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June 2018
Yuna will never claim to be a recognizable face. Not the way Shane is. Her name is a little recognizable in its "uniqueness" as some terrible reporter who is probably still morning the loss of access to Shane put it. She and David can mostly live their lives as they want in Ottawa. David is more recognized for his job and his involvement in local politics. Yuna is popular among her several book clubs, garden clubs, hockey clubs, and her full-time job of managing her son and his contracts.
She's been on national television more than she would like, caught crying on the jumbotron after her son won both of his cups. Sometimes when David drags her to Centaurs games, they get shown on the local broadcast and the screens in the stadium, usually to add undue pressure to the underdog team. But she deosn't really get recognized in the street. They don't even get recognized at Metro games all that often, people like to go about their business more than you'd think. It's not the same for Shane and Ilya, who are constantly getting recognized wherever they go.
Yuna is happy with this; she'd much rather heavy lift behind the scenes of Shane's life. She doesn’t need to be known.
"Oh my gosh! You're the Hollanders!" The heavily tattooed and pierced person behind the fruit stand says suddenly. David glances up from the peaches he's been inspecting and smiles. Yuna steals herself and offers a thin smile. She likes the farmers market, but it's a little crowded today, and it's hot.
They’ve been browsing for an hour or two now. David is on the hunt for perfect produce today. He's found a new recipe for peach cobbler that he wants to try. He's also going to make Ilya's favorite cherry pie.
Ever since they met Ilya a year ago, David has been thrilled to try out his new desert recipes on him. Shane will try sometimes more likely in the off season; he’s never been a very big desert person. Ilya, however, is always thrilled to eat anything they make him, desert or otherwise.
Every time he's visited David has spent the week before his arrival workshopping new recipes and then painstakingly preparing them. Ilya will sweep into the house with a booming "Mr. Hollander, what have you made that smells so wonderful! I have new puzzle!" David’s usual "Just call me David." Is playfully ignored. David insisted this morning that fresh peaches from the farmers market were the only acceptable kind. Yuna wanted some local honey for tea, and she wouldn't mind some local produce so off to the farmers market they went.
Ilya and Shane are setting up Ilya's new place this weekend. Yuna and David are invited over for dinner tonight and David is determined to bring a minimum of two deserts.
"Yes, we are. Hockey fan?" David says, his smile is more genuine than hers.
"Huge! I'm a Metros fan myself, but my wife is a die-hard Centaurs fan." They say.
"We are partial to the Metros ourselves." David says which makes them laugh.
"Understandable. We are big Shane Hollander fans at our house. Becca is gonna be so mad she missed this. Our strawberry plants are needing some babying." They say, and Yuna loses the both to an in-depth discussion about some blight or bug that is plaguing strawberry plants in Canada this year.
Yuna glances around at the other booths, mentally running through the ever updating to do list in her head on things to be accomplished today, tomorrow, this week, and on and on.
"Becca is really excited about the trade." They add and Yuna tunes back in. David is holding open the handmade produce bag they bought from a different stall here a few weeks ago as they load it with peaches.
"Rozanov's trade?" Yuna asks. They nod. Yuna missed their name and has maybe lost the opportunity to ask. She's confident David caught it and will ask in the car.
"Yeah! She thinks the Centaurs probably have a chance now! He built the Raiders up from nothing and brought them to the Cup. It'd be nice to see the hometown team get there too." Yuna nods.
"I guess this means Shane's rivalry is dead now, right?" They laugh a little. "Although Rozanov has such a reputation, Becca is a little worried about how he's gonna fit with the team. She's a little protective of her boys." They laugh, handing David the full produce bag and lifting a carton of cherries for his approval. David glances at her, but not about the cherries. Yuna stiffens a little.
She knows Ilya's reputation, everyone does. But she also knows him. She wants to tell them suddenly.
Yuna wants to say that the Centaurs better be kind to him. That they better be gentle with him. Shane told her that one of the first times he met Ilya, Ilya asked about Montreal and Boston if they were nice. That he was all of eighteen and by himself in a foreign country with a thick accent and rough English. The media likes to forget that he was a child, that he was alone.
She wants to say that her husband is currently shopping for ingredients for desert for him. That Ilya is currently unpacking boxes with her son in his new house. A house he bought because Shane likes the yard, and the floor plan, and the kitchen design, and Ilya likes the big windows in the bedroom. Reminded him of the cottage he said in a video call a month ago. That he will eat the homegrown peaches and cherries and playfully taunt her son and husband when he beats them at cards.
She can't say any of this.
"I'm sure he will fit right in with them. Boston seemed to like him. Excuse me." She says, squeezing her husband’s arm and stepping away. She pulls out her phone as she walks to a quiet spot. Her heart aches for them. Because she's known Ilya for a year, actually known him now for a year, and she wanted to brag about him so badly just then. How he and Shane bore it, the need to keep quiet about each other waring with the need to brag about the other.
She taps on Shane's contact and puts the phone to her ear.
"Hey Mom. You're on speaker, we are assembling a dresser right now." Her son says, the grin obvious.
"Hi Mrs. Hollander!" Ilya's voice calls from somewhere in the background.
"Hi boys." She says, breathing out. "We still on for dinner tonight? And it’s just Yuna Ilya; we’ve told you this."
"Da, you and moy kalendar' have reminded me, and checked with each other multiple times today. We are excited for dinner." Ilya says, there's a grunt and then a thunk like he hammered something or dropped something.
"Yes Mom. You and Dad still ok to cook? Ilya's dishes are somewhere around here, but we might not be able to cook anything tonight." Shane says. "No Ilya that part goes there."
Theres a groan but Ilya's special brand of good natured.
"I've missed you both, I'm glad we get to spend some time together before you head to the cottage." She says.
"Yes, we hope you are ready to lose at Yahtzee and cards. I have been practicing." Ilya says.
"Shut up you have not." Shane says. "Here you look at this, you're doing that wrong. Mom, can we call you back or talk tonight?" Shane says.
"Yes, no need to call back, I'll see you both tonight. You lovers have fun." Yuna says. Ilya cackles and Shane groans and she was right when they met him a year ago, it is really fun to tease Shane about that. She hangs up and smiles when David's hand lands on her shoulder.
"Ready? I need to get cooking." He says. He links his arm with hers and guides her through the rest of the crowd toward the car. He settles the produce in the back seat the same way he used to settle Shane when he was little, with sure and gentle hands. Yuna twists around in her seat to watch him fondly. He takes her hand when he climbs in and sighs.
"I wanted to tell them that I hope the team is nice to Ilya." He says, carefully pronouncing his name. After they met him last summer, she caught him awake in the middle of the night hunched over a laptop, maybe a week or ten days later. When she asked him what he'd been doing he'd popped out a pair of earbuds almost as old as Shane and showed her.
It was pronunciation videos.
Videos titled How to say popular Russian names like a native speaker, and How to say Hockey Prodigy Ilya Rozanov's name correctly because if I have to hear one more announcer mispronounce it and offend our Russian prince I'm going to scream, followed by 20 times Boston Raiders Captain and first line center says his own name because this helped me learn to say it.
She'd made tea and sat next to him. They'd stayed up all night watching the videos and practicing out loud to each other. The next time they saw him he literally froze in the doorway, comically half out of his jacket and slides gaping at them when David called out his name, perfectly pronounced. He's never brought it up, but she knows it meant a lot to him.
"I know, I wanted to bring it up too. I've heard rumblings that Toronto isn't too happy with their current lineup. I'd hate to see either of our boys on a line up with Kent or Barret." Yuna says.
"Do the general managers of all major teams appear to you in dreams or something? How do you even know this?" David teases and squeezes her hand. She rolls her eyes. "We got him now. Even if they are mean, we've got him. I'll make him a pie every week if he needs one." David promises and presses a kiss to the back of her hand. Yuna smiles at him, fond.
"We all know you’ll do that anyway. Do I get to help with these pies?"
"You are my truest love, the light of my life, the moon to my stars, the much-adored mother of my beloved son, and under no circumstances am I going to let you near anything I'm baking. But if you wanted to sit in the kitchen with your hair up and wearing very little, I wouldn't say no. Even better if you sit on the counter so I can kiss you in between every step." He winks at her and she laughs, blushing only a little.
Ilya crows loudly, excitedly, (and predictably), about the peach cobbler and pie that night. He proudly shows them around his new house, holding Shane’s hand the whole time.
Yuna catches David's eyes when Shane rolls his eyes but wipes a smudge of cherry filling from the corners of Ilya's mouth and she watches him get just as gooey as the filling. She thinks ‘yeah, they've got him now’.
February 2019
Yuna is balancing a very full Ottawa Centaurs branded plastic cup full of beer, a steadily getting soggier carboard carton of nachos, and a bag of popcorn. They could sit in the family box, Ilya offered, repeatedly, but Yuna likes sitting in the stands like everyone else. Has since Shane first joined mites, when she had to stretch out and wave at him every couple minutes that first practice so that he could find her. He looks less now, but she waves every time he does.
She steps gently around people’s legs, the stadium full enough to warrant some caution with the beer. Ilya has drawn a crowd, and the Cens aren't winning yet, but people want to see him. Die-hard fans of the sport can see the potential there, she knows it.
David is talking to a boy of all of about ten, who is bouncing in his seat, when she gets to their seats. He has a stuffed horse that is wearing a Centaurs jersey.
"Here, anata." Yuna says, handing David the beer. They are gonna share that tonight, though he may not know that yet. He takes the popcorn from her too. She sits down in the empty seat between him and the kid.
"Yuna, this is Freddy, we are talking while his mom gets hot dogs." David says. Freddy nods, grinning a gap-toothed smile at her.
"Mom said I could pick anything if I passed my test! And I picked hockey! And hot dogs!" Freddy says. Yuna smiles.
"That's very exciting." She says, stealing some popcorn from David. David is keeping one eye on the ice. Colorado is warming up, but the Centaurs aren't on the ice yet. "Do you like hockey?" Yuna asks.
"Yeah!" Freddy says excitedly. "I play! And I watch all the playoffs and most of the regular season as long as I don't have school or practice or anything else goin on." Freddy says, he's still bouncing a little in his seat. "Mom picks a different team every year. She picked the Centaurs this year cause she thinks Rozanov is pretty." Freddy rolls his eyes as if this is the stupidest thing he's ever heard and Yuna laughs. David snorts into the beer and takes a pull before he passes it to Yuna. Good, he does know they are sharing it. She sips it and hands it back.
"I've always been a Centaurs fan.” Freddy goes on. “Since I was little. My dad was a Centaurs fan, so I'm a Centaurs fan." Freddy's expression shutters just a little. It maybe wouldn't be noticeable to someone who doesn't love someone who wears the same sort of face sometimes. A tightening around Freddy's eyes maybe, a subtle dimming to his smile, a similar expression she's seen dogging Ilya. She softens her own face a little.
"My son and I like the same team too. What position do you play?" Yuna asks. Freddy’s smile stretches.
“I play defense! That’s how I lost this tooth! Got a puck to the face! Mom says I need to be careful but that I look pretty cool. And I’m lucky it was just a baby tooth. The tooth fairy gave me ten bucks for it!” Freddy says eagerly and then his eyes go comically round.
"Wait. I know you." He whispers. "You're Shane Hollander's mom." His bouncing ceases entirely.
David laughs under his breath. She smiles at Freddy.
"Yes I am." Freddy blinks at her.
"Wow." He says. He starts bouncing again and rattling off all of Shane's stats. It's an info dump Shane himself would be proud of, and while David hides his laughter in the nachos, she makes a mental note to tell Shane about it later.
A woman looking a little tired and worn around the edges comes and sits on Freddy's other side, handing him a hotdog with fries and a soda in a plastic cup with the same stupid logo. A stupid logo that Ilya actually kinda likes, he told them so at Christmas when he gave them all Centaurs merch.
"Thank you for keeping an eye on him. He would have hated to miss the players entrance." She's wearing an oversized Cens jersey that is faded and for a number and player that isn't with the team anymore.
"Nice to meet you. Freddy was well behaved." Yuna says.
She smiles at them, settled in her seat finally. Her eyes widen in a glance very similar to her son’s. "Holy shit. You're the Hollanders." She says.
Freddy cackles. "Mom that's a bad word!" He cries. She flushes a little.
"Sorry, I'm sorry. Eat your hot dog, Freds." She says.
"We hear you are a new Centaurs fan." David says politely. She groans and drops her head into her hand.
"Freddy." She says. Freddy grins, mouth full. It makes Yuna miss when Shane was little. He was never quite like this. Always serious, always focused, especially by ten.
He was about Freddy's age when he calmly said on the way home from practice. "I'm gonna be in the NHL someday, ママ." She'd nodded at him in the rearview and said back just as calm. "Yes, you will baby."
She thinks maybe Ilya was like this though. Bouncing and rattling things off in fast Russian. She has a flash, vividly in her head as she watches Freddy's mom run her palm over his head and smile at him, of Irina doing that with little Ilya. She hopes she did. She presses her hand to her heart and closes her eyes. Just for a second, before the roar of the crowd signals the Cens are taking the ice. She thinks quickly in that time, the way she has since she met him, sends it off into the ether, that she's got him. Hoping wherever Irina is, she knows.
"We didn't get your name." Yuna says after they all cheer at the appearance of the team.
"Oh sorry, god where are my manners. Melissa Owens." She says offering her hand. They both shake it.
"In answer to your question, yes I am a recent Cens fan. But what Freds here is forgetting is that I have always been a Cens fan because his daddy wouldn't have married me otherwise." She jostles Freddy and he giggles. They both are wearing that sad expression. That loss etches itself into the smile lines around people’s eyes sometimes.
"But since they've got that smoke show Rozanov on the team, I figured I'd come to a game."
"Mom! I've told you a million times." Freddy says and launches into an equally thorough breakdown of Ilya's stats like he had with Shane earlier. Melissa watches him with a kind expression Yuna's face knows well.
"Right, well with a scoring average like that, how can I resist?" She teases. Freddy rolls his eyes. David has gone quiet.
"It's pronounced Ro-zan-ov." He says suddenly. Melissa blinks.
"I'm sorry?" She says.
"His name. You said it like Rose-an-off. But it's Ro-zan-off." David smiles softly.
"Mom! We can't say his name wrong!" Freddy says immediately. He leans around Yuna. "Mr. David, can you say it again?" David smiles, patiently repeating how to properly say Ilya's name. Freddy swats at his mom until she practices with him.
"And his first name? Am I saying that right?" Freddy asks. David explains the pronunciation of that too.
"Mom, do you have a piece of paper? I want to write it down; I don't want to mess it up. If he's gonna win us the Cup, I want to make sure I say his name right." Melissa pats down her pockets and rummages through her purse for a receipt and a pen. David writes out the correct pronunciation, and Freddy carefully folds the paper and tucks it in his pocket. Yuna catches him checking periodically throughout the game to see if it's still there.
"I will be honest." Melissa says, as first period is gearing up to get started. "I wouldn't have expected Shane Hollander's parents to be at a Cens game let alone teaching me how to say his biggest rival’s name." Melissa says, and she smiles like it's a joke. And to her maybe it is.
Yuna reaches over and takes David's hand. His focus is solely on the 81 down on the ice, skating up to a face off to start the game. They’d cheered loudly for him, maybe louder than they should have when he was announced in the starting lineup. He’d glanced up and seen them, and Yuna had carefully offered a little wave.
She wants to turn to Melissa and explain. That he caught a ride in with Harris Drover after visiting his dogs earlier today. Explain that she a David will wait in their car in the parking lot until he comes out and climbs in the back seat. That on the ride home they will dissect how the Blizzards goalie is favoring his left shoulder and blocking passes a second or two too late. That she will twist around in her seat and tell him about Freddy. That he will grin and sign a jersey, and get Shane to sign one too, and find a way to get it to Freddy, she just knows it. That they will take him back to their house, where she will reheat chicken parm for him, and David will slice up some apple crumble with vanilla ice cream.
She wants to describe how they will move to the couch in the living room, David in the armchair, reading, Yuna and Ilya watching Metros game highlights. That if she's lucky, and it's a really good day for her almost son-in-law, he will lean his head on her shoulder, or maybe plop a throw pillow in her lap and curl up on it. And she will gently sort her fingers through his curls. That she will catch her husbands eye and know in her marrow what they are both thinking. That he'll fall asleep on her shoulder or her lap or her couch and she will look at the love of her life and they will both marvel at how lucky two people can be to have two sons as great as this. To be so lucky as to watch the two people they love more than anything in this life love each other. To be blessed by whatever higher power they aren't sure exists to get to know and love this man as much as they do.
She doesn't say any of that. Of course not. She just smiles and says a little firmer than maybe Melissa deserves: "I know what it's like to have someone mispronounce your name. Besides he and my son have a charity now and have become friends." She says. Melissa smacks her head again.
"I just keep stepping in it tonight, God Callum would be dying of laughter now." She says. Freddy turns to her.
"He would?" He whispers.
"Yeah Freds. He would have thought this was sooooo funny." She says, reaching over and tickling him until he squeals. "Me steppin' in it. And asking the Hollanders to watch ya while I buy you a hot dog." Freddy laughs.
"They were nice! They are nice! They are here for Ro-zan-ov too!" He says, saying Ilya's name carefully.
"We genuinely don't mind." David says. Melissa smiles gratefully. They, with Freddy, end up explaining most plays to Melissa throughout the game. Freddy leaps out of his seat to cheer for every good play, or bad call, or whatever right along with Yuna, David and Melissa watching on in fond amusement.
After the game Yuna leans over and whispers to David "We should see if Ilya will meet them."
"Already texted him." David says, dotting a kiss to her cheek.
As they are leaving a person wearing an official Centaurs polo stops them.
"Are you Freddy and Melissa Owens?" They ask. Melissa and Freddy have identical shocked expressions on their faces.
"Yes. What's this about?" Melissa asks, taking Freddy's hand.
"Would you like to meet the team?" They say. Freddy literally screams and starts nodding. David takes Yuna's hand.
Melissa turns to them. “On second Freds.” She steps closer to them. “I’m not sure how you managed this but I’m confident it was you. Thank you. Freddy’s dad, he died in a car crash when Freds was four. He adored the Centaurs. So meeting the team, I… I don’t know how you swung it but thank you.” Melissa says, blinking back tears. “Alright Freds, I guess lets go meet the team!”
Ilya does chatter excitedly about Freddy the whole way home. How he was so awestruck to meet them. How Ilya managed to get him a jersey or two signed by the whole team.
"His papa died." Ilya says softly when they are almost home. "He told me. Melissa was being dazzled by Young, who is maybe a little young for her, heh. I will keep eye out." Ilya says. "Anyway, we were talking about deke-ing around goalies and he tells me his papa died. So I tell him my mama died." It's quiet in the car.
Yuna takes a deep breath and reaches back for him. He grabs her hand and squeezes it. "And I tell him that his papa is watching, and I try to win for his papa." He squeezes her hand. "And he tell me that my mama is proud of me for my goals. Mama Yuna?" He asks.
Yuna has to swallow around the lump in her throat. "Yes, jinan?" She whispers.
"Can we make sure Freddy can come to camp in the summer? Offer how you say… when money is paid for? Like for school?" Ilya mumbles.
"Scholarship." David supplies.
"Yes, I think yes. Can we give scholarship? Before you say defeat’s purpose of camp, I think maybe Freddy needs it, is like me yes?" He whispers. Yuna squeezes his hand again tight, grateful to still be holding onto him.
"I'll look into it Ilya." She says.
"David, he tells me you tell him how to say my name. He asked me if he was saying it right." Ilya is quiet. "I am maybe as Bood says, in my feelings tonight. But no one except for moy slovar' has made sure to say my name right. Except is not right. Because is no one except moy slovar', Mama Yuna, Papa David, and now Freddy and Melissa." He pauses and Yuna has to blink, clinging to him. David is white knuckled on the wheel in the dark. "Spasibo" He whispers. They know this one, he's been teaching them.
"You're welcome, jinan." She whispers.
She gives him an extra big serving of chicken parm when they get home. And when he falls asleep in her lap, she sits up far later than she normally would, carefully combing his curls into a frizzy mess with her fingers, staring down at this second son of hers.
July 2020
Yuna has only officially been employed by the Irina Foundation for a couple months. She officially handles all the financials, and during the season she helps secure grants and manage donations. The foundation has a couple employees and all the volunteer hockey coaches, but Shane has dreams for a more robust full time staff. Yuna is happy to help him get it there.
She offered Freddy a spot in their Ottawa camp last year, and he accepted. He had a blast and got along great with everyone, even Shane loved him. They’ve rolled out a lottery system in Montreal to give one kid who can’t pay the fees a spot and it’s worked well. In May Ilya called to say that Charles Young would be paying for Freddy’s spot this year and they offered the same lottery system in Ottawa too.
Yuna has set up shop in one of the offices at the rented rink, managing financials, helping the kids check in each day, signing them out, letting the ones who fell or slipped into the boards or just got a little overwhelmed and needed some space sit in there with her. It's a lot of work for two weeks of camps, but she knows how much Shane and Ilya love this. She sort of hopes at some point in the future they can offer longer camps, or two camps in each city. She's got dreams to expand to Toronto. But this is Shane and Ilya’s baby and she mostly lets them deal with it.
She glances at the clock, sliding her glasses up into her hair. It's almost four. She frowns and checks the sign out sheet. Four kids, including Freddy, have not been picked up yet. Yuna saves the spreadsheet she was working on and stands, grabbing her cardigan from the back of the chair and heading to the rink. It's always chilly near the ice.
She can hear laughter as she approaches. Several of the coaches, Max, Leah, Hayden, and Shane are standing near the boards chatting with each other and the parents. On the ice, Ilya and the four campers are playing some sort of game that is resulting in hoots of laughter from all of them, Ilya included.
Yuna joins them to watch. It seems to be some kind of tag but all the kids are laughing, big delighted grins on their faces. Freddy is shrieking with laughter, the twins Emily and Elizabeth are holding each other up they are giggling so hard, and the other little boy, Sam is chasing Ilya across the ice. Ilya is cackling.
Yuna leans on the boards near Shane, ruffling his hair to make him roll his eyes at her. They are talking about the Stanley Cup finals, because hockey people are all the same. Yuna smiles at Melissa when they catch each other's eyes.
She watches the kids, remembering Shane in hockey camps, frustrated with one that had just wanted to play games and have fun. He'd been so mad, complaining the whole way home and following her into the kitchen to rant, saying "It's hockey camp Mom, we didn't play any hockey!"
"You did puck handling drills didn't you?" She'd asked, handing him a ginger ale, he'd been probably eleven or twelve, and loved it even then and had one after every practice.
"Mom. We played finders keepers. That's not hockey. I want to play hockey. How will I get drafted if I can't play hockey?" She knew better than to point out that he did play hockey. That his coaches were already throwing around the words Junior Prospect Cup. He could play hockey, he would continue to play hockey, they all knew that.
Yuna had put her hands on her hips and looked at him.
"You don't want to go back tomorrow do you?" She'd asked.
"If we play hockey I'll go." He said, so simply. She's always loved that about him. That what he wants is so simple to him sometimes.
"I expect you'll play more games, shall I call and find a camp that is playing hockey?" She asked.
"Yes please mama." He'd said. She had, found him one for the next day.
She does find it a little funny now, to watch him play games with the kids at their camps, and to watch the man he loves play puck tag with the kids.
"We good on ice time Mom?" Shane asks.
"Honey, we've rented the whole rink for the week, we are the only ones using it. They can play as long as they want." Yuna says. "All five of them." She adds which makes everyone laugh.
She watches her son, watches the way he watches Ilya. The way he grins with them.
When she'd been dating David, a year or two in, she'd taken him to Japan to meet her extended family. Her parents had been going back for a visit and asked David along. She strongly suspected the invitation was a test, to see if he was good enough for her. They'd met her aunts and uncles and all her baby cousins. She'd looked over at one point, to see several small kids crawling all over David. They were friends and neighbors and cousins kids, and they spoke not one word of English and David knew broken heavily accented and often fumbling and very limited Japanese. But he was playing, laughing and the kids were laughing. Yuna felt something in her chest move when she watched him. He was so gentle and so careful. Yuna knew then that he'd be the excellent father that he is.
She wonders if Shane is feeling the same thing, if something moves in his chest when Freddy catches Ilya and steals the puck. Ilya dramatically groans and pretends to melt into the ice, ending sprawled on his back.
"No! Freddy is best hockey player, is coming for my job!" Ilya says, which makes the kids laugh.
"Mr. Rozanov, Freddy can't play for the Centaurs." Elizabeth points out.
"You say his name wrong." Freddy says immediately. Beside Yuna Melissa sighs.
"He is relentless with that." She says. Shane frowns.
"Relentless with what?" He asks.
"Correcting people on Ilya's name." Melissa says. "Ever since David taught him. Over a year ago I might add." Shane blinks.
"Oh well, a lot of people mispronounce it, but he doesn't mind." Shane says simply, but he glances at Yuna in a way that lets her know they will be talking about this later.
"Freddy minds. He told me the whole way home that Coach Pike mispronounces it, and he strongly suspects it's on purpose." Yuna laughs when Hayden groans from beside Shane.
"He told me. Multiple times." Hayden says.
"Well, you do say it wrong." Yuna and Shane say at the same time. Hayden groans.
Everyone laughs.
"You know I didn't really believe it." Max says. Leah nods beside him.
"Believe what?" Melissa asks.
"The Hollander-Rozanov friendship. But like you two are legitimately friends." Max says. Shane huffs.
"Why on earth would we lie about that?" Shane grumbles. Hayden squeezes his shoulder.
"And he's so good with kids, I don't know that I was prepared for that." Leah says.
Yuna can see Shane biting back the same things she is.
She worried a couple times when Shane was young that he'd always be just a little separate from his friends. He's so reserved sometimes, and his mind works so fast, just like hers, and it left his peers behind more often than not. She can see that same distance between him and Hayden.
There are parts of Shane that some people will always see as odd, a little weird, and they will make no effort to learn and love all of him. She and David worried that it would just be the two of them who wholeheartedly saw and loved every nook and cranny of that beautiful brain of his.
And Yuna wants to tell them, that that man, still sprawled on his back in the middle of the ice, trying to hook the kids with his stick, while they skate in circles around him just out of reach, teasing him, and giggling, is her son's best friend. And the love of his life.
Ilya knows what brand of stick tape Shane prefers and carries extras in his gear bag. Just in case. That Ilya's home has dimmer switches on every light switch and lamps in every room, even the bathrooms, for when the big lights are too much for Shane. That every texture in his house is Shane approved, not a microfiber towel or velvet throw in sight. That he knows how to bring Shane out of a spiral in ten seconds flat and have him laughing in 30. That no one loves her son the way Ilya does, with his entire self and no reservations.
She also wants to point out that this will be the father of her grandbabies someday. That this is the man her son will wash bottles with, and change diapers with, and be thrown up on with, and hold while he cries when they drop their kids off for the first day of school. That this is the man who will teach babies to call her O bāchan and sneak them deserts with David. This is the man who will take a million photos of them in Shane's arms and will teach them Russian while Shane teaches them French.
She takes Shane's hand for a squeeze and he returns it.
"Freddy adores him. His favorite coach by far." Melissa says.
"God, the girls have been fighting over who likes him more. Not who he likes more, no no." Emily and Elizabeth's dad, Jared maybe? Says. "Which of them likes him more." He laughs.
"God my kids adore him." Hayden says. Shane smiles at that.
"He's in the running for favorite Uncle. I feel usurped." Shane says. There
"Alright Freds!" Melissa calls. "I know we love Ilya, but we gotta go! Jellybean probably wants dinner."
"Freddy you must not keep our lady Jellybean waiting for dinner, even if she isn't a dog and is only a cat, leaving a furry baby to pine for food is not fair." Ilya says immediately, popping up. "And E and E, surely your sweet angel dog needs snuggles by now?"
"Mr. Rozanov, our dog is not an angel." Emily giggles.
"It's Ro-ZAN-ov, not Rose-an-off. He isn't a flower." Freddy shrieks. Ilya beams, ruffling Freddy's hair.
"Is ok Freddy, we will practice all together, yes? You can teach all the kids tomorrow morning how to say it right." Ilya says soothingly.
"Really?! Mommy did you hear! We're gonna teach everyone how to say Rozanov right!" Freddy shrieks.
"I did hear bud." Melissa says laughing.
"Will you teach us Russian too?" Freddy asks eagerly.
"Probably yes, we can learn hockey words, yes?" Ilya says. Freddy whoops and dashes over, already babbling about words he wants to learn.
"Maybe we remember that Coach Ilya is here to teach you hockey and not Russian." Melissa reminds.
"He can do both." Freddy says matter-of-factly and walks off toward the locker room with a laughing Melissa trailing behind him.
The rest of the kids get shuttled off to the locker rooms, Max and Leah heading out too. Ilya skates over, checks that everyone is gone and kisses Shane on the cheek.
"See you guys tomorrow." Hayden says. He hesitates near the tunnel and turns around. "Do I really say your name wrong?"
"Yes." Yuna and Shane say immediately. Ilya glances between them and cracks up.
"Is ok Pike. I know Russian takes a talented tongue, yes?" Ilya waggles his eyebrows. "Not everyone has one, is ok." Hayden and Shane groan. Yuna puts a hand over her mouth to hide her smile.
"Fuck you Roz." Hayden says with a roll of his eyes.
"Is ok Pike, Freddy and I will teach you tomorrow!" Ilya calls after his retreating form.
Yuna sighs. "I have such a respect for you both." She says. They turn to her with matching quizzical looks. Ilya's arm is slung around Shane's waist. "Every time someone says stuff about being surprised by your friendship or you in general Ilya, I just want to correct them. People have the wrong idea about you two together but especially you Ilya and it drives me crazy sometimes." She says softly.
Shane nods. "Me too. But we know the truth." He kisses Ilya’s cheek too.
"Mama Yuna, I care much much more what you think, not what everyone else thinks." Ilya says softly. Yuna leans over the boards and throws her arms around them both.
"I love you boys." She whispers.
"We love you too." Ilya replies.
"Alright. Go shower, let's go see what David has cooked up for us."
"I hope is cherry pie." Ilya says.
"You always hope for cherry pie." Shane says with a fond eye roll.
January 2021
It's the kind of day that feels too normal in the beginning for how it ends. Yuna gets up at six like normal. She makes coffee, reads headlines on her tablet, lets David cajole her into the shower with him. She waved him off to work (a little later than she'd have liked but he'd been grinning the whole time).
The Irina Foundation doesn't need her in the office today, so she holes up in her office. She spends the first part of the day checking financials for rink rentals in Ottawa and Montreal for the camps this summer. The Ottawa rink adores them, and she thinks she can convince them to do a second week. She needs to talk with the boys, and she makes a mental note (and sticky note on the side of her computer) to ask them if they thought the coaches would do two camps in Ottawa. Their Montreal waiting list is longer, but the Montreal rink is trying to raise the prices and Shane hates when more of their profits from the camps have to go to logistics and less to the charities and the foundations mental health resources. She spends time researching rinks in Montreal that might let them rent the space.
She takes a break, after her shortlist is made, and fixes lunch. She texts Shane to confirm he is ok if she and David aren't at his game tonight. David wants to take her out to dinner, and that would mean missing his game. They might be able to catch the end on tv. But she and David haven't had a date night in a while, and she'd like to put on a nice outfit and flirt with her husband over fancy wine in a dimly lit fancy restaurant. Shane tells her to have a nice night.
After lunch she makes a cup of tea and returns to her office. She spends the afternoon reviewing more ad campaigns and contracts for Shane. He doesn't like his City Seltzer deal anymore, and she's checking on his obligations on his contract to see if there are ways out of it or if there are ways to tweak it to keep everyone happy. Rolex has a couple of ad proposals that need reviewing. She's also sending feelers out to Adidas and Nike about Ilya. He's wearing the stuff anyway, he might as well be paid for it.
It's where David finds her when he returns from work.
"Busy day my love?" He says from the doorway.
"Is it that late already? Wow. Yes, the rink we rented last year for the camps, remember?" She asks, gathering her dishes and heading toward the kitchen. "They are raising the rental fee by quiet a lot, by almost 500. And I'm wondering if we can find another."
"Shane and Ilya both complained about the smell of the locker rooms there too." David says. Yuna chuckles.
"No, Shane complained about the smell, Ilya complained about Shane complaining, anata." She says.
"That’s right. I remember now.” He kisses her cheek. “We have a reservation for 6, no more work talk." David says.
"Would you see if the Cens game has finished yet? I want to text Ilya before his flight." Yuna calls as she heads off to get ready.
David laughs but doesn't argue. The game finishes by the time she's dressed, wearing slacks and a very expensive cashmere sweater, hair combed and make up immaculate. David is in a smart suit, and Yuna takes a minute to admire him, he's watching the last few minutes of the Cens game on his phone.
"They won! 4-1!" He crows over the tinny sound of the final buzzer.
"Oh, Ilya will be so pleased!" Yuna says. They text him congratulations in the group chat they have with him and Shane. David takes a picture of the two of them all gussied up and texts that too.
Ilya texts back numerous compliments on how nice they look and how proud of his team he is.
He'll be on this roady for another two days, heading to Florida for two games down there.
Shane doesn't respond, he's likely in his pregame mode. Or he's just texting Ilya, he does that sometimes, shuts out the world except for Ilya.
David opens her car door for her, and leaves his hand on her thigh the whole drive to the restaurant.
They get seated right away at a cozy table in the back. They hold hands across the table, steal bites off each other's forks, talk about their son and their jobs and flirt like it's their first date even after all these years. And God does she love this man with her whole being.
Before they leave, she excuses herself to the bathroom while David gets the car and the check. On the way to meet David she passes three of the waitstaff huddled around their phones and murmuring.
"Excuse me." She says, and fully intends to step around them.
"Oh sorry." They say distractedly. She catches sight of an ESPN reporter on their phone.
"Excuse me, is that the Montreal game? Could you tell me the score?" She asks.
"No, sorry. The Centaurs plane is having engine failure. I don't know the score." One of the waiters says.
Yuna has only experienced this sense of panic once before. The way the world seems to ring with alarms, and her vision narrows to a screen. The last time had been in 2017, when Cliff Marleau took out her baby. She thinks she stopped breathing then, watching that on her laptop while on vacation, so far away from her child.
She has that same swooping feeling now. Like the ground dropped out from underneath her.
"I'm sorry." She chokes out. "Did you say the Centaurs plane has engine failure?" In leu of an answer they turn up the volume and turn the screen towards her.
"This is a developing story now. We know that the plane carrying the Ottawa Centaurs NHL team, including the entire roster, coaching staff, trainers, and support staff is experiencing engine failure in one of the engines. The team won today, 4-1, in their afternoon game against the Carolina Cyclones in Raliegh and then caught a flight bound for Fort Lauderdale in preparation for a game in two days. At this time the plane is expected to make an emergency landing at Tampa International Airport. As of now, there are no reports of injury from any of the passengers, but the plane remains in the air. We will update with further information on the team’s wellbeing once we have it." Yuna blinks.
"I'm so sorry, I have to go." She says and sprints out of the restaurant. David is sitting calmly in the car near the entrance and jolts a little when Yuna flings the door open. He's listening to classical music. He hasn’t heard.
"We have to go to Montreal, right now." Yuna demands.
"What? Sweetheart what happened?" Yuna ignores him for a minute to pull out her phone and type with shaking hands a search for the Metros game. It takes her several tries. She's breathing hard, and her heart is pounding. "Yuna, you're scaring me."
"It's the start of the third, ok, we need to get to Montreal, right now David." She says, buckling her seatbelt.
"Is Shane ok?!" David demands. Yuna chokes on a sob.
"Ilya's plane has engine failure, it is making an emergency landing at the Tampa Airport if possible."
"Fuck." David says and practically floors it out of the lot. "Does Shane know?" He asks.
"I don't think so, the third just started. We need to get to him as soon as possible." She says.
David nods and they merge on the highway. He presses one of their presets to the sports radio station. The announcers are alternating between covering the Metros game and updates about the plane.
Yuna calls Ilya. As expected, it goes straight to voicemail.
"Hi sweetie. It's Yuna. I know it's scary, but we love you so much honey. Please call us when you can. We love you." She says, choking back tears. She hangs up and calls Shane.
"Shane, baby, call me when you get off the ice ok? The second you can call me. We are on our way. We love you, it'll all be ok, I promise baby. Don't check the news, call me! We love you so so much." She says and hangs up. She texts him the same.
David reaches over and takes her hand. Yuna's leg bounces and she clings to him.
"He'll be ok." David whispers. They both just breathe for a few minutes.
"We are sorry to interrupt the Metros game coverage, but we just learned that the plane carrying the entire Centaurs team roster successfully made an emergency landing at Tampa International Airport. Currently, many details are unknown. We do know that multiple injuries were reported." The sports caster says.
"Fuck David." Yuna says and tries calling Ilya again. It goes straight to voicemail. She doesn't leave another message. But she can't do nothing. Ilya once called her scary, in the most affectionate tone of voice. She’d been yelling at someone, she doesn't know who anymore. But she takes a deep breath and presses the phone back to her ear.
"Shane?" David asks, passing a car much more aggressively than he normally would.
"No. Farrah."
"Their agent Farrah?"
"Yes. I think she has the contacts of the Centaurs people, after Ilya's contract, I need numbers." And she loves David so much, for so many reasons, but mostly because he doesn't talk her out of it, he just squeezes her hand.
“This is Farrah.”
"Farrah hi it's Yuna."
"Hi Yuna, how're you holding up? Has Shane heard yet?" Farrah says when she answers.
"Not yet, we are heading to Montreal right now. Listen, I need you to text me whatever numbers for the Centaurs team you have." She demands. She likes Farrah, who is just as no nonsense as she herself is.
"Of course Yuna, but I will warn you that getting a hold of them may be hard. I called Ilya and haven't heard."
"Us either."
"I'll send over what I have. I'm not sure who all was travelling with the team." Farrah says.
"Thank you, Farrah. We will keep you posted."
Yuna hangs up and David hands her his phone. Yuna frowns.
"So, Shane can call yours, and you can call about Ilya." Yuna's breath catches. The first few numbers she calls don't pick up, but finally Gen, the head communications director for the Centaurs answers.
"This is Gen." She says, all business.
"Hi Gen, this is Yuna Hollander. I'm calling for any updates you have on the Centaurs team? We've of course heard about the plane. I'm specifically inquiring about Ilya Rozanov's status. Is there anything you can tell me?" Yuna asks. There is silence on the other end. The final goal of the Metros game sounds over the radio. Yuna texts one handed on her phone another plea for Shane to call her immediately.
"Gen?" Yuna says when it's been quiet for a bit.
"I'm sorry, I'm just a little shocked. I admire your boldness, Mrs. Hollander." Gen says.
"Just Yuna, please."
"Yuna, I admire your boldness, but I can't just give out confidential medical information to non-family members about one of our players." Yuna bites back a scream.
Ilya Rozanov called her on Boxing Day after his and Shane's huge fight, crying. He told her quietly and timidly about Galina, and she's met him for lunch nearby after his appointments before. This boy is her son, in all senses of the word. She wants to shout, yell at this poor woman that she is speeding across Canada currently to catch her son in her arms while he panics because the love of his life was in a plane crash or near missed plane crash if you must be technical about it, and no one has heard from him. That Ilya Rozanov is the one person, no the one thing, in the whole entire world that Shane Hollander loves more than hockey, doesn't anybody get that?! If they aren’t family she doesn’t know what else would possibly qualify. She bites her lip and swallows her tears.
"I understand that. But as you know, he and my son are close friends, and I just would like to give him an update."
Gen sighs. "Look, I'm so sorry, but I cannot divulge confidential information. I can say that only minor injuries were suffered, and to my knowledge, everyone was conscious when they left the plane. I'm so sorry that's all I can share." Gen says, and she does genuinely sound apologetic.
Yuna inhales to respond when her phone lights up with an incoming call from Shane. Yuna hangs up on Gen with a very rushed goodbye.
"Baby." Yuna says. She knows, in some part of her cells, that he's already found out.
"Mom." He chokes out, his breath catching. "Ilya." He says.
"I know baby. I know." She soothes.
"I can't get a hold of him." Shane croaks, voice breaking. “He sent me. Mom he sent me goodbye messages on Instagram.” He says, voice wet.
"Oh baby. I know, we've tried calling too and it's going straight to voicemail." A sob stutters in her chest, mirrored in his, crackling down the line.
"I called someone from the team, she can't tell me anything, but said it was minor injuries and everyone was conscious getting off the plane, ok?" She says.
"Mom if he…" He chokes.
"Baby he is going to be fine, ok? His phone may have been lost, or left on the plane, yeah?" She says.
"Mom." He says.
David squeezes her hand. "About 45 minutes out." He murmurs.
"Where are you baby?" Yuna asks.
"Sitting in my car. I'm still in my gear." He whispers. “The team were making jokes about it.”
"We are forty five minutes out, we'll be there soon. Can you drive home do you think?" She asks, hand tight around her phone.
"You're coming?" Shane whispers.
"Yes baby. We are coming. We'll be there soon ok?"
"Ok. Forty five minutes?" He asks.
"Yes sweetheart. Do you want me to stay on the phone with you?" She asks.
"Yes but I'm worried I'll miss Ilya's call. I'm ok." He says.
"Ok, we'll let you know if we get any updates. I love you, we'll be there soon."
"Love you too." He says and hangs up.
Yuna breaks then, tears tracking down her face.
"He can't lose him." She whispers.
"He's ok, they haven't reported any fatalities ok? And they would have if there were any. Nobody died, they said most serious injury was a concussion. Our son isn't loosing his other half, I promise." She nods.
"Sweetheart, you can cry here. You've done what you can, I'm doing the rest." He lifts her hand and kisses it gently. "Our boy is going to need you, both of us when we get there. So if you need to feel it, and cry about it, now is a good time. I've got you, you wonderful beautiful scary amazing woman. If you need to cry about our boys, now is a good time." Her lip is wobbling by the time he's done, tears leaking from her eyes. He squeezes her hand and lets her. She turns out the window and lets the tears come, siphoning off the fear and the stress so she can hold her son. She squeezes David’s hand when she hears him sniffle next to her.
They park at Shane's apartment and take a quick moment to wipe the tears off of each other’s cheeks. They use their keys for the stairs and front door.
Shane's on the phone, FaceTime-ing Ilya, and he's crying.
"I'm ok sweetheart." Ilya's voice is saying and Yuna breathes a sigh of relief. Shane looks over.
"My parents are here." Shane says.
"Good, you will not be alone. I don't want you to be alone, malysh." Ilya says.
"Can we say hi?" Yuna asks.
"Of course." Shane says, patting the couch next to him. They sit on either side of him. Ilya is smoking outside a hotel.
"Hi Mama Yuna, Hi Papa David." He says and smiles. It's obvious he's been crying too. "I am ok. I didn't ruin date night did I?" He says. Yuna laughs wetly.
"We don't care about that. We are glad you're ok." She says.
"Yeah son, it's good to see you. Even if you are smoking." David teases. All four of them offer weak laughs.
"Do you need anything Ilya?" Yuna asks, rubbing a hand up and down Shane's back. He's leaning into her.
"No, is good to my family all together." He smiles. "Is enough."
"I love you." Shane whispers.
" Ya tebya lyublyu Shanya." Ilya says back and Shane hiccups.
"I am using borrowed phone, but will try to get new one tomorrow." He says.
"Did yours break?" David asks.
"Da, when we landed." Ilya says. Shane exhales shakily. Ilya takes a long drag on his cigarette on the screen.
"Mama, Papa, it may be best if I have few minutes with my Shane, yes? I will call you tomorrow? Maybe Mama, you could make him something to eat? Shane what is rice dish Mama would make when you were sick as kid?" Ilya asks. David is blinking rapidly as is Yuna. He’s never called them this before.
"Okayu." Yuna says. "I'll see if you have the ingredients baby." She kisses Shane’s hair. He stinks, and he’s a little crusty with sweat from the game and she doesn’t blame him one bit. "Why don't you go change and talk with Ilya, yeah?"
"Yes, I think seeing you change will help me feel much better." Ilya teases. Shane huffs a wet laugh.
"You're the worst." Shane says. Ilya grins and wiggles his eyebrows. All four pretend the tears in their eyes aren’t there.
"We love you Ilya. Glad you're ok." David says. "Let Shane know what desert you'd like when you get home."
Ilya smiles. "I will. Will be long list." David laughs.
“I’ll make them all, promise.” He says and walks away to check Shane's kitchen.
Yuna presses another kiss to Shane's head. "Go on in the bedroom, I'll cook." She says.
"Love you Ilya, really glad you're ok."
"Love you too Mama." He says. "Thank you for coming to take care of moy lyubimyy when I cannot."
"Always." She says, and pulls away from her son. Shane gets up and carries the phone into his bedroom, shutting the door with a quiet click behind him.
Yuan goes over and collapses in Davids arms. They are both crying again.
"He called us Mama and Papa." David says.
"Yes he did. That's our boy." She whispers. “And he’s ok.” She chokes out. They stand there for long moments.
Shane does have all the ingredients for okayu, probably left over from living in a kitchen always stocked for it. She makes a lot, it reheats well. She tops it with sesame seeds, sesame oil, salmon and green onions, like she did when he was a kid.
He comes out of the bedroom, eyes puffy from crying, but showered and wearing a Boston raiders shirt that isn't his. He sits at his table, and David immediately wraps him in a blanket.
Yuna slides him a mug of tea and the bowl of okayu.
"Thanks mom." Shane whispers.
"Always baby." She says, sliding David some too. She's full from dinner and the stress from the past couple of hours but David is always willing to eat.
She sits next to Shane and rubs his shoulders while he eats.
"Will you stay tonight?" He whispers.
"Of course, baby. We were planning on it." She whispers back.
"Thank you for being here. I don't know what I would have done if I was alone." He whispers.
David reaches over and squeezes Shane's arms. He leaves his arm there.
"I'm…. I don't want to hide anymore." Shane whispers.
"Baby." Yuna says softly.
"Mom if something had happened? No one would have known to call us. Any of us." Shane's voice breaks. Tears well in his eyes again. "I don't… I couldn't live with it. If he di-died and I had to pretend like he didn't take everything that matters to me with him."
"Shane." She says. David’s openly crying again.
"I'm gonna ask him to marry me." Shane says, firm. He swipes at his eyes.
"That's wonderful Shane." David says, beaming through his own tears.
"Mom, would you help us figure out a way to come out? Soon? I'm so tired of having to pretend like he isn't my whole heart." Shane says.
"Of course I'll help. What a good idea." She says.
He smiles. "He says he wants whatever desert you most feel like making Dad, he likes all of them.” Shane laughs wetly. “He told me was going to miss me most and your pies second if he didn’t make it.” They all laugh in a way that is just crying again. Shane takes a breath.
“I'm gonna propose when he get's home Sunday, maybe Monday we can do dinner at your place and talk about the wedding and coming out? And you all can see him? Is it ok to make you wait that long? Or maybe you should see him before in case he says no and it's awkward…" Shane says, brain already twelve steps ahead in the wrong direction.
"Shane there is no universe where that boy says no to you. Not a one." David says. Shane smiles.
"Thanks Dad." Shane says. David squeezes his arm again. “I really love him.”
"What a good plan, I'll come up with some ideas for coming out for Monday." She says. Shane smiles at her.
"Thanks mom." He scrapes the last of his food out of his bowl. "I'm really glad you guys are here." He says. Yuna brushes some of his hair back.
"Do you need help planning how you're gonna propose?" She asks. Shane smiles a little.
"No. I've had a ring for a while. And he told me how he'd propose to me once so I'm gonna steal his idea. Get as close as possible to it." Shane says.
"You've thought about this for a while." She says.
"I've known I was gonna marry him since 2017." Shane says simply. "Probably before that actually. Probably from the first moment I saw him, smoking outside that rink in Saskatchewan." He says.
"Summer before rookie season probably." David says. Shane beams.
“Yeah. Summer before.” He smiles. And then yawns. He sort of slumps into Yuna. "I'm really tired." He says suddenly.
"I'm sure you are, full hockey game and then all of this. It's a lot. Why don't you go to sleep, we'll clean up and be in the guest room ok?" David says. Shane nods. They stand. Yuna starts gathering dishes when Shane suddenly pulls her into his arms.
"Thank you. I'm really glad that you both love him as much as I do. It means so much, to both of us." Yuna sets the dishes down and hugs her son tight.
"Thank you for sharing him with us." She says. He gives her a watery smile. He hugs David tight next.
"Love you." Shane mutters.
"Love you too kiddo." David mutters. “Love you both so much. I’ll make him so much pie when he gets home.”
Shane smiles at them for a moment and then heads to bed. Yuna and David clean up the kitchen. David heads to the guest room but Yuna creeps to Shane’s room and quietly pushes open the door. He’s curled around a pillow, wearing one of Ilya’s hoodies, nose buried in the collar. His face is tear stained, but he’s sleeping. Yuna pads over and gently kisses his head, like she used to when he was little.
She finds David sitting up in bed in the guest room, wearing one of Shane’s old t-shirts. He’s laid out a t-shirt for her too, something maybe left by Rose Landry or Jackie Pike. She changes and climbs into bed beside him. David pulls her into his arms. She burrows into his chest.
"Glad our boy is going to make it official."
"Yeah, him coming out is a big step." Yuna says.
"Well yes, it'll be nice to listen to you put farmers market vendors, random people next to us at Cens games, hockey players and communications managers in their place about him. But I meant it's nice that Ilya will officially be our son." David says. Yuna blinks and then smiles into the dark.
"Yeah. We get to keep him." She says.
Monday she’s cooking dinner when she hears a car door slam. She abandons the food and rushes to the front. She’s grabbing Ilya up into a hug before the door has even shut.
“Hi Mama.” He says, holding her just as tight. He burrows his face in her shoulder. “I’m ok.”
“I know honey. Just let me hug you for a little longer, ok?” Yuna says wetly.
“Okey.” He says. Shane laughs behind them.
“I did warn you.” He mutters.
“When she’s done it’s my turn, son.” David says.
“Okey Papa. When Mama is done.” Ilya says, and tucks further around her. She closes her eyes and thinks Thank you for protecting him, I love him so much Irina. Thank you so much for this beautiful boy.
She finally releases him, wiping his tears with her thumb. He smiles and steps around her to hug David.
“I hope you made pie.” He says. David laughs.
“So much pie. I hope you said yes.” He returns. Yuna perks up.
“You better have said yes.” She says, wrapping an arm around Shane’s waste and kissing his head. He leans against her.
“Is easiest question I have ever been asked Mama, of course I said da.” He says stepping back and thrusting his left hand between them so their can see the black ring Shane picked out.
“Oh yay! We get to plan a wedding!” Yuna says, squeezing Shane.
“And a coming out. Shanya says you have idea Mama.” Ilya says.
“Of course I do.” Yuna says grinning at them both.
“Food first, than we can plan.” David says.
July 10th 2021
It's been a perfect day. Yuna is maybe a little drunk. But her sons got married, who can blame her.
They got married at the cottage, which seems fitting and perfect.
The guest list was kept relatively small. Ilya's whole team and coach came with their families. Ilya had slowly been coming out to them since they got engaged, Shane had attended several team barbeques at Zane Boodrams house, and gets along exceedingly well with the team and their families. Charles Young brought Melissa Owens as his date, Shane and Ilya told her and Freddy about them at a team outing. Freddy was very excited to be invited to a wedding. He got his very own invitation. Melissa is sporting her own sparkly engagement ring and Freddy has been bragging to the Pike kids all night that his stepdad is a better hockey player than their dad, in a way that strongly sounds like Ilya. The Pike kids have been playfully arguing back.
Harris Drover brought case and cases of the best cider in the world and his dog that plays with Ilya's sweet girl. He also holds Troy Barretts hand the whole time which makes Yuna smile. She was nervous about his transfer, but Ilya told her he is working hard on himself, and the Irina Foundation has reposted some of the links he’s shared advocating for survivors of sexual assault. If Ilya likes him that’s enough for her.
Scott Hunter and his husband are here, Ryan Price and his fiancé pop singer Fabian Salah are here, and not much about their guest list was surprising but that one had been when they'd told her to invite him. Apparently, Eric Bennet and Kyle Swift were invited but they are away "being gay on a beach somewhere Mama, seems homophobic to miss my wedding don't you think?" As Ilya had put it.
Only the Pikes and JJ Boiziau are the only Metros in attendance. She is choosing not to dwell on that too much, only because today is too happy a day to spend any of it feeling betrayed by the Metros. She’s spent enough time doing that already.
Cliff Marleau is here too, he and Ilya laughing about Montreal Jane which made Shane blush and Ilya wiggle his eyes brows. Yuna saw him staring at Luca Haas earlier while Luca pretended not to notice. She’s filed that away to gossip with Ilya about later.
Rose Landry is also here, turning many heads in a beautiful dress. She and Yuna formally met earlier, with Rose smiling conspiratorially and saying “Lovely to meet you Mrs. Hollander, glad it is in these circumstances.” Which Yuna wholeheartedly agrees with. She helps Shane get ready before the ceremony. It’s obvious they are best friends and it was fun hanging out with them.
Ilya's friend Svetlana Vetrova is intimidating and beautiful. Yuna met her after the ceremony. She'd walked up and introduced herself.
"Pleased to meet you Svetlana. It is an honor to meet Ilya's family." Yuna said, extending her hand.
Svetlana looked her up and down and said smoothly "I can see where Ilyusha's husband gets his beauty. I have heard much about you, thank you for taking such good care of Ilyusha and loving him so well. His Mama must have sent your boy to him so he could have family again." She'd said. Yuna had to blink back tears.
"I'm sure Irina would have loved to be here and would be so proud of him." She said. Svetlana smiled.
"Irina would have loved Shane and would have taken care of him the way you care for Ilyusha had she ever met him." Svetlana said.
"I am going to have to walk away from you or I will spend the day of my sons’ wedding ruining my makeup and crying." Yuna said. Svetlana laughed.
"Your husband and Shanya’s husband have that covered I think." Svetlana said. "Besides I spotted a very pretty girl who is lacking a drink and company and feel I must do my part to remedy that." Yuna had laughed delightedly, making a mental note to get to know Svetlana more.
She's sitting in a deck chair on the dock now, sipping cider, her granddog curled by her feet. She slips her shoes off and buries her toes in Anya's soft fur. David's arm is warm around her shoulders, his booming laugh interrupting Zane Boodram’s stories. Somewhere behind her, the newly minted Hollander-Rozanovs are off dancing or making out or talking with their friends.
David walked Ilya down the aisle and they both cried, as did many people in the audience. By the end of the ceremony everyone was crying. She walked Shane down the aisle, and they both wore matching expressions of fighting back tears.
It was beautiful, and it's still beautiful, with the sun setting over the lake, getting to know the people her sons adore. Hayden has Jackie balanced in his lap across from her, their twin girls somewhere playing with Freddy.
"Did y’all hear about that FanMail thing?" Hayden says.
"The fuck is FanMail Pike?' Ilya's voice says from behind her. Yuna smiles watching Ilya and Shane come over hand in hand. Shane is slightly flushed and borderline giggly. They sit on the ground by Yuna's feet because all the chairs are taken. Ilya leans against her chair, one hand petting Anya when she wiggles over to lay her head in his lap, and the other arm tight around Shane to hold him close.
"No being mean to my husband on our wedding day Hayd." Shane says. Hayden did look like he was gearing up to rant at Ilya.
"You can't keep playing that card all day Shane!" Hayden complains. Every one laughs.
"My husband can do whatever he wants!" Ilya says then kisses Shane’s cheek.
"Any way!" Hayden says. Zane Boodram, Nick Chouinard, Scott Hunter and their spouses all laugh from their perches nearby. "FanMail is this site where you can record videos for fans, and send them. I was gonna sign up actually."
"And I told him that was a dumb idea." Jackie says immediately.
"Because you are beautiful and wise and Pike’s better half." Ilya says immediately. Jackie blows him a kiss. Shane and Hayden both grumble about it.
"Anyway, some celebrity did one and two other celebrities can be seen like making out in the background." Hayden says. "Do you think Rose knows them? Where is she?" Hayden asks, looking around like he’s going to find this a list celebrity and ask her about them.
"Somewhere yelling about hockey with Svetlana." Shane says.
"I do not think they are yelling, or doing much talking moy lyubimyy." Ilya says now.
"Ilya!" Shane hisses. "My parents are right there!" Shane hisses.
"Shane, Svetlana flirted with your mother earlier." David points out. Everyone laughs and Shane hides his bright red face in Ilya's shoulder.
"It is a shame those poor people’s relationship got exposed." Kip Hunter says, he’s perched on the arm of Scott’s chair leaning on him.
"God that would be so stressful." Shane mutters. "Can you even imagine?" He says turning to Ilya.
"Would be a nightmare." Ilya murmurs. "Would have 100% been Pike’s fault if we got outed that way."
"Hey!" Hayden says. Jackie laughs.
"I love you babe, but that does sound like something you would do." She says. Yuna laughs with everyone and then reaches down to squeeze Ilya's shoulder.
"Boys, speaking of, we have announcements to make don't we?" Yuna asks. Ilya perks up.
"Is time moy muzh." Ilya says. Shane sits up and leans up to kiss Ilya.
"I'm ready. It's time." Shane says.
They've been working on this statement for months, since the plane crash. Shane wanted to do it in the off season. Yuna and Ilya hadn't quite understood the need to wait until on Shane's birthday he'd said, "I'd like to leave the Metros." Yuna had dropped her full plate of cake all over the table.
David had choked on his wine and Ilya's eyebrows had shot up.
"The homophobia on the team is terrible, and they don't even know about Ilya. And I don't want to live far away from him. I've looked into it and if I take a 20% pay cut Ottawa can afford me. If we can get me that deal with Calvin Klien you were talking about Mom, and maybe I do a few more shoots with Rolex, and marry the hottest hockey player in the league then I can afford it." Shane said simply.
Ilya had stopped breathing. Shane had calmly taken a bite of cake. His diet, already loosening is basically nonexistent now. “Ilya please breathe.”
"Moy pomidor, you have just told me many things and expect me to just breathe? First my fiancé tells me he is being bullied by team, then he is moving to my team and making my dreams of becoming the MLHs sleep paralysis demon come true."
"You are spending too much time with the rookies." Shane interrupted. Ilya grinned.
"Then you say you will sign deal with Calvin Klien so I get sexy sexy professional pictures of my fiancé, but know the world will see them. And my fiancé talks about math and plans for the future which he knows gets me, how you say, hot and bothered. Then he calls me hottest man in league. And you want me to breathe?!" Ilya cried. Yuna and David laughed.
"Yes. You're a big boy, you can do it." Shane said.
"Shane we are at your parents house, you cannot say these things to me!"
"In two months they will be your parents too." Shane said, stealing some of Ilya's cake too.
"Oh, so you want your fiancé to cry for birthday present is that it?" Ilya said, eyes misty.
Shane had merely shrugged and stolen the rest of Ilya's cake. Ilya wore a look on his face for the rest of the day like all of his dreams had come true in one single moment.
The contract was signed officially yesterday, and they asked to make the announcement today.
Ilya stands up and cups his hands around his mouth. "Cens! And Harris! And everyone really! The groom demands your presence and it is illegal to deny groom anything on his wedding day. Is hate crime!" Ilya shouts.
"Ilya it is not!" Scott Hunter says tiredly.
"Maybe not in the Jurassic period Hunter when you and Bennet first invented being gay but is now. Is 2021 and you have controversially young husband, he should teach you better." Ilya says without even hesitating or turning around.
"Kip is only ten years younger than me. Kyle and Eric have a bigger age gap." Scott grumbles.
"Bennet and Taylor Swift have a diabolical age gap, is not controversial, keep up." Ilya retorts. Shane snorts a laugh into his cider. Yuna isn’t sure she understands all of that, but she laughs anyway.
"Don't encourage him, Shane! You're the only one he listens to!" Scott cries. This much laughter is going to Yuna's head more than the alcohol.
"Not true, he listens to Mom!" Shane says.
"Is true, I listen to Mama, but she is also laughing and also am legally her son now so is stuck with me." Ilya says turning to smile at her. Yuna reaches out and takes his hand.
"Very very happily stuck with." Yuna says.
"Oh he's gonna be insufferable now. He's got world renowned mom-ager Yuna Hollander wrapped around his finger." Zane says.
"Damn right he does." David says, sparking more laughter. The wedding guests gather on the dock and the lawn, with glasses of champagne someone produced from somewhere. Harris and Troy pass glasses to everyone seated who doesn’t have any yet.
"Oh are we doing speeches and announcements?" Jackie asks.
"Speeches?" Shane says frowning. "I have to make a speech? What more can I possibly say? It’s my wedding, making me give a speech seems unfair."
"I love you." Ilya says laughing, leaning down to kiss Shane soundly.
"No Shane." David says around his own chuckles. "People give speeches about the couple at weddings, best men, friends, parents, family people like that." Shane frowns, glancing up at Ilya.
"We didn't have best men." Shane mumbles. Ilya takes his hand.
"Is ok, did not want anyone wondering about Pike’s suit when they could be staring at you." Ilya says.
"Hey! What's wrong with my suit?!" Hayden predictably shouts. Jackie kisses him in consolation.
"Um if I recall." Shane starts, that devious look on his face that always takes people by surprise. "You couldn't decide between Cliff " Shane says. Marleau grins and raises his glass at Ilya.
"Love you brother, would have happily done it." He calls. Ilya beams.
“Or Bood.” Shane goes on.
"Love you cap!" Zane calls. Ilya grins.
“Or Barrett.” Shane says.
Troy blushes and Harris elbows him. “Yes is my best friend.” Ilya says. Svetlana and Rose have rejoined the group (Yuna notices and then deliberately does not notice how their clothes and hair are slightly mussed) and Svetlana says “Hey!” at the same time Cliff does too.
“Or of course having Svetlana do it.” Shane says. Svetlana blows Ilya a kiss.
"Malysh those were the only choices." Ilya says staring Shane down.
"No they weren't." Shane says. “There was one more wasn’t there? And you couldn’t decide so we didn’t have any. Who could that have been?”
"Sweetheart." Ilya says. Everyone is listening intently now. Shane grins. "Love of my life do not do this."
"Oh are you going to divorce me? Set record for shortest marriage?" Shane says. He stands too, fake pouting at Ilya.
"Do not joke about that. We will set record for longest marriage and die on same day at same minute in 100 years, you know this is plan." Ilya says, dead serious. Several people say 'aw' under their breath, Yuna included. Shane goes mushy too just for a beat. He tugs Ilya closer and kisses him.
"Fine. I won't tell them that you wanted Scott Hunter to be your best man and were worried Cliff, Bood, Barrett, and Sveta would have been offended." Shane says. For a beat its quiet and then the crowd erupts.
"Moy lyubimyy you have betrayed me! I told you that in confidence!" Ilya crows. He’s still holding Shane’s hands.
"I would have been offended! Choosing a fossil over me!" Cliff cries. Zane grins.
"I wouldn't have, I would have taken a million pictures. Ilya were you going to make him a gift basket to ask?" Zane calls.
“I would have been relieved. Scott is much more capable of being your best man, has done it since the dawn of time.” Troy says laughing.
Svetlana smiles. “I would have told whole world you actually like Dinosaur Hunter.” She says.
Ilya is bright red. Scott's husband is laughing teasing Scott under his breath.
"I'd have been honored Ilya, shows great respect to your elders." Scott says. Everyone laughs again.
“Since we have no best men, as established, thank you for that husband. Would anyone like to make speeches, not you Marley! Not in front of Hollanders, you can not speak. Actually no one can make speech, is dumb tradition never mind!” Ilya calls. Every one laughs again. There’s so much joy here, it’s making Yuna feel giddy.
“Actually, Ilya, I’d like to make a speech.” She says, standing a bit unsteadily.
“You don’t have to mom.” Shane says.
“Da, Mama, you do not need to make speech.” Ilya says.
Yuna smiles, standing in between them. They easily put their arms around her. “I’d like to, if I’m allowed.” She teases.
“Did not mean you Mama.” Ilya says, and kisses her cheek. She smiles.
“I’ll try to keep this brief.” She starts. “And not embarrass them too much.” Every one laughs. “They have asked that the timeline of their relationship be kept private, so I will not say much. What I will say is that when they started, and I'm under strict instructions not to say lovers.. ever.” She says. Ilya laughs, head thrown back, and Shane groans and drops his head to his hand. She smiles. “I'll say getting to know each other I met Ilya in an elevator.” Ilya blushes.
“I don't even think my son knows this story. I was trying to meet my husband in the lobby for a drink and dinner, we were all staying in the same hotel for reasons I will not disclose, and Ilya was taking the elevator up, I strongly suspect to meet his future husband. We said only about three words to each other, that I was wanting to go down, and he told me the elevator was heading up. I started to introduce myself and then the elevator doors closed. And no he didn't press the button for them.” People laugh. Ilya and Shane are blushing.
“I didn't know then that I had just met the love of my son's life. I don’t think they knew it either.” She says. “I didn't know that I had just met one of the goofiest, silliest, sweetest men I'd ever know. I didn't know then how much this boy would mean to me, and to my husband, but most importantly how much he would mean to my son.” She squeezes Ilya’s shoulders.
“I wouldn't get to know Ilya, really know him for close to a while later. But I am so lucky to know him. I am so lucky to be gaining a second son today, one who cares for my baby boy, who loves him, who cherishes him, who pushes him both in hockey and in life, and who makes loving him look as easy as breathing, which it is.” She squeezes Shane now. She untangles from them and steps away so she can face them and raise her glass. They wrap their arms around each other.
“Ilya, you are kind and selfless and wonderful, and we are so glad Shane didn't choose a nice man in Montreal, because he chose the most perfect man in the world.” David laughs, along with everyone else.
“Shane, all I have ever wanted for you is happiness. I remember driving you to hockey practice, and camps, and extra rink time, and games, and everything in between and thinking to myself, one day when he falls in love, they better understand that he loves hockey first. It never occurred to me that you would find your person on the ice, right alongside you, matching you skate for skate and shot for shot.” Yuna says, raising her glass at her son.
Ilya grins. “Maybe not shot for shot, I beat you yes, when was that? 2015?” Shane rolls his eyes and jostles Ilya next to him.
“I should have known that you would find someone just as brilliant at hockey as you. I am so proud of you, you have accomplished so much and have become someone I so admire. I am so glad every day that you found someone who loves you as Ilya does, who completes you as Ilya does, who makes your life easier as Ilya does, who is so absolutely devoted to you as Ilya is.” She continues. Ilya is looking misty. “I am so glad you found someone who loves everything you are and everything about you so completely as Ilya does. You two are perfect for each other, and watching you love each other has been one of the greatest joys of my life.” Both boys have tears in their eyes.
“Ilya, I am so happy to welcome you to the family, I swear we will always have cookies and cream ice cream in the freezer and probably pie if I know my husband. Shane, we promise to always call before coming over now, and I will keep your father from leaving chargers at your place.” Shane groans and Ilya and David both cackle.
“We love you both so much, I could not have asked for better sons. David told Ilya as he was helping him get ready today that we got so lucky with a son like Shane we never expected to be blessed with a second one. I could not agree more. How lucky are we to have two phenomenally wonderful sons, and to get to brag about them both constantly now.” She says. She lifts her glass.
“To Shane and Ilya Hollander-Rozanov!” She says. Everyone cheers and shouts there names. Ilya leans down and presses a kiss to Shane’s mouth.
“No one can top Mama Hollander’s speech so shall be none. Besides, have announcement!” Ilya says. Yuna goes back to her seat. "Team! Plus Mama and Papa and one of the best Pikes and her husband, 15th best Metro, and geriatric Hunter and youthful and beautiful Christopher, my HUSBAND and I have announcement!" Ilya says even though no one was talking and everyone is gathered.
"We know bud, you got married! How drunk are you, is Hollander's wedding night ruined before it can begin?" La Pointe hollers.
"It's Hollander-Rozanov actually." Shane says calmly. Ilya turns and gives him a mushy sort of look.
"Love the way that sounds, sweetheart." Ilya coos. Yuna is going to overdose on happiness.
"Focus baby." Shane says. "Quicker we do this the quicker we can make Harris DJ and we can dance again." Ilya grins. Harris groans.
"Team listen up! We have new player joining for next season. So, everyone be nice." Ilya says. Yuna smiles. Everyone is probably a little too drunk for this. It takes everyone a beat. It's Luca Haas who connects it (Yuna notices that he’s right next to Cliff Marleau. She wonders if Ilya has noticed.)
"Holy shit!" He shrieks. "Tell me I'm dreaming."
"Is not a dream baby Haas!" Ilya cries.
"Ilya just tell them, they're too drunk." Shane says when everyone continues looking confused. Even Hayden, who knows.
"Is true, Baby Haas. The Hollander-Romanovs are officially playing on the same team." Ilya says. The guests erupt, the team hauling Shane and Ilya into group hugs, with various shouts of "We are gonna get the cup!" and "Fuck yes! The other teams don't know what's coming!" Shane and Ilya are laughing. Yuna smiles and leans back into David.
"It'll be nice to go to their games and not have to pick a team." David mutters.
Yuna nods, watching Shane be swallowed up by a team that is already ecstatic to have him.
"We post announcement now, and then we dance!!" Ilya cries. Shane and Ilya come over and huddle near them.
"Ready baby?" Shane asks, his Instagram pulled up. Ilya has his own pulled up too. They both have identical image carousels loaded in and both screens show it posting jointly.
"Ready my Shanya." Ilya says. They both hit post and watch as it loads. When it does, they smile at each other.
"Go dance boys." Yuna says.
"Yes Mama. Thank you for all your help with the statement." Ilya says, pocketing his phone and tugging Shane off by the hand.
"Show me the post." David asks. Yuna opens Instagram and swipes to the post.
The collection of pictures make both of them sigh happily. The first picture is of them kissing at the alter earlier today, Shane in his white tux, Ilya in his black. They are smiling into the kiss. The gathered audience can be seen in blurred excitement. The next picture is their selfies from that one MLH awards they hosted together. The next photo is a selfie with Ilya kissing Shane's cheek with the dance floor packed with their friends behind them from earlier today. Shane is beaming. Next is a photo of both in their Centaurs Jersey's taken yesterday, their backs to the camera, Ilya twisting around to excitedly point at Shane's name and number. Shane is grinning over his shoulder. The last photo is from their CCM shoot where they are grinning at each other. It’s the picture Shane calls the best Christmas gift he's ever received.
The caption they wrote together with minor help from her: Loving you is the best thing I have ever done, and makes me a better hockey player and more importantly a better man. I love you baby, can't believe how lucky I am to be yours and call you mine for forever . You have never known a version of me that was not in love with Ilya Rozanov in some way. Excited to finally get to play on the same team, we're coming for that cup baby! #GoCentaurs #JustMarried-Shane Hollander-Rozanov
Getting to know and love you has been best thing in my life. I am a better player, a better man, and most importantly a happier man because I love you. Is dream come true to marry you and play with you on same team! Ya tak sil'no tebya lyublyu, lyubimyy! Za nas — navsegda! -Ilya Hollander-Rozanov.
"It's a good post." David says. The people around them have drifted off to the dance floor. The fairy lights strung about the backyard are glowing softly, a slow love song is playing from the speakers.
The couples are all dancing slowly, arms around each other. At the center is Shane and Ilya, folded around each other, pressed so tight they can hardly move. Yuna lifts her phone and snaps a picture. It's a little blurry, and hard to see, but the moment is captured nonetheless. She exhales. She gets to love and support these boys for the rest of her life, and wear their jerseys to hockey games, and brag about them whenever she wants.
"Want to dance, darling?" David asks.
"Just one second. I want to brag about him finally on my Instagram." Yuna says. She reopens her phone. She pics out the picture and types out a caption quickly before hitting post. She stands and takes David’s hand.
"Yes, let's dance at our sons' wedding." She says. David grins and leads her to the dance floor.
Instagram post made by Yuna_Hollander_Hockey_Mom2481 on 10 July, 2021 at 8:47pm:
(An image of Yuna Hollander, Ilya Hollander-Rozanov, Shane Hollander-Rozanov and David Hollander. The Hollander parents are on either side of Ilya and Shane. Yuna Hollander is wearing a beautiful and extremely flattering wine colored dress. Her hair is immaculately styled, her make up is flawless and she is beaming. Ilya's left hand is cupping her shoulder, and his wedding band is visible on his left ring finger. Ilya has tears in his eyes but a big smile on his face. He is holding tightly to Shane's hand, lifting it so the gold band on his left ring finger can be seen. He's in a dapper black tuxedo with a crisp white shirt and black tie under it. Shane is beaming at the camera, wearing a white tuxedo jacket with a white shirt underneath and black slacks. David Hollander has his arm around Shane, he is also teary eyed and beaming, wearing a smart dark suit.)
I'm so incredibly glad to announce that these two officially tied the knot today. @IlyaRozanov81 thank you so much for loving my boy so totally and completely. We have loved you since the day we officially met you, and are so lucky to count you as family now. To know you is to love you. @ShaneHollanderHockeyPlayer watching you find and love your person has been one of the best gifts of my life, I could have found no better person for you if I had picked him myself. I am so incredibly proud of the man, hockey player, and now husband that you have become. I love you my sons, forever and ever. I am one lucky mom. Can't wait to cheer you both on from the stands of the Tire Center next season, thank you for picking the same team so David and I didn't have to choose a favorite Hollander-Rozanov #GoCentaurs #lovemyboys #luckymama
@IlyaHollanderRozanov81 commented: Is ok Mama, we all know I am the favorite. Shhhhh we will not tell Shane.
@ShaneHollanderRozanovHockeyPlayer commented: We love you too mom!
@hollanov_4ever commented: HELLO?!?! This is how I find out?!
@IlyasWifey commented: Ilya calls Yuna Mama? Oh I'm gonna be sick…. And also may need to change my username…