When the news came through that I was getting the contract of my dreams, I stared at Olympia and Wren in the pancake house we were sat in for breakfast, just blankly.

Wren frowned at me noting my blank stare "mommy you look nuts" she observed with a giggle.

I snap out of it "I got it" I ask again.

My manager Rose squeals "you got it Nomikos... you have been snapped up for two years, better start packing your bags" she says in a sing song voice.

I clench my fist in victory and close my eyes, nose wrinkling up as I hold in a scream "yeeees" I squeal, in a high pitched tone only dogs could hear.

Olympia looks up to me from the high chair, and hands me a piece of chopped pancake. I am so focused on the call I don't take it, so she slowly pushes it into my mouth as I nod on the phone, listening to Rose and all the details.

I turn and widen my eyes at Olympia as the pancake fills my mouth,  and I take the rest of it before she chokes me. She smiles, pleased, and continues to munch on her strawberries.

"Sorry, my child is trying to force feed me" I apologise around a mouthful of pancake before I swallow it "So were Connecticut okay to let me go" I ask.

Rose sounds indifferent "uh... well... I guess... I mean they couldn't meet the amount Portland could offer you, and certainly not the contract" she adds "but they are going to do all that they can to keep Lane, I can tell you that now, she's on reserve and they have first dibs"

"Shit" i return without thinking of my audience.

"Shit is bad to say" Wren reminds me.

I turn to her and realise my mistake "I said Shiz" I lie.

She shakes her head "you didn't you said shhhhhhiiiitttt" she says drawing out the word and making it sound ten times worse.

"Okay well stop saying it, if it's a bad word" I return.

She looks to me, eyes narrowed  "you stop saying it first" she rebuffs.

I take a deep breath as Rose begins to laugh on the end of the line "how old is she again" she asks.

I look to Wren and her little amused smile, as she takes another stab of her pancake and shoved it into her mouth. "She's four going on fourteen" i state.

"I will let you go Nomikos... call you later in the week for more formal details, like a relocation plan" she says.

"I already found a house I want to show Harper. I've been holding off a little until I knew this was happening, so I don't think we will need a rental Rose, but it depends how quick we can move on this house"

"Email me the link to the house... if you want it I can do my best to make it happen" she offers.

I close my eyes and smile "I love you Rose, you know that right" I confess.

She laughs "I figured when we made your first million together you would, but we've made another since then, so yep, this should be love Nomikos"

"Talk later" I promise.

I click off to a glare from Wren. "Why are you looking at me like that" I ask, handing Olympia her drink of water and sipping from my coffee.

I turn my attentions back to her, the piercing icy eyes that look back at me, make me frown "what" I ask again.

Wren shakes her head, letting out a long breath and stabbing another piece of pancake onto her fork "mama won't be happy if you love Rose" she says shoving her pancake in her mouth.

"Oh Wren... I love mama in a much different way" I say taking a bite of my bagel.

She thinks about that for a moment, her little nose twitching as she considered her next question. "Because mama is your girlfriend" she asks.

I nod "well she's my wife actually little bit... god, let's not demote her, she won't be impressed"

"And Rose is your friend" she asks.

I nod "exactly"

Olympia throws some blueberries across the table at Wren, who picks them up and throws them back "girls stop" I say holding up my hand "we don't throw food, we are not raccoons"

"Mama" Olympia calls as she looks out of the window, and we all turn around and spot Harper coming from across the street.

"it is mama" I observe "and she looks like a new woman" I note as Harper returns from the hair salon I had dropped her at earlier, she had cut her hair to her shoulders "wow" I say eyebrows raised "mama looks gooood"

"Hey" she says smiling as she walks through the restaurant toward us "how is breakfast going ...it looks a little messy" she observes looking down at the blueberries and strawberries that were all over the table.

"I got a phone call from Rose halfway through, and they took their moment to decimate the table... standard" I return.

Harper nods and then smiles, touching her hair "you like it" she asks eagerly.

I nod with a goofy smile "I looove it" I confess.

"She loves Rose too" Wren adds.

Harper looks to her and then to me "does she now" she says eyebrow cocked at me.

"As a friend" Wren adds "not like you mama" she confirms

Harper tries not to smile "oh well that's good" she returns looking to me amused.

"She also said shit" Wren blabs.

I hide in my hands as Harpers eyes bulge. "Don't say that Wren" she says quickly sitting down opposite me.

"I didn't... mommy did and I told her no" she says.

I literally want to sink to the floor as Harpers fingers unfurl mine from across my face and she peeks in at me "I swear I left you guys for an hour tops and our oldest is cursing ...and talking me into the fact you don't love Rose more than me... what goes on when I leave you guys"

"Far too much Harps... far too much... and so you see you should never leave us again... and oh my word" I say getting a close up of her  new hair do, the cut looking incredible "you look absolutely ravishing" I compliment. "I love it" I confess.

"Thank you" she says releasing my hands "but don't change the subjects Teddy, if she starts repeating that word at preschool, you are doing all the drop off and picks up. I will never show my face there again" she declares.

"Well I have some news that may take your mind off of our daughters potty mouth" I confess.

Her eyebrows knit together, as she looks to me curiously "what" she asks.

She watches my face change to one of excitement and her mouth opens with a smile "what" she asks amused and intrigued.

"Harper Nomikos ... your wife... just scored a two year contract...with the Portland fire. They are back with a bang, and they want me to help bring the team back to the league"

"Two years" she says standing up with hands over her mouth "that never happens" she says shocked and stunned

I nod "I know"

Olympia looks to us both and holds up her hands to be lifted, and I do, automatically pulling her onto my hip "Babe we are about to make a cross country move" I announce.

Harper looks to me full of shock, but her features all soften to those of excitement. "I need to put in my notice... when do we go" she asks.

"Well the season starts in May, but I would need to be there from April... and we need to get ourselves situated too, so March. There's a lot to sort out, but I will do it all, I promise. All you need to do is hand that notice in"

***

"So" I say twirling Harpers shorter hair around my finger as we lay in bed, she is propped up with her head in a book. "We have a couple options for moving to the west coast. I can go ahead and get us situated before you girls come, get the house and car and everything set up so all you have to do is show up"

"Wait" she says looking around her book "you want to go ahead of us" she asks.

"I don't want to, but it would be less stressful" I suggest.

She drops the book down onto her chest "less stressful for who" she asks, and I sense her displeasure.

"So that's not a good plan" I say wrinkling up my nose.

She shakes her head slowly "no... I mean how long would you be there" she asks "before we arrived" she adds.

I think about it a little and roll onto my stomach to look at her "perhaps a month" I suggest.

She rolls her eyes "absolutely not" she returns and she lifts back up her book briefly, before placing it back down again dramatically, looking back to me "and I cant believe you would even consider being away from us, from me, for so long" she says agitated.

"Babe... no" I say looking to her apologetically "Do not be mad at me...it was a suggestion" i say reaching up for her hand. I smooth over it with my fingers. "Harper" I push as she looks at me annoyed "you are being ridiculous and I was just trying to make your life easier not harder"

"Teddy being away from you would never make my life easier.I would hate it... I would much rather be stressed by your side, than stressed and worried about you from here"

"Got it" I say leaning up to kiss her.

She turns her head away and I widen my eyes shocked "that wasn't nice Harper" I say sitting back.

She looks to me and smiles "only joking" she says reaching for me.

I back up out of reach "hey" she says frowning "come here" she begs

I shake my head "no" I say as defiantly as she had been with me, just now, and she raises her eyebrows.

"no" she questions getting on all fours and slowly moving over the bed toward me "no" she asks against.

I nod "I'm not in the mood anymore" I say trying not to smile.

She  narrows her eyes at me, and sits up,
pulling off her white t shirt, her breasts springing out delightfully, my eyes unable to look anywhere else "What a shame" she says throwing her t shirt to the floor "it's so hot tonight don't you think..." she muses "I think clothes maybe a little hot for me..." and she strips entirely and slips into the sheets "night then Ted" she says with a twinkle in her eye "such a shame you're not in the mood" she adds before laying down and switching off the light beside her.

I sit in the darkness for a second before starting to laugh "you little tease" I say crawling back over her "kiss me" I demand and she shakes her head "kiss me" I ask again.

She laughs "no" she says beginning to giggle as I tickled her sides, she writhes about beneath me laughing until she cries. I release her as she leans up and captures my lips, and pulls me back into the sheets with her. Her warm flesh is a heavenly sensation against mine.

***

With the west coast calling, we bought a house, it would be our forever home, a rather expensive million dollar one, but an investment in our forever here.

Portland Oregon would become home, our neighbourhood one of the more wealthy ones, an idyllic place to live and raise our family.

Our immediate neighbours were all above average wealthy, some born with it, some worked their butts off for it and others were more well known and had it through the world of celebrity. It was a six bedroomed home, a craftsmen style charmer, with a sprawling lawn out front, a basketball hoop placed between the double garage and a large area to play on. The house had so much light coming through its large windows, it was bright and airy and beautiful, and despite being large, much larger than we had ever been used to, it felt homely and warm, and like the hub of a family we hoped to continue to grow, and soon. The covered porch that wrapped around the front made for a great spot for us to watch the kids or sit out and enjoy a sunset, and when the kids were older the front porch became their spot with friends. I cannot tell you how many times I would catch a make out session on returning home, that I was not meant to see.

We had asked for a home to bring to life, and we got one. Allie and Willa would take over the spare rooms when they relocated six months after we arrived, looking for their own forever property. Allie couldn't bear the distance from west to east coast.  Harper missed her mama too, and soon, as she got pregnant with baby number three, it made her want her mama closer, even more so. Life was changing so fast, you had to buckle in for fear of spinning out.

Rose had kept her word and we closed on the house with four weeks to spare, moving early March, which meant I had plenty of time to settle my girls and get comfortable before the season began. It was a season I would enjoy much more now that Lane had taken a ballsy deal, and moved west coast too. It seems we were much more valuable, together, than apart, and my current team went in hard for her.

"I'm here" she announced into our door cam, that played out over a monitor in the kitchen.

"Aunty Avery" Wren called excitedly running through the downstairs and unlocking the door.

I followed her out, smiling as the large door swept open, and the sun reflected off of her blonde locks as she leant down to pick Wren up for a squeeze. "You didn't tell me you lived in millionaires row" she says teasingly.

"It's not that bad" I return.

"Oh no? I've never been ID'd to get into a neighbourhood before, Nomikos"

"Keeps the riff raff away" I tease "evidently sometimes they slip through the net" i say with a jovial smile.

She eye rolls me and looks back to Wren, at this point Avery and Wren were best friends, and even I was on the outs when they were together.

"So Wren... how is the soccer... you head of the team here yet" she asks playfully.

Wren shakes her head "mama says I can join as soon as I start my new school" she declares.

Avery nods "I can practice with you if you like"

Wren beams "yes" she replies enthused.

"Ooop here comes trouble" Avery says spotting Olympia coming through from the kitchen.

Olympia was almost a year and a half, and quite confident on her feet now, her dark curls down to her ears, her personality full of life.

"Hi" Avery says waving.

She waved back "hi" she says walking over to me, arms raised.

I lift her as Harper walks out behind her "oh the work wife arrived... the sister wives are all in the house" she says jovially and she walks over and high fives Avery "how are you second wife" she asks.

Avery places Wren back down "I am getting used to the change in apartment" she confesses "and trying to discover the best local vegan joints is hard work" she adds "and it's weird being here alone. Amelia isn't due for another two weeks.I'm literally falling asleep on FaceTime with her every night, like a fifteen year old, but other than that I'm happy, to be back in the bosom of the Nomikos" she says with a large smile.

Harper wraps her arm around her neck "let me show you the humble abode" she announces pulling her into the family room.

"Are you sure you don't want to frisk me first... I mean what if I brought something I shouldn't into the neighbourhood"Avery says teasingly.

"If i frisked you Teddy would demote me to second wife, and I much prefer my elevated position" Harper winks back.

"I would prefer it too" Avery says cutting it close.

Harper throws her that look, like she was playing a little too near to the tracks "don't make me kick you out" she threatens playfully, eyebrow raised.

Avery laughs "Nope I'm platonically attached to you all now..."

"As we are with you" Harper replies, as they disappear for a tour with Wren on their heels.

I look to Olympia who looks back to me in my arms "Want to throw some baskets" I ask.

Her eyes light up and she bounces up and down "ball" she asks.

I nod "yes basketball, and don't you ever forget it my baby baller" I return.

I sit her down on the bottom step of our large staircase, placing on her sneakers and handing her a little basketball "come my little protege... let's go get it" I say taking her hand and walking her out to our little court.

Olympia would one day live and breathe basketball, it became her love as much as it did mine, and I'm not just saying this because I'm her mom, but she was something, and she played to win, it would only be her and our youngest who got into it. Wren loved soccer and Josie loved Baseball. We had quite the collection of various sports trophies as the years went on and our brood grew up, apparently the competitive spirit was in the blood and nurture versus nature won out on the other two, because Harper was not into sport, she was just into the way it sculpted her wife's body ... and that was enough sport for her.

***

"Nomikos" coach welcomes opening the door to the court "welcome home" she declares as I look around and take in the arena, it was much larger than I thought, seating on every side staggering upward six or seven rows, a sea of blue seats around the perfect shiny court, my new work home.

"What do you think" Monique asks.

I shake my head in wonder and look back to her "I think I love it" I return.

She pats me on the back "well good, because you know we love you, and our girls too. We are pumped to have you on our side... welcome to Portland fire" she says squeezing my shoulder "it feels good to be back" and with that the team flood out of the changing rooms.

I had met them all during the training camp, they were a good group, and of course Lane, who comes through the doors last, a friendly face I loved to see as she ran over to me like a golden retriever, and sent me backwards with a hug.

"Now... you two" Monique says pointing at us "you better bring the chemistry onto this court. I don't care what anyone says ... you are made for each other" she says laughing, and she walks away.

Avery looks to me confused "does she mean romantically or with a ball in our hands" she asks.

I nudge her "clearly on court Lane, I'm married with children"

She takes her long blonde hair and threads it up into a ponytail "you would be surprised how many extramarital affairs happen behind the scenes"

I cock an eyebrow "really"

She nods "really"

"Ive never noticed... and I would not be into a team mate who did that... in-fact I would call her the fuck up on it..." I suggest strongly.

Avery nods in agreement "then perhaps don't get too close with Ria and Michelle" Avery motions over the court and my eyes widen as I look across from Avery, to Mich and Ria.

I look back to her mouth agape "nooo" I gasp.

Avery nods slow "yeees"

"And Rias wife is none the wiser" I ask.

Avery shrugs "she is at home playing house wife. I'm not sure she has even twigged"

"Avery don't mention this to Harper. I do not need her to start worrying about extramarital affairs in the team..." I beg.

We begin warm up, slow laps of the court, Avery is beside me "I won't mention it" she says, pretending to zip her lips.

***
The thing with secrets, they never do stay that way, and the one about Ria and Michelle ended up following me home, when Harper met Rias wife Greer at a game. It turned out that Greer and Ria have a daughter, Cameron, who is the exact same age as Wren. They lived ten minutes from us, and both of our kids start pre school together in august.

Rias secret felt like my own, and it felt dirty... and one day soon it would all come out, because Harper and Greer became close friends, friends that tell each other everything. This secret would bite me, for ever knowing about it.

***

"Hey baby" I say walking into the kitchen and wrapping my arms around Harpers waist from behind. She turns her head and leans into me affectionately "hi" she greets, as I kiss her cheek.

"How was your day" I ask coming in from a full day with the team. "It was ...interesting... Olympia got into the flour again, it went everywhere. Wren spent the morning on FaceTime with Willa and Mama, and then cried up in her room for an hour because she misses them. We are the worst, for moving her here apparently, so, drama, is the short answer"

"So you still want to add another little Nomikos to your to do list after that kind of day?" I ask.

Harper turns and rests her chin against my chest, gazing up to me "yes of course" she whispers leaning up and kissing my lips "The milk urn turned up this morning" she says with a grin.

My eyes widen "it's that time already" I ask.

She nods "yep I am ovulating... right...now" she winks.

I laugh "okay then... we are doing this?" I question.

She nods, before kissing me again softly "and this time it's... your... turn to impregnate me" she says amused.

I shake my head "I don't know, Harper, I am not good at the science experiment part of it all"

"I'm pretty sure you know how to find your way between my legs, and that's all I need you for, to provide the orgasm, and push down a syringe plunger. I think you know where to put that" she says amused.

"You will draw it up" I ask.

She smiles and rolls her eyes "yes Teddy... I will draw it up" she says, shaking her head "I've never known anyone be so afraid of sperm in a straw" she says, turning back to her food prep on the counter.

***

It took one cycle to get Harper pregnant, which was two straws over three days, and boom... Teddy Nomikos scores first time, and let me tell you, it was all in the details. It was just like being on court, the importance was in the position you shoot from, and the high you're riding on, and let me tell you, Harpers high was high and her legs were higher.

Baby number three was En route for February, could we make it valentines and go for holiday baby number three?! Probably not, but it was fun to play the due date game as it creeped closer.