Chapter 27

The second round of the playoffs started and it was against Montreal. Karen never liked the Canadiens for the reason she thought they always played dirty and went after Sidney more than the other teams. He tried to tell her she was just overprotective of him when he played but she knew what she was watching unfold on the ice. She was thankful they were going to start at home to have Sidney with her for a few more days.

On Friday afternoon, Sidney had gotten home from the arena and was waiting for Karen to get home from work. He loved the routine of taking her to bed with him for his pregame nap and with his uneasiness of wondering if the team was strong enough to repeat again, she was his reassurance that it wasn't over until it was over.

Soon her heard a door shut then the front door slam shut with muttering of cuss words soon followed. Sidney stepped out from the kitchen and leaned up against the doorframe watching her.

"Do I dare ask how was work today?" he asked cautiously. Karen just dropped her keys and purse and glared at him "maybe I shouldn't."

Karen didn't say anything and just went into the living room, slinking into the couch. Sidney walked over and sat beside her "I really don't know how much more I can take."

"What happened?"

"It's not one significant thing. Its the petty drama shit that is continuous day after day. I swear when I leave here in the morning I'm heading to kindergarten and not a job that adults work at."

"Baby..."

"Don't say it Sid."

"I wasn't going to but you can't keep letting this get to you."

"Will you please just invite the douche bags to a game then tie them to the goal posts and shoot pucks at them?"

"Is that all you want?"

"Yes."

Sidney just smiled at her as he caressed her cheek "baby, you need to decide what best for you."

"I need a nap" she said with a pout.

"Then come on" he said standing up and reaching out his hand for her "I can definitely make you feel better." She stood up and was face to face with him letting their lips meet. Karen pulled back and smiled at him as Sidney kissed her forehead before leading them upstairs.

After a few hours, Karen was waiting for her friends as Sidney got ready for the game. She replayed what happened at work and wondered what to do. She loved her job but hated her coworkers. She looked up and smiled when she saw her three best friends approach her.

"Whaddup homey?" Sheril said to get her to laugh.

"Please don't ever say that again."

"I won't but come on round 2 of the playoffs, it can't get any better."

"It can if they win" Karen said as the others agreed. Soon they headed inside and settled in for the game. Her instincts were right as the pens won 6-3 and Sidney had two assists. Karen and Natalie headed down to the locker room after saying bye to Sheril and Diane. They went to the lounge and waited until they guys were done with the media but Karen loved to sneak a peek seeing everyone huddled around Sidney. She had to laugh at poor Max not being able to get to his stall or get crowded out because of the media hounding Sidney. She quiety called Natalie over to watch with her and they couldn't stop their giggling as Max got pushed down further and further that he just gave up and left.

"Your man is so cruel to my mine" Natalie said as they went to sit down on the couch.

"Please, it ain't Sid's fault. Blame the media that always hounds him. Poor guy can't even forgot a bad game if he wants too."

"True but still, Max deserves better."

Karen began to laugh "well he has a perfectly good lap right here if he needs a place to sit" she said patting her friend's leg.

"Oh shut up you." They sat there talking until their men came out and they left going their separate ways.

On Sunday, it was game 2 and Karen loved when they played afternoon games. To her, she either got to savor the victory or helped with the defeat afterwards and didn't have to hurry to bed for work the next day.

Sidney went in by himself as the girls met up for lunch before the game. Karen had to laugh at Sidney's pouting when she wanted to go in with the girls on some game days. All she had to tell him was he had his game day routines and she had hers.

After lunch, the girls got to the arena and waited around to go in. Karen stood and just looked at the Igloo and remembered all the fun times they had coming here for games and concerts. But one memory came flooding back without really thinking about it.

Flashback

"Damn girl, you still have it after all these years."

"What are you talking about Stac?"

"That play. Schooling professional hockey players or should I say Sidney Crosby himself."

"And that boy couldn't keep his eyes off of you when you were playing against Mario."

"Or when you were sitting and talking to him. I think someone is in love."

"Guys stop it. He's just dazed and confused with the play I made. He'll forgot all about me once the next game comes along."

"Yeah, we'll see."

End of flashback

Karen just smiled realizing what all transpired after that. She was brought out of her dream when the crowd starting moving to head inside.

The game started and 4 minutes in, Matt Cooke scored. Of course that would be the only goal the Pens would get. The Canadiens won the game 3-1 and the frustration of not getting any past their goalie was evident as he slammed his stick against the net. Karen didn't want to think that this could be the team to ruin their run for a second consecutive Stanley Cup but if the rest of the series goes like this game, they just might.

"Man this sucks" Sheril stated as everyone around them agreed.

"You going to head down and wait for Sidney?"

"I think I'm only going to go and tell him I'll see him at home if you guys would wait for me outside. I know the media will hound him and I can predict a work out after." Karen headed down as the others went outside. She got to the locker room and saw Dana asking him to get him before the media did. He left and a couple minutes later, Sidney appeared.

"Hey."

"Hey stud. Didn't want to take up too much time, just wanted to say I love you" and with that she leaned up and kissed him not caring who was around "I'll see you at home." She kissed him once more then left. Sidney's bad mood lightened up and he smiled before letting out a huge sigh and going back in to deal with the media.

Karen was watching highlights of the game when she heard Sidney pull up. She turned on something else so he wasn't reminded from earlier. Sidney walked in and went over to her on the couch, sitting beside her.

"You ok?"

"Yeah, its just frustrating when out of every shot, none go in."

"I'm sure the net knew of that frustration when you took it out on it."

"What did you expect me to do, start a fight?"

"Hell yeah. I love watching you scrap around. Makes an already sexy hockey player sexier. Just think back to how many times I'm turned on after a game when there's a fight. Add you and god help who would walk in on us."

Sidney smiled and knew she had a way to make him feel better even when he didn't want to "thanks baby."

Karen moved and got on his lap straddling his legs and facing him "you know I can really make you feel better."

Sidney put his hands on her ass and squeezed making her grind into him "I know you can. It's what I look forward to after a game like this."

Karen leaned in and attached her lips to his in a soft yet searing kiss. She moved her hands down his chest and back up, unbuttoning his shirt as she went. "I think we need to move this upstairs. Don't want to wrinkle the suit." She got off his lap and brought him with her.

After they got upstairs, Sidney took off his jacket and hung it up. He made a move towards her but she stopped him. He knew what she wanted and obliged her. Sidney began to undress as did Karen. When Sidney was completely naked, Karen was only halfway undressed. She made a move to take off her jersey but instead moved her hands underneath and only took off her bra, bringing it out and throwing it to the floor leaving the jersey on.

"Why do you do this to me?"

Karen walked over to him seductively "what am I doing?" she said as her hands roamed over his naked body.

"You're turning me on beyond belief baby."

"I can tell" she said as she looked down and watched his cock begin to grow. She looked back up into his eyes and pushed him towards the bed. He laid down on his back and reached for her hand to pull her to the bed. She crawled up and straddled over him, sitting there and just stared at him. Sidney made a move to sit up as Karen wrapped her arms around him. Their lips met again but this time it was slow and sensual. Neither wanted to rush anything yet as the need and want was very overwhelming as Sidney reached inbetween them and guided his hard cock inside of her slick opening. Karen broke the kiss and looked deep into his eyes as her hips began to move upward on him. They never broke the stare as their movements picked up the pace and the intense feeling got bigger between them.

"Baby..."

"Relive your frustration stud" she said kissing him again "take control."

That was all Sidney needed to hear as he felt her stop her movements so he could roll them over onto her back. Karen pulled the jersey out from under her butt and stretched her legs out as far as her hips would let her. Sidney leaned down for a kiss before raising himself on his hands, hovering over her as he started to pound into her. He came out all the way then drove back in with such force, making a whimper sound release from her lips. The slower he went made it seem like he was replaying his shots on goal.

"Faster Sid...don't make me wait any longer" she whispered. Karen gripped onto his biceps as her peak was nearing its end when he did what she wanted. As soon as her orgasm made itself known, Karen arched her back and screamed her release as her body shuttered. Sidney felt the tightness and thrusted a couple more times before letting loose inside her. Karen left his biceps and grabbed his ass holding him against her until he was done. Sidney got off his hands and laid his body onto Karen's bringing his hand up to caress her cheek.

"I love how you can make me feel better after a loss."

"Its one of my many special gifts that I have to offer you stud."

"Just don't ever stop offering it baby." Sidney leaned in for another searing kiss before rolling off her body and laying beside her. Karen watch his facial expression change and smiled.

"You need to learn to let the bad games go and stop replaying every shift."

"I wasn't" he said but the look she gave him made him smile "ok I was, but I can't help it."

"You said it yourself that every loss needs to be forgotten so you can focus on the next game. You can't reverse time and replay the game to make it come out in your favor everytime. Forget it and move on Sid." She heard him sigh and sighed herself "sorry."

"No, you're right" he said turning to look at her "if it keeps bothering me then I won't be on top of my game for Tuesday." Karen moved to curl up to his side and he just smiled as he wrapped his arm around her and laid there content.

The next two games were in Montreal and got split between both teams. The Pens came out to win game 3 but the Canadiens took game 4 to tie the series. After watching game 4, Karen knew this was going the distance of a game 7 but had an uneasy feeling about the outcome. Of course, that feeling would be kept to herself.

Game 5 was a Saturday night game and Sidney pleaded with Karen to go in with him. Not like he needed to ask cause she would have anyway. He tried to tell her that everytime she went in with him they won and as she thought about arguing that fact, she realized she better not to upset his thinking. As they drove to the arena, Sidney never let go of her hand and she loved how her touch reaffirmed more then her love for him. They got to Mellon and pulled into the parking lot. Before Sidney went to get out, Karen pulled him closer to her and she planted a huge kiss upon his lips.

"Whatever happens tonight, I love you."

"I love you too baby" he said then kissed her again. They got out and headed inside with Sidney acknowledging the fans as he went in.

Sidney went to get changed as Karen went to sit in the lounge to wait for him to come out for a little bit before the routine kicks in. She wasn't waiting long before a visitor came to sit with her.

"Hey Maxwell. Nat come with you?"

"She got stuck at work a little later so she'll come up with Sheril and Diane."

"Ah" she said turning back to the tv. A minute later she looked at Max who just sat there "something else on your mind there?"

"Is Natalie happy?"

"At work? Everyday? In general? I need a little more to go on."

"With me? Does she really seem happy with me?"

"Are you asking me if she still loves you and wants to marry you?"

"Yeah I guess."

"What's wrong Max?"

"We had a huge fight the other night and I guess I made some statement about how I might not be the man she wants to be with and she just looked at me like I couldn't believe I said that."

"Did you mean it?"

"NO! Of course not. It just slipped out in the heat of the arguement. I love her more than anything but was curious if she said anything to you."

"She hadn't. We have this thing that if something is said, if we don't discuss it then we pretend it was never said. Maybe by not telling me about it she's making it nonexistent. If she wants it to be over Max, she would have said something."

"True."

"Have you apologized yet?"

"Many, many times. I've called, text, sent flowers...you name it I did it."

"Did you show up at her house and actually begged for forgiveness?"

Max just looked at her like she grew a second head "that I didn't try."

"Always revert to the begging for forgiveness Maxwell. It works for the guy everytime."

"Really baby" Sidney said walking over to them "I don't ever recall having to do that to win you back after a fight."

"That is true stud, but I get you begging another way" she said getting a surprised look from Max.

"Thanks baby, that really needed to be said in the locker room."

"It was only Max who heard and if he ever wants help with Natalie in the future he won't repeat any of what was said."

"Cross my heart and hope to die" Max said as he got up and walked away laughing.

"You will die if you say anything" Sidney yelled after him. He turned back and looked at her as she sat there with a huge smile on her face "what?"

"Am I wrong? I have never made you beg for forgiveness. You have always tried to win me back by seducing me but I always make you beg in the end anyways." Sidney smiled then kissed her but was interrupted by more players coming in.

"Well alright, I'm second in line" Jordan said standing behind them on the couch.

"I'll take thirds" Geno said smiling.

"What are we lining up for?" Tanger said as he walked in.

"Karen giving out good luck kiss for team before game."

Kris just shrugged and stood there beside Geno "sounds good to me."

"Would you look at the time? I think I better go meet my friends so you guys can get focused." Karen stood and kissed Sidney again before walking around the couch to head out. She heard sighs of disappointment and shook her head before turning around and walking back over. She gave Jordan, Geno, and Tanger a kiss on their cheeks before walking back out.

The three of them smiled but soon all smiles faded when they looked at a not so happy Sidney staring at them.

"Be glad there's a game tonight boys or there would be pucks flying at your head" he said as he walked away.

"Don't blame us Darryl" Jordan said "she didn't have to come back in."

"Yeah, she wanted it as much as we did" Geno said only to have Sidney come running out to chase him around.

"I'm beginning to like that girl more and more" Tanger said laughing as Jordan just nodded in agreement before going to get ready.