| Cody |

I watch Alex pace the length of the room in front of me. I don't know why she's so nervous, she's an Olympic gold medalist and World Cup winner, surely whatever she has to say to me can't be that bad. I'm just me, a stranger. She doesn't even know who I am. My attention is brought back to the superstar in front of me when I heard her take a deep breath, releasing a long sigh.

"Okay, the thing is Cody-" She finally speaks only to be interrupted when the door swings open, the school nurse sauntering in.

"Miss Dennings, your parents are here, they're talking with the principle out in the hall waiting for you to take you home." She informs.

"Already? But...you just left to call them." I say, confusion written all over my face, nothing compared to the pale, scared expression on Alex's face, which only adds to my confusion.

"Yes, I did. Only the principle called them the second he got to his office after the fight, forty minutes ago. Apparently, they've been here for thirty minutes waiting for you." She says, like it doesn't matter. I know it does, though. They hate to be kept waiting. I start to panic again as my mind replays all the beatings and sexual assaults I've endured, my vision goes blurry and I can't breathe when I feel a set of hands holding my face, making me look up to the unmistakable eyes of Alex Morgan.

"Just breathe Cody, you're alright. Just...just copy my breathing." She says, making the nurse turn around who then comes to Alex's side to help. I eventually do calm down, not that the nurse helped much, I couldn't look away from Alex, there's something about her that calms me, she makes me feel safe, I just can't put my finger on why.

| Alex |

I watch as my daughter falls into an anxiety attack, I've never witnessed one before which makes me hesitate, but I eventually let go of my own worries and focus on my daughters wellbeing. Turns out it feels natural to take care of her, I hold her face forcing her to look at me, and my heart breaks when I see the tears welling up in her eyes.

I urge her to breathe, while urging myself not to snap at the nurse who didn't even notice my daughter's attack. It takes some time but my baby girl eventually calms down to a quiet sob, which still kills me to see but it's better than before.

"W-what did you want to tell me?" She whimpers out, bringing me back to the reality of why I'm here in the first place. I decide to use Tobin's method - being blunt.

"Cody, sweetheart, I'm yo-"

"What the fuck is taking so long?!" A voice bellows as the door to the nurses office bursts open, making Cody flinch and in marches my daughters so-called 'parents', followed by a very concerned looking Tobin, Ash, Pinoe and Kling.

"Get the fuck away from my daughter!" The woman whose name I don't know, snaps at me, but I don't move, my hand still holding my daughters. Instead, my teammates move closer to my daughter and I.

"Get up Cody, we're going home, and you're grounded for starting a fight. Look at the state of you, your behaviour is a disgrace!" She spits at my child, making my blood boil, but before I can say anything Cody stands on shaky legs and slowly walks toward the woman she thinks is her mother, following her and her 'father' out of the door, she stops short to turn back to me tears threatening to spill once again - only adding fuel to my fire.

"T-thanks for helping me, Alex. It was nice m-meeting you." She stutters to me. "All of you."

Before I can say anything, before I can tell her I'm her mother and not those cretins she lives with, before I can ask her to stay - she's gone.

| Cody |

I arrive home with my parents, they're angrier than usual which is saying something because they're always angry. I try to escape to my tiny bedroom but I'm yanked back, not expecting it I fall to the floor. I attempt to stand up, to plead my case that it was Joanna who threw the first punch, and that I didn't even hit her back. But it's useless, they never listen. I'm kicked in the stomach, and my arms as I use them to protect my face which only makes them more furious. My mom holds my arms away from my face as my dad gets a few punches in. I only assume it's a few, I blacked out to wake up on my bedroom floor, dried blood on the floorboards indicate that I've been here for a while.

I grit my teeth and wince in pain as I try to pull myself up onto my bed, where I fall asleep for the night.

| Alex |

"Okay, yes. Thank you for everything, bye." I say before hanging up my phone.

"Who was that? You look serious." Carli asks, flanked by Tobin and Ash.

"My lawyer." Is all I say before they nod, understanding that I want to get my daughter away from those monsters, and do it all legally.

"Don't worry Baby Horse." Car starts and I groan, hating that nickname. "You'll get her and we all know you'll keep her safe."

"We spoke with Kriegs and the others, we agreed you should go back to the school today to check up on her, so you'll be taking my place, and Tobin here will go instead of Ali." Ashlyn finishes. I pull the girls into a group hug, not knowing what I'd do without them, I'd probably go insane.

____

I head to the school with Carli driving, myself riding shotgun, and the rest of the van occupied by Tobin, Kelley, along with Syd, Hope and little Kristie Mewis, who all arrived late last night.

We get to the school and Jack runs to us immediately, but stops dead in her tracks when she sees Hope with us.

"Hooooly cow." Is all she can say, which makes us chuckle, including Hope, who steps towards to the teenage, who is small in comparison with the tall 'keeper.

"Close, but my name is actually Hope." I see her smirk as the teen visibly gulps - obviously intimidated by Solo.

"Yeah, I know, I have you on my wall!" Jack says, blushing that she actually confessed to being a huge Hope Solo fan. "Oh...uh...I gotta go!" And she runs off like a gazelle being chased by a cheetah.

"She's adorable. Are they all like that here?" Hope asks with a face eating grin, to which we all nod.

"Most of them, except the captain on the soccer team. She thinks she's the shit." Tobin mutters with venom laced in her voice.

____

We work with some of the gym classes through the day, not having seen Cody, not panicking because I haven't seen Jack either and I already know they share most of their classes.

It's time for practice as school ends, I follow my teammates out to the field to wait for the teens to start and finish getting ready. Hope, Syd and Kristie becoming increasingly excited to meet Cody, knowing she's here, but not knowing how she's treated not only at school but at home too. I've made sure not to tell Hope, knowing she'll break down a wall to remove my daughter from the clutches of those people. I love her, but I need to do this by the book, so I can ensure they dont have a metaphorical legal leg to stand on if they decide to try and take my daughter back. I need the law on my side.

"There's Jack!" Kelley pulls me out of my thoughts, looking up I see Jack walking toward us with a girl walking alongside her, but walking backwards. I already know it's my daughter.

"Is that her, Alex?" Syd asks. I just smile and nod, happy to know she's back in school. I watch with my team as Jack pushes her over, making her fall, straddling her before tickling her. Hearing my daughters laugh brought tears of happiness to my eyes, Tobin gives my hand a squeeze as if to say 'see, she's okay', but suddenly Jack stops, and seems to just stare at my daughters face as they get serious.

"They're a little young for porn are they not?" Kelley spews out, and I slap the back of her head while my teammates laugh.

| Jack |

"What's wrong Maxi?" I ask from my position on my best friends stomach.

"Nothing, I'm all good." She says lamely, not even looking me in the eye.

"Then why are you in pain? And don't say it's because I'm sitting on you. I can see all the bruises, Codes. I know for a fact Joanna didn't give you them all, I was there yesterday, she only hit your face a few times, not your chest or arms."

I pause before it dawns on me, I stand up and help my best friend to her feet, standing her infront of me, her back to the National players and her mother.

"They did this, didn't they?" I ask slowly, knowing I'm right, but not wanting to be right. I watch as my best friend starts to cry, shoulders shaking.

That's my answer.

I pull her into a hug and I don't let go until a voice speaks up. Not just any voice, a familiar raspy voice.

"Everything okay here?" I look up to see Alex looking right at Cody. Knowing the question is aimed at my best friend, I take my leave.

"I'll give you two a minute." I walk away, despite the utterly confused look on Cody's face.

I pick up a ball, juggling it a little before I channel all of my anger to kick it toward the empty goal.

"You seem angry." I jump from the unexpected voice, and turn to see Tobin along with Hope, who makes me freeze again. Can you blame me?

"I know you can talk, I just seen you over there." Hope smirks while motioning towards Cody and Alex who have moved to take a seat on the bleachers beside the field.

"I...uh...can." I facepalm when I stutter which makes the superstar duo laugh at me. I clear my throat trying to shrug it off. "I mean, yeah I can speak. Sorry, it's just...you're you and I'm...me." I say to Hope, having already gotten comfortable enough with Tobin to form proper sentences.

"I don't see anything wrong with you, other than the fact you turn to a statue whenever you see me." Hope chuckles before continuing, "But you have one hell of a shot." She nods towards the goal where the ball sits.

| Cody |

"Not to be rude, but why are you all still here?" I ask, genuinely interested as to why all these World Cup winners are hanging around my small town in Idaho.

"It's personal, I guess you could say."

"Oh, I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to overstep." I say, slightly tripping over my words. "It's just...we're such a small town, we're not even on the map - literally, and well, you're a superstar."

"You're not overstepping and don't think of me like that. Today I'm just Alex."

"Ha...sure, I'll try." I deadpan, playfully roll my eyes. "You said you had something to tell me. Is it that I should just give up soccer?"

"No, not at all!" She says taken aback. "Why on Earth would you think that?"

"My dad says I'm not good enough and I'm not tall enough to play basketball." I shrug looking at my feet, wearing my old cleats, so old that they make me feel ashamed and I try tucking my feet under the seat to hide them.

"Don't think like that. If you think you can't do something then you'll never achieve it. Please don't believe a word that man says."

"'That man' is my father, Alex!" I raise my voice, earning glances from my teammates and hers alike. "Sorry, I didn't mean to yell at you." I say, biting my lip as I start to stand, but I fail and fall back into a seated position, squeezing my eyes shut in pain, trying my hardest not to whimper.

"What's wrong Cody?" I peel my eyes opened, looking at Alex as she dons an extremely concerned expression.

"Nothing, I'm fine." I lamely respond. "I'm fine." I repeat, mostly to myself, as I take a deep breath, not hearing anyone approaching until I hear my best friends voice.

"She's not fine."

"Don't start Jack."

"No, Cody Maxwell. Don't you start. Don't you dare defend them, look at yourself! You can barely move without crying!" She yells at me, making me flinch not used to my best friend sounding so angry.

"Defend who...?" I look to see Hope. When did she get here?

"Her...uh." I watch as my nonrelated sister hesitates, looking at Alex with unsure eyes before she completes her sentence, "parents."

Jack sits beside me as we watch the professional soccer players follow Alex who had stood up to walk away, I think she's crying but I have no idea why. I can't help but smile as I watch the striker being engulfed in a group hug with her teammates. They talk for a few more minutes before Alex walks back over to us, alone. Without a word said, Jack gets up and walks away.

"We need to talk, Cody." I look to see Alex looking me in the eyes, the concern and hesitation shown earlier all gone, replaced with a serious determination that makes me sit upright and listen.

"You wanted to know why we're here? We're here because when I was just a teenager, something bad happened to me-"

"Alex, your life is your life, you don't have to explain anything to me."

"I do, you need to hear this, so don't interrupt me again." I gulp, nodding to let her know I'm listening, and I wont talk until she's finished her story.