Yuuri stared into his mug as he idly stirred cream into his coffee, his senses enveloped in the softness of hushed conversation in the cafe. He wondered how many times he and Victor had met like this; finding a secluded corner of a coffee shop or restaurant, discussing monumental, life-altering decisions with the casualty of deciding which movie to see. Surely this wasn't the first nor would it be the last time.

Victor slid into the booth opposite Yuuri, shrugging his jacket off and letting it pool around his waist as he settled himself into a comfortable position. "So Yuuri..." he started in a seemingly off-handed sort of way, but Yuuri could see the slight shake in Victor's hand as he stirred honey into his tea. "What was it you wanted to talk about?"

"I think you know what I wanted to talk to you about," murmured Yuuri, trying to swallow his own nerves as he set the spoon onto the saucer with a soft clink. "What are we going to do about this whole...changing thing? I have so many questions that I don't even know where to start."

Victor remained silent as Yuuri attempted to sort out his thoughts. Most newly turned vampires had a plethora of questions even as a willing participant; he could only imagine the uncertainty and apprehension that someone would feel having this life thrust upon them. Victor watched Yuuri take a drink of his coffee, seeming to have composed himself well enough, though the distinct clatter of the ceramic mug against the saucer as he set it down gave away his nervousness.

"I don't know how to process everything that's happening to me," admitted Yuuri quietly. "I keep getting these...these urges that I don't understand and I'm not sure I want to understand."

"That's completely normal and I don't blame –" Victor's eyes widened in surprise when Yuuri pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him. Yuuri's gaze flicked up to meet his, his expression settling into one of quiet determination.

"Victor, please... Just let me talk." When Victor nodded, Yuuri withdrew his finger from Victor's lips and sighed.

"I'm pissed at you. At this whole situation. I'm pissed that you couldn't have told me this was something that could happen. I could deal with you being a vampire. I can even deal with the thought of you eventually growing bored and leaving without a trace, but this? This is too much for me to handle on my own and I can't even rely on my family for help. I don't know what's going to happen to me or what to expect. I mean, how long does the changing process even last? How long until I can control my bloodlust? What if I kill someone?" Yuuri felt the familiar grip of anxiety squeezing his chest at the thought. He clenched his hand tightly, focusing on the dull pain of nails digging into flesh as he waited for the wave of fear to subside. "I just couldn't live with myself if I killed someone Victor."

Reaching across the table, Victor squeezed Yuuri's hand in reassurance. "I'll teach you everything I know. It'll take time for you to learn to control your newfound powers, but I'll be with you every step of the way. And I will stop you if your bloodlust becomes too much for you to handle."

"But what if you aren't there to stop me? What if something happens to one of us or we end things?" Yuuri bit his lip as he tried to ignore the pang of heartache at the mere thought of losing Victor. "I've had a lot of time to think about the future even before all of this happened. How would I be able to help support my parents if I stayed here in the States instead of moving back home? What would I even be able to do with a Masters degree in linguistics? Now I'm even more uncertain of the future and what will happen. But you know..." Yuuri hesitantly met Victor's gaze as he laced his fingers through Victor's, searching for a sense of familiarity and stability. "Every time I thought about what I would do once this semester was over and I graduated, I never once imagined myself not by your side. I just didn't think it would be for all eternity," he finished with a small laugh.

"Yuuri, I am so sorry to have put you in this position in the first place. I had no idea that the legends were true."

"Legends?" Yuuri's attention snapped up to Victor. "What legends?"

Taking a sip of his tea, Victor mulled over the best way to explain the legends passed down from vampire to vampire. "Did you ever watch movies about vampires?" Yuuri nodded. "Do you remember how when a vampire drains a human of their blood and gives them blood in return, the human would turn?"

Yuuri thought for a moment. "So...like in Twilight?"

"Twilight is an abomination and I'm offended you'd even bring that up around me," stated Victor, his mouth turning down into a grimace.

Breaking into a fit of giggles, Yuuri waved off Victor's indignation. "I'm just kidding! But yes, I know what you mean."

Pouting, Victor took a sip of his tea to compose himself. "The legends of our kind are not so far from what you've seen portrayed by Hollywood and the like. However, they say that it doesn't require draining a human of all of their blood at once in order to initiate the change."

Yuuri remained quiet as Victor explained the legends of old; how the change could be initiated if a human was fed on multiple times, though the exact number of feedings would differ from one vampire to another depending on their strength and age. Victor explained that while there weren't exactly laws forbidding vampires from feeding on one human exclusively, the act was generally frowned upon by the elders and council that governed his kind. Yuuri attempted to disguise his unease by keeping his hands wrapped around his coffee mug, absorbing the warmth as his body grew cold with apprehension.

"So what you're saying..." he began slowly, his mind racing as he tried to grasp onto threads of thought. "Is that this – that I'm a mistake?"

Victor flinched at Yuuri's tone; he sounded cold, devoid of emotion as if he were struggling to remain detached from the situation all together. Reaching out, Victor clasped Yuuri's hand in his. "You are not a mistake Yuuri."

"Then what am I?" whispered Yuuri. He hesitantly glanced up at Victor through his lashes, worry and uncertainty curling in his gut as he waited for Victor's response.

"You are the best thing to happen to me in centuries," said Victor, his eyes flashing with conviction. "I won't deny that this situation isn't ideal or how I had planned things, but none of this is your fault. The responsibility solely lands on me and I'm prepared to appear before the Council of Elders to accept whatever they deem is a fit punishment."

Biting his lower lip, Yuuri mulled over the implications of Victor's words. While Victor didn't feel that what happened was a mistake, it was still something that he would need to be punished for. The thought didn't sit well with Yuuri, his stomach clenching at the thought of Victor being at the Council's mercy.

"What sort of punishment do you think you'll face?"

Victor hummed in thought; it wasn't exactly uncommon for vampires to sire more of their kind but nowadays it mandated the involvement of a representative of the Council, consensual agreements between parties and in some cases, the use of contracts to specify who had control over any properties or fortunes the vampire may possess. Victor had always hated how litigious the process had become over the past century, though he did not fault the Council for attempting to reign in accidental sires.

"In all honesty, probably a fine and probationary period of some sort. Neither of which will be a problem for me," said Victor lightly. He glanced over the rim of his cup at Yuuri and fought the urge to laugh at the dumbfounded look on his face.

"A fine, is that all?" repeated Yuuri numbly.

"Yes, likely to the tune of several million dollars. Or Euros. I'm not really sure what currency they've been using lately."

Yuuri slammed his hand onto the table, causing the spoons to rattle against their cups. Several patrons glanced their way, startled by Yuuri's sudden outburst. Yuuri sheepishly waved at the other patrons until they returned to their business, a flush of embarrassment staining his cheeks as he turned his attention back to Victor. "Are you kidding me?" he hissed. "I thought you would be locked up in jail or, or burned at the stake or something!"

"My sweet Yuuri, we haven't burned anyone at the stake in years." Victor patted Yuuri's hand gently. "Besides, that was more for witches than vampires but after that whole Salem witch trial debacle everyone became much more adept at hiding themselves from humans."

Groaning, Yuuri buried his face in his hands. "I'm trying to have a serious conversation with you and you're just making jokes," he whined.

Yuuri felt Victor brush his bangs away from his face and peeked at him through his fingers. His cheeks warmed as Victor curled his finger under Yuuri's chin, bringing his gaze up to meet his.

"I am being serious Yuuri. No matter what happens, I will be with you every step of the way through your change. I'll teach you the ways of our kind, how to hunt, how to control your urges," Victor murmured. "That is, if you'll have me."

Yuuri nodded, his heart fluttering in his chest at the relieved expression that crossed Victor's face. He still needed time to come to terms with everything that was changing, but if Victor was willing to stay with him then nothing was impossible.

*~* 10 years later *~*

Fingers flying across his laptop keyboard, Yuuri's attention was wholly devoted to finishing the grant proposal in front of him. Pausing here and there only to double check something in the book beside him, he had managed to tune out everyone around him as he worked within hours of his deadline.

"Do you ever stop working?"

For the first time in hours, Yuuri looked up from his laptop screen at the figure beside him. Squinting against the bright lights of his family's onsen, he made out the unmistakable black fringe of his best friend. Rubbing his eyes, Yuuri closed his laptop with a soft click, a silent invitation for Phichit to join him.

"You know I have to submit this proposal by midnight," remarked Yuuri, stifling a yawn with the back of his hand. If it hadn't been for the fact that he had essentially lost an entire working day during his fight home, he might have been able to avoid having to work well into the night.

Phichit hummed as he rested his chin on the palm of his hand, studying Yuuri. "I thought with you being a vampire and all that you'd be able to glamour them into giving you an extension."

"Phichit!" hissed Yuuri. Glancing around, he was relieved to see that the few patrons of his parent's inn were preoccupied by the baseball game playing in the background. "No one else knows I'm a... you know."

"That you're a what?"

Nearly jumping out of his skin, Yuuri turned to see his sister Mari behind him with a tray of snacks expertly balanced on one hand. She hadn't changed a bit since Yuuri had left for university with the exception of a few minor wrinkles around her eyes when she laughed. Without a word, she set the tray down on the table beside Yuuri, her gaze narrowing in suspicion as her ever present cigarette dangled from her lips.

"Ah... Phichit was just teasing me about all of these grant proposals I have to complete," said Yuuri, an edge of nervousness to his voice.

Mari regarded Yuuri and Phichit for a moment longer before nodding in understanding. "I'm still surprised that you became a slave to your department head, little brother. I thought you'd want to be in the field more."

"Wh-what are you talking about?" spluttered Yuuri. "I am not a slave to my department head!"

"Then why are you always the one writing grant proposals, hmm?" questioned Phichit.

Yuuri paused to think about that. Initially, he had volunteered to write a proposal for a research grant because it would allow him to travel the world with Victor, researching long-forgotten languages. Before he knew it, he had been assigned to work on every grant the department sought, his director citing that he was the only one in the department competent enough to actually obtain the grants they needed. With a groan, he buried his face in his arms.

"You're right, I am a slave," he bemoaned as Phichit and Mari laughed.

"Mari, don't tease your brother," scolded Hiroko from the kitchen doorway. "Now get back in here and help your father with these orders."

With a sigh, Mari rose to her feet but not before tousling Yuuri's hair fondly. "Don't let them work you into an early grave little brother," she warned.

Phichit snorted in amusement at her comment, earning a sharp elbow to the ribs from Yuuri. Smiling, Yuuri promised he would take it easy and talk to his director about being assigned less work.

"Rude," muttered Phichit. Rubbing his ribs, he shot Yuuri a pitiful look.

"You deserved it."

Time passed quietly, Phichit's attention drifting from his phone to the television across the room as Yuuri finished up his proposal. Hitting send on his email, he closed his laptop with a sense of finality. A sigh of relief fell from his lips as he stretched his aching muscles, wishing Victor was there to massage the stiffness from his shoulders.

As if on cue, the front door to the inn opened ushering in a warm summer night breeze that washed over Yuuri, making him shiver. "I'm home!"

"Ah, welcome back Vicchan!" cooed Hiroko as she hurried from the kitchen to greet Victor, wiping her hands clean on her apron. "Did you have a successful business meeting?"

"You could say that," said Victor, winking suggestively at Yuuri from over Hiroko's head. "I didn't miss dinner did I?"

"Of course not! Come, sit down and I'll whip something up for you."

Victor allowed himself to be ushered inside by Hiroko and nudged into his place beside Yuuri with gentle hands and a fond smile before Hiroko disappeared into the kitchen once more.

"Business meeting, eh?" said Phichit nonchalantly. "I thought you were on vacation."

"Duties call at all hours of the night," replied Victor smoothly. "But for the record, the meeting went rather smoothly if I say so myself."

"Did it now?" Yuuri murmured against the lip of his tea cup as he glanced knowingly at Victor out of the corner of his eye.

Before Victor could elaborate further, Hiroko reappeared with a bowl of steaming katsudon, setting it in front of Victor. Victor's eyes lit up at the steaming pork cutlet set before him; snatching up the chopstick Hiroko had set beside the bowl, he scooped up a large mouthful.

"Vkusno!" he sighed around a mouthful of rice.

Hiroko beamed, thrilled that Victor was enjoying his meal. Glancing at the clock, she gasped. "Oh my! I didn't realize it was so late already." Turning to Yuuri, she waggled her finger at him. "Don't stay up too late Yuuri. You have a big day tomorrow and I can't have you oversleeping!"

Yuuri flushed in embarrassment at his mom's scolding and ignored Phichit's snickering behind him. As Hiroko disappeared back into the kitchen, Yuuri turned his attention to Victor. "I didn't think you'd still be hungry after your 'meeting'."

Victor paused, resting the tips of his chopsticks against his lower lip in thought. "Mm...they weren't the brightest couple so it wasn't as challenging as I had anticipated. Possibly the easiest meeting I've had in quite some time."

"Wait wait wait, are you talking about –" Phichit glanced around the room before leaning in to whisper, " – feeding off of people?"

"Of course I am. Did you think that I was actually at a business meeting?"

Phichit flushed and ducked his head, turning his attention back to his phone. "Well no...but I didn't think you'd be doing that while you were in Yuuri's hometown of all places."

Yuuri patted Phichit's back as he shook his head. As much as he wasn't a fan of Victor feeding on the locals, he knew that his hunger wouldn't be held at bay forever. The fact that he had lasted as long as he had between feedings as they traveled had impressed Yuuri.

Once Victor had finished his meal and Yuuri began packing up his laptop, Hiroko ushered the three of them off to bed scolding them for staying up well past midnight. Phichit wished Yuuri a good night, his hand held up to stifle a yawn before he retreated into his guest room. Victor followed Yuuri up the stairs to his family's living quarters, anticipating a relaxing evening with Yuuri before all of the craziness began the following morning.

"Oh no you don't," warned Yuuri. "You have your own room that mom set up specially for you."

"But I wanted to spend the night with you," pouted Victor.

With a chuckle, Yuuri turned to face Victor. He rose onto his tiptoes, brushing his lips against Victor's, his lips curving into a smile. "You know it's bad luck to see the groom before the wedding."

Victor scoffed. "Do you really think that I'm so old fashioned that I still believe in that superstitious nonsense?"

Yuuri hummed in thought for a moment. "Probably not, but my family does so you'd better not let mom catch you sneaking into my bedroom tonight." He stepped closer to Victor, his eyes shifting from brown to a deep red in the moonlight that permeated the hallway. "We'll have all the time in the world to celebrate after tomorrow, so let's enjoy this."

Victor grinned, his fangs glinting in the faint light. Taking Yuuri's hand in his, he brought Yuuri's palm to his lips, his blue eyes glittering with excitement.

"I can't wait."

Wow, what a ride! I'm a little sad that it's over, if I'm being honest. I'd like to thank everyone who has supported me throughout this process, whether you were with me from the beginning or just discovered this fic. All of your kind words of encouragement (and angrily keyboard smashing comments to me at cliffhangers) meant the world and really pushed me to finish this.

A HUUUUGE thank you to my amazing beta Spicenee for your support and making me revise things who knows how many times until they made sense. I seriously owe you a drink next time I see you.

A big thank you as well to izzyisozaki for letting me know about the little errors that snuck through all of our proof readings even though you totally didn't have to.

Please, please go check out the fanart that Harumaki drew for chapter 10! （ﾉ´∀`）

And last but not least, come hang out with me on mayelisa13 Twitter for upcoming announcements about my future project! And, y'know, because I need friends.