As she drove towards the Rock she could feel the nerves creeping back up, she had rung him so many times that morning with no reply. He had stormed out of the apartment around 4am and she hadn't hear from him since. She took his bags hoping that he would already be there. She let herself into the gym and look around for him.
#
after he smashed the glass, he got his things and walked out. He had no idea where he was going or what it would achieve, all he knew was that he couldn't stay there with her. He had never been more angry with her and he didn't know how he would react. He drove around for while racking up tremendous speed, he needed to sort this out but needed time to think, so drove to a licker store to buy something that may help. Almost a bottle of whiskey later and he started to feel calm again. He slumped down on sofa at the Rock and finally fell asleep. Next thing he feels is Payson shaking him and passing him some aspirin. She left straight after and simply said "30 minutes until everyone arrives, take a shower and get ready", he did as she said. As he was in the shower he could feel the pain coming back, he still couldn't believe that Payson would do that, he never thought she wouldn't want a baby with him.
When he finally shook himself out of it, he realized that he had to get it together – this was worlds and he needed to focus. He also knew he still couldn't talk to her. So he walk out with the fully intent on telling her that this needs to be sorted but after they got back. I
nstead he was met by his dad "Someone had a rough night" he laughed, when Sasha didn't answer he looked puzzled, Dmitri then noticed how sad Payson looked and realized that the pair had obviously had words. "okay, well I must get these on the bus" he said moving away from the couple, hoping they would sort it.
"Sasha" she said trying to get him to look at her
"NO, not here, I can't do this now". He walked out without even looking at her and it broke her heart
she could feel the lump forming at the back of her throat. Trying desperately to bury it before it took hold of her again. As she did the gymnasts started to pour in.
#
The bus journey was horrendous, they sat opposite once another, neither of them lifting their heads or even altering their glance. Luckily the gymnasts were tired and remained well behaved. The airport wasn't as bad, they could at least escape once the bags were checked in, taking it in turns to look around the shops and stay clear of one another. Although their relationship was strained, Dmitri could see his son was upset, he knew that not much could make him so distant and uncharacteristically emotional. Dmitri figure what ever had happened between them was serious, neither of them would usually allow an argument to effect their job as a coach, especially with such an important meet.
The plane journey to Switzerland was even worse than their earlier bus ride, their seats were next to one another but both knew this was not the time or place to discuss this. After about 2 hours of reading Payson simply couldn't take it, she moved quickly to the rest rooms and locked herself in their. He looked up and felt a pang of guilt. A few minutes later he watched her as she made her way back to him, there eyes met for the first time since she had reveled her true feelings. She was the first to close her eyes, she could seen how hurt he was and she hated herself for making him feel that way. She made her way back to check on the gymnasts and was relieved to find a spare seat amongst them, she stayed there talking through the weekend with them and was even more relieved when one of them said they felt ill – this meant she had to stay until they landed.
After landing Dmitri was getting more anxious at the pair, they had not spoken since he seen them first thing, Sasha was snapping and Payson looked as if she was going to break down any second. He pulled them aside, individually and told them to wise up.
Payson simply apologized, whilst Sasha freaked pushing his father off of him and telling him to back off, he continued "You wouldn't understand anyway, some father you are"
Dmitri looked astonished, he had thought things between them had improved, obviously not. "STOP" he let out and pushed his son back against the wall, "sort yourself out, that girl is in bits and you my boy are to blame, deal with it, before it ruins this weekend" as he said it Dmitri loosened his grip and walked away.
Of course that was in the papers the next day – 'scandal in the USA gymnastics team' – father and son fight it out'. The three pictures showed the scuffle as it unfolded and the long article exaggerated what actually happened and speculated that the two were no longer on speaking terms. That day was a warm-up day where the teams had private gym time to practice their routines and to have interviews etc. The news teams picked up on the tense atmosphere in the USA camp and reported it straight out.
As always at these events the coaches were pulled aside for interviews, the USA coaches were the ones everyone wanted. The three were reluctant to speak as they were now all under pressure, with none of them now communicating, it made it even more difficult to hide the truth. They all had individual interviews but refused to comment on personal issues, this only added fuel to the fire as more and more stories were coming up.
On the day of the competition the three lead out the national team and prepared the gymnasts for their first events. The commentators and cameramen were all focusing in on them and commenting on the lack of communication. Speculation was that Dmitri didn't approve of his sons lover and thought it unnecessary to have them both there. The tense atmosphere between them was only enlightened when the poor leadership was blamed for the USA narrowly missing out on a team medal.
That evening all three coaches went back to their rooms to playback the footage of the day. Payson was sharing with Lynn the physio and Sasha with Dmitri. The news was on as Sasha arrived back at the hotel.
"Look at this" Dmitri yelled, "I said look, look at her, she looks broken my boy. What ever the hell is wrong, you best sort it out and fast"
"drop it"
"Not when its effecting my team and more importantly my family".
Sasha shakes his head and look down
"you love this girl right?"
"Dad I said drop it" Sasha spits as he head for the shower.
Dmitri slams the door behind him as he leaves, he heads straight to Payson's room to sort it out for them.
"Right, what ever has happened you must sort it out, you my darling are in bits and my boy is over there looking more upset than when he lost his mother".
Payson breathed out loudly and cradled her face "believe me its best we don't see each other right now"
"well you two can't get any worse than you are now so come on"
With that he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards his room, when he got outside he could feel her trembling "this has to stop, go in there and sort this out".
She followed him in to see meet Sasha coming out of the bathroom.
"NOW, LISTEN – you two get what ever this is sorted and fast. I will be back after 10" and he was gone, leaving them alone for the first time since they had argued.
They both stand there for a while looking at one another, they can now see how hurt one another are.
He finally breaks the silence "Why" he whispered, "I don't understand why you don't want our baby", tears finally falling down his face.
"Oh, no, no I do, I just..." looking down and trying to find the right words "I'm scared" he looks up for her to finish, "we never planned this"
"I know but its happened, and im so glad it did"... "I didn't realize I want this so much until you told me"
she nods her head in agreement. "I want it too, I just didn't expect it so soon"
"So what do we do" he said scared of her answer.
"Nothing, just get ready for our baby to come" she said smiling.
"Really" he said wanting her to confirm it.
"We're having a baby" she smiled through her tears "we're really having a baby" she repeated as she moved up into his arms
"oh our own little baby"
"uh-hu" she squeaked out as she planted a slow kiss on his lips. "I've missed you" she said
"I've missed you too" he repeated and kissed her with more passion.
As they broke apart she held his face in her hands "I'm sorry" she burst into tears
He nodded his head "no, its okay" he breathed out and finally said what he felt he had to, he closed his eyes and prayed, before saying "you know...you don't have to go through with this" he couldn't bare to open his eyes for the response
"Sasha I want to... I really want too" she laughed and kissed him again pulling his hand to her tummy "I want to have this baby" she said finally clarifying to him that she did want it as much as he did,
"I'm so glad you said that". He lifted her off her feet and held her tightly. "I love you"
smiled in to his kiss and said "we love you too... daddy".
The got carried away in the moment and ended up rein-acting how the Belov baby was made. They had always said they would never cross the line and make out on a gymnastics weekend, but they couldn't help themselves, they wanted to feel close again. This was the first time they had argued about something in their own lives and not about gymnastics. Sasha had never felt pain like what he felt when she said those words, he had thought he was hurt before with MJ and Marty, but it had made him realize just how special they had it and that nothing he had before came close to what they have. Payson didn't know if it was pregnancy related or not, but she knew that she was completely lost without Sasha and that she was ready to have a baby with him.
