In L.A, it was training time for the Super Tundras and Shay was practicing for his new move to score more goals with the help of their number one goalkeeper.

However, he had not perfected his technique just yet. Especially, when he was working on it for hours. "Come on, this has to work," the young striker grunted.

Shay was panting and sweating, but he would not give up. Even the goalkeeper was getting tired yet he was able to keep his head on the game, "How long do we have to do this?" he panted.

"Until I get it right."

"Alright, let's do this again."

The soccer player was halfway from the net, then began running towards the goal while kicking the ball. Once he got nearer and kicked the ball as hard as he could. Unfortunately, it did not hit the net since the goalkeeper easily caught it. "Shit!" he muttered.

"Now can we take a break?" the goalkeeper asked.

"You go on ahead," Shay sighed. "I have to figure out this new move."

Their coach approached them. "It wouldn't hurt to take thirty minutes," he advised.

"I can't, I have to master this before the game."

"You'll have time."

"But..." Shay uttered.

"That's an order," coach said strictly yet playful tone. "Beside, you'll think better once you get some break."

"Alright, coach."

----

Back in Haymoore.

Few days passed, the thought of not going to her dream school didn't seem to bother the teenage mother anymore, as long as her child got the treatment that he needed and he was going to get better.

Although, Erika was discharged from the hospital, but it meant that her son had to stay since he had to continue his development. "This sucks, I wish I could bring Thirdy home with me today," she whined, while packing her stuff.

"Me too, Honey," her mother sighed. "But we can still see him again tomorrow."

"Yup."

"Don't worry about him. He'll be in good hands," a nurse assured them.

Before heading to the lobby, they went to see the baby first, "Baby Thirdy, Mommy is going home now but don't worry, I will visit you everyday starting tomorrow," Erika said to her son then turned to one of the nurse. "Please, take care of him."

"We will," the nurse replied.

"Bye, Thirdy, be nice, okay? You know what, maybe I can stay..."

"That's not necessary."

"Honey, no. He'll be fine," Celine told her by starting to pull her arm.

"But, what if something happens? What if it gets broken again?" Erika questioned them with this crazy eyes, feeling paranoid after what happened last time and also wanted to be her son because of it.

"It won't because it's new," the nurse reassured the teenager.

"Or maybe an earthquake?"

"Earthquake rarely happens," Celine said.

"Or a fire?"

"We have fire extinguishers," the nurse answered though she felt bad for being sarcastic afterwards. "Sorry."

"Erika, stop worrying, they won't let anything bad happening to him," her mother grunted.

"You're right," Erika sighed.

"Come on, let's go home."

The young mom glanced to her baby again. "Bye, Baby Thirdy. I love you."

Celine said her farewells to her grandson then pulled her daughter to start walking, "He's going to be alright," she said to Erika.

"I know, it's just that I couldn't hold him and now I couldn't bring him home," the girl sulked. "I wish I didn't have to wait for one more month."

"I know, I know, it sucks."

Later,  the teenager was back home with her mother. It felt weird that she was far away from her son. "Welcome, home," Celine said as she noticed her daughter's glum face. "Look, I know you miss Thirdy, but he's fine, okay?"

"Yes, Mom," Erika replied. All of a sudden, the English bulldog came running in with his tiny bark with excitement which made the teenager brightened up her mood as she bent down and hugged the dog. "Crumbs. Hey, boy. I miss you. Did you like your new home?"

"Oh, yes, he does. Yes. he does." The woman petted the little puppy and baby talked it. "Crumbs missed you too. He's been such a sweetie pie lately while you were in the hospital."

"Oh, I bet. I guess for now, you're gonna be my baby. If that's okay with you," The teenager said to the dog.

"Come on, go up to your room and rest, alright?" Her mother advised.

"Okay, thanks, Mom." Erika carried the dog like it was her baby.

"I'll go to work now. Sorry, I have to leave you all by yourself."

"It's fine. I get it."

"I'll see you later. Remember, take it easy," Celine reminded her, then hugged her daughter. "I love you."

"I love you too, Mom." Erika hugged her back.

Once her mother left, Erika went to her room with the dog. Inside, she instantly saw the crib there and immediately missed Thirdy. She imagined him sleeping in that baby bed with the stuff toy that she bought and the ones that Trevor gave her. Afterwards, she imagined watching her son in there while she reads him a storybook.

The dog whimpered all of a sudden, "I know I missed Trevor too," the teenager sighed. "Don't worry, we'll visit him soon."

A second later, she placed Crumbs on her bed, then sat down by her study table, and the brochure of her dream ballet school caught her eye. Erika took it and then browsed it. The campus and the student life in that school that she would never get to experience since the money went all to save her son.

She may have learned to love her child more, though she could not help to feel upset about it. Erika shook that feeling away, so she quickly threw it in the trash to make herself stop hurting for sacrificing her dreams.

Erika then opened her closet and took out a ballet dress from one of her recitals and reminisce that time she performed wearing it, then dropped the dress in her bed.

She walked out the room, and returned with a garbage bag in her hand while the little dog lied down watching her as she placed all the clothings that she used for ballet like the leotards, dresses, skirts, tutus, the ballet shoes, and the costumes even printed photos of her performances.

Then came night time. Erika could barely eat her food that her mother made for her, even the dog was eating with them. "Honey, are you okay? You haven't touched your mashed potatoes," Celine asked.

"Yeah, I'm just wondering how Thirdy is doing," the teenager answered.

"He's fine. The hospital will call us if something happened."

"You're right. They will."

"Is something else bothering you?"

Erika began eating, "I'm thinking about going to school," she said.

"Sure, sweetie, why not? So what dance schools are you thinking to apply?"

"Actually, I was thinking about going to a night school."

Celine was taken aback by that. "Oh? I'm sure there are plenty of dance schools that we can afford..."

"Mom, it's okay. Besides, I won't be able to take care of Thirdy anyway if I take dance programs."

"Are you sure?" Her mother gazed at her with pity.

"Yeah. And, I'm thinking about getting a job," Erika added.

"That's fine, but I think that's a lot to do."

"I know, I'm just thinking about his needs and his future."

"You don't have to worry about that now. Your father and I can still do that. And as for you, you can go to college first while raising Thirdy, but having a job might be too much."

"I'm still his mother. I should be the one taking care of him not you guys."

"Alright, just don't push yourself too much."

"I know, Mom."

The next day, the first thing that Erika did was to visit Thirdy in NICU while her mother worked in the office. The baby even looked healthier and bigger than it was before. "So far so good," said the doctor to her.

"That's great, thanks," the young mother replied.

"I'll go do my rounds now. Let me know if you need anything."

Erika turned to her son and smiled at him, "You hear that? You're gonna be okay. Keep it up because Mommy can't wait to hold you," she told him. "Anyway, I might not be able to see you the next few days because I'll be going back to school and. I'm going to find a job to support you. I may have to give up my dreams, but I'll make sure you won't have to. That's how much I love you."

Afterwards, she went to the cemetary to visit Trevor's grave. The teenager even brought a small basket of flower and a smaller one too, then placed it on the flat tombstone for him and his daughter.

"I'm sorry that I wasn't able to attend your funeral," Erika said to him as she bent down and touched the marbled plaque. "Your mom told me that you got accepted in that school in England. I want to say that I'm happy for you. You know, I miss you."

She began getting teary-eyed. "I also want to say, thank you. Thank you for being there for me and Thirdy. I named him after you, by the way. I hope wherever you are, you are together with Chiara and guiding and protecting me and my son." Then she stood up. "Goodbye, Trevor, Chiara. Don't worry, I'll visit again next time with Thirdy."

A few days went by, Erika enrolled to a college-level night school in the city. She looked towards the folder she was holding with the logo on it. It may not be the path she wanted yet it was better to just keep moving forward than dwell on what she had lost.

She stopped by a mall, and sat on the bench to eat lunch. The teenager felt lonely since Trevor used to accompany her then suddenly, she noticed a group of little girls wearing their leotards under their jacket with the name of a dance studio, tights, and ballet shoes.

They were walking together with their mothers with them and Erika couldn't help reminisce her passion and remembered her dream when she was that young.

Going to her ballet lessons after school and on the weekends, with her mother or her father, then treated her for ice cream after class. However, that was not her life anymore. It remained a memory.