Never Let Go.

‘Kieran’s POV’

It seems unimaginable but Jamie and I have now been married for a whole month! And well married life is actually no different than engaged life considering we were already living together. The only thing that has changed is the name embroidered on my lab coats, Dr. Kieran Benn DVM, and just as predicted signing Dr. Benn is so much easier than Dr. O’Reilly. I jumped right back into work and Jamie went back to training as soon as we got home from our honeymoon, training camp starts in a week and I know Jamie is itching to get this season started. It’s their year and we both can feel it.

This weekend is a special one though it’s Alumni Day at Texas A&M and I have been chosen to give a speech at the tailgate session. I’m a little nervous but Jamie, Cody, Lauren, and my whole family will be their too as they are all alumni of the university as well. Our drive down to college station is a fun one as Cody and Jamie sat up front and Lauren and I sat in the back. The four of us had very different conversations but that’s the way it always is with our boys, sometimes their “hockey talk” is like a foreign language to us.

By the time we reach College Station it’s dark and we’re ready for dinner and bed to prepare for the long day ahead of us. Three years of Alumni day’s so Jamie’s become accustomed to the Aggie traditions, you would think he was a graduate too.

Saturday morning we’re all dressed in maroon and white and ready to cheer on the Aggies to victory. Our truck is parked in the tailgate zone and we’ve broke out lawn chairs a cooler full of beer and cornhole to play while we wait for the Alumni lunch. My parents finally show up but have their own friends to hang out with so they are in and out. Kilian and Morgan made the drive up but left baby Finn with Morgan’s family in Houston, at 4 months old he’s not quite ready for Aggie football. Friends have come by and visited as we wait including Deacon and Mackenzie, they’ve made “friends” with Jamie slowly but surely and the fact that Ryan is back in California is helping tremendously.

When 2 pm rolls around the 6 of us make our way to the Alumni tent, my nerves are flaring up but I know I’m going to be okay as I’m squeezing Jamie’s hand for dear life. “You’re fine babe,” he tries to reassure me wiggling his hand out of my vice grip. “Sorry,” I mumbled as I enter the tent immediately met by the woman in charge, one of my favorite professors Dr. Haylee. “There you are Kieran dear, we’ll have you speak after lunch is served.” I nod and hug her as we move to our table. Once we’ve all eaten, Dr. Haylee takes the podium and asks for I and two other alumnus’s to join her on stage. Standing I take a deep breath as Lauren mouths “Good luck” to me, I smile and walk up the short set of stairs.

Eventually it’s my turn to address the crowd, something I haven’t done since my high school graduation Salutatorian speech. Raising the microphone to my level it squeaks, “Oops,” I giggle as the crowd laughs along with me, and I begin my speech.

“Hi everyone, thank ya’ll for having me up here today it truly is an honor to speak about what Texas A&M means to me. As Dr. Haylee said I am Dr. Kieran O’Reilly-Benn and I am a 2010/2014 graduate of the University with a bachelor’s of Science and a doctorate of veterinary medicine. I currently practice in Dallas, where I live with my husband Jamie, captain of the Dallas Stars and our dog Knox.” There are some heads turning and a little chatter at that news but I continue on.

“I came to A&M not only on a volleyball scholarship but also as a legacy. My mom is a third generation Aggie and my father received his master’s from the University when I was a kid, my older brother Kilian is also a 2009 graduate as well. To say it’s in my blood is an understatement. I was born to be an Aggie, this university gave me everything I needed to be successful in my life. Including an internship in the city where I found not only a job that I love right after graduation but also new friends, my husband, and a new place to call home. Texas A&M has changed me into the person I am today and I am eternally thankful to this institution, and I can only hope to one day have children who also want to experience Aggie life. Thank you all for listening and Gig em Aggies!”

There are cheers and of course a flock of people talking to Jamie when I return to our table. My family members and friends embrace me before we make our way to the football game as the Aggies are set to take on the Ole Miss Rebels on Kyle field. Lauren, Kilian and I the most recent of the 6 graduates lead our group in the Aggie pride chants for most of the game, screaming our heads off as the team goes for the win. Kilian takes the games the most serious as he himself is use to actually being on the grass of Kyle field. Though his glory days are in the past football will always be a part of my brother and I know he can’t wait for Finley to be old enough to enjoy the game. Who knows maybe we’ll have a second generation quarterback!

When the game is over and the Aggies have won and War Hymn has been sung it’s time to head back to D-town. After bidding goodbye to my brother and sister in-law and saying see you later to the campus and some old college buddies the four of us hit the road. Lauren and I are amped up about the win and attempt to teach the boys how to properly sing the War Hymn. They fail miserably but it’s too funny not to post a video on my Instagram, what a way to end a perfect day.

“@KieranBenn14: @AshbieL12 and I are still trying to turn these two into Aggies! What a day at Texas A&M, Gig em Aggies! :) #AlumniDay #GoAggies @jamiebenn14 @codyeakin50”

Notes

Welcome back to college kieran! And on that note I should let ya'll know it's finals week at my University so my updates may be a bit more random than usual! Wish me luck! xoxo - Ally

Ps. When my summer begins I'm going to start writing a new fic so look out, hints are on my Polyvore ;)

Gig Em