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Chapter Text

Alexandra Blaire Krieger didn't know how she'd got herself saddled with a companion when her father had to go home. but she was glad. It was better to watch films like Shrek 2 with someone rather than without, and her room in Nittany Medical Center was lonely otherwise. Besides, she had someone to whine to about bits that made no sense, even if she'd just met the kid that day. "What the fuck kind of hick country is Far, Far Away anyway?" Ali Krieger grumbled, lying in the hospital bed and staring miserably at the tv. The teenage girl cuddled comfortably up to her side sat up and fixed the university junior with a look.  

"That's not nice," she informed Ali. Ali laughed reluctantly.  

"Bold little Lioness already aren't you, Nittany Cub?" she asked, petting the girl's hair affectionately. "Are you upset my dad roped you into sitting with me?"  

"Are you sure they'll accept me?" The girl nibbled her lip at the nickname, and Ali pulled her close.  

"They'd be missing out if they didn't. And you got your application in pretty early. How did you manage to find yourself in here instead of touring campus, Nittany Cub?" 

 "I like helping out." She sat up straighter. "Are you going to call me that forever, instead of Alyssa?"  

"That depends," Ali said, a smile ghosting across her face. "What are you going to call me? Not Alexandra, I hope."  

"What should I call you? You're going to be a senior, aren't you? Do we have to call the seniors something special? Miss Ali?"  

Ali stifled a hysterical laugh, turning it into a cough, which immediately hurt. Alyssa jumped up and ran for help.  

When Ali had been medicated and was drinking some water, Alyssa cuddled up next to her again, the younger girl gave her a reproving look. "Don't do that. You don't need to be even more hurt, you know."  

"I noticed," Ali said wearily. "I'm sorry. I hope I didn't scare you, cub."  

"Not much scares me," Alyssa said readily. "I have sisters - Abigail's probably got me immune to being scared. I was just concerned for you." 

 Ali nodded. "Mhmm. Well, thank you. No, you don't have to call me Miss Ali unless you want to, although that might cause people to assume things about us."  

The high school senior's face went an interesting shade of pink. "Oh," she said meekly. "Right. Better not."  

They had both laughed then - much more carefully, in Ali's case - and settled back to finish the movie before Ali fell asleep. Alyssa had woken her before she left, and they'd exchanged phone numbers and email addresses.  

In May, by now fairly healed and making her way back to normal, Ali got a text consisting of three words. I got in!  

  Ali sent back an excited: Good! See you in August, Cub!  

Ali arrived for her senior year at Penn State having signed up for the program that matched seniors with incoming freshmen. She'd put in a request, if it was possible, if no one else was matched with her first...and because they were both in the soccer program, because they had already developed a rapport over the few days Alyssa had volunteered at the medical center over winter break, the school was happy enough to oblige. She would be sharing her dorm room with Alyssa Michele Naeher. Her Nittany Cub, Ali thought as they hugged each other in greeting. 

Chapter Text

It was the first of September, and they were already two matches into the season. Three, now, Nittany Lionesses' Captain Ali Krieger corrected herself as she shepherded her shattered team out of the oppressive Texas heat. They had begun their season with a win that had buoyed their confidence, especially the cubs. A draw had been less encouraging, but still no harm done. But this... Ali drew in a breath, exhaling slowly. The youngsters all looked wretched, but there was one in particular that needed her attention.  

She forced herself to turn her mind from her little roommate for a moment, focusing on their one goal-scorer. "Duggan," Ali said, and Akilah looked up. "Well done," Ali said, a smile lighting up the freshman's face as she received Ali's praise. There wouldn't be much other praise to hand out, but their one goal had been something to be proud of.  

Ali handed most of the new cubs over to Ashley Myers for the moment - the sophomore had been where they'd all been before, she knew. But her roommate was her lookout. "Cub," Ali said, going to sit on the bench by Alyssa, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Look, it's not your fault. You played your hardest."   

"That's not what my National Captain would say," Alyssa sniffled, burying her head in Ali's shoulder.  

"What would she say?" Ali scooped the younger girl into her lap, rocking the keeper gently as Alyssa clung to her.  

 "S-she'd say I should be punished. I let in so many goals, Miss Ali, I..."   

"I said you didn't have to call me that," Ali chuckled softly, petting Alyssa's hair. "And you saved at least as many as you let in, Alyssa. It wasn't enough today, but that's as much on the rest of us as it is on you. Don't take it all on yourself."  

 "Okay," Alyssa said softly. "But what's going to happen to me? What about the team?"   

"You're still on the team, Nittany Cub. Don't you worry. As for the rest...we'll discuss it when we're back in our room."   

Alyssa's stomach knotted, and she nodded obediently.  

As roommates at school, they were sharing their accommodation here in Texas, too. It was Friday, and they'd be playing Texas again on Sunday before returning to Penn. That, Ali thought, would give Alyssa time to rest up on Saturday before practice. She'd probably need it. Poor Nittany Cub, Ali thought, stroking the girl's hair, but she had practically asked for it. Luckily - or unluckily, depending on how the two ought to view it - it wasn't long before the team were shepherded away from the lockers and taken back to their rooms. When they got back, Alyssa followed Ali into the room with a wary expression.   

"Okay, sweetheart," Ali said very gently. "Come here, Cub."   

Alyssa accepted Ali's offered hug with a soft sob. "S-sorry 'm such a bad keeper..."   

"Oh, sweetie, no," Ali murmured. "You're not bad at all! You've played for National, you know that means you're a good keeper, don't you? Shhh, honey, it's okay, losing's never nice but sometimes it's going to happen. Ali's here, sweetie, is that what this is, you feel like you're bad because we lost?" Alyssa nodded miserably.   

"Well I can tell you that's not true forever, and hope for you to believe me," Ali said dryly, sitting on her bed and pulling the keeper down into her lap. "But I think you need help forgiving yourself."  

Alyssa looked down, nodding miserably. "Guess so."   

"Okay, sweetheart." Ali rubbed Alyssa's back gently. "There, there, it's okay, you're safe. Now, you've probably already seen that when our girls foul, they get spanked for it."   

Alyssa swallowed and nodded. "Yes M-I mean, Ali."   

"Okay, well, you didn't. No fouls, no cards. I do have the team paddle in my bag, but I'm not going to bring that out. You don't need that from me, Alyssa. But I can tell you need something to feel like a good girl again."  

Alyssa nodded, remembering in time not to bite her lip.   

"There, there, good girl." Ali petted Alyssa's hair. They'd changed out of their kits into spare shorts and t-shirts, and Ali was grateful for that, no athletic support to get in the way. "Over my lap, cub, it's all right."   

The younger girl obeyed, glad Ali hadn't told her she needed to be bare. The position felt exposed enough as it was. "I haven't really been...not since I was tiny," she confessed to Ali.   

"I've got you safe, sweetie," Ali soothed Alyssa. "It's gonna be okay. You're going to get eighteen smacks, all right? Just with my hand over your shorts, nothing else. You can hold onto my hand, or a pillow if you want. Just try not to tense up, Alyssa. Okay?"   

Alyssa nodded and accepted a pillow from Ali, hugging it tightly.  

Ali gave Alyssa's bottom a gentle pat in warning before landing the first smack. Alyssa jumped a bit, but held on tight to the pillow, and as Ali continued to spank her, she felt tears threaten. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. By the tenth spank Alyssa was crying freely into the pillow, and she froze as Ali tipped her forward. "O-oh...Ali..."   

"I know, sweetie," Ali said gently. "You're being so brave, cub. Just hang on a bit longer, Ali's gotcha, we're more than half done now. Just take a few breaths, easy, it's okay, I'm here."   

Alyssa gulped back a sob and tried to calm her breathing, then nodded reluctantly. "O-okay."   

"That's my girl," Ali soothed. "Good girl, hold on. Not long now." She finished Alyssa's spanking with two smacks to each sit spot, and each side of her undercurve, then pulled Alyssa up into her lap at once, letting Alyssa cry on her shoulder. "Good girl, sweet girl, it's okay. It's forgiven, cub," Ali whispered.  

Ali held Alyssa as she cried herself out, then gave her some tissues, and a bottle of coconut water after that.   

Alyssa cleaned herself up, drinking gratefully, and when Ali tucked her into bed after, she didn't protest. "It's really all okay?" Alyssa ventured, and Ali nodded, smiling gently.   

"All okay, my brave Nittany Cub. And if it happens again, we'll take care of things and it'll be all okay then, too. There's nothing to be scared of, sweetheart; it won't hurt for long, and I'm not going to stop being your big sister just because this happened. Okay?"   

Alyssa nodded, relieved, and with Ali holding her hand, drifted off to sleep. She was dreaming of a win against Texas on Sunday.   

A win, as it happened, wasn't in the cards...but a tie was nearly as good, and Alyssa had redeemed herself, having no reason to be ashamed.  

 On the trip back to Penn, Ali kept Alyssa close, and when they were settled in their dorm again, she wrapped Alyssa in a hug. "Welcome home, Nittany Cub. Remember now, you're not the big sister anymore, sweetie. I am, and if you're having any trouble at all, you can come to me." It was a promise Ali would be sure to keep for the rest of her time at Penn, and beyond.   

Chapter Text

"Hey."

Tobin didn't look up as her roommate tossed her bag on the table with a thud.

"What are you doing in here by yourself?"

No answer.

She walked over, snapping her fingers close to Tobin's head. "I know you're not asleep. Get off whatever planet you're on, you've been staring at that page for five minutes, and the book is upside down by the way."

"Go away, I'm studying and I don't want you here."

Tobin's voice was thick with unshed tears, and she turned her head, not wanting to show weakness.

The blonde's forehead creased.

"I don't think so. You don't order me around, kid."

"Remind me which one of us has a gold medal again?" Tobin snarked.

"Remind me which of us is older again?" Ashlyn returned. 

"Just because you deferred starting so you're ancient--"

Tobin squeaked as a strong hand clamped over her mouth.

"Brat."

Tobin squirmed around to glare up at Ashlyn. "I," she said slowly and deliberately, staring at the older girl, "am not a brat. I'm just as much a...you know...as you are."

"All this time and she still can't say it," Ashlyn muttered, an affectionately exasperated smile curving her lips. The smile disappeared as fast as it had come. "Well, you're going to answer me anyway, little one. What were you doing alone in here, and why did you sound like someone'd punched you in the gut?" She scanned Tobin for signs of injury. "Are you physically injured?"

"No," Tobin mumbled. "Not that."

"Failed a test or something?"

Tobin scoffed. "No."

"All right, all right, Miss Genius. What is it then, bratling mine?"

Tobin sputtered. "I don't want--"

"You're going to."

"What are you going to do, beat it out of me?" Tobin mumbled.

"Don't be quite so dramatic," Ashlyn rolled her eyes. "But if you want me to make it difficult for you to sit through our professor's lecture in the morning..."

"No!"

"Then what is it?" Ashlyn demanded in exasperation.

Then she searched Tobin's face again, seeing how much the younger girl seemed to be at war with herself. "Or should I be asking who is it, Tobs?"

Tobin buried her face in her folded arms. "I can't!"

"Shhh, oh..." Ashlyn placed her hand on Tobin's back, rubbing firm, slow circles. "Let it out, Tobs, I have you. Tell me about her?"

Tobin jolted, lifting her head with a gasp, eyes wide. "H-how..."

"Sweetheart, you wouldn't be half this torn up over a boy," Ashlyn said gently. "Besides, how many boys do we really spend time with?"

Tobin's cheeks flushed. 

"I don't remember her name," Tobin said warily, and Ashlyn doubted Tobin was telling the truth, but let it go. "But you know when we played Stanford?"

"I could hardly forget the final, bratling mine. That was quite the victory," Ashlyn's lips curled in a smile. "Jess gave it to us in the third minute, we just didn't realize it at the time."

"Well...she was one of them. Stanford," Tobin said quietly. "When...when her teammate got ejected for those two yellow cards, it messed her up. I could tell."

"Press, you mean?" Ashlyn prompted. "That's her name, right, Kristie Press?" She misspoke deliberately, waiting to see if...

Indignation contorted Tobin's face. "It's Christen."

A-ha. I thought so.

Ashlyn chuckled quietly and Tobin blushed scarlet, realizing the trap she'd walked straight into. "Unfair!"

"You're adorable when you blush, bratling mine. You should do it more often. Of course, for lying to me, I ought to have your other cheeks blushing."

Tobin squirmed nervously. "Ashlyn! You wouldn't, not when I'm a....not a brat, whatever you call me. I'm like you, not them."

"A Top, you mean?" Ashlyn suggested. "I think you blush far too easily to be one of those now, bratling mine. Maybe when you're a bit older and more in control of yourself. Or maybe you're a switch, you know."

"I...Ashlyn," Tobin groaned, feeling mortified by the conversation. "Can you not?"

"Hmmm." Ashlyn tugged Tobin's ponytail lightly. "So. What is it about Christen Press that has you tied up in knots?"

"Wouldn't you just love that," Tobin muttered, and Ashlyn smirked.

"Don't give me ideas, bratling mine. Answer the question."

"I...I don't know," Tobin confessed. "Her eyes - she looked so sad when her friend--"

"Kelley," Ashlyn supplied. "Kelley O'Hara." As if you don't know that, either. Tobin must have been deliberately avoiding names now.

Tobin nodded. "Yes, her - when she was ejected from the game for fouling on Whit. And when Whit and Kristi kept pushing their line, Christen looked even worse. Then when Christen's ball got called offside when she could have almost tied us."

"If I didn't do my job right, you mean," Ashlyn murmured.

"Which you did," Tobin said quickly. "I didn't mean you didn't."

"Unbeaten and untied, two years in a row. I wasn't going to lose us that," Ashlyn said. "And you're right about Whit, we should check on her and make sure Kelley didn't hurt her too badly. That kid knows how to tackle."

"She's my age."

"Exactly."

"So you're tied up in knots after we won because Press gave you puppy eyes across the field?"

"She's...she's a really good player and I hate to see her hurting," Tobin said quietly. "I want to be her friend."

"Is that all?"

Tobin gave Ashlyn a helpless look. "I don't know how it can be anything else."

"Concentrate on the friend part first, and if there's anything else, it'll follow naturally," Ashlyn said quietly.

"But if...if it does turn into..." Tobin sucked her lower lip. "Ashlyn we can't, if our families found out they'd go nuts."

"It's all entirely hypothetical right now, Tobs," Ashlyn said quietly. "Don't freak out on me, bratling mine."

Tobin dropped her head back on her folded arms, and her shoulders shook with stifled tears.

Ashlyn stood there, rubbing her back gently.

"Come on, little one. If you're going to cry I should at least give you a reason for it."

Tobin swallowed and looked up.

"Ashlyn..."

"You've been practically screaming for it since I walked in the door."

"But..."

Ashlyn's eyebrow went up. "Color, bratling mine?"

Tobin paused, locking eyes with her roommate without saying anything while Ashlyn waited patiently. Finally, she let out a breath, dropping her gaze.

"Green."

Ashlyn gave Tobin a long look. "I'll be in your room in five minutes. You know how I expect you to be."

Quickly, Tobin nodded and headed for her bedroom door.

Ashlyn's cleared throat stopped her in her tracks.

"I didn't quite hear that, Tobin Powell Heath."

Tobin swallowed. "Y-yes, ma'am."

"Better. Now do as you're told," Ashlyn ordered.

Tobin hurried into her room, trying to keep from biting her lip. She quickly undressed, leaving only her sports bra and briefs on, and folded her clothes neatly, putting them at the end of the bed. Then she picked up her pillow, putting it in the corner and kneeling on it facing the wall.

An intrusive thought pushed into her mind. What would mom and dad think if they knew about this?

Like they'd ever believe it, the sardonic part of her brain which seemed to have materialized the moment she settled into UNC answered.

Still, she felt a shiver run up her back that had nothing to do with the December chill - the dorm was well heated, after all.

A few minutes later, she heard a single knock on her bedroom door, the only warning she was ever given before her roommate opened it. 

Ashlyn moved to sit on the bed. She, too, had changed her clothes for a sleek black corset top and tight trousers, showing off her well-muscled arms and legs. Her low-heeled shoes clicked as she crossed the floor, sending more shivers up Tobin's spine until the clicking stopped and Tobin's bed creaked slightly with the addition of Ashlyn's weight.

"Come here, bratling mine."

Tobin turned from her corner, and made to rise, but Ashlyn snapped her fingers and Tobin cringed, sinking to her hands and knees again.

She crawled across the bare floor, pillow tucked under one arm, and dropped it on the floor again when she reached Ashlyn's feet.

Tobin knelt in front of Ashlyn wordlessly, doing her best to keep her back straight.

It wasn't good enough for the keeper, however, who ran a finger up Tobin's spine, causing the younger girl to jerk upright and hold still.

"Why are you here, Tobin Powell Heath?" Ashlyn asked calmly.

"Because you want to give me a reason to be crying, ma'am."

Ashlyn snorted. "Such sass."

"It was good sass, at least."

Ashlyn rolled her eyes. "I don't know how Rampone put up with you in Beijing, I'm sure."

"I think the gold medal helped."

"Probably. That's enough distraction, bratling mine," Ashlyn added. "Don't think I didn't notice what you tried there."

"Is it trying if it worked?"

"Into position, Tobin."

Sighing, Tobin pushed herself up, draping herself carefully facedown across Ashlyn's lap on the bed.

Ashlyn rubbed Tobin's mostly-bare back, leaving the sports bra alone, and when she was satisfied her roommate had relaxed, she landed the first powerful smack over Tobin's thinly clothed bottom.

It cracked like a gunshot, loud in the mostly-bare room, and Tobin jumped, burying her face in her pillow. She squirmed and kicked as much as Ashlyn would allow as the punishing swats continued to fall.

"Owww, not so hard, Ash!" Tobin whined when she had got her breath back from the initial round of smacks. 

"What was that again Tobin?"

"Please not so hard, ma'am," Tobin corrected herself, but the damage was done.

The next thing she felt was her own maple wood hairbrush tapping her right bottom cheek before the first solid swat landed.

As the burning swats peppered Tobin's bottom cheeks and sit spots, the girl squirmed and kicked in her roommate's hold, but Ashlyn didn't let up, didn't slow down. She was focused on paddling her roommate's thinly clothed bottom to a bright cherry red, unless--

"Car'nil!" Tobin babbled through her sobs.

Ashlyn stopped. "What?" 

Tobin gulped in air, doing her best to steady her breathing. "Cardinal," she gasped, repeating herself as she shuddered over Ashlyn's lap.

Ashlyn set the brush aside, her well-muscled hand rubbing Tobin's scorched bottom. "I hear you, bratling mine. I wondered why 'Cardinal'," she added. "Now I think I see."

Tobin blushed, head bowed. "Stanford," she whispered. "Christen."

"Shhh, I know, Tobs," Ashlyn murmured. "I have you. I won't tell anyone." She rubbed Tobin's back comfortingly, until her roommate's sobs had died down to sniffles, and then helped Tobin remove her bra and get into her pjs.

She tucked the younger girl into bed, lying down next to her and stroking Tobin's hair.

"It's alright bratling mine. Your secret is safe with me."

Chapter Text

"Alright, that's enough, everyone," Ali Riley said as she wound up her post-match talk, what should have led into a victory celebration if all had gone well. Instead...

"Jess, grab yourself a beer on the way out. Hell, take the whole case."

"I don't want it, Cap," Jess McDonald looked back over her shoulder as she headed for the door. She settled for a can of flavored sparkling water instead. "Thanks anyway."

I'll buy her something nice later, Ali told herself. Scoring their team's only goal meant something in this loss, and she wasn't going to have Jess go unrewarded. "Alright, the rest of you get back to your rooms. O'Hara, Press, stay."

Kelley had been ready to run out with the rest of the team, but Ali's words brought her to a screeching halt. Christen, Kelley and Ali both noticed, hadn't moved from where she'd been sat on the bench all through Ali's post-match talk, even when Ali had wrapped it up. She just leaned back against the wall of lockers, letting out a long sigh.

"Sit, O'Hara."

"I'm not a dog," Kelley growled under her breath, dropping back down onto the bench at the far end from Christen nevertheless. Ali's air of command was that persuasive.

"Could have fooled me, the way you were charging into other players like you didn't even see them." Ali kept her eyes on Kelley, though in her peripheral vision she could see how Christen was shrinking back into herself.

"Tell me what happens to players on my team who get red carded, O'Hara."

"Technically, it was a couple of yellow cards, so--"

"Kelley Maureen O'Hara, don't you argue semantics with me."

Kelley snapped her mouth shut.

"Answer me properly." Ali folded her arms, eyes narrowing.

Kelley's power of speech seemed to have vanished. She shook her head helplessly under Ali's withering gaze, and the Cardinals captain softened her tone just the tiniest bit. "Press, would you like to help her?"

"Captain?" Christen's voice trembled.

"What happens to players on my team who get red carded?"

"Oh, uh...players who foul get spanked, ma'am," Christen offered.

"I think you can do better than that little one."

"Um...players who get carded get spanked on their bare bottoms, ma'am." Christen stared at her lap, fidgeting. Ali nodded, able to tell Christen wasn't being difficult on purpose. She'd classify answers like this from Kelley as sass, but from Christen - well. 

"You're a smart girl, Press, I know you can give me the answer. You've almost got it."

Christen hunched into herself. "Players who get red carded get paddled on their bare bottoms, ma'am," she offered, barely above a whisper. 

"That's right Press. I knew you could tell me," Ali said in an encouraging, soothing tone. "You see O'Hara? That wasn't so hard, was it? I'm sure you could have said it. So let's try again shall we?"

"Players who get red carded get paddled on their bare bottoms, ma'am," Kelley ground out, tense, every part of her body on edge. Ali thought Kelley would quite like to hit her, but luckily didn't dare.

"Can you bring me the paddle, Press? You know where it is, don't you?" Ali prompted.

"Yes ma'am," Christen said, licking her lips nervously. She didn't really think she'd earned a real paddling, even if it wasn't bare, but Ali might be inclined to give her a smack or two over her shorts if she didn't obey. Best not to test Ali too far in this atmosphere. "Kelley?"

"Do it," Kelley said, not meeting Christen or Ali's eyes. "You heard Riley."

Christen nodded and got to her feet, going to fetch the implement hanging up on the wall. She supposed Ali would normally have sent Kelley for it, but in Kelley's current state perhaps it was best not to.

"Thank you, Press. You're listening so well," Ali praised her when she returned for it. "Can you do me a favour then?"

"Yes, ma'am," Christen said cautiously.

"I'd like you to go stand over there, face to the wall, until I call you back to me," Ali pointed, and Christen felt her face heat a bit at the direction. "Can you do that for me little one?"

"May I please sit, ma'am?" Christen ventured. They had just played a whole final after all, and Ali had called it a favour, not a punishment.

"Take the top cushion from the pile over there, and kneel on that, if you can," Ali prompted.

Christen nodded, feeling a wash of relief. "Yes ma'am, I can kneel for you."

"Good girl."

"I doubt Christen even realizes what that just sounded like," Kelley muttered to Ali as soon as Christen had gone to obey the directive.

"I'd be surprised that you did, given your background, if I didn't know you so well by now, O'Hara," Ali said dryly. "And she probably understands more than you realise or give her credit for. She's a smart girl."

"Not arguing that," Kelley admitted. She was rapidly cooling down, her fists unclenching, her muscles relaxing, though she still eyed the paddle Ali held with more than a little trepidation. "Cap, I--"

"Not yet, Kell."

Kelley exhaled in relief at the fond nickname, however sternly spoken. She nodded in response.

Ali set the implement down and picked up one of the cans of sparkling water, opening it and offering Kelley a drink. "Slow sips, you've been straining yourself. Just a little bit now, you can finish the rest off when we're done, but I don't want you fainting on me." 

"Yes ma'am," Kelley said habitually, drinking about a quarter of the can before she set it down.

Kelley had showered and dressed along with the rest of the team before Ali had even broken out the post-team talk, so she was wearing one of her favorite pairs of cotton shorts - December it might be, but they were playing in Texas after all. So T-shirt and shorts it was.

She was silently thankful the knee-length shorts were red, especially when she remembered something else.

"Is Barnhart still--"

"She's got your things for you," Ali affirmed. "She'll be waiting to take you as soon as we've finished up, so we better not linger over it too long."

Kelley groaned. Trust US Soccer to plan an international camp, in California, that fell right after the Stanford-UNC final was hosted in Texas. She supposed the only thing worse would be if UNC had hosted it.

Faced with Ali's raised eyebrow, Kelley quietly draped herself over Ali's thigh. The captain had propped one foot up on the bench, and now she pulled Kelley well over, beginning her teammate's spanking with her hand over her shorts.

By the tenth spank, Kelley was squirming. Then Ali looked up. "Press, I think O'Hara needs a bit of help here."

Christen turned from her corner, blinking in surprise. "Ma'am?"

Kelley's face flushed as she realized what Ali was asking Christen to do.

"Take those down for her, will you?" Ali prompted after Christen had walked over. 

"Sorry, Kelley," Christen mumbled.

"Not your fault, Chris," Kelley sighed. "Just do as she says please."

Christen nodded, tugging Kelley's shorts and underwear down below her bottom. Ali gave Kelley eight more spanks with her hand, starting real tears, before switching to the paddle.

These, Ali didn't bother counting. The objective was to turn Kelley's bottom red card red, and she was an expert at the process.

Kelley wished Ali wasn't quite so practiced. Not that most of it wasn't her fault.

Christen took hold of Kelley's hands without being asked once the paddle was brought into play, and held tight to her friend, looking into Kelley's eyes as the older girl squirmed over Ali's knee. "I have you Kell," she whispered. "It's gonna be alright, just breathe through it."

Kelley nodded, doing her best not to bite her lips or the inside of her mouth (she knew how much Ali hated that) and so it didn't take long for Ali to reduce her to tears. She hated that Ali had made her cry, worse, right in front of Christen, but by the time Ali was finished, Kelley was past caring about that. She slid to her knees when Christen let her go, scrambling to right her clothes over her punished bottom with a hiss of pain.

"S-sorry, Cap, sorry Ali, I'm sorry I fucked up so bad--"

"Kell." Ali put the paddle down and held out her arms. Kelley threw herself into the waiting embrace, accepting her captain's forgiveness as Ali murmured soothingly to her. "It's gonna be alright, you're forgiven, clean slate, yeah this fucking sucked but you're gonna come back stronger from it. You have your whole National future ahead of you. We're behind you all the way. You can do it, Kell, you've done it already and you'll just keep getting better."

"Thanks Ali," Kelley whispered. She snuggled into Ali's embrace, feeling Christen's arms around them both a moment later. Ali moved her arm to enfold Christen, too, making it a three-way hug, and they stood like that for a long moment.

"Okay kiddo, I'd love to keep you but I can't, Barnhart would murder me if I made you miss your flight to Carson."

"All the way to California," Kelley groaned. "Can't I take one of the cushions with me?"

"No can do, Kell, sorry."

Christen squeezed Kelley's hand as the older girl broke apart from them, reluctantly scooping up the rest of the sparkling water, plus her bag, and making her way to meet Nicole Barnhart, the assistant coach and goalkeeper. She tossed a wave back in Christen and Ali's direction before disappearing back down the tunnel.

"I guess I should send the rest of this beer on to the National Team, too," Ali mused. "Or else UNC. We don't need it."

"I'm so sorry, Cap," Christen whispered, eyes brimming with tears. "Are you going to..."

"Shh, Chris," Ali soothed her. "No. You've been punished enough, you served your cornertime like a good girl, and helped me with Kelley so well."

"You said that was a favor," Christen sputtered.

"Would you have obeyed so quickly if I hadn't?" Ali asked. "You were already punishing yourself enough, lost in your own head."

Christen nodded. "I guess you're right."

"I usually am," Ali said, winking at the younger girl, who felt a laugh startled out of her.

Once Christen and Ali had left, Christen found her way back to her accommodation - she'd normally be sharing with Kelley, but for now she was alone.

Thoughts of a certain UNC player soon started to occupy her mind, and Christen curled up in a ball, trying not to panic.

What would mom or dad say if they knew I was thinking...thoughts like this? Would they think I was good enough, still?

And what would the girl think if she knew Christen was thinking of her?

When thoughts of that beautiful girl, that incredible player filled her mind, Christen almost didn't mind losing. Almost.

She needed to know her better. She wanted to know Tobin Heath.

Chapter Text

April 21, 2004, USWNT training camp

"Lloyd." 

The twenty-one year old midfielder jumped, eyes wide, and twisted around.

"Ma'am?" she squeaked out as the captain looked at her.

Foudy let out an exasperated sigh. "Do I look that old to you, little one? Don't answer that," she tossed over her shoulder to a smirking Heather O'Reilly. The nineteen-year-old dropped down by Carli and curled an arm around the older girl.

"You okay, Carli? Foudy doesn't bite." She paused thoughtfully. "Much."

"I'm...fine." Carli stared off in the distance. "Heinrichs wants me?"

HAO's gaze flicked over to the coach, April Heinrichs, who was tearing into Wambach for something or other - the set of Abby's shoulders didn't bode well, HAO thought. "Of course she wants you, she called you up."

"But...it's an Olympics year. I'm still with the under-21s..."

"So am I, and I really am under 21," HAO reminded the older girl. "You've had your birthday."

Foudy shook her head at the two. "Stop that. It's going to be fine," she soothed Carli. "You're here because you're supposed to be here. I don't see any reason why you wouldn't come to Athens with us."

@@@

July 2, 2004

Carli Lloyd thought back on that first day in spring training camp with anger, She threw the letter down, chest heaving, and curled up on the bed in her dorm room. How could they? How could they??? Tears pricked her eyes, and a sob choked her throat.

There was a knock at the door.

"Go away, please."

The door opened. Carli curled up tighter, face buried in her arms.

"Lloyd."

Carli sat up, staring. Julie Foudy was in her room. Captain Julie Foudy was standing in her room, all the way across the country from where Carli thought she would be.

"Is there room for me on there?" Julie bent and picked up the letter, before sitting down on the college junior's bed. 

"I said go away pl--" Carli's protest died away at the look on Julie's face. "It's not fair," she tried instead.

Julie pulled Carli into her lap, rubbing a hand over the back of Carli's head.

"HAO sent me to find you, kiddo. You're going to be okay. It's okay."

Carli stiffened.

"HAO made it, didn't she."

Julie Foudy drew back, looking her younger friend in the eye. "Coach picks who stays and who goes, not me, not you, not HAO. And if you're going to start in on HAO for it, I think you'll be needing a little attitude adjustment."

Carli squirmed. "No, please. I'll behave." 

Julie chuckled quietly. "We'll see, little one."

Carli's cheeks flushed. "I'll be good. Really."

"Who are you trying to convince?" Julie asked.

Carli's blush deepened. "Are...are you going to..." she stammered. "You're going to whether I'm bad or not, aren't you."

"Shhh, sweetheart," Foudy murmured. "I saw how tense you got there. You were ready to fight HAO because Coach picked her and not you, or at least not both of you."

Carli dropped her gaze. "Sorry."

"We'll just have to see, won't we?" Julie whispered.

"W-what do I do?" Carli sniffled.

"Just come here, Carli Anne. I'll see to everything." 

Carli squirmed as Julie nudged her to her feet. She jumped when Julie's fingers slid into her waistband, tugging her jeans down.

Julie helped Carli over her lap, the younger girl's shorts still up, and patted her bottom gently. "Easy, easy now, little one," she soothed. "I've got you, Carli. But you can't go around wanting to fight your best friends. You've got to learn that," she murmured soothingly.

Carli squirmed, burying her face in her pillow as Julie began to spank her. The smacks weren't severe, but they stung even through her shorts, and she couldn't help wriggling and kicking a bit as she cried. She blushed vibrantly at the thought of what would happen if any of her dorm mates happened by and found Carli being spanked like a child. That was unbearable.

"P-please, sorry," Carli whimpered.

"Who decides when we're done?" Julie asked softly.

"Y-you, ma'am," Carli sniffled, squeaking as Julie started to tug her shorts down. "O-oh...please, please don't, not bare..."

"Shhh, sweetheart," Julie petted Carli's hair. "Be a good girl."

Whimpering, Carli lifted up a bit to let her shorts come down, and let Julie settle her in position again. Six spanks to each bottom cheek and her tears were falling freely; six more to each sit spot, and three to each side of her undercurve had Carli sobbing softly.

Then Julie's hand stilled. She picked the younger girl up, cuddling her close. "What did you say, sweetheart?" she murmured, having caught something in the jumble of pleas slipping from Carli's lips.

"M'sorry Mama..." Carli repeated through her sobs.

"Shhh, oh, precious. It's okay," Julie soothed, gently pulling Carli's clothes back into place. "Mama's here, darling."

If Carli needed a Mama, then that's what she would be. Until Carli needed something else. But right now, Carli was still such a little girl, and Julie was happy with the role she'd been given.

Chapter Text

"Julie Beth Johnston."

The blonde jerked sharply, nearly colliding with the wall as she struggled to sit up. Her head was reeling, and she blinked tiredly up at the woman looming over her.

"Slowly, now." Strong hands supported her to sit up, and she groaned, lifting a hand to rub over her eyes. 

The voice didn't register as familiar, but the tone certainly was. "Good Lord, child, you've worried us all sick. Can you even see straight?"

Julie groaned, closing her eyes tightly. "Who..."

"It's Lisa, Julie." 

Julie's eyes flew open, and she twisted in the older woman's grasp, looking up to meet her boyfriend's mother's eyes. Lisa Ertz had come to the infirmary for her?

"Lisa..." Julie swallowed. "It's not that I'm not happy to see you, but..."

"But you're not happy to see me," Lisa said dryly, sitting in a chair by the college junior's bed, and taking her hand. "What's this I hear about you passing out at Stanford's pro day?"

"Uh..." 

Julie slowly looked around, realizing she wasn't in Santa Clara University's sick bay at all - this was Stanford's.

"I don't know what you mean, Lisa. I didn't pass out."

"So you haven't been drinking, Julie Beth?"

Julie's blush returned full force. "Um..." 

"Mom."

Julie dived for the pillow, pulling it over her head. If her boyfriend's mother scolding her while she was suffering from a hangover wasn't bad enough, her boyfriend seeing Lisa do it was the only worse outcome she could think of.

"Jules? Are you okay, love?"

"I imagine she's none too pleased about the thought of facing consequences for her actions, son," Lisa said. "Would you happen to know where she got alcohol, hm?"

"Um, yes, ma'am," Zach said quietly. "Mom, Jules is twenty-one now, she had her birthday on--"

"It's on the sixth, Zach," Julie said, still muffled by the pillow. "April sixth."

It was March twenty-fourth. Lisa's lips thinned.

"Come up here, Julie Beth," Lisa ordered. "I won't continue this conversation with your pillow."

"Yes ma'am," Julie whispered, emerging reluctantly.

"That's better. Tell me, Julie, how many days there are left in March."

"I..." Julie rubbed her temples, head pounding, closing her eyes against the glare. She'd been pulling at the IV in her arm, giving her fluids and anti-nausea medication, but Lisa gently and insistently tugged her arm away to make her stop.

"Look at me, and tell me, Julie Beth Johnston."

Julie groaned.

"It's still the 24th, love," Zach said helpfully.

"Seven, ma'am," Julie offered quietly.

"And your birthday is April sixth?"

"Yes ma'am."

"That would be thirteen days until you turn twenty-one, then."

"Yes, ma'am," Julie lowered her eyes.

"I've been told that you can't have the IV out before morning," Lisa said firmly. "We'll revisit this then. But I expected better of you, Julie." She gave her son's girlfriend a disapproving frown. "Especially since you made U-20 captain this last summer."

Julie's cheeks burned. She had only been dating Zach for a few months by that summer, but Lisa had been as proud of her as if Julie was her own daughter. With her own parents far away, Lisa had been the support her son's new girlfriend needed.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. I should have known better."

"You did know better," Lisa corrected sternly.

"I did know better," Julie amended, eyes lowered.

"I'm glad you acknowledge that. We'll discuss it in the morning, Julie Beth," Lisa said quietly. "Come along, Zach."

"Don't leave me alone, please," Julie swallowed hard.

"You won't be alone."

It was a new voice, but not an unfamiliar one - Kelley O'Hara, a Stanford alumnus who Julie had gotten to know better at the party.

Kelley crossed to Julie's bed and took the chair Lisa had vacated, taking Julie's hand as Lisa herded Zach away.

"It's alright Julie, I've got you. You're going to be okay." Kelley spoke soothingly to the younger girl, giving her a reassuring smile. "You need sleep, more than anything else. I'm here, I won't let anyone get near you that you don't want." 

"What do you think Lisa's going to do?" Julie asked, voice quivering.

Kelley snorted.

"What would your mother do, if you'd been caught drinking underage and she got hold of you? I know what mine would have done."

"She's not my mom, though, she's Zach's mom."

"Kiddo, I would think very hard if I were you before saying those words again. Especially in front of Lisa."

Julie nodded meekly, and nibbled at her lower lip. "Kelley?"

"Yeah, sweetie?"

"You're on the National Team."

"So are you." Kelley raised her eyebrows.

"Well, the U-20s," Julie said. "At least I was on the last squad."

"You captained the last squad, Julie, I was paying attention," Kelley said wryly. 

Julie nodded, wondering if the blush in her face was now a permanent fixture. "Yes ma'am."

"Oh please." Kelley sighed. "I'm not scolding you, kiddo, you don't have to yes ma'am me just because I'm from Georgia."

"I guess." Julie squirmed.

"The point is, Julie, you know about being a captain, you know how to lead, and be an example. And how we expect to deal with troublemaking on our teams."

No, the blush definitely wasn't going anywhere yet.

"Yes Kelley."

"So, what do you think Lisa is going to do?"

"Can she maybe just not?" Julie suggested.

Kelley stifled a laugh.

"Okay, move over." Kelley shifted to sit on the bed with Julie, putting an arm around the younger girl and giving her a comforting squeeze. "Julie. Honey. Do you think Lisa can just not?"

Slowly, Julie shook her head.

"Do you know why not?"

Julie lowered her eyes. "Because...because I made myself sick, and got hurt, and mom would have if she was here."

"Because Lisa loves you, little one. And because you broke the law," Kelley added, making Julie gulp. "Didn't think of that bit, did you?"

Julie buried her face in Kelley's shoulder.

"Okay, sweetie, I've got you," Kelley murmured, stroking Julie's long blonde ponytail. "It's going to be okay. Yes, what you did was illegal, but you're not going to be executed, let's not be dramatic."

"I'll just wish I was dead," Julie mumbled, and Kelley smiled ruefully.

"Part of you will, probably. But it's going to be all alright. Just breathe, Jules, sweetheart, you're safe. No sense being worked up before tomorrow."

Kelley eventually got Julie settled, and lay down next to the younger girl with her arms around Julie protectively. In a year or two, she knew, Julie would probably be her teammate, was near enough already anyway, and that made her Kelley's little sister.

Kelley didn't let her sisters get hurt.

Eventually, Kelley fell asleep too, and the pair were only wakened the next morning by Zach, who had somehow ended up in the bed next to Julie's own at some point the night before.

"Good morning, Ertz."

"Morning, O'Hara. Thanks for looking after Jules for me."

"You're welcome. I think I'll go get someone to check if Julie's IV can come out. I can leave her alone with you, right?" Kelley checked.

"Word of honor."

Zach sat up in his bed with a grimace, shifting to the cushioned chair next to Julie's bedside. 

Julie looked up at Zach, offering him a tired smile. "I'm glad you're here, Zach," she whispered.

"I'm glad, babe. I've got you safe, you're okay," he promised. 

"Until Lisa gets back you mean."

Zach nodded, shifting uncomfortably on the chair. The cushion didn't help much. "Can't argue with you there."

"Zach?" Julie noticed how uncomfortably Zach was sitting in the chair, and was instantly wide awake. "Zach, did Lisa--"

"Yeah."

"Oh, Zach..." Julie felt tears threaten. "You're of age, it wasn't wrong for you to be drinking--" 

"But it was wrong for him to give you drinks, Julie Beth."

Julie's stomach dropped as the medic returned with, not Kelley as she hoped, but Lisa.

Kelley was there too, trailing behind, but Lisa brushed past Kelley, fixed single-mindedly on Julie.

The medic stepped between Lisa and Julie, and set about checking Julie's vitals. "You're hydrated and there's no sign of the hangover anymore, so the IV can come out. Your blood pressure is up, though," he remarked.

"Julie's a bit stressed right now," Kelley pointed out. "Anxiety, I'd guess."

"Are you taking medication for that?" the medic addressed Julie. 

"It's not that kind of anxiety," Julie mumbled, blushing.

"If you give us an hour alone, I think we can deal with the source of the anxiety well enough," Lisa said calmly.

The medic looked at Julie. "Are you alright with that, Miss...Johnston?" He checked her bracelet, and she nodded.

"Yeah, it's fine," she said quietly.  She felt Lisa's hand wrap around hers, and looked up into Lisa's eyes.

The woman's expression, while stern, was also loving, and she squeezed Julie's hand gently.

A few of the knots in Julie's stomach came loose.

"Zach, wait outside please," Lisa prompted. Her son obeyed, though not before leaning in to give Julie a chaste kiss on the forehead.

"It's alright love," he said softly.

Julie nodded and watched him leave with the medic. She looked at Lisa nervously as the woman rummaged in her purse.

The results of Lisa's search turned up a wooden hairbrush, and Julie eyed the oval implement with apprehension.

"Thirteen days," Lisa said, looking at Julie.

It took Julie a moment. "It's twelve now, ma'am," she said.

Kelley buried her face in her hands as Lisa raised an eyebrow.

"She didn't mean it like that, Lisa," Kelley said quickly. "Please."

Lisa raised a hand slightly, and Kelley shut her mouth, shaking her head.

"Get up please Julie."

Slowly, Julie got out of bed. As her feet hit the floor, she noticed the hospital issue slipper socks on them, and for the first time felt fully aware that she wasn't in the clothes she'd been wearing when she passed out, or in her own pjs. She was wearing clean underwear and a hospital gown (that, as usual, opened in back) and nothing else.

Lisa smoothed the blanket over the bed, and seated herself. Kelley sat on Lisa's left, getting an idea what Lisa wanted from her, and then Lisa took Julie by the hand, taking the girl over her lap.

Julie's upper torso landed on Kelley's thighs, and the older girl rubbed her shoulders gently. "Okay Jules, let me have your hands, you can hold onto me."

Julie nodded and clung to Kelley, squirming. She was forced to stop as Lisa pressed down on her lower back. 

"Settle down, Julie. I know you can take your discipline as you ought."

"Yes ma'am." 

"Proverbs 13:24, Julie?" Lisa prompted, and Kelley managed to hide her eyeroll only because Lisa wasn't looking. Even for families who weren't as devout as the Johnstons and Ertzes, there was only one verse Lisa could be looking for in this situation.

"He who withholds the rod hates his son, but he who loves him shall discipline him diligently." 

"Or daughter," Lisa added, and that was all the warning Julie had before the first smack fell.

Julie yelped as the hairbrush smacked down on her left bottom cheek, followed by the right.

Kelley's hands closed tighter around Julie's as the rapid-fire swats continued; Lisa hadn't fully bared Julie, but the hairbrush was not deterred at all by the thin cotton underwear Julie was wearing, and Julie's eyes blurred with tears as she silently counted the smacks, up to thirteen. She was drumming her feet on the bed, and she kicked out as the swats moved lower.

Lisa stopped smacking, and caught Julie's ankle, shifting so that Julie was bent over her left thigh, with her right trapping Julie's legs underneath it.

This left Julie tilted forward, the most sensitive part of her bottom better presented.

"Ephesians 6:1-2, Julie."

Julie groaned into Kelley's thigh, clinging to the older girl. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and your mother."

Kelley winced as Lisa resumed Julie's spanking, addressing the hairbrush to her sit spots and undercurve. It didn't take long for this part of the spanking to have Julie sobbing into Kelley's lap, and the older girl stroked Julie's hair gently, both of Julie's wrists held in her other hand. 

When Julie's bottom was scarlet, heat radiating even through her underwear, Lisa stopped the punishment. She lay the brush aside, and stroked Julie's back lightly.

"Psalm 32:1, Julie," she said when Julie's sobs had slowed and she was breathing properly again.

"Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sins are covered," Julie whispered.

Lisa nodded, releasing Julie and pulling the girl up into her embrace.

"There, now, Julie," Lisa murmured. "It's over now, forgiven." She held her son's girlfriend in her arms, and at her direction, Kelley brought a blanket to wrap Julie in. The warm blanket helped still Julie's shaking a little.

"I'm sorry Lisa," Julie whispered.

"I know, and I forgive you," Lisa said, giving Julie a light kiss on the forehead. "All's well, Julie."

Julie stayed wrapped up in Lisa's arms until she was fully calm again.

The next visitor at the door was a welcome, if embarrassing one. 

Zach, carrying a bag with Julie's clothes in it.

Kelley intercepted it. "Thanks, Zach," she said, taking the bag. "I'll help Julie, okay?"

"Yeah," Zach agreed, sounding relieved as he stepped back outside.

Kelley brought the bag back to Julie. "Jules, do you want me or Lisa to help you?" she asked, fetching Julie a cup of water and tissues to dry her eyes. 

"I can manage, Kelley, thank you," Julie said, though she sipped the water obediently, drying her tears and cleaning her face. She didn't relish the thought of being dressed like a small child.

"Me or Kelley, Julie," Lisa reiterated firmly.

Julie bit her lower lip. Was there a right answer? Was there a wrong answer? Would Lisa be offended if she chose Kelley? If she chose Lisa what would Kelley say?

"It's alright Jules, how about both of us, then we'll be done quicker?" Kelley suggested.

Blushing, Julie nodded quickly. She didn't want this to happen, but if it had to, at least she didn't have to risk offending one of them.

Kelley helped Julie out of her hospital gown and to put her sports bra back on, following it up with the pink, flowery T-shirt Zach had brought.

Lisa, for her part, switched out the hospital socks for white ankle socks, and then took out a pair of purple leggings and a matching skirt. She helped Julie finish dressing, and Julie squirmed as the leggings were pulled up into place.

"Thank you, Lisa," she said quietly, stepping into her shoes and glad not to have to bother with laces. "Is Zach still out there?"

"Zach is waiting for us to take you back to your dorm."

Back to Santa Clara University. Where her dorm mates would no doubt want to know where she'd been. Wonderful.

"Yes ma'am."

"I think 'Mom' might be more appropriate, don't you, Julie?" Lisa prompted. She could tell Zach had every intention of marrying Julie someday.

Julie blushed. "Okay...Mom."

Kelley walked Julie outside, where Zach was waiting, and watched as he pulled Julie into his arms.

"Are you okay, babe?" he whispered, and Julie nodded against his chest, snuggling close.

"Yeah, I think so." Her voice was muffled by his shirt. "But remind me never to make mom mad again, Zach."

Zach forgot Lisa was watching; he swept Julie up and kissed her. "It's alright Jules. I won't let you forget."

Reluctantly, though, he had to let Julie go so Lisa could take her away.

"I love you, Jules. I'll see you again soon, promise."

"I love you too, Zach." 

Kelley hugged Julie, and then there was nothing for it but to leave with Lisa. Kelley would have driven Julie herself if she'd been able, but Lisa insisted.

It was, at least, Zach's car, so Julie felt comfortable in the front seat - comfortable enough to fall asleep, despite the lingering burn in her bottom.  Lisa got her back to Santa Clara, only to find someone waiting there for them.

Chapter Text

Aly Wagner folded her arms across her chest, glaring disapprovingly at her protegee. "Where have you been?"

"Um. Hi, Aly?" Julie tried. "I, um...spent the night at Stanford?"

Aly marched Julie out of the parking lot and up to the villa, leaving Lisa behind. "I'm pregnant and I haven't had my coffee yet," she told Julie.

"Neither of which can possibly be classed as my fault."

Aly glared daggers at Julie. "For someone who's just had her bottom roasted you aren't acting nearly contrite enough."

Julie stopped short. "How did you know about that?" she demanded, blushing.

"Kelley."

"Traitor," Julie muttered.

"No, sensible," Aly corrected. "She would want me to know so I didn't immediately start on you." She paused significantly before speaking again.

"So let me get this straight, Johnston. You - the team's straight and narrow good girl, star player, U20 captain, you of all people accompany your boyfriend to his pro day party and end up passing out from underage drinking."

Julie wanted to sink through the floor as Aly spelled out her crimes.

"Yes ma'am."

Aly sighed heavily, pushing Julie ahead of her back into the townhouse and up toward Julie's bedroom. It was a single, thankfully, mostly so Julie's roommates didn't intrude on her quiet time.

Which she would be having plenty of for the next little while. "You're going to sit down at your desk, and write for me," Aly said, removing the cushion from Julie's chair pointedly.

Julie grimaced, but seated herself, taking out her spiral notebook and a blue pen.

"Fifty times, "I will be good to myself."

Julie looked up. "What?"

"Was that not clear enough, Johnston?" Aly demanded, sitting on Julie's bed.

"No, ma'am, it's just....I was expecting something else."

"Worry about this one first." 

Julie turned back to her lines, applying herself diligently, though she couldn't help squirming on the hard wooden chair. As she worked on the lines - pausing every so often to flex her fingers, though Aly didn't object - Julie tried not to think about what could possibly be coming next.

Outside her closed door, the muted hum of the townhouse filling with activity again made Julie sigh.

Her roommates were home.

"Ignore them," Aly ordered.

"Yes ma'am," Julie said quietly, and finished her lines.

Aly took the paper and looked it over, checking each one. By the time she was finished, Aly heard footsteps on the stairs coming toward Julie's room.

Julie froze, eyes round with apprehension as someone knocked at the door.

"Come in," Aly said, without looking around. 

Julie scuttled back to sit gingerly on her bed, looking warily at the door as it opened.

On the other side, Bianca Henninger stepped through, and Julie's stomach dropped as she eyed the former Broncos goalkeeper.

"Um, hi, Bianca?"

Bianca crossed the room, her gaze taking Julie in as if assuring herself Julie was all there and intact.

"So you are back in one piece, Julieta. What do you have to say for yourself, hermanita, hmm?"

"I dunno why you're here," Julie mumbled, squirming.

"Oh no?" Bianca sat down beside Julie, turning the girl to face her. "I think yes, you do, hermanita. What do we say about keeping the rules on this team, hmm?"

Julie sucked in her lower lip, and Bianca tapped it, shaking her head. 

Sighing, Julie stared at her lap. "I really messed up."

"To put it mildly." Bianca rolled her eyes. "I have this, Coach, alright?"

"Alright," Aly agreed.

"Aly's too pregnant to want to deal with me," Julie mumbled.

"Oh, is that so? Maybe you count yourself lucky on that, hmm?" Bianca raised her eyebrows. "I only need my hand to make my point."

Julie buried her face in her hands. "Bianca..."

Bianca shook her head, and watched Aly as she left them alone in Julie's room. "Aly got hold of me after Kelley contacted her," she explained. "So you went to Zach's party, lied about your birthday--"

"I didn't!" Julie snapped. "I just...forgot to remind Zach. Or his friends."

Bianca's eyebrows went up. "And omitting information is...."

Julie's shoulders slumped. "Lying."

"So, you lied to Zach and his friends, Julieta," Bianca said sternly. "Then, you accepted drinks you knew you should not be having."

"They offered to give them to me, we were celebrating Zach," Julie said anxiously.

"And these parties have soda and juice and water too, don't they, Julieta?"

Julie cringed under the keeper's regard. 

"Yes ma'am. Si, hermana," she corrected herself at Bianca's raised eyebrow.

"So you did not have those, why?"

"I did...some," Julie ventured. "But it was boring, being the youngest of the girls and not really being able to..."

Bianca softened slightly. "Ah, peer pressure, was it, not wanting to be left out?"

Julie gave a tiny nod.

"Alright." Bianca shifted Julie into her lap, patting the girl's back gently. "So. First thing, I still love you when you mess up, Julieta, mi hermanita. You know that, isn't that so?"

"I know," Julie whispered. "I'm sorry, Bianca. I didn't mean to mess up so bad."

Bianca nodded, stroking Julie's hair. She tilted Julie's eyes up to meet hers. "Second thing. You're such a good girl all the time, Julieta. Of course that's not a bad thing," she chuckled wryly. "But it seems to me when you're so used to being such a good girl, when you slip up, it goes spectacularly wrong. Yeah?"

Julie swallowed and nodded. "Yeah," she said softly. "I don't know why."

"Ay, who knows, karma, balance, whatever," Bianca gestured dismissively. "But the point is, no matter how bad you mess up, you're still our good girl inside. You just need help getting back on track."

"You've never been underage drinking before, I think?" Bianca asked.

"No, hermana," Julie said truthfully.

"Then I wouldn't expect you to know your limit, Julieta. At a party was the wrong time to test that," Bianca scolded gently. "Breaking the law entirely aside, you weren't responsible with yourself."

Julie nodded miserably. "Si, hermana. I'm sorry."

"I know." Bianca nodded. "Do you understand why I am going to spank you, Julieta?"

Julie gulped. "Bianca...please, Mama already spanked me for drinking and breaking the law, and sassing her back...though I didn't really mean to do that, it just kind of slipped out..."

"Shh, shhh." Bianca hushed Julie before she could panic. "I am sure she did, Julieta. But did she address the lying, or failing to take care of yourself?"

"Well...not specifically..." Julie ventured.

"Alright, then that's what we're going to do," Bianca said, keeping her voice quiet, but firm. "Do you understand me, Julieta?"

Julie nodded meekly.

"Si hermana. Is...is it going to be just your hand?"

That, Bianca thought, was a fair question.

"That depends, I think," she said carefully. "I have it in my bag, hermanita. Pick it up for me." 

Julie carefully reached down and picked up Bianca's bag, handing it to the older girl. As she thought (and feared), the instrument of Bianca's elder-sisterly disapproval still resided inside, and it was no trouble for Bianca to fish out la chancla, placing it on the bedside table.

"Alright Julieta. Bare and over my lap."

Julie had been expecting the order, but she still cringed. "I...I can't, Bianca."

Bianca drew Julie to stand between her knees, squeezing her shoulder gently. "You can't bare yourself, hermanita? Or you're not comfortable being bare for your spanking?"

Julie blushed at Bianca's choice of words. "Lisa already spanked me a lot this morning," she protested weakly.

"And that was for the rest of it, Julieta." Bianca's voice was firm, though not unsympathetic. "We already talked about what this is for, si?"

"Si," Julie sighed. "But Bianca. the chancla, I can't..."

"Alright, Julieta, shhh," Bianca murmured. "I said, we would see, hermanita. I didn't say you would be getting it for sure. Easy, easy, I have you."

Julie swallowed as Bianca tugged her leggings and underwear down, and she was pulled over the older girl's lap. "Bianca..."

"Julieta." Bianca's voice was firm and Julie's stomach plummeted. 

"Sorry," Julie whispered.

"I know," Bianca replied, stroking Julie's back. "But you still lied, hermanita, you still didn't take care of yourself, so you are over your hermana's lap about to be spanked like the little girl you acted like."

Julie squirmed, face flushing. "Hermana..."

"Si, Julieta?"

"Can I have the pillow?" Julie sniffled, and Bianca smiled fondly. 

"Of course you can," she agreed, giving Julie the bed pillow to hold on to. Julie buried her face in it, squeezing hard as the keeper's first firm smack fell.

If she'd been the swearing type, the next thing out of her mouth probably would have earned her a soaping. As it was, she whined uncomfortably, trying to twist out of Bianca's grasp as the goalkeeper relit the fire in her bottom.

Worse, as Bianca spanked, she lectured. "Lying is wrong, hermanita. Especially lying about something that is the law, something to protect you. You will take care of yourself. Letting someone think wrong things about you, just so you can be like everyone else, is not taking care of yourself."

Julie squirmed and kicked as much as Bianca would let her - which was more than Lisa would let her, but Bianca's hand was still every bit as effective as Lisa's hairbrush.

"Owww, si, hermana, I promise, I'll do better, I won't do it again!!"

"We'll just make sure of that then."

Julie went rigid as the smacks stopped, as Bianca reached for the dreaded chancla. 

"Bianca??"

Bianca paused, putting the flip flop down on Julie's back, rubbing a hand across her shoulders.

"Julieta, breathe, I have you," she said soothingly. "We're almost done, my brave girl, just breathe for me."

Julie swallowed, taking deep, slow breaths as Bianca instructed. When she was calm again, Bianca gave her shoulder a pat. "Six. Can you count for me?"

Shakily, Julie nodded.

"Si hermana, I can do that."

"That's my girl."

Julie clung hard to the pillow as the flip flop, the chancla, swatted down firmly across her reddened bottom, jerking as the sting spread. "O-one, hermana."

"Try again."

"Uno, hermana?"

"Better."

Julie continued counting in Spanish as the next smacks fell, but by the fourth her eyes were blurred with tears and she could barely choke out the number.

Bianca's last two smacks swatted down on Julie's sit spots, barely a breath apart, and Julie couldn't count them, but Bianca didn't make her try again. She just scooped Julie into her arms, holding the girl against her chest and rocking her gently.

"Shhh, hermanita, Julieta, it's done."

Julie sobbed into Bianca's shoulder. "S-sorry, lo siento hermana, I'll be good forever, I swear..."

"Shhh. Don't be making me promises you can't keep now, hermanita. I know you'll try so hard to be good. You will, I believe that. And sometimes you're going to slip up, and it's alright. Really, it is."

"N-no, have to be good," Julie sniffled.

"You are good. You're a very good girl, hermanita." Bianca kissed Julie's forehead gently. "But even the best girls are naughty sometimes, and then we handle it, and then it's over, alright? You made mistakes, you pay for them, you learn from them. We don't love you any less."

"O-okay," Julie whispered. "Love you too, Bianca."

"I love you so much, my Julieta." Bianca hugged Julie close. "So tell me about your boy, ay?" She smiled conspiratorially. "What was it like at the party, before everything?"

Julie blushed, smiling. "Oh, Zach's wonderful, Bianca," she said. "His friends are really nice, too, and the party was fun, there was music and dancing and everyone was so happy..."

Bianca smiled indulgently, listening to Julie chatter on. The younger girl brightened considerably, reminded of the good things about the party she'd gone to.

"There, you see?" Bianca prompted when Julie was finished. "It's alright to go to parties, Julieta. It's alright to have fun with your boy. Just be careful next time, ay?"

"I will," Julie promised fervently. "I'll be so careful, hermana. I promise it won't happen like that again."

"I believe you," Bianca said, and she hugged Julie close. "It's alright little one. You're forgiven."

Chapter Text

September 17, 2023

University of Portland, Portland, Oregon

"Why did you ask me to meet you here? I thought you had to get back."

"Sue's going to drive us home. It's early, no one's going to be here for a bit. I thought maybe we were overdue for a private conversation, that's all." She sat down on the bench in front of her old cubby, wrapping her arms around her knees.

The former Pilots captain sat across from her former protegee, remembering when she'd first come in, a starry-eyed freshman, and got the team skyrocketing up the standings, putting Portland back in the game.

They'd been many things to each other over the years, Christine reflected. Mentor and mentee, friends, rivals, enemies, though for all her swagger about wanting to take out the Reign or the Americans, this one had always been special. Even though she'd never really grown out of being the loudmouthed kid with the goddamned need to be right all the time.

Christine could respect that. They weren't too different, really.

"Didn't I beat you enough last night?" Christine grinned unrepentantly, and Pinoe rolled her eyes.

"Shut up, Sinclair."

"Ah ah, have I ever taken that from you, Megan Anna?" Christine raised her eyebrows, and Pinoe paused, feeling all of eighteen again, stomach dropping.

"No ma'am."

"That's what I thought." Christine regarded her old friend intently. "So what's this all about, then?"

Pinoe shrugged. "Memories."

"Mmm. Remember that time you didn't tell me you'd done your ACL - again - and I'd be missing our star striker?" She paused. "We never really did discuss that one properly, you know."

"I know." Pinoe blushed. "Because I got picked up by the Red Stars almost as soon as I was fit to play again." 

"One might say you were trying to avoid facing up to your wrongdoing."

Megan raised an eyebrow. "And it took you fourteen years to say something?"

"I was waiting for the right moment." 

Megan rolled her eyes. "The right moment like what?"

"Like when someone else wasn't your captain anymore."

Oh.

"I suppose in that case we might be a little early. Barnes, you know."

"I could invite her to come join our little party."

Pinoe paled. "No thank you Sinc. I thought I was inviting you here to ask you why you'd blocked my team on Twitter," she protested.

"Oh, finally noticed, did you?" Christine shook her head. "Never mind, little one. They're not going to be your concern for much longer."

"You know better than that, Sinc. They'll always be my concern," Pinoe replied, and Christine nodded acquiescence. 

"Fine. But that doesn't change the fact that we have unfinished business, little girl. You and me, back here, the way it was at the beginning."

Pinoe swallowed nervously. "You're serious."

"I think the Portland paddle is still where it always was. Why don't you go see?"

Oh fuck, really? Pinoe thought, staring incredulously at Christine.

"Now," Christine prompted.

She went. She knew better than to disobey Sinc in that mood.

When Pinoe returned, she found a Portland Pilots uniform in her size waiting for her. Sinc must have raided the spares cupboard, because she was wearing one too.

The captain's armband was wrapped around her arm, looking as comfortable settled there as it ever had.

Pinoe looked at the uniform incredulously, setting the paddle down on the bench. "Sinc--"

"Out of uniform means extra swats."

"Don't you think you're carrying this whole thing a little too far?" Pinoe grumbled, but she got changed obediently, not wanting to piss the Canadian off.

"Come here, Megan Anna." Christine waited until Megan was in front of her before tugging down the borrowed uniform shorts, leaving Megan's boxer briefs in place. 

Megan's face flamed, though there was no one else there to see as Christine propped one foot up on the bench, and tugged her former teammate into position. She was draped over Christine's thigh, and squirmed as Christine landed the first firm spank with her hand, and continued to punctuate every few words with another swat..

"You do not," she continued, "lie to me about your health, Megan Anna Rapinoe. I won't have it." 

Megan whimpered as Christine continued scolding and spanking, landing about twelve solid spanks before deciding that was enough of a warm-up.

She pulled Megan's briefs down, baring her bottom entirely.

"Ow, fuck, Sinc, lay off!" Megan pleaded, as Christine started smacking her sit spots. "That hurts, damn it!"

To her surprise, Christine stopped, and Megan twisted around, looking up at her former college captain smirking down at her.

"Who knew it was so easy to beat the great Megan Rapinoe into submission," she snickered. "You'll always be Little Meggie to me though."

"Sinc--" Megan whimpered, and Christine cooed with mocking sympathy.

"Oh, does little Meggie want me to stop?"

Megan blushed and squirmed. "Captain, please..."

"Shh, oh, Meggie, honey, it's alright," Sinc cooed, patting her sore bottom gently. "Settle, we're almost finished."

Megan buried her face in her arms, knowing what was coming even before the Pilots team paddle tapped her bottom. She sucked in a breath and swallowed a sob as the paddle smacked down. It was harder than Sinc's hand, though the blow wasn't delivered with any more force than her hand had been, and Megan sobbed her way through the swats that followed.

She silently counted her way through them, and when fifteen landed, the last one, smacking down across her upper thighs, Christine put the paddle aside.

She picked Megan up, gently pulling her briefs back up over her red bottom, and then helped her trembling teammate re-dress in her own clothes. When Megan's clothes were set to rights, Christine got changed. Then she held Megan close, running her fingertips through Megan's short hair.

"Easy, easy little Meggie, Pinoe, it's alright sweetheart," she cooed, meaning it this time. "It's okay, honey, Sinc's gotcha, Cap's here, you're okay."

Megan buried her face in Christine's shoulder and cried. "S-sorry, sorry I lied to you, Sinc, sorry I hid my injury, sorry we didn't deal with it..."

"We've dealt with it now," Sinc soothed. "It's alright Pinoe, it's done. No more unfinished business. I've gotcha, you're alright."

Megan exhaled, shuddering, and nodded. "T-thank you Sinc."

"You're welcome. Now, let's get you to Sue, so you can go home." Sinc gave Megan's bottom a gentle pat to get her moving, and hastily, she obeyed.

The drive back home wouldn't be comfortable in the least. But at least now she and Sinc had put this unfinished business behind them.

Christine took the time to tidy the borrowed uniforms into the laundry basket before leaving, and hang the paddle back up. She put the armband back where it belonged.

Then she and Megan left the locker room behind them without looking back. 

There was no more college business to come back to - at least, not for each other. Soon they would both hang up their boots, and be done. But they couldn't go to the end of their careers without coming back to the beginning.

Now they had, and they could move on.

Chapter Text

May 29, 2024

"Rise and shine, Tobs."

Tobin jerked awake, not expecting that voice right next to her head when she was sleeping. She squirmed, seeing who was leaning over her, Tobin's mouth dropping open just the tiniest bit. 

"Whit? What the h-how did you get here?"

Whitney Engen Flanagan was perched on the side of her bed, grinning in a way Tobin did not at all like.

"Well...I suppose I ought to plead the fifth on that one..."

"Curse you and your attorney career, what, are you in cahoots with Vivian now?"

Whit's smirk widened.

Tobin groaned into her pillow.

"Great." 

"You should be grateful." Whitney chuckled. "But besides being an ace attorney--" This reference got a pillow swung at her head, which Whitney ducked effortlessly, "That'll cost you, brat--I'm a fantastic baker, as you might remember."

That, Tobin did remember, and she sat up. "Did Ash and Chris ask you for a cake?" she asked, and Whitney nodded.

"M-hmmm. And I was happy to oblige. More than one, even." 

Tobin sniffed, the scent of cinnamon and sugar floating in from the kitchen. "Coffee cake? And birthday cake later?" she asked, getting another fond chuckle.

"That's right. But these things don't come for free, babe." 

Tobin gave Whit a wary look. She recognized that tone. "Okay, why do you sound like you did when we were at UNC and Ash was--"  She cut herself off mid-sentence. "Oh God, you're not serious."

"Serious as I've ever been." 

"Whit!"

Whitney snapped her fingers. "Up."

"Have I mentioned that I hate you lately?"

Whit raised an eyebrow. "Do you want that cake or not?"

"Do I get coffee with it at least?"

"You have ten seconds to put yourself over my knee before I do it for you."

Tobin groaned, but reluctantly crawled out of bed and draped herself over the not-officially-retired defender's lap. "You're mean."

"M-hmm."

As Whitney’s hand connected with her bottom (thankfully over her pajama bottoms, for now) Tobin was reminded of the first time this had happened.

@@@

May 29, 2007

“Time to get up, bratling mine.I have a surprise for you.”

Tobin scrambled backward as her roommate pulled her from slumber. “W-what time is it?”

“Time for someone to get up, if you don’t want to be late for church that is. And Whit and I have a little surprise for you before you go.”

“S-surprise?” 

“Up, Tobin Powell.”

The newly-minted nineteen-year-old gave Ashlyn a sideways look as Whitney Engen entered their room. She spotted the box her fellow freshman was carrying and looked hopeful.

“Cake?”

“Only when you earn it.” Whit put the box to one side and seated herself on Tobin’s bed. “Over.”

“Whit--”

“One.”

“But, Whit--”

“The only ‘but’ I’m gonna hear about is that one, or no cake. Two.”

“Don’t make Whit get to three,” Ashlyn advised with a casual grin, and glaring, Tobin scrambled into position, yelping as her bottoms were jerked down.

“Whit!”

“You know the rules, you make me count, you lose these.”

Tobin whimpered as the first mild smack landed, and Whitney counted. “One.”

@@@

“Five-- Tobin Powell, are you even paying attention?”

In the present, Tobin snapped out of it as Whitney bared her, making her squirm. “Whitney, no, not bare please!”

“Only when you earn it, bratling mine.”

Five more smacks, plus the sound of Ash’s nickname for her coming from Whitney’s lips made Tobin groan again, and she yelped as the smacks resumed. They were no harder than before, but even what passed for love-pats with Whit could sting.

“You haven’t spanked me like this in forever,” Tobin protested.

“I knew it had been too long.” Whitney punctuated each word with a mild smack, bringing the count up to seventeen. “We’re almost half done, don’t worry.” After eighteen, Tobin felt something else familiar tap her bottom; Whitney’s maple-backed hairbrush, wherever she’d been hiding it.

“Whit, not for a birthday spanking?”

“Don’t you remember the rules, bratling mine?”

Tobin did.

They had been in place since 2007, has it really been seventeen years, Tobin thought, yelping as the first smack of the brush connected. Whitney was using no more force than she had to spank Tobin with her hand, but the brush naturally made more impact. 

After she’d fussed for Whit that first time, back at UNC, her fellow freshman had traded hand smacks for the hairbrush halfway through her punishment. Of course, nineteen with one to grow on had been quite a bit different - only ten hairbrush spanks, and only the final one really solid.

Thirty-six plus one was quite different. Eighteen hairbrush smacks, plus one more, would smart a good deal more than ten on the longer warmup she’d already had.

And then the next smack with the brush, landed - a good deal harder than Tobin was expecting. She yelped.

“Whitney Elizabeth Engen!”

“Not the time for you to play the Top, bratling mine. You’ve needed this spanking for a while.”

Tobin sputtered indignantly as the next real hairbrush spanks followed, all the way up to thirty-six, reddening her bottom. She fought tears, not wanting to cry over Whit’s knee and wondering what in God’s name Whitney had planned for the ‘one to grow on’ if these were all real.

At thirty-six, Whit left off, and the last smack fell - Whitney’s hand, across Tobin’s sit spots, but not very hard at all. The shock of the reversal had Tobin squirming and drumming her feet on the bed as Whitney rubbed her scorched bottom gently.

“Shhh, bratling mine. It’s alright, it’s alright, you did well,” Whit cooed. “I’ve got you Tobin, you’re okay.” She eased Tobin’s clothes back up and drew her friend and former teammate into her embrace, upright, held tight against her chest.

“W-why…” Tobin cried on Whit’s shoulder, as Whitney hummed to her.

“Because even Tops need a little special attention sometimes. Isn’t that right?”

Even Tops need a little special attention sometimes.

Yes, that was a lesson Ash and Whit had taught her back at UNC too, when she was still figuring out what her Classification meant.

“I’m sorry Whit.”

“It’s okay. Let’s get you that coffee cake.”

Yawning, Tobin followed Whitney from the room and to the kitchenette of the hotel suite, where Christen was already waiting for her. It had been Ali Riley’s idea to give the pair a day away for Tobin’s birthday, though they hadn’t gone far - the hotel room was still in Los Angeles. Privately, Tobin wondered whether Christen and Ali had conspired with Ash to sneak Whitney in.

Probably.

“Good morning, Tobs, love.” Christen gave her an innocent smile. “Happy birthday. Coffee’s ready, and it’s not even hotel coffee. Want the cake to go with it?”

Tobin accepted Christen’s hug and kiss, and the tug over to the counter which made her almost forget her burning bottom.

“You’re a lifesaver, Chris.”

“Thank Whit, she brought the goods.”

“Thank you, Whit,” Tobin said dutifully.

“You’re welcome. I’m always happy to take care of you.”

Tobin grimaced. “I know.” She blushed at Whitney’s laugh, and sat down (reluctantly) at the table, grateful for the pillow Christen had put on her chair. Whit poured the coffee as Christen sliced the cake, and the three of them enjoyed a light breakfast together. 

“You know, we used to do this with Ash every year,” Whitney remarked. “That first year, we had to get Tobs ready for church, too, and she went to services with a red bottom under her pink dress.” 

“Really?” Christen sounded interested, and Whit was only too glad to tell tales out of school, so to speak.

As her past was rehashed for Christen, Tobin squirmed and focused on her cake. Thank goodness it’s Wednesday today.