Victor leaving was fine. Absolutely 100% fine. Yuri was fine. It was good that he didn't go. He needed to take care of himself for once instead of thinking about an Alpha or another Omega. Even if the Alpha and Omega, who were currently invading his every thought, seemed to offer happiness. He couldn't just let his happiness depend on other people.

So Victor leaving was fine.

Two weeks after the Alpha's departure found Yuri in a near constant argument with himself. He wasn't unhappy at the idea of living for himself for a while, maybe taking a few Special Courses and maybe even looking into other Alphas. But despite his desire to find out how he really felt, he couldn't make himself go to Viewings. There was something false about it now.

A few days after Victor left, he had tried to go to a Viewing and his worst fear had come true.

JJ.

The handsome Alpha had smiled at him, but did not come over, and Yuri found that he was grateful for that. He was happy that someone who had clearly been interested in him was giving him space, and even though he was painfully aware of JJ's lingering stares, he was much more comfortable with the Alpha across the room.

The following day when he decided to go again, JJ wasn't as shy.

"Still reading books and keeping to yourself, I see." The Alpha sang in his cheeky voice as he pulled up a chair next to Yuri's.

Yuri smiled, but couldn't help his annoyance from showing through. He didn't hate JJ but seriously, hadn't he made his choice clear?

"Well I was trying to keep to myself."

JJ laughed and shook his head. "Don't tell me you're still upset because I didn't want you to go see some other Alpha right after I'd asked for a Private Viewing."

Yuri glared.

"Come on, kitten, I think my actions were a little excused. It's not exactly a normal practice to have an Omega just get up and go see another Alpha after you ask for a PV."

Yuri rolled his eyes and sighed heavily, looking back down to his book. JJ wasn't wrong, but he honestly didn't care. He hadn't agreed to the Private Viewing after all, and even if he had, that was no excuse to go back to the dark ages and start acting all possessive.

"Well I guess I'll let you get back to your book."

Yuri looked up at that, but didn't stop the Alpha from taking his leave. He watched as JJ walked back to the wall where Alphas typically stood when they were just looking.

He had actually expected some sort of fight—some argument or plea or—something. Maybe JJ was expecting him to come after him or stop him. Well that wasn't going to happen. Yuri glanced around at his fellow Omegas and wondered if maybe he could get one of them to flirt with JJ, just to take the pressure off of him.

Everyone was so …innocent though. Minami and his friends were all sitting on a couch playing video games and although they were all vivacious and spirited, none of them had the attitude that JJ seemed to like about him.

A bunch of girls who Mila typically hung out with were all playing ping-pong and laughing like idiots, but they reeked of desperation and lacked the cool confident wit that JJ seemed to enjoy. He pushed the thought out of his mind a moment later. He'd hate if someone manipulated him like that. So he shrugged it off and just kept reading his book. The JJ situation would have to take care of itself.

After that, he didn't feel like going to Viewings anymore. Not exactly because of JJ, but it just didn't hold any interest for him anymore.

He tried to fill his free time with things he enjoyed, but everything just seemed so pointless. He hated that. The joy he used to get from skating seemed to have evaporated over night. He still made a point to spend at least an hour at the rink each day, because he was definitely going to have to improve on his jumps to show up Victor—but that thought itself would depress him and he'd lose his enthusiasm.

So here he was. Two weeks since Victor left and his life seeming pretty dull and lifeless in general. He sat on his bed, staring up at the ceiling while Mila chose her nicest wrap for her Private Viewing with Sara.

"Why don't you just try to spend time with JJ again? I mean, you never really stopped liking him."

"I never really started liking him." Yuri shot back coldly.

"Well it's not like you're stuck waiting for Victor. You turned him down, so that means you're free to find someone else."

Yuri groaned. He didn't fucking want anyone else! Couldn't she see that? Was it not plain and obvious?

"Maybe I don't want an Alpha." He said closing his eyes. "Maybe I'll just check out of the House and find a job or something."

Mila gasped and stared at him. He could feel her eyes on him, but he didn't open his own. He didn't care. Maybe he would do that. Who knew?

"Yuri, don't even joke about things like that. If you left here without an Alpha, you'd be caught on the streets and sold into sex trafficking or beaten and raped or …worse."

Yuri sighed and opened his eyes finally, looking at his roommate and rolling his eyes. "Shut up, Mila. I'm not going to do that, I'm just saying maybe finding an Alpha isn't my only option."

"Sure…" She said with a grin. "Maybe Director Altin would let you work here. Pay you to be a life coach or something."

Yuri glared at her. He hadn't told her that Victor actually owned the House—it had never really come up. But even with her not knowing that little bit of info, her words were ridiculous and obviously teasing.

"Maybe Sara will realize she'd rather have a beautiful blond Omega instead of some old hag." He shot back angrily.

Mila gasped again, but almost immediately broke into a grin.

"She said she wanted to ask me something tonight. Oh I'm so excited!" she said as she twirled around, holding her wrap and grinning like a fool.

Yuri sighed and then in his most dead pan voice, congratulated her.

"Oh don't be such a sour puss. Just go down to the rink and skate."

Yuri sighed as she waltzed out of their dorm. He'd already considered going to the rink, but now his practices were starting to seem lack luster and he couldn't bear the thought of losing his love of skating.

He decided on grabbing a book and going outside to read it under a tree. Even though his books were becoming harder and harder to lose himself in, it was still a welcome escape when it happened.

The afternoon was warm, breezy and pleasant and his favorite tree was free of other tree dwellers as he settled himself under its branches and flipped the cover open to the first page.

He had just gotten himself into the story when he was shaken out of the book's pages by hushed voices.

"It doesn't make sense! If he's free of another Alpha, of age and clearly interested in finding an Alpha then I should be allowed to Court him."

Yuri was confused for only a moment when he finally recognized JJ's voice. He stood up from his tree and peered around the corner where the front steps of the House came in to view. JJ was standing very close to Otabek, huffing angrily and arms crossed across his chest in a closed off, pissed stance.

"You don't know that he is interested. And I've already told you, he's not available." Otabeks calm, though clearly threatening voice came.

"If he wasn't interested or available then why was he coming to Viewings?" JJ shot back.

Otabek sighed softly. "I've already told you, just because an Omega is allowed to be in Viewings does not mean they are available."

"That's ridiculous! If they're not available then why would you put them in a room with available Omegas? It's not a very sound business plan."

Otabek shook his head. "I can let him know you're interested. And when he's available you can officially start Courting him—but I can't promise you anything."

"This is ridiculous!" JJ said, throwing his arms up angrily.

"Keep your voice down." Otabek shushed instantly. "I don't understand why you're so invested in this particular Omega. Just choose someone else! Someone—"

"Available, yes. I've heard your speech before." JJ rolled his eyes. "I can't help how I feel, Otabek."

Yuri suddenly felt nauseated. He had kind of hoped this was over. Or at the very least hoped Otabek would keep JJ at bay. He had half a mind to walk up to them and start screaming, but thought better of it and just went back inside to his dorm.

/

Luckily Yuri found over the coming weeks that Otabek had made no attempt to speak to him about anything—let along JJ's interest. It actually made him like Otabek even more. The thought that the Director would keep an Alpha's affections to himself, just because he knew the Omega was uncomfortable, just spoke volumes about Otabek's character.

That was probably the only good thing that came with this time. A month had now passed since Victor left, and Yuri's personality was beginning to water itself down.

At first he hadn't known anything was different. He was just kind of 'blah', but when Mila started pointing it out, it became a bit more noticeable.

He was skating less, and so his body was becoming a bit sluggish from lack of exercise, though he did maintain his physique. Since his classes were basically just throw away bird courses he found that his interest was beginning to wander and he was day dreaming a lot more.

There was no need for Viewings, so he kept himself busy by reading a new book every few days and this was making him seem even more standoffish than he had before. He wasn't paying attention to any issues in the House, no opinion on anything, his signature quick wit and snarky comments were a thing of the past and Mila mentioned that people were starting to wonder if he was sick.

He wasn't, of course. He was fine. But he was vaguely aware that at some point he would have taken the sudden interest in his mannerisms very badly and chastised everyone who felt they had a say in how he was supposed to behave. Now all he did was shrug it off and say "I just want to read."

The few Omegas, who hung around with him, slowly stopped even trying. Even Minami, who always got a good laugh out of Yuri's bullying, seemed to have lost interest.

And Yuri honestly couldn't bring himself to care. It was becoming easier for him to lose himself in his books, and since Victor had obviously decided that writing to him would be too much of a hassle, the comforting worlds on the pages of his books were better company then the empty dorm.

"You should take that new cooking class that Director Altin set up." Mila said one afternoon while Yuri lay across his bed, staring down at his book quietly. He shrugged his shoulders at the advice but didn't move other than that.

"I mean, it wouldn't hurt for you to know how to cook. You said you may leave here and get work right?"

Yuri shrugged again. Even those plans of doing something for himself had been lost to the glossy worlds of his books. All he cared about at the moment was how Will was going defeat an entire army with just 20 Skandians and some misfits.

"Yuri…"
"Hmm?"

"Yuri I'm worried about you, sweetie."

He finished the sentence he was on and then looked up. "Why? I'm fine."

"You're not fine." Mila said, giving him a worried look. "All you do is read. You don't pay attention in class, you don't skate, you hardly eat…"

"I eat plenty. I've not lost weight or anything. If anything I've gained." He said looking back down at his book.

Mila took a breath and then let it out in a huff. Whatever. She could be worried; she'd see in time that he was fine. Nothing wrong with reading books—broadens the mind and all.

He had moved a few more chapters along when there was a knock at his door. He finished his sentence, dog eared the page and then sat up off his bed to answer the door.

"Oh, Director Altin." He said taken aback.

"Yuri." The Director nodded and motioned for Yuri to step out of the dorm into the hall. "I wonder if I may have a minute."

Suddenly Yuri had the overwhelming desire to say no and to shut the door in the Beta's face.

"Sure…what's going on?"

Otabek was silent for a moment, looking him up and down carefully before speaking again. "How have you been?" He said in his soft, calm voice.

Yuri made a confused face but decided to play along just the same. "Okay…fine."

Otabek nodded and then shifted his weight on his feet. "Classes okay?"

Yuri squinted suspiciously but nodded, "Yes. Unless you've heard something I haven't."

Otabek shook his head, still serious. "No no. I've just been noticing how off you've seemed these past few weeks."

Yuri rolled his eyes. "Did that hag send you? I'm fine! There's nothing wrong with reading."

Otabek shook his head. "No there's nothing wrong with it at all, but I worry you may alienate yourself."

Yuri gave him the most sarcastic look he could imagine. "You're worried. That I'm going to alienate myself." He repeated dully. "Well you have my word that I won't."

Otabek sighed, nearly rolling his eyes. "Yuri, why don't you come to the cooking class tonight? Spend some time with other Omegas, learn a new skill."

"What for?"

Otabek shrugged. "For the possibility that you'll have to cook some day. To get out of the dorm. Have a good meal." He listed off easily.

Yuri shrugged again. "I don't think so. I'm fine, Director, honest."

Otabek was silent for a long time, staring at the Omega so intensely that Yuri had to break the eye contact just to keep himself from visibly fidgeting.

"Perhaps you're depressed." Otabek said finally.

Yuri's head snapped to look at him with such indignation that Otabek had the decency to look ashamed of his own words.

"I am not depressed! I have nothing to be depressed about!"

Otabek nodded slowly. "What about Mr. Nikiforov? You were spending a lot of time with him."

Yuri suddenly felt angrier than he had in weeks. "That is none of your business! Even if I were depressed, which I'm not, it wouldn't be about Victor! I turned him down."

"Just because you turned him down, doesn't mean you don't miss him."

"I don't miss him! We weren't that close anyway."

Otabek shrugged. "Seemed like you were."

"If we were so close, he'd have written." Yuri said bitterly.

Otabek broke out into a smile. "Ah! So that's why you're upset."

Yuri's eyes went wide and he tucked his bottom lip in and stared away.

"Yuri, I'm sure he's thought of you. Maybe he's just busy or—"

"I'm not discussing this with you! I'm not depressed, I don't want to cook, and I'm fine!"

/

Yuri…was not fine.

Another month passed and still no word from Victor. It wasn't a big deal, really. It wasn't as if they'd said they would write or Victor promised him anything, but it was just—kind of annoying.

Victor was under no obligation to write to him, call him, or speak to him ever again. And yet…for some reason Yuri had convinced himself that the Alpha cared.

Maybe Yuuri had decided to take him back before Victor told him that he had been working to get Yuri in their pack. Then Victor wouldn't feel the need to ever see Yuri again because Yuuri let him off the hook? Or maybe Yuuri decided he was angry at Yuri for leaving in the first place, and Victor decided to just let it go? Or maybe…

Ugh! This was getting him nowhere. All he could do at this point is try and move on…again.


Landing in Hasetsu was nothing like Victor thought it would be. He had gone over in his mind the different scenarios he could expect: Yuuri meeting him at the airport and sending him home, Yuuri meeting him at the airport and jumping into his arms, Yuuri's parents meeting him and sending him home or rushing him home…all of these ran through his mind, but he hadn't expected…nothing.

Not one person had come to see him. Even a year ago, when he had come to visit Yuuri a few months after he'd come here, his parents had come to welcome him.

Unlike their son, the Kasuki's seemed to think that Yuuri was making a huge mistake leaving his Alpha, and though they supported their son's choice they had been hoping Victor would convince the Omega to go back home.

But this was—a little bit of a letdown.

It was raining heavily though still quite warm and Victor cursed as he caught a cab to the onsen. And once again he let his mind wander as he pictured what would happen when he arrived. Maybe Yuuri would be there, maybe he'd be taking a nap, maybe he'd be ill from missing Victor so much, maybe he'd throw himself into Victor's arms and sob.

Once again, nope.

The place seemed completely deserted, though he knew he must be wrong. This was a business after all and there was always someone around. Though he couldn't see anyone, he called out.

"Hello? Anyone home?"

Nothing.

So he grabbed his bags and stepped inside a little further. "Hello? Mr. and Mrs. Kasuki? It's Victor…"

Nothing.

He sighed and dropped his bags to the side, letting them fall over. He knew this place very well, having stayed here for almost a month while he Courted Yuuri and then again several times when they'd visited for Holidays. But he still didn't want to just come in without invitation.

He and Yuuri were a bit—rocky at the moment, and he just wasn't sure how everyone would see his coming in.

He took a seat on one of the guest chairs and waited—someone seriously had to be around somewhere. He'd just wait. It wasn't like they didn't know he was coming. He had called and emailed just about everyone in the family, but no matter. He'd wait.

/

Victor's heart nearly stopped as a large weight was thrown onto his chest and stomach and he was suddenly groaning as a slobbery tongue licked all over his face.

"What the…" He struggled as he tried to catch his breath and move the giant friendly obviously dog, off of him.

The dog moved away easily, but panted happily, wagging his tail and licking Victor's hands.

"What on earth…where did you come from?"

The dog barked and Victor found himself laughing as he pet the dog's soft ears.

"Doggie!"

Victor turned around and saw a young child come running after the dog. By the looks of him, he was no more than a year old, still wobbly on his feet and chubby with baby fat as he came bounding in clumsily.

"Doggie!"

The young boy wobbled violently and Victor instinctively reached out to catch the kid and stop him from falling. He grinned.

"Careful little one."

He stood up, scooping the kid up with him and then walking around.

"Hello? Did someone's kid run off?"

He rolled his eyes when there was still no answer. How ridiculous could people be? This poor kid just walking around an onsen. He could fall in and drown, or be burned or run out side and get hit by a truck…people were so careless these days.

"Niki?! OH Thank GOD!"

Victor whipped around and grinned widely when he saw Yuuko.

"Yuuko!"

"Oh Victor! Thank you for catching him! I honestly don't know what—"She suddenly went very pink and then smiled, taking the child and clearing her throat.

"I didn't know you were coming to Japan."

Victor shrugged. "Well I called, and emailed everyone, but I guess no one really knew. So Surprise?"

Yuuko sighed but smiled just the same. "Does Yuuri know you're here?" She asked quietly.

Victor shrugged. "Once again—I called and emailed, but…"

She smiled sadly.

"Is…is he okay? I mean, how's he been?"

"He's been doing better actually. After you left it was like he fell deeper into a pit—if that's even possible. He gained a bunch of weight, stopped coming down for meals and hardly left his room. We were really worried there for a while."

Victor chewed his lip. He hated the idea that his beloved had been so miserable. The whole point of him coming here was to be less miserable, and even though he hated the idea of being a part from him, he'd agreed to it to see him get a little happier.

"But he's okay now?"

She shrugged, shuffling the baby up on her hip. "I don't know if I would say 'okay', but he's definitely not as bad. I think seeing you might help, actually. Even if he's mad, there's no denying that having his Alpha near will be good for him.

He nodded and smiled softly. The idea that his only help would be from a biological stance, was painful, but anything he could do for his Omega, he would.

"Why don't you go on upstairs? He's probably in his room." Yuuko adjusted the kid again and then grabbed the dog by the collar and took them both outside. The young boy waved, grinning widely as he was taken outside to play.

Victor grinned, waved back and then shook his head. His grin turned to a nervous smirk as he thought of going upstairs. The last time he'd done this, Yuuri had practically thrown him out. He wasn't sure he could handle something like that again—though not seeing Yuuri at all was proving to be much more difficult.

Even with spending so much time with Yurio, he could still feel the emptiness that having Yuuri so far away brought. His bonded Omega, his mate, was meant to be with him—always. Not separated by half a world. It was unnatural and he hated it! But he'd do just about anything for Yuuri.

He moved quickly and quietly up the stairs and turned down the hallway leading to Yuuri's room, where he was beginning to pick up on his Mate's scent. He paused, inhaled deeply and let the familiar scent roll over him.

His heart began to race at the thought of seeing his Mate and he couldn't help his smile as he inhaled. The scent wasn't particular—not giving off any emotion, just simply Yuuri. It was probably his favorite scent in the whole world, though even with it washing over him he couldn't help but compare the sticky candy sweet scent of cotton candy and caramel to Yuri's distinct citrus scent.

He shook the comparison out of his mind. There was no reason to think of Yuri at a time like this—not when he was about to see Yuuri again for the first time in so many long months. He steadied his breathing as he approached the door and then gathered his courage and knocked softly.

"Okiniri?" He called out, using his silkiest most comforting voice.

"Vitya?"

His heart skipped a beat. Yuuri's voice was hoarse and hard to hear as if he hadn't used it in a long time. The change in his scent was immediate from his natural aroma to one of…not quite excitement…almost disbelief? Hope? Victor couldn't place it. And oh. The use of his nick name, that was a good sign.

He pushed the door open and stood in the door way, gathering in as much of his Mate as he could.

Yuuri had put on weight, by the looks of it, he'd put on a lot of weight and had just recently began to shed some of the extra pounds. He looked soft and round but glowing like he had been taking care of himself. His hair was shiny and his eyes were bright, though he was hiding them behind the glasses that he only wore when he was much too tired for contacts.

He was in bed, pajamas on and a TV sitting on a dresser directly across from him. But he didn't seem bad—the room seemed lived in, definitely but it wasn't an absolute mess and he didn't smell as if he'd not had a bath recently. Whatever the reason he was in bed at this hour didn't seem to be self loathing or misery.

But honestly, the thoughts flew through his head at a mile a minute because there was Yuuri. His Yuuri, wonderful, sweet, not completely unhappy to see him, Yuuri.

"Vitya…it's really you." The voice was stronger this time, though still quite weak, but this time Victor was able to see the look of relief on his Mate's face.

Consent be damned, he couldn't wait another moment to have Yuuri in his arms. He crossed the room in a heartbeat, sitting on the edge of the bed facing his husband and then wrapping him in a firm hug.

Yuuri's arms came up immediately, his scent rewashing over Victor in a flood of emotions that the Alpha didn't care to pick out at the moment. He was here, Yuuri was here and he was letting him touch him. He was touching him back. He was releasing pleasant scents and he was…crying.

Victor pulled away and Yuuri tightened his grip, keeping Victor close as he sobbed gently.

"Oh Victor..."

A shiver ran through the Alpha, but he didn't press his lover. He just wrapped him back in a hug and let the man cry, his own tears spilling gently down his cheeks in pure joy.

/

Later, sitting up against the headboard with Yuuri cuddled up to him, both shirtless for more skin to skin contact, Victor was finally able to get the Omega to speak in complete sentences.

They had food brought up to them and water and juice, and had enjoyed the meal silently, just touching and holding and kissing each other. He hadn't realized how starved for his Mate he had been. How blissful it was to have him back in his arms. It reminded him of the feeling you get after you have a stomach ache. How the pain had taken over ever sense so much that the simple non existence of pain seemed like heaven. He had just not realized how much constant pain he had been in.

"Why didn't anyone tell me you were coming? I would have cleaned up." Yuuri said, pressing his nose straight to Victor's scent glands and inhaling happily.

Victor smiled, running his hand up and down Yuuri's naked shoulder. "I don't know. Maybe I just kept missing everyone on the phone, and no one checked their email?"

Yuuri snorted and shook his head. "No, they knew you were coming. That's why they're all out."

"Maybe they thought it'd be like last time—that you'd throw me out, and they didn't want to be around for that." He suggested gently, trying not to put malice behind the words. He wasn't angry about it; after all, he wasn't even upset about it anymore. Not after so long and not with his Yuuri wrapped around him so easily.

Yuuri sighed. "Maybe."

It was quiet for a moment, and Victor just reveled in the presence of his Mate. Oh it was so beyond wonderful having him so near, having him close, having him not miserable. He snuggled into his hair and inhaled, smiling at the sweet candy-like aroma. It was so different than Yurio's scent.

Not in a bad way. Not even in a good way. Just…different. He thought back to the way their scents had mingled and he suddenly felt a little uneasy. Not guilty exactly, but uneasy.

He shook the thought aside and wrapped his Mate in a hug once more. "Yuuri I can't begin to explain how happy I am to be here."

Yuuri leaned into the hug, letting himself purr in contentment. "Me too. I can't believe you're actually here." He sighed happily and they fell into comfortable silence once again.

And once again that uneasy feeling crept into Victor's consciousness, he wasn't sure what the feeling actually was, but he wished it'd just go away and let him enjoy this time with Yuuri. There was no telling how long the Omega would let this last. Victor was under no illusion that this meant the Omega forgave him. This was simply the distance between Mates becoming too much for both of them and causing them to need extra physical contact.

"Victor, I need to tell you something."

"Tell me anything, Okiniri."

Yuuri smiled and hugged Victor close, pressing a gentle kiss to his chest before pushing himself up fully to look the Alpha in the face.

"I don't really know how to say this…"

Victor waited for the Omega to think it over before grinning and nudging him. "It's usually best to just spit it out."

Yuri took a deep breath and exhaled loudly.

"Vitya we…" he hesitated and then pushed himself through it. "We have a son."

/

Their son knew exactly three words: Daddy, Doggie, and No. He was almost a year old, had 8 teeth, had just learned to walk a few months prior and was now working on running. He was chubby and darker skinned like Yuuri, with black hair that was more the feel of Victors. His eyes were blue-green with long black lashes and he had Victor's smile.

The delivery had gone just fine, but the pregnancy itself had been difficult. Yuuri had been on bed rest for the better part of 10 months and even after Nikolai was born, the doctor had suggested using synthetic hormones until the Alpha was reached.

Of course, at that time, Yuuri had still been decently furious with Victor, and his own hormones were all out of whack and he had forbid his family from contacting Victor with any details.

Without the real Alpha hormones that would typically help in a difficult pregnancy, Yuuri's recovery had been so very slow, that he'd improved very little. He wasn't in actual pain anymore, though once Victor arrived he too got the feeling that he'd simply gone numb to the pain, but his doctor refused to let him off bed rest.

He was allowed to shower, and soak in the onsen. He could go for short walks and come down stairs to eat with the family, but only if he was feeling up to it. Everything was very carefully monitored.

"I can't believe you didn't call me, Yuuri. You could have been up and out of bed within a week with my hormones. But you chose to stick it out? Just because you were mad?"

Yuuri sighed and shook his head. "Honestly Victor, I can't even explain to you how beyond mad I am…was…ugh I don't even know at this point!"

Victor gave a defeated look and Yuuri nudged him soothingly. "Vitya, I am your Mate. I know that my emotions got the better of me, and I'm not saying I exactly regret coming here, but I know that I can't stay away from you. We're going to just have to work this out."

Victor nodded and then gave a nervous chuckle. "I can't believe I have a son. I actually met him…I held him…"

Yuuri smiled, proud and big.

"And Nikolai…"

"For your father." Yuuri said with a soft smile.

Victor nodded, but didn't speak.

"Victor, I know this—was unexpected. And I know I should have told you—I'm sure you're furious, but I—"

"Yuuri, I'm not furious. I do wish you had told me, and I don't think I'll ever fully understand why you didn't, but I'm not angry. I'm—elated." He finished with a disbelieving grin.

"I'm a father, and we have a son. And he's perfect."

Yuuri practically glowed at the praise. "Oh he's so wonderful, Victor. When he started walking, I actually tried to call you several times. I wanted to spend time with him, and I knew you'd be the only way I could actually begin to heal…but I didn't know how to start."

"Yuuri…you don't have to keep making excuses to get yourself off the hook. There is no hook. I'm not upset, honest."

Yuuri looked pained and then started crying again. Victor pulled him close, and held him tightly.

"Victor…I just feel so—Ugh! I don't know!" He pushed away and wiped his nose. "I'm so happy you're here. And I'm so happy we have a son. But I'm still—I don't know…"

Victor wiped his cheek and smiled. "Yuuri, let's focus on getting you well. We can hammer out the details when we cross that bridge."

Yuuri smiled again and nodded his agreement. "So—did you want to meet him officially?"

/

Yuuri's recovery took a lot longer than anyone would have wanted. The doctor had been so happy to see Victor that she'd practically squeezed him to death when she saw him. But there was more damage than anyone had realized.

Yuuri was absolutely fine, but it was just going to take time for him to heal. He'd been away from his Alpha for so long, that the near instant effects of the Alpha hormone to their Mate were taking a lot longer to work. Yuuri felt better, yes, but he was still so weak.

The doctor said that they'd just need to take things slow. Go for walks together, make sure they were both eating right, (she wasn't exactly happy about Victor's weight), and getting plenty of water and sunshine.

They spent the days walking around Hasetsu, and admiring the ocean, taking walks in gardens and just catching up really. No real talk about feelings or anything, just basic catching up. Victor told Yuuri about how Zakhar had dragged him out of his depression and forced him to get back to work. Yuuri told Victor about how he'd had a similar conversation with his father when he had began to show.

They talked about the pregnancy mostly. Victor was clearly a little upset at having missed it, but Yuuri was more than happy to give him every single detail from start to finish.

By the time a month had gone by, Yuuri's health had improved by leaps and bounds. He wasn't fully up to par just yet, but he was able to stay out of bed for several hours at a time before he'd begin to feel weak again. He was able to lift Nikolai, who they called Niki, and play with him.

And Victor was able to stay close to him, help him if he needed it. It was so reminiscent of their previous life, that Victor almost got lost in it. The familiarity of being okay with each other, the happiness of waking up next to each other and kissing the other awake. The joy of playing with their son, and sharing meals as a family—it was all so wonderful—and yet whenever he'd start to think about it, that uneasy feeling would come back.

Another month and a half had passed and Yuuri's health was almost completely back to normal. He was strong again, able to be out of bed like normal and everything was going just fine, except now he had the worry of losing weight. Victor had insisted he looked wonderful, but Yuuri had stubbornly glared at the Alpha and told him to shut up.

Their lives had taken a complete turnaround, and Victor didn't think he'd ever been so happy in his entire life.

/

He was bouncing Niki on his knee, the young boy giggling like an absolute joy when Yuuri finally brought up the subject he had been waiting to arise.

"So how is the business?"

Victor hesitated and then nodded. "It's good. We had a large reaping of Omegas a few months back, so it's kind of full, but it's good."

Yuuri nodded, "That's good. That Beta seems to be a real help."

Victor smiled. He had no excuse not to tell Yuuri about St. Petersburg. This was the perfect time to do it. He could just come clean right now. Tell him how he'd purchased the House just like he'd always wanted to, only he'd done it for him. He'd spent all that time getting to know Yurio and—he shivered as the uneasy feeling came over him again and he suddenly got it.

The feeling wasn't unease at all—it was incomplete.

His months in St. Petersburg had been for Yuuri. He had never hidden that fact, but somewhere along the way he must have caught feelings for the pretty blonde Omega. With his citrus scent, and interest in business and Omega rights, and skating skills, and newly acquired sassy attitude…that was exactly the feeling, their pack wasn't whole.

"Victor?"

He jumped slightly at his name and then smiled at Yuuri. He had honestly not been sure how to bring up his stay at St. Petersburg. Even though he had been doing it for him, there was always the chance that he'd be upset about it, and he'd not wanted to even take the chance while they were all so happy. And even now, when he had the perfect opportunity to tell him—he was a little nervous about it.

"Sorry, I lost track of my thoughts." He said with a smile.

Bringing up St. Petersburg was going to bring up a lot of negative feelings. Even though he thought he had good news, it just…didn't feel like the right time. Honestly what he needed was for Yuri to show up.

Yes! That's what he needed!

"Hey, I need to go check something; will you hold this little terror?" He said rubbing noses with their son as he handed him over to Yuuri.

The look of confusion on Yuuri's face didn't go away when he asked what Victor was doing.

"I need to see about something. I'll be right back."

He had to get Yuri here. That was the only way to do it. If he told Yuuri about their time in St. Petersburg there were just too many ways it could go wrong. Yuuri could suddenly go jealous; he may not believe him and think he was just saying it to get back on good terms. No, the best way was to get Yuri here. And soon.


"Plisetski?"

Yuri rolled his eyes as he heard the familiar voice of Otabek calling his name. It was like the Director honestly thought he was going to kill himself or harm himself and others or some other bull shit. Seriously he just wanted to read!

"I'm fine, Director." He said, with a groan. Otabek was nice and all and he still somehow managed to keep JJ away from him, so Yuri was grateful, but come on. This was a bit much. Stalking him throughout the day?

"I'm sure you are, but I just received an email from Mr. Nikiforov."

Yuri felt his heart rate speed and then a mix of anger and jealousy rolled over him and he gritted his teeth angrily.

"Well that's just fantastic for you, isn't it?" He said bitterly.

Otabek seemed a bit taken aback, but his face moved into one of his rare almost there smiles before he shook his head.

"It's nice to see your attitude is back. What I meant was, I received an email from Mr. NIkiforov, for you."

Yuri blinked. "For me? Why?"

Otabek made a face and then rolled his eyes. "There are many reasons to choose from, but I'm going to go with 'because he doesn't have your email'."

Yuri's surprised face fell into a look of annoyance and then he followed as Otabek lead him back to his office.

Two months. Two and a half months. Almost three months and absolutely nothing. Then all of a sudden Victor wants to reach out? Why? Maybe he wanted to end things officially—maybe Yuuri took him back without needing him at all.

He took a breath as he sat down in the comfortable spinning chair that was usually Otabeks, as the Beta pulled up the email and then stepped back to give him some privacy.

Yurio,

As I sat down to write this, I looked at the calendar and realized it's been two months since I've left Saint Petersburg, which is a completely unacceptable amount of time to have gone without speaking to you. I wish I had a really good excuse for it, but I'm not going to give one. I've been trying to take responsibility for my actions.

Yuuri is doing fine. I arrived here in somewhat of a surprise, but after everything settled down, we were both able to just enjoy each other's company. It's been so long since I've seen him, and I don't think I even registered the pain until it stopped once I was with him again.

I'm doing fine too, but when I got here Yuuri dropped a huge surprise on me. That's the excuse that I'm refusing to use. So I won't speak about it too much, but wow.

Okay, so you're probably reading all of this wondering why I'm talking about how great Yuuri and I are doing.

The thing is we're not doing great. We're fine, living, but I've had this odd feeling ever since I arrived. The only way to describe it is restless, unease of some sort.

I've been hanging around Yuuri, so beyond happy to be with him, and yet this feeling kept coming up. It wasn't until today, when I had a few moments to really sit and let myself think about you, that I realized what the feeling was.

My pack isn't complete.

That's it. No argument, no if ands or buts about it. It's incomplete without you, Yuri and I cannot believe I'm just now realizing it.

When we were in Saint Petersburg, that same feeling was looming over me, but it was much more noticeable. I was able to recognize it immediately because for so long I've been with Yuuri, so having him away from me was automatically wrong.

But that feeling was so strong and prominent that I wasn't able to see that the feeling was made worse by having you gone too. It wasn't until I was here, with Yuuri and the anxiety of having him away from me was gone, that I realized there was still anxiety. Still something not right.

Yuri, I'm sure you've realized by now, that I am not a big words guy. Yuuri says that there are 5 love languages and that mine is Acts of Service.

The only reason I'm telling you this, is because I need you to realize how much I care about you. Anyone can sit there and tell you that I only did what I did because I wanted Yuuri back and I thought he'd come back if I got you. And that might be true, but hear me out.

I bought St. Petersburg to get closer to you. I fixed it up out of my sense of moral. I redesigned the logo because it felt right and I came to Court you because it was the next step in my plan.

And for some reason, you agreed. Knowing all the time about my plan and my desire to get my Mate back. But as I got to know you, Yuri—things began to change.

You're interested in Omega Rights, you read way more than you probably should, you're rude and have a bad attitude, but it only hides the sweet nature. You smell like citrus and are so beautiful it makes me crazy. You're strong and brave and when I'm with you I have the odd desire to both protect you, and protect myself from you. You make me laugh, and it makes me so happy when I make you laugh.

This is ridiculous. I'm so terrible at saying my feelings. Honestly, I think Yuuri's right about Words not being my 'love language.' I wish I could write you a lovely poem with metaphors and romantic language that make you weep. But I'm not a poet. I'm not a writer. I'm just an Alpha who loves you.

Yuri, please reconsider coming to Japan. Yuuri is doing so very well, but I'm still a bit uneasy about him flying. I can hardly stand knowing that you're over there walking around completely open for another Alpha's invitation and I know that sounds possessive and very Alpha of me, but I can't help it. I am an Alpha and I am possessive of my Omegas.

I'm sure you've read books shorter than this email, so I'm going to wrap things up. Please come to Japan. Please take a chance on me, and please…please think about becoming part of my pack. It will never be right without you.

Love always,

Victor.

Yuri took a breath, staring at the screen for much longer than needed as he read and reread several parts of Victor's words.

There was still so much shit to work through. So much pain and heartbreak and the idea of dealing with any of it made him feel queasy. But maybe…maybe that was okay.

Relationships weren't neat little gifts wrapped in perfect paper with a nice red bow on top. They were work; hard work, messy and painful, but beautiful and wonderful at the same time. It was something that a lot of people found out the hard way—that a relationship wasn't always kissing and laughing and skipping through rose gardens, but it was tears and anger and deciding that all of the bad was outweighed by the good.

And honestly…the way he'd been feeling lately, this empty nothing—was definitely worse than the prospect of working through their issues.

"Yura?"

He jumped slightly at Otabek's voice and then quickly wiped away a tear that had found its way onto his cheek.

"I'm fine."

Otabek smiled and nodded. "I'm sure you are. I got an email too, and—well I have something to tell you as well."

Yuri made a confused face, but remained silent. Otabek shuffled a little and then sighed.

"I wasn't aware of this at first, but I definitely should have put a stop to it once I found out."

Yuri rolled his eyes. He hated when people talked around the subject instead of just saying it. "Found what out?"

"JJ—well he was in Japan before he came here to St. Petersburg." Otabek began.

"Yes I know—he told me."

Otabek nodded and then pushed on. "But he didn't tell you that the reason he came here was because Yuuri asked him to find you."

"I—"Wait, what?! "I don't…"

"That's not even the biggest surprise." Otabek mumbled before pulling a chair and sitting down next to him.

"JJ was in Japan visiting Yuuri to make sure he was doing okay and Yuuri asked him to come here and find you."

Yuri was silent. There were so many holes in this that it may as well have been Swiss cheese.

"Why would JJ be in Japan to check on Yuuri?" He asked suspiciously.

Otabek sat back and took a breath. "Well—JJ is…well he's my Mate."

/

Yuri was up, pacing the room, and shaking his head in disbelief.

"One more time. From the top."

Otabek sighed. "JJ and I are Mates. When you left, Yuuri was really bad off and Victor wasn't able to do both his job and take care of his Omega so he hired an Assistant Director. Me. When Yuuri left for Japan, he asked me to go and see if he was alright, but since Victor was in no state to run the House, I suggested JJ should go instead."

"JJ got there and Yuuri was a mess, but still only worried about you. So to keep him calm and happy, JJ agreed to come to St. Petersburg to see if you were doing alright."

Yuri nodded. "That doesn't explain why he would try to Court me."

Otabek rolled his eyes. "I think that was Yuuri's plan and JJ was just going along with it. Yuuri wasn't exactly in a good mind state when he asked JJ to come here."

Yuri shook his head again. "So if he's your Mate, and Victor came back to Court me…then why has he been trying to Court me still? Wasn't the plan to get me back to Yuuri?"

Otabek looked up, eyes wide with surprise. "He's been trying to Court you?"

"I've over heard you two arguing about how I'm not available and how he doesn't care and whatever." He said waving it aside. "So if the plan was to get me back with Victor, then what? Did he fall for me or something?"

Otabek's lips twitched at the edge and he shook his head. "No…those conversations…that wasn't about you…"

Yuri felt his mouth drop slightly and his confusion grow.

"I know this is a bit crazy. Yuuri asked him to Court you and I guess he thought that if JJ got you that maybe he'd let you be together? Or something…like I said, he wasn't very sane when he got to Japan. He was grieving pretty badly over you and then he'd also just separated himself from his bonded Mate. But JJ didn't really question his plan; he just went along with it because he was tasked with making Yuuri happy. "

"When Victor showed up, JJ was a little upset, but not because he wanted you exactly…he just decided that we needed an Omega in our pack." Otabek smiled and shook his head, rolling his eyes.

"So I agreed. I told him to pick someone, get to know them and that I would get to know them and then when the time was right, we'd explain that we were together and that we wanted them to be part of our pack."

Yuri stood, still shocked and a bit confused, though things were starting to become a little clearer.

"But he fell for someone underage." Otabek huffed angrily. "It wasn't his fault or anything, he just started talking to a random Omega and it just happened to be this one who was underage. And JJ didn't realize it until he told me who it was. Anyway, that's what we've been arguing about. Not you."

"Who was the Omega?"

Otabek looked at him for a moment before shaking his head. "Don't worry about that. Besides, Victor only told me to tell you our role in this whole mess. He didn't tell me to explain our entire lives to you."

"I can't believe this…it's like I'm living in some sort of mad House. Some sort of film or book…spies, secret lovers, Omegas in distress…this is ridiculous."

Otabek nodded, but chuckled gently. "I don't think I've ever thought of it that way…but you're right. It is ridiculous."

/

So there was his choice. Plain and obvious, though still scary and unsure. Go to Japan, be with Victor and Yuuri or stay here and maybe find another Alpha—one with less drama, because seriously this was a lot to deal with.

His whole life since he'd presented had been one big cluster fuck of emotion. First he'd met Yuuri and fallen madly in love with him. Then he'd tried to make Victor fall in love with him and fucked that up real quick. He'd broken Yuuri's heart, moved away and lived in absolute shit for over a year.

Then things started looking up, and it turned out to all be Victor's doing because he wanted to get Yuuri back, but Yuuri had sent in a secret spy who was tasked with Courting him, but in the end it had been no competition at all and he'd easily chosen Victor and now everyone's coming clean and just—ugh! This was insane!

He needed a quiet life. Something easy going and simple. Not this complicated insanity. He thought back to what it was like at Salsk. How easy it had been to fit into their world. Victor working, he and Yuuri studying and lazing about. That had been so nice. Slow moving, and blurry now, but still so nice.

It wouldn't be like that if he went back.

Victor's work was too interesting, he'd probably get up every morning and go with him just to see. And since Yuuri often went with him, he knew he'd be allowed—only he wouldn't want to sit at a desk, ignoring what was going on. He'd want to be there, next to Victor paying attention to it all.

He and Yuuri would probably still laze around, but his studies were over. They'd have tons of time to just walk the gardens or go for picnics or really do whatever they wanted. Their lives would be filled with work and play and honestly it sounded so nice that he wondered why he was even thinking about it.

His choice was obvious. It had always been obvious. He was in love with Yuuri and over the past few months he'd fallen in love with Victor. Stupid, funny, talented, intelligent, handsome, idiotic Victor.

All of the shit, all of the pain and heartbreak and misunderstandings and bad communication and miscommunication—all of it could be worked out, all of that could be fixed. But if he turned this down, if he walked away from this pack—his pack—he'd never be able to move on.


Yuuri was in the kitchen, fixing up some yogurt and berries as part of his diet, which Victor had to note, was working. Niki was petting the dog, Makkachin, in the floor and giggling when he wagged his tail. Victor wasn't even sure how they'd ended up with the dog, but he figured he didn't care as long as everyone was happy.

He smiled as Yuuri came over to sit down but the Omega stopped dead, spoon halfway to his mouth, eyes blown wide looking over Victor's head.

Victor turned, concerned and confused when suddenly butterflies erupted in his stomach.

"Yurio." He said softly, standing up.

Yuri was dressed in some sort of awful sweat suit, obviously hiding his Omega status. His hair was a mess, bags under his eyes and his luggage consisting of just a small bag, slung over his shoulder.

His eyes switched from Victor to Yuuri but Victor couldn't stand the wait. He'd been waiting for almost two years for his pack to be whole again and now here they were—all of them together; both of his Omegas and his pup. He ran over, scooped up the blonde Omega and kissed him. Firm and proper. And the mewling groan that Yuri released sounded so good that he made it his new mission to try and get that sound out of him whenever he could.

The sound of a bowl sitting down on the wooden table is what made him finally pull away from the smaller Omega. He knew that both of them needed to see each other again, they both needed time—something he could afford to give them.

He hadn't been sure, up to this moment, if Yuuri would be happy or upset to see Yuri. His fears disappeared the moment he caught a whiff of his Mate's scent. Happiness, overwhelming joy. He smiled and he bent down and wrapped his hands around Niki's little waist.

"I'm going to take this one," He said picking up the child, "And we're going to go play in the garden."

His desire to be around both of them was absolutely maddening, but he could wait. He could wait for now.


Mewling was disgusting and embarrassing and Yuri made it his new mission to never make that sound again.

But all thoughts of that or anything else melted away when Victor broke their contact and mumbled something about playing before dashing off.

There was Yuuri—beautiful, kind, good smelling Yuuri. Standing there, mouth opened in shock and tears obliviously forming in his eyes.

"I don't…"

Yuri took a breath. Oh hearing that voice was music to his ears and he felt himself go hot all over. His scent rolled off of him in waves and he felt himself begin to purr. And god, if mewling was embarrassing—but he didn't care. Not with Yuuri. With Yuuri he could run around naked and be perfectly content…actually…

"Victor asked me…to come." He said softly, taking a step toward the older Omega.

All at once several things happened. First he was nearly knocked over in a crushing hug. Second, his mind went fuzzy with the scent of the older Omega. And third his body went painfully hot.

Yuuri was pressing kisses all over him, crying and sobbing and kissing and Yuri did his best to keep up. Oh god it was so nice to feel Yuuri there, so wonderfully blissful to feel his arms, his body his lips. He could feel the happiness rolling off of him and he reveled in the feel, rubbing his cheek along Yuuri's neck and tugging softly at his shirt.

He wasn't sure when they made it to a couch, but somehow that's where they were when Victor came in.

They were wrapped around each other, tangled happily together drifting in and out of sleep. Honestly Yuri wasn't sure he'd slept at all—really slept since he'd left almost two years ago. Every time he'd wake up, his body screamed 'Yes!' as Yuuri's scent greeted him, and he'd snuggle closer, tugging gently at the older Omega's shirt and both wanting it to come off, but wanting to keep it on for his own sanity.

Victor knelt down pushing Yuri's hair out of his face and waking him up easily. God it was nice to see Victor's face not looking gaunt and stretched. And man did he smell good.

"You two…are going to attract every Alpha in the city with that smell." The Alpha said softly, grinning like an idiot.

Yuuri moaned unhappily when Victor scooped up the younger Omega and pulled them apart, and Yuri wanted to protest too, but he was too overcome with being in his Alpha's arms to make any real protest. Victor kissed him softly and he sighed in contentment.

"Vitya! I was sleeping!" Yuuri said groggily.

Victor grinned and nodded. "Why don't you come sleep with us upstairs, Okiniri?"

Yuuri groaned again in protest and Victor chuckled. Yuri smoothed his cheek along Victor's collar and inhaled the scent happily, feeling his body flush again.

"Just let us sleep here." Yuuri said with a yawn.

"Oh I would," Victor said sarcastically. "But I have a feeling this one is in preheat."