Pinky swear

[savvyfan.livejournal.com]

Title: Pinky swear
Characters: Marc Savard; Isabel Savard (mention of Vladimir Sobotka)
Rating: G
Time: March 2009
Summary: The Bruins have some time off and Marc's children come to visit.
Disclaimer: A fictional story, told only for entertainment purposes.
Author's note: This little vignette is based on a story told by Billy Beane, an ex-baseball player who came out as gay after he retired, about his four-year-old niece in his book "Going the other way." 



Having the kids around was in some ways tougher than playing three double-overtime games in three straight days, but Marc didn't mind. Much.

Really, the only thing bad about it was the aching hole they left when they were gone after their too-short visits. Life would just be rounding into something like normalcy and they'd be off again, back over the border with their mother, reduced to phone calls and text messages and pictures on his walls.

So, along with, he suspected, every other guilt-ridden father of distant children, he indulged them. They accompanied him to practice, and God love Milan Lucic for staying afterward and playing with them for what seemed like half an hour. Marc took advantage of everything Boston had to offer for children, which thankfully was quite a bit, enough to exhaust three small children most of the three days of their visit.

Not totally, though, judging by Tyler and Zachary jumping maniacally on the fold-out sofa bed their last night in Boston. Marc had to threaten to knock their heads together before they'd settle down; they were complaining again that because there were two of them, they should get the bedroom, Marc explaining that their sister had the couch last time, so this time she got the bedroom, and don't you remember about taking turns? 

Finally they quieted and laid down under the covers, and he kissed their cheeks and smoothed their hair and told them they'd better get to sleep or they'd spend the night in the penalty box, which made them giggle, and he went into the guest bedroom, closing the door behind him.

Isabel was under the covers, impossibly tiny in the large bed, looking at a picture book on fairies and elves that Vladdie had given her. "Time to go to sleep, honey," Marc said, and she nodded and handed him the book to put on the nightstand.

"Daddy, where's Vladimir?" she asked as Marc bent over to tuck her in.

"He's in Providence, honey," he replied.

"Why?"

"Because... he needs to learn, Isabel. Like you learned when you went from kindergarten to first grade. He needs to get better, and then he'll stay in Boston."

"Oh," she frowned. "I miss him."

"I miss him too, honey." 

"You love him, don't you, Daddy?" she asked, looking up at her father. His mouth went dry. 

"I love all my teammates, honey. You know that," he said. "They're like my family here, you know -- they take care of me when you and your brothers and Meme and Pepe aren't around." You're babbling, man. Just stop. She can't know, she can't, she --

She nodded in agreement, then looked at him, her blue eyes serious. "But Vladimir's special, isn't he?"

Marc's blood froze. His mouth opened, but nothing came out. Finally, a hoarse, "Isabel, I -- I --" 

"Daddy, don't worry," she pushed the covers back, clambered up on her knees, and cupped her hands to his ear. He leaned towards her, and she stage-whispered: "I won't tell Mommy." 

She pulled back and looked into his eyes. As he stared back, she lifted her right hand, pinky finger extended. "I promise," she said solemnly, and Marc did the only thing he could do -- he linked his finger with hers and closed his eyes. The tiny digit squeezed his own, and her voice ghosted: "Pinky swear." 

"Pinky swear," he replied, slipping his arms around her and squeezing her tightly, feeling tears behind his closed eyes. "My Isabella," he said. "I love you so."

Comments

[99everafter.livejournal.com]

Aww. It's so sweet, warm and a little bit scaring. Kids may not know a lot of things, but one thing they do know better is love.
Another wonderful and powerful piece from you. As always. < 3

[redwingfan18288.livejournal.com]

wow great story, you write so well. I love when the players kids are in the stories. Great Job!

[savvyfan.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much. Many adults have tendency to underestimate kids, which I find annoying, so this was somewhat satisfying to write. :-)

[savvyfan.livejournal.com]

Thank you, that's very nice! It's not something I'd make a habit of, but we caught a glimpse of Isabel in one of my past fics, and her relationship with Vladdie intrigued me, and somehow this came knocking at my brain and refused to leave.

[wrennette]

i admit, i was a little leery of this because (although i have been guilty of including them) the presence of a guy's family in fic is sort of a thing i'm usually not in favor of. i don't know, i like my fic realistic-ish, but a guy's family somehow seems (mostly) off limits. that said, this is impossibly cute, and i love this perceptive little girl. from the mouths of babes, as they say.

i liked it a lot, despite my hesitations. i loved the interactions, and how you were able to convey emotions without beating them to death.

[savvyfan.livejournal.com]

Despite our often wide disparity on pairings, ;-) I think we're very often on the same wavelength in our overall attitude towards these fics. I agree totally with what you said, and as I noted above, this is not something I usually do (or would attempt to do). But as I said, this just was hammering away at me, and after some thought I decided it was worth putting into words.

Glad you liked it. I deliberately kept it short; less is more, IMHO, in this instance. (and I almost titled it "Out of the mouths of babes" but decided that was a bit spoilerish. ;-))

[agood-badhabit.livejournal.com]

Wow, this gave me chills. Awesome job, I absolutely adored this. I love cameos from Marc's kids. It's a great dynamic to Marc and Vladdie's relationship, and this adds an especially sweet taste to it.

[kelles.livejournal.com]

This was amazing as all of your stuff is.
It was just so sweet, and cute, and I really liked it a lot. It just just perfect. ♥

[stayxwithxyou.livejournal.com]

Aww. This was so cute and sweet and I loved it. The perfect remedy to get over that depressing loss yesterday. Thanks for sharing and I can't wait for your next Vladdie/Savvy fic [if there is one]! ♥

[suicidal-knife.livejournal.com]

Awe so sad yet so cute. I love it!

[savvyfan.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. :-) It is fun to add an extra dimension.

[savvyfan.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Such a nice compliment! And I'm so glad you liked it. ::hugs::

[savvyfan.livejournal.com]

There will always be more Savvy/Vladdie, never fear. I can't get enough of those two. ;-) Thank you so much for the lovely comments. Glad you liked it.

[savvyfan.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! :-)

[cpexplosion.livejournal.com]

Ohhh... just what I needed in midst of a crazy and long day. A moment of respite =)

Beautiful work, as usual - awesome job!

[savvyfan.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it. :-)

[jennyagain.livejournal.com]

such a perfect snapshot. i love what all of this says about savvy: his relationship with his kids, with sobotka, the depth of how important all of this truly is to him. these are layers of savvy that i love. isabel is darling, and yeah, whip-smart in that kid-way where things are stark and black & white and lovely.

fantastic. (i love that i had the in-car preview. GLEE.)

::adorations::

[savvyfan.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks so much! ::hugs back:: :-) I just love Savvy being daddy. It does add so much to him, I think.

[ladymamie09.livejournal.com]

Really wonderful story. I love how it is so realistic.

[savvyfan.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I appreciate that. :-)