Precious Love

After studying all night and waking up early for an exam, Sutton Adams came home from school and crashed in her bed. She knew that her and her roommate Bianca were going to a Pittsburgh Penguins game that evening so she needed to get some sleep. Around noon, Bianca came into her room with a cup of coffee.

“Sutton, get up, you need to start getting ready for the game,” Bianca told her as she opened the closet door to look through her friend's wardrobe. “What are you thinking about wearing?”

“B, I need more sleep.” Sutton muttered into the pillow, turning away from where Bianca was going through her closet of jerseys.

“What one do you plan on wearing?” Bianca asked. “Adams? Crosby? Staal?”

“I don't own anything Crosby and I'm wearing Adams home jersey.”

“Get up,” Bianca said as she pulled the jersey right off the hanger and tossed it onto the bed. “Coffee is next to you and you need to shower and get ready.”

“We have plenty of time,” Sutton groaned. “Why are you waking me so early?”

“Because we are going with Jordan and don't forget to get your nice top since we are going out afterward.”

Mumbling into her pillow, Sutton finally opened her eyes. Tossing off her covers, she slid out of the bed and headed into the kitchen to eat something before she would get ready. She had a feeling that tonight was going to be just what she needed after the long week she had.

Sitting at Melon Arena, Sutton wearing a pair of dark jeans and a home jersey with her brother's name and number on the back. Sitting with Bianca who was wearing her away Staal jersey. Watching the Pittsburgh Penguins warming up, Sutton looked at her iphone and started texting someone. Bianca nudged her in the side, turning and looking at her friend with a confused expression Bianca nodded towards the team captain, Sidney Crosby who was looking right at her. “He's been looking at you for a few minutes now.”

“Bianca, why in the world would Sidney Crosby look at me?” Sutton asked.

“Because you are beautiful and maybe now he's just noticing.”

“B, you are funny,” Sutton said as she placed her phone back into her bag. “Who was it that you tried setting me up with last month?”

“One of the guys in my class, but I can so see you with Sid. You could actually give him a life.”

Looking back to where Sidney was standing next to her brother, Craig Adams, and Kris Letang. “He's a little serious isn't he? I have school for the seriousness, but relationship wise? I would rather have someone fun and relaxed.”

“You won't know what it would be like unless you give it a try. How about you talk to the guy tonight and see where things lead?”

“Yeah, we'll see where things lead.”

Watching the game, Sutton couldn't help but notice when Crosby was on the ice. He just had the presence and she couldn't help but watch as he skated on the ice. It wasn't as if she was a puck bunny and was only thinking about sleeping with him, she was thinking about the things her brother had mentioned about him in passing. If Sutton was being honest with herself, she had noticed that Crosby was good looking, but she never had been introduced to him. Craig was ten years older than her and she understood that hockey was his thing and although she loved the sport, she wasn't about to but herself into that life. She loved that her brother wanted her close to him, but at the same time she had her own life. Well she was trying to get her own life, that was why she was going to school.

“Sutton?” Bianca said. “What are you...oooh. I see what has caught your eye.”

“Oh stop it. I was just waiting here before we go meet up with Jordan. So I'm gonna assume you are heading back to his place?”

“Well...”

“Don't need to lie to me. I know you.”

“You'll be okay to take a cab home?” Bianca asked. “I mean after the club.”

“Yeah, don't worry about me,” Sutton told her with a smile. “I'm a big girl and I can take care of myself.”

“I know but it will be late and if something were to happen-”

“Okay!” Sutton laughed. “I'll call Craig if I need a ride. But if I call him I might just crash at his place. How about we just play this night by ear? See where it takes us?”

“Sounds like a plan.” Bianca said as they stood up and headed to the locker room where they were supposed to meet Jordan and the rest of the guys who were planning on going to the club.

When the boys were playing their interstate rival and were able to get a shutout, there was no doubt that the guys would want to party. Well most of them, the guys with families and small children usually opted out to spend time with their families.

After waiting a few minutes Bianca made sure the guys were decent in the locker room before she and Sutton wandered inside. Before they made it very far inside, there was a small screech that Sutton was familiar with. Her nephew Rhys coming at her full speed, bending down, Sutton picked him up when he got to her. Feeling the two year old hugging her, she smiled as Jordan came over to the two of them.

“Hey Sutton,” Jordan smirked at her knowingly. “Crosby has said he'll take you home after the party. You okay with that?”

“Only if you are going back to your place to celebrate.” Sutton replied as she walked past him and towards her brother.

“Hey Sutton.”

“Oh goodness, Craig, that looks bad,” Sutton said as she looked at the stitches in his eyebrow. “How many?”

“Only seven,” he smiled. “I'm glad you came. You need to come over soon. I need to take Anne out soon and you know she isn't gonna leave Rhys with just anyone.”

“Alright how about two weeks?” Sutton asked.

“Are you just gonna stay at my place that night?”

“Most likely.”

“Sutton, we gotta go!” Jordan yelled from across the locker room.

“Be safe,” Craig told her as he took his son from his sister's arms. “If you need to call, my cell phone is on.”

“Thanks,” Sutton said. “Love you, Rhys. Bye Craig.”

“Bye Sutton,” he told before looking over at Sidney. “Keep an eye on her.”

“Goodbye Craig.” Sutton called as she walked away from him and towards Jordan and Bianca.

Getting to Diesel, Sutton and Bianca had left the jerseys they wore to the game in Jordan's SUV. Sutton was dressed in a pair of dark jeans with a boots and a yellow top. Feeling a hand take her wrist, she saw it was Jordan making sure she didn't get lost in their group as they walked towards the stairs to the VIP section. Sutton had been to Diesel a few times and only one other time had she actually been up in the VIP section.

The drinks started coming before everyone had arrived. Sutton found herself sitting next to Sidney and there was no way she was going to be leaving anytime soon. His smile reached his entire face and that laugh of his, Sutton knew that she was attracted to him. After a few hours, Sutton saw that Jordan and Bianca were gone, which made her laugh since they lasted at Diesel a lot longer than she thought they would.

As the early morning hours crept up on them, Sutton was ready to go and thankfully so was Sidney. Saying their goodbyes for the night, Sidney grabbed her hand as they made their way out of the club and towards his Range Rover.

The drive towards Sutton and Bianca's apartment was spent in comfortable silence. It didn't take long before they were walking hand in hand towards the elevator that would take them to the empty apartment.

Two months passed before Sutton knew something wasn't right. The last month she thought she had got a touch of the flu and it had been going around, but that wasn't it. Stopping into a store she picked up a test that she had been hoping she wouldn't be taking before she was thirty. Alone in the apartment, Sutton took the test that would change her whole life if it came back positive. Waiting for the results of the test was the hardest part. Buying it was easy, but taking it and waiting and thinking about everything was just hard.

“Sutton? Are you home?”

Taking a deep breath, Sutton looked at the test and saw her results. Blinking back the tears, she wrapped the test in toilet paper and put it back into the box and placed it back into her purse. Picking up her bag, Sutton walked out of the bathroom and into the kitchen.

“Hey stranger.” Sutton said.

“Hey,” Bianca smiled. “Crazy last few weeks, huh?”

“Yeah,” Sutton forced a laugh. “Crazy.”

“What's up?”

“Remember the last time I went out with you and Jordan and the other guys after they won a game?”

“Yeah, it was a great night.”

“I had sex with Sidney Crosby that night.”

“Whoa, what? Really?” Bianca asked her, unsure of what to make of this confession. “Are you fucking kidding me right now?”

“I'm not kidding, B,” Sutton told her. “He's called a few times, but I haven't had the time to see him since that night.”

“Holy shit! You actually got in Sid's pants,” Bianca laughed. “You know you're going to have to give me details.”

“Why?” Sutton asked, a smirk creeping onto her face. “Jordan not cutting it anymore?”

“No!” Bianca said with a roll of her eyes. “Because every girl in their right mind wants to know what Sid is like in the sack.”

“It was amazing. He knows exactly what he's doing,” Sutton told her as she bit down gently on her lip. “But....”

“But what?”

“We were both a little drunk, but not enough to know what we were doing,” Sutton said. “He just forgot something.”

“No!” Bianca shouted. “Please tell me you didn't forget a condom.”

“We didn't exactly forget it, we were lost in the moment,” Sutton said as she ran a hand through her hair as she took a deep breath and then released it. “Bianca, I'm pregnant.”

“Oh shit.”

“To say the least,” Sutton said. “I don't know what I'm going to do. My brother is gonna kill me.”

“Forget your brother,” Bianca said. “Are you going to tell Sid?”

“I'm not sure,” Sutton admitted. “I mean can you imagine what would happen if it gets out that Sidney Crosby had a one night stand with some chick and now he's gonna be a daddy?”

“But you have to tell him,” she argued. “Are you ready to be a mom Sutton? Are you ready for this? Because you should probably know what you want to do before you talk with Sid.”

“I know I'm not ready,” she confessed. “So maybe just keep it between us? Don't tell Jordan, okay? Please?”

“Of course I won't tell him, but Sutton,” Bianca started. “You can't hide this type of thing for long. You are gonna have to tell him soon.”

“I promise I will,” she said. “As soon as I figure out what I'm gonna do. Right now I just need to think of something else right now, to get my mind off of all this for awhile.”

“You hungry?” Bianca asked. “We could order some food and watch the Penguins kick some ass?”

“Sounds good,” Sutton said. “And B?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks for being here for me.”

“Sutton, I'm always going to be here for you,” Bianca told her, giving her a reassuring smile. “No matter what.”

The Pittsburgh Penguins were on a west coast roadtrip which gave Sutton plenty of time to think about what it was that she wanted. Everything seemed to be scary. Never did she think that she would be pregnant with the baby of Sidney Crosby, let alone have sex with him. But she did and because of the careless actions of not putting on a condom, she was facing a life altering decision. She knew that whatever it was that she decided Bianca would have her back and she was pretty sure that her brother would too.

Two weeks since she found out about being pregnant and now she was expecting Sidney to stop by before she was to go over to her brother's place for a family dinner. Wearing dark jeans and a gray tee with the words Pittsburgh written across the chest, Sutton sat in the living room watching TV and waiting for Sidney to show up. Bianca had left to go over to Jordan's, but she told Sutton she'd be back if she needed her for anything. But Sutton knew that this was something she had to do by herself. Hearing the knock on the door, she turned off the TV and went to the door. Opening the door, she smiled at the man behind it.

“Hey, come on in,” Sutton said as she opened the door wide enough to let Sidney inside the apartment. “How are you?”

“Good, long trip, but good. It's good to see you Sutton.”

“It's good to see you too,” Sutton said gripping the bottom of her shirt out of nervous habit. “Can I get you anything?”

“Just some water if you have it. I have an early practice in the morning.”

“Sure,” Sutton said closing the door and heading to the kitchen and returning a few moments later with a bottle of water. “The filter in the fridge needs to be changed, but we haven't gotten to it. I think Craig is coming to do it in a few days, so I hope bottle is okay.”

“Yeah it's fine.” Sidney took the bottle she offered and took a swig. “So what's up? Why did you need me to come over tonight? Not that I mind, it's just, you sounded upset on the phone.”

Sitting down on the couch, she motioned for him to have a set as well. “I didn't want to do this over the phone. I thought you deserved to hear it in person.”

“I'm not gonna lie. You're freaking me out Sutton.”

“I'm pregnant.”

“Whoa, what? You're what?”

“Pregnant. Knocked up. Expecting.”

“Please tell me this is a joke Sutton.”

“I wish I could, but I can't.”

“What are you saying?” he asked standing up. “Are you saying this is my kid?”

“Yeah, I am saying that,” Sutton told him as she looked at him. “Before that night I hadn't had sex in over a year and you didn't put the damn condom on.”

“Christ Sutton, it wasn't just me. If you remember correctly – there were two of us in that room. You could have stopped me. You could have asked me to wear one.”

“I was caught up in the moment! I should have, but you could have thought about putting it on yourself, unless you were planning to have random kids pop up. I'm twenty and pregnant, this was not what I wanted!”

“Like I said Sutton – there were two if us. You know who I am, you know the kind of attention I have on me all the time. Do you really think I want a kid?”

Wiping the tears that had fallen from her eyes, Sutton tried to get her emotions in check as she stood up. “I'm not getting rid of it.”

“What? I can't believe you. I never said anything about getting rid of it. All I've done is defend myself for not wearing a condom. Jesus Christ Sutton. You call me here to tell me you're pregnant with my kid, and you act like a fucking bitch.”

“And I'm telling you that even though you might not want a kid right now, you got one.”

“I can't do this. I can't do this right now. You aren't rational. I'm not trailer trash Sutton, maybe that's what you're used to. I'm not the kind of man that walks out on his responsibilities, but you need to get your shit together and stop blaming me for this. Then we'll talk.”

Setting the half empty bottle of water on the table, he walked out the door.

“I'm scared....” Sutton said softly as the door closed and Sidney was gone.

Twenty minutes after Sidney left, Sutton was sitting on the couch just thinking about how she was going to tell Craig. He was the hardest person to tell. The two siblings had a ten year difference, but they were as close as if they were only two years apart. It had been her brother that convinced her to come out to Pittsburgh to go to school so that he could see her more and that she could be around her nephew. Running a hand through her hair, she grabbed the elastic hair tie off the table where Sidney's water was still sitting and gathered her hair into a high pony tail. Taking her jacket off the back of the couch, Sutton grabbed her bag and keys and headed out the door and to her brother's place for dinner and to tell him that she was pregnant with his team captain's baby.

The drive was short and it took her a few minutes to actually get out of her car, but with a few deep breaths, Sutton finally did it. Making her way to the door, she walked inside without knocking. “Hello? Anyone home? Craig? Anne?”

Taking off her shoes, Sutton heard her brother in the kitchen. “Hey stranger.”

“Hey beautiful sister of mine.”

Shaking her head at her brother, Sutton walked over to him and gave him a hug. Savoring it for a moment before pulling back. “Where is Anne and Rhys?”

“The store. Dinner is gonna be a little later than usual, hope you don't have any plans.”

“Actually I wanted to talk to you about something.”

“Want a snack or something?” Craig asked.

“Water, please.”

Waiting for her brother to sit down at the table across from her, she moved the hair that fell from her eyes so she could look at him. “This almost seems like when mom or dad would sit you down when you did something wrong.”

“Does it count if I tell you that you aren't in trouble?” Sutton laughed as she accepted and thanked him for the bottle of water. “I need you to know I never meant for this happen and I'm not totally sure what I'm going to do at this point.”

“Sutton?” Craig asked her, confused at where she was going with that statement.

“You're going to be an uncle,” Sutton said. “I'm pregnant.”

“Are you sure, Sutton?” Craig asked, looking into his sister's eyes. “Are you sure it's not some mistake?”

“It was confirmed a few weeks ago while you were on your roadtrip. So yes, I'm sure.”

“Who's the father, Sutton?” Craig asked, his words said nothing about killing the father, but his tone of voice was as clear as day.

“I can't tell you...”

“What? Why?” Craig asked confused before it hit him. “Wait. Did you...have you been seeing someone from the team?”

“I'm not seeing anyone from your team,” Sutton said. “It was just one night.”

“You're gonna have to tell me. I'll find out sooner or later. Who was it?”

“Craig, you have to promise you won't do anything. You know I can figure out what to do.”

“Just tell me Sutton!” Craig said raising his voice, but not enough to scare his sister.

“Sidney.”

Craig tugged on his hair. “Fuck Sutton. Sid?” He saw the fear in her eyes and curbed his anger. Standing up he walked over to her and pulled her into a brotherly hug while dying to get his hands on that little bastard.

“I'm scared Craig. I'm not ready for this.” Sutton said as she let the tears flow.