Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Barnburner

Colorado ends up winning round two against San Francisco in only five games. During the series, Moss is able to watch one of the two home games at ice level with his parents. Their seats are similar to the ones that they had by the glass when they attended the regular season game in Detroit which allows them to take pictures of Eli and Tye during warmups.

"Oh, Mo. His eyes absolutely light up when he looks at you," his mom gushes to him after Tye skates away from the glass. Moss blushes at this, ducking his head down to look at the pictures he had just taken as a distraction from how flustered he feels. Eli had come over and simply shouldered the glass in front of them, whereas, Tye had taken the time to softly toss a puck over the boards for the Kettler trio.

His dad puts a hand on his shoulder before defending him. "Don't embarrass the boy, Denise. God knows you nearly scared the two of them off at dinner the other night by asking them when they plan on getting married."

"Let's change the subject! Have you guys tried the milkshakes here before? They're really good!" Moss rushes out, desperately wanting his parents to stop talking about him and Tye. They have good intentions, but both of them lack any sort of social filter which spikes Moss' anxiety more than anything else.

His parents have been actively trying to be in his life ever since their phone call. They went out to dinner, sans Tye, and caught up on each other's lives. After a couple more phone calls checking in with him, Moss finally agreed to attend another hockey game with them. So far, they have given him their full, undivided attention before the game and during both intermissions which Moss considers to be a significant improvement from the beginning of the season.

Tye had given the okay for Moss' parents to stay with them for the three nights that they were in Colorado. Overall, it was a great bonding experience and it allowed Moss to rebuild some trust with the two of them again after the year of neglect that he had gone through. His boyfriend, however, has found their stay to be stressful for a completely different reason.

"I'm happy you were able to reconnect with your parents and they're more than welcome to stay with us anytime," Tye mumbles into Moss' stomach as they lay in bed later that night, "but I also can't wait to drop them off at the airport tomorrow morning. Your mom won't stop hinting at wanting grandchildren and it's giving me a nervous rash the more she brings it up."

Moss is rubbing his back when he whispers back, "Sorry about that.... She doesn't normally act like this when one of us gets into a relationship. I think she might be having a midlife crisis or something." Admittedly, he had walked in on a conversation between his mom and Tye earlier that may have involved her questioning him on how many children he wants in the future. She never did this to either of his girlfriends in the past so he's not sure why she is acting like this with Tye. Perhaps it's because he is now in his mid-twenties, perhaps it's her guilty conscience causing her to be overly-involved in their relationship....Who knows!

The next day, Tye and Moss give them a ride to the airport. His mom takes this opportunity to give Tye one last nudge about popping The Question soon, as if they haven't only been dating for a little over two months. "Mom—please stop pushing marriage and kids. We've only been together for a short amount of time. I promise I'll tell you when the Martel family is growing."

Letting out a breath once his parents finally exit the car, Moss turns to his boyfriend who looks to be in a state of shock staring right back at him with wide eyes and raised eyebrows. Moss brings his hand up to Tye's cheek and rubs his thumb gently back-and-forth against his playoff beard stubble. "Are you alright? You know that I don't actually expect you to propose anytime soon. My mom is being crazy-"

He is cut off by Tye who sounds breathless as he speaks. "When the Martel family is growing," he parrots what Moss had just said. "Are you....Do you want to take my last name someday?" Tye asks, looking at him like he's something precious. Like he just found buried treasure or won the lottery.