Falling Fast and Breathing Hard

When the season started, the Pens were on a three game road trip in Western Canada, which I thought was crazy; I knew I could deal with it, though. He's been on countless road-trips in the past two-and-a-half years we've been together, but it's the farthest he's gonna be away without Kalea and I to date. Anyway, Kris and I have begun planning the wedding; what we've recently decided on is where we're gonna get married at. It was a hard decision for the best of us as he loves the idea of Montreal while I love the idea of getting married in Baltimore. The final decision was of us getting married at a beach near my hometown; part of me dreamed about getting married by a beach, but I never thought I'd be able to afford to get married there. To say I'm thrilled, would be an understatement; too bad, it's a long nine months from now. I was glad to actually find a dress appropriate for this type of wedding before even knowing where we're going to get married at. I'm calling my mom today and telling her the amazing news. So, when noon hit, I sat on the couch and gave her a call.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Mom!"

"Hi, honey! How are you? Kris? Kalea?"

"We're all fantastic."

"Oh, really?"

"Absolutely. How are you?"

"Great. I'm curious. How are you with Kris being in Western Canada?"

"It's strange and this early too. I hate him being three hours behind than me. I don't even know when to call him, Kalea's gonna be asleep when each game starts and it'll be between 12:30 and 1 in the morning when they end. I hate it, Mom."

"It'll be fine, Athena. Trust me."

"I know. Hey. I have the best news to tell you."

"Yeah?"

"Kris and I have decided to get married near Baltimore. On a beach." I said, grinning from ear to ear.

She squealed causing me to laugh.

"OMG!! How did you two come to this decision because I knew it had to be a tough one?"

"Well, he liked Montreal while I liked Baltimore. When I mentioned how I'd always dreamed of a beach wedding, he smiled and I knew that was it."

It was just a couple of days before he was to leave for the beginning of the season. We were lying on the couch together while Kalea was watching tv in her swing. We were talking about miscellaneous things. One of those things just happened to be our wedding venue.

"I was thinking about where we should get married." I said, turning around and facing him.

"Yeah?" he asked moving hair out of my face.

"Yeah. I was thinking maybe Baltimore or somewhere near there. Where were you thinking?"

"Montreal, maybe. It's beautiful up there."

"It is. Isn't it?" I sighed and bit my lip.

"What are you thinking about?"

"I was thinking about how I dreamed about getting on a beach... in Maryland growing up, but it just seemed so unrealistic."

"Why do you say that?"

"My mom and at the time, that asshole wouldn't have been able to afford that type of wedding."

I sighed and shook my head while Kris smiled.

"If you really want that, I can make that happen."

"I could never ask you to do that."

"Why not?"

"You love Montreal."

"Have you forgotten that I'm your fiancée and you're the love of my life? I'd do anything for you and our family. You should know that."

I nodded and smiled before I kissed him.

"I love you." I whispered.

"I love you, too." he said, kissing me.

"Beach wedding it is."

"I love Kris. You know that? He's just perfect."

"Yeah. You can say that again." I said with a laugh.

After talking for a good half hour, I hung up and went to make lunch and got Kalea's bottle prepared. I didn't hear from Kris till three which I was expecting since he was on his way to lunch.

"Bon après-midi, Kris." (Good afternoon, Kris.)

"Bon après-midi, Athena. Comment êtes-vous?"

"Great. I spoke my mom today."

"Yeah? How is she?"

"Good. Especially after told her about our wedding venue."

"What'd she say?"

"That she loves you and you're perfect."

He laughed.

"Your mom is too much. I swear."

"I'll agree with you on that. Imagine her being your mom for 21 years." I said, laughing.

He laughed.

"I forgot to ask. How are things in Vancouver?"

"Really nice. I love it here, but it's definitely no Pittsburgh or Montreal, for that matter. I'd love to bring you and Kalea up here sometime."

"That sounds nice."

"I'd enjoy that."

"I bet you would."

"You know me too well."

"I miss you and Kalea."

"I miss you too. So does she."

"Can we have sex when I come back?"

I laughed. I wasn't expecting that.

"Of course. I want you so badly. Have you realized how things have been like for me these past couple of seasons?"

"See... but you have a couple toys. I don't. I just have my hand."

I laughed even more. He mentioned my toys; I bought a couple shortly after I could have sex again. I was blushing from the time I went into my first sex shop till the time I left. I'm proud of going in there; those toys I bought are amazing. They do the job when I'm wanting his touch and he's not here.

"Those toys don't do you justice. You are one of a kind. Nothing can replace you. Trust me."

He laughed.

"That makes me feel amazing. Thank you. Now, I want you even more!"

"You are something else. You know that?"

I blushed.

"Well, thank you. So are you."

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

We talked for maybe twenty more minutes and he spoke to Kalea for a minute before I hung up and made a snack for me and fed Kalea. Come ten o'clock, I somehow managed not to fall asleep; I was exhausted. I couldn't miss it, even though Kris was completely fine if I did. I love watching my man skate and our daughter's face when he's on the ice or she even hears his name. That smile of hers and the laughter when either happens? I can't even describe it; I just can't. It's too bad that she can't watch him play during this three game road trip. I'll be thrilled once she is able to watch her daddy play, but that's years from now and I can wait... Kris and I can wait. We definitely don't want to time to go by that fast. We love the way things are right now and hope they'll stay like that for quite a while.

"And when we're good and close, I think I'll steal your time."

Notes

Chapter title and lyrics courtesy of So Good by Say Anything.