All The Small Things

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Laci watched the rest of the game in awe of the skill possessed by all the players. She was happy that Geno, Sutts, and Sid had all scored. They had beaten the Flyers 4-1. According to Cole it had been the best game of the season. He was rambling about Sid having a 4 point night. Duper explained that he had a goal and 3 assists. Making it a 4 point night for Sidney.


"I think maybe he was showing off." teased Duper.


"Maybe" replied Laci "I know he wanted Cole to have a great experience."


"Laci, dear" called Nathalie "I think Sidney plans on coming up and seeing the kids. I know they have to get cleaned up and the media scrum will take a while. Do you think the kids are up to it?"


Laci looked at Cole and realized that he wouldn't come down from his hockey high for at least a little while longer. She conferred with the medical staff. They all agreed to stay until the children saw the Pens. She crossed the box and stopped when she noticed Jen talking to Nathalie, she waited. Duper came to stand at her side.


"You cannot let Jen intimidate you." said Pascal "If you really think you want to be with Sidney, then you will have to get used to people not liking you. You can't let the mean girls bully you."


"I was raised to be nice." replied Laci "I don't treat people poorly unless they treat me poorly. So, I am in the camp, if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all."


Duper roared in laughter "You and the kid might be made for each other. But, the WAGs are more, if you don't have anything nice to say come sit by me camp. You however are a unicorn so they all want to see you."


"I am not a unicorn." sassed Laci "I'm a girl and he is a boy, it's simple. Maybe we will date, maybe we won't but y'all don't get to dictate. No wonder he hides in Cole's room."


"The Creature of habit’s unicorn" said Duper "The next great one. He doesn't bring people around other than his parents. Yeah, he would have brought Cole and the kids here. But, he certainly wouldn't be taking you home with him if he didn't already like you. He is letting you in his bubble. He doesn't let people in his bubble. You have to be ready to be with Sidney. It will be baptism by fire. Social media and the actual media will explode. It's easier if Jen scares you off."


"I've told you I don't scare easy." replied Laci as she headed straight towards Nathalie. Pascal smiled as she went to stand beside Jen. Laci was going to be good for Sid. Creature's southern belle might be made of steel. Jen was now giving him the evil eye for sending Laci that direction. He ignored Jen and pulled out his phone.


Duper: I like your unicorn. Plus she pisses off Jen. It's win/win.
Sid: What? Unicorn?
Duper: You know the imaginary creature with one horn that everyone wants to see but doesn't exist. Example: Sidney Crosby's girlfriend.
Sid: Please tell me you didn't say this to her
Duper: But of course
Sid: I hate you a little bit right now. Tell her I am on my way.
Duper: She is with Nathalie looking at wedding dresses. Take your time.
Sid: What????


Pascal laughed and put his phone in his pocket. He felt it vibrate a few more times but ignored it. The kid needed a little excitement in his life. Nathalie must have decided that Sid was keeping Laci because she was explaining the WAGs upcoming fundraisers. Pascal flopped down in a chair beside Cole. Duper pulled out a marker and signed Cole's wheelchair. He intended to have the entire team sign the chair. Maybe riding with the Pens would give the kid something to look forward to.


"So, I’m out the rest of the year." said Duper "I think it's going to be your job to keep me company while I can't play. I’m going to be watching the team and looking at areas they need to improve. Can you keep notes and I'll come see you the day after games? Then we can compare notes. Maybe, win another cup?"


Cole's face broke out into a huge smile "I can do that, Duper." Laci's heart thundered in her chest. Pascal had just given Cole another reason to fight. The tears came before she could stop them. She didn't want Cole to see, so Laci stepped out of the box. The entire night had been magical for Cole. She realized that they had made his dreams come true. They were pushing him to fight. All she wanted was more time for Cole.


Sidney stepped off the elevator with Geno, Pauly, Flower, and Tanger. He smiled when he saw Laci standing outside the box. He panicked when he realized she was crying. If Jen made her cry he was going to be pissed. The boys noticed her crying.


"Why she cry, Sid?" asked G


"I don't know. You guys go in and see the kids. I'll be right in." said Sid.


"You need me?" asked Kris "You, tears, and 'er?"


"I can talk to her." replied Sid


"You sure you don' want Vero?" asked Flower.


"No, I can do this." said Sid. He turned and looked at Paul and waited for him to doubt him. Paul clapped him on the shoulder and herded the relationship police into the box. Sid heard the kid’s excitement over the guys. He approached Laci. She had turned away from them as they left the elevator and was currently wiping her eyes with the sleeve of his jersey. "That jersey is rough." he said as he approached her "That's the second time I've seen you cry tonight."


"I'm an emotional mess." she said turning to face Sidney "I'm sorry. But Cole. Then Duper."


"Are you crying because he called you a unicorn?" asked Sidney cautiously "Because I told him that wasn't cool."


Laci laughed and sobbed at the same time. Sid pulled the pocket square from his suit coat and handed it to her. He stepped closer to her and pulled her up against his side. "Please don't cry. I'm not good with crying. If you don't stop and come in with me G, Flower, and Tanger will bring out the WAGs."


"No WAGs" she replied "Jen already hates me. I'm not crying because of the unicorn thing. Duper is ridiculously sweet. I cried earlier because of Cole's determination to walk out there with you. I watched him and knew he was the happiest he'd been in maybe his entire life there with y'all. It was scary and beautiful. I've been worried that now that he has been here he would give up. He didn't have to get better to come see you guys. What did he have to fight for?"


"Ignore Jen, and we will bring him to another game. We will keep visiting." explained Sid he didn't want to be faced with Cole's prognosis either.


"Pascal already did." said Laci with a watery smile." He told him that he was done for the season. He asked Cole to take notes about what you guys needed to work on. He promised to come see him the day after the games to compare notes. Pascal told him he could help you all win the Cup."


"No pressure!" exclaimed Sid.


"It gives him something to do Sidney. Don’t you see what Duper gave him?" asked Laci looking up at him. The tears shimmering in her eyes broke Sidney. He pulled her against him and hugged her. He was hugging her in the CONSOL where anyone could see and he didn't care. Sid looked down at Laci and used his thumbs to wipe her tears away.


"I see everything" said Sidney "No more tears. For Cole's sake, okay?" Laci nodded and laid her head against his solid chest. Sidney tried to think of the last girl he had hugged that wasn't his mom, Taylor, Jen, Nat, Ally, or Nathalie. It shouldn't be such a hard thing to think of, but he couldn't come up with a name. "You ready for screaming kids and shenanigans?" asked Sidney "I made them promise to behave, but Geno gets excited around children."


Laci laughed out loud "I thought you meant my kiddos." She moved away from his chest. Sidney felt a sense of loss when she moved. She straighten his jersey and smiled at him. Sidney couldn't help but smile back.

"Well, I'm sure they’re on their best behavior." teased Sidney "I can't even begin to promise mine will be. Ready?" Sidney held out his hand. Laci settled her small hand into his larger calloused hand. They walked into the box hand in hand. Laci was kind of stunned at the camera flashes that popped as they walked in. Several reporters were asking Sid about the kids there in the box. He answered their questions. Sidney had settled Laci into his side and was shielding her from the media to some extent. They wanted pictures of Cole and Sidney. Laci let go of his hand and nudged him forward towards Cole.


"You see what it's like for him?" asked Nathalie hugging Laci "The boys were worried because you were crying."


"I was crying because of Pascal." said Laci.


"I can take him out." replied Jen standing next to Laci "What the hell did he do? Sid is obviously crazy about you to break every rule he has."


"No, he didn't do anything wrong. He just gave Cole another reason to fight." explained Laci "He gave Cole more time. The doctors say he is terminal. Even if it goes into remission he will have to fight it again at some point. But, if he just gives up no one would blame Cole. He has been fighting to come see them play. I was worried he would just give up. Pascal gave him a job. Whether it helps Pascal or not it will help Cole."


"Damn it" said Jen snuffing "I hate when they do this." Jen was fanning her face and trying not to cry.


"Okay, we will do a presser about Duper and Cole teaming up."


"Miss Laci!" called Cole "Come look! Come Look!"


"What is it Cole?" asked Laci smiling. The little boy was holding up a child sized jersey. He had his Sid one on and the new Geno was in his backpack. He held up the jersey. It was a number 28 jersey. But, the more amazing thing was it had Cole across the back. "It has your name on it!" exclaimed Laci.


"Well, our name on it." said a guy in a gray suit. He extended a hand towards Laci. "I'm Ian Cole" Laci grabbed his hand then threw her arms around him Ian. "Whoa!" said Ian.


"She is a nervous hugger." explained Sidney.


Laci looked at Ian and introduced herself. "Sorry, Sidney is totally right."


"It's okay as long as Creature here doesn't mind" laughed Ian "I'm used to women throwing themselves at the rest of these guys, but not me." Sidney just shook his head.


Cole was laughing. Laci smiled at the child. Cole then started yawning. "Someone is tired." said Laci walking towards him.


"No, I'm not." said Cole yawning again.


"You 'ave to go back to the 'ospital, mon ami. Or she will not let us bring you back 'ere for another game." said Kris "You want to come to a Cup game, oui?'


"So, no argue" said Geno "I push. We go to van."


"Tell them good bye." said Flower standing beside Geno. The guys helped push all the kids out to the transport unit.


Jared was standing by the door of the van. Laci started to climb in with the kids. "Um, no!" said Jared


"Turn yourself around and go back to Captain 4 point game." Jared tossed her bag at her. "We got this. Entire hospital to take care of them. Only one of you to take care of Crosby."


"But Sidney and I were going to come get Cole settled." argued Laci.


"Cole tell Laci to go have fun with Sidney and that you don't need her tonight." said Jared.


"I am kind of tired Miss Laci. Jared can read to me before I fall asleep. One chapter, I promise." said Cole "I'll see you tomorrow. Bye Sid." Laci turned to see Sidney behind her. "Bye, Miss Laci. See you at lunch."


"You got it kiddo" replied Laci as Jared shut the van door. She looked at Sidney again. "Well, I was going to change into my dress at the hospital. I guess I can change at your place."


Sidney walked over and took her hand. "Confession time." he said looking down at her "I panicked this morning when you texted. I'm not good at flirty stuff. It's not me. So, instead of say something dorky I let Tanger answer." Laci smiled up at him. "I think you are pretty perfect just as you are in your chucks and my jersey. You're beautiful, you don't need to change to come over to my place." She was still smiling at him "No expectations just a quiet dinner. I mean I hope this goes well. Say something please I am rambling."


"I wondered where this Sid went when you got assertive this morning" replied Laci. "So, wanna take me to get my car at the hospital so I can follow you to your place?"


"I'll bring you back to your car after we eat." said Sid opening the passenger side door of his Rover for her. Laci climbed in the seat "So, which Sid do you like better?" he asked standing in the door.
Laci smiled at him. "Both" she said honestly. Sid cocked his head and smiled at her. Laci grabbed him by his tie and pulled his head into the Rover. Laci let go of his tie and Sidney stayed in place. Laci's hand came up and touched his mouth. Of all the parts of Sidney his mouth might be his most perfect feature. Laci touched her mouth to his. She was sure she felt lightening in her veins. Sid's hands slid into her hair as his tongue skated over hers. Sidney knew he shouldn't be kissing Laci in the parking lot. But, damned if he could stop. However, Beau and the boys catcalling and yelling definitely interrupted. Sid's forehead rested against hers.


"Sorry" said Sidney "I told you they were children."


"Don't care" she said kissing his mouth "But you do, so let's get out of here." Sidney shut her door and walked around the vehicle.


"I don't care if they see." said Sidney sliding in the driver's seat "But, I’m not ready to share you with them. I might not ever be ready." Sid put the vehicle in motion. "I want you to myself for a while before the chaos."


"I think you need a little chaos, Sidney." laughed Laci "Take me home, Sid."

Sidney looked at the blonde in his passenger seat. He couldn't wait to take her to his home. The question was how did he keep her?

Notes