***Author's note: Sooooo, insert excuse here for the delay of this chapter. In all fairness I had planned on getting this chapter out much sooner. But then 4 little games pretty much put me in a tailspin of depression and complete disinterest in all things hockey. But then I saw Sid, all shaved and hair cut and I just fell in love again and decided to get back on track. However, writing this chapter proved to be super super hard and I thought about revising the story completely. I went back and forth for a good while deciding how to direct the story now that the playoffs were over and ultimately decided to make some changes but keep with my overall direction. I hope you like the chapter and I really am so sorry about how slow these updates come. Thank you for sticking with me and for your motivational reviews. Even the please update ones put a little fire under me to move things along. So thanks! And thanks to the Penguins for a wonderful (although slightly heartbreaking) year. P.S. I HATE THE BRUINS, go hawks!***

He smelled of soap, starch and a scent distinctly Sid. It overwhelmed her senses as he brushed past her and into her living room. Closing the door behind him, Caroline took a moment to close her eyes and take a deep breath. Thinking of all the things they needed to discuss and hash out was a lot easier than actually doing it, but he was here now, and really it was better to talk sooner rather than later.

"I didn't want to leave town angry. After….everything, I don't want that to happen. When we argue or disagree I want to talk about it, I think that's the best way to deal with things," his voice sounded as if he was confident, but she could hear the tremor in his voice. It was almost comforting knowing he was nervous too.

She turned around and looked at him. His face mirrored his voice, confident but a smidge of uncertainty simmering under the surface. "You're right," she agreed, her hands already twisting and pulling at one another. Her heart found its way into her throat as she swallowed uncomfortably. He held a paper bag in his hands and it served as the perfect prop to distract her from the pull of his eyes.

Watching her, he thrust the bag towards her.

"I'm sorry about what I said at the hospital. About you not knowing about relationships. It was wrong. I was wrong. I got you this as sort of a peace offering," she watched his Adam's apple bob nervously against the pale skin of his neck.

Caroline took the bag and motioned for him to take a seat on the couch where she had set up camp. He folded himself gracefully into his seat and she sat down next to him. She opened the bag and peered inside.

Unable to hide the delighted smile, she pulled out the item, a huge ice cream sandwich in a familiar wrapping. They were her favorite. She remembered the conversation a while back, telling Sid about the long drives she and her brothers would take with her grandma when they came to visit her in Pittsburgh. Outside of town they would always stop at an old gas station where there was an inexplicably huge selection of ice cream. Caroline would always get the Biggy Iggy, vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two huge chocolate chip cookies. It was almost as big as her head. A couple of summers ago her car broke down. The closest garage had been the same one she'd stopped at as a child. Sure enough the ice cream selection was still impressive and the Biggy Iggy was still their biggest seller. Since then, despite the distance from her house she visited the garage to get her oil changed and to get what was a nostalgic and comforting treat. Luckily she only went a few times a year, as the sandwiches were giant and far from healthy. She'd told him the story one evening a month and a half ago when Sid was telling her about a new guy the team had acquired and Caroline had joked Sid should buy some for Jerome Iginla as a welcoming gift. Sid had just laughed. It seemed like such a silly conversation that she was shocked he'd remembered.

"These are my favorite," she exclaimed.

"I know," he said, a small smile on his face.

Tearing the wrapper off the sandwich, she broke it and handed a half to him. "This will change your life," she promised.

He seemed taken aback a bit, but then with his eyes on hers took a large bite. She watched him expectantly, as if the biggest concern of her day was making sure he liked the sweet treat rather than the stability of their relationship.

Chewing, he smiled. "It's good."

She seemed pleased and took a bite herself. Closing her eyes took a few moments to savor the taste of comfort and sugar. Chewing slowly, she swallowed and opened her eyes, as she licked her lips catching a small smidge of ice cream that had escaped to the corner of her mouth.

"So goo-mmph!" her words were cut off by the sudden assault on his mouth on hers. He'd moved so quickly that she barely had time to register that he had crossed the distance of the couch and planted his lips firmly on hers. Caroline's eyes were wide and all she could see was the pinkish delicate skin of his closed eyelids and the start of a small pimple above his right eyebrow. His hand curled around her neck firmly and the light scrap of his fingernails against the nape of her neck, caused her to gasp in surprise. Sidney used that opportunity to delve his tongue into her mouth and eagerly explore the interior. In the instant Sid's tongue touched hers, Caroline closed her eyes and forgot about everything but the tightening in her stomach as the familiar feel of arousal overcame her.

He hadn't meant to kiss her. Sure he wanted to, hell, he always wanted to kiss her, to hold her, to just breathe her. But when he'd sat down on her couch, he really had the basic intention of hashing out the back and forth that had plagued them for weeks. He knew she'd be pleased with his peace offering. What he hadn't expected was the completely natural instinct to share the ice cream with him. Like she hadn't even thought twice. It was so typical Caroline. Even when they were at odds, she just naturally wanted him to have everything that she did. Experience everything she experienced, even something as simple as a childhood treat. Then when she had closed her eyes and the serenity passed over her face, despite the raw bruises on her dewy skin, it took his breath away. The sight of her small pink tongue as it journeyed around her mouth and he was gone. The primal need to touch her, kiss her, took over and he lunged.

She tasted so sweet. He couldn't say if it was from the ice cream or just the flavor of Caroline he'd grown to crave, but nevertheless having her soft and pliant mouth on his was just what he needed. They had to talk, no doubt, but not right now.

His broad chest pushed into her. The crispness of his shirt clashing against the soft worn t-shirt she'd had for years. Her hands lightly clutched his biceps as his mouth plundered again and again, desperate and filled with need. With one hand on her neck, the other grasped her waist and in mere second Sid pushed Caroline against the arm of the couch and onto her back. With great care he hovered himself over her as her arms wrapped around his shoulders and pulled him close. She moaned into his mouth as the weight of his body on hers pushed her into a heightened state of arousal. His tongue masterful, his lips unrelenting, as both party seemed content in breaking down a complicated conversation into a tangle of lips and tongues, frantic for one another.

Sid inched Caroline shirt up further and further, his mouth never leaving hers. His hand explored her soft skin, until his palm discovered the pebbled nipple of her bared breast. Flicking his thumb against the tight nerves, he elicited another moan from Caroline's mouth. Smiling against her lips, he worried the flesh between his fingers and felt his pants tighten instantly. Wanting to reach more of her, his left hand moved from her neck to her cheek, as he sought to pull her jaw up and closer to him, wanting to drown himself in this surge of affection that started off so innocently. But as soon as his hand touched her cheek, she winced and pulled away from him.

It was like cold water splashed upon the both of them.

Shit. In the moment he had forgotten about her bruise and now he'd hurt her.

Sidney leapt from her immediately.

"Oh shit, Care, I'm sorry. Are you ok?" He looked at her as her face screwed up in pain. Her lips swollen from his kisses, her chin chafed from the stubble of his playoff beard rubbing against her skin, her face flushed from a desire she had felt only moments before the pain of his calloused fingers against the tender skin broke their trance.

Caroline scrambled up the couch, pulling her t-shirt back down and leaning against the cushions as her fingertips touched lightly at the marred skin.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. It's just really sensitive," she seemed embarrassed by the turn of events. Fumbling towards the coffee table she rifled through some items until she came up with a small tube. "It burns from scraping against the gravel," she explained. "This stuff helps." She shakily worked at the tube, trying to unscrew the cap, as Sid just stared dumbly at the scene. Finally his senses kicked in. Taking the tube from her, he unscrew the cap easily.

"Here, let me," he said quietly and she turned those wide eyes on him.

With great care he squeezed out a dollop of the cream onto his index finger. Very delicately his finger brushed against her cheek, his eyes trained on the wound, as Caroline's eyes were glued on him. Slowly he swept the cream over the skin that burned under his fingertips, back and forth, instantly bringing relief to the irritated skin. He was so close, he could hear the unevenness of her breathing as well as feel the puffs of air that escaped her parted lips. When he was done he blew lightly on her cheek, hoping to cool the heated skin.

"Thank you," she said staring up at him.

He looked at her, his fingers fiddling with the tube nervously, "I didn't mean to hurt you." His voice was low and shaky and they both knew he didn't just mean her bruise.

She swallowed, "I know," her voice barely audible.

Adjusting themselves and finding themselves back into safe positions for a conversation they sat silent for a few minutes.

Finally Sid spoke.

"I...ehm," he cleared his throat and scratched at the back of his head. "I haven't been very good to you lately." He hated saying it but it was true.

"Sid," Caroline started, but stopped when his hand came up to silence her.

"I haven't. I'm ashamed of what happened in my apartment. I know I acted too rash in the hospital. I've said things I shouldn't have and I haven't been the man I need to be. To you. And I'm sorry. You're right about doing what I say. I know that I'm good at saying all the right things but I don't always follow through. I'm just not used to having someone to think about, this time of year. Usually I do this all on my own. I go into my little world, prepare myself. I become extremely focused and now I have more things I need to focus on."

"I don't want to make things harder for you," she interrupted.

"No," he said quickly. "You don't. This isn't your fault its mine. It's up to me to find the balance. I know how I can be. How closed off I can get. It's how I prepare, its how I succeed. By focusing on a single goal. But things are different now," he smiled. "Wonderfully different and I need to adjust. Unfortunately I didn't realize it until nearly too late," his face became serious. "Care, please tell me it's not too late." He looked at her, his face a sea of vulnerability, his eyes big and pleading.

Her heart went out to him. How could it not? She knew that he wasn't purposely shutting her out. They just came from such different worlds. It was a never ending challenge trying to relate to one another. But no, it wasn't too late. Her heart was too far gone for it ever to be too late.

"No," she said. "Of course not. I love you. I want to be here for you and support you. But you have to let me in. I know only a small percentage of what you go through, the pressure, the expectations. I know how hard it can be for you. But I want to help. I want to make things easier. I'll back off when you need me to, but sometimes you have to let me help you. In any way that I can."

He gave a hopeful smile but Caroline raised her hand before he could speak again. "But," she paused, hesitant to proceed. "I won't be taken for granted," her voice was firm and Sid was taken aback by her tone.

"Caroline," he started.

"No." she said, sliding herself a bit further from him, trying to gain some perspective. She couldn't think clearly when he was so close. "I won't have what happened at your place the other night happen again."

"It won't," he started his voice laced with regret.

She continued despite his reply. "I felt like a fool. You made us foolish, what we have. Like it wasn't important. Or at least not important enough to realize that the situation you put yourself in…can't happen. Not when you have someone. Someone you love and care about and don't want to hurt. Because," she swallowed the bowling ball in her throat. "It hurt, it hurt a lot."

He didn't say anything, but rather just stared at his knuckles bulging from his clasped hands.

"I know I don't understand a lot of things, I know that your world is big and foreign and every time I think I have a grasp on how stuff works I'm completely thrown for a loop. But I know how I want to be treated. I know where my limits lie. And I know that when you look at me and talk to me like I'm a child who doesn't understand what the grownups are talking about and you think that its ok to have another woman touch you like that, when you know how I feel, whether I'm completely off base or not. It's not right and it hurts and it makes me worry about us." She spoke in a rush, rambling a bit incoherently but also trying to convey to him that whether Cameron had other intentions or not, Caroline wasn't going to let her cross the line, however innocent Sidney thought it was.

"You're right," he stared at his hands, then looked up at her, "You're right. I didn't think. I didn't believe you, I thought you had made the mistake. I don't have an excuse for Cameron other than I didn't think. I didn't think about how it would affect you if you saw something like that. No matter how innocent it was. I don't ever want to hurt you. You have to know that. And I was stupid. I forget what it's like for everyone else and it's not fair."

His face was completely open and honest and she believed what he said. But Cameron wasn't going away. At least not without a fight, Caroline knew that for sure.

"I know you think that Cameron is beautiful and sophisticated. That she has some upper hand because what she does and how she looks. Believe me, I don't mind telling you every day that there is nothing about her that I find appealing because it's the honest truth. I guess that's why I didn't really think about the massage, because I feel nothing when I look at her. But that doesn't matter. And I'm realizing that. I can't say what I would do if I saw another guy touch you like that. It would destroy me. And I hate that I made you feel that way. I told her after you left that nothing would happen between her and me. I made it clear that she is a member of the Pens organization and that's it."

Caroline gave a relieved smile, satisfied with his statement. Relieved entirely by the honest and direct conversation they were having.

"She's probably going to keep trying," she said lightly.

"Well, it won't do any good," Sid replied. "Caroline, I'm so sorry."

She knew he fully meant it.

"It's ok," she shrugged.

"It's not. And I'm sorry I haven't been more supportive of what you've got going on. I'll be honest, I haven't made an effort really."

Caroline looked away, "I know."

"It's not fair to you."

"No, it's not. My stuff is never going to be as glamorous as yours, but it's important. And not just to me, it's important to a lot of people and I have to have you respect that."

Sid nodded, "You're right."

"I know what happened has you concerned about school but..." her eyes began to well, "Sid please understand I can't leave my job, I know you're worried and you have every right. I didn't quite understand at first, but I know now I need to think of you too when things happen and understand that this doesn't just affect me. But there has to be a compromise. There just has to be."

Sid was quiet, then spoke, "I have never been so scared in my life," the low timber of his voice trembled. "Caroline, when I saw you in that hospital bed..." his voice caught, "I...I've never felt so helpless. And I'm not used to feeling like that. I hated those guys and what they did to you, I wanted to pulverize them. I really did, I still do. But I know asking you to leave your job would devastate you and I don't want to be the cause of that. Because all it will create is resentment and divide us and that is the last thing I want. Having said that though, there need to be some precautions made, if only for my piece of mind, you know?"

Caroline felt her heart clench. She hadn't been fair to him. Underestimating his worry. How scary this had been from his perspective, how she'd dismissed his feelings of being as terrified as she'd been. This was partnership. When something happened to one of them, it happened to the both of them. It was a foreign concept in so many ways but also just so simple. It was all just now sinking in. That they were in it together. For better or for worse.

She was relieved to hear that he wasn't so adamant about her leaving any longer. "I can talk to the school, I know they want a safe environment for everyone. I will make sure I don't leave by myself. I'll even carry mace if you think that will help." Her eyes were wide with reassurance, hoping that he wouldn't change his mind.

Sid nodded. "That's a good start. I just don't want anything to happen to you like that again. I don't think I could stand it."

His words brought her a sense of security and her face lit up as she just remembered something.

"Sid, they found them. I haven't told you. Mr. Dixon came to see me. They caught the kids, one came back asking about me and he confessed. I'm not sure what's going to happen next, but at least they know who did it."

Sid grew nervous. They had her wallet. What if the guys when released came looking for her? What if they wanted revenge? A million worries spun in his head.

Sensing his concern Caroline sought out his eyes. "Sid? It's ok, it's a good thing." She smiled encouragingly.

"I'm worried about your safety, what if they come looking for you?"

Caroline looked startled. She hadn't thought about that. Not at all.

"They won't," she said with a confidence that wasn't really there. The boys wouldn't come to her house. That would just make things worse for them. Plus her father was retired Army. It was doubtful anyone would get past him.

"How long are your parents staying?" Sid asked.

"Until Monday, after my appointment." she replied.

He looked relieved. "I'll be back late that night. Will you come stay at my place? I'll feel so much better knowing your there. I should be in around midnight. Tuesday is our off day. We can spend it together. Doing whatever you want. No distractions, I promise. Please, Care?"

While she may not have liked the authority he'd used earlier in the hospital, telling her what to do about her job, Caroline couldn't help but love the protective nature that came so instinctively to him. And the idea of just the two of them all day together was heavenly. Her eyes soften by his insistence and she nodded yes.

Gently he pulled her close and into his embrace. She rested her unmarred cheek against his chest while she heard the quiet intake of breath as he buried his head in her hair. It was a good talk. Everything of issue had been discussed. They would keep moving. Hoping that they would remember today and how important it had been to communicate and talk things out with complete honesty. Was it naïve to think that all the pressures and outside forces wouldn't cause future conflicts? Sure. But if they were to move forward, together and happily so, they would have to hold onto this foundation and prepare for it to be rocked again. Because it would be. In so many ways they would never imagine. But right now there was understanding. There was communication. And most of all there was love. And for right now, that was enough.