The things we can't control

Epilogue

Red, white and blue was everywhere. The stands were plastered with USA flags. The spotlights of the stadium dipped everything and everyone into the colours of the winning team. The US Women's National Team did it again. They showed all their doubters who they were, and got themselves their fifth star.

"USA, USA, USA!" Was all Grace could hear as she walked the winners tour around the pitch. Tears of joy streamed down her face as she looked into the stands and saw all the people that she made proud today. This was all she had ever imagined when she dreamed of this moments. The nine year old child inside of her cried the same tears of joy. The feelings of the 2023 World Cup in Australia where long forgotten and the pride of the 2027 World Cup, was all that filled her heart right know. Only one thing could make this moment better.

"Grace!" Many people were screaming her name but this voice stood out from all of them. Grace turned to the direction of the scream and saw her fiancé grinning at her from the distance. She started a slow jog, all her muscles protested but this was worth it. She reached the barrier and jumped up, hosting herself onto the level of the stands. Evie grabbed her arms to support her weight, knowing that Grace was at the end of her strength.

"You did it." Evie said with a wide grin on her face. Pulling Grace even higher and more into herself "I am so unbelievably proud of you." She whispered just before they kissed.

They pulled apart from each other and Grace looked into the beautiful eyes of the love of her life. "This is magical and I can't wait to marry you. I'm convinced my good-luck-shin-pads got us the win today. The last two times I didn't wear them and you know how that turned out. Today everything worked out and I thank your sunflowers for that." Evie grinned and kissed Grace again.

"C'mon Preath, we've got a medal to grab and a locker room to destroy." Called the voice of her best friend from below them. "I've got to go." Grace said nodding to her team. "Go, my love. We will celebrate later." Evie said, winking in the process. Grace nearly fell of the barrier at the thought of what Evie implied in that sentence.

With one last kiss, she jumped down and ran after her team.

***

"You do realise, how much I love you and that I think I wouldn't be here without you? You saved me and I will for ever thank you for that and the life you let me live with you everyday." Evie said, looking into the eyes of her now wife, as they swayed on the dance floor.

"I do realise that you love me and I hope you realise that I love you even more. If you couldn't already tell, with me dancing in front of other people." They both chuckled, knowing that in her teenage years Grace swore her mothers, she would never marry and most definitely never dance in front of more than two people.

And here she was, dancing with her wife in a white pantsuit and in front of at least ten people. "I know, thank you for this." Evie said, giving Grace a soft peck on the lips, filled with love and affection.

Evie always wanted to marry, she just never thought that she would marry a women. In her imagination she was also led to the altar by her mother. But everything came different and thankfully her future wife had two mothers and could spear one to led Evie to her side. The wedding party was small and consisted only of Evelyns Grandparents from Norway, Sam and her family, both of Grace's Grandparents, her mothers, Lilly and Jackson with Macy and their one year old son, Levi.

It was perfect and with that somehow exactly what Evie had imagined.

They danced the night away and poor little Levi had to sleep in the party room because Jackson and Macy wouldn't leave. "My little sister and my wife's best friend only marry once. Or at least thats what I hope." Jackson joked, as Lilly suggested that Levi might want to retire for the night. Macy eagerly nodded. "Besides, he sleep like a champ. I don't know how we got so lucky but nothing is waking this baby up once he sleeps." And she was right, he did sleep the whole time and didn't notice the dancing, laughing and partly drunk adults around him.