Chapter 229: Stiff Competition

"In accordance with our principles of free enterprise and healthy competition, I'm going to ask you two to fight to the death for it." – Monty Python

"I recently learned something quite interesting about video games. Many young people have developed incredible hand, eye, and brain coordination in playing these games. The air force believes these kids will be our outstanding pilots should they fly our jets." – Ronald Reagan

Will made a move to help, but Sydney stopped him, "He needs to…get dressed first," she said with a dimpled smile.

Will groaned, "See…you two are SO MUCH worse!" He turned and walked out, closing the door gently, "Call me when you're done…and please…just dress!"

Both Sydney and Vaughn were laughing as she fetched some clothes for him and helped him get them on. She opened the door and yelled, "Is it safe for me to come out?"

She heard Will's groan, "You're horrible!"

Sydney chuckled and peeked around the corner into the living room, "He's decent."

Will got up and followed her back to the bedroom, and waited patiently as Sydney got Vaughn to a standing position. They walked out to the living room and sat him on the couch. Sydney sat down next to him and looked to Will. Francie was smiling from the chair next to the couch.

"Ok…I was at the store the other day, and I came across this…and well…I had to get it. One, cause I love them, but I had this great idea too…"

Sydney looked intrigued, "K, so what is it."

Will smiled and went over to the TV. He grabbed something from the floor and walked it over to Vaughn. He handed it to Vaughn and then sat down on the other side of Sydney.

Vaughn looked down and then looked at Will, "Uh…we gonna play a game?"

Will beamed, "I bought an Xbox."

Vaughn's confused look turned to one of childlike glee, "You did?" he asked.

"Mmmhmm…see – ok, it's fun, but I was also thinking…you have to exercise your fingers, right, so this might help."

Sydney smiled at Will, "That's a great idea Will, very thoughtful."

Vaughn looked over at him, "Really Will…thank you."

"You're welcome. Plus, right now, I can enjoy that you'll be…under par shall we say, and I can win before you get really good and kick my ass," he said nodding.

Vaughn chuckled, "Right." He looked down at the controller and then back at Will, "So…what games did you get?" he asked with an eight-year-old's smile.

Will's smile mirrored his own, "I got ESPN NHL Hockey, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, and…well I got Buffy the Vampire Slayer too…cause I loved the show ya know…but it's really cool too – I'll get the boxes. You can pick one out for us to play." He got up and went over to the Xbox and grabbed the boxes, bringing them back to Vaughn, "If you wanna play that is."

Vaughn smiled, "Yeah Will I wanna play."

"Ok," Will said smiling and leaned down in front of him, "K, this is the hockey one." He turned the box over, "See it's got all this stuff…it's so awesome."

Vaughn read the box, smiling, "Authentic box scores, overlays, stats and more: To fully capture the atmosphere of an ESPN NHL broadcast. Feel the impact: The "art" of the well-executed hit is showcased with authentic animations, detailing open ice hits, checks into the boards, and even the occasional flight over the boards and onto the players' bench. Mini-games galore: Plenty of extras to keep you busy outside of the traditional game, including Mini-Rink, a fast-paced and intense two-on-two hockey experience; Pond Hockey; and enhanced skills events. Know your history: Honoring the tradition and heritage of the NHL, playable historic teams and vintage jerseys let you indulge in some the most legendary eras in the sport of hockey. Muck it up: True-to-the-game board-pinning controls give you the option to wear down opponents, fight for possession, or tie up the puck to get a whistle. Dynamic camera lets you soak up all the action up close and personal. Customized playoffs: Your team didn't make the playoffs? Don't sweat it. The customizable playoffs option gives you the opportunity to put together a playoff bracket any way you see fit. Fantasy starters: Opponents can square off with their dream teams by drafting a lineup consisting of any players in the league, thus bringing unlimited replay value to an already deep hockey experience." He looked over at Sydney, "Will is my new hero. This ROCKS."

Will smiled proudly, "I did good on that one huh?"

"YEAH," Vaughn said smiling, handing him the box back.

"You wanna see the other ones or should we play this one first?"

"Uh, can we play this one first?" Vaughn asked with a boyish grin.

"Yeah," Will said, walking back to the TV and turning it on along with the Xbox.

"Syd?" Vaughn asked.

"Yeah honey."

"Can I take this off again?" He asked gesturing to the sling.

"You've had it off a lot today," she remarked, but seeing his expression, she smiled, "Yeah, a little more shouldn't hurt. Just try not to move the shoulder too much."

"Ok," Vaughn agreed, letting her help him take it off.

Will came back to the couch and giddily grabbed the controller, and sat as close to the TV as he could get, without falling off the couch, enthralled as the images began to flash across the screen.

Sydney smiled at Will's demeanor and looked over at Vaughn. He was more controlled in his excitement, and his lack of proper mobility limited his options, but she could see the gleam, the wonder; the absolutely adorable look that came across his face when the animated players flew across the screen.

He seemed to feel her eyes on him, and turned to look at her. She smiled at him and he returned a dimpled one before he looked back to the TV.

"Ok," began, "We gotta figure out which buttons make the players do stuff, cause it's different on every game. Like that Lord of the Rings one…yeah – SO much crap for that one."

Sydney looked over at Francie who was watching as the two began to talk about moves and passing. She smiled, "This may have been a bad idea, they'll never leave this couch now…"

Sydney chuckled, "Yeah, you'll never get anymore play on this couch again."

Francie blushed, "You should talk!"

The doorbell rang and Sydney got up to answer it, a teenage pizza boy on the doorstep. "Hi," he said, "That'll be $22.49."

Sydney paid him while Francie went off to get plates and drinks. Sydney set up the pizzas on the coffee table and attempted to tell the two men who had suddenly reverted back 15 years each that the pizzas had arrived, but they were too engrossed in a heated discussion about controller buttons.

"BOYS!" She finally yelled.

Will and Vaughn looked at her, "What?" they both asked.

"Time to eat!"

"Oh," Will said, putting the controller down, "Ok, we can figure this out after."

Vaughn nodded and Sydney handed him a plate with a container of cheese sauce. "Thanks," he said smiling at her as she sat down next to him.

"Sure, I've got my ranch, I'm good."

Vaughn snickered, "You and your ranch."

"Hey, you should talk Mr. Heinz."

Vaughn chuckled, "K, fine…we both have food obsessions."

A smile continued to grow as Sydney watched Vaughn with his cheese, "Ya know…maybe I just should've had Will order a cheese pizza…"

He turned to her, "Those who mock…end up with ranch all over their clothes."

"Kinky," Sydney replied as she went back to her plate, dipping the pizza in ranch.

"You could call yours more of a salad with all that ranch," he said looking at her sideways.

Sydney giggled and turned to kiss him, "I think I might have to teach you some more manners…you've regressed from the point I had you earlier…where you'd submit to all my demands."

"Well…that was sex…this is food…it's different," he said with a sly grin.

"You're so bad."

"You both are bad," Will said, shaking his head and regarding the couple.

Sydney threw her napkin at Will who promptly and maturely stuck his tongue out at her.

After they had all filled up on pizza and the dishes and boxes had been cleared away, they all converged again on the couch.

"Ugh…I'm SO full," Sydney said, leaning close to Vaughn.

"Me too…" Francie agreed.

Vaughn smiled sympathetically at Sydney and Francie and then looked to Will, "So…you wanna play now?" he asked, reverting back to his little boy face.

Sydney groaned and looked at Francie, "See, see what your man has done. He's turned them both into gamers…GAMERS Fran."

Francie chuckled, "Well, at least they're out of trouble."

Will looked at Vaughn, ignoring the ladies' conversation, "Yeah…let's play."

He picked up his controller and Vaughn grabbed his as well, "K – I get to be the Kings!"

Will looked back, "FINE. Then I get to be Bluejackets."

Vaughn snorted, "Yeah…cause they kick ass," he said sarcastically.

"Hey…they're good…they just have…some…well they've had a bad year. They'll come through."

"They suck Will…and that's why they were named 'Wimpiest Team' by Hockey Digest. You picked the pansy team Will."

"Oh you're gonna pay for that," he said looking back at Vaughn who had a smug smile on his face.

"Just watch out for the boards dude…you'll get real friendly with them."

"Yeah, whatever," Will said concentrating as they picked their teams and the pseudo-game started.