#chicago Blackhawks

[onmytape]

korchinski ahl all star game

[bedards-bunnie]

Melted Ice ❄️🐰

Pairing: Connor Bedard x Reader

Content: Making out, established relationship Summary: Reader waits for Connor to finish practice, and the outcome was worth the wait

Word Count: 800

Notes: This is my first fan fiction post on this account! I hope you enjoy..please interact if you did, feedback is appreciated! 💗

*❆ ₊⋆୨ৎ ⋆꙳*❆ ₊⋆୨ৎ ⋆꙳*❆ ₊⋆୨ৎ ⋆꙳*❆ ₊⋆୨ৎ ⋆꙳*❆ ₊⋆୨ৎ ⋆꙳*❆ ₊⋆୨ৎ ⋆꙳*❆ ₊⋆୨ৎ

The sound of skates scraping the ice echoed through the almost empty rink as you leaned against the boards, your breath fogging up the glass in front of you. The smell of cold air and freshly resurfaced ice filled your nose, a scent that had become strangely comforting over the past few months. Connor had stayed late for extra drills, the relentless perfectionist that he was, and you couldn’t bring yourself to leave without him. You would build a bedroom at the rink if it meant you could be with him all of the time. 

You smiled as you watched him skate, his movements smooth, powerful, and precise. The way his jersey hung loose over his pads and the familiar "98" on his back made your stomach flutter. You weren’t even sure when it had started, this pull you felt toward him, but now it was undeniable. Every look, every smile, every accidental brush of hands seemed to carry more weight than it should. And tonight? Tonight felt different. Everything felt perfect between the two of you. It felt like nothing could go wrong. 

Eventually, Connor skated toward you, his helmet tucked under his arm, his hair slightly damp and messy with sweat. His cheeks were flushed from the cold, and his usual confident grin was replaced with something softer, something...nervous. “Hey,” he said, his voice low as he climbed out of the rink and stepped onto the rubber mats near you.

“Hey,” you replied, your voice barely above a whisper.

He glanced down, fiddling with his gloves for a moment before looking back up at you, his blue eyes locking onto yours. “Thanks for waiting,” he said, his tone sincere. “You didn’t have to.”

“I wanted to,” you admitted, the words slipping out before you could overthink them. Almost too quick.

His lips instantly formed into a small smile and he stepped closer, that familiar scent of ice and gear filling the space between you. “You’re always here for me,” he murmured, his voice quieter now, almost as if he was afraid to break the tension that had settled between you, “waiting, cheering me on like a good girl.”

You nodded, your heart pounding in your chest. “Always, just for you Bedsy.”

For a moment, neither of you moved. The air felt charged, electric, like the whole world had narrowed down to just the two of you standing there. Then, almost hesitantly, Connor reached out, his gloved hand brushing against yours. “You make it hard to focus out there,” he admitted, his cheeks reddening as he looked down, clearly embarrassed by the confession he had just spoken into the air. 

Your breath hitched, and you took a small step closer. “I didn’t mean to distract you,” you said softly, though your heart pounded hard at the thought.

He laughed, shaking his head. “You’re all I think about sometimes,” he said, his voice barely audible now.

Before you could respond, he closed the remaining distance between you, his gloved hands cradling your face as his lips met yours. The kiss was soft at first, but the moment you responded, it deepened, his gloved hands sliding to your waist, pulling you closer, then moving up and down your body. The cold of his gear pressed against you was a contrast to the warmth of his lips and you couldn’t get enough. 

You threaded your fingers through his damp hair, pulling him closer as the kiss grew more desperate, more intense. His hockey pads were rigid and awkward against your frame, but you didn’t care. All you could focus on was the way he tasted, the way his hands held you like you were the most important thing in the world.

The kiss continued to deepen; Connor snaked his tongue into you mouth, desperately coating every inch of the inside with his saliva. Your moans were stifled by his mouth against yours and you could feel pleasure from the makeout session alone building between your thighs.  

When you finally broke apart, both of you were breathing hard, your foreheads resting against each other. His eyes searched yours, and for a moment, he looked almost vulnerable. “Was that okay?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Classic, shy Connor..

You smiled, your hands still tangled in his hair. “More than okay..perfect.”

He grinned cheek to cheek, that boyish, confident smile you loved so much, and pulled you in for another kiss, his lips crashing against yours like he couldn’t get enough. This time, the world around you seemed to disappear entirely, leaving only the two of you in the now quiet, empty rink.

[kentjohnson91]

new meme style lmk if yall like these (do not fret tho the old ones will continue either way)

[secretlittlerandezvous]

What Comes Next - Teuvo Teräväinen

Summary: Teuvo and Y/n visit their newborn niece for the first time. As he watches Y/n with their niece, he finds himself mesmerized by her warmth and natural instinct. He comes to the realization that he is ready to start a family.

Words: 921

The anticipation was strong as Teuvo and Y/n pulled up to Y/n’s sister’s house. It was a sunny afternoon, the kind of day that felt perfect for family gatherings. Y/n had been excited to finally become an auntie for months, and today was the day she and Teuvo would finally meet the little one for the first time. He was excited, but also a little nervous. He always loved kids but had never been in many situations where he was around babies.

When they entered the house, Y/n’s sister greeted them warmly, her eyes immediately lighting up as she introduced them to her baby girl. Teuvo was a little awestruck as he looked down at the tiny bundle in Y/n’s sister’s arms, but the moment Y/n took the baby in her own arms, his heart melted.

Y/n’s voice, soft and soothing, made Teuvo smile. She cooed to the baby in a way that made the little girl’s eyes light up, her tiny hands reaching out to Y/n. The baby settled into her arms, comforted by her presence as she gently rocked her. Teuvo couldn’t help but watch, mesmerized by how natural Y/n seemed. The connection between them was immediate and deep. She was calm, composed, and full of warmth - everything Teuvo admired about her.

As they spent the afternoon together, Y/n and the baby formed an unspoken bond, and Teuvo found himself both in awe and a little surprised at how much his heart swelled at the sight. He had always known Y/n was loving and nurturing, but seeing her with a baby (their own niece making it even more exciting) brought out a side of her he hadn’t fully known. It was as if she was born to be a mother, and Teuvo couldn’t help but imagine her being that way with their own child one day.

Teuvo watched as Y/n held the baby with such care, expertly handling the little one’s small body and adjusting her to be more comfortable, all while continuing to talk to her softly. He noticed the way her face lit up when the baby giggled or wrapped her tiny hand around Y/n’s finger, and something shifted inside him. The desire to one day build a family with her felt so natural.

As the visit came to an end, Teuvo’s heart felt lighter, but also heavier in a way. They said their goodbyes, and Teuvo felt a strange mix of excitement and yearning as they walked out to the car. The image of Y/n holding their niece stayed with him, and as they drove home, the silence between them felt different. Teuvo kept replaying the afternoon in his mind, and it wasn’t long before he knew he needed to share his thoughts with her.

That evening, after a quiet dinner, they settled onto the couch together. Teuvo found himself nervously playing with his fingers, forcing himself to speak up. Y/n was curled up beside him, her eyes half-closed as she leaned into him, but he could tell her mind was somewhere else.

"You were amazing," Teuvo said, his voice quieter than usual. Y/n glanced up at him, giving him a soft smile. "It’s like you were born to do this."

Y/n laughed lightly, brushing a piece of hair behind her ear. "Well, she’s such an angel. It’s easy to be good with her." She shrugged, looking down at her hands, a slight blush creeping up her cheeks.

Teuvo’s gaze never left her. He was silent for a moment, gathering his thoughts. He reached for her hand, his thumb gently brushing over her skin. "No, it’s more than that," he said. "You were incredible with her, and I couldn’t help but think about us. About one day having a little one of our own."

Y/n froze for a second, her heart skipping a beat as she turned to look at him, searching his face for any sign of doubt. "Teuvo?" she asked, her voice soft but filled with curiosity.

Teuvo let out a quiet breath, his thumb still gently caressing her hand as he continued. "I’ve been thinking about it for a while now," he admitted, his voice steady but full of emotion. "I want to build a family with you. Watching you with her today made me realized that we’re ready. You’re so amazing with kids, and I just know we would make great parents."

Y/n felt a lump form in her throat as she processed his words. She didn’t expect this conversation, but now that it was happening, her heart filled with warmth. She loved Teuvo more than anything, and the thought of raising a family with him, growing their love into something even bigger, made her heart race.

"You really think so?" Y/n asked. She squeezed his hand gently, needing to feel his touch as she absorbed everything he was saying.

Teuvo nodded, his eyes full of certainty and affection. "I know so. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, Y/n. And seeing you with her just made me realize how much I want to share that with you. So, whenever you’re ready."

Y/n’s heart fluttered, a mix of joy and excitement blooming inside her. She always imagined a future with Teuvo and hearing him speak about it so openly, made everything feel even more real. She smiled, squeezing his hand tighter. "I’ve always been ready for a future with you."

Teuvo pulled her closer, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. "Then we’ll make it happen," he murmured, wrapping his arms around her.

[ohpuckno]

Hockeyblr is hilarious because every now and then, you’ll catch your mutuals cheering for teams you despise on your dash. It’s like discovering your dad has a secret second family. My brother in Christ, we were fighting on the frontlines together in the same lb no more than 24 hours ago, what happened

[hockeyboi]

CONNOR BEDARD | Hyundai Canada commercial

[snekjin]

2 minutes for slashing | chi @ cgy | 15 oct 2024

[nottodayjustin]

December 5th 2024 best hockey tweet(s) of the day

[anthonybanda]

CM PUNK & JEY USO - boys night out ! 040224

+ BONUS !

[lvrhughes]

Trick or Treat | C. Bedard

pairing: Connor Bedard x fem!reader

word count: 0.74k

summary: you and connor dress up for the trick or treaters.

warnings: none?

not my gif!

“I don’t get why we’re dressed up.” 

Connor’s voice drifted down the stairs, reaching where you stood at the bottom with a bowl of candy, waiting in preparation for the treat or treaters. 

“Because it’s fun.” 

You called back, waiting for him to walk down the stairs, waiting to see the costume you had put together. 

“Whatever you say, baby.”

His voice grew louder as he walked down the stairs, finding your eyes quickly as you turned to face him. 

“Oh my god.” 

His face flushed at the words, a shy smile covering his features as he reached you, wrapping his arms around your waist to pull you against him. 

“Think I look that good, baby?” “You look so good.” 

You returned, wrapping your arms around him, the bowl of candy forgotten on the table now. Pressing your face against his chest while you felt him laugh at your actions, leaving a soft kiss before pulling back. 

“Wear this everyday.” 

He laughed harder at the words, taking a moment to catch his breath before answering you with a kiss, feeling your body melt against his. 

“I am not spending everyday dressed like Flynn Ryder.” 

“I wish you would.” 

You shook your head, leaning back to take in his outfit once more, earning another laugh from him. 

“Do you want to stop checking me out and hand out candy yet?” 

His words had heat rising to your face, shaking your head as you moved away from him to retrieve the bowl again. 

“No need to call me out.” 

His arms slipped around your waist as you turned, pressing his body against your back as you  grabbed the bowl, peppering soft kisses to your neck. 

“I was checking you out too, don’t worry.” 

He hummed against your skin, earning more warmth to your cheeks as he lead you to the couch, moving around you to lay down before motioning for you to follow.

Laying between his legs with your head on his chest whilst you waited for the children, Tangled playing softly in the background as you stared at Connor.

“What are you staring for?” “You’re just so pretty.” 

“Really? Cause I think you’re way too pretty.” 

He smiled back, tucking a piece of your hair behind your ear before pressing a soft kiss to your lips. Letting your body melt into his once more as his arms wrapped around your waist, keeping your body pressed into his as he kissed you. 

The soft knocking on the door pulled your attention away from Connor, leaning up and back to shoot him a soft smile before moving towards the door, looking behind to ensure he was following. Opening the door quickly to reveal the front porch filled with children. A group seemingly all dressed as princesses, plus a single prince, with their parents standing behind them smiling. 

“Trick or Treat!” 

All their voices mingled together, making a smile grow on your lips as they held their buckets out towards you. 

You turned to grab the bowl that Connor held, taking it from his grip to pass a few pieces of candy to each child, wishing them a goodnight as they left. 

Closing the door and turning back to Connor, who held a soft smile on his face as you leaned into him. Letting out a soft sigh as his arms wrapped around you, moving to discard the bowl just before. 

“They’re so cute.”

Connor’s grip tightening around your waist, pressing a chaste kiss to the crown of you head before nodding with you. 

“Yeah they were.” He pressed another kiss to your hair. “I can’t wait to have our own family one day.” 

You pulled back slightly, looking at him. Feeling his hands shifting on  your waist to draw soft shapes while you continued to stand by the door. 

“You want that?” 

“More than anything.” 

He had a soft smile on his face as he spoke, watching you closely as you sent a smile back his way. His hands never stopping their soft movements on your waist, his eyes never wavering from yours. 

“I can’t wait to have a family with you too.” 

Connor’s smile grew at the words, moving quickly to press a kiss to your lips, your hands moving to cup his cheeks as he did. 

“I love you.” 

He whispered the words against your lips, earning a smile before you whispered them back before pressing against his lips once more, letting your body melt against his.

[sweetdispatch]

Rookie love - C. Bedard

Next door hearts

pairing: Connor Bedard x Hughes!reader

summary: You and Connor live in the same building and work for Blackhawks. Slowly, you two are falling for each other and he made a cute date for you

warning: none

words: 2.5k

note: my first connor fic yay! based on this request and honestly it lowkey makes me want to do a whole AU with this theme haha

---

It was a tough decision for you. You were just an 18 year old girl who decided to move out all the way to Chicago to study public relations. You could stay in Michigan but the vision of being compared to your older brothers, Quinn and Luke who also had been studying there, wasn’t tempting. You wanted to work on your own brand and name far away from there.

Your parents weren’t the happiest when you announced your decision because you were the youngest kid and with your moving to Chicago, it meant that they will be alone without any kids around. Despite the fact, they had your back and fully supported you and understood your point of view. They even helped you to rent an apartment so you don’t have to live in a dorm. 

Quinn, Jack and Luke weren’t surprised when you shared the news with them, knowing how much you had been struggling in high school with questions about them and being used by your “friends” in the past only because you had famous siblings. Quinn proposed that you can always move to him in Vancouver but you wanted to be independent and the vision of moving to Canada wasn’t something you were craving. 

The year you arrived in Chicago, Connor started playing in his rookie season for the Blackhawks. In fact, he was your neighbor and lived right across the hall from you. He also moved there without his family and had to be independent. At first, you didn’t care about it. You were always saying hello to each other when you two saw each other in the hall but nothing more.

Things changed with time when thanks to your great results in college you got an internship in social media for the Chicago Blackhawks. You were excited and grateful for the opportunity. Your dream always was to work in social media and being capable of doing this in a hockey team when you were raised in a hockey family was incredible. You called your parents to tell them about this and they were proud of you. Finally, your hard work paid off.

In January, you started your internship and quickly became one of the most important people in creating content for social media. Thanks to your young age, new ideas and jumping into trends, the Chicago Blackhawks became one of the best teams in social media. Fans loved the content and people rooting for other teams also found it funny. 

Connor was 1st overall pick and star of the team so you pushed him to do some of the videos for the social media. He wasn’t the happiest because he was shy in front of the camera but you always tried your hardest to make him feel as comfortable as possible. You were also a shy person and you totally understood him. He was delighted to have you as a support and creating content with you wasn’t as scary as it was earlier. 

You and Connor lived in the same apartment building and always were returning from his training or games together. He was more than happy to give you a ride back home. In the first two weeks of your internship, you two bonded and became friends. Both of you had been the same age and lived alone, far away from parents. During roadies, you were staying in Chicago since you had college and many times you received texts from Connor.

They tell me to do this and I don’t want to.

Why have you abandoned me? 

Can you tell them to leave me alone? 

Promise me that you’ll go on the next roadie so I can have support from you behind the camera.

With every message like that, your heart was growing bigger. You didn’t know how much of an impact you have on him and feeling comfortable. You wanted to be there for him but you couldn’t drop college because Connor was shy. You promised him to talk with the others to leave him alone during away games but it wasn’t in your competence to dictate who’s gonna be on the video.

While Connor was away, you were taking care of his apartment and basically cleaned and cooked for him in your free time. When you entered his place for the first time, you could tell that he’s struggling being alone just like you and you wanted him to feel that he has someone on who he can lay on. You had experience with boys since you had three brothers and knew what to do so he could open up. 

Connor was more than grateful to have you. At first, he thought that you’re just a social media girl who’s living in the same building but with time, he saw how much you’re doing for him inside and outside of the work. He wanted to pay you back and always surprised you with flowers and coffee when he knew that you had a rough day in college. 

These small gestures turned into daily dinners and movies. After games, Connor was taking you out on a dinner to later finish the day with a movie in your apartment. It was a cute but meaningful moment between you two. You started talking more and more, he finally opened up and felt that he has a real friend and is not alone. 

Both of you were falling for each other. You two had similar personalities and tried to stay out of the spotlight. You were Connor’ biggest fan and he was your rock. Almost every single day you two were seeing each other even if it meant only for 5 minutes. He knew your schedule perfectly and always tried to give you a donut with coffee before you were heading on college. You also knew his schedule and after every roadie, you were at his apartment preparing meals for him, knowing that he must be tired from flying around America and Canada. It was like an unwritten rule between you. 

When you had been working with the Blackhawks, Connor was more than happy to see you there and was willing to do a content with you. The rest of the team was surprised but no one questioned it. They all thought that it’s because he feels more comfortable around you since you are the same age. It was partially true. He was willing to do content while you were around because he loved to spend time with you. 

Connor’ teammates and other people working in social media never noticed anything unusual in the behaviour between you two. You two kept the friendship and feeling privately and shared it when only two of you were alone. In March, your internship was over but the team offered you full time work in social media. You were beyond happy for this and couldn’t wait for the 2024-2025 season to start so you can work there. 

When you told this to Connor, he smiled like a kid in a candy store. At first, he was sad that you won’t be around for the next 1,5 months but after he heard that you’ll be working there full time, he was the happiest person. You were confident that he was happier about this than you. In that moment, he gained confidence to ask you out on a date. You gladly accepted his invitation and the two of you spent an incredible evening the next day. 

After the season was over for Chicago, Connor decided to stay there for a little longer knowing that you have exams in May. You were always there for him in his lows and highs and he wanted to do the same for you. He was hanging out in your apartment all the time, even if that meant that he had to watch a tv show while you’re studying. Those silent, cute moments made him realise that he wants you as his girlfriend. 

Connor started planning a cute date after your exams when he could ask you to be his girlfriend. In the past 5 months, you two shared a lot of moments together and learned a lot about each other. That’s why instead of a boring date in a restaurant, he planned a day full of attractions to ask you to be his at the end. He was proud of himself but also scared of your reaction. 

“Since we're leaving in a couple of days I was thinking that maybe we could spend a day together?” Connor asked you in the middle of a movie that you two had been watching. 

“But we’re already spending everyday together” You giggled and saw redness growing on his face.

“Yeah but I was thinking about going out, more like… exploring the city” He replied shyly and you smiled at him. 

“I would love that, do you have a plan what to do or are we gonna figure it out tomorrow?” You asked excitedly. 

“I… I actually have a plan already but if you want we can change it” Connor started to ramble and you stopped him.

“We don’t have to, I trust you with your plan” 

“Great, umm how about I’ll pick you around 10AM tomorrow?” 

“Sounds perfect” You smiled and the two of you returned to watching a movie. 

It’s now or never Connor thought.

As Connor promised, he knocked at your door at 10AM. He had flowers in his hand that he bought earlier. He was nervous but he knew there’s nothing scary in you but he was still overthinking this whole day. You opened the door and welcomed him. He was in awe of how gorgeous you looked in your dress. From the nerves, he kept the flowers in his hand instead of giving them to you. 

“Are those flowers for me?” You asked shyly.

“Yeah, sorry” He gave you the flowers and you quickly put them in a vase.

“Shall we go?” You asked him. 

“Yes, I’m right behind you” 

Two of you left your apartment and went into a parking lot. Connor opened the passenger door for you and you thanked him. All the nerves went out of him when you started talking to him about your summer plans. It felt natural between the two of you. The next 20 minutes you were talking about how you are gonna spend the free months. He stopped the car and opened the door for you. 

“I know you didn’t have breakfast so I thought it would be nice to grab donuts and coffee and go to the park” Connor said and you smiled at him. 

“You know me too well” You joked.

Connor ordered your favorite donuts and coffee and you were smiling all the time standing next to him because he remembered those little details about you. When you two got the order, you walked into a park and sat on a bench while eating and joking. After you finished your breakfast, he stood up and you followed him. For the next hour, you two have been walking around the park with coffee in your hands. 

When Connor saw that you’re getting tired, he knew it’s time for another attraction. You two went to his car and he drove you to a place that you always wanted to visit but never had time. It was the Museum of Illusion and it was on your bucket list to get here one day. You were surprised that he remembered this detail because you told him about it months ago. 

You were so excited to go there and Connor was excited for you. For another couple hours you two had been walking around the museum having fun and taking lots of pictures. It was the first time you saw him fully comfortable with taking pictures and you couldn’t be happier that he feels safe around you. Smiles couldn’t disappear from both of your faces.

It was already 4PM when you two left the museum and you were starting to get hungry. Connor had this already planned and drove you to McDonalds to get food. Again, he remembered that you said to him that this is your guilty pleasure food and you could eat it every single day. When you two got the food, you decided to sit in the car and eat in a parking lot while chatting. This day was already perfect but he had one more thing planned. 

Now it was the most nervous part for Connor. He booked a boat trip for you two and after it he wanted to ask you to be his girlfriend. The day was perfect and he didn't want to ruin it. He started to overthink this again but your monologue about wanting to adopt a cat brought him back to reality. He was smiling at the thought of you having a cat because he knew you'd be great with him. After 30 minutes, he parked a car and led you to a boat. 

“You mentioned how much you miss home and spending days on a boat so I thought we could have a boat evening here” He shrugged.

“It’s perfect, I love the idea” You hugged him and he swore that he felt butterflies in his stomach. 

You two walked on the boat and sat here quietly watching the busy city. It was incredible to stop and just relax while enjoying each other's presence. You cuddled into him and he gladly put his hand on you. It was a gentle move but you loved it. You were so in love with him and this day just proved to you that Connor is the guy you want forever. After an hour, you returned to the land and you smiled at him widely.

“Thank you for today. It was the best day of my life” You pecked his cheek and saw a blush on his face. 

“It was a pleasure for me to make your day better but I need to ask you something” He took a deep breath. “I really like you Y/N and I want you as more than a friend. Would you be my girlfriend?” He asked you and you froze in a spot. A boy that you love wants you. After a couple seconds you threw yourself into his arms. 

“I would love to be your girlfriend. You mean the world to me and I’ll be more than happy to be yours” Connor felt relief when you agreed. 

“Can I kiss you?” He asked you shyly.

“You don’t have to ask, you’re my boyfriend” You chuckled and the next thing you felt was his lips on yours. It was a passionate kiss full of emotions and love. You couldn’t be happier than today.

yourusername

liked by _connorbedard and 2352 others

yourusername I think I fall in love...🤍

jackhughes You what???

lhughes_06 You have a lot to explain young lady when you get back home.

_quinnhughes That the reason why I was against you going to different city

25 May 2024

[lovecla]

TAKE IT EASY (OTHERWISE I’M LEAVING) ; connor bedard.

© property of lovecla, nhl masterlist, single chapter:

ᡣ𐭩 — pair: connor bedard x fmc (olivia)

ᡣ𐭩 — synopsis: in which connor bedard’s girlfiend, olivia, is tired of seeing her boyfriend destroy himself every single day.

ᡣ𐭩 — word count: 3.1k

ᡣ𐭩 — chapter warnings: inspired by the song “you” by chase atlantic, angst, hurt with a dash of comfort.

ᡣ𐭩 — from me to you: the second chase atlantic released this album i knew i had to write something inspired by it. i missed writing for bedsy and since he’s our golden, hardworking boy, i thought this was very fitting. hope u like it 🤍

ᯓᡣ𐭩

but you've been diggin' up the truth

haven't slept in like four nights now

blame it on substance abuse

out in the deep end, i'm swimmin', i'm swimmin' again

YOU WOKE up startled with the loud bang coming from somewhere inside your apartment, your whole body jumping and your heart starting to race inside your chest.

Now, almost fully awake, you stare at the clock sitting on your bedside table, reading the time. 4:13 a.m., and when you pat the other side of the bed, where your boyfriend of two years should be laying, you frown as you find it empty and lukewarm to the touch.

“Connor?” You whisper, scared to wake him up unnecessarily, even if you knew he wasn’t lying with you in bed. Again.

You get up, the fabric of his old Blackhawks sweater heating up your skin, as you put on your slippers and leave the bedroom, noticing traces of Connor’s absence here and there— his slippers aren’t by his side of the bed, his duffel bag isn’t on the hallway like it usually is, his water bottle isn’t on the couch like he had left it last night, when you both went no sleep at one in the morning.

So that’s why you don’t understand what he’s doing by the front door, ready to leave, even if he had only slept for three hours.

“Connor?” You call again, watching as his blue eyes look at you, surprise and guilt decorating his expression like a famous painting hanging on the Louvre’s wall. “What are you doing?”

Your voice is still soft, and despite the scare, your eyes can barely stay open. You’re tired, tonight was the first night you had allowed yourself to sleep freely since now you were done with your exams. And you were happy because you managed to convince Connor to come home earlier, at eleven instead of midnight, just so you could spend some time together, like you used to do when you started dating.

“Liv, hey,” he whispers, adjusting his bag on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

That’s when you realize what he’s doing. The bag, the stick on his hand, the outfit. He’s—

“Are you serious right now?” You take a deep breath, trying to maintain your composure. “You’re going to the rink? At four in the morning?”

“Baby, you know I need to,” he tries to sound convincing and if it wasn’t for the fact that this is probably the hundredth time he’s done this, you would’ve actually believed him. “We have a game coming up and—”

“Yes, I am well aware of that, Connor. But you went to sleep at one. Two nights ago, you also went to sleep at one and woke up at five. And the night before, and the night before that too.”

You don’t try to hide your feelings anymore. You want him to know you’re upset, and you want him to know that this, whatever the hell he’s doing, isn’t okay.

“I know, baby, but you know I have to keep practicing so I can help the guys.” He’s now facing you, his body visibly tense.

“That doesn’t even make sense, Connor, what the hell. There are other twenty fucking people in your team, you’re not the only player there. It’s not your responsibility only!” You cover your face with your hands, truly upset.

“Liv,” he calls your name, and it hurts to even hear it, because his voice is so full of guilt and shame. It makes you feel sick. “You’re not being reasonable right now. This is the NHL. You know how hard I’ve worked for this. There are people counting on me.”

“And I’m not one of them?” You whisper, making eye contact again, only to realize you’re not strong enough to have this conversation at four in the morning.

“Liv—”

“It’s fine, Connor. Go to practice.” You sigh, making your way back to the bedroom, praying that he doesn’t notice the tears running down your cheeks.

ᯓᡣ𐭩

you said, "take it easy, otherwise i'm leaving

yeah, i don't wanna stay and watch you die",

ᯓᡣ𐭩

CONNOR HAD an injury.

His jaw had been fractured, and he had to go to surgery to fix it. You were in the arena watching the game with Connor’s sister when it happened, and you had never been so scared.

You know Hockey is about hitting people as much as it is about playing and winning, but you won’t lie and say your heart doesn’t hurt inside your chest whenever you see Connor getting hurt on the ice.

And you aren’t dumb. You know that some players will purposefully hurt him just because he’s good. And even if people aren’t one hundred percent sure that that is what happened that night, you still remember the terrible feeling of losing when you were in the ambulance with Connor to the hospital, trying your hardest not to cry in front of anyone because you know what they would say.

She’s not tough enough to date a NHL player.

But you believed yourself to be tough. The only problem with all of this is that you knew Bedard would never take great care of himself, meaning that you’d have to be with him twenty-four-seven, which wouldn’t be a problem, if only he accepted your help.

Now, four weeks after the surgery, you’re inside the United Center, the Blackhawks arena in Chicago, stomping your feet as you walk towards the rink, the sound of your steps being muffled by Connor’s constant skating.

“Connor.”

You have to call him a few times so that he can finally get out of his head and look at you; once again, those blameworthy eyes looking down at you, as he skates closer to the benches where you were standing.

“Liv.”

“What do you think you’re doing, Connor?” You snap. “You’re supposed to be resting. You’re definitely not supposed to be on the ice.”

“I know, but my jaw is just fine. It doesn’t even hurt anymore.” He removes his helmet, running his gloved hand through his hair.

“It didn’t seem like it was fine last night when you had to swallow a bunch of pain pills because it was hurting. Connor, don’t you see what you’re doing to yourself?” You can feel your face heating up, and you’re trying so hard to keep your shit together but— “You have to allow your body to rest. If you keep up with this, you won’t get better—”

“That’s not an option, Liv, and you know it,” he hissed back, now looking more distressed than guilty. “This is my life. And I did allow myself to rest, I spent four weeks doing absolutely nothing, just like the doctor asked me to.”

“He said six to eight weeks, Connor,” you sigh, tired, not actually believing you’re having this conversation with him. “Please. Just think about how I feel when I know you’re not well enough to be here yet you still are.”

He pressed his lips together, placing his stick on the floor next to him and moving his helmet around his hands.

“Liv, you know I love you but this— Hockey is what I am. It’s what I do. You have to understand—”

“And I have done nothing but understand you!” You shout, finally losing your cool and snapping at him, your loud voice echoing through the empty arena’s walls. Connor takes a step back, but now you’ve already started and you won’t can’t stop. “Ever since we met, I have been nothing but understanding. I stood by your side at all times, even when what you were doing wasn’t healthy for you!”

“Olivia—”

“I went to sleep alone and cried more nights than you could ever imagine,” your voice cracks, and your stubborn tears are already rolling down your face. “I still supported you no matter what. I cooked your meals, I packed your bags, I went to those ridiculous gala dinners and I did it all with pleasure because I love you and you’re supposed to do these types of things for the people you love!”

“Baby—”

“So you don’t get to stand in front of me and ask me to understand how badly you treat yourself and how you don’t care about anything else besides Hockey when I gave up everything to be with you!” You try to wipe your face, stepping back when Connor tries to reach you. He frowns when you flinch. “I gave up my freedom because I wanted to be with you and God knows I’d do it all over again because I fucking love you.”

“Baby, I know all of this and I’m grateful, I really am but—”

You let out a wet chuckle, shaking your head. “There’s always a but with you.”

“Hockey is important to me, baby.”

“And I am not.”

The silence after your words is cruel, and it tears you apart, scratching your skin and making your insides hurt. His blue eyes, your favorite color to ever exist, are also filled with tears and you hate to see it. You hate to feel bad about saying these things.

The thing about loving someone is that the thread between giving up yourself for them and giving yourself to them is really thin.

You love Connor Bedard. Have loved him for years now. He makes you happy, he listens to you, he’s your best friend.

“You know that’s not true, Liv,” he gets closer, the sound of his skates hitting the ice making you want to puke. “You know you’re more important to me than any of this. You know I love you.”

“No, Connor, I don’t,” you whisper, smiling even when all you feel is pain. “I can’t do this. I won’t watch you d-destroy yourself and not do anything.”

He removes his gloves quickly and grabs your wrist, cold fingers holding your arm down. “Olivia, wait.”

“No,” You shake your head. “I need time. Sorry.”

You don’t look at his face as you leave the arena, and you certainly don’t listen to his voice shouting your name, over and over again.

ᯓᡣ𐭩

i don't know what to do

i’m stuck in a loop, stuck in a loop

ᯓᡣ𐭩

HE WATCHES you talking to the children from afar.

You’re sitting on the floor, and it’s so obvious you’re better different from everyone else at the party. The children surround you like you’re their favorite princess or superhero, all of them wanting a little bit of your attention.

Connor feels like he should be offended, since those kids were there to see his team in the first place. It was some kind of reunion Foligno arranged with the media team, inviting some of his son’s friends and some other children with less opportunities.

But he isn’t. First of all, he’s thankful because if it weren’t for your charm, he would be the one having to deal with the children, something he wasn’t very fond of. Sure, he likes kids and he’s happy they like him, but if he could avoid social interactions, he would.

Besides that, watching you happy is something that he had missed, and he feels like shit for it. He knows he hasn’t been a good boyfriend, and he knows he should do better. Ever since that one night at the rink, you haven’t been the same.

But if he thinks about it too much, he realizes that you haven’t been yourself for a long time now.

And it hurts.

It hurts because he doesn’t know what to do. He loves you, the very first girl he fell in love with, but he also loves Hockey. As a young player in the NHL, he feels like he constantly needs to prove himself to others, and since people give him so much attention, he needs to keep on being a good player.

He doesn’t know how to balance things, how not to spend hours and hours without end on the ice, muting all of his doubts and worries while he keeps throwing the puck in the net.

You smile at a little boy who’s now handing you a flower, and Connor smiles as he watches you ask the little boy to put it on your hair, laughing when the other kids stop their babbling to clap at your newest look.

You make eye contact with him, and he feels himself getting devastated when he notices that the shine in your eyes lessened a little when you looked at him.

ᯓᡣ𐭩

(why do you hate me?)

i could never hate you, despite the words that you've been sayin'

i’ve been having breakthroughs

and hoping you were proud, just maybe

anxiety drives me insane, and my newest addiction is pain

i know i said it was a ‘phase’

five years later, still stuck in my brain

ᯓᡣ𐭩

CLOSING THE front door with a sigh, you let your first sob out. The tears won’t stop, and you don’t bother to wipe them, it would be pointless.

All you want to do is slide down to the floor and stay there, letting the hardwood hurt your back and get you dirty, but you can’t. Your car decided to break in the middle of the road on your way back from college, and you had to walk until you found the nearest telephone to call your insurance company, which would’ve been fine if it weren’t for the terrible storm going on, the water drops penetrating your thin shirt like you weren’t even wearing anything in the first place.

It’s just one of those days where everything that could possibly go wrong goes wrong, but you’re already so fed up with life lately that this all seems too much.

“Liv? What happened, baby?”

You lift your head up faster than you should've, because now you can see tiny, black dots floating around in your vision. You weren’t expecting to see Connor at your house, much less wearing the apron you gave him when he prepared his first dish by himself two years ago— a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

“Connor,” you whisper, not looking him in the eye. “I didn’t know you were here.”

“I texted you,” he says, removing the apron that read “cook it yourself, cunt”. “What happened, baby? Are you hurt?”

You don’t say anything, mostly because you’re certain that if you let one little word slip past your lips you’ll start crying uncontrollably once again, so you just shake your head and leave your things on the floor beside you, walking past him so you could get to your room.

He’s quick to follow, though, watching as you remove your wet clothes and get in the shower, both of you silent and lost in your own thoughts.

Not talking to Connor about your feelings feels weird, but you can’t help but feel like you’re holding him back. It’s sickening, because all you want is to stay with him and be happy, but sometimes loving is also letting go.

You get out of the shower, feeling the tears coming back when you spot the change of clothes Connor left for you on top of the toilet lid— his shirt, his pants, your favorite panties.

He knows you too well. He knows who you are as a person and he knows who you want to become. He knows your fears and your ambitions, he knows your dreams and hopes. He knows what you stand for and what you absolutely despise.

He knows you.

You change, and leave the bathroom quickly, wanting nothing more than to lay down and sleep for days.

“Some lady from your insurance company just called, saying your car will be ready next week,” Connor says, and only then you noticed he’d been standing next to your wardrobe the entire time, crossed arms in front of his chest. “Why didn’t you tell me your car was broken?”

You shrug. “I knew you were at practice. Didn’t want to bother you.”

“So you walked home? In the rain?” You can tell by his tone that he’s upset, but there’s nothing much you can do.

“I mean, what did you want me to do?” You scoff. “My phone died and I had no cash on me. And honestly, we both know that you would never leave the ice for something like this.”

“Liv, you know that’s not true,” he whispers, getting closer to you. “You know that I’d leave at any moment if I even knew you needed me.”

“Whatever,” you mumble before reaching for your phone in your bag, the device thankfully still dry, and put it to charge, removing the hundreds of pillows you have on top of your bed and throwing them on the carpet floor, already visualizing the amazing sleep you’d have.

“What are you doing?” You feel his hands on your back, his body closer to yours than it’s been in a while. “You haven’t had dinner yet. I cooked…”

His sad tone makes you break again, and you hate yourself for it. But you still love him so much, and it hurts to see what you’ve become.

“Liv, please, tell me what’s wrong,” he pleads, turning you around and wiping your tears with his thumbs. “I’ll fix it, I promise. Just tell me what’s wrong, baby.”

“Can you fix us?” You whisper, resting your head against his chest, inhaling his comforting scent. He smells like home and the winter. “Can you fix what we’ve become?”

He’s quiet for a while, long fingers caressing your hair, like he used to do back when you had started dating.

“I’m trying, I swear I am,” he whispers back, and you can finally hear genuineness in his voice. “You’re everything to me, baby, and I won’t lose you.”

“I’m not asking you to give up on Hockey,” you explain, watching as your tears stain his shirt. “I’m just asking you to take care of yourself. Connor, I need you to take care of yourself.”

“I know, baby, and I’m sorry,” he kisses your cheek, the first time his lips touch you in more than two weeks. “I’m so sorry.”

You listen to his heartbeat and sigh, choosing not to say anything. You know the only way you can find out if he’s being genuine or not is with time, because only it will tell if you’re fixable or not.

But as you let yourself sleep close to his body that night, losing yourself between the sheets and his arms, you can finally breathe again.

Because he said he’ll try, and Connor Bedard always tries his hardest with everything.

[ruinix]

Quinn is spinning

(Chicago Blackhawks @ Vancouver Canucks, November 16, 2024)

[cenestpasaudrey]

i want a huggy and bedsy pool match since they both declare themselves bad at it to see which one's worse hahaha

oohh and a jack hughes and brady tkachuk pictionary match too hahahah

[kentjohnson91]

nhl memes

[hockeyboi]

CONNOR BEDARD | POSTGAME - CHI @ NYR 12.10.24