Episode Two: The Problems Arise.

The Riellys

You had a lot of questions, but most were ones she couldn’t answer. What were you going to make for dinner? How many times would you have to ask Mitch to keep his shoes off your nice white carpet? Which one of Morgan’s teammates had left the stain on your couch? When were you going ask for the time off you needed to attend Morgan’s charity event? However, those questions all were the answers to why your blood pressure was a little higher than normal. But nothing was raising your blood pressure more than the stress from Morgan’s desire to start a family. You saw the way he looked at Jake and Lucy’s baby and you knew how he was with the kids. you had no doubt in your mind that he would be a great father. But you were terrified. Yea you could help with Morgan’s younger teammates, but they were technically some form of an adult human being. How could you even imagine taking care of baby and with Morgan’s schedule and your hectic job how would you even manage.  And maybe that was something you could overcome someday, but you didn’t think that day was tomorrow, or the next, or a week or a month from now, you needed time. And as much as you wanted to tell Morgan that, you saw how excited he was, and you didn’t want to disappoint him. “If you went off birth control, how long would it take to get pregnant?” you suddenly found yourself asking before you even realized it was coming out of your mouth. “Depends really,”  your doctor started. “It can take up to a year for some women. Others conceive straight away.” All of that information was readily available on the internet, but it was more comforting coming from a doctor. A year was a good amount of time. Maybe you would be ready by then. You could go off birth control now and not get pregnant for a while. Or, like she said, you could get pregnant right away. “Are you and Morgan thinking about trying?” “We’ve discussed it.” She smiled. “Well, if that’s the case, some of my patients like to have one cycle before they start trying so they can gauge when they ovulate. But there are tests for that these days, and there haven’t been any studies that say not waiting that month is harmful. It also doesn’t hurt to start a prenatal vitamin regimen now,” she continued. “You’re young and healthy, Y/N,  I don’t think you’ll have any trouble.” She meant that to be reassuring, but it only worried you more. You were young and healthy. As grateful for that as you were, you wasn’t sure you was prepared to have a baby by the end of the year.   “I am  going to assume you don’t want a refill on your birth control?” You wish you could have given her a quick and easy “no” but the growing knot in your gut swayed your answer. Still unsure, you knew what you had to say. “Actually, could you write me a prescription? We still haven’t made any decisions yet.” She  didn’t hesitate for a moment. Pulling out a pen from her pocket, she filled out the white slip of paper and handed it to you.

With a sigh of relief, you folded the prescription and tucked it into your purse before you got dressed. You made your way back home surprised to see Morgan waiting for you. He wrapped you in a hug moments after you walked into the room.

“I am so happy we’re doing this,” he whispered, pressing a short kiss to your lips. “I don’t think you’ve ever wanted anything more than you want a baby with you.” He kissed you again, but this time you had to force yourself to kiss him back. you couldn’t lie to him. The weight of the prescription in your purse was making your arm and heart heavy, you couldn’t take the guilt of not being ready to be a mother. And as much as you didn’t want to hurt him, you needed to be honest. “Morgan—” He pressed his lips to yours, long and slow until he knocked the wind straight out of you. “You’re gonna be the best mother ever, and I might be a shit dad, but I am going try so hard—” “You’ll be a great father, Morgan,” you said, pulling away from him. Despite the dimly lit kitchen, his eyes were bright and alive. You couldn’t help pulling his beanie off so that you could run your fingers through his hair. “Don’t ever doubt yourself.” He smiled and kissed you once more. “C’mon,” he said as he pulled you further into the house. “If we wait any longer I will have to take you right here. He already had your hand in his as he flipped the light switch, both the kitchen and hall falling dark as you both climbed the stairs. He didn’t let go of your hand until you were in your room. That light was already on, so you got a full view of the jeans, t-shirt, and socks he left on the floor. “The hamper is three feet away,” you sighed, walking over to your closet. You kicked off your shoes and hung up your sweater before pulling your dress off. Morgan was already in the bathroom, so you made it a point to wave the balled up fabric at him as you tossed it in with the rest of the laundry. “Not that hard.” “They weren’t dirty,” Morgan said, grabbing his toothbrush. “And I’m going to wear them again tomorrow.” You frowned as you grabbed your own toothbrush, layering some toothpaste on it before scrubbing. After you rinsed, you grabbed one of your make-up removers and washed your face. “That’s gross babe” Morgan hummed gingerly as he capped the bottle of mouthwash, sighing out as he opened the cabinet to put the toothpaste back. You watched him linger for a moment, a short smile curving his lips. “Guess you don’t need these anymore.” When you looked over at him, he had your last month’s birth control in his hand. Your stomach dropped as he tossed it into the trash. “I guess not.” you swallowed. You should have taken that as your invitation to tell him that you wasn’t ready, but you couldn’t shake how happy he sounded when he talked about having kids. you wanted him to be happy.  You weren’t ready right this second, but the doctor said it could take up to a year. That could be enough time. Morgan would be happy. That’s all that mattered. Those thoughts slipped your mind once you walked back into the bedroom. With Morgan’s chest pressed against your back, he peppered kisses down your neck, sucking gently as he trailed over your shoulders. You hummed softly as he unhooked your bra, pulling away only to discard it to the floor. His lips were back on your neck within seconds, his arms snaked around your sides. Giggling at his touch, you ignored the fact that you could hear your phone ringing from the kitchen. “Don’t even think about it,” he mumbled into your skin, his hands cupped over your breasts, kneading until his name slipped off your lips. You weren’t  going to. At least, not until it started ringing again. It was after eleven.

“Y/N, it is probably just one of the boys asking a stupid question. “It could be important,” you finally said, slipping away from him. you grabbed the shirt he left on the floor and put it on. “No, what’s about to happen in our bed is important!” You rolled your eyes and kissed him quickly. “I’ll be right back.”

You made your way down to the kitchen and found your phone. When answering it, you found yourself talking to a drunk Auston and Willy. You giggled as you figured out where they were and told them to stay put.

You heard Morgan groan as you asked which one of you were going.

And for a second you were relieved that the moment had delayed for now, and after Morgan had left to pick up his friends, much to his displeasure. You took your pill.

Player: Auston Matthews – Toronto Maple Leafs

Mentions:. Marleau Kids.

Warnings: none

Preview:.This comment earned you a grunt from Auston—the same sound he made when you missed the monorail back to the resort, and when the cart in Liberty Square ran out of churros, and when Brody made him ride the teacups for the fourth time, and when you asked him to get a pair of ears so you could take a nice picture together in front of the castle. You were at the happiest place on earth and he was a grump, which could have been prevented if he let you put sunblock on him this morning.

Word Count: 878

The Masterlist is here.

“It’s your own fault,” you hummed as you walked into your room. you were already taking your ears off, combing your fingers through your hair as you tossed the headband onto the table.

You were on a group trip to Disney world with the Marleau family. You were having a great time. Auston on the other hand.

This comment earned you a grunt from Auston—the same sound he made when you missed the

monorail back to the resort, and when the cart in Liberty Square ran out of churros, and when

Brody made him ride the teacups for the fourth time, and when you asked him to get a pair of

ears so you could take a nice picture together in front of the castle. You were at the happiest place on earth and he was a grump, which could have been prevented if he let you put sunblock on him this morning.

“If you tell you that one more time, I am literally going to get on the next plane home.” He scowled over at you as he pulled his t-shirt off, dropping it to the floor as he started to unbuckle his belt. You placed your hands on your hips, narrowing your eyes to him. “Matts, the closest you’ll be getting to Canada is at EPCOT tomorrow. I am actually very excited for a beaver tail there tomorrow actually, It’s cinnamon like a churro maybe you can have one.”

He kicked his shoes off, glaring at you as he slipped off his jeans. He was an unfortunate shade of red that reminded you of a perfectly ripe tomato. “This was meant to be a fun trip and you’ve turned into an absolute villain.”

Your jaw dropped. “Auston you literally threw a temper tantrum over a churro. Caleb had to offer you his!”

“Brody cut me in line.”

“He is a kid!”

He snarled, stomping over to the bed. It took him all of two seconds to rip down the blankets,

rustling the perfectly neat sheets. He jumped in before you could tell him to straighten them out, his limbs splayed out across the mattress. you rolled your eyes and grabbed a few things out of your suitcase before heading into the bathroom.

The Marleau children had begged you and Auston to join on the family postseason trip for weeks before. Auston had wanted to take a trip alone with you but you had already told the kids yes.

He really had been a trooper. He didn’t complain when Landon wanted to ride It’s A Small World for the third time and he took as many pictures as you wanted, without the

Mickey ears. He hadn’t started getting irritated until the sun was at its peak. Between heat exhaustion and his sunburn, you were surprised he made it until the fireworks.

Thinking about it like this put things into perspective. He wanted to be on a beach somewhere with just you, but instead, he was at Disney World with his teammates and his kids. You shouldn’t have been upset with him for getting a little cranky after too much sun.

After your shower, you pulled your hair up and changed into a loose t-shirt. You never went anywhere unprepared and you knew there was a good chance this would happen, so you grabbed a bottle of aloe from your bag before walking back into the room.

Auston was in the same position you left him in. His eyes were closed, but you knew he wasn’t sleeping.

Once you were close enough, you pressed one knee to the bed and crawled on top of him. Frowning, he peeked an eye open.

“You think you can just straddle you and everything will be all fairy tales and pixie dust?”

You smiled, waving the bottle at him. “I have come bearing a peace offering.”

He let out a slow sigh, his hands finding their way to your hips. He settled them against the band on your underwear, drumming his fingers against your skin until he drew out a quiet laugh.

“Not exactly the peace offering I had in mind.”

“Maybe not, but it’ll make your sunburn feel better.”

He shrugged, wincing slightly as he moved his hands from hips to the hem of your shirt, tugging at it lightly. “Burn’s not so bad.”

You placed the bottle of aloe on the nightstand before you leaned down to kiss him, soft and slow because, after such a long day, that’s all you had the energy for.

He grinned, kissing you again as he dragged your shirt up, eventually separating so that he could pull it off

“You were awfully mean to me today,” he pouted against your lips. “I think I deserve a little bit of reward.”

“Maybe,” you said, smirking at him. “But only if you agree to wear Mickey ears tomorrow.”

“I don’t think it’s Disney appropriate to be talking about Mickey Mouse when you’re topless on top of me,” he grinned.

You giggled against his mouth before trapping him in another kiss.

You got your matching mickey ear picture the next morning.

You smiled as you watched Auston enjoying a churro as you made it to the next ride.

Chapter 15: Throwing Cookies. 

Warning: Angst & Cursing. 

It had been a few months since that night in your kitchen. Tyler threw himself into hockey and you buried yourself into the house renovations. You had almost finished the house except for the single room down the hall from you and Tyler's room. The room that you had planned to use as a nursey one day. 

You and Tyler were more distant than ever. You spoke but nothing of any importance. When you did talk it usually ended in a blowout fight. You were trying but you just couldn't figure out how to talk to your husband. You sat at the kitchen island drinking a cup of coffee when you thought back to a fight you and Tyler had right after his mom had left. 

You were still curled up in bed while Tyler got ready to leave on another road trip. after he was ready he crawled into bed with you in his full suit. 

“Hey, I'm about to leave for this trip love” he whispered. 

You just nodded in response. 

“Hey what if we try again when I get home” he started as he placed his fingers to touch your cheek. 

You looked at him astounded, “Why would you say that..” 

“No, I just want...” He tried to backpedal 

“What, what do you want!” you got louder 

“Y/N..” he said softly. 

“Screw you for even suggesting that, screw you.” You could see Tyler holding back the tears but you could bring yourself to care. 

“Okay, Alright Ill go. I'll call you when we land” he choked out as he got out of bed. 

You simply turned over as the door closed. 

You sighed as you took another sip from your coffee. You hadn't been fair to your husband and you knew it. You had done a lot of healing in the time since your miscarriage but now your marriage was in disarray. The season had ended and Tyler was currently at locker cleanout. You were hoping with more time on the both of your hands you would get everything back on track. 

You heard the door open and Tyler made his way into the kitchen. 

“Hey babe, how was cleanout?” you asked with a smile. 

“It wasn't too bad, the truck is full of some smelly equipment,” Tyler stated as he grabbed a drink out of the fridge. 

“Well before we tackle that, why don't we go get a nice lunch.” you smiled. 

Tyler raised his eyebrows, you hardly suggested going out these days and he was surprised. 

“I am glad we are going to have time to get back on track Tyler. I’ve missed you.” you tried stepping off the island stool. “We could also get some of our favorite take-out” 

“Let’s do that, I am still a bit tired. I could go for a nice nap later too.” he smiled. 

An hour later, you were finishing the Chinese you had ordered. You and Tyler had kept the conversation going and you thought you were on the right track. that was until Tyler suddenly spoke up. 

“This is the first real conversation we’ve had in months Y/N”

“That is your choice Tyler, I’ve been here, I’ve been trying” you tried clearing your plate. 

“Don't put the blame on me here, you won’t let me in!”

“I'm not putting the blame on anyone.” you tried once more calmly.

“I want to talk to you Y/N but you won’t talk to me about how you're feeling. You hide it all away. I’m your husband for god’s sake.”

Tyler was now standing he was getting louder. This is how it had been starting these days. You and Tyler would get into these fights longing for the other to feel your own pain and it was becoming a dangerous habit.

“You left me Tyler. You got to walk away and you ran. You got to escape to those games and I sat in this house and I was dying. Our baby died and I was dying!” you yelled as you slammed your dish in the sink.

God damn it Y/N! You think I was somehow just fine when I left? You think it didn’t kill me to leave you each time? You don't think I died a little too?” Tyler knocked his chair over with one swift move and you flinched.

“No, not like me Tyler. You were coping, you were okay. I couldn’t even function Tyler.”

“You don't think I knew that? I wasn't fucking coping, I was covering. I wanted to take care of you. I was putting you first! But the thing I fucking needed was you. But you wouldn't allow me to grieve with you for five fucking seconds. I have been waiting for you Y/N. I’ve been trying to give you time but I won't wait forever. Something has got to give. Either we need to see someone and figure this out or we won’t survive. This marriage won’t survive. And we need to figure it out or separating is going to be the light at a very long tunnel.

You couldn’t believe what you were hearing. You were now fuming. You and Tyler always aimed with low blows during these fights but never had he mentioned you separating.

“Is that what this is to you? Oh, I am so sorry I have been keeping you in this fucking prison.  You yelled as you chucked a handful of fortune cookies at your husband.

“Maybe Del Zotto was right, you were fucking crazy for marrying me.”

“Y/N, What the hell are you talking about!” Tyler yelled back shielding himself from your barrage of cookies.

“I know what you're friends think of me, I'm not stupid. You made some huge mistake marrying me and all my fucking problems.”

You lobbed a few more handful of cookies at Tyler, as realization was slowly hitting you. “You just want to end it? Go back to how it used to be with him?”

“That's not what I said if you would listen. Y/N what are you doing!”

“I’m throwing cookies at you!”

“Why!” Tyler shouted as he blocked a few from his face. 

“I don't know!” you shouted back throwing another handful. 

“Stop, Stop Stop!” he suddenly grabbed your wrists and you looked at him. 

“why are we doing this.. what happened to us.” you got out through a few staggered breaths. 

“I don't know.” 

“How do we get it to stop,” you whispered. You and Tyler stood there frozen for a second and then suddenly the space between you was closed. 

You were now laying in bed with your husband. This was the first time the both of you were intimate since. You turned to Tyler and grabbed your husband’s hand. 

“Tyler, I love you and I am willing to do what it takes to get us back to where we were a year ago. Let’s get help.” 

Player: Morgan Rielly – Toronto Maple Leafs

Mentions:. Mitch Marner & Auston Matthews

Warnings: none

Preview:.You never thought you would be at an award show, so you understood where she was coming from. It was moments like these that reminded you that Morgan’s life was bigger than you realized. The boys were off doing something for the show. Being Stanley cup winners came with many responsibilities.

Word Count: 1326

The Masterlist is here.

“Do you think they’d let me take a photo with Tyler Seguin?” Steph looked over at you with a

completely straight face as she took a sip of champagne.

“I don’t think so,” you laughed, relaxing against your chair. You were at the NHL awards. Auston, Morgan, and Mitch were all nominated for awards.

“But what if I tell him my boyfriend’s Mitch?” Steph continued, frowning into her glass.

“I don’t think Tyler cares who Mitch is.”

Steph sighed and downed the rest of her drink. “He is literally the only reason I came. Now the

highlight of my night will be making sure that Mitch doesn’t get so drunk that he trips over his own feet.”

You couldn’t stop the laugh. You liked caring for the rookies when they had a little too much to drink. It was quite entertaining. Steph though had very little patience for her drunk boyfriend and on more than one occasion you thought she was going to push him down a flight of stairs.

“Still can’t believe we’re here,” Steph said after a moment. “Seems a bit surreal.”

You never thought you would be at an award show, so you understood where she was coming from. It was moments like these that reminded you that Morgan’s life was bigger than you realized. The boys were off doing something for the show. Being Stanley cup winners came with many responsibilities.

When the waiters came around with drink refills, you grabbed one by the arm and offered him your biggest smile. “you wouldn’t happen to know where the ladies’ room is, would you?”

He lifted a brow as he handed you another flute of champagne.

“Uh… yeah, they’re backstage. I can show you.”

You smiled, pushing your chair back as you looked over to Steph. “I’m just going to freshen up my make-up.”

“Don’t be long,” she said. “I think they are coming on after the commercial break. Wouldn’t want to miss Mitch tripping up the stairs.”

You shook your head, laughing quietly to yourself. You got out of your seat and clutched your purse in your hand, pushing a piece of hair behind your ear as you followed the waiter through rows of seats.

Out of the corner of your eye, you caught Morgan staring. He was off to the side of the stage with a laughing Mitch and Auston. You decided not to pay him any attention. You figured he needed to keep his mind focused on his part.

“It’s straight down the hall,” he said after you crossed through a door. Everything was blindingly

bright, a complete contrast from how dim the room the show was being held in was.

“Thank you,” you said quickly.

You did your best to stay out of the way of all the assistants and the whole slew of people babbling into earpieces, weaving between them carefully as your heels clicked against

the floor. It wasn’t a short walk by any means, but you moved as quickly as you could, securing the door to the women’s restroom shut before You stopped in front of the mirror.

You were recapping the tube of lipstick when the door swung open. You turned your head just in time to see a grin sweep across Morgan’s face.

“This is the ladies’ room,” You said, narrowing your eyes as you leaned your hip against the counter.

Morgan shrugged, shutting the door and twisting the lock until it latched.

“You are supposed to be going on in just a few minutes,” You told him, sighing as he took a few steps closer to you.

He hummed, grinning wildly as he grabbed you by the waist, pulling you against him as you knocked your make-up case off the counter.

“Morgan.”

“Y/N,” he mocked.

You frowned. “You shouldn’t be in here.”

He shrugged, locking his arms around you. “I just want a kiss.”

You sighed. “No, I just fixed my lipstick.”

“Just one,” he pouted. “I only want one kiss.”

It wasn’t that you didn’t want to kiss him; You did. He looked cute in his suit and he smelled nice. You just thought there was a time and a place, and it definitely wasn’t right now.

“One, he said, grinning as he ducked his head. His nose brushed against yours, dimples the size of quarters formed into his cheeks. “Kiss.”

Before you could tell him no, his lips were pressed against yours, trapping you in a long, indulgent kiss. You didn’t know what he’d been drinking, but it was so strong that the taste left you dizzy. Sighing into his mouth, you forgot why you were so against it in the first place.

When you tried to pull away to catch your breath, Morgan stole a few more short kisses, grinning against your lips as he pulled you closer.

“That was more than one kiss, Morgan,” You sputtered out, completely winded and gasping for air. Had he not had a hold around your waist, you was sure you would have melted into a puddle on the floor.

He didn’t say anything. Instead, he smiled and kissed you again, pushing you back against the counter as he ran his hands up and down your sides. The way the fabric of your dress moved against your skin drew out a string of quiet giggles that got swallowed up in Morgan’s mouth.

“Trouble,” you said, pressing your hands to his chest to push him away. “You’re nothing but trouble.”

He grinned. “You can give me some time in the penalty box later.”

You rolled your eyes at him as he leaned in for another kiss, his lips barely brushing mine before you both heard the soft echo of the maple leafs players being announced on stage.

“Shit,” Morgan cursed, dropping his arms from around You as he staggered back. He was already fumbling with the door before you could stop him.

“Morgan!” You winced, rubbing your hand over your forehead. It was too late. He was already halfway down the hall and not paying you any attention.

Sighing, You quickly picked up your make-up from the floor, shoving it into your bag before you sprinted down the hallway. By the time you got back to the show, Morgan was out of breath and flustered on stage.

“Uh…sorry had to have a quick trip to the bathroom. He whispered into the microphone as you sat down in your chair. Both Mitch and Auston were almost in tears laughing. They could hardly get through their bit.

Steph shot You a knowing look, one brow twisted as she grinned. “Nice shade of lipstick your

boyfriend’s wearing,” she said into your ear. “Did he pick it out himself?”

You blushed, pressing your lips together. You tried to stop him, wanting to tell him to wipe his face, but you never got the chance. Judging by the red stain smudged over his lips, the whole world was going to know what he was actually getting up to in the bathroom.

“I can’t wait to read the headlines tomorrow,” Steph mused as the boys said their parts.

“What do you reckon they’ll say?” you whined, burying your face in your hands. “You don’t want to think about it.”

“It could be worse, yeah?”

You frowned. “How could it possibly be worse than this?”

Steph shrugged. “At least he made it on stage?”

You sighed. “I think I’d rather he didn’t.”

“Drink this,” Steph laughed, pushing your glass towards You. “You’ll forget all about it after a few more.”

As You watched the camera pan to Morganon the big screen, a napkin in his hand as he finally wiped his face on the side of the stage. You downed half of your drink and prayed people would forget about this by morning.

Player: Connor Brown – Toronto Maple Leafs

Mentions:. Mitch Marner

Warnings: Maybe Cursing?

Preview: I suppose my lack of birthday cheer had something to do with being alone in Vancouver on my birthday. I asked Y/N to come out, but with school, she still had her hands full. And even though it had only been a few days since we left for this roadie, I missed her.

Word Count: 1127

The Masterlist is here. 

Connor’s POV:

Naz and Jake dumped an entire cooler of water on me after our win tonight. Apparently, that was their birthday gift to me. We were in Vancouver. It was cold. I wanted to go back to the hotel. I didn’t care that it was my birthday and they’d planned a party, I wasn’t keen on celebrating.

Even the present Y/N had sent—a note on the card telling me not to open until the game was over—held little of my interest. It sat still wrapped in my stall.

After I got out of the shower, I headed into the locker room to grab the rest of my things so I could head back to the hotel. I found Mitch standing in front of my stall, scraps of ripped wrapping paper scattered at his feet. When he turned around, his mouth was covered in and crumbs.

“Did you open my present?” I snapped.

Mitch rolled his lips together, a smile tight against his cheeks. “Y/N sent you cookies.”

I frowned. “You ate my birthday present?”

Mitch shrugged. “You couldn’t be bothered with it, so we didn’t want them to go to waste—“

“We?” I snapped. “Did you eat all of them?”

“I mean, it wasn’t just me,” he said. “Zach and Auston had one and then one fell on the floor so…”

“They were mine,” I hissed. “Did you even look at the card?”

Mitch nodded. “It’s cute how she puts a little heart next to Ginger. Really shows you that she cares.”

I grabbed my duffle from the floor, crossing the strap over my shoulder as I glared at him. “I can’t believe you didn’t save me one.”

Mitch tossed the wrapper into the bin, shrugging again. “I think you’ve had more than your fair share of her cupcakes.”

I snarled. “That’s not the point. They were mine.”

“You shouldn’t have taken your time in the shower. What were you even doing? Missing Y/N a little too much?”

“You’re such a fucking ass,” I hissed, grabbing my phone and the card Mitch tossed onto the bench of my stall. I stormed out of the locker room, ignoring his muffled happy birthday as I turned down the corridor. Outside, the car was waiting by the curb to take me to the hotel.

I suppose my lack of birthday cheer had something to do with being alone in Vancouver on my birthday. I asked Y/N to come out, but with school, she still had her hands full. And even though it had only been a few days since we left for this roadie, I missed her.

At the hotel, I signed a few autographs for fans before I was ushered inside. Morgan tried

to convince me to go out and have a drink in the lobby, but I wasn’t in the mood. With a promise to call him if I changed my mind, I got on the elevator and then made my way down to my and Auston’s room. I opened the door after sliding the keycard, sighing as I dropped my duffle down next to a suitcase.

The first thing I noticed was, well, the suitcase that definitely didn’t belong to me. The second thing I noticed was that the TV was off. Auston and I had been in such a rush before I had to leave for to the arena that he had left it on.

Cautiously, I took a step forward. This could have easily been housekeeping and the bellhop could have delivered luggage to the wrong room, but I still had to be a little wary. I knew Auston had gone out with the guys. I watched him get into a cab with the rest of the guys.

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting when I turned the corner, but it definitely wasn’t her.

Sitting cross-legged on my bed in a pair of leggings and a gray sweatshirt she had stolen from my closet, Y/N grinned when she saw me. “Special delivery for the birthday boy,” she said, holding up a box much like the one Mitch had destroyed.

“You’re here,” was all I could manage to sputter out.

She smiled. “Of course I’m here. Where else would I be on your birthday?” She asked.

She stood up, holding out the box to me as she took a step closer. “I made your favorite,” she quipped. “I knew someone might eat your other present so I brought more just in case”

I smiled, lifting the lid just enough to see a half dozen cookies.

“You didn’t have to do this,” I said, reaching in to grab one. I took a quick bite, chewing it fully before I continued. “I know you’re busy.”

“I might have finished my last paper a little earlier than I thought. Besides, I’m never too busy for a birthday, especially when that birthday is yours.”

I laughed, grabbing her hand before it brushed against her side. I gave her a quick tug, allowing her to stumble into me before I slipped my arms around her waist. “I’m glad you’re here,”

“I didn’t like the idea of spending my birthday without you.”

She smiled as she draped her arms over my shoulders, tilting her head as she continued to smirk up at me. “I heard you are being thrown a party. We still have time to meet the others for drinks,” she suggested.

“I’d rather stay here with you.” I said, slipping my hands underneath the hem of her shirt. Her skin was warm and soft, a string of giggles slipping from her mouth as I brushed my fingers against her sides.

She sighed out slowly, rolling onto the tips of her toes. It only lifted her a few inches, but it was enough. “I think I’d be okay with that.”

“Well, good,” I said, smiling as I hunched down to catch her in a kiss. I loved that when she laughed—because she always did the second my thumbs swept across her ribs—her lips hummed against mine, sending soft vibrations trickling down my spine. She left me dizzy in the best possible way.

With her bottom lip caught between my teeth, she pulled away. Half of a smirk curved up her cheek as she leaned into me. “Happy birthday, Ginger.”

Player: Freddie Anderson – Toronto Maple Leafs

Prompt: 

Mentions:. None.

Warnings: None. Pure Fluff

Preview: That left you no choice but to throw your own New Year’s Eve pajama party with Flynn. Flannel pants and one of Freddie’s sweaters weren’t exactly the gold dress you had bought, but your slippers were far more comfortable than the heels you had planned on wearing.

Word Count: 1041

The Masterlist is Here.

When you heard muffled whimpers sounding from the baby monitor, you softly got up from your spot on the couch, the sound of the new year’s special softly playing on the TV. This was supposed to be your first night out in quite a while. Freddie had a New Year’s event with the Leafs but Flynn had gotten sick at the last minute and you werent comfortable leaving your young baby in the hands of a babysitter.

That left you no choice but to throw your own New Year’s Eve pajama party with Flynn.

Flannel pants and one of Freddie’s sweaters weren’t exactly the gold dress you had bought, but your slippers were far more comfortable than the heels you had planned on wearing.

Once you reached the end of the hall, you pushed open the door to the nursery. The first thing you saw was the tiny nightlight that projected stars onto the walls, the soft lullaby that played with it had long ended. As quietly as you could, you tiptoed over to the crib and peeked your head in. You had expected to see the sleeping baby you had tucked in snuggly hours ago. Instead, you found a set of soft brown eyes staring up and gurgling at you.

“You wanted to be my New Year’s kiss, didn’t you?” You smiled as you reached down and scooped the baby up, settling a bundle of blankets on your hip before heading downstairs.

Between three and four months was a funny age for a baby. While they were supposed to be

sleeping through the night and going longer without a feeding, it didn’t always happen. It was a trial and error situation, and you would get into a routine eventually. It also didn’t help that Flynn had been running a fever in the afternoon. You felt his forehead but he felt cool.

For now, you figured a warm bottle and some cuddling would do the trick.

In the kitchen, you heated up a bottle. Deciding it was warm enough, you

adjusted the baby in your arms and walked back to the living room, only stopping when a soft rustle sounded from the door. You lifted a brow, remembering that the time on the microwave read 11:25. It was well past an appropriate time for anyone to be visiting and Freddie wouldn’t be home till long after midnight.

But then, after squinting a bit to see through the frost covered glass, you recognized the person

standing outside wrestling his keys into the door.

“What are you doing up?” Freddie asked, looking straight past you as he stepped through the door. He closed it behind him, a wry smile spreading over his lips as he stole the baby from your arms.

“It’s well past your bedtime!” He said, making faces at Flynn until he coaxed out a sleepy giggle.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” you noted, twisting the lock on the door before turning back to

Freddie. The event ran until one and it was mandatory attendance.

“Course I am.” He looked over at you, smiling as he took the bottle from you. “Where else would I be?”

You shrugged, crossing your arms as you followed him into the living room. He shook his coat from his shoulder before collapsing onto the couch. “This isn’t exactly Leaf’s big New Year’s Eve party.”

Freddie cradled the baby in one arm, his elbow resting against a pillow as he fed it the bottle making your son seem even smaller next to his huge frame.

“I’d rather be here.”

You smiled over at him, curling your legs onto the couch. You had felt bad when you told him you couldn’t go tonight, afraid that you might have disappointed him. You had these plans for weeks and Freddie had not gotten much alone time since Flynn was born.

“Did you have fun?” You asked, resting your head onto the cushions.

Freddie shrugged, tilting the bottle. “Not really,” he said, looking at me quickly. “I wanted you there.”

“I’m sorry baby. I feel awful, Flynn isn’t even running a fever anymore.” you told him.

Freddie shrugged again. “It’s alright, no big deal.”

You found yourself dozing in and out as you listened to Freddie quietly laugh at the sounds the baby would make. After a few minutes, he handed you the nearly empty bottle and slowly cradled the baby against his chest.

“Grab that pillow for me.” Freddie nudged his head as he began rubbing soft circles over the baby’s back.

Knowing what Freddie was doing, you leaned over and grabbed the pillow and dropped it onto your lap. Smiling, he kicked off his shoes, swiveling around and dropping his back slowly against the pillow. He shrugged his shoulders around, trying to get comfortable and making sure Flynn was laying softly on his chest before sighing.

“This is nice,” he said quietly.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

With the baby’s quiet snores filling the background, you focused your attention back on the TV. The countdown was winding down, leaving less than sixty seconds remaining in the year.

When the clock struck midnight, everyone on the TV erupted. Amidst all the laughing and cheering, fireworks and confetti flew around in the air. Smiling, you looked down at Freddie and your son.

With his eyes closed, the baby had a tight grip on the lapel of his dress shirt. You brushed your fingers through his hair, flattening it out before you leaned down and placed a kiss against his forehead.

When you pulled away, you watched as he peeked one sleepy eye open. As a grin spread over his lips, he lifted his neck just enough to catch you in a soft kiss, his lips lingering for just a moment before he settled back against the pillow.

“Happy New Year, Y/N.”