The pain, the trauma, the dedication, the fight to survive each day. I had crawled to this day with the commitment to make it to the end, alive and mentally together. It would finally all come to its grand finale this day, the final day in Turkey. Today was game day and the moment the clock struck midnight I was free of all obligations and it was up to me to either bask in the glory of the win or go home. Of course I would go home, because my win, it wasn't a trophy... it was Harper Jameson and our daughter.

I woke at five am to my alarm bleeping on my bedside drawers. I tapped it off blindly with a flailing hand that shot out of my covers. My eyes closing again momentarily before they flickered back open at the sound of the front door being knocked obnoxiously loud.

I groggily checked my cell and the time and then threw off the covers. I made my way slowly out of my room, padding toward the front door as it continued to be knocked repeatedly.

"Avery" I say stunned to find her at Tasias door so early.

She raised her fair eyebrows at me and pointed out of view "you got a delivery to your original apartment number...ten minutes ago" she announces.

She grins as she steps aside and in her place, Calliope, Demitra and Thea appear.

I fall down onto my knees, hand covering my mouth, tears coming fast, they all drop down to me and wrap their arms around me "Agapame tin aderfi mas " they say.

"I love you too" I try and say through tears. "What are you doing here" I ask as I look to each of them and their loving expressions, eyes filled with tears too.

Calliope runs her hand down my cheek "We came to bring you home adelfí" she says softly.

Thea kisses my forehead "Also I'm not going to lie to you Theodora...I needed the baby free vacation.I love Matthias but holy fuck he's intense. Mama needed a minute" she confesses, finger poised "one minute"

I laugh as I look to them all "I missed your faces"

Demitra eye rolls "I talk to you on FaceTime every day"

"Demitra, I look at the back of your head for ten minutes, whilst you cook dinner and watch the bachelor. Somehow doing that whilst also parenting Alexi with an iPad. And I'm not sure how, but you still hear every damn word I say about Turkey"

"I am multifaceted Theodora. I wear twenty hats a day, chef, wife, mom, friend, the best sister of four, good listener, dominatrix, dog mom, waitress, hostess..."

Thea butts in "that's like ten hats Demitra, and you are not the best sister" she says guffawing "it's clearly Calliope" she muses.

We all nod at that and turn to Calliope "agreed"

"Well well we agree on something my goodness" Calliope says squeezing me tightly.

"We have a fun surprise" she announces.

I look to them quizzically "is it something I would actually like sisters, because you drag me into more than enough bizarre plans and surprises to last a lifetime"

They share a glance and a collective eye roll at my question. "little lion is so judgemental" Demitra observes.

Callie looks back excited "we are all flying to Greece tomorrow Theodora"

I am stunned and wide eyed "what" I ask

They all jump up and down excitedly "we are going to the homeland to visit babas family" Thea confirms.

A tear rolls down my cheek.

"The Nomikos are about to start a pilgrimage home" Calliope announces.

I am lost for words as the group hug begins. I close my eyes and absorb every second in my sisters embraces. This was salvation, and I would let them take me, anywhere, as long as I was away from here, and my final destination was Harper and Wren.

Demitra pulls me into a tighter hug as we break away "But first, you better win this final Teddy. I told all of my friends I would be on TV whilst my sister won the Turkish league"

"Me too" Thea admits.

Calliope shakes her head. "Don't put pressure on our baby sister" she defends "she will win without it" she says winking.

I take a deep breath and take them all in.

"Wait how did you all afford to come" I ask.

They look to each other like a heaviness comes from the answer " turns out Baba had a life insurance policy"  Calliope informs me.  "momma is literally taken care of for life Theodora... for life... it kicked in on his death and this paperwork came through. He had it hidden from momma because she thinks they are omens for bringing death into your life... you know how superstitious she is"

"Oh my god" I say stunned.

They all do the sign of the cross "Ahmen"

This would be one of those moments I would never forget, the moment my sisters came to retrieve me and take me home. We had a little slice of Greek life to experience first, blue skies, turquoise seas, white and blue churches, dolphins, moussaka, jugs of wine and Greek cake. I have never said "Yassou" more in my life than I did on this trip.

***

"Look whose here" I announce to Harper.

She is holding Wren and looking at me on her phone, her eyes peeking past me as I throw the camera over to my sisters who are all stood on my balcony looking out over the city in various states of holiday mode.

Thea has an alcoholic drink in hand, very much on a child free vacation from the off. Demitra is trying to take the perfect selfie of herself against the backdrop of the city, in a tight little tank and oversized shades for her Gram, her glossy blonde hair looking freshly blow dried. Callie, she just looks peaceful as she takes it all in around her.

"The four horseman of the apocalypse reunited" Harper teases.

I laugh.

"Mama" Wren says sweetly from Harpers arms

I look back to her and smile "how's my little bit" I ask lovingly.

She holds up her stuffed bear and shows me "oh hello Walter, how are you today" I ask, conversing with the bear to Wrens delight.

Harper moves her up on her hip. I glance back to her, her glorious auburn hair cascading down her shoulders, and if I wasn't mistaken, she was in denim overalls, the same ones I had unclipped many a time because of hormones.

"The girls are whisking me away to Greece in the morning" I reveal excitedly. ""We fly out to Athens and then from there we will head to my babas home island, Kos"

"Wow" she returns wide eyed.

Harper bops Wren on the nose and places her down on the floor, she toddles off into the family room, toward Allie and Willa who are snuggled on the couch.

"That's great Ted... it will be magical" she replies with a soft smile "I could do with a Grecian vacation right about now" she muses, looking away into the distance.

"Harper I am taking you, we can go at the end of summer, after the season finishes, if of course the dates go well enough" I tease.

She laughs and sits down at the breakfast bar, leaning her head on her hand. She looks back into the phone, head tilted, and my goodness, as her hazel eyes looked into mine lovingly I couldn't help by take a deep breath and drink her in "you are so beautiful" I admire as my lips rise into an appreciative smile.

"Teddy don't make me blush" she says coyly hiding her face behind her hand.

As it slips back away, I let my eyes wonder over her, and I know in that moment that Harper is going to be my wife one day. I just had to lose the choke hold that the past had on my ability to bring this all into fruition, and make it all official. I wanted Harper more than I had ever imagined wanting someone, like if I didn't my life would be nothing without her presence in it.

"Tedmeister" Willa calls wrapping her arm around Harper and peeking down to the screen "did your surprise arrive? Is it causing absolute chaos for your final day?" She asks with a teasing smile.

I flash the camera around to my sisters.

Calliope walks over and takes the phone "we are here" she confirms "and I don't know what you mean Willa" she questions with eyebrow raised.

"I wish I was court side tonight too" Willa admits "but you got this Teddy, and then its freedom... freeeeeedom" she calls out enthusiastically.

Harper pushes her off of her and laughs.

"We will be watching Ted" she adds peeking back into view of the screen.

Harper nods "we will... and I'm going to have to remind myself to breath. I literally forget too when I'm watching you play" she confesses.

"That's cute" I reply with a gushing smile.

Calliope and Willa both roll their eyes at the way we look at each other, we were so sickeningly in love at this point.

"Willa these two are about to be reunited do you think we will all survive the PDA and constant cuteness?" Callie asks over my shoulder.

Willa smiles "Callie I've heard about you and Luke playing tonsil tennis behind the bar in the restaurant all night. So don't even start on Teddy" she says laughing.

Callie feigns shock "Not me" she says rolling her eyebrows up and down and smiling wickedly "and Willa if we are going there, you and Allie are sickeningly in love and don't hide it either"

Thea sidles over "Okay girls I've heard enough, you are all disgustingly in love and can't stop horning over your significant others. I am in the barren lands, haven't had sex with Harry in about three months and have constant sore and achy boobs from Matthias... so please for the love of god ... take pity on my soul and get me either drunk or fed... and I wouldn't mind eye candy of the male variety... just to look at of course" she muses.

We all shake our heads as Demitra wraps her arm around her and joins us "I told you Thea after babies it is not the same, you need to spice it back up... you need an adult only night once a week" she suggests.

"Demi I am too tired, and Harry's breathing annoys me at this point let alone him being on top of me breathing more erratically. I may actually kill him" she muses and we all laugh.

"Jeeze Thea" I say looking at her and shaking my head "Poor Harry"

I take the phone and go back inside and Harper walks into the yard away from everyone her side too.

"I love you" I remind her, as I find privacy.

She sits down on the back steps "I love you too... and whatever happens tonight it doesn't matter, okay, you are coming home and that is the only thing I care about"

"I can't wait to hold you" i confess, falling down onto my bed and rolling onto my side. The  phone was held up on my pillow beside me.

"I know. I miss how you feel" Harper agrees. She stands and takes a few steps before sinking down into the outside couch.

"I miss how you feel against me" I whisper.

She lifts her brow slightly "is this lovey dovey moment about to take a horny turn" she asks, with a one eyebrow cocked and a twinkle in her eye.

"No" I say halfheartedly "but I mean, I do miss how your waist feels pressed to mine...and the sensation of your legs wrapped around me" I return playfully.

She laughs and can't hide the smile it evokes "you are relentless Theodora Nomikos"

My smile deepens watching her "then stop being so damn...you, Harper" I suggest.

She shakes her head "I have something to show you when you get home"

I frown a little "what is it" I ask curiously.

She looks humoured as she thinks about it "let's just say that the drawer you asked me to fill... it's filled" she confesses.

My eyes widen "and have you started the self discovery"

She looks to me flirtatiously "There have most definitely been acts of self discovery this week"

"Harper" I moan frustratedly "don't tell me anymore. I've got to play an important game tonight and I could do without you racing through my mind and throwing me off"

"Okay... well just know that I love you, and I will be watching, watching my incredibly hot date get sweaty and intense on court before I go and crack open my drawer" and she laughs out loud as if she finds herself hilarious.

"HARPER" I curse.

She laughs "I'm only joking" she lies "Go get em Teddy we are so proud of you"

"It's all for you and Wren, everything" I promise.

I throw her a kiss with my fingers pressed to my lips before I released them forward, toward her.

"Love you Harper"

"Love you Teddy"

***

The atmosphere is absolutely blowing the roof off of the stadium. The court is surrounded by waves of people, every seat taken and extra seating provided around the sides to house the final game of the season. This was the championship game, both teams bursting with unbridled energy and a hunger to take the trophy.

Our girls huddle together in the changing rooms, our coach's beside us.

Tasia begins the "whoop whoop whoop" as we let the energy travel through us all, our shoulders interwoven in a circle, our sneakers side by side, our bodies all electric, feeling the charge that connects us all to the win, the game, the court vibe.

Avery is next to me, she turns and smiles as a loose blonde hair tickles her cheek and she raises her eyebrows at me and nods "Let's demolish them" she whispers.

I grin and look back to the group "LETS FUCKING DEMOLISH THEEEEEEEEEEM" I scream with confidence.

We jump  back up and release each other, high fives, back hands and secret handshakes completed as we part and follow the coaches back out on court, where the home crowd goes wild.

We look around and take in the crowds as we come out onto court, there are banners everywhere.

Avery nudges me "look at that one" she says.

I turn to see Avery and I, our faces on a sign with a love heart between us "slightly awkward" she suggests and she smiles at me as we turn and look to the other end, to our families.

Avery had her mom and dad here with her brother, and my sisters were all lined up beside them "oh god Thea is talking to your family" I observe nervously.

Avery shakes her head "No time like the present for the Nomikos baptism by fire" she jokes.

"Never a good time" I confirm, moving to the bench.

We all take a seat and await the opening speeches by the league representatives.

The game is officially started when the whistle sounds and we move, fluidly, ball passed, dribbled between players, bodies leaping, ball flying, hoop swishing as the first points begin to roll in. Avery and I dance around each other, our play back on form, her moves and mine known to each other before it is even in play, and we were quite literally on fire this night. I think back to it a lot, the night Avery and I cemented our work relationship, we wouldn't often be apart professionally from this season forward. Avery and I were seen as a pair and that never happened, but it did to us, and even our deals outside of basketball often came as a duo, commercials, brand deals, you name it we got invited together. Avery indeed became my work wife, something Harper got used too pretty quickly when she got promoted herself... to a higher position, a label long desired and a dream soon to come true.

***
The next two quarters were electric, both sides play well, it gets close but we pull it back. Ray and Tasia are incredible and don't miss a basket, all girls have their moment and shine. In the last seconds, the high is coming, the intense wave of euphoria like an orgasmic rush as the whistle blows on full time and our team mates run at each other, arms extended, smiles broad and beyond joyful. This was the moment we had been working toward for months and months, some of us travelling far from home to commit to the season and the game and we did it, we won. We collided with one another, Lane and I got thrown up in the air above them as they bumped us up and down "WE DID IT" they chanted as they placed us back down.

The whole time though, in a stadium that is packed, all I can hear is my sisters shouting in Greek, their voices full of pride and joy. I look to them, Callie is crying and clapping and Demitra and Thea are jumping up and down. I run over as they pull me into their embrace

"You did it little lion" Demi shouts.

Callie squeezes my forearms "Proud of you Teddy" she says with tears.

I kiss her cheek "It's all because of you Cal"

The cameras close in and I realise we are still on TV as the commentator grabs me for a quick interview, from the sports channel in the states.

"Teddy Nomikos" she says excitedly "congratulations to you and your team on the big win tonight. How does it feel to do a European stint and win it" she asks.

I stand, hand on hips, still catching my breath, feeling extremely sweaty and pink cheeked.

"Thank you Lauren" I say "I am so proud of the team, they played fiercely all season and never took their foot off of the gas"

"Lane had a slight blip recently, but you and Lane were back on form the last two games... do you think you girls will play again together... I mean I've said it all season, but you are like one mind split into two, it's incredible"

I nod and look around for Avery, she is with her parents.

She meets my eye contact and I wave her over "let's get her over Lauren I don't want to speak without her... she deserves the recognition for her incredible play this season" I say turning back to the commentator.

"Sure" she replies watching Avery run over.

Avery slips in beside me, her shoulder pressed to mine.

"Avery Lane" Lauren says excitedly "what a season... congratulations on the win"

Avery smiles "Thank you... we are on cloud nine right now"

"I was just asking Nomikos about your court relationship and how good it has been. The way you play together is just incredible... had that been a surprise for you?"

Avery looks to me and nudges me "no... I knew we would play well together. Teddy plays so similarly to me... she's stuck with me now I fear" she laughs.

Lauren nods "there's no way you aren't being scooped up together this season coming" she says "no way at all" she says confidently.

"Listen if I get stuck playing side by side with the great Teddy Nomikos for my entire career...I would not be crying about it, put it that way"

Lauren smiles and looks to us both "can I ask, because everyone at home wants to know" and she looks to us with a glint in her eye. Oh god, I know what's coming.

"Are you girls... a couple off court?" She asks.

Avery and I both look to each other and laugh.

I take Avery's arm and lean into her affectionately "while Avery is quite the work wife... no we are not together and have never been, we are committed to our court marriage though" I say with humour.

Lauren looks disappointed. "So, are you both single then, because I know a tonne of fans at home are wondering girls"

I playfully raise my hand above Avery's head and point down to her "girls hit this girl up please, she is single and ready to mingle"

Avery nudges me so my hand comes back down "it's true though I'm quite single" she confesses.

Lauren looks back to me awaiting my answer and I know that Harper will be watching at home, so I take a second to look into the camera "I'm off of the market Lauren... quite taken... and extremely happy to be out of the singles scene"

"Who is this lucky person" Lauren asks.

I pretend to zip my lips "She isn't in the public eye, so, whilst we are dating...I'm not prepared to share her with you all. I want her all to myself for a bit, and for her own sake, her privacy... but don't worry, you will all come to know sooner or later"I promise.

Lauren raises her eyebrows "Teddy you just got all of our tongues wagging... who is this girl?! Oooh I can't wait to find out" she squeals.

"Right that's enough of the dating chit chat let's get all the girls over for a debrief and congratulations before the trophy is given" she says, and we all move on to the interviews.

***
I'm sat between Mama and Willa on the couch, we have been jumping around screaming and chanting ever since the last ball went through the hoop. Teddys team did it, they won.

"I'm so proud of her" Willa says wiping away a happy tear.

"She's amazing" mama says deflating back onto the couch.

"Ooh she's about to be caught for an interview" I say sitting back down excitedly, my hands cupping my face with joy as the camera zooms in and takes her in as she comes to stand beside Lauren, the channels commentator.

We watch her and we are all smiling ridiculously, my cheeks were actually starting to hurt. She looks ridiculously hot but also adorably cute in her jersey. Her cheeks were all pinked and flushed from the intense game play, her hair a little wild, her bare arms sweaty, she was looking absolutely fine, god. We listen intently and of course Lane is brought in, and as she comes to stand beside Teddy, I note the nudge, the familiarity of them to each other and of course it makes me a little jealous to know how they are so perfect together. I couldn't deny how perfect they were together on court.

The question about whether they were together off court made me squirm. Mama put her hand on my shoulder as Lauren said it, and she leant into me to offer support, but they both put the rumours to bed instantly. The term work wife was a new one. I didn't expect Teddy's first wife to be Avery lane, but hey ho, don't go down that rabbit hole Harper.

It was the final question though, "are you both single" that made us all hold our breath. Avery was, she wouldn't be for long I doubted, and then they panned to Teddy who I presumed would squirm, since she hated any attention on her love life.

She didn't shy away from it though, she smiled  "I'm off of the market Lauren... quite taken... and extremely happy to be out of the singles scene"

And my mouth drops open. Mama squeezes my shoulders excitedly as Teddy continues her answer, and I am stunned.

"She isn't in the public eye, so, whilst we are dating I'm not prepared to share her with you all. I want her all to myself for a bit, for her own sake, and for her privacy. Don't worry... you will all come to know sooner or later..." Teddy announces.

"Teddy just announced she was dating on TV" Willa says shocked "I think Claudia has been making progress ...holy hell"

Mama kisses my forehead, the smile won't leave my lips "you just got claimed my little chick" she muses lovingly.

I nod in amazement, a happy tear leaves my eyelashes and runs down my cheek and into the crease of my lips.

One step closer.

***

"You did it babe, you did it" I say excitedly and she is still in a vibrant mood. You can hear the crowd and the team in the background still celebrating.

"Did you watch" she asks.

I can't stop smiling "all of it" I confess "of course we did" i state as if I wouldn't. "I recorded it for Wren to watch in the morning too"

"Did you catch my little interview" she asks playfully.

I sigh "yes" I say lovingly "I was a little surprised..."

"Harper I'm not hiding that I'm dating. I have never been so relieved to be off of the market. When the time comes, I won't hide you either... I want the entire world to know the insanely beautiful Harper Jameson... is mine"

I blush a little at the way she describes me. Teddy always made me feel insanely beautiful, the way she spoke to me, and about me, the way she touched me, and looked at me as if I was the most incredible thing she had ever seen. To be the object of Teddy's affection, it was a little out of this world if I'm being honest. If things kept going the way they were going, I could honestly imagine this feeling becoming quite addictive, and I would start to believe it, that I was it for her.

"Theodora Nomikos... I love you... so much it's getting a little ridiculous, but I'm so proud to be yours...so proud Teddy" I confess.

"Not long now Harps, as soon as I get free of these siblings of mine I'm coming for you... you hear me?! Coming...for...you" she promises.

"And I will be waiting" I say lovingly "Hurry home my insanely sexy MVP..."