Leaping for Your Dreams

***ALL of the dialogue in this chapter is in Russian!***

***Geno’s POV***

The last week had been amazing! First Aleks’ birthday went off great! Then Skates and Plates went incredible! Now I was waiting for my family in the airport. OK so I’m not being 100% truthful, Misa was floored when I told her that my family was coming into town for a month or so. In fact she was at home, cleaning the entire house. I had told her she didn’t need to do it but that didn’t stop her.

So here I sat, well stood, waiting for Mama, Papa and Denis. I was happy that they were here; it had been too long since I’d seen them. I knew they would be happy to see me as well. Mama had been bugging me for information about Misa since I told Mama she was moving in. I’d given her a little bit, including a picture of both of us.

“Evgeni!” I turned quickly and saw Papa waving. I waved cheerfully back and began moving towards them. We all hugged tightly as we got together. There were a few cameras at this time of night but not many. It was both a good and bad that I loved Pittsburgh so much. Yes I was recognized a lot of places, it also meant that my parents were too.

It took us a while to get home, we had to gather bags and in the end fight through the crowds that had formed. I texted Misa as we left the airport, she sent back a :D that must mean that she might be done cleaning and actually be mostly ready to meet my family.

“We’re home!” I called out as I came in the garage door. There was a wonderful smell in the house. That’s why she wanted to stay at home; she was making a meal to welcome them. My heart felt like it was going to burst.

“In the Kitchen! Just a second!” She called back. She came out of the kitchen and looked just like she did every day. She hadn’t dressed up to impress my parents; she cooked for them. “Welcome home. Traffic wasn’t that bad.”

Mari came over and kissed me lightly. “OK you caught me. I couldn’t let them come in with nothing to welcome them properly.” I had to laugh; I loved that she would think of that small of a thing.

“Come.” I put an arm around her and turned around. “Mari, this is my family.” We moved closer, Mama was already smiling. “Mama, Papa and Denis this is my Mari.” Mama stepped up and gave her a big hug. That was a good sign.

“It’s so nice to meet you.” Mari said as Mama finally let her go. Papa never accepted my ex for some reason, but he took the place in front of Mari and with a huge smile hugged her like he hugged me.

Denis hung back a little bit, watching how our parents reacted to the new woman in my life. I stepped next to him. “Well?” He punched me in reaction.

“She didn’t dress up did she?” He asked plainly. I shook my head and snuck a glance at him. He had a smile that I knew meant that he approved. “Keep this one brother, _she_ never did this kind of thing.”

He had me there. Mari was talking softly with Mama when Papa joined us boys. “You say she has a job, what does she do?” I blanked. I knew what she did but I didn’t at the same time.

A timer went off in the kitchen. Mari took Mama by the elbow and gently moved them to the kitchen. “Babe,” she called, “that’s the last timer for dinner. Move yourselves into the dining room and we’ll eat.”

Mama spoke up. “You didn’t have to do that. We normally go out when we get in.” That was true, because I’m not a great cook like Mama and Mari were.

***Mari’s POV***

I was shocked. Yeah I knew Geno could only do a few things really well but… “My mother would kill me if I did that or at least disown me.” In fact _both_ of them would. I looked at Geno who just shrugged in that way that he had. “No, I won’t have it. It’s not right. No more.” I was kind of babbling but the shock. I wandered back into the kitchen still stunned.

I grew up that you never showed up to another’s home empty handed and you never had people come to yours without good food. I know that Geno probably had a similar upbringing. I was taking the baked salmon out of the oven when Geno came into the kitchen. “Are you ok?”

I put the hot dish on the silicone trivet and closed the oven door. “You really took them out after they’d been traveling for so long.” I shook my head as I checked the fish and then plated it. Almost everything was ready to go to the table.

“Misa I do not cook like you do. _She_ barely cooked at all. Relax, Mama is overjoyed that you would miss meeting them at the airport to meet them with a meal here.” He walked up behind me and laid a gentle kiss on the nape of my neck. “Already they love you. Do not be surprised if Papa wants to know what you do in detail. I do not know how to explain it all.”

I sighed and handed him a dish to take to the table. “Here take this so we can finish getting everything on the table.” I wasn’t thrilled to be compared to her, but at least so far I was coming out on top.

After a long and wonderful meal, I was thrilled to find that they all were happy to have a quiet evening here instead of going out. I quickly did the math and understood why. For them it was 6 am not 8 pm like it was for Geno and I.

Vladimir and Natalia excused themselves and went to bed after a little while. The three of us who were left chatted for a while. Sleep caught up to Denis though and he excused himself.

***Geno’s POV***

My family was all asleep as I led Misa through the house double checking that the home was secure. Once we were in the bedroom she seemed to fully relax. We had a game tomorrow. I snuggled Misa to me in bed and let out a yawn. “They love you. Me too.”

She yawned, as she got comfy. “Love you too.” That’s the last I remember until the alarm went off in the morning. My whole family was together; nothing could ruin my mood.