A/N: Short and quite old, but I realized I'd never shared this drabble outside of tumblr so here you go. Written for reasons.

Ted rubbed the sweat away from his forehead, feeling like he was about to melt. Where was the fun in being outside when he couldn't even run around in this heat? Yuri wasn't much better off, slumped next to him on the bench with an empty bottle in his hand. They'd been helping Hanks clean the attic all morning and Ted almost regretted taking a break outside, falling prey to the ruthless summer sun where even hiding in the shade proved useless.

They sat in silence, worn out and resting still in a vain attempt not to fry, when suddenly a thought he'd pushed to the back of his mind jerked Ted out of his daze.

"Say, Yuri?"

"Hm."

"Are you and the princess dating?"

Almost immediately Yuri turned his head to the boy, frowning in confusion. "What gave you that idea?"

"Well," Ted fidgeted, "you're always so close to each other and she always hugs you lots and stuff. Kevin says she's crushing on you."

For a moment Yuri was at loss for words, playing it out in his mind. Soon, however, he couldn't help but double over in a fit of laughter, clutching his stomach as Ted stared at him in bewilderment.

"Hey, what's so funny?!"

"I'm–ha ha–oh my god, sorry Ted–" He gasped for air. "You just got the wrong idea. Really, really wrong."

"But I thought you were…"

"Estelle hugs just about everyone, you know."

"So you're not dating her?"

"And steal her away from Rita? Look, I still wanna live a few years."

It was Ted's turn to frown now. "Huh? What do you mean? Isn't Rita a girl too?"

"You'll understand later, kid." Yuri chuckled. "Besides, I do love her, just not the way your mom and dad do."

"I don't get it."

Yuri sighed. He hadn't expected to be giving out life lessons, much less about something as intricate. "See, love exists in many different forms. I love you and Estelle like my younger siblings, and I love Repede, but it's not like I'm thinking of dating any of you guys, right?"

"Well yeah, I guess…" Ted's brows were furrowed in deep concentration. "So you love her like family, huh?"

"You got it."

"What about Hanks?"

"Same."

"And Flynn?"

Yuri paused, the look on his face one Ted didn't quite understand. It was quickly replaced by a fond smile. "Sure."

Ted deemed himself satisfied with these answers and stared back up into the sky. The sun was still high, shining even brighter now that the blastia barrier had gone. Soon they went back to work again, chatting and joking as the hours ticked by. At one point that evening, while Ted played in the living room with old figurines he'd found in the attic, a knock came from the window. He perked up to watch a smile overcome Yuri before turning back to whoever had stepped through the door.

"Henry told me I'd find you here." Flynn chuckled as Ted ran up to him.

"Flynn! What are you doing here?"

"Yeah, to what do we owe your mighty presence, Commandant?" Yuri smirked behind him.

Flynn rolled his eyes. "And here I thought you wouldn't treat me any different, Yuri Lowell."

Laughing, they engaged in a lively conversation with Hanks as Ted went back to playing with his figurines. More often than not he would look back to Yuri and Flynn, observing them with interest, for it seemed as though they were glued to one another. It was like something had changed that year. Their smiles were much brighter and their laughter more sincere, both stealing glances at each other every once in a while in a way Ted had never witnessed them do before. Hands would linger when they happened to meet the other's shoulder or arm, and Ted had long noticed Yuri was the happiest, most genuine, whenever he was with Flynn.

It was almost as if… oh.

Ted tuned out the adults as they prepared dinner, smiling to himself for he had finally understood and solved this peculiar riddle.