Discovering...Love?

"Shit, I'm going to be late!" I say looking over at the clock that reads 9:55. I try to get up, but Sid tightens his grip on my waist.

"Nuh, uh. stay with me, you can go later," he mumbles into my shoulder.

"Sid, I'd rather stay too, but I have to go. All the girlfriends and wives are expecting me," I groan.

Yesterday Sara and Laura informed me that all the girls were getting together to get ready for the big event this evening. Apparently, we were supposed to go to a spa where they would pamper us for most of the day, which I was up for. But then we were going to get our hair and makeup done, yuck. I hated when people did my make up. It always turned out cakey and unnatural.

"Fine. When will you be back?"he yawns allowing me to get up.

"Umm... I think around 4:30. Then I'll change real quick and we can be at the event at 5,"I reply throwing on a pair of jeans and an old University of Maryland t shirt, not bothering to do my make up or shower. I knew that all the girls would probably look fabulous, even if they were in sweats. But I didn't see the point in going to a spa with your makeup done,when they were just going to take it off anyway. This was suppose to be a relaxing time, and I resolved not to think to much about tonight or meeting the Lemieux's. I grabbed my bag that had my id, money, and a book in it after pulling my hair up into a quick pony tail.

"Okay, I'm out of here," I say going over to the bed to give Sid a quick kiss. I walked away toward the door.

"Now you be good, and have fun with the boys," I say quietly petting Bran and giving him a hug. He was set for his debut on the red carpet. I was a different story. I hated leaving him when we were in a different country, but I knew Sid would keep an eye on him.

"Babe, we're just watching movies and playing in the game room all day, I can't really get in that much trouble," I hear Sidney sigh from his place in bed.

"Not you, Bran. Remember you have to keep an eye on him today, or rather, he'll probably be keeping an eye on you," I laugh, knowing Bran is quiet capable of taking care of himself.

"Bye, boys. See you at 4:30," I wave as I grab my coat and walk out the door.

I look at my phone and realize it's already 10:03. I was suppose to meet them in the lobby 3 minutes ago. I run down the hotel steps, I hate elevators, and into the lobby where I find a mass of women waiting. I guess it wasn't just the Penguin ladies going to the spa day. Great! I was in a guys Barbie heaven. I looked around for someone I knew. All the ladies were in their best dress, or rather what would be my best attire. They probably just pulled something out of the closet. I felt extremely out of place in my beat up jeans and t shirt as I looked around at the women in skirts and heels. There were some in sweat pants, but they wore them as if they were designer sweat pants, which they probably were.

"Caitlin!" I heard Laura call from behind me.

I turn to see her waving to me standing next to the other ladies. A wave of relief washes over me as I see the familiar faces and run over to them.

"Alright ladies, we're all here. Let's get going," I hear Sara say to the group.

I slip on my bomber coat and follow the line of ladies to a spa. After determining what we want to do, I file off with Sara, Laura, and Alexis Malone to go to the mud baths. I think they all went for beauty reasons, they said it did wonders for the skin. But they didn't have to convince me, taking a bath in mud sounded like fun. After stripping off our clothes in a changing room, we settled down in the large tubs of mud.

"This is so sweet!" I laugh slipping into the warm mud, "This is like a little kids dream!"

"Mmmm... yeah... most definitely," I hear Alexis sigh.

They apparently weren't in here for the same reason I was. After multiple spa treatments, including some kind of hair therapy mask, and a massage, my body was as relaxed as its ever been; however, my mind was still in over drive. I think back to what Bran and Sid were doing. They were probably chilling with the guys, eating pizza and wings as they watched sports and did other guys stuff. I wished I was along with them. All the noise and sloppiness of being with the guys probably would have relaxed me more than this place. Not that I didn't like the spa, but the peace and quiet let my mind wander, which right now, wasn't a good thing. Plus, I was starving, all they gave us were some dinky salads with no dressing that wouldn't fill a chipmunk, and cucumber water. Just the thought of the pizza, wings, and beer, I was sure the guys were wolfing down, was making my mouth water.

Finally our day at the spa was over! I thought maybe I'd go back there after search and rescue operations, but seriously, I would have rather eaten today... God I was so damn hungry! However, I had no time to stop and eat as they pushed us into some beauty shop to get our hair and make up done. I first got my nails done, which took 30 minutes. 5 for filing and painting my nails a clear color, 5 for painting my toe nails a silvery, and the final 20 was spent convincing the lady that I did not need those bothersome acrylic nails!

I next went to hair. I sat in the chair and talked with the hairdresser.

"I don't want anything over the top. I want a natural look, that means no excessive hair spray!" I plead with the man.

"I understand," he smiles back at me.

He takes me over to the sink to wash my hair and then brings me back to the chair where he begins the process of combing and cutting my hair. I hadn't had a hair cut in a long while.

"You have beautiful hair, you take care of it very well," he says in a French Canadian accent.

"Thank you. But most of it's probably from that avocado mask thing I had at the spa today,"I sigh rolling my eyes.

"Didn't you have a good time?" he asks running a wide tooth comb through my thick hair.

"Well, yes, but I would have rather been with the guys. They didn't feed us much there, and I was ready to eat the cucumbers off my eyes I was so hungry," I smile, making him laugh.

"If you don't mind me saying, you are not like the other ladies."

"No. Sometimes I think I don't really belong with them,"I sigh. I don't know why, but I felt as though I could open up to this guy.

"Well, you have the beauty to fit if that's what you're worried about," he smiles. I was really beginning to like this guy.

"Thank you. But as you can see, my style of well... everything is not like them."

"That's good, it sets you apart. Your boyfriend, he is from the Penguins, oui?" he asks.

"Yeah," I smile thinking back to the guy who stole my heart from the start.

"Who is he, if you don't mind me asking."

"Sidney Crosby," I reply shyly.

"Wow! You are very different from his fiance, what was her name, Victoria."

"yeah, I know. That's what worries me sometimes. All these ladies wouldn't even know about this event if their boys didn't ask them. Me, I've been invited for the past 2 years."

"Why is that?"he says cutting off some of my hair, "look down please."

"I'm part of a Search and Rescue team, so every year I'm invited to their international event."

"That is a high honor, you must be very good at it."

"Oh, no not me. I would be nothing without my dogs."I continue to talk to my hair dresser and before I know it he tells me he's finished.

He spins me around in the chair and hands me a mirror, to see his handy work. He had done loose french braid on one side that wrapped around my head, then joined all my hair together in a semi messy bun at the side of my head. The style wasn't constricting and was actually very comfortable, it was very... well... me. It was natural looking and wasn't weighed down by hairspray. I had to hand it to this guy, he listened like a bartender and was the De Vinci of hair.

"It's perfect! It's exactly what I wanted, how did you know?" I say looking at him astounded.

"Why thank you. An artist always likes to hear that his work is appreciated. I just listened to what you were telling me and let my fingers do the work. Your style was actually quite easy. And when you take it down, which getting to know you this past hour I'm sure you will as soon as the party is over, you will find that I took about 2 inches off your hair and added in some long layers," he smiles at me.

"Caitlin, if you're done, it's time for makeup!"I hear Alexis Malone call.

"Well, thank you very much. And thank you for listening to my problems, you made me feel a lot better,"I say giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"You are quite welcome, and good luck tonight. You will turn heads, I'm sure of it," he smiles before I walk away.

I get my makeup done and I'm pleased to see that it isn't in the least bit cakey. The make up artist puts on a small bit of bronzer on my cheeks, dark charcoal liner for my eyes along with a dark olive green eye shadow, she then tops it off with mascara and some highlighting powder. I had a smokey eye going and was surprised to see my reflection in the mirror when she was done. I actually look ...beautiful.

I don't wait for the other girls, they had brought their dresses or had them delivered there. Mine was still at the hotel.I enter the hotel room with less than 15 minutes before I had to enter the lobby again. I run up the first flight of stairs to the elevator. I had to take it this time, I didn't want to mess up my hair.

I rush into the room where Bran greets me.

"Sid! I'm back!" I call, but there is no answer.

I go into the bathroom where there is a note taped to the mirror.

Caitlin,
I went over to Colby's room, he was having trouble with his tie. Go figure. I'll meet you in the lobby at 5. Oh, and I took your coat down with me. I want to see how beautiful you are the moment I lay eyes on you.
Love, Sidney

I sigh, 'damn he was good.' I think before rushing to the closet to get my dress. I change out of the clothes I already have on, careful as I pull the t shirt over my head not to mess anything up. I slip on the cool green silk of the dress and pull on my strappy high heels. I walked over to the mirror. I look at myself in the mirror and my breath catches in my throat. I look like I was going to a high fashioned red carpet event, like I was, but I had managed, with the help of others to make the outfit fit my personality. The outfit wasn't over the top, it was simple but beautiful. It flowed perfectly over every curve. The hair was swept up not covering the neck line of the dress that showed off my shoulders and collar bone. The bronzer showed off my cheek bones and the shadow brought out the dark brown of my eyes.

I turn to walk away from the mirror when I spotted a small black box on the edge of the nightstand with a note attached with my name on it. I walk over to it and pull off the note.

The girls said this would complete your dress
Sidney

I open the box to reveal a breathtaking bracelet. Small diamonds were linked together to make up a thin chain. I look at the clock and realize I only had 5 minutes before we leave. I slip on the thin chain and find that it is actually carries some weight. I look in the mirror for the final time to find that it does complete my ensemble. I check the clock and find that it is time to leave.

I go to the door with Bran by my side.

"Are you ready? You'll be there the whole time right?"I ask him as I grasp the door nob.

He licks my hand in reply, as if to say, "let's go."

I take a deep breath and open the door. I walk through the deserted hall way and into the empty elevator. Taking deep breaths as it goes down, damn was I nervous.The door opens and I step out onto the carpet with Bran next to me. Taking a deep breath, yet again, I go to the edge of the stairs and look down to see that all the players are there waiting. Everyone seems to stop and look at me. I felt like Cinderella. My breath catches and I think, 'what if I can't do this.'

Bran seems to feel my anxiety and steps closer to me touching his wet nose to my arm. I look down and smile at him."Thank bud," I whisper provoking a tail wag.

I look back at me to see if I see Sid. I spy him holding my coat and looking up at me with a stunned expression, his mouth slightly ajar. I grin before descending down the steps to meet him, Bran never leaving my side.

Sid's POV

I couldn't believe it when she opened the door and revealed 8 hockey players listening at the door. How perverted could they get! I was furious and wanted to kill them on the spot. However, at that moment, I think she and Bran had it pretty well covered. I almost felt bad for those poor sons of bitches. I heard a few doors open and Max, Staalzy, Bugsy, Ruuts, Geno, and Whit came out to see what was going on.

"What's all this about?" Whit asks first.

"Caitlin and I were... well... we were…"I hesitate.

"Gotcha," Bugs said telling me that they knew what I meant.

"Yeah, well, we didn't get too far. She had everything she is wearing at the moment, and we were about to go a little further but she stopped me and went to the door. She opened it and these losers were on the other side listening to us. She called Bran out and that leads us to what you see here," I finish.

All the guys look like they are ready to kill the guys on the other side of the hallway. They advance but Caitlin turns around and holds up a hand. With that look on her face, nobody would dare move a step more. She finished yelling at them and then got really quite, which was even worse. The guys scampered away and she pushed past us into the room. She sits on the bed just staring at the wall with her fists clenching and unclenching. Her hair was hanging down in her eyes that were still blazing a reddish brown.

"Babe, are you ok?" I ask softly, the other guys were standing behind me looking at her the same way I was.

"Fine," she snaps, "This hotel has a pool right?"

"Umm... yeah, why?"

"I need to burn off some anger, " she muttered looking in her suit case. After taking a second to change in the bathroom she comes out wearing a Nike two piece.

"I'll be back later," she says slamming the door.

We all stood there quietly for at least 5 minutes before Bugsy spoke up,"I don't think I've ever seen her so mad before," he says quietly.

"I've only seen her that mad once before. And that was when we broke up at the beach," I replied.

"She gets really scary. First she just flipped out but what was even scarier was when she got really quiet and had that low voice," Staalzy shivers, "I mean I had never seen Bran like that, and that was scary. But she was a whole lot scarier than him."

"It's mostly her eyes, though," Max continued, "they turn like a red brown instead of the usually dark chocolate. I don't think I've ever seen that."

"We need her on the hockey team," Ruuts stated quietly, being dead serious.

"So what is she doing right now at the pool?" Geno asked.

"Probably pushing herself as hard as possible, doing lap after lap, before she just collapses." I sigh, "I'll give her another 5 minutes before I go get her."

"What I don't get, is how did she know that there was someone at the door?" Whit asked confused.

"I have no idea!" I sigh again, "She does some things and I don't know how she does them."

A few minutes later I go down to the pool area and see that she is underwater doing lap after lap. I spy Flower and Laura on one of the chairs next to the pool watching her bewildered.

"Hey, guys." I say walking over.

"What's up with Caitlin?" Laura asks. I sigh before giving them a run down on what happened.

"Oh my God! That's terrible! How could they do that, you two should have called the police," Laura gasps in horror.

"Yeah, well believe me. I don't think they will be going anywhere near her anytime soon," I frown, "How long has she been at this?"

"It's been a good 15-20 minutes not stop. I think she's just starting to slowdown," Marc says looking at his watch.

I groan and jump in the pool to get her. I swim over to her, making her stop and come up for air. She surfaces breathless.

"Caitlin, are you okay?" I ask as she takes the goggles off her head.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just pissed," she said breathlessly.

"You have every right to be."

"Yeah, I know. Sorry I left like that, I just needed to get some energy out."

"It's fine, don't worry about it. I know exactly how you feel. You scared the shit out of those guys though, eh?" I smile.

"Yeah, well... they're lucky that's all I did," she smiles back.

"How did you know they were at the door though?" I ask, it had been bothering me.

"I dunno. Living with dogs you have to constantly be listening for little things, like a wrapper crinkling might clue you into that a dog is on the counter. So I have pretty good ears to hear the little things," she shrugs, "Although my mom would tell you I'm deaf to everything else."

"You amaze me sometimes," I laugh and reach out to pull her into a hug. But before I can reach her she dives into the water again, darting away from me.

"Oh it's going to be like that, eh?" I grin as she surfaces.

“Eh?” she grins making fun of my accent. She splashes water at me playfully as I come closer. I'm just about to reach her when she darts away again to the other side of the pool. After 10 minutes of chase I begin to get frustrated. Finally I have her backed up against the wall with no way out.

"You're trapped and you can't escape," I grin down at her pulling her into a tightly against me.

"Maybe I don't want to escape, maybe I want to stay right here," she grins up at me placing a kiss on my lips.

"Good," I murmur before bringing my lips to meet hers. I feel her smile into the kiss as her hands make their way around my neck to play with my hair. God I loved when she did that, it gave me chills. No other woman I had been with did that, or if they did, it didn’t make me feel the same way.

"Yeah, Siddo!" I hear some one shout along with a choir of whistles. I break away to see Army, Kris, and Max standing at the pool doors. I look down to see that Caitlin is smiling, her cheeks slightly pink.

I let her out of my arms and we both get out of the pool to find towels. She had on a sporty bikini and the water was rolling down her whole body making me go insane. I watched the water droplets slide down her neck and between her two round breasts, disappearing into her bathing suit. Then they started another downward fall across her tight abs into the bottom half of the bikini before falling down her smooth legs to form a puddle on the floor. She made me want to lay her down on the nearest flat surface and lick the rest of the water off of her.

She gathered her long hair in her hands and wrung the water out of it. She gathered it again, her hands going up the nape of her neck before twisting it skillfully into a bun. With her arms up you could see the toned muscles in her back, and of course you could see her muscular legs, she was still a little slimmer than she was before the avalanche. I looked over to the door to see the guys gawking at her too, their eyes wandering over her.

"Guys put you tongues back in your mouths!" I shout at them with a grin.

Caitlin turns innocently looking at the door. She lets out a loud laugh.
"You like what you see boys? I mean after all I'm just one of the guys, right?" she says sarcastically.

"If your a guy then I'm going gay," Max says smoothly with a wink, "Better be careful Sid, some one might try to steal her away.”

"Nope she's all mine," I say wrapping my arms around her.

"We were checking out Ace? I was checking out the stud next to her in the blue trunks," Colby says sarcastically winking at me. "Hello handsome!" he says in a girly voice causing everyone to erupt with laughter.

"What we came down here for was to ask if you to wanted to go to dinner with everyone else?" Kris asks.

"Sure if it's okay with Caitlin," I ask her.

"How bout it Ace? I'll show you the way around the city," Kris grins at her.

"Alright, I'm entrusting my life with you Tangers," she smiles, "Just let me go get changed."

"Awwww, you mean you aren't wearing that?" Max whines.

"Ha, ha very funny."



Caitlin's POV

After changing into my usual jeans and sweater, Sid and I say bye Bran going down stairs in the lobby to meet the others. Jordan spots me first, he grins and shouts,
“There is the man of the hour Way to show ‘em Ace!"

The rest of the guys look my way and begin to applaud me as I come down the steps.

"Believe me, Ace is no man under those clothes," I hear Colby shout. I look just in time to see Sara punch him in the arm for his comment. He looks at her an mouths "what?” prompting her to roll her eyes.

"No, no she's not," Sid whispers in my ear before kissing my cheek.

I reach the bottom of the steps and link my arm in Tanger’s.

"I believe you promised to show me the city, Mr. Letang," I grin up at him.

"That I did, Ace, that I did," he laughs.

"But what about me?" Sidney pouts.

"I'm sure you can find enough trouble to get in with you girlfreind,"I laugh as Colby latches onto
him for a hug.

"Come on Siddy Poo, you can walk with me," Army says trying to kiss him on the cheek. I see Sara roll her eyes and laugh at him as she talks to Laura.

"Ugh, Army quite!!!" Sid laughs trying to pull away from him.

Kris, Flower, and Max lead us all around the city, showing us places from their past, before we
finally settle down at a cozy restaurant not far from the hotel. After eating a delicious meal, the poor restaurant probably has no food left after we were there; Sidney takes my hand and leads me back to the hotel. I look out into the snow thinking about tomorrow.

"What's the matter?" he asks softly.

"Nothing," I respond.

"No, there's something up, now talk. This isn't about the incident earlier is it?" He asks his
features looking at me with worry.

"No. It's just... I don't know, I'm just nervous about tomorrow, I guess," I shrug.

"What! You’re going to be a knock out! I'm going to have to beat the other players away with a
stick. I'm sure of it!" he says in surprise.

"Sidney, you haven't even seen me in my dress yet," I smile weakly as his arm moves around my waist.

"I don't need to, I just know. Oh, and I have something to tell you," he says his eyes lighting up.

"What's that," I sigh leaning my head on his shoulder as we approach the hotel.

"Mario and Natalie are going to be there tomorrow and they want to meet you," he grins down
at me. That got my attention; I stop walking and snap my head up to look at him.

"They what!"

"Babe calm down, it's no big deal! They just want to see you; I mean they know about the beach
and everything now. And they know that I left Victoria because of you, which they are extremely happy about by the way, and they want to meet you."

"I know, I'm just nervous about tomorrow, and they are like family to you. And I haven't met any of your family yet. What if they don't like me?" I say, great more to be nervous about.

"They will like you, I guarantee it," he says stopping me again to kiss me sweetly on the lips before we head into the hotel.

'I sure hope so,' I think to myself. I give him a smile as we head into the hotel. Once there, I take out Bran once before returning in to find Sid already asleep on the bed.

'I'm never going to be able to sleep,' I think to myself as I slip into my pjs. I was really nervous for tomorrow, and now I was afraid the Lemieuxs' wouldn't like me. I crawl in bed next to Sid. I snuggle into his warmth, his arm automatically coming around me, pulling me into him.

"Night, Sidney. I love you." I whisper tilting my head up to kiss his jaw. But he's already fast asleep again. I sigh contently, breathing in his comforting scent. With the warmth of his body, his arm around me, and his scent filling my nose, I immediately cease my worrying and fall asleep.