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Shane Hollander was five years old when he found Evan. A little boy who was left alone in the middle of December in an Ottawa park. His parents decided to adopt him when no family was found. Evan grows up as Shane's little brother, always in his shadow, even as they play for different teams. With each other's support, can the two find their way in life and love?
Chapter Four
December 2009
Shane crashed into his brother as they celebrated their win. Canada defeated Russia at the International Prospect Cup. “We fucking did it!” Evan yelled out as he and the rest of the team circled around for a group hug.
“We fucking did,” Shane grinned at his brother as the others started to hand out congratulations and everything to each other.
It took a little while for the celebration to calm as they lined up for the handshake. Shane was in front of Evan. As his brother leaned toward Ilya as they shook hands and said, “I’ll see you in October,” he grinned.
Evan rolled his eyes as Ilya did the same. “It was a good game, you played amazingly,” Evan said to Ilya.
“You play good, like brother, but different enough to be dangerous,” Ilya nodded at him as he carried on down the line.
Evan grinned as Shane glanced back at him as soon as they had finished with the handshake line.
“He said something to you?” Shane asked. He had heard Ilya speak, but not what was said. Evan quickly told him. Shane nodded, “That was nice of him,” he said as he glanced back to where the Russian team were now heading out of the arena.
“Yeah, I know a lot of people are already calling him out for being an asshole, but… I don’t think he really is,” Evan frowned.
Shane shook his head, “He is an asshole, but not that much of one,” he said. Something in his voice made Evan look at his older brother. “What?” he asked.
“Nothing,” Evan said, shaking his head as they headed off the ice and toward the locker room.
“You did brilliantly today,” Shane told him, “And the rest of the tournament as well. We both played well, and I’m glad I was able to get at least one gold for this,” he said as he looked back at the ice before hurrying with the rest of the team to the locker room to get changed. Evan was one of the two youngest on the team, just like Shane had been the year before.
The two changed, their parents waiting for them outside, after coming on the ice and celebrating for a few moments before they were ushered off so the handshake line could happen.
“Well done,” David said once more as he hugged his sons in turn, “You played brilliantly, as always.”
“Yeah, we did well,” Evan grinned as his dad was soon replaced by his mom.
“Are you celebrating with a team meal?” Yuna asked as she let go of Shane.
Shane shook his head, “Yeah, there is,” he answered, “But parents are welcome to join in,” he added, grinning at his mom.
“Then we’ll do that,” David said as he got bright smiles from his sons. Most teenagers wouldn’t want their parents hanging around at such a thing, but Shane and Evan were happy to spend time with them.
They headed to meet with the rest of the team at the chosen restaurant and enjoyed the meal. Shane wandered off as soon as they got back to the hotel. Wanting to get some air and just have a few quiet moments on his own. Evan knew Shane would have tried to beg off dinner if it wasn’t for Evan being there.
Shane wandered off, going to the roof of the hotel, stepping out into the cold December air, and he glanced around. He couldn’t see anyone, but there were a few places where someone could hide. Shane walked over to the edge of the building, looking over the railing that was there at the busy street below. He closed his eyes, letting the white noise just fill the background as he let himself breathe. It was nice to just be on his own. No parents or brother, just being alone. He would have more chance when he arrived in Montreal in a couple of months. Just had to wait for his last season to be over in the junior leagues.
“You played a good game,” came a accented voice from behind him.
Shane turned around, seeing Ilya walking up behind him. “So did you, you’re hard to fuckign beat,” he grinned at him.
Ilya smirked as he walked over, “I have the end of season in Russia, before moving to Boston,” he said as he joined Shane at the railing. “I did not think I would see you before the flight tomorrow.”
“Same,” Shane said, though not sure why he would ahve been disapointed at not seeing Ilya in person, except on the ice.
“Your brother is impressive. Good winger,” he added as he looked over at Shane, “You work very well together.”
Shane smiled, nodding, “Yeah, our parents taught us to skate, and we grew up playing hockey with each other, in the peewee leagues, and that, as well as one-on-one with dad in goal. Was a lot of fun. My Dad played as well. He had an injury, didn’t go professional, but enjoyed playing when he could. He would teach us a lot. He played center too, but often went to right wing. So he got us trained up,” he told him, “What… what about you?”
Ilya was quiet for a moment. “My Mama taught me how to skate, she was figure skater, won gold when young, before marriage. Arranged marriage, not good one. Father was not nice. At all. But Mama taught me, she taught me to fly on ice. To be free like she had been.”
“She sounds wonderful,” Shane said softly, having a feeling that things didn’t end well there.
“Hm,” he nodded with a hum. “She was,” he said, confirming Shane’s thoughts. “She was the one to point me to hockey. I enjoyed it when I played. Was fun. Play to honor her.”
Shane smiled at him, a soft, sad smile. “That’s nice. Looking forward to moving to Boston?” he asked.
“Yes, I am going to billet with Marlow, as he has room. Will look for place of own soon,” he answered. “You and Montreal?” he asked, glancing over and leaning on the railing.
Shane looked at him and nodded, “Yeah, I’m going to be housed with another rookie. Hayden Pike. He’s a good player, a year older than us. Looking forward to it. Will be looking for my own place as soon as possible. May even be sooner; my mom’s been looking at brand deals at the moment for me. She’s going to be doing it for Evan as well, as soon as he’s drafted. Though he plans on doing what I did and remaining in the minors for one more year before doing his rookie season. He should be drafted in the summer, if things go well. There have been whispers about who might want him. We’ll find out in June.”
“He is good, very good, not as good as you,” Ilya said, “Third best player, you are second, I am first.”
“Asshole,” Shane snorted, leaning his back against the railing and looking back across the roof of the hotel.
“Yes,” he smirked, turning and taking the same pose as Shane. “It was nice to talk again. But the Bears will win. And I will beat you again, next time.”
“Not a fucking chance,” Shane grinned back at him.
“See you when we play against each other? Da?” he asked.
Shane nodded, “Yeah, yeah, we will,” he said, then blinked in shock when he felt Ilya move closer. He glanced at him as he leaned in. Ilya pressed a kiss against his cheek. “What?”
“Good game,” Ilya smirked as he walked away, facing him for a few steps before turning.
Shane reached up to his cheek and pressed against the place where Ilya had kissed him. “What the hell was that?” he murmured to himself as he blushed bright red. Standing there for a while longer before heading back down to his room. Ignoring his brother as he showered and changed for bed. His mind was still puzzling over the kiss and what it could mean.
XxXxX
June 2010
It was getting late, and Evan had been drafted, first pick. The teenager hadn’t been expecting it at all. The New York Admirals had been the ones to get him. Shane had told him he’d do well in the draft, but first round, first pick. That wasn’t what he expected at all, and he was still a little shocked about it. Evan sat in his room at the hotel. His brother was sitting across from him.
“You okay? You’ve been a little off since you were drafted,” Shane pointed out as he watched his brother sit there.
“I… I sometimes wonder what the bio parents and family would think about my life. Would they be happy with it? I don’t really remember much about them. I remember shouting, being hurt, and Maddie. She had a kind smile,” he said, “But I just wondered what they would think.”
Shane sighed, “Mom and Dad said they were never found,” he told him, “They know more, but that’s all I know. I know you weren’t well when you came to us. I remember finding you and Mom being worried. That I got the best Christmas present ever in the form of a little brother,” he smiled.
Evan smiled back, “Do you think Mom and Dad found anything out?” he asked.
“They may have done, but I know if they had learned something more, they would have said, would have told you about it. All you can do is ask them,” Shane told him, “You know that.”
“I do,” he said, squirming akwardly on the bed, as he stared at his hands, “But… I don’t want to hurt them, by bringing it up. They took me in and they didn’t ahve to Shane. They didn’t. But they did, they love me, care about me, want me to do my best and be my best,” he sighed, “And I know that. I don’t want to hurt them by asking about people that… basically abandoned me and never even cared if I had died in that snow.”
Shane got up and went over to his brother’s bed, holding him. “They know that, and they’re prepared for questions. They’ve always been prepared for that. I know Mom and Dad. They would be happy to answer anything you ask. Maybe they heard something, or maybe they haven’t. All you can do is ask.”
Evan looked at him, his eyes shining with unshed tears. “I do want to ask, but I’m scared I’ll fuck this all up.”
“Ev,” Shane sighed a little, “All you can do is ask. And they won’t begrudge you that, little brother.”
Evan nodded, “I know,” he murmured. “Just… everythings going to change. I’m doing what you did, and doing my last season in juniors. See if I get to go to Prospect again.” Evan smirked as he glanced at Shane, “I want to get a second gold, unlike you.”
“Little shit,” Shane said, knocking his brother off the bed.
Evan laughed, glad of the change in topic and vibe that was in the room. “Well, I won’t have to compete against Rozanov this time,” he grinned at him.
“Yeah, I know, I’m looking forward to playing against him. This stupid rivalry thing, though. Not sure what to make of it. We’re just… competitive,” Shane frowned, trying to think of the words that could describe what he felt toward Ilya. He put a hand on his cheek, blushing as his brother looked at him.
“What’s going on?” he asked him, getting off the floor and looking down at his big brother. Though Evan had already overtaken him by the time he was sixteen, Shane was annoyed with the fact that he’d not grown a bit since he was nineteen. Evan was just shooting up and was now a towering six-foot-tall, and Shane had a feeling he wasn’t done yet.
“Nothing, nothing, honest,” Shane said, moving his hand away from his face and trying to control the blush, though he knew it wouldn’t work. It never did.
“Shane,” Evan began, “You know you can talk to me about anything, as well. We’re brothers; what we say to each other remains with each other only. Mom and Dad don’t know our secrets.”
Shane nodded, “I know that, always,” he smiled, “But sometimes, I just need to think on things myself.”
“Alright, but if you want to talk to me, you know where I am. It’s going to be so weird to not have you around. And then next year I’m going to be in New York,” he huffed.
“I know, it is, and Mom’s wishing you had been drafted somewhere else for all of five minutes and then thinking about the brand deals she might be able to get you,” Shane said, knowing that he had a shoot with CCM in about a week. Evan would be doing something next year, but their Mom was already working things for Evan, just like she did for Shane.
“I am not looking forward to it,” he muttered, seeing some of the things their mom had set up for Shane over the last couple of months as they headed for the start of the 2009/10 season.
“Come on, let’s get some sleep. Show and get dressed, I’ll message Mom and Dad that we’re turning in,” Shane said as he got up, ushering his brother to grab his things and go to the bathroom. Evan did as he was told as the brothers got ready for bed.
XxXxX
It took two days before Evan got up the courage enough that he finally talk to his parents. Shane was out meeting with Hayden Pike in Montreal. Wanting to get to know the man he would be living with until he was able to get his own place in Montreal. Evan had already been told he would be staying with Scott Hunter when he joined them in New York next year.
“Mom, Dad,” he said as he walked into the living room. His parents were watching something on TV, which one, Evan couldn’t say. He was standing there, nervously, as he looked at the two people who had opened their home to him.
“Evan, sweetheart,” Yuna said, seeing the nervous look on her youngest son’s face.
“I just…” he trailed off, “I don’t even know what I should say.”
“You can tell or ask us anything, you know that,” David said, as he patted the chair near him, “Come on, sit down.”
Evan sat down and looked at his parents. “I just… wanted to know what you were able to find out about my past, about the people that left me here?” he asked finally.
Yuna smiled, getting up, “We didn’t find anything,” she said, “But I’ve had a copy of your police report for a while.”
“I-” he began, only to cut himself off.
“We were expecting the question at some point, Evan,” David told him, “It’s natural to be curious. I just wish we had something more to tell you about them.”
Evan gave a small smile as Yuna walked back over, handing him a folder. “What’s this?” he asked, taking it from his mom.
“This is everything we could get on you. It’s not much at all. It’s basically everything we learned in those first few days when you were at the hospital. You were feverish and ill, but you talked a little while you weren’t fully with it,” Yuna told him, kissing his head.
Evan looked at it and opened it as soon as his parents were sitting down. It was a medical report at first about Evan’s condition. The bruisings and malnutrition. Dehydration as well. Just everything that he knew for the most part about how he was found and his condition. The next page was a police report. Detailing where Evan had been found, and the things that Evan had said about his birth family: a sister, Maddie, and parents. No last name given at all. A vague idea of when his birthday was, and his age when he had been found. Multiple cities across Canada had been contacted about a possible missing child. None had come back with anything. They had even expanded the search to some of the American towns and cities across the border.
“They found nothing?” Evan asked as he looked at the two of them.
Yuna shook her head, “No, not a thing. No mention of a missing child, nothing. You have a very distinct birthmark,” she added, “but no one was missing that matched you at all. I think I went to several towns and cities over the first three years of you being with us. To try and find something, anyhting out about you. Just so we know some of your past, of the birth family you had been with.”
Evan nodded, reading through some of the things he could only vaguely remember. “I…” he sighed, head going down as he didn’t know if he could look at his parents. He almost jumped when he felt arms going around him. He closed his eyes as he felt the warm embrace of his dad. David was always his safe space. A gentle man who always had time to be with his sons.
“It’s okay to want to know about them, son,” David told him, “We’ve been waiting for you to ask since you were a kid. We both know what it’s like to be curious about your past. While we have family around to talk to us, you don’t have that. And we wished that we could give it to you.”
“I have family dad,” Evan said, “I have you, Mom, Shane, and everyone else too. I just was curious as to why they didn’t want me. That… was mainly it,” he told them both, “Knowing that you didn’t find anything, to me, it means they never wanted me and no one knew about me. Since someone would have said something about a missing kid if I was known. I just wonder what they did with Maddie. She was there, I remember that she was always there to make the hurts better.”
David nodded, sharing a look with Yuna. Wishing they had the answers.
Great update. Shane and Ilya are sweet. Evan being drafted first pick is amazing. I wonder if Maddie saw the news about Evan. I love how this is going.
Great update and introduction.
poor kid, that must hurt a lot. just to not know like that, ouch.
his sperm and egg donors really suck.
lovin’ this story!
ok so he didn’t get drafted to a team in the west (I think that’s where the show was?!). But ilya is so smooth a light kiss on the cheek? Sa-woon! this is so fun! Great chapter!