Disclaimer: I do not own the Penguins or Pittsburgh. I do own the idea of the story (note to the Crosby family, this takes place in the future. If this winds up happening in the future, I'm sorry.)

July 2012

KDKA News:

"Sidney Crosby has a lot to celebrate lately," said the sports anchor. "Not only has he signed with the Penguins for five more years, but he also tied the knot with his girlfriend, Julie Myers, of two years on Saturday. The two met in Nova Scotia in 2010…."

March 2014

Next Question. Guest Star: Sidney Crosby.

"Welcome to Next Question, and today we have with us, Sidney Crosby. Now Sid has some very exciting news for us, that he will be a father of not one but two very soon. Sid, what can you tell us about this?"

"Well obviously Julie and I are very excited and nervous. We weren't expecting twins, but we look forward to having both of them in our family. The older members of the team are being very helpful in guiding me through this, but everyone, from my family, to my team, and myself, we are all very excited."

"Now I have to ask, do you know the genders of the babies yet?"

"We wanted to be surprised, but everyone, from the doctors to Julie's parents, who have six boys, say that she's carrying two boys, so, we've been preparing for that, but we will be happy by whatever we have."

September 8, 2014

"Sidney Crosby will not be attedning camp today, as his wife Julie went into labor late last night. Crosby has tended to her and we got news around ten this morning that Julie and the twins are healthy and doing fine. Julie gave birth to a boy, Andrew Patrick weighing in at 8 pounds and a girl, Riley Anne, at 7 pounds and 8 oz. "

"It's funny, Staggy," said Bob Errey. "I remember Sid saying that they were preparing for two boys! Did he intend on naming a second boy? I mean, Riley could go either way."

"I don't know, Bob," said Paul. "But I'm sure the fans at home will get a kick out of this." They prompted for a picture of the twins that they received that morning from the Crosbies. Both of the babies were dressed in Penguins gear.

"It looks like they're already destined to be one of the team," said Paul. "Maybe Andrew will follow in his dad's footsteps."

September 2020

"Daddy," Riley said to Sidney one night. "Can I ask you something?" Sidney had been reviewing plays of the last game while Riley was playing and Andy was at hockey practice. He paused the game and looked at his daughter. He acknowledged that he could have been biased, but he saw her as the most adorable six year old girl in the world. She took after her mother, with reddish brown hair and blue eyes. Freckles were starting to appear around her face, from playing outside with Andy all the time. At six, she towered over the boys in her first grade class, but that didn't matter. She played with all the boys at recess, rarely with any girls, which concerned Julie and her teacher, but Sidney didn't care. He just thought it was funny, how adorable she was, and she chose to get dirty and play with the boys, all on her own.

"Sure Riley Bear, what is it?" 'Riley Bear' was Sidney's name for his daughter, from her faavorite book they read together, Rugby Bear. It sounded so close, that one night, Sidney found himself saying "goodnight Riley Bear". Riley seemed to like the name enough, so it stuck ever since.

"Can I play hockey?" Riley asked. Sidney laughed. That was all? He wasn't sure what he was expecting from her, but that seemed relativley small to him. But he saw it was a big deal for Riley, so he became serious for her.

"Of course you can play," Sidney said. "I think there's a girl's team in the district…"

"I don't want to play that game," said Riley. "I want to play with Andy. And the other boys in my class." Sidney thought that over. Well, this is different, he thought. But then, he shouldn't have been so surprised. Riley, as he knew, got along with few of the girls in her class, which didn't bother her. She probably would enjoy the boys game more, but at the same time, he knew that the boys game was rougher. He didn't want to see his little girl get hurt. Then he thought of his sister Taylor. She played women's hockey in college, but throughout her lifetime, she played goalie with boys. The boys were definatley faster, and it was hard to watch when boys twice her size came tumbling into the net and knocked her over. At the same time, she wasn't getting hit like the forwards. He wasn't sure, but there was something about Riley that made hime sure that she didn't want to be a goalie.

"Tell you what," Sidney said. "If you want to play with your brother, that's fine by me. I want to discuss this with Mommy though, alright?"

"Okay," Riley said. She gave him a hug. "Thanks, Dad. Do you want to go get Andy?" he smiled.

"Sure." He grabbed his keys and they went for a ridinghis SUV.

"Absolutley not!" Julie said. Sidney had just presented the idea of Riley playing hockey to her. Julie, he knew, wasn't too keen on Riley playing with the boys all the time. He wasn't sure why, but the fact that the girls in Riley's class didn't like her bothered her, more than it did Riley. Simply put, she wished Riley was a little more into princesses than sports.

"It's something she really wants to do," Sidney said. "And even though she's a girl, it's not really that surprising. She sees me play and Andy play, it's only natural she wants to be a part of it. And plenty of girls play hockey nowadays."

"But that's with other girls," said Julie. "You're talking about Riley playing with other boys. You know how boys can be, rough, and rowdy…you're her father! Shouldn't you be more concerned that your little girl is going to get beat up by all these boys?" Sidney leaned on the counter and sighed.

"To tell the truth, yes, I know it will be difficult to watch when she gets hit, as you said, she is my daughter. But it's part of the game Julie. This is something she really wants to do. I see it in her. She really wants this. I've taught both of them the basics of the hockey I play since they were three, and even then, the passion was there." Julie put her elbows on the counter next to Sidney.

"I just don't want her to get hurt," Julie said softly. Sidney put his arm around his wife.

"I don't either," said Sidney. "I don't want either of them to get hurt. But Julie, we take that risk with Andy by letting him play. If we are going to be fair to both, shouldn't we let Riley take that same risk?" Julie put her head in her hands.

"When you put it that way, I still don't like the idea, but yes, we should. But you do realize this will be ten times harder for Riley than Andy." Sidney looked confused.

"What do you mean?" Sidney said. "My sister played hockey, and she turned out fine."

"The girls in Riley's class already treat her like an outcast," said Julie. "This will only…"

"Riley's never cared that the girls don't like her," said Sidney. "She's content playing with the boys."

"I know that," Julie said. "But what if she's still playing in middle school? Boys and girls change at that time. What if the boys start treating her differently?" Sidney laughed, but when he saw the look in Julie's eyes, he stopped.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I know that can happen. But Riley's only six. Let her play now. We can't tell what's going to happen a year from now, let alone five. Just let her play."

Sidney took Riley to the rink at Andy's next practice. Riley wanted to ask, but she didn't want to go in there alone, so Sidney went in with her and Andy. While Sidney ties his son's skates, Riley looked around anxiously for the coach. Soon enough, the coach, Coach Ward, came in with his bags and practice equipment. He smiled at the Crosby family.

"Ah, Sid," Coach Ward said. "I see you brought the entire family today!" Riley looked up at him.

"Mr. Ward?" Riley asked. Coach Ward's beam widend. Though he wasn't sure how things worked in the Crosby household, he was sure she had Sidney wrapped around his finger.

"How are you Riley?" he asked.

"I want to play hockey. With my brother." She blurted out. Coach Ward was taken aback. Well, that was unexpected, he thought.

"Umm, hold on Riley," Coach Ward said. "Sid, can I talk to you?" They went aside to another part of the ice rink.

"You're girl wants to play hockey?" said Coach Ward.

"Yes she does," said Sidney. Coach Ward rubbed his chin.

"Well, I know the girls practice in Wexford, if you wanted to…"

"She wants to play the boys game. That's why she said 'with my brother'." Coach Ward had to grasp on to the vending machine they were standing next to.

"Riley playing on the boys team?" Coach Ward asked incredulously. "Have you thought that through? Sid? You of all people know how rought the boys can be!"

"I do, but I feel that if we let Andy take the same risk at this age, we should give Riley the opportunity too."

"How does Julie feel about this?"

"She doesn't like it, but she's going to let Riley play." Coach Ward sighed. He patted Sidney on the shoulder.

"Tell you what, since this is developmental hockey, I'll let her in. But if she chooses to continue as she gets older, she's going to really have to work to get to the higher levels. I coach the PeeWee A team and the Midget A team. You know, as well as I do, that she is really going to have to push, if she really wants this."

"Okay," Sidney said, smiling. They walked over to Riley.

"Do you have any skates or pads?" Coach Ward asked Riley. Sidney grinned again.

"I came prepared," Sidney said. " I got new pads for you,Riley, and I brought your skates. I'll go get them." He ran out to the car, leaving Riley with Coach Ward.

"Welcome to the team Riley," he said. "Luckily I have an extra shirt for you." He handed her a jersey when Sidney came in holding her skates and a Dick's Sporting Goods bag. Inside the bag were her hockey pads, as well as Underamor and a pair of hockey pants and socks.

"They're your brother's," Sidney said, referring to the Under armor, pants, and socks. "They might be a little big. I would have gotten you your own when I got your pads, but I wasn't sure what size you would've needed." Riley grabbed the hockey gear from her father and went into the girls' room to change. She came back out, ready to play. Her socks slid down her leg slightly, but the pants fit fine, as well as the Under armor. Sidney smiled, thankful that he had six year old twins roughly the same size, but also proud of his daughter.

"You'll be fine, Riley Bear,"he said, giving her a kiss on her forehead before giving her helmet to her. She put it on, and skated onto the ice, where the boys were getting ready to do drills.

"Okay, boys," Coach Ward said. "For those of you who don't know, this is Riley Crosby, Andy's sister. She will be joining our team. So I…"

"But you're a girl!" a boy exclaimed. They turned their heads. He was dressed in a goalie's uniform, and no bigger than Riley. "Girls don't play hockey!"

"Yeah," all the boys but Andy agreed.

"Oh please," Andy said. "Riley's probably better than all of you put together. We play all the time at home, and she scores against our dad!"

"He probably lets her score on him," the goalie said. Riley took off her helmet and looked the goalie straight in the eye.

"That's not true!" she said. "I bet I could get one past you, jerkface!" The goalie laughed, cockily. "If I score against you, I'll stay on this team," Riley said. "If I don't, I'll leave." All the boys looked at each other and laughed.

"If you insist little lady," he said. He got into the net. Riley started from the blue line. Her dad's words came into her head. Try to pinpoint the goalie's weak spots, he always said. Not enough time. She didn't even know this kid's name, let alone what side he was weak. If you can, try to look one way, but aim for the other. This was also something he told her and Andy when he taught them the basics of hockey. Riley looked above the goalie. She could tell that he was ready for her to shoot over his head. She aimed low. It went between his legs. Her brother beamed and clapped, while the others boys stared with their mouths hanging open. Coach Ward blew his whistle.

"Alright boys, and our girl!" he said. "Let's get started. We'll start with the cones." The team picked up their sticks and began to manuver around the cones Coach Ward had set up. Before Riley joined them, she felt a tap on her shoulder. It was the goalie.

"Hey, that was a nice shot," he said. "I'm sorry I treated you like that."

"It's okay," Riley said.

"I know your name, but I guess you don't know me. I'm Craig Williams," he said.

"Nice to meet you," Riley said starting towards the cones. She smiled. She knew she made the right choice.