I do not own MIOBI nor it's characters

After All

'Is this how you imagined it?' He whispers the question close to her ear. Everybody else has already left. They just finished their on stage practice and Sasha is pleased with all he has seen. She is standing silently next to him, looking into the Olympic gym. It takes her some time but then she slowly nods, she turns around an faces him, a smile creeps on his face and he reassuringly puts a hand on her shoulder.

'It's everything and so much more. I still can't believe I'm finally here. That we are finally here. After all we have been through.' She says with a broken voice, but the smile on her face tells him she's happy. 'You really kept your promise this time.' She adds silently, but he has heard her.

'I told you once, I would never break a promise again. So I will stand next to you as long as you need me.' He squeezes her shoulder gently, hoping she understands the double meaning in his words, looking at her he can't be sure. 'Well, you should get some sleep if you want to amaze the world tomorrow.' He says, lightening the mood. They both laughed at that, only they know what the world will see tomorrow. Payson hadn't been practicing her Olympic routines this afternoon, making sure the competition couldn't change their DOD's in order to compete with Payson's. Tomorrow everybody will finally see what she's made of, what she can achieve. Just thinking of it makes her body shiver.

Together they walk the short distance between the gym and their hotel. The gymnasts are all situated on the same floor of an immense hotel, and the American Team takes up most of the west wing. Walking together is something they have done many times before, but this time it feels different. Payson doesn't understand why, but the air around them is thick with tension. Entering the hallway they go for the elevators, not wanting to walk the eight flight of stairs they need to conquer in order to reach their rooms. Payson is fumbling with the zipper of her jacket and looks everywhere except at the man next to her. She owes him everything, but it was never enough. She still wants him although she has denied everything after that kiss all those years ago. She remembered that she had dismissed it as a stupid rush of emotion, but she has always known it was more than that. Secretly she hopes he would feel the same way about her, but she probably will never find out.

'Are you alright Payson, you seem a bit tense.' He asks her, while taking in her whole appearance. She looks shaken, but he doesn't understand why. She has nothing to worry about. She has the best DOD's and her executions are flawless. 'You have nothing to worry about, you know that right? Nobody will be able to defeat you.' His pep talk doesn't have the effect he hoped it would.

'I'm fine, and I know I'll do great tomorrow. I'm fine, honestly.' She says without much confidence. Before he can argue the elevator opens. He steps in, but Payson isn't moving. He eyes her confusingly and gestures her to step in as well. 'I'm going to take the stairs.' And with that she turns around and jogs away from him. The doors close before his eyes, leaving him completely clueless.

'You're not getting away this easily.' He muses when she turns the corner of her hallway. He is standing next to her door, leaning casually against the wall. She sighs and continues walking, does he even realize what he does to her? Always saying things a certain way, sometimes she's sure he means something else entirely, but then the moment is gone and she's sure she imagined it. With the key already in her hand she walks past him, but he grabs her before she can open her door. He doesn't miss the electric shock that goes through both of them. 'Payson, what's going on? I've not seen you like this for years. Not since…' He stops there, but they both know which moment he meant. She thought of it just minutes ago. 'Is that what this is all about?' He asks carefully, his eyes never leaving her face. He sees the expression of her face change and reluctantly she nods once. Realization strikes him and he lets go of her hand, he rubs a hand over his face and sighs. 'Payson…' It's years after she kissed him, but apparently her feelings haven't changes. He remembers talking to her back then, comforting her, telling her it was alright. But he knows he lied every word. He had compared their relationship with the one he had had with Nikolai, although that wasn't a comparison at all. He knew the line between gymnast and coach to be very thin, but he feared that with Payson that line had disappeared altogether over the years. He hadn't lied when he told her the relationship between a coach and an athlete was nothing like anything else he knew. That their relationship was intense and intimate, and sometimes confusing and complicated. They would fight, they would laugh, they would even cry together if that was what it would take to get her to the Olympics. Just as long as they would face it together, communicated and trusted each other, nothing would stop them from achieving her dream. And now they were at the Games, together, but he fears now that maybe he's loosing her after all.

'Sasha stop, this is why I didn't want to talk about it. I need to focus on my gymnastics, not on some stupid crush I had years ago. I'm fine, I will be great tomorrow. I just need to get some sleep and keep concentrated. Goodnight Sasha.' She opens her door and walks in while Sasha is left behind dumbstruck. How was she able to hide this all those years, he thought he could read her every thought. He sees the door fall back, but before the door closes he gets a grip on himself. He catches it before it falls shut and walks into the room. He thanks the heavens that the gymnasts for once don't have roommates. This time he will not push her away, that was a mistake he will never make again. He has no idea what he's doing, he is breaking every rule, every measure he had in order to keep his feelings at bay.

'Sasha, what are you doing?' Payson asks confused. They both stand in the room, not moving and not really looking at each other. Sasha wrecks his brain for something to say, but he cannot find a subject. What was he thinking, following her into her room. If he is to be completely honest with himself he knows exactly what he thought. He wants her, just like he wanted her all those years ago. He sighs heavily and then makes up his mind. He closes the distance between them and takes her into his arms.

'I'm doing what I should have done years ago.' Is his whispered answer. He makes the first step this time, bringing his lips down to hers. He moves in gently, not wanting to spook her with this sudden action. He moves his hands up to her shoulders, then to her neck and face, all the while his lips don't leave hers. She has no idea what has gotten over him, but she doesn't question it. Feeling his hands on her skin makes all her best dreams wallow in shame. It is like nothing she ever felt before, not that she has much to compare it with. His hands move up and down her ribcage, making her shiver and wanting more. He hovers over her, but makes sure his body doesn't touch hers. Breathing heavily they look into each others eyes. His are asking permission and hers are all to willing to oblige. Lowering himself carefully is the hardest thing he has ever done. He will not rush this moment, after all these years he finally has her in his embrace and he is determined to make it last. He watches her for a moment, her stormy green eyes lock with his. She is the most beautiful girl in the world, as he told her over and over again. She never believed him though. Always insecure about herself, always self-conscious, but he never stopped repeating himself.

'You are so beautiful.' He tells her again, this time with so much emotion he feels her tremble in his arms. She doesn't say a word, but only strokes his cheek with the smallest of touches. For the first time he sees she believes him. Then his lips meet hers in a passionate kiss and she willingly parts them. He uses his experience, but not as to make her insecure, he will always put her feelings first. His hands explore her body, teasing her whenever he finds a sensitive spot. It doesn't take long before she starts competing with him. She always challenges him in the sport and even on her bed she refuses to let him win. Payson won't give in to his teasing, but he isn't willing to let her have this victory. Taking her hands into his he pulls them above her head. Steadying himself he descends towards her neck until he finds a particular sensitive spot. The noise she makes at the first contact almost makes him lose control, but he restrains himself. His free hand travels up and down her body and everywhere he touches skin he feels her response. He smiles on her skin and descends even lower.

'Sasha.' She breaths into the room. 'Please.' And that little word is all it takes. He lets go of her hands and cups her face. He doesn't say a word, only claims her mouth. He feels such a strong need to make her his own he forgets to keep his weight off of her and nearly crushes down on her. Their hips meet in sharp contrast and he relishes the feeling that spurs through him. His hands move down to her waist and she chooses that moment to bring her lips to his chest. He needs to dig his fingers into her flesh if he wants to keep her whole. His hands descend down to her hips, and her groan brings a satisfied smirk to his face. He starts caressing her thighs while he softly bites her lower lip. All the while her hands make it difficult for him to concentrate, they are around his waist, nails digging into his back. She pulls him closer and closer, as if she doesn't want to let go of him ever again. She doesn't have to be afraid of that he thinks. He has no time to voice it though for her hands disappear under his shirt, moving it up his chest, trying to remove it completely. All the while she keeps kissing him, his lips, his neck when he needs to breath. She may have been inexperienced, but no woman ever succeeded in making him feel the way he feels when she touches him. He wants her, more than he wants anything in this world, but he knows tonight is not the time.

'Payson.' His voice is nothing more than a whisper, but she stops her kisses. He guides her chin up so he can meet her eyes. He knows what needs to be said, but he cannot bring himself to voice it. She knowingly smiles at him.

'Will you at least stay here tonight?' She asks him while slowly removing her hands from his back. He smiles back at her and caresses her cheek. 'Of course I'll stay, I'll stay forever if you'll have me.' He takes her into his arms and kisses her forehead. It doesn't take her long to fall asleep, the events of today finally wearing down on her. He strokes her back absentmindedly before drifting off himself.

A/N this is going to be a 3-shot, I think. I have it all figured out already, but it may end up being a 2-shot, I have to see how it turns out. Please R&R :)