Breakfast In Bed

Naeher Family Time

"Becky where are we...Mom?"

"Surprise sweetheart!" Donna Naeher hugged her oldest tight as she grinned. Alyssa was stunned for a moment, but readily hugged her mom back. This isn't what she was expecting, not by a long shot.

"Good to see you Becky." John hugged the blonde lightly, glad that the staffer had found the two women and told them they were waiting. The two women exchanged pleasantries then switched parents. Alyssa had just been let go by her dad when she felt another set of arms pull her into a hug.

"Hey twin." Amanda's voice, so like her own, was in her ear. She smiled into her shoulder and eagerly returned the hug.

"Hey. Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

"Because twin." Amanda chuckled as she pulled away. "It was a surprise. We all wanted to be here for the big tourney. Abby wanted to make it, but Judah got a nasty ear infection. He is on the mend, but she didn't want to risk the travel."

"Make sense." Her mood is dampened slightly at news. She wanted to see the munchkin but understood that sick toddlers are terrible travelers.

"But we all made it!" Amanda sensed the mood change and immediately tries to swing things back to a positive.

"Yeah you did." Alyssa can't stop herself from grinning again. "I'm glad you could."

"How did it feel to wear that number one jersey?" Amanda teased, knowing that Alyssa had been waiting for the opportunity ever since Hope had been removed from the team.

"It felt nice. Heavy in a way, but worth it." Amanda nodded as Alyssa spoke. The two had been up several nights once Jill told her that it was hers to lose. Alyssa felt the weight of those legends who wore it before her and desired to live up to that standard.

"Can we take you out to eat honey?" Her mom prompted.

"Umm...you should be able to. Just follow us back to the hotel and we can leave from there." US Soccer had a strict bus policy. Everyone on the team road the bus to the game and from the game to help foster unity or so they were told. It also helped them keep track of players and prevent them from being harassed.

"Alright. We will see you there then." Hugs were exchanged once more before they left. Alyssa and Becky stood and watched them go, making sure security got them out with issues.

"We should get to the bus." The blonde turned to leave and tugged Alyssa's hand to get her to follow. "Andi will be waiting."

"Right." She let out a sigh as the reality of their loss blossomed again in her chest.

The two women headed back down the hallway and followed Lynn out to the bus. They took their usual seats towards the back and waited for Andy to join them. She boarded the bus, head held low and shoulders slumped. It broke both of their hearts. As much as the loss pained them, they knew it had to pain the young players more. The players who had joined the team with the image that they were unbeatable, especially after winning the world cup. Abby's retirement game explained away as a fluke, the team desperate to get the forward one last goal before she left. But now? They no longer had the image of immortality. They were vulnerable. And the young ones felt that most of all.

"Come here kiddo." Alyssa reached out, grabbed Andi around the waist, and pulled her down onto her lap.

The brunette offered no resistance, swinging her legs inside so Carli could get past her. Becky took her bag and stored it under her seat with her own. Snuggling in deeper to Alyssa, Andi nestled her feet up against the blonde and did her best not to cry. A warm hand gently dried the stray tear that fell.