Chapter 17: Presque La

Emily squeezed her way through to Damon's gate. She hated big groups of people, especially if they were loud, and this group of school kids excited for their sports tournament were all but yelling at each other. Emily scowled at them, feeling like an old woman when she was probably only a year or so older than them. Eventually they made their way to the far end of the lounge where departures were, much to Emily's relief. She went and bought two coffees: one decaf, and the other with an extra shot – she also grabbed a bunch of sugar sachets and a stirrer. Damon was the definition of a sweet tooth.

Emily had mixed feelings about Damon finally returning to Boulder. She loved him, of course, but his reaction to the Yale scholarship had made her wonder whether he loved Emily, or simply loved the fact that she was an underdog with a dream. She bit her nails as she waited. It was habit that Sasha detested but she couldn't seem to curb it.

"Em!" Called a familiar voice and Damon was almost running towards her, guitar case slung over his back, black hair unkempt, wearing a leather jacket. Emily swore under her breath, whatever his faults, Damon Young was hot. She could see several people, especially the school kids, had noticed and recognised him.

Emily was going to be cold but she couldn't help grinning when she saw him. Damon's face had lit up like a Christmas tree when he'd seen Emily, and Emily's heart had leapt when she saw Damon. She let Damon kiss her quickly and they made their way down to the baggage claim.

"So how's your bars coming along?" Damon asked excitedly as he got into Chloe's car that Emily was borrowing for the afternoon. "I've hardly spoken to you about all your upgrades and stuff." There was a faint accusatory note in his voice.

Emily gritted her teeth; there it was again, his obsession with her gymnastics. "They're fine, um but I've been good too. I've finally started reading The Odyssey, and I'm still tossing up what classes to take senior year but I've got all summer to think about that."

"Yeah you've got way more pressing issues like the tiny detail of the Olympics over summer."

Emily rolled her eyes and changed to a safer topic before she said something she'd regret. She asked Damon about Margi and her family: she missed them like crazy, especially Larissa. Sure they skyped but it wasn't the same as seeing them in person. After what seemed like hours they reached Emily's house. Damon was going to be staying there for a couple of nights before finding his own apartment. Sasha, of course didn't know. He would kill Damon if he distracted Emily this close to nationals. Damon quickly unpacked – he'd packed and unpacked so many times that he was a bit of a machine.

"You're so fast at that, I swear I take ages every time I pack for a competition even though all I need is a few leos and a couple of tracksuits."

"You're a girl" Damon pointed out the obvious.

"I'd noticed."

Damon sighed, something was up with Emily, and he knew her well enough that she rarely came out and said what was bothering her. A childhood full of volatile boyfriends of Chloe made her cautious about speaking her mind. That meant Damon was going to have to say something, which he was loath to do, especially since he'd only just arrived in Boulder. He sat down next to Emily on her bed and tentatively held her hand "what's bothering you, Kmetko?"

Emily took a deep breath, trying to think of an answer that wouldn't make her sound like a bitch. Being unable to think of one, she shrugged "kind of hard to explain."

"Try – I know something's wrong, I know you better than anyone remember."

"Do you?" Emily snapped, Damon recoiled as if she'd slapped him and Emily regretted her snarky tone immediately. She sighed "sorry Damon, that was tacky. I guess it's just that when I rang you about Yale you only seemed to care about my gymnastics. The same with every skype session we've had for ages. And I know it's really immature but I was just wondering do you love me for me, or me because I have a dream."

Damon was silent for a while and Emily said "sorry, I'm being oversensitive - I shouldn't have said anything."

Damon looked down, not wanting to show Emily how close he was to tears "Em, the reason I was so keen for you to keep going with gymnastics was that I couldn't bear the thought that we would have given up our son for nothing. I know that it's selfish and that Yale was an amazing opportunity. Can you forgive me?" Damon was crying for real now.

Emily was so mad at herself. She hadn't even thought of that. She'd never really contemplated how hard it must have been for Damon, to have that expectation of having his girlfriend and child living with him in that perfect house in LA and then her stripping it away, only to think about giving up the dream that had made her give up James in the first place. She hugged Damon tightly "Damon I am so, so sorry. I was the most selfish person ever."

Damon kissed the top of her head. "I'm sorry too." He whispered, hugging her back, tears running down onto her hair. "I love you more than anything, for you, not for your dream, I don't care what you do with your life: I'm going to be there with you."

XXX

Summer was standing outside her front gate waiting for them. Motherhood suited her. It had somehow made her calmer and she was so busy looking after James that she didn't have time to play mother to the Rock girls. Emily knew that that was a huge relief to a lot of the girls, especially to Payson and Kaylie. Summer waved enthusiastically when Emily and Damon pulled up in his new car, James beamed when he saw Emily. He clapped his hands together "Mamee Emly." Gently, Summer handed him to Emily who passed him to Damon. Her boyfriend's expression was priceless, it was if the whole world around him had stopped and James was the only thing that mattered.

Summer gave Emily a quick hug goodbye, waved at Damon and drove to meet up with Lauren. She was a bit sceptical about why the young gymnast had called her out of the blue, Lauren had been cold towards her ever since she'd found out Summer was adopting James. Summer had been pretty distant too. Since she'd got to know Emily well and found out that Lauren had deliberately moved nationals she had all but given up on her. She walked into the small cafe Lauren had suggested. Summer smiled, the place was cute with old fashioned tablecloths and chairs, sepia photos lined the walls. If nothing else, Lauren knew how to pick a destination. She Lauren standing by a table, waiting for her. Uncharacteristically Lauren didn't squeal and jump into Summer's arms as soon as she saw her. Instead she just walked over and gave her a quick hug "hey Summer, thanks for meeting me." She seemed older, Summer thought. But not in a bad way.

"It's always a pleasure, Lauren." Summer said honestly. She cared about Lauren like perhaps no one else. The girl was messed up but she'd had a rough childhood and Summer saw that first rather than the rough exterior that almost everyone else saw.

They sat and ordered. Summer got a salad so that Lauren didn't feel like she was missing out. They ate in silence for a little while. Finally Lauren spoke "Summer I want you to know that I'm trying to turn over a new leaf. I know I've said it a thousand times but this time I mean it. I'm going to earn my friendships and try and get my relationship with Daddy back to what it used to be before." Lauren didn't need to say before what "it's really hard. But I'm just trying not to be jealous of people, just worry about my own problems and not try to drag anyone down."

Summer grinned, something in Lauren's tone and demeanour made her seem sincere. "I'm proud of you Lauren. I think it's the first time I've been able to say that honestly in a very long time."

Lauren grinned back, making her look like a cheeky little kid. "That means a lot Summer, coming from you" she paused "but I'm still going to tease the crap out of Kelly and Andrea." She was the bitch of the beam after all, she had a reputation to protect.

Summer snorted "I wouldn't expect anything less."

XXX

Damon had been crazy busy the first four weeks he was in Boulder. His agent was disgruntled about the move and he'd shown it by forcing Damon to do copious amounts of publicity – something he knew Damon hated. Damon was old school, he believed in living for your art and by winning fans with music not with sucking up to some DJ or other and posing for magazines. He'd been so busy that he'd only been able to pop in and see Emily for a bit in her morning practices with Darby – he hadn't managed to stay a whole day yet. But today he'd finally had a cancellation which meant that he had a whole day free. He picked up Emily and he began driving towards Darby's private gym, after a while Emily said "turn left up here."

"Why? The gym's straight ahead."

Emily cleared her throat "well I'm actually training at the Rock all day today."

Damon glared at Emily in shock. The Rock meant facing Sasha. He almost swerved off the road before Emily yelled at him to focus. He took a deep breath and said "so why are you training there the whole day and why didn't you tell me?"

"Well since nationals are only two weeks away, Sasha's insisting I train with the rest of the team because I qualified for nationals as a member of the Rock and Sasha wants me as part of the team because apparently I calm the rest of them down. And I didn't tell you because I wanted to see your reaction, I'm kind of regretting it now though seeing as the shock made you temporarily forget how to drive."

Damon groaned. "I was hoping for a day off today you know, not a day to have the crap beaten out of me."

Emily rolled her eyes "Sasha will be fine. I'm sure he's moved on from everything."

"Uh huh sure, and I'm Justin Bieber."

"Well there are similarities." Emily said straightfaced, making Damon reach over and tickle her.

"Ok I take it back! Please don't kill us."

Sasha had already been at the gym for two hours with Payson before the other elites arrived. He had six girls training for nationals Pay, Emily, Lauren, Kaylie, Kelly and Rachel Jemson – the fourth place qualifier at the Rock Rankings. He didn't know if Rachel would go far this year but she would probably make a splash in 2013 when some of the powerhouses retired. Becca Keeler had decided she wouldn't be competing. Sasha was relieved, Becca was a great gymnast but she wasn't passionate – and there was no point in her being around if she wasn't.

He nodded at Kelly and Kaylie as they walked in behind Ronnie and Leo. He appreciated the effort that Leo was making to support his sister. Kaylie drew her strength from those around her and she needed that, especially on the last stretch towards nationals. Kelly looked happy too. She fitted in really well with the Cruz family, but he knew that she missed her mother, any normal person would.

Lauren strode in with Summer, much to Sasha's surprise. He was about to ask Summer about that when he saw Emily walk in, accompanied by Damon. Sasha snarled, it took all of his self control not to walk over to the little punk and punch his lights out. Instead he meandered over towards the couple – pausing to greet the other elites and offer little critiques and encouragements.

"Morning Emily." Sasha said cheerily.

"Hi Sasha" Emily replied, sceptically. Sasha didn't usually do cheery as a general rule – not unless he was about to explode. She had unpleasant flashbacks of the morning after the infamous keg party right after she started at the Rock. Damon must have picked up on Sasha's anger because his grip on Emily's hand increased dramatically.

Sasha nodded to Damon "It's Derrick right?"

"Uh Damon, actually...sir." Damon added as an afterthought. It never hurt to be polite to people who were approximately a million times tougher than you.

"Sure, would you please come into my office please?"

Damon swore under his breath and looked at Emily who nodded at him. Damon reluctantly followed the blond man up the stairs.

Sasha closed the door to the managers' office and drew the blind. He then socked Damon in the face. Damon staggered back, only slightly surprised. He wasn't angry. He figured he deserved it.

"That's for getting Emily pregnant." Sasha whispered icily.

Damon was about to stand up but Sasha held up a hand "if you get up before I tell you to I will give you one for initially abandoning her and then another for messing with her head when she got offered the Yale scholarship. Am I quite clear?"

Damon nodded.

"My elite girls are precious. They are about to enter into the most important couple of months of their lives, and while I have told Darby that she has control over Emily's lifestyle and her decision to let your charming self into her life that does not mean that I will tolerate for a second you hurting her in any way."

"I believe that sir."

"It's Sasha, cut the crap."

"Yes Sasha."

"Better, now go and support your girlfriend, and remember I am watching you." Sasha snarled.

Damon nodded meekly and went back onto the floor. Sasha grinned. He loved scaring people.

XXX

Kaylie hated packing. She was unashamedly a girly girl, she had so many clothes and so little time. Sighing she held out her two favourite dresses – she only really needed one for the dinner at the end of the week: she'd be conducting interviews in her Rock tracksuit mostly.

"Seriously Cruz just pick one." Kelly said, walking into Kaylie's room in her zebra striped onesie, hair in a messy bun and brushing her teeth.

"Kelly! Keep your filthy toothpaste filled mouth out of my room."

"Whatever" Kelly mumbled through her toothbrush. She walked into Kaylie's ensuite bathroom that also joined onto Kelly's room and rinsed her mouth. She walked back in "you should wear that one, the red suits you, and pink is sort of well, not you."

"Not anymore anyway." Kaylie mumbled. She felt old and tired; she was struggling to stay passionate about gymnastics which freaked her out a bit since they were leaving for nationals tomorrow.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kelly had come to know Kaylie better than perhaps anyone and her friend and roommate was not in a good way.

"I dunno I guess I just used to be happy go lucky Kaylie and all I had to do was do my best and smile and everything fell into place. Now everything's so screwed up, I haven't seen my Dad since rankings, I've got the media breathing down my neck about my eating disorder and being the defending champion when everyone's upgrading. All I want is my family to be happy and to enjoy my sport." A tear fell down Kaylie's cheek: even when she was upset Kaylie looked perfect.

Kelly came and sat beside her friend, she put an arm around Kaylie and Kaylie rested her head on Kelly's shoulder. "I can't make your Dad come back and I can't get the media off your back but I can stand by you. I've always got your back Cruz. You're like my sister and Ronnie's like the Mum I never had." Kelly bit back tears when she thought of Sheila. She'd written a couple of letter to her in rehab but Sheila hadn't replied.

Kaylie wiped her eyes "that means so much Kelly, and your Mum loves you, she's just hurting at the moment."

Kelly snorted, her tough exterior coming back "no she doesn't."

"She does – she just has trouble showing people she cares about them. A lot like Lauren I guess. Give her a chance, she's only been in rehab a couple of months, maybe she'll make the effort to get time off to see you at nationals."

Kelly brightened "maybe" Sheila was horrible, demanding and demeaning when Kelly was competing but she had always come and it was comforting having her there in a weird way. "I'll call her tomorrow if you call your Dad."

Kaylie grinned "it's a deal."

XXX

Payson woke up even earlier than usual. She felt the usual adrenaline rush as she realised that today they were leaving for St Louis. She hummed to herself as she got dressed and had breakfast. She was brushing her hair when Kim and Becca woke up.

"Morning sweetheart." Kim said, beaming at her eldest daughter. "How are you feeling?"

Payson nodded, she was already focusing "good, Mum, it's time to prove to everyone that I'm back for real."

"I'm proud of honey, no matter what happens in St Louis you've come so far and grown up so much. Dad and I will come up on Friday. Are you okay to take Becca to the gym? I'm going to be a bit late."

"Sure." Payson said, stifling a yawn so the others wouldn't see how tired she was. She hugged her mother and she and Becca got in the car.

"What's wrong with you?" Becca asked knowingly as soon as Payson had pulled out of the driveway.

"Nothing I'm fine."

"Uh huh – you look exhausted, exactly how early are you training every day. I know you're up before Mum and I but I'm pretty sure it's not the only half an hour extra of practice that you've been telling Mum."

Payson was silent. Becca was very perceptive, but she wasn't going to tell her that she had two hours extra in the morning. Kim would kill her and then kill Sasha if she found out.

"Fine, tell me I was only asking cos I'm worried about you."

Payson smiled fakely "don't be, I'm fine." She pulled in to the Rock carpark, making her way to the 'Reserved for Keeler' spot, she closed her tired eyes for a second.

"Payson! Watch out!" Becca screeched and Payson opened her eyes to that she was just about to drive into Rachel.

"Shit" she whispered and swerved just in time. Shakily she parked in her spot. She looked at Becca who looked livid.

"Tell me how much extra practice you've been doing."

Payson glared at her little sister. She was so like Kim, she had the bossy mumsy attitude down pat. "I start at 5.30 every morning?"

"What? The others don't get there till 7.30! Payson you're going to get sick! I'm telling Mum."

Payson gripped her sister's arm "No, please Becca. I've worked so hard for this – if you tell Mum about the extra practices or if you tell Sasha about me almost hitting Rachel I won't be allowed to go to nationals, you know how protective they both are. This is my dream."

Becca looked into her sister's eyes. She admired Payson more than anyone in the world. She didn't want her hurt but she knew how important gymnastics was to Payson. "Fine I won't tell" she said softly.

Payson gave her sister a quick hug "thanks Becca."

XXX

Kaylie bounced into the Rock. She'd called Alex and he'd promised her he'd be at nationals. Kelly scowled at her friend's bubblyness – she was seldom excited about anything before 11am and her mood was further soured by the fact she'd called Sheila's rehab centre and her mother had refused to speak to her. Well that was just fine, thought Kelly – she was better off without her.

Sasha was standing in the middle of the gym. The six girls going to nationals walked over to him and lined up in front of him. Sasha smiled at them. He was incredibly proud of them – they had all come so far. Lauren finally owning up to her mistakes and trying to earn their friendship, Kaylie finally having the courage to be herself and Kelly for still doing so well despite having one of the loneliest lives of any gymnast he'd coached. Little Rachel who'd worked so hard to get where she was today. But it was the two tallest gymnasts who astounded him the most. Emily and Payson, two of the gutsiest most persistent people he'd ever met.

"Good morning everyone" he said quietly "today's a big day."

The girls smiled and nodded. Emily and Payson grinned at each other – they had both been completely counted out of gymnastics before so this opportunity meant the most to them.

"Are you ready to choose your captain?"

"Payson" said five voices unanimously, while Payson said "Kelly".

Sasha grinned at Payson "well captain, are you ready to lead the team in our final Rock on before St Louis?"

"Gladly coach." She pulled the girls and Sasha into a group huddle.

A/N sorry for taking ages to update. I suck I know, so next chapter we're in St Louis for nationals. It's not going to be easy for the Rock girls, and Darby gets some um interesting news. Also MIOBI is back on TV it's different hey? But I really like the new girl Jordan – she seems quite different and original so I might include her in this fanfiction, what do you guys think?

As always please review and let me know what you thought :D:D