Chapter Text
Jack gazed down at the sleeping figure in his bed. The corners of his mouth tugged toward the sky as she rolled onto her side, dark hair falling across her hair. He knew he had a roadie in the morning and he knew he should be sleeping but he was afraid to take his eyes off her for even a brief moment. He was terrified he would miss something. The child curled against his chest a hard frown on her usually angelic face.
“Shhh, it’s alright mon petit Coeur. You are safe with papa. I will protect you.” Jack’s voice was gentle in her ear and soon she settled back into peaceful sleep. The large man shifted in the bed allowing his daughter to snuggle close. Long arms wrapped her in a comforting hug as the hockey player drifted off to sleep. It seemed like as soon as his eyes slid shut to sleep a familiar little voice was crying out in his ear jarring Jack from his sleep.
“Papa! Papa! It’s hockey day!” Jack yawned loudly, stretching long limbs as he sat up and looked around the room.
“What time is it mon petit Coeur?”
“I don’t know Papa but it’s hockey day.” Her excitement was infectious until Jack noticed the time on the bed side clock. He was used to getting up before the sun but the glaring red letters seemed to chirp him from the table. 3:17 AM. Jack groaned softly and wrestled his excited daughter into a close hug.
“Margot, love, I adore that you are so excited but Papa needs to get some sleep or he will not do well during his match today. Can we go back to sleep now?” Blue eyes, mirror images of Jack’s, stared back at him wide and full of question and hesitation.
“I’m sorry Papa.” There was no excitement in her little voice now. This was the tone she adopted when she had been scolded or corrected. A soft smile slid across Jack’s face as he pressed a gentle kiss to Margot’s little nose, one of the few features she’d gained from her mother.
“Don’t be sorry sweetheart. We just need to get a few more hours of sleep, okay?”
The dark little head nodded slowly, a yawn already pushing its way from her mouth. Margot rubbed her eyes slowly and laid back down in the pillows. “Papa, will I see uncle Tater and the others tomorrow?”
“I think so.”
“Can I wear my number 1 sweater tomorrow?”
“Yes sweetheart.”
“Papa…”
“Yes Margot?”
“I love you.”
Without another word the child fell bac asleep in Jack’s arms, a small hand clutching onto his shirt.
When morning finally arrived Jack rose and dressed for his run as usual. On days following Larissa’s days off Jack would take his short route through the neighborhood so he could return before Margot woke. As he made pancakes, still dressed from his run, Jack was greeted by the pattering of small feet.
“Good morning Papa.”
The tall man turned and was greeted by a happy gap tooth smile and messy dark hair. The girl, clad in a falconers’ blue nightgown hurried over and hugged Jack’s leg.
“Good morning Margot. Go sit down, breakfast is almost ready.” There was already fruit salad and a cup of milk waiting on the table for her. Although her diet wasn’t nearly as strict as Jack’s he did his best to feed her healthy foods and teach her healthy eating habits.
Little bare feet scampered away toward the small four seater table that occupied the sunny windowed end of Jack’s kitchen. As he shifted the hockey stick shaped pancakes onto her plate there was a quick knock before Larissa came in with her key.
“Good morning Zimmermanns.” Margot’s bright eyes lit up as she waved at her nanny.
“Papa made hockey pancakes Lardo.”
The small woman made her way through the apartment toward the eat in kitchen. “We got a travel plan for today boss?” Jack glanced over his shoulder from his place at the stove.
“Game isn’t until tomorrow afternoon but it’s a long trip so we’re leaving today so the boys aren’t jetlagged for the game. I have to be at the airport at eleven to meet the team. Then it’s a four-hour flight to Las Vegas.”
Margot had fallen quiet as she pushed the fruit around her plate. Lardo nudged her gently with her elbow but the little girl didn’t move her gaze from the colorful concoction. She always got like this when Jack had to go away to games and she wasn’t allowed to go with. When it was a home game or a close game like Boston Margot could be found with Lardo in the WAG section.
Jack reached down and began to run his long fingers through her dark tresses. He gently pressed a loving kiss to the top of her head.
“You know I’d take you with if I could mon petite coeur but papa will be far from home for this one. You have to stay here with Lardo and cheer me on. Can you do that for me?”
She sniffled softly before nodding her head. “Oui papa.”
Lardo glanced up at Jack with a sad smile in her eyes. “We can still take him to the airport if you want to kiddo.” Margot looked at her nanny and smiled brightly.
“Yes please, can we do that?”
Jack glanced at his watch then swore under his breath.
“If I don’t get cleaned up I’ll be late. Eat up princess.”
She nodded and scarfed down her breakfast. Lardo gathered the dishes and cleaned the kitchen while Jack showered and dressed for the plane ride to Las Vegas. Both girls were sitting on the living room sofa when he came out. Margot was, as usual for game days, wearing her tiny Falconers’ jersey with a gold tutu and blue leggings. The six-year-old hurried over to her father.
“Papa look what lardo did to my hair.” Jack had spied the blue and gold ribbons woven into her braids immediately. He pressed a quick kiss to her head and they were off for the airport.
The pair of small dark haired girls stood at the entrance to security while the team gathered. Margot’s face lit up like a neon sign when she saw Tater and ran into his waiting arms.
“Uncle Tater!” She giggled happily as the large Russian tickled her in their hug. “Uncle tater stop,” she cried through the giggles. Snowy and Marty both smiled warmly at the scene. Light chirping from Marty about Jack’s favorite junior Puck Bunny caused him to frown but his daughter’s laughter quickly erased the sour look.
“Sois prudent Papa et bottes leurs fesses.” Jack chuckled at his daughter’s words.
“Even uncle Kenny’s butt?”
“Especially uncle Kenny’s butt.”
Jack gave her a tight squeeze and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“See you soon baby girl.”
As the team gathered their carry ons and made their way toward security and the terminal Jack glanced back. The sight awaiting him caused him to swear loudly in Quebecois. Tater turned and laughed at the sign his adopted niece waved after the team.
“Nanny is funny, yes Zimboni?”
Jack rolled his eyes as he glanced one more time at the sign. In bright glittery letters among the hockey puck stickers and the Falconers’ logos was the sentiment of ‘Get ‘Em Boys. Wreck Shit Tonight!!’