#nwst

"Tobin, what's got you so distracted?" Ashlyn's voice broke through Tobin's reverie, drawing her attention.

Tobin bit her lip, her cheeks flushing slightly as she met Ashlyn's curious gaze. "Just... waiting for someone," she admitted softly.

A knowing smirk tugged at Christen's lips as she observed Tobin's nervous demeanor. She had caught wind of Tobin's secret girlfriend, stumbling upon the pair during an unexpected encounter. Memories of their first meeting flooded Tobin's mind, igniting a warmth in her chest that spread with each passing moment. Today, she would finally introduce her love to the team, and Tobin couldn't contain her excitement.

~Flashback~

On her day off from Portland Thorns practice, Tobin decided to treat herself to a leisurely stroll to her favorite bakery, a mere five blocks from her apartment. Dressed in comfy sweatpants, her USWNT hoodie, and casual slides, she immersed herself in the tunes flowing through her AirPods as she made her way.

The tantalizing scent of freshly baked goods guided her to the bakery's entrance, her stomach grumbling in anticipation. With her gaze fixed on her phone screen, Tobin inadvertently collided with an obstacle, causing her phone to slip from her grasp and clatter to the ground.

Startled, Tobin looked up to see a figure clad in a black shirt turning to face her. Her eyes traveled upward, meeting the gaze of someone with striking icy blue eyes and an arched eyebrow. But it wasn't just their eyes that captivated her – it was the intricate tapestry of tattoos that adorned their sun-kissed skin, from their neck down beneath their shirt, even peeking out on the back of their hands as they brushed a stray lock of hair behind their ear.

"Uh, done staring yet?" Their voice snapped Tobin out of her reverie, their initially stern expression softening into an amused smirk.

Embarrassment flooded Tobin as she realized they were blocking the entrance, and she hastily stepped back, cheeks flushing crimson with embarrassment.

A smirk danced across the woman's lips as she glanced down at the cracked phone on the floor, prompting Tobin to follow her gaze. Tobin's heart sank at the sight of her damaged device.

"Shit," Tobin muttered, a pout forming on her lips as she retrieved her phone from the ground.

Meeting the woman's gaze once more, Tobin's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I'm so sorry for bumping into you," she apologized, her voice tinged with genuine regret.

The woman studied Tobin for a moment before speaking in her deep, raspy voice. "I'm Jace. What's your name, beautiful?"

Tobin's blush deepened at the compliment, and she shyly responded, "Tobin."

Jace nodded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips as she gestured towards the register. "It's on me. Get something."

Intrigued by Jace's offer and drawn to her magnetic presence, Tobin couldn't resist the opportunity. With a grateful smile, she made her way to the register, her curiosity piqued by the enigmatic woman she had just met.

~Flashback Ends~

"Hey, Tobin, Ash!" Ali's voice chimed in from behind, accompanied by the rest of the team.

Christen stood steadfastly by Tobin's side, the anticipation palpable among the group.

"What's going on?" Alex's curiosity sparked as she approached, joining the cluster of players.

Ashlyn, wearing a mischievous smirk, took the lead in answering. "We're waiting for someone Tobin knows," she announced, her words stirring murmurs of intrigue among the others, much to Tobin's chagrin.

Before Tobin could respond, a voice cut through the chatter like a beacon.

"TOBIN!"

All heads turned in unison towards the source of the exuberant call. Tobin's face lit up with a wide grin as she recognized the voice, her heart racing with joy.

"Baby!" Tobin exclaimed, abandoning all pretense of composure as she dashed towards her love.

In a whirlwind of excitement, Tobin leaped into her arms, wrapping herself around her with uncontainable delight. Their embrace was tight, filled with a sense of longing finally fulfilled. Tobin buried her face in her partner's neck, savoring the moment of reunion amidst the faint sounds of laughter and shock from her teammates.

After a blissful moment in each other's arms, Tobin reluctantly released her grip and settled back onto solid ground. With her arm draped around her partner's waist and theirs around her shoulder, Tobin turned to proudly face her team, a radiant smile adorning her face as she introduced her love to the world.

"Guys, I want you to meet my girlfriend, Jace," Tobin announced, her shy smile betraying her excitement.

"Hey," Jace greeted the team with a soft murmur, her presence drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

Kelley's voice broke the momentary silence. "Did not see this coming, not once at all," she remarked with a hint of surprise.

"HOLY SHIT! You're a giant! How tall are you? 6'2? 6'3?" Sammy's awe-filled exclamation filled the room.

Tobin couldn't help but laugh, feeling Jace's deep chuckle resonate through their shared embrace. "6'5," Jace confirmed with a brief response.

"Niceeee," Sam drawled out in admiration, clearly impressed by Jace's stature.

Amidst the excitement, Ash's voice cut through the chatter. "I'm so confused," she admitted, prompting Tobin and Jace to exchange a glance before turning their attention back to her.

"What do you mean?" Tobin inquired, curiosity lacing her tone.

"Well, you and Jace are like total opposites. You're the jocky type with sweatpants while she," Ash gestured towards Jace, "a badass muscular tattooed biker."

Tobin turned to take in Jace's appearance, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. She rocked the badass biker look effortlessly with her ripped black baggy jeans, revealing glimpses of tattoos adorning her legs, paired with combat boots, a loose black shirt, and a sleek leather jacket. It was clear where she got her style from.

Returning Tobin's attention to Ash, she shrugged nonchalantly. "Opposites attract," she offered with a playful grin.

Ash rolled her eyes, predictably unimpressed. "Of course, you would reply with a cliché response," she quipped.

Ali intervened with a gentle slap to the back of Ash's head. "I thought that was cute," she chimed in, earning a grateful nod from me.

Before we could delve further into the conversation, Jill emerged from the conference room, her confusion evident as she surveyed the scene before her.

"Uh, what's going on here?" she inquired, her brow furrowed in bemusement.

"Tobin's girlfriend," the chorus of voices rang out in unison, prompting a weary sigh from Jill.

"Nobody's gonna be focused today?" she lamented, met with resounding denials from the team.

Jill relented with a sigh. "Today's meeting is moved to tomorrow. That should get it out of your systems," she declared, already resigned to the fact that the team's attention would be fixated on Jace.

The announcement was met with cheers as the team celebrated their unexpected day off. However, their simultaneous turn towards Tobin and Jace sent a shiver down Jace's spine, an eerie sensation she couldn't shake.

"GRILL TIME!" Kelley, Ash, and Sam exclaimed in unison, seizing Jace's arms and whisking her away to one of the team's rooms, the rest of the team following suit.

Left alone with Jill and Christen, Tobin couldn't help but feel a pang of concern for Jace.

"I pity your girlfriend," Jill remarked before departing, leaving Tobin and Christen to exchange a glance.

"Well, that was interesting," Christen remarked, mirroring Tobin's sentiments.

Christen

My heart raced as I dashed through the hotel corridors, a sense of impending doom weighing heavy on my shoulders. With a muttered curse, I burst into the conference room, drawing all eyes towards me with a guilty start. Some of my teammates wore amused grins at my tardiness, while others exchanged curious glances.

Jill's gaze bore into mine with a mix of concern and expectation, silently demanding an explanation. I offered a tired shrug in response, exhaustion evident in the weary lines of my face. With a resigned sigh, I sank into the nearest chair, sandwiched between familiar faces.

As Tobin's questioning gaze met mine, I could only offer a wordless shake of my head, silently promising to fill her in later. The weight of my lateness hung heavy in the air, overshadowing the excitement of the upcoming meeting.

Jill's voice echoed through the conference room, breaking through the tension with a hopeful promise. "As you know, it's been a month since camp started and we have the 2019 World Cup coming up in 70 days. We are going to completely focus on our skills and plays for the cup. Now, it has been a while since all of you saw your families, so I decided to bring your families down for family day for two days," she announced, her words met with a collective sigh of relief from the team.

The conference room door swung open, revealing a scene of joyful reunion as various family members flooded in. Alex wasted no time in rushing to embrace her husband, her sisters, and her mom, the room filled with the sound of laughter and chatter.

"Chris!" A familiar voice called out, drawing my attention. I turned to see my mom and dad, along with my sisters, Tyler and Channing, standing in the doorway.

"Hi guys!" I exclaimed, a bright smile lighting up my face as I hurried over to them, enveloping each of them in a tight hug. As I pulled away, my eyes scanned the room expectantly. "Where's she?"

"Parking the car. Told us to go in without her," her mom responded with a knowing grin.

As Tobin and Pinoe approached, Christen nodded in acknowledgment.

"Hey Press Family!" They greeted my family warmly, a smile gracing their lips.

During the ensuing discussion, a voice from across the room interrupted their conversation. Christen turned instinctively, her curiosity piqued. To her delight, she spotted a familiar figure amidst the crowd.

"Emery!" she exclaimed, her face brightening with joy at the sight of the woman.

Emery

Emery winced as she entered the bustling conference room, the cacophony of noise assaulting her senses. Quickly, she reached for her phone, adjusting the volume settings to drown out the excess noise. With a sigh of relief, she glanced around the room, taking in the sea of faces.

Her attention was drawn to a woman across the room, her dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes standing out in the crowd. Emery's heart skipped a beat as their eyes met, a sense of familiarity washing over her.

"Hey there, are you looking for someone?" the woman asked, her voice cutting through the din of the room.

Emery bit her lip nervously, feeling a surge of anxiety at the prospect of small talk. Before she could respond, however, another voice rang out, drawing her attention away.

"Emery!" the voice exclaimed, and Emery's gaze snapped towards its source, a smile tugging at her lips as she recognized her beloved Christen.

We both turned to see Christen, who was grinning widely as she dashed towards us. In an instant, she leapt into my arms, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Ignoring the curious stares, I wrapped my arms around her waist as she wrapped her legs around mine, holding her securely as she nestled into my neck, leaving gentle kisses in her wake.

Breaking apart, we locked eyes with matching smiles, a silent exchange of love passing between us. Leaning down, Christen pressed her lips to mine in a kiss that seemed to stretch on forever, and I eagerly returned the gesture.

As we pulled away, the room seemed to come back into focus, and I noticed the gasps and confused murmurs from Christen's teammates. With a slight frown of confusion, Christen looked around, "What?"

The other girls shared knowing looks before silently agreeing on a course of action. With a nod, they moved to whisk Christen away to the other side of the room, leaving me standing there momentarily, feeling a mix of emotions.

Sighing softly, I made my way over to the Presses, grateful for the familiar presence of family amidst the whirlwind of emotions.

•••••

I pouted slightly as I was pulled aside with the other girls, feeling a pang of disappointment at the loss of Emery's hand in mine. Glancing around at the incredulous stares directed my way, I braced myself for the barrage of questions I knew was coming.

"Who is that girl?" Ash started off immediately, her curiosity palpable.

"Emery, I thought that was obvious when I yelled out her name," I replied with a hint of sass, earning a chuckle from Tobin and Pinoe.

"Are you two dating?" Alex's question cut through the air, her curiosity evident.

"Nope," I responded easily, a small smirk playing at my lips.

"But...you kissed?" Mal interjected, her head tilted in confusion.

"Yep, and it was a nice kiss," I confirmed with a nonchalant shrug.

Tobin and Pinoe struggled to contain their laughter, their efforts failing to escape the notice of Kelley and Ash.

"Do you two know about this?" Kelley directed her question to Tobin and Pinoe, her gaze intense.

The two glanced at me for confirmation, and I nodded in response.

"Yes, I know about Emery," Tobin began, "For a couple of years actually," Pinoe finished.

"How do you know her?" Ali's curiosity prompted another round of questions.

"Emery is the co-head creative director along with Tobin for the Re—In company," Pinoe explained matter-of-factly.

Tobin interjected with a fake cough, "Plus, she's married to Chris."

The revelation hung in the air like a heavy fog, leaving the room in stunned silence. Wide-eyed and mouths slightly agape, Christen's teammates struggled to process the bombshell that had just been dropped.

"WHAT!?!" Ash's exclamation shattered the quiet, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

The girls ignored the sudden scrutiny, their focus solely on Christen as they bombarded her with questions.

"How long have you guys been married and why haven't we been invited to the wedding?" Kelley's curiosity was palpable as she sought answers.

Christen sighed, a sense of weariness creeping into her voice. "We have been together for 14 years, married for 10 years. We're high school sweethearts."

Nods of understanding rippled through the group, but the questions persisted.

"Why are we just meeting her now and not back then?" Alex's inquiry hung in the air, echoing the sentiments of the others.

"Emery is a very shy and quiet person," Christen explained, her voice tinged with empathy. "Plus, she is deaf, but she wears hearing aids. Her interactions with people are very limited due to her being bullied. She doesn't like to speak that much, but she uses sign language."

As Christen shared more about her relationship with Emery, the room slowly began to relax, the initial shock giving way to a sense of understanding and acceptance. In that moment, Christen realized just how lucky she was to have such supportive teammates by her side.

•••••

As Christen engaged with her teammates, I found myself drawn to observing her from a distance, silently taking in her presence. Her long, curly brown hair cascaded around her shoulders, framing her tanned skin that seemed to glow under the room's lights. Clad in running shorts that accentuated her long legs, along with a Re—In hoodie and black Nike slides, she exuded a captivating allure that left me breathless. In that moment, she was nothing short of a goddess in my eyes.

Lost in my admiration, I noticed a shift in the room's atmosphere as the conversation among the girls came to a halt. Christen's smile caught my attention as she made her way towards me. Taking my hands in hers, she spoke softly, "Baby, the girls want to meet you. Are you okay with that?"

I paused for a moment, contemplating the implications of meeting Christen's teammates. Despite my apprehension, I nodded in agreement, understanding the importance of acknowledging the integral role they played in her life as a soccer player. With a reassuring smile, Christen kissed my cheek before guiding me towards her teammates.

As we approached the group, Christen introduced me with pride, "Girls, this is Emery, my wife."

The introductions came in a flurry as Christen's teammates eagerly welcomed me into their fold.

The first to extend a friendly greeting was a short blonde woman, holding hands with a taller brunette with a bun. "Hey there, I'm Ashlyn but you can call me Ash, and this is my wife, Ali," she introduced with a warm smile. I nodded in acknowledgment, grateful for their hospitality.

Next up was Kelley, her energy palpable as she introduced herself along with a handful of others. "Hey, I'm Kelley. That's Alex, Sam, Emily, and Rose!" she exclaimed, her enthusiasm contagious. I returned their greetings with a nod, taking note of each name.

Then came Tierna, the youngest of the group, along with Abby, Julie, Crystal, and Morgan. I offered them a friendly smile as Tierna made the introductions, feeling a sense of warmth in their presence.

"Hi! I'm Mal, Chris' team daughter," Mal chimed in, her mention of being Christen's "team daughter" sparking my interest. I waved at her and the others, feeling a sense of camaraderie already forming.

Christen stepped forward, gesturing towards two familiar faces. "As you know, we have a few veterans, Carli and Becky, who primarily look out for us," she explained, acknowledging their presence with a smile.

Tobin and Pinoe approached, offering hugs and cheerful greetings. "Hey there, Emmy!" Pinoe cheered, her enthusiasm infectious.

Tobin introduced me to her best friend, Allie, or Harry, as she affectionately called her. I nodded in acknowledgment, feeling a sense of gratitude for their warm welcome.

Clearing my throat, I spoke softly, addressing the group. "It's nice to meet all of you. I've heard so much about you from Chris, and I appreciate you all looking out for her when I'm not here."

The girls replied in various ways ranging from "Dude, your voice is so hot!" to "It's not a problem, Chris is a sister to us!"

Chris chuckled at them and said, "Now, you guys met Emmy, go see your families!"

She shooed them away leaving us alone. She looked up at me and moved her arms to rest on my shoulders, playing with the baby hairs on my nape as I rest my hands on her hip. Her beautiful brown eyes peaked through her eyelashes and smiled beautifully and leans up on her tippy toes to peck my lips.

"I love you Emery," she whispered softly.

I smiled softly, "I love you too Chrissy."

"HEY LOVEBIRDS!" The yell interrupted our moment as we turn to see Toby waving her arms manically.

Chris laughed and removed her arms away from me but grabbing my hand to lead me to them, "Let's hang with them and later tonight, we can have our own special time," Chris said giving a wink while I shook my head at her smiling.

The girls' responses ranged from playful compliments about my voice to heartfelt reassurances of their bond with Christen. Chuckling at their varied reactions, Christen gently intervened, ushering them away with a playful command to go see their families.

Alone once more, Christen turned her attention back to me, her arms finding their way around my shoulders as she toyed with the strands of hair at the nape of my neck. Her brown eyes sparkled with affection as she leaned up to press a soft kiss to my lips.

"I love you, Emery," she whispered softly against my lips.

A warm smile spread across my face as I returned her sentiment. "I love you too, Chrissy."

Our tender moment was abruptly interrupted by Toby's enthusiastic shout, drawing our attention to her waving arms. Laughing, Christen reluctantly released me but caught my hand, leading me over to join the group.

"Hopey!" Kelley yelled out as she jumped onto Hope's back causing her to grumble at the added weight. Several chuckles and laughs caught the attention of Hope's as she turned around to see the group standing there.

"Get off Squirrel or we're not going," she threatened causing Kelley to immediately jump off her back and pout.

The group, consist of Alex, Preath, Sam, Abby, Pinoe, and Carli, headed toward to the large van with Hope and Kelley in tow as they chattered about soccer and where they're going. They all got in and headed to their destination.

     •••••

After thirty minutes, they pulled into a parking lot in front a building, Miami Animal Shelter. They all exited the van and headed inside the building and was greeted by an employee.

"Hello there. You must be the USWNT group," the short blonde lady confirmed.

"Yes, that's us," Hope nodded taking the charge.

"Alright, I'm Zoe and there are few rules and I'll explain them as you guys follow me," Zoe said as they headed to the door that leads to the back.

Hope zoned out the talking as she looked at variation of dogs and cats. Then, her eye was caught when she saw a young teenager with short curly hair sitting in one of the cages with a large Doberman laying its head on their lap. During Hope's observation, the group finished their tour and had split up. Hope went to Zoe and asked her about the teen.

"Oh, that's Sloan. They are a regular in here, especially amongst the "dangerous" breeds such as Dobermans and pit bulls," Zoe commented.

Hope furrowed her eyebrows, "where's their parents?"

Zoe frowned at the mention of parents, "Sloan is an orphan...their parents kicked them out of the house when they came out as non-binary and gay."

Hope's heart broke for the teen and nodded thanks for the information and proceed to walk closer to the cage the teen was in.

     •••••

"Hey there," A voice brought Sloan out of her head as she looked up to see the woman in front of her. Joey, the Doberman, growled slightly at the stranger, moving its body to protect his friend while she nods slightly.

Sloan bit her lip as she calms Joey down, "hello..."

The woman smiled slightly, "I'm Hope, and you are?"

Sloan studied Hope for a moment and decided to talk to her, "Sloan."

She nodded and shuffled in her spot, motioning toward to the floor asking if she can sit which Sloan nodded and sat down on the floor.

"So, why are you here and not with the others," Hope asked as she motioned toward to the other dog breeds that were being fawned over by her teammates.

Sloan looked down at Joey who has put its head back on her lap with his eyes closed and scratched his head.

"Because they always get attention. Dobermans never do because of preconceived notions that Dobermans are dangerous breed...They're wrong, they're loyal and not dangerous," Sloan explained, "Joey here has been in this shelter for three years and is set to be put down next month because no one is interested in him, and the shelter is starting to get too full."

Hope felt her heart sink at the mention of being put down. "I agree with you that Dobermans are loyal. I got five Dobermans back at home," Hope softly said.

Sloan's eyes widen at the mention of her dogs and looked at Hope, "C-Can I see your dogs?"

Hope grinned and nodded pulling out her phone showing the pictures of her dogs to Sloan who moved closer to her.

After a while of talking about dogs, the topic started to slowly change to about families and Hope brought up the mention of her parents.

"I hope you don't mind, but I asked Zoe about you because I was curious about you," Hope cautiously mentioned cussing Sloan to freeze in her spot.

Sloan bit her lip at the mention of her and instantly knew that she knows about her being an orphan causing her to tear up slightly. Hope's eyes widen at the sight and brings her into a hug.

"Don't cry, your parents didn't deserve you and it is their loss that they left out an amazing kid whose kind and caring," Hope whispered into Sloan's head.

At that last word, Sloan broke down in Hope's arms and cried while Joey whined at the smell of his friend's tears and walked over to the couple, laying his body over their laps. Hope smiled at the dog rubbing the back of his ears while soothing Sloan's back as she slowly starts to calm down.

After a while, the tears completely stopped, and they laid there in silence until footsteps started coming up to the cage. Zoe appeared in their sight and smiled slightly, "Hey there. Your teammates are already at the front waiting for you."

Hope nodded as Zoe left leaving the two alone. Sloan pulled away from the hug and started getting up along with Hope. Sloan tried to clean her face the best she can as they both exited the cage, locking Joey behind and started their trek to the front.

"T-Thank you...for letting me get that out," Sloan stuttered fidgeting with her fingers.

Hope smiled and ruffled her hair, "No problem, kiddo. Now, I want to give you something. Give me your phone," causing Sloan to look at her weirdly.

Hope raised an eyebrow causing Sloan to huff and hand her phone to her. Hope smiled and started typing into her phone and hands it back, "You have my phone number, text me or call if you want to talk. I'll try my best to answer though I will be working or training most of the time."

Sloan smiled slightly and as they reached to the door, she gave Hope a quick hug and left leaving Hope alone. Hope shook her head and went through the door to be greeted by her teammates who was questioning on where she was but Hope never gave any answer as they entered their van and headed their way back to the hotel.

     •••••

It has been two weeks since Hope met Sloan and Joey at the shelter and every weekend, Hope would go back on her own to hang and chat with Sloan. During that time, Hope would chat with Zoe and eventually Sloan's social worker. Hope knew that she has a bond with Sloan, and it was a special deep bond that she didn't want to lose so she thought of adopting Sloan and decided to start the process for the license to adopt.

Her teammates were getting suspicious of her behavior and her disappearance every weekend so Hope decided to end that curiosity. Hope asked Jill if she can hold a meeting because she wanted to talk to the team.

At 5:30pm, the women starting to trickle in, Alex and Kelley were first, Pinoe, Kling, and Sam next, Krashlyn along with Julie and Crystal, then the Harry's and Christen and Pugh came in next. The rest started to come in and lastly, Emily came in breathing heavily, "Sorry, I'm late," causing everyone to chuckle at her.

Jill shook her head, "Sit down. Now someone wants to talk to you. Hope?"

Hope stood up and moved to stand in front of others while Jill sat next to Dawn. "I'm sure you guys are curious about what I've been doing lately, and I decided to tell you before one of you," she said while looking at Kelley, Pinoe, Sam, and Emily, "do something stupid like spying on me."

The women chuckled at the not-so-subtle hint. "On our little bonding activity to the shelter, I met someone. A teenager named Sloan and I found out that they are an orphan and been volunteering at the shelter for couple years. I chatted with Sloan and learned about their life," Hope started off but was cut off by Kelley.

"What happened to her parents?" Kelley asked curiously.

"They kicked Sloan out after discovering that they are gay and non-binary hence they/them pronouns," Hope revealed causing the others to frown.

Hope bit her lip in nervousness for what's going to come next, "I've been going back to the shelter and started hang with Sloan. During this time, I realized that I don't want to lose them so...I've started the process of adopting Sloan, that if she says yes."

It was quiet for a moment while everyone gathered the information and cheered, "We're going to be aunties!"

Alex mentioned that she was going to be the favorite aunt until Kelley declared she was going to be the favorite which led to a big debate over who's going to be the favorite aunts. Hope let out a relief and chuckled at their antics.

"Wait!" Carli's voice broke through the argument, and everyone turned to look at her. "When can you adopt them and when are you asking them?"

Everyone turned to look at Hope who looked at her phone smiling widely, "I just got approval for the adoption...so I'm thinking of asking them today when I go back."

At this information, the women of the national team got up frantically and started moving.

"WE NEED CAKE AND BALLOONS!"

"KELLEY, GET YOUR ASS HERE AND LET'S GO TO THE STORE TO BUY STUFF!"

Pretty soon, the conference room was empty, save for Hope, Jill, and Dawn who watched the entire thing go down.

"Well...I think that's your cue to head to the shelter," Jill chuckled while Hope nodded and started heading down to the shelter.

     •••••

"HOPEY!" Hope was greeted by the loud voice of Sloan who just jumped into her arms.

"Hey there kiddo," Hope grunted at the added weight.

"What are you doing here? It's not Saturday," Sloan asked curiously.

Hope smiled as they walked to Joey's cage where they were greeted by Joey who was excited at the presence of Hope.

"Well, I want to talk something important with you," She started off.

"Important? Okay?" Sloan looked at her warily.

"It's not bad, I hope," Hope bit her lip, "Ever since I met you two weeks ago, I have grown to care for you as my own and...I want to adopt you."

Sloan stared at Hope silently until tears started forming and slowly trickles down their cheeks, "Y-You want to adopt me?"

Hope nodded silently as Sloan threw themselves into her arms nodding at the answer. Hope smiled widely until Sloan abruptly pulled away, "But I c-can't be away from Joey."

Hope chuckled, "Don't worry, you're not the only one getting adopted today."

Sloan's smile was so wide and bright as they cheered with Joey who was licking their face in excitement.

"Now, come one let's go home. Your social worker knows about it and allows me to bring you with me," Hope said as they left the shelter after signing the adoption for Joey and figure out the pickup date and headed back to the hotel.

     •••••

Hope and Sloan was found standing outside of the conference room.

"Now I have to warn you, I told the team about the adoption, and they have might slightly gone crazy."

"Why would they care about me? I'm just...me."

"Sloan, they care about you because you are now the new member of our close family. You're my kid which means they are your aunts."

Sloan nodded and braced herself as Hope opened the door and walked in with Sloan following behind. They were greeted by the room decorated with balloons and a long banner that said, "Welcome to the Family, Sloan!" The women along with Jill and Dawn were standing there smiling at them.

Kelley walked up to the pair and introduced herself, "Hi there! I'm Kelley or Squirrel and I'm your mom's best friend."

Sloan smiled shyly and waved at her, "I'm Sloan," while Hope's heart skipped at being called Mom.

Soon, Sloan was introduced to everyone, and everyone chattered and had cake. It was getting close to 9pm when Sloan was fighting off sleep as she laid her head against Hope's shoulder. Hope noticed the heavy weight and saw that Sloan was asleep.

"Hey, I'm going to put Sloan to bed. I'll see y'all tomorrow," Hope whispered slightly to others who nodded while Hope carried Sloan in her arms and headed up to her hotel room.

Hope entered the room and headed straight to the unoccupied bed and pulled the covers, laying Sloan down onto the bed and pulled the covers over her. Hope went to grab her sleep wear and headed into the bathroom putting her nightwear and headed back to her bed. She turned off the light and thought about the day.

Sloan was shy at first but grew to open up to the girls. While the girls were trying to be the favorite aunt, it was clear who was the favorite. To my surprise and not surprise, it was Carli. Both of them were quiet in nature and got along the quickest. Seeing her smile was amazing and interacting with her soccer family was heartwarming.

Hope turned on her side facing Sloan and softly said, "Goodnight kiddo."

As Ali stood outside their hotel room, tapping her foot impatiently, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of frustration. She had been ready for ages, while Ash seemed to be taking an eternity to perfect her hair. "Ash, come on!" she called out, her tone a mixture of impatience and amusement.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Ash emerged from the room, still fussing over her hair. "You can't rush this hair, babe," she explained with a grin, completely unfazed by Ali's exasperation.

Rolling her eyes, Ali reached out and grabbed Ash's hand, urging her to hurry downstairs to the conference room. As they made their way through the hotel corridors, Ali couldn't help but tease Ash about her meticulous grooming routine, earning herself a playful swat on the arm in response.

Upon entering the conference room, they were greeted with a mix of cheers and teasing remarks from their teammates. Some chuckled knowingly, while others offered playful jibes about Ash's apparent tardiness.

"Looks like someone had a late start this morning!"

"Trouble in paradise, ladies?"

Ali shot a playful glare at the teasing voices, but couldn't help but chuckle along with them. She then turned to Ash and, with mock seriousness, declared, "You know, Ash, I think you might have set a new record for the longest time spent on hair maintenance this morning."

Ash laughed and playfully nudged Ali in response. "Hey, you know I have to look my best for our big day," she replied with a wink, earning herself an eye roll from Ali and a round of laughter from their teammates.

Ash huffed in mock annoyance as she flopped down into one of the empty chairs, earning a laugh from Ali as she settled in beside her. Jill, the team leader, approached the front of the room and cleared her throat, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

"Now that everybody's here," Jill began, her gaze lingering pointedly on Ash, "Today is your free day. We'll start training for the finals tomorrow. So, go out, explore, have fun, but be back here before 7pm for dinner and one last meeting."

With that, the team dispersed into smaller groups and headed out of the hotel. Ali, Ash, Christen, Tobin, Kelley, and Alex found themselves together, wandering the streets of Paris, France. They visited various shops and iconic landmarks, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling city.

As they strolled along, something caught Ali's eye, and she tugged on Ash's hand, leading her away from the group. Curious, Ash followed, trusting Ali's instincts.

They soon found themselves outside a charming little café, the inviting aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods wafting through the air. Ash's stomach rumbled in response, and they eagerly joined the queue at the register, greeted warmly by the café staff.

"Bonjour, que puis-je faire pour vous aujourd'hui?" The café worker greeted them in French, her warm smile faltering slightly when she noticed the puzzled expressions on Ash and Ali's faces. Translation: Hello, what can I get for you today?")

Ash turned to Ali with wide eyes, silently mouthing, 'I don't know French.'

Ali's brows furrowed with concern. "Oh, um, we don't speak French. Perhaps English?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

"Je suis désolé, je ne parle pas anglais. Laissez-moi trouver quelqu'un qui le parle," the woman apologized, scanning the room for assistance. (Translation: "I'm sorry, I don't speak English. Let me find someone who does.")

Before Ali could respond, a smooth, slightly deep, raspy voice cut in, interrupting the frantic search. "No worries, I speak French," it declared confidently.

Ali and Ash turned to see a tall figure stepping forward, his voice exuding calm assurance. He gave them a reassuring smile, indicating that he would assist them.

Both Ali and Ash turned to see their savior, greeted by a very tall, tanned girl standing at about 6'2. She had shoulder-length curly hair that cascaded in wild waves and stormy gray eyes that seemed to hold a hint of mischief.

"What do you guys want?" she asked, her voice confident and friendly, her demeanor exuding a casual charm that put them at ease.

"Uhh um, two espressos, two macaroons, and one of those mocha cake slices," Ali mumbled out, feeling a bit flustered by the sudden assistance.

The stranger smiled warmly, her eyes crinkling at the corners, and turned to the café worker, effortlessly switching back to French. "Ils auront deux expressos, deux macarons, et une de ces parts de gâteau au moka. Je vais prendre un café glacé au caramel avec des crêpes fourrées au chocolat. Je vais les payer," she ordered, her tone polite but firm, her command of the language impeccable. (Translation: "They will have two espressos, two macaroons, and one of those mocha cake slices. I'll get an iced caramel coffee with chocolate-filled crepes. I'll pay for them.")

She handed her card over to the worker, who took it and swiftly swiped it through the machine before handing it back with a nod of approval. As Ash reached into her purse to retrieve the money, the stranger interjected, "No worries, I got you."

"Are you sure? It seems like quite a lot," Ali asked, her concern evident in her tone.

"I'm sure," the stranger replied with a reassuring smile, her eyes twinkling with sincerity.

"Well, then you should sit with us if you're going to pay for us," Ash offered, a warm smile spreading across her face.

"I will gladly take up the offer of eating with two gorgeous women such as yourselves," the stranger replied with a wink, causing a slight red tint to appear on both Ali and Ash's cheeks.

The three of them made their way to find an empty table and settled down, exchanging introductions as they waited for their order to arrive. "I just realized that I never introduced myself. I'm Ali, and this is my girlfriend, Ashlyn," Ali said, extending her hand in greeting.

"No worries, I'm August," she responded with a warm smile. "So, based on your accent, you're American. What brought you here?"

"The women's tournament actually," Ali replied.

"Oh, that's right, the women's soccer World Cup. You two soccer players?" August asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Yep, Ali's a defender, and I'm the goalkeeper," Ash chimed in just as the café worker arrived with their food and drinks.

"Merci beaucoup," August said with a grateful smile as the lady walked away, leaving the three of them to enjoy their meal.

"Mmh, this is so good," Ash hummed happily after taking a sip of her coffee, earning chuckles from Ali and August.

"What about you? I can hear a slight American accent," Ash asked, intrigued.

"Ah yes, I'm from Florida actually, but I moved here when I turned 18 to attend a cooking school. I haven't been back since then," August explained.

"Oh, may I ask why you haven't come back?" Ali inquired gently.

"Sure...my parents died when I was 20 years old, and I don't have any other family, so there was nothing to come back to. I just decided to stay," August shrugged, a hint of sadness flickering in her eyes before she quickly composed herself.

"Oh, I'm sorry for your loss," Ali said, her smile tinged with sadness.

"It's fine. I've grown to love this place anyway," August replied, her smile genuine despite the somber topic.

Their conversation was interrupted by the ringing of a phone, which turned out to be Ash's. She took the call and listened intently before hanging up with a sigh.

"Hey...it's 6:30 already? Yeah, we'll be there. Okay, bye," Ash informed Ali, turning to her with a sense of urgency. "We gotta go. Dinner is at 7 and then a meeting after that."

August's expression flickered with disappointment, but she quickly masked it as they glanced back at her. Despite the reluctance to end their conversation, they all stood up, disposed of their trash, and made their way out of the café. They stood in silence for a moment as the breeze gently brushed against them.

"So, umm, I guess this is goodbye. Good luck at the World Cup," August said softly as she turned to walk back to her home.

Ash and Ali felt a pang of regret as they watched August leave. They had shared a connection with her, a brief but meaningful moment that left an impression on them both. As August disappeared from view, they exchanged a glance, silently acknowledging the mutual feeling of reluctance to let her go.

But just as they were about to part ways, Ash's expression suddenly changed, a realization dawning on her.

"WAIT!"

August turned around to see Ash and Ali running toward her, their expressions filled with urgency.

"We have finals in two days. Come see us? We'll provide tickets," Ash asked hopefully, her voice tinged with desperation.

August bit her lip, considering their offer, before smiling at them. "Sure...gimme your phone."

Ash handed her phone to August, who quickly typed in her contact information before handing it back.

"You have my phone number. Text me about the tickets," August said as she turned and walked away, waving her hand back at them. "See ya gorgeous ladies later!"

Ali and Ash watched August as she disappeared around a corner, their hearts pounding with anticipation. Just as they were about to discuss their encounter, Ash's phone buzzed with a notification. Her face paled as she read the message.

"Ali..."

"Yeah?"

"We're ten minutes late..."

"Shit..." Ali cursed, realizing the gravity of their situation.

•••••

As the day of the game arrived, Krashlyn and August had been texting each other throughout the night and the next day, learning new things about each other. It was safe to say that Ali and Ash were slowly but surely developing feelings for August.

On the other hand, August was a bundle of nerves. She found herself attracted to both women, who were already in a relationship with each other. The late-night conversations only fueled the fire of emotions she felt for Ali and Ash, leaving her in a state of turmoil.

As the women's team entered onto the field for the game, Ali and Ash scanned the stands in hopes of spotting August, but she was nowhere to be found. The other girls on the team noticed their searching gazes and decided to inquire when they returned to the locker room.

Upon their return, Alex couldn't help but ask, "Ali, Ash, who or what were you looking for out there?"

Ash glanced at Ali for confirmation before she spoke up. "We met someone, two days ago when we went out. We ended up at this little café, and there was a communication barrier. Luckily, a stranger named August helped us out, and we invited her to sit with us. It was... amazing. We connected so well with her," Ali explained, her voice tinged with longing.

"When you guys called us that day, we didn't want to leave her so soon, so we invited her to the game," Ash added.

"So, you were looking for August, but I'm guessing she's not here?" Kelley asked, and Krashlyn nodded in confirmation.

"GAME TIME!" Jill's voice boomed into the locker room, putting the conversation on hold as the women geared up and headed outside to start the game.

In the first 20 minutes of the game, August finally arrived and took her seat in the stands. She watched in awe as Ash demonstrated pure concentration while managing the defense lineup, and she cheered enthusiastically when Ash made a crucial save. Meanwhile, Ali proved to be a formidable force in defending the ball from the goal box. Overall, August gained a newfound respect for the players and developed a newfound love for soccer.

The shrill sound of the whistle pierced through the air, signaling the end of the first half of the game. Players streamed off the field, seeking respite and hydration on the sidelines. Amidst the flurry of activity, Ali's gaze once again wandered to the stands, where she immediately caught August's eyes. A wide smile adorned August's face as she proudly sported Krieger's jersey, cheering fervently for Ali and Ash.

Ali's heart swelled with warmth as she called out to Ash, who initially looked at her in confusion until Ali motioned towards the stands. Ash followed Ali's gaze and spotted August, a surge of happiness coursing through her as their eyes met.

The second half commenced with the resounding blow of the whistle, and Ali and Ash shifted their focus back to the game, determined to give it their all and put on a show for August. For the next 45 minutes, they poured their hearts into every play, fueled by the desire to make their newfound friend proud.

As the final whistle blew, signaling the end of the game with a resounding 3-0 victory in favor of the USA, Ali and Ash's jubilation knew no bounds. They rushed towards each other, enveloping one another in a tight embrace before pulling back to share a celebratory kiss.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team made their way to the stands to reunite with their families, leaving Ali and Ash to make their way towards August, who was waiting at the barrier.

"Congrats, champs!" August exclaimed as they reached her, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "That was an amazing game—"

Before August could finish her sentence, Ali seized the moment, pulling her in by the jersey and pressing her lips against hers in a sudden, passionate kiss. The world seemed to stand still for a moment as they shared the intimate embrace.

Seconds later, Ash joined in, pulling August into another kiss, their connection electric and undeniable. As they finally pulled away, August was left speechless, her cheeks flushed with a deep blush as she processed the whirlwind of emotions that had just washed over her. And as they stood there, enveloped in the afterglow of victory and newfound affection, the surrounding spectators bore witness to the unexpected but undeniable chemistry between the three of them.

"I-I..." August stuttered, her mind reeling with a whirlwind of emotions.

Ali's voice broke through the tension, her tone filled with vulnerability. "Here's the thing," she began, her nerves palpable. "We like you. Like, a lot. And we want to date you... if that's something you're up for?"

August felt a rush of warmth flood her chest as she looked into the earnest eyes of Ali and Ash. Their sincerity was undeniable, and for a moment, all of August's doubts melted away. She found herself nodding slowly, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

But words seemed to escape her, and before she could respond, Ali leaned in and pressed her lips against August's, a gentle yet passionate kiss that spoke volumes. Ash followed suit, her touch equally tender as she captured August's lips in a tender embrace.

As they pulled away, August felt a surge of warmth and acceptance wash over her. "I like you two, and I'm all for it, gorgeous," she finally murmured, her voice filled with sincerity and affection.

The three women grinned at each other, a newfound sense of connection blossoming between them.

Their tender moment was interrupted by Kelley's booming voice echoing across the field. "ASH! ALI! We need to take pictures!"

Reluctantly, Ali and Ash broke away from August, their fingers lingering as they exchanged one last smile.

"We gotta go, talk to you later?" Ash asked, her eyes shimmering with excitement as they began to descend from the barrier.

"Of course. Have fun, and I'll call you later, loves," August replied, waving at them with a smile.

2012

As I stepped out of the car, a bundle of nerves knotted in my stomach. Pocketing the small box, I closed the door gently behind me, only to receive a hearty slap on the back that snapped me out of my reverie. Pinoe grinned at me, oblivious to my inner turmoil.

"You look like you're about to faint," she remarked, and I shot her a wry glare.

"Can you blame me? This is a big deal, and I'm terrified she won't say yes," I confessed, worrying my lip as I mulled over the state of our relationship, which had been strained for months. Between her hectic soccer schedule, outings with her teammates, and my own demanding job, finding time to connect had been a challenge.

"She'll say yes, trust me. She adores you," Pinoe reassured me, and I felt some of the tension drain from my shoulders at her words.

"Thanks, Megs. You always know just what to say," I murmured, offering her a grateful smile. She simply shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Hey, what are best friends for?" she quipped.

Megan and I had been inseparable since childhood, and she was the one who had introduced me to my current girlfriend – hopefully, soon-to-be fiancée.

"I'll be waiting with your celebratory supplies," Pinoe declared with a thumbs-up.

With a nod, I steeled myself and headed into the apartment building, Pinoe's cheers echoing behind me. Inside the elevator, I punched the button for the fourth floor and waited, my heart pounding with anticipation. When the doors finally slid open, I made my way to apartment 424, pausing outside to gather my thoughts before knocking.

With a heavy anticipation, I used the house key she had entrusted to me and unlocked the door. Stepping inside, I closed it softly behind me before venturing into the living room. My eyes scanned the area, noting the two dirty plates and cups in the sink, likely remnants of a friend's visit. As I made my way toward the bedroom door, my gaze fell upon a pair of unfamiliar jeans and a lone shoe that certainly didn't belong to my girlfriend.

Dread gnawed at my insides, a sinking feeling settling in my stomach. Swallowing hard, I approached the bedroom door, my hand hesitating over the knob. A sound, faint at first, reached my ears – a moan, deep and unmistakable. With a shaky breath, I turned the knob and pushed the door open, only to have my worst fears realized in an instant.

There she was, straddling another man, lost in ecstasy as she moved rhythmically atop him. Her familiar moans, ones I knew intimately, cut through me like a knife. A large hand gripped her hips possessively as they rocked together, oblivious to my presence until she turned to find me standing in the doorway, my expression a tumult of confusion and hurt.

"Asa..." she gasped, her voice catching as she scrambled off the bed, hastily grabbing a discarded t-shirt to cover herself. With her no longer obscuring my view, I caught sight of the man beneath her, and rage surged within me. I couldn't bear to confront them, to face the betrayal head-on. Without a word, I turned on my heel and fled the apartment, the echo of her pleading cries ringing in my ears as I descended the stairs, bypassing the elevator entirely.

Outside, Pinoe stood, her brow furrowed in concern as she spoke into her phone, her gaze snapping to me as I emerged from the building.

"Asa, what's going on?" Pinoe's voice was laced with worry, but I brushed past her, heading straight for the car.

Before Pinoe could press further, a familiar voice shattered the tense silence.

"ASA!"

Both Pinoe and I turned to see Alex rushing toward us, her hastily thrown-on t-shirt and sweatpants a stark contrast to her usual composed demeanor.

I couldn't contain the surge of anger and betrayal that consumed me. "What do you want, Alex? Shouldn't you be with Servando?" I spat out, the bitterness of my words cutting through the air.

Pinoe recoiled at the harshness of my tone, her gaze shifting between Alex's tear-streaked face and me, her expression a mixture of shock and confusion. "Alex?" she echoed, her voice barely a whisper.

Alex opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out, her tears betraying the depth of her anguish.

As Alex admitted to the four-month-long betrayal, I felt a weight settle in the pit of my stomach. Four months. It all made sense now. Fighting back tears, I clenched my jaw, struggling to maintain my composure as I processed the depth of her betrayal.

With a heavy heart, I reached into my pocket and retrieved the ring box I had intended to present to her moments ago. Holding it out to Alex, I murmured, "I had hoped to propose to you, but that's no longer an option. It's yours. Goodbye, Alex."

Her shocked expression mirrored my shattered emotions as I turned away, making my way to the passenger seat where Pinoe sat, a silent witness to our crumbling relationship.

As Alex pleaded for another chance, promising to end the affair and professing her love, I paused, my hand resting on the car door handle. "Alex, it's over. If you truly loved me, you wouldn't have betrayed my trust," I stated firmly, my voice strained with hurt and resignation.

Sliding into the car, I directed Pinoe to drive away, leaving Alex kneeling on the pavement, clutching the ring box to her chest as her world fell apart.

With tears blurring my vision, I stared ahead, lost in a whirlwind of pain and betrayal. Pinoe's hand found mine, offering silent support as we left behind the shattered remnants of what was once our shared dream.

•••••

2019

Standing on the sidewalk with my suitcase and soccer bag, I stared up at the imposing facade of the hotel where the USWNT was staying. How on earth had I ended up here, of all places? That question echoed in my mind, a mix of disbelief and uncertainty swirling within me.

~Flashback~

The incessant ringing of my phone jolted me awake from a deep slumber. Groggily, I fumbled for my phone, squinting at the blinding brightness of the screen. "3:02 AM," I muttered, my irritation mounting as I answered the call.

"It's three in the bloody morning, what's so urgent?" I grumbled, shifting to lie on my back.

"My apologies, I didn't consider the time difference," came the familiar voice on the other end of the line.

"Jill? Is that you?" I rubbed my eyes, trying to fully wake up.

The lump beside me stirred, and a tousled head peeked out from beneath the covers, resting on my chest as I absentmindedly played with her hair.

"Yes, it's me, Asa," Jill confirmed.

"Nice to hear from you. What's going on?" I asked, stifling a yawn as I tried to shake off the remnants of sleep.

"Asa, I need you here for the 2019 World Cup," Jill's voice cut through the late-night haze.

My immediate response was a flat refusal. "No thanks."

But Jill persisted, her tone pleading. "Asa, please. I'm short a forward. Jessica got injured earlier today and won't be able to play."

As I pondered her request, the woman in my arms showered me with kisses on my neck, her whispers urging me on. "Do it. I know you miss your friends."

Her words hit home. I did miss my friends, especially Pinoe and Carli.

"And Pinoe and Carli miss you—" Jill continued before I cut her off with a gruff agreement.

"Fine, I'll be there," I relented, my resolve wavering under the weight of nostalgia and longing.

Jill let out a sigh of relief. "Great. I'll send you the tickets and the schedule."

I offered a noncommittal hum in response as Jill finalized the details.

"See you in two days," Jill concluded before ending the call.

With a groan, I tossed the phone onto the nightstand and pulled the woman closer, wrapping my arms around her as we both drifted back into sleep.

~Flashback Ends~

I sighed as I stepped into the hotel lobby, spotting Jill waiting for me. A small smile tugged at her lips as she greeted me.

"Hello, Asa," Jill said warmly.

Returning her smile, I pulled her into a brief hug. "Hey, Jill. It's good to see you," I replied before we parted.

Jill patted me on the back and then glanced at me expectantly. "Ready to meet the team?"

I raised an eyebrow, a sense of apprehension creeping in. "Not really, but I guess I don't have much of a choice," I admitted with a chuckle.

Jill chuckled along with me as we made our way through the hotel. As we entered the conference room, the chatter died down, and all eyes turned toward us. Each member of the team had a different expression on their face.

Pinoe, Tobin, and Kelley greeted me with wide smiles and enthusiastic waves, their excitement palpable. Becky and Carli offered softer smiles, their warmth evident in their eyes.

The younger members stared at me in awe, their curiosity piqued by my presence. And then there was Alex Morgan, her gaze fixed on me with a mixture of surprise and hope, her eyes silently pleading for a second chance.

As Jill and I approached the front of the room, she took the lead in addressing the team.

"Alright, everyone. As we know, Jessica sustained an injury two days ago, and we're in need of a forward. Please welcome your new teammate, Asa West," Jill announced.

Stepping forward, I offered a simple greeting. "Hi, I'm Asa."

A hush fell over the room as all eyes turned toward me, awaiting further words. But I remained silent, feeling the weight of their expectations resting upon me.

In that moment of quiet, Pinoe seized the opportunity to make her grand entrance, bounding forward to envelop me in a bear hug.

"BESTIE!" she exclaimed, her enthusiasm contagious.

I chuckled softly, returning her embrace. "We saw each other just a month ago," I reminded her with a playful smirk.

Pouting, Pinoe released me and dropped to the ground dramatically. "A month too long," she declared, her expression mockingly wounded.

Shaking my head at her antics, I turned my attention to Becky, Kelley, and Carli, who approached us at a more measured pace. Locking eyes with Kelley, I was met with a warm hug and a whispered apology.

"I missed you, and I'm sorry about Alex. I didn't know," Kelley murmured, her sincerity evident in her voice.

I returned Kelley's hug with gratitude, offering her a reassuring smile. "It's okay, Kells. And I missed you too."

As we parted, Carli stepped forward, enveloping me in a warm embrace. "It's good to see you again," she said sincerely before Becky joined in, her words laced with playful affection. "Yeah, I missed my crossword partner."

Chuckling softly, I returned their embraces. "I missed you guys too," I admitted genuinely.

The younger members then swarmed around me, their curiosity evident as they bombarded me with questions. I did my best to answer each one, enjoying the energy and excitement they brought to the room.

Amidst the chatter, my gaze met Alex's, and for a moment, we held each other's gaze. But I quickly averted my eyes, focusing instead on engaging with Mal, Tierna, Sam, Emily, and Lindsey.

As I took in the scene before me, I couldn't help but think that this World Cup would be an interesting and challenging journey for us all.

•••••

July 7th, 2019

As the day of the Finals at the 2019 World Cup arrived, tensions ran high in the locker room. Alex's persistent attempts to restart our relationship had put me on edge, and I found myself relying on the support of my old teammates to navigate the situation.

Fortunately, Becky, Carli, Kelley, Tobin, and Pinoe had been instrumental in helping me maintain my distance from Alex while also reconnecting with each other. Our bonds had been restored, and we promised to stay in touch even after the World Cup concluded.

In the locker room, the atmosphere was electric as Jill entered, ready to announce the starting lineup for the crucial match against the Netherlands.

"Alright, the starting lineup is Heath, Morgan, and West as our forwards, Lavelle, Mewis, and Ertz as our midfielders, Dunn, Sauerbrunn, and Dahlkemper as our defenders, and lastly, Naeher as our goalie. The captain is West. Congratulations," Jill declared, tossing the captain's armband to me.

As I slipped on the armband, a sense of pride washed over me, bolstered by the support and camaraderie of my teammates. We exited the locker room, ready to take to the field and give it our all.

Stepping onto the pitch, the strains of the national anthems filled the air, heightening the anticipation of the match ahead. Glancing across to the Netherlands' side, I sought out a familiar pair of eyes and locked gazes with said pair.

As Pinoe's teasing remark caught me off guard, I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. "Shaddup," I muttered, playfully pushing her away.

With the whistle signaling the start of the match, we took to the field, fully aware of the stakes at hand. The intensity of the game was palpable, each team vying for victory in the quest for the World Cup title.

As the first half progressed, neither side managed to break the deadlock. It was a fiercely contested battle, with both teams showcasing their defensive prowess.

At halftime, we retreated to our benches, hydrating and refocusing for the remainder of the match. The second half began with renewed vigor, and I could sense the determination coursing through our team.

At the 61st minute, I finally found the back of the net, scoring a crucial hat trick goal to put us ahead 1-0. The cheers from our supporters echoed through the stadium, fueling our momentum.

We continued to press forward, and soon, Lavelle capitalized on a scoring opportunity, extending our lead to 2-0 with an assist from Mewis.

As the clock ticked down, substitutions were made to maintain our defensive solidity and see out the victory. Alex was replaced by Press in the 79th minute, followed by Heath being substituted for Lloyd in the 87th minute.

As the final whistle echoed across the stadium, signaling the end of the game, I stood on the field, a mixture of exhaustion and elation washing over me. A wide grin stretched across my face as the reality of our victory sank in – we had won the World Cup.

Pinoe, Kelley, and Mal rushed towards me, their jubilant expressions mirroring my own. We embraced in a tight hug, sharing in the joy of our triumph.

Amidst the celebrations, I noticed the defeated looks on the faces of the Netherlands team. With a sense of sportsmanship, I made my way over to them, offering words of consolation and respect.

As I spoke with Danielle van de Donk, a familiar voice called out my name, drawing my attention along with the rest of the USA team.

Turning, I saw Jackie sprinting towards me, her face alight with excitement. With a smile, I opened my arms, ready to catch her as she leapt into my embrace. Her arms wrapped around my shoulders, and her legs around my waist as I held her securely.

"Congrats on winning the cup and that amazing goal," Jackie exclaimed, her words filled with genuine admiration and pride.

With a smile, I responded, "Thanks, baby," before leaning in to kiss her on the lips.

The gasps and murmurs from my teammates brought me back to reality, and I broke the kiss to address them. Gently lowering Jackie to the ground, I kept my arm around her waist as I turned to face my team.

"Hey, guys, I want you to meet someone," I began, a sense of pride evident in my voice. "This is Jackie Groenen, my wife."

Looking down at her with adoration, I couldn't help but smile at the realization of our marriage.

Jackie scoffed playfully and shot me a teasing glance. "Excuse you, it's Jackie West," she corrected, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

I laughed and nodded in agreement. "My bad. Still can't believe we're married."

Jackie rolled her eyes affectionately and leaned up to kiss my cheek, eliciting a soft chuckle from me.

As we stood together, Pinoe approached us with a curious expression, eager to meet the newest addition to our team – my wife.

Pinoe greeted Jackie warmly with a hug, and Jackie returned the gesture with a smile. "It's good to see you again, Pinoe. I hope Asa behaved?" she quipped, teasingly.

"Like a saint," Pinoe replied with a grin, offering her reassurance.

As the rest of the team gathered around us, their curiosity piqued by Jackie's presence, they bombarded me with questions about why I had never mentioned her before.

"I'll explain in the locker room," I stated firmly, signaling an end to the inquiries.

With nods of understanding, they dispersed, leaving Jackie and me alone for a moment.

Turning to her, I pressed a tender kiss to her lips. "See you after the lockers?" I murmured softly.

"Ja, mijn schat," Jackie replied in Dutch, her affection evident in her tone.

"Ik houd van jou," I whispered in return.

I had made the effort to learn Dutch when I started dating Jackie, wanting to be able to communicate with her and her family in their native language when we visited the Netherlands.

As Jackie walked off to join her team, a smile lingered on her lips, reflecting the warmth of our shared affection.

Heading into the locker room, I was met with the inquisitive stares of my teammates, prompting me to sigh and launch into an explanation.

"Jackie and I met during our time at Chelsea in 2014. I was intrigued by her, but she was younger, so I didn't pursue her initially. However, Jackie was interested and confronted me, asking me out. We ended up dating for two years until I proposed to her on December 25, 2016. Three months later, we got married with Pinoe as my maid of honor. Currently, we both play for FFC Frankfurt."

As I finished recounting our story, the team listened intently. But it was the mention of Pinoe's role in our wedding that seemed to captivate their attention the most.

In unison, their heads turned to Pinoe, who looked up from her phone with a raised eyebrow, sensing the weight of their gaze. "What?" she questioned innocently. "Asa and I are childhood friends. Of course I would be there."

Her nonchalant response elicited a collective nod of understanding from the team, as they accepted the bond that Pinoe and I shared, both on and off the field.

"You love her?"

As Alex's quiet voice cut through the tension in the locker room, her question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotions. I met her gaze, the sincerity of my response reflected in my eyes.

"I truly do. I can't see a life without her," I affirmed, my words carrying the weight of my conviction.

A solemn silence descended upon the room as everyone processed my confession. Alex nodded, a flicker of understanding crossing her features, before quietly gathering her belongings and leaving the locker room.

Releasing a pent-up sigh, I turned to address the rest of the team. "Alright, let's get our stuff and head out," I announced, prompting everyone to spring into action.

Exiting the locker room, I was met by Jackie, her presence a comforting anchor amidst the swirling emotions. Our hands intertwined naturally as we made our way to the bus waiting to transport us to the hotel.

Drawing her close, I wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pressing a tender kiss to the top of her head as we walked. Entering the bus, we found seats together, and I settled in beside her, grateful for her unwavering support and companionship.

"Everything okay?" Jackie's whispered question brought me back to the present moment.

Meeting her gaze, I couldn't help but smile softly, reassured by her presence. Leaning in, I pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. "Everything is okay," I murmured, my words imbued with sincerity and gratitude.

Our eyes met in silent understanding, sharing a moment of reassurance and love. With a contented sigh, we settled into our seats, Jackie resting her head against my shoulder while I looked out the window, a smile playing on my lips.

Hunter

I was laying down back on my surfboard with my eyes closed enjoying the soothing rocking motion of the ocean. My fingers trailed the water as I open my eyes to be greeted by different shades of gray. It's been 28 years and I still yet have not met my soulmate. At this point, I have given up and just lived my life.

I turned back onto my stomach and noticed that a big swell was starting to form, and a smirk appeared on my face.

This is gonna be a big one.

I started padding out to the swell that was turning into a big wave. I caught the wave and started riding out the wave with tricks and flips. After a minute, the wave starts to fade away allowing me to hop off my board and walking to the shore with it under my arm. I reached to my towel where my personal items were, propped my board up in the sand and laid down on the towel.

After moments later, I was bombarded with licks against my face which caused me to scrunch up my face and push the offending tongues away from me. I opened to eyes to be greeted by what it seems two Pitbull mix. I couldn't tell what their color fur was, but I could tell that one was darker than the other.

I chuckled at them as their tails wagged as I started scratching their heads. They seemed to enjoy it that they decided to lay down next to me and laid their heads in my lap. I was a bit concerned where their owner was and eventually someone will be calling for them, so I just chilled, waiting for the owner to show up.

•••••

After a while, I heard voices calling out. I turned my head around slightly to see who it was and saw it was a woman and a little kid in her arms. They got closer until they noticed that the dogs were next to me and walked over to me.

As they got closer, I could now see what they look like and for some reason, the woman looked really familiar, but I couldn't figure out.

"Hi there, I'm so sorry about my dogs. I had to adjust my daughter and accidentally dropped my leash and they ran off," the woman rambled.

I chuckled cutting her off, "it's fine, they kept me company." I stood up patting my sand-covered shorts and I realized that I towered over her 5'7 with my 6'2 height.

The woman smiles slightly, shifting her daughter to her other side holding out her hand as the dogs moved in-between us, "I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Alex Morgan, this is my daughter and my two dogs, Blue and Kona."

I shook her hand as I connected my eyes with hers as I started off, "Mines Hunter..." and I heard a gasp. Bright wide blue eyes entered my vision as my jaw drops along with hers.

"S-Soulmates..." she whispered causing shivers to go through my body at the sound of her voice and I nodded.

"Umm, would you like to talk more after this?" I bit my lip nervously but was instantly calm and excited once she nodded with a smile.

•••••

Alex

It has been nine months since I met my soulmate, and those months has been the best. Hunter was nothing that I ever imaged my soulmate would be. She was handsome. She has shoulder-length curly silver hair, tanned skin with black intricate ink all over her body. She was funny and romantic, and I loved when she spends time with my daughter unlike my ex-husband who hasn't even seen her for three months.

"Hello? Anybody home?" A voice called me out, bringing me out into reality. I looked to see it was Ashlyn and Ali.

"Oh, hey guys, what are you doing here?" I wondered.

"Uhh, we're here to meet your soulmate, remember?" Ash chuckled.

"Oh, that's right. Come on, they're inside," I said getting off the porch and head inside my home.

I was greeted by loud giggles of my own daughter and the deep chuckle of Hunter's causing warmth to bloom in my chest. We head into the living room and saw Charlie sitting on the couch clapping her hands while Hunter was dramatically acting out the scene 'Let it Go' from Frozen. Hunter stumbled over her foot once she saw us standing there.

"Oh, hi there!" Hunter waves causing Charlie to turn around and saw Ali and Ash behind me.

"AUNTIE ASHY, ALI!" She squealed getting off the couch and running toward to them while Hunter walked to me and kissed my forehead, "hey there, love."

After few moments of Ali and Ash chattering with Charlie, Ash pulled Hunter outside while Ali and I sat on the couch with Charlie who was finishing up with Frozen.

Hunter

Ashlyn and I moved outside on the porch where there's a swinging bench and sat on it.

"So, you're my best friend's soulmate," Ashlyn started off, "She's been through a lot. She had her heart broken by her ex-husband when she found him cheating. Don't hurt her. Please don't and especially don't hurt Charlie. If you do...you have 22 other aunties coming after you to kick your ass and I will warn you, it's gonna fucking hurt."

I smiled at the protective friend and nodded, "I couldn't dream of hurting her or even Charlie. They're the light in my life and I will not foolishly do anything to ruin that. I...love Alex," I bite my lip as I look out into the suburban, "this past nine months were amazing and has been the best thing that ever happened, and I want them in my life forever."

Ashlyn was staring at me with a soft smile, "I can tell from that love-stricken smile. You're gonna be the good thing to this family and for the better."

I nodded and eventually the talk has lightened up and we opened up and started talking about surfing and soccer and eventually we formed a solid friendship. We finally headed inside and greeted our respective partners.

Alex

After twenty minutes, I was getting nervous and Ali could tell so she asked, "Is she good for you?"

I thought back to Hunter and how she affected my life for the better. Couple weeks ago, Charlie got sick and infected me. Hunter dropped everything she was doing once she heard we were sick and nursed us back to health even though she could have gotten sick which she did, but she said it was worth it.

"Judging from the smile on your face, I will take that as a yes," she smiled warmly as Hunter and Ash came inside.

I got up to kiss Hunter softly on the lip and sat back down as Hunter went into the kitchen while Ash took the seat next to me. "I approve of her," Ash commented causing me to chuckle and nod. 

Later that day, we all had dinner and spent time in the living room hanging out until it was time for them to head back home.

After putting Charlie to sleep, I headed to my room where I was greeted by Hunter in her boxers and sports bra laying down in bed reading a book. I took off my clothes that I wore today and into a large shirt that belongs to Hunter and pair of panties and got in bed. 

Once I laid down, she marked the page and put the book on her nightstand and turned off the lights thrusting us into darkness. She scooted closer to me, wrapping an arm around my waist as I laid my head on her shoulder.

"I love you Alex," she murmured kissing my forehead causing me to shift my head to face her.