Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Are you all packed?!" You called up to your seven year-old daughter. You, of course, expected one answer, but you got another and you're not completely sure why you're surprised.

You had left her unsupervised. Why in the world would she be ready?

"Almost, Mommy!" The little girl called down from her room. The sound of her voice was strained, as though she was lifting somthing heavy.

"Do you need help?" Your eyebrows furrowed and you looked up the stairwell, even though you couldn't see into her room from there.

There was a pause, and then a thump, followed by a small 'oof', "Nope. My backpack strap was stuck on my bedpost. I'm coming down now!"

You heard the familar pitter patter of small, socked feet hitting the hardwood steps too quickly for your liking.

"Slow down, Ry." You admonished without looking up from where you were rummaging around the livingroom for your car keys. They were around there somewhere. They always were.

The pitter patter slowed into something more respectable, until it finally ended at the end of the staircase. You turned around just in time to watch your little daredevil jump off the last two steps with a loud "Ta-da!"

You didn't have the heart to scold her. She was excited and there was only so much energy her little body could take before it had to let it out somehow.

"Mommy! Today's the day! I'm so excited!" She shoved her feet into her Nike slides, as you pocketed your keys, then placed some snacks into your purse.

"I know, but you don't want to hurt yourself before tryouts." You ushered your daughter out the front door of your home, making sure to lock it behind you.

"Mommy. I'm a shoe in for the club team, Coach Kriegs already told me. I won't have to play with the babies anymore!" She jumped around, but stayed obediently by your side, waiting to follow your lead to the car.

You laughed at your daughter's arrogance. Depsite having your ex-wife's entire face, she got her attitude from you, "One, you're a baby yourself. Two, would it kill you to be a little modest?"

"Yes!" She screeched. Then she unceremoniously threw her backpack into the trunk of your blue Acura MDX. It landed haphazardly amongst the other various baby football equipment you kept back there on day's like today.

Fuck. You really were a soccer mom. No wonder you were comically single.

"And I'm not a baby! I'm seven and I read at a sixth grade level!" Your definitely-not-a-baby stomped her sandaled foot on the concrete of the driveway.

You pressed the button to close the trunk of the car, then grabbed your daughter's cheeks between your hands. You kissed her forehead until she squirmed away with laughter.

"You're my baby. Now, get into the car."

Ryan did as told, still beyond eager to get to your destination.

You hopped into the driver's seat before pulling out of your driveway and onto the open roads of your quiet Portland neighborhood.

"Yeah. I'm your baby. And Mama's! Which is why I'm going to be on the big kid team, and one day start on the senior national team. Gonna have medals just like you, Mommy." She kicked her gangly little legs in excitement.

You smiled brightly. There was no doubt in your mind about her statement, though, you still needed to work on that damned cockiness, "Damn right, Babygirl."

Ryan sang along to the radio for a few minutes before turning to look at you, you looked up at her through the rearview mirror, "You have a question, don't you?"

She nodded with a tinge of meekness, "Yeah. Is Mama coming? She can bring Christen!"

She sounded as though she was sorry for asking. Days like today you hated yourself for making her a child of divorce. But there was just no universe where you lasted in that relationship until she was 18. It would have been torture for all three of you.

It had just been you and Ryan for a little over three years, but clearly there was still some getting used to it. It was one of the reasons Ryan saw a child therapist every Monday. You should probably see one too.

But that was beside the point.

Somehow, you hadn't noticed until then, glancing at Ryan through the rearview mirror, that she was wearing a USWNT #17 jersey. The one you knew said 'Mom' in the place of 'Heath' on the back. She had dressed herself this morning.

You put your eyes back onto the street ahead of you, "You probably won't see her until the weekend, but I can text her."

You did just that at the next red light, making sure your phone wasn't connected to the car's speakers.

You: ur mini me wants to see u at her vv important practice today ⚽️

Tobin texted you back while you were still at the light. She normally responded pretty quickly where Ryan was concerned. Ryan was pretty much the only thing you two talked about.

Baby Mama: im sorry but chris has an ob/gyn appointment. ill see little cub this weekend

You rolled your eyes at the mention of Tobin's new wife and their pregnancy. You had nothing against Christen, and it wasn't like Tobin cheated on you with her, but it was still a little irritating to know that Tobin found immediate happiness after the divorce and the only thing that made you happy was a seven year old and, sometimes, your job.

You peaked at your daughter quickly, "She can't, Babes. Chris has a doctor's appointment. But you'll see them Friday evening."

You heard Ryan's head thud against the window she was next to, "Okay, it's fine. Whatever. Will Chloe be there?"

You plastered a smile on your face that was at least a modicum genuine. Chloe was the daughter of your best friend, Destiny. You had a sneaking suspicion that Ryan had a little crush on Chloe, "She's on the team, isn't she?"

The tips of Ryan's ears turned pink, "Yeah..."

You shrugged, feigning innocence, "Then one can only assume she will be."

"Okay...cool."

Ryan sat quietly for the rest of the car ride, until you pulled into view of the soccer complex, then she started breathing directly onto the window, despite knowing you hated that.

Your excitable puppy of a daughter was practically out of the car before you could park it.

Alex was going to kill Ali. She was going to have to kill her dead. Ashlyn was going to have to step up and actually be a mother because Alex was going to put Ali six feet under!

How dare she just spring this on her?! She had never expressed any desire to coach when she retired, so why was Ali doing this to her?

"Alex!" A small voice Alex hadn't heard in quite some time yelled. She barely had enough time to brace herself before a seven year old body was running into her legs.

"Oof. Hi, Little Tobs. Thanks for the warning. Sort of." She placed a hand on the child's head.

Ryan didn't bother letting go. She only hugged Alex tighter and stepped on her feet so Alex would have to walk with her. Alex shrugged, she supposed this was her life now.

"I don't like that nickname anymore. Call me something else." She scrunched her little button nose up in distaste. Alex's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, Ryan normally loved that name, but granted the last time Alex saw her she had been almost five years old. Kids grow up fast.

"Okay...how about 'little alpha'? That work fo you?"

Ryan nodded happily, "Yes."

"Alright. Now, hop off, little alpha. You're getting too big for that."

Ryan stepped off with a small pout, "What are you doing here, anyway? Where's Coach Kriegs?"

Alex was about to answer when you bounded up to the duo, slightly out of breath and chest heaving.

"Ryan. What have I told you about running through parking lots?!"

Alex's throat seemed to dry up. Her brain short circuited. Her palms started to sweat.

What the hell? That had literally never happened before.

The last time she had saw you, was not the same time she had last seen Ryan. Ryan was with Tobin the last time she and Alex interacted. No, it had been closer to five years since she had seen you. And it was all she could do to not fall over. She stared at you wide eyed.

"Oh. Hi, Alex. What are you doing here? Where's Ali?" You asked, your tone identical to your daughter's. It would have been cute if Alex could comprehend literally anything that was happening right now.

Alex continued to gape, until a sharp pat on her back startled her into saying something. Anything at all.

"...Hi..." She breathed out like she had been mute all her life up until that morning.

The person who clapped her on the back came into view with a judging side eye before turning to you and Ryan.

"Hey, Y/N, Ryan. Alex is helping me out here for a few weeks. I've got some personal stuff to deal with and I might not be available as often as I would like, so AM13 here is my backup. Not like she had anything better to do." Ali answered with another pat to Alex's shoulder.

Your face softened in concern, "What kind of personal stuff?"

Ali glanced down at where Ryan was playing with a dandelion at their feet, "I'll tell you later."

You nodded in understanding before turning back to Alex. You grinned, "So, Coach Morgan?"

Please don't call me that.

Alex took a deep breath to soothe the heat that suddenly erupted in her...well,  her everywhere, "Yeah, I guess. But I was just going to let the kids call me 'Alex'."

Ryan looked up as if she suddenly remembered they were there, "Alex. I can show you my penalty kicks. I've been practicing."

"That's great, but you'll have to show me later. It's time for you to go stretch with everyone else." Alex gestured to where the group of about 20 other seven and eight year olds were gathering with an assistant coach.

Ryan didn't seem too enthused by the idea of leaving the adults, but after a pointed look from you, she trundled off toward the group.

Ali started laughing while you pinched the bridge of your nose, "God. She's just so...me."

"Well she already looks like Tobin, would you rather she act like her too?" Ali asked with a smirk. She already knew the answer.

"Hell no. I'll take what I can get."

Alex stood awkwardly inbetween the exchange, not wanting to interrupt despite having questions of her own. She opted for a polite smile that really just ends up looking like a pained grimace.

"You okay, Alex?" You asked, placing a comforting hand on Alex's bare arm.

Alex's skin sizzled, "Yes. I'm fine. Just a little cold."

Ali shrugged at the statement, clearly not believing it, but you grinned mischievously.

"Awe. Is Ms. Southern California a little chilly? Does she need longer sleeves?"

Alex crossed her arms in contempt and muttered out, "No. It's just a little breezy."

Ali rolled her eyes, "Gross. Anyway, I'm going to go start the munchkins on some drills. Alex, pay attention. You might have to do this by yourself next week."

Alex watched helplessly as Ali walked off, leaving her alone with you. She was more concerned about that than she was the whole coaching thing.

She could only hope that you would go sit in the stands with the other parents if she kept standing awkward and silent.

But God has never answered Alex's prayers.

"So, how long have you been in Portland? And why didn't you tell me you were here?" You sidled next to her, facing the field of supercharged children. Alex might be crazy, but she could have sworn she heard slight hurt in your voice.

She took a deep breath before speaking to release any of the residual shake from her voice, "About 4 and a half months. And we haven't exactly spoken in a while. Didn't think it was necessary.  Tobin knew, I figured she'd let it slip."

Ali scrambled around the pitch blowing her whistle furiously. Someone should really take that thing away from her.

"Well, she didn't. And you know how I feel about social media...it just would have been nice to hear from you I guess. You retired then fell off the face of the earth. Thought we were closer than that."

"I guess we're not."

Ryan tripped over her own feet, landing with a thud. Alex found herself holding her breath. An assistant coach came over to grab her under the arms and put her back on feet. Ryan laughed before scurrying off again. Alex continued breathing.

You scratched at your temple, "I heard about the divorce..."

Alex didn't even blink, "That was years ago, Y/LN."

"...Sorry."

"I heard about yours."

"That was years ago, Morgan."

Alex chuckled softly, "Touché."

Destiny jogged onto the pitch to help Chloe with something. Ali seemed distracted from then on.

"You saw that, right?" You asked with a raised eyebrow.

"You know I did." Alex was happy to have a way to kill Ali.

Ryan scored a goal and then proceeded to do the most convoluted celebration you had ever seen. How'd she even manage to remember all of that? You just shook your head.

"Why Portland? I thought you'd be a Cali girl for life."

Alex shrugged, her hands stuffed in the pockets of her training pants, "Wanted a change. Something was drawing me here. Still haven't quite figured out what yet."

"Hmm. Well, I hope you do."

With that you finally walked in the direction of the bleachers.

And in a weird turn of events, Alex thought she felt better when you were standing next to her.