Chapter 7

A while later, they were sitting in the restaurant eating dinner and talking about the home opener tomorrow. Karen could see how Sidney beamed with giddiness as he would be back on the ice again. Not to mention that they would be lifting the Stanley Cup banner but it was also the start of the last season at Mellon Arena. After dinner, they headed back to the house to relax and go for a late night swim. Karen had to leave the party early and go to bed for work, leaving Sidney with his parents.

"So Tay couldn't come down?"

"Not with school in session. I can't keep pulling her out."

"But it's me, opening night...am I not special anymore mom?" Sidney asked pretending to pout.

"Oh stop it" she said throwing a towel at him "I think your sister knows you can play hockey."

"Besides, we need her to focus more if she wants to leave home next year."

"Where would she go?"

Trina looked at Troy "she wanted to tell you but she's been thinking about attending Shattuck's next year."

"Well good for her. I hope she goes through with it. She must really want to be like me."

"Yeah because that's why we had her...to be exactly like you."

"Can't help that I was the perfect son" he said smirking.

"You might need to go to bed son and finish this little dream of yours."

"You'd think being my parents, you would agree with me on this."

They all got up and headed inside "you're old enough to realize that we only humored you when you were little."

"Oh that hurts" Sidney said putting his hand to his heart to make his mom and dad laugh. He bid them goodnight and headed up to bed and joining Karen. He went into the room quietly and got a quick shower, changing and climbing into bed cuddling with his wife.

"Mmm, wondered when you were coming to join me."

"Sorry baby" he kissed her on the shoulder "go back to sleep." Sidney wrapped his arms around her and fell asleep.

The next day, Karen had told her friends to meet her at the arena because she wanted to go in with Sidney for the home opener. They of course understood and she headed home from work.

"Hey baby" Sidney said when he saw her walk in the door.

"Hey studly. How was practice?" she said giving him a kiss.

"It was good, we're ready for tonight."

"Good to hear. I don't want to be disappointed for the first game in the final season at the Igloo."

"Have you ever been disappointed at a game there?" Sidney saw her eyebrows raised and start to open her mouth "nevermind, I don't think I want to know."

"Fine stud, but I hope at some point this year we say a proper goodbye to the Igloo."

"Sex at center ice?"

"If you can arrange it to where we are truly alone, then maybe."

"You're considering it, I like it."

"You like anything I consider when it pertains to our sex life."

"True" he said smiling as he put a stray piece of hair behind her ear "but you like it too, admit it baby" he whispered.

Karen smiled back at him "I admit it stud" she whispered before leaning in for a slow, passionate kiss.

"Hey now, my son needs his strength and energy for tonight" Troy said coming in from the pool. Being October, it was seasonably warm and everyone took advantage of it.

"Don't worry dad, she's the one that gives me my strength and energy." Troy just shook his head and went upstairs to change.

"I don't think that is something your dad wants to know about his son." Sidney shrugged his shoulders and leaned in for another kiss.

At 4p, they left for the arena and Sidney wouldn't let go of Karen's hand the whole ride there. She knew he loved playing the game, but also knew he got nervous before big games. he parked the car and they all headed inside. After an hour and a half, Sheril called Karen and she went to leave to meet them, but not before Sidney took her into the hallway for a private moment.

"You getting nervous stud?"

"I'm never nervous baby."

"I don't believe that Sid. Its your home opener, you always get nervous before a big game not to mention the first one of the season."

"You really think you know me don't you?"

"I know that you love it when I'm right about things."

"Nope" he shook his head "but I do love you."

"I know, but you know I'm right about this. You'll go sit in your stall and think about everything that could possibily happen tonight. Then you'll get intense, pumped up and get your gear on. Then as Coach Dan makes his speech, those wild nerves will come back until you stand on that runway and hear the roar of the crowd to get you pumped up again."

"Wow baby, you do know me."

"To know you is to love you" she said leaning in to kiss him only to be interrupted by her cell phone "good luck stud, I can't wait until we go home to celebrate your win tonight." She matched her lips to his before leaving him standing there with a smile on his face.

The game started with the raising of the Stanley Cup banner and Karen had a few tears escape as she watched it. She knew Sidney was thinking it was time to move on and start the new season as it was being raised that he probably wasn't enjoying the symbolism of it. It made her smile that he was so goal oriented and winning it again this year was #1 on his list. After the banner reached the rafters, the lights came on and the fans awaited the drop of the puck for the final season at the Igloo.

As quick as the game started, it had ended and the Pens won over the Rangers 3-2 with Sidney getting his first goal of the season during the second period. Karen couldn't contain her excitement and waited for the majority of the fans to leave before heading down to the lounge to meet up with his parents and wait for Sidney to get done.

"Congratulations stud" Karen said hugging him after he came out of the locker room dressed.

"Thanks baby. Where's mom and dad?"

"Out talking to Mario in the hallway."

"So we're alone?"

"Down boy, you still have a bus to catch."

"I know, hate that we have a game tomorrow night and need to leave in a few minutes."

"Me too, especially since its Friday night and we would have had all night to celebrate your win."

"Why?" he said whining "why torture me like this?"

"Well I am torturing myself too you know" she said wrapping her arms around him and leaning her lips to his.

"Maybe we can give each other something until tomorrow night" Sidney said before matching his lips to hers for a passionate kiss leaving them both breathless as they pulled apart.

"I'll miss you tonight."

"I always miss you when we're apart baby. We better go meet up with everyone."

"Yeah, I guess. I love you and good luck tomorrow night."

"Love you too baby" he said sneaking in a kiss before they left to meet up with his parents. They stood around talking for a few minutes before he boarded the bus and the team left to head to New York for their gme with the Islanders tomorrow night. Karen, Trina and Troy went to her car and headed home.

A month later, the Pens were on their West Coast trip when they were in Anehiem to play the Ducks. SInce Ryan was now in his full season with the Ducks, the night before their game he had caught up with most of the players from his old team at dinner. They all sat around talking about old times until it had gotten late enough to head out. As Sidney was about to leave, Ryan stopped him.

"Sid, could you wait a minute?"

"Sure man, what's up?"

"I need to apologize to you about what happened over the summer with Karen."

"You know what Whit, it's fine. She told me you kissed her and then she left to come be with me. We're over it so it's fine, you don't need to apologize" he said before walking out.

Ryan followed him "Sid, more than a kiss happened" he said seeing him turn around "I literally professed my love for her. She never said that?"

"No" he said quietly and looking down.

"Like I said, it was all me and she had no return feelings for me. I'm sorry for what happened and glad you guys have gotten past it." Ryan walked away and left Sidney standing there. He came out of his daze and left meeting up with the guys to go back to the hotel.

A week later, Karen was at home after work and was happy Sidney would be home soon. She was planning a romantic dinner and a special night for them afterwards but was going to wait to start dinner when he actually got home. Karen was sitting in the living room reading a book when she heard a car pull up. She smiled and put her book down, going to the door to greet him.

"Hey" she said smiling and went over to hug him but it faded when he took her hands and moved them off him "um, what's going on?" she asked when he walked past her and she turned to look at him.

"Found out something interesting on the road trip out West."

"Which was?"

"That a lot more happened on your road trip to see me in August."

"Sid, I told you what happened with Ryan."

"Yeah you did, only you failed to mention that he PROFESSED HIS FUCKING LOVE FOR YOU" he said yelling the last part making Karen jump back.

"Because I didn't think it was worth mentioning."

"Knowing another man not only made a move on my wife but actually told her he loved her and you didn't think it was worth mentioning to your husband. What made you not take him up on his offer? Don't like California, wanted to be with the one that made the money?"

"I can't believe you just said that to me" she said quietly.

"I don't hear you denying any of it."

"Yes, he told me he loved me. Yes, he wanted me to stay with him. But what did I do? I told him that I was in love with you and wanted to be with you. I left his apartment and came to you. If I wanted him and not you, I wouldn't have drove all that way to tell it was over. I would have stayed with him and took the coward way out by calling you or just sending divorce papers to you. I wanted to be with you, I chose to be with you. I chose to spend the next month with you and remarry you infront of YOUR family and friends to prove I wanted you in my life, not Ryan" she said as the tears streamed down her cheeks. "I can't believe you want to throw this in my face when I didn't even give a second thought to your stripper whore of a past friend that you kissed during your bachelor party. If that can mean nothing then why can't this?" she said before storming past him and running upstairs. Sidney watched her leave then saw and heard their bedroom door slam shut. He let out the breath he was holding and ran his hand through his hair. He wanted to go after her, but he knew they needed a few minutes apart to cool down.

Karen fell on the bed crying into the comforter. She knew she probably should have told him about Ryan telling her he loved her but since she told him she loved Sidney, there was no point in her eyes. Karen turned on her side and curled up. She remembered that day perfectly. Pushing Ryan away after he kissed her then hearing him tell her he loved her. She also remembered telling him she not only loved Sidney but was in love with him too and it meant her world to be married to him. Hearing those words from him didn't phase her since she knew where her heart was. Karen sat up and crept up to the top of the bed and sitting up against the headboard, clutching her pillow.

Sidney was sitting on the couch and remembered how estatic he was to see her a few days early. He even replayed the day before their wedding when they both confessed about kissing someone else. "She was so forgiving of my kiss to Chrissy like she knew nothing would come from it" he told himself "fuck, what did I just do" he said getting up and heading upstairs to their bedroom.

Karen sat there lost in thought when she heard a click and then the door opened revealing Sidney in the doorway.

"Can I come in so we can talk?"

"I think you said enough but do whatever you want."

"Baby I'm sorry, truly sorry for what I said. I had all these thoughts going through my mind the whole way home and I told myself not to take it where I just did."

Karen got off the bed when Sidney moved closer "fine, whatever" she said walking past only to have Sidney grab her arm.

"I shouldn't have said what I did but I did and I can't take it back except to apologize for it."

"You've apologized, now will you please let me go."

"Karen?" he said pleading with her "I'm sorry, please can we talk about this?"

"Your sorry and I'll forgive you for that but what you said to me is unforgivable Sid. How dare you think I only chose you for your fame or money. You could be the lowest paying player and I wouldn't care. This is what I love" she said putting her hand over his heart "and for you to even doubt that for a second makes me wonder if this marriage is going to work at all." Sidney let go of her because he was shocked at what she said and giving her the opportunity to walk out of the room, only to stop at the door "after Ryan kissed me I told him how much I was in love with you that even if for a split second I had any feelings for him, my love for you would always, ALWAYS rule my heart and no other man would be able to make that go away" she said letting the tears fall and leaving the bedroom to go downstairs to start dinner. Sidney watched her walk away for the second time that day and sat on the bed, letting a few of his own tears to fall. Sidney sat on the bed for about 2 minutes before he went back downstairs to find Karen. She was in the kitchen chopping up vegetables for a salad as dinner was heating in the oven. She had made lasagne and it made Sidney's stomach growl as it smelled so good. He saw the plates, glasses and silverware on the counter and walked over to pick them up to set the table.

Karen looked up and saw what Sidney was doing "thanks." Sidney offered a smile and thought she smiled back before looking back down to finish her chopping. Just then the timer went off "could you get the garlic bread out of the oven please?"

"Sure." Sidney walked over, grabbed an oven mitt and took out the bread putting it on part of the counter away from Karen so she wouldn't bump into it. He stood there for a second before he walked three steps and stood directly behind Karen, wrapping his arms around her waist. He felt Karen's body loosen up and heard the knife drop to the counter, leaning her back into him "I'm sorry baby" he whispered as he put his chin on top of her shoulder "I'm sorry for what I said and how I said it. We should've talked about it calmly."

"Or you should have remembered back to when I came to see you and I didn't bring it up then because what happened wasn't important" she said as Sidney turned her around to face him "the rest of the car ride up I was hating myself for not only letting it happen but realizing that since it didn't mean anything I still hurt you in some way."

"I had the same thought after Chrissy kissed me. I let it happen for that brief second and I thought about how this would kill you if you found out."

"Sid, our love is so unique and being together makes us happy. Ryan was never an option when he kissed me while we were apart and he wasn't a temptation when I stopped to see him. He might be in love with me, but there are no return feelings."

"I know that baby" he whispered as his forehead came together with hers "but hearing him say he professed his love for you made me crazy jealous that there is someone out there that could take you away from me."

"He can only take me if that was what I wanted too" she said moving her head to make him look at her "but its not. I love you and want to be with you."

"Until death do us part?"

"I don't know, did I agree to that?" she said sniffing back her tears and smiling at him.

"We both did baby."

"Well then, I love you till death do us part stud." Sidney leaned in and kissed her, letting their feelings flow between their lips. The kiss intensified but Karen pulled back to the dismay of Sidney "how about we finish this after dinner?" Sidney just smiled and shook his head yes before placing another kiss upon her lips and letting her go. They sat down at the table and began eating, forgetting about what happened.