In Your Eyes

It was the day before Piper's permanent arrival to Pittsburgh. That morning, the moving truck arrived, delivering the stuff Sid had shipped from Maine for her. He made a quick call, and soon enough, Geno was pulling into the driveway and helping him unload the boxes. With the garage door open, Sid and Geno removed them one by one from the truck parked in the driveway, talking and working in high spirits in the cool October morning.

Sid was impressed by the packing job Piper did. While there were far fewer boxes in the moving truck than he expected, the ones that she sent were marked perfectly. Between himself and Geno, they were able to place the boxes according to the rooms they'd need to be unpacked.

According to Piper's labeling system, most of the boxes were to remain downstairs while just a few went upstairs. Sid did the honor of carrying those, seeing that at least one of the labels included the title of fun stuff, complete with a scribbled smiley face. He laughed to himself as he carried it upstairs. She knew I'd see this.

All in all, it only took the guys about a half hour of hauling, then an additional hour to relax and bullshit. It was rare when they got the chance to do it off the ice when they weren't on a road trip or participating in some sort of function that dealt with the team. Geno was totally pumped for Sid, and spent most of the morning either chirping him or giving him shit for finally living with a chick.

"Excited?" Geno asked, leaning over the kitchen counter.

Sid nodded, arms folding over his chest. "Yeah....yeah, I really am."

"You so happeh....I see it." Geno's friendly smile took up his entire face, with just a hint of mischief to it. "Captain of house now."

"Yeah right, sure" Sid said with a laugh. "The way she does things to me, I'd say I'm anything but in charge."

"She come tomorrow when?"

"Probably in the afternoon" Sid answered. Tomorrow. It seemed like some sort of joke, but indeed...Piper would be standing there instead of Geno tomorrow. It was something Sid felt was so unattainable; so completely out of reach given how he lived and the demands of his life - but it was happening. and it was happening tomorrow.

"Staying half way?"

"Yeah, in New York."

Geno's grin widened. "First thing - naked?"

Sid shook his head. "Probably not the first thing, G."

"No? Why?" He raised his hands as if he was in utter disbelief. "You really no Captain of house."

"I told you, man." Sid looked at him sheepishly, but Geno was nothing but smiles standing there in his black wind pants and gray hoodie. His dark hair was a mess when he took off his hat and patted at his head, his smirk telling Sid he was still chirping him silently in his mind.

They hung out for a little while longer, but both of them needed to eventually get to the arena for their late morning skate. Geno made sure to razz Sid just a few more times before he left him, which left Sid alone in his house for the first time that morning since he woke up. He checked his phone for any missed messages, but all lines seemed to be quiet. As he took the steps two at a time upstairs to shower, he wondered if maybe Piper decided to sleep in before she hit the road. Maybe she was saying her goodbyes. Maybe she was already on the road and just didn't have cell service in rural Maine. Sid couldn't guess, but he liked to imagine.

Piper remained on his mind through his entire shower, mostly because any time he stepped inside he could see them together on the small marbled bench carved out of the wall of his sizable shower. That had been such an intense morning, and his memory was still vivid in his mind: the way he and Piper's wet bodies moved together, her wet hair sticking to her face and shoulders, the way the droplets on her eyelashes made her eyes seem even larger, the way the water felt as her hips grinded slowly against his, driving him to a satisfying state of insanity with her body.

The thought alone stirred him enough to want to jerk off, but he somehow held off. He wanted to hold off on a lot of things until Piper got there; delayed gratification only made the moment that much more intense...and Sid liked intensity, especially with Piper.

After a quick change into his workout clothing and a slip of his hat over his damp hair, Sid fetched two waters out of his fridge and was on the road and headed downtown. He tried Piper's cell one more time, and to his surprise - he heard her voice over the speakers of his Bluetooth, filling his car with instant cheer.

"Guess what?!"

Sid smiled. "What?"

"I'm on Highway 1."

His mouth dropped open. "No way, you're on your way?"

"Mmm hmm!"

"How did your goodbyes go?" he asked cautiously, turning the wheel to hit the highway. "Okay I hope?"

"They went as expected, I guess. Bailey did better than I could've hoped, but there were still tears."

Sid understood how hard of a thing it was that Piper was doing, and she was doing it for him. He never once took this for granted. "That's good to hear. We'll be back to visit soon enough, I'm sure."

"Really? You mean that?"

The bewilderment in her voice made Sidney frown. "Of course I mean that. Did you think I'd never want to go back?"

Piper hesitated. "No...I just..." She laughed softly. "I'm just constantly surprised by how amazing you are, Sid."

He was humbled by her words. He wanted to make sure he made Piper this happy all the time. "Thanks, baby."

"Are you driving right now? I hear a lot of noise."

"I am" he replied, merging into traffic and heading for the Fort Pitt tunnel. "And I think I'm gonna lose you here pretty quick. Heading into the Tunnel."

"Ahhh yes. Can't wait to drive that every day again."

Sid smiled. "Love you. Be safe."

"Love you more. Talk soon!"

He hit the End button on his steering wheel as the dim entrance of the iconic tunnel loomed before him. When Sid emerged into the sunlight on the opposite side, he was still wearing the same dumb smile he wore several miles back.

* * *

The doctor tightened the light blue tourniquet around Ali's arm, then swabbed the area around her vein.

"Make a fist for me."

Ali clenched her hand tight, holding still as she watched her vein become more pronounced. The doctor was good; swift and efficient and nary a sting as the needle entered her arm. She looked away, preferring not to watch her life force drain from her, no matter how necessary.

In less than a minute, she felt a cotton ball where the needle had been, followed by a bright green bandage.

"All set, Mrs. Neal."

Ali smiled and hopped down. "How long until I know the results?" She watched as the doctor adhered a label onto her vial of blood; the dark maroon liquid holding the true answer to how her future would play out.

He looked up at the clock on the wall. "It's 9 am now....so I'd say by at least 2 this afternoon."

"Wow." Ali felt her nerves increase all over again. "And then what?"

The doctor handed the vial to one of the lab nurses and slipped off both of his latex gloves. "Then....you either start eating for two, or you don't." He gave her a kindly smile.

"So I can't indulge on a doughnut yet?" she joked.

"Only ones without sprinkles. Save those for if the result is positive."

Ali shook his hand, feeling as though she already knew whether she'd be getting sprinkles on her donuts now or not. "Thanks again, Dr. Abbot. I guess we'll be in touch?"

"I'll have Nancy call you as soon as I hear word of the results." He patted her on the back. "Good luck. If this is positive as well, let me be the first to congratulate you and James."

"I appreciate that more than you know." She picked up her purse and gave him a little wave as she slipped out the door. She made her way through the maze of hallways in the massive building and finally exited into the bright sun of the new day.

New day, new life, new everything.

The second she got in her car, she texted James: All done, babe. Another waiting game. Lunch at the usual place when you're done? Let me know!

Before she pulled out of the parking lot, Ali dialed Piper. She knew her friend was likely already on her way, and she couldn't be more excited. Everything was so exciting these days, she could hardly deal with it. It was like one big wave that came crashing down all around her, spilling nothing but happiness.

After exactly one ring, Piper picked up. "Girl!"

"PIPER. Where are you?"

Her friend laughed on the other line. "I literally just left an hour ago, so I'm not far."

"Dammit, hurry up!" Ali teased. "But really - are you dying yet?"

"Almost dead as we speak."

"Well don't die yet - there's all KINDS of greatness waiting for you here." She felt a little guilty, knowing what she knew about her pregnancy and not telling anyone yet, but she wanted to be absolutely sure. It was the reason behind the blood test. Once those results came back - it would be a free for all of knowledge on everyone she knew.

"I just talked to the Greatness himself and he sounds pretty psyched" Piper said, her smile evident over the phone. "Can you really believe I'm moving BACK to Pitt?"

"I can't? But holy FUCK am I in love with it all the same" Ali replied happily. "And you know Sid is psyched! Why is there even any question in your voice?"

Piper sighed. "Guess I'm still in awe."

This brought a smile to Ali's face. "Will you need help unpacking when you get here?"

"I may, I may. You offering?"

"Offering whatever I can do to help, my dear!" Just as she responded, she felt a quick vibration against her ear. She took a glance and saw it was James.

"What I really need is help finding a building for sale within my budget to start a new practice here." There was a hint of exhaustion in Piper's voice as she said this. "Ahh, but there's time, right?"

"I'd be happy to help you with that too, if you want?" Ali hoped she would say yes. "Just let me know and you've got yourself a helping hand."

"I love you, Ali" Piper said, her cheerful tone returning. "And I love how we're going to get to spend more time together. Holy shit though - if someone back in college would've told me THIS would be happening a few years after graduation, I would not have believed it. Would you?"

Ali shook her head, looking down at her steering wheel and smiling. "No…I really wouldn't have." She said this softly, her mind wandering to her own life she never guessed she'd have. She married the man she thought she'd never have, and was now going to have a baby with him.

"Alright, my friend - I better go. Heading towards a cell phone dead area, if you can believe that." Piper groaned. "No more of that now, huh?"

She laughed. "Nope - cell service everywhere here! Have a great trip and keep in touch, okay?"

"You'll be the first person I call when I roll into town!"

The girls said goodbye and Ali was still smiling at how happy her old roommate sounded as she checked the text message from James.

J: I feel it in my uterus: it'll be positive. See u at lunch.

Ali laughed out loud.

* * *

James maneuvered the puck back and forth, quick and fast, over and back across the center line.

Brady, Evan, Zach, Tyler....

Back and forth.
Back and forth.

Emma, Lindsay, Brooke, Lilly...

His stick scraped quietly across the ice as he controlled the puck, tapping it around and along the line to the pace of his mind.

Teddy, Cody, Danny, Jayden...

"Nealer!"

He looked up. "Yeah?" His voice echoed across the empty arena as his eyes followed Coach Bylsma as he made his way along the boards to the bench.

"How long you gonna be here?" he called back.

James skated over, gliding to a stop. "I don't know, just messing around. They need it for something?"

"A group of kids are coming in for a scrimmage from one of the area school districts in about an hour." Dan was smiling subtly as he studied his tall forward. "You doing alright?"

"Oh yeah, definitely." James smirked. "But it's good to know you think something's wrong when I'm still out on the ice a half hour after practice."

Dan enjoyed the chirp. "Glad you recognize that" he sassed back. "Though I'm surprised that after all this time, you think I can't tell when one of my guys has something on their mind."

James and Dan's eyes met in that moment. He'd nabbed him, but James and Ali had agreed to keep their news to themselves until they could inform their families. In the meantime, James was playing it cool...or so he thought. "Naah, everything's cool, Dan. You have my word."

Slowly, Dan began to nod his head as he glanced about the empty rink. "Good, that's good." He tapped the small booklet he'd been holding against his opposite hand and gave James a wave. "See ya tomorrow?"

"You got it."

He watched until Dan had left and he was the only one on the ice again. With an easy push, James skated away and began to glide around the rink alone. It was just him and his thoughts, which is all he wanted all morning. He wanted to hang out with just his stick and the ice; his two oldest and most reliable friends.

As he glided behind the net and came around the corner, his thoughts drifted to the conversation he and Ali had the night before as they lay together in bed.

"So we'll wait until your parents are in town in a few days?"

"Yeah, then we'll tell them and your parents."

"Can we road trip and tell them?"

"Anything you want. Anything."

James smiled to himself, skating in a wide circle back to center ice. He looked around the arena he considered his second home and tried to imagine having his son or daughter with him, on the ice, maybe winning the Cup, maybe just at a family skate...he didn't care.

Maria, Amber, Jenny, Leah...

He slid to a sharp stop.

Chris, Riley, Jason, Deter...

"No. Not Deter" James said aloud with a grin. He sighed, still completely riding the high he had for almost 24 hours now. If he could feel this way his whole life, he'd die a happy man. Fact was, James knew he was going to be even happier in the future...if that was even possible.

Finally deciding to call it quits, James left the ice for the day and headed down the runway to the locker room. He was out of his gear and out of the shower in less than 15 minutes flat, throwing a handful of water into his hair just for good measure.

Keys jingling in his hand as he spun the ring about his index finger, James walked out to the garage where he was parked. The music he'd been blasting on the way to practice scared him as he fired the engine, blasting in the speakers just as loudly as he'd left it earlier that morning. It was evidence of the nonstop high he was on; that feeling of bliss and satisfaction he didn't want to ever lose.

James never turned the music down, either. As he sped from the exit of the parking garage and hit 579 to get him to his and Ali's favorite lunch spot, he cracked the music even louder. He figured he was 'that guy' on the highway, the one in a way-too-nice car with way-too-loud music blaring from it.

He didn't care.

He slipped his black sunglasses over his eyes to shield his eyes from the midday sun. Even in late October, southwest Pennsylvania had its days, and today was one of those days. The sun was shining, the air brisk but not bone-chilling like it would be in a few weeks. The last few colored leaves on the trees that dotted the landscape fell on sidewalks and streets; the remnants of summer now long passed.

As James pulled up to the establishment he and Ali dubbed their go-to favorite spot, he already spotted her large black SUV. He felt the familiar jump of his heart when he knew he was going to see her. It didn't matter they'd been at this for two years together and that they were married now. If Ali was in his life, James knew his heart would always jump for her.

He slipped his wallet and keys into the back pocket of his jeans and headed inside. Sure enough, Ali was in the table they always sat at with his drink waiting for him. Her dark eyes were as expressive as ever, especially when she spotted him. James kissed her before she had a chance to stand, feeling her smile against his mouth. "Hi babe."

"Hi handsome." Ali watched him take seat across from her, folding up his sunglasses. His light blue zip hoodie and white t-shirt beneath fit over his lean body almost too well. It was the curse she'd have to live with her whole life: staring at him.What a terrible fortune she thought with a smirk.

"What's that smile for?" he taunted, his own smirk forming. He watched her shoulders shrug as if she didn't know.

"Just admiring my baby daddy."

He almost snorted. "Baby daddy, huh." He met her playful gaze and shook his head. I'm in love with this woman so much it hurts.

"I already ordered. Hope that's okay?" She bit her straw as she took a drink, her eyes staying on him.

"Get the usual?"

"Yep."

"Did you get double of your order?"

Ali frowned. "Why?"

"Eating for two now." He lifted an eyebrow and it made her giggle.

"We don't know that for sure yet."

James' head lolled to one side. "Really. Allison."

"Well!?!?" She looked away guiltily. "I just don't want to be disappointed by thinking--"

"--Ali."

Her eyes drew back to center.

James smiled. "We're having a baby."

"I hope so" she replied. "I really, really hope so. Plus...I mean...if you had a feeling somewhere in your uterus that convinces you, then who am I to argue?"

They looked at one another and laughed. Beneath the table, James knocked her leg gently. "Was thinking about names today."

"You were?" Ali made an aww face. "James."

"I think I settled on what I like best...one for if we have a boy, one for if we have a girl."

His generous smile told Ali he was nearly bursting at the seams to tell her. "What are they?"

"Brady for a boy and Brooke for a girl...but that's because I know how much you like that name, and I'm cool with it."

"Well at least we agree on that name" she teased. "But Brady's okay too."

"Just okay??" James laughed. "Okay...how about Evan?"

"Evan Neal?" Ali considered this for a second. "It's okay....Brady Neal sounds better. Brooke Neal sounds the best."

"Brooke Neal." James leaned back against the booth. "Settled."

"Well...now that that's out of the way - do we know where he or she is going to college?"

"University" James corrected her.

Ali rolled her eyes. "This kid is being born in the U.S. not Canada."

"But it'll have Canadian blood in his veins." James smirked. "His mommy got pregnant from having Canadian dick in her, sooo..."

"You missed the joke anyways." Ali sassed him with a move of her head. "I win."

James hooked a hand over the top of his glass, glancing out the window casually. "Uh huh. Whatever."

Their lighthearted back-and-forth was interrupted by the waitress delivering their lunch. They both ordered their usual sandwiches, which were always overflowing with contents in the best of ways. James eyed his hungrily, tearing into his within seconds. In doing so, he noticed as he chewed that Ali was staring at her plate with a frown. "Is it okay?"

"Yeah, it is..."

He swallowed. "Are you not okay?"

"Fuck me" she mumbled, sliding out from the booth.

James watched in alarm as Ali went scurrying to the back of the tiny restaurant, shoving the door that led to the ladies restroom. He looked around, confused. Dropping his sandwich on his plate and brushing his hands off on his jeans, he crossed the distance to the back of the restaurant. He pressed an ear to the door and heard what he feared. Without even hesitating, he pushed open the door. "Holy shit, Ali? Are you okay?"

From one of the three stalls came the sound of someone vomiting. James winced, finding it both gross and painful to hear, especially since he couldn't help.

"Are you...." Ali gagged and then coughed. "...are you really in here...right now?"

James tried to push open the stall door she was behind, but it was locked. "Let me in. I want to help you." Ali unleashed again, sending his own stomach into a sickening curl.

"No....I got....I got thiiiiiiss---" She heaved and vomited again into the basin in front of her.

"Jesus christ, Als." James had been hungover more times than he cared to admit. He'd seen guys in the league vomit for a host of reasons, himself included. None of those moments sounded like this. He leaned his head against the door, a powerful sense of compassion for her washing over him. "Can I get you something?"

Ali was panting hard, feeling the same woozy feeling come over her that she had at work just two days ago. "I think...I think I'm good now." She coughed weakly. "Fuck this sucks."

James smiled. "Still worried you're not pregnant?"

She leaned her head back against the cool tiles of the wall. "Pretty sure I am at this point. Something in my uterus tells me so."

* * *

"400 miles to Pittsburgh to go, 400 miles to gooooo. One mile down, then drive around....399 miles to Pittsburgh to gooo."

Piper sighed, her hands tired from gripping the wheel. The vivid blue numbers on the dashboard of her Jetta read 9:09 pm, and she was spent. The darkness outside her windows did nothing to help her weary eyes. All the lights of passing cars seemed to blind her with their bright fuzziness.

"399 miles to Pittsburgh to go, 399 miles to gooooo...."

Singing wasn't helping, but at least it kept her awake. She figured she was somewhere near Poughkeepsie, New York, since just a half hour ago she passed by the Connecticut state sigh wishing her a fond farewell and to return again soon.

Yeah...but in a plane next time, she thought.

Desperately needing to pee and stretch her legs, Piper took the first exit that had a gas station or a mini-mart where she could do both. She was down to 3/4 of a tank as well, so gas would also be on the list.

She stretched her arms over her head when she climbed out of her car, finally standing for the first time in hours. There was a cold breeze blowing, so Piper hugged her coat against her as she filled her car with fuel. A quick bathroom break and a Red Bull later, she felt 100% refreshed and rearing to get back on the road.

Spreading her large atlas out across her lap, she munched on peanut M&Ms as she studied her route. The original plan was to make it to Poughkeepsie and stay there for the night, then hit the road first thing in the morning, making it to Pittsburgh by early afternoon. The gas station she was currently parked at was in a town exactly 20 minutes from Poughkeepsie, which meant she was likely only 30 minutes from finally laying down and falling asleep.

She took a swig of her Red Bull and looked beyond Poughkeepsie to the interstates she needed to get to in Pennsylvania. Though she'd only driven this route once or twice in her entire time spent in college, she knew how far everything was by hours. Pennsylvania may be one wide state, but Piper knew the only thing keeping her from Pittsburgh were two easy interstates. Straight lines, very few detours, tons of rest stops. The second half of her trip was the easiest; it was nothing like the two-lane roads and congested highways near Boston that she'd just traveled.

She glanced at the digital numbers on her dash again.

9:27 pm.

I could be there by 3 am.

She looked down at the map leaning against her steering wheel.

I could wake him up tonight.

I could also get a good night's sleep, too.

Piper popped a handful of M&Ms and crunched thoughtfully.

Or I could wake him up tonight.

She tossed the M&Ms bag and the atlas in her passenger seat and stuck the key in the ignition. Gaining a newfound energy with her freshly-changed plans, Piper put in a new cd in the slot and turned it up. The song that played was a bouncy, upbeat tune that could've been a soundtrack for her emotions at that moment. Merging back onto the interstate and setting her cruise control, Piper was on her way.

*

Sid was cold. It was cold outside and it was cold in his bedroom. He buried himself down under the blankets further while remaining somewhere between fully awake and a drowsy half-sleep state. He debated getting up and throwing a t-shirt on, but he was too tired to get up. His workout and practice the day before, plus hauling boxes with Geno, had been a lot for one day...even for him. Even laying there, he felt fatigued enough to depend on his blankets to keep him warm so he wouldn't have to get up.

And then his doorbell rang.

Because of his half-sleeping delirium, Sid didn't hear the chimes downstairs. He pushed his face against his pillow and felt his body relax as he snuggled deeper beneath the sheets.

His doorbell rang a second time - and this time he heard it.

What the fuck? He sat up and rubbed the butt of his palm into one of his tired eyes. On the bedside table to his right, his phone lit up with a text message.

Then the doorbell rang again.

"Who the hell..." He stood up and adjusted the band of his boxers, still rubbing at his eyes as he shuffled towards the hallway. Ignoring the text and going for the door instead, Sid made his way carefully downstairs, making sure not to trip in the darkness. This better not be some kind of fucking prank... he thought, unlocking the two bolts on the door. When he opened it and saw who stood in front of him, it was enough to shock him completely out of his groggy state.

Piper smiled and held up a plastic bag full of styrofoam containers. "Hope you like hash browns."

It was inexplicable what Sidney felt at that moment seeing her there at his doorstep, nearly 12 hours earlier than she should've been standing there. "Piper..." It was all he could say. He was at a total loss for words.

It was one word: her name. And with that single word, Piper knew she'd made the right decision to tough it out and finish the drive that night. Standing there in boxers that were slightly twisted about his broad waist, Sid looked good...damn good...but he looked tired. His thick hair stood up on one side and a tiny shadow of stubble lined his upper lip and jaw line. His large eyes were even larger now that he saw her standing there. It made Piper feel a little bad she'd woken him up.

"What are you--"

"--Shhh." She crossed the doorstep and pressed her body against his, one hand wrapping around his neck so her fingers could sink into all of that dark hair. It was fluffy, soft...smushed from his pillow but felt so damn good to grasp. As her lips connected with his, Sid's mouth was slow to join in with her quicker rhythm but it didn't take him long to catch up.

With one hand hooked about her waist, Sid used his other to gently take the bag from Piper and drop it to the floor. The second he did, he used that same hand to shut the door. As soon as the bolt latched, Sid used both of his hands to bring Piper upstairs where he had zero intentions of ever letting her leave any time soon.

* * *

Notes