Ruth Sadelle Alderson

Taylor and Cal are in the kitchen talking, Taylor leaning against a counter while Cal cleans up. Taylor notices Sid first.

"Casey asleep?"

"Yeah," Sid says. "I had to read him the same story three times."

Taylor laughs. "Yeah, it's a thing he likes now."

With the kids in bed, Sid gets a chance to ask Taylor how her life has been since he last saw her, hear all the CWHL gossip, and find out what's been happening with Cal's job.

"I'll drive you back," Taylor says when it gets late enough that Sid has to go.

"We'll come down and see you after the game tomorrow," Cal says. "Don't worry; we already told Casey he has to wear a Penguins jersey."

Sid laughs. "Yeah, can't have him in Bruins colors." He hugs Cal goodnight and goes out to the car with Taylor.

They're barely down the street when Sid says, "I think I want to have kids soon."

Taylor glances over at him. "I thought you were waiting until you retired."

"I was," Sid says. "But that's going to be a few more years. Look how long Jagr played. I don't know if I want to wait that long."

"It's not easy," Taylor says, "playing hockey and having kids. I can't imagine doing it without Cal."

"Yeah," Sid says with a sigh. It would be easier if he had someone else to raise kids with. It would be easier if he wanted someone else to raise kids with.

"Just because it's hard," Taylor says, "doesn't mean you can't do it. Hire a nanny to be there when you're on road trips and at practice."

"I know," Sid says. "I just." He sighs. "I look at you and your kids, and I want that. I want my own kids." He turns to look at her. "Am I selfish if I have kids now? They're going to be home without me half the season, and all the attention."

"You're going to love them," Taylor says, which doesn't quite answer his question. "That goes a long way with kids."

"Yeah," Sid says. He looks out the window, watches Boston passing by and remembers what it was like to know that no matter how much he got bullied by other players and their parents, his family loved him and would do what they could to support him.

"Don't tell Mom and Dad I'm thinking about it," Sid says after a few blocks of silence. "I'm not sure yet, and there's a lot of stuff I still have to figure out before I know for sure."

"I won't," Taylor promises.

When they get to Sid's hotel, Taylor gets out of the car and comes around it to hug Sid tightly. "You're going to be a great dad," she says, "whenever you decide to have kids."

Sid kisses her cheek. "Thanks," he says. "You're a great mom."

Taylor beams at him. "Thank you." She hugs him again. "I'll see you tomorrow, after the game."

Sid waves goodbye and watches her drive off before he goes into the hotel. Tomorrow, he knows, she and Cal and Casey will all be in 87 Crosby jerseys while Cameron is home with a babysitter. Sid plays hard every game, but he'll know his family is watching and that he'll get to see them after the game. If he doesn't wait much longer, he might be able to have that with his own kids before he retires.