Winter's Love

Tickets

Apparently this is what happens when I can't sleep...(Don't worry, I'm still working on Changed but I'm writing that on the computer which I didn't have access to when I wrote this.)

CHAPTER ONE: TICKETS

"Hey, Maks, would you give me a hand and help me set the table?" Val called from the kitchen. "Papa should be home any minute."

Sighing, the man in question dragged himself out of his bed and stumbled blearily into the kitchen.

"Thanks bro," Val smiled gratefully as his brother obligingly fumbled with the dishes and silverware, trying to stack them in a way that would result in the fewest trips between the kitchen and the dining room. Maks grunted in acknowledgement.

~~~

Sasha Chmerkovskiy arrived just as the table was set and supper placed upon it. One look at his jubilant smile and the brothers knew that there was good news in store.

And so it was with eager anticipation that they waited first for Larisa to join them, and then for everyone to be served.

"You'll never believe what happened at work today," Sasha initiated the conversation. His family was immediately attentive, watching carefully between bites. "Remember Jhannah from work?" He paused, giving them a chance to nod - or shake their heads, as was in the case of Val - before resuming his talk. "She got two tickets for the ice dancing competition in Sochi for her kids, Teddy and Nicole. But something came up at the last second, I think they have a dance gig they can't miss. Point is, they can't go after all so she gave the tickets to me."

Larisa was grinning in disbelief but it was nothing compared to her sons' reactions. Maks had this dazed but blissful expression on his face, like he wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh or cry or maybe a mix of the two. Val had actually leapt from his chair and began dancing around the table, chanting "We're going to Sochi!" like it was his salvation.

Sasha just sat back a whisper of a smile on his face as he watched his family's varying displays of elation, giving them time for the news to sink in.

"Wait," Maks said, realization dawning on him for the first time. "You said two tickets, right? But there are four of us. So who's going?"

"I was hoping you and Val would," Sasha answered, checking his wife's approval with a quick glance - and getting it.

"Are you sure?" Maks pressed, ever doubtful of good news.

"Yes," Larisa replied, her firm tone leaving no room for argument.

The elder Chmerkovskiy brother felt his face break into a huge smile. "Thank you Mama, thank you Papa, this means the world to me, to us."

"I know, I know," his father grinned back, sharing his enthusiasm. "Now go, pack a suitcase; you'll be leaving tomorrow morning!"