We Are Here and Now

"Where's our girl?" Troy asked as he followed behind Sidney into Sid's lake house. They had just returned from the grocery store with supplies they needed to grill the steaks and chicken for the cookout they had planned with friends and family that couldn't make the long trek to Pennsylvania for the wedding.

"In the kitchen!" CiCi shouted. She was chopping up vegetables for a large tray and baking some cookies at the same time. She was impressed by her abilities to multitask.

"Hello sweetie," Troy said and gave Ci a side hug. "Where are our other ladies?"

"Trina and Taylor are picking up the linens for the tables and chairs which were delivered while you guys were at Costco. Did you get anything other than charcoal and lighter fluid?" she asked casually.

"We got another case of water and some lemonade mix," Sid explained as he walked back into the kitchen.

"I was not anticipating lemonade! That sounds great! Trina put the tea out in the sun already," CiCi turned to find another glass dispenser with a spigot. She was happy that they had gotten a couple in case they needed them.

CiCi was just turning to leave the pantry when she ran squarely into Sid. "Oh, hey!"

"Can I just say how much I truly appreciate you doing this for me?" He was completely sincere and smiling at her. She wouldn't deny him anything, even if she was nervous to meet Sid's extended family.

"The party is really for both of us." She pushed past his sturdy frame and placed the dispenser on the counter near the sink.

"No, I mean keeping everything so simple."

"I'm a simple girl," she said with a shrug.

"I know." Sid grew quiet and fidgeted with a towel sitting on the island while CiCi prepared the lemonade.

"Shouldn't you be helping your dad light the grill?"

"I got traded to the Kings," Sid said simultaneously.

"Shut up," she whispered in disbelief.

"That's why I was gone so much when we were in L.A.," he was wringing the towel in his fingers now.

"I don't believe you," she gained a bit of her voice back.

"Babe, it's true. I just...I didn't know how to tell you." CiCi shook her head. She wouldn't believe it. Pittsburgh was home. He had a major contract with the team. He just won a second Stanley Cup with them. He was their captain. Why would they trade him away? Then it dawned on her.

"Did you ask for the trade?" She asked quietly. She knew she said she wouldn't move to Los Angeles, but she said it in haste. They both knew she would go where he went.

"I did," he finally said after a very pregnant pause.

"Why? I thought you loved Pittsburgh?"CiCi asked.

"I do! I just need a change," he tried to explain.

CiCi shook her head again in disbelief. She backed away from her husband, a man she thought she knew, whom she had only been married to for a month, and found the glass door to the expansive patio that led down to the lake.

"I'm just...going to the dock. I need a minute to digest all this," she explained with her hands up in the air as Sid made to come close to her.

Sidney watched CiCi escape towards the dock and waited. His dad came back into the house when he saw CiCi storm off and shook his head. "You're asking for a fight aren't you?"

"Nah, I'm going to let her stew for a few minutes then go tell her I'm kidding."

"You're awful," Troy laughed. He was still laughing when Trina and Taylor walked into the kitchen from the garage.

"What is he laughing at?" Trina asked Sid.

"He's playing probably the worst prank on Ci. He convinced her that he requested a trade to the Kings!" Troy managed through his fit of laughter.

"Sidney Patrick! Why would you do that?" Trina exclaimed.

"We got into a fight when we were in California and she said she would never move there if I got traded, knowing full well that I would never get traded away by the Pens," Sid said with a shrug. It was true.

"Go tell her you're joking before the family starts showing up!" Trina demanded making Sid cower and listen to her demand.

"Alright, alright," Sid shoved Taylor as he walked by and she silently teased him for getting yelled at by their mother. He found CiCi right where she said she would be, and approached her with caution.

"Babe?" He asked tentatively.

"I said I wouldn't go, but I'll go. I just didn't expect you to do something like that," CiCi stood at the edge of the dock looking out at the calm lake.

"I'm sorry," he said. He stood behind her, close enough that he could smell the fruity scent of her new shampoo. "Don't be mad."

"I'm not mad, I'm just confused."

"Don't be mad at what I am about to tell you then," Sid started. CiCi turned around, shaking her head with a little smirk on her face.

"I swear to God, if you are joking your bubbly ass is in the water." She knew that Sid was joking by the smile on his face.

"Ha! I'd like to see you try to get me in the water." He looked mischievous.

"You made it all up, didn't you?" CiCi asked.

"Maybe. I don't want to have to change clothes though," Sid reasoned.

"You're a punk," CiCi said with a laugh, "I was down here trying to figure out how we would make the move while you're training all damn summer!" She shoved him making Sid laugh in delight that he managed to trick his wife.

"You believed me? I would retire before I could be traded to a different team. It's Pittsburgh or bust!" He stepped closer to her as his shoulders shook from his continual laughter.

CiCi brushed past Sid to head back toward the house, but Sid put his arm out and spun her back around. "I'm sorry! You were just so mad last week. I guess it was just too soon to joke about."

"You're right, it was just last week that we argued over that horrendous trip." CiCi stepped closer to Sid.

"You're not getting me in the water," Sid cracked a smile knowing CiCi's game. She had him at the edge of the dock.

"You are deserving of a good shove into the lake. It's hot out, so it should be warm," CiCi reasoned.

"I'll take you in with me Crosby," Sid countered.

"So when you're pissed at me I'll be addressed by my maiden name? When we are having a little fun it's my married name?"

"It was a slip up. Our marriage is still so new. I'm still getting used to calling you by your new name."

"Interesting," CiCi stopped inching close when Sid was mere inches from the edge of the dock.

"I will take you in with me," Sid stood tall, his mischievous grin spreading across his face again. CiCi didn't care though, she was going to attempt to push him into the lake regardless if she fell in with him or not. She mirrored his smile and with both hands pushed against his abdomen with a playful shove. And true to his word, he grabbed a hold of CiCi's wrists and tugged her toward him as he so gracefully fell backward into the cool lake water.

They splashed around and flailed about to get to the surface, CiCi breaking the water first. "Sidney!" She swam toward the ladder on the side of the dock, trying to escape her husband's hands.

"Get back here!" Sid laughed and got a hold on CiCi's foot.

"I've gotta go get changed and dry my hair!"

"Oh, me too!" He pulled her away from the ladder and got ahead of her, his strength outweighing hers. Sid was on the dock and running toward the house by the time CiCi was surfacing again and swimming toward the ladder.

"Sidney!" CiCi shouted and she could hear his giggles as he fled toward the house. She was closing in on him and tumbled through the door into the kitchen collapsing in a heap on the ceramic floor.

"Oh God it's freezing!" CiCi managed to push herself up and stand where she stopped dead in her tracks. Sid's parents and sister were watching the scene unfold. "Uh, he dragged me into the lake."

"She tried to push me!" Sid argued as he stood behind her.

"I don't care what happened, but you're both dripping stinky lake water all over the floor. Now go get changed and get back down here to help get the food ready for later," Trina lectured.

"Sorry, Mom," Sid said.

"Yeah, sorry," CiCi echoed. She felt Sid push her lower back and she lurched forward toward the steps and their bedroom. They cowered away from his parents, Trina especially as she was the one who reprimanded them and closed the door to their room in order to collapse in a heap on the floor, uncontrollable fits of giggles erupting between the two.

"Your mom was mad!" CiCi gasped as she sat up and looked at her husband.

"That was weird. I think she is stressing over this party and she doesn't need to be," Sid reasoned.

"Why would you say you were traded today? You knew I'd get upset."

"Eh, dad and I thought it would get a good rise out of you. It worked beautifully."

"We better clean up, I need to wash the stinky lake water out of my hair." But Sid had other ideas, and pulled CiCi down underneath him before she could escape to the bathroom. He immediately silenced her soft squeal with his lips and sighed as she quickly gave in to his kisses.

But they were interrupted just as Sidney managed to get CiCi's wet tank top over her head, and the front clasp to her bra undone. "Mom said you have ten minutes, Sid!"

"Go away Taylor!" He shouted back without missing a beat. He barely moved away from CiCi's chest.

"Stop having sex and get dressed! Your guests will be here soon!"

"I said go away!" That time, he looked up and at the closed bedroom door.

"You know, you shouting at your little sister is really killing the mood here." CiCi pointed out.

"Ci, mom said you have twenty minutes!" Taylor addressed to CiCi.

"Oh for the love of God," she grumbled and successfully pushed Sid off her body so that she could escape to the shower quickly. She was shampooing her hair when she caught sight of Sid, stripped naked and leaning over the sink, running water over his face. "You can join me if you like."

She chuckled as she watched him shake his head. "No, I can't. I join you and we will never get out of here." He turned around to share one of his megawatt smiles, the ones he reserved for her and she could see the wanton glare in his eyes. "You're beautiful. I'll be downstairs."

It took a moment for CiCi to recover, but she hurried through to finish up all the while thinking how captivating Sidney was, how he made her feel special all the time, and how she was so incredibly lucky to have found him. When she got out of the shower, Sid was nowhere to be found. He did as his mother requested, now CiCi had to do the same.

*****
"You know, we are really sorry we couldn't make it down for the ceremony," Sid's cousin, Susan said to CiCi as the pair sat near the in-ground pool. CiCi watched as Susan attempted to push an arm floaty onto one of her four children.

"Oh, it's not a problem. That's why we are having this for everyone that couldn't make it down. We did spring it on everyone very quickly. I'm still amazed we pulled it off." CiCi caught a glimpse of Sid playing a game of deck hockey with a few of his younger cousins.

"I'm not going to lie though, until you came along there was a running joke that Sid would just be happy married to the game." That wasn't surprising to CiCi.

"You're not the first person to tell me this," CiCi said with a laugh.

"Well, where are you two going to live once Sid stops playing? Because that time will be here before you know it."

"I just," CiCi shrugged,"I just assumed we would stay in Pittsburgh." Susan nodded with a skeptical look on her face. She managed to squeeze the second arm into a floaty and spun the little boy around towards the shallow end of the pool.

"What about children? Adoption takes a long time to go through. You should consider beginning the process sooner rather than later." CiCi was now getting aggravated by this woman. She barely knew her and already was prodding into her life.

"Oh, we aren't in any rush for that. We just got married. Heck, we just sort of had our coming out to the public."

"Yeah right, ever since Sidney thanked you on national TV in the U.S., your presence has been known and critiqued and thrown through the ringer. You handle it well." Susan smiled reassuringly at CiCi.

"I've always been a bit oblivious to the Internet. I didn't even know who Sidney was when I met him."

"You're kidding," Susan exclaimed.

"It didn't help that he told me his name was Patrick." A little bit of their history didn't hurt.

Susan burst into a fit of giggles which made CiCi laugh along with her. "Oh that's too funny! No wonder he never had girlfriends! They probably thought he was a nut job!"

"Oh, I wouldn't say that."

"No, I know. Anyway, so you two are waiting for kids then."

CiCi glanced around the backyard for any signs of escape. She was done talking to Sid's cousin, she didn't want their conversation to keep coming back to when they would be adopting. It was none of her business. And she was pretty certain that Sid called Susan by a different name, which led CiCi to believe that Sid wasn't all that close to her to begin with.

"I'm going to see if I can help Trina in the kitchen. It was great talking with you," CiCi said rather than addressing the children topic again. She scurried away from Sid's cousin, past Sidney, who glanced her way as she walked off and located Trina in the kitchen.

"Hi. So you want some help?" CiCi asked halfheartedly. She was no longer in the mood to mingle.

"No, sweetheart. I've got this. Go mingle."

"Eh, I'm tired of mingling. I'm tired of explaining to people that no, I can't carry children, that we haven't given it a thought yet, and where are we going to settle once Sid retires."

"Oh." Trina wasn't all surprised by these annoyances.

"Don't get me wrong, your family is incredibly sweet and welcoming. It's just overwhelming to have so many people interested in our life, you know? I come from such a small family. I mean the majority of the guests at the actual wedding were hockey players and their significant others." Trina understood.

"Just stay in here for a little while. It's fine. It's starting to wind down out there anyways."

"Thanks."

"Can I ask you something, though?"

"Sure."

"You two haven't discussed the future? At all?" Trina seemed hesitant.

CiCi considered it, and she knew the answer. "No, not really. We're kinda in the moment people."

"You two really need to consider what will happen later on though, given Sid's profession this could all end tomorrow. Then what will you two do? I mean, financially you will be fine for the rest of your lives."

CiCi watched as Trina escaped back outside to the ongoing party. She knew Trina had a point, she just wasn't ready to have that conversation just yet.

*****

Sidney was tired. He felt that Andy was working him harder than he typically did in order to keep up with the younger guys that are training with them. He wearily climbed out of his truck and traipsed through the garage directly to the utility room to drop off his bag of dirty gear. He or CiCi would start the wash later. He just wanted to lie back on a lounger and let the remaining evening sun warm him.

He made his way through the hallway towards the kitchen and found his parents sitting at the island. "Oh, hey. I didn't know you guys would be here."

"CiCi called us over about an hour ago. She said she had something important to share with us," Troy explained. Sid was puzzled and it showed on his face.

"You have no idea what the news is, huh?" Trina asked knowing the answer.

Sid shook his head and turned as his wife walked into the kitchen. She smiled at him, walked over for a brief embrace and said, "I'm so glad you're home! I have some exciting news."

"My parents needed to hear it too?" He asked.

"Well, it could potentially affect the way the rest of the summer goes. But I need your support," CiCi said cautiously as she backed slightly away from Sid. She positioned herself so that she could see all three of them.

"Well, tell us," Sid said with a slight edge in his voice.

"Sherry quit at the gallery and when she resigned she told the board of directors that the only person she felt fit for the position is me. I spoke with the president of the cultural society just a bit ago and was offered the director position at Wood Street Gallery."

"That's wonderful Ci!" Trina gushed and Troy nodded in jubilant agreement. "You took it, right?"

"Well, I wanted you three to know first. They are giving me until noon tomorrow to accept it or they will have to start interviewing. But I want to accept, I mean I know exactly what to do, I'm familiar with the gallery, I mean..."

"What about your art? Will you have to start immediately? Did you tell them we are out of the country until September?" Sid interrupted.

"No, I...." CiCi stuttered, but was cut off by Sid.

"You're not going to take it, are you?" He asked.

"The money is amazing." She immediately regretted saying that.

"You don't have to worry about money," Sid sounded angry.

"I know! It's just I like to be somewhat independent. I figured you of all people would be completely supportive and understanding."

"It's just...you left that job before. You weren't satisfied with what you were doing there."

"Yeah, but now I'm in charge. I'm the boss. I have a say in what comes in and out."

"I don't know Ci."

"Oh dear God, this isn't going to be France all over again? Is it?"

"No! Do what you want. I'm really tired, I'm gonna go lie down. Are you two staying for dinner?" Sid changed the subject, but didn't wait for an answer. CiCi watched in disappointment as Sid retreated towards their bedroom then turned to his parents.

"What am I going to do? I can't just sit at home while he's all over North America playing hockey."

"I think you should take the job. It's a wonderful opportunity and you will only flourish in doing so," Trina said.

"I agree. Sid will come around. He will see that this is exactly what you need too."

"I should go talk to him." She bit her lip to hold back her tears.

"Let him rest, I'll go fire up the grill and we can have that fish Sid cleaned up yesterday," Troy said.

"Let's go get Taylor and when we get back hopefully Sid will be back down." CiCi nodded in consent and followed Trina out to her car.

*****
Sid heard the car start and back out of the driveway. He peaked through the window to see CiCi in the passenger seat of his parents' SUV and wondered where she was headed with his mom.

He knew he was being irrational, but he thought that once they were married that she would want to be more involved with the WAGS and the organization. He assumed that she would be more like Marc's wife or Kris's wife. But both of them were stay at home mothers. CiCi didn't have that and he could see her want to fill the loneliness.

He changed and wandered downstairs. He knew his dad was somewhere around the house still and he needed to find him. He should have expected to find Troy in the backyard near the grill.

"Hey dad," Sid said as he stationed himself in a lounger just as he had hoped to do before CiCi made her announcement. She was ready to move for him when he kidded with her earlier in the summer; he should be open to her starting over at the gallery where she got her start in Pittsburgh.

"Hey son. How you feeling?" Troy asked as he flipped the bass Sid had caught just the day before.

"Andy is kicking my ass," Sid treaded lightly. He wasn't sure he wanted to talk about CiCi with his father just yet.

"That's expected. You had more time off than you usually allow this summer." It was nearly the end of July and Sid had only been working again for about a week.

"Yeah, but I did get married," Sid said.

"Yeah, you did. And speaking of that spunky wife of yours, I really think you are out of line."

"I know," Sid agreed. He angled himself to see his father.

"You do?" Troy turned toward Sid and away from the grill for a moment.

"I just felt that once we were married that she would be..." Sid was embarrassed to admit it.

"A hockey wife?" Troy added for Sid.

"Yes." He couldn't say any more.

"Sid, you and I both know that no matter what happens from this point forward CiCi will never be a hockey wife the way you see the other wives."

"She is pretty amazing. I can't fault her for wanting to maintain her independence," Sid smiled just thinking about CiCi.

"You better let her because I know that hockey was the best thing to happen to you when you were young, but CiCi is by far your greatest accomplishment. She loves you unconditionally and will do so even if all of this was taken away from you." Troy flourished his hands around indicating the large estate surrounding them.

"I know," Sid accepted.

"So you're going to make this right." It wasn't a question, it was a statement.

"Yes sir."

"Then focus on hockey. Your mother and I will help you out if Ci has to return to Pittsburgh earlier than you." Sid nodded to show that he accepted his father's outreach and began to formulate a plan.

"Maybe Gary will train with me since he is setting up shop in Pittsburgh again. I mean later in the summer. So I can go back there after Colorado, you know?" Sid reasoned more to himself than to his father.

"It will all work out son," Troy said. Sid nodded. He knew it would. It always does.

Notes

Well, I'm back! Good news, my cancer was stage 1A, so surgery was all that was required. I'm back to work and feeling pretty decent. Thank you all who reached out with such wonderful words of encouragement. It meant a lot to me, my husband and family. After all was said and done it really hit home that my situation could have been far worse. I was extremely lucky. But I was persistent with my doctors that something was seriously wrong. And I had wonderful doctors treating me who were just as concerned and knew that my situation was more than irregular periods.

So this installment is a work in progress and I am hoping it will lead into some good drama in the coming updates. Enjoy!