A/N: Back with moooooreeeee!

Training after the Classic had ramped up considerably. Nationals were only seventeen days away, and while Nick knew the hard work had to come from JJ to perform well at the time, he wanted her to be at her best. She had drilled her double layout until she could stick it in her sleep. Then after perfecting floor, they had moved to pressure sets on beam. In the end, she had left with aches she was sure she had never felt before.

By the time she made it home, she was dying for a shower, knowing it would soothe her tired muscles. She let herself in, finding the house quiet except for the low murmur of the TV in the lounge room. She dropped her bag by the door, walking into the next room to find her mom.

"Hey Jayje, how was training?" Sandy asked with a smile, looking over from the TV as her daughter walked in.

"My legs are dead," JJ groaned as she fell back against the couch cushions.

Sandy laughed. "Rough practice?"

JJ toed off her shoes then stretched out along the couch, her head resting on her mom's lap. "Not rough so much as it was long. Nick's acting like I've never been to Worlds before."

"He just wants you to be your best."

"I know. And it'll all work out in the end. My calves just aren't too happy about it," she said with a laugh.

Sandy smiled and gently loosened JJs hair from its tight ponytail, running her fingers through the sweaty locks. "Is Will coming over tonight?"

JJ let her eyes fall shut at the gentle sensation of her mom playing with her hair. "Nah. He's hanging out with the guys."

"How are you guys doing?"

JJ smiled. "We're good. Really good." She opened her eyes. "Y'know, when we first started dating part of me was worried that it wasn't going to work out and I was going to end up losing this awesome friendship, but... I don't know. I shouldn't have worried. It's been so great. We're still best friends; we just happen to-"

"-have sex with each other?"

JJ flushed a bit. "Yeah."

"How is that?"

"It's fine. I mean, it's great, I don't- what are you asking?"

Sandy laughed. "I don't know. My instinct is to ask if you're happy, but you are. I can see it in your eyes."

JJ smiled. "I really am. I'm so lucky to have him."

Sandy stared down at her daughter for a moment. "You've grown up."

JJ rolled her eyes with a grin. "Mom, I'm 19."

"No, I know, I just... it's easy as a mom to still feel like you're the same tiny little girl you were when you started gymnastics. But you're not. You've always been kind and thoughtful, but you've matured into this woman who's confident in herself and her abilities. And it's been so wonderful to watch. And part of that is just becoming a year older and of course, going to the Olympics, but I think part of that is also Will." Sandy stroked a thumb along her cheekbone. "I don't know if we tell you this enough, but your dad and I are so proud of you."

"Thanks, Mom." JJs voice was soft.

"You're practically a whole new person compared to the girl who called me from Trials last year, so nervous and unsure that part of me honestly thought you were going to call back and ask to come home. You've really come into your own."

"Becoming an Olympian will do that," JJ joked. She was quiet for a moment. "Did you and dad live together before you got married?"

Sandy looked down at her in surprise. "Er... not really. Why do you ask?" JJ shrugged. "Did Will ask you if you wanted to move in together?"

She shook her head. "No! And that's not something I'm wanting to do right now, it just..." She took a deep breath. "I guess I'm just thinking about the future. What my next step will be. What our next step will be."

"Hmm... well I wouldn't worry about it too much. I think it'll kind of be like having sex for the first time. When it's time, you'll know."

JJ smiled. "Yeah. That's what I figured." Her stomach gave a loud grumble.

"A little hungry are we?"

She smiled sheepishly. "I'm starving."

Sandy laughed. "I set aside a plate of meatloaf for you. It's in the fridge."

JJ hopped up. "Thanks!" She pressed a kiss to her mom's cheek. Sandy smiled. No matter how old JJ got, it seemed there were some things that would never change.

With her mom out with friends and her dad home on his day off, JJ was taking advantage of her downtime between training sessions to well and truly relax. Her body was tired, but her mind was well and truly awake, and for one reason only.

It was the 31st of July.

A year since she and the girls had stormed their way to the Olympic team gold in London. She had woken up that morning to a tirade of excited messages from Gabby and McKayla in their group chat, which were just continuing through the day.

6:00am
McKayla – oh my god girls, guess what day it is!?
Gabby – a year to the day?!

6:10am
JJ – has it seriously been a year already!
McKayla – yep! Where's Aly and Kyla, we gotta celebrate!
JJ – Aly won't get up until like 10, come on, it's ALY!

6:17am
Kyla – I'm here!

The excited messages had rolled in all throughout JJ's morning practice, including some long overdue ones from Aly at around 8, which had made all the girls laugh upon reading them.

8:03am
Aly – you guys blew up my phone! I'm all for celebrating lol, just calm down a bit.
JJ – look at you sleeping until 8, Grandma Aly
Aly – I will steal your pretty boyfriend
McKayla – omg hahaha

Now, JJ was lying on the couch in the living room, having just made a celebratory Instagram post. With her attention partly on whatever trashy reality show was playing on TV, she was still messaging back and forth with the girls.

The picture she had posted was one that had been taken of the five of them on the podium the night they won their gold medal. Beneath it, a heartfelt caption.

The top of the podium was only a foot off the ground, but to us, it might as well have been the top of the world. Can't believe it's already been a year since the five of us made our biggest Olympic dreams come true and won Olympic gold. Such an incredible experience, and I'm thankful I got to share it with these four amazing girls. I love you girls, and I'll see you at the top of the next one!

"The year flew by, hey?" came her dad's voice. Looking up over her phone, JJ smiled at him as he walked over to the couch and moved her legs so he could sit down.

"It did, it's crazy. Like... it feels like yesterday that I was at the Olympics wondering what was going to come next... and here I am on my way to Nationals again," she said, pushing herself up so she was sitting with her back against the arm of the couch.

"It feels like yesterday I was up in the stands cheering and screaming until I had no voice left," Michael chuckled. JJ grinned, setting her phone down beside her so her attention was wholly on her father.

"Have you thought at all about what you want to achieve this time around? I mean... you've hit basically the pinnacle of success already," Michael said softly after a short silence.

"Well...," JJ started thoughtfully, "I'd like to win an all-around title. National, World, Olympic, I'm not that fussed... although Olympic all-around champion has a nice ring to it," she said with a grin. "But realistically, I think a national title is the most attainable, and I've been working really hard on bars this year so people will stop saying I'm not good on bars"

"You have your bronze all-around medal," Michael reminded her.

"Yeah, but... and I'm not setting all these goals based on what people think of me and my gymnastics... people seem to think it was a fluke. I want to either consistently medal in the all-around or win a title to show that it wasn't a fluke and I have put in the hard work to be there," JJ explained.

"Anything else?"

"Nick's been talking about adding a second vault by 2015. Which sounds pretty cool to be honest, I mean, last year the main goal was just getting to the Olympics, but this time around, I'd like to work each event much more individually. I'd like to try increasing my vaulting... if I don't last the quad this time around, I've almost got nothing to lose. I've been to the Olympics and had success, so it's not like I'll lose that chance"

Michael nodded. "Very true. But you know what? I think you can do it. You've always achieved anything you've set your mind to. And I promise, whatever competitions you get sent to, I'll be in the stands cheering the loudest"

JJ laughed. "I know you will. Thanks Dad"

Standing up, Michael leant over and pressed a kiss to the top of JJ's head. "Any time princess"