What Dreams Forget

Tori Lynn glared at Sam. He gave her his signature grin and turned towards Pauly and Geno. She wasn’t sure what to think about her usually quiet Sam spouting off at the Pens.

“Not nice, Sam.”admonished Tori Lynn.

“I didn’t promise to be nice.” said Sam.

“Yeah, but that is as much a dig at me as it is them.” replied Tori Lynn “ What’s in the past is in the past. These guys are the same as you and Chase to me.”

Sam leaned in and kissed her cheek and winked at her before heading toward the bus door. He looked at Paul and Geno over his shoulder “Friendzoned gentlemen.” He was laughing to himself as he climbed on the bus. Tori Lynn stared after him.

“Pretty, I no like friend.” said G.

“I usually don’t agree with the Russian,” began Pauly “But I might make an exception.”

“Nope, this pissing contest stops. Y’all are my friends, they are my friends, and the only person I intend to sleep with is Neal. For his own safety, he better have that concept on lockdown.” explained Tori Lynn “So all of y’all better cut it out.”

“Yes, Pretty.” said Geno “She bossy. Lazy right. But Lazy need bossy or Lazy big mess.”

“Speaking of bossy, Nealer was pretty adamant that I take you over to my place and let you swim in my bathtub.” laughed Paul “He seemed convinced that the shower on the bus and wherever else weren’t going to cut it.”

“He does love me.” laughed Tori Lynn “Yes, I am pretty sure these boys are willing to hose off behind the bus. Me, not so much. But you don’t have to take me home with you.”

“Come on, we’ll show you around Pittsburgh. Grab your stuff.” instructed Pauly “We’ll wait on you.”

Tori Lynn grabbed her bag and threw in the necessities and headed out the door of the bus. Sam was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and a notebook. “Have fun!” he called as she left the bus. Tori Lynn nodded at him and started down the steps to Geno and Pauly. During the 30 minute ride to Paul’s house they pointed out all the Pitt landmarks and just things that made the Burgh special to Neal. Tori Lynn was constantly snapping photos. Some of her favorites were just candid ones of G and Pauly. They pulled into Pauly’s neighborhood. She was listening to him tell her about who lived where.

“And this was Neal’s beige house with white modern furniture.” said Paul pointing at the house to the right of his “He never really settled in here. That’s why we were all so shocked when he let you decorate his place.”

“I think it was just to keep me busy during his western swing. But he ended up liking it.” shrugged Tori Lynn

“He love it, Pretty. And my baby love it. She said she has her room at Jay’s.” supplied Geno.

“She definitely has her own room and her own toys there.” said Tori Lynn “The dollhouse is a bit much, but I loved it. Her bathroom is all penguins.”

“See, you think of Lazy and my baby.”

“I tried to make sure it looked presentable for her. That’s what started the entire thing.” replied Tori Lynn

“What start?” asked Geno

“Neal wanted me to make sure that the guest room was ready for Ally and Nat. So he asked me to fix it. And to find a couch. He brought that couch from here.” she explained “I think it’s painted cement.”

“It’s art.” laughed Paul “That couch was miserable. We would end up at my place.” Paul gestured towards his house and Tori Lynn followed. She looked over and saw G having a conversation with the hedge.

“He talk to the bushes a lot?” asked Tori Lynn. Paul started laughing.

“No, it’s much worse than that.” said Paul “What are you three doing? Shouldn’t you be at school?”

Tori Lynn noticed three identical sets of eyes and blonde cowlicks appear over the hedgerow. Triplets. Adorable blonde boy triplets.

“The damn nanny quit.” stated Daylon shrugging.

“Mom came home from where ever.” replied Devon “So they have to hire someone new.”

“And it’s inconvenient for mom to take us to school.” answered the bespectacled triplet.

“Mom just kicked us out of the house so she can work. So we're going to hook up the Christmas lights.” smiled the foul mouthed one of the three. She could imagine why the nanny quit. “Who’s the smoke show, Geno?” he asked smiling at Tori Lynn.

Tori Lynn blinked at the tiny boy. Paul was rolling laughing. Geno looked at the little guys “Be nice. She Lazy’s girlfriend.”

The three little boys eyes all darted to Neal’s empty house. Their faces breaking out into smiles “Is Mr. Neal coming home?” asked Deacon.

“No buddy, remember he got traded to Nashville. He plays down there now. Tori Lynn lives in Nashville with Neal.” explained Pauly. He turned to Tori Lynn “They miss Nealer. He played with them. Baseball, golf, hockey, and lots of video games.” Tori Lynn’s heart hurt for the little fellows. They obviously were starved for attention.
“You guys want me to see if I can get him on Facetime?” asked Tori Lynn. She glanced at her watch. It was a quarter after eleven. He should be off the ice. The boys were almost vibrating with excitement. She placed the call and waited. It wasn’t long before a disheveled shirtless Neal answered.

“I fucking miss you.” he said in greeting.

“Watch your mouth, we have company.” she replied “But I miss you, too.” She laughed when Matti and several other Preds stuck their heads in the frame.

“G and Pauly are not company.” groused Neal.

“No, but these little guys are.” she stated turning the camera so that she was replaced by the triplets.

“Hey, it’s the hat trick of horror!” he called at the boys “I miss you guys. No one here hits wiffle balls at my Ferrari.”

“We miss Nixon.” said Devon.

“Nice.” replied Neal laughing “He misses you guys, too. But Tori Lynn has him spoiled. For some reason he thinks he can sleep in the bed with me.”

“That’s because he misses me!” called Tori Lynn “You aren’t throwing him out of the bed are you?”

“It does me no good. He climbs back in when I sleep.”

“I told you he should have came with me on tour.”

“As usual you are right, babe.” laughed Neal “So wildings, what are you guys doing home on school day? Scare off another nanny?”

Neal immediately started laughing when all three of the boys looked at the ground. The West boys went through nannies at speeds rivaling Weber’s slapper. “Really guys, how many is that since I’ve left?”

“Four” replied Deacon.

“Well, the third one didn’t even let mom and dad out the door, so that really doesn’t count. Who the hell is afraid of hockey masks anyway?” grumbled Daylon. Paul was trying to keep a straight face as the boy sat on the curb and talked to Neal. No one in their right mind would be afraid of buck wild triplets in old school hockey masks that spray blood. He forgot to mention that it looked like he had impaled Devon on a broken hockey stick. Pretty awesome for Halloween, not so much for the nanny.

“What wrong with last one?” asked Geno.

“She was older than dirt and smelled like G’s purple soup.” replied Devon wrinkling his nose “She kept yelling at us. She said something about Gospod and Demony.”

It was Geno’s turn to laugh “You scare off Russian nanny. She ask for prayers. Think you demons.”

“Yep,” said Daylon smiling “She did hang in there for a month.”

“They might be demons.” said Neal smiling at the boys. He noticed Tori Lynn looking at the boys. It was the same look she gave Nixon. “No Tori Lynn, you can’t keep them.”

“You’re so mean. You can’t have the triplets. You can’t take Nixon on tour.” she teased.

“Fine babe, you win. Grab the little one with glasses. But he is totally not sleeping with us, and I’m not feeding or walking him.” said Neal winking at Deacon. He knew that Deacon was the quietest one and often suffered for his more gregarious brothers behaviors.

“James Deter Neal!” she called at him “They can’t be separated. What’s wrong with you?”

“I’m not the one making googly kidnappy eyes at the triplets.”

Pauly and Geno were both laughing hysterically. While the triplets were arguing over who got to live with Tori Lynn and Neal.

“I was not making kidnappy eyes. But they are adorable. And when I leave you and marry Pauly, they can come over all the time.” replied Tori Lynn.

“Ouch,” replied Neal “That hurt babe.”

“Yes, right in feels.” laughed Geno “Come on three monsters, I walk you over to house. Talk to mama, maybe see if she want me find you retired Russian military general for nanny.”

“Like the guy from Rocky?” asked Daylon

“Yeah, that big Russian who wants to kill Rocky.” interjected Devon
“Da.” replied Geno “Tell Lazy bye. Tori Lynn hurts his feels, she must make him better.”

“Bye, Mr. Neal.” said Deacon shyly. He was soon eclipsed by his brothers shoving one another yelling “Bye, Lazy!” and laughing like maniacs.

“Hey, be good guys, and try not to get arrested. I’ll get you all tickets when I come to Pitt.” called Neal. Tori Lynn flipped the camera so it was her facing him “So you like the triplets,eh?”

“They are adorable and they need someone.” replied Tori Lynn

“It was pretty much like that at my house, except we’re stair stepped.”

“It was always just me and Bodie.”

“Yeah, well it was never just me and anyone. The triplets parents are some type of international law people. They travel a lot for work. The boys tend to scare off nannies at an exponential rate. The French chick they hired last spring just walked out. She was yelling and cursing in English and French. Pauly and I both tried to persuade her not to go. Needless to say it was an interesting 48 hours until their parents got back. We made Beau watch them during the game. Best birth control ever. If you mention their names Sunshine will turtle.” rambled James. He then realized she was sitting on the curb with his old house in the background. “You like it better up there? Gonna ditch me for Pauly?”

“Leave me out of this!” called Pauly “I’m going inside.” He motioned for Tori Lynn to follow.

“What about Geno?” she asked looking towards the hedgerow.

“He will wonder back over after he plays with the guys.” Replied Paul “They love him, he’s a big kid. Besides we have time to kill while you swim in my tub.” Tori Lynn had forgot all about why they had came over. Pauly had shouldered her UK bag and was carrying it upstairs. “You can use this room to get dressed and whatever. The big tub is in my room across the hall. I’m going to fix lunch.”

“No fair!” whined Neal “Pauly is cooking. I miss Pauly cooking.”

“Thanks, Paul.” Tori Lynn smirked at Neal “Do I need to give you and Pauly some alone time? You want to talk to him while I bathe?”

“Well when you put it that way. I think I’d much rather have you warm wet and naked as opposed to watching Pauly cook.”

“Christ Neal, what kind of kinky shit are you Pens into? No dirty calls in the locker room.” said Shea. He winked at Tori Lynn “Hey Brat, how’s the tour?”

“So far I’ve slept through the drive and got kidnapped by Penguins.” she replied “The basics. I'll get someone to facetime y’all when I go on the big stage tonight.”

“Looking forward to it Brat. Come home he is a miserable son of a bitch and it’s day one.”

“I am not a miserable son of a bitch!”

“So you don’t miss me, Neal?” she asked. Shea started laughing and heard a course of Neal’s in trouble from the locker room. Before he had a chance to answer Matti had taken his phone away.

“I miss you. And Addi misses you.” said Ekholm.

“She hasn’t even texted, Matti.”

“I kept her busy.” he teased “She had to be at work by 8 this morning. No worries. You send pictures?”

“Ja” she replied.

“Damn he is testy this morning. Jag alsklar flicka.” he said as he tossed the phone to someone else. She saw Hutton’s smiling face.
“Hutts!” she called “I’ve watched all my drinks carefully.”

“Good girl.” he winked at her and tossed her to Josi. Roman waved and smiled. Damn that boy was pretty.

“Careful with that face, Jos!” called Tori Lynn. She heard him laugh as he handed her to Calle. He smiled at her. It always tugged at her. Things with him would have been simpler. He handed her back to Nealer.

“Are you all done? Can I talk to her in peace?” asked Neal

“Maybe!” yelled Fisher grabbing the phone “Call your fairy godmother!”

“I’ll call Carrie after I hang up with Neal. Miss you, Fishy.”

“I miss you, too. Now I am on slushy patrol. And your stash ran out. “

“Want me to call in an order so you can pick them up?”

“No, I can do it!” he called “Kick ass, lil bit.”

“No worries, Fish.” she laughed.

James finally got his phone back. He’d jerked on a shirt and pulled his ball cap on. He knew the only way he’d get to talk with her was to head home. Tori Lynn made a face. “What?” asked Neal

“What happened to shirtless sweaty Neal?”

“Now he's just sweaty,” replied Neal “but I might be convinced to strip for you later.”

“You have a dirty mind, James Neal.”

“And you love me.”

“Damn right I do.” she answered “I miss you. And I think the entire city of Pittsburgh misses you.”

“I am awesome.” he reminded her.

“James Neal, ladies and gentlemen.” she replied “I don’t get dirty looks wearing you’re hoodie here.”

“You might get some that are pissed over the trade.”

“I’ve already explained to Sid how I will handle that.”

“How is that?” he asked

“Well, Sid told me that if I wear your shirt on stage I might get people yelling fuck Neal he left us for Nashville.”

“Jesus, Sid.”

“I told him it wasn’t an issue. That I’d just tell the guy “He did and I do, Darlin’”. I figure that will shut them up. Sid turned several shades of red.”

James was shaking his head at his girl. He wished he could have saw the look on Crosby’s face. “You are a mess.”

“A hot damn mess,” she replied “And don’t you forget it, James Neal.”

“Never, you’re my favorite mess. I fucking miss you.”

“I miss you, too. Are you in the car?” she asked

He nodded. James knew she wouldn’t let him drive while facetiming. “Yes, I am headed home to deal with my inconsolable pitbull. Nixon is mopey.”

“No facetiming and driving. I need to get ready anyway. Good news is I just have to show up with clean hair and skin. They have someone to do all the Addi stuff for me.”

“You don’t need all the hair and make up. I think you are perfect scrubbed up and dressed down.” replied James “But I am sure they need to make you into a rockstar. Try not to give Beau and the other boys a heart attack tonight. No need to bust out the stars corset just yet.”

“I’m saving that for Dallas and Segs.” she teased.

“No, absolutely not.”

“What? Marchy wants me to sing happy birthday to him and maybe a few other songs.”

“You tell that squirrel that Seguin better keep his hands to himself.”

She gave him a beaming smile “I love you.”

“I love you too, Tori Lynn. This fucking sucks. I’ve never truly given a damn about a girl. I finally find one I don’t want to live without and she runs off on tour.

“I’ll be home to you and Nixon before you know it.” she replied “And yes Jamie, this fucking sucks. I want to touch you, not just see you.”

“I sent you another surprise, it should be there before you go on tonight.” He stated.

“Damn it, Neal.”

“You’ll like this surprise. It’s something you need.” he replied.

“Is this a big crazy Neal present?”

“It’s crazy all right. But you'll love it.”

“I think I’m scared.”

“You aren’t scared of anything.” he replied.

“Yes I am, Neal.”

“What are you afraid of?” he asked.

“Losing you, Jamie.” she replied honestly. Tori Lynn watched him for a moment. He was thinking. He always got quiet when he was deep in thought.

“Then you have nothing to worry about. You are stuck with me. And I fucking love you.”

“I love you, too. Okay, I’m going to go find Pauly. You drive home. Nap. And have a good game. I’ll call when I can.”

“Bye, babe. No fears, okay.” he replied before he disconnected.

Notes