In Your Eyes

The locker room was as boisterous as ever. Sid turned the corner in the hall to find half the guys already inside the room, making a fuss and yelling loudly at one another. Their tones were very cheerful and very excited, and he found it funny even though he had no idea what all the commotion was about. It was his first time back in the locker room since he arrived home from Bar Harbor, so it felt a little like he walked into the middle of an inside joke he missed.

He dropped his bag at his stall, nodding at James who sat bent over his legs and taping his calves. "Hey Nealer."

"Sup, Crosby."

Sid shoved his hands into the pockets of his wind breaker. "What's all the commotion over? I miss something?"

James laughed. "No idea, I was gone all weekend."

"That makes two of us. Where'd you go?"

"Up to the cabin." James bit the piece of tape and set the roll next to him. "You?"

"Maine."

James' shit-eating grin appeared. "Niiiiice. Surprising the girl again, eh?"

"And then some" he said happily.

Off to the side, Geno's voice rose high above the clamor. Despite his thick accent, it was very clear he was congratulating someone. Both Sid and James turned their heads towards the group of guys making all the noise. Geno waved a hand at the pair of them, motioning for them to come over.

Sid went over and nudged him in the side. "What's all the fuss?"

Fleury stepped forward. "Glass has some big news…"

Tanner's clear blue eyes were as happy as ever as Sid met his teammate's gaze. "What's up, Glass?"

"Emily's pregnant" he said, his face lighting up.

James' head shot up.

"And he's actually the father!" Bortuzzo chirped.

Everyone cheered all over again, laughing and congratulating their friend and teammate, Sidney included. They shook hands and Sid patted Glass on the back. It was the couple's second child, but just looking at Tanner, Sid could see just how excited he already was by the news. Coming from a guy who delivered hits harder than anyone else on the team, it was a rare moment to see Glass like this.

On the other side of the room, James felt his heart get stuck inside his throat. At the time, he'd been taping his other calf up for practice, but now he stopped. It took him a minute to get over the jealousy he felt, desperately trying to recover so that no one would notice his true feelings. He swallowed his pride, even though his anger was still very much there.

In his compression top and full padding from the waist down, James walked over and shook Tanner's hand firmly. "Congrats, man. That's huge."

"Yeah…We're both pretty excited" he said, eyes all aglow and his friendly smile never wavering. "As you can probably tell."

Oh, I can tell. James gave a single nod before returning to his stall. He sat down with a heaviness he hadn't really expected to have. Fucking Glass can get his chick pregnant. What the fuck is wrong with me.

He slid his head into his hands, elbows propped on his padded knees. Of all things to hear...at all times. Fuck.

As the racket thinned and Sid and Geno returned back to their stalls beside James', they began the task of suiting up for their game-morning practice. Geno and Sid were talking as usual, but James stayed unusually silent. Sid noticed, but it became obvious when Geno tried chirping Nealer and his only response was a smile. No comeback, no sass, nothing. Just a smile, and it looked forced. It struck Sidney as pretty odd, but he didn't say anything.

Practice went on fairly normally. The bulk of the time was spent fine tuning drills and new line changes. Because spirits were high, it translated to a fun practice. At the end when they were called to huddle around center ice, Bylsma delivered a personal congratulations to Glass and the entire team tapped their sticks in response.

When they were dismissed, James was the first one off the ice and back in the locker room. By the time Sid and the others were halfway out of their gear, he was back in his everyday attire and heading out for the day.

Sid's attention was swiftly redirected as several media reporters began to file into the locker room, setting up microphones and a few cameras, all waiting for his game day video report. Before he gave them his full concentration, he grabbed for his phone in his bag, noticing he had a text message.

P: Hey Handsome. The girls are coming tonight! Gonna get tipsy and watch you do your thing. ;) I know you have your nap and PB&J routine, so thought I'd text ya now. Good luck!

Sid took the next few seconds to write a response: You just caught me. Thanks for the smile. Have fun tonight. Will try and make you proud.

He slipped his phone back in his pocket and took a seat in front of the assembled media members. As he got comfortable and they moved closer to him, Sid pulled on his salt-stained Pens hat and wiped his face with his towel.

"Ready, Sid?" It was Rob Rossi, always the first to initiate the game day reports.

Sid nodded. "Yeah. Who's first?" He glanced around at the twelve or so bodies gathered around him.

"Sid - how's practice going so far? Any changes made to line-ups prior to the game tonight?"

"Ahh...none that are final, no." He went on to explain the formations they practiced the past few weeks, but none that were set in stone. When he finished, Sid looked at a woman to his right who shoved a recorder in his face.

"We noticed you weren't at practice this weekend. Can you comment if this had anything to do with a recurrence of headache symptoms?"

Sid laughed and shook his head. "I can definitely confirm it has nothing to do with that. I haven't had any symptoms since a few weeks ago, and uhh....I feel strong. I feel good." He glanced around, waiting for the next question as he wiped at the sweat dripping down his sideburns.

Josh Yohe raised a finger, grabbing Sid's attention. "This is your first match up this season against the Islanders. Any concerns about how they'll play tonight?"

Sid shook his head. "You know, uh...they have a lot of quick players...Tavares is good; he's attentive, really fast with the puck and has a good shot, so uh..." He shrugged. "Guess we just have to keep up, play hard, really stay on our toes. We need to start hard and finish just as hard."

"Your girlfriend going to be attending tonight's game?" Rob Rossi interjected. There were a few soft chickles in response.

Sid smiled. "She'll be watching, yeah. I'll say that much." He caught the good-humored arrogance in Rob's smirk, so he gave him a dose right back.

* * *

Piper popped the cork off the second bottle of red wine, placing it with the others on the small table she set up in her living room. The table also had wine glasses, spring rolls, the obligatory bowl of chips (because she knew Dani wouldn't think of even coming over if Doritos weren't involved), and a pitcher of water. A different hockey game was wrapping up on the television currently and soon enough, the Pens pre-game show would begin and the girls would be here.

Looking around, Piper inhaled and exhaled quickly. She was nervous. In her mind, she still hadn't figured out when she would tell them about the move. She went back and forth over and over in her mind what she might say to them, she just didn't know when to do it. Do it before the game? Do it after? Do it during an intermission? What happens if they are so pissed they never wanted to speak to her again?

That won't happen and you know it, she told herself. Dani is your best friend. She, out of all of them, will understand.

Before Piper knew it, the game on the tv ended and the girls arrived. They all rode together in Dani's Jeep, and they filed out talking and laughing wildly as Piper greeted them on the deck. Dani looked her usual self; her shoulder length blonde hair left down and dressed in black yoga pants and a loose wrap sweater. Amy's petite dancer's figure floated up the deck, her delicate arms wrapping around Piper to hug her tight. They hadn't seen one another in almost a week, and Amy's bubbly personality was a welcomed one. Robin, taller than all three of them and the darkest in features, came last and gave Piper an equally tight hug, complimenting her on the sweater she was wearing.

"You know we're going to beat you and your boyfriend tonight, right?" she teased.

"Sure thing, Robin - we'll see about that" Piper said with a laugh. "Come on in - let's get you liquored up so you don't notice when you're losing."

That was precisely the first thing all the girls did. Piper poured them their wine of choice while they picked and ate and talked and got comfortable in her living room. Piper and Dani took up their spots on the love seat, Dani taking the entire bowl of Doritos for herself, while Amy and Robin made themselves comfy on the couch.

"Ooooo, are we gonna get to see him?" Dani asked, crunching away. "What are we watching, anyway?"

"Pre-game show...just a bunch of stats and shit I don't understand."

Dani raised her glass to that. "Amen. Skip the numbers and bring on the hotties."

Piper and the others laughed. She nursed her wine and kept one eye on the tv as they talked and caught up on everyone's lives since the last time they had all gotten together. Apparently Robin had found a new man of her own since moving to Bar Harbor, and plenty of juicy details were divulged. There wasn't a better conversation to have, at least in Piper's mind, right before a hockey game. With the amount of good looking guys on the Penguins' team alone, it made for the kind of evening Piper hoped it would be.

"There he is!" Amy pointed at the tv excitedly.

Dani set the Doritos bowl on the end table. "Turn it up, turn it up!"

Piper did the honors, increasing the volume of the announcer's voice as he stood down on the ice during warm-ups. Sid stood right beside him, one hand on his hip while the other rested on the Pen's bench. His face had just a light sheen of sweat from only having warmed up for a few minutes prior to the interview. He was everything Piper knew him to be, and it made her proud to be watching him.

"Good God he's attractive" Amy said, her voice hushed and her eyes wide. "You get to fuck that?"

"Shhh, we can talk about that later" Dani said. "And we will" she added to Piper.

Piper could only giggle. "Okay, okay - quiet!"

"---standing here with Sidney Crosby. Sid, Coach Bylsma informed me you went on a vacation this weekend?"

Sid lowered his head a little. "Just a brief one, yeah."

Piper's eyes widened. Oh my God.

The announcer began to chuckle. "All rested up, I hope?"

"Yeah, uh...it was quick, but really great. Ready to be back at it." Sid glanced at the camera. His smile was subtle, but very much there.

In the living room, all three girls looked over to see Piper's expression. Her eyes were firmly locked on Sidney, never even noticing they were staring at her. She was smiling unconsciously, her hands in her lap, fingers laced together tightly.

"What vacation?" Dani asked with a raise of her eyebrow. "Oh my GOD - he came to visit, didn't he!"

"What!? No!" Piper lied, hardly able to contain her guilty laughter. "Why would he do that?"

"OH MY GOD you are a terrible liar!" Amy said, and Robin began to laugh.

"Yeah, you're pretty terrible, Piper."

Piper didn't care. She was too focused on the caramel of Sid's eyes, the slight flush in his cheeks, the hair barely sticking out beneath his helmet and the lips she wanted to taste right then and there. Those same lips had brought her to orgasm on the very 'vacation' the announcer was asking him about. They'd kissed her goodnight both nights, kissed her good morning each morning, and kissed her goodbye the way Piper thought she should be kissed. Only she knew this, and that's precisely why she was grinning from ear to ear.

When the on-ice interview was over, Piper sat back against the love seat cushions with a blissful sigh. Her eyes wandered sideways, only then noticing the three sets of eyes staring back at her. "What?"

"Why didn't you tell us he was in town!" Dani demanded with a grin. "You two are so secretive and excluuusive." She nudged Piper in the side and laughed. "I love it! Now that I've met him and know what a fucking droolworthy, seriously good guy he is..."

"Is he really?" Robin said, her arms hugging one of her long legs against her chest. "Do tell, Piper."

"And if he's such a good guy, why are you still here?" Amy's cheerful voice rang in.

"You mean Bar Harbor?" Piper asked.

"YES, silly!" Amy started to laugh. "Wow, one interview and your brain went all mushy." She looked over at Robin and grinned. "He must be REAL good."

The door had opened. All Piper had to do was put her feet through the door, one at a time, and step through. Do it now, do it now, just tell them. Do it. Commit and do this. She started to inhale deeply, her focus going to her breath as it so often did when she was nervous. "You know...funny you should say that, Amy...."

They all turned and looked at her. Piper met their gazes shakily. Do it. They opened the door. Walk through. "I actually have some news I was hoping to share with the three of you."

The person's expression she noticed first was Dani's. The moment the words left her mouth, Dani was looking at her sharply. Piper assumed she was already figuring out everything she was going to say before she even said it.

"Oh no, is everything okay?" Robin's entire posture changed as a look of worry came over her.

"Everything's fine, yes...Maybe too fine" Piper replied, a smile playing across her face. "I, um...I guess it's another reason I wanted all of you to come over tonight...aside from the game and the wine of course." She took a second to meet each of their gazes, ending with Dani's. Her blue eyes were full, and just a hint of a tiny smile now appeared on her face. Piper nodded at her, knowing she already knew. "I wanted to tell you all that I've decided to move to Pittsburgh to be with Sidney."

Amy's mouth fell open.
Robin grinned.
Danika's face never changed.

Piper smiled uneasily. "I guess we're going to try living together" she continued. "It wasn't a quick decision, and it wasn't easy. But I think it's the right one."

"Ohmigosh, Piper...this is amazing news!" Amy replied. "But....what happens to the studio?"

That's when Piper turned and faced Danika head on. "I'm giving it to you, Dani."

Dani's eyes widened so far Piper could see the white around their blue color. "Me?"

"Let's be honest, Dan. Since July when Sid and I started dating, you have covered for me, helped with scheduling, helped with hiring, helped open and close the studio when I was out of town...You've done my job and then some."

Amy let out a soft aww to Robin, who was nodding and smiling.

"So I can't think of a better person to hand the studio over to" Piper finished.

Danika met Piper's gaze, completely stunned into silence. It was a whirlwind of emotion; bittersweet on so many levels, full of confusion and excitement. She was losing her best friend, but gaining an incredible opportunity. Plus, if Piper was happy, that's really all that mattered. Dani knew how good Sid was for her, and while she had her reservations and jealousy issues when Piper was spending time with him in those first few months...she couldn't deny how well they worked together.

"That's really amazing of you, Piper" she said, feeling and talking as if she was in a daze. "I don't know what to say?? When do you leave?"

Piper looked at her friend sympathetically. "Less than two weeks."

"What are you gonna do in Pittsburgh?" Robin asked.

"I'm researching realty right now" Piper replied. "I'd like to start another studio...not sure how or when that'll happen, but I did it once before, I can do it again, right?"

Dani looked at the ground, still overwhelmed by all this information. "I'm going to miss you, Piper" she said, her gaze lifting sadly. "But I guess you won't be too far."

"I'm going to miss you too, hun. So much."

The two friends fell together, their arms encircling tightly around one another while tears burned in their eyes. On the couch, Amy and Robin watched the moment quietly with tenderness in their gazes.

On the television, Sidney skated up to the line at center ice, bent over his stick. When the puck dropped, he won the face off.

* * *

Ali watched the game unfold from her couch across Pittsburgh. Curled up beneath a blanket and fully dressed in her nightly comfy clothes, she sat and watched as the Islanders scored first. Luckily it was followed by a fast retaliation by the Penguins, care of Chris Kunitz and a beautiful pass by Crosby.

Popping two aspirin and downing them with plenty of Gatorade, Ali couldn't help but keep her entire attention focused on her husband. Even with her headache, she followed the tiny black circle across their television screen, watching as the two teams struggled to gain possession. While her normally-animated other half continued his shifts out on the ice, she knew something was up. She knew James too well to guess otherwise. It was the angry way he seemed to be playing that told Ali something must have been bothering him. Someone on the other team, maybe. Every chance he got, James was checking guys into the boards or sending them flying with a simple thrust of his shoulder, chalking up two sloppy penalties in the meantime.

She re-positioned the pillows beneath her head, which still throbbed just loudly enough that it made her want to turn the tv off and just surrender to the sweet darkness of the living room. She didn't even feel tired, it was just a lingering overall feeling of her annoying PMS symptoms.

Just one more day she thought, watching as James came bolting out of the penalty box and back out onto the ice. One day until I get my period and then one week until we start this all over again.

James flew like the wind; all 6 feet 2 inches of him a dark blur as he skated fast to catch up with the breakaway heading down to the Islander's net. Ali watched him expertly weave through two other players to flank Geno just enough to accept hid flawless pass, taking a damn fine shot at the net. The loud ping of the crossbar could be heard, even on the television feed.

Ali let out a loud groan. "Damn. Close one, babe." Her eyes followed the image of James as the camera zoomed in on him, watching as he mouthed the word fuck in frustration.

Luckily, James didn't cause anymore penalties, and the Pens were able to come back in the third period. They beat the Islanders 3-1, with goals from Kunitz, Crosby, and Letang.

Unfortunately, Ali couldn't last much longer once the game ended, and she was back in bed by the time post-game interviews were aired. She slipped into a shallow, restless sleep in the time it took James to make it home from the game. She heard the door slam downstairs, the rush of his long stride up the stairway, and then saw the light from the hallway streaming inside their bedroom when he entered.

"Hiya babe" she said, rising up off her pillow.

"Hey." James bent to kiss her without saying much else. He disappeared into the master bathroom, removing his suit and tie and leaving it wherever he tossed it. He would worry about picking it up tomorrow. He'd worry about a lot of things tomorrow.

After finishing a few of his pre-sleep routines, James emerged from the bathroom in just his boxers. He noticed Ali was up now, the light of her bedside lamp now illuminating her figure dimly in the otherwise dark bedroom. She was wearing one of his t-shirts, the hem just barely covering her hips as she came up to a full seated position. She looked sleepy but not totally out of it, which he'd been afraid of when he walked in.

"You see most of the game?" he asked, coming around his side of the bed.

"Yeah. Thought you were gonna kill someone out there the way you were checking some of those guys." She shot him a sarcastic smile. "But great job coming back as a whole."

"I may have been looking to get hurt earlier." James slipped under the top sheet so that just his waist-down was covered, resting his hands behind his head. His torso now had a few more bruises on it from the game, but nothing he couldn't sleep off. "Glad I didn't, though. I'm already pretty sore."

"I knew something was up just watching you."

He shifted his eyes her way. "Really? That obvious?"

Ali nodded. "Was there something bothering you? Or did my headache distort things?"

"You still have a headache?" he asked, concern slipping into his voice.

"It's nothing. Same as at the cabin." She slid in closer to his chest and used his shoulder as a pillow. It wasn't as soft, but it was just as comforting, especially when he wrapped his arm about her.

"You sure?"

"Yes. Now tell me about you."

James didn't want to. He was embarrassed he'd let Glass' great news get to him like it did. He was happy for his teammate. He really was. It was just the timing of it all...especially now that he would have to wait another month to see if he and Ali could make another go at it.

He rested his head on hers, kissing her through her hair. "Just me being an ass, as usual. Nothing to see here, move along."

Ali smiled against his chest. "Promise you'll tell me for real tomorrow?"

"Maybe."

"Try again."

"Yes" he mumbled into her hair with a smirk.

"Much better." Ali closed her eyes. "Night, James."

He gave her one more kiss. "Sweet dreams, babe."

* * *

------------------------
Four Days Later
------------------------

Piper taped the last box she could before her packing tape finally ended. She had two rooms done, and only the kitchen and bedroom left. She planned to pack those last so she could at least live in her house for a few more days until it was time.

She puffed out a breath of air as she looked around, her bangs fluttering upwards. Her once colorful house now only colorful in bits and pieces. Some of the main furniture items were staying; but much of her odds and ends were going with her to Pittsburgh. Her house would always be hers, but her life was shifting somewhere else now.

April and David told Piper they'd keep the house for her. They wouldn't put it up for sale, and might use it for themselves, especially in the summer. Since her parents lived farther out of town and Piper lived closer to the ocean, April had ideas they'd use her home as a makeshift camp of sorts; somewhere Bailey and his friends could stay and play while she and David had a break from their own house all at once.

The thought made Piper smile, but it also caused her eyes to sting with water. She refused to let her anxiety over moving and the nostalgia of packing up her things get the best of her. She blinked her tears back, wiped back her bangs, and then got back to work finding another roll of tape.

As she was boxing up a few items from her bedroom she didn't need the next few days, she heard a knock at her door, then the voice of her mother calling.

Piper came out into the kitchen area, wiping her hands on her pants. "Hey, Mom."

"Hi sweetie." April looked in the living room and saw the progress her daughter had made. "Wow…a lot emptier than I thought."

She thought the same thing. "Crazy, isn't it?"

April's no-nonsense expression turned much softer then as she leaned against the doorframe between the rooms. "It's weird to think that next week at this time….you won't be here."

"Don't start or I'll cry" Piper said with an uneasy laugh. "Really."

Her mom smiled at her. "Oh hunny, we all knew you wouldn't stay in Bar Harbor forever. This town just isn't big enough for a spirit like yours."

Piper nodded and her gaze dropped to the floor. "I guess so. I am going to miss it."

"I know, but you aren't disappearing forever."

That's what Piper kept telling herself. No matter how difficult it was to leave, she would always be able to come back. In fact, Piper hoped that Sidney would come back with her…for holidays or for vacations on future three day weekends or whenever he had the time. Lucky for her, he seemed to love the area as much as she did.

"How's Bailey doing?" Piper asked. She was still worried maybe her brother would have a fit when the moment came and he realized she was really leaving.

"Ohhhh, you know him, he's as resilient as you." April's tone was full of motherly adoration. "I think it helps he likes Sid so much."

"It helps that he likes Bailey so much" Piper replied. It was amazing how well Sid and Bailey got along, and it often made her wonder if Sid was as good with every little kid as he was with her brother. Something told her he was.

She sighed and looked around. "I'm gonna miss this. And you. And Dad and Bailey." Looking at her mom, Piper didn't bother to hide the tears that came then. "I hope this is worth it."

April went to her daughter and hugged her close. Their matching features, the vitality of April paired with the youth of Piper, and the way they both had just a slight Downeast Maine cadence to their speech…they could have been sisters more so than mother and daughter. In that moment though, it was clear that April was the mother; the way she comforted her daughter was unmistakable as Piper began to cry.

"Oh babe….don't cry! This is your life. You're beautiful, young, exciting life - and it's only just beginning." April rocked Piper slowly as she held her, and Piper sniffled against her shoulder.

"I'm just scared I'm doing the wrong thing…" she said weakly. "He's got his life figured out and I don't even have a job when I get there."

"When the right thing comes up, you'll know it." April held her out and placed both hands on the sides of Piper's face. "You'll know, just the way you knew about Sidney that night at your friend's wedding. Something made you walk over to him. Something told you to risk it and go for it this summer. That same opportunity will come up in Pittsburgh, and soon enough, you'll be back at teaching again."

Piper laughed through her tears. "You're so good at this."

"You underestimate my mother skills."

"True." She wiped at her nose bashfully. "Sorry for…for this…" She waved her hands at herself. "For being a mess."

"I'd be more concerned if you weren't like this, to be honest" April said with a smile.

Piper saw her mother's practical look return and it made her happy. "Thanks, Mom. You really are the best."

"Just remember…" April pointed a finger at her now, but her smile never left her face. "He fucks up even once? You come back here. No questions asked."

She wrapped an arm around her mom. "Thanks…but somehow, I don't think that's going to happen."

* * *

Ali couldn't focus. Planes came in, planes went out, she did her best to follow Paul's instruction, but she couldn't focus worth a damn.

She sat in the Tower with her knee bouncing nonstop as Paul tried to teach her the next lesson in communications. Her knee kept bouncing, her heart kept racing, her focus kept fading in and out.

Glancing down at her watch, the time told her she had exactly 30 minutes until she could get out of there. 30 minutes. She could manage another 30 minutes.

From the floor below the main Tower level, one of the traffic controllers came up the small stairway, a microwaved lunch in his hands. The scent of the food filled the area where the three of them sat, and it hit Ali hard.

A wave of nausea came over her.

"Wait, Paul---" She held out her hand.

Paul halted and his brow bent seriously. "Are you okay?"

"Jesus." Ali felt a lump forming in her throat. No…no, no….no, no, no….

"You don't look so good, are you sure--"

Ali didn't hear the rest. She bolted from the chair and took the stairwell down to the floor below, running for the bathroom. Her heart was pounding, her arms tingled, and the lump rose further and further.

She flung the door to the ladies room open and fell to her knees by the toilet, unloading her stomach into the white basin.

"Oh FUCK" she said, then retched again, spilling the sandwich she had for lunch only an hour earlier.

Gasping for breath, Ali leaned her tired arms against the toilet seat, her head lolling weakly. Her stomach rolled, but nothing more came out. She wasn't sure there was anything else that could come up.

Once she caught her breath and realized nothing else was going to come up, Ali pushed back and leaned against the wall. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, feeling woozy. She sat there for a minute, staring blankly at the opposite wall.

Her nerves were raw now. Raw. If she was nervous before, she was even more concerned now.

I have to get out of here.

"Allison?" Paul knocked on the door to the women's bathroom. "Are you okay?"

"I think so?" She feebly stood up, one hand bracing against the stall. "I think I need to go home."

And to the pharmacy.

* * *

Notes