Chapter Text
CHAPTER 1
It has been several months after their relationship had gone public, unfortunately for them it wasn’t on their terms. The reception was mixed, some fans were thrilled but some were distraught. Most of Shane’s old team at the Montreal Metros were still upset, except for J.J and Hayden. At this point Shane and Ilya couldn’t care anymore, they’ve lived with this secret for years, it was now their time to enjoy each other publicly without having to hide.
THE COTTAGE
“Shane,” Ilya whispered softly into his ear. “Shane,” he whispered, this time with a nudge. “What…,” Shane mumbled incoherently. Ilya forced Shane’s eye open with his finger, “Are you awake?” he asked, not able to contain his smile. Shane laughed softly, “Get off me, weirdo!” he joked. “Oh so now I’m weirdo?” Ilya asked him as he was now holding open both of Shane’s eyelids. He laughed at the sight of this, “You look crazy like this.”
Shane pushed Ilya off of him to the other side of the bed, they locked eyes for a moment, both portraying a smile on their faces. “I got you something” Ilya said as he reached down the side of the bed, bringing this small little gift to Shane. “Happy birthday moya lyubov” Ilya said, looking at Shane’s face trying to read his expression.
Shane took the gift into his hands, slightly shaking it, it sounded light. “Don’t break it!” Ilya said with a worried tone, trying to steady the gift with his hands. “Shit sorry!” Shane quickly said, holding it very still.
“C’mon open it, I’m dying here!” Ilya said, trying to contain his excitement. He carefully opened the gift, unwrapping the ribbon first. It was a nice golden ribbon, it reminded him of Ilya’s hair.
As he reached into the opened gift, he felt something cold, almost like metal or steel. He glanced at Ilya who was visibly excited and kept looking back and forth between the gift and Shane.
He took it out of the box carefully, it untangled into this golden chain which slowly fell off of his hand. The centerpiece lay on the palm. It had a pendant with a little door, he opened it and it revealed a picture of Ilya together with his parents, David and Yuna, and little Anya.
Shane looked at Ilya, almost in a shocked state, but more-so overwhelmed with love. “All the people who love you, right there. It is good reminder.” Ilya said softly, taking the necklace from Shane’s hand. “Ilya this is, this is so sweet.” He replied almost whispering. “Thank you, baby. I love it, and I love you.” Shane exclaimed as he flew into Ilya, who opened his arms and embraced Shane. “It is also reminder for the family you gave me, ya tozhe tebya lyublyu.” Ilya whispered into his ear.
He took this moment to put the necklace around Shane, carefully closing the lock before correcting the pendant to lay on his chest. “There it is, nice on display.” He said, gently touching the pendant.
“Are you hungry?” Ilya asked him, still holding Shane in his arms. “A little, yeah.” Shane replied, laying very comfortably in his husband's arms. “How about breakfast in bed, since it is your birthday?” Ilya offered, kissing Shane on the forehead. “I was thinking about something else.” Shane replied slyly, looking Ilya in the eyes before planting a kiss on his lips. Ilya reciprocated warmly of course, he could never resist this man and his damn freckles.
The kiss escalated into an intense make-out session which then led to them having morning birthday sex.
A while later after they’ve cleaned themselves up, Shane was sitting at the kitchen table as Ilya was cleaning the kitchen. He made breakfast for Shane, just how he liked it, in his healthy way. He glanced at Shane at the table, he was slowly poking at his food whilst scrolling on his phone. “Is it not good?” he then asked, leaning on the counter toward Shane.
“What?” Shane jumped up, his head shot toward Ilya. "Breakfast. Was it not good?” Ilya repeated himself, this time motioning with his hand. Shane looked down at his plate, he had barely eaten anything from it. “Oh no, it’s very good! I’m just taking my time, helps with digestion, you know?” Shane said, trying to not sound nervous.
Ilya squeezed his eyes at him, “Yes sure, makes sense, whatever that means.” He had trouble translating the word ‘digestion’ in this head. Ilya didn’t really believe him but he didn’t want to address it on his birthday. He knew about Shane’s slight obsession with keeping his body in-shape and he had tried to help Shane to loosen up and eat more diverse meals, only succeeding occasionally. He told himself he’d keep an eye on Shane and not be too in his face about it.
A little later after his thoughts had settled, he had finished cleaning the kitchen and was now enjoying the comfortable silence that was lingering between them.
“I wonder how Anya’s doing” Ilya said, breaking the silence as he approached the same table Shane was sitting at.
“I’m sure she’s having a blast at my parent’s house. They bought her all kinds of toys, expensive ones too!” Shane said with a smile.
“She’s never going to want to come home again,” Ilya said as he faked crying on the table.
“I doubt that. She’s missing you for sure. I do too.” Shane said, caressing Ilya’s face who’s still lying face-first on the table.
“For her I understand. For you I don’t, I’m right here.” Ilya joked, leaning into Shane’s touch.
“You know what I mean!” Shane leaned back in his chair, laughing.
Ilya looked at him, a smile portrayed from ear to ear. “I miss you too.” He softly said.
Their hands touch on the table, letting the moment be and enjoying each other's company.
Ilya looked down at Shane’s barely eaten plate, it worried him. He didn’t want to say anything but he couldn’t stop himself.
“You barely ate.” Ilya said, motioning to the plate sitting in front of Shane with his eyes.
“I’m not really that hungry in the morning, I suppose” Shane replied hurriedly, trying to ease Ilya.
“Is not the first time this has happened, at other times too.” Ilya explained softly. He caressed Shane’s hand with his thumb.
“It’s fine, Ilya. I know what my body needs,” Shane explained to him.
Ilya must have looked at him in some type of way because Shane’s expression shifted into a more serious look.
“What?” Shane replied coldly. He pulled his hand back from Ilya’s to grab his plate.
“I think you’re not giving your body what it needs. You are barely finishing your food, when you do it is only small sizes,” Ilya explained to Shane softly, he felt the tension rising as Shane stood up to walk toward the kitchen.
Shane almost threw the plate into the sink after he scraped the leftover food off of it. It made a loud noise, almost sounding like it was broken. “I understand your worry, but we’ve been over this before. I don’t need you to act like my dad and tell me how much I should and shouldn't eat.” Shane replied coldly again.
Ilya is taken aback by his tone, trying to tread carefully. “You’re right, but-” Shane cut him off.
“I don’t want to hear it, Ilya. End of discussion, please.” He leaned on the counter with one hand, the other on his hip.
Ilya leaned back in his chair, “Oke. Today is your day, and I have special things planned.” He shot up from his chair, walked over to Shane and grabbed his hands.
“Get dressed." Is the only thing Ilya said to Shane.
–
There was still some tension lingering from the conversation Shane and Ilya just had in the kitchen, it stuck with Shane, who just finished getting dressed. He looks at himself in the bathroom mirror, staring for a few seconds almost in a trance. His eyes darted toward his upper chest, the place where his necklace hung. He loved it.
He ran a hand through his hair, slicking it back. But a feeling of anxiety started to burn up inside of him, his fingers tingled. He shook his head and splashed water in his face. “Stop it, Shane. You’re okay, everything is fine.” He thought to himself as he looked at his reflection one more time. He heard footsteps nearing, which were probably Ilya’s. He composed himself quickly, trying to control his demeanour.
“Shane…?” Ilya called out softly as he slowly entered the bedroom, “I’m in here.” Shane replied. Ilya entered the bathroom, leaning against the doorframe with one arm, “I’m sorry for earlier. I don’t want to ruin your special day. I just-” he explained slowly. Shane turned to face him, leaning himself against the sink. “I worry about you. I want you to be happy and healthy and, fuck… I get… how do you say it?” he rolls his hand trying to find the word, “Overbearing?” Shane said. “Da, that.” Ilya added, voice almost a whisper.
Shane approached him, cupping his face with his hands, “I am happy. I am healthy. Please don’t worry about me. As long as I have you, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been, Ilya.” He planted a kiss on his forehead, which made Ilya blush slightly, although in his words; “I don’t blush, Russians do not do this.”
Their foreheads rested against each other for a moment, they shared a passionate kiss after. "Ya tebya lyublyu.” Ilya whispered, “ya teb-ya loo-bloo” Shane attempted to repeat him, getting a chuckle out of Ilya. “Still gotta work on it, but close enough.”
“I’m ready to go, by the way. Just gotta grab my phone.” Shane said, walking past Ilya back into the bedroom. Ilya’s eyes lingered on Shane, looking as he went about the room. “Let’s get going.” he then said as they both left the bedroom.