All You Had to do Was Stay

Landing in Halifax for first time in three years she was excited to see how much the city had changed. She was looking forward to lobster cookouts on the beach, going out on the boat, wake surfing and boarding. Going out on the dirt bikes and ATVs. She was going to try to cram as much into two weeks before she headed off for New Zealand.

Jo's parents collected her from the airport, along with her snowboards, and the four suit cases she had also brought.

"Jesus Jo, did you move out of your place in Kelowna?" Her dad asked.

"No, I just have one suitcase full of summer clothes and the rest is my winter gear for New Zealand." Jo rolled her eyes, loading up her belongings into the back of the Tahoe she bought for them.

"Have you heard from Sid? Trin said he was coming home today too." Phil asked her.

"I haven't spoken to Sidney since the Olympics." Jo said quietly.

"I'm not even going to go there." She watched her dad throw his hands up.

He didn't know she watched him win the gold medal in overtime, score the Golden Goal. She wore his jersey, with a ball cap slung low over her face. She was on her feet the entire game, and jumping during overtime. She saw Jerome Iginla with the puck, Sid was wide open, she heard him yell "Iggy!!" and within two seconds the entire arena was on its feet, cheering, erupting with national pride. She hugged so many strangers that day, clanked beer in cheers with many more then that.

She just wanted to get some Down Home relaxing before she tore up the Kiwi circuit.
No one knew she went to the game, she had gone to a few with her parents, Trina and Troy, to be cordial, Kathy was there too for one game, and it was awkward as hell, Kathy was prim, preppy and proper, Jo had two day old hair under a toque that hadn't been brushed, with Vans, leggings and a Team Canada hoodie. But she went to the gold medal game on her own, sitting in the stands with a couple of other olympians who knew nothing about her and Sid's history, besides for growing up down the street from each other in Cole Harbour.

"What's the plan while your here?" Phil asked.

"Just try to do as much as possible. I get a tattoo the day before I leave." She grinned at her dad.

Phil was not a fan of tattoos.

"Of course you are. A skull on your face now?" He rolled his eyes.

"No, the Olympic Rings on my wrist. I figured the day before would work because I'm going back to a winter climate."

"I don't know where you came from. Your mother and I certainly do not enjoy winter."

"You two taught me how to ski, and then snowboard." She smiled at her dad.

Her two weeks flew by. Jo's last night was spent on a patio reserved for her closest friends on the waterfront, she had extended an arm to Sid and invited him too. Just to be nice. Jo didn't know if Sid and Kathy had broken up or not, but reserved the extra seat just in case, if he would even show.

The few times they were around each other, he had been quiet, reserved. There was only room for awkward small talk.

After the first few drinks were down, he finally showed up, without a plus one. It was her going away again party, she got placed at the head of the table. Sid happened to snag the last seat at the opposite end, so they had no choice but to look at each other.

Life could have been so easy to just get up and go with him. Be that girl on the sidelines for him. Be his cheerleader. Luxurious vacations, expensive cars and beautiful hand bags. She wouldn't have to worry about being set for a future after snowboarding or school.

About an hour into dinner he made his way to her end of the table, asking for a moment alone.

Getting up and following him to a quiet part of the patio she leaned against the railing, dreading to hear what he had to say.

"I'm proud of you, you know." He smiled at her.

"Thank you." She smiled back at him, "I'm nervous for New Zealand."

"You? Nervous? Never." He laughed.

"It's different snow, and new hills over there."

"And hobbits and sheep."

"You fucking nerd." She rolled her eyes at him.

"You'll love it over there." He assured her.

"What if I love it so much I don't want to come back." She found herself getting serious.

"I'll make sure you don't love it that much." He laughed again.

"You sure? Where's Kathy tonight?"

"We broke up." He said quietly.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Break ups suck." She felt awkward asking.

"They do."

"I'm sorry for being such a cunt these past few years." She looked up at him, giving a sincere apology.

"I shouldn't have even said anything. Don't worry about it." He pulled her in for a tight hug.
She didn't fight him, they needed that hug.

"Yeah but, I shouldn't have acted like that."

"We were just kids."

"Because 18 and 20 is hardly children aged." She giggled into his shoulder.

"You know what I mean."

"Can we be best friends again?" She pulled away slightly to glimpse up at him.

"Of course. I would say with benefits but that might be inappropriate." He let out a small laugh.

"Very inappropriate." She rolled her eyes and gave him a slight push, "we should probably get back."

From then on it was like those three years of not talking hadn't even happened. They texted every day. Even in New Zealand. When she found out he was playing in the winter classic she tried so hard to make it there, but was stuck with commitments to snowboarding.
She wasn't expecting a phone call a few days later from Trina, telling her that Sid was hurt, and it was bad. She found herself on a plane a few hours later, going from Kelowna into Calgary, Calgary to Minneapolis and finally Minneapolis to Pittsburgh.

Trina and Troy were already in Pittsburgh, Troy collected her. This was one of the few times where she needed to be his best friend, drop everything, and go to him. The drive from the airport to Sid's new house was a short drive, but it felt like forever.

"What's wrong?" Jo asked Troy in Sid's Range Rover.

"He's concussed. Severely." Troy sighed.

"That hit on New Years Day?" Her heart fell into her stomach.

"That and he took another bad hit against Tampa too."

"Do you think?"

"It's to early to tell. Here's hoping seeing you will turn his mood around."

"He's probably gutted he can't travel or be with the team."

"He is. But he needs a dark room and you. Trin and I have tried, he's been asking for you."

His house was gorgeous, much like his Nova Scotia house. It didn't take her long to find her way to his room, Trina just stepping out of it.

"Today is a bad day. He's already yelled at me multiple times." She shook her head as Jo pulled her into her arms.

"If there's anything about growing up with Sid, is the good days always out number the bad. But when he's got a bad one, look out world."

"He's all yours then." Trina gave Jo's arm a squeeze.

She gave the door a light knock before entering his room.

"Sid. It's Jo, are you decent?" She asked quietly.

"As decent as I'll ever get." He grunted.

"Can I come in?"

"As long as you close the door."

She shut the door behind her quietly and lightly padded over to his bed. Sitting down next to him she lightly touched his arm, it was warm, the skin was soft, it was all muscle.
He opened himself up and let her crawl into his bed, immediately putting her into the small spoon.

"I want to play." He said quietly after what seemed like hours.

"I know you do Sid, you'll get back. Just take it easy." She turned look at him.

"It sucks."

"I know it does. But I'm here the next two weeks and a half weeks, I'll go for X Games in Aspen, an event in Quebec City, and I'll come straight back here." She assured him.

"You were the first person I thought of when all this happened. You know that right?" He pushed his face into her hair.

"I do. I've been so worried. I hate seeing you injured." She sighed, giving his arm a squeeze.

"I hate being injured." He mumbled.

"That thick noggin of yours is easier to get through then I thought." She laughed, trying to lighten the mood.

"That's not funny."

She rolled over so she was facing him, his eyes were hazy. The circles under his eyes were purple, very purple.

"I just want to sleep."

"Then sleep. I'm here to keep an eye on you." She kissed his forehead.

"I just want to sleep without being woken up." He pouted.

"Get some rest."

"Don't leave me." He pulled her closer, he was strong, there was no getting out of his grip.

"I'm not."

She let him doze off, he was quite restless in his sleep. She found herself dozing off too, despite still being on Kelowna time 4 hours behind. His bed was comfortable, and he was quite warm. She didn't let herself fall entirely asleep, so she could wake him when needed.

"I love you." He muttered.

"Pardon Sid?" She asked quietly.

"Jo. I love you." He sighed.

"Sid..." She gave his shoulder a nudge.

He was sleeping. And now she needed to pretend she didn't hear it, but the shoulder shake jolted him awake.

"Why did you wake me?" He asked.

"We just held a full conversation."

"We did?"

"I didn't know you talked in your sleep." She grinned.

"What did I say?" He knew fully well what he had said.

"You told me you loved me."

"It's not far from the truth." He shrugged, rolling away from her.

"Sid..."

"Just let me sleep."

"Sidney Patrick, roll back over here and talk to me like a grown man." She said firmly.

"You don't want me. Why the hell should I keep telling you that I love you when it just hurts that you won't reciprocate it." He sat up and got out of bed.

"Sid you shouldn't be out of bed."

"Don't tell me what to fucking do." He growled.

Thankfully he was moving a lot slower then he normally was, so she was able to jump in front of him.

"I'm just repeating what the doctor ordered." She crossed her arms.

"Jo, please. I'm hungry." He tried to get around her.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and dug her fingers into his tight curls, getting his attention.

"Sid, just because I won't reciprocate doesn't mean I don't feel them. We-"

He cut her off by kissing her. His lips were chapped slightly, but she loved every second of the kiss. He pulled her in tight, grabbing each ass cheek. She freely let him deepen the kiss. It was much better then the ones they drunkenly shared three and a half years ago on the beach, and the one they shared at the Olympics.

"I don't want to lose you again." He sounded scared, his forehead pressed to hers.

"Your not going too. I'm right here Sid, every step of the way, I'm going to be here." She assured him.

"I don't want you to give up what you love though."

"When you start travelling with the team I'll go back to Kelowna. But I will be going to a few competitions. X Games Aspen, X Games Norway. Quebec City and Sierra Nevada."

"As long as you come back to me. I am actually hungry." He admitted with a smile.

"Your always hungry. What do you want?"

"I want mom to make something." He muttered, "and I'm cold."

"Let's get a sweater on you and we'll go get Trina to make something."

They padded down to the the kitchen, well Sid lead the way, once he was actually down for the count she was going to make a wander through the house. She wasn't sure if she should be cautious of Sid being affectionate around her, they hadn't really discussed a relationship at all. She just let him do as needed, rubbing her back, pulling her close to him.

"So what happened between you and Sid?" Trina asked while Sid wandered off to the couch in his living room.

"What do you mean Trina?" She glanced sideways at her, with a smirk over her coffee cup.

"I saw how he was rubbing your back." She winked, "I know Sid's always had feelings for you."

"I can't say I haven't had any either. I'm just scared to lose my best friend to a relationship. What if it doesn't work out? And I live so far away."

"Sometimes you've just got to jump in with both feet. I knew Troy for years before we got together, and when he played junior he was so far from home. And part of that was raising a baby by myself. If there is anything about Sid that's common knowledge."

"He doesn't give anything up without a fight." Jo rolled her eyes, "stubborn jackass."

"He gets it from his father." Trina laughed, "I'm so glad you came out. He's been saying nothing but wanting you to be here."

"I knew if I said no he would have kept asking until I said yes. He knows I do have to go back to Kelowna at some point." She took a swig of her tea.

"Well your life is there. Its hard for you to pick up and leave."

"My entire life is there. It would be so easy just to stop everything and be here with him. I don't know how the wives would take me though."

"Sid wouldn't let you stop everything. We don't know how long he's going to be like this, so you might have to be the bread winner." She winked.

"It would kill him to retire so young. It would be nice having a house husband though. I'd have to take him to the west coast, at least it's warm there in the winter. And watching the winter storms in Tofino."

"I know, that's why we're not having this conversation with him right now. The thought of it breaks my heart."

"Like you said, he won't give anything up without a fight."

The two weeks had been challenging. He had good days, he had bad days. His good days she drove him to doctors appointments and got him out of the house, bad days, which usually coincided with it snowing, was spent inside his dark room with black out curtains she bought him. Snow meant she should be outside practicing.

"I should take you to introduce you to the other wives and girlfriends." He suggested one day as they headed back from a doctors appointment in the city.

"Other wives and girlfriends?" She glanced over at him.

"Yeah, I figured since, you know."

"Sid we haven't even had the conversation of where we stand, let alone introductions to your teammate's partners."

"I just thought... that we, since..."

"Sid, only if your willing to do the long distance thing. I can't stay here forever, at least not right now. My life is in Kelowna."

"I'm willing to do the long distance thing. We play in Vancouver at the end of March, will you come see me?"

"Of course. And Calgary and Edmonton." She leaned over at a red light to kiss him.

"I just want one thing from you."

"Okay."

"I want you to stop doing drugs."

"I can do that. I haven't done anything in the last two weeks I've been here. I usually stay clean in the winter unless I'm spending the night up at Biggie."

"When do you leave for Aspen?"

"I leave on Sunday."

"Already eh. And then you'll come right back?"

"Quebec City and I'm off for two more weeks. I will need to go back to Kelowna to get more things though."

They made light talk on the way back to his house, Troy and Trina needed to go back to Cole Harbour to attend to things back home so they had the house to themselves.

"I'm not feeling good. I'm dizzy as hell." He groaned as they got in the front door, the good day swung into a bad one.

"Your pale, let's get you to bed." She grabbed his arm and lead him upstairs.

She got him upstairs without a fuss, and a bucket next to the bed. Leaving him be, she went to her favourite part of his house, the den. She loved the variety of American TV, she enjoyed watching trashy reality TV she couldn't watch in Canada.

After a few hours she decided to check on Sid, to see how he was feeling. His condition didn't improve much, but he did want to eat dinner.

Getting some toast into his system he managed to keep that down. Then he tried some pasta she had made, and managed to keep that down as well.

"I want to cuddle on the couch." He whined, coming up behind her and wrapping her up in his arms.

"Think you'd be able to handle some television?" She turned around and rested her chin on his chest, looking up at him.

"We can always try."

Things felt natural between them. The cuddling, the kissing. She fit into his arms perfectly.

They still hadn't had sex yet, Jo had seen him naked, and he had seen her, but they hadn't had sex since that night on the beach almost four years ago.

The couch cuddling was her favourite. His arms were strong, his body was warm, her body fit along his perfectly.

"I want you." He told her quietly into her ear the night before she was due to leave.

They were leaving the Consol Energy Centre, where Sid finally felt good enough to go to the arena, let alone drive, or think about sex. He wasn't made available to media yet, so they were able to sneak right out.

"Are you sure?" She asked, wrapping her hand around his.

"100% sure." He assured her, kissing her temple and leading them to his Range Rover.

The drive home was quick, and within 5 seconds of them being in the front door he had her against it, kissing her deeply. He was skilled, very skilled. She was instantly wet.

"Sid." She whined as he kissed her neck.

He reached up and undid the button on her jeans and unzipping them, from then on he lifted her off the ground and wrapped her legs around his waist, carrying them upstairs. He placed her down on his bed, catching his head as if he had a dizzy spell.

"Sid, are you okay?" She got up to sit beside him.

"I'm dizzy." He grunted.

"Let's get you undressed and laid down." She loosened his tie and slipped it over his head.

"I still want you." He let her unbutton his shirt and peel it off his shoulders, followed by his white t-shirt underneath. He was hard, despite feeling dizzy.

"Sid, don't push yourself if you aren't up to it."

"Little Sid is up to it." He groaned, laying back onto the bed, "do you want me?"

"Of course I do. But I don't want you to push yourself into something you shouldn't be doing." She ran her fingers along his jaw line.

"I'm broken babe. I'm just a broken washed up piece of shit hockey player. I don't know why you would want me."

"Sidney Patrick Crosby. You are not broken. You are not a piece of shit. And you are most certainly not washed up." She laid down beside him, resting her head on his chest, "and I could care less if you were a hockey player or a firefighter, Sid. Just like if I were a nurse instead of a professional snowboarder."

"No, I'd prefer you as a nurse so you can take care of me." He grinned.

"I have all my nursing done but a semester. I'm a pretty smart cookie you know." She laughed.

"Pretty, yes. Smart, not too sure. Cookies, I like. Especially the Presidents Choice ones mom brings."

"Hey now. I'm offended you know."

"What time do you fly out tomorrow?"

"At 3, are you able to take me?"

"I think that can be arraigned. C'mere." He pulled her up so he could kiss her.

It didn't take long for them to get heated again, he had her under him in about 5 seconds. He took his time getting her undressed, exploring each bit of new skin that was exposed. When he got her bra off he noticed two bars, one in each nipple.

"How long have those been there? And why haven't I noticed them before." He asked, curiously.

"About a year and a half now. And I wasn't expecting you to notice them in the state you've been in." She giggled, as he nipped at the skin around her nipples.

"They're so fucking hot." He muttered, as he went to suck on one.

It felt so good, she let him know by crying out in pleasure as well. It encouraged him to go further. She already knew how skilled he was at going down on her, and she so looked forward to when he did.

Sid teased her and pleasured her, making her wait for her orgasm, sucking and kissing another part of her body before going back to the nerve filled nub between her legs. And when she did come, it was probably the best orgasm she ever had. She had to try very carefully not to squeeze poor Sid's head with her thighs.

"Jesus Murphy Sid, give me a minute." She laid flat, unable to move, covering her face with her hands.

"Your acting like it's the best orgasm you ever had." He laughed, moving her hands and peppering her face with kisses.

"Um, I think it was." She giggled, wrapping her arms around him, digging her nails into his very muscular ass, still covered by his dress pants.

"Good. Cause you only get one." He kissed her neck.

"Siddd." She half moaned, half laughed, "I need to get you out of these trousers."

Pulling him free he wasted no time getting the rest off. He didn't want his cock sucked, he just wanted in her. He felt just as good as three and a half years ago.

"Jolene." He moaned into her ear, as he picked up the pace with her encouraging cries with pleasure.

It wasn't making love, it wasn't quite fucking either. But she did feel even more connected to him then that night on the beach, probably because they were sober. He was gentle with her, passionate. She felt herself on the edge again, clutching his strong shoulders bracing for an even stronger orgasm.

"Sid, I'm going to cum again." She cried into his shoulder.

"Do it babe. I'm so close." He encouraged her.

She felt her core tighten up, and he let out a primal sound that only meant he had most likely came.

"Fuck I love you." He sighed, collapsing down beside her, pulling her sweaty body flush against his.

She didn't know how to respond to that. She had the feelings for him, but she knew she was not ready to say it to him. All she did was look up at him, and kissed him deeply, pretending to fall asleep right after. She felt him run a finger along her cheek, moving her hair out of the way. Most likely so he could get a better look at her.

The next morning she was on a plane bound for Denver, and then up to Aspen, and would meet up with Lara there, who was also competing in Half Pipe, ranked at number 5 in the world.

"It's crazy a year ago, you just qualified for the Olympics and I just missed it." Lara said as they sunk into their rented lodge's hot tub.

"It is crazy. I don't even know what's going to happen in my life next. I'm shacked up in Pittsburgh when I'm not competing it seems like." Jo rolled her eyes.

"How is Sid?"

"He's taking it day by day. Literally every day is different. He was supposed to drive me to the airport but ended up having to hire a car cause he couldn't even look at his phone let along driving a car."

"That's so shitty man. You had to fuck him last night to mess his brain up hey?" Lara gave her a wink.

"Speaking of that." Jo went quiet, just realizing that she wasn't on the pill any more and he definitely did not use a condom or pull out.

"Jo?"

"I started ovulating three days ago. I'm not on the pill, we didn't use a condom and he came in me." She blinked at Lara.

"Did you go to the washroom after?"

"Nope. He told me he loved me and I pretended to fall asleep. So all of Sid's spunk sat inside me all night."

"What would you do if you did get pregnant?"

"I have no idea. I feel like there's an expiry date on whatever this is. You know. But he's my best friend, has been for all 22 years of my life. I couldn't not tell him."

"It's just the adjustment. What will you do about Biggie?"

"He agreed to long distance and then in the summer I'll obviously go back East. My visa is even different then his."

"What visa is he on?"

"An O-1 or P-1 visa. He's Sidney Fucking Crosby, probably an O-1. Meanwhile we're on a B-1 visa. But in the meantime let's hope I'm not in the process of getting knocked up."

"That baby would come out with a hockey stick in one hand with a pair of snowboard boots on."

"Probably. Like it wouldn't be the worst thing. He's so well off."

"How tight was Sid's ass when you touched it?" Lara winked at her

"Oh. My. God. All muscle, pure muscle. Not a dimple on that ass. I touched the butt."

"That's my girl."

She held onto her rank as number one female in the world for Slope Style, and dropped to number two for Big Air, due to a fall. She made her way back to her lodge, to find an unfamiliar Grand Cherokee in the driveway. May have been the cleaners, she decided to go in anyways. Her parents were still in town doing some shopping. Ditching her gear at the front door she headed up the stairs to the bedroom she was staying in. She wasn't expecting to see Sid standing there in her room, with a bouquet of flowers for her.

"What are you doing here?" She smiled as she walked over to him, finding herself in his arms quickly.

"I thought I'd come surprise you." He greeted her with a kiss.

"I'm happy you're feeling up to the travelling." She accepted the flowers.

"I'm seeing a specialist in Denver anyways. The neurologist back in Pittsburgh seems to think it will help."

"You should have said something. I would have made time to see you in Denver."

"I wanted to surprise you. I called your parents when I was feeling better and told them. They helped set it up." He reached down and grabbed her ass.

"You told my parents about us?"

"I figured you wouldn't. And Mom and Dad would have said something anyways. Mom would have ran into Dee at the grocery store, and they'd get talking, you know how it is." He nipped at her lips.

"I was going to tell them."

"And you were just waiting for the right time. Jo, don't make excuses. Your parents are happy for us. My parents are happy for us."

"Will you come out to Kelowna for a bit this summer?"

"Of course. Congratulations on keeping top spot in Slope Style. Sucks about Big Air." He pulled her over to her bed, sitting down in front of her.

"Yeah, I'm gonna feel it in the morning. Which means I'll have a horrible super pipe day."

"Hot tub?" He suggested, "naked?"

"My parents and Lara will be due back."

"No, they won't. I have them set up in a hotel for the night."

"My parents actually let you do that so you could seduce me for the night? I understand Lara, but my parents."

"I asked them if they wanted a night to themselves so I set them up in the penthouse in the St. Regis." He grinned up at her.

"I hate you. So much. We could be in the penthouse."

"We could, but it doesn't have a private hot tub. And I have someone coming over to give us massages as well."

"But your neck."

"They'll avoid my neck. And Lara is also set up at the St. Regis."

"I think your just trying to impress me, my parents and my best friend and housemate."

"Maybe a little bit. But what do you say," he paused to lift her shirt, and kissed her stomach, "we go downstairs, the massage therapists will be here any minute."

"Will you be able to keep Little Sid down?" She laughed.

"Don't laugh. Of course I will. I'm not 12 anymore." He winked at her.

Changing into some robes that had also 'mysteriously' appeared in her room, they went downstairs just in time for the doorbell to ring.

Sid fell asleep within minutes of them working on his back. Jo had cupping done and she was so excited about it. It was her favourite treatment. By the end of it she was well relaxed and hopefully wasn't going to be as sore. She poured herself a glass of wine while Sid paid up, finding herself wrapped up in him a few moments later.

"Where's mine?" He whispered into her ear.

"I didn't know you drank wine." She laughed, leaning back into him.

"I'll drink anything. As well as eat anything." She felt him slip a hand through her robe, feeling her through her underwear.

"I thought you wanted to hot tub." She turned around, leaning against the counter.

"I do. What if we fucked in the hot tub?" He said between kisses on her neck.

"I think we shouldn't do that. Sid I'm not on the pill."

"Well if you get pregnant it's not the end of the world."

"Sid, I'm a professional athlete just like you. In a couple of years. We're still in our early twenties."

"Kris and Colt are thinking about babies. They're both our age. And I'll be 24, mid twenties."

"And I'm only 22. And good for Kris and Colt, they have a normal life where Kris can go on Mat Leave. They live in the same house, in the same province, in the same country."

"I suppose that's true eh. Good thing I picked up some stuff before I came here."

"Let's go outside." She poured him a glass and made him follow her.

Dropping her underwear and robe she slid in the hot tub, with him doing the same. She loved his naked body, he had put on some weight in the 4 weeks he had been off, but he was still ripped.

They were so opposite, but very much the same. He didn't have one drop of ink on his skin, never had his ears pierced. He wore blues, greys and whites, rarely wearing black, or any bright colours. She had about 10 tattoos, 6 piercings and lived in bright colour or black. He was reserved and she was very outspoken. But they had the same dry sense of humour, albeit a bit dark. Their mannerisms were very similar, growing up with each other.

She heard him start laughing all of a sudden.

"What are you findin so funny?" She furrowed her brow at him.

"If I didn't get hurt I wouldn't be here right now. We wouldn't be, you know what I'm sayin?"

"Oh I know Sid. The big man upstairs works in very mysterious ways."

"I'm happy your giving us a shot." He pulled her close, draping his arm over the edge on the tub.

"You don't know if it's worth it without trying." She rested her head on his arm, looking at him.

"Where was this attitude four years ago?"

"I was scared four years ago. We're going to have a lot of hurdles Sid, especially with the state your in."

"Mom and Pat are thinking I need a vacation. A real one, with sand, warm weather and an ocean."

"I think you would benefit from that. Get away from the hockey world."

"Come with me? After Quebec City?"

"Yeah. I will. That means I'll have to go home to get bathers and my summer stuff out of storage."

"Home?"

"Back to Kelowna."

"That's right. I forgot that's home now for you. Not Cole Harbour." He said quietly.

"Sid. Cole Harbour will always be home. I just live in Kelowna, so that is home too. I'm spending the summer in Nova Scotia."

"No New Zealand this time?"

"Someone's got to take care of you."

"Will you stay at mine? Be my nurse?" He pulled her on top of him.

"Of course I'll stay at yours. I love that house. And I'm not being a good enough nurse to you now?"

"When you're kinky yes. I don't know what I would have done without you the last few weeks." He kissed her.

"You'd have been sick of your parents." She laughed.

"I would have come to Kelowna. I want to see why you love it so much."

"Winters are grey around the lake, days are short, even shorter then on the east coast. But once you get to the top of the mountain past the clouds, it's sunny, everything is fluffy, covered in deep, dry powder. And the best feeling, my favourite, is hitting a run in the woods, and the snow going everywhere. It's amazing. Just like when you first get in on the face off and win. It's so fuckin gnarly."

"And there's the snowboarder."

"You haven't heard me around my people. You wouldn't have a clue."

"Your people eh? Try me babe. You seem to hold your own with my people."

"Because I grew up around your people."

"Yeah I guess that's true eh." He laughed.

She felt his erection against her leg. She knew he was in the mood already by the look in his eye. It was a relatively romantic setting, with the snow falling, in the mountains and a few glasses of expensive wine. The massages didn't help either.

"I still think we should fuck in the hot tub." He whispered into her ear.

"I think we should go to my room and fuck on the bed like normal people." She whispered back as he took two very full handfuls of her ass and pulled her hips close to his.

"We are far from normal. As much as I would love to be normal with you. We're both professional athletes."

"Let's just pretend to be normal then." She ran her fingers through his wild curls.

He lifted her off of him and got out of the hot tub, immediately wrapping himself up before helping her out and getting her wrapped up in her robe. He lead her to her bedroom it didn't take long for them to get tangled up in each other. He had just started to go down on her when Jo's phone starting to ring. It was Adam, her manager. It was urgent.

"Why is that in here?" Sid whined.

"Because I need to be reachable at all times."

"You're sleeping. He'll never know."

"I might have a presser in the morning he's letting me know I have. Or a new sponsor, Adam's pretty dope like that."

"But. But."

"Sid. You've done it." She reminded him.

He rolled his eyes as she got out of bed and running to her phone.

"Hey Adam." She said, catching her breath.

"Jo, about time. Did you finally come up for air from making out with this mystery guy." Adam laughed.

"Shut up. Can you not."

"I got a couple of things for you though. Presser in the morning. I landed you a new sponsor with Toyota Canada, so as soon as your done here in Aspen we're taking you to Toronto to get everything signed, then straight to Kelowna to pick a car out, do some promos. I also have you doing a few appearances in Whistler, Golden and Banff before we head to Quebec City for the FIS World Cup, as well as some Red Bull promos in Europe, so we'll be going over about a week before X Games Norway." Adam got out, in almost one breath.

She knew Dominican with Sid would probably be a no go. Her career was taking off, it's what she wanted. She did want to return to Pittsburgh at some point before Norway at least.

"I'm super stoked about Toyota! Who's dick did you have to suck to land us that?"

"Be nice. They like the brand you're giving out." Adam laughed.

"And you like the 10% you're going to get. What time's my presser tomorrow?"

"It's at 10. Be there early."

"No guarantees, I need to go Adam, something is requiring more attention."

"Be on time!"

"Bye Adam!" She laughed as she hung up the phone.

Sid was disappointed she wasn't able to go somewhere's hot with him, but was happy that Jo was doing the thing she loved. Their one night of romance was perfect. She loved having Sid as a lover. He was gentle, strong and amazing with his hips, but could still be rough when she wanted it. He took her needs into consideration.

The next few weeks flew by, she had four days off before she had to leave for Europe, so she spent a total of 18 hours in Kelowna and then flew straight to Pittsburgh. She was exhausted. She had all her gear loaded up in her loaned 4Runner from the local Toyota dealer so she could do Pittsburgh-JFK-Geneva in a heart beat.

Pulling into Sid's driveway she saw an unfamiliar little Audi S4. Assuming they were teammates of his she got out and made her way in. She had the code for the garage to get in, and that way she made lots of noise so whomever was in was aware.

She wasn't expecting to see Kathy sitting on his lap watching TV with him, both of them completely out of tune with the rest of the world. Very much coupled up.

"What the hell is going on here." Jo asked sharply.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Kathy demanded.

"I'm here to see my boyfriend before I ship off to Europe." Jo spat.

"Oh good. I hope your going there permanently." Kathy shot back.

"Jo. I can explain." Sid said quietly, trying to defuse the situation.

"No, Sidney. Clearly your like every other hockey playing fuck boy." She pointed her finger sharply at him.

"Jolene." He frowned, "you know me."

"Apparently I don't. I knew there was a fucking expiry on this. You and Miss J. Crew Banana Republic over there can live a happy fucking life." She turned on her heel and marched out.

"Where the hell are you going to go?!" Sid called after her.

"Far fucking away from you. To Scotty's."

She knew the mention of Scotty Lago's name would get his blood boiling. Jo and Scotty were friends, she ran and shredded with the Frends Crew when she was on the East Coast. Scotty was trouble, very good looking, very much Jo's type. When she had previously hated Sid during the Olympics, she made sure to full on make out with Scotty in front of Sid, just to get a reaction, before Scotty's bronze medal celebration of shame.

"Really? Vermont's a 10 and a half hour drive." He tried to reason with her.

"Good thing I have tons of time to drive and 0 sleep to do it with. Have fun with your Long Island Sports Illustrated model. I was really sick of shaving and not munching on granola anyways."

"Jo. You don't have to be-"

"A bitch. I don't want to be. But you played me Sidney. I have every right to be a bitch. I know what she calls me. I'm not fucking stupid."

"Then go fuck Scotty." Sid snapped.

"Fuck you." She stomped out to her truck, started it up and tore out the driveway.

She got on the I-79, called Jack, Luke and Scotty to let them know she was coming, to get her a pass for the hill to get a few practice runs in.

Within 12 hours, with lake effect snow in Buffalo, and really all along the eastern side of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, she made it to Stowe at 1:00 in the morning, with more then several missed calls from Sid.

She found herself in Scotty's bed, and next to a very warm Scotty, who himself was just off the plane from a competition in Whitefish. Needless to say, she had her needs attended to by morning. With lots of cocaine to fuel it.

Notes