#wb3

“would you accompany me to the edge of the sea

let me know if you're really a dream

i love you so, so would you go with me?”

as someone who prided themself on always getting the perfect gift, you weren’t exactly sure how you’d managed to wait until the last day to get your boyfriend, will, a birthday present this year. his birthday was tomorrow, and while you hadn’t forgotten the upcoming date, you had left shopping to the last minute which you never did.

you and will had been together for almost 3 years now, and you were always trying to get a better gift than the year before.

you had gotten the cake and ingredients to cook his favourite dinner, but would have to sneak to the mall while he was at practice today.

“hey,” he smiled as he came downstairs from the room you shared. after a year of dating you had moved in with will and his teammate matty, who had very quickly become one of your best friends.

“hey baby,” you smiled as he kissed your cheek. “off to practice?”

“yeah,” he confirmed, purring his shoes on and yelling for matty to hurry up. the sound of the younger kraken clambering down the stairs made you and will laugh, and you waved goodbye as the boys headed out the door.

once they pulled out of the driveway, you ran upstairs to get ready to head to the mall.

let the shopping begin.

•

it was only about an hour later when you had found a few thing for will for his birthday; a couple nice new hoodies, some snacks he liked, and a few little things that just caught your eye or reminded you of him, when your phone rang.

you pulled it out of your pocket and saw a picture of you and will across the screen, meaning he was calling.

“hey honey, what’s up?” you asked; there was no way practice was over that fast, and you hoped nothing bad had happened.

“uh, it’s kinda of a-“ he sighed, stumbling over his words like he didn’t know how to tell you whatever it was that made him call you.

“are you okay?” you asked, worried he got injured in practice or something like that; your mind often drifting to the worst case scenario.

“yeah - it’s,” he sighed. “i’d rather tell you in person actually. can you come to the iceplex?”

this only tripled your worrying, but you agreed, deciding that the shopping would have to wait as this was definitely more important.

“of course, i’ll be there in 20, okay?”

“okay, love you.”

“i love you too,” you smiled. “see you soon.”

•

after carefully hiding the bags of gifts in the safety of the trunk, you walked from your car into the kraken practice arena, and you were suprised to find will not dressed to skate. instead, he was waiting in the lobby, standing as he saw you approaching.

his expression was hard to read, but he greeted you with a hug as he always did; though he held you a little tighter than normal.

“hey, is everything okay?” you asked as you pulled away, his hand remaining on your hips as you looked up at him, trying to read his face for any hint as to what was going on.

“uhm,” he scratched the back of his head, his brown hair that had begun to grow long again peeking out from under his beanie as he did so.

“i mean i guess so-“ he shrugged but his voice sounded unsure, and you smiled sadly. will was one of the most easy going people you had ever met. he hardly ever got over emotional (except sometimes on the ice).

“whatever it is, you can tell me.”

“ron wanted to see me when i got here -“ he sighed, his eyes leaving yours as his gaze flickered down to the floor. your heart skipped a beat; usually a meeting with the GM only meant one of a few things, and in this case it was the one you feared the most.

“he wanted to let me know that i’ve been traded,” will finally said, lifting his gaze to meet yours again, waiting for your reaction.

you processed for a minute, nodding as you took his hands in yours.

“okay,” you took a deep breath. as much as it was not the news you expected when you woke up this morning, you knew it was apart of the business. things were always moving in the nhl, and sometimes it felt like the players were seen as just pieces in the game rather than people.

but they knew what they were signing up for, and so did you when you got involved with will. there was always the possibility of being traded, and having to uproot your whole life overnight.

you and will had talked about it in passing once or twice, about whether or not you would go with him if he left seattle, and while you hadn’t expected the day to come - nevermind so soon - you had made up your mind a long time ago.

your life was wherever will was.

“so where are we going?” you smiled up at him.

“you want to come with me and you don’t even know where i’m going?” he asked with a half smile.

“well yeah,” you said like it was obvious. “i love seattle, but it’s not my home; you are.”

will smiled and kissed your lips softly.

“i love you,” he smiled, pulling you into another hug.

“i love you too,” you squeezed him tightly, your arms around his torso as he cradled the back of your head. “so …. where are we going?” you asked again, and you both giggled.

“new york - the rangers.”

“i guess we should go pack?”

“probably,” he nodded. “i’ll just give matty my keys and i can get a ride back home with you.”

“yeah, of course,” you smiled, and watched him walk back towards the locker room to leave his keys for your housemate.

soon to be former housemate your brain corrected, and you felt a sadness weighing heavy in your heart.

you had lived in seattle most of your life, and would definitely miss it, and the friends you had made on the kraken team.

but home wasn’t a place, you realized. it was a person, and he smiled at you as he reappeared in the lobby.

“ready to go?” he asked, reaching for your hand. you linked your fingers with his, looking around the building for maybe the last time.

“yeah, i’m ready.”