March 4th, 2025

Yurio's POV 1st Person

I hesitate, Victor and Yuuri have joined us at this point, and Yuuri shakes his head, letting me know that I don't have to do this. The only thing is, I want to. Maybe Otabek was right, I don't know, but after being on the ice for only two hours I feel like I'm dying, and the prospect of another five makes me feel light-headed. If I go, I'm free and all I have to do is look after Maria all day, but then again, I fought so hard to get to come in the first place if I wimp out and go is that telling Otabek that I'm still too sick to be here? I'm obviously thinking hard while considering this because Maria looks disappointed and mumbles, "That's okay Uncle Yurio thanks anyway," Hearing her sad little voice makes all the doubt in my mind fly away. For better or for worse.

"I can do it," I say, and Maria looks up, eyes wide, 

"Really!" She's so excited I can't help but smile back at her, 

"Yup, I'll be right back, I just have to tell your Uncle Otabear something," She nods and bounces up and down with excitement, we always have a great time together. 

"Yurio hold on," Yuuri stops me and says quietly, "It's okay, you don't have to do this, the neighbor's home so I can call her. I know how eager you are to get back to practice," I look away,

"It's fine," I say simply, and skate away across the rink to find my husband. He's seated in the hockey box drinking some water as I approach, 

"What's up?" He asks immediately, "Do you feel okay?" 

"I'm fine," I lie, "Victor and Yuuri need a babysitter and can't find anyone else so they asked me. And you know I can't say no to Maria," I say with a shrug, "Do you mind?" 

"No, have fun," He smiles slightly at what I know is the mental image of me wearing the tiara, "I'll see you at home," I nod, and kiss him briefly,

"See you at home," 

I remove my skates and change out of my workout clothes quickly, putting on the normal set I keep in my locker just in case. As I leave the locker room with my bag slung over my shoulder I'm tackled from behind and fall forward, the impact surprisingly jarring. "Hey Maria," I say laughing as the little girl comes up before me, 

"Sorry!" She exclaims, "I didn't think you would fall," She looks worried about me and I gather myself up quickly, giving her a hug, 

"It's okay, I'm fine, see?" I hold out my arms for her to check and she seems satisfied, nodding and reaching out her small hand to help me up. I take it, pretending to tug and rise to my feet. Maria waves goodbye to her dads as we leave the building, walking out into the cold March air. I unlock Victor's car, having come with Otabek on his bike, and help buckle Maria in, who says she did it right but I check just in case. On the drive back my thoughts take off on their own, chartering course for god knows where. I'm so wrapped up in myself I almost miss the house, Maria having to point it out before I can make a quick U-turn into the driveway. "Don't tell your parents!" I warn her as we walk in and she smiles, zipping her lips shut and throwing away the key. 

The second the door closes behind us Maria takes my hand and darts upstairs, pulling me behind her. I smile at her excitement, about to sit down for one of our infamous tea parties, but quickly that smile turns into a frown. 

"Uncle Yurio?" Maria asks, noticing my face, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I say quickly, but find myself proven wrong almost at once, the nausea hitting me like a tidal wave. I make it to the bathroom just in time, choking and retching into the toilet as a scared Maria stands behind me, watching anxiously, 

"Uncle Yurio?" She asks again, and I try to turn and answer her but find myself unable to, held in place by another round. Eventually, it subsides, and I wipe my face before turning around, trying to conceal how bad I must look. Maria stands just outside the door, clutching Miss Kitty and looking like she's about to cry. 

"Hey," I say, moving to get up but stopping at once as my stomach lurches, "I'm okay, Maria, it's okay," She looks at me through tear-filled eyes, sniffling slightly, "Come over to me," I say, and hold out my arms. The small girl runs to me and curls up in them, and I have to repress the flinch as she touches my stomach. We sit there for a few minutes, me trying to reassure her that I'm not dying and her trying to make me feel better so I won't die. After a while, I feel safe enough to get up and ask Maria to get off me. She, being the angel she is, obliges at once and waits for me while I flush the toilet and make sure everything's as it was. Soon we're back in her bedroom, playing princess tea party with me wearing my tiara. Maria cheers up significantly once we begin, and hopefully soon she'll forget why she was upset in the first place. And at my suggestion that we go out to get cookies (not ice cream because it's March in Russia, and while I can handle it I don't want to kill the poor child) she becomes entirely herself again. We decide to walk down to the corner store and buy a pack of the girl scout cookies we both love, and I let her run slightly ahead of me, not going too fast and staying within my sight. Soon we reach the cookie aisle and Maria's face glows, I can't help but laugh as she breathes in mystified wonder,

"Wow," She turns around, "There are so many!" I love watching her as she scurries around looking at the different boxes and trying to sound out the name of each one. Eventually, I have to set her back on course when she comes up to me with no less than twelve boxes in her arms, gently reminding her that we're only here for one. "Okay," She says, not putting up a fight, and carefully replaces each container where she found it as per my instructions. 

We make our way to the checkout, and as we pass the medicinal section something catches my eye. I pull Maria along by the hand with me as I inspect it closer. What the hell, why not. I grab the small box and get in line, letting her hold the cookies as a reward for being so patient. 

By the time we get home two hours have passed since leaving the rink and I can't believe it's been so long. We play tea party once again, this time having real cookies with our make-believe tea and then move on to dollies. After dollies, Maria brings me one of the rainbow fairies books and asks me to read it to her. We get through the first rainbow fairies and are halfway through the next when Yuuri and Victor arrive home. "Daddy!" Maria cries as she runs to meet them in the hall. I mark the page of the book and place it on the coffee table where the family is sure to find it. 

"Thanks again for babysitting Yurio," Victor says, scooping Maria up and twirling her around in his arms. 

"No problem," I say, "It was fun, we had cookies," 

"Yeah, we did!" Maria adds, "And played tea party!" Yuuri laughs and turns to me,

"Did you wear the tiara again?" I glare at him, but quickly change my expression before the six-year-old in our midst notices,

"That shall never be discussed," I say, and am about to head out the door before something occurs to me, "Um, can I use your bathroom?" I ask awkwardly and Victor raises an eyebrow at my sudden and painfully obvious discomfort,

"Sure, go for it,"

I head down the hall quickly shutting the door firmly behind me. Before I do though I see Yuuri whisper something to Victor, who immediately turns back to me. Shit. Three minutes later I leave the bathroom, and hurry out the door before I can be questioned, calling a quick, "Bye Maria!" Over my shoulder as I go.

***

I pace up and down outside in the gardens, having texted Otabek to meet me here over half an hour ago. I'd told him to come to the Summer Garden, right in front of the fountain immediately, and he has yet to show up. This is our place, we had come here one night on one of our first dates, and it holds a special place in both our hearts. It's peaceful tonight, being dusk and early March there aren't many visitors. The few who had decided to come wandered the flower paths, lost in themselves, or each other if their loved one was with them. 

I sit down on the bench, worries forming even as I try to repress them, absentmindedly twisting the ring on my left hand. I check my phone, it's been 45 minutes now and I have a sinking feeling in my stomach. I stand up, unable to sit still any longer, and resume my pacing, but stop quickly as for the third time today I feel sick. No, not here, not now! I mentally plead with myself, but there's nothing I can do. I rush into one of the paths, the tall flowers obscuring my small frame as I vomit into the bush. I'm really sorry, I think as I do so, The poor gardener. 

"Yuri!" I feel someone come up behind me and begin stroking my hair. Oh, thank god. I mentally breathe a sigh of relief, but in reality, being otherwise engaged, reach back to find my husband. He grabs my hand and squeezes it, rubbing my back and whispering soothing things in my ear, none of which I fully make out. As I regain control, Otabek gives me a soft hug from behind, my ragged breathing misty in the cold night air. "I'm so sorry I was late," Otabek tells me, gently turning so I can face him, "My phone died at the rink, you know how they are in the cold," I nod, understanding exactly what he means, "I just got your text a few minutes ago, I swear I came right over," I nod again as my breathing slowly returns to normal, "Are you okay?" Otabek asks me, concern etched into his features, "I don't like this, you're never sick for this long, and leaving the rink early, that's not like you at all- I should have forced you to stay home. I'm so sorry Yura," He helps me stand up and we walk over to the fountain, finding more comfortable seating on its edge. "I think you should go to a doctor tomorrow and get some medicine or something" Otabek continues, clearly still worried about me. 

"Beka," I whisper, silencing him in the middle of a sentence, "I have something to tell you," I say quietly, and he nods, 

"Anything,"

My heart speeds up and as I look into his eyes I feel like I'm lost in the stars, but at the same time, finally home. 

"I'm pregnant,"

My world stops, Otabek stops, he stares at me,

"Pregnant?" He whispers, watching me intently, I nod,

"That's why I've been getting sick," I say quietly, trying to read his reaction

He kisses me, everything flying out the window but each other. He lifts me up and spins me around, locked in his embrace. When we finally separate we're both laughing, and he sets me down gently, "That isn't helping," I laugh quietly, still slightly dizzy and staying upright by using his arm for help.

"Oh, I'm sorry," He says and gives me a kiss on the forehead before bending down. "Hi," He says and puts a hand on my stomach, I laugh at the sight, 

"There's nothing there yet," I tell him, not really minding, and he completely ignores me, kissing the spot on my abdomen above which the baby is growing. I laugh softly, and he stares transfixed at that spot for a few beautiful moments, the biggest smile on his face. 

Slowly he rises, talking to me once more, "I love you," He says and puts a hand on my cheek, 

"I love you too," I tell him, and as stupid and emotional as it may seem, a tear slides down my face. 

In that moment everything is perfect, a beautiful night sky above us and our arms wrapped around each other, blissfully in love. I wish every moment was like this. I never want it to end.