Reunited

A/N: So I haven't done the best with description of time. But for me to get to the wedding a.k.a. the fun stuff, right now it is going to be like middle/ end of July. Sorry for the stupidity on not saying time lapses.

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Shea knew she was late for work. She had hit the snooze button too many times to count. Normally, to Andy, it wasn't that big of a deal. He practically never left the store, but Shea wanted to practice having a real job, and not having the flexibility Andy had always given her.

On the "really" job side, Shea hadn't gotten anything back from any of the places she applied too, so if she counted correctly, all 43 places had turned her down. She couldn't lie, she felt pretty glum about it. She wanted to get out of Cole Harbour, or at least she wanted to when Sidney wasn't around. But she couldn't put hope where it had the potential of being false, so she had pretended Sidney was in Pittsburgh, without her, and busy loving Brooke. Which if her calculations were correct, that would be a reality pretty soon.

45 more days and Sidney will be married, and I'm way too single, never thought the day would come, Shea thought as she grabbed her purse before exiting her car. She walked to the door, and could see Andy talking to a familiar looking head.

Ever since the weekend Sidney and Shea's buddies had come into town, Sidney and Shea had been almost insuperable. There was rumor upon rumor swirling throughout the town, but it didn't really matter. Shea would support Sidney up at the alter in September, because they were friends.

But everyday Shea had to say that line over and over again to even believe herself. She found it odd that before they dated they were best friends, there was obvious sexual tension, which is why they had started contemplating the idea of liking each other, but now it was heard for Shea to say her and Sidney were friends. If she was being honest, she wished she could say there more, but friends support friends.

Because we're friends

Shea had to say it one more time before taking a deep breath. She opened the door to the store, the wind chimes catching the attention of Sidney and Andy. They both smiled at her, Sidney's bigger, like he had been waiting years to see her. She waved before walking around the counter and putting her bag down.

"Nice of you to join us Shea," Andy said looking over a piece of paper Sidney had brought in. For a minute Shea thought Andy was actually upset she was late, but the slight smirk she saw on his faced calmed her. Shea walked over to where the two men were standing and hip bumped Andy as her apology, he gladly accepted, hip bumping her back. Shea turned her attention towards the paper Andy and Sid had focused every ounce of their attention on. It looked to be a workout regime, but surprisingly it wasn't Sidney's.

"Andy you don't have to do a hundred squats a day just to impress me," Andy said winking at the older gentleman. He laughed.

"Who said I was trying to impress you?"

Shea tried to pull off a face of hurt, "If not little old me, than who?"

"Myself actually dear." Shea was proud. Andy had always loved sports, but a broken leg had caused him to have to run the old family shop than making something of his dreams. Shea hoped that he would start to have a little fun again himself with sports, instead of just helping people with them. Shea put her fist out for Andy to bump back, he reluctantly did.

"Does it look good?" Sidney asked leaning his elbows on the glass case. Andy nodded his head, and smiled his ever loving "I hate it" smiled. Sidney laughed. Andy had asked him for his workout regimen to get back in shape to try and keep up with his grandkids, but he knew it would be a lot. He told Andy to modify it as much as he wanted, but knowing Andy, he would rather have a heart attack than make anything easier on himself.

"Kid, you did alright."

Those were the words Sidney had heard all throughout his adolescent life, like they were congratulating him, but also saying that he could do better. But coming from Andy, he knew they were the highest level of words Sidney could get from him. Andy had been saying them his whole life. Sidney smiled, and Andy got off his stool and extended his hand. Sidney gladly shook it before Andy walked into the back room, to no doubt shred the piece of paper.

Before Sidney could leave though he had one more thing to do, "Shea wanna come over later?"

Shea looked up alarmed, "Why are you planning something?" Sidney looked at her sideways before puffing out his lips in confusion.

"I mean should I be?"

Shea's face immediately fell, "No I guess not," Sidney crossed his arms, knowing full well why Shea looked a little heartbroken, but in order for his plan to work he had to play it off cool.

"Well I was gonna get a pizza and watch a movie, care to join?" Shea nodded her head. Sidney took it as the best "Yes" he would get from her, "Alright I'll pick up at your house on my way home from the gym?"

"Okay."

"Bye Shea." Sidney walked towards the door hearing Shea grunt a goodbye back. He quickly turned to see her face in her hands, head shaking back and forth. When she lifted her head back up she looked like someone had just told her Santa wasn't real.

Perfect, the plan is working out just perfect!, Sidney said to himself, excited for the festivities later that night.

Sidney opened the door, Shea hearing the wind chimes chime and a quick little gust of wind before he was gone. Andy came out from the back office to see Shea all sullen and gloomy.

"What's wrong?"

Shea looked at up Andy with tears in the back of her eyes, "Sidney forgot my birthday."

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Shea walked around a little upset for the rest of the day. Now that she thought about, her brothers hadn't said anything this morning when she woke up either. Granted she was in a rush, and she probably still wouldn't of heard it, but she hadn't even gotten a text. From her college buddies, yeah, but from her family and friends in Cole Harbour. It was pure silence.

Some people I have in my corner, Shea thought locking the door to the sports shop. Andy had to leave early for "a thing", and in all her years of life, Andy, 1. never left early, and 2. always came some story behind where he was going, always. Even if it was to the restroom, Shea really admired it about him, but leaving Shea with a thing was very suspicious to her. But Sidney not saying happy birthday still trumped everything else. She had been thinking about it all day at work, and after when she went home to get ready for "pizza and a movie." Shea didn't even know how she was supposed to bring something like this up.

"I'll have pepperoni please, oh and you happened to of forgotten my birthday, but really it's no big deal." Shea would never. She would just play it off like she forgot herself, she almost did forget this morning until all the instagrams and texts came in from old friends from UCLA.

Sidney had texted her after he left saying to be ready around five o'clock, but by four Shea was already ready. Although it took her another forty-five minutes to find the perfect outfit for pizza and a movie. She had almost gone so nonchalantly as to put on sweatpants and her hair up into a bun, Sidney had seen her in worse always.

But she settled for a plain black, short dress and a cardigan over it. She debated wearing heels or not, and ending up going for it. If anything she'll look good tonight. If Sidney asks she can just say Kelsey wanted to go out to some fancy dinner.

At precisely five Shea heard a car pull up. Before Sidney even reached the door, Shea was out of her house, not bothering to say goodbye to her family, since they had gone out to dinner together and had not asked her to join, but she had no hard feelings. Well she told herself that, but right now she was debating on whether or not she should forget everyone else's birthday too.

I'll make a plan later, Shea thought as Sidney opened the passenger door and she hoped in. Sidney walked around the car, twirling his keys on his finger, and he jumped in the car as well. He had been wanting to tell Shea she looked absolutely stunning but didn't know if that crossed the friends line or not. So he opted out at the moment. The drive was quiet, Sidney knew Shea was pissed off about everybody "forgetting" her birthday. She would cheer up when she got to his house. They were about five minutes from Sidney's house when he got a phone call.

He answered with okay and five and bye, it was a very vague call, but Shea just chalked it up to being Brooke and Sidney not wanting either Shea nor Brooke to know who he was talking to/ hanging out with.

"You look fancy for just coming for the gym?" Shea said, her eyes narrowing.

Oh come on five minutes away from my house and you decide to figure out the surprise, Sidney thought thinking his plan was totally busted. The plan he fought super hard to have happen and he even let more rumors circulate about him and Shea, not that he minded.

When he looked back at Shea she looked like someone had just turned on a light and had illuminated her bad mood away, "try hard." Sidney breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

Sidney took this moment to say what he had been trying to say since Shea got in the car, just the G rated version of it, "You don't look too back yourself kid." Shea smiled before looking back out the window.

Wow Sidney that's the best you could come up with, you're pathetic, Sidney thought wanting to pound his head into the steering wheel. But it was too late, they were already pulling into his driveway and he had to make sure everything went perfectly. He had even practiced his funny little lines he was going to say. He turned the car off, pulled off his seatbelt, getting out of the car he walked around and helped Shea out. He looked around the neighborhood, hoping everyone had either walked or parked somewhere where it wouldn't look suspicious. It all looked good.

Step one is done, only a million more to go.

Sidney gestured for Shea to walk in front of him.

"So what kind of pizza do you want to order?" Sidney said putting his hands in his pockets, biting his lip to try to not laugh.

Shea shrugged, "I'm easygoing."

Sidney hoped she would say something like that, "Pepperoni?"

They were walking up the steps to his house, Shea reaching out for door handle.

"Cheese?"

Shea turned the door handle, and pushed open the door. It was pitch black, even though the sun was still high in the sky.

"Sausage? Hawaiian?"

Sidney stepped through the door and reached for the lights.

"Surprise?"

Shea turned around, a confused look crossing her face, "What did you--?"

Sidney flicked on the lights, "SURPRISE!"

Shea turned around startled to see her family, and most of Cole Harbour in the entry hallway, and living room of Sidney's house. She covered her face with her hands, and started to laughing. Sidney could see all the frustration of thinking everybody had forgotten her birthday wash away. He was happy, it had taken a lot to get practically everybody from Cole Harbour to his house and secretly, but for Shea, he would do it again in a heartbeat.

Shea was surrounded by the masses. Everybody apologizing for the not saying happy birthday and expelling how it was all apart of the surprise. She went around hugging everybody there, some were older people who had let Shea play in their backyards, some were parents of friends, but mostly they were people who Shea had known in high school. Shea made her way to the kitchen as everybody filled out of the house and into the backyard where there was food, and alcohol and stringing lights and even a piñata. Shea chuckled. She turned around to see Sidney had followed her around, she immediately ran and hugged him, he gladly accepted the hug.

"Thank you," Shea said before kissing his cheek.

"Happy birthday Shea."

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Shea had been motoring about the room, getting to everybody she could. She wasn't rushed for time, but she didn't want to miss the chance to say hi to everybody. Shea had been talking to an old guy friend from high school when she saw Sidney wave her into the house. Shea politely excused herself before walking through the backyard and into the house. Sidney was sitting in the kitchen with a present on the table.

"Sidney you didn't have to get me anything, the party is more than I expected."

"Just open the present Shea," Sidney said scooting the nicely wrapped present towards Shea. She reached out and started to gently unwrap it. The present was small, Shea suspected some type of jewelry. Every guy got jewelry for a girl who was indecisive about what they wanted, or if they didn't have time to really think it through. Shea gave the wrapping paper to Sidney, and opened the box.

Inside was a very expensive looking Pandora bracelet. Shea gasped, covering her mouth while she inspected the beautiful piece of jewelry. Shea could see that Sidney spent a lot of time on this bracelet, all of the charms reflected either her, or them. She could feel her cheeks start to get dampened. Sidney reached around and wiped them away.

"Sidney I--"

"Don't say anything. I owe you much more than just this, but it's a start. I missed four years, four birthdays, I never called or even texted. I have four more presents for you, I never sent them, but I thought this one would be the best to give to you today. I really am sorry for missing your birthdays," Sidney looked fuzzy in Shea's eyes she was crying so hard. The things this kid did to her. He didn't owe her a thing, but she understood why he was upset with himself for missing all of her birthdays, she honestly wasn't over it either. Complete radio silence every single year, but she got it, or at least she thought she got it.

Shea didn't know how to thank him, would words even do the trick? Probably not. So she reached her wrist out and gave Sidney the bracelet, and he graciously put it on her wrist. It fit like a glove. Shea moved her wrist up to his cheek, cupping it and moved to kiss his lips softly. It wasn't earth-shattering, they couldn't even do that. But it was innocent, it was the best way Shea could thank Sidney and forgive him at the same time. She pulled away and hugged him, him gladly returning it. They stayed like that for a couple minutes, before Shea was being called outside.

"Duty calls."

The two walked through the screened door to see Shea's family hugging some guy that looked oddly familiar. Shea immediately knew why he looked familiar.

"Shea!"

"Tyler, um Hi." Shea said hugging him.

"Who's this?" Sidney said, feeling a little overprotective. Tyler backed up out of the hug and turned towards Sidney, extending out his hand and smiling.

"I'm her boyfriend."

Notes

uh oh!!!

My p.s. yesterday was a complete joke, I'm not that mean. I never even thought about Sidney and Brooke being together, BUT that does not necessarily mean Sidney and Shea will be together (like a .05% chance of that :)) Anyways please please vote and subscribe and I love the comments, keep em coming!!!

xoxo