Archive of Our Own

1

Ilya had expected a quiet day in, or as quiet as it could be with a newborn whose sole way to express his needs was regularly unleashing the most heartbreaking shrieking cries. Thanks to the love of his life, he’d gotten used to celebrating his birthday over the past several years with kisses and cakes and the feeling that he truly mattered, like he had as a small child with his mother. 

But since becoming a parent himself, still adjusting to a sleep cycle that was less sleep and more a lack thereof, he would’ve been content without the cherished pomp and circumstance this time.

Alas, the front door bell chimed, and chimed again and again in rapid succession, giving away who stood on the other side even without the view from the security camera on the wall near the door. There were photos and art hung all around their home, and it started right there in the foyer. A collage of frames holding his life with Shane and now with their son, Leo. Frozen moments at the cottage, on their honeymoon, on the ice, and at the hospital the day Leo was born, his impossibly tiny body curled on Ilya’s chest, skin to skin. And at the center, a photo with frayed edges and Ilya’s fourth birthday written on the back in his mother’s neat script, her arms snug around him on her lap and a smile half hidden in his hair and still so beautiful.

The instant he pulled the door open, he was surrounded by four excited Pikes who wrapped tightly around him.

“Happy Birthday, Uncle Ilya!” 

Their harmony was just as ear piercing as his son letting the entire neighborhood know that he was hungry at 2am, but thankfully didn’t last nearly as long. Ilya grinned, as he’d done since he realized Shane’s true plan for the day, not at all mourning the one he had anticipated. 

The Pikes were their first guests to arrive, albeit early. Caterers were still setting up the hors d'oeuvres and desserts tables in the kitchen under Yuna’s instruction, while David was outside prepping the grill for their long guest list, including a team of hockey players bulking for next season.

The girls were dressed for a day in the pool with lots of neon colors, a surf board on the center of Ruby’s swim shirt, Emma’s Hepburn style sunglasses, and flip flopping sandals that Ilya didn’t bother asking them to remove. Little Amber, who was set to start primary school the coming school year, had on a cute sunhat over her pigtail braids. 

Ilya’s attention was solely on the children, so it took a while to notice the state of their father beyond them. 

Hayden’s swim trunks were covered in cutesy sea turtles. Ilya would’ve teased him for it once upon a time. Except they were identical to Arthur’s, and as of that morning, Ilya completely understood the sentiment.

The turtles did, however, clash ridiculously with the gaudy print on Hayden’s button up, tropical flowers and fruit over loud teal, which Ilya was again tempted to poke fun at. If not for the fact that it wasn’t too different from the one he was currently wearing, minus the surprisingly detailed pineapples. 

“Gospodi, did Shane make everyone wear this?” He asked gleefully as the kids darted around him and went deeper into the house in search of one thing.

David had arrived in similar fashion, his shirt a more tasteful maroon with white hibiscus flowers. Ilya had laughed when he saw him, just like he laughed when he found the one Shane left out on their bed for him to wear. He might have thought Shane had found the exact same bright red shirt he’d worn in Tampa, if he didn’t distinctly remember leaving it in his hotel room all those years ago. He kept it half unbuttoned now as he did back then to drive Shane crazy.

“He’d better,” Hayden grumped. “I refuse to be the only victim.” Then he followed after his children.

Jackie looked hot in a loose knit cover up over her swimsuit and frayed jean shorts, a large beach tote over her arm, and he told her so with a smirk.

She shook her head, never unamused by his flirting, and pulled him down into a hug.  “What about you, birthday boy? You look too good considering you have a three week old.”

“I feel good,” he said and meant it.

His wonderful husband had planned a big party for him, and it was likely due to their infant son that he had missed all the hints. The many packages delivered to their door that were quickly stowed away in the garage, the deep cleaning of the pool and pool house, a spa day for Anya though she wasn’t due for one. But Shane had thought of everything, and it was better for Anya at the puppy hotel than to be overwhelmed by all of their guests. He’d also booked an appointment at the barber for Ilya, and now he was clean shaven for the first time in over a month and his hair was cut short, perfect for the sunny weather.

“Let me know how you feel after the fourth one,” Jackie told him and squeezed his upper arms before letting go.

He pouted pitifully, “Shane will not let me have four children.”

Jackie laughed and dug into the tote bag, unveiling a stack of hand drawn and glitter filled birthday cards.

“These are from mine obviously.”

“And Hayden?”

She reached back into the tote and retrieved a small box. It was an expertly wrapped box with black ribbon tied around it. He recognized Jackie’s handiwork from years of gift exchanges.

“This is from Hayden and me. I picked it.”

“Did you know that you are my favorite Pike,” he teased and then received a look that was as doubtful as it was amused.

Rising voices drew them to the living room. Along the way, Jackie warned him how excited the kids were to see Leo again, as if he had any doubt. They had come for a short visit the day they brought Leo home and had shared a few video calls since then, each one nearly ended in blows with the kids struggling to get the best view of the baby on Hayden’s phone. Now, the ooes and awes were quickly divulging into shouts over who got to hold Leo first.

The twins were situated on either side of Shane on the couch, sounding less like they were approaching double digits and more like a flock of squabbling loons as they ruled out their parents since they were the only ones who held Leo before. Amber stood atop one of Shane’s house slippers to get close to peer over the baby in his arms. Shane didn’t seem to notice or care.

Ilya was glad to see that his husband was taking a moment to sit for the first time since they got out of bed early that morning. He looked dreamy and down right edible, hair curtained around his face but was cut close in the back, a beautiful flush over his cheeks from setting up outside with Yuna. His shirt, of course, was toned down, light tan with palm trees so faint they might be missed. Ilya thought he was the most beautiful when naked and sated in their bed or on the ice after winning a cup, but seeing Shane holding their son was on another indescribable level.

“This is a good look on you, buddy,” Hayden said, and Ilya couldn’t agree more. 

“Your beautiful wife was just saying the exact same thing about me,” he taunted while setting his cards and gift on the mantel over the fireplace.

Hayden rolled his eyes, right on cue. They were long passed the point of genuine irritation, never ending spars now playful, mostly mental exercises like crossword puzzles rather than anything laced with ill intent.

“Daddy!” Emma shouted and Ilya winced, zeroing on Leo and waiting for him to start screaming his own discomfort. 

Leo was dressed in the tiniest Hawaiian shirt found on earth, red with white flowers and green leaves just like Ilya’s, tucked under the softest overall romper. 

Shane put a hand over his ear and pressed his head against his chest gently.

“Girls, please don’t yell so close to the baby,” Shane reminded them. 

Leo wiggled his arms, but fortunately, he didn’t cry.

Hayden looked back and forth between Shane, Ilya, and his wife who threw her hands up and escaped to the kitchen.

Ilya spotted Arthur standing half hidden behind Hayden like one of the little turtles on his shorts peeking out of its shell, always so quiet and the only one with any patience. Maybe his actual favorite Pike if he was forced to pick. And if Shane had already picked Amber. It wasn’t like he could choose between the twins anyway. 

“Arthur will hold him first,” he declared. “Then Amber. Then you two will play rock, paper, scissors. Is only fair.”

“But why?” Ruby whined.

“It is my birthday, I decide. Everyone will wash their hands first. I can see glitter on yours.”

“Fiiiine,” the twins groaned in unison.

Hayden eventually got Arthur settled on the opposite end of the couch, with a pillow tucked under one elbow. Being the only boy amongst three sisters, he had the most reason to be excited about Leo, though he didn’t outwardly show it.

“You are a big brother, yes, Arthur?” Ilya asked as he carefully took Leo from Shane. “You have done this before?”

“I don’t remember,” Arthur said quietly.

“Ah that’s right. You were still a baby when Amber was born. But it is not hard. I can do it, so you can do it.”

Arthur listened aptly as Ilya instructed him on how to hold his arms out, keeping one rested on the pillow to help support Leo’s upper body, and explained that he needed to be very careful of the baby’s head and neck.

When Leo was stable in Arthur’s arms, Ilya waited close by in case either of them was uncomfortable. Arthur stared down at Leo blankly, and the entire room was hushed, watching them. When the baby made a sudden noise, a tiny blowing raspberry, Arthur’s mouth fell open in wonder and he chuckled. 

Ilya stepped back then, still keeping a watchful eye but fully trusting Arthur. Familiar arms encircled his waist from behind, and he leaned back instinctively, curling his hand around Shane’s forearms.

“So cute,” Arthur said, smiling.

Ilya smiled, too. “He looks like me, doesn’t he?”

Arthur looked down at Leo’s black hair, up at Ilya’s dark blond hair, then just over his shoulder to Shane, with a doubtful expression much like his mother’s. But the clever boy was kind enough not to call him out.

2

The party was underway and shaping up just as Shane had planned. It had been a lot to manage, on top of being a new parent, but with his mom and dad’s help, they had pulled everything together. The bar in the pool house was stocked with Ilya’s favorite vodka and more, his favorite childhood desserts were expertly crafted by a local Russian bakery, and the three tiered cookies and cream birthday cake was overindulgent and likely impossible to finish, but Ilya deserved nothing less.

From the front of the house, Shane could still hear the thumping bass of the music playing in the backyard. The lei making station was a huge hit with the kids, and, under the kind guidance of Coach Wiebe’s eldest daughter, they were already running low on materials. He was on his way back from grabbing an extra bag of faux flowers out of the garage when he heard a string of creative curses in the foyer. 

It was fortunate that he recognized the booming voice, or he would’ve thought a deliveryman was breaking into the house. 

Instead, it was Cliff Marleau hidden behind a massive box.

Shane tucked the bag of flowers under his arm and rushed to help him orientate the box so that it would fit through the door. 

“Is that for my son or my husband?” Shane asked, once they set the box down inside the foyer and shut the door behind them.

There was a picture printed on the outside of a baby in a bouncy seat contraption with a plethora of sensory toys and colorful lights attached that made Shane anxious just to look at. 

Cliff guffawed and yanked him into an aggressive hug. His cologne smelled nice as always and he was a true Raider even in his Hawaiian shirt, black with large yellow and white flowers.

Between Shane and his mom, they had convinced every hockey player, active or retired, to wear a themed shirt. He had a few extras for those who hadn’t come prepared, and now JJ was outside making a lei of his own in a hot pink shirt covered in toucans.

The entire Barrett-Drover clan showed up in matching shirts thanks to Harris, and some of the Centaur WAGs also joined in, their shirts open over their swim suits or tied in a knot at the waist. He was so pleased that the party came together so well, and everyone was having a good time, most importantly, Ilya was. Cliff’s arrival was yet another surprise just for him.

“Where is little Roz?”

Shane found the nickname cute. Leo had so many of them already. The Centaurs called him little Hollzy or little man. His mom called him the sun in Japanese, like her grandmother had called her, and Ilya had a dozen different endearments for him, a few of them shared with Shane. 

“I’ve lost track of who’s holding him,” he answered. “You’ll have to get in line.”

“I’m here for the weekend,” Cliff grinned. “I will get my turn.”

“I know this may not come easy to you, but you have to be gentle with him.” He was only half joking. His shoulder still throbbed from their hug.

“I have nieces and nephews, this is not my first rodeo. My sister swears by the jumperoo. Little Roz will love it.” 

“Thank you, I’m sure he will.”

Though Leo wouldn’t need it for months. He needed to learn how to hold his own head up first.

“Is that Marly?”

Shane could hear the grin on his husband’s face before he could see it. 

Ilya and Cliff met like two bears colliding in a forest. 

“Roz! Happy birthday, you fucking legend!”

Ilya smiled up at one of his best friends and then over at Shane. He looked so good. His hair was cut shorter than Shane had seen it in a while, just the slightest hint of his natural curls on top. He would miss the length but Ilya’s hair grew fast, and his features were even more striking without the fluffy hair hiding his face.

“Come meet our son,” Ilya said, pride radiating off of him. “You must be very careful. He is so tiny.”

“Why do you fuckers think I don’t know how to hold a baby?”

Shane followed them back to the living room where half a dozen Centaurs were gathered around the couch. Cliff detoured to the kitchen. 

“Haas, your time is up. Marly is here.”

“Already? Bood held him much longer,” Luca griped, but it was undercut by the way he was smiling down at Leo. He wore not one but three leis around his neck over his white shirt covered in blue waves, the longest one rested on Leo’s round belly.

Wyatt was sat beside him in a hideous shirt that was a little bit of everything, flowers, palm trees, airplanes, and maps of islands. 

“Hey, we let Coach skip the line,” Wyatt said, raising his voice, “but I refuse to let a Raider skip me. No offense, Marleau!”

Ilya shushed him sharply. “Did you forget that I was a Raider, just as long as I’ve been a Centaur? And he’s my baby, so my rules. Marly is next. Go help David on the grill, please. I will come get you when it is your turn. Haas, there’s a big box by the front door, can you please bring it to Leo’s room? And littlest Wiebe, stop running in the house!”

Coach’s youngest daughter came to a halt, just before she could crash into Cliff as he exited the kitchen.

Shane hadn’t even seen her coming, even with the large head of a rainbow unicorn on the floatie around her waist. He chuckled and called out to her, asking her to bring the flowers to her sister. He flinched but mostly remained unbothered by all the water she continued to trek around the house.

Wyatt and Luca both huffed but did as Ilya instructed. Cliff tossed a wad of paper towels at Wyatt as they crossed paths and the goalie successfully swatted it away.

The room suddenly felt warmer as Shane watched his husband transfer Leo over to Cliff. The effortless transition from Captain Ilya to Dad Ilya in the span of a minute was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen. Well, since that morning when he’d woken Ilya up with his very first birthday gift, his head buried under the covers.

“The pictures don’t do him justice,” Cliff said, voice unexpectedly soft as he stood in the center of the living room, confident in the way he held the baby. “He is your clone, Hollander. I guess I’ll have to start calling him little Hollzy too.”

Leo was an absolute doll in his arms, tiny and frowning up at the giant man. Cliff wasn’t at all offended, judging by the pearly white grin on his face.

When Leo let out a long grunt a few moments later, Shane knew what that meant before the rotten smell floated up to Cliff’s nose shortly after.

“Ah, Roz. I think he wants you now.”

Ilya laughed as he hurried closer, but Shane intercepted.

“I’ll take him,” Shane said and was again surprised by how easily Cliff deposited Leo over to him. 

“Are you sure?” Ilya asked. 

“It’s your birthday, I can handle diaper duty.”

And because he could and Ilya was so stunning, he kissed him on the cheek before heading upstairs with their son.

3

Ilya was in the kitchen, pouring another frozen margarita for Coach’s wife from the nifty Ninja that the Pikes had gotten him last Christmas. His swim shorts were damp and the cool air conditioning inside made the skin of his bare chest break out in goosebumps. 

He’d already had one margarita himself and a couple glasses of vodka, but he was mostly feeling drunk off the day itself. Off the perfect weather, off his friends and their children’s laughter and calls for him to toss them around the pool and Let’s race again, please, Ilya. Off his perfect husband and their perfect son. It was an incredible feeling, and even though he was another year older, he felt so young and couldn’t help but smile to himself as he stuck one of those tiny paper umbrellas on the side of the plastic margarita cup.

“Happy Birthday, Ilyusha.”

He’d heard that countless times throughout the day so far, but it was the first time in his native tongue. But he would know that voice in any language.

He turned to see his oldest friend standing in the entry way between the living area and kitchen. She wore a beautiful summer dress, fitted above her waist and then flowing out into a pleated bottom that reached her knees. Her curls were even fuller and longer than usual, well past her shoulders now, and her makeup was done to perfection. 

“Sveta! Did you get all dressed up for me?”

“You wish,” she said, coming to his side. “I think your lei is falling apart.”

“Amber made this. It is perfect,” he said, reaching up for the admittedly half empty and messy array of bright flowers accenting his everpresent golden chain. 

He pulled Svetlana into a tight hug, and it felt strange without the round belly that was there just a few weeks ago. She had stayed in Ottawa a few days after giving birth and then drove back home to Boston with her mother, wanting to give them time alone to bond with Leo and time for herself to heal. She hadn’t gained much weight outside of her midsection during the pregnancy. They had all worried about that but the doctor assured them it was normal. Seeing Leo now, they definitely didn’t have any reason to worry.

“You look fantastic,” he told her when they pulled apart, but kept a hold of each other’s hands.

“And you look happy.”

“I am very happy, it seems…unfair.”

“Unfair to who?”

“Everyone.”

Svetlana smiled and gave his hands a squeeze. “It is not. It is what you deserve.”

There were times when his mind became a prison and he still struggled to believe that was true. He knew that having a baby was no cure for depression, like being married to Shane wasn’t, and he had never and would never expect that of his husband or child. But he was certain that he would always think of his son and would remember that life was worth living.

He tugged Svetlana under his arm and kissed her hair. “Come. He’s upstairs.” 

The middle Wiebe took that opportune moment to fly through the kitchen, even faster than her younger sister. 

“Hey, no running!” 

Her frozen and confused stare clued him in that he was still speaking in Russian. 

“I said no running,” he corrected and then remembered his original task. He grabbed the margarita off the counter and handed it to her. “Please bring this to your mother.”

As she turned away to head back outside, she raised the cup to her lips.

“Do not do that!” Ilya shouted after her. “If you do, your dad will fire me.” 

Leo’s nursery featured a beautiful mural of safari animals in soft pastel colors behind his crib, where he only slept during the day since it was much easier to keep him in the bassinet beside their bed throughout the night. A changing table was stationed on the opposite wall, and in front of the windows, two off white rocking recliners were side by side. Luca had set Marly’s gift in the corner, and Ilya was eager to get it out of the box though he would have more use for it now than Leo. 

Shane stood at the changing table, still making good on his promise to take care of diapers all day. His swim shorts were wet too, sticking to his thighs and lifted just so that his Olympic rings tattoo on the front of his left thigh was visible. His palm tree shirt hung open and stuck to his damp body in places, and a towel lay abandoned on the ground near his feet. They had both lost a battle against a dozen children armed with water guns.

He was talking to Leo as he changed him, voice low and soft but not in a babified pitch that Ilya and many others used with him. Shane spoke in his normal tone, and Ilya found it so endearing. Even more so when he started to make out the words, Shane asking their son if the diaper tabs were pulled too tight or just right, like Leo would give him an answer right back. 

“I think you have perfected the art of diaper changing, moy lyubimyy,” Ilya answered instead.

Shane turned to him and surprise flashed across his face at who had joined them. 

“Svetlana, hi,” he said, his hand resting on Leo’s legs to keep him in place. “How are you?”

“I’m good, you know, considering.” She smirked, nodding over at the baby.

The corner of Shane’s mouth lifted. “I’m glad you could make it.”

“Me too.”

It was awkward at first as they talked while Shane finished redressing Leo. Shane and Svetlana had been close friends for years, they loved and trusted each other. But Ilya knew that his husband had worried how the surrogacy process would go, the medical and legal complexities, how Svetlana would be able to give a baby she bore for nine months to them so willfully. He had spent many sleepless nights with the fear that she would change her mind and they would be stuck in some kind of twisted custody battle. But Ilya knew his best friend and knew that she never would have offered to do something so precious for them if she didn’t mean it. 

Now as they stood together, looking over Leo, Svetlana joked that her genes didn’t stand a chance, and Ilya could see that weight lift from his husband’s shoulders. 

“Shane doesn’t know how to lose anything,” he said, grinning.

Shane lifted Leo into his arms and then turned to Svetlana. “Do you want to hold him?”

There was just a moment of hesitation, before she nodded. Ilya put a gentle hand on her back and led her to the nearest rocking chair. 

Shane laid the towel on the opposite chair and sat down, and Ilya sank onto the floor before him, resting his head on Shane’s thigh. Even with the ruckus of music, chatter, and the occasional splash of water coming from outside, the room felt serene as Svetlana held Leo. 

“He’s perfect,” she said, trailing a finger down the side of his face.

It was quiet for a moment before Shane spoke. “I don’t think we will ever be able to thank you enough.”

She looked over at him, serious when she said, “You don’t have to. Just make sure he grows up happy and healthy and loved, that’s all I want.”

Ilya reached for Shane’s hand that was already on its way to him. 

“We will,” Shane said.

Not long after, Leo began to fuss. Svetlana tried to follow Shane’s instructions to rock him and pat his back but was overwhelmed as the cries rapidly intensified. 

Ilya, feeling like he would implode if he didn’t have his son in his arms right that second, was already there when she moved to get rid of him. It took longer than normal for him to settle, likely overwhelmed too by all the new people and noise.

“This is why I’m glad to be Auntie Sveta. That’s more than enough for me.”

Ilya chuckled as Shane got up and stood in front of him. There was a soft smile on his face when he curled one hand around Ilya’s waist and the other over Leo, and then their son was quiet and safe between them.

4 

Rose Landry arrived in a fury that Shane rarely witnessed. Filming had run over and her flight rescheduled then delayed, and it took airport staff far too long to locate her checked luggage. Shane carried two large suitcases and a carry-on leather bag past some of his gawking teammates scattered around the house who were still not used to one of America’s best actresses occasionally showing up to their events, and on to the master bedroom and ushered her into the ensuite for more privacy. 

Through the door as she changed and freshened up, she went back and forth between cursing her misfortune and apologizing profusely for being so late. 

“I don’t understand the point of a fucking schedule if you can’t fucking stick to it. Oh, can you please take everything out of that other suitcase?” she shouted, and Shane just shook his head in amusement when her voice lost some of its wrath midway through. 

He did as she requested and laid the large suitcase open near the bed, unveiling at least a dozen boxes and bags of various sizes. Some were a little smooshed, but he doubted Rose put anything in there that would be harmed in transit. He lined them all up on the end of the bed and wearily eyed the brand names printed across the front of each.

A few minutes later, she stepped out of the bathroom in a strapless, flowing dress. She had touched up her makeup, balmy pink cheeks and lips, hair in a messy bun that looked intentional and effortlessly stylish. She held the straps of a bikini top up together behind her neck. 

“Can you tie me up please?”

Shane met her half way and stood behind her to twist the strings into a secure bow.

“Is it too tight?”

“Nope, thank you!” Then she turned around to face him and finally pulled him into a hug. 

Shane had missed her. The last time they had been together was for New Years when they both happened to be in New York City. He didn’t see her as much as he would like to, thanks to their careers. But they made an effort to arrange at least one vacation together each year, and if they happened to be in the same city, they always tried to meet up. She was such a bright light in his life and he was so happy she found the time to be there to celebrate Ilya’s birthday and meet Leo.

“I really am sorry to show up like this,” she repeated, and Shane has lost count of how many times.

He lifted a corner of his mouth. “Like what, fashionably late?”

She rolled her eyes. “I mean it. I wanted to be the first person here.”

“Hey, it’s not your fault and you’re here now. That’s what matters.”

“Yes, but I’m still pissed.”

“This will make you feel better,” Ilya said, surprising them both as he stepped into the room carrying Leo in one arm and a bottle with the other. He had lost his lei somewhere and was still shirtless. It was very distracting, his shoulder tattoo of a loon accented with lilies making it even more so. Shane was eager to see what design he and Luca came up with for Leo to go on the other arm, and he made a mental note to reapply his sunscreen before they left this room.

Ilya transferred their son over to Rose who didn’t hesitate to take him, not like Ilya was giving her any choice. The frustration instantly faded from her face, and she was completely enraptured by Leo. 

Ilya shoved the boxes and bags back on the bed to make room, and then guided Rose, her eyes still locked on the baby, to sit down on the end of it. One of the boxes teetered on the edge and Shane caught it just before it hit the floor.

“Oh my god,” Rose gasped. “You guys. He is gorgeous.” 

Leo looked up at her curiously. He was sniffing wetly, cheeks pink, and he looked seconds away from screaming if he didn’t get the bottle of milk in Ilya’s hand.

“Would you like to feed him?” Ilya asked. 

Rose took a deep breath, “Of course.”

“Only a few people with the last name Hollander have done this. You are special.”

Rose looked like she was on stage accepting another Oscar, and Shane put a hand over his mouth to keep his amusement under control. 

Ilya tucked a burping cloth under Leo’s chin and held the bottle to his mouth at the perfect angle. He waited to make sure he was latched on and then set Rose’s hand in his place to continue the job. He sat down beside her, at the ready if she needed help.

“You’ve got this all figured out already,” she said.

Ilya nodded, eyes on Leo. “I think we do, yes.”

Rose finally turned away from Leo to glance over at Ilya. “I’m so happy for you. And for him, for having you two as his dads.”

“Thank you,” Ilya said, voice deep and a little strained.

Shane felt choked up too. He cleared his throat and held up the box.

“What is all this stuff?” He asked, breaking the tension.

Ilya and Rose turned their heads at the same time to look back at him. 

“The white bag is for Ilya. It’s vintage Jean Paul Gaultier. Happy birthday, by the way.” She nudged his shoulder, disturbing Leo enough that he cried out and chased after his bottle like he hadn’t been fed all day. 

Ilya’s tone raised cartoonishly as he coaxed him down and let him know that Aunt Rose was taking care of him. 

Rose looked like she might cry too as she said, “The rest are for this angel.”

“Rose, this is Versace. Chanel. Dior. For a baby? Really?”

Shane put the box back and handed the white bag to Ilya, who dragged him over to stand between his legs and locked an arm around his hips. While Rose defended each one of her extravagant gifts, Shane leaned down to kiss the top of his husband’s head, then again for good measure.

She was still going, mentioning other things she’d like to buy, by the time Leo finished his bottle and Ilya had helped her sit him up in her lap properly for burping.

“Tiffany’s makes the cutest little bracelets for babies,” she said. “They’re unbreakable and-“

The sudden eruption of milk from Leo’s mouth gave his stance on infants wearing jewelry, and it echoed Shane’s. He doubted Ilya felt the same, but Shane had ways of getting what he wanted from Ilya, and it had nothing to do with rock, paper, scissors.

Ilya laughed and apologized as he cleaned Leo with the cloth and then moved back so Shane could take him from Rose.

“Totally fine,” she said, even though half of the mess ended up on her dress. “It’s but a small price to pay.”

“I have an extra Hawaiian shirt if you want it,” Shane said, patting Leo’s back.

Rose’s face brightened. “God yes!”

5 

Ilya found Leo in the quiet of the nursery. He was asleep on his grandpa’s chest, the shoulders of his red maple leaves dotted onesie visible under a flannel blanket. David wore a plain gray shirt after ditching his floral shirt. Ilya had just put his back on after finding it in the pool house. He was glad because he wanted to keep this one. 

“Want me to take him?” Ilya asked his father-in-law.

David smirked. “Not a chance.”

Ilya collapsed into the chair next to him. The party was winding down, and at least half of their guests had departed. He felt the excitement of the day catching up to him and turning into exhaustion. But he felt so full, and it was due to more than the top tier of his delicious cake.

“It took forever to convince the little Pikes to leave,” he said, resting his eyes. “They didn’t believe me and Hayden when we told them they will be back next week for the start of camp. Yuna finally convinced them.”

Hayden and Wyatt were going to lead the camp this year on his and Shane’s behalf, and they were so grateful for more time to spend with Leo.

“So you’ve had a good birthday?” David asked.

Ilya didn’t need a second to consider it. “It cannot get any better.”

“Just you wait. You’ve got so many more of these to look forward to.”

Ilya opened his eyes to peer over at them, and he believed that David was right, that he knew from experience. He couldn’t wait.

“Thank you,” he said. “For everything. The party was amazing, and everyone loved the barbeque.”

“You’re welcome. I also have to thank you.”

“What for?”

David didn’t hesitate either. “For giving me the greatest honor of being a grandfather.”

Ilya met his eyes and they were unyielding in their sincerity. After so many years being a part of this family, it was still startling to be on the receiving end of.

“I did nothing.”

David shook his head, “But you did. I don’t think Shane would have ever done this without you. We wouldn’t have known Svetlana. This little miracle wouldn’t exist without you, son.”

Ilya wondered if there was a betting pool to see who would get him to cry that day. He blinked rapidly and looked up at the ceiling.

A few moments ticked by where Ilya calmed and held back the tears, and then there was further reprieve when Shane entered the room like a man on a mission.

He walked to Ilya and promptly sat on his lap.

The chair jerked back at the sudden addition of weight. But Ilya was quick to plant his feet on the ground, then wrapped his arms around Shane and tucked his face against the side of his neck. 

“Tired?”

“Yes,” Shane dragged out the word in a sigh.

Ilya pressed a kiss under his chin. He was very familiar with his husband’s small social battery, and even though they loved their friends and family dearly and had fun all day, the emotional toll of not having their eyes on Leo all day long had been draining. Not to mention the physical toll of making it to the final round in the water volleyball tournament, though falling short of the title against Bood’s team.

As Ilya held him, Shane told his dad about the tournament and how both JJ and Ruby were both banned from the pool for crying and unsportsmanlike conduct, respectively. David laughed and the sudden sound shocked Leo awake. He whimpered and bunched up his little body before relaxing and then did the motion again.

Ilya and Shane both jumped, ready to act. Shane leaned toward the other chair, and he might have fallen over if Ilya didn’t have a firm grasp on him. But David chuckled, softer this time as he patted Leo’s back until he settled.

“I’ve done this before, you know that, right?”

“I know, dad.”

Ilya pulled Shane back against him, closer somehow, and kept his hands trailing along his back and massaging into his hip. Shane’s arm curled around his shoulders and his fingers crept in the hair at the nape of his neck.

“He’s awake,” Shane said, just before Ilya noticed as well.

David gently cupped Leo’s head with one palm and his bottom in the other so he could lay him back over his lap. Shane was quick to reach out and secure his blanket around him.

“I feel like this is the first time I’ve truly seen his eyes for more than a second,” David said in awe. “God, he really is the spitting image of you, Shane.”

Yuna and David had visited a few times each week, but even if Leo was awake, the second he was placed in David’s arms, he fell right to sleep. Like he knew that was one of the safest places for him to be. It wasn’t even the first time that day. He had fallen asleep during poker around the dining table. Yuna had taken him only when the game got too rowdy.

“Did you have a good nap?” David asked him in a serious tone, just like his son’s.

Leo just blinked up at him.

“That’s your grandpa,” Ilya said and then added in Russian, “Say hi grandpa.”

“I understood that,” David said in an accent as bad as Shane’s when he first started learning.

Ilya felt like his face would break from smiling. It was only made worse when Leo scrunched up his mouth into a pout.

“That’s a smile!” Ilya praised and pinched Shane’s waist before he could utter anything about natural reflexes. “He’s smiling. That means he loves you.”

David smiled down at Leo. “I love you too, Leo. And I love your dada and papa. I am so proud of them.”

A sudden shutter sound drew all of their attention to the door.

Yuna was there with her phone aimed at them. 

“My boys,” she said, teary eyed.

Ilya patted Shane’s hip so he could get out from under him and make his way over to her. He pulled her into a hug, lifting her off her feet. She laughed as he thanked her too, for the party, for Shane, for Leo, for treating him like he had always been a part of the family, for everything.

+1

Ilya was in bed, freshly showered and wearing a tank and shorts he’d undoubtedly shed before they turned the lights out. Rose was in one guest room. Svetlana, who only had two more weeks before she was clear to fly to Russia to visit her father, was in another. They all had plans with Marly the next day.

His knees were bent with Leo leaning back against them. He and Shane had bathed him together, a nerve racking process that seemed to do more damage than good based on the volume of Leo’s cries. Ilya had picked his soft long sleeved onesie that folded and snapped into a swaddle itself. But for now Leo was free, arms waving wildly.

Ilya’s phone vibrated with another message, this one from Scott Hunter. Texts and Instagram messages had been flowing in all day. He chuckled at the ironic jab at his age and then swiped it away before turning his phone back to Leo. A video titled Hollander and Rozanov Best Plays in Stanley Cup Finals played on the screen.

“Watch how daddy sets up this play before I even see it coming. It’s like magic. He knew exactly where I would-”

“Ilya, that’s not good for his eyes,” Shane interrupted with a plume of steam out of the bathroom, one towel tucked around his waist and used another to dry his hair. “He can’t see anything on that tiny screen anyway.” 

Ilya blinked over at him dumbly for a few moments before his brain caught up. “Which is it, dorogoy? It can hurt his eyes or he cannot see anything?” 

Shane’s face did that thing where it couldn’t decide if he was annoyed or amused. 

“It’s not good for him,” he stated firmly.

Ilya had the brightness turned all the way down, sound low, but he knew how to pick his battles and this was an easy one to lose. He made a show of setting his phone on the side table. 

“I’m sorry, buločka. Daddy says you have to wait a little longer to learn about your history.”

He poked his fingers gently against Leo’s belly, sending his little arms flailing again. Ilya laughed and leaned into him so their noses were just a few inches apart.

The sound of the towels hitting the floor drew his attention over to his husband. It seemed like ages had passed since Ilya had fallen to his knees in their en-suite, merely a show of gratitude after Shane thoroughly reapplied his sunscreen and a true test of how quiet he could be as Ilya pulled out every trick he knew would make it very difficult.

Ilya watched as he tugged on pajama pants, tragically covering the handgun tattoo low on his hip, a lost bet before the draft that his parents didn’t find out about until many years later. It was easily hidden like his other tattoos, including the small 81 tattoo on the opposite side, a birthday present to Ilya a couple years ago. Ilya got the matching 24 in the same spot the day after.

“Hurry and come cuddle with us. I feel like it has not been just the three of us all day.”

Shane hurried to pull on a white shirt and returned the wet towels to the bathroom to dry, and then finally got into bed.

Ilya tugged him as close as possible as he told him, “Your post has over a million likes. The prime minister left a nice comment.”

Earlier that day, Shane had made an Instagram post wishing Ilya a happy birthday and announcing Leo to the rest of the world with a series of discrete yet incredibly precious photos. A zoomed in shot of Leo’s hand curled near Ilya’s cross on his bare chest the day he was born. Ilya standing over Leo’s crib with Anya beside him, her snout poking through the bars. A shot taken by Yuna after the first miserable sponge bath, Shane and Ilya pressed together with Leo, bundled up and hidden in a towel between them. One from that morning with Ilya’s happy grin tucked down into Leo’s hair as he held him, in their matching shirts. Ilya had reposted it, but he was still figuring out which pictures he wanted to share with his own post. He had so many to choose from and needed to ask Yuna for the one she had taken earlier in the nursery.

“Everyone loves him,” Shane said, stretched out along Ilya’s side and resting on one elbow so that he was level with Leo.

“Of course they do. He is perfect.”

“Do you think he’ll play hockey someday?”

“Of course,” Ilya said again. “He is your son.”

“Our son.”

Ilya smiled. He could joke about it with Shane and Svetlana. But they both knew if anyone else ever did, ever questioned his place as Leo’s father, it might be the last thing they ever did.

“It’s okay if he doesn’t,” Shane said.

“He will do whatever makes him happy.”

Shane laid his head on Ilya’s chest and held out a finger for Leo to grab onto.

The robotic trill of Ilya’s phone broke the tranquility that surrounded them and Ilya made no move to reach for it.

“Maybe you should get that,” Shane said.

Ilya let out a long rumble of a groan before grabbing his phone. The dramatic noise ceased when a Russian phone number was visible on the screen.

He took a shallow breath before accepting the call.

“Hello?” 

“Uncle Ilya?”

Ilya’s body jolted and Shane’s quickness kept his legs from slipping down and disturbing Leo.

“Masha,” he gasped. “Oh my god. What- Are you- How are you?”

There was a long pause in which it seemed like his niece had hung up, but then she said quietly, “I’m okay. I think I am a little late, but happy birthday.”

It had to be in the early morning hours of the next day in Moscow, the sun probably hadn’t even risen yet. 

“It’s been so long since I’ve heard your voice,“ Ilya said. “You sound so different.”

“I am fifteen now.”

“I am more than twice that.”

“Very old,” she chuckled softly and then breathed deeply before asking, “Are you…are you with your husband? Shane?”

“Yes, yes, he is here,” Ilya said and switched to the speaker phone.

It was surprising that she knew they were married. Damning news broke when they were first outed, of course. But if Russian news reported on Ilya at all anymore, it wasn’t anything positive.

Ilya nodded at Shane and then at the phone, encouraging him to speak.

Shane moved to sit up beside him and said, “Hi, it is nice to finally meet you.”

“Oh hello, you speak Russian,” Masha said, switching to English in another surprise.

“And you speak English,” he smiled at Ilya, clearly impressed.

“I have been learning in school.”

“You’re very good.”

“Thank you. This is…practice for me?”

“I need more practice as well. I can understand most things but sometimes speaking is hard.”

“Yes, me too.”

Ilya looked like the only thing keeping him from flying up to the clouds was their son sitting in his lap. His gaze flickered back and forth between the phone, Shane, and Leo.

“Masha, can you switch to video call?” He asked suddenly, his finger already posed over the button on his own phone.

“The….ah…it will not be so good, but yes.”

“There is someone else I want you to meet.”

The quality, likely the word she was struggling with, wasn’t the best and lagged occasionally. But it was clear enough.

“Hi, you are beautiful.” Ilya choked up and Shane rubbed a steady hand over his back.

Masha looked away bashfully.

“I mean it… You look like your grandmother.”

She turned back to the phone. “Papa tells me that.”

Leo made a squeaky noise that often came before he was ready to be put to sleep.

“What was that?” Masha moved closer, like she wanted to crawl through the phone.

“Masha, meet your cousin,” Ilya said, flipping the camera onto his son. “His name is Leo Nikolai.”

Masha was just as taken with Leo as everyone else. They talked for a while, about her plans for school and career goals, hockey, Canada, even discussing the idea of her coming to visit when she was of legal age. Shane eventually put a sleeping Leo in his bassinet.

The call came to a natural yet regretful conclusion, and immediately afterward, Ilya tossed the phone aside and fell over into Shane’s open arms. Tears that had been building all day spilled over in a flood, and Shane held him through it. 

When he was nothing but sniffles, Shane coaxed him up so he could wipe away the tracks over his face. Shane’s eyes were teary too. And there was something else there and in his small smile that made Ilya’s heart stutter in his chest.

“You did this?” Ilya asked, stunned.

Shane’s smile grew and he shrugged. “Svetlana did most of the work.”

“Fuck, Shane,” Ilya cried and pushed Shane back into their bed and laid on top him. “I love you so much. I would’ve been happy with a quiet day with you and Leo. But you do all this. You keep giving me the best day of my life. The day we married, the day we won our first cup together, the day our son was born, today.”

There were many more. All Stars in Tampa, the day Yuna and David learned about their relationship, Shane’s first practice as a Centaur, every day at the cottage, every day. But Shane knew that. 

“I love you,” Ilya said again. “Thank you, thank you.”

Shane’s arms tightened around him, “I love you too. So much.”

Ilya leaned down to kiss him, but Leo let out a soft whimper that had them both up in an instant, nearly smacking their foreheads together. It didn’t take long to see that their son was still sound asleep. 

They laughed at how ridiculous they were, and then Shane pulled Ilya back down onto him and into a kiss.