☆ Hey Readers, sorry I haven't been updating much recently, I've been camping and I can honestly say it's been really fun! Everyone should take some time to disconnect and enjoy some time outdoors! I can't believe this story is up to 4K!!! I'm honestly so thankful and I'm looking forward to finishing this story off! :)) ☆

Shit, shit, shit!

They can't see me coming out of Nate's room, wearing his clothes and holding mine. That just has 'bad news' written all over it. I take off down the hallway, holding my thin costume and tights in my arms. As soon as I get to the elevators I push the button and tap my foot, starting to panic.

Then I hear them get the door completely open and I press my lips together, praying for the elevator to speed up. I hear Alex's voice down the hall and I start to sweat.

Finally the doors to the elevator open and I gladly climb on with a man and a woman, dressed in business attire. I can practically feel the looks I'm getting from them and I instinctively cross my arms over my chest. Right now I didn't care if I was on the elevator with the queen of England, anything was better than facing my brothers like this.

Soon enough we're back on my floor and I give them a tight smile before stepping out and heading back to my room. I feel a smile crop up over my face that I just can't seem to push away, I know I'm blushing and I can't find it in me to care.

I feel flushed, dazed and happily out of it as I reach my room, fishing my hotel key out of my door pocket. It's only a little after seven so hopefully Kate's still asleep. I open the door as quietly as I can and shut it behind me, sighing out a breath. I lean back against the door and smile to myself a bit. Last night was amazing.

"Well, well, well." I hear and see Kate sitting on the chair in the corner and sipping a coffee. "Where did you go last night?" She asks and I laugh, feeling startled to see her there.

"I-I thought you'd be asleep-"

"Don't change the subject." She says shaking her head and I laugh a bit to myself. "I waited for you to come back to the room so I could congratulate you. And then you just....never came."

"Sorry." I mumble.

"That's a nice outfit." She mutters. "I can't believe you wore your costume up there."

"It is a nice outfit." I tell her, throwing my things onto my bed. It's still properly made from yesterday in comparison to Kate's disheveled bed. "My boyfriend lent it to me."

"I can see that." She laughs. "Have fun?" I find myself nodding, feeling my cheeks getting even redder.

"It was really nice." I tell her, laying back on my bed and she laughs, putting the cup down on the table next to her.

"I knew you had it in you!" She insists. "Not so scary anymore, hmm?"

"No...." I answer and she bursts into laughter.

"I'm honestly so proud Sash!" She squeals, shooting out of the chair. "So how was it? You didn't tell me anything after last time!" She huffs and I laugh sitting up.

"That's because they're private details." I say and she groans.

"You're the worst." She insists, sitting down on her bed, making me laugh.

"It was really......good." I say, looking at the carpet, remarking the odd pattern. "It's just nice."

"Nice how?" She asks raising her eyebrows.

"Nice like......well.....I don't think anyone's ever come close to looking at me the way Nate does. He makes me feel pretty." I tell her and she pouts out her bottom lip.

"Aw." She says and I laugh.

"I don't even know how to explain why it's so amazing." I admit and she smiles. "He woke me up this morning so we could watch the sunrise together. Then we just....laid there together, it's amazing and it's something we love getting to do together."

"You're so cute." She says flopping back onto her bed. "Between you and me I didn't think you were really going to come back last night."

"I thought I might...." I defend lamely and she rolls her eyes. "Okay, maybe not."

"That was the most romantic thing I've ever seen anybody do." She says. "Fly to another state and back just to see somebody they care about."

"I know." I sigh. "It makes me wish I could do it for him, my brothers too."

Suddenly she perks up, giving me one of her classic Kate looks. The one she gives right before she gives me a crazy plan of some-type.

"When does he play?" She asks and I sigh.

"Like two o'clock?" I tell her and she nods.

"Well we land at two-thirty-five....." She says and my eyes widen. "If we really hustled I'm sure we could catch the last third."

"Do you really think we could?" I ask excitedly and she nods.

"Of course I do!" She insists. "Then you'd get to see your brothers play too!"

"Kate, you're a genius!" I say, running over and giving her a hug.

"Sasha, I keep trying to tell you I'm right about most things." She teases and I smile. "Now.....how about you get dressed and we'll go somewhere for breakfast. You'll run yourself up the wall if you stay here waiting to leave."

"You're probably right." I sigh. "You don't think I should wear this?" I ask, smoothing out the front of the gym shorts and she laughs.

"I wouldn't, it looks like you're getting swallowed whole." She insists, raising her eyebrows. "Come on! Get dressed I'm hungry, and I want real details over breakfast!" I laugh, rolling my eyes and she walks into the bathroom with a toothbrush.

"You're too much." I tell her and she pokes her head out the door, toothbrush in mouth. "But you're the best." She gives me a smile and then spits the toothpaste down the sink.

"So where were you thinking for breakfast?" She asks and I smile, walking into the bathroom and picking up my own toothbrush.

>

"Come on mom, they'd want you there." I insist as we wait by the gate.

Kate's plan was making me antsy, I was just praying it would work out properly. Then the thought of bringing my parents crossed my mind. We were making progress, but I knew that the problems I had didn't come anywhere near the neglect that Alex and Nik had felt for years. They were still just tolerating my parents and I wanted everything to work out for them.

"I don't think they'd like that." She says shaking her head. "They really still don't get along with your father."

"That's because they feel like dad doesn't support anything they do." I remind her. "They'd be so surprised, I promise mom, this would mean the world to them."

"I don't know." She says and I sigh.

"Don't you want the best for them?" I ask and she nods.

"But I don't want to upset them more." She says and I nod.

"This won't upset them, I think it would completely touch them that you bothered to take an interest and that this was so important to you." I plead. "Do it for me then, please?"

She sighs and gives me a smile. "Alright, if it's that important to you."

"It is." I say and she laughs.

"Fine, under one condition." She says and I sigh, knowing what she'd most likely want. "You need to ask your father yourself."

"Mom-"

"You haven't spoken to him outside of a few words here and there, please make and effort? It would mean a lot to me." She says and I sigh, looking over to where he sits.

This would mean so much to my brothers, and if I had to have one awkward conversation with my dad, so be it.

"Hey dad." I say and he looks almost shocked to see me standing there.

"S-Sasha." He says, scrambling to put his book away. "Hello."

"Hi....um, look I was talking to mom just now." I say and he nods. "When I land I'm going with Kate to catch the last third of Nate, Alex and Nik's game. I wanted to see if you and mom would come."

"What did your mother say?" He asks and I nod.

"She said she would if....if I asked you." I tell him and his face falls.

"So, you didn't want to come ask me yourself?" He asks, sounding rather upset about it.

"Well...I-um, that's not it I just....." I fade out and take a deep breath. Whenever I think about trying to get along with dad, I remember the day I lost sectionals. I remember how he tore me down, said I wasn't worth it, how it felt to get slapped.

"No, it's alright." He says quietly. "I didn't expect anything else."

"Anyway, you don't have to come, but I think it would mean a lot to Alex and Nik." I say quietly. "I know how much your support would mean to them."

"I'm not sure if it's right." He says and I groan.

"That's what mom said and I'll tell you exactly what I her, this would mean the world to them. You came to see me this weekend, you watched me do what I'm passionate about. And I won, now I have a chance at something I've always wanted. Alex and Nik are about to do that too, they have a shot to win today and it would start the rest of their lives as athletes." I tell him, and take the seat next to him.

"Dad, this is their 'figure skating'. It's so special to them and they love hockey the way I love skating. Please, just do this one thing for me." I beg and he sighs. "If you won't for me, do it for mom."

"Are you sure that this is what they want?" He asks and I shrug.

"I don't know that for sure." I admit. "But what's important for all of us is that we're trying. That we're making an effort."

He gives me an odd look now, almost like he's confused or surprised. I just hold my breath, now realizing this is the most we've spoken in weeks.

"You're very bright Sasha." He says, almost as a statement. "If it makes the three of you happy I'll go."

"Really?" I ask and he nods.

"Yes, really." He sighs. "Good job this weekend, I'm very proud of you." I smile a bit and nod.

"Thanks dad." I say quietly and he nods getting his bags together as the boarding call get's read over the speakers.

I get my own things together and smile walking with Kate onto the airplane. The two of us settle in for the quick flight again and I start to feel my heart race. I was going to see him, I just had to pray that we'd be able to make it.

The short plane ride feels like an eternity but Kate's great at keeping my mind off of it with her invasive questions. I found myself laughing when I got to speak to Kate, it was girl time I never had. Not with other girls I was friends with and not with my mom.

"So....how do you think you'll celebrate tonight?" She asks and I shove her.

"I don't know." I mumble, pressing my lips together and feeling my cheeks heat up.

"Oh you so do know!" She whisper-screams. "I've created a monster." She insists, throwing her hands up and I laugh, seeing the seatbelt sign light up again.

"A happy monster." I laugh, doing both the ends back up over my waist and she nudges me.

The plane takes forever to land, it takes even longer to get off but the second we do, we're on the move. We all rush through the airport until we reach the car and before I can get in with Kate she stops me.

"You should go with your parents." She says and I furrow my eyebrows.

"But-"

"Go on." She says and I sigh.

"You're not coming?" I ask and she shakes her head.

"No, honey this is something you should do with your family." She says and I groan. "And as much as I'd love to see this reunion between you and Nate, I don't want to intrude. Tell me all about it on Monday when we make up a new schedule."

"Alright fine." I mumble and she gives me a hug.

"You killed it this weekend Sash, don't let anyone take that away from you." She says and I nod. "I always knew you could do it."

"Thanks Kate." I say and she smiles sending me off back to my parents.

I see her wave excitedly, while dad puts all of our things into the trunk. The car ride to the rink is anxious and tense to say the least. It was so silent on the ride over I could hear a pin drop, but this was for my brothers. I wanted them to know my parents were making an effort.

Soon enough we pull up outside and I sigh seeing we're here for the last ten minutes. I know this rink and so do my parents, now we just had to get somewhere where we could watch.

Mom and dad branch off, opting instead for seats to watch the game and I smile, standing down by the boards. I made it, I could see them play.

Instantly I pick out my brothers, they're tall and unstoppable on the ice. I try and spot Nate but give up after looking for a while, he must be on the bench. The crowd seemed intense and I quickly realized why, the teams were tied 2-2. Somebody had to win.

I watch, practically biting my fingernails. I still don't think any of them noticed I'm here and honestly I didn't mind, knowing it could screw with their focus. I watch as the last few minutes become the last few seconds and the game ends in a tie. That can't be, somebody was going to win and become regional campions.

"With the game ending in a tie, both teams will play into overtime to determine a winner." I hear the announcer say and there's simply unrest in the crowd, people muttering to each other and whispering.

I press my lips together knowing this was it, that my brothers needed this win. I look around the rink until I see Alex and suddenly our eyes meet. He stops dead in his tracks and I wave, shooting him a thumbs up.

He then skates over to Nik and suddenly I see both of them smiling at me and waving. They go back to their team and before I know it the game was on again. Please lord let them win this.

For ten more minutes it's just intense gameplay, defence is keeping up well and the crowd is on the edge of their seats. Just when I wonder if this will go to a shoot-out, Nik breaks away and I watch him skate down the ice with renewed determination.

"Come on, come on." I whisper, crossing my fingers.

I watch as he passes to another open team member and just like that there's a puck in the net. The game's over and I couldn't be happier for my brothers. I hear cheers and horns blaring as the whole team skates out onto the ice into a cluster. They yell and laugh and I smile.

Then I see Nate, on the outside of the group he's there, I can see the his last name on his jersey. My heart jumps a little and I smile as the team gets their trophy, all passing it around and cheering. It made me smile seeing them all so happy.

I watch as my brothers skate around and take Nate, skating over to the boards. When Nate gives them a confused look they point straight ahead and I smile. Then I get the sweatiest group hug I've ever had in my life, but I couldn't care less about being crushed when the moment was so sweet.

Nate takes me away in a separate hug that I enjoy more than I should. It was just so comforting and nice to see him so happy.

"I told you you'd win." I say, undoing his helmet and he laughs, giving me a brief kiss.

"I can't believe you're here." He mumbles and I smile, giving him a good squeeze.

"What are you doing here?" Alex asks and I walk to give him and Nik a hug of my own.

"Well I figured if I hustled from the airport I could catch the end of your game." I admit and they all laugh. "I wanted to watch you win."

"I'm so glad you're here, Sash." Nik says and then furrows his eyebrows. "How.....exactly did you get here?"

"Did Kate bring you? Where is she?" Alex asks and I shake my head.

"I'm not the only one who wanted to watch you today." I say quietly and look out to mom and dad sitting in the stands.

"Who else would it be? You're here alone." Nik points out and I laugh.

"Look again." I say quietly, pointing to my parents. They both give a small smile and I watch as my brothers' heads whip back to me in disbelief. "I will admit they weren't sure about going because they didn't want to upset you but I might have convinced them-"

I'm cut off by another hug and I can't breathe feeling my brothers wrap their arms around me. My parents make their way off the stands and come down to say hello to my brothers. While they talk I settle back into Nate's side and smile. I did the right thing.