Keep Your Girl Out of My Shoe Cabinet, Your Wife

December went by in the blink of an eye. Anakin was overwhelmed with all the lights in the house. Viviane and Sidney had been careful about what they set up where. The little boy was getting more mobile with every day. Not only was he crawling everywhere but he started pulling himself up. He wasn’t at the point where he could really walk but with help he did and the doctors were impressed. They had hired a company that made the house kid save. Furniture with sharp edges were removed, the railing of the stairs, the porch, even around the pool were hidden behind acrylic glass. It took away a lot of the houses atmosphere but better save than sorry.
The first Christmas eve in Anakin’s life was rather simple. Viviane and Sidney had invited Marc-André and Vero over for dinner. The parents wouldn’t arrive until the next day so they decided to celebrate together. Viviane had made a Christmas roast with mashed potatoes and red cabbage.
Ani happily ate his mashed potatoes and some carrots. The little man soon got tired and Sidney decided it was bed time. While Viviane and Vero cleaned up, Marc-André and Sidney took Anakin upstairs. Since finding out he was going to be a dad, Marc-André was almost attached to Sidney’s hip when the two were around Anakin. For him Sidney was a great father and he tried to soak up any information he could get.

“Nooooo” Anakin cried looking back over his father shoulder. “Daaaaaaddaaaa”
The little boy extended his hands reaching for his mother who just blew him a kiss and smiled. He yawn but continued whining.

“Ani, it’s bed time. You have to sleep or Santa won’t come and you won’t get any presents.”

Of course he didn’t understand a word Sidney said but the tone calmed him down a little. The three men went into the bathroom and Sid sat Anakin into Marc-Andre’s lap and handed him the small toothbrush.

“It’s really simple.” He started to explain. “It’s like cleaning your own teeth just don’t push it down too much. Brush each tooth for about 10 seconds and you’re done.”

Hesitantly his friend moved the tooth brush to the little kid’s mouth who opened it –to Marc-André’s surprise- without complaining. Concentration was written on his face while he carefully brushed each one of the 5 teeth Anakin had. When he was done he smiled proudly and Sidney was satisfied with the result.

“See? It’s not as hard as you’d think it is. Come one little man. Time to go to bed.”

Ani giggled when his father picked him up and threw him over his shoulder. In the nursery he quickly changed him and tugged him in. The boys said good night and after turning on the monitor and switching on the night lamp they left the room.

“Is he always that easy to handle?” Marc-André asked once the door shut.

Sidney shook his head. “No unfortunately not. He still suffers his separation anxieties when we’re at the road. There are days he refuses to go to bed. It happened before that he didn’t fall asleep until I called after the game and told him I’d be back soon. We also have had night he only slept and hour or two. I feel back because Viviane got the most of that. She wouldn’t let me get up at night when we had a game of an early practice the next morning. I don’t know how many times she fell asleep in the rocking chair and I had to carry her back to bed. He’s an angle but he’s not perfect. His temper tantrums can be mean.” He smiled thinking back at those moments.

“Okay…” Marc-André looked insecure.

“Don’t look at me like that. You will grow with the things as they come. Seriously think back to last year’s spring. Would have imagined having this conversation with me or with Duper?”

The goalie laughed. “You’re right I guess. I always thought you’d stick to hockey and one day marry some girl your dad, Mario or Pat picked.”

The two laughed and headed down the stairs.

Viviane and Veronique sat in the living room. The electric candles in the tree were lit and some Christmas music set the mood. The girls were flipping through the scrapbook Viviane had put together in the spare time she had in the hospital and later after she was released in her free time. When the door opened and their men stepped in again Viv stood up and walked over to Sid, while Flower rushed to Vero’s side excited to see the pictures. Sidney watched Vero curl up in her husbands arm when he felt Viviane melting into his side. She nestled her head into his shoulder and wrapped her arms around him. He smiled down on her before resting his hand on her hip.

“Everything went well?” she asked in a low voice. She could feel him nod.

For a while they just stood there watching the couple flipping through the picture’s of Viviane’s pregnancy. Sid couldn’t help but to smile thinking back to that time.

“Can I offer you anything to drink?” he asked after a while. “Marc some wine?”

“Oh yes, why not.”

“Can I just get a water please?” Vero asked.

Sidney and Viviane grabbed a bottle of red wine, some glasses and Vero’s water from the kitchen and the friends gathered on the couch. Soon the mood got lighter and they were laughing.

“So I asked her out like 5 times and she always said no. I mean her parents’ house is in the same street as my parents house after a while it got a little awkward.” Flower told them the story how they started dating.

“Then one day his sister appears on our door steps and convinces me to go out with him. So I thought ‘he’s so desperate that he sends his little sister.’ I felt bad for him and agree. I mean one date doesn’t hurt right? For me he always was that hockey nerd with the goofy smile that lives up the street. Well never got rid of him until today. He must have done something right on that date.” Vero finished.

Viviane lifted her wine glass to her lips to shield herself from possible glances as a familiar sadness took over her. Sometimes she wished she had a story like that to tell Anakin.

“Now tell me how you proposed Sid. Swear to god I was SO nervous.” Marc-André asked suddenly.
Sidney swallowed hard and tried to catch Viviane’s eyes for a second but she was looking down onto her hands and the glass with the rich red liquid.

“Honestly looking back it was really lame. I talked with my parents and her parents about it. Then I went to get the ring. Her mom had given me the keys to their house so I drove to her house and went to her bedroom. She was doing something. I think putting pictures into books. I just laid on her bed and watched her for a while. Then I said something like ‘Let’s get married this summer.’ She looked at me like I had gone crazy but after a few seconds she agreed. I gave her the ring and went back to my parents. A few days before the wedding she walks up to me and tells me she’s pregnant and here we are.”

Vero and Marc-André couldn’t help but shake their heads at Sidney.
“I always thought you were the sucker for romance with candle light dinner under the stars with a violinist and ring in the champagne.” Marc laughed.

“Still I’m a little disappointed you only had such a small wedding and didn’t invite us. Only you would get hitched while some of your best friends are in Africa. Can you imagine the shock we got when we turned our phones back on and we had hundreds of texts asking for a confirmation of the tweets the guys posted?” Vero complained. “Plus you didn’t get married in a church yet right? No Cinderella wedding for Viviane so far?” Vero pointed out what had been on the back of Viviane’s mind since the wedding but she never dared thinking about it. She wasn’t the firmest believer but still it meant something to her.

“We’re not dead yet. Let’s see where to road takes us.” Sidney confirmed.

After emptying the bottle of wine and singing some Christmas songs, they exchanged their Christmas presents. The eyes of the French Canadians lit up when they unwrapped the huge box and took out books like “Being a dad for dummies” or “SOS I’m a mom”, a custom #29 DADDY jersey for babies and a pregnancy shirt saying: “Goalie on Board.” The Fleury’s handed Viviane and Sid a present each. Sidney unwrapped a stack of different ties. All season long the guys had commented on Sid’s ties. When they played at home Viviane made sure he didn’t wear any of his ugly ties but when they hit the road Sidney went all out. Flower often said it was Sid’s way of compensating the loss of Max. Someone has to dress strangely.
Viviane on the other hand got a bunch of books Vero had told her about and a nice silk scarf.

Soon they said goodbye. Together Sidney and Viviane stood in front of the house watching the lights disappear in the night. He turned his wife around and pulled her into his chest.

“Merry Christmas Vivy.”

She smiled at him and heard the bells of the church announce the beginning of a new day.

“Merry Christmas Sidney.”

Viviane stood on her toes and kissed him softly. “To a nice festivity without ending up in the hospital.” She whispered.

“I like the sound of it.”

In silence they stood in front their house watching snow flakes fall down and cover their drive way with a thin white layer. Sid pulled Viviane closer and pressed a soft kiss into her hair as she stood one step down.

“It’s so nice and peaceful.” She said. “I really like Pittsburgh a lot. Thank you for being drafted into such an amazing city.”

Sidney laughed. “Thank the ownership group for keeping the team in Pittsburgh.”

Viviane tilted her head back and looked him in the eyes.
“I’ll send out thank you cards in the morning. I don’t know if I had followed you to Kansas City.”

“I doubt our mothers had given you any choice.”

“You’re probably right.”

He reached for her hand and together they went back inside, locked the door and cleaned up.

-----------------

When Viviane left the bathroom Sidney wasn’t in the bedroom. Slightly confused she walked around to find him.

He stood in the kitchen with Anakin sitting on the counter crying.

“Hey hey little man what’s wrong?” Viviane cooed.

“The teeth are bugging him again.”

The teeth were a never ending story. When the first tooth broke through he got fever, the third tooth caused a small ear infection.

“Oh Ani.” She pulled the teether out of the fridge and gave it to the little boy.

“I’ve looked everywhere… just not in the fridge.” Sidney threw his hands up in defeat.

“When it’s cold it keeps down pain and swelling.”

“That makes an awful lot of sense. Let’s get him upstairs.” Sid lifted his son into his arm and followed his wife upstairs.
The little family laid down in the master bedroom. Wide awake Anakin sat between his parents and chewed contentedly on the ring.

“He will not fall asleep any time soon.” Viviane muttered after a while.

“Nope… and there go all my plans.” Sidney mumbled back and laughed.

Ani’s gaze went from his mother to his father and back as if he was trying to find out what was to funny about the situation.
He crawled to his father and laid down on his torso holding onto Sid’s shirt.

In awe Viviane looked at her two men. At times she still had to pinch herself to ensure it wasn’t a dream she was in. Anakin was a spitting image of his dad and seeing the two together just made her heart swell. After all they had been through it felt surreal at times.

After a while the teether fell out of Ani’s mouth and the breathing evened out.

“I think he’s out like a light” Sidney whispered.

Viviane crawled over and pecked her son onto the dark curls. “Good night my little prince.”

Sid picked him up and carried him into the nursery. After tucking him in for the second time tonight he went back to the bedroom. Viviane smiled at him as he slid under the cover.

“Where again were we before a little tooth got in my way?” he growled in a husky but soft tone. “I think right here.”
His head rushed down and his plumb lips and his sharp teeth attacked her neck. Viviane giggled and squirmed under his touch.

“Sidney…” she squealed.

He moved, swung one leg over her and straddled her. Slowly he sat up and took her body in with hungry eyes. She opened her mouth but he sealed her lips with his.
“Shut your pretty mouth and let me work.” He said when he pulled back for a second. His hands flew up to her shirts neckline and with a loud noise it was torn in two.

Viviane’s eyes went wide. Once again she was reminded of the power he could generate with his muscles.

“I actually liked that shirt…” she pouted.

“Sorry I can’t help myself having a woman like that.” He said with a cocky smile. “I’ll buy you a new one.” His hands wandered down to her slender waist and he leaned down when Viviane’s hands stopped him.

“Sid no.” she said in a determined voice.
Irritated he looked at her unsure what he did wrong.

“I’m sorry. I’m on my period and I just can’t… it’s disgusting.” Her voice broke and her hands covered her face.

Relived Sidney smiled, slid over her and laid down next to her. He pulled her on to of him and wrapped both arms around her. Once the warm blanket was draped over them and pulled up to Viviane’s shoulders she seemed to calm down a little.

“Hey princess.” He whispered tilting her head back so she had to look into his eyes. “It’s not disgusting it’s natural. Honestly you should see it as something beautiful. It tells you that you are a healthy woman that can have babies.”
Viviane should her head and hid it in the crook of his neck.

“You’re not the one with cramps, sore legs and you’re not bleeding like a slaughtered pig.”

Sidney reached for her head and gently forced her to look into his eyes.
“No matter how you put it… don’t be ashamed Viviane. It’s okay.”

She nodded and bit her lip.

Sidney closed his eyes for a moment and all he felt was the pressure of her weight and the soft beating of her heart against his chest. In that moment he knew it was the right time. He opened his eyes again and looked into hers.

“Viviane…” he bit his tongue for a second. “I love you.”

Her face lit up and he saw tears forming in her eyes.

“I love you too Sidney.”