Meanwhile outside…

Christian followed the older man out of the house, passed the barn and around the coop, until his eyes rested on what looked like a homemade batting cage and some work out equipment. 

"Wow." Christian commented as he moved to inspect it. His eyes picked up on the wear and tear of the years. Moving to the left, he spotted the pitcher's mound. In his imagination, he could hear the thwack of a ball hitting mitt and the crack of bat. He could even picture the siblings arguing over a pitch. 

"Yeah, Mattie and Rosie spent hours and hours out here."

"Let me guess, Ro pitching and Mattie batting?"

"You got it." Christian could hear the pride in his voice. Nostalgia. 

"She's got quite an arm." Christian murmured as he stood in the batter's box. 

"That she does. She worked hard for that arm."

Now, he sounded disappointed. Christian felt the whiplash in the conversation. 

"She's still got it. Threw 72 mph at BP." 

"I saw that on ESPN. Doesn't matter in the long run."

 Christian did a double take. "Why?"

"She's not playing baseball." Christian gave him a wild look. Did this man expect his daughter to play in an all dude sport? 

"How would she be playing in the MLB?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. 

The older man simply shook his head, "She could have broken new ground." 

"But that wasn't her dream. That was yours. If anything, she should be managing or coaching a pro team." Christian stated as he picked up an old bat and took some practice swings, but kept his eyes on Scott who seemed to contemplate his words. 

"You think?"

"She knows more than a lot of dudes. I have a meeting with the higher ups coming up in the spring, I plan on suggesting just that." 

Scott nodded, grabbed a bucket of balls, and asked, "Humor an old man?"

"Sure. I'll give it a go. I might be a bit rusty." 

"You? Doubt it."

"Thanks for the faith." Christian returned with a small smile. 

"You're a baseball player through and through. That natural talent doesn't disappear." The older man tossed, and Christian easily batted it out of the area. 

Another toss, this one, perfect. Christian, on instinct and practice, took a step and swung. The crack of a home run thundered across the field. 

"I'll tell you, Christian. It's one thing to see it on TV; it's another to feel it."

"It felt good." Christian admitted as he readied himself to go again.

Another bat crack. 

Christian's ears picked up footsteps approaching, but he didn't turn to look. Mr Olson flashed a smile at whoever had joined them, and he continued to toss, giving the outfielder another opportunity to send the ball deep. 

Another.

Another. 

"You trying to get yourself back in that brace?"

Mr Olson chuckled lowly at his daughter's comment. Christian stood up and stepped back and out of the box.

"Got caught up in the moment." The slugger offered with his usual boyish grin causing her to falter her concerned look. 

Mattie was beside her and reached for the bat and muttered, "My turn, bro." 

Christian grinned at him and murmured to Roosevelt, "He called me bro."

She rolled her eyes and watched her brother square up. 

"Your sister fixed your wrist?" 

 "We're about to find out." Mattie replied with a determined look. Roosevelt scoffed at her younger brother and then muttered to Christian, "I just adjusted him. I swear." 

"Let him have a few swings." Christian reasoned with a small shrug. She reluctantly nodded. He grabbed her left hand, felt the ring on her finger, and pressed on it. Her eyes caught his. They stared at each other until a familiar crack of the bat sounded. 

"Atta boy Mattie!" Roosevelt whooped with a smile. 

"Where was my cheering?" 

"I'll show you later." 

"Mmhmm." He agreed, placing a kiss on her cheek. "Those at bats felt good."

"You're welcome." She quipped as moved to get a better look at Mattie's stance. Her hand didn't leave his as she pulled him along with her. Christian had yet to see this side of her--sisterly. He'd seen Mattie be protective of her but never the reverse. Something about it made his chest tighten, then it dawned on him: he missed his brothers. He'd see them next week for awhile, then he wouldn't be able to get rid of them. His home in Malibu had become their hangout spot, which was fine when he was a bachelor, but now, he had Roosevelt. The dynamic was going to change, and Christian readily welcomed it. He'd already contracted a crew to build a beach volleyball court where there had been useless landscaping. He was hoping it'd keep her near him rather than the public eye. 'All to myself.' He thought with a slight chuckle. 

 "Mattie, move your thumb down slightly." Roosevelt suggested with a knowing smirk. The younger Olson seemingly complied. Christian watched their dad toss, and Mattie sent it deep.

"Where was my adjustment recommendations?" Christian teased  from beside her.

"You didn't need any."

"Oh really?" He was surprised.

"Really. Perfect stance." She commented matter-of-factly. "I'd tell you if it wasn't."

"That's why you should move into coaching. You spot things most can't."

A look of surprise krept over her face, "Coaching?" Her voice had gone up an octave. 

"Yeah. The Brewers would be lucky to have you in that position. I plan on suggesting it to Couns." 

"Wow..I don't--"

"Alright, Miss Olympian. Your turn. Let's go." Her Dad interrupted. The couple looked to see Matt holding out the bat with an apologetic look. 

Placing a quick kiss on his cheek, Roosevelt moved toward her brother, grabbed the bat, and took a few practice swings in the batters box. Matt stood tensely next to Christian. 

"Why are you so tense, man?" Christian murmured as he kept his eyes trained on his girl.

"She hasn't been in the box in years. My Dad is gonna ride her hard if she fucks up." Matt muttered back. 

"You ready?" Mr Olson prompted as Roosevelt took her stance. 

"As best I can be. Haven't done this in years." She returned with an annoyed look. He gave her a slightly off throw, but she made contact regardless. If the boys had to guess, it'd been a double. 

"Not bad."

"Your throw was off." She replied through gritted teeth.

He tossed again; this time perfect. A familiar step up was made; the cracking sound reached the men's ears. Mattie grinned and murmured, "Imagine having to practice with her and then be the only one who was allowed to play."

Christian couldn't believe how smooth her swing had been. After that at bat, she held her hand up as if to say stop. 

"I'm good." She stated as she put the older bat against the cyclone fence. Both Olson siblings were surprised that their Dad hadn't belittled or challenged her on deciding to stop. Neither of them wanted to bring it up, but they shared a look. Christian grinned at her and complimented, "You didn't tell me that you could hit bombs."

"You never asked." She returned with a smile of her own. A chime sounded from the house. 

"Dinner." Matt announced with a look of relief. Mr Olson simply nodded and put the bucket of balls back. The group silently headed back. The siblings stopped in the mudroom to wash their hands, and Christian followed their lead. A lot of unsaid rules in the Olson household. 

Upon entering the the main house, the smell of potatoes and meatloaf hit the group.

"Mom cooked your favorite." Mattie murmured to Roosevelt prompting her to smile widely. 

"She didn't need to do that."

"But I wanted to." Mrs Olson interrupted with a smile. 

As everyone took their seats, Christian glanced about to see what their tradition was. The Olson family sat and waited for Mr Olson to address the family. 

"It is a real treat to have Roosevelt and Christian visiting. Let's say grace and dig in." Mr Olson stated with a small smile causing the rest of the Olsons to look dumbfounded. 

"What did you say to my Dad?" She whispered under her breath.

"That you have your own dreams and potential." 

Roosevelt was stunned. Her Dad did a 180 because Christian gave him food for thought? Something was wrong. Her Dad wanted the best for his kids, always, but he also wasn't one to let things go. She would remain cautious as her experience had been anything but what was happening now. 

 After the prayer, everyone began to eat. Christian would every so often get a look from Matt that seemed to say "so far so good," but the all star wasn't sure that was actually the case. Roosevelt, who was seated beside him, took slow, small bites. He'd never known her to be a slow eater nor taking small bites. She often rivaled him, but she'd burn nearly everything in one workout. His mind flashed to the vast amount of up downs she committed herself to every other day, which would mean she'd suffer tomorrow. 

"So Christian, tell us about your family. What's southern California like?" Mrs Olson asked after talking a sip of ice tea. 

Pausing his motion to eat more, Christian smiled and returned, "My parents work in real estate. I have two younger brothers, Collin, who's finishing school and getting into baseball and Cameron, who's committed to join the Marines. Growing up in SoCal was good, especially for year round baseball."

"Grew up a Dodger fan?" Mr Olson commented. 

"Yeah. Them and the Yankees." He confirmed as he took a sip from his water. 

"Eww." Roosevelt commented with a smirk, while Matt chuckled from across the table. 

"Hey!" He exclaimed, feigning insult, "What did you expect?"

"Not the Yankees." She teased, giving him a wink. 

"Who were you rooting for when you were young?" 

"Braves, duh." Matt interrupted with a grin, earning a nod from Roosevelt. Christian wasn't surprised. The Braves were the local team, just as the Dodgers were for him. Now, he was in Milwaukee and was thinking about staying on for some time. He and Roosevelt still needed to have that talk.

"But now, we're an Oakland A's house until Matt is traded or signs elsewhere." Mrs Olson clarified with a proud look. 

"So you declared for Tokyo." Mr Olson stated, looking at Roosevelt. 

She stopped her chewing, quickly swallowed her food, and answered in a somewhat meek tone, "Yeah. We're the reigning world champions. The odds are in our favor." Christian had never heard this tone before. It was foreign to him. It was wrong. The woman he knew was strong and confident. Her Dad really intimidated her.

"And that knee of yours will hold?" He asked in a doubting tone. 

"It should." Her tone switched from meek to annoyed. That was the woman he loved. 

"Should?" He pressed with a thoughtful look. 

"Yup." She popped the 'p' and gave her Dad a shit eating grin. 

"And if it doesn't?"

"Surgery and then I continue on with my regular job." Her tone was nonchalant and carefree. She'd already accepted her potential fate. He had too--he supported whatever she wanted to do. 

"Hmm... and you're fine with that plan, Christian?" 

Roosevelt turned her eyes on him. He held her gaze as he replied, "Absolutely. Of course I don't want to see her hurt, but she loves playing. I'm behind her 100%." 

"That's sweet. When's the big day, Roosevelt?" Her mom smartly switched the topics. The couple shared a look; they hadn't picked one yet. 

"We're still trying to decide."

"I vote you do it before Spring Training." Mattie chimed in with a smug expression. 

"That would be good! Then you wouldn't have to try to plan around his schedule or yours!" Her mom rambled with excitement gleaming in her eyes. 

"That's a bit of short notice." Roosevelt reasoned as she shot Matt a dirty look. 

"Who cares? It's your day!" Her mom reassured her with a nonchalant hand wave. 

Christian was amused by this dynamic. It was easy to see that the younger Olson had pre-planned this topic with his mom. Their father seemed equally amused; the duo shared a look. Mr Olson smirked before adding to stir the pot, "Sooner rather than later, Rosie. We want grandchildren." 

Christian let out a small laugh while Roosevelt took a deep breath and shot Christian a look of "we'll talk later." 

"Everyone wants grandchildren." Rosie stated in a passive aggressive tone. 

"You'll have fun making them." Her mother stated dismissively. Matt's eyes went wide at his mother's crassness. 

Christian didn't miss a beat, "It seems that your mom and my mom are on the same page."

"So it seems." Roosevelt returned, pushing her plate away from her. She'd barely eaten causing him to worry. She was tense and looked tired. 

Sensing her desire to leave and animatedly checking his rolex, Christian announced, "Dinner was delicious Mrs Olson. Mr Olson, BP was a treat. I think it's time Ro and I head out to go check in at the hotel. We'll be back tomorrow."