"Coach Broughton." Ardeth called as he ran towards the university Soccer coach.

"Ardeth." Coach Broughton smiled.

"Coach, I hear that they are finalising the team to play the Soccer finals this month." Ardeth asked.

"You heard it right,Ardeth." The coach said with a nod as his smile flattened on his face. "But... I am not sure if the selectors would include you in the team based on your previous performances."

"Everyone will have a down phase in their life and career, I had mine and I practised to get back to form, I need a chance to prove myself again." Ardeth said.

"I can understand you Ardeth and I know how much of a great player you are, I have mentioned this to the selectors as well but the ultimate decision lies with the selectors." Broughton said, "I wish I could help you."

"Thanks for your help, Coach." Ardeth nodded, "I will wait for them to announce the final selects." He said and walked away.

"Sherry, you should try this off shoulder dress, I am sure this would look great on you." Marcie said holding the lilac dress in her hand.

"No, you should try this lavender halter neck one." Amelia said.

"Girls, I am not going to try anymore dresses, I am tired." Sherlyn said sitting on the couch in the boutique.

"Tired so soon?" Marcie asked, "It hasn't been one hour since we got here."

"Yes, and you tried only three dresses so far." Amelia said showing three fingers.

"Well, if you guys forgot, let me remind you, I am carrying a baby." Sherlyn said sitting straight to show off her baby bump, "and you guys weren't agreeing on one dress."

"Fine, I just want my maid of honor to look extra beautiful on my big day." Marcie explained. "I am sorry, I didn't realise we are tiring you."

"I can understand, Marcie, it's just I can't squeeze myself in and out of those dresses, it's tough with the baby." Sherlyn said patting her belly.

"Okay, try this Beige sweetheart dress." Marcie said holding the dress.

"Yes, it looks good." Amelia agreed.

"Fine, this is the last one." Sherlyn said walking inside the trial room.

"Where is Sherlyn?" Ardeth asked as he walked inside the boutique.

"In the trail room." Marcie replied with a frown, "How did you find us?"

"Johan. He is waiting outside for you." Ardeth said walking towards the trail rooms.

"That Johan!" Marcie huffed in fury.

"Thanks Marie." Ardeth shouted.

"It's Marcie..." Marcie shouted but Ardeth was already gone.

"I wonder if he would get your name correct in this life." Amelia laughed.

"Hey baby." Ardeth whistled as he found Sherlyn in the trail room.

"Ardeth! How did you get inside?" Sherlyn asked wide eyed.

"I have my talents." Ardeth said holding Sherlyn's hand and spinning her around. "This dress looks beautiful on you." He said pulling her closer to him.

"Even if it isn't looking good, I am taking it. I have been trying dresses since past one hour." Sherlyn smiled shaking her head.

"You look good in every dress." Ardeth said, "and without it too." He whispered as he pulled down the zipper.

"Behave." Sherlyn said swatting away his hand. "We are in public trail room, you should get out of here before the girls come and catch us, they will tease me."

"Come on, let's have a quickie it would be adventurous." Ardeth teased.

"Yeah... Yeah... You like it don't you? Doing it in public places." She said buttoning up her blouse. "I didn't forget how I met you for the first time." Sherlyn said as she walked out of the trail room.

"Sherlyn...baby..." Ardeth called as he walked behind her.

"I am taking it, Marcie." Sherlyn said, "Hey Johan." She greeted as she saw Johan sitting in the couch.

"Is everything alright?" Marcie asked looking between Sherlyn and Ardeth.

"Everything is perfect." Ardeth answered.

"But Sherlyn seemed to be pissed off." Marcie frowned.

"Pregnancy hormones." Ardeth rolled his eyes earning a jab in his stomach from Sherlyn.

"We are going to get some drinks, wanna join?" Johan asked Ardeth.

"No man, you guys have fun." Ardeth said, "Sherlyn needs to rest."

"Okay, see you guys." Marcie said as she got into the car with Johan and Amelia.

"I am fine, Pa and the baby too." Sherlyn spoke on the phone with James as Ardeth made funny faces at her.

"How's Ardeth?" James asked.

"He would do great as always, what will go wrong with him." Sherlyn huffed as Ardeth made a funny pout.

"He is not in a good situation then." James laughed, "May God bless that kid."

"Pa." Sherlyn huffed and cut the call. "Why do everyone think that I would eat you alive before the baby comes out!" She said throwing her hands up in the air.

"I don't know what others are thinking but..." Ardeth said moving closer to Sherlyn making her frown, "If you want to eat me or punish me, I would be glad to be at your mercy." He whispered seductively fluttering his eyes.

"What?!" Sherlyn asked scrunching her face.

"Punish me Momma, I have been a bad boy." Ardeth spoke in a high pitch sound and dived towards Sherlyn.

"Eww... Go away." Sherlyn pushed Ardeth away making him laugh.

"Look at your face." Ardeth said wiping his tears.

"So funny." Sherlyn huffed and walked away into their room.

"Babe..." Ardeth followed her inside and pulled Sherlyn closer to him. "What's bothering you, hmm?" He asked looking into her eyes.

"Nothing." Sherlyn looked away.

"You look upset and I can sense something is bothering you, tell me, what's it? Please..." Ardeth asked placing his hand on Sherlyn's cheek and making her look at him.

"I am bothering you, I am becoming that clingy, nagging girl friend." Sherlyn cried.

"What made you feel so?" Ardeth asked as he wiped her tears.

"I don't know, everyone around me is pitying you for bearing with me and my mood swings. I know even you must be tired of my tantrums, I feel like a bad person for doing this to you." Sherlyn cried.

"Sherlyn..." Ardeth shook his head as he hugged her tight, "why didn't you talk to me about this earlier?"

"I don't want to bother you anymore." Sherlyn sniffed.

"You are so stupid." Ardeth said shaming his head, "I would be bothered if you don't bother me, and I have no complaints about you, I am enjoying every phase and mood of yours. I am having the time of my life watching the prim and proper Sherlyn Priestly turn into a wayward and bold beauty."

"I don't look beautiful anymore." Sherlyn said as she turned and looked at her reflection in the mirror.

"Not when you see through my eyes." Ardeth wrapped his arms around her protuded belly and rested his chin on her shoulder blade. "To me you are the most beautiful woman in the world, the love of my life and the mother of my child, every single passing day I find myself falling for you all over again, for me you will always be perfect, even if you are angry, mad or pissed at me, I would still love you and keep loving you till the last second of my life." Ardeth kissed her.

"I love you." Sherlyn said and unbuttoned Ardeth shirt.

"I love you more." Ardeth said as he kissed her and led her towards the bed to show his love.

"Ardeth..." Collin called as he ran towards him in the university corridor.

"Hey Collin." Ardeth greeted with a smile. "What's up?"

"They have displayed the Soccer final team members name on notice board." Collin breathed out.

"Did you check it?" Ardeth asked worried.

"No, I didn't." Collin answered, "Let's go and check it together."

"Okay." Ardeth said looking visibily nervous. "Give me a minute." He said as he fished out his phone out of his pocket and typed a message to Sherlyn asking her to meet him near the notice board, whether the things are going to be good or bad he needed her by his side.

"Ardeth..." Sherlyn rushed to Ardeth's side as she found his leaning against one of the pillars near the notice board.

"Careful." Ardeth said as he held her by her arms.

"What happened?" Sherlyn asked as she got to know from Marcie about the finalists. "Is everything fine?" She asked as she felt nervous.

Ardeth nodded his head in No, as he looked at the lone tree in the ground.

"Come with me." Sherlyn pulled Ardeth into the isolated corner. "What happened?" She asked holding his hands in hers.

"My name isn't mentioned in the finalists list." Ardeth rasped as a lone tear escaped his eyes.

Sherlyn pulled Ardeth into a hug and he  broke down into tears as he hugged and cried against her bosom like a kid, as she held him tight in her arms.

"I feel like a failure." Ardeth said once he calmed down.

"No, you are not." Sherlyn wiped away his tears.

"I wanted one chance to prove myself again but I didn't get one." Ardeth said.

"I know, this must be disheartening to you." Sherlyn rubbed his back in consolation.

"I wanted to make you and Nugget proud, I don't want Nugget to think I am a failure."

"Our baby and I love you beyond all these things, Ardeth." Sherlyn said, "Our baby would look up to you, and learn how to never give up like her father, and would fight for the things against all the odds, to make a greater comeback. Nugget will be proud of her father."

"Really?"

"Yes." Sherlyn affirmed. "Remember this Ardeth, Whether you win or you fail, Nugget and I will love you the same. We will teach her how to celebrate the victory and how to handle the failure. For us you are our hero, and you will always be one.

"Thank you." Ardeth hugged Sherlyn.

"Do you want to go home?"

"Yes." Ardeth replied and they made their way towards the parking lot, when they heard Professor Luciana call them.

"Ardeth." Professor Luciana called as she walked towards them with a file in her hand.

"Professor Luciana." Ardeth greeted.

"Did you check the finalists list?" She asked pushing up her glasses.

"I did." Ardeth nodded with a sigh, "I wasn't able to make my way into the list."

"I am sorry, Ardeth." Professor Luciana said, "I think I have to rephrase my words, Did you check the new finalists list?" She asked and Ardeth shook his head in negative.

"Then I think you should check it." Professor Luciana pulled out a paper from the file and handed it to Ardeth.

Ardeth's eyes filled with tears of joy as he found his name among the finalists.

"Thank you, Professor Luciana." Ardeth smiled through his tears.

"All the best, Ardeth." Professor Luciana said and walked away.

"Congratulations Ardeth." Sherlyn kissed him on his cheek.

"Thank you." Ardeth hugged Sherlyn and looked at the sky.