Saving Lotte Sullivan | Collingwood/Carlton

60 - Uncle Darce

'Darcy. Hi. Sorry I missed your call earlier, we were still asleep' Lotte said, picking up her phone as the 203cm giant appeared on the screen - thin blue headband on, now bleach blonde hair pulled back together in a bun. She felt like she'd taken a huge step backwards, 2018 was returning. Blonde Darcy Moore had made a comeback.

'Hey Lotte, that's okay. It wasn't important anyway, I just wanted to see how you're both going, see what's going on with TB' Darcy said, barely able to hold the phone. Lotte lowered herself onto the couch and took a sip of her water, pulling a face when she was suddenly forced to look at the Collingwood Football Club corridor floor.

'Darcy...?' She asked, his name turning into a question. He quickly picked up the phone.

'Sorry girl, I dropped my phone. But look who's come to help Uncle Darce train today?!' The athlete exclaimed, lowering the camera to show the now three month old Rhiannon in her uncle's arms. She looked around, confused. Her development was still pretty far behind - and she was still very small, all things that came in hand with her condition. She rested her head on her uncle's shoulder, confused. Lotte could only imagine what she was thinking. Where's mama? Where's dada? Don't make the crazy Ashlyn woman spin me around again!

'Hi Rhee!' Lotte squealed, putting on a high voice and giggling at the camera.

'You got my niece on the phone?' Josh asked, having just gotten up. He walked over, sitting down next to Lotte and drinking his own coffee. He struggled to look at the phone - it was too early. Lotte was feeling sick AGAIN. She'd barely gotten any sleep and kept Josh up with it all night.

'Yeah, Darcy took her to training' She said, slightly moving over. She was trying her hardest to sit and not run. Trying her hardest not to be sick.

'That's because I'm the fave uncle' Darcy joked, smiling and childishly sticking his tongue out like always. Josh nodded and laughed. 'It's probably true, I'm never around her mother very much' he said, agreeing.

'So, how's Italy going? How much food have the two of you consumed? Enough to create a severe shortage in Europe?' Darcy asked, joking. He'd been to Italy in September, with teammate Jamie Elliott. They knew.

'Josh has pretty much done that on his own, I was eating plenty on the first few days, but I think I'm coming down with something - my stomach is a mess, I haven't been able to eat. I'm willing it goes away soon' Lotte said, bravely smiling. Yes, please go away soon.

'Oh no' Darcy said, looking worried for a second but quickly becoming distracted by Rhiannon. Jeremy Howe walked past and had to talk to her as well. Everywhere she went, people were obsessed with her. And they didn't even know who her father or his family were.

'Yeah, I keep telling Lotts to see a doctor, but she won't' Josh said, shaking his head like she was crazy. 'That's because it'll cost far too much abroad! I'll do it when we get back to Melbourne' she said, sounding unconvincing. Josh let it go anyway. Darcy uncomfortably watched the pair, feeling like a fight was going to break out.

'Sorry. I'll leave you two to your FaceTime' Josh suddenly said, remembering their past and feeling like he was intruding on something. He quickly left the room.

'Are you two okay?' Darcy asked, looking pained. He stretched his back a couple times, unable to shake away the pain he'd been experiencing lately. Rhiannon looked up at her maternal uncle, terrified.

'Our sleep is all over the place because we can't adjust to the new time zone, I'm sick and praying it's not covid and he wants to go out for lunch, much later on when the sun's up. I can't eat, my stomach is a mess from the flights and the sudden change in...well, everything. I don't want to go home, but...I feel like I'm close to fainting. My head is pounding' Lotte explained, suddenly going into a vent as the one person she could trust most nodded.