Chapter Thirty Four

"I don't know what to do Nat," Sid sat across the counter from Nathalie, picking at the corner of his phone. "What do I do? I can't let her go to Max's but her parents won't stay at my place for dinner… I practically begged… I was even going to try and bribe them…"

"That's rough Sid… I know how much this meant to you…" Nathalie shook her head and continued to wipe down her counters. She was quite surprised to find Sid standing at her door this morning. She knew Amber's parents were arriving and that he had gone out his way to plan an exciting day for them – taking them out for brunch, showing them around Pittsburgh and the new arena. She couldn't imagine a parent not falling in love with Sid, he really was a great guy – a good Canadian kid. "Do you want me to talk to them? I don't know if I would be much help…"

"I don't know… my mom tried and I think she pissed them off even more. She got really defensive… I don't know why they hate me so much…"

"Think Max talked to them?"

"No. Him and I are doing pretty good right now…" Sid shook his head. "I even played wing man for him in New York when he took the Tiffany's sales girl back to the hotel…"

"Tiffany's? What were you doing at Tiffany's?" Nathalie asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Ummm… I was just b-b-browsing…" Sid stuttered, but he could tell that he was turning red.

"Browsing in any particular section?" Nathalie pushed, knowing by his reaction that she was right on the money.

"Maybe…" Sid shrugged, smiling shyly down at the counter. "I wasn't going to ask her at Christmas, so don't get too excited… I have a plan but… but I have to get through Christmas first… can we concentrate please?"

"What about Mario talking to them? They might respond to that, he can be pretty persuasive…" Nathalie suggested.

"Think he would? I mean, he hasn't really said anything about her… I don't want him going in there and making things worse…"

"Yeah… maybe I'll talk to them first…" Nathalie admitted. Mario still had mixed emotions on Amber and Sid was right, it could easily go the wrong way. "Do you want to bring them here? Or… Do you want me to come by your place? Maybe this afternoon?"

"I think they are packing their bags right now…" Sid stated quickly.

"Oh… so a little more urgent is what you're saying?" Nathalie chuckled. "I'll just go tell the kids that I am heading out."

"Thank-you."

-.-

Sid opened the front door for Nathalie and helped her step inside. As they walked into the entrance way, they were met by Amber's parents, coming down the stairs with their suitcases in tow. Amber was standing right behind them, still on the stairs, with a string of tears coming down her face.

Sid exchanged a quick look with Nathalie.

"Bonjour. Vous devez etre les parents d' Amber?"

"Oui. Qui-etes vous?"

"Mon nom est Nathalie Lemiuex." Nathalie said while stepping forward to shake the hands of Amber's Mom and Dad.

'Oh sure shake her hand,' Sid thought to himself, watching them exchange pleasantries. Claude and Gabrielle seemed to recognize the name as the wife of their Quebec hero and paid her due respect.

"Peut-on parler?" Nathalie continued.

Gabrielle and Claude exchanged looks and then Claude nodded in agreement.

"Sid, can we use your office?" Nathalie asked. Sid just nodded and watched as Nathalie guided them down the hall.

"Getting Nathalie? That is your great plan?" Amber asked sarcastically.

"No… my great plan was locking them in the pantry… You should be happy Nathalie talked some sense into me!" Sid responded. Amber chuckled, but Sid was serious.

-.-

Sid and Amber sat patiently at the kitchen table. Amber picked at her nails and Sid chewed his lip. Sid looked up at the clock. They had been sitting there for exactly one hour, six minutes and thirty two seconds. Thirty three. Thirty four. Sid watched as the second hand ticked down. He wasn't sure what Nathalie was going to say, or if she would be able to convince Amber's parents that he wasn't the devil but he was the best hope he had. Sid reached over and put his hand on top of Amber's, running his thumb reassuringly over the soft tissue. She looked up at him and smiled.

"What do you think is going on in there?" Amber asked.

Sid just shrugged, starring down the hall. He heard the door of his office open before he saw Nathalie step and gently close the door behind her. They both climbed out of from their chairs, as Nathalie came into the room.

"So?" Sid asked eagerly.

"Okay… I did the best I could…" Nathalie begun.

"What does that mean?" Amber exchanged looks with Sid.

"I couldn't quite get you out of Christmas dinner with Max and the Talbots but I did manage to get you Christmas Day together…"

"We have to go to Max's?" Sid asked. "My parents will NEVER go for that…"

"No, not quite. They are all going to come to our house… and so are you and your parents… neutral territory…" Nathalie explained. "I am not quite sure how I am going to fit you all but I will figure something out…"

"Okay, that's not so bad…" Amber admitted.

"It's the best I could do… They do want to leave tonight though… I offered them the guest house at our place, and I think they are going to come but they are talking about that right now."

"So I have to spend Christmas Eve without my parents?" Amber asked, fighting back tears. Sid wrapped his arm around her to comfort her but she shrugged him off.

"They are still deciding but you know that you are always welcome at our house as well," Nathalie comforted her.

"No. I really want Christmas Eve here…" Sid protested, turning to Amber. "It's our first year together in this house …"

"Sid, everyone else is compromising… its time for you to do the same…" Nathalie warned.

Sid crossed his arms across his chest and furrowed his brow. "Fine whatever…" he muttered.

"Now who wants to tell Mario that Max is coming to dinner again?"

-.-

Amber's parents decided to stay at the Lemieux's, even after their daughter's pleading. Sid drove them the couple of blocks and delivered them to the doorstep of his former landlords.

"You are sure there is nothing that I can do to convince you? I know this is killing Amber…" Sid pleaded one last time, while pulling their suitcases out of his trunk.

"There are consequences for all decisions," Claude stated simply while pulling his luggage away from Sid.

Sid watched as they pulled their bags up the stairs towards Nathalie who stood at the open door. "Breakfast will be ready for nine but the kids will be up much earlier then that, so come by whenever you wake up," she said down to Sid, as she greeted Amber's parents. He nodded his understanding and climbed back to his vehicle, pulling out of the driveway to make his way back to his place.

"Did they say anything?" Amber asked as she met Sid at the door.

"No sweetie – nothing, just that they will see us in the morning," Sid lied. Hearing what her dad had actually said would only put her further into her slump and he was determined to salvage what was left of this holiday. "I promised Dan that I would stop in to say Merry Christmas to his son today and I need to drop by a couple of the guys places and drop off some gifts… come with me? Tonight I was thinking we could go for a walk and look at Christmas lights, then have dinner and watch a Christmas movie. I would like to start some kind of tradition."

"I am not feeling very festive," Amber admitted sadly. "I think I am going to go lay down."

"I'll come with you…" Sid offered.

"I think I would rather be alone," Amber said softly.

"No!" Sid snapped. He could tell that his reaction took Amber off guard, as she stared at him with wide eyes. He couldn't stand watching his plans disintegrate; he couldn't stand watching her be so upset.

"It's Christmas Eve. We are supposed to be together and we are supposed to be happy. Come on… give it a chance!" Sid pleaded, softening his tone.

"Wanna open a present?" He asked quickly, trying to prevent another round of tears that he sensed were about to flow.

"Sid…"

"I've got nothing else to offer you. I can't change how they feel. I can't change how they are acting. All I can do, is try to make the best of it… but you have to help me… I don't know what else to do."

Amber stood in place and looked at the floor. "You think this is how I envisioned this Christmas? You think this is what I want? You can't just offer me a present and expect me to feel better! This is my family! They are all I have!"

"No! You have me!"

"Oh right… lucky me!" Amber snapped sarcastically. "I guess I forgot to count my blessings today…"

"That's not what I meant and you know it!" Sid hissed. "I am not the enemy here! None of this is my fault… All I can do is try to make it better..." he walked up to her and took her hands in his. "Tell me what you want. I'll do it." He pulled her hand up to his face, pressing her cold skin to his lips. He moved down the outside of her hand, then flipped her hand over and kissed down the inside of her wrist. "Anything," he whispered, pulling her face up to his. He could feel her try to turn away but he just held her face tighter. He pressed his lips firmly to hers. He pushed her back against the front door forcefully, pinning her arms against the wall to stop her struggle. He continued to kiss her, his urgency increasing as he could feel her resistance melting. He let go of her wrists and moved his hands up her body, lifting her up around his waist while kissing down her neck. He could feel her digging her nails into his scalp, as she rolled her head back exposing her neck. He kissed down her neck, down to the collar of her shirt just at the top of her breasts. He returned his lips to hers as he pulled her away from the door, with his hands on her ass and turned towards the staircase. He carefully moved his way up the stairs, his tongue still tangling with hers. He pushed his way into their bedroom and lowered her down to the bed. With one motion he removed his sweater up over his head and then pushed her shirt up over hers. He kissed a trail down her chest and over her stomach, running his hands down over the sides of her body till he reached the waist of her jeans, undoing the button and fly and pulling them off.

Sid moved back up to her lips, pressing his firmly against hers. Her response was less then enthusiastic but Sid pressed on, pushing his tongue between her lips. He ran his hand up over her bare stomach to her breast, cupping the soft tissue that perfectly filled his hand. He kissed his way down over her chin and followed her jaw line to the corner of her neck. He stopped as he tasted her salty tears that stained her cheek. He pulled back and looked up to her face. Amber laid there with her eyes squeezed shut, tears streaming down her face.

"Amber… what's going on?" Sid asked softly and slightly out of breath, brushing her tears away with the pad of his thumb.

"I can do this… just keep going… I'm fine…" Amber said between sobs.

"You're crying! I'm not going to keep going! This doesn't exactly inspire love making…" Sid said exasperated. "We don't have to do this… I just thought it would make you feel better…"

"I'm sorry…" Amber sobbed, rolling on her side, away from him.

Sid said nothing. He wrapped his arms around Amber and pulled her into him, stroking her hair as she sobbed. There were a lot of things he wanted to do right now – scream, punch the wall, take her advice and power through – but somehow none of them seemed right. The only thing he thought was right was holding her until she fell asleep and then disappear to the bathroom to deal with the crazy hard-on he was rocking.

-.-

Amber rolled over and watched Sid sleep. He was so content, like nothing could bother him. She wished she felt the same way. Amber slowly lifted the blanket and slipped out of the bed, careful not to make and jostling motions. She grabbed her house coat and tip toed towards the bedroom door, stepping outside into the hallway, pulling the door tight behind her. She crept down the stairs to the kitchen where she had left her cell phone. She picked it up and dialed.

"Allo?"

"Hey, it's Amber."

"I swear I didn't do it…"

"Do what?" Amber asked innocently, knowing full well what Max was referring to.

"You know… make your parents leave. They had talked to my mom before they left and she had offered them a room at my place… I had nothing to do with it!"

"So, this was planned before they even left Montreal? They had already decided they weren't going to like him?"

"I dunno… Je suppose que c'est le droit. You know how your parents are," he explained.

"Whatever, that's not why I am calling…" Amber cut him off. Sid had enough choice words to describe her parents and she certainly didn't need to hear anymore. "Max – I need you to promise me that you aren't going to cause any problems tomorrow. Nothing. I can't handle any more…" She broke off, choking back tears.

"Of course baby, it's Christmas –"

"Don't call me baby. I'm not yours. You get that right?"

"Seriously, I thought we had moved on? Why are you bringing that up?"

"Believe me I don't want to bring it up but my mom said that you told her that you weren't over me."

"Your mom is crazy! Why would I say that?"

"I don't know Max and quite frankly I don't have the strength to deal with it anymore. I need you to promise me, you aren't going to start anything tomorrow…"

"It's Christmas… I am just happy that I get to see you. It will be like old times."

"Maxxxxx… just promise me."

"Okay!"

"Say the words!"

"I promise."

"Okay, I will see you tomorrow morning."

"Bonne Nuit."

"Joyeux Noel."

-.-

Max stared down at the phone in his hand and felt his heart ache but a smile soon crept over his face. His plan was working perfectly. It was just a matter of time. The seeds of doubt had clearly been placed in her mind by her parents. He hadn't anticipated Sid calling Nathalie in to convince her parents to change their Christmas plans but he should have known better. Regardless, he still got to spend Christmas with Amber. 'It might actually work out better this way', Max thought to himself. Her parents would create all the drama and he could be there to innocently pick up the pieces. If he knew one thing about his team mate, it was that he couldn't stand people not liking him. It would drive him mad and it would be fun to watch. For the first time in a long time, Max would have more people on his side then Sid would.

Looking around the room at his brothers and parents, who he knew all believed that him and Amber should be together, he felt good about his chances.