Chapter 19

"Ally, do you have your backpack?"

The little girl held up her Dora the Explorer bag with pride. Payson sighed in relief.

"Good…"

Payson hated traveling. She couldn't explain it. The whole process stressed her out to no end. Waiting in lines, keeping identification, taking your shoes on and off…it wasn't for her. Not to mention that every minute worry about safety was magnified when you had a young child with you. If Payson Keeler wasn't so concerned about her daughter's mental well being, she probably would've subjected her to a child leash long ago.

The Boston airport was bustling. It was familiar to her, but new to Ally. They had just gotten off their plane and were now making their way to baggage check. They had packed just enough to get by for the next few weeks. Mr. and Mrs. Keeler would be shipping the rest of their belongings soon.

"Stay close, Ally!" Payson called out. "Don't make me hold your hand."

Ally slowed her excited power walk down to a reasonable pace. They continued to pass coffee shops and fast food places until a large sign pointed them towards the main baggage check.

"Over here, hon." Payson pointed toward the third carosel. "Now remember that we had two large –"

"Red suitcases?"

Payson dropped her carry on bag. It hit the floor with a dramatic thud.

"What?" Sasha asked. "No hello?"

There he was, owning the space around him as usual. On either side of him were the Keelers' large rolling bags that he'd extracted from the belt for them. In a minute Ally was in his arms pecking kissing on his scruffy cheek.

"Mommy, say hello to Sasha!" Ally ordered, clapping her hands together. Sasha let Ally slide back down his side to the ground. She stood firmly now exactly between the two of them. "Well?"

Sasha stared at her with a smile, waiting for her to come to him.

It didn't take long.

"Thank God," Payson muttered, running forward. In one gracefully movement she'd risen on tiptoe and used both hands to bring that strong, lovely male jaw line down to her face for a firm kiss. It was like drinking water after a drought. She pinched her eyes shut tightly until bright colors under her lids exploded like stars. Sasha's lips responded and curled beneath hers into a smile.

Sasha broke away first, kissing the tip of her nose lightly.

The sound of a steady rhythm caused them wake up from their admiring stares and look down. Ally was tapping her foot impatiently. Apparently she wasn't as enthusiastic about the kissing as they were.

"You have to put your tray up now, mommy!"

Payson looked at Sasha with confusion then back down at her daughter. "W-What?"

"Mommy! Mommy!"

Payson Keeler woke with a start as a small set of fingers pinched her right arm.

"Ouch!" she said with agitation. "What's going on?"

"Ma'am…" a flight attendant was leaning over Payson and speaking in a friendly, yet annoying voice. "I'm gonna need to you to put your tray in the upright position before we land in Boston."

Payson sighed. "Of course you do…"

Ally, the pincher, was staring up at her mother with strange fascination.

"What?" Payson asked, still feeling groggy. "Did I talk in my sleep?"

"Sorta."

Payson's eyes darted around, hoping no one else in coach noted this too. "W-What did I say?"

"Thank God!" Ally tried to imitate her mother's deeper voice.

Payson laughed. "Great…" It could've been worse.

The reality of the airport was surprisingly similar to the picture her subconscious painted just minutes before. As Payson and Ally exited their plane and walked down to the baggage check, Payson had the oddest sense of déjà vu. She supposed that her recent trip for the invitational had kept the setting fresh in her mind.

"Hello ladies."

Unlike in her dream, the voice was as American as apple pie. The man, however, did have two large red suitcases on either side of him.

"Austin!" Ally ran up to her father and halted at his feet, as if deciding what to do next.

"Heya Ally-mally!" he said jovially, raising his hand for a high five. Ally bent her knees and jump up with surprising height to strike his hand.

Payson grinned. Ally might not have leapt into his arms, but this was a fairly adorable alternative.

"Hi Payson." He greeted her warmly.

The two adults paused awkwardly as they leaned, heads darting back and forth indecisively. Payson finally picked a side and kissed his cheek casually.

"Thanks for getting our bags." She said.

"Of course." said Austin, leading them outside to the taxi.

Suddenly, a swarm of reporters descended on them. Payson grabbed Ally's hand quickly and kept her close.

"Mommy, what's going on?"

"Just keep walking, Ally." she said, keeping calm and ignoring all the questions - some of them very odd.

"Payson! Payson! Are you and Austin seeing each other again?"

"Austin, will you and Ally be training her together at Boston Elite?"

"Payson, what shampoo do you use?"

Austin led the way, parting the sea of camera flashes and microphones. He opened the car door for Payson and Ally, ushering them hastily inside to sanity.

Before he got in after them, a reporter grabbed his arm and shoved a microphone in his face.

"Austin, what sparked your interest in Ally?"

The former Olympian raised his eyebrow, clearly surprised that someone would ask such a stupid question.

"DNA - we share some." he answered tersely, sliding in the car and slamming the door. The volume suddenly reached a normal level. Everyone took a deep breath.

Austin refocused on the two new people in his life. "You girls must be tired. Why don't I take you to your apartment? It's just a block away from mine. It's beautiful – right near the gym with one great view."

Austin Tucker hadn't exaggerated. The apartment was ridiculous. The high ceilings, wood floors, large windows, and spacious kitchen were perfect. Payson had never lived anywhere this nice before.

"I could get used to this…" she said in awe, almost without realizing it.

Austin beamed at his job well done. "Ally, why don't you go check out your room?"

Ally obliged, running down the hall to an open door. Payson followed her with curiosity and was shocked at what was before her.

It was Ally's room…but in Boston. There were a few minor upgrades, of course. She now had some speakers and enough room for a small practice beam that came up just above the floor. Everything else was exactly the same down to the shade of pink on the walls. The bedspread, posters, curtains, and yellow "ALLY" wooden letters were just like the ones packed away in boxes at her grandparents' house. Ally gave a shout and immediately jumped on her new bed. Payson didn't even scold her.

"Wow…" she said, admiring the room. "This is impressive."

"I just figured – don't mess with something that works, right?" Austin said, leaning against the doorframe as his daughter jumped up and down. "I had your mom take a picture of her room in Boulder and I hired a decorator to replicate it. I thought it might make the transition easier. Do you like it?"

"Well…" Payson said beaming. "It's not my room. Ally, what do you think?"

Ally jumped off the bed and hugged her father's leg. "I like it. Thanks, Austin."

After a short tour, take-out, and some catching up, Austin left the girls alone for the evening. Ally went out like a light. She always did after such long days.

Payson, on the other hand, stayed awake for a few hours staring up at the skylight and cathedral ceiling in her bedroom. She was almost afraid to fall asleep. All of these changes would be much easier if she didn't have to see Sasha Belov. She'd taken herself out of Boulder physically for this purpose, but whenever she closed her eyes lately her subconscious had other ideas. It was very frustrating.

For better or for worse, Payson finally succumb to slumber at 3 a.m. Fortunately for her, it was a dreamless sleep.

Emily Kmetko hadn't woken up this early in years.

Her watch read a frightening time – 5 a.m. – and the bags underneath her eyes agreed. She really should be getting used to this again, though. Soon she'd had a baby whose crying would no doubt force her back into the odd sleeping patterns she used to suffer as a teenager athlete. It was too bad that in her current state she couldn't even turn to coffee for comfort.

Emily Kmetko and Damon had been staying in Boulder for a few weeks now. At first it was to visit her mother and Brian, but then the visit turned into a long vacation. Then, the long vacation turned into a Emily admitting to Damon that she didn't want to have the baby in LA. The hormones were mostly to blame for that hysterical conversation, but luckily she had an understanding husband with access to a private jet through his record company. She got her wish and stayed in Boulder while he flew back and forth for work only when he absolutely needed to.

She'd become a Rock rat, so to speak – filtering in a out naturally to observe, participate, and enjoy. She'd made an appearance at the Rocky Awards to support Nina. She came by time to time to support and help Payson, though she no longer had that excuse now that she was gone.

When she walked into the gym, Emily was surprised to see Nina and on the uneven bars. She was the only athlete working out this early.

"What on earth are you doing here?" demanded Emily with crossed arms. "Shouldn't you be in bed somewhere?"

"I can say the same for you." Nina pointed out after she dismounted. "I have to train. What brings you to the Rock this fine morning?"

Emily shrugged. "I couldn't get back to sleep and Damon is gone this week."

"So you came in early because…you were bored?"

"Sort of sounds pathetic when you put it that way." Emily admitted. "Is Sasha here?"

Nina sighed and motioned to the main office. "Always…"

Emily shifted her gaze over to the giant windows. Sasha's head was on his desk.

"Hmm…"

She left Nina to her own devices and joined her old coach in his office. She made sure to slam the door hard as she could.

Sasha Belov bolted upright in his seat, blinking his heavy eyelids several times. His hair was a mess.

"I-I wasn't sleeping."

"Sure…"

Emily took a seat across from him. She sat back, arms and legs crossed, and stared him down.

Sasha yawned and ran his fingers through his short hair. "What?"

"Is there anything you want to talk about? Anything you want to tell me?"

Sasha thought for a moment.

"No."

"Oh really?" Emily challenged. "Because if I were you, I think I'd have a few things on my mind."

He shrugged. "I'm fine."

"Sasha - you slept on your desk last night, your assistant coach just left for another gym, and you're overwhelmed. I'm pregnant, Sasha, not stupid."

Sasha sighed and stretched his arms, trying to get the kinks out of his body from the awkward sleeping position. "Those are all things I can deal with. You wouldn't happen to want a coaching job, would you?"

Emily smiled. "I've never been the coaching type. Plus, it would be a conflict of interest. I sponsor Nina, remember?"

"Right…"

"Also," Emily continued. "I think there's only one assistant coach for you…"

"I can survive without Payson Keeler." Sasha said with conviction. Emily looked around his chaotic office and wondered of he knew how truly ridiculous he sounded now.

"You might be able to replace her professionally, but personally...now that's a different story."

"What? I don't –"

"I know, Sasha." Emily admitted before he could deny it. "I know that you and Payson were seeing each other before she left. I don't know the details and god knows she never mentioned it aloud to me, but I figured it out."

"How?"

"Sasha, I am a very observant person. You'd be surprised what I know."

Sasha got up from his seat and stared out the window of his office in thought. Nina was still out there practicing her beam routine. He remembered a time when it was Payson out there at ridiculous hours.

"You know," Emily said, joining him at his side. "Payson doesn't fall in love easily, so when she does it's a big deal. I'm just saying…"

Sasha didn't know how he felt about this. Talking about Payson –and specifically his love life – with a former gymnast was odd. Payson had been different than all of them. He'd always seen her as more of an equal than a teenager. For Emily, however, he had to get used to the wisdom and authority that came with her age.

"I know that." Sasha answered. "Trust me, I do."

"So what's your plan?" Emily asked. "Are you going to wallow here for the rest of your life and pretend that you're not in love with her."

Sasha perked up. "I never said I was in love with her."

"You didn't have to."

Good Lord she's good, Sasha thought. He didn't like being dissected like a worm, but he was impressed with Emily's insight. Honestly, it was also a relief to finally talk about Payson with someone else.

"I don't have a plan." Sasha confessed. "And if I get one, it won't involve her. She's made a decision – a good one at that. We'll both be grateful for it down the road. She's with Ally and closer to Austin. I'm at the Rock where I belong."

"You know what your problem is?" Emily asked, crossing her arms again.

"By all means, enlighten me."

"You and Payson are Olympic Champions. Your entire lives you've been disciplining your bodies and denying yourself everything from a social life to ice cream to get on top of this sport. And you know what? You were both very good at it."

Sasha shrugged. "So what? What's wrong with that?"

Emily Kmetko smiled. His ignorance amused her. It felt nice to be teaching something to him for a change.

"The Olympics are over, Sasha – for both of you." She declared. "You won your medals and you retired. The question is…why are you still torturing yourselves?"

Sasha looked out the window again. He hated to admit it, but Emily had a point. It seemed the championship spirit that he and Payson shared and mutually admired was ironically standing between them. Just thinking about it made his head spin.

"When did you get so smart?" he looked up at her, smirking.

Emily patted Sasha on the back as they watched Nina dismount from the beam.

"Sasha, I've always been this smart. It's just taken you a while to notice."

a/n – Thank you for reading! If you have actually read this entire fic (it's sooo long) then I love you. I have no idea how it became this long…BUT it's not over. I know some people thought that last chapter was the end, but I'm not that depressing. I was raised on Disney, people. I will give you a happy ending.

Some people are asking me about Austin and why he's being so nice. That's a good question. Hopefully in these next few chapters you'll get a better feel for him and where he stands. I'm not trying to make him simplistic or slap a villain label on him. I'm doing this because 1) I think it's more real and interesting and 2) I'm leaving the door open to a spin-off sequel to this story and he will be a central focus. So will another Rock girl…

More later! Trying to update faster than I did last week. Thanks for reading - I love the reviews!