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“Do you think they will like it?” Shane asked, glancing around the big play room, their old den where they had their summer sleepovers with their team.
“Solnyshko, relax. They will love it. We even made little houses and ceiling stuffs.”
“I still can’t believe I agreed to put a climbing zone. You’re going to use this more than the kids. You and Luca are probably going to break it.” He rolled his eyes, as Ilya scoffed, feigning annoyance.
“The kids won’t be boring like you, Shane. I’m going to be the cool, playful papa who will play with them in the climbing zone and dress pretty for tea party. You’re going to play with cards and make them eat rabbit food.”
“That was one time. And I’m going to be the cool dad, too. Asshole.” He rolled his eyes, a small grin creeping onto his lips, as he embraced his husband. “We are going to be dads.” He mumbled, eyes shining with joy.
“We already are, moya lyubov.” Ilya stated as he kissed Shane’s freckles softly, running the tip of his fingers along his cheeks, staring at Shane’s doe like eyes. “Don’t stress over this, Shane. The kids already like us, they are already ours.”
“I know I’m just-“
“You’re afraid. I know, I am too. But we are going to be incredible parents. Marisa called a few minutes ago, she said they’re arriving in-“
Just then, their doorbell rang, making both men freeze.
“Ilya! They are here already? I haven’t even changed yet, oh my god! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Marisa said it would take half an hour.” Ilya mumbled in confusion, running towards the door.
They decided almost a year ago to expand their family, tired of waiting until the moment they retired- not knowing when that would happen. They came with the plan right at the start of their play offs.
Ilya, wrapped around his husband as they sat outside their house in Ottawa, the moon illuminating their pale skin, their snacks half eaten and long forgotten, expressed his fear. He hated the idea of waiting too long, he dreaded the possibility of having kids too old, of not being able to enjoy life with them for long, before his genetic caught up to him.
His dad had him old, Ilya was only a teenager when he came ill. He would hate himself if he did the same to their future kids.
Shane cried, freighted by the idea of Ilya not being himself, by the possibility of it happening. And then , they had a plan; one Shane stayed up all night plotting, making sure everything made sense, before presenting it to his husband, who laughed and grinned, until he cried and laughed, nodding and nodding, as they kissed.
A few weeks later, after they won their second stanley cup together, once they were settled at their cottage with nothing but freedom and excitement, they started applying and researching how to proceed.
They decided to adopt, at the end. Ilya didn’t want to bring a kid to the world with his genetics, and Shane didn’t love the process of having a fertilized baby. Ilya made fun of him, all with an endearing smile as he joked and his husband blushed and laughed.
They just, hadn’t told a souls about it. Shane was paranoid at the idea of it not working, of something going wrong and having to explain to everyone. Ilya, also insecure and afraid of the possibilities, quickly agreed.
That’s why they’ve found themselves, months after their first meeting months ago, ready to welcome their three kids to their family, without anyone knowing.
Yuna and David constantly made jokes and comments about how it would be nice to have grandkids, while they could still play with them, how they thought their boys would be incredible parents. Hayden constantly joked about how he would be Ilya’s children godfather, earning chirps and scoffs from the Russian.
“Can you get the door? I’m going to change this shirt, it’s too basic. Do you think I should put a sweater? Or maybe a-“
“Shane you’re perfect. You don’t have to change your outfit. They already like us.”
“I know but it’s their first time in this house. I want it to be perfect.”
“I know. But it already is. Come, let’s welcome our kids home.” Ilya said softly, taking Shane’s shaking hands in his, catching his breath as they made the quick walk towards the front door.
“Ready?”
“Da. Ready.”
However, once they opened the door, they weren’t met by Marisa and their children, but by Shane’s parents.
“Uh, what are you guys doing here?” Shane asked, glancing at Ilya who was just as confused, as Yuna and David quickly hugged them, before entering their place.
“We missed you guys, so we decided to come and prepare lunch for the four of us. What do my boys want to eat?”
“That’s really not necessary, mom.”
“We insist. You two have been in here for what, two days? I still can’t believe you thought it was a good idea to remodel your place during the season.” Yuna commented, before glancing around.
Shane froze, waiting for her to notice all the little changes and the implications. Their house used to be very clearly the house of two male athletes. Muted grays and wood accents, games and pointy objects.
Now, their house had more color in it. They had made a gallery wall with majority of the portraits empty, their den now had big glass windows, allowing they to look at the room while cooking or in their living room couch. Their back door had a kiddy gate.
And they had hundreds of toys scattered around already. Every single possible space had a basket filled with toys and books, their twin stroller was dismounted by the entryway, waiting to be used.
And their backyard had suddenly become a playground.
Fuck.
“What’s all this?” Yuna asked, eyes growing with expectation, as she turned her gaze to Shane and Ilya, who blushed.
“We wanted to tell you guys.”
“Oh my god!”
“You’re getting a kid?” David asked, astonished.
“Uh… three actually.” Ilya answered, scratching the back of his head, glancing at his in laws whom gasped.
“WHAT?”
“We started the process last year. And- we didn’t want to jinx it, no one knows. We met them a few times during the year, we even got them for a weekend a few weeks ago. We got approved this morning, we are officially their parents.” Shane explained, as his parents hugged them.
“You gotta stop bombarding us with these ginormous secrets. Oh! We don’t get enough food for this, how old are they? Oh! What’s their name, how are they?”
“Mom, relax. We will tell you everything. They are arriving in a few minutes. And don’t worry, Ilya probably has hidden packets of pasta somewhere.”
“Liar. I would never hide food from my husband.”
“Honey, I know you hide cookies and Cheetos with Anya’s stuff.”
“He wouldn’t have to if you allowed him to eat like a normal person.” David defended Ilya, who grinned smugly at his husband.
“I told you I’m favorite son now.”
“Yeah but in ten minutes you’re going to be long forgotten.” Shane rolled his eyes, before turning to his father. “And don’t encourage him, he eats like a child when we are traveling. He’s going to teach the kids that healthy food it’s gross.”
“But it is. You sometimes cooks as if salt is spicy, solnyshko. Judging by your cooking I never would’ve thought you’re half Japanese. Right, mama?” Ilya turned to Yuna, who snorted.
“He has a point, sweetie. You can have a balanced meal and make it look less sad. I did it with you all the time, kids don’t like eating only white and brown food. They think color is yummy.”
“Yeah well, I married one for the sound of it.”
“Tell us about them, please.” His dad pleaded, seating on a barstool.
“Well, they are all siblings. The oldest is seven years old, his name is Leo. He’s really brave and serious.”
“He’s Shane with blonde hair and freckles, he’s too cute.” Ilya informed them, showing one of the pictures they took together during their last visit.
Leo was on Ilyas shoulders, his hands on top of his eyes and his tongue out. And dangling from Ilya’s arms, were the twins.
“These are Olive and Florence, Oli and Flo. They are four.”
The twins were identical; with extremely curly, auburn hair and doe, amber eyes. Their skin was fair and tainted with freckles, like their older brother.
“They are real daredevils. But Flo is more shy than Oli. Oli will talk with anyone and everyone. They are perfect.” Shane couldn’t help the tears that left his eyes, as he glanced at the picture lightning Ilya’s phone.
“Anya has already taken Flo as her puppy, it’s really cute.”
“Do you think they will like the house? Us?” Shane asked, glancing around.
“Baby, they will I’ve you two, because you’re their dads. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but you don’t have to worry about it. Just do anything you can for the three of them, and they will choose you, always.”
“And they haven’t even stepped foot on this house and they’ve been extremely spoiled.” David chimed in, snorting at the absurd quantity of toys.
“I told Ilya it was too much, but he kept buying things anyway. You two need to see their rooms.”
“We did a theme. the girls room is a fairy garden, really pretty. The bookshelf is a tree and the branches have lights and shelves that look like swings.” Ilya explained, he had come up with the idea after playing fairy party with them, they even hired a painter to make a mural filled with fairies and florist animals, she even painted the ceiling to look like a perfect summer sky.
“We discovered Leo loves the universe, so we made his room look like it’s in space. We hung the planets with fairy lights and we even made a small play area that looks like it’s an alien spaceship. Again, Ilya’s idea.”
“My husband it’s too boring he just wanted to paint walls colorful and hang a few things.”
“I read that too much information might make the kids have problem sleeping.”
“And kids need whimsy.” Ilya deadpanned, as Yuna and David snickered.
Before Shane could answer, the door rang one last time, making both men freeze.
They were here.
“Are you ready to meet your grandkids?” Shane asked, as he stood onto his feet, searching for Ilya’s hand.
“I’ve never been more ready.” David stated, embracing his wife who was already crying.
“You’re ready?” Shane asked Ilya, softly, intimately, as they gazed into each other eyes.
“Lead the way, Hollander.”
“Hollander-Rozanov, for you.”
They were ready.