Hockey Imagines

99. #8 Drew Doughty (LA Kings)

"I miss him. Do you miss him too?"

She fastens her son's seatbelt and looks at his big, innocent eyes: "I miss him a lot."
During the ride to the arena, where the game is, she keeps herself busy by listening to radio, but she can't shake last night's conversation out of her head. Eventhough Drew promised her he would be at the game, she heard a shadow of doubt in his voice.

"You were just imagining things, Y/N. He said he would be at the game, you know he always keeps his promises," she mumbles to herself and turns up the volume a little bit.

"Mommy, are you mad?"

Carter's voice brings her back to reality as she realizes she has her son on the backseats. She looks at him in the rearview mirror: "Why do you think so?"
"Because you are drumming your fingers against the wheel."
"No, honey, I am not. Just nervous...about the job, nothing to worry about."

"Is it not because of dad being away?"

She quickly smiles and shakes her head: "No, Carter. Hockey is your dad's job..."
"Will it be mine too one day?"

After a moment of silence, she speaks up: "If you are going to believe and work hard, it will be."
"I will, mommy, I want to be just like dad."

After realizing his phone died during the night, Drew thinks he is going to lose it. Not only it's taking ages for the team to board on the plane, they also close the ramp due to thunderstorm, which doesn't seem like it will stop anytime soon. Nervous Drew repeatedly taps his foot against the airplane floor, driving his teammates insane. After being kicked again in the back, Ben Bishop turns around and glares at his teammate: "What's your problem?"

"Huh?"
"You are kicking me in the back and driving us all insane with your foot tapping."

"Oh, that. Sorry. I just want to get home soon..."

"We all do," Dustin Brown says from the seat next to Drew's. When Drew looks at him, he continues: "And you don't see us acting like nervous messes."

"Look, Carter has a game. And Y/N told me coach finally put him on the first line. I would like to see my son play, is there something wrong with that?"

"Carter made it to the first line?"
"Possibly. And I have missed almost all of his games..."

"Don't worry, you will get to his game. Maybe not on time, but you will."

~~

Drew's teammates were right – when they land, the game hasn't even started yet. And now Drew hopes he will get his gear and luggage quickly, which would make his arrival to the game possible. Maybe even on time. But things don't always go smooth and Drew's luggage is the last to come out of the airplane. By the time he gets it, his nerves are a mess and if his teammates thought he was annoying with his foot tapping and kicking the chair, they have never been so mistaken. His nails are now a bloodied mess and his hair is ruffled beyond recognition. After finally getting all of his stuff, he sprints to the parking house and thanks his wife again for insisting on him taking his car instead of a team bus. Now he will possibly catch the last two periods of the game. First thing he does after fastening his seatbelt is plugging in his cell phone. He has to let Y/N know he landed safely and is now on the road for his son's game.

~~

Ten minutes later, he parks his car in front of the arena and practically runs to the entrance. Keeping a steady pace, he hurries through now empty halls, checking his barely charged phone all the time. But he hasn't heard from Y/N since the night before and that makes him feel uneasy a bit. He knows he promised he would be there and he knows they both expected him to be there since the beginning...

He sees his wife as soon as he peeks through the door and calls her name: "Y/N!"

She turns around, but her eyes are empty when she sees him. After a short second, she turns around and focuses on the game. With no hesitation, he skips two stairs at the time and reaches her in the matter of seconds. As soon as he sits down next to her, he leans down: "I am sorry...my phone died."
"You promised you would be at the game... you know how sad Carter was when everyone came to the locker room with both parents and he was there only with his mom?"
"Honey, I am so sorry... the plane had a delay because of the storm... and to make things worse, it took ages for my gear to come."

"Convenient."

"Trust me, Y/N, I hoped we would get home on time..."

After not getting a word from her, he tries again: "How's Carter doing?"

"He seems... off. Barely keeps the possession of the puck and honestly, he doesn't seem like he is giving everything out there. I think you should go to the locker room during the intermission and let him know you are here."
"Will you go with me?"
"No. You have to talk to him. Not me."

"Are you mad at me?"
"A bit upset. But I should've known what marrying a hockey player means."

He puts his hand on her shoulder and a wave of relief hits him when she doesn't move away. Instead she puts her soft hand on his and smiles at him: "But I am glad you still came."

~~

During the intermission, Drew hurries to the locker rooms to see his son. And if he was nervous before, his fears disappears as soon as he sees his son's face light up. Not caring about wearing skates and a complete gear, Carter runs to his dad, his stick still in his hands: "Dad! Dad, you are here!"
"Of course I am, champ. I would never miss your game!"

"I wish you didn't come to this game... I suck."
"Hey, what did your mom and I tell you about bad words, huh? And you don't suck, you just haven't gotten a time to shine yet."
"But you always play so good."
"I don't, buddy. I have bad days, I mess things up...but you know what?"
"What?"
"I never give up. Even though your mom and you see me play bad, I never say I wish you weren't at the games. Because you two motivate me. More than anything, more than coach's yelling. You understand what I am saying?"
"I do...but what if I won't get a chance to shine today?"
"You are still my little champ, okay? And I am proud of you no matter what."

He doesn't realize Y/N followed him and is now leaning on the wall, watching two of her favorite men sharing dad-son moment. After seeing that, she once again gets a confirmation Drew is the right man for her and that his love for their children is never ending. So maybe tonight she can reveal they will be parents once again and that once again, baby's cry and joyful shrieks will fill their apartment.