"The end of another competition," Laurel sighed. It was two days later and everyone (along with their luggage) was gathered in the lobby of the hotel.
"This one has been a bit different," Hotch observed.
"Yeah – Rossi got to hit on both the coach from Italy and the rep from the USFSA," Morgan smirked.
"He'll be lucky if he doesn't get a visit from one or both of their families," Blake observed dryly.
"What about you, Dr. Blake?" Garcia teased. "Didn't I see you engaging in several long conversations with that one coach from Russia?"
"That was different," Blake immediately protested. "I was brushing up on my Russian vocabulary. I need to learn some of the common ice skating terms."
"Like 'Land on your rear end'?" Garcia suggested with a laugh.
"How about 'Face Plant'?" Jack added as he and Morgan hooted with laughter.
"Paige – Where is Paige?" Joel looked around the lobby trying to locate his niece. "Lois and I need to tell her 'Good-By' before we leave."
"She's sitting over there talking with Tovah and Ian," Laurel pointed. "And, it looks pretty serious."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"I came in twelfth", Paige complained to the two coaches. "I have never placed that low before – Never!"
"Out of 25 skaters," Ian reminded her. "Most of whom have had international experience."
"The skater who won has been competing at the Junior level for the past three seasons," Tovah pointed out. "And, you just moved up about a year ago. I think you did very well."
"So do I," Ian added. "And, now that we have seen the other skaters and what they are doing, we know what we need to work on."
"Some more triples?" Paige suggested.
"And maybe even a quadruple," Ian teased her. "However, I do think you are ready for a more adventurous program. What do you think?"
"I think that maybe I should get some kneepads," Paige declared. "Because I am going to be falling a whole lot more!"
"That's my girl!" Tovah cheered. "And, now, it looks like your aunt and uncle are waiting over there to say Good-By. Why don't you and Ian head over? I'll join you in a minute or two."
"Are you okay?" Ian asked after Paige had hurried off. "You seem really tired. Do you want me to get Spencer for you?"
"I'm fine," Tovah assured him. "I just felt a little dizzy when I got up this morning. All the excitement, you know."
"If you are sure," Ian stood up. "But I am only leaving because I see Laurel heading this way."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"Is this seat taken?" Laurel asked, gesturing to the recently vacated seat next to Tovah.
"It's all yours," Tovah smiled at her. "Make yourself at home."
"Thanks," Laurel sat down facing Tovah.
"Did you take the test?" she asked quietly.
"What? How?" Tovah stuttered.
"Just a guess," Laurel told her.
"Didn't your doctor give you the lecture on 'Breast feeding is not a form of birth control'?" she asked.
"Kind of," Tovah admitted. "But I didn't think – "
What am I going to tell Spencer?" she burst out. "What is he going to say?"
"You can begin by reminding him that it takes two to tango," Laurel reminded her with a smile. "However, I think that while he'll probably be stunned initially, just like you are, once he thinks it over, he is going to be thrilled. After all, it plays right into the male virility issue."
"Male Virility?" Tovah questioned.
"All those times the jocks mocked him," Laurel reminded her. "Right about now, because of all their injuries, they are probably lucky to have fathered one kid. While Spencer, the one they made fun of, has managed to knock his wife up twice in less than a year - Talk about jealous!"
"I hope you're right," Tovah replied with a shake of her head. "I really hope you're right!"