Tough Love

Chapter 13 - Celebration

A few days after that, and the whole town was still celebrating their team, and all the players where in a really good mood, joking around with each other whenever they met and just enjoying the good atmosphere.
The Penguins organization was working on a parade through Pittsburgh, and thanks to the good idea of some wives and girlfriends, a Gala would be held the evening before, where some chosen guests would be invited and an auction would be held, and all the earnings would go to their charity organization. Brooke would be invited there anyway, with her working for the team, but when Sid asked her if she wanted go accompany him as his date, she agreed immediately. She'd already chosen a dress she'd had in her wardrobe for a long time, and now, two hours before the gala would start, she wasn't at Sid's place like she had been almost every day since their relationship was official, but at home, getting ready. She had just finished her shower and was now painting her nails in a decent crème colour. When she'd finished that, she had an hour left, so she got dressed and started on her hair. She let it fall over her shoulders in soft waves, natural and the way she liked it best. The last finishing touches was her make up, and she once again stayed decent, because the blue lace robe would catch enough attention. With only about ten minutes left until Sid would show up to get her, she just ate a few pieces of fruit and then put on her sandals. Sid was extremly punctual, and when Brooke opened the door for him, she saw his mouth drop open as he stood in her doorway, staring at her. "I guess you like it, then?" she asked with an amused smile and Sid closed his mouth again and nodded. "I don't only like it, I absolutely love it. You look stunning, Brookie," he stated and Brooke smiled thankfully and pressed a soft kiss onto his lips. "Thank you. Let's go then, we don't want to be late," she said, grabbing her clutch and stepping out of the apartment. Sid offered her his arm and led her downstairs, where the car was already waiting. Sid opened the door for her and then slid into his seat. While they were driving towards the Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel, where the gala was held, Brooke looked at Sid and couldn't help but smile. "You look really handsome in a suit, Sid," she told him and he just chuckled. They arrived a bit later and quite a few fans were standing outside, as well as some journalists with their cameras, and Brooke spotted the local news camera team with a big camera. Sid parked the car and then helped Brooke out and she took his arm and walked towards the entrance with him, smiling softly. It seemed like Fleury and Veronique had also just arrived, because they were standing on the red carpet there, posing for pictures. Sid led Brooke onto the ref carpet as well and they posed for a few pictures before stepping into the hotel after the others. "Brooke, you look so beautiful! Who's that robe from?" Veronique greeted her and Brooke smiled at her and tilted her head. "You're just as gorgeous, Veronique. It's from Zuhair Murad," Brooke said and Veronique nodded. They went inside inside the ballroom and Brooke looked around in awe. There were already quite a few people there, and Brooke smiled when she spotted Sid's parents nearby. Most of the players were there with their families, and their kids if they were old enough. "Brooke!" she suddenly heard and when she turned around, her father was standing there with Coach Johnston and Ron Burkle, her mother by his side. She looked at Sid for a second and then went over to her father with him, greeting all of them and hugging her parents softly. "Hi dad, Hi mom," she said with a smile before turning to Sid. "Sid, that's my mum Nathalie. Mum, this is my boyfriend Sid. I guess you two already know each other though," she introduced them and Sid nodded with an amused smile and greeted her mother. "You look very beautiful tonight, Mrs. Lemieux," he told her and Brooke grinned at her mother when she smiled. "What a gentleman you are, Sidney. You can call me Nathalie," she offered and Sid nodded with a soft smile, before turning to Mario and the rest and joining their conversation about something hockey related. Brooke just stood there next to her mother and they talked to each other for a bit, and Brooke looked at Sid from time to time, sometimes catching him smiling at her. "He's really nice, Brooke. Your father told me all about you two," her mother said with an amused smile and Brooke laughed quietly, shaking her head. "He isn't just nice, he's extremely charming, mum. And you know I would've told you about us as soon as possible," Brooke stated and her mother nodded with a smile. "Let's go get something to drink. They're going to stand there for the whole night and talk about hockey," Nathalie said while shaking her head and Brooke just giggled quietly. Her father was just like Sid, they both had a passion for hockey and really could talk about it for hours, but Brooke had grown up with it and even though her mother often told her how her father should talk about other things from time to time, she knew that her mother didn't mind all the hockey talk. Her parents were still happily married, and Mario did everything for his wife. "All right, I'll just tell Sid," Brooke agreed, placing a hand on Sid's arm and leaning towards him. "Mum and I are going to get a drink. Come find me when you're done talking," she whispered into his ear and he turned towards her and nodded with a smile. Brooke returned the smile and pressed a quick kiss onto his cheek before leaving with her mother.

They found some seats near the bar and Brooke just leaned back while her mother went to get them drinks. She wasn't alone for long though, as a few seconds later, Kris and his wife walked by. "You look awesome Brooks. Sid's a lucky man," Kris said, his arm around his wife and a wide smile on his face. "Thanks Tanger. You two look great as well. Catherine, we need to go shopping together once again," she told Kris' lovely wife and Catherine nodded with an amused smile. "For sure. Oh, and Alexander has been asking when he could see 'Auntie Brooke' again. We could go to the Zoo with him soon, if you'd like," Catherine added and Brooke just smiled and nodded. She'd met Kris son a few times, and he was really cute. Kris and Catherine went back towards their seats a little bit later, and Brooke's mother returned soon after with their drinks. "I had to wait a bit, I think all the Penguins are trying to get drunk or something," she said and Brooke grinned and took a sip of her drink. "As long as everyone's there tomorrow, I don't think being drunk will be a big problem," she stated and her mother nodded in agreement. They sat there for about half an hour and just talked, and Trina and a few other wifes, girlfriends or mothers joined them, and soon it was just a big group where everyone was talking to everyone.

Eventually, everyone went back to their original places, as the auction would soon start, and Sid appeared next to Brooke and her mother with Mario. "We're on a table with Kris, Fleury and their wives," Sid told Brooke and she nodded and got up with a smile, letting him lead her to their table, where he pulled out the chair for her and then sat down next to her. Up for auction were many different things that had been given to the organization by players or sponsors, and Brooke watched curiously and clapped whenever something was auctioned off. Sid placed his arm around her and one point and she just leaned her head on his shoulder with a soft smile. Eventually, everything was auctioned off and all the people there clapped, and afterwards the buffet was opened up. "I'm going to get some food, do you want something?" Sid asked Brooke a bit later, getting up and looking at her and she thought about it for a second. "Some fruits, if there are any. Thanks," she told him and he nodded and went towards the buffet, getting into the line. Brooke just turned towards Catherine and Veronique and continued to talk to them with a smile. They were both involved in the Pens' charity work and often helped out a bit, and Brooke wanted to know more about it.

The evening was a full success, and when the speaker announced the amount of money that had come in for charity, everyone clapped and cheered. It was more than they had expected, but it was a very welcome surprise. Brooke turned her head and smiled at Sid, and he returned the smile. "Do you want to go home?" he then asked her quietly, leaning over, and when she nodded, he stretched and ran his fingers through his hair before getting up and saying goodbye to everyone. Brooke did the same and they also went to say goodbye to both of their parents and the Coach, before leaving the hotel together. "That was a lovely evening. I can't wait for the parade tomorrow, though," Brooke stated when they were in the car and Sid nodded with a smile. "It's going to be awesome to have the fans celebrate with us. I'm really excited for it," he agreed, driving them both to his house, where they went inside and straight to bed to be ready for a long next day.