How to Save A Life (Anthony Rizzo)

68- The A Team

Clara

As the 2016 regular season comes to a close Anthony and I throw a end of the year party to celebrate what they've done on the field and to get ready for where we are going. This cubs team was a tight knit group, so no one obliged to coming to a little hang out to eat food and maybe swim.

The pool was open to whoever wanted to swim and I'm sure Maddie would be searching for dropped food. Anthony already had the grill going and I had the other food prepared. All we had to do was cook the hot dogs and hamburgers because everyone else agreed to bring something which should be more than enough food for the guys and their families.

So I spent the afternoon getting the house ready. I hang up a new picture I painted and straightened up the living room. The house wasn't all that bad but it was obvious we were raising a baby with all the wipes and other baby related things laying around.

But I quickly get that all cleaned up and people started to arrive. The first people to show up were Jessica and Kris. Jess brought cute little cubs cookies and Kris bright his personality which is more than good enough for me. So I hang out with Jess for a little and wait for everyone to come over.

"Can you believe the baseball season is over" she asks and I laugh.

"No" I admit as I grab Daisy from her crib. I fix her little onesie before handing her to Jess who was sitting on the couch. I sit next to her and smile as she plays with Daisy.

"When are you and Kris going to have kids" I ask and she laughs.

"Not for a while. We are about to get married and Kris is still making his way through the league. I mean the awards and other stuff is nice and all, but none of that means we're ready for a kid. You and Anthony are different, all you want to do is take care of everyone and make them happy and Anthony is the father of the fathers. I mean Kris and I have been together since we were in high school and that's still not enough to prepare us for a baby. I'm perfectly fine bothering you and Anthony asking for your baby all the time" she smiles.

"Me too. This way I can trick you into hanging out with me" I joke.

"Oh you know I love hanging out with you. Even before you had Daisy" she insists.

"But..." I trail off.

"But I love your daughter so much" she says using her baby voice as she squeezes Daisy's sides.

"That makes two of us."

Eventually everyone joins us as we hang out in the backyard. The kids cool off in the pool and I make sure everyone is hydrated and having fun.

"Miss Claire Miss Claire" a little voice sounds and I look down to see Naya tugging on my shorts. I bend down and pull her into a hug.

"There's my favorite little girl" I say giving her a good squeeze.

"When can Daisy play with us" she asks and I laugh.

"Not for a while. She's still very small" I explain.

"Oh... well when can she play" she asks.

"Not any time today" I assure her.

"Well then can you come swim with us" she questions.

"Of course sweetie. Let me go change and I'll meet you in the pool. Okay" I ask.

"Okay" she cheers before running off. She jumps off the deck and into her dads arms as he swings her around. I couldn't wait until I was able to do that.

Jess keeps playing with Daisy and Anthony mans the grill while I changed into a swimsuit. I find a cute one piece I got for when we went to Mexico last year. Such great memories in this one piece of material. I easily slip it on and pull my long hair back. I find a pair of sunglasses I don't mind getting wet and put on some sun tan lotion.

I head out to the pool but I quickly feel someone's hand wrap around my wrist. I instinctively tense up but relax once I realize it was just Anthony. He was wearing a kind smile as he pulled himself closer to me.

"And what are you doing" he questions.

"I'm going swimming with Naya. She wanted Daisy to come play but settled for me" I giggle.

"That sounds like fun. I just wanted to tell you that you look so beautiful" he says and I start to blush. Even after all this time I still blush.

"Thank you" I say before making myself tall then I plant my lips on his cheek and let them stay there for a little. I eventually pull away and he still had a hold on my wrist. "Are you going to let me go" I tease and he shakes his head.

"I told you, I'm never going to let you go" he assures me and I smile.

"Good."

I slip out of his grasp and make it to the pool. I set my towel and other things off to the side before walking in. I find Naya and she swims over to me. I wrap my arms around her as she holds on so she doesn't drown and she smiles up at me.

"Spin me" she yells and I laugh. I spin her around and around before I could spin no more. She giggles loudly before her mom comes over. I hold her tight as Aliya tickles her sides. The little girl laughs uncontrollably as I hold her tight.

Eventually I let her go and she swims over to her dad. Dexter tosses her a few times before wrapping her in a hug.

"Thanks for doing this" Aliya starts. "To think that at the beginning of this season we almost didn't come back and now we get to hang out as the best team in baseball, on and off the field. It's like being a part of the A Team" she sighs.

"I would have been so pissed if you guys needed up somewhere else" I admit. "I'm selfish and I want you guys all to myself" I state proudly and she laughs.

"Shout out to you for dealing with my family" she insists.

"I love you guys so much. We really are the A- team with you and the B- team without you. This team would be nothing without Dexter and I surely would have lost my mind if you weren't there with me when I first had Daisy or when I was going through all that stuff with my ex" I admit.

"You're one of my favorite people ever. I wish I could be as nice as you" she claims.

"I don't know. I like our dynamic. I tell Dexter he looks great then you make him go back inside and change because his shirt is wrinkled" I giggled.

"Yeah. We are pretty good together. Like a team on the side of the team" she claims.

"And I wouldn't change it for the world."