andrei svechnikov (pt. 2)

mat barzal

brady skjei

martin necas

william nylander

gunnar’verse

sidney crosby

miscellaneous players

tyler seguin

champagne buzz down to my toes* (12.1k) new year’s eve in las vegas gets out of hand when you meet tyler, a gorgeous stranger in the club

where reality has long been forgotten (6.2k) cherry clifford had 10 years to heal from her relationship with tyler seguin. turns out that wasn’t long enough and her world is thrown off its axis when she sees him again in the er at mass general

cole caufield

four weddings and a funeral (11.4k) it’s the summer of weddings and just as you’re dreading going solo to them, your brother’s best friend, cole caufield, offers to be your date. it’s the perfect solution, too bad you’ve been madly in love with cole for years and your heart can’t seem to grasp the concept of a fake date.

brock boeser

you look like you love me* (2.7k) you’re nothing but the nanny for brock’s daughter until one night all the lines get blurred

matthew tkachuk

giddy up* (1k) you watch matty compete in the saddle bronc competition at the calgary stampede

sean durzi

don’t you want me like i want you baby? (5.5k) lizzie arnold decides to surprise her best friend for christmas, but she could never have imagined how the holiday season would shake out

mikko rantanen

you really only travel back to sweden once when it’s just gunnar - the summer that he’s 7 months old. and that goes pretty well! he’s a chill, chunky little guy and you keep him occupied on the flight by breastfeeding him and willy walking him up and down the aisles

you fly commercial, but first class always. it’s your favorite perk of being with willy. he refuses to travel uncomfortably and you’re happy to go along. it’s easier to have the kids in the pods too and they sleep better on the fully reclining seats.

night flights ALWAYS!!! it’s easier to keep the kids on a schedule and they sleep at least for a little bit of the trip. once they’re older (10+), then you don’t have to worry about night flights and you just leave whenever’s convenient

since you’re gone for the summer, you have a ton of bags - at least three checked bags and a carry on and personal item each. willy’s always in charge of the luggage and getting the dogs (i assume they always travel in cargo? i’m not sure how that works since they’re medium sized dogs and you won’t let willy pretend they’re emotional support dogs with little vests)

but alex doesn’t usually live with you guys in toronto, he’s in willy’s old place though and is at yours all the time. sometimes he travels with you guys, sometimes he’s following - it all just depends on the hockey schedules and what else is going on.

once there’s more kids, willy’s parents come to help you out with the flights. once in a while, your parents come too. since it’s just your mom and dad, you fold them into nylander trips and holidays too and it’s so nice that everyone gets along really well

this summer, july 2026, you skip the trip since kas is born in july. everyone comes to you, to meet the baby and help you out

(you do drive to grand haven after the season ends so you can spend time on the beach and with your parents in your home town before the baby gets here. it’s a six hour drive that stretches to nearly nine with all the bathroom and snack stops but gunnar’s a champ in the car and the dogs are mostly chill. you and willy spend probably a couple of weeks, maybe a month, with your parents before driving back to toronto in late june so you can get ready for baby and not have to worry about delivering in michigan as opposed to at your regular hospital. being 7-8 months pregnant with willy’s giant ass baby in the michigan summer heat is not something you want to do again, but you love the memories from the trip and seeing gunnar get to spend so much time with his grandparents and in your hometown)

so summer 2027, with almost one year old kas and two and a half year old gunnar, you and willy head out to sweden in may to enjoy a nice long euro summer. kas is less chill on flights than gunnar, so he gets passed around and has to be distracted with snacks and new toys constantly. luckily, they both nap pretty well, especially when they’re both cuddled up on willy’s lap with his arms holding them in place

(the amount of pictures you take of willy and the boys on planes is ridiculous)

you’ve definitely lost luggage before - it’s easy when you keep having to add on suitcases as you keep having kids. but you’ve gotten smart and mixed everyone’s stuff up so even if you do lose a suitcase, one person isn’t shit out of luck without clothes.

by the time you and willy have all five kids, you’re seasoned travelers for the euro summer, but you also know when you’re out of your depth and have to have at least one adult per kid. so the grandparents or alex or one of willy’s sisters have to join. especially when you’ve got a fresh baby because all of your attention is on that one to feed them and change diapers and be the mattress for a contact nap. willy is so good with the flights, he doesn’t mind getting stickers placed all over his face or doling out snacks and fixing headphones that have come unplugged from the ipad or seat back screen

the few years that henry is dealing with motion sickness are the worst years ever - the throws up in cars, trains, buses, planes. if it’s moving, henry’s throwing up. you’re a sympathetic puker, even though that’s been trained out of you as you keep having kids, so willy kind of has to handle that and you make sure gunnar and kas are distracted because if they see puking, they’ll start up too

sage and june are your friendliest babies and always chat with the people around you, waving and smiling and chattering when they wander up and down the aisles with you or willy

you always let them run off energy in the airport before flights, sending them on the moving walkway to tire them out. they’re bribed with treats from starbucks and you have SO many stars from airport cake pops alone

at some point between kids three and four, you and willy decide to buy a little cottage on the lake in canada. while you’re still doing as much of the summer in sweden as you can, that’ll get harder when the kids are older and have their own friends and schedules and things they want to stay home for

it’s nice because it’s low maintenance and you can head out there relatively quickly. so when surprise baby number five shows up, sage born in march 2034, and the thought of wrangling four kids and an infant onto an international flight sounds like hell on earth you’re grateful for the cabin and its extensive backyard to let your kids be free range

this is also willy’s first summer retired, last game played and won in april, with all five kids in attendance and then, suddenly, nothing to do but enjoy his wide open schedule

you’d thought you would go back to sweden to maybe cure any sort of weird feelings that willy was having about retirement, but he doesn’t mind staying in canada. had suggested it, in fact, and seemed to just sag with relief when everyone tumbled out of the car in the driveway

later, your parents and his will join you, but for now it’s just you and willy and your babies. half of whom aren’t babies anymore.

cottage life is quiet (as quiet as it can be with five kids and two dogs and a husband that only seems to have two volumes, loud and louder) and your days fall into a very easy routine

gunnar and kas peel out of the house as fast as they can after breakfast and stay out there. they toss baseballs to each other and practice their shooting on the rink willy had built on the extensive piece of property. they catch bugs and lizards and bring them to you so you’ll scream and push them away (part performative to make them laugh and part real fear)

henry bounces between hanging out with his brothers and with june, depending on his mood for the day and what willy’s doing

tonight, you’re all out on the back porch - the older boys running back and forth in some made up game that henry loses and pouts and cries about until he joins willy and june on the steps. june’s collecting flowers for willy and he’s holding them patiently, a soft smile on his face, collecting a veritable bouquet of wildflowers in his lap. every so often he looks up at you and sage, the baby tucked up against your breast, sucking lazily while you pat her bottom. carefully, you pull your phone out from under your thigh and snap a picture, wanting to remember the moment forever

he grins and winks at you and henry looks over to you as well, waving even though he’s just a few feet away

you wave back and end up with a lap full of flowers too - “for you and sagey, mama” - and sweet, if slightly dirty, hugs from your two younger babies.

the sun lowers in the sky and willy starts a fire in the pit, procuring s’mores supplies from thin air and getting the kids to sit still long enough to toast the marshmallows. gunnar helps june with hers and your heart twists in your chest at how big and mature your first baby is, the baby that started this whole family. he’s ten now, slowly looking so much more grown up than you realized, and you can’t help but compare the soft weight of three-month-old sage in your arms to the unfamiliar and scary and amazing weight of gunnar when the doctors had first laid him on your chest

the weight of responsibility had been far outweighed by love for gunnar and willy and has only grown in the ten years since

“s’more for your thoughts?” willy’s voice interrupts your thoughts, the warm scent of toasted marshmallow hitting your nose. you grin and look over at him, kneeling down next to you.

“they’re too sappy for you, nylander,” you tease, tired but so happy. willy laughs and leans in to press a kiss to the corner of your mouth. he already tastes like chocolate and graham cracker and your whole pastpresentfuture

sage squeaks in your lap, yawning and stretching until willy rubs his hand over her belly

“you know i love hearing all of your thoughts,” he says to the soundtrack of the kids bickering and chatting

you watch his hand, tanned already from the sun, the glint of his new-ish wedding band in the firelight on sage’s belly

Sometime in early January, you wake up with the realization that you absolutely need to be legally married to Mat before the baby comes in June. You nudge him awake and tell him so, earning a sleepy yawn and an easy agreement.

“I’ll marry you tomorrow, if you want,” Mat says, tugging at your hand so you’ll curl back up against his side and go back to bed. “Just say the word.”

“Not tomorrow,” you murmur, “but definitely before July. Maybe just a small thing here and then the big party then? And we can have the baby with us at the party?”

Mat nods and agrees again, “like I said, whatever you want. Look at the schedule and we can find a day or two when I don’t have a game to get everything sorted out.”

He tugs you even closer and you slot against his side easily, burying your face in his chest. Later, when you’re more awake, you’ll look at the schedule and determine that the All Star break in February is the perfect time for a small ceremony and tell Mat that his calendar is booked. He laughs and kisses the top of your head, agreeing easily even though he knows the week is free only because he hasn’t been chosen for the All Star team.

The little ceremony comes together quickly - your parents and Mat’s parents more than happy to book their flights. Liana helps you plan things, even though it’s only going to be friends and family in your living room. But she’s amazing with a check list and suddenly it’s the end of January and the only thing left on the list is to pick out wedding bands.

The day after Mat gets back from an away game, on a freezing cold day, you bundle up to head into the city and check out the situation at Mat’s private jeweler. It’s awful and cold and you feel bloated from the pregnancy, but you make an effort and get dressed up, wearing a bright orange wool coat you bought to wear to games. Mat laughs when he sees you, calls you a muppet with an affectionate smile on his face, and holds open the passenger door for you to climb in. Usually you’d take the train, but Mat’s in over protective mode, keeping you tucked against his side whenever possible and wrapping an arm around your waist so his hand can rest on the side of your stomach.

With his car safely in a parking garage and a hot chocolate clutched in your gloved hands, Mat lets you hook your arm through his as you stroll towards the storefront in the Diamond District, stopping occasionally to ooh and ahh over some of the sparkly things that catch you eye. Mat’s quiet at your side and you know he’s taking mental notes for future gifts.

Once you get to Anthony’s, Mat barges through the door with a giant grin and a loud, “brace yourselves gentlemen, I brought my girl and we’re here to spend money.”

You laugh and push his arm, greeting Anthony and the other guys that work in the shop. Anthony is very big, very bald, and has the thickest Brooklyn accent you’ve heard outside of TV. You’re pretty sure he’s in the mob. Or at the very least, connected.

“Good to see ya both,” he greets you with a huge smile. “Lemme see that diamond.”

You hold your left hand out and he takes hold of your fingers, turning your hand so the diamond catches the light.

“Looks good. You want me to throw it in the sonic while you’re here? Clean it up to a nice shine?” He offers and you nod, already wiggling the ring off your finger.

“Yes, please! The sparkle is the best part,” you laugh, taking a seat on the little stool Mat retrieved from behind the counter for you. He’s been here so often he treats it like his own living room.

“Tony, I’m making an honest woman out of her next month,” Mat grins, leaning against the counter. “We need weddings bands and pretty quickly.”

Anthony chuckles and winks at you. “Gonna lock her down before she wises up and realizes she can do better?” He’s pulling out trays of wedding bands as he teases you both, setting the velvet trays on the counter.

“Too late,” you joke back, “he already baby trapped me.” You smooth your hand over your stomach, just barely showing a bump at this point. Mat rolls his eyes and tugs at your hair, making you laugh and lean back against his chest slightly.

“You two are cute,” Anthony comments, shaking his head fondly. “Let’s find you some bands.”

It’s easy to pick yours out - a thin pavè eternity band that slots perfectly against your engagement ring. Your fingers aren’t too swollen yet so it’s easy to get your normal size and since it’s one of the ones in stock, you’ll be able to go home with it.

Mat is a little pickier, trying on bands of various thickness and metal, and making your pulse race unknowingly, with how hot he looks wearing a band on that fourth finger. The black tungsten and steel bands are ugly as hell but the fact that they mark him as yours is making you wet. You shift in your seat and Mat flexes his fingers, rotating his hand to see what he likes.

You’re not about to tell him what wedding band to get, but you’re really hoping he’ll go for a classic yellow gold. And then he picks a white gold band, sliding it past his knuckles and holding it up for you to see.

“What do you think?” His eyes twinkle with excitement. “I usually wear the yellow gold chain, but Liana said mixing metals is fine.”

“Mixing metals,” you giggle. “Okay, influencer. We’ll get you a ring light for your videos.” You clamp your lips shut to muffle a squeak as Mat pokes your side.

“Terror,” he smirks, wiggling the band off his finger and back onto the tray. The yellow gold is his next option and you feel yourself get even wetter just seeing him roll the band between his fingers. Your heart does a funny little twist in your chest when he slips the band on and it slides into place, settling like it was always meant to be there.

Mat looks over at you, brows furrowed and asks, “you okay?”

A little noise had slipped out of your mouth without you even realizing and you giggle, half embarrassed.

“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just - it looks good on you,” you shrug, trying to be non-chalant.

“Yeah?” Mat holds his hand up, palm facing him and the back of his hand facing you. “Yellow gold? Go for a classic?”

“Very much yes,” you nod, feeling like you’re in your own little bubble with Mat and the baby. He looks so good with the ring on, a bold symbol to everyone else that Mat is taken and taken by you. Tears well in your lower lash line, pregnancy hormones making you crazy. “I really like it, Mat.”

He cocks his head and wraps an arm around your shoulders, bending at the knees slightly to get to your eye level. “You okay?”

You nod and lift your chin so he’ll kiss you. “Just…” you whisper against his lips, “thinking about how that ring will feel like when your fingers are inside of me.”

On his 42nd birthday, Sidney Crosby wakes before his alarm and goes for a run. He ghosts his hand over Nova’s bare back before he gets out of bed and pulls on his sneakers. She burrows her face further into her pillow and lets out a soft little grunt.

Sid laughs under his breath and watches her for a moment longer, resisting the urge to brush her hair out of her face. He knows that’ll wake her and Nova’s informed him no less than a million and one times that summer is for sleeping in. Especially when she takes her vacation days instead of working remote.

He lets her sleep and heads out into the foggy morning, running down the driveway and onto the street that’ll take him into town. Sid’s feet pound the pavement and his music plays at a slightly too loud volume in his ears. It feels good to sweat and let his mind wander, replaying the last few months and thinking about what’s next.

He’s officially retired from hockey, his days wide open and unscheduled for the first time in decades, and Sid’s a little afraid of what that’ll do to him.

The last month and a half has been a whirlwind of celebrating and traveling, recovery from the physical gauntlet of winning a Stanley Cup at 41. He’s pretty sure they spent the month of July in various stages of drunk, sobering up in order to propose to Nova a few days after lifting the Cup in the air again.

Then it was more celebrating and more drinking, an impromptu engagement party held by Nova’s parents, and the Cup parade through downtown Pittsburgh.

The retreat to Halifax for the month of August is much needed. The town is ecstatic, obviously, but Sid feels less scrutinized here. He and Nova have been able to retreat from the public eye and enjoy their new engagement. She hasn’t mentioned his retirement, but she knows that the closer they march towards the fall, the harder it will be for him.

Just yesterday he’d floated the idea of signing another one-year deal. He hadn’t been serious, not really, but the high of winning another Cup erased all the physical pain he’s been in for months. Now, with a month and a half of rest, Sid feels good again. His broken finger is healed and the sprained shoulder he suffered in the first round is getting better. Maybe he could do one more year.

Sid chuckles out loud at the memory of Nova’s deadpan look, the way she’d rolled her eyes at him and rasped, “or I could just take a hammer to one of your body parts right now. I’ll even let you pick.”

After that, curled up together in bed, her mouth against his collarbone and his fingers buried in her cunt, Nova had whispered, “you promised, Sid.”

He had promised, no more hockey after the end of this last deal. Going out on a high of a fourth Cup was all he could’ve asked for, but he’s never going to stop thinking about what another season could mean. It’s in his blood.

When they get back to Pittsburgh in September, Sid has options waiting for him. Broadcast offers, the Penguins front office, the hockey world is his oyster. He just has to pick a path.

For now, he’s got Nova and the gorgeous summer weather, his parents down the road in one direction and the MacKinnon family in the other.

For now, Sid’s going to rest.

——

Humidity sticks to his skin by the time he finishes his run and gets back to the house. He’d tugged his shirt off two miles ago and now it’s draped over his shoulder as he houses an apple, standing in the kitchen and trying not to drip sweat everywhere.

The house is still quiet, so Sid knows that Nova’s asleep and he polishes off the apple and a spoonful of peanut butter before creeping back upstairs to take a shower and get ready for the day before she wakes up.

She’s rolled around in the time that Sid’s been gone, flat on her back now, arms thrown up over her head so her torso stretches and her breasts are exposed to the air instead of crushed against the mattress. Sid stops in his tracks and watches her chest rise and fall with her breathing, nipples pebbled tightly in the cool air. The sheets are tangled around her legs, but he knows she’s naked under there too and his fingers itch to touch her.

Her skin is still red from the scrape of Sid’s beard and teeth last night and he can hear her whine about beard burn, followed closely by her “but don’t shave it!”

Nova mumbles in her sleep and Sid wonders if the noise of the shower will wake her. Maybe she’ll join him.

He strips and tosses his sweaty clothes in the hamper, taking his time under the hot water and letting it ease his muscles. It’s still hard to believe that he won’t be lacing up his skates in a couple of weeks for training camp. Every time he thinks he’s okay with retirement, that little voice in the back of his head says maybe not yet. But this season was hard on his body and harder on his mind, especially without Geno and Tanger at his side. The team built around him was good, obviously, good enough to win a Cup. But it wasn’t the same as playing with his guys.

Sid shakes his head as he gets out of the shower, today’s not for overthinking. He’s got a birthday to celebrate and he’s hoping that celebration will continue with Nova as soon as she wakes up.

He swipes at the steamed up mirror and grins when he spots movement in the bed behind him. Nova’s legs shift and kick under the sheets and Sid goes still, pretending to ignore her so she’ll wake up on her own.

There’s moisturiser on his face and his toothbrush is in his mouth when a pair of hands land on his lower back.

“Morning, birthday boy,” Nova’s voice is extra raspy with sleep.

“Morning, Sleeping Beauty,” he replies around a mouthful of toothpaste. He spits into the sink and catches her eye in the mirror. Her hair is crazy and she still looks like she’s barely awake, but her lips are curled up in a smile.

Nova’s forehead drops to rest in between his shoulders and Sid can feel the fabric of her shirt against his back when she flattens her chest to him. She presses a kiss to his skin and lets her mouth linger there, fingers hooked in the towel wrapped around his hips.

“Good sleep?” He’s enjoying the simple connection of her body against his. His cock twitches against the terrycloth.

“Mhm,” Nova’s hum vibrates against his spine. “Some old man wore me out last night.”

Sid laughs loudly and he can feel Nova’s answering smile curve against his skin. “Yeah? Good to know I’ve still got it,” he teases. Nova’s hands slide around his sides and splay against his stomach. He’s softer, thicker than he had been at his peak. Sid’s still in incredible shape, but it’s been an adjustment to see how his body’s changed over the years. Muscle isn’t as defined anymore and he feels wider, just a touch slower. Nova’s never seemed to mind though.

“Oh yeah,” she giggles. “You definitely still have it.”

She shifts her hips forward, bumping them against his ass. Her engagement ring sparkles under the lights as her fingers flex against Sid’s stomach.

“Better enjoy it,” Sid tries to tease, but his voice comes out sounding a little melancholy, “couple of years, I might be too old to go all night.”

Nova’s nails scratch lightly at Sid’s stomach and the muscles jump under her touch. She brushes the tip of her nose against his shoulder blade and laughs, “are you fishing for compliments, Mr. Crosby? I wasn’t vocal enough for you last night? Do you want me to tell you how much I love your mouth and your fingers and your cock? You want to hear how I saw stars every time you slid into me?”

She peers over his shoulder to catch his eye in the mirror and the smirk that slants his lips. He shrugs.

“It is my birthday, honey,” he says, resting his hand on the knot of his towel. “Aren’t you supposed to be extra nice to me?”

“Oh, twist my arm,” Nova sighs. She covers Sid’s hand with hers, playing with the towel knot until it’s loose and gaping, exposing the head of his cock, already flushed. Her lips are on Sid’s shoulder, green eyes peering at him from behind, sharp with glee. “That forty-two year old cock is looking pretty excited.”

Sid laughs and his cock jumps, the towel falling open the rest of the way, held up only by Nova’s hips pressed against his ass.

“Get your hands on it and see how much more exited it gets,” Sid grins, watching Nova’s fingers dance delicately down the planes of his stomach and brush against the dark hair at the base of his cock. Her left hand stays flat against his stomach, holding him in place. He groans when her fingers wrap around the base of his cock, her hand warm and soft.

“Sid, my love,” Nova scrapes her teeth over his shoulder, enjoying the way he shivers, “you just stand here and let me take care of you. First of many birthday presents.”

He nods and drops his chin to his chest so he can watch her hand stroke over his cock, bracing his hands on the edge of the sink. Nova’s nails flash hot pink, her tanned skin a contrast to the flush of his cock. Precome gathers at the tip and she swirls her palm over it to slick up her hand. It’s not enough to smooth the glide and her hand skips and catches. They both grunt a little and Nova huffs a little sigh against his shoulder, lifting her hand to his mouth and demanding, “lick.”

Sid catches her eye in the mirror and holds contact when he flattens his tongue over the palm of her hand and licks his way to the tips of her fingers, sucking her index and middle fingers into his mouth briefly. Nova’s breath catches in her chest and her fingers tighten against his stomach.

“Good?” He asks in a low rumble. Nova nods and gets her hand back on his cock. The wet sensation of her palm feels good against the hot, hard ache of his cock, but it’s still not an easy glide. So Sid ducks his head and lets a glob of spit gather on his tongue, opening his mouth to let it dribble onto Nova’s fingers and his cock.

“Oh!” She gasps, shifting behind him so the towel falls to the ground and Sid’s ass rocks back to press against her hips. Her skin’s hot too, and Sid wishes he could reach back and feel how wet she is. But his knees are locked, thighs trembling from Nova’s grip on him.

His cock sags under its own weight, Nova’s hand tightening and loosening as she works him over with the pressure and flick of her wrist she knows he likes. Sid grunts when she squeezes, hisses sharply when she dances her fingers over his dripping slit.

“Nova, baby,” he grinds out the words, knuckles going white with his grip on the edge of the sink.

She makes a little noise at the back of her throat and nuzzles her nose against his shoulder. “Feels good, huh, baby? All nice and hard and throbbing in my hand. Y’know, I can still feel how deep you were in my cunt last night,” she says, almost casually. “Stretching me out with this big ass cock of yours. My favorite cock. The only cock that makes me come so hard and so good.”

Sid groans with her words, watching his dick disappear in her grip. He’s so hard it hurts, his balls tight. She’s got a filthy mouth and he loves it.

“All for you, honey,” he manages to choke out. His cock leaks, making a mess of her fingers, and Sid has the sudden, violent urge to see his come make a mess of Nova’s face. “Wanna -“

“Oh no,” she cuts him off, “I’m enjoying this. You’re so hot, Sid. I like when you fall apart in my hands.”

She’s usually the one that’s a wreck, pliant in his hands, but Nova’s watching his face go red and sweat bead at his hairline. His body is taut and she knows it won’t take much longer for him to come. To torture him, Nova slows her pace, muffling her laugh in his skin when he bites out a curse.

“Good things come to those who wait,” she teases, stroking him slowly. Her other hand rubs up his chest, flicking her thumbnail against his nipple. Sid jolts, his cock jerking in Nova’s hand. “You going to come for me, Sid? Make a mess of my hands?”

She lifts up on her toes and kisses the nape of his neck, jerking his cock at an upwards angle. A bead of sweat rolls down his temple and Nova licks at the hinge of his jaw, grinning when she can feel the way he’s clenching his teeth.

“Fuck, Nova,” he whines, turning his head to try and kiss her. He misses her mouth, getting her cheek, and he huffs a laugh that ghosts over her face. Nova giggles too, her left hand coming up and tangling in the chain around his neck. “Gotta - you gotta give me more. Faster, please, honey.”

“You’ve suffered enough,” Nova kisses the side of his neck and lets Sid lean some of his weight back against her as she drags him to the edge. His cock thickens even more, his balls drawing up, and Sid groans Nova’s name as he comes in thick spurts that stripe the sink and mirror. Nova’s hand doesn’t stop, the noise obscenely echoing in the bathroom as she continues to stroke him through his orgasm, come all over her fingers and his shaft. She angles his cock and hot come hits his stomach.

“Oh, good boy,” Nova breathes, her thighs rubbing together behind Sid, arousal drooling out of her cunt. “Love when you make a mess for me to clean up.”

Sid lets out a strangled noise, chest heaving. He watches his come make a mess, dripping to the floor, and a fresh release spurts out, Nova’s fingers slipping on his softening cock. She lets him go and his cock slaps against his thigh heavily, come dripping down his leg.

“Jesus,” Sid mutters, breathless. His spine tingles from the orgasm and he jerks himself once, roughly, to try and ground himself. Nova’s draped over his back like a blanket, both hands on his body, leaving smears of come on his skin.

“Just me,” she giggles and Sid barks a laugh at the terrible joke. He pinches at her forearm and reaches back to rub his hand over the side of her thigh. She’s pants-less and he reaches higher, finding no panties either. “A little higher and to the left, you’ll find another gift,” she jokes.

His arm is twisted at a weird angle behind him and he can’t quite reach where he wants to touch, so Sid shuffles them around, Nova’s ass pressed against the edge of the sink now. He grins down at her, enjoying the flush in her cheeks and the brightness in her eyes.

“Hi,” he says, hands on her hips, pushing the stretched out and cut-off tank top up until he can look down and see the tops of her thighs and the glistening trails of arousal in between them. “Good start to the birthday.”

“I thought you might like it,” she grins, hooking one leg over his hip and opening herself up to him. Sid can feel the heat radiating off of her. “Maybe you’d like to take care of your fiancée now? After all, I was very good to you.”

Nova blinks innocently up at him, her face bare and tan from the sun. She’s got a smattering of freckles over her nose and cheeks, darker and more prominent in the summer than the rest of the year. Sid kisses her, unable to resist biting down on the pout of her lower lip. Her lips are a little chapped, scraping across Sid’s and making his cock twitch.

“I dunno,” Sid kisses the side of her jaw. “I need another shower after the mess you made.”

“Mess I made?” Nova laughs, running her hands through Sid’s hair, enjoying the glint of his greys. “I think this mess is all you, baby.”

“We could see if this old man back of mine can still hold up while I fuck you against the shower wall,” he suggests casually, one hand trailing over the curve of her hip and kneading at Nova’s ass. She cups his chin in her hand, rubbing her thumb over the edge of his jaw.

With a pleased little hum, Nova nods, “I think I like that idea.” Sid’s hands on her ass tighten and he hoists her up in the air, drawing a little shriek from her lips, her legs locking around his waist. He rests her ass on the edge of the sink.

“Or…” he drags out the word, “I could put you on your knees and you could put that mouth of yours to good use.”

Nova licks her lips, her smile sly.

“Whatever the birthday boy wants,” she shrugs lightly. “But he better make a decision soon because he also promised the soon-to-be parents of three that we would take Wyatt and Thea off their hands today.”

Sid winces slightly, remembering the plan he had set in place with Nate last night. A full day of babysitting so Nate could pamper his six-months-pregnant wife and then everyone coming over to grill for Sid’s birthday dinner. Hanging out with the girls is a fun way to spend his birthday and it also serves as a little pre-anniversary gift for the MacKinnons too.

“Forgot about that,” he admits a little sheepishly. Nova laughs and plants her palms flat on his chest, fingertips resting on his collarbones.

“You had a few other things on your mind,” she teases, glancing down between them. His cock is slowly starting to come back to life. “Shower quickie really kills two birds with one stone.”

Sid pumps his hips up into hers. “Quick doesn’t mean unsatisfying,” he says.

“Not with you, it doesn’t,” Nova agrees. She cocks her head at him, hair falling in her face. “Well? What are you waiting for? We’ve got a busy day ahead of us.”

——

On his 42nd birthday, Sidney Crosby babysits his goddaughters and eats a homemade birthday cake that has more than a few eggshells accidentally cracked into it.

He runs through the sprinklers with toddlers pulling on his hands and sneaks kisses from his fiancée.

The people he loves most in the world grill steaks and vegetables and sing ‘happy birthday’ to him loudly and off-key.

Nova curls up in his lap after the sun goes down, the fire pit crackling, and they enjoy the quiet lapping of lake water. Her head is tucked under his chin, the fleece of her pullover tickling at his neck.

When she yawns, she makes a little squeaking sound that Sid loves.

He’s got marker on his arms and Nova has glitter in her hair.

“these nobody assholes keep running into him,” you scowl, angrily shaking out a t-shirt and folding it into a neat square. “they’re going to hurt him and it’s not going to impact those talentless hacks, but schaefs is special and he’s just a kid!”

“scotty’s stepping up,” mat replies, gathering an armful of his clothes from the closet. “we’re all going to make sure nothing happens to the kid”

you frown at your husband, watching him fold his clothes and settle them in his suitcase. “i think i should be allowed out there to hit people with the zamboni when they even think about hitting him,” you huff, rolling up a pair of sweatpants

mat laughs at you, a grin stretching his face. “you’re cute when you go all mama bear. do you get like this when i’m on the ice?”

“no,” you deadpan. “i just love when giant, inconsequential idiots ram you into the boards. of course i freak out when you get hit! what kind of stupid question is that?”

“sorry, baby,” mat keeps grinning, skirting around the bed to kiss your cheek and palm your ass in a move that he’s basically patented. “i’ll make sure we both stay upright and unhurt”

“you can’t promise that,” you grumble, leaning back against mat’s chest. “but you have to make sure schaefs isn’t hurt. i couldn’t stand seeing him injured and missing time.”

you’re always worried about mat getting hurt on the ice, but the addition of matthew schaefer to your household and your lives just makes that worry even more amplified. he’s just a kid and he’s already dealt with a season ending injury and more. you just want him to be able to enjoy his first nhl season, happy and healthy

“i’ll step up,” mat promises you, kissing the back of your neck. “anyone touches schaef, i’ll make them regret it”

mat’s voice is deep and rumbly and you press your thighs together, turned on. after your finish packing, you’re definitely jumping his bones

the kids (talia and schaef) are in the basement, the 18 year old being a real angel and playing with talia’s new toys from christmas to keep her distracted and entertained. he’s such a good kid.

“good,” you murmur. “talia and i would both be upset if he got hurt. and,” you giggle lightly, mat’s fingers trailing up your spine, “you’re really hot when you fight. so, it’s a win win”

“yeah?” mat lets his teeth scrape over your shoulder, making you shiver. “do i get rewarded for every fight im in?”

you hum. “extra rewards for the fights you win, too”

“i like that deal,” mat turns your chin so he can kiss you soundly on the lips, your body melting into him and a whine working its way out of your throat when he pulls away. “gotta finish packing and then we can have some fun”

“family friendly,” you huff, breathlessly. “schaefs promised talia we would all watch frozen together before you guys leave”

mat groans slightly - frozen has been on a a major rotation in the house, thanks to the martin girls introducing talia to the disney princesses - but shakes it off and grimaces. “it’s fine, it’s cool. any way to spend time with my girls before a week away”

they’re playing at home tomorrow - the 27th - and then will be away in columbus and chicago until the 30th. back just in time for new year’s eve.

you reach for a sweatshirt and nestle it on top of the clothes you’ve already packed, catching mat’s eye.

“hey,” his eyebrows draw together, “is that my stuff? i’m already packing a bag?”

you grin widely, unashamed, “it’s schaefs’ bag. he likes your style for some reason so i figured i’d pack some of your stuff for him to borrow”

mat rolls his eyes at you and you giggle when he mutters something about little brothers

you resist the urge to remind him that he was once the team’s little brother too. you know mat doesn’t mean it and he’ll protect matt on and off the ice

but anyway, it takes a while for them to introduce each other to their families because even though they’re together by the end of the season, the relationship is still really new and just a little bit rocky as they go into training camp and the new season

(both sid and nova have a lot of behaviours to unlearn in relationships and are actively working on them)

nova never even tells her parents that she’s dating sid because 1. her dad is a huge pens fan, season tickets, the whole shebang and she doesn’t want to worry about his reactions and 2. she’s the youngest and only girl after four brothers and they always freak out on the guys that she dates

their first summer together is interesting because nova does tell her parent she’s seeing someone, just because she keeps disappearing and cancelling plans with them or her brothers to hang out with sid when he’s in pittsburgh. because he definitely goes home to see his parents and train, but nova doesn’t visit him in canada. and then their first fall together they’re still trying to figure it out

at some point before everyone meets each other, there’s a period where sid and nova are fighting and nova’s dad invites her to a game because he’s got the second seat in the arena and it’s her turn to come join him or her brothers all couldn’t go and nova’s like “ugh fine yeah i’ll come” even if privately she’s like 😒🙄 i don’t want to watch that jerkoff play. but she can’t tell her dad that she’s beefing with the first line center or that he ghosted her for a chunk of last year

nova’s parents end up meeting sid first and totally by accident. all four of them are in the grocery store, probably in late november/early december. nova stays at sid’s place sometimes and they’re grocery shopping when they run into her parents in the dairy section. and it’s like the spider-man meme where they’re all pointing at each other. except at first, they don’t recognize nova, instead focusing on sid and her dad’s like “wow, sid, great game the other day” etc. and when nova pops up with the gallon of milk, she freezes

her mom and dad are like jaw dropped shock and later, sid’s going to ask her why she didn’t tell them that she was dating him and nova will point to the jaw dropped expressions (low key this causes a tiny fight too even if sid gets it)

her parents are perfectly polite to sid but they also freak out on nova later, worried about what sid’s lifestyle and public profile will do to nova. they don’t love that he’s 11 years older than her, even if they think sid’s a good person from what they know about him

(solidifies for nova that she can never tell them what their first year of knowing each other is like, they’ll hate sid)

she swears that they’re doing okay and that she can handle sid’s profile and that he does what he can to keep her and their relationship private. which he does.

she also makes them promise they won’t tell her brothers and that they can meet sid properly for dinner or something.

(they do, and they love him, honestly. doesn’t stop them from being worried about nova)

sid’s parents meet nova next, when they’re in town for some games. post christmas for sure. neither one of them wants to do the whole holiday meet and greet thing because it feels like too much pressure. but during february? the all star break with sid participating, that feels like lower stakes

sid introduces nova to his parents in a more normal way than stumbling upon them in the grocery store, so it already feels like a win. his mom loves her immediately and they spend the weekend getting to know each other, meeting up for breakfasts and walks around whichever city the all star game is in. his dad is also on board with the relationship when nova starts spouting stats from the season, offering up her opinion on the special teams

(they’re both also aware that sid’s coming down to his last few years of playing and want him to be in a good place to start a family maybe and nova seems good for sid from their perspective, so they’re happy as long as sid is happy)

nova’s brothers and sid’s sister all find out towards the end of the season - texts and calls and now that they’re on more solid footing after officially dating for a full year, sid and nova are more comfortable announcing the relationship to their families

the general consensus from nova’s brothers is “YOU’RE dating SIDNEY CROSBY? 🤯” because like, that’s their baby sister and they just view her as this tiny feral animal that they used to bully growing up and not a woman that could land a literal hockey god, and then the immediate “we want to meet him”

the brothers are super protective over nova - grilling sid on if he has a girl in every city (he doesn’t, obviously) and what his intentions are with their sister (forever, ideally) - and then when they start to get along, they roast the shit out of her in front of sid and he always sticks up for her and defends her, which also passes a test of theirs

(the one thing sid can’t defend nova on is when they tease her for all the hair shedding and when she leaves hair on the shower walls. sid will absolutely chime in on how many vacuums nova’s hair has broken and how gross unclogging the drain is. but he does defend her cheating at board games bc he’s always on her team and he likes to win. he also defends the glass of water graveyard on her night table and the obsessive purchasing of fuzzy blankets for their bed and couches)

nova’s oldest brother is only two years younger than sid, so it’s a little bit of an awkward meet, but they all do eventually get along well. sid likes having brothers-in-law because it kind of feels like a big locker room when they all get together, and he especially likes seeing nova with her nieces and nephews

he’s definitely a chill baby for the most part and when he does get fussy, all it really takes is a boob or bottle in the mouth to get him to relax. or he gets walked up and down the aisles by willy - who is happy to do it because he gets antsy sitting still too long too. it’s both the hottest and cutest thing to watch him walk up and down the aisles, rubbing gunnar’s back and watching gunnar snuggle into willy’s neck

going through the airport, willy’s always in charge of the bags (usually an obscene amount because you end up going back to sweden and on vacation for basically the whole summer) and you get the babies. the littlest is always strapped to your chest and the others are in a stroller. but you also don’t have to worry too much about traveling with gunnar because it doesn’t happen that you’re solo with him

someone is always traveling with you - your parents or willy’s or willy or alex or ella - you generally have help, especially when youre flying back to sweden

pablo and banksy end up in cargo with the rest of the pets - they’re just slightly too big to be considered “support” animals or cabin animals and anyway, it’s not the comfiest to have them at your feet with limited space, even in first class

you always do a night flight in the hopes that gunnar will sleep for a while - it really depends on his mood. sometimes he sleeps, sometimes he doesn’t, but it’s easier to get back into a routine if you land in sweden in the morning after flying overnight. the jet lag sucks for you and willy for a few days but it’s nothing some sun and family time and naps in the yard can’t cure

as more kids join the family, it’s worse for you because you have to keep track of multiple passports (fifteen total by the end of it for the kids since they have american, canadian, and swedish citizenship, on top of your own three passports. willy handles himself and the day that you can trust each kid with their own passports is the best day of your life) they’re all so used to flying that none of them are overly difficult on flights. henry probably has the most energy that you need to run off before boarding

and the girls are always a little too loud when they’re talking, but they’re not rude or anything

gunnar and kas are the most likely to fall asleep right at boarding and sleep through the entire flight, once they’re a little older. this is a skill that will help them when they’re both playing in the league. henry does not do well on team flights because he always wants to be doing something and gets his teammates rolling their eyes and tossing cards at him so he’ll sleep and stop bothering them

the luke combs tickets weren’t a surprise, willy had mentioned wanting to go and you’re always up for live music. what was a surprise was being backstage at the concert and hanging out with several of the toronto blue jays players and their wives

you’ve mostly gotten used to willy’s celebrity in toronto, but stuff like this - hanging out with baseball players that your dad could rattle off the statistics for and being able to see whatever music act you want from backstage - that’s still a little new to you. you’re not shy at all, but you do stick a little closer to willy until you warm up

he’s in a great mood, arm slung over your shoulders while you sing along to the music, shimmying slightly into his side. his double denim canadian tuxedo rubs against the bare skin of your legs and you lean into it. when he brushes his lips over your temple, the scrape of his beard makes you shiver and your clit pulses a little

you’d had a quickie in the shower before the show, but it wasn’t enough and you’re planning on how you want to have willy when you get home

distracted, you don’t realize that willy’s arm is off of your shoulders and he’s grinning like an idiot, shifting from foot to foot with excited energy. until luke combs’ voice finally penetrates the lust haze in your brain and you realize that willy and kevin gausman and patrick corbin are being handed beers and wandering their way on stage

willy looks back and you and winks, your jaw dropped for a split second before the deafening screams of the crowd drown out your own screams of excitement. your phone is up and recording willy shotgunning the beer in a few seconds before shaking two more cans over his head and showering himself and the other two men with beer.

his laughter is muffled by the crowd noise and the band but you can see his head thrown back and can imagine the sound. willy shakes the spray of beer off of his head like a dog and the guys are all clapping each other on the back and waving to the crowd before trotting back to the side

“oh my god!” you shriek, jumping up and down until willy grabs you up and spins you around, beer droplets flying everywhere. he’s soaked and he’s not the only one. “that was insane!”

“yeah, they asked a couple of days ago,” willy grins, not putting you down but instead hoisting you in his arms so you can wrap your legs around his waist. “thought it would be really fucking cool”

“it was,” you beam back, ignoring the chafe of beer-soaked denim on your inner thighs and looping your arms around his neck to drag him into a kiss that’s scratchy and wet and not necessarily fit for public consumption

willy takes a few steps and your back is pressed up against the stage scaffolding so he can thrust his hips up into yours, the bulge of his cock hot and hard under you. you whine into the kiss, tangling your fingers into his beard and tugging at it. willy grunts into your mouth and squeezes your ass, letting a few fingers slip under the hem of your cut offs.

“party animal,” you gasp when he breaks the kiss, still lazily grinding yourself against him. his teeth flash white and your stomach swoops. willy’s proximity always makes you feel a little insane and that’s probably the only thing that explains the urge to suck the beer droplets from his facial hair. you do it, licking at him and feeling warm all over when willy grunts, pinning you harder against the scaffolding and humping into you. the scrape of his beard against your tongue makes your clit throb and you’re pretty sure you could come like this, rubbing all up against willy and behind held up by his arms

“fuck, älskling,” he groans, sounding strangled as you scrape your teeth over his cheek and down the side of his neck, working a mark against his jaw. it’ll be hidden by the thicket of his beard, but you know it’s there. “gonna, ah fuck, stop that. i can feel how hot and wet you are.”

he sounds whiney and you grin against his neck, ignoring the fact that you’re in public. you’re hidden away from the crowd and you’re sure luke combs’ band and stage people have seen worse than two twenty somethings grinding on each other backstage.

“gonna come in your pants, willy?” you tease, wrapping your fingers around his neck. his pulse jumps under your fingers and he bucks up into your harder. “so hard up for me, baby, it’s hot as hell”

“fuck off,” he laughs, fingers digging into your ass cheeks. “you’d rather i come in my pants than in your tight little cunt?”

“why not both?” you hum, grinding down on the thick bulge between your legs. “come now and then you’ll be good to go when we get home”

willy’s laugh is more of a strangled moan but he can’t stop his hips from working up into you and you keep sucking at his neck, licking over his pulse until you feel him stiffen under you. you smother your delighted little laugh in his shoulder and he coughs, his body hard and heavy against yours

when he speaks, willy sounds tortured. “i’m gonna make you lick up every inch of the mess in my pants, älskling, just wait”