A/N: It all begins soon!

"Ok… ok… I love you too. Have a safe trip tomorrow," Sandy was saying softly as she walked into the bedroom. Michael looked up from his book, watching with a smile as Sandy chuckled at something on the other end of the line. His heart seemed to swell as he watched her eyes crease up with laugh lines. As much as Sandy hated her lines ("they show my age!"), he thought that she was every bit as beautiful as the day they had first met.

"Yes, tell Aly I love her too," she said, making Michael laugh as he closed his book and set it down on the nightstand.

"Ok sweet girl… go get some sleep, you've got a long day tomorrow," Sandy said gently, coming around the bed to sit on the edge. "Goodnight. I love you"

With a smile, Sandy pulled the phone down from her ear, hanging up the call before she turned to Michael with a smile.

"I'm guessing that was JJ," he said softly. "And Aly by the sounds of it"

"Yeah," Sandy chuckled, reaching over to set her phone down on the nightstand before pulling the covers back. "Aly yelled out in the background, 'what about me Sandy, don't you love me too?'"

Michael laughed. "She's wild"

"Couldn't be a better contrast to JJ," Sandy said with a grin, sinking into the bed.

"How is JJ?" Michael asked, holding out his arm as Sandy shuffled in beside him.

"Nervous," Sandy said, leaning against Michael and laying her head on his shoulder.

"What did she say?"

"She didn't have to say anything. I heard it plain as day in her voice. She's still doubting herself"

Michael let out a heavy sigh, running his fingers through Sandy's hair.

"I just hope the stress isn't stopping her from taking care of herself," Sandy mused softly. "If there was ever a time to slip back into bad habits, it would be now"

Michael remained silent. He remembered all too well the time JJ had stopped eating at a training camp when she was thirteen. Even worse was that the coach who had 'accidentally' caused that incident was also present at the Olympic training camp… and the environment of the USA Gymnastics program made it very hard for the girls to stand up for themselves.

JJ had never been so glad to see the bland preparations the kitchen staff at the ranch tried to pass off as food. She had worked her butt off all day in the training gym, and now she was starving. It was the kind of gnawing hunger she just couldn't possibly ignore.

She was at the end of the line as they all moved along the warmers. Her stomach growled appreciatively as she heaped her plate with boiled vegetables. She grabbed a bread roll as she passed, before approaching the warmer holding the grilled chicken.

Practically salivating over it, she grabbed the plastic tongs, picking up one, then a second piece of chicken and placing them both on her plate.

"What do you think you're doing?" came a firm voice behind her. She turned, looking up at the severe face of John Geddert. Immediately, she glanced between him and the chicken on her plate, embarrassment settling deep in her stomach.

"I… I'm just hungry," she said sheepishly.

"Obviously staying in shape isn't all that important to you if you're going to be greedy," he said harshly. "You're already struggling to transition between the bars, imagine what a second piece of chicken will do"

Biting back tears, JJ dipped her head as he walked past her to the coaches table. Her lower lip quivering, she picked up one of the pieces from her plate with the tongs and placed it back in the warmer. Swallowing hard to fight back the tears burning her eyes, she turned and headed over to join the girls, dropping down into a seat beside Aly. The girls were all talking animatedly as they are, but she was only half paying attention to the conversation.

After being practically famished all afternoon, she had completely lost her appetite. She didn't want to be seen as the greedy kid who ate too much to be able to do gymnastics properly.

She gazed sadly at her chicken, pushing the vegetables around her plate. She managed a few mouthfuls of the vegetables, but most of the eagerly awaited dinner remained abandoned on her plate.

Half an hour later, she was carrying her plate over to the bins with the other girls to scrape it off when someone stopped her.

"You didn't even eat it all," came the same stern voice from earlier. She kept her head down, fixing her eyes on the plate as she willed herself not to burst into tears.

"Think before you take so much next time," he said harshly, wrenching the plate from her grip and carrying it over to the bins himself.

Turning on her heel, JJ dashed out of the cafeteria and along to the bathrooms. She'd barely made it into the thankfully deserted bathroom when she started to cry.

Hurrying into one of the stalls, she slammed it closed, locking it with shaking hands before she slid to the floor. Burying her face into her hands, she let the sobs come thick and fast.

The rest of the camp had passed all too slowly for JJ. John's comments had played over and over in her mind, and no matter what she did, she couldn't help comparing herself to the other girls in training. Many of them tumbled and flipped so easily, their tiny frames helping them achieve a look of effortlessness.

'You're already struggling to transition between the bars…'

The words played on a cruel loop in her head all the way home to Pittsburgh. She'd hardly eaten since that encounter in the cafeteria, nibbling on a handful of vegetables at every meal. On top of that, she'd worked like crazy in the gym.

Maybe she'd be able to swing bars well soon.

"Alright kiddo, looks like this is where I leave you," Nick said warmly as they came out of the arrivals gate at the airport and spotted Michael straight away. "I'll see you on Monday"

"Bye," she said softly, giving him a small smile before dragging her duffel over to her dad.

"Hey peanut," Michael said happily, wrapping her in a tight hug once she reached him. "I missed you"

"I missed you too," she said sweetly, holding on for a little longer.

"How was camp?" Michael asked once they'd pulled apart, bending down to pick up her duffel and hauling it over his shoulder.

"It was fine. I'm really tired though," she replied, falling into step beside her father as they walked out of the terminal.

"Shall we get some ice-cream on the way home?"

At the mention of her favourite sugary treat, JJ perked up. But just seconds later, John's voice was in her head, accusing her of being greedy, insinuating that any extra food was going to make her gain weight.

"Um… not today," she said softly as they reached Michael's truck. He stopped in surprise, looking down at his daughter.

"Are you feeling alright?" he asked genuinely, holding a hand to her forehead.

"I'm ok," she insisted. "I just don't really feel like ice-cream today. I just want to go home"

Michael stared at her for a moment, before shrugging his shoulders and lifting her duffel into the back. "If you say so peanut"

She'd hardly touched her dinner, instead pushing her food around her plate in silence. Thankfully, her parents hadn't questioned it, attributing it to being tired from camp.

A little while later, she was coming down the stairs for a glass of water. Her stomach was growling, sharp hunger pangs stabbing deep in her abdomen. She hoped some water would help settle it down.

Entering the kitchen, she found her mom washing up the last of the dishes from dinner.

"Hey sweetheart," Sandy said upon hearing JJ enter the room. "You didn't have much to say about camp… how did it go?"

"It was fine," JJ said softly, crossing to the sink and grabbing a clean glass out of the dish drainer. She turned on the tap to fill it. "We worked super hard. Aly was complaining about how she'd never feel her arms again"

Sandy chuckled as JJ shut off the tap and raised the glass to her lips. "That girl is such a character"

Silence fell between them as JJ slowly sipped at the glass of water.

"So I heard from Jason while you were away. He and Katie are coming up to visit in two weeks, won't that be good?"

As her mom talked absently to her, JJ noticed how unsteady she felt on her feet. The room seemed too bright, every movement seeming to be too much. Straightening up a little so her weight was completely on her feet, she took a deep breath.

"Are you sure you're feeling ok JJ? You're very quiet tonight," Sandy said gently. JJ nodded, biting hard on the inside of her lip. She couldn't see as clearly… her eyes felt fuzzy.

Was everything getting darker?

Reaching out, she made to set the glass down on the counter. She let go of it, but just seconds later, the glass shattered all over the floor.

"JJ!" came her mother's surprised voice.

The next thing JJ knew, she was sitting on the floor, her back pressed up against the corner cabinet, her mother kneeling worriedly in front of her.

"JJ, honey, are you alright? Where do you feel sick?" Sandy asked anxiously, reaching out and cupping JJ's cheek in her hand. "Oh sweetie, you're so pale. Maybe we should take you to the hospital"

"No, I'm ok," JJ croaked.

"I don't think you are, you practically passed out on me just now!" Sandy admonished. "When was the last time you ate?"

The lie was on the tip of her tongue, a poised and ready to go "I ate lunch at the ranch", but she couldn't force it out of her mouth. Instead, she started to cry, burying her face in her hands as Sandy gathered her into her arms.

"Oh baby… have you not been eating?" Sandy asked softly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"One of the coaches told me off for taking two pieces of chicken," JJ sobbed, clutching at her mother's shirt. "I wasn't… he said I was greedy, but I… I was just hungry Mom… but I felt… I feel like… if I eat too much I'm… I'll be too big to do gymnastics"

"Oh sweetheart, no," Sandy gushed, smoothing JJ's hair back as she rocked her back and forth. Anger was already boiling in the pit of her stomach. How could a coach, whose life work was to teach children, say something so callous to an impressionable young girl?

"Your body is your tool for what you do… and if you don't eat properly, you won't have the energy to do what you need to do. If you don't eat enough, your body will start looking for energy in other places and start burning your muscle. That's when you can get really sick," she explained gently. "Come on sweetheart, I'll make you something to eat. You're probably starving"

Numbly obliging, JJ allowed her mother to help her to her feet and over to the kitchen table. She sat down in the same chair she'd occupied at dinner, watching through wet eyes as Sandy returned to the kitchen to sweep up the broken glass.

"Why aren't you mad?" she asked quietly, sniffling as she spoke.

"Why would I get mad?" Sandy countered, dumping the glass into the bin and turning to face her youngest child. "You're only a young girl, JJ… it's ok to admit that sometimes you don't know any better. God knows Ros didn't either"

JJ looked up in surprise at the mention of her sister's name. "What do you mean?"

Sandy heaved a sigh, walking over to the cupboard as she started to speak.

"Ros had some issues with food when she was about your age. Some of the boys… some of the boys at her school were teasing her, calling her fat… she took it to heart and stopped eating for a little while. It took her passing out in the shower one night for me to notice, but luckily, it hadn't been going on for too long when I did," she explained as she returned to the counter with a loaf of bread, and two jars of spread in her hands.

"I never knew that," JJ said softly.

Sandy gave her a sad smile. "You were only six when it happened JJ. Lots of things happened with your brother and sister that you never noticed… because you were a little girl and it wasn't your job to be worried about it. And Ros always loved how much you looked up to her… she didn't want to pass off anything bad to you"

JJ sat in silence, mulling over her mother's words as Sandy prepared her a sandwich.

Ros had had food issues… she wondered briefly if that had played a part in her sister's death. But the stab of pain that brought to her chest made her quickly push it away.

"Here you go," Sandy said gently, placing a PB&J sandwich down in front of JJ before taking a seat beside her. "Eat it really slowly ok? Little bites. Or your stomach is going to rebel and you'll throw it back up"

JJ nodded, picking up one of the halves of the sandwich and taking a small bite from the corner. With it in her mouth, her stomach suddenly growled, thrilled to be receiving nutrition.

"Who was this coach?" Sandy asked quietly after a minute or so.

JJ turned her face towards her mom. Again, she considered bluffing… but who was she to protect John Geddert? Did he even deserve it?

No.

"Jordyn's coach," she said softly. "John Geddert… he's really mean"

"He's also not your coach," Sandy reminded her gently. "We pay Nick to train you, not John. The only other person who has the right to tell you what to do is Nick… and god forbid he ever said anything like that to you because I would tell him what's good very fast"

JJ managed a small giggle. It was no secret to her that Nick was just a little bit afraid of her mom and her protective instincts.

"I want you to listen to Nick. Not John. Ok? Now if John was to tell you something that would actually help your skills, like to point your toes? That's fine. You show him the respect of listening to him then. But he does not get to tell you how to eat, or what to do outside of the gym, capiche?"

JJ nodded.

"If it really worries you baby, your dad and I can take you to a nutritionist? They will be able to help you figure out what's best for your body for all your training needs. Certainly they'll have a better idea than I do!"

JJ smiled, managing a nod as she looked up at her mom.

"If you think it will help," she said softly.

"I think it couldn't hurt. You're thirteen, you're about to go through puberty and probably have a growth spurt, so I'd imagine that that, coupled with all your training… it's probably not the worst idea to have someone guide you through it in terms of how and what to fuel your body with"

"Ok," JJ said, setting the sandwich down on the plate and reaching over to hug her mom. "Thanks for not freaking out on me"

Sandy smiled, blinking back a tear as she pressed a kiss to the top of JJ's head.

"Never in a million years baby girl"

"Go get ready for practice," Sandy said softly as she and JJ walked side by side into the gym foyer the next morning. JJ nodded, heading off towards the locker rooms.

Seeing Nick headed towards the foyer, Sandy waited patiently for him to reach her; parents weren't allowed on the gym floor.

When he looked up and spotted her waiting for him, he broke into a confused smile. It wasn't very often he saw Sandy in the gym. She normally dropped JJ off and left, while Michael came back to pick her up.

"Hi Sandy… how are you?"

"I'm good, thanks, yourself?" she replied calmly.

"Can't complain… what can I do for you?"

"I was wondering if we could talk for a minute," Sandy said. "Privately?"

"Sure," Nick nodded. "We'll go into my office"

She smiled, following as he led the way down the hall. He opened the door to his office, standing aside to allow Sandy into the room first.

"Is something the matter?" he asked somewhat nervously as he closed the door behind them and moved across the room to stand behind his desk.

"JJ came home from camp the other day in a very strange state," Sandy said with a sigh. "She wasn't talking, and just didn't seem to have much of an interest in what was going on"

"I did notice that on the plane home actually, but I figured she was just tired," said Nick.

"So did I. However, when she practically passed out in front of me in our kitchen that evening, I got to the real truth," Sandy said firmly, noticing when Nick's eyes widened. "She hadn't been eating for pretty much all the time she was away. Because a coach named John Geddert told her off for taking more than one piece of chicken the first night of the camp and insinuated that eating too much would make her gain weight and be unable to do gymnastics"

Nick groaned, sitting down in his chair as he dragged a hand down his face.

"God I hate that man," he muttered. "If JJ told you he's an asshole, Sandy, he really is. I honestly don't know why he's allowed to be around kids"

"Well, I'd really appreciate it if he didn't put his two cents in for my daughter," Sandy stated firmly.

"No, I will definitely speak to him about what he says to gymnasts that aren't his to coach. Thank you for telling me," Nick replied.

"And Nick, I know you would never intentionally let any harm come JJ's way, but I'd appreciate it if, when you're away at camp, you could be a bit more… present? Just… if you notice she's acting strangely, or in this instance, not eating, if you could step in in our absence," Sandy suggested. "I'm not saying you weren't looking out for her, but…"

"No of course. I'm sorry I didn't notice it this time around, I'll definitely keep a closer eye on her whenever I can," Nick insisted. "Is she alright though? After the other night?"

"She's ok," Sandy said with a smile. "Still a little quiet, but she's eating, which is good. I promised her we would take her to a nutritionist. Just so that she has someone who is there to guide her through what she should be eating for the things she wants to do"

"Good plan," Nick said with a nod. Sighing heavily, he looked up at his gymnast's mother. "Sandy, I'm really sorry this happened. I promise I'll look out for her more in the future"

Sandy gave him a small smile.

"Thank you, Nick"

"Stress gave me food issues at her age… I suddenly became convinced I didn't like my body, my thighs were too big… and I didn't have to perform in front of the world in a tiny leotard," Sandy said heavily, her mind wandering back from its reminisce.

"I like your thighs," Michael said, making Sandy smile.

"Believe me, I know," she chuckled, stretching up to kiss him. "You've always been very open about how you feel about my body"

"I think you're perfect," Michael said softly, kissing her lips gently. "And I think JJ is beautiful too. I know you're worried… but she has Nick looking out for her. He's not going to let her slip back down. Once she gets there and she's got one day of competition under her belt, she'll be alright"

"I know," Sandy breathed. "I just hope she knows that too"

Silence fell around them, the only sounds being the gentle in and out of their breaths. After a short while, Michael turned his face back towards his wife.

"I can't believe we've raised an Olympian. Who would have thought we of all people would raise a kid who'd end up making an Olympic team?" Michael chuckled. Sandy laughed.

"You seem to doubt our abilities as parents"

"Isn't that a required trait of being a parent?" he laughed. "Constantly doubting yourself?"

Sandy dropped her head to his chest, letting out a sigh as she absently played with the fabric of his shirt.

"You know… in a few years it's just going to be us. Just us and this big old house," she mused softly.

"I say we sell it. Buy a caravan and become gypsys. And never tell Jason and JJ where we are," Michael joked. Sandy laughed, hitting his chest lightly.

"You are awful"

He chuckled, dropping a kiss to the top of her head. "But when we get the house to ourselves… it'll be like when we were newlyweds all over again"

Sandy laughed. "I hope you don't plan on lifting me up and pinning me to every wall in this house like when we were newlyweds. We need our savings for travelling, not the chiropractor"

Michael pulled back, looking scorned. "Excuse me, I'm not that old!"

"Michael, you put your back out playing golf at the club"

Laughing, Michael pulled her back into his arms, his chuckles fading into her hair as they lay staring at the ceiling. With absent motions, he traced soft circles on Sandy's arm, making her smile.

"We'll finally get to see the world together," he breathed softly, his eyes remaining fixed on the ceiling. "Beaches in Hawaii… croissants in Paris… noodles in Japan"

"I can't wait," Sandy whispered with a smile.

Michael tipped his head down, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "But first… watching the Olympics in London. Just one of the many wonderful places I can't wait to see with you"

"I love you," Sandy said softly, lifting her face to catch Michael's lips. He kissed her gently, love and adoration for his wife clear in every nuance of his touch.

"I love you too," he murmured, pulling away with a smile before reaching behind him and turning off his bedside lamp. "Come on my love… let's get some sleep"