#JERSEY DEVIL BIG NATURALS

[wuggen]

The X Files | s1:e5 | The Jersey Devil

[shitslikethis]

getting more than average reblogs on the x files big naturals post i made at 2am….. nature is healing….. also this is so validating…….. thank u to everyone who recognizes quality cinema……. and thank u fox mulder for your commitment to ethical artistic purchasing in lieu of professional artistic rendering, he has priorities and i respect that even if the fbi doesn’t…… lastly i would like to thank the mutuals for giving me this award (7th place medal for Severely Underwhelming Number of Reblogs Actually, But Specifically to Me It’s A Lot)

nothing cracks me up more than the jersey devil episode of x files. i cannot stop thinking about it literally ever. it’s the one time mulder is stone cold correct about everything he says but his evidence is like a stick figure babadook drawing he bought (!) off a homeless guy and a cartoon of a gorilla with big naturals. iconic tbh.

[captain-huggy-bear]

'You're blushing.'

Pairing: Quinn Hughes x Fem!Reader (Crush level)

Warnings: Reader is described as visibly blushing (normally i'd avoid it, but for this idea I kinda had to, sorry!)

Summary: You're friends with Jack and Luke first, they decide to tease you good naturedly about your reaction to their older brother, Quinn.

Notes: I feel like Jack and Luke as friends would really work together to tease you, just very good natured but finding it hilarious. Basically acting like your annoying brothers.

An NHL charity event isn't something that 2 years ago you would have thought you'd ever be at, but then 2 years ago you didn't forsee yourself becoming friends with Jack and Luke Hughes, two pro-hockey players, after taking your students to meet the New Jersey Devils on a school trip.

Everyone who was anyone in the NHL was present, players from across the teams from both Canada and the US, coaches, WAGs and then you, because Jack and Luke refused to leave you behind in case you got bored without them. Their words, not yours. You couldn't even use work as an excuse because school holidays were in full swing.

So, here you found yourself, clutching a glass of something expensive, but awful tasting, that you quickly deposite on a side table the moment no one is looking, wearing your best dress (the one that never came out of your closet and had needed a really good steam to get the wrinkles out) and oogling their attractive older brother from across the room. The big brother you've had a crush on for at least a year...despite having met him a total of 5 times.

It wasn't your fault, really. Jack and Luke were pretty, so very pretty, but a little too young for you and treated you like an annoying sister, Quinn however? He was the right age, the right height, had the right hair and the few times you'd interacted had made you feel like a girl and not one of the guys. He was easy on the eyes and from the time you'd spent around him a genuinely nice guy, the type of person that having a crush on was easy. Especially, when you were rarely around him and didn't need to confront said feelings.

It's stupid though, a crush? In your mid-20s? It feels like something you should have grown out of, but apparently not. You think you've managed a good job at hiding it though, hiding the way your ears perk up whenever Jack or Luke mention Quinn, hiding the fact you watch every Canucks game even if you have to catch up late after work kicks out, marking piled high in front of you.

Across the room you watch as Jack and Luke hug their brother in greeting, big smiles wide on all three faces. They're all wearing their best suits, hair neatly trimmed, a shame...as you're rather fond of Quinn's longer hair, but he's still handsome either way.

Luke must mention you as he gestures in your direction and Quinn turns to look at you, smiling wide in your direction. You're not expecting it, certain you resemble a deer in headlights.

His wide smile does funny things to your heart and it's only made worse when he starts walking in your direction, Luke and Jack trailing behind, you're almost certain your heart is about to stop in your chest.

He stops just shy of you, looking like some sort of daydream and you're certain that you're not hiding your crush very well in that moment. Suddenly, you feel 10 years old again.

"Hey, long time no see," Quinn doesn't hesitate before wrapping his arms around you and pressing a kiss to your cheek that has your face feeling incredibly warm. He pulls back, eyes giving you a slow once over from your head to your uncomfortable heels, "You look beautiful." There's a crinkle at his eyes that screams sincerity, that, combined with his soft smile only has you swallowing harder and trying to ignore the raised eyebrows of Jack and Luke over his shoulders.

"T.." You cough the lump from your throat, "Thank you, Quinn, it's nice to see you again"

It's not long before he's called away, once more pressing a kiss to your cheek on his way and you know you're beet red in the face without even looking at Jack or Luke. Their matching grins only confirm it and you internally groan when Jack throws an arm around your shoulders, smirking down at you.

“You’re blushing.”

"Shut up." You grind out, shoving his arm off your shoulder and crossing your arms even as your eyes continue to track Quinn across the room.

"You're seriously blushing because of Quinn?" Luke takes up the otherside of you grinning over the top of your head at his brother, even as Jack keeps digging at the topic. If your face was red before, you know it's probably bright enough to be seen from space now.

"Jack, in the name of all that is holy, if you do not shut the fuck up right now I am going to tell tiktok about that time that you tried to jump into my arms because of a mouse." You poke a harsh finger into his chest, but your threat seems to make very little impact, your friend just continues to grin at you like you've made his night.

"But, seriously? Quinn? Like, i'm right here,"

"You are a baby." You roll your eyes, turning back to find Quinn staring at the three of you from across the room. He's got the sort amused look that tells you he'll be asking his brothers all about this later, curious as to what had you make that face at Jack.

"I'm not that much younger than you!"

"Still a baby." You laugh simply because you all know Jack's joking. He's never once wanted to date you and you're fine with that. Your dynamic with the two younger Hughes brothers has always been entirely platonic and you like it that way.

"Does that mean I don't get a shot at all?" Luke chims in from besides you, arms slumped at his side in mock sadness that has you wrapping an arm around his waist to give him a side hug.

"Lukey, I love you, you get a shot just for being you." You grin up at him as Luke smugly waggles his eyebrows at his brother. It's all completely ridiculous and it reminds you that even when they're winding you up, you do in fact love the two of them.

"Oh, c'mon!" Jack's jaw drops like you've just told him that his first born child is the uglist child you've ever seen or something equally as offensive. From the corner of your eye, you can see that Quinn is still watching the three of you even as he talks to a group of journalists. It makes you nervous, hoping that he hasn't developed a talent for lip reading.

"Why are we even having this discussion? Neither of you want to date me and I don't want to date either of you! We firmly established that we're all in the friendzone here."

"It's the principle okay? I am the pretty one and you go for Quinn?"

You're quiet for a moment, eyes on your feet before you mumble out a quick, "I like his hair."

"I have good hair too." You roll your eyes at his retort, "So do I!" Luke ruffles his curls to show them off.

"I like his beard." That bit of scruff he always seems to grow as the season continues, the sort you're sure would scratch deliciously against your skin if he kissed you. Quinn gave off strong romantic book lead vibes with that sort of facial hair going on, a lumberjack or cowboy who saves the leading lady from hyperthermia or a bear or something.

"Okay...I'm...i'm working on that, give me some time, Jesus, woman!" You know he's only playing, but you also know Jack's genuinely curious as to when and how you developed a crush on his older brother. It's not like you'd ever expressed your interest in their brother before, not even suggesting he was cute in a passing comment.

"Look, I just...I think he's handsome that's all..." It's most certainly not all, but you're not about to wax poetic about their brother and give them more ammunition to tease you with than they already have.

"Well, if you're not marrying me or Luke, I guess the only way to add you to the family is to get Quinn to fall hoplessly in love with you." Jack claps his hands together, nodding his head like he's just come up with some sort of business proposal that benefits all parties rather than suggesting you marry his brother.

Luke looks over at Jack, nodding along with a little smirk, "I think we can manage that."

"Oh, definitely, Lukey Boy." Between them it's like looking at a pair of mischievious and naughty school boys.

"Please don't meddle, please leave it alone! I get crushes all the time, I really do not need you embarrassing me! We're adults, this is not the school playground!" You're practically begging them to leave it alone, mind already conjuring up a million and one ways in which they could embarrass you.

You're so focused on them that you don't see Quinn making his way over until he speaks from over your shoulder. He's eyeing his brothers like they might set off a stink bomb, arms crossed over his chest that only serves to make him look even broader than he already does in that jacket.

"Why do you two look like you're about to cause some trouble?"

"Us?" Jack starts, pointing at himself and then to Luke, wide innocent eyes fooling absolutely no one.

"Trouble?" Luke continues, a hand over his heart like Quinn had insulted his honour by suggesting such a thing.

"Quinny, would we ever do such a thing?"

There's a moment of silence before Quinn looks them both dead in the eyes and gives a confident, "Yeah."

Quinn turns to you, face softening into a look that screams that he's concerned his brothers are being dicks to you, it's pleasant and sweet and makes you feel warm inside, "You alright? These two idiots bothering you?" Both idiots shout a quick 'hey!' but your attention is solely focused on Quinn and the way his hair falls across his forehead when he tilts his head to look at you.

"Yes!" He chuckles at your insistant reply, hand reaching out to offer itself to you, "C'mere then," you grasp it without question and follow him off to the dance floor. Not thinking twice until you find yourself wrapped up in a slow dance with a guy you can barely look at without blushing. Feeling in over your head in the best sort of way.

From the corner of the room Jack turns to his younger brother with a smile, as they watch the you and Quinn inch closer and closer together on the dance floor. Your head eventually coming to rest on his shoulder as you sway back and forth.

"Y'know what, Lukey? Maybe we don't have to meddle at all..."

[toasttt11]

sharing

prompt- sharing a plate of food

Luke had found love with a girl around the same age as him, who works with Devils media team. From the day he met her when he got to Jersey, it was easy to tell he was very whipped and they started dating a little while after his rookie season started.

Luke hadn’t been able to make it to a lot of hangouts with his friends and old teammates from Michigan meaning he has not introduced his girlfriend to any of them yet besides Dylan, Ethan and Mark.

Luke pulled into a parking spot in front of the restaurant they were meeting everyone at, he looked over at his girlfriend, his first real serious girlfriend.

“You ready?” Luke asked gently seeing her looking a little nervous.

She nodded still looking nervous making Luke reach over and gently grab her hang squeezing it reassuringly, “They will love you.” Luke softly reassured having no doubt the rest of the boys would love her, she’s easy to love.

She nodded looking less nervous and Luke and her got out of the car.

Luke’s hand naturally rested on her lower back as they walked into the restaurant and was guided to where the boys already were.

Her eyes widen slight seeing so many of his old teammates and all of them getting really loud seeing Luke and all getting up hugging him.

She stepped back letting Luke greet all of his friends.

Mark and Ethan went straight to her having got close with Luke’s girlfriend and thought of her as a good friend.

Mark pulled her into a gentle hug until Ethan was impatient and pushed Mark away to pull her into a hug rocking her like crazy making her laugh.

Luke’s head snapped up hearing his favorite sound and smiled seeing her with Ethan and Mark.

Luke walked back to his girlfriend resting his hand back on her back as he introduced her to everyone.

After he introduced his lovey girlfriend they all sat back down and the boys all began telling her many embarrassing stories about Luke, not that Luke really minded because they all made her laugh and smile.

Eventually food came out and she and Luke usual get to two different things that share between them as she doesn’t eat a lot but likes being able to eat a little bit of two things and then Luke also gets more food so it works perfectly for them.

“What the fuck.” Nick’s jaw dropped as he looked at the couple.

“What?” Luke furrowed his brows looking at Nick oddly as he munched on a French fry happily.

“You shared your food!” Nick loudly exclaimed looking extremely shocked.

“He did what?” Rutger asked in shock and looked over at the two seeing them sharing the two plates.

“Since when do you actually share food?” Tj teased Luke, remembering the many times Luke would get so mad when someone try to touch his food and would look like he was considering stabbing them with his fork.

“Ha Ha.” Luke dryly spoke rolling his eyes at his friends.

“He always shares his food?” She looked confused as shrugged not seeing the big deal, Luke has always shared with her.

“That’s because Lukey boy only shares with you.” Ethan told her smirking at the couple, he remembered being just as shocked when he noticed the first time that Luke easily shared with her.

“Oh.” She softly mumbled looking at Luke who was blushing slightly and had a bashful smile.

She gently kissed his cheek and returned eating.

Josh smirked mischievously as he reached over to Luke’s plate going to grab a french fry when Luke smacked his hand away glaring at him, “Ow!” Josh pouted holding his hand dramatically.

“I only share with her.” Luke grumbled glaring at Josh once more before turning back to his girlfriend and softening immediately seeing her happily munching on their french fries.

[paladin--strait]

family skate - luke hughes

here's the oneshot from the poll! hope you all enjoy! 🫶

-

it felt like a scene from a movie, but in the best possible way. luke and i were standing at the edge of an outdoor stadium, the cool winter air biting at my cheeks, but somehow it felt perfect. we were in new jersey and the entire field had been transformed. a full hockey rink sat in the middle of the football field, with the bright stadium lights casting an almost surreal glow over the ice.

there were no fans, no cameras, just the team, their families, and a few close friends, all out here to skate before the big stadium series game tomorrow. it was intimate, private, and it felt like we were part of something special.

i could feel the excitement buzzing in luke beside me as we walked through the halls and made our way toward the rink. the lights above cast long shadows on the ice, and i could hear the faint sound of skates cutting through the frozen surface, mixed with the occasional laughter and shouts from the players and their families.

it was a completely different vibe than a normal game night. there was no pressure, no crowd to impress, just the team having fun before the real action started.

luke’s hand was warm in mine as we walked closer to the ice, and i could tell he was in his element. even though he was always calm, always collected, i could see how much this kind of moment meant to him. it was a break from the madness, a chance to just be himself with the people who mattered.

“you ready for this?” luke asked, glancing down at me with a soft smile, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

“definitely,” i said, squeezing his hand. “this is so cool.”

we reached the rink, and it was incredible. big enough for the team to practice or skate around, but still small enough that it felt like we were in our own little bubble, isolated from the world. the ice glistened under the lights, and i could see the other guys skating around, already warming up.

there were no fans, no cameras snapping photos, it was just them, their families, and the people closest to them. it was as if they were in a world of their own, and i was lucky enough to be a part of it.

luke led me toward the ice where a few players were already skating around, taking laps and chatting. the air smelled like fresh snow, and the sound of skates slicing through the ice was oddly soothing. as we approached, a few of his teammates noticed us and waved over. jack hughes, his brother, was the first to spot us.

“hey! there she is,” jack called, skating over with that mischievous grin of his. “the girl that's got my brother smiling more than i’ve ever seen.”

“don’t listen to him,” luke said, rolling his eyes but clearly amused. “he’s just trying to make me look soft.”

jack smirked but turned to me with a friendly grin. “it’s okay, we all know he’s whipped.”

i laughed, feeling my cheeks warm a little. “you guys don’t waste any time, huh?”

“nah,” jack said, shaking his head like it was the most normal thing in the world. “we just like to mess with him. but seriously, nice to finally meet you.”

“you too!” i said, smiling back with a wave.

jack skated off, giving luke a playful shove as he passed. luke just shook his head, but i could tell he was enjoying himself. it was clear these guys were all close, their teasing and jokes so natural and effortless.

it made me feel like i was seeing a side of luke that wasn’t just the guy on the ice for the devils. here, he was just another guy messing around with his teammates, and i loved it.

as we made our way further onto the ice, luke grinned at me, like he was genuinely excited to have me join in. we skated a few laps together, and even though i wasn’t the best skater, i felt comfortable just being out there with him. it didn’t matter if i stumbled or wobbled on the ice, luke was right there to catch me every time. he made it look so effortless, gliding across the ice with that natural flow of his, but to me, it felt magical, like he was doing something special just for me.

“you okay?” luke asked, skating backward in front of me, his arms out to steady me as i tried to keep up.

“yeah, just trying not to fall on my ass...” i laughed, feeling a little clumsy.

“you’re doing great,” he said, his voice warm, making me feel a little more confident with each step.

we skated together for a while, looping around the rink, taking in the quiet of the night. it was amazing how peaceful it felt out here. no crowds, no noise, just the sound of our skates on the ice and the occasional laugh from one of the other players.

i loved the way luke’s face lit up when he was skating, how focused and relaxed he looked at the same time. it made me feel like i was seeing him in his element, but not the athlete that everyone else saw, the serious guy in front of thousands of fans. here he was just my boyfriend, enjoying a night on the ice with the people he cared about.

after a while, we slowed down and skated over to the edge of the rink, where some of the other players were taking a break. i felt a little nervous meeting more of his teammates, but luke was right there, making me feel like i belonged.

“this is so much fun,” i said, resting my hand on his arm as we sat on the boards.

“i’m glad you’re enjoying it,” luke said, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “this is one of my favorite things we do before a big game. no pressure, no fans, just the guys and their families.”

“i can see why,” i said, smiling up at him. “it’s nice to see you all just...being yourselves.”

“yeah, it’s good to take a break before the big day,” he said, glancing around at his teammates, who were chatting and laughing. “it’s not all about the game. it’s about moments like this.”

i leaned into him, feeling the cold air on my face but wrapped in the warmth of him next to me. the ice gleamed under the lights, and it felt like the perfect little pocket of time. just us and his teammates, no distractions, no expectations. the world outside the stadium didn’t exist for a little while, and i could see how much it meant to him to have these moments.

as the night went on, we skated a few more laps, and with each one, i felt more and more at ease. it wasn’t just about the game or the players, it was about the quiet moments between the chaos, about getting to know him and his teammates in a way i hadn’t before.

“you ready for tomorrow?” i asked, looking up at him as the night wound down.

“always,” luke said with a grin. “but tonight? i’m just happy you’re here.”

“me too,” i whispered back, leaning into him. the night was perfect, and no matter what happened tomorrow or the day after, nothing could take away this moment, this night with him, in this quiet, magical space, just us and his world.

[lee-laurent]

Home Away From Home -- Luke Hughes

Summary: Annika isn't gonna fall for the stupid hockey guy her parents are housing... right?

content: angst, implied smut but no explicit smut, some makeout scenes, fluff!!

wc: 8.9k

notes: i love this trope so here we are!! enjoy!!

Annika hadn't signed up for this.

She sat at the kitchen island, her arms crossed, watching her mom fuss over a plate of freshly baked cookies. George Thompson, her dad, was setting up the dining table with an enthusiasm that made her roll her eyes. The boys--twelve-year-old Alex and nine-year-old Flynn--were practically shaking with excitement.

"Do we really need cookies?" Annika asked, a touch of exasperation in her tone. "We're not adopting a puppy. He's just a guy. A hockey player, at that."

Andrea turned, a stern look on her face. "Annika, be polite. Luke is our guest. He's going to be a part of this family while he's here."

"Right," Annika muttered, "because this house isn't already crowded enough."

"Hey!" Alex piped up, shooting her a look of betrayal. "Luke Hughes is not just a guy. He's going to play for the Devils! He's super awesome!"

"Yeah!" Flynn added. "And he's way cooler than your boring boyfriend."

Annika groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "For the last time, Bryce and I broke up like three months ago."

"Probably cause he wasn't cool like a real NHL player!" Alex nodded.

Andrea shot the boys a warning glance but said nothing as she placed the plate of cookies at the centre of the table. "All I'm saying, Nick, is that this is a big adjustment for him too. He's young, he's new to Jersey, and he needs a supportive home environment. So please, try to make him feel welcome."

Nick refrained from commenting, though her skepticism must have been obvious, because her dad chuckled. "Come on, Nick. You might like the kid. Who knows?"

She doubted it. Sure, Luke Hughes was talented--she'd heard her brothers talk about him nonstop since her parents agreed to host him--but "some guy who skates for a living" didn't exactly sound like the type of perso she wanted to hang out with.

Still, when the doorbell rang, she couldn't help but feel a little curious.

~~

Luke hadn't expected to feel nervous.

But as he stood on the porch of the Thompsons' suburban house, duffle bag swung over one shoulder, his nerves hit him like a train. He rang the doorbell twice, the chime ringing out into the evening air.

The door swung open, and two kids stared up at him like he was a rockstar.

"Whoa," the older one--Alec or Alex, Luke couldn't remember--breathed. "You're really Luke Hughes."

Flynn just blinked, his jaw practically on the floor. "You're so tall," he finally said, wide-eyed.

Luke laughed awkwardly, glancing past the kids as an older man appeared in the doorway.

"You must be Luke," George said warmly, extending a hand. "Come on in, son. Welcome to our home."

"Thanks for having me," Luke said, stepping inside. The house smelled like cookies and furniture polish--cozy and warm, a sharp contrast to the hockey house he'd lived in the last two years.

The rest of the family came into view, and Luke felt the weight of their attention. A kind-looking woman who must've been Mrs. Thompson smiled warmly, and then his gaze landed on the girl standing behind her.

She was... unexpected.

Annika's arms were crossed, her expression unreadable. She didn't seem particularly thrilled to see him, though Luke couldn't tell if that was because of him or if she was just naturally unimpressed by life.

"This is Annika, our oldest," Andrea said, gesturing to her daughter.

Luke offered a hand. "Hi."

"Hey," Annika replied shortly, barely glancing at him before turning to her mom. "Can we eat now, or...?"

Luke's hand fell awkwardly to his side. Okay, then.

~~

Luke followed the Thompsons into the dining room, where the table was already set with a plate of cookies and some milk. He wasn't sure if it was meant to be welcoming or if they thought he was still ten years old, but the gesture was nice.

"Sit, sit!" Andrea said, waving him toward the table like he was royalty.

He slid into a chair, his bag at his feet. Across the table, the two boys continued to gape at him like he had two heads.

"Can I touch it?" Flynn blurted out, and Luke's eyebrows shot up.

"Your hockey stick," Alex clarified, giving his brother an exasperated shove.

"Uh, yeah, sure," Luke said, chuckling nervously. "I left it by the door. I can show you later."

"Awesome!" Flynn squealed.

Nick, leaning against the doorway with her arms still crossed, looked like she might die of secondhand embarrassment. Her blue eyes were narrowed in thinly veiled irritation.

"Boys, give him a minute to settle in," Andrea scolded softly. "Luke, you can call me Andrea, and that's my husband George." She gestured at her husband, who was helping himself to a cookie. "You've met the boys, Alex and Flynn."

"Yep," Luke said with a smile. "They're... enthusiastic."

"And Nick already introduced herself."

"Nick?" Luke tilted his head, confused.

Annika sighed as though she'd had to explain this a million times. "It's short for Annika. You know, like a nickname?"

"Oh. Got it."

Luke was quickly starting to realize that Annika wasn't the "warm and fuzzy" type.

"Nick's a student at Rutgers," George chimed in, as though sensing he needed to fill the silence. "She's studying communications. Smart kid, but she's a bit of a grump."

"Dad," Nick said sharply, though her cheeks flushed slightly pink.

"Don't mind her," George added with a conspiratorial grin. "She's just mad she doesn't have her bathroom all to herself anymore."

Nick shot Luke a look, and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Sharing a bathroom? Great. This was going to be... interesting.

~~

By the time Luke hauled his duffle bag up the stairs, he was ready to crash. The Thompsons were nice--mostly--but the whirlwind of introductions had left him drained.

"This is you," George opened a door at the end of the hall. The room was small but tidy, with a twin bed, a desk, and a window overlooking the backyard.

"Thanks," Luke said, dropping his bag onto the bed.

"Bathroom's just down there to the left," George added. "Sorry in advance if Nick complains about you using it. She's not used to sharing."

Luke nodded, unsure how to respond. George clapped him on the back and left, leaving him alone to unpack.

"Just so we're clear," Nick showed up in the doorway. "I don't care if you're some big hotshot hockey player. It's still my house, and if you leave your gross hockey gear lying around, I will throw it out."

Luke blinked, caught off guard. "Uh... noted?"

"Good," she said, her tone sharp enough to cut steel. She started to leave, then paused, glancing over her shoulder. "And don't take forever in the bathroom. Some of us actually have places to be besides the hockey rink."

Before he could respond, she was gone, leaving Luke standing there with a pair of socks in his hands and the faintest trace of a smirk on his face.

She was definitely going to be a challenge.

~~

Nick woke up the next morning to the sound of running water and muffled thud from next door. Groaning, she rolled over and squinted at the clock on her nightstand. It was barely 6:30 a.m.

"Seriously?" she muttered, pushing the covers off.

Her first day sharing a bathroom with Luke was off to a fantastic start. Wrapping herself in her fluffy robe, she shuffled out of her room, only to nearly collide with Flynn, who was standing in the hallway, clutching his toothbrush.

"Is he still in there?" Nick asked, jerking her thumb toward the bathroom door.

"Yeah," Flynn said, his voice tinged with awe. "I think he's doing hockey stuff. Like stretches or whatever."

Nick raised an eyebrow. "In the bathroom?"

Flynn shrugged, and Nick let out an exasperated sigh. She banged on the door. "Hey, Hughes! Some of us need to use the bathroom too, you know!"

There was a brief pause before the door cracked open, revealing a very shirtless Luke. His hair was wet, beads of water clinging to his skin, and he held a towel loosely around his waist.

Nick froze.

"Uh... sorry?" Luke said, looking sheepish. "I didn't think anyone else would be up yet."

"Yeah, well," Nick snapped, forcing herself to look anywhere but at his chest, "you're not living in a bachelor pad, so maybe keep it moving."

"Right. Got it." He stepped aside, gesturing toward the sink to let her pass.

Nick brushed past him, her cheeks burning, and shut the door firmly behind her.

~~

When Nick made it to the kitchen, she was still fuming. Flynn and Alex were already seated at the table, shoveling cereal into their mouths like Luke sat across from them, wearing a hoodie and looking way too innocent.

"Morning," Andrea chirped, sliding a plate of scrambled eggs in front of Nick. "Sleep okay?"

"Would've been better if someone didn't turn the bathroom into his personal sauna," Nick muttered, shooting a pointed look at Luke.

To her annoyance, he just smirked. "I'll set an alarm for 6:29 next time. How's that?"

Alex snorted milk out of his nose, and Flynn started laughing so hard he nearly fell out of his chair.

"Luke's funny," Flynn declared, as though it was groundbreaking news.

"Luke's annoying," Nick corrected, stabbing her eggs with a little more force than necessary.

Andrea sighed. "Annika, be nice. Luke, honey, make sure Annika has time in the bathroom too."

"Yes ma'am," Luke grinned.

Nick glared at him, but his smile only grew.

~~

Nick had classes at Rutgers until late afternoon, which was usually her excuse to escape the chaos of her house. Today, though, chaos seemed determined to follow her.

She was sitting at her favourite coffee shop near campus, trying to focus on a group project, when her phone buzzed with a text from Alex.

Alex (12:34 PM): Guess what??? Luke said he'd come to my game on Saturday!!!

Nick rolled her eyes but responded anyway.

Nick (12:35 PM): wow! cool, bud. tell him to pack an extra helmet in case you miss a slapshot

Her phone buzzed again almost immediately.

Alex (12:36PM): u r not funny

Nick smirked, but her amusement was short-lived. A voice behind her said, "You look like you're plotting someone's downfall."

She turned to see Luke standing there, hands shoved in the pocket of his hoodie, looking slightly out of place in the sea of students.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, frowning.

"Your mom said you had the extra car... and I need a lift to the rink."

Nick blinked. "So you walked here? Just Google how to walk to the rink."

Luke shrugged. "Figured you'd just let me borrow the car."

She sighed, grabbing her laptop and shoving it into her bag. "Fine. Come on."

~~

That evening, after dinner, the boys dragged Luke into the living room for a mini hockey practice. Flynn wore a devishly determined look as he tried (and failed) to get the puck past Luke, while Alex gave commentary.

Nick watched from the sofa, trying not to smile. It was hard to keep her guard up when Luke was crouched on the floor, pretending to dramatically miss a save just to make Flynn cheer.

"He's good to them," Andrea whispered, sitting down beside her.

Nick blinked, startled. "Huh?"

"Luke," Andrea said, nodding towards the game of floor-hockey. Luke had ruffled Flynn's hair, earning a high-pitched giggle, and Alex was laughing so hard he had to clutch his side.

"Yeah, I guess," Nick admitted reluctantly. She wasn't ready to admit that Luke might've been slightly, a tiny bit okay-ish.

~~

She wasn't sure when she started noticing the little things about Luke.

Maybe it was the way he always made time to answer Alex and Flynn's endless questions about hockey. Or how he seemed genuinely interested in her every meal her mom made.

Or maybe it was that he wasn't as cocky and annoying as she'd originally thought.

Not that she'd admit it.

Saturday morning found Nick sitting in the bleachers at Alex's hockey game, sipping a lukewarm coffee and trying to focus on anything other than Luke, who was perched on the edge of the bench next to Flynn.

"Think he'll embarass himself?" Luke asked, lowly enough that only Annika could hear.

"Alex?" Nick smirked. "Absolutely. He lives for the drama."

Luke laughed, and Nick hated how much the sound didn't make her cringe. He was wearing a Devils cap pulled backwards over his messy curls, a plain hoodie, and an easy smile. It was almost... attractive.

The game started, and Alex threw himself into it with the subtlety of a wrecking ball. He wasn't the most skilled player on the ice, but his enthusiasm was unmatched.

"Go, Alex!" Flynn shouted, nearly toppling over the edge of the bench.

Nick found herself glancing at Luke occasionally, surprised by how invested he looked. He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, watching Alex like it was Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

When Alex scored--a chaotic, scrappy goal that Nick was pretty sure only counted because the ref was feeling generous--Luke jumped up to his feet, clapping and cheering louder than anyone else.

"You act like it's the Olympics," Nick teased as he sat back down.

"What? That was awesome!" he said, still smiling like an idiot. "Kid's got guts."

Nick shook her head, but a smile tugged at her lips. She hadn't seen Alex light up like that in a long time.

The parking lot was full of parents chatting as they loaded their kids and gear into cars. Alex was still on cloud nine, his sweaty hair sticking to his forehead as he recounted his goal for the tenth time.

"And then I deked left, and the goalie totally fell for it!" Alex said, demonstrating with exaggerated movements.

"More like you tripped into the puck," Nick teased, ruffling his hair.

Alex scowled. "You weren't even paying attention!"

"I was," Luke cut in, slinging an arm around Alex's shoulders. "And I think it was a sick goal."

Alex beamed up at him, and Nick had to admit--grudgingly--that Luke's support was doing wonders for her brothers' confidence.

"Thanks, Luke," Alex said. "Maybe you could help me practice my shot sometime?"

"Yeah, anytime, dude," Luke said without hesitation.

Nick's mom appeared then, holding Alex's bag. "Luke, seems like you're fitting in just fine around here."

Nick rolled her eyes but didn't comment.

~~

Back at the house, Alex and Flynn insisted on replaying the game on the living room floor, complete with mini-sticks, a foam ball, and way too much shouting.

Nick sat, pretending to read while Luke crouched on the floor, acting as a goalie.

"Careful," Luke warned, blocking one of Flynn's shots. "I don't want to break another lamp."

"That was Alex's fault!" Flynn protested.

"Was not!" Alex shouted, aiming another shot.

Nick couldn't help but laugh as the foam ball ricocheted off the wall and into Luke's chest.

"Game over," Luke declard, collapsing dramatically onto the floor.

The boys groaned, but Nick was grateful for the silence as they finally trudged upstairs, still arguing about whose shot was better.

Luke sat up, running a hand through his hair. "Your brothers are intense."

"They're obsessed with you," Nick said, closing her book. "It's kind of nauseating."

"Jealous?"

"Of what? The chaos? No, thanks."

He stood, stretching, and Nick's eye flicked to the hem of his shirt, which rode up just enough to reveal a sliver of toned abs. She quickly looked away, hoping her cheeks weren't as red as they felt.

"Good game today," she said, standing and heading toward the stairs before he could say anything else.

"Thanks," he called after her, and there was something in his voice that made her stomach flip.

~~

Nick paced back and forth in her room, her phone pressed to her ear as she tried to keep her voice down.

"I'm telling you, Mia," she whispered, "he's insufferable. Like, he doesn't do anything that bad, but the fact that he exists in my house is enough to drive me fucking insane."

On the other end of the line, Mia snorted. "Translation: You're fucking obsessed with him."

"What! No?" Nick flopped onto her bed, glaring at the ceiling. "I'm just... he's in my way. All the time. The bathroom thing? Unforgivable. And he's always around, charming my brothers and being all polite to my mom, and--it's annoying!"

"You're mad because he's polite?" Mia teased. "Wow, Nick, you're really reaching."

Nick groaned, throwing an arm over her face. "You don't get it. He's--ugh. He's just one of those guys, you know? All... awkwardly cute and unexpectedly funny and stupidly attractive--"

"Uh-huh," Mia interrupted, her voice laced with amusement. "Say that last part again?"

Nick sat up, her face heating. "I didn't mean it like that!"

"Sure you didn't."

"Mia," Nick hissed, her eyes darting toward the door. "I'm serious. He's just--fine, okay? I'll admit it. He's hot. Like ridiculously, stupidly hot. But that doesn't mean I don't hate his guts."

"Hate his guts? You sure you don't just want him to rearrange yours?"

Nick groaned. "I can't stand you?"

"And yet here you are, calling me for emotional support about your hot hockey housemate," Mia said smugly. "What a tragedy."

"He's just... objectively attractive. I can hate someone and still recognize that they're good-looking. Those two things can coexist."

"Sure, Nick," Mia giggled. "Whatever you say."

Nick groaned, burying her face in her pillows.

Flynn crouched in the hallway, his ear pressed to the crack under Nick's door. Beside him, Alex knelt, covering his mouth so he didn't giggle too loudly.

"Did she just say Luke is hot?" Flynn whispered, eyes wide.

"She totally did," Alex grinned.

Flynn giggled. "We have to tell him!"

"Duh," Alex said, scrambling to his feet.

The boys darted down the stairs, giggling like they'd just discovered the best secret in the world.

Luke was sitting in the living room, flipping through channels on the TV, when they skidded to a stop in front of him.

"Luke!"

"You're not gonna believe this!"

Luke quirked an eyebrow, setting the remote down. "What's up, guys?"

"Nick thinks you're hot!" Flynn blurted out, unable to contain himself.

Luke blinked, caught completely off guard. "What?"

"She said it on the phone," Alex explained. "She was talking to her friend, and she said you're 'ridiculously, stupidly hot.'"

Flynn nodded eagerly. "She also said you're annoying, but mostly that you're hot."

Luke huffed out a laugh, leaning back against the couch. "She actually said that?"

"Yup!" Flynn said proudly.

Luke shook his head, a slow grin spreading across his face. "Alright. Thanks for the intel."

The boys high-fived and ran off, leaving Luke alone with his thoughts.

Ridiculously, stupidly hot, huh?

He filed that tidbit away, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. He didn't plan on using it right away--but when the right moment came, he'd be ready.

A few hours later, Nick came downstairs to grab a glass of water, grateful that the house was finally quiet. She froze when she saw Luke in the kitchen, leaning against the counter with a glass in hand.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked casually.

"Nope," she said shortly, pouring herself some water.

As she turned to leave, she felt his eyes on her, and her steps faltered.

"What?" she snapped, glancing over her shoulder.

Luke shook his head, his expression unreadable. "Nothing. Just... interesting."

"What's interesting?"

"Nothing you'd want to admit," he said with a slight smirk, turning back to his drink.

Nick scowled, marching back upstairs, vowing to ignore whatever cryptic nonsense he was playing at. Behind her, Luke chuckled softly to himself, his smirk only growing.

~~

Annika was still determined to go about her life as if nothing had happened. Luke was still the irritating, too-hot-for-his-own-good hockey player who'd invaded her space. Nothing more.

But he wasn't making it easy.

It started small. Like how he suddenly seemed to be everywhere she was.

Case in point: the kitchen.

Nick had just finished a workout and was rummaging through the fridge for a bottle of water when Luke appeared, freshly showered and leaning against the kitchen island.

"Morning," he said, annoyingly chipper.

"Morning," she replied shortly, avoiding eye contact.

"Work out hard?" he asked, his gaze sweeping over her.

Nick's head snapped up. "What?"

"You're all flushed," he said innocently, taking a slow sip of his protein shake. "Maybe you overdid it."

Her cheeks heated further, and she hated that he'd noticed. "I'm fine," she said, grabbing her water and slamming the fridge shut.

Luke smirked, watching her retreat.

~

That weekend, Andrea sent Nick and Luke to pick up groceries. It was supposed to be a simple errand, but the tension between them was thick enough to cut with a knife.

Nick fiddled with the AUX, flipping through songs until Luke reached over and stilled her hand.

"Pick something already," he said, his fingers brushing hers.

The touch was brief but electric, and Nick pulled her hand back like she'd been burned.

"What's your problem?" she snapped.

Luke shrugged, trying to conceal his amusement. "No problem. You just seem... jumpy."

"I'm not jumpy," she said through gritted teeth.

"Okay?"

Nick gripped the phone a little tighter, silently cursing him and the stupid butterflies in her stomach.

~~

That evening, the family decided to have a movie night. Nick reluctantly joined, sinking into the sofa and snatching the bowl of popcorn.

Luke sat beside her, closer than necessary, his knee brushing against hers as he man-spread.

She stiffened, but he didn't move.

"Comfortable?" she asked, shooting him a pointed look.

"Very," he said innocently.

Andrea shushed them, and Nick tried to focus on the film. But every time Luke shifted, she was hyper-aware of the warmth of his thigh against hers.

Halfway through, he reached for the popcorn, knocking her arm with his.

"Do you mind?" she hissed under her breath.

"Not at all."

Nick gritted her teeth, determined to ignore him. But when the movie ended and she stood to leave, he softly caught her wrist.

"Hey," he said, locking eyes with her. "Relax. I'm just messing with you."

Her breath caught in her throat, and for a second, she couldn't look away.

"Whatever," she muttered, yanking her hand free and hurrying upstairs.

~~

Alex and Flynn barreled into the kitchen, sweaty and red-faced from playing street hockey.

"We crushed the neighbours!" Alex announced, dropping his stick and gloves on the floor.

Flynn followed suit, throwing himself onto one the barstools at the island. "Yeah, but Alex missed like ten open shots."

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Guys," Nick interrupted. "Gear in the laundry room. Now."

The boys groaned but trudged off, muttering under their breath. A minute later, Luke strolled in, hair damp from a shower. He grabbed a water bottle from the fridge and hopped to sit on the counter, watching Nick with his lopsided grin.

"You run a tight ship," he teased.

"Someone has to when my parents aren't home."

Before Luke could respond, the boys returned, still arguing.

"Whatever," Alex said, rolling his eyes. "At least I'm not as bad as Bryce."

Nick scowled, her stomach sinking. "What does Bryce have to do with anything?"

"Nothing," Flynn said, grabbing a cookie off the counter. "Just saying Alex is better than him at hockey."

Luke's brow furrowed, gaze flickering between Annika and the boys. "Who's Bryce?"

"No one," Nick glared at Alex.

"Her boyfriend," he said, completely ignoring her. "Well, ex-boyfriend. He was like super into hockey but I think he sucked. Nick used to help him with his stats for school."

Nick shot him another warning look. "Shut up, Alex."

Flynn, too young to realize the tension in the room, chimed in, "He coached Alex's team last year, but he's not as cool as you, Luke."

Annika could feel Luke's eyes on her and turned away, busying herself with wiping an already-clean counter. "Bryce is like... history. Can we drop it now?"

The boys shrugged, losing interest as they rushed off to play Xbox.

Luke lingered, arms crossed, watching her closely. "So... Bryce?"

Nick sighed, turning to face him. "It's not a big deal. We dated for a while. It didn't work out. End of story."

Luke nodded slowly, though his expression shifted slightly. "Sounds like a real winner."

Nick narrowed her eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing... nothing. Just that he doesn't sound like much competition."

"Competition for what?"

He shrugged. "Relax, Annika."

"You're fucking insufferable," she mumbled, pushing past him and heading for the stairs.

~~

Luke was still thinking about Bryce.

He told himself it didn't matter, that it was none of his business, but the image of some guy hanging around Nick, talking hockey and being such an important part of her brothers' games, made his chest feel tight.

Jealousy wasn't a good look on him, but there it was, simmering just under the surface.

He was sprawled on the couch when Nick came downstairs again, her arms full of laundry. She stopped when she saw him, a guarded look on her face.

"Still brooding about Bryce?"

Luke smirked, trying to mask his annoyance. "Why would I brood about some guy I've never met?"

"Good question."

Her tone was casual, but the way she avoided his gaze told him she was more affected by their earlier conversation than she cared to admit.

She shook her head, going to walk past him. But just like the other night, he grabbed her wrist. "For the record, I don't think he deserved you."

Nick just stared at him, blinking slowly.

"Goodnight, Nick."

And with that, he got up and walked away, leaving a very confused Annika in his wake.

~~

The rain started in the late afternoon, a light drizzle that quickly turned into a full-on downpour.

By the time Nick got home from class, her sneakers were soaked, and her hair was plastered to her face. She shoved the door open with a grunt, muttering curses under her breath.

"Rough day?"

She startled, looking up to see Luke in the living room, also soaking wet, with his bag slung over his shoulder. He must've just gotten back from practice.

"Rain fucking sucks," she said shortly, kicking off her shoes and peeling off her wet socks and jacket.

"Not a fan of Jersey weather?"

"Not when I have to walk through it because someone took the car," she snarled, brushing past him on her way to the kitchen.

He followed, watching as she rummaged through a cabinet for a snack. "Where's the rest of your family?"

"Out," she said, grabbing a box of crackers. "My mom took the boys to the movies, and my dad's working late. Why?"

"Just curious."

Nick turned to look at him, but before she could reply, a sudden crack of thunder made the house shake. The lights flickered once, twice, and then everything went dark.

"You've got to be kidding me," she groaned, fumbling for her phone.

"Relax," Luke said, his voice steady. "It's just a power outage."

"No big deal for you, maybe," she muttered. "I've got work to do."

"Yeah? What kind of work?"

"The kind that requires electricity."

"Well, unless you can magically fix the power grid, I'd say you're stuck."

Nick rolled her eyes, but she couldn't ignore the flutter in her chest at the way his voice sounded in the dark--low and teasing, but with an edge she couldn't quite place.

"Great. Guess I'll just sit here and wait for the apocalypse."

"Or," Luke said, his voice closer now, "you could stop being so dramatic and light some candles."

Nick scowled, but another loud crack of thunder made her jump.

Luke laughed. "Scared of storms?"

"Of course not," she snapped, though her hands were trembling slightly.

"Right."

Nick shook her head, retreating to her bedroom, hoping to escape the weird tension that always settled between them. She lit a few candles, their warm glow casting flickering shadows on the walls, and tried to focus on her textbook.

But her thoughts kept drifting--to the storm, to the empty house, and to Luke.

She didn't even hear him knock.

"Hey," he said. "Mind if I hang out in here? It's kind of creepy downstairs."

Nick raised an eyebrow. "You're a professional hockey player, and you're scared of the dark?"

"Not scared. Just bored."

She sighed, gesturing for him to come in. He shut the door behind him and sat on the edge of her bed, his presence suddenly overwhelming in the small space.

For a while, they sat in silence, the sound of rain pounding against the windows filling the room.

"You're quiet," Luke said eventually.

"So are you."

He glanced at her, his eyes catching the candlelight in a way that made her stomach flip. "You've been weird around me lately."

"I'm always weird around you."

"Not like this," he whispered.

Her heart started thudding against her chest. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Nick."

She froze at the way he said her name--soft, almost pleading. When she finally looked at him, the intensity his gaze made her breath catch.

"Are we just gonna keep pretending this thing between us doesn't exist?"

"What thing?"

Luke huffed out a laugh, shaking his head. "You're really gonna make me say it?"

She didn't answer, and in the silence that followed, he got closer.

The air between them crackled, the storm outside quiet in comparison to the sound of her heart.

"I think about you... way more than I should."

Her breath hitched at his words, and he leaned in, his hand brushing hers.

"Nick," he whispered, his lips hovering just inches from hers. "Tell me to stop."

But she didn't.

Instead, she closed the distance, her mouth crashing against his in a messy kiss of spit and teeth.

His hands quickly found her waist, pulling her until they tumbled onto the bed. Hers found the curls at the nape of his neck. And outside, the storm faded into nothing.

~~

The storm had become nothing but a soft patter of rain against the windows. Nick lay across her bed, Luke's arm draped lazily across her waist as they caught their breath.

The room was warm and still dark, the flickering candlelight casting a soft glow over their bodies. Nick could feel the steady rise and fall of Luke's chest against her back, his skin sticky but still comforting against hers.

"You're sweaty," she mumbled, her voice muffled by the pillows.

Luke chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest. "So are you."

She wrinkled her nose but didn't move, too content--and too tired--to care.

They lay there in comfortable silence for a while, the weight of what had just happened settling over them. It wasn't awkward, though. If anything, it felt... right.

Luke broke the silence. "You know, the candles really set the mood."

Nick snorted, turning her head to look at him. "Oh, totally. Very romantic."

"You don't think so?"

She rolled her eyes, biting her bottom lip. "Honestly? It might've been the most romantic sex I've ever had."

"High praise."

"Don't let it go to your head."

They fell quiet again, Nick tracing lazy circles on Luke's arm as his fingers skimmed along her hip.

"Can I tell you something?" Luke said suddenly.

"Sure."

"Your brothers... they told me."

"Told you what?"

"That you think I'm hot."

"They what?!"

"Yeah," Luke smirked, clearly enjoying her reaction. "Apparently, you were on the phone with your friend, and they overheard you saying I'm 'ridiculously, stupidly hot.'"

Nick stuffed her face in the pillows, groaning. "Oh my God. I'm gonna fucking kill them!"

"I mean," Luke continued, "I wasn't going to say anything, but now that we're here."

"Shut up."

He laughed, gently tugging her out of the pillows. "Hey, I'm flattered. Really."

"Don't be," she said, though the blush creeping up her neck betrayed her.

Luke leaned in, his lips brushing against her temple. "For the record, I think you're ridiculously, stupidly hot too. Still wanna kill your brothers?"

"Absolutely," she said, but her voice was lighter now, her cheeks still pink.

Although killing her brothers didn't really matter when she was laying in bed with Luke.

~~

Nick had no idea the thrill that sneaking around would give her.

There was something almost intoxicating about the stolen moments--the way Luke's touch would linger as he walked past her, the charged glances across the room, the whispered goodnights as they traded the bathroom.

It was dangerous and utterly addictive.

She hated how much she liked it.

Family dinners at the Thompsons were always chaotic (as were most things in their house). Andrea was bustling between the kitchen and the dining room, carrying plates of steaming food, while George tried to wrangle Alex and Flynn into their seats.

Luke sat across from Nick, his expression perfectly innocent as he buttered a piece of bread.

Nick didn't trust him for a second.

The meal started without incident--Andrea asking Luke about practice and an upcoming roadie, Flynn babbling about a school project, Alex loudly debating which NHL team had the best defence. Nick tried to focus on her food, keeping her gaze firmly away from the boy across the table.

Until she felt it.

A soft nudge against her ankle.

She froze, her fork halfway to her mouth, and glanced up. Luke's eyes were on his plate, the faintest hint of a smirk pulling at the corner of his lips.

Nick shifted her leg, but the nudge came again--this time more deliberate, slowly moving up her calf.

Her eyes narrowed.

Subtly, she kicked back.

Luke's smirk widened, but he didn't react otherwise, his foot pressing against hers in a way that made her stomach flip.

"Nick," Andrea said, snapping her out of the moment. "Pass the salad, please."

Annika blinked, her face burning as she shoved the salad bowl across the table.

"You okay?" her mom raised an eyebrow.

"Fine," Nick said quickly, glaring at Luke.

He looked up then, his smirk replaced with an innocent smile. "Everything alright, Nick?"

She wanted to throttle him.

Instead, she dropped her napkin on the floor, ducking under the table.

"What're you doing?" Alex asked as she crouched, fumbling for the napkin.

"Nothing," she muttered.

She grabbed the napkin--and Luke's ankle.

He jerked slightly, his leg pulling away, but she squeezed just hard enough to make her point before sitting back up.

"You sure everything's okay?" Andrea asked, her tone tinged with suspicion.

Nick forced a smile, her heart pounding. "Just peachy."

Across the table, Luke's smirk was back, but this time it was tinged with something darker--something that made Nick's breath catch in her throat.

~~

Later that evening, they weren't so lucky.

Andrea had sent the boys upstairs to clean their shared room while she and George tidied up the kitchen. Nick, seizing the opportunity, had slipped into Luke's room under the pretense of "helping him settle." As if he hadn't lived there for weeks.

Luke was waiting for her, his grin smug as he pulled her inside and shut the door.

"You're getting reckless," he teased, his hands sliding around her waist.

"You're the one who started it... and keeps tempting me," she shot back, her voice breathless as he backed her against the closet door.

"Is that so?"

Her lips found hers, and for a moment, she forgot all her worries--her parents, the risk, the fact that her brothers were just down the hall.

Until the footsteps started.

"Luke!"

Nick froze as Flynn's voice rang out.

"Shit," she whispered, shoving Luke back.

He stumbled slightly, but didn't stop smiling. "Relax."

The door burst open a second later, Flynn standing there with hockey stick in hand.

"There you are!" he exclaimed. "Alex and I want you too referee!"

Luke cleared his throat, stepping back even further from Nick. "Uh, yeah, for sure. Be right there."

Flynn squinted at his big sister. "What are you doing in here?"

"Helping him find something," she lied, her face burning.

Flynn shrugged. "Okay, whatever." He turned and darted back down the hall, yelling for Alex."

Nick let out a shaky breath, her head dropping back against the closet.

"That was close."

Luke chuckled, stepping closer again. "Too close?"

"Yes," she hissed, swatting his arm as he leaned in.

"You love it," he teased, his lips brushing her ear before pulling back. "I'll see you later."

And just like that, he was gone, leaving Nick to realize that she did, in fact, love it.

~~

The bathroom was filled with steam, despite the fan being on. The warm spray of the shower drowned out the storm that had started outside.

Nick leaned back against the cool tiled wall, her skin slick with water, as Luke pressed a line of soft kisses along her collarbone.

"This is so stupid," she mumbled, her hands sliding over his shoulders.

"Probably," he agreed, smirking as he pulled back to look at her. "But when have we ever done anything smart?"

"If we get caught--"

"We won't," he promised, pushing his lips against hers.

The sound of a knock at the bathroom door had them both pulling away.

"Luke?" Andrea's voice called from the other side of the door.

"Oh my God," Nick mouthed, her heart hammering inside her chest.

Luke held a hand up, silently telling her to stay silent, before clearing his throat. "Uh--yeah?"

"Have you seen Annika?" Andrea asked. "I thought she might be in her room, but she's not."

Luke shot Nick a panicked look, and she mimed strangling him, her lips forming "fix this."

"Uh, no," Luke said, scrambling for an excuse. "I think she said something about--uh--going for a walk?"

"A walk? In this weather?"

Luke winced, cursing himself for the lame excuse. "Yeah, she, uh...said she likes the rain. Said it's like refreshing or something?"

Nick buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking with silent laughter.

There was a long pause on the other side of the door, and Luke could practically feel Andrea's doubt seeping through the wood.

"Well, alright," she said finally, though her tone was still dubious. "Let me know if you see her, okay?"

"Will do," he said, waiting until he heard her footsteps retreating before turning to Nick.

She was doubled over with laughter now, her hands braced against the wall. "Refreshing?" she wheezed, still whispering. "That's the best you could come up with?"

Luke scowled. "You're welcome."

Nick pressed her chest against his, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Guess I should be grateful," she whispered, her lips brushing his ear. "You're quick on your feet when panicking."

"Yeah, well," his hands settled on her waist, "let's just hope your mom doesn't start asking more questions."

Nick smirked, leaning in to kiss him softly. "Guess we'll have to be more careful, huh?"

"Guess so."

~~

They'd barely recovered from their bathroom incident, but Luke seemed determined to push their luck even further.

They were standing in the kitchen, the rest of the family scattered--Andrea folding laundry upstairs, George in his office, and the boys glued to a hockey game on the TV.

Nick was just trying to make herself some tea, trying to ignore Luke's presence at the counter, when she felt him move closer.

"Relax," he wrapped his arms around her waist, leaning in his chin on her shoulder. "Nobody's around."

"Ugh, you're insane."

"Probably," he said.

"Luke, not here," she tried to escape his grasp, but his hockey training must've been paying off because he wouldn't budge.

"Why not?"

"Because we almost got caught earlier. You're pushing our luck. If someone walked i--"

Her words her cut off as he spun her around, her lips ghosting his. She crumbled instantly, her fingers gripping the counter as she kissed him back.

"Annika!"

"Fuck me," she groaned, jerking back so quickly she almost knocked the kettle over.

"Later," Luke retorted, earning a glare.

"What?" she called back.

"I need some help up here! Can you make your brothers' beds?"

"Uh--yeah! I'll be right there, Mom!" She pressed her palms against Luke's chest. "You're a bad influence."

He shrugged, moving to let her escape upstairs with her tea in hand, but not without giving her ass one last squeeze.

"I hate you."

"No you don't."

~~

Luke seemed determined to finish what they started in the shower, because he'd managed to be in the laundry room just as she was heading there to grab her mom a blanket.

"Are you fucking tracking me?"

"Just lucky timing."

"You're going to be the reason we get caught."

"Only if you scream," he teased, boosting her on top of the washing machine.

"Luke..."

"Relax," he pressed a kiss to her neck.

She really wanted to believe that they'd be in the clear down in the basement, but apparently her parents really wanted that spare blanket.

"Let's go, Nick! Chop, chop!" George shouted from the top of the stairs.

"Coming! Coming!"

"God, why is it so hard to get you alone?" Luke groaned.

"Welcome to my life."

~~

It was bound to happen sooner or later.

Nick knew their little game of sneaking around was risky, but she hadn't pushed it to stop. She blamed Luke entirely--his stupid smirk, his stupid face, the way he couldn't seem to ever keep his hands to himself.

But when the door to her bedroom flew open late one afternoon, she swore she had a heart attack.

"Annika!"

Her mom's voice was sharp, the shock in her tone unmistakable as she stood frozen in the doorway.

Nick and Luke jerked apart like they'd been electrocuted, the tangled sheets doing little to hide the situation.

"Mom!" Nick shrieked, her face going bright red as she scrambled to grab the blanket.

Andrea's eyes darted between them, her face covered in disbelief and mortification. "Luke?"

Luke, to his credit, managed a sheepish smile he sat up, adjusting his shirt and ruffling a hand through his hair. "Uh...hi, Andrea."

She blinked, her mouth opening and closing like she was trying to form words but she couldn't process what she was seeing.

"I--I'm gonna go see your father," she shook her head, backing out of the room and slamming the door shut behind her.

Nick groaned, burying her face in her hands. "We're so fucking dead."

Luke flopped back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. "I told you to lock the door."

"Luke!"

"Yeah, this is... not ideal."

~~

The tension in the living room was palpable as Nick and Luke sat on the sofa, side by side, waiting for her parents to join them. The rest of the house was quiet for once--Alex and Flynn had been banished upstairs with strict instructions not to come down.

Andrea and George finally appeared, their expressions grim as they sat down across from the couple.

"Well," George began, clearing his throat. "This is, uh... unexpected."

Nick wanted to crawl in a hole and die.

Andrea crossed her arms, her gaze sharp as it landed on Luke. "I think we need to have a very serious conversation about boundaries."

Luke nodded quickly, the confidence he'd felt the last few days nowhere to be found. "Of course. Absolutely."

She turned to Nick, her tone just as firm. "Annika, you're an adult, and I understand that you're going to make your own decisions, but this is our home. And there are certain... expectations."

Nick groaned, slouching further into the couch. "Mom--"

"No," Andrea interrupted. "This is important. You're under our roof, and we expect you to be respectful of that."

George cleared his throat again, clearly uncomfortable. "What your mother is trying to say is, uh, we don't want anything... inappropriate happening here."

Nick buried her face in her hands, her voice muffled. "Can we not do this right now?"

"We absolutely need to do this right now," Andrea said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

She turned back to Luke. "We welcomed you into our home, Luke, and we expect you to behave like a gentleman. This... this cannot happen again. Do you understand?"

"Yes, ma'am," Luke said quickly, nodding so fervently it was a wonder his head didn't fall off.

"And that goes for you too, Annika," Andrea added, fixing her with a pointed look.

"I get it," she muttered, her face still hidden.

"Good," Andrea said, standing. "Because if I find you two in a... situation again, you're both going to regret it."

George stood as well, patting Luke awkwardly on the shoulder. "Just, uh, keep things... above board, okay?"

"Got it."

The parents left, leaving Nick and Luke in stunned silence.

After a long pause, Nick finally spoke, her voice still muffled by her hands. "I'm never leaving his house again."

"I don't know. I think that went pretty well," Luke let out a breathless laugh.

Nick finally dropped her hands to glare at him. "Pretty well? Are you kidding me?"

"Hey, at least your dad didn't kill me... or cut off my balls."

"You-- UGH!"

"If you say so."

~~

The shift in the house was obvious.

Andrea seemed to materialize whenever Luke and Annika were in the same room, her watchful gaze making Nick's skin crawl. George was less obvious but still lingered nearby, pretending to fiddle with the thermostat or check a sports score while clearly keeping tabs on them.

Even Alex and Flynn had picked up that something was wrong, their usual teasing replaced with curious glances and hushed whispering.

"Your mom's fucking scary," Luke said one evening, his voice low as he passed Nick in the hallway.

"You're telling me," she muttered, glancing over her shoulder to make sure nobody was around.

Luke smirked, leaning closer. "So... does this mean we're done?"

Nick frowned. "Done with what?"

"This," he gestured between them.

She hesitated, gnawing at her bottom lip. "I don't know. Do you really think it's worth getting caught again?"

Luke leaned against the wall, his grin softening into something more sincere. "Yeah. I do."

"You--"

"I'm insane, I know But I'm not ready to let this go. Are you?"

Her walls crumbled as he reached out, his fingers brushing against hers.

"Fine," she whispered. "But you have to keep it under wraps. I'm not dealing with my mom's wrath again."

"Deal."

~~

Keeping things under wraps was easier said than done.

Every interaction felt like a minefield, with Andrea constantly dissecting their every move.

Luke made it harder by being... well, Luke.

He would brush against her as he passed by. He'd lean in close to whisper something that wasn't remotely necessary.

It was maddening.

One night after dinner, they were in the kitchen, Nick washing dishes while Luke dried. Andrea was sitting at the table, her back to them, flipping through a magazine.

Luke bumped her hip with his, his voice low. "You're tense."

"Gee, I wonder why."

"She's not even looking," he grinned, reaching for a plate.

"She doesn't have to look. She knows everything."

"You're paranoid."

~~

Sitting in the backyard under the stars, finally having time together. Their hands were intertwined as they stared up at the sky.

"Is it really worth all the trouble?" Nick whispered.

"Of course it is," he replied, swinging their hands.

"Why?"

"Because I like you."

"Oh."

"Yeah, oh."

Nick didn't respond, but the smile on her face told him all he needed to know.

~~

A quiet afternoon in the Thompson house was hard to come by. The boys were upstairs playing video games, Andrea and George watching a show in their room.

Nick and Luke were taking advantage, lounging on the sofa and watching a movie.

Well, trying to watch a movie.

Luke kept nudging her with his knee, a silent plea for attention that she ignored for as long as she could.

"What?" she paused the movie, turning to look at him.

"Nothing. Just... thinking."

"Dangerous," she teased, though her stomach fluttered at the way he was looking at her--soft yet serious.

"Nick," he said, his voice lower. "I've been thinking about this for a while now."

"Okay..."

"I want to make this official," he said, his hand finding hers. "I know we've been sneaking around and keeping things quiet, but I... really, really like you. And I want to do this for real."

"You're asking me to be your girlfriend?"

"Yeah... I guess I am."

Nick hesitated. She knew this was risky, that saying yes meant inviting even more complications into their already chaotic situation.

But as she looked at him--his goofy grin, the way his thumb brushed over her knuckles--she knew she couldn't say no.

"Okay. Let's do it."

Luke's grin grew, and before she could second-guess herself, he leaned in and kissed her.

"Ew!"

They sprang apart, Flynn stood in the doorway, his face scrunched in disgust.

"What are you doing?" he demanded, pointing an accusatory finger at them.

Nick scrambled to her feet. "Flynn! Don't you knock?"

"This is the living room!" he retorted. "You can't kiss here!"

Luke cleared his throat, standing up and running a hand through his hair. "Uh, maybe we keep this between us, bud?"

"Why?"

Nick groaned. "Flynn--"

But he was already running toward the kitchen, yelling at the top of his lungs.

It didn't take long for Alex to join the chaos, and before Nick and Luke could figure out what to do, both boys were standing in front of their parents, firing off questions.

"If Luke and Annika get married, does that mean he gets to live here forever?" Flynn asked, his face alight with excitement.

"Wait, does this mean Luke is our brother now?" Alex added, his brow furrowed.

"Do you think Luke will take us to games since he's Annika's boyfriend?"

Andrea's eye widened, snapping to Nick and Luke, who were standing awkwardly in the doorway.

"Annika," she said slowly, her tone suspiciously calm, "is there something you'd like to tell us?"

Nick opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. She glanced at Luke, silently begging him to say anything, but he looked just as panicked.

"Well?"

Nick swallowed harshly. "It's not what it looks like--"

"It's exactly what it looks like," Flynn interrupted. "They were kissing on the couch!"

"Flynn!" Nick hissed.

Andrea sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as George rubbed the back of his neck.

"Annika," Andrea said firmly, "we talked about boundaries."

"I know! And we only kissed! We've been careful!"

"Careful? You were kissing in the living room!"

Flynn leaned over to Alex, whispering loudly. "Do you think they kiss a lot?"

Luke coughed, trying to stifle a laugh, but one sharp look from Andrea wiped the grin from his face.

"This isn't funny. We'll be having a conversation about this later."

"Great!" Nick threw her hands up.

~~

There they were, sat on the couch... again. Two angry parents in front of them like they'd just gotten in trouble for something stupid.

"Alright," Andrea said. "Start talking."

Nick glanced at Luke, who gave her a small, reassuring squeeze of the hand before she cleared her throat. "Look, I know this isn't ideal, but... Luke and I really like each other."

"Really like each other?"

Nick nodded, her voice steadier now. "Yes, and we've been trying to keep it low-key because we didn't want to make things weird for everyone else."

Andrea snorted. "Well, that worked out great."

"I know it's a lot to ask," Luke said, leaning forward. "But I care about Nick. A lot. And I don't want to mess up the trust you've shown me by letting me stay here, and I don't want to make things uncomfortable for your family. But I also don't want to pretend I don't... like Nick."

Her gaze softened slightly, though her expression remained guarded. She looked at George, who shrugged.

"They're adults," he said simply. "I'm not thrilled about it, but it's not like we can tell Nick who she can and can't date."

Andrea sighed, hands on her hips. "I guess that's true. But if this is going to continue, there are going to be rules."

Nick and Luke exchanged a quick glance, relief washing over them.

"Rules?" Nick asked cautiously.

"Yes, rules. First, no sleeping in each other's rooms. Doesn't matter if you're both adults, it's my house, that's my rule."

"Understood," Luke nodded.

"Second," she continued, "keep the PDA to a minimum. Especially in front of the boys. I don't need Alex and Flynn asking any more awkward questions."

"Agreed."

"Third...if I catch you breaking these rules, this arrangement is over. Got it?"

"Got it," they said in unison.

"Alright. As long as you respect the rules, I won't stand in your way."

"Thank you," Luke said sincerely.

"Don't screw this up, kid," George whispered to him as he left.

"I won't."

~~

A few months later, the whole Thompson family was packed into The Rock, cheering as the Devils faced off against the Pens.

Alex and Flynn were decked out in jerseys, cheering as loud as they could, while Andrea and George clapped politely whenever Luke's name was mentioned.

Nick sat by her brothers, trying (and failing) to hide her smile every time Luke skated by.

When he scored late in the first period, Flynn jumped out of his seat, yelling at the top of his lungs.

"THAT'S MY SISTER'S BOYFRIEND!"

Nick groaned, pulling her Hughes jersey over her red face as the people around them laughed.

But when Luke glanced at their section, his grin wide as he pointed toward her, she couldn't help but cheer just as loudly.

Because, for better or for worse, Luke was a large part of her life now. And she wouldn't have it any other way.

[goldfades]

𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐀 𝐈𝐒 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐎𝐅 𝐀 𝐃𝐑𝐔𝐆 ─ LH⁴³

TRACK 8 ─── FLORIDA!!!

TTPD CELLY MASTERLIST !

౨ৎ ─ summary | after a fight with your longtime boyfriend, you escape to florida and find unexpected solace in luke, igniting a passionate connection amidst sun-soaked adventures. as your relationship deepens, the shadow of your past complicates everything, leading to a confrontation that forces you both to confront your true feelings

─ word count | 6k

─ warnings | NSFW (with a lot of plot) under the cut! read at your own discretion, p in v, praise, nothing too crazy. a lot of fluff, infidelity, pretty fluffy but angsty toward the end. no happy ending... sorry not sorry

You hadn't meant to come to Florida. Not really. It was one of those spontaneous, half-baked decisions that seemed brilliant in the middle of the night but questionable in the cold light of day.

Still, here you were, standing in the middle of the sand, the wind tugging at your hair as the sound of the waves crashed against the shore. After that fight—your mind flits back to your boyfriend's voice, the sharpness of his words still lingering—you needed an escape. Something far away, where no one knew you, where the ache in your chest could fade, even if just for a little while.

You hadn’t expected to find solace in someone else.

Yet, when you first saw that curly head of hair, lounging by the pool, sunglasses on; the weight of the world seemingly resting on his shoulders, something about him made you pause. He looked just as lost, just as far away from his life as you felt from yours.

You hadn’t planned on talking to him.

But then, he caught you staring. You tried to look away quickly, embarrassed, but it was too late—he smiled, that kind of easy, lazy grin that made your heart skip a beat.

It was supposed to be a vacation. A break from everything.

But now, as you sit across from Luke, sipping cocktails and laughing like you’ve known each other for years, you wonder if this wasn’t exactly what you needed.

Forget about the fight. Forget about him. For now, there’s just you, Luke, and the sun setting over the ocean.

Luke liked the idea of you.

It was refreshing, really. You had no idea who he was. Not in the way people usually did, anyway. You weren’t fawning over his hockey career or asking for photos to post online. You didn’t ask for autographs or drop little hints that you knew all about his stats. No, you just saw him—the guy sitting by the pool with the messy curls and tired eyes. The guy who seemed to be looking for an escape, just like you.

In fact, when he first mentioned hockey, you shrugged like it was just another random hobby, something people did on the weekends. You weren’t even a big fan of sports, which he found kind of funny, considering how much his life revolved around the game. Well—his entire life was hockey.

He didn’t mind. Actually, he liked it. It was a reminder that he was more than just a name on a jersey or a face plastered across sports highlights. With you, there were no expectations, no weight of his career pressing down on him. He didn’t have to be Luke Hughes, Devils defenseman. He could just be Luke from Michigan.

And for you, that was all he needed to be.

You weren’t sure how you ended up spending most of your days with him, but it felt natural—like falling into step with someone who’d been walking beside you all along. The conversation was easy, flowing from one topic to the next, never forced. Sometimes, you talked about your lives in vague terms, both of you dancing around the details of what brought you here, to this moment. He mentioned the pressures of his career, the endless grind, the expectations from fans, coaches, and teammates. You told him about the fight with your boyfriend, how things had felt off for months now, how you’d been trying to hold it together but didn’t know if you could anymore.

“I get it,” Luke said one afternoon, his voice quiet as you both stared out at the ocean, the waves crashing rhythmically in the distance. “Sometimes, you just need to get away from everything.”

You nodded, grateful for the understanding in his tone. It wasn’t pity, and it wasn’t judgment. Just an acknowledgment that life could be heavy, that sometimes it was too much to carry alone.

The days blurred together in the best way. Mornings were spent walking along the beach, the sand cool beneath your feet, the sun slowly warming the sky. Sometimes, you and Luke would rent bikes and ride along the coastline, the wind whipping through your hair as you laughed and raced each other. Evenings were for cocktails by the pool or quiet dinners in small, tucked-away restaurants, where the glow of candlelight made everything feel a little more intimate.

And in between, there were the little moments—the shared glances, the casual touches, the way his hand would brush against yours when he passed you a drink, lingering just a second too long. It was slow, almost unspoken, but you could feel the shift between you, like a tide quietly rising. The air around you seemed heavier when you were close, charged with something neither of you were quite ready to name.

One night, after a particularly long day in the sun, you found yourselves back at his hotel room. It wasn’t planned, just a natural progression after dinner. The soft glow of the room’s lighting reflected off the windows, casting shadows across the floor as you both collapsed onto the couch. Luke stretched out beside you, his arm thrown casually behind your shoulders, and you leaned into him, feeling the warmth of his skin through his yellow Michigan t-shirt.

“Do you ever wish things were simpler?” you asked quietly, your gaze fixed on the soft flicker of the TV in front of you. Some show was playing, but neither of you were really watching.

Luke tilted his head down, looking at you with a soft smile. “Every day,” he said, his voice low. “Especially now.”

You didn’t need to ask what he meant. You knew. The weight of expectations, the pressure to always be ‘on,’ it was exhausting. And for you, the constant strain of a relationship that seemed to be fraying at the edges had taken its toll. There was a comfort in the fact that, for both of you, this—whatever this was—felt uncomplicated.

“You make it easier,” you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper.

Luke’s hand slid down to yours, his fingers brushing over your knuckles, slow and gentle. “You too,” he said softly. “I haven’t felt this…normal in a long time.”

There it was again. That unspoken something hanging between you. The electricity that seemed to buzz in the air whenever you were near him. You could feel it now, stronger than ever, as his thumb traced idle circles against the back of your hand.

Your heart pounded, louder than the sound of the TV, louder than the faint hum of the air conditioning. You could feel the tension between you building, thick and undeniable. You turned to face him, your eyes meeting his, and for a moment, neither of you said anything. You just stared, your breath catching in your throat as the space between you felt like it was shrinking by the second.

“I think I need this,” you whispered, not sure if you were talking about the moment, the escape, or maybe just Luke himself.

His gaze flicked down to your lips, hesitating for a split second before he leaned in. The touch of his lips was soft at first, tentative, like he was testing the waters. But then, it deepened, a spark igniting between the two of you that made your heart race.

The kiss was electric—something you hadn’t felt in what felt like forever. It stirred something inside you that had long been dormant, like flicking a switch you’d forgotten even existed. Your stomach flipped in that way your friends always talked about, but you hadn’t believed in until this moment. Every nerve in your body lit up, a warmth spreading through you, hotter than the sun beating down on you earlier that day.

You leaned in closer, your hands instinctively finding their way to his shoulders, gripping the fabric of his shirt as if you were afraid to let go. Luke’s hand cradled the back of your head, pulling you into him, his other hand resting on your waist, sending jolts of heat through your skin.

It was intoxicating, the way he kissed you—slow and deliberate, but filled with a kind of intensity that made you forget where you were, forget the world outside. All that mattered was the moment, the feeling of him so close, and the way your body seemed to come alive under his touch.

You hadn’t realized just how much you’d been craving this—the feeling of being wanted, of being seen in a way that your relationship back home had long since stopped providing. The thought of your boyfriend flickered briefly in the back of your mind, but you pushed it away, buried it beneath the growing need, the pull you felt toward Luke in this moment.

His lips left yours for just a second, and you could feel his breath warm against your skin as he whispered, “You okay?”

You opened your eyes, meeting his, and the intensity there made you shiver despite the heat. You nodded, your voice caught somewhere in your throat, too overwhelmed by everything—the kiss, the rush of adrenaline, the way your heart hammered against your chest—to say anything coherent. But it didn’t matter. Luke’s thumb traced the edge of your jaw, his gaze locked on yours like he could read every unspoken thought in your mind.

He leaned in again, kissing you softer this time, slower. And that’s when it hit you—how different this felt. How different he felt. You couldn’t remember the last time your boyfriend kissed you like this, like you were the only person in the world. Like he didn’t want to let you go.

But Luke didn’t know. He didn’t know that you were still tethered to someone else. That your life back home wasn’t just messy—it was complicated, hanging on by a thread that you weren’t sure you had the strength to cut just yet.

For now, though, you let yourself get lost in it. Lost in Luke, in the warmth of his lips and the feel of his hands on you, in the way he made you forget everything else. Just for a little while. Just for now.

That was how most of your days were spent, now. You were completely lost in Luke.

Every morning started the same: you’d wake up to the soft glow of sunlight filtering through the curtains, your body still tangled in the warmth of his sheets. Luke was always there beside you, his arm casually draped over your waist or his legs intertwined with yours. It felt easy, waking up with him, like the two of you had done this a thousand times before.

There was a kind of comfort in the quiet moments between sleep and wakefulness, the way you’d lie there for a while, wrapped up in each other, the world outside his room feeling distant and irrelevant.

But it wasn’t just the mornings. The entire day seemed to revolve around Luke. Whether it was lounging by the pool, the two of you exchanging lazy smiles and playful banter, or taking spontaneous drives along the coast with the windows down and the salty breeze in your hair. Everything felt easy with him.

You talked for hours—about his love for hockey, the relentless schedule that had worn him down, and the expectations that weighed heavy on his shoulders. He never once mentioned his fame, never flaunted who he was. He didn’t have to. In these moments, Luke wasn’t the NHL player, the up-and-coming star, Jack and Quinn Hughes' little brother; he was just a guy who wanted to escape the noise, to find something that felt real. That was real.

And you were that escape for him, just like he was for you.

Your days were sun-soaked, spent laughing and talking about nothing and everything, with the kind of connection that felt rare, almost surreal. You explored the small coastal towns, eating seafood at hole-in-the-wall diners and watching the sunset dip below the horizon from hidden stretches of beach.

There was something intimate about the way he looked at you during those sunsets, his arm slung over your shoulders as you both watched the sky turn shades of pink and orange. It was as if the rest of the world didn’t exist, like it was just the two of you in this bubble, suspended in time.

But the nights—those were different.

At night, things shifted. When the sun dipped below the horizon, there was an urgency in the way Luke would pull you close, his lips finding yours in the darkness. The heat between you grew, the stolen glances during the day giving way to something deeper, something neither of you could deny. The connection you shared became more than just a distraction from your problems. It became a lifeline, something you both clung to, even though you knew it couldn’t last forever.

But you didn’t think about that. Not in the heat of his touch, not when his hands were on your skin, making you feel alive in a way you hadn’t in so long. Each night felt like a new beginning, like a fresh chance to forget everything outside this small slice of paradise you’d carved out for yourselves.

You found yourself falling deeper into Luke. The way he laughed, how his smile always reached his eyes, how effortlessly he made you feel like you were the only person that mattered. He wasn’t just a fleeting escape anymore. He was becoming your reality, a reality that was infinitely better than the one waiting for you back home.

Home.

The word weighed heavier on you with each passing day. You hadn’t told Luke about your boyfriend, hadn’t mentioned the fight or the messy relationship you were running from. And with every kiss, every shared moment, the guilt gnawed at the back of your mind. But it was easy to push it aside when you were with him. So easy to pretend like you weren’t still tethered to someone else.

With Luke, everything felt perfect. It was an illusion, you knew that. This vacation couldn’t last forever, and at some point, you would have to face the reality you’d left behind. But for now—for as long as you could—you let yourself get lost in Luke. You let yourself believe that maybe, just maybe, this could be enough.

───

Luke placed the cherry in your mouth, his fingers brushing against your lips, sending a jolt of electricity through you. You giggled, feeling the tension simmer between you two as you leaned back against the couch, your body sinking into the cushions. But the playful smile that curled on your lips couldn't hide the heat building beneath the surface.

His eyes lingered on your mouth as you bit down on the cherry, and something shifted in the air. The teasing, carefree vibe from earlier dissolved into something much heavier, more charged. Luke’s gaze was intense now, watching you in a way that made your heart race, your skin flush with a warmth that had nothing to do with the Florida heat.

You swallowed, the taste of the cherry lingering on your tongue, but the moment felt too thick, too heavy to laugh off. Luke’s hand rested on the cushion beside your thigh, so close that you could feel the warmth of him, but still not close enough. His body leaned forward just a little, his lips quirking up in that same lazy grin that had caught your attention by the pool days ago, but his eyes were darker now—filled with something you both had been ignoring for too long.

You held his gaze, feeling the weight of it settle in your chest, your breathing shallow as your mind raced. This was different. This wasn’t just lighthearted flirting anymore. There was something undeniable between the two of you, something you both wanted but had danced around, pretending it wasn’t real. But now, with Luke leaning closer, his fingers grazing the bare skin of your leg, it was impossible to ignore.

"Want another?" His voice was low, almost a murmur, but there was a playful edge to it, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly as he reached for another cherry, twirling it between his fingers.

You shook your head, biting your lip as you looked at him through hooded eyes. "I think you know what I want."

Luke’s grin widened, but it was slow, deliberate, like he was savoring the moment. His hand shifted, and before you could even process it, his fingers were tracing the edge of your jaw, his thumb brushing the corner of your mouth, wiping away a drop of juice from the cherry. The simple touch sent a shiver down your spine, your body reacting to him in ways you couldn’t control.

“Do I?” His voice was rough, teasing, but there was a challenge in his tone, one that made your heart skip a beat. He leaned in closer, so close that you could feel his breath on your skin, smell the faint scent of his expensive cologne lingering in the air between you. “Maybe you should tell me.”

You swallowed hard, your throat dry as his fingers lingered on your face, tracing the line of your jaw down to your neck, sending sparks through your skin. Your mind was spinning, torn between the guilt that flickered in the back of your mind and the overwhelming need that had taken over your body.

Your lips parted, but no words came out, just a soft breath as Luke closed the distance between you. His lips brushed against yours, featherlight at first, barely a kiss, just a tease that made you ache for more. You could feel the restraint in him, the way he was holding back, but the heat between you two was undeniable.

You tilted your head up, pressing into him just a little, and that was all it took.

Luke’s lips crashed into yours with a hunger that made your pulse race, his hand sliding up your neck, fingers tangling in your hair as he pulled you closer. The kiss was messy, desperate, full of need that neither of you could deny any longer. Your body reacted instinctively, leaning into him, your hands gripping his shirt as you tugged him down against you, wanting him closer, needing him closer.

His weight pressed against you, pinning you to the couch as his hands roamed your body, fingers tracing the curves of your waist, your hips, igniting a fire in your core that you hadn’t felt in what felt like forever. The world outside didn’t exist anymore. There was no fight, no boyfriend, no past—just Luke and the way he made you feel, like you were the only person in the world.

His lips left yours, trailing down your jaw, your neck, sucking softly on the sensitive skin just below your ear, and you gasped, arching into him. You could feel the tension in his body, the way he held himself back, trying not to move too fast, but you didn’t care anymore. You wanted him, needed him, more than you’d ever realized.

"Luke..." you whispered, breathless, your fingers tightening in his curly locks as he sucked lightly on your neck. Your mind was spinning, lost in the feeling of him, lost in the heat between you two.

He pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against yours, his breath coming out in shallow pants as he looked down at you. “Are you sure about this?”

You nodded, your lips brushing against his as you whispered, “Yes.” There was no hesitation in your voice now, no doubt. You wanted this. You wanted him.

Luke’s eyes darkened with desire, and before you could say another word, his lips were on yours again, kissing you like he was drowning and you were the air he needed to breathe.

You wrapped your legs around his waist, your lips still connected. Luke's hands explored every curve of your body, his touch sending shivers down your spine. His fingers gripped your hips, then traced your sides, pausing at your waist as if memorizing every inch of you. His touch was both gentle and hungry, like he couldn’t get enough of you, but was savoring every moment, every sensation.

Your heart was pounding, so fast you thought he might hear it, but the only sound filling the room was your ragged breaths and the soft, wet sounds of your lips moving against his. His weight on top of you, the heat of his body, the way his lips trailed along your neck and down to your collarbone—it was intoxicating, pulling you further into the moment.

“God, I need you so bad,” Luke murmured against your skin, his voice hoarse and filled with a rawness that sent a thrill through you.

He kissed his way down your neck, his lips warm and soft, while his hands slid beneath the fabric of your shirt, fingers brushing over your bare skin, sending shockwaves through your entire body.

You arched into him, a soft moan escaping your lips as his hands moved higher, his touch igniting something deep inside you. You felt the tension coiling, building in your stomach, an ache that only he could soothe. Your fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him back to your mouth, kissing him harder, your body responding instinctively to the desire coursing through you.

Luke groaned, his grip tightening as he pressed his hips against yours, and you gasped, your body reacting instantly to the friction, to the way his body fit so perfectly against yours. It was dizzying, the way your mind spun, your thoughts consumed by nothing but him.

“I want you, please,” you whispered, the words slipping out before you could even think, your voice thick with need. You hadn’t planned on saying it, hadn’t thought you’d feel this much, but the way Luke made you feel, the way his body moved against yours, it was undeniable.

Luke stilled for a moment, his forehead pressing against yours as he caught his breath. His eyes searched yours, dark and intense, like he was trying to read every thought in your head, to make sure you meant it. “You sure?” he asked, his voice low, the question a mix of concern and desire.

You nodded, your legs tightening around him, pulling him impossibly closer. “Yes,” you breathed, your voice barely above a whisper. “I’m sure.”

That was all it took.

Luke’s lips crashed against yours again, and this time, there was no holding back. His hands moved with purpose, tugging at your shirt, his fingers skimming across your skin as he pulled it over your head and tossed it aside. His lips followed, kissing down your chest, his touch sending sparks of pleasure shooting through you. You gasped, your body arching into him, your fingers gripping his shoulders as you pulled him closer, needing more, needing all of him.

The heat between you two was unbearable, the tension that had been simmering for days finally boiling over. There was no room for second thoughts, no space for anything but the overwhelming desire that consumed both of you.

Luke’s hands were everywhere, exploring, teasing, driving you wild with every touch. You couldn’t get enough of him, the way he felt against you, the way he kissed you like he was afraid this moment might slip away if he let go for even a second. And you kissed him back with the same urgency, your bodies moving in sync, every touch, every kiss pulling you further and further into each other.

Luke pulled away for a second, glancing to make sure you were alright. You gave him a small nod, breathless, pleading with him to hurry up. He slowly pulled down his pants, revealing his bulge. You were practically drooling at the mere sight, your head falling back.

You felt his hands graze your underwear, feeling the warmth underneath. His breath hitched at the feeling, his jaw slacking slightly.

“So beautiful,” he mumbled before moving your underwear to the side. You heard his heavy breathing, and you opened your eyes to meet his eyes as you nodded again.

“Please,” you sighed.

Luke led his tip to your aching pussy, groaning at the warm feeling despite not even being inside of you yet. He slowly pushed in, a relieved sigh leaving both of you. The world outside felt like it had faded into nothing, and all that remained was this—this moment, this heat, this connection between you and Luke.

“Oh, fuck,” Luke cried out as his head fell back. “Feels so good, baby,” he praised. He slowly bottomed you out, and you swore you could feel him all the way up to your throat,

You wrapped your legs tighter around his waist as you moaned, letting your eyes flutter shut in pure pleasure. As he began thrusting in and out of you, you swore you were seeing stars.

As he continued slamming into you, with more force and effort, all you could think about was him; the way he made you feel like you were the only thing that mattered in the world. It wasn't just sex, it was more—and you hoped he felt it, too.

The quick creaking of the couch and your moans were the only thing that could be heard in room. Luke leaned in, pressing his forehead against yours before pushing his lips against yours. One of his hands slid up your body, thinly wrapping around your neck as he began snapping his hips against yours.

“Baby, fuck,” he groaned into the kiss as he furrowed his eyebrows in concentration. “Shit, you feel so good.”

You felt the familiar knot in your lower stomach begin to form, causing your head fall back into the couch. “Oh, Luke, 'm so close,”

Luke's other hand found your clit, rubbing it harshly as he felt himself getting closer and closer to his climax. A few more deep slams into your cunt, and the two of you came with a shaking force.

And you realized it was more than just a distraction now, more than just an escape. Luke had become something you hadn’t expected—something real, something you craved, something that made you forget about everything else.

“Oh my god,” you cried out, letting the orgasm ripple out of you, gripping his biceps. “Oh, fuck.”

Luke didn't move—he stayed inside of you, letting the orgasm slowly subside. His forehead rested gently against yours, both of you still catching your breath, the heat of the moment slowly giving way to something softer. Luke’s familiar, boyish smile tugged at the corner of his lips, a mixture of satisfaction and a hint of shyness now that the intensity had faded. It made you laugh, a small, breathless sound that broke the silence.

You opened your eyes and met his, finding that same playful sparkle in his gaze, though there was something more in them now, too—something deeper, warmer. His expression made your heart swell in your chest, a strange sense of peace washing over you in the aftermath.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” you teased, brushing a strand of his curls away from his forehead, your fingers lingering in his hair.

Luke grinned wider, his breath still uneven as he shifted slightly to pull you closer, his arms wrapping around you like he didn’t want to let go. “Just... appreciating the moment,” he murmured, his voice low and soft. His thumb brushed over your arm in lazy circles, his touch gentle now, almost reverent.

You couldn’t help but smile at him, the warmth of his body, the way he looked at you like there was nowhere else he’d rather be. It felt easy, natural, like you’d known him for far longer than a few days. The weight of the world, the stress of your life back home, all of it seemed so distant now, as if this place, this moment, existed outside of reality.

“I think I like Florida,” you said with a chuckle, snuggling into his chest as his arms tightened around you. “Even if it was an accident.”

Luke laughed softly, the sound rumbling through his chest as he pressed a kiss to your temple. “If it brings you here, I’d call it a happy accident.”

You felt your cheeks warm at his words, but it wasn’t the same kind of heat from earlier. This was something different—a flutter of something that felt suspiciously close to contentment, maybe even happiness. The kind of feeling you hadn’t expected to find in someone else, especially after everything with your boyfriend.

But as Luke held you, his heart beating steadily against yours, you couldn’t help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, you had found something real in this unexpected escape. Something that went beyond just a temporary distraction.

And the thought both thrilled and terrified you.

Luke tilted your chin up, his eyes searching yours again, and for a moment, you could feel the weight of unspoken things hanging between you. He didn’t say anything, though, just smiled that crooked, boyish smile of his before kissing you softly, like he was sealing a promise neither of you were quite ready to say aloud.

Whatever this was, whatever it was turning into, you didn’t want to think about it too much. Not yet. For now, it was enough to be here with him, to share this space, this connection.

“Stay with me tonight,” he whispered, his voice gentle but full of meaning.

You nodded, your heart skipping a beat as you nestled closer to him. “I’m not going anywhere.”

You rested your head against Luke’s chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing, the warmth of his skin against yours. For a while, there was nothing but the quiet rhythm of your hearts, beating in time with one another. It was peaceful, comfortable, and for the first time in a long time, you felt like you were exactly where you were meant to be.

But even as you lay there, wrapped up in Luke’s arms, a small voice in the back of your mind whispered doubts. You couldn’t ignore the nagging thoughts completely, the flicker of guilt that had been lurking ever since you met him. You hadn’t told him everything. Not yet.

There was still him. Your boyfriend. The one you had come to Florida to forget.

The thought of your boyfriend felt distant now, like a shadow of another life, but it was still there—lingering. You and Luke hadn’t defined anything, hadn’t talked about what this was or what it could become. But the fact that you hadn’t told Luke you were still technically with someone… it weighed on you, even if you wanted to pretend it didn’t. Especially now, as he held you close, whispering promises you weren’t sure you deserved.

Luke ran his fingers lightly through your hair, his voice a soft murmur as he spoke, “You’re quiet. What’s going on in that head of yours?”

You swallowed, feeling the tension creep back into your body. For a second, you considered telling him the truth—about your boyfriend, about the fight, about why you’d really come to Florida. But you didn’t. Instead, you forced a smile, hoping he couldn’t see through it.

“Just… thinking,” you said softly, lifting your gaze to meet his. “About how lucky I am to have found you here.”

It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the whole truth either. Luke smiled, his thumb brushing over your cheek in that gentle way of his, and the knot of guilt twisted tighter in your chest. You hadn’t meant for things to get this complicated. But now that they had, you knew it was only a matter of time before the truth came out.

And when it did, you weren’t sure what would be left between you and Luke.

───

“You had a fucking boyfriend, are you kidding me right now?” Luke's words were harsh as he threw your phone on the hotel bed, his expression nothing short of pissed.

You flinched at the sound of the phone hitting the mattress, the tension in the room thickening. He paced in front of you, hands tugging at his hair as if trying to physically keep himself from exploding. You stood there, arms crossed defensively, your heart racing with frustration of your own.

“It wasn’t like that,” you shot back, your voice rising in defiance. “We were on a break, Luke! It wasn’t serious anymore—he and I were practically over.”

“Practically over?” Luke echoed, his laugh bitter and incredulous. He stopped pacing and turned to face you, his eyes blazing with disbelief. “So, what? You just decided to hop on a plane and find someone else while you weren’t technically broken up? You should’ve told me. You lied to me!”

“I didn’t lie!” You snapped, your own anger boiling over. “I never said I was single, I just didn’t tell you because it didn’t matter. He doesn’t matter! He’s out of my life!”

Luke took a step toward you, his expression hardening. “That’s bullshit, and you know it. If it didn’t matter, you would’ve told me. You’re trying to act like you did nothing wrong, but keeping something like this? That’s the same as lying.”

Your chest tightened, heat rushing through your body as your defenses kicked in. “Don’t twist this on me, Luke. You’re acting like I cheated on you when we weren’t even anything official. We were on a break, for god’s sake. I was done with him.”

“But you didn’t tell me!” Luke’s voice cracked with frustration, his hands gesturing wildly as if trying to make sense of the situation. “You let me think there was nothing holding you back. That it was just us. That we… that this was real!”

You clenched your fists, trying to hold back the flood of emotions threatening to spill over. “It is real! I never wanted to hurt you, Luke. I came here to get away from that mess, not to drag it with me. I didn’t expect to meet you, to… to feel this way.”

Luke shook his head, his jaw tightening as he looked away, his hands gripping the back of his neck. “But you let me fall for you,” he said, his voice quieter now, but no less intense. “And all the while, you were still tied to him. How do I know you’re even telling the truth now?”

You felt a wave of frustration crash over you, your temper flaring up again. “Don’t act like I’m the only one here who’s screwed up! You’ve been hiding things too, haven’t you? You didn’t even tell me who you really are—that you’re this big shot hockey player. You kept that from me too!”

Luke’s eyes flashed with something like hurt, but the anger was still there, simmering beneath the surface. “That’s not the same thing, and you know it. I didn’t hide something that could hurt you. I didn’t lie about someone else being in my life!”

You let out a frustrated breath, taking a step back, feeling cornered. “Fine! Maybe I messed up. But don’t act like I’m the only one who made mistakes here, Luke. You didn’t tell me everything either.”

Luke’s gaze locked onto yours, both of you standing there, chests heaving with the weight of the argument. Neither of you willing to back down. Neither of you ready to admit defeat.

“You know what?” Luke finally said, his voice cold as he broke the silence. “If you’re gonna keep defending yourself, then maybe you’re right. Maybe we’re not what I thought we were.”

His words hit you harder than you expected, your breath catching in your throat. You stared at him, the fire in your chest warring with the sudden ache you felt deep inside.

“Luke—”

“No.” He cut you off, his expression hardening once again. “I need time to think. Alone.”

With that, he turned and walked out the door, leaving you standing in the middle of the room, your mind spinning with everything left unsaid.

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[randomfoggytiger]

The Scully Family In-Depth (Part XXV): The Mulder-Scully Family, a Convergence of Fate and Freewill

Philes, we have arrived at the last part of the Scully Family series-- and what better way to end this than on a victorious high note?

A SYZYGY

Scully's journey to motherhood is complicated. In The Jersey Devil, she hasn't seriously considered children because she doesn't have a serious relationship. In Home, she draws pointed parallels between her mothering considerations and Mulder's genetic makeup (post here.) In Detour, she brings Mulder a celebratory cheese platter (assuming he'd taken the case to get out of the conference with her.) In Dreamland I, she longingly rambles about other people living normal lives with their houses and children and dogs. In Milagro, she uses Padgett as a means to grab Mulder's attention (posts here.) In The Unnatural, she brings tofutti rice dreamsicles, flirts about her partner's childhood, and happily joins him for a very early or very late birthday gift. (I posit that after The Unnatural, she runs to her doctor in hopes of discovering some slim chance to become pregnant; and this kicks off the IVF arc-- to be discussed below.) She and Mulder keep the family planning book in his office after their attempts fail (as glimpsed in Amor Fati and Brand X.) And she finds out she's pregnant right after her partner has been abducted by aliens.

That's not the full tangle of the IVF and William arc, though-- lest we forget who she was trying to have a baby with... and that Mulder has consistently refused to consider "a normal life" (and parenthood) each time the potential stared him in the face.

The Jersey Devil sets him up in direct opposition to "a normal life", Home shows him reinforcing that decision quite clearly (video here), and Detour and Emily double and triple down. Yet... he wants to be the father of Scully's baby during the IVF arc ("The-the answer is yes.") And he knows William is his-- "What we feared were the possibilities. The truth we both know"-- and is proud of that fact (in spite of the PTSD and drama at play, post here.) When, and why, did he change?

And because this is The X-Files, the tangle doesn't end there. In the previous part here I explored the failed convergence of fate and freewill in the birth, life, and death of one Emily Sim-- all in all, a failure to launch for Scully’s dreams of motherhood, normalcy, and partnership. In the wake of her daughter’s death and the loss of the X-Files, Mulder and Scully are forced to reassess the parameters of their relationship: Mulder has to confess (in his own way) to the nature of his reliance on and feelings for Scully, or lose her forever (Fight the Future); and Scully has to work through her self-doubts and trust to whatever lies between them (The End-Fight the Future.) Therefore, when Season 6 begins with a below-the-belt punch to both, they squabble and feel hurt (The Beginning) but ultimately magnetize back together (Drive.) Repeatedly (One Son-Agua Mala; Milagro-The Unnatural; Field Trip-Biogenesis.) It’s a push-and-pull, back-and-forth, give-a-little-get-a-little routine they settle into, allowing both the space to breathe, to test some boundaries, and to draw back and regroup whenever they so choose. This contributes to the buoyancy and low-stakes struggle of their personal relationship, especially compared to the world-ending tribulations (or professional bug bears) that dog them day in and day out. There are personal struggles of course-- massive ones-- but nothing that does not glue itself back together as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Still, there's one last key component in the Emily Sim, IVF, and William arc. Fate and freewill carry a huge, huge role in Mulder and Scully's work: particularly, the ways both view their work. @nachosncheezies put it quite succinctly: "That Mulder looooves free will, but especially when confronted with the big things he tends to falter - Samantha might have been taken by men based on his parents' choice; Scully's continued presence on the Files and beside him is a choice (and the horrors she suffers are not an inescapable Fate caused by her proximity to him, but something she chooses to endure and continue to risk, because she values the rewards). That Scully wants very much to believe that there's a greater power guiding things, but gets so shook when directly confronted with the notion that God might indeed have more control than she or the people around her." It's how Mulder chooses to view his work (telling Scully “I don’t think this is about justice, Scully. I think it's about fate" in Paper Clip); and how Scully chooses to view not just the work ("I need something to put my back up against"), but her choices and Mulder's choices and life's good and bad, gruesome and beautiful realities. Fate and freewill themselves are constantly locked in battle, weaving themselves into the narrative before getting snagged against each other and having to be unpicked. This is mainly due to the markedly inconsistent writing; but it's there, on purpose, to serve as the show's backdrop.

And under the fate vs. freewill heading, there is one last snarl we need to take into consideration: Melissa Scully and the impact of her legacy on Scully's personal journey. It's Melissa who encourages her sister to "follow your heart, and it'll take you where you're supposed to go" in A Christmas Carol; it's Melissa who speaks for her sister in One Breath, it's Melissa who tells her sister Mulder is still alive and warns her she's "shut off from her own intuition" in The Blessing Way, it's Melissa who died in her sister's stead, it's Melissa who leads her sister to her daughter from the afterlife, and it's Melissa's influence that leads her sister to her own voice and conscience in all things. Melissa acts as the bridge between Fate and Freewill: the heart is destined for something, someplace, somewhere; but you must choose to listen to and follow it to find where you're supposed to go. As @deathsbestgirl put it (post here), "but missy's presence is still felt, her influence on scully outlives her. scully is always trying to reach melissa, to feel her. melissa is always guiding her, and as scully moves further on her path (with mulder), allows herself to learn more about what happened during her abduction/because of her abduction (something melissa wanted her to do shortly before her death), like with emily and the red & the black...every step brings her close to melissa."

So: when do these ideas-- Scully's journey, Mulder's journey, the battle of Fate and freewill, and Melissa Scully's legacy-- culminate and begin to manifest in the Scully Family Series?

The answer: the IVF arc.

THE STARS ALIGN… AND FALTER

Where does the IVF arc fall? That can be debated until the end of time; but for me personally, the only math that maths adds up to a late Season 6 timeline (post here)-- right in the midst of rule breaking and negotiations; and right after Mulder’s perspective begins to shift, allowing him to see the possibility of “life on this planet.” 

Scully’s second attempt at motherhood quickly devolves into the same pattern as the first. Struck one day with the urge to retest her fertility (after a very early or very late birthday present, I suggest), she rushes off to a (seemingly last minute) medical checkup. Scully books an appointment without telling her partner (despite her hopes immediately revolving around him when she gets a positive second opinion-- which means, he was on her mind when she booked the first one, as well.) Further, when Scully returns to the FBI, dispirited, she attempts to deflect his inquiries after Mulder catches up with her in the elevator. But he won’t let this go; and she sighs, admits she’d been at the doctor’s office, then drops into silence. 

“Don’t make me guess,” Mulder quips, afraid it’s cancer. 

Skipping over Per Manum’s dialogue gaffe-- one which contradicts Emily’s timeline-- we arrive at the revelation: “I am not yet ready to accept I won’t have children,” she admits. 

Mulder begins to walk away, but gives in to his conscience, turning back to explain, “Scully, there’s, um, there’s something I haven’t told you-- and I hope you would forgive me and understand why I kept it from you.”

Tense and confused, Scully asks, “What?”

“During my investigation into your illness, I found out why you were barren. Your ova were taken from you and stored in a government lab.”

And while this, too, could fall into showbible blunder, Scully’s next line salvages it: “What? You found them?” puts the stress on 'found', implying her shock comes from his discovery more so than the details he’s sharing. 

“I-I took them directly to a specialist who would… tell me if they were okay,” he replies, softly, head down and unable to meet her eyes: because they weren’t okay. Scully is too distraught to make this connection, yet. 

“I… I don’t believe this--” 

“Scully, you were deathly ill and I… I couldn’t bear to give you another piece of bad news.” Mulder finally looks up, ashamed but sincere. 

Devastated, she’s pulled up short. “Is that what it was, it was bad news?” 

He nods, blinks, maintains eye contact as he slowly explains, “The doctor said that the ova weren’t viable.”

Immediately, Scully distances herself from this pain, punching the elevator button and insisting, “I want a second opinion.” 

Mulder, knowing what his partner’s doing, tries to stop her-- physically reaching out to block the doors from closing-- but gives in when Scully flinches, then shoots him a pleading look: if she doesn’t collect herself alone, she will fall apart. Giving in (what else can he do? his actions have hurt her deeply), he lets her go. 

Scully’s quest for family is once again stymied by the Consortium; and she is spared, once again, from the traumas of tampered motherhood. 

After an undetermined time later, Dr. Parenti joins her in the waiting room with good-- for him-- news: “Ms. Scully, I’ve got a good report for you. I’ve looked at the ova you’ve given me and consulted with some of my colleagues; we all feel that, with the proper approach, it might be successful.”

And that’s the insidious, despicable underbelly to the IVF arc: Dr. Parenti spoke with his colleagues about one Dana Scully-- i.e. he, the Consortium plant, knew exactly who she was and exactly what this vial of ova meant. 

And he, Dr. Parenti, was likely going to use her ova and her womb for his benefit; and if he and his colleagues felt generous, he'd grow her real, replacement child in a tube somewhere to swap with at birth (like he did with Kathy McCready.)

Now: could Scully have had a perfectly normal IVF pregnancy, a one-in-a-million shot that wasn’t tampered or interfered with?

Put bluntly, no:

Dr. Parenti’s clinic was an extension of the arm of the Syndicate, either carrying out his own experiments with their permission or carrying out a niche of their experiments for them. 

The Consortium crumbled in One Son, but vestiges remained-- carrying out CSM’s directives in En Ami and Requiem, and leaving their research facilities scattered, here and there, undetected. 

Parenti worked out of one of these research facilities; and, whatever his "research" had been before the Syndicate’s collapse, it couldn’t have been much different than it is when Scully and Doggett investigated him in S8. 

Further, even if Scully came to his clinic sometime before or after One Son, his purposes were already set in place; and like Scanlon and Calderon, he could, in all probability, take the evidence and disappear into thin air if detected. Meaning, he is ruthless and one-track minded. 

Meaning, Scully’s chances-- which were nil because of the ova’s unviability-- were most certainly tampered with: either to produce another half-formed alien child-- which he might swap with a test tube baby with varying degrees of health-- or to sabotage any chance of success. And, unfortunately, if he wanted to do the latter, he would simply have said there was no chance of success, at all. 

As much as the IVF arc appeals to me, the fact that Parenti walked into the room with a malicious glint in his eye, declared there to be a chance after he consulted with his colleagues, and knew full well who those were and how Scully factored into their equation… there is no way, shape, or form that Scully’s pregnancy would have avoided trauma of some sort: miscarriage; induced labor, perhaps unconscious C-section, and a baby swap; or death. 

Unaware of these odds, Scully collapses in a chair; and before she can process this news completely, Dr. Parenti begins to pressure her for a now, now, now timeline: the odds would be better the sooner they started. Another hint at his greedy machinations. 

“We can start right away?” she asks, stunned-- and, again, her pattern kicks in: hurry, hurry, hurry; don’t think; this is the right thing to do; run; go, go, go. 

“Well, you’d need a father,” the doctor advises; but Scully’s face falls at ‘anonymous donor’, her eyebrows pinching and her eyes dropping at the realization that she’s going to have to ask Mulder to be that donor. Of course she is; and that certainty makes her immediately uncertain of his reaction. “Unless you have someone in mind?”

“Yeah. I, uh….” The music drops, uneasy. “I just have to figure out how to ask him.” 

Mulder’s acceptance, Scully’s reaction; and Mulder’s comfort, and Scully’s tears I’ve already been recorded here; but it bears repeating for this analysis, if in brief. 

We aren’t shown the moment Scully asks for Mulder’s help; but we are shown his shiny eyes and shy eagerness, her anxious timidity and teary delight when he accepts. Mulder comes through that door ready to have a part of that “more” his partner is seeking-- in short, to be a father. Scully mistakes his breathless premise as rejection, and reveals (with her down-turned eyes and crestfallen, “I should have known” expression) that she doubted he’d ever accept this request; or, more accurately, doubted he’d want to change their partnership. It’s part and parcel-- she believes-- of the one step forward, two steps back jig they’ve been doing recently; but it also hits her in the pain point that his turn-aside in Emily (“Are you two the parents?”) created.  

“Th-the answer is yes,” he assures, poking at her arm; and her face transforms into varying stages of overwhelmed delight, unable to believe he wants this, now, with her-- that he wants to share this with her-- quite literally wants to take part in this with her.

And, I believe, both know what this truly means: that Mulder is signing on to be an active father. Despite turning aside from Emily Sim, he did his utmost to protect and save her. That was a responsibility he was thrust into, and one he didn’t turn away from... but one he chose to keep distance from, as well. There is no distance here: “the answer is yes”, after all. 

Again, I shall briefly touch on the moment they receive devastating news (and, again, the post is linked above.) 

Mulder is napping on Scully’s couch, waiting for her return from her appointment. She isn’t surprised, necessarily, to see him there; and he makes no bones about the fact he “must have dozed off” as time crawled by. Seeing her sad face, hearing her defeated, “I guess it was too much to hope for”, he gathers her up in his arms, comforts his partner during her wailing, “This was my last chance!”, and promises her, “Never give up on a miracle.” Mulder has learned to believe in this possibility, and he doesn’t want to let that belief go. 

Already, we see the blurred lines of their partnership: 

After her request and his acceptance, Mulder greets Scully at her apartment-- a marked change in routine from their usual meeting spot (his apartment or the basement.) 

Mulder is just as anxious and excited as she is at the possibility of success. 

And though her “last chance” has failed, he refuses to let the idea of her having a child and achieving her dreams go-- they came this close, he assumes, on the rarest of chances. What’s to say they won’t again? 

Scully, meanwhile, has her own tells: 

She is not (too) surprised to find Mulder in her apartment, despite both of them meeting (more often than not) at his place. 

She clings to him and cries on his shoulder-- the third time in their partnership (Irresistible, Fight the Future, Per Manum.) 

Not only does she cling to him and cry openly, she does so in stark contrast to her previously closed-off emotions (in Emily, and in the beginning of Per Manum’s flashbacks.)

She almost kisses his forehead-- a callback to her authoritative claim in Fight the Future; and one she does not repeat until she reaffirms that claim in Amor Fati-- but ducks at the last second, and vaguely lands on his cheek. 

She allows herself to be consumed by his soothing hug.

In conclusion: neither person was denying what this was to them-- a chance at their own form of a normal life, a bit of hers and a bit of his all blended together in one perfect, successful last chance. But, alas, that was not to be. (And, considering Dr. Parenti’s intentions, that was a good thing.) 

A second attempt; but the first joint failure. 

A “NORMAL LIFE” DEFEATS FATE

And here we reach the grand conclusion of the question of freewill versus fate. 

As previously discussed, Mulder views his quest in righteous terms-- Fate-- to bear up under it; while Scully decisively argues her position in factual terms-- Freewill-- to make sense of it.

“This child was not meant to be,” he warns about Emily; and “Don’t give up on a miracle”, he encourages after the IVF: both statements are lacking perspective and personal agency.

“I don’t see what choice I have," she responds about the adoption; and “I guess it was too much to hope for," she mourns after the IVF: both statements are laced with insecurity and defeat. 

The lingerings of these resolutions are resolved in Amor Fati and all things, respectively. Mulder solidifies his “life on this planet” after being dragged into the bowels of “another life, another world.” It is Conscience, personified by Scully, who confronts his weakness, calling him a coward and leaving him to make an active choice of his own freewill. Mulder chooses to leave behind bigger aspirations, higher callings, greater, inactive purpose to open his eyes to the true world-- the truth-- and cling to her: an integration of freewill. She is, he realizes, his touchstone. Scully solidifies her decision to stay with Mulder-- not the files, not the work, not their romantic relationship-- after being given a chance to take another path. And it is Conscience, personified by the running woman-- revealed to be Mulder-- who confronts Scully’s self doubt and directionless spiral, leading her one step at a time to her own resolution and peace. Scully chooses to let go of her doubt and indecision, trusting in her instincts to guide her: an integration of fate. He is, she realizes, where she belongs.

Both of these journeys finally sync up in all things: Scully tells Mulder about talking to God and falls asleep, Mulder rambles about paths not taken and tucks a blanket around her. And Scully of her own freewill joins Mulder in bed; and together they create their own miracle-- a sprinkle of fate and a boatload of personal choice. 

William, then, is a perfect combination: not because he is an alien super soldier or a divine proof of God or a result of the corrupt, freewill actions of other forces or "the key to everything" fated into existence through White Buffalo prophecy to save the world (@deathsbestgirl thoughts and post here), but because he is human. Normal. A miracle because he is not at all what anyone except Scully and Mulder expected him to be.

“We feared the possibilities,” Mulder acknowledges while holding his days-old son. “The truth we both know.” 

“Which is what?” Scully asks-- also one guided by definitives. 

And he gives her one-- a kiss-- to mark this new chapter of their lives. 

What is that new chapter, you wonder? 

In Requiem, Mulder and Scully miss sign after sign of her pregnancy, fearing she is suffering from close proximity to an abductee ship. She shuffles to his hotel room, sick and weak; and he tucks her up and whispers, “There has to be an end, Scully.” 

Mulder is a man of half-sentences and vague meanings: there has to be an end for Scully, for all she’s sacrificed.

“I want you to go home”, he admits.

“Oh, Mulder, I’m fine,” she whispers; but it’s not the full truth. 

"No, no, I've been thinking about it: looking at you today holding that baby... knowing everything that's been taken away from you. The chance for motherhood--" Scully's face scrunches in pain: she can't pretend this wound has healed, "--and your health and that baby. I think that... y'know, maybe they're right." Mulder speaks gently, contemplatively: and though this moment is focusing on Scully's losses, there is more going on-- particularly in Mulder himself.

"Who's right?" Scully asks, waveringly.

"The FBI," he answers plainly, sorrow and realization blending together."

Scully doesn't respond, brows wrinkling in confusion.

"Maybe what they say is true-- but for all the wrong reasons. It's the personal costs that are too high."

Scully doesn't respond, again: more importantly, she doesn't deny. And although she doesn't agree-- although she's stuck in worried limbo, afraid for her health, stumbling over the fact of her infertility-- she seems to be considering his words, or the intent behind them. Even more importantly, Scully doesn't know what Mulder's point is: that she resign? That they resign together? Is he turning over a new leaf just when she's learned to accept her choices and his ways for what they are?

Like Elegy, both are “afraid of the same thing”: that the final toll of this quest will consume Scully. (Just as they "feared the possibilities" in Existence.) She tries to escape this sense of doom by working, by nearly fighting her partner to go back to Bellefleur when Krycek and Marita show up dangling special intelligence. Mulder, however, is tired of loss, tired of years and years without closure. He floats the idea of leaving, for her sake; and doesn’t push it farther. But it’s on his mind, her health and her happiness; and her health and her happiness, he ruminates with mature clarity, might not be sold in bulk at the FBI. On the flip side, Mulder doesn’t float the solid idea of him leaving, too: he hasn’t let go: he's yet to make a decisive choice to leave (ala Vienen.)  

Mulder returns to Bellefleur; and Mulder is abducted right before Scully finds out she’s pregnant. 

There’s a deeper dive to be had regarding Mulder’s rewritten demise in Requiem and second rewritten death in Three Words. Be that as it may, Mulder is forced onto the alien spaceship; Mulder is tortured for long months against his will; and Mulder is “killed” and buried before he can learn about the existence of his child. Here, again, is the Fate conundrum: Mulder's "fated" quest lays claim to him now that he begins to contemplate another path. As for Scully, she decides to fight-- and fight hard-- to get her partner back, railing against Kersh’s edicts, throwing water in Doggett’s face, asserting her authority over extraterrestrial life, and leading the charge in her own efforts to locate the spaceship.

She almost loses her baby, three times, due to the stress and drive of her choices; yet, Mulder still “dies”-- Fate, it seems, has won. But Mulder is alive (through Skinner's choice); and her hard work pays off when he blinks awake. 

In short: Mulder and Scully beat the machinations of Fate-- he outlasted the torture and death intended for him; and she fought back against others’ intent for her partner, the files, and their child.

A brief note on Scully’s Season 8 pregnancy: in A Christmas Carol, Emily, and Per Manum, we see her throwing caution to the wind to grasp after second chances, unwittingly falling into traps in a vain attempt to capture happiness. In Requiem, Within, Without, and Roadrunners, however, she's pivoted priorities, ruthlessly upping the ante to reclaim her partner, thrusting herself into dangerous situations without first taking the baby’s life into account. It's the same, though inverted, psychological underpinnings: desperation, motivation, and determination. She had to face motherhood alone with Emily Sim; and she was able to face the IVF failure with Mulder’s support. But carrying Mulder’s baby to term and raising it, alone, is another thing; and one she is aware comes with a predetermined end date on the files. Scully justifies the risks and peril-- at first-- in Mulder’s name. Scully bandies about the country trying to keep the files going in her partner's stead, for his return; but the truth is, she is using the files to escape from her reality. And as she finds out in Alone, Scully’s also unable to let the files go-- which surprises her (even though she'd previously refused to let them go during the three months her partner was buried. Perhaps Scully's self-awareness was out to pasture, as often happens when she's buried under stress and grief, e.g. Beyond the Sea, Irresistible, Memento Mori, Elegy, etc.)

This proves a few things: 

As much as Scully proclaims she “wants to settle down, have something approaching a normal life”, and as much as Mulder insists she should go (Fight the Future, Requiem), Scully can’t or won’t leave until it feels right. “Follow your heart, and it’ll take you where you’re supposed to go,” Melissa told her, once (post here); and she was completely correct about her sister. 

As much as Scully committed to leaving the FBI for Emily or the IVF’s sake, she wasn’t ready either time; and was pushing that thought away with countdown clocks and ticking time bombs. 

Scully chose to stay on the files for the entirety (or most) of her pregnancy; and drifted back on maternity leave, conflicted. Saving Doggett’s life one last time and meeting Agent Leyla Harrison assured her that there will always be more believers to take up the cause. She is convinced her decision to leave was the right one, and lets that part of her life go in good conscience.  

It's Three Words, and Mulder is alive! All, however, is not smooth sailing. He is alive but withdrawn, riddled with wounds and PTSD; and Scully is confused and hurt, riddled with guilt and expectations. 

Three Words unfolds, and they get through it together; Empedocles unfolds, and Mulder begins to embrace his role as ‘the father’; Vienen unfolds, and Scully is vexed that her partner ran off to a potential death without remembering his child; Vienen resolves, and Mulder quits; Alone unfolds, and Scully is drawn back to her work while Mulder keeps drawing her away from it; Alone resolves, and both have relaxed into their role as X-Files retirees and impending parents. Mulder chooses to leave, and has taken steps to solidify that choice; Scully realizes she hadn't let go, and makes with her transition.

Yet, we have the madness of Essence and Existence.

The question-- for Mulder at least-- of Fate or Freewill hasn’t been sufficiently settled: in Essence’s opener, he ponders, "But has our ingenuity rendered the miracle into a simple trick? In the artifice of replicating life can we become the creator? Then what of the soul? Can it too be replicated? Does it live in this matter we call DNA? Or is its placement the opposite of artifice, capable only by God? How did this child come to be? What set its heart beating? Is it the product of a union? Or the work of a divine hand, an unanswered prayer, a true miracle? Or is it a wonder of technology, the intervention of other hands? What do I tell this child about to be born? What do I tell Scully? What do I tell myself?" Scully, predictably, doesn’t want to entertain more doubts or heartbreak after her previous scares; and has stuck her head decidedly in the sand (i.e. The Blessing Way, Memento Mori, etc.) That child is his, he knows (post here); but Fate, he feels, has played cruel tricks before. There are already two metaphorical graves for Scully’s children; and another one either grown from a tube or destroyed with Calderon’s abominable experiments. 

The show boils the entirety of (then) canon down to its essential themes: the truth they both know, but the possibilities they fear; Mulder wants to believe, and Scully's afraid to believe.

As previously mentioned, Mulder is caught up in doubts, then conspiracies; and he flails around for answers. When he rushes to her apartment and tries to help her pack, Scully becomes more and more heated at his non-answers.

"No, just stop! Can you tell me what's wrong? Is it something to do with my baby?'

"No," he assures gently, "your, your baby is fine." Then his gravitas shifts, and he adds hurriedly, "It's you who's in danger now, Scully."

"From who? Mulder, from what?"

"I don't know--" that's not enough for Scully, nor her anxiety, "--I'm not sure. I'm not sure about anything. I just know I got to get you out of here."

Finally, she yells, “Look, Mulder, look, I can't take this! I can't live like this—as, as the object of some unending X-File.”

Mulder, pushed to his extremis, finally tells her what she needed to hear for most of their partnership and especially after her pregnancy, his death, and his resurrection: “This isn't about the X-Files, Scully. It is only about you. Now, you are going to have this baby and I'm going to do everything I can to protect it.”

These two statements speak volumes: Scully and Mulder have both chosen to put the files behind them.

Why is this so important? Because for the first time in each pit stop towards parenthood-- towards expanding the Scully family, if you will-- this baby and its safety is not an x-file for Mulder, is not another life that wasn’t meant to exist; and this baby is not an x-file for Scully, is not tied to a traumatic, stolen moment from her past. She wants one area of her life to be free from conspiracy and collusion; and he wants the baby (and Scully) to be safe, once and for all.

We’ll keep Existence brief because its nonsensical, illogical, and frankly stupid writing decisions could be studied as a “How Not To” guide. After sending Scully away due to his fears (and relapse into a Freeze response, post here), Mulder comes to his senses and flies out to Georgia, arriving too late to prevent any real danger and missing the birth of his child. Scully, meanwhile, gives up; and allows herself to be schlepped away to the middle of nowhere, giving birth before an audience of unfeeling monsters. Suffice to say, despite multiple factions breathing down their necks and insisting this child is a proof of God or a weapon for or against the planet, William’s birth confirms that he is, indeed, a normal child: a plot twist to Fate and the creatures who attempted to play god. 

If we tune down the unnecessary noise, one key detail sticks out: Scully did not know the sex of her baby. When trying to barter for her baby's life, a mother will do anything to humanize her child to its threat. That action is one with the highest chance of success-- and a medical doctor trained in the FBI would know this. In fact, we've seen Scully use this technique before (ex. in Monday with Bernard.) Yet, she doesn't: she pleads for "my baby" and "please don't let them take it." 'It' is the clearest sign of her ignorance (and was purposefully written that way, I believe-- a two-fold "What is the sex?" and "Will the baby be taken before Scully herself knows?" dose of climax anxiety.)

But does this theory hold up under closer scrutiny?

We know Scully is shown the sex in Per Manum, but that is revealed to be a false result intended to deceive her. There was so much confusion afterward about real babies and alien babies that it was a mess to sort through; and Scully switched doctors, regardless, to ensure her safety.

She likely didn’t want to know anything more after this point, refusing to acknowledge that something might be wrong. This is in line with many, many other examples of her almost blind avoidance when confronted with a truth she doesn't want to face.

When Mulder mentions the connections to Parenti’s clinic in Essence, she tries to shut the conversation down; and when he replies, "That's-that's all I'm trying to do. Just make sure nothing happens to you; that this baby you're carrying is born without any surprises”, she stares him down angrily-- further proof Scully won't entertain these thoughts willingly.

“What we feared were the possibilities,” Mulder confirms in Existence: Scully had those fears, too. Avoiding the sex would be a way to put her fingers in her ears and experience a “normal”, profoundly uninteresting last two trimesters-- “Didn't you have to wait with us?” she tells Maggie. 

An that brings me to another interesting note: her behavior is not dissimilar to Bill Scully setting up shop in an exact replica of his childhood home, trying to copy and paste those traditions for his own family-- which included decorating the nursery in his sisters’ “old” room. In other words: he was recreating Melissa’s past (their past) without referring to her death, just as Scully is escaping fearful possibilities by recreating a the ignorance of the nostalgic past. “You keep things so bottled up,” Maggie worries (post here); and she is deadly accurate. 

Back at Scully’s apartment [x] days later, Mulder arrives; and, for the first time that we see in the series, opens her door with his own key (post here.) 

This is incredibly significant. It cannot be overstated. Scully’s own mother hired a baby nurse to assist her daughter because Scully’s privacy is so finely tuned that Maggie knew she wouldn’t want guests over. Mulder himself only ever dropped in after a knock at the door, even after his resurrection. And, although he had things of his at her place (in all things, @unremarkablehouse and @touchstoneaf's post here) and she had things at his (in Orison, post here), the two hadn’t solidified their cohabitation. Until now, when he waltzes in, greets her guests comfortably, and strolls in to meet and hold his son. And Scully looks up, smiles blissfully, and hands their child over. 

Mulder is enamored, is in awe of his baby; and that look of bliss and wonder is everything Scully could have hoped for.

“William,” she names, after Mulder's father-- a man who bucked the Consortium as much as he could (post here), who gave up and gave in (post here), and who decided, of his own freewill, to own up to his mistakes at the last (post here.)

In short: a shot at Fate. 

After laughing at her partner's shot at Skinner, Scully questions, "I don't understand, Mulder-- they came to take him from us-- why they didn't."

“I don't quite understand that, either. Except that maybe he isn't what they thought he was.” Another shot at Fate. “That doesn't make him any less of a miracle, though, does it?” A third shot at Fate. 

Encouraged, she smiles. It slips as she admits, "When I became pregnant, I feared the truth." More evidence of her head sticking firmly in the sand. "About how. And why. And I know that you feared it, too."

Mulder has an answer already-- he's given this thought since William's birth. "I think what we feared were the possibilities. The truth we both know."

“Which is what?” she asks; and he leans forward and shows her: the final blow. 

Fate is soundly defeated: Mulder, the boy who lost his sister, who set aside a life to find the Truth, has found happiness away from it-- has chosen his own truth. Scully, the woman who chose then doubted her choices, has obtained peace-- has chosen to leave the files after finding her truths, too.

Not only is this ending the culmination of their journey to parenthood, but it also resolves their character arcs: life on this planet, something resembling a normal life, and a manifestation of a bond and willpower stronger than death. 

Last but not least, it also encapsulates the journey’s of each of their family’s legacy-- and on a more personal level, the culmination of their sister’s legacies: Samantha Mulder’s gifted closure (post here) and Melissa Scully’s intuitive guidance (posts here, here, here, and here.)

(But what if William had been inexplicably magical? What if he had had alien powers; or was a creation for and fulfillment of higher purposes? What if he was, in short, the key to everything? 

Then Fate would have won the debate: William was the key to everything; and would be hunted down or chased until evil is defeated, or he saves the world. As Mulder and Scully conclude in The Truth's ending speech:

“I want to believe… that if we listen to what’s speaking, they can give us the power to save ourselves.”

“Then we believe the same thing.” 

In other words, Fate is predetermined; and humanity will be destroyed if they don't listen to and heed its warnings and thunderings. Which would effectively destroy eight years of build-up and resolution: Fate as a tempered option, Freewill as a vehicle for growth and change, Conscience as the deciding factor. It would destroy Mulder and Scully's individual and mutual arcs, their son's conception and birth, their sisters' losses and legacies, their families' virtues and faults, failures and victories. In short: it would be a predetermined-- fated, if you will-- mess.)

CONCLUSION

And that brings us to the conclusion of the Scully Family In-Depth series! 

Thanks for reading!

Enjoy~

[huggybearhughes43]

Dom Ethan finding out his shy best friend likes to read spicy hockey books and it leads to smut

Really, smut?

A/n: So… I’m alive

Warnings- Friends with benefits, oral (fem! Receiving), that’s basically it

Summary- in request

Word count- 1k

Ethan hiked up the stairs of his best friends apartment. Practice sucked today and he really really needed to see her before he actually went ballistic. He flops his duffle bag down before knocking on the door. He hears a soft ruffling and a creak to notify him that she was looking through the peephole. A quiet yet excited, “oh!” Was heard through the door which already began to cheer Ethan up. She opens the door with a bright smile, “Hi Ethan!” She can already tell he’s upset but she figured since he was just at practice she already knew why. She realizes she’s standing in front of the door and she moves out the way to let him in.

He picks up his bag again and moves it inside, muttering and quiet thank you as he walked past her. Her nose scrunches as she closes the door and looks back at Ethan, “stinking up my whole apartment with that bag.” He smiles brightly, his mood already being way better than before, “Sorry, Princess.” She rolls her eyes at the nickname and sits down on her couch that wasn’t too far away. There was a book on the side table that Ethan couldn’t quite make out the cover of but he didn’t think anything of it knowing his friend’s tendency to read.

He plops down on the couch next to her and steals the remote to change the channel. “Hey-“ she begins to protest him changing her drama show but he loops at her with an exaggerated pouting face and she crumbles. “Okay, fine.” She huffs and magically the pout turns into a big smile while he turns the channel to a New Jersey Devils game. He turns his head with a random curious surge to look at his book. A look of confusion washes over his face as he picks up the book and examines the cover.

“You read books about hockey?” She looks up from her phone and her face contorts to one of slight horror at the book named “icebreaker” in his hands. “Uh…” she thinks of something to say but he doesn’t wait for her words and flips to a random page. “Wait! Ethan-“ she reaches to yank the book away but he’s quick to pull it out of her reach as he begins to read aloud, "That isn't a yes. Do I need to get on my knees and beg you, Anastasia? Is that what you want?” She shakes her head and laughs. "The only time I ever want to see a grown man on his knees in front of me. Nate, is when his face is in between my legs. So no, I don't want you to beg me."

Ethan’s wondering eyes peek back at his best friend, audibly laughing when he sees her red face in her palms out of embarrassment. “What? Do you think the same, y/n?” He jokingly falls to his knees in front of her, abandoning the book onto the couch. “Ethan please get back up” she whines and he just shakes his heads and laughs. “No can do, not until you answer me.” She peaks between her fingers to see Ethan Edward’s on his knees right in front of her knees with puppy dog eyes. He was clearly faking it, in her six years of being his best friend she knew for a fact he wanted to burst out laughing right now.

“Come on, Ethan” she nearly begs him to get back to his feet but he shakes his head. “I’m supposed to begging right now. Or, no wait- should my face be in between your legs.” He teases and y/n just shakes her head but stays silent. “You aren’t saying no.” “Ethan-“ “tell me to stop and I will” he shrugs softly and almost smirks when he doesn’t hear any protests. “Ethan…” “yeah?” “Please” the word slips out as if instinct. “Yes ma’am” he kisses each knee before slipping his hands to tug at her sleep shorts.

They’d never gone this far before. Sure, they’d made out a few times and left a few marks but they’d always stopped after that. Still, it felt natural for Ethan to be this close. What harm could it result in? Everyone on campus already knew they were a thing, so what did it matter?

Ethan slipped her shorts off along with whatever underwear she was wearing under. He pushes her knees apart to get closer. “If I knew you fantasized about this kinda stuff I would’ve done this a lot sooner.” He smiles softly from between her legs and she finally lets her hands fall into his hair instead of covering her face. “Ethan…” “I got you, baby.” His eyes don’t break contact with hers as her dives his tongue into his best friend’s tight hole.

“Oh~” she throws her head back, finally breaking the eye contact as he laps at her. She could feel the smirk against her at her reaction. She nearly bit her bottom lip off at the attempt to keep her sounds away from her neighbors ears. With just the mere feeling of his tongue she was already teetering the edge of her orgasm. She tugs harshly at his dirty blonde hair and he knew immediately why. She looks back down at him, their eyes connecting once again. His moments don’t falter, his mouth pushing her over the edge.

He continues his moments to both allow her to drag out the orgasm and to collect all the juices he could on his tongue. He pulls away with a goofy smile, “you taste amazing.” She rolls her eyes and tugs at his shirt. “Can you get up now?” “Oh come on, don’t pretend that wasn’t amazing” he stands up and sits back next to her, helping her back into her shorts. “Not my point” “see, I knew it.” She can’t help but smile at his goofy and happy expression. “What if I told you people imagine you as the main guy in that book?” Ethan smirks, “what if I told you I already knew that.”

[brainddeadd]

Halloween Party

The New Jersey Devils' Halloween party was destined to be anything but normal. You knew that from the moment you walked into the venue—a rented-out lounge decked with fake cobwebs, jack-o-lanterns, and strobe lights—only to be tackled by a very enthusiastic Jack Hughes in full Spider-Man gear.

“Y/N!” Jack yells, wrapping you in a bear hug and lifting you off the ground. “You made it!”

“Put me down, Spidey,” you laugh, squirming in his grip.

Jack grins under his mask but finally sets you down, brushing invisible dust off your costume. “What even are you supposed to be?” he asks, squinting at your outfit.

“I’m a vampire,” you say, flashing the plastic fangs you barely managed to keep in.

“Cute.” Jack winks, slinging an arm around your shoulder just as Nico Hischier—dressed as a very convincing pirate—walks up, giving both of you a fond, exasperated look.

The lounge is packed with players, staff, and their partners—everyone dressed to the nines in goofy, spooky, or downright ridiculous costumes. Luke Hughes stands by the snack table, inspecting a bowl of candy with the kind of concentration you usually only see him use on the ice. He’s rocking a cowboy hat, boots, and a vest that’s way too small for his frame.

Dawson Mercer, meanwhile, has gone all-in with a werewolf costume, complete with fluffy ears and a tail that keeps smacking people as he walks by.

“I swear to God, Dawson,” you mutter, swatting at the tail when it brushes your arm again. “Control that thing.”

“It has a mind of its own!” Dawson defends himself with a mischievous grin.

As the night progresses, the chaos only multiplies.

Nico keeps trying to convince everyone to join him for a game of beer pong, insisting that pirates have an unfair advantage because they’re “naturally gifted at throwing things.” You’re not entirely sure that’s historically accurate, but no one argues with him.

Jack somehow convinces half the team to start a limbo competition—using a hockey stick, of course. Luke crushes it, his height somehow not being a disadvantage for once, though he nearly trips over his boots at the end.

Dawson, in typical Dawson fashion, sneaks up behind you at one point with a fake severed hand, pressing it to your shoulder.

You jump and swat him again. “You’re asking for a punch, Mercer.”

“Worth it,” he laughs, scampering off before you can retaliate.

The highlight of the night is, without a doubt, the costume contest.

You watch as Nico steps onto the makeshift stage, adjusting his pirate hat dramatically. “Arr, mateys,” he says, clearly enjoying himself way too much. “Who dares challenge the captain?”

Jack boos from the crowd. “Your hat’s crooked, Captain Fraud!”

“At least I didn’t dress as Spider-Man for the third year in a row!” Nico fires back, making everyone roar with laughter.

Luke takes the stage next, tipping his cowboy hat. He pulls out a toy gun from his holster and blows on the barrel dramatically, earning a mix of cheers and teasing catcalls from the crowd.

When it’s your turn, the boys start cheering before you even reach the stage.

“Y/N! Y/N! Y/N!” Jack chants, getting the whole room to join in.

You roll your eyes but strike a dramatic vampire pose, hissing playfully at the crowd. Nico, Jack, Luke, and Dawson lose it, clapping like you’ve just scored the winning goal in a playoff game.

“Best costume ever,” Dawson declares loudly, like a proud big brother.

After the contest wraps up (Nico wins because, as Jack puts it, “the pirate hat has plot armor”), the team settles into smaller groups, chatting and dancing to the Halloween playlist someone threw together.

Jack stays glued to your side for most of the night, making sure no one gives you too much grief—though he’s not above throwing in a little teasing himself. “You’re lucky you have us,” he jokes. “Otherwise, these guys would eat you alive.”

Nico walks by, overhearing. “We’re protecting you from them,” he says, tilting his head toward the crowd of rowdy teammates. “Not the other way around.”

You laugh, but you know it’s true. These boys are chaos incarnate, but they’re also fiercely protective. And if that means surviving a Halloween party filled with ridiculous costumes, bad jokes, and limbo competitions—well, you wouldn’t have it any other way.

The night winds down with Jack flopping onto the couch beside you, half-asleep but still grinning like a kid. “You have fun, Y/N?”

You smile, leaning your head on his shoulder. “Yeah. Thanks for dragging me here.”

Jack gives your shoulder a gentle nudge. “Anytime, little sis.”

Nico, Luke, and Dawson join you shortly after, each collapsing into the nearest seat. The five of you sit there, surrounded by the aftermath of the party—empty cups, candy wrappers, and a whole lot of memories.

And as you glance around at your chaotic, overprotective teammates, you realize there’s nowhere else you’d rather be.

[thehugheslover]

First Game Day Apparence (Quinn Hughes x Famous reader)

In witch you and Quinn have been dating for a couple months and only your close friends and family know and today you are making your first public appearance together

The buzz in the arena was electric as fans filled the seats for one of the most anticipated games of the season—the Hughes Bowl. The Vancouver Canucks were set to face off against the New Jersey Devils, with the Hughes brothers—Quinn, Jack, and Luke—going head-to-head. But this game was particularly special, as it marked the first public appearance of Quinn and his girlfriend, Taylor Clark, a famous singer whose name resonated in both the music and sports worlds.

As the gates swung open, the cameras flashed, capturing every moment of the event. Quinn’s parents, Jim and Ellen Hughes, walked alongside Taylor, who was effortlessly chic in one of Luke’s jerseys—its oversized fit draping comfortably over her leggings. Her hair fell in sleek, straight strands, framing her face as she greeted fans and media with warm smiles.

“Look at you!” Jim exclaimed, nudging Taylor with pride as they made their way toward the suite. “You look great in that jersey.”

Taylor grinned, glancing down at the fabric emblazoned with the number 43. “Thanks! I figured it was appropriate for today,” she replied, her excitement bubbling just beneath the surface.

As they approached the suite, the cameras swarmed around them, capturing the trio as they walked. Taylor seemed at ease in the spotlight, waving at fans while also enjoying the company of Jim and Ellen, who beamed with joy at their son’s accomplishments and the excitement of the day.

Once inside the suite, they were greeted by more family and friends, the atmosphere filled with laughter and anticipation. The warm-up skated in the distance, and Taylor took her place among the family, cheering for both Quinn and his brothers. As the game approached, she found herself caught in the excitement, her heart racing with anticipation for Quinn’s performance.

The warm-ups began, and the big screen in the arena quickly zoomed in on Taylor, prompting cheers from the crowd. She waved enthusiastically, her energy infectious. Quinn, skimming the ice, occasionally glanced up at the suite. He spotted Taylor’s beaming smile and felt a surge of confidence wash over him. The warm connection they shared made him feel unstoppable.

“Look at her!” Luke chuckled from his spot beside Jack. “She’s totally cheering you on!”

As the game started, Taylor became a whirlwind of support for the Canucks. She jumped up from her seat, clapping and cheering as Quinn skated across the ice. Her laughter rang out, mingling with the sounds of the crowd, as she engaged in playful banter with Jim and Ellen.

During the game, she shifted between cheering for Quinn and supporting Jack and Luke. Every time the camera caught her laughing or cheering, it fueled the excitement in the arena. As Quinn took a shot and scored a goal, she leapt to her feet, her cheers echoing throughout the arena. “Yes! Go Quinn!” she shouted, her eyes sparkling with joy.

In a quiet moment between plays, Taylor leaned toward Ellen, sharing a laugh as they both pointed out Quinn’s latest move. Their bond felt natural, a blend of shared pride and joy for their boys on the ice. As the game progressed, she and Jim exchanged looks of concentration, both glued to the action.

However, the intensity of the game escalated, and in a sudden moment, Quinn was tripped by an opposing player’s stick, tumbling hard onto the ice. Taylor’s heart dropped, a rush of concern crossing her face as she instinctively leaned forward, her breath hitching. “Is he okay?” she whispered, her eyes wide with worry.

But then, just as quickly, Quinn popped back up, shaking it off with a confident grin, and Taylor exhaled in relief, a smile replacing her concern as she continued cheering for him.

“Way to go!” she called out, her voice strong and encouraging, capturing the spirit of the game.

As the final buzzer sounded and the Canucks secured their victory, the crowd erupted in applause and cheers. Taylor, with Jim and Ellen by her side, stood waiting eagerly by the area where the players would emerge from the locker room. Her heart raced, her excitement palpable as she anticipated Quinn’s arrival.

The locker room door swung open, and Jack and Luke emerged first, their expressions a mix of adrenaline and exhaustion. Taylor clapped for them, her cheers ringing out amidst the crowd noise.

“Great game, you two!” she shouted, her pride evident. Jack grinned, giving her a thumbs-up while Luke playfully flexed his muscles.

And then, Quinn stepped out, his expression brightening as he spotted Taylor. The moment felt charged, and he made his way toward her, his teammates trailing behind. Taylor’s heart raced as he approached, her smile wide and welcoming.

“Hey, superstar!” she beamed, and the cameras caught their interaction, flashing in a frenzy.

Quinn wrapped his arms around her, lifting her off the ground in a joyful embrace. “Did you see that goal?” he laughed, setting her down but keeping her close. The cameras clicked away, capturing every moment of their affectionate reunion.

“Of course! You were amazing!” Taylor replied, her eyes gleaming with admiration. The entire suite, including Jim and Ellen, surrounded them, and the family vibe felt warm and inclusive.

As they walked out together, the cameras continued to flash, capturing the moment. Taylor, Quinn, Jack, Luke, Jim, and Ellen strolled through the arena, smiles plastered across their faces as they embraced the chaos of their new reality. Taylor felt grateful to be part of this family, and she knew this was just the beginning of their journey together, both in public and in private.

And as they stepped into the world outside the arena, the bonds they shared felt stronger than ever, setting the stage for countless memories yet to be made.

[dailymothanon]

I’m back 🐶 thank you for being patient, things are relatively back to normal! Anyways I got some drawings… it’s the actual D&D au now! I’ve got plenty of ideas, but for now this is Alaska and Maine! Alaska is a Druid, circle of stars though his race is unknown (I also don’t have any general cloth ideas for him). It is noted he is very bird-like tho, no wings because he can just have a wild shape/starry form with a pair. Maine is a half human half beast, he’s quite prickly because unfortunately even in this au he still has to deal with the northeast 😒 (long rants of ideas below)

I also have other ideas for other states, but I haven’t drawn them yet. For New Jersey I’m thinking like Nevada he is a fae folk but of a bee; and he was born with deformed and torn wings that resemble the Jersey devil’s. But due to his deformity his “hive” decided to just toss him out because they wanted a big strong community with no one holding them back 😒 so maybe Jersey had to barely survive out there on his own, and in later years NY could’ve found him (I like to think he is a human knight, merely because instead of his bat he can have a sword) and took him in 😌 (and they were roommates)

Another idea I’ve got is for Texas! I would like to think he is a mostly human gunslinger who is legally blind (not totally blind, tho still very blind) but sees thru heat & taste, much like a snake does. Maybe he collects bounties, I haven’t really thought much for his lore yet 🤔 but he is one of the best gunslingers out there despite his disability!

Cali is also one I’ve thought up, I think he could be a dragon rider. A funny idea is that he has a scam where he and his dragon makes this whole act where he pretends to be a princess damsel in distress, being held captive by the big bag dragon and people who come and try to “save” him but it just ends up with Cali robbing them 😒 (love me a big flawed character)

As for Alaska, he’s as stated, a Druid of the circle of stars! He comes from an unknown island (just imagine irl state of Alaska except disconnected to any continent tbh) that’s gatekeeped gaslighted girlbossed because they don’t want no colonizers or anything ofc. But Alaska grew up hearing all about the other outside lands and he wanted to go see it! So one day he ventured into the continents (the one that contains all the other states except for Hawaii) and yaddy yadda; and Alaska is actually very curious and friendly in this au because he doesn’t have the trauma of outsiders 😌 he has a pet(s?) dog with three heads (ofc, Balto Togo and Fido) to accompany him! I haven’t designed his starry forms yet btw. And also he doesn’t really know how his Druid magic works somehow 🧎 it’s mostly innate and learned behaviors and habits and traditions. It just comes naturally to him! This is the biggest difference between him and Mass with magic, think of Alaska’s Druid magic as traditional and natural, meanwhile Mass’s sorcery as artificial and learned and studied magic. So it’s hard to say who between the two is better at magic

Maine is a half-human-half-beast, he faces discrimination because of it and there aren’t much others like him in at home land. He mostly doesn’t care but the occasional person really gets to him. Not really sure why he is half beast yet tho I don’t have the lore for that. Mass keeps trying to pester Maine about learning magic, as Mass is one of the best magic users in his region (and he’s quite boastful/egotistical because of it) so he believes Maine might be really good too, and Mass wants him to be able to know it when in times of need, but Maine doesn’t really listen 🙄 though he is nimble and quite good at sneaking!

My last minor ideas is that Ginny is a great swordsman (race undecided), Mass is probably a human sorcerer, Nevada is a fae folk, Ny is a human knight, and Hawaii 🤔 some sorta sea/ocean critter maybe? Dunno yet. Anyways I hope these ideas are cool and that you guys like them! I also want to mention I probably wont post daily still, I wanna do what’s comfortable for me.

[letsgetrowdy43]

The supporting cast—

Just a little background to some of the important families with in the Littlest Hughes Universe!!

If you have any questions or wanna talk about these characters/families please don’t be shy, I would love to build some lore around these characters!!

Au Masterlist!!

The Hughes’ (Jack)—

Meet Jack and Inez Hughes!!

They met at some dive bar in Jersey during the winter of 2024 while she was finishing out her nursing degree at Columbia University School of Nursing!!

She was trying to unwind from taking her last ever final exams and he was dealing with the string of losses when they met for the first time.

Jack was nursing a beer trying to shake off the dread of the devils upcoming roadie when he saw the girl sitting all alone on the other end of the bar. She was so pretty he just had to introduce himself.

Inez was a little taken aback when he first walked over to her, but the conversation flowed nicely and he paid for her drinks for the rest of the night so naturally she asked if he'd like to go out another time, dinner on her, maybe a moment where they both aren't dealing with the weight of the world and he or course said yes.

Just a few weeks later they were officially together and he was telling people he had met his future wife

Very much a chaotic boyfriend x over achiever girlfriend dynamic, Jack loves the shit out of her, and worships the literal ground she walks on

They marry in 2028 and have their first born Weston Quinn Hughes in the summer of 2029, they have their daughter in the fall of 2031 Margaret “Maggie” Eleanor Hughes.

They stopped after two deciding that they loved the size of their little family

Both their kids are like little carbon copies of their mama looks wise, which Jack absolutely adores. Character-wise Weston has the personality of Jack and Maggie is just like Luke, the most unserious child ever!

The Hughes’ (Luke)—

Meet Luke Hughes and Josie “Jo” Mayfield!!

Their first encounter with one another was in university while she was a Umich music student and he was playing D1 hockey. It was a sloppy make-out at a party that never led to anything else, but he always kept tabs on her, she kinda felt like the one who got away.

But they met again years later at a festival in Jersey, the summer of 2025, just a few weeks after her graduation that he of course was present for (to watch his old teammates walk the stage). She and the band she formed during her time at school moved to New York to play gigs around the tri-state area, it just so happened that Luke was at the venue she was asked to play at and he went up to her to say hi and ask how she was doing after finding her in the crowd after her set.

It was only in the fall of 2025 that Luke sent her a DM asking her out to dinner, he genuinely could not get the thought of her out of his mind and one night got ballsy enough to message her to which she, of course, took him up on the offer :))

They have their daughter, Audrey Honey Hughes in the winter of 2027, They didn’t necessarily plan on having kids so young with his career still being very early and the busy schedule of a band just starting to get big, but they’re so happy to have welcomed a little girl into the world!!

Audrey looks a lot like Ellen, but her personality is a lot like her mama’s. Luke tried to get her into sports, but her heart always lied in music just like Jo's. She’s also probably the quietest out of all the littlest Hughes cousins, and Ellen would never admit this out loud, but Audrey is her favourite grandchild!

The Tkachuk’s (Matthew)—

Meet Matt and Vivian Tkachuk!!

They first met in their sophomore year of high school during a biology class project on ecosystems, they were randomly assigned as lab partners, and the second Matt sat down to work on their project he immediately knew he was a goner. Vivian‘s very shy and to herself, whereas Matt is easy-going and charming, which was something that was initially very intimidating for the girl. But after a few sessions of them working on this project, she got more comfortable with him, and then realized she was pretty sure she was in love with him.

They dated throughout the rest of high school, went to prom together, then he was drafted to the London Knights and then was drafted again to Calgary. She followed him to Calgary, getting both her BA and BEd at the University of Calgary while he played for the Flames, and became an elementary school teacher as he continued to further his career.

They had a very private relationship up until his proposal to her in 2024, He posted a picture and she kind of received a lot of backlash because she’s not necessarily the stereotypical WAG, but Matthew spends every day letting her know how beautiful she is and how she’s the only one for him.

They have twin sons in 2029, Elliot Beau and Carter Lane Tkachuk. The two are like a perfect mix of Viv and Matt, they look just like their mom and have wild unruly curls just like their dad.

They also could not be more different personalities, wise, Carter is more sports just like his father, a little bit more cocky a little bit more competitive whereas Elliot is more of a homebody and a little more driven academically.

Carter is the son who ends up with Maeve, they have a summer fling when she is 16 and he’s 17 which Quinn nearly has a heart attack over. Their dynamic is similar to his parents, Maeve is shy and very different from all the girls that his friends are with, but he’s been in love with her since he was little so the so-called standard is completely out the window the second she bats an eye at him. The next summer is draft Summer so they don’t see each other except for during the big party his parents throw for him after he gets picked in the first round to go to the Rangers, and that’s when he discovers that Maeve is also moving to New York to go to acting school and they start seeing seriously each other then!!

The Zegras’—

Meet Trevor and Heidi Zegras!!

The two meet in his rookie year, it was a little meet-cute moment in a coffee shop where she bumped into him and spilled her iced coffee all down his game-day suit. She had never been so embarrassed as she apologized profusely, tried to clean him up, and then bought him a coffee. However, they never exchanged numbers or any way to reach each other so it was kind of a Cinderella moment.

They met again at a charity ball a few weeks later, she is an assistant for a big investor for the Ducks so she was in attendance, in the most beautiful dress. This time though Trevor accidentally bumped into her and almost spilt his wine down her dress, luckily he didn't, but something about the situation felt like faith. The two spent the rest of the night before they exchanged numbers.

They got engaged in the summer of 2024 just a few months before they had their daughter Valerie Jamie Zegras in late November of 2024!! Her middle name is an ode to her parent's best friend and her godfather

Valerie is very quiet to herself, she’s got the most adorable little curls and the most evil little grin like her father. But she’s also very shy and has the biggest heart. She’s obsessed with her Jamie and Mason and loves the off-season and being with her family and uncles. She's also a big artist, Trevor tried to get her into hockey and golf, but she always preferred painting and drawing over sports!!

When she is about 15, she came out to both her mother and father as queer, and both accept her with open arms. So many years shed and promise that this will never change how much they love her and will always support her. When she is 16 and Hayden is 17, they both come clean about their feelings for one another and they get together!! Both sets of parents adore this couple and are so happy to see their daughters happy!!

[fiapartridge]

santa doesn't know you like i do 💌⭐️✨

nico hischier x singer!gf

summary: nico films a music video with famous singer, y/n belcourt & everyone suspects that there is more going on than meets the surface??

a/n: LMAO this is so stupid. just pretend like she needed some strong hot man for her music video, reached out to nico cuz she thought he was cute, and he said yes. he's super nervous, bad at acting, but they told him to just act natural & (to him) it felt like he ended up just hanging out with y/n rather than acting <3 he's whippeddd

y/n belcourt posted !

liked by gracieabrams and 3,758,391 others

y/n.belcourt 'santa doesn't know you like i do' music video out now 💌 a personal fave of mine

tagged: @/nicohischier

jackhughes atta boy neeks

lhughes_06 cap's a big time actor now

user1 i'm sorry did i miss a chapter 😸

user2 what. the fuck is happening.

gracieabrams perfect song, perfect girl

-> y/n.belcourt this song is actually about you 😇

user3 no way NICO?????

jesperbratt so that's what he did while on injured reserve...

lola.tung stream fruitcake if ur hot <3

-> y/n.belcourt amen

njdevils nico 'big actor guy new jersey devils man' hischier

trevorzegras @/nicohischier don't be rude man introduce me 😁

-> y/n.belcourt this guy named quinn just dm'd me saying to not talk to you. nico also said that 🙂

-> trevorzegras @/_quinnhughes fucking cock block

-> _quinnhughes stand down man

nicohischier thank you for having me! i had the best time ❤️

-> y/n.belcourt loved every second ❤️ catch me at the rock soon x

-> nicohischier next goal goes out to you

-> user4 IM SORRY WAS THAT FLIRTATIOUS? R THEY FLIRTING

-> user5 she's obviously just being nice. he's not her type

-> user6 idk big pro hockey player, captain of his team, hot as fuck... kinda sounding like any girl's type

nico hischier posted !

liked by tmeier96 and 37,394 others

nicohischier stepped off the ice and made a music video with this one. my big screen debut (and probably my last)! go watch! ❤️

tagged: @/y/n.belcourt

user1 of course nico shoots a big music video and only posts pictures of her instead of the actual video 🤭🤭🤭

-> user2 mans is whipped

-> user3 asf.

jackhughes what's goin on here 🤨

-> nicohischier i was in a video for a song!

-> jackhughes not what i meant

dawson1417 are we having a mrs. cap on the team now 👀

-> nicohischier go to hell

user4 NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

user5 tell me my man isn't boo'd up tell me my man isn't boo'd up tell me my man isn't boo'd up

-> user4 i'm afraid i got some bad news for you

-> user6 HEY IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN CONFIRMED YET

-> user4 yet.

john.marino97 how did you get HER?

-> nicohischier WERE NOT TOGETHER.

user7 everyone clowning nico is the funniest thing ever

y/n.belcourt worth the frostbite & tumbles on the ice ❤️

-> nicohischier you became a better skater though!

-> y/n.belcourt solely hired u so u could pick me back up after i fall

-> nicohischier would gladly do that for free anyday :)

[toasttt11]

draft day

May 10, 2022

The Hughes family were all sitting around their couch in the lake house watching the draft lottery for the 2022 NHL draft.

Jack and Luke hoping the Devils get the number one pick as it’s known there is only one person going number one and that’s Carter Hughes, despite being a woman she above and beyond any of the others draft contenders.

“The number three overall selection belongs to the New Jersey Devils.” Jack and Luke both groaned both disappointed, Carter was not disappointed as she honestly have not wanted to go to the Devils, she gripped Quinn hand with the hopeful anticipation for the first overall selection.

“The first overall selection in the 2022 NHL draft belongs to Vancouver Canucks.” Carter froze seeing the team she been dreaming up become the first selection, the same selection she’s projected to go to.

Quinn grinned excitedly shaking his sister as he pulled her into a hug, knowing she will be going first overall and the two can finally live out their dream for playing together.

“Oh my god.” Carter mumbled hugging Quinn back feeling Luke hold on of her hands and the hand on her shoulder from Jack squeezing her shoulder gently.

Ellen smiled glad her kids will now both have one of their siblings with them, it’s gives her a peace of mind, also knowing her youngest’s wont be alone either. Ellen has no doubt her daughter will be going first, the Canucks would be stupid not to pick Carter and Carter been protected to go first the entire time no one has got even close to her stats.

July 7, 2022

Carter eyes were stuck on the ceiling of the dark hotel room, the small puffs of breathes coming from where Luke was sleeping across the room in a bed, Jack moving around as he slept in the bed next to Luke, and the silence coming from Quinn who was in the bed next to her.

Carter knew she should be doing the same and getting good sleep for the big day tomorrow, the 2022 draft.

They day she has been dreaming up since she could remember. The day she was dreaming of, that has been nothing but presssure and people wanting to know if a girl will really go first, people either are loving or hating the idea of her doing so.

Cater blew out a few breath before slipping out of the warm blankets and quickly walking a few steps and slipping into the spot next to her big brother, who quickly woke up at the movement.

Quinn turned his head, his eyes squinting open as he felt his sister curl up into his side and his hand naturally went to the back gently rubbing it, “What’s wrong Cart?” Quinn could feel the stuttering breath that she took.

“What if..” Carter hesitated licking her lips, “What if i don’t go first.”

Quinn felt his face soften realizing Carter is nervous for tomorrow more than she’s been letting on, “Then you don’t. And it doesn’t matter where you end up first or last i’m going to be proud of you, i am already proud of you, okay.”

Carter took a deep breath releasing some of the tension in her shoulders, “Okay.”

“Okay, now try to get some sleep it’s a big day for you tomorrow. I love you little sister.” Quinn kissed the top of her head.

“I love you too Quinny.” Carter could feel her body relaxing more and more and her eyes fluttering shut and before she knew it she heard the sound of a door opening and two sets of footsteps and then the blinds being pulled, making the bright sun blast the whole room and four identical groans came from each of the siblings.

Carter dug her head deeper into Quinn chest as he tried to hide his face in her hair. Jack chucked his pillow over his head and Luke turned around shoving his face into the mattress hiding from the light.

Jim just chuckled use to his kids never being morning people.

Ellen took her phone out quickly snapping a photo of a cuddling Carter and Quinn, a sight that’s very familiar to her.

“Come on it’s draft day.” Ellen clapped excitedly.

Jack’s head popped up, “You should have started with that.” Jack groaned sitting up running a hand through his fluffy hair.

Luke leaned against the headboard rubbing his face trying to wake up.

Quinn looked up at the ceiling trying to wake also feeling Carter wake up more next to him.

Jack got out of the bed walking across the room and jumping onto the spot next to Carter and cuddling onto her, “Happy draft day little bird.” Jack kissed the top of her head. The siblings having made nicknames for each other years ago and Carter’s has always been little bird or birdy, as she was obsessed with going outside and watching birds and would try feeding them, so she got stuck with the nickname.

“Thanks.” Carter mumbled back still half asleep.

Luke looked over seeing Jack cuddled in the bed so he decided to get up walk across the room and he jumped right across all three of his siblings legs.

“Luke!”

“Really?”

“Moose.”

Three groans and complaints were all said at the same time as the tallest of the siblings decided to lay on all three of them.

“What i want cuddles to.” Luke grinned mischievously turning his head letting his cheek rest on Quinn’s leg looking up at the three.

Carter slipped her hand out of the comforter and put it down towards her legs where Luke was laying and grabbed his hand holding it with hers.

Ellen and Jim shared a fond look, glad their kids are still so close with one another.

“Alright get off your siblings, You all need to get ready, The cameras are coming in two hours and you all need to eat still so please chop chop.” Ellen gently order the four, making Luke get off his siblings and head to the bathroom to shower first, Quinn sat up stretching his arms, Jack jumped out of the bed heading to grab his phone having already showered last night and he can’t do anything till Luke finishes his shower anyway, He jumped onto his bed going onto his phone.

“Quinn you can use our bathroom.” Ellen told her oldest who nodded at his mother and got up grabbing his stuff and heading to his parents room that is connected by a door to theirs.

“And you sweetheart can you order some room service for you and your brothers? When Quinn is done we will get you ready, hmm?” Ellen walked over to her daughter sitting on the bed next to her brushing some hair from Carter’s face.

“Sure mom.” Carter smiled slightly from the comforting gesture from her mother, having missed the days she could get comfort from her mother any day, having lived away for so much of the last few years.

“Thank you sweetheart.” Ellen leaned down kissing Carter’s forehead before getting up and walking back to her room when Jim alreadly went back too.

Carter sat up rubbing her eyes with her hands before leaning over and grabbing the phone and the room service menu, deciding to grab a little of everything knowing her brothers are not that picky with food especially when it’s breakfast food. She quickly dialed the phone and order their breakfasts before handing up and putting everything back on the nightstand.

Carter grabbed her phone deciding to ignoring the long list of notifications from people for today and clicked on the text from her best friend having not seem him for a few weeks having been getting ready for the draft and the combine training.

Connor ❤️

Hey good luck today Roo. You’re gonna do great.

Carter💜

Thanks Con.

Carter and Connor continuing texting for a good while, long enough Carter didn’t even realize Quinn has finished showering untill she felt water droplets hit her face and she looked up seeing Quinn grinning down at her as he shook his wet hair onto her.

“Really.” Carter deadpanned not even bothering hiding her smile at her brother.

“You were really focused.” Quinn excused himself but the glint in his eyes told her exactly what he meant by that.

Quinn and Carter having moved out only a year apart and having moved only a few hours apart from each other and both moving to another country from their family. They spent more time with each other than the rest of their family and have got even closer the last few years. Quinn and Carter’s bond had gotten even more special and became more of each other’s best friends rather than just siblings.

“Shut up.” Carter slapped his arm feeling her cheeks heat up, Quinn threw his head back laughing always finding it enjoyed that his little sister who has never got flustered by anything, always being blunt about everything but anything with Connor and she gets flustered so easily.

Jack looked up from his phone seeing Carter bury her face in her hands and the way Quinn shoulders were shaking with laughter and wondered what Quinn said but just shrugged it off knowing the two are the closest out of all the siblings.

Quinn just chucked walking off towards the door hearing the knock and knowing room service was coming.

Carter texted her goodbyes to Connor and she smiled slightly having always feeling more relaxed around or even texting Connor.

Carter got out of bed stretching hearing her brother bring the tray of food and setting it at the table by the window, giving a great view of Montreal Canada.

Carter walked over plopping down in the seat feeling Jack sit next to her and Quinn sat on the other side of her, the three started grabbing food just as they heard Luke finally come out of the bathroom and not even fully dressed just wearing a pair of basketball shorts and his hair still dripping wet.

“Long enough shower Lukey boy.” Jack teased his brother biting the bacon, knowing Luke is surprising always the longest one in the shower.

“Shut up.” Luke rolled his eyes sitting between his brothers grabbing food and starting to eat.

“I don’t even want to know what takes you so long.” Carter pretend to gag only grabbing a little bit of fruit the anticipation being to much to really eat anymore than that.

Jack and Quinn both snickered having both thought the same thing.

“Really?” Luke deadpanned looking at his snickering brothers and the mischievous smile on his little sister’s face.

“What i don’t.” Carter just innocently shrugged plopping a strawberry into her mouth.

Luke rolled his eyes grabbing a grape about to throw it at Carter when his name as called out, “Luke Hughes you better put that grape down right.” Ellen sternly called as walked into the room.

Luke slowly plopped the grape into his mouth, “Yes mom.”

Carter coughed to cover her laugh, but Jack who seemingly couldn’t do the same got a smack on the back of his head from their mother.

“Mom!” Jack exclaimed looking at their mother in pure offense.

Ellen only raised her eyebrow giving him a look making Jack look back towards his plate and Ellen smile slightly.

“Ready sweetheart.” Ellen looked at Carter seeing her plate already empty. Carter nodded grabbing her phone standing up and following her mother to her bathroom.

Carter having washed and blow dried her hair last night having planned just to straighten today. She sat on the toilet seeing the straighten already heating up. Ellen grabbed the heat protectin spraying it all around Carters hair before brushing it out and sectioning it. Ellen started straightening Carters very long hair, while Carter started doing her makeup.

Carter just chose a very light base that would good with the bright lights and cameras, some mascara and just a light pink glossy lip. Carter finished her makeup just as Ellen finished her hair.

“You look beautiful.” Ellen smiled resting her hands on Carter shoulders remembering all the times with Carter growing up where they did her hair like this.

“Thank you mom.” Carter smiled resting her hand on top of her mother’s.

“Ok i hung up your outfit and your shoes are here as well.” Ellen gestures to the outfit on a hanger hanging on the towel rack and the boots on the floor below the outfit, “I’ll let you get dressed.” Ellen squeezed her shoulder before walking out the bathroom and closing the door.

Carter got up grabbing her outfit she had picked for her a big day and put it on, she picked a all white jumpsuit with a brown belt and a black blazer that will lay over her shoulders, she zipped up her black pointed toe heeled boots.

Carter slipped on all her meaningful rings. A ring she got from Connor, the first thing he ever gave her was a ring that they found when shopping around a market in Sweden it’s silver with two small gems one green and one red, a all silver ringer with the engravings of waves that Quinn gave her when he visited her for the first time in Regina, A infinite knot ring that Luke and Carter have matching and got for each other when they moved away from each other, another ring with a raven figure on the top a present from Jack in honor of her nickname, a ring her parents got that are two rings connected together one all smooth and the other has a ribbed pattern.

Carter smiled in the mirror before she walked out of the bathroom grabbing the other’s attention.

“Well?” Carter softly questioned as did a soft little spin and seeing her family’s stunned faces.

“Oh darling you look perfect.” Ellen smiled clapping her hands, Jim smiled nodding in agreement with his wife.

“Beautiful Cart.” Quinn softly smiled making her smile back.

Luke playfully whistled making Carter laugh.

Jack could only see how much his little sister has grown, it hit him then just realizing how much they have missed with each other’s life’s and how much she really grown up.

Jack stood up pulling Carter in a tight hug, “You look beautiful Ree.” He pressed a kiss to the side of her head.

“Thanks Jacky.” Carter squeezed him tighter before pulling away.

Quinn, Jack and Luke shared a look before Quinn got up walking out the room, Carter looked at him in curiosity, before looking at her other two brothers seeing their smiles.

Quinn walked back in with a small box with a little bow on the top and handed it to Carter, “It’s from all three of us.” Quinn smiled knowing how much they all tried to find something for their little sister on her big day.

Carter gently took the box, untying the bow and taking the top off she gently picked up the necklace, she looked at the necklace seeing it’s a pendant with the a bird engraved on the front, she clicked it open seeing a picture of her and her brothers when they were kids and they were all grinning together on the ice. A pendant small enough she could easily play hockey with it on.

Carter gently brushed her fingers over the photo, “It’s beautiful.” Carter looked up smiling. softly at her brothers, “Thank you.” Jack smiled nodding he stood up gently gesturing to the necklace, Carter handed it to him. Jack walked around to her back and gently moved her hair to the side clipping on the necklace.

Carter smiled touching the pendant that fell perfectly onto her chest, having not been able to find a necklace that she liked to wear for her draft day and decided she wasn’t going to wear one but now it’s even more special as it’s a piece of her brothers with her.

“Ready darling.” Ellen looked at her daughter proudly. Knowing the camera’s were going to be coming any minute and the rest of the family would be joining them soon. Carter having wanted to be ready before the cameras wanting to have that moment with her family only.

“Ready.” Carter nodded just as a knock on the door echoed through the room.

Carter wasn’t sure how the time seemed to past so fast but she was already on the bus that was talking them to the arena for the draft. She had asked Jack to sit next to her on the bus, knowing Luke and Quinn were sitting next to her in the Arena.

The four siblings having moved around every draft so they are all there together, Quinn’s draft Carter and Jack sat next to him and Luke next to Carter, Jack’s draft Luke and Quinn sat next to him and Carter next to Quinn, Luke’s draft Jack and Carter sat next to him and Quinn next to Carter, So Carter’s draft she would have Luke and Quinn next to her and Jack next to Luke.

“Nervous.” Jack quietly whispered quietly to his sister even though he knew she had a microphone on her for the video NHL films for the drafts.

“No, Anticipation.” Carter answered fiddling with her rings.

“Yeah that’s the worst part.” Jack gently laid his hand over hers stopping her from fiddling and accidentally chipping her nails, he knew she would be upset if she chipped her red nails.

“I’m excited.” Carter quietly whispered back, feeling like she was back to the days when she was a child and she would go to Jack and hide in his bed during the night and they would whisper back and forth with each other.

“I’m excited for you. I’m proud of you.” Jack gently laid a soft kiss to her forehead already feeling emotional knowing his sister is making history and he’s got to see her grow up into an amazing young women and he couldn’t wait to see how much she continues to grow.

Carter smiled squeezing her brothers hand in gratitude before resting her head on his shoulder for the remainder of the drive.

The bus stopped in front of the Arena and Carter could hear all the cheers from the fans waiting outside, she took a breath before feeling Jack knock his shoulder to hers, She looked up at him and saw Jack smiling at her and gave her a wink, Carter just breathed out a small chuckle before standing up and fixing her Blazer over her shoulder and walking out the bus blinking slighty from the loudness of cheers that grew when she stepped out.

Carter walked down the red carpet signing lots of stuff for fans and taking pictures with alot of the fans, stopping to do a few quick interviews but before she knew she was already in her seat seeing the Arena almost fully filled and the draft just about to start.

Carter reached over to her right grabbing Quinn’s hand latching onto his hand the same way she had for years, Quinn smiled gently squeezing her hand back.

“Canucks you are on the clock.” Carter took a small breath closing her eyes and squeezed Quinn’s hand once more before she opened her eyes watching the many people part of the Canuck’s team walk up on the stage.

“With the first overall selection in the 2022 NHL draft, The Vancouver Canucks are very proud to select from the Regina Pats, The Western Hockey League.” The cheers went crazy as name of the team was said, everyone already knowing who was going to first, “Carter Hughes.”

Carter smiled slightly seemingly breathing out a breath before standing up looking towards her big brother who was grinning so wide, the widest she’s ever seen him smile as he pulled her in a tight hug rocking her back and forth, “I’m so so so proud of you Cart.”

“I love you thank you.” Carter whispered to Quinn and they pulled back from the hug and Quinn’s eyes were misty with tears watching his little sister make history and knowing they will be playing together soon. A dream the two have had for a long time.

Carter smiled turning around towards Luke automatically getting pulled into a tight hug, “Enjoy this moment Reese’s pieces, it’s all yours.”

“Thank you Lu, i love you.” Luke squeezed her tighter before letting her go and letting her scoot by and watching Jack pull Carter into a tight hug, a hug Carter equally hugged back.

“Enjoy this alright little bird, you deserve it.” Jack whispered being torn between being so proud but also knowing firsthand how hard it can be being the first pick and he knows that it will be harder for his sister, not only being the first girl drafted in the NHL but also being drafted first.

“Thank you Jacky so much, i love you.” Carter squeezed him harder having not told anyone but the reason she chose the position she plays was to be like Jack. Quinn was always her protector, Luke her partner in crime but Jack, Jack was her role more and Jack has always been the one she wanted to be the most like.

Carter gently moved past her brother heading right into her mother’s awaiting arms, “Oh my sweet girl i’m so proud of you.” Ellen pressed a light kiss to the side of Carter’s head.

“This is for you mom. Thank you i love you.” Carter having been extra determined to get into the NHL for her mother, the one who gave up her career for her children and didn’t get to play to her full potential. Ellen squeezed her tighter hearing that before letting her go to Jim.

Jim kissed her cheek before pulling his daughter into a tight hug, “Well done sweetheart.”

“Thank you Dad, i love you.” Carter smiled into his shoulders before letting go and slipping of her black blazer letting her dad take it as she shook some of the other draft players hands as she walked down the stairs right before she walked across the cat walk like stage.

Carter took a deep breath before walking across with her head help high and slight smile, she reached the end seeing a man who shook her hand and tuned her towards the crowds that were cheering for her, “Look out there, that’s all for you.”

Carter smiled looking at the crowds before her eyes notice a familiar face sitting in the lower sections watching her, he gave her a slight wave with a proud smile gracing his face, Carter’s smile got a little brighter when she realized Connor was here.

“Congratulations.” The man shook her hand once more letting her then walk across the stage shaking the hand of every person on the stage and thanking them all before taking the beautiful blue Vancouver Canucks jersey from the kid’s hands smiling slightly when she noticed they had got her number on it already, she slipped it on, feeling right at home in the Vancouver Blue, before taking the Hat and putting it on her head. She felt the arms of the other people around her and smiled towards the cameras specifically at the ones she could see her parents holding up at her.

“They already had her number on the jersey.” The player behind the row the Hughes were sitting in whispered to their family.

Everyone already knew who ever got the first pick in the draft would be taking Carter Hughes.

Jack furrowed his brows looking at the jersey when she turned slightly seeing the number 86 on her sleeve, “Oh my god.”

“What?” Luke looked at Jack in question, nothing the mist forming in Jack’s eyes.

“She picked her number.” Jack slowly spoke now realizing why Carter haven’t told anyone the number she chose yet. Carter since playing when she was younger always used 8 and her brothers used 6, Jack then chose 86 and Quinn chose 43, Luke chose 43 as well so Carter thought it was only right for her to pick 86.

Quinn looked at the Jersey loving how well it seemed to fit her already but smiled seeing the number knowing Carter chose that in honor of Jack.

Luke smiled seeing how touched Jack was and now all of there numbers connected with each other and he can’t wait till they are all together on the ice for a game for the first time.

Carter waved slightly to her family chuckling slightly when Jack and Luke were cheering extra loud towards her and the large smile that’s been on Quinn’s face, and the proud expression etched on both of her Parent’s faces.

Carter let herself be lead by the media going straight into a interview before getting dragged to shooting room getting many photo’s and video’s taken before heading to a room to start signing stacks of hats for fans, finally after a few hours she was free to go back to her family after having congratulated the others who were drafted she walked down the hallway that was quiet as most people were already gone or inside the arena where all the seats are, As the draft had already finished for the night.

Carter looked over seeing someone turn around the corner waking down the hallway towards her and she knew that hair from anyway.

“Con!” Carter grinned calling out gaining Connor’s attention making him immediately look up at the sound of his favorite voice.

“Hi Roo.” Connor softly grinned at his best friend quickly meeting her in the middle of the hallway pulling her into a tight hug, “Congratulations Roo you deserved it!” Connor slowly breathed in the soft vanilla scent that has always been around Carter’s.

“Thanks Connie.” Carter rested her head on her best friend’s chest enjoying the comfort that always comes from Connor.

Carter reluctantly pulled away from him, “I didn’t know you were coming today?”

Connor sheepishly smiled brushing a hand through his hair, “Thought it was a good surprise.”

Carter smiled softly grabbing his hands gently squeezing both of his hands, “A very good surprise Connie. Thank you.”

“Of course Roo.” Connor smiled at this best friend, having called her Roo for years after hearing how much she loves Kangaroos, “You should probably get to your family, but if your free later or tomorrow i’m in room 289.” Connor knowing he had to get to an interview and her family was probably waiting for her.

“Alright see you later Con.” Carter leaned up pressing a soft kiss to his cheek before flashing him a soft smile and heading down the hallway towards the inside of the Arena where her family was.

Connor felt the blood rushing to his cheeks and pressed his lips togetehr trying to desperately hold make the grin that wanted to form as he watched her walk down the hallway.

“There she is!” Luke cheered as he walked over towards them. Carter smiled fondly at her brother as she walked to her family and Luke picked her up into a hug spinning her around, Carter just chuckled into the hug use to Luke picking her up.

Luke gently set her down keeping his arm in her shoulders.

“You picked 86.” Jack stated still looking confused as he looked towards his little sister for an answer.

Carter felt her cheeks get a little pink but she ignored it, “We’ll Luke had to have the same as Quinn, i figured i needed to pick yours.” She tired to tease her brother trying to ignore why she truthfully picked that number.

“Hey! I didn’t have to have the same as Quinn!” Luke complained with a groan making his siblings laugh at his annoyance.

Jack walk to his sister pulling her into a soft hug, “Thank you.” Jack saw how Carter tried to ignore the question but he understood why she picked the number.

“Of course.” Carter smiled hugging him back. Before they gently pulled back but Jack put his arm around her shoulder sending a teasing look to Luke.

“You hungry darling?” Ellen asked where her and Jim were watching their kids well almost all adults now.

“Starving!” Carter quickly answered and truthfully she’s been starving for a while.

“Let’s go get you some food yeah.” Ellen smiled at her daughter as the Hughes family walked out the Arena and down the block to the restaurant Ellen had called for a private room for them to eat in.

They got into the restaurant and stayed there till it was already pitch dark outside just enjoying the time with just the 6 of them.

They all got a car back to the hotel before saying goodnight to each other and going into the two separate hotel rooms for the night and all four of the siblings quickly were in their own bed and relaxing.

Carter sat on her bed looking at her phone before getting up out of bed and slipping on her slides, she got the attention of her other three brothers who were all in their own beds on their phones but looked up when she started walking towards the door.

“Where your going Ree?” Jack questioned looking at his sister.

“Just getting some fresh air, don’t wait up.” Carter quickly explained before heading out for the hotel room.

Quinn raised an eyebrow having seen Connor in the other section during the draft and that’s most likely where Carter is going.

Carter headed into the elevator going down to level two and walked out the doors once they opened and headed to the the number that Connor said was his room, She knocked four times in row a knock, the knock the two had made a few years ago. She could hear Connor’s feet hit the floor getting off his bed and walking towards the door, He opened the door smiling when he saw Carter, “Hey Ro-“

He was cut off by Carter cupping his face and kissing him softly making Connor blink before quickly kissing her back, his hands on her hips pulling her closer as they walked into the room and Carter kicking the door shut behind them.

Connor slowly pulled away from Carter letting them catch their breaths as their foreheads rested together, both of them having kissed a few times before. “Are you sure?” Connor questioned looking at her for any hesitation.

“I wouldn’t want it to be anyone else Con.” Carter reassured rubbing her thumb across his cheekbone as she held his face in her hands. Connor smiled nodding before reconnecting their lips and turning them around and gently leading them to his bed and gently leaning down letting Carter’s back hit the mattress before they were in bed together for the rest of the night.

Carter woke up to feeling of an arm wrapped around her and her forehead leaning against a chest, she heard the sound of Connors heartbeat and could see the sunlight peaking through the cracks of the curtains. Carter shuffled slightly under the blankets feeling her body sore from the night before.

Carter hand gently rested on Connors arm that was across her waist, she gently drew little shapes on his arms, before she felt him shift slighty and looked up seeing his eyes open and looking down at her with a soft expression that made her incredibly nervous.

“Hi.” Connor breathed out his voice deeper than usual.

“Hi.” Carter quietly whispered back smiling slighty towards him.

Connor could see she was nervous from what happened last night and honestly so was he. He knew last night was big for both of them neither having done that before but he also knew neither of them were ready to talk about the change in their friendship. Connor cupped ther back of head his thump gently brushing her hand, “Don’t worry we don’t need to talk now ok.”

Carter seemed to relax after Connor said that, “Thank you.” She smiled at Connor, the boy she’s been falling for the last few years but mostly her best friend first, “I’m sorry but i should probably get back to my hotel.”

Connor felt a pang of disappointment but understood, “Of course Roo.” He reluctantly pulled his arm off her and saw Carter slowly get out from the covers stretching her legs before getting up and pulling on her grey sweatpants that were quickly thrown off last night and her plain blue t-shirt before looking at the desk and chair next to the bed and stealing Connor’s Regina Pats hoodie and slipping it on, she slipped on her slides.

Carter turned around back to bed resting a knee on the bed as she leaned over and gently kissing Connor’s forehead and brushing back his fluffy hair, “I’ll see you soon okay.”

Conor’s hand gently rested on her back pressing a kiss to her cheek, “Yeah i’ll see you soon.”

Connor had been glad that she was going to Canucks as he drives or flys home many time during the season and his home is only a few minutes from the Canuck Stadium. Connor and Carter having made the drive from Regina to Vancouver many times over the last two years.

Carter gently leaned off the bed grabbing her phone on the desk and headed out of his hotel room sending Connor one last look over her shoulder before closing the door.

Carter walked into the elevator and clicked on her phone seeing it’s already 8:30 but knew her brothers would all still be sleeping so there was no need to worry.

She walked out the elevator down the hallway opening her hotel door with the key and froze at the sight of Quinn leaning up in bed on his phone.

Quinn looked up at the sound of the door raising an eyebrow as the disheveled Carter standing at the door, not having a hard time figuring out where she went.

“Don’t. Don’t say a word.” Carter shook her head seeing Quinn open his mouth and walked right into the bathroom to take a shower.

“Word.” Quinn mumbled to himself.

[snuggerudsz]

2 TIMES NICO HISCHIER DIDN'T KISSED YOU (AND THE ONE HE DID) l NH13

summary: two times nico hischier almost kissed his best friend and the one time he actually did it.

pairing: nico hischier x fem!reader

author's note: hello!!! finally posting something for my man, there will be more coming for captain hisch so keep an eye out for that. likes and reblogs are always welcomed and appreciated!!! thank you so much for reading, i hope you enjoy it!!! :) <3333

1.

It was the day before your 16th birthday. The night, actually. There were only a few hours until midnight, officially starting your birthday. You and Nico had been friends since you were little, and the tradition of being each other first birthday wishes had started so long ago that you couldn’t remember a time when the two of you didn’t do it. Keeping your childhood tradition alive, you and Nico sat in your backyard, sharing a blanket to try 一 keyword: try 一 to preserve yourselves warm, fighting against the cold Swiss night. 

Slowly, you lower your head, laying it on Nico’s shoulder. It wasn’t abnormal for the two of you to be touchy with each other, after all of the years you’d been friends, it was like second nature. You had never been as comfortable with anyone as you are with Nico. Which is why the silence of the moment didn’t bother you. 

For a moment, you turn your head to look at Nico, your best friend, partner in crime, and favorite person in the whole world. And he looks back, with his big brown doe eyes that make your heart flutter and your brain short circuit. And your faces are so close, your noses almost touching and you can feel his hot breathing on your face. For one moment, you swear he’s coming closer, alternating his eyes between your eyes and your lips. 

Until his alarm sounds loud. It’s midnight.

You two almost jump away from each other, wide startled eyes looking at each other.

“Happy birthday,” Nico says, an awkward smile gracing his lips.

You nod, saying thank you so quietly you’re not sure he heard you. But he did, Nico always listens to you.

2.

You had always known Nico was destined for greatness. He was the most hardworking, passionate, and dedicated person you had ever met in your entire life. However, it was still quite difficult to believe you really traveled all the way from your little part of the world in Switzerland to the US to watch the NHL Draft. But, if there’s a person in the world who deserves it, it is Nico, you know it. And when The New Jersey Devils take him 1st overall, you can’t believe it. You can feel your heart bursting with pride. Nico hugs you tightly and you whisper to him, telling him how proud you are. It’s one of the happiest moments of your life, how could it not? It’s Nico, your Nico, whom you’ve known since you were 2, and he was achieving his biggest dream. You were so happy for him. Still, there was this terrible feeling at the back of your mind. When he first left Valais for Bern, it was hard, but he was still in the same country. Then, he left for Canada, when the Halifax Mooseheads drafted him. And now, he’d just been drafted into the NHL, and it felt so much more real, and the unavoidable reality which Nico and you are never gonna live in the same country again dawned on you, while you were sitting there, watching him become a devil.

It takes a while until Nico has some time to talk to you and his family again, he has been giving interviews to what seems like every single hockey reporter in the world.  But when he finally gets to talk to all of you, he’s glowing, smiling so hard you wonder how his cheeks aren’t hurting. After talking with his family for a good while, you and Nico finally get some time just the two of you.

“Are you ok?” He questions, looking at you. Damned be Nico Hischier and his ability to read you, to always know exactly how you’re feeling. 

“Of course I am Ni. I’m so happy for you. So proud.” You answer, truthfully. “I’ll just miss you. But we’ll survive, right?” 

“Obviously. It’s me and you always, remember?” Nico lets a half laugh escape, smiling down at you, holding your right hand in his.

“Always, Neeks. Always.” You reply, looking up at him, interlocking your fingers with his.

You and Nico stare at each other for a few seconds, getting closer and closer until Katja calls you out from the other room for some more pictures.

+1

Summer was always amazing. Nico came home, and you’d make the most of the time you had together. This year the Devils’ had gone on to the playoffs, still ending their season short of a Stanley Cup, but it was still incredibly impressive what they had been able to do.  So, when Nico got to Switzerland, he definitely looked like he was more at peace with the way their season came to a finish, unlike previous years.  And it was probably one of the greatest summers you had in recent years. But not today. It is Nico’s last day before he has to go back to Jersey.

You had brunch with his siblings, and now you two were in his childhood bedroom. It was not your first time here; in reality, you probably had been in this room more than Nico himself if we’re being honest. Both of you were sitting in his bed, side by side, going through a box of old pictures Rino found a few days ago. There were so many memories, so many moments eternalized in those pictures. Nico and you had been laughing at the faces you made, at all of the things you’d been through together. 

You couldn’t pinpoint the moment you threw your legs on top of his, or even the moment you two had gotten so close. But when you noticed, you were almost on top of Nico. Truth be told, Nico had noticed. He always did when it was you. He knew everything about you. He knows that your favorite color is lilac, that you play with your bracelet and rings when you’re nervous, that your favorite subject was chemistry because it made you feel smart, and how you always hide your smile with your hands when you laugh 一 which Nico firmly believes should be a crime, because how dare you hide your smile? 

So, he noticed. And he had been fighting with himself for around twenty minutes now because you look way too good not to be kissed, but he was so scared. You are one of the most important people in his life. It had been (Y/N) and Nico for 22 years, he couldn’t lose that. It was very difficult to ignore the urge to kiss you, hold you, and tell you about how much he loves you, how he has been in love with you since you were 14, and how he has tried so fucking hard but he will never find anyone like you. It was bordering on impossible. Until it was impossible and, in a strike of courage, a second of bravery, Nico Hischier finally kissed you. Both his hands holding your face, while you, after moving on from the shock, reciprocate the kiss, one of your hands in his neck and the other in his hair. 

Nico kissed you slowly. He was kissing you like there was nowhere else he’d rather be. He smiled into the kiss, finally kissing the girl he always wanted. His heart was missing beats and he felt his hand couldn’t bring her close enough to him. Somewhere in the universe all of the stars could be burning out, the sky could cave but all he cared about was how she tasted and the warmth of her skin against his. Neither of you had ever felt so alive and you bith know this is the start of something beautiful.