Chapter Text
It was a normal Wednesday when Shane Hollander-Rozanov found out he was pregnant.
Two, neat pink lines stared right back at him. Inhaling deeply, Shane laid it back down next to the other two tests he had done—all showing positive. No wonder he couldn’t keep any of his meals down.
If Ilya hadn’t pointed out the possibility, Shane would have stubbornly refused to buy the tests and insist it was simply food poisoning.
Thank god. The relief at finally knowing the cause of his nausea washed over him. Now he just had to figure out which foods he could tolerate eating. Ilya would absolutely go berserk if he didn’t eat—he already thinks his husband had the appetite of a baby bird.
“мой любимый?” Ilya’s muffled voice came from behind the closed bathroom door. “Are you okay? Is test not done?”
For a second, Shane’s heart raced in anxiety. A part of him still feared Ilya wouldn’t be ready for this child. That he would freak out and withdraw, just like he used to do back when the feelings between them, as well as their future, were so uncertain.
When he was so scared of losing everything he had—his homeland, his family...
But then, Shane remembered this time was different. As much as Ilya feared he’d lose everything he had, he willingly left it all behind for him. Shane Hollander. His longtime rival turned lover, now devoted partner in life. He’d left the team he spent so many years with, Boston—the first place he’d ever called his home away from his own country—his cars, the lifestyle he was used to…Ilya had left it all behind, for a future with Shane.
Sometimes, he still couldn't believe it.
Shane could still vividly recall the pleased shiver that wracked his body that first time Ilya had confessed his love to him in bed, tucked under the sheets, Ilya leaning over him with a glimmer of hope in his eyes. The fateful day they had exchanged solemn vows in Ilya’s—now, their—backyard. The nights they spent in each other’s arms—every embrace, every caress screaming their love for each other—with Anya curled up in a fluffy ball on the sofa, huddled against their sock-covered feet.
Scenes began playing in his mind like a film reel: The absolute joy his husband had on his face during their hockey camp activities, skating around with all the kids. He watched as he marveled at their innocence and how he had guided them warmly throughout practice drills. It was very similar to the way he had treated those kids in the pool at Tampa Bay—playful and kind as he chased them around the pool with a roar, playing pretend shark.
No, Shane knew what they meant to each other. What they were willing to sacrifice to be together. What they both wanted for the rest of their lives. And this time around, he wasn’t going to let any of his fears or anxiety cloud this discovery, and he added to himself, he had no doubt: Ilya would be a great father to their kid. He would be overjoyed about this.
And Shane knew he would be as equally overjoyed as his husband.
This was good news, he reassured himself. Very good news.
His heart pounded in his chest. We’re having a baby.
We’re getting a new addition to our small family.
That also means, a whole human who would depend on the both of us for the rest of their life. His heart pounded at that. That thought was a little scary, having that much influence on someone else's life, but if there was anything Shane Hollander-Rozanov liked to do, it was taking on challenges.
And this was going to be a challenge of a lifetime—for both him and Ilya.
The door to the bathroom cracked open hesitantly, and Ilya’s head popped in to peer at him. “Shane..? Everything okay?”
Seeing the worrisome look on his face, Shane melted at the love and concern he had heard in his husband’s voice.
He reached a hand out to Ilya with a shaky smile. “Ilyusha.”
Ilya immediately grabbed hold onto his hand and followed Shane’s lead, entering the bathroom completely.
He felt his husband squeeze his hand carefully. Shane looked up into Ilya’s eyes as he said, “Is okay. We will be okay, yes?”
Shane laughed. He hadn’t said anything yet his husband had already jumped to conclusions.
“No,” he said softly, squeezing Ilya’s hand in return, “I know we’ll be okay, whatever happens. As long as we’re together, just like all these years.”
Ilya’s lips quirked into a smile. “Always here, da.”
“Well, thank god,” Shane replied, faking a sigh in relief, “because I’m pretty sure I could use some help with changing the baby’s diapers, and doing feedings at midnight. We’d need to get the whole house baby-proofed soon, too. We’re going to have to do some research for the best stuff.”
Everything stilled as the room descended into silence. Shane watched as Ilya’s eyes gradually widened in first shock, disbelief, then happiness, before glazing over as tears streaked down his cheeks.
“You-? Are you-? серьезно?”
He was glad to have picked up a few words and phrases in Russian from Ilya over the years. Shane let go of his hands and reached up to surreptitiously wipe away Ilya’s tears. “серьезно.”
Ilya sniffled, leaning down slightly to press his forehead against Shane’s, murmuring I love you’s in Russian over and over again, nuzzling his nose with his.
Shane felt his own tears coming, and chose to let them fall freely. Happy tears deserved to be shared with loved ones, after all.
After nearly a half hour of crying in each other’s arms and exchanging chaste kisses in between whispers, Ilya pulled Shane into a one-armed hug and stared down at the pregnancy tests with awe. “I cannot believe…You have baby in tummy. My baby.”
Shane laughed. “I can’t either! Jesus, I felt like I was dying every time I vomited.”
Ilya rubbed his stomach with a grin. “Our baby is troublemaker already. Get it from me.”
“Ah yes.” Shane rolled his eyes. “I really hope they're not. I’d really like a good night’s sleep still.”
“I told you I would stuff you so full of cum, you would get pregnant,” Ilya said smugly.
“Don’t be gross, Rozanov.”
“Hollander-Rozanov,” Ilya corrected him. “You keep forgetting. I married you, yes? I have Canadian passport to prove it!”
Shane rolled his eyes fondly at his husband. “Like you let me forget.”
Ilya led them out the door, only to be greeted by an energetic ball of fluff. “Anya!”
Anya had zoomed over to both of them, her favorite stuffed toy clutched in her mouth, leaning her paws against Shane’s stomach for a typical puppy greeting and Ilya intercepted immediately, carrying her like a baby in his arms.
He watched as his husband clicked his tongue and lightly lectured the dog. Anya perked up in attention, dropping her toy, as Ilya explained that she had to be gentle with Shane now that they were expecting a new member to welcome into the family.
Ilya let the dog down and added, “Soon, you will have baby sister or brother. You have to be gentle, Anya, da?”
The dog barked in reply, as if she had fully understood what Ilya was saying.
Ilya looked back at Shane. “I really want to get those buttons, Золотце. If you just let me teach her—”
Shane didn’t need any elaboration, he knew what he was talking about. He sighed. “We are not getting Anya buttons so she could talk.”
“But it would be so fun! You want to understand what she means to say, yes?”
He just shook his head in exasperation. They have had this exact conversation at least five times this month, and every time, Ilya would try and appeal to Shane’s affection for Anya.
It seemed today wasn’t any different as Ilya had made it harder to refuse, dressing the dog up in the cutest, fluffiest pink sweater he had ever seen.
Ilya had sat down cross-legged on the floor, settling Anya on his lap and holding her like a baby. “See this face? This cute face wants to tell us something!”
Anya lolled her tongue out and barked happily.
Shane reached down to give her head a gentle pat. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think we can have that in the house with a baby on the way, Ilyusha.”
Ilya deflated. “Right. Baby needs rest, and you will need rest, and it will be too noisy.”
“Mhm.” Seeing the disappointment on his face, Shane felt a tiny prick of guilt and added, “We can try and get one after the baby grows up, okay?”
His husband perked up at that. “Yes.” Then, peering down at Anya, he said, “You hear that, Anya? You are going to talk soon!”
Translations:
мой любимый (moy lyubimyy) - It means "my beloved", used for males.
серьезно - It means "seriously".
Золотце (zolotse) - It means "darling". It is a word derived from "zoloto" meaning gold, suggesting someone is precious as gold.