Saved By Carli

III

Carli's POV

"Wait, Ma'am I would like to adopt Sage." I say.

"Well then I will go and get the paper work and put a rush on the adoption then" she says with the biggest smile on her face.

As the officer leaves the room Sage jumps into my arms and hugs me and I hug her back until I feel wetness on my shirt. I look down and see she is crying. "Hey it's okay why are you crying?" She looks up. "I'm just happy Carli." We just hug each other as if neither of us has been hugged before.

The officer comes back in. "Alright Ms. Lloyd if you will sign here Sage will now be your daughter."

I've never signed something so fast. Looking up I forgot the other girls were even here. They are all either crying or have just gotten done crying.

"Christen?"

"Yeah" she says in-between sobs.

"Thank you for dragging me to get coffee today." I say which earns a collective chuckle. Sage still hasn't let go and honestly I don't care. I want her to know she is safe and protected.

"Can someone go grab the doctor please?" Ali gets up and leaves the room. She returns two minutes later with doctor.

"When is Sage able to leave Doctor?"

"Whenever her guardian signs her out. And I'm guessing by the way she is clinging on to you and the smile on your face that you adopted her."

"That would be correct."

"Awesome. Well let's go sign you out Sage so you can go start your life with your new mom."

Sage sighs with content and we walk to the front of the hospital and sign Sage out. Ash pulls the car around and we all get in. Ash and Ali up front, Alex, and Christen in the middle row and Sage and I cuddled up together in the back row. Sage sigh's which worried me for a second.

"Hey Sage are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm just happy. Thank you so much Carli." she smiles and my god her smile can light up a room. All the other girls are having their own conversations, but Sage and I are just happily holding each other. This is the best feeling in the world. Even better than winning the World Cup.

- - - - -

Sage's POV

We arrive back at the hotel the team is staying at and everyone gets out of the car. I linger at the back just taking in everything that's happened today. In the matter of half a day my life went from a living hell to being adopted by an angel. I really hope this isn't some dream. Ow. No, it's not a dream otherwise I wouldn't have ran into that pole. While trying to get my bearings I overhear Carli and Ash talking.

"Carli have you told Jill yet?"

"No. I'll just do it now" Carli says as she texts Jill.

Is Jill gonna like me? Am I being a burden to Carli? Yeah I probably am. I should just leave and get out of her life.

When I turn around I guess Christen and Alex saw and they come running up to me and hold me so I don't leave.

"Hey where are you going Sage?" Christen asks. Carli overhears this and comes over and pulls me into her wrapping her arms around me.

"I...I'm afraid." I mumble.

"Sage what are you afraid of?" Carli asks while holding me.

"You want the truth?" I ask and she nods.

"I'm afraid of failure. I'm afraid to fail you as a daughter, I'm afraid to hurt your image, I'm afraid that I won't be able to live up to your expectations of being your daughter. I just don't want to let you down Carli" I say while looking down.