It's almost Halloween, and Victor has suggested we host a costume party at our second residence, back in Japan. Juggling a baby and teaching skating lessons and still keeping up with Elkena, I am unsure I want us to be responsible for hosting a party, but Victor insists we can easily manage. It can even be kid-friendly if we firmly insist Chris dresses responsibly, in which case we could invite Yuuko and her husband along with Axel, Lutz, and Loop. I'll admit, Victor makes the idea sound like fun.

Parties take planning though, especially if we want our international friends to appear. Luckily for me, I don't have to do the planning alone. Phichit, bored and with extra time on his hands these days, offers to fly up early and help. I don't think he's all that invested in the idea of having a party— he probably just wants to meet Valkyrie in person. I don't care about his motive, though, as long as he's helping.

So Victor and I, with sleeping Valkyrie, scan the airport now for Phichit's arriving flight. We're meeting him because he'll be staying in Hatsetsu and he needs a ride over. But as soon as we find him, the first thing he has to do is wake the baby.

"Victor! Yuri!" he exclaims bubbling up to us.

He catches me, luckily not the one holding Valkyrie, in an enormous bounding hug that only two figure-skaters can achieve gracefully.

"Well, I'm glad to see you too, Phichit," I chuckle, setting him down.

Victor tries to shield Valkyrie from the excitement but it's no use, she begins to squirm and cry in his arms. Phichit doesn't seem to mind the small cries, however.

"Ohmagosh, Victor, hi! Is this Valkyrie!?" He stoops to see her eye-to-eye. "Hi, little one," he lowers his voice affectionately. "My name is Phichit," he smiles.

Valkyrie quiets some, apparently captivated by the new face in front of her. Phichit jumps into a game of peek-a-boo and now she's smitten. She begins to squirm toward Phichit, seeking to be held.

"Ah! Ohmagosh, this baby is so cute! Can I take a selfie with her?"

"Surprised you haven't already," Victor concedes with a fatherly smile, bequeathing our daughter into Phichit's ginger grasp.

"There," he grins upon posting several pictures featuring our wriggly baby, "now, first things first. I'm starving. Let's get rid of my luggage and talk over lunch?"

"Of course," I nod, taking babbly Valkyrie and rocking her soothingly. "I hope you still like pork cutlet bowls."

"Are you kidding!?" he gasps. "Of course!"

🎶🌸🎶🌸🎶🌸🎶🌸🎶🌸🎶

short update sorry, more will be up soon!

~🕊