Thank you everyone for your tremendous support for this story! I'm very glad that it's being enjoyed. Shout out to Chermayne, Cher30, so-romantical, icings, Esm3rald, JCI, Bethany and brookletp for your lovely reviews!

A/N: A few notes on the changes to canon... Since Payson's only out of the gym for a couple days, Kim doesn't step down as The Rock's manager, and Summer does not take over her job. Since this chapter focuses on the storyline of Payson becoming an artistic gymnast, it includes some ideas and a bit of dialogue taken from season 2.

Response to a question: Yes, on the show Kaylie beat Kelly and won Nationals. I found this rather unrealistic given Kaylie's lower difficulty scores compared to Payson, and the fact that Payson and Kelly's scores were supposed to be relatively comparable to each other. Remember that in the invitational meet at the Rock, Payson beat Kelly, but Kaylie didn't come close to their scores. (In case anyone forgot the top 5 order, it was: Payson, Kelly, Kristin, Kaylie, Lauren) If you need a reason, I imagine that since Payson is still around, Kaylie didn't have the same impetus to perform as well.


When Kim and Becca came home on Friday evening, they found Payson in her room, frantically combing through her closet.

"What are you doing?" Becca asked curiously as she sat down on her sister's bed and looked at the pile of dresses on the floor. "Burning all your clothes?"

"I need something nice to wear," Payson groaned.

"Why?"

"I'm going to the ballet." She answered, blushing. Seeing how flustered her sister was, Becca put the clues together.

"With a guy?"

"With Sasha," Kim said, stepping into the doorway. "He cleared it with me before he asked you," she told Payson with a soft smile. "I think it's a great idea. I'm making dinner, so could you help your sister find a formal dress, Becca?"

"Sure," Becca smirked. She didn't get Payson to dress up often, but this was clearly the perfect occasion. "So how much do you want to impress Sasha?"

Payson flushed. "It's not for Sasha, it's… it's the ballet."

"Uh huh," Becca smirked. She knew better than that. Payson didn't have a poster of Sasha Belov on her wall just because he was an Olympic Champion. "When is he coming?"

"Seven thirty." They both looked at the clock on the wall, and realized there was an hour and a half until then.

"I'll find your dress while you shower," Becca offered.

Payson hurried off to bathe, and when she came back, Becca had laid out a dress, shoes, and a few accessories. It was a black dress that Payson had never worn, but vaguely recalled her mom buying for her last year.

"It's a little snug." Payson discovered as she tugged it down over her hips. It wasn't exactly uncomfortable, but it wasn't as loose as it had been last year.

"It's perfect," Becca beamed, clapping her hands.


When the clock chimed seven thirty and there was a knock on the door, Kim went to answer it. Payson waited in the living room, nervously checking her appearance again, re-doing the black flower hairclips to keep her hair back from her face, and smoothing her hands down the skirt of her dress. She turned around as Sasha walked into the room, parted her lips to speak, but nothing came out. He looked incredibly handsome in a light blue suit.

Sasha stopped still as Payson turned around. She was beyond beautiful. Her hair framed her face in long golden waves, her light green eyes were framed by her long lashes, her lips a dark, sinful red. Her black dress clung to her chest, framing her curves, before flaring out at the waist. Sasha swallowed hard before he could speak, mindful that Kim was in the room.

"Payson Keeler, your carriage awaits."

She smiled shyly at him, and when he held out his arm, she took it. They said goodbye to Kim and Becca at the door, then he walked Payson to his sedan, opening the door for her to get in. Payson tried valiantly not to blush at his chivalry. She'd never been on a date, but when she imagined it, this was how it always started.


They arrived at the theater just in time to run into Jayden out by the steps. Sasha introduced them, but Jayden soon had to hurry off to prepare for the performance.

"What is she, the stage manager?" Payson asked curiously once Jayden had finished climbing the stairs.

Sasha looked at Payson, willing himself to hide his exasperation. How come she couldn't see that fuller bodied women could be graceful dancers? He chose to avoid answering her question for now.

"What do you say we go inside, down a couple of sparkling ciders out of plastic champagne flutes, and enjoy the ballet?"

"I'd say yes," Payson said with a smile. Part of her had been hesitant about seeing a ballet, but considering that she got to spend her evening with Sasha, she couldn't complain too much.

Sasha held out his arm and Payson took it, smiling shyly up at him. They stopped in the lobby, and Sasha got them two glasses of cider. It was bubbly and delicious, and Sasha didn't even mind that it was non-alcoholic.

As they walked into the theater and past a large group of people, Sasha reached out to keep her close. He caught her hand on instinct, his right palm curling about hers, and for a moment, they both stopped walking, stunned by the sensation. His hand was large and calloused, and fit perfectly around hers. The strong but gentle touch made Payson feel safe and incredibly cared for.

It took him another moment to lead her down to their row, and as they found the seats, Sasha had no more reason to hold onto her. But as he let her hand go, he felt the loss keenly, but he reminded himself that there had been no reason to keep holding on. After all, he'd only taken it so as not to lose her in the crowd.

They both studied their programs without really seeing them, Payson willing the blush on her cheeks to die down. When the ballet started, she felt utterly relieved. Sasha enjoyed the show, but he couldn't seem to stop himself from looking back at Payson every few moments.

For all her protests, she was clearly entranced by the performance. Her eyes were wide, her smile even wider, and she leaned forward as if wanting to join in. She was unfairly gorgeous, and it was all he could do to tear his gaze away and watch Jayden dancing across the stage.

"The swan must die to be reborn as a woman," Sasha murmured for only Payson to hear. "It symbolizes the courage it takes to let go of who we think we are and become who we are meant to be."

"She's so beautiful and strong," Payson said softly, admiring the dancer. "Her extensions are endless."

"Do you recognize her?"

The young gymnast studied the ballerina, and a moment later, came to the realization. "That's your friend, that's Jayden!"

"She's pretty good, huh?"

"She's amazing! I can't believe you let me think she was a stagehand."

"Well, looks can be deceiving."


As they walked back to the car, Jayden's words were still running through her mind.

Grace and elegance, they come from inside. If you feel it, others will see it. And it's not easy. You really have to expose yourself. There's nothing more beautiful, or powerful, than the moment you make that connection.

"Sasha," Payson said quietly. "Do you really think I have it inside me? The grace and elegance that Jayden has?"

He paused before unlocking the car, to turn and look at her seriously.

"I know you do," Sasha declared. "You may not see it, Payson, but you have a natural grace. When you're performing, you focus so much on your precision and power that you don't see it. I can teach you to use both."

"Then I'll try," Payson promised.

"That's all I ask," Sasha smiled.

She beamed back up at him.

"You look very beautiful tonight." The words slipped out before he could help himself.

He was looking at her so intently as he said it, that Payson couldn't help but shiver.

"Are you cold?"

Payson nodded silently, so Sasha immediately shrugged off his suit jacket and wrapped it over her shoulders. Tugging the jacket forward to secure it on her, he ended up bending closer to her, until their faces were just inches apart.

Her lips parted, as she intended to thank him. But then their eyes met, and they both froze. Payson's heart was pounding so loudly she feared he might be able to hear it. Sasha ached to cross those few inches and feel just how soft her lips were...

Sasha pulled back immediately, stunned by his sudden desire to kiss her. He'd been noticing Payson's beauty more often as of late, but until now, he hadn't come close to doing anything about it. Wracked with sudden guilt, he looked away.

"It's getting late." His voice was abrupt, almost harsh given what had come before. "I should get you home to your parents."

At those words, the spell was broken. They stepped back at once, both heading for their own sides of the car.

Payson's heart was still racing. For a moment, she had thought that they might… That Sasha might… No, that was ridiculous. She was projecting her own silly crush onto him. He'd been a perfect gentleman, and was only trying to keep her from freezing.

Sasha's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly. He took a deep breath, trying to relax. He'd convinced himself that this was a suitable field trip for a coach to take his underage gymnast to, but it had ended up feeling like a date, nearly complete with a first kiss. What was he thinking?

As he drove them back to Boulder, Payson turned on the radio and found a classical station to listen to. The soothing strains helped him relax a little. When he chanced a glance over at Payson, she was looking out the window, smiling softly. He felt intensely relieved that she seemed clueless as to his incredibly inappropriate feelings.

When they arrived at the Keeler home, Sasha walked her to the door to say goodnight.

"Thank you for coming with me. I had a lovely evening," he told her with a soft smile.

Payson's answering smile seemed blinding to him – caught in it, Sasha could see little else around him.

"Thank you for taking me," Payson said sincerely. "When can I start ballet class?"

"Is tomorrow soon enough?"


Payson couldn't believe she'd ever thought that dancing was far less demanding than gymnastics. It was different, but her body was aching from holding all the different positions that Miss Viola had drilled into her!

She wandered into Sasha's office on Saturday afternoon, her legs were moving slowly and feeling far too heavy.

"Payson!" Sasha brightened as he looked up and saw her. "How was ballet?"

"It was exhausting," she admitted as she sank into the chair next to his. Sasha stood up, looking concerned as he came over to her.

"Is your back alright?"

"My disc hasn't hurt at all," she assured him. "But I'm sore everywhere else."

"Where?"

She perked up slightly, remembering the massage he'd given her before the second day of Nationals.

"Well, my shoulders," Payson said hopefully, trying to let her body sag morosely.

Sasha quirked up an eyebrow, knowing exactly what she was doing. But her attempt to hide that hopeful little grin was too cute, he couldn't resist.

"I suppose I have no choice but to help." Sasha stepped up behind her and clasped her shoulders in her hands, squeezing at her taut muscles.

"Oh," Payson gasped. His hands trailed down, pushing his fingers cleverly between her shoulder blades, and she pushed back instinctively into his touch. "Right there, mmm…"

Her needy, breathless tone sent a jolt of heat through him. Sasha rubbed his thumbs up the base of her neck, and she let out a short, sharp moan. Payson was young, he reminded himself sternly, she had no idea how provocative her noises might seem. When Sasha finally pulled his hands away, Payson was more relaxed than she could ever remember being.

"I feel like a puddle," she sighed happily.

"Just what the doctor ordered," Sasha chuckled. "Now, you're not back to conditioning until Wednesday, but you're welcome to stay and help me with the girls."

"I'll stay and help," Payson volunteered immediately.

Kim stepped into the office and smiled when she saw Payson there.

"How was your dance lesson?"

"Okay," Payson said brightly. There was a look of tired contentment on Payson's face that her mother thought suited her well.

"I think this is going to be good for her," Kim said thoughtfully after Payson waved and headed down to the floor to see her friends.

"What can I say," Sasha said with a roguish smile. "I am a genius."


After her second ballet class on Tuesday morning, Payson showed up at the Rock again. She watched as Lauren ran her vault, sticking the Tsukuhara perfectly. Payson wished she could turn her triple twist right now.

"Payson!" Becca called from the beam. "Want to see my new dismount?"

"I'd love to," Payson answered, glad for the distraction.

She watched as her sister walked to the end of the beam, turned around, and took a deep breath. Then she ran across the beam, turned a round-off back handspring, and then flipped off the end in a stretched salto with a one and a half twist.

Becca landed firmly on her feet, and raised her arms triumphantly.

"Oh my god!" Payson cried, running to her sister's side and hugging her tightly. "That was amazing, Becca!"

"Thanks," Becca grinned.

"Your form is incredible," Payson gushed.

Becca preened happily. "Pay, can I ask you a favor?"

"Sure."

"Avery wants to have her birthday party at the Rock," Becca said hopefully. "On Sunday afternoon, when there's no training. Can you ask Sasha for permission?"

"Why can't you ask him?"

"Please, you're obviously his favorite," Becca grinned at her. Payson flushed slightly at the thought.

"I'll ask him," Payson agreed.

She looked around and saw Sasha walking up the stairs. Payson hurried after him and waved to him as she walked into the office.

Sasha smiled as he saw her. "How was your second class?"

She was tempted to say fine and let it go, but she didn't want to keep things from Sasha.

"I'm the worst in the class, and all the other girls are years younger than me. It's embarrassing."

"That can't be easy," Sasha said understandingly. "Did you know my mother was a ballet dancer?"

"I didn't," Payson said with a smile.

"She was an amazing dancer," Sasha said wistfully. "I'd go to visit her sometimes, and she'd walk me through some moves. I was hopeless at first, and all the girls my age teased me endlessly because they were so far ahead of me. But I kept at it, and when I learned to incorporate some of the grace my mother taught me, I was able to win my gold on floor as well as the bars."

Payson began to smile. "You dance ballet?"

"I could be better," he acknowledged. "Payson, keep at it, and you'll get it in no time."

"I'll try," she promised. "Oh, I wanted to ask you something…"

When Payson walked out of the office and gave Becca two thumbs up, Becca grinned. She knew that was going to work.


"What are you doing here?" Payson hissed as Sasha walked into her ballet class and joined her at the barre.

"I'm here to learn, just like you," Sasha replied.

"No talking!" Miss Viola snapped as she walked by, tapping Sasha's arm with her stick.

Sasha hurriedly adjusted his pose, then craned his neck back to wink at Payson. She couldn't seem to stop smiling. Sasha was skipping out on training everyone else just to be here for her.

It was the first time that Miss Viola didn't spending the entire class picking on Payson's form – now she had Sasha to pick on instead. To Payson's surprise, she was even asked to demonstrate a few things for Sasha to imitate.

"What do you think?" Sasha asked when the class was done. "Did I improve?"

"Some," Payson said with a giggle.

He laughed as well, then lifted his t-shirt to wipe the sweat from his face. Payson's eyes fell on his exposed chest, and for a moment, forgot how to breathe.

"Want a lift to the Rock?" Sasha offered, pulling his shirt back down.

"Yes, thanks," Payson said quickly, looking away from him.


When they walked into the Rock together, Sasha decided to give her a piece of good news.

"It's been a week since your surgery, so you're welcome to start some light conditioning this afternoon."

Payson squealed with excitement and ran to the girl's locker room to change out of her ballet clothes and into basic work-out gear. When she came out, Tara was waiting for her by the track.

"Are you ready?" Her favorite assistant coach asked with a smile.

"Absolutely," Payson said eagerly.

Payson finished her first set only feeling slightly breathless, but Tara insisted she take a break, so she sprawled out on a nearby mat.

"Hey," Emily greeted, offering her a cup of water.

"Thanks," Payson said gratefully as she drank it down in a single gulp.

"I'm glad you're back," Emily said quietly, glancing across the gym. "This last week has been crazy. Kaylie and Lauren won't stop fighting."

"Why?"

"First the Carter thing, and now Nationals. Kaylie's upset that she's only fourth, and Lauren can't stop bringing up how close she came to beating Kaylie."

"We're all on the National team, shouldn't that be enough for them?" Payson rolled her eyes. "You can handle them, Emily. You're the team captain."

"Well…" Emily said slowly. "I was for Nationals, but I know I was really focused on myself. You're the one who held us together. I don't really want to be Captain - I'd rather it was you."

"Thank you," Payson said, feeling flattered.


"More height, Becca!" Payson shouted as her sister bounced on the trampoline, turning a front layout in the air. "You'll need it if you want to learn to add a twist!"

Sasha watched as Becca tried to do as her older sister recommended. Kim and Payson were helping chaperone Becca's best friend's party, and Sasha had popped in, ostensibly to steal some cake.

"Becca really takes after you."

"Really? We're so different."

"She looks up to you, it's obvious. She wants to be just like you."

"If she keeps training as hard as she has been lately, she will be," Payson said with a smile. "And you know, she'll turn sixteen by the end of 2012. Maybe we'll have two Keelers on the team."

"It's certainly possible, especially with the way you've been helping her train."

"Oh, it's nothing," Payson deflected, but Sasha shook his head.

"You're a fantastic coach, Payson. When you're done with your career, I'd offer you a spot coaching here in a second."

"You offering me a job, Belov?"

"Only if you win at least two gold medals in London," Sasha added cheekily.

"What do you take me for?" Payson gasped, nudging him in the side. "Only two? I'm going to get at least four to match you. And then I'll have a lot more job offers than just yours."

"Well, remember who made the first one," Sasha told her affectionately.

"You're welcome to try and convince me," Payson shrugged.

He leaned in close to whisper in her ear before he thought better of it. "I can be very persuasive."

Payson flushed, heat pooling in her belly. Sasha drew back, ready to smack himself. He couldn't talk to her like that.

"They seem busy," he said, his voice casual once more. "Would you like to work on the floor? Just dance moves, but we should start developing your new choreography."

"Sure," Payson said, trying to get over the dazed feeling she'd gotten from the way he'd spoken into her ear.

She demonstrated a few of the basic moves she'd learned after a week of ballet.

"I think you can do those turns with your legs higher." Sasha mused.

"How much higher?"

Sasha grinned. "All the way up."

Payson practiced her splits first before taking Sasha's hand and letting him pull her up. She stood on her left foot and raised her right in the air, stretching it as high as she could while keeping her balance.

"Good," Sasha said, and moved over to her, one hand on her left hip, the other on her right thigh to help her brace it.

Payson drew in a shaky breath. His hand felt hot on her bare skin. He pushed her gently, urging her leg higher until it was straight in the air.

"Now let's try a spin."

Payson carefully pushed up on her toes, tightened her core, and twisted. She turned almost all the way around once before her body nearly collapsed and she let her leg drop. Sasha caught her by the waist, keeping her upright before her right foot even touched the ground.

"You've almost got it," he said encouragingly. "Try again."

This time, she raised her leg nearly all the way on her own, and Sasha's fingers barely had to brush against her skin. Sasha carefully stepped back, Payson breathed calmly, and spun again, this time keeping her balance perfectly for the full turn.

"I think we can turn this into a double turn. Your balance is amazing."

She thanked him, and begged for a moment to get a drink of water. Sasha watched her go, inwardly chiding himself. As a coach, he was used to helping his gymnasts by touching and pushing their bodies… But with Payson, it felt different. He felt like a pervert – she was only seventeen, and she trusted him to be helping her.

When Payson returned, Sasha had her move on to jumps and leaps, things she should be doing without him needing to touch her. Her sissonne was already mightily improved, and most of all, her arms moved in natural, graceful ways that they hadn't before.

"That's excellent. You're getting your extensions down. Jayden would approve. How's your back?"

"It's perfect," Payson assured him. "I mean it. There's no pain, Sasha! For the first time in ages, there's no pain at all!"

"I'm very glad to hear it," he said warmly.

"Thank you for convincing me to have the surgery. You know, I'm actually enjoying dancing." Payson raised a finger quickly. "But don't tell anyone."

"I won't," Sasha swore. "Now, since I let your sister's friend have her party here, free of charge, I'd like to ask you a favor."

"Alright," Payson nodded.

"I need you to tell me what you know about Carter Anderson."

Payson's heart sank. "Well, he's a rings specialist..."

"Don't play dumb, Payson," Sasha said knowingly. "I need to know the full story. I'm fairly sure it involves Lauren, and perhaps Kaylie as well."

"Will you promise not to kick out Kaylie and Lauren?"

Sasha sighed. "I promise."

With a relieved little smile, Payson told him what she knew. Carter and Kaylie had dated secretly for a year, until they briefly broke up at the kegger party the girls had gone to in Sasha's first week at the Rock. Lauren had a crush on Carter, and she lost her virginity to him at the party, but afterwards, Carter just wanted to get Kaylie back. They'd begun dating again, and Carter hadn't told her about sleeping with Lauren. But eventually she'd found out, right before Nationals, and broke off her relationship with Carter, and her friendship with Lauren.

"Jesus Christ," Sasha said angrily. "I can't believe they were all so thoughtless…"

"Remember what you promised!" Payson reminded him nervously.

"Oh, the girls won't be leaving the Rock," he said grimly. "But Carter Anderson is out for good."

"What? Why?"

"Because he is an idiotic teenage boy who broke the hearts of two of my best gymnasts," Sasha replied coolly. "Lauren and Kaylie have lost their friendship because of him. I trust that I can count on you, Payson, to follow the no-dating rule, unlike your friends."

"Of course," Payson assured him. "I'm not interested in boys."

"Is that so? I've seen the way Nicky looks at you."

"Well, I haven't been looking at him," Payson countered indignantly.

Sasha was relieved to hear it, though to his shame, not for any appropriate reason.

"Alright, let's practice that grand jete again."

When his hands drifted to her hips to help her turn out, Payson tried to keep her breathing steady. She'd been telling the truth – she wasn't interested in a boy. She only wanted one unfairly attractive and unattainable man.