***Author's note: Who was I kidding thinking I could write during the playoffs? Sad end to a strange season and I hope the Pens figure it all out. Thanks for your patience on (tear tear) the last chapter.
Caroline could only assume the bedroom was just as lavish as the rest of Sid's lake house. She had to assume, because the moment she crossed the threshold into the master suite, Sid pulled her flush to him, his hands wrapping around her waist, his head buried in her neck. Caroline could stand nothing more than to just close her eyes and arch her neck to his warm and wet lips that lapped hungrily at her pulse. Her hands clutched his shoulders as the gentle licks became nips as Sid knew all the right spots to get Caroline worked up.
They stumbled, moving through the large room unsteadily. Sid, although well coordinated, moved shakily backwards as he could not, would not, disengage from his assault on the juncture of Caroline's neck to shoulder. Caroline was no help, as her hands had now find their way into his dark locks, her fingers sinking and then directing Sid a little to the left to get that one spot that just felt so right. He took direction well and was rewarded with a mew of approval that tightened his groin and caused a surge of affection run through him. Finally Caroline felt the edge of the king sized bed hit the back of her knees and she fell back gently onto the thick and luxurious bedspread. Sid fell forward, clumsily, his body falling none too gracefully onto Caroline, his teeth knocking ungracefully against her collar bone.
"Ouch," Caroline half giggled, half groaned.
Sid ran his tongue gingerly over the teeth, then looked up, "You ok?" he asked, his voice hoarse, his cheeks red.
Caroline giggled and nodded, "Yes," she said smiling. "I'm very ok."
Sid grinned widely and lifted his bulk off of her and leaned up to capture her lips with his.
"Sorry Care, I'm a little eager," he said laughing.
"Me too," Caroline replied, pulling him closer and brushing her lips against his, her mouth opening against his, her tongue questing his. He abided and deepened the kiss. They stayed that way for a little bit, Sid balanced over her, his mouth probing and pulling, drawing out all the sensations he seemed to never grow tired of. Finally he pulled back and looked down at her. Now it was Caroline's cheeks that flushed with happiness and desire. She smiled widely, fully content.
"I missed this." Sid said, his voice still husky.
Caroline looked up at him, her eyes bright, "It's only been a week," she said teasingly.
He mocked outrage, "A week is a long time. Especially for us."
Caroline nodded, a smile still gracing her lips.
"I missed that smile," he voice quiet.
Caroline felt the heat creep up. Intimacy with Sid was something she was more than used to. In fact it was something she relished and never took for granted, and even now, it never ceased to speed up her pulse. Right now she was so happy, she couldn't help but indulge in this affectionate banter.
"You did?" she asked softly, her eyes wide.
He nodded solemnly. His head ducking down to brush his mouth so gently against hers. Then with ease, lifted himself up, bringing her with him. He brought himself to a seated position and pulled her effortlessly across his lap, her legs now dangling across his thighs, his arms a vice around her waist.
Caroline linked her arms of around his neck and smiled widely, "What else did you miss?"
"Your elbow."
Caroline barked out a loud surprised laugh. "My elbow? Why on earth did you miss my elbow?"
Sid looked at Caroline with a serious express on his face. Gently he unwound her arms from his neck and with his large hand pushed up the fabric, exposing the tender soft skin of her inner elbow. He bent her arm slightly and a light crease appeared in the unmarred skin. Bending his head, he ghosted his lips across the crease. Pulling back, he spoke "When you bend your elbow, a little line appears. I love that line."
Caroline swallowed. Her voice growing unsteady, "What else?"
"Your knee." Sid replied simply.
Caroline's cheeks blossomed fuchsia. "I hate my knees, they're knobby."
"No they aren't," he replied. His long fingers ran gently over the roughened skin of Caroline's knee. "You have a little scar, right here. I missed it, too."
Caroline watched, as he lifted her leg and bent over, pressing a light kiss to the jagged reminder of when she flipped over the handlebars of her bike the summer after 4th grade.
"Sid," she breathed, when he'd straightened and looked plainly at her. "You can't miss elbows and knees, that's silly."
He raised his eyebrows questioningly, but didn't stop. His hands gathered around her waist and pushed up the fabric of her sweater. Caroline didn't put up any resistance. Easily the sweater was off and cast aside. Caroline squirmed slightly in his lap, clad in only only a light yellow bra with pink polka dots.
"I also missed right here." He said lowly, his index finger moving gently over her belly drawing circles around her belly button.
"Why did you miss my stomach?" She asked, her face fully heated, pink blossoms spreading all over her chest, as her bra clad breasts heaved with anticipation.
He wanted to say he missed it because he thought about it growing large with their children. He thought about laying with her on a rainy summer morning and watching their family grow steadily as they waited for kicks and movements to come.
But instead he said, "Because it makes the cutest rumbling sound when your hungry. I mean that thing really growls." He smiled like the Cheshire Cat.
Caroline's eyes got huge and her face grew beet red for a different reason.
"Sid!" she exclaimed with a mortified laugh. She wiggled to move off his lap, but he held her still, so she settled for swat against his upper arm, still laughing.
With impeccable reflexes, his hand caught her wrist and held it still.
Sid's face grew serious, he held her left hand gently but firmly.
"There's one more place. One more place I missed."
Caroline just stared.
Not breaking eye contact Sid brought her hand to his mouth, his lips kissed lightly the space between her pinky and ring finger. "There is a freckle, right here. I missed that freckle."
Caroline didn't say anything. Just sat frozen, looking at him, then her eyes flickered down to her fingers. Sure enough, there at the webbing between the two fingers was a small tan freckle. A freckle no one would notice. Ever.
"I love that freckle." he said swallowing heavily, his Adam's apple bobbing as his thumb rubbed back and forth over her ring finger. Sid cleared his throat, "Caro-"
"Sid?"
"Sid?"
Sid and Caroline froze at the sound of a third voice. It was faint, then grew stronger. And it sounded exactly like, Trina Crosby.
Before a third and even louder "Sid" echoed in the silent but electric bedroom, Caroline moved like lightning and scrambled off Sidney's lap and grabbed her sweater.
"Crap." Sid said under his breath. The moment. Whatever it was, was gone.
"Don't move." He said looking at Caroline, but it was too late as the sweater was back on and Caroline was smoothing down her tousled hair.
"You look rumpled," she hissed, not listening to him as she reached out to finger comb his equally disheveled hair.
Then, Caroline bounced up from the bed and moved towards a mirror to take in her appearance.
She stared for a moment, then turned back to him with complete outrage "You gave me a hickey!"
There wasn't time to investigate the supposed marking, so instead Sid gave an apologetic smile and said, "Sorry about that, I'll get rid of her. You stay here."
Caroline nodded, flustered, and turned back to the mirror, examining the red mark on her neck.
Sid was out of the room, in a flash, then headed down the stairs to meet Trina, before his mom made it to the second floor.
It had been Sid's birthday weekend and the last weekend in Spain. Through a few connections and nothing short of a miracle, Caroline was able to get tickets for a World Cup game in Barcelona. They weren't great seats, but she knew Sid liked soccer and she was dying to visit Barcelona. On Friday morning she surprised him with the tickets and the plans for them to travel north. You would have thought she'd given him tickets to the moon, he was so excited. He'd made a few calls to secure a hotel room (a considerable upgrade from the hostel Caroline had picked out) and within a few hours they were on the train up north. Friday night was the game. And it had been amazing. Ireland versus Spain. The home team had won and the arena went crazy. Sid loved every minute of it. They hit up a food vendor after the game and spent the rest of the night walking around Barcelona. Finally, they came back to the hotel where Caroline surprised Sid with a chocolate soufflé from room service that doubled as a birthday cake and the two had spent the early hours making love and eating chocolate in bed. It had been perfect.
They slept in, but when Sid woke up late in the morning, Caroline instantly thought he didn't look well. He told her he was fine and while he spoke shortly, she didn't think anything of it. They spent the day sightseeing, but something was definitely off with Sid, he seemed pale and distracted. Although it was quite hot in early August, Sid seemed to be sweating buckets. Caroline asked him repeatedly if he wanted to go back to the hotel, but he'd insisted they go to the Parc Guell, a large park in the city that featured a terrace where you could see the whole city in front of you. It was supposedly the most romantic place in all of Barcelona. They walked the short distance but Caroline was growing more and more alarmed at how ill Sid looked. Not only that, he seemed to be fidgety, nervous almost. Caroline couldn't understand why he'd want to be out in this heat, when a nice cool air conditioned room awaited them, but it was his birthday and he was insistent.
The Parc Guell was beautiful and with a sunny day and the ocean in the distance, it really was romantic. They sat on a bench and just watched the world go by enjoying the companionable silence. After some time Sid stood and took Caroline by the hand. He led her to a secluded part of the park, swallowed visibly and took a deep breath turning to her. Caroline just stared puzzled. Then Sid opened his mouth, turned an actual shade of green and pitched forward, projecting vomit all over Caroline's sandal clad feet. Quickly Caroline acted. She grabbed his hand and shuffled them back to the bench, teacher mode kicking in. She stayed calm and didn't say anything, the last thing she wanted to do was embarrass Sid. He looked at her with a sweaty and sallow face, his eyes dull but apologetic. Calmly she pulled some tissue and bottled water from her bag and gave them to Sid, paying no mind to her feet. She was able to rinse off in a nearby fountain and hailed a taxi. Sid vomited three times in the cab, luckily Caroline had a shopping bag he could use. It was truly awful. Miraculously they made it to the hotel room without further incident and Sid made a bee line for the bathroom and spent the next two hours having every ounce of his insides come out from every end. Finally he emerged, delirious and drenched with sweat. Caroline ran a wet cloth over him as she spoke soothingly to him, murmuring nonsensical words like her mom would to her when she was little and got sick. Brushing back his sweaty locks she sat with him as he lay curled up on the bed. It was truly the worst case of food poisoning she'd ever seen and he'd ever experienced. As he lay there, shaking and sweaty, he mumbled incoherently. Caroline couldn't make out much, but then he was able to put together a sentence. "I..." he'd started, but Caroline shushed him, urging him to rest. "N-n-n-o." He'd been insistent. "I wa-wa-wanted..." he trailed off. He writhed in pain and Caroline's heart broke for him. "A question. I wanted to ask...you something," he finally forced out. "I ruined..." the sentence faded out, as sleep finally seemed to over take him.
Caroline had sat frozen on the bed. Taking in the shaky statement. He was delirious. He wasn't thinking clearly. She couldn't take anything he said seriously, right. Had he...was he going to ask her?
A calmness washed over her, as she leaned forward and brushed her lips against his warm forehead. "I would have said yes." she whispered.
He slept until morning and they had barely enough time to catch the train back to Marbella. Finally after lots of rushing and deciphering the busy Spanish transit system and routes, they were settled in their seats and thus began the three hour trip south. Sid, still a little queasy, fell asleep within ten minutes into the trip. Sitting across from him, Caroline took in his sleeping form. His arms crossed in front of him, his head cocked to the side, his lips parted slightly, as he drew in and puffed out a steady stream of air. She watched him, his arms lightly freckled, his long eyelashes resting on the top of his fevered cheeks. She watched him as her mind began to wander. She was pretty sure she knew what he was going to ask. The weeks that had past had been perfect. More than she could ever have hoped for. They were good again. All the insecurities, uncertainties, pressures just washed away. Things would be different when they got back. The challenges would return. The pressure, the circus of his life, but she was all in.
Marriage.
That had to be it. His uncharacteristic nervousness, the trip to the secluded part of the park. She'd always felt that the most romantic proposals were the ones done in private. Not that the first time he'd proposed had been romantic. Well, maybe the proposal part had been, but everything after had been terrifying. But it wasn't terrifying now. Now the idea of being married to Sid was thrilling, exhilarating, but most of all comforting. Spending her life with him, now it just felt right. With him she felt invincible, as if she could take on anything. Fears of the unknown washed away as she thought about a life together based on respect and support. Love and kindness. They'd done all they'd needed to get to that point, and she was ready.
Caroline let her mind wander to the logistics. She'd move to the Sewickley house. That was a given. She'd have to move out of her little house and while the idea months ago would have freaked her out, relishing her life and independence, now it didnt bother her. Caroline's mind ran through the scenarios of his hectic schedule that included nights away, sometimes a week or more. She'd be in that big house all alone. Many days she'd only see him in the mornings then not again til late at night. That was the reality. What would happen if they had children? Could she raise their family feeling like a part-time single parent? It was the less glamorous part of their lives but valid concerns. There would be missed birthdays, school plays, soccer games. But as soon as those concerns crossed her mind, she dismissed them, not because it was too scary to think of something like that, but instead because it wouldn't matter. Their children would have two parents that loved them and support them both emotionally and financially. Sid would be a great dad, Caroline thought with a wistful smile. She knew he would. Sure there would be sacrifices but the payoff would be immeasurable. She would spend her life with a true love. So many people didn't get that chance. She owed it to them to not squander away such a precious gift. She'd get used to the house. There would be many years of love and happiness to fill it, how could she not want to get started as quickly as possible? Whatever challenges they faced they would figure it out. It was that simple, they would just figure it out. A life together filled with ups and downs, laughter and tears, love and more love, and along the way, was a family. Her family. Their family.
"You think too much," a groggy voice spoke up from across the way.
"I do," Caroline said dreamily as she slowly woke from her daydream. She turned to him and found him looking at her very peculiarly.
Quickly she recited the words in her head and scrambled to rephrase. "I mean I know I do. How are you feeling?" She sputtered, hoping to change the subject.
A stain of red blossomed on his cheeks, "Better, thanks."
Caroline smiled, "Good."
Sid cleared his throat, "Thanks Care, for taking care of me. I know I didn't say it earlier, but thank you. I hope I didn't ruin the weekend."
Caroline waved dismissively, "Are you kidding? It was perfect." She was quiet, then gave him a sincere look, "Really, it was perfect. And..." she continued smiling more broadly now, "Now we are the same age...if only for a month. Now I don't feel like such a cougar."
Sid barked out a hearty laugh and gave her foot a nudge with his.
By the time they arrived home, he seemed back to his old self but no mention of his delirious ramblings were made. He never asked her that question and a few days later they left Spain.
And now, she couldn't help but wonder if that same question had just been interrupted again.
Trina had a to do list for her eldest child in preparation for the family cookout and by the time he was back upstairs, Caroline was emerging from the shower and any funny business that was to be had, was put on hold.
She helped him with his list and it worked out nicely, as she could watch the people filter into the modest home with the large backyard of his Aunt and Uncle's. This made it easy not to get easily overwhelmed and she felt like she had a better chance at remembering everyone's names. It was a family barbeque and it turned out Sid had a pretty big family. Grandmas and cousins, aunts and uncles, and then an endless stream of family friends. They certainly lived up to the Canadian stereotype of warmth and friendliness to all. The afternoon and early evening fly by. Sid helped his Uncle Tom at the grill, while Caroline got roped into tea time in the neighbor's tree house with Taylor and a group of neighborhood girls. Everyone was curious about her and Caroline spent all of dinner answering questions. Not many, if any had met Lila and even she had never come to Cole Harbour. Caroline was the first and many of the family looked conspiratorially at one another noting that she was likely the last. This was only confirmed by the glances the young couple kept exchanging through out the visit.
After dessert, Caroline was coming down the stairs after using the bathroom when an arm seemed to come out of nowhere and pulled her into a nearby closet. Caroline gave a yelp of surprise, but was quickly quieted by Sid's soothing voice, "Shhh, it's me." He said his voice just a whisper in the swallowing darkness.
Caroline swatted blindly at what she thought would be his chest, "You scared the you know what out of me." She whispered back.
"Did you think I was cousin Ernie?" He asked, a smile in his voice. Caroline had made a friend in Ernie the moment he arrived. He was...a little struggles to put it nicely and he'd taken a liking to Caroline as he helped her set up chairs in the backyard and chatted her ear off.
"Very funny."
She felt his arms come around her waist and pull her close. He mouth sought hers in the darkness and magnetically their lips met, softly but urgent.
"We didn't get to finish earlier," he whispered drawing his mouth away.
"We're not going to finish here," Caroline said emphatically. She would not have sex in a closet at Sid's uncles house.
He laughed. "Well no, but...we could do some of this." Sid's mouth found hers and the bulk of his body surged against her, pushing her into the wall, the length of him pressed into her, as the next fifteen minutes comprised of a very heated make out session.
Finally they separated, "MY family loves you." He said, his voice breathless.
Caroline could feel her blush in the dark.
"They've made me feel very welcome." She said truthfully.
Although her eyes had adjusted a little to the dark, she still could only make out his outline as he took a step back and allowed her to unpeel herself from the wall.
"I'm just so happy."
It was such a simple thing to say, but Sid felt it. Hell, his body buzzed with it. Complete and utter joy. Happiness. Freedom. Rightness. As if nothing could ever feel better and more right than this.
"Me too, Sid. Happier than I thought possible." Her voice was sure and steady and it brought a smile to his face.
"We should probably go, I'm sure someone is looking for us." He said, disappointed to leave the privacy of the closet.
"Sid..." Her voice barely a whisper.
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Ok, let's go, Squid." her voice at normal volume and soaked in amusement.
Sid groaned audibly, "Ernie?" He asked.
"Ernie." She confirmed breaking into a fit of giggles.
Caroline could barely keep her eyes open when they finally got back to Sid's. They'd ended up going to a bonfire after the barbecue, that was hosted by Sid's friends growing up. It was a different vibe and Caroline couldn't help but feel like she was on an audition or an interview. Proving her worth to Sid's closest confidants. They were a tougher crowd than his family, but Caroline knew it was because they were fiercely loyal to their friend and she couldn't fault them for that. They'd known Sid from the beginning and didn't want him hurt or taken advantage of. In so many ways he was still good ol' Squid from down the street. They hadn't stayed long, but now that they were home, Caroline just wanted to crawl into bed.
Sid, of course had other ideas.
He pounced on her as soon as they entered his room. Caroline toed off her sandals and pulled her hair from a clip when she felt him behind her.
"I cant wait to bury myself inside you." He whispered lustfully in her ear.
Suddenly Caroline found herself a little less tired.
"Really?" she asked curiously.
Sid nodded, his body hard against hers, his hands sneaking out from around her waist and setting to work on the button of her shorts.
"What else?" she asked as his nose rubbed against the makeup covered mark he'd given her hours earlier.
"I want to taste you. Lick every inch until you can barely speak but still can scream out my name."
Caroline swallowed. She wasn't expecting this kind of evening ending. She'd figure a quickie before they both fell into a much needed slumber, but it seemed Sid had other ideas.
Sid continued unzipping her shorts and his hand moved stealthily past her panties and delved into her soaking heat. Their early make out session had gotten her very wet and now that Sid's fingers were probing amongst the moistness, Caroline found herself getting quickly aroused.
"Do you want that Caroline? Do you want me to make you scream?" His voice was low and hoarse as he fingers massaged her bundle of nerves before they were swallowed up by her slick and seeking channel.
"Yes," she breathed. "I want you to bury yourself inside of me and never leave."
Sid's fingers ceased pumping.
"Never," he whispered in his ear. "I will never leave, I promise you that." They both knew he wasn't just talking about fucking her.
Caroline boldly took his wrist and silently guided his fingers back to their destination and swallowed as the rush of arousal crash around her. Between Sid's talented fingers and being apart for a week, Caroline succumbed to the shattering orgasm quite quickly. She turned into his arms and looked to return the favor as her questing hands sought out the sizable bulge in his shorts. But Sid stilled her hands.
"Not yet, love." He said softly. In a swift motion he pulled her shorts and panties down, exposing her completely from the waist down. The treasure between her legs glistened with her arousal and Sid dropped to his knees and began lapping hungrily at her, before Caroline could even put two and two together. All of a sudden it was just an assault of sensations. His fingers dug firmly into her buttocks as he ate her up in long, luxurious licks. He hooked one leg over his shoulder so that he could reach her deeper and fully. The flesh still so sensitive from his fingers, nearly crippled her when Sid's mouth feasted on the buzzing bundle of nerves. She had no choice but to hold his head in her hands and fist his thick locks as everything became fuzzy. Finally the wave reached its crescendo and just like Sid asked, she screamed out his name in completion.
Sid knew he had to act fast, otherwise he'd be making love to a sleeping Caroline pretty soon. So he scooped her up, jelly legged and all and carried her to the bed only a few feet away. He divested her of her remaining garments, then striped himself. She lay in front of him eager, but noticeably spent. Cloaking himself onto her, he was silent, but kept his eyes steady on hers. She moved automatically into position and he took no time sinking himself into her. The hot wet channel that welcomed his fingers, now rejoiced around his cock. Her muscles grabbed him and held him firm. He kissed her, drew back and thrust himself back into her. Caroline wrapped her arms around him and held him close and he moved steadily in and out of her. Caroline voiced her approval, encouraging him to go harder, deeper and he obliged. He pistoned himself in and out of her, then shifted their bodies to the side as entered her at another angle. Pulling her close he moved in and out behind her, his mouth on her shoulder, his hand on her waist. When he knew he was getting close, he pulled out, turned her towards him and with her lustfilled gaze staring at him, he slid back in, pumped a few more times and then found his completion as his mouth closed over hers. The orgasm was mind numbing and his brain felt like scrambled eggs as he felt her draw him tight to her. She peppered kisses all along his shoulder and across his collar bone. They relished in the afterglow, then pulled back the covers and burrowed into the large and comfy bed letting sleep overtake them.
Caroline just before lost unconsciousness felt the words fall from her lips. She was far too close to sleep to know if she'd really uttered them and as consciousness drifted away, she'd never know if he'd been awake to hear them. Nevertheless they lingered in the air.
Ask me again.
Caroline was having the best dream when she felt herself being pulled from dreamland into the conscious world.
It was dark all around them, but she could hear a soft voice, "Care, Care. Wake up Care."
At first she wondered if it was part of her dream, but as the voice continued she broke from the world of sleep and saw Sid looming over her, a smile on his face.
"Care, I have to show you something."
Caroline rubbed at her eyes. "Now? Sid, go back to bed."
It was no use, she could see a peek of light coming from between the curtains. It couldnt be later than 6:00 am.
"No, you have to see this." His voice quiet but eager.
Grumbling Caroline threw back the covers and pulled on a pair of shorts and tshirt. Sid wore the same and looked impatient as Caroline pulled her hair up into a pony tail and swiped at her surely raccooned eyes.
"Where are we going?" She asked still confused, although a little more awake.
"You'll see."
He pulled her out of the bedroom and down the stairs. Without shoes for either of them, he pulled her through the door and across the grass.
"We have to hurry." He said, his strides becoming longer and quicker. Caroline just stumbled behind him, trying to keep up.
He led her to the dock and down the long wood walkway until they reached the end. A sea-doo and a couple paddle boats sat in the water, but other than that all there was was water and woods.
"Look," he said his voice no more than a whisper.
Just beyond the water's horizon and the wall of trees, Caroline saw the sky begin to change as the sun began to rise. The sky turned from dark blue to a collage of purple and pinks, reds and oranges cast out on a still water that sparkled like diamonds in the fading moonlight. It was peaceful. It was magestic. It was truly breathtaking.
"Oh Sid," Caroline breathed spinning around to share with him the beauty of the moment.
But he wasn't standing behind her.
No, he wasn't standing. He was kneeling. Sort of. He was on one knee and he was looking up at her, a sparkling object in hand.
Caroline stopped. Time stopped. Everything stopped. Her heart leapt into her throat and she knew. She knew what he was going to ask and she knew what she was going to say.
"Caroline," his voice didn't sound like his own. His heart was beating a thousand beats a second. She stared down at him, her face shocked and the tears already pooling. He took a deep breath and smiled.
"Caroline, the first time I did this, it wasn't quite right. I hope I get it right this time." He grinned and she laughed, the tears spilling over, but yet she stayed silent. He reached for her hand and she gave it willingly, still just staring down at him.
"When I met you I thought I had everything figured out. My life, well it was set up in a way that even the slightest disruption could send me into a tailspin. But thats exactly what you did, in the most amazing and wonderful way possible. You made me realize that life is so much more than I was living. You showed me what it meant to truly love someone. We've had everything thrown our way and every time we emerged better for it. I love you Caroline. I love you in a way and in a magnitude that I didn't think was possible. I want to be your husband, I want to have babies with you. I want my life to be your life and vice versa. I wasn't really living till I met you and now that I've started I never want to stop. I will love you unconditionally, I will support you in every way possible, I will take care of you, just like you take care of me. And I don't care if its too soon or if we are rushing anything. All I care about is sharing my life with you in every way possible. Care, my love, you are my everything, will you do me the honor of being my wife?" He paused, his throat tight. "Will you marry me?"
The tears spilled over and flowed down her cheeks in the happiest river she'd ever felt. Then she nodded. Once, then twice, then over and over again. Her head bobbing up and down as the words still seemed so hard to get out. Finally in what was only a second, but felt like a lifetime, she was able to squeak out, "yes."
Then she said it again, "yes." Then again and again, her voice finally becoming strong and sure, as the shock and awe faded away. Then she was just shouting a string of yeses, as Sid grinned, stood and grabbed her pulling her close and hugging her tightly.
So tightly.
She shook with sobs, happy ones as he held her in his steely hold. Then she felt his shoulders shake and she knew the tears falling weren't just her own.
He pulled back, his eyes bright and wet and he held up the ring. It was different. Gone was the glistening Tiffany diamond. What he held in his hand was older, an antique. It was a brushed silver band with a circle of diamonds encapsulating a navy stone. It was the most perfect ring she'd ever seen.
"It's an antique," he said as he slipped the ring onto her finger. I got it the day after I arrived in Spain. I saw it at a jewelry store in Malaga. The owner says it's history goes back over a hundred years. I saw it and it made me think of you. I knew that it was supposed to be yours."
The ring fit perfectly and she stared down at it. A thousand thoughts and emotions were tumbling through her mind, but at the top was how much she loved him and how she loved all of him and he loved all of her. And they were going to be a family.
She looked up at him, "Oh Sid, I love you so so much. You make my life make sense. You are everything to me too and I will spend my life showing you how much I love, value and support you and us."
Unable to contain herself, she put her hands on his face and pressed her mouth solidly to his. The tears returned as she kissed at him frantically and happily, her brain unable to move at a normal speed.
Finally they separated and Sid got a serious look on his face, "I know there is still a lot we need to work out and figure out, I know this is asking a lot to change your life..."
"Sid, none of that matters. At least not now. I love you. I'm so in love with you that I will move to North Pole is thats where our lives lead us one day. I want to spend my life with you, I want a family with you, more than anything. I want to grow old with you and sit on this dock with children and grandchildren and great grandchildren and know that I got to spend a lifetime with the love of my life. That's all that matters."
Sid just gave out a yell of happiness, like he'd just won the Stanley Cup. He picked her up and spun her around, the sun now rising from above the trees, daybreak upon them.
The day was just getting started and so were they.
****Author's note: And so it ends. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who stuck with me for this story and supported me by reading this story. Especially those who took the time to review and voice their support. Its been a long road for this story, some ups and some downs and in the end I'm happy with how it turned out and I hope you are too. Its funny how blatantly stupid I was about hockey when I started Superstition and how I legitimately knew nothing about Sidney Crosby until only a few years ago. Now...well geez, I just wrote two huge stories about him, so its safe to say he's a keeper. The story of Sid and Caroline isn't over forever. Down the road I would like to do some chapters about various parts of their (make believe) lives, but that is a long time away. I love the "characters" they are but for now their story has ended. I do have a few story ideas roaming around my head and I hope to get started on another one this summer. Writing in the summer is so much easier and with the latest drama I have so much inspiration (sorry Sid, but when you are angsty I get the most ideas). But a new story wont begin until I at least get a computer. Believe it or not I wrote nearly this entire story on my iPad (now you can see how it took so long to write!) and Im not gonna lie, it sucked. So once I get a new computer and get brainstorming a new story will hopefully emerge. Til then, thank you again for reading and have a great summer and even though everything is in flux, I still say, Let's Go Pens!***