A/N: I marched today in my local Women's March on Washington. It was beautiful. (Not strictly related, I know, but I had to share. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.)

The song that goes with this chapter is "Love Hurts" by Joan Jett

Yuri shuffled down the halls and outside in a daze, floating along with the current of jubilant skaters. He'd done it. Again. He'd ended the season here at Worlds with yet another gold medal. Sure, everybody was talking about Victor and the piggy's proposal and imminent wedding, and the disgustingly sappy exhibition pair-skate that marked the end of their skating careers, but for once Yuri wasn't bothered by it. He'd be back here on the ice next season; let the lovebirds have their moment. He looked around for Beka, sure he, at least, would be more excited for Yuri's gold (and impressed by his uncharacteristically magnanimous attitude)… only he wasn't there. Yuri frowned, slowing his steps and letting the others surge ahead of him. He'd been right beside him, hadn't he?

"Yurio!" Victor shouted, "aren't you coming to celebrate with us?"

"I'll catch up to you guys in a minute - I think I forgot my jacket," he called back, not bothering to protest being called 'Yurio' - not that Victor would listen anyway, since he never had before - as he wondered what Beka could be doing. He hesitated. Would it seem stalker-y to go back for him? He didn't want him to miss out on the fun. Well, to be perfectly honest, he had no intention of going if Beka wasn't. Decided, he turned back toward the changing rooms - the last place he could remember seeing him.

The building was nearly empty, and his footsteps echoed oddly in the stillness. He nodded to the janitor as he passed him, feeling a moment of sympathy for the man as he thought of the colorful wrappers and papers that littered the stands. The door to the changing rooms swung silently open beneath his fingers; he was about to call out when he heard voices, muffled by the partially closed door to the next room. He was pretty sure one of them was Beka's

Yuri frowned and crept to the other door, grateful that his sneakers didn't squeak for once. From his new position, the voices were clearer. It was Beka. And… Mila?

"So, you'll go with me to the banquet, then?" Mila's voice was bright with laughter, as usual.

Yuri's breath caught painfully in his chest, and the sudden ringing in his ears drowned out the next words. When he could hear again, Beka was saying, "Are you sure that's a good idea?" His voice wasn't as bright as Mila's, but he didn't sound upset, either.

"Come on, it'll be fun!"

Otabek didn't answer at first, and Yuri clutched the edge of the door so hard he lost feeling in his fingers.

After a long moment, Otabek sighed. "All right."

Yuri's knees buckled, and he was glad for his hold on the door. Then he heard movement, footsteps drawing closer, and he panicked. He had to get out of there, before they realized he was listening. He poured all of his will into forcing his legs to move.

"Yuri! There you are! Where's your jacket?"

Victor's voice snapped him out of the haze his mind was floating in, and he started when he realized that he was back in the hotel lobby.

He thought, distantly, that it was lucky he hadn't got run over or something. Then he realized that Victor was looking at him oddly, and the piggy was with him, and he couldn't bear their questions right now, he just couldn't.

"Oh, um. I didn't see it. Maybe Yakov grabbed it." He forced a jerky shrug. "Whatever, I'll get it later."

"Are you OK, Yurio? You look a little —"

"I'm fine," he snapped, then sighed. "I guess I'm more worn out than I realized. Hey, have you guys seen Yakov? I need to ask him something about my routine, and see if he has my jacket."

Yuuri frowned, but Victor, at least, seemed to take his explanation at face value. "Oh, yes. Your final jump did seem a little off. He's in his room, I think."

Yuri nodded stiffly and turned toward the elevators.

"Are you coming to the celebration, Yurio?" Yuuri called after him.

Yuri faked a yawn. "I might just turn in, if that's all right? I really am tired - think I might have strained something on those last jumps."

He hadn't of course, but they didn't know that. The sympathy in their eyes weighed heavily on him, but he couldn't face the others just now. The moment the elevator doors closed behind him, he collapsed back against the wall and groaned.

"What the hell, Mila?" he asked his reflection in the mirrored ceiling. "When you told me to ask him on a date before someone else did, I didn't think the someone else would be you!"

His reflection had no answers.

He was tempted to just go straight to his room, but he needed Yakov to corroborate his story. Luckily he did, and after some scathing comments about the last jumps, he sent him off to bed. He even gave him permission to skip the banquet the next day so he could work on the jumps.

"What the hell? They weren't that bad." Yuri muttered petulantly as he slouched back to his room. Then he sighed. "Whatever. I got what I wanted, anyway." Never mind that what he really wanted was apparently beyond his reach.

Mila caught him as he tried to slip out of the hotel unnoticed the next afternoon. He'd meant to leave earlier, but had got caught up in watching the replay of his routine. His last jumps really were that bad. Huh.

"Yuri! Wait! Where are you going?"

He held up his skates. "Practice. What does it look like?"

She frowned. "What about your date?"

"Huh? What date?"

She faltered. "But… you said… I thought you were…"

"Oh, that." He forced a laugh. "Turns out I just misread the signs."

"Yuri…"

"Shut up, hag. I'm not even sure I like them."

Lies…

"Anyway, it's better this way."

Lies…

"I don't have time for distractions."

"But…"

He flipped her off over his shoulder and kept walking.

He successfully avoided Beka, hiding in his room "packing" until he was sure he would have left for his flight. Only then did he venture down to breakfast.

"Yuri! There you are!"

"Huh? Beka? Don't you have a plane to catch?"

Beka rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "No. Turns out coach had to take off earlier than she'd planned for the baby, so I asked her if I could train with you guys for a while. I'll be flying out with you later today."

"Oh. That's… good." He turned back toward his room. He could just get room service.

"Yura!"

He closed his eyes, then slowly turned back, praying his face didn't betray him. "Yeah?"

"Would you show me around the city sometime? Now that I'm gonna be staying with you guys for awhile?"

Beka looked so earnest, and Yuri just wanted to disappear. How was he supposed to avoid him now?

"Yeah. Sure, Beka. I'd like that."

Lies…

"Great. Have you had breakfast yet?"

As he followed Beka into the dining room, he wondered if maybe Yakov would let him visit Grandpa for a bit. Not too long - just long enough to beat this stupid crush into submission. He pulled out his phone without really thinking about it and dialed the familiar number.

He forgot about breakfast entirely when it wasn't Grandpa that answered. He scowled as he listened to his neighbor's harried explanation, then dialed the number she gave him. This time Grandpa answered.

"Cough… Yuratchka? Is that you? How did your competition go? I'm sorry I forgot to call —"

"Never mind that! Grandpa - why didn't you tell me you're in the hospital again?"

"…Now, Yuratchka. You know I don't like to bother you during competitions."

"I don't care about that! Yelena Petrova said she found you in the hallway last week? And she had to force you to go to the hospital."

"You know she exaggerates, Yuratchka. It's not serious. Just my back acting up again."

"And what are you going to do when you get out? You know she can't take time off to take care of you."

"I'll be fine, I'm sure."

"Yes, you will. Because I'm coming to take care of you. I'll be there as soon as I can get a flight."

"Yuratchka…"

"I'll call you back when I've booked my tickets."

"Yura?"

He looked up into Beka's worried face, and winced. "Sorry, Beka. I can't eat breakfast with you right now - I have to find Yakov, and— Yakov!"

"What is the matter now, Yuratchka? I've already settled Beka's flight —"

"I have to change my tickets - I need to go and stay with Grandpa for awhile."

Yakov stared at him. "What? For how long? I know it's the end of the season, but your jumps need work and—"

"I don't know how long," Yuri cut in impatiently. "He's in the hospital. Again, apparently. He won't be able to take care of himself for a while and—" He broke off, tapping at his phone. "And there's a flight today but it boards in just a few hours. Yakov I need to go! Please?"

Yakov's face softened, and he patted Yuri on the shoulder. "Of course, Yuratchka. I'll have Lilia send some of your things once we get back. When do you have to be at the airport? Do you want me get the ticket and a taxi?"

Yuri handed him the phone, nodding in relief.

"Come on," Beka said, settling a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Let's get you some snacks to eat on the plane. That way you won't have to think about it later."

"Yuri!" Mila shouted, flagging him down as he headed outside to wait for the cab. "Where are you going? You're not running away from your feelings, are you?"

"Please. Like I'd do that. I'm not extra like Victor or Georgi."

Lies…

"I'm going to stay with Grandpa for awhile. He's sick - he needs me."

She clapped her hands over her mouth. "Oh, I'm sorry. It's not serious?"

"I - I don't know. I hope not, but he's in the hospital. Again, apparently. I don't know when he was planning to tell me, but… I'm not sure how long I'll need to stay."

She pulled him into a quick hug. "Good luck Yuri."

"Thanks."

He settled himself in the taxi, pulled out his phone - and then remembered. "Oh! Hang on - I need to tell her something."

The cabdriver rolled his eyes, but nodded when Yuri dug a handful of bills out of his pocket and shoved it at him without bothering to see how much it was. "Make it quick. We're cutting it close as it is."

He stuck his head out of the window. "Mila!"

"Yeah?"

"I forgot - I was supposed to show Beka around town when we got back. Will you do it for me?"

She frowned. "You don't think he'd rather wait for you to do it?"

"No - It's just so he can get familiar with the area. He likes to walk or ride his bike to unwind. Anyway, since I don't know how long I'll be gone…"

She smiled. "All right, kitten."

"Thanks."

He rolled up the window, nodded to the driver, and then shoved his earbuds in his ears and tried desperately to drown out the thought of Mila showing Beka all her favorite spots. That, by the time he got back, they would most likely be his favorites too.