Work Text:
Photographs | (One shot) 🧱❤️
Ilya loved looking at all the family photos at Shane's house. There was a wall in the living room. From photos of young Yuna and David at the beach, their wedding photo, to baby Shane with mashed carrots on his happy face, to Shane skating on the ice for the first time with David. Ilya knew all of the stories behind each photo. He asked about each one. So many times. Shane loved hearing the stories too. And seeing how much it made Ilya smile. It gave him an idea.
"We are having lunch with your parents, yes?" Ilya asked as he put on his shoes.
Shane nodded, grabbing the container of dessert that Ilya made. Something about a root beer no-bake cheesecake. Ilya had seen a video and wanted to try it.
"Ready?" Ilya kissed his cheek and grabbed the car keys.
Shane normally insisted on driving, but was too excited. He let Ilya pick the music too. Ilya squeezed his hand, sensing his anxiety but not knowing why.
"We are watching movie later?" Ilya asked.
"Yep."
Ilya frowned, but didn't push him. He knew better than trying to force Shane to talk about something when he didn't want to. The rest of the drive was quiet, save the music.
Yuna greeted them at the door and ushered them inside. "Shane, you can put that in the fridge. Ilya, you can go ahead to the living room and we will be right there."
Ilya smiled, heading into the living room. Yuna and Shane watched from the doorway as he went right over to the wall of framed memories. He froze.
It was different. Looking back at him from several new frames were his face. A photo of him and Shane curled up on the sofa at the cottage. The four of them in front of the Christmas tree. Ilya sitting with Shane, dressed up in pretty princess clothes with Ruby and Jade. He gasped at one of him when he was nine years old, ice skating in Russia. And then, in the center, the picture that broke his heart. A little curly haired boy sitting on a woman's lap and smiling. His mama.
A soft cry escaped his lips. Shane's arms wrapped around him from behind as Ilya gently removed the frame from the wall and traced his fingers over his Mama's face. His memory of her matched perfectly. His mama.
"Where?" he choked out.
"Svetlana. I had her see if she could find any photos of you as a child. Something about a storage place you'd mentioned, but hadn't been to. She found it and sent it to me." Shane pulled out a heavy book from behind his back. "And this."
Ilya's hand shook as he opened the photo album. His face smiled at him from all of the pages. More of his family, including his dad and brother, and his Mama. The last pages were filled with photos he'd taken of him and Shane. After years of no photos together, Ilya took as many as he could now. They were perfect side by side.
"I love you," Ilya whispered, kissing his husband.
"I love you too. You're part of our family. We wanted you to see that."
Ilya glanced back to the doorway.
Yuna and David stood together, with his arm around her as they watched.
"Is it okay?" Yuna asked.
"Perfect. Thank you."
The four of them hugged, laughing and crying. His family. Once they were all calmed down, Ilya sat them down on the couch to go through his photos with his new family. ❤️