(thoughts)

(Viktor's POV)

As I step off the ice and take a swig of water my phone starts ringing. who could that be? I pick up my phone without looking and answer the call "Hello."

"Vitya! What is this I hear from Yura about you moving back to Russia after the Japanese Nationals?! You do realize they are the same weekend as Russia's. How do you plan on making your big come back this season if you miss another competition?" screams Yakov.

I pull the phone away from my ear some and I'm grateful that Yuuri isn't nearby. "It's simple Yakov I won't be making my come back until next season. That way I'm better prepared. And I wouldn't be a very good coach if I let my student go to a competition by himself just because I'm competing."

Yakov grumbles "You're not a coach Vitya, You lack experience."

I scoff "I must be doing something right if my first student won two silver medals after a close run with retirement. My not being there and Makkachin being at the vet are the only reasons he missed the podium at the Rostelcom cup."

"Vitya."

"No Yakov, I'm not returning to Russia until after the Japanese Nationals and that's final! Now well I have you on the phone I need to talk to you about Yuuri skating at your rink. If I pay the rink fees will you let him skate there?"

"sigh I can't change your mind can I?"

"No, you can't. Now can you answer my question or do I have to make the ice rink here my home rink?"

"If I say no you'll just stay in Japan won't you?"

"Da. I just need your name on the paperwork and to have you at my competitions but I don't need to skate in Russia to skate for Russia."

"Can I have time to think about it?"

"Da, You have until December 31st. If I don't hear from you by 10 pm here in Hasetsu that's 4 pm for you. I'll assume I'm staying in Japan."

"You better be working on your routines in the meantime." click

I rub the back of my neck good grief that gave me a headache "Viktor?" I jump at the sudden sound of Yuuri's voice. I turn around and Yuuri is fresh from the shower as evident by the towel around his neck and wet hair. He is looking very small and his hands are twisting the hem of his shirt.

"Your coach is mad at you because of me isn't he."

"Yuuri..."

"Please don't try and lie about it. I heard the whole conversation and understood it because you were speaking in English."

I blink, were we? I didn't even notice now it's my turn to look small as he continues to speak.

"I wish I knew that you were planning to make your return during the Russian Nationals. I wouldn't have said anything about it to Yurio if I had known. And I'm sorry I'm such a poor student. I knew my performances would have a negative effect on you. I just knew it.

Because I'm a bad student people are doubting your validity as a coach. And because of that people are going to doubt if you can make a come back. And they're already wondering if I'm just a waste of your time. And then they're going to doubt your validity as an athlete when our engagement becomes public knowledge. You should go ba.."

"ENOUGH!" I yell at the top of my lungs then gasp for breath. "E...nough. I won't... hear you... degrade yourself... like this in front of me." I walk over to Yuuri and wrap my arms around him tight. "I told Yakov I might make my return at the Russian Nationals, but it would depend on if my costumes could be finished in time and if my music was done being edited.

And neither item will be done till the end of January at the earliest and end of March at the latest. So I'll make my comeback next season when everything is in place. Yakov only heard half of what I said apparently. So hearing the news from Yurio and not me is why he got mad. And you're not a bad student, you never were. I'm a first-time coach so of course, people are going to question if I'll be any good at it.

Just because I'm good on the ice doesn't mean I'll be any good off the ice. But having you as my student proves that I can coach and rather well it seems. I took you from the brink of retirement to a silver medal at the GPF. And taking into consideration that your last time at the GPF you ended up in sixth place, which is still an accomplishment by the way. That shows that you were receptive to my teachings, which is a sign of a great student.

Only I can be the judge on if you are worth my time, no one else. And if anyone doubts my ability as an athlete because of whom I'm marrying, then they have no life of their own and I don't want anything to do with them. The haters can hate, it's not going to make me change my mind. And my mind is set on marrying you, not Sasha, not Gloria, not Chris, but you, Yuuri Katsuki." I look him straight in the eyes as I say his name and see the tears forming and falling. It just makes me hold him tighter.

Yuuri clutches the back of my shirt and sobs loudly into my chest. I hunch over some since I'm still wearing my skates and kiss his forehead as best I can. "Yuuri," I whisper "can I take my skates off and hold you properly?" He nods his head against my chest and steps back a little. I make quick work of my skates and reclaim Yuuri in my arms.

This time pressing a soft kiss to his lips before cradling his head in the crook of my neck. I run my fingers through his hair and whisper sweet nothings into his ear. Yuuri slowly calms down and his tears have stopped. "I think we should go home and relax. Tomorrow we will stay longer and refine your step sequence and after that, I'll let you work on single jumps. Depending on how that goes, we can work up to triples over the course of the week. Sound good?"

"Yeah, it does. Can we soak in the onsen before we eat dinner?"

I kiss his forehead and nuzzle my cheek against it. "Of course. I would like nothing more than hot spring cuddles, that is if you're up for it?"

His face turns pink as he nods his head "Yes I am."

"Well let's pack up and head home." I grab my skates off the floor and with my arm wrapped around Yuuri's shoulder we walk back into the lobby. As Yuuri and I pack our bags and slip our shoes on Yuuko goes and unlocks the door. "I appreciate the help today Yuuko."

She turns around and smiles at us "It's no problem Viktor. You guys should know by now we will do whatever we can to help you out. Yuuri is practically family and now so are you Viktor." She walks over to us and hugs us both. "I'll see you guys tomorrow. Be safe on your way back, another storm is due to hit any moment now."

"We'll be careful Yuuko-chan. Will you guys be okay to get home?"

"Oh Yuuri, if nothing else we can hunker down here until it's safe to leave. Takeshi and the girls will be here any minute. I'm more worried about you boys getting home."

I place my hand on Yuuko's arm and wink "No blizzard will keep me from keeping Yuuri safe." Yuuko laughs and walks away. "All set Yuuri?"

"Yeah. Let's go." With bags on our back and hand in hand, we walk out into the falling snow. The air is a lot colder than it was earlier and Yuuri is shivering.

"Yuuri, think you can run? It will be easier to keep warm for now at least."

"Ye-yeah." His teeth are chattering. maybe a shower at the rink was a bad idea We run down the stairs and halfway across the bridge before a freezing cold wind comes and blows us from the sidewalk to the middle of the road.

"Hang in the Moya Lyubov, we're halfway home." Yuuri just nods his head too cold to say a word. With no oncoming traffic, we run down the road and turn into the front of Yu-topia. with a new storm coming in we won't be shoveling today. I lead Yuuri inside "Tadaima."

Hiroko appears from the kitchen "Okaeri Vic-chan, Yuuri. Hurry up and close the door."

"Hai."

"Vic-chan, your Japanese is getting better. I'm impressed."

I blush at her compliment as I help Yuuri get his shoes off and slippers on. "Arigato. I figured it would help if I learned Japanese while I'm here." I pull my coat off and hang it up on the family's private coat rack. Then grab Yuuri's from him and hang it up as well. Once my slippers are on I lead Yuuri to our favorite table. Some of the guests look at us funny but they quickly turn their attention to the weather report on tv.

A quick glance at my phone tells me it's still lunchtime. I stand up and head to the kitchen. "Okaasan? Did I say that right?"

Hiroko turns her head my way with a big smile "Hai Vic-chan you did. What can I do for you?"

"Can you make some soup for Yuuri and I for lunch? Yuuri is shivering and I don't want to leave him alone for long."

"Then go be with him. I can always bring the soup up to your room. That way Yuuri can get warmer."

"Okay, then that's what I'll do." I give her a brief hug and walk back over to Yuuri. He is still shivering. "Come on Yuuri, Okaasan said she'd bring us lunch in my room. I need to get you warmed up."

Yuuri nods and stands up though he stumbles a bit trying to walk. I simply lift him up bridal style and walk up the stairs to my room. I open the door and set Yuuri at the head of the bed. I tuck him in and turn to close the door when a hand grabs mine. "Viktor, don't leave me."

I kneel down and look him in the eye "I'm not leaving, I'm just closing my door. I'll be in bed in a moment. Okay?"

Yuuri nods his head and lets me go. I quickly close the door and climb on the bed. I get under the covers and spoon Yuuri, my hands on his stomach, pulling him as close as possible. He hums in contentment before turning over and burying his face into my chest. I just hold him tighter to me. His body is still shivering. After 30 minutes has passed, Yuuri is still shivering.

"Viktor?"

"Yes, Yuuri?"

"Can you grab my space heater from my closet?"

A puzzled look graces my face. Yuuri's giving me permission to be in his room... without him being there "Are you sure you want me in there?"

Yuuri nods his head "I trust you. I'll be okay for a few minutes while you get the heater and set it up."

"Okay, I'll be right back." I kiss the top of his head and untangle myself from him. As I get out of bed, I wrap Yuuri up in the blanket like a burrito and run my finger through his hair. I stand up, slip on my slippers, and walk out of my room. As I step into the hallway, Mari nee-chan is walking up the stairs with a tray in her hands. "Is that our soup?"

"Yeah, it is. I'll just leave it in your room. Is my brother decent?"

"Yes, Yuuri is decent. All I did was wrap him up in my blanket."

"Good. It's one thing to wonder if my brother is sexually active. It's another to know, see, and or hear him being sexually active."

I feel my cheeks flush slightly and I grumble under my breath "We haven't really done anything besides kissing and cuddles." I'm not going to admit to anything other than that.

Mari looks at me weird "Really? Give me one moment to set this down." Mari walks past me and sets the tray down on my nightstand says something to Yuuri in Japanese, he replies in Japanese and she walks back out. "Follow me," and she walks down the hall a few feet and opens Yuuri's bedroom door. I spot the space heater quickly and start to go grab it when Mari stops me "Wait. I know you need the space heater but there's something you should see first."

She picks up the heater and sets it next to me before she bends over and picks up a loose floorboard "Yuuri thought I didn't know about these or the loose board." As she stands back up her arms are full of papers or pictures. "If you look around the room, you'll notice something odd about the walls."

I do as she says and really look around the room. huh, the walls are discolored in places... almost like something was there for a while I step closer to the wall behind the desk. I see pinprick holes from thumbtacks? "It looks like there used to be something on the walls. Besides the discoloration and the tiny holes, you almost can't tell."

Mari then turns towards me and hands me the stack of pictures. "Yuuri hid these the night you showed up. He seems to think that you'll think less of him if you know about these."

I'm about to ask why when I see the top image. It's my November 2012 calendar shoot. I remember being adamant that I was not December and since no one wanted to be November, I chose that. "Was this on his wall?"

Mari chuckled and shook her head "No this one spent many days and nights under his pillow. The rest used to be on the walls."

I gently grab the photos and sift through them. All of them were of me, from various points in my career and some from Russia only magazines. I look up questioningly.

"There used to be an international corner store that sold magazines from around the world. He would spend most of his allowance there on magazines alone, just for a picture of you. I wasn't kidding last night when I said every bit of new info and every new picture about you was told or shown to me by Yuuri. He idolized you for years, still probably does. He doesn't want you to think of him as some fanboy who only wants you for your fame and money.

Yes, he is a fanboy, but he so much more than that. And I can tell he truly cares about you as a person and not just as a skating god. So take care of him. And I know about his current health situation. I know he has been prescribed meds. He won't take them even if he needs them. Maybe he'll listen to you about it. Anyhow, I'll put these back where he had them while you take that heater to your room."

She takes the photos from me and I grab the heater. Once I'm back in my room, I plug in the heater and set it to medium heat and oscillate.

"Do you still want to be with me? Now that you know."

I turn to see Yuuri is sitting up eating from his bowl of soup. I walk over to the bed and sit at his feet. "Why would I not want to be with you?"

Yuuri sets his bowl back on the tray, places his hands in his lap and looks down. "I'm a fanboy. I have been for years. Yuuko-chan introduced me to your skating and you, and I've been head over heels since. Having you here in Hasetsu, by my side has been the best time of my life, and I don't want to lose you. But if I were you I wouldn't want a fanboy as my husband. I'd be so afraid that they would sell really private photos of me to the public." He fidgets with the edge of the blanket for a moment before he speaks again, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't push my insecurities on you."

I grab his right hand with mine, our rings shine in the light. "Yuuri, you forget I'm a fanboy myself. The photos on my phone should prove as much. I trust you with my life, past, present, and future."

Yuuri looks up at me and catches my eyes. "Hontōni?"

The sudden spoken Japanese catches me somewhat off guard, but I know what he said and how to respond. "Hai,-sōdesu."

Yuuri's eyes grow wide as tears pour down his cheeks. He pulls me towards his chest and holds me tight. I slip my hands through the opening of the blanket and hold him in turn. We sit like this for quite some time. When we separate our soups are warmer than room temperature thanks to the heater. I wipe the last few tears from his face with my shirt sleeve. "We should eat so we don't upset Okaasan. Okay, Yuuri?"

Yuuri nods his head and accepts his bowl of soup. Once we both have soup in hand, "Itadakimasu." The soup is very rich and tasty. It has noodles, vegetables, and thin strips of steak. The broth has a mild beef taste that goes really well together. Once I've finished my bowl, I set it on the tray next to Yuuri's. "Vkusno! I've never had anything like it. I was expecting miso soup or even chicken noodle, but that was even better."

Yuuri blushed a dusty shade of red. "Thank you. It's my own recipe."

My jaw drops. "You came up with this?"

"Yeah. I came up with it when I was in Detriot. It normally has hamburger meat instead of steak. Though it is better with steak."

"You're amazing!" comes out of my mouth before my brain even realizes what happened. Yuuri's blush darkens and my own face feels warmer around the cheeks.

"Thank you?" He murmurs.

I grasp his hands and gently squeeze them. "I mean it Yuuri. In fact, I'm going to get another bowl full if there is more." I stand up and grab the tray, and turn to leave the room when Yuuri speaks.

"Viktor, can you get me some more too? If it's not to much trouble and if it won't mess with my coach's plans for me."

I turn around just in time to see him wink at me and a chill runs through my body. A smirk graces my face, "It depends, on how many calories are in a bowl of this soup."

"Well Viktor-Kōchi, I can tell you with great accuracy that 10 bowls of that soup equal 900 kcals. So having another bowl or two won't cause too much of a dent in my diet."

"In that case, I will be back with 2 full bowls of soup." I step out of my room and down the hall and stairs, I go. I quickly walk to the kitchen and I'm grateful that Okaasan is there. "Okaasan, can Yuuri and I get some more of that soup?"

Hiroko points to the giant stockpot on the back burner and says "Help yourself Vic-chan."

"Okay." I grab the ladle hanging off the pot handle and lift the lid, the smell is intoxicatingly delicious. I carefully ladle the soup into the bowls and start to set the lid back on the pot when Mari pops in with an order.

"Oh Viktor since you're already next to the pot can you fill four bowls full of soup."

I look confused for a second before saying "Sure! Where are the bowls and I'll need a tray."

"One step ahead of you Viktor." As she walks fully into the kitchen with a tray set with four empty bowls.

"Alright, then I'll get to work." I quickly and carefully ladle four more bowls full of soup. Once done the pot lid and ladle are set back in place, Mari walks out to the dining room. I then grab my own tray and start to leave the kitchen when Hiroko taps my shoulder. I turn to look at her "Okaasan, is something wrong?"

She waves her hand dismissively "No, nothing is wrong. But I do need your help."

"Oh, ok. How can I help?"

"I wanted to do this myself but Yuuri seems to handle news better from you."

Oh, gods, I hope this isn't bad news. "True."

"I need you to let him know that I put his soup on the menu and it's a big hit. Everyone loves it and orders more than one bowls worth."

"Oh, that's great news for the inn. I'm sure Yuuri will be pleased about that."

"I hope so. He never said I couldn't use his recipe on the menu, but I still didn't tell him beforehand. Mainly because I learn from last year."

"Last year? Oh, you mean last years GPF?"

"Hai. I'm the one who called him after his first skate to tell him his dog died in his sleep. I know that's why he messed up his second skate."