Carli's POV

"No Jay!" I yell down the hall towards my room as I get off the elevator. Hope got sick at training and had to come back here. Julie's almost better so I'm supposed to keep her away from Hope which is probably a lot harder than it sounds. I jog to her trying to balance both mine and Hope's bags on my back and carrying her big puffy jacket in my arms while wearing mine. "Baby you can't see Mom right now. Go back and play with Moe in your room."

"Mama we don't 'play'. We're not children." sasses Julie still trying to open Hope and I's door. "And I want to see Mom. It's not fair." I sigh and take out my key card. I swipe it and throw all of the stuff in and quickly close it before she can get in. "Mama!" she huffs.

"Please don't do this love." I plea reaching my hand up to check her temperature. She turns her face away before I can making me groan. This girl is driving me insane lately. "Julie," I scold grabbing her chin with my other hand and making her be still, "don't turn away from me. I need to see if you're still running a fever." I feel her forehead and smile in relief. Her fever has finally broke. "JJ your temp is back to normal but you still need to rest some so you can practice tomorrow. Please go lay down in your room for me and I'll take you for ice cream after while."

"But Mama I want to see Mommy." she pouts with tears forming in her eyes. I frown and tuck some of her flyaways back behind her ear.

"I know, but you need to get healthy. She threw up not too long ago so you can get sick again if you see her right now." I explain softly. Julie's lip starts to quiver and tears start to trickle down her face.

"I want to see Mom." she insist trying to get around me.

"No Jules you can't see-"

"Let me see Mommy!" she argues raising her voice starting to throw a tantrum.

"Julie Beth Johnston lower your voice!" I scold coldly grabbing her arm. She tries to pull away and ends up kicking me in the shin making me stumble forward. "Julie!" I yell now completely outraged. I bring my hand down hard on her bottom making her jump up in pain and then try even harder to get away from me.

"Carli stop that!" gasp Ali coming out of her and Ash's room. "JJ, baby, come here." Julie quickly squirms away from me and runs into Ali's open arms.

"I just wanted to see M-Mom!" she cries hugging tightly to her "aunt". Ali glares at me from around JJ's shoulder.

"Shh baby you're okay now. Aunt Ali's got you." she soothes rubbing the younger defenders back. "Calm down Ju-Ju." Julie slowly regains her composure and Ali gets her to go down to her room without a fight. Why can't she just listen to me like she listen to her? Life would be so much easier.

"Ali she-"

"She's upset Car. She wants cuddles and she knows Hope is the only person who will give her them." says Ali crossing her arms.

"I'll give her cuddles!" I argue crossing my arms too. She raises her eyebrows and laughs.

"Yeah right! Car  you just yell at her or threaten to beat her most of the time!" says Ali shaking her head unapprovingly. "Go hug your child. That's really all she needs." I sigh, but go to do what she said. I get down to the younger girls' room and knock. After waiting a few minutes Julie finally opens the door and lets me in.

"Baby c'mere." I say softly hugging her. I sigh and kiss the top of her head before resting my chin there. "I'm sorry I got upset, but you need to do what Mama tells you to for now on."

"I know." she sighs."I'm sorry for not listening. I just really want to see Mommy."

"Why do you want to see Mommy, baby girl?" I question looking down at her.

"Because." she mumbles looking down towards the ground. I pick her face up and meet her pretty eyes with my darker ones. "Mommy makes me feel better." I nod and peck her forehead.

"I love you princess." I whisper reaching down and taking her hand. "How about we watch a movie?" I suggest leading us over to her bed. I lift up her sheets and and get in myself before pulling her in next to me and holding her close. We lay together in silence for a little bit before she speaks up.

"Mama?"

"Yes baby?"

"I'm sorry I'm always so bad." I look at her confused and mostly shocked.

"Oh babe." I say kissing her head. "You're not bad. You're Mom and I's precious little angel whom we love very very much."  I say genially kissing her again.

"But I'm always so mean to you."

"Baby it's okay. I always forgive you don't I?" She nods her head and snuggles closer to me. "I'll always love you Julie Bug. Always,okay?"

"Okay." she whispers laying her head on my shoulder. We go quiet again and just enjoy sitting in each other's company. I run my fingers through her hair and she relaxes against me. I start to doze off but her voice brings me back to being fully awake. "My cousin died in a car accident today."

"Do what?" I question sitting up abruptly at her alarming statement. "What happened?"

"He was driving and was talking on the phone and he went through a red light." she says looking down. "His funeral is next week so I'm going to ask the coaches tonight if I can go."

"I'll talk to them if you want baby." I tell her. "Were you close to him?"

"Not really. I haven't seen him since before I graduated high school." she says still looking down. "My mom and his mom got into a big fight so we never saw each other."

"I see." I mumble trying to read her face. She looks sad but not like heart broken. Not knowing what to say I wrap her in a hug and just hold her tightly hoping to make it all better. "Is this why you wanted Mom so bad?"

"Uh huh." she hiccups into my shoulder. Soon enough her body starts to wrack with sobs and I tighten my grip on her to try to stop them. She's shaking so hard I'm scared her organs are going to be scrambled like eggs if she doesn't quit. "He was only twenty-five Mama! He wasn't even that old yet!"

"I know baby, I know." I coo gently swaying her back and forth.

"It's just not fair!"

"No it's not." I agree holding her head to my shoulder as she cries. "Baby take some deep breaths for me." Slowly but surely she complies with my wishes. She sits back on my lap and wipes her eyes. "Do you feel better now?" She nods quietly and lowers her gaze back down to the bed. I slowly slip down so we're both laying down again. I reach over her to get the TV remote and flip it on as I get myself back settled. As I surf the channels Julie lays her head on top of my chest and wraps her arms around my waist. I smile to myself and kiss her temple. Soon enough I feel her go limp on me so I look down at her and have to bite my tongue to keep from awing. She has her mouth slightly open and her thumb resting in between her teeth. I watch some of the presidential campaign stuff before switching to Forty Eight Hours and watching it for a while. The door clicks and I turn to see who it is and I smile at Morgan. "Hey Moe." I whisper trying not to disturb JJ.

"Hey Car." she greets with a small wave. "Did her fever come back?"

"No she's just a little tired." I say softly. "She got some rough news earlier."

"About her cousin?"

"Yeah." I nod. "How did you know?"

"I was here when she got the news. The trainer told her because she still doesn't have her phone back."

"Hope won't give it up." I sigh. "I asked her this morning about it, but she wouldn't budge."

"I think she's learned her lesson Car. She cried all last night about hurting your feelings." she confesses pulling on her hoody.

"Really?"

"Yeah she was like freaking out." she explains while checking herself in the mirror. "I'm going out with Amy for a little bit if Julie asks." 

"Okay kid. Be careful with your hand." I warn.

"Aye aye Car!" she salutes walking out. I lay with Julie for a few more hours and before I know it it's time for us to head down for dinner. I get her up with a little difficulty and fix her hair for her before carrying her down on my back. Mama of the year right here everyone. I get us into the dinning room and set her down in a seat and then go make each of our plates. I make sure to grab her a cookie because I am sweet. We're having chicken soup tonight which is wonderful because her stomach is still a little bit weak.

"God is great. God is good. Let us thank him for our food. By his hands we are fed. Give us Lord our daily bread. And make Mom better. Amen." prays Julie folding her hands and closing her eyes. I smile at her little recitation. "What?"

"Nothing baby." I grin shaking my head. "Just eat kiddo."  We finish up and I throw our bowls and plates away while she goes to talk to Christen and her other friends that she's been quarantined away from. She acts like she hasn't seen them in months and it's only been like two days. "Coach?" I ask approaching her table.

"Oh hello Carli. What do you need?"

"Um well Julie got some news today-"

"Don't worry we've already given her the time off."

"Good but that's not really what I was worried about. I figured you'd give her that." I say scratching the back of my neck.

"What's up Carli?" asks Dawn looking at me curiously.

"I was wondering if Hope and I could have off too to go with her?" They both think for a moment before finally nodding.

"That'll be fine. That you for coming and asking ahead of time."

"No problem Coach and thank you so much." Julie's loud laughing makes me turn around and find her. As I watch her giggle and her face light up in excitement as she talks with all our teammates I can't help but grin wide ear to ear. Maybe it's not such a bad thing Hope's sick after all.