Love Makes A Family

Flash Forward

"Dillon, you're carpool is coming in 10 minutes. Kel, Claire needs a pickup in an hour and Ryan gets dropped off to golf on the way. Molly, you need to finish packing, Jack you have a piano lesson and Carson and Olivia you need to finish your chores," Alex as she shuffles through the kitchen during breakfast. 

Structure...it's a key to survival in the Morgan-O'Hara household. 

It's been 18 years since we last checked in on the family, and things have definitely changed.

Molly is now 18 years old and has accepted a full lacrosse scholarship to the University of Utah. She and her Mama visited the campus back when a Utah Royals reunion was being held. Molly fell in love with the gorgeous campus and beautiful scenery right away. 

Jack, Claire, Carson and Dillon are all 16 years old, and are heading into their junior years of high school this fall. 

Jack is mr.responsibilty. Being the oldest, he kinda just naturally inherited the ability to lead. He also is so musically gifted. In addition to playing 3 varsity sports, soccer, basketball and baseball, Jack excels in guitar, piano and the drums. He's in the high school band. And much to his brother's entertainment, he is also in the school choir. His girlfriend's name is Cassidy. 

Claire is the sass master as Kelley calls her. She's definitely still the same princess she was when she was little. She's going into her second year on the varsity girls tennis team and is then training for winter and spring track. She also loves to sing and play guitar. 

Carson is their shy guy. It takes a while for him to warm up to you, but once he does, he's pretty great. Carson definitely likes to dip his toes into a little bit of everything. He favors the unbeaten path. He does cross country in the fall, wrestling in the winter, and ultimate frisbee in the spring as well as playing the trumpet in the school orchestra. He also loves motocross and disc golf. 

And now for Kelley's Cardinal...that's right, her wish came true. Dillon was diagnosed with mild ADD when he entered kindergarten. Alex and Kelley immediately got him into sports and saw a huge change. From soccer to karate to baseball and track, Dillon excelled at every sport when he was little. And much to the doctor's recommendation, as well as Kel's delight, the two women put him into contact sports. He now plays ice hockey, lacrosse, and you guessed it, football. He's a star in each and every one. Kelley is absolutely thrilled to be the parent of the player who scores the winning touch down or the kid who scores the winning goal...she's just so proud of him. She's proud of all her kids. 

Moving on...

Ryan, who is now 13 years old, will be going into his last year of middle school along with his twin sister Olivia. Ryan is the mayor, as Alex and Kel call him. He's just so friendly. Due to his asthma, he isn't really allowed to play contact sports. But he's been on a swim team ever since he learned how to when he was four years old. But his true first love is a sport his Grampa Mike Morgan showed him when he was just 8 years old...golf. Ryan also has found his love for sailing and has been taking sailing classes since June. 

Olivia is their sweetheart. Their go with the flow, never loses her temper and overall angel. She just has so much patience. Gramma Pam thinks she'd make a great teacher one day. Livie, as they call her, is the only Morgan-O'Hara child that has taken soccer very seriously just like her mothers. She plays on a club team year-round, as well lacrosse in the spring. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Aye, aye, captain," Kelley jokingly salutes to her wife. 

"Nice joke Kel," Alex says sarcastically. 

"Just kidding baby. I'm on it," She softly smiles as she kisses Alex's lips. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Mom! Where are my meds," Dillon yells from the bathroom.

"I need to run out get more from the pharmacy," Alex says up the stairs.

Dillon appears in the hallway, looking unbelieved down to his mother. His semi-long hockey hair is still uncombed. 

"I can't go to football without my meds," He sighs.

"Why not bud, you don't have to sit still at practice. You can let some energy out,"

"But I need to focus...I need to be the first string receiver this year," 

"You'll be fine Dillon, you're only doing conditioning today," 

Dillon throws his hands up. "This is bullshit," He says softly. 

"Language please, Dillon," Alex says calmly. 

"I've got a date with Kate later...can you please get it by then?"

"It will be here when you get home," 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The other key to survival in this house is control. For many reasons, it could be even more important that structure. 

Let's face the facts...right now, Kelley and Alex are dealing with 7 teenagers. And for anyone who isn't aware, teenagers are hormonal, stupid and totally insane people who are just trying to figure their lives out. 

So, in short Alex and Kelley need to keep a very close hold on them. A very close hold on 7 kids, with one in college, four in high school, and two in middle school. One thousand miles away, 4 who will start driving soon, one with learning disabilities, one with severe asthma and two who are dating...

For the first time in a long time, Kelley and Alex finally have the house to themselves for a little while. 

"Seems like it hasn't been this quiet in a while," Kel says as she kisses her wife's head and sits down next to her at the kitchen counter. 

"Well don't get used to it," Alex answers as she types hastily on her computer. "...they'll be back in a few hours," 

Kelley softly smiles as she rubs the back of her wife's neck. Alex barely looked up from her work.

"Whatcha working on?" She asks.

Alex sighs. "Alot," She says. "...school stuff, sports stuff, stuff for the foundation," 

Kelley nods. They truly do have their hands full.

A year or so after Ryan and Olivia were born, Alex and Kelley began planning their dream home. 

Three years later, the Morgan-O'Hara moved into their Thousand Oaks home plenty of room for their growing family.

A year after that, Alex and Kelley founded the Morgan-O'Hara Family Foundation, which benefits LGBTQ+ youth athletes as well as athletes and children in underdeveloped countries and cities.

"When does school start again," Kel asks as she begins kissing Al's neck.

"2 weeks," She replies plainly. She shifts her head almost like she's annoyed by Kelley's antics.

Kelley steps back and looks at her. "...and when do I get my wife back," 

Al looks up at her. "Really Kel," She sighs. 

"I'm joking..." She says softly. 

Alex rolls her eyes.

"You work hard babe. I just want you to relax a little," Kel says, trying to explain herself.

"I know you do..." Al replies. "...and there's time for work and time for relaxing,"

"I'm always here for ya," Kelley says as she kisses her wife's cheek.

"Thanks, Kel. I love you,"

"I love you too baby,"