at the gate. "Hopefully that's okay?"

"OF COURSE IT IS."

Her laughter was music to his ears. Her happiness was all he wanted. Glancing over, he heard the gate attendant's voice and saw the red letters on the screen declaring that his plane was beginning to board.

"Baby, I gotta go."

"Don't go! I mean…wait - DO go! Yes, GO!" She was giggling wildly. "How do I ever thank you? This comes at the best possible time ever."

"Don't worry about thanking me. Just lay with me tonight and let me hold you. That's all you really need to do."

"Sidney…."

"Just hold on to that excitement, okay? I have a long layover in Boston, but I'll be there soon enough."

"When do you land? I'll be there. Oh my god, I can't believe you'll BE HERE!"

Sid readjusted his hat and pulled it lower, hoping no one was watching him smile as much as he was. "I think it's around 8:30, but I'll text you when I'm on the plane. Sound good?"

She laughed. "Sounds like the best fucking thing I've heard all week. I love you so much."

"I love you, too" Sid replied, his heart warming when Piper's words. "See you soon."

"Can't WAIT!"

He hung up and stared at his phone, still smiling.

*

Piper waited in her car in the rain, watching the droplets slide down her windshield. The tapping on the roof was like some sort of music. She knew rain was used in movies and books as a forlorn, often ominous feature. Piper didn't feel that whatsoever as she sat in her car. She thought the rain was the atmosphere laughing happily along with her. She felt the darkness of the clouds and the veil of fog that flitted in and out of the coves and bays around Bar Harbor was as comforting as a warm blanket.

Sitting there in silence, aside from the sound of the rain around her, Piper took stock of just how nervous she was. Was she nervous? Or what she excited? She couldn't quite tell….she had reason to be both. Nervous, because this was the first time she'd be seeing Sidney since…..well, the blip. Excited, obviously, because she was getting a chance to possibly reset something here with him. It was all she wanted in the world - and now, thanks to him making this effort - she was going to have that chance.

Because the Bar Harbor airport was not large at all, Piper could see Sid's plane as it lowered out of the stratus and approached the runway. She wasn't no time at all throwing her Pens hat on, buttoning her rain jacket, and rushing from the parking lot to the front entrance doors.

Within minutes her heart rate went from fast to speeding furiously. The second she saw him, in all his compact and solid form, walking into the lobby where she stood waiting was almost too much. Dressed in a zipped black sweater coat and jeans, his hat pulled as low as it could go, Piper almost forgot in just that short amount of time just how handsome he was. Effortlessly handsome.

She grinned and nearly let some unknown, odd squeak out, but held her shit together long enough until Sid met eyes with her. After that, she let loose.

"Baby!"

Sid dropped his bag and opened his arms to Piper as she leapt into his arms. Her blondish-brown hair fell about him, the soft smell of flowers and vanilla swirling about him. He kissed her right there in the front of everyone assembled as they waited for their loved ones. Sid held her face and gave her the kiss he felt she deserved for putting up with him.

When he pulled back, he caressed her cheeks with his thumbs, feeling that soft skin he loved so much.

"Hi" he said softly.

"Hi." Piper wrapped her arms around his neck. "Take me home, Sid."

* * *

Notes

Updated early because you guys were wanting it! Enjoy!