Chapter 16: Right Now (Part 1)
"Catch a magic moment, do it / Right here and now / It means everything"
"We need to talk about Annabelle," Payson said as she trudged into the office the Monday before Worlds. Sasha looked up from his seat at the desk and frowned.
"What about her?"
"I don't know if we should be debuting the triple at Worlds." Payson turned to look out at the floor, where Annabelle was practicing the triple twisting Yurchenko. She was landing it more consistently than she had been a few weeks before, and it had gotten much better after breaking through her block, but she still wasn't sticking it consistently enough to make Payson comfortable.
"You think the pressure will get to her?" Sasha asked, coming to stand next to her. Payson leaned into him just slightly.
"She's relatively untested in international competition. I mean, she's been to a few but none that will draw the same type of crowd as Worlds," Payson reasoned. She remembered Annabelle at the Miami Elite meet, shaking hands and quavering voice. Granted, she had pushed it all aside and performed perfectly, but Worlds was a whole different story. Even gymnasts who had been practicing routines perfectly for month sometimes lost their cool under the pressure of a Worlds stage.
"I think you're right, but she's not going to be happy. We risk derailing all the progress she's making if we shake her confidence like that," Sasha warned. Payson shook her head.
"I don't think so. Annabelle is pretty level headed for a teenager, she might take it better than we think," Payson offered. Sasha raised his eyebrow in a way that said she was grasping at straws. She sighed as he moved away from the window, sitting back down at his desk. "What else would you have me do, Sasha? She's not ready."
"I know," Sasha groaned, rubbing his hand roughly over his face. "All right, we'll tell her together."
Payson nodded and pushed through the office door. Instead of calling across the gym like Sasha would have done, she jogged down the steps and walked calmly across the mats towards the vault. Annabelle saw her coming and smiled brightly.
"It's getting better!" she cried happily, practically bouncing with excitement. Payson's heart clenched and she smiled softly.
"Sasha and I wanted to talk to you for a minute, will you come up to the office?" Payson asked. Confusion flickered in Annabelle's eyes but she forced a smile and nodded.
"Sure."
They walked silently to the office, Payson stepping aside so that Annabelle could go in first. Sasha smiled reassuringly at Annabelle, gesturing for her to take a seat on the couch as Payson perched on the corner of his desk.
"Your triple is progressing nicely, Annabelle," Sasha started, glancing quickly at Payson. "And we're very proud of how hard you've been working on it, but with only a week until Worlds, Payson and I worry that it might not be quite competition ready."
Payson watched Annabelle's face closely for her reaction. If it were Payson in her competition days, she would have been the one telling Sasha a skill wasn't competition ready, but Annabelle was less self-critical than Payson had been. Annabelle's face fell just a little and Payson could have sworn she saw her eyes glaze over in an effort not to cry, but the look was gone in the space of a breath.
"I can get it ready," Annabelle insisted. Payson sighed, shaking her head.
"Belle, we can't risk it. It would be better to debut it at the Olympic Trials, when you're ready," Payson said. Annabelle's hands clenched into fists and she pounded them on the leather couch cushions.
"This was my shot," Annabelle muttered. Payson frowned.
"What do you mean, Annabelle?"
"My shot at World Champion. The triple was going to help me get it."
"Belle, just because you aren't performing the triple at Worlds doesn't mean the rest of your routines aren't good enough to get you the World Title. You're an incredible gymnast."
"Being incredible isn't good enough," Annabelle muttered.
For the first time in a long time, Payson didn't know what to say.
#
"Heading home?" Sasha asked at five when Payson started rifling through her purse for her keys. She glanced up at him and nodded.
"Yeah, my mom needs a break so she can actually get some work done. Harper's been making it difficult for her to work from home," Payson sighed. Sasha gave her a soft smile, one she didn't see, and moved across the office to stand behind her. He reached for her hair, moving it away from her neck so that he could bend down and press a kiss there. Payson swayed into him, her eyes fluttering closed.
"I love you," Sasha murmured against her skin. She hummed softly.
"I wish you didn't have to stay here tonight," she groaned. Sasha laughed, his lips still ghosting over her skin.
"It's lock-in week, you know I have to."
"Well I don't like that Mrs. Morris is the chaperone. She ogles you," Payson groused. She didn't like whining, but the prospect of going an entire week without spending the night with Sasha had her crankier than usual.
"Someone's got to chaperone, Pay, and it can't be you. You said it yourself, your mom needs a break."
"I know, I know. I'll see you in the morning," Payson sighed. She turned her head to catch his lips quickly before he released her.
"Bring Harper by so I can say goodnight?" Sasha asked. Payson smiled brightly.
"Of course." Another quick kiss and she was out the door.
Payson drove straight to her parents' house to pick up Harper. Kim had been managing the Rock from home ever since the judge had taken away Jeffrey's rights, so that she could also keep an eye on Harper. Payson didn't think Jeffrey would actually do anything, but she felt better knowing that Harper spent her days with people who knew exactly what was going on.
"Hey Pay," Mark called, cutting the lawnmower engine and wiping a hand across his brow.
"Hi Dad,' Payson said. She hugged him tightly, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
"Your mom and Harper are in the back yard playing Olympics," Mark said, laughing. "Your mom's hand stand is pretty good."
"Oh I'm sure it is," Payson giggled. She and her mom had played Olympics so often when she and Becca were little that her mother had practically been a gymnast herself.
Payson wandered through the house to the backyard, pausing just inside the sliding glass door to watch her mother and Harper. Kim was helping Harper with a back walkover, tickling Harper's tummy as she stretched backwards to plant her hands on the ground. Harper's laugh was music to Payson's ears and she couldn't help but smile and run out to join them.
They three generations of Keeler women played together for a while, dancing and tumbling around the yard, before Payson looked at the clock and realized that if she were going to take Harper by the gym, they needed to leave right that minute.
"Harper, want to go say goodnight to Daddy Sasha?" Payson asked, brushing little specks of dirt off her jeans.
"Yes! Yes!" Harper shrieked, jumping at Payson before she was quite ready to catch her. Payson grunted with the impact, but laughed.
"All right, monkey, let's go. Thanks Mom."
"See you guys in the morning."
Payson drove Harper back to the gym, listening to her chatter about her day with grandma the whole way. As soon as Payson pulled up outside the gym, Harper was unbuckling her own car seat and running for the front door. Payson stifled a laugh as Harper nearly smacked into the door, surprised to find it locked.
"Mommy! The door won't open!"
"Its lock down week, sweetie, the door stays locked at nighttime."
"But I want to go in!"
"Well hold on, Mommy has a key." Payson pulled the key out of her pocket and opened the door. Harper charged inside.
"Daddy!" Sasha caught Harper, swinging her up in the air before pressing a kiss to her cheek.
"Good night, puiule."
"Good night, Daddy. I love you."
#
"Mommy, where is London?" Harper asked as she watched Payson packing a suitcase for herself and one for Sasha. They were leaving for Worlds in London the next morning, and Sasha was busy running the girls through one last practice at their home gym.
"Far away. It's where Daddy Sasha is from, did you know that?" Payson asked. Then she frowned and muttered to herself, "sort of, anyway."
"Show me," Harper demanded, crawling off Payson's bed and pulling the atlas off the bookshelf. Payson set the shirt she'd been folding in the suitcase and sat down on the floor where Harper was flipping through the pages, even though she would have no idea when she got to London.
"It's all the way over here," Payson said, pointing to England on one of the pages. Harper's eyes went wide as she traced from the spot she knew was the US to Payson's finger hovering over London. Then she looked up at Payson with her big blue eyes.
"Can I come, Mommy?" Payson reached out to comb her fingers through Harper's hair, smiling at her little girl.
"Oh I wish you could, honey, but I need you to stay here and keep grandma and grandpa company."
#
"Ladies, the New York layover is exactly two hours. You may not leave this terminal unless accompanied by myself or Payson, are we clear?" Sasha asked as the girls filed off the plane that had taken them from Denver to JFK. Payson smiled, thinking about the time she and her teammates had left an airport terminal and hopped a plane to Romania. Sasha's smile told her that he was thinking the same thing.
They watched the girls settle into the airport chairs before settling into two themselves, a little removed from the gymnasts. Payson snuggled into Sasha's side, absently playing with the cuff of his sleeve.
"This is a little weird," Payson mused, watching Annabelle and a few other girls sit down in a circle on the floor to play cards.
"Why is it weird?"
"I never thought I'd be going to Worlds again, and here I am. In London no less."
"It is a bit eerie," Sasha said, laughing softly.
"Ugh, will you two get a room?" Payson straightened, looking over her shoulder at Kelly, who was marching down the terminal, Austin trailing slightly behind and looking amused.
"So now an arm around the shoulder is too much PDA for you? What happened to the girl who was all about doing whatever it took to get Sasha and I together?" Payson teased. Kelly snorted and rolled her eyes.
"Shut it," Kelly growled. She flopped into one of the seats across from Payson. "I hate flying."
"Did you take your Dramamine?" Payson asked knowingly. Kelly avoided her gaze.
"Yes."
"No," Austin said before Kelly was even finished with the lie. She gave a tiny shriek of protest, glaring at Austin.
"Rat!"
"Behave, you two," Sasha warned. "I swear, it's like having two extra teenagers to watch over."
"Shut up, you love us," Kelly snapped. Then she turned to Payson. "What is this I hear about you two deciding to keep hiding our secret weapon?"
"Our secret weapon?" Payson asked. Kelly rolled her eyes.
"Semantics," she said dismissively. The truth was, even though she and Austin were accompanying the World team to Worlds, they were there more as extra chaperones than as a legitimate part of the coaching staff, even if their credentials did say "coach."
"It's just not ready," Payson said. "She's been nearly killing herself this week trying to prove to us she can do it, but the consistency just isn't there."
"What about her sister? Samantha? We don't hear much about her," Austin said, looking between Payson and Sasha.
"She's solid," Sasha answered. "She'll never pull big scores, but she's very consistent. And this team needs consistent."
"How are the rest of them looking?" Kelly asked. "Besides Rochelle, we know how she looks."
Rochelle Abbott had been training with Austin and Kelly in Miami for years, and she was on her third year as a World Team member. Payson liked her, and she was dynamite on the vault, but she occasionally allowed herself to get too caught up in the media firestorm that surrounded big meets like Nationals and Worlds.
"The team is looking strong, we have a lot of depth this year," Payson said. Kelly nodded shortly, apparently satisfied with Payson's answer.
The four adults fell silent, waiting for their next plane to board and watching the athletes. None of them were feeling the jitters of a major competition yet, instead laughing and enjoying the time outside of the gym with each other. A pang of nostalgia shot through Payson as she pictured herself sitting there, surrounded by Kelly, Emily, and Kaylie. She would have given almost anything for another Olympic cycle, but her body just couldn't handle it. And she supposed it was a good thing; she wouldn't have Harper, and she might not even have Sasha, not the way she did now anyway, if she'd gone another four years.
"Do you ever regret it?" Kelly asked quietly, leaning her elbows on her knees so that she was bending halfway across the tiny aisle between the chairs.
"What?" Payson asked, mirroring her.
"Retiring when we did." Payson frowned, wondering if Kelly had somehow read her mind. She looked between Sasha and Austin, and then at the gymnasts, trying to decide if she really did regret it. Then she smiled.
"No. I think I'm right where I'm supposed to be."
#
When the plane landed in London, it was early morning. Though they were jet lagged and cranky, Sasha insisted the girls get in a practice at the North Greenwich arena, the very same one Payson and Kelly had competed in during the 2012 Games. It was like stepping back in time; Payson could hear the deafening screams, feel the weight of the gold medals around her neck. By the way Kelly paused beside her when they first entered the arena, Payson knew she felt it too.
After wringing every bit of work from the athletes that Sasha could reasonably manage, they made their way to the hotel. Payson and Kelly got the girls checked in and then the adults.
"Do you think Sasha did this on purpose?" Payson asked Kelly as she handed her the keys to her and Austin's rooms.
"What?" Kelly asked.
"He gave you and Austin and him and me adjoining rooms." Kelly smiled wickedly.
"I don't know, but either way I love him for it."
Sasha carried Payson's bags up the elevator to the fifth floor, leaving her in her own hotel room. Payson sat down on the bed, pressing herself close to the wall and listening. She heard Sasha turn on the television and start unpacking. One of Sasha's favorite commercials came on and she heard him singing alone with the jingle, horribly off-key. After an hour, she heard him rap his knuckles on the wall and a moment later the door between the rooms opened.
"Feel like sneaking out of your room?" Sasha asked. Payson smiled, crawling across the bed and slipping through the door. She had barely stepped into Sasha's room when his arms went around her and he pinned her against the wall.
His kisses were fierce; hard and deep, tinged with desperation. She gave as good as she got, raking her nails across his shoulders as he hoisted her up, urging her to wrap her legs around his hips. Sasha carried her swiftly across the room and then tossed her onto the bed, making her giggled.
"I feel like a teenager," she whispered loudly as he stalked up her body, pressing himself into her. He kissed her deeply before pulling away to reply.
"Why's that, love?" he asked, smiling roguishly. She combed her fingers through his hair.
"Sneaking out of my hotel room at a major event? It happened more often than you think," she said.
"As long as you were never sneaking out to see a boy, I don't care," Sasha said, leaning in to pepper kisses across her chest and neck. She laughed and squirmed when he hit a ticklish spot.
"Oh, didn't you know? I snuck out to meet Max a few times." Payson knew that Sasha knew she was teasing, she and Max had gone on one date after Rio before deciding it just wasn't right, but that didn't stop him from growling and nipping at the skin of her neck. She gave a little shriek that was quickly muffled by his lips against hers.
"The bus leaves for North Greenwich at nine tomorrow morning," Sasha said.
"And?" Payson asked, helping him pull her shirt over her head.
"And," Sasha started, sitting back to admire her bare torso. "I don't think we should leave this bed until then."
"I think that's a brilliant idea."
A/N: If you all couldn't tell by the "Part 1" after this chapter title, Chapter 16 will be split into two parts. It's all going to cover Worlds, but to put it in one chapter would have taken me three times as long, and I don't think any of us want that. I know it doesn't feel like a whole lot happened in this chapter, but I promise the next chapter will make up for it. I mean, come on, its Worlds! Drama, drama, drama.
As always, THANK YOU to my lovely reviewers; MJP, Elsinore, BearyFunny66, JCI, Kiwiflea, JTellersOldLady, goalie19, LauraW89, and crayon115. You guys are awesome!
Also, I'm posting an M rated one-shot tonight as well called "Dream Come True" should you feel so inclined. PSA: Don't read it if you aren't comfortable with M rated material.