Rating:

Mature

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Category:

M/M

Fandoms:

Heated Rivalry (TV), Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid

Relationships:

Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, Shane Hollander & Hayden Pike

Characters:

Shane Hollander, Ilya Rozanov, Hayden Pike, Eric Bennett, Scott Hunter (Game Changers), Carter Vaughn, Yuna Hollander, David Hollander, Svetlana Vetrova, Rose Landry, Cliff Marlow | Cliff Marleau

Additional Tags:

Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Multi POV, Fluff, Coming Out, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Las Vegas Wedding, MLH Awards in Las Vegas (Game Changers)

Language:

English

Collections:

100 Ways to Say ‘I Love You’

Stats:

Published: 2026-04-25 Words: 7,727 Chapters: 1/1

It's You and Me For the Rest of Our Lives Together

Summary

"I have been thinking." Ilya rolled onto his side so he was facing Shane, hand idly playing with Shane's hair.

His tone was careful and Shane tried hard not to panic about what he could possibly have been thinking about.

"About what I want as my reward."

Shane exhaled. Of course it was nothing bad, he probably just wanted to try something new and make sure Shane was comfortable with it that's all.

"What if we got married?"

Or MLH Awards 2018, Ilya wins a deal and proposes a Vegas Wedding

Notes

There are some things from Common Goal that are mentioned that I don't think would have happened by / in 2018 but I included them anyway because I care about vibes not canon compliance.

Hayden may sound slightly more rude about Ilya/Hollanov in a way that may come off as borderline homophobic because I do believe that if he was given 20 minutes to process the triple whammy lore drop of 'I'm gay, in love with Ilya Rozanov, and we're getting married' he wouldn't immediately get on board and be cool with it. Give him a second he's processing.

100 Ways to Say ‘I Love You’ 51: “Are you sure?”

Shane looked in the mirror and checked his appearance. He couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu, here he was in another hotel room wearing a suit and waiting for a knock from Ilya Rozanov, but this time Ilya was his boyfriend, and Shane was not dressed up to impress him. They had booked rooms in the same Vegas hotel as the MLH awards, and Shane was waiting for Ilya to arrive so they could have a moment to regroup before heading off to the awards ceremony separately. They had been officially together for almost a year, and while Shane knew that the secrecy and privacy was his idea it had been ten times harder not to seek Ilya out in every room and to pretend they were only rivals. In less than six months they would be able to announce their friendship, and the foundation, but for now everyone was still under the impression that Shane and Ilya hated each other's guts, and it needed to stay that way.

There was a knock on the door and Shane felt some of the tension leave his shoulders as he let Ilya into the room.

"Missed you." Ilya said, wrapping his arms around Shane and holding him there.

It had been weeks since they had last had a chance to see each other. "I missed you too."

"What if we just skip the awards and stay here in bed all evening?" Ilya asked.

"I think people might notice if we don't show up. My parents definitely will." Shane's parents had decided to come along to the awards for the first time since his rookie year to celebrate both his and Ilya's achievements this season. Shane suspected his mom also wanted a chance to talk to Scott Hunter and put out feelers about what it was like for him as an out Gay player.

"You are right. What if we played game then? To make the awards less boring?" Ilya's eyes lit up and he grinned mischievously.

"What kind of game?"

"Remember our deal from 2014 awards?"

How could Shane not, the memories of that night were permanently etched into his mind. "Same deal this time around?"

Ilya nodded. "Whoever wins the award gets to choose what they want to do."

"Okay." Shane agreed.

Ilya kissed him. "I look forward to claiming my prize."

"You're not gonna win." Shane grinned.

Ilya pressed a keycard into Shane's palm. "1223, come find me after the show. I will need help carrying trophy."

"You're an asshole." Shane gave Ilya one last kiss to sustain them both until after the awards.

"Fix your tie before you go down it's crooked."

Shane turned to look in the mirror and fixed his tie, he also brushed through his hair where Ilya's fingers had messed it up. By the time he turned back Ilya was long gone. Shane waited a beat before going to find his parents so they could head to the ceremony together.

Shane was successfully avoiding Ilya. He and Hayden were camped out in a corner with his dad while his mom circled the room mingling. It should have bothered him that his mom was more sociable with his fellow players than Shane was but it didn't. He thought he had spotted her talking to Hunter earlier so that was good. She would probably pitch three new brand deals to him tomorrow, all contingent on his coming out which was still a non-starter.

He scanned the room and caught Ilya's eye. They had been doing this all night. Shane would search the room for Ilya and he knew Ilya would do the same because their eyes would meet and Ilya would give him a small smile or a wink before looking away again. Ilya had won, the MVP award and their game, and Shane was counting down the minutes until it was a socially acceptable time for him to leave.

"Hello Hollander."

Shane blinked away from Ilya and saw Svetlana in front of him. The league had asked Sergei Vetrov to present the Vezina trophy, he had declined due to commitments in Russia, but had sent Svetlana on his behalf.

"Svetlana, good to see you." Shane hugged her.

"Are you going to introduce me to your friends?"

"Oh, right. Sveta this is my father, David, and Hayden Pike. Hayden, Dad, this is Svetlana Vetrova."

"Pleasure to meet you." She said.

"You as well." David shook her hand.

"Well I should be going, just wanted to say hello before I left." She announced.

"You're leaving already?" Shane was kind of hoping she would stay and chat for a little while longer, if only to make the time pass faster.

"Night is young, we are in Vegas, much more fun things to do than small talk with hockey players all night. See you around Hollander."

"See you around." He waved as she walked off.

"How do you know her?" Hayden asked.

"Oh uh." Shane forgot he knew her because of Ilya which he couldn't explain to Hayden who had no reason to think they were even friendly let alone close enough to meet each other's friends. "We met at an event. She's very knowledgeable about hockey." He said vaguely.

Hayden looked like he wanted to probe further but mercifully, or not depending on the next words out of Ilya's mouth, Shane was saved any more explanation by Ilya appearing in front of them.

"Evening gentlemen. Pike." Ilya looked Hayden up and down as if to suggest he did not count as a gentleman in his greeting.

"Fuck off Rozanov." Hayden told him.

"What? Are you not going to congratulate me on my win?" Ilya asked, his eyes sparkling.

Shane wondered what he had in mind for his reward.

"Congratulations." Shane's dad offered.

Hayden likely assumed his dad was being polite, but Shane knew he meant it and he watched Ilya's face light up from the small recognition. He would no doubt be showered with praise later in person and in the Hollander family group chat.

"Thank you." Ilya grinned turning to Shane. "Looks like I am favourite son."

Shane hid a smile behind his hand. This was a game they like to play, competing over who was David and Yuna's favourite, but Hayden didn't know that.

"Come on Shane let's go." Hayden put a hand on Shane's back as if to steer him away from the conversation.

"No don't go, I was leaving anyway. Lots to celebrate and this party really is very boring."

"What not enough topless women for you?" Hayden asked cattily.

"Something like that." Ilya agreed as he looked directly at Shane.

Shane fought the urge to smile at him.

"See you next season." Shane said, nodding to Ilya as a goodbye.

"See you next season, Hollander. I will win then too." Ilya replied before heading for the exit.

"Jesus what an asshole." Hayden remarked.

"Yeah." Shane agreed, failing to keep some of the fondness out of his voice.

"Was that Rozanov? What did he want?" Shane's mom asked, returning to their group.

"Just wanted to rub his win in Shane's face." Explained Hayden.

"Really?" She turned to watch Ilya.

"Yeah. What a dick right?" Hayden huffed.

"I think I'm gonna head. I'm kind of beat and I'm meeting Rose early for breakfast before her shoot." Shane said, itching to get out of here now that Ilya had basically given him the go ahead.

"Are you sure? It's still early." His mother looked at him with genuine concern.

"Yeah, I mean I don't want to mess with my sleep schedule you know, even over the summer." Shane willed his mom to understand what it was he wasn't saying.

"Oh come on it's a special night surely you can make an exception?"

"Let the boy sleep Yuna. We'll see you tomorrow for lunch before we fly out right?" His dad asked, seeming to come to his rescue.

"Uh yeah, I'll text you."

"Alright then well we'll see you in the morning. I think your mother still wants to network." His dad joked.

"It's not networking, I'm just discussing possible business opportunities for Shane."

His dad just smiled at her.

"Goodnight honey." His mom said giving him a hug.

"You know what I think I might head out too now that you mention it. I promised I'd call Jackie before it got too late in Montreal." Hayden declared.

"Oh well have a good night Hayden." Yuna hugged Hayden too.

"You too Mr and Mrs Hollander."

"So are we going out?" Hayden asked when they were out of earshot of Shane's parents.

"What?"

"I know clubs aren't really your scene, but there are other things to do on a night out in Vegas."

"No… Hayden I just said I'm going to bed." He stepped into the conveniently waiting and empty elevator.

Hayden followed. "Yeah, but I figured that was an excuse to ditch your folks."

Well Hayden had him there, it was an excuse to ditch them, but he needed to ditch Hayden too.

"No I'm just tired, these big events take it out of me." There, that wasn't even really a lie.

"Okay, well I probably should call Jackie. Come find me if you change your mind, I'm in 1021, you're in 817 right."

"Uh, yeah, but like I said I'm pretty tired so I'll probably go straight to bed, no need to check up on me or anything." The last thing Shane needed was for Hayden to come knocking and not get an answer because Shane would be upstairs with Ilya.

"Dude I'm not your mom, no disrespect to Mrs Hollander, I'm not gonna check to make sure you're not breaking curfew or whatever. Have a good night I'll see you tomorrow at the airport." Hayden told him.

"Yeah okay, goodnight." They'd reached the eighth floor and Shane had no choice to get out and head as though he was going towards his room.

He walked around the corner and waited for the elevator doors to close to take Hayden upstairs before calling another.

"Took you long enough." Announced a half naked Ilya when Shane let himself into the room.

"I had to get rid of Hayden he thought we were blowing off my parents to go out."

"Almost a decade of friendship you'd think he'd know you better by now." Ilya joked.

"It's not funny I thought he'd never leave me alone." Shane groaned leaning on Ilya's chest, drinking him in.

"Well he's gone now, and we have the night to ourselves." Ilya said planting soft kisses on Shane's neck.

"Finally. I missed you."

"I just saw you before awards."

"I know but… not properly."

"And they call me a slut." Ilya teased.

"Shut up." Shane laughed, pulling his shirt off.

"If only they knew that perfect Shane Hollander was a whore. Ha Shane Whorellander." Ilya's eyes sparkled in the low light.

"I hate you." Shane grinned, cutting off whatever Ilya was going to say by kissing him.

Ilya's hands found his way around Shane's thighs and he lifted Shane up, still kissing, to carry him to the bed. They made out on the bed until Ilya's kisses trailed further and further down Shane's body, pulling off his suit pants and pressing kisses to the inside of Shane's thighs.

Shane gasped and he felt Ilya smile against his skin.

"Oh you like that do you Hollander?" Ilya moved to give attention to Shane's dick. Kissing and caressing it agonisingly gently.

"Please." Shane begged.

"Please what?" Ilya asked.

"You know what."

"I want to hear you say it."

Shane was brought back to that night four years ago when he showed off for Ilya and Ilya made him beg for it.

"Please suck my dick."

"Well if you insist."

Ilya planted a quick kiss on Shane's stomach before returning his attention to taking Shane in his mouth. Shane had missed this almost as much as he had missed Ilya. Skype sex was fun but it wasn't the same as being with Ilya in person. They had the whole summer together and after that all being well Ilya would be moving to Ottawa rather than returning to Boston. Shane didn't want to wish the summer away but he was looking forward to being able to spend time with Ilya more often during the season. Ilya took Shane over the edge and the two of them lay together in blissful silence for a brief moment before Ilya broke it.

"I have been thinking." Ilya rolled onto his side so he was facing Shane, hand idly playing with Shane's hair.

His tone was careful and Shane tried hard not to panic about what he could possibly have been thinking about.

"About what I want as my reward."

Shane exhaled. Of course it was nothing bad, he probably just wanted to try something new and make sure Shane was comfortable with it that's all.

"What if we got married?"

"What if we… what?" That was not what Shane had been expecting at all.

"You do not have to agree. Say no and I will pick something else. I just thought… We are in Vegas, there are wedding chapels everywhere, and everyone you love is in this city right now… I thought why not?"

"You want to get married… in Vegas… tonight?"

"I want to marry you, in front of our friends and family. I do not care where it is."

Shane thought about it. It was spontaneous not to mention reckless, if they got caught they'd have a hell of a lot of explaining to do. But the idea intrigued and excited him. His parents were here, Hayden was here, even Rose happened to be shooting some terrible spy flick nearby so she was in town too. Ilya was right everyone he loved was here.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yes. Let's do it. Let's get married."

"Are you sure? Because if you need more time to think, or if you are saying yes because you think I want to then we do not have to do it."

"Ilya." Shane clasped Ilya's hands in his own. "I'm sure. I want this. I want you, as my husband."

"I love you. I love you so fucking much did you know that." Ilya covered Shane's face with kisses.

"Save it for the vows Ilya."

"Holy shit we are getting married." Ilya looked dazed and deliriously happy.

"That is what usually what happens when one person accepts another's proposal yes." Shane smiled.

"We have to tell people. We have to make plans."

"You didn't think this far ahead?" He laughed.

"I didn't really think at all."

"No change there. You're lucky you are pretty." Shane kissed Ilya's neck.

"Not as pretty as you."

"Come on. We should probably leave the bed at some point if we're going to do this."

"We should probably clean up and get dressed." Ilya kissed Shane and went to turn on the shower. "You don't want to tell your parents and Hayden you are getting married while you are all sweaty and have sex hair." He teased.

"Oh god Hayden. He doesn't even know I'm gay, how am I supposed to tell him I'm marrying you." Shane buried his face in his hands.

"You will tell him you love hockey and that I am very sexy hockey god." Ilya spread his arms and displayed his naked body to illustrate his point.

Shane laughed. "I will not." Ilya wasn't entirely wrong though, about any of it. Shane blushed.

"It will be fine. Use small words so he understands yes?"

"I hate you."

"Oh yes. Is why you are marrying me."

And yes Shane had just given Ilya shit the exact same thing but it had just sunk in that holy shit he was getting married. To Ilya Rozanov.

Ilya must have noticed him space out because he got up and gently nudged Shane into the bathroom. "Come on, shower, we can brainstorm how to tell your best friend you are marrying your sworn enemy."

"You really want to talk about Hayden right now?"

"Well now that you mention it I can think of a better use for that mouth…"

One shower and one blowjob later Ilya was pushing Shane into the hall with a kiss and a promise to find a wedding venue and to invite Rose and Svetlana. Shane half stumbled down the corridor in something of a daze. Where had Hayden said his room was again?

Hayden was just wrapping up his phone call to Jackie when he heard a knock at the door. Well, three knocks. Shane. He's shared hotel rooms with the man across two countries for enough years to recognise his knocking when he heard it.

"I've got to go baby, Shane's here."

"Tell him hi for me."

"Will do. I love you."

"I love you too."

He opened the door and let Shane in. He was nervous. He kept fiddling with his fingers and his lack of eye contact was more obvious than usual, looking everywhere but Hayden's face.

"Hey buddy, what's up?"

"I'm getting married."

Okay, not at all where Hayden thought this was going to go but sure he can work with that.

"Oh wow. Congratulations. Did you finally propose to Lily?" He sat down on the edge of the bed and gestured for Shane to do the same.

"Something like that." Shane sat, maintaining eye contact with the dubiously grey carpet.

"Congrats man I'm happy for you. You've loved her like forever. When's the big day?"

"Uhh now?" Shane looked up at Hayden.

"What? What do you mean now?"

"I mean we're getting married tonight…"

Well that explained the suit.

"Here? In Vegas?" Talking with Shane right now felt a little like conversing with Jade or Ruby, asking the right questions to get the answers he needed.

"Well my parents are here, and you're here, and Rose too. We figured why wait."

"And Lily? I mean she's got to be here too if you're getting hitched?"

"Uh yeah." Shane nodded.

"How come she didn't come to the awards? I've been dying to meet her for years."

"You've met." Shane said twisting one of the buttons on his jacket.

"What? No we haven't, I think I'd remember meeting your long term mystery girlfriend... Wait, that Russian woman, daughter of that former Boston Goalie."

"Who Svetlana? No, but… you're close."

"I mean Rose Landry is in town right now right? But it can't be her because you've been seeing Lily before you met Rose and she's not based out of Boston." Hayden was trying hard to think of any women Shane had introduced him to, it was not a long list and he was drawing a blank.

"It's not a woman!" Shane blurted. "Lily isn't a woman. I'm gay. Lily was a code name because I was scared to have a man's name in my phone, especially his."

"Holy shit. Man I had no idea." Well not no idea, it certainly explained his reluctance to date women, and his short lived relationship with someone as objectively gorgeous and generally sweet as Rose Landry.

"No one does, well apart from My parents, and Rose, and my fiancé, obviously."

Hayden was watching Shane closely and he saw the way Shane smiled around the word 'fiancé'.

"Who I've apparently met and who I was close to guessing with Svetlana… wait, she's Russian right?"

"Right."

"And she lives in Boston. Shane tell me I'm putting two and two together and coming up with five and that your fiancé is not Ilya Fucking Rozanov. I mean no it can't be, Ilya's definitely not gay, I'm sure that there's plenty of Russian guys in Boston… who I've met…"

Shane's silence was enough of a confirmation.

"Seriously. Ilya Rozanov? For how long?."

"The whole time. Since the summer before Rookie season. And I know it's a lot to process and it's more than a little fucked up but I love him and I want to spend the rest of my life with him and we're getting married and I want you to be my best man." Shane spoke faster and faster and as he did so he stared resolutely at the floor, ripping a tiny piece of paper that looked like a dry cleaning receipt to shreds.

"Shane buddy breathe." Hayden put a hand on Shane's back hoping to ground him.

Shane took a deep breath. "Please say something."

"Fuck man give me a minute. I mean Ilya Rozanov, Supreme Asshole, Captain of the Boston fucking Bears is your mysterious Boston girlfriend. This is fucked. This is so fucked."

"I know it is." Shane nodded.

"And your parents know? They're okay with this? Shit no sorry wrong wording, but like they're cool with the fact you're seeing Rozanov?"

"They found out last year, they've been so supportive, they actually came out here this weekend for Ilya because he doesn't have any family of his own to support him." There is was again, that smile when Shane said Ilya's name.

"For Ilya, Jesus fuck me. You're sure about this. He's the one really? Because I'm sure there are nice gay people in Montreal, isn't it supposed to have a big gay scene?" Hayden was sure he'd read that somewhere. Where had he read that? "Or failing that Hunter's boyfriend seems nice maybe he has some friends he could introduce you to." Hayden had never actually met him, but he'd caught one or two interview clips on social media and he seemed like a decent guy.

"I'm sure. I've tried being with other men but… none of them were him."

"Shit. Well okay then." If they had more time Hayden would interrogate him longer, maybe call Jackie back and get her opinion, but Shane already looked like he wanted to throw up and something in Hayden knew that it was because of this conversation and not his impending marriage to Rozanov. "And you're absolutely certain? Rozanov is the one?"

Shane nodded. "I'm certain. So does this mean you'll be my best man?"

"Of course is that even a question? Just one more thing… are you sure you want to get married in Vegas?"

"I want him to be my husband. I don't care where it happens as long as we are surrounded by the people we love."

Hayden knew objectively that Shane was in love with Boston Lily, that he had been for a long time, but knowing that was a whole different thing than knowing Shane was head over heels for Ilya Rozanov.

"Dating Ilya Rozanov for nearly a decade and now agreeing to a spontaneous Vegas wedding who even are you and what have you done with Shane Hollander?"

"It's not spontaneous. If it was spontaneous we would have just walked into a chapel and got married. This is planned. It's short notice but there's a plan, and invited guests. I'm still me."

He said that last part like he was begging Hayden to see that it was true and Hayden's heart damn near broke. He pulled Shane into a tight hug.

"Well fuck when you put it like that... Let's go get you married."

Shane still had another stop to make on his wedding invitation hotel tour. He explained to Hayden that he'd been first on the list because he required a longer conversation than his parents did since they already knew about Shane and Ilya's relationship.

"So is anyone else coming? Besides me and your parents?" Hayden asked in the elevator ride down to the Hollanders' room.

"Uh I texted Rose, and Ilya's inviting Svetlana and Marleau I think."

"No one else? What about J.J?"

"The fewer people who know the better. We figured it was safest to keep it to the people we love and trust the most."

Hayden was touched by the verbal confirmation that he made that list.

"J.J's one of my best friends but…"

"But he's not great at keeping secrets and he's never exactly been quiet about hating Rozanov?"

Shane nodded guiltily.

"You know Jackie's parents had a recommitment ceremony for their 25th wedding anniversary a few years ago. Maybe in the future you and Rozanov could do something like that and invite everyone."

"Maybe." Shane agreed, but he didn't sound convinced.

They reached Shane's parents room and he knocked three times. Mrs Hollander answered the door quickly and to her credit only blinked in surprise when she saw him standing behind Shane.

"I thought you'd gone to bed honey?" She asked, taking in his attire.

"We're getting married." Shane blurted in much the same way he had at Hayden's door.

"You and… Hayden?" She glanced between the two of them.

"No mom obviously not."

"Well I figured not."

"Me and Ilya. We're getting married."

"Oh sweetie I'm so happy for you." She pulled her son into a hug. "When?"

"Um… kind of now?"

"Right. I see. Well we'd better get going then. David? Where did I put my purse?" Mrs. Hollander called into the room.

"Right here." Mr. Hollander materialised handing his wife her purse and following her out the door locking it behind them.

Presumably he had overheard Shane and Yuna's conversation because he offered his son a brief but sincere congratulations before falling into step behind them. Hayden joined him.

"So Shane and Rozanov…?" Hayden started, not even really sure what it was he wanted to ask.

"Ilya." David corrected because apparently he's on first name terms with Ilya fucking Rozanov.

"Right yeah Ilya. This is weird right?" Someone had to get it. To see how insane this whole thing was and if anyone did surely it would be Shane's own parents.

"When did he tell you?"

"Uhhh about twenty minutes ago when he knocked on my door and told me they're getting married."

"Ah, yeah." David smiled. "You'll change your mind when you see them with each other. It took a while for us to see it too at first but what they have? It's real and it's special."

"But I see them interact all the time, Roz- Ilya's an asshole."

"You've seen hockey Shane and Ilya, they're… different off the ice."

Hayden thought back to all the times he caught Shane smiling at his phone or blushing at something 'Boston Lily' had sent him. All the times they'd shared a hotel room in Boston only for Shane to ditch and come back later happier and more relaxed than ever. If Ilya Rozanov was responsible for that, and Hayden still wasn't entirely convinced that he was, then he guessed Ilya must be different than the asshole he appeared to be. No way Shane would put up with him if he was.

Eric Bennett didn't really enjoy awards night. He showed up year after year because as one of the league's top players he was expected to, or at least because he expected himself to. The last couple of years he came mostly to support Scott, the league on the whole hadn't been great about him coming out and Eric felt it was his duty to support him, both as his friend and as a closeted bisexual. He didn't mind the actual awards although he typically found them dull. No what he really disliked about awards night was the after parties, corralling teammates who seemed to be getting younger and younger around Vegas while they seemed to think his sobriety acted as a shield for them to do as many stupid things as they wanted because he'd be watching their backs.

This year was mercifully going to be different. Scott's boyfriend Kip had decided not to come to Vegas with them, declaring that he had 'no interest in being paraded around like a doll for everyone to look at and talk about like he wasn't there'. Eric didn't blame him, but because he wasn't there it meant that Scott had no interest in going to any of the various after parties because he wanted to get back to the hotel and Facetime his boyfriend and probably have phone sex or something else Eric didn't want to think about his best friend doing. Their other best friend Carter's girlfriend Gloria was also in town shooting her latest movie and since she didn't want to socialise with hockey players Carter wouldn't be attending any parties either which meant there was no one with enough seniority or familiarity to force Eric into going to any.

They were on their way back to their hotel from the League's official post-awards drinks reception, at which they had stayed far too late because everyone wanted to talk to Scott, and Carter and Eric had stayed loyally by his side like the worlds least menacing bodyguards, when Eric spotted something that made his heart sink.

"Uh Cap? We might have a problem." Eric announced.

"What problem?" Scott asked turning to face him.

Scott had the luxury of being slightly drunk, Eric could hear it in his voice.

"Do you see Ilya Rozanov and Cliff Marleau entering that wedding chapel with a girl?" Eric pointed to where the figures were just retreating from view.

"Fuck me. Yes." Scott sighed.

"Do you think we should do something about that?" Eric sent off a silent prayer that he would say no, but he knew Scott better than that.

"Ugh probably. Fucking kids ruining my fucking night."

"Its not even that late how are they drunk enough to think a Vegas wedding is a good idea?" Carter chimed in.

"Maybe they aren't. Maybe they're going to stop one of their own kids?" Scott's tone betrayed the doubt he had of his own words.

"You wanna ignore this and have this poor girl's marriage to Rozanov on your conscience if it turns out true?" Carter asked. He was almost certainly only invested because of the gossip it could fuel.

"I wanna go back to the hotel and call Kip and go to bed."

"And they call me an old man." Eric laughed.

"Shut up like you don't want to go call Holly." Scott shot back.

"Let's just go check up on Rozanov and then we can all go have an early night." Eric suggested.

"Speak for yourselves gentlemen. Gloria is meeting me at the hotel and then we're going out."

They entered the chapel and were greeted by a man acting way too chipper for Eric's comfort.

"Hi welcome are you grooms or guests?"

"Um, guests? Rozanov?" Scott asked unsure.

"Oh wow, you're that Scott Hunter guy right? I watched that clip of you and your boyfriend like a million times. And I don't even like sports. You guys are so cute together."

Something about the man's tone set Eric on edge.

"Uh thanks." Scott smiled thinly. "So is Rozanov here?"

"Right through those doors."

The trio followed his directions and entered into a small room decked out in tacky generic wedding decor and… pride flags? Eric's eyes found the end of the room where he spotted Rozanov standing in front of a ridiculous balloon arch, not with the woman he had glimpsed outside but with Shane Hollander. The two of them looked towards the door, panic evident on their faces. Hollander actually visibly shrank back behind Rozanov.

Eric's goaltender instincts kicked in and he held his tongue as he surveyed the room spotting a woman who he had met earlier that evening and who had introduced herself to himself and Scott as Shane Hollander's mother. Assuming the man sat next to her was her husband then that meant that both of Shane's parents were in attendance.

Scott, lacking Eric's observational skills and apparently any filter blurted out "Is this a fucking joke." Just as Eric came to the conclusion that it was very much real.

Eric tried to grab Scott and lead him out but Scott was walking up the aisle to meet Rozanov who was marching menacingly towards them.

"I don't remember inviting Harry and his dinosaurs." Ilya growled indicating Carter and then Scott and Eric in turn.

"The fuck is this Rozanov?"

"My wedding." Rozanov replied, deadly serious.

"Are you out of your mind? Do you realize the shit you will cause if people find out you and Hollander even walked in here? Even as a joke?"

"Oh really? I had no idea that people learning Shane and I are married would be a bad idea. Thank you so much for telling me before I make horrible mistake."

Rozanov had the same look in his eye that Holly's parents' cat got before she killed her prey. Eric needed to get Scott out of there before he became Rozanov's prey. Unfortunately tipsy Scott was being annoyingly uncooperative.

"So why are you here then?"

Ilya just stared at Scott smiling slightly like he was enjoying watching Scott figure it out.

"It can't be a prank because you would be crazy to tell anyone. You hold your liquor better than anyone I know and Hollander barely drinks so this can't be an alcohol fuelled plan, and even if it was I feel like I've missed several steps on how you'd come up with it which means…" He trails off as if making the connection in his head, then Eric watched him spot Mrs. Hollander and saw the light bulb flicker on in his head. "This is real?"

Ilya clapped mockingly. "Congratulations, you figured it out. Now are you going to leave and let me get back to my wedding?"

Scott took a seat, probably because he couldn't handle thinking and standing at the same time, and Eric quickly sat Carter and himself in adjacent seats before there could be any more interruptions.

"Fine whatever this works too." Ilya shrugged walking back down the aisle towards a terrified looking Shane Hollander.

This was so not how Eric had expected his night to go, but he had to admit it was the best awards night he had been to in a long time.

"Sorry about that Моя любовь." Ilya whispered caressing Shane's cheek, carefully stroking his freckles. "Had to deal with the Jurassic invasion."

Fuck he wanted Hunter dead for that. If he cost Ilya his carefully calculated perfectly imperfect wedding Ilya would do it. He'd be justified too, everyone here would testify to it, well maybe not everyone but Marly and Sveta probably would, and maybe Rose, from the look in his eyes even Bennett might. Shane took Ilya's hands in his and Ilya dragged his thoughts from ways in which to murder the Admirals' captain back to the present moment.

"It's okay. At least it wasn't anyone else."

Ilya nodded. Scott wouldn't out them, and Bennett and Vaughn had both stuck steadfastly by him this year so Ilya was optimistic that they wouldn't say anything. And if he was being honest he had some suspicions that Bennett might not just be an ally.

"You still want to do this?" Ilya asked. It would break his heart if Shane said no, but he didn't want to go through with this wedding if Shane wasn't still 100% on board.

"Absolutely. We're not going to let a couple of old men ruin our wedding are we?"

Ilya loved this man so much.

"Of course not." Ilya agreed, slightly choked up.

Shane squeezed his hands.

Ilya cleared his throat. "We are ready." He told the officiant.

"Honoured guests, we are gathered here to witness the wedding of Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander." Ilya heard the officiant announce.

Ilya wasn't really listening to her. He was focused on Shane. This beautiful man who had nervously introduced himself in a snowy parking lot in Saskatchewan and had somehow over the last decade become the most important constant in his life.

"Do you have your own vows?"

"No." Shane shook his head.

"Yes." Ilya said at the same time.

He hadn't written anything, but he knew what he wanted to say.

"Shane, I do not know when exactly I fell in love with you. For a long time I did not know what to do about these feelings, being with you seemed impossible but the thought of being without you was worse. Never in my wildest dreams did I think we would make it here, but now that we have I know exactly what I want. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, playing against you, winning against you, loving you."

Ilya could feel tears falling down his cheeks that he didn't know how to stop and wouldn't if he could. He felt a sense of déjà vu dragging him briefly back to the cottage a year ago, crying because for the first time in his life he could see a future with Shane. "Я тебя люблю."

He looked into Shane's eyes and saw that Shane was crying too.

"Well I don't know how I am supposed to top that." Shane laughed through his tears.

Ilya just barely managed to bite back a joke about how topping wasn't really Shane's style, conscious that David and Yuna were in the crowd, not to mention Pike, Hunter, and the other Admirals.

"Um, I don't know who I would be or what my life would look like if we hadn't met… but I think that I would have been miserable without you in my life. If you told 16 year old Shane that one day he would introduce himself to a rival and that that event would snowball into this I- I don't think he would have believed you, I think he would have been disbelieving and scared. And I am scared, but if I could go back I wouldn't change a thing, and I know that whatever happens we can face it together. I love you. Ya tebya lyublyu.

Fuck. Ilya wanted to grab Shane and hug him and kiss him and fuck him until neither of them remembered their own names, but mostly he wanted to take him to the cottage and hide him away forever somewhere the world couldn't hurt him even if they wanted to. The world didn't deserve him. His Shane. His perfect wonderful husband, who was still so afraid of the consequences of their relationship that he mentioned it in their wedding vows, but who wanted this marriage more than he feared them. And then as if that wasn't enough, he affirmed his love for Ilya in Ilya's own mother-tongue. He had to keep it together, the officiant was asking them something.

"Do you have rings?"

Ilya and Shane shook their heads. If he had planned this for more than half an hour before he asked Shane to marry him Ilya would have thought of rings. They didn't really need them for the wedding, they were symbolic, and they wouldn't be able to wear them anyway, that would negate the secrecy of their secret wedding. A commotion in the front row caught Ilya's eye. Yuna and David were doing something and then Yuna ran up and placed rings in his and Shane's palms. He looked down and saw Yuna's own wedding ring in his hand and David's in Shane's.

"I love you both." Yuna whispered before hurrying back to her seat.

That gesture broke Ilya completely tears flowing freely and audibly sobbing.

"Do you Ilya Rozanov take Shane Hollander to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do."

He slipped Yuna's ring onto Shane's little finger. It didn't fit all the way on but the symbol remained.

"Do you Shane Hollander take Ilya Rozanov to be your lawfully wedded husband."

"I do. I really really do."

He put David's ring on the ring finger on Ilya's right hand, because he remembered when Ilya offhandedly mentioned the Russian tradition, because he's annoying and sentimental and the love of Ilya's life. If Ilya thought he had anymore tears left in him he would be crying harder.

"I now pronounce you married. You may now seal the marriage with a kiss."

"Oh thank god."

Ilya took his husband's face in his hands, sticky with Shane's own tears, and kissed him gently, wary that they had an audience of hockey players and Shane's parents. Shane did not seem to have such reservations and deepened the kiss like he needed the oxygen from Ilya's lungs to breathe. The kiss earned them a whistle Ilya was certain came from Rose and Shane's face flushed adorably pink as he remembered where they were.

Ilya pressed his forehead to Shane's, stopping just short of kissing him again. "Я тебя люблю."

"I love you." Shane replied.

"My Shane, my husband." And apparently Ilya did have a few more tears left in him because as he blinked another couple fell down his cheeks.

"Husbands." Shane kissed him again for good measure.

The guests gave them a moment to compose themselves, or maybe they were waiting for something? Shoot weren't the married couple supposed to walk down the aisle after the wedding? When it became clear Ilya and Shane weren't going anywhere people began to approach them and offer their congratulations.

David and Yuna came first. They hugged Shane and then turned to Ilya.

"Welcome to the family Son." David shook his hand.

Yuna wrapped Ilya in a fierce hug. "I'm so glad you found each other."

"Thank you." Ilya hugged her back.

"I get it now. I'm sorry I doubted." Ilya heard Hayden say to Shane.

He turned to watch them.

"Thank you." Shane smiled.

"I don't need your approval Pike."

"Oh you know what fuck you Rozanov" Hayden chirped, but there was no real malice behind it like there would have been a day ago. "Just because you're married doesn't mean Montreal isn't going to crush Boston next season."

"I don't care." Ilya shrugged.

"That's right we- wait what do you mean you don't care?"

"I won't be in Boston next season." Ilya announced casually, earning a few raised eyebrows from the hockey players for whom that was still privileged knowledge.

"What why not? Did something happen?"

"Yes. I just married beautiful sweet Canadian man, perhaps you did not see?" Ilya wrapped an arm around Shane pulling him closer.

"So what you're just quitting hockey to be Shane's house-husband?" Hayden looked slightly horrified by the prospect.

"Of course not Pike don't be stupid, but I am moving a little closer to home."

Home, Ottawa, The Cottage, Shane.

"Home like…"

"Canada. I am sick of America, I need a change of scenery. Plus I hear is easier to get citizenship in Canada."

"You're not coming to Montreal are you?"

"Why? Worried you would be demoted to Montreal's 16th best player if I join the team? Don't worry they could not afford me and Shane both."

"Then where?"

"Ah ah ah, you will have to tune in to ESPN for announcement at the end of Summer just like everyone else." He directed that comment to the Admirals who were whispering amongst themselves.

"It's not to late to get an annulment Shane. I hear they're as easy to get as weddings when in Vegas." Hayden told Shane frankly.

"Shut up." Shane laughed, rolling his eyes.

Scott sidled up to Ilya as Shane turned to talk to Rose.

"So this is real?"

Ilya didn't take his eyes off Shane, Scott didn't deserve eye contact. "Real as your smoothie obsession."

"I- for how long? I mean a long time right? Your vows… this isn't a new thing is it…?"

Ilya laughed and looked Scott directly in the eye. "You do not want to know."

"Fuuuck, I need a drink."

"Most sensible thing you have said all evening."

Ilya clapped Scott on the back and ushered him towards the door before regrouping with Shane. He seemed a little subdued, watching their friends file towards the door.

"What is wrong Моя любовь?"

"Hmm? Nothing, I'm just thinking."

"About what?"

"About that night in 2014, we didn't kiss back then, do you remember that?"

"I do." Ilya tried not to dwell on the things he regretted but not kissing Shane then, knowing what he knew now about their relationship, was one of them.

"I wanted to, I didn't realise how much I wanted to until after. What made that time different?"

Ilya sighed. He didn't want to drag up bad memories from the past when he could be making new ones with his husband, but Shane was clearly bothered by it.

"That was not an easy year for me. Being in Russia for the Olympics, my father starting to show signs of dementia. My brother hounding me for money. My father's expectations. Those two were not new but they were worse with the back to back Olympic loss and cup win. Our relationship, you and me, that was normal and comfortable, but then you checked up on me in Sochi, you were sweet, that was another change. Not you being sweet but you and me talking outside hockey and outside hotel rooms, and I wanted it so badly. You remember the bathroom during the awards?"

Shane nodded.

"I kissed you then and I knew. I knew that if I kissed you again I would never stop. It tore me apart, the wanting, but I needed to prove that we were still us, I couldn't risk ruining the best thing in my life by complicating it with feelings."

"I'm sorry."

"Was not your fault. If anyone should be sorry it is me.I will make it up to you for not kissing you when I should have."

"Oh yeah? How are you going to-"

Ilya cut Shane off by kissing him deeply.

"Like that."

"Are you two fuckers coming or what?" Marly called to them.

"Shut your face Marly we are having a moment." Ilya yelled back.

"Well don't take too long I wanna get drunk with you."

Ilya laughed and rolled his eyes. "Shall we Мой муж"

Shane took his hand and they followed Marly out of the venue and into a bar across the street for celebratory drinks with the rest of their guests. If any of the patrons recognised the eclectic group of celebrities in their midst no one said anything. After what Ilya considered to be a generous fifteen minutes of polite small talk and pretending to listen to whatever Scott Hunter had to say, he and Shane made their excuses and headed back to their hotel for celebrations of their own.