Free Solo

57

Audrey's POV

"MAMA." I shout when I see my Mom then I run at her.

When I get to my Mom I jump into her arms then wrap my arms and legs around her.

"I missed you." I mumble into my Mom's neck.

"I missed you to Babygirl." Mom says as I hear paws running along the mostly empty floor of Heathrow Airport.

Mom, Kelley, and Kelley's family just arrived in London for Thanksgiving.

"Hi Balto." Kelley says. "You've gotten bigger since the last time i've seen you."

"We should probably go get your stuff." I say.

"Probably." Mom says then I kiss her nose.

"I need cuddles later." I say.

"Gladly." Mom says with a smile then I hop down off of my Mom.

I hug Kelley, her mom, her dad, and her siblings then I grab balto's leash and lead everyone to baggage claim. Once at baggage claim we get everyone's bags then we head to my car.

Once at the car I help put my stuff in the trunk then get in the car and head towards my penthouse. When I get to my apartment building I park in the underground garage then head up to my penthouse.

"Damn." Erin says as I unclip Balto from his lead as we stand in the foyer of mine and Daan's home.

"Balto?" I say then my dog looks at me. "Find Mommy."

Balto barks then he runs off into the house so we follow him.

Once Balto finds Daan he yips then sits at Daan's feet.

"Good boy." I say and scratch his head. "Such a good boy."

Balto smiles at me then he licks my face.

"Thanks Balto." I say. "Let's get you a treat."

Balto's tail starts going 100 miles an hour as I get up and head to his treats. Once at Balto's treat box I grab a chew bone and give it to him. Balto then runs off into the living room and chews his treat.

"Hi baby" I say then I kiss my girlfriend.

"Hi Audi." Daan says with a smile then she turns and hugs my Mom. "Hey Hope."

"Hey Daan." Mom says then Kelley and Daan hug.

"Hey Kelley."

"Hey Daan." Mom's girlfriend says. "How are you?"

"I'm doing good." Daan says as they stop hugging

Once Daan and Kelley stop hugging, my girlfriend comes back over to my side and wraps her arms around me so I wrap an arm around her.

"Daan this is Kelley's mom Karen, her dad Dan, her brother Jerry, and her sister Erin." I say. "O'Hara's this is my girlfriend Daniëlle van de Donk, but you can call her Daan."

"Nice to meet you." Daan says.

"You too." Karen says and smiles.

"Dinners almost ready Audi." Daan says.

"Alright." I say. "I'll show everyone to their rooms then we can eat and make plans for the week."

"Sounds good." Kelley says.

Daan un wraps her arms and returns to cooking the food then I lead everyone to the bedrooms.

"How big is this place Audrey?" Dan asks.

"5 Bedrooms 7 bathrooms." I say as we reach the bedrooms. "I think it's around 7 thousand square feet."

Once at the bedrooms I direct everyone to where they'll be staying and let them get settled in then I head back to the kitchen and watch Daan cook in silence for a while

"You okay?" I ask then I wrap my arms around her from behind.

"Yeah." Daan says. "I just wanna make a good impression on Kelley's family."

"Just be yourself." I say then I kiss my girlfriend's head. "Because if you are the you that I know then I know they'll think you're the girl for me."

- - - - -

"Alright Balto." I say and lift my dog off me so he stops licking my face. "I'm up."

I set Balto down on the bed next to me then I get out of bed and head into the bathroom to shower. After I've showered and dried myself off I do the rest of my morning routine then I head to my closet and put on some boxers and a bra. Once I'm only semi-nude I put on some joggers and one of my old UW hoodies then I walk out of the closet, open my bedroom door, and watch Balto sprint out of the room.

I follow my dog down the hallway and into the kitchen then I get a cup of his food and feed him.

"Good morning Balto." Kelley's Mom says as she scratches Balto's back while he eats then she walks over to me and hugs me. "Morning Audrey."

"Morning Karen." I say. "Did you sleep okay?"

Mom, Kelley, and Kelley's family are staying with me and Daan this week because they're here for Thanksgiving, which is today, and they're here to watch us play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday which will be my first game back since I was injured back in August.

"Yeah." Karen says. "That beds insanely comfortable."

"Good." I say as my Mom walks into the kitchen. "Morning Mom."

"Morning babygirl." Mom says then she kisses my head.

A few seconds later Balto nudges my leg so I look down and see my dog sitting down with his leash in his mouth.

"I'll take him baby." Daan says then she pecks my lips. "Morning."

"Morning beautiful." I say then I peck Daan's lips again.

"Come on Balto." Daan says then she and Balto leave for his morning walk.

Once Daan and Balto are gone cook myself breakfast and eat it then I start cooking Thanksgiving dinner with Erin, Karen, Kelley, and Mom.

After Balto and Daan get back, my girlfriend joins us in the kitchen and helps us with the cooking until we're done then she and I go and change into non-dirty clothes. I finish changing first so I head out to the living room and sit down.

"Kinda weird not having a football game on yet during thanksgiving." Jerry says.

"It'll probably be on after we're done eating." Dan says.

"Who all is coming to eat?" Kelley asks.

"Jordan, Leah, Viv, Lisa, Tierna, and Kim." I say then the doorbell goes off.

"I GOT IT." Daan shouts.

A minute later 6 of my teammates walk into the room so I introduce them to everyone.

"Balto can you clean up your toys?" I question then my dog starts putting his toys back in his toy box.

"That's amazing." Lisa says once Balto's finished.

"Thank you Bubba." I say and scratch Balto's head causing him to softly yip. "Everyone ready to eat?"

"So ready." Leah says as we walk to the dining room.

Once in the dining room we all sit down, dish out the food, then get to eating.

While we're eating I look around the table and smile at everyone then I look at my Mom.

"Everything okay?" Mom asks.

"We finally got that family we always wanted." I mumble.

Mom smiles at me then she kisses my head.

"Yeah Audrey." Mom whispers. "We've got our family now."