A/N: Hey guys! I had to do a lot of research for this chapter (for this story/the last story in general haha). I know nothing about Russian Courts. I have a degree in Criminal Justice but unfortunately I've only studied American courts xD So I tried to keep a lot of the court stuff out. Sorry if you wanted a really in depth trial xD -Kate

Both Victor and Yuuri were quiet as they got up in the morning. Today was the day of the trial, and neither of them were very excited about it. Victor had had one of his nightmares again that night, that resulted in both of them lying in bed unable to sleep for the rest of the night.

Yuuri made breakfast and started the coffee. He needed to keep busy to keep his mind off what they were about to do. His heart was racing, and he was trying his best to calm himself. His hands were shaking slightly as he piled eggs onto a plate for Victor, and Victor, who had been hanging back watching him, seemed to notice. He put his arms around Yuuri's waist from behind and hugged him, without saying a word. Yuuri sat down the pan and turned to face Victor, their faces just inches apart.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Yuuri asked him.

"I can go by myself, if you don't want to," Victor told him, pushing Yuuri's hair out of his face.

"No! No, I want to go." Yuuri hated the idea of Victor going by himself because Yuuri was too afraid to. "Well, I don't want to, but…" His voice trailed off awkwardly. "I guess we can just get it done and over with."

Victor hesitated, and then said, "It could take more than one day, Yuuri. Especially with a high publicity case like this."

Yuuri didn't like the phrases 'more than one day' or 'high publicity.' It made him sick to his stomach. "It will be okay," Victor assured him, kissing his forehead. "We'll be together, and that's what matters. I know I can handle anything as long as I have you by my side."

Yuuri smiled, wishing he could have that same confidence.

…..

Yuuri was gripping Victor's hand tightly as they took their seats in the courtroom. Victor rubbed the top of Yuuri's hand with his thumb, doing his best to help calm him. Victor was starting to get nervous as well. They had been hounded by the press on their way in, neither of them making a comment. Now they had to sit through the court proceeding, reliving through everything they had been trying to forget. But perhaps it would help them, once it was over. Because then, at least, it would be over. Then perhaps they could actually try to move on with their lives.

Victor felt Yuuri's grip tighten and looked up. The guards were bringing in their prisoner. Her eyes darted across the room as she took her seat, her eyes stopping on Victor for a second. Her eyes narrowed and she turned and sat down. Victor exhaled, realizing he had been holding his breath as he had watched it. It was hard to believe that he had ever heard this woman cheering his name and thrown her a flower.

The proceedings seemed to drag on forever. Yuuri didn't move at all the whole time, Victor noticed; it was if he were frozen, staring up at the front of the room. Victor made sure to keep hold of his hand the entire time, hoping it helped. Victor himself was surprisingly calm. Perhaps he was too focused on Yuuri to notice, but he didn't mind. He just wanted to get this day done and over with.

They called Yuuri up to speak as a witness. Victor wasn't sure if Yuuri was going to be able to do it; he looked like he was going to be sick. But somehow, Yuuri managed to stand, and Victor had to let go of his hand. Yuuri looked down at him pleadingly, as if asking for Victor to come with him, but all Victor could do was try to smile at him and let him know he was still there.

Yuuri's voice was small as he took the stand, and they had to ask him to speak up. He didn't want to look at anybody. Victor's heart broke as he watching them ask Yuuri questions about what had happened, questions Yuuri clearly didn't want to answer. After a few minutes he seemed to calm a bit, and Victor was glad. You can do this, Yuuri, he thought, his hand feeling empty without Yuuri's. The woman, Alina, was watching Yuuri as he spoke, Victor could tell. But she didn't move, or speak. She just watched.

Once Yuuri was done, they called Victor up. They passed each other as Yuuri was walking back to his seat. Their hands brushed against each other briefly, but it was still comforting.

Victor answered everything they asked him truthfully. They asked about his relationship with Alina, his relationship with Yuuri, and all the events that had happened just weeks ago. Victor could feel her eyes on him, though he didn't want to look at her. He could remember the look of hatred in her eyes on that night in Moscow. He hated to think that hatred of that kind even existed. Even with everything that both he and Yuuri had gone through, Victor couldn't muster up that kind of hatred towards Alina if he tried.

Once they were done questioning him, Victor stood up and allowed himself to look at her again. Her eyes were still narrowed, like she wished nothing but pain on him. It's hard to believe that this woman ever believed herself to be a fan of his.

Finally, the day came to an end, with proceedings continuing the next day. Yuuri was up and out of his seat the very second they called the proceeding to an end, not even waiting to see if Victor was following him. Victor did, of course, following Yuuri all the way outside, until Yuuri finally stopped and hunched over, vomiting in the parking lot.

Victor rubbed his back, not quite sure of what else he could do. After a moment Yuuri straightened up and turned to Victor, throwing his arms around Victors neck.

"You did great," Victor said soothingly. "Let's get out of here."

….

Yuuri was exhausted by the time they got home. They had luckily gotten out before they got hounded by the press again. He had spent the entire time they were in court feeling like he was on the edge of a panic attack, but somehow had kept himself grounded enough to survive it. If Victor hadn't been there, he probably wouldn't have been able to last. Feeling Victor's hand in his was the only thing that kept him from breaking.

Yuuri hadn't even realized how badly he was still afraid. The past few weeks had passed in a fog as he focused on healing from his injuries and trying to remember what normalcy was. The fear was there, of course. But nothing like it was today. Today he had to face it head on, rather than shoving it in some dark corner of his mind. Facing it had been hard. He wasn't sure if he could do it again tomorrow.

Yuuri fell into bed without even changing his clothes. He felt Victor climb onto the bed as well, and then felt Victor's lips on his head. Yuuri closed his eyes, grateful to not be alone.

"Do you want to talk?" Victor asked him.

"No," Yuuri replied. "I just want to sleep." He didn't care that it wasn't even night yet. He was tired and wanted nothing more than to escape the day for a little while.

"Okay," Victor replied, stroking Yuuri's hair softly. "I'm going to clean up a bit and start dinner. I'll save some for you if you aren't up."

Victor got out of the bed. Yuuri turned, calling out after him.

"Victor wait!"

Victor stopped and looked at him. Yuuri blushed. "Can you stay a little longer?"

Victor smiled. "Of course."

….

Victor woke up with a start. He sat up and looked around wildly, feeling relief wash over him as he realized he was at home, in bed, with Yuuri next to him. Yuuri was still asleep, so apparently Victor's nightmare hadn't caused a scene like it usually did. But the dream tonight had been different. It started the same, but when Victor went around the bed expecting to see Yuuri's body, there was nothing there, just a bloodstain on the carpet. The dream hadn't changed like that since Victor started having it, and it was weird.

It was 6:32 AM. Deciding to let Yuuri sleep a little longer, Victor got up and took a quick shower, and then went to make them some breakfast. Today the sentencing would happen, and at least the trial would be over.

Yuuri came out into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes groggily. "You're up early," he yawned.

Victor smiled, sitting a plate down on the table. "I thought I would cook you breakfast for once."

Yuuri smiled back. Victor leaned in and kissed him good morning. They lingered there for a moment, their foreheads touching. It was comforting to both of them.

Yuuri sat down at the table, and Victor joined him. "When we get home today, we can start looking up those vacations, okay?" Victor said with a grin.

Yuuri nodded, looking down at his plate but not touching it. "Plus maybe the doctor will clear me to come back, and we can start training again."

Victor smiled, knowing how badly Yuuri wanted nothing more than for their lives to return to normal. "Your appointment is tomorrow, right? Wouldn't that be something if we ca put all this behind us in one go?"

Yuuri took a bite of his food finally, looking unsure. "Is my cooking that bad?" Victor laughed.

"No!" Yuuri said quickly, shoving another bite in his mouth for good measure. Once he swallowed the mouthful he continued, "I just was worried that I was going to get sick in the parking lot again."

"Today should be easier," Victor assured him. "I don't think they will need us to speak again unless they've thought of something else to bring up."

"God I hope not," Yuuri said, shoving more food in his mouth.

….

They didn't have to speak again at the trial. The second day went quicker than the first, and the jury had made their decision. They found Alina guilty. The judge sentenced her to ten years in prison.

Ten years. She went to that hotel room with the intention of killing Yuuri- why else had would she have come armed?- and all she got was ten years. It made Victor angry, because it didn't seem like enough. Ten years from now and they might run into her on the street again?

He looked at Yuuri to see what his reaction was. He was sitting still as he had yesterday, his face pale. Victor squeezed Yuuri's hand. Yuuri looked at him for a second, his eyes unreadable, and looked back up at the front.

Alina had no reaction to the news either. It was if she were dead inside and nothing phased her, except for the anger she felt towards them. The guards took her away, and she threw them one last loathing look before she was gone.

"We can go now, Yuuri," Victor murmured, and Yuuri turned to look at him as though he were surprised. He nodded and stood up. Victor led him out of the court room, sending a message to Yakov as he walked.

Please tell me you are outside.

A reply almost immediately.

I am but reporters are swarming, better be out here quick.

When they were in the hall Victor stopped and turned around to face Yuuri. "Yuuri, are you alright? There's going to be a lot of people out there."

Yuuri looked at him blankly. Victor could tell he was having some kind of anxiety attack, but wasn't sure what he could do. All he could do was get them out of there, and he held Yuuri's hand tightly and led them outside.

Yakov wasn't kidding. Reporters were everywhere with their camera and microphones, and shooting questions at them as soon as they left the courthouse. Victor didn't feel like talking to them and pushed through, dragging Yuuri behind him. Victor was relieved when he saw Yakov's car. He pushed Yuuri in and then got in after him, slamming the door shut in the reporter's faces.