In Your Eyes

One week later, Sidney was sitting casually in the chair across from Leo McCafferty, the producer of In the Room. Light boards were being adjusted around him, a flag with the Pittsburgh Penguin emblem being hung behind him. To his right, his black home jersey hung on peg placed on a moveable wall, positioned perfectly to accent the shot.

"Just about ready, Sid."

He nodded. "Ready when you are, Leo." He tugged at his gray t-shirt, already tight against his body but felt more like it was suffocating him as the lights beat down, making his shoulders and his head hot.

"Stacy - can we get a reapply, please?" Leo waved for one of the makeup artists to approach.

Sid smiled sympathetically at the woman as she patted his forehead with powder. "Sorry to make you do this so often."

She shrugged. "It's my job, no worries."

A few pats and a slight readjustment of the hair along the crown of his head and Stacy returned back into the shadows where Sid couldn't see anything. He knew at least ten people were there, but the lights were so bright that it made them invisible beyond where he sat.

"Ooookkkay, all set." Leo unbuttoned his suit coat and smiled. "Let's start by having you tell us how this past week went."

Sid folded his hands in his lap. "Sure."

"Did Troy and Trina have a good time? I'm sure they did...."

"Oh definitely" Sid replied. "From start to finish, I think it was great to have them around. Um...." He glanced off, images of the past week floating through his mind. "You know, any chance you can hang with your parents it's pretty special, mostly because it's so rare."

"Must have been exciting to introduce them to your girlfriend?" Leo's large smile seemed to shine under all the lights. "Care to tell us about that experience?"

Sid inhaled. "Well uh, you know.....there's the normal jitters" he said with an uncomfortable laugh. Leo also laughed.

"I bet."

"But, you know, my mom's so easy going, and my dad instantly took a liking to Piper, so..." He smiled at the camera humbly. "So I guess I was pretty lucky."

"Since this week has been about going back to your roots...you definitely have strong roots back home in Cole Harbour. Have you brought your girlfriend back with you and introduced her to your life there?"

"She's visited the area already, and she loves it" Sid answered proudly. "But I think there will be plenty more trips home in the future."

Leo looked down at his question sheet. "Okay Sid, so we're going to roll a clip of your goal two nights ago at home against the the Rangers and your parents' and girlfriend's reactions. Can you comment on how that made you feel afterwards?"

He hated answering questions about how he felt after scoring in a game. Maybe it was because he always felt the same, from the first goal he scored in the NHL to his most recent goal. He kept the answer focused on his family. "Sure, yeah - I mean...anytime you can make the people you love the most proud of you, that's a terrific feeling. Probably one of the best feelings."

"Especially on home ice?" Leo asked.

"Oh yeah. Pittsburgh is like home to me now, and the fans are what make it worth going out there night after night." He smiled and shrugged. "When your loved ones are there, though - it elevates it to a new level."

"Did you save the pucks for your parents from your goals?" Leo asked with some humor.

Sidney laughed. "I think they've got enough of those to last them a lifetime."

"That's certainly true!" Leo gave him a nod and looked down at his sheet again.

Sidney waited, feeling the warmth of the lights increasing with every minutes. Soon enough, poor Stacey was going to have to come over again and touch him up.

"Okay, so let's take a step backwards to early in the week when you went out to dinner...the four of you."

"Yes." Sid subconsciously smiled, remembering that night.

"Your father made a toast?" Leo said, introducing the next line of questions and clips.

"Yeah, leave it to him to make it a big deal" Sid joked. "But yeah, it was the first night they were in town, the only night they stayed at the house, too. I wanted to take them all out and have a nice dinner...um...you know, to welcome them to town for the week. It was also the first time they'd met Piper - back at the house, earlier. So...pretty special occasion" he finished with a large grin.

"And then....the big news everyone received just a few nights ago" Leo responded with a laugh. "Can you tell us about your reaction?"

"To Nealer's news?" Sid tipped his head back and laughed. "Would it be wrong to say it was unexpected?"

"Not at all. I think you were in good company."

"I think so too." Sidney recalled James telling the entire locker room after their win against the Rangers. He hadn't even told Coach or anyone, so the silence that swept across all of them in the locker room was pretty impactful at that moment.

"You think James will be a good father?"

"Oh yeah, definitely" Sid replied without question. "He's actually really great with kids, and he loves spending time with our younger fans."

"He also has a heavy hand in Neal's Neighborhood - also heavily involved with children. Think he'll learn any parenting skills?"

Sidney scratched at his chest. "No, I think it's going to be a loooong process for him." He smiled, thinking about the notion of Nealer being a father. "But overall, I think he'll be great, yeah. Ali too."

"Have you congratulated her?"

"She was the first one I called after Nealer told us." Sid would never forget the way he felt when he dialed her number, waiting through the rings, hoping she would answer. Her voice had been so elated, so full of joy...he wouldn't forget that either. It was an interesting thing, calling her and congratulating her, after all their history....but Sid enjoyed it.

Leo also smiled. "Must have been a pretty special week all around."

"One of the best, yeah" Sid finished.

*

James sat on the gray chair, legs wide, mesh shorts riding up a little. He tugged them down, pulled at his black Reebok Penguins lifting shirt, and waited while one of the women helping there hooked his mic up to his collar.

"Can you do a mic check for us?"

"Test-test-teeessstttt." James cleared his throat and looked at her. "We good?"

"Think we're good! Thanks James."

She walked off and he was alone again, waiting for Leo to join him for the next hour of commentary. In no time, the friendly producer James knew well appeared and shook his hand.

"Congratulations are in order" he said.

James chuckled. "Thanks, man."

"I'm going to start with the news first in the line of questions about the week. Does that work for you?"

"Sure, anything you want." James glanced around as a few shadowed figures adjusted the lighting. A red light came on the cameras positioned around him, signalling they had begun recording. He waited patiently as Leo reviewed a paper resting on his lap.

"Alright, James" Leo said, his voice louder now. "Let's begin where I think everyone will want you to begin: the news that you and your wife are expecting."

James' smile was instantaneous. "Pretty big news, eh?"

"Huge! How did the big reveal take place? Can you set the scene up for us?"

"Yeah..." In his mind, he remembered every emotion, every feeling of every hug he received from the three others there in the living room with him that afternoon. "It was pretty surreal, actually. I, uh....I guess I never expected to be here right now, talking about this, but it was one of the better memories in my life."

"The clip of you and Allison telling your parents will run, so I'll have you talk a little more about this, if you could?"

James nodded, trying to control the amount of excitement he felt. "It was pretty funny, looking back now and realizing I just kinda blurted it out" he said with a laugh. "But stuff like that...can't keep it in."

"Allison already has a glow about her - can I say the same about you?" Leo teased.

"You like the rosy cheeks?" James joked, his smart-alec smirk full and present.

"It's very becoming."

"It's my new look." He glanced down at his hands in his lap. "No, it's been a pretty incredible week, to say the least. My parents were thrilled, as I'm sure the clip shows. Even my dad, who....hell, I didn't know how he'd react...but the guy came through."

"Are they excited to be grandparents, you think?"

James kept his smirk alive as he shrugged. "I think they'll adjust to it as time passes."

"How far along is Allison?"

"7 weeks." He smiled proudly. "Long road to go, I hear."

Leo laughed. "You got that right. Have you thought about whether you'd like a son or daughter? Someone to carry on the hockey tradition?"

"Uhh.....haven't thought too much about it, no.....though I'm sure whatever we have will be athletic" he replied."

"Going to teach him or her hockey?"

"You know it." James smiled to himself, feeling the pride and love he had for Ali spread through him as Leo consulted his papers.

"Annnnd then you told the in-laws, correct?" Leo asked.

He nodded. "Oh yeah - they were next."

"Can you tell me how they handled the news?"

"Ali's parents are great - really fun, down to earth, you know, uh....so we decided to make the drive to her hometown and tell them in person." James ran a hand through his hair, scratching at his head. "It was pretty cool. They were very excited."

"You get along with her dad?" Leo gave him a wink. "Because you know how fathers are with their daughters."

"Yeah, definitely." He shook his head slowly, trying to find the words. "He was as proud as ever, really excited...he congratulated us, you know - the usual."

"So he likes ya?"

He smiled. "Who wouldn't?"

"Aaaahh, of course" Leo joked. He glanced down at the papers again, making marks with his pen. "Let's transition to how the team received the news."

James rolled his eyes and laughed. "Oh god."

Leo stared at him with a strong smirk. "Geno."

"Yes, Geno" he said with a nod. "Where do I even start."

"How about with the tackle he gave you in the locker room?"

James began to laugh. He rubbed his forehead, slightly embarrassed of his friend's overly enthusiastic response. "Well, let's see...How does anyone explain Geno or his reactions?" he said lightly. "No, really - he's one of my best friends, and....for him to jump off the bench and practically body slam me onto the ground in excitement..." James smiled at the camera. "Can't say I'd get that kind of reaction out of anyone but G."

"Any plans to have him babysit in the future?"

"Who, Geno?" James looked at Leo like he was out of his mind. "You're joking, right?"

"Oh come on....he's great with kids!"

"Sure, yeah, but babysitting mine?" James shook his head. "I don't think so."

"One last question" Leo said, sitting forward and grinning. "Think your kid will have amazing hair?"

"Pffft." James gave him a smirk. "More like I know."

*

Geno readjusted his hat over his head, pulling it back so the camera could see his face and he could keep his floppy hair from sticking out in the front. "You ask Nealsy about reaction?"

Leo nodded. "He gave me his version - now I want yours" he said with a smile. "Tell me what it was like hearing your best friend announce to you and the others that he is going to be a father."

"Uhh, well Nealsy...He good guy, real nice, dress nice, good hair..." Geno shook his head and tried not to smile. "But terrible father."

"Terrible!?" Leo couldn't help but laugh. "Why do you say that?"

Geno looked off to the side bashfully, then looked at the camera and Leo. "I think...you know...too hot-head - too much jokey-joke for serious kid."

"So you think he's still just a big kid himself?"

"Oh yes. Large, skinny...too much hair." Geno gave a happy nod. "But he good. He will love."

"And did you happen to tackle Allison the same way you did James?"

Geno laughed. "Oh no no no, Ali all fun, but would punch me."

Leo continued to chuckle, enjoying Evgeni's sense of humor. "I asked James if you were going to babysit anytime soon. Do you know what his answer was?"

"Was no?" Geno asked with caution.

"That's correct - he said 'no way'."

"He say that?" Geno laughed and looked away. "See why not good father? Does not even know good babysitter."

* * *

Two weeks later, Piper pulled her car up to the Consol Energy Center's parking garage, rolling her window down and flashing her colorful badge at Harold.

"Hi Miss Lake, how are you this evening?" the kind elderly man asked her.

"Doing amazing - how about your handsome self?" She gave him her best, sweetest smile.

Harold scanned her badge and handed it back. "Oh now.....none of that flattery! I'm far too old to be called handsome."

"Noooo such thing." Piper winked at him. "I'll remember to keep calling you that until you start to believe it."

The man's laughter could be heard, even as Piper began to roll her window up. "Have a good evening, Miss Lake!" he said, waving as she proceeded through the small gate and into the darkness of the garage. She parked in her spot, LOT 4 SEC 9 STALL 8, killing the engine and her music going silent as she did so. Checking herself in her rear-view mirror one last time, Piper made her way into the building to participate in her first "family skate" night with the Penguins, their significant others, and their children.

Per Sidney's instructions, she dressed comfortably for the skate: a cream colored sweater, jeans, and pink flats which would be ditched for skates soon enough. Winding through the hallways that made up the large arena, Piper surprised herself at how familiar she was becoming with the place. What was once overwhelming and nothing but a maze of passages that meant little to her had now become, in a sense, like home to her.

When she reached the area where the others were getting their skates, Piper felt the instant chill of the ice around her. Coaches, staff members, children of all ages, and most of the Pittsburgh Penguins were there. Many were already on the ice, many still hadn't arrived, and a few were still getting their skates on....with the help of Sidney Crosby.

He glanced up from his kneeling position in front of a tiny, young girl whose skates he'd been helping to lace. When he saw Piper, his smile appeared from beneath his black hat, his eyes lighting up at her presence. "One sec, babe!"

"Take your time." She crossed her arms over her chest and looked around at those skating. She spotted quite a few wives she had come to know the past few months, and they waved to her as they skated by. Farther off on the other side of the ice skated James and Ali. She waved her hands high, hoping to be spotted. In no time, Ali was waving back at her.

Sid came up behind Piper, hands gripping her waist. "Hiiii."

"Hi to you." She turned and the pair hugged, Sidney keeping their PDA at a minimum but still very affectionate. "Skates?" He held up a pair of hockey skates, black and white and huge.

Piper laughed. "I don't even know what to do with those."

"Well, I think you put them on first, then....I'm not sure, though....but I think you lace them--" His half-laugh, half-giggle echoed slightly whenever Piper slapped him playfully on the shoulder.

"Just give them to me."

He handed them over, grinning wildly as she went about lacing them. When she stood, her legs looked tiny compared to the width of the bulky skates. "You look good."

Piper placed her hand in his. "Lead me to the ice, Captain."

They entered the rink, Sidney skating purposely slow so Piper could keep up with him. He was impressed with her balance and control....and yet, it wasn't much of a surprise at all. It was her business, her life, to remain balanced and in control.I'm going to have to get a puck and go one-on-one with her sometime this winter, he thought with a smile.

James came skating up behind them, holding one of the Dupuis kids on his shoulders. "Beep, Beep - coming through!"

Sid and Piper looked over to see James pushing by, Kody Dupuis clapping as he carried him along. Not far behind him came Ali, skating slower. "Hey guys!"

"Hey!" Piper patted her back. "How ya feeling?"

"Great!" Ali's cheeks were rosy from the chill of the ice and from skating, her eyes were alive, and her smile bright. She wore what looked like James' black and white locker room hat, her long hair in a braid over one shoulder. "Haven't felt woozy at all since I stepped out onto the ice. It's kind of nice."

Sidney grinned. "That's great to hear." He nodded off towards James. "Looks like he's already practicing."

Ali glanced over at her husband as he lowered Kody down off his shoulders to trade for Maeva this time. He lifted the little girl up and held her by her tiny legs, then proceeded to take her around the ice. "Yeah....guess he is" she said blissfully.

Piper looked at Sid and smiled.

James came skating by, his face full of amusement...even moreso than Maeva who sat atop his shoulders. "You're next, babe" he said as they cruised by, and Ali laughed.

"Yeah okay, sure thing, James!"

"You want a spin on my shoulders" Sid asked Piper.

The way he looked at her, Piper knew he wasn't just talking about skating. "Maybe later" she whispered, her hand squeezing his.

And so the couples continued skating alongside their friends and family members, enjoying one another's company and having a great time. Cameras were scattered throughout the arena, capturing it all on film for more footage for In the Room. It would be the second episode where Piper was featured, wearing the title that had been tagged to her name since she the first game she attended in Pittsburgh.

Later that evening as she and Sidney exited the arena, fans were waiting outside, as they often were. Many had jerseys they wanted signed, some had hats, others various pictures and other collectibles. Sid signed as many as he could, pausing to take pictures with those who asked. Where this had taken Piper by surprise many months ago, she now fell into a routine of her own: talking happily with some of the fans as she waited for Sidney, even taking a picture or two with some of the people as well. Once where Piper had been despise (and for all she knew, maybe she still was by some) - the fans she encountered anymore were more than accepting of her and her relationship with Sid. It made traveling to see him and going to and from the Consol Energy Center much more enjoyable than it used to be.

None of it really mattered to her, though....because she knew, no matter what, she was going home with the Captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins every night. Where Piper once sailed two hours across a portion of the north Atlantic ocean to see him, she now simply parked beside his car in their garage in the home they now shared. And whether this meant she was a permanent fixture in his life or not, Piper reminded herself to cherish every day she spent with Sidney, because really....he was still the man that was unlike anyone she'd ever met in her life.

That night while Sid and Piper had sex, she counted how many times he said he loved her. It seemed so silly now as he hovered above her, those bottomless brown eyes staring back at her with love, that she'd ever been worried about saying it first. A lot of things she used to worry about seemed silly now...now that they had committed the way they did, and that their love wasn't a secret to anyone any longer.

Sid had told Piper he loved her three times at very intense moments, and then again as they lay together afterwards. He played with her hair, he kissed her softly, he fell asleep quietly spooned behind her...just as he always did.

Before Piper closed her eyes and surrendered to sleep, she hugged Sid's strong arms against her tighter and smiled. She had a song stuck in her head all day. It was the last track on the cd she gave to Sid way back when. How symbolic it had been then, and how symbolic it was now.

In your eyes
The resolution of all the fruitless searches
In your eyes
I see the light and the heat
In your eyes
Oh, I want to be that complete

I am complete Piper thought. And Sid is the resolution to many fruitless searches.

With the image of Sid's eyes in her mind and the words I love you on his lips....Piper fell asleep.

Notes

Yes, my friends....We have come to the end of this tale....

BUT!

And I mean a big big biiiiggg BUT: this is by no means "the end". I'm going to take a bit of a break from writing and get my thoughts together on my next story, and then will return to this site after a nice break. :)

You guys have seriously been the best.
From The Games We Play all the way through Part 2 here with In Your Eyes. I cannot thank you all enough.

Many hugs to each and every one of you!

Stay tuned for the Epilogue, which will come in a few days and close out this story for us. :)