When Christophe Giacometti entered your house it was as clear as daylight. He was usually so enthusiastic about visiting that he texted Viktor until he got outside the door, informing him of every step; for as long as they knew each other it has been this way and truthfully, they wouldn't change anything about their friendship. Yuuri was checking on the food and Viktor was playing with Lola in the living room when they heard knocks on the door and the Russian got up, a big grin playing on his lips. He saw the alarmed look on his daughter's face so he picked her up and kissed her head.

"We have guests, malysh." Once he opened the door he took a step back, knowing the little girl needed some time and some space so she could handle the flamboyant personality of his best friend.

"Baby bee!" Chris almost shouted and was ready to initiate a hug but stopped in tracks when he saw the tiny human that was now burying her face in her father's shoulder. She was wearing a polka dots blue dress and had white knee high socks on, the picture making the blond smile brightly at her and drop all the bags he was holding.

"Chris, it's so nice to see you!" Viktor replied and behind the Swiss appeared a brown-haired head that he identified as Dorian, Chris's lover. They've been together for a long time now and they were some of their closest friends, so different yet so compatible. "They're Chris and Dorian, do you remember them, zaichik? We've talked to them before." Well, mostly to Christophe but she shouldn't be alien to the British man either because he greeted her on various occasions. She shook her head and Chris came closer to take her small hand in his, making her fuss in Viktor's arms.

"It's so nice to finally meet you, Lola!" He said and turned to Dorian that dropped the luggage himself, his face split in two by a huge smile that made its appearance at the lovely sight. "Look how cute she is!"

"Hello, Lola" He added and strangely enough she seemed to be more perceiving of his words.

"We just need a little more time to make friends, right?" Viktor asked the girl and kissed her cheek before they all heard steps hurrying in their direction.

"Welcome!" Yuuri grinned and took turns in hugging the both of them, happy to see familiar faces; he didn't seem to miss the bags. "Are you moving in with us?"

"No, no, they're just some small presents for the princess." Small, yea – well Chris sure wanted to win Lola's heart in the most unorthodox ways but that was not surprising for anyone. Lola somehow ended in Yuuri's arms so Viktor properly hugged the couple and invited them inside, helping them with the luggage they were carrying. They had a lot to catch up and as they talked about the flight and other minor things Chris could barely tear his eyes from the new figure, like he was trying to memorise all the sweet features; as much as the girl kept trying to hide herself in her Daddy's arms she peeked at him from time to time, amusing everyone.

"He won't eat you, I promise" Viktor chuckled and petted her head gently, before getting up to offer everyone a cup of coffee. "You must be crushed"

"It wouldn't be wise to sleep, though." Dorian sighed, obviously wanting a long nap and Yuuri approved by a simple nod.

The lunch was rather calm and the British man was very surprised by the way the kid was eating, asking her parents a few times if she was alright and if they shouldn't stop her so she wouldn't get sick. Whenever someone commented like that Lola would usually stop eating, they figured out as much, so they told Dorian she was alright and that she was growing so it was alright to eat as much as she wanted. After they were done they kept the conversation going and Lola got off Viktor's lap and headed towards the toys that were spread on the ground, picking up her bunny and a duck and beginning to play with them silently. She was sleepy because she kept yawning so Yuuri let her a few minutes before he decided it was time for her nap and went to pick her up.

"Let's go read a story" He suggested and his eyes widened when she began to fuss. It was clear she wanted to stay with them but she also had a schedule he was not willing to break. "We'll come back in a bit, I promise." She was looking so crushed by the news that Viktor got up and kissed her cheek lovingly.

"I'll wait here for you, zvyozdochka" He promised and she nodded, even if her lower lip was still trembling. Yuuri mouthed that he'll be back soon and took her to their shared bedroom where there were a lot of books waiting on the nightstand. Lola picked "The Little Mermaid" so Yuuri placed her on the pillows and cuddled closer to her as he began to read. She fell asleep faster than expected and he let the door cracked, in case she woke up and started to cry and he went back to the "adults" where Dorian seemed very embarrassed by the on-going conversation between the skating legends.

"Our baby is sleeping?" Viktor asked suddenly and he nodded, sitting on the chair next to him.

"Okay but –" Chris took a big breath. "You have the sweetest girl ever!" The blond never thought of children, knowing he enjoyed "living life at its fullest" a little too much and he was sure Dorian had no desire to be a father whatsoever – at least not yet, but that didn't mean he couldn't be great with children. It was easy because he was so childish by nature, he liked playing around and teasing them and he couldn't wait for Lola to open up to him.

"Thank you." Yuuri grinned and took the hand of his husband that was offered to him, squeezing the fingers gently. "She will befriend you eventually, she needs more time." He knew they heard her history from Viktor and it was better to be aware of it because any wrong move result in a terrible mess and they didn't want that, especially because Lo just calmed down after the meeting with her biological mother.

"You could offer the gifts to her personally when she wakes up" Viktor smiled and Dorian nodded, agreeing. "So what about you? How's it going?" Chris parting from the skating world was a huge change in their lives as his boyfriend was also his manager but as soon as that happened they tried to find their way, just like Viktor and Yuuri were trying to do now. The Swiss has always been a huge fan of art in general so he decided to start studying it and Dorian continued his work line, though not as passionate as before.

Chris ended up following Viktor to the kitchen because he was on washing dishes duty and the latter sure as hell didn't miss the little thing that was hanging on the chain around his friend's neck. He smiled brightly and thought about how amusingly private Chris was about his amorous life – no one expected this of him.

"So... are you going to give him an answer?" By the fake-innocent tone he was using, the blond realised right away what Viktor was talking about and smirked.

"I'm not the marrying type, Vitya"

"I wasn't either but here I am – married and having a child." Chris chuckled because it was true but shook his head, knowing a long conversation will follow.

"And I am so happy you're happy but you know me – I can't give up on some things I enjoy. And I am not responsible enough, I am not saying I don't love Dorian because I do but..." He was already overthinking so Viktor was glad he was done with the washing and wiped his hands on the nearest kitchen towel before turning to his friend.

"So you wear the ring around your neck like a teenager" He teased and Chris burst into laughter.

"I guess that's what I am." His fingers began to play with the thin golden ring and he sighed because it has become a habit of his to do that lately. "It's more of a promise."

"And Dorian doesn't mind?"

"You know he wouldn't insist on anything that would make me unhappy."

"True!" Viktor said cheerfully and rubbed his friend's back. He always liked Dorian, he was a trustful person and he was really good for Chris, like an anchor that kept him sane and attached to the real world. "The most important thing is for you to get along~" He sang and grabbed his arm. "Let's go back to our fine men"

They were chuckling about something so they couldn't stop themselves from smiling at the sound of their partners enjoying themselves.

"What are you so jolly about?" Chris asked and went to sit on the armrest of the sofa, next to the brown-haired man who wrapped an arm around him. They looked happy, Viktor decided and went to sit next to Yuuri, kissing his forehead as he sat down.

"We were talking about how extra you two are" Yuuri answered and his husband pouted.

"Extra? No way!"

"You got together because of a pole-dance" Chris muttered and the Japanese sighed, already immune to this memory everyone used to tease him.

"Viktor climbed up naked on a castle because he was jealous of Chihoko" That silenced the attacker. "And you started a trend #glitteronbuttcheeks on Twitter." They all burst into laughter at that and the Extra Men realised they have been defeated and there was no going back.

"Don't get it wrong, we kind of love this side of you" Dorian murmured and received a soft kiss on the cheek.

"With accent on kind of. Don't let it go to your heads." Yuuri concluded and grinned when his husband pouted.

They decided to stay in that day because they were tired but they made quite a plan for the next few days, knowing there was no good in wasting the time they had in St. Petersburg. It was not the first time they were visiting but the city was big enough for them to see different things each time and it was the perfect way to show Lola around too. The little girl woke up crying, like usual and was picked up right away by her Papa who cooed her for a while before he brought her to the others, explaining to her how many beautiful things the guests wanted to give her. She was sniffling when they entered the room and after she received her usual kisses from Daddy she looked over at the many colourful packs that were piled in the middle of the room. She tugged on Yuuri's shirt and pointed towards them.

"Those are for you, from Chris and Dorian" He whispered and was pulled towards the place. "Do you want Daddy to help you open them?" She nodded and it didn't last long until the floor was filled with toys, puzzles, clothes – even a tiara! It was clear the proud uncle couldn't stop shopping once he began and he watched every reaction while smiling, knowing he did the right thing. "What's this?" It was a long box and once they opened it they saw a few bottles of nail polish, all different colours.

"They're children friendly. Non-toxic" Dorian said and Viktor almost yelped because of the enthusiasm. "If I remember well, your Papa painted his nails a lot when he was younger so you can have him put it on."

Lola picked a sparkling blue one and turned to the silver-haired man, hope filling her blue eyes.

"Of course, sweetheart! But first what do you say to Dorian and Christophe?" It lasted a bit but the result was adorable.

"Fank you" Her voice was small but it was clear she meant it.

"You're welcome, princess!" The blond answered and started to chuckle when she ran to Viktor, still holding the little bottle tightly. He took her hands in his and brought them to his lips to kiss them, making her smile a bit before he rested one on his thigh and opened the bottle.

It was funny because Dorian and Yuuri began to talk but as much as they tried to include Chris it was hopeless because he was mesmerised by the father-daughter interaction. He wondered if he could paint such little nails – probably not - and found himself chuckling at his own thoughts. The result was very satisfying but it was only normal as Viktor was an expert.

"Why don't you go and show them how pretty your nails are now?" The Russian suggested and she did, even if as shy as possible and they peppered her with compliments, trying to make her feel at ease around them.

Lola was an obedient child, a little too obedient it seemed because she quietly sat around, not saying a word and playing with Yuuri's shirt, tugging on it gently from time to time. She looked like a doll but this doll was afraid of making a wrong move so she never said anything, even if she was terribly bored.

"Don't you want to go and play, sweetheart?" The raven-haired man asked and ran his fingers through her curls. She nodded but didn't make a movement so he smiled, knowing she needed him to go with her. "Come on, let's go."

The rest of the day was rather peaceful and they tucked in early, the guests very tired. In the morning, Viktor was surprised when he found the bed empty, as he was usually the one to wake up first. He checked his phone and saw it was 7:30 and decided to sleep five more minutes, oblivious to what was going on in the kitchen. He had no idea that his husband was preparing coffee for everyone or that his daughter was chasing after him like a satellite.

"We should have pancakes for breakfast" Yuuri decided and Lola nodded once, eyeing the glass with chocolate milk that was resting on the counter and that was offered to her within seconds. She was still wearing her jammies and she went to play with bunny and some of her new toys when Chris entered the room, stretching and yawning at the same time. "Good morning!"

"Morning!" He greeted, a bit too cheerful and saw that baby blues were examining him thoroughly. "Hello, princess!" His voice was hoarse and his blond curls were a mess; somehow he looked younger and his first instinct was to go closer to the little human that was watching him. "You're playing so early?" She nodded and he kneeled on the carpet next to her, picking an ear of her bunny. "You have such a nice toy"

She frowned but didn't take the ear back, still eyeing him closely.

"Dorian is still sleeping?"

"Like a log" He chuckled and took a stuffed penguin that happened to be pink. "Can I help you?"

"No, no, you two play until I'm done here"

"Yessir" The Swiss answered. "Can I play with you, chaton?" Lola nodded, even if she wasn't used to this strange name and they silently began to play, the man following her actions. At one point she realised how quiet everything was and she unconsciously began to hum the lullaby her Papa sang to her whenever he put her to sleep. "You have such a beautiful voice, cheri!"

"Lo" Yuuri called and she furrowed her little brows.

"Fank you"

"I hope we can be friends" Chris said and tucked a curl of her hair behind her ear, seeing how tensed she became. "You can trust me, okay? And I'll spoil you rotten" He whispered a little too loud, making her smile a bit.

They visited quite a lot that day and surprisingly enough, Lola didn't complain one bit, even if she fell asleep in the restaurant where they had lunch and Viktor had to carry her for the next hour or so. She seemed relaxed around the new people, even allowing them to hold her hand. It wasn't a surprise for anyone when Viktor and Chris began to shop but they weren't stopped either because it was clear they were enjoying themselves too much and Lola was the winner, receiving the most bought items. Once they got home they decided to drink some wine and if Yuuri stopped after one glass, Viktor downed another and then another, the house going louder and louder. The silver-haired man was a fun type of drunk, always jolly and affectionate but Yuuri was worried the smell and the slurred words could scare Lola so when the third bottle of wine was opened he had to ask his husband to talk to him in private.

"What's the matter, Yuu~ri?" He slurred and launched himself in a hug only to be pushed away by a smaller hand.

"We should keep it quieter and you should take it easier with the drinks."

"Why?" He sighed. "We're not doing anything bad, we're simply having fun!"

"Lola..."

"Lola is not bothered by any of it –"

"We're having a child, we can't allow ourselves to be drunk messes anymore, at least not around her. What if she gets hurt or scared? What if someone comes to check on us?" The man answered with a bitter laugh.

"So late in the afternoon? Stop overthinking, it's not like we can't do anything fun anymore"

"You know what? Do whatever you want, it's like talking to a wall either way" And with that he ended the conversation and went to pick Lola and to excuse themselves for the rest of the night. She was very tense so it was clear he was right and the only way to calm her down at this point was a warm bath so he proceeded to fill the bathtub, letting her pick a bath bomb too. A green one with glitter, that smelt of apples and that dissolved under her eyes, relaxing her like a spell.

"Getting drunk is not allowed anymore!" Viktor declared as he entered the room, holding a box of juice in his hand. "Cranberry juice, looks similar to wine, tastes sweeter" He offered the alternative and by the way he was emphasizing every word Chris understood right away something bad just happened.

"We upset Yuuri?" The Russian shook his head.

"Not we, I" He murmured as he poured himself a glass of tasty substance. "Do you think I'm a bad father?"

"No, of course not!" Dorian said and sighed. "You guys get carried away when you meet, that's all."

"So you think he's right to be mad" Viktor pouted.

"Drinking around a toddler is never a wise choice."

"You're right, I'm sorry" Dorian chuckled at the puppy-in-the-rain-face.

"Tell Yuuri that." He turned to see Chris was finishing the bottle of wine and scowled at him hard enough to make him get up and throw it all away in the sink.

"Okay, okay, I understand" He rose his hands in defence and grabbed the box of juice. "Mmm, cranberries sound amazing"

They kept it down and in the meantime Yuuri took care of Lola's night routine and now he was reading her a story – Aladdin, watching the pictures together with her and explaining everything she seemed curious about. They were actually having fun when there were knocks on the door and inside came Dorian with the kindest expression on his face.

"Sorry –"

"Don't worry, sit down" Yuuri offered and the man sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the colourful book they were holding. "We were reading the bedtime story"

"I wanted to apologise for any inconveni-"

"None of that, please" The Japanese chuckled and rubbed Lola's back gently. "It seriously has nothing to do with you, I am sorry for suddenly leaving like that. What's going on there?" Dorian chuckled.

"They're complaining and drinking cranberry juice."

"Talking about extra." They both laughed at that and the brunet shook his head. "Do you need anything?"

"No, I'll be leaving you now – it's late and I need to pick the remains of my man from the living room. Good night!" Yuuri grinned and nodded, watching Dorian as he took Lola's hand in his. "Night night, sweetheart!"

"Night" She answered and offered a shy smile, getting closer to her Daddy. The British man was ready to exit the room when he was interrupted.

"Please send the remains of mine here too!"

"Sure thing!"

It lasted about ten minutes until another wave of knocks followed on the door and Yuuri sighed.

"Am I still allowed in our marital bedroom?" Oh my God, this man was unbelievable.

"If you're not in bed in the next five minutes you're sleeping on the couch!" He shouted loud enough and here came a dramatic Viktor Nikiforov, looking like the most horrible thing just happened to him and he couldn't recover. The first thing he did was to sit on the bed and curl so his face was close to Lola's chubby feet.

"You wouldn't allow Daddy to let Papa sleep on the couch, right?" He asked and grabbed a foot, kissing the soft sole all over and making her squirm and giggle. "You love Papa, right?" She nodded solemnly and he took her other foot, applying the same treatment.

"I love Papa" She whispered and went closer to kiss the man's cheek shortly before turning to Yuuri. "Daddy too." Viktor had no idea why – it could have been the alcohol but he felt his eyes getting teary at the confession and smiled when he saw how dearly his husband was holding their baby.

A/N: Thank you very much for the continuous support, for the lovely reviews and all! I had severe writer's block so I am sorry if this chapter is not what you expected ~ I'll continue to do my best! Have a wonderful week! x

chaton - kitten

cheri - dear (Overusing pet names is a characteristic of the Giacometti-Nikiforov friendship ^-^)