The girls were pushed through the VIP section of the airport. Crowds had gathered outside and were waiting for a glimpse of the star gymnasts. Lauren as usual led them out, the girls posed for photos and signed hundreds of autographs before being ushered into their awaiting bus. Once on the bus the girls could finally relax. They were home and all they had to do was officially retire and move on to what ever they wanted.
Emily was eventually going to move to LA with Damon, she wanted to go to school and study - what she had not worked out.
Lauren wanted to become an international superstar model, with all the glitz and glamor that came with it.
Kaylie wanted to settle down with Austin and become a normal teenager again. She wanted to do all the things she never could when she was a gymnast. She enjoyed her stint at high school and really wanted to get into College.
Payson had no idea anymore. She had wanted to be with Sasha wholeheartedly. She wanted to establish their private relationship and they both wanted to coach. She also wanted to study the anatomy. Since her accident she was amazed at how her body altered and she was very interested in finding out why and how she could help her gymnasts improve.
#
They were met at the ROCK with more fans. They had thought they were done, but Chloe Kmetko had pulled together a party in their honor. time it was only family and friends of the four girls.
Chloe had pulled everything together, the party was fantastic, the girls were gushing with pride and everyone wanted to congratulate them. They were pulled into so many conversations and everyone wanted to know the same thing, the girls obliged and went through the same stories over and over for their friends, the party went on long into the night. All Payson wanted to do was go home and curl into a ball and cry. She kept looking at Sasha but he was always engrossed somewhere else. She slipped away and hid in the Rock for a while, she was desperate to have some alone time.
Just as she sat on the beam, he walked in "why are you in here, alone, you should be celebrating"
she looked down not wanting to meet his gaze, "just need to take five"
he noticed her lack of eye contact before continuing, "Overwhelming, right"
Nodding her head in his direction but still not looking at him.
"look at me Payson".
Closing her eyes, trying to pluck up the corrage, she took a deep breath in and looked up, "WHAT"
"I'm sorry" he reaches out for her hand, but she pulled away and jumps off the beam and walking away from him.
After a few strides she stopped, taking in a strong gulp and turning towards him, "Sorry for what exactly... braking your promise, acting like a jerk or simply..."
putting his hands up to stop her, "I know Payson, I just thought you needed more time for this" his voice trailed off.
With pearcing eyes looking right into his, "NO Sasha I had enough time, it's you who has the problem with this" with that she turned and heads out the door.
"WAIT, you are not going this time" he pulls her back in and lands his lips on top of hers, they stay there for a while until they need to pull apart for a breath. "I love you, and yes this may take sometime, but we will get there... I promise you".
She doesn't know if she believes him, she wants to, but shes scared to let herself, "Are you sure, because I do not want to get into this if …."
The door flies open and in walks Kim, a little worse for ware off the punch! "Hey my beautiful Olympian are you ready to take me home yet"
she presses her eyes closed and curses her mom for spoiling this, through gritted teeth she replies "Sure mom, I will be out in a second".
Her and Sasha had jumped apart the minute they had heard the door creaking, as Kim vacated the Rock, Payson brushed past Sasha and placed a kiss on his lips "tomorrow at 6.30, here".
#
Next morning Kim and Mark woke with the meanest handovers they had ever had. They celebrated their daughters magnificent achievements a little too much. They went to thank her for the hangover, only to be met with a note
'gone training, love you P'
"training, she is not going through that again, is she" Mark said washing his paracetamol back with a pint of water.
"NO chance, I don't think I can go through that again".
#
At the ROCK
"Why did you want to meet me here" Sasha said with a smile, kissing her lightly as she passed
"Training" she smiled
"UH. I hate to remind you, but you've retired " he said looking totally confused.
"Maybe, but I have to hit that vault one more time, I can do it without the knee bend and I have not officially retired yet" she said going over to warm-up.
He looked on in surprise "WAIT, WHAT not retired yet"
"NOPE", "I have to hit it" she repeated until she was ready to take on the vault. She nailed it first time, second time and another 4 times after that.
"What does that mean... you can do it... GREAT, lets do it in four years time" he said looking very confused.
She let one side of her smile lift and forced the other to remain stern, "Well, I wanted to get gold on the vault too"
"In FOUR YEARS TIME" he said in a high pitch.
"Uh no, just in my head...by the way take this as my official retirement notice" she said as she planted a kiss on his lips.
"I thought for a second I was going to have to wait another 4 years"
"Not even I am that cruel" she said smiling. "Can we spend time away from this place now".
"I thought you'd never ask, lets start with breaky at my place"
#
After the initial awkwardness had subsided the two had started getting comfortable with one another and were now feeling more confident in their new relationship. They were officially dating, except no one new about it, nor could they go out in public together, at least not yet. Instead they spent countless evenings at Sasha's lake side apartment. They would cook together, talk about their future, telling their parents, letting the press find out and everything else that worried them.
They started getting more intimate and pushing the boundaries each time. Their first few evenings together were not like any other first dates. They had so much to talk about that the affectionate side did not transpire until the good night kiss. But soon the confidence in Payson was blooming, she was leading the way and she knew exactly how much she wanted. Sasha was reluctant to pressure Payson into anything, he wanted her to feel totally ready before they moved it any further. He was enjoying this time as much as her, finding new and exciting ways to tease each other and she was starting to use her body in a way she never before considered. It was new but she liked it.
#
By early Fall Payson had enrolled in collage and was set to fit coaching around her studies. Her Mom reminded her that she was a normal teenager,"young woman" she corrected her, and that she was fine with her bringing 'a nice young man' home to meet her and Mark. Payson rolled her eyes and decided to test the waters
"what makes you say that, mom".
"well, you have been out a lot lately, dressing up a little more, you seem different, happy and I can just sense these things", Kim smiled
"Whatever mom, I am visiting Kaylie's now, bye".
She drove to Kaylie's place and decided that if they were in school together then she needed to know about Sasha, plus she was always so good with men and advice.
"Okay so I have some big news. You may find it weird but it soo not, well at least not for me anyways"
"oooh, like gossip news...I love gossip news" kaylie sat up ready for the big news
Payson closed her eyes and just blurted it out, "I am dating someone"
"WHAT, HOW DO I NOT ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THIS" she screams grabbing Payson's arm "WHO? do I know him? is he at school?"
"Well, yes and no" giggling "okay, but first let me tell you this, he is so sweet when were alone and it just seems perfect. Actually it is perfect and he is so like me it is unreal, I really think I'm falling and fast".
"so, I know him, let me guess... Nicky"
"NO"
"okay, okay, I know, I know, that Paul guy from physiology, the one with the cute butt"
" huh, NO"
"WHO then"
"promise you wont flip out"
"oh my god Payson do not say its Carter"
"AAH NO, eeew. I think two rebels was enough for that poor boy" bursting into laughter "Its... Sasha"
"Seriously Pay, way to funny" Payson just glares until Kaylie reacts "OH my god, its SASHA as in Sasha, Sasha, our Coach Sasha"
"EX-COACH and yes, him" Payson looked nervous
"WOW, ah... how did that happen"
"After we got back from London. We just you know...did"
"NO-WAY, you are not getting out of this, details"
"We did kiss a few times before London too"
"NO, you dirty dog Keeler... with our coach"
"Yep" blushing and laughing "but nothing more than a kiss before"
"AND NOW"
"NO... well at least not fully anyway, but soon", smiling at the end
They both collapse back on the bed in fits of laughter at the thought of miss goody two shoes being the worst of all of the rebels.
"You were right, you two are a perfect match. He is a boy, huh MAN version of you. Ooh imagine how cute baby Belov's will be"
Throwing a pillow at her Payson realizes that Kaylie was the right person to turn to first.
#
Sasha was feeling just like Payson, he needed to talk to someone. He thought about the perfect person to tell. He could only think of two people. Kim or Mark. He knew that was a no go. He had become very close to the Keeler family over the years. Kim was his biggest supporter through the 'kiss' incident, through him almost leaving and every other insane jibes that had come his way, she always stood by him and supported his decisions at the Rock. He really hoped that his relationship with the Keeler's wouldn't be tarnished as a result. He then knew the only other person was his very own dad.
"Dad, shall we fish"
"yes son, I would like that, a little cold now so wrap up"
Later that afternoon then two men stood side by side, holding on to their rods awaiting eagerly for a catch. Dmitri Belov taught his son everything he knew about his second love, fishing. The only thing Sasha could not grasp was the silence. He always found it necessary to break the silence with small talk. So when he kept quiet Dmitri knew instantly that his son had something on his mind.
"What is it son"
"whats what"
"something on your mind, you always fill silence"
"I am thinking how to put this to you, so you understand"
"when ever your ready"
a little while later Sasha breaks the silence, "I totally screwed up, but I do not care in the slightest"
"So your happy with your screw-up"
"Yes, totally and utterly happy"
"Is she happy with it too"
"How do you know it's about a woman"
"it's always about a woman, my boy. Now all you need ask yourself is, is she happy"
"I think so" he smiles looking back at his father
"Now all you need to do is tell her parents, their good people they will understand, eventually"
"Huh" he looks in confusion
"MARK and KIM, their good people, but they want whats best for their little girl. You need to prove that you are best for her"
"how long have you known"
"Since the day you walked in with her at nationals. I knew she was more than just a gymnast and I also knew she would give me grandchildren someday".
"why are you not angry"
"Not really, you protected her, you made her wait. She is no longer your gymnast and now you must tell her parents".
"Your right, I need to tell them myself and soon".
