A/N: Sorry this took a little longer to post. I had a blurry birthday weekend. Anyway...Cheers!

As the clock wound down, the US team was feeling confident. They were up by a goal and Brazil was having trouble on offense. With Correia out, there was no striker that could get past the US teams' defense. Cosima stayed on the sideline offering notes to her coach and encouraging her teammates.

With only 10 minutes left in the game, Samantha was able to get the ball back into scoring range and pass to Theresa. Once she got an opening, Theresa drove the ball up the weaker right side and launched a kick over the goalie to score her second goal. The game was all but over at 3-1 when the fans and team began cheering.

After their win, the team celebrated in the locker room thanking Cosima for her contributions to their victory. During the press conference Cosima fielded questions about the foul and her feud with Correia but couldn't wait to be done with her obligations so she could hide in her hotel room. She did take a moment to sip champagne and revel before sneaking off to a nearby clinic to be examined.

.…

After being looked over, she was relieved to find that nothing was broken. If anything serious had happened she couldn't imagine what she'd tell her family. After the clinic visit, she grabbed her belongings and slugged them into a cab back to the hotel.

Once she managed to carry her gear through the lobby and get onto the elevator, she took a deep breath and shut her eyes to fight back tears of exhaustion. Although she was happy about the win, her injury was weighing heavily on her mind. She couldn't imagine what she would do all day if she wasn't able to practice. She could attend meetings and press obligations but she was most likely stuck on the sidelines for at least week.

After arriving at her room, she sat on the bed and tried to shut her brain off. If she managed to keep her mind off of missing her next game, she was consumed with thoughts of Delphine. While her teammates had heard her venting to Sarah and Felix, they hadn't been aware of the nights she'd spent listening to The Smiths' "I Know it's Over" on repeat and eating cheesecake. After her two night pity party, she was hopeful that she'd recover from their separation and devise a plan to win Delphine back. Unfortunately, for the time being she wasn't exactly sure how to go about it. She was still hazy about how everything escalated so quickly. From what she remembered, they were just discussing their disagreement and the next thing she knew Delphine was out the door and on a flight back to L.A.. Just when she began to stew in her confusion she heard her phone ring.

"Hey Sar, sorry I was having tests done earlier when you called. What's up?" She answered nonchalantly as she perused the premium cable in the room for a distraction.

"What's up? Are you kidding? How are you? What's the prognosis or whatever?" Her sister asked impatiently.

"Oh, it's a mild sprain…I just have to R.I.C.E. it and stay off of the field for at least a week. It blows Sar…I have to miss the match against Germany on Monday. I was looking forward to beating Frida again. She's still bitter about the London Games." Cosima laughed off her disappointment in order to hide it from her sister. "Luckily, if we win, I can feasibly play in the next match. It'll either be against England or Mexico."

"Oh man Cos, that blows… just try to rest so you can be healthy for the next game. And don't try to rush it, I know you. Hey, and if I see that bitch in the street I'll rip her head off." Sarah threatened with certainty. She knew her sister was more upset about this than she was letting on and it made her feel helpless.

"Yeah yeah I will…And no need to rip any heads off. She'll probably be suspended and fined. That's good enough for me. Changing topics here for a sec though, what's this I hear about you getting emotional about Mom in front of my niece?" Cosima asked bluntly, in an attempt to downplay the significance of Kira's concern.

"Oh shite! She told you? It's nothing, it's just things are crazy at work and Cal wants me to let the business go. He thinks it's too dangerous. He told me not to put Kira in the same position as us…"Sarah said with a dull tone, obviously exhausted about the subject.

"Of course she did, she tells me everything. And I cannot believe he threw that at you. I know you're safe. You always have protection on you and you have security at the shop. What more does he want?" Cosima was stunned that Cal stooped so low with the remark. He had always been her preferred brother-in-law.

"I know, I think he's more worried about what the higher ups at his firm think than my safety…I was just so pissed that he brought it up that I just broke down. Especially so close to the day you know?" Sarah admitted in an uncharacteristic moment of melancholy.

"Yeah you had every right to be upset. I say we have Felix kick his ass." Cosima offered, knowing it would make her sister laugh.

"Cosima I have a better chance at kicking Cal's ass. What would Felix do? Scratch him to death?"

The siblings laughed at the mental image before Sarah changed the subject.

"Hey so has Frenchie called to check on you? I know you two were in a tiff but…"Sarah asked cautiously not wanting to pry.

"Yeah uh…no. I haven't heard from her. She must be more upset than I imagined. That or she doesn't know what happened. Maybe I should just call her?" Cosima posed, ready hear a third party opinion on the subject.

"Well Cos I think you two are very stubborn. Between your pride and her entitled attitude I think it's up to you to budge first this time. You both have a hand in this but you were a bigger jerk and I think you owe her an apology…and you need to tell her how you feel."

"I can't believe you're talking with everything you put Cal through but I guess you're right. If he can forgive you we should be fine." Cosima teased as she decided whether to just swallow her pride and call Delphine. "I'll think about it okay? I'm still not sure where her head is at and I don't want to seem needy."

The two then dropped the topic and bantered about their siblings for a while before wishing each other well and ending the call.

Meanwhile, Delphine was in her bedroom having a crisis of her own while deciding whether or not to call Cosima to check on her. On one hand she was desperate to comfort her, knowing the woman would be upset. On the other hand, she didn't want to give Cosima the idea that all was forgiven. Honestly, there was no guarantee Cosima would even welcome the interaction after ignoring her prior text. It had been several hours since the game ended and Thomas had encouraged her to at least check on Cosima. His exact words were "Don't be an ass. You are in lust with her so you can at least text her." Once she summoned the courage, she decided to send a brief message in effort to say that she was thinking about her.

7:34pm

D: Allo Cosima, I saw your match, you were incredible. I really just wanted to see if you are okay…considering. If you have time please let me know that you're well. If not I understand. Ciao.

7:40pm

C: Hey, thanks. Yeah I'm a little banged up but I'm fine. I'm so happy to hear from you. You have no idea.

8:25pm

D: Oh good, I'm glad you aren't too injured. I just wanted to know because I was worried. Anyway…Be well Cosima.

No sooner than 8:30 did Cosima screenshot her conversation and send it to Felix for review. His consensus was that Delphine was ending their conversation and that she shouldn't put too much energy into deciphering hidden signals. She agreed and vowed to put a pin in her quest for Delphine's forgiveness until they could be in the same place. The distance was unfortunately another obstacle to overcome. At least the woman cared enough to contact her and that alone made her hopeful.

…..

The next morning Delphine was packing her final items for her flight. She had made her way through most of her checklist and was re-checking to make sure things she marked were indeed in her luggage. This routine was one that both Thomas and Olivier had deemed excessive. One thing she could say was that she never forgot anything.

As she walked into her closet she heard a noise come from the hallway. As she turned her head she saw a shadow by her window.

"Pre-flight checklist huh? It's kind of cute now…well now that I'm merely a spectator."

Delphine gasped in shock at the sound of the voice and turned abruptly with a wire hanger in her hand in some vain attempt at defense.

"That's what I forgot to do…change the locks. What do you want Oli?" There was disdain dripping from every word as she stood stiffly awaiting his next move.

"Oli? I'm still Oli huh? I guess you still have some affection for me." He grinned before continuing. "I just came for my tux, I took my suits but I left my tux somehow. Do you mind if I look for it?" He asked nonchalantly. He seemed harmless but he was still as smarmy as ever with the flirty tone of his words.

"Sure, I mean you're already in my house. And make no mistake, there is no affection. I still find you repulsive." She seethed at his intrusion and too cool demeanor. Didn't he know she hated him?

"Repulsive? Ouch Del, that's rough…I get it though, you've moved on. No room in your ice box for old Oli anymore." He replied before snaking by her, taking the opportunity to admire her figure in her tank-top and sleep shorts.

She scoffed at his reference to her being frigid and thought she would inform him of her whereabouts since he had departed.

"You're right no room…I've saved the space for someone who can actually give me an orgasm. I've been away learning what it feels like to have passion for someone." She offered her petty brag as she stood by her closet door with folded arms and a satisfied gaze.

"Hmm…is pussy really that exciting? I always figured all dykes did was braid each other's' hair and give each other manicures. Congrats on finally being a little interesting though…. Didn't think you had it in you." He jeered before finding the garment bag that housed the tuxedo and winking at her flustered look.

"So you've heard? Let me guess, Aldous?" She asked assuming that was the only way he would get the information.

"Bingo! He told me you turned him down for that soccer player after you flew all the way to Canada to 'watch her play' so I put the pieces together. I remember you meeting her right before you kicked me out…. Now I'm not shocked that you turned down that old perv but I was surprised to hear that you'd resorted to this. I must've done a number on you if you gave up cock altogether." He paused to absorb her reaction and laugh at the redness coloring her cheeks as she tensed and advanced toward him.

She had attempted to ignore his insults up until now and she was proud of how long she'd lasted. After the note he'd left and spreading the news of their break-up to their mutual acquaintances, she was in no mood for his games. She took a long breath and let the venom flow as she responded.

"No it honestly had nothing to do with you. She is just so... attractive, successful and charming so naturally I was smitten. And honestly, how could I resist being with someone who has talent for once? Heaven knows I got tired of making excuses for housing a squatter…Mmm and the sex…"

Before she could finish her statement, Olivier turned to face her and glared as if he was daring her to continue.

She knew her rant was both trivial and revealing but her rage made her blood boil and she felt she needed to hurt him like he'd done her so many times before.

"Wow, I guess you do hate me…Fuck Delphine, you are nothing like I assumed." He trailed off as he exited the room, clearly offended.

Delphine sat down on her bed with her hands on her knees, still reeling from her outburst of fury. Before he was out the door she decided to hammer in the final nail and be rid of him for good.

"Oui, I've changed…much like the locks will be changed by morning. I hope you have everything because anything left will go to charity."

With the final word he slammed the front door and she heard him cursing her as he entered the passenger's side of a car that she assumed was Marion's and was driven off. She sat in relief that their encounter had ended and that she was hopefully rid of him for good. She called Thomas to ask him to get her locks changed while she was gone since he'd be house-sitting. He agreed after offering copious congratulations for her handling of the situation.

After her small victory, the only thing that she was weary about was what her mention of Cosima was doing to her sanity. In the days since they'd parted she'd successfully been able to focus solely on her trip to France up until this point. She certainly missed Cosima, but now was not the time to dwell on matters she couldn't immediately change. She resolved to get some rest and anticipate having her mother's famous moules-frites the following day.