Chapter Text
Lexa:
The cool Australian air hung around me as I raced up the field, calling out to Octavia, a rookie, and my possible future sister-in-law. She kicked it between a pair of defenders directly to me. The game had been a rough one, a single goal for each team. The entire tournament was going to be determined by these next few minutes. I knew we had maybe a minute left in the second half of overtime. I needed to put the ball in the goal. With one final kick, I sent the ball towards the goal, only for the goalie to snatch it out of the air. I huffed in annoyance, backpedaling quickly to see where the goalie would throw the ball.
The ref put up the whistle, ending the double overtime, before the goalie had the chance to throw it back into play. With the World Cup on the line, we would go to a shootout. Five players from each team would go one on one with the goalie. Whoever made the most goals would win, breaking the tie. This had happened before for the U.S. national team, back when I was 2 years old. The 1999 Cup was determined by a final kick in the shootout, Brandi Chastain hit the net and in that, the US team won its second cup. This would be our third time going against Japan during the penalty shoot out. Japan won in 2011, we stole the championship the following year in 2015. Now here we are again, two tournaments later, playing the same team. This would be the tiebreaker in more ways than one. We lost the coin toss of who would kick first. Japan would have first shot.
Coach Indra Forrest gathered the entire fielded team on our side of midfield to decide who would be doing the shoot out.
“Anya, you first. Then Morgan, Lavelle third. Blake, you are fourth. That leaves Lexa as the final spot. Agreed?” Indra looked to the five of us; we all nodded. I could see a few of the other players look to us in amazement.
“Let’s get this done.” I spoke up, putting my hand in the center, the others joining. “USA on three.” I counted down and the team echoed USA loudly. Pulling Anya aside, I patted her shoulder. “Let’s make history and get that fifth star, eh?”
“Five Stars.” She agreed, hunger clear in her eyes.
Japan’s first player, Yui, the midfielder stepped up against our goalie Alyssa Naeher. She faked left, sending Naeher lunging in the wrong direction. The goal was clean. A cheer rang out through half the stadium.
The score was 1-2 in Japan’s favor.
Anya stepped up to the ref, prepping to take our first shot. I watched as she took the position, staring down the Japanese goalie, Ayaka, with her standard resting bitch face look. The whistle blew and Anya took a breath. She ran at the ball and sent it flying over the goalie’s right shoulder, hitting nothing but net.
The score was 2-2.
Jun, one of the younger Japanese players, scored; the ball just barely tipping off the edge of Naeher’s gloves. Naeher took it hard, taking a moment to gather herself, before calming once more.
The score jumped up to 2-3, putting Japan in the lead once more.
Alex Morgan stepped up next. This would be her final world cup, capping off a twelve year career with the National Team. She had already announced her retirement, wanting to spend time with her kids and soccer star husband. A roar of a cheer rang through the stadium. The US fans were excited to see Morgan help win another cup. Morgan easily put the goal away, giving us an edge once more.
The score was now 3-3.
Once more Japan was up, Riza raking her fingers through her short hair. She took a moment to look at the ball, as if ordering it what to do. A whistle sounded from the ref, and Riza took the shot, finding another goal for Japan.
3-4, favoring Japan.
Rose Lavelle, a fellow 19-er was up next, taking a deep breath, looking at a specific spot in the crowd. Whatever she spotted seemed to calm her. She took her shot and found the back of the net quickly.
The score became tied once more; 4-4.
Looking at the next Japanese player up. Asato, a hardliner defensemen, absolutely amazing one on one. She sunk the ball for a goal, running back to her team, arms in the air. Her hair was wild as she slammed into a few of her teammates.
4-5, once again Japan ahead.
Octavia was standing next to me, near vibrating. She sighed softly as if she was unable to stand still. I could tell she was nervous. This was her first international tournament, which was always terrifying.
“O, you can do this. We trained so hard for this, it’s just like training. I swear it.” I promised, wrapping her into a brief hug. “We are back at the complex, you are shooting against Alyssa, you can do this.”
She calmed at my words, smiling. “I got it past her a few times in training.”
The ref motioned the next shooter forward. Octavia looked at me one last time before stepping forward. I could see her mask fall into place as she calmed further. With the whistle, Octavia charged forward, sending the ball flying into the upper left corner of the net. She turned to the stands, spotting her boyfriend - my brother - Lincoln. Sending a kiss to him, she returned to my side.
“Lexa, I did it!”
I patted her back, a bright smile on my face. “You did. Are you ready to hold the trophy up?”
“Hell yeah. I’m gonna hold it the whole plane ride home.”
I laughed softly, Octavia had tied us up once more. 5-5.
Japan’s last shooter, Kumi, one of the forwards that Anya had been dealing with all game, came next. Her shot was good, but Naeher was better, batting the ball away simply. A roar of upset ran through the Stadium. We were tied still, and I was next. I was beginning to sweat; excitement running through my body like lightning.
Anya and Octavia both patted my shoulder, as I let my Commander facade slide into place. I faced Ayaka, who had denied a few of my shots this game. I took a deep breath, signaled that I was ready and waited for the whistle. Once I heard that, I centered myself, letting the sounds fall silent around me. I ran forward, taking my shot and watching the ball fly forward. I followed the goalie jump in the opposite direction, allowing the ball to sail into the goal. It took a second to register in my head. We had just won the world cup, for the third year in a row. History had been made, with a single kick of my foot.
I threw my hands up, as my teammates surrounded me. Celebrating with them for a moment, I realized there was someone I had to see. Breaking away from the cheering pile of women, I raced to the bleachers where the team families were sitting. I needed to see one very specific blonde bombshell.
I spotted her sitting in the front row. Scaling the small wall, I grabbed her around the shoulders and pressed my lips to hers, without a thought. It seemed like a moment and a year at the same time that we pulled back from each other. Completely out of breath, I smiled at her.
“I love you so much, I couldn’t have done this without you.” I whispered to her, the cheering of the crowd louder than ever. I could see the flashes of cameras going off in my peripheral vision, but I ignored them. “Five Stars!”
“You did it, babe.” Clarke said, smiling brightly. “I’ve got something else to tell you.” She took my hand and placed it on her stomach. “It took, love. The treatment took. We are gonna be moms.”
“Are you serious right now?” I asked, looking between my hand and her eyes. “Moms?”
“Confirmed this morning.” She nodded, tears leaking from her eyes.
I pressed my lips to her stomach quickly, kissing my child. “Hey there sprout. I can’t wait to see you.”
The press had gotten closer since I jumped the wall. And it was Gustus’s voice that broke me from the bubble that I loved so much. He pushed them away, as they screamed questions at me. I could barely hear a few over the screaming.
Who is she Lexa?
Is this your girlfriend?
“Well, I think it’s time to let the world know about us, love.” Clarke spoke up, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
“I guess so.” I agreed. “I’ve got to go back, medals and all that. I’ll see you at the hotel?”
She nodded, laughing. “Only you would be this calm about winning the World cup.”
“Yea we won the world cup, but you have given me something that means way more than some dumb trophy. I love you with everything I am and everything I have.”
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----- Two Weeks Later -----
“Let’s welcome Lexa Woods, Captain of the US Women’s National Soccer Team!” Ellen said as the audience started screaming.
I rounded the curtain and waved at the audience, before looking back at Ellen. I shook her hand as we sat, the music cutting off. I straightened my tie and fixed my jacket, knowing this would be an interesting conversation. Clarke was relaxing backstage, she would be called on to join us soon enough. Ellen had given us a run down of how this would work.
“Lexa Woods! You had a brilliant game, your second world up, correct?” She asked.
“Yes, my second, the team’s fifth.” I confirmed. “It was an exhilarating game, honestly. Shootouts are always nail biting.”
“You got the winning goal as well.”
“I did.” I smiled as the monitor behind us showed the shot itself. “Honestly it was a rush.”
“Something else happened just after this.” Ellen probed, a now famous photo on the screen. The kiss between Clarke and I. I blushed softly at the photo.
“Yeah.” I laughed softly. “I kissed my girl.”
“Girlfriend?” Ellen patted my knee.
“No, my wife.” I admitted. The crowd went wild, it took several minutes for them to calm.
“Wife?”
“Yes. We got married just after the last world cup win, in late 2019.” The monitor showed a photo from the wedding. I was wearing a pressed black suit, white button down shirt and a blue tie that matched Clarke’s eyes. Clarke looked incredible in her white dress.
“Your wife, Clarke… she’s here. Shall we bring her out?” Ellen asked, looking at the crowd. They went wild once more. The curtain raised, showing Clarke, dressed in one of my jerseys and a pair of dark jeans. I stood, meeting her as she crossed the stage. I pressed a kiss to her forehead and tangled our hands together. Clarke shook Ellen’s hand and took the seat I had originally sat, forcing me a bit further down the couch.
“Ellen!” Clarke smiled brightly.
“Clarke!” Ellen responded in kind. “How did you land this one?” She asked, pointing at me.
“Pretty sure I landed her, god knows she is way beyond my league.” I admitted, looking at Clarke. “She’s everything.”
Clarke blushed softly, as Ellen laughed.
“You’ve been married for nearly four years and kept it silent?”
I nodded. “The only ones that knew were our family. My sister and brother stood by my side. Her best friends stood for her. Only family was there.”
“Your team didn't even know?”
“Aside from Anya, my sister, and Octavia Blake, Clarke’s best friend, no, teamwise. I got a lot of half angry rants on the flight home.” I laughed softly.
“Why keep it quiet?” Ellen asked a look of confusion on her face.
“My career as an artist had just started taking off, and I didn’t want people saying I was using Lexa’s fame to further myself.” Clarke nodded. “My career is doing well, and Lexa did so amazing at the Cup, that we didn’t even think about it. The kiss just kinda happened, I regret nothing.”
“What about this part?” Ellen asked, as the monitor showed the photo of me kissing Clarke’s stomach.
I looked at Clarke and she looked back. A silent conversation happened between us, before she nodded and smiled.
“Since getting married and settled, we decided we wanted to have children. We went through the treatments and the results were up in the air when the tournament started. I found out just before the finals.” Clarke answered, shifting on her seat. “What you caught was me telling Lexa that the treatment had taken, I’m pregnant.”
Another cheer went up through the stage once more. I pulled Clarke against me, wrapping my arms around her, my hand coming to rest on her stomach. It had become a familiar position since we found out.
“Congratulations! Do you know what you are having yet?” Ellen said above the cheers.
We both shook our heads. “I’m only about a month along so it’s too early for that, but once we find out, maybe we will share.”
Ellen laughed, nodding. The producer signaled that the show would go to break. Ellen turned to the camera and spoke once more. “After the break, we will have another magical pair, Kim and Kanye!”
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----- Seven and a Half Months Later -----
A simple picture appeared on the instagram of Soccer Star Lexa Woods. An infant curled up around a small soccer ball. The baby was asleep, clutching at the ball with his hand, swaddled in a blue blanket. The caption was simple.
‘Jacob Aden Griffin-Woods. My heart is so full of love for you, my little one. I am proud to call you my son.
Born 3/9/2024, 6 pounds, 5 ounces, 17 inches long.’
It was safe to say, the internet broke after that post. Lexa’s instagram was filled with congratulations and well wishes.
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