CHAPTER TEN

Zach was surprised out how much he and Hannah did not freak out when they awoke the next morning. They simply looked at each other and started laughing.

"Well, that was an interesting night," said Zach, as he sat up to pull on a shirt.

"See, I told you this would all work out for everyone. Well, most everyone. ", replied Hannah, thinking of how everyone James was the only one in the house sleeping alone last night.

"Those two most have had some talk while we were out."

"Speaking of talk, that's probably something we need to do soon. Unfortunately, I am already running late to the rink." said Hannah, walking into the bathroom to get presentable.

"And I need to get to the office. Give you a ride to the rink and pick you up for lunch?"

"Works for me."

They spent the entire ride singing to the radio and discussing everything but what was going on between them.

Alex and Jackie had, in fact, had quite a long and emotional conversation. Watching what was going on with Alexandra and James had made Jackie realize how shut down she had become when her career had ended. She was too selfish to consider that Alex, too, had lost his career. He blamed himself too much for the fall to get on the ice with anyone else. Plus, he had only started skating to win Jackie's attention, anyway. It just wouldn't have been the same without her. It was a time they should have leaned on each other, and instead, they pulled apart.

It took them an hour for every year they had been apart to talk about everything that they should have done differently. In the end, they decided it didn't matter who was right and wrong and what they could have said or done. What mattered is that they had finally come to grips with it, and while it was going to take a lot of time and work, they belonged together.

Jackie had forgotten just how much she enjoyed waking up next to Alex. It was one of those things she would not take for granted the second time around. When he rolled over and wrapped his arms around her, she cursed herself for scheduling a morning practice. After a few moments of bliss, she slipped out of bed to get ready, trying not to wake him. Apparently she wasn't very good at it, though. When she walked back in from brushing her teeth, he was already up and had managed to throw one a polo and jeans.

Watching Jackie walk back in the room, Alex couldn't help but smile to himself. How long he had dreamed of being with her again. As soon as Nationals was over, he was taking her away for a week. They needed time to focus on each other and forget all about skating and everything else in their crazy lives.

"How about you give me a ride into the office and we rendezvous during your break?" he asked, with a guilty grin on his face.

"Perfect," she replied, leaning up to kiss the love of her life.

James had no idea what was keeping his coach and teammate, but he was glad to have the rink to himself for a bit. It gave him time to simply fly around the ice and think about everything that was going on.

Before Alexandra's big announcement, James had purchased a diamond, hoping to propose when they won Nationals. Now, she would take the proposal as something he felt he had to do, not something he wanted to do. He had known since before the first time they competed together that she was the one for him. Things had been so great with them that he didn't want to throw them off balance with a proposal, though. Something in him felt that this year's competition would be the perfect time to ask her, though. He knew there would be no way of convincing her of that now.

He just needed to see her right now, needed to see she was okay. They needed to talk about everything that was going on and for once, make a plan. He knew calling her would just push her away, but calling her brother seemed fair enough. After all, that was who had given him the heads up she was leaving last night. At least he had someone in his corner during all this.

James had just finished leaving a message for Bobby when Hannah rushed in, followed by a tired, but giddy Jackie. Without discussing the new living situation or any other drama surrounding the team, the three took to the ice and began working on the finalized routine. Despite the fact that none of them had gotten a lot of sleep the previous night, the skating was amazing. Hannah's cheerleading background had really helped them step the game up a notch. The combination of Hannah's flexibility and tight moves made her new and refreshing to watch on the ice. Technically, the two weren't on the same level as James and Alexandra had been, but they were definitely exciting to watch!

"That was awesome guys," said Jackie, as she skated over to the pair with water. "So awesome, in fact, that we're going to end on that for the day. Instead of practice tonight, we're going out, as a team. I'll have a car come pick us up at the house at six." She handed them water and skated off before anyone could protest.

"So, were we really that great today or would you just rather spend time with Alex than coach us?" joked Hannah as she caught up with Jackie in the locker room.

"What? How you? No…"

Hannah knew the moment she opened her mouth she had made a mistake! She was hoping that Jackie wouldn't put two and two together and figure out where Hannah had slept last night. She should have known better.

"Wow, and I'd even made a point for us to go to his room last night so that you wouldn't know. Didn't want to get your hopes up in case things didn't go well."

"Obviously they did, so yayeeee!" exclaimed Hannah, jumping up to hug her cousin.

"Well, nothing's certain yet, but it is something we both want to work really hard to make happen. In fact, I've got to go meet him right now. Don't think this means I don't still want to talk to you!" shouted Jackie to her cousin as she grabbed her purse and ran out the door.

Hannah was glad she hadn't had to talk about her and Zach just yet. She had no idea how to explain or describe. Guess while Jackie and Alex were figuring their relationship out, she and Zach would be figuring out if they even had one.

Alexandra, too, was discussing the fate of her relationship. She just wasn't including the other party.

"You're taking the news much better than I though, Mom."

"You are a strong individual who never gives up. I have faith you can get through this better than most. You're going to have to rely on James and trust he will be there for you, though."

"It's not that I doubt he will be there, I just doubt his reasons. Will he be there because he wants to be or because he feels he has to?"

"He does love you enough to stand by you, even if it's not what he wants. Only you can tell his true reasons. Have faith in him, sweetie. He's surprised you before; he just may do it again." Marcella held her daughter close; praying she would gives James the chance to prove just how much he loved her.

"Can you find me a flight to Bloomington Mama?"

Back in Connecticut, the team had finished packing for the next day's flight to Nationals and was out on the town to celebrate and show everyone who believed that morning's article how wrong everything in print was. They all laughed at how they had not planned to prove the article wrong in so many ways, but it was working out. As shocked as people were to see Zach and Hannah arrive arm and arm, they were even more amazed to see Jackie and Alex getting cozy. James tried to not let it bother him that he was the odd man out. He, along with the rest of the team, spent the night reassuring everyone that things with Alexandra were fine and she had gone to stay with her family so everyone else could concentrate on the upcoming competition.

The more James tried to make himself believe that, the more he drank. Dinner wasn't as bad as when they all went dancing. As he watched the couples dance on the floor, he started ordering shots. Eventually he realized how ridiculous he was acting and decided to have fun instead of feeling sorry for himself. He took one last shot and took to the dance floor.

And that's when the cameras started flashing.