A/N: Hey guys! Chapter 2 is done yay! I'm going to be a little busy for the next couple weeks, but I'm still going to try to get chapters out regularly! Apologies in advance if I can't ^^;

-Kate

It was early in the morning, and the sky still dark. Yuuri had been awake for a while, turned away from Victor, staring at the window. No nightmares had happened tonight, and Yuuri was glad. But he couldn't turn his mind off. He had told Victor that he was fine with going to the trial, but it had been a lie. He didn't want to go. He never wanted to see that woman again. All he wanted was to forget the whole thing had ever happened, but no matter what he did, he couldn't escape it.

What made it worse was that the whole world knew. It was national news. He couldn't hide from it unless he stayed in his house at all times and never looked at a TV, paper, or phone screen again.

He wasn't quite sure how they were supposed to move on. He knew that sooner or later people wouldn't care as much. New stories would take over the news headlines and people would start to forget. But would he? Would he ever be able to forget what it felt like to be in that hotel room?

It had only lasted about a week from the time that he first received a message to the time that the police took Alina away in Moscow. He had only been in that room with her for a few minutes. But somehow, it had felt like a lifetime.

The first time Yurio had come over to visit them after they returned home, he had stopped by unannounced and brought them dinner. When he had knocked on the door, Yuuri had gone into a complete panic attack and ended up crying in the bathroom. Because he heard the knock on the door. That was what his life was like now.

The doctors had recommended that maybe both he and Victor talk to someone, like a counsellor, but neither of them had done it yet. Victor had seemed to be thinking about it, but Yuuri hadn't wanted to. Growing up, he had always had skating. That was what would calm him, would help take his stress and insecurities away, if only for a little while. But he hadn't had that pleasure since he was injured.

Yuuri looked at his phone. It was just after 5 in the morning. He turned to look at Victor, who was fast asleep. Yuuri couldn't help but smile. He was happy that Victor was getting a decent night's sleep. He needed it.

Yuuri got out of bed. He just wanted to clear his head. He could go and be back before Victor woke up, and no one would know.

….

The ice rink was empty, and Yuuri was relieved. He didn't have to worry about anyone bothering him. He slid on his skates, feeling excited and nervous. It felt like it had been ages since he was out on the ice. He entered the rink, gliding over the ice carefully. He already felt happier. He was realizing now how much he had missed being out here. It was so normal. Nothing had been normal lately, and normal was nice.

He slowly let himself go a little quicker. He had been afraid that it would be hard getting back out on the ice, but it almost felt as if he had never left. It was all muscle memory. He felt free, like nothing could touch him. He still had something good about him. There was still something that he could look forward to doing.

He did a small, single loop. He did it without a problem. He knew that he shouldn't push it too much, but he was lost in the moment. He tried again. Maybe if he worked his way up-

He wasn't as strong as he thought he was. He lost his footing and crashed down on the ice. He was at least able to realize what was happening with enough time to shield his head from hitting the ice with his arm. His ribs definitely felt it, but he was sure that he hadn't re-broken them. At least he was hoping as much.

"Yuuri!"

Shit, someone was there after all. Someone rolled him over and he looked up to see Yurio above him, looking concerned.

"What the hell?" Yurio said angrily. "What are you doing out here? Did you hurt yourself?"

At least it was only Yurio. If Victor had followed him or found him here, he would be very upset with him. "I'm fine," Yuuri said. "I just fell. It's no big deal."

"I know, I was watching you," Yurio said, holding out him hand to pull Yuuri up. Yuuri took it, wincing as Yurio pulled him to his feet. "Are you sure you're okay? Didn't Victor say you had to wait to come back? Why are you here, by yourself?"

"How would you feel if you were me?" Yuuri asked him, and Yurio just looked at him. Yuuri sighed. His chest definitely hurt, but nowhere near as bad as it had when he had broken it. He was lucky. "I'm sorry, Yurio. I just…I just really wanted to escape for a minute."

Yurio crossed his arms and sighed. "I get it, okay? Just…just don't be stupid. You don't want to make it so you hurt yourself and you can't come back at all."

Yuuri nodded. Yurio was right. He had been careless, and he knew better.

….

Yuuri wasn't in bed.

Don't panic, Victor told himself. He probably just went to the bathroom or was in the kitchen. Victor lay there, waiting to see if he could hear Yuuri moving around in the apartment, but he couldn't.

He couldn't help himself. He got up and looked for him. He wasn't in the bathroom, the kitchen, the living room. He wasn't in the apartment. There was no note. Victor pulled out his phone. It was just after 6 in the morning. He texted Yuuri. Where are you?

I went for a run, was the reply. A moment later: I'm on my way back now. Sorry.

Victor sighed. Yuuri was usually better about these things, especially now.

He got a message a few minutes later, from Yurio.

Yuuri was at the rink. He fell on the ice but he said he's okay. He didn't want me to walk him home. Just letting you know incase.

Victor gripped the phone tightly. He grabbed his coat and shoes, threw them on, and ran out the door.

….

Yuuri was halfway home when he saw Victor running towards him. He looked angry, or worried, or both. Yurio must have told him, even though he told him not to tell Victor. Yuuri sighed. He couldn't be angry and Yurio. He knew Yurio had been worried about him.

"What were you thinking?" was the first thing Victor said when he caught up to him. "Are you hurt? You didn't hit your head, right? The doctor said that hitting your head-"

"I'm fine, I didn't hit my head," Yuuri said, cutting him off. "I promise! It was nothing, really-"

Victor hugged him, causing Yuuri to flinch. Victor pushed him away, his face serious. "Did you hurt your ribs?"

"No, I'm fine."

Victor looked angrier.

"This isn't a game, Yuuri!" he yelled, tears shining in his eyes. "Do you have any idea how much I worry about you? You realize the doctors said it could be fatal if you hit your head again too hard, right? Do you think it's a joke?"

"No!" Yuuri yelled back, though he felt ashamed.

"You realize I have to watch you die in my dreams over and over right? How do you think that makes me feel, Yuuri? How can you be so careless?"

"I'm sorry!" Yuuri cried, tears flowing. "I wasn't- I wasn't thinking!"

"Obviously!" Victor yelled back. They stood there and stared at each other in the cold dark street. Yuuri felt terrible. Victor was right. He hadn't even been thinking about Victor at all. He had just wanted an escape from his thoughts. That was all.

"I'm sorry," Yuuri said, his voice small. He didn't know what else he could say. "I'm so sorry."

Victor turned away from him for a moment. Yuuri could see him take a deep breath. He turned back. "Let's just go home. Are you sure you're okay? No dizzy spells or anything?"

Yuuri shook his head. "I'm okay. I used my arm to cover my head when I fell. I did hit my ribs, but they aren't re-broken. They only hurt a little."

He could tell Victor was still angry, but he also wanted to help him. He took Yuuri's arm in his and led the way home.

….

Once they were home, Victor made Yuuri get back in bed. He then went to the kitchen and pulled out an icepack. His anger was finally dissipating, and he felt a little guilty for the way he had reacted. He knew that Yuuri was just trying to deal with things in his own way. Victor just hated that Yuuri always felt the need to deal with everything alone. Wasn't that the point of being in a relationship? Yuuri had been so amazing taking care of Victor when he needed it, especially in the middle of the night when the nightmares came. Victor just wanted to do the same for him back.

"Here, use this," Victor said, going back in the bedroom and handing Yuuri the icepack.

"Thanks," Yuuri said, taking it without looking at Victor in the eyes. Victor sighed and sat down on the bed.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"Don't be sorry, you were right," Yuuri replied, still not looking at him. "I guess I've just always been on my own and I haven't really had to stop and think about what my actions mean for anyone other than myself. I don't mean for it to be that way."

"I know," Victor sighed. "But you don't have to be alone, anymore. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere. I want to help you when you need it. That's what I signed up for," he added, raising his hand to show the gold band on his finger.

Yuuri finally looked at him. He gave Victor a small smile, though it was fleeting. "I don't want to go to the trial next week. I try my hardest to not think about what happened."

"I know," Victor said, taking Yuuri's hand in his. "I feel the same way. But at the same time, I want to make sure this woman pays for what she did."

Yuuri stared at their hands. "I guess you're right."

"Is that why you went to the rink this morning?"

Yuuri shrugged. "It's part of it. I just wanted to escape everything for a little while."

"Well," Victor said, rubbing circles on the top of Yuuri's hand unconsciously, "once we get past this trial, we should take that vacation we've been talking about. I think it would be good for us."

Yuuri smiled. "I think I'd like that."