Yuri moaned softly, his stomach churned and ached as he drew in several breaths to calm it. Despite the medication the doctor had prescribed, the young man was still struggling with nausea, vomiting, and weakness. Victor ran his slender fingers through Yuri's short dark hair.
"Do you need anything?"The silver-haired man asked sympathetically. Yuri shook his head.
"I just need rest. Our kid picked the worst person to be their mother. I'm sorry Victor."
"Being sick doesn't make you the worst," Victor replied softly. "The doctor told you that some people have more severe symptoms, it's not something you did or didn't do. Our baby is doing just fine. We'll see how well this new medicine works and go from there."
"The baby's okay because they're giving me everything he or she needs. If it was completely depending on me for everything, I don't want to think-" tears fell from Yuri's eyes. Victor sat down on the edge of the bed.
"I know you're feeling frustrated and you're scared." He said, wiping away the tears from the younger man's face. "We'll figure this out, I promise. I need you to try to calm down before you make yourself sicker."
"I don't know if that's even possible. I've never been this sick in my life, but I doubt it could get worse."Victor placed a hand on Yuri's stomach, caressing it lovingly.
"My beautiful Yuri, I'm so sorry. It doesn't seem fair to you, one night together and you have to go through all this. After what I saw you go through these last few days, if I thought for a second you would be so sick and hurt so much-"
"N-no. I should apologize to you. I know I've been driving you crazy this week, with all my crying, being sick, complaining about not feeling good and worrying.I'm so afraid. I want our baby, our family more than I've ever wanted anything. I worry that if I can't fix this, we'll never get to meet him or her. It'll be my fault, it's my body that's messed up and-"
"You'd be surprised what mothers are capable of doing for their child. As long as we're together, we can get through anything, the three of us."
"Y-You probably think I'm an idiot, don't you?" Yuri sniffled. "Crying like this for the past four days and-"
"No, I don't," Victor said sincerely. "You're pregnant and tired, it doesn't help that you're sick too. You're allowed to have little meltdowns, it's part of becoming a mother, you're going to have a lot of emotions. I wish I had been here for you sooner. You're so much stronger than you think you are."
"If I'm not-"
"You are, I promise. Do you want me to call your mom and see if she can visit later so you can relax?"
"No. If we ask her to make any kind of change to her visits, she could end up worrying more than usual and I can't deal with that right now." Yuri slowly began to relax into his pillows, though he was hesitant to allow Victor to touch his stomach at first, he now realized the gentle affection had a calming effect.
The silver-haired man glanced over at his future husband's stomach.
"I know it'll probably be a very difficult few months for you." He allowed himself a faint smile. "March probably feels like a lifetime away...But I want you to know that you're giving me an incredible gift and you can't imagine what it means to me. Knowing you love me this much, to let our baby grow inside you, through all the pain and sickness, to still agree to marry me after I caused you so much suffering."Yuri gingerly rested a hand on top of Victor's.
"Y-you didn't. My body's messed up, how could I not do those things, I love you both so much and I'm glad you're the one I get to do this with. You're going to be a great dad."
"I hope you're right. I'm going to do everything I can to be the best father and husband I can be. I won't let a day go by without showing you how precious the two of you are to me."Victor vowed.
"You're already the best. I really did think you'd be upset about this. The way you talk about the baby and smile when you see the pictures and the tone in your voice, the way y-you lovingly rub my belly like you were just doing. I know what we mean to you. It makes everything I'm going through worth it."
"How could I be upset, Yuri, there's going to be a little us running around soon. I'm looking forward to this new chapter in our life together."
"M-me too." Yuri winced at the pain. 'Not so much the giving birth part, but having the baby here and being able to hold him or her. We'll have to think of a special name."
"We will when you're feeling better. Right now, get some rest, you'll have visitors shortly."
"Victor?"
"Hm?"
"Thank you, for being so patient with me. I am sorry you're not competing this year, I can't help feeling guilty. Our baby would be born-"
"I'm not changing my mind, Yuri. I'm going to stay right here."Victor vowed.
"I just don't want to hold you back from where you belong. I feel like I'm being self, keeping you to myself for so long."
"It's not selfish, you'd be doing me a favor." Yuri tilted his head in slight confusion.
"I would?"
"Yes. You'd be reminding me that there are more important things in life. I don't want our child to grow up watching me on tv when I should be right there with the two of you. I want to give him or her everything I never had. Everything I could want is right here." Yuri wrapped his arms around the older man.
"It's going to be alright, Yuri. You'll see." He soothed.
"You know exactly how to make me feel so much better." Yuri sobbed.
"I wouldn't be a good husband if I didn't." Victor held Yuri tighter.
"Is this a bad time?"Hiroko called from the hallway, Yuko was just visible behind her. Victor released Yuri, standing to greet the women as they entered.
"Of course not. It's always good to see you both, please come in and sit." The women took the invitation, lowering themselves into the chairs at Yuri's bedside.
I'll let you three talk. I have my phone, in case anyone needs me." He kissed Yuri once more.
"Try to relax, I love you."
"Love you too," Yuri replied, watching the man disappear from view.
"How are you feeling, Yuri?" Yuko asked, leaning forward in her chair.
"I've definitely been better, but the doctor changed my medicine this morning. I've been really sick all day so far. They tried to get me to eat today but it didn't work out."
"I'm sorry. I remember being really sick with the triplets, but it wasn't quite like this."
"But it's okay." Yuri said, "We still have options and if this doesn't work- h-how's Axel, is she feeling better?" Yuko frowned, hearing the anxiety in her friend's voice as he changed the subject fast.
"She's okay. The swelling's going down and she'll be able to walk on it soon. I'm sorry it took so long for me to visit. Between Axel's injury, the other two acting up and work, life's been chaotic."
"It's fine. I doubt we would've been able to visit much. If I'm not throwing up or crying, I'm usually too tired to do anything at all."
"Yeah, it's an emotional roller coaster. Can I do anything to help?"
"No, I just have to figure out how to get to March in one piece. I'll be fine after that,"
"What's your date?"
"March second. The baby may be here before that, HG can cause me to go into labor earlier. I'm hoping it's not too early. I'd like to get as close to the second as I can."
"I'm sure everything will be fine, honey." Hiroko brushed back a few strands of hair from his face.
"It looks like Victor took the news well." Yuko smiled.
"Much better than I thought he would. He's excited to be a dad. He's been great. I didn't think I would at first, but I really like the focused attention from him and the belly rubs. I was surprised."
"Pregnancy is full of those. Things you liked before, you might not and the other way around. It can be a real pain, literally. Wait until later when the baby starts moving around and kicking you. It might not be as painful for you since you've only got one in there, but trust me, none of this is going to matter when you meet your baby. The first time you hear them cry and hold them close to you, looking into their eyes...it's like nothing you've ever felt before. At that moment, you're so focused on them and wanting to bond, it's all worth it."
"I'll never forget the first time I held Mari and then you. You both had such sweet, chubby faces, I can still remember the moment I had you in my arms, my perfect little Yuri."Hiroko smiled. "You just hang in there a while longer and you'll see what we mean. "
"I'm really trying to. Sometimes it's so hard."
"I know," Yuko said. If you need anything at all, even just to talk, give us a call, we're here for you."
"And hopefully you'll be home soon," Hiroko added.
"I'd like to be, but it kind of scares me to think about it. I wish I was as confident about this as everyone else seems to be."
"It comes with time, son. Once things calm down, it'll come to you. Your father had to give me a lot of reassurance with your sister, especially in the beginning, I know it's hard. You were a lot easier. It's okay to lean on us too. Victor is going to be your strongest support through this it's okay to borrow some of his strength when you need it. Some days will be worse than others, but just remember how much we love you, Yuri. Just because you're the one carrying the baby, it doesn't mean you have to feel like everything falls to you. It's best to let others help take the stress off of you as much as possible." Yuri nodded, grateful for the advice and support. He would take any advice he could get.