Three months.

It has been three months since that fateful day.

That night, both Yuri and Victor were rushed to the hospital in critical conditions. Victor had suffered a minor blow to his ribs and fractured his arm, nearly breaking it. Besides a couple of bruises and cuts here and there, that was it.

Yuri, on the other hand, wasn't so lucky.

Since the impact of the incoming vehicle that crashed into them was on his side of the car, Yuri was the one who received the most damage. He broke a few of his ribs and most of his right side was scattered with cuts and bruises. But the biggest problem was the hit he recieved to his head and the amount of blood loss. He had arrived at the hospital and was taken into the ER--three months ago, he's been in a coma and hasn't woken up since.

It's not certain if he ever will wake up, or if the blow to his head will cause any permanent damage. Nothing was certain yet, but since they released Victor two weeks after the incident, he's insisted that Yuri will wake up.

It's been three months now and nothing has changed. Yuri us still in a coma, stuck in that hospital bed Victor loathed, but Victor still believed it was only a matter of time before Yuri woke up.

All he wanted now was to see Yuri's eyes shinning brightly the way they always did whenever he smiled. He would give anything to see him happy again. Even his own life.

Victor began to head back towards Yuri's room from the small break he was forced to take by the nurse he had somewhat grown a friendship with. She insisted he should take some time off and walk a bit to get his arm used to moving, even though his health was the least of his worries. After arguing a bit, he eventually decided to give in though and go for a walk around the hospital.

Victor opened the door, the slightest part of him hoping he could walk in on Yuri awake, smiling brightly at the sight of him. But as he stepped inside, nothing was different than the last time he was in there. Everything was still and quiet, besides the sound of the heartbeat monitor and the oxygen machine that helped Yuri breathe. Those where the only two things that let Victor know he was still alive and the only things they were holding on to.

There was usually someone visiting, either a family member or a friend; some stayed a couple of minutes, others a few hours, but Victor was the one who rarely ever left. He wanted to stay by his fiancé's side at all times, to show him support even at his weakest point. Even if Yuri might not be able to see him, he hoped that he could feel his love, wherever he was lost.

That's it.

He was only lost and it won't be long before Yuri is able to find his way back home. Back to Victor's arms.

Victor sighed softly as he took his usual seat next to Yuri's bed and ran a hand through his disheveled hair. It had been growing out lately, but he couldn't care less if his hair was long or not.

He knew how bad he probably looked and how tired he must seem, but, again, it didn't matter to him. Lately, nothing did. Everything was so bland and empty. He knew it was because Yuri wasn't there next to him, but even if he wanted to, it wouldn't make a difference if he tried to see the 'bright side' to things. It never will; not as long as Yuri is stuck in that hospital bed.

And there was the guilt.

Victor knows he shouldn't blame himself for what happened. It wasn't something he could've controlled or known was going to happen--at least that's what Yuri would want him to believe. But he couldn't help to think that if maybe he hadn't taken that route, Yuri would be perfectly healthy right now. And so part of him blamed himself for what happened to Yuri. And that part of him hated himself more than anything, more than he hated that intoxicated man that almost took Yuri's life away from him.

Victor's eyes were trained over Yuri's delicate features. There was a peaceful look on Yuri's face, as if the last thought he had was a happy one and not the thought of how much pain he must've been in.

For the hundredth time, Victor's eyes watered in shame.

"I'm so sorry." He croaked, his voice hoarse from how dehydrated he was.

He took one of Yuri's hands and kissed each knuckle tenderly. "Please forgive me, Yuri."

It should have been me.
  
  

++
   
  

A couple of hours had gone by when there was a knock on the door. Thinking it was the nurse to give her hourly check-up, Victor ignored the door opening and the sound of footsteps approaching. It wasn't until he felt a hand touch his shoulder that he looked up.

He was surprised to see Yurio (out of all people) standing there, a dissaproving look on his face.

"What are you doing here, Victor?" He asked, going straight to the point. It was a bit harsh, but Victor needed someone to knock some sense into him and that's what Yurio was planning to do.

Unfazed by his tone, Victor looked back at Yuri, his voice showing no emotion as he stated the obvious. "Taking care of Yuri."

"And what about you?" Yurio shot back harshly. Victor's eyebrows furrowed in the slightest.

"What about me?"

"Do you think Yuri would want you to strain yourself this much? You look like shit, Victor. Tell me, when was the last time you ate properly?" Victor's lips pursed into a straight line as he tried to remember his last supper, but quite frankly, he couldn't even remember.

Silence was Victor's response.

Yurio huffed and stuck his hands into his pockets in a bit of a fit. He looked down at the floor, "Come on, let's go eat. My treat." He muttered and began to walk away, a part of him expecting Victor would follow him. But when he turned around, he wasn't surprised to see Victor still sitting down, eyes trained on Yuri's motionless body.

"I said, let's go. My treat." Yurio repeated, a bit more demanding this time. Victor finally looked up at him, his eyes looking for any hint of sarcasm.

Knowing Yurio might just try to drag him out if he had to, Victor sighed in defeat and stood up.

After placing a quick kiss on Yuri's forehead, he stepped out into the hallway where he ran into the friendly nurse, Kubo. She gave him a pleased smile, clearly happy that he was out, even if it was just the hallway.

"Oh, hello, Mr.Nikiforov! I was just about to go in and give Mr.Katsuki his bath." She smiled and Victor looked down to see the bucket she was holding. Naturally Victor would always be there, even during his baths, but he trusted her and was certain he would be in good hands. At least now he knows Yuri won't be alone while he's gone.

"Thank you. I'll be back soon." He nodded politely before turning on his heel and following Yurio down the busy hallway. "I won't take long." He called from a couple of feet away.

As Victor followed Yurio around, he was a bit surprised to see he was taking him out of the hospital and not to the first-floor cafeteria as he first guessed. Thankfully, he had just taken a shower that morning and was dressed appropriately, or at least he hoped so.

Once he got into Yurio's car, a bit anxious, he asked, "Where are we going?"

"Don't worry about it, it's a nearby diner. We won't take long." Yurio assured him in a mumble.

With that, Yurio pulled out of the parking lot and headed to the diner. As promised, the place was just about five minutes away from the hospital. It wasn't a fancy restaurant, so his jeans and plain black shirt were fine.

As soon as they walked through the front doors, the smell of freshly baked pancakes and other delicious food welcomed them and Victor's stomach growled. They took a seat in one of the nearby booths and soon a young waitress made her way over.

"Good evening, what would you like?" She asked cheerfully. After taking both of their orders, she skipped away, leaving both Russian skaters alone.

It was obvious to most people that Yurio wasn't one to talk much, especially about emotional topics at that. But Victor knew he was worried, even if he didn't say it out loud. He knew Yurio was trying to show his support by being rhere; he cares, he just has his own way of showing it.

So it took him by surprise when Yurio broke the silence with a mumbled, "How have you been doing?"

It took Victor a couple of seconds to come up with an answer, but once he did, his voice was weak and uncaring, "Not very good. I can't sleep at night, and it's been getting harder every day..." He said truthfully.

Yurio nodded as if trying to understand. Then he said something that surprised Victor even more, "I really hope everything goes back to normal soon... And I really do think that Yuri will be okay."

Victor took in his words and broke into a smile, something he hadn't done in a while. He felt his heart swell at Yurio's words, deeply grateful for all of this. He knew this was a bit difficult for Yurio, so he wasn't going to take it for granted.

"Thank you, Yurio." Victor said softly, flashing the blond a sincerely grateful smile.

Yuri glared at him from his seat and crossed his arms over his chest, "Whatever. And I told you, my name isn't Yurio!"

The waitress returned with their orders and Victor happily began to eat. The honey soaked pancakes dissolved in his mouth and his stomach cried in happiness. Pancakes probably weren't the best thing he should've been eating right now, but Victor couldn't help himself. He had a sweet tooth.

Towards the end of their peaceful dinner, Victor's phone rang from his front pocket. He hurriedly dropped his fork and fished his cellphone out of his jeans, his thumb sliding across the screen in the blink of an eye the second he recognized the number.

"Yes?" He asked into the phone, heart stopping and eyes wide for whatever news he was about to recieve.

Victor shot up to his feet as he received the news, not caring if people were now staring at him.

"...I'm on my way." He whispered breathlessly and hung up. He hadn't realized he was crying until he felt the tears roll down his chin and splash his shirt. Yurio gave him a worried look once he saw his tears, but Victor smiled widely.

"Yuri woke up!" He cried.

++

Victor rushed down the hallways and ran past the people, careful not to run into the HV stands or wheelchairs. His eyes were trained on the door down the hall. The door he had walked in and out of so many times in the past three months, hoping to see Yuri's eyes. And he will finally be able to do so.

At last. Yuri was awake.

He came back to me, Victor cried.

"Yuri!" Victor gasped as soon as he stepped into the room. His eyes fell on the bed and he fell to his knees when a head turned away from the doctor, the pair of dark eyes he had missed so much meeting his.

Once again, Victor broke down, all his bottled up emotions breaking loose.

He was alive.

-yuri was finally back home.