Rating:

Mature

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Category:

M/M

Fandoms:

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

Relationship:

Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov

Characters:

Shane Hollander, Ilya Rozanov, Yuna Hollander, David Hollander, Hayden Pike, Jackie Pike, Hayden Pike's Children

Additional Tags:

Coming Out, supportive husbands, Domestic Bliss, hard conversations, no one is really happy about it, ilya isn't going anywhere regardless, tuna melts and ginger ale are in every universe

Language:

English

Series:

Part 3 of Married in Vegas

Stats:

Published: 2026-01-11 Words: 8,015 Chapters: 3/3

I can make you every promise that has ever been made

Summary

It's time for Shane and Ilya to face the music.

Featuring the missing conversation with his parents. His parents meeting Ilya. And then, they need to tell Hayden.

Notes

These are probably the two most requested scenes in my comment section. I hope they live up to your expectations.

Who else would you like them to tell?

Chapter 1: Yuna and David

Shane let himself into the house, his hands shaking. He shoved them into his pockets, following the low sound of murmured voices to the kitchen.

“Is that you, Shane?” he heard his mother call out.

“Yep,” he responded.

His dad was standing by the stove, stirring something that smelt heavenly, while his mom was sitting on a stool on the other side of the kitchen island, a glass of white wine held in her manicured hand. She set it down as he walked in, pulling him into a warm hug.

“Hello sweetheart,” she said warmly, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

He held onto her just a little bit too long, and she shot him a slightly concerned look as he stepped back. He ignored it, turning to shake his dad’s hand.

“Smells good,” he said easily, slipping into another stool beside his mom, pointedly ignoring her eyes burning into the side of his face.

His dad started chatting about an old friend of Shane’s from high school, and Shane let himself be pulled into the conversation. Eventually, his mom stopped staring and joined in as well, though he knew that she wouldn’t let him get away with it for long. She was very… perceptive.

He deliberately didn’t think about the wedding band sitting in his safe back home, or the fact that Rozanov would be in Montreal in just a few short days.

All of that could wait until after dinner. He needed to just bask in this for a while, to remind himself that they loved him, that he was safe here.

He discretely checked his phone, reading the last message from Lily: ‘you’ve got this, Jane.’

Gathering that courage into himself, he accepted the cold ginger ale his father handed him, cracking it open and letting himself soak in the atmosphere of home, of love, of acceptance, settling over his body like a warm blanket. He relaxed in slow increments, until even his mom had stopped shooting him worried looks every five seconds.

They ate at the same table Shane had eaten at probably a million times. There was a burn mark on the table from the time he’d accidentally knocked a candle over on his birthday cake when he was seven. On the walls surrounding them were the mementos and photos and records of his accomplishments over the years. Thrown over the back of the couch was Shane’s favorite blanket, the one that was perfectly soft and warm.

This was home. He was loved here.

His parents finished eating, and Shane set his cutlery down. The food had been delicious, but it was sitting heavy in his gut now.

“Shane?” his mom asked, searching his face.

“I have something to tell you,” he said quietly, unable to keep the nerves from his voice. “Well, actually, more than just one thing.”

“Okay,” his dad said, waiting for Shane to meet his gaze so that he could offer him a nod and smile. “You can tell us anything, you know that Shane.”

Shane gave a tight nod. He did. And he knew that ultimately they would probably be fine with the news, if a bit shocked. That they would still love him.

It was still scary as fuck, though.

Under the table, he put his hand on his phone, clutching it for comfort.

He glanced at his mom, who also smiled. “Go on,” she said warmly.

Well, alright then.

“I’m gay.”

He dropped his gaze, waiting for their reaction. Out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed them exchanging a glance.

“Thank you for telling us,” his mom said, reaching over the table. He met her halfway, letting her take his hand between her own. “I can’t say it’s a huge surprise, but I’m glad you feel comfortable enough to tell us.”

Shane blinked. ‘It’s not?”

His dad smiled. “I think we know you pretty well, Shane,” he said. “We had a suspicion that you might be gay.”

“Wow,” Shane said, shaking his head slightly, his mind stalling a bit as he tried to compute this new information. “I had no idea you thought that.”

His mom smiled, patting his hand and letting it go, picking up her glass of wine. She shot a look at his dad, a little smug. Her smile said, ‘look at what good parents we are, we’re killing it.’

Unfortunately, that had been the easy part.

“So, are you dating anyone?” his dad asked, sensing that there was something more to the story. Shane saw his mom’s eyebrows rise slightly, and then she was giving him another one of those soul-searching looks.

Shane felt his cheeks flush.

“Uh, about that,” he said. “Yes, I am, I have been, for uh, many years now. Kind of.”

“You’ve been seeing a man?” his dad clarified, his brow furrowing.

Shane nodded. “Yes,” he said. His heart was pounding in his chest. His fingers were trembling. He felt a little like he was going to pass out. 

“Since when?” his mom asked. 

“My rookie year,” he admitted. It was hard to get the words out, especially with how much his brain felt like gears were grinding inside of it, making it hard to think, but he could at least answer a direct question.

“Wow,” his dad whispered. “Oh, um, okay. Is it… another player?”

Shane clenched his eyes tight. And then, he gave a very slight nod. He felt tears sting at his eyes and he had to look up at the ceiling, blinking them back.

Why the fuck was this so hard?

“On your team?” his mom asked gently.

He shook his head. “No.”

“Is it someone we’ve met before?” she asked again.

“Not officially,” he muttered. “But you know him, yes.”

“Shane,” his dad said. It was quiet, gentle. He’d reached a hand over to rest on his mom’s arm, as if holding him back from the twenty questions she was engaging in.

Oh God, he was going to make him say it.

“It’s um,” Shane took a painful, shuddering breath. “It’s Rozanov. Ilya.”

He closed his eyes, took another breath, then another, sitting in their stunned silence.

“Rozanov? But you hate him,” his mom said.

Shane felt a pained smile tug at his lips. He had a very vague memory of Hunter saying the same thing a few nights ago.

He offered up the same answer. “No,” he said quietly. “No, I don’t. I never have.”

“Oh,” she said, and he looked at her, at how shocked she was. How shocked they both were, and felt his chest tighten. “Ilya Rozanov. You’re- you’re sure? He’s always been very rude to you.”

He shook his head. “That’s just on the ice,” he said. “It’s different. It’s just an act, really.”

His dad tilted his head. And he still looked a little concerned. “He has quite a reputation,” he said quietly. 

“I know,” Shane said. He felt a little uncertain still, but they weren’t mad and they weren’t kicking him out. They were listening, trying to understand. “We, well, for a long time we weren’t exclusive. It was… casual.”

His cheeks were burning. He couldn’t believe he’d basically just told his parents he’d been fucking Ilya Rozanov.

“It’s not casual anymore?” his mom asked.

Shane fought the hysterical giggle building in his throat, swallowing it down with a lot of difficulty. He cleared his throat instead and then composed himself.

The final bombshell.

“I don’t think it could be any less casual,” he said. 

“What do you mean?” his dad asked.

They were already shocked. There had been two big revelations already tonight. Shane could save the last of the news for another time.

But, he’d already told them most of it. He wasn’t sure if he could be this brave again, and Ilya would be there in two days. They would want to meet him. And they deserved to know the truth.

“Well,” he said, dropping his gaze again, steeling his shoulders, “as you know, two nights ago I was at the awards, in Vegas.”

He heard his mother gasp but he didn’t look at her. He couldn’t stand to see her disappointed in him. Not about this.

“And Rozanov won, and uh, we got a bit drunk, and we went out,” Shane continued, powering through it now. “And yeah, it was a bit impulsive, but well, it happened. And we’re going to work it out, and we’re… we’re happy.”

Well, maybe if he said it, he could manifest it, make it true. Ilya hadn’t wanted an annulment, so at least some small part of him must be happy to be married to him.

“I don’t follow,” his dad said, sounding confused.

“They got married,” his mom said to him, then looked at Shane. “Didn’t you?” 

Shane nodded. 

“Yes,” he admitted. “Ilya Rozanov is my husband.”

“Married,” his dad said, leaning back in his chair. “Wow.”

Shane stared resolutely at his own hands. 

“This is quite a shock,” his mom said. “But, we love you, Shane. And we support you no matter what.”

He closed his eyes and nodded tightly. 

“Does anyone else know?” his dad asked. 

Shane forced himself to look up and meet his gaze. “Scott Hunter was our witness. He’s the only other person who knows,” he said. “We uh, we don’t know if anyone else saw us, or if it might leak, or anything really.”

He was still astonished that the news hadn’t broken yet. Normally the media was on his ass like sharks smelling blood in the water. 

“I wanted to tell you first, in case, you know, it does,” he said. “You deserved to hear it from me.”

“We appreciate that,” his mom said. “I’m um, I’m going to get more wine. David?”

He nodded and she swept into the kitchen. Shane looked up at his dad.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “And I’m proud of you. It must have been very hard to tell us all of that.”

Shane nodded, giving him a watery smile. “Thank you,” he said quietly. “It was, but uh, I knew. That you would listen, and that you would support me.”

“Of course,” he said. “Always, Shane.” He studied him for a few long moments, searching his face as his mom walked back into the room, her glass of wine topped up. She set the bottle on the table within easy reach. “So, what’s the plan?”

That was his parents, Shane thought as relief made him feel about ten pounds lighter. They were both so solution oriented.

“Ilya will be here in a few days,” he said. “We’re going to talk things out, decide what we both want, and uh, take it from there.”

“Will you be coming out, the two of you?” his mom asked.

“Probably not, at least not right away,” Shane said. He took a long pull of his ginger ale, giving himself a moment to compose himself. “If we somehow manage to keep it under wraps, then we’ll likely give ourselves a bit of time to adjust before we think about something like that.”

“That’s smart,” she agreed. “It’s important that you’re on the same page about that, but you should probably still tell Farah.”

Shane nodded. “I’ve already set up a meeting with her,” he told her. “Ilya fired his agent, and he’ll probably sign with Farah as well, if the meeting goes well.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “He fired Boris Fedorov?”

Of course, his mother knew the name of Ilya’s now former agent. Shane fought the urge to roll his eyes.

“Yes, Ilya has to be very careful,” he explained. “He’s Russian, and well, you know what it’s like over there. It’s not safe. It’s probably the main reason we want to keep it quiet as long as we can.”

“That makes sense,” his dad agreed. “He wants to apply for citizenship in Canada, I assume?”

“Yeah,” Shane said. “That’s something we’ll figure out with Farah, hopefully. If we can keep it secret until at least we manage that, then that’s all I care about. I just want him to be safe.”

His mom nodded seriously. “We’ll help however we can,” she assured him.

“I know,” he said with a smile.

“You’ll bring him around for dinner,” his dad said. “So, we can meet him.”

It wasn’t framed as a question.

Shane smiled. “Yeah,” he said. “Of course I will.”

***

Ilya stood on the threshold and knocked. Beside him, Shane was fidgeting with his hands.

The door opened a moment later, and a man that he recognized as David Hollander looked up at him, his expression stern and serious.

“Hello,” Ilya said.

David nodded and stood aside, letting them in.

Ilya fought back a grimace, glancing at Shane. He looked… concerned.

“Dad, this is Ilya,” he said.

“I know who he is,” David said. “Come, your mother is in the dining room.”

They trudged after him. Shane took his hand, linking their fingers together in a show of comfort and support. Ilya desperately appreciated it.

He hadn’t expected Shane’s parents to be particularly happy with him, but he’d definitely been hoping for something better than open hostility.

“Shane,” Yuna Hollander said, standing up and accepting the kiss her son placed on her cheek. “It’s good to see you, sweetheart.”

She pointedly did not look at Ilya.

His stomach dropped.

Shane went very, very still. He stepped back from his mother, looked at her, and then at his father, who’d walked the long way around the table to rest a hand on her shoulder.

“You said you wanted to meet him,” he said to them. His voice shook with anger. Alarmed, Ilya squeezed his hand, swaying closer. “You said you would help. And what, you can’t even look at him?”

“Shane,” David said, his voice a warning.

“I will go,” Ilya said quietly, letting Shane’s hand drop. He turned, mute to the sound of Shane’s distress, or the rising, angry voices as he scrambled back out the way they’d entered.

He got into Shane’s car, in the passenger seat. He stared out the front windshield, disappointment choking him.

Shane came out ten minutes later. A scowl adorned his face as he opened Ilya’s door and dropped down, leaning in to turn Ilya’s face towards him as he kissed him softly.

Ilya leaned into it, letting himself be kissed, be claimed. His heart was pounding in his chest.

When he opened his eyes, it was to find Shane watching him, his eyes shiny.

“Don’t cry,” Ilya whispered. “I will be fine.”

“You will be,” Shane said emphatically. “Come on, we’re going to give them one more chance. If they cannot be kind, we will leave. Okay?”

Ilya nodded and let himself be pulled from the car. This time, his feet dragged as he reluctantly followed Shane into his parents house.

Yuna and David are both sitting when they enter. David looked apologetic. Yuna looked uncomfortable.

“Mom, dad,” Shane said, wrapping his arm around Ilya and glaring at them. “This is Ilya Rozanov, my husband.”

“Nice to meet you, son,” David said. 

Yuna gave a tight nod. “Yes,” she agreed. “Welcome to our home.”

Mollified, Shane sat at the table, motioning for Ilya to join them. He did so, though he immediately sought out Shane’s hand again, squeezing it like a lifeline.

“I am sorry,” Yuna said quietly. “It was, still is, a shock.”

“I understand,” Ilya said. 

He did, really. Shane was their only son. They were protective of him. He could relate to that, if nothing else.

“How did the talk with your agent go?” Yuna asked, her eyes flicking between Ilya and Shane.

“Really well,” Shane responded. “She supports us, and she agreed to take Ilya on. We have another meeting with her in a few days.”

“That’s good,” David offered. His gaze was on Ilya, his expression thoughtful. “She’s a good judge of character.”

Shane bristled at this. “Are you saying I’m not?”

“No,” David said simply. “I’m not saying that, Shane. Just that Farah has seen a lot of players over the years. She’s selective about her clients.”

Ilya frowned. He hadn’t known that. She hadn’t hesitated for even a second, just agreeing to become his agent just like that.

Shane just shrugged. “Perhaps she trusts me.”

The implication of that was like a dagger to his parents. Yuna’s expression fell.

“We trust you, Shane,” she said, searching his gaze.

“Maybe,” was Shane’s stony response. “But I would appreciate it if you could remember that I am twenty-three years old. I’m not some naive child.”

Yuna sighed. David squeezed her shoulder.

“We are still very young,” Ilya said quietly.

“Hayden is married,” Shane said stubbornly. “With kids. No one says he’s too young.”

In Shane’s defense, Ilya thought with a flash of stubborn pride, he wasn’t wrong. Pike was more the rule than the exception. Many of their teammates were married, many with children. Some were just as young as them or even younger. There was a rookie who had just been signed to the Bears, only nineteen and already engaged to his high-school sweetheart. 

However, all of them were married to women. They could show off their wives and fiancés and girlfriends openly. The two of them did not have that luxury.

“I know,” Yuna said. “I just, I’m worried. It will be very hard… for both of you.”

Ilya nodded. He was aware of that. He was choosing it anyway.

“Rozanov-” David began.

He interrupted him. “Ilya,” he said firmly.

David hesitated. “Ilya, then,” he said with a nod. “I must admit that I’m surprised. You have a reputation as a ladies' man.”

“Is not wrong,” he admitted. “I like women, also. I am bisexual.”

He saw Shane’s parents exchange an uneasy glance.

“That was before,” he said. “I am happily married man. I will not stray from my marriage.”

And he meant that. He would protect this thing fiercely. He looked at Shane, who was looking down at the table, a pleased smile dancing on his lips.

Women had been long losing their shine for him, anyway. It was no hardship to give them up. He’d spent most of the previous summer staring at his phone wanting to text Hollander back and being unable to find the right words.

He was committed to making this work. Shane was his, now. He was determined to keep him.

Maybe it would take longer than he’d been hoping to win his parents over, but that was fine. Shane would be worth all of it.

“So,” Yuna asked. “How long has this been going on, then?”

Ilya bit back a grimace.

“I told you already,” Shane said with a frown. “Since our rookie year.”

“No,” he protested. “Was before that. Summer before.”

“Not helping,” Shane muttered.

Yuna looked shocked. “But-” She snapped her mouth closed, rubbed at her temples with her fingers. Sighed.

“So, you two have been in love for-”

“No,” Ilya said uncomfortably, Shane echoing the same sentiment.

Well, maybe. Not that he’d had any idea what the feeling was, then. He’d just known how drawn he was to Shane, how he couldn’t stay away no matter how risky it was, and how electric the sex was. 

“So, what then?” she asked.

Ilya screwed up his face, deciding not to touch that question. She’d figure it out; he was pretty sure. As prim and proper as Shane’s parents were, he was sure they knew what casual sex was.

He looked studiously down at the table, grimacing when she figured it out.

“I told you it was casual,” Shane said through gritted teeth. “It was just… that, for a long time. But well, we like each other a lot. And we’re committed to this, to each other.”

Ilya nodded, agreeing with him. “Yes. Husbands.”

Shane smiled at him. Ilya squeezed his hand, smiling back.

After that, his parents' chilly demeanor eased somewhat, and they ate a nice meal of pasta. They were sent out with a container of leftovers, promising to see them again soon.

Ilya slid into the passenger seat beside Shane, letting out a shaky breath.

“Well,” Shane said. “That went… okay, I guess.”

Ilya nodded. “Could have been worse.”

Shane sighed, starting up his car. “Could have been better.”

He gripped Shane’s thigh and gave it a light squeeze. “It will be,” he promised. “They will get used to it.”

Shane smiled at him.

“Yeah,” he agreed. “Once they realize you’re not going anywhere, they’ll warm up to you.”

Ilya felt his heart flip over in his chest.

“Exactly.”

Chapter 2: Hayden and Jackie

He told Hayden he was coming for dinner, but it was Jackie he called to tell him he was bringing a guest.

“Seriously?” she asked. “Is this the infamous Lily?"

Shane sighed. “Yes, but it's not what you think. Just… make sure there's nothing around for Hayden to throw. Okay?”

“Oh dear,” Jackie said. “That bad, huh?”

“I’ll definitely owe you one,” he said. “But, you know, it's Hayden. I don't think it will be friendship ending.” Or at least he was really fucking hoping not.

“Shane Hollander,” Jackie said firmly. “There is nothing you could do that would make us hate you.”

“Hold onto that thought,” Shane muttered. “See you tomorrow.”

She said goodbye and Shane turned tail, heading back out to the kitchen, where Ilya was putting the finishing touches on some tuna melt sandwiches he claimed were his speciality.

“Okay?” Ilya asked as Shane walked up behind him, tucking his face against his back and breathing him in.

“Hopefully,” he said. “You’ll be on your best behavior, right?”

Ilya turned and tilted his chin up. “I will be good,” he promised. “Pike will not kick you out, do not worry.”

Shane just nodded and let Ilya draw him into a kiss. They were still dancing around this new dynamic of theirs, where they were actually allowed to reach for each other, where not every interaction needed to be second guessed.

And it was surprising how affectionate Ilya was with him. He could barely stop touching him, and he seemed to want Shane’s lips on him at every possible moment.

But it wasn't just how touchy he was, it was how relaxed he seemed, how much happier he was to just be and exist in Shane's space. 

Just last night, they'd sat on either end of the couch, scrolling their phones, only their feet occasionally pressing together, conversation flowing naturally when either of them felt like saying something.

There was no pressure to perform, no expectations. He’d just wanted to be there with Shane near him, and Shane had been surprised at how much he’d liked it.

He’d always preferred his own space, and a part of him had always worried about what it would be like to get a partner. What if they were just another demand on his time? 

Shane already had so many obligations between hockey and conditioning and his team and his friends and his sponsors and modelling, and god, how did another person even fit into all of that? The casual thing with Ilya had worked so well for him for that exact reason, it just naturally slotted into that pre or post game space where he’d usually be meditating or doing yoga. And really, sex had served the same function, especially sex with Ilya.

So, yeah it did surprise him a little how stupidly easy it was to just exist with Ilya in his house. They spent a lot of time together, sure, but Ilya seemed to sense when Shane needed a bit of space and would go for a run, or use Shane's gym. He had set his myriad hair products up in one of the spare bathrooms and taken up one of the closets there so as not to invade too much in Shane's bedroom, and better, he didn't even seem to care about it. 

He was also getting a better sense of when Ilya needed space and when he needed Shane close. He liked to sit out in the backyard every now and again to have a smoke. This time was mostly spent in quiet contemplation, looking up at the night sky. Shane would leave him to it, only bringing out a blanket and tucking into his side when the cigarette was gone. 

Ilya also didn't want to have sex as often as Shane had been expecting. He seemed to value holding him just as much and was perfectly content lying on the couch kissing him slowly, with no intent to escalate it.

Shane still sometimes did. He’d never had such easy access to orgasms, and he was quickly getting even more addicted to Ilya’s hands and mouth on his body. Something about knowing Ilya wasn't going anywhere had his anxiety at an all-time low.

There would still be difficulties to face. Decisions to make. More people to bring into the fold. But, for now, things were really, really good.

Which was why he was kind of freaking about introducing him to Hayden and Jackie. These were his people. Hayden had basically adopted him when Shane had joined Montreal, and he’d been there the first time Jackie and Hayden had met out at a bar after a game. He’d been through the highs and lows of them dating, and now, being married with their beautiful twin girls.

He still stayed in hotel rooms with Hayden most road trips, despite the fact that they weren’t rookies anymore and could definitely have asked to room separately. Jackie always cookies him whatever food was in his diet, and kept their fridge stocked with his favourite brand of ginger ale. He’d been Hayden’s best man at his wedding, was godfather to his girls. 

And he wanted, desperately, for them to like his husband. For them to all get along.

Unfortunately, he knew he had to be realistic. He’d settle for them tolerating each other.

“You are still worrying about it,” Ilya noted.

Shane blinked a few times, looking up at him. He’d been so lost in his head that he’d stopped kissing him back.

“Sorry,” he muttered, feeling heat rise to his cheeks. “Let’s eat.”

Ilya hummed his agreement, letting him go so that they could collect their plates and move down to the couch. Shane ate on auto-pilot, staring blankly at whatever film Ilya had put on.

“Is it good?” Ilya asked him, nudging his side gently with his elbow.

He nodded, shooting Ilya a quick smile. “Yeah, thanks, really good.”

And it was, he belatedly realised. He’d been eating the food without really tasting it, so he forced himself to take a bite, to chew slowly, letting the flavours dance on his tongue.

Shane shot another look at Ilya, who wasn’t looking back at him anymore, though a knowing smile was tugging at the corner of his lips.

Asshole, Shane thought fondly, nudging him back.

They did the dishes together, and went through their night-time routine, soon falling into Shane’s bed together. They didn’t have sex. Instead, they cuddled, and Shane was the one to wrap around Ilya for once, nuzzling his nose into his curls as he draped across his back.

“Your hair smells so nice,” he murmured sleepily.

He felt more than heard Ilya’s chuckle.

Closing his eyes, he inhaled again, giving a pleased hum.

***

Ilya noted, with not inconsiderable amusement, the way Jackie Pike turned and handed her husband a squirming child as soon as he and Shane walked through the front door.

The second, she passed to Shane, and then she uncorked a wine bottle, pouring a glass.

Shane frowned. “Should you be drinking that?” he asked her.

She shot him a steely look. “I pumped earlier thank you very much.” She took a long swallow of the wine and wrinkled up her nose slightly. Ilya frowned.

Hayden Pike was ignoring all of this, glaring at him.

“Why the fuck is Rozanov in my house right now?” he asked angrily. “Shane?”

Ilya deliberately said nothing. He’d promised Shane to be on his best behaviour. And as a new husband still finding his footing in what would hopefully be the only relationship he would ever have in his life, he wanted to keep his promise.

That didn’t mean he had to like it, though. After the frosty reception he’d had at Shane’s childhood home, he was dreading this meeting even more.

Instead, he skirted around Pike to his very pretty wife, handing her the very expensive bottle of champagne he’d bought for the occasion.

“Thank you for having me,” he said, giving her his best charming smile.

The look she gave him and then Shane was bemused. “And whose idea was this?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Shane’s,” he said simply.

She smirked at Shane. “Of course it was.”

Ilya glanced at Shane, who was pink, and deliberately not making eye contact with him.

“I am missing something,” he noted.

“We watched the final here a few weeks ago,” Jackie explained, nursing her glass of wine and setting the bottle aside on the table. “Shane brought a bottle of wine then, too.”

Ilya smiled at that. 

“Ah, so you watched me win, then? The whole team? Must have been very sad for them,” he said cheerfully.

Jackie rolled her eyes but said nothing. Pike let out a noise that sounded somewhat like an enraged but dying animal. 

“Hayden,” Jackie said, her tone gentle but firm. “You will be nice.”

“Why should I?” Pike asked sullenly.

Ilya turned to consider him. This hatchet must be buried. He could see Shane looking at his best friend, and he was worried, and sad, even as he bounced the fussing child he held in his arms.

Shane let out a loud sigh and moved to the table, pulling out a chair and sitting down. It was everyone else’s signal to do the same, and Ilya slipped into the seat beside him, reaching under the table to rest a hand on his thigh.

“And who is this?” he asked, looking at Shane.

The little girl blinked at him, her little face very serious.

“This is Jade,” Shane said. “Hayden’s holding Ruby.”

Jackie gave a laugh. “I swear you can tell them apart better than Hayden can,” she teased.

Shane just shrugged. “It’s not that hard.”

Pike had finally allowed his frown to drop, smiling at Shane and Jade, still cradling his other daughter against his chest. She seemed like a bit more of a handful, squirming in his hold.

They were objectively pretty cute, despite being Pike’s kids.

“So, are we going to address the elephant in the room?” Jackie asked after the silence had lasted more than a minute. 

Ilya gave a startled glance around. Beside him, Shane snorted.

“Not a literal elephant,” he said to Ilya. “It’s a saying.”

“Ah,” he said, feeling his cheeks heat. “What does it mean?”

“They’re wondering why I’ve invited you to their house,” Shane said drily. He looked across the table at Hayden. “So, you know how I’ve been seeing Lily, from Boston?” 

His teammate frowned. “Yeah, what about her? Does she know Rozanov, or something?”

Shane sighed. “Or something.”

Jackie laughed. “You know, this makes so much sense,” she said. “I did wonder why you never brought her around.”

Ilya glanced at Shane, smirking at how exasperated he looked. “That was obviously not going to happen,” Shane said.

Pike still looked confused. “Am I missing something?”

Ilya bit down on his tongue, hard. Shane shot him a look, and Ilya mimed zipping his lips.

It would have been so easy. No goalie, empty net. It hurt to swallow the chirp down.

“Ilya. Lily,” Shane said. “Lily. Ilya.” He gave Pike a pointed look. 

Pike went abruptly very, very pale. “No,” he whispered. “You, him?”

“Yes,” Shane said with the patience of a fucking saint. “Me, him.”

“You’ve been texting Lily for years,” he said, his voice strangled. “Lily’s the only one you meet up with, like, ever.”

“Is that so?” Ilya raised an eyebrow at Shane, who scowled at him, his cheeks turning pink. Adorable.

“Fuck off,” he grumbled.

“Swear jar,” Jackie scolded.

With a sigh, Shane held Jade to his chest with one arm, the other fishing out his wallet. He pulled out a dollar and handed it to her. She grinned at him.

“So, why now?” Jackie asked.

She was clearly a very intelligent and perceptive woman. Ilya had no idea how she’d landed with a bumbling moron like Pike.

Shane told them what had happened, pulled out his ring on his new golden chain.

Jackie was charmed. Pike still looked like he was on the verge of puking. Ilya just watched them impassively, trying to endure how fucking awkward and uncomfortable it was to sit there and not contribute to the discussion. These people that were so important to Shane.

“You’re married to Ilya Rozanov?” Pike asked. “On purpose? Like, you’re choosing this?”

Ilya narrowed his eyes. He was close to his fucking limit.

Suddenly, his arms were full with a child. His anger evaporated as she blinked up at him sleepily, sucking on one of her fingers. He was instantly charmed.

“Yes,” Shane said, his voice firm. “I choose him.”

Hayden’s face fell. He looked… hurt.

“You got married,” he said with a shake of his head, looking helplessly back at Shane. “In Vegas, like it was some dirty secret, without your family there. With no one. Shane, you have to see how that looks, how that feels.”

Beside him, Shane’s face fell. “I know,” he whispered. “Okay, I get it. Hayd- you know I would have wanted you there.”

“But I wasn’t,” Pike said. “You had Scott Hunter as your fucking witness.”

This time, Jackie did not call out the swearing. The ref was clearly biased. Ilya let this one go, on account of the very cute child in his arms and the absolutely gutted look on Pike’s face.

He was a nice guy like that.

Jackie cleared her throat. “Does anyone want a drink?” she asked.

Ilya nodded at her while Shane and Hayden stared each other down.

She got up, ignoring the already open bottle of wine in front of her, and the bottle he’d brought with him, going into the kitchen. While she was gone, Ilya reached with his other hand, instinct making him check the open bottle.

He bit back a smirk, putting it back down.

“Here,” Jackie said, returning a few moments later with a Ginger Ale for Shane. To Ilya, she handed a glass, setting down a bottle of respectable vodka beside it. “This work?”

“Thank you,” he said simply. “You don’t want any?”

“I’ll stick to my wine,” she said with a sigh.

Ilya uncapped the vodka with one hand, pouring some into the glass and doing his best to keep his expression blank.

Shane sighed, suddenly, and then popped open the can, thanking Jackie quietly.

The conversation was stilted, after that. Jackie, magnificent woman that she was, kept the silences from stretching on too long, asking Shane about his parents, teasing out a story from Ilya about winning the cup, getting Pike to talk reluctantly about the girls starting to stand up.

In his arms, Jade was sound asleep, her little face tucked against his chest. She was starting to feel heavy, but Ilya found his gaze dropping to her often, to the dark eyelashes and how they dusted her cheeks, to her sweet little nose.

Babies were so cute.

“Do you want me to take her?” Jackie asked. “I should probably go set her down in bed anyway.”

He nodded, and she walked around the table, carefully lifting her. She didn’t even stir, transferring easily to her mother’s arms.

Curious, he glanced over at Ruby, but she was still awake, leaning back against her father’s chest and looking around at everything.

“Jade’s a good sleeper,” Shane told him, noticing where his attention had drifted to. “Ruby’s allergic to sleep, and being still, and being quiet.”

Ruby babbled at this in seeming agreement, and Ilya smiled at her. She smiled back, her eyes bright and intelligent.

“She’s a menace,” Pike agreed with a sigh, some of the tension finally slipping. “Fights every nap time like it’s overtime in game seven.”

Ilya quirked up his lips at the image. 

He’d been the same, as a child. His mother had told him, once, about the way she’d had to carry him around everywhere with her. As always, remembering her sent a pang of sadness through his chest, and he dropped his gaze.

Jackie returned a few moments later, and she scooped Ruby up out of her husband’s arms, setting her on her hip as she walked back into the kitchen.

Pike looked after them, his expression fond and warm.

Under the table, Shane took Ilya’s hand and squeezed it. Ilya glanced at him, and Shane met his gaze, and his gratitude shone through clearly. 

Ilya squeezed his hand in return.

It would take time, probably, for whatever hurt there was between Shane and Pike to be fixed. For him to accept their relationship, and that Ilya wouldn’t be going anywhere, but it was time that he was willing to put in.

Whatever came next would be hard enough without them having friends and family on their side. And as much as he didn’t like Pike all that much, he could acknowledge that he had been a good friend to Shane for a long time.

So, he would sit in this house and he would make nice until it felt natural.

For Shane.

Chapter 3: Rose Landry

Chapter Notes

I am changing canon to include Rose because I love her, but she will not be Shane’s ex-girlfriend.

And someone said that the first two chapters were sad, so I decided that in this one we will have joy instead!

Rose stepped into Shane’s house and flew into his arms, hugging him tightly. “Where is he?” she asked, already trying to peer past him.

Shane laughed.

“Okay, okay,” he said. “Calm down. He’s in the lounge room.”

She grinned and kicked off her shoes, pushing past him to where Ilya was standing in the loungeroom, looking adorably awkward.

Rose went still. “Oh my God,” she said, her eyes widening.

“Rose, this is-”

“Ilya Rozanov,” she interrupted him. “Holy shit, that’s Ilya Rozanov."

She strode up to him and poked him in the cheek. Ilya gave her a bemused look.

“Hello,” he said.

“Holy shit,” she said again. She whirled and stared at Shane. “You’re dating Ilya Rozanov?”

“Uh,” Shane said. “Yes?”

Rose threw her head back and laughed. “This is the best thing that has ever happened to me,” she said. She turned again and threw herself at Ilya, giving him a big hug. Ilya looked confused but slowly brought his arms down to pat her back.

“Hello Rose Landry,” he repeated. “Why are you hugging me?”

“Because you make his face do that,” she said, jabbing a thumb back to where Shane was sure his face was doing something sappy and cute. He couldn’t help it, though. After all of the negative responses they’d been getting from the others, seeing Rose genuinely happy for them was… nice. Really nice.

“Ah,” Ilya said, and he was looking at Shane and smiling back, equally smitten and soppy.

Rose let Ilya go, turning back to Shane and beaming at him. “You both look happy,” she said to him.

“We are,” Shane said. “And uh, one more thing.”

Her eyes widened. “Shane Hollander, you better not be holding out on me,” she said, crossing her arms and giving him a challenging look.

With a sigh, Shane pulled out his chain. 

Rose’s jaw dropped. “No way.”

She looked at Ilya, who copied Shane’s action.

“Yes way,” Ilya said, looking amused.

“You got married?!” Rose screeched. “Oh my God, Shane Hollander. You sly dog!”

Shane just laughed and she ran up and hugged him again, and Shane buried his face in her neck, feeling tears prick at his eyes.

“Thank you,” he murmured.

“I am gonna throw you the best party ever,” she said, pulling back to look up at his face. “Please let me. We can invite whoever you want, but just, let’s have the best time ever.”

Shane flushed. That sounded like his worst fucking nightmare, if he was perfectly honest.

But, it was Rose. She knew him. He’d met her two years earlier at a party at J.J. Boizeau’s house. He seemed to know everyone who was worth knowing, and she’d been breaking out as a famous actress. They’d bonded over intrusive paparazzi and a mutual love of hockey, and she was one of the only people he’d ever confessed his maybe not so straight leanings to.

Maybe they might have dated. God knew that Shane had thought about it, but it had never really gone anywhere and by the time he knew her well enough to consider her a friend, he hadn’t wanted to ruin anything.

But even to her, he’d never confessed that he had Ilya. It was too tenuous, too important.

“Okay,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Nothing too big, though.”

“Perfect,” she said gleefully. “Oh my God, this is going to be the best!”

Shane rolled his eyes, but Ilya looked a bit pleased as well, so Shane shoved his anxiety down. 

This could be fun.

Rose pulled out her phone, flopping down on the couch. “Okay,” she said. “Who can we invite?”

“There aren’t very many people, yet, who know about us,” Shane said, moving over to the couch. He went past Ilya, taking his hand and tugging him down beside him. Ilya went willingly, curling into his side.

“My parents know, and uh, Hayden and Jackie,” he said.

“My friend Svetlana,” Ilya offered.

“Scott Hunter,” Shane pointed out.

“Yes,” Ilya said.

They paused, and looked at Rose.

She blinked. “That’s it?” she asked. “None of your other teammates or friends?”

Truthfully, Shane didn’t really have any friends other than Hayden and Rose. He’d considered telling J.J., but he fucking hated Ilya with a passion that often concerned Shane, so he’d decided against bringing him into the fold after Hayden’s frosty acceptance.

And Ilya had told his best friend Svetlana only. He hadn’t discussed if there were any other teammates he wanted to know about them yet.

“What about Cliff?” he suggested.

Ilya’s eyebrows rose. “You would let me tell Marly?” he asked.

“That’s who you’re closest to, on your team, right?” Shane said.

Ilya nodded. “Him and Connors,” he agreed.

Shane was trying to be cool about this. Neither of them had been particularly toxic towards him in any of the games they’d played together. Marlow had checked him a few times, but that was hockey, that wasn’t personal.

Still, the idea of opening themselves up to more people knowing was terrifying. He was, however, very conscious of being fair. Ilya deserved to have people in his corner as well. This was a marriage, neither of them were going anywhere.

Their circle would start small, sure, but eventually it would need to grow.

“You should tell them,” he said gently.

Ilya studied his face. He looked genuinely surprised. “Thank you,” he said simply.

“Okay,” Rose said. “That was very sweet. So, it might not be the rager I was envisioning, but we can still have a very nice gathering and get very drunk and dance.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Shane said. “That sounds… fine.”

Which was how he ended up, a week later, standing in a very small, private function room with his closest friends, and Ilya’s closest friends, all in the same place.

He was gripping a glass of glass of very crisp, cold ginger ale with a splash of vodka in it, standing near the bar and watching as Rose and Jackie and Svetlana all spoke rapidly, laughing frequently.

“That is… terrifying,” Ilya said, coming to stand beside him, nursing his own glass of vodka.

“Is it any less scary than our teammates all interacting right now?” Shane asked, gesturing to where Hayden and J.J. (who had been brought into the fold, when Hayden hadn’t wanted to come without him) were playing a game of pool against Marlow and Connors.

Scott sidled up at Ilya’s other side, holding a beer. “This is so weird,” he said.

“Tell me about it,” Shane grumbled. 

He turned towards Ilya and Scott, who both offered him a smile. He smiled back, shaking his head a little. 

“I didn’t think this would ever happen,” Shane confessed, looking at Ilya. “That people would know about us, and be like… fine about it.”

“Me either,” Ilya confessed. “It is nice.”

“You two are adorable,” Scott said, rolling his eyes. “How did you ever keep this a secret?”

“We did not really try that hard,” Ilya confessed. “People saw what they wanted to see.”

Scott nodded thoughtfully. “That’s true,” he conceded. “I guess the media pushed the narrative of you two being rivals so hard that everyone just accepted it.”

“Basically,” Shane agreed. “We never hated each other.”

This seemed to surprise Scott. “Never?”

Ilya was the one to chuckle. “No,” he said, giving Shane a secret smile. “Never.”

And he didn’t need to read Ilya’s mind to know that they were remembering the same moment; a cold snowy day, a cigarette, a handshake.

Svetlana shimmied over to them, slipping under Ilya’s arm, placing herself between him and Scott.

“Hello boys,” she said, winking over at Shane.

He’d met her the day before. She was wickedly smart, beautiful, terrifying. He could understand why Ilya loved her.

“Svetlana,” he said with a smile. “Making friends?”

“Yes,” she said firmly. “Rose Landry is like… wow. And Jackie is a very smart woman. I like them.”

Ilya was beaming down at her, his arm naturally falling to her waist as he held her close. Shane liked that look on his face, so soppy and sweet.

He glanced back to where Rose and Jackie were still standing there, heads bent together and wicked grins on their faces. Beyond them, the guys were all chirping at each other, though they were smiling, friendly.

It didn’t seem like many people, but to Shane, this meant the world. 

He wasn’t naive, he knew that they were facing an uphill battle. Just because the story hadn’t broken yet doesn’t mean it never would. The next big thing to tackle would be telling the rest of their teams, and Shane had no idea how that was going to go. He wasn’t really looking forward to it, though. 

Over the years, he’d paid attention to his teammates, to who cracked the most homophobic jokes, and who laughed the hardest. It was hockey, and homophobia was depressingly common, but most guys were willing to stay out of that shit and focus on playing their game. 

He wasn’t sure how they would take the news of him being gay, let alone who he was married to. 

Shane did not anticipate playing for Montreal much longer though. Even his best friends on the team weren’t adjusting to the news well, though they had at least turned up for him when he’d asked.

No one had thrown any punches, at least. And the mingling was a good sign for the future.

Maybe one day they could be out, and proud, and happy, but for now… this was nice.

This was enough.

He turned back to Ilya, who was already watching him, a smile dancing on his lips. He looked a bit emotional, and Shane smiled shyly at him, bringing a hand up to tug at his chain, rubbing his thumb over his wedding ring.

No one else was watching as he brought it to his lips and kissed it.

But Ilya saw. And his eyes turned heated.

Shane smirked.

He drifted over to the pool table, joining in on chirping the Boston players. Hayden offered him a smile, and J.J. clapped his shoulder as he passed him to take the next shot.

Connors, he noticed, kept looking over at Rose, while Marlow was leaning on his pool stick, smirking at him.

Later, Rose would turn the music up and make him dance, and Ilya would laugh at him, and Shane would be dizzy and laughing and happy.

And it would be perfect.