Pitter Patter | Victuuri Adoption AU on hiatus

Incredulous

back to yuuri's p.o.v.

The early morning ringing of my cellphone takes me by surprise. Normally I'm the one to call Saint Anne's Foster Agency, asking about Elkena once or twice a month. But Elkena has been with her grandmother for almost a full month now, and although I recognize the number as the one I've called a million times before, they've never called my cellphone. When I pick up, the Russian is too quick for me to catch. I scramble to get Victor, downstairs.

"Victor— help!" I hiss, tossing him the phone.

He blinks inquisitively and I indicate for him to answer the phone. Slowly, he obeys. He goes silent for several heart beats, listening to the woman on the line. After a moment, he sets down his mug of coffee and stares silently off in the distance. He murmurs something of a short affirmation to a question and then begins to listen again. I wish I knew what was going on.

"What is it?" I whisper.

Victor holds up one finger, indicating for me to hold that thought. He starts groping around the kitchen, searching for something with which to write down the information being given to him. He mumbles another sort of agreement and then he finally finds a notepad and pen on the counter. I watch incredulously as he begins to write down a name and address in cursive Russian script.

"Yuuri, my love," he says, catching me off guard. He smiles at the awkward way I flinch. "When can you start taking childcare classes?" he asks.

"Uh-uhm," I stutter. "Where would they be?"

He emulates the question.

"Online," he shrugs to me after a moment.

"This weekend," I shrug in return, rubbing the back of my head. "I guess..."

"Right. How soon can you go back to Russia with me?" Victor asks.

I blink incredulously.

"It's almost the off season, we could go anytime between..."

Victor immediately jumps back into the conversation on the phone. He starts writing on the notepad again. I watch, dazed. It's still early— am I just dreaming? What's going on?

"Victor, are we—" I start quietly. "What's happening?"

Victor slowly removes the phone from his ear for a moment.

"They're offering us the chance to adopt a baby," Victor says, matter-of-fact.

He returns to the conversation, muttering a quick apology and asking the woman to repeat what she just said.  I can feel gravity increase, I need to sit down. Here, we'd just decided to settle in Japan and now we've got to get back to Russia. Should I call my parents? I should wait for Victor to get off the phone.

"Yuuri-kun," he says suddenly, surprising me again.

"Hai?"

"You look distraught," his accent thick as he switches between languages. "Do you want a baby?" his eyebrows furrow in concern.

For several seconds I can do nothing but stare. My mouth dries up and my throat closes. Unable to speak I force my head to lift up and fall down. Victor cracks a-- relieved?-- smile. I watch incredulously as he returns to the phone. This conversation seems as if it's lasting an eternity.

But when Victor finally hangs up, he goes over his notes with me.

"Elkena vouched for you," Victor murmurs affectionately. "To a friend she made. A girl-- Mary-- that's pregnant. And when they could verify that you were genuinely there for Elkena and checked up on her often, Saint Anne's decided Mary had genuine reason to trust you. She hasn't given birth yet, she's not due until June 29. The baby is a girl-- she may have severe health issues."

"Like what?"

"The list of possibilities was too numerous to capture in its entirety. I'm sure we'll receive a real list-- officially."

"Right..." I say distantly. "This is really happening?"

Victor smiles. "Surreal isn't it? Need to be pinched?"

I extend an arm, expecting to wake up any moment. But I can vividly feel Victor's touch. I blink through the realization. Tears come to my eyes as it hits me.

"Yuuri!" Victor exclaims. "Did I hurt you?"

"No--no. I'm just overwhelmed and... excited," I hug myself into his chest. "I wasn't expecting this— I thought today was just like any other normal day until..."

"I know," Victor wraps his arms around me and plants a gentle kiss on the top of my head. "I'm excited too."