I do not own MIOBI nor its characters

What is to come

'Screw tomorrow.' She shouts at him and he cannot help but laugh at her determined expression. Why does he even care anymore he asks himself. The Olympics are over, she has fulfilled her dream, has made history with her clean sweep. Why not create an even more impressive memory, they have been known to be rebels for years after all. He suppresses the want to walk towards her and simply nods once. Without any warning she starts running, media seeking cover or better angles to follow her actions. He opens his arms for her and happily embraces her when she finally reaches him. It were only mere seconds, but seemed so much longer.

'Are you sure?' He whispers in her ear while he hugs her tightly, he cannot help but ask, even now he needs her to be sure. This may effect the rest of her life, so he needs to give her an out, even if it kills him doing so.

'You are a part of my soul as well.' She answers back. A surprised look appears on his face when he hears the words he spoke to her this morning in his native tongue. 'I have my connections.' She explains smugly. 'So, what…' She starts, but won't ever finish. Without even as much as a warning he crushes his lips onto hers. She willingly returns his intensity and pulls him closer. Her hands move towards his neck and he gets the hint. Lifting her up she encircles his waist with her legs, pushing them even closer together.

The media is closing in fast, clicking furiously, shouting questions, so many questions.

'So the rumours were true?'

'How could you keep it a secret?'

'Who made the first move?'

'Did he force you?'

'What will happen next?'

'Have you made plans for the future?'

'Did he favour you with gymnastics?'

'Do your parents know?'

Both of them couldn't care less about their surroundings. They don't hear the silence, they don't hear the eruption of noise after the first shock has subsided or the comments blaring out of the speakers. All they want, all they need, is each other. Not hearing a word of what the journalists are asking them Sasha and Payson just enjoy each other, right now they are in their own little bubble and nothing can break through. The media soon realizes that and turns to other victims. The faces of the Olympic team aren't what they thought it would be. Kaylie, Kelly and Lauren just smile at the picture presented to them and Austin is cheering Sasha on.

'I knew it.' He shouts. 'Go Sasha.' The girls look at him for a second and he shrugs sheepishly. 'What, we bro's have to stick together with all you girls.' It doesn't take them long to dissolve into laughter.

'What do you think of this?' One journalist is finally able to ask Kelly.

She looks at him with the devil face she only saves for her competition. 'I think it's great. Both of them deserve to be happy after everything they have been through and anybody who thinks otherwise can kiss my ass. Nobody will foul this if it's up to me.'

'Or any of us.' Lauren adds. 'And before any of you,' she points to the media, 'decide to turn this into something bad, just know nobody will back it up.'

Still engrossed with each other Payson and Sasha don't hear any of them, Austin on the other hand sees things getting out of hand real quickly. Kelly and Lauren are actually bonding in order to protect the couple. That can't work out well he thinks, so he makes his move fast.

'Hey you two lovebirds, let's take it some place private shall we.' Both of them look dazedly at him and he suppresses a laugh. While the whole team encircles them they hurry to the changingroom.

'When did you plan on telling us this?' Kaylie fires at them the minute the door closes.

Payson and Sasha look at each other for a moment. 'It happened last night, we didn't plan this, it just.. well you know… happened.' Payson finally admits while starting to blush. Sasha just smiles and puts an arm around her shoulders.

'So, when all the while we thought you two secretly had something you weren't together at all?' Kelly asks incredulously. 'Well that's something.'

'You thought we were together?' Sasha asks surprised. When he gets the same look from all his gymnasts he hurries his look towards something neutral.

'Yeah duh, you two were always working together, always laughing at your private jokes. Ever since that kiss you two never talked about again things changed, we thought you secretly decided to go for it.' Lauren spills, eying them suspiciously. Everybody nods their agreements and Payson can't help but feel relieved.

'So you all actually don't mind?' She asks cautiously. 'Thank god, because I had no idea how to convince you that what Sasha and I have is real.' With that they all burst out in laughter, the tension of everything that happened today finally getting to them. The girls hurdle Payson out of his arms, he reluctantly lets her go. He smiles at his own actions, now he finally has her, he doesn't want to let her go.

'You are really in love with her aren't you?' Austin asks him. Sasha just nods, he knows words aren't necessary. 'You'll keep her save right, no matter what?' At that Sasha looks him in the eyes. The boy standing next to him always looked out for his gymnasts, he was the first to notice Kaylie's ED and he always protected Payson.

'I will do everything I can to keep her safe and happy, but I cannot promise I won't hurt her. Sometimes you hurt the people closest to you, no matter how much you love them.' He tells the boy quietly.

'Sasha, as long as you never abandon her again you cannot really hurt her.' Sasha smiles at him, hoping that Austin is right. 'But let's get going. There is a lot of media dying to hear your side of the story and unless you want to tell it I'd suggest you run while there's still time.'

'Girls.'

#

'Well, we knew this was going to be awkward.' Payson says standing on the back porch overlooking the backyard of her parents home. Sasha sighs and puts his hands on her shoulders. He travels down and takes her hands into his, entwining their fingers.

'At least they know now, my love. That's what matters most. We did not lie to them, never betrayed their trust. They know that and I know they respect that. But you must understand that they aren't happy with this. I don't think any parent would want to see their daughter with a man who's 15 years her senior.'

'I know that, but still, I wish it was different. That they welcomed you like they would with any other boy.' Sasha laughs at that.

'I haven't been a boy for a very long time Payson, but don't worry, they'll get used to the idea.' He reassures her. She smiles at his words, but he can see she's not convinced. He pulls her into his arms and places a kiss on her forehead. 'Everything will work out in the end my love, I'll never leave you again. I promised you that and I intend to keep every promise I make you.' Payson traces his jaw with her fingertips and pushes a soft kiss on his lips.

'I know you will.' She puts her head against his chest and breaths in the scent that's uniquely his. She remembers the talk they had with her parents the moment they were back in Boulder.

She had planned on talking to them the minute she could find the time, but everything had been so hectic with the media and interviews. So she and Sasha decided to wait until they were back home. They drove back in his truck, following her parents car. All the while she had been fidgeting with the zipper of her tracksuit until Sasha had put an hand on hers. 'Calm down love, I will be right next to you. We don't have to break it to them, they already know. All we need to do is explain everything.' And they had explained everything. Her parents had listened to them without interrupting, but the look on her father's face had her worried Sasha would need an icepack very soon. Luckily that didn't happen, they didn't even yell.

'So nothing happened until the night before the Olympics?' Her dad had asked, even though he already knew the answer.

'Yes dad, we told you that, Sasha and I never did anything until that evening.' Looking at her fathers expression she adds quikly. 'And even then it was just a kiss.' She deliberately keeps the morning after a secret, not wanting anyone to know about their personal moments. 'I always knew how I felt about him, but I never acted upon it again after that one kiss. I never knew how Sasha felt about me until he told me not a week ago.'

'Mr. and Mrs. Keeler I know I have betrayed your trust in me. I told you I didn't have feelings for Payson when you asked me, but I wasn't honest with myself back then. I will, however, be honest now. I love your daughter and I think I have for a very long time. I wish things would have been different. That I hadn't been her coach for years, that our age would be closer together, but I cannot change the facts. I can however tell you I will never leave Payson alone again, I made that promise a long time ago, when she came to find me in Romania, and I intend to keep my end of that promise.' Sasha told them with so much emotion Payson took his hand into her and lightly squeezed it.

'What do you want us to say?' Kim suddenly asked.

'I don't know.' Payson replied. 'I just needed you to know and maybe understand. Sasha and I love each other and that will not change, but I don't want to loose you because of this.' She finished with tears running down her cheeks.

'You'll never loose us Payson, sweetie we are your parents. And as much as we don't like this, we will always love you, unconditionally. You will be forever in our hearts, no matter what you do.' Her mother said as she crossed the room to sit next to her daughter. After a moment of silence she put her hand on the joined hands of Payson and Sasha. Sasha smiled at her and knew this was as much conformation as he would get tonight.

After that they had gone outside. Mark hadn't said anything more and Kim just sat next to her daughter. He could sense Payson needed some air and space so he suggested to go to the backyard for a moment. And now they were holding on to each other.

'Now everybody knows.' Sasha sighs softly and pulls her a bit closer. Payson just lets her head rest against him and closes her eyes. For a moment all she wants is to forget everything and just enjoy the fact that she is in the arms of the man she loves. They will face everything that is to come together, no matter what it will be of that she is sure, as for everything else, she doesn't really care anymore.

A/N ok, not really happy with this, but here you have it anyway. For now this is the end, but maybe I'll continue, because I have a few ideas for their future, but that may become a new story all together… I'll see were those two lovebirds lead me. Please R&R, thanks!