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 dialogue taken from season 2, including I Won't Dance, Don't Ask Me.


Chapter Three

When Kim and Becca arrived home on Friday evening, they found Payson in her room, frantically tearing 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.

"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, and once their mother returned to the kitchen, she added, "So how much do you want to impress Sasha?"

Payson flushed. "It's not for Sasha! It's the ballet, I have to dress up!"

"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 clips 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, and parted her lips to speak, but nothing came out. Clad in a dark blue suit that brought out the blue of his eyes, Sasha had never looked more handsome.

Sasha stopped still as Payson turned around and smiled radiantly at him. She was beyond beautiful. Her hair fell about her in long golden waves, her light green eyes were framed perfectly by her long, dark lashes, and her lips were 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 bring himself to speak.

"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 always part of it.

"Have you ever been to the ballet before?" Sasha asked, glancing at her briefly before refocusing on the road.

"When I was little," she told him. "My favorite part was drinking sparkling cider with my dad out of those fancy champagne glasses."

His answering laugh was rich and warm. "Well, I hope you like more about it than just that."

"Do you like ballet?"

"Yes, I do. My mother did ballet as well as gymnastics, and she made sure I had lessons as well."

"You know ballet? Wait, can you teach me? Then I won't have to go to class, I could just stay at the Rock..."

"I'm not nearly good enough at ballet to teach it," Sasha said regretfully. "I stopped dancing after my mother died. It didn't feel the same without her."

Unsure of what to say, Payson reached out instead, and impulsively rested her hand over his on the steering wheel. Sasha turned to her, looking like he was about to say something, but then he just smiled sadly and looked back at the road.

"Tonight's show is Swan Lake," he told her. "Are you familiar with the story?"

"There's a princess cursed to become a swan, right? I don't know anything else."

"Yes, the curse makes her a swan during the day, though she remains human at night," Sasha explained.

They talked about the ballet all the way there, and arrived at the theater just in time to run into Jayden out by the steps. Sasha introduced the two women, 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, surprised. 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 found that he didn't even mind that it was non-alcoholic.

As they walked into the theater, Sasha reached out to keep her close. His fingers accidentally brushed against the bare skin of her back, causing her to shiver slightly, but she didn't move away.

When they found their seats, Sasha dropped his hand back to his side, missing the contact. The ballet started, and while he appreciated the dancing, he couldn't help but look at Payson again and again.

For all her protests, she was clearly entranced by the performance. Her eyes were wide, her smile 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 his gymnast 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?"

Payson studied the dancer, 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."

When they finally left the theater hours later, Payson felt thrilled. She'd seen a ballet and loved it - and had even met the star performer. Jayden's words to her 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 thoughtfully. "Do you really think I might 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. 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 always use it. Ballet will 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 it to the front to keep it on, he ended up bending closer, 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. The way she looked at him, eyes wide and lips parted, showed him it might be welcomed -

He 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. Just because his attraction was returned didn't mean it was in any way appropriate to even consider kissing his seventeen year old gymnast. Wracked with sudden guilt, he looked away from her towards the car.

"It's getting late. I should get you home to your parents."

With his 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 gymnast to, but it ended up feeling like a first date, nearly complete with a first kiss. What the hell had he been thinking?

As he drove them back to Boulder, silently berating himself, Payson turned on the radio and found a classical station for them to listen to. The soothing strains helped him relax a little.

When Sasha chanced a glance over at Payson, she was looking out the window, smiling softly. He felt intensely relieved that she seemed unaware of his inappropriate feelings. Now, if he could just stop feeling this way about her, everything would be alright.

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 saw another glimpse of the happy and confident woman she was becoming.

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

"Is tomorrow soon enough?" Sasha offered.


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 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.

"Here?" Sasha murmured as he stepped up behind her and clasped her shoulders in his hands, squeezing at her taut muscles. His hands trailed down, pushed firmly between her shoulder blades, and she jolted instinctively into his touch.

"Oh," Payson gasped. "Right there, oh god, 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. He swallowed hard, continuing slowly as he realized that she had no idea how provocative her noises sounded.

She closed her eyes and lost herself in his touch. Sasha's hands were strong but gentle, expertly massaging away her knots. She tried to stay quiet, but couldn't seem to stop sighing and gasping. He didn't seem to care, though, so she hoped it was too quiet for him to hear. When Sasha finally stopped, squeezing her shoulders one last time before withdrawing, Payson was more relaxed than she could ever remember being.

"I feel so much better," she sighed happily.

"Excellent. 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. "It would be on a 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?"

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

"That can't be easy," Sasha said understandingly. "Luckily, you're the most determined person I've ever met. Keep at it, Payson - I know you can do it."

"Thank you," she said shyly. "Oh Sasha, 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.

The next day at ballet, Payson was stunned when Sasha walked into the classroom, wearing a black shirt and leggings, and joined her at the bar.

"What are you doing here?" Payson hissed in shock.

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

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

He 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 just to be here for her.

It was the first time that Miss Viola didn't spend the entire class picking on Payson's form – now she had Sasha to chide as well. And to Payson's surprise and pride, she was even asked to demonstrate a few things for Sasha to imitate.

"What do you think?" Sasha asked when the class was done. "It's been a while - do I still have it?"

"Some of them, maybe," 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 to breathe.

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

"Yes, thanks," Payson said quickly, looking away from him. Why did he have to be so ridiculously handsome?


After two weeks of ballet and conditioning, Payson was getting used to her new routine. She still missed real gymnastics, but knew that by working hard on what she could do, she would be preparing herself to return to it as soon as possible.

She'd also spent more time with Becca at the gym, which she hadn't done in a long time. Her fourteen year old sister had loved having her help in training, and Payson had found herself really enjoying coaching her.

"More height, Becca!" Payson shouted as her sister bounced on the trampoline, turning a front layout in the air. "You'll need it for that 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 into the gym, ostensibly to steal a slice of birthday cake. It was his day off, but Becca had mentioned Payson would be coming, so of course he'd walked over. He'd shown up because he wanted to help her, Sasha told himself - he wasn't here just to spend time with her.

"Becca really takes after you."

"Really? We're so different." Payson laughed.

"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 in December 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."

"Are you offering me a job?" She asked, thrilled at the idea. He really thought she was good enough to be here - work with him.

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

"What do you take me for?" Payson gasped dramatically. "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 you the first one," Sasha told her affectionately.

"You're welcome to try and convince me," Payson shrugged, her grin belying her words.

He leaned in close to whisper in her ear, "I can be very persuasive."

Payson flushed, heat pooling in her belly. Seeing her pink cheeks and wide eyes, Sasha drew back, ready to smack himself. He couldn't talk like that to her. He let himself get too comfortable just talking with her, he needed to bring it back to their old dynamic, move back to gymnastics.

"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 from 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 turned. She spun 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 brushed against her skin, but sent little shivers through her nonetheless. 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. The feeling of his hands on her was sending electricity jolting through her body. Ever since the ballet, she'd been dreaming about him. Now every time Sasha touched her, her heart leapt and she tried to hide her response.

When Payson returned, Sasha had her move on to jumps and leaps. Her sissonne was already greatly improved, and her arms moved in natural, graceful extensions that they hadn't before.

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

"It's perfect," Payson assured him excitedly. "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 said that."

"I won't," Sasha said with a low laugh. "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."

"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 Kaylie."

"Will you promise not to kick out Kaylie and Lauren?" Payson asked nervously.

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 pursued and broke the hearts of two of my best gymnasts," Sasha replied coolly. "Lauren and Kaylie may have lost their friendship because of him. I trust that I can count on you, Payson, not to break the no-dating rule, unlike your friends."

"Of course," Payson assured him. "I'm not interested in dating boys right now - I've always followed the no-dating policy. The Olympics are more important."

Sasha was relieved to hear her say it. A thought went through him then - one that shocked him in its intensity. Once she's won the Olympics, she'll be eighteen, and no longer my student...

"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 didn't want to date any boy. She only wanted one unfairly attractive and unattainable man.