AN: Thank you Jackelyne Harkness-Jones, braveryx11, CaterinaFan159, and PrettyReckless09 for your wonderful reviews. As I said I've been planning this chapter for awhile so that's why it's up sooner rather than later. I will admit I almost teared up when writing this. I hope I did this chapter and the decision justice. Please, please let me know what you guys think of this chapter. This chapter is a turning point in the story so this is a big one. Please take a few minutes to read and review, it's what keeps me motivated.
Emily fidgeted in the drivers seat as she eyed the clock on the dashboard. She slowly counted down the minutes until nine-thirty when Austin and Sasha would arrive. At nine-fifteen both Emily and Payson sighed in relief as Austin slowly maneuvered his Indian Chief also affectionately called Lolita, next to Chloe's KIA. He swung his legs over the bike and placed his helmet on the handle bar before making his way over to the car. As Austin approached, Emily and Payson clambered out of the car to greet him.
Austin smirked before leaning against the hood of the gray car. "Ladies, ladies. . .good morning." He turned to Emily with a smile. "Ready for our date Kmetko?"
Emily crossed her arms before mock glaring. "First off you and I are with different people. Does Kaylie and Damon ring a bell? And besides, this is not a date, it's just two friend hanging out."
"Chillax Kmetko, I'm just messing with you. Trust me I wouldn't do anything to mess up what I have with Kaylie."
Emily nods her approval as she leans against the car as well. Austin turns to Payson with an encouraging smile. "And how are you 'lil Keeler of mine?"
Payson shrugs before leaning on Emily's other side. "Good. Just...waiting for Sasha to get here is all."
Austin didn't look convinced when hearing her statement. In fact if he had to bet, he would say that Payson was falling apart. She was going to a doctor to confirm her suspicions after all. He sighs as he slung his arms over the two girls at his side. They took in the serenity of the lake before Austin sees a small dock at the edge of the lake. With a grin he pushed himself away from the car and made his way over to the small piece of wood ignoring Payson and Emily's warnings of it not being safe. He jumps on and turns to face them with a big grin.
"See girls, it's safe and sturdy. It's not gonna break under my weight. This thing was built to last." Payson and Emily raise their eyebrows skeptically before shaking their heads.
Austin smirks as he calls out to them. "Hey guys, who am I?" He narrows his eyes and tries to look intimidating, but fails because of the flowers and lily-pads that's next to the dock. He scowls when Emily and Payson starts to laugh.
Emily calls out to him with a smile. "You could be a lot of things Austin, but I think you're a big idiot."
Austin pouts as he places his hand over his heart looking hurt. "No you goofs. I'm supposed to be Sasha. The narrowed eyes and stance should have given it away. I'm surprised you didn't get it Pay."
"Tucker I didn't know you liked me enough to pretend to be me. I should be flattered, but considering what you're standing next to I find you right down funny." All of them jump as Sasha makes his way over to Emily's car with a smirk.
Austin has the decency to look at the ground before glancing back up. "Yea well, I was bored and decided to entertain myself so sue me." He moved to jump off the dock, but missed a couple of inches and landed in the ankle deep water. He glared as Emily and Payson laughed at him. He tried to salvage some of his dignity by ignoring them.
Once he was by Emily he nudged her shoulder with his. "Remember you have to spend the whole day with me Kmetko so watch who you laugh at."
Emily rolls her eyes before nudging back a little harder than necessary. "Oh boy, I'm so scared."
Austin smirks before looking at Sasha. "Took you long enough to show up."
Sasha rolls his eyes before looking at his watch. "I'm not the one who decided to show up twenty minutes early Tucker."
Austin glanced at Payson and Emily before looking back at Sasha. "Hey don't look at me. Look at your girlfriend on this one. I'm not the one who was here first, Payson and Emily were."
Sasha smirks before checking his watch again. "I guess we can split up." He took Payson's hand and led her to his truck and opening the door for her. Once she was in, Sasha looked back at Emily and Austin with stern eyes. "Remember, stay together and out of sight. Either me or Payson will text you when we're on our way back."
Austin and Emily nod as Sasha goes around to the drivers side. Austin watches as Sasha leans in to kiss Payson and he can't help, but think and feel that they're meant to be together. He smiles as they drive off and out of Boulder. He turns to Emily and smirks.
"Well I uess it's just you and me for the time being. What do you want to do?"
Emily shrugs her shoulders before climbing in the drivers side of her mom's car. She raises her eyebrows silently asking Austin if he was getting in. He shook his head and climbed back on his bike. Before putting on his helmet he turns to Emily and smiles. "We can go to my house by the lake. You remember where it's at don't you?"
Emily smirks before nodding. "Yea it's where me, Payson, and Lauren gatecrashed the party you threw when you first started training at The Rock. I'll just follow you there."
Austin nods before revving up his bike and swerving out of the parking lot and heading home. Even though she's been there once before, she's still in awe at how huge Austin's house is. A two story house with a beautiful lake view and a deck with a massive pool and hot tub is what she pulled up to. She pulls in the drive way and slowly clambers out of the car. As soon as Austin parks his motorcycle he turns towards Emily with a grin.
He struts to the front door and swings it open, letting Emily pass him in the foyer. He smirks when she takes in the living room to the right of the entryway. "Welcome to Casa De La Tucker. Want a tour? It'll kill some time."
Emily smirks before nodding. "As big as this house looks it might take two or three hours just to see it all."
Austin shakes his head. "Nah it'll only take a few minutes. The only thing that's down here is the kitchen behind you and the living room, both of them are just really big. Down the small hall is the guest bathroom. Upstairs is the master suit and three guest rooms. Wanna go look?"
"Sure. I'm just dying to see where the great Austin Tucker sleeps." Austin smirks at the sarcasm dripping from her voice.
Emily glances in the three guest rooms and is surprised to see the simplicity of it, but unsurprised to see the large flat screens in all the rooms. The only thing in the rooms was a large bed, a chest of drawers, small side tables, and a flat screen. Austin's room, however, was a different story. In the center of his room was a large unmade king size bed, mahogany chest of drawers, a flat screen TV set up with an entertainment center, and a large stereo on the opposite wall of the entertainment system. Emily sniffed and crinkled her nose at the sight of dirty clothes scattering the fluffy cream carpet. Her eyes lit up at the double doors leading out to the balcony. She walked around the piles of dirty clothes and stepped out on the balcony and drank in the beautiful lake view outside of Austin's bedroom. She turned around when she heard him approach her from behind. She glanced sideways as he leaned casually against the banister.
"So does Casa De La Tucker meet the expectations of everyone at The Rock?"
Emily smirked as she glanced at him before turning her attention back to the blue lake below them. "Surprisingly yes. Your bedroom is on the verge of cool, but it's definitely a pigsty with all those dirty clothes on your nice carpet. You should be ashamed of yourself."
Austin smirked before turning towards the door. "Funny Kmetko. I'll clean it up before I bring Kaylie over though. I mean..." He stumbled over his words when he realized what he sounded like. "I did not mean that the way it sounded."
Emily rolled her eyes before passing him and making her way downstairs into the living room with Austin hot on her hells. "I hope so, because really Austin, Kaylie is going through a lot. I consider her and Payson both best friends of mine now. So I'll just tell you right now, Kaylie does not need another guy pressuring her and doing things just to get sex."
At the implication of Kaylie in a compromising position forcefully his eyes narrowed. "Really? I know her and Carter were together for a really long time, but I assumed that they've never. . ." He trailed off letting the nonverbal statement hang in the air.
Emily rolled her eyes before answering him. "As far as I know Kaylie has never done anything, but Carter left her with a broken heart and went with Lauren just so he could get some."
Austin growled as he learned just exactly what Carter did to Kaylie. He was unsurprised to hear that Lauren had a hand in the whole fiasco. She does hop from one male gymnast to the next at The Rock. "I'm gonna kill Carter the next time I see him. He just better be happy he's training at Denver Elite now or I'd pound his face into the ground."
Emily rolls her eyes before walking over to the TV. "Chill, no need to go all cave man and protect Kaylie. It's done and it's over with. Beside I think she has her eye on a certain tall dark headed gymnast anyway." She glances at Austin with a smile before picking out a movie and holding it up for him to see.
Austin groans when he sees the tittle. "You just had to ruin the friendly moment by wanting to watch Bring It On? Seriously Kmetko?"
"Hey I'm not the person who has it in my movie selection."
Austin sighs as he grabs the DVD case and places the disk in the player. He tosses the case on the coffee table before making his way into the kitchen. A few minutes later he plops himself on the couch and places a big bowl of popcorn in between him and Emily.
He turns to her and smirks. "I only have this movie because for one the girls in here are super hot and it used to be my sisters'."
"Figures."
Austin smirks as he tosses some popcorn in Emily's general direction. "Sssshhhh it's starting."
Emily smirks as they lapse in a comfortable silence to watch the movie.
Meanwhile in Denver, Payson sits in a plastic chair trying to keep still. She only manages to come close when Sasha slowly wraps his arm around her shoulders. She glances up and some of her nerves ebb away when she looks in his light eyes. She lets out a shaky breath before leaning her head on his strong shoulder.
Sasha sighs as he glances around the waiting room. He smiles when a little girl who looks to be two starts tugging on her fathers arm, trying to grab his attention. His smile falters as he glances down at Payson. He kisses her forehead and he smiles as she wriggles closer to him. He watches the clock as it crawls closer to noon. As soon as he leans his head against the cool wall behind him a door opens making him jump. He feels Payson tense underneath his arm and he strokes her shoulder to try and soothe her. He nervously looks at the young nurse in the doorway as she consults her clipboard. His tense muscles remind him of what it felt like before competing in a big competition when he was involved in gymnastics. When the nurse glances up and stares around the waiting room he knows who's name will be called.
Her voice is loud in the small crowded room, making Sasha grit his teeth. "Payson Keeler?"
Slowly Payson and Sasha stand and make their way over to the nurse. They follow her down a plain long hallway and abruptly stop at a scale. Sasha leans against the wall as the nurse instructs Payson to stand on the scale. He watches as the nurse pushes a few buttons and waits a few seconds before writing something down on the clipboard. Sasha sighs as Payson steps down, making her way next to him. He smiles encouragingly at her before reaching down and taking her shaky hand in his large one. They follow the nurse to a small room and sit down to wait for the doctor. Sasha glances at the clock and cringes when it indicates it's only twelve-ten. He hears Payson sigh and glances at her.
His voice is like an explosion in the silence, but comforting to Payson. "You okay draga?"
Payson nods as she lays on the table. To reassure himself as much as Payson, he stands up and drags his chair next to the table so he can grasp Payson's clammy hand. As her coach he can't help, but notice the change in her body and breathing. He leans down and strokes her hair before kissing her on the forehead again.
"Payson, what's wrong? Don't lie to me." His voice is stern and it makes Payson cave.
She sighs before locking eyes with him. "Fine, I'm scared and I have no idea what to expect."
"Don't be scared, love. I'm going to be right here the whole time." He smirks before continuing. "The only way I'm stepping out of this room is if the drag me out. . .if they can."
Payson smiles at Sasha's attempt to make her feel better. She's lost in his eyes when the door opens and a young doctor walks in. Payson's stomach twists into knots as she glances at the new person in the room. She squeezes Sasha's hand so tight that she thinks she may have broken it. Sasha strokes the back of her hand as the doctor takes a seat at the tiny desk next to the table.
The doctor turns to the couple before smiling. "I'm Dr. Aubry Jones. I think I talked with an. . .Alexander Belov at the beginning of the week." She turns to Payson with a bright smile. "And you must be Payson."
She sticks out her hand for Payson to shake before glancing at Sasha. "Who's your friend?"
Sasha smiles and sticks out his hand for Dr. Jones to shake. "I would be the person you talked to on the phone earlier in the week. Call me Sasha."
Dr. Jones smiles before nodding. "Of course. Now from my understanding Payson, you think you're pregnant, is that correct?"
Payson bites her lip before nodding. "Yes."
The doctor nods before writing on her clipboard and glancing back at Payson. "I just need to ask a few questions then we can see the baby. Okay please don't take this the wrong way, but is the father involved in this pregnancy?"
Sasha smirks and leans back in his chair watching Payson try not to laugh. Her eyes flicker to him before she locks eyes with the doctor. "Yes. He's very much involved. He's right here."
Sasha smirks when the doctor glances up at him before looking back down at her clipboard. He looks at Payson and notices she's staring at him. He winks at her before taking her hand in his and raising it up to his lips. He drops her hand when the doctor stands up and moves to the door.
She looks back and smiles. "I just need to get the ultra-sound machine so we can take a look at the baby. I'll be back in a few minutes."
As the door slams shut Sasha glances at Payson and notice she's nervous again. Before Sasha can say anything to soothe her, the doctor comes back in with a machine and sets it by the table. After asking a few more questions the doctor stands up and goes to the cabinet. As she's putting on gloves she glances back at Payson.
"Okay I just need you to lay back on the table Payson and pull your shirt up for me. I'll be ready in a second."
Sasha watches as Payson's shirt slowly moves up revealing a small baby bump. His breath catches in his throat as he moves his hand over the tiny bump. He takes a glance at Payson and his heart breaks when he sees her trying not to cry while staring at the ceiling. As the doctor comes over, Sasha reluctantly removes his hand, while Payson quickly dries her eyes.
"Okay Payson, I'm just going to put some jell on your belly. It's probably going to be a little cold. We're going to see how far along you are and when your due date is."
Payson nods as she reaches for Sasha's hand. She closes her eyes as she feels the ultra-sound wand move over her abdomen. A few seconds after the wand touches her skin, she hears Sasha's sharp intake of breath. She opens her eyes and she stares at Sasha's face and she can't help, but feel a tiny pang of jealousy at the look in his eyes. His eyes are directed at something that from the look on his face has just became his entire world. Payson follows his line of sight and what she sees make her gasp. There on the dark screen is a tiny blob no bigger then a jellybean. Payson, feels tears come to her eyes when she realizes that, that's her baby. She feels Sasha stroke her hair before glancing down at her.
His voice is soft, just above a whisper when he speaks her name, almost pleadingly. "Payson. . .that. . .that's our baby, love."
Payson can't help, but feel her heart hammer in her chest as she stares at the image of her unborn baby on the tiny screen. As she lays there looking at her baby, she feels torn in two different directions. Sasha seems to feel her internal struggle because he leans down to kiss her forehead and whisper in her ear.
"It's okay draga. You're going to be fine. Just breath and relax." He takes her hand and continues to stroke the back of her hand with his thumb. The doctor turns towards them before glancing back at the screen.
Her voice breaks the silence in a loud way. "Well from the looks of things Payson you're about six weeks pregnant. Your due date could be anywhere between late August and early September. If the baby is born in between thirty-six and forty weeks then the baby is fine. Some first time mothers go into labor two weeks early. Would you like to hear the heartbeat?"
Sasha and Payson glance at each other before looking back at the monitor and the doctor. Sasha lets Payson make that decision and he's ecstatic when she slowly nods her head. Sasha grabs Payson's hand again as the doctor flips a small switch that he's sure will change his life forever. It's silent for a moment until the room is echoing the most precious sound Sasha's ever heard. As he listens to the soft whoosh of his baby's heartbeat he takes a glance at Payson. He leans down and strokes her hair when he notices her eyes are tightly shut and tears are streaming down her face. He can't image what's going through her head at the moment. He takes a look at the doctor and jerks his head towards the door. She seems to take the hint and quietly steps out of the room. Sasha looks down at the floor before cuppin Payson's face with both hands.
"Come on, love. Talk to me." His voice is low and encouraging.
Payson sits up and throws herself in his arms as her body is racked with quiet sobs. After a few moments of silence she pulls back, but letting go of him entirely.
Her voice is hoarse from her crying as she locks eyes with him. "I can't do this, I just can't. To see our baby on the screen. . ." she trails off as tears stream down her face.
Sasha takes her face in his hands and locks eyes with her. "Payson, look at me." He smiles encouragingly when she looks up. "Breathe. Just breathe. You're going to be okay."
She furiously shakes her head as she tries to continue. "Hearing its little heartbeat and seeing it for the first time. . .Sasha, I can't. I just can't."
Sasha looks at her confused before tugging her in his arms. "Can't what Payson?"
She looks at him and his heart knows exactly what she can't do by the look in her eyes. He smiles as he places his hand on her abdomen before lowering his lips to hers in a gentle caress. Sasha slowly gets down on his knees, ignoring the pain in his right one, and wraps his arms around her waist. He gently rests his head against her belly as he strokes her lower back. He smiles as he feels Payson rake her hands gently through his hair. There in the small examination room Sasha and Payson make a life altering decision between life and death.
AN 2: Okay so Austin and Emily spend the day together watching Bring It On. That just seems freaking amusing to me. I honestly couldn't think of a better movie for them to watch. Austin seems like the kind of guy to watch that sort of thing, but try to hide it because it's kind of girly. . .even if there are 'hot girls' in it as Austin stated in the chapter. So yes we got to see some Austin/Emily friendships going on. I know that Austin will always have Emily and Payson's back no matter what. He's a big brother like that. The last half of the chapter is. . .no pun intended, my baby. I really wanted to get the emotions on the page. I wanted to get what Payson and Sasha was feeling out there and I hope I did them justice. Next chapter we get some KayAus moments. Not sure yet if I'm going to flashback to their date or actually play it out. I think for the sake of the plot I may flashback...not sure yet. So now we have to look forward to what Payson is going to do in the next couple of chapters. Sasha will be getting an apartment soon. . .just because he needs to stick around in all his hot sexy glory. I will tell you now that the ending to this chapter has been for the most part...planned from the get go. So just read and review and let me know what you guys think. If you do I promise to have Sasha shirtless in the next chapter...somehow someway, he'll be shirtless. LOL. Review :)