"Thomas, is this too much? It seems like it's too much…" Delphine asked, while searching for a flight to Vancouver. After a relatively peaceful Friday, she was becoming anxious about seeing Cosima.

"Look she's a professional athlete and you're going to a sporting event. It's not like she's a hostess you're stalking at Red Lobster." He replied, brushing off her hesitation. "She says she wants you and you're single now, so no excuses."

"I know but hearing that I knew of her in college and wanted to see her again after so long is probably odd enough, without adding me flying to see her in another country." Delphine was thoroughly concerned that Cosima would think she was a stalker.

"You guys have a connection Dear, it's not like you asked for an autograph while you were both dining at Red Lobster and now you're following her." He replied in a distracted tone, while looking down intently at his cellphone.

"C'est vrai, but why do you keep mentioning Red Lobster?" She inquired with a laugh.

"Funny you should ask…I'm thinking of franchising one…They're pretty cheap to buy right now because their stocks plummeted and their parent company sold them off…" He listed, clearly having put much thought into this.

She couldn't believe how distracted he was by this fever dream. She knew he had no time to manage a restaurant. He was due to begin a production in a few months and whenever he was performing he was consumed with the show.

"Thomas! S'il vous plaît se concentrer! This is important to me…I really want to see Cosima in her element, but I don't want to be a distraction. If they advance in the cup she will be there for weeks so I have to see her now." Delphine plead, desperate for advice. This was the type of situation she would consult with her mother about but she was afraid it was too soon to drop this on her.

"I'm sorry Dear, this franchising thing has been all I've thought about… but you need to go. You need a vacation anyway after this dreadful film and leaving Gaston." She looked up from the computer with a questioning look before he continued, "This is a perk of not having a 9 to 5. Your film just wrapped and you have the money. Stop looking for reasons not to go or you'll find one." He replied commandingly, trying to hide the fact that he was living vicariously through her.

"If Olivier is Gaston does that make Cosima the Beast?" She inquired, in a puzzled tone all but ignoring the statements he'd made after the odd reference.

"No Sweetie…she's Prince Adam, the hot guy he transforms into at the end…" He said with certainty, despite the absurdity of the comparison. "Just book the flight and stop dissecting the minutiae of your similarities to Belle…I'm still high from taking bong rips with my stoner nephew and I can't get into that with you at the moment."

She sat in awe of his confession before shaking her head and giving him a light pat on the back.

"Bien, j'y vais." She agreed, as she purchased a ticket for a red eye flight.

…

"Come on ladies! Did you think today would be easy? Pick up the pace." Coach Kent called out to the team members who were falling behind on drills.

"My God…I can't believe she's running us to death…we need energy for tomorrow." Kendall complained between pants, gasping for air.

"Well we tried to warn you last night before you did all of those shots with your new bartender boyfriend…He was pretty hot though so I can see why you couldn't resist." Theresa admitted, before they all split off to their position specific drills.

Cosima paid no attention to her teammates' chatter because she was still thinking about how she couldn't go through with sleeping with Shay. She was wondering what it meant and if it would continue to happen if Delphine was out of the picture for good. This thinking became a distraction and she eventually got so disrupted that she tripped during her passing drill.

"Niehaus! You alright?" Her teammate yelled, knowing she was fine. She'd barely hit the ground and her teammates were growing tired of her lackadaisical attitude.

"Yeah, sorry. My mind is all over the place. Let's just start from the beginning." She replied, embarrassed by her mishap.

Their coach noticed this from afar and waited until the drill was over to pull Cosima aside.

"Look Niehaus, we are running with you at center so you need to focus. I don't know what you're going through…Because you won't tell me, but you'd better snap out of it before tomorrow for the sake of your teammates and your endorsements. You need to look good out there. I'm confident against Turlock and his team, but it won't be a walk in victory so get it together." Coach Kent lectured with a hint of parental concern. She knew Cosima was one of the best players she'd ever worked with, but the woman had so much baggage at times. Between her relationship drama and her struggles with being essentially an orphan, she had her issues. Kent felt protective of Cosima but was able to dole out tough love when necessary.

"Aye Aye Captain!" She replied with a smirk. "You've got my word…I'll make you proud out there if it's the last thing I do…I know how much this means to my country and young girls everywhere…" Cosima continued the joke for a few more sentences before her coach walked away red faced with laughter.

After the penalty kicks were practiced and they did a cool down, Cosima went to collect her sponsored gear and new cleats. She was satisfied with the new design and hoped she would look good in it. She mainly hoped that despite the events of their last meeting, that Delphine would be watching the match.

…Delphine arrived at Vancouver International Airport at around 5AM and was desperately searching for a cab. She was exhausted and wanted to get to the hotel to rest before she got ready to go to the game. As luck would have it, one of the producers on the film she'd just worked on had an extra ticket to the match. Before booking her flight, Delphine had put out an email to the crew members in an effort to purchase a ticket and ended up with a free one. The producer was an older man with a family so Delphine assumed he was as good a person as any to attend the game with. Apparently he was supposed to be taking his brother but he backed out and his wife had to stay with the kids. In fact, he was hours away from selling the tickets to a relative before he saw her email. She informed him that she knew Cosima but she said they were friends in order to avoid any discomfort in case he was homophobic. They even planned to meet for lunch before heading to the game in order to get better acquainted.

Once she arrived at the hotel, she dropped her bags and plopped onto the bed. She ordered her typical soy yogurt parfait and asked for an aspirin. After eating and taking a quick nap, she was up to shower and prepare for her day. They planned to meet at 1PM in order to have plenty of time to eat before the 4 o'clock game. Just as she began styling her hair she received a text.

Hey Delphine, I hope you got some rest. We have an eventful day ahead.

D: Hello Aldous, yes I did. I'm looking forward to the game. So Chambar at 1?

A: Yes, I can't wait. See you then.

D:Oui, À bientôt.

She wasn't sure whether he spoke French or not but he did work some phrases into their phone conversation so she assumed he'd figure it out. She was a bit shocked at his excitement for their meeting but assumed he was referring to the day itself. The game would be thrilling, even if she wasn't seeing her Cosima play.

She arrived at the restaurant later than she would've liked because she had to spend extra time getting ready. She had planned on trying to see Cosima right after the game as she was leaving the arena, so she dressed for the occasion. She wore tight black pants, a white top with black polka dots and a pair of heeled ankle boots. She knew the look was a bit formal for a soccer match but she wanted to be prepared if they went out that evening. If Cosima's reception was what she'd hoped, they would spend the rest of the evening together.

Once she found Aldous' table, she was greeted with a firm hug. It was a bit personal for someone who she'd had limited interaction with prior but she brushed it off.

"Delphine, you look lovely. I took the liberty of ordering wine. I got a bottle of white and red because I wasn't sure what you'd order to eat." Aldous announced with a polite grin.

He too looked quite formal in his black slacks and navy button up. He had a designer coat hanging over the back of his chair and his Cartier watch was gleaming in the light of the restaurant. Rather than putting much thought into it, she assumed this was just how men with money dressed, regardless of occasion.

"Merci, I've been attempting to eat vegan for months now but I can't pass up and opportunity to eat paella." Delphine admitted, knowing she'd cheated on the vegan diet a few times since she'd adopted it. Olivier even attempted to seduce her with seafood pasta knowing it was her weakness, despite the fact that the diet was his idea. Looking back now she wondered if it was some kind of test. Instead of thinking too deeply on it, she was glad to be free of the guilt he placed on her and was planning on indulging.

The sommelier brought the wine before the waiter returned to take their orders. After, the pair discussed their hobbies and interests, Aldous mentioned his children and their extracurricular endeavors. He avoided any mention of his wife, although Delphine attempted to inquire about her several times. Each time she did he deflected the attention to her and seemingly became more agitated with each mention of her.

"My wife is a very talented and driven woman, but I don't like to think about her too often when we aren't together. We've been married for 20 years, I know all there is to know and have said all there is to say. It's just not the first thing that comes to mind you know?"

"Oui, I suppose. I just hope that someday if I'm married, there is still much to consider and learn about my partner... Even in the later years…It'd be a shame to grow tired of the person I vowed to spend the rest of my life with non?" She countered, challenging his grim outlook on the subject.

"Well Delphine take it from someone who's been married a while…it's not always what it seems. It's certainly not the fairytale women make it out to be. As a man I know that there are certain desires that never go away and your wife isn't always willing to compromise in these situations. Once things become routine there isn't much mystery left." He was all but chastising her for her ignorance and felt she had no right to question his views on long-term relationships.

She then found herself seriously considering the implications of his statements. Was that how most men saw relationships or was it just him? Would she have been Olivier's doting wife that he forgot whenever he was away? More importantly, was Cosima the type to marry? Would she ever attempt monogamy after her last try ended in chaos? As she drifted off into her own thoughts, the food arrived and she began to eat almost silently, savoring every bite of food she ate. The food and wine was good enough to distract her into trying to forgive Aldous' rudeness. She assumed that she may have overstepped and he was just being defensive.

After they'd eaten, they were both quite woozy from the wine. Aldous insisted they finish both bottles since they wouldn't be driving. Once the bill came Delphine contended that they split it, but Aldous wouldn't allow it. She eventually gave up and they exited once their cab arrived.

"That was divine, thank you. I never would've thought I'd be drunk before 5PM but with the week I've had I think I deserve it." She laughed with a lightheaded ease.

"I'm sure… I didn't expect to have that much food either. My wife's been nagging me about my health so we've cut down on red meat. I was so excited to have a day off that I went mad." He was bent over in laughter, bracing himself on her shoulder.

"Yeah well we'd better in the cab before he becomes impatient…" She stated, trying to put an end the unwelcome affection politely.

He nodded and reached for the door.

"After you Mademoiselle…"

…

BC Place was nearly full by the time the teams were to begin their warm-ups. Cosima took the time to call Kira, as per usual, before heading out to the field.

"Auntie Cosima! Aren't you supposed to be getting ready?"

"I am ready Monkey, I just wanted to hear your voice. Do you think I'm going to do well? I'm a bit nervous." Cosima asked, clearly acting unsure for the sake of her niece.

"Of course you are. You're the best player on the team. Definitely the fastest…even though you can't catch me anymore." Kira teased, knowing it was a joke the two of them shared now.

"You Meanie! But I guess you're right, I am probably the best. I have nothing to worry about. I just need one thing from you…"

"What?" Kira asked, puzzled as to what she could do for her aunt who was miles away.

"Wish me luck will ya?"

"Good luck!"

"Thanks Monkey…Love you!"

"I love you too." The girl replied, with enthusiasm.

Cosima received parting words of encouragement from her siblings over speaker before hanging up. She grabbed the necklace her mother had given to her out from underneath her jersey and held it tightly in her hand. She spoke silent words to her mother before entering the team huddle. After a rousing chant of "U.S.A." the team entered the field to a roar.

…

After finding their seats Delphine and Aldous stood for the anthem. They had arrived just in time and Delphine's nerves were sobering her up. She'd also had far less of the wine than he had so he was still a bit loopy.

"Delphine you look so stressed, I didn't know you were that big of a fan." He stated in a bit of shock at her shakiness. He proceeded to rub her shoulders in an effort to calm her.

She shrugged him off politely before explaining the reason for her anxiety.

"It's not that it's just…Cosima…I'm nervous for her. I want her to do well, tu sais?" She answered, not realizing how unconvincing she sounded. She was obviously more invested in Cosima than anything else going on at the match and she wasn't hiding it well.

"Oh well I'm sure she'll do fine, she's probably the most talented player on the team." He replied in an attempt to soothe her nerves.

She was brimming with pride at his admission. She knew Cosima was good but hadn't ever watched a match or followed her career. She knew she was quite famous due to her lucrative endorsements and television appearances, but the soccer stuff never caught her interest.

As the game began she took a seat and kept her eyes on number 8.

At the half, the game was scoreless and Cosima appeared to be frustrated as she entered the locker room. Seeing this made Delphine want nothing more than to comfort her. She realized she had never seen the woman so visibly upset and it nearly made her heart ache.

"This is a defense driven game. Canada is not letting our girls' reputation intimidate them. Your friends' words at the press conference the other day may have motivated them" He joked, with a laugh.

Delphine was oblivious to what he was referring to but she knew the conference had to have occurred at some point after their last meeting. She hoped the behavior wasn't related to her turning Cosima down.

After the half, the American team came out with a renewed energy. Ten minutes into the half the score was 1 to 0 U.S., with Canada hot on their heels.

Once there were ten minutes left in the half, Canada was in position to strike. Cosima was back on the field playing defense and directing her teammates. She foiled a scoring attempt and took the ball back across the field. As the clock wound down, Cosima was in scoring range herself. She passed the ball to Theresa before having it returned. She saw a defender coming and dribbled away, leaving herself with an open shot. She faked a left kick and kicked with the right and scored. Her teammates gathered around her as she looked toward the sky and mouthed something silently. Delphine was overjoyed and cheered with an enthusiasm that was completely out of character. She was giving high fives and hugging strangers as Aldous watched in awe of her demeanor change.

"Well that's probably it now, they won't be able to score two goals in this amount of time. Would you like to leave and beat the traffic? I hear there's a bar nearby that offers specials for people with ticket stubs." Aldous inquired, clearly wanting to spend more time with the blonde.

"I'm so sorry Aldous, this must've slipped my mind but I'm planning to try to meet Cosima after the match. This was a last minute trip so it will be a surprise." She confessed, feeling a bit bad that she hadn't informed him of her plans, but glad she had an excuse.

He paused with a frown before placing a fake grin on his lips once he'd found a way to rebut her.

"Oh I see…well I wouldn't mind joining you so you don't have to wait alone. I'd love to meet her." He offered with a wink. "Besides a pretty woman such as you shouldn't be roaming around a strange place alone…there are too many drunken men here…including me." He offered with a laugh, clearly misjudging Delphine's tolerance of his awkward attempts at seduction as interest.

She had to think fast in order to get rid of him. She didn't feel right deserting him after he had given her a ticket but she didn't want a third wheel ruining her chance to be alone with Cosima.

"I'm afraid it'll be kind of a girls' night Aldous. Besides, I assumed you'd be on the first flight back to Los Angeles. You said your wife had to work tomorrow." She was clearly trying to remind him of his obligation to his wife again because she knew his reason for wanting to tag along was less than altruistic.

"I was willing to take a red eye if it meant more time with you Delphine. We've had a great time today and I heard you are no longer seeing Olivier. We are two adults that have needs; I can keep a secret if you can…" He was leaning in and staring down at her mouth, wanting her to know exactly what he was implying.

She wasn't sure exactly how he knew about Olivier but she could guess he was spreading it around so he could hook up with all the "women he turned down" for her. She stifled a laugh at the thought before replying.

"Oh well I'm not sure why me being single matters…You're married and I'm not interested in that kind of relationship with you…but I'm sorry if I mislead you." She felt obligated to apologize even though it was him who should be remorseful. She knew how poorly men took rejection, especially men with power.

He was visibly upset but wasn't willing to make a scene in public. He took a deep breath and seemed to be thinking of a response. After several seconds he rose from his seat and looked down at her sternly.

"Okay Delphine, suit yourself. Go out with the lesbians tonight, have your fun, but be careful." He warned with a stare before gathering his coat and exiting the row of seats.

Delphine couldn't even muster a response to his statement. Was it an insult, a threat or both? She was not sure she cared because just after he left the time ran out. The teams shook hands and she exited to find a way to meet Cosima.

At first she considered calling her but she knew that'd ruin the surprise. She figured if she could just get Cosima to notice her she could get her to call her so they could meet.

After they changed and fulfilled their press obligations, the US team was heading for their bus. Exhausted but happy after their victory, they laughed and talked as they waved to fans. Delphine had asked around and gotten to the area early in order to secure a good spot. While she waited, she noticed a group of women with number 8 jerseys that she assumed were avid followers based on the "Marry me #8" signs they were holding.

As the team exited a corridor, Delphine noticed Cosima immediately. She was in her sponsored gear with her trademark grin permanently plastered on her face. She took the time to say hello to several fans, including the hoard of groupies before locking eyes on a familiar face. Delphine smiled widely and gave a shy wave. Cosima was in utter shock and stopped speaking for a moment before excusing herself from the group of women. She walked directly toward Delphine and smiled.

"Hi…" Cosima shouted over the noise of the crowd.

"Allo Cosima…You were magnificent today." Delphine replied as a blush colored her entire face.

"Uh thank you…You look…" Cosima said with a quick glance, unable to finish her sentence.

This caused Delphine's face to become even redder as she bit her lip and leaned forward on the railing.

"Can I see you tonight?" She whispered into the shorter woman's ear.

Barely able to decipher what she'd said over the crowd, Cosima's heart rate increased when she breathed in the scent of Delphine's perfume.

Cosima simply took a step back and nodded with a cheeky grin. She mouthed "call me" as she was pulled by a teammate toward the bus. As she walked she would peek back at Delphine and make sure she wasn't dreaming.

After finally entering the bus and getting settled, Samantha gave her an excited look.

"Were you just talking to your French goddess? She looked pretty amazing…seeing her in the daylight I can understand why you're so sprung." Samantha teased with a wink.

Cosima was surprised and still attempting to sober herself. She hadn't forgotten about their last conversation. She was very curious as to why Delphine was there. Before she got the chance to be consumed with her thoughts, her phone rang.

"Hey!" She answered, not expecting to hear from the woman so soon.

"Bonjour Cosima…When can I see you?" There was an obvious impatience in her tone that Cosima was thrown off by. Wasn't this the same woman that walked away from her just days ago? Rather than dwell, she decided her curiosity trumped her fear and she finally responded.

"Eh I don't know Delphine, we're heading back to the hotel now but I'd have to get ready. Where were you thinking of meeting?"

"Can I just follow you to your hotel? I can wait at the bar if you'd like." Delphine asked reinforcing her enthusiasm to begin their reunion.

"Umm yeah sure, are you alone?" She asked with fervent interest.

"Yes…I am now. I'll explain everything later... I just want to see you. You aren't too tired to go out are you?"

"No I'll be fine, as long as were aren't doing anything strenuous…" She laughed at her accidental innuendo.

"D'accord…where are you staying?" She asked, ignoring the heat that was rising up her cheeks.

"The St. Regis, call me when you're there."

"Oui, of course. Vous verrez plus tard Chérie." Delphine answered with a cheerful tone. She was so happy that Cosima was willing to move forward. There was a part of her that was ill worrying about how Cosima would receive her gesture. So far she felt the woman was quite civil, warm even, considering the circumstances.

"Already teasing me with French I see…" She replied with a sigh, before hanging up. She leaned back in her seat content in the victories of the day. There was a quiet wave of happiness that washed over her before she remembered the events from the night prior.