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***boom*** · 02-03-2025, 01:03 AM

[2450 words, ready for grading]

note: only 2-3 whole seasons behind but now that the insanity of the first term of work is behind me imma finally try and catch up. This was supposed to cover all of the S78 season but then I got really into writing the Christmas scene and before I knew it I was already up to almost 2500 words so I decided to split this off again.

---

Anastasia Söderström had been to Calgary a few times now for training camp, but she was still awed by the bright lights of the big city every time she came here. Coming from Sundsvall, which was a little bit smaller than Medicine Hat down south, being in a city where there was just so much to do could be a little overwhelming sometimes with the options for entertainment. Right now, however, Ana was only thinking about getting to see her friend. She double-checked her phone's map again, the path to the downtown restaurant where her and Taylor had agreed to meet neatly laid out.

Be there in a few! Just getting off my train now, a message came in. Can't wait to see you!

Ana thought she would be the first one to the restaurant, but to her surprise when she got there she saw Taylor waiting outside, leaning against a lamppost. "You're here!" the goalie waved, pulling her friend into a hug. "It's so good to see you again!"

"How's my favourite person-slash-MVP doing?" Taylor replied. Ana could only blush in response, and she hoped it wasn't too noticeable. She sometimes did this during their text conversations, but of course it's a lot different when the object of one's affection is standing directly in front of them.

The spot they had chosen wasn't super dressed-up, but it still felt like a good place for tasty food and deep conversations. Taylor had just started her courses at the University of Calgary and was getting used to the student life, while Ana was living on her own for the first time in Michigan, so they had a lot to bond over in terms of life transitions this autumn.

Once their meal was complete, the two kept walking and chatting until they found a local park and a park bench to sit down.

"So, I have a question to ask you," Ana began tentatively.

"Of course!" Taylor replied. "What's on your mind?"

Ana took a deep breath. Opening up to people had never come easily to her, but she needed to be honest about what was going on in her mind. "I've really enjoyed getting to talk to you since we met last year, and when I had a tough game I always looked forward to our phone calls and video chats to help me feel better. Somewhere along the way I realized...Taylor, I really like you. Romantically," she confessed, trying not to avert her eyes. "I just wanted you to know, I'm not sure if it's something that's feasible but I wanted it off my chest."

"Thank you for being so open," Taylor answered softly. "I feel the same way too, I've always been able to just be myself when I'm talking to you and I was trying to figure out how I wanted to tell you."

Overthinking was something that had always plagued Ana whenever she got into vulnerable, emotional situations like this, and she tried her best to state her thoughts calmly while her mind raced. "What does this mean for us?" she asked. "Being with you is what I've been dreaming of for the better part of the past year, I'm just not sure how it would even work with me being on the road all the time plus also being in Michigan for the next year. Also, your mother is still one of the coaches on the team that I'll be joining a year from now, so I don't want anything to be awkward there."

"If it helps, my mom has told me about what it was like when she was long-distance with her partner in junior. They were a little younger than we were when Sophie left for Vegas for the tryout and Jamie was still in high school, but then Sophie got drafted to Quebec City and they were able to live together from there. It'll take work for sure to be long-distance, but I trust we can make that time to be together and then next year you'll be on the Dragons full-time and we'll be able to be together in-person. And as for your last point," she smiled, "she kind of already knows we're close, so I don't think it would be too much of a surprise to her if we got together."

"That's a relief," Ana said, her thoughts at last slowing. "I want to be with you. I've never actually been in a relationship with anyone, but I know that for sure."

"I do too."

The walk back to the train station soon after was a happy one, and when Taylor planted a quick peck on Ana's cheek the goaltender's face almost turned the same shade as the team logo. Training camp officially started tomorrow, but the trip was already a massive success in her book.

---

Detroit was a return to reality after the magic of the Calgary trip, but there was an extra bounce in Ana's step every time she got between the pipes. Her stats weren't quite as good as the season she had just had, but she still had done something no other junior goalie had ever done, she was getting closer to not having to juggle hockey and school anymore, and she was dating someone for the first time. While there was likely not another call-up to the big leagues in the cards this year and thus no opportunity to see Taylor in person as part of work, they still video-chatted when they could, and seeing her girlfriend's face on the screen really helped to make the distance feel so much smaller.

In what felt like no time at all, it was almost time for the holiday season. Ana was back to getting a starter's workload of games for the Falcons, which she liked since she meant she was staying active. Sitting on the bench as the backup was fine for physical and mental rest, but Ana didn't like it as much as it was tough for her to focus on what was going on in the game and she couldn't see how plays were developing when she wasn't in the net. She did her best to give feedback to Mark Andrew Flower to help him improve, but seeing the whole ice from back in the crease was much more preferable.

The last game before the holiday break was a home game against the Carolina Kraken. Ana was in net and was admittedly a bit distracted, because after the game she would be flying out to Calgary to spend a couple days there for Christmas. Thankfully, the Falcons had really come to play that night, scoring an early first goal and cruising to a 7-1 victory with Ana only facing 22 shots. She still had to do the requisite media talks after the game as the Detroit captain, but once that was done she couldn't wait to get home fast enough and get ready for her trip.

Can't wait to be there with you, Ana texted the next morning as she waited for boarding to begin for her flight. Wish it was more than two nights, but I'll take what we can get! Her reverie was shattered by the sound of the gate agent calling for the priority boarding, and she had to turn her focus back to waiting for her zone to be called, but it didn't interrupt her daydreams of spending Christmas with her girlfriend.

One long morning later, including two flights and a layover on the way, Ana's flight finally descended towards Calgary and touched down, the buildings of the downtown core standing as tall as ever. She hadn't brought much for the trip, just one suitcase, so it was a breeze to get through the baggage claim and out to the pick-up area.

"Hey! Over here!" a familiar voice called, and Ana turned to see Taylor waving at her. Running into someone's arms might sound like a movie cliché, but it's pretty much exactly what happened in this case.

"Merry Christmas, sweetheart," Ana said while they hugged. "I've missed you so much."

"Shall we go, then?" Taylor replied. "My moms are really excited to meet you in person for the first time. Well, for the first time as their daughter's girlfriend, of course."

One short car ride later, the two pulled up to a house on a quiet street. Ana got out and went to grab her suitcase, double-checking to make sure she looked presentable. Even back when she'd gone to see Grace while having a shutdown after her rookie year, she'd just been going to see her platonic best friend. This time, she was an adult, going to spend the holidays with her girlfriend who also happened to be the daughter of an assistant coach on her hockey team.

She needn't have worried as much as she was, as meeting Taylor's parents actually went really well. All her life, Ana had had trouble feeling like she fit into places, first at school, then moving to the United States, then being the starting goaltender for a SMJHL team at fifteen years old. It was refreshing to be seen by Sophie and Jamie as someone who was worthy of being with their kid, and she couldn't wait to experience their traditions for the holidays.

Later that night, Ana had an idea. She pulled out her laptop that she'd brought with her for the trip and sent a video call to her parents, smiling when their faces filled the screen.

"Merry Christmas!" she greeted in Swedish. "It's probably early in the morning there, but I wanted to say hi and see you for the holidays even if I can't be there in person."

"Merry Christmas to you too! It's so good to see you again," her mother replied.

"Actually," Ana said, switching to English as Taylor came into the room, "there's someone I'd like you to meet."

"Hello!" Taylor said as she flopped onto the bed beside Ana.

The goalie wanted to make sure she said this next part correctly. "This is Taylor. She's my girlfriend. We've been together for about four months now, and I'm actually at her family's place right now for the holidays!" Thinking quickly and realizing that she couldn't remember actually saying the words to them before, she added, "I'm bisexual. I figured it out a little while back and wasn't sure how to tell you but this seemed like a good time."

"Nice to meet you, Taylor!" her father cheerily greeted. "Ana, we're so happy that you trusted us enough to open up. You're with someone who treats you right, and you're happy, and that's all that matters to us." With that disclosure out of the way, the conversation turned to getting to know Taylor, and she answered their questions with an easy air of confidence.

Christmas morning came with new traditions and memories that Ana would carry with her for a long time. She'd given Taylor a Dragons jersey with "Söderström #35" on the back of it, which while she knew was cheesy was also something she'd really wanted. In turn, Taylor had given her a University of Calgary sweatshirt and some books she'd been interested in reading, which would be perfect for those cold winter nights relaxing in a hotel room. Ana missed spending holidays with her parents, who had always been the most important people in her lives, but this was no less comforting and exciting.

While she was dreading having to leave Taylor behind when she went back to the routine of the SMJHL season, the Falcons had a fortuitous schedule this year where their first game just happened to be in Quebec City, and the Bordeleaus usually went there to visit family after Christmas anyway, so they'd have another chance to meet up for that game as well. Even though Sophie was a Citadelles legend and Ana was currently playing for one of their biggest rivals, there was no doubt that they'd be rooting for her to play well that night.

Quebec City might have been having a relatively down year compared to what they were usually capable of, but they were still a formidable opponent and Ana knew she would be in for a busy night as the Falcons starter. The game got off to a rough start when Dejana Kaptina put the game's first goal past Ana less than five minutes into the game, but she was able to settle down and get into her usual routine. She tended to do better when facing a lot of shots since it meant she didn't have as much time for her mind to wander, and tonight was no different as Detroit were outshot 17-8 in the first period. With about five minutes left in the period, fellow Dragons prospect Jeffrey Bjelland squared up and blasted a shot past Ela Solberg, the younger sister of two of Ana's other future teammates. Even with the shots being 31-19 at the end of 40 minutes, the score remained 1-1 and Ana liked to picture the reactions of the Bordeleaus whenever she made a big save.

Six minutes into the third period, Ana finally got a break when Brayden Point slipped a puck past Solberg to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead, and Roquefort Cotswald doubled that lead a few minutes later. Other than a shot with just eight seconds left that got past her, Ana slammed the door the rest of the way and Detroit ultimately came away with a 3-2 victory. She was looking forward to getting out of the game and meeting back up with Taylor and her parents, but the Centre Vidéotron staff had other plans as they stopped her on the way to the dressing room, the reason of which soon became clear. "The third star of the game, from the Detroit Falcons, Anastasia Söderström!"

Ana had been named for the Three Stars plenty of times before, but this time just felt extra special. She didn't know where the Bordeleaus were sitting for this game, but she just knew they were cheering along with everyone else. There would be plenty of time to catch up with them after the game ended, but playing one of the best games that she could remember ever playing and doing it in front of her girlfriend was the best parting gift she could have possibly come up with. Even though it was the last time she would be able to see Taylor for a good while, they wouldn't be apart thanks to the Internet and they'd be back together in person in less than a year. It would undoubtedly be difficult, but they would get through it.

***Wally*** · 02-03-2025, 11:52 AM

I love to read these

***boom*** · 02-03-2025, 01:48 PM

02-03-2025, 11:52 AMWally Wrote: I love to read these

Glad you like them!

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