Title: Forbidden Fruit
Rating: T
Setting: After All That Glitters
Pairing: Payson/Sasha with mentions of Carter/Kaylie, Carter/Lauren and Emily/Damon.
Disclaimer: I don' t own Make it or Break it or the characters in this story.
Summary: Having been prohibited to not do gymnastics or else risk her walking ability, Payson clings onto the one person that has never lied or covered his feelings: Coach Sasha Belov. The only problem is, he's been acting differently ever since her accident. I have wanted Payson and Sasha together throughout the show. Their chemistry is undeniable and since the writers don't seem to realize it, I decided to put my own thoughts on paper.

Chapter One: Hospital Confessions, or Not

Sasha Belov ran a quick hand over his wheat colored hair, let out a small sigh, and then walked into the hospital room. Amidst all the celebrations and congratulating he had received from his peers and the team's parents, his mind kept crawling back to Payson laying in this exact room. Hours before she had been rushed from the gymnasium to the hospital after falling out in the middle of her performance. He instantly ran to her side to make sure she was still breathing.

His knocked lightly on the doorframe while gazing at the young blonde comfortably adorned. At first glance, she appeared to be sleeping but after a few moments she turned her head to look at him. Her expression went from unreadable to afraid in a matter of seconds. She bit her lip and her face turned a slight reddish color. He shook his head and slowly approached her, easing away from the doorframe.

"Payson, don't cry." He said simply yet softly. He looked down at her as she tried to avoid eye contact while simultaneously wiping her tears away. She finally looked at him again, somehow trying to read his expression, which stayed content. He was never a man to show emotion other than required for coaching.

"…I'm sorry." She croaked out. Tears seemed to pour out silently as the words found their way from her lips. "I let you down, I let the team down. I let my parents down. I –"

"Stop." He interrupted, holding his hand up. "Stop playing the victim card. You are not a victim, Payson."

"If I keep doing gymnastics then I can't walk." She said weirdly. The fact still hadn't hit her yet. Gymnastics was her life and the fact that continuing it would hinder her in a more serious way. She snapped out of her thoughts when Sasha said two simple words.

"I know."

She looked at him. In the eyes. She didn't know what to say, but it did feel better that she didn't have to explain it over again like she did when Kaylie, Lauren, and Emily came in to check on her.

"Your mom told me." He explained. He slipped his hands into his pockets and looked down briefly. For some reason, this made her extremely mad. He was being quiet and sympathetic. Two things that did not define Sasha Belov and she knew it.

She slowly pulled herself up a bit more so she was propped up. Her body was still extremely weak, but she fought through the pain emitting from her spine to continue this conversation. "Say it." She started, running a hand through her hair. "Tell me how stupid I am for taking cortisone shots without anyone's consent. Tell me that you expected better of me and that I need to stop being selfish and start thinking of the team and everyone that was counting on me out there in that audience. Go ahead." She said, glaring at him.

There was still a sympathetic look on his face throughout her entire lecture. What was wrong with him? When she finished, he cleared his throat and took his hands from his pockets. He pointed a finger towards the door. "I'm gonna go see how the girls are doing."

"Sasha, stop! Please don't do this." She sort of whined.

He made a small face, finally losing the pity exterior. "Do what?"

"That." She said, sighing a little. She looked down. "Everyone that has come in here has given me the pity look. They think that by complimenting me on how 'good' I look will cover up what they're really thinking. No one wants to say how this is the stupidest thing I could have ever done. That's what I need. I need honesty. I need criticism. I need…" She trailed off, looking back up at him. "…you." She hesitated when she said it, and the look on his face wasn't helping. It instantly went to unreadable. She didn't know what he was thinking but she figured she might as well continue. "I need you to be you. I-I need you to yell at me and tell me the truth. Don't be like everyone else. Please."

Their eye contact held on for a couple seconds. Suddenly the room felt too small, too hot, too everything. He cleared his throat, but it didn't help the situation. Her eyes were so pleading, searching for something in him. Words he couldn't bring himself to say. Not when she was already punishing herself. He cleared his throat once more. "Payson…" He trailed off, figuring out the right words to say.

Outside the room, nurses could be heard pulling a stretcher through the room. It snapped both of them out of their forbidden thoughts. Now was not the time. They had bigger things to deal with. "Get some rest." He finally said, before exiting the room.

All the weight that had held her up, suddenly gave in and she fell back onto the bed. She closed her eyes slowly and did just what her coach had ordered. Although it wasn't what she had wanted, it turned out to be what she needed to hear. At least for now.