"Astrid maybe you shouldn't start today." Kelley whispers.

"There's no fucking way I'm not playing today. I trust Ash and Alyssa to do the job, but right now that's my net and I'm the only one protecting it." I whisper as I recline on the training table in the middle of the locker room.

"Alright."

Dawn then walks over to me and removes the IV from my arm.

Of all the days to get sick being sick on the semi final day has to be the worst.

After Dawn removes the IV I get off the training table and head to my locker. I then put on my headphones, then put my hoodie on and pull on the hood, then I grab a small trash can and walk out to the pitch. Once on the pitch I do my normal pregame routine when I'm starting a game.

I wear headphones, a hoodie with the hood pulled over my head, then I look around the stadium for one song just to have some peace and quiet.

Once my one song is up I begin to walk off the field when I hear my name

"ASTRID."

I look up and see Hope waving me over so I approach her and the other BBC Sports ladies.

"Are you okay?" She asks.

"I have a 101.6 fever and had to have an IV all night and all day today."

"Shit...Are you starting?"

"I want to, but it's up to the team"

"Is Kelley freaking out?"

"She's very clingy at the moment." I say earning a chuckle from Hope.

"Well good luck and I hope you feel better."

"Thanks." I say.

I then shuffle my way into the tunnel and try to find someone from the team

"Hey Tony." I say to get his attention.

"Do you need anything?" Tony asks.

"Can you walk with me and make sure I actually make it to the changing room?"

"Of course."

"Thank you." I say then slowly shuffle to the locker room.

What should have taken 30-45 seconds journey from tunnel to locker room actually ends up being a 4 minute journey.

"Thank you." I say once I get to the locker room.

Kelley and Christen approach me and I notice they have latex gloves on. The two of them then lead me to the training table and then they help me up on to the table. Before I lay down on the table Christen takes my hoodie and headphones and puts them in my locker.

"Kels I'm gonna need some latex gloves if were gonna do our pregame stuff."

"No problem." Kelley says as my girlfriend approaches also wearing latex gloves.

"Drink." Tobin says and help me drink some Gatorade.

"Thanks."

"No problem...Astrid do you want to play?" Tobin asks causing the whole room to be silent.

"I want to, but this is a decision for the rest of team. If everyone wants Ash or Alyssa to start then I'll be behind them 100%."

"But..." Kelley says.

"I know what I'm capable of. I know that once that whistle blows I'll be focused on getting us to the Final." I say then Tobin helps me drink a little more. "But ultimately this is a decision for the team."

"Let's see how you do in warmups." Ash says.

"Okay...umm."

"What's up?" Kelley asks.

"I'm gonna need someone to tape up my hands."

"I got it." My twin says.

Kelley then does an immaculate tape job and gets my tape job successful done down to the minute details. Once she's finished I put on latex gloves then we do our prematch routine. After Kelley has massaged my hands she helps me off the table then hands me the small trash can. I grab my gloves from my locker then follow the group out for warm ups.

Once me and the other two keepers get to the goal I put the trash can behind the net so it doesn't get hit then I get ready to warm up.

- - - - -

"I don't understand you." Kelley says as she and a couple of the other girls walk with me to the locker room.

"What do you mean?"

"You have a 101.6 fever, you threw up 12 times last night, and half an hour ago you were getting fluids through an IV yet you just pulled off three world class saves."

"In warm ups." Mal adds.

"Oh." I say as we get to the locker room

I walk to my locker and take off my gloves. Next I head to the bathroom and put on my jersey then come out and put my keeper gloves on again. Once that's done, Dawn helps me back onto the training table then hands me a Gatorade and she puts a cold towel on my forehead.

As I'm waiting for the pregame speech stuff I notice the TV in the room has on the Fox broadcast.

"Kels." I say.

"What's wrong?" Kelley says and approaches me.

I just point to the tv.

"Where's the remote?" Kelley asks

A couple seconds later one of the staff hands her the remote so Kelley turns up the volume.

"Welcome back to our coverage of the first semifinal USA versus England." Rob stone says.

I still don't like him after what he said about us after the Thailand game.

"We have new images coming in from the stadium."

The video shows Kelley helping me into the stadium while Dawn walks behind us holding the IV bag. It then shows me on the training table trying to rest while getting fluids through 2 IV's.

"How is this going to affect the USA's chances today?" Rob asks.

"Judging by the starting line up it won't affect them at all." Alexi says.

"So I'm starting?" I ask my twin.

"You are." Kelley says then she helps me drink.

"Cool." I say.

"Our Alex Curry just spoke with head coach Jill Ellis." Rob says as Jill comes into the locker room.

"Jill we saw Astrid O'Hara have to be helped into the stadium by her sister while getting an IV. What's ailing her?" Alex Curry asks.

"She has a stomach bug that has been in her system for the last day or two."

"How has this affected her training leading up to today's game?"

"She hasn't trained in a couple days. All she's been doing is getting sick and getting fluids through an IV."

"Is this going to affect her starting position?"

"No." Jill says. "Astrid is one of those players that will give you everything she has no matter what she's going through. Astrid left it up to the team to decide what to do and that turned out to be a very easy decision. We all believe in her and know she'll get us to the final."

"Thanks coach."

"Thank you."

Kelley then mutes the tv as Jill approaches.

"Thank you for believing in me." I say.

"Of course." Jill says then she does her pregame speech

I slide off the table then follow the rest of the starters to the tunnel. As each sub walks by they either smack my butt, hug me, or high five me. Eventually the refs start walking so we follow them out of the tunnel and onto the field. Once on the field our anthem is first so I wrap my arms around Pinoe and Becky which to the tv viewer may look like a normal thing for us, but in reality I'm trying to keep my self upright.

When the anthems finish everyone shakes hands then we do our picture of the line up. Once that's done I walk with the backline towards goal and we all get in our positions. A long ten seconds later the ref blows her whistle then England kick off.

England come out firing and force me to make 7 saves to keep the score 0-0. Fortunately we come out firing as well and my teammates force the English keeper to make 6 saves.

In the 40th minute Bronze brings the ball up the right side after Bardsley plays it to her. As Lucy crosses half field she plays a ball to the feet of Stanway who then turns up field and strides toward goal with the ball. The 20 year old approaches the 18 yard box then suddenly she shoots low at goal so I dive down to my right and get my hand to the ball. I immediately get to my feet since the ball rebounds back into the box where a lot of players have gathered.

Fran Kirby is closest to the ball so she sprints and strikes the ball toward the left side of my goal. I jump towards where the ball is headed and I get my left hand on it which is enough to tip the ball onto the bar. The ball ricochet's back into play so once I land on the ground I hop back up again and find the ball.

A second later I see Jill Scott running onto the ball so I get ready for her shot. The Englishwoman miss hits her shot and it comes straight at me. I catch the ball then sprint towards the top of the box as my teammates stream towards the English goal. As I approach the top of the box I turn my body so that my left foot is closest to the opposition goal. I then cock my arm back and right before I step out of the box I launch the ball forward which, because of my momentum, causes me to fall onto the ground.

After a couple seconds of laying on the ground I look up and see Alex receive a pass from Rose then the striker opens her body up and smashes the ball into the far corner making the game 1-0.

"Here." Kelley says after I roll over.

My twin squirts water into my mouth then she helps me up and a couple seconds later the whistle blows.

When the halftime whistle blows I grab my water bottle and towel then sprint towards the locker room. Once I'm in the locker I throw my towel and water bottle on the training table and head into the bathroom. I rush into the closest stall and strip off my top then for the umpteenth time I, somehow, empty the contents of my stomach into the toilet.

"Fucking hell." I mumble.

"Astrid?" I hear Kelley say.

"I'm fine." I say then I use some toilet paper to wipe my mouth.

I throw the toilet paper in the toilet then I flush said toilet. I then put my jersey back on then go to the sink and was my mouth out before I head into the locker room.

"You alright?" Kelley asks as she hands me a drink and my filled up water bottle.

"One more half." I say and get more fluids in me.

I tune out Jill's speech because I'm in way to much pain.

Once all the half time shit is done we walk back onto the pitch and I head towards goal.

Just like the first half both teams come out firing and in the first 35 minutes of the second half I make 8 saves while Bardsley makes 5.

In the 80th minute Alex Greenwood receives a pass from Millie Bright then she jogs with the ball upfield. As Greenwood crosses into our half she looks up and sees Nikita Parris sprinting towards me. Greenwood looks back down into the ball then slams her foot into the ball sending it into MY 18 yard box.

Nikita and I both run for the ball and right as the Englishwoman is about to shoot I dive at the ball. I get my hands onto the ball right as Nikita gets her foot on the ball resulting in me saving the shot. Nikita then dives to the ground and starts rolling on the ground which gains her a penalty.

I immediately get off the ground then go and stand over the Englishwoman.

"Get up you fucking baby." I say.

Nikita immediately gets up and gets in my face so I look at the ref.

"See." I say and motion to Nikita. "She dove."

"ENOUGH." The ref shouts as the teams break us up.

The ref then walks away from everyone and talks to the VAR room.

"Are you alright?" Becky asks.

"How much longer?" I ask.

"10ish minutes."

"Shit."

Becky goes to say something, but the referee blows her whistle then motions for a goal kick and a few seconds later I put the ball back into play.

4 minutes later Kelley tries to play a ball into the box, but it gets blocked by one of the England players. Toni Duggan gets onto the loose ball and she sprints towards my goal as my twin chases her down. I guess Toni could feel Kelley gaining on her because she plays a ball straight to Rachel Daly.

Rachel lets the ball bounce in front of her once then she slams her foot into the ball sending it goal wards. The shot is going to the top corner of my goal so I time my jump perfectly and get a fingertip to the ball which is enough to send it onto the crossbar. The ball ricochets up into the air so I quickly get to my feet then jump and catch the ball then I fall to the ground to protect the ball.

Once I'm sure its safe to get up I do then send the ball upfield. The ball falls to Sam who sprints with the ball towards the box then she shoots at the English goal. Sam's shot hits the post and rebounds out to Tobin who easily puts the ball in the back of the net making the game 2-0.

"Thank fuck." I mumble.

A couple minutes later the full time whistle finally blows so I grab my towel and water bottle and shuffle towards the tunnel.

"ASTRID." I hear someone yell.

I look up and see everyone sprinting at me, but Ash and Alyssa are ahead of everyone. Right when they get to me I get too weak and collapse into Ash's arms.

"I got you." Ash says then we start walking.

I walk with my arms around Ash through the team who split in two allowing me and the Orlando keeper to keep walking.

"We won right?" I mumble into Ash's arm.

"Yeah. We won 2-0." Ash says as we approach the coaching staff.

As we walk through the coaching staff I notice most of them have glassy eyes.

"Why are they crying?" I mumble.

"Astrid you just played 90 minutes after needing IV's for three days and having thrown up 13 times." Ash says.

"Okay?" I say. "I was just doing my job."

Eventually Ash and I make it to the locker room and she picks me up and lays me on the training table. Ash goes and puts my towel in my locker then she hands me a Powerade bottle as the team come into the locker room.

"Hey Strides." Kelley says then kisses my forehead.

"Hey Kelloggs." I say then reach for her hand and squeeze it.

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but they need you for a picture."

"Why?" I whisper.

"You were the Woman of the Match."

"Do I have to?"

"I tried sis, but they need a picture. They said they'll do it outside the door."

"Okay hold on." I say and try to get up, but I end up falling back against the training table. "I can't Kels."

"Yeah fuck this." My twin says.

Kelley then leaves the room for a minute then returns with some trophy. My twin then hands the trophy off to someone from the team before she grabs my girlfriend's hand and pulls her over towards me. Kelley then grabs my legs and pulls them so they're dangling off the table.

"Alright I need you to trust us and roll of the table." Kelley says.

I do as Kelley says and roll of the training table only to be caught by my twin and my girlfriend. Kelley and Tobin both stand me up then they wrap an arm around me and lead me to the showers.

"Have you two seen each other naked yet?" Kelley asks as I lean up against the entrance to the showers.

"No." Tobin says.

"Okay then could you please send Christen over here with Astrid's clothes?"

"Uh sure." Tobin says then walks away.

A minute later Christen comes over with her, Kelley, and my clothes.

"Hold on." Kelley says then she walks back into the locker room. "Please do not come into the shower until we are out...Thank you."

Kelley walks back into the shower room then she and Christen strip before they help me strip.

Obviously i've seen Kelley naked since she is my twin, but with Christen I've seen her naked because of two reasons. One was because of a game of drunk truth or dare with the Stanford team in college. The other was when the three of us were in college we shared an apartment so if someone was sick then the other two had to play nurse and that included helping someone shower or bathe if need be.

Once we are all nude Kelley and Christen help me into the shower then one of them turns on the shower while the other one holds me up. The two healthy players clean themselves then they help me under the shower. The two of them clean my body and wash my hair then we get out of the shower.

When we get out of the shower we towel ourselves off then my two best friends help me into my clothes before they put their clothes on. Kelley and Christen help my back into the locker room and lead me over to my locker then they set me down in it.

"Thank you." I mumble as Kelley sits on my lap.

"Of course." Christen says then kisses my head.

"Hang on a little longer then we can get you back to the hotel." Kelley says as she brushes my hair.

"mhmkay." I mumble and wrap my arms around my twin.

The rest of the team move now and do their post match routine so I relax while Kelley continues brushing my hair.

Once everyone is done with their post match stuff Kelley helps me pack my things then she packs her stuff. I'm then helped up by Tobin and Christen then Kelley takes my bag as the two forwards support me to the bus. I'm then lifted onto the bus and placed into the first available row with my girlfriend and a minute later the bus heads for the hotel.

When we get to the hotel Ash and Alyssa help me out of the bus and up to my room as Tobin carries both of our bags. Once at our room Tobin opens the door letting Ash and Alyssa into our room. They lay me on the bed then leave the room so Tobin locks the door and walks over towards me

"So why did Christen have to help you?" Tobin ask as she lays next to me

"In college I had a couple rough games so her and Kelley would have to help me change and shower and stuff so she know's what I look like naked. Also if one of us was sick then the other two would possibly have to help the sick one shower." I say as I cuddle into my girlfriend

"Oh."

"Sorry."

"You don't need to apologize baby. You never need to apologize for something like that."

"Okay." I mumble as Tobin wraps me in her arms. "Can we go eat? I'm really hungry now."

"Well you haven't eaten in 3 days." Tobin says while chuckling. "So yes babygirl. We can go eat."