Stepping out the plane, Yuri lugged his carry on behind him, stretching and thankful to move his legs again. He would think he was use to these long flights, but once outside the plane, he was ready to move around and not be closed in anymore.

"Dammit, Otabek… next time I pick where we spend our summers!"

"Oh stop being grumpy!"

"You just wanna ride JJ's dick," Yuri said with a smirk.

"Jesus, Yuri!" Otabek hissed out, "We are in public!"

"Yeah… so?"

Yuri did not care where the hell they were. This was not what he had planned when he said he wanted to get away from the summer. He was thinking Otabek would call Leo and they would all be on the beach and tanning right now.

Not in Canada with the fucking Leroys. For some reason he always forgot that his best friend and that egotistical asshole were still dating. He told himself it was a phase— he knew they had spent a lot of time together practicing years back before they even met, but in the last two years, they had rekindled it all.

"Beka!"

Oh that loud, obnoxious, irritating voice rang through the airport—Yuri could already feel the hairs standing on the back of his neck as he watched JJ run and pick his best friend up, twirling him in a circle then kissing him. How the hell Otabek went along with this shit was beyond him. They were so opposite!

Clearing his throat, he waited for the couple to break apart and pushed past them.

"Yuri-chan!" JJ called out, that dumb ass smile on his face.

"Hi JJ," Yuri said as he walked, flipping him the bird as he did.

"Such a delightful one," JJ said, leaning down to kiss Otabek again.

To say the Leroy's house was large was an understatement. They had a fuckton of kids, and a house to fit them all. Somehow they even managed a room for Yuri and Otabek at the very end of a hallway. "It is the same room you stayed in that summer, Otabek," Mrs. Leroy had said.

Yuri didn't mind it as he knew Otabek wasn't even gonna stay in the room and be in JJ's most the time— just like he had years ago. He had to wonder just how blind JJ's parents were, or maybe they just didn't care.

Stretching out on the bed, Yuri felt tired and dirty from the plane ride, but Mrs. Leroy said she was going to make a big dinner for everyone and the smells around the house only made Yuri ready to sit down to a home cooked meal.

Yuri was glad they had the next day off—they needed to keep practicing, sure—but this was also part of his off season time too. He wanted to get over his jet lag and he wanted to check out this pool Otabek had been telling him about.

A soft knock on the door came a bit later as JJ poked his head in.

"Hey, Yuri-chan! Mom has dinner ready and the entire family is here," JJ said with a wink. He also noticed a purple mark on JJ's neck. They weren't even trying to hide it.

Rubbing his eyes, Yuri sat up and ran his fingers through his hair. Usually he would have at least brushed his hair, but he planned to shower and go to bed early after dinner. Pulling his hair up in a high bun, Yuri headed down into the mass chaos.

There were kids and teenagers everywhere. Yuri had never seen so many people that looked alike in one place. Little kids ran passed him as a teenager with a headphone son bumped into him. "Sorry," the teen muttered and didn't look up from their phone.

"Oh dear! There you are!" Mrs. Leroy said, coming over to him and rubbing his shoulder, "Did you have a good flight? I hope the room is ok. I changed the linens and everything."

"Yes, ma'am. It is fine," Yuri said.

"Not use to large families, are you?" she asked.

Shaking his head, Yuri found himself plastered to the back wall—too many people in one place. As they were all pushed into a large dinner room, he saw each person had their own place. At least he was at the end next to Otabek and JJ.

"Dad, Is Sasha coming?" JJ asked.

"Always worried about me," a man said as he came in, ruffling JJ's hair.

Yuri gasped. The most gorgeous man he had ever seen in his entire fucking life came walking into the dining room. His hair a dark burgundy color, and definitely got all the good Leroy genes. He was tall… so fucking tall.

"Oh hush you big brute!" JJ laughed, punching up at the man's shoulder. "By the way, this is Yuri and you already know Beka!"

"Ah! Beka! Long time no see!" Sasha said as he gave Otabek the biggest hug ever. Yuri wondered if he would get one too. Imagining those arms wrapping around him—

"Yuri? Right?" Alex said, holding his hand out to Yuri.

Yuri felt his mouth go dry as he looked into the most beautiful olive green eyes he had ever seen. Extending his hand, he felt how warm his skin was, calluses on his palms. Something short circuited in his brain at that moment.

"HI! I'm Alex, this bone head's older brother," Alex said.

Yuri was frozen—frozen to the fucking ground. He couldn't move. He just was there—existing as the most perfect man he had ever seen in his life gave him a baffled look, shaking his hand— he also was not letting go of his hand either, just stood there, mouth hanging open and enjoying the longest handshake known to man.

"Ah, Sasha, you'll have to excuse our Yuri here… apparently he lost the ability speak on the airplane," JJ laughed out.

"Fu—" Yuri's mouth was covered by Otabek's hand.

"Yuri," Otabek warned, "there are kids here."

Right… no cursing.

"Sorry," Yuri muttered and looked down, feeling a blush crawl up his cheeks.

"So yeah, Sasha here lives a couple blocks down the road, but always manages to come by when he is hungry," JJ laughed out.

"And we are blessed for that," Mrs. Leroy said. "Now let's pray and eat."

Otabek bumped Yuri's knee with his knee during the prayer and gave him a weird look. "What was that about?" Otabek whispered as the prayer finished.

Yuri looked over where Alex was laughing with one of the siblings (hell if he remembered their names) and looked back to Otabek. "Meow."

Otabek rolled his eyes and bumped his knee again.

Yuri did nothing but watch Alex's mouth move as he ate dinner.

Yuri sat back in his chair, rubbing his stomach. How was this no family not fat from all this food? And how were they still so energetic after all of this?

Mrs. Leroy had them all a well oiled machine. Each kid got up, grabbing plates and dishes from the table. It was madness, but it all got done quickly.

Yuri could not take his eyes off of Alex— he was laughing and talking with two other girls who seemed to be mothering him more than Mrs. Leroy was.

"That's Chloe and Giselle," Otabek whispered to him, "they are triplets."

"No shit," Yuri whispered back.

Hell, there was no denying this family was all related— they all looked like they belonged together. Yuri felt his blond hair was glowing among the dark reds and burgundy colors around the room.

"Now he knows how to wear an undercut," Yuri muttered.

Otabek bumped his knee again, Yuri knew he should stop staring so much, but it was hard. How could someone so handsome be related to JJ?

Alex seemed opposite from JJ, sure he was loud— the entire family was on the loud side. But his was different. His laughter seemed to only fill a room with warmth, it didn't make him want to jab Qtips deep into his ears like he did when JJ laughed.

"Alright, I probably should be heading home," Alex said, slapping his sisters on the back.

"Did you walk here?" Chloe asked.

"Of course! It is a waste to drive a few blocks!"

"Want us to walk with you?" JJ asked.

For once, Yuri was all for anything JJ was saying.

"Sure, I could use the company!" Alex said, smiling over at them.

Yuri felt his heart skip a beat. He gently elbowed Otabek who only elbowed him back.

It took a few minutes for Alex to say goodbye to his parents and siblings before heading out, promising he would be back tomorrow.

Yuri had found out a handful of the older kids had their own places, all relatively close by, and they met most nights for dinners unless they were out of town working. This time of year they all seem to migrate back and were home more.

JJ had never moved out due to he was not home most of the year. Sometimes he trained at other rinks, or competitions keeping him away. Mainly he was sneaking off and staying at Otabek's flat in Almaty.

Yuri couldn't complain about the weather. It was not cold, and it wasn't hot. Yuri watched as Otabek and JJ laced their fingers together and walked ahead of them. Otabek winked as they did so, Yuri really wanted to punch him.

"So, figure skating, huh?" Alex asked him.

Shit… he spoke to him. Yuri had to try to sound like he was not some love struck puppy here.

"Yeah, I'm pretty bad ass at it too," Yuri said.

"I know, I've seen you medal a few times."

"Really?"

Alex laughed and Yuri wished time would stop. He wanted to stay in that moment with the sun setting, the sky in hues of purples and pinks, and Alex laughing.

"Anyone who can piss off JJ on the ice and beat him… definitely has my attention," Alex said, smiling a classic Leroy smile at him.

Fuck! Was he blushing? Yuri could feel his face growing warm as Alex said this.

"Hey! I've beaten him before! Many times!" JJ yelled back at them.

"Fuck off!" Yuri growled back.

"Oh, feisty," Alex laughed out.

"He just better hope he makes it through this summer alive," Yuri mumbled

Alex stopped, as did Yuri. When he turned to look at Yuri, all he wanted to do was kiss him.

"Promise me something, blondie," Alex said. Yuri knew he would promise this man anything.

"Huh?" Yuri mumbled, sounding like the biggest idiot on the fucking earth.

"No killing my brother," Alex said, placing his hand on his shoulder.

Fuck, they were touching again. Yuri could feel the heat in Alex's hand through his shirt and he was very aware how close they were standing.

"Fine," Yuri said, turning his head. Watching as the couple in front of him turned and continued walking.

"JJ has a key to my place, by the way. If those two get out of hand and well… you know… couplish," Alex said with a shrug, "I have a lot of video games at my place."

Yuri loved video games, but he had other things in mind. He might have to take Alex up on his offer—soon.

"So you play hockey?" Yuri asked.

"Yeah, we are on down time right now, so just practicing here and there. We have a practice coming up in a couple days, you should come."

"Sure," Yuri said. He would love a day on the ice with Alex.

"Perfect!" Alex said, grinning at him.

They had only walked Alex to his driveway before he took waved at them, walking up to his house. Yuri stood there even long after Alex was inside, looking where he had stood.

"Someone has it bad," Otabek teased.

"Fuck off," Yuri grumbled, shoving his hands in his pockets and heading back to the Leroy house.

"Who has what about?" JJ asked.

Otabek kissed his cheek, "Tell ya later, babe."