Finally Breathing

~ Chapter 24 ~

Sky's POV

It was the next day, and I had just been shouted at by literally the whole team for being stupid enough to run until I died, almost literally. Tobin was acting weird, as she gave me an apologetic look, before sitting down next to Ash and getting on with something on her laptop. It seemed like an official document, and in that moment I knew better than to ask exactly what it was. Ash had taken on the role of ringleader, interrogating me with everything she had. To be honest it was more of a one sided conversation, her asking me why I felt the need to keep my jacket on despite them all voicing their support of me the previous night, made worse by the fact that I fainted, while the rest of the team stared at me with concern, noticing my now uncovered arms, while I just mumbled, "sorry." every now and then. They must have noticed my distance, not to mention my unwillingness to talk, because after around half an hour they decided to leave me alone.

We walked back to our rooms, Tobin and Christen a little behind me, whispering together with smiles on their faces. Honestly, if they weren't already official I was going to make Tobin ask her to be her girlfriend soon. I might not be the best at social experiences, but I knew what happiness looked like, and Tobin was definitely at her happiest when she was around Chris.

I stumbled into the room, swiping my keycard as fast as it was possible on the way. Today was an off day, and to be honest I just wanted to sleep. I was exhausted, barely aware of Tobin and Christen sitting on the other bed as I drifted out of consciousness. 

~~

Carli had sat next to me in the changing rooms for a while, hand on my shoulder. I didn't say anything, but I appreciated her just for being there. There weren't many people patient enough to put up with me when I didn't want to talk, Tobin being the only one so far, and it felt strange to have someone by my side. I thought through the day's events. I was finally happy, surrounded by a team who felt like family and who had accepted my past with nothing but warming appreciation for the person that I was today. So why did it feel so shameful to show them the true scars of what had been left behind? 

I shuffled my feet, reaching out for Carli's other arm. She offered it out, and I sank into her embrace without hesitation. Her grip was warm and hard, the type that was created just to reassure you of your existence. 

I let out a soft sob, Carli taking her hand away and placing me on the bench next to her as I snuggled my head into the crook of her neck. 

"I'm so sorry." I breathed, wiping a tear from the corner of my eye. I was done crying. What was the point when no matter how much I cried, how many lakes I could fill, it would never fill the whole left in my heart. That would remain forever.

"Sky." Carli looked into my eyes, her soft crescents shining in the lights of the room. "We all love you." 

She turned her head back around, not wanting to push me too much.

"I know." I sighed. "I know."

That was the last that came from either of us as we heard the sharp thud of cleats coming down the stairs, and the light buzz of chatter from those who could manage it. 

Tobin's POV

We looked over to the sleeping shadow on the bed beside us. I had talked to Chris about Sky yesterday, and she wholeheartedly agreed. We were going to adopt the kid. 

I sent off the last of the legal documents, uncurling my legs and sinking into Christen's grasp. While the documents were only just being processed, the group home that were planning on taking Sky in were full to the brim, so they brought the adoption hearing forward to much sooner than expected. It was today. Unbeknown to Sky, the whole team were in their rooms, getting ready to welcome the new almost  biological member of the US women's national team into their family. Now let's just hope she says yes. It would be hella awkward if she wasn't ready to be adopted.

Christen smiled at me, motioning to Sky's shape across the room. It was shifting warily as she raised her arms up to the ceiling and stretched. Here it goes.

I padded my way over to her bed, sinking into the soft mattress as I sat beside her. 

"Morning kiddo." I laughed, noticing the confused and worried expression spreading across her face. "Don't worry, I'm not here for a lecture. Though I am proud of you for wearing a short sleeved t-shirt." I stroked her arms, the thin white scars stretching across her wrist and elbow. She may not think it, but to me they were beautiful. They were a part of her, her battle scars. I loved her for them, as well as every other part of her.

Christen joined me at my side, stroking back Sky's hair. I knew that while Chris didn't know our soon-to-be-daughter that well yet, she would make the biggest effort possible to love and care for her just like her own. Christen really was my guardian angel.

"So, Sky," she began, "We were wondering something. Of course you don't have to say yes, but please at least think about it." Christen's eyes were glistening with unshed tears. We had been a couple for less than a day, but I knew all about Christen's desire for a daughter. We had talked endlessly about it, from the exhausted list of baby names that littered her notes page to her experience with some kids from her local grassroots soccer team. Apparently she used to coach them before she signed her first professional contract.

I took over from her, only just noticing the lump that was forming in my own throat. If everything went well today, the girl staring at me from across the bed would be our daughter. Our own, beautiful, strong daughter. "We wanted to know if you would like to be our daughter." 

Sky looked at us, shocked, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes, highlighting the blue and grey tinted hue with sparkles of hope and love. 

"Really?" She choked out, engulfing us both in a warm hug while we beamed, sobbing against her shoulders. 

"Really. Sky, can we adopt you?" I asked.

She peeled herself off of us, looking at us in the eyes intently. 

"No."

Sky's POV

The look on their faces was hilarious. I honestly wanted to leave them hanging like that, leaving the room just to laugh about it with Pinoe and Kelley, now my Aunts. But I wasn't that cruel, and if I'm being serious I just wanted to hug them screaming yes at the top of my lungs.

So that's exactly what I did. 

"YES YES YES TOBY YES CHRIS YES YOU MOTHER FUCKING WORLD!"

I struggled to stifle my giggles as they began tickling me, trapping me between walls of laughter and tears. It still shocked me that they even wanted me, but Carli was right. Her silence yesterday only spoke of one thing, and that was that I deserved to be loved. Therefore, that's what I was going to let happen. I loved Preath, and they loved me.

"Oh, and one more thing." Christen gasped, out of breath from laughter, cheeks flushed. "The adoption hearing is in two hours, and you need to get ready."

Wait, two hours?!

A/N

Hey guys, it feels like a while! To be honest I've been kind of busy, I play soccer at a pretty high level and now I have to juggle that with my GCSE revision so its been hard to write. However, I promised you chapters at a weekend, so that's what's going to keep happening. I hope you all have a good week, see you next Sunday! :)