But to love is to live. (Criminal Minds)

X. Tryouts

A/N: I know girls soccer is a spring sport but for this it's fall. It may change and if it does I will, of course, let yall know.

"Are you guys going to be home tonight?"

"I don't know honey. This case is harder than I thought."

"Am I on speaker?"

"No why?" Emily asked skeptically

"Can you please put me on speaker?"

There was more ruffling than she could hear her Mom say "What's up?"

"Soccer tryouts are today."

JJ looked over at Emily with sad eyes. She had totally forgotten and wanted to be there so bad. JJ said, "Well you got this!"

"I'm nervous."

"Oh, I know! I was nervous when I was in high school but you got this!"

"You think so?"

"I know so."

"Me too," Emily said

"Do you have your soccer bag packed?"

"Yeah, Mom."

"Cleats?"

"Check"

"Ball?"

"Check"

"Shorts?"

"Check"

"T-shirt"

"Check"

"Deodorant?"

"Check"

"Shin Guards?"

"Check"

"Do you have-"

"Mom I have it all!"

"Who's taking you home?"

"Dean is working with the sports med people so he will be there so his Mom will take me home."

"Is Hannah trying out?"

"Yeah!"

"We have to go, baby."

"Okay, Mama."

"I love you Gracie Girl"

"Love you too Mom."

"I love you baby bird."

"I love you too Mama."

"Bye!"

"Bye Moms!"

Grace went about her day both extremely nervous and extremely excited. She and Hannah walked into the locker room changing into their cleats, shin guards, shirts, and t-shirts. Grace checked her phone to see a message from her Moms.

Good luck today bird! We love you and know you will do amazing! Xoxo Mama, Mom

Grace smiled at her phone and Hannah asked "Moms?"

"Yeah."

"Will they be back today?"

"I hope!"

"You are really lucky you know that?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I do."

Grace and Hannah went out on the field starting tryouts. What Grace didn't see was her parents sneak into the back of the stadium sitting high up. Three hours later and they had finally finished the first day Grace was sitting on the bench packing up her gear when Dean walked up to her water bottle in hand. "Hey, Grace!"
"Hey, Dean! Thanks."

"You were awesome out there!"

"Thanks, man!"

"I bet your Moms are super proud!"

Grace sighed saying sadly "Yeah they probably are I just wish they were here."

Dean pointed behind her "What do you mean? They are literally in the bleachers."

Grace whipped her head around a bright smile on her face as she ran to the bleachers her Mom's already almost at the bottom. They wrapped Grace in a hug not caring she was sweaty and gross.

"What are you guys doing here?!"

JJ laughed "We wouldn't dare miss your first highschool tryouts!"

Dean came up Graces soccer bag in hand "Sup Mrs. P, Mrs. J"

Emily laughed "Sup Dean!"

JJ asked, "Is your mom here yet?"

"No ma'am"

JJ asked, "Would you like to come get some pizza with us?"

Grace and Dean smiled at one another. Dean said, "I'll go give her a call!"

As he went to call his Mom Emily put her hand on Grace's shoulder "You are lucky to have a friend like him you know?"

Grace looked up smiling "Yeah I know."

Emily kissed the top of her head as the three made their way to the parking lot.

They walked into the pizza place laughing as they all found a table. Dean was laughing saying "Then Grace just came out of nowhere took the ball kicking it past herself jumping over the girl who fell before continuing on! The coaches were all like "Who the heck is that!""

Grace laughed looking over "Did you hear anything else the coaches said?"

"They thought you were a transfer."

Grace looked over to JJ "Do you think that's good or bad Mom?"

"I'm not sure angel?"

"They thought you were a senior or something."

Grace smirked saying "You think I look that old?"

JJ and Emily both said straight-faced with a serious voice "No."

"Come on really?"

Emily laughed saying "To us, you two will always be those cuties who would ride their bike up and down the street."

Dean and Grace laughed "That was a good day!"

"Yeah it was!"