A/N: Lots of great stuff coming!

"You excited for tour?" Sandy asked as JJ came into the kitchen after her run.

"Yeah… I can't wait to see all the girls again," JJ replied, setting her phone down on the table before turning to the fridge.

As she watched JJ open the fridge and reach in for a bottle of water, Sandy frowned. "Is that a bruise on your back?" she asked, moving a little closer. "JJ, what did you do? It's huge!"

"Huh?"

Attempting to look over her shoulder, JJ let the fridge door fall closed as her mother closed in behind her.

"How did you manage to bruise your… oh… oh no," Sandy breathed.

JJ suddenly realized what her mother must have spotted, and resisted the urge to slap herself in the face. Will had bitten her shoulder the previous evening, and she had completely forgotten about it while getting dressed. Turning, she found her mother looking at her with a mixture of curiosity and parental horror, her cheeks having turned a deep pink.

"It's nothing bad… I… we… I'll cover it up…," JJ stammered, shooting her mother a rueful smile as she slowly backed towards the door, at the same moment that Will decided to come into the room.

"Hey babe, how was your run-"

"Go, go upstairs!" JJ said forcefully, turning him around and pushing him out of the room. Sandy watched on, shaking her head before turning to the coffee machine.

She was all for being an open-minded parent, especially as JJ was an adult anyway… but her daughter really was going to be the death of her.

The 2016 Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions was well and truly underway. The first weeks of rehearsal had felt like a big party, with all the teams reunited again as they practiced and perfected an exhilarating show for the fans.

The second show, in Seattle, had finished for the evening, and the girls were just concluding the VIP signing session. They had been inundated with drawings and gifts from excited fans, and had taken many a photo with plenty of excited little girls.

Now, JJ was heading for the foyer of the arena with one of the event organizers.

After seeing the Instagram post from Brooklyn's mom during the Olympics, Sheryl had organized tickets for Brooklyn and her mom to attend the Seattle stop of the Kellogg's Tour. What she had also organized was for JJ to meet with Brooklyn and her mom at the very conclusion of the evening, unbeknownst to Brooklyn and her mom.

She spotted them in a little alcove off the main hall as she approached. Their backs were to her, both of them talking with Lucy, who caught JJ's eye over their shoulders.

Approaching the little room, JJ stopped in the doorway as Sheryl finished speaking to them.

"… and I'm so glad you enjoyed the show"

"It was amazing, wasn't it Brooklyn? We can't thank you enough for the tickets… it's been a really up and down few months for us, so this was really special," Brooklyn's mom said warmly.

"There is just one more thing I'd like to do for you," Sheryl said with a smile. "I just need you to turn around"

Brooklyn was the first to turn around. When her eyes landed on JJ standing in the doorway, her little face lit up with complete and utter joy.

"Hi Brooklyn," JJ said with a smile. Brooklyn let out an excited squeal, bounding forwards and throwing her arms around JJ's waist in a tight hug.

"Oh my gosh this is the best day ever!" Brooklyn exclaimed, making Sheryl and her mom laugh as JJ gave her a tight squeeze.

"JJ and I… we heard from your mom about your dad," Sheryl said gently as the four of them moved to take seats on the squashy little armchairs that had been crammed into the space.

"He was very sick… he died," Brooklyn said softly, her expression changing to one of lingering sadness. "I feel really sad about it sometimes"

"It's ok to be sad," JJ said softly, reaching out and taking Brooklyn's hand. "I get sad about my dad all the time"

"Sometimes, when I cry… I feel bad… because the other kids at gymnastics think it's weird," Brooklyn said.

JJ gave the young girl a small smile. "You shouldn't feel bad for crying. It's normal, when you're sad and hurting… it's how you express that emotion… I cried almost every day at the Olympics, and that's completely ok, because I was really sad"

Half an hour later, after a sweet little talk with Brooklyn and her mom, a couple of photos, and lots of hugs, JJ was heading back to the bus to rejoin the rest of the group.

Meeting Brooklyn had helped her gain a fresh new perspective on her own grief, as meeting her young fans usually managed to do.

Somehow, she was feeling all that much stronger and far more prepared to handle what was most definitely ahead.