Chapter Text
2019 felt like a rebirth for Kelley.
She had hit rock bottom, but she had clawed her way back, one day at a time. She cut out the drinking again, focused on her mental and physical recovery, and slowly became the Kelley everyone new and loved.
And she owed so much of it to Emily.
Emily, who had shown up when no one else did.
Emily, who had refused to let her give up.
Emily, who had been there through the worst of it and never once walked away.
So, when the SheBelieves Cup roster dropped and Kelley's name was on it, she wasn’t just grateful, she was proud. Proud of herself.
Christen and Becky had been two of her biggest rocks, along with Emily of course.
She played all three games, two draws and a win, and even though the tournament didn’t end how they wanted, Kelley didn’t care.
Because she was back with the national team.
And after everything she had been through, that was all that mattered.
****
The NWSL season opener against the Washington Spirit was another big moment. Kelley came off the bench, played her first club minutes in nearly a year, and helped secure a 1-0 win. After the game, she took Mal, Rose, and Andi out for lunch.
They talked about everything and nothing - soccer, boyfriends, gossip.
Then, out of nowhere, Rose slipped up.
“I mean, Son’s been obsessed with-”
She stopped mid-sentence, eyes widening.
Kelley frowned. "Obsessed with what?"
Rose froze, realizing what she had just said. Mal and Andi both immediately gave her a look, like she had just stepped on a landmine.
"Uh- nothing," Rose blurted out, stuffing food into her mouth to avoid saying anything else.
Kelley, completely oblivious, shrugged it off. The other two, however, exchanged a knowing glance.
****
May 1st came fast.
The 23-player World Cup roster was dropping, and Kelley was more nervous for Emily than she was for herself.
Jill had been clear for months - Kelley needed to be fit for the first game. That alone made her feel like her spot was safe.
But Emily? She wasn’t one of Jill’s favorites. She wasn’t a guaranteed a spot like some of the others.
So, when Kelley’s phone rang and Jill’s name popped up, she felt relief but also unease - because she didn’t know if Sonnett already had the news or if she was still waiting for her call.
Jill’s voice was steady. “Kelley, congratulations. There was no doubt, but you’ve made the roster.”
Kelley exhaled, tension draining from her shoulders. "Thank you."
But even as she celebrated, she was still thinking about Emily.
When Emily’s phone rang, she almost missed the call because she was too nervous to pick up. When she finally did, Jill’s voice was calm and direct.
“I have good news.”
Emily broke down in tears.
And before she could tell her mom or her sister, there was only one person she wanted to call first.
Kelley.
And when Kelley’s phone buzzed, she answered immediately.
“I made it,” Emily’s voice came through, shaky but overflowing with emotion.
Kelley’s heart swelled with pride. "I knew you would. I’m so fucking proud of you, Em."
****
Two weeks later, the 23-player roster met up in California for their send-off games.
Kelley arrived at the team hotel with Christen on her left and Becky on her right, a huge smile on her face. All she wanted was to find Emily and hug her - to thank her for everything, because there was no way she would be here without her.
But the first people she saw were Alex and Allie.
They hugged, and while waiting for others to arrive, Alex suggested they grab coffee because she felt like she was going to die.
So, they left.
Moments later, Sonnett, Lindsey, Tobin, and Adrianna arrived at the hotel. Emily split off with Lindsey and went to find Sam, Moe, Rose, and Mal. Looking around, she asked if anyone knew where Kelley was.
Mal, still scrolling through her phone, didn’t even look up before saying, “She left with Alex and Allie to get coffee.”
Emily immediately texted Kelley.
Emily Sonnett: cortado pls
Kelley O’Hara: Hello to you too.
Kelley O’Hara: Already on it.
****
The three of them made it back just in time for Jill’s meeting. She stood at the front of the room, arms crossed.
“Thirty-six days until our first game against Thailand.” Kelley felt goosebumps rise on her arms. She hadn’t fully realized how close it was. Jill laid out the next few weeks: three games, a week at home, then the flight to France.
The next month flew by. They won all their send-off games, spirits were high, and Jill had solidified the starting eleven. Before they knew it, match day had arrived.
USA vs Thailand.
Kelley started the game.
Minutes in, she whipped in a perfect cross, and Alex buried it into the net. The game ended 13-0 - an unforgettable record-breaking performance. It was perfect. Alex had five goals, Rose and Sam had two each, and Mal, Pinoe, Lindsey, and Carli all added to the tally.
When the final whistle blew, Kelley immediately found Mal, lifting her off the ground in a bear hug.
"I’m so proud of you, kid!"
Mal, still buzzing, hugged her back. "That was insane!"
Then, Kelley spotted Sam and Rose. She squeezed between them, throwing her arms around their shoulders as they walked. But out of the corner of her eye, she saw Emily, Lindsey, and Moe just a few yards ahead. Without thinking, she took off running.
And before Lindsey could react, Kelley jumped on her back.
Lindsey stumbled but caught her, laughing. "Jesus, Kep!"
Emily turned, shaking her head with a small smile. "She’s really back, huh?"
Moe smirked. "Yeah, and she’s gonna be insufferable now."
Kelley, still clinging to Lindsey, just grinned.
Emily was right, she was back.
Back where she belonged - back on the field, back with her teammates, back with her incredible crosses. The last few months last year felt like a blur, thankfully. Walking around the pitch, she just hoped she’d never end up like that again. But with Sonnett there for her, she was sure she’d be fine.
****
The next game against Chile ended in a 3-0 win, another strong performance from the team. Kelley didn’t play as Jill had decided to rest her and a few others for the final group stage match against Sweden.
But that meant that Emily got her moment.
At the final whistle, Kelley didn’t even hesitate. She ran straight onto the field, dodging players, coaches, and staff until she found Sonnett standing near the midfield line, looking around and taking it all in. Before Emily could react, Kelley threw her arms around her in a tight hug.
"You just made your World Cup debut!" Kelley practically yelled into Emily’s ear.
Emily laughed, overwhelmed but buzzing, hugging her back just as tightly.
"I know, I know!" she said, still processing everything.
Kelley pulled back, gripping Emily’s shoulders, eyes filled with pure pride. "I hope you know how fucking proud I am of you, Em. Like, ridiculously proud."
Emily rolled her eyes, but the soft smile on her face gave her away.
"You’re so dramatic," she teased, but there was a lightness in her voice - a happiness Kelley loved to see.
"Yeah, yeah. But you love me anyway." Kelley grinned
Emily shook her head, but didn’t disagree.
“Come and see my family with me” Sonnett threw an arm over Kelley’s shoulder as they walked towards the friend and family section in the stadium.
****
Four days later, it was Sweden. A team that had given them hell in previous tournaments. The Olympics, for example. But Kelley didn’t even want to think about that because this time, it was their time to win.
They took care of business, winning 2-0 thanks to a goal from Lindsey (Kelley was way too excited) and a deflected free kick from Tobin, they were finishing the group stage with nine points and zero goals conceded. Not bad at all.
But now, it was time for the real tournament. The knockout rounds.
The Round of 16 was set. They were facing Spain.
And the team knew, without a doubt - things were about to get serious. No messing around.
****
The knockout rounds had begun, and Spain was up next. It was a close game, and for the first time in the tournament, the U.S. team was tested. The final score was 2-1, and it came down to Megan Rapinoe's two penalties. The first one came early, and the second was awarded late in the game after a questionable tackle in the box.
The fact that they had conceded a goal was significant. It was the first goal they’d allowed all tournament, and it was a reminder that even the best teams could be vulnerable. But the team wasn’t shaken. The intensity of the match had them all dialed in, focused.
As the game ended, there was a sense of relief - but no time to dwell. They were in the quarterfinals, and that meant only one thing: the next opponent was going to be even harder.
The mood in the locker room shifted once they learned who they were facing next- France, the host nation. A team that was always dangerous, but even more so now that they had the home crowd behind them. The pressure of being the host country weighed on them, but it also gave them an extra edge. It was a nerve-wracking atmosphere as the team prepared for the match. The locker room was quiet for a bit, each player mentally preparing for what was to come. The air was thick with tension as they laced their boots, adjusted their jerseys, and stretched. They had worked so hard to get here - they weren’t going to let it slip now.
Kelley was focused, eyes locked on the field ahead. She had the same calm confidence as always, but she could feel the weight of the moment. France at home was never going to be easy, but she wasn’t scared. She wasn’t going to let this team, her team , go down without a fight. She did her secret handshake with Mal, hugged Lindsey and fist bumped Sonnett before lining up in front of Abby and behind Becky.
The whistle blew. The game began.
From the start, France looked dangerous. They were quick on the ball, controlling the tempo for long stretches. On the counter-attack, they were frightening, but Kelley, Abby, Becky, Crystal, and Alyssa were rock solid.
Every time France tried to break through, the defense was there shutting down passes, blocking shots, and making perfectly timed tackles.
Kelley had never felt more focused. Every time the French wingers broke down the field, she was right there, tracking them back. She had been through a lot, but she was back at her best.
At the other end of the pitch, Megan was a constant threat, and in the 5th minute, she opened the scoring with a brilliant strike that gave the United States a 1-0 lead. The whole team erupted in celebration, but they kept her head in the game. They couldn’t let up. Not now. The game could change in a split second.
France was starting to get more aggressive; they wanted a goal, but the backline stood firm.
Then, after half time in the 65th minute, Pinoe struck again. A perfectly placed shot curled past the French goalkeeper into the back of the net.
2-0.
But France was not about to go down without a fight. With 10 minutes remaining, the French were on the attack again, and a powerful header from Wendie Renard found the back of the net. It was a great finish- and it gave France hope. The score was now 2-1.
The tension in the stadium grew. Every supporter was on the edge.
The whole team were on defensive duties now, they were keeping the French at bay. They couldn’t concede.
As the final whistle blew, the U.S. team gathered in the middle of the field, arms around each other. They had done it - they were headed to the semifinals, and the atmosphere was pure joy. The fans in the stands were still cheering as the players walked around the field, waving and acknowledging their support. The team went around signing autographs, taking pictures, and interacting with the traveling fans who had made the journey to France. The atmosphere was incredible. And Kelley, still riding the high of victory, found herself soaking it all in. The fans’ cheers filled the stadium, but inside, the players were focused on the next challenge - England was up next.
****
The England game was one of the biggest tests yet. Losing Pinoe just before the match was a massive blow, but Jill had a plan. Christen would take her place in the starting eleven.
Christen was nervous, but Kelley knew her well. She knew that once the whistle blew, Christen would step up like she always did.
Just before kickoff, the locker room was surrounded with tension. Everyone was getting in the zone, focused, locked in. Christen sat in her space, tying her cleats, deep in thought.
That’s when Kelley, in classic Kelley fashion, stole Jess McDonald's seat right next to her.
"You good?" Kelley asked, nudging Christen’s knee.
Christen exhaled sharply. "Yeah. Just… it’s a lot, you know?"
Kelley grinned. "Yeah, but if there’s anyone who can do this, it’s you. You deserve to be here, and you’re gonna fucking kill it. I believe in you, the team believes in you, you should believe in yourself Chris."
Christen looked over at her, a small smile creeping onto her lips. "Thank you, Kell."
"Anytime. Now, go score a goddamn goal, yeah?" Kelley smirked.
Christen laughed, shaking her head. But she appreciated Kelley’s words more than she let on.
The whistle blew, and the United States came out flying. England barely had time to settle before the Americans were pressing high, moving the ball fast, and causing chaos. Just ten minutes in, Kelley received the ball on the right wing, took one touch to steady herself, and then sent in a perfect cross into the box. Christen was waiting. She rose above the defender, met the ball with a powerful header, and sent it straight into the back of the net, causing t he stadium to erupt.
Christen threw her arms into the air, barely believing it herself.
Kelley, standing in the corner, watched the ball hit the net before sprinting across the field straight to her.
"Are you freaking serious?!" Kelley laughed, wrapping Christen in a hug.
Christen, still grinning, gave Kelley a side hug before they both jogged back to their positions.
But the lead didn’t last long.
Just nine minutes later, England struck back. Their striker equalized, and suddenly, the game was wide open again.
But there was one thing England didn’t have.
Alex Morgan. And as Kelley would say, a cheat code.
In the 31st minute, Lindsey played a perfect pass into the box. And there was only one person there to get on the end of it. She connected beautifully, scoring the team's second goal, and then celebrated in the most iconic way possible. She ran over to the side and lifted her fingers to her lips and mimicked sipping a cup of tea. The crowd exploded, and Kelley couldn’t help but laugh as she jogged over to celebrate with the team.
As the second half began, the pressure was relentless. England pushed for the equalizer, and in the 68th minute, they won a penalty. It felt like time stood still. The entire stadium held its breath. Alyssa stood on the goal line, eyes locked in, focused. The England player stepped up, took a deep breath, and struck the ball.
Alyssa dove to her right- and saved it.
The players went crazy, running over to hug her. But she shooed them away, ready to throw the ball out long.
England’s frustration only grew. In the 85th minute, they received a red card, reducing them to 10 players. The USA held on, defending like warriors in the final minutes as England threw everything forward. But they couldn’t break through. The final whistle blew.
They were going to the World Cup final. Again.
Kelley felt pure euphoria. She ran across the field, finding Alyssa and Abby again, hugging them tightly.
"You guys are fucking unreal!" she yelled, still hyped from the penalty save.
Alyssa just grinned, shaking her head. "Had to keep us in it, right?"
The entire team soaked in the moment. But they had one more game to go.
****
The day they had all been waiting for had finally arrived.
The final match day.
Only the Netherlands stood in their way now, a team just as determined, just as battle-tested. The Dutch defense was strong, the attack were even stronger, and they weren’t going to let them walk away with an easy win.
Megan was fit enough to start, but not for the entire 90 minutes.
And Rose had picked up a hamstring injury before the game, but this wasn’t just any game, she wasn’t about to sit it out. She sacrificed herself to be on that field.
From the first whistle, the intensity was unmatched. Both teams fought for every inch, every loose ball, every tackle. The Netherlands played physically, they weren’t giving anything away for free. The U.S. dominated possession but couldn’t find the breakthrough.
And then, in the last few minutes of the first half, it happened. Kelley went up for a header - timing her jump perfectly. But as she rose, so did a Dutch player.
The collision was violent .
Their heads smashed together, and sudden pain exploded through her skull. For a moment, everything was a blur. She felt dizzy, her ears were ringing, and the world seemed to tilt for a second. She could hear distant voices, but it took her a moment to register what was happening. The referee was motioning her off the pitch, and the medical staff rushed in.
Kelley argued immediately, shaking her head. "I'm fine! I can keep playing!"
But they weren’t listening.
She was forced to walk to the sideline, grabbing her head in frustration. After thirty seconds back on the field, the halftime whistle blew. She stormed into the locker room, only to see Ali Krieger already stripped and ready to come on.
That’s when the rage set in. Without thinking, she ripped off her shin guard and threw it at the whiteboard, causing a loud bang that silenced the room.
Jill Ellis walked in, calm but firm.
"Ali is replacing you," she said. "You have a concussion, Kelley. You’re out."
Kelley’s jaw clenched.
"No, I don’t . I’m fine ."
"No, you're not."
"Jill, I-"
"This is not up for debate."
Kelley gritted her teeth, feeling anger boiling in her chest. She felt helpless.
This was the World Cup Final, and she was being taken out. She turned on her heel and stormed out before anyone could stop her. Emily got up to follow, but Kelley spun around, eyes blazing.
"Don't."
Emily froze.
Kelley shook her head, voice low and sharp. "Just… don’t."
Emily didn’t say anything. She just watched her leave, a knot forming in her stomach. When the second half kicked off, Emily and Mal sat on the bench.
Mal leaned toward Emily, whispering, "Is Kelley okay?"
Emily sighed. "Don’t know."
Kelley was nowhere to be seen.
A few minutes later, she finally emerged from the tunnel and sat at the very end of the bench, staring at the ground. Her expression was clear - don’t talk to me .
She felt like a spectator instead of a player, and she hated it. But then, at the 61st minute, the game changed.
A penalty.
After VAR review, the U.S. was awarded a spot kick.
Pinoe stepped up, placing the ball down, t he entire stadium held its breath.
S he took a step. Struck the ball. And scored.
Kelley couldn’t sit still anymore. She jumped up, walked to the sideline, and pulled Pinoe into a hug the moment she reached the bench. She kissed Pinoe’s forehead before heading back to her seat.
They were 1-0 up.
And then, eight minutes later, came the moment of magic.
Sam picked up the ball in midfield. She passed it to Rose, who started dribbling straight up the center of the pitch. One defender closed in, Rose dodged her effortlessly. Another defender lunged, Rose cut past her like she wasn’t even there.
The goal was in sight.
And then she shot.
The ball curled beautifully, hitting the back of the net.
2-0.
The stadium erupted.
Rose dropped to the ground, screaming with joy. The players on the bench sprinted toward her. Kelley ran to the sidelines, arms wide open, and Rose jumped straight into them.
The pile-on happened almost immediately, bodies crashing together, screams of pure euphoria filling the air. They were so close.
The minutes dragged on. But when the final whistle blew, it was over.
They did it.
World Cup Champions. Again .
Kelley felt tears forming before she even realized it. She turned, scanning the crowd, searching for the one person she needed to see.
Emily.
She found her just a few feet away, also crying, and before she knew it, Kelley was wrapping her arms around her, gripping onto her tightly. Emily didn’t let go either. Neither of them spoke. They just held each other, feeling the weight of the moment. They had both fought for this, bled for this, sacrificed everything for this.
And now, they were champions .
Kelley wiped a tear from Emily’s cheek before laughing through her own tears.
Emily sniffled. "I’m proud of you."
Kelley shook her head. "I’m so proud of you."
Emily smiled softly. “Idiot.”
Then, hand in hand, they turned back toward the team, toward their friends, their family, their sisters - and ran into the chaos of celebration.
They were on top of the world.
****
Just a few weeks after the World Cup win, Portland Thorns travelled over to Utah. The game ended in a 2-2 draw, but Kelley didn’t mind. She had gotten an assist, Utah had fought until the very last second, and now she got to spend time with some of her favorite people.
After everyone showered and changed, Kelley met Emily, Tobin, Caitlin Foord and Lindsey outside the stadium, where the four were already waiting.
"Took you long enough," Emily teased, crossing her arms.
"Sorry, some of us actually have to do media after games," Kelley shot back with a smirk.
Lindsey laughed. "Okay, okay, can we go now? I’m starving. I want pizza"
Just as Kelley was about to lead them to her car, Becky and Christen came jogging over. They all piled into two separate cars - Kelley driving one with Emily, Lindsey, and Caitlin, while Christen took the other with Tobin and Becky.
By the time they arrived at Kelley's house, it was already past 10pm, but none of them were ready to sleep. Kelley walked into the kitchen, grabbing a few drinks and snacks, before returning to the living room where everyone was sprawled out across her couch and floor.
Emily was looking through Netflix, Tobin was leaning against Christen, half-asleep already, and Lindsey and Becky were arguing over what movie to watch.
" Not a rom-com," Lindsey insisted. "We've seen enough of those."
"Okay, but I need something with actual plot," Becky argued.
Emily, still scrolling, suddenly grinned. "Ooooh, what about a horror movie?"
Kelley narrowed her eyes. "Absolutely not."
"What? Scared?" Emily smirked, nudging her.
Kelley scoffed. "No. I just don’t want to deal with you screaming in my ear for two hours."
Emily opened her mouth to argue, but Caitlin cut in.
"Yeah, no horror. The last time we watched one, Sonnett almost took my arm off."
"That was ONE TIME," Emily protested, throwing a pillow at Caitlin, who just laughed.
In the end, they settled on some cringe action movie, mostly so that no one would complain.
Halfway through the movie, Kelley found herself leaning into Emily without even realizing it. And even though Emily teased her all the time, she didn’t move away. Instead, she just smirked, resting her head against Kelley's shoulder.
The movie ended, and one by one, people started falling asleep.
Tobin was already passed out on the couch, Christen beside her. Becky had taken the armchair, and Lindsey had somehow curled up on the floor with Caitlin beside her.
The only two still awake were Kelley and Emily.
They were sitting outside on the porch, Kelley holding a water bottle while Emily twirled a beer in her hand.
"It’s nice, huh?" Emily said, looking up at the night sky.
Kelley hummed. "Yeah."
Emily glanced over at her. "You okay?"
Kelley hesitated. It wasn’t often that someone asked her that so seriously.
"I think so," she finally admitted.
Emily studied her for a second, then nudged her knee against Kelley's. "Good. 'Cause I’d hate to beat your ass if you weren’t."
Kelley laughed, shaking her head. "You’re the worst."
Emily just grinned. "I know."
They sat in comfortable silence after that, enjoying the cool breeze.
****
A few weeks had passed since Utah and Portland’s match, and now, it was time to reunite with the national team. The familiar feeling of stepping into camp never got old - the same excitement, the same nerves, the same rush of seeing everyone again.
Kelley arrived at the team hotel in the afternoon, dragging her suitcase through the lobby. She had barely made it through the entrance before she heard a loud voice.
"KELLEY O’HARA!"
Kelley barely had time to react before Sonnett crashed into her, wrapping her in a tight hug.
"Jesus, Sonnett," Kelley laughed, stumbling back slightly.
Emily finally let go, grinning up at her. "I counted down the days, Kell. You better be ready for some quality time."
Kelley rolled her eyes, but the smile never left her face.
The rest of the team trickled in throughout the afternoon, hugs, jokes, and laughter filling the air. Lindsey and Tobin walked in together, Mal and Rose arrived not long after, and Alex - who had been FaceTiming Kelley just the night before - practically tackled her when she saw her.
The vibe in camp was good.
They had their first victory tour game against Ireland. Training was intense but familiar, and despite the few weeks apart, the chemistry from their huge world cup win was still there.
The night before the game, Kelley sat in the team meeting, half-listening as Jill went over the plan. When she saw her name in the starting lineup, she nodded to herself, mentally preparing.
Game day came quickly. The stadium was packed, the energy buzzing. The national anthem played, and Kelley felt the same rush of adrenaline she always did before kickoff. From the very start, the U.S. dominated. Kelley played the first half, aggressive and sharp as always. She created chances, defended hard, and helped push the team forward.
By halftime, they were up 3-0.
When the second half began, Kelley was subbed out, but for once, she didn’t mind. Because Sonnett was subbing in. As Emily jogged onto the field, she passed Kelley on the sideline, giving her a smug grin.
"Don’t worry, I’ll hold it down."
Kelley smirked, patting her on the back. "Try not to mess up."
Emily rolled her eyes before jogging onto the pitch. And by the final whistle, they had secured the 3-0 win. The bus ride home was a mix of exhaustion and quiet satisfaction. Some players had their headphones in, others were whispering about the game, but most of them were just trying to stay awake. Kelley was one of them. She trudged onto the bus and immediately looked for Emily. She had no real reason why, she just wanted to sit next to her.
Sliding into the seat, Kelley let out a heavy sigh and leaned back.
Emily, who had her arm draped lazily over the back of the seat, glanced at her with a smirk. "You good?"
Kelley yawned. "Exhausted."
Emily chuckled. "You did run a lot."
Kelley hummed in agreement, her head tilting slightly toward Emily’s shoulder. For the first few minutes, she kept mumbling things - about the game, about training, about how she was craving pancakes tomorrow morning. Emily listened, nodding along, but Kelley’s words were getting slower and slower. And then, mid-sentence - she was out.
Emily glanced down and sighed. Kelley had fallen asleep with her head in the worst position possible, her neck bent at a terrible angle. With a small shake of her head, Sonnett carefully shifted her, pulling Kelley so that her head rested on her lap instead. Kelley stirred for a second, muttering something incoherent, but then she just curled in slightly and got comfortable. Emily just smirked and looked out the window, resting her arm over Kelley’s shoulder.
By the time they arrived at the hotel, everyone was moving sluggishly, half-asleep themselves.
Emily nudged Kelley gently. "Hey, sleeping beauty. We’re here."
Kelley blinked up at her, clearly still groggy. "Did I just nap on you?"
Emily smirked. "Yeah. Hope you were comfortable."
Kelley stretched and stood up, grinning sleepily. "Best pillow ever."
Emily rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t hide her smile. As they all shuffled off the bus, heading to their rooms, everyone was too exhausted to do much else but crash. And kelley thought about how those 40 minutes were the best sleep she’s had in a while.
****
The morning of Kelley’s 31st birthday started like any other camp morning, except it wasn’t.
She woke up to the sound of Alex groaning beside her, blindly reaching for the alarm clock.
"Why is it so early?" Alex muttered.
Kelley chuckled, rubbing her eyes. "Because we’re professional athletes, duh."
Alex sat up, stretching. "Happy birthday, worms."
Kelley grinned, grabbing a pillow and smacking Alex with it. "Thanks, Janice."
She was about to get up when Alex suddenly grabbed her wrist.
"Wait. We can’t go to breakfast yet."
Kelley frowned. "What? Why not?"
Alex hesitated - clearly a terrible liar. "Uh… we just can’t. Jill said something about a… a team meeting first."
Kelley gave her a look. "Jill? Asking for a team meeting before breakfast? Yeah, right. Plus we just played like less than 24 hours ago."
Alex shrugged dramatically. "Hey, I don’t make the rules."
Kelley sighed but didn’t push it. She sat back on the bed, scrolling through her phone, answering all the birthday messages flooding in. Meanwhile, across the hotel, Emily was trying to make sure everything was perfect. She had dragged Mal, Rose, Sam, and Lindsey into the meal room early, decorating it with balloons, banners, and confetti.
"Are you sure she won’t figure it out?" Mal asked, throwing up a streamer.
Emily smirked. "Alex is stalling her. She won’t suspect a thing."
Lindsey chuckled, shaking her head. "I love how you basically gave Alex the easiest job and she’s probably still gonna mess it up."
Sonnett was practically bouncing in place. "I just can’t wait to see her face! She’s gonna be so happy."
Finally, after what felt like forever, Emily got a text from Alex.
Alex Morgan: She’s starting to get suspicious. Hurry up.
Emily Sonnett: sam’s coming up.
“Sam go and distract Kelley some more.”
“Whatever you say, Son.” Rose snorted and Sam walked off.
A few minutes later, they were done, and everyone but Alex, Kelley and Sam were all waiting.
Emily Sonnett: done.
Alex finally led Kelley into the meal room, with Sam behind them, and the moment Kelley stepped inside-
"SURPRISE!"
Confetti flew through the air. Balloons covered the ceiling. A huge banner that read 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY KELLEY!' was hanging across the back wall.
Kelley froze.
Her mouth slightly opened, eyes wide in shock.
Then she turned to Alex. "So that’s why you were acting weird!"
Alex just grinned and shrugged. "I had one job."
Before Kelley could process everything, Emily tackled her in a hug.
"Happy birthday, loser!" Emily said, squeezing her tight.
Kelley laughed, wrapping her arms around Emily in return. "Did you plan all this?"
Emily grinned. "Maybe."
Rose ran up next, practically knocking Kelley off her feet with her own dramatic hug.
"You’re officially a grandma now!" The midfielder teased.
Kelley rolled her eyes, but she was beaming.
Pinoe, Lindsey, Mal, Christen, and the rest of the team all came up to hug her one by one.
And in Kelley’s seat where she always claims no matter what hotel they are in (the back left corner), were a stack of pancakes with maple syrup and too many blueberries to count and a candle right in the centre.
This was definitely one of her best birthdays yet.
****
It had been a couple months since the last time Portland and Utah faced off, and once again, the game was in Utah. Kelley was sidelined with an injury she picked up on international duty, so instead of being on the field, she was forced to watch from the stands.
She hated it. There was nothing worse than watching from the sidelines when all she wanted to do was play. But at least she was still here, supporting her team.
As kickoff arrived, Kelley leaned forward in her seat, focused. The first half was a slow burn. Not much happened until Becky scored a header from the edge of the box.
Kelley jumped to her feet, cheering loudly as she watched her longtime friend celebrate. Utah was up 1-0 at halftime.
By the time the second half rolled around, things started getting heated.
At the 60th minute, Sonnett being, well, Sonnett, grabbed Christen’s jersey and physically dragged her away from the ball to stop the counter attack
The ref immediately pulled out a yellow card.
From her seat in the stands, Kelley just shook her head with a smirk.
"Classic," she muttered to herself.
But that wasn’t even the worst of it.
Seventeen minutes later, the real drama unfolded. Portland’s midfield sent a routine pass back to Emily, but she misjudged it, completely missing the ball. She turned quickly, running back to collect it, but in the process, she accidentally tripped Amy Rodriguez.
The moment Amy hit the ground, she sprung up, eyes full of rage.
Emily raised her hands in surrender. "Hey, I didn’t mean to-"
Before she could finish her sentence, Amy shoved her. Hard.
Emily stumbled backward, completely confused.
Kelley leaned forward in her seat, instantly on edge.
Then, Amy shouted something at Emily as she kept pushing her. Sonnett froze.
Kelley didn’t hear what Amy said from where she was sitting, she was too far up, but whatever it was, it completely broke the defender.
The ref pulled out a red card. And Emily stormed off the field, jaw clenched, fists tight, completely furious.
Then Lindsey stepped up. She marched straight up to Amy, getting in her face. The two started arguing, words getting sharper by the second. The ref had to separate them, handing out yellow cards to both of them. Even though Tobin and Amy were good friends, Tobin didn’t hesitate to step in on Emily and Lindsey’s side.
She pointed at Amy, voice firm. "Back off, A-Rod. That was out of line."
Lindsey, still fuming, turned toward the stands. She looked up, searching for Kelley. The second their eyes met, Kelley knew exactly what Lindsey was trying to say.
Emily wasn’t okay.
She needed to go find her. Now .
Without hesitation, Kelley stood up and left the stands, heading straight for the locker rooms. When Kelley got to her, her heart dropped. Emily was sitting on one of the benches, head in her hands, her face tear-streaked. Kelley didn’t hesitate. She sat down next to her, nudging her knee against Emily’s.
"Hey," she said softly. "What the hell happened out there?"
Emily sniffled but didn’t say anything at first. Kelley waited. She wasn’t going to push.
Finally, after a moment, Emily whispered, "She told me I didn’t deserve to be on the field. That I’m a joke. That I should just-"
Her voice broke. She wiped at her face aggressively.
Kelley felt her entire body tense with anger.
"Are you fucking kidding me?"
Emily just shrugged, still staring at the ground.
Kelley took a deep breath, trying to contain the rage bubbling inside her. She turned slightly, forcing Emily to look at her.
"Son, listen to me. Don’t let her get in your head. She doesn’t know shit. You belong on that field, and you know it."
Emily didn’t say anything, but her lip quivered slightly. Kelley grabbed Emily’s chin gently, forcing her to meet her eyes.
"Say it."
Emily sighed. "What?"
"Say you belong on that field."
Emily hesitated.
"Sonnett."
A beat of silence.
Then, finally, Emily whispered, "I belong on that field."
Kelley nodded firmly.
"Damn right you do."
Emily took a shaky breath. "I just- I don’t know, Kell. It messed me up. I don’t know why it got to me."
Kelley softened. A few moments of silence passed, and then Emily leaned into Kelley’s side, resting her head on her shoulder. Kelley let her stay there. And after a few minutes, she pulled out her phone and texted Lindsey. She wouldn’t see it until the game finished, but Kelley didn’t plan on going back up to watch.
Kelley O’Hara: She’s with me. Don’t freak out. I’m gonna take her back to my place. Feel free to come by.
Kelley glanced down at Emily, who was still curled into her side.
She smiled softly.
"Come on, let’s get out of here. You’re staying at mine tonight."
Emily didn’t argue. She just nodded. Kelley stood up, holding out her hand, and Emily took it.
And when they got home, Kelley let Sonnett shower and borrow some of her clothes. They put on a movie, and that’s when Lindsey replied.
Lindsey responded almost instantly.
Lindsey Horan: Thank God. Take care of her, please. I’ll come tomorrow?
****
The rest of the season didn’t go the way Kelley had hoped. What was originally supposed to be a short-term injury turned into a recurring problem, one that kept her off the field longer than expected. Every time she thought she was ready to return, something would flare up again, forcing her back into rehab, back into recovery, back into the frustrating cycle of waiting. She tried to stay positive, tried to remind herself that setbacks were just part of the game, but deep down, it hurt. She thought the injuries were over, and after 2019 being such an amazing year, staying positive was starting to become a struggle for her.
But if there was one thing about Kelley, it was that she never stayed down for long. She knew she’d be back. Maybe not this year, maybe not in time for the last few friendlies, but next year was a new chapter. The Olympics were coming, and she refused to miss it. She dedicated herself to rehab, pushing through the pain, through the frustration, through every moment of doubt. And with each passing day, she felt herself getting stronger. She wasn't just coming back - she was coming back better, sharper, more determined than ever. By the time 2020 rolled around, hopefully she would be ready. Stronger than before. Hungrier than ever. She wanted the opportunity to impress the new coach.