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Clark

“O op, there she is, I knew they’d make her do that,” I told Tenzin as we stood at the glass for warmups, at the arena in Vancouver. We were wearing homemade jerseys with Di Rossi and 0 on them, since they weren’t selling them yet and we couldn’t get a hold of Carlos, to see if his brother-in-law could make us some.

Gwen came out, in her Tigres jersey, pink gear, and no goalie mask. She did her rookie lap, skating solo around the part of the ice designated for the Tigres to warm up. It was a first pro game tradition.

We cheered. Loudly. Some people had signs. So many people gathered at the glass for her.

Coming here yesterday was the right move, and I was glad that Pops and one of my grandfathers had urged me to do it, when I found out she got signed. A contract for Christmas. That was even better than the crazy presents she’d gotten yesterday. Including a trip to Italy from her brother Luca.

Snowball and I were staying with Tenzin at Cooter’s house. I’d sort of been hoping I could stay with Gwen in her room, but her dads weren’t very keen on that idea.

It had been fun to see her though and get to know her family better–and meet Squiggles and Bean, who were just the cutest little babies.

“Look at Babybug. I feel like a proud daddy. I can’t believe Morgan let you bring Asher.” Cooter stood at Tenzin’s side, sniffing.

He’d been in his kitchen, eating breakfast, when we woke up this morning. It was nice he’d come back early to see Gwen play.

“Me, too. Though she was fine with the twins going to Gwen’s for Christmas.” Tenzin kissed the top of Asher’s head, as he napped against his chest in a carrier. He wore ear protection and the tiniest Tigre onesie.

“Given Imogen finally had Pickles and everyone’s exhausted, so I suppose letting me take Asher for an evening was a relief. He’ll probably sleep through the whole thing, anyway. Still, I wanted him to be there,” Tenzin told us.

“He’s adorable,” I told him, playing with his little foot.

Gwen’s brother, Matty, came over to us. “Thanks again for coming out. It means everything to her.”

“Of course. Asher has to go to a hockey game sometime.” Tenzin grinned.

“Anytime.” Cooter gave him a nod.

“I’d never miss her first game. Go, Di Rossi,” I shouted and thumped on the glass. My family was excited for Gwen and going to watch her on TV. Tess was mad, because Ma wouldn’t let her come with me.

“Oh, we can do that?” Gwen’s nephew Davey said.

A bunch of kids–mostly Gwen’s nieces and nephews–started pounding on the glass.

“Pretty Goal-Goal. Go go,” a tiny little girl, on the shoulders of her brother, Luca, squealed as Gwen skated over and thumped on the glass back.

“Yay, Zia G!” some other kids cheered.

Her look went ecstatic as other Tigres came out for warmups.

“Look at you all.” She beamed at us from her side of the glass. “Hi Dads!” Gwen waved.

All four of her dads, and several siblings with their families, were there, as well as cousins, aunts, and uncles. There were more people there for her than there were for me when the Knights played the Tornadoes–most of them formidable and imposing.

Even her tiny omega sisters were kinda scary. Especially the one that lived in France and sent her clothes.

“Lenny! Family.” Gwen waved. She took in the sheer number of people she knew, standing here with us. “Knights! Cooter. Maimers. Friends. This really is better than a blow job from a dinosaur. Hi, Boys.” Gwen flashed a special smile for just us. “BABY!!”

I put my hand on the glass. “We’re here.”

Tenzin put his on top of mine. “Always.”

There were also a whole lot of Knights, including Dimitri, Dean, Jonas, and JP. I was amazed at how many people came, considering how precious our days off were. There were a few Maimers, too.

We all loved our Ladybug.

Gwen did a little dance. Someone else from the Tigres, snuck up behind her and smacked her on the ass with a stick, then handed Gwen her goalie mask.

“Fitty.” Gwen laughed. “Gotta warm up. Love you.” She blew kisses and skated off. Gwen stretched on the ice.

“Mmmm, that ass. Is she staying at the hotel with her team? We should raid her hotel,” I whispered to Tenzin.

“I wish. I have a small person to get home. You’ll have to get it yourself. She’s staying with her parents tonight and then flying out tomorrow with the team,” he told me.

“I know how to climb into a third-story window.” It would be a bit before we saw her again.

“We won’t see her until all-star break,” I added. Which wasn’t until mid-February. None of us were playing. Grif Graf was the Knight’s pick for the all-stars. Cooter was going for the Sasquatches.

Though she might get included in the rookie event that happened that weekend. But we’d have it off, so we could spend the weekend with her, regardless.

Jonas came over to us. “No Carlos?”

“Have you heard from Carlos?” I frowned, looking around and not seeing him. “I tried to get ahold of him, but everything’s been unanswered. Hmm, I haven't heard from him since the night we were at Tito’s when he went to see his ex.”

It was weird.

“Well, he has gone missing before. It’s Carlos, I’m sure he’s fine and will turn up at some point.” Jonas looked at Asher. “I can’t believe you’re a dad, Bucket.”

“Oh, look at her.” Maria Barilla stood there with the Russo pack. “Our Buttons has a team. Awww. I'm over the moon happy for her.”

Cooter just stood there, jaw dropping. “That’s…”

“Mia.” Gwen’s brother Luca came over and gave her a hug, his tiny daughter still on his shoulders. “I’m so glad you came.”

“How could we not?” Maria grinned and started getting hugs from Gwen’s family.

Coach Hirata stood there. “Hey, boys.”

“Coach. You’re here.” I wasn’t expecting her to come. Tony from the rink was also here.

“This is my favorite part. Four signed, and it’s only December. Gio? What the fuck are you doing here, old man?” She fist-bumped Gio Russo.

“See the goalie in pink? I taught her to skate.” Gio beamed. “Almost had her convinced to be defense. Then Mia had to introduce her to Callahan, and she decided she wanted to be a goalie like them.”

She laughed. “I’m glad she did.”

AJ came over to us and his face broke out into a wide grin. “Coach Hirata!”

She grinned and hugged him. “AJ.”

Of course, she must have been his coach, too.

“Hi. Did I miss it?” A beta guy appeared, wearing a baby who had on ear protection that made her look like she was wearing space buns. He clutched a sign that said Baby’s First Game.

“It’s warmups still. Does Morgan know you’re here?” Tenzin asked, surprised. “Clark, this is Jacen.”

“Hi, Jacen, Hi Aden.” I waved.

“Hey.” Jacen pulled Tenzin to him and snapped a picture. “Now she does. Cooter!” He high-fived Cooter. “Fuck, I miss going to hockey games so much. I need nachos. Morgan and Ilya make us eat too much healthy shit.”

Gwen and her friend kept coming over with pucks for the kids and babies. Even with all her gear, she radiated joy. I was so happy for her.

“She looks happy.” Scary Dad came over to us. Popi . The one who hired the guards for her.

First Dad was with him. Papa . The one whose brother was Gwen’s bio dad, the hockey player.

He gave us a pointed look. “Don’t break her heart.”

“We won’t if you don’t,” Tenzin said. It was very much a challenge. Because we saw her family dynamics yesterday and how they didn’t always listen to her, or consider her needs, while she gave them the benefit of the doubt over and over.

“Fuck, I’ll try not to. Never meant to. I wish my brother and her mom were here to see this.” First Dad shook his head.

“She does, too,” I told him. “Her nonna, as well.”

Yesterday Gwen had shown me pictures of her bio-dad-the-hockey-player, her mom, and many other things–like her painting and her truck. Her brother Luca had also made her an album, with photos of Mario, including a lot of hockey ones.

First Dad held up a sign that said Proud of My Buttons and thumped on the glass. Gwen saw it and waved, then dove to stop a puck. I realized he also wore a jersey for Venezia with the name D’Angelo on it.

All four dads stood next to each other, holding up their signs.

A man in a suit came down and shook hands with First Dad. “It’s so good to see you, Tomasso. Wow, it’s been a long time.”

“It has. Thanks for helping us out with all the extra tickets. We… we couldn’t miss this,” he told him.

“I had no idea Mario had a daughter, let alone one who played hockey,” he said.

“Gwen likes to make her own way. Just like Mario did, when he changed his last name in school, because he didn’t want someone to pick him because of his mother.” First Dad laughed. “Oh, these are her boys. They play hockey, too.”

We found ourselves shaking hands with the owner of the Belugas.

“So many Knights here,” he commented. “Wait, is that Maria Barilla?”

“Gwen is special.” First Dad beamed.

That she was.

We all watched as warmups finished, then went to our seats. I wasn’t sure where her family was sitting, but somehow Dimitri had gotten a giant box for Gwen’s Knights family. Also, I wasn’t sure where Jacen was originally going to sit, but he ended up in the box with us.

I put my arm around Tenzin, as we stood next to the glass to watch the lineups be announced and their intros. Asher watched with interest, though Aden was fast asleep.

“Aaaand tonight’s starting goalie, making her debut as a Tigre, is Vancouver’s own, Gwen Di Rossi,” the announcer said as the Tigre’s music played and another announcer repeated in Spanish.

Gwen skated out in her pink gear with her 0 on the back.

My heart felt full. She was living her dream. Just like we were.

“She’ll come back to us, right? While I know we can make it work, what if she finds someone else?” I still feared letting her out of my sight. She’d be in another country, without us. She’d meet many people.

But we had to let her go and hope she came back to us.

She’d come back to us.

“She’ll come back. We also have each other. Always.” Tenzin gave me a kiss.

First thing would be to get the repairs on the townhouse done quickly, so when she came back we could take her to her home and show her that she belongs with us.