As much of a pain in the ass he could be sometimes, I was going to miss having Chris around. The house felt like a home. We felt like a complete family. Things wouldn't be the same without him. To think this was going to be our last dinner together for a while.

"Yuri," Victor looked our son over, "Why were you picking fights at daycare today?"

"Because," Yuri explained, still not over what had happened, "Some of the big kids told Yurio he looked like a girl."

"At least he's a pretty girl."

"Hey!" Yurio growled, "I'm not a girl!"

"I was only protecting him, Daddy," Yuri glanced down at his feet.

"So," Victor asked, "How'd you do it?"

"Victor!" Both Chris and I scolded him.

"Sorry," he apologized, immediately seeing the error of his ways, "Did you use your words, Yuri?"

"At first," Yuri told.

"Well then," Victor chirped, "It's his fault he didn't listen. He didn't understand that no meant no."

"This man was going to give me an aneurysm, but I couldn't leave him. By the look on Chris' face he understood completely. That same look of love and exasperation. We both loved this idiot and we weren't getting rid of him any time soon. And because Chris was such a sweetheart, he helped me clear the dishes. Someone liked to use the excuse of taking Makkachin out to get out of doing dishes.

"Violet," Chris sighed out, "Do you think I could ask a huge favor of you?"

"Of course, Chris," I allowed, "What is it?"

"Well," he blushed. It took a lot for Chris to blush, "it's just that...Since it is my last night in town…Not to mention we were together intimately all day…DO you think…maybe I could…Could I…?"

I had a feeling I knew exactly what he wanted, "You want Victor to cuddle with for the night, don't you?"

"Yes," he couldn't even look at me, "If it's not too much to ask. I understand if you say no. He is your husband."

"Chris," I put my hand to his cheek, "It's fine. If you want to cuddle with Victor for the night, that's fine."

Chris threw his arms around me, "Merci, Violet."

"You're welcome, sweetie," I reveled in his embrace. Chris always did have some killer hugs, "You have been awfully cuddly lately, Chris. What's the occasion?"

"Absence does make the heart grow fonder," he admitted, "And I really do miss Victor from time to time when I'm back home. This may not be easy for you to hear, but I know Victor feels the same."

Chris was right. I knew Victor missed him once he walked out the door. And it killed him to see Chris leave. Dealing with Victor after that isn't exactly pleasant, but we always manage to muddle through together. But probably just as bad, I knew I was the one keeping them apart. Victor could say I did good when we got married all he wanted to. I knew he was dying inside. Before Chris could see my inevitable breakdown, I pulled out my ace in the hole.

"It's getting kind of late," my voice broke a bit, "I'm going to go put the boys to bed."

"Ok," Chris knew something wasn't exactly right with me, but he knew better than to say something about it, "Yuri, Yurio, time for bed."

"Aww!" Yurio whined in the middle of a video game.

"Yurio," Chris demanded, "Your game will be there in the morning."

"But I won't be," he fought, "I start training with Yakov tomorrow morning!"

"Tell you what," I bargained, "I'm going to go tuck your brother in first. When I come back, you're going to bed, too."

"Fine," Yurio brushed me off, laser focused on his game.

"Come on, Yuri," I took his hand and brought him to his room. At least one of them listened.

Yuri got all snuggled in his bed while I grabbed an ice pack out of the freezer. His eye was really starting to look bad. The black, blue, and purple splotch under it stood out like a sore thumb. Hopefully, people don't think he's being abused. No. Anyone that knows Victor and I knows better. We couldn't love these boys any more than we already do.

I pressed the ice pack over Yuri's eye, "How's it feeling, baby?"

"It still kind of hurts," Yuri told, "But only when you push on it like that."

"Then, I won't push on it anymore," I promised, cradling him in my lap, "You did a bad thing for a good reason today, Yuri."

"I know," he quivered a little.

"But it's done and over with," I kissed the top of his head, "I'm proud of you."

"Even though I hurt someone?"

"You got hurt, too," I pointed out, "I'd say you both learned your lesson."

"Ok," Yuri let out a tiny yawn, "Mama...?"

"Yeah, baby?"

"Why does Uncle Chris have to leave?" he laid his head on my shoulder.

"He has a life outside us, too, Yuri," I felt that one in my soul, "Now, get some sleep, ok?"

"Ok," Yuri nestled down in his blankets, "Good night, Mama."

"Good night, Yuri," I kissed his forehead, "I love you."

"Love you, too."

I killed the light in Yuri's bedroom and shut the door. Now, for the hard part, "Yuri, turn the game off."

"Ok," Yurio did exactly what he was told. And when he was told. Huh...Was it my birthday and I didn't know it? Yurio and I continued the time-honored tradition of his bedtime routine. I sat on the edge of the bed while Yurio got his tiger plushie.

"Tomorrow morning's going to come awfully early for you, Yuri," I warned, "Are you going to be ok with that?"

"I'm still not sure about Yakov," Yurio worried.

"I'll be right there, Yuri," I swore, "Every practice."

"You promise?" Yurio's eyes sparkled with a combination of hope and fear.

"I promise," I held him tight, "Are you going to be ok with earlier practices?"

"I knew I didn't like Yakov for a reason," he pouted.

"You'll get used to it, dovakhiin," I giggled, "Now, go to sleep."

"Mama," Yurio grabbed the bottom of my shirt.

"What is it, baby?"

"Will you play your program music for me?" he requested.

"Of course, sweetheart," I knew just which one he wanted. I scrolled through my phone until I found the right song and plugged it in his speaker. When I sat back down, Yurio crawled back into my lap with his blanket and his tiger, "Do you know what she's saying in the dragon's tongue, Yuri?"

"What?"

"Dragonborn, dragonborn," I sang, pushing the hair out of his face, "By his honor is sworn. To keep evil forever at bay. And the fiercest foes rout when they hear triumph's shout. Dragonborn, for your blessing we pray."

"This dragonborn," Yurio thought out loud, "You really think I could be him?"

"I know you are him," I gave him a kiss, pulling his blankets over him, "Bright and early, Yuri."

"I know," he grumbled.

"I love you, dovakhiin."

"I love you, too, Mama."

I switched off the lights and closed Yurio's door behind me. It had gotten pretty late and I knew I was going to have to be up early. Might as well go to bed. Or the couch, as the case may be. I stuck my head in the guest room and found the sheets neatly folded on the corner of the bed with a note on it.

So you don't have to sleep on the couch tonight.

C.

Bless you, Christophe. He stripped the bed for me. The bedding felt warm and smelled like lavender fabric softener. I made the bed, wrapped myself in the comforter, and crawled in, ready to call it a night. In a perfect world, I really wouldn't mind Chris moving in. But we didn't want to raise suspicion and like I told Yuri, Chris had a life outside us. He was still skating where Victor had retired last year to spend more time with the boys. One day.

The next morning, I climbed out of bed, ready to take Yurio to Yakov. All I needed was a to-go cup full of espresso and I'd be fine. I stumbled a few steps and started heading toward the kitchen. But stopped dead in the hallway when I heard Chris and Victor at the door.

"When will you be back?" Victor asked.

"As soon as I can," Chris promised, "I have some things to take care of back home. Once that's all done, then I'll be on the first plane back here."

"I'll miss you," Victor's voice shook.

"No, no, mi amore," Chris settled him, "I'll be back before you get the chance to miss me. You know that, Vitya. Kiss Violet and the boys for me. I don't want this to be hard on them."

Although, Chris and I made eye contact while Victor's face was buried in his shoulder. He shot me a subliminal goodbye with a wink and gave his boyfriend one last kiss. Then, just like that, Chris was gone. And Victor sat in the kitchen with Makkachin at his feet, giving him the occasional pat on the head. I couldn't let him be alone. Not now.

"Hey," I walked in, getting my usual coffee cup.

"Morning," Victor sighed out, "You just missed Chris."

"Are you ok?" I worried, sitting with him.

"I'm sure I'll manage," I knew that look. His managing was going to be a pint of cookie dough and Lifetime movies. And that was all going to be before noon.

"Are you and Yuri going to the rink this morning?" I asked, trying to get his mind off things.

"Later," he nodded, "Not really up for going anywhere right now. What about you and Yurio? Isn't he starting with Yakov today?"

"Yeah," I stirred in my creamer, "In a little while."

"Hopefully, Yakov will go easier on him than he did on me," Victor forced a smile.

"Victor," I took his hand, "He will be back."

"I know," he shook a little, "I just wish he didn't have to leave. I really did think we could've kept things casual between us."

"Catching feelings, are we?" I assumed.

"Yeah," Victor fell onto the table top, "I'm sorry, Violet, but I am."

"I understand," I ran my thumb over his, "We'll get through it, Victor. I promise."

"You should go," he gave me a nudge, "You shouldn't keep Yakov waiting. He gets cranky when you show up late. Like...Thirty minutes late...With a latte...More times than you'd like to admit."

"You sound like a voice of experience," I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood a little.

"I am a voice of experience." There it was. Victor's first genuine smile. And the sun shined a little brighter.

"Will you be alright without me for a while?" I worried.

"I'll be fine," he assured, "If all else fails, I won't be by myself. If I get too bad, I won't get the cookie dough or Yuri's going to want some. I'll meet you at the rink later, ok?"

"Ok," I got up, "You do know I'll be here for you no matter what, right? You and me?"

"I know."

"And if you need anything," I kissed his cheek, "Tell me."

"Thank you, Violet," Victor pulled me down to his lap, wrapping his arms around me, "Really and truly, what did I do to deserve you?"

"You got me out of seedy burlesque clubs," I reminded him, "And you got me on the ice."

"I love you," he nuzzled his face in my shoulder blades.

"I love you, too," I got back up, "Now, I have to go wake up Yurio. Pray for me."

"You have my prayers."

Slowly, but surely, I made my way into Yurio's room and to my surprise, he was already awake, "Good morning, Yuri."

"Good morning, Mama," he dug through his dresser.

"What's the occasion you're already up?" I wondered.

"I'm excited!" Yurio squealed, "I've never wanted to get on the ice so bad in my life! Where are my skates?"

"They're in the front closet," I giggled, "Yuri, relax. Yakov isn't going to be there until nine. It's barely eight o'clock."

"Then, I can get some warmup time in," I had never seen this kid so fired up, "Come on, Mama! Let's go! Let's go!"

I barely had a cup of coffee in me and Yurio could probably run laps around the house without breaking a sweat. This was worse than the time Victor "accidentally" gave him Mountain Dew just to see what would happen. That kid with Mountain Dew in him and a bouncy castle, although a hilarious sight to see, was a disaster.

The two of us got ready to leave and I grabbed Yurio's bag, giving Victor a quick kiss in the doorway, "If you need anything…"

"I will," he cut me off, "I love you."

"I love you, too."

"Hurry up, Mama!" Yurio screeched down the hall. And that was my cue to get him to the rink as soon as possible. If Yakov didn't want me in the beginning, he was going to want me by the end of today's practice.

A/N: By the way, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YURIO! My baby grew up so fast. And to celebrate, as a little surprise, I wrote a one-shot for him, going along more of the canon than an AU like this one as to what that little angel did today. It's cute and fluffy, just like Yurio himself. It's called Surprise. It should be near the top of my profile. I suggest reading it. If you were wanting your Victuri, that's got your Victuri. If you were wanting some Otayuri, that's got some Otayuri (Yurabek? I'm not really sure what the official ship name for that is, but you know what I'm talking about). I know I said this week was going to be Yurio's first practice with Yakov, but we're going to wait until next week for that. I'm sorry this is up late, but posting two chapters in one day isn't exactly my normal workload. And I actually left my house today, so…Anyway, I love your faces. And I'll see you next chapter! xx