My boys kicked ass on the ice today. Mama couldn't be prouder. To no surprise, they passed out on the way home. Even Sophie fell asleep on me. And I can't blame her. She wasn't doing too bad either once she got the hang of it. Then, again, Yuri is a hell of a teacher when he wants to be. If his professional career doesn't work out for him, I'd love to see Yuri as a coach.

When we got back to my place, Gene laid his daughter down on the couch and pulled the quilt over on her. Yuri toddled sleepily to the bedroom he shared with Yurio while I brought Yurio to my bed. Good night, sweet princes. I would've tucked Yuri in, too, but he was already asleep when I checked on him. My boys. My two little boys that I wouldn't trade for the world. And they were finally back under my roof.

Honestly, I wouldn't mind a nap either. This no caffeine thing sucked ass. I needed to do something to keep myself awake. Come on, Violet. You're alright. Focus on something else. You don't have that headache anymore, so you got that going for you. Focus on the good and the bad won't even be there anymore.

"Look at them," Gene gushed, "They're so cute when they're all tuckered out. Sophie skated her little heart out today, didn't she?"

"She wasn't bad for a beginner," I praised, "I fell on my ass more times than I could count when I first started."

"And Yuri sure took a shine to her," he pointed out, "Those two became best pals quick."

"I know," I gasped, "Yuri doesn't make friends. Like…Ever. That happened once. He usually keeps to himself when he can."

"You have to admit," Gene gave me a nudged, "They're adorable together."

"When she called Yuri and Yurio her big brothers!" I awed, "My god, I melted."

"Me, too," he agreed, scooping her back up in his arms, "I think I'm going to take the little monster home. Are you going to be ok by yourself, Vi?"

"I'll be fine." I'm pretty sure the reporters were going to stay off me for now.

"Are you sure?" he jabbed, "Not going to get into any shenanigans while I'm gone, are you?"

"No," I rolled my eyes, "I promise I'll be fine. While the boys are asleep, I'm going to the market downstairs to pick up a few things. I doubt anyone will give a shit about me buying food."

"Alright," Gene let me go, "Just keep your nose clean, kid, and they won't have anything to report."

"I can see the headline now," I giggled, "Violet Plisetsky, a decent human being."

"What scandal!" he laughed with me, kissing my forehead, "I'll see you later, Vi. Be careful."

"I will," I promised, "And when peanut wakes up, send her my love."

"I will." Gene grabbed his girl and took the elevator. I wasn't too far behind him. I needed to grab my bag first. Before I left, I peeked in on my boys. Both of them were out cold. Good. I left a note on the kitchen counter in case one of them woke up while I was gone.

The market downstairs wasn't too terribly big. And it wasn't exactly directly downstairs. It was maybe half a block down from our building's front door. Hence why I'm not too worried about the boys being home by themselves while I'm here. I might have an hour to myself. This place might not be all that big, but it had what I'd be looking for.

Now…I needed to get more juice boxes. If I'm really cutting out caffeine, I'll be drinking a lot more of it. Maybe I'll grab a bottle of Grey Goose, since Victor was so kind to drink all my damn vodka! No. The little ones are full time right now. I'm not drinking. Wow. No booze, no caffeine. Damn, Violet. Your ass really has gone off the deep end, hasn't it?

I looked through the international section for those shrimp chips from Japan that Yurio liked so much. I remember when we were in Tokyo for competition last year and Yuri tried getting some of his little brother's shrimp chips. Yurio flat out bit him. No remorse. Yuri bled. All because of his shrimp chips. Luckily, there were two bags left on the shelf. These may not be the same as what Yurio had in Japan, but they'll do for now.

"There you are, sweetheart," a familiar voice chilled me to the very core of my being, "I thought I saw you over here."

"Mike!" I threw myself in his arms without thinking.

"Violet…" Even though he embraced me, I knew that tone. That soft, gentle, yet commanding tone, "Little pets should know better than to jump on Master. I understand you're happy to see me, but we ask first."

"I'm sorry, Master." Amazing how quickly I could revert back to that mindset. Even though it's been a few days since I've seen Mike, I was always his pet in the back of my mind. I mean, my god, I had juice boxes for my kids in my basket!

"It's alright," he cradled my face in the palm of his hand, "It's been a while and you miss me. I understand."

"What are you doing here?" I wondered, "You didn't do something creepy like follow me, did you?"

"No, Violet," Mike promised, "I'm not that obsessive. I don't break into your house just to smell your pillowcase. I care about you, but I'm not a stalker. I just happened to be in the neighborhood."

"Really?"

"Really."

I wasn't quite sure why, but I didn't believe him. There's no way Mike doesn't know where I live at this point. In the few months where we've been a thing, he's got to know where I live. Then again, he's never been to my condo before. I've always gone to his place when we play. It's probably a mood killer that my ex-husband and one of his former flings lived just underneath me. Besides, Mike's penthouse was a floor on its own. I still had neighbors. They didn't need to know his name that way.

"So," Mike rocked back on his heels, "You think you could take home more than shrimp chips and juice boxes from this place?"

"Mike…" I let out a heavy, exasperated sigh, "You know I can't do that. I got my boys in the middle of a nap and they don't need a complete stranger sitting in their Mama's living room."

"How long would we have before they wake up?" he asked. Was he serious? I ask him one thing. For us to be a little separated while I have Yuri and Yurio for the week. My two little boys would be sleeping and he's inviting himself over?

"No," I stood my ground, "I miss you, Mike. I really do. But some of the things that Yuri and Yurio's Mama gets into doesn't need to come back to Yuri and Yurio. What happens at Cosmos and your penthouse stays there."

"Fine," Mike pouted, "But maybe I could help you with the rest of your shopping?"

"Um, Master…" I smiled, "Do you think I could hold your hand?"

"Since I can't have you on a leash in a public space like this," he mirrored me, slipping his hand into mine, "It'd be my pleasure. It's the least I can do, right?"

And just like that, Mike and I finished up my grocery shopping, taking our sweet time. He wouldn't let me reach for anything and he damn near put me in a cart a few times. Something about him not wanting his pet wandering off because something shiny caught her eye. Although, I must admit, I'm known to get distracted from time to time. But I also had other shit to do today. After I turned all the issues of Skate Weekly Magazine over in line and Mike and I checked out, we started heading back toward my building.

"So…?" Mike offered, "Quickie in the alley? I'm sure we can find a dumpster to block us."

"No," I shook my head, "I have to be getting back. It's getting late and I'm sure the boys are just about waking up."

"Alright," he sighed out, "It's just that…It's not just you that misses me, Violet. I miss you, too."

"I know," I laid my head on his shoulder, "We can do it."

"You think I'll ever properly meet your boys?" Mike thought, making my stomach turn. Something wasn't feeling right about that.

"Well," I explained, "All you need to know is that Yurio's nothing but a bundle of salt to everyone but me. Yuri's really skittish around unfamiliar people, so the odds of you meeting them are pretty slim."

"But Violet," he begged, "Your sons are important to you. You're important to me. And I am to you, right?"

"Of course."

"I'm sure we'll meet one day," Mike assured, "But until then, we should probably part ways."

"We'll be fine."

"You're right," he gave me one strong kiss, holding me tight around my waist, "I'll miss you, my pet."

"I'll miss you, too, Master," I kissed his cheek, "It's just a few more days. We can do it."

"This is why I keep you around, Violet," Mike gave me a little nudge to the jaw, "Such a little beacon of sunshine. Go on. Run home. Be careful."

"I will," I grabbed my bags and went into my building. When I got into my condo, Yurio was already awake and sitting on the couch by himself, playing Mario Kart, "Hey there, dovahkiin. What are you up to?"

"Racing," he played on solo trials, merely driving the tracks by himself. Weird. I do the same thing when I'm in a shit mood. The track layouts were strangely soothing.

"Well," I grabbed the bag of shrimp chips out of the grocery bag and threw the apple juice in the fridge, "I got you a present while I was at the grocery store."

"Yay!" Yurio's face lit up as he paused the game and tossed the controller aside, tearing open the bag, "Thank you, Mama."

"You're welcome, baby," I kissed the top of his head, "Mind if I join in a race?"

"Knock yourself out," he mumbled through a mouthful of shrimp chips, perfectly content with life.

"By the way," I synced my controller, "Where's your brother?"

"Still sleeping," Yurio swallowed hard. That kid needed to learn to chew his food better or he'll end up hurting himself, "We really should skate together more often, Mama. Today was fun."

"It was pretty fun, wasn't it?" I awed, "I miss skating with you, Yuri. I wish Celestino would let us practice together."

"Why doesn't he?"

"You know," I scrolled through the character list, picking my main, Baby Peach, "I think it's so neither one of us gets too distracted. We're both going in strong this year. With me having my comeback and you coming off a silver medal from last year, it's probably for the best that we're separated for now. But don't you worry. There's always the special program."

"Let's make a deal right now!" Yurio decided, "I'll skate your special program with you if you skate my special program with me!"

That caught me a little off guard, but I'm not too surprised. Yurio really did miss skating with me, didn't he? Far be it for me to say no to that face, "Alright, Yuri. I'll be more than happy to skate your special and you are always welcome to skate mine."

"Pinky promise?"

Yurio's innocence was one of those things seldom seen, but when it came out, it always killed me. my heart would be skipping beats and my eyes want to well up with tears, but instead, I gave him a smile, sticking my hands out, "With every pinky I got, kid. Start thinking of a song and we'll talk to Madame about the choreography. Then, we can practice on the side without Celestino knowing."

"Ok!" Yurio linked his pinkies with mine, "Can we play Mario Kart now?"

"I'm not holding back on you."

"I was hoping you'd say that."

I loved this kid. So it began. Yurio and I kicking each other's respective ass, depending on the track. He had an unnatural talent for any Rainbow Road thrown at him and it wasn't fair. A little while later, Yuri toddled out, watching from the sidelines. Yuri got too angry when he played Mario Kart, so the thought of him joining in was nonexistent. This was fun. This was good, clean family fun that I missed having with my babies. It's been way too long…

Ring, ring!

"Hold on," I paused the game in the middle of Moo Moo Meadows, "I need to take this."

"Who is it?" Yurio wondered.

"Hold on," I slid my finger across my phone screen with a smile plastered on my face, "Hi, Victor."

"Daddy!" Yuri squealed.

"Ciao, bella!" I could hear the melting taking place in Victor's heart right now. Yuri had that effect on him.

"Ciao," I beamed, taking the call in the bedroom, "Let me guess. You finally made it to Rome?"

"About two hours ago," Victor reported, "We would've called sooner, but it's ten o'clock here and I didn't realize time differences and we kind of got distracted."

"By what?" I wondered, answering my own question in the next breath, "Never mind. Mile high club?"

"That was over the Atlantic," he admitted, "But no. That wasn't the distraction."

"What was the distraction then?"

"Well," Victor began, "It all started when Chris and I went to go find dinner. Unfortunately, the restaurant we were at had an hour wait time and there was no way in hell either one of us would be able to wait that long. So, we're standing outside, racking our brains for somewhere else to go when that somewhere came to us."

"What do you mean?" I glared at the phone, thoroughly confused. The other end had gone silent, "Victor…?"

"Mama Cialdini sends her love…"

"Lucky you!" I squeaked, "You get Mama Cialdini's cooking?"

"Yeah, I do," I could hear the smug grin on the son of a bitch's face. Celestino's mom was one of the sweetest women to ever exist, but ever piss her off and Hell will rise. I absolutely adored her. She came to me at a very dark period in my life and pulled me out of it. Or should I say she forced me out of it? Victor and I didn't come out of her kitchen for a while…How search and rescue wasn't called will forever baffle me, "Or I did. I'm still in her kitchen and I can't move. She's got Chris on the couch in her living room. There is a slight possibility of us staying here tonight."

"Aww…" I gushed, "I miss Mama Cialdini. I really hope we end up in Rome for competition this year. I need to see her again."

"But," Victor brought us back, "All in all? Everything's good there?"

"Yeah," I nodded, "It's just been me and the boys. Except for earlier this afternoon when I might have taken them and Gene's daughter Sophie to the Coney Island rink."

"Getting in some practice?"

"Actually," I told him, throwing myself on my bed, "I made Sophie a promise that I'd take her skating and you know how Yuri and Yurio are when they're left alone. But everything's fine. We're good."

"Good.

"E quella Violetta (Is that Violet?)?" a sweet, little voice chimed in the background.

"Put me on speaker, Victor," I insisted, hearing the click, "Si, Mama. Buonasera!"

"Violetta!"

"You can't see it right now, Violet," Victor's voice cracked a bit, "But you just brought the biggest smile to this woman's face."

"I can only imagine." I'm a puddle.

"Lasciami parlare con il mia bambina (Let me talk to my little girl!)!" Mama Cialdini begged. Oh, I missed this woman.

"Mama," I scolded, thankful for the Italian her son has taught me over the years. I've heard this come out of his mouth more times than I could count. Especially when he'd call her during practice, "É tardi. Vai a letto (It's late. Go to bed.)."

"Hai ragione (You're right.)," she grumbled, "Victor, anche tu. E tuo marito sta dormendo (Victor, you, too. And your husband is sleeping.)."

"Si, Mama," Victor agreed in all the Italian he knew. God, I hope Chris could translate…I mean, when he's awake anyway.

"Buonanotte, tesoro," I could hear her giving Victor a kiss good night. I so missed that woman, "Buonanotte, Violetta. Ti amo."

"Ti amo, Mama," I couldn't keep a smile off my face if I wanted to. Mama Cialdini is…She's a character all her own. And I couldn't wait to get back to Rome.

"Well," Victor chimed back in, "I'm sorry, Violet, but it looks like we're staying here tonight and if I don't go to bed now, I'm worried Mama will end me."

"That's fine," I giggled, "You know how forceful she can be."

"I know," he chuckled with me, "She may be old, but she can kick ass when she needs to."

"Lozhis spat, Vitya," I demanded, putting on a soft, innocent voice. Never could say no to me when I started speaking his native tongue, "Pozhaluysta…? (Go to bed, Victor…Please?)"

"Da, dorogoy," he promised, "I love you. I miss you. Kiss the boys for me."

"Love you, too," I sat back up on the bed, "I miss you more. And it'll be my pleasure."

"Bye!"

Click.

Damn, I missed him. Even when he was here. I've been spending so much time with Mike lately that Victor's kind of taken a back seat. I missed my best friends. If it weren't for Chris, though, I never would've met Mike in the first place. He's the one that took me to Cosmos. He's the one that got me wasted. He's the one that threw my ass in a cage and told the monkey to dance. We should hang out more when they get back, though. It's a shame we haven't.

For the rest of the night, it was nothing but me and my babies. Yuri was ok enough to play Mario Kart with us. If he got in the rage zone, I made sure to shut that shit down as soon as I could. And usually, it didn't take much. Yuri was a simple creature. Popping a shrimp chip in his mouth worked like a charm, much to his little brother's chagrin. I had to admit, though. It was fun. Nights like this were far and few in between, but a girl could get used to this.

After I put the boys to bed, I ran my bathtub. Skating today took too much out of me and a lot of my old competition wounds decided to come back. Dicks. I did love my bathtub. The warm water enveloped me like a hug and I could fall asleep right here and now. On the same token, I'd rather not drown, so I opened up an e-reader app on my phone and got lost in some Tolstoy. What can I say? I'm feeling a little homesick. Anna Karenina, specifically. A story I've read a million times before, but every time I read it, I'd always find something new.

Ring, ring!

Master is requesting a facetime chat, I see. I tapped the little green circle on my phone screen, "Hi there. Didn't I just see you this afternoon?"

"Yes, you did," Mike's eyes glowed a little deeper green, "Sue me. I missed you. Are you in the bathtub, Violet?"

"Yeah," I nodded, "The boys just clocked out and my body's betraying me."

"Poor baby," he empathized, "I wish I was there with you to make it all better."

"Me, too," I agreed, "You give a hell of a massage."

"And I'd give you an even better bath," Master flirted, "I was just about to go to bed. Think of me tonight, ok?"

"I will," I promised, "I think I'm going to go to bed, too."

"In that case," he smirked a bit, "Shall we go through the motions?"

"But you're not here," I pointed out.

"Doesn't mean I can't guide you through it," Master insisted, "Take off your collar, Violet. You've had a long day and we wouldn't want your hair getting caught in the chain while you're asleep."

"Yes, sir," I unhooked the clasp holding my choker against my throat.

"Good girl," he praised, "Now, get out of the bathtub."

"Yes, sir," I wrapped myself up in a towel and started heading to my bedroom.

"Go on," Master ordered, "Lay down on the bed. Get comfortable."

"Master," I asked, "Can I put my pajamas on?"

"I don't know…" he thought for a minute, "Yeah. Go ahead. I'm not there to appreciate anything."

"Thank you, sir," I dug around in my pajama drawer and got a big t-shirt and a pair of pajama pants. I could live infinitely happy in pajama pants.

"Now," Master continued, "I want you to crawl into bed and lay down."

"Like this, Master?" I got into bed and pulled my quilt over my shoulders.

"That's my girl," he approved, getting into his bed with me, "Good night, my pet. My good, little pet. Make sure you think of me, ok?"

"Yes, sir," I kissed the screen, "Good night, Master."

My phone screen went black. Good night, Mike…

A/N: Yay! Before I go on and talk about anything else in the story, I absolutely ADORE Celestino's mom. She's so damn cute. And she loves Violet. Do we remember why? I'm not telling you. You should know from the last story what Mama Cialdini means to Violet. The entire world. And if we end up in Italy for competition, I pinky promise will give Mama Cialdini her moment in the sun. Because she deserves it!

Now, my neck is killing me. I'm tired as balls. I think I'm going to call it a night. See you next chapter! xx