Part XXXIII

Marissa stared at her suitcase, quite mindlessly. They have just gone back from a game the Sparks almost lost. As expected, Alex did her best, but in contrast to the team they faced back in LA, the revamped Houston Comets were making lives miserable for their starters – Specially Alex. That was a fact Marissa didn't want to leave Alex alone with. She had seen the blonde almost hyperventilate because of frustration. Not because of her team mates but on herself. Though Alex knew, it's a team that wins the game; Marissa knows Alex never accepted loss or lackluster performances. On the other hand of things, Marissa already decided she was leaving for Boston as soon as her flight was available. Alex, though still in low spirits, managed to convince her to go talk to Caleb – Personally. Still staring at her suitcase, Marissa wasn't up to leaving her fiancé all by herself.

"Something wrong?" Alex asked as she came out of the shower.

The blonde took an hour long bath, perhaps meditating on the game that has just transpired. This was her job now. She has to think of ways to make points easier to come by as the tournament progresses. Marissa felt a little helpless to find ways to help her.

"Nothing…" Standing up, Marissa held Alex in her arms.

The blonde looked down at her as she dried her hair. A kiss on the forehead and a small smile was all Marissa received but it was enough to ease her worries.

"I love you…"

"I know that Marissa. I love you too." Alex replied placing her hands around Marissa's waist.

"I'm going to be fine. Hope you'll be." Alex whispered as she dragged Marissa gently towards the bed.

A sigh escaped Marissa lips as the blonde put her arms around her, pulling her closer. The warmth of her lover, the scent, two weeks apart – Marissa could hardly let go of Alex now. Of course she had to, momentarily.

She kissed Alex's cheek and stared at the blonde who was still glowing despite the fact that she had a rough day. A smile and a sigh, Marissa brought her lips to Alex's and kissed her fiancé deeply.

There are some days that you just know you'll make it through because of the one beside you.

----

"Doctor how is she?"

"Your wife is fine but we need to check if the embryo has developed. We need to keep her here a few days more. Please understand."

Summer rubbed her palms together. She was trying to calm herself but to no avail. It had been a week since Jodie went through the insemination, but her wife could barely lift a finger.

To Summer, Jodie looked fragile, utterly weak. It was a figure of Jodie that Summer could not even manage to make up but is seeing every morning.

"I assure you, your wife will recover. It's just the hormones levels are changing to fast her body isn't able to adjust right away." The doctor gave Summer a slight tap on the shoulder and turned to leave the room.

"Summer…" The voice was weak but it brought a smile to Summer's face.

"Hey… How are you feeling?"

"Like hell… But I'll manage…" Jodie let out a sly smile earning a giggle from Summer.

"I'm sorry…" Right that instant Summer broke down in tears startling even her wife.

"Hey… Baby… Come here…" Jodie said in a soft voice a she tapped the empty space on the bed.

Summer tearfully took Jodie's hand and sat beside her wife's body.

"I'm going to be alright. We'll all be alright. You have to be strong baby…" Jodie gave Summer's hand a light squeeze and smiled.

----

Bianca opened her eyes, and stared onto the horizon that was beyond her window. It had been days since Beth's visit. And though her ex-lover promised her mother that she would come back to visit, Bianca knew Beth would never come back. Not unless she gave her good enough reason to.

"Bian, breakfast is…" Her mother opened the door to find her gazing outside her window.

Bianca barely moved and her mother noticed this.

"Bian… Honey… What's wrong?" Her mother put a warm hand on her shoulder gaining her attention.

"Nothing… I'll be right down…" Bianca forced out a smile and gave her mother a hug.

"If you say so dear." Her mom turned to leave but was halted by Bianca's voice.

"Mom…"

"Yes dear?"

"I'm gay."

----

Marissa stared at Alex's face, cupping the blonde's cheek.

"I love you so much…"

"I love you too…"

"I don't want to do this Alex…"

"You make it sound that you're leaving me forever. You're just going to Boston to settle things with your dad and probably Kaitlin. Everything will be alright."

"But you'll be in Sacramento… All alone… You might get sick…" Marissa rambled as her hands found Alex's neck, pulling the blonde closer.

"You know… I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself…"

"But…" Marissa searched for the words.

She was worried about her father.

She was worried about Kaitlin.

And she hated the girl named Juvy.

I saw Alex as she came out of the dugout. Her smile was really beaming at me. I knew she was nervous, but she was trying to hide it. She knew it worries me when she's tensed. And there she was, the girl with a Yap on her back. Honestly, I thought I've grown out of being a little bit threatened since Bianca cared for Alex. She was a woman with Yap as her surname who only looked after Alex and her happiness. She was not looking out to take Alex from me. Of course, history proves I learned that the hard way.

Wait a minute.

Is that her hand on Alex's butt?

"No buts. Marissa. I only have eyes for you." Alex replied with a smile, somehow soothing her.

"I love you…"

"I love you too… Now go… You don't want to miss the flight."

----

Staring at her laptop on the flight to Sacramento, Beth gave her forehead a slight tap then resumed typing.

"Fancy meeting you here tiger…" She heard a voice say.

Beth didn't know it was meant for her so naturally she didn't tear her eyes away from her laptop.

Just then she felt another person take the seat beside her. She straightened herself up and turned off her laptop.

"Let me do that again." The voice spoke.

"Hi… Fancy meeting you here. Remember me?" The voice added with a seductive voice.

Beth turned and found the flirtatious Inna Van Stein looking back at her.

"Hi…" Beth squeaked out earning a giggle from the Sparks player.

"Hi yourself. Glad you're going to Sacramento. Just in time for my comeback." Inna grinned and took her arm.

"Say… Are you still with that Chinese girl? Because if you're not I'm DEFINITELY available." She asked once more leaving Beth baffled.