The Depth of Green

Chapter 19

Chapter 18 recap: The fallout of the showing! Otabek shouts the matchmakers down and brings a doctor into the house, procuring for Yuri the care he needs. His condition is explained by the doctor, but, despite medical expectations, he doesn't wake up for several days. Otabek grapples with what a baby adds to things, but when Yuri wakes up, cries that he won't give up his daughter for Otabek, he's told that this doesn't change anything. They FINALLY kiss, and we end the chapter with them enveloped in each other's arms.

Welcome to the FINAL CHAPTER OF THE DEPTH OF GREEN! I legitimately can't tell whether I'm really glad the story is over, or in mourning because it's over??? Thank you to my commenters, to my silent readers, to my friends for dealing with my bitching, and every reader to come. Thank you for coming with me on this journey, and I hope I'll see you again in my upcoming works! More info in the endnote. ♥

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Otabek's arm rested around Yuri's waist, its placement there a careful, genuinely compassionate response to the hitch in Yuri's breath, the ratcheting up of Yuri's heartbeat, the shiver running down Yuri's spine, that had occurred hardly a moment ago. Instinctually, Yuri sank into the touch, perhaps more than his conscious self would've allowed, but enough that the loose, warm weight at his hip was comforting, reminding him that, even though they walked through the halls of the house, he wasn't a prisoner anymore.

He struggled to believe that.

The date for their return to America had been set since the second day of Yuri's consciousness, when the doctor had supervised their interactions and clucked her tongue at Otabek for his refusal to leave Yuri's side for any more than twenty minutes at a time. Yuri had appreciated it; the recovery after a heat like the one he'd had was hard, and as no one had been quite sure how strong Yuri was, it was reassuring to have someone he trusted close by. Enough so that it calmed (temporarily, anyway) the nervous flutters of what now, the anxious, intrusive thoughts that the matchmakers must be furious, and had kept Yuri focused on the present.

And after the emotional chaos, the despair that the baby had changed everything and the lingering fears of a 180 degree change in attitude from Otabek, the small reassurance that was his closeness had been invaluable. Plus, as they were in a building full of those Yuri didn't doubt wished him nothing but ill, having someone by his side made everything slightly less nerve-wracking.

Well, Yuri considered as he stepped into the main hall and had his ears assaulted by a screech, perhaps not everyone wished him harm.

Mila flew out the door of the first rank's dormitories, skidding to a careful halt before Yuri, just enough so that she avoided a collision, and lost no time in throwing herself upon him.

"Baba," was all Yuri could gasp, shocked, "the guards!" The matchmakers had been careful to sequester all of the omegas away to the remotest chambers of the house upon Yuri's departure; he'd been told, in hurried whispers by Minami before he'd had to go, that guards had been assigned to keep them locked in their dormitories until Yuri was long gone. Probably didn't want him to be an example to them, a case of "when everything goes wrong, you can still prevail," or whatever it was that they feared.

"They can't do anything," Mila's eyes were bright, almost wild, as she pulled back, "I'm out of here next week." Yuri begged to differ -- there was a lot they could do to punish her in the space of a week -- and was about to voice his concerns when she brushed them off, her face telling him firmly that there was no stopping her.

As if there ever had been.

"And besides, there's no way in hell I'm going to let you go without saying goodbye." And, exultant as her voice was, she couldn't hide the hint of sadness in her eyes when she said it.