7:55PM. I'm supposed to be down at Chris and Victor's in five minutes. Only one thing was on my mind. Other than whatever the hell Victor had in mind tonight. Where did my phone go…? He wasn't telling me much about tonight. Just to come over. And Victor's surprises always worried me. Which brought me to my question.

Are real pants a requirement?

-VP

Inside pants are fine.

-VN

God bless you, Victor Nikiforov. I threw on a loos pair of sweatpants (that I also might have stolen from Victor. These did seem a little long on me and I did have a pair just like them.) and a t-shirt that was a couple sizes too big for me and headed downstairs. If Victor was cool with me in not real pants, maybe we're just hanging out, the five of us tonight. That sounded nice.

"Victor?" I walked into a suspiciously quiet condo. No Yuri and Yurio getting into petty squabbles. No Yurio getting confrontational with either Chris or Victor. Not even the bleeps and bloops from his video games. No random voices from Yuri's YouTube adventures. What the hell? Was no one home? Can't be completely empty. Makkachin greeted me at the door, "Victor!"

"Bathroom!" Victor called out, coming out to the kitchen, "Hi there."

"Hey," I took a quick look around, "You seem to be short a couple kids and a husband. Where are Chris and the boys?"

"Chris got tickets to the Lion King tonight," he pulled me to his chest, "It's just the two of us."

"What's the occasion?" I wondered, taking my usual seat at the bar.

"I miss you, Violet," Victor got a couple of flutes out of the upper cabinet, "I know we see each other every day, but I feel like we haven't hung out in forever. Just us. Do you know how long it's been?"

I thought about it for a minute, "Has it been since we got divorced?"

"I don't think so," he opened up the liquor cabinet. I like where this is going, "Do you remember when we first started living together?"

"I know of it," I nodded. Oh, the good old days. Every day was a slumber party and I always got to hang out with my best friend in the whole world.

"Well," Victor finished getting the evening's refreshments. In the form of a bottle of wine and a big ass bag of cotton candy, "I thought we could revisit that."

In that moment, my heart skipped a beat, "Rosé, blue cotton candy…"

"Because you're weird and don't like the pink kind…"

"If you tell me you got charcoal masks, too," I swooned, "I swear to God, Victor, I will lose it and possibly take you right here on this kitchen table."

"Then, I should hide the Sephora bag in the bathroom, shouldn't I?" Victor giggled.

"You really are feeling nostalgic," I scoured the kitchen for a corkscrew. I know those two have one somewhere.

"What do you think you're doing, young lady?" Victor slapped my hands out of the drawer, "I got it."

"Come on, Victor," I pouted, "I'm thirsty and that rosé is looking awfully inviting."

"And I will be more than happy to get you some," he tapped me on the nose with the corkscrew, "You know how this goes. Do you want a headband or do you have one?"

"You know I already got one," I showed him my wrist. Old habits die hard. Ever since I was working in the Red Room, I always had one headband and one hair tie on me. One never knew when they'd come in handy. And once I started skating, the habit stuck.

"I know," Victor tore off a piece of cotton candy and stuffed it into our glasses, "Go lay on the couch."

"Ok," I pulled my hair up and waited for Victor to bring our rosé, "If I told you I haven't touched my skin in ages, would you yell at me...?"

"Violet!" he scolded, "After all the time I've spent on it, the least you could do is take care of it! It's imperative that you do!"

"I know," I winced. Even when we were hardly married and barely roommates, Victor took better care of my skin than I did. That's probably half the reason why I got spa trips when Chris came over. Other than to make up for the blatant cheating that I knew about (and was totally cool with) and to get me out of the house while it took place. I guess that was one of those things that never changed, "I'm sorry. I never think about it."

"Klyanus' bogom (I swear to God)," Victor let out a heavy, exasperated sigh. He only broke out the Russian three times in his life anymore; when he's in Russia and the other person doesn't speak Russian, when he was all hot and heavy, and when he's pissed, "What am I going to do with you, Violet? Can you at least promise me you'll think about it more during competition?"

"Yes," I was more interested in the glass in his hand. That looked absolutely tantalizing.

"I mean it, Violet," he held my rose hostage, "Promise me. You're going to have bright lights and cameras in that pretty little face of yours. Those cameras are high def these days. If you don't promise me right now, no rosé."

"Yes!" I squeaked, taking my glass, "I promise! I'll take better care of my skin. Now, how dare you hold my rosé against me?"

"It had to be done," Victor put his glass on the coffee table, "It's the only way I'd get you to do it."

"You're awful," I declared, "I hope you know that."

"That's what I aspire to be," he went into the bathroom and came back with a green jar in his hand, "And I thought I told you to lay down."

"I was waiting for you," I laid my head on Victor's muscular thigh. They made for such nice pillows.

"Oh, Violet," Victor shook his head, "You're too much."

"I love you, too," I laid perfectly still on his leg while he rubbed the cool, black cream on my face. And I turned into a puddle, "Oh, yeah. This takes me back."

"You know," he told me, "This little tradition goes back a lot further than you and me."

"Really?"

"Oh yeah," Victor nodded, "When I first started skating. Even further back than that. When I was still in ballet lessons. Lilia took very good care of me."

"And I'm guessing Lilia's the one that introduced you to Yakov."

"Yes," he gave me a little swat, "Stay still, Violet."

"Sorry."

"There was one time," Victor went on, making his way down the rest of my face, "I wasn't doing too well in practice. My whole day was off. My confidence was bottomed out. And Lilia could tell. She sent the rest of the girls home and said she wanted to work with me individually for a while. Believe it or not, Lilia was once a very warm soul. I'm guessing the divorce took a lot of that out of her."

"Are you sure?" I had a hard time believing that one. Although I've only heard stories about Lilia from either Yakov or Natalia. Never from Victor, though. The way he talks about her, Lilia might as well have been his own mother.

"I'm very sure," he promised, finishing at my jawline, "But I didn't know what had come over me that day. I just couldn't get with it and it was killing me. But Lilia took me back to one of the dressing rooms. At first, I had no idea what she was doing. All I saw was one of her bags with more makeup in it than I had ever seen in one place before. She sat me down and by the time Lilia was done, my skin glowed so bright, I could've been seen from space. She told me I was the most beautiful boy she's ever seen in her life and that I was better than what I was at practice that day. So, I did one last routine before I went home that day and killed it. I shall never forget that day as long as I live. Why do you think I did it for you?"

I laid my head on Victor's shoulder, not sure whether to smile or cry a little, "Thank you…"

"You're welcome," he kissed the top of my head, "And Violet?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't overwork yourself," Victor wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight, "Please. You've been stretching yourself thin for the last few weeks and you need to take a break once in a while. For your own sake."

"I'll try not to," I swore, "But between my great, grand, epic comeback and Yurio's second season, then the move on top of that, when will I have the time?"

"Make it," he demanded, "Tell you what, this weekend, I want the two of us to go out like it was the old days. You've been a shut-in for the last three months. You deserve a night off."

"Actually," I remembered, "I'll have to take a rain check on that. I got a date this weekend."

"Really?" Victor gasped, "Did you finally try online dating? Violet…You're better than that. I mean, whatever you have to do, but really?"

"You asshole," I giggled, "No! I didn't try online dating."

"You actually met someone then?" he awed, "I'm so proud. Look at you…What's his name? Is he cute? Will he treat you well?"

"Jesus, Victor," I stopped him, "I pray for the day when I do actually find another boyfriend. He's adorable. I love him already. He kind of breaks my heart sometimes, but I will always forgive him for it."

"Wow, Vi," Victor took a long, heavy sip from his glass, "I didn't think I was prepared for you to be this serious with someone so quickly. Don't you think the relationship's moving a little fast?"

"And his name is Yurio!" I shoved him a bit, "I promised him that if he did good at practice all week that he and I can log in some hours in the virtual world for the weekend. That is, if it's alright with you."

"He's your son, too," he allowed, "Who am I to separate you two? That's fine. Next weekend, then?"

"It's a date," I beamed. It's been so long since I've done a night in New York City with Victor. I hope Chris tags along, too. If I make up with Celestino before then, he wouldn't have a problem watching Yuri and Yurio. Hell, he might even go as far as doing a night practice with them.

"Speaking of dates," Victor segued, "Chris and I were talking earlier today and we're going to do Malta in a couple weeks. We'll be gone for ten days. Can you do that?"

"I'll put it in my planner." Once I actually get one. I should get on that.

"Wonderful!" his face lit up, "And now, for the hard part…"

"Oh, dammit," I winced preemptively, "I forgot about how much of a bitch these were to take off."

"You'll be alright," Victor tried to comfort me as best as possible. I grabbed the edge of the couch and prepared for the worst, "You ready?"

"Hit me," I cringed. I would rather take a bikini wax over this. A million times over. My poor little face didn't deserve this, but it was sorely needed, "OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!"

"I'm trying to make this as painless as possible for you, Violet," he apologized, continuing on, "I really am. It's almost done."

"A little quicker, Victor!" I felt so bad for his neighbors. Here I was, sounding like I was being murdered and it was all because of a charcoal mask. In my defense, those hurt. Some people say they feel good, but those people are called masochists and aren't to be trusted.

"There!" Victor kissed my reddened cheek and gave me my wine, "All done."

"Finally," I slammed the rest of my rosé, "That was hell."

"I know, Violet," he snuggled me, "I know. But it's all done. You're all better. Everything's fine now."

"Thank you, Victor," I cuddled into his side, "I really did need something like this."

"Anytime, dorogoy," Victor assured, "Anytime."

"It's getting kind of late," I looked over at the clock, "And I'm sure Chris and the boys are going to be getting back soon. I think I'm going to go to bed."

"Are you sure you don't want to stay a little longer?" he wondered, "Tuck the boys in?"

"I love our boys," I got up from the couch, "But I'm exhausted. And I have to be up in the morning. I'll see them both then. At least Yurio."

"Alright," Victor let me go, "So, I'll see you in the morning?"

"Of course," I gave him a quick kiss, "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Remember, Violet," he stood in the door, "You got that double toe loop. And be nice to Celestino."

"I will." If it wasn't for Victor's help, I don't know if I would've landed that to the point where I could make up with Celestino. Underrotate. That's all I needed to remember for tomorrow. That and an eloquent apology for my coach.

A/N: This was going to be part of last week's, but Victor and Violet need more cute moments together like this. Also, the bit with Victor talking about Lilia? I saw a comic on Pinterest (I know. Weird place to find my YOI fanart, but I did.) a couple weeks ago and it's become one of my favorite pieces of fanart (right next to one of Victor's bachelor party with him in a wedding dress and Yuri still pole dancing in the background) in the history of man. It was Lilia basically giving Victor a mini makeover and the look in his eyes when she's done made me melt hardcore, so here we are. Not to mention, Victor Nikiforov is a very beautiful boy. But yes. Violet deserved a night off and she got one. This chapter puts a weird feeling in my tum and it's the best. See you next chapter! xx