Chapter Text
When Shane saw her for the first time, he froze. He had heard the rumors just after the prospects cup but seeing it made it so real.
And yet there it was, a toddler settling on Rozanov’s hips as he argued with the concierge, the little girl tucked her face into his shoulder, blinking sleepily back at him.
Shane stepped closer to listen in.
“-care person, blyat, what is word, nyanya?” Rozanov sounded very frustrated but tried not to agitate the child in his arms.
“Is there something I can help you with, Rozanov?” Rozanov turned around and his expression brightened to see Hollander, a day early before their joint CCM promotion filming he had painstakingly arranged. (If it wasn’t for the desire to see the beautiful freckled player and needing money to take care of Lyudochka, he would have turned down the offer.)
“Hollander. This konsyerzh told me they cannot have someone take care of Lyudochka for tomorrow.”
The concierge turned to Shane and explained in rapid french that due to a mix-up over the phone, the hotel had not made any of the additional requests requested by Rozanov, including an upgrade for his room and a babysitter for the child the hockey player was carrying.
Shane sighed and quickly arranged a new arrangement for them before turning back at Rozanov, who was now soothing the child.
If he didn’t heard about the recent passing of Rozanov’s father, brother and sister-in-law in a car accident, leaving him and his baby niece the sole survivors of the family, he would have thought she was his child, seeing how similar their looks, down to the golden curls and blue-green eyes.
“So, I managed to sort out the booking issue. Your room should be ready in a few hours, but until then, you can use mine for a bit. They're also going to arrange childcare for…” Shane paused, realizing he had no idea what the little girl's name was.
Rozanov shifted the child higher on his hip. “Ah, is my plemyannitsa, uh, niece, Lyudmila.”
“Eto Sheyn. Skazhi "privet", Lyudochka.” He cooed in Russian as the little girl peeked from her hiding place.
“Hello.” Shane smiled gently.
After a moment, she offered him a shy smile before immediately hiding again.
Rozanov laughed softly.
“Spasibo, ah, thank you, Hollander for helping.”
“I don’t mind.” Shane held his eye for a few seconds before looking away, hoping his cheeks weren’t red from embarrassment.
By the time they reached his room, Lyudochka had apparently decided Hollander was acceptable company, even letting him hold her as Ilya unpacked a few essentials.
Ilya couldn’t help his grin as he awkwardly held his precious niece, clearly having never held a child before but still gently rubbing her back as she snuggled closer, falling asleep in his arms.
“Uh.” Hollander looked helplessly at him. Ilya snorted but gently took Lyudmila from his arm and tucked her into the queen-sized bed, carefully brushing a lock of her curls from her sleeping face.
“There’s no one to take her in?” Hollander asked at last, watching them curiously.
Ilya shook his head once. “Nyet. Only two of us left. No family, no babushka, no tyoty. No one else in world for us.”
Hollander blinked slowly, processing. “That’s… a lot of responsibility.”
“Yes,” Ilya said simply. Then, “Too much for child. Too much for me also. But must, for family.”
“Is Boston gonna offer some sort of support or maybe your billet family…” Shane trailed off, wondering if there was anything else he could help with.
“Is staying with one of the seniors, uh, St. Simons.” Ilya named Boston's second line Left Winger and the family he would be billeting with during his ELC. “He and his wife have baby son so can help with Lyudochka.”
“Lyudochka?” Hollander asked, looking curious.
“Is pet name, sweet name? For Lyudmila. Because she is the sweetest, aren’t you malyshka?” Ilya rubbed his finger gently over her plump cheek.
“So, uh,” Hollander rubbed his cheek awkwardly, pulling Ilya’s attention to the beautiful clusters of freckles decorating his pretty face, “when did you find out about the photoshoot anyway? I thought I was going to the promotion alone but they called my mom three weeks ago to tell me I was gonna do it with you.”
Three weeks ago.
Just before most of his family died in that stupid car accident, where his only concern was how to get that freckled beauty in front of him so he can satisfy his curiosity.
“They didn’t tell me.” Ilya shrugged.
“Oh.”
“Was one who asked if I could do it with you.” Ilya grinned as Hollander choked on empty air, turning red as a pomidor.
“Y-You what? Why?”
“Wanted to see you.” Ilya shrugged.
He wanted to see me?! Shane was confused. What does Rozanov mean with that? He further froze when Rozanov reached closer and cupped his cheek, touching the cluster of freckles under his right eye.
Oh.
Wait.
Is that why he looks like he wanted to eat me that night?!
Both of them suddenly jumped away from each other when the landline rang loudly, breaking that moment. Shane moved to the phone while Ilya reached for his niece, who woke up crying, startled with the loud noise.
“It was the reception. They said your room is ready for the both of you and your babysitter is going to meet you downstairs.” He said awkwardly.
"Oh." Rozanov shifted Lyudmila higher against his shoulder. "Good. Thank you."
An awkward silence settled between them.
Shane watched as Rozanov tried to repack his bag one-handed, made difficult with the sleepy toddler clinging to him.
Shane stepped forward to help, passing him the wipes and later the jacket, not even realizing how close they were standing until he looked up into the ice blue eyes.
Nobody's eyes should be that vivid, Shane thought faintly, looking like fragments of a winter sky trapped behind glass.
"Thanks," Rozanov said softly.
"You're welcome."
Both of them stared at each other quietly. Later when Shane replayed the memory in his mind, he found he couldn't tell who had leaned in first.
Shane has never kissed a man before.
And yet Rozanov gently tilted his head with his free hand, leaned closer, he didn’t move away.
“Yes?” Rozanov asked gently, stopping just inches away.
“Yes.” Shane breathed into his lips as he pressed their lips together.
Their first kiss was gentle, almost tentative and yet Shane felt as if a fire was lit in him.
They pulled back to stare at each other before diving in for a second kiss, more passionate especially as Rozanov shifted slightly, angling the kiss deeper, pulling a soft moan out of him.
It wasn't till Lyudmila whimpered that both of them remembered where they were.
Shane stepped back, feeling his cheeks turning hot.
Rozanov cleared his throat and adjusted her on his hip. "We should go."
"Right. Yeah. Of course." Shane opened the door for them as they stepped out into the hallway. “See you tomorrow Hollander, at the shoot.”
“Oh, yes, of course. Bye Rozanov, Lyudmila.” Shane waved at them before quietly closing the door. He leaned against the door, absently touching his swollen lips and before he could help himself, a squeal of delight escaped his lips.
Ilya grinned as he heard the muffled, high pitched squeal from behind the door.
So cute.
“Ty moy talisman na udachu, Lyudochka.” Ilya grinned into his niece’s curls as they waited for the elevator.
The very next night, after their first time together, and just before he leaves for his room, Hollander, still naked, warm and languid from their moment together, stopped him and gave him a pink stuffed rabbit, mumbling that it’s for Lyudmila before nudging him out the door.