derekpoindexter-williamnurse:

derekpoindexter-williamnurse:

Have we ever talked about Lardo being Jack’s beard until he’s ready to come out publicly? I feel like this needs to be talked about.

Okay, we’re gonna talk about this. At least, I am.

• It happens by accident. Lardo has a free weekend (and Bitty doesn’t? somehow?) and knows Jack has been feeling a little overwhelmed lately so she decides to go to visit him in Providence.
• Naturally photos of them out to dinner show up and the blogs and twitter world go crazy because Jack Zimmerman has a DATE???
• Then photos of them together from college start circulating and everyone is convinced they’re dating.
• And tbh Jack thinks it’s the worst thing in the world at first. How could anyone think he’s cheating on Bittle like this? Lardo just thinks it’s weird.
• Jack has already decided to set everyone straight, but then Bitty skypes with both of them and… well. Having a “girlfriend” would make some things a lot easier for Jack.
• Mostly turning down advances by girls when they’re on the road. Saying “sorry I’m not available” is a lot easier than saying “I’m not interested.”
• But also. His teammates don’t try to set him up. And people don’t speculate about his love life. And overall, it’s… easier.
• They never actually confirm the speculation. They just… don’t deny it.
• After Lardo graduates, she gets an offer to do creative design work for a shoe company based in Providence and moves to the city. And really, Jack would have offered her his guest room even if she wasn’t pretending to be his girlfriend.
• She posts a photo on move-in day to instagram and Hockey Tumblr loses it’s shit.
• People actually start speculating when they’re going to get engaged, and Lardo reads the comments throughout social media over dinner.
• Jack is… surprisingly… okay? with all of this? It’s easy. It’s mostly stress-free. Lardo knows the truth. Bittle knows the truth. His parents and close friends know the truth. But “dating” Lardo takes a huge weight off his chest that he didn’t even know was there.
• When Bitty graduates, he also moves into Jack’s apartment. And by that time, Lardo feels set enough to get her own place.
• They’re very careful with what they post on instagram. It’s obvious that someone is moving into a new apartment pretty close to Jack’s. But most of the comments seem to imply that everyone thinks it’s Bitty.
• Again, they don’t confirm or deny anything.
• After another year, Jack decides he’s tired of the hiding and pretending. His career is only a few years old, but he’s already accomplished so much. He’s won the Stanley Cup. He’s won an Olympic gold medal. He’s won the Hart and Lindsay awards. And honestly, the only thing he has left on his bucket list is starting a future with Bittle.
• He asks Lardo to go ring shopping with him, which turns out to be a Bad Decision. Because of course someone recognizes them and tweets about how Jack Zimmerman and his girlfriend are engagement ring shopping. With a photo. And of course Bitty sees it.
• The surprise is ruined, but Bitty still says yes.
• Jack posts the photo Lardo takes of him on one knee in their kitchen, asking Bittle to marry him, with the caption “#hesaidyes”
• Lardo reposts the photo with hearts.