Summary: a series of events which has you and Quinn balancing growing careers and keeping secrets - in the aftermath of the new addition, you and Quinn face the anxiety that come with an unplanned pregnancy.
Notes: Please bear with me, the first few weeks of pregnancy are nothing but sleeping, nausea, and raging hormones.
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Previous Chapter
“I don’t understand why my cost went up.” The irritated man reworded his sentence for the third time. “I’ve been going to this pharmacy for years.”
“I understand your loyalty to us, and we really do appreciate it, but unfortunately there was recently a rise in price for your particular medication.” You tried to explain calmly, the balance of your career hanging by a thread with your rapidly shrinking fuse. “I understand your frustrations..”
“No, you don’t understand. None of you morons ever understand what it’s like. You all just want to steal money from people who are vulnerable.”
“Sir, please..” you pleaded, desperately keeping yourself composed. If he raised his voice anymore, you were liable to break down right there behind the counter, or maybe even snap back. “I’m just a technician. I have no control over this.”
The lead pharmacist walked up to the counter, taking over the situation just in time. In the end the customer paid for his medication anyways, making you roll your eyes as soon as he turned around. “How about you take a breather?” He told you, noticing how tense you were. “You alright?”
You nodded before looking down, knowing damn well you were anything but. It wasn’t the job causing you distress, but only you and one other person knew about it, and he was currently on a plane to Dallas. It’d been a few days since you’d taken the test, and even another two the next day just to make sure. Three plus signs, three chances for the universe to let up on the practical joke. But no, you were knocked up with a professional athlete’s baby. Lucky you.
When you’d first moved to Vancouver, you had nothing to your name but a beat-up car and a brand new lease in a rundown apartment complex. You worked two jobs to keep it together, grocery store stocking in the mornings and working the bar at a restaurant downtown. You worked your way up to the pharmacy in the store as an assistant before promoting to pharmacy tech. Now that you’d been at this particular job for a while, you no longer needed side gigs to keep you going. Life was becoming liveable, until Quinn appeared.
The details were rather fuzzy with how you met, but you’d known who he was. How could you not? He was a local hero, getting ready to return to the ice after a great season. Decent playoff run, recent winner of the Norris, and had just been put on the latest cover of EA Sports NHL with his brothers.
At first you were just friends, with a little harmless flirting. But one night, after an embarrassingly bad date, you’d reached out to him in a different sense, expecting to get laughed off. But he’d surprisingly asked for your address, and the two of you spent the next few months using each other as vices. You had shitty customers and betraying friends, he had locker room drama and injuries he was desperate to ignore. Before long, it became second nature to leave your front door open after bad games.
After a few minutes of recollecting yourself after what felt like the 14th wave of hormones, you returned to your station. You’d spent the rest of the day mindlessly fulfilling your duties, only stopping for a lunch made entirely of apples and peanut butter, the only thing you’d been able to keep down. When the shift ended, you were more than ready to get out, barely saying goodbyes before leaving.
As you walked into your rundown apartment building, your energy hit total depletion. Of all the side effects that were starting to creep in, the lethargic feelings had to be the worst. Your job demanded you being on your feet the entire shift, and your newest ailment was not helping the matters at all. Your google searches were quickly becoming a list of questions like “what can I eat without throwing up?” and “will I get my energy back?” To make matters worse, you still had those four sets of stairs to climb, each flight becoming more and more difficult.
When the hike finally ended, you were fighting to keep your eyes open as you unlocked your door, crashing in with your feet barely below you. You laid down on the couch, insisting you’d get up and change out of your uniform after you rest for just a bit. Three hours later, you’d melted into the cushions, staring uselessly at the wall across from you. Once again overthinking everything you were currently dealing with.
————
Quinn was known to be a chronic sleeper. Everywhere he went he’d get caught taking a cat nap, even in the cubbies of the locker room from time to time. But those days were officially long behind him. In fact, he hadn’t slept more than a few hours the entire week.
It was abundantly clear that the situation in his personal life had affected his gameplay after the team lost 5-2 at home against the Blues. He’d desperately tried to hone in and stay in the zone like he always did, but the news had fucked him up bad. He got off the ice more tense than he’d ever been in his life, just to get bombarded by reporters asking obvious questions. And deep down, he knew they were just doing their jobs, but he couldn’t be less in the mood for it.
He’d tried to make it a point to come see you before the plane took off, but your schedules clashed like they often did. So he got on the plane, an exhausting amount of unknown in the mix of his life. When things got rough, he’d usually be able to call his parents or his brothers, but the situation was so new and there were too many questions he simply didn’t have the answers for. He wasn’t prepared for interrogation from Jack or Luke, and he didn’t know if his mom would be disappointed for not being safe. In the end he bottled it up, and it was seriously starting to take its toll.
He swiped his keycard to his hotel room, thankful as fuck he didn’t have a roommate this time around. If he had to hear one more “You good, huggy?” he might actually lose his fucking mind. He abandoned his suitcase by the door and dropped his backpack to the floor with a thud, not stopping until he landed face first into the plush mattress. In the privacy of the room, it finally came crashing down as he let out a guttural scream into the duvet.
A father. He was going to be an actual fucking father. And worse off, it wasn’t the exciting, hopeful moment he’d hoped it would be. Images of you in a panicked, crying state were permanently stained into his eyelids, making the sleep he was desperate for that much harder. When he did fall asleep, his mind played over every last detail to get to that moment.
The last time he’d been over to the apartment, life had gotten really hectic. Quinn had just gotten back from the media tour, which had already stressed him to the max. It was no secret he hated being on camera, especially when they had him doing embarrassing things and asking him simple questions. He’d done his best to just smile and bear through it, but it had taken its toll on him, leaving him over the public view completely.
At first, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to call you. He didn’t really talk to you much while he was back home for the summer, and he truthfully felt terrible for it. He’d become perpetually bad at only reaching out when he needed a release, but there had been times where you did it too, justifying his actions. By midnight, he finally shot you a text, sure that you wouldn’t be awake at the ungodly hour. Your response was simple: To come over, the door was already unlocked.
When he got there, you were already in your room. Wearing only a large shirt he’d left one night over a lace thong. Words didn’t need to be spoken, only tension to be liberated. It was just you and him and the fucked up entanglement of using each other. Hands on hips, nails on skin. The same spark that always turned into flames.
Quinn relented from rotting into the bed, standing up to change out of his clothes. As he emptied out his pockets, he finally switched his phone out of airplane mode, since he uncharacteristically wanted nothing to do with it for the entire trip. As soon as service came back, it began going off with missed emails and text messages. You still hadn’t reached out, and it began to worry him, so he broke his streak of silence and finally called. Just to check in, to maybe bring his mind some peace.
“Hey.” Your groggy voice came over the speaker as he tugged off his t-shirt.
“How are you feeling?” He asked, a breath of relief that you weren’t ignoring him.
“Rough day at work, melted into the couch cushions for a few hours afterwards.”
“Have you been able to keep anything down? I can order you something on delivery.” He offered, knowing that you needed to eat, even if it was something small to replenish what you’d lost over the last week of illness.
“I had some fruit at lunch.” You told him, the tone of your voice telling him that you both knew that wouldn’t be enough. “Don’t worry, I’ll find something.”
“Whatever you want, I’ll pay. You need to take care of yourself.” He stated, pulling up Venmo to send you enough to order an entire menu. “I’ll be home next Friday, but if anything happens..”
“Quinn, you’re the only one I can call if something happens.” You said, reminding him once again just how unnerving this probably was for you. He knew you were on your own in Vancouver, how no one stayed permanent in your life. “Can you do me a favor though?”
“Anything.” He said, no holding back in the desperation of his voice. Wanting to show that from the moment you told him, that he’d go to whatever means necessary to show you weren’t ever going to be alone, that he’d be with you every step of the way.
“Don’t let this hurt your game, Q. You won’t be in the right headspace to have a proper conversation if you’re beating yourself up.” You told him. He knew you’d picked up on his patterns, but he never put two and two together. That’d you’d been watching, silently looking out for him. “Be the best version of yourself out there, this will still be here no matter what.”
“I know, it was just a lot… for the both of us. I didn’t mean for it to affect me on the ice.” He confessed, actually speaking his thoughts out to you instead of the usual alternative. “I’ll win one just for you.” The words came out of his mouth before he could think.
“Win one for yourself. And get some real sleep. We’ll be alright.” You’d said, your voice sounding more level than it had the last time he spoke to you.
“You too. I’ll check in with you when we land in Chicago.” He promised, exchanging good nights before hanging up. He was thankful to hear you almost back to your normal self, and the added wisdom he never noticed you had helping him realize how the impossible could somehow be accomplished, despite the hardships to come.
For the first time all week, his shoulders started to feel lighter, his lungs working properly. After a quick dinner, he’d drift off comfortably for the first time in days, his racing mind finally shutting down.
summary: when you and juraj aren't nearly as sneaky as you both think, people are bound to find out that he is the man who has been making you so happy.
request: yes/no
trope: teammates sister
warnings: none.
word count: 1.24k
authors note: it's not everyday we get a piece of pure fluff from me, enjoy it while it lasts... All jokes aside though this is the last piece that came from the 500 celly so to everyone that was apart of it and to those of you who have been around and stuck around since then I am forever grateful 💓
You were meant to be totally off limits.
As Nicks little sister from the moment you stepped off that plane, it seemed that the whole city knew who you were and you hated it. Everyone but one person seemed to care and you gravitated towards that.
Juraj had met you before Nick introduced the two of you to each other. And that was what you thought a large part of the appeal was. He was the man who came into your new favourite place to get coffee at the same time as you each day. Juraj was always just wanting to talk to you, and it meant that everything started so sweetly.
After a few weeks of that you had developed feelings for him, and luckily for you he had developed them for you too. He spent so much time trying to figure out how to ask you out that eventually you came out and did it yourself.
Juraj had walked you back to your apartment after another session at the cafe “so this is you.” He shoved his hands into his pockets “wait J.” Your voice was soft as he cocked his head.
You felt yourself grow nervous as he smiled “you trust me?” You asked, almost scared of the rejection “of course.” The hockey player nodded sending you a smile.
Juraj watched you rest your hands flat against his torso. You took a deep breath in before you pushed yourself into your tippy toes so that you could kiss him. It took him a moment but he followed suit. His hands wrapped around your waist ensuring that you couldn’t pull back a moment too soon “want to come in?” Your voice was airy as he picked you up, carrying you into your apartment.
That was four months ago and neither one of you looked back. Sure there were moments where you both wished that the kisses that you both shared, didn’t have to be behind closed doors in secret. But you knew how much much more complicated things would have become if people found out.
And besides there was something exhilarating to the both of you about the possibility of being caught. Like the hickies that came a little too close to your neckline, and the scratches you left on his back for his teammates to see made you squirm. You were right under everyone’s noses yet nobody seemed to have caught you out yet.
Juraj kissed your lips, slotting into the place between your legs “god you know how gorgeous you are zlatko?” He asked resting his head on your shoulder.
The hockey player wasn’t ashamed to inhale your scent, with your perfume making him feel feral as it was your signature scent “you’re sweet baby.” You smiled running your fingers through his hair.
These lazy mornings were what you appreciated so much when the boys had time off. Juraj always knew that you would be at his as Nick shared the schedules with you. The Slovakian boy always used to be someone who got ready and went in the morning.
But with you he just loved getting to savour every moment that the world presented to him. From morning cuddles to being sat in the kitchen as cooking a basic meal ended up taking far longer than it was ever meant to.
That’s how you landed up where you were “how about we put this stuff on the counter and go back to bed?” Juraj proposed rubbing a circle on the inside of your thigh “who said anything about us needing the bed to do that?” A smirk formed on your face as you shit back.
Juraj shook his head “you are so dangerous.” He mumbled dipping his head so that your lips were almost touching his “and that’s why you love me no?” You taunted him, bringing your hand to the back of his head as you brought him down into a kiss.
Nick walked into the apartment with Cole as they could hear music coming from Juraj’s kitchen “dude please tell me you are cooking something!” Cole let out a whine as he heard his stomach grumble.
Your eyes went wide pulling away from Juraj “you said they weren’t coming until later!” You whisper yelled, pushing yourself off of the countertop in a panic “they were meant to!” Juraj nodded hearing their footsteps grow louder.
So like any logical person he opted to use his own frame to hide you “why are you guys here so early?” Juraj was nervous as he let out a cough, seeing his teammates stood by the door.
Nick smirked as he placed the six pack of beer down “because I wanted to prove that I was right.” He explained, nudging Cole “he thinks you’re dating y/n but I said you wouldn’t do that.” The Canadian explained as he took his cap off.
Your eyes went wide knowing that you had been caught “what makes you think that?” Juraj crossed his arms keeping his body where he stood so you wouldn’t be found “the fact that her phone is right there and you look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Nicks points were things that Juraj was prepared to fight and swear blindly that they were just coincidences.
So you squeezed his shoulder before he had a chance “hi guys.” You sighed walking out from behind him “it was true!” Cole let out a gasp letting his eyes travel between you and your boyfriend.
But for you and Juraj, your eyes stayed on Nick who remained silent “aren’t you going to yell?” You asked making Juraj’s eyes go wide, not feeling like his captain needed the encouragement “because that is going to solve everything?” Nick couldn’t help but laugh as he ran his fingers through his hair.
He took a deep breath “I mean maybe if I hadn’t known-” it was now your turn to be shocked “you knew! For how long?” You were almost scared to hear his answer.
Nick clicked his tongue “for like two months.” You felt your eyes go wide, that was basically the whole relationship “you forget that you are not slick if you smile at your phone like an idiot.” Juraj smiled at you hearing that.
But the ammunition to tease you was short lived “and you’re not better!” Nick pointed his finger at him “you look like you’ve got hearts in your eyes whenever she walks into a room.” As funny as Nick found it, it was more sad to see the two of you act like love sick puppies than anything else.
You blushed at the words turning to hold Juraj’s hand, giving it a comforting squeeze “so you aren’t mad?” You were almost thinking that your brother would explode when you all least expected it “I am just glad that you don’t have to hide it anymore.” It was clear he was being honest.
There was this inviting sense about his voice so you took it and made your way around the kitchen island “you really mean that?”it made your heart soar “I do.” Nick nodded, shooting you his signature smile.
It was like you both felt totally in the clear as you hugged Nick “because now I can say this.” He wrapped his arms around you, letting his eyes stare into his teammates “you hurt her and I will break you.” And there were the threats that you had expected.
so close to what | a social media au! series - part 1
-> masterlist (coming soon)
-> featuring mat barzal and female reader; numerous side characters of other NHLers and their significant others 
a/n: this is my first post/writing in a long time after a hiatus so i apologize if it’s not the best, hopefully things will get better as this series progresses 🤞🏼🙈
-
barzal97
liked by your.name, trevorzegras, pagertrain, and 145k others
barzal97 offseason recap
pagertrain don’t remind me it’s over
-> barzal97 back to the grind bud haha
user4406 mat has got to be the hottest guy in the nhl like damn 😍
-> user1039 can we get him on the bachelor or something? I’d tune in every week 🤣
-> user1022 no way this man is single haha, but one could hope
titobeauvi91 what a beaut
-> barzal97 you looking at yourself in that picture bud??
your.name definition of hot boy summer 🥵
liked by barzal97
-> barzal97 can’t have a hot boy summer without a hot girl 👀
user1104 I’d give my kidney for a chance with this man
-> user3003 I’d give more than that haha
trevorzegras STUD
thomaschabot5 there he issssss
user1049 😍😍😍
user9080 how is he real?
jackeichel nice not including anything from our round of golf where i smoked you bud 🤣
-> barzal97 yeah we need to run back the tapes on that one eichs haha
user4403 thank god hockey season is back so i can see him on my tv again 😩😍
austonmatthews documenting the last summer of just the boys eh? lol
-> barzal97 it was a good final run 🫡
user1013 i swear these guys always confuse me with their comments 🤣
-> user5506 well a girl definitely commented and mat commented back, soooo he’s probably not single like everyone thinks 🤷🏼♀️
your.name
liked by barzal97, daniellepulock, katyavas, and 102k others
your.name finders keepers 🤞🏼
-> tagged: barzal97
barzal97 🔒❤️🔥
liked by your.name
your.name 😘
daniellepulock my favs 😍
katyavas finallyyyyyyy 😩🙌🏼
-> your.name had to let everyone know since there seemed to be some confusion 😜
user2040 no. way.
-> user3202 the amount of hearts that were just shattered with this post 🥲
user3035 wake up user1110, barzal97 is officially off the market 😭
-> user1110 NO NO NOOOO
cambeeby what took you so longgggg lol
-> your.name better late than never haha
pagertrain now cambeeby can finally gift you a wags jacket since it’s official lol
-> cambeeby I’ve only had it made for months…
-> your.name that seems like something you need to take up with barzal97 🤣
-> barzal97 hey you said it, better late than never 🤷🏻♂️
user4035 i can’t even be mad because she’s really pretty and seems like a great girl
-> user1034 you thought he’d date an ugly girl? 😂
-> user4035 HAHA i mean no, it just would make it easy to dislike her if she was…
-> user1034 pretty sure people will dislike her regardless cause she’s dating him 🤣🙄
emmasimard_ the cutest coupleeee 🧡
-> your.name that’s definitely you and titobeauvi91 😉
-> titobeauvi91 no wayyyy, barzal97 is a stud and you know it!
-> barzal97 ily titobeauvi97 🫶🏼
-> emmasimard_ should we give you two some alone time? Haha
user2305 what a start to my day seeing this 🥲
-> user5675 as if anyone in these comments had any shot with him to begin with…lol
𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: Just a glimpse into a chill Sunday Morning with the Barzals.
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞: I think this was the first request that came in. Anyways I hope you enjoy this lil thing, truly nothing better than a slice of life story.
What else is better in life than chill mornings?
It’s your favorite kind of day, Mathew is home resting, and you have no emails or meetings. It truly is a day reserved for those who matter most.
You and your husband have pretty unusual jobs, often spending time apart, he travels for away games, and you film movies across the globe. You both love your work, but the pressure and constant need to be on the go can feel suffocating.
Maybe that’s why you and Mathew felt at home within each other’s arms so quickly; you both understood the highs and the lows of your respective careers. You both felt seen by one another without needing to explain your circumstances.
Because of this, you and Mathew created certain rules about family time and presence. On mornings when no one needs to go anywhere, you put your phones aside and simply bask in each other’s company, savoring the quiet moments together.
7 a.m.
You hear cries from your 8-month-old’s room, your precious girl, your everything. You get up and greet her with a smile and high-pitched, "Good morning, my sweet angel." She stops crying when she hears your voice, her teary eyes now on you.
The eyes she inherited from her father, who was still asleep.
You picked her up and kissed her cheeks. “You ready to start the day, Sola?”
Soleil Eloise, you named her. Soleil was a name that you really loved; it meant “sun” in French. True to her name, Soleil has brought nothing but sunshine into your life. She is as bright as you once imagined her to be.
Your baby girl gazed up and grinned, showing her happiness through her two itty-bitty teeth. Your heart swelled, you took that toothy smile as an eager yes.
You quickly change her diaper before heading to the kitchen. You place your daughter in her high chair and hand her a couple of toys to keep her busy while you make breakfast and put on music.
Old songs mixed with your daughter’s loud babbles; just the perfect soundtrack to your morning.
Thinking of what to make for breakfast, you went with waffles. Well, a sugar-free version of a normal waffle. You and your husband decided to wait until your daughter is at least one before she has her first taste of processed sugar.
You pour your batter into the waffle maker while your little girl throws her toys all over the place. You sigh as you watch your baby, who is now on the verge of crying.
‘She always does this,’ you thought. She would throw her toy on the floor and cry for you to get it.
Still, you kissed her little forehead and picked her toy up from the floor.
She throws her stuffed giraffe again, this time having a full meltdown.
“Okay, okay, sweetie. Momma’s got you, it’s okay.” You gently lift Soleil from her high chair, cradling her close. “You good now, Sunshine?” you murmur, asking her even when knowing she’s too young to answer. Her tiny head finds its place on your shoulder as calmness settles over both of you.
Then, “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles starts to play. You decided to have a little dance session with Soleil while making your breakfast waffles.
“Little darlin', it's been a long, cold, lonely winter,” you sang while swaying, holding your daughter on one arm and holding a spatula in the other, using it as a microphone.
Mathew chimes in, singing, “Little darlin', it feels like years since it's been here.” You are startled, unaware he was awake. Your daughter smiles at her father, then fusses to be held by him. Mathew obliges, taking her from your arms.
Together, you and Mathew belt out, “Here comes the sun, doo-doo-do, Here comes the sun, And I say, It's all right,”looking at each other lovingly while wearing goofy smiles.
“Good morning,” you said to your husband with a sweet smile. He kissed your forehead, then your daughter’s. “How long have you been there?” you asked.
“Hmmm, doesn’t matter,” he chuckled.
Once everything’s ready, you, Soleil, Mathew, and the pets eat breakfast together. Your daughter stuffs her face with blueberries; her clothes, arms, and face are covered.
“I take it that you love blueberries, Soleil?”
Your husband asked your baby girl while chuckling. He then took a sip of his coffee, and your daughter, ever the curious baby, eyed it, making “grabby” hands towards it. “Aww, that’s not for you, angel. That’s for grown-ups, don’t worry, you’ll get to taste coffee once you are older,” you said. “Oh, but please, don’t grow quickly, okay?” Your husband said to your baby while tickling her sides. Your daughter happily squealed as her father played with her.
After breakfast, you bathe your daughter while Mathew does the dishes. “Alright, sunshine, you are all clean and ready to go,” you announced, wrapping Soleil in her cute little unicorn towel. After dressing her in a white t-shirt and some leggings, you noticed that she was getting sleepy, signaling that she was ready for her morning nap. You cradled her and sat in the chair near her crib. After finding a comfortable position, you began to nurse her.
She has a habit you adore: her chubby hands hold your finger as you feed her. You kiss her tiny hands to your lips and kiss them. You looked at your baby lovingly. “Momma loves you very much, angel,” you whisper as her eyes droop.
You hear the door creak open quietly. Mathew enters calmly and kisses you. Carressing his daughter’s tiny head as she falls deeper into her nap, he whispers, “She’s perfect.”
“I know,” you whisper back, your eyes never leaving your daughter.
Outside, the world continues. You probably have a hundred text messages and a million unread emails, but right now? Well, right now, everything and everyone truly important is inside your daughter’s nursery.
a/n: hey guys! thank u so so much for all the love on the last one, im hoping this ones just as good!! (imo it's better but wtv tehe) this time we have,, bedsy intro (hes my fav character icl), awkward/very professional texting between two old teammates, the BC polycule once again and some insta posts (plus a comment from a certain someone!)
warnings: none
Click on pictures for better quality
Part 1
a/n: Part 3 coming soon?? maybe idk yet!! Hope you guys enjoyed, pls like or reblog or comment :)) and feel free to send me asks or even requests of what you wanna see more of in this AU (or less of idk)
summary: y/n has an intense fear of storms, particularly the incessantly loud rumbling thunder.
word count: 3.4k
notes: @sweetestdesire request for a a quinny fic. “You’re really scared of some thunder? C’mere.” turned out to be angsty but soft quinn
warnings: use of y/n, tense, angst, may induce stress, soft quinn,
"See ya, guys! Thanks for the fun night in," Y/n called out to her friends as they filed out the door, their laughter and chatter echoing down the hallway. She waved goodbye, feeling a bit relieved that the party had wound down. The quiet was a welcome change from the earlier clamor of games and gossip. The apartment was left in a gentle mess, but the warm glow of friendship lingered in the air.
Y/n stretched while she yawned and began to clean up, her mind wandering to Quinn. She knew he was out with the team, but she had hoped he'd be home sooner. The thought of his strong arms around her, calming her raging thoughts through the impending storm, brought a smile to her face and a bit of ease to the sickness winding in her stomach. As she packed away the last of the snacks, she glanced out the window. The night was still, the moon casting a serene light over the cityscape. She couldn't wait to crawl into bed and cuddle up with him, sharing stories about their respective evenings.
Meanwhile, at the bar, Quinn sat in the middle of a booth between Brock and Petey, his shoulders slumped and his eyes glazed over from the beers. The laughter of his teammates washed over him, but he couldn't find the energy to join in. He checked his phone again, noticing it was already 12:30 AM. He had promised Y/n he'd be home early tonight, but the guys had talked him into a few more drinks. He felt a twinge of guilt, but he never truly goes out so maybe just this once it should be okay to be selfish.
“Huggy put your phone down! We’re here to have fun.” Garland slurs from the other end of the table.
Quinn nodded and slid his phone into his pocket. He knew he had to stop checking it every few minutes. It was getting late and Y/n was probably worried, but he didn’t want to dampen the mood with his own anxieties. He took a deep breath and tried to push the feeling aside, focusing instead on the raucous laughter around him. The bass of the music pounded through the bar, making the floor vibrate beneath his feet. It was the kind of music that demanded you to either get up and dance or get lost in the rhythm, and for a brief moment, he let it consume him.
Back at the apartment, Y/n stood in their kitchen with shaking hands, the weather gradually getting worse was setting her nerves on edge. The wind had picked up outside, whipping against the windows like a crazed lover. Rain had started to patter down, a prelude to the storm that had her heart racing. She took a deep breath and tried to convince herself that Quinn was just stuck in traffic or had lost track of time. He'd be home soon, she thought, trying to reassure herself. But the silence of his unanswered texts and calls was deafening.
Her eyes darted around the room, searching for something to do, anything to distract her from the storm brewing outside and the one building inside her chest. She settled on making a cup of tea, her hands trembling as she filled the kettle and placed it on the stove. The gentle hiss of the gas flame igniting filled the room, but it did little to calm her nerves. As the water heated, she checked her phone again, willing it to buzz with a message from Quinn. Nothing. The wind howled, and the rain grew heavier, now pounding against the windows.
“Maybe if I call him?” She thought out loud. The clock read 1:10 AM as she dialed the number she knew by heart.
“Hey, you’ve reached Quinn, leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can!” His voice, though much younger and recorded, brought a bit of comfort, but not enough to ease the two storms brewing. The one in her and the one outside. She took a deep breath and began to leave a voicemail, her voice shaky but steady.
“Hey, Quinny, it’s me. Hope you’re having fun with the guys. Uhm just wanted to let you know that the storm is starting to get pretty intense out there... I’m sure you guys are fine and just having a good time. Call me when you get this, okay? I…just mi—want to know you’re okay. I love you, bye!” She hung up before she could say anything else that might betray her fear.
1:30 AM.
The bar was getting louder, the air thick with the scent of stale beer and sweat. Quinn leaned back in the booth, his arms folded tightly across his chest. The music was a cacophony of beats and shouts that didn't quite drown out the thunderous pounding of his own thoughts. His eyes scanned the table, finding his teammates passed out, their heads resting in a pool of spilled drinks and crumbs. He had never felt more out of place, yet he stayed to make sure these morons made it home.
If Quinn knew anything in that moment it was for sure that he’d be getting them back at practice this week.
Back at the apartment, Y/n's trembling grew more pronounced with each passing minute. She couldn't ignore the storm anymore. It had started as a gentle whisper, a hint of rain against the windows, but had escalated into a full-blown symphony of thunder and lightning. Her heart hammered in her chest, each peal of thunder sending shockwaves through her body. She curled up on Quinn's side of the bed, her phone clutched tightly in her hand, the cold screen a stark contrast to her clammy palms. The scent of his cologne still lingered on the pillow, faint but comforting. She buried her face in it, breathing him in, willing him to appear through the door.
‘One more call? No that’s to creepy clingy girlfriendy.. But he likes clingy girlfriendy y/n..’
Her thoughts swirled in a tornado of doubt and fear. Finally, she gave in, hitting the call button with trembling fingers. The line rang once, twice, three times, before she heard his voice, a recorded message that didn’t ease the ache in her chest this time. She took a deep breath, trying to keep the panic from seeping into her voice.
“Quinn, it’s me again. The storm is really bad out here. The lights are flickering, and I’m so scared. I know you’re busy, but I need you. I know you said you’d be home early, and I trusted you. Please, come home soon. I’m not okay without you here with me, especially when it’s like this. I love you so much, and I just want to be safe with you. Call me, text me, anything. I need to know you’re okay. I’m just—I’m really scared, Quinn. I’m sorry, I know I sound desperate, but I can’t help it. I need you right now. Please come home soon. Uhm bye,” she whispered into the void, the weight of her words hanging in the silent apartment like the eye of the storm.
The phone remained eerily silent, the screen a cold, unyielding barrier to the warmth she craved. She sent one more text, a simple heart emoji, and hoped that somehow, it would be enough to break through the barrier holding him hostage from his phone.
With each flash of lightning, the shadows from the windows grew more menacing, reaching in like skeletal fingers to pluck at her already frazzled nerves. Y/n couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed her fleece blanket and bolted from the bedroom, her bare feet slapping against the cool hardwood floor, and dashed into the ensuite bathroom. The only room in the apartment that didn't have windows and hopefully wouldn’t make her feel claustrophobic. The bathroom was a small sanctuary of porcelain and tile, the scent of mint and the hum of the extractor fan a stark contrast to the tempest outside. She locked the door behind her, creating a barrier between her and the storm, but it didn't help. She could still hear the thunder rumbling like a displeased giant, each boom echoing through the walls and reverberating the foundation of the building.
Her phone, now a silent sentinel of her fear, remained in her hand. She checked it again, hoping against hope that she had missed a call or a text. The screen remained dark, cold, and unchanged. Her heart sank, the weight of loneliness pressing down on her chest like a lead blanket. 'Why isn’t he answering?' Her thoughts screamed. She knew he wasn’t the type to ignore her, especially when she was scared. Maybe his phone died, or maybe he was too busy, but the doubt was eating her alive.
Quinn's head snapped up, the sound of his ringtone piercing through the buzz of the bar dwindling down. He fumbled in his pocket, pulling out his phone to see Y/n's name flashing on the screen. He had missed a couple calls and quite a few texts from her, each one more frantic than the last. His heart sank as he saw the time, 2 AM. He quickly stood up, knocking over Petey, who fell into Dak, in his haste. Which worked out in his favor as he had to walk over them. The room filled with fuzzy stars for a moment, a reminder of the drinks he too had consumed. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. He wasn’t driving, so he ordered up an Uber home.
As he waited, Quinn felt his stomach twist into knots. He knew how much Y/n hated storms and here he was, leaving her alone to face it. He had promised to be there for her, and now she was probably terrified out of her mind. He scrolled through the texts, each one a silent plea for him to come home. He read the last one, her voice echoing in his mind. "I'm really scared, Quinn." He cringed, feeling like a complete asshole for not being there for her.
The Uber pulled up, and Quinn practically threw himself into the backseat, slamming the door shut behind him. The driver looked at him in the rearview mirror, the concern clear in his eyes. "You okay, buddy?"
Quinn nodded, trying to ignore the guilt that clawed at him. He fumbled with his phone, finally managing to play the voicemails. Y/n's voice filled his ear, each word a dagger to his heart. "The storm is really bad out here," she whispered, and he could almost feel the tremble in her voice. "The lights are flickering, and I’m so scared." The sound of her sobs grew louder, the thunder outside seeming to sync with her cries. Quinn wasn’t afraid of much, so he didn’t quite understand his girlfriend’s fear over storms. It could be because she didn’t care to say why she’s scared, and he wasn’t going to press her. It’s evident they bother her, and it’s enough for him to be the support she needs.
Until he’s not.
The bathroom door rattled in its frame as the storm outside reached a crescendo. Lightning flashing under the space between the door and the floor. Y/n had never thought that lightning was the scary part of storms, it has always been the thunder that had driven her to seek refuge in someone, something, someplace. She wasn’t quite sure why the deep, resonating booms always managed to succeed in getting her so worked up.
Maybe when she was younger it was because she had always associated them with crawling in bed with her parents or if the power went out they would gather in the living room to play games in the candle light. Until the day every thing just up and changed. No one was there to help her weather the storm, figuratively or literally.
Maybe now it’s because she has grown accustomed to associating thunderstorms with Quinn's soothing touch and whispers, telling her that everything would be okay. That with him, he would never let anything happen to her. He, who had become her anchor in the storm, was nowhere to be found.
The Uber ride home was a blur of neon lights and puddles reflecting the chaos of the storm. Quinn's mind was racing, his thoughts tangled with guilt and fear for Y/n. He had never been the one to break a promise, especially not one so important to her. He had to get home, had to hold her and tell her it was okay, even if he didn’t believe it himself.
The car pulled up to the apartment complex, and Quinn dashed out into the rain. The cold droplets stung his skin, sobering him up as he sprinted towards the building. The lights in the hallway flickered as he panted up the stairs, the thunder now a constant drumroll in his ears. His hand shook as he inserted the key into the lock, the sound of the tumblers clicking into place echoing through the empty corridor.
He burst into the apartment, the door slamming against the wall. "Y/n!" he called out, his voice strained with worry. The living room was dark, except for the TV screen flickering with a muted news broadcast. Rainwater dripped from his hair, tracing a path down his forehead and into his eyes. He wiped it away, his heart racing as if he had just played a full hockey game. Quinn let out a heavy breath before he hurried upstairs towards their bedroom.
Reaching the bedroom door, he carefully pushed it open. The sight that greeted him was not what he expected. The bed, usually a bastion of order and comfort, was a writhing mess of blankets and pillows. It was clear she had been restless, her fear probably keeping her from finding any semblance of peace. But she wasn’t there. The room was empty except for the ghosts of his guilt and her fear. He flipped on the lights, the sudden brightness piercing the gloom, revealing the chaos of his side of their now empty bed.
Quinn's eyes searched the room, looking for any clue as to where she could be. That’s when he heard it. A muffled sound, faint but unmistakable. Sniffles, coming from the bathroom. He approached the closed door, the thunder outside giving way to the quiet that follows, as if the storm was holding its breath. He placed his hand on the cool wood, feeling the vibration of the storm's power through it. "Y/n?" he called out as softly as possible.
The sniffles grew quieter, almost as if she was trying to control her cries. She stepped out of her place of refuge enough to unlock the door, she then quickly retreated back to her previous position. She was curled up in the bathtub, her knees to her chest, her chin perched on her knees, her eyes red and puffy from crying.
Quinn’s heart broke when he saw her like this. He had never seen her so scared, so vulnerable. He approached her slowly, not wanting to startle her further. "Hey," he said softly, reaching out a hand to touch her shoulder. But she jerked away from his touch, her body stiff and face showing no emotion.
He dropped to his knees, the one desperate for her attention now.
"Y/n, baby, I'm so sorry," he whispered, his voice filled with genuine concern. "I had no idea it was this bad." He took a step closer, the scent of rain and alcohol mingling with the faint minty scent of their bathroom. He wished he could take away her fear, absorb it into himself so she didn't have to feel it anymore.
"You promised me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You promised me, I would never be alone again with no warning, no explanation beforehand. You promised you’d be home early." She choked back a cry on the last part, her eyes glued to the faucet, watching the droplets of water fall into the tub. Quinn shattered into a trillion pieces. He had promised all of that. No apology will be enough to make any of this better, he accepted that, but he had to at least try.
"I know," he began, his voice thick with regret. "I fucked up, Y/n. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, I didn't mean to leave you like this." He paused, willing her to look at him, to see the pain in his eyes that mirrored hers. "You're my entire world, you're everything to me. I'd never want to cause you pain, especially not when you're already scared." He tried reaching for her again, this time to push her hair back and combing his fingers through her hair. He left his hand cradling her head.
"Garland told me to put my phone away," he murmured, his voice low and tight. "And before I knew it, Brock was pretty drunk and Petey was extremely wasted. I had a few myself. The music was so loud that the bass kept me from feeling the vibrations of my phone, and I lost track of time. With them so wasted, I felt I needed to make sure they got home okay, but when I finally checked my phone.” Quinn paused swallowing down the knot in his throat “and I discovered your calls and all the messages I left." His words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of his guilt. "I know it doesn’t account for the fact I should have checked my phone way before, I should have come home earlier like I had promised."
Y/n felt the anger and fear melt away with each of his words. She knew the guys could be a handful. What group of hockey players weren’t a handful? She didn’t want to add anymore to his burden of guilt. She leaned into his hand, the warmth of his touch sending waves of comfort through her. "Can we go cuddle now?" She asked him shyly, her voice still shaky. The storm outside was slowly calming down, but the tempest in her chest raged on. She needed him, needed his warmth and his words of comfort to soothe her. Quinn quickly wiped the shocked look from his that was slapped on the moment cuddle now fell from her lips.
“C’mere pretty girl.” Quinn grins as he lifts her from her bathtub refuge. “I will never pass up an opportunity to cuddle with you.” He softly places her down on her side of the bed, walking to his dresser to grab himself a set of dry clothes, finally. “I’ll be right back to you.”
Y/n nods into his chest, watching him retreat back into the bathroom. She takes a deep breath, the fear of losing him subsiding more and more with his touch. She grabs the first t-shirt she can find from his drawer, pulls it over her head and wraps it around herself like a cocoon. She crawls into bed, able to relax this time around when lying down.
When Quinn returns, freshly changed into a dry shirt and sweatpants, the sight of her in his shirt brings a warm smile to his face. He slides into bed next to her, pulling her close so that they are face to face. Fitting together as if they were made for each other. She feels the warmth of his body seep into hers, the steady thump of his heart beneath her palm as she lays her hand flat on his chest. The rhythm of it soothing her like a lullaby.
"I could feel and listen to your heart all day, just to know you’re okay," she mumbles into the fabric of his shirt, her voice muffled but clear enough for him to hear. He pulls her in tighter, a silent acknowledgement. A low rumble of thunder in the distance happens and he rubs his hand soothingly over the back of her head.
Quinn whispers, "I’m making you a new promise, pretty girl. I promise from here on out I will not be going out when storms are predicted. Only exceptions of course are those to do with work. Unless it’s just the guys wanting to go out, that is not work related.” Y/n didn’t speak, to exhausted to form words just nodded her head in acknowledgment before dozing off.
He watched her for a few minutes, grateful to be holding her in his arms. The thought of her curled up in the tub, terrified, was a knife in his chest. He had never meant to cause her this much pain. He kissed the top of her head reveling in her soft breaths as she slept before whispering what’s been on his mind since his shower to her sleeping form. “I noticed you didn’t end your second voicemail with an ‘i love you’ or now before falling asleep…we’ve always made a point to make sure the other knows, regardless of how bad the argument was. I know you aren’t hearing this because you’re asleep but it’s easier to say it now than looking in your eyes tomorrow and watching tonight all over. I just really hope you know how much I love you.”
“Good gracious, you forget and he gets all sappy. Yes Quinny I love you. I love you. I love you.” In between each ‘I love you’ was a peck on the lips.
Quinn couldn’t help but laugh, the sound low and warm, like a quiet summer night. He pulled her closer, the storm outside now just a faint memory, the rain had turned to a gentle pitter-patter. He kissed her forehead, the tip of her nose and finally her lips, feeling the tension of the night slip away with each touch.
"You know you're going to have to repeat that when I’m fully awake, right?" She mumbled falling right back asleep.
“That is perfectly fine, I’ll be right here next to you whenever you’re ready.” Quinn closed his eyes and was soon asleep as well.
A night of two tales, Quinn is lucky it worked out for him and happy he’s able to keep his girl.
