All The Small Things

"Change shoe, Sid!" called Geno pulling a gray t-shirt over his torso.
"She knows I have on these shoes." replied Sid

"Yes, but her say no date in ugly shoe." laughed Geno "I'm help score."

"I'm not trying to just score with Laci." grumbled Sidney.

"You like girl." said Geno grabbing his Pirates hat from his locker "Is good. Even more reason to help."

"What are we 'elping 'im with?" asked Kris coming out the shower.

"He need help score with Laci." replied Geno "So, Evgeni help."

"I do not need help!" yelled Sidney.

"Umm... is none of my business, but you 'ave on the shoes she said she did no like." answered Kris "I say you need all the 'elp you can get." Kris was getting dressed while glancing at Geno "So what's the plan?"

"There is no plan!" exclaimed Sidney "I am picking up lunch, and going to the hospital to eat with Laci."

"Nyet," said Geno "I go with Laci say so."

Kris was laughing and putting on his shoes "G, can 'andle this. If you need back up text. This is good for you, no?"

Sidney pulled on his ball cap and glared at the Russian and the French Canadian "I do not need back up. We were fine last night. It was normal."

"And normal is good, oui?" asked Kris

"Yes." replied Sidney as he tied his trainers "Laci is different, not sure how to explain it. I just know she is. How many girls if left to their own device in my house would be downstairs talking to Sam rather than taking photos for instagram? The only thing she rummaged around in was the kitchen."

"See now I help." said Evgeni "Come we go take your pretty girl lunch. If you do ok, Evgeni hang with Cole."

"Do I have any say?" asked Sidney.

"Da," replied Evgeni "How your girl eat pasta?"

Sidney pondered the question for a few moments "She liked Paul's pasta. She likes eggs, mushrooms, cheese, and spinach. She drinks wine. Oh, and she likes ice cream. And things that are gummy." Sid smiled remembering their movie snack conversation.

"Stupid smile is good." said Evgeni "Now we order pasta. Sid want large spaghetti with red sauce. Evgeni get pasta carbonara. We bring your girl carbonara, too. And bread for pretty girl and me."

“Fine, let’s just go, I don’t want Laci to starve to death waiting on us.” replied Sidney.

Evgeni threw a long arm around Sidney “I best wingman.”

“I know G, but I don’t need a wingman.”

“Trust, you need Evgeni.”

They loaded into Sidney’s Rover and managed to navigate through traffic, pick up lunch, and make it to Laci’s office within 30 minutes. That was a success in Sidney’s book. Geno was trailing behind him carrying their lunch. Geno told several flirtatious nurses that Ally would be back soon. That seemed to stave off a few eager bunnies. Sid shook his head as they boarded the elevator. Before Ally had agreed to marry G he would have been collecting numbers as they moved through the hospital. Sid was happy with how settled Evgeni seemed. Sid was also pretty sure that he might be missing Malkin after this surprise wedding plot. He hoped Geno was right and she would love it. Ally loved the crazy Russian, so maybe this was just the accompanying crazy.

“Sid, you think so hard hurt face.” said Geno “What think so hard?”

“I was mentally figuring out what to do if Ally kills you this summer.” replied Sid

“Her loves.” laughed Geno “ No worry. Evgeni got this.”

Laci was standing in the hallway next to her door. She had stopped to wait on the boys when she heard Sidney’s voice. “Evgeni’s got what?” she asked as the boys came to stand before her. Sidney smiled at Laci. She stepped forward and pressed a kiss against his jaw. Sid wanted to grab her and kiss her but several reasons not to played through his head. God, he wished he was more confident off the ice.

“Secret wedding at Disney. Is no big deal.” replied Evgeni “You come with Sid. Him one of best guys.”

“Oh, you and Ally are planning to surprise everyone with a wedding not just the trip. That will be so much fun.” smiled Laci. Sidney immediately smiled and shook his head no.

“Ally plan trip for family to Disney. Natashka want to go. But then Natashka want Uncle Sid, Lazy, Pauly, and Beau so he be Kristoff.” explained Evgeni “She no come live with me until we married. So surprise. We marry at Disney.”

Laci eyed Evgeni “She knows nothing about the wedding?”

“Nyet, big surprise.” smiled Evgeni “ Ashley and Lazy help.”

“Not sure who Ashley and Lazy are, but do they understand you are planning her wedding without her?” questioned Laci

“Why everybody say that?” asked Geno looking at Sidney “She planning wedding. Think we get married in August before school start in Pittsburgh. I just move wedding up to Disney in July. Everything my Ally want she get, plus mermaids.”

“Mermaids?” quizzed Laci

“Da, Ally love Little Mermaid. She be at wedding.” replied Evgeni as if this were a perfectly normal conversation.

Laci turned and smiled at Sid “Russians, surprise weddings, and mermaids. You do keep a girl on her toes, Captain.”

"I know how to show a girl a good time, eh?" laughed Sidney. Laci started laughing again. Laci opened the door to her office and grabbed Sidney by the hand. The boys both waved at Phyllis, the receptionist.

"When is Ally coming back?" asked Phyllis

"She come visit summer break. Her move her in August." replied Evgeni smiling.

"Tell her we are waiting on her."

"Da, she miss you. She miss the kids." answered Evgeni. He meandered his way down the hall to Laci's office. She would be next door to Ally once she arrived in Pittsburgh. G thought this was a great plan. Ally could help Sid too. Evgeni came to halt in front of Laci's door. Maybe Sid didn't need his help. Geno cleared his throat and Sidney and Laci stopped kissing. Laci laid her head on Sid's chest and Sid was furiously blushing.

"No mind Evgeni. I just grab lunch. Go visit Cole. Come back when not busy." teased Evgeni. Sid groaned. Laci laughed.

"You can stay, Evgeni." replied Laci

"Nyet, Sid not need me. Cole need Evgeni." he answered separating the lunches "Be good. Don't do anything Evgeni not do." Sid groaned again as he could hear G's booming laugh down the hall.

"You keep groaning like that Cap and I'm gonna think you don't like me." said Laci poking him in the stomach.

"I liked you just fine, Miss Prewitt. I was late to practice to prove it, I even changed my shoes." he replied "And the guys are giving me hell over all of it. Apparently, I am a very regimented stick in the mud."

"You're a little controlled. Sometimes that is a good thing. Sometimes it's hard to deal with. I'm sure the boys have seen you at your best and at your worst. I can't imagine the high of winning or the low of losing a game you're playing in. I only see Cole's reaction and that is bad enough. And you seem to have the weight of both Pittsburgh and Canada squarely on your shoulders. Oh, and that whole face of the NHL thing. So I get that you have to be structured. But being 30 minutes early to practice instead of an hour won't kill you."

"I believe Kuni said he was going to send you flowers for pulling the stick out of my ass." deadpanned Sidney.

Laci went up on her tiptoes and pressed her smiling mouth against his "I don't think it was all that bad, Mr. Crosby." She was still in awe of his mouth every time her lips met his. Dear lord the boy was beautiful. Quirks and all. "But the shoe thing is a definite issue."

Sidney shook his head "They are good for my joints. It's a lot of wear and tear playing hockey."

"I'll research it and give you my verdict on your ugly shoes." replied Laci "Captain, I believe you promised me lunch and a nap."

"We picked up Italian. We guessed on what you might like. I swear I will feed you something other than pasta on our next date." rambled Sidney "Wait...nap?"

"Caught that did you, Captain? Or is that against the handbook that Duper or Jen haven't given me yet?" Sidney was quiet and thinking. She could almost hear the gears turning. "Don't hurt yourself thinking Crosby I can't have you scratched due to a nap."

Laci unpacked their lunches and pulled the coffee table over to her couch. She almost laughed at the expression on his face. She peeked in the two containers one was a healthy whole wheat pasta with veggies and the other was a cheese and bacon laden carbonara. She pulled open another container of garlic bread covered in cheese. God Bless Geno.

"You realize I really nap, right?" asked Sidney taking the container from her hand.

"Your virtue is safe with me, Captain." laughed Laci "It's not a big deal, Sidney. I took the afternoon off because I am still kind of tired. I can go to my apartment and sleep for a while. You'd mentioned wanting me to come to the game."

Sidney realized he was screwing this up. His schedule was as much a part of him as his stick was. He could do this. But first he had to quit hiding behind his spaghetti. "Of course I want you at the game. No question. I've never really had anyone nap with me. According to the boys I am freakishly superstitious. So I do everything the same on game day. But I've already been off kilter all day. "

"Also, my fault." said Laci digging into the pasta. "This is amazing." Sidney laughed at the huge bite of pasta Laci had taken. He wasn't used to girls eating in front of him. Hell he wasn't used to a girl like Laci period. "Seriously do you want to try some of this? It's still pasta." Laci kept eating making happy sounds. He finally gave up and stole a fork full of the cheesy pasta. She was right it was really good. "And look at that the world didn't fall off its axis."

"I guess not," said Sid smiling. She loved his lop sided smile. In fact there were a lot of things she could learn to love about Sidney. "And I don't think snuggling you would send it out to orbit. But we are napping."

"Yes sir, captain sir." laughed Laci giving him a mock salute. Sidney sat his takeout container on the coffee table. He then took her plate and sat it on the table. "What are you..." was all she got out of her mouth before she was sitting in his lap.
"You like making fun of me." said Sid looking down at Laci. It was her turn to squirm a little. She was trying to pull her slim skirt back down her legs. How does someone so short have such long legs? Laci didn’t say anything but Sid could tell she was holding back laughter. Laci turned so that she was facing Sidney straddling him.

"I do." she answered "So serious all the time."

"I'm not always serious." insisted Sidney.

"Prove it." she goaded.

"It's a game day." said Sidney. Laci rocked her hips against him. He groaned.

"Sidney" whispered Laci against his ear.

"Yes?"

"Just kiss me. Baby steps. I've already told you your virtue is safe for today." Laci watched the battle in his eyes. She pressed a kiss against his jaw. Laci pressed soft open mouthed kisses along the side of his jaw that had been injured. That injury kept him from being flawless, but it made him even more attractive. She then found her target, his mouth. Laci was certain that if ancient artists had an opportunity to see Sidney Crosby the statue of David and all those other naked Greeks and Romans would be built like Crosby. She felt him relax. His hands cradled her neck. She could feel the calluses on his thumb as it caressed the back of her neck. She wasn't sure who moved first, but she knew that deepening this kiss had been the right idea. His tongue stroked against hers. She moved her body against his. Sid broke the kiss and looked up at her. He wanted to jerk the pins out of her hair and push her back against the couch. He wanted her. He wanted everything. Sidney's mouth captured hers again. Laci made a small sound and moved closer. Sid's hands moved down her body and pulled her closer. He wasn't sure this was baby steps.

Evgeni cleared his throat from the door way. He hated to interrupt Sid, but it was nearly nap time. His captain currently had Laci sitting in his lap with both hands on Laci's assets. Maybe Sid didn't need him.

"He needs a bell." said Laci as she placed a small kiss on Sid's full mouth. "I'm getting your pet Russian a cat bell." Sidney laughed and pressed his forehead to hers.

"I not pet. I best wingman." said an insulted Evgeni "Beside, I no make the schedule. We all just follow it."

"Not everyone." said Laci climbing out of Sidney's lap. She winked at Geno and he started laughing.

"Not sure Sid ready for you," replied G "But he learn."

Sidney stood up and pulled Laci into a hug. She was pretty sure her new favorite thing was being cradled against his wide chest. He dropped a kiss on her up turned lips "Nap starts at 2pm. I'll pick you up after I drop G off."

"Nope, I'll meet you there, Captain. Don't want to upset the balance in the force after nap time. Plus, I promised Cole I'd do peanut butter jelly time with him before the game." smiled Laci. Geno was laughing from the door.

"You are making fun of me again." said Sid.

Laci stood on her tiptoes and kissed his pouting mouth "Damn straight, Captain."

Notes