Off The Ice 12 - Will Smith
a/n: This has to be my favorite chapter i've ever written
warnings: none
Y/N POV
I wake up before him. Which isn’t unusual anymore. What is unusual? The quiet, no cartoons in the background, no tiny footsteps yet. Just him next to me, one arm wrapped around my waist like he fell asleep holding me and never let go.
I don’t move right away. Just look at him. Because this still doesn’t feel real sometimes. That this is my life. That he’s in it, every day, every night, constantly. And then it hits me.
Today he leaves.
“Stop staring,” he mumbles, eyes still closed.
I smile. “You’re awake.”
“Barely.”
“You’re still leaving today,” I remind him.
His eyes open immediately. And the look on his face?
Pure disappointment.
“I don’t like that,” he mutters, pulling me closer.
I laugh softly. “It’s two days.”
“48 hours.”
“Same thing.”
“Not the same thing.”
I roll my eyes, resting my head against his chest. “I see you every day. I think I can handle 48 hours. I think.”
“I can’t,” he says immediately.
I laugh. “You’re being dramatic.”
“I’m being serious,” he corrects. “I’m calling you every time I get a break.”
“You do not have that many breaks.”
“I’ll make them.”
“Will-”
“I mean it.”
I shake my head, smiling. “Okay, fine.”
“Mama?”
We both look toward the door. And there she is, hair messy, bunny in hand, sleep still in her eyes.
“Hi, baby,” I say softly.
She walks in slowly then immediately climbs onto the bed. Right between us, like that’s her spot. Will doesn’t even hesitate. He lifts the blanket, pulling her in closer.
“Hey, Tess,” he murmurs.
She curls into him instantly. And I swear it’s like this is just normal now.
“I have to leave for a little,” he explains softly. “Go play hockey. Win a game.”
Her face changes immediately. Tears start to fill her eyes
“No.”
He smiles slightly. “Just for a little bit.”
“No,” she repeats, louder now.
“It’s only two days-”
“Daddy no leave me.”
Everything stops. Completely. My breath catches. His does too. We both just stare at her. Because, did she just-
“Tess-” I start.
But he cuts me off. Not harsh. Just quick.
“Hey,” he says softly, turning her toward him. “Who am I?”
She looks at him. Like it’s obvious.
“Daddy.”
And he loses it. In the best way.
“Oh my God,” he laughs, sitting up immediately and pulling her with him. “That’s right!”
He lifts her up, spinning her around as she squeals.
“That’s right, I’m daddy!” he grins, completely gone.
I just sit there. Frozen. Watching it happen. Because this wasn’t something we talked about. This wasn’t planned. But the way she said it? The way he reacted?
It didn’t feel wrong. It felt right.
“Again,” he says, setting her down slightly.
“Daddy,” she repeats.
He laughs, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “Yeah, that’s me.”
And I swear I’ve never seen him happier.
Breakfast is quieter. Not awkward. Just full. Like everyone is thinking about it. Even her. She’s sitting in his lap, playing with his fingers like nothing changed. But everything did.
“I’m sorry,” I say finally.
He looks up immediately. “For what?”
“That,” I nod toward Tessa. “I didn’t-I didn’t tell her to say that or-”
“Hey,” he cuts in gently. “Don’t.”
“I just don’t want you to feel like-”
“I want that,” he says.
I blink.
“What?”
“I want to be in her life,” he continues. “Like that.”
My heart stutters.
“I don’t want to just be some guy who comes around or her mother’s boyfriend,” he adds. “I want to be there. For real.”
I just stare at him. Because the way he’s saying it, it’s not light, it’s not casual, it’s serious.
“I’ll be more of a dad than her actual father ever was,” he says without thinking.
Silence. His eyes widen slightly.
“-I mean, if that’s okay,” he adds quickly. “I’m not trying to overstep or-”
“No.”
He stops.
“No?” he repeats.
“That’s perfect,” I say softly.
And I mean it. Every word. I’ve spent so long being careful, protective, scared. And now here he is, choosing it, choosing us, without hesitation.
WILL POV
I don’t want to leave. At all. But I have to. And she’s making it very difficult.
“No go,” Tessa says, clinging to my leg.
“I have to,” I tell her gently.
“No.”
“I’ll be back before you know it.”
She shakes her head.
“No.”
I crouch down, holding her hands.
“Hey,” I say softly. “We’re going to call all the time, okay?”
She sniffles.
“And you can watch my game,” I add.
“TV?”
“Yeah, on TV.”
She thinks about it. Just for a second.
“…okay.”
“Okay,” I smile.
“And I need something,” I add.
“What?”
“My good luck kiss.”
Her face lights up slightly. She grabs my face and kisses my cheek again.
“Good luck, Daddy,” she says.
My face immediately turns pink
Y/N POV
I walk him to the door. Trying not to make it a big deal. Even though it is.
“Call me when you land,” I say.
“I will.”
“And before the game.”
“I will.”
“And after.”
“I will,” he smiles.
I laugh softly, shaking my head.
“Okay.”
There’s a pause. Then he steps closer. Just slightly.
“I did something,” he says.
“What?”
“I booked us dinner,” he adds. “For when I get back.”
I blink. “Dinner?”
“Fancy,” he nods. “Just us.”
My stomach flips.
“Will…”
“You deserve it,” he says simply.
I smile.
“Okay.”
He leans in, kissing me softly, not rushed, not distracted..
“I’ll be back before you know it,” he murmurs.
“I know.”
And this time I actually believe it. Because for the first time in a long time waiting doesn’t feel scary. It just feels like something worth doing.