Ride (Reposted)

February 2015

"Ola beautiful girl!!!" Emily heard Shadi's thick North East English accent as she came in from customs.

"Shadi! I missed you so much!" Emily pulled her cousin in for a tight hug.

"We have so much to catch up on! It's been what? Two years?"

"I think so. I have to go to Charleston this weekend for work though. You keen on joining?"

"Yeah! I'll come with you! I remember visiting you in Charleston back in secondary school. I liked Charleston."

"I miss Charleston. I miss Montreal too.I love Dallas though."

"Well you have a man and a life here. That's all what the family talks about. You living in sin, with a professional athlete who's covered in tattoos."

"Ugh I'm sure my mother made it sound more dramatic then it actually is. And he has a sleeve and the word brothers on his other arm. Jamie is a big teddy bear. It's not like he has a side of the neck tattoo."

"You two are cute though. And you haven't been this happy in such a long time."

"I'm pretty sure he's the one. We've already reproduced." Emily announced as she lead Shadi to her Range Rover.

"What?" She felt Shadi grab her arm.

"I'm pregnant." Emily grinned.

"Seriously?"

"Is 7 and a half weeks serious enough for you?"

"Yes. Oh my god, that's so exciting. I can't wait to see you with a big bump." Shadi squealed in delight as Emily opened the back hatch to her SUV.

"With the size of Jamie this baby will be massive. And hairy." Emily laughed as Shadi lifted her suitcases into the back.

"Is Jamie hairy?"

"No, just his chest and legs. But our kind, we're hairy."

"This is true. Our kind is very hairy. And you are also part Greek and Scottish." Shadi laughed as she closed the back hatch.

"I know. Thousands of dollars in laser hair removal will be reversed in 9 months. Are you tired at all?" Emily asked over her SUV, before climbing in.

"I'm actually exhausted, and hungry. Can we get some greasy American fast food?"

"Yes! Jamie's on this health kick right now and he pretty much tossed everything that this baby book and nutritionalist said for me to not eat. I need grease. It's all I crave right now."

"Let's go get some Whataburger or Chick-Fil-A or something."

"I am so down. And I am even leaving the wrappers in the Range Rover."

"Does Jamie hate that too?"

"You have no idea."

***

Walking in from morning skate Jamie heard some loud laughing from upstairs, which meant Shadi was settling in comfortably.

Bailey didn't even come down to greet him.

Placing his things on the counter he hauled himself up the stairs to meet Emily's cousin, finding them in the Purple Room.

What he didn't expect was for Shadi and Emily to look almost exactly alike.

Shadi was a little more manufactured then Emily. She had said her cousin had her nose done and her lips enhanced. But other then that they had the exact same features.

"Hi honey." Emily purred getting up from the bed.

"And what are you two doing up here? How's it going Shadi?" Jamie smiled as he pulled Emily off the bed.

"Napping. Or trying to." Shadi laughed, getting up and giving Jamie a hug.


These two were so much alike.

Besides for the nose, lips and accent there was nothing separating these two. Shadi had a little bit of blonde in her hair.

"Now that he's home did you want me to leave you to actually catch up on Dally time?" Emily asked.

"Actually that sounds like a really good idea. I'll see you two in a bit if you don't mind." Shadi yawned.

"Absolutely. We'll be downstairs whenever you need us." Emily smiled at her cousin.

"Bailey, come. See you in a bit Shadi." Jamie waved.

Shadi closed the door behind them as soon as Bailey had exited. Wrapping his arm around Emily's shoulder he guided her downstairs, despite the discomfort in his hips.

Which she noticed.

"Jamie, your hips." Emily said quietly.

"I'm fine Em. Seriously." He lied.

She pulled away and crossed her arms at him, "No. You are not. I know when you're lying to me."

"It hurts." He frowned.

"You can take a night off you know. Or get the surgery soon."

"I'm the captain. I have to be on the ice every night."

"Honey. That's why you have your assistant captains. You need to listen to your body. Look at how long Sid was out with his concussion."

"That's different. That was his brain. You don't understand."

"I don't understand? I could have been playing professional women's rugby if I didn't suffer from multiple concussions and knee injuries. I could be playing in the Pan Ams this summer if I didn't have multiple concussions and knee injuries. I know what it's like to play through injuries and pain."

"I'm sorry baby. I'll get surgery once the seasons over. I promise." He pulled her back in so she was flush against him.

"What if you make play offs and play to the end?"

"Then I'll get the surgery with the Cup." He kissed her forehead.

"Well I'm glad you have big goals. I'll be getting fat from the baby and you'll be walking like a stiff board." She laughed.

"I forgot to say hi to the baby today too." He dropped to his knees slowly to push up her shirt and kissed her stomach.

"Baby's makin momma queasy today and nothing seems to be fitting. Do you know how hard it is to look good when picking up that girl from the airport?"

"You'd look good in a paper bag. I've always said that." He smiled at her, giving her a quick kiss as he got up off the ground, "and speaking of Shadi. You did not warn me how much you two actually looked alike."

"You've been on FaceTime with her! And her nose is the nose I want. And Mom and Aunt Miryam are identical twins. You know that." She laughed as she pulled away, walking into the kitchen.

"Your nose is perfect."

"One more break and it's going to be on the other side of my face. I think I'm going to be sick." Emily pulled away, hauling off for the nearest bathroom.

He was used to the all day "morning" sickness. He noticed it was always when she ate something she probably shouldn't be eating that the nutritionalist had listed in the meal plan.

"What did you two have for lunch?" He asked her as she came back into the kitchen.

She gave him a devious grin and simply said "Whataburger. And In-N-Out."

"That's not something that's been approved by the nutritionalist." He crossed his arms.

"Fuck the nutritionalist. Jamie, having a baby does not mean I need to be on a restricted diet. I have a living thing growing inside me, if I want a greasy burger and some fries I'll have a greasy burger. The more I fatten up the healthier for the baby."

"I just want you two to be healthy."

"I know. But you gotta let me indulge in my cravings." She wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed his still crossed arms. "Please babe. Don't be mad. I love your beefy arms."

He was a sap to her big green eyes.

"Fine. You win baby." He wrapped his arms around her and lightly kissed her forehead.

"Good. And Shadi wants to go out tonight after the game." She grinned.

"Tyler would like her. Same with Jason."

"She thinks Jason's cute. I scrolled through a few pictures of the single boys."

"I'm not even going to say a word about that." He laughed, walking away.

"I know. She's just here for the week. Let her have some fun. She just got out of a relationship with some douche bag Portuguese soccer player."

"Cause us hockey players aren't any better."

"I found a decent one." She winked at him as she helped herself to a banana.

"I'm sure your mother will say otherwise."

"She loves you! She just isn't a fan of the fighting. Or the blood."

"Yeah, Mum doesn't like it either."

"I like it. It turns me on when you fight." She grinned.

"Does it now?"

"It makes my panties so wet." She bit her lip.

That sold him.

"Bedroom. Now." He demanded.

"Babe." She said quietly.

"Get that ass in the bedroom right now or else I will fuck you on the kitchen counter. And I don't care who walks in."

"Jamie Benn."

"Emily Rankin."

"I love when your demanding." She said before taking off up the stairs.

By the time he made it up the stairs, she was on their bed and naked for him.

***

"Now I know why your pregnant." Shadi gave her cousin a devious grin.

Emily looked over at Shadi and spoke in Farsi; "You heard us didn't you?"

"Loud and clear. I don't blame you. That man is a beast." Shadi responded in Farsi, coincidentally as Jamie laid a big hit against a defender on the opposing team.

"I can't even enjoy a fucking hockey game now with out the terrorists invading this." Some one said behind them.

Before Emily could react Shadi was already up and lipping off to the man behind them, her accent not masked in the slightest.

"Do you really think this could hide a bomb underneath?" She said angrily as she unzipped her hoodie to reveal her tight t-shirt, "do you you fucking prick? We weren't even speaking Arab you racist, bigoted arsehole, we were speaking Farsi."

"Shadi. Let's go." Emily grabbed her cousin's arm. She looked at the ice and Jamie was watching them carefully.

"No."

"Shadi, let's go to the wives and family box."

"See. She's the captains girlfriend."

"Shadi, let's go. Now. I think he's learned his lesson."

Leading Shadi up to the wives box she was greeted by the girls, introducing her cousin to her friends who had become family.

She could feel his eyes on her as she lead him into the house. She knew he wanted her by the way he said "Baby" at the bar, and he was ready to go home.

Jamie wasn't mortified in the slightest when he found out Shadi had heard them, in fact it made him proud.

And knowing that they had the place to themselves since Shadi had gone home with Jason Demers, she was more then willing for him.

"Since your cousin's gone to get some Daddy Tube Steak, why don't you get some of mine?" Jamie asked against her ear as she locked up.

"Jamie you are intoxicated."

"I am. And I plan of having drunk sex with you."

"But I'm as sober as a judge."

"Your pregnant. I would hope so. Now come sit on Daddy's lap." He told her as he pulled her over to the couch.

"You are in a special kind of mood tonight." She rolled her eyes, obliging to his wishes.

"Can we get married? Like tomorrow?" He asked.

"Babe I don't have a ring on my finger and you know you need Mom and Dad's permission."

"Screw the parents. We'll elope. Then once you hit ten weeks we'll tell everyone about the baby. And then I can refer to you as my hot pregnant wife to everyone."

"I like being the Hot Pregnant Girlfriend, it's got a bit of scandal to it. Have you told anyone?"

"Jordie knows. You?"

"Just Shadi so she would know why I wasn't drinking. The girls are suspicious though."

"Soon enough we'll tell everyone. After Casino night. If we have a girl you know I'm gonna have to bump you up from Princess to Queen right."

"Nah I'll still be a princess." She giggled as he nipped at her neck, "but I appreciate the promotion."

"What do you say? We go to bed?" He asked against her chest.

"I'd like that. Take me to bed honey."

And he did just that.

Notes