Chapter 8: The Art of Falling
"It's time for a change / It's time for a move / And I know that it's frightening, but it's also exciting"
"You're on summer vacation, the very last one you'll ever get before you become a licensed medical social worker, and you're hanging around The Rock? That just doesn't seem right," Payson laughed as Kaylie followed her into The Rock on a Monday morning, several weeks after the Miami Elite meet.
"I miss you, Pay, I want to hang out with you this summer. And if that means hanging out at The Rock, so be it," Kaylie shrugged. Payson unlocked the office and set her bag down, turning on the computer and waiting for the gymnasts to show up. Kaylie settled into the small couch and stared at the pictures on the walls.
"Crazy huh? How much has happened?" Payson asked, nodding to a picture of the four of them during Olympic Training Camp. Kaylie smiled wistfully.
"Yeah. Speaking of, how's it going with Sasha and the whole dating thing?" Kaylie asked, wiggling her eyebrows a little bit. Payson laughed, shaking her head.
"Okay, I guess."
"What do you mean, you guess?" Payson sighed.
"I mean, I don't know. We flirt at work, and we have a lot of really great sex, but we don't do a whole lot of dating," Payson explained. It was true, by the time they got done with work each day, Payson needed to spend time with Harper and didn't have much time to date. A few nights a week, after Harper went to bed…so did they. And that was the extent of their "dating."
"Oh Pay," Kaylie sighed. She reached out a grasped Payson's hand.
"Morning ladies," Sasha said, sweeping into the office with a large Styrofoam cup and a bouquet of colorful flowers. He presented both to Payson and leaned in to press a kiss to the corner of her lips. "Morning, love."
"Morning. Thank you, they're beautiful," Payson whispered. She brought the flowers to her nose and breathed in deeply, smiling at the fresh, sweet scent. She looked up at Sasha and he winked at her before heading out to the floor, where gymnasts were trickling in.
"Right, you two aren't dating," Kaylie snorted. Payson shrugged.
"Technically, we aren't going on any dates. Which means we're not dating."
"Payson," Kaylie said. "You're dating."
Payson couldn't help but smile.
#
"Faster, faster, faster!" Payson yelled as Annabelle raced towards the long trampoline across the back of the gym. She wore a harness around her waist so that Payson could catch her if she started to fall onto her neck. Her feet hit the last bit of mat before the trampoline and she threw herself into a round off, jumping high and trying for three full twists. She made it just as her feet hit the tramp again.
"See coach, I'm ready!" Annabelle called, un-strapping the harness and running over to Payson. "Please let me try it on the vault. Please?"
"Annabelle, it's too…"
"Okay then not on the vault! On the floor!" Annabelle pressed.
"You wouldn't get enough height off the floor. Fine we'll work it on the vault, but we're doing it with the harness until I'm positive you won't break your back," Payson sighed. Annabelle shrieked in delight and dove in to hug Payson quickly. She moved to put the harness back on but Payson stopped her.
"Take five, okay Annabelle? Get some water, rest for a second," Payson said, laughing. Annabelle gave her a mock salute and then trotted off the floor to her bag, grabbing her water bottle and squirting some into her mouth. Payson climbed the stairs to the office, where she'd seen Sasha disappear just moments ago.
"How's she coming along?" Sasha asked as she slipped into the office. Payson leaned back against the desk next to his chair.
"Really well. I think she could nail it by Worlds, actually," Payson said.
"You think we should debut it then if she can? Or should we keep it until the Olympics?" Sasha asked. Payson bit her lip and shrugged.
"I guess it depends on how well she's nailing it. I don't think we risk another gymnast being able to master it between Worlds and the Olympics if Annabelle intimidates them," Payson said. That was the key worry; another gymnast seeing Annabelle perform the triple and then being inspired to try it herself. There wasn't enough time between Worlds and the Olympics to master a skill like that.
"Well then I guess we wait and see," Sasha said. He reached for Payson's hand, bringing it up and pressing his lips to the back of it. Payson pulled his rolling chair in front of her and anchored her feet on either side of his thighs, keeping him there. His hands went to her knees, massaging gently and making her squirm.
"That tickles," she giggled. Sasha smiled wickedly, standing up to kiss her. It was a short kiss, but firm and Payson felt it all the way in her toes.
"I want you to come over for dinner tonight," Payson said quietly as they pulled apart. Sasha smiled.
"I'll be there."
Payson left the office, eager to keep working with Annabelle. The young girl waited by the vault, harness already fastened snug around her hips. She laughed.
"Ready to go?" Payson teased.
"I've been waiting for like fifteen minutes," Annabelle huffed. Payson laughed again, because they'd only been on break for five.
"Okay, let's go."
Payson set about hooking the harness to the cables, making sure they were secure. When she was finished, she sent Annabelle to the end of the run. The young gymnast steadied herself and Payson was astounded, once again, at how Annabelle was the perfect blend of all four Rock Rebels. She started running, graceful and powerful, and Payson kept the tension in the cables.
"Mommy!" Payson was caught by surprise at the sound of Harper's voice, but she managed to keep hold of the cables. Her concern was Annabelle, but the girl remained singularly focused on vault at the end of the run. Payson felt Harper curl around one of her legs and she smiled.
"Hi sweetie," she said. She pulled hard on the cables as Annabelle hit the springboard and flew into the air, twisting herself into three turns. She didn't get quite enough height, and hit her bottom on the matt. Jumping to her feet and growling in frustration she started for the end of the run again. "Annabelle, hold on."
Payson let go of the cables and picked Harper up, turning to the door where Jeffrey stood waiting. She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Who's that?" Annabelle asked. She was breathing hard, but that didn't hide the appreciation in her voice. Payson shook her head.
"My ex-husband."
She crossed the gym to where Jeffrey stood and arched an eyebrow, waiting for an explanation. He'd asked to spend the day with Harper, and Payson was supposed to pick her up after work, but it was only just before noon.
"I have to fly back to L.A.," he said with a shrug.
"And you wonder why I think she'd be better off with me," Payson snorted.
"Can you just stop being a bitch and take her?" Jeffrey snapped. Payson's teeth clenched.
"Jeffrey!" Sasha's voice ran loud and clear through the gym, stopping the gymnasts in their tracks. Everyone turned to stare as Sasha marched across the floor to where Jeffrey, Payson, and Harper stood. Payson felt her cheeks burn. "That kind of language has no place in my gym, and neither do you."
"Back off, Belov, this is between me and Payson," Jeffrey hissed. Sasha glared, crossing his arms over his chest.
"When you bring it in to my gym, you make it between all three of us."
Jeffrey shook his head, giving up the fight…for now.
"I'll be back on Friday."
Jeffrey stormed out and Payson breathed a sigh of relief. She watched as Sasha visibly relaxed too and then he reached out to tweak Harper's nose. She giggled and squirmed out of Payson's arms, running to the floor and bouncing around with the level sixes.
"You didn't have to come to my rescue," Payson muttered. Sasha winked at her.
"I can't help it," he said.
"Mommy, watch!" Harper shrieked. Payson and Sasha turned towards the little girl's voice and watched as one of the level sixes held Harper in a handstand. Payson smiled broadly.
"Great job baby!"
"She's a natural," Sasha laughed. Payson looked sideways at him.
"Don't get any big ideas," she warned him. He winked.
"Never."
"Payson!" Annabelle waved from her spot at the vault.
"One second! Harper, want to see Annabelle fly?" Payson asked. Harper's eyes went wide and she scurried over to Payson, slipping her tiny hand into her mom's. Payson smiled over her shoulder at Sasha and led her daughter towards the vault.
Annabelle was still strapped into the harness, waiting. Payson hooked the pulleys into the rings at her hips and then Annabelle moved to the end of the run.
"Why is she on strings?" Harper whispered, half hiding behind Payson's legs. Payson bent her knees, ready to absorb the weight of Annabelle's flying body if she fell, and reached back to ruffle Harper's hair.
"So that I can catch her if she falls." Harper's eyes were glued to Annabelle as the young gymnast ran full speed down the mats. "More power Annabelle! More!"
Payson could see Annabelle put more effort, more strength, into the move. Her hands hit the vault horse with a solid thunk and she flew high into the air, twisting her body as quickly as she could.
"Mommy, she's flying!" Harper shrieked happily. Payson smiled, pulling the cables taunt as Annabelle's heels hit the mat. She wobbled and fell, and then cursed.
"Annabelle, language," Payson reminded her.
"Sorry," Annabelle sighed. Payson smiled softly at her, remembering how frustrating it could be to not nail a move right away.
"It's okay. Listen, why don't we wrap it up for today. Your body needs to rest and you need to focus on something else for a little while," Payson suggested.
"Okay. Thanks coach."
Payson glanced around the gym and then kneeled in front of Harper, smiling.
"Wanna go jump on the trampoline with Mommy?"
#
"Mommy, I want tacos," Harper said as Payson mixed the ingredients for dinner. Sasha had some paperwork to finish up at the gym so she'd gone back home without him to start cooking.
"No, baby, we're having Romanian peppers. You like them, remember? I used to make them for you and Daddy every week," Payson reminded her. Harper thought for a moment, her little nose scrunched up as she tried to recall the meal.
"Oh. Why doesn't Daddy live with us?" Harper asked. The wooden spoon stirring the stuffing stopped and Payson felt her heart begin to pound. So far, Harper hadn't seemed to notice anything amiss so Payson and Jeffrey had just ignored it. Maybe not the best move, but she hadn't wanted to upset Harper if there wasn't really a reason to.
"Sweetie, Mommy and Daddy aren't going to be married anymore," Payson said carefully. She wasn't even sure Harper really understood what it meant to be married or not.
"Why?"
"Because..." Payson stalled, not sure how to explain it. "Because even though we both love you more than anything, we don't love each other anymore. And you shouldn't be married to someone you don't love." Payson had no idea what she was doing. She prayed that she wasn't somehow scaring Harper for life.
"Do you love Sasha?" Harper asked innocently. Payson smiled.
"Yes, sweetie, I love him very much."
That was the end of their conversation. Harper skipped off to the living room to play, and shortly after that, Sasha appeared.
"Smells delicious," he said, coming to stand behind Payson and wrapping his arms around her waist. She leaned into him, turning her head for a kiss.
"I thought you might like them. Finish everything at the gym?" Sasha let go of her and went the other side of the counter, giving her space to work.
"No, it's never-ending, but I finished enough," he said with a shrug. Payson smiled.
Dinner was a relaxed affair, the two of them just enjoying each other's presence, and Harper's near-constant chatter. Payson had spent so much of the past few months in absolute fear, terrified that somehow she would lose Sasha and it would hurt even more than Jeffrey's betrayal, but now she felt a sense of peace, a rightness that she supposed only came when you found your true soulmate. She shuddered a little at the thought of a "soulmate" in the sappy, epic-romance movie vein, but she guessed it was true. Sasha was her other half.
"I'll clean up while you put Harper to bed," Sasha offered. The heat in his eyes as he said it left no doubt in Payson's mind about what would happen when her daughter was finally asleep. She smirked and nodded, rising to take Harper's hand.
"Come on, baby, time for bed. I'll read you a story first," Payson said. Harper dug her heels in.
"No! I want Sasha to tell me a bedtime story!" Harper insisted. Sasha looked up from the sink, his eyes wide. Payson almost laughed.
"Well, you'll have to ask Sasha very nicely," Payson said, looking at Sasha. He still looked a little panicked, but she knew he would say yes to Harper's request.
"Sasha?" Harper asked quietly, dropping Payson's hand and crossing the kitchen to take Sasha's. "Please tell me a story?"
"All right love, but just a short one. Let your mum get you ready for bed, and when you're all settled I'll come tell you a story."
Harper scampered upstairs, followed closely by Payson, and hurried to change into her jammies. Payson made her brush her teeth and climb into bed before she'd call Sasha up. As he stepped into the room, his fingertips brushed her hip.
"Dishes are done. I'll come into the bedroom when I'm finished with the story," he said softly. Payson nodded and slipped out.
She didn't go far though. She loved to watch Sasha interact with Harper, he was so good with her and he didn't even realize it, but there weren't a lot of times when it was just Sasha and Harper. Payson couldn't resist the urge to eavesdrop.
Sasha sat down on the bed next to Harper and she cuddled into his side, looking up at him with big blue eyes, just like Payson's.
"Tell me a story," she pressed.
"Well, what kind of story?" Sasha asked, stalling. He was digging as far back into his memories as he could to find a story to tell her. He vaguely knew the ones his mother had told him as a child, but he hadn't ever translated them into English and he didn't want to try doing it on the spot, not when the memories were fuzzy already.
"A story about a hero," Harper whispered. Sasha smiled. He knew just the story he would tell.
"All right, lie down and cuddle in the blankets, and I'll tell you a story about a hero." He waited as Harper did as he said, her eyes still glued to his face. "A long time ago, there was a girl. She was the strongest, bravest, prettiest girl in the whole world…"
"What was her name?" Harper breathed.
"Her name was Payson. She had powers that no one else did. She could fly through the air, and jump higher than anyone. But one day, while she was flying, she fell."
"Didn't she have wings?" Harper asked sadly. Sasha nodded.
"She did, but one of her wings was hurt, and she couldn't fly anymore. And when she fell, she hurt her wing even more. People said she wouldn't ever be able to fly again. But Payson wasn't one to listen to what "people" said, so she went to a magician and asked her to heal her wings."
"What happened?" Harper asked. Sasha smiled.
"The magician healed her wings, but she still couldn't fly as high as before. She wanted to very badly, though, so she practiced every day. She worked so hard, and was so brave, but it wasn't working. And then one day, Payson's family was attacked by the evil Ghengi, and the only way to save them was for Payson to fly. So, she stood on the ground, opened her big, beautiful wings, and flew. She flew high, high into the sky, surprising everyone! Even herself. And the evil Ghengi knew that she was no match for Payson's beautiful flight. The end."
"That was a pretty story Sasha," Harper said, sleep clogging her voice. Sasha ran a hand over her hair and smiled.
"A pretty story, for a pretty girl," he whispered. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her hair and then pulled the covers over her tiny body as she drifted into sleep.
Payson met him in the hall with tears in her eyes. Immediately he panicked, asking her what was wrong as he led her into her bedroom and shut the door.
"Nothing," she said, shaking her head. She reached up to take his face in her hands, smiling at him through her tears. "That was a beautiful story you told Harper."
"Every word of it was true. Except for the wings," Sasha joked. Payson laughed and hugged him, pressing herself tightly against him.
The current between them changed in an instant, jumping from tender affection to burning desire. Payson lifted her head, pressing her lips to his as his hands slid down from her back to her hips and beneath her shirt, lifting it over her head. She quickly lifted his shirt off as well, and then scraped her blunt fingernails down his chest, faint red lines appearing in their wake. He growled in pleasure, his grasp on her hips tightening.
She took a step forward, pushing them towards the bed and Sasha followed her lead, backing up until his knees hit the edge of the mattress. Together they fell back, grunting around each other's lips. Then Payson sat up, moving to straddle his hips and pressing down against his pelvis. Sasha threaded his fingers through her hair and brought her lips to his for a deep kiss.
As he pulled away to catch his breath, Payson stilled. She looked directly into his eyes and traced her fingertips over his jaw, down his neck, across his chest, and down to rest her palm over his heart. He covered her hand with his own, looking up at her with questioning eyes. He could feel something happened, something that would change them forever.
Payson bent over him again, resting her lips lightly against his.
"I love you, Sasha Belov."
A/N: HOLY COW! We're at 90 reviews as I post this and it's all because of YOU! Seriously, you all are amazing, and a special thanks to Anonymous, BearyFunny66, iheartcam, IAMnamingmydaughterPayson, ellimarie84, justxsmile, Ida-cullen, goalie19, Cassie, AndromedaJane, AngelWings8, JCI, and Elli-Wyatt for your review!
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I had a lot of fun writing it (even though it took me forever) and I hope you had just as much fun reading it. And to those of you who want to see Steve Tanner do his thing…you'll see it. Next chapter, actually, if I remember my outline right. I also know that you all want to see Sasha just bury Jeffrey, and that their confrontation in this chapter might have been a little lacking in that respect, but I PROMISE that they have more and that you will see major drama go down between those two. Promise.
So, do you guys think we can break 100 reviews this chapter?