Epilogue
A iden
One Year Later
The sound of blades carving ice fills the arena as I watch my team run drills. “Sebastian, get your head out of your ass! Caleb’s coming up your six!” My voice booms across the rink, and I can’t help but smirk as Sebastian snaps to attention.
Fuck, a year ago, I was the one getting barked at during practice. Now I’m the one doing the barking.
Life’s got a twisted sense of humor sometimes.
My mind drifts back to our first game, the nerves, the excitement, the hunger to prove ourselves. We’ve come a long way since then. National news coverage, increased ticket sales, a growing fan base - we’re no longer the underdogs. Going into our second year, I know we have a real chance to take this all the way.
“Gonzalez, take point,” I call out, assigning positions. “Parker, half-wall. Control the puck, be ready to dish to Anderson or take the shot if you’ve got daylight. Keep your damn head up.”
As the guys nod and get into position, I catch Jax’s eye. He’s wearing that shit-eating grin he’s had since we were kids, and calls out, “Look at you, Mr. Big Shot Captain.” I flip him off, but I’m grinning too. A year ago, we were just two buddies living out our dream of playing pro hockey together. Now? We’re building something bigger than both of us.
Coach’s whistle pierces the air, and everyone freezes. That’s my cue. I skate out to center ice, the ‘C’ on my jersey still feeling a bit like a prank someone’s playing on me. If you’d told me a year ago, I’d be wearing the captain’s jersey, I would’ve laughed in your face. But here we are.
“Listen up, you degenerates,” I start, my voice echoing in the now-quiet arena. “We’ve got some new plays to nail down. I need everyone’s head in the game. Our season opener’s against the Toronto Reapers, and I’m not about to let those pricks show us up on our own ice.”
A murmur runs through the team. The Reapers have a rep for being nasty bastards on the ice, all aggression and granite defense.
“I know what you’re thinking,” I continue, “and yeah, they’re tough. But so are we. And we’ve got something they don’t - we’ve got something to prove.”
Jax pipes up, “Isn’t that Katarina’s brother’s team?”
I nod, smirking. “Yeah, which means we’ve got inside intel courtesy of Aurora’s best friend.” The guys chuckle.
“Speaking of Katarina’s brother,” I continue, “word is Griffin’s been running his mouth about how the Reapers are gonna wipe the ice with us. Apparently, he told Katarina we’re ‘easy pickings’ for their season opener.”
This gets a rise out of the guys, especially Jax. He and Katarina have been dancing around each other for months now, and I can see the fire in his eyes at the thought of showing up her brother.
“Griffin’s always been a cocky son of a bitch,” I add, remembering the few times I’ve met him at Katarina’s get-togethers. “But he’s also got the skills to back it up. Their power play is no joke, and their penalty kill is tight as hell. We’re gonna have to bring our A-game.”
I pause, letting that sink in. “But here’s the thing—Griffin doesn’t know us. He doesn’t know what we’ve built here. And he sure as hell doesn’t know what we’re capable of when we’re backed into a corner. So let’s use that. Let’s show him and the rest of the league that the Cyclones aren’t just some expansion team pushovers. We’re here to fucking compete.”
The energy in the room shifts, determination replacing any lingering doubts. I can feel it - we’re ready to prove ourselves, not just to Griffin and the Reapers, but to the entire league . “Let’s show those fuckers what the Cyclones are made of.”
“Yeah!” The guys whoop and holler, and I feel that familiar rush. This is what it’s all about— the challenge, the chance to prove ourselves. It’s what’s gotten me through some real shitty times, and it’s what brought me here, to this team, to this moment.
As Coach blows the whistle, we’re off. I slice across the ice, the cold air biting my face. It still gets me, every damn time. A year ago, I was just trying to prove I belonged here, that I wasn’t some has-been looking for one last shot. Now, watching our rookies mesh with the vets, I feel something I’m not used to. Pride, I guess.
We might not have made the playoffs last season, but for our first year? We gave those veteran teams a run for their money.
By the time Coach calls it, we’re all drenched in sweat, but there’s an energy humming through the team. We’re ready for this season. We’re fucking hungry for it.
As we file off the ice, trading fist bumps and ‘good jobs,’ I spot a familiar figure by the locker room. Aurora. My heart does this stupid little flip that it always does when I see her, and I can’t help the grin spreading across my face.
I nod acknowledging her, ignoring the kissy noises from the guys as we head into the locker room.
A year ago, I might’ve decked someone for that shit. Now? I just roll my eyes. “Don’t hate me ’cause you’re all sad, single fucks,” I call out as I start stripping off my gear.
After a quick shower, I head out to meet Aurora. “Hey, princess,” I say, giving her a quick kiss. “Thought we were meeting at home.”
As I pull back, I notice something in her eyes. She looks excited, but there’s something else. Nervous, maybe? It reminds me of the night I proposed, fumbling with the ring like some teenager putting on a corsage at prom. Or when she brought home our puppy (who, despite my threats, I’ve grown to love almost as much as Aurora).
“I know,” she says, fidgeting with her purse. “But I couldn’t wait. And Katarina was about ready to strangle me for freaking out, so I came here.”
I nod, curiosity and a bit of worry creeping in. “Alright. What’s going on?”
“I’m late.”
I frown, not getting it. “Late for what? Shit, did I forget date night or something? I’m sorry, babe. I’ll make it up to you, I swear.”
She shakes her head, then digs in her purse and pulls out a stick with a pink plastic tip. She hands it to me, and I stare at it like it’s a fucking alien artifact.
“What am I supposed to do with this?”
Aurora puts her hands on her hips, giving me that look that’s half I love you and half you’re an idiot.
“Really, Aiden? I know you take pucks to the head for a living but come on.”
I can’t help but grin. A year together, and she still makes me feel like some lovesick kid. “Hey, not all of us can be brainiacs like you. Spell it out for us simple folk, will ya?”
She giggles, and the sound does things to me I can’t even explain. Our relationship hasn’t all been smooth sailing - we’ve had our share of fuck-ups and misunderstandings. But we’ve weathered every storm together, coming out stronger on the other side.
“Here’s simple for you,” Aurora says, her eyes sparkling. “I’m pregnant.”
The world screeches to a halt. I look back down at the stick in my hand, finally getting it. “Holy shit,” I whisper.
Aurora giggles again, and I’m transported back to that night I proposed. I’d been so fucking nervous, sweating bullets and tripping over my words like I’d never talked to a girl before. But when she said yes when I saw those tears in her eyes? I knew I’d made the right call.
“You’re pregnant,” I say, the words feeling weird and wonderful on my tongue.
Aurora nods, but her smile starts to fade as I stand there like a statue. “Is that... is that okay?”
Her uncertain tone snaps me out of it. Without thinking, I scoop her up, spinning her around. “Okay? This is fucking amazing!”
My shouts bring the guys out of the locker room. When Jax pokes his head out, I point at him, unable to contain my excitement. “You’re gonna be an uncle, asshole! I’m gonna be a dad. I’m gonna be the best fucking dad ever!”
As Aurora laughs and the guys call out their congratulations, I’m hit with a weird sense of déjà vu. It wasn’t that long ago we were in a similar situation—Aurora telling me she might be pregnant, me freaking the fuck out about maybe being a dad. But this time, instead of panic, all I feel is joy and excitement.
I look down at Aurora, seeing all that love and happiness in her eyes, and I’m floored by how far we’ve come. I used to be a guarded, angry son of a bitch, too scared of getting hurt to let anyone in. Now, I’m about to start a family with the woman I love more than anything in this damn world.
“I love you, princess,” I say, my voice rough with emotion.
“I love you too, Aiden,”
As I lean down to kiss her, I’m struck by how right this feels. Kissing Aurora has always felt like coming home, but now, with our kid growing inside her, that feeling is cranked up to eleven.
When we break apart, I’m aware of the team still watching us, their excited chatter a backdrop to our moment. I look over at Jax, seeing the mix of happiness and protectiveness in his eyes. “You better take care of them,” he says, his tone gruff but affectionate.
“Always,” I promise, and I mean it with every fiber of my being.
As the excitement starts to die down and the guys head back into the locker room, I turn back to Aurora. “How’re you feeling? You need to sit down? You hungry? I can go grab you something.”
Aurora laughs, shaking her head. “I’m fine, Aiden. I’m pregnant, not made of glass.”
I nod, trying to calm my racing thoughts. “Right, yeah. I just... I wanna do this right, you know? I wanna be there for you, for our kid. I wanna be the kind of father I never had.”
Aurora’s expression softens, and she squeezes my hand.
“You will be. You’re not your father, Aiden. You’re going to be an amazing dad!”
Her words hit me like a check to the boards, bringing back memories of my old man’s cruel words and indifference. But as I look at Aurora, at the trust and love in her eyes, I know she’s right.
I’m not my father. I never will be.
“We should celebrate,” I say suddenly. “Let’s go out tonight. Somewhere fancy.”
Aurora raises an eyebrow. “Fancy? Who are you and what have you done with my Aiden?”
I laugh, pulling her close. “Hey, I can do fancy when the occasion calls for it. And this definitely fucking calls for it.”
As we walk out of the arena hand in hand, I can’t help but marvel at how much my life has changed in just a year. I came to this team looking for a fresh start, a chance to prove myself on the ice. Instead, I found a family, a home, and a love I never thought I deserved.
The future stretches out before us, full of possibilities and challenges. There’ll be late nights and early mornings, diaper changes and first steps. There’ll be wins and losses on the ice, triumphs and setbacks. But as I look at Aurora, feeling the strength of her hand in mine, I know we can handle anything life throws our way.
“Hey,” I say, stopping her just before we reach the car. “I just want you to know... I’m all in. You, me, this kid - we’re a team. And teams stick together, no matter what.”
Aurora smiles, that radiant smile that never fails to take my breath away. “I know. We’ve got this, captain.”
The End