AN: Thank you guys for your wonderful reviews I enjoy reading them and they really do keep me motivated. I would have had this finished and up last night, but my sorority was heading up a homeless awareness program for the weekend so I didn't have time. For those of you who are asking about "A Gymnastics Legacy", I haven't forgotten it or anything, but I'm going to focus on this story at the moment. I will continue with 'Legacy', but it may be a little while. So yes I will continue when I have more time and when I can shake writers block. In this chapter I wanted to explore Payson's struggle and I wanted to open up a new door for her in the gymnastics world. I also wanted to explore Becca a little bit because she is a character that could do a lot if the show let her. Please let me know what you guys think and read and review!

"Come on Sasha...please?" Her begging and pleading is slowly breaking my resolve and her pouting face isn't helping things. It's like she knows I would crack under her eyes and voice if she just keeps persisting.

I firmly shake my head and stare in her eyes...just as I would if I were still her coach. "No."

She crosses her arms over her chest, while Bandit is sitting in her lap looking up at me with big eyes. "You promised."

I close my eyes and grit my teeth as I fight her eyes and the picture that her and Bandit present to me. "Yes when you are able to move around better." I walk across the living room and lean against the mantle to avoid her blue eyes and pouting lips. If I keep looking in her direction my resolve to not take her to the gym will crumble and the two hours of resisting and saying 'no' will have been for nothing.

I turn around and see that she is staring at Bandit and stroking his head softly. I smile when I see her and Bandit bonding. I go over to her and carefully move her legs, mindful of the cast, and sit down on the opposite end of the couch, depositing her legs in my lap.

I tap her good leg and smile when she looks up. "I promise you Payson that when you can move around better I will take you to the gym...hell if you want I'll even let you help decorate it," I take a deep steady breath to get through the next words, knowing that I'm relinquishing my...man cave...to a woman's touch, "even the office."

I smile when her eyes flash to mine. "Decorate?"

I nod hoping to keep her interested. "Yea you know...paint colors, pictures, and stuff for the office."

She leans back and raises her eyebrows. "You mean I could put flowers in your 'man cave'?"

I smirk and shrug. "Maybe, but you can definitely help decorate the actual gym."

She laughs, rolling her eyes. "Well I'll hold you up to that then."

"Good." I look at Bandit who is waging his tail furiously and looking up at me with his head tilted to the side.

"I think I'll take Bandit outside for a few minutes. He hasn't been out in a couple of hours." I pick up Payson's legs and move out from under them before placing them back on the couch. I lean forward to pick up Bandit, but he nips my hand.

"Hey! I'm not gonna hurt her, I'm just going to take you outside so I advice you not bite my hand." I smirk when he lowers his head and lays back down on Payson's lap.

Payson laughs as she scratches his head. "It's like he knows you're scolding him."

I smirk at her. "Yea well, he can't go around snapping at people...well me or your parents and friends anyway."

I pick up Bandit and hook him up to the leash before taking him outside. I'm outside for about ten minutes when I walk back in with Bandit in-toe. I walk in the living room and glance at the clock.

"Pay it's about one-thirty, do you want lunch?" I look to see Bandit back in Payson's lap and smile.

She nods and locks eyes with me. "I think mom said there was salad, pasta, and fruit in the fridge."

I nod as I make my way in the kitchen. A few minutes later I make my way back into the living room with a plate full of food for Payson. I hand her the food and place a hyper Bandit on the floor. "No, you're not going to be on the couch while Payson eats."

He cocks his head to the side, barks at me once before slinking into the kitchen. I smirk and look at Payson who is grinning. "What?"

"You sound so...fatherly to Bandit. It's kinda funny."

I roll my eyes. "So what do you want to do after you eat?"

She sighs and looks at me with bright eyes. "Well I would love to go see this new gym I've been hearing a lot about, but someone won't take me."

I sigh and stare up at the ceiling before looking back at her. "No. I'm not taking you until you can move around better Payson and that's final."

She glares at me and I inwardly cringe. No other person could make me feel the way Payson does, even in her anger induced haze. "The doctor said that it would be good for me to get out. I've been sitting or laying or being pushed in a damn wheelchair for a month. So technically Sasha, if you don't do this one little thing for me then your keeping me from doing what the doctor says."

I huff and roll my eyes. I had a feeling that I would eventually give in, even if it took awhile on Payson's part. "Alright fine, but you are going in the wheelchair Payson. You will not be walking."

She smiles and laughs. "Finally. I don't care if I have to be in a wheelchair to see the gym. Wait I don't need a wheelchair, I can use crutches. I just want out of this house for awhile."

I smile and move out from underneath Payson again to grab the pair of crutches in the corner of the room. As soon as she's sitting up and Bandit is off her lap I give her the crutches. "I'll put Bandit in the kitchen while we're gone."

She nods and stands up using the crutches. I put Bandit in the kitchen and hook up the small gate keeping him in the kitchen. I walk back in the living room to see Payson wobbling to the door. I grab my keys and rush to her side. We slowly make our way out to the truck with little difficulty. A few minutes later I'm opening her door to help her out of the truck. She smiles as we make our way to the heavy door. I open the door and step aside so she can enter first. When I flick on the lights she gasps at what she sees.

"Yea, that's what I did when I saw this place to. I was shocked to say the least." I walk up beside her and look down at her to gauge her reaction.

"Sasha, this is amazing. For getting your own gym and to have it furnished like this is wonderful." She starts to slowly circulate the gym to look at everything. I can't help, but notice the tears at the corner of her eyes that's she's trying to desperately hide. I look at the floor and slowly walk up behind her and place my hand on her shoulder.

My voice is soft in the spacious room. "I shouldn't have brought you here, it's too soon."

Her shoulders stiffen as my voice caresses her ear. "No! I can't keep pretending that I can come back after I get my cast off and after my leg fully heals. I have to face the facts and the facts are I can't go to London, much less be a gymnast again."

I rub my fingers across her shoulders in a feeble attempt to comfort her. "Maybe, Payson, once you heal and once your comfortable being around gymnastics again you can do something else with the sport."

She slowly turns to look at me with teary eyes. "What do you suggest Sasha? Coaching?" She laughs dryly and shakes her head, "I don't think so. I'm done dreaming."

I shake my head and start to raise my hand up to wipe her tears away, not caring about the consequences of my actions. Just as I'm about to touch her cheek the door bangs open to reveal Serge. I look back at Payson to see her eyes heated and I swallow roughly before turning back to Serge.

At seeing Payson on the crutches Serge walks into the gym to greet us. "Sasha, why am I not surprised to see you here?"

I shake his hand and smile. "Well I just wanted to show Payson the gym."

He smiles warmly at Payson and shakes her hand. "Aahh yes, the great Payson Keeler. I have been told a lot about you. You are very much adored in the world of gymnastics. I'm Serge by the way."

I give Serge a sharp look before placing my hand on Payson's shoulder comfortingly, knowing that this conversation is probably hard for her. She seems to take it in stride, but I can tell that the smile she gives Serge is forced.

"Thank you. Sasha loves this gym so much already." She laughs lightly before glancing at me with bright eyes, "he's like a kid in a candy store when he talks about this place. I don't blame him though. This gym is wonderful."

"Yes I'm sure he loves this place already, but I'm sure there is other things he loves more." I shake my head at Serge and he seems to get the hint, because he covers up his insinuation with a believable lie. "If I had to bet, I would say he likes fishing, most outdoors-y men do."

I laugh a little too loud and smirk. "Well gymnastics and fishing are at a close tie, but gymnastics wins out every time."

Serge gives me a skeptical look before turning his attention back to Payson. "It was a pleasure to finally meet you Payson."

She holds out her hand for Serge to take. "It was nice meeting you to."

He kisses the back of her hand and smiles. "The pleasure was all mine Payson." He turns to look at me with a small smile. "I assume you will be here tomorrow."

I nod and smile. "Of course. Six thirty sharp is when my gymnasts are supposed to be here."

"Good, good. Well I will leave you two alone. I may stop by tomorrow sometime to see these gymnasts of yours at work."

I smirk. "Well you'll be in for a treat. They are exceptional gymnasts. I can't wait for you to see them."

"Of course. I will see you tomorrow then."

As he leaves I see Payson moving towards the floor. I cringe when she goes to the center of the stable apparatus and stands directly in the middle of it as if she would in her opening positions. I lean against the wall and wait patiently for her to get herself together. After a few minutes I see her slowly turn around slowly and make her way to me.

I look at her tear stained face and place my hand on her shoulder, ignoring the spark lit in my hand for the sake of comforting her. "You okay?"

She nods and lets out a slow breath. "I will be...eventually."

"Payson, there is so much more to you then gymnastics."

She rolls her eyes and looks at me skeptically. "Really?"

I cross my arms over my chest hoping to get through to her. "Yes really. You are a beautiful, young, woman Payson. Let that shine through."

She rolls her eyes again and makes her way to the door. She looks over her shoulder at me with sad eyes. "I've heard that one before Sasha."

I stride forward and place my hand on the door to prevent her from making an escape. I let forbidden words slip not giving a damn about the consequences. "Maybe you've heard it before because maybe it's true Payson. You are beautiful and don't let anyone ever tell you any different."

She looks at me with sad eyes before slowly bringing her hand up to touch my cheek. Nothing is stopping us from making contact this time. It's just us in the large gym that already feels like home. She strokes my rough jaw before smiling. "Thank you."

I close my eyes and try to not lean into her touch. "For what?"

She laughs lowly before taking her hand away. "For just being there."

"Cu plăcere." She looks at me confused and I laugh softly before translating it for her, "You're welcome."

"You'll have to teach me Romanian sometime." She smiles and makes her way out to the truck.

I catch up to her as soon as she makes it to the passenger door. I open it for her and help her in. As we drive home I begin teaching her the Romanian alphabet. We make it home around three-thirty. Once inside I make my way into the kitchen to get Bandit so he can go out. After being outside for ten minutes Bandit barks wanting to go in. As soon as he sees Payson he wags his tail and barks before jumping up on her lap and curling up in a ball. She strokes his head and rubs his tummy.

I lean against the back of the couch before glancing at the clock again. "What time is you're mom coming home?"

Payson shrugs before taking her attention away from Bandit. "Not sure. Whenever she's done at The Rock I guess."

I walk around and sit on the arm of the couch trying to ignore the tension in the room. Ever since I implied she was beautiful she's been quiet and that makes me feel like I've said something to upset her . I sigh and look at her again to see her staring at me. She looks down at Bandit and scratches his ears in an attempt to avoid my gaze.

"Look Payson...what I said at the gym...I meant.." I'm cut off by the front door opening. A few seconds later Kim walks in with groceries in her hands followed closely by Becca.

As Kim makes her way into the kitchen Becca stops by the couch and strokes Bandit. "Hey Pay. Hey Sasha."

I nod in greeting as Payson smiles at her sister. "Hey Becca. How was the gym today?"

Becca's eye roll gives away a lot. "Hopefully it will be one of the last times I'm in that hell hole."

Payson perks up and furrows her eyebrows. "Why?"

Becca bites her lip in the same way Payson does before looking at me. "Well...if I can, I'd love to train at your new gym Sasha."

I smile and shake my head enthusiastically. "I'd love for you to come train at my gym. The more the better in my opinion."

She sighs in relief. "Thank God because I totally pissed off Steve Tanner today."

Payson grins and looks up at Becca. "Why? What did you say?"

"I just said he has no idea what he's doing and he can go screw off and that there was no coach better than Sasha. He got really pissed. Mom isn't too happy though." She cringes before glancing into the kitchen.

Payson purses her lips and shakes her head. "Becca you can't just tell people to screw off. Although I'm glad you stuck up for Sasha though."

Becca rolls her eyes before glancing at me. "Of course you'd be happy about the Sasha part of it."

Payson's smile slips off her face in an instant. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Becca glances at me quickly before shaking her head. "Nothing. I just mean that you and Sasha are...close and stuff, you'd be pissed if I just said 'Sure Steve Sasha's a bad coach.", so of course I stuck up for him."

Payson rolls her eyes and smiles. "Well...I'm glad you did."

"Yea. I'm gonna go help mom before she lectures me some more." She walks of with an eye roll and slumped shoulders.

"Well at least you have my sister with you in the gymnastics world."

I stare at Payson and touch her shoulder and my breath catches in my throat when she looks at me. "You could still be with me Payson." I cringe when I realize what that statement sounds like and I continue on to elaborate. "In the gym, you could still come to the gym Payson and...help me coach. I don't think I'd find someone better than you."

I stare in her eyes and for the first time in a month I see hope shine in her dark irises. "I'll think about it Sasha. I have school to finish and everything so it might be awhile before I make up my mind."

I rub her shoulder and smile. "Just so you think about it at least."

I glance at the clock and sigh when it indicates it's four-thirty. I grab my jacket and keys and lean against the couch again. "It's getting kinda late Pay so I'm gonna head out, but I'll stop by before I go to the gym to let Bandit out for you. It's gonna be early when I stop by so don't wait up or anything."

She nods before stroking Bandit's head again. "i will see you though sometime tomorrow though, right?"

I smile before I nod. "Of course," I glance at the clock again before making my way to the door. I turn to look at Payson over my shoulder and smile when I see her eyes follow my figure, "Good night draga."

Before I really go off the deep end and end up spilling my soul on the spot, I race to my truck and head home. Once I've made it into the airstream, I crawl into bed and hope for a dreamless sleep, even if that hope may be a futile one.

Tanslations:

Draga – sweetheart