In Your Eyes

Sidney shaved, threw a little gel in his hair, dabbed on Piper's favorite cologne he made sure to bring with him, and then stood back from the mirror. I think this is Father Worthy. He patted at his hair and tried to get the one piece sticking up on the side to lay flat. Once he did this, he decided it was time.

Walking out into the living room, he saw Piper as she stood waiting and checking her phone. The second she glanced up, the arm holding her phone went limp. "Wow."

Sid looked down at himself. "This okay?" He saw that Piper had chosen to wear a long, fuchsia-colored tunic sweater. It hugged her breasts and waist, giving way at the curve of her shapely hips down to her ass. Sid couldn't help but stare. Beneath, she had on a pair of black jeans and black flats. She wore her hair up with her bangs pinned to the side and off her face.

"Of course it's okay!" She walked over and ran her hands along the dark gray, three-quarter zip sweater. The thinner fabric allowed her to feel every rise and fall of muscle beneath. The black undershirt he wore was just visible enough at the collar. "I think we look good."

"I think you look great." He gave her a quick kiss. "And I look better beside you."

Piper smiled. "You're sweet, thank you." She let her eyes wander over him once more. "I could stare at this all night."

Sidney rolled his eyes bashfully. "Oh come on."

"Really!" She turned and grabbed her small purse and slipped her phone inside. "I just might skip dinner and sit there staring at you the whole time."

"Oh I'm sure your father would appreciate that" he said with some sass.

"He'll be so busy being gah-gah over you, he'll forget I'm there." She turned and held out her keys. "Shall we?"

"We shall."

Sid decided to drive this time, wanting to try his hand at getting around Bar Harbor on his own. Piper instructed him at times, but she was pretty impressed at how well he knew the streets to get them to the restaurant. They mostly sat in silence, driving along the winding roads that led from her home into the downtown area. It was a comfortable silence, the both of them simply enjoying one another's company.

"You know what the reason was that spurred me to come visit you?" Sidney glanced away from the road to look at her.

"No. Should I know?"

Sid noticed Piper looked worried when she said this. He placed a hand on the inside of her thigh, trying to comfort her. "It's not bad, so don't think that."

She smiled. "What was it then?"

"It was listening to the last song on the cd you made me."

His hand never left her thigh, but it did tighten about her a little. Piper ran her hand over his, and their fingers lacing together.

"I was driving back from practice…and you know, my mind…it's always running." Sid looked over again. "And most of the time, it's running to you."

Piper looked down, feeling his rough hand in hers and hearing his gentle words. It made her incredibly happy he was even listening to her weird music.

"So I remembered that you said to listen to the last song when I was by myself…so I did."

"What did you think?" Piper asked. She was hoping he found the lyrics as symbolic as she did.

"I thought it was perfect." He squeezed her hand. "I thought of you…and us…"

He flipped the turn signal on even before Piper was about to instruct him to. Again, she was surprised by his knowledge of the area and his confidence to drive it without her having to tell him. When they came to the stop sign and Sid turned in his seat to face her. "It made sense why you suggested that. Just listening to the lyrics and thinking about you really put things into perspective. So I got on a plane and I came to you this time."

Piper saw how happy he looked in that moment. His confidence was back, his eyes were dancing even in the low light of the evening sunset. Piper counted her blessings that he decided to come. "You know...you didn't have to come - we talked things out and worked everything out before" she said sweetly. "But I'm really, really, really glad you did."

"Sure, but you didn't have to come in the middle of the night because I had a headache either."

"Guess that's just the kind of couple we are, huh?" Piper asked with a smile.

"Guess so" Sid answered happily.

There was really no guessing about it. They both knew they were too deep into it now to give up or to let any fears or doubts that entered their mind take over the good thing they had. This thought remained with them the rest of the drive, and the rest of the night as well. Their hands never left one another's as they finished the drive into downtown Bar Harbor. Before they left the car and had to put on their game faces for her father, Piper made sure to reward Sidney for everything at that moment with a final intense kiss.

They looked like a couple that had been together years, the way they carried themselves and appeared to the others in the restaurant. Sidney was most impressed, first by the restaurant her father managed. Second, by the way Piper really came alive once they were inside. He watched and admired the way she seemed to know everyone there.

Sidney figured that she would be the object of much affection, and it gave him a break from having to hold that position for a while. It was a welcomed break that he found incredibly fun; to watch his girlfriend speak to waiters, waitresses, the maitre d, and many others, Sid could finally be on the other side. Piper spoke to everyone as though they were all old friends, her friendly smile ever-present as she introduced Sid to all of them. Being on the other side was different for him, but he liked it.

They were seated at a private booth near the far corner of the restaurant; the nearest table of occupants some several tables away. Sid scooted his chair up to the table and glanced about. "I like the atmosphere of this place."

"I told you it was pretty relaxed" Piper said with a smile. "If you can believe it, this is one of the 'fancier' places in Bar Harbor."

Sid's sideways grin appeared. "Yeah? I think I like this town."

"You think?" Piper teased.

"I know, but…." Sid took her hands in his. "We spend so much time in your bed, I still need to see--"

"So this must be Sidney Crosby?"

Their hands separated just as David Lake approached from behind their table. Sid immediately stood, hand extended to give David a handshake. "Pleasure to meet you finally, Mr. Lake."

"David. I insist. This is a huge honor, I gotta say."

Sidney nodded humbly. "Thank you."

Piper watched the exchange from her side of the table, pleased with the way her father was already smiling. He turned to her next, his larger-than-life personality so familiar to her. "Hi Daddy."

She stood and David gave her a quick hug. "Hi beautiful." He looked at the pair of them once they were both seated. Sidney was larger than he expected; television did nothing for him. He was more poised than he expected, and more clean cut than he expected. He liked what he saw so far.

Piper could already tell her businessman of a father was sizing them up as a couple from his standing position beside their table. "So like I said on the phone - you have to keep this a secret from Mom and Bailey."

"I will…but under one condition."

Sid and Piper looked at one another.

"That I pay for whatever you two want tonight. Entire bill is on the house." David saw the apprehension in their eyes. "And no arguments!"

"David--" Sid began.

"Nooope, Sid - it's on me this time." He gave him a genuine smile. "I've seen a complete transformation come over my only daughter these past few months, and the least I can do to thank you for her new found happiness is buy you dinner."

Piper felt her nerves disintegrate in that one statement from her dad. Her eyes turned and met Sidney's, whose hazel color was full and larger than ever.

"That's real nice of you David" he replied. "Next time, it's on me. April and Bailey will be included as well."

David patted him on his shoulder. "You got it. Now - before I leave you two alone…I gotta ask ya, Sid…."

Oh no, please no, nothing embarrassing, please Dad… Piper took a drink of her water, if only to occupy herself as she pleaded with him silently.

"Sure. Anything." Sid wiped his hands on his pants, but his gaze was as attentive as though fifteen microphones were pointed at him after a game.

"How in the hell did you pull off that goal last week against the Flames?"

Piper felt her entire posture relax.

"You mean that third period top shelfer?" Sid said with a laugh. "If that impressed you, I have a whole bag of tricks just waiting for you."

David's formal stance relaxed as well. "Shit, I thought for sure there was too much traffic in front of the net for anyone to pull that off the way you did, coming from the far right…"

In her seat opposite the two men in her life, Piper now quietly thanked her father. He knew how important hockey was to Sid; hell, it defined him, and David enjoyed hockey quite a bit. If they could meet on this level and her dad could talk to Sid about his one true passion in life, Piper realized the worry was officially over.

Now if I can do the same when I meet his dad, she thought to herself.

David and Sid both laughed heartily, and David extended his hand to him again. "Really great talking to you. I'll be sure to tell everyone I know you're even classier in person."

Sid stood again, shaking his hand firmly. "That's nice of you, David. Thanks again." He turned his head and smiled at Piper. "Especially for her."

Piper and her father met one another's proud gazes, and David knew now why she'd fallen for this unlikely man standing before him. With that, David waved and walked off towards the back of the house where he spent most of his hours at the restaurant.

Piper took Sid's hands in hers again, giving them a squeeze. "Thank you for that."

"I love you, Piper" Sid replied simply. "I had to thank him. Plus...he's not bad at talking shop, if you know what I mean."

She giggled. "I think I do. He knows the game better than I do, I'll say that much."

"I like him."

"He likes you."

Sid smirked. "You think?"

"I know." She leaned over the small table so her lips could meet his. "Thank you."

* * *

"Arrrggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....FUCK." James let out a long, guttural groan against Ali's neck. She was still holding on to the ends of the changing table they had just put together, feeling her husband's heavy breath against her naked skin.

"Fuck, babe..." He kissed up her neck to beneath her jaw, nestling his face here. He felt Ali's hands slide through his hair.

"I can't believe we just fucked on our future baby's piece of furniture" she said, half laughing, half in disbelief. "Does that make us horrible people?"

James let out a breathy laugh. "I don't think so...how else are we gonna make the baby who's going to live in this room?" He looked up to find Ali smiling. "There's that smile. Much better."

Ali hugged his head to her chest as he remained inside her, his hands still clutching at her waist where they'd been before he collapsed on top of her. Her heartbeat was racing along with his; his face sticky with sweat. She kissed his forehead, finally allowing her legs to release their grip on his waist.

"Uggh..." James used his elbows to prop himself up, his hands going to the top of Ali's head. He stared at her lovingly, his hair fluffy and sticking up here and there. "God, you're gorgeous."

"You spoil me" she replied. His mouth found hers again, and Ali lost herself in the contrasting feeling of his rough beard and the buttery softness of his lips. Eventually he had to slip from her, and Ali finally felt the release of James' weight when he stood up away from her. He helped her down off the new piece of furniture, both of them inspecting the stability of it now that they'd had their turn at testing its strength.

"Seems like a decent unit after all." James looked at her, his grin as proud as ever.

"You're such a dork."

"We should test every piece of furniture this way."

"I won't be able to look at them the same!" Ali was laughing hard now. "How am I gonna look my baby in the eye, knowing that we fucked on every single piece of furniture that is his."

"Or hers." James raised an eyebrow . "And don't worry about stuff like that. You always worry."

Still naked, still not caring, Ali walked over to the window and peered outside. It was dark now, but the rain was still coming down just as heavy as ever. Across the room, James stood with his gaze fixed on her body. He didn't care if hedid just cum for the second time that day; Ali would always baffle him by her personality and her beauty. Her long hair spilled down her back like an arrow pointing to her perfect ass. When she turned and he lifted his eyes to meet hers, she smiled.

"Perv."

"I love you."

She walked over and gave him a tiny smack on his abs. "I call the shower first."

James watched her as she left, then looked around the room at the furniture they had assembled all afternoon and evening. They took all the spare stuff that had been sitting around and moved it out to the storage shed. Now the room included the crib, a small dresser, and the changing table they just fucked on.

This made James smile. It's really coming together. All we need now is the baby.

"Hey babe!?"

James went out into the hall. "Yeah?" He crossed the distance and let himself into the bathroom, steam hitting his face. "Whatchya need?" She flung the shower curtain back so she could see him. James' eyes immediately fell to her naked, wet body. "Nice."

"This isn't why I called you in" she said with a smirk.

"Oh..." James lifted his eyes. "What was it then?"

"You know what occurred to me?" Ali placed her hands on her bare hips, water still hitting and rushing off them. "We haven't even thought of names yet."

James laughed. "And you want to come up with these now?" He motioned towards the water coming from the shower head. "Here?"

"Have you thought of any names?"

"No." He frowned. "Have you?"

"No."

The sound of water and the billowing of warm steam were the only things moving in that moment. James was trying to think if he even liked any names for kids that he'd care to name his own. Ali stood across from him, also deep in thought. After a minute of silence, they looked at one another.

"Maybe it doesn't need to be done right now" she said sheepishly.

James stepped inside the shower and spun Ali so that she was out of the water and he wasn't. "Listen, Als....We have time. Isn't that what you once-upon-a-time told me?" He felt the water run over his head, down his torso and along his legs, and felt amazingly refreshed in just those few seconds it took to get wet.

"No, you're right" Ali said. She watched him tip his head back and let the water rush down the front of his body. Though they literally just had sex, she was turned on all over again. For the third time that day. Ugh, what am I becoming, she thought.

They shared the shower together, again, and then got ready for bed. James was nearly asleep on his stomach by the time Ali came to bed, slipping under the sheets beside him. Her mind was still on the question she brought up in the shower, but she could see that James had moved on. He always moved on, especially when it came to sleep.

"Babe?" She kept her voice quiet as she pet the back of his head.

"Hmm?"

"Asleep yet?"

He groggily rolled his head to the side and opened his eyes. "No."

She smiled. "Sorry."

"Your mind still going?"

"You know me too well."

Rolling the rest of the way onto his side, James smiled against the pillow. "Can I admit something to you? It might make you feel better."

"Sure."

"I'm scared as fuck."

Ali put her head down against her own pillow. "Me too."

"You are?" James felt himself become tense with uneasiness. "So...what are you saying, you don't want a kid?"

"No, that's not what I'm saying at all. I'm just scared."

He exhaled. "Good." When he looked at Ali, she moved her eyes away from his and looked down at the bed sheets. Her finger traced an invisible shape, and James started to feel something odd within him. He felt a sort of sympathetic commiseration with Ali. They were both excited, they were both scared shitless, and they were both wondering if either of them could actually pull this off. James felt for her. Maybe she was taking on some of the same feelings he had been; wondering why it hadn't happened yet after months of trying. He wished he could comfort her somehow.

"Hey." He reached out and cupped the side of her face, his thumb positioned on her temple so as to lift her gaze. "Don't look so sad. I'm here."

Her eyes immediately filled with water. Even though all the lights were off and rain pelted against the window, they glistened as as if the brightest moonlight were illuminating them. "Oh James..."

"Babe." He moved closer. "What's wrong?"

She shook her head, her lower lip trembling slightly. "What if I'm terrible?"

"A terrible mom? Allison..."

"No, for real, James." She looked at him with worry. "What if....what if I'm not what you're expecting?"

"I'm not expecting a single thing, so that's not possible." He waited, but Ali just closed her eyes. "Come here" he said, and he opened his arms as she snuggled into him. "I think you're just tired, and like you said...none of this needs figured out right now. One day at a time."

Ali cuddled against his chest, inhaling the scent that made James James. His heartbeat was a great deal slower than hers was at that moment, and it helped to lull her into an easy slumber. James continued to hold her, kissing her head and rubbing her back until he felt her relax in his arms. Even though she had fallen asleep, James remained awake a little longer, mulling over their confession of how scared they were. He figured it was normal; shit, he had enough fears and doubts leading up to getting married alone, why would this be any different?

He sighed, glancing down at the sleeping form he held in his arms. With her eyes closed and her dark lashes resting against her cheeks, Ali looked peaceful and content. James could only hope she felt this way at all times or he wasn't doing his job. They had a lot of fun together. A lot of fun. But James wanted to prove he could be serious about something that wasn't hockey, sex, or humor. He loved Ali more than anything, and wanted to take care of her the way she'd cared for him more times than he deserved.

One day at a time he repeated in his mind. One day at a time.

* * *

The sun came out in Bar Harbor the following day, and Sid found himself outside on the porch with Piper after they both slept in. They both wanted the sun on their faces after all the rain, so they sat and drank their coffee in their respective Adirondack chairs, dressed heavily enough to ward off the autumn morning chill.

As Sid turned his head, he took in all that Piper was in that moment. The sun spilled beneath the covered porch, highlighting the blonder pieces of her light brown hair. She had a gray sweatshirt on and dark blue sweatpants, looking like the epitome of comfort. The early rays of the sun also highlighted the soft pink of her cheeks, matched only by the hue of her rosy lips.

It crossed Sidney's mind that as they sat there, an optional skate was going on right now at the arena that he wasn't at. It was optional, yes…but he always opted to go. He wondered if Coach would think something was wrong, but then just as quickly as that thought came, it left.

Piper must have known he was staring at her because she glanced over and smiled at him sweetly. "Whatchya thiiiinking?"

"Don't hate me" Sid said with some caution, "but I was thinking of practice."

"You really are a machine."

"BUTTTT" he said, poking her in the shoulder, "I was thinking how I'm not there and how that's okay once in a while, ya know?"

She nodded. "I do know. Well…in my own way, I know. Of the times I've missed instructing one of my classes, I realized it's okay to miss them now and then. The world isn't ending just because I can't make it."

This was why Sidney liked her. He could talk to Piper unlike anyone else, and she got him. They were a match in many ways, but if he had to pinpoint where they matched best as a couple, it was leveling with one another. He found himself constantly on the same page with Piper, which was a near-impossible task with most other women he met.

Piper let out a long sigh, resting her head back against the wooden chair. "You leave tomorrow morning, though."

"I do." Sid looked down at his coffee mug in his hands. "Game on Monday."

"Home?"

He nodded.

"At least I'll have something to watch Monday night." She kept her head where it was, but moved her eyes sideways to catch Sid's grin. "Who do you play?"

"Islanders."

"Ahhhhhh now I'll know someone on the other team" Piper said jokingly. "You know the new girl we hired at the studio, Robin? She loves hockey, and is a Islanders fan. Maybe I'll have the girls over to watch the game."

Sid's head fell back with a laugh. "Oh great. More than one woman to impress."

Their heads turned towards one another and they smiled.

"As if that's a challenge" Piper replied.

"I'm up for it. I enjoy a good challenge."

Piper's mind was already planning the night out. She could invite Dani, Amy, and Robin over and make food and pop a bottle of wine. She'd have to remember to ask them the next chance she got…maybe later that day so they would have a chance to plan.

In that moment, a though popped into her mind that made her heart start to race anxiously. I could tell them that I'm moving that night as well. I could finish the last step in this giant change.

"Someone got awfully quiet."

Piper looked over to see Sidney gazing at her tenderly. "Sorry, sorry."

"No apologies. Care to share?"

She shrugged. "It's nothing big."

Sid knew better. If there was something he knew he excelled at, it was reading people. It came with seeing subtleties most others missed; a trait that worked on the ice as much as it did off the ice. "Even if it's small, I'll listen." He gave Piper the time she needed, hoping she wouldn't be afraid to say anything to him.

"I was just thinking…if I have the girls over Monday to watch the game together, I could tell them then that I'm planning on moving." With her hands, Piper hugged her warm mug and tried to envision how they might react. However it went down, she was ready. She'd dealt with worse, and after all…the man she was moving to be with sat beside her when he could've been on the ice, doing what he was born to do. If that wasn't a sign she was making the right choice, she didn't know what was.

Glancing over, Piper and saw that Sid was still looking at her. His expression was still very understanding, still patient and calm, which grounded her. "I'm ready to, either way. So…you're not the only one who enjoys a good challenge."

The corner of Sid's mouth lifted happily. "I love that about you."

"No, no, no…I love that about you, mister." She giggled a little. "Can't steal my lines."

"So how long until we're under one roof?" Sid was full-on grinning now. "Because I'm not sure how much longer I can wait."

Piper felt her insides go tingly. "By the end of the month, I'd say." She watched Sid's eyebrows rise in shock.

"That's only two weeks?"

"Too quick?" she asked, becoming worried.

Sid put his mug on the railing of the porch and turned to her. "No, no - no, absolutely not! I just….I guess I didn't think…."

Piper leaned over and with one hand, turned his jaw so that her lips could connect with his. Sidney closed his eyes as he allowed Piper to guide him with her mouth, wanting this sort of moment every day of his life. If he could have that in two weeks, he'd be the happiest man alive.

"Two weeks" Piper repeated, her voice hushed.

Sid leaned his forehead against hers and smiled. "Two weeks."

* * *

When Ali awoke that next morning, the first thing she noticed was the spot next to her where James had been was now empty. The second thing she noticed was the lightheaded feeling she had.

With some effort, she rolled over and reached for her cell phone, wondering just what time it was and how long she'd been sleeping if James was already up. Unlocking her home screen, she saw the digital numbers 10:48 AM staring back at her.

She blinked in the bright sunlight that filled the room; a far cry from the dark, damp conditions of the previous day. It hurt her head a little as her eyes struggled to adjust.

Like a fucking hangover, she thought to herself as she sat up. Her body didn't hurt, which was a surprise, given the odd angles that her and James had bent their bodies into the day before. It was all in her head, her eyes, and her stomach.

Like a fucking hangover I didn't even earn, Ali thought. The worst kind.

She shuffled over to her suitcase and grabbed a t-shirt and slipped on a pair of sleep shorts. Doing this made her feel even more lightheaded, so she held off for a second and waited for the odd sensation to pass.

As she made her way out to main area of the cabin, she spotted James outside on the deck and talking on his phone. She gave him a wave when he saw her, watching as he gave her the 'one minute' motion with his finger.

In the meantime, she searched for whatever food was available from their quick shopping trip the day before. They purchased just enough for two dinners and sandwich ingredients for the rest of the time, since they only had one more full day there. And of course, James' wings in the freezer he planned to make that night.

None of it looked appealing to Ali, so she shut the door and went over to lay on the couch. As James came in from outside, the swish of the sliding glass door shutting behind him, he came around and plopped down next to her. "Sorry 'bout that. Just my sister."

"How is she?"

"Apparently pretty good. Got an apartment of her own now, she thinks she's big shit."

Ali smiled. "That's cool, good for her."

"Yeah. How are you feeling?" James rubbed her leg closest to him. "Get enough sleep? You were out the entire night. Barely moved."

"You shouldn't have let me sleep in this late…I feel like ass."

He frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Lightheaded" she answered, rubbing her forehead. "Kinda like a hangover."

"And you didn't even earn it" James said.

"The worst kind" they said in unison.

He smiled. "Good thing we're not putting furniture together today." He hoped to get a smirk out of Ali in saying this, but it didn't work. "What do you think it is?"

"Probably just PMS." Ali looked over at James, seeing his cheerful expression fall. It occurred to her that it was that time of the month, and she always got headaches the week prior to her period.

James looked down. "So…if it's PMS…"

Ali didn't even have to answer. They looked at one another sadly, the knowledge passing between them silently. Sitting up, she leaned her head against James' shoulder as his arm curled around her waist. "Maybe next month, babe."

He nodded. "Maybe so."

* * *

Notes