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“Holy shit,” Shane let out ever so quietly along with the breath he seemed to have been holding in since the tiny bundle of blankets had been placed in his arms.
Ilya probably wouldn’t have heard him if he hadn’t just sat next to his husband in the quiet hospital room they were in. They’d been waiting for a few hours now, legal paperwork being the only thing keeping them occupied while they waited. A few minutes ago a nurse had walked in holding their newborn and Shane had been rendered speechless ever since. He was only able to nod when Ilya asked if he wanted to take the baby while he signed the last document, and Shane had sat on the sofa that occupied the room while Ilya listened to the nurse mention a few things they had to keep an eye on while they stayed overnight.
Ilya hadn’t expected to be the one functioning adult in the room right now.
“You okay,” Ilya asked Shane just as quietly.
“Yeah,” Shane nodded, his eyes glued to their child.
Ilya wrapped an arm around Shane and kissed his temple.
“Ilya. We’re parents,” Shane said, his voice dripping with wonder and excitement, and maybe a hint of fear, his eyes still glued to the sleeping infant in his arms. “Holy shit, it really happened.”
“You really need to start watching your words. Little ears listening now.”
Ilya felt the laugh rumble in Shane more than heard it. “Dumbass,” Shane huffed out before his voice quieted and turned serious. “She’s really ours?”
“Shane, look at me.”
It took a moment before Shane tore his eyes away and looked at Ilya. Ilya felt the sting of tears fill his eyes at the look Shane gave him. He couldn’t blame Shane for being a bit worried right now. There had been too many close calls and false starts. They’d been warned that this adoption journey wouldn’t necessarily be easy, and they’d sorely underestimated the emotional toll it would take on them over the past year and a bit since they’d gotten to the final stage of the process. After years of talking about adding to their family, they’d finally reached the goal line. Ilya couldn’t help himself and leaned in, giving Shane the softest kiss.
“Sofia is all ours, sweetheart,” Ilya reassured him.
Shane’s expression softened as he just nodded in acknowledgement, looking back down at their daughter. At least the fear that she might just be snatched away seemed to have left and he just looked serene now.
“Hi, Sofia,” Shane repeated their daughter’s name – one of the first things they’d agreed on when they started the whole process – like he was finally letting himself believe it was all true, and the tears spilled over for Ilya.
He leaned his forehead against Shane's, letting himself believe the same thing too, and falling a little more in love with his husband in the process. There was something incredibly hot about their tiny daughter cradled in Shane’s large muscular arms, sure, but it was the way Shane was looking at her, like he’d give up anything and everything if she needed it. It was that look that was melting Ilya’s core right now.
“She has your nose.”
It was Ilya’s turn to let out a burst of laughter. “You know that is not possible.”
“I know, but she still does. She’s so fucking cute.”
“She really is.”
They stayed seated, just looking at their daughter, each taking turns running gentle fingers down her cheeks and her nose.
“Is it weird,” Shane started saying, almost cautiously. “We’ve only had her for half an hour, and I love her so fucking much.”
“Not weird. I was thinking the same. All the hockey things and the foundation, they do not compare to this. This feels better than any of our Stanley Cups, and those felt pretty great.”
Shane looked over at Ilya with a wide, beaming smile. “I never thought anything would beat winning a Stanley Cup together.”
“Anything we get to do together is the best.”
“Trying to make me cry, Rozanov?”
“Never.” Ilya kissed Shane’s nose. “I love you.”
Shane reciprocated with a kiss on Ilya’s lips. “Ya vsegda budu tebya lubit.”
“Sap.” Shane smiled at him and leaned his head on Ilya’s shoulder. “At some point, we will need to do something else. We cannot just sit here and stare at her forever.”
“Five more minutes? We should probably send the guys a picture too. They’re probably worried, since we left practice hours ago. Give our parents and the girls an update too.”
“I’m sure they are fine. And, I forgot my phone in the car when we ran in here. Left the baby bag there too.”
“Same. I forgot everything.”
“The nurse has to come back in a bit. She had information for her skin, since it is yellow a little-“
Shane’s worry came back quickly. “She has jaundice?”
“Yes, that is the word she used. Said it was normal, very mild, and nothing to worry. She needs to eat maybe more often. And something about taking my shirt off.”
The statement had the desired effect. Shane frowned skeptically and seemed to have forgotten all about jaundice. “I don’t see how she would have suggested that, Ilya.”
“It is good for Sofia, to be against our skin. She is a professional, I do not think she would lie. Even if I am a DILF now.”
“You did not just say that.”
“Do not worry, you are too, and I will very much like to ‘LF you.” Shane laughed as quietly as he could manage as Ilya kissed his forehead again. “All that to say, we can wait a bit longer to go get our things. She is not going anywhere. She’s fine.”
Shane’s sappy grin came back. He snuggled in tightly against Ilya’s side while they soaked in the quiet moment with their daughter a bit longer. “Welcome to the family, Sofia.”