**Author's Note!**

FOUR HUNDRED READS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG, I'm losing my mind!!! Thank you so much to everyone who's reading this, albeit strange, little story of mine, I love you all so much! Thank you for your continued support, it means the world to me and I hope you know that! <33333333333333333333333333

Ahem, with that little mental breakdown over, let's get to the actual content! Enjoy!

February 3rd, 2026- Three Weeks Later-

Yuri's POV

I glance at the clock in the kitchen where I currently sit, baby in my arms. "Beka," I call, "Their flight lands in twenty minutes, you need to go!"

"I know," He pokes his head into the room, smiling at the sight of Sacha in her carefully cleaned little blue onesie. It actually has a picture of a skate on it, being a gift from the idiots who call themselves our friends, and, while I would never tell them, it's my favorite. It just looks so good on her, the blue of the fabric brings out the green in her eyes. God, do I sound like an adult.

"Ah- no way," I move from my chair, baby in hand, and walk away from my husband. "Too close," He cocks an eyebrow, not seeing my train of thought, "You are clean," I explain, gesturing to the lack of puke on his clothing, "We," I look up and down myself, "Are not," I'm not wrong, while Sacha's clothing has been carefully shielded from harm by towel draped strategically over her little body, mine is in its normal condition, which is to say, a mess. "You are not getting dirty seconds before you walk out the door, I at least have time to change,"

He laughs and nods, backing up with hands raised in mock surrender. "You're right," He says, but comes over and gives us each a quick kiss before leaving anyway.

I look at the clock once more, ten minutes until they touch down so about thirty before they get here. My eyes stray around the room, it's been cleaned, as has the whole house, but, being the one that's arguably the most used, it's reverted back to its original state. If a bit lesser so than before. I briefly consider trying to tidy it up, but abandon the thought quickly, knowing it won't make much of a difference, and, as Otabek's family is lovely, I doubt they'd judge us on something so trivial.

I'm broken from my thoughts, however, by the presence of- "Shit," I mutter, repositioning Sacha to my shoulder and throwing the rag over it as I do. She's just puked, again, all over the little skating onesie, using the witchcraft only infants possess and managing to hit it through the cautionary blanket. Although it is partially my fault- what was I thinking? That she could last half an hour in one outfit without ruining it? Ha, as if. As I keep learning, no one is getting anywhere betting against her superhuman barfing abilities. 

With her firmly held to my shoulder, back still being patted gently, I leave the kitchen, aiming for the nursery and a change of clothes for us both. I arrive there and set her down on the changing table, going over to the dresser and extracting the 7th onesie of the day. How can such a tiny person make such a big mess?

I peel the stained one off of her and replace it with its clean counterpart, pausing slightly to tickle her small foot as I do. She coos energetically and wiggles away from the touch, wrinkling her little nose at the sensation. I laugh at her reaction and repeat what I've done, getting a smile in return. A smile? Our first smile! I'm on the point of calling for my husband so he can see it too, when I realize he's not home. I feel bad that he's missing this, but can't for too long, the adorable creature before me demanding all of my attention. I continue our game, the tickles I give her in exchange for tiny smiles until I eventually have to put her jumper back on. She's been pretty much naked, save for the diaper, for a good 15 minutes and I don't want her to get too cold. I hastily replace her clothing and leave the room with her in my arms. 

We make our way into my room, me laying her down on the bed surrounded by a pillow fortress and starting to change into something resembling presentable. My plans are foiled, however, when a knock on the door sounds before I can even take off the loose sweater I wear. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and groan (I look like such a mess) before scooping my daughter out of her enclosure and going downstairs. My one comfort is that, as the person knocked, it can't be my husband returning with his family. Otabek has a key and wouldn't knock, just come in like a normal human being. This means, if I get rid of the person quickly, I might still be able to change before they arrive. 

I open the door, doubtlessly looking like a lunatic, and am greeted by the sight of the people I was praying it was not. 

"Yuri!" Otabek's mother smiles warmly at me from the doorstep and I step back, letting the small party enter, painfully aware of my disheveled appearance.

"My key didn't work," My husband whispers to me apologetically, "I tried to warn you but you didn't pick up," I nod,

"My phone's in the kitchen," He shuts the door and herds his family (me included) into the living room. 

"How've you been?"His mother asks kindly, sitting down next to me on the sofa, and giving me a one-armed hug as my other is currently engaged.

"Good," I say and glance down at the small bundle I hold, "Busy," She laughs,

"I can imagine, I remember what it's like,"

"Speaking of," My husband says, coming over to me, "Guys, this is Sacha," Obediently, I adjust my grip and transition her so she's facing out, letting everyone see. 

"Oh," His mother draws in her breath and looks at my daughter with so much tenderness in her face it makes me want to cry, "She's beautiful," 

"Thank you," I say softly, and Otabek puts an arm around me, looking affectionately down at the two of us. "Do you want to hold her?" I ask, slightly hesitantly, not wanting to give up the thing more important than life itself to me, but knowing this is what I'm supposed to do. She nods and takes her from me, expertly lifting her out of my arms and cradling her in her own. I watch apprehensively, not liking anyone besides myself and my husband handling our daughter, but relax quickly, persuading myself that she's perfectly safe. The woman has had two children and knows exactly what to do, I reason, most likely better than Otabek and I combined- there's nothing to worry about. Well, nothing reasonable to worry about anyway. Let's be honest, I have a new baby, I'm always worried.

The fear fades however once she's been passed around, each relative getting a chance to play with her in turn. Allie actually almost cries, looking so happy to hold the tiny creature, and I can tell already that she'll be the best aunt. Sacha seems to love her, giggling in her little baby way as she tickles her tummy and makes her tiny hands clap. She even gives her a smile, the kind I got only this morning and almost kills Otabek. The look on his face is hilarious, sort of stuck between stunned and thrilled. He steals her from his sister after that, trying to get her to recreate the little expression and lighting up in delight when she does. I love watching them together, he's such a good dad, it's adorable. I don't know where we'd be without him, where I'd be without him. I'm just glad I'll never have to find out.