"I'm ready whenever you both are."

"We've been waiting on you, Grumpy Bear," Elise lied with a sweet smile. 

Aaron still looked fresh after a workout that had left her wiped out. He had stripped down to his base layer of clothing, but had left on his gloves. It wasn't fair that she was practically dripping with sweat while he just had a little bit shining on his forehead. 

At least he looked relaxed.

His narrowed his eyes before shaking his head at her. "Whatever you say, Princess."

"Show me what you've got, son," Gerald said with a smile. He patted Aaron on the shoulder before the skater took his spot near center ice.

Elise recognized the beginning pose and leaned forward with anticipation. She loved watching Aaron skate, and hoped Gerald would see the same potential she did. "Just watch," she whispered, praying he wouldn't judge the program as harshly as Aaron feared.

"I am," Gerald assured her as Aaron began.

If she had thought he had looked good the other morning, that performance was nothing compared with now. From the first motion of his arm, to landing the first jump: a quad salchow she hadn't known he had in his repertoire, it looked like someone had lit the flames of competition in his veins. 

Just like the day before, his fiery steps drew her in, and didn't let go as he drove himself onward, vaulted into his jumps, and flowed into each new element. It was still a bit rough around the edges, but the main elements were there. His passion would drive him to keep improving.

When he finished the program, on his knees and gasping, Elise realized she had been holding her breath. Before saying anything, she started clapping.

She wasn't surprised when Gerald joined her, even if it looked like Aaron was. He blinked owlishly at them before he drug himself to his feet. He started for the boards before he put his hands on his knees, still trying to catch his breath.

"You took my advice from the other day!" she crowed. That comment earned her a confused look from both Gerald and Aaron.

"You know the advice I mean. About not falling."

Aaron rolled his eyes expressively as he leaned against the boards to look at their coach. "What did you think?"

"With some work on the transitions, I think that you've got a free program there," Gerald said with a smile. 

Elise squeaked with excitement and patted Aaron on the shoulder, beaming. "I told you he would like it!"

"Liking it is different than letting me use it for the season," Aaron said gloomily.

"Aaron," Gerald started exasperatedly. "I never said I wouldn't let you choreograph your programs. I expressed concern over your music choice for the short program. You had everything in that program that you need for competition, it just needs polishing and finish work."

"So you'll let me use it?" Aaron asked, still sounding skeptical.

"Yes."

Elise pulled Aaron over far enough to kiss his cheek. "I told you!" she crowed, bouncing with excitement. 

"And I can do my short program too?"

"After you listen to what I have to say about your music choice, yes," Gerald said sternly before sighing deeply.

"I understand you want to show your versatility as a skater, Aaron, but you need to recognize your strengths. You are good at performing driving, and passionate choreography. You are not as good with slow pieces, especially one as slow as the one you want. That's why you're having trouble completing choreography for yourself. You just can't see yourself performing it."

"But it's the song I want to use for the short program," Aaron insisted.

"Then we'll have you work with a choreographer and you work your ass off to get your performance to a level that is competitive." 

Elise could hear the steel in Gerald's voice. He was not going to change his decision, and she couldn't argue with it. The only time she had seen Aaron skate to a slow waltz, the program had featured many falls and stumbles.

"And if I want to choreograph my program?"

"Then choose a different piece of music."

Aaron let out a deep breath, looking frustrated enough to argue with Gerald over the ultimatum.

 Elise saw her chance to insert herself into the conversation as a mediator. "There's a huge range between really fast and really slow. Why not choose something slower, but not slow enough you have trouble?" she asked curiously.

"Because I like the song that I have chosen."

"So you like the song, but is it the best one for you?" Elise asked bluntly, trying to draw his anger away from Gerald.

Instead of exploding, he recoiled as if she had slapped him. "I thought you were going to help me."

"I am, Aaron. Think about the answer to my question. Is it the best song for you to use?"

Without saying a word, Aaron pushed away from the boards and began to take a slow lap of the ice.

That was not the reaction Elise had expected. She thought he would lash out and they would have to wait until later to continue their conversation. 

The surprise must have shown on her face because Gerald started to laugh. "That went better than the past few discussions we had on the subject."

"That was better?"

"Much better. I think it was because you seemed to agree with what I was telling him. Now he just has to recognize that we have a point."

"Let me work on convincing him we're right. I think I have an idea that will help him make a decision."

"Oh?" Gerald asked, looking a bit skeptical.

"He might not excel at skating to slow pieces, but I do," Elise said with a grin. Just because she was dealing with her knee didn't mean she had forgotten her strengths. "Maybe he would be willing to choreograph the program for me instead. Then he could choose another piece for himself."

Gerald fell silent for a moment, turning to watch Aaron as he moved across the ice. "That's a good idea. I shouldn't be in the same room when you suggest it. He'll be more likely to listen."

"But..." Elise started to protest before getting cut off by more laughter from Gerald.

"I might be his coach, but we still argue like we always have. It's only gotten worse since his mother passed. You and Laura are the only two that have managed to get him to control his temper."

Gerald pushed away from the boards and clapped his hands to get Aaron's attention. "That's enough for the morning. Elise, go, ice your knee and do your assigned exercises, I'll see you again Monday for our next session. Aaron, I'll see you again tonight."

Without waiting for their responses, he turned and walked away from the ice. 

Elise just stayed where she was, watching Aaron skate. She promised herself that soon she would be able to do that as well. All it was going to take was more work.