Keep Your Girl Out of My Shoe Cabinet, Your Wife

6 days had never felt so long but when the wheels of the aircraft finally touched the concrete of Pittsburgh International’s runway late Tuesday evening Sidney felt like coming home again. The baggage claim seemed to be standing still for hours and he stood in a far corner with his cap pulled down over his eyes and the head down so his chin disappeared in the scarf. All he wanted was to get his suitcase as quickly as possible and to get out of the buzzing airport. Christmas was around the corner so business men were leaving the city in a hurry to get home to their families. Families and friends were waiting with banners, balloons and flowers for the return of their children from service or college.
Sidney tried to blend in without getting noticed. It seemed to take forever. Children were crying, parents were annoyed and couples were fighting. A little girl was really impatient and started to throw a fit.
Sid let out an annoyed sigh and pulled his phone out of his pants’ pocket. No new messages, no missed call. Nothing had happened while he flew down. Just time had passed. Yesterdays doctor appointment hadn’t brought any news into the picture and they were still waiting for positive signs that the cervix had gained some strength again. Unsuccessful so far… sadly.
The squeaking and creaking of the baggage claim announced a soon arrival of the anticipated luggage so he shoved the device back into his pants and looked for his suitcase. After a short time it arrived but he sat on the bench for some more minutes watching it ride around in circles. Slowly people began to leave and when it had gotten less full he got up, grabbed the suitcase and finally headed towards the waiting cars.
A driver drove him to Sewickley and dropped him off at the corner of his street. Sidney rather walked some minutes than giving away the address people could find him and his family at.

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When he finally unlocked the front door the homey warmth and the familiar smell engulfed him. He dropped his suitcase next to where he stood and simple breathed in two or three times.

“Vivy I’m home.” He announced while taking off his shoes, coat and scarf. Seconds later his wife appeared in the door to the kitchen with an apron around her neck and some flour in her hair.

“Welcome home stranger” she smiled and extended her hands. They were covered in dough.

“What are you making?” Sidney asked and followed her into the kitchen where she sat on a chair, working through the dough on the floured countertops.

“Christmas cookies? It’s the 20th… Christmas is right around the corner and we have nothing. No cookies, no food, no tree… do you have ornaments for the tree?” she looked up from her work, taking a piece of the dough and handing it to Sidney.

“Honestly no… I always spent Christmas in Nova Scotia or at Mario’s. I never had a tree and honestly I couldn’t even tell you where to get one…”

“Sidney I want my tree… I have an appointment tomorrow… after it we will buy a tree and ornaments. I don’t care that it’s just going to be the two of us but I want a tree and the more stuff we buy now the less we have to buy next year with a toddler messing up our schedules….”

“About that… my parents, Taylor and Sam may be coming down. Just if you’re okay with that. I mean dogs and preggos in one house are okay right?”

Viviane smiled brightly. “Really? That’s amazing. I can’t wait to have them all here… but you have to help me with cooking I can’t stand that long.” She pouted a little and looked at her husband. He smiled back at her, bend down on her level and kissed her nose.

“Don’t worry about that. Taylor will be here on the 22nd and my parents will come in at the 23rd. Don’t bother to think about cooking. My mom will wrap you in bubble wrap and make you lay in bed all day just so nothing can happen to her first unborn grandchild.”

The couple shared a laugh.

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After changing into more comfortable cloths and washing his hands, Sidney helped her finishing the cookies. Later that night they laid on the couch about to fall asleep watching the Penguins defeat the Blackhawks.

“We should go to bed…” Viviane mumbled and pulled the blanket even higher. Sidney sat up and offered her his hand. After brushing their teeth together Sid went to bed already and waited for his wife to get done in the bathroom. Viviane excited it shortly after him and slid under the blankets resting her head on his torso listening to his strong heart beating slowly. She smiled and let he hand wander over his fabric clad abs.
Once he killed the light he placed his left arm around her and rubbed her back lightly.

“Good night Vivy.”

“Good night Siddy”

“It’s so nice to be home again.”

“It’s so nice to have my pillow back.”

They chuckled tiredly and soon drifted away.

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The next morning was an early one. Sidney had to get too the CEC to meet up with the coached to talk about how to continue with his rehabbing process. Again Marc-André picked up his friend and they caught up about the latest events. Sid congratulated his goaltender to his 200th win and teased him a little about being a threat for Brodeur, Flower’s idol and mentor. The French Canadian just laughed it off and changed the topic swiftly.

Ray Shero, Dan Bylsma and the doctors read the recommendations of the specialist and decided to let him sit out on road trip until early January and practice would be day to day depending on how Sidney felt.
He sure wasn’t happy with sitting out again but concussions were no high sprained ankles. Sadly.

After doing some light work out with the team in the gym, he showered while the guys got geared up. When they took the ice, he followed them out and found Viviane sitting in the arena chatting with Sam and Michelle.
Sidney climbed the stairs and sat down next to them.

“Good morning Meesh, Sam. Hey… you’re early?!”

“Good morning Sid” the two greeted him back before Viviane could remark.

“Yes I am but I just wanted to see what those lazy friends of yours get paid for other than raiding their captains fridge.”

They all laughed and Viviane slowly rose out of her chair. Sidney offered her his hands and steadied her a little.

“Mind if I take a picture of you two and post it on our twitter? I think would really love to get a new picture of you Sid. You know to see you’re still alive. And the baby of course also is a hot topic…”

“Sure go ahead.” Sid answered. The couple smiled into the camera and Viviane melted into his side as much as the baby allowed her to.

“Is there any name yet we can put under?” Michelle asked.

“Yes… but we won’t tell… we told nobody yet. Not even out parents… we aren’t 100% sure but pretty sure… we will all let you know the gender and name as soon as we have it in our arms.” Viviane replied with a genuine smile on her face and they left the building.

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Again the doctor had no news for them. The cervix hadn’t gotten stronger but luckily it hadn’t shortened either. She told Viviane to stay in bed or lay down on the couch for at least 21 hours a day. Other than that the baby was healthy and gaining weight and size according to norm. Sidney got a new picture and everyone was happy.
In the morning Marc-André had given them an address where to get good natural Christmas trees. After a short debate when kind and size they were looking for they soon found a nice tree and managed to get it into the Land Rover. On the way from the shop to the mall they dropped it off at home and bought ornaments, lights, Christmas tree stand and other Christmas decorations they both liked.

Back home Sidney put up the tree with Viviane laying on the couch and giving him directions about how to turn the tree, how to put the lights in a which ornament to put where. 2 hours later he crashed onto the couch next to her crushing her with his weight.

“Not moving one inch anymore.” He announced.

“Aren’t you a professional athlete? This can hardly be work for you Sid” she laughed and poked him. Sid shifted a little so his weight wasn’t on her anymore and closed his eyes.

“Tired”

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Impatiently Viviane shifted her weight from one leg to the other. People were rushing by while she stood on the tip of her toes trying to get a peak over the people’s head. Sidney leaned against a pillar a little off the stream, watching her with an amused smirk on his face. Suddenly Viviane began to wave like crazy and he knew she had found her. Slowly he pushed himself off the wall and walked over to his wife. His younger sister walked through the glass door trying to push her bag back onto her shoulder while pulling a suitcase and a hockey bag. Quickly he was by her side and after hugging her he grabbed her hockey bag and led her over to Viviane.

“TAYTAY” Viviane exclaimed. Taylor dropped her suitcase and hugged her sister in law closely.

“VIVY”

The girls laughed and embraced each others. Sidney pouted.

“You are more excited to see her than to see me.”

Taylor placed a finger onto her chin as if she was thinking. “Let me think… who are you again? My brother??? Yuck…. Get away from me… cooties.”

Sidney laughed loudly and wrapped his arms around his sister. “I missed you so much. Now let’s get home before we’ll get noticed.”

They brought Taylors stuff into the car and drove home.

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The day went by pretty quickly with catching up, letting Taylor settle and resting. After breakfast on the 23rd, Viviane and Taylor picked up Trina and Troy at airport. As soon as they stepped through the front door Viviane and Sidney were forced to rest just as they had predicted.
The 24th was a slow morning. Trina already was in the kitchen preparing a big dinner. Troy was in a serious conversation with Marc-André and Sidney and Vero, Viviane and Taylor were lounging in the living room watching the men discuss things. Their parents wouldn’t be in town until later tonight because they still had to work before flying down here from Quebec.
After a while Marc-André decided he felt like playing hockey. Taylor was in instantly and after calling the Lemieux family, Viviane found herself driving a car full of giggling hockey players to the CEC. Everyone got changed and minutes later two teams took the ice.
Taylor and Marc-André were in the goals, some guys of the team, Mario’s kids and Mario himself had teamed up. Taylor’s team ended up winning 5-4.

“That’s not fair.” Marc-André pouted. “You had Mario on your team… and Geno.”

“No my real secret force was Lauren.” The Shattuck girls high fived and everyone laughed.