The work weeks had been busy, and I knew most of the kids by now. The regulars were starting to become known, but I was happy to see that Olympia hadn't been pulled up for anything at all. She had actually made a real turn around with her studies and her attention to her basketball. Her focus was noted by the faculty, and my decision was found to be the correct one. Olympia had needed to skip grades.

There was another Nomikos though, coming out of my colleague Judy's office on the Friday, the week later. Josephine.

I stopped at my office door, so that she didn't see me, and watched her walk away, down the corridor. As soon as she turned the corner I walked over to Judy's office down the hallway and knocked the door.

"Come in" she called cheerily.

I opened the door, and was met by her smile and cheery aura, as she sat at her desk and entered information on her computer. She was warm and maternal, two words best to describe Judy. The kids here at laurelwood were her kids, and she cared about them all individually. Judy was such a good emotional support counsellor that I even found myself wanting to tell her all of my worries.

"Hey Millie" she greeted "what can I do for you"

I pointed behind me "Josephine Nomikos" I asked "is she okay"

Judy carried on typing "She will be" she mused.

I frowned and took the seat opposite her "What's wrong" I asked.

Judy placed her reading glasses down on the computer keys and looked to me "It's confidential" she told me.

"I'm your colleague" I remind her "my job is to support the kids too. So, if there's something I need to know"

Judy listened and nodded "I realise that Millie, and if it were anyone else I would of course share with you. Josephine however is too close to you. She's your girlfriends sister. She just told me"

I frowned "She told you not to tell me" I asked.

Judy nodded "It's her right to do that. Things told to me in this office are often very sensitive and the kids trust me with it. I like them to know they can trust me. I can't divulge details on Josephine, because she's expressed specifically that I don't"

I was starting to worry now, about what it was. I knew something was bothering her, for weeks now, and I just wished she could have trusted me too, to tell me. I understood though, that sometimes it's easier to share with someone once removed from the family.

"Just tell me she's okay" I asked "it's not her health is it"

Judy didn't say no, but she shook her head "She's okay. Her parents are coming in later so we can all talk together in a safe space"

"Safe space" I asked concerned. "Her parents are the safest people I've ever met"

Judy agreed "They are, I don't mean that they aren't safe. I just mean that Josephine needs my support to share something with them... and it's a safe place to do that emotionally, having my support. For them all"

What Judy told me didn't make me feel any better "Okay, I understand. I won't mention it with her obviously, but I'm always here if she needs me"

"She knows that Millie. Josephine tells me she's surrounded by so many people who love her. She's a lucky young girl"

***
I expected to hear more about Josephine the next day, but Wren didn't mention it, and I couldn't, due to confidentiality. Nobody mentioned a thing.

I didn't see her on the Saturday. I had half expected Veda to drag her along with us to Wrens game, but when asked, Veda told me she was out with her parents and wouldn't be over that weekend at all. That was also a first, I'd seen Josephine every weekend it seemed since we moved here.

Veda and I arrived in Eugene early, we picked up Kate en route.

"How's my Dawsons" Kate asked as she got into the back of the car.

"Not a Dawson" Veda reminded her, lifting her hand in protest.

"Right MJ, right" Kate whispered to herself "and My Mills... how are you"

I pulled back onto the road "Eager to see my girl on the score sheet"

"Me too" Kate enthused. She pulled out a bag of chips and opened it loudly, the packet made a racket.

Veda whipped her head around "What you got" she asked.

Kate held up a share bag of sweet chilli chips that was almost the size of Veda. "Kai is obsessed with these... he leaves them at my place, and I then gotta eat the left overs before they go stale"

"Sure" Veda doubts, sarcastically "Can I try them"

Kate holds the bag against her chest "Not with that attitude MJ"

"Kate" Veda whines, trying to grab them from the front.

Kate whips them out of reach "You gotta work on your tone... be nicer little Dawson"

"Not a Dawson" Veda states again "Please Kate, Millie's not feeding me"

Ugh, the little shit. She knew Kate would believe it.

"Not true" I argue. "Allie feeds her real good"

Kate gave in and handed her the packet "doubt they are Vegan" she mutters.

"Vedas only a hard core vegan when Josephine's around" I accuse.

Veda scowls at me "Not true. And these are absolutely Vegan" she says, checking the back of the bag and munching on a handful.

***
We arrived at the game in good time, and met my Mother and Olivia at the gates.

"Look what the cat dragged in" My Mother joked.

"Haar haaar" Kate jabbed back "You know Moira it's pretty sunny today... you may want to step out of the glare"

"Before she turns to dust you mean" Veda says, laughing to herself.

I looked to them both, they had a death wish.

"If I was a vampire Katherine... " My Mother began "you would have been dead by puncture wound when you were fourteen years old"

"Now now you guys... play nice" I told them.

"Well, I forgot what fun it was to hang out with the Dawsons" Olivia said from beside my Mom. She had her green and yellow scarf wrapped around her neck and her little Pom Pom hat tucked over her blonde hair.

"Come" I said taking her arm and walking with her to the stands "Tell me about your trip to Europe"

We handed our tickets over the counter and entered the stadium.

"Nothing interesting... usual European stuff, museums, food, drink, cobbled streets and building built long before the USA ever existed"

"Sounds fun though" I add.

"It was. But what I want to know is what happened with Nomikos. Last I heard you had a messy break up, and now you're back on, you live in her grandparents guest house. You have a new little sister too, I can't keep up"

I sighed, she tightened her hold of my arm and leant closer "tell me"

"It wasn't a break up. Not to me. It was a break" I corrected.

"Okay Rachel, whatever you say" she joked "Ross says different"

"I know" I said, feeling a little down to even have to mention it again.

"But obviously you are all good now" she asked.

I nodded Confidently "we have never been better. We are taking it slow, and I've loved that. To date with intent, but to dive into each other without the sex straight away"

Olivia wrinkled up her nose "No sex...at all" she asked.

I shook my head a little "No, no sex"

"Good luck watching her on the pitch today ... knowing you... you are going to be horny the moment you see her in those little shorts"

I sighed "It's going to be painful" I was already resound to it.

***

We got situated in the family and friend stand, and I left everyone seated whilst I went to find Wren to wish her good luck.

I waved hi to a couple of the physios and turned the corner to the changing rooms, Wren was outside, talking to Ava. I backed up out of view around the corner, and stood with my back to the wall so they didn't see me.

"I'm sorry it's hard" Wren told her.

"Can't we stay friends" Ava asked. "I feel like since Millie's back in the picture you've completely ditched me, and I know you've been avoiding me at college"

There was a pause before I heard Wrens voice again "I can't. It's not because of Mills, it's because you still have feelings... and I don't think it's healthy for us to be friends. We can be team mates and acquaintances, but not friends Ava. It's not going to work"

It sounded like Ava threw something against the wall "I hate this" she argued "it's so stupid. I need you to be my friend Wren. If you won't be...I'm not staying at the O ... I can't"

"Ava please, don't put that on me. It's not fair" Wren asked her calmly. "Let's just focus on our games okay"

A door slammed, and I looked around the corner to find Wren stood alone, looking sad.

I walked toward her, she looked up, and relief flooded her features "Hi baby" she said, walking over with arms open to embrace me "uff you've no idea how much I needed to see your face" she whispered as we collided.

"I heard a little bit of that" I confessed "is everything okay"

Wren released me slow, her hands gliding down my arms gently "Yes and no. It will be fine. Ava just needs time to adjust"

I cupped her cheek and leant in with a kiss. "I missed you" I confessed as our lips parted.

"Me too... five days was a stretch huh" She mused, taking her red hair and pulling it up into a short ponytail.

I looked her over and smiled. They were in the green and yellow today, the home kit. Her shorts were indeed short, not helped by the fact that she rolled them up a little. "Why do you and Clark roll up your shorts" I asked her "I noticed it before and never asked"

Wren laughed "I don't know. But we became kinda superstitious because we always won games when we both did it. It sounds ridiculous I know"

I reached out and caressed her cheek "not at all. It's cute... just like you"

"So, you're all up in the stands" Wren asked "Who came?"

"My Mother, Olivia, Kate, and Veda. And I think I spotted Demitra and Tony with Alexi and Clio when I was on the way down"

"Yes she said they were coming. I would have heard her, even if she didn't tell me" Wren laughed. "She's always been the loudest supporter"

"Your Moms weren't coming today" I asked.

Wren shook her head, bending down to lace her boots "No, they were, but they had to change some plans. They will be down Thursday instead with Bastion. He's excited to see a game and get the new Jersey"

"He will love that. And Josie" I ask.

"They didn't mention if she was coming. She's probably got plans with Veda. They seem to be attached at the hip"

"They are" I confirm.

"Okay" Wren said standing back up straight "I gotta go. Give me a kiss for luck" she asked.

I raised an eyebrow and closed the space between us, our lips brushing, but my focus being on my hands that were similarly brushing themselves against Wrens thighs.

She wiggled her eyebrows "what are you doing"

"Rolling up your shorts" I whisper, with a little too much seduction to the tone. "For luck" I said, with the flick of my tongue against the roof of my mouth.

Wren took my cheeks in her hands and drew my lips to hers with a hunger. The kisses were not gentle or sweet, they were ravenous and seductive, and within two seconds I was more turned on than I had been in months.

Her tongue ran across my bottom lip as she pulled back and withdrew, causing a shiver of excitement to run down my spine.

"I just wanted to make sure you were focused on me" she said with a teasing tone.

I grabbed the flesh of her behind and squeezed her against me, practically growling "I won't see anyone else"

"Good" she replied playfully, and she kissed my nose and removed herself from my hands "I'll look for you... you better be watching me when I do"

"I will" I returned confidently. "Especially now" I teased pointing toward her rolled up shorts, rolled shorter and higher than ever, by my eager hands.

She laughed as she looked down "Babe..."

I waved, and walked back up the hallway "Go get em baby"

"Love you" she called after me.

"Way too much" I called back.

"A ridiculous amount" she replied, entering the changing rooms.

***
Wrens team were playing Colorado. The crowd all chanted for them as they came out on the pitch. Wren and Clark were side by side, and I noted that Clark had copied the shorter look with her shorts, which made me smile.

"Millie can you get me a soda" Veda asked.

I widened my eyes "V, you had all this time to get one. They are about to start playing"

I looked down just as Wren looked up, and I waved as she smiled.

"Please Mills" Veda pleaded.

"Fine I'll be right back" I said, quickly making my way down the row of people and down to the food trucks.

I stood in line, and waited, hearing the game begin without me. My phone buzzed in my pocket.

A guy appeared in my peripheral and I turned to see who, but as I did he asked me quite directly "Millicent Dawson"

"Yes" I confirm.

He handed me an envelope "You've been served... enjoy the game" and he disappeared as quick as he had shown up.

I walked over to a bench beside the food trucks and opened the envelope. I scanned the documents and sat in stunned silence. My phone buzzed again in my pocket. I took it out and saw my lawyers number on the screen. I nervously pressed to accept and lifted it to my ear "They want her returned" I asked.

"Yes" the female Lawyer states "I'm sorry Millie I was trying to warn you. Did you get served already"

"Yes" I say quietly. "But I don't understand ... how can she be returned Cara. There's nobody there to take care of her. This reads like I've illegally taken her out of state and am a criminal"

"You aren't. I know it sounds harsh. It's just legal words. It's the Oldest Brother Charlie, he's come back from being overseas. He is legally noted down as Vedas next of kin, if her grandmother can't take care of her. He wasn't contactable until now. He showed up to our offices in Boston with the notices from his grandmothers and the legal paperwork we filed. He then filed himself, to terminate your temporary custody order and your petition for legal custody. He is ordering her to be returned. Unfortunately, until we can resolve this in court... Veda may be returned to her grandmothers home, where Charlie is residing"

"No, this can't be right" I say a little loudly, feeling angry.

"The court will have to issue a final custody order" the Lawyer explains "taking all circumstances into consideration, if neither of you can agree on Vedas permanent custodian"

"But she's happy here ... she's home" I argue. "You want me to take my sister back to a place that she was alone with nobody taking care of her. She's surrounded by love here. Why can't she stay with me"

"There is an emergency court hearing Monday morning. They might let her stay here now she's in school, until the matters settled. I don't know what the judge will decide, but it's more likely she will be returned to Charlie if he meets all the criteria they require. Veda was born and raised in New Hampshire, she has family there too. It's all she'd ever known until a couple months ago"

"Monday" I ask, cutting her off. I didn't want to hear another word.

"Monday" she confirms. "We can be there in court, remotely from my office. I've already applied and had it accepted"

"What time" I asked, holding back a wave of emotion.

"Eleven AM"

"See you then" I say, clicking off.

I couldn't let Veda go, not without a fight, that kid was now the centre of my world, she was my little sister, and she was loved. I couldn't just return her... I couldn't separate myself from her now just by handing her over like a piece of lost property. I was responsible for someone else for the first time in my life, and I didn't take that lightly. She didn't even like it when I was going out for an entire day, not without knowing where I was and when I'd be back. Veda had abandonment issues, and I wasn't about to abandon her... not ever.

I looked back down to my phone and debated on who to call, everyone was inside the game.

I flicked down the contacts and clicked the one person who's advice was always spot on.

"Millie, everything okay"

I sniffed and wiped my eyes "Willa, I need to talk, do you have a moment"

She sounded like she put something heavy down "Of course" she said a little more seriously "What's happened" she asked.

"I think...I'm about to lose her" I confessed.

"Wren" Willa asked.

"Veda". I corrected.

But it would soon feel like both, when I was forced to make the choice... my sister or my girlfriend. Thats how it felt to me anyhow, in that court room.