Stockholm Syndrome

I look at the tiny plus sign and smile. After having three babies in a row, I had decided to give my body a break but after five years of not being pregnant I missed it. Sidney and I had been trying for a month now and I was happy to see that I was just as fertile as before.
I took the kids to the trampoline park the next day to let loose and have fun.

“Mom this is so fun!” Noah says jumping high into the air.

“Did you know that mom used to come here all the time to train for snowboarding?” I ask him. Carter stops jumping and makes his way over to me.

“Mom why did you stop snowboarding?” he asks.

“Because I had you,” I say smiling.

“Are you sad you don’t snowboard?” I was surprised at his concern.

“I love snowboarding but I love being your mom more. Plus we still get to snowboard every year.” He hugs me and then runs back on the trampoline. After a couple hours I take the kids to Consol to watch the pens play the Canadiens. The game is tied at 3 in third when Brenden Gallagher trips Geno. The penguins go on the power play and all three kids are now focused on the game. The power play starts and the Penguins get set up. Phil Kessel passes to Geno who shoots the puck. Carey Price makes the save but Sidney finds the rebound and shoots it fivehole. The puck squeezes through and the buzzer goes off. Carter shoots to his feet and starts yelling. Harrison and Skylar high-five each other and I smile. The Penguins win and I take the kids down to meet Sidney. We wait a short while before he comes out wearing a grey suit.

“Dad that was awesome!” Carter exclaims.

“Yeah nice goal dad,” Harrison adds.

“I actually saw it this time!” Skylar says proudly. Being 5, her attention span didn’t last long.

“I’m happy to hear that Sky,” Sidney chuckles. We split ways and meet up at home.
Everyone gets ready for bed and I have my nightly one on one chat with each of them. After they’re all asleep, me and Sidney crawl into bed. He wraps his arms around me and we lie there silently for a while.

“Are you happy?” I finally ask him.

“What do you mean?” he replies.

“I mean in life. Are you happy?”

“Let’s see. I get to play hockey for a living and I have the world’s hottest wife. On top of that my amazing wife gave me the world’s coolest kids, so yeah. I’d say I’m pretty happy. Are you?”

“You know ten years ago, if you told me I would be a wife and have three kids I would have told you you were crazy. Even though I’m retired from snowboarding, I would still do everything the same if I had a do-over. Me and you have been through a lot, haven’t we?”

“We have,” he agrees. I sit up so I’m facing him.

“I want you to know that I wouldn’t change any of it. From the day we met at Flower’s house until now, you have been the best thing that has happened to me. I love you more than I thought was possible and I just want to thank-you for picking me to spend your life with. I want to thank-you for staying with me during the ups and downs. For not giving up on me when I ran or when I would give up on us. You’ve made me the happiest person ever and I just wanted you to know how much I love you,” I say, tears spilling down my cheeks. “Oh and I’m pregnant.”
His face breaks out in a smile and he crushes his lips against mine.

“God Phoenix. I love you more than you could ever imagine. I love you and I love our growing family. We’re going to have an amazing life together Phoenix.” His lips find mine again and I feel the electricity from his touch. He was this drug that I would never get enough of but I couldn’t wait to spend the rest of my life trying.

Notes

The end! I’m so sad this story has come to an end as I have had so much fun writing it. This story was my first time at writing and I’m happy I could share Phoenix and Sidney’s journey with you all. I want to thank you guys for reading it, especially those who have been reading since chapter 1. I’m hoping to be inspired soon with an idea for a new story. My other story Russian Roulette is still in the works so you should check that out if you haven’t already! Again thanks so much!
-Love Anna