Author's Note: work has been absolutely crazy; beyond crazy actually. I will try to do better with the updates. Thank you for reading.

I hate working doubles. Eighteen hours on my feet makes me very grumpy and very tired. The day is over, thank God. I'm just turning the 'open' window sign to 'closed' when I hear the door open. Prepared to tell the customers that we're closed, the words and all thought leave my head when I see Sid walk through the door.

"Hi" he says and smiles.

"Hi" I reply.

"Cat" I hear Tessa say behind me. "I can finish up. Why don't you go home? You have to be exhausted."

I look behind me and I know she's seen Sid. She's trying to play matchmaker again. It's interesting that I really don't mind.

"Thanks Tess" I reply and then look back to Sid.

I stare at him for a few moments. My mind is going back and forth; should I ask him if he wants to have a cup of coffee somewhere? I actually don't know what he's doing here so maybe I shouldn't jump to conclusions. It's getting weird now because we're just looking at each other.

"Do you want to grab a coffee?" Sid asks me.

To say I'm surprised is an understatement. Not only has Sid come to the diner but he's also inviting me out. Does that make it a date? Is he asking me out on a date? Do I want to go out with him? The answers go through my head just as quickly as the questions: I think so; I really hope so; and, hell yeah.

"Sure Sid" I reply.

Sid looks as surprised as I am but quickly replies "great."

"Just give me a minute to grab my stuff" I tell him and go back to the kitchen. Tessa grabs me as soon as I enter.

"Did I hear him? Did he just ask you out Cat? Hot damn kid."

I chuckle at her and reply "yes he did and yes I'm going. Don't read too much into it, ok? He could just be being nice."

"Cat, men don't ask you out for a coffee to be nice. He's interested in you. Please take my advice and get to know him better. Have some fun Cat. You don't have nearly enough fun in your life."

I sigh, she's right of course. Maybe I should just go with it and enjoy a coffee with a gorgeous man.

"Alright, fine Tessa. I'll have some fun tonight" I tell her. I take a moment to make a quick call to Miss Sally to say I'll be late then head back out to the dining room with my bag and jacket.

I hear Tessa call after me "good girl" and I'm chuckling as I walk up to Sid.

"What's so funny?" He asks me.

"Tessa just said something funny to me. Ready to go?" I ask him as I put my jacket on. Sid steps behind me and helps me with my jacket. As I zip it up, he pulls my pony tail out of the collar and I feel his fingers brush across my bare neck. I shiver involuntarily and can feel him close to me. Wow, I haven't felt this in a very long time. I turn back to Sid and he's smiling at me.

"Definitely, my car is out front" he tells me.

I love how he opens the door for me to walk out of the diner ahead of him. Then he opens the door to his truck too. After starting the engine, he turns to me.

"Do you have a favourite place?" he asks me.

I think about it for a minute. If we go to a chain place then he'll probably be recognized. I don't know a local place for coffee where Sidney Crosby could be anonymous. Usually I would suggest the diner but I just left work and it's closed. There's really no place that I know of that will be private.

"I don't know of a place that won't have lots of people" I tell him.

He frowns now. I guess he can't think of one either. I decide to take a chance.

"How about we go to my place?" Oh God did I really just ask him that, seriously? "It's not much but I can guarantee there won't be any fans."

"Right" he says "Lizzy is a fan of Iceberg not me."

I see that he's kidding so I laugh.

"Are you sure?" he continues.

With some men, they might take it as my invited them for sex. I don't know why but I instinctively know that Sid is different.

"Yeah" I say. "Lizzy will be asleep and I make really good coffee."

He chuckles now, as I hoped he would.

"Ok then, which way?" He asks.

I point him in the right direction and he pulls into the street.

"One thing though Cat."

I look at his profile and ask "yeah?"

"I don't drink coffee" he confesses in an apologetic tone. It makes me laugh.

"That's ok" I tell him. "I have other things too."

Sid chuckles and then asks me about my day. It seems so natural and comfortable. I tell him about some of my more colourful customers. We arrive at my apartment quickly or maybe it feels quick because I didn't have to take two buses.

Sid parks on the street and then we head into the building. As we walk through it, I notice how old the building is and the sounds and smells of other tenants. As this thought goes through my head, I quickly glance at Sid expecting him to look, I don't know. Maybe I expected him to turn up his nose at the 'low rent' building but Sid simply smiles at me and holds the door open for me when we enter my apartment.

Miss Sally is asleep on the sofa with the TV on. Sid looks at me.

"That is Miss Sally. She lives across the hall and helps me with Lizzy" I tell him.

Sid smiles as he takes off his jacket. I take it from him and hang it on the coat rack with my own. When I turn back to him, Sid is taking off his shoes and moves into the kitchen area. I go to Miss Sally and gently shake her awake.

"Cat, I must have drifted off" she tells me as she sits up. I know the exact moment when she sees Sid.

I move back and say "Miss Sally this is Sidney. Sid, meet Miss Sally."

Sid comes over to us and shakes Miss Sally's hand.

"It's nice to meet you Miss Sally" Sid says to her.

"And you as well Sidney. You were great in the last game" she tells him.

"Miss Sally is a big sports fan" I tell him.

Sid smiles widely and says "thank you Miss Sally. Have you been to a game?"

"Oh yes I have but it was long before you joined the team Sid. I was there during the Cup season in '92."

"That was a great season. You were lucky to see it" Sid replies.

"Well, I need to get my old bones homes. You don't keep this girl up too late Sid. She worked a double shift today."

I walk Miss Sally to the door and she whispers to me "but you don't need to go to bed too early."

I chuckle and kiss her cheek before shutting the door behind her. When I turn back to Sid, he is frowning and asks "how long is a double shift?"

I walk to the kitchen and answer him. "My regular shift is eight hours."

"So you worked sixteen hours today?" He asks me.

I shrug and reply "yeah. To get most of Sunday off for the game, I needed to work a double today. It happens sometimes."

I look back at Sid and he is simply looking back at me. His expression is hard to read.

"Let me put some coffee on. As I said, I make really great coffee." I say and try to lighten the mood. "Oh right, you don't drink coffee. Let me see what else I have."

"Water is fine" Sid tells me as my face is buried in the fridge.

Yikes, I don't have anything really to offer a 'guest.' There are Lizzy juice boxes, milk and orange juice. Soda is really bad for kids so I stopped buying it when Lizzy was born. I don't have any beer or wine because I don't have people over. All my friends are through the mommy group at the Centre so we mostly get together for play dates. "Well Sid, looks like I have a typical child friendly fridge. There's milk and orange juice" I tell him.

When I turn, Sid is right behind me which I didn't anticipate. I bump directly into him and he grabs my arms so that I don't bounce back into the fridge. We're staring at each other now and I'm acutely aware that my hands are on his chest. That chest is very hard and warm under my hands. Sid and I both look down at my hands, back at each other and then Sid jumps back.

"Um, orange juice is great, thanks" he says and then turns back to walk to the living room area.

I get two glasses and pour us each some orange juice before joining Sid at the sofa. After handing him a glass, I sit beside him. That's when it hits me: I'm sitting on the sofa beside the best hockey player in the world. What do we have in common? What are we going to talk about? I didn't even know this man a week ago and now I'm sitting on the sofa behind him. Damn, I never should Googled him; especially how much his contract is worth; 100 million dollars. What the hell is that about? Oh my God, what am I going to say?

"Is everything ok Cat?" He asks me.

"Yeah, um ..." what the hell do I say now?

"Would you like me to go?" he asks me softly.

My eyes go directly to his. "No Sid, no."

"But something is off" he begins and waits for me.

"Ok, this is really weird but I Googled you and ..." I can't tell him the rest.

"You Googled me" he says softly again.

"Yeah, and before that you were just Sid; a great guy you has done some really great things for me and my daughter. After I Googled you, I learned that you're Sidney Crosby." I know that I'm doing a poor job of describing what I mean.

Sid gets up and says "I understand" then walks toward the door.

"Where are you going?" I ask him.

He turns to me and replies "aren't you saying that you want me to go?"

I smile at him then pat the seat next to me

"No Sid. You asked me what was going on and I'm telling you. It's weird; really weird. You just signed a contract for 100 million dollars. One hundred dollars is a big deal to me; I can't fathom millions. You are everywhere on the internet. I mean, you don't even need to put your name in Google. You just have to say hockey player and your name will quickly come up. It's not bad; it's just weird." I finally finish and say a silent prayer that he understands my rambling.

Finally, after what seems like forever, Sid sits back down beside me.

"So you Googled me huh?" He says and I can tell that he's teasing me.

"Yeah, I did. I wasn't joking Sid. I know nothing about hockey. In fact, the past three, almost four years, have been spent on working and Lizzy."

Sid smiles and his hand reaches to grasp mine. It feels very warm as he slightly squeezes.

"I think it's incredible, you're incredible, Cat. You just need to look at Lizzy to know how incredible you are" he tells me.

I'm overwhelmed by Sid's warm hand in mine and even more by his words. He is looking at me with an intensity I don't think a man has ever looked at me with. I just don't know what to say to him.

"I'm sorry Cat, was that out of line?"

It hits me that this is the second or maybe third time that Sid has apologized or asked if he offended me. Is this a Canadian thing or maybe a Sid thing? It seems that Sid feels like he's done something wrong. That's not fair.

"Sid, you haven't offended me; not today and not at all. Ok?" I realize that I'm now holding his hand in both of mine.

"Ok" Sid replies.

I watch as Sid looks down at my lips and then watch his tongue dart out and wet his own. Oh wow! I can't even think now as I lift my eyes to search his. It's like they say in the movies; everything is moving in super slow motion. Sid moves toward me and I begin to move toward him. I can feel my lips part slightly and then my eyes close as Sid's lips softly touch mine. His hand is cupping my neck now too.

"Mommy!"

I pull back when I hear my daughter cry out for me. When I turn around, I see Lizzy standing there. She's in her pajamas, holding her penguin and rubbing her eyes. I go to Lizzy and pick her up in her arms. She cuddles in right away.

"My little Lizzy. What's wrong sweetheart?"

"Mommy, ogre was after me." Lizzy replies.

"Awe, baby, let's sit down" I say and look back at Sid.

He's smiling now. I feel relief. I guess I was wondering how he would react to our kiss being interrupted.

I smile back at him and say "Lizzy, you should see who's here."

She lifts her head and looks behind me.

"Sidwee" she squeals, climbs out of my arms and runs to Sid who's sitting on the sofa. He catches her in a hug as she jumps into his arms.

"Hey there little Lizzy" he says to her.

Lizzy pulls back and takes each of his cheeks in each of her hands.

"Sidwee" is all she says back to him.

"Did you have a bad dream?" Sid asks her and I watch my daughter suck in her bottom lip and nod. I walk to the sofa. I don't know how much experience Sid has with kids and I don't want him to feel weird.

"Oh Lizzy. What was it about?" Sid asks her.

"Munster" Lizzy says and buries her face in his neck.

Sid frowns and looks at me over Lizzy's shoulder. I mouth "monster" to him and he nods. Sid slowly rubs his hand up and down her back trying to sooth her.

"Lizzy, would you like me to go and chase away the monster?" Sid asks her.

Lizzy nods against his neck then Sid bundles her in his arms and stands up. He looks at me for a few moments until I realize he's waiting for me to show him the bedroom. Oh God, he's going to see that we share a room. I've never been embarrassed by how I live and I'm not embarrassed now; but, I guess I'm just unsure what Sid will think. I look at him sweetly holding my daughter after telling her that he will chase away her "munster."

I point toward the bedroom and turn for him to follow. When I get to the room, I turn on a small light. There is a glow in the room and I take an objective look. There are toys in one corner in an organized mess. Lizzy's bed is pink; sheets, blanket, pillow. It's all pink. I've tried very hard to make it a little girl's dream. I turn to Sid and he smiles at me.

"Ok Lizzy" Sid says. "Tell me where the monster is and I'll get rid of him."

Lizzy points to the closet. Sid walks to her bed and lays Lizzy down then pulls the covers over her. He walks carefully toward the closet as if he's trying to sneak up on the monster. When I look at Lizzy, she has the covers up to her chin and is staring fiercely at Sid's back. He opens the closet door slowly, just a crack, then he pulls it open fast and says "boo!"

He opens the door wide and stands back.

"Ok Lizzy, I've scared the monster away. The closet is empty now." Sid says to Lizzy and looks at her. Lizzy peers around Sid to the closet. She must like what she sees because a smile breaks out.

"Ok Lizzy, time for bed. Say thank you and goodnight to Sid" I remind her.

Lizzy pulls her arms out from under the covers and opens them for a hug. Sid chuckles and hugs her.

"Thank you Sidwee" she says in her sing-song way.

"You're welcome. Sleep well" Sid tells her.

I go to Lizzy and give her a hug and kiss. We leave her drifting off to sleep and head back to the living room to the sofa.

"Thank you so much Sid. She saw a cartoon with monsters and we've had some trouble sleeping since" I tell him.

Sid chuckles and replies "I understand. Monster are to be taken very seriously Cat."

Now I laugh. I place my hand on his arm as we're laughing. Just touching Sid's warm, hard bicep reminds me of the almost-kiss before Lizzy interrupted us. I can see the exact moment that Sid remembers it too and then we're not smiling at each other anymore. Sid raises his hand and cups my check gently. I lean into it and kiss his palm. It's like electricity goes through my entire body when my lips touch his warm skin. When I look back into his eyes I see they have gone very dark. His eyes drop to my lips and I lick them instinctively. He does the same in response. Our eyes lock again as he leans into me. I'm acutely aware that I'm sitting cross legged and facing Sid. He has turned toward me and is leaning in close enough for me to feel the heat of his body radiating towards mine.

When Sid's lips touch mine, I feel the sensation travel from my lips and throughout my body. At first, our lips simply press together. The kiss is warm and sweet; it feels natural.

We pull back at the same time. Sid's runs his thumb over my cheek softly before sliding it down further until he rubs it over my bottom lip. I don't know what comes over me but I open my lips and slide his thumb into my mouth. I watch Sid's eyes widen at first and then they darken further. I run my tongue over his thumb and watch his dark eyes narrow. Sid slides his thumb out from my mouth and then over my bottom lip again. He continues moving his hand until it cups the back of my neck then he pulls me to him. Our lips meet again only this time the kiss is more insistent. I run my hands up Sid's chest. His muscles are so hard and his skin so warm beneath his tee shirt. I feel his tongue slide over my bottom lip and then my top lip. I part my lips in response and feel his tongue slide over mine.

A moan fills the room and part of my brain registers that it's me. Then I can't think at all; it's all feeling. Sid's free hand slides over my waist and around to my lower back. I slide my hands up his chest, over his shoulders to clutch at the muscles there. As my hands hold on, Sid pulls me closer to him. I slide onto his lap and I'm suddenly very aware of how big he is and how small I am in his arms. I pull back and watch Sid open his eyes to look at me. His eyes are heavy lidded and dark with desire. His lips are pink and plump from my own.

"Is everything ok?" Sid asks me in a hushed voice and is very focused as he waits for my response.

His question makes me think. Is everything ok? I feel the heat coming from his body and the hard muscles under my hands when the answer becomes very clear: yes! As an answer, I dive into his lips again. I can tell that I take him by surprise but he catches up quickly. Time has no impact anymore. I'm completely wrapped up and lost in Sidney. Our lips continue to play and tease while our tongues give chase. Sid's fingers slide over my back and hips. They leave heat everywhere he touches. When his fingers slip beneath my shirt and over my bare skin it shocks me like a cold bucket of water. What am I doing?