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Got a lot of different players to use for the new story and I have decide to use them all for multiple dates so if you have any left in mind send them through or send a player and reason for which should be the final partner
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
â Live Streamingâ Interactive Chatâ Private Showsâ HD Qualityâ Free Actions
Free to watch ⢠No registration required ⢠HD streaming
The Arsenal training facility, transformed into a haven of festive cheer for the annual Christmas party, hummed with the soft strains of holiday music. Strings of fairy lights draped over every surface twinkled against the warm, fragrant air, suffused with the scent of pine and mulled wine. Laughter and cheerful exchanges punctuated the room, where teammates and staff mingled, sharing intimate moments with their partners in a tableau of connection and joy.
Y/N stood apart near the drinks table, a glass of sparkling water in hand. Her choice, long removed from alcohol, symbolized the discipline that had carried her to this pointâan illustrious career punctuated by Champions League triumphs, Ballon dâOr nominations, and records with Arsenal and her national team. On paper, she was the epitome of success.
Yet, as her gaze drifted across the room, a subtle disquiet settled over her. Katie leaned casually, her arm draped around Caitlinâs shoulders as they laughed at Kyra's story. Leah twirled her girlfriend on an impromptu dance floor, their faces alight with shared delight. Even Lina lingered in a private corner with her wife and kids, their quiet intimacy a stark counterpoint to the festive clamor.
Y/N sipped her water and turned her attention elsewhere, managing a polite smile as Beth waved her over. âEnjoying yourself?â Beth asked as she settled beside her.
âAlways,â Y/N replied lightly. âYou?â
Bethâs face softened as her gaze drifted to Viv, animated in conversation with Lia. âItâs nice to unwind, especially with Viv leaving. This yearâs been⌠challenging but I'm just glad she's home for a whileâ
âIâm glad you have her,â Y/N said, her sincerity unblemished by the peculiar ache the sentiment left behind.
Bethâs smile lingered, though her scrutiny deepened. âAnd you? Anyone special waiting under the mistletoe?â she teased, nudging Y/N with playful insistence.
Y/Nâs laugh came easily, but her response betrayed nothing. âJust me, myself, and I.â
Bethâs humor dimmed into faint concern, but before she could probe further, Viv called her over. Y/N waved her away, maintaining her outward cheer as Beth departed. The hollowed quiet that followed left Y/N pondering her solitude.
Relationships, once peripheral, now loomed in sharper relief. She had known fleeting affections, impermanent and inconsequential. Footballâs supremacy in her life had obviated deeper bonds, and she had convinced herself that her singular focus sufficed. Yet, surrounded by the tactile, tangible affections of her teammates, the absence of such intimacy struck a discordant note.
Seeking solace, she wandered to the expansive window overlooking the frost-tinged training grounds. Reflected in the glass was the image she had cultivated over years: poised, resolute, and self-sufficient. Yet, in the faint shimmer of unshed tears, she glimpsed a vulnerability that had eluded her reckoning.
The frost-dappled grass outside seemed to mirror her inner state, serene yet cold, beautiful yet devoid of warmth. Memories of her youth surfacedâdays spent running drills with unrelenting fervor, nights studying game footage while her peers pursued youthful indiscretions. Every sacrifice had carved her path to greatness, but at what cost? The accolades lining her shelves were mute witnesses to a life devoted to singular ambition, but now, they felt hollow without someone to share in their glory.
âYou alright?â Leahâs voice, uncharacteristically subdued, interrupted her reverie.
Y/N turned, her practiced composure quickly restored. âJust needed a moment,â she said, her tone carefully modulated.
Leah joined her at the window, her posture relaxed but her concern evident. âItâs a lot sometimes, isnât it? All the⌠togetherness.â
Y/Nâs laugh was faintly sardonic. âNot exactly my area of expertise.â
âI know,â Y/N replied quietly. âAnd Iâm grateful. But sometimes it feels like Iâve spent so much time chasing dreams that Iâve forgotten to leave space for anything else.â
Leah remained silent, then offered a gentle nudge with her shoulder. âYouâve got time. And weâve got faith in you. Maybe this is just the beginning of something new.â
For the first time that evening, Y/N smiled with unguarded warmth. âMaybe.â
The night unfolded with renewed vigor. Y/N allowed herself to be drawn into the festivities, her laughter genuine as she engaged with her teammates. She joined a spirited debate over Christmas trivia, shared a dance with a giggling Beth, and even let Katie convince her to wear a ridiculous Santa hat for a group photo. Yet, as she returned to her quiet flat that evening, the stillness carried an unfamiliar weight. Facing her reflection once more, she resolved to confront the void she had long ignored.
The days that followed saw subtle shifts in Y/Nâs demeanor. At training, her focus remained sharp, but there was a new openness in her interactions. She lingered in conversations, laughed more freely, and even joined a team lunch unprompted. Still, the nagging sense of incompleteness lingered.
Two days later, in the locker room after training, the team launched their ambush. Katie, her grin equal parts mischief and determination, crossed her arms as she delivered the proclamation. âY/N, weâve decided to set you up on a date.â
âWhat?â Y/N asked, her incredulity evident.
âYou donât get a say,â Leah interjected, her stance casual but her tone resolute. âWeâve seen you moping, and weâre not having it.â
âI donât mope,â Y/N protested, her reddening cheeks undermining her argument.
Beth raised an eyebrow, her skepticism plain. âRight. Look, youâve mastered football, but even the best need someone to share it with. Trust us on this.â
Y/N hesitated, her gaze flickering across the eager, teasing faces of her teammates. Their camaraderie was infectious, their concern genuine. For years, she had prided herself on her independence, but in that moment, she realized that accepting help didnât diminish her strengthâit complemented it.
âYouâre relentless.â
Katie smirked triumphantly. âSo, thatâs a yes?â
After a long pause, Y/N exhaled a resigned sigh. âFine. One date. But if itâs a disaster, Iâm never listening to any of you again.â
The room erupted in cheers, and Katie clapped her hands. âOh, it wonât be. Weâve got someone perfect in mind.â
As the team dissolved into excited scheming, Y/N couldnât suppress a quiet laugh. Perhaps relinquishing control, for once, might yield something worthwhile. The prospect of exploring a new chapter, however uncertain, brought an unexpected lightness to her step as she left the locker room, her teammatesâ laughter echoing behind her.
The Arsenal training facility, transformed into a haven of festive cheer for the annual Christmas party, hummed with the soft strains of holiday music. Strings of fairy lights draped over every surface twinkled against the warm, fragrant air, suffused with the scent of pine and mulled wine. Laughter and cheerful exchanges punctuated the room, where teammates and staff mingled, sharing intimate moments with their partners in a tableau of connection and joy.
Y/N stood apart near the drinks table, a glass of sparkling water in hand. Her choice, long removed from alcohol, symbolized the discipline that had carried her to this pointâan illustrious career punctuated by Champions League triumphs, Ballon dâOr nominations, and records with Arsenal and her national team. On paper, she was the epitome of success.
Yet, as her gaze drifted across the room, a subtle disquiet settled over her. Katie leaned casually, her arm draped around Caitlinâs shoulders as they laughed at Kyra's story. Leah twirled her girlfriend on an impromptu dance floor, their faces alight with shared delight. Even Lina lingered in a private corner with her wife and kids, their quiet intimacy a stark counterpoint to the festive clamor.
Y/N sipped her water and turned her attention elsewhere, managing a polite smile as Beth waved her over. âEnjoying yourself?â Beth asked as she settled beside her.
âAlways,â Y/N replied lightly. âYou?â
Bethâs face softened as her gaze drifted to Viv, animated in conversation with Lia. âItâs nice to unwind, especially with Viv leaving. This yearâs been⌠challenging but I'm just glad she's home for a whileâ
âIâm glad you have her,â Y/N said, her sincerity unblemished by the peculiar ache the sentiment left behind.
Bethâs smile lingered, though her scrutiny deepened. âAnd you? Anyone special waiting under the mistletoe?â she teased, nudging Y/N with playful insistence.
Y/Nâs laugh came easily, but her response betrayed nothing. âJust me, myself, and I.â
Bethâs humor dimmed into faint concern, but before she could probe further, Viv called her over. Y/N waved her away, maintaining her outward cheer as Beth departed. The hollowed quiet that followed left Y/N pondering her solitude.
Relationships, once peripheral, now loomed in sharper relief. She had known fleeting affections, impermanent and inconsequential. Footballâs supremacy in her life had obviated deeper bonds, and she had convinced herself that her singular focus sufficed. Yet, surrounded by the tactile, tangible affections of her teammates, the absence of such intimacy struck a discordant note.
Seeking solace, she wandered to the expansive window overlooking the frost-tinged training grounds. Reflected in the glass was the image she had cultivated over years: poised, resolute, and self-sufficient. Yet, in the faint shimmer of unshed tears, she glimpsed a vulnerability that had eluded her reckoning.
The frost-dappled grass outside seemed to mirror her inner state, serene yet cold, beautiful yet devoid of warmth. Memories of her youth surfacedâdays spent running drills with unrelenting fervor, nights studying game footage while her peers pursued youthful indiscretions. Every sacrifice had carved her path to greatness, but at what cost? The accolades lining her shelves were mute witnesses to a life devoted to singular ambition, but now, they felt hollow without someone to share in their glory.
âYou alright?â Leahâs voice, uncharacteristically subdued, interrupted her reverie.
Y/N turned, her practiced composure quickly restored. âJust needed a moment,â she said, her tone carefully modulated.
Leah joined her at the window, her posture relaxed but her concern evident. âItâs a lot sometimes, isnât it? All the⌠togetherness.â
Y/Nâs laugh was faintly sardonic. âNot exactly my area of expertise.â
âI know,â Y/N replied quietly. âAnd Iâm grateful. But sometimes it feels like Iâve spent so much time chasing dreams that Iâve forgotten to leave space for anything else.â
Leah remained silent, then offered a gentle nudge with her shoulder. âYouâve got time. And weâve got faith in you. Maybe this is just the beginning of something new.â
For the first time that evening, Y/N smiled with unguarded warmth. âMaybe.â
The night unfolded with renewed vigor. Y/N allowed herself to be drawn into the festivities, her laughter genuine as she engaged with her teammates. She joined a spirited debate over Christmas trivia, shared a dance with a giggling Beth, and even let Katie convince her to wear a ridiculous Santa hat for a group photo. Yet, as she returned to her quiet flat that evening, the stillness carried an unfamiliar weight. Facing her reflection once more, she resolved to confront the void she had long ignored.
The days that followed saw subtle shifts in Y/Nâs demeanor. At training, her focus remained sharp, but there was a new openness in her interactions. She lingered in conversations, laughed more freely, and even joined a team lunch unprompted. Still, the nagging sense of incompleteness lingered.
Two days later, in the locker room after training, the team launched their ambush. Katie, her grin equal parts mischief and determination, crossed her arms as she delivered the proclamation. âY/N, weâve decided to set you up on a date.â
âWhat?â Y/N asked, her incredulity evident.
âYou donât get a say,â Leah interjected, her stance casual but her tone resolute. âWeâve seen you moping, and weâre not having it.â
âI donât mope,â Y/N protested, her reddening cheeks undermining her argument.
Beth raised an eyebrow, her skepticism plain. âRight. Look, youâve mastered football, but even the best need someone to share it with. Trust us on this.â
Y/N hesitated, her gaze flickering across the eager, teasing faces of her teammates. Their camaraderie was infectious, their concern genuine. For years, she had prided herself on her independence, but in that moment, she realized that accepting help didnât diminish her strengthâit complemented it.
âYouâre relentless.â
Katie smirked triumphantly. âSo, thatâs a yes?â
After a long pause, Y/N exhaled a resigned sigh. âFine. One date. But if itâs a disaster, Iâm never listening to any of you again.â
The room erupted in cheers, and Katie clapped her hands. âOh, it wonât be. Weâve got someone perfect in mind.â
As the team dissolved into excited scheming, Y/N couldnât suppress a quiet laugh. Perhaps relinquishing control, for once, might yield something worthwhile. The prospect of exploring a new chapter, however uncertain, brought an unexpected lightness to her step as she left the locker room, her teammatesâ laughter echoing behind her.
Iâm reaching out to let you know that Iâm currently dealing with an issue regarding the tagging of my fics, which is preventing them from showing up in the tags where they should be. Unfortunately, this has been an ongoing problem across my previous account as well, and Iâm actively trying to find a solution.
Because of this, the fics Iâm uploading now will only be visible on my account. Iâll still include them in my masterlist, but there's a high chance you wonât see them through other blogs. I really appreciate your understanding, and I encourage you to check my masterlist to stay updated on any new fics!
This situation is quite frustrating, and Iâm doing my best to resolve it as soon as possible.
If you could help by reblogging this post, it would really help spread the word to more people!
And for those interested, here's the link to my latest fic, which didnât appear in the tags: The Bookstore CafĂŠ
alexia putellas x reader [& r's nephew]
r gets custody of her 5 year old nephew when her brother gets into trouble. alexia insists on sticking around even though r gives her an out. it's a new and entirely stressful situation for r, but alexia makes it a bit easier.
fluff, angst, etc. this is a kidfic.
â
How was it possible? That the most ordinary of days could be just one phone call away from shattering life as you knew it.Â
You should have known, really. Should have seen it coming. You were happy for the first time in a while. Happy in your career, in your relationship. Of course something would come along to change everything.Â
It was a pleasant day off, the day you got the call. A slow morning where Alexia woke up way before you, but didnât get up. Instead, she let you sleep in her arms, completely content to just⌠be there with you. Youâd made breakfast together, Alexiaâs voice raspy from lack of use, pressing kisses to your shoulders, your face, your neck, as if she couldnât help it. It was purely and entirely happy.Â
Your phone rang just after breakfast. It was an unknown number and you never answered unknown numbers but something about the call made your stomach drop. You clicked the answer button and gave Alexia an apologetic smile, walking out of the room.Â
âHello?â You greeted, tapping your foot impatiently when no one said anything right away. Alexia had put on her favorite show, and as much as you pretended to despise the soap, you were hooked.Â
The robotic, pre-recorded message that began startled you.
âThis call is from a person currently incarcerated in prison. All calls are logged and recorded and may be listened to by a member of prison staff. If you do not wish to accept this call, please hang up now.âÂ
It wasnât shocking, not really. Youâd gotten calls like this before, but not for a few years. He used to call a lot, when he first started getting into trouble, asking for money for a lawyer. At the time, you hadnât had any to give him. Eventually those specific calls stopped. You still heard from him, but not through a call being recorded by a prison.Â
He hadnât been arrested in 5 years. And now⌠the stakes were much higher.Â
âHello?â The deep voice of your brother came over the line, sounding utterly defeated.Â
âLeo.â You sighed. âWhat happened?âÂ
âI fucked up. I⌠Will wanted to start football. But I couldnât⌠I couldnât pay for boots for him. I just wanted to get him something nice.â Leo choked out. You could hear the emotion in his voice, and ignored the pang in your chest as you pictured the little boy just two years older than you, lip trembling as he promised heâd take care of everything.Â
âLeo, why didnât you call me? And ask for help?âÂ
âI didnât want to bother you. Youâre busy and I should be able to provide for my son. I shouldnât have to ask my little sister for help, I should have it figured out.âÂ
âSo⌠this is better? Getting arrested for petty theft and then calling me for help?â You asked sarcastically, though you understood him more than youâd admit. The need to be independent, completely self sufficient. The sinking feeling youâd get when you had to ask for help with something⌠you still felt that, too.
Your brother was quiet for a moment. Long enough that dread started to build up inside of you again.Â
âItâs not petty theft.â He said finally. âItâs grand theft. And accessory to assault. The guy I was working with went a bit rogue.âÂ
âJesus.â You sighed. âHow long?âÂ
Another long silence.Â
âHow long, Leo?â
â10-15 years.âÂ
You could practically see the tears falling from his eyes in your head, and you knew just by his tone he wasnât calling for money. Not this time. You could see Alexia out of the corner of your eye, hovering in the doorway uncertainly.Â
I⌠I signed the papers, to give you custody of Will. To make it easier to take him back to Spain with you. Heâd be yours, and I know itâs a lot to ask, and if I had any other option, I would, but the only other option is putting him in the system, and I donât want that for him. I donât. Iâm so sorry to ask this of you, really Iââ
âItâs okay.â You breathed. âItâs alright. Of course, Iâll take him. Of course I will.â
Alexia moved closer, resting a hand on your shoulder once she noticed the tears in your eyes. You let her anchor you, suddenly very sure that this was it with her. Today had been the last nice day youâd have with her, and you hadnât even known it.Â
 But there wasnât a question of whether youâd do it or not.Â
âAre you sure? With your career andââ
âI can make it work.â You said. âIâll make it work.âÂ
âOkay.â Leo replied, sounding overwhelmingly relieved. âIâm sorry. Iâm so sorry. I wish IââÂ
âIâll be there as soon as I can to get him.â You cut in, unwilling to hear another apology. It wouldnât fix anything.
 Leo gave you the name of the woman to call, before saying goodbye and hanging up. Even after the call ended, you remained frozen, thinking through all the details, all the things you needed to do, unsure where to start.Â
âAmor?âÂ
Right. Thatâs where you had to start.Â
You turned to Alexia, your face completely impassive. It was the face you made when the team lost and you were upset, or when you got hurt and didnât want to cry. It was you running from vulnerability, and it had been a long time since Alexia had seen you make it towards her. Sheâd thought you were past this.Â
âMy brother was arrested. Iâm getting custody of his son. Will. Heâs 5. Iâm going to bring him back to Spain with me.â You spoke robotically, eyes fixed on a point on the wall just beyond Alexiaâs shoulder.Â
âOh⌠oh wow.â Alexia breathed, nodding her head slowly as she took the information in.Â
âItâs a good thing I didnât get rid of my old apartment. Iâll move my stuff when I get back, you donât need to worry about any of it. Iâll move back in there andââ
âWhy would you do that?â Alexia interrupted, her face twisted with confusion. You looked at her for a moment, her brown roots growing out and the oversized t-shirt she had on. It was soft, your favorite for her to wear because you loved the way the fabric felt on your skin when she held you.Â
God this was hard. Â
âI⌠I wonât do this to you, Ale. I wonât. You donât need this, but I have toââ
âNo. Stop. We are not breaking up, and you are not moving out.âÂ
You turned away from her when you saw the tears in her eyes, clenching your fists tightly and taking a few slow deep breaths. She was making this so hard, but you should have known she would.Â
âAlexia,â you began, your voice abruptly cutting off when the midfielder gently grabbed you by the shoulders and turned back towards her.Â
âNo. No.â She repeated, shaking her head over and over. âDo you love me?âÂ
You exhaled sharply, desperately wanting to wipe the tear off her cheek. To cradle her face in your hands, and kiss her frown away. You should lie, that would be the best choice. But you couldnât bring yourself to do so.Â
âI do, Ale. I love you so much. Thatâs whyââ
âThen thatâs it. You love me and I love you and people who love each other do not break up.â Alexia said firmly, her lip trembling even as she bit it to make it stop.Â
âAlexia, please. Itâs okay. You donât have to do this with me, I could never ask you to.âÂ
âYou are not asking. I am telling you. I am not going anywhere, and neither are you. You bring Will here and weâll figure it out together. Together, amor.âÂ
She moved closer, her hands cradling your cheeks, wiping your tears away just as youâd wanted to do with hers. Somehow, she was convincing you. Like she always did. Whenever it felt too unbelievable that she loved you, whenever you became absolutely convinced that youâd tricked her or something, and tried to leave for her. She always convinced you to stay, because she knew you never really wanted to leave her.Â
âItâs gonna be a lot.â You murmured, your hands finding their way to her waist, your body giving in before your brain did. âItâs gonna be really hard, especially with work.âÂ
âWe can do it. Together.â Alexia promised, leaning forward to dust a kiss across the tip of your nose. âI love you. Iâm not going anywhere. Weâre going to do it together, okay? Donât push me out. Please.âÂ
âOkay.â You allowed, finally giving in and leaning into her. She wrapped her arms around your body, squeezing so tight it almost hurt.Â
âPromise me? No pushing me away.â She whispered into your ear.Â
âI promise.â You breathed the words back, knowing, somehow, that you wouldnât break this promise. Never before had you gone back on something youâd promised Alexia, and you didnât intend to start now.Â
â
The plane ride had been long, and though you were already exhausted, you hadnât slept a wink. You were wide awake when the plane took off, and wide awake when it landed hours later. Some sleep would have really done you some good, but there was nothing to do about that now.Â
It was really an amalgamation of all of your least favorite things. The social services office was just as bad as you remembered it. Just as⌠lonely, regardless of how incredibly crowded it was. It was overly beige, from the walls down to the outfit the woman sitting across from you was wearing. Susan. Even her name sounded beige. Then, there was the paperwork. An endless pile of it on the desk in front of you. Your hand was starting to cramp from signing, and all you wanted was to see Will. Physically see him, make sure he was okay. He was somewhere in this building, surrounded by strangers. It was impossible not to picture him, all small and scared in an office, wondering if you were really coming for him.Â
You remembered that feeling. No one had ever come for you and Leo.Â
But you were here for Will. You were here for him, and it didnât matter too much that he barely knew you; at least, that's what you told yourself.Â
You were his aunt that lived far away in Spain, that sent at least three presents for his birthday every year, and three more for Christmas. You talked to him on the phone every so often, and Leo liked to send a picture of Will wearing your kit every few months. He liked dinosaurs and crafts, and he adored your brother. Willâs mom had never been in the picture; youâd never met her, never even gotten Leo to tell you her name. It was just the two of them, and you knew it was hard. You didnât know it was this hard for your brother, though. Youâd have stepped in much sooner if youâd known.Â
Signing the last piece of paper, you inhaled deeply and slid it back across the desk towards Susan.Â
âOkay! Thatâs everything in order. It would be a lot more complicated if your brother hadnât signed over his rights. Great foresight of him, to have the paperwork all ready!â
Yeah. Great foresight. Leo clearly possessed that.Â
âIâll go get Will! Like I said before, heâs been having a tough time, but the minute he arrived here he asked for you, telling us he was supposed to make sure that his Aunt came for him if anything ever happened to his Dad. I think heâll settle once he finally sees you.âÂ
Susan smiled kindly, stepping away from the desk and briskly walking down the hall.Â
The words settled something in you that worried Will wouldnât want to go with you, while at the same time, making you so incredibly frustrated. Leo could make sure to prepare Will for this exact situation to occur, yet he couldnât avoid committing felonies?Â
Before you could think too hard about what to say or do, there he was. Walking slowly down the hall next to Susan, a blue dinosaur clutched tightly to his chest. His brown hair fell messily around his head, in a way that reminded you of your brother. He was small, wearing a sweatshirt and shorts and a pair of velcro shoes. Small and scared, his face creased with anxiety and fear, even as he approached you.Â
âHere she is!â Susan said encouragingly, gently nudging Will closer when he came to a stop just in front of you. He was gazing up at you with wide, unsure eyes, and you could see tear tracks on his cheeks, his eyes red and puffy. He was so small.Â
It was instinctual, something you didnât even know you possessed that had you kneeling down and opening your arms. Willâs forehead un-creased just slightly, and he rushed forward, wrapping his arms tight around your neck.Â
âHey, buddy. Everythingâs okay now. Iâve got you.â You whispered, holding tightly to the little boy that was clinging onto you as if you were the last stable thing in the world. And you supposed you were; in his world at least.Â
Will exhaled shakily. For the first time in two whole days, he felt just a tiny bit safe. He didnât know you well, granted, but his Daddy had always told him that if there was an emergency, to make sure to call you. Heâd taught Will how to click your contact and call. Will hadnât been sure youâd come. You lived far away, and he barely ever saw you. The two of you were strangers practically. But Leo had always told Will that youâd come for him if he needed you. And Leo had never broken a promise to Will before⌠Well not until the other day, heâd waited in the office at school for a whole hour after the bell rang. When someone came for him, it wasnât his Dad. It was a police officer with a mustache and a mean face, and all Will could do was cry, and make sure that the police officer knew he had to call you. And though the details Will had been given were few, he knew his Dad had been bad and he was in trouble. Big trouble. The police officer had sounded all angry and stern when heâd told Will this, softening only slightly when Will asked when heâd get to see his Dad again.
The police officer hadnât answered, instead telling Will that he was being taken to the social services office, where heâd wait to figure out what the next steps were.Â
Will had waited for you, and even though the nice lady had told him you were coming, it took a while. More than one day, but he couldnât quite remember. It felt like forever.Â
But now you were here, and youâd given him a hug that felt like the hugs his Dad gave him, and he didnât feel like he had to try to be brave anymore. Your arms didnât loosen around him even as you stood up, and Will let himself relax. Just for a moment.Â
â
âWe going to Spain?â Will wondered, gripping two of your fingers when you held out your hand towards him. He trotted along next to you as you headed from the social services building down the block to your hotel.Â
âYeah. Barcelona.â You affirmed. Luckily, Will had been able to talk to Leo on the phone, and Leo told him what the plan was.Â
âBar-sa-lonuh? Or Spain?âÂ
âBarcelona is a city in Spain.â You clarified. âWeâll go there on a plane tomorrow morning.âÂ
âIs it a big plane?âÂ
âItâs a pretty big plane. Have you ever been on a plane before?âÂ
Will shook his head, brown curls blowing backwards slightly in the wind.
âItâll be fun. Weâll get snacks and⌠pick out a few movies to watch. And you can sleep if you want to.âÂ
âSnacks and movies?â Will repeated.Â
âYes! Does that sound fun?â You tried to sound excited even though there wasnât really anything you were dreading more than the long flight with a five year old.Â
Will just shrugged, his hand tightening around your fingers. Shifting the strap of his big duffel bag so it was further up on your shoulder, stopping just outside the hotel and bending down so you were eye level with him.Â
âI know itâs a lot of change, Will. And I know you donât know me very well butââÂ
âMy Daddy said youâre nice. And that youâll take good care of me.â Will whispered, tearing up as he remembered the phone call heâd gotten to have with his father this morning. Leo had called you right after, himself trying to hold it together as he explained he told Will that you were coming for him.Â
âIâm going to do my very best to take good care of you. Weâre gonna figure it out together, alright?âÂ
Will nodded slowly, taking a deep breath and rubbing at his eye with his fist. âAlright.âÂ
You figured that was the best youâd get, for now.Â
â
âTia?â Will whispered. You turned, finding him all tucked into one of the double beds, the covers pulled up to his chin. He was so small, the dinosaur pajamas heâd pulled out of his duffel bag a bit too big on him. âDad said Iâd grow into them if I ate my vegetablesâ, Will had said. Your brother was many things, and a good father was one of them. He was giving you a huge responsibility and huge shoes to fill.Â
Refocusing on Will and not how much he looked like your brother, you smiled, walking over and sitting on the edge of the bed.Â
âWhatâs up, buddy?â You asked, hesitating for a moment before reaching and out brushing one of his curls away from his face. His whole body relaxed at the motion, and he looked a bit more confident as he opened his mouth to speak again.Â
âDo we have to go to Spain? We⌠we canât stay here?âÂ
Your heart twisted in your chest. You thought of your brother's words on the phone the past few days. Heâd repeated it a few times, as if knowing the doubt youâd carry.Â
You canât leave Spain. You have a career and a life there. Will speaks a bit of Spanish, and heâll adjust. He needs to be with you, and you need to be where youâre going to be happy. That will be the best thing for him.
Leo spoke with a wisdom in his voice that used to infuriate you, but youâd decided to trust the big brother voice, this time. Because he was Willâs dad, and he knew what Will needed.Â
âWe have to go to Spain.â You confirmed. Will frowned, an unhappy look on his face that tore at your emotions. âI know, itâs going to be an adjustment. But your Dad told me to take you there, and he always knows best, right?âÂ
Will looked conflicted. âI like it here.â
âI know, I know you do.â You paused, thinking once again back to your brother's advice.Â
Talk to him like heâs a person, not a baby. Heâs a smart kid, heâll understand.Â
âI play football in Spain. Itâs my job there, so thatâs where we have to be for now. But youâll like it, I promise. Itâs warm and sunny and it has really good food. Alexia is there, and I know youâll love her, and sheâs so excited to meet you in person.âÂ
Thankfully, Will had met Alexia over facetime before, and knew that you were together. You didnât have to introduce the idea to him, as heâd somehow already seemed to know it wouldnât just be the two of you when you arrived in Spain.Â
Will looked doubtful, and you could see the anxiety clearly written across his face. His features were so like Leoâs, and it was the same face your brother always had when he was nervous about something. The same face you had when you were nervous about something.Â
âWhy donât you ask me questions about Spain? And Iâll answer them, and then youâll know more before we get there.âÂ
Will was a talker, that much you knew. And so the questions began, about the food in Spain, about school in Spain, about the team you played for, and whether there were dinosaur toys there. Question after question, until you laid down on the bed next to him, eyes barely open.Â
âDo you live in a house in Spain?â Will asked, his energy still in full force as he asked what felt like the 500th question of the evening.Â
âAn apartment, but youâll have your own room.âÂ
âAnd Alexia lives there?âÂ
You nodded groggily.Â
âDoes she speak Spanish?âÂ
âShe does, but she also speaks English.âÂ
Will hummed. âMy Dad was teaching me some Spanish for when we met Alexia. He said your tia taught you both Spanish and that's why I call you tia because thatâs Spanish for aunt.âÂ
At this, you cracked a smile, forcing your eyes open as you nodded. âThatâs true. We lived with our tia for a while and she taught us Spanish.âÂ
âIs it hard to learn? Iâm not very good.â Will wondered, his questions seemingly endless.Â
âMmm, not hard. Youâll pick it up quickly, especially at school and with Alexia helping you with it.âÂ
âIs she nice?âÂ
âSheâs very nice.â You promised, eyes flying open when you realized you had a text from Alexia you hadnât yet read or responded to. Will yawned hugely as you pulled your phone out of your sweatshirt pocket, and you smiled down at him again.Â
âGo to sleep, buddy. I can answer more questions tomorrow.âÂ
With a small grunt of agreement and another yawn, he rolled over. Right into you, his head resting against your arm. It was indescribable, the soft feeling that filled your heart. Soft adoration, even as you stilled the left side of your body completely so as not to disturb him.Â
You didnât know much about kids, but it seemed you knew enough. For now.Â
Finally, you opened Alexiaâs text, tears pooling in your eyes as you read her words.Â
Amor! I hope everything is going well. Youâre doing great already, I am sure of it. I stopped at the store and got a few things for Will. You said he likes dinosaurs, sĂ?I love you, Iâll see you tomorrow. I canât wait to hug you.Â
God, you couldnât wait to see her. It wasnât very odd for the two of you to spend a night apart, but something about this felt different. You missed her deeply, fully, needed her to hold you and promise everything was going to be okay. The anxiety of how this whole new life would work was almost overshadowed by your excitement to see her again.Â
Almost.Â
â
Will was a pretty well behaved kid, youâd learned. Very sleepy when he woke up in the morning, but he snapped right out of it when you asked him what he wanted to download to watch on the plane. He very eagerly selected three disney movies, and you realized with a pang to your chest that all three were movies you and your brother had grown up on.Â
All three were Leoâs favorites, if you remembered right.Â
And now they were Willâs.Â
Not being the biggest fan of crowds, the airport clearly made your nephew nervous. He fidgeted his little hands together, walking so close to you that he ran into you every time you stopped. His hand would dart out to grab onto the hem of your t-shirt whenever anyone got too close to him, and he almost cried when the security agent made him walk through the metal detector by himself.Â
You figured this made sense, that after his whole world had been turned upside down, of course heâd attached himself onto the most stable thing he could find. That happened to be you. It was just⌠odd. Something you werenât used to. The checklist youâd made on your phone helped, reminding you to ask Will if he had to go to the bathroom, if he was hungry or thirsty, if he had any more questions about the plane. It was more than terrifying, honestly, that you were suddenly fully responsible for this small boy.Â
There was stress, of course. But there was also something so⌠incredibly different in the way Will pressed his face to the glass of the plane window, staring wide eyed as the plane took off. For every moment you worried you were messing up, even in the first 24 hours, there were 10 moments where Will rested his head against your shoulder or reached for your hand, or offered you one of his animal crackers with a smile that had you convinced that for your nephew, maybe you could do this.Â
â
âI can walk, Tia.â Will mumbled, squirming slightly in your arms.Â
You chuckled, rubbing his back softly. âItâs okay, buddy, itâs crowded and I know that makes you nervous.â Â
Youâd picked him up a moment ago, after noticing how terrified he looked at the massive crowds making their way through the airport. It was a struggle to wrangle both of your bags in one hand, while holding Will in the other, but you didnât want him to be uncomfortable. You took two steps towards the exit before you had to stop and readjust, wishing you had another pair of hands here to help.Â
Alexia had texted that she was there, and though youâd assumed that meant she was outside in her car, your eyes met hers across the bustling baggage claim before you had to take another step.Â
Your whole body practically sagged with relief, your bags falling to the ground where you stood as Alexia made her way over to you both, a concerned and sympathetic smile on her face.Â
âMi amor,â she greeted, softly kissing your temple and pulling you into as much of a hug as she could manage with Will still in your arms.Â
âHi.â You choked out, almost in tears at the sight of her. Here, in front of you, at the perfect time. With a smile on her face, already reaching for your bags.Â
âHi, Will.â She said gently.Â
Will peaked out from where his face had become hidden in your neck, relaxing a bit when he saw the semi familiar face.Â
âHi.â He whispered back, turning his face back in towards you and shutting his eyes.Â
âHeâs tired.â You explained, but Alexia just waved you off, beginning to lead you from the airport to the parking garage. It was much easier now that you only had to worry about carrying Will, who was quickly becoming dead weight in your arms as he drifted off.Â
âOf course he is, it has been a long few days. I bet youâre exhausted too. We can go home and go right to sleep, sĂ? We can worry about anything else tomorrow.âÂ
You nodded your agreement, not even wanting to contemplate the state of your to do list at the moment, though it was getting harder and harder to ignore.Â
As you arrived at the car, you shouldnât have been surprised by the car seat perfectly installed in the back of Alexiaâs car. Youâd mentioned needing one to her, but for some reason⌠you half expected her to forget. Or get the wrong one. You werenât sure why, but it was just something that you thought youâd have to do.Â
Yet when you opened the door to the back seat, it was all done for you. The perfect size for Will, buckled in correctly and everything. You carefully deposited him in the seat and buckled him in, before turning to Alexia, once again with tears in your eyes.Â
âThank you for getting that.â You mumbled, shutting the car door as quietly as you could.Â
âOf course.â Alexia said easily, her lips curving into a smile as she opened her arms for you. You practically collapsed into them, gripping tight to your girlfriend as she did the same to you.Â
âI missed you so much.â You cried.Â
âI missed you too, mi amor. You have no idea.â Alexia whispered back, her hand threading through your hair as she just held you for a moment. Eventually she leaned down to press her lips to yours. You kissed her back, taking in the feel of her hands as they cupped your jaw, her fading blonde hair tickling the side of your face.Â
When you pulled back from the kiss, she was still gazing at you so lovingly it made your heart burst.Â
âLetâs get you both home.â She suggested, and you nodded your agreement, needing nothing more than to be home in that moment.Â
â
The relief you felt when you finally stepped back into your apartment wasnât complete relief. Because you were home, but everything was different. There was a whole other person that had to fit into your life now, and you didnât even know where to begin carving out a space for him. There was figuring out a school that could accommodate a five year old that spoke very little Spanish. Then there was finding childcare for when training didnât perfectly align with school, or when the team was traveling. Would you bring Will with for away games?Â
The issues you needed to address were seemingly endless, but most urgently was that the extra bedroom was not fit for a child. It had a double bed, which would work for now, but didnât leave much room for anything else. What did a kid even need in his bedroom?Â
Toys, of course.Â
Books.Â
A desk?Â
A dresser? Or would the closet be enough?Â
God he would need more clothes.Â
And food that he'd like to eat.Â
And shampoo and conditioner for kids. Those were different from adult hair products, right?Â
That was most urgent, you decided. Making your home a home for him.Â
âWe should go shopping tomorrow.â You murmured, shifting Will in your arms a bit as you headed for the guest bedroom. Heâd fallen asleep in the car and it was night, so it made sense for him to keep sleeping.Â
What time did kids his age go to bed? 7? 8? You had no idea. Another question to answer.Â
With a gentle hand on your back guiding you down the hall, Alexia hummed in agreement, but you missed the small smile on her face. âI bought a few things.â She reminded you.Â
Your assumption was that a few things were a pair of pajamas, a new toy. A book, maybe? But when Alexia stepped around you to push the bedroom door open, your jaw dropped.Â
A few things, apparently, was an entirely redecorated room. A beautifully redecorated room. The walls were no longer white; instead they were painted a soft green. A wooden twin bed sat in the corner, a green canopy hanging the tall headboard and footboard. The bed was covered in a green comforter, a soft throw blanket, and 4 different pillows. A long shelf sat just under the large window, filled with toys and books. There was a separate toy box next to the bookshelf, overflowing with even more toys; cars and books and dolls and stuffed animals. Everything. Wall decor, a rug, a dresser, a cozy chair in the corner next to a lamp.Â
Alexia had thought of everything. And if youâd had any doubts about her dedication to this, to you, to Will, you no longer did. Alexia had done what youâd been too preoccupied to think of and made Will a space that was entirely his own, a place he could feel safe and comforted. Sheâd made your home his home without a second thought.Â
Without a word, you walked further into the room, choking back a sob as you laid a still sleeping Will down carefully on the bed. He shifted in his sleep, snuggling close to the soft pillows as you draped the throw blanket over him.Â
When you finally turned back towards your girlfriend, she was hovering in the doorway, chewing on her bottom lip as she gazed at you worriedly.Â
âToo much?â She whispered.Â
You barely held back the scoff that would have been much too loud, crossing the room quickly and throwing your arms around her.Â
âNo. Perfect. You're perfect. Thank you.â You mumbled into her neck, pressing kiss after kiss to the skin you found there. Alexia tightened her hold, walking the two of you backwards and out the door so you didnât wake Will.Â
âAre you crying?â Alexia asked, her thumb tracing across your cheek bone as she leaned back from your embrace.Â
You sniffled pathetically, leaning back in to press your forehead to Alexiaâs chest and steady yourself.Â
âI was just so overwhelmed and you did this and itâs perfect Ale. Thank you. Thank you.âÂ
Alexia pressed a kiss to the top of your head, squeezing you tightly.Â
âYou donât have to thank me. I promised, no? Iâm here. We are doing this together.âÂ
âI love you.â You cried, overwhelmed with love and wonder at what an incredible person your girlfriend was. Youâd already known, but she always found a way to surprise you, doing something so absurdly kind and thoughtful that you were struck all over again with how good she was.Â
âI love you too.â Alexia replied, swaying the two of you back and forth gently.Â
There were still a lot of unknowns. A lot of problems to solve and things to figure out. But youâd never been more sure that you could do it. It wasnât ideal, but you had Alexia and that was certainly ideal.Â
â
JUST finished this so PLEASE tell me if you catch a typo
also planning more parts to this but i'm VERY open to ideas if you have them :)
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Katie and Y/N had been living together for a few months now, and their cozy little apartment was beginning to feel a bit too quiet. The two had spent many nights discussing how to make their home feel more like a family, and one thought kept creeping up: getting a pet. Theyâd always joked about it, but now that the idea was on the table, it was time for some serious discussions.
âIâve been thinking,â Katie began one afternoon, as she snuggled up to Y/N on the couch, âWe should get a cat. Theyâre independent, clean, and theyâre just⌠perfect.â
Y/N turned to her, raising an eyebrow. âA cat?â She grimaced slightly. âIâm not sure about that. Cats are⌠sneaky, and they donât really care about you unless they want something.â
Katieâs face lit up, and she playfully nudged Y/Nâs shoulder. âThatâs what I love about them. Theyâre mysterious, and theyâre so cute when they ignore you just enough to make you want their attention even more.â
Y/N rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. âYeah, but I want a dog. A big one. Someone whoâll love me no matter what and follow me around the house like a shadow. A loyal companion.â
Katie crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. âA dog? Theyâre so needy. Always jumping on you, licking your face, begging for attention.â
Y/N raised an eyebrow. âSounds like you, babe,â she teased, and Katie scowled playfully.
âIâm not needy!â Katie shot back with a grin. âIâm just affectionate. But youâre right about one thing⌠I do want someone whoâll follow me around. That way, Iâm never alone.â
âExactly,â Y/N agreed, her tone softening. âA dog would do that. A cat would just stare at me like Iâm the hired help.â
The two fell into an awkward silence for a moment, both of them clearly invested in their opinions but not sure how to move forward.
Finally, Y/N broke the silence. âOkay, fine. You want a cat. I want a dog. What do we do now?â
Katie looked thoughtful for a second before grinning mischievously. âWhat if we get both?â
Y/N blinked, taken aback. âBoth? You want two pets?â
Katie shrugged. âWhy not? We could get a cat for me and a dog for you, and they can have each other as company when weâre both out.â
âUh-uh,â Y/N said, shaking her head. âIâm not having a cat and a dog tearing up the place. Itâll be chaos.â
Katie rolled her eyes. âOkay, okay. So weâll have to compromise, right?â
The idea of compromise wasnât one Y/N enjoyed, but she knew they needed to figure something out. After all, this was something important to both of them.
âWhat if we get a fish?â Y/N suggested hesitantly, a little unsure of how Katie would respond.
Katie paused, thinking. âA fish? Really?â
Y/N nodded. âItâs low-maintenance, no barking or meowing, and we can just watch it swim around. Itâs like⌠the perfect middle ground.â
Katie sighed dramatically. âI wanted a furry little friend, not a fish that just floats around.â
âWell, I wanted a big dog whoâll run around the yard with me, but weâre not exactly in a house with a yard,â Y/N shot back, her tone teasing. âA fish will do just fine.â
Katie folded her arms, clearly not convinced. âFine. Weâll get a fish. But Iâm not going to be excited about it.â
Y/N grinned. âWell, at least we wonât have to deal with your cat fur all over the place.â
The two of them went to the pet store the next day, picking out a small aquarium, some plants, and a couple of colorful fish. They both looked at each other as they set up the tank, their eyes not exactly filled with excitement, but more with the realization that theyâd just made a decision neither of them was truly happy about.
âI canât believe weâre doing this,â Katie muttered, half-laughing as she filled the tank with water.
Y/N chuckled, glancing over at her. âI know. Itâs not the dog or the cat we wanted, but itâs something.â
Katie gave a mock-sigh. âI was hoping for a cat that I could cuddle. Now Iâm stuck with a fish that⌠I canât even pet.â
âWell, we canât exactly pet a dog when itâs on a walk, can we?â Y/N shot back. âAt least a fish wonât bite you.â
The two of them stared at the fish, their eyes softening just a little. The fish swam gracefully, moving in and out of the plants in the tank.
âItâs kind of peaceful, though,â Y/N admitted quietly. âI like watching it swim.â
Katie nodded, her arms crossing as she leaned against the counter. âYeah, itâs kind of⌠relaxing.â
âI guess itâs not so bad,â Y/N said, glancing at Katie with a small smile. âAnd hey, if we ever change our minds, we can always get a cat or a dog later.â
Katie rolled her eyes but smiled, reaching out to poke Y/Nâs side. âWeâre not getting another pet. This fish is our baby now.â
Y/N laughed. âSure, babe. Our fish baby.â
Katie shrugged. âAt least itâs not a hamster. Weâd be arguing about the cage size all week.â
As they both stood there, looking at the small, quiet fish, they realized that sometimes compromise wasnât about getting exactly what you wanted. It was about making things work, even if neither of you was entirely thrilled with the outcome. And in the end, that was enough.
After all, they had each other. And a fish.
It had been two days since Katie and Y/N brought home their fish. The tank had settled in nicely in the corner of their living room, and the little fish, a shimmering orange and white goldfish with delicate fins, had quickly become a peaceful, if somewhat unexpected, addition to their home.
However, there was still one pressing issue left: the fish needed a name.
âOkay, weâve been avoiding this long enough,â Y/N said, sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of the tank. The fish swam around, blissfully unaware of the importance of the conversation at hand. âItâs time to name the fish.â
Katie, who was lounging on the couch with her feet propped up on the coffee table, looked over at Y/N with a dramatic sigh. âI know. But what do we name it? Weâre just going to call it âthe fishâ forever, arenât we?â
Y/N shot her a playful look. âDonât tell me youâre not getting attached already.â
Katie rolled her eyes, but a faint smile tugged at her lips. âI mean, Iâm not attached, but itâs hard not to get a little fond of something that doesnât argue back.â
Y/N grinned. âExactly. So, letâs give it a name.â
Katie sat up, crossing her arms. âAlright, alright. What do you have in mind?â
Y/N squinted at the fish, watching it swim in slow, graceful circles. âWhat about⌠Fluff?â
Katie raised an eyebrow. âFluff? Itâs a fish. I donât think itâs fluffy.â
âOkay, fine. Maybe not Fluff,â Y/N conceded, tapping her chin thoughtfully. âHow about⌠Bubbles?â
Katie snorted. âBubbles? Youâre naming it after a childhood cartoon character?â
Y/N shrugged. âItâs cute. And itâs an easy go-to name for a fish. Plus, it suits this little guy.â She pointed at the fish, which was now hovering near the surface, its fins fluttering like delicate lace.
Katie scoffed dramatically. âThatâs a bit too clichĂŠ, donât you think?â
Y/N gave her a side-eye. âYouâre one to talk. You suggested Sir Swims-a-lot.â
Katie blushed and smirked, clearly embarrassed but not willing to back down. âItâs a good name. Heâs got a lot of energy. Could be an aristocrat of the fish world, ruling over all the other tank creatures.â
Y/N chuckled. âOh, Sir Swims-a-lot. Thatâs rich. We might need a crown for him.â
Katie stuck her tongue out at her, but then paused, looking at the fish again. âOkay, okay. Letâs take this seriously for a second.â She shifted on the couch, resting her chin in her hand. âWhat about something more⌠regal? Like Neptune?â
Y/N shook her head. âThatâs a bit too formal for a fish thatâs just chilling in a tank.â
Katie frowned. âYou know, youâre no fun sometimes.â
âHey, Iâm just thinking practically. We need a name thatâs cute but also a little ridiculous, donât you think?â Y/N said, smirking.
Katie raised a finger, as though struck by a sudden revelation. âWhat about⌠Fishy McFishface?â
Y/N blinked at her. âOh no, you did not just go there.â
Katie grinned, leaning back with satisfaction. âI did. And I stand by it. Itâs a classic.â
Y/N groaned, shaking her head. âI canât believe you just referenced that. Itâs too much of a meme.â
âBut itâs perfect!â Katie argued. âItâs funny and it makes people smile. You love making people laugh.â
Y/N paused, considering. âYou know, it does have a certain charmâŚâ
âI knew youâd come around,â Katie said smugly, crossing her arms and leaning back on the couch.
Y/N shook her head, trying to hold back a grin. âI mean, itâs ridiculous, but itâs kind of our ridiculous. Fine, Fishy McFishface it is.â
Katieâs eyes lit up with triumph. âYes! I knew youâd see the genius in it.â
As Y/N got up to grab a marker and label the tank with the new name, she paused and glanced back at Katie, who was now looking at the fish with a fond expression.
âYou know,â Y/N said, her tone softer now, âeven if itâs just a fish, Iâm kind of glad we did this. Itâs nice having something⌠alive in here that we get to look after together.â
Katie smiled, her eyes warm. âYeah, me too. Maybe itâs not a dog or a cat, but itâs still part of the family.â
Y/N gave her a teasing look. âYouâre not gonna start getting too attached, are you? I donât need you calling it your âbaby.ââ
Katie stuck her tongue out playfully. âItâs my fish, and Iâm going to spoil it rotten. Itâs just as good as a dog, but without all the barking.â
Y/N rolled her eyes but smiled as she walked over to the tank. âAlright, Fishy McFishface, welcome to the family.â
The fish, as if responding to the name, swam in lazy circles, oblivious to the discussion that had just taken place.
Katie McCabe had always been a little too carefree about things. She loved her spontaneous adventures, her carelessness, and her ability to laugh at almost everything, even when it wasnât entirely appropriate. But when it came to taking care of Fishy McFishface, she thought she had it all under control. After all, how hard could it be to care for a fish? Just feed it, change the water once in a while, and keep the tank clean. Right?
Wrong.
It had started out innocently enough. The tank had been sparkling clean, Fishy McFishface was happily swimming around, and Y/N was admiring the little fish from across the room. But Katieâbusy with training, social media, and all the distractions that came with lifeâhad let a few things slide. Sheâd forgotten to feed Fishy a couple of times, skipped cleaning the tank for a few days longer than she should have, and, most unfortunately, she had gotten a bit careless with the water temperature.
Thatâs when things went wrong.
Katie had come home one evening, after a particularly grueling practice session, to find Fishy McFishface floating lifeless at the top of the tank.
âOh no. No, no, noâŚâ Katie muttered, panic rising in her chest. She reached into the tank, scooping up the little fish with trembling hands. âPlease donât be deadâŚâ
But there was no denying it. The fish was gone.
Katie quickly sprang into action. She drained the tank, cleaned everything out, and made a decision: she would replace Fishy McFishface. It was a small fish, after all. Y/N would never notice the difference, right? Katie was sure she could pull it off. She went out and bought a nearly identical goldfish, one that looked just like their beloved pet, only this one was a little more vibrant in color, as if it had been dipped in a bit too much gold.
When Y/N came home, she barely glanced at the tank, distracted by the bag of groceries in her hands.
Katie, trying to act casual, nodded. âOh, you know. Just swimming around. Same old.â
Y/N didnât think much of it, but as she glanced at the tank, she could have sworn the fish had gotten brighter. "It looks different, doesnât it? A bit more⌠golden?"
Katie laughed nervously. âNah, I think itâs just the lighting. Maybe itâs been eating well.â
Y/N raised an eyebrow but shrugged. âWell, Fishy McFishface is looking good. Iâll take it.â
Katie breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe this would work. Maybe the new fish would slip under the radar.
The next day, however, the truth came crashing down.
Y/N had been in the kitchen, making some tea, when she casually glanced over at the tank. Something was off. The fish was definitely not the same one as yesterday. It was slightly larger, a little more sleek, andânow that she was really lookingâits fin markings were wrong. The markings on the fins of the original Fishy McFishface had been a bit more spread out. This one had a more symmetrical pattern.
Y/N crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes, suspicious. She leaned closer to the tank, staring at the fish with increasing doubt. The colors were even brighter than before.
Wait a secondâŚ
âKatie!â Y/N called out sharply from the kitchen.
Katie froze in the living room. She had been doing some stretches, trying to keep her body loose, but the tone of Y/Nâs voice made her stomach drop. âUh, yeah?â
Y/N slowly walked over to the tank, arms crossed, eyes narrowed. She pointed at the fish, now darting around happily. âKatie, did⌠did Fishy McFishface just get a makeover overnight?â
Katieâs heart sank. She had been hoping this wouldnât happen. How did she figure it out so fast?
âWell⌠uhâŚâ Katie stammered, walking over nervously. âI, um⌠Itâs just the lighting, right? Maybe you didnât notice before, butââ
âKatie.â Y/Nâs voice was calm, but the sternness in it sent a little chill down Katieâs spine. âThis is not the same fish.â
Katieâs face went pale. âWhat? Of course it is! What are you talking about?â
Y/Nâs eyes flickered with amusement, but she kept her face stoic. âYouâve replaced Fishy McFishface, havenât you?â
Katieâs mouth went dry. âOkay, fine. I mightâve⌠replaced it. But itâs the same species! Itâs practically the same fish, just⌠newer.â
Y/N raised an eyebrow. âNewer?â
Katie rubbed the back of her neck, looking sheepish. âIâuh, I mightâve accidentally⌠killed it. And, uh, panicked. So I got a new one. I didnât think youâd notice.â
Y/N blinked a few times, processing this. She then crossed her arms and let out a dramatic sigh. âKatie McCabe, you killed our fish?!â
Katie looked absolutely horrified as she took a step toward Y/N. âBabe, I swear, I didnât mean to! I messed up with the water temperature, and then Iââ She trailed off, biting her lip. âPlease donât be mad. Iâve already replaced it, and itâs just as cuteââ
Y/N interrupted her, a mischievous glint in her eye. âI canât believe you would do that, Katie. First, you kill Fishy McFishface. Then you think you can just sneak a new fish in and act like nothing happened?â She placed a hand over her chest. âIâm deeply hurt, Katie. Youâve betrayed me.â
Katieâs face crumpled as she looked at Y/N with pleading eyes. âIâm so sorry! I didnât know what else to do! Please donât be upset. Iââ She dropped to her knees in front of Y/N, clasping her hands together. âPlease, Y/N, Iâll do anything to make it up to you. Iâll⌠Iâll clean the tank every week. Iâll feed it every single day. Iâll even get another fish if you wantâjust donât be mad at me.â
Y/N looked down at Katieâs dramatic display, unable to keep up the act any longer. She burst into laughter, doubling over as the tension lifted from her body. âOh my God, youâre ridiculous!â
Katie blinked up at her, still kneeling on the floor. âWait⌠what?â
âIâm not actually mad at you!â Y/N gasped between giggles. âItâs just a fish, Katie. But you shouldâve seen the look on your face when you thought I was upset!â
Katieâs expression shifted from panic to confusion, then to realization. âYou were messing with me the whole time, werenât you?â
Y/N nodded, still chuckling. âYou shouldâve seen yourself. You were ready to do anything to make it up to me.â
Katie stood up, rolling her eyes with a relieved sigh. âYouâre cruel, Y/N. Absolutely cruel. Iâm going to remember this.â
Y/N grinned, taking Katieâs hand. âDonât worry, babe. I forgive you. And Iâll let you off the hook⌠this time.â
Katie pulled her in for a kiss. âYouâre lucky I love you,â she muttered, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
âI know,â Y/N said with a grin. âBut, uh, next time you âreplaceâ the fish, maybe just let me know beforehand?â
Katie laughed. âDeal. As long as you promise to pretend to be upset again. It was kind of fun.â
Y/N shook her head. âYeah, yeah. Whatever.â
And so, Fishy McFishface lived in their hearts definitely still part of the family.
It all started during a light-hearted conversation after training. The team was winding down, catching their breath, when Alexia, still stretching, casually said, "I think I might just be the fittest on this team." She glanced around with a confident smirk, her eyes sparkling with the challenge she didnât even need to voice.
You chuckled, rolling your eyes. "Oh, is that so?" The other players caught the look you gave her, eyebrows raised as though you couldnât believe her nerve. "Letâs see about that, then. How about a bleep test?"
A glint of excitement flickered across her face as she nodded. "Youâre on. Prepare to lose."
The team perked up instantly, laughing and eagerly gathering around to watch. Your competitive streaks were legendary, and they knew neither of you would make this easy on the other.
The beeps began, and the challenge was simple: run back and forth in sync with each beep. Each round, the beeps would speed up, and eventually, the less fit ones would give in. But you and Alexia were as stubborn as they come, pushing each other to keep up no matter how fast or relentless the beeps became.
At first, it felt almost too easy. You both stayed light on your feet, easily keeping up with each beep, glancing over at each other with playful, taunting smirks. But as the rounds progressed, the pace picked up, and so did your mutual determination. Everyone else had either dropped out or settled into watching, laughing and cheering you both on.
âCome on, Alexia, thatâs all youâve got?â you teased, though you were breathing harder now, each step starting to feel heavier.
She shot you a look, her grin turning fierce. âOh, cariĂąo, I havenât even started yet.â
You both pushed harder, sweat beginning to bead on your foreheads, muscles burning, breaths coming faster with each sprint across the pitch. The beeps seemed to blur into each other, like an unending taunt neither of you could back away from. The team looked on in awe, practically vibrating with laughter as they witnessed this spectacle. Even the coaching staff exchanged glances, eyebrows raised at the intense show of stubbornness.
Round after round, neither of you slowed. Your legs felt like they were made of cement, but you couldnât quitânot with Alexia watching you, waiting for any sign of weakness. And from the look in her eyes, she wasnât about to quit either.
Finally, with a gasp and a triumphant laugh, you stumbled on a particularly quick turn, only to see Alexia falter as well. You both crumpled onto the grass in unison, panting and grinning despite yourselves, the team breaking into cheers and laughter around you.
âNot so fit now, are you?â you managed to say between gasps, throwing her a playful glare.
She rolled her eyes, still catching her breath. âSpeak for yourself. You look like you canât even get up.â
You both laughed, pushing yourselves up slowly as the team crowded around, still laughing and clapping as they helped you hobble off the field.
The next morning, you felt like youâd aged fifty years overnight. Just sitting up in bed took a monumental effort as every muscle in your legs seemed to scream in protest. Groaning, you reached for your phone, grimacing at the text Alexia had already sent.
Ale: Youâre dead to me. I canât even stand up right now.
You: Look whoâs talking. Iâm still blaming you for this.
With reluctant laughs, you both agreed to skip training and meet up in the recovery room, where you limped in to find Alexia already sprawled on a padded chair, looking as miserable as you felt.
âYou just had to open your mouth,â you muttered, settling in beside her with a wince.
She scoffed, wincing as she tried to adjust. âYou didnât have to challenge me. If anything, this is entirely your fault.â
As you grumbled back and forth, the door swung open to reveal Mapi, grinning from ear to ear. She took in the sight of the two of you slouched, still bickering, and burst into laughter. âIf it isnât our âfittest playersâ! Look at you bothâtoo proud to quit, too stubborn to admit youâre both hopeless.â
âOh, shut up, Mapi,â Alexia mumbled, trying not to laugh and failing.
Mapi didnât let up, of course. She sauntered over, crossing her arms with a teasing smile. âRemind me never to take a bet with either of you two. Youâd probably run a marathon just to win a âwhoâs fasterâ argument.â
She mimicked a dramatic gasp, hand on her heart. âThe mighty Alexia and Y/N, defeated by a beeping noise. Truly, weâre all in awe of your strength.â
You managed a laugh despite the soreness. âKeep talking, Mapi, and maybe next time weâll challenge you.â
Mapi held up her hands in mock surrender. âOh, no, I value my legs, thank you.â
Alexia shot her a glare, half-laughing. âJust wait, Mapi. Youâll regret that.â
Mapiâs laughter echoed in the recovery room as you and Alexia shared a tired but amused look, knowing all too well that your competitive streaks had definitely gotten the best of you this time. But as you leaned back and settled into the recovery session, grumbling and sharing smirks, you couldnât deny the odd satisfaction of knowing youâd both pushed each other to the limitâeven if youâd be paying for it for days.
It was supposed to be a peaceful day. The kind of day that Y/N and Leah loved, filled with quiet drives and lighthearted conversations. After a week of intense training, both were looking forward to a bit of downtime. Leah had suggested a short road trip to the countryside, and Y/N couldnât argueâspending the afternoon together, winding through the rolling hills and quiet roads, sounded perfect.
Leah had parked her car in the apartmentâs underground garage, as she usually did, a spot meticulously chosen to ensure her car was out of harmâs way. Y/N, however, wasnât used to this kind of care with a vehicle. In the past, she had always treated cars like just another mode of transportation, never really focusing on keeping them pristine. Leah, on the other hand, was a different storyâher car was her baby.
Y/N didnât want to mess up the vibe. She wanted to impress Leah, to show her that she could be just as careful. But as she backed the car into the tight garage space, something went horribly wrong. Her attention had been elsewhere, distracted by the morning's conversation with her teammates. She hadnât noticed the trash can that had been left in the corner.
The moment she heard the screeching soundâmetal against metalâher heart plummeted. Y/N winced, quickly putting the car in park and getting out. Her eyes immediately went to the side of the car, where a long, deep scratch ran across the door.
Her stomach churned. She knew Leah loved this car. She had heard Leah talk about it with so much pride, how sheâd worked hard for it, how she maintained it like a precious gem. And now⌠Y/N had ruined it. In that moment, a thousand thoughts raced through her mindâwhat if Leah was furious? What if she couldnât forgive this? What if this was the thing that broke them?
Her palms were sweaty as she ran her hands through her hair in distress. Sheâs going to hate me. Sheâs going to break up with me. Sheâll never look at me the same way again.
When Leah came back from running errands, she was in a cheerful mood, humming softly as she entered the garage. Seeing Y/N standing near the car, she smiled, but the expression quickly faded as she noticed the tense posture of her girlfriend.
âHey, babe,â Leah said with a warm smile, walking over to Y/N. âEverything okay?â
Y/N swallowed hard, feeling like her throat was closing up. She could already see the disappointment in Leahâs eyes, even though Leah hadnât said anything yet. She could hear it in her own head, the sharp edge of anger Leah would surely direct her way.
Y/N took a shaky breath and spoke, her voice small. âLeah⌠I think I messed up.â
Leahâs smile faded into a look of concern. âWhat happened?â she asked gently, her eyes scanning Y/Nâs face.
âI⌠I scratched your car,â Y/N muttered, voice barely above a whisper. âItâs⌠itâs pretty bad.â
Leahâs eyes flicked to the side of the car, inspecting the mark. Y/N immediately tensed up, bracing herself for the worst.
Leah didnât say anything at first. Her brow furrowed slightly, but then, instead of the anger Y/N had feared, Leah took a deep breath and turned toward her, walking slowly.
Y/N couldnât hold back anymore, and her words rushed out like a dam bursting. âIâm so sorry. I know you love this car. I didnât mean to. I know itâs your baby, and I just⌠I didnât think, and now itâs ruined, andââ
âY/N,â Leah interrupted softly, taking Y/Nâs hands in hers. âStop.â
Y/N blinked, looking into Leahâs eyes, surprised by the calmness in her voice. Leah stepped closer, brushing a few strands of hair behind Y/Nâs ear as she searched her eyes with a tenderness that took Y/N by surprise.
âLook at me, babe,â Leah said, her voice still soothing, yet firm. âIâm not mad. Iâm not upset.â
âBut itâs your car!â Y/N cried, still feeling the weight of guilt. âYou love it, and now itâs⌠I scratched it, Leah. Iâm such an idiot.â
Leah shook her head, a small, reassuring smile pulling at the corners of her lips. âItâs just a scratch, Y/N,â she said, her voice calm, almost amused by how worked up Y/N was. âItâs not the end of the world. Iâm more worried about you.â
Y/Nâs frown deepened, confused. âWorried about me?â
Leah nodded, taking a step closer, wrapping her arms around Y/Nâs waist. âI can tell youâve been stressed lately. Youâve had a lot on your mind, and I can see it. But youâre letting something small like this eat at you, and itâs breaking my heart to see you like this.â
Y/Nâs shoulders slumped. âI just⌠I didnât want you to be disappointed in me,â she admitted, her voice cracking. âI thought⌠I thought maybe youâd break up with me over something so stupid.â
Leahâs expression softened even more. She gently pulled Y/N into her arms, holding her tightly against her chest. âDonât be silly,â Leah whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of Y/Nâs head. âI could never break up with you over something like this. Itâs just a car. We can fix it. But if youâre worried about anything, I want you to talk to me about it. Donât bottle it up.â
Y/N melted into Leahâs embrace, feeling the comfort of her warmth, her steady presence. âIâm sorry, Leah. I didnât mean to⌠I just freaked out.â
âBabe,â Leah murmured, brushing her fingers through Y/Nâs hair, âIâm not mad at you. Iâm just glad youâre okay. And Iâm more concerned about your stress than I am about any scratch. Weâll fix it, together.â
Y/N looked up at her, her eyes slightly watery. âYouâre really not mad?â
Leah smiled, leaning down to kiss Y/N softly on the lips, a gentle, lingering kiss. âNot at all. I love you, okay? And I love you more than anything, even if your parking skills need a little work,â she teased, trying to lighten the mood.
Y/N laughed quietly, wiping her eyes. âI love you, too. Thank you for being so⌠understanding. I donât know why I thought youâd be so upset.â
âBecause youâre a bit of a worrywart sometimes,â Leah grinned, her voice playful. âBut thatâs why you have me. To remind you that not everything is as big a deal as you make it out to be.â
Y/N smiled, finally feeling the weight lift off her shoulders. âI donât know what Iâd do without you.â
Leah squeezed her tight, pressing a kiss to her forehead. âYouâll never have to find out. Now, how about we go inside, relax, and forget about the scratch for a bit? We have a whole afternoon ahead of us.â
Y/N nodded, the tension finally gone from her body. As they walked back into their apartment, Y/N felt a rush of love for Leah, for how she always knew just what to say, just how to make everything feel okay.
Leah Williamson was never one to get flustered. On the pitch, she commanded the game with precision, reading plays before they even developed. Off the pitch, she was composed, never letting her emotions get the better of her. That is, until Y/N walked into the room.
It had been months since theyâd started dating, but Leah still felt like she was seeing Y/N for the first time every day. There was something magnetic about herâher smile, the way her laugh made Leahâs heart flutter, even the way she managed to light up a room without even trying. Y/N had that kind of presence.
Today, Y/N walked into the locker room, fresh from training, laughing with Alessia as they entered. Leah couldnât help herself; she immediately turned her attention from the group she was chatting with to her girlfriend, completely entranced. Her eyes followed Y/N, admiring the way she carried herself with such confidence.
Y/N caught Leahâs gaze and winked, making Leahâs breath hitch. She quickly looked away, hoping no one noticed the sudden heat rising in her cheeks.
âEarth to Leah,â Katieâs teasing voice broke through her daze, and Leahâs eyes snapped back to her. Katie was smirking, clearly having noticed Leahâs distraction.
Leah grinned sheepishly, realizing sheâd been staring at Y/N a little too long. âSorry, just⌠distracted,â she muttered, trying to recover.
Katie raised an eyebrow, the mischievous glint in her eyes unmistakable. âBy who? Iâm guessing not me, huh?â
Leah glanced over at Y/N again, who was now chatting with Alessia and laughing at something funny. Her heart fluttered once more. âI donât know what youâre talking about,â she said, avoiding eye contact.
âWell, someone canât seem to keep their eyes off her,â Katie quipped, nudging her with her elbow. The others in the locker room, including Vic and Kyra, shared knowing looks and stifled laughs.
Leah rolled her eyes but couldnât help the small smile that tugged at her lips. She was about to respond when she took a step backward, still thinking about how adorable Y/N looked when she caught her mid-laugh.
Then it happened.
Leah backed straight into the water cooler, sending it crashing to the floor with a loud thud. A cascade of water spilled across the locker room floor.
âOh no,â Leah groaned, her face going bright red as she stumbled forward to catch herself. She ended up off-balance, her knee knocking into a nearby bench, sending a few towels tumbling to the floor.
The entire locker room fell silent for a split second before a chorus of laughter erupted.
âSmooth, Lee,â Katie said, struggling to keep a straight face. âYou planning on redecorating the room with that cooler, orâŚ?â
Leahâs cheeks were flaming as she bent down to grab a towel to clean up the mess. âI wasnât looking where I was going, alright?â she muttered, wiping the water off the floor with an exaggerated frown.
âYou okay there?â Kyraâs voice rang out from the back, amusement written all over her face.
âIâm fine!â Leah responded a little too quickly, trying to get a grip on herself. âIâm justââ
Before she could finish, Y/N turned around, her eyes meeting Leahâs for a brief moment. And once again, Leahâs focus was gone. She forgot everything else around her. In an instant, Leah stood up a little too fast, her foot catching on a chair in the corner of the locker room.
She yelped and staggered forward, knocking over a stack of towels on a nearby bench.
âLeah, for the love of god,â Katie teased, barely able to contain her laughter. âHow many times are you going to do that?â
Leah felt herself turn crimson. She opened her mouth to explain but immediately closed it when she realized she had once again been caught red-handed.
Y/N had already stepped toward her, concern in her eyes. âYou okay, Lee?â She reached out, placing a gentle hand on Leahâs arm to steady her.
Leah felt like her heart had jumped out of her chest. âYeah, just⌠clumsy.â
Y/Nâs lips twitched into a smile, clearly trying to hold back a laugh. âYouâre cute when youâre flustered,â she teased softly, giving Leah a playful look.
Leah chuckled nervously. âYeah, well, I think Iâve hit my head a few too many times today.â
âIâm starting to think you need a handler,â Alessia piped up from across the room, enjoying the show. âMaybe one of us should be on âLeah watchâ every time Y/N walks in.â
Leah looked between her teammates, mortified. âItâs not like that,â she muttered, her cheeks still burning.
âOh, really?â Katie raised her eyebrows, her voice dripping with sarcasm. âSeems like someoneâs got two left feet every time Y/N is around.â
âIâm fine,â Leah insisted, but the laughter from her teammates wasnât helping. She felt herself sinking further into embarrassment.
âIâm just saying,â Katie continued, her tone playful, âitâs a miracle youâre still standing, considering how much time you spend on your knees in front of Y/N.â
Leahâs head snapped to look at Katie in surprise, but she couldnât help but stutter. âKatie, donât- dont make meââ
âMake you what?â Y/N cut in, raising one eyebrow and laughing.
Leah groaned, but she didnât mind. Not really. Being distracted by Y/N wasnât the worst thing in the world. She just had to learn to walk and talk like a normal person when her girlfriend was around.
âI think she should get a fine for every time she bumps into something,â Kyra suggested with a wicked grin. âLetâs start a collection for the âLeah is Clumsy Fundâ.â
Leah rolled her eyes but was secretly grateful for her teammatesâ teasing. They werenât being meanâjust playful. And the attention was worth it when Y/N wrapped her arms around her, gently pulling her into a side hug.
âYouâre a mess, but I love you anyway,â Y/N whispered in Leahâs ear, making her heart flutter all over again.
Leah couldnât help but smile, looking down at Y/N. âMaybe you should be the one who gets distracted by me once in a while. That way, I wonât be the only one crashing into things.â
Y/N laughed softly. âYouâre lucky I find it cute when you get all flustered.â
Leah grinned. âIâm going to need all the help I can get, then.â
Y/N leaned in and kissed her cheek, making Leah feel a little less like a walking disaster. âNo need to worry, love. Iâve got you.â
And with that, Leah realized, maybe she didnât mind being distracted after allâespecially when it meant she got to be with Y/N.
Y/N walked into the changing room, expecting to find the usual post-training chaosâwater bottles here, jerseys there, a few bits of kit scattered on the benches. But this was on another level. A mess of epic proportions.
Protein shake bottles lay on the floor, half-empty, with their lids off, spilling sticky liquid across the floor. An assortment of clothes, some still in training gear and others discarded in the middle of the room, was strewn about, creating an obstacle course. Half-open snack wrappers crinkled underfoot, and towels were abandoned haphazardly across the benches. It looked like someone had taken a whirlwind tour of the room and forgotten to clean up after themselves.
Y/N froze in the doorway, mouth agape.
âWhat the hell happened in here?â Y/N muttered, stepping into the chaos, surveying the damage. Her hands flew to her hips as she turned to face the team. âWho even leaves a place like this? This is so disrespectful. Weâre a team, weâre supposed to take care of our space. Whoever made this mess should be reprimanded. They should pay a fine or be suspended for a game. This is ridiculous.â
The room fell silent. A few players exchanged awkward glances, and some even stifled small chuckles, glancing at each other. It wasnât every day they saw Y/N go off like this. Normally cool-headed, Y/Nâs frustration seemed to be bubbling over today.
Leah, who had just come out of the showers, raised an eyebrow, clearly amused but trying to hold back her laughter. âY/N⌠I donât think itâs that deep.â
âItâs that deep, Leah,â Y/N snapped, gesturing to the mess. âLook at this. Itâs disrespectful to all of us. You know how hard we work. Thisââ She pointed to an empty water bottle rolling across the floor, ââthis is a disaster.â
Katie, who was sitting on the bench nearby, grinned mischievously. âYou know, you could always just pick it up yourself, right?â
âNo,â Y/N huffed, her eyes scanning the room, clearly riled up. âSomeone needs to be held accountable. This isnât just a little accident. Itâs a pattern of neglect.â
Just then, the door opened, and Alessia Russo walked in, her attention quickly drawn to the group as she noticed them all looking toward her. She hadnât noticed the mess yet.
Y/N shot a pointed glance toward the protein shake bottle, still leaking a sticky mess onto the floor. âWhoever did this needs to clean it upâimmediately. No exceptions.â
Leah couldnât help but smile, taking a slow step toward Y/N. âWell, you might want to turn around, becauseââ
Before she could finish, Y/Nâs voice rang out again, sharp and direct. âAnd Iâm serious. If this happens again, I donât care if itâsââ
âUh, Y/N,â Leah interrupted, a grin tugging at her lips as she stepped to the side. âItâs Alessiaâs mess.â
Y/N froze mid-sentence, her eyes wide. She turned slowly to see Alessia, who was now staring at the group, completely unaware of the mess she had left behind. Her eyes darted from teammate to teammate, catching their expressions. And then her gaze fell on the aftermath sheâd left in her rush.
âOh no,â Y/N muttered, her face turning bright red. She hadnât even noticed that Alessia was the culprit when she was ranting. âI didnâtâuh⌠I didnât realize it wasââ
Katie raised an eyebrow, giving Y/N an amused look. âYou sure? You were just about to have someone suspended for this.â
Y/N, caught in the moment, quickly tried to backtrack, her voice dropping an octave as she rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. âWell, I mean, we all get caught up in things, right? Just a little⌠oversight. Nothing major. Itâs fine. Not a big deal. Right, Alessia?â
Alessia, who had been listening with an amused grin, walked over and casually tossed her gym bag on the bench. âYeah, I was running late for media stuff,â she said with a shrug. âGuess I left a trail behind me. Sorry about that.â
Y/N, now visibly flustered, waved her hand dismissively, trying to cover up her earlier outburst. âNo, no, itâs⌠itâs really not that serious. Just, maybe next time, a little more care when youâre in a rush? Thatâs all. Right, guys?â She forced a smile, but it was clear she was embarrassed.
Katie burst out laughing, slapping her hands on the bench. âOh, you were so ready to fine someone for this mess, and now youâre backtracking?â
âI was justââ Y/N started, but she didnât have the energy to continue. âI guess I got a little carried away. Itâs Alessia. Iâll let it slide⌠just this once.â
Alessia, who had clearly caught the shift in Y/Nâs tone, grinned and casually threw an arm around her shoulders. âItâs all good, babe. Thanks for being so understanding. Iâll do better next time.â
Y/N shot a playful glare at her, trying to regain her composure. âJust⌠donât make me do a whole speech next time. Iâll have to give you a fine or something.â
The entire team erupted into laughter as Y/Nâs serious demeanor quickly crumbled into a sheepish smile. Alessia leaned in close, still grinning. âYouâre the best, Y/N. Maybe Iâll get you to help me clean up next time?â
âYeah, sure,â Y/N muttered with a roll of her eyes, âIâll bring the fine book.â
And with that, the room returned to its usual chaosâbut this time, everyone was a little lighter, the tension having dissolved in a fit of laughter.
---
The team was starting to form more bad habits. Every day, without fail, more and more players were coming late to training. It wasnât anything too serious at firstâjust a few minutes here and thereâbut Y/N, always one to stick to the rules and maintain discipline, was getting fed up.
It had been the third day in a row that several players were running through the gates minutes after the scheduled start time. She couldnât take it anymore.
âAlright, thatâs it,â Y/N muttered to herself, crossing her arms tightly over her chest as the last player jogged onto the field. âEnough is enough.â
She marched up to the front, her voice firm and clear as she addressed the entire team. âIâm done with this. Weâre all professionals here, and we canât keep letting people stroll in whenever they feel like it. From now on, anyone whoâs late will be fined. A minute late? A minuteâs fine. Youâre five minutes late? Five minutesâ worth of fines.â
The room went silent, the rest of the players exchanging nervous glances. They knew Y/N wasnât messing around.
Katie, ever the troublemaker, leaned in and whispered to Leah, âSheâs not serious, is she?â
âOh, sheâs dead serious,â Leah replied, eyes widening as she watched Y/N cross her arms and glare at the group. âYouâve seen her like this before.â
Y/Nâs eyes scanned the room, locking onto the players who had been late. âThis isnât school, people. You all know better. Youâre adults. You can show up on time. Itâs disrespectful to your teammates, and we need to take this seriously.â She turned to face a particularly late-looking Kyra. âFive minutes late today. Thatâs a fiver.â
Kyra rolled her eyes but said nothing, too tired of the back-and-forth to argue. Y/N then turned her eyes to the next culprit, Alessia, who had just jogged in, breathless from her sprint to the field.
âAlessia, youâre late again!â Y/N snapped, hands on her hips, but before Alessia could even start to apologize, Y/Nâs tone softened. âNo, no. Itâs okay. Itâs not your fault. Itâs justâtraining was probably a little too early for you today. Iâll take care of the fine. Donât worry about it.â
Alessia blinked, surprised by the sudden change in tone. âReally? Youâll take care of it?â
âOf course,â Y/N replied, shaking her head, her voice calming. âYou donât need the added stress. Weâll make sure your fine is covered. You can count on me.â
Y/N then glared back at the others. âBut for everyone else? Youâd better pay up. Youâve all been warned.â
Leah gave her a pointed look as Y/N turned her attention to the rest of the group. âIf anyone else is late, thereâs no excuse. I mean it. Weâre not running a daycare here.â
The session went on, but Y/N couldnât help but notice how the other players seemed to keep a little distance from her. They knew Y/N meant business, and with her new fine system, she wasnât about to let anyone get away with being tardy.
The next few days passed, and the fines kept racking up. By the end of the week, Y/N had nearly filled a small notebook with the fines from late arrivals, most of which had come from the usual suspects: Katie, Beth, and a few others who just didnât seem to care. But when Alessia was late yet again, Y/N was quick to brush it off.
âAlessia, donât stress. Iâve got this,â sheâd say, her voice soft and reassuring, even as she filled in the fine for her late arrival.
The others watched this dynamic unfold. The fines were getting heftyâvery heftyâbut every time Alessia was late, Y/N would simply wave it off and mutter that it was okay. They all found it strange, but there was something about the way Y/N spoke to Alessia that made her seem⌠untouchable, in a way.
By the end of the month, Y/N had paid off all of Alessiaâs fines, covering the hundreds of euros in late fees. Every time she brought it up, Alessia would try to refuse.
âYou really donât need to do that, Y/N,â Alessia said, a hint of guilt in her voice.
âIâve got it covered,â Y/N replied with a smile, brushing off Alessiaâs concern. âItâs not a big deal.â
But even as she said it, Y/N couldnât help but wonder why she was doing it. Why did she always soften when it came to Alessia? Why was she willing to put up with the fines when everyone else had to pay up without a second thought?
One evening, as they sat together after training, Y/N gave Alessia a sideways glance. âYou know, if you just stopped being late, I wouldnât have to pay these fines for you.â
Alessia looked at her with a half-smirk. âMaybe Iâm just testing how far youâll go.â
Y/N chuckled softly, rolling her eyes. âWell, consider this the last time, okay? Iâm not made of money, and Iâm not paying your fines forever.â
Alessia laughed, leaning in close. âI know. But I appreciate it, Y/N. More than you know.â
Y/N just smiled, knowing full well that no matter how many fines Alessia racked up, sheâd always be the one to take care of it. She didnât mind. Not when it was Alessia.
It was one of those days where the team was a little too playful for their own good, and Katie had a mischievous gleam in her eye. She leaned in towards Alessia, a sly grin creeping across her face as she whispered her idea.
âWhy don't you come in an hour late to training? You know, just to test if Y/N will actually follow through with paying your fine,â Katie suggested, practically vibrating with excitement.
Alessia raised an eyebrow. âAre you serious? You really think sheâd pay a ÂŁ200 fine?â
Katieâs grin only grew wider. âY/N loves you. Sheâs a softie for you, trust me. Sheâll pay without batting an eye.â
Alessia hesitated, but then the thought of seeing how far Y/N would go for her made her heart flutter. âAlright, fine. But if she gets mad, Iâm blaming you.â
Katie winked. âDeal.â
The next day, as the team finished their warm-ups and got into their drills, Alessia sneaked in, only to join the sprints, breathless and looking sheepish as she entered the pitch.
Y/N, who had been keeping track of everyoneâs arrival times as usual, immediately shot her a glare. âAlessia, youâre late,â she said, arms crossed and voice stern.
The team watched with baited breath, knowing full well that this was going to be interesting. Y/N pulled out her notebook, jotting down the fine.
â1 hour late, thatâs ÂŁ200,â she said, her voice sharp as she turned to the rest of the team. âYou all know the rules. Late is late.â
Alessia bit her lip, trying to keep a straight face as she watched Y/N turn back to her, ready to pay the fine. Without a single word of complaint, Y/N pulled out her wallet, counted out the money, and handed it to the coach.
âHere you go,â Y/N said, her voice oddly calm.
Katie couldnât contain her smirk. âWow, I didnât think youâd actually do it.â
Y/N barely even looked at Katie. She turned back to Alessia, her face softening. âYou donât need to worry about this,â she said gently. âItâs not your fault. Iâll take care of it.â
Without thinking, Y/N reached forward and cupped Alessiaâs cheek, leaning in for a kiss, soft and sweet, making the rest of the team collectively roll their eyes. When they pulled apart, Y/N smiled, her eyes full of affection.
The rest of the team, including Leah, watched in stunned silence, unsure of what to say. Katie, trying to keep a straight face, let out a dramatic gasp. âI canât believe you actually paid it, Y/N! Youâre such a sucker.â
Leah, smirking, chimed in, âLooks like Alessiaâs got you wrapped around her finger.â
Y/N rolled her eyes but couldnât suppress a soft chuckle. âIâm not a sucker. Iâm just making sure my girlfriend isn't stressed over something silly like fines.â
Katie raised an eyebrow. âOh, really?"
Alessia leaned in, trying to hide the smile tugging at her lips. âYou really didnât have to do that, you know. I was just testing youâŚâ
Y/N turned to the group, suddenly serious. âYou shouldnât have pressured poor Alessia into that,â she said, her voice taking on a more reprimanding tone. âIf you all have issues, you come to me. We donât put her in situations like that. Youâve all got to start acting your age. Weâre supposed to be grown, not schoolkids that mess with each other for fun.â
The rest of the team exchanged glances, bored for Y/N's thousandth lecture, and nodded in acknowledgment.
Leah nudged Katie, both of them smirking. âI think Y/Nâs getting soft,â Leah teased. âGuess the only one who can make her pay ÂŁ2000 without a fight is Alessia.â
Katie laughed. âIâm just amazed. She didnât even hesitate! Itâs like she has a weakness for her. She's like kryptoniteâ
Y/N gave them a mock glare, but her voice had a playful edge. âAlright, alright, I get it. You two are clearly jealous because I didnât pay your fines.â
Katie threw her hands up in defeat. âI mean, I would have asked, but Iâm pretty sure youâre whipped for Alessia.â
Leah chuckled. âI think she just wants to see if she can get away with being that spoiled.â
Y/N rolled her eyes, turning back to Alessia, who was clearly enjoying the teasing. She gave her a smile, though. âYouâre lucky youâre cute. And you know Iâd do anything for you.â
Alessia grinned, her heart swelling with affection. âI know. I wonât make a habit of it. I swear.â
Y/N chuckled softly, her protective nature not fully letting go, but a warmth in her chest that reminded her just how much she cared for Alessia.
The rest of the team couldnât help but laugh at the playful dynamic between the two, and even though they were teasing Y/N, there was a sense of warmth in the air. It was clear they were a team in more ways than one. Even if some of them had to be teased a little for their soft moments, they all knew Y/N had their backsâjust as much as she had Alessiaâs.
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The day of the Arsenal fitness tournament had finally arrived, and you couldnât help but feel the thrill of competition coursing through you. The team had hyped it up for weeks, and with Katieâs competitive streak, you both knew it was going to get intense.
Round one: Sprints.
Katie, known for her quick feet, gave you a smug grin as you lined up. She leaned over, murmuring, âDonât expect to keep up, love. This oneâs mine.â
You rolled your eyes playfully. âWeâll see about that.â
The whistle blew, and you both shot off, legs pumping, the turf flying by underfoot. Katie edged you out by a split second, throwing her arms up as soon as she crossed the finish line, beaming.
âTold ya!â she shouted, casting a satisfied smirk your way.
You jogged over to her, smiling despite your loss. âAlright, alright. One down. Donât get cocky, McCabe.â
Round two: Agility drills.
Katie started out confidently, weaving through the cones with speed, her footwork sharp and precise. But as you stepped up, you could see her smile falter as you powered through the drills, beating her time by a few seconds.
Katieâs brow furrowed as she watched, her hands on her hips. âAlright, show-off,â she muttered under her breath.
You raised an eyebrow, grinning as you passed by her. âNot so easy, is it?â
She glared, but the fire in her eyes only made you more competitive.
Round three: Endurance.
As the run began, you set a steady pace, glancing over to see Katieâs expression already tightening. The minutes ticked by, and you watched her frustration grow as you pulled ahead, her determined gaze fixed on your back. When you finally finished, you could see her jaw clenched, hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath.
âFeeling alright, babe?â you asked with a mischievous smile.
Katie scowled, wiping the sweat from her brow. âYouâve been practicing,â she grumbled. âThereâs no way youâre actually this good.â
You chuckled, patting her on the back. âMaybe youâre just off your game today.â
She shrugged off your hand, her eyes narrowing. âLast roundâs mine,â she said firmly.
The final round: Strength.
By now, Katieâs irritation was palpable. As you both lined up for the weighted sled push, you could feel the competitive tension buzzing around you. She gave it her all, muscles straining, face set with pure focus as she pushed the sled down the length of the field.
But when it was your turn, you beat her time by just a second.
Katie stared at you, her mouth open slightly, frustration brewing in her eyes. âThat was⌠that was a fluke,â she mumbled, crossing her arms as if that would shield her from her mounting irritation. âYou couldnât do that again.â
âOh, sore loser, are we?â you teased, grinning as she scowled.
âI am not a sore loser!â she protested, but the blush creeping up her cheeks betrayed her.
You moved closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her into a hug despite her attempt to squirm away. âAlright, alright. How about I take you out for a pint to ease the pain of your⌠thorough defeat?â
Katie groaned, finally letting out a reluctant laugh. âFine. But youâre not gonna let me live this down, are you?â
âNot a chance,â you said, leaning in to press a kiss to her cheek. âJust remember, Iâm the reigning champ now, so if you want a rematch, youâll have to work for it.â
She shot you a playful glare, finally relaxing in your embrace. âNext time, Iâm leaving you in the dust.â
âOh, Iâll be looking forward to it,â you replied, savoring the spark of challenge in her eyes that you knew would keep things interesting, in and out of competition.
Summary: When something bad happens to your Mummy and Daddy, you end up living with your Aunty Lessi and Aunty Leah. But is there room for you considering they have a new baby on the way?
Chapter Summary: It's game day, but first you need to ask a few important questions
Warnings: pregnancy, panic attack
a/n: This is the first 'new' chapter (as in hasn't been previously posted), so I'm very nervous about posting this. Fingers crossed you all enjoy it.
|| Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 ||
PART 4
Itâs quiet in the car on the way to the training centre, the low hum of the radio the only noise. Your brain however hasnât stopped running wild with thoughts ever since school the other day. Youâd tried to find the answers to your questions in books, but Mr Webster the librarian had told you they were too grown up for you to be reading without an adult.Â
Rubbing the soft fur of Arthur's ear against your cheek, you slowly mustered up the courage to ask your Aunties the questions youâd been dying to know the answers to.
âAunty Lessi, Aunty Leah⌠C-can I ask a⌠a question?  About the b-baby?â
You could see Aunty Leah smile through the reflection in the rearview mirror as your Aunty Lessi turned around in the passenger seat to look at you.
âOf course you can, Bun. You can always ask us anything.â
You let out a sigh of relief, before taking in a deep breath and beginning your line of questioning.
âOkay, so all the books Iâve ever read and the movies Iâve seen, thereâs a Mummy and a Daddy, and well, my Mummy said that babies happen when a Mummy and a Daddy love each other very much. But I also heard at school that thereâs something to do with birds and bees, but I donât really know how that works. So, because thereâs no Daddy here, did you have to get something from birds and bees, like feathers and honey or something to make a magic potion to make the baby? Oh and, and, and also, where does booby milk come from? Like I know the baby is in your tummy Aunty Leah, so you will have booby milk, but will you also have booby milk, Aunty Lessi? And is it just like the same milk you buy at the shops? Like what we use on our cereal or is it different? And is that different to the milk bunnies make? And how do bunnies make babies? And h-â
âAlright, alright letâs answer one question at a time, yeah?â Aunty Lessi cut your questions off with a chuckle.
You took another deep breath and nodded, rubbing Arthurâs ear across your cheek, relieved to have finally gotten those questions out.
âOkay, so, youâre right. Generally, but not always, babies happen when two people love each other very much. It doesnât have to be a Mummy and a Daddy, though, itâs just that that is what tends to happen a bit more often. But these days thereâs more and more families that have two Mummies or two Daddies or a completely different type of family structure all together. The science of it all is a bit more complex, but I promise youâŚâ Aunty Leah caught your eye in the rear-view mirror with a mischievous glint ââŚthere are no magic bird feathers or honey potions involved.â You giggled at her as she winked at you in the mirror.
âYeah Bun, every familyâs story is a bit different, but for us, your Aunty Leah and I went to the doctors and asked them for help in making us a baby. Some families can make their babies at home, like your Mummy and Daddy made you at home, but lots of families need some help from their doctorsâ Aunty Lessi explained.
âSo, you went to the doctors, and they put a tiny little baby in Aunty Leah?â
âBasically, yeahâ she confirmed.
âBut why Aunty Leah, why not you?â you wondered.
âYou know how Aunty Leah hurt her leg?â Aunty Lessi asked.
You nodded. Your Daddy had told you all about how it was really sad because she was meant to go play in the World Cup thing in Brazil with Aunty Lessi, and she was captain of the England team, but she couldnât play because of her injury. And he had said that she had hurt her other leg the exact same way just before the last big World Cup thing and wasnât able to play in that either. You were only 4 back then, but you kind of remember watching your Aunty Lessi play in those games on the TV. And you remember her bringing home a shiny silver medal but being pretty sad about it. Your Aunty Leah wasnât your Aunty yet back then though, so you didnât know about her leg the first time around.
âWell, I decided that if I wasnât going to be able to go play at the World Cup again, then I wanted to do something really, really meaningful with my time away from football. Iâve always wanted to start a family, but itâs super difficult with football to fit it all in with our schedules. But I knew that I would be away from the pitch for at least another 9 months, so, I asked Aunty Lessi if we could have a baby. Try and make the best out of a bad situationâ Aunty Leah explained, a sad looking smile on her face.
âOh, that makes sense, I guess. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, right?â you replied, repeating the phrase your Daddy had taught you.
There was a short silence before your Aunties burst into an absolute fit of laughter, tears falling from their eyes as they tried time and time again to unsuccessfully stop their hysterics.
You didnât know what was so funny about what you said. Did you use the phrase wrong? It was one your Daddy used all the time. Youâd thought it was a little bit silly at first too, but it definitely wasnât laugh so hard you cry kind of funny. But what if youâd used it totally wrong and they were laughing at you like the kids in school laughed at you when they thought you were uncool?
Loser. Loser. Loser
âS-sorry Bun, weâre not l-laughing at you, we promise,â your Aunty Leah muffled through her laughter.
âItâs⌠itâs just that, when Aunty Leah first talked to me about having a baby, she used that exact phrase, and I made her swear on her life that she would never, ever refer to our future child as lemonade ever again!â Aunty Lessi giggled.
You gasped, immediately terrified that youâd insulted your Aunty Lessi, mistakenly making fun of her unborn baby. âOh, Iâm so, so sorry Aunty Lessi, I didnât mean to be rude! I really didnât-â
âNo, no Bunny, itâs okay. Because after that, pretty much everyone we told that Aunty Leah was pregnant and they realised the timeline with her knee said the exact same thing â when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!â
âAnd while Aunty Lessi was adamant at first that we couldnât refer to the baby as Lemonade, well⌠we now sometimes do call them our little Lemonade. Itâs become an affectionate nickname of sorts,â Aunty Leah assured you.
âReally?â you asked, still terrified that youâd upset them.
âYeah. I guess we just werenât expecting to hear that saying from you, so it caught us off guard a bit. Sorry, we got a bit carried away.â Aunty Lessi promised you, reaching her hand back to take yours, her gesture both reassuring and comforting you.
âSo, you call the baby Lemonade?â You asked after a short silence.  They both nodded with a giggle. âCan I call the baby Lemonade?â They both laughed again
âOkay, but only when itâs just us, alright? We donât want the team or anyone else catching on. Itâs our little secret. And once theyâre born, weâll call them by their real name,â Aunty Lessi bargained with you.
âDeal!â
âDeal!â
There was a short silence as the excitement of the revelation settled. You suddenly realised all your questions hadnât been answered. âOkay, but what about the booby milk?â
Your Aunty Leah laughed before replying, âOnly I will make that, and itâs just for the baby. We wonât be putting it on cereal. Itâs got special nutrients in it that are just right for the baby because they canât eat or drink anything else for the first several months. Only the Mummy who is pregnant makes milk.â
âBut what if the baby is hungry but youâre at the shops or something? How does Aunty Lessi feed them?â you asked.Â
âWell, I can do what is called pumping, which is basically using a machine to squeeze the milk out of my boobies so that we can store it for when Iâm not around, or just so Aunty Lessi can feed the baby even if I am here. You can even feed them if you want toâ
âI can? Really?â The thought of helping feed the baby, helping feed Lemonade, made you feel a strange, but nice, sense of warm and tingly. You didnât know what the feeling was, but it made you want to sing and fly and twirl.
âYeah. It might take a little while for them to get used to using a bottle, but once theyâre used to it, you can definitely have a turn feeding them,â Aunty Lessi told you.
âSo, itâs different to our cereal milk then?â you questioned.
âYes, thatâs cowâs milk. Or some people use oat milk or goat milk or soy mi-â
âWhat about bunny milk?â you interrupted.
 âIâve never heard of humans drinking bunny milk, I think only baby bunnies drink that.â Aunty Lessi laughed at your question. You werenât too sure why. If people drank cowâs milk and goatâs milk, why not bunny milk?
âAnd how do bunnies make babies? Is it the same as people? They just love each other?â you enquired.
âWell, thereâs a little bit more to it than that for both people and bunnies. But itâs a bit complicated and I think we would be better off explaining it with the help of some books from the library. How about we pick some out the next time weâre there, yeah? We could maybe go on Tuesday after school,â Aunty Leah suggested.
âI like the sound of thatâ you agreed.
âI thought you might.â
--
As the car parked at the training ground, you looked out the window to see people dressed in red everywhere. There was a large bus waiting out the front of the building, and a big brown dog with soft looking ears lying on the ground in front of the bus door.
You loved dogs. You loved all animals really. You connected with them far quicker, easier and deeper than you seemed to connect to humans, especially those your age. Youâd never been able to get a pet because your Daddy was allergic to lots of different kinds of fur, but whenever you got the chance to meet a dog or a cat or a bird or a lizard or a fish or turtle or a guinea pig or a horse or a BUNNY⌠you jumped at the opportunity.
As Aunty Lessi opened your door and helped you out of your car seat, your eyes stayed glued to the big brown dog the whole time.
âAlright Bunny, we just have to sign in, get our lanyards and th-â Aunt Leah began explaining.
âCan I pat the dog?â you interrupted, simply unable to wait any longer.Â
Your Aunty Leah looked up from where she was pulling a bag out of the boot of the car and noticed where your gaze was fixated in the direction of the big soft looking brown dog.
âOh yes, of course you can sweets. Thatâs Winnie. Sheâs our team dog. Sheâs really friendly.â
Not needing to be told twice, you ran towards the dog, dropping to your knees as you reached her. You carefully held your hand out to her as youâd been taught to do when meeting a new animal, and she gave you a good sniff before she sat up and rubbed her cheek against your hand.Â
âHi Winnie, Iâm Y/K, but everyone calls me Bunny, or Bun. Itâs so nice to meet you.â You began scratching at the fur behind her ears, her head tilting as you hit what seemed to be a good spot. âYou are such a pretty girl. And you are oh so soft and shiny.â
âIâm happy to see youâve made a friend already, Bun.â
You looked up to see your Aunty Lessi smiling down at you as she crouched down to give Win a pat too.
âDoes she come to all your games and practices and stuff?â you asked.
âNot all of them, but she hangs around the training centre a lot and she does come to some games. I believe sheâs coming along to the Emirates with us today,â she replied.
âReally? Is she coming on the bus too? What kind of dog is she? Where does she go when the game is on? Does she sit in the stands? If sheâs the team dog, then where does she live?â you asked.
âWell, sheâs a chocolate labrador-â your Aunty Lessi began to explain.
âYa got a new fan, Win?â
You whipped your head around to the source of the peculiar sounding voice as a lady with big eyelashes and a really pretty smile came walking towards you.
âBunny, this is Katieâ your Aunty Lessi stood to greet the new arrival.
âHey there Bun, Iâve heard all about ya from yer Aunties!â
You didnât really know how to reply. You had never been good at talking to new people, especially when you didnât have a specific topic or task to talk to them about.
âWell, the girls and I heard yer big into reading, and wanted to learn a bit more about football, so we got ya a few books. Some of them are about football, some of them are just ones we liked when we were kids. I was never much of a reader, so I wouldnât trust my recommendations, but thereâs a few smarties in the team like you are, so those are the ones who we took the recommendations from.â  She winked at you as she held a large glittery purple gift bag out towards you.
âOh wow. Th-Thank you. Iâm sorry I didnât bring any presents for you or the others.â
Selfish. Selfish. Selfish.
âNah, donât be silly kid. This is a welcome to the team present from all the gals. I just hope there isnât any double ups with ones youâve already read. Iâve heard ya read loads of books!âÂ
âI-I have. I love to read. Thank you for the presentâ your hands trembled slightly as you took the bag from her grasp, overwhelmed by her kindness.
âNo worries kiddo. I hope you enjoy the game!â She winked at you again before heading onto bus.
Winnie nudged at your hip with her nose, saddened that youâd stopped your pats to collect your present. You looked between the bag in your hands and the dog, unsure of how to give both the attention they deserved.Â
âHow about I pop the present in the car, and we can go through it tonight after the game? That way youâve got something to look forward to at home, yeah?â Aunty Lessi suggested.
You nodded hastily, thankful for the suggestion. She collected the bag from your hands and you immediately turned your attention back to Win, giggling as she rolled onto her back for you to scratch her tummy.
Much too soon it was time to say bye to Winnie and get on the big bus. There was already lots of people bustling about amongst the seats as your Aunty Lessi guided you down the aisle toward two pairs of empty seats behind each other. Your Aunty Leah sat in the front seats and you and Aunty Lessi sat in the back two.
The bus ride to the stadium was⌠chaotic. Everyone on the team wanted to come meet you and say hi, but itâs rather overwhelming trying to learn all the new names and faces. At some point you caught your Aunty Leah not so subtly waving people away as you began to curl against the window and rub Arthurâs ear softly across your cheek. Youâd reached forward and squeezed her hand through the gap in the seats in a silent thank you. Â
You do specifically remember one player you met named Lia, because she has the same name as your Aunty, but apparently, itâs spelt differently. She said she helped pick out some of the books in your present and that sheâd love to go to the library with you some time. When you asked your Aunty Leah if that would be okay, she had said âAbsolutely!â
There was also another kid on the bus; a little boy running up and down the aisle with light up sneakers and a jersey with the number 19 on it. You couldnât quite figure out who his adults were though, because everyone seemed to treat him like their own. He couldnât be more than 2 or 3 years old you figured because he doesnât seem to speak in full sentences and he still seemed a bit wobbly on his feet.Â
At one point in the bus trip, he got upset over something and began crying and screaming for his Mummy. A lady with pretty blue eyes and her hair in a tight little bun scurried down the aisle to pick him up and cuddle him.
âIs he okay?â you asked your Aunty Lessi.
âOh, Iâm sure Jack will be just fine. I think he just took a little tumble. Caitlin will make sure heâs all better,â she reassured you.
If you had thought the bus trip was overwhelming, that was nothing compared to the stadium itself. As the bus drove in, there was a sea of people dressed in red and white that stretched on for as far as you could see.
You had watched your Aunties play before, both on television and in the stands, and you knew there were lots and lots of people who came to watch, but there was something different about seeing it from this perspective.
âItâs gunna be a bit loud once we park up and get out of the bus, alright Bun? And like we talked about, thereâs gunna be lots of people all over the place. So make sure you keep your lanyard on and just hold tight to my hand until we get into the locker room, yeah?â Aunty Lessi reminded you.
âCan do, Aunty Lessiâ you replied.
When the bus came to a stop, you gripped your Aunty Lessiâs hand tight. It was only a few steps, but the noise as you got off the bus and entered through the players entrance was entirely overwhelming. You couldnât help but screw your face up as the screeches and squeals rattled and clawed at every bone in your body. You lifted your hands to cover your ears, but both were full â one with your Aunty Lessiâs hand, and the other clutched tight to Arthur.
Thankfully the cheering and squealing noise faded out pretty quickly as you moved through the underbelly of the stadium, making your way into the locker room. Your Aunty Lessi guided you over to a cubby that had your Aunty Leahâs name on it.
âIâve got to go do pitch inspections and get dressed and ready for the game now. Will you be alright just hanging out here? Aunty Leah is just doing a quick interview, but she should be in shortly and I will be around, yeah?â she asked, handing you your backpack.
You nodded, quite happy to curl up into the little nook with Arthur and a book. You unzipped your bag and retrieved your book as well as the little purple blanket youâd stuffed in there, and bundled yourself up. But before you could start reading, your eyes drifted over all the different names on the back of the players shirts that hung in the other cubbies.
Fox, 2. Mead, 9. Walti (there was some funny dots above the A in her name, which you made a mental note to research when you next had your iPad), 13. Foord, 19. McCabe, 11.
Wait. McCabe. McCabeâs number was the one Aunty Leah had said you werenât allowed to get printed on your jersey.Â
âThe only rule is that youâre not allowed to pick McCabeâs number, because we will never hear the end of that, okay?â
They had all seemed really nice on the bus, but if Aunty Leah had made a rule, then there had to be a reason for it. Maybe McCabe was mean to your Aunties like the kids at school were to you?
When the players all shuffled in and placed their belongings in their cubbies, you were immediately confused to see the nice lady with big eyelashes who had given you the bag of books sit down in front of the McCabe jersey. You were even more confused when the little boy from the bus toddled up to her and asked âMa! Ma!  Kywa has sweeties. I has them too?â
âYa already sweeties on the bus Jack. If ya have too many more, ya wonât be able to sit still enough to watch the gameâ she told him, crouching down to straighten out his red and white shirt.
The little boyâs head fell forward immediately, his bottom lip jutting out as he looked like he was about to cry. âBut-but- Ma! I want the sweeties! I be good. Promise. I sit still.â
âAlright, but just one. You hear that Kyra, just one,â she shouted, making sure a cheeky looking player holding a bag of sweets heard her.
âKywa, Ma said yes. I has sweeties!â the little boy cheered, running off toward who you figured must be Kyraâs direction. She scooped him up in her arms and gave him a high five before offering him the bag of sweets to choose from.
You really couldnât wrap your head around how the McCabe youâd met and observed today could possibly be mean to your Aunties like the kids at school were to you. She seemed like a good âMaâ and she had been really kind to you. There had to be another reason why your Aunty Leah wouldnât let you get her number on your shirt.
As you sat and pondered, your Aunty Leah entered the locker room.
âLooks like youâve got yourself all set up here, Bun,â she chuckled as she approached you, placing her bag in the shelf below where you sat. You nodded, squeezing Arthur tight.
âOkay, so normally for the game friends and family sit way up the top of the stadium in fancy seats, so thatâs where like my Mum and cousins and stuff will be sitting.  But because I canât play at the moment because of the baby, we thought you might like to sit down behind the subs bench with me, so you donât have to go sit with people you donât know very well. Is that alright?â she asked.
You nodded immediately, terrified at the thought of having to sit with a bunch of people you didnât really know. âY-yes please. If thatâs okay with your boss?â
âOf course it is. I double checked with all the big bosses and itâs totally fine. I do warn you that I can get a little bit⌠well⌠passionate about the game at timesâ she chuckled.Â
âPassionate? Sheâll scream your bloody ear off!â a lady with blonde hair and blue eyes interjected. Sheâd introduced herself of the bus but you couldnât quite remember her name. You think it started with a B? Belle? Bess?
âOh, ignore her Bunny. Iâll be on my best behaviour. But I did bring you a pair of earmuffs just in case itâs a bit too loud in the stadium,â she reached into her bag and pulled out a pair of sparkly purple ear defenders. There was a little cartoon bunny sticker on each of the ears.
You were in awe. They were so pretty and they had obviously been purchased specifically with you in mind. Wriggling out of your blanket burrow, you leaped toward your Aunty Leah, wishing a simple hug could show just how much these earmuffs meant to you.
âThank you. Thank you. Thank you.â
Thank angle was awkward due to her big baby belly, but you felt her nestle her nose against the top of your head and smile.
âAnything for you, babygirl.â
--
The game was intense. There was lots and lots and lots of people. Your Aunties team was versing a blue team called Chelsea, and from what you could tell, they seemed to be Arsenalâs archrivals.
The noise between the fans was beyond intense, and you were so overwhelmingly grateful for the earmuffs your Aunty Leah had given you. They didnât block out everything, but they took the edge off the screeching sounds of horns and squealing cries of other young girls in the crowd.Â
During the game there were lots of attempts from both teams at kicking the ball into the back of the net, but none of them had been successful. Toward the end of the second half, the referee had pulled out several yellow cards from her shirt pocket â you werenât quite sure what that meant, but you had made a mental note to research that. Your Aunty Leah had told you that each half went for 45 minutes but when the big clock hit 45:00 another lady on the sideline held up a board with the number 4 on it and play appeared to go on. It was all very confusing.Â
But then⌠then the blue team made some kind of mistake, and it seemed like Arsenal had heaps of room to themselves and out of nowhere your Aunty Lessi was flying down the pitch towards the goal with the ball at her feet.
Within moments she was smashing the ball passed the oppositionâs goalkeeper and into the back of the net. Beside you, your Aunty Leah sprung to her feet, screaming with joy.
âYessss! Thatâs my girl! Come on, Less!â
The crowd around you roared, scarves swinging, horns shrieking, music blaring.
Your Aunty Lessi ran towards where you were sitting and threw her hands up into a love heart shape, before pointing right at you, the smile on her face as big as youâd ever seen it.
For a brief moment it felt really nice to know your Aunty Lessi had been thinking about you while she was playing and scoring the goal. You felt that same warm feeling, tingly feeling that youâd felt early in the car; the one that made you want to sing and fly and twirl. You felt a sense of safety and home, thinking for just a moment that maybe you could be a part of your Aunties forever family, maybe there could be room for you in their lives even after Lemonade arrive.
But then, you realised there were cameras pointed in your direction and your face was on the big screens and everyone in the stadium was looking directly at you. Your hands began to tremble, and your cheeks began to flush as the walls of the stadium felt as though they were crashing in on you. You burrowed your face deep into the plush fur of Arthurâs belly and soon your felt your Aunty Leahâs arms wrap around you and pull you into her side. You could hear your heart beating in your ears as you clung to fabric of your Auntyâs jacket.Â
A few moments later you felt her gently tug back the cup on your earmuffs and whisper to you, âYouâre okay Bun, itâs alright. The cameras are off you now. Itâs okay sweetie.â
Whilst you were relieved to hear the cameras were no longer directed at you, your whole body was still trembling; your breath so tight in your throat you thought you might soon pass out. Your Aunty Leah pulled back a little to look down at you, her face covered in concern. She tried to tell you something, but you couldnât make out the words, her voice muffled by a mixture of the earmuffs and what you could only describe as the sound of ringing and whooshing and thumping and silence all mixed together.
You could feel your chest becoming tighter and tighter as your eyes flickered around trying to figure out the source of the tightness. It kind of reminded you of the tightness you felt when you couldnât breathe because of the⌠smoke.
Smoke means fire!
Was there a fire?
You needed to get out of there.
You needed to get your Aunty Leah out of there. You needed to get Lemonade out of there.
You couldnât see fire. You couldnât smell smoke. There was no smoke alarm. But the tightness in your chest. It could only be that. It had to be that.
As you tried to get to your feet to get you and your Aunty Leah and Lemonade out of there, you felt them collapse underneath you. You felt a thud to your head, but then there was nothing. Simply nothing.