Chapter Thirty Five

"You guys are late!" Austin yelled, throwing the door open and then taking off down the hall. Sid laughed as he walked inside, offering Amber his hand as she stepped in behind him.

"What took you guys so long?" Lauren came around the corner and hugged each of them, offering to take Amber's coat.

"It's 9:02! Cut us some slack!" Sid laughed. Amber just smiled and shrugged her coat off her shoulders, letting it fall into Sid's hands and then get whisked away by Lauren. Sid led her into the next room, the large formal living room, where it seemed like hundreds of people had gathered. The six Lemieuxs, and Nathalie's mom from Quebec, the five Talbots and the three Crosbys, and her parents, who not surprisingly were the only ones in the room not smiling and talking. Even without their contribution, the room was very loud, to say the least.

Sid walked over to his parents and gave them a hug. Amber walked over to hers and did the same, taking a seat between them. She looked over at Max and gave him a little nod. He smiled back and she took that as an acknowledgment of their conversation.

Nathalie came in and another round of hugs ensued.

"Can we open our stockings now?" Alexi jumped up and down in front of the tree.

"Yes, but that's it before breakfast! No presents yet! Do you hear me?"

Alexi nodded as she leapt across the room and practically dove to her stocking. The rest of the kids followed suit, Mario stepping in to hand out the rest of the stockings to the adults.

-.-

Sid watched across the room, as Amber sat on the floor, laughing with Max's brothers, as if they were her own brothers. He understood that they all grew up together, so there was a special bond but he couldn't help but be a little jealous. He wished he could be in on the bond, but Max's brothers were fairly clear about their opinion of Sid and Amber. They hadn't said anything but every time Amber went near Sid, or vice versa, they would step in between them. He thought his biggest problem was going to be Max but so far, he seemed to be the best behaved Talbot there.

Amber watched happily as the kids ripped open their presents that Sid and her had picked out for them. The adults of course were much slower with the unwrapping of their gifts but equally as pleased. Amber had really taken the time to pick out just the right gifts for everyone - which considering her crowd as not an easy feat. Sid would try to creep in closer to Amber as she reached for a present from him but was blocked continually by Max's younger brother, Frankie – as if he had been assigned point-guard. He could only watch from afar as she opened his gifts – a purse she had been eyeing, a couple of books, a new laptop and a Burberry trench coat that she had actually bought herself on his behalf, as she couldn't justify buying it herself. Everyone had 'ohh-ed' and 'ahh-ed' when she opened the elaborate diamond necklace and matching ear rings that he had given her but he couldn't get anywhere near her to see if she liked them. After passing it around, for everyone to examine, she carefully closed the box and placed it on the pile behind her - not exactly the reaction he had hoped for. She looked up at him and smiled. That gave him hope that she would thank him properly when he could finally get to her, which was bound to happen eventually – he just had to wait it out.

"This one is for Amber, too," Lauren said, pulling out a small box from under the tree.

"That's from me…" Max confessed, smiling at Amber, as Lauren passed the gift across the room. Sid felt himself sit up a little straighter as he watched Amber's smile fade. He could tell from her reaction that she was thinking the same thing he was – that this couldn't end well. Amber cautiously accepted the gift, flashing Max a warning glare. Everyone watched as Amber slowly pulled the silver ribbon off the blue wrapped box and pulled away the wrapping paper, exposing the signature blue box.

"Tiffany's? Max!" She exclaimed.

"Open it!" Her mom insisted, nudging her from behind.

Amber slowly opened the box. As she looked down, she could feel her eyes well up and could do nothing to contain the single tear that escaped from her eye. She immediately stood up and crossed the room, wrapping her arms around Max's neck and burying her face in his shoulder. Max wrapped his hands around her waist and shot a devilish little smile at Sid. Sid stood up protectively and clenched his fists.

"What is it?" Nathalie asked walking over from the other side of the room, the look of concern obviously on her face, watching the scene unfold in front of her. She didn't want any more dramatics as she placed her hand on Sid's shoulder, half trying to calm him, half trying just to hold him back.

"It's an 87," Amber said, pulling back from Max's chest. She opened the box again, removing the small silver chain with a small silver charm dangling from the end of it.

"You used to wear my number around your neck and it was good luck for me… I just thought Sid needed the boost," Max laughed, smiling down at her. Amber removed it from the little box and passed it to Max, as she swept her hair around to the front over her shoulder, allowing him to place the chain around her neck. Amber looked up at Sid and smiled. He forced a smile back at her but couldn't help but be suspicious.

'What is he doing?' Sid thought to himself, as Max did the delicate chain up then leaned in and kissed the side of her head from behind.

Sid watched as Amber walked over to her mom and showed her the necklace. His mom and Nathalie joined in the admiring of the small charm but Sid couldn't help but wonder what the hidden purpose was of this gift, as he glared at Max across the room.

-.-

"See… he knows you better," Gabrielle started. "You don't need all that flashy stuff."

"Mom, please don't! It's Christmas!" Amber pleaded, sitting on the bed of the guest room that she had once stayed in. It was now a temporary residence for her parents, as they refused to stay in Sid's house. She had offered to help her mom carry their gifts up to the bedroom, in order to get some time alone with her, not to start another fight.

"He is just trying to buy you. None of that stuff is you. He bought you a slow cooker cookbook, for crying out loud! So you can what? Make him dinner?" Her mom rolled her eyes, clearly displeased at the gifts she had received. Amber was fairly certain that Sid could have given her the moon and it wouldn't have been enough.

"It's an inside joke, Mom… He doesn't expect me to cook for him… He doesn't expect anything," Amber tried to explain but had the definite feeling that she was wasting her breath.

"Oh please! Of course he does! And you better meet those expectations… How long do you think it will take for him to get bored with you, if you don't? You better keep the polish on the trophy," Gabrielle warned.

"MOM! ENOUGH!" Amber yelled and stood up from the bed. "Sid is NOT like that!"

"They are all like that… except Max… he loves you."

"Enough about Max…"

"You are just being naïve," her mom continued. "You want to think so well of him…"

"I CAN'T DO THIS!" Amber screamed at the top of her lungs. "You have absolutely no reason to hate him! He hasn't done anything to you! This is my decision… if you can't accept it… LEAVE!"

Gabrielle stared blankly at her daughter. "Fine… we'll leave."

Amber blinked wildly at her mother's response. That was not the answer she had expected. Her parents were stubborn but they valued family and being together above all. She couldn't believe her mother could act this way. She watched as her mom leaned over the side of the bed and pulled her suitcase up. "Go tell your father to come and pack."

Amber turned and faced the door, heading out of the room. "I don't get it mom… just tell me why…"

"I just want the best for you and can't stand by while you make a huge mistake… I hope for your sake, that you are right about him… but we will be here for you when you come around," Her mom offered in explanation, without looking up.

-.-

"I was like, 'What do you mean they are leaving?'" Sid asked. "That's all she said…I thought things were going alright… I mean, I knew they weren't exactly happy but I didn't think they would just get up and leave…"

"Me too…" Trina shook her head. "I don't know what is wrong with these people… You know how many parents would die for their daughters to date you? I get hundreds of offers a day! They should be so lucky to have their daughter taken such good care of…"

Sid tuned his mother out. She was going on and on about Amber's parents – clearly another person not happy with the current situation – but complaining about it wasn't going to help. He had to do something but everything he tried to do seemed to back fire. Sid had put a lot of thought into their Christmas presents. He had gotten them watches, season tickets to the Opera de Montreal, which Amber had said they loved, and had arranged for a private, exclusive wine tour of some of the Quebec wineries for them and their entire wine club. Sid had even arranged for them to have an open ended ticket with an airline, so any time they wanted to come to Pittsburgh they could. They just scoffed and complained about how they shouldn't have to leave home to see their daughter. Nothing seemed to please them.

"Mom, that's not helping right now…" Sid said softly.

"I'm sorry son… you've just got yourself quite a situation here…" Trina stopped her complaining. "How is Amber handling it?"

"She's not… She won't talk to me, she'll barely look at me… Her parents are really important to her. I was surprised when Amber told me she told them to leave," Sid admitted.

"Well I guess when enough is enough…"

"I just don't want her to regret it… or blame me for it…"

"How could she blame you? I knew it! What did you do?" Trina hissed, smacking her son.

"Mom!" Sid exclaimed, rubbing the spot his mom had connected with. "I didn't do anything! But she wouldn't be dealing with any of this if it wasn't for me… and believe me, she is thinking it! I am sure Max won't let her forget it…"

"Oh never mind Max! That necklace was a nice gesture…" Trina pointed out.

"Was it? Or was it part of his plan?"

"What does that mean?"

"I dunno mom… I just have a bad feeling that everything he does has a hidden agenda. I have a hard time believing he just gave up on her like that. You didn't see him this summer. He was plotting and scheming and… and I know Max… he doesn't give up," Sid chewed on his bottom lip.

-.-

"Is 'dat everything?" Max asked, picking up the last suitcase and placing it in the trunk of his car. Amber's parents nodded, and opened the backdoor of the SUV. They had asked Max to drive them to a hotel at the airport, as they couldn't get a flight out till the morning. His parents had tried to convince them to stay but they were determined to go home.

"You forgot this…" Sid approached the car from the front door, handling them the package that contained the instructions on arranging the free flights.

"You can probably keep that. I don't think we will be returning," Claude explained.

"I hope you will re consider," Sid offered. "It means a lot to Amber… You should know, I love your daughter, more then anything. I know you don't think that I am good enough, or that Max here is better for her, but I am going to do everything in the world to make her happy and I don't know what more that I can do to convince you…"

Sid watched as Claude and Gabrielle exchanged looks and then turned to Max, telling him they were ready to leave, seemingly untouched by his outpour. Trina had said that Amber pouring her heart out in a desperate plea had worked on her and that maybe he should try the same thing. But it didn't seem to work. Nothing worked. He was lost for words now as he watched them climb into the car.

"I guess you didn't get a chance to ask them if you could marry her," Max smirked as he opened his drivers side door.

Sid grabbed the back of Max's collar, spun him around and pushed him up against the side of the car. "If I find out you had anything to do with this, I will ruin you."

"No man, I didn't do this… this is all them," Max shook his head, pushing Sid away. "I was totally rooting for you but they are a tough crowd. Maybe in time… but I doubt it. Good luck though."

Max climbed into the drivers seat, smiling to himself. The necklace had the perfect effect but the hatred of Amber's parents – well, that was just fantastic. He couldn't have planned that better if he tried – the extra leg work before they had arrived had totally been worth it.

"Etes-vous d'accord?" Gabrielle asked very concerned, after watching through the window as Sid slammed him up against the glass.

"I told you… I worry about her. He has such a bad temper… and she would just do anything for him. Who knows what he is doing to her behind closed doors. I think she is just to afraid to leave him… It's sad, really, how he can get such smart women wrapped around his finger," Max shook his head, putting on his best act.

"Oh Max, what are we going to do?" Claude sighed.

"It was best that you decided to leave, maybe that will spark something in her. But don't worry. If it didn't, it won't be long till he disposes of her anyway, like he does all the other women. I will be here for her," Max assured them through a field of lies.

"You have always been there for her. She should be glad to have such a good friend in her life," Gabrielle added, shaking her head.

"She will always have me," Max added, putting the car in drive and making his way out of the airport. 'And soon, I'll have her,' He thought to himself.

-.-

"Are you going to talk to me tonight?" Sid asked, stepping into their bedroom. Amber was sprawled out across their bed on her stomach, flipping channels aimlessly.

"When was I not talking to you?" Amber asked without looking up.

"You were pretty quiet last night… and you haven't said two words to me today," Sid pointed out.

"Well it's been kind of a crazy day, in case you didn't notice…" Amber responded dryly.

"Of course I – whatever - I was just hoping that we would have spent some time together, make some memories – "

"Oh there will be memories – I kicked my parents out for fuck sakes – this is definitely a Christmas I will never forget…"

"That's not the kind of memories I meant…"

"Really? Gee I had totally planned that out… I think we should do it every year… you wanted traditions right?" Amber hissed back sarcastically. She threw the remote on the bed and slid off, heading towards the bathroom.

"Okay, I get that you are pissed but you don't need to be a bitch to me… I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!" Sid screamed after her.

"Yeah, you are right!" She turned to him and yelled back. "You didn't do a fucking thing! Nathalie did and your parents and Max's parents… all tried to talk to them but what did you do?"

"I talked to them! They wouldn't listen to a word I said! But don't worry, Max was right there guiding them along!"

"Stop blaming Max for everything! YOU fucked up! YOU let me down today! YOU! Not Max…"

"Oh right… Max was perfect today wasn't he? A regular Prince Charming… and I was just the bastard that got in the way of your storybook ending to them, wasn't I? Everyone wanted you to marry the boy next door… the guy who treats you like shit…"

"He doesn't treat me like shit…" Amber argued.

"Really? I may just be a retarded hockey player to you but from what I have heard, your relationship was far from healthy!"

"He loved me…"

"He loved you? And I don't? Is that what you're saying? Oh fuck… Not you too…"

"I didn't say it…"

"Is that what you think? IS THAT WHAT YOU REALLY THINK?" Sid yelled at the top of his lungs.

Amber didn't answer, she just turned and face the wall. Sid's heart was pounding in his chest so loud he couldn't hear his own thoughts. Sid could feel his legs getting weak, as he collapsed to his knees on the ground in front of the bed. "Is that what you think?" He repeated one more time, softer.

"No… I don't think so… I don't know what I think… I am so confused right now… I thought everything was great, but then…" Amber sat on the edge of the bed and just looked at him. They sat in silence, starring at each other. Sid leaned forward and rested his head in her lap. He felt her run her hands through his head and took his opportunity to calm himself down. Just having her touch him, made things seem right again. He shook his head in disbelief, as he thought back to the time when he thought that getting her had been the hardest part of their relationship. Then finding her again. Then he had convinced himself that telling Max, was the hardest part of their relationship. Then getting past Nathalie and Mario, then his parents, holding her hand through dealing with the media – all considered to be huge hurdles, one harder then the next. Those were all supposed to be harder then this. He didn't think that meeting Amber's parents was going to be hard. Max had said they were great people. He had said that they would love him. He was so full of shit. 'I bet he knew all along," Sid thought to himself. 'He knew I stood no chance with these people and…"

"This is exactly what he wants… He wants us to be fighting… he totally fucking planned this!" Sid muttered to himself, as he sat up with a bolt of clarity.

"What?" Amber asked.

"Nothing… it doesn't matter…" Sid stood up and pulled her up to him. He wasn't going to let Max win.

"What matters is us, right now, in this moment. Let's start over. Let's work something out. I love you and want you to be happy and there is nothing that I wouldn't do," Sid began. "If you want me to go talk to your parents right now, I will and I won't leave until they love me… I might be ninety years old but if that's what you want, I will do it!"

Amber let out a single chuckle and reached for him. "No, they don't seem to want to see reality. I don't think that you can get through to them any better then I can. Don't waste your breath. I like the idea of starting fresh though, just us."

"Tell me you love me… and we can go from there…"

Amber smiled at him, the kind of smile that melted his heart. "I love you."