Chapter Text
May 2026 - Ottawa, Ontario
Ilya was lying on the couch with his head in Shane's lap. Shane had put some HGTV on in the background, but Ilya wasn't paying attention. His eyes were closed, and he was soaking up this feeling. It was the middle of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Centaurs were the favored Cup contenders again. Ilya had retired at the end of last season and had committed to becoming Shane's WAG for his husband's final season. Ilya was traveling to every away game. It was different sitting in the stands, and he wasn't sure if he would ever be fully adjusted to it. He never regretted his decision to retire. Hockey had never been his life, like it was for Shane. For Ilya, it was a way out of Russia. Hockey had given him the most important thing in his life, Shane, and for that he would always be grateful. However, he was going to go mad if he didn't find something to do. Being a WAG was fun, but he was getting bored. He picked up his phone from where it was resting on the coffee table. He opened up TikTok and started mindlessly scrolling. He scrolled past cat videos and promo videos from various hockey teams when something caught his attention.
He stopped and saw a video of a man and woman dancing. He looked at the caption.
@officialdwts: #InternationalDanceDay would not be complete without watching a performance from our Season 34 champions, Robert Irwin and Witney Carson!
Dancing with the Stars? Ilya didn't live under a rock. He had heard of the show before, but never had the time or interest to watch it. Now, he had time. He found himself scrolling through the videos he assumed had been posted during last season. The more videos he watched, the more invested he found himself. Ilya thought he could dance better than some of these people. It also looked like everyone was having a lot of fun. He wanted to do this. He sat up and looked at Shane. Shane looked up from his phone and raised his eyebrows.
"You know how I've been bored just sitting around the house?"
Shane nodded.
"I think I've found what I want to do, for a little bit anyway."
"Oh? What is it?"
"Dancing with the Stars."
Shane's mouth drops a little and his eyes go wide. He's obviously shocked at Ilya's answer.
"Dancing with the Stars? Are you sure?"
"Yes, it looks so fun! Look at these videos. You know I can dance better than these people, Shane."
He turned his phone towards Shane and showed him different videos. A small smile grew on Shane's face as he watched his husband's obvious excitement.
"Okay. If you want to do it, then you'll do it. We can talk to Mom so that she can reach out to their team. When does everything start, do you know?"
"Let me check." Ilya types a few things into his phone.
"I think for the celebrities it starts towards the end of August, but the show doesn't come out until the middle of September."
"Okay, then we've got time."
Ilya stood up and grabbed Shane's hand, dragging him up too. He started spinning the two of them in circles around the living room in a very dramatic mimic of a ballroom dance. Both couldn't keep the smiles off their faces.
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August 2026 - Los Angeles, California
Ilya had gotten into Los Angeles yesterday. He and Shane had decided to rent a house for a few months while they stayed here. Even if he didn't win (he would), they would still need him for the finale, so they had decided it was better to stay in LA until the show was over.
Today he would be meeting his partner. He had no idea who it would be, but he had done his research on all of the professional dancers. He didn't want to look like an idiot if he walked in and didn't know who his partner was. He was in the living room of their rented house putting the last few things he needed for rehearsals today into his Centaurs duffel bag. Shane was sitting on the couch, staring at him.
"Okay, I think I'm ready."
Shane stood up and walked to him. He placed both his hands on Ilya's biceps and gave them a slight squeeze.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes, I'm excited. I wish you could come with me."
"You know I can't. I'm not allowed. Also, that might be taking our codependency to a whole other level."
Shane laughed when he said it. Ilya wrapped his arms around Shane's waist.
"I'll miss you."
Shane rolled his eyes playfully.
"You'll only be gone a few hours, and you're gonna meet your dance partner. You'll be fine."
Shane leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the lips that Ilya tried to deepen. Shane didn't let him. He put his hands on Ilya's chest and pushed him away.
"Nope. You'll be late."
"Hmm, okay. I will see you tonight. We can go get dinner somewhere."
"We can if you aren't too tired."
"Never for you."
Ilya leaned in to give Shane one last kiss before heading out the door.
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Ilya pulled the car into the parking lot at the studio. As he got out of the car, he felt his heart rate pick up. Contrary to what he told Shane, he was nervous. This whole experience was so far out of his comfort zone. He was still excited, but there was slightly more hesitation as he walked closer to the entrance of the building. It was all settling in that this was real. He was going to be on Dancing with the Stars. He put a hand on the handle and opened the front door of the studio. Immediately, he was met with the face of a smiling young woman. She must be a crew member, he thought.
"Hi, Ilya Hollander-Rozanov, right?"
"Ah, yes."
"Hi. My name is Melanie. I'm one of the production assistants here. Today you will be meeting your partner and doing your first rehearsal. If you go down the hallway to rehearsal room 5, you'll meet your partner. Just letting you know, the walk-in is being filmed, so make sure to act surprised and happy.
"Got it. Thank you."
He started making his way towards the rehearsal room, his heart speeding up with every step. By the time he reached the door, he felt like his heart would jump out of his chest. He put his hand on the handle of the door and took a deep breath before pushing it open.
He was met with the sight of a short blonde woman whom he recognized from his hours of research. Ilya let a big smile take over his face as he walked forward to hug his dance partner.
"Hi. I'm Ilya." He said when they pulled away.
"I'm Daniella. Let's sit down and talk before we start rehearsing."
Both of them sat down on the floor of the rehearsal room.
"Okay, Ilya, tell me about yourself. We are going to spend a lot of time together over the next few months, so we should get to know each other."
"I'm originally from Russia and have loved playing hockey my entire life. In 2009, when I was 18, I was lucky enough to be drafted by the NHL alongside Shane. I played for Boston before moving to the Ottawa Centaurs in 2018 so I could be closer to my now-husband, who was then with Montreal. We got married in Ottawa in 2021, and both played for Ottawa until we retired. I stepped away from the game two seasons ago, and Shane retired at the end of last season. Recently, with more free time on my hands, I decided to give this a try. I saw some clips of the show on my phone and thought it looked so much fun, so I decided to join in. I'm really excited about this and so happy to have you as my partner."
"Thank you for saying that. I'll be honest, I don't know much about hockey. I am willing to learn, though. We can go on a double date to a game, and you can explain it to me."
Ilya laughed loudly.
"You don't know what you've just signed up for. My husband will gladly explain all the rules of hockey to you, but it will take the entire game."
"That's fine. I'm ready. If it makes you more comfortable, we can speak in Russian. My parents are from Moldova, so I grew up speaking Russian with them. My husband was also born in Russia, so we now speak it at home with our daughter. Once, you said you were from Russia; I understood why they paired us together. I'm the only female pro who speaks Russian."
"Wow, honestly, this is a relief. It's much better for me if we speak in Russian. I don't speak it as much as I'd like. Shane is basically fluent now, so we use it at home, but I never speak it outside the house. This will be very refreshing."
"Okay. Now that we've gotten to know each other a bit. Let's go. We've got a lot to learn."
Ilya stood up and held out his hand to Daniella to help her up.
"Let's go."
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Ilya had spent the past two days rehearsing with Daniella. Right now, they were on a plane with the rest of the pro dancers and celebrity guests, en route to Good Morning America, where they would make the cast announcement. Today was his first time meeting the rest of the cast members. Everyone seemed nice, but he wasn't sure. He sat with Daniella and her husband, Pasha. Pasha and Ilya were talking about growing up in Russia, Ilya in Moscow and Pasha in Perm, when they were interrupted.
"Do you mind if we sit?" Val Chmerkovskiy and Alan Bersten were standing in front of them.
"Not at all. Sit down." Pasha said, gesturing to the empty seats. The two men moved to sit down when Daniella stood up.
"This is turning into a boys' party, so I'm going to go hang out with some of the girls."
Everyone laughed as she walked away. Ilya had never met Val or Alan, but Daniella had told him they also spoke Russian. The five of them were going to form their own little Russian posse this season, Ilya thought.
"Ilya, right? My name's Alan." Alan held out his hand for Ilya to shake. He took it and gave it a firm shake.
"Ah, it's nice to meet you."
"I'm Val. It's nice to meet you, Ilya." Ilya shook Val's hand. The four men continued to talk about their lives and got to know each other better over the last two hours of the flight. Ilya thought he could make some real friends on this show. It would be nice to have some friends outside of hockey.
After the plane landed at JFK, everyone got off and stood with their partners. They were told they would be taken to the GMA set where everyone gets hair and makeup done. Daniella had told Ilya that the pros would be doing a group dance before they would make the cast announcement. After, everyone would come out and be asked questions by the hosts. Once they got into the cars, Ilya sent Shane a text.
ILYA: Just landed. We're on our way to GMA now.
ILYA: I know you're sleeping, but I just wanted to let you know.
ILYA: Love you <3
Before he knew it, they were pulling into the back lot of the studio. Ilya climbed out of the car before Dani and held his hand out to help her out of the SVU. She grabbed his hand and carefully stepped out of the car.
"Thank you."
"Of course."
She looped her arm through his and steered him in the direction of what he assumed was the hair and makeup department.
"Are you nervous for today?" She glanced up at him, curiosity on her face.
"A little bit. I'm used to being on TV, but never in this context. I think this is the first time I've done something like this that isn't hockey related." Ilya could feel his body stiffen as he spoke. It seemed the more he spoke, the more nervous he became.
"It's okay to be nervous. You'll only be asked one question, and it will probably be hockey-related. The hosts usually try to make the questions specific to each guest, so yours will most likely be about hockey since it's what people know you from."
Ilya felt his body relax knowing he wouldn't be asked any questions about the show or dancing. He was still so new to all of this that he wasn't sure that he would be able to give a decent answer. It would've been something super generic, which isn't what he wanted. This was a chance to show himself to a new audience. He wanted to be as authentic as possible.
They arrived at hair and makeup and sat next to some of the other celebs and pros. Ilya sat down in the chair and waited; this part he was used to. He had been in hair and makeup chairs many times over his career. A woman with long brown hair approached him.
"Hello, Mr. Hollander-Rozanov. My name is Tara, and I'll be doing your makeup today. Lauren will be over to do your hair shortly."
"Thank you."
Ilya closed his eyes and relaxed into the chair while Tara did his makeup. After a few minutes, he felt hands in his hair. He opened his eyes slightly to peek at his reflection in the mirror. He didn't look much different, which he figured was the point. Tara and Lauren just made him look slightly more camera-ready. He felt his phone buzz in his pocket. Shane must be awake, he thought. He reached to grab the phone out of his pocket. Tara and Lauren pulled away slightly to let him move. He put a smile on his face that he hoped came across as equal parts thankful and apologetic. He unlocked his phone and scrolled to his messages with Shane.
SHANE: Good morning. I'm glad you made it safely.
SHANE: I'm going on my run now so I can be back in time for the show.
SHANE: What are you doing now?
ILYA: We're in hair and makeup.
ILYA: [image attached: Ilya sitting in his chair with Tara's hand near his face and Lauren's hands fixing his curls. Daniella's arm can be slightly out of the corner.]
ILYA: They're making me pretty.
SHANE: You're always pretty <3
SHANE: Are you having fun? Is everyone nice?
SHANE: I know it was your first time meeting everyone besides Daniella today.
ILYA: Everyone is nice. I haven't talked to many people beyond introductions, but they all seem nice.
ILYA: I did make friends with Pasha, Val, and Alan on the plane today.
ILYA: They all speak Russian, so it was nice to talk with them.
ILYA: I didn't realize when I signed up that so many people spoke Russian, but I really love it.
ILYA: It makes me feel more at home, if that makes sense?
ILYA: It's easier to be myself when I'm not constantly translating.
SHANE: It makes sense. I'm glad that everyone's been so nice. I know that was something you were really worried about.
SHANE: I'm also happy that there are so many people you can speak freely with. After the season, we should host some of them in Ottawa. It seems like these are good people, and it would be good if we could have some friends outside of hockey, I think.
ILYA: We have telepathy. I just thought the same thing on the plane. I thought it would be nice to have some non-hockey friends.
SHANE: Not sure telepathy is real, baby. I think we've just known each other so long.
ILYA: Whatever.
ILYA: I miss you.
SHANE: I miss you too, but you'll be back tomorrow. I'll meet you at the airport since you don't have practice after.
ILYA: I can't wait. You should meet Dani and Pasha.
ILYA: She wants to do a double date to a hockey game with us.
ILYA: She doesn't know anything about hockey, but she said we could explain it to her.
ILYA: I warned her that you are hockey obsessed and could talk for hours, but she still wants to do it.
SHANE: I would love to meet them. I'm also down to do the double date. We can grab dinner before the game.
SHANE: Okay, I'm heading out on my run now. I'll text you after the show is finished.
SHANE: I love you.
ILYA: I love you more.
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Ilya was waiting backstage. Dani and all of the pros were on stage waiting for the commercial break to end. The judges joined them. Ilya could admit he was slightly intimidated when he first saw the judges. He wasn't sure what to think of them. They seemed nice, but they were still judges. One of the production team started counting down until they were back on air.
Three, two, one…
"Live from New York City, it's our Dancing with the Stars cast reveal!"
Ilya listened to the intro of Lady Gaga's "Abracadabra" as he watched the performance on the backstage screens. His eyebrows shot up when he saw Dani walk across the host's desk in high heels and fall into Derek Hough's arms. He was impressed; although he had seen Dani dance over the past couple of days, he had never witnessed her in an actual performance. The PA came up to the group watching and told them they had 2 minutes until they were needed on stage. They were herded until they were standing just off camera. He was told there would be one more commercial break, then the interviews would start.
Once the break started, everyone was seated in a chair next to their partner. They had the chairs set up on both sides of the stage to accommodate all 28 people. The crew alerted them to the end of the break, and Ilya sat up straighter, waiting for the cameras.
"Take a good look at the new cast of Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars!" The host, Michael Strahan, said. Everyone clapped and cheered.
"It's a powerhouse group. It always is. I want you to raise your hands if you're ready for the competition," he continued.
Ilya raised his hand along with everyone else. Michael asked Alfonso and Julianne some questions, asking if they had any advice for everyone. Ilya listened, wanting any advice he could get. The two things he got from their answers were authenticity and to listen to Dani. He zoned out for a few seconds until he heard his name from one of the other hosts, Gayle King.
"Ilya Hollander-Rozanov, NHL all-star and future Hall of Famer." Everyone cheered for him; Dani was the loudest.
"Now Ilya, you are married to another NHL all-star and future Hall of Famer, Shane Hollander-Rozanov, so I imagine your trophy room is stacked. Just between the two of you, you have six Stanley Cups, two Olympic Gold Medals, two Hart Memorial Trophies, one Conn Smythe Trophy, and two World Juniors Gold Medals. Is that correct?" Gayle continued.
"Yes, it is, but Gayle, you are missing some very important awards."
"Oh?"
"My husband, Shane, also won Sexiest Man in the NHL three times."
Everyone laughed; they were not expecting him to say that, he guessed.
"Can't believe I forgot his most important title. So are you looking to add the Mirrorball to your side of the trophy case?"
"Of course. Shane and I have been playing together for more than 15 years. There are no awards I have that he doesn't also have. It would be nice to add something to the case that he doesn't have. It would give me some bragging rights."
Ilya could feel Shane rolling his eyes from Los Angeles. The hosts and cast laughed at his response. The host moved on and started asking questions to the rest of the people on stage. Ilya listened intently, trying to get to know the people he would be spending the next few months with. After another ten minutes or so, the interview was finished. Everyone changed back into their plane clothes before heading back to the airport. An hour later, he was seated next to Dani and Pasha again for the flight back to Los Angeles. Just as the plane was taking off, Dani leaned in and whispered to him.
"We've got a long few weeks ahead of us. Are you ready?"
"Always."
Ilya sat back, closed his eyes, letting the plane take him back to LA and Shane.