Chapter Text
Babysitting was an easy enough job. This family- Millie couldn’t remember the surname, but she had been talking to some woman named Jackie- apparently had four kids. Two twin girls, six. One boy, who was four, and the youngest girl who was barely two. Jackie’s husband travelled for work, and it was getting harder to manage alone. That was all Millie knew.
Jackie answered the door with a bright smile and the youngest on her hip. “Hi! You must be Millie. I’m Jackie. This is Amber… Hayden! She’s here! Come in.” Jackie stepped aside and Millie slipped inside. The house was remarkably neat considering they had four kids. Mounted on the wall in the living room was a blue jersey, number 35 with ‘Pike’ written in big white letters.
Jackie’s husband, Hayden, walked into the living room then, smiling brightly. “Hey. I’m Hayden.”
“Millie,” She replied. “Lovely to meet you guys, thanks for giving me a chance today, I’ve kinda been struggling to find somewhere to work since moving.” She laughed.
“Of course. Where did you say you’re from again?” Jackie smiled, sitting down. Millie smiled as Amber snuggled into Jackie, Millie holding her interest for no more than a minute.
“Australia! I’m studying here for a year. Got here a few months ago, looking for some casual work. I’ve done babysitting at home, too.” She explained, following the pair in sitting down.
“Australian. Cool accent.” Hayden nodded, making her laugh. Jackie rolled her eyes, though there was a small smile playing on her lips.
“Hayd travels a lot for work, so I’d essentially be looking for a bit of help. Mostly with the twins, Ruby and Jade. They finish school soon, so honestly as much free time as you have when Hayden’s out of town or at training would be great. Maybe help wrangling them at home games.” Jackie explained.
Millie looked over at the jersey again and then back at Hayden quickly. “I guess there’s no hockey in Australia? I play in the MLH for Montreal. It’s a few games a week plus training. Lots of flying.”
Millie nodded slowly, chuckling awkwardly. “I don’t think I’ve seen a game of ice hockey in my life,” She admitted. “Some people I’ve met are very into it, though. Your team, too, I think.”
Hayden nodded enthusiastically. “I’m sure if things work out you’ll see a few.” He said.
“Millie, I wouldn’t expect you to do any cooking, cleaning, any of that. I want help more so that I can keep doing that. I can manage Amber and Arthur okay, but with vacation coming up, it’ll be harder.”
Millie smiled sweetly. “Of course. I’d be happy to help with whatever you need. I can drive, if anyone needs running anywhere, groceries, anything.” She nodded.
“Ruby and Jade will both have training to attend. I’m not gonna drop you in the deep end though, maybe a bit of time to get to know the girls, learn your way around, and we’ll go from there.”
Millie nodded, smiling. “Do you have any questions for us?” Jackie asked. She thought for a moment.
“The girls training for ice hockey?” She asked. Hayden, again, nodded enthusiastically. “I’m sorry because I really don’t know anything about it. When’s the season? Winter I assume.”
“The proper season starts in, like, October and finishes in June,” Hayden explained. “We get time off for Christmas and stuff, so if you’re cool with it, we’ll have you come start after Christmas.”
She nodded eagerly, continuing to discuss logistics with them for a while. When Hayden left to get the girls, she did too.
Apparently the most hectic thing that Jackie dealt with were home games during vacation. Christmas had been relatively eventless, she’d met the kids just after, when Hayden flew to New York and things had gone well. It was fun.
Millie arrived at the Pike house just after lunch time, immediately joining Ruby and Jade’s tea party with Arthur and an array of stuffed animals so Jackie could put Amber down to sleep.
“Daddy plays Buffalo today,” Ruby provided as Millie poured invisible tea into everyone’s cup. “Uncle Shane says they are very bad.” Jade nodded in agreement.
“Well I think you’re gonna have to tell me all the rules tonight. I’ve never seen a game of hockey before,” Millie said, and the girls looked astonished.
“Never?” Jade echoes.
“Never. Is Dad the best player?”
Arthur nodded, but the girls looked thoughtful. “Yes,” Ruby said. “But Uncle Shane is the bestest. He’s on Dad’s team, so you’ll see him.”
“And Uncle Ilya too.” Jade added. Arthur nodded again.
Millie chuckled, nodding. “Got it. Does Uncle Ilya play with Dad as well?”
She’d spoken to a friend from one of her classes about hockey. When Madeline mentioned Hayden’s name, she'd said something about a line and the Shane Millie suspected the girls were referring to as Uncle Shane. Then Millie had quietly mentioned babysitting for the Pike’s and Madeline hadn’t reacted too crazy, but Millie hadn’t said much more than that. The Metros were, apparently, a really big deal.
Ilya. Ilya. The name didn’t ring any bells, and Madeline had promptly subjected Millie to a ten minute rundown on the Metros. She’d have to ask later.
“No. He plays for Ottawa. Ottawa are very bad too but Uncle Ilya is great.” Ruby again. They had a habit of alternating who spoke.
“Ottawa, okay.” She nodded. The tea party resumed, the twins explaining as best they could the rules of hockey, though ultimately, Millie was probably more confused than she had been before.
Millie had one twin holding onto either of her hands as they walked into the Bell Centre. They loved being rinkside so they could see Hayden, so Jackie was leading the group to their regular seats. Ruby and Jade both had blue ribbons in their hair, and all the kids were wearing mini versions of Hayden’s jersey. Arthur and Amber wore blue headphones as well, though the twins absolutely refused to.
Jackie had loaned a Montreal hoodie to Millie, as well as a scarf, joking about how she would definitely acclimatise eventually. The car-ride to Bell Centre was filled with questions about Australia following the offhand comment, in which she had to explain that it didn’t snow where she grew up so she wasn’t used to the cold.
The game was good. Montreal won. Millie was even pretty sure Hayden got an assist. She was confident she would understand soon, seeing as Jackie had suggested they watch an away game together sometime, so Millie could get a better understanding of the game.
They arrived home before Hayden did, putting the kids to bed, and Millie was in the kitchen talking quietly to Jackie when Hayden arrived home. Trailing behind him was another guy, and Millie was about ninety percent sure she’d seen his face on an ad somewhere. Rolex, maybe? Madeline had mentioned a guy on the team doing that kind of stuff, but she’d mentioned so many names they kind of blurred together
“Millie, you’re still here! How was your first game?” Hayden said, still full of energy.
“Great, yeah. Well done on the win,” She smiled. “I think I started to understand what was happening in like… the last period. It’s very fast paced.”
“You’ve never watched a game of hockey?” The guy behind Hayden said, making Jackie laugh.
“I’ve only just gotten her to stop calling it ice hockey, dude. She’s from Australia. Oh, this is Shane by the way. Shane, this is Millie, she’s helping us out with the kids like I mentioned.”
Shane shook her hand quickly. “Nice to meet you. I play with Hayden.”
“What number are you?” She asked, and a look of confusion flashed across Shane’s face before he smiled.
“Twenty four. I play on the same line as Hayden, so if he’s on, I’m on.” She nodded quickly.
“Oh, you scored like twice tonight! Ruby was very excited. Something about a scoring race? I couldn’t really hear her.” She shrugged. Shane cleared his throat, shooting Hayden a look. Hayden was already looking at him, meeting his eyes.
“I, uh. I’m gonna head off. I’ll see you on Sunday, Jackie. Great game and lovely meeting you.” Millie said, hurrying to get out the door.
Maybe the scoring race was something between Hayden and Shane. A sore topic or something.
When Millie got home, she caught up on what Madeline had been texting her through the night, letting out a tired laugh as she climbed into bed.
Madeline
Omg, just saw u on screen!!
And again
And again!!
Agaiiiiinnnnnnnnn
Ooooh Pike and Hollzy having a great game tonight!!
They always play well together who am I kidding
Oh girl u have made it to Hayden P HQ
What is Hayden P HQ
Why was I on screen so much
Hayden Pike HQ is a twitter fanpage
And they love to show the family when a player
does something well which Pike did lots. Plus the
girls were right there so it was easy
What is Pike HQ saying abt me
Also I just met the rolex ad guy
Shane ? I think the girls call him Uncle Shane
WHAT
YOU MET SHANE HOLLANDER??
IS HE REAL HOT IRL
UGHHHH
I mean yeah he’s pretty gorgeous
Hence why he does rolex ads
Send me the Pike HQ link pls
Ok fine but this Hollander talk isn't over
[LINK]
[LINK]
HAYDEN PIKE HQ @hpikeupdates
Seems like someone’s helping out with the family tonight! The twins have been talking to her most times its panned to them!! Maybe an Aunty? Cousin? Kinda wish the NHL wouldn’t show the kids as much as they are though.
HAYDEN PIKE HQ @hpikeupdates
Whoever that girl is gets along with the kids so well + Jackie looks so relaxed!! Maybe we'll see her at future Montreal games??
Madeline
Ok enough time to worry abt that
Pls tell me everything abt shane hollander
In detail
He’s nice!
Surprised i dont watch hockey
Yeah that guy lives and breathes hockey
Was he kind
Was he pretttyyyyyyy
Omg was he in that suit 🤤🤤🤤🤤
He was kind
He shook my hand
Yes he was in the suit
I am not commenting any further because I dont
wanna be weird if I ever talk to him again
I got the kids home with Jackie so Shane dropped Hayden
Off. It was a ten second interaction in the kitchen
You are living my dream
I hate you
No i dont
We should watch a game together at a bar
I could explain the rules
No need, I get my hockey lessons from Metros
players and their children and wives.
Please dont even joke abt this
I cant handle the thought of u frequently seeing
THE Shane Hollander IRL
He is probably the loml
He just doesn’t know it yet
Oh and Pike.
He’s cool too
We should actually watch a game together soon
Sure. Can we watch an Ottawa game?
Why?????
Girls mentioned an ottawa player tonight.
Google is telling me it would’ve been Ilya Rozanov
Why are the Pikelets talking abt Roz??
Is that weird?
I guess not. Shane and Roz were like rivals
for their whole careers. He used to play for
Boston who are our enemies. Then suddenly Roz
moves to Ottawa (worst team everrrr) and he and
Shane create this charity together
Super weird cause they were enemies
Except apparently it was never like that deep
??? That stuff is actually never that serious
but okay
Soooo would the Pike girls know Ilya??
I think they went to one of the camps, I saw them
in the pics. So sure. Plus Shane and Hayden are
super close so maybe they’ve somehow crossed
paths if Roz and Shane are buddies like that.
Why??
They were naming all these players because
I don’t know any of them. Mentioned Ilya. Maybe it
was camp people. Were the camps run by players?
Yes
Shane, Ilya, Hayden. Scott Hunter
plays for NYC. He’s gay. Its a big deal.
I think Boiziau from the Metros was there.
Lots of kinda random people. I’ll tell you
all about it one day. I’ll draw a big
who-knows-who diagram
I look forward to it
Talk tomorrow! I have a hot
date with Shane Hollander tomorrow
so I have to be up early x
I know you’re joking but I’m not laughing
Jackie Pike
Thanks for your help tonight Millie!!
The girls love you
Thank you for letting Arthur sit with you,
he gets really stressed at games sometimes but
Amber was so fussy tonight.
Sorry!! It’s so late. Just really appreciate all your help!
No worries Jackie!
The kids are all so incredible
Super cute how much they love watching
Hayden play. I really enjoyed the game,
I may even invest in my own Metros hoodie
for future endeavours. I do definitely
need you to walk me through the team and who
everyone is!! Have good night and I’ll see you
in a few days!