“Reconciliation”

A Gaby FanFic

The first thing I have to do is to publicly thank Angharad, KarenJ and last, but certainly not least, Jillian, for all their efforts to decipher my scribbles. It was also their encouragement that gave me the courage to submit this to Maddy, in the first place.

I also extend a warm ‘thank you' to Maddy, for creating this ‘universe' and giving my mind a place to occasionally wander.

Eight

On the first morning back at the Team Apollinaris complex after Holidays, life was starting to settle back into a routine. Jenny, Dave and Maria went back to planning out the coming year for the Jr. Development Program and George went back to dealing with the pro Team Apollinaris. His immediate focus was on the upcoming 2013 World Cup Tour. The team was scheduled to start training mid February in Australia and he had to finalize arrangements with his staff.

“Gaby … ein Moment, bitte?” George called out to Gaby as she and Tina passed his office on the way to the weight room. Tina continued on her way after telling Gaby she'd meet her there.

When Gaby entered his office, he told her he had received word from the UCI regarding the 2013 UCI Women's World Cup Tour schedule. They confirmed that there was indeed a break in the May schedule from the 11 th to the 28 th , but George told Gaby when you included between race training, all he could give her and Maddy was a gap from the 12 th to the 20 th .

“That's the best I can give you, Gaby … we have Montreal on the 29 th this year.” George said apologetically.

“That's fine, George … we'll take some time in the off-season … Danke”, Gaby cheerfully replied.

“Glückliches Neues Jahr, Gaby”

“It'll be a very happy New Year, George ... Thank you.” Gaby happily replied as she tried to keep her tears in check. She walked up to George and gave him a peck on the cheek and then thanking him again, continued to the weight room.

That evening when Gaby went over to Maddy's place, after telling her that George had confirmed the schedule had a break in May, she asked Maddy about the invitations.

“I gave Daddy all the invitations, darling … he'll mail them for us at the main post office in Bonn”;

Maddy informed Gaby.

Maddy had a new job with the team for the 2013 World Cup. As George's assistant, she was to keep all the stats and the other information on the girl's team and individual performances, updated for George and the team doctor to review each evening. She also would hand out water and energy snacks from the team car, during a race. Best perk of all was she'd be with ‘her' Gaby.

While the girls sat around Carol's kitchen table, taking stock of the wedding preparations and with only three and a half months to go, it suddenly occurred to both of them that they'd not put any consideration into finding their own place.

The team was scheduled to depart for Australia early next week and with Maddy going along as well, that left no one to pursue the housing question. Added to that, they realised they'd have to trust their mothers to make all of the remaining arrangements.

“It's too late to begin looking for a place … isn't it?” Maddy asked.

“The only thing I can think of is to see if George can set things in motion to get us an apartment like he did with Mum … Mum and Dad will just have to follow-up while we're gone.” Gaby thought out loud.

She quickly added with a sombre tone in her voice, “I know Apollinaris still have the few apartments they had when Mum was riding with the team ... question is if there's a vacancy.”

As Gaby reached across the table for Maddy's hand, she intoned, “It probably won't be for long … just enough time for us to look at my income and see what we can afford … ‘kay?”

“At least tomorrow's a work day… we can always ask George about the apartment when we see him … how did we forget about this?” The more they thought about it, the angrier Gaby became with herself.

“( sniff ) … I don't know darling, I ( sniff ) … don't ( sniff ) … know.” Maddy leaned over and buried her face into Gaby's shoulder and let it all out. As Gaby tried to comfort Maddy, she felt like joining her.

Later that evening, Gaby told her parents of the need to have George start the process to look into one of the ‘team apartments' for her and Maddy, before they leave for Australia. After she tried to think of her options, Gaby quietly told her parents she was heading to bed.

When Dave and Jenny turned in later that evening, they walked passed Gaby's closed door and clearly heard their youngest daughter crying into her pillow.

Once in their room, Jenny sat on the edge of the bed and looked up at Dave.

“Dave, what if George can't put them into an apartment? … They've put so much into this and now it's … isn't there something we can do to help the kids?” Jenny's voice conveyed her helplessness.

Dave sat on the bed beside his wife and put his arms around her shoulders. “I have an idea, but let me work on it a bit … ok? … I don't want to give you or the kids false hope if this doesn't look like it's going to pan out.”

Then he quietly added, “It might work to our advantage that the girls are leaving on the World Cup.” Jenny nodded her reply, but the tears were still threatening to flow.

After Jenny appeared to have calmed down, they both got into bed and turned out the lights.

“… Mornin' dear …. feel better?” Jenny softly greeted Gaby as she entered the kitchen. Gaby had an idea her mum must've heard her crying in her room, last night.

“Not really … Mum? … How could Mad and I overlook finding a place to live?” Gaby asked, almost pleading with her mum for an answer.

Jenny looked into Gaby's eyes and saw her normally self-confidant daughter, reduced to a very upset and scared young woman. At a time in Gaby's life that she should've been on top of the world, it greatly pained Jenny to see her daughter like this. It was made all the worse because it was one of the rare times in her life Jen felt totally helpless.

In her response, Jenny wrapped her arms around her youngest and held her in a tight embrace for what seemed, ages. All the time, she could feel the tears forming in her own eyes . Please, let Dave's plan work….please?

“As you always say … what's done is done … let George, your father and I have a crack at the problem ... ok? … I'll talk to him … we'll resolve this.”

Jenny added, “Let us help and you two just worry about May 18 th … hmmm?”

“Your Dad and I will make sure you and Mad have a roof over your heads … even if it's here.” As Gaby laid her head on her mum's shoulder, Gabs was determined not to cry but it was a foregone conclusion that she'd lose her fight. Jenny closed her moist eyes. It was all she could do to keep from joining her daughter.

Since Jules was now carpooling with Heinrich to her new job in Bonn, it was a relatively quiet ride to work for Jenny, Dave and the two girls. Gaby's parents did score a victory of sorts in that both girls reluctantly resigned themselves to letting Jenny and Dave worry about the housing situation.

When they arrived and exited the car, Jenny hugged Gaby and reminded her to focus on her job – let others focus on the housing! Gaby just nodded and turned to walk into the complex with Maddy, but not before Jenny produced a tissue so Gabs could dry her moist eyes.

A few minutes after Jenny and Dave got to their respective offices, Dave saw Jen walk past his door on the way to see George. He called out to get her attention.

“Jen …”, as Dave approached he said, “We'll see George together … I want him to help if he can … but … I don't want him to do anything that he can't undo … you follow?”

“No … I don't … you want to put that in plain English?” A confused Jenny asked.

“I'll explain when we see George, ok?” Dave replied, as they both started to George's office. As they were meeting with George, Maria was starting the pre-World Cup meeting of all Team Apollinaris in the main conference room.

“Ok, people … hot off the press … your 2013 World Cup schedule.” Maria started passing them out to the entire team gathered in the conference room, not just the cyclists.

As the individual copies where handed out, eyes turned to Maddy and Gaby. Maria made sure the two girls were handed their copies last and when they finally received them, all was made clear. George had slipped the girl's wedding into the schedule.

“Look these over and George will be here momentarily to go over them in detail, with you.” Maria added in a business-like, all the while desperately trying to keep a straight face and avoid looking directly at Maddy or Gaby.

“Have the schedules been handed out Maria?” George asked as he walked into the room then as he looked towards the happy couple and saw a smug look on both their faces, he cheerfully added, “Ja … I guess they have.”

George spent the next couple of hours running down the entire schedule and taking questions and comments from the team. Even though the first race was scheduled for the 23rd of the month, they were scheduled to begin their road training in Australia on the 6th of February.

Gaby aggressively tackled her training and races, during the ‘Tour”, determined to capture the 2013 World Champion title for her mum. This year the World Championship was to be determined at the completion of the Tour de Feminine – the one race Gaby so dearly longed to win.

She convincingly took Australia's World Cup – Geelong in a 70-meter sprint, narrowly beating out Jocelyn Loane of Australia's National Team and Anna Beyer of RG Stuttgart.

Kristen and Susan were taken out of the sprint when an enthusiastic fan clipped a T-Mobile rider, caused her to lose control and brush up against one of the crowd control barriers. The pile-up that resulted took five cyclists in total. Most walked away with a few deep scrapes but Kristen got the worst of it with a sprained right wrist and a gash to the arm. The team doctor would evaluate her on a day-to-day basis to determine if she was fit to race.

Maddy and Gaby were also concerned because Kris was one of Gaby's bridesmaids, besides a team mate!

In the New Zealand World Cup, Gaby came in fifth place overall, but she took the ‘Queen of the Hill' title with a very decisive performance in capturing all but one of the hill climbs. Kristen started the NZ race but was forced to drop out after the first 25Km due to her wrist. Fortunately there was a rather long period before the Tour des Flandres in Belgium, during which she could recover.

In the Tour de Berne, Gaby again stood on the podium this time taking first place overall but in addition, capturing all the hill climb points. Kristen felt she had something to prove with her missing the NZ race. Her determination resulted in a third place on the podium, losing out by a wheel to Tina. Team Apollinaris had swept the podium and had sent a clear signal to the other teams and the cycling world in general - they were a team on a mission!

With this race, the cycling world also finally sat up and took notice of Jenny Bond's daughter – for her abilities as much as her heritage. Her peers always knew she was good yet she was always seen as being in her mum's shadow. Now in this 2013 World Cup tour, Gaby had firmly established herself as a very real threat as a tactician and a hill climber. She also proved she was more than capable in short sprints.

Just as importantly, Gaby had earned a reputation of being an aggressive competitor like her mum, both early on as a junior and now as a pro. On this World Cup her peers would learn just how aggressive she could be.

In Spain's Gran Premio Castilla y Leon, Gaby took her third first place finish and for the second consecutive race, took the polka-dot jersey as the “Queen of the Hill”.

The following day was decreed a rest day, by George. A chance for the team to catch its' collective breath after the performance they gave during the first half of the season. As far as George was concerned, something or someone had inspired his team. Whatever that something was, Apollinaris was ecstatic and George was sure he had to find some way to bottle ‘it'.

The following day saw the team packing up to head back to Bad Neuenahr.

May 12th , 7 days and counting….

“Say Auf Wiedersehen to Spain, you two … faster you guys are on board, faster you'll be back home.” Tina excitedly exclaimed as she put an arm around the shoulder of both Maddy and Gaby.

The excitement of their upcoming wedding was infectious to everyone who'd accompanied the team on this leg of the World Cup. The realization became almost surreal as Tina and Susan both pointed out that in seven days, Gaby would be a married woman.

Gaby's three team mates, who would serve as her bridesmaids, occupied the row of seats in front of the happy couple. Tina sat in the window seat beside Gaby and considering the topic of conversation between the six women; George promptly christened that part of the cabin ‘wedding central'.

“Achtung … bitte”, George stood up in the aisle by his seat and got the group's attention once the plane was airborne. “Danke”

George began his little talk with congratulating the team with all their successes thus far in the World Cup.

“We're fast becoming everybody's target.” He joked with the team, then pointing to Gaby he added, “And you're number one on their ‘hit list', young lady!”

Once the laughing and good-natured jibes had faded, George put on his ‘serious face' and standing in the aisle with his hands resting on the backs of the aisle seats to either side of him, he looked directly at Maddy and Gaby.

“Gaby … like your Mama, you've quickly crawled under the skin and into the hearts of everyone in the Team Apollinaris organization. As if that's not enough, you brought Maddy along … and she had the same intoxicating effect on us, as you did.”

George approached where the girls were sitting. He put his hands on the headrest of seat in front of Maddy and after a brief pause to choose his words he took a deep breath and added;

“Gaby … Maddy … I know the next few days are going to be chaotic at best for both of you, so I'll say it now … On behalf of everyone on this plane I want to wish the two of you all the best, not only for your pending wedding but for all the many … many years to come. Your union may raise more than a few eyebrows around the world, but remain the Maddy und Gaby we've all come to love und the rest of the world will have no choice but to feel about you as we do.”

As both girls rose from their seats, they had tears in their eyes. Both girls gave George a hug and a peck on the cheek to the sounds of applause from the rest of the cabin's occupants. As they sat back down, each girl turned and thanked the rest of the team for their wishes. Once they settled in their seats, Tina passed them the seemingly ever-present tissue.

A short while later, George once again approached the girls and asked Gaby to join him. She followed George back to his seat where he then picked up his opened laptop and motioned for her to sit in the now empty seat beside him.

As he passed her the laptop, he commented, “I thought this would interest you … I'd like to show it to your Mama when we get back, ja?”

Gaby looked at a page of stats for the 2013 World Cup races that have been ridden to date. There was one column to which George directed her attention. Since many of the races Gaby just finished riding were the same races rode by her mother, George had some comparative stats between Jenny and herself.

Jenny had set records in a few of the same races, on the same courses that Gaby had also ridden. Many of those records Gaby had either broken or shattered, according to the screen Gaby saw in front of her.

“You're first overall in the GC standings at this point … and by a good margin, too … but don't get over confident and let that lead slip away. You can take it this year if you remain focused … and I know you can.” Gaby looked at the screen then turned to George, not really knowing what to say.

George quietly told Gaby “Now go back to Maddy and enjoy the rest of the trip ... you'll be home in a couple of hours.”

“Danke, George”. Gaby replied as she rose from the seat.

“Did he show you?” Maddy asked as Gaby sat back in to her seat.

“You knew?” Gaby was genuinely surprised.

“Duh! … Think girl … what have I been doing on this World Cup? … Who do you think brought it George's attention?” Maddy cooed as she leaned over to give Gaby a kiss.

All this time Tina was watching the girls.

“Sorry … didn't mean to just sit here and watch you two kiss.” Tina apologized.

“Not that you had much of a choice … sitting there.” Gaby replied with a giggle as she indicated Tina's window-seat. That sent the three of them off into a giggling fit.

For the rest of the trip, ‘wedding central' was making, then re-making plans for everything that had to be done before Saturday. Both girls were anxious to get back and see what their mothers had done to all their plans.

Maddy approached George and using Apollinaris' wedding gift, requested George make arrangements to fly the other girls to Bonn in the next day or two. Also on the list they made during the conversations, was to phone the British girls when they got home and let them know the details for the trip to Bad Neuenahr. Tina quite enjoyed the trip, eavesdropping on the planning session and occasionally participating in the conversation.

In what seemed all too short a time, they were asked to fasten their seat belts as they lost altitude and joined the landing pattern of the Bonn-Cologne International Airport. As the chartered Airbus A310 taxied up to the Apollinaris corporate hanger, they were able to see that the team's mini-bus and trailer was brought around from its long-term parking and was waiting by the hanger.

As Mike and Hans helped the ground crew unload the A310, Team Apollinaris climbed on board the bus and waited for Mike to slip into the driver's seat. Unlike on the plane, the mood was more somber, almost as if the team was reflecting on what exactly they'd accomplished and what was to come. For five of the girls, that reflection included non-cycling issues.

A little more than an hour later, Mike pulled the bus into the car park at the Team Apollinaris facility and was met by Dave, Jenny and Maria. After getting off the bus, everyone got their luggage and prepared to head home following the summoning of their respective rides.

As Maddy and Gaby put their luggage in the back of the Volvo, George asked Dave and Jenny to step into his office for a few minutes. The girls elected to stay by the car and using Dave's mobile, called Kat.

Some time later, a visibly happier Jenny and Dave emerged from the building. When Jenny approached the car, she turned to Gaby and tightly hugged her, saying how she knew Gaby would do it.

“George showed you the stats?” Gaby asked.

“Uh-huh … I'm so proud, honey … when you phoned after your races, why didn't you tell me?” Gaby saw that her mum had a few tears rolling down her cheeks.

“I didn't know myself until George showed me while on the plane.” Gaby replied. Jen gave her daughter another squeeze then they all got into the car and began the short drive home.

“Mum? … Did you manage to pick up the wedding bands from the safety deposit box?” Gaby asked.

“Just doing it now, dear … now relax … Carol and I have everything running smoothly.” Jenny cheerfully replied.

The two girls just looked at each other and then Gaby turned back to her mum. “Why do I feel like Mad and I should be really afraid?” Gaby playfully asked.

“Seriously Mum, everything ok? … Church … Hotel … Reception … Salon … everything?”

“Nerves?” Jenny asked.

“I guess so.” Gaby turned and looked at Maddy, before she replied.

“Everything's just fine, don't worry.” Jenny spoke in a reassuring tone as she exited the car to go and pick up the wedding bands.

As she got out of the car, Jenny had a sparkle in her eyes when she looked at Dave and put her hand on his. The girls weren't really paying attention to what was happening up front or they may have caught the subtle signal passed from Jenny to Dave.

While the three of them were sitting in the car waiting for Jen, Dave's mobile went off.

“Hallo? … Ja, ist sie hier .” Dave answered the phone and passed it to Gaby while telling her it was George.

“Hallo , George? … das ist wundervoll! … vielen Dank … Auf Wiedersehen.” The other two could feel Gaby's excitement.

Maddy was the first to speak. “Well…?”

As Gaby returned her dad's mobile, she explained that George talked to the sponsor and they've arranged for a flight to pick up Em and the other girls from Manchester on the 14 th .

“I've a feeling you'll need this.” Dave intoned as he passed the mobile back to Maddy.

Kat had to be told so she could tell the other girls when to expect company. Jenny returned with the rings as Maddy completed the call and was passing the mobile back to Dave. Gaby let her mum know what just transpired and that Maddy would be making a few calls to England, tonight.

When the girls asked about the housing, Jenny looked at Dave then told them everything was set and would be ready by the wedding day. Dave told the girls they managed to get Jen's old apartment and were having it fixed up.

When asked if they could go see it, Dave firmly replied, “ Das ist verboten!” Then trying to stifle a smile, added, “You'll just have to wait.”

The next day consisted of various housekeeping chores, for everybody that was on the World Cup Tour, both at the Team's training facility and at home. The pro team & the mechanics were busy with all the little adjustments to the bikes that were required after a tour like the team just rode. In addition to all the post-break activity, finalizing wedding plans and getting things ready to house the British girls was never far from the minds of those involved.

On the 14th while most everyone on the pro team had their first real day of rest, Jenny took the family's van to the Apollinaris hanger at the Bonn-Cologne airport, while Gaby, Maddy, Jules and Kat were busy handling the many of the last minute details one expects with a wedding.

Apollinaris was to fly Jenny to Manchester to pick up the rest of the wedding party, then fly everyone back to Bonn – a full day to be sure. They arrived in Manchester about one PM local time and as Jenny walked into the FlightLinks waiting room, the level of excitement she felt from the five waiting girls was almost palatable.

“There's sandwiches and pop on board, so we won't starve … an' if a certain young lady remembers to make dinner reservations at one of Bad Neuenahr's better Gasthaus, you'll all be enjoying some real German cooking tonight.” Jenny announced.

To her slight amusement, Jen soon discovered the wedding wasn't the only cause for the excitement.

Ann and Brenda had never flown before and were looking forward to the new experience. In the case of Em and Ally, it was the third plane trip for both girls. It was however, their first trip in something smaller than an airliner and the excitement or rather apprehension was certainly there.

As Jen learned, Cathy was the most experienced flier of the five girls. She's had her private pilot's licence since the age of 16.

As they walked out on the tarmac to the parked aircraft, with a sweeping gesture directed at the plane Em asked in a cheerful voice, “Now how can a girl get excited with going on a date in a limo after this?”

Cathy, staring at ‘their private jet' added, “I gotta find me a millionaire.”

With impeccable timing, Ann quickly responded with, “I heard both William and Harry are still available.” That brought more than a few giggles from the girls, including Jenny.

After allowing the ground crew to stow their luggage, everyone boarded and prepared for departure.

Once in the air, Jenny told the girls what to expect when they landed and that once in Bad Neuenahr, the other girls in the wedding party would meet them at the Team's facility at which point the question of accommodations would be settled.

As they were approaching Bonn, Jen put down the handset of the plane's in-flight phone and announced, “Good news, girls … we eat tonight!”

The next three days would be taken up with all the girls double-checking every little detail had been done, as well as just enjoying Bad Neuenahr and area. Jenny hoped that by spending some time showing the girls the area, Gaby and Maddy just might find a bit of time to unwind from all the accumulated stress that came from planning their own wedding.

To be continued:

PB 03.01.07 ©2007

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