dumouwin:

(NHL PART 1 // PART 2)

The Stanley Cup weighs 34.5 pounds.

The first time Dex lifted it, he would’ve told you it was weightless.

This time, five years later, he feels every ounce of that 34.5. This time, the cup is weighted down by the knowledge that this is the last time he’ll ever get it. The last time he’ll play in the NHL. The last celly he’ll have with his husband. It’s a good weight, he decides. He figures it’s probably as heavy as Claire was the first time he picked her up. It’s a good reminder of why they’re retiring, actually. They’d been talking about it from the beginning of the season, but the call that the adoption had finally, finally gone through in April had decided it. Going out on a win seemed like a fairy tale, but amazingly, impossibly, they pulled it out. When Dex hands the cup over to Nursey, they’re both crying.

---

By the time the parade rolls around, they’ve officially changed their names to Nurse-Poindexter – a little consistency that they’d both agreed would be good for Claire when they get her next week – Wednesday, to be exact. They’re both counting down the days. PR’s already got the press conference scheduled for Monday, and the media’s going crazy speculating that they’re retiring. It’s true, but Dex really doubts that will be the main focus of the media when they’re done.

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“How long?”

It’s the million-dollar question, apparently. There’s no correct answer except forever.

“From the first time I saw him,” Nursey answers, and that seems about right.

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Dex doesn’t think they could’ve planned this any better. Most of the media frenzy happens Tuesday, while they’re running around the house trying to be completely sure it’s ready for a four-year old with a penchant for getting into things she shouldn’t. Both of their families are there, holding their phones hostage and screening every call, just to be sure it’s not the adoption agency.

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Nursey cries when Eichs brings over the present on behalf of the team. Three jerseys – 28, 24, and 2 – all under “Nurse-Poindexter.”

“Let me tell you, equipment had a hell of a time fitting all that on a toddler’s jersey,” Jack laughs.

---

Being back at KeyBank for the banner raising is heavy, and Dex can feel the waves of nerves coming off of Nursey. Claire can too, apparently, because she’s climbing all over him and tugging at his hair in what Dex can only imagine is an attempt to distract him.

Dex’s heart rate picks up when they start the roster. He holds his breath as he hears “Number 24, William Nurse-Poindexter.”

The crowd is cheering so loud Dex forgets to wave at the camera like he’s supposed to.

“Number 28, Derek Nurse-Poindexter.”

The roar gets even louder, and Dex thanks god for the headphones they put on Claire. Dex looks down to check on her, and has to laugh when he sees her pulling faces at the camera. He pulls her and Nursey both into a hug, and the noise reaches a crescendo. Eichs and the rest of the team are pounding their sticks on the ice, and Bylsma next to him is patting them both on the back.

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@DNurse28: when your daughter asks for a @ChrisChowder jersey for Christmas because “Uncle Chris actually plays hockey, Daddy.” #wrekt

@WJPoindexter24: @DNurse28 #confirmed our daughter is a savage

@ChrisChowder: @WJPoindexter24 @DNurse28 WHY DIDN’T SHE ALREADY HAVE MY JERSEY I’M HER GODFATHER