*As always, i appreciate all your comments and words of encouragement!

Chapter 26

- October 2008 -

Sid felt the water flow over his body and closed his eyes, trying to squeeze out any memory of the morning. He knew that Avery had sat and watched their practice and he tried desperately to pretend that she wasn't there but it didn't work. Not even a bit. His passes were sloppy, his drills were all off time and he couldn't put the puck in the back off the net if the goalie was a monkey. He clearly needed a better plan to deal with this situation.

*thawk*

"Ow!" Sid howled, as a rolled up towel hit his bare ass. Sid turned and looked behind him, shampoo running down into eyes. Why the guys always attacked him when he was naked, he never understood but it was really not fair!

Cookie laughed as he flipped on the shower for himself. "So I hear your lady friend is here… what's the story there? Someone said she's crazy…"

"There's no story," Sid said abruptly. "And she's not crazy."

"Really dude? You're sure about that?" Cooke continued, lathering up his hair. "If I don't hear the details from you, then I will ask around until I get them… think the guys have it figured out well enough to explain?"

Sid understood what he was getting at but he didn't exactly know how to explain his relationship with Avery in a quick sentence. To say it was complicated was the understatement of the century, so he decided to simplify. "She's just a friend…"

"That you fuck on a regular basis?"

"Not lately…" Sid shrugged. "We had a little disagreement at the end of last season…"

"Oh?"

"I am focusing on hockey right now and I don't really want anyone to mess with my focus," Sid explained, very matter-of-factly.

"Wow… that was a crazy PR answer… did you rehearse that?" Cooke laughed.

Sid joined in the laughter. He had totally rehearsed it. "The truth is that she messes with my head…"

"Dude, she's a woman, that's what they do…" Cooke continued. "The question is, like always, is the head messing worth it? Can you be happy without it and the other things she brings? She looked hot… bet she was good in bed… let me guess, great blowjobs? Are you sure you are better off without her?"

"It doesn't matter. She has a boyfriend," Sid shook his head. He really didn't want to discuss his sex life with anyone right now… especially not the new guy who came with a certain reputation. Sure, he played for their team now but if he got traded, the last thing Sid wanted was him chirping him about something like this.

"Dude! What the fuck is the fun of being Sidney Crosby, boy wonder, if you don't play the 'I am better then you are' card?" Cooke flipped off the taps and grabbed a towel, shaking his head in shame. "She has a boyfriend... What the fuck man? Sounds to me like you need to grow a pair, get your woman back, regardless of how crazy she might be. The crazy ones are always the best lay…"

Sid watched as his team's latest acquisition walked away, towel in his hand, flaunting his stuff for all to see. Besides being entirely grossed out by his teammate's blatant showmanship, Sid was convinced that he might have a point. Who was this Marco guy that was standing in his way? Clearly Sid would be better then him. Maybe he did need to play the cards he was dealt. The competitive side of him took over, pushing all the reasons he had sworn her off out of his brain.

-.-

Avery had been surprised when Sid came up to her office, just to say 'Hello'. He seemed to have pretty much entirely forgotten their last encounter in which he screamed at her and kicked her out of his life. As if his cheery disposition wasn't off enough, she had been shocked when he had asked her out to dinner. Avery was cautious when she explained that she actually had plans with Marco, since he had come to see the games and when Sid invited him along to, Avery couldn't help but let her jaw hang open. Sid seemed to be on a mission, which made Avery nervous. She had seen him get on a mission – normally only on the ice, when he really wanted to score – and she knew that he never stopped until the mission was successfully completed. She was hesitant to agree to dinner with him because she didn't know what exactly his mission was and the last thing she wanted in her life was more drama. And if he thought he was going to get some sort of booty call, he was dead wrong.

"I think it's important that I screen all your future matches… size them up, so that I know if I can take them, should the situation arise… again," He convinced her with a warm smile. Avery laughed and agreed to dinner. She was still suspicious at his hidden intentions but thought she might just be paranoid.

Avery smiled happily as Marco and Sid talked over dinner. She didn't realize that Marco had actually researched Sid before their dinner and seemed to have an endless list of questions for him – which was good. There were certainly no awkward silences. Marco didn't even seem to put it together that this was the same guy he had been concerned about her going to see in Pittsburgh – which was also good. She had been prepared for a little bit of a pissing match between the two of them, should Marco have figured it out but instead they seemed to be really buddy buddy. It was kind of annoying her.

"You will have to excuse me, I need to take 'dis call," Marco apologized as he checked his cell phone while the waited cleared their dinner plates.

"No problem sweetie," Avery shrugged, then smiled up at him as he stood up from the table. He kissed her forehead as he walked away and she felt her cheeks warm up as she looked over to Sid, who was staring at her.

"So…" Avery braced herself for whatever nasty comments Sid had been preparing.

"He's old…" Was all he had.

"He's NOT!" She laughed, that was the last thing she expected him to comment on. Sure there was a little age difference between them but it wasn't that bad.

"Av's… come on…" Sid pleaded. "I didn't realize you had daddy issues…"

"He's mature…." Avery defended Marco.

"Oh pulleeze… you think he's mature 'cause he has grey hair?" Sid shook his head. "Recchi is greyer then my grandpa, and the guy still laughs at his own fart jokes!"

"There is more to maturity then the colour of his hair…"

"Really? Do explain…" Sid smirked.

"He's educated, he's well traveled… he… he has lived," Avery shrugged. As if Sid was arguing what made a person mature, he was constantly fighting the stigma of the age to maturity issue. He always said the age is just a number.

"Yeah, I hear you live quite a bit before your eightieth birthday…"

"And he knows what he wants and guess what? You're just mad because he wants me…" Avery teased.

"Yeah well, too bad grandpa there probably can't get it up…" He laughed, pointing towards the exit Marco had disappeared through.

"Sid! Give it a rest! He has no issues with that," Avery rolled her eyes but smiled. "Do you really want me to describe my sex life to you?"

Sid burst out laughing. "Oh man, I miss you…" He said warmly, looking over at her. Avery smiled and placed her hand on top of Sid's. He twisted his hands around so his fingers entwined with hers. Avery watched his thumb travel over the tops of her fingers and pulled her hand back. They sat in awkward silence, while the waiter filled their water glasses. Maybe Avery hadn't been paranoid after all.

"So… Marco… he seems to really like you… and treat you well," Sid offered seriously, then paused as he fidgeted with his fork. "You gonna marry this one?"

"He hasn't exactly asked me…" Avery would be lying if she said she hadn't thought about it but it seemed odd admitting it out loud – especially to Sid. "But if he did… then yeah, I think I would…"

Sid just nodded and lowered his gaze to his plate.

"I apologize," Marco offered as he returned to the table. "My father is demanding of time."

Sid just nodded, as he watched Marco reach across the table and take Avery's hand.

"Where were we?" Marco asked.

"Actually, I have to get going… we have practice pretty early and all this great food is definitely slowing me down," Sid removed his napkin from his lap and placed it on the table then reached behind him for his wallet.

"No, no…" Marco immediately waved away Sid's credit card. "Your money is no good here. The bill has already been taken care of."

Avery smiled at Sid but could sense it was a little awkward for him. He probably wasn't used to not being the richest person at the table.

"Well, thank you very much and it was great to get to know you," Sid stood up and extended his hand.

"The pleasure was all mine," Marco returned.

"And please take care of this one," Sid looked over to Avery with sadness in his eyes. "She's really important to me."

Marco wrapped his arms around Avery's waist and nodded, as Sid bid his farewell.

-.-

Marco watched Sidney Crosby leave the restaurant and looked down at his beautiful girlfriend, kissing her gently on the forehead. He wasn't a fool. He had watched Avery and Sidney from the hall while he was on the phone and it was clear that there was something between them. He saw them hold hands and watched as Avery pulled her hand away, secretly praying that she would throw her glass of water in his face or reach across the table and slap him or… something. Something that contradicted the intimate moment they seemed to have just shared. But no, instead Marco had watched as they sat uncomfortably staring at their hands until he returned.

Then he saw the look in Sidney's eyes as he left the table - the look of a heart breaking. He was just hoping that the same look wasn't in Avery's eyes. He almost didn't want to look.

Marco totally understood the look. It was the look that was creeping into his own eyes now. Avery was something special and he didn't want to lose her but he didn't want to be the guy she settled for. If there was something going on, if there were any emotions between them, she would have to work it out.

Avery sat down at the table and placed the napkin back across her lap. Marco watched as she picked up and studied the dessert menu very carefully. He wished he knew what she was thinking. Avery looked over at him and smiled, while she took a sip from her water goblet.

"What are you thinking?" He asked her.

"Umm… either the tiramisu or the chocolate death explosion thingy…" Avery shrugged looking back down at the menu.

"No, not about dessert… about everything…"

"I'm sorry… I'm really only thinking about dessert right now," Avery giggled with a warm smile. "What are you thinking?"

"I am thinking about how much I love you…" Marco reached over and rubbed his hand down her bare arm. "And… I am thinking about how in love you are with Sidney…"

-.-

Sid hated that she was happy. He hated that Marco wasn't some scum bag. He had really kept his fingers crossed. Unfortunately, it didn't look like Sid would be able to play the 'I'm better then you are' card, like Cookie had suggested, because he might not actually be the better option. Avery was right. Marco was mature. He treated her well, could take care of her and give her the life that Sid knew she wanted – and needed. He could offer her stability and normality. Maybe this one was actually right for her.

Sid opened the door to his hotel room and stepped inside, throwing his jacket on the desk chair and leaned on the bed to kick off his shoes.

"Watch out dude!" Max hissed from beneath the sheets.

"Sorry buddy, I didn't know you were here," Sid reached over and flipped on the light.

"Tabernack!" Max swore, as the light filled the room and his head popped up from under the covers, followed shortly by two other blonde heads.

"Oh fuck, what the hell?" Sid swore as he turned and faced the wall.

"I thought you would be out all night with Avery," Max explained. "I guess I could share…"

"No, I think I'll pass… but thanks for the offer…" Sid waived his hand in protest.

"You sure? Elin here is a professional meatball maker…you can only imagine what she can do with small, round, ball-shaped appendages…" Max offered with a twisted smile and a wink.

Sid just grabbed his jacket and headed towards the door, his eyes still pressed closed. Max getting his balls massaged was actually the last thing he wanted to image. "I'll just head down to the bar, text me when you're done in here…"

-.-

Sid pulled out a stool at the bar and slid in. He ordered a scotch straight up but only so that he had something in his hands. He probably wouldn't take more then a sip.

Sid looked around the bar and watched a couple of small groups laughing and having a good time. His eyes naturally drifted to the few couples huddled into dark corners, whispering to each other. He wanted to be in one of those couples. He thought he had been. He knew that he had been the one that blew it between him and Avery. Sid had no one to blame but himself. He was surprised she even talked to him, never mind agreed to have dinner. Was hanging out with her and her boyfriend his idea of a good night? Probably not but it was nice to know that she didn't wish he was dead.

"Hi, can I have a vodka and cranberry, with a lime please?"

Sid turned as he heard Avery's familiar voice down the bar. He watched her slide into a seat and put her purse down on the counter with a firm slam. She didn't look happy anymore… far from it.

Sid grabbed his drink and climbed to his feet, moving down towards where she was sitting. "Hey, what are you doin' here?"

"Oh, hi… um… just grabbing a drink…" Avery stuttered.

"Where's Marco? I didn't know you guys were staying at this hotel…" Sid asked genuinely, looking around for her counterpart.

"Um… yeah but… he decided to head home. Had some business to deal with," Avery explained, thanking the bar tender as she accepted her drink.

"Oh wow… it's late. Is he really flying out this late?" Sid asked. Marco had mentioned that he had his own plane but to get flight clearance on this short notice was pretty difficult, no matter how rich or important you were.

"Um, yeah, I guess… I don't really know…" Avery just shrugged.

"Okay," Sid conceded and watched Avery take a long sip of her drink. "He really does seem like a good guy. I am happy for you. I mean that."

Avery just nodded and took another sip… maybe a bit too long as she drained the glass and requested another from the bartender with a wave of her hand.

"Is everything okay?" Sid asked, looking on with concern

"Hunky doorey," Avery twirled her empty glass between her hands and then shook her head. "Actually, I think Marco just broke up with me…"

-.-

Sid held Avery up with his arm around her waist. He had lost count of how many drinks she had downed. He searched her purse with his free hand for the swipe card to her room. He wasn't even exactly sure this was her room, as she had slurred out a number before passing out cold that kinda sounded like fourteen but it could have been forty…

He pulled out the little plastic card and slid it through the electronic lock, hoping that it would indeed turn green.

"Oh, thank God," Sid letting out a deep breath as the door unlocked and he could kick it open with his foot. He gathered Avery into his arms and tried to help her through the doorway. It was a nice room – bigger then his, as he walked her over to the large bed in the middle of the room. He helped her lie down, picking up her legs and swinging them across the bed while she nuzzled into the pillow. Sid slowly and carefully undid the zipper on the side of her boots and slid each one off, placing them carefully on the floor. He leaned forward and brushed her hair off her face and watched as she fell into a drunken comatose state.

Sid took a seat on the corner of the bed and reached for his phone, checking for messages from Max, indicating that he could safely return to his own room. No messages. Sid opened a new window and typed 'R U done?' He waited patiently for a response while Avery adjusted herself in the bed behind him. Did he risk going back to room and getting another eye full of something he didn't want to see or… or did he lie down beside Avery and pretend that it was perfectly normal? What would she think in the morning, if she woke up and rolled over and BAM! He was lying there… would she freak?

He looked back down at her, lying across the bed, drunk off her ass and still somehow managed to be the most beautiful woman he had ever met. He couldn't figure out how they had gotten to this point. Since the day he had met her, he had been on an emotional rollercoaster when all he wanted was to have her and things to be alright.

"Sid…" Avery mumbled into the pillow.

"Ya babe?" Sid offered softly, leaning over towards her. She was peaceful looking and…

"I think I'm gonna throw up…"