It was 5:18 pm on Christmas Eve and Dany was nervous. He was sort of prepared
for seven people to invade his house, prepared enough, he guessed. He was
nervous that Igor was coming, because clearly Ilya told Igor everything.
He was nervous that Simon was coming because Justin Williams was coming
with him.
He wasn�t so nervous about his teammates, he was comfortable with Ilya and
Patrik, and even the Czech's wife. He sighed again, looking at his
tree. It was a nice tree, 8 feet tall and full. He�d paid $73 and 3
autographs to the Boy Scouts for it, after being assured that it had
been cut the previous week in the mountains of North Carolina. He didn�t
have very many ornaments � that came from it being just his second year
really living alone.
So ok, the tree was fine. The lights outside were fine. The food inside was
fine. He sat down and tried to relax, threading his fingers behind his
head. 5:26. Thirty-four minutes.
The doorbell rang at 6:03, and he almost jumped up before realizing that it
would hurt, so he just stood normally and limped a bit to the door. It
was Patrik and Sarah, who had the honor of being the only female in
attendance. Glad he could now stop being nervous, he led them into the
house.
Just a few minutes later, though, the doorbell rang again. This time Dany
opened it to find Simon and Justin, Williams' hand hand resting in the
small of Simon�s back, escorting him. Yeah, he could handle this.
*
*
*
�You�re sure you want to go? I mean, I told Dany we don�t celebrate �til
January, but we don�t have time off then and he celebrates tomorrow, so...�
�Ilya, Christ, you�ve asked me this about 82 times already and we�re on his
street and yes I want to go.�
�Just making sure,� he mumbled, glancing at Igor. The mumbling was an act.
He felt good, seeing Knyazev again and improved his mood immeasurably. He
hadn�t let go of him for about 3 minutes in the airport, caring not that
they were standing in the middle of baggage claim embracing. Let people
think what they want. He was stronger than Ilya remembered, had put on
some muscle during the first half of the season in Lowell. He also looked
happy � lonely, but happy. Much as Ilya was.
Ilya figured this party would be pretty easy. He was fond of Sarah, and of
course Patrik. And he somehow couldn�t make himself be upset that
Williams was accompanying Gagne on this trip. He knew Dany wasn�t over
the Flyer, and for purely selfish reasons he wanted him to get that way.
Judging from the cars in Dany�s drive, they were the last to arrive, and
Ilya took a deep breath of the chilly, wet air as they walked towards the
front door. �You ok, Ilya?� Igor asked, putting an arm around his
shoulders.
�Fine, Knyaz.� Of course he was.
It was almost 11 as Ilya stood in the doorway between the kitchen and the
living room. He was feeling pleasantly numb from the effects of the
alcohol they�d slowly consumed over the course of the evening as he took
in the other members of the room. Patrik was sandwiched between Simon and
Justin on the couch, and all three of them were giggling about something.
Igor was engaged in a lively conversation with Patrik's young wife, and in
fact he add been for a lot of the night.
So he was not ready for the Santa hat that was plopped down on his head as
Dany joined him in the doorway. �Hey, Dan.�
�Hi.�
�Are you ok?�
�Why wouldn�t I be?�
�With Justin here...�
�You know what? I actually am ok. I�m glad he�s here, he�s a nice guy, he�s
good for Simon.�
Ilya smiled, and it was one of genuine happiness. �I�m glad.�
�Yeah,� Dany smiled, leaning against the doorframe and looking at Igor and
Sarah. About that time, the Russian defenseman looked up, seeing the two
Thrashers, but his eyes focused on a spot above their heads.
Igor�s eyes widened and he fastened a fierce gaze on Ilya that he didn�t
miss. Kovalchuk glanced up, knowing he was going to discover mistletoe
hanging there, knowing Igor was urging him to not fucking waste the
opportunity. �Dany,� he said softly, gesturing upwards.
Dany glanced up and back at Ilya, their eyes locking. Slowly, Dany�s arm
snaked out, circling Ilya�s waist, pulling him a step closer. �Dan...�
�Sh.� And he leaned forward and their lips met for the second time.
Ilya finished closing the distance between them as he deepened the kiss, his
hand reaching up into Dany�s soft curls, fingers tangling there. Dany�s
other hand was stroking Ilya�s neck as his lips parted.
And Ilya was lost in the sensations, in the taste and feel of him, until he
ran out of breath and had to stop. But he couldn�t pull away as Dany�s
arm was firm around his waist. Letting his eyes drift shut, he dropped
his head to Dany�s shoulder, and heard pretty much the last thing he
expected, at a whisper. �I�m so sorry for before, Ilya. I love you.�
And then he couldn�t help the tears that fell.
Continued inpart 13