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will smith hockey

• Invisible String (will smith hockey) -w.c. 100k

• Invisible String: the inevitable pull -w.c. 70k

macklin celebrini

• Invisible String: caught in the pull (macklin celebrini) -w.c. tbd

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Invisible String: the inevitable pull

♡︎ the string pulled Bella and Will three thousand miles...some connections refuse to break. some people find their way back to each other no matter the distance, the timing, or the damage left behind. for some strings- they were never meant to snap in the first place. new city, old feelings, and the pull neither of them can ignore.

SERIES MASTERLIST

♡︎Chapter 33♡︎ (w.c. 2.5k)

The moment Bella stepped out onto the deck, a hush seemed to fall over the small group gathered near the fire. Will, who had been laughing with his dad, stopped mid-sentence, his eyes locking on her. The easy smile on his face dissolved into something else entirely—something raw, and reverent, and so full of love it made her breath catch.

He didn't move for a long moment, just stared, his gaze tracing the line of her dress, the soft waves Grace had so carefully arranged in her hair, and the subtle sparkle on her eyelids that caught the firelight. He looked like he was seeing her for the first time all over again.

"Wow," he breathed, the word barely audible over the crackle of the fire. He closed the distance between them in three long strides, his hands coming up to gently cup her face, his thumbs stroking her cheekbones. "Bella. You're... you're so beautiful."

A blush bloomed on her cheeks, but she held his gaze, her heart hammering against her ribs. "You don't look so bad yourself, Smith."

He let out a soft, disbelieving laugh, his eyes never leaving hers. "I love you so much," he whispered, his voice thick with an emotion that went far beyond simple words. "So much it hurts."

"I love you, too," she whispered back, her hands coming up to rest on his chest, feeling the steady, rapid beat of his heart beneath her palm.

"Okay, okay, break it up, you two," Gabe called out, his camera in hand. "Let's get these 'firework pictures' before the actual fireworks start. You know, the ones that are going to be on our Christmas card for the next ten years."

Bella laughed, the sound light and happy, as Will wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her flush against his side. They posed for a few pictures, their arms wrapped around each other, their faces illuminated by the warm, flickering glow of the fire. Will's gaze was intense, his focus entirely on her, as if no one else in the world existed.

"Alright, that's enough," Will said, his voice low and gentle. "I need to steal her for a minute."

He took her hand, his fingers lacing with hers, and began to lead her away from the fire, down the grassy slope towards the water. The sound of the party faded behind them, replaced by the gentle lapping of waves against the shore and the soft crunch of sand under their feet.

"Where are we going?" Bella asked, her voice soft in the quiet darkness.

"You'll see," he said, his thumb stroking the back of her hand.

He led her onto the old wooden dock that jutted out into the calm, dark water. It was their place. The place where they'd spent countless summer nights as teenagers, talking about their dreams and their fears, the place where he almost kissed her, all clumsy nerves and desperate longing. He stopped at the very end of the dock, turning to face her. The moon was rising over the water, casting a shimmering path of silver light across the surface. It was perfect. It was magical. It was theirs.

"Will?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "What's going on?"

He just smiled, a soft, secret smile that made her heart flutter. And then, he reached into his pocket, but instead of pulling out the ring, he just let his hand rest there, a silent, steady weight.

"Do you remember sitting here that night?" he asked, his voice soft, almost reverent. "When we were sixteen?"

Bella's breath caught, a wave of nostalgia washing over her. "Of course I do."

"I've thought about it so many times," he continued, his gaze unwavering. "I can still feel the way the air went still right before the first firework. I can still hear the sound of the waves. I can still feel my heart beating so fast I thought it was going to pound right out of my chest."

He took a shaky breath, his eyes shining with an emotion that made her own well with tears. "I was so scared, Bells. So terrified of what it would mean to kiss you. I knew, even then, that it would change everything. I knew that if I kissed you, I would never be able to stop. I knew that I loved you. I think a part of me has always known."

He took a step closer, his hand finally leaving his pocket to gently cup her cheek. "I wanted to kiss you more than I've ever wanted anything in my life. It was a physical ache, a longing so deep it felt like a part of my soul was reaching out for yours. And I was a coward. I let you walk away from this dock with the words still caught in my throat, the kiss still hanging in the air between us, unclaimed."

He looked at her, his eyes full of a love that was both fierce and tender. "I'm not that scared boy anymore, Bella. I'm a man who knows what he wants, who knows what he has. And I am never, ever going to let you go again."

With that, he slowly, deliberately, lowered himself to one knee on the weathered wood of the dock. The world seemed to stop. The sound of the waves, the distant cheers from the party, even the thunderous boom of the fireworks—it all faded into a dull, irrelevant hum. All she could see was him, all she could feel was the frantic, hopeful beating of her own heart.

He finally reached into his pocket, his movements sure and confident. He opened a small, black velvet box, and inside, the moonlight caught the dazzling, sparkly facets of the stunning, heirloom she'd only seen once before, in his mother's hand.

"Isabella," he began, his voice thick with an emotion that made her own eyes well with tears. "I have loved you for what feels like my entire life. I loved you when we were 12 and you stole my first kiss after church. At sixteen, on this very dock, and I was too scared to say it. I loved you when we were apart, and I love you now more than I ever thought possible. You are my best friend, my heart, my home.There's always been this... this invisible string connecting us. It sounds crazy, I know, but it's true. It was there when we were kids, pulling me towards you even when I didn't understand why. It stretched across the years we were apart, a constant, humming ache in my chest that never really went away. It didn't matter how far I ran or how hard I tried to ignore it—it was always there, tying us together. We were always going to be pulled back to each other, Bells. It was inevitable. The inevitable pull. You and me... we were always inevitable."

He took a shaky breath, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "I don't want to spend another day without you being mine, officially, forever. I want to wake up with you every morning, I want to fight with you about dishes, I want to start a family, I want to grow old with you. I want everything with you."

He held the ring up, his hand trembling slightly. "Isabella Grace Woods, will you marry me?"

Tears streamed down Bella's face, but she was laughing, a beautiful, hiccupping sound of pure, unadulterated joy. She couldn't speak, couldn't form words, so she just nodded, frantically, her hand covering her mouth.

"Yes," she finally choked out, her voice thick with emotion. "Yes. Of course, yes."

He let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, a wave of pure relief washing over him. He slid the ring onto her finger. It was a perfect fit. He surged forward, pulling her into a desperate, joyful kiss, his arms wrapping around her so tightly she could feel her heart beating against his.

As he finally pulled back, resting his forehead against hers, the sky erupted in a grand finale of color and light, the booms echoing their thundering hearts. "I love you," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "So much."

"I love you, too," she whispered back, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw. "Now, get off the dock, fiancé, and kiss me again."

He chuckled, pressing a soft, sweet kiss to her lips. And as he stood there, holding her, the ring on her finger a glittering promise against his skin, he knew that this was it. This was their forever.

The walk back to the house was a blur of moonlight and soft, whispered words. Will kept his arm wrapped securely around Bella's shoulders, his other hand holding hers, his thumb constantly stroking the new, dazzling ring on her finger. It felt like a dream, a beautiful, surreal dream that she never wanted to wake up from.

As they stepped onto the lawn, the first person to see them was Gabe. He was standing by the fire, a beer in his hand, and his face broke into a grin so wide it was practically blinding. He let out a whoop of pure, unadulterated joy, dropping his bottle and charging towards them.

"YES!" he yelled, grabbing Will in a bone-crushing hug before turning to Bella and sweeping her off her feet in a spin. "I KNEW IT! I TOLD YOU! I'M THE BEST MAN!"

The commotion drew everyone's attention. Colleen came running out of the house, her hands flying to her mouth when she saw the ring. Tears streamed down her face as she pulled Bella into a hug that was both fierce and gentle.

"Oh, my sweet girl," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Oh, I'm so happy for you. For both of you."

Bill clapped Will on the back, his eyes shining with pride. "About time, son. About damn time."

Grace was next, her own eyes wet with happy tears as she hugged them both. "I'm so happy for you guys," she said, her voice soft. "So, so happy."

The party erupted in a chorus of cheers and congratulations, the air thick with love and laughter. Bella felt like she was floating, her heart so full it felt like it might burst. She excused herself, ducking inside to find a quiet corner to make a phone call.

"Hey, Kenz," she said, her voice trembling with excitement when her friend picked up.

"Bella! How's the party? Did you guys see the fireworks? Are they amazing?" Kenzie's voice was a welcome, familiar sound.

"They're... okay," Bella said, a sly smile playing on her lips. "But something better happened."

"What? What could be better than a firework display with all you can drink alcohol and eat food?"

Bella took a deep breath, her heart fluttering. "Will proposed."

There was a moment of stunned silence on the other end of the line, followed by a shriek so loud Bella had to pull the phone away from her ear.

"HE DID WHAT?!" Kenzie yelled. "BELLA! OH MY GOD! WHEN? WHERE? SHOW ME THE RING! I NEED TO SEE THE RING! ARE YOU ENGAGED?! ARE YOU A FIANCÉ?! I'M GOING TO BE AN AUNT! I MEAN, NOT LITERALLY, BUT LIKE, AN HONORARY AUNT TO YOUR FUTURE CHILDREN! I NEED DETAILS! NOW!"

Bella laughed, a happy, watery sound that was full of pure joy. "We were on the dock, Kenz. Right where we had our almost-kiss when we were sixteen. It was perfect. It was everything."

"Oh, I'm crying, you're going to send me into labor" Kenzie said, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm so happy for you, Isabella Smith. So, so happy. Now, you better get back out there and celebrate with your future husband. And tell him if he hurts you, I have a husband who's a professional hockey player and he knows how to take a guy down."

"I will," Bella promised, her heart swelling with love. "I love you, Kenz."

"I love you, too," Kenzie said. "Now go be engaged!"

As Bella hung up the phone and walked back outside, she found Will waiting for her, his eyes soft and full of love. He pulled her into his arms, his lips finding hers in a sweet, tender kiss.

"Everything okay?" he murmured, his forehead resting against hers.

"Everything's perfect," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm the happiest girl in the world."

"You're not the only one," he whispered, his arms tightening around her. "I'm the luckiest man in the world."

Tears welled in Bella's eyes, shimmering like the firework reflections on the water. His words from his proposal didn't just resonate; they settled deep inside her, clicking into place like a missing piece of a puzzle she hadn't even known was incomplete. All those years of feeling adrift, of feeling like she was holding her breath, suddenly made sense. She hadn't been waiting; she had been tethered.

She thought of all the times she'd tried to move on, all the moments she'd felt that strange, inexplicable pull towards a memory, towards a feeling she couldn't name. It was their invisible string. It was the inevitable pull he was talking about, a quiet, constant force that had refused to let her go, even when she'd wanted to. It had been there in the lonely nights, in the crowded rooms, in the ache of a love she thought was one-sided.

Thank you, she thought, a silent prayer to the universe, to the invisible string and to the inevitable pull. Thank you for not letting me forget. Thank you for bringing him back to me.

She looked up at him, at the man who had been her entire world since she was a little girl, and felt a wave of pure, unadulterated joy so powerful it almost brought her to her knees. This wasn't just happiness. It was peace. It was home. It was the beautiful, breathtaking culmination of a lifetime of almosts, finally, perfectly, wonderfully, now. A single, happy tear escaped, tracing a path down her cheek, and he gently wiped it away with his thumb.

"I'm just so happy, Will," she said, her voice a soft, steady declaration. "So incredibly, overwhelmingly happy. My heart feels so full it might burst."

He didn't say anything, just pulled her closer, his lips finding hers in a kiss that was both a beginning and an ending. It was the end of the almosts, the end of the waiting, the end of the ache. And it was the beginning of everything. The beginning of their forever. The invisible string had finally pulled them taut, weaving their two separate lives into one beautiful, inseparable whole. And it was more perfect than anything she had ever dared to imagine.

the end ♡︎

taglist- @destinyg237 @heeseungthel0ml @slutformatt17 @hockeyismylife5 @smittys2 @overmtter

**a/n: AHHHHHH THEY'RE SO CUTE!!! everyhting all ties together with that damn string 😭😭🥹🥹 i'm not crying you are. I can't believe it's finally over. Oh my god. the countless hours of writing, editing & planning & love i put into their story will always be so special to me. I am SO SO SO thankful for absolutely everything. i cannot believe after dreaming ab them for months i was able to put pen to paper & bring them to life. i'm SO glad so many of you fell in love with Bella and Will the same way I did. after every chapter i posted i was so so excited for all the comments & messages you guys sent 🥹 i really couldn't have done this without you & i wanna thank any person who has liked, shared or commented & made this so fun for me. i am so so grateful. you're the absolutely BEST & im gonna miss Will & Bella- but for all we know maybe one day i'll bring them back. 170k+ words & close to 100 chapters later it's finally done. i love you guys bunches. can't wait to see you when i post next 🫶🏻

requests for shorts are open!! i can't promise i will be able to get to every single one but i will try my hardest! i am working on Mack and Kenzie- summer is so busy for me- but i promise one day, hopefully soon, you'll get to see their story unfold.

thank you so much again, for everything. so much love xoxo, -C ♡︎

coming soon: the invisible string: caught in the pull (macklin celebrini)

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[puckbunny2]

Invisible String: the inevitable pull

♡︎ the string pulled Bella and Will three thousand miles...some connections refuse to break. some people find their way back to each other no matter the distance, the timing, or the damage left behind. for some strings- they were never meant to snap in the first place. new city, old feelings, and the pull neither of them can ignore.

SERIES MASTERLIST

Chapter 32♡︎ (w.c. 2.3k)

The day bloomed into a perfect Fourth of July, the sky a cloudless, brilliant blue. The Smith family summer house, which had been quiet  just hours before, transformed into a hive of cheerful, organized chaos. Will's father, Bill, was in his element, directing the setup of tables and stringing lights between the old oak trees with the stern focus of a general commanding his troops.

"Matt, you're on tiki torch duty! Gabe, get the sound system working! We need patriotic tunes, people!" he boomed, pointing with a tiki torch like a baton.

Bella found herself laughing, a cooler full of drinks in her arms, as she watched the scene unfold. Grace was directing the placement of tablecloths with an artist's eye, while Joey, her boyfriend, patiently followed her every instruction, looking completely smitten. It was a symphony of cooperation, and Bella felt a profound sense of belonging, of being woven into the very fabric of this family.

"Need a hand?" Will's voice was a low rumble beside her. He took the heavy cooler from her, setting it down with a soft thud before pulling her into a quick, sweet kiss that tasted of coffee and sunshine.

"I was just admiring your dad," she said, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "He's taking this very seriously."

"He considers the Fourth of July barbecue to be his Super Bowl," Will chuckled, his arm wrapping around her shoulders. "It's a highly coveted event. You should be honored to be here."

"Oh, I am," she said, leaning into him. "I'm just waiting for him to start barking orders about the optimal hot dog-to-hamburger ratio."

As the afternoon sun began to soften, casting a warm, golden glow over the property, Bella found herself helping Colleen in the kitchen, arranging a mountain of fruit and cheese onto a large platter. The house was filled with the sounds of laughter and music, the clinking of glasses, and the distant hum of a lawnmower. It was perfect.

"You know," Colleen said, her voice soft as she arranged a cluster of grapes. "I used to worry about him. After you two... well, after. I'd see him on TV, and he'd be smiling, but his eyes wouldn't be. It was like a part of him was missing."

Bella's heart ached at the thought. "I worried about him, too."

"But not anymore," Colleen said, turning to face her, her hands on her hips. "Now, when I see him, I see my son. The whole, happy, complete version of him. And I have you to thank for that."

"Colleen you're so sweet stopppp," Bella laughed, her cheeks flushing. "You're going to make me cry."

"Good tears, I hope," Colleen said, her eyes twinkling. "Now, take this platter out before I eat all the cheese myself."

Bella walked outside holding the door open for Will as he walked inside. He found his mom in the pantry looking for napkins.

"Hey, Mom," he said, his voice low and nervous.

"Will, honey, what is it?" Colleen asked, her expression immediately shifting to one of concern. "You look like you're about to face a penalty shot."

"Something like that," he said, running a hand through his hair. He took a deep breath, his heart hammering against his ribs. "I'm going to do it tonight."

Colleen's eyes widened, her hand flying to her mouth. "Tonight? Here? Now?"

"I can't wait anymore," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I've been carrying this ring around for six months, Mom. It feels like it's burning a hole in my pocket. I look at her, and I just... I know. This is it. This is the moment. This is our perfect place."

Tears welled in Colleen's eyes, shimmering in the soft light of the pantry. "Oh, Will," she whispered, her voice cracking. "Oh, my sweet boy."

She pulled him into a fierce hug, her arms wrapping around him so tightly he could barely breathe. He buried his face in her hair, just like he used to when he was a little boy, the scent of her perfume a familiar, comforting anchor.

"I'm so proud of you," she whispered, her voice thick with tears. "So, so proud of the man you've become. And I'm so happy for you. For both of you."

"Thanks, Mom," he choked out, his own eyes stinging. "For everything."

"Don't you dare thank me," she said, pulling back to look at him, her hands cupping his face. "You did this. You fought for her. You built a life for her. Now, go and make me the happiest mother in the world."

He nodded, his throat too tight to speak. He took a deep breath, his gaze drifting towards the door, towards the sound of Bella's laughter, and felt a wave of certainty wash over him. This was it.  -

As the sky darkened and the first fireflies began to blink, the party was in full swing. The bonfire was crackling, casting a warm, flickering glow over the happy, laughing faces. Bella was sitting on a blanket, talking animatedly with Gabe and Grace. Will watched her for a moment, his heart so full it felt like it might burst. He took a deep breath, his hand closing around the cool, heavy weight of the ring in his pocket, and knew, with a certainty that settled deep in his bones, that his mom was right. She is his forever. The air was thick with the smell of grilled burgers and woodsmoke. Bella was laughing with Grace and Joey, and Will felt a surge of so much love it was hard to breathe. He knew he couldn't wait much longer. He caught Gabe's eye across the fire, giving him a subtle jerk of his head. Gabe, who had been in the middle of a heated debate with Matt about the best superhero movie, immediately excused himself, his expression shifting to one of knowing concern. He met Will by the side of the house, away from the noise and the light. "What's up?" Gabe asked, his voice low. "You look like you're about to puke. Did you eat one of Joeys vegan burgers?" Will let out a shaky laugh, running a hand through his hair. "No, man. I'm... I'm doing it tonight." Gabe's eyes went wide, his mouth falling open in a silent 'o' of shock. A slow, massive grin spread across his face, so wide it practically split it in two. "Shut. Up. You're serious?" "Dead serious," Will said, his voice cracking. "I can't wait another second. I have the ring. I'm going to do it during the fireworks." Gabe let out a whoop of pure, unadulterated joy, grabbing Will by the shoulders and shaking him. "Dude! YES! Finally! Oh my god, I'm going to be your best man! I'm going to give the best speech. I'm going to roast you so hard." "Of course you are," Will laughed, his own nerves melting away under the force of his best friend's excitement. "Have you thought about what you're going to say?" Gabe asked, his eyes shining. "It has to be good. It has to be epic. You can't just be like, 'Hey, Bells, wanna get hitched?' You have to be romantic." "I have a few ideas," Will said, his heart thumping. "I just... I needed to tell you. You're my brother, man. I needed you to know." Gabe's expression softened, his playful excitement replaced by a deep, unwavering affection. He pulled Will into a fierce hug, clapping him hard on the back. "I'm so happy for you, man," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "So, so happy. You deserve it. You both deserve it. She's like my sister I love her so much." "I know," Will said, his own eyes stinging. "It's... it's everything." "Okay, okay, no more chick-flick moments," Gabe said, pulling back and wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "We have a proposal to plan. So, what's the strategy? Fireworks? Beach? Are you going to get down on one knee in the sand? Because that's classic, but also a little cliché. We can do better." "I was thinking right there," Will said, his gaze drifting towards the dock, past Bella's laughing face. "Right after the last firework goes off. While everyone's still clapping. Just... us." Gabe nodded, his expression serious. "I like it. It's intimate. It's personal. It's you." He clapped Will on the shoulder one more time. "Alright, go get your girl. I'll go distract Matt with a conversation about the hidden themes in 'The Incredibles' or something. I've got your back."

As Gabe walked away, with a spring in his step, Will felt a wave of calm wash over him. He had his mom's blessing, his best friend's unwavering support, and the love of the most amazing woman in the world. He was ready. He was more than ready.

- The last rays of the sun had vanished, leaving the sky a deep, velvety purple. Inside, the house was a temporary sanctuary from the buzz of the party outside. Bella sat at the large vanity in the master bedroom, a collection of makeup spread out before her like a painter's palette.

"Okay, I'm thinking a subtle smoky eye," Bella said, dabbing a brush into a palette of shimmery neutrals. "Something that says 'effortlessly festive' but not 'I tried too hard'." Grace, perched on the edge of the bed, leaning forward to get a better look. "Honey, this is for the annual 'firework pictures.' There is no such thing as 'tried too hard.' This is our moment to shine. Literally." She stood up and walked over, peering at Bella's reflection. "Here, let me." She gently took the brush from Bella's hand, her touch surprisingly soft. "You need something with a little more... pop. A little sparkle." She dipped a smaller brush into a pot of fine, silver glitter. "Close your eyes." Bella obeyed, a smile playing on her lips. She felt the cool, gentle press of the brush against her eyelids, the faint tickle of the glitter setting. "Can you believe," Grace said, her voice thoughtful as she worked. "I used to do this for you before high school dances. You'd be so nervous, and I'd have to talk you out of wearing that god-awful neon pink lipstick." Bella's eyes fluttered open, a laugh bubbling up. "Oh my god, I forgot about that! I thought I was so edgy." "You looked like a highlighter had exploded on your face," Grace said dryly, but her eyes were crinkling with affection. "But you were always beautiful. Even with the pink lipstick." "Thanks, Grace," Bella said, her voice soft. "For this. For... everything." "Of course," Grace replied, her gaze meeting Bella's in the mirror. She set down the brush and picked up a tube of mascara. "Now, for the grand finale. We need lashes that could be seen from space." As Grace carefully coated her lashes, Bella felt a wave of contentment wash over her. This was so different from the tense, awkward interactions of their past. This was easy. This was family. "Okay," Grace said, stepping back and admiring her handiwork. "Perfect. Now, for the lips. Something that says 'kiss me, I'm patriotic' but also 'I'm a classy lady'." Bella laughed, picking up a subtle berry-colored gloss. "How about this? It's festive, but not 'Fourth of July clown'." "Perfect," Grace nodded, her eyes twinkling. "Now, let's do your hair. I'm thinking loose waves. Something that will look amazing when the wind catches it during the..."

"The firework pictures?" Bella asked, a little confused by Grace's sudden intensity.

"Right. The firework pictures," Grace said, a little too quickly. "Now, turn around." As Grace began to work on her hair, her fingers curling sections into soft, romantic waves, Bella felt a strange sense of déjà vu. It was like she was a teenager again, getting ready for a dance, her heart fluttering with a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation. "You know," Grace said, her voice soft. "Will's been in love with you since we were kids. I think since the day we met you." Bella's heart gave a little lurch. "Really?" "Oh, yeah," Grace said, her voice warm. "The way he looked at you... it was like you hung the moon. He would not shut up about you even at 6 years old. I was just too scared to admit it. To myself, or to him." "Well, hopefully he's not so scared anymore," Bella said, a soft smile on her face. "No, he's not," Grace agreed, her eyes meeting Bella's in the mirror. "He's the bravest man I know." As Grace put the finishing touches on her hair, Bella looked at her reflection. She looked... happy. Radiant. And for the first time, she felt a flicker of something more, a sense that tonight was going to be different. That tonight was going to be a night she would remember for the rest of her life. "Okay," Grace said, stepping back and admiring her work. "You're ready. You look beautiful, Bella." "Thank you," Bella said, her voice thick with emotion. "For everything." "Anything for you," Grace said, her eyes shining. "Now, go out there and make some memories." As Bella stood up and walked towards the door, Grace caught her arm, her expression serious. "Just one more thing," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "Whatever happens ... just know that I'm so happy for you. For both of you." Bella's heart fluttered, a strange mix of excitement and nervous anticipation coursing through her. She didn't know what Grace meant, but she knew, with a certainty that settled deep in her bones, that tonight was going to be a night she would never forget.

taglist- @destinyg237 @heeseungthel0ml @slutformatt17 @hockeyismylife5 @smittys2 @overmtter

**a/n- IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING HE'S PROPOSINGGGGG🥳 grace redemption arc???👀 I LOVE willgabe so bad theyre SUCH a family🥹 one more chapter I can't even believe it🥲 LOVE you guys SO big!! thank you sm for all the comments!! i love hearing what you guys think 🫶🏻 

[puckbunny2]

Invisible String: the inevitable pull

♡︎ the string pulled Bella and Will three thousand miles...some connections refuse to break. some people find their way back to each other no matter the distance, the timing, or the damage left behind. for some strings- they were never meant to snap in the first place. new city, old feelings, and the pull neither of them can ignore.

SERIES MASTERLIST

Chapter 31♡︎ (w.c. 2.0k)

The air on the Cape was thick with the scent of salt and sunscreen, the sound of seagulls and distant laughter a familiar summer symphony. Will's family summer house was everything Bella needed. Warm and familiar with its windows thrown open to catch the sea breeze. She missed this so much. It was the third of July, and the house was humming with the comfortable chaos of a long weekend. Bella stood on the wide, sun-bleached deck with a seltzer in hand, watching the scene unfold. Will was at the edge of the lawn, engaged in a fierce, good-natured battle of cornhole against Gabe and Matt. The way he moved, all easy grace and competitive fire, sent a familiar flutter through her chest. He was hers. This was their life now. Across the yard, Grace was laughing, her head thrown back, as her new boyfriend, a charming architect named Joey, attempted to explain the structural integrity of the cornhole boards. It was a relief to see her so genuinely happy, her past bitterness replaced by a warm, easy-going contentment. She caught Bella's eye and gave her a small, genuine smile that was met with an equally warm one in return. "It's nice, isn't it?" Colleen said, coming to stand beside her, following her gaze. "Everyone together." "It's perfect," Bella said, her voice soft. "I just wish Kenzie and Mack could be here." "Oh, honey, me too," Colleen sighed, patting her arm. "But can you imagine her trying to waddle through this sand? She's smart to stay put. That baby could come any day now. We'll have to have a second celebration for them when the little guy arrives." As the sun began to dip, painting the sky in brilliant shades of orange and pink, Will abandoned his game and came to wrap his arms around Bella from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Getting beaten by a couple of lovebirds," he murmured in her ear, his voice a low rumble. "It's a sad day for my reputation." "Your reputation will survive," Bella laughed, leaning back into his embrace. "You're too charming to stay a loser for too long." He chuckled, pressing a soft kiss to her neck. "You're right. I'll challenge them to a rematch later. After I've had some of my dad's famous burgers." Will finally conceded his second cornhole defeat with a dramatic groan, jogging over to the deck and grabbing a bottle of water from the cooler. He took a long drink, his eyes never leaving Bella's.  "Remember that time you tried to teach me how to properly play and I got so frustrated I threw the beanbag and hit Mr. Henderson's prize-winning rose bush?" Bella burst out laughing. "Oh my god, I forgot about that! He was so mad. He made you apologize to the bush for a solid ten minutes." "He was a weird guy I was only like 8," Will chuckled, leaning against the railing beside her.  "What about the great sandcastle war of 2018? You and Gabe against me and Leno. You guys totally cheated." "We did not!" Bella protested, swatting his arm playfully. "We just had superior architectural vision. Your attempt was pathetic." "It was not pathetic! It was strategically minimalist," he argued, his eyes twinkling. "I still think you guys smuggled in extra sea shells when we weren't looking." Gabe wandered over, drawn by the sound of laughter. "Will is still bitter about losing the sandcastle competition," Bella informed him. "Twice," Gabe added helpfully, clapping Will on the back. "He lost twice." "Okay, okay," Will laughed, holding his hands up in surrender. "You guys were the undisputed champions of beach construction. I bow to your superior skills." - Later, Bella found herself sitting on the edge of the dock with her feet dangling over and Will's arm wrapped securely around her shoulders.

"You know," she said softly, her head resting on his shoulder. "I used to dream about days like this. Back when we were just kids, and I was so hopelessly in love with you and terrified you'd never see me as anything more than just your best friend." Will tightened his arm around her, his lips brushing against her temple. "I saw you," he murmured, his voice low and earnest. "I always saw you, Bells. I was just an idiot who didn't know how to say it. I spent so many summers watching you from across this very lawn, wondering what it would be like to hold your hand, to kiss you, and to call you mine." "And now?" she whispered, her heart fluttering. "Now I don't have to wonder," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I get to live it. Every single day." As the sky darkened and the first fireflies began to blink in the gathering twilight, they all gathered around a massive bonfire on the beach. Bella sat nestled between Will's legs on a large blanket, his arms wrapped around her waist, and his chin resting on her shoulder. She could feel the steady, comforting beat of his heart against her back. She felt the overwhelming, all-encompassing love of the man holding her, a love that had been forged in the fires of their childhood and tempered by the trials of their past. Will's hand found hers, his fingers lacing with hers. He brought their intertwined hands to his lips, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her knuckles. It was a small, simple gesture, but it was filled with so much love, so much history, and so much promise. "I love you," he whispered, his voice a low rumble against her ear. "I love you, too," she whispered back, her heart so full it felt like it might burst. And as she sat there, wrapped in his arms, surrounded by the people who had been her constants since she was a child, with the sound of the ocean and the crackle of the fire as their soundtrack, Bella knew with absolute certainty that this was it. This was the part. And it would never, ever go wrong.

- The first light of the Fourth of July was just beginning to creep into the room, casting a soft, hazy glow over the tangled sheets. Bella's phone, which she'd left on silent, buzzed insistently on the nightstand. She carefully untangled herself from Will's heavy limbs, his arm tightening around her waist in a sleepy protest before he relaxed back into a deep, even rhythm of sleep.

She grabbed her phone and slipped out onto the quiet deck, the morning air cool against her bare legs. The screen lit up with a string of frantic texts from Kenzie. Kenzie👩🏼‍🐰‍👩🏻: I'm officially done. This baby can evict himself immediately. I'm over it. Kenzie👩🏼‍🐰‍👩🏻: My ankles have disappeared. I think they've been absorbed by my feet. I haven't seen them in weeks. Kenzie👩🏼‍🐰‍👩🏻: Mack is breathing so loud right now I want to suffocate him  Kenzie👩🏼‍🐰‍👩🏻: I'm going to i'm not even joking Kenzie👩🏼‍🐰‍👩🏻: I want a cheeseburger. And a margarita. A giant, non-pregnant margarita. And I want to put this baby in an Uber to the hospital and meet him there. Bella couldn't help but smile, her fingers flying across the screen. -Oh, Kenz. The final countdown, huh? Just think, in a few days, you'll be holding your little guy. Kenzie👩🏼‍🐰‍👩🏻: Or I'll be in jail for suffocating my fiancé. It could go either way at this point. How's the Cape? Are you guys having fun without me? -It's quiet without you. But perfect. Will's still asleep. I'm just watching the ocean. Missing you like crazy💕 Kenzie👩🏼‍🐰‍👩🏻: Ugh, I miss you too. Now go wake up that future husband of yours and tell him I said he better put a ring on it soon. I need good news to to distract me from this misery😩

-I'll pass along the threat. Love you, mama.

Kenzie👩🏼‍🐰‍👩🏻: Love you more. Send me pictures of fireworks. I'll be living vicariously through you.

-only if you promise NOT to kill Mack😂

Kenzie👩🏼‍🐰‍👩🏻: ugh, fine I promise 🙄

Shaking her head with a fond smile, Bella slipped back inside and headed downstairs, the house still in a peaceful slumber. The only light came from the kitchen, where the coffee maker had just finished its cycle with a soft gurgle. Grace was standing there, staring out the window over the sink, with a mug cradled in her hands. She was wearing an oversized sweatshirt, her hair pulled up in a messy bun, and for the first time, she looked completely at ease. "Morning," Bella said softly, not wanting to startle her. Grace turned, a small, tired smile gracing her lips. "Hey. You're up early." "Kenzie," Bella replied, gesturing with her phone. "She's in the final stage of misery. She's threatening to suffocate Mack and Uber the baby to the hospital." Grace let out a soft laugh, a genuine, warm sound that Bella was still getting used to. "Oh, I remember how my mom was. The last week is its own special kind of hell. She was so done with being pregnant she tried to induce labor by eating an entire pineapple." "Did it work?" Bella asked, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "No," Grace said, her smile widening. "But she got terrible heartburn and a newfound appreciation for not eating pineapple. So, a win-win." She took a sip of her coffee, her eyes growing thoughtful for a moment. "You know, I spent a lot of time being the 'big sister.' The responsible one. The one who cleaned up the messes." Bella stayed quiet, sensing there was more."I watched Will fall for you a dozen times before he ever admitted it to himself," Grace continued, her voice softer now, more intimate. "And every time, I held my breath, just waiting for the other shoe to drop. For him to do something stupid and break your heart, and by extension, mine. I thought if I was hard enough on you, I could... I don't know, armor him against it. Protect the both of you." "It's okay, Grace," Bella murmured. "No, it's not," Grace said, shaking her head. "It wasn't fair to you. And it wasn't fair to him. I wasn't protecting him; I was trying to control a situation that was never mine to control." She looked at Bella then, her eyes clear and sincere. "He's not a kid anymore, Bella. And he's not my mess to clean up. He's a man who built a house for the woman he loves. He's whole now. And it's because of you." Tears welled in Bella's eyes, but she blinked them back. "Grace..." "I'm so sorry again," Grace said, her voice thick with an emotion that mirrored Bella's own. "For all of it. For the cold shoulders, for the snide comments. For not seeing what was right in front of me. You're good for him. You're the family he chose. And I am so, so happy you're finally officially ours." A single tear escaped, tracing a path down Bella's cheek. She reached across the counter and squeezed Grace's hand. "Thank you." Grace squeezed back, a watery smile on her face. "Now," she said, her voice returning to its usual, playful tone. "Are you going to make me an official future bridesmaid, or do I have to pull rank as the sister of the groom?" Bella laughed, a real, watery laugh of pure relief and happiness. "I wouldn't dream of it not being you." As they stood there, two women who had once been separated by fear and misunderstanding, now united by a shared love for the same man, the sun finally crested over the ocean, flooding the kitchen with a brilliant, golden light. It was, Bella thought, a perfect beginning to a new day, and a new chapter in their lives.

taglist- @destinyg237 @heeseungthel0ml @slutformatt17 @hockeyismylife5 @smittys2 @overmtter

**a/n- they're soooo cute🥹 i love their little family so so much! kenzie being annoyed by yaplin celebrini is SO on brand for them i swearrr😭 thank you guys so much again for everything. 2 more chapters 🥲

[puckbunny2]

Invisible String: the inevitable pull

♡︎ the string pulled Bella and Will three thousand miles...some connections refuse to break. some people find their way back to each other no matter the distance, the timing, or the damage left behind. for some strings- they were never meant to snap in the first place. new city, old feelings, and the pull neither of them can ignore.

SERIES MASTERLIST

Chapter 30♡︎ (w.c. 2.0k)

5 months later, the scent of baby powder and fresh paint filled the air of Bella and Will's new house. The walls were no longer bare; they were now a warm, inviting canvas of their life together, filled with art, his trophies, and a collection of silly, candid photos of their friends.  "Okay, so for the 'Shark Bite' punch, we need to use the blue Hawaiian Punch, but we have to find a way to make it look like there's blood in the water without it being gross," Bella said, tapping a pen against her notepad. She was standing in the middle of their living room, which had been taken over by baby shower preparations. Kenzie, heavily pregnant and glowing, was perched on their new couch with a mound of pastel blue and teal fabric swatches beside her. "I still can't believe you let Mack talk you into a San Jose Sharks theme," she said, rubbing her enormous belly. "The baby is half Bruins fan. This is a betrayal of epic proportions." "Please," Bella scoffed, sorting through a pile of tiny, shark-themed pacifiers. "Your baby daddy, the traitor in this case, is the one who suggested it. And besides, teal is a very flattering color on you. It brings out your eyes." "My eyes are swollen shut from water retention," Kenzie grumbled, but she was smiling. "Have you decided how you're doing the reveal? Are we doing a balloon box? A cake?" Bella's face lit up with a mischievous grin. "Better. I was thinking... a hockey puck." Kenzie's eyebrows shot up. "A hockey puck?" "Think about it," Bella said, her voice dropping with excitement. "We get two custom-made pucks. One filled with blue powder, one with pink. We'll have Mack take a slap shot at it center ice! The cloud of powder that explodes will be the big reveal. It's perfect! It's sporty! It's on brand!" Kenzie stared at her, a slow, impressed smile spreading across her face. "That's... actually kind of genius. But what if he misses?" "Babe he's Macklin Celebrini, he won't miss," Bella said confidently. "Besides, I'll make Will practice with him for a week." She paused, her expression softening as she looked at Kenzie. "Are you nervous? About the baby, I mean." Kenzie let out a long, slow breath, her hand resting protectively on her stomach. "Terrified," she admitted. "But excited, too. I just can't wait to meet him. Or her. I just want to know who this little person is." Bella abandoned her pacifier sorting and sat down beside her, taking her hand. "He or she is going to be the luckiest kid in the world," she said softly. "And you're going to be an amazing mom. You're already an amazing mom." Tears welled in Kenzie's eyes. "Oh, stop it," she laughed, fanning her face with her hand. "I'm a hormonal mess. Don't make me cry." "Sorry," Bella grinned, squeezing her hand. "So, back to the important stuff. Are we doing little shark fins on the cupcakes or is that too on the nose?" "It's definitely too on the nose," Kenzie said, her voice firm. "We're doing little hockey sticks. Made of pretzels. It's classy." "Classy," Bella repeated, nodding. "I like it. Now, let's talk about the party favors. I was thinking we could get everyone tiny little custom mini hockey sticks with 'Mini Mack²' engraved on them."

Kenzie's eyes lit up. "Bella, you're a genius. This is going to be the best baby shower in the history of baby showers." - The San Jose Sharks' practice facility had been transformed into a hockey fan's dream. The entire space was decked out in shades of teal and black, with balloons shaped like pucks and nets, and the tables were draped in hockey-patterned tablecloths. It was finally Kenzie and Mack's baby shower and gender reveal.

The entire Sharks team was there, a sea of giant, pre season bearded men looking hilariously out of place amidst the pastel-colored decorations and tiny, hockey-themed onesies. Will stood by the drink table, a hand resting possessively on the small of Bella's back, a silent, constant reminder that she was his.

"I still can't believe you talked him into a gender reveal," Bella murmured, watching as Mack tried to explain the rules of a diaper-changing race to a very confused-looking Sam Dickinson.

"Hey, it was a compromise," Will laughed.

"Smart man," Bella said, her eyes softening as she watched Kenzie laugh at something one of the veteran players said. She was glowing, her pregnancy radiance a tangible thing that made her even more beautiful than usual.

Bella gestured towards the center ice, where the custom-made puck sat on a small podium. "You ready for the main event?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," Kenzie breathed, her hand resting on her belly. "I'm just hoping Mack doesn't get overconfident and try to do some fancy spin-o-rama move and miss. That would be a memorable reveal, but not the kind I'm going for."

Will appeared again at Bella's side, his arm wrapping around her waist. "He's been practicing all morning," he murmured in her ear. "He looks good. He's not going to miss."

Bella laughed, leaning into him. "That's my professional opinion too."

"Alright, everyone, gather 'round!" Mack yelled, his voice booming over the chatter. "It's time for the main event!"

"Okay, so," he began, his voice cracking with emotion. "Kenzie and I have been so blessed with so much love and support from all of you. And we're so excited to share this next part of our journey with you. We're about to find out if we're having a future Shark or a future... figure skater."

A chorus of laughter rippled through the crowd. Kenzie rolled her eyes, but she was smiling, her hand resting protectively on her belly.

"So, without further ado," Mack said.

He lined up the shot, his movements fluid and confident. The arena fell silent, the only sound the clean scrape of his skates on the ice. He took a deep breath, drew his stick back, and with a powerful, practiced swing, made perfect contact with the puck.

There was a loud crack, and for a moment, it seemed like nothing was happening. Then, a brilliant cloud of teal blue powder exploded into the air, painting the ice in a vibrant haze.

A boy.

The arena erupted in a deafening roar of cheers and applause. Mack threw his hands up in the air, a triumphant grin spreading across his face as he skated over to the boards, where Kenzie was already crying, her hands pressed to her mouth.

Bella felt tears prick her own eyes as she watched her best friend, her heart swelling with a love so fierce it almost hurt. Will squeezed her hand, his eyes soft as he watched the scene unfold.

Mack hopped over the boards, pulling Kenzie into a tight, joyful hug. "A boy!" he shouted, his voice thick with emotion. "We're having a boy!"

"I know!" Kenzie sobbed, laughing as she buried her face in his chest. "I can't believe it."

But apparently Mack wasn't done.

He gently set Kenzie down, his hands shaking as he reached into his pocket. And then, to everyone's shock, he got down on one knee.

"Kenzie," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I've loved you since the first day I saw you. I've loved you through every fight, every victory, and every challenge. I can't imagine a single day of my life without you. You're my best friend, my soulmate, my person. And I know we're about to be parents to a little boy, but I need you to know that you're my forever. So... Mackenzie Jo Fox, will you marry me?"

Kenzie's hands flew to her mouth, a sob of pure joy escaping her lips. "Yes!" she cried, her voice choked with tears. "Hell yes!!"

Mack slipped the ring on her finger. It was a simple, elegant diamond that sparkled under the lights. And then he was standing up, pulling her into a kiss as the room erupted in another, even louder wave of cheers and applause.

Bella was crying openly now, her heart so full it felt like it might burst. She looked at Will, and saw that he was watching her, a soft, knowing smile on his face.

"What?" she whispered, wiping a tear from her cheek.

"Nothing," he whispered back, his thumb gently stroking her cheek. "Just thinking about how perfect you are." - Later, as the party began to wind down, Bella found herself standing by the massive windows overlooking the empty ice, the cool glass a welcome relief against her flushed skin. The room was still buzzing with the energy of the two big announcements, a joyous, chaotic symphony of laughter and congratulations.

Will came up behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist, his chin resting on her shoulder. "You okay?" he murmured, his voice a low rumble against her ear.

"I'm more than okay," she said, leaning back into him. "I'm... happy. Genuinely, stupidly happy."

"Me too, Bells," he said, pressing a soft kiss to her neck. "Me too."

They stood there for a moment, wrapped in their own little bubble, content to just watch the celebration unfold. But their bubble was soon popped by a familiar, friendly voice.

"Smitty," Tyler Toffoli said, clapping Will on the shoulder as he came to stand next to them. "That was some party. Your boy Mack really knows how to put on a show."

"He's a bit of a showman," Will laughed, his arm still firmly around Bella's waist.

Tyler's eyes flickered to Bella, a curious, knowing look in them. "I'm Tyler, by the way," he said, extending a hand. "It's nice to finally meet you."

"Bella," she said, shaking his hand. "It's nice to meet you, too."

"So," Tyler said, his eyes shifting back to Will, a mischievous glint in them. "You're the one, huh?" Will's arm tightened around Bella's waist, a small, protective gesture that made her heart flutter. "The one what?" he asked, his voice casual, but Bella could feel the slight tension in his body.

"The one," Tyler said, his grin widening. "The one he was so hung up on last season. The girl who had him all mopey and staring at his phone like a lovesick teenager. I've never seen a guy so happy to get a text message in my life."

Bella felt a blush creep up her neck, but Will just laughed, a deep, genuine sound that was full of affection. "Yeah," he said, his eyes finding hers. "This is her. This is Bells."

"Well, it's nice to officially meet the legend," Tyler said, winking at Bella. "You're good for him, you know. He's been less of a grumpy bastard since you've been back."

"Hey!" Will protested, but he was smiling.

"I'm just saying," Tyler said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "It's a good look on you."

He clapped Will on the shoulder one more time. "Alright, I'm gonna go grab another piece of cake before Cat finds out. You two kids have fun."

And then he was gone, disappearing back into the crowd, leaving them alone once more.

Bella turned to Will, a playful smile on her lips. "So, I'm the legend, huh? The one who had you all mopey and staring at your phone?"

"Shut up," Will laughed, his cheeks flushing a charming shade of pink. "I was not mopey."

"You were a little mopey," she teased, her hand resting on his chest. "But it's okay. I was a little mopey, too."

His smile faded, replaced by a look of raw, unguarded sincerity. "Yeah, well, I'm not mopey anymore," he said, his voice low and steady. "This time... this time I'm not messing it up."

Bella's heart swelled with a love so overwhelming it almost hurt. She reached up, her hand cupping his cheek, her thumb stroking the stubble there. "I know," she whispered. "Me neither."

He leaned in and kissed her, a slow, deep kiss that was full of promise and a future that was finally, beautifully within reach. It wasn't a kiss of grand gestures or public declarations. It was a quiet, intimate moment, a shared understanding between two people who had been through hell and back and had found their way back to each other. taglist- @destinyg237 @heeseungthel0ml @slutformatt17 @hockeyismylife5 @smittys2 @overmtter

**a/n- its a boyyyyy!! AND they're getting married!! Mack² 4 everrr. also heyy toff! this is the end of what we see from Mack and Kenzies story in this book, but never fear i'm working on their book as a write this!! it will start from the beginning for them- all the behind the scenes things we've missed so far in the series 👀 3 more chapters🥲 love you SO big!!

[puckbunny2]

Invisible String: the inevitable pull

♡︎ the string pulled Bella and Will three thousand miles...some connections refuse to break. some people find their way back to each other no matter the distance, the timing, or the damage left behind. for some strings- they were never meant to snap in the first place. new city, old feelings, and the pull neither of them can ignore.

SERIES MASTERLIST

Chapter 29♡︎ (w.c. 1.9k)

The scent of pine needles and Colleen Smith's famous cinnamon rolls lingered in the air, a familiar comfort that had been the backdrop to Bella's entire life. Still, her heart hammered against her ribs as Will pushed open the front door, her hand clasped tightly in his. It was one thing to be be 'Isabella, their second daughter' at the Smith family Christmas. It was another thing entirely to be 'Bella, Will's girlfriend.'

"There they are!" Colleen exclaimed, her face lighting up as she hurried over from the kitchen, wiping floury hands on her apron. She bypassed her son, pulling Bella into a hug that was as warm and familiar as her own mother's. "It's so good to have you here, sweetheart. Properly."

"Hi, Colleen," Bella managed, a genuine smile breaking through her nerves.

"I was so thrilled when Will told me about the house," Colleen whispered, pulling back but keeping her hands on Bella's arms. "A fresh start for you two. It's everything I've hoped for."

She gave Bella a pointed look, her eyes twinkling. "And you know, a house with all those empty bedrooms... it's just begging to be filled. I'm not getting any younger, you know."

"Mom!!!" Will's face flushed a deep shade of red, but he was grinning.

Bella felt her own cheeks heat, but a genuine laugh bubbled up, displacing the last of her anxiety. This was the Smith family—her family—loud, loving, and completely without a filter. It felt like coming home.

Across the room Grace looked up from her phone. She had a genuine smile spreading across her face. "Merry Christmas, Bella. Will. It's good to see you guys so happy." Her tone was warm, a stark contrast to the chill that had once defined their interactions. It was a peace offering, and Bella accepted it with a grateful smile of her own.

The morning unfolded in its usual chaotic fashion. Presents were ripped open with excitement and wrapping paper was flying around like confetti. Bella sat cross-legged on the floor, a mug of hot cocoa warming her hands, watching the scene unfold. It felt the same as it always had, yet completely different.

When it came time for their exchange, Will handed her a flat, heavy square wrapped in simple paper. Inside was a stunning, framed architectural sketch of the Boston Public Garden, the place they'd shared their first teenage picnic. It was detailed and beautiful. 

"It's for our living room," he said, his voice soft. "So we always have a piece of where we started."

Tears pricked her eyes. "Will, it's perfect."

For him, she'd agonized over what to get the man who could buy literally anything he wanted. Eventually though, she'd finally found something she knew he couldn't. She handed him a long, slender box, her heart thumping nervously.

"I know you have a million jerseys," she said softly as he lifted the lid. "But you don't have this one."

Nestled in the tissue paper was a retro Boston Bruins jersey, the classic black and gold of his childhood heros. Across the back, in crisp white numbering, was MARCHAND and the number 63 below it. Right across the number 3 was a perfect, silver Sharpie signature. It was pristine, a collector's dream.

"Holy shit babe!! Where did you even find this?" he asked, his voice full of awe as he lifted it out. He ran his hand over the stitched letters with a look of pure childhood wonder on his face.

"That's not all," Bella said. She reached into the box and pulled out a small, framed photo she'd tucked into the side. It was a picture of ten-year-old Will, gap-toothed and beaming, wearing a Boston Bruins t-shirt two sizes too big, next to his cousin, taken with Brad Marchand himself. It was the most precious thing in the world. "I spent a month hunting the jersey down," she admitted, her eyes shining. "And then I found this picture in your mom's old albums. I had it printed and framed for the house."

He looked from the signed jersey in his hands to the photo of his younger self, and then finally to her, and his eyes were shining with an emotion so deep it stole her breath. He didn't say anything. He just carefully set the box on the couch, pulled her into his arms, and held her so tightly she could barely breathe. It was the best reaction she could have ever asked for. - Later, after a feast that left them all groaning on the couch, Bella found herself helping Colleen clear the plates in the kitchen.

"I'm just so happy, honey," Colleen said, her voice low as she loaded the dishwasher.

"Watching you two... it's like watching a puzzle I've been staring at for years finally click into place. He's a better man with you." She paused, a sly smile playing on her lips as she glanced towards the living room. "You know, Bill put a ring on my finger after only ten months. Just saying."

Bella's cheeks flushed, but she couldn't help but laugh. "We're taking it one step at a time, I promise." "Oh, I know," Colleen winked. "But a mother can dream. And I'm dreaming of little blonde-haired, blue-eyed grandbabies running around that new house of yours." - Midnight hit and they were finally tucked under the worn hockey-themed comforter on Will's childhood bed. Bella felt a wave of nostalgia so potent it was almost dizzying. Posters of long-retired players still covered the walls, and a shelf held a collection of hockey trophies from his youth.

"I can't believe your mom hasn't turned this into a guest room," she whispered, her head on his chest.

"And deprive her of the chance to make me sleep here whenever we visit? Never," he chuckled, his hand stroking her hair. "She's a master strategist."

Bella smiled, pressing a kiss to his chest. "Your mom wants grandkids," she murmured, a teasing note in her voice.

Will groaned, but his arm tightened around her. "Don't I know it. She's been dropping hints since I was fifteen."

Bella laughed, a light, happy sound that filled the quiet room. "So," she said, her fingers tracing the seam on his t-shirt. "That sketch... does that mean I get final say on the living room color scheme?"

He chuckled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Whatever you want baby." - The first thing Will registered was the familiar, comforting weight of Bella curled against him, her soft breaths a steady rhythm against his chest. The pale Lexington winter sun was just beginning to filter through the blinds of his childhood bedroom. He laid there for a long moment, just listening to her soft steady breathing and stroking her hair. He felt a profound sense of rightness, a feeling so deep and settled it was almost startling. This was it. This was everything.

Careful not to wake her, he slipped out of bed, pulling on a pair of sweatpants and a worn t-shirt. The house was still and quiet, the remnants of Christmas morning—a stray bow, presents, an empty mug—all scattered across the living room like happy confetti. He headed for the kitchen, drawn by the familiar scent of brewing coffee.

His mom was standing at the counter, her back to him, staring out the window into the frosty backyard. She turned as he entered, her expression soft."Morning, honey."

"Morning," he replied, reaching for a mug. "Couldn't sleep in?"

"Not with my favorite son and his future wife sleeping under my roof," she said, her tone light but her eyes serious. "Come here."

Will followed her to the small breakfast nook, sitting across from her. She took both of his hands in hers, her own fingers cool and soft.

"I'm not going to beat around the bush, Will," she began, her voice low and earnest. "I watched you two yesterday. I've been watching you for years, really. And I've never seen you like this. I've never seen her like this. You two... you light each other up. The way you look at her... it's like you're finally home."

Will felt a lump form in his throat, unable to do anything but nod. "I feel like I am," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper.

"She's the one, isn't she?" Colleen pressed gently, her thumb stroking the back of his hand. "The one you've been waiting for." He swallowed past the emotion. "Yeah, Mom. She is. I can't... I can't imagine my life without her."

A slow, brilliant smile spread across Colleen's face. She reached into the pocket of her robe and pulled out a small, velvet box, placing it on the table between them. "I was going to give this to you on your twenty-fifth birthday," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "But I don't think you should wait that long. Not when you've already found forever."

With unsteady fingers, she opened the box and tipped the contents into his palm. It was a ring. A stunning, old-money heirloom that glittered under the kitchen lights. The band was heavy, gleaming fine silver, and at its center sat an astonishingly large, emerald-cut diamond that threw off a dizzying cascade of rainbow sparkles with every slight movement. It was the kind of ring that didn't just whisper wealth; it spoke of generations of history and quiet, unshakable legacy. "This was your grandmother's," Colleen whispered, her eyes glistening. "She gave it to me the day you were born and told me to hold onto it for the girl you were meant to give it to." She looked up at him, her gaze piercing. "That girl is Bella, Will. I've known it since you were both ten years old and she pushed you off the swing set for teasing her." Will stared at the ring, his heart hammering against his ribs. It felt like a physical weight, a tangible representation of the future he'd been dreaming of. It was terrifying and exhilarating all at once. "I..." he started, his voice cracking. "Mom, it's... it's perfect. It's too much."

"It's not enough for the girl who brought you back to us," Colleen said, her voice firm. "And you deserve to be happy. Truly, deeply happy. The kind of happy that makes you want to rush home after a hard loss. The kind of happy that makes you a better man. Don't you dare let that go. Don't you dare let her get away again.”

Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes. He reached across the table and pulled his mom into a fierce hug, burying his face in her hair, just like he used to when he was a little boy.

"Thank you," he choked out. "For everything. For seeing it. For always believing in us." "Oh, honey," she whispered, holding him tight. "I've always believed in you. Go make me the happiest mother in the world." When he finally pulled away, Colleen gently took his hand and pressed the ring into his palm, closing his fingers around it. The cool, heavy weight of it was staggering. "Now, go wake up your future fiancée and tell her you love her. The rest can wait." He stood up, the ring a heavy, secret promise in his pocket. As he walked back towards his room, he could hear Bella stirring, a soft sleepy sound that made his heart ache with love. He knew, with a certainty that settled deep in his bones, that his mom was right. This was it. This was their beginning. taglist- @destinyg237 @heeseungthel0ml @slutformatt17 @hockeyismylife5 @smittys2 @overmtter

**a/n: smith family christmas is SUCH a dream🥹 can we talk about the picture of baby will with Brad Marchand😭😭 1 apple fall fr. also i accidentally made him the BEST most thoughtful gift giver— when i came up with the idea for the custom art I was giggling & so excited. this is deadass the cutest thing i’ve ever written. COLLEEN GAVE A GREEN LIGHT & A RING???!! seems like christmas morning for you too👀👀 love this chapter so bad. so much fluff & just pure bliss. thank you for everything <3 

[puckbunny2]

Invisible String: the inevitable pull

♡︎ the string pulled Bella and Will three thousand miles...some connections refuse to break. some people find their way back to each other no matter the distance, the timing, or the damage left behind. for some strings- they were never meant to snap in the first place. new city, old feelings, and the pull neither of them can ignore.

SERIES MASTERLIST

Chapter 28♡︎ (w.c. 2.1k)

The first month of their official relationship was a blur of golden moments, and a highlight reel of pure well deserved bliss. William Charles Patrick Smith, the man who had once been a source of so much anxiety and heartbreak, had somehow transformed into the perfect boyfriend. He didn't just love her; he courted her, with a single-minded devotion that was both overwhelming and utterly intoxicating.

It started with the little things. The mornings he'd wake up before her, not to sneak out, but to go to her favorite bakery across town, returning with a warm box of her favorite almond croissants and a coffee made exactly how she liked it. 

"I figured," he'd said, his hair still sleep-mussed and a shy smile on his face, "if I'm going to do this boyfriend thing, I should probably learn the essentials and do it 100%."

It was the hockey games that truly sealed his fate.

Her first game back in the stands was a nerve-wracking affair. She was used to the roar of the crowd, the smell of the ice, and the sight of Will in his element, but this time felt different. This time, she wasn't just a spectator. She was his girlfriend.

He scored two goals that night. The first, he dedicated to her with a subtle, almost imperceptible tap of his chest, a gesture that made her heart flutter. The second, a game-winning overtime clutch, was followed by a pointed look directly at her in the crowd, a look that said, 'That was for you.'

After the games, he'd bypass the usual post-game celebrations, finding her by the tunnel, his eyes bright with adrenaline and victory. He didn't say a word, just pulled her into his arms, his gear still cold and smelling of the ice, and kiss her in front of everyone. A public declaration. A promise.

It became their ritual. She'd wear his jersey—his real jersey, not a knock-off from the team store—and he'd find her after the game, no matter the outcome. If they won, he'd sweep her up in a triumphant hug, his excitement contagious. If they lost, he'd just pull her close, his head resting on her shoulder, drawing strength from her presence.

"Sorry, Bells," he'd mumble after a tough loss, his voice thick with frustration.

"Don't be stupid," she'd whisper back, her hand stroking his hair. "You were amazing. Now let's go home so I can rub your sad, loser feet."

He'd laugh, the tension draining from his shoulders, and just like that, the loss wouldn't matter anymore. - He planned dates that were so thoughtful, so perfectly them, it made her want to cry. He took her to the Boston Public Garden for a picnic, complete with a thermos of hot chocolate and a blanket, just like they used to do when they were teenagers. He rented out the entire movie theater to watch the new Marvel movie, a guilty pleasure they both shared, because he knew she hated crowds. He even let her drag him to a few modern dance performances, where he sat rigidly in a velvet seat for two hours, with her hand clasped in his, while she whispered about the emotional narrative of the choreography. He watched the stage with a look of profound, earnest confusion, trying so hard to see what she saw, that by the end, she wasn't sure who she loved more: the dancers on stage, or the hockey player beside her pretending to understand it all. - But it was the quiet moments, the domestic, everyday bliss, that truly swept her off her feet. The way he'd leave a sticky note on the coffee maker in the morning, with a stupid drawing of a bunny and the words, Have a great day, Bells. The way he'd learned to cook her favorite pasta, even though he burned the garlic the first three times. The way he'd just hold her on the couch, his hand stroking her hair, no words needed, just the simple, comforting presence of him. - One night, two months into their perfect relationship, they were curled up on the couch with a random rom-com playing on the TV. Bella was tracing the lines of his palm, her head resting on his chest.

"You know," she said softly, "I used to think this was it. The good part. The part before it all goes wrong."

Will shifted, his arms tightening around her. "It's not the good part, Bells," he said, his voice a low rumble against her ear. "It's just the part. There's no expiration date. There's no 'before it goes wrong.' There's just us."

She looked up at him, at the earnest, unwavering love in his eyes, and she knew he was right. This wasn't a honeymoon phase. This wasn't a temporary reprieve. This was their life. A beautiful, messy, perfect life, built on a foundation of forgiveness, trust, and a love that had refused to die.

"I love you," she whispered, her heart so full it felt like it might burst.

"I love you, too," he whispered back, his lips finding hers in a soft, sweet kiss. "Now, about those sad, loser feet..."

Bella laughed, pulling him down for another kiss, the sound of her own happiness a beautiful, symphonic soundtrack to the best month of her life. And as she lay there, wrapped in his arms, she knew that this was just the beginning. The beginning of forever. - The third month of their relationship settled into a comfortable rhythm. Will's devotion hadn't waned—if anything, it had grown roots, weaving itself into the fabric of their everyday lives until it felt as natural as breathing. Bella found herself waking up each morning with a smile, a ridiculous, goofy grin that she couldn't seem to wipe off her face. Sometimes, if she got up first, she'd just watch him sleep, his face relaxed and peaceful, so different from the intense focus he wore on the ice. She'd trace the line of his jaw, the curve of his lips, and gawk at how this man—this beautiful, complicated man—was hers.

The hockey season continued, its demanding schedule a constant in their lives. But now, instead of being a source of anxiety, it was a shared adventure. Bella became a fixture at the arena, not just in the stands but occasionally in the background of press interviews, a silent, supportive presence. The sports reporters had noticed. There were whispers, speculative articles about 'Will Smith Hockey's mystery girl,'  but Will handled it with a grace that surprised her.

"You know they're calling you the 'Side Quest King'?" she teased him one night, scrolling through twitter on her phone while he cooked dinner.He snorted, stirring the pasta sauce.  "Yeah? What about you? The CEO of 'Bella's Bunnies' has a nice ring to it. We could sell merch." Will's lips twitched. "You know that's what your little fan club called themselves, right? The ones who shipped us before we were even a thing. They had the hashtags and everything. We'd be cashing in on our own fandom."

She laughed, setting her phone down. "Only if I get a cut of the profits." "Deal," he said, leaning over to kiss her. - It was on a road trip to Toronto right before Christmas that things shifted again. Will had been on the road for a week, and the distance, though expected, had been a strain. They'd talked every night, but it wasn't the same. The morning he was coming back, Bella woke up with a knot in her stomach, the old anxieties threatening to resurface. She was waiting for him when he walked through the door, dropping his bag with a heavy thud. He looked exhausted, but his eyes lit up when he saw her. "Hey baby," he said, his voice rough with fatigue. "Hey," she replied, trying to keep her own voice steady. He crossed the room in three long strides, pulling her into his arms. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling deeply. "God, I missed you." "I missed you too," she whispered, her arms tightening around him. He pulled back just enough to look at her, his eyes searching hers. "What's wrong?" She hesitated, then decided on honesty. "It was stupid. I just... I missed you, and I started thinking about how it used to be, and I got scared." His expression softened, understanding dawning. "Bells," he said, his thumb stroking her cheek. "Look at me." He waited until her eyes met his. "I'm not going anywhere. Ever. You're stuck with me." "I know," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "But sometimes it's hard to remember." "Then I'll just have to remind you," he said, and then he kissed her, a deep, lingering kiss that was full of promise and reassurance. "Every single day, if that's what it takes." - The next day, he surprised her. "Pack a bag," he said, tossing her a small duffel. "We're going away for the weekend."

"Where?" she asked, zipping it up. "It's a surprise."

He drove them not out of the city, but deeper into its heart, to a neighborhood she didn't recognize. He parallel parked on a tree-lined street of charming greenery. "Come on," he said, his energy a strange mix of excitement and nerves. Bella followed him up the stairs of a random house, her confusion growing. He pulled out a set of keys and unlocked the front door. "Will, what is this?" she asked, a laugh bubbling up. "Are you showing me where you and Mack might live?" "Something like that," he murmured, pushing open the door into a giant home. The space was empty. Not just empty of furniture, but clean and bare. The light gray vinyl floors were shiny and reflected the sun coming through the big windows. It smelled like lemons and new paint. Bella's steps made a soft sound in the quiet room. It was beautiful, with tall ceilings and a large, built-in media center on the main wall, ready for a TV and sound system. "It's... beautiful," she said, turning to him. "Are you helping Mack and Kenzie find a place?" Will shook his head, his hands shoved in his pockets. He looked uncharacteristically vulnerable. "It's ours," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Bella's breath caught. "Ours?" "Ours," he confirmed, taking a step closer. "I bought it. Last week. I was going to wait until Christmas, but... after last night, when you told me you were scared, I couldn't. I needed you to see. This is our fresh start. Not my place, not your place. Our place. No ghosts here. Just us." Tears pricked her eyes, but this time they weren't born of fear. They were tears of pure overwhelming wonder. She walked through the empty rooms letting her hand trail along the blank walls. In her mind, she could already see it: their couch by the window, pictures with their family and friends and art on the walls, along with his ridiculously large TV in the center. She could see them arguing over paint colors in the kitchen and waking up together in the master bedroom with the morning light filling the space. She stopped in front of the empty fireplace, turning back to him. He was watching her, his expression raw and hopeful. "You bought us a house," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I bought us a home," he corrected softly. "I want to build it with you, Bella. From the ground up. I want to fill it with our stupid arguments and our favorite movies and your croissants from that bakery and my burnt garlic pasta. Blonde headed babies. I want everything here to be ours." She crossed the room in a heartbeat, throwing her arms around his neck. "Yes," she sobbed into his shoulder. "Yes, a thousand times, yes." He held her tight, lifting her off her feet as he spun her around in the middle of their empty living room. "I love you," he said, his voice muffled by her hair. "I love you so much." "I love you, too," she laughed, pulling back to look at him, her face wet with tears. "But you're still not allowed to leave your socks on the floor－ OR your hockey gear in the middle of the floor." He grinned, that familiar, boyish grin that still made her heart do a backflip. "Deal," he said, and then he kissed her. It was a joyful kiss that tasted of promise and forever. "As long as I get to keep you."

As they stood there in the center of their empty, sun-drenched home, Bella knew with absolute certainty that this was it. This was the part. And it would never, ever go wrong.

taglist- @destinyg237 @heeseungthel0ml @slutformatt17 @hockeyismylife5 @smittys2 @overmtter

**a/n- omg they're SO cute!! he bought her a house🥹🥹  fluff, fluff and more fluff!! slow burn??? don't know her🙏🏻  5 more chapters until the end－SO bittersweet! **guess who started the outline for Mack and Kenzies book!!👀** thank you sm for all the support I appreciate you SM<3

happy 4th of july 🎆 fingers crossed for the annual BC line pic👀

[puckbunny2]

Hi! Can I request where you’ve been with Macklin for two years now and you two are visiting his hometown in Canada. He proposes to you.

________________________________

**hii!!! yes love love love this idea! i'm taking a break from writing my book so this may be a lil short and rushed but I hope you still love it!!**

main masterlist

The crisp Canadian air filled your lungs as you stepped out of the car, Mack's hand already finding yours. His hometown was exactly as he'd described it. Very homey, charming, and surrounded by breathtaking nature. It had been two years since that awkward conversation in the arena hallway, and now you were here, in Vancouver, walking hand-in-hand with Macklin Celebrini through the very neighborhood where he grew up.

"This is it," he said, his voice filled with a nostalgic warmth as he pointed to a brick house with a hockey net in the driveway. "Home sweet home."

You squeezed his hand, your heart swelling with affection. "I can just imagine little Mackie out here, practicing until the streetlights came on."

He laughed, his goofy laugh that always made your stomach flutter. "Every single day. Rain or shine."

As you walked up the driveway hand in hand, you noticed the worn-out net, the faded puck marks on the garage door, and the small collection of hockey sticks leaning against the house. Each detail painted a perfect picture of a boy who lived and breathed the sport.

"My mom still keeps my old room exactly as I left it," Mack said as he unlocked the front door. "Ready to be thoroughly embarrassed?"

You grinned, stepping inside. The house smelled like home. A mix of fresh-baked cookies, pine cleaner, and something uniquely Mack. Robin appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron as she enveloped you in a warm hug.

"It's so wonderful to see you again honey,” she said, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Macklin hasn't stopped talking about bringing you home."

"Mommmm,” Mack groaned and you could see the blush creeping up his neck.

After a delicious lunch, Mack gave you a tour of the house ending with his childhood bedroom. Canucks posters covered the walls, his  trophies lined the shelves, and a framed photo of him as a gap-toothed kid in his first hockey uniform sat on the dresser.

"This is my favorite," you said, picking up the photo. "Look at that determined little face."

"Hey," he gasped dramatically while laughing. "I was intimidating!"

You laughed, setting the photo down carefully. “Oh yeah, absolutely terrifying."

The afternoon was spent exploring his hometown. First, of course he took you to the community rink where he'd first learned to skate. As soon as you stepped onto the ice, Mack immediately took your hands, steadying you as you wobbled uncertainly.

"I've got you," he said softly, his breath fogging in the cold air. "Just like I did when you first came to watch me practice."

You smiled, remembering how nervous you'd been that day and how you'd nearly tripped over your own feet trying to look casual. "You were showing off even then."

"Maybe a little," he admitted with a grin. "But it worked, didn't it?"

Next, he took you to the park where he and Aiden had gotten into their first fist fight over a tire swing. Mack recounted the story with animated gestures while his eyes sparkled with nostalgia and mischief.

"We were both convinced we were better friends with one of our old teammates,” he said, shaking his head at the memory. "We spent weeks not speaking to each other until he transferred to a different team. Then we realized how stupid we'd been."

You leaned against him, his arm wrapping naturally around your shoulders. "Boys," you teased gently.

"Hey," he protested, though without any real heat. "Eh, we were like ten and eleven our judgment wasn't exactly... developed."

As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, Mack grew quieter and sweeter. He led you down a winding path to a secluded spot by the lake. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink that reflected across the water's surface.

"You look beautiful," Mack said, squeezing your hand as you walked toward the lake where his parents had a small cabin.

"You're just saying that because I'm wearing your favorite sweatshirt," you teased (even though you knew he meant it.)

"Maybe," he grinned, pulling you closer. "Or maybe because you're you."

"I wanted to bring you here," Mack said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "This is where I used to come when I needed to think. When I was dreaming about my future."

You turned to face him, noticing how his light green eyes seemed to shine in the fading light. "It's beautiful," you said, though your eyes were on him, not on the lake.

"Not as beautiful as you," he replied, and you felt your cheeks flush.

You stood in comfortable silence for a few moments before he spoke again. "Do you remember our first coffee date? You were so nervous you spilled your latte all over the table."

"I was not nervous," you protested, though you both knew it was a lie. "I just have clumsy hands sometimes."

Mack laughed, "Rightttt. And I just happened to get drafted because I have a decent wrist shot."

His expression suddenly turned slightly serious as he took both your hands in his. "Y/N, these past two years have been the best of my life. Better than I ever imagined possible. You've been my rock through everything the injuries, the pressure, the media, my crazy schedule, and the constant travel."

Your heart started beating faster as you sensed where this was going.

"I've been dreaming about my future since I was a kid skating on that pond over there," he continued, nodding toward the frozen area of the lake. "But it wasn't until I met you that I truly understood what I wanted that future to look like."

Before you could process his words, he was dropping to one knee, pulling a small black velvet box from his jacket pocket. Your breath caught in your throat as he opened it to reveal a simple, beautiful elegant diamond ring.

"Y/N Y/L/N," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Will you marry me?"

Tears welled in your eyes as you nodded, unable to form words. He slid the ring onto your finger before rising to pull you into a passionate kiss that seemed to last forever.

When you finally parted, you found your voice. "Yes," you whispered against his lips. "Yes, of course, yes."

As you stood there wrapped in each other's arms, watching the last rays of sunlight disappear behind the mountains, you knew that this moment– this perfect, unexpected moment in his hometown− was the beginning of everything you'd both been dreaming of.

**a/n: hi!! yes requests are open! I'm in the middle of editing and posting Invisible String: the inevitable pull− all while creating my outline for Macks book in the series− so it may take me some time but I will try to get to everyones requests eventually!! thank you sm for reading <3

[puckbunny2]

Invisible String: the inevitable pull

♡︎ the string pulled Bella and Will three thousand miles...some connections refuse to break. some people find their way back to each other no matter the distance, the timing, or the damage left behind. for some strings- they were never meant to snap in the first place. new city, old feelings, and the pull neither of them can ignore.

SERIES MASTERLIST

Chapter 27♡︎ (w.c. 2.4k)

The morning light streamed into Will's bedroom, casting a warm glow across the tangled sheets and the two bodies nestled within. Bella woke slowly, a feeling of profound rightness settling over her as she felt the steady beat of Will's heart against her back. This was home. Not the house, not the city, but this. Him.

She rolled over, her eyes meeting his, a sleepy smile spreading across her face. "Morning, boyfriend," she whispered, the word feeling both foreign and perfect on her tongue.

"Morning, girlfriend," he murmured, his voice thick with sleep as he pulled her closer, his lips finding hers in a slow, sweet kiss. "I could get used to that."

They were lost in their own little world, a bubble of blissful contentment, when the sound of Will's phone shattered the peace blaring E85 by Don Toliver (if ykyk) . He groaned, fumbling for the device on the nightstand.

"It's Mack," he said, his brow furrowed. "He never calls this early. He probably wants to gloat about his baby's first kick or something."

He answered, putting it on speaker. "Dude, it's seven in the morning. This better be a life-or-death hockey emergency."

"Better," Mack's voice boomed through the phone, filled with an infectious, uncontainable excitement. "Kenzie just saw your Instagram story. The picture of Bella sleeping on your chest. Are you serious? Are you guys...?" 

Will looked at Bella, a slow, shy smile spreading across his face. "Yeah, man. We're together."

A whoop of joy echoed through the phone, followed by the sound of Kenzie's excited squealing. "Oh my god! I knew it! I knew it! I'm so happy for you guys! We're coming over! We're bringing champagne and celebratory bagels!"

"Kenz, it's seven in the morning," Will laughed, but his eyes were shining.

"I don't care! This is the best news ever and the baby is HUNGRY!! Oh my god, we have to plan tons of double dates! It's going to be adorable! We'll be there in an hour!"

The line went dead, and Will just shook his head, a look of pure, disbelief and happiness on his face. "Well, I guess we're having company."

Bella laughed, her heart swelling with a love so overwhelming it almost hurt. This was it. This was the family, the future, the life she had always wanted. And it was finally hers. Curiosity had her reaching for her phone. Her thumb swiped across the screen, and her breath caught in her throat.

There it was.

The picture was taken from his perspective, looking down. Her blonde hair was a messy tangle of soft waves across his chest, with one of her hands curled trustingly against his heart. Her face, softened in sleep, looked peaceful in a way she hadn't felt in years. But it was the caption that made her heart stop, then restart with a frantic, hopeful rhythm.

It wasn't anything poetic. Just two simple words.

My home.

A wave of heat washed over her, a blush so deep it felt like a fever. It wasn't embarrassment. It was vulnerability, raw and terrifying and exhilarating all at once. He hadn't just posted a picture of them; he had posted a claim, the announcement of them. This quiet, intimate moment that said more than any posed smile ever could.

He was telling everyone—his fans, his friends, his family, and most importantly, her—that this was where he belonged. That she was where he belonged.

Just as they were stumbling out of bed, Will's phone buzzed again. This time though, it was Grace. He hesitated for a moment, a flicker of the old anxiety crossing his face, but Bella just squeezed his hand, a silent encouragement.

"Hey, Grace," he said, his voice soft.

"Will," she said, her voice small, hesitant. "I just wanted to call and say I... I'm so sorry. About everything Will. About what I did, what I said... about Bella. Really I was wrong. I was so, so wrong."

"It's okay, Grace," he said, his eyes on Bella. "I know."

"No, it's not okay," she insisted. "But I'm going to make it okay. work my ass off for both of your forgiveness and... and Bella came to see me yesterday. She literally came Boston. She told me everything. And she was... she was amazing with mom and dad especially. She stood up for you to me. She's... she's perfect, Will. She's really good for you."

Will's breath caught in his throat. He hadn't known. He hadn't known that Bella had gone to Boston, that she had faced down his family for him. He looked at her, at the woman who had loved him through his worst, who had fought for him when he was too weak to fight for himself, and a wave of love so powerful it almost brought him to his knees washed over him.

"Yeah," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "She is."

"I love you, Will," Grace said, her voice sincere. "And I'm so happy you found her. Happy that you guys have each other, genuinely."

"Thanks, Grace," he said, his eyes never leaving Bella's. "I love you, too." "Is she there now? Did you finally ask her out?" Grace asked.

"Yes." Will replied his cheeks burning crimson.

"Oh my god!! Mom is gonna freak out!! oh my god i'll let you get off the phone and spend time with your girlfriend. oh my god mom is gonna dieeee!⎯BYEEEE" Grace screeched from his phone.

He hung up the phone, his heart hammering against his ribs. He knew. He knew with a certainty that settled deep in his bones, a certainty that was as solid and unshakeable as the earth beneath his feet.

He was going to marry her.

He was going to wake up next to her every morning for the rest of his life. He was going to fight with her and make up with her and build a life with her. He was going to watch her be the best aunt in the world to Mack and Kenzie's baby. He pictured it already: the big house with the ridiculous white picket fence with a giant pool. The chaos of their future filled with the echo of giggles and the tumble of little clones, a perfect mix of their blonde hair and blue eyes who would have him wrapped around their tiny fingers from their first breath. He wasn't just going to watch it happen; he was going to be right there, her other half though the beautiful, messy joy of raising perfectly spoiled children. He was going to love her until his last breath.

"What?" she asked, her eyes searching his, a small, shy smile playing on her lips.

"Nothing," he said, pulling her into his arms, his lips finding hers in a kiss that was a promise, a vow, a future all wrapped up in one perfect, breathtaking moment. "Everything."

And as he held her, he knew that this was it. This was the beginning of the rest of their lives. And he couldn't wait to live every single moment of it with her.

---

Exactly fifty-two minutes later, the doorbell rang with the urgency of a fire alarm.

Will opened the door to find Mack standing there with a paper bag from the deli in one hand and a bottle of sparkling cider in the other. Mack wasn't the one who barreled through the door first. It was Kenzie, her small baby bump leading the way and her eyes already scanning the apartment for Bella.

"Where is she?" Kenzie demanded, kicking off her shoes without looking. "Where's my girl?"

"Kenzie, babe, you're supposed to be resting," Mack called after her, but he was grinning too wide for the scolding to carry any weight.

Bella emerged from the bedroom, still in Will's oversized shirt, with her hair a mess of tangles from sleep and kisses. She barely had time to register what was happening before Kenzie was on her, wrapping her in a hug that was impressive considering the belly between them.

"You," Kenzie whispered, her voice thick with tears. "You finally did it. You finally got your head out of your ass and chose happiness."

"I chose him," Bella laughed, hugging her back. "The happiness was a bonus."

"Same thing," Kenzie declared, pulling back to hold Bella's face in her hands. "I've been waiting for this since we were twelve years old and you came crying to my room because Will smiled at one of Graces friends."

"He didn't even like me like that then," Bella protested, but she was smiling.

"Oh, he definitely did," Mack countered, dropping the bagel bag on the counter and giving Will a solid clap on the shoulder. "Believe me. I spent at least a year on the road listening to him go on and on about 'One summer Bella and I' and 'Did I ever tell you Bella was my first kiss?' analyzing everything like it was game tape."

"Okay, that's enough," Will said, his ears turning pink. "We get it. I was pathetic and obvious."

"You're still pathetic and obvious," Mack said, pulling him into a one-armed hug. "But now you're pathetic and obvious with a girlfriend, so. Progress."

Kenzie had already taken over the couch, spreading a blanket over her lap and patting the spot beside her for Bella. "Sit. I need details. All of them. Starting from the beginning and don't you dare skip the good parts."

"There's not much to tell," Bella said, settling in next to her, accepting the fleece blanket Kenzie insisted she needed. "We just... finally stopped being stupid."

"Finally," Mack echoed, unpacking bagels and cream cheese onto paper plates. "Do you know how long I've been betting on this? Kenzie wouldn't take the bet. Said it was a 'inevitable' and therefore unfair."

"They are inevitable," Kenzie said, beaming confidently. "Anyone with eyes could see you two were endgame. It was just a matter of when you'd both stop being cowards."

"Hey," Will protested, handing Bella a cup of coffee exactly how she liked it—two sugars with a splash of oat milk. "I wasn't always a coward. I was also... strategically patient."

"You were terrified," Mack corrected, settling onto the floor at Kenzie's feet, his hand automatically finding her ankle, his thumb rubbing circles there. "Same thing."

"Well, I'm not terrified anymore," Will said, and when he looked at Bella, the room went quiet. Mack and Kenzie exchanged a glance—that look, the one that said 'oh, it's serious, he's gone, he's absolutely fucking gone for her'.

"Okay," Kenzie said softly, her voice losing its teasing edge. "Okay. This is good. This is really, really good."

She reached for Bella's hand, lacing their fingers together. "I've been your best friend for ten years, babe. I've watched you love him through high school and college and all the years after. I've watched you 'date' other people and pretend you were fine and cry in my bathroom when you thought no one knew." She squeezed her hand. "And I'm so happy you don't have to pretend anymore."

Bella felt her throat tighten, tears pricking at her eyes. "Kenzie—"

"Don't," Kenzie warned, pointing a finger. "Don't you dare cry. I'm pregnant and hormonal and if you cry, I'll cry, and then we'll both be a mess and Mack will have to deal with two sobbing women before nine in the morning, and frankly, he hasn't earned that."

"I'm right here," Mack said, his voice gentle. "And I'm not going anywhere."

Will sat down on Bella's other side, his arm sliding around her shoulders, pulling her into the warm circle of his body. She fit there, perfectly, like she'd been made for this spot.

"So," Mack said, tearing into a bagel with his teeth, speaking around the food. "When's the wedding?"

"Macklin!" Kenzie swatted at him.

"Whattt? I'm just asking what we're all thinking."

Will laughed, the sound vibrating through his chest against Bella's back. "We've been official for twelve hours. Maybe give us a minute."

"Fine," Mack conceded. "But I'm just saying—I call best man. I've called it. It's done. You can't give it to Gabe now, that would be cruel."

"Who says I'm asking anyone?" Will said, but he was grinning. "Maybe I'll elope. Vegas. Elvis officiates." "Over my dead body," Kenzie said. "I have been planning this wedding since I was sixteen. You, William Charles Patrick Smith, will have a venue and a florist and a color scheme, or I will end you."

"She will," Mack confirmed. "I've seen the Pinterest board. It's extensive."

Bella laughed, leaning her head back against Will's shoulder, looking at her friends—their friends, their people, the family they'd built. Mack was already talking about nursery furniture with Will, and Kenzie was whispering about wedding dresses in her ear, and the morning sun was streaming through the windows, and everything was warm and bright and possible.

She thought about Grace, about the hard conversation and about the years of hurt that wouldn't heal overnight. But that was future Bella's problem. Right now, in this moment, she was exactly where she was supposed to be.

"Hey," Will murmured against her hair, his voice low enough that only she could hear. "You okay?"

She turned her head, finding his eyes, that familiar bright blue she'd loved for her whole life.

"Yeah," she whispered. "I'm okay. I'm better than okay."

"Good," he said, and kissed her forehead, lingering there, breathing her in. "Me too."

"Ugh," Mack groaned from the floor. "Get a room."

"We have a room," Will said, not looking away from Bella. "You're in it."

"Then I'll leave," Mack said, already standing, pulling Kenzie up with him. "Come on, mama. Let's give the lovebirds some privacy."

"We just got here," Kenzie protested, but she was smiling, letting Mack help her into her coat, her hand resting on her belly. "Fine. But this isn't over. I want full details next time. And Bella—you're taking me to dinner this week. No excuses."

"No excuses," Bella agreed.

Mack paused at the door, looking back at them—at Will with his arm around Bella, at the way they fit together like puzzle pieces, like inevitability. He shook his head, grinning.

"About damn time," he said, and pulled the door shut behind them.

The guest house went quiet. Will and Bella sat there for a moment, still wrapped in blankets and each other, the smell of bagels and coffee filling the air, the morning stretching out before them like a promise.

"So," Will said finally. "Girlfriend."

"Boyfriend," she echoed.

"I like it," he decided, and kissed her, slow and sweet and full of everything they had and everything they would build. "I really, really like it."

taglist- @destinyg237 @heeseungthel0ml @slutformatt17 @hockeyismylife5 @smittys2 @overmtter

**a/n: peep E85 mention. my fav willmack lowkey soft launch after the olympics🫢🤩🤩 i HAD to make it his ringtone. mack² are so so cute omgggg. but will & bella??? THEY'RE SOOOO CUTE I'M GONNA DIEEEE😭 so so excited for them!! 

[puckbunny2]

Invisible String: the inevitable pull

♡︎ the string pulled Bella and Will three thousand miles...some connections refuse to break. some people find their way back to each other no matter the distance, the timing, or the damage left behind. for some strings- they were never meant to snap in the first place. new city, old feelings, and the pull neither of them can ignore.

SERIES MASTERLIST

Chapter 26♡︎ (w.c. 1.8k)

Bella didn't remember the drive. She didn't remember getting into the Uber or giving the driver his address to surprise him. Now, her world had narrowed to a single, horrifying image, burned onto the back of her eyelids: Will's hands on another woman's waist, his lips on hers. The sound of her key's hitting the floor.

She stumbled out of the house onto the curb, the night air cold against her flushed skin. She was a fool. A stupid, trusting, romantic fool who had flown across the country to burn down a ghost, only to find out ghosts were very real and one was literally in Will's house.

She started walking, her feet carrying her with no destination, no purpose, just a desperate need to move, to outrun the image, the pain, the suffocating weight of her own gullibility.

The sky opened up as she ran. It wasn't a gentle mist or a light shower. It was a fucking monsoon, a torrential downpour that soaked her to the bone in seconds, the cold rain a cruel mockery of the warm, hopeful rain they'd kissed in just days before. It was fitting, she thought, a pathetic pretense for her pathetic, broken heart.

"Bella!"

His voice was a distant shout, swallowed by the roar of the rain. She didn't stop. She didn't even slow down. She just pulled her arms tighter around herself, her head down, her feet splashing through the growing puddles on the sidewalk.

"Bella! It's not what it looked like. Fuck, Bells, please just stop running!"

He was closer now, his long legs eating up the distance between them. She could hear his ragged breathing and the slap of his expensive sneakers against the wet pavement.

"Stop running from me!"

His voice cracked on the last word, a raw, desperate plea that sliced through her anger and landed squarely in her heart. She wanted to break his jaw. She wanted to turn around and absolutely knock his bunny teeth out. She wanted to make him hurt as much as she was hurting.

But then she did turn. And her eyes met his.

They weren't the eyes of a liar or a cheat. They were bright blue and soft and filled with a pain so raw and devastating it mirrored her own. His blonde curly hair was plastered to his forehead, his face pale and stricken in the streetlight. And in that moment, all the fight drained out of her, replaced by a wave of grief so profound it buckled her knees.

She hit the ground hard, the impact jarring, but she barely felt it. All she could feel was the rain, the cold, and the overwhelming, soul-crushing agony of a love that was doomed to fail.

Instantly he was there, dropping to his knees in front of her, his hands reaching for her, his voice a broken, desperate whisper.

"Bells..."

And she broke.

A sob tore from her throat, a raw, guttural sound of pure anguish. And then she was sobbing, really sobbing, her body shaking with the force of it, and her tears mingling with the rain on her cheeks. She collapsed against him, her fists weakly hitting his chest.

"I hate you," she choked out, her voice muffled against his soaked shirt. "I hate that I love you."

"I know," he whispered, his arms wrapping around her, pulling her into his lap, his body a shield against the rain. "I know, baby. I love you too."

He held her as she cried, his hand stroking her hair, his own tears mingling with the rain on her face. He didn't try to defend himself, didn't try to explain. He just held her, a silent, steady presence in the middle of her storm, letting her fall apart, knowing he was the only one who could put her back together.

They stayed like that for minutes, for hours, for a lifetime maybe, two broken, soaked souls clinging to each other in the pouring rain. And when her sobs finally subsided, reduced to quiet, hitching breaths, he gently wiped the rain and tears from her cheeks.

"Come on," he whispered, his voice hoarse.

He stood up, pulling her with him, and scooped her into his arms, her legs wrapping around his waist instinctively. He carried her back to his house, back through the door where her world had shattered, and laid her gently on the couch.

He disappeared for a moment, returning with a warm, dry blanket and a mug of hot tea. He wrapped the blanket around her, his hands gentle, and his eyes never leaving hers.

"Annie was a mistake," he said, his voice low and steady. "A stupid, drunken mistake from a few months ago. I was trying to end it. I was doing it for us. I swear, Bells. That's all it was."

Bella looked at him, at the raw sincerity in his eyes, and she believed him. She didn't want to, but she did. Because loving him was as easy as breathing, and hating him was the hardest thing she'd ever tried to do.

"Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He let out a long, shuddering breath, a wave of relief washing over him. He sat down next to her, pulling her into his arms, the blanket a warm, protective cocoon around them.

"I'm so sorry, Bells," he whispered, his lips pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "I'm so, so sorry."

She just nodded, her head resting on his chest, the steady rhythm of his heart a comforting, familiar sound. The rain was still falling outside, a steady, cleansing drum against the roof. But inside, the storm was over. The warmth of the blanket and the steady rhythm of Will's heart against her ear were a stark contrast to the cold, chaotic storm still raging inside Bella. She was a tangle of conflicting emotions—relief that he was holding her, fury that he'd been holding someone else, and a bone-deep, terrifying love that refused to be extinguished.

"Talk to me," she whispered, her voice hoarse from crying. "I need to understand."

Will tightened his arms around her, pressing a soft kiss to her hair. "There's nothing to understand, Bells. It was nothing. It was a stupid, drunken mistake I made months ago, when I thought I'd lost you for good."

He shifted, reaching for his phone on the coffee table. "But I know words are cheap right now. So just... here, look."

He unlocked the phone and pulled up his messages, handing it to her. Bella's heart was pounding as she scrolled, her eyes landing on a conversation with a contact named simply 'Annie- Gastown Pub'. She started at the top, from today.

Annie- Gastown Pub: I'm in San Francisco for the night. You, me, a drink? For old time's sake?Annie- Gastown Pub: Come on, Smith. Don't leave a girl hanging. Just one drink. I promise I'll behave.

-Fine. Come by the house. We can talk.

Annie- Gastown Pub: counter offer? dinner first

-Annie, we need to talk. In person.

Annie- Gastown Pub: Ooh, sounds serious. You miss me?

-Not even a little bit. I need to end this. For good.

Her breath hitched. She scrolled further back, to the night after they met.

Annie- Gastown Pub: Last night was fun. We should do it again soon.

- Idk the seasons busy. Mack dragged me out of his house as you know. It was a mistake. It shouldn't have happened. I'm not interested.

Annie- Gastown Pub: Don't be like that, Smith. You know you had a good time.

-Listen, you seem like a great girl but I was drunk and lonely. It's not happening again. 

Tears filled her eyes again, but this time they weren't tears of pain. They were tears of understanding. He hadn't lied. He hadn't been hiding a relationship. He'd been trying, in his own clumsy, stupid way, to shut something down before it even started.

"I'm sorry I didn't just block her," he said softly, his voice thick with regret. "I just... I thought I owed her a real rejection. I thought I was doing the right thing. I was doing it for us."

Bella looked up at him, at the raw vulnerability in his eyes, and the last of her anger melted away. "I'm sorry I ran," she whispered. "I'm sorry I didn't trust you."

"You had every reason not to," he said, his thumb gently stroking her cheek. "But I'm going to spend the rest of my life giving you reasons to trust me again."

Finally he was kissing her, a slow, deep kiss that tasted of forgiveness and a future they were both desperate to claim. It was a kiss that washed away the past, a kiss that promised forever.

The blanket fell away as he lifted her, her legs wrapping around his waist, his hands cradling her head as he carried her to his bedroom. He laid her down on the bed, his eyes never leaving hers.

She dragged him back down, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pressed against him, a silent demand for more. It was a language they'd always spoken fluently, a dialogue of touch that confessed everything their voices couldn't.

He explored her like a sacred map, his lips tracing every curve he'd memorized, and she surrendered completely. Not just her body, but the fractured pieces of her soul, trusting him to hold them all. She gave herself to him, completely and utterly--her heart and her body and her soul laid bare.

Afterwards, they lay tangled in the sheets, the room quiet except the sound of their breathing. Will propped himself up on his elbow, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on her stomach.

"Bella," he said, his voice soft but serious. "I love you. I've always loved you. And I'm done pretending I can live without you."

He took her hand, his fingers lacing with hers. "Will you be my girlfriend? For real this time. No more running. No more secrets. Just us."

A slow, brilliant smile spread across Bella's face, the first genuine smile she'd felt in what felt like a lifetime. "Yes," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Yes, I'll be your girlfriend."

He let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, a wave of pure joy washing over him. He leaned in and kissed her, a quick, happy kiss that was full of promise.

"Finally," he said, his eyes shining. "I'm never letting you go again."

As the rain painted soft patterns on the glass, Bella finally let herself believe it. She laid there, wrapped in his arms, and she knew he was right. This was it. This was their beginning. This wasn't a chapter. This was their whole story.

taglist- @destinyg237 @heeseungthel0ml @slutformatt17 @hockeyismylife5 @smittys2 @overmtter

**a/n- hii! ive been SO busy with work I haven’t found time to edit or post. here’s a new chapter finally tho!! thank you for being so patient! i plan to post more this weekend 🫶🏻 GROWTHHHHH!!! communication?? hell yeahhhhh. im SO proud. BYE annie miss ya NEVER👎🤪 they're FINALLY together im screaming!!!! YAYYYYYYYYY🥳 i can't wait to read your reactions

[puckbunny2]

Invisible String: the inevitable pull

♡︎ the string pulled Bella and Will three thousand miles...some connections refuse to break. some people find their way back to each other no matter the distance, the timing, or the damage left behind. for some strings- they were never meant to snap in the first place. new city, old feelings, and the pull neither of them can ignore.

SERIES MASTERLIST

Chapter 25♡︎ (w.c. 2.9k)

The front door was unlocked—same as it had been since they were twelve. Bella walked through the foyer, past the staircase where she and Grace had taken a thousand sleepover selfies, past the kitchen where they'd braided each other's hair and sworn they'd be each others maids of honor someday.

Grace was in the sunroom, curled up on her papasan chair with a mug of tea, and her laptop open. She looked up and her whole face lit up—that warm, genuine smile that had made Bella feel like family for fifteen plus years. The smile she'd perfected in the snow three years ago, crying fake tears while she lied through her teeth.

"Belly!" Grace set her laptop aside, bouncing up to hug her. "I was just thinking about you. I found that terrible photo of us with the matching side bangs—" She pulled back, squeezing Bella's shoulders, studying her face with that familiar intensity. "You okay? You look stressed."

Bella didn't return the smile. She stood there, rigid in Grace's embrace, watching the confusion flicker across her ex-best friend's face.

"What's wrong?" Grace's hands dropped. She laughed, uncertain. "Did Will do something? God, if he—"

"You knew."

Grace blinked. "What?"

"That summer." Bella stepped around her, moving into the center of the room. "When will and I were sixteen. At the summer house. Will and I almost kissed on the dock, and you walked up behind us and dragged me away." She watched Grace's face carefully, saw the flicker of recognition. "You knew. You saw it. You knew we liked each other even then."

Grace's smile faltered. "Bella, I don't know what you're—"

"Don't." Bella laughed, sharp and broken. "Don't do that confused voice. You knew for at least four years , Grace. Four years you watched me look at him. Years you heard me talk about him in my sleep. And you never said a word. You just... waited. Watched."

She stepped closer, her voice dropping. "And then we finally did. College. We found each other. And you couldn't stand it, could you? After all those years of keeping us apart in your mind—you saw us actually happen, and you lost it."

Grace's face had gone pale. "That's not—I wasn't trying to—"

"You gave him an ultimatum." Bella's voice was steady now, cold. "That night after Thanksgiving. You found out I was the 'mystery girl,' and you told him he had to choose. Me for a little while, or 'family' forever. You made him believe that breaking my heart was the noble thing. The right thing. Fuck that, actually you made him believe it was the only way."

"I was trying to protect—"

"Protect what?" Bella shouted. "The version of us you'd decided on when we were sixteen? The one where I stayed your sidekick and Will stayed your perfect younger brother and nobody ever crossed the lines you'd drawn?" She shook her head. "You weren't protecting anything. You were controlling it. You'd been controlling us for years."

She stepped closer, her voice dropping to something dangerous. "And then you stood in the snow and lied to me. You looked me in the eye and said you just 'said something' over Thanksgiving not knowing it was me. That you didn't think he'd actually break up with me. You let me believe it was his idea. His cowardice."

Grace was crying now, ugly and broken. "I know. I know, okay? I was a coward. I should have told you the truth—"

"You should have been my friend! My sister!" Bella cried. "But you weren't. You were a snake in my life for three years, smiling at me while you sat on the secret that destroyed my life. Dragging me to hockey games so I'd 'move on.' Forcing me into double dates with Ryan, telling me he was 'such a great guy,' that I should 'give him a chance.' All while you knew. While you knew why I was heartbroken. While you knew exactly who I actually wanted."

Grace looked up, her face destroyed. "I was trying to help you—"

"You were trying to replace him!" Bella shot back. "You thought if you could just get me interested in someone else, I'd stop being sad, stop asking questions, stop threatening your perfect little system. You played matchmaker with my life like it was a game."

The front door opened.

"Bella?" Colleen's voice rang through the foyer, bright and warm. "Is that you I hear?"

Grace's head snapped up, panic flashing across her face. She grabbed her blanket, frantically wiping at her eyes.

Colleen appeared in the doorway, her face lighting up when she saw Bella. "Oh, honey! I was hoping I'd see you soon." She crossed the room in three quick steps, pulling Bella into a hug that smelled like cinnamon and the perfume she'd worn since Bella was a child. "I called Will yesterday and he could barely string two sentences together, just kept talking about you guys reconnecting. I swear, that boy has been in love with you since you were both in diapers."

Bella stiffened, her eyes meeting Grace's over Colleen's shoulder. Grace had gone perfectly still, her blanket clutched in her hand, and her face a mask of barely contained terror.

"I always hoped," Colleen continued, pulling back to beam at Bella, oblivious to the tension thickening the air. "You know that, right? You and Will. It just makes sense. You're already family."

Grace made a small sound—something between a sob and a laugh. Colleen turned, finally noticing her daughter's red-rimmed eyes.

"Gracie? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Mom." Grace's voice was strangled. "We were just... catching up. Remembering old times."

Colleen looked between them, her smile faltering as she sensed something wrong. "Is everything okay?"

Bella looked at Grace—really looked at her. Saw the genuine remorse, the fear, the girl she'd once trusted with everything. The anger was still there, hot and heavy in her chest, but so was fifteen years of history. Sleepovers and secrets and Grace holding her hand when her dad got sick.

"We're figuring it out," Bella said quietly.

Grace's eyes widened, surprised.

Colleen's smile returned, tentative but hopeful. "Well, good. Because I have to tell you, Bella, seeing you two together —it just feels right. Like things are finally how they should be."

She squeezed Bella's hand, then Grace's shoulder. "I'm going to start dinner. You girls stay and talk. I'll call you when it's ready."

They waited until her footsteps faded into the kitchen. The silence stretched between them, heavy and complicated.

"You didn't tell her?" Grace whispered.

"No."

"Why?"

Bella sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Because she's happy. Because this isn't just about you and me anymore—it's about Will, and your parents, and all the summers and Christmases and everything else." She met Grace's eyes. "And because I'm tired of being angry, Grace. I'm tired of carrying it."

Grace nodded slowly, tears still streaming down her face. "I don't deserve your forgiveness"

"No," Bella agreed. "You don't. But I'm going to be with him. Not because of you or in spite of you—just because I love him. And I can't do that if I'm still burning down every bridge between us."

She walked to the doorway, then paused. "So here's how this works. We're going to be civil. We're going to show up for your parents and sit at the same table and pretend for now. But you don't get to be my'sister' anymore. You don't get late-night texts or movie nights or the inside track on my life. You broke that, and I don't know if it can be fixed."

Grace nodded, her chin trembling. "Okay."

"And Grace?" Bella turned back, her voice hardening. "If you ever try to manage my relationship with him again—if you so much as look at us sideways—I will tell your mother everything. About the ultimatum. About the lying. About how you've been watching us since we were sixteen, waiting for your chance to tear us apart. Do you understand?"

"I understand," Grace whispered.

Bella nodded once, sharp and final. "Good."

She walked out of the sunroom, leaving Grace alone with her guilt and the distant sound of Colleen humming in the kitchen—two girls who had been sisters, now something more complicated, something that might take years to untangle, if it ever could be at all.

The Smiths' house  was exactly as Bella remembered: comfortable, warm, and filled with the scent of Colleen Smiths famous pot roast. It was the scent of holidays and family, of a time when Bella had been welcomed here as one of their own.

"So Bella, What are you doing here? We didn't know you were in town." Colleen asked across the table.

"I needed to talk to you," Bella said, her voice steady, her eyes finding Grace's. "All of you."

Bill recovered first, his expression softening with concern. "Bella, are you okay? Is it Will? Did something happen?"

"No, nothing's happened," Bella said, taking a step further into the room. "That's the problem. Nothing's been happening for like 2 years, because we've all been letting fear make our decisions for us."

She looked directly at Grace. "You especially, Grace."

Grace flinched, her shoulders slumping. "I know," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "I know I messed up."

Bill put a gentle hand on his daughter's shoulder. "Grace, we've talked about this."

"I know, Dad," Grace said, her eyes welling with tears. "But I need to say it. To her."

She looked up at Bella, her expression a raw, open wound. "I was so wrong, Bella. I was so, so wrong. I saw how much he was hurting after he left, and I just... I panicked. I thought if I could just build this wall around him, if I could keep him focused on hockey, I could protect him from ever feeling that way again. But all I did was keep him from healing. I kept him from you."

Bella felt the anger she'd been nursing for months begin to dissolve, replaced by a wave of empathy she hadn't expected. "I know you love him, Grace. I've always known that. But you can't protect him from life. You can't protect him from love."

"I know that now," Grace said, a tear tracing a path down her cheek. "Seeing him with you again, even from a distance... he's different. He's lighter. He's the Will I grew up with. And it's because of you."

Colleen reached out, her hand finding Bella's. "We've all missed you, sweetheart. This house hasn't been the same without you."

"I've missed you all, too," Bella said, her voice thick with emotion. "But I'm not here to rehash the past. I'm here to talk about the future. My future. With Will."

Grace looked up, a small, hopeful smile touching her lips. " you two... you're really trying again?"

"We are," Bella confirmed. "And I need to know that you're not going to stand in the way. That you're going to let him be happy, even if it's not the version of happy you've chosen for him."

"Of course," Grace said, her voice firm with conviction. "Of course, Bella. I want him to be happy. And if you're the one who makes him happy, then... then that's all I've ever wanted for him."

She stood up, closing the distance between them, and pulled Bella into a hesitant, heartfelt hug. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice cracking. "For everything. I hope you can forgive me."

Bella hugged her back, a sense of peace settling over her. "In time, Grace," she said softly. 

When they pulled apart, Colleen was on her feet, pulling them both into a group hug. "Oh, my girls," she whispered, her voice thick with tears. "My beautiful, stubborn girls."

Bill stood up, wrapping his arms around all of them. "Welcome home, Bella," he said, his voice gruff with emotion. "It's about time."

And as Bella stood there, enveloped in the warmth of the family she had missed so much, she knew that this was it. This was the final piece of the puzzle. She hadn't won a war; she had healed a wound. And now, nothing and no one would ever stand in their way again.

-

Will's phone buzzed on the coffee table, a familiar, insistent vibration that had been plaguing him for the last two days. He glanced down, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. 

Annie- Gastown Pub: I'm in San Francisco for the night. You, me, a drink? For old time's sake?

He sighed, rubbing a hand over his jaw. He'd met her at a bar a few months ago, during one of his lowest points, a drunken mistake fueled by loneliness and the bitter taste of regret. He'd made it clear it was a one-time thing, but Annie seemed to be operating on a different frequency, one where "one-time" meant "the beginning of a beautiful, obsessive relationship."

He was about to type out a polite but firm "no" when his phone buzzed again. 

Annie- Gastown Pub: Come on, Smith. Don't leave a girl hanging. Just one drink. I promise I'll behave.

He hesitated. He could ignore her, block her, but a small, stubborn part of him felt like he owed her a proper rejection, a face-to-face conversation to close a door he'd stupidly left ajar. It was the mature thing to do. The right thing to do.

"Stupid," he muttered to himself, typing back a quick, 

-Fine. Come by the house. We can talk.

Annie- Gastown Pub: counter offer?  dinner first

-Annie, we need to talk. In person.

Annie- Gastown Pub: Ooh, sounds serious. You miss me?

-Not even a little bit. I need to end this. For good.

Annie- Gastown Pub: playing hard to get are we? on my way 👀

He spent the rest of the afternoon in a state of low-grade dread, the excitement from Bella's text about her "detour" warring with the anxiety of the impending conversation. He was doing this for them. He was tying up a loose end, erasing a mistake, so he could move forward, clean and whole. - The doorbell rang at 8 o'clock sharp. Will took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation, and opened the door to find Annie standing on his doorstep, a vision of manufactured perfection in a tight red dress and a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Will Smith," she purred, pushing past him into the house. "I was starting to think you'd stand me up."

"Annie," he said, his voice stiff as he closed the door, the space suddenly feeling too small. "Thanks for coming. I, uh, wanted to talk."

"Talk?" she said, her smile widening as she ran a hand along the back of his couch. "I can think of better things to do."

"Yeah, well, that's the thing," he said, running a hand through his hair, his eyes scanning the room, anywhere but at her. "I can't. I'm... I'm seeing someone."

Annie's smile faltered, a flicker of something hard and calculating in her eyes. "What? I thought you said you were single and swearing off relationships."

"I was," he said firmly. "I'm not anymore. And I just wanted to tell you in person that I can't... you know. See you. Like that. I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" she said, a small, bitter laugh escaping her lips. "You're sorry? After you led me on for months?"

"I didn't lead you on," he said, his patience wearing thin. "I was clear. This was a mistake. And I'm trying to do the right thing here."

"The right thing?" she said, her voice rising. "The right thing would have been to not waste my time."

"Look, I'm sorry," he said, his voice flat. "I think you should go."

He turned to walk toward the door, but she was faster. She grabbed his arm, her grip surprisingly strong, and pulled him back toward her. And then she was kissing him.

It wasn't a kiss of passion or affection. It was a kiss of possession, a desperate, final attempt to stake her claim. Her lips were hard, her hand fisting in the front of his shirt, and for a split second, he was too stunned to react.

And then he saw her. Standing in the open doorway, keys in her hand, a vision in a light blue dress, her face a mask of disbelief and heartbreak. Bella. She was back. She was here. And she was watching him kiss someone else.

He shoved Annie away, his heart lurching into his throat. "Bella," he breathed, his voice cracking.

But it was too late. The look on her face was one he'd seen before, a mirror of the pain he'd caused her a year ago. It was a look of betrayal, of shattered trust, of a love that had been broken one too many times.

She didn't say a word. The keys slipped from her grasp, clattering to the floor. She just turned and ran, disappearing down the walkway, the final, damning punctuation mark on a sentence he never should have started writing.

"Bella!" he yelled, pushing past a stunned Annie, his long legs eating up the distance to the door. taglist- @destinyg237 @heeseungthel0ml @slutformatt17 @hockeyismylife5 @smittys2 @overmtter

**a/n- side note i want a double papasan chair SO bad. but clock the fuck outta her bella. i LOVE love colleen. okay so listen, some people may not think bella went hard enough or agree to a civil ending, but we have to remember this beef is a few years old and at the end of the day unfortunately she is still his sister & family to Bella. they will NEVER be best friends again but Grace has her slight redemption ark a lil later and going out of her way to apologize in front of her own parents was growth. every single fiber of my being wanted her to beat graces ass but honestly i felt it didn’t make sense for Bella as a character & the way she’s trying to be mature and grow & move on from the past. hopefully you guys aren’t too mad🫣🥹 annie be so fucking fr. read the room 😭 annie can absolutely get hit by a bus or id be so open to bella beating the shit out of her… anyways. oooooops a cliffhanger?? 🫢🫢 poor will. man can’t win even when he tries to do everything right. do you guys think he did the right thing? how do you think bella is gonna react?👀

[puckbunny2]

Invisible String: the inevitable pull

♡︎ the string pulled Bella and Will three thousand miles...some connections refuse to break. some people find their way back to each other no matter the distance, the timing, or the damage left behind. for some strings- they were never meant to snap in the first place. new city, old feelings, and the pull neither of them can ignore.

SERIES MASTERLIST

Chapter 24♡︎ (w.c. 2.4k)

The roar of Madison Square Garden was a familiar symphony to Bella's ears, a chaotic, beautiful sound that had been the soundtrack to her childhood going to countless hockey games.

From her seat near the glass, she watched Gabe and Matt on the ice. They were a force of nature, a seamless, surprising duo that seemed to communicate without words. But it was the little things that gave them away. The way Matt's eyes would find Gabe after a good shift, and the subtle, encouraging tap of his glove against Gabe's pads. Mostly though, it was the way Gabe's entire posture relaxed when Matt was near. It was there, in the stolen glances and the quiet, supportive touches, a love story playing out on the world's most unforgiving stage.

After the game, a hard-fought overtime win, she found herself in Gabe's sprawling Upper West Side apartment with the city lights twinkling outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. The air was thick with the smell of victory and the faint, earthy scent of weed.

"I can't believe you guys pulled that off," Bella said, sinking into the plush couch and accepting the joint Matt was offering her. "That was insane."

"We had a little extra motivation," Matt said, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he looked at Gabe, who was rummaging through the fridge.

Gabe emerged with three bottles of gatorade, his cheeks flushed. "Yeah, well, Remps here decided to trip over his own feet and almost cost us the game in the third."

"Hey, I was drawing a penalty," Matt protested, though he was grinning as he sat down next to Gabe, their thighs brushing together.

Bella took a long drag from the joint, the smoke curling in her lungs, loosening the knots of anxiety she'd been carrying all day. She watched them, the easy intimacy, the comfortable domesticity, and a slow, knowing smile spread across her face.

"So," she said, her voice casual. "How long have you two been... you know?"

Gabe choked on his gatorade, sputtering as Matt's eyes widened in panic. "What?" Gabe squeaked. "We're not... I mean, we're just... teammates."

Bella raised an eyebrow, taking another slow drag. "Gabe. I've been watching you play hockey since you were in college. I know what 'just teammates' looks like, and this," she said, gesturing between them with the joint, "is not it."

Matt looked at Gabe, a silent question in his eyes, and Gabe let out a long, defeated sigh. "Okay, fine," he mumbled, his cheeks turning a deep shade of red. "We're... dating. Sort of. We haven't really... labeled it."

"We're labeling it," Matt said firmly, taking Gabe's hand and lacing their fingers together. "We're dating."

Bella's heart swelled with a love so pure it almost hurt. She launched herself across the couch, pulling them both into a clumsy, three-way hug. "Oh, my god, you guys! I'm so happy for you! This is the best news I've heard all year!"

"Really?" Gabe asked, his voice small, his eyes searching hers. "You're not... weirded out?"

"Are you kidding me?" Bella said, pulling back to look at him. "Gabe, you're like my brother. I love you. And Matt, you're... well, you're Matt. And you make Gabe crazy happy. That's all that matters. Now, someone pass me that gatorade. I feel like I'm going to cry."

They passed the rest of the joint around, the smoke filling the room, loosening their tongues and softening the edges of the world. And Bella, surrounded by their happiness and the pleasant haze of the weed, found herself telling them everything.

She told them about Kenzie's pregnancy, about Mack's terrified, joyous reaction. She told them about the baby reveal, about the tiny jerseys and the look on Mack's face. And then, with a deep, shaky breath, she told them about Will.

"I went to his guest house," she said, her voice soft. "And I told him about Kenzie. And we... we talked. And then we... you know."

"You had sex again?" Gabe asked, his eyes wide.

"Yes, Gabe, I had sex," Bella laughed, rolling her eyes. "And it was... it was everything. It was like coming home. But then this morning, I was so scared. I was ready to run, but he... he was just... there. He took me to the airport. He didn't ask questions, he just... supported me."

"Sounds like he's growing up," Matt said, his voice gentle.

"He is," Bella said, a tear tracing a path down her cheek. "And I'm so in love with him, guys. I'm so, so in love with him."

"So what's the problem?" Gabe asked, squeezing her hand. "If you love him, and he loves you, then...?"

"The problem," Bella said, her voice hardening, "is still Grace. She's the reason we broke up. She's the poison that got into his head. And as long as she's so...opinionated... on his life, she's going to be a threat. To us."

"So get rid of the option," Matt said, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

Bella looked at him, a slow, determined smile spreading across her face. "You're right," she said, her voice low and steady. "I'm done letting her win. I'm done letting her control my life. I'm going to confront her. I'm going to look her in the eye and tell her to stay away from my family. And then," she said, her eyes shining with a newfound resolve, "I'm going to be with Will. For real."

Gabe and Matt exchanged a look, a silent, supportive understanding passing between them. "Good," Gabe said, his voice firm. "It's about time."

"Yeah," Matt agreed. "From what I've heard, she's had it coming for too long."

Bella leaned back against the couch, the weight of her decision settling over her, a comforting, empowering cloak. She was done being a victim. She was done being a pawn in someone else's game. One day she was going to be 'Isabella Smith', and she is taking back her life.

And of course she was going to start with Grace.

The high from the game and the joint had faded, replaced by a steely, sober resolve. Bella laid on the plush couch in Gabe's living room, the city lights painting shifting patterns on the ceiling. She was done. Done with the hesitation, the fear, the waiting for the other shoe to drop. Grace had been a shadow over her life for too long, and it was time to step into the light and cast that shadow out for good.

Her flight back to California was tomorrow afternoon.

With a deep breath, she picked up her phone, her fingers hovering over Will's name. The screen glowed in the dark room, a direct line to the man who held her heart. This was the first test. The first action that wasn't just about them, but about protecting them.

-Hey, you up?

The reply was almost instant.

Will : Always for you. How was the game? Did you give Rempe a hard time about his tripping penalty?

A small smile touched her lips. He paid attention. He always had.

-He'll never live it down. but listen... something's come up.

She watched the three dots appear and disappear, a silent testament to his concern.

Will :Everything okay? Is it Kenzie? The baby?

-No, no, everyone's fine. I promise. It's just... I need to change my flight. I'm going to come back a day later than I thought.

There was a longer pause this time. She could almost feel his worry through the phone, the familiar fear of the unknown that had plagued their relationship. 

Will : A day later? Bells, what's going on? You're worrying me.

Her thumb hovered over the screen. She wanted to tell him everything. She wanted to tell him she was flying to Boston to confront the ghost of their past, to burn it to the ground so they could finally build a future. But this wasn't his fight. Not yet. This was something she had to do for herself, to prove to him, and to her, that she was all in.

-I'm okay I promise. I just have something I need to take care of first. Something for me. For us.

Will : Bella, you can't just say that and expect me not to worry. Will : What do you have to do? Will : Where are you going?

She took a deep breath, typing out the words that were both a truth and an omission.

-I have to handle something. An old piece of business. It's nothing bad, I just... I need to do it alone.  -Can you trust me?

The silence that followed was heavy, charged with the weight of their history. She knew how hard it was for him to trust, how her own disappearance had scarred him. But she also knew that this was the only way forward.

Finally, his reply came.

Will : Of course I trust you. Just... be safe. Please. And call me when you land.

-I will. - Will?

Will : Yeah?

-Thank you. For not pushing.

Will : Always, Bells. Always.

She set the phone down, a wave of relief washing over her. He trusted her. He was letting her go, knowing she'd come back. It was a small thing, but it felt like the biggest thing in the world. Bella's thumb hovered over Will's name in her contacts before she tapped Edit. With a small smile, she replaced the generic gray silhouette with the photo of him mid-laugh from their beach trip, then typed 💙 next to his name. The tiny heart symbol a quiet promise that this time, it was there to stay.

She opened her laptop, her fingers flying across the keyboard, booking a one-way ticket to Boston. The flight left in six hours. It was impulsive and reckless and exactly what she needed to do.

As she packed her bag, her phone buzzed again. It was a message from Will.

Will💙: I'm proud of you, you know. For whatever you're doing. I've got your back.

Tears welled in her eyes, but this time, they weren't tears of fear or sadness. They were tears of gratitude, of love, of a future that was finally within reach. She was going to Boston. She was going to face Grace. And then she was going to go home to Will.

For real.

Bella was still curled up on the couch, scrolling through tiktok on her phone when Gabe shuffled back into the living room, his movements slow and deliberate. He sank down beside her, the couch dipping with his weight, and wordlessly held out a half-smoked joint. "Thought we might need a little more fuel for your impending hero moment," he said, his voice raspy as he lit it and took a long drag before passing it to her. Bella accepted it, inhaling deeply as the smoke filled her lungs. "Thanks. I think I'm going to need it." She exhaled slowly, watching the smoke curl towards the ceiling. "You guys are really good together, you know. Matt makes you really happy." Gabe's cheeks flushed, but he smiled, a genuine, unguarded smile. "Yeah. He does. It's still... new. But it's good." He took the joint back, his fingers brushing hers. The comfortable silence stretched for a moment before he spoke again, his voice barely a whisper. "Speaking of people who make you happy... or, well, who used to and maybe still does.." Bella looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "What about Will?" Gabe took another hit, holding the smoke in his lungs for a long moment before letting it out in a rush. "I never told you this. Because it was weird, and I didn't know how, and then everything got so messed up with you two..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "After he broke up with you. That day. I went to the rink to find him." Bella's heart skipped a beat. "You did?" "Yeah," Gabe said, staring at his hands. "I was so pissed, Bella. I was ready to fight him. And I did, I yelled at him. Told him he was an idiot, a coward. And he just... broke. He was crying, telling me he had to do it to save your friendship, that it was killing him." Tears pricked at the corners of Bella's eyes, but she just squeezed Gabe's hand, urging him to continue. "He was just... so destroyed. And I was looking at him, my best friend, completely falling apart, and I just... I panicked. I didn't know what to do. I wanted to make it stop, to fix it." He finally met her gaze, his own eyes wide with the memory. "So I kissed him." Bella's eyebrows shot up, but a small giggle escaped her lips before she could stop it. It wasn't a mocking sound, but one of pure, surprised delight. Gabe's shoulders relaxed, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "It was awful. Hard and desperate and completely clumsy. He just stood there, frozen, like I'd just slapped him. And then I ran away like a total coward. I think I traumatized him for life." Bella burst out laughing, a real, belly laugh that made her sides ache. "Oh my god," she gasped, wiping at her eyes. "You kissed Will? That's... that's the sweetest, funniest, most ridiculously Gabe thing I have ever heard." She leaned in, pulling him into a fierce hug. "Thank you." "For what?" he mumbled into her hair. "Traumatizing your ex-boyfriend?" "For loving him enough to try and fix him," she said, pulling back to look at him, her expression serious now. "For loving me enough to go after him. For being my person, always." She kissed his cheek, her heart overflowing. "I couldn't imagine my life without you, Gabe. You know that, right? You're my best friend, literally my brother." A slow, happy smile spread across Gabe's face. "Me too Bell-Bell. I know." He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. "The feeling's more than mutual. Now," he said, nudging her gently. "Let's finish this joint and then you can go tell Grace to go fuck herself."

taglist- @destinyg237 @heeseungthel0ml @slutformatt17 @hockeyismylife5 @smittys2 @overmtter

**a/n: mattgabe 4 lyfe🥹🥹 matt being gabe’s rock and a rock for bella makes my heart swellll. also SUPPORTIVE AND UNDERSTANDING will oh we won🥳 gabe telling her about the kissss i had to😂 (mostly bc I wanted all of us to relive it again) W endingggg go fuck yourself grace 🫡 wonder how that’s gonna go👀👀👀 

[puckbunny2]

Invisible String: the inevitable pull

♡︎ the string pulled Bella and Will three thousand miles...some connections refuse to break. some people find their way back to each other no matter the distance, the timing, or the damage left behind. for some strings- they were never meant to snap in the first place. new city, old feelings, and the pull neither of them can ignore.

SERIES MASTERLIST

Chapter 23♡︎ (w.c. 2.5k)

The drive from the restaurant to the coast was silent, but it wasn't the heavy, loaded silence of their past. This was different. It was comfortable and easy, filled with the unspoken understanding that they were finally on the same page, heading in the same direction.

Will parked the car near the entrance to the beach, and they stepped out into the cool night air. The moon was a sliver in the sky, casting a soft, silver glow over the sand and the gentle lapping of the waves.

"Walk with me?" he asked, his voice soft.

Bella nodded, and he reached for her hand, his fingers lacing through hers as naturally as breathing. They walked along the water's edge, the foam from the waves rushing over their bare feet, the world narrowing to just the two of them and the rhythmic sound of the shore.

"I can't believe it," Will said after a while, his voice a low rumble against the roar of the ocean. "Mack. A dad. I feel like we were just playing mini-sticks in our hotel room at the combine, and now he's going to be teaching someone how to skate."

"I know," Bella said, a smile playing on her lips. "Kenzie, too. It's crazy how fast everything changes."

"It is," he said, stopping to face her, the moonlight catching in his eyes. "But some things... some things don't change."

He reached up, his thumb gently stroking her cheek. "You know," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "I've seen a lot of beautiful things in my life. The skyline of Boston from the top of the Prudential Center. The beautiful sunsets of San Jose. The way the ice glitters right before a game. But none of it... none of it even comes close to you."

Bella's breath caught in her throat, her heart hammering against her ribs. "Will..."

"You're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, Bells," he said, the nickname falling from his lips like a gift. "And I'm so sorry I ever made you feel like you weren't the only thing that mattered."

Tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them back, a watery smile spreading across her face. "You always did know how to ruin a perfectly good walk on the beach with all this sappy talk."

He laughed, a real, genuine laugh that made her heart soar. "Yeah, well, I've had a lot of time to think about what I'd say if I ever got the chance to say it again."

As if on cue, the sky opened up, a light, misty rain beginning to fall. Bella looked up, a laugh escaping her lips as the drops landed on her face.

"Seriously?" she said, her voice full of disbelief and delight. "Of all the nights..."

But Will was already smiling, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Deja vu," he said, his voice low and husky.

And then he was kissing her.

It wasn't like the desperate, frantic kiss in the guest house. It was different. This was slow and sweet and full of all the words they hadn't yet said. It was the kiss from a rainy night in Boston, from a time when their love was new and unburdened by the mistakes they would make. It was a promise, a memory, and a future all wrapped up in one perfect, rain-soaked moment.

Bella giggled against his lips, the sound swallowed by his kiss as he pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her waist, lifting her slightly off the ground. The rain fell harder, plastering her hair to her cheeks, soaking through their clothes, but they didn't care. They were lost in their own little world, a world of soft touches and whispered promises and the taste of salt and rain on each other's lips.

"I've missed this," she whispered, her forehead resting against his.

"I've missed you," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Every single day."

They stood there for a long time, wrapped in each other's arms, the rain washing away the last remnants of the hurt and the anger, leaving only the love that had been there all along, waiting for them to find their way back to it.

"Come home with me, Bells," he whispered, his lips brushing against her ear. "Let's go home."

She pulled back, her eyes searching his, and saw nothing but love and hope and a future she was ready to claim. She didn't hesitate.

"Okay," she whispered, her hand finding his again. "Let's go home."

And as they walked back to the car, hand in hand, their clothes dripping and their hearts full, Bella knew that this was it. This was the beginning. The beginning of their new story, a story that was messy and complicated and hockey-obsessed, but most importantly, a story that was theirs. And she couldn't wait to see what came next. - The drive back to Will's place was thick with a charged silence, the only sound the rhythmic sweep of the wipers against the windshield. Every time the car stopped, his hand found hers, his thumb stroking her knuckles, a silent promise of what was to come. The rain had softened to a mist, but the air inside the car was electric, humming with the unspoken history and the undeniable future.

He didn't bother with the garage, pulling into the driveway and cutting the engine. The sudden quiet was deafening. He turned to her, his face illuminated by the soft glow of the porch light, his eyes dark and searching.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down her spine.

In answer, Bella leaned across the console, her hand cupping the back of his neck, and pulled him to her. The kiss was deep and sure, a confirmation, a sealing of a pact. It was all the answer he needed.

They stumbled out of the car and into the house, a tangle of limbs and damp clothes. He kicked the door shut behind them, and then he was on her, his hands framing her face, and his lips claiming hers with a desperation that matched her own. This wasn't the sweet, nostalgic kiss on the beach. This was raw, hungry, year's worth of longing and regret and love pouring out in a single, breathless moment.

He backed her against the wall, his body pressing against hers, hard and insistent. His mouth left hers, trailing a path of fire down her neck, his teeth scraping against her pulse point. Bella arched into him, a soft moan escaping her lips as her fingers fisted in his hair, holding him to her.

"Will," she breathed, his name a prayer on her lips.

"I've got you, Bells," he murmured against her skin, his hands sliding down her sides, gripping her hips and pulling her flush against him. "I've got you."

He lifted her as if she weighed nothing, her legs wrapping around his waist instinctively. He carried her through the dark house, his mouth never leaving hers, until they reached his bedroom. He laid her down on the bed, his body covering hers, the weight of him a welcome, familiar anchor.

They broke apart long enough to shed their clothes, a frantic, desperate scramble of wet fabric and eager hands. And then there was nothing between them, just skin on skin, the cool air a shock against her heated flesh. He paused, his eyes roaming over her, with a look of such raw genuine love on his face that it stole her breath.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "So fucking beautiful."

He lowered his head, his lips finding hers again as his hands began to explore, relearning the curves and hollows of her body. His touch was both familiar and new, a ghost of the past and a promise of the future. He knew exactly how to make her gasp, exactly how to make her arch, and exactly how to make her fall apart.

His mouth followed his hands, a slow, torturous descent that left a trail of fire in its wake. He took his time, worshipping her with his lips and his tongue, his name a constant, breathless mantra on her lips. She was lost in a haze of sensation, the world narrowing to the feel of his mouth, the scrape of his stubble against her thighs, and the sound of his ragged breathing.

When he finally entered her, it was everything. A slow, deep thrust that filled her completely, a silent acknowledgment of everything they had lost and everything they had found. He began to move, a slow, steady rhythm that built to a frantic, desperate pace, with their bodies moving in perfect sync.

It was a conversation without words, a physical manifestation of all the things they couldn't say. It was an apology and a forgiveness, a plea and a promise. It was messy and passionate and utterly, completely perfect.

She felt the coil of tension deep in her stomach, tightening with every thrust, every kiss, every whispered word. And when she finally shattered, with his name on her lips, a cry of pure pleasure that echoed in the quiet room.

He followed her over the edge, his body tensing, and a raspy moan tearing from his throat as he collapsed against her, his face buried in her hair. They laid there tangled together, their bodies slick with sweat, and their hearts hammering against each other's ribs.

After a while, he rolled onto his side, pulling her with him, his arms wrapping around her, holding her close. He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, his lips lingering against her skin.

"I love you, Bells," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I'll never stop."

Bella closed her eyes, a single tear tracing a path down her cheek. "I love you, too, Will," she whispered back. "Always."

And as they lay there in the quiet darkness, the sound of the rain a gentle lullaby outside, Bella knew that she was finally, truly, home. - The first thing Bella registered when she woke up was the warmth. A solid, comforting weight draped over her waist, the rhythmic rise and fall of a chest against her back, and the soft puff of breath against her neck. Will. She was in Will's bed.

A slow, blissful smile spread across her face. The night before came flooding back in a series of heated, hazy flashes—the passionate kiss in the rain, his hands on her skin, the way he'd whispered her name like a prayer, and the overwhelming, soul-deep rightness of being in his arms again. She felt light, surrounded by a happiness so pure it was almost dizzying. Cloud nine didn't even begin to cover it.

As the sun crept through the blinds, casting stripes of light across the rumpled sheets, a familiar knot of anxiety began to tighten in her stomach. This was the hard part. The after.

Sex was easy. Words were easy. They were masters of both, able to communicate with a look or a touch, to fall into bed and erase months of hurt with a few hours of desperate passion. But the actions? The morning-after conversations, the navigating of what came next? That was where they had always failed. That was the minefield she wasn't sure she was ready to cross.

Carefully, so as not to wake him, she began to untangle herself from his embrace. His arm was a dead weight around her, his fingers instinctively curling into her side as she tried to slip away. She was just about free, her feet touching the cool hardwood floor, when he stirred.

"Where are you going baby?" he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. He didn't open his eyes, just tightened his grip, pulling her back into the warmth of his body, her back flush against his chest.

"Bells," he whispered, his face nuzzling into her hair. "Stay."

Her heart fluttered, a war waging between her desire to stay wrapped in his arms forever and her primal urge to flee before the inevitable awkwardness could set in. "I can't," she whispered back. "I have to... I have things to do."

He hummed a low, contented sound, his hand tracing lazy circles on her stomach. "Things can wait," he murmured, his lips pressing a soft kiss to her shoulder. "I've been waiting years for this. Five more minutes won't kill you."

His words, so simple and sincere, disarmed her completely. She relaxed against him, the knot in her stomach loosening just a fraction. "Five minutes," she conceded.

But five minutes stretched into ten, and the comfortable silence began to feel like it needed to be filled. She had to tell him. She had to give him a reason, a way out, a test to see if this was just about the night or if it was about the morning, too.

"Will?" she said softly.

"Hmm?"

"I have to go to New York today," she said, bracing herself. "For Gabe's game. The Rangers are playing the Devils and he asked me to come a few weeks ago."

He stilled for a moment, his hand ceasing its movements. She held her breath, waiting for the reaction. The disappointment. The annoyance. The old, familiar insecurity that had always reared its head when her life extended beyond him.

But he just tightened his arm around her, pressing another kiss to her shoulder. "That's great," he said, his voice clear and genuine. "How's he been? Remps still giving him heart eyes?"

A surprised laugh escaped her lips. "Oh, you have no idea. Apparently, the entire team thinks it's the most adorable thing they've ever seen. Gabe, of course, is completely oblivious."

"Kid's got game," Will chuckled. "He just doesn't know it."

He rolled over, propping himself up on his elbow to look at her, his blue eyes soft and sleepy in the morning light. He leaned in and kissed her, a slow, deep kiss that tasted faintly of toothpaste and sleep and a future she was starting to believe in.

"I'll take you," he said, when he finally pulled away.

"What?"

"To the airport," he said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I'll take you. Just let me grab a shower and we can go."

Bella stared at him, her heart swelling with a love so overwhelming it almost hurt. There was no hesitation. No questions about why she was going, or how long she'd be gone, or what it meant for them. There was just a simple, unwavering offer of support. It was an action. A real, tangible, meaningful action.

"Okay," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I'd like that."

"Good," he said, a slow, satisfied smile spreading across his face. He leaned in and kissed her again, this one quick and full of promise. "Now, about those five minutes..."

Bella laughed, pulling him down for another kiss, the last of her fears melting away in the warmth of his embrace. The hard part, she was beginning to realize, might not be so hard after all. Not with him. Not anymore.

taglist- @destinyg237 @heeseungthel0ml @slutformatt17 @hockeyismylife5 @smittys2 @overmtter

**a/n- guysss🥹 theyre SO cute. did you like my lil reference to one of their first kisses in the rain after the party when they first confessed their love??👀 will smith sex god fr fr i guessss 🤪 i am so proud of themmmmm. will has such a soft spot for her I'm gonna throw upp i love them so so bad 🫠 i promised forest fire hopefully i'm delivering 🤭 can't wait to hear what you thinkkkkk<3

[puckbunny2]

Invisible String: the inevitable pull

♡︎ the string pulled Bella and Will three thousand miles...some connections refuse to break. some people find their way back to each other no matter the distance, the timing, or the damage left behind. for some strings- they were never meant to snap in the first place. new city, old feelings, and the pull neither of them can ignore.

SERIES MASTERLIST

Chapter 22♡︎ (w.c. 2.4k)

The restaurant was buzzing, a lively Italian place tucked away in a strip mall that Mack swore had the best garlic bread on the west coast. The four of them were tucked into a corner booth, the air thick with the scent of marinara and the giddy, nervous energy that crackled between them.

Mack hadn't let go of Kenzie's hand since they'd sat down. His thumb traced circles over her knuckles, a constant, reassuring touch that seemed to ground him as much as it did her. He was still vibrating with a cocktail of terror and elation, his eyes darting between her face and her stomach as if he could see the future forming there.

"Okay," Kenzie said, her voice bright but trembling slightly as she reached into her large tote bag. "So, I figured since you're both officially being promoted... you needed the proper accessories."

She pulled out a small, flat gift bag and slid it across the table toward Will. He looked at it, then at Bella, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

"What's this?" he asked.

"Just open it," Kenzie prompted, her smile widening.

Will reached into the bag and pulled out a folded piece of fabric. He shook it out, and a baby-sized San Jose Sharks jersey unfolded in his hands. He stared at it, and then his eyes caught the name and number stitched across the back.

Uncle Willy 

      #2

A slow, genuine smile spread across Will's face, a smile that reached his eyes and crinkled the corners. He looked from the jersey to Bella, his expression soft and full of an emotion so raw and open it made her breath catch.

"Uncle Willy," he repeated, his voice thick. "I, uh... I like the sound of that."

"I knew you would," Kenzie said, her eyes shining.

"Now you," Bella said, nudging Kenzie's arm. "My turn."

Kenzie laughed, pulling out another small bag. This one she handed to Bella. Bella's hands shook slightly as she unfolded the shirt inside. She saw the onesie and her heart clenched.

Aunt Bella's Bestie

"Oh, Kenz," she whispered, her vision blurring with tears. She looked up and met Kenzie's gaze, a silent, overwhelming wave of love passing between them. They were really doing this. They were going to be a family.

Mack cleared his throat, his own eyes suspiciously bright. "Hey, what about me? I'm the dad. Where's my jersey?"

Kenzie giggled, reaching into her bag one last time. She pulled out another jersey and handed it to him. He unfolded it, his breath catching in his throat as he read the words.

Daddy 

 #71

"Wow," he breathed, his voice cracking. He ran his thumb over the stitched letters, his eyes fixed on the word as if it was the most important thing he'd ever read. "Just... fuck wow."

Under the table, hidden by the long tablecloth, Bella felt a warm hand slide over hers. Wills fingers laced through hers, a simple, grounding touch that said more than words ever could. She squeezed his hand, a silent acknowledgment of the new, fragile, beautiful thing they were building in the wreckage of their past.

"To family," Mack said, raising his glass of water, his eyes locked on Kenzie's. "The messy, complicated, hockey-obsessed kind."

"To family," they all echoed, their glasses clinking together in the middle of the table.

As they ate, the conversation flowed easier, the initial shock giving way to excited, nervous planning. They talked about names and due dates and whether the baby would end up a Sharks fan or, god forbid, a Toronto Maple Leafs fan.

Kenzie was picking at her breadstick, nauseous but trying to hide it, while Bella kept sneaking glances at Will like she still couldn't believe he was actually there, actually hers, his hand resting on her thigh under the table.

Mack cleared his throat, setting down his beer—untouched, Bella noticed. He'd been doing that all night, reaching for drinks and then remembering.

"I want to tell my parents," he said.

Kenzie's breadstick snapped. "Already?"

"Yeah." Mack leaned forward, elbows on the table, that earnest excitement that had drawn her to him in the first place lighting up his face. "I know it's early. I know we're still figuring things out. But they're my parents, Kenz. I want them to know."

Will shifted beside Bella, sensing the tension. "Your dad?"

Mack's expression flickered—just for a second. "He's strict. You know how he is. Always wanted me to focus on the game, no distractions, no complications." He laughed, but it was tight. "This is definitely a complication."

"But your mom?," Kenzie said softly.

Mack's face transformed, all the tension melting into something warm. "My mom's going to lose her mind. In the best way. She's been waiting for grandkids since I got drafted." He reached across the table, took Kenzie's hand. "She's going to love you, Kenz. She's going to be so excited."

Kenzie's eyes went shiny. "And if your dad isn't?"

Mack squeezed her fingers. "Then he'll come around. Or he won't. But I'm not hiding this. I'm not ashamed." He looked at her stomach, still flat, still secret to the rest of the world. "I want to shout it from the roof. I want everyone to know."

Bella felt Will's hand tighten on her thigh, and she knew he was thinking about his own parents, his own silence, the year he'd lost. She laced her fingers through his under the table, anchoring him.

"Tell them," Bella said quietly. "Both of you. This is a good thing. Tell everyone who matters."

Mack grinned, that wide, infectious smile that had probably sold a thousand jerseys. "Really?"

"Yeah," Kenzie echoed, finally smiling back. "Let's tell them."

"Yeah?" Mack asked, his expression earnest. "I mean, they're only an hour away. We could drive up tomorrow. Surprise them."

Kenzie looked from Mack to Bella, a flicker of panic in her eyes. "What if they think we're too young?"

"They're going to be shocked, confused maybe but like then ecstatic," Mack said, taking her hand. "But if you're not ready, we can wait. Whatever you want."

Bella could see the wheels turning in Kenzie's head, the fear warring with the desire to make this real. "No," Kenzie said finally, her voice firm. "You're right. We should tell them. Let's do it. Let's call them right now."

"Really?" Mack's face lit up. "Yeah? Okay. Yeah, let's do it." He was already dialing, grinning that reckless, certain grin.

"Mama? Hey. Yeah, we're at Antonio's. Can you and Dad come? There's something I need to tell you." He paused, listening. "No, nothing's wrong. Just... please. Come. Both of you."

He hung up and looked at Kenzie, practically vibrating with nervous energy. "Thirty minutes. They'll be here in thirty minutes."

The wait was agonizing. They ordered dessert they didn't eat, and made small talk that went nowhere. Mack's leg was bouncing under the table so hard the water glasses rattled. Will kept his hand on Bella's knee, grounding her, and grounding himself.

Then the door opened.

Mack's mom entered first wearing a coat over pajama pants, already scanning the room with worried eyes. His dad followed, tall and stern in a Warriors windbreaker, expression carefully neutral.

"Macklin," his dad said, approaching the table. "This better be important. Your mother was in the middle of—"

He stopped. His eyes landed on Kenzie, then dropped to Mack's hand covering hers on the table, protective and possessive. Something shifted in his face. Recognition, maybe. Or dread.

"Sit," Mack said, standing to pull out chairs. "Please." They sat. The waiter hovered, sensed the tension, and retreated.

"What's going on?" his mom asked, reaching for Mack's hand. "You're scaring me."

Mack looked at Kenzie. She nodded, barely perceptible, her fingers finding his. "We're having a baby," Mack said. The words came out loud, clear, terrifying. "Kenzie is pregnant. Six weeks. And I know it's fast, and I know we're young, but—" His mom gasped, both hands flying to her mouth. "Oh my God."

"—and we're keeping it," Mack finished, rushing now. "And I'm going to be there. For all of it. For Kenzie. For the baby. I love her, Mom. I love them both."

The table went silent. Mack's dad stared at his son, jaw tight, eyes unreadable. "Macklin," his dad said slowly. "You sure about this?"

"Yes, sir."

"Both of you?"

Kenzie found her voice, small but steady. "Yes, sir. We're sure."

Mack's mom was crying now, happy tears, already reaching across the table to grab Kenzie's hand. "Oh, honey. Oh, my sweet girl. I'm going to be a grandmother?"

"Yeah, Mom," Mack laughed, wet and relieved. "You are."

His dad didn't speak. He sat there, rigid, processing, while his wife dissolved into joyful questions about due dates and doctors and nursery colors. Then, slowly, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his wallet. He slid a credit card across the table to Mack.

"For the medical bills," he said gruffly. "And whatever else you need."

Mack stared at it. "Dada—"

"Your mother kept your crib," his dad interrupted, not looking at him. "In the garage. Said we'd need it someday." He finally met Mack's eyes, something soft and complicated there. "Didn't think someday meant now. But... we'll figure it out. Together."

Mack's throat worked. "Thank you." His dad nodded once, sharp, then turned to Kenzie with an expression that was almost a smile. "Welcome to the family, kid. Sorry it's such a mess."

Kenzie laughed, crying now too. "It's a good mess."

The waiter returned, hesitantly, and Mack's mom ordered champagne for everyone—sparkling cider for Kenzie, who cringed at the smell of alcohol now—and they sat there, six people crowded around a table meant for four, celebrating a future none of them had planned but all of them suddenly wanted.

"Well," Will said, a slow, easy smile spreading across his face. "Aunt Bella."

Bella laughed, rolling her eyes. "Don't you dare."

"Uncle Willy," he countered, his grin widening. "I think it has a nice ring to it."

"It's better than 'the guy who broke my heart and is now the uncle to my best friend's baby'," she said, her tone teasing.

"Hey," he said, his smile fading slightly. "I'm working on that part."

"I know you are," she said softly. "And I'm working on my part, too."

He squeezed her hand, his eyes searching hers. "So, what do you want to do?"

Bella looked at their joined hands, at the way his fingers fit so perfectly between hers. "I don't know," she said honestly. "But for the first time in a long time, I'm really excited to find out." - The six of them stood in the parking lot, awkward and emotional, the air sharp against flushed cheeks. Mack's mom had cried three more times, hugged Kenzie twice, and made them promise to come for Thanksgiving.

His dad hung back, hands in his pockets, watching his son with an expression Bella couldn't read.

"Macklin," he said gruffly. "Walk me to the car."

Mack stiffened, but went. They stood by his father's sedan, two tall men with the same jaw, the same stubbornness, speaking too low for the rest of them to hear.

"You've got responsibilities now," his dad said, not unkindly. "Real ones. Not just hockey. Not just yourself."

"I know, Dad."

"Your contract's up next year. You think about that? Think about what happens if you don't get renewed? If you get injured?"

Mack's jaw tightened. "I'll figure it out."

"Yeah." His dad clapped him on the shoulder, hard enough to bruise. "You will. Because you have to." He paused, then pulled Mack into a hug—brief, fierce, smelling like aftershave and sweat. "Proud of you, kid. For stepping up. Don't make me regret saying that."

Mack's eyes were wet when he returned to the group. "Ready?" he asked Kenzie, voice thick. She nodded, took his hand, and they climbed into his truck, waving as they pulled away.

Will and Bella stood alone in the parking lot, his jacket draped over her shoulders, both of them watching the taillights disappear.

"That was intense," Bella said quietly.

"Yeah." Will turned to her, searching her face in the streetlight. "You okay?"

She thought about Mack's dad, about the weight of expectations, about the way Will had held her hand through dinner like he was afraid she'd disappear. "I'm okay," she said. "Are you?"

She shivered, and he turned further into her, his gaze dropping to the thin silver chain around her neck—the one he'd given her two years ago, the one she'd never taken off, not even when she hated him.

He reached out, his fingers brushing the pendant, cool against her skin.

"I can't believe you still wear this," he said softly.

Bella touched it herself, her hand covering his. "I never stopped."

Will's throat bobbed. He leaned in, his lips grazing her cheekbone, warm and tender. When he pulled back, his eyes were serious, searching.

"Can I take you somewhere?" he asked, his voice low.

Bella looked at him, surprised. "Now?"

"Now." He laced his fingers through hers.

"Okay," she whispered.

He smiled, that slow, uncertain smile that had always undone her. "Okay."

They walked to his car, and Bella didn't ask where they were going. She just held his hand and watched the city blur past the windows, the necklace warm against her skin, his thumb tracing circles on her palm, both of them finally moving toward something instead of running away.

For the first time in a year, she wasn't afraid of where he might take her.

taglist- @destinyg237 @heeseungthel0ml @slutformatt17 @hockeyismylife5 @smittys2 @overmtter

**a/n: going back and editing I realize some parts of the timeline might not exactly make sense or match but honestly we're just gonna go with it. so please bear with me 😂 EEEEEK!!! s/o Macks momma for being THE sweetest and most supportive parent. I really think real life Rick would be PISSED and lowkey not supportive but I refuse to add angst to Mack²....in this book of course...😏 BELLA AND WILL I'M SO PROUD OF YOUUUUU UGHH THEY'RE SOOO CUTE!! Next chapter is all Will and Bella baby so get ready to be absolutely FED!! thank you for sticking out my slow burn<3

posting another chapter today @ 6pm<3

[puckbunny2]

Invisible String: the inevitable pull

♡︎ the string pulled Bella and Will three thousand miles...some connections refuse to break. some people find their way back to each other no matter the distance, the timing, or the damage left behind. for some strings- they were never meant to snap in the first place. new city, old feelings, and the pull neither of them can ignore.

SERIES MASTERLIST

Chapter 21♡︎ (w.c. 2.2k)

Mack's key scraped in the lock at 11 PM, and Kenzie felt her heart relocate to her throat. She'd spent the last six hours rearranging the living room furniture, then putting it back. Changing her outfit four times. Practicing the words in the mirror until they lost all meaning.

She settled on sweatpants and his old BU hoodie—the one that smelled like him—because she needed armor that felt like his arms around her.

The door swung open. Mack filled the frame, duffel bag slung over his shoulder, road-weary and beautiful, grinning like an idiot because he didn't know yet. Because he thought he was coming home to a normal Tuesday.

"Kenzie," he breathed, dropping the bag. "I missed you so—"

He stopped. Really looked at her. Saw the way she was gripping the back of the couch, white-knuckled, saw her eyes red-rimmed and terrified.

"What happened?" He was across the room in three strides, hands on her face, searching  "Mack, I need to tell you something." His face shifted—concern tightening his jaw, his hands stilling on her hips. "Okay. You're freaking me out, Kenz." "I'm not freaking out." She laughed, wet and hysterical. "Okay, I am. I really am." "Did I do something? Is this about—"

"It's not you." She stepped back, needing space to breathe, and his hands fell away. "It's us. It's... God, I don't know how to say this." Mack went very still. "Just say it."

Kenzie reached into the hoodie pocket and pulled out the ultrasound photo she'd gotten that morning—she hadn't even told Bella about the appointment. She held it out with a trembling hand, unable to meet his eyes.

"I'm pregnant."

The words fell out of her, unplanned, ugly, and blunt as a hammer. She hadn't meant to say it like that. She'd written a speech. She'd planned to sit him down, to be calm, to give him room to process.

Mack's hands froze on her jaw. His mouth opened. Closed. He blinked, slow, like the words hadn't quite translated.

"What?"

"I'm pregnant," she said again, and now her voice was breaking, now she was crying, now she was ruining everything with snot and trembling. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I know we've only been together for a few months and you're on the road and your career is just starting and I didn't mean for this to happen, I was on the pill, I swear I was, but I missed a day when we went on our trip and I didn't think—"

"Kenzie."

"—and I know this isn't what you signed up for, and if you want to walk away I understand, I do, I won't make this your problem, but I'm keeping it, I have to keep it, and I just need you to know before you decide anything that I love you, I love you so much, and I'm so scared—"

"Kenzie." He said it louder, firmer, and his thumbs were wiping her tears, and she realized she'd had her eyes squeezed shut, that she hadn't looked at him yet, that she was terrified of what she'd see.

She opened her eyes.

Mack was crying too.

Not sobbing or anything but his eyes were wet, shining in the light, and his jaw was working like he was trying to keep himself together.

"You're pregnant," he repeated, and his voice sounded wrecked, holy, like a prayer.

"I'm sorry," she whispered again.

"Don't." He pulled her into his arms, crushing her against his chest, his face buried in her hair. "Don't apologize. Don't you dare apologize for this."

Kenzie sobbed into his shirt, inhaling him—sweat and travel and the cedar soap he used—and waited for the other shoe to drop. For the panic. For the we need to talk.

Instead, Mack pulled back just enough to cup her face in both hands, to look at her with an expression she'd never seen before. Wonder. Terror. Love, magnified.

"I'm gonna be a dad," he said, and it sounded like he was testing the words, feeling their weight.

"If you want to be," Kenzie said, small.

Mack laughed, wet and broken. "If I want to be? Kenzie, I've been in love with you since college. I spent a year watching you on campus and then through instagram and pretending it was nothing. I finally get you, and now you're telling me we made a person together?" He pressed his forehead to hers, breathing hard. "I'm terrified. I'm so fucking terrified. But I want this. I want you. I want whatever comes next."

Kenzie's knees gave out. Mack caught her, lowering them both to the floor, holding her in his lap like she weighed nothing.

"You're sure?" she whispered.

"I've never been more sure of anything," he said, and kissed her—slowly, softly and, grounding. "We're gonna figure this out. Together. I promise." He placed his hand over her stomach, still flat, still secret, and his voice dropped to a whisper. "Hey. I'm your dad. And I know I'm really late to the party, but I'm here now."

Kenzie cried harder with that, relief and terror and love so big it hurt, and Mack held her through all of it, his hand spread wide across her stomach, whispering promises to them both. -

Bella's hand was sweating against Will's, but she didn't let go.

She pushed open the apartment door and there they were—Kenzie curled into Mack on the couch, his hand resting possessively on her stomach like he'd been doing it for years instead of hours. The TV was on, some hockey highlight reel playing to fill the silence, but all four of them froze at the sight of each other.

Mack's eyebrows shot up. Kenzie's mouth dropped open.

Will hovered in the doorway behind her, close enough that she could feel his breath on her neck, waiting for her to choose. She thought of the dream, of the rain that never fell, of waking up alone. Then she reached back, found his hand, and laced their fingers together tight.

"Hey guys," she said, casual like her heart wasn't hammering against her ribs.

"Oh my god," Kenzie breathed.

She was off the couch in a flash, abandoning Mack mid-sentence, her eyes bouncing between their joined hands and Will's face and Bella's neck—where, shit, the hickies were probably still slightly visible. Kenzie's expression cycled through shock, recognition, and pure, unfiltered delight.

"You—" She pointed at Bella, then at Will, then back at Bella. "And you—" She made a vague gesture at their hands. "And he—" Another gesture at Will's hopeful, terrified face. "And you—"

"Kenzie," Bella warned.

But Kenzie was already grabbing her wrist, her other hand reaching for Bella's ear like she was going to drag her by it. "Bathroom. Now. Girl talk."

"Kenzie, I literally just got—"

"Now."

Kenzie didn't wait. She yanked, hard, and Bella stumbled after her, shooting Will an apologetic look over her shoulder. He stood there, still holding his keys, looking lost and hopeful and painfully handsome, while Mack slowly stood from the couch and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Good luck, man," Mack said, grinning. "They're gonna be a while."

Kenzie kicked the bedroom door shut behind them and immediately whirled on Bella, hands on her hips, eyes blazing with gossip and glee.

"Okay," she hissed. "Start talking. Everything." -

He was alone. In the living room. With the sonogram. And the realization that his life had just been completely, irrevocably upended.

He sank onto the couch, his head in his hands. A baby. He was going to be responsible for a tiny human. A human that would depend on him for everything. He could barely remember to feed a fish.

The sound of the fridge opening pulled him from his spiral. Will was standing in the kitchen, pulling out two bottles of water. He didn't say anything, just walked over and handed one to Mack before sinking into the armchair across from him.

"So," Will said, his voice carefully neutral. "That was... a thing."

Mack let out a shaky laugh, twisting the cap off the bottle. "A thing? Will, I think my heart just exploded and then stopped and then exploded again. I'm having a baby."

"I know," Will said softly. "I heard."

Mack stared at Will, really looked at him, and for the first time, he noticed something. There was no shock on Will's face. No surprise. Just a quiet, steady calm that was completely at odds with the chaos raging in Mack's own head.

"Wait a minute," Mack said, his eyes narrowing. "You're not surprised."

Will took a slow sip of his water, his gaze unwavering. "No."

"You knew," Mack stated, his voice flat with disbelief. "You knew about this."

Will hesitated for a fraction of a second before giving a slight, almost imperceptible nod. "I had an idea."

"An idea?" Mack shot to his feet, pacing the length of the coffee table. "What do you mean, 'an idea'? Did you know? Did you know for sure?"

Will sighed, setting his water bottle on the floor. "Bella told me."

Mack stopped pacing, his entire body freezing. "Bella told you? Before I knew? Why? Why would she tell you and not me?"

"Because she was scared, Mack," Will said, his voice gentle but firm. "She wasn't telling me for you. She was telling me for Kenzie. She needed to know if you were the kind of guy who would run. She needed to know if you'd be there for her."

"Of course I'd be there for her!" Mack exclaimed, his voice rising with a mix of indignation and panic. "How could she even think—"

"Because she's seen how this story ends before," Will cut in, his voice quiet. "She's seen a guy get scared and listen to the wrong people and throw away the best thing that ever happened to him. She wasn't taking any chances with Kenzie."

The weight of Will's words settled over him, and Mack's anger deflated, replaced by a wave of understanding and a fresh wave of fear. "Oh."

"Yeah, 'oh'," Will said. "So, now you know. And now I know you know. And we can all stop pretending like this isn't the most terrifying, wonderful thing that's ever happened to us."

Mack sank back onto the couch, his head in his hands again. "I'm scared shitless, man," he admitted, his voice muffled. "Like, genuinely, what-am-I-going-to-do, I-can't-even-keep-a-plant-alive scared."

Will leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. "I know. But you're also excited. I can see it on your face. You've been grinning like an idiot since we got here."

Mack looked up, a helpless, watery smile spreading across his face. "I am. I'm so excited I feel like I'm going to puke. Is that normal? Is it normal to want to cry and build a nursery and run for the border all at the same time?"

"Completely normal," Will assured him, a genuine smile finally breaking through his calm facade. "Look at me, Mack. You're going to be a great dad. You're the most loyal, protective, stubborn idiot I know. You're going to love this baby more than you love hockey. And that's saying something."

Mack shook his head, a laugh escaping his lips. "I don't even know where to start. What do I do? Do I buy a book? Do I build a crib? Do I... what do I do?"

"First, you go to dinner with your girlfriend and celebrate the fact that you're going to have a family," Will said, his voice firm. "Then, next week, you and I are going to Target, and we're going to stand in the middle of the aisle and have a panic attack together like all new dads do."

Mack looked at his best friend, at the man who had carried his secret and was now carrying him through his fear, and felt a wave of gratitude so profound it almost knocked him over. "Thanks, Smitty," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "For... you know. For not being surprised."

"Always," Will said simply. "Now, pull yourself together. Your girl's going to be out in a minute, and she needs to see a dad, not a mess."

Mack nodded, taking a deep breath and straightening his shoulders. He could do this. He could be scared and excited and a dad. He could do this because he had Kenzie, and he had Will. And as he heard the girls' laughter down the hall, he knew, with a certainty that settled deep in his bones, that he was the luckiest guy in the world.

Even if he was still pretty sure he was going to puke.

taglist- @destinyg237 @heeseungthel0ml @slutformatt17 @hockeyismylife5 @smittys2 @overmtter

**a/n:  I LOVE MACK² ahhhhhhh!! soooo what do we think?? Mack is literally THE sweetest man ever and 3 apples tall fr I am SO excited for them🥹🥹 Shoutout Will and Bella for actually being the BEST friends imaginable! we love character growth!! I hope this was everything you guys wanted from Mack and more🥺 I love you guys bunches and I can't wait for the comments. thank you sm for the support ◡̈ 

[puckbunny2]

Invisible String: the inevitable pull

♡︎ the string pulled Bella and Will three thousand miles...some connections refuse to break. some people find their way back to each other no matter the distance, the timing, or the damage left behind. for some strings- they were never meant to snap in the first place. new city, old feelings, and the pull neither of them can ignore.

SERIES MASTERLIST

Chapter 20♡︎ (w.c. 2.5k)

Bella's palms were damp, and her heart was a frantic drum against her ribs. She knocked softly, the sound swallowed by the manicured greenery.

The door swung open, and there he was. Will, fresh from a shower, his hair still damp, wearing a simple t-shirt and sweatpants. He looked good really fucking good, the sharp lines of his jaw more defined, the exhaustion of the NHL season etched around his eyes. But when he saw her, his expression softened into something so familiar it hurt.

"Bella," he breathed, his voice rough. "You came."

"You asked me to," she said, her voice tighter than she intended. "Can I come in?"

He stepped aside, his movements hesitant. "Yeah. Sorry. Of course."

The air inside was thick with unspoken things. He gestured toward the couch, but she remained standing, her arms crossed defensively. She needed the upper hand, even if it was just physical space.

"How was the roadie?" she asked, the question coming out clipped and formal.

"Long," he said, shoving his hands in his pockets. "We won three out of five. Mack was on fire. He's... he's really happy, Bella. Like, genuinely happy. He hasn't stopped talking about Kenzie since we left."

Bella's stomach clenched. This was it. The opening she needed. "He seems serious about her."

Will frowned, confused by the sharp edge in her tone. "Yeah, he is. He's completely gone for her. Why?"

"I just need to know, Will," she said, her voice rising slightly. "How serious is he? Is he in it for the long haul? Is he the kind of guy who would... who would stick around? For everything?"

Will's confusion deepened, his brow furrowing. "What are you talking about? Of course he is. He's not me, Bella. He's not an idiot who throws away the best thing that ever happened to him because he listened to the wrong person. Mack is solid. He's a good guy. He'd do anything for Kenzie."

"Anything?" Bella pressed, taking a step closer. "You really think so? You really think he's ready for what comes next? For the... the commitment?"

"Commitment?" Will's voice was laced with disbelief now. "What is this? Why are you grilling me about Mack?"

His eyes narrowed, a terrible, incorrect understanding dawning on his face. "Wait a minute. Is this about you? Do you... do you have feelings for him? Is that why you're so worked up?"

The question was so absurd, so utterly wrong, that it knocked the wind out of her. All the carefully constructed arguments she'd prepared about Kenzie, about the baby, about their fractured family evaporated, replaced by a white-hot surge of frustration.

"Feelings for Mack?" she repeated, her voice dangerously low. "Are you serious? You think I'm here because I want your best friend?"

He flinched at her tone, but held his ground. "I don't know what to think! You show up out of the blue after months of ignoring me, and days after we fucked where i confessed my love for you and the first thing you do is interrogate me about him! What else am I supposed to think?"

"You're supposed to think!" she shot back, her voice cracking with emotion. "You're supposed to use that brain I know you have and realize that not everything in the world is about you and your hockey buddies and your pathetic romantic drama!"

"Pathetic?" he bristled, his own temper flaring. "You're the one who showed up here to—"

He didn't get to finish. She couldn't listen to another second of him being so completely, infuriatingly wrong. She didn't have the words to explain the complex, terrifying reality of Kenzie's situation.

So she did the only thing she could think of to shut him up.

She closed the distance between them in two quick strides, grabbed the front of his t-shirt, and crashed her lips against his.

The kiss was brutal and desperate, a clash of lips and days of pent-up frustration and longing. It wasn't soft or sweet; it was a punishment and a plea all at once. For a split second, he was frozen beneath her, his body rigid with shock. But then his hands were in her hair, fisting the strands, pulling her closer as he kissed her back with a hunger that mirrored her own. It was a collision, a messy, imperfect, desperate attempt to bridge the chasm that had opened between them.

When she finally pulled away, they were both breathing hard, their foreheads pressed together. The air crackled with the electricity of it.

"Does that feel like I have feelings for Mack?" she panted, her voice raw.

Will stared at her, his eyes dark and dazed, his lips swollen from her kiss. He slowly shook his head, his thumb coming up to trace the line of her jaw.

"No," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "It doesn't."

Bella stepped back, her heart hammering against her ribs. She had crossed a line. She had ignited a fire she wasn't sure she could control. But as she looked at him, at the man who had broken her heart and was now staring at her with a look of raw, undisguised want, she knew one thing for sure: she had his complete and undivided attention.

"Kenzie is pregnant."

The words hung in the air, heavy and absolute. Will's face went blank, his expression unreadable for a full three seconds. Then, his eyes widened in dawning comprehension, and his gaze snapped to hers.

"Wait," he breathed, the pieces clicking into place with horrifying speed. "All your questions... about Mack... about him being serious... You don't mean..."

Bella nodded, a single, tearful motion. "It's Mack's. He's the dad."

Will stumbled back a step, sinking onto the arm of the couch as if his legs had given out. He ran a hand through his hair, his knuckles white. "No. No, there's no way. They've only been... like 2 months. That's impossible."

"Apparently not," Bella said softly, her own voice cracking. "She's terrified. She hasn't told him. She's been ignoring his calls because she doesn't know how to drop this on him in the middle of a road trip."

"Oh my god," Will whispered, staring at the floor.

"She's terrified, Will. She's been ignoring him because she doesn't know how to tell him. She's scared he's going to think she trapped him, that this is going to ruin his career, that he's going to hate her for it."

"No," Will said immediately, shaking his head. "No, he wouldn't... he wouldn't do that. He loves her."

"I know you think that," Bella said, her voice gentle. "But we both know how quickly things can change. How easily outside influences can poison a good thing."

The unspoken reference to his own mistake hung between them, and Will's shoulders slumped. "This is my fault, isn't it? If I hadn't... if things with us hadn't gotten so messed up, she would've felt like she could talk to me. To us."

"This isn't about you, Will," Bella said, though she knew it was, in so many ways. "This is about Kenzie and Mack and the fact that their lives are about to change forever. And I needed to know if he was going to be there for her, for them, when it all came crashing down." "He will be," Will said, his voice firm with conviction. "I swear to you, he will be. He's been talking about wanting a family with her for years, just... not this soon. But he'll step up. He's not me."

Bella's heart ached at the raw honesty in his voice. "I know," she whispered. "That's why I had to tell you. Because you're his best friend. And you're going to be this baby's uncle."

The weight of her words settled over him, and he looked at her with a newfound understanding. "Oh," he breathed. "Oh. That's... that's what this is about."

"This is about Kenzie," Bella corrected him gently. "And about the fact that she needs her best friend, and her best friend needs to be able to look at her baby's uncle without wanting to punch him in the face."

A small, sad smile touched Will's lips. "Fair enough," he said softly. "So what's the plan?"

"Kenzie wants to tell him when he gets back," Bella explained. "Face to face. But she's scared, Will. She's hormonal and emotional and she needs to know that he's not going to be alone in this."

"He won't be," Will said immediately. "I'll be there for him. Whatever he needs, I've got him."

"You can't tell him," Bella said, her voice firm. "She needs to be the one to tell him. It has to come from her."

"I won't say a word," Will promised, his expression serious. "But when he finds out, he's going to be a mess. He's going to need someone to talk to, someone to help him figure out how to be a dad."

"He'll have you" Bella said, her voice softening. "And he'll have Kenzie. And he'll have me."

Will looked at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and awe. "You're really something else, you know that?"

"I'm just trying to do the right thing," Bella said, though her heart fluttered at his praise. "She's scared, Will. And hormonal. And she's right," Bella said, her voice gaining strength. "We can't keep doing this. We can't keep being this... this broken thing in the middle of our friends' lives. They're starting a family. They're going to need us. Both of us. And we can't be there for them if we can't even be in the same room without it being a battlefield."

He looked up at her, his eyes glistening. "So what do we do?"

"We fix it," she said, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. "We have to. For them."

"No more secrets between us," she said, her voice unwavering. "About anything. If we're going to do this, if we're going to be there for them, we have to be honest with each other. No more letting things fester."

He nodded, his expression serious. "No more secrets."

She turned to leave, her mission accomplished. But his voice stopped her at the door.

"Bella?"

She looked back. He was standing in the middle of the room, looking smaller than she'd ever seen him.

"Thank you," he said quietly. "For coming to me. For trusting me with this."

"I didn't do it for you, Will," she said, her voice soft but firm. "I did it for her. For them."

She walked out the door, leaving him alone in the guest house with the weight of his best friend's future on his shoulders. And as she stepped back into the California sun, she knew that things between them were far from fixed. But for the first time in a long time, they were on the same team. And that, she thought, was a start. - The door clicked shut, and the sound echoed in the sudden, suffocating silence of the guest house. Will stood frozen in the middle of the room, the air still crackling with the ghost of her kiss and the bombshell she'd left behind. He slowly sank onto the couch, the cushions dipping under his weight as his legs finally gave out. His head fell into his hands, his fingers tangling in his still-damp hair. Mack a dad.

The words ricocheted around his skull, each one landing like a body blow. He thought of his best friend, his brother in every way but blood, who had spent the last two months of their road trip grinning like a fool at his phone, talking about a future with a girl he'd known for only a handful of months. And now that future was here, barreling toward them at a hundred miles an hour. A sharp, acidic burn of guilt churned in his gut. His words echoed in his mind: He's not me, Bella. He's not an idiot who throws away the best thing that ever happened to him because he listened to the wrong person. Fuck. He really had been that idiot. He let the noise, the pressure, the whispers from people who didn't matter poison the one good thing in his life, and now the fallout was contaminating everyone around him. Kenzie had been too scared to talk to him, to trust him, because he'd proven himself to be a liability when it came to love and loyalty. He squeezed his eyes shut, but he couldn't block out the memory of Bella standing in his living room, her eyes blazing with a desperate, protective fire. The kiss... god, the kiss. It wasn't a reconciliation. It was a weapon. She had used his own desire against him, a calculated move to shut him up and make him listen. And it had worked. It had stripped him bare, reminding him of everything he'd lost and everything he still, pathetically, wanted. The taste of her was still on his lips, a mix of birthday cake lip balm and the raw, salty tang of her tears. He stood up and paced the length of the small living room, his bare feet silent on the cool hardwood. His first instinct was to call Mack to warn him. But Bella's voice was a firm anchor in his mind. You can't tell him. She needs to be the one to tell him. He had to respect that. He owed it to Kenzie, and he owed it to Bella, who had just handed him a fragile secret.This was his chance to not be the guy who screwed everything up. This was his chance to be the friend Mack needed and deserved. Will walked over to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, twisting the cap and taking a long, cool swallow. He thought about Mack's face when he found out. There would be shock, definitely. Maybe a little panic. But underneath it all, there would be a fierce, protective joy. He knew Mack. Mack had always been the steady one, the one who dreamed of a wife and kids and a backyard with a home hockey rink. He was built for this. He would step up. He wouldn't run. And Will, would be right there beside him. He'd be the best damn uncle. The thought settled over him, heavy and strangely comforting. He would be the godfather, the one to help teach their kid how to skate before he could walk, the one who would spoil him rotten and then hand him back to his parents. As much as Bella tried to frame this as being about Kenzie, he knew it was about them, too. This was her extending an olive branch, a way for them to finally stop being a casualty of their own history and start being the supporting friends Kenzie and Mack deserved. No more secrets between us. About anything. 

She was right. They had to fix it. He didn't know how, but he knew he wanted to. He wanted to be a man she could trust again, a man she could rely on. Not just as the uncle to her best friend's child, but as something more.He pulled out his phone, his thumb hovering over Mack's name before he forced himself to put it away. He couldn't break his promise. Instead, he opened a new message and typed out the only words he could think of, sending them to the one person who had just torn his world apart and was somehow putting it back together again. Bella.

-I'll be ready. For him. And for us.

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**a/n: hiiii long chapterrr!! im lowkey so sad as I'm writing the final chapters of this book rn 🥲 I have so many ideas and ofc I'm going to explore Mack² and maybe a little of Gabe and Matt 😏 - but i'm gonna miss Will and Bella ngl!! I can't wait for you guys to see what's coming. thank you sm again for everything ♥︎