Chapter 35: A Winter Wedding

Okay, that seemed to take forever to get out! Sorry ladies, I guess I've just been in a coma after reading all of Juliet's stuff! She's trying to kill me I think.. First the Pillow Lips (Eric Staal) story and now this multi-chapter Sid one... I'm a goner fersher!!

ENJOY!

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“YYYEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!”

Sid screamed as he skated over to tackle Geno in a giant man hug. The Russian had just buried a slap shot behind Vokoun, less than a minute into OT. Jordan had drawn a penalty and the power play had kicked in well. Keeping the puck in the offensive zone and scoring was a great way to lead up to tomorrow.

Geno is getting married tomorrow.

That thought stayed in Sid’s head from the time they skated off the ice, until he showered and spotted Mel lying on one of the sofas in the lounge. Erin was stretched out beside her and a couple of the other WAGs were laughing with them. He walked up and leaned down beside Mel’s head.

“Melany… why are you sprawled out on this couch?”

“Hi baby!! You won! Yay!! Now we can party it up!”

“Looks like you’ve already been partying,” he said as he stared down at her flushed face. He looked at the other ladies. “Who was on Mel watch tonight?”

Erin raised her hand. Sid gave her a pointed look and she just laughed.

“What,” she asked. “I can’t drink. She was stressed. She drank for both of us… Completely not my fault. If you guys would just blow all the other teams out, every game, then we wouldn’t feel the need to ‘calm our nerves’ during the game.”

They all laughed at that and Sid even found himself smiling. Geno came over and suggested that they go out. Sid declined, getting Erin to help him sit Mel up more, instead of just letting her lay there. She didn’t drink very often, and if she had to be up early… he wanted to get her to the hotel and get some water and aspirin in her now!

Geno laughed that Mel had no tolerance for alcohol and that after New Year’s he would build her tolerance up. She just flipped him off and leaned against Sid as he pulled her up beside him and they started walking toward the exit.

“I’m not that drunk,” she mumbled against his shoulder. He just chuckled and murmured an agreement as he helped her into his car. By the time they pulled up to the hotel she was pretty much back to normal. “What did you drink woman? I thought you didn’t like beer?”

“I don’t. We were up in the boxes tonight… Erin’s stomach wasn’t agreeing with her. Geno Jr. had her feeling like she was gonna upchuck her dinner so it was easier if we were up there and near a private bathroom.”

“Okay…” He signed the paper from the concierge, grabbed the keys and huddled her into the elevator.

“They have top shelf stuff up there Crosby. And it was tasty. Plus, the third period had me on pins and needles. And, I’m nervous about tomorrow. For Erin and Geno.”

“Why?”

Sid slid the room key into the door and hooked the DND door hanger on the outside of the door. Then he flipped both locks and guided her over to the bed. He chuckled once more as Mel smiled up at him and then collapsed onto the mattress. She mumbled something unintelligible into the comforter and he giggled.

“I’m sorry babe, but I don’t speak gibberish.”

“I said get your pants off Crosby.”

“Ha! Normally I would be up for that, but you don’t look like you’re in any condition to play tonight… Why don’t we just go to bed and when you wake up in the morning we’ll see how you feel, okay?”

He waited for an answer, waited for her to scoff at him or tackle him like she did some nights when she wouldn’t be denied. That was just another thing he loved about her. She always wanted him. And maybe it was egotistical, but it made him smile that she was always ready and willing.

“Mel… babe… Melany?”

Leaning down over her, Sid chuckled when he realized she was passed out. My girlfriend, the lightweight. Smiling, he lifted himself from the bed and stripped down to his boxers. Then he pulled as much of the covers down that he could before he peeled her button down off her shoulders and pulled her pants off.

She had on killer heels tonight and he was a little bummed that he didn’t get to feel them wrapped around his waist or hung over his shoulders.Plenty of time for that later though, even tomorrow night. They had the room again, so he would enjoy it just as much then as he would’ve tonight. Tossing the heels and her clothes into the corner of the room with his, Sid tugged gently, pulling her over to the uncovered side of the bed.

He helped her under the covers and then slid under them on the other side of the bed. Turning off the single light, the room disappeared into darkness and he wrapped his arm around her waist, keeping her snug against him. He fell asleep with her hand in his and his face buried in her hair.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Mel smiled as she dreamt of Sid. He was sneaking down between her thighs, his tongue tracing over her skin as he made his way to her juicy center. One hand peeled the satin of her panties to the side as he blew a soft breath over her. She moaned as he coaxed one finger between her lips, the digit sliding easily through her moist folds.

After a few moments he added another finger, his teeth nibbling at her inner thigh as she squealed and lifted her hips up to him in offering. He laughed deeply and murmured some about patience which made her grumble and fist her hands in the pillows above her head.

She wanted him, right now. He was thrusting his fingers in and out quickly, making her stomach clench as she begged for him to cease his torture. He just chuckled and promised her he’d give her anything she wanted if she’d open her eyes and look at him.

She tried, she really did, but every time she attempted to open her lids, they wouldn’t listen.

Fucking dreams.

She was on fire from his touch and the flames of desire were licking their way up her legs, slowly. The higher they got, the harder she tried to open her eyes. She knew that if they reached high enough, she’d explode into a burst of shimmering light and she wanted to see it happen.

Sid was still plying her with maddeningly slow thrusts of his fingers. She was literally dripping with anticipation and when Sid asked nicely that she spread her legs for him, Mel acquiesced. The flames were up to her thighs now and she desperately tried to force her eyes open. They refused to listen to her commands.

She was almost sobbing now, wanting the sweet relief from the fire, needing to feel his lips wrapped around her pleasure button, his tongue sweeping swiftly over her motel core. Sid was whispering to her now. She tried to make out the words, but his voice was too low. She groaned in frustration and when he finally placed his tongue over her folds, she shot up into a sitting position, her hands holding him to her flesh.

Mel’s eyes flew open and she looked down, seeing her fingers fisting through Sid’s curls. He was looking up at her and he must’ve realized the moment she truly woke up because he pushed his fingers deep and curled them up, rubbing against her g-spot as he nipped her clit.

“Fuck. Sid. Baby, don’t stop!”

She gasped as he wiggled his fingers and sucked her nub between his lips. She praised him and his talented tongue and he hummed in agreement, sending that hot white light in her line of sight and she jerked against him, calling out his name and a few curse words before falling backward, her body convulsing in the throes of bliss while Sid gently lapped up her juices.

Slipping his fingers out slowly, she curled into the pillows. Every touch felt over-sensitized, even her pillow rubbing against her nipples tore a ragged breath from her lungs. Obviously Sid wasn’t finished with her though. He pulled her by the legs and crawled over top her body, spreading her thighs open and positioning his hard length against her entrance.

“Sid… can’t… oh fucking hell, Sidney!”

His name left her lips and she cried out as he slid inside, bottoming out so that his pelvis rested on hers and his balls rested against her ass. He didn’t move, didn’t even breathe, but she still shivered in his arms. Her muscles clenched tight around him and the coil in her lower belly was already poised to spring. He pulled out and thrust twice more before she came apart in his arms again.

Sid growled her name. He slammed his hips down against her over and over again, wrenching all of her energy from her body with his movements. She clung to him for dear life, her legs locked around his hips and one arm wrapped over his shoulders as her other hands ran through his hair.

With a cry of protest, she stared at him as he pulled away from her, her body craving his heat and feeling empty now that he was no longer wedged inside of her.

“Sid… why?”

“Flip over,” he commanded. He meaty hands were already twisting her over as his voice caught up with his actions. She was unceremoniously turned, her nipple crushed against the fabric of the comforter and her ass pulled up. He brought his palm down on her ass cheek a couple times, and she relished in the sound as it bounced off the walls of the hotel room.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

He stared down at the body beneath him. Her skin was flawless except for the new ink that lined her back. He’d never been one to stare at the tattoos of the women in the clubs, but sitting there with Mel the day she got her new outline done… he’d taken her home, placed her on the bed very similar to this, and fucked her hard as he stared at the fresh image drawn into her skin.

It wasn’t that he got off on watching the needle dig into her flesh, but watching how it seemed to take away all of her worries, and she held onto his hand as the artist’s talented hands moved over her back, only squeezing a couple times when he got close to her spine and her kidneys. She was so strong.

She didn’t cry, didn’t take a break. She just sat there with an intense stare on her face as Sid watched the image come to life on her back. And now it was healed and waiting to be finished, a living canvas that would look beautiful when it was complete. Trailing a hand over the lines and curves, he followed the new image that led from her ship and stretched over the expanse of flesh until it disappeared on the other side of her ribs.

Pistoning in and out once more, Sid listened to her tortured breath, her moans of pleasure, watched the way she clutched the pillows in a vice grip as she pushed herself back against him. He took a deep breath and gripped her hips, pulling her back and forth as he shoved himself as deep as possible.

He didn’t stop, didn’t relent, didn’t even move a finger as he let loose a torrent of brutal and bone-jarring thrusts that force one more scream from her lips. Then she dropped down, her arms giving out as she sobbed into the mattress. Sid bit down on his lip and then let out a hoarse cry as he emptied himself inside her quivering body.

“I love you,” he whispered as he pulled out and curled up against her, flipping the bedcovers over them backward and closing his eyes for a few more moments of rest before the insanity of the day could intrude on his little slice of heaven.

He was trying to drift back into dreamland when there was an incessant knocking on their door and he groaned, lifting off the bed and wrapping a towel from the bathroom around his waist as he padded softly over to the door. Looking through the peep hole he groaned again.

“Open up mon ami! We have to go meet Geno! I know you are there. I heard you groan!”

Throwing open the door, Sid glared at Max.

“I hate you right now.”

“Where is your lovely girlfriend, is she as up and ready to start the day as you?”

Completely ignoring the glare that Sid was currently throwing his way, Max stepped into the room and sauntered past him. Looking up at the ceiling, he prayed for strength today. He shut the door and made his way back to the bed. Max was standing at the edge, not saying anything. Sid asked him what was wrong.

“When did she get the tattoo?”

“What? She’s had the…”

Sid’s breath caught in his throat when he glanced down at Melany. He had forgotten that she hadn’t put any clothing on after this morning’s wild romp and now he and Max were both just staring at her back, her very naked back. Sid punched Max in the arm.

“Dude, stop ogling my girlfriend!”

“I’m admiring the work.”

“You’re waiting to see if the blanket dips any lower or if she turns over you pervert!”

“That would be quite a spectacular view, no?”

“NO! Go wait in the bathroom or something!”

Max laughed and held up his hands in surrender as he shuffled into the bathroom, shutting the door and whining that he missed the view already. Sid shook his head and walked over to the head of the bed. He ran his fingers through Mel’s hair and smiled when she opened her eyes.

“Good morning.”

“Back at ya. Is Max really hiding in the bathroom?”

“He is.”

“Good, give me your shirt!”

Sid let out a loud laugh and threw his shirt at her. He was still smiling when she hopped out of bed and quickly tugged her jeans on. She was out the door ten minutes later, fully clothed and in search of the bride-to-be.

He fell back onto the bed and let out a sigh.

“Max, should I wait to pop the question?”

“What do you think?”

“Well, I had every intention of pulling her outside during the reception and proposing… but something doesn’t feel right about it.”

“You want to let Geno have the night to himself, yes?”

“Yeah. I don’t want to steal any of his thunder.”

“I think that you have made a wise decision mon ami. Now, let’s go! All of us manly men are having brunch together.”

“Wow, that’s very manly sounding.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Okay, the centerpieces are all set up. The ribbons are tied to the backs of the chairs. Everyone working the reception has made it in early since there’s the possibility of snow. All of our dresses are hung up and ready. Hair appointments are in forty-five minutes… Am I forgetting anything?”

Mel looked around at the other female members of the bridal party. Erin was staring out the window, her entire body glowing as she looked out over the river. Amanda was propped up against the headboard and Erin’s friend from high school, another Mel, was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the bed.

We’re going to need code names or something so that she and I aren’t constantly looking up every time we hear someone say ‘Mel’.

“Okay, well if there are no problems, I suggest we all grab something light for lunch before the insanity begins.”

“Who’s got the rings??”

“Brooks has the rings.”

“Are your flowers all together?”

“Our bouquets look beautiful. The boys’ boutonnieres are perfect and your single white rose has been picked clean of all possible thorns.”

“I’m getting married today.”

She turned toward Erin, seeing the ‘fear of the unknown’ pass over her friend’s face quickly. Then it was overshadowed by the genuine smile. Mel ran over and hugged Erin tightly.

“You are. To a wonderful man. Who loves you. Now, let’s go get food and then we’ll get our hair done. And then make-up. Then slip into our dresses and wait for your Uncle Butch to tell us it’s time!”

Erin nodded and the foursome made their way to the restaurant/bar in the lobby of The Renaissance. When Erin had first said she wanted to get married at this hotel, Mel had been skeptic. Sure, lots of people didn’t get married in a church, but a hotel?

Then they’d stopped in for a visit and the charm of the area where the ceremony would take place… it was just what Erin would want. There was a gigantic staircase that broke off and veered both left and right. That was where she would be standing with Amanda and Mel #2, to the left. Brooks, Sid and Max would be on the right. The center staircase would hold Erin and Geno, and Uncle Butch.

Charles ‘Butch’ Burkell was Erin’s most favorite uncle. She had been as close to him as she had been to her own father. And he was career Navy. Mel remembered the first time she met the man. He was intimidating. And then he had let out a big barrel-chested laugh and pulled her into a hug. Scariest military chaplain ever.

“What time are the photographers getting here,” Erin quizzed as they were waiting for their meals.

“I called and Julia said they’d be getting in early since everyone keeps talking about this storm that is supposed to hit tonight. I promised her that if the weather got too bad, we’d make sure she and her assistant have a room to stay in.”

Erin nodded and they were in the middle of discussing how long it should honestly take to get in to their places and whether or not she wanted them to come up the aisle or down the steps like she would when Erin dropped her fork, a giant smile on her face. She was out of her chair and running before Mel could ask what was going on.

Then she watched as Erin ran into Geno’s waiting arms. He was looking down at her with all the love and affection in the world. And she was smiling up at him, her fingers running through his unruly hair. It was a picturesque moment and Mel found herself sighing at the two of them when the hair on the back of her neck stood up and she turned, coming face to face with Sid.

“Ugh… I was trying to surprise you! How’d you hear me?”

He grinned and dropped his head down for a quick kiss.

“I can feel you coming a mile away Crosby.”

Sid chuckled and told her he expected her to be on her best behavior tonight, then he jogged over and grabbed Geno, pulling him away from a now pouting Erin. They finished their lunch and headed into the salon where they were bombarded by smiling, peppy women.

At 2:30 they were back in the elevator and on their way up to the room that was designated as the ‘Dress Room’ by the guys. No one but the four girls and Julia, the photographer, were going to be allowed access into the area.

All four dresses were hung up beside each other. Erin’s red wedding dress, followed by the three black and white bridesmaid gowns. Erin had said she didn’t want to conform to the norm of a white wedding dress. And she definitely hadn’t. It was so beautiful on her. Mel couldn’t forget when they’d been planning one night at Geno’s and she’d said ‘red dress’ in front of the boys.

“I’m thinking of stepping out of the box. Getting a red dress.”

“Red?? I like red. You look good in red. It how I first noticed you. Your hair.”

That had done it. Erin had found three different dresses that were red and she’d chosen her favorite. And it was beautiful.

“Alright ladies, we have thirty minutes until the music starts, forty-five until family starts getting seated, and sixty until Erin walks down the stairs to meet Geno on the stairwell. Let’s do this.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Are you nervous buddy?”

Sid was styling his hair in the mirror when he heard Max ask Geno the question. He ran the light amount of gel through his ever-growing curls. I’m nervous enough for the both of us. All he could think about was walking down the aisle with Mel. Would her hair be up, down, curled, straight?

“No, no nervous. Just happy. Very happy.”

He watched Max clap a hand on Geno’s shoulder before leaving him and Brooks to discuss things for the ceremony. He was still pretending to fix his hair when Max stopped beside him.

“What about you captain? Are you nervous?”

“I am.”

“Just take a deep breath before you look at her, because it’ll probably be the last big one ya get until you’re standing next to one another. I’ve seen the dresses, I know how you’ll react to it.”

“Thanks Max. That’s helpful. Real helpful,” he grumbled as Max chuckled and wandered off to finish getting ready. Sid smoothed his shirt over his chest and continued down his pants, sweeping away and dust and stuff. He felt the ring box in his pocket.

Even though he’d told Max that he would wait, he hadn’t been able to bring himself to leave it behind. It was heavy in his pocket, feeling like it weighed a million pounds or something. A few of the guys had come up to the room to talk and hang out before the wedding started.

Sighing, Sid took the box out of his pocket and stared at it. He’d find the perfect time to pop the question. A private time, when it was just the two of them and the moment was right and…

“Sid, what that?”

“Huh? Oh, it’s nothing Geno. Just something I’m tucking away for a rainy day.”

“Oh, okay Sid. Well, you ready? Yeah? Good. Let’s go.”

Sid nodded and stuffed the ring into the bottom of his overnight bag.

Ten minutes later they were laughing with Charles, ‘Butch’ as he asked to be called, when Sid heard the music change. The murmuring he’d heard from the crowd below quieted down and the strings of the quartet played something beautiful as the mothers were brought to the front row of seating.

Butch rounded the four of them up and made sure everyone knew the correct steps to be on, that Brooks still had the ring and that Geno wasn’t going to run screaming down the aisle. Then he looked over the balcony and must’ve deemed it time because he told them to straighten up and move out.

Mel was right, career Navy. All the way.

He watched the proud, uniformed man start down the side steps. Geno took a deep breath and then followed after him. Next was Brooks. Then himself. And finally Max. They shuffled down the steps and Sid stopped on the designated step.

Canon in D started flowing from the violins and Sid felt his palms start to sweat. He was looking down at the crowd, waiting for the girls to come out from the elevator area and up the aisle when he heard Max whispered ‘whoa.’

Whipping his head toward the opposite staircase, Sid gulped in a big breath. It whooshed out like a hard check into the boards.

He watched Mel walk slowly down the stairs. She was holding onto the rail with one hand, a bouquet of red roses in her other hand. Her dress was black and white, some sort of geometric pattern that should’ve been gaudy. Should’ve hurt his eyes to look at it. But Erin had chosen the right pattern to compliment Mel’s curves.

He continued his perusal of her completed look and noticed that she’d decided to go with her hair up. There were giant ringlet curls cascading from a red rose clip. Her bangs were swept to the side and the smile on her face was so honest and genuine that he felt like he was going to burst just by looking at how beautiful she was.

“I hate you right now Sid. I want you to know that.”

Sid tried not to laugh at Max’s harsh whispered words, but he smiled and ducked his head to keep the noise inside his body. When he looked up, Mel was staring at him. She had an eyebrow raised and a questioning smile on her face. He smiled back and she blew him a handless kiss.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Mel watched Max’s lips move quickly and then Sid was trying not to giggle. She waited until he looked up and she silently asked what was going on. Sid just smiled in return and she couldn’t help but blow him a kiss.

God he looks gorgeous.

She heard Amanda stop above her. Listened as she grumbled about not being able to walk with her own husband down the aisle. Mel turned her face away from the on-lookers and whispered back toward her friend.

“Why don’t we switch once Erin and Geno walk down the final set of steps?”

“You want to?”

“More than you could possibly imagine!”

“Let’s do it then!!”

Hearing the bows move over the strings as The Bridal March started to play, Mel stepped toward the wall like they’d planned so that Erin could come down the stairs. She quickly threw her fist back and felt Amanda bump it.

She saw the flash of red out of the corner of her eye and sent up a quick thanks that the salon ladies had insisted on waterproof mascara. I’m not gonna cry. I’m not gonna cry. I’m not gonna cry.

Erin stepped down carefully beside her, the skirt of her gown swishing as she got closer to Geno step by step. But she paused for a second and looked at Mel.

“Thank you.”

“I didn’t do anything,” Mel said with a smile. “You captured him all by yourself. Go get him!”

Erin beamed and made her way down the final few steps.

The ceremony was short and sweet. If she would’ve been asked later, Mel wouldn’t have been able to tell a thing that was said for the first few minutes. She was too busy staring at Sid and wondering what it would be like at their wedding.

Would I wear white? Would we be in a church? Will the guys all be there for us? Who will walk me down the aisle? Will his dad be glaring at me the whole time?

She focused when Butch started to talk about love between two people. He threw in a hockey reference and a battle reference and Mel found herself smiling and crying at the same time. Amanda was sniffling behind her and Mel #2 was up higher crying as well. Stupid girly reflexes at weddings.

“Do you have the rings?”

At his cue, Mel took one more step down and handed the ring she’d been holding carefully to Butch. Erin turned and handed her the lone flower she’d held and Mel winked at her, drawing a small happy, cheerful giggle from her friend.

She stayed down on the lower step for the rest of the ceremony. There was a moment of laughter when Geno dropped the ring and it bounced down the steps. It rolled straight down the aisle and was stopped, of course, by Ryan Malone.

“Does this mean I get to marry him instead,” he asked as the guests all laughed. Bugsy smiled and jogged up the steps, handing Geno back the ring. It was the only thing close to drama that they had during the ceremony.

No one broke through the doors yelling ‘I object!’ or passed out because they locked their knees and the lack of blood flow caused unconsciousness. And thankfully no one fell down any of the steps. Mel had been pretty concerned about that… but after Butch had pronounced Erin and Geno man and wife, Geno had tucked her against him and placed a soft, sweet kiss on her lips before helping her walk down the stairs, as his wife.

Mel smiled at Brooks as he stepped up toward her and then she took a step to the side and let Amanda walk in front of her. Brooks’ eyes lit up and he smiled a big, goofy smile as his wife linked her arm in his and they made their way down the stairs.

Two down, one to go… then the three of us would all be married… to hockey players… okay, breathe girl. Just turn to Sid and…

The look in his face, the love and desire she saw filling those eyes…

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Jesus Christ. That smile…

Sid felt the air whoosh out of his lungs as Mel turned and her entire face lit up with a luminous smile that made everything and everyone around them disappear. He blinked a couple times, trying to get his head on straight so they wouldn’t fall down the flight of stairs.

He wrapped her arm in his and leaned over to whisper in her ear before they made their descent.

“You look beautiful. Just… beautiful. I love you.”

Mel smiled up at him again and whispered ‘I love you’ back and then they made their way down the steps and down the aisle, smiling at players and friends and family. When he got to the small alcove in the back, the one that was currently hiding the first two couples, Sid veered left to the opposite one and leaned her against the wall.

“I’ve wanted to do this since I saw you coming down that staircase tonight,” Sid said. And then his lips moved over hers, his tongue slipping between them and tasting her. He listened to her moan, felt her hand curl around his neck, her fingers toying with his hair at the base of his skull.

Pulling himself away before he could embarrass himself, or cause a scene by dragging her up to their room, Sid rubbed his nose to Mel’s in an Eskimo kiss and stepped back. The small wedding party applauded and he watched Mel laugh and flip of Max when he asked for a kiss as well.

The girl’s talked for a moment and then Mel excused herself from the group to go make the announcement that everyone could move into the adjoining ball room for drinks and hors d'oeuvres, and find their seats while the bridal party took a few photos.

The two photographers that the girl’s had found were pretty good at getting ‘real’ shots. More candid than posed. Not once did he feel like a smile was forced. Then again, that could’ve been because he was almost always touching Melany in the photos. He burst out laughing when the female photographer wanted to get a picture of all the girls with just Geno. She draped the three of them over him like a pimp and his ladies, and it was hilarious. He didn’t laugh as much when she made him do the same thing with Brooks and Max. Erin just smiled and promised not to make him sit on her lap during the photo.

They had just about finished with the pictures when Amanda said she saw snow! There had been a few flurries for the past week or so, and the forecast called for it today, but no one had seen anything yet. They piled to the doors and saw the giant, fluffy flakes falling.

“Perfect photo op people!”

Ten minutes later they were all hustling back inside, and Sid shivered as Mel’s fingers slid across his shoulders, brushing the fallen snow off for him. She had some flakes that had landed in her hair, interspersed between the curls, and the cold weather hadn’t caused them to melt right away. She was radiant.

I’m such a goner.

They made their way into the ballroom, the DJ announcing each couple as they walked through the entryway. Butch asked them to bow their heads for a small prayer before the meal was served.

“In honor of my niece’s Irish heritage, I ask that you bow your heads with me in an old Irish prayer. May God be with you and bless you. May you see your children's children. May you be poor in misfortunes and rich in blessings. May you know nothing but happiness from this day forward.”

Dinner was delicious. Okay, he honestly couldn’t remember what he ate… but watching Mel enjoy each bite meant that it must’ve been delicious! Geno opened a couple bottles of champagne for the toasts and he wondered how Erin would get away with not drinking.

He watched, amazed, as the waiter came around to pour some of the bubbly into the glass. Mel pulled a bottle of ginger ale from underneath the table and poured it into Erin’s glass while the man stood, blocking the view of the crowd. When he’d moved on, she turned to Sid with an impish grin.

“What?? I can be sneaky when I need to!”

He just chuckled and sat back to listen as Brooks gave one of the most amusing speeches he’d ever heard. And it surprised him since the defenseman was not known widely for his humor. He chuckled along with everyone else as Brooks relayed stories of rooming on the road, locker room antics, driving with Geno. But throughout the time spent with the mic, he never once looked at a paper.

Who would know me well enough to do a speech like that?

As Brooksie wrapped it up, Sid fished out the paper that Mel had shoved into his breast pocket before they’d entered the ballroom ‘It wouldn’t look right for me to pull something out of the bosom of my dress,’ she’d said. He handed it to her as she placed her flute of champagne back on the table. She stood and glanced quickly at the paper, took the mic from his friend, and took a deep breath.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Good evening everyone, Dobryĭ vecher. Today I saw two people stand up and promise to take care of each other for the rest of their lives. And I know that they will succeed in this, not only because of the love that they share, but because of the love that we all feel for them.”

“When Erin and Geno showed up in the parking lot and announced that they were getting married, my first thought was ‘Ugh, she sucks!’” She paused for the laughter from the crowd and reached down to grab Sid’s hand. “But that wasn’t because I was jealous, but because I was already picturing how beautiful she was going to look today and how difficult it was going to be to figure out what to say in this moment.”

“It took me a while to word this the way I wanted… and then I watched the two of you get married and realized that what I had down wasn’t personal enough. So I’m going to wing it!”

Mel squeezed Sid’s hand once more before letting him go and stepping up between the bride and groom.

“Erin, you have a man here who loves you so much. I don’t think it really hit me until I saw you tackle him today at lunch. You balance each other, give and take from one another without causing too much of a ripple.”

“And Geno, you make her so happy. Don’t ever forget to be that way. Make her smile every day. She puts up with a lot, being with a hockey player. And I know that other women in our position know what it’s like. So please, don’t ever take for granted the way that she feels for you.”

“You both mean so much to me, and I’m so thankful that I could be here to share in this special day with you. I would like everyone to raise their glasses in a toast… to the newly married couple, Erin and Evgeni, may you always feel for each other the amount of love that you’re feeling today.”

There was a chorus of cheers and clapping as the guests drank to the happiness of the newlyweds. Mel laughed and blew Erin a kiss when she mouthed ‘thank you’ and then she made her way down from their little podium table and over to the stage where the band had been.

“Now, ladies and gentlemen, the bride and groom will be coming out to share their first dance as husband and wife. And we’ve got a bit of a surprise in store. It seems as though someone is in town for a concert tomorrow and since Geno asked them sooo nicely… gentlemen…”

Taking a step to the side, Mel glanced over at Erin. She threw back a curious gaze and Mel shrugged her shoulders as if to say ‘I have no idea.’ But she did know. And as four men stepped out onto the stage, guitars in hand, Mel heard Erin’s gasp of surprise.

Geno really had gone over the top for this. But it was Erin’s favorite song. And she felt that, even though the boys were rich and could afford to buy them anything they’d ever need, it was how Geno and Sid, and most of the guys, felt about their women.

“Ladies and gentlemen… the first dance.”

Mel clicked off the mic and made her way over to the table as the chords of ‘Write You a Song’ started coming through the speakers and the lead singer of the Plain White T’s was crooning out the lyrics of the first verse.

She took her seat next to Sid and leaned forward to place a chaste kiss on his lips.

“You didn’t cry babe, good job.”

She chuckled and placed her head on his shoulder, both of them watching the happy couple spin around on the dance floor. Erin was laughing at something Geno said and Mel smiled at the picture the two of them made. And just wait until that kid is born… he or she will be the most precious thing ever!

The rest of the night passed by in a blur.

More toasts were made, too many shots of vodka were distributed and at one point Geno’s mom screamed in delight and hugged Erin tightly when she found out that she was going to be a grandma. There was a lot of dancing and Mel even managed to drag Sid onto the floor a few times. He didn’t do anything more than sway, but for slow dances that was all that was required.

As the party drew to a close, Mel found herself being pulled into an open elevator and whisked up to the floor they were staying on. When the car dinged and the doors opened again, she was lifted into Sid’s arms and she curled herself into his body as he walked down the corridor.

Once inside the room, he placed her on her feet once more and took his time getting her out of her dress and into the bathroom. There they showered together, the emotion of the day rolling off of them both in waves. Before she could blink his lips found hers and under the spray of water he played her body until she screamed his name.

Sid took his time drying her off and then putting her in bed. As he pulled the blankets up over them and covered her body with his, she pictured a night similar to this one. Only in her vision, it ended with matching bands on their fingers and it was their first dance that everyone was watching.