Two damn years since he had heard her voice, watched her throw her head back in laughter, curse him out for being late, cried into his arm after he had gotten hurt. Two years since he woke up to her peaceful, vulnerable face, hair splashed across the pillows, tickling his skin. Two years and she was still all he thought about.

It was his fault, he told her to stay when Pittsburgh sent him to Nashville. They had been together for only a year, but he insisted that she shouldn't uproot her life for him. (Y/N) fought him on it, screamed at him that night and told him he was insane. She loved him and would be going with him. James screamed louder, telling her to forget him and move on, go get something better. She didn't.

He found out through Marc and Evgeni, who found out through Vero, that (Y/N) had left Pittsburgh, moved to New York and cut herself right out of Pittsburgh. She had gotten a new job, opened up the clothing store he had spent countless hours hearing about. She had gotten a dog just like Nixon. She had new friends, went out to the bars, walked across Broadway and through Manhattan, all eyes on her just like they always were. James' heart ached, but she moved to something better.

For the last two years, (Y/N) buried herself in alcohol at first, and then work. She drank to forget James, his face, his touch, his voice. She drank herself out of Pittsburgh into New York City where no one knew her, and everyone hated James. She drank herself out of alcohol and into a new life where the only thing that mattered was the clothing store she had been dreaming about for years.

Something better was a new job, a small apartment, a dog and a spot in the WAGs club of the New York Rangers, despite remaining single since James left. After Nash and Lundqvist's wives had laid eyes on the store in lower SoHo, the other women associated with the team followed and before (Y/N) knew it, she was one of them. After every game, her heart broke more and more watching the women reunite with their men after the game. She longed to hold James after a difficult loss. She held her breath when Nashville came to New York, wondering if she could just walk up to him, ignore the last two years. Something better wasn't going to happen until she had him again.

It was a deathly cold night in New York. It had snowed the night before and the MSG staff considered cancelling tonight's game. Nashville had even flown in a day early, in case the snow had hindered the flight. (Y/N) paced her apartment, waiting for Henrik to respond to her text. "I need a favor," famous last words. Meanwhile, James sat in a posh hotel room while his Swedish teammate and co-alternate captain yelled some sense into him.
"It's been two years, James. You need to either get over her or call her up tonight and tell her how you feel. I don't even understand why you forced her to stay if she wanted to go so badly." Roman Josi sighed, wanting nothing more than to actually slap James. Two fucking years.
"She'd never forgive me." James whispered.
"Have you tried? Have you even called her or texted her or emailed her, or have you gone by the fake smile in every picture she's posted in the last two years?" Roman roared.
"I haven't." James whispered.
"Call her."
"After the game, I promise I will."
"Swear on it, Neal. Swear on the Stanley Cup that you will call that girl."

(Y/N) clutched her coat tightly, her black t-shirt underneath showing that she wasn't here for either team, rather to get back the man she loved. Henrik promised to get her as close as he humanly could to Neal without having to see him or breach any pre-game rituals. As she stood outside of the locker room, media personnel and staff buzzing around, she felt nauseous, and wanted nothing more than to run. She contemplated it the second Henrik turned around to go to his own locker room.
"Fuck," she sighed as she stepped closer, going to knock on the door. As she lifted her hand, the doors swung open.

Time stood absolutely still. The rambunctious calls of the team inside melted away. The media and staff faded into the walls of the Garden. The other man was just a blip of color as her eyes strained to the one man she dreamt of every day. He looked tired, exhausted, and she read those blue-green eyes as if they were the pages of an open magazine on the Subway.
"James," his name dropped off her lips like honey and the only thing James thought to do was the one thing he hadn't done in years.

In one mammoth step, he had her in his arms, secured by his sheer strength. His lips were on hers in an instant, molding to her mouth in a sense of familiarity. She let him kiss her, accepting his lips on hers and moving with him as if it was second nature. When they broke apart to breathe, he saw the tears leaking from the emerald eyes he loved.

"I was so wrong for thinking you were something I could ever do without. I thought everything I wanted was in this town, but you were all that I needed along, and it took me long enough." James finally confessed.

Notes

I just knew I had to write this and I do feel like it could've been more developed and honestly maybe even better, but I really wanted to get something out so my writing motivation comes back. I have all these stories and ideas I want to write, so maybe I'll write some as one-shots and see if they progress into anything. Also, remember that you can always always request stuff too!!!