In Your Eyes

The cameramen were spread out around the tarmac. Mike, one of the longstanding producers of In the Room, was there in St. Louis filming as well. He was adjusting the lens and the lighting for the upcoming shot of the players' parents walking down the jet bridge stairs. The giant charter plane sat still, engines still running but cutting back on their speed.

The engines caused a bit of a breeze along the tarmac where Mike stood, so he adjusted some of the background noise cancelers. As he knelt to get a more dramatic view, someone from inside the plane dropped the stairs. They slowly floated down until the base rested on the tarmac.

Mike began filming.

First off the plane was Sidney Crosby, who allowed his mother, Trina, and his father Troy, to descend the stairs before him. Mike zoomed in on the parents first, then Sidney himself, as they descended. They talked lightly together, Trina's smile ever-present as much as Sidney's matching smile was. The tail of his suit coat fluttered as he descended, and as he adjusted and buttoned his jacket, Sid made a point to smile right at Mike as he walked past.

Next came the Malkins, who flew in from Russia just to support their son and be a part of the week's extra special filming. They were a bit more animated as they appeared alongside Evgeni on the jet bridge.

Player after player descended and were followed or joined at their side by one or both of their parents, whoever could make it. James Neal and both his mother and father descended together. Deborah was as chatty as ever with her son, while his father, Peter, allowed both of them to descend before himself.

On down the line it went. The Fleurys. The Letangs. The Vitales, who were native to St. Louis and simply drove, but descended the plane all the same for the dramatics of it. On and on they came, and Mike filmed them all.

The families filed into the buses that were waiting for them; twice the amount now, due to the extra members now attending the last part of their two-day stretch of road games. From here they would travel back to the hotel, go out to dinner as an entire unit, and then the players wouldn't see their family until long after the game and they boarded the plane the following morning. From there, the remainder of filming would occur in Pittsburgh and on home ice.

As soon as every member of the team and their parents boarded the buses, Mike stopped recording and stood up. He clicked a few buttons, adjusted the microphone on his video recorder, and packed it up.

He'd do it all over again once they got back to the hotel, and then again at dinner.

*

Sidney sat with the rest of the team at one of four very long dining tables that had been set up at one of the local restaurant's private dining rooms. After making the rounds to shake hands and visit with as many moms and dads as he could, he weaved through the chairs and tables back towards his seat. Glancing around, he noticed a camera in every corner, filming their every move. This wasn't a huge deal, of course. Sid was as comfortable in front of a camera as he was with anything; he practically grew up with them in his face at all times. He just hoped that tonight, of all nights, his tension wouldn't be as visible as it had been in days past.

He sat between his mom and dad; Troy on his right, Trina on his left. They were both in conversation with those adjacent to them, so Sid was free to disappear into his own mind. His thoughts bounced between the game later that night, his parents meeting Piper, Piper finding a yoga studio, and the solidity of it all.

In between activities, such as Coach Bylsma's formal greeting to everyone there and the first round of drinks being offered to each of the guests, Sid was able to check his phone. Twice he had received texts from Piper: one was a picture of her contract she signed with the realtor, the other was a simple Thinking of you. Hope you're having fun. Mwah. This made Sid smile, which...of course....his father picked up on.

"What's going on." Troy nodded at the phone in his son's hands, which he'd been keeping below the table. "Something's got you smiling."

Sid slipped the phone back in his pocket. "Just a text message."

"I see." He tipped the glass of ice water back, taking a cube in his mouth and chewing silently.

Shit, he's chewing ice already. Sid readjusted the sleeves of his suit coat, giving his attention to the Bennett family seated across the table from him. As he was just about to laugh and join in on their conversation, he felt a nudge in his side. He turned and looked at his father expectantly.

"You can say it's your girlfriend, son." Troy smiled at him, albeit it was a muted smile, but it was there. "Didn't your mother tell you?"

"Tell me what?" Sid leaned his head in to him, signaling he should keep it as quiet as he could.

"That I'm looking forward to meeting her." Troy clasped his hands in front of his mouth, elbows resting on the table. "I've seen enough of her on television these days, I might as well finally see what she's like--"

"--Can we talk about this later?" Sid whispered, a smile on his face the entire time so that cameras wouldn't suspect anything.

Troy gave a nod and lifted the glass again, another ice cube going in his mouth.

With a finger, Sid pulled at the collar of his white button-down, wishing he could undo some of the buttons. It was getting warm in the room, and the food hadn't even arrived yet.

Looking forward to meeting her? Is that what he said?

Sid grabbed his glass of water as well, gulping down several swallows.

If he means that, I'll shit and slide in it.

*

At one of the tables closest to the double-door entrance, James sat laughing and drinking with his parents. The Malkins sat across from them and were telling a story in terribly broken English, which James found to be hilarious. Natalia had a knack for story-telling despite her thick accent, and Vladamir interjected with perfectly timed humor which was hard to resist. James had had only one drink and it was weak, but he had been laughing so hard alongside his mother that he felt ten drinks in.

When dinner came, things calmed down a little, but James continued to thoroughly enjoy himself. The next few days were going to be nothing but greatness, and he couldn't wait to get home and to the news that he was keeping from his parents. Knowing and not telling them made it all the more fun and kept the excitement building.

"So hopefully Ali won't be too busy at class or off working while we're home?" Deborah said. "I feel like I haven't seen her in ages."

James chewed and wiped his mouth with his napkin. "She has to work, yeah - but she's planned her free time around you guys." He gave his mother a rise of an eyebrow. "More excited to see her than me? Is that how it is?"

Deb exhaled and flipped a corner of her blonde hair off her shoulder. "Hunny please. As if that's going to work on me."

James slumped a little. "C'mom Mom. Just teasing here" he said, fluffing up her hair a little.

"You know not to touch your mother's hair." Peter leaned over and winked at his son, to which James laughed.

"Right, I know the drill." He turned towards Natalia. "Speaking of hair - Geno clearly got the good looking genes from you, Nattie."

"You mean genes...like hair, eyes?" She moved her hands over her head with a smile. "Much nicer looking than him." She patted her husband's shoulder and laughed. Even Vladimir and Geno shared a good-humored laugh.

"Same here, actually" James teased. He made sure to nod at both of his parents so they knew he was joking. He was having too much fun. In fact, the past weekend so far had been nothing but fun. Between relaxing by a pool in Florida to a family dinner with his mom and dad and the Malkins right across from him, James was loving every second. All they needed was a win tonight to cap it off, and he'd be home free.

He glanced down at the large dark watch on his wrist: 4:08 pm.

A little over 12 hours to go he though, smiling as he raised his glass to his lips.

*

The Penguins ate and talked and laughed, and Mike walked slowly along with his camera, filming them. Through his lens, he captured the happy expressions of the players and their parents. He shot many of them laughing together, parents and teammates alike.

Moving along silently, Mike caught a moment between Sidney and his mother where they were both smiling at one another; Sidney's grin taking on more of a bashful look.

He caught a moment between Joe Vitale and his Italian mother and father, whose larger-than-life personalities made for great filming. They sat near Pascal Dupuis and his family, causing quite a ruckus at their end of the table.

Many of the others were eating and talking lightly, but the other cameras caught those moments. Mike was interested only in the stand-out moments that might actually be aired on the upcoming episodes. He had an artistic eye for this sort of thing, and found more than one opportunity to shoot some of the guys and their parents in more vulnerable states.

One such moment was when Peter Neal was looking down at a picture on James' phone he was showing him. Both men were smiling and laughing, and Peter patted his son on the shoulder tenderly.

Another moment came when Marc-Andre's wife called. He placed her on speaker phone to talk to his parents there at the dinner. A loud Awww could be heard coming from his side of the table.

And so Mike went along, accumulating snippets for the upcoming show, knowing that the group of guys sitting there weren't always the hot headed, sweaty, fighting tooth-and-nail for the puck kind of guys most people saw on tv. He hoped that whatever he filmed would be something he could share with the fans, so that they, too, could see it.

* * *

Ali laid on her side on the couch, blanket draped over her, fluffy slippers sticking out at the end. Her stomach had been weak all evening, so she stuck to eating Freeze-pops her and James still had leftover from the summer. Their chilled, syrupy flavor was easy on her, and was actually strangely delicious in a way.

As she watched the game go into the third period, she heard a knock on the front door. Her first reaction was a groan, but as she shuffled out to the foyer and opened the door, her attitude completely changed. "Well hey there, stranger! Where have you been all my life?"

"Sorrrryyyyyy." Piper encircled Ali in her arms, the pair hugging one another tight. "Thought you could use some company tonight, since I'm kinda in the same boat."

"You read my mind. Come on in."

Piper stepped inside and looked around the large but cozy home. She could hear the tv blaring from the living room, the voices of the announcers narrating every move of the game. She followed Ali down the hall, her purple slippers scuffing along the hardwood.

"You want something to drink? Eat?" she asked as they passed the kitchen. "What's mine is yours...although the contents of our freezer are dwindling."

They came into the living room and Ali slumped down under her blanket, leaving Piper the chair or love seat. Right away she noticed at least ten empty plastic wrappers of freeze-pops laying on the coffee table.

Piper laughed. "Damn girl, got a craving for frozen shit - even in this weather?"

"Is it bad out?" Ali hugged her blanket close. "I haven't been out in two days."

"Two days?" She watched Ali's dark brown eyes shift her way.

"Yeah, why? Did I miss something? Pittsburgh still standing?"

She smiled. "Yes...it's still very much there. Are you sure you're feeling okay? Ever since the other day at lunch, I've been worried about you."

"I'm fine, really. Just a little out of it."

Piper kept her gaze fixed on her friend. Ali wouldn't look at her when she'd said it, and now she seemed ultra-interested in the game. After a few moments of silence, Ali eventually looked at her.

"What?"

"You're not okay, Allison."

"I AM!"

"You go to every game of James' that you can, and you could the past couple games - but you didn't go." Piper scrutinized the guilty look that washed over Ali's face. "I know you."

"Maybe..."

Her long eyelashes batted quickly, signaling she was about to cry. Piper had seen it one too many times in college: too many heartbreaks, too many bad test grades, too many fights with their parents. "So are you sure you're okay?"

Ali looked down in exhaustion. "I'm sorry, Piper..."

"Oh hun! Why are you sorry? And why are you crying??" She just couldn't understand. "Is it your time of the month or something?"

Ali held the blanket up to her face to shield it from Piper. "No. More like the exact opposite."

It came out as a bit of a wail but Piper had heard it none the less. "Whoa, wait, hold on....hold on...." She watched with wide eyes as Ali shook her head, the floppy ponytail she'd been wearing sliding loosely to one side.

"It's no use....I can't STOP crying..."

Piper winced when Ali blew her nose into the blanket. "Why can't you stop? What's---"

"--I'M PREGNANT." She looked up at Piper with red eyes, her chest a little shaky. She lifted her hand to her mouth. "Oh God..."

All breathing stopped between the women. On the tv, the Pens had just scored....but neither heard it.

Piper blinked.

Ali sniffled.

Piper blinked again. "Ali..."

"Please don't tell" she said quickly, chewing on the end of the blanket. "For real. I swore to James I wouldn't say anything until we told our parents this week. We wanted them to know first."

"Hang on, hang on - I'm still four sentences behind" Piper said, holding out her hand as she absorbed the news. It all made sense now. The more she thought about it, the more obvious it had been the entire time. The overly-emotional state Ali had been in, her not coming to the games and not acting like her usual, vivacious self...

Piper's green eyes met the dark color of Ali's. "When did you find out?"

"A week ago? Maybe two? I don't know. I just..." She looked at the tv and sighed. Tears ran down her face, and her olive complexion glistened from the wetness. "I'm just so happy."

Piper rushed over to the couch and hugged her. "Oh God, Ali - I am so happy for you!"

Ali made a noise close to a sniffle-laugh against Piper's shoulder. "Thank you."

"How's James?" she asked, holding Ali out to see her. She watched the smile she knew all too well appear again on Ali's face. "He's a proud papa already, isn't he?"

Ali was nodding and laughing through the tears. "Piper - he's so good to me, and this kid....this kid is going to be so lucky..." She fanned at her face, trying to hold back the tears again but was failing. "Oh if I wasn't such a mess all the fucking time!"

She laughed and held Ali's hands in her own. As she rubbed them, she noticed they were shaking slightly. Piper hoped to give her some comfort knowing she didn't care how much she cried, or why, or when she cried. The news was unexpected but it was the best news she'd had in a long damn time. Even signing her new building wasn't as exciting---

"Whoa."

Ali wiped her nose with the blanket. "What?"

Piper stared off as her mind ran with the idea that just came to her. She moved her eyes back to Ali and smiled. "You know what?" Piper started to nod and her smile grew as the idea flourished inside her. "You know what - I think I may have just the thing for you and your new baby, Ali."

* * *

Later that night, back in St. Louis, the Pens picked up the second win of the weekend and ended on a sufficiently high note. Parents and sons alike were pleased, and all slept easily that night.

The next morning, however....two of those sons were nervous as they awoke and showered. Neither had slept that well, but for two totally different reasons. James was nervous in the excited kind of way, while Sidney was nervous in the apprehensive kind of way.

Neither showed it, especially when they met up with their parents in the lobby and boarded the bus. They kept their composure as well as they settled themselves on the plane, but their minds were running nonstop the entire flight.

When the Penguins landed, both those sons sent text messages to their significant others.

James: the Neals have landed. can't wait to see u and touch u and DO THIS with u.

Sidney: Just landed. Will be home in about 20 minutes. Hopefully this goes well.

*

Piper was pacing. There wasn't a single breathing technique she had within her mind that could help her now.

Cmon, he loves you. They'll love you. He said so.

Her fingers wrung together as she walked up and down the hallway. Twice she checked herself in the bathroom mirror, wondering if her hair was too fluffed, or not fluffed enough. Was the top she wore too revealing? Did it make her look dumpy?

What if they think I'm not worthy of their son?

She blinked and tried to see herself with new eyes, except the reflection staring back at her was the same reflection she'd been looking at all morning. Just her and her half-wavy, half-curly hair that was neither light brown nor blonde. It was her same goofy smile and her cheeks that seemed to never turn a shade other than pale pink.

All of it stared back at her in the mirror.

"Uuuggghhhh."

She stomped out of the bathroom and resumed pacing. Every little sound outside made her think it was the car coming up the driveway delivering her boyfriend and his parents.

Oh god, his parents.
I've always been so great with parents, why should that change now?

"Because you're living with Canada's Prince, according to everyone surrounding you, Piper" she said aloud. "Because he's the next best thing to Gretzky, says every article you looked up this summer."

Inhale slow. Exhale slow.

One thing about mindful meditation that Piper loved was how focusing on the moment and nothing more was how it brought peace and calm to the mind. Normally it did, but no matter how hard she tried as she paced, her thoughts would flit between what Sid's mom might look like…what his dad might say to her….what Sid might feel through it all….would she truly be worthy....

Inhale slow. Exhale slow.

She tried to feel the wood floor beneath her feet, the softness of her socks warding off the bit of chill she felt from its surface. She focused on her breath: entering her nose, filling her lungs, leaving her nose; all things she could acutely focus on if she had a yoga mat beneath her.

There was a noise outside and Piper turned to face the door, eyes wide.

Oh shit.

It was the garage door.

Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.

Piper went and stood in the kitchen and waited.

No, I can't stand here like a puppy waiting for her owner to return home.

She glanced around and thought of the living room. She trotted quickly into the living room as she heard the garage door closing. Hurriedly, she crossed her legs and picked up a yoga supply catalogue she'd been reading that morning and pretended to look casual.

I'll just nonchalantly walk out when they come in--

"Baby?"

"Hey!" Piper nervously tossed the catalogue onto the coffee table and stood. "You're home!"

Now or nothing, Piper.

She walked out into the kitchen to see her boyfriend in all his suited-up glory, his hair looking perfect and his smile adorning the face she'd never tire of seeing.

"I missed you" Sidney said, reaching for her.

Piper let his hand clasp in hers as he pulled her towards him. She heard two voices coming from the garage even as Sid pressed his soft lips to hers. "Babe, should we be--"

There was a delighted inhale. "There she is!" Coming through the door first was Trina Crosby. She dropped her suitcase and clasped her hands beneath her chin. "Oh god, Sidney - she's even more beautiful in person."

Piper almost exhaled some sort of choking-laughter sound but swallowed it. "Oh Trina, you're too kind, really."

"Come here."

Trina didn't waste time in hugging her. Piper immediately made the connection between Sid and his mother; the nose, the mouth, the no-nonsense way she looked at her son when they broke the hug. It was all very Sidney…and yet, different.

"I can't believe it" Trina said looking up at Piper, as she was much taller than her. Her smile was huge, and spoke of a mother's approval. "My son finally found his match."

Piper smiled humbly. "Or I've met mine, I'm not sure." She looked over at Sid and smiled at him, watching his eyes dance away from her shyly.

When Piper looked back, she looked for the first time into the eyes of Troy, who stepped into the kitchen carrying most of the luggage left behind.

"Don't mind me" he said with some humor, "I'll just be carrying my son's equipment into the house like I've been doing for the past 20-some years."

Trina and Sidney laughed, but Piper was too nervous to. Did he just make a joke? I thought he was supposed to be--

"Piper?" he asked, hand extending towards her.

"Yes! Troy - so nice to meet you…" She went to shake his hand, but the second their hands met, she was pulled into a hug not all unlike the one she had received from Sidney. Troy's arms were strong and firm, and Piper was smiling as if she cheated death somehow when he patted her on the back.

"You're a deal taller than I thought you were" he replied as they parted. He was looking at her and smiling still. "Surprised my son took a chance and went with someone almost as tall as he is."

Trina clicked her tongue. "Troy…"

"That would rule out a lot of girls, wouldn't it?" Piper teased. She elbowed Sid and gave him a reassuring wink.

Troy was nodding, the stern lines of his face softening at the sound of her joke. "Yes, suppose it would" he replied with a smile.

"So they're going to stay tonight and the rest of the time in the hotel" Sid told her, trying to get the topic off of his height. He gave Piper as sympathetic a smile as he could.

"Hopefully that's okay?" Trina's gaze was apprehensive. "I know you weren't expecting it, but we were just so excited to meet you."

Piper waved a hand and laughed it off. "Of course it's okay. I actually got one of the guest rooms ready, just in case. In fact, I was hoping you guys might stay." She wrapped an arm around Sid's and stared into his eyes. "Gives me a chance to meet the parents who raised this incredible man."

Troy's eyebrows rose, his eyes shifting slowly to meet his son's. When his father smiled at him, Sid felt himself finally begin to relax. Piper must have seen it too, because a second later he felt her hand squeeze his. He hoped against hope they would see how happy he was and how truly serious he was when it came to the woman who's arm was encircled about his.

"Well..." Trina was the first to break the silence. She lifted her suitcase back into her hands. "Guess we should get out of the way of you two and get upstairs--"

"Here, I can take those." Piper said, offering to take the luggage.

"No, noooo, you don't need to offer. You and Sidney relax - we'll try not to be in your hair the entire night."

Piper took the luggage anyways. "I'll make you a deal. I bring the luggage up, you follow me and see just how much more livable your guest room looks since I moved in."

Beside the two women, Sidney smiled at his dad, and Troy smiled back.

"You drive a hard bargain" Trina said with a glint in her eye. "But I suppose I'll let you this time."

"Great! Come with me." Piper let go of Sidney's arm, but her gaze lingered on his just a moment longer. She gave him the tiniest of smiles, the happiness in her eyes unmistakable.

And next to all of this was Sidney, standing there with love in his eyes. When Piper and his mother began to ascend the steps to the second floor, their voices happily chatting along as their footsteps took them higher, Sid turned to his father. Troy was already staring at him, his expression hard to discern.

"Good job, Sidney."

Sid shoved his hands in his pockets and smiled down at the floor. "Thanks, Dad."

* * *

"BABE."

Ali had seen the car pull in from the bedroom window. She was putting the final touches on her makeup just in time. The second she heard James' voice, she went running downstairs. He was waiting at the foot of the stairs, arms open, ready to catch her.

"Oh my god am I glad you're home!" she said, arms tight about his neck. His beard tickled against her face, putting an instant smile on her face. "How was it!??!"

"Amazing" he said, dropping her to the ground gently. His hands cupped her face. "But so much better now."

Ali smiled against his mouth as he kissed her, feeling warmth spread through her entire body just at his touch. The electricity he gave her in just that single kiss was enough to ignite a fire inside her, dormant the entire weekend.

"Ohhhh boy, already with the make-out session, Peter!"

Ali and James parted to see his parents coming into the foyer, their laughter spreading through the home. "Deborah! Shit, it's been how long?" Ali asked her, giving her mother-in-law a hug.

"Way, way, way too long, that's for sure" she said laughing.

Peter walked in and tapped his wife on the shoulder. "My turn, Deb - don't hog the girl."

He and Ali hugged, and Ali gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. "How are you, Peter? Staying busy, if what I've heard is correct."

James was bringing in their items as they all chatted about Peter's latest home project. Deborah added details here and there, talking rather excitedly about Rebecca's new living situation out of the house. James was more than happy to let them catch up while he took their luggage upstairs. His parents were so unsuspecting as to what was coming that night. It was his and Ali's secret, and while he started to feel a bit nervous about revealing the news to his mom and dad, he also knew a sense of relief would come afterwards...and he wanted that more than anything. He wanted that moment in the locker room that Glass had weeks ago.

Fuck, I can't wait to tell Geno he thought, bounding down the stairs and sliding up behind Ali, his arms encircling her. "Enough talk, people. I haven't seen my girl in a weekend."

"OHH a whole weekend, Deb - did you hear that?" Peter nudged his wife, who busted out laughing.

"I remember when we used to act this way" she said. "Sad I don't remember any of it now."

Ali, James, and Peter all let out a loud OHHH!, and James high-fived his mother. "Chirp of the year so far, Mom. Nice job.

"We'll go upstairs and get unpacked and you two can....do whatever you do...." Peter waved his hands. "I don't need to know about any of it, actually..."

James rolled his eyes. "Dad, really?" He and his dad exchanged a smirk, and James followed his parents with his eyes as they went upstairs. When they were out of earshot, he looked at Ali and his hands went back to her face. "Did I mention I missed you?"

Their lips connected again, but Ali was pulling him back towards the living room. "In here for a sec..."

James followed, his eyes expectant when Ali turned back to him. "What's up?"

"When are we gonna do it?" Ali whispered. "Because I don't know how much longer I can hold it in." As she said this, a wave of guilt washed over her about her weak moment with Piper just the night before.

"I'm with ya babe, it's killing me too." James looked back at the hallway as he contemplated, also feeling a bit of guilt about revealing the secret to Steven down in Florida. "I don't know - when do you think we should tell them?"

Ali shrugged. "Maybe at dinner?"

"But when at dinner?" James scratched at his hair. "Like before or after the food?"

"Oh go figure you'd worry about eating--"

He laughed. "Not what I meant, Ali." He stroked the end of her hair, his eyes grazing over her body in the outfit she was wearing. Like every outfit Ali owned, it did everything good for the body she had. When his eyes lowered, he ran his fingers over her stomach lightly. "I kinda want to tell them now."

Ali smiled up at and grabbed his fingers in hers. "Me too."

"Are we really doing this?" The blue of his eyes had never been brighter.

"I think so, babe."

Their hands clasped tightly together, fingers lacing tight.

"Hey Mom? Dad?" James called, his eyes never leaving Ali's. "Can you come down here for a minute?"

"Sure! One sec!" Deborah called down.

James was still staring at Ali, only now his grin took up his entire handsome face. "Here we go" he whispered.

Ali's stomach was flip flopping, but this time, it wasn't from nausea. "Here we go" she repeated.

* * *

Notes

I hate to even say this.....but.......we are nearing the end, my friends. Just a few chapters left for this particular saga. My original intentions were to purposely make this installment much shorter than The Games We Play, so this will be 50 chapters or less (in order to make that happen). That's what I've had in my mind this whole time, anyways. :)

Please don't hate me! lol. You know I never stop writing, even when I do.

Oh, and apologies for the cliffhanger, too. ;)