"Nice game, dude." Marc-Andre clapped his friend and teammate on the back, as they made their way back to the locker room. Man it felt good to win again, Sid thought to himself. He felt so alive. Every part of his game seemed to be on. He didn't know if he should consider himself cured yet. The team played the Flyers on Friday night in Philly and Sid felt that the road trip across the state would be his true test. They hadn't been back to Philadelphia since the playoffs and up until now Sid was dreading the trip. But now, he wondered if it wouldn't be a problem at all. Smiling to himself he welcomed the gaggle of reporters surrounding him. He pulled his sweater up from over his head, grabbed a towel and began to take questions from the media.

Philly was a piece of cake. 2 goals and 3 assists for Sidney and the Penguins killed the Flyers in a 7-2 victory.

The following two weeks went the same. The team was on an eight game winning streak and Sidney was playing better than he had before his injury. His game was back and he was feeling good. Then something happened. A few nights earlier Sid and some of the guys had gone out to celebrate their streak and Lovejoy's birthday. A few very attractive female fans had joined them in the VIP section of Diesel Lounge. It wasn't long until Sid and a very leggy blonde named Skye found one another. After a lot of flirting, mostly on Sid's lap, along with a few teasing kisses; it was time for the lovebirds for head back to Skye's place. Sid having shied away from scenarios like these in the past, felt so indestructible that he didn't think twice. He hadn't been with anyone since Caroline and he figured another quick romp with this random could only improve his game. She lived in modest place over in Squirrel Hill. It was very frilly and girly. Sid had to hold his breath when he entered her bedroom, the perfume was so strong. Skye had immediately taken charge of the situation, pushing Sid back onto the bed covered with stuffed animals. Really? She had her dress off in seconds and Sid was surprised to see she was not wearing any underwear. Maybe not completely surprised. It didn't take long for Sid to realize he had no sexual attraction to this girl whatsoever. She was pushy and all angles. Not soft at all. Not like...Sid quickly pushed the thought out of his head before it could fully develop. Sensing Sid's...unexcitement, Skye pulled at Sid's pants and took him fully in her mouth. After much work he stirred to life a bit. Skye quickly threw a condom in Sid's direction and stared hungrily at him as he put it on. Once secured, she wasted no time to mount Sidney. After twelve minutes of awkward thrusts Sid finally came. It was some of the worst sex he had ever had. Skye seemed disappointed but happy enough that she had screwed the star. She headed to the bathroom, and in a matter of seconds Sid was dressed and out of her apartment and his way to his car, disappointed with how the evening had ended. He was so hot for her at the club, but as soon as they were in her bed...nothing.

Two days later the team lost 1-3 to the Carolina Hurricanes, the team with the worst record in hockey. Sid went pointless. The same happened two days later against the Senators, only in that game Sid was ejected in the first period for fighting, everyone could see the frustration was building all over again. They were landing in a place no one wanted to be. Sid sat silently in the locker room for the remainder of the game, thinking. He was quiet when the team came through for the two intermissions and for the first time in forever refused to take questions from the media and left the consol without even showering.

Sid spent the drive home mentally beating himself up for his recent poor performance. What had gone wrong? He was back where he had started only weeks before. His mind drifted and found himself thinking of big brown eyes and small hands that had clutched at his bare back only a short time ago. He began to harden just thinking of her tongue on his neck, sucking at the Adam's apple. When Sid arrived home, he went straight to the shower and had a very quick but very satisfying hand job. He allowed himself to think of her the whole time. When he emerged from the shower, he immediately dressed and went to the computer. He pulled up the old email account and searched for her address. Would she respond? Of course she would, he thought confidently, she would probably jump at another chance with him. He could tell she had liked him. He could step up the charm and perhaps work out an arrangement with her for a few nights a week, at least through the end of the season. He ignored the voice in the back of his head that protested. It told him that she would not do casual sex to keep a hockey player's streak going. She would not agree to this whatsoever the voice said. But Sidney didn't listen to that voice. She would comply. She had to. Sidney found the address and began to type.

A week later things were at an all time low. No word from Caroline and after two more disappointing outings, Sidney Crosby had just got benched for the first time in his career. What was worse was that the team had won. After the game, Dan sat him down and gave Sidney devastating news. They were going to put him on the 10 day injured list. They were going to give him a wrist injury. He would sit out the next 3 games. Between now and then Sid needed to figure something out. Dan had been firm but sympathetic. It was for the team he reasoned. Somehow, Dan told him, number 87 had become scoreboard poison. Sidney had spent his career fully believing in superstitions. It was not something he took lightly. There was only one thing he could do to get back on track and he needed to find her.

Caroline's life had gone back to being pretty uneventful after the night in Sidney's apartment. Almost uneventful. She had a pretty rough week dealing with the after effects of the morning after pill. There was absolutely no way she could even think about getting pregnant. Not like this, not her first time. She wanted children, but she wanted them conceived out of love with someone that loved her; not some arrangement with a stranger. But a week later the cramping and bleeding had stopped, her knee healed and it was like nothing had ever happened. It was time for her to move on. She thought about dating. Now that she didn't have the big v hanging over her head, she could maybe find someone to be happy with. She thought about it, but never pursued it.

It was late at night that she would let her mind wander. She would indulge fantasies about him. Making love to him, slow and gentle. In her fantasies she was taller, slimmer, more sophisticated. She was someone he could take out and show off. She wasn't...her. She always woke the morning after falling asleep to the fantasy feeling empty and sad. She knew letting herself fantasize was only making things worse. Two weeks after the incident she forced herself to not think of him that way again. She also avoided looking him up online, in any way whatsoever. She knew he had won the game. She didn't bother looking up the score, but overheard the gym teacher talking about it the next day in the faculty lounge. A hat trick they had said. She didn't know what that meant, but from the sound of things it was a good thing. No, Sidney Crosby was out of her life and out of her mind as quickly as he came. That's why shock was the only word to describe her feelings when she walked to her car one Thursday afternoon after school and saw him get out of a very large black SUV. Even from across the parking lot, she could tell it was him. He wore jeans with a dark coat zipped up, a hat slung low over his eyes and sunglasses. A disguise almost. She wondered for a moment if he had to do that anytime he went out. He caught sight of her instantly and walked towards her purposefully. Once he was about 20 feet from her, he took off the glasses. His eyes were flat and he was wearing that fake smile, the one she saw that first night they met.

"Hi." he said evenly.

"Hi." she said unevenly. "What are you doing here?"

"I need...I needed to see you."

Caroline's heart leapt to her throat. "Oh, how did you know where to find me?"

"I emailed you, but you didn't respond. Then I remembered the school where you worked."

"Oh yeah, I just used that email...um, the thing. I don't have it anymore. She replied. Sidney just nodded. He looked nervous. She didn't think he could be nervous.

"Um," Sidney cleared his throat and his Adam's apple jumped in a way that made Caroline feel very very warm. "Do you think we could talk?"

Caroline's mind was racing. Did he want to see her again? Had he thought of her the way she had thought of him? She was determined not to over think this.

"Yeah, ok. Um, it's cold though." she said shivering.

"We can go to my car." he replied. Indicating it behind him. He looked worn, tired. Caroline worried something bad had happened. Did he get traded? Was he coming to say goodbye. Stop, she chastised herself that was silly. He had no reason to say goodbye to her, they weren't anything.

Sid led her silently to his car and she climbed into the passenger seat. The car was big and looked fancy on the inside. There were no belongings in the car; it was like it was brand new. Very unlike her car that had empty diet coke cans everywhere, along with books, papers and the gym bag she never used.

Sid put his hands on the steering wheel and took a deep breath and looked straight ahead. Looking at his profile, Caroline was once again taken aback by his beauty. She looked down at herself and wished desperately she had worn something nicer today. She wasn't wearing any make up and her hair was a little astray due to spending the past few hours cleaning through cubbies looking for a forgotten lunch that was creating quite an odor in the classroom.

"I want to see you again." Sidney interrupted Caroline's thoughts. She turned back to him and he was staring her with a sharp intensity.

"You, you do?" Caroline stuttered.

"Yes. I have been doing some thinking and thought we could maybe start seeing each other on a regular basis. I know you were only looking for a onetime thing but I wondered if you would rethink that." Sidney looked at her, his face hopeful.

He liked her? He liked her and wanted to be with her. Caroline couldn't think straight. Her mind was racing. How would this work? Would she go to his hockey games to cheer him on? Would he visit DeShawn for her? How would they go out, would they be followed by paparazzi...jeez, Caroline of course not, they didn't have paparazzi in Pittsburgh. She could bring him to Sara's wedding! Kirsten and Madison would freak out when they saw who the ex-virgin was dating. Caroline was beside herself.

"You want to date me?" Caroline asked with a bright smile forming on her face.

Sidney didn't say anything. He just looked at her, uncomfortable. Caroline's smile faded from her face.

"You don't want t date me." she corrected hollowly.

"I thought...I thought we could just maybe go back to what we did before." he said pathetically.

If there would ever be a time Sidney Crosby would reflect upon his regrets in life, this would be one of them. Caroline's face. At that moment.

Wounded. Hurt. And then angry.

"I don't think so." her voice was cold. She moved to get out of his car and he grabbed on to his arm. "Don't touch me!" she said high and loud.

"Please, just listen to me." Sidney started. "No." she shouted as she wrenched her arm out of his firm hold. She grabbed at the door handle and dashed out of his Range Rover. She walked quickly towards her car, the tears already forming. She was a fool.

Sid was after her like a shot. "Caroline, wait! Please! She kept walking but could hear him coming up behind her fast. "Caroline! They are going to trade me." he shouted.

She could hear the desperation in his voice. It was hoarse and defeated. She stopped and turned around. He stopped to, standing only a few feet away. He looked terrible. His eyes pleading for her to understand.

"I thought it worked." she said quietly.

"It did." he said, "For a little while. But then something happened. I went home with someone." Caroline's heart cracked. "It was awful, she wasn't...she didn't...she wasn't you. And I think she cursed me."

Caroline couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"Listen I know it sounds ridiculous. But superstitions are real in hockey, they can make or destroy careers and mine is about to be destroyed. They are putting me on the dl, it's the -"

"I know what it is." Caroline replied.

"If they don't see results when I return, they are going to trade me. Nobody wants me. I have worked my whole life for this and it's about to be gone. I know this sounds horrible to use you like this, but I could help you too. Whatever you want, I could pa..."

"If you say pay, I will walk away and you will never see me again." Caroline seethed.

"I'm desperate, Care. I don't know what else to do. I wish I could be who you want me to be but I'm not. I promise I will never make you feel bad about yourself and you can set the pace. You're...you're my lucky charm." he looked at her pleadingly,

Caroline's face softened. People like Sidney Crosby did not date girls like her. It was just fact. But if she could help him, be near him, would that be enough? Wasn't this how people worked anyway? Friends with benefits.

He was standing there so lost, so eager for her to just agree to this. Sidney Crosby's sex play thing. It was absurd. But staring at him she thought of the night in his apartment. How kind he had been to her, he didn't have to do that. He was a good person. He needed her and that might be enough.

She straightened. "I need to think about this."

Hope blossomed on his face. "Of course, yes, please, take all the time you need. Here, give me your phone."

Caroline handed him her cell and watched as he punched in the numbers.

"This is my number. Call me, anytime. Caroline, if you can do this. I will be forever grateful. I know the first time, it wasn't great for you, but I can show you it can be. I, I promise." he looked like he meant it.

"Ok...I'll call you. I just need some time." Caroline answered, although she and her traitorous heart already knew they would do it. She would just leave him hanging for a few days. Payback for suggesting the payment thing.

Sidney walked towards her and put his hands on her face. They were as large as she remembered. He leaned forward and she thought he may kiss her, but he pressed his lips to her forehead and breathed,

"Thank you."