Work Text:
It has become somewhat of a tradition for Ilya to babysit the Pike kids every week. Especially when Shane was away.
Everyone seemed content with that arrangement. The kids got to play with their favorite uncle, Jackie got to go to her book club or just to hang out with her friends and hayden- well he would not caught dead saying that but he was glad too. Ilya was a surprisingly good babysitter and a positive influence ,more or less.
He always had new foreign stories, which he told with different accents and voices, sometimes fully acting them out, he made unusual tasty foods, and most importantly of all, he had always played with them. He seemed geniuenly intrested in their games and movies and the Pike kids had adored him.
Shane found it all endearing but he never participated in all that. Usually, if they were together in hayden's house shane would be talking to Hayden and Jackie while Ilya would be on the floor, playing with the kids.
Which is why, when Hayden,Jackie and Shane came to the pike house for dinner and found all four kids, and Ilya, in deep sleep in the living room they just smiled to one another and got started on dinner. Ilya had taken the kids to the playground today and apparently it had drained all of them. They were all sprawled on the sofa in a pile, Jade the furthest, being a few inches away from the rest curled up to a ball next to Ilya's feet while her twin was sprawled next to her, head resting right above Ilya's knee.
Arthur was sprawled face down on Ilya's stomach and Amber, the youngest was curled to a ball right above him, on Ilya's chest.
Ilya was sleeping deeply laying on his back with one arm holding Amber like a teddy bear and the other resting on Arthur's back.
Shane wondered if they had fallen asleep like that on purpose or if they had all just collapsed on the large gray couch. Nevertheless,it was adorable.
"If he drops them, he is a dead man." Hayden whispered
into his ear, seemingly not amused by the situation.
" I dont think they will let him go that easily.." Shane answered, snickering at the way Ruby and Arthur were clutching him.
Hayden frowned, but left everyone to sleep.
Two hours later, dinner was ready and the kids woke up, clumsily stumbling down from the still sleeping Ilya. Shane smiled. Ilya was always a deep sleeper. Not even Amber stepping on him to slide down made him stir. He had contemplated approaching Ilya himself, when Amber came back. She had recently turned two, and was as bossy, if not bossier than her sisters. So no one was suprised when she approached Ilya, putting tiny hands on her hips.
"Seep?" She questioned, looking at her parents and pointing to Ilya's slack face.
" yeah, honey. Uncle Ilya is still sleeping... maybe wake him up? " Jackie suggested with a smile.
Amber frowned and tilted her head in confusion. "Eeya?"
Shane had instantly smiled. Of course Ilya would be one of her first words. That was adorable.
"That's his name." Hayden said with a look of mixed emotions.
"No!" Amber said, shaking her head so fiercely that the little pigtails Ilya had so lovingly put in her hair shook from side to side. "No eeya. Eel-YA! "
"Yeah..?" Hayden looked at her, amused. "Ilya..?"
"No, dada!" She shook her head again, insisting. "Eel-YA!"
Hayden snorted in amusement. "Well. Wake him or he will miss dinner!"
She hurried over to her uncle, cupping his cheek. "EelYA! Up! Nyam nyam nyam." She clarified as Ilya slowly opened his eyes. He smiled at Shane before sitting up and rubbing his eyes. He sat there, almost falling back asleep, before yawning unapologetically.
"Eel-ya! No seep! Nyam nyam nyam!" Amber scolded.
He smiled through his next yawn, stretching his arms.
" okay, printzessa.I will eat." He crounched down, picking her up, as he got up from the couch and kissed Shane on the cheek.
Amber snuggled into his neck. "Eel-Ya." She whispered.
Ilya smiled. "You say my name so well! Better than alllllll Canadians. And Americans. You are so smart."
He set her down in her high chair before asking Shane about his practice.
Shane ignored his question. "What do you mean she says your name well??" He asked frowning.
"Uh- in English you say it like.. EEli-ya, yes?" Ilya explained, shrugging. " so is not really correct way to say. In Russian it's eel-YA. "
"What??" Shane said, bewildered. "You never corrected me!"
Ilya shrugged again. " I corrected everyone when I came to America. But I think is maybe hard for americans to say? They can't really say it- so, is normal. Everyone call me eeli-ya now."
"That's so sad." Ruby said, licking the ketchup from her fork with a frown.
Shane looked wide eyed at Ilya, who had casually began to eat his chicken, as if he didn't just reveal to his lover of 11 years that he had been calling him the wrong name. God. Shane can never forgive himself. Like ever. He has to start learning Russian now.
"Not big deal." Ilya shrugged again. "Mini Pikes, did you have fun in park?" He asked, grinning widely.
"Da!! " Jade answered, unknowingly stepping on Shane's last remaining spirit.
" hochu yeshcho raz." Arthur shyly said, crushing Shane's dignity completely.
"HUH??? " Hayden nearly fell out of his chair. "Why did you make my kids russian, rozanov???"
"Did not! Just showed russian kids movies!" Ilya protested, not looking the tiniest bit of remorse.
" English movies are stupid. And is good for kids to know two languages. Yes, Jackie?"
Jackie nodded, smiling. "It's great that you are exposing them to other cultures, Ilya!"
"It's like our own secret language!" Said ruby, grinning.
" da! Papa i mama nas ne poymut' " jade answered laughing at Hayden's face.
Ilya looked smug before addressing Amber. "Lastochka, otkroy rotik!" He said shoving a spoonful of mashed potatoes on her mouth.
Hayden and Shane looked as if they were about to have an aneurism.
The dinner continued, with Jackie being excited, Hayden suffering and Shane deep in thought as Ilya continued to address the kids in Russian.
And as Ilya was putting the kids to sleep in their rooms, singing Russian lullabies with a beautiful deep voice, Shane thought that maybe, it is not so terrible after all.