During the hookup years Ilya sends Cliff to Svetlana to help him buy a car. Svetlana decides she wants a piece of that but Cliff is like god I want to but Ilya would kill me. Sveta assures him it’s fine but he can’t until she gets Ilya on speakerphone to confirm it’s fine. Ilya does ask to talk to him privately though to tell him he better make her cum no less than three times with Cliff takes very seriously. Then Ilya talks to Sveta and is like have fun but do not break him.
As well as their normal hang outs, every time it's that time of the month (and Ilya's schedule allows for it), Sveta just rocks up to Ilya's, heating pad in tow, ready for a night of takeout, shit-talking hockey or action movies, and maybe some spooning and massages to ease the cramps. Plus, Ilya has a few bottles of good pain meds that she'll never say no to if the cramps are really bad.
Sveta has her own key and knows the code to get in. What if one day, when Ilya's still in Boston but post-cottage, she just lets herself in as usual. dragging on one of Ilya's sweaters before flopping onto his couch and curling up around her heating pad.
Only when the door opens, it isn't her Ilyusha that walks through the door.
It's Shane Hollander.
Shane Hollander who freezes, rabbit in the headlights style, all the colour draining from his face. Shane Hollander who sees what she's wearing and looks like he's been slapped. Shane Hollander who is barely breathing.
"Jane."
It's the first thing she can think to say as she stands quickly, but doesn't approach too much - he's already jerked back once.
There's a flicker of confusion that ripples over his face, but he stays where he is, so she counts it as a win.
"I'm Sveta - Svetlana."
"Oh," he croaks, shoulders slowly descending. "Oh, right. That's... that makes sense." He nods slowly, frowning.
"Ilyusha's not here. He didn't know I was coming. I let myself in. But, I can go, if you two-"
"No, you don't have to," he says automatically. Like a good Canadian, she thinks, always so accommodating. His eyes find the heating pad, and more understanding blooms on his face, before he turns away abruptly. Like he shouldn't know something so intimate about her. She can definitely see why Ilyusha's so smitten for this man. He's... cute.
"Hm, I don't think you get much time with him," she says understandingly, sitting back down all the same and gesturing for him to come over. "But, I have always wanted to meet you. You are incredible at hockey. Maybe while you wait for him, you could tell me why Theriault keeps putting Berkes on the second line instead of Schneider."
To her delight, Shane huffs a laugh, and just like that, the conversation is easy. By the time Ilyusha walks through the door, she's laughing out loud, head thrown back at Shane's dry analysis of Matheson, and Shane's lounging one seat away from her, an easy smile on his face. They both turn to find Ilyusha just blinking at them, which sets Sveta off giggling again.
"Um, hi," Shane murmurs, his smile now a quiet, private thing, with just a hint of nerves. "I wanted to surprise you, but Svetlana surprised me, and- she really does know everything about hockey. Actually-"
He's cut off by Ilyusha pouncing on him, kissing him hungrily as she cackles again, hollering 'Get a room!' in Russian. The smile he shoots her way is so sappy and in love she almost tears up - stupid hormones.
"Shane was lovely, keeping me company while we waited for you to arrive," she grins, clocking the way Shane locks his wrists behind Ilyusha's back to stop him falling backwards when Ilyusha adjusts on his lap a little more. It's adorable.
"Ah, did he show you presentation? Of evolution of hockey through the ages?" Ilyusha teases, earning an eye roll from Shane.
"No, we planned that for next time," Sveta winks, just to see the giddy smile flicker over her Ilyusha's face again.
The boys get lost in each other's eyes, and Sveta excuses herself to the bathroom, taking a little longer than necessary, before starting to gather her things.
"Uh, no, what are you doing?" Ilyusha interrupts.
"Giving you two time to catch up," she shrugs easily. "You don't get enough time together." But they exchange a glance, clearly having a silent conversation, before Shane nods easily.
"No, stay. We have not even had takeout yet. Plus," he switches to Russian, "I have the good stuff. You're in pain."
She's dealt with worse, but the sofa is inviting, and Shane's looking at her expectantly, and she rarely gets to see her Ilyusha so happy, so she accepts with barely a moment's hesitation. Which is how she ends up with the good shit running through her system, shit-talking hockey with Ilyusha's feet in her lap whilst he sprawls on the sofa, his head resting in Shane's lap, practically purring as Shane runs his fingers through his curls.
She's not enjoyed a her period so much in a long time, and if she has to deal with their animal noises later, then so be it. Watching him curl his arm around his man, smiling like a dopey cartoon character, she's just happy he's finally got someone to love him like they should.
Ashley: You need to eat healthier.
Chris: No.
Ashley: The last person who didn't eat healthier after I told them to died.
Victoria: Oh my god.
Ashley: In an explosion.
Sveta: That sounds unrelated...
Ashley: That I caused. Do not disobey me.
