Hopeless Wanderer

Carrie watched as the Penguins took to the ice for game seven. A game, in Sidney's opinion, that shouldn't be happening. She sat quietly next to Vero Fleury while she chatted with a few other wives in the family suite. She opted not to sit by Sid's father as he tended to be too intense during these playoff games. Sid told Carrie he couldn't blame her.

But now she was fielding questions from some of the other wags that she wasn't familiar with as to what her connection to Sidney was.

"Are you his girlfriend?"

"Another fling? He's such a player off the ice."

"You're the first one this playoff season."

When Carrie explained to each woman who expressed her surprise that she was just his assistant and not romantically involved in any way, they seemed to stop. Much to her relief. She was aware of Sidney being an attractive man, but she was in no way ready or willing to be involved with anyone at this time. But she could admit that he had become her confidant and possibly her best friend in such a short amount of time. And that was partly because she closed herself off from so many people after the accident. Sure, she still had her family, but she never spoke with her in-laws and all of her friends have gone by the wayside.

"Alright, let's go," Carrie mumbled as she leaned back in her seat.

"Nervewracking, isn't it?" Vero asked.

"Sid has been a terror this last week. I've pretty much avoided him and let his parents deal with him. He actually came to my wing last night and apologized for being such a barracuda," Carrie said as the guys began the first period.

"Same with Marc! If Estelle wasn't around, he'd totally be unbearable!"

"Well, too bad Sid doesn't have anyone to give him a baby," Carrie laughed. "Hey, thanks for not being bitchy towards me when I decided to sit up here."

"Oh no! I already knew who you were and was expecting you. But these girls are protective of the men in the team. All of them. So of course they needed to determine that you were harmless."

"Well that's nice to know. I was almost considering hiding in the press box, but it's impossibly quiet despite how loud the arena gets."

"Not to worry," Vero waved it off, "So what are your plans for the summer?"

"Oh, just staying around the city. I know Sid has his routine, but he said he won't make me follow him all over the country as he trains. So I'll keep his house ready for when he comes back at the end of summer."

"That makes sense. Well we are sticking around for the summer, so if you get bored in that huge house we can get together!"

"Oh that sounds great! Thanks," Carrie tried to sound cheerful, but deep down she felt she wouldn't be over at the Fluery house at all. She figured she would go spend some time with her sister and help get the nursery ready yet again for her new niece. Maybe she would go see her parents, who moved away from the area after her father retired from his corporate job to a custom designed house near the beach in South Carolina.

She was daydreaming about her summer when the buzzer rang indicating the end of the game. The Pens lost. Their summer began tomorrow.

*****
Carrie listened to Sidney and his father discuss heatedly about the wrist injury he had been hiding from his parents. They were in the kitchen in the back of the house, while she sat at the top of the stairs leading towards her wing. She knew he was hurt, that the team was covering it up at his request, but she didn't know if there was anything she could have said or done to stop him from playing. She was just his assistant after all.

When she heard heavy footsteps leading towards the front of the house she quickly rose and dashed off towards her bedroom. She was just about to close the door when Sidney appeared in her line of vision and without question, or speaking at all for that matter, she offered him the opportunity to come sulk in her room. He followed behind, closed the door and did the unimaginable. Carrie never once hesitated as he drew her close to him and let him hug her. She didn't even worry over the wetness she felt on her shoulder. He was devastated, and injured, and in need of someone to comfort him. Not yell at him for playing shitty. To say he was making excuses. To tell him he better hope he gets a run at the cup again.

"Come here," she whispered pulling back and reaching for his hand. He grasped her dainty fingers with his own and followed behind her. Carrie climbed into bed and let Sidney curl around her and cry.

"I never seem to please him," Sid mumbled against her neck.

"Shh, it's okay. How bad is your wrist? Do you want some ice or a heating pad?"

"It's not hurting right now. Cortisone shot before the game." Carrie didn't have anything else to say, but she knew that deep down she felt almost guilty for sitting on her bed with him in such an intimate manner. Of course their rolls were reversed this time, and he was more open to talk that she had been. "You know you've truly become my best friend."

She smiled at his words and nodded in agreement, though she knew he couldn't see her. "Mine too."

"Let's go somewhere! Away from the states. France or Spain. We can just lay on the beach and not care about what the fuck is happening around here."

"Oh Sid," Carrie started. She thought a trip like that sounded amazing, but she couldn't let him foot the bill.

"No. No 'Oh Sid'. We are doing it. And then you can just become a hermit while I go to Minnesota and LA. And Vancouver and Vegas. Fuck, what am I going to do without you." He turned to lay on his back, but pulled Carrie with him. She should have been alarmed, but it had been so long since she felt wanted like this that she let it happen.

"Alright, let's go away somewhere. Sit on a beach where you go unrecognizable and just get tanned."

"Yes! And eat and drink whatever we want. Well, within reason. Let me check out what sort of condo I can find. We could be out of here by the weekend." Sid started to move to get up when Carrie brought something to his attention.

"What about your parents? When will they be leaving?" He sat back down and looked at her.

"They have a flight back home tomorrow."

"And you don't think our running away together won't raise some questions?"

"What questions?"

"Whether we crossed a line as employee and employer? I mean, technically you're my boss."

"And as your boss I'm demanding we go to Europe and sit our asses on a beach for a week."

"Alright, alright. Just asking."

Sid smiled and quickly left the room for his own office and computer. Carrie felt some butterflies as she considered how quickly her plans for the summer changed. And she was actually looking forward to the little escape. All she had to do was find her passport.

*****

Sidney stood close behind Carrie on the wide, wraparound porch of an old Victorian home about an hour outside of the city. She knocked on the door and waited for someone to answer the knock.

"Their car is here, I don't know what is going on?" Carrie explained just as the door burst open and a poof of blonde curls appeared.

"Auntie Carrie!" A little boy shouted then turned and ran away.

"That was Caleb. He's a handful." She explained to Sidney as they walked into the foyer. "And there's Trevan."

An older boy with poker straight blonde hair stood in the hallway leading from the kitchen in awe. He didn't acknowledge his aunt at first. But after a long pause shouted to his mother, "MOM! Sidney Crosby is in our house!"

Sid chuckled as Trevan absentmindly hugged Carrie, without averting his eyes away from Sidney. "So it is true! You work for him?"

"Yes I do. Sidney this is my adorable six year old nephew, Trevan. Trevan, my boss, Sidney."

"Whoa," was all Trevan said as Sid knuckle bumped the boy.

"Carrie!" Kathleen gushed as she came through a side room to the trio in the foyer. She hugged her younger sister and turned to Sidney. "And I finally get to meet this guy! I'm Kathleen."

"Hi, I'm Sidney. It's a pleasure to meet you." He shook her hand and noticed that the sisters look identical almost aside from the hair color. Kathleen sported a much darker hue.

"So what are you two doing here?"

"I need my passport. It's in your fire box in your room."

"Oh! Sure. Where are you headed that you need a passport?" Kath asked as she motioned for Carrie to follow her.

"Canada, duh," Carrie said nonchalantly. The pair had decided not to share with others that they booked a direct flight from Pittsburgh to Paris where they will pick up another flight to Marbella, Spain. Sidney had secured a two bedroom, two bath condo right on a private beach.

Sidney stifled a laugh knowing that Carrie just lied to her older sister. But he had lied to his parents about Carrie tagging along with him on his trip overseas. He watched the two women ascend the steps together, talking animatedly and ignoring him standing in the foyer. "Okay," Sid said to no one. He heard a little giggle and turned to see the curly haired boy standing there.

"How old are you?" Caleb asked Sidney. He clearly had no real understanding of who Sid was.

"I'm 26, how old are you?"

"I'm four. Are you Aunt Carrie's new husband?"

"Ah, no. No I'm not."

"Boyfriend?" Trevan asked as he sidled up next to his brother. Aside from the hair they looked almost like twins, the younger one built just as big as the six year old.

"No. Not that either boys. Maybe one day," he said and he didn't know why he said that. But deep down he was starting to think that it was more and more true. And not because she has taken care of him, because he was certain he could do that himself, but because how she did so with such care and compassion.

"Will you come to our soccer games this fall with her?"

"Oh, you boys play soccer?" Sid asked as he squatted down to be level with them.

"Yeah. I play hockey too," Trevan said.

"Cool! Do you like it?"

"I love it!"

"What about you little man? Do you play hockey?"

"No. He likes video games. He only plays soccer because my team needed another player. My dad made him be on the team. He's not even old enough to be on the team!" Trevan explained and Caleb nodded and laughed. Sid smiled and nodded his understanding. The boys were cute and he could only imagine a bit of a handful.

Upstairs the girls had heard part of the beginning of the conversation and Carrie could feel her heart racing. Never had she suspected Sidney admitting to anyone, especially a four and six year old, that he liked her. Or hoped he would be her boyfriend.

"Did you know he liked you?" Kath asked in a hushed, excited whisper when they got into the master bedroom.

"I sort of suspected, but I never imagine him acting on it. I mean he signs my paychecks," Carrie explained as she sat on the edge of the bed watching her sister search out her key for the locked box.

"What are you going to do? You can't possibly continue working for him!" She secured the key and opened the box and retrieved the little booklet for Carrie.

"Why not? He hasn't acted on anything and he doesn't strike me as the type that will. He is very professional." Carrie took the book from Kath and started towards the stairs.

"Where are you two really going?" Kath asked as they descended the stairs. Sid looked up to see Carrie looking annoyed and ready to leave.

"I told you already!" Carrie snapped.

"Why don't I believe you? You were sticking around the city for the summer just the other day."

"Because clearly you have trust issues. And plans change. I'm not going to be gone the entire summer. I'll be back when mom and dad come up to visit."

"Where are you two going now?"

"Back to Sid's house to finish packing and verifying the travel details. Thanks for my passport," Carrie was at the door with Sid standing between her and Kathleen.

"Will you call when you get there?" The concern in Kathleen's voice broke some of the tension and Carrie began to relax. She turned and looked at her sister.

"Yes, Sissy. I will. Keep my niece safe and warm while I'm gone," Carrie leaned around Sid and hugged her sister briefly. "Tell the rugrats I love them. I'm sure they are off terrorizing the backyard or something."

"Or something. It was nice meeting you Sidney," Kath said.

"You too. And don't worry, it's all business." He smiled and followed Carrie out to his Range Rover. But the drive was quiet, even when Sidney suggested sushi for dinner.

"You'd like to be my boyfriend one day?" She asked instead of responding to his question. They were a light away from the nearest sushi restaurant in their neighborhood.

"Wha-what?" Sidney stuttered. He pulled off to the side of the road to be able to look at her while they talked.

"I heard what you said to the boys. You like me? Or are you just happy with how I've structured your life and you think that can sustain a relationship."

"Carrie, no. It's nothing like that!" Sid pleaded.

"Then tell me how it is."

"Its just a silly crush. You're beautiful, and smart, and you make a mean protein shake. You compassionate and I feel like you take care of me beyond being my assistant. Would I like to be able to lean over and kiss you whenever I like, sure. Hold your hand as we walk down the street, absolutely. But I'm not going to because as you've pointed out I'm your boss. It would be crossing a line. But I enjoy spending my free time with you and I hope you hearing this doesn't freak you out. It's not my intention."

She contemplated this and replied, "I'm not ready to be kissed. Not yet."

"Okay, will you do me a favor?"

"What?" She asked cautiously.

"Will you tell me when you are? That is if you want to kiss me too," Sid said bashfully, looking out the window instead of at her.

And Carrie just smiled. Something she found difficult to avoid whenever she was around him anymore. She was definitely looking forward to a week away from his hectic life.

Notes

Ah, love all the new subscribers and the votes! But I would really love to hear what you actually think of it so far! I'm getting nothing from you wonderful people! Thanks all!