December 7th, 2025- Three Weeks Later- 41 Weeks (Late)-

Yuri's POV 1st Person

"We don't have to go to this," Otabek says as I struggle to my feet, helping me get my balance. "They'll understand,"

"Yes, they will," I say darkly, "They'll want to come over so we don't have to go out, and I do not want them in our house," He nods, seeming firmly against the notion as well.

"I guess," He says skeptically, "But still, isn't this a little much?" I roll my eyes,

"It's a cafe Beka, I'm fine," I grab my coat from the rack by the door and put it on, slowly easing it over my abdomen, trying not to squeeze it. Otabek, seeing my dilemma and the pink blush on my face, tactfully turns and starts looking for his keys, knowing full well they're in his pocket. At last, I'm ready, and we set off, going in my car (Beka's insisted on this even though I'm fine) instead of his bike, because, hello? That would never work. 

When we reach the small coffee shop I see Victor's car sitting outside in front of it, and know the family's already arrived. We make our way inside and are beckoned over to a table at once, Victor waving and smiling while Yuuri whispers something to him firmly. Victor nods at him and says something else, glancing at me as he does. Oh great, this'll be fun. Maria escapes her parents, wriggling under the table and running over to us. She grabs my hand and starts pulling me toward the table, bouncing up and down with excitement. I laugh but don't let her drag me, walking slowly and holding her hand, knowing I can't go any faster.

When we reach the table she crawls under it again before her parents can stop her, and Otabek waits for me to sit down. I begin to, then realize my stomach is now so large it'll be difficult to maneuver it in a non-embarrassing way and mutter something about taking off my coat, letting him go first. This we both do, and I ease myself into the booth, successfully fitting my bump beneath the table. During this process, Yuuri and Victor seemed to sense my inner pain and occupied themselves with other things, dusting off their daughter and scolding her lightly about how dirty under the table is. She agrees not to do it again, seeming confused as to why but agreeing nonetheless. 

"How's it going?" Yuuri asks us politely, stirring something or other into his coffee and looking far too grown up and settled by doing so.

"Fine," I say vaguely, really not wanting to discuss this with them and search for some middle ground. "How's Maria?"

"I'm good," She pipes up and then gets a bright look in her eyes, "Can I show Uncle Yurio and Uncle Otabear my toy?" Victor laughs and nods,

"Yes, you can," He reaches under the table and pulls out a mini skating bag, "I wouldn't call these toys though, they're important," She nods firmly and takes the bag from him gently, unzipping it.

"These are my new skates!" She says excitedly and extracts them carefully, holding them like they're made of glass, and handing them to me to examine. "My dads say I can start competing!" 

"Will be able to start competing," Yuuri cuts in, raising an eyebrow at his husband, "At the start of next season," Maria nods impatiently but turns to me, waiting expectantly. 

I look over the tiny white skates in my hands, unable to fight the smile that spreads across my face as I see the small pink costume gems stuck to the sides. "I decorated them myself," Maria says proudly, pointing at the flower-like arrangement on the right skate. 

"They're lovely," I say handing them back to her, and can't help but think, my daughter will have skates like these. I turn to Otabek who is also looking over the little white contraptions, wearing a small smile on his face. He looks at me and I can tell we're thinking the same thing, entirely agreed upon the fact that our little girl will have skates too when she's old enough. 

"So, have you two settled on a name yet?" Yuuri asks us curiously, "Will you say?" I turn once again to my husband and feel inadequate as I reply, 

"Not quite, we're still stuck on a few," 

"You'll have to hurry," Victor cuts in, replacing his daughter's skates in the bag beneath the table, "It's close isn't it?"

"Past," Otabek tells him, "Last week,"

"Oh," Yuuri nods, "Very soon then. Are there any top contenders?"

"Yuliya, Sacha, and Alina," Otabek and I say together,

"Ooh, I like Yuliya," Victor says with a smile, "There was a skater by that name a few years ago, Lipnitskaya."

"I know," I say, "They're all skaters' names actually, not planned, just a freaky coincidence,"

"And one's a spin," Otabek adds and I laugh,

"Yeah, one's a spin. I actually competed against Yuliya once or twice in the junior division," I say to the table at large, remembering suddenly. "She was good, almost made it onto the national team."

"But that was you!" Maria exclaims, eyes lighting up, "I remember the story!"

"Yes," I laugh, "That was me,"

"Are you competing again this year?" She asks me, looking interested. 

"No," I say, glancing down at my bump, on which my hand rests. "Not this year,"

"Why?" Maria asks, looking puzzled, "Did you retire?"

"No," I say and both Yuuri and Victor look very surprised, my husband, on the other hand, smiles slightly, "Just..... took a break,"

"Why?" Maria asks me again and I turn to my husband, employing the mind-reading abilities we sometimes share, Help!

"There are lots of reasons," Yuuri says to his daughter, distracting her by getting up and pulling her with him, "Do you want a muffin?" She nods fervently and skips off to stand in line with him, excited by the prospect of a pastry just for her. 

I'm relieved by the end of the questioning and suddenly find myself feeling very tired. I lean against my husband's shoulder, hoping the cramped booth will hide the movement. Otabek, however, knows immediately and shifts infinitesimally to accommodate me. Despite my hopes, the booth fails to hide my discomfort and Victor notices how my husband supports me, a small smile spreading across his face at the sight.

Soon, Yuuri and Maria return, the latter carrying a small muffin carefully in front of her, decidedly not dropping it. She places it on the table and hops into the both next to her parents, looking pleased with herself and taking a bite of her snack. As she does so, the flavor of it becomes clear and I find myself resisting the urge to be sick. Pumpkin. I look away and attempt to block out the nauseating smell that seems to pervade the entirety of the air. I feel myself turning green and close my eyes hoping the pair in front of me won't notice this, and, instead, be entertained by my husband. Otabek seems to be doing this but stops after noticing my odd position, facing away from the majority of the table. 

"Yuri?" He asks and puts a hand on my shoulder. This action is too much for me and I feel myself about to be sick.

"I'll be right back," I mumble and stand up, fleeing the restaurant as fast as my current form will allow me. Once outside, I lean against the wall, and breathe in the fresh air, as my face slowly returns to its normal color. My hand rests on my abdomen and I shiver slightly, I'd forgotten my jacket when I left. It strikes me as funny actually, I used to be so good in the cold and now I can barely be outside for two minutes without freezing my ass off. 

"Yuri?" I turn to find my husband walking towards me, coat in hand and looking worried. "Are you alright? What was that?"

"I'm fine," I say and take the jacket he offers gratefully, "It was just the pumpkin, you know me," I shrug apologetically.

"Pumpkin, of course," He shakes his head, "I'm sorry, I didn't realize," 

"It's fine," I say and gaze through the window around the corner of the building. 

"Do you think you're okay now?" He asks me kindly, "I think she's done with that muffin so we should be safe to go back inside," I hesitate, on the brink of saying yes but also feeling absolutely exhausted.

"Do you think we can just go home?" I ask him weakly, "I know we haven't been here long but I just-" I pause and sigh, "I don't think I can do it,"

"Of course," He says gently and gives me a small kiss, "I'll be right back, I'm just going to go tell them we're leaving," I nod and take the keys he offers me, starting back toward the car.

He hops in beside me a minute later, "What did you say?" I ask as he puts on his seatbelt. He shrugs,

"Just that you weren't feeling well and I was taking you home," I nod, "Maria says she wants us to come over soon though," He mentions and I laugh, "Something about a tea party and a tiara,"

"Definitely," I agree with a smile, "I just can't live without the tiara."