Wrote a new fic that I thought I should share with you. Takes place ten years after the Olympics.

Thanks to my wonderful beta trekkerpoet29!

...

It was a stupid idea. That was the conclusion she came back to every time she sat down to think about it. She spun the invitation card in her hands, she already knew what it said. She had already emailed a quick reply saying she would be there, but now that it was only a couple of hours away she was nervous and wanted to change her mind. Stupid, stupid, stupid! How had she thought it was a good idea to come back here?

Payson Keeler had just stepped out of the shower in the hotel room she was staying in for the weekend. It was the only hotel in Boulder and she had never been there before. It wasn't often you spend nights at a hotel in your own hometown after all. Now Boulder wasn't her home anymore. It hadn't been for the last ten years. Her parents had moved back to Minnesota just before the Olympics and Payson hadn't returned after that. Until now, that is.

The invitation to the reunion had been in her mail a couple of months ago. It was some sort of combination between a 10-year reunion for the 2012 Olympic team and the Rock team from the same year. Out of all those people that were undoubtedly invited, she had only spoken to two in the last few years. Teenage friendships were difficult; especially those forged around one similar interest. Outside of the gym the girls had been too different. After the Olympics they had slowly drifted apart.

A knock on the hotel room made Payson jump. She made sure the towel around her body covered her and then walked over to open the door.

"You're here!" Kelly looked surprised as she made her way into the hotel room.

Payson closed the door behind her friend and walked back into the room. "Of course I'm here, I told you I would come."

"Yeah, well you can't really blame me for thinking you wouldn't show."

The brunette was kind of right, but Payson didn't want to confess, so instead she changed the subject. "What are you wearing? I can't decide."

It was an honest statement though. Payson had brought half her wardrobe in the hope that Kelly would just choose her outfit for the evening. Kelly, far from stupid, knew exactly what Payson was doing, but she let it slide.

"Show me the options," Kelly said and sat down on the bed, crossing her legs and arms, prepared to judge the outfits Payson had brought with her from San Francisco.

.

Believe it or not, two hours later, only fifteen minutes late, the two women left the hotel and took a cab to their old gymnastics club. The parking lot was full of cars, but empty on people. After they had paid for the cab and watched it drive away they remained standing on the wet ground. It had rained all morning but during the car ride to The Rock, the sun had broken through, it probably still had a couple of hours before it would start going down.

"This is so strange," Payson said, looking up at the large building in front of them. It looked just like it had last time she saw it, and it was strange to think that was ten years ago.

"We better go in before you manage to talk us into going back to the hotel."

It was probably a good decision made by Kelly, Payson had no chance to argue before the brunette had pulled her into the gym.

Payson came to a halt inside the doors, unsure of what she had expected. If the outside hadn't changed at all, the inside was almost impossible to recognize. Not only was it decorated for the reunion with hardwood floors and set tables, but it had also changed from the blue and white Payson competed with to green and white. Walking into the room she silently wondered if the club had changed colors, and why.

"You okay?" Kelly whispered.

The room was full of people divided in small groups, leaning close to talk or laughing loudly. To her surprise Payson didn't recognize all of them at once.

"Yeah, I'm…" Payson started, but she was cut short by a shriek not too far from them.

"Payson! Kelly! Oh my god, it's so good to see you!"

Lauren Tanner hadn't changed one bit and Payson found it kind of calming. The blonde was dressed in a tight, low cut dress and high heels. She hadn't aged one bit. The two baffled girls were pulled into a group hug by the blonde. "How are you doing Lauren?" Payson managed to get out as they took a step apart again.

"I'm brilliant," Lauren smiled. "Just came in from Paris where I had a big meeting with a few designer colleagues."

Ten years after their big achievement Lauren was the only one still featuring in the press regularly. It was quite impressively actually, how Lauren had managed to build her career around her passion for fashion and her heart disease foundation. Payson still tried to stay caught up on the news around her former teammate.

"How are you?" Lauren asked, interrupting Payson's wandering mind.

"I'm good," Payson smiled. "Not quite living the private jet life you are though."

"I don't think anyone is," Kelly added.

Lauren blushed but didn't respond to their comments. "So what are you up to? Married? Children? Tell me everything!" Lauren said, almost jumping of excitement.

"Oh, a little bit of this and that," Payson said, avoiding the question.

"Living off hard earned sponsor money?" Lauren said nodding approvingly.

"Something like that." It could be true, really. After a year off from everything Payson had started college in LA. Since she would basically never have to work again, she took classes that interested her and she ended up with a major in creative writing. During her studies she started writing on a novel. A novel about a gymnast named Jasmine. Against the advice of her then-new agent, she sent it in under a fake name. Even though the series of four novels now were fairly popular amongst the young adult population, she kept the fake name. Sometimes it felt like she spent more of her life being P.K. than being Payson Keeler.

Lauren didn't ask any more questions about Payson's work or life, instead she was in a deep conversation with Kelly about the brunette's latest radio show.

An hour into the evening Payson had met almost all of her old friends. Kaylie was now coaching at The Rock and who had helped organize the evening. Austin and Max who were now living together in Florida. Emily had flown in from Las Vegas where she still lived with her 10-year-old son. Colleen worked at the training center in Colorado Springs. Jordan Randall lived in Seattle with her husband and two children.

When all of them were gathered in the middle of the gym, it almost felt like it was ten years ago. If someone, preferably someone with a dark British accent had called for their attention and to start warming up, they probably would move before their brains could catch up.

"So, isn't Sasha coming?" Lauren asked as if she had read Payson's thoughts.

To Payson's surprise they all turned to look at her. "What? I have no idea," she said.

"Really? You don't talk to him?" Kaylie asked.

Payson shook her head. "Haven't spoken to him since… I can't even remember, before I finished college sometime."

"Oh." They all fell silent.

Payson really didn't want to have that conversation again, so she quickly changed the subject by asking about the others' families. As soon as the conversation was flowing again, Payson took the time to look around the room. She spotted photos on the wall by the door and mumbled a quiet excuse before heading over there. Most of the photos were of people Payson didn't recognize. A generation of gymnasts she didn't know. Girls smiling, coaches smiling. Close to the corner of the wall, indicating the photos were older, she started recognizing people. In a picture from the opening day she saw Kaylie and Lauren, arms around each other. In another photo, Payson, Lauren, Kaylie and Emily stood in front of the arena that hosted the Nationals where Payson had broken her back. There were also a photo from the Olympics, one of the national team and coaches. Behind Payson stood Sasha, one hand on her shoulder. She shuddered, remembering it as if it had been yesterday.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please find your seats at the tables and we'll start this reunion dinner!"

They were probably one hundred people in the gym and twelve tables were set up on the hardwood floor covering the area where girls and boys were usually practicing their floor routines. After a little searching Payson found the place marked with her name.

Payson sat down at a table in the middle of the room with her old teammates. The sound of moving chairs and small talk suddenly died down and Payson looked around to see who had gotten up to speak. But no one was about to speak; everyone was looking toward the door. Following their glances, her eyes landed on Sasha. He was still holding the door open with one hand, having frozen in place.

"Wow, he looks good," Kelly leaned in close and whispered.

It was true, Payson thought, not being able to look away from him. The years had been good on him. His hair was blonde, but shorter than the last time she saw him. He was dressed in a suit and white shirt. Even though he must be close to 40, he looked young.

Their eyes locked and when he smiled her heart did a double beat. She smiled back.

Walking into the room he was stopped and hugged by virtually everyone there.

"Hi ladies," he said as he reached them. They all stood, hugging their old coach. When he pulled Payson against his chest she took a deep breath and tried to calm her racing heart.

"Hi Payson," he said. His British accent was heavier than she remembered.

Before they had a chance to talk, Mrs. Cruz cleared her throat, demanding their attention. Somehow Kelly was now sitting across the round table, leaving the spot next to Payson miraculous empty for Sasha.

In the front of the room Mrs. Cruz started talking, but Payson couldn't focus on what she was saying, all her focus was on the man next to her. He looked surprisingly relaxed, laughing with the rest of the room at a joke Payson didn't hear. As if he felt her gaze, he turned and looked at her.

"What?" he asked, small smile playing on his lips.

Payson shook her head. "Just surprised to see you." she whispered. "Didn't think this was something that would appeal to you."

"People change," he said. "Ten years ago this would have been something you would have been dragged to, kicking and screaming."

"Still is," Payson said and glared at Kelly across the table.

Sasha laughed. He was about to say something, but was interrupted by the appetizers that were being served.

The dinner moved quickly and Payson didn't have the time to talk to Sasha anymore. The conversation around the table flowed between sentimental memories and catching up. Payson was pleasantly surprised that everyone was behaving like the adults they were, to be honest she had been expected a fight to break out well before desert.

"Let's head over to the Pub!" Lauren said when dinner ended and they all stood in the foyer to say goodbye. "Pay, Sasha, you're in, right?"

Payson shrugged. "Sure," she said. Her flight didn't leave until after lunch the following day and even though she had been very reluctant to come to the reunion she was now sad to realize she would probably not see these people again for a very long time.

"The one downtown? I've missed that place!" Sasha said with a smile.

And so it was decided. They said their goodbyes to the rest of the party before deciding to walk downtown. Boulder hadn't changed much in the time Payson had been gone. Some new stores, some new signs, otherwise it was exactly like she remembered it. It was chilly outside for only being the end of August. She didn't even have a cardigan on, so she pulled her arms close as they walked.

"You cold?" Sasha asked, coming up next to her.

"I'm fine," Payson said, but Sasha ignored her. He shrugged out of his jacket and hung it over her shoulders. She gratefully pulled it tighter around her. "Thanks," she said. Next to her Lauren, Kaylie, Emily, and Kelly were giggling but Payson ignored them.

It was something comforting about how little Boulder had changed. Time moved so quickly and sometimes Payson felt like she was never caught up enough: there were always new things to learn and figure out. It was also very comforting that Sasha and the girls seemed to still be the people she had once known.

Payson had never been to the pub downtown, but by the smile on Sasha's lips, and the way he nodded to one of the bartenders, it was clear that it hadn't changed too much either. They ordered drinks before making their ways upstairs to a booth with a view over the rest of the pub. Payson sat down next to Kelly and moved close to make room for Sasha that slide in next to her.

"So, Sasha, what are you doing these days?" Kelly asked, leaning on her elbows so she could look over Payson at their former coach. "Not still coaching?"

He shook his head. "I'm in between projects right now," he said. "Live in London now though."

"That explains the heavy accent," Payson said, leaning back against the backrest.

"I do not have a heavy accent," he said. He must have heard himself though, because both of them burst out laughing. He really did have a heavier accent than when he had been coaching. It had been funny when they arrived in London for the Olympics, to hear how his accent had grown thicker instantly.

"I like an accent," Lauren said and winked.

Payson agreed, but she would never say it out loud.

.

The air in the pub was heavy, the music loud, and Payson had been laughing so hard that her stomach ached. The rest of the girls had dropped off to the dance floor and it was only Sasha and Payson left in the booth.

"Do you wanna go outside to get some air?" Sasha shouted over the music.

Payson nodded, she could really need some fresh air. They made their way through the sea of dancing bodies.

"Where are you going, love?" a young man, maybe no more than twenty, suddenly blocked Payson's way and she lost sight of Sasha that had been leading the way. She looked over the man's shoulder, trying to get past him. "You aren't already leaving, are you?"

"Excuse me," she said, trying to push past. The man wouldn't move though.

"We should dance," the man said. "Or maybe go back to my place?" his smile made Payson shiver.

"No," she said. "Excuse me."

She took a step to the side, but he followed. She could feel his hand grab her arm, squeezing her biceps. "Let go of me," she said, for the first time actually using force when she pushed him in the chest. He stumbled a step backwards, but he was stronger than he looked and remained standing. The gleam in his eyes was frightening.

"What the hell are you doing?" she asked, ripped her arm out of his grip. From over his shoulder she could finally see Sasha. He must have seen what was happening because he was literary pushing between people to get to her. She really didn't want a fight to break out. "Get away from me before my friend gets here or he'll have you beaten to a pulp."

While he looked over his shoulder, following her look, she took the opportunity to push him hard enough that he finally stumbled and fell. She quickly walked around and past him. When she reached Sasha she grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the exit. He looked over his shoulder at the man still on the floor, but he still followed her.

"What happened?" he asked when they stepped out from the pub and could talk in normal voices again.

She shook her head. "Just an idiot, I fought him off."

"I should go back there and beat him up," he said, looking in through the open doors. Payson grabbed his hand and walked down the street to a bench where they could sit down.

"I handled it," she said, hugging herself in the cold.

"I should have taught you to box," Sasha said and once again shrugged off his jacket and handed it to her. This time she took it without a fight. It was way too cold outside for her not to want the extra clothes.

"Well, I'm not too old to learn new things," she smiled. "But maybe you're going home soon?"

He smiled a little. "I'm flying back to London tomorrow," he said.

Ignoring the disappointing sting in her heart she smiled. "Why the hurry?"

"Promised the family."

"The… the family?"

...

Please let me know what you think, interested to read the rest? It'll be 6 chapters (22 000 words) and it's all written already so I'm thinking I'll update with 2 chapters a week. What do you say?