Evelyn Jane Lasso had been brimming with excitement nearly her entire cross Atlantic flight. So excited that she'd hardly slept. Not only was she going to see her brother for the first time in almost a year, but this journey was the first time she'd ever left the country. She was determined to make this trip an adventure. Her first really adventure. Just like she'd dreamed of as a kid.

When Evelyn was young, she'd had big dreams of traveling the globe and seeing countries like England and France. But things happened and that kind of travel wasn't in the cards for her. At least until now. She was off to London where her brother currently lived and worked. He'd been having a bit of a rough go lately. His marriage has been strained for a while. Evelyn had been told this by both husband and wife. She imagined the distance his new job was putting between them was not helping the situation.

Think Positive, V. She had to remind herself as she waited at the baggage carousel at the Heathrow Airport. Evelyn had planned on surprising her brother with this visit. She was sure it would be a welcome one, as her brother loved surprises. The siblings had both allowed their relationship to wane in recent years. She hoped the surprise visit would be just the trick to turn things in the right direction. But, as she nervously hailed a cab, Evelyn began to have her doubts.

Maybe doing this as a surprise wasn't the best idea. She mused when she stepped out of the taxi. She'd arrived at her brother's workplace and caught sight of the two large security guards standing in front of the gate. Perhaps it hadn't been the best idea to just ask the taxi to drop her off at the rear gates of a stadium. Are they still called Taxis here? Evelyn wondered, fishing her phone out of her pocket. Not important. She decided. She searched her contacts and dialed the number of the only person in the country that she knew would answer her phone call.

Coaches Lasso and Beard were sitting at their adjoining desks in the Manager's Office of the A.F.C. Richmond Clubhouse. The two men had only recently become Head and Assistant Coaches to one of England's premier league football clubs. They were both American and had no experience whatsoever coaching a team of this caliber. What they did have, was a lot of heart and charisma and they were gonna do their darndest to become the best team in the league using just their wits and their respect for the game.

"So I was thinking, maybe if we can give Sam a chance to move up here..." Coach Lasso said pointing to an "X" marked on the white board behind him. He was using the board to demonstrate a play he wanted to try out at the next practice. Coach Beard's phone began to ring loudly. He answered on the second ring after reading the caller ID.

"Hey E…" He started to say.

"Don't say my name if you're in the room with Ted." Evenly ordered him quickly. She explained to Coach Beard that she'd come to surprise her brother but due to the nature of the surprise she hadn't told anyone to expect her. Failing to notify anyone, meant she was now locked out on the other side of the security gates.

"Wait, you're here now?" Beard turned away from Ted's curious gaze. When Evelyn confirmed that yes she was in fact there now, he shot up out of his seat. "Hang tight! I'll be right there!"

"Coach?" Ted called after him, but Beard had already disappeared. With his long legs Beard had cleared not just the Manager's Office but the entire locker room before Ted even thought to follow him.

"Is everything alright?" Nathan the team's kitman asked.

"I'm not too sure." Ted scratched his head. "Coach got a phone call and sprinted outta here like he was Ricky Bobby covered in invisible fire."

"Evie!" Coach beard exclaimed when he spotted her through the chain link gate that separated them from each other. He said something to the security guards which seemed to satisfy them. One opened the gate and ushered her inside. The second Evelyn was within range, Beard pulled her into a tight hug. "It's been too long!"

"Beard, I need air." She mumbled into his ear. She wasn't sure if it was the tight hug or the guild that his words had brought on that were making it difficult to breath. He was right. It had been too long.

"Right, right sorry!" He let her go, smiling from ear to ear. Seeing Beard in person was almost as comforting as seeing her own brother. Though Beard was practically her brother too. He and Ted had been friends since middle school, which was most of their lives. He was family. "He has no idea that you're coming?"

"He shouldn't." Evenly confirmed. "I didn't tell anyone I was comin' until I left yesterday. Didn't want to risk him finding out." Beard picked up her bags and guided her through the building. They continued to talk as they walked, nearly bumping into Ted. The Head Coach had been pacing the Manager's Office impatiently.

"What in the worlds got into you? Jane send you a mid-day booty call?" Ted asked his friend upon realizing he'd returned. Evelyn was hiding just outside the office snickered.

"We got a stow away." Beard answered before tossing the backpack in his hands at Ted. The Head coach caught it.

"A stow aw…" and then his sister stepped into the office. Ted quickly deposited her backpack into the nearest chair. He was truly surprised.

"Well, I'll be! Lil Sis is that you?" Ted scooped Evelyn up and spun her around. "You're a sight for sore eyes!" He breathed before setting her back down on her feet. "I'm so…wow! I'm just so dang excited that I can't think of what to say!"

"It's good to see you, Ted. I hope it's alright me just showing up like this." She apologized. Though she was relieved that he seemed to actually be happy to see her. Evelyn had always been good at figuring out when he was forcing happy for someone else.

"Are you kiddin' me? I ain't never lettin' you leave now that you're here. This is great." Ted smiled.

"You two heading out, then?" Beard offered. Ted Looked at his sister, leaving the decision in her hands.

"You okay sticking around for a little bit of training?" He asked her.

"Yes of course." She nodded. "I never get to see you in action. Don't let me interrupt."

"Perfect!" Ted slung an arm around her. "Let me introduce you." Ted ushered his sister out of the office to stand in front of a locker room full of professional footballers. "Fellas? Can I just have a quick moment of your time?" He waited until he held the majority of the room's attention. "This here's my sister, Evelyn. She's visitn' so you might see her around the next couple o' days. Please treat her with the same respect that y'all show me, m'kay? Evelyn, you want to say anything?"

"No." She answered him quietly, shaking her head. But she decided to address the room anyhow. "Like Ted said my name is Evelyn. You can call me that or Evie or just V. I, um, I just want to add, howdy! Ted's told me so much about each of y'all so I feel like I already know you. I've watched a few of your games here and there. I'm real excited to see you play in real life instead of streaming the game on my little iPad screen while I do laundry and things. I'm gonna stop talking now. There'll be plenty of time for me to embarrass myself all week long."

"There's fucking two of them." One of the players commented which earned a low rumble of laughs from the other players. Judging by the number six painted on the locker the man was sitting in front of, Evelyn surmised this was the team's Captain, Roy Kent.

"You must be Roy." She smiled. "Ted didn't mention you had such a biting sense of humor. Now I know why he likes you so much. Practice?" She looked to Ted and Beard. The Assistant Coach accepted his call to action. Beard clapped his hands together and ordered the team outside.