Wow guys. It has been almost a year since I have posed anything. The past year has been crazy. I spent the summer in Ghana, started my junior year of college, was diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression, and had surgery to correct a bone in my foot. I had a super hard time writing over the past year, but things are slowly getting back to somewhat normal and I have wanted to write a little more. Hopefully, I'll get more stuff written. I'm hoping this summer to have a lot of time because I am staying at school to work, meaning I'll have more free time without family stuff. Anyways, here is the next chapter, finally!


"Thanks so much for coming," Jesse said as he opened the front door to his sister and brother-in-law.

"Anything for you guys," Mackenzie said, coming in the house.

"Aunt Mack," Allie Claire said as she came running down the stairs, "Uncle Jared."

"Hey Allie Claire," Mackenzie said, scooping Allie Claire up into a hug, "How are you?"

"Good," Allie Claire said as her aunt set her down and she hugged her uncle, "Mommy and Daddy are taking me to play soccer and Red Robin."

"Wow," Jared said, smiling at his niece, "That sounds like fun."

"Where are our charges?" Mackenzie asked, not hearing or seeing the normally crazy toddlers anywhere.

"Jack and Quint are still sleeping," Allie Claire said, "And I think Maggie is too. Elliott is the only one awake, and she was grumpy cause her teeth hurt so Mommy is getting her some medicine and singing to her."

"I see," Mackenzie said as her niece ran off.

"Yeah," Jesse said, "Lottie and I think Jack are teething right now, but they haven't been too bad. A little grumpy, a little clingy, but nothing crazy."

"Nothing we can't handle," Jared said as they walked further into the house.

A minute later, Beca came down the stairs with her littlest girl on her hip, face buried in her mother's shoulder.

"Hey guys," Beca said, smiling, "All the babies are sleeping still except Miss Lottie here. She's not feeling great because of the teeth, but I just gave her something so she should be better soon. She teethes like Allie Claire did."

"We'll be fine," Mack said, taking her niece from her sister-in-law, rubbing the little girl's back as she started to fuss.

"It's ok Princess," Jesse said, rubbing his daughter's back.

"Alright," Beca said, finishing putting on her shoes, "Let's go. Bye Mack, bye Jared, bye Princess. We'll be back later, hopefully not too late."

Jesse kissed his youngest daughter on the cheek before Allie Claire tickled her sister's feet, telling her bye. The three Swanson's then headed out.

The plan, unknown to Allie Claire, was to go to Red Robin for lunch then go to a professional women's soccer game. Allie Claire just thought that they were going to eat and go to her favorite soccer park.

They got to Red Robin, Allie Claire jumping out of the car excitedly. She walked in holding Beca and Jesse's hands, clearly very happy to have her parents to herself. They got a table and even let Allie Claire get a milk shake, a rare treat.

They happily ate their burgers, Allie Claire chatting happily with her parents. She spent a lot of time with her parents because she was being homeschooled this year, but she still loved the time she got that wasn't about school.

"Can we go to the zoo in the spring for science class?" Allie Claire asked, taking a bite of her burger.

"Sure," Beca said, nodding, "That would be fun."

"Yay," Allie Claire said happily.

Allie Claire then launched into stories about her adventures with Nolan, Bella, Ian, and Ryder. Allie Claire loved her cousins. Nolan was still her best friend, but she spent a lot of time with Ryder and Talia because Emily and Benji homeschooled them. It made it easier with all the touring Emily did to just have the kids be homeschooled instead of pulling them out of school for long periods of time. Often, when they were in town, the two families would do outings together. Allie Claire also was over at Chloe's a lot because they lived close and she loved all her cousins there.

Once lunch was done, they left.

"Daddy?" Allie Claire said, looking out the window, "We're going the wrong way."

"We need to run a errand first," Jesse said, smiling at Beca because they both knew the truth. Soon, they were pulling into the parking lot of the soccer stadium.

"Wait," Allie Claire said, looking at where they were, "Are we going to see a Striker's game?"

"Maybe," Beca said, turning around and smiling at her daughter.

"No way?!" Allie Claire said, squealing, "No way."

"Yep," Jesse said, pulling into the parking lot and going to find a spot.

"This is so cool," Allie Claire said, smiling broadly.

"Come on," Beca said, getting out of the car.

Allie Claire jumped out, smiling as they walked into the stadium.

"Wait," Allie Claire said, "There's like no one else here yet."

"Yeah," Beca said, "A few years ago, before Talia I think, Aunt Emily performed before a game and is still friends with the manager so she got us special access to the field and the players before the game."

"No way," Allie Claire said, eye huge.

"Yep," a man said, walking up to them, "Hi, I'm Joe, the manager for the Strikers. Come with me to meat the team."

Allie Claire was beyond excited, following the man. Allie Claire had an amazing time that day, playing with the team a little, getting a ball and jersey that was signed by every player, getting pictures. It was a dream for the little girl. Beca and Jesse loved it because their little girl was so happy.

They had amazing seats very close to the field. Jesse captured a million photos of their daughter cheering and enthralled in the game. When they left later that evening, Allie Claire still had the biggest smile on her face.

"Thank you so much Mom and Dad," she said as they climbed into the car.

"Well thank you," Beca said, turning to face her oldest daughter, "Thank you for being such a big help with the babies and for never complaining about it."

Allie Claire smiled as they drove. She loved her siblings and would do absolutely anything for them, but it was nice to have her parents acknowledge everything she did. The three chatted as they drove home.

When they pulled into the driveway, Allie Claire jumped out of the car, running inside.

"I'm home," she cried, running in to find all her siblings in the toy room with her aunt and uncle.

"Hey guys," she said, running in, "I missed you all today."

Beca and Jesse followed Allie Claire into the house, smiling when they saw their oldest daughter sitting on the floor in the playroom, Elliott on her lap, Jack sitting next to her, and Maggie and Quint playing nearby. Allie Claire was telling her siblings all about her day.

Jesse and Beca smiled, realizing even more in that moment that the bond between their kids was going to be strong, and that as much as it was nice to let Allie Claire have her own special time, she would always eventually find her way back to her siblings.


So there it was. As always, I always appreciate prompts. Hopefully, it won't be so long between chapters this time. Thanks for your patience.