#dad!jack

[astars-things]

Dad!Jack x mom!reader at their family skate and they’re getting interviewed with their baby babbling in his arms

Family Skate

Dad!Jack Hughes x Mom!Reader 

The cool air of the rink was refreshing, a crisp contrast to the warmth of Jack’s body as he held his little girl close. She was bundled up in a tiny New Jersey Devils jersey, her chubby hands clutching at the fabric while she babbled happily. Jack couldn’t help but smile down at her, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

“You’re having fun, huh, baby?” he murmured, adjusting his grip on her as he skated around effortlessly.

Your daughter giggled in response, her tiny fingers reaching for his face. She loved the feeling of gliding across the ice, even if she wasn’t doing much of the skating herself. Jack had been excited about this family skate for weeks—ever since the Devils set up a special event where players could bring their families onto the ice. You were skating beside them, laughing as you tried to capture the moment on your phone.

“She’s a natural,” you teased, watching as your daughter babbled something that sounded a lot like “dada” again.

Jack grinned. “Of course, she is. She’s got Hughes blood in her.”

Just as he said that, one of the Devils' media team members approached with a camera crew in tow. “Jack, Y/N, do you mind if we grab a quick interview?”

You nodded with a smile, gliding over beside Jack as the camera focused on the three of you. Your daughter squirmed slightly in his arms, her big eyes staring curiously at the microphone being held out toward him.

“Alright, we’re here with Jack Hughes, his wife Y/N, and their little one,” the interviewer began, smiling at the sight of your baby girl chewing on her sleeve. “Jack, how does it feel having your daughter out here for family skate?”

Jack’s eyes softened as he looked down at his daughter. “Oh, it’s the best. I mean, I spend so much time at the rink, and to be able to share this with her and Y/N… it’s special.” He bounced your daughter slightly in his arms, making her giggle. “She loves it. Might have a future hockey player here.”

You laughed. “I don’t know, Jack. I think she just likes being carried around while you do all the work.”

Your daughter let out an excited squeal, reaching out toward the microphone. The interviewer chuckled and held it closer, and your little girl immediately started babbling into it.

Jack’s face lit up with pure adoration. “Got something to say, baby?”

Your daughter smacked the mic with her tiny palm, her unintelligible babble filling the speakers. Everyone around you laughed as she continued, her little voice enthusiastic and full of energy.

“She’s stealing the show,” the interviewer said with a grin. “What do you think she’s saying, Jack?”

Jack hummed, pretending to interpret her baby talk. “She’s saying, ‘My dad is the best hockey player ever, and I love him so much.’”

You playfully rolled your eyes. “I think she’s saying, ‘My mom is the best, and I want a snack.’”

At the word “snack,” your daughter’s eyes widened, and she immediately reached for you, making grabby hands. “Mama!”

The entire crew melted at the sound, and Jack pouted dramatically. “Oh, come on! I was carrying you this whole time, and now you want Mom?”

Your daughter was relentless, though, so you took her from Jack’s arms, pressing a kiss to her chubby cheek. She settled against you, thumb in her mouth as she stared curiously at the camera.

“I think that means this interview is over,” you joked.

Jack wrapped an arm around you, leaning in to press a kiss to the top of your head before turning back to the camera. “She runs the show, what can we do?”

The interviewer laughed. “Well, I think we got the cutest interview ever. Thanks for your time, Hughes family.”

As the camera crew walked away, Jack turned to you, his eyes shining with love. “That was adorable.”

You nodded, rocking your daughter gently. “She’s got your spotlight charm already.”

Jack chuckled, lacing his fingers with yours as you both skated off the ice. Family skates might just become your favorite tradition.

[softsunnyy]

to make her happy !

even though she's not his actual daughter, he'd give his life for her. Whatever it takes to see her happy and safe. So when she asks him if he's leaving both of you because of his work, he's willing to become the greatest artist in the world just to show her he'll always be there for her.

🚨 nothing really, just a little bit of angst. And Jack isn't the biological dad.

Kat it's the name of the little girl, inspired by one of the princesses from barbie and the 12 dancing princesses 🚨

poorly written.

when Jack came into your life, he never imagined everything would take a complete turn for him. He was used to hockey, the lake house, going out to the bar with his teammates, having summer parties, and enjoying his "freedom" by sleeping with girls, or having relationships that didn't last long.

Jack wasn't used to long commitments, since his career was a thousand times more important than answering the 100 texts he gets if he doesn't answer the first call.

but when he met you at that newly opened bookstore, he was immediately attracted to you. And of course, the first thing he tried was to win you over, but you didn't want to give in, even though everything in your reactions indicated you reciprocated.

and you weren't going to deny it. God, Hughes is one of the most attractive and charming guys you've ever met, but since your last relationship, you preferred to focus on Kat and wait for her to grow up a little before even thinking about dates or hookups.

and you didn't really care about all that, so you continued to decline each invitation, without disrespecting him, just politely telling him you didn't feel like it.

however, this back and forth allowed Jack to get to know you, learn about you, your tastes, your habits, and little by little, it became routine to visit you at work, making up silly excuses about books just to hear your sweet voice. And so, without knowing it, he became conditioned, becoming addicted to your smile, to the way you laugh when he says something stupid, to your entire personality. To you.

and that led him to try harder and harder, without realizing everything he was leaving behind.

he began to give up parties, going from saturdays blasting loud music at home to saturdays talking for hours with you in the bookstore, leaning on the counter or helping you organize books.

and he began to gain your trust, you can't deny it. Because you knew what his intentions used to be, but you could also see how committed he was to just getting to know you, to learning more about who you are behind the physical attraction he felt.

still, he still didn't know about Kat, and you didn't know how to bring it up after a while, so you tried to make it natural, letting him see some pictures, awkwardly mentioning her in anecdotes, until he dared to ask.

and of course, he wanted to meet her afterward, but you weren't going to allow it. Not so easily.

you didn't want to get your hopes up, for your sweet little girl to get used to and attached to someone who might still only want you physically, who could vanish at any moment.

you didn't want to hurt her, even though she was still a baby and didn't understand many things.

so Jack was patient, taking the time to earn your trust, managing to take you on one date, and another, and another, until you fell completely for him, opening not only your heart to him, but also a direct pass into your little girl's life.

and when Jack met her? oh, it was as if a thousand things made sense for the first time. There, with his hand on your waist, watching you rock her, he felt at home. It felt right. And he knew that's where he always wanted to be, even if it meant leaving a part of his youth, the immaturity and freedom he used to have.

he couldn't help but bond with you both when that little girl, barely opening her eyes, took his finger in her tiny hand, squeezing it with her little strength, while the world felt so giant around her.

Jack then knew he had to protect her.

so he got involved.

he spent the next few years of his life being a father figure to Kat, even though her biological dad was still out there, on the streets of Newark, pretending he didn't have a daughter, a past.

and he grew attached. Oh, how he grew attached.

he watched her leave your breast, start to grow her first teeth, say her first words, take her first steps, have her first pigtails, become more aware of her own existence, and he couldn't be more proud, happy.

his world feels more complete, and people call him dad of the year every time they see him wave to the little girl in the glass near the ice.

god, she even has different jerseys with his number, with the word "daddy" on the back.

and Jack feels like he knows everything, that he's prepared for everything life can throw at him when it comes to her, because he knows the right path will always be the one that protects her and makes her happy.

but what he's not ready for… is when he's no longer enough. When his job starts interrupting quality time now that Kat is 4, almost 5, and she's constantly talking, and trying to include him in her life.

Jack feels like he's not seeing her live her childhood with every day he's away, and his heart breaks and melts every time he calls you and you show him the drawings the little girl is making because she misses him.

just imagine when she told him. When she stood in front of him, unsteady, with her sticky little fingers and her big, bright eyes, and asked him if he was leaving you, not understanding the weight of her question, and not understanding why the young man's eyes were turning a little glassy.

and he knows she doesn't do it on purpose, but it hurts, it hurts so much to know that the distance between him and his little girl is growing ever wider. So he asks you for help, for advice. He asks you about her all the time and tries to be there. But nothing ever feels enough.

and everything gets worse when Kat's birthday starts to approach, and he doesn't know if he'll be able to make it in time, to be there to wake her up like every year and with you give her the best of days, where the little girl only knows how to smile until her cheeks hurt, until her eyes close on their own, and she's exhausted all her energy being free and playing.

what's he supposed to do? how can he be in two places at once? it feels impossible, so the two of you try to find a solution. You spend hours and hours talking, trying to come up with a plan, until finally, an idea begins to take shape.

but he can't do it alone.

so, Kat and you travel to Michigan to see his family while he asks some of his friends to buy certain materials and tools, and come to his house to start part of the job while he arrives.

god, Jack hasn't bothered hammering, painting, moving furniture, or even thinking about decorating for a long time. But for her, just to see her happy, he's willing to do anything. So when he finally touches the floor of his house, he's unstoppable.

and those are tough days, when he empties the little girl's room and, together with his friends, takes on the task of painting it once more, trying to bring out artistic talents they didn't really have; using contacts, and any kind of help to make the place feel like those princess stories he knows she loves.

because Jack paid attention to every conversation, to every babble the little girl uttered while watching barbie and the 12 dancing princesses for the first time, or when she watched tangled, the princess and the frog, and all those movies. He paid attention to how her eyes filled with sparkle and excitement when the princesses learned that by dancing on the flowers painted on the floor they could reach that magical place. He paid attention to the times she tried to imitate them, trying to spin, and falling unsteadily in each attempt.

Jack knows that Kat loves to dance, that she loves the princesses, the stories, the illusion. And he knows that her previous decor looked like it belonged on a much younger baby, and that he needed to update it to something that matched her current tastes, so… why not?

he'd do anything to see her happy, even if it meant calling his sweaty, idiot friends to build a fairytale room, having to bribe them with alcohol, with fun after the help.

he'd do it a thousand times just for her. To remind her he wasn't going anywhere. Because calling her for her birthday wasn't enough.

he'd do it a thousand times because it's all worth it when she walks into the room and gasps, staring with wide eyes at absolutely everything, from the drawings on the ceiling, to the tangled lamps, and the flowers, and the huge draw of peter pan on one of the walls.

it's all worth it when she sees the huge drawing on the floor in front of her bed. That circle with the 12 flowers.

everyone watched in silence as she took small steps, trying not to trip on her white dress (like a princess), until she reached the drawing and tried to spin over one of the flowers, this time without falling, surprising everyone, including herself.

"dad, i did it!" she said, in that little and sweet voice, as she ran into Jack's arms. He laughed and picked her up, placing a sweet kiss on her cheek, feeling a warmth in his chest knowing he was making her happy.

and yes, he knows that a material gift isn't proof of his love, but he also knows that she'll think of him every time she enters her room, and as she grows up, this will be one of her reminders that he listens to everything she says, that he pays attention and tries to make her happy, even when they're not in the same place.

and he knows that a material gift often doesn't mean much to people, but you have no doubt what this meant to her, because you can see it in her face, in how happy she is, in how she looks at Jack as if he'd given her the entire universe.

you know that even though everything was fragile for a moment, this detail helped them, reminding her that Jack would always be there for her. Because he chose them, because by falling in love with you, he joined a different life, and he welcomed her with open arms, even when he didn't know what was coming.

because Jack loved to have fun and live the crazy life, but nothing will compare to how much he loves coming home and melting into your arms as he feels his daughter cuddle in his, welcoming him home, letting him know she's his biggest fan, and that he'll always have someone that will make his days fun and dynamic no matter what.

[rowdyluv]

𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞 ʲʰ⁸⁶

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: cherry and bubba give their momma the scare of her life in the middle of prudential on a game day. who else but Jack to be the one to find them?

𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 1.4k

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: missing kids, panicked mom, not much of a x reader, filler/starter

𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: ^ as said this is more of a starter piece for the au. also please remember that this 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐢𝐜𝐞 @capquinn @star2fishmeg @crumpledcat @bewaryofpity (we miss aimes in this house she’s still mentioned because she started this!! the og bug is also alluded too in this 🥺)

© property of rowdyluv ; do not copy and re-upload as your own - anywhere. - do not place my work inside AI codes, do not translate.

Y/n had brought her twins, Cherry and Bubba, to the bustling Prudential Center for an exciting afternoon. They had just settled into one of the quieter staff areas, a brief respite from the chaos outside. The air had the smell of fresh popcorn and the distant murmur of eager fans filtering through the walls. The twins' eyes sparkled with excitement as they took in their surroundings, they definitely fit right in with their tiny devils jerseys on. Bubba sporting a ‘hat’ hat, while Cherry bad the cutest bows in her hair.

“You two sit right here and play, okay?” Y/n directed her two year olds handing them their favorite plushies before turning her attention towards her camera.

Her eyes narrowed as she fiddled with the camera lens, her mind racing through the shots she could have missed because of the foggy filter. Its the first home game with her new job as the media director of the New Jersey Devils. The nerves she felt about potentially messing it all up were astronomical. She was so self asorbed in her thoughts and changing her lens she hadnt notice the silence that had taken over the room.

Her head whipped around to face where she had sat the twins down.

Empty.

No Cherry.

No Bubba.

Her heart skipped a beat, the room spinning as panic set in. The plushies lie discarded on the floor, as if the twins had been whisked away by a gust of wind.

"Cherry? Bubba?" she called out, her voice echoing in the empty space. The silence was deafening, broken only by the distant thud of a door slamming shut somewhere in the haze of corridors outside. The color drained from her face as she scanned the room, desperation clawing at her chest. She knew Prudential Center was vast and filled with thousands of fans, but she never thought she'd have to navigate its labyrinth in a heart-stopping search for her babies.

Her eyes darted to the door as a security guard ambled by. "Oh, thank God," she gasped, sprinting towards him. The guard, an older, burly man with a kind smile, looked surprised but immediately stood erect and alert as she reached him, panting. "I-I can't find my twins. They were just here. A little girl with two ponytails and bows and a little boy in one of the team ‘hat’ hats. Both wearing the black jersey. They..They’re only two! They don’t usually wander off…"

The guard's smile faded, replaced by a stern expression. "Ma'am, please calm down. We'll find them," he reassured her, his radio crackling to life as he called in the missing children. "What's your name and the kids' names?"

“My name is Y/n, and I call my babies by their nicknames. My babygirl is Cherry and my babyboy is Bubba or Bubs.” She went on to tell him their legal names as well, but asked that his team approach them by their nicknames.

The security guard , who wore a name badge labeled ‘Mike’ nodded, scribbled the information down on his notepad, and spoke into his radio. "All guards please be on the look out. Two missing children. Toddlers, twins, a girl and a boy. Last seen down in the media room, both wearing New Jersey Devils jerseys..." The message was met with a series of acknowledgments as the search began to unfold across the sprawling complex. “Ms. Y/n, you and I will linger closer to the media staff room that way if they wander back we will see them.”

Y/n nodded, her heart pounding so loudly in her chest that she feared it might drown out any distant cries from her babies. She felt like she was moving through a fog, the corridors stretching out before her like a never-ending nightmare. She tried to keep her voice steady as she called out their names, her eyes scanning every corner and crevice for a glimpse of their tiny figures. Her mind raced with fearful questions, regretful questions: why did I dress them in black? Why did I turn my back? Why had they left? Were they lost? Had someone taken them?

Mike, kept up a calm and reassuring demeanor. He led her through the back hallways, checking in with other staff members and security personnel as they walked around the surrounding area. Mike opening different rooms and checking while Y/n stayed out in the open hall. Y/n felt the weight of every second ticking by, each one heavier than the last. Her eyes stung with the threat of tears, blurring her vision as they moved from room to room. “I thought we were staying near the staff room?” She asked more to herself, not outwardly to Mike for answer. He was doing his job, and for her.

His radio spit to life once again and they both halted, awaiting any news.

“Sir, I have the twins.” A sweet young woman’s voice cracks through Mike’s radio. “They won’t leave Mr. Hughes, so all four if us will meet you in the staff room.”

Relief flooded through Y/n’s body so suddenly it felt like she might collapse. Her knees buckled in a sense of relief, her babies were found. But who did she say? She clutched the guard’s arm. Many of the same questions still ran through her mind. Why?

They rushed down the corridor, the sound of laughter growing louder, more distinct. Finally, they arrived at the staff room, where the young woman on the radio was waiting. She looked flustered but had a gentle smile on her face. "They're in here," she said, pointing to the open doorway.

Y/n pushed past her, heart in her throat, and there they were: Cherry, her cheeks flushed with excitement, giggling as she tried to climb onto Jack Hughes' broad shoulders, and Bubba, clutching Jack's hand with a wide grin that revealed his tiny baby teeth. The star player looked a bit bewildered but was clearly enjoying the twins' attention.

Y/n was blinded by pure joy her babies were safe that she wrapped Jack in a hug. A million thank yous falling from her lips.

Jack, taken aback by the sudden embrace, felt a warmth spread through him. He hadn’t expected this reaction from the usually composed Y/n, but he couldn’t deny the way her desperation and gratitude made his chest tighten.

“No biggy. I think its safe to say little bit here likes me.” He chuckles nodding his head at cherry who has successfully made it on to his shoulders.

Y/n can't help but laugh nervously as she gently takes cherry from his shoulders and holds her close. "How did you find them?"

Jack's eyes twinkle as he recounts the bizarre encounter. "Well, I walked in to get changed for warm ups, and there was Cherry sitting in my stall, with my jersey like it was a blanket. And Bubba, he was with Nico, playing some game." The twins looked up at them with their wide, innocent eyes, clearly enjoying their unexpected playtime with the towering athletes. "We didn't have a clue who they belonged to, but they were having the time of their lives, so we just kept playing. They had us wrapped around their little fingers," he admits, a touch of fondness in his voice. Jack looked at Cherry as she made grabee hands at him. “Cherry reminds me of my brother’s little girl.” He gently rubbed her cheek and she giggled. “I dont get to see Bug often enough so i loved having a moment to play with her. Bubs here would love to meet my younger brother’s boy.” Jack nudged Bubba’s hat down a bit, resulting in a huff accompanied by a stomp from Bubba.

Nico poked his head into the room, his expression a mix of relief and amusement. "Jack, Keefe is looking for you. Oh! Glad to see you found who the littles belong too," he said with a chuckle, nodding at the twins. Y/n couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for interrupting their pre-game routine. "I'm sorry, guys. I don't know how they even got down there. They hardly ever do things like that and when they do its at home!”

Jack, shrugged it off with a smile. "It's all good. They're pretty great little fans. I better go see what Coach needs," he said in a heavy sigh. Almost as if he didn’t want to leave just yet.

“Wait, Jack! If playing with the twins for that bit of time really made you happy…if you want we could..” She let her words stop when she caught the look he was giving her. His eyes full of hope, a small, soft smile gracing his lips. “Maybe, we.. uhm maybe we could set up a day for you to play with them? I mean since you miss your brother’s kid and all, not like to try and replace them or anything of course.” Y/n rambled nervously. Suddenly unsure why she started offering up her kids as a playdate to a professional athlete.

“Thanks Y/n. I can get Luke to bring Bud around too. How about we chat after the game?” Jack’s smile grew as he walked backwards towards the door but he ducked out before she could properly answer him. He left her standing there, holding Cherry and Bubba clinging to her pant leg, feeling entirely bewildered by what all just happened.

Because what the hell did just happen?

[sweetestcaptainhughes]

First Last Christmas

Word Count - 17.3k

Summary - Jack is starting to think this isn't his best idea, and Idris is starting to maybe regret her choice. Maybe agreeing so quickly to spend the holidays with her baby daddy who she broke up with 3 months isn't the best idea.

Warnings - none. just some family drama but who doesn't have family drama during the hoildays.

Author's Note: It is finally complete. Thank you for everyone who reads this AU and has been excited for this to come out. Thank you Allie for being my beta reader for a good 75 percent of this fic even though she's on vacation. 🫶🏻🫶🏻 This is the longest fic I have ever written so be kind. Consider this my Christmas present from me to you even if it's a little past midnight. 😂

Till Forever Falls Apart Masterlist

Roughly 2 weeks before Christmas…

Idris could physically feel her hand shaking as she rode up the elevator to her old condo - now known as only Jack’s and Luke’s - and it wasn’t anxiety that also made her cheeks feel flushed, it was anger. Idris was so angry with Jack that she could feel her jaw starting to hurt from how tight she clenched her teeth. She looked down at her phone to see if he thought to answer any of her messages about Christmas only to see a text from him asking her to text him when she was leaving her place with the kids. She found herself shaking her head in disbelief as she exited the elevator making the sharp right turn to walk down the hall to knock on her - she still couldn’t bring herself to think of Jack as anything other than Jack, the word ex made her stomach turn and she couldn’t call him her fiance anymore, she could say baby daddy but that only described the relation he had to their children not the impact he had on her, her heart, her life, so he was just - Jack. 

Taking a deep breath she stood in front of apartment 725, trying to make herself calm down even just a little before she faced him, she knocked heavily on the door. Jack answered almost immediately, it’s expected he was expecting her to drop the kids off to him on his day off. But the kids are still over at her little cozy apartment spending time with their Uncle Luke and Uncle Nico, because she needed time to talk to Jack about how he’s been avoiding all of her calls and texts about Christmas. 

“Hey guy-” He didn’t finish his greeting that was meant for his children and his smile dropped as his eyebrows frowned ever so slightly when he realized the kids weren’t with her. Idris isn’t sure if it was a conscious act or not, as he slightly boxed himself into the doorway more as if to not let her into his space. Even if it was a place that she decorated herself with him years ago, before Luke even joined the NHL and lived with them, before they ever even fell into their friends with benefits situation, back when Jack was just her guy best friend who she just so happened to meet due to a one night stand. Back when he was 19 and just got his first apartment and Jill was still stocking his fridge when he was due to come back from long roadies. “Where are the kids?” he sighed as he questioned her, as if he didn't have time for whatever she was planning. ‘Too bad’ Idris thought to herself, ‘Christmas is two weeks away and we have two children who believe in Santa. Time to act like an adult.’ 

“At my place with Luke and Nico. I needed to talk to you and I didn’t want listenin’ ears.” she explained, but she didn’t miss the way that Jack crossed his arms and looked annoyed. 

“So that’s why Luke was up so early this morning. Course he just had to run off to help you.” he snapped bitterly and Idris was finding it hard not to yell at him. ‘This is about the kids. Christmas. Kids. Christmas.’ she kept repeating to herself trying to get herself not to be roped into another useless fight with the man in front of her. 

“Jack, we both know he’s not doing it for me. He’s doing it because he loves his niece and nephew.” Idris tried reasoning with him. “But that’s not why I came here. Can you let me in? I really don’t want to do this in the hall.” Jack flashed an unreadable expression on his face, something unmistakingly softer than earlier, almost looking like the old Jack for a millisecond and then it was gone as quick as it came, as he stepped aside giving Idris room to step into the apartment. 

Idris couldn’t stop herself from word vomiting as she noticed that no decorations were out for Christmas, not even the children’s stockings were hung. “Where is the tree?” she asks as she slips her scarf and gloves, gently placing them in her coat pocket as she places it on the back of the chair, her heeled booties already off by the door looking like they never left beside her children’s and Jack’s array of shoes. 

“Didn’t feel like decorating.” he mumbled as he walked past her and sat down on the coach in the living room. “What do you want, Idris?” he asks as he picks back up his controller, Idris was fully prepared to scream thinking he was going to resume his game but was surprised and maybe even a little grateful when she realized he was just turning it off. 

“Well even if you don’t you “feel like it.” Zander is old enough to notice Jack.” she tries to speak softly, so it doesn’t come off as judgmental as she wants to be. Although her words still have a sharpness to them. “We need to talk about Christmas. You haven’t answered a single of the hundreds of texts I’ve sent trying to plan with you.” Idris adds, as she is reminded of the reason she came over in the first place, ‘the kids. Christmas.’ 

“Well maybe I didn’t feel like decorating this year.” he snaps, it isn’t harsh, kind of like how he snaps at the media when they repeat a question or ask something that isn’t logical, like the time they said ‘Quinn was like a brother to Jack.’ when he is in fact Jack’s older brother. But still, even if it wasn’t harsh, a little over a year ago, he would never even think to give her attitude when she’s just trying to be a good mom to their kids. “Also I liked the message Iddy. I got the toy alright.” he huffs, and it takes everything in Idris not to scream at the man sitting in front of her, manspreading, arms crossed, as if she is wasting his time.

“That’s not the point and you know it. Cool you got a toy off the internet congrats on doing the absolute bare minimum. For god sakes you haven’t even decorated Jack! Christmas is literally 2 weeks away! What the hell! I thought we agreed that the kids' happiness came first! And that includes Christmas. Do you think I wanted to decorate by my fucking self this year! No. Do you think I want to be standing here begging for you to look at me so we can talk about where our children are spending Christmas! No. I much rather be curled in bed with Luna doing nothing but here I am. Here I am! I am trying to co-parent with you! But how can I when you don’t answer any of my texts or calls trying to talk about what we're gonna do!” Idris yells, she doesn’t feel better, she feels like shit, she always does when she’s fighting with Jack, as if he is a vacuum that sucks all the energy out of her. She’s also close to tears, but Idris has always been one of those people that cry when she’s so angry she can barely think coherently. She looks at Jack from across the room and waits, waits for him to care enough to answer her. 

“I’m off for Christmas break, I thought the answer was obvious. I’m taking ‘em home to the lakehouse.” Whether it’s because Jack is speaking softly or the drumming in Idris’ ears is too loud from the anger she feels, she looks at him with disbelief. 

“What?” she breaths out. 

“Imma take ‘em home, Idris. You had them for Thanksgiving. It’s only fair I have them for Christmas.” Jack is standing now as if he’s preparing for a fight with her, but she can’t bring herself to fight, her body is in shock. Jack might have been an asshole and maybe that’s why she left, but he was never cruel and taking her children away from her on Christmas was cruel. 

“I took them to Ann Arbour for the long weekend to spend time with my family. I drove to the lakehouse 2 ½ hours away both ways so they could see their Uncle Quinn, your brother Jack. Then not even 30 hours later, I made the drive again so they could see you and Luke on Sunday. And spend time with you on the day you were free from hockey. Then I drove home alone” her voice cracked, she wished it hadn’t but it did and a dam of tears started streaming down her face like a hurricane banging on a screen door in the summer night. Suddenly Jack’s stomach started to hurt and his socks looked much more interesting than Iddy’s face.  “I drove home alone. Crying because of you! Because your words you had with me about not being there sooner with them! About how I was trying to ruin the holidays. So no.” Idris took a deep breath using her hands to speak as she made air quotes as she spoke “ I didn’t ‘get them for thanksgiving’ I shared them with you, and your family even if you weren’t there. I tried to be fair, and mind you I did it without talking to you because you refused to just like you are now. I know that you hate me for leaving, and I can live with that. But what I can’t live with is battling against me every goddamn fucking day because you’re not adult enough to have a fucking conversation about what’s best the kids. Because you know who you’re hurting when you do that Jack?” she asks him and Jack glances up from his feet feeling like he’s being scolded by his mother, deciding that it was probably a rhetorical question. “You might think it’s me, but it’s our kids. Zander doesn't understand why his mama and daddy live apart now. Zola who adores her father and who still is her favorite person, and she might be little but she isn’t stupid, she can feel the tension when we’re in the same room. If you want to spend your Christmas break at home fine but I am not spending Christmas without my kids.” Idris’ feels a migraine starting to brew with the amount of stress she is having, as she glances at the family room clock and realizes she’s been here for 10 minutes and nothing productive has been done. She runs her hands through her hair, its shorter now since she cut it, shaking it out and pulling at it,  as if pulling on her scalp will lessen the stress.

“So you wanna stay here?” the confusion is clear in his voice, she doesn’t have to look at him to know that. 

“No.” She exhales, looking up making eye-contact with him, his blue eyes boring into hers, it doesn’t matter the history when he looks at her at that all dumbfounded and confused like only she can bring him out of it, it makes her knees go weak. “We’re always home for Christmas. It’s just harder now.” 

“Because you left.” He mumbles to himself. 

“Actually not what I was thinking, more like Zander believes in Santa and all gifts for everyone and the kids have been shipped here. And how are we gonna get all the kids gifts in 2 checked bags, plus their strollers, and diapers and everything else they need for traveling. Let alone the fact we have Apollo and Luna now, and checking them into the animal hotel was fine for Thanksgiving but the kiddos missed them and cried about it all week.” 

The more Idris talks, the more it’s obvious how much thought she has actually put into this, and Jack feels guilty for causing her so much anxiety knowing that if he just wasn’t so stubborn they could have figured this out around Thanksgiving and not waited till 2 weeks before. Plus, if Jack was being honest with himself, he would have procrastinated even longer having this conversation with Iddy if she didn’t just show up on his doorstep and force him to talk. He was still so mad at her for leaving, he knew they were in a bad place, but he didn’t know it was that bad. Idris settles on the couch opposite of Jack and puts her hands on her head, leaning forward resting her elbows on her knees and Jack flinches; she only does that when she’s starting to get a migraine which she only gets because of stress. Stress that Jack caused and that doesn’t sit right with him. 

Jack's mouth slightly twitches, his palms getting slightly sweaty as he squeezes his knees with them and fights internally with himself. If this was even 10 weeks ago, he would walk over to her and hold her and tell her everything was gonna be okay. But that was before, and even though he knew he was only lying to himself to make himself feel better, he hasn’t done that in almost a year, holding her when she got too stressed out. Most of the time he just blamed her for working too much, or putting herself in the position she was in. “Fuck it” he mumbles to himself as he gets up and goes in front of Iddy, sitting on his knees as softly calls her name grabbing her hands as they are in little balls now and he knows she’s using her nails to put pressure on them, sighing when he sees all the little bright red  half moon imprints. “Idz.” he whispers, a nickname only he uses, he hasn’t used it in months but he hopes it helps bring her out of her head and back to him.

 “Idz, I’m sorry,” he speaks softly, and he grins when she finally looks at him. “You’re right I haven’t been good at communicating when it comes to the kids and it is selfish of me. And I knew it was stressing you out and I didn’t care. I’m sorry Idz.” His hand twitched in hers, he wanted to bring her palms up to his lips and softly kiss each mark she inflicted on herself but he didn’t wanna push it. She was letting him hold her hand, after he was a dick for weeks to her, simply for choosing herself. He settled on rubbing small circles with his thumbs into her hands. “Comeon’ Idz let’s look at a calendar ya?” He asks he still won’t speak above a whisper, he doesn’t want to shout anymore, he’s tired and he wants to finish planning so he can go pick up his kids and play with them before he has to drop them back off at Iddys because he has a 6 am morning skate time tomorrow due to being a game day. 

“Why that still doesn’t answer the question of where?” She squeaks out, and his heart hurts that she doesn’t get that they can go to Michigan and be home. 

“Iddy we’ve always gone home and that doesn’t have to change okay? I’ll drive up with all the presents if I have to alright?” 

“What about Apollo and Luna, you know she doesn’t like car rides or the plane but I don’t wanna leave her.” Jack resists the urge to take his thumb and pull at her bottom lip she’s chewing on, he hates when she chews on her lip as cute as it might look, because she never stops until it chewed raw, usually bleeding. 

“We can take Luna to the vet to get medicine to help with the car ride alright? And I can take them in the car. okay?” He’s not really asking if he can take them more if she has any questions about his plan so far. 

“Okay but where in Michigan.” 

“At home Idz.” He doesn’t have to say it, she knows there are only two places he calls home in Michigan, his moms and dads house he spent a few teenage years in, and the lakehouse he owned with Quinn. They have always hosted Christmas at the lakehouse for as long as they’ve owned it. 

“That doesn’t answer where I will stay? I don’t want to be away from the kids when they wake up on Christmas Day. This is the first year Zander is starting to understand the concept of Santa, I don’t wanna miss his face when he sees all the presents under the tree and all the cookies he laid out gone.” 

Jack chuckles, not because of her reasoning but because he can see Zander screaming his head off Christmas morning. It takes everything in him not to let his pet name for her slip, his heart aches, its moments like this he wishes they were still together, but if they were together they wouldn’t be debating where to spend Christmas. “You can stay at the house, Iddy, it’s as much yours as it is mine or Quinn’s. I mean you were there when we picked it out, there when we signed for it, definitely was the one in charge of furnishing it.” 

She made a face as she asked “isn’t that weird?” 

“Who cares if it’s weird? When have we ever been normal?” he chuckles trying to break the tension that was still left in the air. 

“What most people don’t have two kids with a one night stand?” Iddy asks sarcastically and they both laugh, the mood finally lightening up for the first time since she arrived. 

So it was settled Idris would be spending Christmas week at the lakehouse, she would fly in with the kids the Friday before Christmas out of Newark airport where Jack dropped them off. She will first drive to her parents and spend the night hanging out there so they can see their grandchildren they don’t see enough of. Idris and the kiddos will spend the night at her sister's little townhouse, because she didn’t think she would want to drive the 2 ½ hours to the lakehouse that late. If she was by herself she wouldn’t care, but she really tried hard to keep the kids on their routine when they were with her and that included bathed and in bed by 7. The next day they’ll drive up to the lake house where they will spend a few days alone before Jack arrives Monday night with Apollo and Luna with him. Luke and the rest of the family already decided not to arrive until Christmas Eve, Luke even brought his plane ticket already and they will spend Christmas together. It seemed simple enough, what could go wrong? At least they had a plan now. 

After talking everything out, Idris felt much better, they even talked about the kids' gifts and who was getting what, what was Santa’s and what was from them. They both agreed the kids were too little and it was too petty to separate the gifts they gave their children ‘from daddy’ or ‘from mama.’ Everything that wasn’t Santa came from them as a unit, even if they didn’t work together all that well.

“Wait.” she gasps as Jack starts to stand, but if Idris says wait he will, even if his body is in an awkward position half standing, half bent over. Jack can’t help but think that this position probably isn’t good for his shoulder since he’s putting all his weight on it. But he didn’t care, if it earned him brownie points with Idris. She softly pulled him down to the position he was before and he was grateful he didn’t have to feel the tension in his shoulder anymore. “I don’t want to get to the house 3 days before Christmas and have to decorate yet another house for Christmas.” Usually they decorated together the weekend after Thanksgiving. If they were up there, his mom would always come and help Iddy since Jack never had much time in the mist of the season. But at least that way they never had to stress over it when they were only up there for Christmas break for a few days. 

“Why don’t I ask my mom for help?” he asks, normally he would just tell her he was going to ask his mom. But now with the separation, everything felt off on its axis like he needed permission before he offered a solution. She didn’t reject it right away so Jack took it as an invitation to keep going, “she loves decorating for Christmas Idz, I’m sure her and dad can run up and put the tree together and everything before you and the kids get there.” 

“That’s a lot to ask of them.” She’s biting her lip again and Jack bites his as a response, ‘please stop baby, you're gonna make yourself bleed.’ But it’s not his place anymore to say that even if it makes him sick watching her do it and not saying anything. 

Jack sighs, he knows they wouldn’t mind, they would be happy to help. But he also knows the way Iddy grew up wasn’t the way he did, and every favor even if it was a family member came at a price to her. Jack, no matter how hard he tried over the years could never get that out of her head. “You know they would do anything for you.” He says as he looks into her eyes, grateful she’s finally making eye-contact with him. He could have said ‘for the kids’ or ‘for me’ but he knew it held more weight if he said the truth. Decorating was going to ease Iddys to-do list, not his and the kids honestly probably wouldn’t care they are still so little. But it matters to Idris for some reason to make this Christmas perfect, so he was gonna try his damn hardest to help her. She nods a ‘okay’ and Jack smiles, probably for the first time in days except after he scored a goal last night and had a celly on the ice.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday December 20,2024

It should be easy enough, flying with the kids by herself. Idris didn’t think it would be difficult, it’s not the first time either of them have been on a plane. She has flown with both of them with Jack plenty of times, even all the way to Vancouver once to visit Quinn. She even flew without him with the kids over Thanksgiving and that is the busiest time of year to travel. Thankfully, she didn’t have to lug too much around just enough stuff for them for night and a few winter items for the kids that she knew weren't in the lakehouse due to their fast growing bodies. It was fine in the beginning, Zander was in that phase where he loved being a helper, but it made a turn for the worse quickly. Jack had decided that he didn’t want to just drop them at the door, but help her check in, even though she had carried even more by herself less than a month ago. But she didn’t want to bicker when he was trying to be nice. Zander wanted to help so Jack let him ‘push’ one of the suitcases, really Jack was pushing it with his foot, sometimes grabbing it to steer. Zander didn’t seem to notice, focused on the task at hand, pushing the suitcase across the parking garage floor. It was cute how happy her son was at his father’s compliments. “Good job Z. Keep going buddy.” Idris was busy wearing the diaper backpack bag, holding Zola, and the carrier in her other hand that she decided she didn’t need to wear yet. She was pushing her carry-on suitcase with her hand following behind Jack who had both car seats (because all though it isn’t a rule, Idris will be damned if her kids aren’t secure 35,000 feet in the air.) 

At one point Zander got distracted by the sound of a car coming down the ramp, it was a loud high pitch sound, he never did like loud sounds, he jumped he would have hit his hand on the handle of the suitcase if Jack’s hand wasn’t there. “I scared.” Zander mumbled, as he looked up at his dad and decided to hang on to his leg. Idris could tell that he was pulling at Jack, trying to get him to open his legs more so Zander could attempt to hide himself in them. The car skeeted past them and it took everything in Jack not to yell at them for being an asshole and scaring his kid. “Daddy?” Zander whined, and it hurt him. He hated seeing his kids upset even if it was something as simple as getting spooked by a loud sound. He could hear Idris behind him, trying to calm a fussy Zola who also didn’t appreciate the unexpected noise. 

Jack squatted to the ground to be eye-level with his son, gently putting each car seat down, using his knee to keep the giant suitcase from rolling away. Zander didn’t wait to be comforted, he jumped into his arms and Jack embraced him cooing in his ear that it was alright. Idris was suddenly grateful that Jack insisted on dropping them off three hours ahead of time instead of the normal two, because they haven’t even made it out of the parking garage and they’ve been here almost 20 minutes. Zander wanted his mom to carry him once he was calm and as much as she wanted to explain she couldn’t, she didn’t. Instead she handed Zola to Jack and stripped herself of the backpack and her winter coat momentarily to put to strap her carrier on. Then she put back on her winter coat, grabbed Zola and set her inside. Then gently, bending down she put the backpack on and picked Zander up and balanced him on her hip. Jack stared at her, as if this was the hottest thing she had ever done in front of him. He knew no one else probably found it attractive, but watching Idris be a mom always made the pit of his stomach warm, at least he wasn’t sporting a semi in public due to his baby-mama he wasn’t even with he thought to himself. 

“Ready?” she breathes out. Jack knows it’s directed at her, but his throat feels dry with where his mind was going as he was watching her, so he just nods. Picking up both bulky car seats, he tries to push the carry-on suitcase with his leg which he is successful. But he can’t really steer as well as he thought he could. ‘Maybe it was good Zander was helping him’ he thought to himself. “J I got it.” grabbing the suitcase and rolling it on her side, Jack wasn’t sure how she was able to push both suitcases, and hold both kids. 

Somehow it was smooth sailing from there, Jack stayed until Idris was done checking in, bags checked. The bag she was originally going to use as a carry-on she decided to check because she didn’t want to lug another thing around if she didn’t have to. Zander decided he could stand now and wanted to be a helper so Idris let him hold her phone. He was honestly too little to carry a car-seat or wear the diaper bag, and although he has carried Zola before it wasn’t for long distances, they are practically the same size after all. 

Saying goodbye to Jack was weird, not for the kids, they were fine. But this was the first time they have really said a goodbye before one of them takes off in an airplane while they aren’t together. Both of them don’t seem to know what to do with that piece of information, Jack switching the weight back and forth between his feet to help ease his nerves. Iddy with her bottom lip between her teeth, it was finally Zander who broke the awkwardness with his question from below them. “Daddy, why not come?” he asks, he doesn’t seem upset more than anything curious. Jack bends down and explains he has a few more games, and then he promises he will come and he’s even gonna bring Apollo and Luna with him. Zander gasps at the news, a look of excitement in his eyes at the fact the family dog and cat were gonna be there for Christmas. “When?” he asks. 

“4 sleeps buddy.” As he pulls his son in for another hug, kissing the top of his head. Idris stomach twist, in a good way, she knew Jack was always good with kids. But seeing Jack being good with their kids, made something stir in her she hasn’t felt in a while. She takes a deep breath, pushing down whatever feelings were trying to crawl their way up. Jack puts his forehead against Zanders, like he always does before they are going to be separated. “Make sure you listen to Mama okay?”

“Okie daddy.” he stretches and moves away, his attention span has never been long even compared to other two-year olds. Zander holds onto Idris' hand as Jack stands and puts his hand on Zola’s head, leans down and gives her another kiss. 

“Bye-bye Zozo.” he coos. He smiles when she babbles back at him mixed in with “da-da” Finally he steps back and looks at Idris, he wants to step into her space, to hug her, kiss her goodbye even if it’s just on the cheek. But he doesn’t want to make her uncomfortable, so he stands back grasping the back of his neck, he can feel the slight sweat on his skin. “Uhh Iddy. Call me when you land okay." She steps forward and hugs him unprompted and he suddenly doesn’t have any breath in his lungs. He just closes his eyes and wraps an arm around her, the other reaching down to pet Zanders head. Jack could stand there all day despite having a game tonight, hell he could stand there forever if she’d let him. He breathed in finally, enjoying the scent of her shampoo, the smell of baby powder from Zola, he was holding his whole family for the first time in months and he will be damned if he ends it first. 

Jack isn’t sure how long they stood there, time always escapes him when Iddy is in his arms. Finally she looks at him “you’ll be doin’ your pre-game napping when we land.” It takes Jack a second for his brain to catch up, of course leave it to Iddy to go right back to conversation like that wasn’t the first time he had her in his arms in months. 

“Doesn’t matter.” he doesn’t leave room for debate, but he knows she will have something to say so he adds, “you and our kids are about to be on a plane without me, I will be lucky if I can even get my heart to stop pounding so fast, so I could sleep before I know you’re safe Idz.” He doesn’t look away, and neither does she, both trying to read what the other person is thinking. Neither of them giving the other even a slight clue, ‘when did I stop being able to read her every thought’ he thought to himself. 

“Okay.” she nodded at him, putting the car seats on the shitty airport trolly an airline employee offered. Idris was busy,  making sure Zander was holding onto the side of the cart and then she turned and left. Jack stood there to see if she would turn around and wave before she got onto the escalator she didn’t. But at least Jack could be happy that his son did, waving bye to his dad as he yelled something Jack couldn’t hear but knew it was some sort of goodbye. 

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday December 22nd: 

Jack had practice this morning but he didn’t care, just went through the motions. He missed his kids, he missed Iddy, but missing them isn’t new, being away from them due to his hockey schedule isn’t new. He missed most of Zander's firsts - from being a newborn baby to about 8 months old -  due to hockey. Jack knew the all too familiar feeling of missing his family, having fomo was his villain origin story at this point. The only thing that was new was the fact that he was home and they weren’t. It always fucked with him the most the nights where they were with Idris and not him. But at least for the most part they tried to switch off every other night. Jack knows that when he wakes up he’ll see his kids that morning or that afternoon picking them up from daycare. But this, them being home and him being in Jersey, it was torture, it felt like something was nawwing at his skin from the inside, and no matter what he did he couldn’t get the restless feeling out of his head or off his skin. 

The only good news he had was that tomorrow night right after the game he was gone. Jack would leave directly from the rock to the lakehouse if he could tomorrow. But he has to pick up Apollo and Luna from his place first. The little fact that he will be with his kids and Idris under the same roof after tomorrow night is the only thing keeping him from not screaming from the endless restlessness he was feeling. 

“You seem tense.” Nico observes and normally Jack would appreciate his captain and one of his best friends on the team checking on him. But right now he didn’t want to talk, he wanted to skip his shower and get dressed as quick as possible and go home. Jack wanted to pack the car so it was ready for tomorrow, he wanted to get gas so he didn’t have to stop tomorrow night, he wanted to FaceTime Idris and talk to her and his kids. Even though he knew she wasn’t going to talk to him, she would always answer though so he could talk to Zander and Zola. 

“I’m fine.” He mumbles, Jack didn’t even try to hide the little bit of annoyance in his voice. 

“Dude you don’t seem fine. Is everything okay at home?” Nico whispers the last part, he knows Jack doesn’t want people knowing about his life. Even though every single person on the team, coaches, medical staff and hell even the social media team knows Idris and him are living apart. But that doesn’t mean they know all the inner personal details of the day-to-day baby-mama drama. Even Nico doesn’t want their shit aired out for the gossip groups of the Rock. 

“Not in the mood to talk.” Jack mumbles as he throws a pair of sweats on. Jack knows he’s going to regret not showering as soon as he’s home, but at least if he’s home he can take a real shower, maybe if he stands under the hot water long enough - the water hot enough to feel like it’s slightly burning - he’ll be able to think about anything else besides Idris hugging him in the airport and how good it felt to have her in his arms again every time he closes his eyes. 

“Come on man. Keeping that shit in isn’t gonna help you.” Nico is poking, he wants Jack to talk, but Jack doesn’t wanna talk to him. 

He’s still pissed at Nico for babysitting his kids with his brother so Idris could come yell at him about Christmas. Nico also last week took his kids out for hot chocolate when Idris couldn’t pick them up on time from daycare on time due to a meeting running late. Jack can’t be pissed at Idris for not calling him, not trusting him enough to help her out when he was perfectly available. Not when he couldn’t stop thinking about the butterflies she gave him in his stomach when he wrapped her arms around him. Or the fact that he has been a dick to her since they separated, he made Luke their mediator in everything revolving around Idris for the first two weeks, including pick-up and drop-offs. But he can be pissed at Nico and he will be. Even if Jack knows Nico would never make a move on Idris, he knows they are like siblings, he also knows Idris would never go after one of his teammates even if they are separated. But the idea of Idris choosing another man over him, Jack’s always been the jealous type, ‘territorial like a pitbull’ is what his high school girlfriend called it. 

“I know you miss ‘em Jack, it’s normal you know. I miss my fam-” 

Jack cuts him off, he turns his head to Nico’s cubby and in a second he’s in his face screaming at him. “You don’t know shit Nico. This isn’t me missing my mommy or sister. I miss my kids who are 1000 miles away from me right now! You can’t even keep a girl long enough to have a kid. So you latch onto mine? How could you possibly know what I’m feelin’!” he yells. Luke and Jesper are pulling him away from Nico, Jack doesn’t know what happened, one second he was fine the next he was attacking. Jack really doesn’t know what happened, sure he might have been mad at Nico, but to try to attack him? He has always had a slight anger problem but usually it was just when shit didn’t go his way on the ice. The last couple weeks though he’s been snapping at everyone. 

“Bro chill.” he hears Luke in his ear, he tries to shove him off but Luke doesn’t let him, using his long arms to his advantage wrapping Jack in them as he pulls them to the other side of the locker room towards Luke’s bench. “You can be angry but you can’t take that shit out on anyone but yourself.” Luke mumbles softly, Jack knows if they were home he’d be louder, but Luke represents him too much as his older brother to air out his business out in the locker room. Or maybe it was Idris or the kids that made Luke stay quiet, whatever it was Jack was thanking the heavens as he felt himself calm down. Most of the people in the locker room had left to shower, or at least pretended to not listen and watch Jack’s breakdown in front of them.

Luke was holding him in his arms not letting him move until he forced his body to calm down. It must have taken longer than Jack thought to calm down because next time Jack looked up he noticed all the guys were gone, it was just Luke and himself in the room. He’s not sure where 10 men that are over 6 '0 ft tall and over 200 lbs went in 30 seconds but he’s grateful to be alone with his brother because he’s about to cry and at least Luke won’t think of him as pathetic as he felt for it. Luke lets go of his brother and Jack takes a step forward and then turns around so he’s facing Luke. Jack doesn’t wanna look up and see whatever emotion Luke is displaying on his face; disappointment, anger, sympathy. Although Jack doubts Luke feels any sympathy for Jack, he’s seen most of the shit go down between Idris and himself. Jack wouldn’t feel sympathy if he was in Luke’s shoes. Jack stares at his shoes, his dirty white sneakers he keeps here to wear before games. He must have slipped on the wrong pair of shoes when he was too in his head earlier. “It’s just eh” he tries to start, he clears his throat before he tries again. “This is the longest I’ve ever been away from my kids unless I was on a roadie.” 

“I know.” he says, Luke’s tone is neutral, but his voice sounds annoyed. Jack knows his brother isn’t annoyed, he really has no emotion behind his words, and that’s how Jack knows he’s getting fed up with his shit. 

“And Apollo all he does is cry at the door waiting for them to come home, and Luna won’t even glance my way like I’ve personally wounded her by taking her back to our place for a few days. It’s one thing to miss them, it’s another thing to have to watch how even our pets miss them.” Jack sniffles, he didn’t want to cry in front of Luke. He’s done a lot of that lately but he can’t help it, he misses them so much his chest physically hurts. 

“You are going to see them tomorrow night Jacky.” Luke tried to reason as he took a step towards his brother. 

“Yeah but by the time I get there, the kids will be asleep and probably Idris too. Plus I’ll have to crawl into a cold bed since Iddy’s stayin’ in the guest room.” he complains.

“Not to sound like a dick but who’s fault is it that you're even separated in the first place? And don’t say Iddy cause she’s the one who had the balls to leave cause maybe you don’t remember but I do live with you Jack. I know you're my big brother and I will always root for you, I will always look up to you in some way. But you can't seriously be mad at anyone else for where you’re standing.” 

Jack didn’t have a response for his little brother, but he’s never felt like a shitter older brother. Big brothers were supposed to set examples, be a role model, they were supposed to give the “get your shit together” talk to their little brothers, not the other way around. Jack is tired of Luke calling him out lately, but he doesn’t say it, he just sighs and glances up finally. Jack thinks he might be even more tired of seeing that expression on Luke’s face. The one where he’s disappointed but also looks like someone who has no shock in their body, like it was expected for Jack to yell and try to fight Nico, as if it was expected for Luke to have pull him off, or even expected for Jack to try to reason his actions with shitty excuses he knew held no weight. 

Jack just wants it to be tomorrow night so at least he can block everything out and just drive, drive until he finally feels at ease for the first time in days because he will be with his family, his kids, his Idz. 

—---------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, December 23 ~ 2 days till Christmas: 

Idris was tired, she loved her kids, but not talking to another adult since Saturday morning when she left her sister’s was starting to weigh on her. Of course, she’s messaged Jack here and there when he’s asked for updates, texted her sister off and on. But an actual conversation, not since Saturday and she was starting to go a little stir crazy because of it. 

“MAMA.” Zander screamed from the family room, thankfully because of the open floorplan she didn’t have to move from the stove to answer his calls. 

“Yeah Z baby” she calls. “I’m in the kitchen bubs.” she calls out to him. Immediately she hears the pitter patter of his feet hitting the floor as he runs to her. 

“When's daddy comin’?” he asks as he slams his entire body weight into her legs, immediately trying to climb up her legs while he waits for an answer.. Thankfully she is normal for him constantly running into her and climbing her or Jack, it’s like his body constantly has to be in movement. Ellen swears that Jack was the same way, - and although she always wished to have a ‘mini - Jack’ when she was pregnant with Zander, she wishes she was more specific with the universe, she meant looks and not his restless energy and sass - Idris hopes that he starts to calm as he gets older and not more energetic because she doesn't know how she will survive the ‘horrible threes’ if he is even more of a ball of energy. 

“Honey I’m cooking lunch, do you want up?” she asks her son, glancing away from the grilled cheese she’s making for Zander and Zola to share. Zander continues to pull on the side of her hoodie, the bottoms of his feet pushing her calves trying to continue to climb her. 

“Yeah.” he finally huffs, Iddy barely bends down as she scoops her son up and sits him on the counter next to the stove so he can watch as she cooks. 

“It’s hot, Zander. No touching anything or you’ll have to get down." She gently reminds her son, but she’s not sure if he even knows that she is talking to him. Immediately jumping back into why he came to find his mom anyway. 

“When's daddy comin?” Frowning his eyebrows as he has to repeat his question from earlier. 

“Soon baby. Tomorrow. Daddy has one more game he has to play sweetheart.” Iddy says gently, not sure how he will respond, as she removes the pan from the hot burner and turns the stovetop off. 

“I wanna watch,” he says, although ‘watch’ comes out more as ‘wash.’ Iddy can’t help but smile at how he pronounces some words, still learning how to perfect some of his sounds. 

“Okay. It starts in about an hour I think. First lunch, then we can watch Daddy.” Idris starts to silently pray to the powers above that no one slams into Jack today, like they did the last time Idris let Zander watch one of his dads games a few weeks ago. She really doesn’t want Zander to get scared again like last time, he was so scared until he saw Jack and with him driving here tonight, she couldn’t imagine having an anxious Zander until the middle of the night. 

“FaceTime Daddy and ukle ‘uky.” he asks, Idris grins Zander also hasn’t perfected his ‘L’ sound yet. Idris turns to the 2 kid plates behind her that have some fruit on them and cuts the grilled cheese into 4 pieces and gives Zander 2 pieces and Zola’s plate one to start. 

“I’ll have to see if he’s available honey”, as she microwaves the leftover broccoli in the microwave from the night before she planned to add it to the kids lunch to make it a little more balanced. 

Pulling out her phone, as she walks back over to Zander texting Jack to ask if he has time before the game for a FaceTime. Glancing at the clock she knows the players are probably getting dressed for warm-ups right now or even on the ice for warmups already. Iddy helps her son get down from the counter and helps him settle into a chair at the kitchen table with his food. She sits Zola’s plate in front of her, as she drags Zola and her high-chair closer to the table. 

“Daddy first.” Zander demands, and Idris sighs as she is about to tell her son Jack hasn’t answered her yet but she’s saved by her phone ringing. 

Idris answers the phone, setting it up so it’s promoted in front of Zander. The first thing Jack hears as it finally connects is “Zander you still have to eat while talking to daddy.” Jack grins as he sees his son on the screen, head turned slightly no doubt pouting at Iddy. 

“I don’t wan’ broccoli.” he fusses. 

“Zander.” Jack calls his attention, it’s the first time Zander or Idris address that he’s on the phone. Idris is suddenly glad she’s off camera because she’s pretty sure her breath catches at the sight of Jack. He is sitting in his cubby, the phone titled so all you can see is the collar of his jersey and head, his hair damp and messy probably from him running his hands through it too much, his jawline perfectly on display. “Are you listening to Mama?” he asks. 

Zander looks like a deer caught in headlights, pouting slightly at the fact his dad is calling him out on his behavior. “Bb-but mama’s broccoli isn’t as good as yours.” he mumbles, arms crossed, looking down at his lap as he tells his dad why in his 2-year-old logic he is right. Iddy can’t help but roll her eyes because what her son really means is that she doesn’t smother it in butter and cheese. 

“I’m sure Mama made you more than broccoli Z.” he reasons. But Zander doesn’t respond verbally, just shoves a piece of grilled cheese in his mouth. 

“Daddy you comin’ soon?” he asks mouth full and all, shifting in his chair, suddenly on his knees so he can bend closer to the screen. 

“Yeah I’ll be there tomorrow when you wake up.” Jack answers. 

“Daddy?”

“Yeah.”

“You get a goal fa me.” Zander asks, Jack can hear Iddy chuckle close by in the background even if he can’t see her, and it makes his chest warm. 

“I’ll try bubs.” he promises. Jack looks off the camera and bites his lip, probably contemplating how to say bye to his son so quick. “I gotta go Z.” he softly says. 

“You always have to go.” Zander whines and his pout deepens. 

Jack doesn’t know what to say, he’s glad Idris is close by and can take over. “Z, he can’t score you a goal if he doesn’t go warm-up. Coach will be mad, Daddy might get in trouble and not be able to play.” Idris tries explaining, and although it’s a little dramatic Jack wouldn’t probably get benched if he skipped warm-ups he would definitely get chewed out by more than one person. 

“And how is he gonna score you a goal from the bench baby?” she asks their son. 

After another minute or so, Zander says “okie. Bye daddy. Good ‘uck.” he smiles at his dad. ‘Gosh toddlers and their big emotions,’ Jack thought to himself, as he told Zander bye and that he loves him and how he will see him soon. 

Iddy was able to finish feeding both kids and settle into the coach just in time to turn on the game. Zander is two so his attention span isn’t long enough to pay attention to a whole game. But when Jack gets the first goal 5 minutes into the game, Zander can’t help but scream jumping up and down, “Daddy scored! Daddy scored.” Idris shyly pulls out her phone to take a video of her son’s little celly in the family room, and sends it to Jack to see after the game.

It’s even more of a reaction when Jack gets a second goal, with an assist by Luke. Idris was never into hockey before she met Jack, but now her favorite part about watching hockey is watching her son react to it. They watched Jack get ‘star of the game’ and his interview after in the locker room. The one thing that stuck out to Idris about the interview was when he was asked about his celly. The reporter said he looked like he was trying to sign a ‘z’ in the air after both goals and wanted to know if he knew ASL. 

Jack has the biggest smile on his face, as he lightly chuckles, “no, not well. My kid Zander probably knows more than me.” Everyone laughs at that. “His name starts with a ‘z’ and before the game he asked if i could score him a goal so uh… I guess it was my way of saying hi.” Jack is slightly blushing now, he doesn’t talk about his kids often, he doesn’t post them, but everytime he does mention them he has nothing but adoration in his eyes. 

The reporter follows up with, “After the second you signed ‘z’ twice, why the difference, was it on purpose?” 

“Wow you were really watching me eh?” he jokes. “Do I need to file a report for a stalker?.” After a pause he laughs and goes “ I’m messing with you.Yeah it was on purpose, my second born is named Zola, and we call her Zozo a lot. So I guess it was my way of saying hi to her. Although she is under 2, she probably didn’t make the connection, despite also knowing more ASL than I do.” Everyone laughs after that, and Iddy loses focus as she is consumed in her thoughts about what Jack just revealed, 

Zander ends up FaceTiming with Jack one more time as Jack is sitting in the car in his apartment’s garage about to leave. Idris thinks it’s kind of cute watching how Zander can barely hold her phone as he marches around the house updating him on his thoughts of the Rangers game today. 

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bedtime was surprisingly easy at first, until Zander said he was scared to sleep in his big kid bed by himself. In a way, it can be understandable since they made the switch to a floor bed for him, she can’t remember if he ever actually has slept in it yet. Plus the one at both Jack’s and her place are the exact same, even the same frame, since originally one of them was brought for the lake house. But when they split they ended up using the frame for Idris’ apartment. Then, when she finally remembered they didn’t have one for the house in Michigan and she tried to go back and buy the same frame for a third time - because Zander has a very hard time with transition and change, she knew it was best if everything was the same - they were sold out. 

Then if she takes into account how this weekend went, Friday night they co-slept at her sisters, Saturday was a bad sleep for both Zander and Zola so they spent the whole night with Iddy in bed. Finally last night, Iddy was too tired from the night before. She didn’t care where they slept as long as they slept so she could sleep. 

She bends down so she’s on his level when she speaks to him. “Okay, I understand sleeping in a new place by yourself. It can be scary huh?” phrasing her statement as a question on purpose. Zander mumbles something as a sort of agreement, nodding his head as well. “Okay, well why don’t we lay down together for a little while?” she asks, with the plan of getting up and going to her own bed for the night once he’s asleep. 

As soon, Zola realized her mama was staying in the room and giving snuggles to her brother, she demanded attention. Standing up in her crib, babbling away, Iddy knows it doesn’t mean anything but also knows if she had the words she would be cursing Iddy out. This leads to all three of them cuddling in Zander’s bed. 

Jack arrived around 2 am, and he’s never been more grateful to be at his destination. Even with the medicine they got from the vet, Luna cried almost the entire twelve-hour car ride. Plus, anytime Apollo saw anything remotely interesting he barked, Jack didn’t know a dog could find so many interesting things. The worst part was that Jack couldn’t even drown them out with music, he tried but it only made them louder, around the eighth hour he gave up entirely. 

Jack didn’t want to park in the garage since he knew the sound would probably wake the kids up, which would wake up Idris. The last thing he wanted was a pissed off Idris because he was being “lazy about walking a couple more steps.” Jack shakes off the memory of her saying that last year to him, and steps out of the car stretching after so many hours. 

After letting Apollo use the bathroom, he grabs the cat carrier and the three of them start to make it inside. Jack kind of expected them to run off when they got inside, which they did. The part that kind of took him off guard after using the bathroom, and slowly making his way up the stairs to the kids room to check on them was to find Apollo and Luna already half sleep on the bed with all three of them; Zander, Zola, and Idris. Slowly he made his way out and stopped in the closet bedroom beside his own which happened to be Luke’s and grabbed the comforter. Quietly he made his way inside and laid the blanket on top of them, he was just about to leave when he heard his son, “daddy?” he calls out, and Jack silently curses that he woke up his kid. 

Turning around and getting on his knees again he whispers, “yeah buddy?” 

“Daddy home!” he says in his normal voice, which Jack hushes over. 

“Gotta be quiet Z. Mama and sissy are sleeping.” he whispers. “Plus Apollo and Luna.” glancing down at the end of the bed where Apollo is curled up, Luna not far from him. 

His son gasps in surprise, “ah, it’s like a sleepover.” Zander says, ‘sleepover’ it’s the word they use when they are trying to explain to their barely 2-year-old how cool it is to have a sleepover with ‘just mama’ or ‘just daddy.’ It definitely wasn’t the best explanation, and although Idris and Jack realize that in hindsight there isn’t much anyone can do. 

“Yeah, a big sleepover.” Jack whispers, a slight sad grin on his face as he pets his son’s hair, dipping down to forehead to give him a kiss. “Goodnight. Love you.” Jack goes to get up, but Zander grabs his arm and stops him. 

“Want daddy cuddles,” he whispers. 

“Z, you have mama cuddles right now we can cuddle tomorrow.” he promises. As much as he would love to go to sleep with his family, he doesn’t want Iddy to wake up uncomfortable. A part of him knows that’s pushing the limit too far, too fast, and he doesn’t want her pulling away even more than she already has. Hell, they didn’t even sleep in the same bed the last six months they were together, Jack definitely knows it’s some kind of crossed boundary if he crawls into bed. 

“Daddy. Sleepover too” Zander is doing that thing, what twitter calls “famous Hughes pout” Jack thinks. Jack really meant no, but he also knows if he says no again, Zander will probably stop whispering which will definitely wake Iddy and Zola up then Idris will definitely be mad at him. 

“Okay.” he says, pulling the comforter up and laying next to his son, thankfully they got a full size bed but as Jack lays down he’s thinking they should have gotten a queen. 

“One big sleepover.” Zander mumbles into his neck, content to be between both of his parents. Jack rationalizes his decision by telling himself that it’s the lesser of two evils. If he said ‘no’ Zander was going to wake up the entire house and Iddy would be pissed. But if he crawls into bed, Iddy might be upset that he crossed a boundary even if he was pressured into crossing it. Jack tells himself that either way Iddy will be upset, but dealing with an angry ‘got 8 hours of sleep Iddy is a lot easier to stomach, plus he gets to cuddle with his son, so basically it’s a no brainer to Jack. 

“Yeah bud, one big sleepover.” he mumbles as he drifts off to sleep. 

Tuesday December 24, 2024

Idris is the first one to wake up, she feels that Zola has moved she’s no longer laying down tucked into her side and immediately she’s up ‘mama bear’ fully activated. Thankfully she’s just at the end of the bed playing with Luna, and even if she wasn’t in the bed, the bed is on the ground so she wouldn’t get hurt if she climbed off of it. Realizing her daughter is safe, she takes a deep breath, her heart rate slowly coming back to a normal pace, until she turns her head and sees Jack and Zander curled up together. 

Idris truly doesn’t know what she feels except anger at the fact that Jack just decided to crawl into bed with them last night. But, she also reminds herself that it’s Christmas and she doesn’t want to fight with him and ruin Christmas for her kids. Gently she removes the comforter that Jack must have brought in for them and climbs to the end of the bed where Zo is. “Good morning princess.” she coos, “why don’t we let the boys sleep and go make some breakfast? Are you hungry Zozo?” 

All Zola does in response is giggle and clap her hands. Iddy decides that’s good enough and scoops her up as she stands, both Apollo and Luna following them out hoping to get an early breakfast. Idris goes downstairs, lets Apollo out, and makes a morning milk for Zola. Idris goes ahead and puts Zola in the playpen in the family room while she moves around the kitchen feeding both animals, and making her morning cup of coffee. She’s happy she’s at the lakehouse and can indulge on Quinn’s fancy espresso machine. 

As she opens the fridge she hears baby feet stomping down the stairs and hears Zander walk slowly into the kitchen. He has his baby blanket in one hand, his hair an absolute mess as he nudges in Iddy’s leg who is still in front of the open fridge looking for what to make for breakfast. 

Iddy’s hand goes to the mess of curls on top of his head. “Morning Z.” She greets him still not looking at him yet. Zander makes some kind of groaning sound as an answer, never been a morning person just like Jack he needs to ease into his day. 

“I was gonna make breakfast, do you wanna stay in here or go lay down on the coach and watch cartoons with sissy?” she asks him softly, finally looking down at him. 

Zander seems to really think about the offer before he says “cartoons. but first morn’ kisses .” The sleep is still evident in his voice. She scoops him up and carries him to the family room, turning on the TV and putting some random cartoon on. Gently she goes to put Zander down the coach, kissing his cheeks super fast to give him his “morning kisses.”

By the time she goes to the kitchen to make breakfast and feeds both kiddos Zander has decided he’s wide awake and ready to go wake up Jack. Glancing at the clock and seeing it’s barely quarter after 7. “Z, you can’t go wake up Daddy, he came in late last night, he needs to sleep.” 

Before Zander can respond they hear rustling from upstairs, and Zander runs to the bottom of the stairs and even opens the baby gate before Idris can catch him. Thankfully he still likes to crawl up the stairs and he didn’t have to crawl far since Jack met him halfway. 

Jack picks him up and lightly tosses him in the air, Zander squeals in happiness as Jack walks them into the kitchen. 

“I didn’t make you breakfast, I didn’t think you would be awake yet.” Idris says standing at the kitchen island not even looking up from her phone. Idris knew she was being petty but she also couldn’t bring herself to care. Jack last night did what he always does ‘whatever he wants’ with no regard to how other people would feel about his actions. 

He sets Zander down, who immediately runs off to the family room to play with Zola. Jack walks around the counter to meet Idris, facing her he says quietly. “It’s okay. I’m sorry about last night.” Jack gently raises his hand from resting on the counter, as if he’s debating if he wants to reach out and touch Idris' arm. 

“We can talk about it later.” 

Jack started to explain himself anyway “It was Zander he-“ 

Idris snaps quietly at him, “That’s real rich Jack, always blaming someone else, even your 2-year-old son. And I said we can talk about it later when the kids aren’t 20 feet away.” 

No one else is set to arrive until around 5 tonight even Jack’s parents, as much as they love their son and adore their grandchildren and Idris. They all decided - more like Luke warned them about how bad it’s been with the bitterness and overall pettiness - it would be best if they came later because they know they are less likely to fight if they don’t have anyone to distract the kids, well they hoped. 

Thankfully both of the kiddos were pretty much on the same nap schedule so they both went down around 10 am. Jack gulped his body suddenly tense as he exited the kids room with Idris. He really wished it was one of those days where he joined the kiddos for naptime just so he didn’t have to go downstairs and fight with Idris. 

Idris grabbed the baby monitor on her way out of the room, slowly making her way down the hall and down the stairs. Jack followed behind like a child who knew he was about to get scolded or a dog with his tail between his legs looking down, nervous about what’s about to come next. He followed her all the way to the kitchen before she turned around and gave him a look as if to say ‘what the fuck Jack?’ 

“Idz, let me explain.” He speaks gently, raising his hands up as if he’s already surrounded by raising the white flag. Jack thinks if he goes on using her nickname, it will soften her, possibly maybe a little. 

It does not go the way Jack was hoping for, “Don’t Hughes.” she grits out of her teeth. ‘Fuck she’s more pissed than I thought’ Jack thinks to himself. “Don’t call me that when I’m pissed at you, it isn’t going to help you.”

“I’m sorry I am. But Zander woke up when I came to check with the kids, and he asked for snuggles. I told him that you were already cuddling with him. But he was insistent, okay? And I hadn’t seen them in a few days plus I knew if I said no he would probably throw a tantrum and he would wake you and Zo up. Okay. So I decided it was the best option. I know you probably think I crossed some kind of line with where we are at. But I’m not sorry for giving into Zander, even if it made you pissed at me.” Jack explains as he watches her expression soften which Jack is grateful for. 

“You did cross a boundary. I only accidentally fell asleep in Zanders bed with them. I was trying to get him to not co-sleep for the first time in days and I ended up falling asleep with them.” Iddy turns her head slightly, and stares off a little looking deep in thought. Jack really wants to step into her space, he wants to gently grab her chin and force her to look at him, he wants to force her to tell him what she’s thinking.Even though he knows it’s technically not his place anymore, he still wants to.  But he doesn't, he just chews the inside of his mouth giving his mind something else to concentrate on. After a minute or so, she turns to him, “let’s unpack the car while the kids are asleep.” 

They work in silence bringing everything in and hiding them in the basement closet they know the kids will never open. They even build the mini stick goal in complete silence, it would impress others watching two people work in that degree of harmony without speaking. Although, Jack thought to himself about how it was only like this because of everything that’s happened. For better or worse, they learned how to work in silence long before Idris left and it wasn’t because they were so comfortable with each other. It was because Jack was so angry that anytime he spoke to Idris they yelled, and Idris stopped trying to beg Jack to try, so they learned how to work together, raise two kids without even speaking for almost 10 months. 

—---------------------------------------------------------

Once the kids wake up from their naps the pair seems to be able to find their voices again as if nothing happened during the kids naps. They spend the rest of the day playing with the kids, letting Zander run the show in how they spent the day. From playing mini sticks, to playing outside on the playset or jumping on the ground level trampoline. 

Around 3 though Idris reminded Zander that they still needed to bake cookies to leave out for Santa tonight. Zander loves baking with his mom, so he was content with not playing outside anymore and instead drinking hot chocolate and baking cookies with his mom. Zola is a little young at 19 months to care about baking, so Jack and her play in the family room. 

The house is filled with giggles from both kids, Christmas music playing lightly in the background, the Christmas lights glowing from the tree and the smell of sugar cookies baking in the oven. While the cookies were baking they decided to throw a Christmas movie on and of course because Zander is Jack’s son he picked ‘Home Alone’ to watch. Jack reminds himself to enjoy this, enjoy that they are snuggled all together on the couch watching his favorite Christmas movie with no tension. While Idris is hoping that the lightness in the air can stay until after tomorrow night but she has a feeling in the back of her mind that it probably won’t. 

—--------------------------------------------------------

“Mama look.” Zander demands, as he displays one of his finished sugar cookie decorated with so many globs of icing and sprinkles, she already knows she’s going to make Jack eat that one tonight. 

“Wow baby. It’s beautiful.” she smiles wide at him.

She sees in the corner of her eye chuckling as Zola sits well more stands in his lap. Zola didn’t seem to understand the concept of decorating the cookie, as she had icing all of her hands and face giggling, she was signing for ‘more.’ 

“No.” Idris says, signing ‘no’ as well, to which Zola starts aggressively signing ‘more.’ Jack can’t help but laugh as Idris signs inresponse ‘no. all done. All done.” Idris doesn’t even speak because she knows she doesn’t have to for Zola to understand what she’s saying. Zola tries to reach for the plate to grab another cookie but Zander beats her. 

“Mama said all done Zola. These are for Santa” in the most serious voice a 2-year-old can have. Jack just laughs at the fact that not only did Zander also cut off his little sister, but how he did it,  even as Zola turns to him, grabbing onto him fussing thinking he will give into her. 

“Not this time Zozo. I know cookies taste good though.” she whispers as he rubs her back, and comforts her, even if he’s still laughing with Idris about Zander cutting her off. 

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------

As everyone arrives the house becomes a loud, energetic place. Zander convinced both his uncles and Grandpa to play mini sticks with him, which Idris didn’t even realize they had that many mini sticks at the lakehouse. Of course, none of them are the mini sticks Zander asked Santa for Christmas. Ever since he learned that his dad was getting a custom mini stick from Bauer Hockey, he asked Santa for his own which would have been easy for Jack to ask for. But no, Zander didn’t like that it said J.Hughes on it, since his nickname wasn’t ‘J’ it was ‘Z.’ So he wanted it to say Z.Hughes. Thankfully, Jack was able to convince them to make two custom mini sticks, and even put them in the black mystery paper for him, if he put it on his instagram story Christmas Day. 

While the boys were all busy playing mini sticks with the kids, Ellen and Idris were in the kitchen. As Idris pours both Ellen and herself a glass of wine, she hears Ellen ask her if she’s okay.

“What?” she asks in a daze, maybe she didn’t hear Ellen right. 

“Are you okay honey? I know I’m Jack’s mom but, you can still talk to me you know. Although, I was never a single mom per say, Jim was gone so much when the boys were little sometimes it felt like I was. I know you have your mom who was a single mom you can go to for advice but I just wanted-.” 

“Ellen.” Iddy cuts her off, gently setting both wine glasses down. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m fine really.” Ellen gives Idris a look as if she knows that Idris is full of it, but doesn’t push, just nods her head. Before either of them can speak they hear a high pitched cry and Apollo barking loudly from the family room and both of them take off. 

Idris runs into the family room to see Zander holding his arm, fully crying in Jack’s arms. As soon as he sees Idris, he no longer wants Jack, only his mom, a true mama's boy. As Idris kneels down to her son, he slams into her body. “Shh. it’s alright. What happened, love?” she asks her son as he forces himself as close as humanly possible to her his high pitch screaming not lessening. 

“What happened?” Ellen asks the men in the room in that voice you never want to hear from your mother no matter how old you are. 

“He got hit with a puck.” Luke mumbles as he picks up Zola so she doesn’t get too close to the young parents while they try to calm down their son. 

“A foam one right?” Ellen asks. 

“No.” Jim answers. 

“What?” Idris asks the adults around her, refusing to look at Jack. 

“We couldn’t find any foam ones, so we thought we would use an outside hockey puck. I told them to be careful but Zander is so jumpy, I guess when Quinn shot the puck, he moved at the last minute and it hit him.” Jim explains. 

“It was an accident.” Jack mumbles as Zander is finally just sniffling. “Hi lil’ man.” he whispers to his son, who has barely left the comfort of his mothers arms, ever so slightly tilting his head to see his dad. 

“The good news is that it can’t be broken, Quinn didn’t shot it that hard.” Luke comments, and then immediately shut up when he was met with glares from everyone else in the room. 

Quinn bends down to Zander, “hey buddy I’m so sorry.” Jack can tell that Quinn feels like shit for it, but he doesn’t care he hurt his son all he wants to do is punch Quinn in the face a couple times. 

“Iz otay.” Zander whispers and Quinn sadly smiles back at his nephew. After Idris and Jack both looked over Zander’s arm without his long sleeve shirt on in the bathroom, they knew he was just gonna have a nasty bruise but that was about it. 

The Hughes family has this tradition that Idris has just decided to roll with when it comes to Christmas Eve dinner. Idris grew up in a family where they had to dress up and all the aunties, uncles, and grandparents came over. The expectation for you to be on your best behavior in your best Sunday clothes which were also usually the mist itchy clothes. The Hughes were the complete opposite, every year they ordered pizza in and just bumped out on the coaches watching movies. 

So that’s what they did, Zander didn’t leave Idris’ arms and neither did Zola. Both of the babies are perfectly content in their moms arms and no one else's. It was kind of a pain for Idris to help both of the kiddos eat when they were so physically attached to her. But anytime Jack tried to help by peeling one of them off, they whined and batted his hand away. Everyone could tell it hurt Jack’s feelings, his dad slapping his shoulder almost trying to comfort him. 

Sometime during the movie, Zola fell asleep. It was somewhere in the middle of ‘The Elf’ where Buddy is decorating the apartment and eating maple syrup pasta for breakfast that Idris’ phone buzzes. Gently she grabs it out of her pocket and sees that it’s her boss calling her, immediately she gently removes the limbs of her Zander off of her getting up and handing a sleeping Zola to Ellen on her way out the family room. 

“Hello.” she answers the phone, standing in the hallway that leads to the stairs going upstairs. 

“Hey glad I caught you. Remember that client Samson that wanted that painting for his wife for Christmas?” he asks sounding rushed. 

“You mean for her birthday?” Idris asks kindly trying not to come out and tell her boss he’s wrong. 

“Yeah yeah same thing anyway, the artist finally agreed to the price today at 500k.” 

“Wow, that's great, I know Samson will be happy.” 

“Well that’s the problem,” after a pause her boss continues “that’s kind of why I’m calling.” 

“What?” she doesn’t try to hide her anxiety.

“Well Samson has apparently decided that it’s not worth 500k and the artist barely agreed to that price so I need you to convince Samson it’s worth it.” he explains as if it’s just a regular Tuesday morning in the office. 

“On Christmas Eve?” she asks. 

“Yeah. It’s one phone call " Iddy come on.” sounding like it’s not a big deal at all. 

“Okay.” 

“Perfect. But he can’t do it tonight, it’s going to be the day after tomorrow around 2 pm. I’ll tell Sarah, my new secretary, to email them to you.” 

Idris can’t help but joke, “what happened to Kennedy?” she chuckles, knowing it’s an on-going joke that the only woman who can stand working for him is her because he doesn’t hit on her. 

“Didn’t work out. Anyway Merry Christmas. Send the kiddos my love. Jack too.” 

“Haha, very funny William.” sounding as sarcastic as possible as she hangs up the phone. 

Before she can even put her phone back in her hoodie’s pocket, she jumps up at the sound of Jack behind her. “Seriously Idris. You have got to be fucking kidding me.”

“Jesus Jack you scared me. What are you even talking about?” Idris doesn’t bother hiding the tiredness in her voice, it’s been a long day and it will be an even longer.

 “You left watching a movie with your family on Christmas Eve to gossip with William.” his arms are crossed in that way where it’s not because he’s annoyed, his jaw slightly clenched. 

“Zola is asleep. Zander was half asleep when I left. So yes I stepped out to take a phone call when it’s a movie I have seen no less than a 100 times.” Idris was matching Jack’s annoyed expression not in the mood for whatever she knows he’s about to imply. 

“That’s not the point.” slightly raising his voice, it doesn’t go unnoticed to Idris that someone in the family room turns up the volume of the movie. 

“Then what is Jack?” she asks.

“The fucking point is that it’s always him. It’s like he has this power over you even if your kids aren’t above it!” He’s now screaming and any chance Idris had of not also raising her voice is over. 

“That’s not even close to the truth and you fucking know it! I’m not sure what the fuck you’re trying to imply Jack but it’s wrong!” 

“So you don’t care more about your career than you do us!” he yells at her. 

“No! I don’t. But the same argument could be made for you, Mr.hotshot hockey player!”

“You don’t seem to mind about my hockey player money.” he retorts back, he has that smirk on his face like when someone knows an insult they just spit out sticks. 

“Oh my god! Were not even together and were having the same fucking fight! It’s insane!” she yells storming out of the hall to climb the stairs two at a time, but Jack is apparently not done. 

“So that’s it?” he yells at her as they climb the stairs. 

“Yeah that’s fucking it Jack! You know I’m done, you know I love my job just like you do. You know I love being a mom. But you also know I was hesitant to come here, but I love being a mom so bad I decided to spend my first Christmas single in years with my ex-boyfriend and his family so my kids can have both their parents for Christmas. So don’t tell me I put anything above those babies again asshole.” Idris turns to walk down the hall to the guest room she’s been staying in. 

“Ex-fiance. Not boyfriend.” he can’t help but point out, it’s like a sickness, the way even when she hasn’t been his for almost 3 full months he still needs to stake his claim to her. 

“God of course that’s what you got out of that.” she mumbles as she slams the door behind her. 

Jack makes his way back downstairs, kind of surprised that Zola stayed asleep during that, she’s still snuggled up on his moms chest. Zander has since climbed into Quinn’s lap for cuddles, it doesn’t really surprise anyone he is becoming the favorite uncle whenever he’s around. “Don’t” he mumbles as he falls into the coach where Idris was sitting, Luke next to him. 

“Oh bro. I wasn’t planning on it. That’s what mom and dad are for.” he whispers as a response. 

“Daddy?” Zander asks from Quinn’s lap. 

“Yeah Z.” he asks, trying to hide how angry he is from his son. 

“Where's mama?” 

“She has a headache bubs, so she went to bed early.” 

“Oh” is all he responds with leaning back into his uncles chest. 

“You always have been a shit liar.” Luke mumbles which earns a slap in the back of his head from Jack. 

After a couple minutes, Jack can see that Zander and Quinn are whispering amongst themselves not really watching the ending of the movie. If Jack took an honest survey of the room no one was really watching the movie, as if everyone was on edge waiting for the next shoe to drop. 

Zander slowly shimmies his way off of his uncle's lap and goes to make his exit. “Where are ya headed Z?” Jack asks. 

“To give mama snuggles. Like she does to me when I feel sick.” he tells his dad before he’s off dragging the same baby blanket he left on the coach this morning back upstairs with him. 

“Well I think we're headed to bed as well.” Jim announces. 

“I can put Zola to bed Ma, hand her over” Jack offers but is waved off as she stands and they leave the room. 

After a couple minutes of the brothers sitting in silence Quinn’s the one to break it. “I know you guys are separated, but it must be a new low for your son to comfort Idris when you're the one who made her upset.” 

“Will you shut-up you hurt my kid tonight I outta kill you.” Jack grinds between his teeth.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Idris hears a knock on her door and decides to ignore it knowing it’s probably Ellen or one of Jack’s brothers coming to check on her. “I’m fine” she groans back, turning away from the door. She can hear it click open and says “Luke I’m really not in the mood.” 

“Mama” she hears Zander say and suddenly she’s sitting fully up starring at her son at the side of the bed. 

“Hi honey. Is your arm feeling better?” she asks. 

“Yeah. Daddy said you your head hurts.” he mumbles softly as if not to speak too loud to hurt your imaginary headache anymore than it already would be and Idris heart melts at the gesture. 

“Yeah, just a little. I’ll be okay.” reaching out to gently push the baby curls out of his eyes, suddenly thinking about the fact he needs a haircut. 

“Want snuggles? Like when I’m hurt you give snuggles” he asks shyly looking up at his mom. 

“Always from you baby. Come ‘ere” As she picks him up and climbs under the covers with him enjoying her son cuddling with her. 

Jack went to check on the kids around 1 am when Idris and he agreed to meet downstairs to play Santa. When he peaked in he only saw Zola in her crib. ‘Z must still be with Idris.’ he thinks to himself. Idris doesn’t come down to help but who can blame her, he was kind of dick to her. So Jack carries up all the gifts by himself and puts them under the tree including the new goal and Zolas new walker toy. He eats all the cookies, even Zanders very very sugary ones and the carrots too, only leaving the stumps. 

Finally as he lays down he hears Zola crying. Sometimes she still needs a diaper changed in the middle of the night. Slowly he gets up and walks across the hall to the nursery to see Zola standing in her crib crying. “Hey Zozo.” he greets her as he flicks the light on and walks across the room. 

Zola did need a diaper changed, but once she did that she was still crying Jack wasn’t sure what was wrong and then signed for ‘mother.’ Idris was coming into the nursery anyway after hearing Zola not calming down. “Mama” she stretches, physically trying to get out of Jack’s arms and into hers. 

It hurt Jack more than he cared to admit, Zola was always a ‘daddy’s girl’ literally from the moment she came out of Idris. There were so many times when she was young that only he could calm her down, she really only ever wanted Idris if she was hungry as a newborn. 

“Hi honey.” she coos and immediately she stops crying. Idris walks over to her crib and grabs a pacifier. Zola glady takes it and leans her head on Idris’ shoulder. Jack stands off to the side feeling like chopped liver. As Idris tries to put her back in her crib she gets fussy again. 

“Okay okay. I get it. It must be scary sleeping alone. I don’t think you’ve ever done that before huh? Zander is already in my bed, wanna sleep with mama and brother tonight?” she asks in a soft voice that one would only use for a baby or small animal. 

Jack feels like shit still standing in the middle of the room, as Idris walks out the room carrying a very content Zola. All he can think about is how that’s the third time today his kids have picked Idris over him, and the second time tonight Zola specifically has. Jack never thought he would be jealous because his kids are giving more attention to Idris but he is, and that’s all he can think about as he attempts to fall asleep. 

—---------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday December 25, 2024 - Christmas Day

Idris woke up to Zander shaking her awake, Idris has never seen him so excited in the morning, she grabs her phone and looks at the time 5:45 AM. 

“Santa came! COME ON MA.” He screams physically trying to pull her up. A very big contrast to how be is every other day of the year, but Iddy finds it cute. 

“Zander. Shhh. People are sleeping.” As she helps Zola out of bed, and lets her walk just holding her hand. Idris thinks it’s kind of amazing how kids wobble and then all of a sudden one day they can walk and talk like it’s nothing. 

“Santa came Zo! Come on, move faster.” Zander starts pleading with his little sister to move faster. 

Iddy can see how flustered Zander is becoming at how ‘slow’ Zola is walking down the hall,scared he might try to drag her down the stairs himself soon.  So she suggests “Z honey why don’t you go wake up Daddy and we’ll meet you downstairs.” 

He doesn’t need to be told twice, sprinting down the hall screaming for Jack to wake up. Idris can hear a yelp from Jack from the stairs and can only imagine where Zander jumped him awake. 

Idris makes it down the family room, at the exact moment she hears Zander running down the stairs. His yelling must have woken everyone up, because behind Jack are both his brothers and his parents and Apollo bringing up the rear. 

Everyone lets the kids open their gifts all at once from Santa, it’s kind of heartwarming seeing how happy they both are. Apollo has decided to bring the wrapping paper to Jim who’s holding the trash bag. 

“Apollo. Are the kids too messy for you?” Iddy jokes and all he does is use his nose to nudge her leg as he passes her with another ball of wrapping paper in his mouth. 

Quinn laughing asks “did you guys teach him to do that?” 

“No” Jack breathes out in between his own laughing fit. 

Once the kids were done everyone opened their gifts from everyone all at once. Except for the gifts that Zander and Zola (Zander to be honest) picked out for everyone. Zander loved passing out his gifts - some might have been homemade - but Jack’s and Iddy’s were not. He stood in front of his dad practically blocking the view as he opened his gift. Now when Idris took Zander out shopping for his dad, she did not stir him in any sort of direction; she truly gave him free range to pick whatever ‘he’ wanted his dad to have. This is how Jack ended up opening a bag of pretzels and a pink beanie. In his defense, pretzels are Jack’s favorite snack (might also be his, so there might be a conflict of interest but Iddy didn’t say anything). The bright pink beanie was because “daddy only wears boring colors and pink is a fun color.” The beanie also has a tacky flamingo stitched on the front but Jack loves it anyway and puts it on right away. 

Now when Jack took Zander out he did not go with the ‘free range method.’ Now Jack did let Zander  wrap it,  Idris is pretty sure he used at least 2 rolls of tape alone because she had to use scissors to cut out the box. When she opened the box she found a new pair of knee high leather boots to replace her old pair. Nothing was wrong with her old pair but when she had Zola her feet grew in size and never went back down. She loved her knee high boots and was really sad she had to donate them. Even over a year later she hadn’t really found the time to replace that exact pair of other boots she could wear instead. But to see the exact pair, down to the brand and even the little pattern stitched in the heel made her gasp. 

“Do you like them mommy?” Zander asked unsure since she hadn’t spoken immediately. 

“I love them, baby. Thank you.” she whispers and as she hugs Zander she makes eye-contact with Jack who's across the room sitting in a chair with that dumb pink beanie on. She mouths ‘thank you’ to him and he blushes, quickly looking away. 

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surprisingly to everyone, the day was turning out to be pretty good. After presents, Idris, Quinn and Ellen made a huge breakfast for everyone. Everybody sat around the dining room table (the kitchen table not comfortable to fit everyone plus the kiddos) and ate. The meal was great, it was like the tension from last night was gone. After breakfast everyone sort of migrated to the family room, lounging around doing nothing, some Christmas movie on in the background no one was really watching. Quinn even made a comment to Luke about how he’s gonna win the fight since it was already 4 pm without Jack and Idris getting into a fight. All Luke said was ��I don’t know about that big brother.” as he walked away stealing the last cinnamon roll on Quinn’s plate he had just warmed up as a snack, going to chase after Zander with his new nerf gun.

Idris was in the kitchen, finishing cleaning the dishes she was feeling too lazy to clean right after breakfast. Idris was enjoying the quiet around the loudness that was the Hughes family Christmas. As she was washing the last pan that had the cinnamon rolls in them she heard someone come behind her but didn’t think anything of it until she heard Jack’s voice. 

“Hey” he softly says. 

“Hey yourself.” she answers awkwardly, not really sure what Jack was looking for, maybe he wanted to hear thank you the present Idris thought to herself. Putting the pan in the drying rack and wiping her hands with a dish towel she turns“Thank you by the way for the boots.” 

Jack babbles out a quiet “yeah no problem.” his cheeks were just slightly more pink than they were when he came in. “Uh, can we talk?” he asks, scratching the back of his neck a nervous tic he’s never been able to grow out of. 

“About?” she asks confused about what Jack could possibly be thinking about. 

Somehow her answer must of satisfied Jack because he walks more into the kitchen standing directly in front of Idris leaning against the island, while she’s still in front of the sink. “Look about last night.” 

“What is there to talk about?” Idris doesn’t mean to sound as defensive as she does. But how many times can you have the same fight with someone before there is nothing left to add to the conversation. 

“Uh like about how you disappeared in the middle of the movie to talk to a precious boss who constantly calls you when he knows you are home spending time with the kids.” he might not have meant to scold her but that’s what it sounded like. 

“Oh my god Jack. I can’t believe you are coming in here and instead of apologizing you are just bringing up again how mad that I took one phone call about work. You act as if someone from the devils called you, you wouldn’t have taken it.”

“I wouldn’t.” 

Idris is nothing less than baffled at how Jack is acting right now. “That’s such bullshit and you know it.” Idris starts to walk around the kitchen as if she needed to give herself as much physical space from Jack as possible. 

“It’s not.” he defends himself before he adds, “Did you answer just because it was him?” The way he says ‘him’ Idris immediately knows what’s really bothering him, it’s not that she got up during the movie or even that she took a work call. No, Jack was mad because he was jealous. 

“Oh my god!” she sighs. “I can’t believe this. You’re mad at me because you're jealous.” she accuses Jack, but it comes out more as a statement - as if it was already confirmed as a fact - rather than an assumption. 

“I am not.” he snaps at her, his voice starting to get ever so slightly higher, as he walks around the island to be on the same side as her again. 

“You fucking are Jack! God I can’t believe this! We are literally again having the same fight and we are not even together anymore!” feeling so frustrated that she is starting to yell, running her hands through her hair as if it will ease some of the anger she is feeling inside. 

“God I am not. I’m mad that you prioritize work over our family!” 

“Bullshit. Fucking bullshit and you fucking know it!” she yells, not thinking about who else is in the house, or the fact that Zander and Zola are in the next room. “God that is so rich coming from you! How much of Zander's first 9 months of life did you miss? How much of me being pregant with Zola were you just.. gone Jack? Playing hockey?” 

“I was providing for this family!” he yells, his blue eyes as dark as the deep sea filled with his anger.

“I never said that you weren’t! What I am saying is that you can’t say that you also don’t work a lot of hours and are away a lot from the kids! You can’t sit there and point a finger at me when three are p[ointing back Jack! I’m done having this conversation with you. Whether you're jealous. Not jealous. I don’t care we’re broken up so there is no reason for you to feel some type of way. Or for you to come in here and yell at me.” Idris turns to walk away and leave the kitchen but stops at Jack's words. 

“Are you fucking him?” he asks. Idris is frozen and she is astonished at his accuration of her character.

“What?” she asks as she turns around, truly believing she heard him wrong because her Jack would never ask her such a thing or think that somehow she could be sleeping with her boss. 

“You heard me.” he snapped, stepping closer to her. “Are you dropping your panties anywhere you can for him like you use to for me?” his words spitting venom. 

“Fuck you.” Idris says she walks away just trying to get upstairs as far away from Jack as she possibly can because her watery eyes become full blown tears. 

Jack follows her, apparently not done with fighting with her. Dispute the fact that it feels like his words somehow felt worse than a bullet to the chest. “What no answer Iddy?” he asks. 

Idris was going to ignore him until she heard her son. “STOP.” he yells at Jack jumping in front of him kicking and punching him as hard as he could. “ALL YOU DO IS HURT MAMA. I HATE YOU.”

Idris can’t walk away from her son even if a tiny part of her loves him for it. She comes up behind him, picking him up from under his armpits and carrying him away somewhere. “Zander no. We do not hit people and we do not tell them you hate them.” Idris starts to talk carrying him up the stairs, still an angry ball of limbs yelling. 

“I DO HATE HIM. I DO” 

“We don’t use that word in this house.” they can hear Idris says before they hear a door shut upstairs.

Jack doesn’t move, he doesn’t say anything he’s frozen in place. Jack doesn’t even know where Zander learned that word, and it breaks his heart. His own kid, the one thing he loves the most in this world hates him? Jack knew that he preferred Idris over him, which was fine. But to hate him, to want him to leave. Jack was gonna be sick, he felt this deep need to throw up. 

“I-I I need some air.” he chokes out to his family standing around the hall and family room. Jack runs out of room to the back deck, he doesn’t stop moving until he’s leaning over the railing emptying his stomach of everything he ate in the last 12 hours. 

“Here.” Quinn says to Luke, handing him a 100 dollar bill. 

“Keep it. I don’t want it.” Luke mumbles climbing up the stairs, whether to go hide his room or check on Idris and Zander no one is sure. 

“I’ll go check on him.” Quinn says it at the same time Jim says “Imma check on Jack.” But Ellen stops both of them, gently touching both of them on the shoulder. 

“No, I got it. Why don’t you guys finish the movie?” She doesn’t give them any room for debate; they settle back into the coach. 

Ellen slowly opens the sliding glass door now in her boots and winter coat, along with a blanket she must have grabbed on her way out. Jack turns around to the sound of the door, Ellen can see his red rimmed eyes from crying, his blue eyes the lightest of shades it always is when he cries. “I don’t wanna talk.” he mumbles turning back out to look at the lake, he can’t see much because it’s so dark out but he tries anyway. 

“Okay, that’s fine. I'll tell you to listen.” she says in that tone only mothers can use on their sons, as she drapes the blanket over his shoulders. “He doesn’t hate you, you know that right Jacky?” she asks gently. 

“Uff. Could have fooled me.” he mumbles. 

“Jack, he's two. He doesn’t even know how to spell his name, he doesn’t understand what he’s saying.” she tries to gently let Jack see the truth. 

“I don’t know Ma, he never wants me anymore. Even when he’s at home with me he’s asking for Idris. I knew he was a mama’s boy and I was okay with that but he hates me. All he seems to do is fight me on every little thing. Honestly I’ve been a shit father, I would probably hate me too if I was him."He still hasn’t looked at his mom, he’s just word vomiting as he leans against the railing of the deck and  stares out to the land and the lake. 

“I’m gonna tell you a secret. It’s a secret every parent figures out at some point and no one tells anyone about parenthood. A child is their meanest self with the person they love the most. He loves you Jack, adores you even. All he does is want to be like you. And you know what you are?” she asks, he turns to her giving her look. “You are the biggest mama’s boy there is. Where do you think he learned how to be one? Or the fact that he wants to play center ‘cause my daddy does.’ The boy loves you. He just is little. And yeah kids bounce back, but you have to remember that you and Iddy being apart is also a very big change for Zander. And that boy doesn't like change. Kind of like someone else I know.” She gives him a pointed look. 

“Who me?” he jokes for the first time since she got out on the deck. 

As they turn to head back inside she says “just think of it this way.. It’s like a right of passage for your kid saying they hate you. Well except usually it’s during the teenage years..” She jokes as Jack wraps his arm around her side giving her a hug. 

“Can I just say one thing?” 

“What?” Ellen asks. 

“This is definitely the worst Christmas.” Jack admits. 

“Yeah well Christmas joy is overrated. Why do you think we did more to celebrate Hanukkah while you were growing up?” Both of them laugh and head inside, Jack does feel better after he talks with his mom. Maybe it is true what they say, you are never too old for a mom talk and a hug.

[hatoslay]

Hey. Could I request a dads!Dr. AbbottxDr. Robinavitchxf!reader moodboard please?

Hi @catatoniclee ! thank you for requesting and I hope you like this ❤️ let me know if this is what you had in mind

I'm not gonna lie this was challenging but I like a good challenge!

[ghostfacd]

A JUMP BACK | JACK HUGHES

dad!jack hughes au

- set four years ago during jack and yn’s senior year of high school

liked by lhughes_06, quinnhughes and 76,082 others

jackhughes prom with my rory

tagged ylerory

view all comments

yleory the romeo to my juliet

jackhughes minus the deaths baby

friend1 aww! my fave couple

quinnhughes they grow up so fast

lhughes_06 you’re just old

quinnhughes okay mr just became a sophomore in high school 👦

user1 awww no he’s taken 😭😭

user2 throwing up and everything

user3 jack said not a soft but a HARD launch

liked by jackhughes, livvyhughes and 777 more

ylerory with my favorite hughes and girls!

tagged livvyhughes, friend1, friend2

view all comments

jackhughes so livvy’s your favorite hughes and not me?

lhughes_06 clearly livvy is everyone’s favorite Hughes

livvyhughes love u v much sister! don’t know why you’re even dating my brother but so glad you came into our lives <3

ylerory i love u my lil sissy

friend1 YESS we look so good!!

friend2 us when we rock prom 🙏

user1 jack’s gf is so pretty OHMYGOD

- fast forward to yn and jack’s freshman year of college

liked by jackhughes, elblue6 and 8,028 others

ylerory full time student —> full time mama soon

view all comments

jackhughes hell yea!

elblue6 i remember how much i cried after i found out, so unbelievably grateful for the happiness you bring to my son and our family 💗💐

ylerory mama hughes! 🥲🥲 gonna make me cry

livvyhughes YAAA!! cool auntie in a few months 😎

jackhughes the coolest auntie ever

ylerory 💗💗💗

umichockey some of our players gon be protective uncles soon 👀👀

user1 NOOO WAY

user2 we officially lost him.

liked by quinnhughes, lhughes_06 and 567,982 others

jackhughes yn lerory, the girl who i fell head over heels with in sophomore year of high school who taught me not to only become better for myself, but also better for others. i cannot ask the world for a better girlfriend and best friend, and you’ve brightened up my life since the day we met. thank you for bringing olivier into the world, and thank you for everything you’ve ever done for me. thanks for sticking with the annoying sophomore jack hughes who couldn’t even do chemistry properly. my smart, beautiful, and now a mother, rory.

tagged ylerory

view all comments

livvyhughes am i crying? who’s crying?

quinnhughes the most wholesome and happiest I’ve ever seen you. Congrats buddy, hope all goes well for you and Rory (my future sister in law.)

ylerory aww quinn 🥹🥹 we love you so much, thank you for being the person we could always go to when we needed help. best big brother EVER.

lhughes_06 part time hockey player, full time ollie’s uncle

umichockey whoa there buddy we still need u on the ice!

- fast forward to present

liked by gabeperreault44, ylerory and 13,487 others

livvyhughes auntie life best life

tagged ylerory

view all comments

gabeperreault44 kids looks good on you Livvy

jackhughes don’t even think about it buddy

ylerory yay!! ollie loves his auntie and uncles so much, thank you for bringing joy into his life

[neverlookatthisblog]

Harlow’s Easter

A/N:Happy Easter I’m trying to get back into writing cause I miss it so here’s this hope you all have a wonderful time today 🐰🤍

You and Jack packed up all the kids and went straight to Maggie’s house being the perfectionist you are you made sure they all matched with their outfits

“Mommy I don’t want a side pony I want my hair to be in a bun” Mae demanded as you were helping her get ready

“Okay we can do that” you said getting the supplies you need

When you arrived you were greeted by Maggie like always you all talked and talked catching up with everyone

“So y/n are we expecting anything grand child” Brian asked you

“Soon” Jack said

“Don’t lie probably not anytime soon because I’m too busy with work right now my business is doing so good I don’t have time to sit around all day” you said you did want another child just not right now They understood switching the conversation knowing that the answer

☆☆☆☆☆

The kids had a blast playing around you knew not to make them wear white because one thing about your kids is that they’re gonna have fun no matter where they go

Soon enough it was time for them to do egg hunting

“Jack what are you doing you’re not a kid” his mom said

“So that’s not stopping me from getting my candy” he said you shook your head

You watched them all run around searching for eggs by the end of it Jack had more eggs than the kids

“Honey I know you wanted to do this for fun but look at the kids basket’s” Jack took a look and looked back at you

You gave him your mom stare before he gave up

“Fine” you gave the kids most of the eggs

“Jack next time let the kids get them” you said Jack rolled his eyes at you he knew you had a point

You had Spent the next few hours taking family pictures,eating dinner by the end of it all the kids were worn out and tired you were about get ready to leave when Maggie pulled you to the side

“Go ahead and leave them here for the night I’ll bring them back in the morning” she reassured you

Both you and agreed waisted no time leaving the kids getting a night to yourselves felt so peaceful without them for one night.

[generalllimaginesss]

jackhughes

Liked by elblue6 and others

jackhughes I’ve never been one for sappy posts, but this past year with this little one has been heaven on earth. I’ve heard so many parents complain about lack of sleep, crying, and so many other things, but how can you complain when there’s something so innocent looking at you like this angel looks at us? I’d do this over a million times if it meant you stay this little forever. Happy first birthday. Always and forever going to be my little girl.

view comments

lhughes_06 Thanks for making me the favorite uncle, bro.

_quinnhughes You’re not the favorite.

lhughes_06 Oh my bad, I’ve never heard her say your name so I thought she just didnt know you existed🫢

_quinnhughes she’s one. How tf is she supposed to say a “q” when she’s one?? I wasn’t the one that was 2 days late to the birth because of “plans that you couldn’t get out of.” 🫢

jackhughes if Quinn didn’t live in the middle of nowhere Canada he’d be the favorite by a long shot🫢

elblue6 I could not have chose a better daughter-in-love or granddaughter for my sweet boy. Nonna and Poppa love all three of you beyond words! Also, is my little angel walking yet?

y/nhughes We love you more! She’s not quite able to walk on her own yet, but Jack is making sure she learns to skate before she walks😉

elblue6 I expected nothing less coming from him lol!

trevorzegras it’s cute watching Quinn and Luke argue over who the favorite uncle is when I’m holding her right now. She may not be able to say my name, but she sure as hell cries when I’m not holding her 🫢

_quinnhughes you traumatize her so much when you hold her that she has to let it out when you’re not.

lhughes_06 she probably has ptsd from looking at your face

trevorzegras anyways, happy birthday to my sidekick. Can’t wait to piss your mom and dad off together when you’re older🫶

nicohischier the best thing to come from a Hughes brother. Happy birthday, love!

jackhughes that was a very unnecessary backhanded compliment, Nico.

lhughes_06 I once brought you brownies to practice. I’m hurt.

nicohischier You’re brownies were burnt.

_quinnhughes are you comparing our niece to burnt brownies Luke?

lhughes_06 Quinn, you’re irrelevant.

colecaufield since everybody else ruined your sappy post…Buddy you’re the best dad. She’s absolutely perfect, just like her mom.

trevorzegras I’m deceased

jackhughes I may not be perfect, but at least I’m not Zegras’s bitch

jackhughes sorry I meant caddy. Damn autocorrect.

y/nhughes love you coley!

jackhughes really y/n?

_alexturcotte happy birthday to my favorite baby. make another one so I can have 2 favorites.

jackhughes gotta talk to y/n about that. If it were up to me we’d have 12.

y/nhughes you can have all the babies you want when you push them out :)

y/nhughes our beautiful little family. You both make life so precious.

jackhughes we would be lost without Mama💜

y/nhughes

Liked by trevorzegras and others

y/nhughes On the left was our first day home, and on the right is you just now. They weren’t lying when they said time is a thief. I went through the worst pain in my life bringing you into this word, little girl, but you made me forget about it the second I heard your first cry. Happy first birthday, angel. Mama and Dada love you infinitely times one hundred.

view comments

nhl Happy birthday Baby Hughes!

fanuser1 she’s so perfect. So happy for the Hughes family! Happy birthday!

_quinnhughes Uncle Q’s favorite girl. Happy birthday!

_alexturcotte The sweetest little family. Now add more. ps happy birthday beautiful.

y/nhughes We love you, Turcs! Our favorite babysitter😉

_alexturcotte the true favorite uncle doesn’t have to brag about it🤷‍♂️

fanuser2 I didn’t like y/n at first, but she’s grown on me.

jackhughes same tbh

y/nhughes Jack I stg if you don’t shut up…

bff.user you may have a lot of boys arguing about the favorite uncle, but I’m secure in knowing I’m the best aunt😙

trevorzegras we can be the aunt and uncle power couple😛

bff.user @jackhughes put your friend on a leash

jackhughes I’ll put a muzzle on him while I’m at it.

trevorzegras you all love me ;)

jackhughes unfortunately

elblue6

Liked by jackhughes and others

elblue6 Happy birthday to Nonna and Poppa’s favorite girl! You’re little heart is too good for this world, but we are so blessed for you to share it with us. You look so much like your mama, but you act just like your dada! (I’m saying a prayer for your mom). We can not wait to celebrate you this weekend! With love, Nonna and Poppa.

comments have been disabled

[literaryslapshot]

How fucked up would it be if your kid had to find an egg inside jacks prosthetic, firm believer he doesn't always wear it around the house and he's an odd critter who would probably think it's funny

no honestly i think that’s funny. he’s def the dad to say “i see three right now” while his child is on the brink of a fit of anger…and he’s just laughing while he sees a bright pink egg sitting in his prosthetic.

[brokenquirk]

Christmas shopping with Clem and Wren ☺️

Sorry this is late 😩 but I hope you like it!

Jack had decided to take both of the girls to the mall to go Christmas shopping. You and your five month baby boy Mason had to stay home.

“Are my girls ready?!” Jack asked buckling Wren.

“Yeah!” Clementine had been talking about this ever since Jack had brought it up. She was always excited at the opportunity to buy something for you.

“Clem baby, you got your belt or do you need help?” Jack asked, looking at her making sure she was all good.

“I got it! I’m a big girl remember daddy?” She shook her head at him and giggled at his face.

“You’re so right. Silly me” Jack got in the driver seat and buckled himself in. He noticed how quiet Wren was and looked back at her.

She was looking out the window quietly humming ‘detox’ to herself. She had been on that song ever since she heard you listening to it. Jack always thought it was adorable how much Wren took after you.

“Whatcha thinking about Wrenly?”

“Can we buy mama a horsey?” Jack knew the only reason she asked was because they had just watched the movie Spirit about a horse. He chuckled at her shaking his head.

“No can do on the horse babe, we wouldn’t have anywhere to put them!” She sighed but then agreed.

The first stop they were making was Coach. Jack knew there had been a navy blue coach bag that you had been talking about getting.

When they got in the store Wren was already feeling tired of walking so Jack carried her on his hip while she rested her head on his shoulder and picked at the lint on his shirt.

“Daddy can I look at the bracelets please?” Clementine had always had a thing for jewelry and she knew she wanted to get you some type of bracelet.

“Yeah baby, just stay where I can see you okay?” She nodded, walking to the bracelets.

Jack had already ordered the bag and just walked to the front desk to pick it up. One thing he was always good at was getting gifts on time.

Clementine gasped at a bracelet she saw and quickly called for Jack. “I want to get mommy this one!” She pointed at a rose gold bracelet that had the coach logo along with a few diamonds circling around it.

“Good find Clem!” After Jack had purchased the bracelet the three of them walked around for a bit getting things for both you and Mason.

By the time they got home all three of them were exhausted and ready for a nap (especially Wren)

[softsunnyy]

WAIT, THIS IS SO KAT & JACK

i just opened pinterest and these were the first 3 photos, i'm gonna cry

[rowdyluv]

𝖽𝖺𝖽𝖽𝗒－𝖽𝖺𝗎𝗀𝗁𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖽𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾，𝖼𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗂𝗌

𝗌𝗎𝗆𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗒：cherry’s pre-k is having a daddy-daughter dance! one problem the twins don’t have a father figure in their life. Y/n spirals while cherry is confident she has this whole thing covered.

𝗐𝖺𝗋𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌：lack of biological parent being around, angst to small child?

𝗇𝗈𝗍𝖾𝗌：not edited!! i wrote this on no sleep. (still haven’t slept :p) but! this is the full blurb excerpt from the media / timeline build up!

𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍：524

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

The pre-k that the twins attend is hosting a daddy, daughter dance. Of course it just so happens to fall just shortly after having hosted a mother, son event. Cherry brought home the flyer in her folder and Y/n felt her heart plummet when she saw it.

How does she explain to her sweet baby girl that she’s not getting to go to her special event but her mommy took bubs to his mother-son event?

Answer: Cherry had it covered.

Or so she thought.

The next time Cherry saw Jack was on the flight to Vancouver for the Devils vs Canucks. Yes, an away game that Y/n had to travel to. Having no family nearby and lack of a co-parent, she had no choice but to bring the twins with her. Not that, that was an issue. It wasn’t, management understood and were accommodating…most of the time.

Cherry was sitting next to Jack on the flight. An arrangement Y/n had to awkwardly ask Jack for. This was an accommodation management would not have been willing to adjust.

Out of the blue, Cherry suddenly refused to fly unless she sat with him. She threw a full on tantrum over it. Screaming, crying, and throwing things. Y/n was embarrassed by her behavior, Cherry never acted like this. Especially in public. Little did Y/n know it was all apart of her little self’s scheme.

Some time into the flight Cherry poked Jack in the side to wake him up. She had a huge grin on her face when he looked down at her, peeking out of one eye. “Yes, little cher-bear?” He whispered to her. She giggled at the nickname he called her and wiggled up in her seat. She motioned for him to lean down so she could attempt to whisper in his ear. “Jacky, will you be my daddy?”

Jack choked back a surprised cough. He reached for his water in an attempt to wet his suddenly dry mouth. “Cher-bear? What did you say?” He asked her. Knowing good and well what she asked him. But he still wanted her to repeat it for good measure.

With the sassiness she’d most definitely picked up from watching his press after games she repeated herself. “I said, will you be my daddy?”

“Sweetheart,” Jack sighed knowing he’s about to crush his tiny best friend’s heart. “I can’t be your daddy. Your mommy and I don’t like each other like that.” Jack watched her face fall from excited, and hopeful, to defeated and sad.

“Oh?” She questioned. “Just need a daddy to be like Cinderella.” Cherry hastily grabbed her teddy bear from Jack’s lap and turned to face the window. Giving him the same treatment that an upset girlfriend would. Leaving Jack confused about how in the world Cinderella and a father correlate. He was pretty sure Cinderella was left with her stepmother and stepsisters, but he could be wrong. So, Jack did the only thing he could think to do. He pulled out his phone making a reminder to ask Quinn later. He has a daughter, surely he’s fluent in princesses….right?

[sweetestcaptainhughes]

Meet Idris....

⇰ Full Name - Idris Alinia Moore

○ Someone named Idris is known for being someone with high intelligence, and also have wisdom, trustworthy and patient.

○ Idris' shows her patience most when it comes to her family, especially her children and Jack. Despite everything that happens with Jack some claim that she was too patient at times with Jack when things were hard.

○ Alinia means bright, beautiful and light.

○ Idris is known as someone who has a very bright personality similar to Jack she can easily light up a room when she walks in. She is also very confident, despite being on the curvy side she always dressed with confidence and no one can deny she is beautiful.

○ Common everyday nickname is Iddy. Jack use to always call her Idz but he's the only one who calls her that and it makes her heart skip a beat everytime he uses it.

⇰ Iddy's Style/ How I picture her:

(this is how I PICTURE Idris, if you choose to want to believe that you are Idris in this AU that's fine too.)

⇰ Birthday - January 15, 2000

○ Yes she is older than Jack, he finds it hot that she's older than him. Which every time he does mention it she gives him a very 'deadpan' look because she is barely a year older.

○ She is a classic Capricorn stubborn, laid back (even though she can light up a room, she rather be in the background), hardworking, very independent, responsible and ambitious.

⇰ Important Facts:

○ She was actually born in Boston.

○ Both of Iddy's parents are professors and researchers. But when her parents ultimately spilt when she was in middle school. Her mom decided to take a job as a professor with UMich.

○ Her parents weren't a happy couple and put her in the middle a lot. They also didn't do a good job at co-parenting when they did finally spilt. Her biggest fear is becoming her mom a single mom and ultimately that comes true at some point.

○ Due to moving to Ann Arbor at a semi young age she refers to it as home, (even the first time she meets Jack.) but Idris is ultimately a classic city girl.

○ Iddy when growing up went through different sports even at one point trying soccer. But she ended up falling more in love with dance and the arts than anything else.

○ Idris was a contemporary dancer and ballerina until around her senior year of high school she broke her ankle. Even after it healed, she was never really at the same level she was prior to breaking and ultimately decided she was done.

○ Even though she could of gone to UMich for free due to her mother or even Boston University where her father was a professor. Both of her parents knew she didn't want that. They were very respectful in letting her decide where she wanted to go to college.

○ Due to always being a city girl, it wasn't a shock to anyone that she landed at NYU. She had a double major in art history and communications. Along with a minor in art therapy.

○ When she graduated in May 2022 she was already 6 months pregnant. (My favorite fact of the day she Jack begging her not to wear heels because of her swollen ankles. He is literally glued to her side as much as possible. He even holds his breath and squeezes Quinn's hand when she's walking across the stage.)

○ Her minor in art therapy although she never uses it professionally does help her with both Zander and Zola.

○ Although she has friends from college, getting pregnant your senior year doesn't make you the most social butterfly. So she starts to withdrawl and focus on graduating and building a life with Jack.

○ Due to that her besties are her little sister Ava (they are ride or dies and always have been), and Quinn.

○ Quinn and Idris met that first summer after she met Jack when she came up for July 4th. Something just clicked immediately and they have been besties since. Jack was actually really scared he lost his chance of staying friends with benefits when he saw how Idris and Quinn were with each other. But they are just phonetic soulmates.

○ Quinn and Ava at some point met and also became good friends. So they all have a group chat together that they text in daily. Quinn and Ava are the first people to know what's going on besides Luke who is physically in the apartment with Jack and Idris.

○ Idris after graduating works as a consult for a company that owns multiple of the smaller art galleries over the city. She helps bring new artists in to sign with the galleries. But her main job is to be a middle person between clients that want a piece of art and the artist. She helps not only find the art her client wants but makes sure she's able to secure the deal.

○ Idris is extremely involved in the Devils fundraiser organizations. Specifically she mostly helps organizes events such as getting canned goods for their Gift of Giving Foundation etc. But she is heavily involved in helping plan hospital visits and always gets the company she works for to donate art supplies to patients because she believes art is a way that everyone can process emotions. She is also heavily involved in Devils Youth Foundation.

○ Even when they are seperated she doesn't stop supporting those charities even though most of the people within the organizations expected her to. She also known to help extend a hand to Quinn with his charity work for firefighters and she is really passionate about the Canucks Autism Program.

○ Idris' relationship with the other WAGs is a little complex. The way she became a WAG in general is controversial since she literally got pregnant and then all of a sudden she was living with Jack a couple months later.

○ The other WAGs do fall in love her bright and funny personality. She ends being 'that wag' with her style and all her help with the Devils Organization. Due to this she ends up planning a lot of WAG events and she thinks she's gaining a good group of friends.

○ When Idris and Jack's relationship starts falling apart and she stops planning events, she is still included in events but she's struggling with depression so she doesn't go. By the time she asks Jack for a break, none of the wags really talk to her.

○ When Jack and Idris do eventually get back together, she doesn't really want to be apart of the wags or associated with them. Of course gossip accounts on Twitter have a lot to say about this. But ultimately the public sides with Iddy sort of surprisingly.

○ Think Kylie Kelce energy when thinking of Idris. She is just known for being such a real person and kind with all her chairity work. So no one blames her for not wanting to be involved with the 'influencer wags.'

⇰ Iddy's Instagram:

[earthtoharlow]

Teach Me: Sugar and Spice

Series Masterlist

Ariel rolled over in bed and groaned softly. The last few days she had been feeling nauseous. Jack had to even pick her up from the school early because she had gotten sick in the restroom. At first she figured it was just the flu but now on day 4 of feeling sick, she wasn’t too sure.

She looked over and saw that her glass of water was empty but she didn’t have the energy nor strength to go down to the kitchen to get more. Jack couldn’t do it because he was currently gone as he was at the studio.

Just as she found the strength to get up she immediately jumped out of bed and rushed to the bathroom. Ariel had barely got to the toilet in time before she threw up everywhere.

Once she finally got it all out of her system, she stood up and went to the medicine cabinet to see if she had anything to soothe her stomach.

As she was rambling through the cabinet, a cold chill ran through her body at the sight of an unopened pack of tampons.

Fuck.

She couldn’t remember the last time she had her period. Any other time she wouldn’t think much of it as her period was normally irregular but with the way she’s been feeling lately she knew something was up.

Ariel closed the cabinet and looked at herself in the mirror. Before she had gotten sick she had noticed her body felt different, she couldn’t figure out what it was. If she really is pregnant then that would explain why.

She turned to the side to get a different view. Ariel could be imagining it but her stomach did look a bit rounder.

Like most women she always dreamed of becoming a mom. She likes to think that she became a mom the day she met Jayla. Once officially becoming her mom, she didn’t even think of having some of her own. Now that she could possibly be pregnant, she was scared shitless.

And she still had to tell Jack.

***

“I’m telling you dude, she’s acting weird.” Jack said as he leaned back in the studio chair, nervously biting on his toothpick.

Urban was quiet for a moment before speaking, “Well, did your dumbass make her mad?”

Jack just glared at him. “No! I can’t even remember the last time we argued. Literally everything has been great.” He thought for a minute trying to think if anything had changed in the last couple weeks. He had been working more lately. Finally writing songs for himself and not other artists.

“She probably feels neglected? I haven’t been home much. Maybe she just misses me and doesn’t know how to tell me?!” Jack said, biting his lip nervously.

“Hm, maybe you should—“ Urban couldn’t even finish speaking before Jack jumped up suddenly from his chair. “Imma go home.” Jack said as he started grabbing his things.

“I gotta plan a date night. Something crazy, huge display of my love for her…”

“Jack…”

Jack ignored him as he had a phone pressed to his ear. “Hey, how soon can you guys deliver flowers?” Urban heard him say as he watched his best friend rush out the door.

All Urban could do was shake his head but smiled knowing that Jack had a huge surprise waiting for him at home. He pulls his phone out of his pocket to warn Ariel.

“The eagle has left the nest.”

Ariel giggled as she made sure everything was in place. She was so nervous but stupidly excited. As soon as she got to their shared bedroom she heard Jack call out to her, she covered her mouth to stay quiet. Not wanting to ruin the surprise and waited for him to find her.

***

Jack rushed through the door with flowers in his hands. “BABE! I’m home” he yelled and quickly kicked off his shoes. He frowned when he didn’t hear a reply back. Closing the front door, he stopped in his tracks when he saw a note taped to the door.

“Welcome home, baby! Let’s play a game. Kick off those new balances and go find your glasses for your first clue.”

Jack smiled reading the note, and took long strides to his office to find the first clue, it didn’t take long to find the next note as his glasses were sitting right on top.

“Woo hoo, You found me! Go to the kitchen and find the bottle of bourbon and then text Urban for the next clue. Ask nicely, or he might not come through.”

Jack immediately pulled his phone out to text Urban as he made his way to the kitchen.

“What is she planning?” He texted first, and rolled his eyes when he saw Urban read the message but didn’t respond.

“Ok, fine. What’s the next clue?” Jack wasn’t surprised when Urban texted him back quickly.

“Drinking this will help make you…”

“Huh?” Jack says out loud, just as he was about to text Urban back, another message came through. “It rhymes with Hocus Pocus, you idiot!”

A lightbulb went off in his head as he walked to the food closet and found his cases of Phocus with another clue on top.

“I can’t wait till you find me so I can give you some lovin’ but first I think something is baking in the oven.”

Jack’s eyes furrowed slightly as he closed the door of the closet and walked back towards the kitchen to open the oven door. He smiled wide when he saw a donut bouquet similar to the one he got her many moons ago on Valentine’s Day. He placed the donuts on the counter and read the note attached to them.

“You’re almost there! When you wear this everyone stops and stares with a gasp. To put me on, just fasten the clasp.

His Kentucky chain was his first thought as he quickly climbed the stairs to his dressing room where he kept all his jewelry. On top of the jewelry box was what he assumed was one last note. “To the best husband..”

Jack opened the letter and his breath got stuck in his throat as he read the next line. “…and soon to be a father of three.”

He turned around when he heard movement behind him, Ariel was standing behind him holding an ultrasound, happy tears streaming down her face.

Jack spoke first, “You’re…?” Ariel nodded.

She began to get nervous when she noticed his face start to turn pale. “Jack?”

Jack shook his head so the color could come back to his face, and he rushed over, lifting Ariel up in the air in excitement.

“JACK!” Ariel sequels holding on to him tight as he spins her around. He finally places her back down on the ground. Jack grabs the side of her face before giving her a big kiss.

After pulling away, he drops to his knees and places a hand on her stomach. “There’s two babies in there.” He said, sounding choked up.

“It’s crazy, huh?”

Jack simply nodded and pressed kisses all around her bump that the average person could hardly see.

“Thank you for making me a mother again.” Ariel said with a happy sigh, and she ran her fingers through his curls.

Jack who was still on his knees, placing feather light kisses on her stomach, squeezed her tighter. Again was the key word. After all these years together, hearing Ariel talk about Jayla like she was her own will forever warm his heart.

“I love you, I’m so happy we get to go on this ride together.” Jack said getting to his feet, Ariel wrapped her arms around his neck.

“3 down, 5 more to go.”

“There’s no way in hell 5 more are coming out of me”

Both of their blissfull laughs rung through the air as they enjoy this moment together

***

AN: DOUBLE THE TROUBLE!!!!! Hope you all enjoyed this let me though your thoughts

tag list

(message me if you'd like to be added or removed)

@heavyhitterheaux @hoodharlow @neon-lights-and-glitter @babiefries @toocriticalharlow @mace23477 @jackmans-poison @dstark-0706 @harlowsbby @itsyagirljaz @leftapricotprofessorlover @comehomeimissyou @minkookie95 @harlowcomehome @jackharloww @jaydaaasworld @xxkoolkatxx @khiyah @kkrenae @hufflewhore128 @w1ldthoughts @judebellinghamswife @vinniehackersbaee @realwifeofjackharlow @halfmoondaze @katiaw2

[ghostfacd]

DAD!JACK HUGHES AU

༘ * jack and yn!

the yn “rory” lerory and jack hughes timeline!

blurbs

How Ellen & Jack reacted

How Rory’s pregnancy was like with Olivier & Daisy

The fights Jack and Rory have

Does Jack miss out on any of his kids births?

Rory scolding Jack for annoying Livvy and Gabe

Trevor accidentally revealing the baby’s gender on Live TV

Jack around Rory’s bump

Jack’s favoritism towards Kayleigh

Rory and her opinions on any of the Hughes’ girlfriends

imagines

in your life, you’ll do things, greater than dating the boy on the hockey team.

i feel your compliments like bullets on skin.

insta edits

a jump back

third time’s the charm!

[neverlookatthisblog]

Uh oh

Request by @vanwritesfan-fiction

Summery: y/n is gone on vacation while Jack stays back with the kids they get into some trouble and Jack has to figure out a way to fix it

You were on vacation with your girlfriends while Jack stayed back with the kids

Before you left you and him talked about the kids

“You sure you can handle it” you said

“Yes of course I’ve got this what makes you think I can’t handle my own kids” he said making you put your hands up in defense

“I’m just saying cause you know I take care of the big stuff”

“What do you mean”

“You know what I mean when the kids get in trouble who is usually the one to discipline them??”

“Oh no they’ll gonna be fine” he said

“Alright well I have to go now the girls are waiting”you said

Calling for the kids so they can say bye to you

“Mommy when you get back can you take me to get some new clothes” Mae said making Jack look back

“Mae we literally could go to the store right now if we wanted why are you asking your mom” he said making Mae roll her eyes

“Alright my babies I’ll see you in a week” you said grabbing your stuff walking out the door they all waved at you watching you get in the car with your friends and drive off

-

It was Thursday evening Jack had feed the kids he was cleaning the table when he heard rumbling going on up stairs he was a bit confused

He walked up stairs seen what was going on in the room seeing his 4 kids doing god knows what

“What are yall doing up here” they all turned to him as if they had done something

“What why are yall just standing like that” he said coming close they all slowly moved around the small table not letting Jack see what was going on

“Can yall move so I can see what happened” jack crossed his arms they all slowly moved away from the small table in clear vision Jack saw your favorite

Vase Broke in shambles

“How the he- what happened how did yall break this” he said

“We were all playing around me and Ruth were playing tug of war and she accidentally bumped into the table and broke it” Jane said making he stress

“Daddy I had nothing to do with this they did it all on there own” Mae said making all kids look at her

“Well it doesn’t matter because we need to fix this now before your mom gets home tomorrow” they all nodded

-

You guys spent time at the store looking for similar or even just the same vase as the one you had starting to feel hopeless Jack tried his best to look for the right one he heard his phone ding

It was a text from you saying that you’d be home soon

Jack panicked looking around the kids noticed this frantic reaction



“What’s wrong dad” Ruth asked

“Your mom is gonna be home soon we gotta hurry up” they all panicked looking around and so they did they eventually found a vase it wasn’t the exact one but it was similar

Driving home as fast as Jack could once he got home he put all the broken pieces in the trash fixing the vase

“Do you think mom’s gonna notice” Ryder asked

“Nah she won’t notice a thing” that’s what Jack thought of course try to make the kids feel better

You arrived home walking into the house it looked a mess

You sighed

All the kids and Jack ran out to greet you

“Mommy I missed” Mae said hugging on to her

“We all missed you” Jack said as the all hugged her

“Alright what’s going on” you said they all looked at each other

“Nothing babe we just miss you” Jack said you believed that they missed you but something was a bit off

“Okay well I’m gonna go shower did you guys already eat” you asked

“No dad been starving us” Jane joked

“No I have not you guys just had pasta” he said

“Daddy doesn’t know how to cook mom” Mae said

“Oh I know Mae bae” you said making Jack give you a glare you didn’t notice because you walking up stairs but immediately came down

“What happened” they all looked

“What happened to my vase” you said

“What do you mean it’s there” Jack said

“No no no something’s off about it” you sucked your teeth

You breathed

“ alright everyone on the couch now” you said they all knew what was going to happen

They all walked to the couch sitting next to each other

“Why are you so close to me move” Mae pushed Ryder

“Mae”Jack said making her look at him

“We do not push in this household and you know that” she apologized to Ryder crossing her arms

“Does anyone wanna tell me what happened while I was gone” you said feeling like a teacher with bad kids

“No because nothing happened” Jack said trying to convince you that nothing happened

“So nothing happened no going to the park no watching cool movies” before anyone could say anything Mae had something to say

“Jane and Ruth broke the vase that you love on accident so we had to go out and daddy had to buy a new one” she said making all of them groan

“Mae!!!” They all said including Jack

“Sorry guys I couldn’t keep it in any longer” she said putting on a sweet smile

“So that’s what this is all about” you said

“Don’t be mad” Jack said making you shake your head

“ no it’s all good” you knew you weren’t happy at all about it but it was an accident you couldn’t really be mad at them for it

“Since I’m home now I’ll cook you guys my famous dinner” they all screamed in excitement

“Aye you guys didn’t like my meal or what” he asked

They all shook there heads “you can’t cook” Mae said making Jack roll his eyes at her while waiting for the food the kids all did there own things while waiting for you to get done and Jack won’t leave you alone