NHL & Umich fics

Dada home -E.E

As I tucked my 2-year-old daughter Olivia into bed, I couldn't help but notice how anxious she seemed. She fidgeted restlessly, her eyes darting towards the window every few seconds. I knew exactly what was on her mind - her dad Ethan was away on a hockey road trip, and she had been eagerly waiting for his return.

"Is daddy coming home tonight, mommy?" she asked me for the tenth time.

"Yes, sweetie, he is. But he might be a little late, so you should go to bed now and he'll be here when you wake up," I replied, trying to sound reassuring.

Olivia pouted, her lower lip quivering. "But I want to see him! I want to give him a big hug and tell him how much I missed him."

"I know you do, sweetheart. But it's already past your bedtime. You need to get some sleep, you are getting cranky" I said firmly.

Olivia scowled at me, her tiny arms crossed defiantly. "I am not cranky! I want to stay up and wait for dada!"

I sighed knowing that this argument was far from over. My little girl was stubborn as her dad, and when she had her mind set on something, she would not budge. I decided to play along for a while, hoping that she would tire herself out eventually.

"Alright, you can stay up for a little while longer. But if you start feeling sleepy, you have to go to bed, okay?"

Olivia nodded eagerly, her eyes wide with excitement. I could tell that she was thrilled to have won this round. She climbed out of bed and went to sit by the window, her small hands pressed against the glass.

As the night wore on, Olivia's excitement began to wane. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she started to yawn.

"I think it's time for bed, sweetie. Dada will be here before you know it," I said gently.

"No!" Olivia protested, rubbing her eyes. "I'm not sleepy yet."

But I could tell that she was fighting a losing battle. Her little body was drooping with fatigue, and her voice was starting to slur. I picked her up and carried her to bed, tucking her in snugly.

As I kissed her goodnight and turned off the light, I whispered, "Sleep tight, my love. Daddy will be here in the morning."

To my surprise, Olivia's eyes snapped open, and she sat up in bed, her face alight with excitement.

"Dada's coming in the morning? Really?"

I nodded, smiling. "Yes, really. And you'll see him as soon as you wake up."

Olivia flopped back down onto her pillow, a grin spreading across her face. "Yay! I can't wait!"

The next morning, Olivia woke up early and ran to the window. She peered out, hoping to see her dad's car in the driveway. When she didn't see it, she looked at me with a disappointed expression.

But just then, the front door opened, and Ethan walked in. Olivia's face lit up, and she ran to him, wrapping her tiny arms around his legs. He scooped her up and swung her around, making her giggle with delight.

"Dada home" Olivia sighed placing her head in the crook of Ethan's neck