#and i was reminded by how PRETTY vancouver is

[itsjusthockey]

Hughes Your Daddy? - Jack Hughes

hahahaha finally

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If I get 10+ comments/asks ill make a part 2

Yes, that's me bribing you, I want more interactions

w.c: 3,007 (credit to gif maker) (don’t steal my work)

The last few weeks of college are the worst weeks of a student's life. There’s nothing but studying, finals, and pure hell. Yet, when Ellen Hughes calls and tells you to get on a flight to Vancouver to be present at the Hughes Bowl, you fucking get on a flight to Vancouver.

The flight itself is terrific; you study a bit of your flashcards, drink some hot cocoa, and even get in a solid half-hour nap. You honestly feel a little sad when the intercoms go off, and they announce your descent into Canada.

The sadness washes away quickly when you clear the clouds and realize how excited you are. This trip, tomorrow’s game, is a very, very special event. Each Hughes brother will be playing on the ice tomorrow night, and you’ll be sitting, as requested, in the Hughes box overlooking it all.

As soon as the 737 touches down, you’re quick to switch your phone off airplane mode. You appreciated the few hours of bliss without endless notifications, but life has to go on. As soon as the iPhone gets service, a flood of messages rolls through. One from Ellen, to which you respond. Two from Quinn, which you answer. And 36 messages from Jack, which you ignore.

You should respond, and you will, but first, you have to get off the plane and find your favorite chauffeur.

Without further delay, you exit the plane, grabbing your carry-on and swinging your backpack over your shoulders. You smile at the few flight attendants on the way out and throw an extra thank you to the woman who gave you some extra cookies when she saw your flashcards.

The Vancouver airport is bustling, and you can’t help but feel the positive vibes radiating from the space. The entire airport is decorated for Christmas, and you’re reminded why it’s ranked one of the best airports in North America.

You make your way to the baggage claim, checking your phone to ensure you’re heading toward the right spot. You are, and while you’re walking, you pass all the cute little shops. You see a couple of little knickknacks, and you make a mental note to pick up something on your flight back. Now, however, you must focus.

The baggage claim area is pretty full, and you’re dodging people left and right. You’re unsure in the sea of people where Quinn might be hiding until you hear your name shouted from somewhere to your left. You turn your body, and there he is, waving a bit and standing with a small smile.

“Oh my god, is that Quinn Hughes?” You say in mock shock as you get within his earshot. “The newest captain of the Canucks and Vancouver's most precious gem?”

He rolls his eyes back as far as he can when you approach, but nonetheless, he pulls you in for a hug.

“Please stop.” He groans out as your part and takes your carry-on from you.

“Never.” You smile as he leads you out of the airport.

It takes mere minutes to get to the car, and you both catch up about whatever. It’s been months since you’ve seen Quinn, and whenever you’re with him, you’re reminded why he might be your favorite besides Ellen and Jim, of course.

As soon as you are settled into the passenger of Quinn’s car, he reaches back behind him and pulls out a small gift bag.

“Here, before I forget.”

You give him a questioning look, and he just gives you a slight smirk.

“Just open it. It’s more of a gift to everyone else.”

You squint your eyes a bit suspiciously but pull the tissue paper from the bag. As soon as you do, you see the familiar blue and white colors, and a laugh burst from your lips.

“Oh my god.” You shriek out, laughing, pulling the Canucks jersey from the bag.

You both immediately start laughing, and you can hardly contain yourself.

“Of course, you don’t have to wear it for the game.” Quinn says. “but he’s gonna flip if he sees you wearing it when they get here.”

You scan the Jersey and agree with the boy next to you. Your boyfriend is very possessive when it comes to jerseys, and he hates everything that isn’t red, black, or white and doesn’t have Hughes 86 plastered on the back.

“Oh, this is gold, Quinn.” You say, tucking the jersey back in as Quinn moves the car out of the lot.

“Ma and I thought so, too. She said it might humble him for the night.”

Speaking of humbling your boyfriend, you reach for your phone and go to text him back. You scan the many messages and roll your eyes at a few. Most of them are him just wanting attention, but the last one catches your eye.

we’re 2 hours behind ur flight. No fun or smiling before I get there

You read the text allowed to Quinn, who rolls his eyes at the statement, and you’re quick to shoot a response back, telling Jack that it’s too late and you’re having the best time ever.

————————-

As soon as you step through Quinn’s front door, you hear a happy yell, and Ellen is pulling you in for a long-awaited hug. You practically melt as she squishes you, and the happiest of laughs exits her.

“Oh, my sweet girl, I’m so happy this worked out.” She says to you, pulling back just enough to look at your smiling face.

You look behind her as Jim is standing nearby, waiting his turn. You give Ellen one less squeeze and then turn to the original Hughes and give him a big hug.

“Hey, kiddo,” He says. “Glad you’re here.”

As soon as you say your hellos, you move to get your stuff settled into your room. As quickly as you can, you throw your stuff down and pull on the New Jersey, making your way back out to the kitchen.

As soon as you enter, Jim laughs, and Ellen raises her hands to her mouth.

“Oh, Jack is gonna hate it.” She turns to Quinn and laughs, using him to steady her.

“Oh, we know.” You say, high-fiving Quinn as you grab a cup of some water.

As soon as you get your water, you all settle into the living room, and questions are flying left and right. You talk about school, work, and whatever else comes to mind about the time you’ve spent away from them. They hang onto every word, and you can’t help but smile. You’ve always been close to Jack's family, but when the one-year mark passed, it’s like they fully accepted you as one of them. Now, almost two years in, Ellen and Jim treat you like the daughter they never had, and they tell you often how much more they like you than any of their sons. You always laugh, but you know deep down that you are special to them. And that fact alone makes you consider yourself one of the luckiest girls.

“They just landed,” Quinn announces. “Almost showtime.”

Ellen winks at you from her space on the couch, and you settle deeper into the comfortable space, counting down the seconds until your boyfriend walks through the door.

—————————-

About half an hour later, you hear loud commotion as the door swings open and Jack and Luke enter the building. It takes less than three seconds for Jack to yell.

“Where is she?”

You laugh at him and yell back from the living room. “I’m in here.”

In mere seconds, Jack is in the room, making a beeline toward you. It’s the first time you’ve seen him in a month, and you won’t lie; he looks pretty good.

You make your move and step off the couch, going to hug him, but he halts in his place a few feet away, giving you a once-over.

“Get that shit off you.”

As soon as that leaves his mouth, everyone busts out laughing, and Jack gives you a less-than-impressed look. You feel a bit bad, so you give him a small smile and lift the jersey off your frame, revealing a Devils t-shirt underneath.

As soon as you throw the jersey away, he takes two long strides and engulfs you in a hug. You thought that nothing could beat Ellen’s hug, but Jack's grip nearly breaks your back.

You pull away after a second and pry him off of you. You love him more than anything, but you’re not about to show massive amounts of PDA in front of his parents, who are sitting a few feet away.

He gets this because he lets you go and gives his parents and brother a quick greeting, then leads you away from the living room. Everyone allows it to happen, and you find yourself in the privacy of the bedroom.

“You’re funny, but you better have my jersey for tomorrow night.”

You let out a small laugh and cross the room again, linking your hand behind his head and pulling him closer to you. His hands find home on your waist, and his fingertips dip under your shirt a bit, gently squeezing.

“I promise, J,” you grin. “I’ll do my best to show support to the losing team.”

He releases a soft gasp and gives you a slight look of betrayal.

“Losing team?”

Your grin goes even wider. “Check that stats, bud. You’re in a bit of a losing streak.”

He narrows his eyes a bit, and with one quick motion, he grabs your frame and tosses you on the bed. He enters attack mode, lays his entire weight on you, and begins grabbing at your sides. You, of course, go into defense mode and fight to push him off. You fight for power for a minute before you pull your defining move. He gets close, too close, and you give him your best doe eyes. The second he catches your stare, he folds, and he puts himself at your mercy.

For the first time in a hot minute, you pull him to meet you; the second his lips are on you, you implode. It’s been too long, and there is nothing more comforting and familiar than the boy lying nearly on top of you. You kiss him for a minute, your lips molding perfectly together before you pull away, gently patting his face.

“I think your family would like to see you.”

You push him away again as he rolls his eyes.

“I see them enough.”

He goes back to try to kiss you, but you push him away, putting a finger to his lips and shaking your head.

“Come on.”

He lets out an annoyed huff and removes himself from the bed, pulling you up along with him. You make your way back to the family room and laugh yourself into the family events.

Soon, you’re all playing board games, and you find out very quickly reminded about how sore of a loser your boyfriend is. You play board games cards, and when it gets late enough in the night, you all make your way to the living room for a movie.

You watch something light-hearted, and you can’t help but feel bliss as you’re tucked into Jack's side, surrounded by the entirety of the Hughes family. It’s a nice moment, and it’s the times like this that have you thankful you’ve stuck with the boy at your side.

——————

Before the sun rises, Jack's alarm blares next to you, and you can only groan at the noise. Alarms are truly nothing but an escape from bliss, and you wish you could stay forever in this little bubble. You’re warm comfy, and you don’t mind the boy you’re cuddled next to.

But alas, he is a slave to hockey, and he presses a quick kiss to your lips and swings himself out of bed. You follow a few minutes later, moving at a sloth pace. Instead of getting fully ready, you make your way downstairs to where the smell of bacon is wafting through the house. You’re almost giddy as you see Ellen and Quinn making breakfast, and you get even happier when Ellen places a steaming mug of coffee in front of you.

“You’re an angel, thank you.”

She gives you a big smile and pours another cup for herself. As soon as you catch the time, you offer to take Quinn’s place with the cooking, to which he gladly accepts and runs off to shower and get ready for the big game.

As soon as all the Hughes boys are out of earshot, you get down to business.

“I’ll raise to fifty on the Devs.”

Jim scoffs at your bet. “I love ‘em, but I disagree. Offense has been a bit sloppy. I’ll raise to a hundred on the Nucks.”

You quirk your eyebrow, then turn to the Queen, who seems to be pondering.

“I’m sorry (Y/N), but I think I’m gonna say Nucks too.”

You let out a soft groan but hold your ground.

“Alright. Final bet is a hundred. Winner takes all.

You all shake hands, sealing the deal.

As if you weren’t up to gambling, you act as naturally as possible as the three boys enter the kitchen. Each one is clad in a suit, and it warms your heart to see them all together. They look adorable, and you can’t help but laugh when Ellen demands a picture. They oblige, but like every other photo they take, it slightly looks like they’re being held at gunpoint. But you win some, you lose some.

Eventually, you’re all fed, happy, and once another alarm goes off, you know it’s time. You say your goodbyes to the boys, wishing them the best of luck. You hug Quinn, do your secret handshake with Luke, and press a quick kiss to Jack's lips.

Once you finish, they say their goodbyes to their parents and make their way toward the door, but they don’t get far before Jack pulls you toward him one last time.

“You ready to watch me destroy Quinn?” He teases.

You roll your eyes, pushing him away with a laugh. Nonetheless, you give him one last peck, swat his ass, and yell one final encouragement as he heads out the door.

“Don’t embarrass me!”

He flips you the bird as he gets into Quinn’s vehicle, and you smile and give him one back as you head back into the house.

You sit back down to finish talking with the parents l, and time ticks by faster than you’d like. Soon enough, it’s time to get ready, and you throw on your devil's jersey. You say a little prayer and hope they all do good. Things like this don’t happen often, and you hope it’s simply a good game.

———————

You smiled as wide as you could as the three Hughes brothers posed for a couple of pictures. You could see the distaste on all their faces, but they did it anyway.

Once they do the appropriate media, the game begins, and you’re sitting on the edge of your seat. It’s a good game, no, a great game. Soon, the first period is almost over, but not before your boyfriend has to remind everyone who he is, and he scores a goal.

It’s known that the Hughes parents don’t show much emotion at the games, and even more so when it’s their sons playing on opposite teams. So you control yourself, but you don’t miss when Ellen squeezes your hand.

The game continues, and it’s a nail-biter. Each minute you watch, you get more and more tense. Maybe it’s because you’re just nervous, or perhaps it’s the fact you have a hundred bucks on the line. But either way, you pray the clock ticks faster.

It doesn’t, but once Luke scores, you can’t help but start to think that this might be the end of a losing streak. You laugh on the inside because, of course, all it takes is a little brother rivalry to get the Devils back into motion.

———————

When the clock hits zero, and the Devils win, you practically die in your seat. You’re so thrilled for Jack and Luke, but a small part of you is a bit depressed for Quinn. But you know, if anyone can handle a loss like this, it’s the eldest Hughes, so you’re not too worried. Instead, you focus on your boyfriend, who, even from the box, looks the happiest he’s been in a while. He was given the title of the first star of the game, and you absolutely love it when he’s like this. You know he’s going to be in one of those unstoppable moods. You love it, but he can be a cocky little shit, and you know he’s going to be almost insufferable. You’ll take it, though, and embrace every part of it.

A few minutes later, the area starts clearing, and you’re all getting ready to leave the box, but you almost forget what is happening when Jim slides you a crisp hundred-dollar bill and winks at you.

“Jack really pulls out the stops when you’re at a game.”

You let a blush creep onto your face as you take the bill. You’d be lying if you said that you felt bad. This isn’t the first game you’ve bet on against Jim, and it certainly won’t be the last.

“Alright, you two gamblers, let’s go see the boys, shall we?”

Ellen leads the three of you down to where you’ll see the men of the hour. You feel the happiest you’ve felt in a while as you follow behind them, and when you get close enough, you can hear your boyfriend laugh from a short distance. Your heart skips the noise, and as soon as he spots you from across the room, he moves as fast as lightning to get to you.

#hockey #hockey boys #imagine #nhl imagine #hockey fic #hockey imagine #hockey x reader #nhl hockey #nhl x reader #jack hughes #jack hughes x reader #jack hughes imagine #luke hughes #quinn hughes #new jersey devils #vancover canucks #nhl blurb #nhl fic #nhl players #nhl #hockey blurbs #canucks hockey #devils hockey

[theemporium]

since its winter season lets say bsf!reader gets sick how is quinn reacting?

thank you for requesting!🫶🏽

series masterlist

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“Quinn—”

“No.”

“I feel fine—”

“No.”

“I can just—”

“You’re not going and that is final,” Quinn stated bluntly, shooting you a look from across the kitchen. You had spent the last fifteen minutes arguing with the boy and it just felt like you were going around in circles. 

After the last of your winter semester assignments had been handed in, you had booked a flight out to Vancouver to spend the few weeks you had off with Quinn before you headed home for the holidays. What you failed to take into consideration was that the cold weather and stress of college would wear you down so much. 

Now, you were finally in Vancouver, feeling congested and feverish and, overall, just like utter shit. 

And the last place Quinn wanted you was in the arena to watch his game.

“I hardly get to watch you,” you argued as you leaned against the counter, crossing your arms over your chest. “I’ll be in the suite with the others, as well. I’ll be fine, Quinn. I can just—”

“You should be resting.” Quinn retorted, his brows furrowed together in concern. You knew he was worried but god, it just reminded you of when he was overbearingly protective of Jack and Luke growing up. “The arena will be loud and cold and—”

You shot him a look. “I’ve been to a hockey game, Quinn.” 

The boy let out a sigh, staring right back at you. Neither one of you said anything for a few moments before Quinn broke, making his way towards you and hesitantly opening his arms to you. You didn’t waste much time in wrapping your arms around his waist, settling your head against his chest as he hugged you close.

“I know you wanna be there to support me but I want you to take care of yourself first,” Quinn murmured, his lips brushing against the crown of your head before he placed a kiss there. “The last thing I want is you pushing yourself too hard and you get worse.”

“You’re such a captain,” you mumbled into his chest but he could hear the smile in your voice. “I just feel bad for missing the game when I’m literally here.”

“I know,” he muttered before he pulled back enough to look down at you. “But there will be plenty of games while you’re here than you can come to, when you’re better.”

“I hate when you’re right,” you grumbled with a pout.

His lips twitched upwards. “C’mon, you can watch the game on the couch. I’ll even order your favourite soup from the deli down the road.” 

Your face softened. “I know you’re just softening me up so I agree but you’re a real softie when you want to be.” 

He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, get that pretty ass moving now.”

And he did as he said. He got you settled on the couch with an array of pillows and blankets and one of his spare jerseys so you could support him fully. He waited until the food arrived and plated it up, before pressing a kiss to the top of your head before he left.

Despite your best efforts, you did fall asleep during the game. That was how Quinn found you, fast asleep on the couch with the game highlights playing in the background. And something in his chest tightened at the sight, at the hope that maybe one day this would be a sight he could come home to every day rather than the few weeks you were visiting him for.

.

#quinn hughes #nhl #vancouver canucks #quinn hughes x reader #quinn hughes x you #quinn hughes x y/n #quinn hughes fic #quinn hughes one shot #nhl x reader #nhl x you #nhl x y/n #nhl fic #nhl one shot

[sc0tters]

Owed It | Jack Hughes

summary: you’re less than happy with how things ended between you and Jack so when the Devils come to Vancouver to play you decide to give him a piece of your mind, but what happens when he has the same idea?

request: yes/no

warnings: sexual themes, p in v, face riding, use the of the word slut once, swearing.

word count: 2.25k

authors note: I sort of merged a request of some prompts for Jack and a part 2 of Misconceptions and Confrontations. Although I have left it on a cliff hanger I’m not going to make this into a full blown series which is why there hasn’t been a Masterlist made for this.

pt 1 | pt 3

To say you were surprised when he showed up at your door it was an understatement.

After your conversations died down in December you pushed him to the back of your mind. Sure it was hard at first as you missed staying up until the late hours of the night giggling as you would be on FaceTime with Jack. But when Tito moved to the Canucks within a month of things pretty much ending with Jack you didn't complain. The Quebec native was fun, sure you two hadn't done anything under your clothing yet but that didn't mean that there weren't a few shared kisses when you two got far too drunk for your own goods or after big games as your own celebration for him.

The Canucks player had come over to grab his suit jacket that had he had left after you two went to watch a movie "thanks again," he smiled as you walked him to the door.

The gesture was innocent as he placed his hand on the small of your back "don't mention it," you shook your head as you opened your front door "Jack?" Your eyes went wide as the two of you were met with the middle Hughes boy.

Jack mirror your reaction as he looked at Tito. The boys had met each other on numerous occasions when the Canadian was still with the Islanders "Beauvillier," he scowled as he sent the older boy a glare.

The creased shirt on the Canucks player was not helping your cause, because to the untrained eye it seriously looked like you were letting him out after you two spent the night together.

Tito wasn't one to be scared of Jack or most players for that matter but the look that he was receiving would have made him a dead man if looks could kill "I guess this is my queue to leave," he murmured as he gave you a side hug before the older boy scurried out of your apartment.

The Devils player was still trying to comprehend what he had just seen "what the fuck?" Jack let out an exasperated gasp as you pulled him into your apartment.

You let out a growl "keep your voice down," you grumbled as it was barely eight o'clock in the morning.

It caused the boy to scoff "so now you care about if others can hear you?" The hockey player shook his head as he placed his hands on his jean pockets.

The comment caused you to grow irritated "last time I checked you are not in the position to parent me," you shot back as your eyes went into a glare.

It pissed you off how nonchalant the boy was "you're the one who left me on read," Jack had been left hurt after you ignored his question asking if you were planning on joining Quinn for the Hughes Christmas family dinner, an event that she was always an honorary guest to.

You grabbed the orange juice from the counter that you had been drinking "you're the one who decided that you wanted to see other people," you pointed out as you waved your finger at him "and I'm not one for sharing." Your voice was a low grumble as you brought the glass to her lips.

Jacks once irritated look was now a smirk "were you jealous?" He asked as he knew you were talking about the rumours that he had gotten back with his ex girlfriend.

The reminder of what happened lit a fire beneath you "you know I actually missed you," you scoffed as you couldn't believe that you wanted to see him.

You saw why you hated him so much back then.

The devils player rubbed his hand against his jaw "I missed you too," he blurted out as he walked over to where you were in the kitchen

"Bullshit," you blurted out as you sent him a glare.

The Hughes brother placed his hands on your hips as he pulled you closer to him "come sit on my face and I'll show you how much I missed you." He murmured as his lips were a mere few inches from your own.

Darting your eyes from his down to his lips your voice went croaky "Jack," you mumbled as you kissed him.

Oh how you missed the feeling of those lips on yours. Weirdly enough though the the amount of hatred in it was next to nothing when compared to the first time he kissed you, dare to say it but it was almost like there was a hint of love in this kiss.

As Jack pulled away from you he caught your lower lip in between his teeth as he gave it a small tug "where's your bedroom princess?" He asked as he cocked his head.

Your furrowed your eyebrows almost like you were confused by what he was hinting at "end of the hallway," you let out a soft gasp as you realised what he was hinting to.

So like any horny girl, you locked your hand with his as you pulled him in the direction of your room "you're so eager," the hockey player teased as he reached under your baggy shirt that was clearly one of Quinn’s as he helped you out of your panties.

As you stepped out of them you couldn’t help but roll your eyes "fuck off," you warned as you shook your head.

Jacks lips turned into a pout "that's not very nice," he had this shit eating grin as he sat on your bed bringing you closer by your shirt.

With his other hand he let it trail over your slit "god Jack just," your voice was breathy as you tried to grind on the individual finger.

The boy lay down flat on your bed "come here," he motioned for you to join him on the bed.

But when you only sat next to him he wasn’t happy "up here honey," Jack tapped his lips as he hooked his hand behind your leg helping move you closer.

As you hovered above his face you couldn’t help but remember why you were so irritated "you got a lot of ner-" you were quickly cut off when Jacks tongue darted inside of you.

You never really thought that Jack was the kind of boy to be a munch but god were you wrong "right there," you groaned as his nose continued to knock your clit.

The sensations were something that you weren’t used to. Sure you had been eaten out before but never like this "fuck!" Your one had gripped at the headboard as your other locked onto his hair.

Jacks eyes never left yours “so good," you moaned as you continued to grind on his face.

His lips moved with a pop as he replaced it with his fingers "you like this don't you?" He asked in a teasing tone.

You nodded as you watched him move back to his original position "yes Jack," you repeated your words as he kissed your clit "fuck yeah I do," your voice was broken as you tried to remain calm.

The smirk on his face was clear and you had to break him "this is what you've been missing out on," your comment drew a moan from his lips.

Playing with fire seemed to be your forte "what Tito had been getting whenever he wanted." You cooed as you forced him by his hair to make him look at you.

You got your wish of pissing him off "off," Jack tapped your thigh as he pulled his mouth away from your clit.

The build to your high was quick to become unraveled "wha-" you grew surprised.

He repeated his words "get off.”

Not wanting to piss him off you listened "I'm gonna fuck you so hard that you'll forget that guys name." Jack warned as he sat up to kiss your lips.

You loved the way that you could taste yourself on his lips "you want me to forget Tito?" You asked making sure that you put more effort into the boys name.

It caused Jacks eyes to grow dark "see that you've still got that mouth on you," he murmured as he ran his thumb over your lower lip.

Nodding with a smirk "would never lose it for you," you explained as the boy pulled your top over your head.

Jack let out this guttural groan "missed these," he reached out to cup your bare breasts.

It drew a giggle from your lips "just my boobs?" You asked as the hockey player got up.

The boy tucked your hair behind your ear "missed all of you," he placed a kiss on your lips.

You watched as he grabbed a condom from his jeans "you knew what was gonna happen didn't you?" A scoff fell from your lips as he nodded.

He smirked as he pulled his shirt off of his head "cause my baby is my cock hungry slut," Jack rolled the condom over his cock “want you on all fours," he added as he motioned for you to flip over.

Your lips form a pout "got a thing for not seeing my face?" You teased as you let out a giggle.

Jack was surprised that you made that comment no matter how playful your voice was "thought you didn't want me to see your face when you came.” He explained as he pulled you closer now deciding that missionary was going to be the preferred position.

His cock teased your clit before he thrusted inside of you “you gonna be a good girl and take it for me?” Jack asked as his thumbs teased your breasts.

The moan you released was your worst enemy “not a big challenge,” you were proud of yourself for getting the words out.

They seemed to egg Jack on as he pulled your legs over his shoulders. It gave him access to fuck you in a much deeper angle “you liking that don’t you?” He smiled when your face scrunched up as his hand went to your clit.

You wanted to reach up to hit him but as he increased his pace it caused your hand to land on your boob “god,” you groaned letting your fingers tease the nipple.

Jack loved the way that you were so responsive to his actions. Sure other girls had been like that in bed with him before but this all felt different.

The girl that he had been pining over since he was a kid. Yes you thought he hated you but of course your mothers were right, Jack had liked you from the moment he saw you on that swing. The reason why he pulled you off of it? That’s simply because you weren’t listening to him.

You let out a moan “you’re so good Jacky,” you cried out as you made grabby hands at him.

It might have been a childish gesture but you missed the feeling of his lips on yours “my little girl wants a kiss?” He asked as he let his lips hover above yours. The angle that he was now thrusting into caused him to be best friends with your g-spot.

Given the new level of pleasure that you were felling all you could do was nod. And luckily for you Jack wasn’t in the mood to tease you. So his lips went on yours as his tongue swiped across your lower lip as he wanted to feel the feeling of his tongue fighting with yours.

When you let out a moan you granted his wish. Jack swore that the moment forced your head into the mattress that he loved you. Seeing you in the position that you were in made him feel like he was on cloud nine “I’m gonna come,” you announced as the boys motions on your clit quickly sped up.

He wanted you to see reach your high first because Jack was literally seconds behind you “go on my pretty girl.” The hockey player smiled as he kissed your neck.

It was crazy how that little moment caused your orgasm to not only come but also it hit you like a truck.

You repeated a string of “oh my gosh” as your pussy almost suffocated his cock “this pussy was made for me fuck,” Jack cursed as his high was met shortly after yours was.

The boy let out a soft laugh as he took in your sensitive state, it was like that simply didn’t change from the previous time you two spent together.

As he slid out of you your body shuddered “sorry honey,” he apologised as he hook his fingers under your jaw so that he could place a peck on your lips.

But when your phone went off you two each looked at the other with wide eyes.

Quinn x: I’ll be up in three minutes

Quinn x: Got you breakfast.

Sure you shouldn’t have been surprised by this, it was your tradition before every home game “fuck,” you groaned as you quickly got up.

You didn’t seem to care that your legs felt like jelly as you quickly tried to get ready “what?” Jack asked as he hadn’t gotten a chance to see the messages.

You didn’t get a chance to answer his question when you heard the front door open “I’m here!” Quinn called out as he shut the door behind him.

You and Jack were now truly fucked.

#jack hughes smut #jack hughes x you #jack hughes x reader #nhl imagine #nhl oneshot #hockey imagine #hockey imagines #hockey smut #nhl smut #oneshots #imagines #amber writes fics

[ghostfacd]

the sun to my moon. QH43

au masterlist

warnings: mention of underage drinking + peer pressuring, cursing, a tiny tiny hint of angst, not proofread so there might be mistakes, someone’s mean to sunny </3

It wasn’t a shocker that Quinn Hughes was a very grumpy person. He was fairly quiet, eyes calculating as they scan every corner of the room.

If you didn’t know him well, you’d probably think Quinn was just plain mean. He wasn’t, or maybe, not that mean, he just didn’t like talking to people—or people at all, for the matter.

It was pretty cold that December in New Jersey, but the lake house was warm and the waters were a fairly nice dark blue. He had gone home to visit his parents, as well as Jack and Luke. It was nice to be back in America, a change from Vancouver.

“Hi Quinn sweetie!” Ellen greets her son happily, engulfing him in a hug that he returns with a small smile. He had only really smiled to his mom, appreciating her constant support and encouragement. “Oh! Jack brought home his girlfriend! You should meet her,”

Quinn raises his eyebrows at this, never hearing Jack mention a girlfriend in any of their family calls. Was the boy finally settling down?

He walked into the living room, surprised to see two brunette girls along with Jack. Brunette? Now this got Quinn’s attention. He’d always thought his brother would go for.. blondes.

“Hi! I’m Jack’s girlfriend, you must be his older brother!” The girl smiles brightly, making Quinn almost grimace. “It’s so nice to finally meet you. Jack has told me so much!”

“I’m sure he has,” Quinn chuckles awkwardly, shaking the hand she had extended to him earlier.

Jack smiles at his favorite people interacting with another. “This is my girl’s best friend, Sunny Damount.” He points to the other brunette girl who almost takes Quinn’s breath away.

Jesus, was she an angel in disguise?

“Sunny?” Quinn questions. He’s never met anyone named Sunny, so his voice almost sounds confused.

“I’m Y/N, but everyone just calls me Sunny because they say I remind them of a ray of sunshine!” Her face converts into the most beautiful smile Quinn’s ever seen in his life—aside from his mom—and he can’t help but feel his knees grow weak.

“Nice to meet you Sunny,” Quinn smiles, and Jack and Luke throw a glance at each other in amusement.

“Hey Q, why don’t you show her around?” Jack suggests. “I mean, you know the lake house like the back of your hand.”

Quinn rolls his eyes slightly, noticing what his brother was trying to do. “So do you and Luke.”

“Yeah but cmon Quinn! Don’t be rude to our guest!”

Quinn finally agrees, not like he didn’t want to tour the cute girl anyways. He slides open the backyard door, signaling Sunny to go out first. When Sunny’s back is turned, Quinn slides out his tongue at both Jack and Luke, to which they responded with a mischievous grin on their faces.

“So you go to Umich?” Quinn asks as he closes the sliding door. He noticed her sweater from earlier, the dark blue fabric with a M stitched to its front.

“I do!” The girl giggles, even though there’s nothing funny. If it had been anyone else, Quinn would’ve cringed internally. But he doesn’t. “I’m a junior this year, crazy how time flies.”

“Yeah, really crazy.”

The two are silent for a while, Quinn’s nervousness and overthinking causes him to just go mute while Sunny smiles at practically everything that catches her eyes.

“You’ll be staying here until Jack’s girlfriend leaves?” He questions.

“Yeah! She invited me here because she said I needed to get out the dorm more now that it’s Christmas break. I guess she’s right,”

Quinn looks down at the ground, smiling to himself. Even though he barely knew Sunny, he was glad she was staying at the lake house.

A few days pass by without much interaction from the two, Jack’s girlfriend always managing to take Sunny away before Quinn could even utter out a word. He was slightly annoyed, but he knew he couldn’t tell Jack or Luke. They’d tease them endlessly.

That night, Jack had brought home some beers, all of them, minus Luke, went outside and sat on the dock, bringing the cans out with them.

“Do you want one?” Quinn whispers to Sunny.

Jack and his girlfriend were in another world, busy cuddling up to one another and taking slow sips from their cans.

“Oh no—it’s okay. I don’t drink, I’d rather wait till I’m 21,”

Quinn had almost forgotten Sunny was only 20. It was a surprise to him that she’d actually wait that long; everybody he knew had started drinking in high school, not caring about the legal age.

“That’s alright, you can have fun while being sober too.” Quinn almost cringes at his words, but luckily, Sunny nods with a bright smile on her face.

“You really are a ray of sunshine, aren’t you?” Quinn whispers.

“What was that Quinn?”

“Oh,” Quinn smiles sheepishly, not expecting Sunny to have heard him. “Nothing.”

The next weekend, Jack once again came up with another one of his crazy ideas—this one being throwing a party since Jim and Ellen were going away for a few days to stay at a fancy resort.

Quinn didn’t like social outings, in fact, he wants desperately to sneak away into his room and blast music in his airpods. But he decides to stay downstairs, sitting right next to Sunny who only has fruit punch in her cup.

“Hey, is that Sunny Damount?!” A random guy comes up to them, getting a bit too close to Sunny for Quinn’s liking. “Sunnyyyyy!”

He’s clearly drunk, and Quinn wants to rip him away from the girl.

“Have a drink Sun! It’s so good!” The guy almost spills his cup of alcohol on Sunny, making the girl’s smile falter. It was the first time Quinn didn’t see such a bright smile on her face.

“I’m okay Kyle, I don’t drink,”

The guy, who Quinn can only guess is named Kyle, gets even closer to Sunny, making her slowly back up into the kitchen island.

“You don’t drink? You’re like twenty Sunny, it’s a party. You have to drink.”

Quinn pushes Kyle slightly off Sunny, throwing the boy a glare. “Sunny says she doesn’t drink, Kyle. So why don’t you turn around and leave?”

Kyle scoffs, throwing a glare towards Quinn’s way. “Whatever, I was going to leave anyway!”

Sunny sighs in relief when she sees the boy leave. “Thank you Quinn,” she shyly mumbles.

“It’s alright Sunny,” he reassures her. “No guy should be pressuring you to drink when you clearly don’t want to.”

And by the end of the party, Quinn realizes he’s fucked.

He’s inlove with Sunny Damount.

And he’s never been inlove. Well not seriously. He has had a few girlfriends then and there, but it was silly and it surely wasn’t love.

So what does Quinn Hughes do when he’s in such a dilemma? He pivots. He does what most considers a fucked up and idiotic thing to do. He ignores her.

What better way to dig his feelings in a hole and bury them than ignoring the girl he was inlove with?

Sunny is clearly confused when Quinn gives her one worded answers, and she almost wants to cry when he barely even acknowledges her presence.

What did she do wrong? Everybody loved her, so why was Quinn ignoring her?

It didn’t make her feel any better when she went to the market and bumped into a really mean girl she knew who said some not so nice things about her.

That, along with Quinn not talking to her, leads Sunny to have a breakdown on the dock, knees against her chest as she buries her face into them.

Even though Quinn tries to put away his worries, he can’t help but feel bugged that he hadn’t seen Sunny the entire afternoon. He spots the familiar brunette sitting on the dock, and even though his head tells him no, his heart begged him to say yes.

Quinn Hughes listened to his heart.

He walks up to Sunny, sitting beside her close enough that lets her know he’s there but not so close that she’s uncomfortable.

“Are you okay Suns?”

Sunny sniffles, lifting her head to see Quinn. Suddenly, her cries intensify, making the poor boy panic in worry.

“Shh, it’s okay Sunny.” He mumbles, patting her back.

“It’s not!” She sobs, “first, the boy I like ignores me for no reason, and then this really really mean girl says that I put on this fake nice act and that I’m just some loser who doesn’t drink!”

Quinn’s heart skips a beat when Sunny practically confesses her feelings to him. He can’t help but feel incredibly guilty at ignoring her for so long.

“I’m sorry Suns, I never meant to hurt you.” Quinn pulls her body into his chest, placing his chin on head. “The truth was, I’m inlove with you and I didn’t know how to handle that so I figured ignoring you would make my feelings away?”

Sunny stops crying for a second, slightly giggling at Quinn’s words. “Are you stupid Quintin?!”

Quinn grimaces. “I know, I know. But I was just scared. You made my heart beat faster, and before I knew it, I felt butterflies in my stomach. I never felt so inlove with anyone before—and I felt like I couldn’t breathe with you not near me. You’re like the sun to my moon, Sunny. You brighten up my day with the most prettiest smile I’ve ever seen, and your giggles bring me the most happiness I’ve ever experienced in my life. I just… I just didn’t know how to express that to you without scaring you off.”

Sunny wipes away her tears, placing a small tender kiss on Quinn’s jaw. “You could’ve just said so, Quinn. I’m inlove with you as much as you are inlove with me.”

Quinn finally decides to push away all his nervousness and lean down to give Sunny a kiss, one that he’s been dying to do since the day he met her at the lake house.

And just like that, Sunny Damount had became the sun in Quinn Hughes’ life.

#[ sunny!yn x quinn ] #quinn hughes #quinn hughes fanfiction #quinn hughes angst #quinn hughes x reader #quinn hughes fluff #quinn hughes imagine #quinn hughes x y/n #quinn hughes fic #quinn hughes au #hughes brothers #nhl fanfiction #nhl au

[laurenairay]

Lately you've been on my mind - E. Pettersson

I’m jumping in as a pinch-hitter as part of @wyattjohnston’s winter fic exchange, with an Elias Pettersson story for @typical-simplelove! I really hope you enjoy this Claudia– I had a lot of fun creating something from the prompts you gave me, and I was just so inspired that I wrote it all in one day! And thank you Demi, for being a sounding board for me as I put together my ideas.

Summary: Brock Boeser is the ultimate match maker – he knows he is. And he is determined to set his friends up.

a.k.a. you and Elias are both friends with Brock, and keep finding yourselves in moments alone.

Words: 4.9k

Warnings: idiots to lovers, self-doubt, Brock is a meddler

Title from: Adore you, by Harry Styles

~

2019 was already shaping up to be a fantastic year. The sun was shining brightly, the January air was crisp and cold, and you had Spanish Banks dog park essentially to yourself, seeing that it was excruciatingly early in the morning.

But damn if the views of the North Shore mountains weren’t worth it. Your dog seemed to agree, with the way he was running up and down the sand. You’d lived in Vancouver all your 20 years so far, still living with your parents where you’d decided not to go to university, and it was moments like this that reminded you just how fortunate you were.

Your peace and quiet lasted for all of another half an hour before you heard enthusiastic barking from behind you. Recalling your dog to your side – which only took a couple of attempts, which was an improvement – you turned your head to see what was coming your way, only to freeze at the guy you saw walking towards you.

A guy that was clearly the up-and-coming star of your family’s favourite sports team, the Vancouver Canucks. Brock Boeser, in the flesh.

“Hey, sorry for interrupting your quiet.”

His smile tightened slightly when he realised you clearly knew who he was, with whatever your face was doing, but you quickly shook your head to reassure him. No, he was here just the same as you, to walk his dog. You could be cool with that.

“It’s a beautiful off-leash park – it would be a shame not to share it,” you shrugged, smiling back at him.

Brock immediately relaxed, easy a tension you didn’t realise you had.

“Who’s this beautiful pup, hm?”

“This is Bailey. I’ve had him, like, three months now? He’s only 18 months old so he’s still learning not to jump up, but he tries his best,” you mused.

“He’s perfect…”

Yes, Brock was definitely a dog person.

“…a border collie, right?”

“Yeah that’s right. He was abandoned a few months ago at a shelter my mom volunteers at, and I barely had to beg her to let me adopt him,” you laughed.

Brock just grinned. “Coola was a rescue dog as well. I adopted him back in February last year, after the All Star Game, but he lived in Minnesota with my parents while I finished my rookie year. I know the feeling of not being able to resist a sweet little dog.”

At least he understood.

With a smile, you motioned for Bailey that he was allowed to run again, and within moments Coola was joining him, the two dogs playing in the surf.

“So, you live here then?”

You and Brock walked your dogs for nearly another hour, the two of you talking like you’d known each other all your lives, before Bailey flopped at your feet, a clear sign he was done and ready to leave.

“Looks like that’s my cue,” you said dryly, making Brock laugh.

“Definitely,” he teased, “but hey, maybe we could exchange numbers? I’d love to walk Coola with you and Bailey again, now that I know they’re friends.”

You hesitated slightly, unsure whether he actually meant that, but the earnestness in his eyes told you everything you needed to know.

“Sure, I’d like that. Bailey could use all the friends he could get,” you mused.

Brock just grinned.

“I don’t know, I have a feeling we’re going to be pretty good friends as well.”

~

Nearly five years on and you were (somehow) genuine friends with Brock. He’d been right, against all odds. There was just something about his straightforward friendship that made your life that little bit easier, knowing that you could rely on him to be a breath of fresh air, no drama. And you knew he appreciated your chilled approach to pretty much everything, never judging him, always his biggest supporter – both on the team and for him as a person. Brock Boeser was probably one of the best friends you’d ever had, and you cherished everything about him, like an older brother you didn’t realise you needed.

Brock had always insisted that you needed to be integrated into every part of his life, so you spent more time with his team than you ever thought you would (and hadn’t that been a starstruck moment, when you’d first attended a team gathering). He pretty much brought you to all gatherings, events, and anything to do with Coola (and now Milo), and while at first it had been overwhelming, you’d quickly adjusted when you realised just how ridiculous his teammates were.

So it wasn’t a surprise to Elias Pettersson when he walked into Brock’s house and saw you sitting on the sofa surrounded by dogs.

“Well this looks cosy.”

You grinned at his teasing words, waving him over. “It’s good to see you too, Elias.”

He shared a small private smile with you, lifting Milo’s legs to take a seat on the sofa next to you. The dog in question huffed out his displeasure but didn’t move, allowing Elias to settle in properly.

This guy, more than anyone else, was the teammate you enjoyed spending the most time with alongside Brock. Elias was definitely the most sane of all Brock’s Vancouver friends, and his dry sense of humour always had you in stitches. It was rare that he showed much of himself to anyone, as reserved as he was, but the more you’d gotten to know him over the years, the more you recognised the little signs of his reactions and collated them like hoarded treasure. And the more that Elias had gotten to know you, the more willing he seemed to be to share jokes and smiles and laughter with you, forging a friendship of your own.

And yes, sure, you couldn’t deny that you found him attractive – you’d be crazy or blind to think otherwise - but he’d never shown a hint of interest towards you in that way. And there was no way you’d ever say anything unless you were sure things were reciprocated (there was just no way), so you were more than happy to have him as a friend. Elias Pettersson was an unmistakeable joy in your life, and the last thing you wanted to do was ruin that.

He really was so handsome though.

“I’m surprised Brock isn’t buried under puppies like usual,” Elias said.

“We haven’t been long back from walking the dogs, so I said I’d get them settled while he showered and got ready to head out with you,” you explained, running your hand over your Bailey’s head.

“He does need to look pretty enough to leave the house, that’s true,” he mused.

You couldn’t help but laugh, the both of you knowing Brock needed no help in looking pretty, Elias just smiling widely.

It just goes to show how wrapped up you were in Elias’s attention that neither of you noticed Brock standing at the bottom of the stairs, eyes lighting up at your laughter and Elias’s smile.

~

It was early, far too early, but here you were fulfilling Bailey’s every need. You were wrapped up warm, puffer jacket, woollen hat, gloves, and scarf, walking your border collie through Hadden Park, allowing the travel mug of coffee to wake you up fully while you took in the views surrounding you. Bailey was in his element, trotting about and sniffing every single leaf and twig, and it was only your phone buzzing that broke you out of your silent contentment.

From: Brock Hey, are you walking Bailey?

To: Brock Yeah we’re at Hadden Park Wasn’t sure if you would be getting up early after your game last night so I didn’t text

From: Brock Hah yeah fair enough Do you mind if Petey comes along?

You tried not to fantasise about why Elias was so willing to join you both on a dog walk, so early on a day off. You tried so hard.

To: Brock Of course I don’t mind

From: Brock Of course?

You felt heat dancing across your cheeks. Damn it Brock.

To: Brock You know I think Petey is great.

From: Brock Well I definitely do now.

You groaned, already able to picture the smirk on your friend’s face.

To: Brock Don’t be dumb I’ll see you soon

The last thing you needed was Brock teasing you, especially in front of Elias. The last thing you wanted was Elias to feel uncomfortable around you, just because you find him attractive. The last thing you could bear would be if you lost your friendship with Elias just because Brock was reading into things that weren’t true.

But there was nothing you could do for damage control until Brock was in front of you. All you could hope was that he didn’t make you look like an idiot.

It couldn’t have been more than 20 minutes before you saw the familiar pair walking towards you, dogs at Brock’s side, and you found yourself smiling despite your trepidation. You gave them both hugs in greeting, travel mug long empty and placed in your bag, Bailey barking happily.

“What a beautiful morning,” Brock said happily.

“Cold but beautiful, sure,” you mused.

Elias nodded his agreement, thick scarf wrapped in loops around him, Brock just laughing.

“Petey, you don’t mind taking Coola while I walk Milo, do you?” Brock asked.

Elias narrowed his eyes, as if trying to read into Brock’s words, but Brock just kept smiling at him.

“Sure, I can walk Coola,” Elias eventually said.

“Great!”

The moment that Coola’s leash was in Elias’s hands, Coola darted forward, Elias crashing directly into your body. It was only through his quick reflexes that you didn’t end up on your ass, his hands clutching at your hips while you clung to his jacket.

“Coola! Chill!”

Brock’s giggled words did little to calm his dog down, all three dogs dancing around your feet as Elias steadied you. His face was impossibly close to yours, breath practically mingling. How had you not realised how blue his eyes were before this? His lips were parted slightly, as if he was still processing, but it was only when Bailey bumped into both of your legs that he abruptly let you go, and you dropped your hands too.

“Sorry, sorry,” he blurted, stepping away sharply.

“No apologies needed. It wasn’t your fault,” you said, shaking your head with a weak smile.

“Aww you can’t blame Coola for being excited,” Brock grinned, kneeling down to give fuss to both his dogs.

There was something in his smile that you just couldn’t put your finger on. Hm.

“Shall we walk then, if they’re so excited?” Elias said dryly.

All three dogs started barking at the word ‘walk’, making you laugh and nod, Brock just grinning even wider.

~

From: Brock Petey is taking the roadtrip losses really hard. Come over tomorrow?

~

You don’t know what it was that possessed you, but the moment you received those texts from Brock, you knew you had to do something. Elias was such a stoic guy, so reserved in his emotions, so the fact that it was obvious enough he was suffering that Brock asked for your help? There was no way you weren’t going to do everything in your power to ease any tensions they had, especially Elias.

There wasn’t much you could do, but you could do this.

When you arrived at Brock’s house the next morning, you were only mildly startled to see Elias opening the door instead of Brock, his eyes flashing in surprise before he smiled.

“Did Brock not say I was coming over?” you said hesitantly.

The last thing you wanted was to intrude.

“He said we were going for brunch, but this is a welcome surprise,” Elias said, smiling softly.

Oh. Now you felt stupid.

Wait, a welcome surprise?

“I don’t know what is making your face do that, but I’m not lying when I say it’s good to see you,” Elias said firmly.

“Alright, I believe you,” you mused.

Elias just grinned, walking over to the bottom of the staircase.

“SHE’S HERE!”

“GOOD! YOU’RE COMING FOR BRUNCH, RIGHT?”

You rolled your eyes fondly at Brock’s assumptions. It wasn’t like you had much else planned for today, but still!

“YEAH I’LL COME!”

Elias laughed at your matching volume, making you smile back at him, a light flush dusting across your cheeks. His laugh was magical and you weren’t going to shame yourself for liking it.

“Brock’s just finishing his hair and then he’ll be down. That’s what he said anyway,” Elias explained, sitting down on the arm of Brock’s sofa.

“He’s got an image to maintain, can’t be looking anything less than perfect,” you teased, the familiar joke making you smile.

Elias just snickered, shaking his head. You leaned up against the back of the sofa, standing close enough to Elias that the blue of his eyes was almost hypnotising, before you remembered why you came over in the first place.

“It feels a little silly now, but I heard from a little bird that you were taking things a little rough, so here’s a little something,” you said.

“Brock needs to keep his mouth shut,” he grumbled.

You just laughed, reaching into your bag to pull out the gift. But as you placed it in his hands, Elias froze.

“What’s this?” Elias said, eyes wide in shock.

You bit your bottom lip, before letting out a shaky breath. Here goes nothing.

“You were having a bad day. So I made you a hat,” you said simply, trying to keep your voice light and airy.

“You made me a hat? You knitted this?”

Elias stared down in wonder at the soft light blue woollen bundle in his hand, a look of pure astonishment on his face. It was only then that you realised how close it was to the colour of his eyes.

“Uh, yes, I did? I got back into knitting recently, so it’s nothing fancy, but I just wanted to make something to cheer you up?” you said, trying not to cringe at yourself.

“No-one’s ever done anything like this for me before.”

Your lips parted in surprise at his soft words.

“Really?”

“Really really,” Elias nodded.

“I’ve never had a hat made for me either.”

You flinched at the sound of Brock’s voice coming from behind you, Elias immediately scowling over your shoulder.

“Wouldn’t want to cover up your Prince Charming hair,” Elias grumbled, shoving the hat into the pocket of his hoodie.

You didn’t mention the dark blue hat you’d knitted for Brock that was tucked into your bag. Brock pouted as you snickered, slinking into the kitchen, leaving the two of you alone again.

“Look, I know it’s not really my place. And that we’re just friends because of Brock. But these losses were just a bad blip – you’re going to get over them in no time at all, and be back to destroying the other teams like you were born to,”

Elias smiled wryly. “It doesn’t feel like that right now. But thanks.”

You pursed your lips briefly before huffing out a breath. Telling him what you really thought was hardly the most embarrassing thing you’d ever done.

“You make me so proud. You know that, right?”

“What?” Elias frowned.

“You go out there, every single day, and give this team, this city, your all. Your pour yourself into everything that you do, always give 100%, and as your friend, as someone who has known you for years…I am so proud of you.”

As your cheeks heated from your words, Elias swallowed heavily, a flush dusting across his own cheeks.

“I don’t know what I did to deserve this, to deserve your kind words, but I appreciate it. Thank you,” he murmured.

Your heartbeat raced at the intensity in his eyes.

“Brunch? Can we go?”

Elias scowled again at Brock’s grinning interruption but walked away towards the front door. You were read to grumble at Brock yourself, until you saw Elias pull the knitted hat out of his pocket and slide it on over his hair. It looked…perfect.

“Are you good?” Brock asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, I’m great.”

Your voice was far breathier than you would ever admit.

*

Another month, another team event. This time Brock had invited you to be his plus one to a formal gala, hardly the first time he had asked and yet this time he practically begged you to come along. You didn’t need him to beg, you could admit that much – the events were always fun and hey, you got to dress up nicely – but his behaviour was strange, even for him.

Either way, Brock had looked ecstatic when you said yes, even going as buying you a gorgeous midnight blue evening gown, sleeveless and high-necked, as classy as it was beautiful, so you were going to complain. He could have his secrets – you knew you’d get it out of him eventually.

He picked you up after you’d gotten your hair and nails done, make-up subtle but elegant, wide smile on his face as he drove the two of you to the event. You didn’t have time to be suspicious about his good mood as the two of you greeted his teammates and their better halves, your attention consumed by all the cheek kisses and compliments, but you should’ve known he was up to something. Because the moment that the two of you joined Elias at a table with a few chairs around it, Brock all but disappeared, leaving the two of you completely alone.

“Hi Brock. Bye Brock,” Elias said dryly.

“I have no idea what’s gotten into him tonight, I am so sorry,” you sighed.

“Hey, no, don’t apologise for him. I’m sorry that he’s abandoned you already,” Elias said, frowning.

“Well at least I’m near a chair,” you said, huffing out a laugh, “High heels are not my friends.”

Elias immediately pulled a chair out for you to sit on, and you felt a gentle heat brush across your cheeks at the gentlemanly action.

“Thanks Elias,” you said, more shocked than anything.

Not too shocked to smile at him as he sat down right next to you, after picking up a couple of flutes of champagne from a passing waiter. If he wanted to join you…well, you weren’t going to complain. Not if you got his attention all to yourself.

It can’t have been more than an hour before Brock wandered back over, but by the flush on his cheeks and the glassiness of his eyes, he was more than a little tipsy. Damn it Brock.

“You’re not going to ask this beautiful woman to dance, Petey?”

Elias immediately blushed furiously, eyes narrowing at his friend, making you want to die a little inside – but also to shield him.

“Oh no, these heels are killing my feet already. Elias is just being kind enough to keep me company,” you said sweetly.

Brock snickered, shaking his head, but walked away without any further pestering. You both sat there for a moment in silence, reeling from the short conversation. What the hell was that, Brock?

“You didn’t have to make up a lie to defend me,” Elias said, finally looking at you again.

“I wanted to.”

The mortification that filled your body upon your blurted words was immediate and all-consuming, especially with how surprised Elias looked. How could you save this? How the hell could you save this?

“Besides it’s the least I could do for Brock dumping me on you in the first place,” you said coolly, shrugging, trying to calm yourself down and failing miserably.

Elias hesitated before something flashed across his face, and he looked at you with an expression you’d never seen from him before. It made you shiver. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

Oh.

Oh.

He…really?

You’d spent so long convinced that he didn’t see you that way, that he wasn’t attracted to you in the slightest, and now that he’d said this? Giving you enough to let yourself hope, to admit to yourself that your sweetest daydreams and deepest fantasies could actually be reality?

While your mind raced, full of swirling realisations that perhaps things weren’t so unrequited after all, Elias just watched you, expression just as intense as before. It wasn’t until you let out a shaky breath, smiling a tiny smile at him, that he nodded, clearing his throat.

“Another drink?”

“Yes, definitely.”

*

Movie nights were sacred. It didn’t matter who they were with, not really, but now that you had your own tiny apartment, a night in watching your favourite movies and eating your favourite snacks was always the best way to unwind. Usually Brock was your only companion, or Brock with a few of his teammates, and that was the plan tonight. Brock and Elias were both joining you for a movie night and you couldn’t wait to have a chilled night in with two of your favourite people. Even if your whole world had been shaken up only last week at that eventful team gala.

The pizzas you’d ordered hadn’t long arrived before Elias arrived at your door, beers in hand, and you let him in with a happy smile.

“Thanks for inviting me,” he said, smiling shyly back at you.

Your breath caught in your throat at the sweetness in his face, and you found yourself just nodding.

“You know you’re always welcome. Come on, pizza just got here too.”

Elias all but raced you to the kitchen, making you laugh as he opened the cardboard lids. But your phone buzzed before you could reach for a slice.

From: Brock I can’t make it tonight. Have fun. Both of you.

You heart started racing at his implications, knowing deep in your bones that Brock never intended to come this evening. Had he known all along, how you felt about Elias? And how you hoped Elias felt for you too?

Surely not.

But then again, Brock always surprised you. You had always tried not to underestimate your friend, but it appeared that you’d fallen for that sweet innocent smile just the same as everyone else.

“Is Brock on his way?”

“Brock isn’t coming.”

“Oh.”

Elias seemed to hesitate, making you inhale sharply.

“Did you want to reschedule?” he asked, wincing.

You could be brave, right? Or at least take a step towards bravery?

“You’re already here…so we can still have our own movie night?” you suggested, unable to stop yourself from chewing your bottom lip.

Elias’s eyes flickered down quickly towards your mouth, before he cleared his throat and smiled softly at you. “Yeah, of course we can. Also means we don’t have to listen to Brock whining that we aren’t watching one of his rom com choices.”

The dryness of his tone made you giggle, immediately cutting through the lingering awkward tension. You could absolutely do a movie night just with Elias. You could absolutely handle being alone with him like this.

Absolutely.

The two of you ploughed through the pizzas while you watched one of you go-to action movies, laughing and talking all the way through, even finishing the popcorn and a couple of beers each by the time the credits were rolling. Bailey had happily sat by your feet the whole time, actually behaving himself for once, and you couldn’t remember a time when you’d felt so content. So relaxed and happy. Brock had always brought that out in you, and now that Elias had too? It just filled you with butterflies in the best way.

“Shall we watch another?”

“Definitely,” you nodded, smiling up at him.

Elias smiled easily back. “You choose? I’ll clear up.”

Before you could protest or even help him, Elias had picked up both pizza boxes and all the empty beer bottles, leaving you alone on the sofa. You heard him opening the trash can, snapping you out of your surprise, so you started scrolling through Netflix again, eventually deciding on a light-hearted comedy just as Elias re-entered the room. Bailey had trotted out to his own bed when Elias left, so it really was just the two of you now.

Something that made your breath hitch in your throat was the way that Elias sat down closer to you this time. Unmistakably closer, close enough to feel the heat from his body and to smell his cologne. He did that on purpose, there was no doubt about it. But his face gave you no answers, nothing more than his usual smile around you, so you let it go. Overthinking things was definitely not the way to go, you knew that much.

It didn’t make your heartrate calm down at all though.

You pressed play to get the movie started, lightly tossing the tv remote onto your coffee table before settling back into the sofa, letting the familiar introduction wash over you.

It took ten minutes for everything to change.

Elias wasn’t a big hugger. You knew this. Brock knew this. The whole of the Vancouver Canucks knew this. So when you felt a pressure along your shoulders, you tried not to flinch, realising it was his arm stretching across the back of the sofa when his hand lightly brushed your opposite shoulder. Elias…Elias had put his arm around you. He’d put his arm around you? You glanced up at him, trying to get any sense of his thought process, but his eyes were resolutely glued to the television, his body a frozen line of tension. All over again, your heart started racing. You were right after all. Maybe…maybe Elias really did have feelings for you, just as he’d finally hinted at the team event, and now he was making a gentle move in the most Petey way ever.

The ball was in your court.

Ever so slowly, you relaxed against under his arm, sinking into his side, head resting on his chest. You could hear just how fast his own heart was racing and it made you smile, feeling giddy that he was just as affected as you were, even more so when his arm draped around you properly. This was really happening. Elias Pettersson had really instigated snuggling with you on the sofa. This was better than any dream you could’ve imagined.

The next thing you knew, you were blinking your eyes open. The sky outside was pitch black, the curtains still wide open, and the Netflix landing page was glaring bright. But the main thing you noticed? You were curled up against Elias’s side still, head resting on his chest, his arm having fallen down to your waist and his head lolling back on the sofa. You’d fallen asleep together? Was there anything more cliché than that? Still, it felt like your heart was going to beat out of your chest with how right it felt to be in Elias’s hold. His hands were so large and so warm, the heat spreading through the contact on top of your sweatpants. His chest was so solid and calming under your cheek. And as you lifted your head, ever to slightly to look at him properly, even just through the light from the TV he looked so handsome. Beautiful and peaceful. But there was no way that could be comfortable for him, and the last thing you wanted was for an aching neck to put a damper on what was the perfect evening.

So you lightly rested your hand on his chest, shaking him gently until you heard him grunt in displeasure.

“Hey, Elias, we fell asleep on the sofa,” you murmured.

He immediately groaned, making you laugh softly, smiling at him as he finally lifted his head.

“I was having such a good dream,” he grumbled.

Then he seemed to freeze as he realised where he actually was, taking note of how you were still tucked into his side, and where his arm and hand were holding you.

“Damn it, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-”

“Hey, no, we both fell asleep eh?” you said, interrupting with a smile and a shake of your head, “It’s fine, Elias. We were both cosy.”

He swallowed heavily before nodding.

“I don’t think I’ve ever fallen asleep on the sofa with someone before,” he mumbled, “It was…nice.”

You felt your cheeks heating up with the gentle compliment, your smile letting him know you felt the same.

“I should go,” he said softly.

No!

Well, now was your moment. Now was the time to be brave where you’d never needed to be so brave before. After everything that had been building between the two of you…now was the moment.

“Or, maybe you could stay, and we could talk in the morning,” you offered as calmly as you could.

You felt Elias inhale sharply where your hand was still resting on his chest.

“The kind of talk that I’ve been wanting to have for a while?” he asked, hope evident in his eyes.

Oh wow.

For a while?

You felt like you were floating as his words sunk in.

“Yeah I think we’re on the same page,” you murmured, your blood thrumming with possibility.

The smile that spread across Elias’s face made your heart soar, and you found yourself smiling just as widely back. And when he leant forward to press a soft kiss to your forehead, you’d never felt more alive.

You could only imagine Brock’s satisfied grin when you told him.

#my writing #winter fic exchange 2k24 #elias pettersson fic #elias pettersson imagine #elias pettersson fanfic #hockey fic #hockey imagine #hockey fanfic #nhl fic #nhl imagine #nhl fanfic

[wintfleur]

pictures that remind you of luke and stella? i love their sibling bond

ꔫ pictures that remind me of stella and luke

˖ ་ 💭 roro’s notes ( Tysm for requesting! I’m so happy you love there bond! I do too! It was fun looking for pictures of them! )

°. — ( feel free to send any requests of things you would like to see in this series, or if you just want to share some thoughts! I would absolutely love that! Please comment if you would like to be added to the tag list! )

au masterlist — you can find asks under #💌stellahughes!

˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ stella and Luke’s photo gallery ˖⁺｡˚⋆˙

.❀。they were genuinely the cutest kids, they always spent so much time together. Luke is a great big brother to Stella, always by her side and making sure she’s okay. This picture is taken when they family went out together. Stella was running after her older brothers who were playing tag, and stella tripped and fell and scratched up her knee. Poor Stella was crying as her dad cleaned her cuts, Stella stoped crying once Luke sat by her and held her hand. Luke kissed her cheek to make her feel better and Ellen just had to take a picture of the cute moment. 📸 by Ellen Hughes

.❀。these two are always falling asleep in the car. This picture was taken after the siblings decided to spend all day together, and after the fun day and the nice dinner the two youngest passed out in the back of the car, absolutely wrecked. Jack couldn’t help but laugh at how cute they looked and he snapped a picture to send in the group chat. Quinn definitely got onto Jack for having the flash on, saying that he could have woke them up. 📸 by Jack Hughes

.❀。(when I saw this picture it just screamed luke and Stella) Stella wasn’t in school yet, but she would go with her parents to take her siblings to school, and would always be there to greet them when they get home from school. Ugh Stella is so cute. This picture is when stella forgot to zip up her jacket and Luke made her stop so he could zip it up for her, saying that she can’t get sick 📸 by Jim Hughes

.❀。Ellen loved dressing luke and Stella up when they were younger and before they could complain. Everyone always assumed they that they were twins because they were almost always matching when they were little. They also always had a habit of holding hands, not wanting to loose each other 📸 by Ellen Hughes

.❀。as the youngest they were always the ones who enjoyed baking with there mom the most, and the ones that were always there to help. There’s always two moods in the kitchen with them, calm and sweet as they bake or chaotic, there’s never a middle ground. They love sneaking ingredients to eat, almost always blaming it on Jack. It’s funny because they never let Jack sneak cookie dough, but they always let Quinn have some. Stella kinda takes charge of the recipes and she leaves anything that involves the oven to Luke, she has a fear of the oven (Jack told her a scary story when she was little about falling into a oven, and it stuck with her) Stella and Luke loving baking together 📸 by Cole Caufield

.❀。Stella loves walking, but she gets tired from walking a lot. So Luke is always there to give her a piggyback ride. Sometimes Stella doesn’t even have to ask, he can tell when she’s getting tired so he just stops in front of her and motions for her to get on his back. Stella loves piggyback rides, especially from Luke because he’s so tall. 📸 by mark estapa

.❀。Stella and Luke can get pretty competitive with each other and Stella likes to prove that she can do anything that he can. So after Luke easily held Stella up she decided to try, they both couldn’t help but laugh as she tried, this picture was taken seconds before Luke fell on top of her. Let’s just say both of there stomachs were hurting from how hard they laughed 📸 by Trevor Zegras

.❀。Luke and Stella decided to go and visit Quinn in Vancouver, and let’s just say Stella wasn’t so happy when Quinn decided to wake them up early for breakfast. Luke found Stella’s grumpy mood hilarious and enjoyed teasing her all morning 📸 by Quinn Hughes

.❀。these two absolutely destroy each other in the snow, they show no mercy when they have snowball fights. They could be making a snowman together and then the next minute full on tackling each other in the snow. They could spend hours playing in the snow but sadly they are always told to come back inside after a little 📸 by Rutger McGroarty

˖ ་ 💭 roro’s notes ( I LOVE THEM SM! )

°. — taglist ( @privatemythss @bradenschneider @cixrosie )

#⋆ ˚｡⋆୨👩🏻‍🎨୧˚ stella hughes au! #💌stellahughes! #luke hughes x reader #luke hughes #hughes brothers #hughes sister #jack hughes #quinn hughes #nhl imagine #umich imagine

[babydollmarauders]

what were everyone’s reactions to el telling the fam that lovie was pregnant ?

i decided to use this ask as a gateway for a joint blurb post on how everyone found out so…

Luke was the first one to find out, which they tried to hide for as long as possible, because they really wanted to tell him with everyone else, but he found out on accident.

because it’s Lovie’s second pregnancy, her bump appears faster than it did in her pregnancy with El, so beginning to mid october, when she’s 3 months, her belly has already popped, but it’s small enough that she can hide it by wearing Jack’s shirts around the house and not wearing tight fitting clothing. which keeps Luke oblivious. until….

**

i sit at the end of the bed, sweatpants and a sports bra adorning my figure, showing off my 3 month baby bump.

my eyes track my husband as he gets ready for morning practice. it’s still too early for El to be up, but i can hear Luke clashing around the house, getting his gear together.

Jack crouches down in front of me, his warm hand pressing against the side of my belly. he leans forward, leaving a soft kiss on my bump, and my heart flutters at his gentle touches.

“love, you gotta finish getting ready for practice. Luke has knocked on the door twice now.” i remind him, running a hand through his wavy hair.

“i don’t wanna leave.” he groans, standing from his spot at the end of the bed. he holds a hand out for me to latch onto, pulling me up from my sitting position and into his arms.

“you’ll be back in a few hours.” i laugh. “and by the time you get back, El will be awake and bugging me about you.”

Jack chuckles and steps away from me, double checking his gear bag that sits on a chair in the corner of our bedroom.

i rest a hand on my small bump, looking at the full length mirror in front of our bed.

“Jack, let’s g-” the bedroom door swings open, and through the mirror, my eyes lock with Luke’s which widen at the sight of me and begin to flicker between me, my stomach, and his brother.

“what the fuck, Luke?” Jack huffs, moving to step in front of me, as if it’ll erase the sight of my protruding baby bump from his younger sibling’s mind.

“what the fuck, me? what the fuck, you!” Luke exclaims, pointing at his brother with a face of shock. “Lovie, you’re pregnant? does mom know?”

“Luke, we’re married adults that already have one kid, mom doesn’t need to know everything.” Jack reminds him, rolling his eyes.

“so, no?” Luke raises an eyebrow, and i take this as my time to step in.

“Momma doesn’t know yet, Lukey. we plan on telling her, Dad, and Quinn on the trip to Vancouver at the end of this month.” i explain, stepping out from behind Jack, to show myself to brother-in-law.

“we were gonna tell you there too, but you don’t know how to knock.” Jack scoffs and i reach back to smack his chest, making him pout.

“was this one planned?” Luke eyes my bump warily, as if at any moment the baby could just pop out.

“yeah.” i nod. “we’ve always talked about having our kids 2 years apart, like you guys, and with El’s second birthday in March, we knew we should start trying. we didn’t expect it to happen on the first try though.”

Luke’s face contorts, his lip spreading in a wide smile, and he steps forward, pulling me into a tight hug.

“congratulations, you guys.”

“thank you, bubba.” i pull back, watching as Luke claps my husband on the back.

“how far along are you?” he asks, poking my bump with an index finger. Jack swats his hand away from my belly, rolling his eyes again.

“14 weeks. so, 3 months.”

Luke’s eyes get wide again.

“oh gross, you guys! my bedroom at the lake house was right next to yours.”

**

Jack and Lovie’s plan to tell Ellen, Jim, and Quinn pretty much blew up in their faces once they got to Quinn’s apartment though.

**

i wrap my coat further around myself in attempt to hide my growing baby bump. 4 months along and i’m already feeling like i’ll be back the waddling instead of walking any day now.

Jack holds El on his hip, letting her watch the glowing little elevator light that tells you which floors you’re on; finding amusement in her entertainment.

the elevator stops at the 10th floor and we all pile out. i trail behind my husband and his younger brother as we walk down the hallway, stopping in front of Quinn’s apartment.

it’s not but a moment after Luke knocks that Quinn answers the door, letting us in as he’s mid-talk with his mother.

he hugs Luke first, before moving onto Jack and pressing a kiss to El’s cheek, making her giggle from the scratch of his beard. finally, he gets to me moving in to give me a hug but i bypass him, pressing a swift kiss to his cheek before stepping away.

Quinn’s brows furrow, his nose scrunching in confusion as he eyes me while his parents join us from the kitchen.

“oh look at my baby!” Ellen calls as she steps in the room.

“mom, i’m not a baby anymore.” Luke huffs, but his mother rolls her eyes.

“i was talking about El.” she shakes her head, opening her arms for a hug from my daughter. Jack sets El down, but all the talk about babies must turn a light on in her head, because as soon as her feet land on the floor, she’s turning to me.

her little hands quickly rise and press against my bump and she calls out “baby!”

the room goes silent, Jack and i exchanging a flustered glance as Luke stares gobsmacked at his niece. Ellen’s eyes go wide as she rises to her full height, clutching Jim’s arm, and Quinn’s jaw goes slack as he look between my husband and my daughters hands.

“what?” Ellen is the first one to speak, a grin on her face.

“mommy, baby!” El shouts, hitting the bottom of my stomach now. i wince, causing Jack to go in full dad mode and scoop our daughter back up.

“what did we say, El? we gotta be gentle with mommy’s tummy.” he scolds, looking straight in her eyes. El pouts, her lips falling in an exaggerated frown, and she hides her face in Jack’s neck.

i can see the guilt in Jack’s eyes at the fact that he’s upset his baby girl, but i don’t a chance to comfort him before Quinn is speaking up.

“you’re pregnant?” he asks, excitedly, making his mother smack at his arm.

“let them say it themselves!” Ellen scolds her eldest son and i giggle.

“i’m pregnant.” i confirm. Ellen squeals, bounding over to wrap me up in a hug.

“oh honey, congratulations!” she pulls away her hands hovering over my bump as she looks up at me for approval. at my nod, her hands drop down to touch my belly, a large smile gracing her lips.

Jim and Quinn say their congrats to Jack before Ellen moves over to her middle son, allowing her husband and eldest to get their turn with me.

“congratulations, hun. can’t wait to spoil the little one.” Jim tells me, wrapping me in a bear hug.

“you already spoil the first one, i think Jack might not be too happy if you spoil this one too.” i laugh, pulling back to let Quinn hug me.

“he’ll get over it.” Jim shrugs, stepping back.

Quinn looks at me with a fond smile first, before his arms wrap around my shoulders, his hand running over the back of my head.

“congratulations, sis.” he whispers in my ear, swaying our bodies back and forth just slightly.

“thank you, Quinny.” i grin, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

“this one planned?” he asks as we pull apart.

“why do you guys keep asking that?!” i chuckle, hitting his arm. “yes! this one was planned, you asshole!”

he laughs, shrugging his shoulders. “just had to check.”

Jack, Luke, and i shed our coats and the family moves to the living room, sitting all around on Quinn’s furniture.

“so, how far along are you?” Ellen asks excitedly, her fingers drumming together as i dig through my purse for a sonogram picture.

“four months.” Jack tells his mother, watching as her face lights up when i hand her the photo.

“not too long until you know the gender.” Jim chimes in, looking over his wife’s shoulder at the photo.

“that appointment is in a few weeks.” i tell them, smiling as Ellen hands the photo to Quinn, who grins down at the black and white picture.

Ellen looks between me and Jack, who plays peekaboo with the almost two year old that sits on his lap. “oh, i’m just so happy for you two.”

#faithlynn speaks 🪐 #ask faithlynn ✨ #el!hughes au

[tkwrites]

Our Heroes Meet - Quinn Hughes x ofc

Photos from Pinterest

Title: Our Heroes Meet

Author: Tory / @tkwrites 

Relationship: Beginning: Quinn Hughes x Original female character 

Warnings: None? First dates, first meetings, so many firsts. 

Summary: When Quinn and Sarah meet, they’re pulled into each other's lives in a way neither one expected. 

Word count: 4,300

Comments: This is the beginning snapshot of Quinn & Sarah. 

I posted this earlier, and took it down less than 4 hours after. I felt that the ending, while cute, wasn’t true to character. After re-working it, here it is again. 

It’s so cute and earnest and I just love it so much. 

Thank you so much for all the support and love for these stories. I really can’t say it enough. 

Our Heroes Meet

A Quinn & Sarah Snapshot

On a rare free afternoon with the prospect of the following day off as well, Quinn found himself wandering Stanley Park. He hadn’t really set out with the park in mind, but after being home for a few hours, playing an hour or so of Call of Duty with Jack and Luke before their pre-game naps, he needed to get out of the house. Long stretches at home alone didn’t suit him anymore after COVID, when he'd been contractually stuck inside anytime he wasn’t at the rink. It reminded him too much of those long, lonely days.

The Park was touristy, but he liked it. He liked the water, and all the trails, and there was always something new and interesting going on. 

It began to drizzle as he wandered. Within minutes, as it so often did in Vancouver, the rain picked up, pounding into the pavement in sheets. 

Cursing himself for not checking the weather before leaving his apartment, Quinn darted under the awning of the aquarium to keep from getting soaked to the skin. His first thought was to turn away and run back to his car. He didn’t need to be with big crowds of people, especially when everyone was rushing to get inside. On the other hand, he'd never been to the aquarium, and the thought of returning to his empty apartment made him squirm more than the thought of a crowd. 

So, he bought a ticket and wandered into the building, keeping his distance from others, hat pulled low so less people would recognize him. 

He was wandering the BC exhibit when he stumbled upon a pretty young woman speaking to a group of school aged children, explaining to them how octopus camouflage worked. He'd missed most of her talk, but she had several graphics attached to the tank. A little girl in the front was holding a plastic model of an octopus like it was the best gift she'd ever been given. 

The woman's dark hair was pulled up into a bouncy, wavy ponytail. Something glinted in her ears, but she wore no other jewelry. She had a curvy figure, highlighted by the jeans and t-shirt she wore. She looked put together, but not overly so. 

The thing that really made him pause was the light in her eyes when she talked. She was obviously passionate about her work and it was infectious to watch. She answered every child with the same thoughtfulness and enthusiasm. From deeper questions about how the changing environment was affecting marine life, to the little girl holding the model, who asked why octopus have eight arms. 

“You know, we haven’t really figured out why eight is the magic number for them, but they use all of them, so I guess they got to eight and decided they were done.” 

Quinn found himself chuckling while the kids giggled. 

The classes wandered away,  and she began cleaning up her display, putting models and diagrams into a bucket before easing the graphics off the tank glass.

Something pulled him to her as if he'd been hooked in the navel and reeled in. Maybe it was because Millsy had just been chirping him about being too quiet to get a girl. Maybe it was the longing he felt wandering the park alone. Maybe it was fate. Whatever it was, he couldn’t seem to talk himself out of it. 

Standing there like a fool, he watched her work for a few heartbeats too long. 

Quinn didn't like to talk to strangers if he could help it. It’s not that he was scared, necessarily, but he was quiet and often just didn't know how to break the ice. Talking to someone when he didn’t have a middle man to bridge that first interaction made him nervous.

“Can I ask you a question?” he finally said. Lame. Lame. Could he be any more fucking lame? 

“Hi there,”  she said with a bright, friendly smile that took him off guard with its forced cheerfulness. It was such a different look than she’d just been wearing that he found it unnerving that she could flip that quickly. “Where can I direct you?” 

“Oh, no,” Quinn gestured at the place he’d been standing, “I missed part of your talk,” he said, feeling his cheeks begin to blaze. “I wondered if you could tell me more about their camouflage?”

The light that had been in her face came rushing back, as if someone had flipped a switch. She met his eyes and smiled. Something twisted in his stomach. 

He was even a few inches taller than her. More boxes checked off his list.

“Sure, what would you like to know?”

Mostly, he wanted her to keep talking. Finally, his brain came up with something semi intelligent, “do they have all those colors in their skin and just bring them up to the surface when they want to?” 

“Sort of. Their skin is full of chromatophores, which are basically specialized cells that have an elastic sac that’s filled with one of a few pigments, and as they expand and contract the muscles around those cells, more or less pigment is visible. Octopus, and other cephalopods have a nerve attached to every one of those cells, so they can change almost at will. Some scientists are trying to understand if they even need to think about changing, or if it’s just an autonomic nerve response.” She stopped abruptly, “I’m sorry, that’s probably more information than you were looking for. ”

“No, it’s really interesting,” he assured. “How do you know all this? Are you just in charge of the octopus tank?”

“I'm getting my masters degree at  UBC in marine zoology. I do research with one of the octopus we have named Walter, so they ask me to do these talks while I’m here working on that.”

He laughed, “Walter? That's quite the name for a fish.”

“Right?” she agreed, resisting the urge to correct him that Walter was a cephalopod, not a fish. They were two very different categories of animals. “I didn't choose it, but it suits him. He's kind of a curmudgeonly old man sometimes.” 

His phone buzzed, reminding him it was nearly time to eat lunch. 

“Hey, I swear I don't usually do this,” he said, more for his own benefit as he silenced the vibration on his phone, “but do you want to grab some lunch?” 

She glanced at her watch and he felt his face flame as the reality of what he’d just said sunk in. He'd asked her to lunch? While she was working? How out of touch was he? Not everyone worked in the morning for a few hours and basically had the rest of the day free. 

“I have a break coming up at 1, but I'm giving another talk at 2:30, so we couldn't go very far,” she said apologetically, hoping it wouldn’t put him off. 

Quinn felt like he'd won the lottery. He just wanted to keep talking to her. It didn't matter how far they went. For all he cared, they could go to the aquarium cafeteria. “That’s fine.”

A relieved smile spread over her lips. 

Pulling out his phone, he checked the time. “So, I’ll meet you out front in twenty?” he suggested, gesturing vaguely to where he thought the front of the building was.

She nodded. 

As Sarah headed backstage, Rick, one of the aquarium staff, saddled up beside her, waggling his eyebrows, “he was cute.”

She went to scoff and wave him away, but found that she couldn’t. Her mystery man was cute. Lovely brown eyes, a few inches in height on her (which if she was being honest, wasn’t all that difficult), dark hair along with a dark shadow of a beard on his jaw, and a prominent, interesting nose that was somehow distinctive and at home on his face all at once. On top of that, he came up to her, obviously interested in what she did, and that in itself was incredibly attractive. 

He hadn’t even paused when she threw out her graduate degree, a kind of douche litmus test she’d devised to tell right away who would be too intimidated by her education and who would be cool with it. 

“I know,” she said, a little surprised by her own sincerity.

“Did he get your number?” 

“No.”

“Please tell me you got his. It’s the twenty-first century, girl. You don’t let a man like that pass you by.” 

“He invited me to lunch,” she said, feeling that overwhelming sincerity wash over her again. It was a bold move on his part, making his intentions known right away. She wasn't sure she'd ever been asked out so quickly or decisively. 

“Well, I guess that works,” Rick shrugged, as if to say it wasn’t the route he would have taken.

Twenty five minutes later, Sarah rushed to the front, dodging the local hall so she wouldn’t be pulled away to answer a question, which happened more often than she’d ever anticipated after taking this research position.

He was standing near the entrance, looking at his phone with a kind of studied practice. Like he was trying hard to seem absorbed in whatever he was looking at, but the set of his shoulders made him look like he was bracing himself.

“I’m so sorry,” she said, halting her progress, “I got stuck talking with my research supervisor.” 

He smiled, finally lifting his head, “It’s cool. Glad you didn’t stand me up though.” 

A relieved smile took over her face. “I’m Sarah by the way, I didn't get your name.” 

“Quinn,” he said, extending his hand. 

He’d forgotten to introduce himself. He'd been so caught up in keeping her talking that he forgot the most basic part of polite conversation. Internally, he rolled his eyes. 

A small spark raced up her arm when their hands touched with the formal shake. 

“So,” he shoved his hands in his pockets, unsure of what else to do with them, “where do you wanna go?”

“Oh, I…” she paused, looking out to the park, “do you have a favorite place?” 

“I'm not down this way much, so I don't really know.”

“Do you like bao?” she asked. 

He just looked at her, so she continued, “they're like dumplings with different things inside. They're Asian. There's a great place just up the street I go to sometimes.”

“I've never had it, but sure?”

Leading the way, Sarah started out of the building in confident strides that spoke of someone who had little time to waste in getting from one point to another. The rain had let up to a light mist that would do little more than dew the grass. 

“So… are you from Vancouver?’ she asked, glancing over at him. He kept pace with her easily. 

“No, I'm kind of from all over, but mostly from Michigan.” 

“Oh, cool. I'm from Nevada.”

“That's a long way for school.”

“Well, it's a bit hard to study the ocean there,” she teased, “being landlocked and all.”

He laughed. “So, you're a student and you do research, what else do you do?”

“I honestly don't have a whole lot more time. Grad school is kind of a joke that way. I hang out with my roommates,” she added, feeling incredibly lame. “What about you? What do you do?”

He cleared his throat. This conversation always went one of two ways. “I play hockey.” 

“Like, for a job?” she asked, her eyebrows shooting up into her hairline. 

“Yeah. For the Canucks.” He gestured around himself, acknowledging the city as a whole. 

She looked at him, and he held his breath, hoping his gut reaction wasn’t about to be proven wrong. 

"That must be a wild job.”

A sigh let go in Quinn's chest. “It is. I feel really lucky.”

“So you're what, 20?”

“I hope I look older than that!”

"Sorry," She laughed. "I'm so bad with age. Especially with dudes. The facial hair always throws me off, so I usually aim low.” she said, gesturing to his jaw.

He grinned at her and her heart did a pitter pattery little jig against her ribcage. 

“In any case,” she said, flipping her hands, “aren't all the guys in the NHL really young? Like, you have to be drafted before you're 20 or something?”

“21, technically,” he said, looking very impressed. “Do you follow hockey?”

“Not really, but my roommate is obsessed with the Canucks, so I've picked up a few things." 

Quinn hoped she was the good kind of obsessed. 

“So how old are you then?”

“24. You?” 

“Twenty-six.” 

The guys were going to give him so much shit when they found out he took out another older woman. 

He couldn’t help it. He liked older women. They were more likely to have their lives together in the way he did. It was easier to be himself - a little more serious and quiet than his peers - with older women, who seemed to appreciate those qualities more. 

It seemed he was naturally drawn to someone older, even when his basic instincts took over.

After 10 minutes of walking, they were seated in a cozy little restaurant, and Sarah made sure he was facing the middle, where the chef was assembling the dumplings. 

Quinn looked over the menu, feeling instantly overwhelmed. There were so many things he didn't know here. “What's good?” he asked, trying to calm his nerves. 

Truly, what the hell was he doing? He felt so out of his element. He dated, but never like this. Usually via set up and occasionally from an app, but he always knew something about his date before they met in person. 

This was all his least favorite parts of getting to know someone in a situation that felt too high-stakes. He wasn’t even sure why. Sarah was pretty. Not in the overly stunning instagram pretty way Jack usually favored, but more girl next door kind of pretty, in a way that made him interested to know her more, but he didn't feel intimidated or uncomfortable around her. Something about her tilted him off his axis enough to make him go out of his comfort zone enough to ask her to lunch. For the first time, he found himself thinking, this could really go somewhere, and that scared him shitless.

“Everything I've tried is good. You should at least try the rainbow dumplings. Then you can try all the flavors.”

He nodded and set the menu down. 

“We could split an entree too?” She suggested, sensing his unease. “The dumplings aren't really a total meal.”

“Sure. You pick.”

“Anything you don't like? Any dietary things?” 

Quinn shook his head, “no, I’m off tomorrow, so I’m not watching what I eat.”

They locked eyes over her menu, “do you have to do that a lot?” 

He nodded, “it comes with the territory. Gotta stay in peak condition, you know?” 

She didn’t, but she nodded anyway. 

He took off his cap and nervously ran his hand through his hair before replacing it. His hair was thick and a little wavy, she saw. It made her like him even more. 

After holding eye contact for a beat too long, she tore her eyes away to look at the menu again. “Do you mind if I do something a little weird?” she asked. 

When she dared to meet his eyes again, he was looking at her like he was bracing for something that was going to ruin his whole reputation. 

“I mean with ordering,” she said, laughing. 

“Oh,” Quinn felt his whole body relax, “sure.” 

“Were you worried I was going to ask for pictures of your feet or something?” 

Laughter burst out of his mouth, splitting his face into a natural, easy smile that suited him. The childish scrunch to his nose coupled with the wide, sure-of-himself smile made him look somehow younger and older at the same time.

“I don’t know,” he admitted, “I’ve seen a lot of weird shit.” 

“I can’t even imagine,” she said, laughing. 

The waiter came up to the table then. 

Sarah glanced at Quinn, a smile still playing on her lips.

“You order,” he said, feeling childish. 

“We’ll have two orders of the rainbow dumplings, and whatever main dish you want to bring us.” 

Quinn choked a little on the water he was drinking. 

“Just no seafood.” 

The waiter nodded, like this wasn’t an unusual request, “spice level?” 

Sarah looked to Quinn for guidance. 

“Mild,” he said. 

“Mild, then.” 

“No allergies?” 

Sarah shook her head, and the waiter walked away. 

“Do you do that a lot?” he asked. 

“Sometimes. I have a friend who does it every time we go out. It’s a great way to try new things.” 

“And no seafood?” he asked, “has your work turned you away from it?” 

“No, not really, but I only get it if it’s sustainably sourced, and I didn’t want to have a whole conversation over who their seafood supplier is, and most waiters don't know that stuff anyway, so it’s just easier to say none.” 

Their conversion slipped into a silence that wasn't completely uncomfortable. 

“So,” she said, starting to fiddle with the things on the table, a soy sauce decanter and a square ceramic container with a tiny spoon in it. “Tell me more about yourself.” 

“Like what?”

“Like,” she paused, filtering through the questions that raced through her head, “what's your favorite movie?”

“Star Wars.”  

“Which one?”

“I like all of the original trio, but probably The Empire Strikes Back most.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. 

“Why?”

“Oh, I dated a guy a while ago who told me his favorite Star Wars movie was The Phantom Menace and I almost broke up with him on the spot.”

Quinn laughed. 

“What's your favorite?”

“Oh, I have so many,” she said, “For Star Wars: A New Hope. Overall, it kind of depends on the day, but I have some go-to comfort movies, like any of the original Marvel movies, Lord of the Rings, and this chick flick called In Her Shoes I used to watch a lot with my mom.”

Feeling more and more like he really had won the lottery, Quinn smiled at her. It was strange to think a girl like this existed and had been existing in the same city as him for some time. A woman that was cute and curvy and had so many of the qualities he always said he was looking for. Passionate about what she was doing, didn't take herself too seriously, was a bit of a nerd like he was, but not too nerdy, didn’t want to date him for clout or money.

People in his life had often wondered if the list was too long to find in a real person. He'd started to wonder the same thing over the past few months. Part of it was that it felt easier to have a long list so he didn’t have to worry about looking for someone while he was so busy. He'd always figured he'd meet someone later on in his career or even after it was done. Then he would have the time to dedicate to dating and marriage. 

Despite all that, here Sarah was, smiling at him over a lunch table like fate had just dropped her into his life. 

Their food came and they continued talking. Sarah could tell he was a quiet guy, always taking time to think before he spoke. Despite that, she didn't feel like she was carrying the conversation. It was a pleasant surprise for a first date. 

At one point, Quinn looked so lost at how to eat the dumplings that she took pity on him and gave him the instructional card from the table. “I was lost when I first came here, too,” she assured. 

When they finished, and Quinn had shut down her offer to pay for half of the food, she glanced at her watch, surprised to find that it was already 2:05. Their conversation had been so consistent and comfortable, she hadn’t realized how much time had passed. 

“Oh, shit,” she said. “I’m sorry. I have to get back.” 

“I’ll walk with you,” he said, standing and putting  a cash tip on the table. 

Sarah felt a little dizzy. Everything felt so sudden, like Karma had finally noticed all her pain and delivered her something good for a change. She’d gotten so used to slogging along, enjoying what she was doing, but not really looking forward to the future with any big hope or optimism. The sudden change had her reeling.

When they got back to the Aquarium, Quinn stopped at the entrance, tucking himself behind one of the pillars to provide a little more privacy. 

“I, uh,” he found himself saying. How did you end a date with a woman you were beginning to feel might just be your soulmate? 

“I had a really nice time,” she said. 

“Yeah, me too.”

He leaned in, trying to gauge if she wanted to be kissed, or if a hug would put him too much in the friend-zone. His brothers probably would have chastised him for not going in for the kiss right away, but the last thing he wanted was to make her uncomfortable. 

They did a short, awkward dance, neither knowing what, exactly, to do. It struck Sarah as the most uncomfortable thing on their date thus far. 

Finally, she took charge and wrapped her arms around his neck in an embrace. 

 Quinn sighed as he gathered her against him. 

His willingness to wait for her to dictate the level of physicality they shared ticked another box on her list. She wouldn’t have minded kissing him, but the fact that he respected that boundary right off the bat had game show-winner bells ringing in her mind. 

“I know you have to go, but can I get your number?” he asked, stepping back from the embrace, letting his left hand linger on her hip.

She giggled a little, thinking what a weird formality it was that he had to ask at this point. She gave him her number and he texted to make sure it was right. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out, showing him. 

“I’ll see you later?” she asked. looking up into his face. She wasn’t surprised to find the same hope she felt reflected back at her. 

He glanced at her lips before meeting her eyes again, “yeah.”

Another glance at her watch had her stepping back from him. “I’m sorry, I’m late,” she said, turning away before turning back at the last second and brushing her lips over his cheek. “See you later.” 

He watched her run down the hall before turning around and heading back home, feeling like he could stomach an evening alone with Sarah on his mind. 

Later that night, studying in her room, Sarah finally pulled her phone from her backpack and typed out the message that had been pulling at her thoughts all day, making it impossible to really focus on anything else.

Some of her friends, she knew, would tell her she was putting too much out there too soon. Perhaps she was, but losing her mom had given her a fuck that attitude to many things - not expressing her true feelings being one of them. If it scared him off, that would tell her all she needed to know. 

She hit send, hoping she wasn’t wrong. 

Quinn was in his own apartment, not really paying attention to the Devils-Hurricanes game playing, mostly trying to figure out when it would be okay to text her. With the way everything had gone that day, he felt like any time would be the right time. The anxious part of his mind battled against that thought, worried about coming on too strong or seeming needy and messing things up. 

He pulled his phone out, finally deciding that he should just say something. 

It dinged in his hand, and her name flashed across his screen. Shocked, he dropped the phone and had to fish it out from under the couch before he could read her message. 

Thank you for today. You were such a welcome surprise. 

It was so heartfelt, he sat on the floor between the couch and coffee table for a while, re-reading their conversation.  

This is Quinn. 

Thank you for today. You were such a welcome surprise. 

The embarrassingly earnest part of him wanted to tell her all he was feeling, but he knew it was too soon to tell her he thought they could go the distance. It was too soon for him to be voicing those things to himself. He didn’t really even know her. Yet.

Sarah watched his text bubble appear and disappear several times before she clicked off her screen, unable to watch.

Her heart was rioting in her chest. Yes, fuck that, but also if he proved her wrong, she knew she would be crying herself to sleep. 

Finally - finally her phone buzzed. Hands shaking, she struggled to unlock it, eventually having to put her code in twice before it worked. His message slid onto the screen, and she released the breath she’d been holding. 

I feel the same way. I can’t wait to see you again.

Want more Quinn & Sarah? Check out the Snapshots Masterlist

To read all my fics, check out the Fanfiction Masterlist

#quinn hughes #quinn hughes fic #quinn hughes imagine #quinn hughes x oc #quinn hughes fan fic #nhl fanfiction #nhl imagine #Quinn & Sarah Snapshots #hockey fic #hockey romance #quinn hughes fanfiction

[hugheses]

literally years ago i started transcribing this and then never got around to finishing it but finally did with some help from oomf. pls tell me if you notice any errors!

below the cut:

5-3-21

AJ: We are so excited to have Ellen Hughes hop on the bus with us today. So Ellen, welcome. And to give a little background, you grew up in Dallas, which, a long time ago before the Stars, there were not- it was not a hockey hotbed, as maybe it is now. Played a lot of sports. You ended up playing soccer, hockey and lacrosse, three sports at UNH, made it to the NCAA semifinal game in Lacrosse in 1987, inducted into the UNH Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. You ultimately pursued a graduate degree at UNH, and while you did that, assistant coached for both the soccer and hockey teams. Ultimately, you made Team USA for the 1992 World Championship, where with Cammi you won a silver, named to the tournament All-Star Team. Two years later, at the Worlds in ‘94, you served as an ambassador to Norway's national team, went on into broadcasting. You were in the booth for when Cam and I won gold in 1998 with CBS and then a sideline reporter for the 1999 World Cup of soccer. Your husband, Jim, is a former hockey player and coach, has worked for the Maple Leafs organization. And of course, you are the uber matriarch, hockey mom of North America because you have three superstar sons. You've got Quinn, drafted number seven overall, plays D for Vancouver. You've got Jack, who is number one overall with the New Jersey Devils and of course, Luke, eligible for the draft this year. So welcome, Ellen. We can't wait to catch up with you.

Ellen: Thanks so much for having me. And thanks for the nice intro. I know, AJ, you see Jack here and there with the Islanders, could you remind him of some of those things, that I actually had a life? And Cammi, I know you've been nice enough to have Quinn over for dinner, not this year because of COVID, but maybe you could give him that whole intro again that, I did something other than just being their mother.

Cammi: Well, you know, it's funny. There is probably, I don't know what it was, maybe four or five months ago, you had sent me a video that you guys found, which we have to post on our social media channel here. But it was you as this little cute, blond, tiny little voice hockey player being interviewed in Texas, of all places, for hockey. Right? A woman, a female playing hockey, let alone kids playing hockey in Texas is so rare. Right? And I remember Quinn texting me and being like, said something about your skating, how bad it was. And I was like, little do all your kids know is that their talent comes from their mom. I've nothing—taking away nothing from Jimmy, because Jimmy was a great athlete himself. But you and Quinn play almost identical. And I'm going to keep reminding him of that.

Ellen: I love it. I love it. I usually get like just one word, dust[?] with things like that.

Cammi: Yeah, well, thank you for being here.

AJ: Yeah, yeah. But I want to start back with the fact that you grew up in a nontraditional hockey market. I know. According to USA Hockey, we’re not supposed to say that anymore because there are all—they don't really consider that anymore. There are so many with the Coyotes and the Stars and the two teams in Florida and Southern California. But when you grew up in Dallas, hockey was not a mainstream sport. I can imagine you had to have been playing on the boys team. Can you tell us what it was like growing up in Dallas then?

Ellen: Well, it's so funny because you see, you know, it's so exciting to see where the women's game has gone. And, you know, you forget how old you are and you kind of forget like, wow, that was pretty unusual what I was doing back then. And, you know, I'm even older than Cammi, so Cammi's older than you, AJ. Sorry to age you there, Cammi. But you forget that what we were doing in those times as young girls and how… you know, unusual it was, because we were fortunate enough to have parents that encouraged us and led us and pushed us and created those opportunities to play with the boys. And it's amazing to think that we did that and it seemed so normal to me. And my dad's been gone a long time, like he used to coach us. But I think about the fact that as a young girl in Dallas, Texas, a nontraditional market, to have a father that said, “Oh, you want to play hockey? Okay, you can play with the boys and you can go do those things.” And just how lucky I was to have a father that created those opportunities and supported those opportunities. And so it's pretty great. But we used to play down at the fairground. So, so people that know Dallas know that, you know, there's a fairgrounds downtown and the Cotton Bowl is played there every year. And there used to be a CHL team. So the old CHL. And so for us, it was very normal. I have an older brother that played and then went off to prep school and played at Deerfield Academy and then played Division three college hockey at Bowden. He could have played Division one, very academically oriented, and that's what he chose to do. So you want to do everything that your brother did. So when we were really little, we moved from St Louis to Dallas, and when I was in St Louis, all I wanted to do was play hockey. But in the state of Missouri, and I may have this factually not correct, but this is what my parents told me, that the girls weren’t allowed to play on boys’ teams in the state of Missouri. So when I knew I was moving, it was on my eighth birthday and my dad said, Well, it'd be great because you can play on- you can play hockey when you move to Dallas. So that's when I was so excited about the move. Like I could go play on a boys team because there was no girls’ teams to play on. And so there's only one team, if you're good enough, you play on the best team. And we would travel to St Louis, we would travel to Kansas City, we would travel to Colorado a couple of times a year and we would go play the best teams that we could possibly play. I just didn't understand at that point that was the world that I was living in, that that was unusual or different. So every once in a while I look back on it and think how fortunate I was to have parents that really not only supported it but encouraged it and let me really sow my own oats.

Cammi: When you were in St Louis, you saw the game of hockey around you. You wanted to play, you couldn't play. Did you play off ice then to be ready for when you moved and were like able to play or did you just start fresh when you moved to Texas?

Ellen: You know, I don't even remember. I was eight, so I don’t- I don't- it I must have been- I must have learned how to skate, but I wasn't playing. I don't really remember playing, like I remember running around the rinks with your brothers. I mean, you know how that is. You play mini sticks at the rinks, y’know. But I always wanted to play. I wanted to play everything. So, you know, I was just… and then off I went and I just started playing and I loved it. And I was fortunate because, you know, Cammi, you never went to Bob Johnson’s hockey school in Colorado, did you, in Aspen?

Cammi: No.

Ellen: I know, because I know you have a close relations with that whole Wisconsin crew. But every summer we spent the month of August in Aspen, and I would do the Bob Johnson Hockey School. So I actually think I did that like, at seven, before I ever moved, and they would always let me play. So it was Bob, it was Grant Standbrook, it was Jeff Sauer, all these people that, y’know, were so supportive of the women's game, Art Berglund who just passed away. And so I would spend my summers there playing and being groomed by the players that played with Tony at Wisconsin. It would have been their generation of players that were the camp counselors and that was right around the ‘84 men's Olympics. And a lot of those guys went on to play in that. So I think culturally that was exciting for me and that's where my passion grew.

Cammi: And you played soccer as a young girl as well.

Ellen: Yes. So soccer: really competitive. You know, we won youth nationals. And I was, I mean, it's crazy to think that I'm going to be 53 years old. And when I was being recruited to play women's soccer, there were 31 Division one schools across the country offering scholarships. And so Wisconsin was one of them. And I really wanted to go there because of my allegiance with that. But they had no women's hockey. So when we— [...]

Cammi: That's where I- me, too. I wanted to go as well. We would have been teammates instead of rivals.

Ellen: Right, at least for one year. I think you were a freshman my senior year. Is that right?

Cammi: Either junior or senior. Yeah. Yeah.

Ellen: [Laughs] So anyway, so the soccer side of things, you know, if you were an elite player, you wanted to go to UNC. My very best friend on the team growing up on my youth hockey, my youth soccer team was Carla Werden, you know her as Carla Overbeck, who became the captain of the team in the first World Cup team. Mia Hamm, I played with on my state team, so we were really good in those days. Brandi Chastain was my roommate at my first youth national team camp for soccer. So that was my, you know, generation of players. And I wasn't recruited by UNC, but I was recruited by some of the other top schools and I had this like, crossroads, where am I going to go to a school like UNH, where there are startup women's soccer programs, but yet I can play two sports. And they were offering me a full scholarship. And the crazy thing is there was no school in the state of Texas that was playing Division one Women's soccer. Think about that. Not a one. I mean, there was 31. I think there's 360 some odd schools, Division one programs at this rate for women's soccer. So that's how the landscape changed and that's how the lack of landscape really drove my next move.

Cammi: So you chose UNH. You played soccer and hockey, but then you also added lacrosse.

Ellen: Yeah. And the interesting thing about hockey is here I am, this girl coming out of Dallas and nobody knew about me. And as you know, Providence at the time, so all the Ivy Leagues were playing hockey and then we didn't have a lot of programs back then that were playing. So it was all the Ivy- it was the ECAC. So it was what, maybe 15 teams playing? How many, 22?

Cammi: Yeah, roughly 22.

Ellen: And so there weren't a lot of options. So there were so many girls playing that wanted to get on those teams. So I remember reaching out to Russ McCurdy who was the coach and saying, “You know, I'm being looked at by UNH for women's soccer, but I'm only coming there because I want to play women's hockey,” and he was like, “Oh, you know, you're probably not going to make the team. You know, we're a fully funded program.” I mean, you know how that goes, right? Right, right. Why would you take a girl out of Dallas you knew nothing about, playing in these, he asked if I was playing women's hockey at that time. And so I had- you know, I wasn't guaranteed a spot, but I'd watched them play, and my mom and dad watched them play. And I really, in my heart of hearts thought I'd be able to play. And they were a fully funded program and my scholarship was coming from soccer. And so, I decided that I wanted to do it. And he said, and I remember having Bob Johnson at the time call on my behalf. He called, he was at Wisconsin still, and he called and said, you know, she can play, she’s been with me every summer, and I really think you should give her a shot. So he said, okay. So the deal was, I was going to play soccer. Well all the women start with hockey, probably—when did we start, in the fall, like in mid-September. And they had the whole training camp, while I was still playing soccer until Thanksgiving. And so I said, when you get done with soccer, just come see me and I'll give you a week to try out, to get up to speed. So he really had no thought of me or like, there was no, like, ‘she's not making this team.’ So we finished soccer and then I went over to hockey and I remember after my first day he said, “What size states do you wear?” So that was like, that, that made me happy. Like that was it. I was on the team, so it was pretty good.

And then our women's soccer coach, Marge Anderson, was one of the most decorated women's lacrosse players in those days. She had played at UMass for soccer and hockey, and she was on the World Cup team for lacrosse. So she would take a couple of athletes a year because in those days you needed female athletes to play more than one sport, to really round out your depth of your programs. So she had encouraged me to come out and play lacrosse. I knew nothing about it. So our first year they had just won the national championship the year before, believe it or not. Did you guys know UNH won the National Women's Lacrosse championship? Different landscape in those days. So they had won the national championship. None of the Southern schools were playing. Nobody across the country was playing. It was a real Northeast-driven collegiate world. And so I walked onto this field and, um, let's just say… I wasn't very good. I could run, but my stick skills- and I learned and I did everything, and it was great, and we went to the Final Four, but I was out at that point. So everybody always says I played three sports like, I was on the team. I was, you know, three sports at that level. I was done at that point and I stuck with soccer and hockey after my first year. But it was a really cool experience.

AJ: Well, a kudos, too, by the way, to go back to something you just said, that McCurdy asked what size state you are. Kudos to UNH for giving you guys skates back in the 80s. I didn't get skates in college until my senior year, which was the fall of 1998. That was the first time I got skates bought for me. So that's, that's pretty good on UNH, I give the Wildcats props.

Cammi: Well, Ellen, you know what? So, Russ, I actually- I was. I was the same, a kid coming from Illinois. So, such a similar story where nobody wanted to talk to me really, until someone saw me play when I went out to the East Coast, I just played with a girls’ team for one game and I got seen by Providence. Other than that, I called Russ. Same thing. No interest, but I got to say, Russ, and I know what he meant to you, when I look at all the coaches that I've been coached with, he coached us at the — at the ‘92 World Championships where you were named best defenseman of that tournament. He taught me a lot, not about, not just about hockey, but just like how to organize yourself off life, how to make your bed every day. Like, there's things that stuck with me from Russ from that one or two, I think, seasons we had him. He was a special guy, you know. You know, I just— he never gets any recognition. He's very unknown. But did you remember that about him? Do you have that same sort of view of him that I do?

Ellen: Totally. And I'm still really tight with him and Sheila. And, you know, when you think about it, for what he did as a male player, you know, in that generation, he was a heck of a hockey player. And then, I don't know what he did, but he left the game and did something, you know, I'm not really sure what he did and came back to the game, but for his stature to come back and coach the women and do what he did, and he coached tennis as well, and he cared so much. He was so passionate about the game, and teaching the game, and teaching away from the game. And he cared so much about the people, you as a person. And I always laugh because, you know, Quinn had Donnie, you know, your brother, at the NTDP. And he reminds me a lot of Donnie. I don't know if you feel that way, but-

Cammi: I totally feel that way because as you say, first of all, from a mental standpoint, they're both like, they help you so much with the side, the mental side, and also the skill based stuff that Russ taught us. He goes beyond the game and I feel, yeah, it's really interesting that you say that because I can see that as well.

Ellen: And it's just the, you know, some people have their skills and then some people like, have different skill sets. And I feel that the best of the best try to cover all the different skill sets and really get to know the different human being and try to push the buttons. And it doesn't work for everybody. Not everybody would feel that way, but he was an amazing man and still is an amazing man. And I also think it's funny because one thing that, you know, I don't know how you are with the kids, but this sticks with me. And I don't know if you remember this, Cammi, but the interesting thing is, I've seen my boys be taught that same lesson from coaches at a younger level, and I can particularly say the NTDP level is: get up every day and make your bed. You've accomplished one thing. Do you remember that from him? And then it was either Donnie-

Cammi: No! Always.

Ellen: Or Wroblewski that I remember had Quinn and Brady, like, make your bed every day. And then I saw with, with Jack and Luke. Like, “we got to make our bed every day because that's orderly” and like, little things like that.

Cammi: Well, I got to say, Ellen, that stuck with me for— still to this day, I think of Russ when I make my bed. I'm not kidding. And I tell the kids the same, like if you just… and it resonated with me. So like, I don't know, it stayed with me. It resonated with me when he said it. And then his… just his stuff about practicing skill. And we hadn't really done that so much, as an, I guess where we were at Providence. Like we would just go practice, but like, he was working on skill-based stuff. He’s a very smart man. So I'm happy to hear that you're still in touch with him and you felt the same way. But I love that we're both making our bed because of Russ McCurdy. You taught your kids that.

AJ: I obviously didn't have Russ, I obviously didn't have Russ McCurdy, you can see behind me in my hotel room here. So I do not make my bed every day. And I know the value of it, but yeah, no, never had a coach who told me that.

Cammi: He was pretty special.

Ellen: Then. AJ, I was thinking about when you said about getting skates. I don't know how you guys were, but how would your shot be today? Like when I was playing, like, of course I couldn't shoot the puck because we would take the old men's sticks that were wooden and they would cut them down for us. Like, how would I have any flex on the stick?

AJ: Right? Right. So stiff. And it's like, it's crazy when you think about that, and the technology. And even when I did get a pair of skates, when I came back after the Olympics and played at Harvard, they were so much lighter. They were just… the material and everything, and then you look at the sticks and it's crazy. I mean, I never played with the one piece that they have now, that was just coming out when I was at the tail end of my career. But I remember I tried them, but the puck was all bouncy and I didn't like them. But you think about how quick the release and all the kick point on those sticks, that technology's insane.

Ellen: Right? You also think about how great the women are and where they're at. Like we didn't go in the weight room. We did not go in the weight room. The weight room was not for women's sports.

AJ: Our coach actually, my first year at Harvard before Katie Stone took over, he actually thought weightlifting was unbecoming for women. He didn't, he didn't book us. He wouldn't let us go in weight room. It was a, it was sort of an off limits thing. So he was a lovely man. But it was… not appropriate.

Cammi: Well, our Providence College coach, John Marchetti, who I love, I have always loved him as a coach. We had to beg him to just get us to get in shape. He thought women, that was just the way it was at the time. He was old fashioned and women would skate from the blue line in, so we would have half ice practices. And I was like, “We're out of shape. Like we got to skate!” “You guys don't need to skate full ice.” And it was literally all great intentions. Wonderful man. But that's what he felt. And I mean, think about that. Like I tried- it blows people away to think that that was the way it was. But that's how we were viewed as women. We can't exert ourselves the same way as men. And we were begging him to.

Ellen: Okay, now I know why we won, then. Why we beat you? Because we skated. [unintelligible]

Cammi: You didn't. You didn't beat me. Did you beat me when I was there?

Ellen: I don't know.

Cammi: We won. We won. I think we went the last year. You remember freshman year. I think you beat us in the finals. I think we[...]

Ellen: I think we met four years. Was just super cool, but I only — I was there five years. Much shorter. One year. But we went three years.

Cammi: Okay? We went three years. So we must have crossed over. And you beat us once? Yeah, you beat us. Let's get into the hockey mom stuff because I think a lot of moms are interested in the landscape of sport. Our kids that are passionate about anything. And it typically it's like, well, we know the sports world, but I mean, nowadays it's, it's everything. Like, whether it's music or some sort of non-sport, a passion that someone has. We're always trying to get our kids to pursue excellence. And AJ and I have talked a lot on this podcast, how sometimes things are flipped a little backwards and we're a little bit out of skew right now with the way we push our kids and just how fast they're put through the system. And you had three boys that you raised with Jimmy, who are now… two are NHL superstars. One's on his way. How, what was it like in your house? How did it start with the kids? What were you like as a mom and Jimmy as far as like, having, cultivating that for them?

Ellen: You know, it all seems like a blur. You know how that is, right? You're in the middle of it, both of you with young kids. So you're just day to day. I mean, you're day to day, right?

Cammi: Survival.

Ellen: Right? It's survival mode. So for me, you do things that you enjoy or you- you teach them things that you feel like you can teach them, Right. So it's kind of a slight on me that I wasn't more worldly and wanting to take them to museums. Or maybe like I felt like I had do those things because like, ‘Oh my God, what am I teaching them?’ But you tend to do the things that you - you're trying to find activities. Jimmy was off coaching a lot, I had three young boys that were really close in age. So what do I know? What can I do to pass time and keep them active? It was kicking a soccer ball. It was throwing a ball, it was doing rollerblading, it was passing the puck, it was taking them skating. So for me, those were mommy and me activities, right? And then every once in a while I'd be like, you know, I'd be like, ‘uh, we got to do Kumon, we gotta do like - we gotta read.’

You know, academics was really important to me because I felt like I was so driven the other way that like, I didn’t want to miss out on the other. So for us, it was never this grandiose plan, and I'm sure you guys were the same way. It was more like, ‘be the best at whatever it is you're doing, work your hardest at whatever it is you're doing.’ Working the hardest didn't mean scoring the most goals. It was playing the right way, whatever it is, being a great teammate and working really, really hard and we always felt like the other would come.

AJ: Do you feel like with your boys having you as a mom, Jim as a dad, did they feel pressure to perform on the rink?

Ellen: I don't think so, because we never put pressure on them. We would put pressure on them to work hard and play the right way. I mean, there were days I can remember with Quinn when we moved to Toronto, we were like “Ah, he’s doing pretty good, he’s a pretty good little hockey player. This is good.” Like, hmm. And we were coming from New Hampshire and Jimmy taking the job up in Toronto and we got there and I remember Jimmy going somewhere and he's like, “He is not even in the top 300 players in the city.” Do you know what I mean? Like he was, this thing was not—

Cammi: Was that what age? What age is that?

Ellen: He probably would have been… I'm trying to think when we moved. So Luke was born six, seven, eight, maybe? He was in first grade. What grade are you in first grade?

Cammi: Yeah, about seven or seven. Seven.

Ellen: And we thought he was doing great, but we never cared. What we would just say to him, like, and he was on a good little team and we would get beat by Ryan McLeod, who just played with Edmonton in and, and, Strome was on that team, Matty Strome, the youngest of the Stromes. And those two were like, I mean, I mean, they would score five, six, seven goals and I would be in awe how good they were at a little age - at a young age. So what we would do is we would just put them up against the best in the spring and in clinics and have them chase, try to be the best you can be. It was never like, “why aren't you that good” or “why are you scoring” or - and, you know, Jack was a little bit different. He came in and he was playing up a year with the older kids, you know. And Luke, we didn't even think about, like, third child, he's probably benefited the best because we were just trying to get the other two other places and we didn't even know how he played or what happened. And, and I think that was the other thing with them. You know, Jim was so busy working that we didn't watch ‘em practice. We didn't, you know, I might drop one at a the game and try to get to the other one to the game, to get to the other one to the game. So they had to self evaluate at a young age and really decide how they played. You know, you guys are probably the same way with your busy schedules.

AJ: Yeah, it's interesting. I look at it like I'm at the Nationals right now with my daughter Jamie, and talking to some of the parents last night and they were asking me like, what did you think of the game? And we were talking about it. But they don't watch far more than I do because I travel. So, you know, they're asking me, knowing that I have a hockey background. But it's to your point, I love coming to watch my kids play, but I really feel like I can just watch them and enjoy. I'm not coaching this year and it's a really- it is fascinating because I do feel like my kids have sort of they'll tell me how they played and, you know, usually they're tougher on themselves. I mean, I think most kids or most athletes are probably tougher on themselves anyway. But when- like as a hockey parent, I'm surrounded by people and you see all the studies about the low percentage of players that will make it from youth hockey to even D-1, let alone the NHL. You have three kids, three boys, two that are gone first round. Luke obviously is on his way to the NHL. So at what point did you think they were going to make it? Like, was there a time like you're talking about when Quinn was seven and you guys were just trying to have them compete? But was there a moment where you were like, wow, our - our kids are legit?

Ellen: You know, there was a point where I said, All right, this is good. Like, they're going to get to Division one college hockey. Like, I was pretty pumped. And at the end of the day, there's a point where you say you can only provide so much information and now they have to have their inner drive. Now that's gotta kick in. And I think for each one of them, that was when they got to the program. So for junior hockey, I guess, would be the equivalent. And I think it's the every day focusing on getting better, doing I mean, living it, eating it, not liking it, loving it. Y’know? And there's kids who get better from 18 to 20. There's, you know, you got to keep getting better. Doesn’t matter if you're the best at 16 or 15. So I saw my kids take different paths, you know, and just staying to have fun and having fun. Having fun is everything, as you know. You know, I mean, it's got to be fun. I mean, Cammi, you have two sons who are elite little soccer players, but if they're not having fun, that changes their drive for wanting to get better.

Cammi: Fully and if it's not cultivated as well, I mean, you have to have the right people above you and leading you and coaching you to believe in just playing and not just playing for- to be this best. There's a lot of pressure on kids these days and I think about your boys and knowing your boys and, and getting to know Quinn better since he's been out here as a person. Your kids are such great people. They're so well-balanced. They're such they get it. Like when they met Reese and Riley, my sons, they get it. They look kids in the eye. They joke around. They look adults in the eye. I mean, there's- they're just great kids. The other thing I noticed about them and and before I let you comment is when they play, when things are not going their way, they go straight ahead, like there's no pouting, there's no emotion. I mean, of course, we get emotional about the game, but as far as like, you know, what you taught them, like, where did that come from, that confidence and that humility and then that just that drive inside to just keep going?

Ellen: Well, you are awfully kind. And, you know, it's like, up and down. You know how parenting is right. And, you know, for me, it's the competitiveness. You both were uber competitive, Olympians, got to the highest level, accomplished so much, gold medals. So you know, that competitiveness. So you instill that in your children. You don't realize that you're doing it, but it just organically happens. Right? I'm sure. And AJ I see some of the fun things that you do, but I'm sure it's competitive at dinner, whether it's, you know, Boggle that you're playing or - I aged myself. But you know what I mean? Or Jenga that you're playing or if it’s a race, or- everything is a game at my house! Like, Luke and Quinn this summer. We had a lot of time together and they're creating a game out of nothing in the pool. We're like - Jack and I are looking at each other like, ‘What are those two doing?’ Like, it's games and there's a winner and there's a loser. So for me, I think it's more about they really care about winning. They really want to win. And in everything’s a team sport and they wanna - They take it personally. They want to be the best that they can be to help their team win. You know, whether it's giving something up and feeling bad about that and wanting to get it back. And that's probably the same mindset both of you had as Olympians. Is that fair to say? 

AJ: Yeah. I mean, I think that that is, you know, the ultimate drive to compete is something that I'm not sure can be cultivated. Right. I mean, I think you but what what is so impressive about your boys is that the balance that Cammi’s talking about. Right. That confidence and that drive to compete coupled with the humility and on seeing them being interviewed, seeing the way they carry themselves at a very young age, that that's what I think is, you know, you and Jim should be very, very proud of. But I do think that that drive to win and it's not win at all costs, but it's win whether it's the right way or as a part of the team. I think that that is something that can be very unique. And obviously they come from two very competitive elite athlete parents. So they were, they were given that at a young age. I was just reminded while you were- we were talking about Quinn, last year in the playoffs, do you remember getting a text from me Ellen, when I talked about in on the broadcast, I talked about Quinn, he was so relaxed playing the power play that it was like he was playing shinny hockey. S H I N N Y and I got blown up on Twitter that people thought I said he played S H I T T Y hockey. That I was like, ‘oh my God, the Hughes family hears me on NBC telling like’ and it was a compliment. I mean, it was like the utmost like, this is amazing how great he is that, you know, as a young player in the NHL playing with this sort of poise but also like freedom, he just plays with his freedom. And I'm sitting there thinking and my producer was like, “You can't use that term. That's such a hockey term.” Like, who doesn't know shinny hockey? But anyway, that was just so.

Ellen: So I laughed at that when I got your text and I think I wrote back like, “it's okay if you ever want to say he's saying the other - the S H hockey too.”

AJ: I would never say that.

Ellen: You know the game, you're allowed to say that and we would be just okay with it. We would probably agree with you.

Cammi: So when you're watching Ellen, when you get to watch your kids and I know I've texted you before, I'm like, I wonder if she's still up. But of course, you're watching the games when you're on the East Coast and you're watching them and  watching the West Coast games, probably late at night. Right, with Quinn. And... can you relax? Like, are you feeling like now? Like you can relax? Is it still, like, feel intense? Like, what's the feeling that you get as a mom? You know, I know Luke’s on his way, but like, do you get to see you get to enjoy it all? Do you get to sit back and enjoy it?

Ellen: Let me ask you this. When you watch Riley play and it's a big game and [unintelligible], how do you feel?

Cammi: So do you feel like at every game - do you feel like that every game?

Ellen: Well, your logic tells you it should change.

Cammi: Yeah. 

Ellen: But I think it's just your competitiveness. But I can tell you this. Now my oldest two are at a level where I don't get involved in the hockey anymore, I just really try to be a support system. They don't need to hear from me when they get to the next level. You don't know how many people are badgering them or bothering them or sending texts[?]. And you know, they got here because this point, they got here and they're driving their own business. They don't need to hear from me. Now, do they… Do they lean on Jimmy with hockey? Do I know a lot about hockey? But I just need to be a different support system for them. You know, I need to be an outlet for them and someone that's not going to talk about hockey unless it's something specific. Does that make sense? Like when I talked to Quinn today, it wasn’t about last night's game. It was about other things, you know, he's got enough of last-

Cammi: That makes sense.

Ellen: And he's got this - he doesn't need to hear from his mother, that that ship has sailed. Does that make sense? And I don't mean that in a negative st-

Cammi: Totally, because.

Ellen: It's just that's not what they need and, and that's not what I want to be that - be there for them. That type of support system.

AJ: I don't know how you got away without having one of them play goalie. I'm just going to leave it out there.

Ellen: Well, Luke. [...] Luke in net. and I was telling this to someone the other day, I mean, I got funny stories, like when you say, oh, you guys were great parents. I'm like, Oh, really? Like the time I showed up for this massive tournament with Jack and Jimmy's taken everybody's skates sharpened and I got everybody’s skate sharpened and he was off somewhere. I was going to meet him at the university. I'll tell you one story. So this is just typical. So their cousin was playing for B.C. and we wanted to go to a college game because we want to expose these kids that were growing up in Toronto to what college hockey was, so that that could be an option. So we took ‘em to see B.C. versus Michigan, their big cousin. We're driving down and Jack had this massive tournament, which we thought was massive as a you know, you always think these youth tournaments are massive and have grandiose importance, sorry, because you are at nationals and that is important with your daughter AJ. So Jimmy had said, I think Quinn was going to play in Michigan. And I said, okay, I'll bring the boys down I’ll get the skates sharpened and then Jack and I will leave after the game. We won't tell his coach that, like, we're getting into a hotel in London at one in the morning to drive around- around the lake to get to Buffalo for his 9 a.m. game. So I'm driving to Michigan first so he can see his cousins. And then whereas all the other parents are in Buffalo for that 9 a.m. game spending the night getting a good sleep right. Well I let him come watch his brother play. I left two hockey bags with Jim, of Luke's bag and Quinn's bag and I, Jack and I left after the game. We got into London at like one in the morning. We went to sleep. We got back up at six and off he goes for his game. When we get to Buffalo, I'm like, ‘This is great. I did it.’ And they're playing. I think they're playing Shattuck St Mary's and Oliver Wahlstrom is on the other team just to give you a few names. Right. So because he's an Islander, right AJ?

AJ: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Had a goal last night.

Ellen: And it was a non parent coach. So you don't talk to these coaches. I don't think I had a conversation with them and they're young they’re- I don’t know Jack was an underager so he's playing up a year. And so the coach calls me. He's like, “ Umm... We've got a problem. Can you come back to the locker room?” So I go back to the locker room and he goes, “Ummm Luke skates are in Jack's bag.” You know what that means? Where are Jack’s skates? In Luke’s bag or God knows where, right? So I'm like, agh and they're like, “Where are Luke’s skates?” And like, I think he - I left his bag in Toronto. So at this point. So I look at Jack, I'm like, “What you want to do?” and he goes, “Find [buy?] me some skates.” and I'm like, “Okay, what size are your skates?” So I go around, I find the Chicago mission, and if he was in CCM some guy had a Bauer of a size four and a half or five or six or whatever he was in, and they're like, You can borrow these skates, but our game is offset from yours so you can only play until we need the skates back.

Cammi: Oh my God.

Ellen: Right?

AJ: I'm like, my stomach's dropping listening to this. I know.

Ellen: So he’s in these random skates and sorry to go off on a tangent here, but you saying you were great, You know, we do the same things that everybody else does. So it wasn't a completely tightly run ship. So. But maybe that's the adaptability. So Jack goes out and he plays two great periods, and all of a sudden I see this guy walk around and you see them take Jack's skates off. And this is a tight game and it's a big tournament. And he sits on the end of the bench with no skates for the third period. So here you are. We both have - we all have husbands. So Jimmy’s like, “How was the game?” I'm like, “He played great for two periods and let's just leave it at that.” He's like, I was. [unintelligible] But so anyway.

AJ: Yeah, I think that's building resilience. I think you're right. There is something to be in moment. It's- that's the worst feeling possible. But in retrospect, it's a great story, right? And it's one period of hockey that-

Ellen: [unintelligible] five like that running down the coach whenever Jack's hockey bag and his helmet was sideways like, I hope you guys have stories like that.

Cammi: Oh, man. You know what is funny is, those- that's just part of sport and part of the life where you have that happen. But I do as a kid, remembering, feeling like there was nothing more important. And I remember my brother Tony had just got his license. He was driving me over to a friend's house that was going to take me to an away game. It was about 45 minutes away. He went through a stop sign with just skated through a stop sign, hit the front of another car. I'm in the front seat. No seatbelt at that time. Right. And the first thing he goes, “You okay?” and the first thing I said is, “I'm not going to miss my game, am I?” And sure enough, we had to drive home. Somehow we got home. My mom is pregnant with my younger brother Joey, eight months pregnant, and I somehow cried my way into making my mom get in our trans van massive truck with Tony in the passenger seat, driving through snow to get me to the game, which I got there in the third period. But it was to me it was like, I know that feeling like it's- you cannot miss, you cannot. And I see with my kids too. So yeah, those are the best. Some of those are the best memories actually, right?

Ellen: I'll give you one.

AJ: We spent about five and a half hours driving down here to Philadelphia. My daughter, I think, checked nine times to make sure her stuff was in the bag because I had to. She was at school and I had to get it. She does not trust me at all. I'm like, okay, yeah, you just make sure you got two- a right and a left skate in there.

Ellen: I'll give you one last story. To just - to say, like, like here I am, a hockey mom, thinking I’m going to teach my kids to skate. So when Jimmy was coaching in Boston with Robbie Ftorek, I didn't have Luke yet, so Jack... Quinn must've been three. So I wanted to have some one-on-one time. You know, with your first child, you feel like you have your second child and you just need some one-on-one time. So there was free kindergarten skating at the Reading arena. And so we were living in.. in uh.. oh my god I can’t even remember - right around the corner from there. So anyway, so every Tuesday I would take Quinn to skate and that's how he learned to skate. Like it wasn't like I was teaching him strides, I was teaching him to skate. I was getting him on skates. So I was really proud of this kid. He’d gotten off his crates that he was pushing and blah, blah, blah, blah. And at that point Robbie's parents were still alive. Steve and Ruth and they were amazing. And we would go to the games and, and so they didn't live far from there. So they wanted to come watch little Quinn that they see at the Bruins games skate. And I was so proud that I’d taught this kid to skate y’know, he was standing up on his own, he was pushing, the whole bit. So Steve comes out who had taught Robbie how to skate and Robbie was a great skater and I'm like this particular day, Quinn is terrible. He must have been three. Like he just looked like he had two left feet. I’m like, “he's not skating like, I swear, like he could skate, like, something's not right.” And Steve goes, “Ellen, I think his skates are on the wrong feet.” And they were! Do you know how little skates are? Yeah. How would you know? Like [unintelligible]. So we laugh about that story. So, Quinn doesn't know. He can't communicate to tell me that his skates are on the wrong feet. We sit him down, like literally in the doorway. We switch his feet and off this kid goes. And he's pushing and like a little three year old and he's doing great. So that's one of my many [unintelligible] stories.

AJ: But just to make you feel better, I did that to my son Sam, when he was however old, probably five. We went skiing. It was ski boots on the wrong feet. He kept telling us his feet hurt. And we basically were like, You're fine. It's just ski boots they hurt. And the end of the day I was like, Oh yeah, no, they really hurt. That's actually a legitimate point. So been there!

Cammi: Before we wrap up here and get to our rapid fire, I just wanted to ask you about the couple of times where I've seen the boys play tog- Well they played together on the World Junior team and it was in Vancouver. Jack and Quinn played together. What was that like and what was it like when they played their first NHL game toge- against each other for the Jersey Devils and for the Vancouver Canucks? Can you take us through those two times and what it felt like?

Ellen: Yeah, that's great. I mean, the- we had the fortune of them playing together at the World Junior Showcase up in Kamloops the summer before, leading up, kind of the tryouts. So I think that was my first experience. It was great. It was great. Really competitive. They played together. They were on the same PP that was a ton of fun. They were on the ice together a lot. Then the World Juniors that- in Vancouver, that was great too. But Jack was injured, so he was kind of in and out of the lineup, but it was just really great for them to be able to, as- they're so tight, they're best of friends, all three of them. So I think it was more letting them have that experience together and you know, you're disappointed for them in the way that the outcome was because they were so close to winning a gold medal. But it was super cool. It was a lot of fun. And then when they played against each other it was super special, I think for our family, just because it was the first time we got to share something like that with our whole family, we had a huge crew there. The Devils were nice enough, they were amazing. They had a box there and we were able to have all Jim's extended family there from the Northeast, which is a huge group of people. And Jack happened to score his first goal that night. So that was a relief and great and exciting. And then the next time they played together Cammi we went with you. You had the boys and Ray, and that was a great game, too, right? That was a lot of fun. I think the biggest thing is I like it better when they're not on the ice at the same time, especially with one being a D and one being a forward. I prefer, and it's hard to watch them. I don't know who you guys are, but AJ, your daughter right now at Nationals, is a stay at home defenseman so you watch all the D and you have a good feeling. It's really hard to watch two positions let alone two teams play.

AJ: I agree with that when I think about what you're, what you went through, with that and it's not even allegiance of which team you want to win. It's more what they're doing individually and you can't focus. I think that must have been so cool. Was there added pressure on the boys? Did you notice any nerves that night playing against each other?

Ellen: No, but I don't know what kind of side bets there were. Like. I'm going to need [unintelligible] Haha I could have used a girl so I could get a little more information, a daughter y’know they’re a little more forthcoming. I think it was exciting. They were both very young. I mean, it's crazy to think they entered their rookie year together. I think as they, y’know, hopefully have a really long, sustained career. That's your greatest hope for all of these players that play in the professional sports is to be able to stay healthy and have a long, sustained careers. So I think as they age and- it'll be more and more fun to watch it evolve.

AJ: Now we're talking about Quinn and Jack. Is there. Do you think that there's added pressure on Luke right now because of the successes that his brothers have had?

Ellen: You know, it's funny because I always worried about that with Luke, like, you know, as a parent, you know, I want them to all be successful in their own right. I want them all to have their own passion. I want them to care about school and do well in school and so, you know, you're always like, which one needs what someone will, you know, whatever it is you want to try to support them. And so Luke was really small for a while and he was playing against kids that had already hit puberty. And- and you know, I know you dealt with that Cammi with Riley and then he took off and he blew them like his whole game was a new you know, as soon as that- the playing field was evened. And that's a hard thing to try to nurture them through, you know, like, “just keep going” and “it's okay,” and “you’re gonna have your man strength,” and “you’re gonna have more separation speed because of that,” so Luke was really young and I mean, it took him a while before he grew. And so I wondered in my heart, like, is there pressure on him? Does he feel bad about himself? Like, I didn't know, you know what I mean? So then he made the program, which he just kind of started to take off.

Never in a million years did I think he was going to be 6’2” like you could’ve- I would never. I mean, he was who would have thought he was going to tower over his brothers? He was so late. So we used to talk to him about it, you know, and I used to try to ask, but it's hard to get information. But he drove his own bus and he had his own inner desires and his own inner strengths. And it never seemed to faze him or bother him, which, you know, was- we tried to communicate about it like you guys would as parents.

Cammi: It's so wonderful. I just love your whole family. I love everything you guys have instilled in your boys. I love watching them. We're such you know, we've grown so much closer. We get to see each other more often. And I just yeah, I commend you and totally appreciate all the insight that you've given us today. We've kept you a long time on, but we have our not so rapid, rapid fire, if you don't mind answering some rapid fire questions you can answer ‘em slow or fast. It's up to you. AJ and I seem to go the slow way sometimes with our long questions. But let's put you in the hot seat.

AJ: So, yeah, this means you're coming to the front of the bus. So I don't know if that in the bus or trips that you went on that meant you were in trouble. But I'll say that just.

Ellen: Time out before you go. Where were you guys on the bus?

Cammi: I was in the back on the right, about maybe three seats from the bathroom, two or three seats from the bathroom, and  AJ was up front.

AJ: I was more like middle, but on the other side. So it was like.

Cammi: You were like two rows ahead. Yeah. Yeah, where were you?

Ellen: Cammi. I think I was right where you were.

Cammi: Yeah. Okay

AJ: Not quite far enough back for, like, all the crazy card games and everything like that, right? That was always our bus. There was a lot of shenanigans in the way back of the bus. Actually maybe our rapid fire should be called Go to the back of the bus. That might be a little I don't know, might be a little different. All right. So here we go. Let's start. What is your favorite youth hockey, or any sports since you played a lot of sports, memory?

Ellen: Probably winning the national championship with the Dallas Sting in soccer, which still today is one of the premier club teams in the country. 

AJ: Oh, that's a good one. How old were you?

Ellen: I was probably 15. And then one other thing is we went to China when I was 15. That was a pretty cool experience. Before women's soccer had a national team and they were playing, they were having their first international tournament. And since we had won the club championship they sent us, which is amazing to think they sent a bunch of women to China to play in an international tournament. You know. 

AJ: That’s very cool.

Cammi: How’d you guys do?

Ellen: We won it.

Cammi: You're kidding.

Ellen: There's actually someone that's trying to, I just get the emails, that’s trying to make a movie about it, because it's pretty unheard of.

Cammi: It's amazing.

AJ: That is amazing. So we didn't really get into this. The one thing we were carrying our time up for is that you had the good fortune of having all of your boys home during COVID. Maybe a silver lining to what was going on in the world. Everybody got to be back under one roof. But when everyone's home, what's your go to family dinner?

Ellen: Oh, our go to family dinners, steak. They are all about steak. So steak and pesto pasta with a spinach salad is the go to. They would eat steak every night.

AJ: Oh, that sounds good.

Ellen: Cammi, Quinn’s cooking [?]. Believe it or not, [unintelligible]. When they're allowed to go places next year in Vancouver over you and Ray should-

Cammi: I can keep him honest for that?. Yeah, I know I will definitely. If I know that now. What is he cooking in these?

Ellen: Cooking steak and lots of he cooks some, tuna ahi tuna and lots of peppers and veggies and that's a good thing about COVID. Is that most of these young kids have learned to cook, which is amazing.

AJ: That is amazing. That's actually that is another- that's a good silver lining. I know. Speaking of your three boys, Quinn, Jack and Luke, which one was most mischievous as a kid.

Ellen: And I mean, you know how it is, it's a three month cycle like, just like one needs your attention more than the other when they were little. But um… Quinn and Jack together? This is not rapid fire, but I can remember when they were really level and I don't know. And I've already taken up too much of your time. But I remember Jimmy had taken off to Toronto and, oh no, then he must have been littler than this and Jimmy and I, Luke was just born, maybe six months old, and we heard this rustling. You know, you have that in the baby room, on the other room. And I don't know if this has happened to either one of you. And I'm like, it was like six in the morning. You're trying to get sleep, and I heard something. I mean, “Jimmy, what is that?” You know, So we listen to the voice and they had this grandiose idea that they were going to throw the baby out of the crib, Jack was inside the crib, picking up Luke to hand him off to Luke- to Quinn, who wasn't big enough, it was going tobe a  drop outside the crib. So let's just leave with that. Right?

Cammi: How old were they? How old were they when that happened?

Ellen: Luke was under one because he couldn't get out, right? I mean, it was not a great plan. Then. Thankfully, we rescued them.

Cammi: So if you would have had that nanny cams that are the baby cams, that would have been brilliant to have that on video.

Ellen: Right.

AJ: Good. Some Hughes boy mischief. I like it. Now, of the three, who is the most competitive?

Ellen: Probably, I don't, I can't.

Cammi: Can’t choose, you’re a mom.

AJ: Yeah no I actually we were just talking about the drive to win and everything. I understand that. But it's all three, I guess. Now we you, you mentioned being nervous still, when you watch your boys play, what can you remember being the most nervous you've ever been as a sports parent?

Ellen: Mmm that's a tough one. Probably for me, it's not about the kids. It was more about the team. So, you know, having your kids go through the NTDP you want them to win these big tournaments. So you’re nervous for the group because you want so well, they're representing their country so the World Championships, the World Juniors, I mean, Cammie, you've sat with me and seen me between periods at the World Juniors, so that might be a fair one you can attest to, like, you're like, Really? You probably walk away from meeting with the boys between periods and me. Like, she's a little wacky over there. I don't know.

Cammi: Oh, they love you.

Ellen: You're stressed. Not for your kids. You're stressed for the team in your country. And you want so well, you want them to win! Their competitive side and they're tight. And you’re just on the edge of your seat. More like a fan, I would say, than a mother. So much too. Is that fair to say?

AJ: Yeah. Did you ever coach any of them? 

Ellen: Yeah,

AJ: I think they're so close in age. You. Oh, you did?

Ellen: Yeah. So I coached them in soccer. I coached them in lacrosse, but they played box lacrosse. I didn't coach them in hockey. They would do a lot of spring hockey. What I would do is get on the I would just buy outdoor ice like and I would run the skates. But when I say I would run the skates is, I would get out of the way. I would turn the nets. Three on three, three on three, three on three, no direction, just let them. And then it was more, you know, just playing, like the environment, the competitors setting up the competitive- competitive mini games. So that type of stuff as extras.

AJ: The last question we have for you is what advice would you have to hockey parents out there or what kind of motto did you guys, would you say you followed?

Ellen: You know, who gave us really good advice, especially as they got older were Keith and Chantal Tkachuk. They were amazing role models for us. Quinn was fortunate enough to live with them and, and Keith always. They always said it, just be a great teammate, be a great human being, great- be a great person and work hard, be one of the hardest working. Get out there and have fun. You know, I know it's easy to say, but there's so many great things you can do in this life. There's so many greater things you can do in this life. You know, you find your passion, find lots of passions and be you and follow your heart in whatever it is that your [passion is like, live it, eat it, drink it and be it. I mean, I think those are the same advice that both of you as past Olympians give your own children.

Cammi: That's wonderful.

AJ: That is, that's awesome. And you are so awesome. I love hearing the sort of inside scoop from the first family of hockey, the Hughes family, and everybody's favorite hockey mom, Ellen Hughes. But at the same time, I love also taking that little walk down memory lane to make sure everybody remembers what a stud you are.

Ellen: Well, I so appreciate it. And I'm having so much fun listening to you two on your podcast. It's amazing what you're doing. I think you're amazing human beings. You both know how I feel about you and my admiration for what you've done for the women's game and what you're still doing in the game of hockey is so cool and you're both trailblazers. And I love this podcast and I love the guests that you have on. I take myself out of that like I don't fit in the realm of guests. 

AJ: Yes, yes you do. 

Ellen: I'm just saying that in the heart of hearts, I love the guests you've had on, and keep rocking it. You two are amazing and I'm lucky to have you as friends. And AJ, I laugh. I think about watching you at the Olympics and Cammi and I already had a relationship because we played together. And then I think about you today. And it's incredible.

AJ: And you are. I do remember you paved the way for us, but I do. I'm glad. I think you're buttering us up just in case I say, I will say anything negative about your sons on the ice, which so far I haven't had to because they're such superstars. But, you know, don't hold it against me if I do.

Ellen: You know, And then and hopefully things will get back to normal and we'll be traveling and I'll see you guys one day.

Cammi: Well, Ellen, thank you so much for being here. We were so happy you joined us and we'll have to have you on again at some point. And when the whole quarantine is over, well, I'll be looking forward to when you come to watch Quinn in Vancouver here.

#thank you to leo without whom this would just be sitting unfinished in my google drive for eternity #ellen weinberg-hughes #jack hughes #quinn hughes #luke hughes #transcript

[luvhughes43]

valentine | quinn hughes x reader

suki waterhouse masterlist

part two

summary: y/n has always been in love with quinn hughes but he's never known it. Everything comes to a head when reader finds out Quinn has a girlfriend. y/n is looking back at their relationship and wishing she could be with quinn.

lyrics: “All i wanna ask is, somewhere down the line, won't you be my valentine” and “If only you could see me crying, then you’d understand my symptoms”

word count: 2.4k

You sat alone on the floor of your apartment, drinking cheap wine to drown out your sorrows. You knew that this was your fault, that if you had just said something to Quinn that he wouldn't be off with somebody else.

You had known from a young age that you had loved Quinn Hughes. You could feel it every time you were near him, the butterflies, and the delirious happiness. 

When you had first gotten accepted into UBC in vancouver, you thought it would be over for your friendship with Quinn. But then a year later he got drafted and was moving to van… and you swore you guys were just destined to be with each other. Which is why you decided to just love him from afar.

Posted 3 years ago

_quinnhughes

Liked by y/nuser, lhughes_06, and others

_quinnhughes: back at the lake🏊‍♂️💙

“I just don't want to feel used, y'know?” quinn had said one night while you, the guys, and some of their girlfriends were sitting around the campfire at the lakehouse. 

“dude you don't have to get committed to see someone” 

“Yeah well still” quinn had shrugged the guys dating related questions off. It made you feel guilty. Knowing that you loved him and he didn't want to feel taken advantage of. You thought that if he had known how you felt about him that he would feel like you were taking advantage of your guy's friendship. So you decided all those summers ago that you wouldn't tell him your feelings. You had thought that they would go away in time. They hadn't. 

“QUINNY!” You shrieked as he splashed you with the lake water. He rushed over to you in the water, placing his hands on your waist and lifting you up in the air. “I can't breathe!” you shrieked again tilting your head up to face the sky, laughing as he spun the two of you around. 

“Stop screaming!” he yelled as he laughed with you. A few seconds later his arms got tired and he lowered you back into the water. You two were so close, you could have counted his eyelashes if you wanted to.  “Quinn…” Your voice was breathy and you thought Quinn looked too serious for what was happening. He was looking down at your face hard, and you couldn't read his expression… his mouth was slightly parted. 

“QUINN! Y/N! DINNER!” Ellen Hughes yelled from the back porch. Quinn took a few steps backwards. You heard the sliding door close, but you didn't move to go to it. You were solely focused on Quinn and how he was looking at you just a minute ago. “y/n we should go” he whispered as he gestured towards the sliding door. “Yeah… I just…” you let your words fall, still looking up at Quinn curiously. 

He nodded his head quietly, and led the way back to your towels, and then inside. 

You took another swig of your wine. You let your eyes wander around the apartment and you couldn’t help but think of all the things you and Quinn had experienced together. Every little thing reminded you of him. From a wet towel laying on your floor, to a book on your shelf that he had let you borrow, you felt his presence everywhere.

Posted 2 years ago

y/nuser

Liked by _quinnhughes, bestiegirl, and others

y/nuser: i just can’t have enough of a good time🥂🌃

You were at a party in downtown vancouver. Elias had invited you to come out with him and the team, claiming that Quinn was feeling down about the team's recent string of losses. You dressed all up, thinking that maybe Quinn would maybe just ask you out already. 

When you got to the party, it was clear Quinn was no longer upset about the team's losses. He was chatting up a pretty blonde, and you felt your heart break a little. So you did the only thing that you knew would help, get a drink. You wandered around looking for the kitchen, and when you found it Elias was there chatting up a guy you’d never seen before. “y/n! You came!” he met you halfway into the kitchen, throwing an arm around your shoulders and dragging you back towards his friend. He introduced you, but you didn't feel like talking. 

Soon enough, Elias' friend disappeared and Elias turned to you with a frown on your face. “What's wrong?” he said simply with concern etched onto his face. 

“Nothing I can't deal with” you sighed out, walking over to the various bottles of alcohol on the counter. You grabbed a solo cup, and filled it with the first thing your hand touched. 

“Is this about Quinn?” Elias said as he looked at your full cup.

You hung your head low and took a quick swig of your drink, coughing as soon as the bitterness of the liquid hit your tongue. “I don't know what you’re talking about” 

“I know that you have… strong feelings for him,” he said leaning against the counter across from you. You took another swig. 

“He's talking to someone right now,” is what you managed to mumble out as you felt the lump in your throat tighten. 

“You need to tell him how you feel. It's not doing you any good" Elias spoke as he grabbed your wrist, lightly pulling your cup away from its resting place against your lips. “I'll tell him” and Elias knew you were lying as you brought the cup back to your lips.

“Im serious y/n this isn't healthy” he said sternly, causing you to roll your eyes and ignore the sudden sadness you were feeling. 

“Alcohol will help me build courage! Just give me a few minutes” you turned back to the counter, ignoring Elias' discouragements as you poured more liquor into your cup. 

After a lot more drinking, much to Elias disapproval, you found yourself back in the main area. You watched Quinn talk to someone, luckily it wasn't the girl from earlier, but a random guy. He must've sensed you were looking at him, because as soon as he caught your eye, he was dismissing whoever he was talking to and made his way towards you. 

“When did you get here? I didn't see you come in” you giggled at the way his eyebrows pinched together as he tried to figure out when you got here. 

“I was here the whollee time!” you giggled out, grabbing onto Quinn's arm as you stumbled a bit. He grabbed onto your waist to set you upright, and once again you found yourselves close to one another. “Quinny…” you whispered out, shutting your eyes.

“Shh it's okay i've got you,” he led you out and to the door, “do you have all of your stuff? I'm just gonna take you home” he said as he looked you up and down. 

“No Quinn, wait!” you insisted, pulling him to a stop outside. “I reallyyy have to tell you something” you shut your eyes once again remembering what Elias told you. 

Before you could say anything though, you felt the cool chill of the winter Vancouver weather, and it sobered you enough to realize what you were about to do. About to confess… you opened your eyes to find Quinn looking down at you. You hadn't even realized that he was holding onto your arm. “I don't…” you begin but he interrupted you with a gentle voice, “come on it's cold out, we can talk about this in the morning”. He tugged on your arm and you followed him into his car and back to your apartment. You never brought it up.

You got up off your bedroom floor, padding across the hardwood into your living room. You set your empty wine bottle on the floor and flopped onto the couch. Pulling a canucks blanket that was gifted to you by Quinn over your head. You snuggled up into it, hoping all the alcohol would make you forget everything you were feeling. 

Posted 1 year ago 

y/nuser

Liked by _quinnhughes, _eliaspettersson, and others

y/nuser: following the neon signs🌃

Tagged: _quinnhughes

Eventually, you got too hot with the alcohol in your system and the blanket twisted around you. You got up off the couch and slid your balcony door open. You walked out towards the edge, sitting right next to the glass fence. Leaning your head against the glass, you felt the chill in the air on your warm skin, taking you back. walking around downtown at night was a thing you and Quinn did often. It’s been awhile since you last went out.

You and Quinn were walking the streets of Vancouver late at night. “So then Vanessa went out with this guy right? And anyway she dragged me to this bar and-’ you stopped, realizing that quinn wasn't right beside you like he always was. You panicked for a second, before turning around “Quinny?” you called out in the dark. He was a few steps behind you.

“Uh yeah sorry, continue” he smiled softly as he caught up with you, both of you now standing side by side.

“What's wrong?” you asked.

“Nothing, you're just really pretty” you felt your face heat up as his words hit you. 

“You're not too bad yourself” you joked, shoving into him with your shoulder, playfully trying to ease the butterflies in your stomach. 

Quinn smiled at you before looking away. There was a few seconds pause before you started up your story again,

“And there was this guy who was trying to hit on me-” Quinn frowned. “And anyway, he had his drink in his hand right? and so Vnessa came over to me angry of course, because the guy she was trying to meet up with ended up ghosting her, so she knocked into the guy who was talking to me right?”, you looked over and Quinn promptly nodded so you looked back ahead of you, “well the guy spills his beer ALL over me! Like in my hair and-”

“Why are you friends with Vanessa? She's not really nice '' Quinn interrupted your story with a question. 

“Honestly, I don't really know. She was the first friend I met at uni so I dont know… i’d feel bad if I stopped being friends with her” you and Quinn walked in silence for a bit. 

“So the guy spilled beer in your hair and…?” Quinn prompted,

“Right, and anyway the whole thing was awful. I'm just not sure I'm destined to meet a guy you know?” you said, looking up at Quinn. “Like all my life I've been waiting for someone and it's just… never happened” He looked like he was thinking hard about what you had just said, brows furrowed and eyes strained. 

“I don't think you’re destined to be alone” he whispered and it made you stop in your tracks, turning over to look at him. 

“What do you mean by that?” you asked softly, hoping he would just ask you out already. You thought that you sensed it was about to happen, with the way he was looking at you… and the way in which he called you pretty only a few minutes ago. 

Quinn shook his head instead, “I just meant that you shouldn't worry about ending up alone”.

You deflated. “I just wish I’d get with the perfect person soon” 

“I could set you up with someone?” Quinn asked, and you felt that familiar lump in your throat. He didn't like you back.

“No i'm fine” you pathetically tried to laugh it off but the energy wasn't the same anymore. The walk back to your apartment was excruciating. 

6 months ago

jackhughes

Liked by trevorzegras, lhughes_06, and others

jackhughes: the boys + girl are back

tagged: trevorzegras, lhughes_06, y/nuser, _quinnhughes, and others

The boys had a small break, so you all met up in New Jersey to hang out with Jack and the Hughes brothers. You were always close with them, having basically grown up with them, so it was no surprise to anyone when you also booked a plane ticket for the trip.

The boys had wanted to go out clubbing in NYC, so of course you went too. You had ulterior motives to spend more time with Quinn. After what happened on one of your walks, things feft more… awkward. There was tension in the air whenever the two of you were together, and as a result you were spending much less time with each other. 

As soon as you got to the bar you ditched the boys to wait in line for a drink. It was a Saturday, so the line was long. You didn't get back to where the boys were partying until about 15 minutes later. 

When you reached their area, Quinn had a blonde practically tucked into his side. He had never been so forward before, but you didn't know that for sure. You hadn't gone out with him in a while. 

“y/nnnie look at Quinner, he's finally taking our advice and talking to a girl! Isn't this great!” Trevor Zegras shouted into your ear so you could hear him above the music. You frowned. “....orrr not!” Trevor said upon seeing your reaction, he left your side to wallow. 

You watched from the table as Quinn chatted up the blonde all night. Your friends tried to pull you into their conversations but you weren't interested. 

Eventually Quinn caught your eye, he gave you a half smile, shrugging his shoulders in a ‘what can you do’ gesture, before turning his attention back to the blonde who was now stroking his left arm.

You left the bar early that night.

3 days ago

You shut your phone immediately upon seeing the threads and tweets speculating that Quinn was seeing someone. Your heart ached, and you took the day off to lay in bed and cry. Wondering that if Quinn saw your sadness, and symptoms of liking him, if that would change anything at all.

You walked back inside your apartment. Shutting the sliding door tight behind you. You couldn't stop thinking about Quinn and your guy's relationship. You knew being friends with him would never be enough for you. You needed and wanted more, and he didnt know how you felt at all.

_quinnhughes just posted !

Liked by jackhughes, trevorzegras, and others

_quinnhughes: ♥️♥️

“All i wanna ask is, somewhere down the line, won't you be my valentine”

#suki waterhouse fic list #quinn hughes x reader #quinn hughes #quinn hughes imagine #quinn hughes blurb #nhl fanfiction #nhl imagine #nhl blurb #jack hughes x reader #trevor zegras x reader #luke hughes x reader #elias pettersson x reader

[bitchinbarzal]

rotwm series: mountain with a view — q.hughes

based on mountain with a view by kelsea ballerini

-

It's 7 a.m. and I'm on a mountain with a view. I'm the only one, alone, at a table meant for two. Big Sur looks beautiful this morning and I should be missin' you, I should be missin' you.

You sat in the window nook of your Airbnb. In all your time travelling around after Quinn you’d never truly experienced California, how beautiful it was.

It was the same Airbnb that you’d stayed in together on your honeymoon.

The honeymoon you had to settle for when your luxurious all inclusive honeymoon was ruined. Quinn had decided to go back to Vancouver early to start training and after a lot of back and forth arguments he agreed to a long weekend in California.

You thought you’d be sad to return, this time without him but you weren’t. You did everything you wanted to the first time round that Quinn deemed

“Not fun”

“Boring”

And “a waste of time”

You didn’t miss him and you felt so happy.

You're across the pond at a show, I think, in Amsterdam and the pictures look pretty, at least they do on your Instagram We say good morning, then goodnight I wonder if you even know where I am, where I am

You couldn’t even remember where he was playing tonight. You were only reminded when you saw he had reposted a picture from Brock’s story onto his.

They were out at some restaurant all smiling and laughing.

You’d actually only checked instagram when your mom had asked you where Quinn was playing that night and you couldn’t even answer her.

You used to follow him around when he went on roadies, travelling to New Jersey and Toronto just to support him and now you didn’t talk whenever he was on the road, he’d ask what you got up to whenever he got home but you knew he didn’t really care and just wanted to fill the silence.

I'm wearin' the ring still, but I think I'm lyin' Sometimes you forget yours, I think we're done tryin' I realize you loved me much more at twenty-three I think that this is when it's over for me

Whenever you did finally do something together it was a work event — the canucks annual charity ball.

“Oh my goodness I can’t ever get over how gorgeous this ring is!” Brock’s girlfriend smiles, grabbing your hand and admiring your wedding ring.

“Thank you!” You replied, blushing and leaning into Quinn’s side.

She scowled “Quinn you’re not wearing yours?” You looked down at Quinn’s left hand to find the gold band gone.

“Oh! I must’ve forgot it” he brushes it off, giving a tight smile.

You didn’t reproach the situation that night.

But you watched him across the next few weeks every morning as he brushed over his wedding band in your jewelry box.

He never put it on.

“Hey, why aren’t you wearing your wedding ring?” You asked one morning, brushing your hair in the mirror.

“It’s not a big deal” he grumbled.

“It’s our wedding rings Quinn, it is a big deal!”

“God why are you such a bitch lately? Why can’t you be chill like you used to?”

You look at him, wide eyes “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?!”

“Like why can’t you just be like when we first got married? Silent and Supportive!”

You didn’t even reply, simply turning to leave the room before you burst into tears.

I think that this is when I cut the ties I think that is when I set myself free One day you'll ask, "When was it over for you?"

I'm takin' the ring off, I'm finally cryin' Don't try to find yours, no reason to fight it

You'll say I'm crazy for bein' the one to leave Scream I'm just like my parents and givin' up easy

But you never took that last flight to see me.

“Babe come on you don’t have to do this!” Quinn cries, following you through the house.

He’d come home from practice to find your suitcases by the front door and you standing at the kitchen counter waiting for him.

He asked why your suitcases were outside, what was wrong. You never answered, simply sliding your wedding ring along the granite and he groaned lowly.

“Baby…”

“Don’t Quinn!” You snap “It’s over”

“It Just just be over!” He screams “We are married!”

You look at him waving his arms around wildly and tears drop down your cheeks

“Quinn… let me go please”

His eyes soften and he steps around the counter “Baby please… why?”

You looked at him, he could feel the pain you were in just by your face. He wanted to reach out and hold you.

“Quinn… you never come home anymore”

“I’m always home?!” He screams, hands waving around.

He wasn’t screaming in anger, he was scared screaming. Screaming to hold onto what was slowly slipping away from him.

You sniffled, hands shaking as you reached up and held his face

“I don’t know the man that walks through those doors anymore… but it’s not you that comes home to me”

The tears were streaming down his face as well as yours as he mumbled

“You can’t leave me”

“Quinn I should’ve left a long time ago”

#quinn hughes x reader #quinn hughes imagine #rotwm series

[greazyfloz]

Bend Til We Break - Chapter 14

previous chapters

Dinner was awkward to say the least. I sat across from both Quinn and Jack. One second I would look up and get a soft smile from Quinn, then the next I look up and it is Jack smiling at me. I am starting to regret Michigan. Wait, no I’m not, because I don't fully regret kissing Jack. As I sit there I begin to daydream about Jack, how his hair is always perfect even when it’s not, or his silly laugh, or most importantly how supportive he is and loyal. 

I’m brought back to reality, at the sound of Quinn clearing their throat, “Uh- Y/n” Quinn says. Fuck was I staring at Jack? I look back and see him smile at his feet.

“Yeah sorry, what were you saying?” I say looking around the table

“Baby name? What are we thinking?” Ellen asks

“Oh um- Still a work in progress figuring that out. Twins names have to sound good together which makes it tricky” I say, “Have you put any thought into it Quinn?” I ask looking over at him

“I like the name you told me a couple days ago” he said

“Carson?”

“Yeah”

“That is sweet” Ellen says

“Carson Hughes” I say out loud, making Quinn smile at the sound of the possible name of his child with his last name.

“I like it,” Jack says. I look at him and smile

“The girl names I like just sound weird with Carson, Like Eleanora”

“Make that the middle name” Jack suggests

After dinner, I went upstairs to Quinn’s room and got ready for bed. I hear Jack's door open and the light turn on. After I get changed I decide to go to Jack’s room to talk about what happened earlier. I open the door to the hallway from Quinn’s room and walk towards Jack’s. I stop in the hall seeing Jack in his boxers and a t-shirt, currently taking the t-shirt off. I watched him through the mirror, Jack’s body could make any girl weak in the knees. I watch him through the shirt to the side then slide his hand through his hair before our eyes make contact through the mirror. Jack smiles at me through the mirror before turning to look at me. 

“You look like you are liking what you are seeing” he says

“I- uh- yeah. I’d be lying if I said no” I say and Jack chuckles. I walk towards Jack and take a seat on his bed.

“What’s up?” he says looking down at me, I can’t help but stare at his abs

“C-can you put a shirt on p-please?” I say and Jack chuckles again grabbing a shirt, “Jack I’m having your brother’s baby” I say 

“I know” Jack says with a sigh, “I’m sorry, I just- your such a beautiful girl Y/n”

“Jack, I said that I can’t do this right now. Maybe in a couple months we can see. I just have two human’s inside of me with your brother, who cheated on me like 4 years ago then ghosted me then won me back but forgot to mention he cheated on me and I found out from my old best friend that also just let me go back to Quinn gate keeping that pretty important information that happened 4 years ago, and then we kissed tonight and I can’t get you out of my mind. I want to kiss you but I know I can’t ri-” my mumbling is interrupted by Jack's lips pressing to mine once again. 

As he was leaning he sits beside me without breaking away from the kiss. He then reaches over and grabbing my legs putting them on my lap as he slides me onto it. My head looks down at him as we makeout on his bed. I feel his hand rest on my bump, reminding me I really shouldn’t be doing this, Again! But I couldn’t resist. We continue kissing deeper and deeper until he hear the creek of the staircase. I quickly pull away standing up and flattening my hair when the footsteps that went to Quinn’s room were entering Jack’s now. Luke appears in the doorway.

“Party in your room?” Luke jokes and Jack laughs

The holidays seem to fly right by after that. Jack respected the walls that I put up, as did Quinn who volunteered to sleep on his floor. We were now back in Vancouver sitting on my couch. Quinn was over to drop off a stroller JT gave him for the baby and he just stayed to hang out. 

“Quinn there something I need to tell you” I say a little nervous of this outcome

“Yeah?” he asks

“In Michigan, I-uh, well first of all I’m choosing to tell you now instead of in 4-5 years so keep that in mind’ i say regretting the sass immediately but Quinn just nods, “Jack and I kissed”

I watch Quinn’s head fall so he was now looking down at his feet. My heartbreaks for him. How am I better than he was… That was his brother.

“Me or him?” he says quietly

“What?”

“If you had to choose right now between me or him, who would you choose?” he says, looking at me. Surprisingly without a mad expression on his face.

“Quinn- I- I’m so sorry”

“Don’t” he says a little bit more harshly and I think to myself ‘here we go’ before he speaks again, “I’m trying Y/n. I’ve been trying so damn hard to show you that that guy that one fucking night 4 years ago is not me, and out of all the people you could have kissed you chose my fucking brother” he says in a more annoyed tone

“Quinn, I’m-”

“No your not” He says before I could even finish, “Look I’m just going to go now, before I say something I don’t mean or before this becomes a big thing”

“Quinn I seriously think I’m just hormonal or something” I say but Quinn shakes his head and walks towards the door. Quinn’s hand squeezes the door knob but lets go and turns back to look at me.

“I’m not giving up” is all he says before slipping out the door.

#quinn hughes #quinn hughes imagine #quinn hughes fic #nhl writing #nhl fic #nhl imagine #nhl fanfiction

[ingek73]

In Canada, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Remind the World of Their Impact

As an Invictus Games alumni tells T&C, the Sussexes make you “feel seen and heard.”

BY EMILY BURACKPUBLISHED: FEB 17, 2024 10:00 AM EST

GETTY IMAGES; DESIGN BY MICHAEL STILLWELL

Ever since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from their roles as senior working royals in 2020, drama and public discourse surrounding the couple have ebbed and flowed, from their sit-down interview with Oprah, to Harry’s memoir, Spare, to their attendance at King Charles’s coronation. But over the three days they spent this past week in British Columbia, the world was reminded of the power the couple has for bringing attention to causes that matter to them.

And there’s no cause that’s nearer and dearer to Prince Harry’s heart than the Invictus Games. “These last few days have been very, very special,” he said at the visit’s penultimate event, which was held at a local community center. “Every single one of you inspire me, and you inspire us, every single day.”

KARWAI TANG

The Duke and Duchess at Whistler Sliding Centre on day two of their three-day trip.

Throughout their packed itinerary in Whistler, Squamish, and Vancouver, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent time meeting with the wounded and injured veterans who were learning winter adaptive sports ahead of next year’s Invictus Games, as well as with members of local First Nations communities. Wherever they went, it was typically Prince Harry who deviated from the meticulously planned timetable. When they were scheduled to spend 15 minutes on Whistler-Blackcomb mountain meeting with the athletes, they took 45, because Harry had to speak with everyone (and try out sit skiing). One skeleton run at Whistler Sliding Centre quickly turned into multiple, because the Duke of Sussex just had to go again.

As Mike Bourgeois, an Invictus Games alumni who spent time with them on this trip told T&C, “You’ve got a timetable, and we’re in that timetable, standing by ready to go and leap into action. And the first veteran that Harry is able to catch their eyes—the schedule is just out the window. He’s devoted to getting down on his knees and looking an athlete in the eyes and asking about how their experience is,” he says.

Bourgeois, who competed with Team Canada at the Invictus Games at the Hague, was back—along with his wife, Lori—to serve as an ambassador for the Games at the One Year to Go events this week. “We’re nobody,” he says with a self-deprecating smile, “just one of a thousand people that work to support the foundation and the Invictus Games. But the Duke remembers us. If you’ve met [Prince Harry], and you’ve interacted and you’ve talked about your experience as a veteran, he remembers—a year or two years later, you just pick up the conversation, which is pretty astonishing.”

He continues, “Yes, they’re briefed on a daily basis about who they interact with. But the nuances in the conversation, you can’t fake that. The best way I can describe what the impact is of their involvement is: You feel like you’re seen and heard. You’re not lost in the woods, you're not insignificant.”

KARWAI TANG//GETTY IMAGES

Bourgeois stands with Meghan as she borrows his phone to snap a photo of Harry. Lori stands at right (in a matching Invictus Games beanie).

Harry and Meghan’s ability to keep their attention focused on the cause was all the more notable given recent criticism of the couple. After a story published in the Telegraph this week suggested that the Sussexes had “three days to prove they can behave,” their spokesperson issued a statement to the Mirror: “We’ve heard time and time again that certain opportunities are make or break for the couple. They’re still here. They’re still working and pursuing what they believe in, despite constantly being challenged and criticized. This couple will not be broken.” And in an interview with Good Morning America, Prince Harry did not dwell on any family conflict. He spoke briefly about his father, King Charles, saying, “Look, I love my family. The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I’m grateful for that.”

The Sussexes’ dedication to their work was evident throughout their time in Canada this week, and Prince Harry was clearly in his element amongst fellow veterans. “We are talking about the royals, there’s a lot of protocol involved,” Bourgeois says. “But when you get into fellow veteran environments, it's like: We’re his people and he’s our people. A little bit of the armor can be shed when you're together because it’s a safe space.”

For Major Joanna Labonté, who competed in the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf with Team Canada last year, the support that Meghan and Harry bring to the wounded and injured veteran community is powerful. “Considering my injury, for a long time, I felt very powerless and invisible,” she told T&C. “I feel like they’re shining a light on us—the military members who have struggled, who have felt a lot of uncertainty in our future. And they're saying ‘Your journey is just beginning, it’s not over. Yes, you’re releasing from the military, but you’re just beginning this brand new phase of your life. And you matter.’”

Labonté continues, “We really genuinely feel like we matter to that lovely couple. Healing through sport is something significant—I've seen it in myself, in my teammates. It's the real deal.”

“We really genuinely feel like we matter to that lovely couple.”

Every Invictus Games participant that T&C spoke with this week said a version of the same thing: The games have changed their life, for the better, and Prince Harry and Meghan are a notable part of that. “The Invictus Games have gone a long way helping my recovery—they have helped me mentally, physically and emotionally,” Peacemaker Azuegbulam, a competitor from Nigeria, says. “Before, I was worried [about] how to cope with my life with the new condition that I’m [in].” (Azuegbulam lost his left leg when his army unit came under fire.) But when he got to the Invictus Games, he says, “It makes me feel good. It makes me feel loved.” Prince Harry later spoke about Azuegbulam, calling him, “quite remarkable.”

JEREMY ALLEN

Chief Sparrow is second from left, at the Hillcrest Community Centre.

This week, too, wasn’t just about the Invictus Games community, but about the First Nations that the 2025 Games are partnered with. At a wheelchair curling event of the week, Chief Wayne Sparrow of the Musqueam First Nation and Wilson Williams of Squamish Nation gave a traditional welcome, and land acknowledgement (a message acknowledging original Indigenous inhabitants of the land who have often been displaced). When Harry spoke, he shared, “Thank you to the four First Nations for allowing us to be on your territory.” He and Meghan also spent time with First Nations communities this week, at the Squamish Líl̓wat cultural center, and Mount Currie Community Centre.

“When we met the Duke, he said, ‘I want to learn more about reconciliation,’” Chief Sparrow tells T&C. “That meant a lot to me: The very first time I met him, for him to [say] he wants to learn and then [ask] how we can move forward together—that is something that I brought back to my community. That’s all part of the reconciliation and the wrongdoings of what happened. We can’t dwell on the past. We have to move forward, as a society.”

ANDREW CHIN//GETTY IMAGES

Meghan and Harry take a photo with an athlete.

After the final event concluded at Hillcrest Community Centre, Prince Harry came up to the small group of reporters, including myself, that had been at every event of the week. He thanked us, joked about the cold, and despite his antipathy towards the press in the past, it was clear there was genuine appreciation for the media attention on the Invictus Games.

In that moment, it was hard not to think of Princess Diana. Harry’s warmth, and his ability to make those around him feel seen, is directly reminiscent of his mother—as is his ability to use his spotlight to highlight the causes that matter most to him. In just 72 hours, the impact of Harry and Meghan became clear.

This year marks the 10 year anniversary of the Invictus Games, and next year’s event will be its seventh edition. In Prince Harry’s remarks closing the week, he spoke directly to the Invictus competitors, saying, “I know how much you love to serve. In many instances, you live to serve.” He finished with a promise, outlining the duty both he and Meghan feel to the community. “We will continue to serve,” he said, “and to inspire people up, down, around the country and around the world.”

#prince harry #meghan markle #duke of sussex #duchess of sussex #invictus games #vancouver #first nations #canada

[thelastspeecher]

I mentioned a bit ago about how I bought a DVD of the movie Brother Bear just so that I could watch the version of the movie with the commentary by the two moose characters (played by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas). Well, I just rewatched the commentary for the first time in a while and wanted to share my own personal highlights.

“What is that, wasabi paste?” “You gotta spend less time in sushi bars and more time studying anthropology.”

“Is that Antonio Banderas?”

“Did you put a record on?”  “No it’s called a soundtrack.”

“I got one of those at a giftshop at the Vancouver Airport.”  “That’s called an omelet.” (Item being referenced is in picture below)

“Bears make pretty good lifeguards.  They can swim, they can climb, they’re knowledgeable about CPR.”

“You try going anywhere, even up to the North Pole, and talk to the spirits, and they will ignore you.  Because there’s too much noise and pollution.”

“Notice how chipmunks are always harbingers of danger?”

“Kenai doesn’t do his own stunts because he’s the star.  So they draw a character that looks exactly like him for the shots from behind.”

The entire transformation sequence

Long-winded discussion of how a scene reminds one of them of hockey

“I’ve been to the Iron Salmon, where they have to bike, swim, and run.  Some of the salmon, they don’t make it.  They can’t finish the bike part.”

“You know what they don’t have in this movie?” “What?” “A Zamboni.” “That’d be good.”

“I think I could’ve been a singer if I hadn’t just been a moose.”

They order a pizza.  The pizza delivery guy shows up.  They float the idea of having the pizza delivery guy join the commentary, then immediately boot him.

Extended discussion where they claim a chipmunk was seen immediately before intense action scenes in famous movies

“Never underestimate a murdering human.”

“That’s the bear that does ‘This is CNN.’”  “You’re thinking of Darth Vader.  Darth Vader does ‘This is CNN.’”

“Those are not real salmon.  Those are fake salmon made by the prosthetics department.  They wouldn’t allow even the stunt salmon in the bears’ mouths.”

“And they had the representative of the salmon union there.” “Oh yeah that fish head.” “I thought some of the demands by the salmon were ridiculous.”

“Snow symbolizes the end of the journey.”  “I think the snow symbolizes shoveling.”

“This is called comic relief.  When the story gets really serious and sad, they bring the idiots out.”

“No moose was transformed into a lion in Lion King!”

#I wanna like. rip the transformation scene with the moose commentary sometime #but until then you'll just have to get by with the one I found on YouTube #Brother Bear #speecher speaks

[crashdevlin]

Permission Granted 3- Too Much

Author’s Note: This is the third chapter of Permission Granted, the first part of To Have it All. This is Open...from Jensen's side!

Summary: Jensen tries to do the right thing, but sometimes the right thing is too difficult.

Pairing: none yet, eventual Jensen x Reader

Word count: 6757

Story Warnings: Y/n's poor self esteem, Jensen's sexual imagination, mentions of an open marriage, mentions of depression, mentions of cheating, mentions of drinking to deal with depression

~~~~

I don't think I've ever put in the effort to befriend someone the way I put it in for Y/n. And I mean 'befriend'. That was the whole plan. Friends was the only thing I was going for, but the more time I spent with her, and I made sure to spend as much time with her as possible over the next few weeks...the more time I spent with her, the more often I was fantasizing about her. It was a bit embarrassing, actually. We'd be sitting at craft, having a nice lunch. I'd say something to make her laugh and then I would spend five minutes in my head thinking about her smile. Jared would make her turn shy by teasing her about Tara's on-camera flirting, she'd hide her face and I'd start thinking about how that innocent energy would translate into the bedroom.

And speaking of Tara, when she flirted with Dean, it was like Y/n was flirting with me. Every time, it fueled my fantasies. Hearing her call Dean "Pretty Boy" and "Handsome" and fuckin' "Cowboy" was so good because I knew that I was never going to hear Y/n say those things to me. 'Cowboy' was a personal favorite, and I made sure to let the writers know they should make that Tara's go-to nickname for Dean.

Y/n didn't flirt with me. Y/n still turned into a stuttering mess just talking to me sometimes. I would sit there, watching her freak out about the Pam-level flirting Tara had to lay down, wondering what it would be like for her to actually flirt with me. It would be something completely different than what Dabb and the boys in the writers' room put down. It would be sweet and wonderful. It would be uniquely Y/n.

I started flirting to try to get her to flirt in return and I tried, believe me I did, to keep the flirting to the same friendly manner that I flirt with Jared and Misha and Christian. But with her, it never came out that way. With her, it seemed…like too much, maybe. And maybe that's why she stopped hanging with us after a few weeks; I was too pushy. God, that was like a suckerpunch, though. First time I invited her to have a drink after work and she said 'no'? I was about two steps from demanding an explanation as to why. She didn't owe me an explanation and I knew that but it took Jared grabbing my phone out of my hand and holding it behind his back for me to register that.

"Ackles, she's allowed to say 'no'. She can do other shit," Jared reminded.

"I fuckin' know that, man, but she-" I reached around to try to grab my phone but he twisted away from me. "Gimme my phone!"

"Only when you promise not to call her or text her demanding a reason for her politely declining your invitation."

"Fine!" He raised his eyebrows and I let out a huff of a sigh. "I promise I won't demand anything out of her, okay? I'll just tell her that I'm sad she won't be there but I understand she can't always come out with us. Okay? Now gimme my phone."

"You can't get that upset just because she's got other plans," Jared said, handing my phone back.

"Well, she doesn't know anybody else in Vancouver so how could she have other plans?" I asked, my neck heating up at the thought of her meeting some Canadian dude and making plans with him instead of me.

"She's nice enough. Cute enough. Maybe she met a guy who-"

"I'm trying not to think about that possibility!" I hissed as I typed out a text expressing my disappointment at being declined.

"Hey, she's our friend now, isn't she? New friend but still. Shouldn't you want her to find some happiness? Way she talks, and doesn't talk, about her ex-husband...she probably needs something good."

He was right. Of course he was, but even though I couldn't give her anything, because holy shit that would be so bad, I still didn't want to think about her finding something good with someone else.

"She hasn't met anybody. She told us when the barista remembered her name a few days ago. She would have said if she'd met somebody who asked her out."

Just for good measure, I added "Hope your plans are more fun than ours" to the end of the text before I sent it out.

"Wow, is that denial or wishful thinking?" I rolled my eyes and started to walk away toward the wardrobe trailer to drop off the dirty Dean clothes. "Seriously, why don't you talk to Dee? I'm sure you could get her approval on-"

"Jared, stop." I turned to him and shrugged. "We talked about this. She's not gonna be around long enough to be worth the risk in even asking to start something with her. She's a fan. She's a friend. I can't see-"

"What if Dabb keeps her around? And what if Creation brings her in on the conventions? She'd be around a lot then, right? Would she be worth asking, then?"

I sighed and licked my lips. "Yeah...maybe...I don’t know. She's...she's…"

"Driving you crazy and we can all see it," he said, laughing.

"Shut up." I rolled my eyes and started walking to Wardrobe again. "Why are you pushin' so hard for this?"

"Because you haven't been getting any and you're a bit of a grump...and you're moving from 'grump' to 'asshole' and no one wants that. I love you, brother, but you get a bit hard to deal with when you're not-"

"Okay, okay, I'm not that bad," I argued.

"You practically growled at Misha yesterday when he asked you to get him a coffee," he argued back. "You nearly threw hands with Dabb over a line of dialogue in the newest script."

"Dabb's an asshole and Dean would give the damn kid a chance, okay? Only time he wouldn't was when he had the Mark of Cain. And Misha has legs, he can get his own coffee and fuck, you're right, I'm being an ass but who says it's because I'm sexually frustrated?"

"Me. And Danneel...because if it's not that, then you need to get your hormones checked because you're going through male menopause, old man."

I turned to him again, glaring up into his face. "I'm not old and I'm not going through menopause. I've just...shut up." I had nothing to say. He was right. Jared knows me better than almost anybody.

"Well, maybe you should buy a Fleshlight...or get better at masturbating."

I rolled my eyes as he laughed. "Seriously, shut up."

~~~~

Y/n kept avoiding me. For a little over a week, every time I tried to get her to hang out or have a drink, she declined. I bit my tongue to keep myself from throwing a fit over it but it made me feel like I’d done something wrong.

“Did I do something? Has she said anything to you?” I asked Jared as she sent me another kiss-off text.

“No. She seems okay with me, though. We had lunch earlier while you were-”

“Are you kidding me?!” I exclaimed, trying to keep my anger to a minimum. “What did I do? Why is she avoiding me?”

“Maybe she’s uncomfortable with how you flirt with her,” Jared suggested.

“I flirt with all my friends!” I scoffed. “I mean, I flirt with you. I flirt with Misha. I flirt with Chris and Kim and Bri and…” I licked my lips and looked away. “I flirt with everyone. It’s just lighthearted fun.”

“But it might be different for her. She’s shy, Jay, and you are an attractive man that she still gets nervous just talking to. You can’t flirt with her like that.”

“Yeah.” I hated that he was so right about every aspect of the situation with Y/n. “Yeah. You’re right. I will...stop flirting with her. Keep it professional.”

“Don’t keep it professional; just keep it friendly.”

“Yeah. Okay. Um...I’ll fix this. I’ll fix it. Can you…” I cleared my throat and smiled at him. “Can you invite her to hang out on Thursday? We’ll have a few drinks, live tweet the premiere, and I will not flirt. Just a couple friends and a couple drinks.”

His eyebrows went up. “‘Just a couple friends and a couple drinks’, huh?”

“Don’t get that look. I’m gonna be a friend. Nothing else.”

“Sure. Your trailer?”

“Yeah. My trailer. I’ve got the better recliners.”

He nodded and pulled out his phone, walking away as he tapped out a text to her. I wasn’t jealous about the way she immediately responded to his text with a smile emoji and acceptance of the invitation. Not at all.

I made sure to stock the trailer with several kinds of liquor and beers and bottles of water. I ordered pizzas and snacks. Jared was in my trailer for half an hour, chuckling about me trying to clean up despite the fact that I had already cleaned the place. Y/n showed up fifteen minutes before the East Coast showing, wearing a cute pink blouse and a pair of tight jeans that hugged her hips just right. I had to stop myself from making a comment about the way she looked, directing her to my favorite recliner and handing her a Cosmic Cowboy.

“You tweeting the West coast premiere or just East coast?” she asked, getting comfortable.

“Both,” Jared announced, flopping into the second recliner. “We’re usually working on premiere nights but they gave us tonight and half of tomorrow off. We are partying!”

“We’ll probably be shooting ‘til four in the morning tomorrow to make up for it but tonight we are going to enjoy ourselves.” I sat on the right arm of Y/n’s seat and looked down at her. I was trying to keep my distance a bit, but I still wanted to be near her. “So where’ve you been? You’ve been a bit of a ghost the last week or so. Are you okay?”

She pursed her lips a bit and nodded. “Yeah. Just homesick.”

I understood that. Homesick was where I lived. I reached out to pat her shoulder. “Yeah, I get it. You never get used to it but it does eventually get a little easier. Facetime is your best friend.” I pulled out my phone to show her my Facetime app, but thought better of it. She was right there next to me...we needed to have a picture. “Picture time.”

She immediately ducked out of the way, escaping the selfie. “No, wait, what?!”

I chuckled at her reaction. “Oh, come on. Your television debut is about to air. We need documentation.”

She leaned back into the shot and Jared leaned our way. I took a pic and smiled as I tapped out a tweet, attaching the picture and tagging Y/n in it.

“You didn’t say you were documenting on Twitter!” she shrieked when her phone went off to let her know I’d tagged her.

I put on a grumpy face, but I was smiling inside at her reaction. I leaned down closer to her, careful not to take on a flirty tone. “We’re live tweeting,” I reminded her.

“Yeah, the premiere, not the party!”

“You are just determined to not enjoy this fame thing, huh?”

She looked all shy again and shook her head. “I just...I know how this could go, ya know?” I knew exactly where she was going with this. “I am not looking forward to seeing a bunch of hate on my Twitter feed or...ya know, the ‘who the hell is this chick’ stuff. I was just…”

I nudged her shoulder with my elbow. No real contact. “Hey, lil’ Miss Fortitude...we’re here to support you. Some fans are gonna hate it no matter what we do.”

“Can’t please everyone. It’s an important lesson. Don’t hold back just because you’re afraid someone’s gonna hate it,” Jared offered.

She needed to see herself for who she really was. She really did think that people were going to hate her. I didn’t understand why she thought so poorly of herself. Honestly, I thought she was one of the most amazing women I ever met. So, as I watched the episode, tapping out tweets about what was happening on screen, I was trying to think of ways to do something about that self esteem of hers.

She didn’t seem to like the Cowboy much, so when she finished the beer, I got up and made her a Vodka Cranberry.

When a new set showed up on the screen, I looked over at her. “This you?”

She nodded and hid in her drink as her scene played. Her acting was perfect, moving seamlessly from sweet to serious, berating the teen witches about their lack of determination. I looked over at her, discreetly, as we watched and her eyes went so damn wide. I swear she wasn’t breathing the entire time she was on the screen.

“That was amazing,” she finally said when it went to commercial. “I was on TV!”

She seemed really happy and I loved that. “See? Hold onto that feeling, Baby Girl. Who gives a fuck if the fans like you? We like you,” I said, wrapping my arms around her and hugging her tight.

She loosened up a bit after that, I guess from the adrenaline of her performance, and she loosened up a lot more as the alcohol hit her. I won’t lie that I was happy to keep providing her drinks: Tequila Sunrises and Vodka Cranberries. I liked the way she was smiling and laughing and joking with us as she got drunker. I didn’t even think about the fact that she had to be sober enough to get back to her motel room...until Jared pointed out that it was 2am and we needed to get some rest before we made it back to the set at noon.

Watching Y/n pull her keys out of her purse made me step forward and wrap my hand around her wrist. “No.”

“What? I’m fine to drive,” she argued, before stumbling over her feet and grabbing the back of my recliner to stay standing.

“You are not. You are way too drunk to drive, Baby Girl, so you’re gonna get in the SUV with me and Jared. Clif can drive you back here in the morning,” I demanded. I waited for her to nod and put her keys back in her purse. The look Clif gave me when I helped her into the back seat of the SUV was like he knew exactly where my fantasies were leading me. The look Jared gave me when he got out of the SUV at his condo, leaving me and Y/n alone, said he was going to have a talk with me the next day.

I was so close to doing the right thing and telling Clif to take her to her motel...but then she laid her head on my shoulder and snuggled close to me on the back bench, muttering under her breath about how good my cologne smelled and the right thing just flew away. “Hey, Clif, just drive us to my place,” I said, quietly.

“Sure.”

“I don’t wanna hear it.”

“I didn’t say anything, Jensen.”

“Well, keep not saying anything.”

Clif opened the door for me and Y/n and told me to text him when it was time to head out in the morning. Y/n stumbled as we got into the elevator, so I wrapped my arm around her waist. As I was holding her to my side, helping her into my condo, it became completely obvious that I could not keep things professional with her. I couldn’t keep things friendly. I wanted her...so badly.

Of course I wasn’t going to do anything that night. We were drunk, very drunk, and I hadn’t even broached the subject with Danneel. That was the rule: Dee approves or nothing happens. But I wanted her...so I had to start making it happen.

“No, no, you don’t wanna sleep on the couch, Baby Girl,” I said as she sat down on the couch. “Your muscles will hate you in the morning. I got a big bed.” I offered my hand and she took it without comment, getting back to her feet and following me to my bedroom. I took her shoes off and helped her into my bed, before grabbing a pair of sweatpants and heading into the master bathroom to change. I slipped into the bed on the opposite side. She was already asleep...or passed out might be more accurate.

I slept for about three hours before the movement of her sitting up woke me. I knew she might be confused, probably a little drunk still, so I rolled over and put my hand on her shoulder, pushing her to get her to lie back. “We don’t gotta be at work ‘til noon, Baby Girl. Sleep off some more’a that tequila.”

She sighed and turned away from me, snuggling into my extra pillow. “‘Kay, but if your wife puts a hit out on me, I’m blaming you.”

I slipped my arm around her and pulled her against my chest. Just a little bit, get closer to her. “Trust me. Dee isn’t the jealous type,” I whispered.

I fell asleep holding her, my hand over her ribcage, just under her breast. I wanted more. I wanted to know what she felt like, what she sounded like. I wanted to know what she tasted like. But I would have to settle for my hands staying in neutral zones and my dick staying in my pants...for a little while.

When she woke up again, maybe prompted by my morning hardon poking her in the ass, she immediately rolled out of my bed and rushed out of the room. I stretched and grabbed clothes for the day, walking into the bathroom to get a shower. The erection went away without me having to take a hands-on approach. I brushed my teeth, put some of the Tom Ford on, and grabbed one of my watches out of the watch box. I called Clif, who said he’d be there to pick up me and my ‘girlfriend’ in ten minutes. I rolled my eyes and told him to keep that shit to himself.

I found Y/n in my kitchen, drinking a glass of water. “Clif’ll be here in about ten minutes. He’s gonna drop us by your motel so you can get showered and changed. How’s your hangover?” I asked.

“Oh, I don’t have one,” she said, dismissively. I could not believe that shit. “I drank a lot of water last night. You’ve probably got Nestle bottles strewn across your trailer. I always make sure to drink twice as much water as alcohol. It stops the headache and light sensitivity. So I just end up a little sick to my stomach, which can be remedied with Dramamine and a good sandwich.”

I was surprised by that wisdom coming out of this young woman. “Wow. You know how to drink.”

“Yeah, well…” She looked down at the floor and licked her lips. “I used to drown my depression in rum, so…”

That sentence hit me with a pang of empathetic sadness. “You’ve got depression?” I asked quietly. Jared’s got depression. Some of the best people I know have it. They don’t deserve to feel like that.

“Not Chemical Depression. It’s Situational. My old therapist was very specific about that.” She took a shaky breath before she continued. “When I get low, I get really low. It was at its worst when I was married...so I had five years of really low.”

There it was. Jared said it: she didn’t talk about her ex. I walked over and leaned against my fridge, arms crossed over my chest. “Yeah, ya know...you talk about your daughter all the time, but you barely ever mention her father. What happened there?”

She was obviously uncomfortable and unhappy to think about it, but she licked her lips and moved on with the conversation. “He was...ya know, he was my first real relationship. My only real relationship, actually. We married young. I told you that I was twenty when we got married. Well, Nate was only twenty-one. He wanted a woman who would worship him and...for a very long time, I did.” She cleared her throat, seemed like she was fighting back tears. “But he hurt me...emotionally. I was miserable for years and I couldn’t even tell for a long time. That pain became my normal.”

I didn’t even know what he’d done, but I could see the weight on her. It suddenly clicked for me, the self-esteem problems she was fighting. Whatever he’d put her through, it broke her self-worth.

“It was honestly the best thing that could have happened to me when he left me for...this friend of ours.”

“Shitty friend,” I said.

She nodded once, obviously fighting more tears. “You are not wrong.”

I didn’t want to make her feel self-conscious about letting her walls down, so I turned to get a cup of coffee and tried to make her smile. “You don’t seem like the type to worship a guy. You don’t even worship me and I’m totally worth it.”

“Oh, you’re the closest I’ll ever get again, Ackles. But back when I met him, I was different. I was…” She sighed. “I was fat and I honestly thought I was the ugliest chick in town and I hated myself and the fact that this guy was paying attention to me, saying that he loved me...I wanted so badly to keep that feeling that I ignored all the bad feelings.” I wish I’d known her back then. I wish I could have helped her see herself. “He kept me low on purpose, and as soon as I wanted to better myself. As soon as I decided that I needed to be a strong woman so that my daughter would be one, he stopped wanting me.”

“What, because he knew you were gonna realize what an ass he was as soon as you came out of the darkness?” All I could do was wonder what sort of man would do that to a woman. Any woman, really, but definitely a woman as great as Y/n.

I could see her nod from the corner of my eye. “That’s the theory.”

I turned to her and smiled as bright as I could. “Well, look at you now. Bet he’s kickin’ himself.”

“Oh, yeah. I’m on TV now. I’ve got almost ten thousand Twitter followers. My star is on the rise,” she joked...but I wasn’t joking.

I set my coffee on the counter and turned to her. “Not what I mean. The person you were when you married that jerk, she never would have sent that audition video in, would she?” She shook her head. “You never would’ve been able to befriend Jared and me. You never would have ended up part of this family. If you were still with him, you'd probably still be overweight and depressed and self-medicating with alcohol. You woulda only touched this world at the conventions."

She shook her at that. "Not even that," she disputed. She let out a little scoff. “I never did anything for myself when I was with him. He could buy Legos and trading cards and a thousand dollar special-import Playstation, but I couldn’t...I always looked at the cons, but I never went to them. Not just Supernatural cons either. Everything.” She licked her lips and ran her hand over her hair. “You know me well enough now that you know I’m a fairly well-rounded geek and I never went to a single convention until Nate left me. Not a single one. When I wasn’t worrying about taking care of him and his wants and his needs, I was able to finally do something great for me.”

Her smile went wide and bright. “That con in Atlanta was life-changing. I did things I never would have when I was married. I drove five hours, by myself, to a city I had literally never seen. I walked a mile and a half from my hotel to the con hotel and back, alone, every day.” She laughed an intoxicating laugh. “I walked to that bar in the dark and actually got up the nerve to talk to two guys that I looked up to. I talked to people at the con that I’d never met and I made friends. I got up and sang karaoke in front of two hundred people and I fucking rocked it.. It was like I was the old me again. I had the time of my life...which is what prompted me to go after the other things I wanted in my life...and that’s how I got to meet you.”

That convention made everything happen.

“Well, I’m glad you did it. You deserve to be here.” In my life, in my condo, in my bed.

My phone went off, Clif letting me know that he was waiting in the parking lot. “Clif’s here?” she asked.

“Yep. Let’s get outta here.”

~~~~

Her motel looked nasty even from the outside. I’d heard horror stories, but I hadn’t seen it myself...so when she got out of the truck, I followed her. “So, this is your temporary pad, huh?”

“Yep,” she said, grabbing clothes from the aged wood wardrobe. “Don’t snoop, Jensen.” She disappeared into the bathroom as I started looking around.

“If I snoop, what am I gonna find?” I called.

“A shrine to Misha! Leave it alone! It’s a GISHWHES item!”

I scoffed and shook my head, walking over to her wardrobe and looking through her clothes. “You’re ridiculous!”

“I think you mean ‘abnosome’!” she said as the shower turned on. Another one of Misha’s made up words that caused me to laugh. He’d be so happy.

I kept looking around her room, finding bits of fandom stuff and dead bugs and a picture of a cute little girl smiling in a frame on the bedside table, before finally coming across a familiar white cap. I chuckled as I ran my fingers over the many metal buttons with Supernatural characters and actors on them. I fitted the cap on my head and waited for her as she finished her shower. When she opened the bathroom door, I could see pillows in the tub. She wasn’t joking about the bed bugs. Nasty.

"I don't know how to tell you this, but I'm pretty sure this looks better on me," I said, turning to the mirror behind the TV.

"Of course it does," she agreed. "Everything looks good on you."

"Not sure how I feel about the buttons, though."

“If you don’t like it, don’t wear it!” she exclaimed, jumping to grab it off of my head. Not that she could reach it., especially when I ducked back away from her.

“Nah, I’m gonna hold onto it. Gotta make sure you don’t ghost again. I’ll give the hat back when I’m sure you’re not going anywhere.” I nodded at the door. “Come on, Clif’s waiting.”

She got her shoes on before we headed out to the SUV. She looked cute, in her completely plain clothes and her pink and black sneakers. She looked out the window as we drove toward the studio, biting that bottom lip. Shit, that made me wanna know what that lip tasted like.

She was stuck in her head, I could see it in the way she was chewing on that lip. I couldn’t help wondering what was going on in her head. “You okay, kid?”

“Um, yeah. Why?” It was the first time she didn’t take offense to me calling her ‘kid’. She was definitely in another world.

“You just look like you’re deep in thought is all.” My eyes found her bottom lip and I smirked a little. “You gotta stop bitin’ your lip, Baby Girl. You’re starting to bruise.”

She gasped as her hand shot to her mouth. She immediately pulled her phone out to look at herself in the selfie camera. “Shit. They’re gonna love this in the makeup trailer. Might have to actually put lipstick on Tara.”

“I kinda like it,” I admitted, licking my lips. “Makes it look like you had a lot of fun last night.” I wished she had the kind of fun I was thinking of.

“Well, considering I went home with a married man last night, Ackles, that may not be a good thing. Don’t encourage the rumor mill."

She was right about the rumor mill, but damn, I wanted to do something worth a rumor. I was good at staying out of the tabloids. I knew how to be discreet, but I wanted something with her.

"I think I'm gonna talk to Dee," I told Jared as soon as we were alone, riding toward Abbotsford to shoot the Chicago episode.

"'Bout damn time," Clif said from the front seat.

"She's only been here a month! Shut up!"

Jared laughed and slapped my chest. "Yeah, it's been a month of you pining over her."

"I have not been pining. Who says 'pining'? This isn't a medieval romance. I was trying to be her friend, okay?"

"You were trying to be her friend so you wouldn't have to admit how much you wanna bang her," Jared accused.

"That’s not why I was trying to be her friend!" I shook my head. "Dude, she is...she's got no self esteem. She has no confidence. She's amazing and she doesn't see it, so I thought if I made friends...if someone she admires was able to see her worth...maybe she'd be able to."

"Right," he agreed. "But you also wanted to bang her."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, so? That's not why I made friends with her."

"So, what's the plan? How are you gonna butter her up?" Clif asked. "And how are you gonna butter up the Missus?"

"Danneel doesn't need butter. I'm just gonna ask her to look into Y/n and tell me what she thinks." I looked out the window at cars passing in the opposite direction. "Y/n will be harder. Assuming Danneel gives me permission to pursue it, convincing Y/n that it's real and everything...convincing her to sign up to be my dirty little secret is gonna be...really difficult and I'm not even sure how to make it happen."

"Wow. You sound almost nervous, Ackles."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm trying to not be an asshole. Asking a great woman to be your sanctioned side chick is...not the easiest thing to navigate. I mean, Isabella was-"

"Not anything like Y/n."

"Yeah. I mean, Y/n thinks my marriage is perfect. She said that shit last week. She might not take this-This might destroy her opinion of me and Dee. I don’t know if I want-” I threw my head back onto the headrest. “Shit, I shouldn’t even do this”

“Yes, you should. You need to at least try, right?” Jared said, turning to me fully. “Look, I’m not gonna tease you anymore right now. Gonna be serious. Y/n is shy and sweet and she will never turn you down. Never. The very idea of you being sexually interested in her is going to be mindblowing to her. But...you have to approach it softly. You have to get her completely comfortable with you before you even bring it up to Y/n...or it’ll be too much.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but Jared kept talking. “She is so enamored with you but she gets really uncomfortable when you flirt. So you have to calm that down, approach it softly. Keep workin’ her, but do it with more tact.”

I licked my lips and pulled my phone out, opening my text chain with Dee. “More tact, huh? I’ll try.”

>>When I get done here, I’m gonna call you. Try to stay awake, please, babe.

By the time we got to location, she’d responded with an I’ll try! I went to find Y/n as soon as I got out of the truck and I found her running her hand over the hood of the quieter Impala, looking at it with all the love and admiration that beautiful car deserves. “Stop pretending you haven’t sneaked over and drooled over Baby before,” I said, walking over to her. I put my hand on her back, between her shoulder blades because that’s not so bad. It’s not too much. It’s not overwhelming.

“No, I have,” she admitted, turning and looking up at me. “I’ve just always admired the Impalas from afar. You know how the props guys are about the cars...a lot like you are.” She turned and leaned against the hood. “I get to ride in her. Like...seriously? That’s so amazing.”

“Did you ever imagine just how much sex has happened in the back of this car?” I asked.

She looked down with all of that adorable shyness before pulling herself out of it. “Don’t misquote my character to me, Ackles.”

I laughed a little. “I wasn’t talkin’ ‘bout the show. How many actors or crew members do you think have been in this car after dark just to mess around in the Impala?”

Her face went from shy to innocent in a flash. “I don’t know. How many times have you opened the door and smelled sex?” That innocent thing was an act. Had to be.

It took a few seconds to count them out in my head. “Half a dozen or so.”

“Why are you smirking? Did I miss something?” she asked, and her innocent mask almost fell apart on her.

“Ya know, sometimes I am completely baffled at how innocent you are...especially for a chick who’s got a kid at home.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked, putting her hands on her hips all indignantly.

“Well, you always act completely oblivious when I try to bring up sex in conversation. You pretend like I just asked you what color your shirt is or something...and let us not forget the fact that you woke up in my bed today, and you didn’t even make a joke about morning wood.”

“You think that’s probably by design, Ackles?” I don’t know why it seemed so much less fun when she called me by my last name. Jared had been doing it for years but out of her mouth, it hit a bit wrong. Probably because I wanted to hear her call me 'babe' or 'honey' or…'cowboy'. "You talking about sex forces me to think about you and sex. So for the sake of my own composure, I shut that shit down as fast as fucking possible."

She was too shy to think about me having sex and I was literally daydreaming about having sex with her. Crazy world. “Aw! Somebody’s embarrassed!” I teased, laughing out loud. “Man, I’m gonna get you to flirt back eventually. Tara shouldn’t be the only one who gets to make comments about my ass.”

“Oh, come on!” she shrieked, practically running away from me.

“What did I say, dude?” Jared walked over as she found herself in front of Misha in full Cas garb. “Tact, Ackles! Tact.”

“I…” I hummed and nodded. “I’m tryin’, Jare. It’s just not fuckin’ easy with her. She’s just so...she’s this mix of innocent and...she’s so shy and I just wanna crack open that shell and…”

“Chase her away?”

“I’m not trying to chase her away! I’m just…” I looked over my shoulder at her and Misha. “I don’t know. I can’t not flirt with her. I have to keep trying but...I really wanna see what it’s like when she flirts back.”

“She’ll flirt back when she’s ready. She’s not ready.”

“Right.”

He patted my back and pointed toward the alleyway we were going to be shooting in. “Focus on the job for now. Come back to it later.”

I did what he said, focused on the job and not the way Y/n was flirting so heavily as Tara, not the way she looked so cute sitting on a barrel and kicking her feet. I focused on the job...and so did she, but as soon as we cut for dinner, she was in her head. It seemed like she was doing her best to avoid looking at me, but every time I caught her actually looking at me, I could see where her eyes were...on my lap. I felt a bit of elation at that. Something finally got through.

“She’s thinking about my morning wood,” I whispered to Jared.

“What?!” she exclaimed. “No, I’m not!”

“Jay, leave the poor girl alone.” Jared’s words were soft, just a little bit of a warning on them. Maybe he could see that I was starting to break through to her, I don’t know.

“Yeah, Jay. Leave the poor girl alone,” she agreed with a big smile. That, I liked. Not a large group of folks call me ‘Jay’ and hearing her pretty voice on that single, simple syllable was awesome.

“But she’s so cute when she blushes.” She ducked her head, obviously blushing more. “See? Isn’t that adorable?”

“Oh, screw you, Ackles,” she snapped, the fire in her cheeks moving to her eyes as she glared at me. Not back to ‘Ackles’.

“That an offer? ‘Cause we got some time before we start shootin’ again and-”

“Oh, shut up, you giant child.”

“Hey, you’re the one who keeps checking to see how giant I really am.”

“Oh, my god!” she squeaked, covering her face with her hands. “Jared, please control your boy,” she begged from behind her palms.

He chuckled and smirked, taking a drink of his iced coffee. “You know you’re talking to the wrong guy if you want to control Jensen, right?” He gestured between us, but gave me a high eyebrow. “Because I’m finding this whole situation hilarious.”

She pulled her hands away and looked over at him. “Some friend you are, Padalecki.”

“Oh, he’s a great friend...to me.” I shrugged and winked at her. “I got thirteen years on you, Baby Girl. J-pad is always gonna have my back.”

She stood up and stuck her tongue out at me before stomping away. Pretty tongue. Long, pointed...I wanted to taste it.

“And she called you a child?” Jared commented.

“Nice long tongue though,” I responded, picking up my coffee cup.

“Tone it down,” Jared whispered. “You’re gonna chase her away again.”

“Still too much?”

“Yeah. Just a bit,” he answered, pointedly. Yeah, it was a bit more than a bit, but...what could I do? “She’s sensitive.”

“Yeah, some folks don’t like to be teased so much, Jay,” she said, sitting down.

There it was again. ‘Jay’. I really did like that a lot. I couldn’t hold back the smile that broke out across my face. “All right. I will tone down the teasing. I’m sorry, kid.”

“Okay. Forgiven.” She smiled back and her whole face lit up and my heart just sang over it. “And I’m still not a kid. The other thing is okay, but I’m gonna get upset if you keep calling me ‘kid’.”

“Oh, the other thing’s okay?” Jared asked. “You’re cool with ‘Baby Girl’, but not cool with ‘kid’?”

“Baby Girl makes me think of Criminal Minds. Derek Morgan always called Garcia ‘Baby Girl’. I like it...but ‘kid’ is like...like I’m less than because I’m younger than you?”

“That’s absolutely not how I mean it. Not how I’m usin’ it, I promise.” I licked my lips and leaned forward. I’d have to stay away from ‘kid’ for a while, because I didn’t want her to even think that I saw her as less than. “I just like nicknames and ‘kid’ seemed to be a good one, but I don’t see you as anything less than me.”

She looked down again, but a smile found its way onto her lips. “Okay,” she whispered. I was getting through her shell.

The Kitchen Sink Tags- @flamencodiva @sacriceria @lyarr24 @440mxs-wife @nancymcl @mariekoukie6661 @alwayskeepfightingsweetheart @cosicas-cuquis @queenoftheunderdark @myheartbelongsintz @squirrelnotsam @akshi8278 @muhahaha303 @agirlwithdemonblood @this-is-me19 @mrswhozeewhatsis @leigh70 @maliburenee

#cassie writes stuff #spn rpf #jensen x reader

[spine-buster]

That Which We Are, We Are | Nathan MacKinnon | Chapter 3

gif credit @/joeydaccord

A/N: Happy Halloween everyone! Enjoy :)

“I’m sorry, you’re going out to dinner with whomst?”

Sorcha groaned into the phone at her best friend’s tone. Even from all the way in Vancouver, Sorcha could hear the absolute distaste in her tone. “Victoria—”

“You could have at least waited until I was off work! How the hell am I going to concentrate on anything now knowing you’re having dinner with Nathan MacKinnon?!”

“Please stop saying his name. Every time you do, I’m reminded of just exactly who he is beyond being a famous hockey player. Please come back to Halifax and get me out of it. I beg you,” Sorcha pleaded into the phone. “I couldn’t say no to him, Vic.”

“Why not? If you keep being reminded of who he was before he became a famous hockey player, then why couldn’t you say no?”

“Because he was so stupidly nice about it!” Sorcha was in pure agony. “How can a guy who was complicit in my bullying for so many years be so…nice?!”

“Beats the shit out of me,” Victoria said. “You have to tell me every single detail of what happens. You know that, right? Like I’m half way to telling you to record the entire dinner as a voice note on your phone so you can send it to me and I can listen to it like a podcast.”

Sorcha rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but laugh at her best friend’s overdramatic and comedic nature. “Yeah, I’m gonna go ahead and say I’m not going to do that, but I’m definitely calling when it’s over,” she agreed. “Never in a million years did I think this would be happening. A billion years – a trillion years! The universe could have collapsed and regenerated itself and I still wouldn’t think this could happen.”

“Do you know what you’re wearing?” Victoria asked suddenly.

“Sort of. Want to help?”

“Abso-fucking-lutely.”

***

Sorcha walked to 2 Doors Down on Barrington Street confident as ever. She was wearing a dark blue floral dress Victoria had helped pick out over FaceTime, semi-opaque tights, a pair of heeled ankle boots, and a leather jacket. Her hair was curled, as it always was these days, with a side part. Her winged liner looked killer. She knew she looked good. It was a confidence she didn’t have in her before, back when she and Nate went to school together. It would be new to him, she thought, seeing her in makeup, in dresses, embracing her curly hair (and actually knowing how to take care of it and style it). He saw glimpses of it in their previous meetings, sure, but Sorcha felt like the more he saw of it, the more it would hammer home that she wasn’t the same person he went to school with, and that if he thought he was reconnecting with that person from all those years ago, he was sorely wrong.

Just like with lunch, Nate was already there. He hadn’t been waiting long – five minutes at most – and when she was led to his table (at the back, of course, in a pretty discreet corner where someone had to go looking for him), she tried not to smile when she saw him smile when he saw her. Nate thought she looked great. Everything just worked. “You’re always early,” she said, draping her cross-body purse over the back of her chair.

Nate shrugged his shoulders playfully. “You’re always late.”

“You said reservations were for 7. It’s…” she stopped, looking at her watch as she sat down in her seat across from him. “It’s 6:58, on the dot.”

“Can I get you two a drink?” the waitress asked.

“I’ll have anything you have from Propeller,” Nate said, referring to the famous craft beer brewed locally.

“I’ll take a jungle bird,” Sorcha ordered a cocktail.

When the waitress walked away, Nate smiled again at Sorcha. He couldn’t believe she was here. Neither could she, if she was being honest. And now that they were alone, with no waitress prying them for drinks, they could get started on whatever this was going to be. “Thanks for coming,” he said.

“Thanks for pestering, I guess,” she joked.

Conversation turned to her work. Sorcha explained what was keeping her busy. The waiter brought them their drinks, and they ordered their dinner – the bone-in pork chop for him, and the rainbow trout noodle bowl for her. Nate spoke to her about his workouts, but it wasn’t nearly as exciting as what she was doing. She encouraged him to take time off – like actual time off. He let her know that wasn’t possible. Nobody makes Team Canada’s Olympic roster by slacking or taking time off.

Sorcha rolled her eyes as she took a bite of her rainbow trout. “Give me a break. I think besides Sidney Crosby you’re the only other shoe-in for Team Canada.”

“McDavid.”

“Okay, so you’re the third shoe-in.”

Nate shook his head. “Nothing is guaranteed. I mean, Sid is Sid.”

“Whatever you say, Nate.”

He took a bite of pork chop and watched as she took another bite of noodle and trout. He felt like he was having dinner with a different person. This wasn’t the Sorcha he remembered at all. She’d made a point when he showed up at the art gallery that he didn’t know her, and she was right – he didn’t. But he at least remembered what she was like. And this Sorcha, sitting across from him, was not the same Sorcha Saint-Coeur from elementary or high school. “You—I…” he didn’t know how to word what he wanted to say. “You’re so different from how I remember you. You’re so…confident.”

“It’s been like, eight years Nate. Obviously people change,” she said.

“No no, I know that. It’s—it’s not coming out right,” he shook his head at himself for not being more articulate. “I mean, like, when I remember you in elementary school and high school, you would like clam up if someone even spoke to you. You wouldn’t say a word to anybody besides Victoria. You’ve gone through, like, a whole transformation. You’ve just become a completely different person.”

Sorcha knew what he was trying to say, however inarticulate he thought he was. “I think I had to,” she admitted, in a voice softer than she’d spoken with before. “I had two options when I left high school – I could have let all the bullying stay with me and keep me how I was, and how you remember me, for the rest of my life…or I could do something about it. I could shed it all off, embrace people who didn’t judge me, take every opportunity that came my way, and live my life the way I wanted to. I obviously chose the latter. And that changed me into the person I am today.

“Why couldn’t that happen in high school though?” he asked.

“Because nobody let me. Everyone who bullied me kept me in a box. More importantly, I didn’t let myself, because of that bullying. It was like a vicious cycle. I thought that the first thing people saw about me was my weight, because that’s all anyone every brought up in high school. They made me so self-conscious about it that it paralyzed me. Imagine my shock when I got to college and people wanted to actually get to know me and didn’t call me Sorcha the Orca once they saw me.”

“That…that could have happened in high school,” he said, but his voice sounded so unconfident that even he didn’t believe what he was saying. Sorcha gave him a stern look, and it said everything that needed to be said. “Okay. You’re right. But still. You never, like, went out in high school. I mean you had Victoria. Victoria would be out but you’d never be with her.”

“I never went out because I was always in therapy.”

There was a pause as Nate digested her words. “You—you were in therapy?”

“Of course I was. The most popular people at school were making my life a living hell and bullying me so bad that I was developing disordered eating.”

Nate had to bite his tongue. The repercussions and the tolls of what had been done to her in high school were finally being revealed. He could have cursed every single soul that did anything mean to her, but he knew that he’d curse himself in that. “Are you still in therapy?”

“Yeah,” Sorcha nodded her head. “Not as much and not as often, obviously. But yeah, I still see someone. It’s helped me a lot.”

“Is it someone who works with your step-dad?”

“My step-dad is a pediatric neurologist, so that’s a no.”

Nate remembered in elementary school when Sorcha and Aidan’s mom remarried Dr. Dagar Ibrahim. Sorcha’s mom and dad divorced when she was one, and although Aidan remembered him, Sorcha didn’t. After the divorce he was never around, but Aidan and Sorcha kept his last name. From what Nate had heard, Dr. Dagar was a better dad to them than their actual dad ever was – at least, that’s what he overheard his parents and other parents talking about in the school yard or on the phone with one another. In grade seven there was a vicious rumour that Sorcha’s mom had married a doctor to put Sorcha on a diet so she could lose weight. A girl in their class had spread it, and even added that he was going to perform liposuction on her at their house. In reality, Dr. Dagar was one of the best pediatric neurologists in the country, and worked at IWK Hospital. He helped treat congenital defects of the brain and spinal cord and neurological problems associated with brain tumours on kids from all over the Atlantic provinces, yet people were making rumours about liposuction.

“The therapy…were you able to just, like, I don’t know, forget what people said to you?” he asked.

Sorcha shook her head. “I never forgot it. I learned to cope and I learned that other people’s perception of me wasn’t reality. That was my problem – I had made it my reality and I felt powerless because other people were defining me. I created my own reality and learned that I had a right to be happy, and to enjoy things the exact same way skinny girls did. But like, I still remember everything – every name, ever rumour, every mean thing. I can’t just forget what you and your buddies would call me and say about me.”

“But it wasn’t me saying those things,” Nate tried to defend himself.

“No…” Sorcha began, “but you didn’t exactly tell them to stop, and sometimes that’s just as bad. Maybe even worse.”

Nate was ashamed of himself. Completely. Here he was, one of the most successful hockey players in the world, a multi-millionaire, and he hated himself, even just for a brief moment. Well, his past self, at least – the self that never said anything, that never stood up for Sorcha, that never told anybody to stop. And now, looking at her in the eye after staying silent for so long accepting her words, he resolved to never be silent again. “I’m sorry, Sorcha,” he said softly, for the first time ever. “I really am.”

“I forgive you, Nate,” Sorcha said easily. Because it was for her. “I did a long time ago. But I don’t forgive Shane. I never have and I never will.”

“Yeah…” he nodded slowly, his mind running a mile a minute with all the things Shane would call her and say to her. They were gross – like, absolutely gross – and that was just the stuff he was remembering at the moment. He bet that if he really thought back, he’d be able to remember even more and be even more disgusted. “Yeah, I get that.”

It was Sorcha’s turn to stay silent. Neither were even eating anymore – they were just staring at each other as their food got cold. This was much more serious, anyway, and much for filling, at least for the soul. It nourished both of them in ways they didn’t think possible. But Sorcha wasn’t done. “He’s the worst kind of person, you know. Like, the absolute worst,” she said.

“Because of the bullying.”

Sorcha nodded, but looked away. She debated even telling him. But he had to know. Nate had to know what she went through if they were really going to resolve things, to start a new chapter, to do…whatever it was that they were doing. “You know, when you left for Colorado, and all of us here had graduated and were moving on to university and college and whatever…he would be horrible to me at school, but then would be messaging me at night begging for us to hook up.”

Nate’s jaw dropped. “What?”

Sorcha nodded her head. Now that she’d said it out loud, she felt like a weight had lifted off her shoulders. She finally felt at peace. The only other person who knew was Victoria. Now that one of Shane’s friends knew, things were different – the information was all the more lethal. At least Nate would finally know how much of a piece of shit Shane was. “He didn’t want to go to university a virgin, and because he’d spent his entire life making sure I hated myself and my body, he thought I’d be an easy yes to have sex with him. I rejected him, of course. I would have spit in his face if I could, honestly. And I wanted to when I saw him at the café with you.”

Nate couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He knew Shane was a bit of a dick, but this took it to a whole new level. “Holy shit,” he shook his head absent-mindedly. “What a fucking asshole.”

“You’re telling me,” Sorcha’s tone was sarcastic.

“No no, I don’t—” he stuttered out, still speechless at what Sorcha just told him. “I just feel sick.”

“Yeah, well…you should. That’s the kind of person he is. Scum of the earth. That’s why I’ll never forgive him.”

“You have no reason to,” Nate said, completely meaning it. “And he’s never apologized?”

Sorcha snorted. “Please,” she rolled her eyes. “He’s not capable of empathy. Actually, between you and me, he’s not capable of much, if you know what I mean.”

Nate couldn’t help the smile that crept on his face. When Sorcha caught him smiling, she shared one with him. “I’m glad you’re where you are, Sorcha. It’s nice seeing you like this.”

“I think I’m gonna need another drink,” she joked, finishing the last of her jungle bird.

***

Nate and Sorcha somehow finished dinner despite all their talking and their food getting cold. They even ordered dessert, because what was more time together when you couldn’t stop catching up with each other? Sorcha spoke more about Florence and Toronto; she and Nathan compared restaurants they’d been to in the city, and neighbourhoods they hung out in. He, of course, knew so many of the King West hot spots. She begged him to try something better than overpriced cocktails and steak.

Nate paid again, because he was the one who suggested dinner in the first place, even though Sorcha was more persistent than last time about paying her half. He watched as she put her leather jacket back on and hung her bag on her shoulder. He allowed her to lead the way out. The restaurant had gotten really busy, and they had to squeeze through groups of people to make their way to the door. Sorcha wasn’t intimidated at all, looking behind her to make sure he was still following her.

“You wanna go walk down by the harbour?” Nate asked suddenly the second they got outside.

Before Sorcha could second-guess anything; before she could make some smart-aleck remark or ask him why he wanted to go walk down by the harbour with her, or think about Juno curled up on the couch alone, she was nodding her head. “Yeah, sure.”

Their pair walked down Salter Street together, continuing their conversation which had pivoted to how much Nathan had traveled thanks to hockey. He talked of the first time he stepped onto a chartered team flight and how he felt so out of his element because of how fancy it was. He spoke of the practical jokes the team would play on each other on the plane and at the hotel. He spoke of hearing so many interesting things about certain cities like Chicago or Dallas or Vancouver, but not really being able to check anything out, unless they had a day off in the city.

“What’s your favourite road city then?” Sorcha asked as they walked along the harbour. Despite it being dusk, and chilly enough that Sorcha’s leather jacket was warranted, there were enough people surrounding them along the harbourfront – there were quite a few people walking around, and some people on the outdoor patios, eating and drinking and having a great time on a nice, cool night.

“Chicago, I think. I love the vibe there,” Nate admitted.

Sorcha nodded. Though she’d never been to Chicago, she’d heard nothing but good things about it. It was definitely on her list of cities to go to when she saved up enough money. “I’ve always wanted to go to the Art Institute of Chicago,” she mentioned.

“Oh yeah? I’ve never been,” Nate said.

Sorcha stopped dead in her tracks. “What?”

“What?”

“You’ve been to Chicago how many times and you’ve never thought to spend a day or even just an afternoon at the Art Institute?” she demanded.

“…No?”

“Nathan!” she chastised, smacking him against his arm which caused him to laugh at her. It probably just made her angrier. “But the Seurat! The Picasso! Nighthawks! American Gothic! How dare you not go!”

“What are those?” he teased, playing with her, though if he was being honest, the only name he recognized was Picasso. He didn’t know what a Seurat was or what American Gothic was or why she was so excited about them.

Sorcha’s eyes went wide before she let out a long, exasperated “Uuuurrrrgggggghhhhh!” in complete dismay of the man standing across from her. “I’m going to kill you. I’m seriously going to kill you.”

“That’s harsh, Sorcha.”

“It’s warranted, Nathan.”

Nate couldn’t help but laugh again, his smile spreading from ear to ear. He liked this. He liked being with her. He liked how funny she was, and how riled up she got about art. He liked her confidence and how she showcased it every chance she got. He liked how her curls moved in the wind. He liked the feel of her hand on his bicep, even though she was meant to be hitting him and even though it was supposed to hurt (it didn’t). If she did it again it would take some serious willpower not to raise his own hand to grab hers.

They continued their walk in silence, both with smiles trying to be hidden on their faces, before Sorcha broke it. “You know how we were in the restaurant and you told me you liked seeing me like this?”

“Yeah?”

“Well, it’s nice seeing you like this. Not on TV. Not on the ice. Just, like…here in Halifax. Normal, you know.”

“I’m always normal.”

Sorcha rolled her eyes playfully. “You know what I mean, Nate.”

Nate shook his head slightly. “I think you have this idea of me in your head that because I became some big hockey star that I got too big for my head,” he said. “And that, like, right now, or when we’ve been together, I’m putting on an act or something. Like I’m pretending to be normal. This isn’t an act. This is just me. I’m not like that at all, Sorcha. What you’re getting is who I am. It’s not more complicated than that.”

Sorcha knew in her heart of hearts that he was right. She’s had her guard up based on their history, and what had happened in the past between them, and she needed to let go. It was unhealthy to hold on to preconceived notions of others – she, more than anyone, should have understood that. “I’m sorry, Nate,” she apologized sincerely.

“It’s alright,” he said, forgiving her easily. “I just don’t want you thinking I’m some big shot who thinks he’s too good for people. I’m the furthest from that.”

She nodded her head in understanding. “I see that now.”

When Nate looked at Sorcha, he saw an authenticity and sincerity in her that couldn’t be faked. What she had just said came from the heart; it was genuine. And in that sincerity, in that look in her eye, Nate admitted to himself that he wanted to spend more time with her; that he liked being around her more than anything; that he was falling hard for her.

When Sorcha looked at Nate, she saw an authenticity and sincerity in him that couldn’t be faked. What he had just said came from the heart; it was genuine. And in that sincerity, in that look in his eye, Sorcha admitted to himself that she wanted to spend more time with him; that she liked being around him more than anything; that she had to keep her feelings at bay or else she was going to get into some serious, serious trouble.

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