The morning flew by – Practice ice, breakfast (provided by Rossi for the team, plus Ian, in a private room), a seminar by the USFSA on some rule changes that were scheduled for the next season, lunch, and then hair and make-up (by Garcia). Before anyone knew it, the team was again sitting in the arena watching as the Junior Ladies took their turns on the ice.

When Jade's turn came, Rossi, Morgan, and Reid did the honors and "GO JADE!" echoed across the ice while Joan sat nervously grasping Laurel's hand.

"It doesn't get any easier, does it?" she whispered to Laurel, who was gently rocking Sophia.

"I don't think it is supposed to," Laurel replied philosophically. "I keep telling myself that it's better for me to be nervous than Paige but, somehow, I don't believe it."

Jade's long skate went well, although some of her maneuvers weren't as difficult as those performed by some of the other competitors.

"Better a clean skate with maneuvers that you are comfortable with than a risky one that you end up worrying your way through," was Tovah's philosophy for this competition.

"Just wait until next time!" Jade had replied.

When Paige's turn came, Hotch could barely croak out his usual "Go Paige" and Jack, assisted by Rossi, had to take over for him.

"I never thought I would be this nervous," he whispered to Laurel as Paige's music began to fill the arena.

"It's only going to get worse," she whispered back.

Paige's program went smoothly with only one slight bobble on a landing and she ended it to a flurry of applause. Afterwards, in the back-stage area, Tovah was busy congratulating both of her skaters when Ian walked over to join them.

"Congratulations to both of you!" he told them. "You both had excellent skates. Are the final results up yet?"

"Not yet," Tovah told him as she nodded towards the screen. "I am pretty sure I know how they did, but the computer seems to be taking its time."

Suddenly the computer screen flickered to life and 'Final Results' flashed across the top of it.

"Paige, you moved up to Fourth, and Jade, you remained at Eighth – Good Job Ladies!" Tovah chortled. "Particularly for your first trip to Nationals!"

"Congratulations to both of you!" Ian added his support. "Now, I assume you are both planning on upping the difficulty levels of your programs over the next few months?"

"Of course!" Jade smiled at him. "I need to start working really hard on my triples. Uncle Spencer said he has some ideas that he thinks will help me."

"After talking with Spencer last night, I don't doubt that," Ian laughed. "Your Uncle certainly has come up with some interesting concepts, and I don't doubt that most of them will work."

"Tovah – Do you have a minute?" he added. "I'd like to have a quick word with you before I have to get my skater ready."

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

"Joan – I really hate to say Good-By," Laurel's voice quavered. It was the next morning and everyone was in the hotel lobby getting ready to leave.

"I know, but Jade and I have a long drive ahead of us and you have a plane to catch," Joan replied.

"We'll be seeing you in a couple of weeks during Spring Break?" JJ asked.

"You'll be seeing Jade for sure," Joan replied. "I don't think Michael will be up to making the trip and I don't want to leave him home alone again."

"Let me talk to him," Rossi volunteered. "Maybe I can come up with some reason to stop by for a 'consult'. That way I can fly to Chicago and stay with him while you take a break."

"We'll see," Joan promised. "We'll see."