Hope's POV

A million emotions rush through me as the final whistle rings through my ears: happiness for the fans, excitement for what's to come, pride in my abilities and the decisions I have made, thankful for my amazing teammates and all of my coaches and teachers I've had over the years and relieved that it's finally happened. Carli comes and gives me a hug. "Good job Hopey. I'm so proud of you." When we pull away from each other I smile and nod at her still at a loss for words. I get guided into the tunnel by or press manager to do a quick thing for social media and then brought back onto the field for the ceremony. I get handed the jersey and flowers still not able to speak. The team and I all arrange ourselves for a few pictures and then we all go our separate ways. 

Christen walks over to me with Mal on her back she puckers her lips so I lean down so she can kiss my cheek, "I knew you could do it Mom. I love you." I peck her forehead and smile.

"Thank you love bug. I love you too." I stand back up straight.

"Hey!" protest Mallory. I look at her and raise my eyebrows at her sudden outburst. "What about me? I want kisses too!" Chris rolls her eyes and set her down on her feet. Mal launches into my arms and and hugs me tightly. "Congratulations Honey." She smiles kissing my jaw line. I kiss the top of her head and spin her around making her laugh and scream. I put her back on the ground and ruffle her hair. "Honey I'm going to take you out!" declares Mal looking up at me seriously. "We're going to go eat and I'm going to pay."

"Just you and me?" I ask her with a smile. Out of the corner of my eye I see Chris trying her best not to laugh at how serious Mal is trying to be.

"Uh huh! Just baby Mal and Honey pot." she says crossing her arms and making this cute little stubborn face. Julie comes over and jumps into my arms peppering my face with kisses. "No Aunt JJ! Mine!" says Mallory pulling Julie from my grip and wrapping her arms protectively around my waist. I bet the crowd still in the stands is eating this up.

"Mallory Diane." scolds Christen squatting down to her level. She turns Mal's face to her and gives her look all while she's still latched onto me. "That was not very nice BUT it was very rude." she says looking Mallory in her eyes. "Let go of Honey and tell Aunt Jules you're sorry." Mallory hesitates and looks away. She adjust her hands around my waist but doesn't remove them. Christen grabs Mallory's chin and forces her to look at her again. She lowers her voice to what Carli uses when she's getting onto one of the girls, "Now." Mal drops her arms and shuffles backward with her head down. She goes to Julie and mumbles a pitiful apology. "Uh uh, no ma'am." says Chris shaking her head. "You try that again. The correct way." Mal huffs but nods her head knowing better than to argue with her mama. 

"I'm sorry I was rude Aunt Jules." she says softly. Mal-Pal is still young so we expect her to make mistakes every once and awhile, she's not supposed to be perfect, and when she does mess up we're always there to lovingly correct her. Julie smiles sweetly at her and gives her a side hug. 

"It's okay." She kisses her temple and then lets her go. Mal walks over to Chris and stands quietly. "Good job Mommy. I'm so proud of you." congratulates Julie kissing my cheek.

"I wouldn't have been able to do it without you." I tell her kissing her nose. She beams up at me very proud of herself. 

"Honey can we go now?" ask Mal trying her best to not sound impatient. 

"Go where?" asks Jay confused.

"Mal-Pal is taking me out on a date." I brag taking Mallory's hand. "We'll be back later. Tell your Mama please." I kiss both Julie's and Christen's head before leading my sweet granddaughter out to the tunnel. I wave as we pass the crowd and enter the hallway area so we can go to the locker room. We both change fairly fast and toss our uniforms in the box. Robert, one of the assistant coaches, waits for us by the door.

"Coach Ellis wanted me to give you these." he says while placing the keys to one of the rental cars in my hand. "She says have fun and be back by seven."

"A-Alright." I nod confused on how he knew what we're doing. When he walks away I glance down at Mallory to see her smirking. "Mallory Diane what is your plan? Nothing is going to jump out and scare me is it?"

"No Honey!" she giggles. "I just went ahead and got permission before the game because I knew you'd do it and well if you didn't we could still go eat." I chuckle and ruffle her hair before walking out into the parking lot with her. We find the car without much of a problem and pull out of the stadium. "Go right at this light." instructs Mallory so I obey and do it. She gives me more directions and in about twenty minutes I have us parked at a Mexican restaurant a good ways from the stadium so we're not bombarded by fans. This kid's pretty smart. 

"After you baby Mal." I smile holding open the door for her. She curtsies then walks in. "Two please." I tell the hostess. "Can we please have a table towards the back please?"

"Of course Mrs. Solo." she nods taking a few menus and silverware. "Congratulations by the way."

"Thank you." I say gratefully. I put my arm on Mallory's lower back and follow the lady to a private party room. "This is great. Thank you so much."

"No problem. Your waiter will be here shortly." She leaves and Mallory burst into laughter. I cock my eyebrow up at her.

"What are you laughing at?" I question. She continues to giggle until our waiter arrives.

"What can I get you ladies to drink?"

"Coke ple-"

"We'll both have water." I say cutting Mallory off. I give her a stern look and the guy laughs awkwardly.

"Okay I'll have those for you shortly." He walks out so I turn my full attention do the teen across from me. 

"You just got done playing a game and you want to drink soda?" I wonder staring at her disapprovingly. "Ciabah would march your tail to the bathroom and tear you up if she heard you say that." 

"Sorry Honey." she whispers looking down. I frown noticing that I made her upset. That wasn't my intention. 

"Hey baby?" I coo tapping her finger with my own. She timidly looks up at me. "You know why I made you get water right?" She quietly nods her head. Even though she said yes I decide to explain anyways, "After a game your body has to replenish itself from all that yucky sweet you lost while playing. Soda actually dehydrates you even more so it makes the process go backwards. We need it to go forward so you can stay healthy. So that's why we're drinking water alright?"

"Y-Yes ma'am." she stutters with a small sniffle. Mal hates getting in trouble more than Julie does: for example yesterday she forgot her napkin at dinner and she literally almost burst into tears when Tobin told her to go get one. Also let me tell you right now that when she actually gets in trouble this little kid does not make it easy for you to punish her. She turns on those puppy eyes and she starts to sniffle, for me it's game over. Carli's somehow immune to it. The guy comes back and brings our drinks and takes our order. Mals orders a taco with rice and beans while I order a taco salad. 

"Thank you for bringing me out sweetie. I really appreciate it." I tell her as we wait. 

"No problem Honey pot." she smiles. "You always make sure to do stuff to make me feel special so I thought I'd switch it around for a change. I mean it's not everyday you earn a hundred shutouts."

"It's not everyday you make the Olympic roster (I'm soo excited!)." I counter smirking proudly at her. She blushes and smiles down at the table. "I'm very proud of you MP."

"We're not talking about me." she insist. "We're here for you and you made the roster too Honey."

"I did." I nod. "So did your Mama, Mami, Aunt Julie, Ciabah, and Moe."

"Didn't Mama go last time?" wonders Mal sipping on her water through her straw.

"Well she traveled with us yes but she was an alternate. She wasn't on the roster roster." I explain the best I can. "Mami, Ciabah, and I have gone three times."

"That's so cool." she awes making her eyes wide. "I want to do that."

"I bet you can do a lot more than that." I smile. "I believe in you Mally."

"I believe in you too Honey." she replies with the biggest sweetest grin on her face. Our waiter comes back and sets our plates down in front of us. "Thank you!"

"You're welcome." he says politely. "Can I get you anything else?" I look at Mal to see if she needs anything but she shakes her head no. 

"I think we're good." I tell the young guy. 

"Alright." he smiles. "I'll be back to check on you shortly." Once he leaves I nod over at Mal to pray. When we're out as a whole family, or with a bunch of people, Mal is usually not allowed to say the blessing. She can get, um let's just say, creative.

She reaches across the table to hold my hands before closing her eyes and bowing her head,  "A B C D E F G Thank you, God, for feeding me. H I J K L M N O P It looks very yummy. Q R S T U V Please let it nourish me. W X Y and Z You're love is very fulfilling. Amen." When she fishes and we open our eyes I look at her very amused. "What?" she ask seriously.

"Nothing bubs. That was very sweet."  I tell her with a slight nod. Where does she learn that stuff?

"I aim to be God's favorite prayer of the day." she tells me. I raise my eyebrow at her.

"I'm not sure it works that way babe." I say not exactly sure how to take that statement. "How about you talk to Mami about that when we get back?"

"Alright." she nods around her mouth full of taco. I roll my eyes and shake y head at her silliness. My Mal is something else. We eat and then stay at the restaurant for at least two more hours just talking about life, her college, her friends, this boy she swears she doesn't like but is bringing up an awful lot today, and other silly Mallory topics such as is it possible to go a whole year on nothing but cheese and water and can a cow really jump over the moon. We finish up and she pays despite me trying to and I drive us back to the team hotel. Dinner is already over by the time we get there so we both just head up stairs. 

"SURPRISE!" screams the rest of the team when the elevator doors fully open. The hallway is filled with balloons and the ceiling is covered in streamers. There's two long tables pushed together down the center of the hall with an assembly line for what looks like ice cream sundaes. I look up and see a banner that reads 

"We never HOPEd you could do this. We never had a SOLO doubt you couldn't!
100 Shutouts! 6-9-16"

I smile wide at all my teammates and coaches, who are all rocking "100" glasses, and tear up. "Thank you gals so much. I could have never done this without you guys, especially my defenders. KO, Julie, Becky, Ali, Whit, and Christie's not her but her too, thank you guys for being so amazing and working so hard (Tell me if I'm forgetting anyone please!!). This is wonderful and oh just thanks!"

"Brick wall?!" yells Kling excitedly. 

"Brick wall!" we all yell back. 

"Alright ladies let's let Hope get her ice cream first and then you can go at it!" annonces Jill. "Do you have my keys?" she ask me holding out her hand. I laugh and drop them into her palm. "Thanks." she smiles with a short nod. "Now go celebrate super star. You deserve it." She gives me a strong side hug and pats my shoulder. I go in line first and everyone else files in behind me, even Carli gets a small bowl to eat. I spend the rest of the night with my little "family" and teammates laughing and enjoying myself. When it's finally time to go to sleep I can't wipe the smile off my face. I've truly been blessed with the most amazing friends on the planet and for that I am forever thankful.