A/N: Hello, lovelies. How I missed you so. I did. I missed being home. I missed my computer. I missed my day-to-day life. My vacation sucked. I had low hopes for it and somehow, they managed to get lower. Now, I'm going to go over here and let you read. Sound good? Okie dokie.
Between practice kicking my ass and finally standing up to Mike, telling him off once and for all, I'm absolutely destroyed. I ached all over the place. Some of my old skating wounds were starting to come back and haunt me. I needed a bottle of some sort. Whether it be water, vodka, painkillers, or possibly bleach. At this point, I'm willing to try anything to stop this. Even the physical heaviness in my chest was killing me. As soon as I got home, I threw myself in my bed. My big, beautiful, welcoming bed.
"Violet..." Gene poked his head in my bedroom, "Are you feeling ok?"
"Mildly," I groaned into my body pillow, "Why?"
"Just checking," he assured, "Making sure we don't need to visit Sonia at work today."
"What does Sonia do again?" I asked, not exactly all together up there.
"She's an emergency room doctor," Gene reminded me, "If you need anything, let me know, ok?"
"Ok." My head was throbbing. My legs were going to fall off. The jackhammer going up and down my spine was totally unwelcome. This was hell. I don't deserve this. Especially after the day I've had. Maybe I'll start with the vodka. I did have a bottle of Russian vodka in my cabinet, but Russian vodka always knocks me on my ass. I didn't need that.
Knock, knock.
Ugh...I didn't want to get up or deal with people, "Gene!"
"Yeah, Vi?" my bodyguard yelled from my living room.
"Could you get my door please?"
"Sure, sweetheart." I knew I loved him for a reason. I didn't deserve Gene. He's been nothing but good to me and I hope he never goes away. Gene came back into my room, "It's Victor. Are you in?"
"Victor can come in," I allowed, "He's alright. Victor!"
"Hey, Violet," Victor came in and sat at the edge of my bed.
"Hi, Victor," I sighed out, laying my head on his thigh. Victor has some phenomenal thighs. They're nice to lay on.
"Let me guess," he ran his hand through my long, purple hair. It was almost silver at this point. Kind of like his when we first met. The purple was starting to fade. I need to get it redone before I go back to competing, "Tired, are we?"
"I can't speak for you," I murmured into his muscle, "But I sure as hell am."
"Oh, dorogoy," Victor pulled me a little closer, "What am I going to do with you?"
"I just got out of practice," I whined, "Cut me a little slack."
"You look a little pale, Violet," he chucked me over.
"I always look a little pale."
"I know," Victor put his hand to my face, "But this is lighter than your usual pale. Do you feel ok?"
Oh, shit. I hate that Victor had a bloodhound's nose for sickness. It's even worse when it's for me. Relax, Violet. This could go one of two ways. I could be honest or I could lie through my teeth. What shall it be? Maybe there was a way for me to do both. You're a smart girl, Violet. Even in your delirium. I'm sure you can figure something out to pacify him. Although, I do still feel kind of icky.
"I think it's just general exhaustion," I stayed cryptic, "All I need is a nap, I'm sure."
"I don't think this is something a nap can fix," Victor assumed.
"Blasphemy..." I grumbled without its usual vigor.
"Violet," he scolded. If I didn't know any better, I'd think he was talking to one of the kids, "Are you getting sick?"
"No..." I answered quickly, knowing damn well what would come next if I were to say yes.
"Are you sure?" Dammit, Victor...
"Yes."
"Violet," he saw right through me, "Are you lying to me?"
"No," I shook my head, "Of course not."
"Really?" Victor let out a heavy, exasperated sigh, "Then, explain your fever."
"I'm..." I had to think on my feet. And given my current state, a healthy mixture of exhaustion and delirium, that proved to be a feat in itself, "I'm just...warm?"
"Violet..." Yeah, Victor was having none of my bullshit today.
"Alright," I caved, "I guess I am getting a little sick. But it's nothing I can't manage."
"How long?" He totally knew better. Granted, I was tough as nails when I got sick, but Victor wouldn't allow it.
"Only since this morning," I promised, "But other than that, I've been fine."
That's also not a hundred percent true. I've been feeling a little off for the past couple weeks. I made the mistake of stretching myself thinner than what I needed to be and it took a toll on my body. Before some people jump to conclusions, I know for a fact that Mike didn't get me pregnant. He made sure of that. The empty boxes of Plan B kind of gave him away.
"I had a feeling you were getting sick," Victor cradled me in the way that only Victor could ever do. Even though I said I could stand some booze and some painkillers, right now, I needed nothing more than this, "I could see it all over your face this morning when you got up. Do you need anything right now?"
"I need a lot of things right now," I admitted, my body turning to jelly in Victor's arms, "Do you think Sasha does house calls?"
"Sasha's still in St. Petersburg," he giggled, "I don't think he'd make that far of a house call."
"Dammit," I pouted, "And I don't think any of my local connections are in town anymore."
"I'm sorry, sweetheart," Victor kissed my forehead, "Instead of all that, why don't you lay here and get some sleep, ok? A nap may not cure you, but it sure as hell couldn't hurt, right?"
"I like the way you think," a tiny squeak came out of the back of my throat, "Nighty night, Victor."
"Good night, Violet," he tucked me in, giving me a soft, gentle kiss, "I love you."
"I love you, too..." All I had to do was shut my eyes and that was all she wrote. It's bedtime for little Violets. Hell, I was struggling to keep them open when Victor got here. Once my head hit his pillow thigh, I was done.
Victor was always good for that kind of thing, though. One night, when I came back from the Red Room, I wanted to fling myself off the roof of the Empire State Building. Everything was completely shot. The line between my calf and my ankle became nonexistent and I thought I wasn't going to have any hip left. And to make matters worse, I got lucky and had to escort that night. But when I got home at four in the morning, Chris was already passed out on my couch and Victor sat in my postage stamp kitchen. He had a big ass cup of tea waiting for me and brought me into my bathroom.
Despite the fact that I had enough of a man touching my naked body that night, Victor understood exactly how exhausted and lifeless I was, so he asked me nicely if he could give me a bath. I wasn't going to say no. I felt disgusting after that and they didn't make water hot enough. And because Victor was, is, and always will be that extra bitch, he got a bath bomb out of his bag and took better care of me than anyone ever will. Right now, I wouldn't mind one of them again either. And my bathtub is much bigger this time around. I really have moved up in the world, haven't I?
A little while later, I woke up feeling like I got hit by a bus. Dammit, Victor. Why'd you have to let me sleep so late? It's pitch black outside, only with the soft glow of the city lights radiating around the streets below. It probably wouldn't take much for me to go back to sleep, but there was a delightful smell coming from my kitchen. A very distinct smell of bay leaves, garlic, and onion powder seasoned ground pork that could only mean one thing. Victor Nikiforov, why did I ever let you go?
I pulled myself out of bed and dredged to the kitchen. Sure enough, on my squeaky-clean counter sat a bowl of pelmeni still steaming from the pot. There was no evidence of any dishes anywhere else and Victor never made a little bit of pelmeni for me. I checked the fridge and I had a big, plastic bowl full. Victor, I love you.
"Morning, Vi," Gene still sat in my kitchen, twiddling his thumbs. Goddamn, Gene. You probably could've gone home an hour ago.
"Morning, Gene," I shoved my face full of yum and magic.
"How you feeling, princess?" he kicked a chair out for me.
"I've been better," I sat down, "But I should be ok. Victor's cooking could stop wars."
"Really?" Gene stole one pelmeni out of my bowl. I didn't have the energy to stab him and there's plenty more in the fridge. Besides, when Gene's eyes lit up with pure joy and happiness, it was a worthy sacrifice, "Oh, shit, you're right."
"I told you," I slumped over my table, "Speaking of, where did sweetie go?"
"He said he needed to check on his boys," he reported, "He shouldn't be gone too long."
"And how long has he been gone?"
"I don't know."
"Violet Isabella, what are you doing out of bed?" Uh-oh. Dad's home.
"I just woke up," I rubbed my eyes, "Leave me alone."
"No," Victor put his foot down, "Bed. Now."
"Yes, sir," I grabbed my bowl of pelmeni and curled back up in my bed.
"Look," he followed behind me, joining me at my bedside, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you. You know I worry and I only want what's best for you."
"I know," I dropped a dumpling in my mouth, content with the world, "But Victor…?"
"Yes, sweetheart," Victor pulled my hair out of my face, "What is it?"
"Why are you here?" I wondered.
"You know why I'm here."
"No, really," I nudged him along, "Why are you here? Why are you doing this for me?"
"Violet," Victor cradled me against his chest, "You know I love you. You know I care about you. And I wouldn't be doing this for just anyone."
"I know," I laid my head in his shoulder, "And the boys? Is there anything going on there I should know about?"
"Relax, dorogoy," he settled me, "Chris has got them taken care of. Everything's fine. Right now, it's just you and me. And well, Gene, but he's on his way out. I am here to take care of you in any way you could possibly need."
"Ok," I pulled my blanket over me, "Hey, Victor…?"
"Yes, Violet?"
I shut my eyes again, "Thank you…"
Victor kissed the top of my head, his lips curving up a little, "Always."
A/N: A nice, little chapter. I'm sorry that it's so short. It's going to take me a bit to get back in the swing of things, so please, internet. Please be patient with me. Being back in Michigan took a lot out of me and stunted me creatively, so give me a little time to get back to the way things used to be and suppress the hell out of that trip. The chapter's called Time to Heal. And it's not just Violet that's a little bit of an emotional and physical wreck. So, see you next chapter! xx