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Yuna sighed and leaned her head against David. It had been a long day of dealing with the fallout of Hayden's leaked fan video. As much as she wanted to fix everything, there were limits to what she could do. She was grateful to her past self who had separated her personal contact information from her professional. That phone was currently silenced, tucked in a drawer and charging. Nothing good could come from being a keyboard warrior at this hour.
It was a total surprise when her personal phone started buzzing.
You have been added to a group chat: Rainbow Parents League
[Unknown number] Hi Yuna - this is George Grady. Scott gave me your number via Harris. Welcome to the very exclusive, fairly new club of parents of out MLH players?
Yuna frowned in confusion. Scott's parents had passed away a long time ago, hadn't they? Wait, what was Kip’s last name? Ah, it must be his dad. She quickly created a new contact.
[Yuna]: Hello - it's certainly not a club I would have expected a few years ago
[Unknown number]: This is Julia Fraiser. Troy's mom
[George]: Can you add David? Harris says he only has your number
[Yuna]: of course
She quickly navigated to contacts, saving Julia and adding David.
[Unknown number]: Hi Yuna and David. I'm Marlene, Harris's mom. I know we're not exactly MLH parents, since he's just the social media manager, but Julia insisted we be included.
[Julia]: Inclusion is sort of the whole point.
David looked up at Yuna over the top of his reading glasses. “What is this, dear?”
“It looks like the parents of all the out players have a group chat. Sort of like how the WAGs always have theirs,” she said.
“Oh, that's nice,” said David.
Yuna laughed softly and shook her head. Very little flustered her husband, the first day he discovered their son and Ilya Rozanov together a memorable exception.
[George]: How are you both feeling about everything?
[Yuna]: We've known about the boys for a while now. We had actually already been strategizing an announcement
The timing is far from ideal, but their relationship is certainly solid
[Marlene]: I think we were all more flabbergasted that they were together than anything
[George]: Ilya, I've seen at the bar with Scott and Eric, but yes - the two of them together?
[David]: Since the summer before their rookie year
Yuna looked up at her husband, who had given in and picked up his phone. “I didn't want to be left out,” he said.
[George]: That long???
[Marlene]: Wait, really?
[Julia]: Aww, that's so sweet!
[Yuna]: Obviously, not many people know that part
[Marlene]: Did Ilya move to Ottawa for him? If so, tell Shane thank you ;)
[George]: I never understood why he left Boston
I mean, who picks Ottawa?
[David]: Hey!
[Marlene]: I know Coach Wiebe and the boys will be there for Ilya
We can take Anya for a few days if anything comes up
But how are you two doing with it all?
[Yuna]: We're in Montreal with Shane right now
It's… hard
I just want to fight the world for him, and I can't
[David]: I can't believe Crowell benched them both
[George]: Seriously? That man is a fucking snake
[Julia]: Ilya stood up for Troy when Crowell tried to keep him quiet
Anything we can do, let us know
[Marlene]: So what are they like off the ice?
Ilya is so much more of a marshmallow than I ever expected
[Yuna]: They're so soft together
Shane is high strung. Very. But Ilya calms him down so quickly
And since he moved to Ottawa, and with the foundation, we've spent a lot more time with Ilya
They had it planned to come out this summer, you know?
[George]: I'm so sorry that was taken from them
[Yuna]: And I can't even be that mad at Hayden - is he an idiot? Yes. But so were the boys
[Julia]: It isn't fair. For any of them.
[David]: So what do we do next?
[George]: The hardest thing any parent can do: wait and be supportive when they need it
Make sure they know you still love them
[Julia]: Understand if they don't want to talk about it
Their world feels like it's ending right now
[Marlene]: If Shane's benched anyway, maybe you should all come out here?
[Yuna]: Shane's a bit more of a creature of habit
I think he needs his safe spaces
[David]: I wouldn't be surprised if Ilya is here before we get up
[George]: Remember to take care of yourselves, too
You aren't the center of the storm, but it's going to be rough on you too
[Julia]: wait, what time zone is everyone in?
[Yuna]: one where it's late enough we should head to bed
I really appreciate you all for reaching out to us
I hope the boys gets some of the same support
She sighed and put down her phone. “George makes a good point, but I'm not sure I can sleep right now.”
“I'll make you some chamomile. Why don't you go take a warm shower?” said David.
“Do you think they'll be ok?”
“Eventually. They have each other.” David hugged his wife,who leaned her head on his shoulder.
“Wasn't it supposed to get easier once he grew up?” said Yuna.
David just laughed. “At least we don't have to drive him to practice anymore?”
🏳️🌈🏒🏳️🌈
In the morning, they woke up to Shane cleaning the kitchen and making coffee.
“Listen…” he said, twisting the mug in his fingers. “I love you guys and really appreciate you being here, but…”
David laughed. “Ilya on his way?”
“Um. Yes,” said Shane.
“Don't worry, we'll get out of your hair. But text us if you need anything. Anything. I mean it,” said Yuna.
Shane ducked his head, avoiding eye contact. “Farah prepared a statement. And we have a meeting with Crowell tomorrow.”
Yuna nodded. “Ok. Let us know how that goes? I know I'm not your manager anymore, but I do have a few favours I can call in.”
“I think… I think we'll be ok, Mom. I don't know. Hayden is the only one who will even look at me right now. I didn't turn into a different person overnight.”
“I know, baby,” said Yuna. “But I know we were surprised.”
“You can say that again,” muttered David.
“So hopefully they can move past this once they see the truth too,” said Yuna.
“Maybe,” said Shane dejectedly.
“So when does Ilya get here?” asked David.
Shane smiled at his phone, before turning it towards them. Ilya had sent a photo of a sign his neighbors had made saying “We love you, Ilya!”.
“About two hours then,” said Yuna. “We'll finish some coffee and get out of your hair. You two don't usually get this sort of chance to spend time together during the season very often.”
“Always finding the silver lining, lover,” said David, kissing her cheek.
“Ugh, you two are gross,” said Shane. David winked at Yuna, knowing his cringy joke had achieved the desired effect.
A few moments later…
“So. I was thinking…” said Yuna. “Did you know Quebec is a one-party consent state for recording conversations? As long as you are recording a conversation you are part of, you don't need anyone else to agree.”
“So what?” asked Shane.
“Crowell's a snake and I don't trust him,” she said. “I think that no matter what happens, you should record your meeting with him. Just in case.”
Yuna drained her coffee, taking her mug to the sink.
Shane nodded. “That makes sense.”
Yuna pulled Shane into another hug, as much for her as it was for him. “I'm so, so proud of you. You know that, right?”
“I know, Mom.”
“We'll text before we come over,” said David.
“Daaad,” whined Shane.
Yuna was quiet on the surface as David pulled the car onto the highway, but inside, her mind was moving at a million miles an hour. There has been minimal pushback from any brands, but there hadn't been any formal statement, and besides, they'd been gradually shifting to LGBTQ friendly partners anyway, especially with the hockey camps and the Irina Foundation. It was clear Ilya and Shane were as solid as ever, so there wasn't anything to address there. Unfortunately, Theriault was a dickhead of the first order, and possibly the most obstinate man she'd ever met, including her son. Should she check in on Hayden? She was still pissed at Bhim, but it was clearly an accident, but seriously, did he need help managing his finances if he was doing this sort of nonsense? They had four children, but still.
David cleared his throat. “You're thinking very loudly.”
“Yeah. I'm sorry.”
“It's alright,” he said, reaching over to squeeze her hand. “They'll be ok.”
“How do you know?”
“I don't. But I believe in them.”
Their phones both buzzed with a notification from the new group chat.
[Marlene]: Good morning - Harris sent me some of his favourite memes people have been making of the video
[Yuna]: memes?
[George]: oh yeah, there's a whole hockey stan community that's losing their damn minds
[Marlene]: there's an account, hollanov2481forever that is saying they've suspected for years
[George]: I'd say the memes are the weirdest part, but I'd be lying
[Yuna]: What's weirder than that?
[George]: The fanfiction
[Yuna]: Fanfiction? But they're real people
[Marlene]: We know them as real people. But to most fans, they basically are a character they play in press releases and on social media
[Marlene]: like they are the characters of these really intense rivals, when that's not what they're like when you get to know them
[Yuna]: Oh no, they really are that competitive about everything
There are no family board game nights when they are both there
We've been playing Scrabble with Ilya to work on his English, but after the Monopoly incident, never again
[George]: I can see that for them
[Julia]: Still, stay off social media as much as you can
No parent needs to see that much anger directed at their child for existing
[Marlene]: Seriously
We can pass along the happy stuff
[Yuna]: I need to stay engaged to know how this might affect the foundation
I can't let them down
[George]: If it gets too hard, ask for help
We're all here for you
[Julia]: I'm going to be nosy, because I'm dying to know
How exactly did you find out?
“They're asking how we found out about it,” said Yuna. “You want to take this one?”
David chuckled. “I think you know the story as well as I do by now.”
[Yuna]: David is driving, otherwise he would tell this story
Her thumbs flew as she recounted the infamous Cottage Incident. Then George shared how he'd learned the first time Kip and Scott had broken up, and their ups and downs before the big kiss. Marlene talked about the first time Harris brought Troy over for family dinner, while Julia talked about her regrets about not being closer when Troy needed her.
A little part of Yuna’s chest unclenched. She wasn't alone. She wasn't the only one who had missed something so fundamental, so foundational, so monumental in their child's life. It wasn't just her, it was everything. It's shitty coaches, and other players, and the press. And while they as parents could be a safe place for their sons, they couldn't keep them safe from the world and still let them pursue their dreams.
[Julia]: It's hard to accept that your kid doesn't feel safe telling you something, but it wasn't about me. I can't change yesterday, but I can change tomorrow, and maybe together, we can start to change the world.
[Yuna]: Or at least the league
[George]: You ladies think big
[Marlene]: it's a mom thing 😉
[Julia]: So what is the most unexpected thing about Ilya as a potential son-in-law?
[Yuna]: He notices everything - he remembers what beer David drinks, what lotion I use, just little things, and he makes sure that to have them when we're visiting
[Marlene]: I believe it
[Yuna]: So what's next?
[George]: You wait. You support. You take it a day at a time and ignore the trolls. And most of all, make sure they know they are loved.
Especially Ilya
You can't replace his mom, but he needs one right now
It was hard for Scott to learn to lean on us - sometimes we had to push first
[Marlene]: It's a rollercoaster
[Yuna]: George, have you thought about following Scott and Kip and talking to the parents when they do presentations?
[George]: I'm not a real hockey parent. I haven't been in the culture for years for them to listen to me
You and David, on the other hand…
Yuna hummed to herself.
“Oh. I know that sound,” said David. “What am I being signed up for now?”
“Nothing… yet,” said Yuna.
She might just be Shane Hollander's mom, but maybe she could change the hockey world too. Maybe it didn't need to be such an exclusive club.
[Yuna]: I've got an idea…
🏒🏳️🌈🏒
The Next Day
[Yuna]: I knew Crowell was a snake but ugh… they're supposed to pretend it was a prank on Hayden
[George]: Seriously?
[Marlene]: what?!
[Julia]: did he *watch* that kiss? I need someone to kiss me like that as a joke
[David]: They are very affectionate. Very, very affectionate.
[George]: Are they going to do it?
[Marlene]: I certainly hope not
[Yuna]: No, definitely not. And while Theriault has told Shane not to post anything, he has no control over Ilya
[Marlene]: Does anyone?
[David]: You'd be surprised
[Julia]: Yuna for commissioner when?
[Yuna]: I think it would considered a conflict of interest until the boys retire
[Marlene]: What does the commissioner do, anyway?
David looked over at Yuna typing furiously. “Dear, that was a hypothetical question.”
“Well, my answer was also hypothetical. Because instead of doing his damn job, Crowell is telling two of his best players to lie about their sexualities and relationship. So clearly, he has too much time on his hands.”
“Take a deep breath and remember not every question needs a detailed answer,” said David.
Yuna shook her head and deleted most of her response.
[Yuna]: Generally, he is supposed to be running the business side of the league. Apparently he thinks gay players are bad for business
[George]: Has he heard the good news about the fact that gay people have money?
[Yuna]: Unfortunately, I think they're still outnumbered
[Julia]: And a lot of “old-school” hockey fans are like my ex-husband
Let's face it, there's a reason it's taken this long to have an out player
[George]: I just can't understand it. Love is love. Shouldn't we celebrate joy?
[David]: We should. And we will. Whether or not Crowell likes it.
🏒🏳️🌈🏒
Several weeks later
[Yuna]: I really need Buffalo to pull of a miracle here and break the Eastern conference rankings
[George]: Sorry Yuna, but the Admirals are winning this one
[Marlene]: What, why Buffalo?
[Yuna]: I need the Admirals to drop to third in the East so that Ottawa and Montreal won't have to meet up in the first round
I can't handle them playing against each other that soon
They both deserve a playoff run
[George]: You do realize that then Ottawa would be up against Scott?
[Yuna]: That's fine, they can win that
[George]: I wouldn't be so confident
[David]: She's a witch. She knows things.
[Julia]: Aren't there still like 5 or 6 more games?
[Yuna]: Yes, but unless Buffalo wins here, every logical scenario winds up with them meeting in the first round.
[Marlene]: You know things are desperate when you've pinned your hopes on Buffalo winning…
Game One
[Yuna]: Stupid Buffalo
I know they've played each other before
But it's different with all the added attention
[George]: The commentators are certainly focused on it
[Julia]: Let's go Centaurs!
[Marlene]: OTTAWAAAAAAA!!
[David]: We're outnumbered, aren't we?
[George]: How do you think I feel?
Second Period, Game Five
[David]: I've taken Yuna's phone so she doesn't throw it at the refs
[Julia]: Good call
[George]: unlike whatever the hell that just was
[Julia]: At least Montreal has stopped leaving Shane out to dry
[Marlene]: Aren't you supposed to be rooting for your son's team?
[Julia]: Wins are better when your opponent doesn't shoot themselves in the skate
[David]: Shane doesn't say much, but it's clear the locker room is still tense
[George]: It's definitely affecting their on ice chemistry
Game Seven
[Yuna]: I don't think I've ever been this stressed about a playoff game
[Yuna]: Even Shane's Olympics weren't this tense
[George]: Deep breaths
[Yuna]: I don't need to calm down, I just need this game to be over
[Julia]: They're getting pretty chippy out there
[Marlene]: Bood looks like he's ready to kill Pike
[David]: Shane has his robot face on - that's not a good sign
[Yuna]: Theriault is a fucking moron
What is he thinking, pretending the lines can be exactly the same?
If nothing else, he should be reacting to what Wiebe is doing
[Marlene]: It worked well enough to get them to Game 7?
[Yuna]: That was just Ottawa's defense not being able to shut Shane down
Honestly, they've been too nice to their captain's boyfriend
[George]: Unlike their captain. Jesus. Rozanov…
[David]: It's basically foreplay for them…
[Julia]: Ummm…
[David]: Let's just say it's on the list of things I wish I didn't know about my son
[Yuna]: Wyatt is a fucking miracle worker tonight - that should have gone in
[David]: Mitty is also standing on his head tonight
[George]: No wonder goalies are all a bit nuts
[George]: Shane and Ilya might be some of the only forwards that have expectations on them as high as your average goalie
[Julia]: What…. What just happened?
[Marlene]: Holy shit
[George]: Was there anyone near him?
[Julia]: No. Shane just… tripped?
[Marlene]: It looks that way
[George]: What the fuck are these commentators saying? He tripped on purpose?
That's absolutely insane
[Marlene]: This is not how I wanted this game to end
[Julia]: Heartbreaking
[George]: Yuna, are you still alive?
[David]: We're… something.
[David]: We're going down to the locker rooms. It's going to be rough
[George]: We're here for you
One hour later
[Yuna]: THOSE MOTHERFUCKING USELESS AUTOFELLATING PUTAINS!
SHANE WOULD NEVER THROW A FUCKING GAME!
HIS OWN FUCKING TEAMMATES!!!
THINK HE TRIPPED ON PURPOSE!!!!
[George]: I'm so sorry
[Yuna]: I'm going to destroy every single one of them
Brand deals? Gone.
Do they realize how much blackmail I have about every one of them?
All the times they asked me or Shane for favours?
It's time to pay up, bitxhes
[George]: Will that help Shane right now?
I know you want to protect him, but what will help him most right now?
[Yuna]: Everything this team has, they built around him
How many years had it been since Montreal won a cup until they drafted Shane?
How many decades since fans could expect a playoff run every season?
Where's the loyalty?
[George]: You can't change everyone, Yuna
How can you make things better for Shane
[Yuna]: He's a free agent this summer
[David]: Thank God
[George]: Do you worry he will feel like he owes them?
[Yuna] Not after this bullshit
I watched their babies
I helped organized their weddings
How?
How can they believe it?
Twitter, Twitter bullshit is one thing
But his own team?
[George]: They can't
But it's easier to blame someone else
Then it's not their fault for losing
They don't have to take responsibility for their choices that made it so they needed a last second breakaway goal to go to overtime where they still might lose
[Yuna]: Shane is fucking devastated
Not just by the loss
[George]: How much cap space does Ottawa have?
[David]: Not that much
As wonderful as it would be to have them on the same team
[Julia]: Is Crowell going to meddle?
[Yuna]: Does he even need to?
[George]: It will work out. Have faith
[Yuna]: Hoping for the best isn't my preferred strategy
[George]: Shane's season is over, and free agency season isn't until the whole thing is over
Take your time
Strategize
Breathe
[David]: Thank you all for being a safe space for us
Congratulations to the Centaurs
[Julia]: Who are we playing next?
[George]: The Admirals…
[Marlene]: The gays keep winning?
Ottawa Admirals Game Three
[Julia]: Aww, they just showed all the Hollanders on the broadcast
[Marlene]: Just saying, Centaurs jersey looks pretty good on Shane…
[George]: That would be some ridiculous depth at center
[Julia]: aww, he just did the thing and showed off the back!
I remember Rose Landry doing that for Shane
[Marlene]: The players get a little primal about the name thing
[Julia]: Oh, I remember
There were *some* good things about Troy's dad
[George]: I'm going to pretend none of our children ever have sex ever, thanks
[David]: I wish I could do that…
Late June
[Yuna]: How many citronella candles do you think we need for the wedding? Or what about those electronic things?
[Marlene]: For Ilya’s yard?
I think I've got enough torches in the shed
[Julia]: I know they've been together for ages, but it still feels like such a whirlwind!
[Marlene]: Troy and Harris moved in together faster than that
[David]: It's been what, 12 years? It feels like they were rookies yesterday
[Yuna]: How is our son 30 and getting married?
[David]: We could be the Pikes and already have four grandchildren
[Yuna]: It's so tragic that we can't combine the genetics - can you imagine how good at hockey Shane and Ilya's child would be?
[George]: They'd probably be too stubborn, and take up basketball or something
[Julia]: Do they want kids?
[Yuna]: They haven't said anything, but I've seen how they both are with their teammates’ children
[Marlene]: When is it official that Shane is coming to Ottawa?
[Yuna]: As soon as the free agent signings open
Everything is negotiated already
They'll both be Centaurs by the wedding
[Julia]: That's wild
[David]: I hope it really brings some renewed energy to Ottawa
The playoff run helped, but they really need that sustained regular season interest for ticket sales
[Yuna]: I think the novelty of winning regularly will win over the homophobes
[George]: so confident before the season even starts
[Yuna]: Wouldn't you be?
[George]: I'm just a humble fan, not the all knowing hockey witch
[Yuna]: damn right
[Marlene]: Are you renting tents in case of rain?
[Yuna]: Yes, and tables and chairs
Caterer is all set, as is the cake
They may want a small backyard wedding, but I'm going to make sure it's perfect
July
[George]: Congratulations to Shane and Ilya!
How does it feel now that they're married?
[David]: Not that different?
Though I will definitely not be dropping in unannounced for several months
Or ever…
[Yuna]: They think no one noticed they snuck off
What happened to my diligent little rule follower?
[David]: He grew up, love
[Marlene]: The team all had bets going on how long it would take for someone to catch them
It's certainly going to be an interesting locker room next season
[Julia]: It's going to be an interesting season next season
[Yuna]: It certainly will. Maybe there will be more members of our little club by the end of it, too
[George]: Hopefully from somewhere besides Ottawa? I'm very outnumbered here
[David]: Go Centaurs!
[Yuna]: And fuck the Metros!