"Come on Lil', let's cheer as loud as we can for maman!"

Today's the first time Juliette has been back on the field and Lea decided they would end up practice with a match so she divided the players in two teams and they are now competing one against the other. Lea's wearing that huge face mask and chest and leg protections that make her walk like a dislocated robot and of course, she picked Ju in her team. She is at her usual position near the first base, a huge grin plastered on her face and her eyes are focused on the ball in the pitcher's hand, waiting for her to throw. As she starts her motion, raising her arm and throwing her leg far, and all Ju's teammates move as one in defence position, their bodies slightly bent, the glove near the ground, ready to catch the ball if it gets hit in their direction or on the floor.

The player swings and hits, and the ball flies after a rebound straight into the glove of the short stop. "Here!!" Juliette shouts to attract her attention and she throws it to her but it's a bit short and Juliette stretches to the maximum, her left foot making contact with the base at all times, and the ball lands inside her glove just a second before the hitter manages to touch the white base. "Out" Lea shouts and we all cheer as it's the third opponent they kill.

I watch Juliette run to the dogout. She throws her glove to the ground and takes a helmet. She removes her hairband and shakes her head to put her hair to the side before forcing the helmet on. She taps on top of it three times -a weird habit- before grabbing one of the bats. She's fourth, as always, and patiently waits for her turn, studying the pitcher she'll have to face.

Lea hits first and arrives safe on the second base. The second hitter is eliminated before reaching first base. Sandra is third. She hits and misses twice but the third attempt is the good one and the ball lands between the first and second base. Lea is in third now, Sandra in first. Juliette walks calmly to the diamond, making sure her helmet is in place. I know she's nervous. She has a look at Lea who gives her the signs telling her how to hit, and she slightly nods. She steadies her feet in the holes made by the previous hitters on the ground and swings her bat before raising it to her ears. The pitcher throws and it's a low rise. Dammit. Juliette hates those as they are so hard to judge. She looks at Lea quickly and they have a short silent conversation. Ju nods again and repeats the swing before raising her bat.

The pitcher throws, it's another change up aimed straight at Ju and she hits, as hard as she can. We all hear that hollow sound of metal on wood and I stand up to have a better view. The ball flies high but not far enough for a home run. But it's still a good hit, allowing Lea and Sandra to score. My eyes follow Juliette who slides towards the third base. "Safe" I hear Lea shout. But I start running in Juliette's direction as she is still lying on the floor, grimacing. "Time" I hear Lea utter and hurried footsteps behind me. I squat next to the brunette, worried. "Baby, I'm okay. I twisted my ankle I think. I just need to walk. I'll be alright." She smiles at me and extends her hand for me to help her up. She kisses my lips and limps for a bit before returning to the third base. She shows Lea her thumbs-up and the game resumes. I smirk to myself as I leave the field for my seat...I know that game is making someone in a good mood and I'll get to see that later tonight.

Gosh we've come a long way... I marvel at my newfound ability to read the throws, being able to tell the difference between all those change ups. For the past two months, I've attended all Saturday afternoon practices and watched the pitchers throw while Juliette would stick to throwing drills. Lily would ride her bike on the track next to the field and I'm considering removing the little wheels as she's gaining too much speed and is mastering balance. I'll probably do that next week, but I won't tell Juliette, I want it to be a surprise. And I know she won't be mad if I tell her it's a secret between Lily and I. She's letting me make decisions about her daughter these days, and I'm enjoying having her for myself. We've spent every Tuesday and Friday evenings together since Lea has made Juliette attend evening trainings as well.

True to her word, on the first Saturday, Lea came to the penthouse with the entire softball team and she had no other choice but to leave the bed and follow them. Lea told the team what was going on and she set up a whole schedule for the following weeks. Every day a teammate showed up and spent the afternoon with Juliette. At first it pissed her off but gradually, she looked forward to it, not knowing who would show up and at what time precisely. She would still listen to the piano in the mornings but one day she stopped and turned the radio on, that French station, and I smelt food in the kitchen. That day I knew I was getting her back. Lea also asked Camila to come on her day off, which she gladly did, keeping Juliette updated on the school gossip, which really interested me, so I usually stuck around. And nop, I genuinely was interested...not trying to pry or check Camila was keeping her hands to herself.

About a month ago Lily and I accompanied Juliette to the hospital to have her cast removed. We had spent the previous day drawing on it. I made the outline of that Kandinsky painting she loves so much and I let Lily do the colouring. It's actually pretty good. Juliette wanted to keep it, as a souvenir of her troubled experience and as a reminder not to go on that fucked up path again. I'd rather throw it away if you ask me. Right after the removal of the cast, she attended physiotherapy. She was supposed to go twice a week but she made it four, she wanted her leg to gain muscle quickly and when she didn't have physio, she would do her exercises from home, with my help sometimes, especially for the stretches...

Juliette was allowed to go back to work too. And that really helped improve her state of mind. It kept her very busy during the day and in the evenings when she had to grade all those papers. But she kept her weekend free for Lily and I, and I did mine. It has become a set rule that no work is allowed on Sundays at least. The first weekend I had a look at my to-do-list on my desk in my home office, but I caught Juliette sighing and I discraded it. I learnt that some things could wait and that there was nothing more precious than my family.

Gosh my ankle hurts now. I should never have slided to arrive safe in third. But either that or I'm out and I can't be out for my first day back. I missed it...so much. The girls, the game, the adrenaline. I'll never be able to thank Lea enough for every thing she's done. And the girls. And Amelia of course... I look at her from the corner of my eyes and I see her sitting with Lily on her laps, making her laugh. Seeing her bound with my daughter has become my favourite sight and she puts so much dedication into it. Who would have imagined... I can't believe how lucky I am.

My eyes return to the pitcher who's trying hard to get one of our players out. It's three balls now and two missed. I think. I always lose track and Lea knows, raising two fingers of her right hand for me to see, together with three on her left hand. I hate being in that position as a hitter and I wouldn't like to be in my friend's position right now.

"Come on! Look at that ball and hit! I want to score!!" I shout at the top of my lungs and she does. Perfect hit. I take my lead and see the ball reaching the ground so I sprint and score. Lea rushes to me, grinning, and hits on my helmet. "Good job babe! I missed you out here."

"I missed it too...Lea?" She turns around and her smiles drops. She wasn't expecting the serious tone my eyes betrayed "Thank you. For everything. You don't owe Kelly anything any more."

She takes me into her arms but we're oblivious of the helmet and I bang her head. She backs away, rubbing her forehead while I remove it before kissing her neck multiple times.

"Your woman's watching, careful." She warns rolling her eyes playfully. But it's alright I know Amelia has overcome her jealousy. Or she's become good at not showing it. Lea returns a kiss to my neck and whispers "don't try to get rid of me that easily."

The game is over and I change into my sneakers and walk towards Amelia and Lily who have not noticed me approaching. Amelia is whispering into Lily's ear and the little girl is giggling and nodding her head mischievously.

"What are you girls plotting?" I ask, amused.

"Hum, nothing." They answer almost at the same time. Amelia stands up and takes me in her arms, kissing my neck. "Don't, I'm all sweaty." She laughs but couldn't care less. I guess she's trying to claim back what's hers.

"Nice game my love, you had fun?"

I nod and kiss her deeply. My hand finds her ass and squeezes discretly. I feel her smile under my lips...she knows what to expect later tonight.