#Vancouver Airport Hotels

[green-spaces-in-vancouver]

Top Richmond Hotels: Your Perfect Stay Await

Richmond hotels offering comfort, convenience, and exceptional service. Find the perfect accommodation to suit your needs and make your stay unforgettable.

[grandparkhotel]

The best things to do in Gastown, Vancouver

Nestled in Vancouver's vibrant downtown core lies one of the city's most historic neighborhoods - Gastown. As the birthplace of Vancouver over 130 years ago, Gastown has managed to preserve much of its charming heritage character while embracing new developments. From its iconic Steam Clock and cobbled streets to scenic parks and architectural gems, this unique district offers an eclectic mix of things to discover. In this blog post, we will explore six of the top attractions in Gastown that provide fun and educational activities for any visitor to enjoy.

Watch the Steam Clock in action

One of the most recognizable landmarks in Gastown is the Steam Clock, located at the corner of Water and Cambie streets. Emitting bursts of steam every 15 minutes, the Steam Clock is definitely a quirky piece of Vancouver history not to be missed. Said to be the only steam-powered clock in the world, it was designed and created by E.D. Smith in 1977 as a tribute to the city's steam-powered past. Visitors are welcomed to watch through the clock's glass casing as the internal mechanisms precisely release steam to power the clock's movement. Crowds typically gather on the quarter hour to witness the explosions of steam. Catching the Steam Clock in action is a unique way to experience Gastown's coal- and steam-powered history while admiring the impressive engineering that goes into keeping this one-of-a-kind timepiece working.

Wander CRAB Park

Located right along the waterfront, CRAB Park is a relaxing green space that allows visitors to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown Vancouver. The 4-acre park is situated on Pier 3 in Gastown and features over 800 feet of seawall, making it a lovely spot to wander and take in views of Burrard Inlet and the North Shore mountains. Large grassy areas and wooden walking paths cutting through lush landscaping invite park-goers to stroll beneath the shade of tall trees. Benches are plentiful for soaking in the serenity of lapping waves or observing seabirds andsmall boats traveling by. A short detour also leads to nearby history exhibits along the seawall, shedding light on Gastown's past. With beautiful gardens and coastal scenery, CRAB Park offers a calming change of pace for exploring the historic waterfront neighborhood.

Admire the cobbled streets

Wandering along Gastown's quaint cobbled streets allows visitors to step back in time. Laid out in the 1880s, these original pavement stones carved out of Mount Seymour granite connect many of the area's preserved historic buildings. Travelers staying at a Vancouver airport hotel will enjoy a change of scenery as they stroll down the uneven roads, transporting them to a slower era. The striking contrast of modern metropolis Vancouver against Gastown's charming Old West facades make the neighborhood uniquely memorable. Visitors can spend hours admiring the eclectic mix of architectural styles from the late 19th century, such as ornate wooden details and facades characteristic of the Victorian and Edwardian periods. Observing the cobbled streets offers a glimpse into how the city emerged and the importance Gastown played in its early years.

Take in the views of the city from the Vancouver Lookout

For spectacular 360-degree views of Vancouver's stunning natural landscape and vibrant downtown skyline, the Vancouver Lookout offers one of the best vantage points in the city. Situated on Levels 22 and 23 of the Stanley Park Pavilion building, visitors staying at a Vancouver airport hotel will be impressed by the expansive panoramas visible from this observation point. On a clear day, travelers can see across the Georgia Strait towards Vancouver Island and the Coast Mountains while taking in the lush rainforest of Stanley Park below. They will get a true sense of Vancouver's geographic setting as a coastal city cradled between mountains and waterways. Spending some time taking pictures from the Vancouver Lookout is a memorable way to appreciate the beauty of the area from high above.

Waterfront Station

Waterfront Station is a major transportation hub located in the heart of Gastown. Serving as a stop for TransLink's SkyTrain, SeaBus, and regional bus routes, it sees heavy passenger traffic each day. However, Waterfront Station is equally interesting as a vibrant destination in its own right. The spacious building houses numerous shops, restaurants, and cafes, making it a delightful place for visitors staying at a Vancouver airport hotel to while away some time. Wander through to find everything from local crafts and souvenirs to coffee shops serving artisanal brews and restaurants dishing up fresh Pacific Northwest cuisine. Up above, the spacious mezzanine level offers picturesque city views through towering windows. Whether commuting or exploring the neighborhood, travelers will find Waterfront Station a convenient and lively setting to take a break in downtown Vancouver.

Byrnes Block

The Byrnes Block stands prominently on the corner of Water and Carrall Streets as one of Gastown's most historic buildings. Constructed in 1888, it's considered among the finest examples of classic Victorian commercial architecture remaining in Vancouver. Its grand brick façade with arched windows and decorative wooden balconies immediately catches the eyes of passersby. Today, the building houses boutique shops, cafes and art studios, giving visitors insight into how businesses operated in the thriving city center over a century ago. Tourists staying at a Vancouver airport hotel can spend time admiring the intricate details and reading the interpretive panels that relay this preserved piece of the neighborhood's past. Wandering inside the Byrnes Block offers a peek into late 19th-century life and a chance to reminisce on Gastown's early days as the heart of the Canadian Pacific Railway terminus.

Conclusion

Spending time wandering the preserved streets of Gastown allows travelers to step back in time and learn about Vancouver's beginnings. With so much to see and do ranging from iconic landmarks to relaxing green spaces, the neighborhood deserves at least half a day's exploration. Visitors staying at a Vancouver airport hotel will find Gastown a convenient and memorable destination to experience historic charm amidst the vibrant city. From grand architecture to breathtaking views, this eclectic district succeeds in drawing you into its rich past while still feeling lively and welcoming today.

[7-best-things-to-do-in-vancouver]

7 Best Things To Do In Vancouver For All-round Fun

Vancouver is a vibrant city nestled between the mountains and the ocean, offering a plethora of activities that cater to diverse interests. Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast, a culture vulture, or simply seeking a good time, Vancouver has something for everyone. In this blog, we'll explore seven of the best things to do in Vancouver for an all-round fun experience.

Experience the Sea to Sky Gondola

Vancouver airport hotels with shuttle provide convenient access to the Sea to Sky Gondola, a breathtaking aerial ride that takes you to the Summit Lodge on the West Coast's third-tallest mountain. From the top, you'll be treated to panoramic views of Howe Sound, the coastal rainforest, and the surrounding mountain ranges. Hiking trails, suspension bridges, and the Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge await adventurers, while those seeking a more relaxed experience can enjoy the views from the lodge's restaurant and observation decks.

Spend time at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

Step into a tranquil oasis in the heart of Vancouver's Chinatown at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. This authentic Ming Dynasty-style garden is a masterpiece of traditional Chinese architecture and landscaping, complete with intricate pavilions, winding paths, and serene ponds. Visitors can explore the garden's nooks and crannies, attend cultural events, or simply find peace and serenity amidst the lush greenery.

Ride the aerial tram to Grouse Mountain

Vancouver airport hotels with shuttle offer easy access to Grouse Mountain, a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Take the iconic Grouse Mountain Skyride, a scenic aerial tram that whisks you to the peak, where you can enjoy stunning views, hiking trails, and a variety of activities. During the winter months, Grouse Mountain transforms into a winter wonderland with skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing opportunities.

Visit Nitobe Memorial Garden

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city at the Nitobe Memorial Garden, a traditional Japanese garden located on the University of British Columbia campus. This serene oasis features meticulously manicured landscapes, koi ponds, and beautiful wooden structures that exemplify the principles of Japanese garden design. Take a stroll along the peaceful paths, admire the intricate stonework, and find tranquility in the garden's harmonious blend of nature and architecture.

Explore the West End beaches

Vancouver airport hotels with shuttle offer convenient access to the city's stunning West End beaches. Stroll along the shores of English Bay, take a dip in the refreshing waters, or simply bask in the sun and enjoy the views of the North Shore mountains. Attend one of the many beach festivals or concerts, or visit the vibrant Davie Village, known for its LGBTQ+ community and lively atmosphere.

Go cycling in Stanley Park

Stanley Park, a vast urban oasis, is a must-visit destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Rent a bicycle and explore the park's 28 kilometers of scenic trails winding through towering forests, peaceful beaches, and stunning viewpoints. Stop by the Vancouver Aquarium, visit the totem poles, or simply enjoy a picnic amidst the park's natural beauty.

Hike the Grouse Grind

For those seeking an adrenaline-fueled adventure, the Grouse Grind is a challenging hike that will test your endurance. This grueling 2.9-kilometer trail, known as "Mother Nature's Stairmaster," features 2,830 stairs that climb 853 meters up the face of Grouse Mountain. While the hike is strenuous, the sense of accomplishment and the stunning views from the summit make it well worth the effort. Vancouver airport hotels with shuttle provide easy access to this iconic hiking trail. Whether you're seeking outdoor adventures, cultural immersion, or simply a relaxing escape, Vancouver offers a diverse array of activities to suit every taste. From the breathtaking mountain vistas to the serene gardens and vibrant beaches, this city promises an unforgettable experience that will leave you wanting more.

[romantic-ideas-for-a-honeymoon]

Romantic Ideas for a Honeymoon in Vancouver

Vancouver, the jewel of British Columbia, offers an enchanting blend of urban sophistication and natural beauty, making it an ideal destination for honeymooners. This vibrant city boasts a variety of romantic experiences that cater to every couple's taste, from tranquil park strolls to exhilarating seaplane tours. Let's explore some of the most captivating honeymoon ideas that Vancouver has to offer.

Ride a Horse-Drawn Carriage in Stanley Park

Step back in time and indulge in a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride through Stanley Park, one of North America's largest urban parks. As you snuggle under a cozy blanket, the gentle clip-clop of hooves will transport you through the park's lush, ancient forest. Admire the towering cedars, hemlocks, and Douglas firs that have stood for centuries, creating a fairy-tale ambiance. The carriage will wind along the seawall, offering breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, Lions Gate Bridge, and the North Shore Mountains. This serene journey provides a perfect opportunity to hold hands, share intimate moments, and create lasting memories in one of Vancouver's most iconic settings.

Take in the View from Prospect Point

For a panoramic view that encapsulates Vancouver's stunning geography, head to Prospect Point in Stanley Park. This elevated viewpoint offers an unparalleled vista that will take your breath away. Watch as massive freighters and cruise ships navigate the Burrard Inlet, framed by the majestic Lions Gate Bridge. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Vancouver Island and the Olympic Mountains in Washington State. As the sun sets, the sky transforms into a canvas of vibrant oranges, pinks, and purples, casting a romantic glow over the cityscape. Prospect Point is also home to a charming café where you can enjoy a warm beverage or a light meal while basking in each other's company and the awe-inspiring scenery.

Tour Vancouver by Seaplane

For an unforgettable honeymoon experience, take to the skies with a seaplane tour of Vancouver. These intimate flights offer a unique perspective on the city's diverse landscape. As you lift off from Coal Harbour, right in the heart of downtown, you'll immediately be struck by the juxtaposition of gleaming skyscrapers against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Soar over Stanley Park, getting a bird's-eye view of its dense forest and winding seawall. Follow the coastline past beautiful beaches and exclusive waterfront homes. Your pilot will point out landmarks like Grouse Mountain, where you might spot skiers in winter, and Deep Cove, a hidden gem in North Vancouver. The tour culminates with a graceful water landing, an exhilarating end to a romantic aerial adventure.

See the Northern Lights from the Spanish Banks

For a truly magical honeymoon experience, venture to the Spanish Banks on a clear winter night to witness the mesmerizing Northern Lights. This stretch of beach in Vancouver's west end offers an unobstructed view of the northern sky, far from the city's light pollution. Bundle up in warm layers, bring a thermos of hot chocolate, and spread out a cozy blanket on the sand. As you lie back, gazing at the stars, you may be treated to nature's most spectacular light show. The Aurora Borealis dances across the sky in shimmering curtains of green, pink, and purple, reflected in the calm waters of English Bay. This ethereal display, visible on dark nights between late fall and early spring, creates an incredibly romantic atmosphere, perfect for whispered promises and shared dreams.

Visit the Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Gardens

From late November to early January, VanDusen Botanical Gardens transforms into a winter wonderland with its annual Festival of Lights. This enchanting event is a must-visit for honeymooners seeking a romantic holiday experience. As you stroll hand in hand through the 15-acre garden, you'll be surrounded by over one million twinkling lights artfully arranged to showcase the garden's natural beauty. Walk beneath glowing archways, past illuminated fountains, and through a sparkling tunnel of lights. The highlight is the Dancing Lights show on Livingstone Lake, where colorful lights synchronize with festive music, reflecting off the water in a dazzling display. Throughout the garden, you'll find cozy fire pits where you can warm up and enjoy roasted chestnuts or s'mores. The Festival of Lights offers a magical setting to celebrate your new life together, surrounded by the beauty and warmth of the holiday season. Vancouver's diverse attractions cater to every couple's idea of romance, whether it's the tranquility of a horse-drawn carriage ride, the thrill of a seaplane tour, or the enchantment of the Northern Lights. After each day's adventures, you'll appreciate returning to the comfort of your chosen accommodation. While this guide focuses on romantic experiences, it's worth noting that there are numerous hotels at YVR Vancouver Airport, providing convenient options for your arrival or departure. However, for the most romantic atmosphere, consider staying closer to these captivating attractions in the heart of Vancouver. Each experience offers a unique way to celebrate your love, making your honeymoon in this Pacific Northwest paradise truly unforgettable.

[thestarfishdancer]

Planned Retreat #3

[hotelbooking]

Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotel At Guests can enjoy convenient available parking right at the hotel. Front desk services including concierge service, express check-in or check-out, luggage storage and safety deposit boxes can assist with your needs. Packing light is possible at For the comfort and health of all guests, smoking is not permitted anywhere within the hotel. All rooms at In some select rooms, you can find a refrigerator, a coffee or tea maker and mini bar at your disposal. Every day at Apart from amenities and services, Check out the hotel's fitness facility to stay fit and firm on vacation. Grab some last-minute needs or local souvenirs for yourself or those back home without having to go anywhere at the shops and souvenir shops available right at on-site.

[fallinallincurls]

in picture frames, in all my dreams, you’re the one i want

this is my entry for @wyattjohnston 's winter fic exchange 2k24!! i wrote this fic for the lovely @laurenairay and i hope you love it so much! i had the best time writing this one (which means there will probably be more brock fics in the future). and shoutout to @tonyspep for bouncing ideas around with me as always!

i also made a playlist for this fic as well if you'd like to check it out!

hope you enjoy!! feedback is always appreciated! xx

word count: 3.8k+

~~~~~

This was not supposed to happen. You were supposed to be on a plane back to Minnesota right now so you would be home in time for Christmas. But when you arrived at the airport earlier, the board of departures were full of canceled flights including yours. And when you brought your dilemma to the customer service desk, they informed you that all flights out of Vancouver were either booked or canceled through the 26th. The day after Christmas.

That’s how you ended up where you are now. Frantically knocking on your best friend’s front door and trying to hold back the overwhelming urge to cry.

“Come on, come on, come on.” You mutter to yourself, knocking one more time in hopes that the one person you want to see right now will answer.

At that very moment, the door swings open to reveal a cozy but sleepy looking Brock. He’s wearing a pair of gray sweats with an old Canucks t-shirt. His blonde hair is tousled but still somehow looks perfect and his blue eyes light up at the sight of you. You love seeing him like this, so soft and relaxed. The Brock that the media and fans don’t know, but you do. 

“Uh, hi. Again.” You say quietly while offering a watery smile.

“Y/N?” Brock asks, still rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. You don’t blame him, it is only six in the morning. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you going home today?”

“Well yeah, but the insane snow storm had other plans. My flight was canceled and I can’t get anything until after Christmas. So I’m kind of stuck here.”

“A week of me wasn’t enough for you?” He teases, that familiar smile brightening up his face. You just shrug in response, your lips just barely tipping up at his playfulness.

Without saying another word, Brock pulls you into his arms for the tightest hug. It takes everything in you not to sob against his sturdy chest as the warmth and comfort he always carries surrounds you.

“I’m going to miss Christmas.” The terrifying admission tumbles from your lips as tears start falling. You’ve never missed a Christmas at home with your family and you can’t imagine spending the magical day stranded halfway across the continent. 

“No, you’re not.” Brock murmurs, smoothing your hair down as he holds you. The small gesture immediately makes you feel more at ease. It’s something only he knows that will help calm you down when you’re upset. Before you protest, Brock makes a split second decision. “You’re going to spend Christmas here, with me. We’re going to celebrate Christmas together. And you can stay here since all the hotels are probably booked or mad expensive, it’s just easier.”

It takes a moment for Brock’s words to register in your mind, but when they do, your heart swells. Of course he would welcome you in for a holiday that you weren’t supposed to spend with him. He would do anything for you and he’s been that way since you were kids. But right now, you’re more grateful than ever for his kindness.

“Are you sure? I was only supposed to visit you for a week.” You ask faintly, voicing the only worry that surfaced at his suggestion. 

When the University of Minnesota, the school that you’re currently a professor at, announced the dates of winter break, you immediately booked a flight out to Vancouver to spend some much needed time with your best friend. It’s tough to see Brock during the season because classes are also in session and schedules almost never line up. But you weren’t letting this opportunity pass by. The past week has been spent catching up and doing everything that was physically possible together. You couldn’t have been happier you made the trip until the debacle this morning put a damper on the unbelievable happiness you’ve been feeling since you arrived in Vancouver. 

“And the weather said a week wasn’t long enough.” Brock says, his tone of voice telling you there was no room for arguments. “I won’t let you spend Christmas alone so we’re doing this, okay? Plus, I don’t think Coolie and Milo will mind having you around for a few more days. You know how much they love you.”

“The dogs aren’t the only ones who love me.” Brock smiles at your playful comment and can’t help but chuckle at the truth of the oblivious statement. The full extent of his feelings for you that he’s been hiding for years is unknown to everyone but himself. And maybe Quinn and Petey. But he won’t admit how he feels about you until he knows the moment’s right, until maybe there’s a chance you feel the same way.

So he shrugs nonchalantly and lets a laugh slip past his lips while ignoring the way his heart races just from looking at you. Before he can say anything in response, you’re surging forward to hug him again.

“Thank you so much, really. It means the world to me. You have no idea.”

“You know I’d do anything for you.” Brock admits, honesty seeping through each word. “Besides, spending Christmas with you just made my holiday a lot more exciting.” 

“Please,” You roll your eyes in response, but the softest smile blossoms across your lips and the insane amount of anxiety that was consuming you a few minutes ago has already started to dissipate.

“C’mon,” Brock starts, pulling you through the door and over the threshold of his apartment. “You’re probably exhausted so let’s get you a nap and we’ll go from there.”

There’s no resistance as he leads you to his bedroom, hands you one of his t-shirts and tells you it’ll all be okay. Before you know it, you’re under the blankets, wrapped up in the warmth and coziness of Brock’s bed, drifting off to a much needed sleep.

When you wake up a few hours later, well rested and feeling much better, you find yourself squished between two large dogs. A giggle slips past your lips at the sight.

“Hey guys!” You exclaim, not wasting a second to give both Coolie and Milo some pets. “Lucky you, I’ll be here for a couple more days which means you’ll get plenty of extra snacks.”

“No, they won’t!” Brock calls from somewhere in the apartment, making a laugh bubble up in your throat. Even if your Christmas isn’t going to go as you had planned, you’re glad that you’ll be spending it with your favorite person in the world. 

The dogs race ahead of you to find Brock as you start making your way down the hallway. Although you’ve spent a decent amount of time in Brock’s apartment over your weeklong visit, you take a few extra seconds to look over the collection of pictures he has hanging on the wall throughout the hallway. Photos of him with his family, smiling with teammates, namely Petey and Quinn who you know have become his best friends, views from his many trips to different places around the world and of course, snapshots of you and him together. 

A smile blossoms on your face as you look over the memories frozen in time in each photo, laughing to yourself at the ridiculous ones Brock has hanging up that feature his teammates and you. But just before you’re about to head down the stairs to find him, one picture catches your eye. You don’t know how you missed it over the last week, but you must have.

Because staring back at you are little versions of you and Brock, flashing big, beaming grins at the camera in front of the sign to the summer camp you both attended for years. That’s how the two of you met and you remember looking forward to the summer just because it meant seeing and spending time with Brock. Even though you both lived in Minnesota, it wasn’t until you were older that you were able to communicate outside penpal letters sent in the mail and the ninety days you spent together on the campground where you both formed memories that will last a lifetime.

You couldn’t have been more than seven in the photo and it’s clear that both of you are happier than ever. That feeling is still present today whenever you’re with Brock, it’s nestled deep within your heart like it belongs there forever and you’ve carried it around for most of your life. It only took you years after he already had moved to Vancouver to realize that happiness can often be mistaken for love. 

Shoving those thoughts away, you bound down the stairs to meet your best friend again. There’s a new pep in your step as you’re determined to make the most of every second this Christmas even if it’s not what you expected. You’re here with Brock which is all you could ask for.

A gentle smile is already on your lips when you get to the bottom floor, but you halt almost immediately when you see the scene in front of you. Coolie and Milo are wearing the cutest doggie holiday sweaters and Brock is softly grinning while leaning against the kitchen counter which is full of a wide variety of baking ingredients. And when your eyes look over the living room, you notice a box labeled “ornaments” sitting atop the coffee table, undoubtedly full of all of the beautiful ornaments that were carefully hanging from the branches of Brock’s Christmas tree just hours ago. 

“What is-”

“I told you we were celebrating Christmas and we’re going to do it the right way.” Brock simply explains, blue eyes twinkling with joy and you see a flicker of nervousness there too. Like he isn’t sure if you like the gesture.

“Brock,” You breathe out, his name just above a whisper. 

“I know you love decorating the tree on Christmas Eve so I just took down the ornaments so we can do it together. And your family always bakes cookies the night before Christmas too and I surprisingly already had most of what we needed for the recipes.”

There aren’t enough words to properly show the gratitude, the love, that’s swelling in your chest so you just cross the room and wrap your arms around him in the tightest embrace. Brock immediately responds, pulling you even closer to him, and for a moment everything feels right. 

“Thank you,” The words are quiet, but Brock hears them and presses a delicate kiss to the top of your head. You pray he doesn’t feel the way your heart skips a beat at the sweet action and he must not because he pulls away with a big smile and a hint of mischief mixed with something else you can’t quite place evident in his eyes.

“Of course, you deserve nothing less. What do you want to do first?” He asks, ready to jump into either activity. But it’s right then that everything clicks.

“Wait, you went out in the snow to get the rest of the ingredients we needed?”

“Well, yeah, it’s not too bad. Compared to the snow we used to get at home, this is like nothing.”

“But it’s cold! And how did you get the recipes for my favorite Christmas cookies without-” You trail off, the realization setting in at the same moment Brock speaks up to confirm your suspicions.

“I called your mom. She was more than happy to share the recipes with me when I explained what I was up to. That was the easiest part actually!” 

If you weren’t already head over heels in love with him already, this moment would’ve sealed the deal. You can’t believe he went through all this trouble just to make the holiday special when you weren’t even supposed to be here in the first place. Nothing but adoration rushes through your veins and you can feel the blush creeping into your cheeks. Without hesitating, you lean up to kiss his cheek as yet another silent thank you and his skin almost immediately turns pink. 

“Alright, let’s do this, yeah?” He asks, distracting you from his reaction to the little gesture the two of you have been doing since you were younger and pulling you into the kitchen. It doesn’t take long for Christmas music to be turned on, filling the air with even more of a festive feeling. Brock makes sure your apron is tied on, just like you do for his, and then you’re off baking. You teach Brock all the techniques you’ve learned over the years from making these recipes and you get the pleasure of seeing him so free and happy.

You want to see him like this for the rest of your life. A big smile on his face, eyes crinkled in happiness and no sign of any stress hanging over him.

“What are we going to do with all these cookies?” The question falls off your lips after Brock slides the last batch into the oven. 

“Easy. You’ll take some back home with you so your mom can see how much of an awesome job I did and the rest I’ll give to the team. A lot of them won’t say no to homemade cookies even if it’s the middle of the season.” 

“If you say so,” You giggle, not being able to picture his teammates willingly accepting Christmas cookies when they’re in the middle of the best season the team has had in a long time. But you don’t argue, just set aside the best looking cookies that you and Brock decorated for Quinn and Petey, and sneak one to Coolie and Milo too, before getting the kitchen back in order.

After everything is cleaned up so the kitchen doesn’t look like a total disaster anymore and you both enjoy the takeout that Brock ordered for dinner, no time is wasted in moving to the living room to decorate the Christmas tree.

“Okay, where do we start?” You contemplate, gently placing your full mug of hot chocolate on the coffee table while surveying the tree glittering in the corner of the room. 

“I forgot how seriously you take decorating for the holidays.” Brock chuckles, opening the box that he put all the ornaments back in earlier. He didn’t really forget, in fact, he missed it more than anything. That’s more than half the reason he spent so much time taking every single bauble off the tree. Yes, he wanted to make sure Christmas was as magical for you as it would’ve been back home, but he also selfishly wanted to share this moment with you too.

And he’d be lying if he said his heart isn’t full to brim right now with what he knows is love. Not that you can tell or would ever know that.

“The tree is serious business!” You exclaim with a chuckle, watching as Brock carefully starts removing ornaments from the box one at a time. He hands you a simple, but gorgeous blue ball to hang up first.

Slowly, but surely, the two of you decorate the tree with the wide variety of ornaments Brock has. He tells you the stories behind the ones his teammates have gifted him, shares the laughter with you when he stumbles across one that has a picture of him as a toddler in the picture frame and recounts the memories of family or solo vacations whenever he hands you one that was clearly bought at a tourist shop. There’s a soft smile on Brock’s face that never disappears and you swear he keeps sneaking glances at you.  

The tree becomes more festive as each decoration once again finds a home on its branches and not for the first time today, you forget that this isn’t where you were meant to be for the holiday. But you’re kind of grateful for the snowstorm now. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have gotten to do any of this with the man who you’ve wanted for years.

“It’s done!” You cheer with excitement when you place the last ornament on the tree. “We did a pretty good job. Don’t you think?” Stepping back to admire the beautiful work you both did, your shoulder bumps Brock’s and that familiar shock of warmth floods through your veins at the brief contact. 

“It’s the best Christmas tree I’ve ever seen.” Brock responds playfully, but there's a faint tone of seriousness evident in his voice. His eyes are glistening in the glow of the lights and you can’t deny how perfect he looks so cozy and joyful like this. 

A few seconds later, without you realizing, Brock slips away to put the box away until it was time to take all the holiday decorations down in a few weeks. But to his surprise, there is one last ornament sitting in the box that was somehow forgotten.

“Y/N,” Brock laughs, picking up the decoration. “We forgot one.”

“No way! What is it?” Nothing but curiosity and excitement is evident in your voice. You cross the room to Brock and lean into his side to see what the mystery ornament is.

And when you get a glimpse, your breath is stolen away. Because in Brock’s hand is a small photo of a grinning little boy and girl sitting together at a picnic table inside a picture frame made of colored popsicle sticks. The two words “best friends” are written in black marker across the bottom of the frame in a neat, but childish looking style of handwriting.

Recognition washes over you instantly.

“I made that,” You start, almost stunned as you look between the homemade ornament and Brock’s face.

“You did. Like decades ago.” Brock chuckles, the sound fills the room with happiness and light. He still remembers the day you gave him this little gift. It was the last day of summer camp and before you both said goodbye with a promise to see each other soon, you gave him the gift. For only being nine years old at the time, Brock thought it was one of the nicest things anyone had ever done for him. Plus, that way he had a little piece of you back home too.

Since then, he’s cherished this adorable, homemade ornament like nothing else. It always seemed a little silly to him, to hold onto a childhood craft, but seeing your reaction right now tells him it means just as much to you as it does to him.

“And you still have it. You kept it all this time?”

“Of course I did.”

“Why?” The question is gentle, but full of genuine interest. There’s a beat of comfortable silence as Brock battles with his thoughts for a moment. He knows this is it. This is the moment he finally tells you how he feels. All of the nerves and worries he had about confessing how his heart beats just for you falls away in mere seconds.

Your brows furrow at the strange look on his face. His blue eyes are full of an emotion you can’t place and the softest smile graces his lips. But more than anything, there’s a trace of clarity on display across his features. His gaze flicks down to your lips a few times before he speaks. 

“Because you’re my best friend.” Brock whispers, each word carrying more weight than ever before. “But I don’t think that’s enough for me anymore.” He admits, a weight lifting off his shoulders as the words hang in the air for a moment.

He doesn’t have to say anything else because you know what it is right then. He is in love. With you.

“And you’re my best friend, but I want us to be more too.” Brock’s face practically lights up at your response, knowing that you feel the same way he does. It almost feels like a dream that after years, he doesn’t have to wonder anymore if you have fallen for him too.

“Can I kiss you?” Brock asks with a gentle voice as one hand settles on your hip before pulling you in closer. “We did somehow end up under the mistletoe.” He points up to where the collection of leaves are hanging in the entryway you’re both standing under. You can’t help but laugh at the sight and nothing but pure elation fills your heart.

“Yes, please.” 

He cradles your cheek with one hand while the other stays on your hip, keeping you pressed against his body. You can’t help the smile that blossoms on your face before his lips catch yours in the softest, most passionate kiss you’ve ever experienced. The rough feel of his scruff against your smooth skin makes you giggle a little bit, which Brock responds to by deepening the kiss even more.

It’s absolutely perfect. You’ve dreamt of this exact moment more times than you’d like to admit, but it’s everything and more. And by the way Brock is holding you, it’s obvious he’s been waiting for this too.

When he reluctantly pulls away a few seconds later, there’s a new glimmer that you’ve never seen before in his bright blue eyes. He looks like the human form of sunshine right now and you can’t take it. You reach up to brush a lock of blonde hair back off of Brock’s forehead. He gives your hip a reassuring squeeze, a reminder that this is in fact real.

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.” Brock murmurs, his smile just mere centimeters away from yours.

“I think I do.”

And without hesitation, you lean in to kiss him again. Once because it’s been a long night, twice because it’ll be alright, three times because you waited your whole life.

Before any fears or worries can creep in and ruin the moment, Brock wraps you up in a tight hug. Your head rests against his chest where you can hear his steady heartbeat.

“We’ll figure everything out. I promise.” He says calmly, somehow knowing what your next thought is going to be. “But it’s Christmas Eve and I don’t want to do anything else but enjoy being here with you.”

“I’ve never been so grateful for a snowstorm in my life.” You laugh, pure bliss humming through your body.

“Me either. Who would’ve thought that’s all it would’ve taken for this to finally happen?”

Later that night, when you’re snuggled up with Brock on the couch watching Home Alone while Coolie and Milo sleep nearby, you realize that you did in fact get to spend Christmas at home even though you didn’t make it back to Minnesota. Because Brock is home. Just being in his arms brings you the same kind of comfort and love you cherish so deeply.

Almost as if he can sense that you’re getting lost in your thoughts, Brock raises a brow in silent question when you look up at him. You just smile in response before leaning up to kiss his cheek which earns you a sweet grin.

“Merry Christmas, Brock.”

“Merry Christmas, Y/N.” Brock murmurs softly, brushing your hair behind your ear. “So happy my Christmas wish came true this year.”

[cherrylng]

My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade final US tour live report [ROCKIN'ON (July 2008)]

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE

The Black Parade's ‘final’ US tour. 3 West Coast shows & finale in New York follow-up report!

Text & text photo : Yukiko Amida

13th Feb. A newsletter arrived informing us that My Chemical Romance would be touring the US from the end of March. "Before trying to make a new album, we decided to take another turn", it said, "When we started this band, we could feel you guys right in front of us. It's time to give that another go. See you soon," they wrote. I knew they would probably play one last show in the US to close it out, but I was surprised to find out that they would be travelling around the country for over a month. They had started touring the world just before the album release, starting with Summer Sonic in 2006, and had been touring without a break, with a schedule that would leave you breathless just by watching them. In the meantime, they've grown into an arena-class band thanks to the huge success of their album, and now they've dared to choose a smaller venue for the real ‘end’ of The Black Parade….. I want to see this at all costs! I want to see it too much!!! So I decided to fly to the West Coast. I decided to go to the West Coast at the beginning of April because Eddie Vedder had announced that he was going on his first solo tour around the same time, limited to 10 shows. I made the strongest dream travel plan in my history: to see Eddie twice in Vancouver, then see My Chemical Romance in San Francisco, stay at a friend's house in Bend, Oregon for a few days, see My Chemical Romance twice in Portland and return to Japan. Remembering that the Philadelphia show I was supposed to go to last May was cancelled due to food poisoning among the members, I was praying that they wouldn't eat chicken…

4th Apr. From Vancouver to San Francisco after Eddie's dense stage performance, where I had to check several times to make sure my nose wasn't bleeding. I was at the airport early in the morning at 5.30am, eating a lot of Burger King to prepare for My Chemical Romance, which was 15 hours away. I arrived at the hotel around noon and went to the front of the venue to see fans who had slept in the night before (this was the second day in San Francisco) wrapped in blankets and about 30 people already lined up. I had a reserved seat ticket that day, so I went back to the hotel and took a nap, and when I came back at the opening time, there was a long queue that surrounded the venue for one block. Every time I go to a My Chemical Romance show, especially overseas, I always think that the fans are young. And I feel they are getting younger and younger every year. While we were shivering with body warmers on, most of them were enjoying themselves in short sleeves, saying things like "Oh no, it's a bit cold…". There were a lot of kids with their parents, and I thought I must be the oldest fan who wasn't with a child, so I finally entered the venue, stood in another long queue, bought a bunch of T-shirts and took my seat. The Warfield is a historic venue where the Grateful Dead played their 15th anniversary show in 1980, and has a large theatre-like balcony with reserved seating above the standing floor. Even at the top, the steep incline gives a good view of the stage, and for a capacity of 2,000 people, it feels quite intimate. The first support act, Drive By, is already well known amongst My Chemical Romance fans (vocalist & guitarist Todd [Price]* filled in for Frank on the Japan tour last January when he had to return home to the US after a sudden illness!), and the floor was hot from early on. Billy Talent, who followed, had interrupted work on his new album to rush in and gave a performance that made you feel he was at the top of his game, with his creativity on the rise. The girls in the back were screaming so loudly that even using torn toilet paper as ear plugs hardly helped, and the double punch of Benjamin's super high-pitched vocals was already crushing my ears…….. But the next time the lights went down, I had taken out my earplugs, and when My Chemical Romance appeared on stage, the volume increased by a factor of 100 and I was surrounded by screams, but then the intro and start of ‘Thank You For The Venom’ and the huge sing-along from the start blew it all away, and I forgot about my ears.

Considering that Mikey was not present at last year's Budokan concert, I was first of all moved just by the fact that all the members were there, and furthermore, they were now brimming with energy generated by the sense of accomplishment and liberation they felt after having performed The Black Parade as their second ego and shedding that, they looked dazzlingly bright. The aggressive ‘This is How I Disappear’ was like a shower of super-high water pressure, with every single note coming down from the stage with such force that it shook the entire venue with laughable catharsis, and ‘Dead!’ was the third song to bring the crowd to a climax, and I nearly fell off the balcony when I heard the guitars that started next. Hey, this is ‘Hang 'Em High'!! This song, which continues to be the most played song on my now antique iPod mini, was finally available to me live!! It's impossible, it's even cooler than the album, the guitar is so far forward and the vocals aren't muffled at all, I want to listen to it at home with this much volume… I kept thinking about it, almost letting myself go and then rushing back to consciousness, and as I kept repeating it, I realised that it was only 2 minutes and 45 seconds long to begin with. It's a short song, so it was over in no time at all.

And then, before I could even think about it, I heard the keyboards for ‘Welcome to the Black Parade’ and suddenly my head was clear. Seeing Gerard, who had mic'd the audience several times since the start of the show, listening intently to everyone's singing, I felt I understood why My Chemical Romance had decided to do this tour one last time. They are making sure. The band has grown through the experience of making this album and living through their own fears and what "The Black Parade" was for them, for their fans, and the fans who have taken in their image and message have also grown to the point where they can sing in their own voices, "We'll carry on"—I felt that they were confirming this with their own eyes and ears. This feeling was reinforced towards the end of ‘Famous Last Words’, which Gerard began by saying, "It's still the hardest song I've ever sung". Gerard seemed relieved to hear the audience singing in a firm voice, "I am not afraid to keep on living / I am not afraid to walk this world alone", as he had stated publicly that "I'll be taking a break for the next two years, so this will be my last tour for now". Another emotional moment of the day was when Gerard returned to the dark stage after the end of ‘Cancer’ and a quiet keyboard solo, and sang (just a little bit) a slow version of their first song, 'Vampires Will Never Hurt You'. From there, the band rolled into ‘Give 'Em Hell, Kid’, followed by a vertical cover of Bob Dylan's 'Desolation Row', and closed with the classic 'Helena'. The band must have been pushing forward almost non-stop for nearly seven years since they started, but the band's uncanny energy, with not the slightest hint of fatigue or weariness, left me in awe.

8th April. We took a bus from Bend to Portland early in the morning, but to our surprise, it was completely covered in snow from late at night. But we arrived not too late, about three and a half hours, and there was no snow in Portland, but a light rain. I heard that Gerard was signing copies of “The Umbrella Academy”, a comic book he wrote himself, so I stood in line at the comic book store in the occasional sleet shower. After three freezing hours, I finally made it to Mr Way's** table and was about to have him sign my copy of the March issue of Rockin'On, which featured an interview with Mikey, when he seemed to take a liking to a full-page shot of his brother and a photo of him at the Budokan in Japan. He asked me repeatedly if he could have it, so I reluctantly, but with great pleasure, gave it to him. While I was still excited, I hit it off with a girl I met on the bus back downtown (I later discovered we were close in age and felt even closer to her……), and we decided to go to the show together. The Crystal Ballroom, the venue for the show, also has a long history, and is a popular venue for its dance floor that sways as if it were floating, and the beautiful and funky interior designed by McMenamins, which operates microbrew pubs all over Oregon and beyond. The front of the stage was packed, but the side partitioned bar area, which is only open to over-20s, was relatively empty and cosy. The day started with the dramatic ‘Sleep’, which took the audience by surprise. I had no idea that this song, which is so painful on the album, could sound so powerful in their current hands. The amazing power of the band grew with each song, with Ray's dynamic guitar playing, with his afro and physique looking even stronger, Bob's acrobatic drumming, which I have never seen before, with his hair longer and (for some reason) wearing a red flannel shirt, and Mikey, also with longer hair and more beautiful features, moving around and unleashing the bass. Frank's guitar seemed not to be in good shape that day, but his passion for playing was as strong as anyone else's. Confidence could be felt from every faint note of each sound. And speaking of confidence, Gerard, who had been persistently wearing long sleeves, was proudly showing off his upper arms as he wore sleeveless for the first time in a long time (since the hot Warped Tour, I think). The confidence that they had overcome something so huge, as if they were trying to repel the demons that had possessed them, made them look one or two sizes bigger than they were on stage. The last song of the second album, ‘I Never Told You What I Do For a Living’, was a joy to hear on this day! James, now an indispensable keyboard player, sang the Motley Crue classic ‘Home Sweet Home’ and the flow to ‘Cancer’ also made me cry.

9th Apr. Day 2 in Portland is Gerard's birthday! The mood was even more festive than usual, with a cake-shaped balloon raised by a fan at the edge of the stage. After the second song, ‘Dead!’, Gerard himself led the rendition of Happy Birthday, and even after the song, ‘This is How I Disappear’, the audience got excited with a huge chorus of “I want to listen to it one more time!” In the past two days, I've heard all three songs from "Live and Rare" that are not on the album. I was especially happy to hear ‘Kill All Your Friends’, which I had always wanted to hear live. This song was supposed to be the sixth song on The Black Parade, but was cut from the final version and released as the B-side of ‘Famous Last Words’, and when I first heard it, I thought it sounded simpler than the other songs, and I was convinced that the reason was to avoid making the album too long, but later I could see what Gerard meant when he said later, "I wish we had put it on the album". Behind the disturbing title of the song, ‘Kill All Your Friends’, there is the reality that ‘I’ am stuck in the town where I grew up, and the only time I can see ‘you’, my classmate who has left my hometown, is at someone's funeral. With the disappointment and fear that "you will leave again, and I will die here", I decided that, "I should kill my friend, because then I will see you again". It is an ironic expression of twisted feelings. And when they sing the part where they repeat "You'll never take me alive / Do what it takes to survive, 'cause I'm still here" in a live setting, they are giving each and every one of us who feels the same way the courage to stand up for ourselves. So the flow of this song and ‘I'm Not Okay’ is the strongest, and it is burned into my mind as an explosive climax that releases all the kids who are about to be torn apart by their pent-up feelings at once. I'm really glad I came to see it, thank you! I desperately suppressed the urge to get on a plane to Salt Lake City, the next venue, instead of Tokyo the next day.

Then 8th May. I was unsure about the last New York show when it was announced after I got my West Coast tickets, but after seeing this tour I became more and more determined not to miss this finale, so I flew to New York as well. Luckily, the Honda Civic Tour, headlined by Panic at the Disco, had just arrived in New York and I was able to catch the second day of the show. The stage was cute, with flower-decorated microphones and a papier-mâché set that looked like a school play, and they played their new album "Pretty. Odd." The new album's dreamy world was recreated, and it was a pleasant surprise to see the old and new songs complementing each other better than expected at the show. Can't wait to see them again at Summer Sonic!

Finally, 9th May. It has rained heavily since this morning. Passing by the entrance to the standing area of Madison Square Garden, plastic sheets, raincoats, chairs, and bags of snacks were strewn about, a testament to the large number of people queuing in the rain. In addition to being the finale of the tour, there was another reason why this show was so special, as Mikey wrote in his 25th February newsletter. 'About a year ago now, my brother brought me here to see Smashing Pumpkins. So I looked at my brother's face and said, "This is what I want to be…… We have to do this…… Someday we're going to be on that stage." We both felt exactly the same thing. And now we can announce the realisation of that dream performance.' After warming up with Drive By and Taking Back Sunday, which Adam [Lazzara] happily said was his dad's birthday, the bass line begins as if to give Mikey the leading role. When the dream performance started with 'Give 'Em Hell, Kid,' my heart was so hot that I was almost overcome with emotion. Surrounded by fans in the arena and in the stands next to the stage, the five of them looked more nervous than ever before, but this was soon swept away by the joy of having made their dream come true, and the air was filled with a sense of celebration and thanksgiving. Midway through the show, when Gerard wanted to sit everyone [the band] down to watch the Wave, Ray apparently whispered to him that they could do it standing up, but Gerard just laughed and shook his head and said, "No, we'll make it more dramatic!" and they ended up sitting down, and it was amazing to see a really dramatic huge wave of excitement rise up and flow throughout the stands. I'll never forget the smiling faces of the audience raising their hands and the members just smiling and looking on in disbelief.

Before the final song, ‘Famous Last Words’, Gerard told us an anecdote about seeing Smashing Pumpkins at this venue, and he said that Mikey brought him there. During the interlude, Gerard picked up Mikey from behind (he was still playing the bass!) and looked so happy. The song, played with such brotherly love, was filled with more joy and hope than I could ever have imagined. Countless mobile phone lights flashed during ‘Desert Song’, and a huge chorus echoed through the last song, ‘Helena’, as if they were regretting every second that passed. The final "goodbye, goodnight" turned into a scream, and amidst truly head-splitting applause and cheers, Gerard said. "Even if we never do another show, we'll keep on living—" These last words have caused a stir, with some people thinking it means the end of the band, but when I heard them there, and now that I've written them down, I can't help but feel a little more pleased to have made it this far, and less anxious about it. It was The Black Parade that opened with the song ‘The End’ and showed me that the end is the beginning. And the end of the tour, when we see where it has led us, shows us that the place is so beautiful and that we are so much stronger for going there. When My Chemical Romance comes back to us again, we want to be able to make them proud. As one of the fans from all over the world who has been given more strength than I can take, that's all I can wish for now.

Getting pumped up at Burger King in the morning

The Warfield before the storm

From Portland to Bend by prop plane

Return trip by bus through snowy landscape

A stylish sign at the Crystal Ballroom

Bought a T-shirt without thinking

A flyer for Frank's Skeleton Crew / advertisement for the Portland show

A poster for a book signing with cartoonist Way-sensei (pics by Mycki)

A very personal New York specialty pancake that was treated to our correspondent Akemi Nakamura.

The brilliant stage of PATD decorated with flowers

The poster of the fateful Smashing Pumpkins concert was found at the venue!

Translator’s Note: Sooooo I bet some of you didn't see me coming in with this translation of a MCR live report, eh? 👀

Fun fact: In Japan, My Chemical Romance’s short name isn’t called ‘MCR’, but rather shortened down as “マイケミ / Mykemi”. Just like in the western world, it’s not unusual that Japanese fans will shorten band names to make it easier to pronounce, but in this case, it was shortened based on their writing system. You can see this with Red Hot Chili Peppers / Redochiri and Smashing Pumpkins / Sumapan, for example.

*I’ve checked on who Todd Price of Drive By is and, uhhhh, yeah… other than the frankly brief Wikipedia article about the band, it turns out he had just passed away earlier this year in March. Didn’t expect that when I Googled for more information, but here we are.

**In the original text, in this particular sentence, the journalist actually referred to Gerard as ‘Way-sensei’, an honorific term of respect towards him. But this sentence was the only instance that the word ‘sensei’ was conferred onto him, so most likely this was used while he’s Gerard Way the comic book artist, not as Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance. I used ‘Mr Way’ in that sentence instead as it still conveyed a form of respect towards him.

[matthewtkachuk]

you are the artist and i am the paint - quinn hughes

One week with Quinn in the offseason reveals several truths (aka best friends to lovers with a dash of mutual idiocy)

pairing: quinn hughes x reader

warnings: the ush (drinking, angst, etc. etc.), could be an artist au if you squint

words: 4.6k

a/n: this is the canucks thanksgiving video's fault. also @hotanddistraught's fault. big ups to @antoineroussel for making me a custom gif and also proofreading the hell out of this thing love you. currently stuck in a calgary airport hotel because canadian airlines suck, but the canucks nabbed a win so ya'll get a treat <3

Summer is bittersweet.

For every positive feeling you have over taking a break from your schooling and having the opportunity to make some cash at your summer internship, there are ten more negative ones that revolve around the end of the hockey season taking your best friend away from you. 

It’s silly, likely, to let one person’s presence, or lack thereof, dictate the general tone of your four month break from school. A bit ridiculous, really, to miss someone terribly when you saw them just last week when you dropped him off at the airport and leaned into the hug at departures for a minute too long. And pathetic, most definitely, to watch his private instagram story more than once for the brief glimpse of a real, genuine smile.

Passing on the opportunity to go out for drinks in Yaletown—on a Wednesday in May for no reason other than the majority of your friend group was free of academia for the next few months—was not at all typical behavior for you. Your friends liked to joke that there wasn’t a happy hour in the metro Vancouver area that you hadn’t personally shut down. 

The teasing didn’t really bother you; what was so bad about mixing your frugal nature with yummy cocktails and appetizers? That blasé attitude was likely at least 90% responsible for the confusion in the group chat. The other 10% related to your friend Daniel’s confirmation that he would be showing up and using his ‘family credit card’ to get the first round. If there was nary a happy hour you met that you didn’t like, there wasn’t a free round of drinks you didn’t love.

Regardless, they finally leave you alone almost 45 minutes after arriving at the first club, other than the occasional shaky photo of someone’s drink every now and then. 

The silence is kind of nice without your loud mouthed roommate and the rest of your friend group who had spent the better part of the late afternoon pregaming. Nice, but lonely, and it only reminds you that your best friend is on the other side of the continent. Luckily for you, the true reason behind your uncharacteristic skipping of girls’ (+ Daniel) night out makes itself known by the erratic vibration of your phone somewhere in your duvet cover. 

Less luckily for you, you can’t find the damn thing until you grab the bottom corners and shake out the heavy blanket and send your phone flying onto the floor. It’s a struggle to grab it before the phone call ends and flop back onto your now half-made bed, and it’s obvious by the way you struggle to catch your breath while also muttering a greeting into the phone. 

“Were you working out?” 

The question has you doing some strange combination of a laugh, wheeze and choke that takes a solid minute to pull yourself out of before you reply, “Nope.”

You can almost picture the exasperated yet fond smile that might be taking over Quinn’s face as he asks, “You doin’ alright without me?”

“Never,” is your answer before you quickly shift gears into recapping the latest roommate boy drama and how much you hate your manager. 

It’s a long conversation, the kind you have with a friend you only catch up with once a year despite only being away from each other for a week. You love hearing about the shenanigans Quinn’s getting up to with his brothers; love the feeling of relaxation and relief that practically radiates through the phone and his tone as he speaks about home. When he tells you about thinking about maybe taking a class at UMich this summer, you only encourage him—which is a far cry from the taunt Jack threw at him when he had first brought it up. The skin of your cheeks grows warm when you overhear his mom asking who is on the phone followed up by a sweet “My mom wants me to tell you she says hi.”

At some point throughout the night you turn off the big light and turn on your salt lamp, jump into your pajamas and tuck yourself deep under the covers. It’s easy then, in the warmth and comfort of your duvet and with Quinn’s voice lulling you to sleep to close your eyes. 

“So, uh, I was wondering if you maybe wanted to come stay here for a week or two in July...?” You think you maybe hear him ask.

Unfortunately for Quinn, your only answer is the rustling of sheets and a soft snore. 

-

The beginning of summer passes a lot like it began, although with you partaking in more after work drinks with friends than not. You work and you don’t study and you certainly don’t mope around downtown Vancouver counting down the days until September. 

Quinn starts taking a class that fits in with his schedule of spending as much time as he can with his family and friends back home while also keeping up his offseason training regimen. He’s pretty tight lipped about it all, secretive and reserved in a way you’re not quite used to from your friend of several years, answering in half truths and changing the subject when he can. It’s not really your business anyway, and so you let him get away with terrible segues that you would normally tease him for. 

He does ask you again a few weeks later if you want to come down to Michigan for a week or two, turning your protests about not being able to afford it into not wanting to intrude or let him pay your way into conceding that you can give him a week in mid July. 

That’s about the time Jack grabs the phone from his older brother’s grasp, turning the regular phone call into a Facetime that gives you the gift of watching Quinn chase after him, his awkward little run having no right to be as endearing as it is. 

“I’m glad you’re coming,” he says later, having locked himself in the master bedroom of the house he shares with Jack (and sometimes Luke). His hair’s a mess and his cheeks are flushed 

“I’m really glad, too,” you smile. “Now tell me what class you’re taking.” 

“Would you look at the time, sorry we gotta head to my parent’s house.” 

You roll your eyes, but let him go with the explicit promise that he’ll call later. 

-

Somehow May and June simultaneously fly by and drag all at the same time. Each eight hour shift takes a hundred hours to pass, while your days off come and go in the blink of an eye. Every day you get closer to the date circled in red ink on your calendar; no indication of what the date means other than the word Michigan written in bold, capital letters. 

When July hits, it really hits you that you’re getting to see Quinn 

There’s a giddy sort of feeling in your stomach, the kind that usually pops up right before Quinn comes home in September. You’ve never been to Michigan before, it didn’t work with the mix of your serving job and classes you’d regretfully chosen to take the last couple of summers in an attempt to get ahead in your degree, and the first year you hadn’t really known Quinn well enough for him to take you home to meet the parents. 

Not that that was what this was, of course. You weren’t Quinn’s girlfriend or anything, nervous to earn his mom and dad’s approval, gain the acceptance of his brothers. It wasn’t like that at all with you and Quinn. Besides, you already had it from the times the family had flown to Vancouver—it was just a fact of life, parents loved you. And Jack and Luke loved to team up with you to embarrass Quinn.

You were just excited to see a friend two months earlier than you would normally see him, that’s all. 

Super casual, super platonic, super friendly. Super. 

Which is why you’ve had your bags packed since you flipped over the Canucks calendar Quinn had jokingly gifted you for Christmas to a picture of Thatcher.

Kimmy graciously offers to drive you to the airport, even if you could totally take the skytrain if you had to. “Just remember I’m your favorite roommate,” is the only explanation she gives, ignoring the fact that she’s your only roommate.

“You know you’re only going for a week,” she says bright and early Monday morning, eyebrows raising high above the line of her sunglasses. 

“Shut up,” is all you can manage, tossing your luggage in her trunk and skulking over to the front seat where you buckle in and immediately make a grab for her coffee mug.

“Thought you’d be more excited,” she mutters, pulling out of the parking garage.

“I am excited,” you reply, downing half of the mug even if it isn’t made exactly the way you like it. It’s black and bitter and doesn’t have an ounce of sweetener or cream in it, but it’s caffeine and you feel like the human embodiment of Quinn’s eye bags right now.

Kimmy has the grace to keep her mouth shut for the entire car ride, only turning up the radio a little when a Taylor Swift song comes on. She keeps quiet even as she pulls into the departures lane and hops out to help you with your luggage and wrap you up in a big hug. 

Quiet, until she opens her mouth at the last minute that is. “Bye babe, say hi to your boyfriend for me!”

It makes you want to toss your personal item at her, but you refrain from making too large of a scene in the last place you want to be making a large scene, settling for scratching your nose with your middle finger and offering a rebuttal of “he’s not my boyfriend!”

“Sure babe, see you in a week.” 

Rolling your eyes you walk into the airport. Security and customs are an uncharacteristic breeze, leaving you time to grab another coffee and try to become more of a human before the six hour flight to Michigan. Quinn’s blowing up your phone, the consequence of a three hour time difference and his career requiring many early mornings that yours did not.      

“Quinn’s lucky I love him,” you grumble angrily later, attempting to shove your overstuffed carryon into the overhead bin. The thought gives you pause and you freeze with your hands against the piece of luggage. It’s true, you really do love him. 

Luckily a flight attendant pops up behind you and one well timed shove gets the bag into place and you’re able to continue your moment of crisis in your seat. It’s not like you didn’t know you loved him—he’s your best friend, of course you love him. You love all your friends, freely and openly and purposefully. But you love him love him. Like, wanna wake up with your head on his chest love him, want to plan your future around him love him, want to wear a hideous jean jacket with his name and number on a patch love him. 

Crisis is probably too harsh a word, it’s more of a gentle realization, the slow pulling of a train into a station after a long journey. 

“You love him.”

Startled, you turn to the older woman in the window seat you weren’t willing to pay $50 to switch to. “What?”

“I know that look on your face,” Chatty Cathy continues. “Same one I had on my wedding day.”

Just because you’ve had the realization on your own doesn’t mean you’re ready to have the conversation with someone else. Not Quinn, not Kimmy, not your mom, and definitely not someone else’s grandmother. “I’m just visiting a friend.”

She gives you a knowing look. “No one visits just a friend in Michigan.”

It’s enough to have you putting in your headphones and turning the volume up on your favorite playlist. 

You don’t escape Chatty Cathy after you deplane, she’s right behind you all the way through the terminal. 

There’s a message from Quinn when your phone finally connects to the wifi at  Wayne County Airport that simply states “Here” which leads you to believe he’s probably waiting in his car at the pick up area just outside and so you’re not looking for him as you walk. 

The woman finds who you presume to be her husband first, sinking into an embrace that makes even your cold heart melt a little. 

And then you hear your name being called and Quinn’s standing right in front of you. Realistically it’s been a couple months but it kind of feels like you’re a military wife and your husband has finally returned from war. Abandoning all pretenses, you drop your bags and fling yourself at him. 

He catches you easily with a chuckle in your ear. “Missed you too.”

After what you know is an inappropriate amount of time, you finally disentangle yourself, dragging your hands down from his shoulders to his chest. “You look good, Q.”

Before you can grab your bags, Quinn’s grabbing them with an “I got it.” You follow along like a lost puppy, passing by the woman who raises her eyebrows and smiles. “Who’s that?”

“No one, I just sat by her on the flight.”

He shrugs. “C’mon let’s drop off your bags at home and then my mom really wants to see you.”

-

“You don’t have to help with dishes,” Ellen tells you after supper as she washes a large pot in the sink. 

“My mom raised me better than that,” you laugh, drying the dishes she’s already cleaned. 

“She certainly did.” A pleased smile takes over your face and your stomach warms at her words. “You know, I used to worry about Quinn the most. Jack’s never had issues making his feelings known, and Luke’s still close to home. Plus Jack’s got Dani in Jersey. But my Quinn has always been such a quiet boy with his heart on his sleeve and I worried about him being all alone in another country.” 

“You don’t worry anymore?” you ask, thanking her for handing you the pot. 

“No,” she stops and looks at you. “He has you.”

You don’t quite know how to respond to that, or to tell her that you have him too, so you don’t. 

Quinn enters the kitchen a minute or two later and shoos his mother out. “Let me finish those, mom. You go sit.”

It’s oddly domestic, doing the dishes side by side in his family home. Almost like it was the home you shared together as part of a joint life you’d built. 

Except not, because you can hear his brothers arguing in the next room until their mom shushes them both. 

When you’re finally done with the dishes, there’s a movie set up in the living room, with the only option of seating the small loveseat. 

The look on both Jack and Luke’s faces tells you it was on purpose.

-

Quinn and Jack are both too tired after supper to drive home, and so everyone stays the night in the Hughes’ home. Quinn’s old bedroom became the spare room, and the spare room became a sewing-storage-office room hybrid, and so you find yourself in the same bed as your best friend. 

It’s no big deal, really, you’ve done it before. Just, not before finally giving into the realization that you were in love with him. 

You try to sleep, but your mind and heart are racing. 

“Are you sleeping?” you ask into the darkness. Quinn’s close enough that you could conceivably reach over and touch him, but you keep your hands to yourself. 

“Trying to,” he grumpily grumbles back, bringing a smile to your face. 

Your flip onto your side so that you’re facing him in the dark is far less graceful than you’d planned it to be in your head, but you manage. “Why did you decide to take a class this summer? I’m sure you could have found a million other ways to fill the time.”

It’s quiet for so long that you wonder if he really did fall asleep, until his far more dignified roll over signifies that he’s as awake as you are. “I’m only a couple semesters away from my degree,” he says like it explains everything, and maybe if you were someone else it would. But this is your best friend and you kind of want to know everything about him. 

“I mean, same, but if I was making several mill a year I can’t say that I’d be rushing to finish my degree.”

He’s quiet again and you wonder if you’ve said the wrong thing again, shoved your whole foot in your mouth when you should have left well enough alone. “I know, but it could all go away in a second. One bad hit, or an accident, or something else outside of my control.”

His tone of voice nearly breaks your heart at the same time as the words he speaks plunges your heart into ice cold water. The thought of Quinn hurt, of him losing everything scares you. “Don’t say that, you’re going to be like Jagr, still playing at 50 years old.”

“I hope not,” he laughs, and it settles the feeling in your chest. When he yanks you closer, it all but dissipates. Tentatively, you sling an arm over his abdomen and rest your head on his chest. 

You mull it all over in your head, distracted by the way he plays with the ends of your hair until you speak up again. “You’re more than hockey, Quinn.” He hums out a non-committal answer and you figure humor is the way to move forward. “Besides, you can always just bum off Jack and Luke.”

He tugs on your hair in response, but doesn’t say anything else. 

-

“Ta-da!” 

Jack’s a real smart ass from the backseat that he’d insisted on sitting in as Quinn pulls into the driveway of a very nice house. House might be putting it lightly, as a kid you’d called this kind of residence a McMansion. 

“Shit this is nice,” is your initial reaction. 

It makes Quinn smile, which is exactly what you were going for. “It’s alright.”

You shove him and then unbuckle your seatbelt. “Shut up.”

The grand tour Jack promised is pretty lackluster, a handful of guest rooms that mean you won’t have a bed buddy tonight, a kitchen you’re certain neither of them have used on their own and enough bathrooms that you don’t have to worry about how long Jack takes to do his hair in the morning. 

There is one door that catches your attention. It’s one of the only ones that is shut, and when Jack shakes the handle it doesn’t budge. “This is where Quinn keeps dead bodies.” 

Quinn’s somewhere else in the house but he hears all the same and shouts back, “I don’t keep dead bodies!”

Jack nods solemnly and stage whispers, “That’s actually true, they’re buried in the backyard under the pool.”

Super human hearing Quinn shouts again, “there are no dead bodies!”

You roll your eyes but continue the tour until you end up in the living room where Quinn’s reclined in the lazy boy, texting. It’s too tempting to pass up, and so you plop on the arm of the chair and peer over his shoulder. “What’s Petey up to?”

He drops his phone quickly, a blush beginning to form at the top of his ears. “Wasn’t Petey.” It’s a strange reaction, one that has you suspicious—not that you have a reason to be. But if it wasn’t Elias then who? Was it a girl? The thought makes your stomach hurt. 

Shoving down the conflicted feelings, you ruffle his hair a little to be a nuisance until he slaps your hand away. “What’s in the locked room Quinn?”

“Nothing.”

You poke him hard in the upper arm once, then twice. “Don’t make me poke it out of you.” 

It institutes a little poking war that has you giggling until Jack breaks it up. “Get a room, you two.”

It’s a little awkward then, and so you slide off the chair’s arm. “I’m gonna go change and then lounge by the pool if anyone wants to join.”

As you walk away, you hear the unmistakable sound of a slap and then Quinn’s voice muttering “Idiot.”

-

The week flies by way too fast. Between meeting all Quinn’s friends and drinking them under the table, spending time with his family, and being shown around the places that meant so much to him. It has you wishing you’d found a way to make two weeks work, but it had been hard enough getting your shifts covered for the time you were here. 

“Quit your job and stay here,” Quinn tells you when you say as much. 

Huffing, you move from laying on the deck chair to lean on your elbows so that you can glare at him. It’s a moot point, since your sunglasses are covering your eyes anyway. “Quit being stupid. Some of us have tuition and bills to pay.”

“I could pay your bills,” he says quietly. Sincerely, even. 

His gentle disposition is no match for your sarcasm, however. “Oh yeah? And what would I have to do in return? Be your kept woman? Do your laundry? No thanks.” Although, the thought of returning to school in the fall while balancing your jobs means the idea isn’t as horrific as it could be. Plus you’re pretty sure Quinn’s one of the least disgusting people you know…

“Nah, we can hire out someone to do the cleaning.”

You relax back into your chair because frankly your upper arms were getting sore. “Okay so in this hypothetical scenario, you’re gonna share your vast fortune with me with nothing expected in return?”

“Yep pretty much.”

“You’re an idiot.”

“Maybe.”

Lounging around doing nothing gets boring as the sun beats down on you both. It’s your last day in Michigan and you kind of don’t want it to ever end. 

“Let’s go for a drive?” you blurt out impulsively. 

“Okay.”

Quinn takes you for the highlight reel, showing you around various places that mean something to him, including a stop at his parents so you can say your proper goodbye to them and Luke. 

And then you end up at a cozy little diner where you order a large fry to share and two milkshakes. 

“You’ve got a little something right there,” he says, pointing to the corner of his mouth. “Nope, you missed it. Still missing it.” 

It takes you a full minute to realize he’s messing with you. “Shut up!” you laugh and kick him under the table. He captures your leg, pinning it between his own, nonchalantly picking at the fries on the table while you visibly struggle to free yourself. “Jerk!”

“I like having you here,” Quinn admits a beat or two later. 

The dramatic indignation leaves your body at his admission and you slump a little in the booth. “I like being here… jerk.”

He smiles, but doesn’t let your leg go and for some reason you don’t seem to mind. 

When the bill comes, he’s a lot faster to slap down his credit card than you are. Probably because you were expecting them to bring a machine that you could use your card at rather than let a random stranger take your credit card to the back for whatever nefarious purposes they so chose. 

The debate of the security of tap versus having your credit card taken from you carries over from the table into the car, and by the time you get back to Quinn’s, you’re satisfied you’ve won this round. 

“I don’t want to go to bed yet, if I go to sleep the morning will come quick,” you say softly when Quinn asks if you’re headed to bed when you get back. 

“Yeah, I know.” He’s quiet again, an inner conflict raging across his face until, “Come on, I wanna show you something.”

It’s like you know before he’s even led you towards the stairs that you’re finally going to see what’s going on in the locked room. “Are you about to show me your dead bodies, Quintin?”

His exasperated sigh is more fond than annoyed, “There are no dead bodies!” When he pushes the door open, you quickly come to realize it’s a makeshift painting room, with various colored paints scattered around the room and a sheet covering the floor. At the far end of the room lies an easel with a finished painting set on it. 

“She’s beautiful, Quinn,” you say, taking a step closer to admire the artwork in front of you. You barely manage to stop yourself from trailing the delicate lines of her face with your fingers. 

“She’s you,” he admits shyly, head ducked down and rose flush spreading across his cheeks and down his neck. “You’re beautiful.”

“I didn’t know you saw me that way,” you whisper, eyes locked on the physical representation of Quinn’s vision of you. 

“You never asked.”

Finally you tear your eyes away from the canvas, spinning around to face him. “Quinn—“

“It’s not—I don’t expect anything from you or anything. It’s the final project for my class. I didn’t tell you I was taking an art class at first because I was worried it wouldn’t work out, but then we were given our assignments and the final project was to paint something you, well, something you love.”

You say his name again but he keeps talking, almost a man possessed as if he can’t stop the words from falling from his tongue. 

“I love you, like, Capital L love you. I have for a long time. Maybe since the night we met, I don’t know. One conversation and I knew you were it for me. But, like I said before, I don’t expect any—“

You can’t take it anymore, you’re impossibly endeared to this man and his awkward rambling and his slightest hint of a lisp, and you press your lips to his. 

Quinn doesn’t reciprocate at first, frozen in place and so you wait, counting the seconds until he finally moves, gripping your face in his hands and kissing you like he means it. 

-

You don’t stop kissing. 

You kiss and you kiss and you kiss; that night you kiss as you strip each other of your clothes, the next morning you kiss morning breath and all when you wake up together. You kiss over breakfast and you kiss at red lights on the way to the airport and at departures. 

“Stay,” he says, kissing you again much to the displeasure of the pretty college coed who’d asked for a photo and his autograph not five minutes ago. You lean into it, tilting your head and sliding your hand through the hair at the base of his neck. 

“Can’t,” you reply when you pull back. “Bills to pay, remember?”

“Let me take care of it for you.”

“As if.” You laugh and pat his cheek. “I gotta go, I’ll see you in a couple weeks. Love you.”

The words are enough to have him let you go, but not before reciprocating and one last, lingering kiss. He stands to the side with his hands in his pockets, determined to watch you leave until he can’t see you anymore. 

“Told you so,” a voice sounds from behind you in the security line. 

Spinning around you see Chatty-although-not-incorrect Cathy. There’s no mistaking the look on your face this time, no amount of deflecting would ever be seen as anything less than extreme deception and so you shrug. “Guess you did.”

[allthecanadianpolitics]

Around 200 hotel workers including room attendants, servers and front desk agents are nearing two months on strike in Richmond, B.C., demanding wages to keep up with the cost of living in the region.

"We're just out here for fair living wages," said Shey Lyn who for five years has worked at the Starbucks at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel.

She and other workers have been picketing at the hotel, which is part of a complex of hotels near Vancouver International Airport, with several run by Larco Hospitality, including the Sheraton where workers are unionized.

The unionized workers, represented by Unite Here Local 40, have been without a collective agreement since the last expired in March 2020.

"We tried negotiating for three years," said Shey. "It just really wasn't going anywhere." [...]

Continue Reading.

Tagging: @politicsofcanada

[green-spaces-in-vancouver]

For Reservations:-

Call: 604 669 9888

Visit: Vancouver Airport Shuttle

[grandparkhotel]

Vancouver's Spring Tapestry: Weaving Unforgettable Experiences

Spring in Vancouver offers a vibrant array of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. As the city awakens from its winter slumber, the crisp air and blooming landscapes beckon visitors to explore the city's natural beauty and cultural attractions without breaking the bank. From leisurely strolls through iconic parks to hiking trails winding through lush forests, Vancouver promises a wealth of free adventures for those seeking an unforgettable spring getaway. Whether you're a local or a visitor staying at one of the convenient hotels with airport shuttle Vancouver, this guide will unveil the city's hidden gems, inviting you to embrace the great outdoors and immerse yourself in the vibrant spirit of this West Coast gem.

Stanley Park Strolls

Nestled in the heart of Vancouver, Stanley Park beckons visitors to embark on a serene journey through its verdant landscapes. With over 1,000 acres of lush greenery, this urban oasis offers a respite from the city's hustle and bustle. Wander along the scenic seawall, a 5.5-mile pathway that hugs the coastline, offering breathtaking vistas of the North Shore Mountains and the tranquil waters of the Burrard Inlet. Along the way, discover hidden coves, sandy beaches, and diverse flora and fauna, including the park's famous totem poles carved by Indigenous artists. For a more immersive experience, explore the park's numerous trails, from the easy-going Beaver Lake Trail to the challenging Prospector Stream Trail, each offering a unique glimpse into the natural wonders that Stanley Park has to offer. Whether you're seeking a peaceful escape or an invigorating outdoor adventure, Stanley Park's strolls promise a rejuvenating experience in the heart of this vibrant city.

Granville Island

Granville Island, a vibrant hub of arts, culture, and culinary delights, beckons visitors to explore its charming streets and bustling markets. This pedestrian-friendly island, located across False Creek from downtown Vancouver, is a must-visit destination for those seeking a unique and lively experience. Stroll along the waterfront, where you'll find a plethora of artisan studios, galleries, and street performers entertaining the crowds. Indulge in the tantalizing aromas wafting from the Granville Island Public Market, where you can savor local delicacies, fresh produce, and mouth-watering baked goods. After a day of exploration, unwind at one of the convenient hotels with airport shuttle Vancouver, ensuring a seamless transition to and from this vibrant island oasis. Whether you're a foodie, an art enthusiast, or simply seeking a lively atmosphere, Granville Island promises an unforgettable adventure without breaking the bank.

Beach Day at English Bay

As the sun's warm rays caress the shoreline, English Bay beckons visitors to indulge in a quintessential beach day experience. Nestled in the heart of Vancouver's West End, this sandy expanse offers a perfect blend of urban convenience and natural beauty. Stroll along the iconic seawall, taking in the stunning vistas of the North Shore Mountains and the glistening waters of the Burrard Inlet. Spread out your towel and soak up the sun's radiant warmth, or dive into the refreshing waters for a rejuvenating swim. For those seeking a more active adventure, English Bay boasts a vibrant beach volleyball scene, with courts available for friendly matches or simply spectating the skilled players. As the day winds down, savor the stunning sunset painting the sky with hues of orange and crimson, creating a breathtaking backdrop for a picnic or a leisurely stroll along the shoreline.

Hiking in Lynn Canyon Park

Immerse yourself in the natural splendor of Lynn Canyon Park, a verdant oasis nestled in the heart of North Vancouver. Just a stone's throw away from the bustling city center, this lush haven offers a multitude of hiking trails that wind through towering evergreens and alongside cascading waterfalls. Embark on the iconic Baden Powell Trail, a scenic route that meanders through the park's lush forests and across the breathtaking Suspension Bridge, suspended 50 meters above a tempestuous pool. For a more leisurely exploration, follow the Twin Falls Gate Trail, leading to the park's stunning twin waterfalls that tumble gracefully into pristine pools below. After your invigorating hike, retreat to one of the conveniently located hotels with airport shuttle Vancouver, ensuring a seamless transition from your outdoor adventure to urban comfort. Lynn Canyon Park promises an unforgettable escape into nature's embrace, without the need for expensive excursions.

Visit Queen Elizabeth Park

Queen Elizabeth Park, a verdant oasis perched atop the highest point in Vancouver, offers a tranquil escape from the city's urban landscape. This 130-acre botanical garden boasts a diverse array of flora, meticulously curated and showcased in themed gardens, including the breathtaking Quarry Garden, carved into an abandoned quarry site. Stroll along the winding paths, taking in the vibrant colors and intoxicating fragrances of the blooming flowers that adorn the lush surroundings. For spectacular panoramic views of the city skyline, the North Shore Mountains, and the glistening waters of the Burrard Inlet, ascend to the park's iconic Bloedel Conservatory, a domed structure housing exotic plants and birds. After exploring this natural oasis, retreat to one of the convenient hotels with airport shuttle Vancouver, ensuring a seamless transition from your outdoor adventures to urban comforts.

Public Art and Street Performances

Vancouver's vibrant streets come alive with an eclectic mix of public art and street performances, offering a captivating cultural experience for visitors and locals alike. As you wander through the bustling neighborhoods, you'll stumble upon stunning murals adorning the walls, transforming ordinary spaces into vibrant canvases that reflect the city's diverse artistic spirit. From thought-provoking installations to whimsical sculptures, these public art pieces invite you to pause and appreciate the creativity that permeates every corner.

Beyond the visual delights, Vancouver's streets are alive with the sounds of talented buskers and street performers. Whether it's a melodic guitar riff echoing through an alleyway or a mesmerizing dance routine unfolding on the sidewalk, these impromptu performances add an enchanting layer of spontaneity to your urban exploration. Embrace the energy of these artistic expressions, and let them transport you into a world where art intertwines seamlessly with everyday life, creating a truly unforgettable and free adventure in the heart of this captivating city.

Conclusion

As the sun sets over Vancouver's skyline, reflecting its golden hues on the tranquil waters of the Burrard Inlet, you'll find yourself inspired by the city's boundless free adventures. From the serene strolls in Stanley Park to the lively street performances that enliven the city's streets, Vancouver has proven itself to be a destination that caters to every adventurer's spirit, without the need for an extravagant budget. As you bid farewell to this enchanting city, carry with you the memories of the stunning natural landscapes, the vibrant cultural experiences, and the infectious energy that emanates from every corner. Vancouver's free adventures have left an indelible mark on your soul, igniting a desire to return and continue exploring the endless wonders that a wait around every turn.

[cozyjae]

traveling with nct 127 🏝

dream version

going to madrid with taeil...let’s you take the lead on where to go, will vibe anywhere, loves learning bits of spanish, lets you wear his leather jacket, carries around any of your shopping bags for you, keeps track of your passport and all of your tickets and important documents, somehow always knows where he’s going, holds your hand while he navigates through crowds, planned dates where he plays off the amount of effort he put into them, candle lit dinners, takes a lot of sunset pictures, always very cheesy but you love it.

going to athens with johnny... his camera is always around his neck, pausing you too many times to take a picture (and the occasionally sneaky candid), both of you wearing matching ‘i love greece’ tourist shirts that he insisted on buying at the airport gift shop and then begged you to wear, taking outfit of the day pictures, renting bikes to ride around town, afternoon picnicking, his arm around your shoulder as you walk the illuminated streets at night, asking an older tourist couple to take a photo of you at the parthenon, both of you smile widely as they take one and johnny asks for one more, quickly pressing his lips softly against your cheek.

going to paris with taeyong... his newfound determination to speak french, practicing french phrases on his phone in the morning in a low raspy voice, munching on expensive macaroons, visiting all the typical touristy places like the louvre & versailles, having 1,000 new photos on your camera roll, taeyong deleting pictures to take more of you, hotel balconies, warm baths together in the fancy hotel bathroom, fancy new perfumes, giggles in fancy restaurants, giggles everywhere, walking together to see the effile tower at night.

going to tokyo with yuta.. hiking until you complain but the reward for reaching the top of the mountain is kisses, feeding and petting wild deer, spending a lot of time outdoors, happiness while speaking japanese, watching old anime reruns at the hotel and staying up too late, going to a cat cafe and staying too long there playing with the kitties, buying too many souvenirs considering it’s his home country, going to local markets, buying street vendor onigiri and dango, visiting niche earring shops, he’s just always laughing.

going to london with doyoung... him making you take aesthetic photos of him, being really prepared, always checks the weather before he leaves the hotel, cheeks flush and he gets very red from one beer, leaning against your shoulder and cuddling you in the taxi home, wants to buy every single person he knows a souvenir, watching the buskers at night, likes keeping your hand in his always, gets stressed easily and then you relax him with kisses, will sing in the shower, will sing you to sleep if you ask nicely, quietly will request to be the little spoon. 

going to sicily with jaehyun... wine tasting, sun dresses, golden rings, making pasta at a small local restaruant together, he of course makes it a competition of who’s pasta is better, taking a ferry tour and making you do the titanic pose in front of other tourists, buys way too much gelato, touring museums and always taking cliche tourist photos, blazers, firm grips around your waist, you trying to pay attention to the tour guides but you’re too distracted by his gaze that’s only focused on you.

going to hawaii with jungwoo.. confident english, wearing lais, hiking waterfall trails to exercise but then going directly back to the resort and drinking a lot of smoothies, being obsessed with room service, a lot of playing around in the ocean, drinking from coconuts, he’s amazed at the smallest things, especially all the wildlife, peaceful and relaxing, gets shy when you look at him for too long, his face is slightly burnt, follows you around happily, buys a lot of hawaiian shirts, wants you to wear one, you probably will  do just to make him giggle.

going to vancouver with mark... giving you the personal mark lee childhood tour (your favorite) of vancouver, loud laughs along the streets at night, making him laugh too hard as he folds his body into yours, wide eyes paying attention to you always, thumb rubbing over your hand asking where you want to go, freaking out when it hits him he’s actually at his childhood home with you, taking you to all the places he used to eat at, letting you decide what you want to do, is always down for anything, he breaks out into laughter randomly, his excuse is just that he’s so happy, you roll your eyes but you secretly love it, will keep a hand on your thigh when sitting anywhere, his hands are always warm and always find their way to you, buys too much maple syrup to bring back for your friends. 

going to nyc with donghyuck... going to times square and making you take pictures with the pikachu and hello kitty mascots in the streets, wanting to try on the funniest and weirdest outfits you pick for each other in vintage stores, embarrassing you in public and him not caring that you’re embarrassed and will absolutely continue, makes weird faces at you from across a store, buys too much street vender food and candy, museum dates, gets very excited over fossils, you have a full blown photoshoot on a roof top bar with your fancy mixed drinks, is always excited, swings your interlocked hands back and forth and hums, he never gets tired and just wants to spend time with you always. 

[nicohischierz]

when in vegas: jack hughes 

part one, part two, part three

tagging: @jamiedryssdale @hockey-lover86 @tpwkvirgi80

after the game in jersey kai refused to go leave jack’s side. when the two of you came back to vancouver, your son would facetime his father every second he could. 

he was upset the only time he would get to see him would be when new jersey plays vancouver again or during the summer. that was until jack got chosen to go to the all-star games and invited the two of you along. 

“babe, don’t worry about it. z and my parents will be there as well,” jack reassured you. kai was sitting by your side and looked up at you with the cutest eyes ever and you couldn’t say no to him. 

you and jack decided to rekindle your relationship after the trip to jersey. you’d even made visits to each other meeting halfway to go on dares or to celebrate occasions together. to the both of you, it felt like nothing had changed. 

when you agreed to going to the all-star games, jack booked the first flight out of vancouver for you and kai making sure he was able to pick you guys up from the airport. 

kai held onto jack’s hand as you made your way to the devils private jet. kai was bouncing up and down. when you guys got on the plane, kai ran to a seat and got on it ready to go.  

“daddy, sit with me!” kai exclaimed. jack kissed your cheek and sat next to your son. you managed to get a few pictures of the two of them before you decided to sleep through the flight. 

trevor was already in vegas by the time you and jack landed so he waited by the lobby for the three of you. “uncle z!” kai exclaimed running over to the boy. trevor opened his arms wide for the boy to run into. 

“hey little dude, did you have a growth spurt since the summer?” he asked carrying kai on his hip. he shook hands with jack and gave you a small hug. 

kai led the three of you around the hotel to your room. “hey look at that we’re neighbours!” trevor exclaimed.

you groaned playfully as the ducks player fist bumped your son and boyfriend. “great now i have to look after three children,” you mumbled.

the boys all gave you shocked looks before they crushed you in a hug. shortly after putting all your and jacks things in your hotel room you went to greet ellen and jim. 

jack left you with his parents as he and kai headed towards the practice rink to practice his bit for the breakaway challenge. 

you and ellen spent most of your time talking about the similarities between your son and hers. the two of you decided to head out for a coffee before jack sent a message saying his challenge was next. 

“has he told you anything about his idea?” ellen asked. you shook your head, taking your seat. both of you were positioned on the other side of the benches. 

when trevor came out to do his skill, you applauded his efforts. he had confided in you about the pressures he felt in the league now a days and you could tell this meant a lot to him. 

next up was jack. when he went for the shot straight away without your son. you knew something was up. so you watched and waited as the team pulled out a magicians box. 

jack pulled out a bag with mini gloves, sticks and a replica of his jersey before throwing them into the box. you were lucky enough to get a picture of trevor helping jack put his hat and cape on before sending it to the ntdp group chat. 

“and look mini jack hughes!” the commentators statement made you look up from your phone. and sure enough there was your son with the puck pulling of jack’s ot winner goal. 

the father-son duo skated towards you and ellen, throwing their sticks at you. a guy next to you caught kai’s as you caught jacks. written on the blade of his stick was a message for you. 

the whole arena was silent as they watched the middle hughes get down on one knee. everyone was trying to look for the girl and when they saw you with his stick they awed at the sight. 

you nodded as your answer. the arena roared with cheers as they watched jack pick his son up in celebration. ellen gave you a hug before pestering you to go to her son. the last few people completed their skill and it was time for media. 

“so jack, how was the challenge?” 

jack spotted you in the corner of the room and smiled before answering “yeah, it was good fun. honestly my main goal was making sure this one had a good time,” 

kai wasn’t paying attention to the questions being asked, he was more focused on the fluffy mic in front of him. “kai, did you have fun?” jack asked his son quietly. 

the boy looked up and nodded “it was so much fun skating with daddy. uncle petey taught me how to skate and he said when i’m older i’ll be better than uncle quinn and uncle luke,” he babbled. 

you bit your lip at the announcement of kai’s relationship to jack. but the hughes boy beamed at his son and then at you before addressing the situation.

“so like kai said, when i thought of my idea i knew straight away it would be amazing to have my son involved especially now he’s old enough to skate. it took a bit of convincing from my fiancee to agree but in the end she admitted it would be cute,” 

after his statement about his family every commented how cute the three of you were. especially after jack posted on his instagram confirming your relationship