#bay fc

samy appreciated his words. she nodded, shaking out of her sudden nerves because it wasn't like she hadn't gone around these people before. maybe it was just the christmas/holiday nerves all at once. her and will climbed out of the car in their matching pjs since it was christmas pajama party after all. the boy collected her into his side as they walked to the front door with their dish to pass in hand.

they were hosting at the toffoli's again so it was all very familiar when cat opened the door with a wide smile and ushered the young couple inside. she hugged each of them, "welcome! welcome! samy, i'm so excited you're finally in the bay with us," the older woman clutched samy's shoulders.

the brunette grinned, "i'm really excited too."

"how has move-in been? i heard your parents were here and your brother?" cat led them further into the house while samy shot will a look behind her. he shrugged with a smug smile on his lips. he was always talking about her to everyone.

"it's been good, i'm basically moved in. i've just been unpacking the small stuff."

"has will been any help with his crippled shoulder?" cat teased.

"somewhat," samy teased as well which earned her a small pinch from will as he put their dish on the counter to join the others. cat laughed.

"well, make yourselves at home. you know how this works. drinks and food are kind of everywhere," she urged them to go mingle. will laced his arm around samy again when she was free from cat's grasp, a soft smile on his lips.

"you talk about me like we're married and have three kids already," the soccer player giggled as they navigated through the house to find a familiar face. "baby, i've been doing that since we started dating," will kissed her temple.

the couple found mack and ekky outside on the patio. the sharks players immediately jumped up with a cheerful greeting and lots of hugs. "i was wondering when you'd finally show," mack teased them.

"hey, we like to make a fashionable entrance," will said.

"how are you liking the bay so far?" eklund asked samy as he side hugged her. "i really like it. it's a lot warmer than michigan."

"yeah, you'll get used to it quick. has will tainted your apartment yet?" the older blonde joked and winked in will's direction. the boy's face flushed. "and what's that supposed to mean?"

"hey, i'm just asking. i know you got a lot of time on your hands with that shoulder injury," eklund chuckled, his hands up in defense. samy giggled though and shook her head at the question.

"where's blaire?" she asked mack.

"she went home for a few days. she'll be back for new years though," the younger brunette beamed.

toffoli joined the four a second later when he finally noticed them. he nuzzled will and mack's heads, flipping their hair around as they pushed off of him. "thing 1 and thing 2 are finally here. no hat for once, kibble," toffoli said to will when he could easily brush his hand through will's curls without the cover of a baseball cap.

"he wears them less when the mrs. is around," mack teased and looked samy's way.

"hey, sometimes i just wanna let my hair breathe," will defended himself but everyone knew he didn't wear them as often because samy liked being able to see his hair. the soccer player blushed.

"you got a tight business to run," toffoli winked at her before bringing her into a quick hug. "how's the new place? new team? will said you've liked it?"

"it's all really good. i feel like i'm dreaming still. everyone's so nice," samy grinned.

"we're gonna be the first one to buy tickets when your debut game goes on sale. we wanna be front row," eklund nudged her arm.

"you're gonna be fighting my entire family that wants front row too," samy chuckled.

"the stadium is big. we can all have front row," eklund made the group laugh.

"i'm gonna make my rounds, but have fun. make yourselves at home. eat the food. cat and i don't wanna have to keep it all," toffoli smiled before making his way to a different group.

"he doesn't need to tell me twice," mack hummed and went to investigate what else he could eat. eklund followed him while will snaked his arm back around samy's waist.

"doing okay?" he wondered.

"yeah, good. i think i was nervous for nothing," the girl flushed. will squeezed her side and kissed her forehead, "that's okay. everyone gets nervous. wanna mingle more?"

she nodded so the couple went further into the patio to talk up some of will's older teammates. every single one of them asked samy about her new place and how she was adjusting—a clear sign that she was very loved among the players and just how much will talked her up during practice and when she wasn't around to hear it.

at one point, samy got into a conversation with igor and collin while will was off making silly tiktoks with mack for cat's own amusement. the two younger boys excitedly asked her about the pro team she was now apart of. "i can't believe they recruited you like a year ago," collin said.

"me neither. i was so shocked when i got that letter in the mail from the head coach. said he'd been watching me for so long and knew i had something good. the team dynamic is already really great."

"well, you do have something good. you just won your second national title and you have three state ones at the high school level. it makes sense why he wants you so early," igor added and the brunette just flushed.

"your brother just got traded to minnesota right?" collin wondered about quinn. samy nodded. "yup, he's officially a wild now. i'm like kind of sad because i was really excited to visit him more often now that we were on the same coast."

"maybe they know having all the hughes dominating both coasts would be too much. they had to split you guys up," igor made samy laugh.

"yeah, maybe. they got scared knowing i was coming to tear up the soccer field."

"how's jack though? he has his first game back soon?"

"in like four days i think. he's excited to be back out there. he's just been itching to do something again and be on the ice. i could tell because he was practically bouncing off the walls when he helped me move in," the three laughed.

samy's gaze drifted over to will again when the conversation lulled. him and mack were play wrestling each other now which was probably something will shouldn't be doing still injured but did it anyway. the brunette grinned at the sight though. she was glad he could stay in high spirits despite being out.

"how do you manage him?" collin joked.

"honestly, i don't know. he just usually does what i say without argument."

"we tease him all the time about how down bad he is for you, but rightfully so. before we met you, he always talked so highly of you and i get a little protective over the rookies so i wasn't sure since you guys were long distance and everything. it wasn't until i met you that i understood why he talked so well of you and never shut up about anything you were doing. you are really incredible," collin's words warmed samy's heart.

"that's sweet of you to say. him and i go way back."

"yeah, we stalked his instagram one time and saw all of the old pictures of you guys together. i envy your relationship," igor said.

will made his way back over to samy, plopping down beside her like he was out of breath. the girl giggled as she took in her boyfriend's state. "making tiktoks wear you out?"

"something like that. it's hard work," will huffed. she pushed his curls off of his forehead, "yeah, right."

the boy smiled and sat back up more. "what are you guys talking about?" he looked between her, igor, and collin.

"just saying how down bad you are and how we envy you and samy," the older brunette chuckled.

"this isn't new news. you guys should just expect it and know this by now," will squeezed samy closer to his side, pressing a little kiss to her shoulder. the girl squeezed his leg.

"oh, we know. don't worry," igor winked.

will got them talking about hockey, but samy didn't mind. she sat at her boyfriend's side, nodding along to what he said and what igor and collin mumbled about the last game.

when it was time for dessert, cat called the group inside to take what they wanted. as you waited in line, she came by again. "i made apple chocolate crisp. will told me your mom made it a lot for you, so i wanted to make sure you had something familiar."

your heart warmed again and you immediately looked at will on your side. he just smiled and squeezed your waist. "that's so nice. thank you," you beamed.

"of course. i know the first holiday away from home can be hard, so i hope this makes it feel more homey," the older woman smiled before getting in line as well. you looked back at will, "when did you tell her i like that?"

"uh..she was asking toff and me about what you may have wanted when i mentioned you were gonna come since you'd be moved in. it was mostly cat's idea to bake something for you. i just suggested some recipes," the blonde shrugged like it wasn't a huge deal.

samy's heart grew though. it was a small gesture, but it still meant the world to her that will knew the things she liked during the holidays and that his teammate's wife made sure to include it. not that samy felt excluded before, but she definitely felt like part of the sharks family officially.

"i love you," she said to her boyfriend. he smiled.

"i love you too. i'm glad you're here."

"me too."

when samy got to the front of the line she even saw the note on the apple crisp that no one could take any before she had some. it really was the small thing like this.

her and will found a comfortable spot in the living room since it was getting a bit colder outside. "so what would you rate it on a scale of 1-10?" the boy asked.

"honestly, a 9. it's really good. nothing can top my mom's, but cat did really well," samy smiled.

"better leave her a dazzling review," will joked.

the couple started their goodbyes close to 11:30. samy had early practice the next morning and needed to get some sort of sleep. the players hugged the young couple tightly. "good seeing you, hughes. see you there next game?" collin wondered.

"for sure," she grinned.

cat and toff hugged them tight too. "good seeing you both. safe trip back," cat said.

"thank you again for the apple crisp. it was really good," samy said to her.

"i'm glad you liked it. let me know if you need anything with the apartment. we're always here," she squeezed the girl and then hugged will.

when they finally made it back outside to the car will graciously opened samy's door. she beamed as she climbed in and he met her on the other side. "you have a really good family in there," samy kissed his cheek.

"our family. and we do," will corrected which made the girl blush.

they rode back to samy's apartment since will was injured and didn't necessarily need to be at practice. her half unpacked living room greeted them as they walked in and samy flipped the lights on.

"so what did eklund mean by you tainting my apartment?" samy teased even though she knew exactly what it meant.

the blonde flushed. "you know, i'm not sure."