e :)

"Only one question left." Baran said, from where she was curled on the sofa next to Yolanda. They were both holding flash cards.

"What's the score?" Aftab asked, bouncing on his feet next to Trinity.

"Trinity has 11, you have 12."

Aftab was too sweet of a kid to gloat, but Yolanda gave him a proud nod and his whole face lit up. Trinity scowled at her. Traitor.

"Trinity." Yolanda held up her next question. "52 year old male, 6 days post-hemicolectomy. Presents with sudden onset shortness of breath, pleuritic pain, and mild tachycard-"

"Pulmonary embolism!"

Baran laughed at her yelling, trying to hide it behind her hand. Yolanda merely raised an eyebrow and said, "The question was actually, 'which tests are indicated to confirm the most likely diagnosis?'."

"Well, I know that too! D-dimer and a CTPA."

"You already gave your answer!"

Trinity shoved Aftab's shoulder. He giggled.

"I'll count it." Yolanda declared. For a brief moment Trinity thought that she was finally on her side, then realised that evening the scores, with Aftab's last question left, was just her way of having fun. She loved a competition. Even if it was her girlfriend versus a 9 year old.

"Okay, pesaram." Baran said, sitting up straighter. "It all comes down to this."

Baran also had a flair for the dramatic, it seemed. Although Trinity did want the prize. Aftab stopped bouncing, suddenly all focus. He wanted it too.

"What is the name of the process where a cell divides into two identical cells?"

Was this really what they were teaching 4th graders now? How was he expected to know that? Trinity suddenly felt guilty. Maybe they could share the prize.

"Mitosis!"

Trinity's mouth fell open. Baran whooped, surging from the couch to wrap her arms around him. They jumped up and down together, victorious.

Trinity flopped down into the space Baran had vacated, landing heavily on Yolanda. An arm immediately draped across her shoulder, pulling her into Yolanda's side.

Yolanda grinned down at her, eyes dancing with delight. "Smart kid."

"Too smart. He's going to run the world one day."

Yolanda pressed a kiss to her hair, and they both watched as Aftab and Baran danced with joy. He caught her eye, and she couldn't help but smile at him, "A worthy winner."

The reminder of their competition had him running to the kitchen. They heard a drawer slam before he careened back to them, socks sliding over hardwood floors. He clutched a menu in his hand.

Trinity groaned. "Pizza, really? All this power and that's the takeout you picked?"

"Don't be a sore loser, Trinny."

Baran and Yolanda laughed, and Trinity tried to hide her face in Yolanda's armpit. Which was difficult, because she was shaking with every chuckle.

A small finger poked her cheek. She un-buried herself to see Aftab's face inches from hers. His eyes were a copy of Baran's. Trinity never stood a chance.

"I'll let you pick a topping."

"You're very gracious in victory."

"I know."

Baran looked like she was overflowing, the type of contentment that pushed outwards at the seams. Even Yolanda's expression had slipped from amusement to something far softer. Trinity made a note to tease her about it later.

"Fine. Pineapple."

Aftab's face twisted in disgust. "Nooooo!"

Trinity laughed. Loud and carefree and delighted. She had never felt warmer.

"Okay, okay. Show me what they've got."

Aftab jostled his way onto the couch, leaning between her and Yolanda, who grabbed Baran's wrist to pull her down to join them.

She pads down the stairs and into the kitchen. She gets everything she needs to make Barbari and snags a bunch of figs from her tree to make jam. 

She thinks about putting some music on but she swears her little song bird will wake at the sound of any music just to come plop herself down and make googoo eyes at Baran and serenade her. The thought makes her smile as she thinks back to when Trinity had been trying to hide the fact that she had the voice of an angel. But it's a gift she has and when she's happy she sings or at least hums. In the shower. Brushing her teeth. Tying her shoes. Chilling on the couch. Driving. Hell, she even caught her happily humming while charting recently. 

So she just very quietly hums to herself. Her hands flow through the motions of making the bread and jam that she at one point in her childhood complained about because it wasn't American food. It always makes a melancholy feeling stir in her until she takes out her phone, snaps a few pictures, and sends them to her parents telling them she loves them and misses them.

It's about an hour or so later that the bread is done and the jam is cooling in the fridge. She's plating tomatoes and cucumbers, peeling eggs, and brewing tea when Trinity’s voice comes from behind her. She nearly jumps out of her skin.

“You know I got chastised for hiding the fact that I can sing but don't think I haven't caught on that you certainly know how to carry a tune.” Trinity says while leaning on the counter making those music hungry googoo eyes.

“Azizam, you scared me!” Baran scolds, reaching across the counter and booping the younger woman's nose. “And don't flatter me, I was only humming. Nothing like you.” She says turning back to her preparation.

Only moments later, arms wrap around her waist, and a chin is propped on her shoulder. “I think you’re like me. I see your foot tapping in the car and how you sway with the music. Not everyone does that ya know.”

“Don't be silly.” Baran dismisses trying not to squirm.

“Turn around and dance with me?” Trinity softly requests. “Just for a minute and then I'll help you get everything together to take upstairs. Yola is still out like a light so there's no hangry girlfriend waiting for us.”

Baran pauses. “There's no music.” 

“We'll make it.” The younger murmurs back as she turns the older around. “I'm going to start but when it splits you take over the melody and I'll take the harmony.”

“How do you know that I can even do that? Or that I'll know the song?” Baran challenges though she's smiling because Trinity is looking at her with those big green eyes. 

“I just know a singer when I see one. And I'm picking a song that you're very familiar with.” Trinity whispers before leaning in for a quick kiss. She takes one hand and places the other on Baran's hip, but not before placing Baran’s on her shoulder.

She starts humming and Baran immediately knows the song. Trinity begins to sing and they begin to sway.

Trinity So this is love hmm hmm hmmm

Trinity So this is love

Trinity So this is what makes life divine

Trinity I'm all aglow

Trinity smiles and nods to Baran.

Baran And now I know

Trinity And now I know

BothThe key to all heaven is mine

Baran My heart has wings

Baran And I can fly

Both I'll touch every star in the sky

Both So this is the miracle that I've been dreaming of

Baran hums.

Trinity hums back.

Both So this is love

As their voices fall away, before Trinity can get a smug look on her face, Baran pulls her into a kiss. Trinity returns it immediately, dropping their hands so she can wrap her hand completely around Baran’s waist. It could have been a minute or second when they hear clapping.

They break apart and look in the direction of the noise to find their girlfriend learning on the wall. She looks somewhat smug but also has that fondness she used to fight tooth and nail to hide. Now it rests on her face with reckless abandon.

“Breakfast and a show.” Yolanda says lightly. 

Baran hides her face in Trinity’s neck, whining, embarrassed beyond belief that she’s been caught. “I sounded bad shut up.” She demands, the whine carrying over in her voice.

“Baby you sounded amazing. We sounded amazing.” Trinity mumbles into the side of her hair while gesturing to Yolanda to come over. “Now let's get everything we need and head upstairs.”

Yolanda wraps her arms around both her girlfriends and squeezes them tightly, placing a kiss on each of their heads. “Bee, you just did all this, Trin and I will finish up and be there in a few.”

“But–”

 “Go My Love. I’m not taking no for an answer. You just did all of this. Let us do a little bit.” Yolanda says firmly, pulling her gently out of Trinity’s hold and into hers. She kisses her softly the way she does when they first wake up. It makes sense, the surgeon woke up alone this morning. 

“Okay.” She says leaning in for a peck. The smile Yolanda gives her is radiant. 

Baran steps back repressing the urge to offer help and heads upstairs. A few minutes later Trinity and Yolanda come in with three trays and three plates and a ton of napkins. They all laugh together as they try to situate themselves. They do this at least twice a month and it has yet to get more graceful. They feed each other while sipping on water and tea. Kisses are given freely and often. Quiet declarations of love are whispered and mumbled against shoulders, cheeks, and lips. It’s the perfect morning. When all the plates are empty they’re carefully moved to the floor by Trinity and Yolanda. Baran watches them quietly as they do so and continues to enjoy her view as they climb back into bed. When they lay down at her sides she finally notices their eyes. They still look hungry.

“Baby, I think it’s time me and Trin say thank you for breakfast and last night. Will you let us do that?” Yolanda husks before placing a slow gentle kiss on her throat.

She looks over at Trinity and she’s giving her best pout as she slips a hand under Baran’s shirt, skimming the skin of her stomach.

“I don’t feel good.”

Yolanda is standing in front of Trinity in the stairwell, arms crossed and mouth turned down like a petulant child. 

The admission that she doesn’t feel great isn’t hard to believe and certainly isn’t what springs Trinity into action. The thing that sends her hand to cup her girlfriend’s face immediately is that she is doing it at work. She’s never struggled to admit vulnerability around Trinity, but she does in a space where she is constantly being asked to prove herself or be the best.

Yolanda’s cheek is warm under Trinity’s fingers. Not burning, but not quite normal.

“Symptoms?” Trinity asks, because at her core she is a doctor.

Yolanda shrugs. “I just feel tired and achy and keep getting hot flashes and I don’t know.”

Trinity nods, already tugging her girlfriend towards an abandoned vital machine. “Open.” she demands as she pulls out the metal thermometer.

She sticks it in Yolanda’s mouth, motioning for her to hold it. When it beeps she glances over. “99.7. Not a fever, but pretty damn close.”

Yolanda groans, but Trinity can see that she is secretly pleased that she has an excuse to go home. Trinity’s mostly just relieved that it’s only a mild fever. Yolanda’s ‘I don’t feel goods’ range from ‘i’m going to spend all night throwing up’ to ‘i kinda have a headache’.

Trinity never would have started hooking up with her if she’d known she was this dramatic. (Yes she would have.)

“Do I have to go home?” Yolanda’s voice is mildly hoarse and still very much in work mode, but Trinity can hear the hope behind it. (She’s always been good at that kind of thing—sleeping when she doesn’t feel good and taking opportunities to rest.)

Despite herself, Trinity lets a small smile grace her lips. “I’d be upset if you didn’t.”

Yolanda nods, looking very much vaguely pleased. “Tell—“

She’s cut off. “I’ll tell Shamsi. Just,” Trinity spares a moment to cup her girlfriend’s cheek. “Go home, eat some crackers, put on shitty television, I’ll bring you soup, yeah?”

Yolanda nods, eyes fluttering closed before reopening. “Yeah.”

—

“You know,” Trinity says as she enters Yolanda’s apartment. “You can watch a shitty show besides Love Island.”

Yolanda squints up from where she’s curled on the couch. She looks pretty much the same as she did earlier, if not a slight bit worse. Her hair has tugged itself out of its bun and there’s sweat beading on her temple. She shrugs. “I like it.”

Trinity snorts. “Fair enough.” And then to announce her bounty: “I brought soup.” She holds up the Panera bag in her hand. (She would have made some, but she was so tired and the Panera was sonear.)

Yolanda perks up immediately, which is how Trinity knows she isn’t gravely ill. “Potato?”

Trinity nods. “You know it.” She pulls the containers out, placing the bowl of potato soup next to Yolanda and shifting out her own of tomato. 

“Mmph,” Yolanda groans as she puts a bite in her both. “‘S good.”

Trinity can’t help but giggle because the second Yolanda walks into her own apartment she loses all composure. “Glad you think so.”

When they finish the soup, Yolanda shifts so her head rests in Trinity’s lap. Her skin is still warm to the touch, but in a way that lets Trinity know it’s barely serious. 

She means to let Yolanda fall asleep first, really. But then her head tips to the side and Yolanda adjusts her body without asking and they’re both out. 

Lucy was standing near the coffee machine with her back against the counter, one hand around a mug and the other resting in the pocket of her training shorts. Patri had claimed the rug with a foam roller and was lying on her side, rolling one hip with the resigned expression of someone enduring a necessary but deeply personal betrayal. Ingrid sat on the floor beside the sofa, long legs stretched out, reading a book that she had managed to keep open for nearly ten minutes despite the room's constant noise. Mapi, who had not been still since the session ended, had already moved between three different conversations, eaten half of someone else's banana, insulted Lucy's coffee, borrowed Patri's charger and forgotten where she had put it.

Alexia sat near the end of the sofa with her phone in one hand and a small espresso balanced on the table beside her knee. Her hair was still damp from the shower, combed back from her face but beginning to dry in loose strands around her temples. She wore dark training shorts and a white club shirt, one sleeve pushed slightly higher than the other, and there was something almost severe about the clean lines of her posture until anyone looked closely enough to see the private smile tugging at her mouth.

Mapi saw it. Mapi always saw private smiles. She treated them as public property.

She had been on her way towards the kitchenette, apparently in search of a second banana despite having no claim to the first, when she slowed beside the sofa and looked down at Alexia's phone. The movement was casual enough that it might have passed unnoticed from across the room, but Alexia knew her too well. She tilted the screen towards herself immediately.

"No," Alexia said, still smiling faintly.

Mapi stopped. "I have not asked anything."

"You were about to."

"I was walking."

“You do not walk like this when you are only walking."

Mapi glanced down at herself as though there might be visible evidence in her body language. "How do I walk?"

"Like you have found something."

"I find things all the time."

"Usually trouble."

"That is not fair."

Irene looked up from her tablet just long enough to say, "It is completely fair," then returned to reading.

Mapi ignored her and sat down on the arm of the sofa, close enough that Alexia shifted the phone farther away on instinct. That only made Mapi more interested. Her eyes narrowed, not with suspicion exactly, but with the bright, anticipatory focus of someone who had smelled entertainment and was willing to dismantle the room to locate it.

"What are you reading?"

"It is an article."

"What article?"

"A health article."

Mapi's face changed. It was a small change, barely more than the lifting of one eyebrow and the tightening of her mouth, but Lucy caught it from the coffee machine and immediately stopped drinking.

Alexia did not notice Lucy watching. She was still trying to keep the phone angled away from Mapi, which had become impossible now that Mapi had leaned so far over the arm of the sofa that one hip was barely attached to the furniture.

"Show me," Mapi said.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because you are already behaving badly."

"I am sitting."

"You are invading."

"Privacy is a capitalist illusion."

Alexia turned her head slowly and stared at her.

Patri, still rolling out her hip on the floor, let out a laugh through her nose. Ingrid's eyes stayed on her book, but one corner of her mouth moved.

Mapi pointed at the phone. "If it is a normal article, you can show me."

"That sentence is manipulative Maria.”

"It is logical."

"It is not."

"It sounds logical."

Lucy lowered her mug and said, "Don't show her."

Mapi glanced across. "Why?"

"Because you've got the face."

"What face?"

"The one before something becomes everyone's problem."

Aitana looked up at that, interested now.

Marta stopped talking about bedrooms.

Frido kept slicing the apple, though her attention shifted towards the sofa.

Mapi looked around the room with exaggerated innocence. "I do not have a face."

"You have several," Irene said. "This one is the worst."

Alexia sighed and unlocked the phone again, perhaps because resistance had already become more effort than the article was worth. She turned the screen just enough for Mapi to see the headline.

Mapi read it once.

Then again.

Then sat very still.

That stillness was more alarming than any laugh would have been.

Lucy's shoulders dropped in immediate disappointment. "Oh, no."

Patri paused halfway through a roll. "What?"

Mapi did not answer.

Her eyes remained on the screen, absorbing the words with a slow, reverent attention usually reserved for tactical opportunities or evidence that someone else had made a poor decision. Alexia, sensing the change beside her, attempted to pull the phone back.

Mapi caught her wrist.

"Wait."

Alexia looked at her hand. "Let go."

"In one second."

"Mapi."

But Mapi was still reading, lips moving faintly over the title.

"Thirty Days of Abstinence and Relationship Health: What One Study Suggests About Intimacy, Focus and Emotional Connection."

The words hung in the room.

For half a beat, nobody reacted.

Then Lucy closed her eyes and bent at the waist, mug still in hand.

Patri stared at Mapi.

Aitana's spoon stopped halfway to her mouth.

Marta's expression brightened with immediate understanding.

Frido put the knife down carefully.

Ingrid turned one page of her book and said, without looking up, "No."

Mapi slowly lifted her gaze from the phone to Alexia.

Alexia already knew.

"No."

Mapi had not spoken.

"No," Alexia repeated, more firmly.

"I have not said anything."

"You do not need to."

"I might have a serious thought."

"You never look this happy about serious thoughts."

Lucy was laughing silently now, one hand covering her mouth. Patri had rolled onto her back, foam roller forgotten beneath one leg, and was staring at the ceiling as though asking for patience from a higher power that had long since withdrawn from the squad.

Mapi's smile arrived gradually.

It started in one corner of her mouth and spread with unbearable slowness, the kind of smile that did not merely suggest mischief but announced the birth of a plan. She looked around the room, making eye contact with Lucy first, then Patri, then Marta, gathering accomplices before she had even explained the crime.

"No," Alexia said again, because she knew Mapi well enough to understand that repetition might be necessary.

Mapi leaned closer. "Please."

"No."

"You do not know what I am going to ask."

"Yes, I do."

"You cannot."

"I know you…. Unfortunately.”

Mapi put one hand over her heart. "This is hurtful."

"It is survival."

Lucy had abandoned all pretence of distance now and crossed the room, bringing her mug with her. She stood behind the sofa and looked down at the article over Alexia's shoulder.

"Oh, this is perfect."

Alexia turned her head. "Do not encourage her."

"I'm not encouraging. I'm observing."

"You crossed the room."

"I observe better up close."

Patri pushed herself upright with both hands and looked between them. "Someone tell the rest of us before I develop anxiety from the silence."

Mapi lifted the phone like a piece of evidence. "The article says couples can improve their emotional connection, concentration and health by not having sex for thirty days."

"That is not exactly what it says," Alexia replied.

"Close enough."

"It says one small study suggests some couples reported increased emotional attentiveness after a voluntary period of abstinence. It does not say everybody should do it."

Mapi's eyes gleamed. "You read the whole thing."

"I read articles properly."

"Of course you did."

"It is how reading works."

Lucy took the phone from Mapi, scanned the first paragraph and immediately began smiling again. "It also says it may improve anticipation and appreciation."

"Give it back," Alexia said.

Lucy ignored her. "That sounds healthy."

"For whom?" Patri asked.

Mapi pointed at Alexia.

The room broke.

Marta bent forward over the table, laughing into both hands. Frido turned away towards the kitchenette, shoulders shaking. Aitana lowered her spoon and stared at Alexia with the open delight of someone who had realised exactly where this was going. Even Irene stopped pretending the tactical report still mattered and set the tablet face down on her knee.

Alexia looked from one face to the next and saw betrayal everywhere.

"No."

Mapi slid off the arm of the sofa and sat beside her properly now, knees angled in, posture suddenly earnest. It was the expression she used when arguing a point she did not believe but very much wanted someone else to act on.

"You tell Jay you are going to do it."

Alexia stared at her.

"No."

"Just once."

"No."

"Just say you have decided."

"No."

"Tell her you read the study and you think it will be good for your health."

Alexia's face cracked before she could stop it. A laugh escaped, sharp and incredulous, and she turned away as if distance might restore seriousness.

Mapi saw the weakness and moved closer.

"Please."

"No."

"Alexia."

"No."

"Capitana."

"Still no."

"Reina."

"Especially no."

Lucy leaned over the back of the sofa. "You have to."

"I do not."

"You absolutely do."

"I absolutely do not."

Patri lifted one hand from the floor. "For the record, I think this is cruel."

Mapi looked at her. "And?"

Patri considered it. "I still want to see it."

Ingrid finally lowered the book into her lap. "Jay will believe her."

"That is why it is good," Mapi said.

"That is why it is cruel."

Mapi nodded. "Exactly."

Ingrid looked at Alexia with quiet sympathy. "You should not do it."

Alexia pointed at her gratefully. "Thank you."

Ingrid's mouth curved. "But if you do, I would like to be here."

Alexia's gratitude vanished.

Marta left the table and came closer, carrying her water bottle. "How would you even say it?"

"I would not," Alexia said.

"That is not the question."

"I am not rehearsing."

Frido joined them more slowly, apple forgotten on the counter. "You would need to sound serious."

"I am serious when I say no."

Mapi clasped her hands under her chin. "You are very good under pressure."

"Football pressure."

"This is relationship pressure."

"Not comparable."

"You have played finals in front of eighty thousand people."

"Yes."

"You have lifted trophies, taken penalties, answered hostile press questions and stared down referees."

"Yes."

"So you can look at one blonde woman and say thirty days."

Alexia's laugh came again, warmer this time, because the image itself was already beginning to defeat her. She covered her mouth with one hand and shook her head.

"I cannot."

"You have not tried."

"I do not need to try."

"Try now."

"No."

"Just practice."

"No."

"Say, 'Jay, I have been reading something.'"

Alexia looked at her. "Why are you directing me?"

"Because you are not committing to the role."

"I am not in the role."

"You could be."

Lucy perched on the back of the sofa, careful not to spill her coffee. "Come on. Just one line."

Alexia folded both arms across her chest and looked straight ahead, lips pressed together to contain another smile. The room waited. Mapi waited. Even the sprinklers outside seemed to move in rhythm with the suspense, arcing silver across the grass and returning.

After several seconds, Alexia said, "Jay, I have been reading something."

The lounge erupted before she had even finished the sentence.

Mapi fell sideways against the cushions. Lucy nearly dropped her mug. Patri covered her face with both hands. Marta laughed into Frido's shoulder. Aitana slid lower into the sofa, yoghurt bowl trembling on her knee.

Alexia stopped and looked around at them, deeply offended. "This is impossible."

"You sounded like you were announcing surgery," Lucy said.

"I was trying to be serious."

"You were terrifying."

Mapi sat upright again, wiping beneath one eye. "Softer. You need to sound loving."

"I am loving."

"Not then."

Alexia looked at her as though violence had become reasonable. "You do it."

"It has to come from you."

"Why?"

"Because Jay would know I am lying."

"She will know I am lying."

The room quietened slightly at that.

Alexia was right.

Jay knew her too well. She knew the smallest shifts in Alexia's face, the difference between genuine irritation and performed annoyance, the way her mouth pulled to one side when she was suppressing laughter. The prank depended on Alexia holding herself together long enough for Jay's brain to accept the premise, and that was becoming increasingly doubtful.

Mapi thought about it.

"Then you need help."

"No."

"You need preparation."

"No."

"We create context."

"Mapi."

"We show you the article in front of her. You read it. You become interested. Then you say maybe you should try it."

Alexia stared at her.

Lucy began nodding slowly. "That is actually better."

"It is worse," Alexia said.

"It is more believable."

"It is more elaborate."

“Exactly."

Irene, who had remained mostly silent through the escalation, picked up her tablet again and said, "This is how criminal conspiracies begin."

Mapi looked pleased. "Thank you."

"That was not praise."

"It felt like praise."

Patri leaned back against the sofa, foam roller forgotten. "What if Jay gets genuinely upset?"

Alexia's laughter faded a little.

That was the only question capable of slowing the room.

She looked down at her phone, thumb brushing once across the edge of the case. Jay would believe her. Not because Jay was gullible, but because Alexia's choices mattered to her. If Alexia framed it as health, discipline or something she genuinely wanted, Jay would not dismiss it. She would panic, certainly, and probably argue, but beneath the argument she would try to respect it.

Mapi saw Alexia's hesitation and softened, though only slightly. "We stop if she looks actually hurt."

Lucy nodded. "Immediately."

"And tell her quickly," Ingrid added.

"Not too quickly," Mapi said. "We need the reaction."

"Mapi," Ingrid warned.

"Fine. Quickly enough."

Alexia looked around the room again. They were all watching, still amused but not careless now. Irene had the expression of someone prepared to intervene if the joke crossed a line. Ingrid had closed her book entirely. Frido was calm but attentive. Patri was already worrying on Jay's behalf. Lucy and Marta looked delighted, but neither would let it go too far.

The fact that they cared was, irritatingly, what made the prank possible.

Alexia rubbed both hands over her face.

Mapi inhaled sharply. "That is the surrender gesture."

"It is not."

"It is."

"I am thinking."

"You think with both hands over your face when you know you are going to say yes."

Alexia lowered her hands and looked at her. "You are unbearable."

“I am patient."

“You have asked fourteen times."

"Patiently."

Aitana finally spoke, voice mild and amused. "Jay will call Clara."

The room went still.

Then Mapi's face lit with renewed life.

Lucy put down her mug before she dropped it. "She will."

Patri sat forward. "She absolutely will."

Marta pressed a hand to her chest. "She'll leave the room and call her."

Frido smiled into the space between them. "She'll ask whether a therapist can overrule a girlfriend.”

Alexia's composure broke completely. She bent forward, laughter escaping into both hands, shoulders shaking with the image because it was so painfully accurate. Jay did not call Clara for every inconvenience, but she called her for problems that had become too large in Jay's mind to sort into sensible proportions. A sudden month of abstinence, presented as health research and announced by the woman she had missed all morning despite seeing her two hours earlier, would absolutely qualify.

Mapi leaned into the opening. "Please."

Alexia shook her head, still laughing.

"Please, Ale."

"No."

"You are laughing."

"Because it is stupid."

"Stupid and funny."

"Mostly stupid."

"Still funny."

Alexia straightened slowly, wiped beneath one eye and looked towards the doors as though Jay might appear simply because they had spoken her name too many times. The corridor beyond the glass remained empty.

"How long until she comes?"

Lucy checked the time. "Media finished ten minutes ago."

"She'll be here soon," Aitana said.

That changed the air.

The plan stopped being hypothetical. Jay was somewhere nearby, walking through the building with no idea that an entire room had quietly reorganised around the possibility of ruining her afternoon. Mapi immediately stood and began moving objects as though preparing a set.

"What are you doing?" Irene asked.

"Making it natural."

"It was natural before you moved everything."

"No, Alexia needs the article visible."

"She has a phone."

"The phone must be central."

"The phone is already in her hand."

Mapi ignored her. She took Alexia's espresso cup and moved it closer to the edge of the table, then adjusted the angle of the phone beside it.

Alexia watched in disbelief. "This is not theatre."

"It is now."

Patri picked up the foam roller and shifted farther down the rug so Jay would have a clear line of sight to Alexia. Lucy returned to the coffee machine, because standing close to the sofa would look suspicious. Marta and Frido went back to the long table and attempted to resume their conversation about villas, though Marta was smiling too broadly to be credible. Aitana picked up her yoghurt. Irene reopened her tablet. Ingrid lifted her book.

The room arranged itself into a performance of normality so obviously constructed that Alexia wanted to laugh all over again.

"You all look guilty," she said.

"No, we don't," Lucy replied.

"You are holding an empty mug."

Lucy looked down.

She had, in fact, left the coffee on the table.

"Fine."

She went back for it.

Mapi sat beside Alexia again and lowered her voice. "Remember. I show you the article. You act interested. Then you say you have been thinking about it."

"I know."

"Not immediately."

"I know."

"Let it breathe."

"Do not direct my breathing."

"Serious face."

Alexia gave her one.

Mapi winced. "Less serious."

"What do you want from me?"

"Warm serious."

"I hate you."

"Very good. But affectionate."

The automatic doors at the far end of the lounge slid open.

Every person in the room became still for one fraction of a second, then moved at once to look busy.

It was catastrophic.

Lucy drank from her coffee too quickly and coughed. Patri began rolling the same six inches of her thigh with unnecessary focus. Marta tapped her dark phone screen as if reading a message. Aitana took a spoonful of yoghurt without any yoghurt on the spoon. Ingrid held her book upside down.

Irene looked at all of them and closed her eyes.

Jay walked in carrying two recovery shakes, a folded training top under one arm and her phone between her teeth because both hands were occupied. Her hair was damp, blonde strands pushed back loosely from her face, and she still wore the black shorts and sleeveless training vest from the recovery session, tattoos bright against her arms. She nudged the doors closed behind her with one shoulder, took the phone from her mouth and glanced around.

The room felt strange.

Jay noticed strange rooms immediately. Not because she always understood why they were strange, but because her brain caught changes in energy before it caught details. Conversations were too quiet. People were looking everywhere except at her. Ingrid's book was upside down. Lucy was coughing into a coffee she had clearly forgotten to make properly.

Jay narrowed her eyes.

"What's happened?"

"Nothing," several people said.

Jay stopped.

"That was awful."

Mapi looked down at the phone in her lap.

Alexia pressed her lips together.

Jay's suspicion sharpened, but then her eyes found Alexia and, as always, the rest of the room lost priority.

Her whole face changed.

The wariness softened out of her mouth. Her shoulders dropped. The restless energy she carried through most rooms found its direction and settled.

"There she is."

Alexia looked up.

For one disloyal second, she forgot the prank.

Jay crossed the room without hurry but without looking anywhere else, set both recovery shakes on the table and immediately slid one hand around Alexia's waist. The movement was so familiar Alexia leaned into it before she had decided to. Jay bent, kissed her once, then again when Alexia's hand rose automatically to the side of her neck.

The second kiss lingered.

Not enough to become a performance, but long enough that the room collectively remembered why this prank had been chosen.

Jay smiled against Alexia's mouth. Her hand spread warmly over Alexia's side beneath the thin fabric of the club shirt, thumb moving once against bare skin where the hem had lifted.

Lucy looked towards the ceiling.

Patri stopped rolling entirely.

Mapi watched Alexia with the intense focus of a person observing whether an actor would break character before the first line.

Jay pulled back only far enough to look at Alexia properly. "Hi, baby."

"Hola, amor."

"You look nice."

"I am wearing training clothes."

"Still true."

Alexia's mouth curved despite herself.

Jay's eyes flicked over her face, caught the barely contained smile, and softened further. Then she leaned down again, this time not for a kiss. Her mouth moved close to Alexia's ear, one hand tightening lightly at her waist, and she whispered something too low for anyone else to hear.

Whatever it was, it changed Alexia immediately.

Colour rose beneath her skin, starting at her cheeks and travelling quickly towards her ears. Her fingers tightened against Jay's shoulder. Her eyes widened, then narrowed, and she turned her head sharply enough that her lips almost brushed Jay's jaw.

"Jay," she murmured.

Jay's grin became slow and satisfied. "What?"

“You cannot say this here."

"I said it quietly."

"That is not the problem."

Mapi turned away, both hands covering her mouth.

Lucy saw her reaction and nearly started laughing.

Jay glanced around the room at last.

Everyone was watching badly.

Some were pretending not to, which was worse. Marta had one hand over her mouth. Patri was staring at the foam roller. Aitana's spoon hovered near her chin. Frido had stopped slicing the apple entirely. Ingrid had finally realised the book was upside down and was attempting to rotate it without drawing attention.

Jay looked from one face to the next.

Then at Alexia.

“What have you done?"

Alexia's eyes widened. "Me?"

"Yes, you. Your ears are red and María looks like she's going to rupture something."

Mapi lowered her hands. "I am fine."

"You're never fine when you say it like that."

Jay reached for one of the recovery shakes, checked the label, realised she had no idea whose was whose and put it back down. Her hand remained at Alexia's waist, thumb still moving slowly against her side, as if suspicion did not alter the need for contact.

"What is happening?"

"Nothing," Alexia said.

Jay stared at her.

Alexia held the gaze.

For perhaps two seconds, the lie survived.

Then the memory of the plan returned in full, bringing with it the article, the room, Mapi's rehearsals and the almost certain future image of Jay calling Clara in genuine administrative distress. Alexia looked away before she laughed.

Jay's eyebrows rose. "That's guilt."

"It is not."

"You looked left."

"I can look left."

"You look left when you're hiding something."

"I do not."

"You absolutely do."

Mapi intervened before Alexia lost the entire performance. She walked over and showed her the phone with studied casualness and turned the screen towards Alexia as if this were the first time she had seen the article.

"Oh, Ale, this is interesting."

The room went silent again.

Jay looked at Mapi, then at the phone, then at Alexia.

Alexia felt every pair of eyes in the lounge turn towards her.

Mapi tapped the headline. "It says some couples are trying a month without sex because it can improve emotional connection, focus and general health."

Jay's hand stopped moving at Alexia's waist.

Not dramatically. Just one small stillness.

Alexia felt it.

Jay looked at the screen.

Then at Mapi.

Then back at Alexia.

The first flicker of concern moved through her expression, quickly covered by amusement. "That sounds miserable."

Mapi shrugged. "The science is interesting."

"Is it science?"

"It is an article."

"That's not the same thing."

Alexia nearly smiled.

Mapi gave her a tiny kick against the ankle.

Alexia inhaled slowly, gathered every scrap of composure she had carried through finals, press rooms and penalty shoot-outs, and turned towards the woman beside her.

"Bebé," she began.

Jay's attention moved to her at once. "Yeah?"

Alexia looked into blue eyes she knew too well, saw the affectionate curiosity there, the faint remaining flush from whatever Jay had whispered, the complete trust that made the prank suddenly much harder than it had seemed three minutes ago.

Behind Jay, Mapi made an encouraging movement with both hands.

Alexia ignored her.

"I have been reading this," she said, and heard the room hold its breath around her. "And I was thinking that maybe... for our health... we could try one month."

Jay stared at Alexia.

Then at the phone.

Then back at Alexia.

The room seemed to lose sound around the edges as her brain attempted to process the sentence she'd just heard.

"...A month?"

Alexia nodded with complete composure.

"Sí."

"...As in..."

"Thirty days."

Jay blinked.

"No."

Alexia smiled sympathetically.

"Yes."

"No, I heard the words." Jay frowned. "I'm rejecting them."

Around the lounge, nobody moved.

Mapi had perfected the art of looking innocent while actively manufacturing chaos. She leaned back into the sofa, folded her arms and waited.

Jay looked at the article again.

Then at Alexia.

Then at the article.

"...Who wrote this?"

"I don't know."

"Is she qualified?"

"It says doctor."

Jay squinted.

"'Doctor Elena...' Elena what?"

"I didn't read that part."

"You didn't read..." Jay looked horrified. "Babe, you didn't even read the qualifications?"

"I read enough."

"You absolutely did not."

Alexia shrugged.

"It made sense."

Jay stared.

"Makes... sense?"

"Sí."

Jay slowly turned towards the rest of the room.

"...Is everyone hearing this?"

Nobody answered.

Not because they didn't want to.

Because if anyone opened their mouth they were going to laugh.

Jay pointed accusingly at Lucy.

"You."

Lucy looked at the ceiling.

"I don't think I'm qualified to comment."

"You've known me for ten years."

"I have."

"Does this seem reasonable?"

Lucy bit the inside of her cheek.

"...I think you should support your girlfriend."

"Traitor."

"I've always been a traitor."

Jay swung towards Patri.

"Patri."

Patri folded her lips together so tightly they almost disappeared.

"I think... health is important."

Jay looked betrayed.

"Ingrid?"

Ingrid cleared her throat.

"...Health is... very important."

"Aitana?"

"I support science."

"Marta?"

"I support entertainment."

Jay frowned.

"...That's suspicious."

Mapi finally spoke.

"I support Alexia."

"Of course you do."

"I always support love."

"This isn't love."

"It is."

"No."

"It is."

"It's oppression."

The room exploded.

Lucy physically slid off the arm of the sofa.

Patri buried her face in Irene's shoulder.

Even Alexia had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop herself smiling.

Jay looked around in complete disbelief.

"I'm being serious."

"So are we," Mapi managed.

Jay threw both hands into the air.

"...Thirty days."

Alexia reached over and rubbed her arm comfortingly.

"It will go quickly."

Jay looked at her as though she'd just announced gravity had been cancelled.

"No, bebé."

"It will."

"No."

"You are being dramatic."

"I'm being realistic."

Alexia laughed softly, “It's only one month."

Jay actually clutched her own chest.

"'Only one month,'" she repeated.

"Sí."

"Babe..."

She leaned down until they were almost eye level.

"...Have you seen yourself?"

Alexia's eyebrows lifted.

"What?"

"I'm asking a genuine question."

"Yes."

"You've looked in mirrors?"

"I believe so."

"You know what you look like?"

"I have some idea."

Jay gestured helplessly towards her.

"Then how have you reached the conclusion this is achievable?"

Lucy disappeared behind the drinks fridge.

Mapi had tears running down her face.

Alexia folded her arms.

"Self control."

Jay laughed once.

A completely humourless laugh.

"No."

"Sí."

"No."

"You have self-control."

"I absolutely do and I choose not to use it."

That finished them.

Pina actually ended up crouching on the floor laughing.

Marta was wheezing into a cushion.

Even Irene's composure cracked.

Jay looked around the room.

"...Why is everyone acting like I'm unreasonable?"

Mapi wiped tears from her eyes.

"Because you just admitted you voluntarily ignore self control."

"I didn't say ignore… I said..." Jay frowned. "...I selectively postpone it."

"That's somehow worse."

Jay sighed dramatically before looking back at Alexia.

"So... you're really doing this."

"Sí."

"...Really."

"Really."

Jay nodded once.

Very slowly.

Then she stood.

Nobody noticed immediately because they were still recovering.

She reached into her pocket.

Pulled out her phone.

Alexia frowned.

"Bebé?"

Jay was already scrolling.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm calling Clara."

The room went quiet.

"...Why?"

"Because this is clearly a psychological emergency."

"It is not."

"It absolutely is."

Alexia reached for the phone.

Jay sidestepped with surprising speed.

"No."

"Bebé..."

"I'm asking for professional help."

"You do not need professional help."

"I've just been told I'm expected to survive thirty consecutive days looking at you."

She looked at Alexia as though presenting Exhibit A in court.

"You."

Then she gestured emphatically again.

"Every day."

Another gesture.

"In shorts."

Another.

"In sports bras."

Another.

"In those white shirts you wear with the sleeves rolled up."

Alexia's cheeks started colouring.

Jay continued counting on her fingers.

"You'll still kiss me."

"Probably."

"You'll still cuddle me."

"Sí."

"You'll still steal my hoodies."

"Obviously."

"You'll still walk around our house looking..." she waved vaguely at Alexia, "...like that."

"I imagine so."

Jay looked around the room.

"...Does nobody else think this sounds medically impossible?"

Silence.

Then Mapi quietly said, “I think Clara is going to hang up on you."

Jay pressed the call button anyway.

Clara answered on the third ring with the kind of calm that only came from years of dealing with Jay Jones.

"Hi, cariño."

The room fell almost completely silent.

Not because anyone cared about the phone call itself.

Because every single person in that players' lounge knew Clara. They all knew she had been Jay's therapist for years. They all knew Jay trusted her implicitly.

Which meant they also knew that whatever happened next was going to be spectacular.

Jay had already started pacing.

Not anxious pacing.

Indignant pacing.

The sort that involved one hand on her hip and the other holding the phone as though she were preparing legal submissions.

"Clara," she said, not even bothering with hello, "I need an objective medical opinion."

There was a tiny pause.

"...That sentence has literally never ended well."

"It isn't funny."

"I haven't laughed yet."

"You will."

"I suspected as much."

Jay glanced accusingly across the room at Alexia, who was sitting serenely on the sofa with her ankles crossed, looking infuriatingly beautiful and completely unbothered by the catastrophe she'd supposedly just unleashed.

"Alexia," Jay announced into the phone, "has informed me she's beginning a thirty day period of abstinence because Mapi found a scientific article that apparently says it'll improve her health."

Clara was quiet.

"...I'm sorry?"

"A month."

"I heard that."

"Thirty consecutive days."

"I also heard that Carino.”

Jay looked around the room triumphantly.

"See? Even Clara thinks it's ridiculous."

"I didn't say that."

"You implied it."

"I absolutely did not."

"You paused."

"I was confused."

"Exactly."

"I was confused by the sentence."

Jay frowned.

"You're supposed to be on my side."

"I haven't chosen a side."

"Choose quickly."

Across the room Mapi leaned so far into Ingrid she nearly fell off the sofa, whispering, "She thinks therapy works like VAR."

Lucy snorted loudly enough that Jay shot her a warning glare.

Clara's voice remained perfectly even.

"Jay."

“Yes?"

"Has Alexia actually said she's doing this?"

Jay looked directly at Alexia.

Alexia nodded once with complete confidence.

Jay pointed dramatically at her.

"She's nodding."

"I see."

"And she's frighteningly committed."

"I am," Alexia called pleasantly.

Clara laughed quietly.

"Well... I actually think Alexia is perfectly entitled to make that decision."

Silence.

Absolute, complete silence.

Jay didn't move.

Didn't blink.

It was as though someone had unplugged her.

"...What?"

"I said I think she's perfectly entitled to decide that."

"No."

"...Yes."

"No, sorry, I don't think you heard yourself."

"I did."

"I don't think you did."

"I promise I did."

"...Clara."

"Yes?"

"I pay you."

Mapi made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a dolphin choking.

Clara sighed.

"I was wondering how long it would take you to mention that."

"I'm just saying."

"You don't pay me to always agree with you."

"...Feels like I should."

"I don't remember that being in my contract."

Jay looked personally wounded.

"Have you... switched sides?"

"I haven't switched anywhere."

"You have."

"I haven't."

"You've defected."

Lucy folded herself in half laughing.

Patri had tears running down her face.

Even Irene had abandoned all pretence of dignity, pressing both lips together so hard they were trembling.

Jay looked desperately around the room for support.

Nothing.

Not one ally.

Even Ingrid gave her the smallest apologetic shrug.

Jay returned to the phone.

"...Right."

"Right?"

"I've made a decision."

"Oh?"

"You're fired."

The lounge exploded.

Lucy physically slid off the sofa.

Mapi slapped the floor repeatedly with the palm of her hand.

Patri disappeared behind both hands.

Alexia covered her mouth because she knew exactly where this was going.

Clara, meanwhile, sounded utterly unsurprised.

"I see."

"Effective immediately."

"What a shame."

"It really is."

"I'll have to inform my other patients."

"You tell them whatever you like."

"Should I also cancel your appointment on Thursday?"

Jay hesitated.

"...No."

"I thought so."

"But you're still fired."

"Interesting."

"I'm serious."

"Mhm."

"I mean it."

"I'm sure you do."

"You no longer work for me."

Clara hummed thoughtfully.

"And yet somehow I'll still see you on Thursday at ten."

"...Probably."

"And you'll still complain about Alexia."

"I absolutely will."

"And I'll still tell you when you're being dramatic."

Jay sighed.

"...You do do that."

"I do."

"I don't like it."

"I know."

There was a tiny pause before Clara's voice softened with obvious amusement.

"You know why I'm agreeing with Alexia?"

Jay folded her arms.

"...Because you've abandoned professionalism?"

"No."

"Because you've betrayed me?"

"No."

"Because Mapi bribed you?"

Mapi looked genuinely offended.

"I haven't even thought of bribing her."

"You would."

"I absolutely would."

Clara chuckled.

"I'm agreeing with Alexia because she's allowed to make decisions about her own body."

Jay opened her mouth.

"...That is..."

She searched desperately for an argument.

"...Annoyingly reasonable."

"I know."

"And now I sound like the unreasonable one."

"You do."

Jay sighed so dramatically half the room applauded.

"I hate growth."

Alexia finally stood, crossed the room and slipped one arm gently around Jay's waist, resting her chin briefly against her shoulder as she smiled at the phone.

"Hola, Clara."

"Hola, Alexia."

"Thank you."

"You are very welcome."

Jay looked down at the arm around her waist before looking back at the phone in utter disbelief.

"You're thanking her?"

"Sí."

"In front of me?"

"Sí."

"My own therapist?"

"Our therapist," Alexia corrected mildly.

Jay gasped.

"Our therapist?"

"Bebé."

"Our therapist?"

Alexia couldn't stop smiling now.

“You literally introduced us."

"I've made mistakes."

That finally broke Clara.

Her laugh burst properly down the phone, warm and completely uncontrolled.

"Oh, Jay..."

"I've lost everything."

"You've lost nothing."

"I've lost Clara."

"You fired me."

"I know."

"You also rehired me about forty five seconds ago."

"I did no such thing."

"You booked Thursday."

"...Oh."

"You see?"

Jay looked around the room.

Every single person was watching her.

Every single person was grinning.

She sighed with the weary resignation of someone who had realised the universe itself was conspiring against her.

"...Fine."

"So we're finished?"

"No."

"No?"

"I'm lodging an appeal."

Clara laughed again.

"With who?"

Jay looked at the ceiling as though searching for higher authority.

"...Honestly? God."

The room collapsed into fresh hysterics.

Jay looked around at the chaos she'd somehow created and shook her head with complete sincerity.

"I came in here to eat yoghurt."

Nobody recovered after that. Mapi disappeared entirely behind the sofa because she couldn't breathe, Lucy was openly crying into Ingrid's shoulder, and Alexia simply buried her face against Jay's neck, her shoulders shaking with helpless laughter while Jay stood in the middle of the room looking deeply, genuinely offended that absolutely nobody seemed capable of taking her very serious crisis seriously.

The afternoon should have ended when training did.

Instead, somehow, Jay managed to carry an entire day's worth of theatrical disappointment with her all the way from the dressing room to the car park.

It was almost impressive.

Everything had returned to normal.

Except Jay.

Jay walked beside Alexia with her training bag hanging from one shoulder and the unmistakable expression of someone whose life had become immeasurably harder.

She wasn't pouting dramatically anymore.

This was somehow worse.

This was quiet disappointment.

The kind that manifested itself in tiny sighs every few minutes, absent minded staring into space and a complete refusal to initiate any of the unconscious affection that normally existed between them.

She still reached for Alexia's hand whenever they walked together because she'd been doing it so long it had become instinct. She still waited for Alexia outside every room. She still slowed her pace without thinking whenever Alexia tied her hair back.

But there had been no stolen kisses against doorframes. No wandering hands around Alexia's waist. No whispered comments in Spanish so badly pronounced that Alexia laughed anyway.

Jay had spent an entire day behaving like a woman respectfully observing the final hours before a national ban came into force.

Mapi had nearly collapsed watching it.

As they pushed through the glass doors towards the car park, the warm Catalan evening wrapped around them. The heat had softened into something gentler now, the late sun turning every parked car golden. Cicadas hummed somewhere beyond the fence, and players were filtering out one by one, engines starting, windows down, music already spilling into the evening air.

Jay stopped beside Alexia's car automatically. She rested one forearm across the roof while Alexia searched through her bag for her keys.

Alexia could feel Jay watching nothing in particular. Just... existing miserably beside her.

It had been funny.

But now, standing here with the training ground growing quieter around them, guilt finally managed to elbow its way past amusement.

She glanced sideways.

Jay was staring across the car park with the thousand yard stare of someone who'd spent six hours contemplating a future she did not want.

"Bebé."

"Mhm."

"You are still thinking about it."

Jay didn't even pretend otherwise.

"I've had quite a lot to process today."

Alexia found the keys but didn't unlock the car. Instead she turned fully towards her.

"What have you been processing exactly?"

Jay looked at her as though the answer should have been obvious.

"The collapse of my quality of life."

Alexia laughed before she could stop herself.

Jay's eyes narrowed.

"There."

"What?"

"You laughed."

"I smiled."

"You definitely laughed."

"I did not."

"It sounded suspiciously cheerful for breathing."

Alexia stepped closer until barely half a step separated them.

Even now, even while committed to the greatest sulk of her adult life, Jay instinctively tilted her body towards her.

Alexia loved that. Loved all the tiny unconscious things Jay did without realising.

She reached up and absent mindedly straightened the collar of Jay's training top.

"...Don't think you can distract me."

"I'm fixing your collar."

"Seductively."

Alexia smiled.

"I don't think adjusting fabric counts as seduction."

"You'd be surprised."

She smoothed the collar flat anyway, letting her fingertips linger against the side of Jay's neck.

Jay closed her eyes for the smallest fraction of a second. Just enough that Alexia noticed. Just enough that the guilt grew a little heavier.

"Bebé."

"What?"

"I have to tell you something."

"What?"

Alexia bit the inside of her cheek.

"...It was a joke."

Silence.

Jay simply looked at her.

Alexia could almost hear the machinery inside Jay's brain beginning to turn.

"...What?"

"The article."

"...What article?"

"The one Mapi showed me."

Alexia watched recognition begin to creep across her face.

"We planned it before you arrived."

Still nothing.

"It isn't real."

Jay continued staring.

"There isn't a month."

No response.

Alexia actually became nervous.

"Bebé?"

Jay blinked once.

"...You're lying."

"I'm not."

"You are."

"I'm really not."

"The article."

"...Mapi."

Jay looked over Alexia's shoulder.

Across the car park.

As though expecting to find hidden cameras.

Then very slowly she placed her training bag on the ground.

Alexia recognised the movement immediately.

"Oh..."

A smile escaped before she could stop it.

"...You're angry."

Jay looked back up.

"No."

"I'm sorry."

"I know."

"I genuinely started feeling bad."

"I know."

"I wasn't going to let it go much longer."

"I know."

Alexia searched her face.

There wasn't any anger there. Only something that looked suspiciously like wounded dignity.

Jay exhaled through her nose.

"...I've had a really embarrassing day."

Alexia laughed again.

"I'm sorry."

"You laughed while saying sorry."

"I know."

"You've ruined the apology."

Alexia reached for her hands.

"I really am sorry."

"You watched me grieve."

"It wasn't grief."

"It absolutely was."

"You were being dramatic."

"I thought my future had changed."

"It had not."

"I didn't know that."

Alexia's smile softened.

"No."

"You just... watched."

"I did."

"And every time I looked at you..."

"I know."

"...you looked supportive."

"I was trying very hard."

Jay gave a slow nod.

"That's almost worse."

Alexia couldn't help it anymore. Another laugh escaped.

Jay watched her for several long seconds.

Watched the way her eyes crinkled.

Watched the tiny shake of her shoulders.

Then something in her own expression finally gave way.

"Oh, don't..." she muttered, shaking her head.

"What?"

"I can't stay annoyed when you're laughing."

"I know."

"You weaponise being pretty."

"I absolutely do."

"You should be arrested."

"For what?"

"For... whatever this is."

Alexia stepped closer until she was standing between Jay and the car.

"So..."

"So?"

"Are you still angry?"

Jay considered it.

Then without another word she slid one hand around the back of Alexia's neck. Her other hand settled low against Alexia's waist before she turned them both, backing Alexia carefully against the side of the car.

The metal was still warm beneath Alexia's back from sitting in the afternoon sun.

"I've decided how you're apologising.”

"Oh?"

Jay answered by kissing her.

The entire day's frustration disappeared into it.

Alexia smiled into the first second of the kiss before it deepened, one hand sliding instinctively beneath the hem of Jay's training shirt to rest against the warm skin at her waist. Jay breathed out softly against her mouth, pulling her closer until there wasn't room for daylight between them anymore.

It was the sort of kiss only people together for a long time could share, completely unselfconscious, familiar enough to lose themselves in it without thinking about where they were.

Alexia's fingers disappeared into the hair at the back of Jay's neck. They kissed again.

Every time Alexia thought they were finished, Jay stole another, slower this time, lingering until Alexia was smiling helplessly into her mouth.

When they finally separated, neither of them moved very far.

Alexia's hands were still beneath Jay's shirt.

Jay's thumb was still slowly tracing circles against her waist.

"I've missed kissing you all day," Jay admitted quietly.

Alexia laughed under her breath.

“It has been one afternoon."

"It has been the longest afternoon in recorded history."

"You are unbelievable."

"I've been suffering."

"You have not."

"I have."

"You kissed me this morning."

"That was before the emotional manipulation."

Alexia smiled so widely she couldn't hide it anymore.

"You really believed me."

Jay looked at her with complete sincerity.

"Babe..."

She brushed one last slow kiss across Alexia's mouth before resting her forehead briefly beside her temple, laughing quietly at herself now.

"I was mentally preparing for the worst four weeks of my life."

Alexia finally gave up trying to apologise.

Instead she simply wrapped both arms around Jay and held her tightly, laughing into the side of her neck while Jay pretended to remain deeply offended for approximately another eight seconds before she started laughing too.

Neither of them noticed Lucy's car rolling slowly past.

The window lowered.

Lucy glanced at the two of them still pressed against Alexia's car.

"...Right," she said cheerfully. "Guess she told you."

Jay didn't even turn around.

"I'm still deciding whether to forgive her."

Lucy looked at Alexia.

"You've got about three more kisses before she's over it."

Alexia smiled.

"I know."

Jay sighed dramatically.

"...Probably two."

Alexia was still smiling when Jay kissed her again.

Jay's hands settled naturally at Alexia's waist, thumbs slipping beneath the hem of her training top, drawing her in until Alexia's back rested lightly against the warm metal of the car again.

"You know," Alexia murmured against her mouth, unable to stop smiling, "I was genuinely beginning to feel guilty."

"You laughed."

"I apologised after."

Jay shook her head with exaggerated disappointment before stealing another slow kiss, smiling into it this time instead of pretending to be offended.

"I've almost forgiven you."

"Almost?"

"I'm keeping ten percent for dramatic effect."

"I would expect nothing less."

Jay looked at her for a long moment. At the familiar hazel eyes that still sparkled every time she laughed. At the loose strands of dark hair escaping from her ponytail after training. At the tiny crease that appeared beside Alexia's nose whenever she smiled properly.

God, she'd missed her. Even after seeing her all day.

She leaned in again, brushing one last lingering kiss across Alexia's lips before speaking so quietly the words barely travelled beyond the space between them. "Hope you're hydrated."

Alexia frowned, still smiling, "...Why?"

Jay's mouth brushed hers again as she answered.

"You've got a month to make up for."

For exactly half a second Alexia simply stared at her. Then she laughed so suddenly she had to hide her face against Jay's shoulder.

"Bebé..."

"I'm just saying."

"You are impossible."

"I'm optimistic."

Alexia looked back up at her, eyes bright with amusement.

"I don't actually owe you anything."

Jay considered that with exaggerated seriousness.

"...I respectfully disagree."

Alexia laughed again, reaching up to cup the side of Jay's face, “You are unbelievable."

"So I've been told."

"You fired Clara."

"I temporarily released her from her duties."

"You appealed to God."

"I explored all available avenues."

Alexia shook her head, still smiling, “what do we do now?”

Jay bent to pick up her abandoned training bag without letting go of Alexia's hand. "Now," she said, threading their fingers together as they finally walked towards the driver's door, "we go home."

"And?"

Jay smiled without hesitation and stole one last kiss speaking the last three words directly against Alexia's mouth.

The slam of the front door echoed down the hall before either you or Alexia had a chance to react.

“¡FAMILIA DAYYYYYY!” Vicky’s voice tore through the house like a trumpet blast, followed by the thud of sneakers and the unmistakable sound of your daughter’s squeal. “HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY!”

You barely had time to lift your head before Vicky appeared in the living room, grinning from ear to ear, her hair sticking up like she’d sprinted the whole way. Sienna, sitting peacefully on her play mat with Leah the Lion clutched to her chest, suddenly found herself scooped up into the air.

“¡Princesa!” Vicky cried, spinning her around in a circle until both of them were laughing. “Today’s family day and you, my little reina, are stuck with me.”

Alexia pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering under her breath, “I’m going to add another lock that door.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “She’d just climb in the window instead.”

“Don’t worry, I made myself a key.” Vicky planted a dramatic kiss on Sienna’s cheek, loud enough to make the baby squeal again. “So, where are we going? Park? Zoo? Disneyland?”

“The park,” you said quickly, grabbing the diaper bag before she could escalate her ideas.

“Perfect,” Vicky replied without missing a beat, already bouncing Sienna on her hip. “I want to be one with nature.”

Alexia rolled her eyes, “Cállate y vámonos.” (Shut up and let’s go)

The ride to the park consisted of Vicky and Sienna’s giggled in the backseat while you and Alexia conversed in the front. The soft sounds of The Marías played as background music.

The late afternoon sun cast the park in a warm golden glow. The air smelled faintly of grass and sunscreen, and the swings squeaked rhythmically in the distance.

Alexia and you claimed a bench near the playground, your bags stacked neatly at your feet, while Vicky took off with Sienna like a human firework.

“Watch this!” she shouted, sliding down the slide with Sienna in her lap. Sienna shrieked with laughter, her curls bouncing wildly.

“She’s never going to nap again,” you muttered, though the sight brought a smile tugging at your lips.

Alexia chuckled, lacing her fingers through yours. “She’ll crash later,” she murmured, pressing a kiss to your temple. “Besides, look at them. She adores Vicky.”

Your chest warmed at the sight of your daughter’s tiny hands clapping against Vicky’s cheeks, demanding more. “It’s chaos,” you admitted softly, leaning against Alexia’s shoulder. “But good chaos.”

Alexia hummed in agreement, her eyes following the pair. “Speaking of chaos,” she said carefully, “we need to decide when to move. The house won’t pack itself.”

You groaned. “Don’t remind me. I started to pack some small things. Boxes, furniture, utilities—”

“It’s our house, though.” Her voice softened, almost reverent. “Our home.”

You turned to her, meeting her gaze, and for a moment the noise of the park faded. “Our home,” you echoed, and the weight of that promise filled your chest.

On the playground, Vicky had somehow commandeered the baby wrap. “Don’t freak out!” she yelled, Sienna now strapped securely to her chest as she dangled from the monkey bars.

Alexia shot up from the bench. “¡Victoria López!”

You grabbed her hand and pulled her back down, laughing. “She’s fine,” you said, though your heart stuttered at the sight. Vicky would let herself get hurt before Sienna. “Let her be.”

Dinner at the diner was tradition. After every game, whether it was a win, a crushing loss, or a nail biting draw, after science fairs, good test scores, bad days, birthdays, or simply just because, the Putellas and Santos families always found their way to Alícia & Elias’ Diner.

The neon sign buzzed faintly against the cool evening air, casting a warm pink glow onto the pavement outside. The bell above the door jingled as you pushed it open, and instantly the familiar scent hit you: grilled meats, fried potatoes, sweet citrus soda, cinnamon sugar lingering in the air from fresh churros. It wrapped around you like a blanket, the smell of your childhood and of every milestone since.

Inside, the place hadn’t changed in decades, red vinyl booths with faint cracks in the seats, checkered floor tiles worn smooth by years of footsteps, the faded Polaroids pinned along the wall of smiling families and teams celebrating something or another.

The owners’ daughter, Lucía, had inherited the place from her parents years ago, and she spotted you the second you walked in.

“¡Mis chicas!” she called, her grin wide, her towel slung over her shoulder as she hurried from behind the counter. “The usual booth?”

“Always,” Alexia answered with that familiar smile, her hand brushing the small of your back as she guided you forward.

Vicky was already halfway to the booth, dragging Sienna along with her. The infant allowed herself to be carried, babbling nonsense words as if she was part of the plan.

“Eeek,” she declared proudly, and Vicky beamed like she’d just been knighted.

“See? She knows I’m the fun one,” Vicky announced, sliding into the booth and immediately pulling Sienna up onto the seat beside her.

“She knows you’re the loud one,” Alexia muttered, though the corners of her lips twitched.

The food came quickly, as it always did, Lucía knew your order by heart. A spread of tapas to share, grilled chicken still sizzling from the flat-top, crispy patatas bravas with aioli, and glasses of their house-made citrus soda that fizzed with every sip. And, of course, more churros than anyone reasonably needed, stacked in a basket in the middle of the table, sugar dusting the air every time someone grabbed one.

Vicky attacked her plate like she hadn’t eaten in weeks. She dunked churros into her soda, then into the chocolate sauce, alternating bites between the two with zero shame.

“Vicky!” you scolded, half-laughing, half-appalled. “You’re going to make yourself sick.”

“She’s innovating,” Alexia deadpanned, spearing a piece of chicken with her fork. “Besides she needs to eat to grow strong.”

Sienna, in her imitation phase, copied Vicky’s every move. When Vicky smeared ketchup across her cheek by accident, Sienna squealed and tapped her own cheek with her messy little fingers. When Vicky dipped churros into two different sauces at once, Sienna tried too…though hers ended up entirely on her bib.

“Look at them,” you whispered, leaning into Alexia’s side.

Alexia was already watching intently, one arm stretched along the back of the booth behind you. She was half-smiling, half-hovering, ready to leap across the table if either of her “kids” even looked like they were about to choke. “Two disasters,” she murmured. “But cute ones.”

By the end, both Vicky and Sienna were covered in food. Ketchup smeared across their cheeks, chocolate sauce on their shirts, sugar clinging to their fingers. They were laughing—loud, unbothered belly laughs that made half the diner turn to smile.

“Don’t move,” you said quickly, reaching into your bag for your digicam. You lifted it just in time to catch the moment. Sienna mid-laugh with her tiny teeth that were growing peeking out, Vicky’s head thrown back, the two of them looking like they’d just won the lottery together. The click of the shutter sealed it.

“Frame that one,” Alexia said softly, her eyes still on the camera but her smile aimed at you. “Put it in the new house,” Alexia nodded.

“Right on the fridge,” You promised, lowering the camera and staring at the little screen, your heart swelling at the frozen moment in time.

“On the fridge?” Vicky gasped in mock horror. “That’s too low. We deserve the mantel.”

Alexia rolled her eyes and stole the last churro before Vicky could grab it. “The mantel is for family pictures.”

“I am family!” Vicky argued through a mouthful of churro she’d swiped off Sienna’s plate.

Sienna, sticky and sugared, clapped her hands in agreement, chanting her garbled version of a protest.

And just like that, in the middle of the buzzing diner, with neon lights outside and plates still half-full, you realized this was what home felt like. The food, the laughter, and the love smeared all over the table.

You should have known Vicky wouldn’t be satisfied with just the park and the diner. Her energy was still bubbling over as you wrestled Sienna’s tiny arms into her jacket.

“Take me to the new house,” Vicky begged, tugging insistently on your sleeve. Her big brown eyes widened in exaggerated desperation. “Please, I’ll die if I don’t see it tonight.”

“No one has seen it yet,” Alexia reminded her firmly, crossing her arms. Her tone was sharp, protective in that way she always got when it came to your shared space.

“Exactly!” Vicky shot back without missing a beat, bouncing on her toes like a restless puppy. “That makes me special. I’ll be the first.” She clasped her hands together dramatically. “Come onnn, family bonding. Don’t be selfish!”

You gave her a flat look, but her pleading grin was impossible to resist. “Fine,” you muttered, tugging Sienna’s zipper up. “But don’t touch anything. And no running in socks, the floors are still slick.”

Vicky threw both fists in the air in triumph. “YES! First guest rights!”

Minutes later, you regretted every word. Vicky was already sprinting down the hallway of the new house, her sneakers squeaking against the polished wood as Sienna bounced happily on her shoulders. The baby’s giggles rang through the empty rooms, high and pure, like music bouncing off fresh walls.

“This one’s mine!” Vicky announced proudly as she skidded into a bedroom. She set Sienna down carefully on the carpet, then spread her arms wide in the middle of the floor. “Look at the windows! So big! Perfect for posters. Messi, Rihanna, a couple of anime ones, maybe a life-sized cardboard cutout…”

Alexia appeared in the doorway, one eyebrow arched as she leaned against the frame. “Posters? In this house?”

“Culture, Alexia,” Vicky replied with mock seriousness, placing a hand over her chest. “Some of us are still in our teenage golden years.”

Sienna, plopped onto the carpet, smacked her hands against it like she was applauding Vicky’s declaration.

“See? Sienna agrees,” Vicky said, crouching down to boop her nose. “This is our room now, princesa.”

You groaned, pinching the bridge of your nose as Alexia tried to look annoyed but the corners of her mouth were betraying her, tugging upward.

“Just wait until you see the backyard,” you teased, knowing exactly how she’d react.

Her head snapped toward you, eyes wide. “Backyard?!” she gasped. “You didn’t tell me there was a backyard!”

“Because we knew you’d lose your mind,” Alexia muttered.

Sure enough, thirty seconds later, Vicky was tearing through the sliding glass doors, Sienna once again balanced on her shoulders, the baby squealing with delight as the night air rushed in. The two of them ran in wide circles under the faint glow of the garden lights, Vicky pointing out random patches of grass like she’d discovered buried treasure.

“This corner, trampoline!” Vicky shouted before immediately point to somewhere else. “A helipad over there—“

“Absolutely not,” Alexia called back from the doorway.

“Too late, already claimed!”

Sienna squealed louder, gripping Vicky’s hair like reins, her little body bouncing with each of Vicky’s exaggerated steps.

You laughed softly, leaning into Alexia’s side as she finally gave in to her smile. “You know we’ve lost her, right?”

“She’s like a tornado,” Alexia muttered, shaking her head. “A loud, stubborn tornado.”

“But a tornado Sienna loves,” you pointed out, watching your daughter’s face light up in pure joy.

Vicky slowed down eventually, carrying Sienna back inside on her shoulders, both of them flushed and breathless. She ducked dramatically as if she were a giant and the doorway was too small, making Sienna erupt into hiccupy giggles.

“Best. Family. Day. Ever.” Vicky declared, flopping onto the living room floor with Sienna still clinging to her like a koala. “This house is perfect. And so am I, for blessing it first.”

Alexia rolled her eyes, but when you glanced at her, you caught the softness there. The way she looked at you, at Sienna, at the little chaos Vicky had created in these new walls.

“Yeah,” you murmured, threading your fingers through hers. “It is perfect.”

The day ended at the lake, where the sky stretched out in watercolor streaks of pink, lavender, and molten orange. The water mirrored it all, shimmering like melted glass with each ripple. A soft breeze carried the scent of pine and fresh grass, ruffling the corners of the blanket you had spread out across the bank. The four of you had settled into an easy rhythm, the kind of comfort that made time feel slower.

Sienna sat perched in Vicky’s lap, tiny hands exploring her favorite’s cheeks like they were made of clay. Vicky, as dramatic as always, launched into a story with her arms flailing, her voice high and indignant.

“And then the teacher was like, ‘Victoria, this is not how fractions work,’” she huffed, rolling her eyes so hard you thought they might disappear into her head. “And I was like, ‘Well, maybe fractions are wrong!’”

Sienna let out a squeal of laughter, her little body bouncing with delight as her fists tugged at Vicky’s face.

You groaned, leaning back against Alexia’s chest, her warmth steady and grounding at your back. “Vicky, your grades—”

“Don’t ruin the moment!” Vicky shot back instantly, sticking her bottom lip out in the most exaggerated pout you had ever seen. She even added wide, pleading eyes for effect.

Sienna’s laugh was immediate, shrieking and clapping her hands, as though siding with Vicky against you. Her little palms smacked Vicky’s cheeks with pure glee, as if to console her.

“See?” Vicky declared, triumphant. “Even Sienna thinks you’re too harsh.”

You rolled your eyes, but you couldn’t help smiling at the way your daughter’s curls bounced with each giggle.

Then it happened, clear as a bell, as if she’d been practicing in secret.

“Vee-kee,” Sienna babbled, her chubby hands clapping together proudly.

The world seemed to stop. Alexia stiffened behind you, her hand gripping your arm tight. Vicky froze like a statue, her mouth falling open, eyes darting between you, Alexia, and the baby in her lap.

“She—she did not just—” Vicky gasped so dramatically you thought she might choke on air. “She said my name!”

Tears blurred your vision instantly, spilling hot down your cheeks as you turned in Alexia’s arms. Your daughter’s very first word, not “mama” or “mami” or even “mamãe,” but Vicky. The sound of it was music, a perfect melody wrapped in baby babble.

“Say it again, princesa,” Vicky whispered, her voice trembling with hope. She bounced Sienna gently, eyes shining. “Say Vicky.”

Sienna beamed, proud of the attention. She clapped again, curls bobbing, and declared, “Vee-kee!”

This time louder and ever so clear.

Vicky collapsed backward onto the blanket like she’d just won the lottery, holding Sienna above her like she was a trophy. “Best. Day. EVER.” She kicked her feet in the air, squealing, while Sienna shrieked in delight, her arms flapping like tiny wings.

Alexia finally let out a laugh, pressing a kiss into your hair as her shoulders shook. You swiped at your wet cheeks, overwhelmed, unable to look away from the sight of your daughter’s joy.

“She really loves her,” you whispered softly, half to Alexia, half to yourself.

“She does,” Alexia agreed, voice low and warm against your ear. “And you know what? I’m not even jealous.”

Vicky sat up again, clutching Sienna to her chest and rocking back and forth. “You hear that, baby girl? I’m officially the favorite. You and me, besties for the resties.”

Sienna answered by smacking her hand against Vicky’s chin and giggling so hard her whole body shook.

You leaned further into Alexia, heart swelling until it hurt. The sunset deepened over the lake, painting everything in hues of gold and rose, like even the universe wanted to frame this moment for you.

Your messy, chaotic, loud little family. A first word that belonged to all of you.

And as laughter rang across the water and Sienna babbled “Vee-kee” again and again like her new favorite song, you knew without a doubt, Vicky was right. It really was the best day ever.

It was late, the kind of late where the world felt hushed and tender. The apartment was bathed in silver light, the moon spilling through the window and painting soft streaks across the floor. Half-filled moving boxes were scattered around like little reminders of the life waiting to begin in the new house, but tonight, they didn’t matter.

Your attention was on Vicky, curled up in your arms on the couch. Her head rested against your chest, her curls tickling your chin. She smelled faintly of baby lotion and churros, thanks to Sienna’s sticky hands earlier at the diner. You lazily ran your manicured nails through her hair, scratching gently at her scalp, and you felt her melt further into you.

“Thank you for today,” she mumbled, her voice heavy with sleep.

“You are always welcome here, querida,” you murmured back, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head.

Vicky shifted, her big brown eyes blinking up at you in the dim light. She looked suddenly smaller, younger than her usual loud, dramatic self. “No, seriously,” she whispered, her throat bobbing as she swallowed. “You and Alexia… you’ve made the transition so much easier. Especially since—” She hesitated, biting her lip. “Since my dad can’t really visit.”

Her voice cracked at the end, and your chest ached. She blinked quickly, her eyes glossing over with tears. “You two stepped up and did everything for me. Even when I didn’t make it easy. You guys mean everything to me. No matter how many stupid jokes I make, or how annoying I am, I just—thank you. I love you.”

The lump in your throat came fast, burning. You brushed her curls back with trembling fingers, gently cupping her head as you leaned down to press a long kiss to her crown. “I love you too, carinho. So, so much.”

She let out a shaky laugh as you began peppering her face with kisses. Her forehead, her cheeks, her nose, until she squirmed and giggled, trying to shield herself with her hands.

“Stoppp,” she whined through her laughter, her dimples flashing.

“Never,” you teased, catching her in your arms again and holding her close, rocking her gently like you did with Sienna. She snuggled right back in, sighing deeply as if the world had finally quieted around her.

For a moment, you just looked at her, the way her lashes fanned across her cheeks, how soft her breathing had become. Family wasn’t always easy, but this? This felt right.

You smoothed your hand down her back. “Now,” you started, shifting so you cradled her against you, “what color do you want your room?”

Her eyes fluttered open again, wide and thoughtful. “Wait… I get to pick?”

“Of course,” you said softly, smiling at her surprise. “It’s your space. It should feel like you.”

Vicky sat up a little straighter, suddenly alert despite how tired she had looked moments ago. “Okay, okay, hear me out. One wall pink like, bold pink. Then another wall covered in posters. And maybe led lights everywhere. But not baby led lights like, big ones. Bright loud, kinda like me. We make it blaugrana colors so Ale likes them too.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “That sounds exactly like you.”

“Good,” she said proudly, nestling back down into your side. “Then it’ll feel like home.”

Before you could respond, footsteps padded in from the kitchen. Alexia appeared, bottle in one hand, rubbing sleep from her eyes with the other. She froze when she saw the two of you, her expression softening into something tender and unreadable.

“¿Qué pasa aquí?” she whispered, voice warm with amusement. (What’s going on here?)

“She’s mine now,” Vicky declared without opening her eyes, her words muffled as she buried her face in your shirt. “Go away, Ale.”

Alexia chuckled, setting the bottle down on the counter. She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, just watching. “She’s lucky,” she murmured, more to herself than to either of you.

You caught her gaze over Vicky’s head, and the look she gave you, soft, unguarded, and filled with quiet love, made your chest ache all over again.

For now, though, you just held Vicky tighter, brushing another kiss into her hair. “Home,” you echoed, your voice a promise.

The light in the alarm clock brightened slowly from dim orange to warm yellow, accompanied by the soft sound of birds chirping and what might have been a babbling brook or maybe just generic peaceful water sounds.

Jay felt herself slowly surface from sleep, her brain coming back online piece by piece, awareness returning gradually as the light got brighter and the sounds got slightly louder.

She was warm and comfortable, wrapped around Alexia from behind, one arm slung over Alexia's waist, her face pressed into the back of Alexia's neck, breathing in the familiar scent of her shampoo mixed with sleep and warmth.

This was her favourite way to wake up.

"Morning, baby," Jay murmured against her skin, her voice still rough and sleep thick. "Time to wake up. We have training in an hour."

Alexia made a sound that was definitely not agreement, was more like protest mixed with stubborn refusal to acknowledge the existence of morning, and burrowed deeper into her pillow.

"No," she mumbled, her accent even thicker than usual with sleep, the word coming out more like 'nnnno' than an actual response. "Is too early. Alarm is wrong. We are staying in bed. We are ignoring training. We are sleeping forever. This is the new plan."

Jay laughed softly, the sound quiet and fond, pressing another kiss to Alexia's neck.

"As much as I love that plan and would absolutely prefer to stay in this bed with you all day, we both know Jonatan would murder us if we skipped training because we wanted to sleep in," she said, her hand sliding up from Alexia's waist to her shoulder, rubbing gently.

“Come on, babe. We need to get up. We need to get ready. We need to be functional human beings who go to work."

"Do not want to be functional human," Alexia protested, still not opening her eyes, still pressed firmly into her pillow like she could will herself back to sleep through pure stubbornness. "Want to be non functional human who stays in bed with girlfriend. That is better plan. Much better than training."

"You say that every single morning," Jay observed with amusement, her fingers now tracing idle patterns on Alexia's shoulder through the soft fabric of her sleep shirt. "And every single morning you eventually get up anyway. So we could skip this part where you pretend you are not going to get up and just accept that we are both getting up now."

"Could also skip the part where we get up and just stay here," Alexia countered, finally rolling over to face Jay, her eyes still closed but a small smile playing at her lips. "That is also option. Better option."

Her hand came up to find Jay's face without opening her eyes, her fingers tracing along Jay's jaw with the kind of automatic familiarity that came from doing this hundreds of times, knowing the geography of Jay's face well enough to navigate it blind.

"Hi," she said softly, finally opening her eyes just enough to look at Jay through her lashes, her expression soft and full of sleepy affection. "Good morning, guapa. You are very beautiful when I first wake up. Is not fair. Should not be allowed to be this beautiful this early."

"Right back at you, babe," Jay said, leaning in to kiss her properly, soft and sweet and slow, the kind of good morning kiss that had become ritual between them, the kind that said I love you and I am happy to wake up next to you without needing actual words.

Alexia kissed her back with enthusiasm despite claiming to be too sleepy to function, her hand sliding from Jay's jaw into her hair, holding her there, deepening the kiss just slightly, making a small satisfied sound against Jay's mouth.

They stayed like that for a long moment, just kissing slowly and thoroughly, neither in any rush to stop, both knowing they should be getting up and getting ready but neither actually wanting to be the one to break this perfect peaceful moment.

Eventually Jay pulled back with obvious reluctance, pressing one more quick kiss to Alexia's lips before sitting up properly.

"Okay, we really do need to get up now," she said, running a hand through her messy bed head hair, trying to make it slightly less chaotic. "If we stay in this bed any longer we are going to end up being late and then we are both going to be in trouble."

"Fine," Alexia sighed dramatically, also sitting up, stretching her arms above her head with a small groan. "But I am protesting this. I am officially lodging a complaint about having to leave this bed. With you. Who is warm and comfortable and good at kissing. To go to training. Which is cold and hard work and significantly less good than kissing. This is unfair. Life is unfair bebe."

"Noted and filed," Jay said, climbing out of bed and immediately missing the warmth of the covers. "Your complaint has been received and will be given all the consideration it deserves, which is none because we still have to go to training regardless of your feelings about it."

"You are terrible amor," Alexia said, but she was smiling, was also getting out of bed, was already moving toward the bathroom to start getting ready.

They moved through their morning routine with the practiced efficiency of people who had done this together hundreds of times, who had learned each other's rhythms and patterns and knew how to exist in the same space without getting in each other's way.

Jay started the coffee while Alexia was in the shower, measured out the grounds and filled the water reservoir and hit the button to start it brewing, the familiar sound and smell of coffee beginning to fill the apartment.

By the time Alexia emerged from the bathroom, her hair still damp and pulled back into a neat ponytail, dressed in comfortable clothes for the drive to training, the coffee was ready and Jay had laid out breakfast on the counter.

Nothing elaborate, just toast with avocado and eggs the way Alexia liked them, simple and quick and enough fuel to get through morning training.

"You are the best," Alexia said, coming up behind Jay and wrapping her arms around her waist, pressing a kiss to the back of her neck. "The absolute best. I love you. Have I told you that today? I love you."

"You have not actually said the words yet today but I gathered the general sentiment from the way you kissed me earlier," Jay said, turning in Alexia's arms to face her properly, her own arms coming up to loop around Alexia's neck. "But I will never get tired of hearing it. I love you too. So much. Even when you complain about having to get out of bed for training."

"Especially when I complain about getting out of bed for training," Alexia corrected, leaning in to kiss her again, soft and sweet and tasting like toothpaste. "That is when I am most charming. When I am cranky and sleepy and complaining. You love cranky sleepy me. Admit it guapa.”

"I love every version of you," Jay said honestly. "Cranky sleepy you, energetic training you, focused captain you, soft cuddly bedtime you, all of it. Every version. Always."

"Good answer," Alexia said, kissing her once more before reluctantly pulling away to actually eat breakfast. "Very good answer guapa. You get points for that answer."

They ate together at the counter, comfortable silence broken only by occasional comments about the day ahead, about training plans, about an upcoming match, about dinner plans for later.

Easy conversation, the kind that came from knowing each other well enough that silence was comfortable and words were only necessary when there was actually something to say.

Jay took her morning medication with her coffee, the routine so automatic she barely thought about it anymore, just opened the pill organiser and took out the small white tablet and swallowed it with a sip of coffee.

ADHD medication that she had been on for years, that helped her focus and manage her symptoms and generally function as a professional athlete with demanding training schedules and complex tactical instructions.

It was so routine, so normal, so much a part of her morning that she did not even register doing it.

Alexia noticed though, the way she always noticed, the way she had learned to keep track of whether Jay had taken her medication because sometimes when Jay's brain was particularly scattered she would forget and then would struggle through training and get frustrated with herself.

"Good," Alexia said quietly, nodding at the now empty pill organiser. "I was going to remind you but you remembered yourself. Good job, bebe."

"I have been pretty good about remembering lately," Jay said, pleased with herself. "I think having a consistent morning routine helps. Same time every day, same part of the routine, easier to remember that way."

"Is good," Alexia agreed. "You have been much better about it. I am proud of you."

They finished breakfast, cleaned up together, grabbed their training bags that had been packed the night before, and headed out to Jay's car for the drive to the training facility.

The team meeting was routine and unremarkable, the kind they had multiple times a week, going over training plans and tactical adjustments and upcoming match preparation.

Jonatan was at the front of the room with his usual organised chaos of notes and diagrams, the entire squad spread out in chairs around him, some people paying rapt attention, others clearly still waking up, everyone in various states of pre training readiness.

Jay was sitting next to Alexia as always, their chairs close enough that their shoulders were touching, Alexia's hand resting on Jay's knee in that casual possessive way she had, both of them half listening to Jonatan talk about defensive positioning while also just existing comfortably in each other's space.

"So we are going to focus a lot on pressing triggers this week," Jonatan was saying, gesturing at the tactical board he had set up. "I want to see more aggressive pressure in the midfield, faster transitions when we win the ball back, really shutting down their ability to play out from the back..."

Jay was trying to pay attention, was genuinely trying to absorb the tactical information, but her brain kept wandering to other things, kept getting distracted by the way the morning light was coming through the windows, by the sound of Mapi whispering something to Ingrid a few rows back, by the feeling of Alexia's thumb rubbing small circles on her knee.

Focus, she told herself. Pay attention. This is important.

She forced her attention back to Jonatan, to the diagrams he was drawing, to the specific instructions he was giving about positioning and movement.

"Any questions?" Jonatan asked, looking around the room.

A few people raised hands, asked clarifying questions about specific scenarios, technical details that Jay should probably also have questions about but her brain was already moving on to thinking about the actual training session, about what drills they would be doing, about whether her hamstring was going to hold up okay today or if she needed to mention it to the physio staff.

"Alright, good," Jonatan said, satisfied with the responses. "Let's have a great session today. Remember, we have the match on Saturday so this week is crucial for..."

"Oh, one more thing before everyone goes," one of the staff members interrupted from the doorway, checking something on her tablet. "We have a new team doctor starting today. Dr. Reyes. She is going to be doing individual meetings with everyone over the next few days to review medical histories and current medications and all of that. Jay, she has asked to see you first, right after this meeting. You can head to medical room two when we are done here."

Jay felt Alexia's hand tighten slightly on her knee, felt her turn to look at her with a small frown.

"Why you first?" Alexia asked quietly, her voice low enough that only Jay could hear. "Is something wrong? Are you having problems with something?"

"No, I am fine," Jay said, equally quiet. "Probably just because I am on medication already so she wants to review it first or something. It is fine. Nothing to worry about."

"You are sure?" Alexia pressed, her eyes searching Jay's face. "You are feeling okay? No problems?"

"I am totally fine, baby," Jay assured her, leaning in to press a quick kiss to Alexia's temple. "I promise. Just routine new doctor stuff. I will probably be like ten minutes and then I will meet you on the pitch for training. Okay?"

"Okay," Alexia said, though she still looked slightly worried. "But if there is any problem, you tell me. Yes? You do not keep things from me if something is wrong."

"I promise," Jay said. "Now stop worrying. I am fine. Everything is fine."

The meeting broke up, everyone heading toward the locker rooms to change for training, the usual pre session energy and chatter filling the hallway.

Jay kissed Alexia once more, quick and reassuring, before heading in the opposite direction toward the medical wing of the facility.

Medical room two was at the end of the hallway, the door slightly open, light spilling out into the corridor.

Jay knocked lightly on the doorframe before entering.

"Come in," a voice called from inside.

The woman sitting behind the desk was maybe in her early fifties, professional and put together in the way that doctors often were, dark hair pulled back neatly, glasses perched on her nose, white coat crisp and official looking.

She looked up as Jay entered, her expression neutral and assessing.

"Jay, yes?" she said, gesturing to the chair across from her desk. "I am Dr. Reyes. Please, sit. This should not take long, I just want to review your medical file and make sure I have all the current information about your health and any medications you are taking."

"Sure," Jay said, sitting down in the indicated chair, trying to project casual confidence even though something about this woman's demeanour was putting her slightly on edge in a way she could not quite identify. "Nice to meet you. Welcome to Barcelona."

"Thank you," Dr. Reyes said, already pulling up something on her computer, scanning through what was presumably Jay's medical file. "So I see here that you are currently on medication for ADHD. Methylphenidate, 20mg, once daily in the morning. Is that correct?"

"Yes, that is correct," Jay confirmed. "I have been on it for about three years now. It works really well for me. Helps me focus, helps with training, helps with everything really. No issues with it at all."

Dr. Reyes was frowning at her screen, her expression disapproving in a way that made Jay's stomach clench slightly with unease.

"I am not comfortable with you continuing on this medication," Dr. Reyes said bluntly, looking up from the screen to meet Jay's eyes. "Stimulant medications like this are not appropriate for athletes at your level. The cardiovascular risks are too high. The potential for dependency is concerning. I am going to switch you to a non stimulant alternative that is much safer and more appropriate."

Jay felt her heart rate spike, felt her hands clench slightly on the arms of the chair.

"Wait, what?" she said, trying to process what she was hearing. "No, I... this medication works for me. I have been on it for years. My previous doctor and I worked really hard to find the right medication and dose. I do not want to change. I do not need to change. It is working perfectly."

"I understand that you feel it is working," Dr. Reyes said in that patronising tone that doctors sometimes used when they had already made up their mind and were not interested in the patient's opinion. "But as your new team physician, I have a responsibility to ensure that you are on the safest possible treatment. Stimulant medications are not safe for elite athletes. The cardiovascular strain is too significant. I am going to prescribe you atomoxetine instead, which is a much safer non stimulant option."

"But I do not want to change medications," Jay said, her voice getting slightly louder, panic starting to creep in at the edges. "I have tried non stimulants before. They do not work as well for me. The stimulant medication works. It has been working for three years. Why would I change something that is working?"

"Because I am telling you that it is not safe," Dr. Reyes said firmly, her tone brooking no argument. "This is not a negotiation. This is me making a medical decision based on my professional judgment. You will start the atomoxetine tomorrow morning. I am putting the prescription through now. You can pick it up from the pharmacy this afternoon."

"You cannot just change my medication without my consent," Jay protested, feeling her chest getting tight, feeling like this was spiraling out of her control way too fast. "That is not how this works. I have a say in my own medical care. I am the patient. You cannot just..."

"I can and I am," Dr. Reyes interrupted. "As team physician, I have the authority to make decisions about player medications when I believe the current treatment poses a risk. And I believe this poses a risk. So you will switch to the atomoxetine. Starting tomorrow. That is final."

Jay wanted to argue more, wanted to push back, wanted to insist on keeping her current medication that was working perfectly and had been for years.

But this woman was looking at her with such absolute certainty, such complete conviction that she was right and Jay was wrong, that Jay felt all her arguments dying in her throat.

This was a doctor.

A medical professional.

Someone with authority and expertise and the power to make these decisions.

Who was Jay to argue with that?

Maybe she was wrong.

Maybe the stimulant medication was dangerous and she just had not realised it.

Maybe this doctor knew better than she did.

"Okay," Jay heard herself say, her voice coming out small and defeated. "Okay. I will switch. Starting tomorrow."

"Good," Dr. Reyes said, already turning back to her computer to put through the prescription. "You can go now. Training is about to start. Pick up the medication this afternoon and start it tomorrow morning. Take it at the same time you currently take your other medication. It may take a few weeks to reach full effectiveness so do not be alarmed if you do not notice immediate results."

Jay stood up on shaking legs, felt like the ground had shifted under her somehow, felt off balance and confused and upset in a way she could not quite articulate.

She walked out of the medical room in a daze, her mind spinning, trying to process what had just happened.

She should tell Alexia.

Should tell her about this medication change.

Should ask her opinion.

Should...

But Alexia would worry.

Would ask questions.

Would want to talk to the doctor herself.

Would make a whole thing out of it.

And maybe it was fine.

Maybe the doctor was right.

Maybe this new medication would be better.

Maybe she was overreacting.

She would just start the new medication tomorrow and see how it went and if it was a problem then she would tell Alexia.

But there was no point worrying her now about something that might not even be an issue.

Jay made it to the locker room, changed into her training kit on autopilot, her mind still elsewhere, still processing, still trying to figure out how she felt about what had just happened.

Lucy was nearby, getting ready for the session, noticed Jay's distracted expression.

"You alright?" Lucy asked casually. "You look a bit out of it. Everything okay with the new doctor?"

"Yeah, fine," Jay said automatically. "Just routine stuff. Nothing important."

Lucy looked like she wanted to ask more questions but Alexia appeared in the doorway at that moment, immediately coming over to Jay with a concerned expression.

"How did it go?" Alexia asked, her hands coming up to frame Jay's face, searching her eyes. "Is everything okay? You look upset. What happened?"

"Nothing," Jay lied, forcing a smile. "Everything is fine. Just boring medical review stuff. Let's go train. We are going to be late."

Alexia looked skeptical but allowed herself to be pulled toward the pitch, though Jay could feel her watching with worried eyes the entire walk there.

This was fine.

Everything was going to be fine.

The new medication would be fine.

It had to be.

Jay stood in line at the pharmacy trying to look casual and relaxed and like picking up a new prescription that she did not want and had not asked for was a completely normal everyday occurrence that she was totally fine with.

She was not fine with it.

Had not been fine with it since leaving Dr. Reyes's office that morning, since being told with such absolute certainty that her current medication was dangerous and inappropriate and needed to be changed immediately regardless of how Jay felt about it.

Training had been a distraction at least, had given her something to focus on besides the anxiety churning in her stomach about this medication change. She had thrown herself into the drills and exercises with perhaps more intensity than strictly necessary, pushing herself harder than she needed to, trying to burn off the nervous energy that had been building since that morning meeting.

Alexia had noticed, of course.

Alexia always noticed when something was off with Jay, had developed some kind of sixth sense over the past year for when Jay was upset or anxious or struggling with something.

She had pulled Jay aside during a water break, her hand gentle on Jay's arm, her eyes searching Jay's face with that particular expression of loving concern that always made Jay's chest feel tight.

"You are being weird today, guapa," Alexia had said quietly, her accent soft with worry. "You are pushing too hard in training. You are distracted. Something is bothering you. What happened in the meeting with the new doctor? Did she say something that upset you? Talk to me, bebe. Tell me what is wrong."

And Jay had wanted to tell her.

Had wanted to explain about the medication change and about how Dr. Reyes had been so dismissive and so certain and had not listened to anything Jay tried to say about how well her current medication worked.

Had wanted to ask Alexia what she thought, whether Jay should push back harder, whether she should get a second opinion, whether this was normal or if Dr. Reyes was overstepping somehow.

But the words had stuck in her throat.

Because what if Alexia agreed with the doctor?

What if Alexia thought the stimulant medication was too risky and that Jay should have been switched years ago?

What if telling Alexia just made her worry unnecessarily about something that might turn out to be completely fine?

So instead Jay had forced a smile and lied.

"I am fine, baby. Just had a lot of coffee this morning and I am feeling extra energetic. Nothing is wrong. I promise. Stop worrying about me."

Alexia had not looked convinced but she had let it drop, had just kissed Jay's temple and told her to be careful and not push too hard and hurt herself.

Now Jay was standing in this pharmacy queue, watching the number tick down on the digital display as people ahead of her collected their prescriptions and paid and left, getting closer and closer to her turn.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she pulled it out to see a message from Alexia.

Alexia: Where are you, guapa? You left training ground without saying goodbye. I looked for you but you were gone. Are you okay? Are you coming home soon? I am making dinner. Your favourite. ❤️

Jay felt guilt twist in her stomach.

She had left without saying goodbye because she had not wanted to answer questions about where she was going, had not wanted to lie directly to Alexia's face about picking up medication.

Jay: Sorry babe, had to run some errands. Will be home in like 20 minutes. Love you. Can't wait for dinner. ❤️

Not technically a lie.

Picking up a prescription was an errand.

She was just... not specifying which errand.

"Next please," the pharmacist called out, and Jay realised with a jolt that it was her turn.

She stepped up to the counter, gave her name, watched as the pharmacist disappeared into the back to retrieve her prescription.

The woman returned a moment later with a small white paper bag, began scanning it into the system.

"Atomoxetine, 40mg, once daily," the pharmacist said, looking at her screen. "Have you taken this medication before?"

"No," Jay said, her voice coming out slightly tight. "This is new."

"Okay, so this is a non stimulant ADHD medication," the pharmacist explained in that practiced professional tone that suggested she gave this speech multiple times a day. "It works differently than stimulant medications. It is not going to have an immediate effect like a stimulant would. It takes several weeks to build up in your system and reach full effectiveness. You might not notice much difference in the first week or two. Some people experience side effects when they first start, things like nausea, decreased appetite, fatigue, dizziness. Those usually improve after the first few weeks as your body adjusts."

"Great," Jay said, trying to sound positive and optimistic rather than anxious and resentful. "Sounds perfect. Just what I need. Side effects and delayed effectiveness. Fantastic."

The pharmacist gave her a slightly sympathetic look, clearly picking up on Jay's lack of enthusiasm.

"It does work very well for a lot of people once it builds up in your system," she offered. "And the non stimulant aspect means less risk of cardiovascular issues, no potential for dependency, more stable coverage throughout the day. There are definitely benefits to this type of medication."

"Right," Jay said, taking the bag when the pharmacist handed it over. "Thanks."

She paid, left the pharmacy, walked to her car in the parking lot feeling like she was carrying something significantly heavier than a small paper bag containing a two week supply of medication.

This was fine.

The pharmacist had said it worked well for a lot of people.

Dr. Reyes was a medical professional who knew what she was doing.

This was probably going to be completely fine and Jay was worrying about nothing.

She sat in her car for a long moment, the paper bag sitting on the passenger seat next to her, before finally starting the engine and driving home.

Jay walked through the front door of their apartment with the small white pharmacy bag clutched in her hand, feeling like she was carrying evidence of a crime rather than just a prescription medication.

The apartment smelled incredible, warm and inviting, the rich savory scent of something cooking filling the entire space. Alexia's music was playing softly from the kitchen speaker, that playlist she always listened to when she was cooking, a mix of Spanish and English songs that Jay had come to associate with coming home to find Alexia making dinner.

It should have been comforting.

Should have made Jay feel relaxed and happy and grateful to be home.

Instead it just made the anxiety in her stomach twist tighter, made the guilt sit heavier on her chest, because she knew Alexia was going to have questions and Jay was going to have to either lie or tell a truth she was not ready to discuss yet.

Alexia appeared in the kitchen doorway the moment she heard Jay come in, her face lighting up with that smile that was just for Jay, the one that made Jay's chest feel warm despite the anxiety churning underneath.

"There you are, guapa," Alexia said, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel as she walked over, immediately wrapping her arms around Jay's waist and pulling her in for a kiss. "I was starting to worry. You left training without saying goodbye. I looked for you everywhere but you had disappeared. Where did you go? Is everything okay?"

Jay's arms came up automatically to wrap around Alexia, holding her close, breathing in the familiar comforting scent of her that always made Jay feel grounded.

"Just had to run some errands," Jay said vaguely, the half truth sitting uncomfortably on her tongue. "Nothing important. Whatever you are making smells amazing. Is that the pasta thing I love?"

She could feel the pharmacy bag crinkling slightly where it was trapped between their bodies, could feel it like a physical reminder of the secret she was keeping.

Alexia pulled back slightly to look at Jay's face properly, her eyes searching, that particular expression she got when she knew something was off.

"What errands?" she asked, her tone still light but with an edge of concern underneath. "What did you need to get? And why did you not tell me you were leaving? I would have come with you if you needed to go somewhere."

"Just boring stuff," Jay said, trying to sound casual, trying to keep her voice even. "Nothing worth mentioning. How was the rest of training? Did I miss anything important?"

Alexia's eyes narrowed slightly, clearly picking up on the deflection, clearly not satisfied with the vague non answers.

"Bebe, what is in the bag?" she asked, her gaze dropping to where the white pharmacy bag was still clutched in Jay's hand. "Did you go to the pharmacy? Are you sick? Why did you not tell me you were not feeling well? I would have come with you. I would have..."

Jay kissed her.

Stepped forward and cupped Alexia's face with her free hand and kissed her firmly, cutting off the stream of questions, cutting off the conversation before it could go any further.

Alexia made a small surprised sound against Jay's mouth but responded immediately the way she always did, her body leaning into Jay's, her hands coming up to grip Jay's shoulders, kissing her back with clear enthusiasm despite having just been interrupted mid sentence.

Jay deepened the kiss, putting intent behind it, making it clear this was not just a casual greeting kiss but something more, something designed to distract and redirect attention.

When she finally pulled back, Alexia was slightly breathless, her eyes slightly unfocused, her lips already swollen.

"What was that for?" Alexia asked, though she was smiling now, clearly pleased by the attention even if she was still suspicious about the avoided questions.

"Missed you," Jay said simply, which was true even if it was not the whole truth. "Thought about you all afternoon. Came home and you looked beautiful and I just needed to kiss you. Is that not allowed?"

"Is always allowed," Alexia said, her accent thick and warm. "Is encouraged actually. You can kiss me like that whenever you want. But you are also avoiding my questions, guapa. I can tell. You are being secretive about something and I want to know what. So tell me. What is in the bag? Where did you go? What are you not telling me?"

Her hands were still on Jay's shoulders, her eyes still searching Jay's face with that loving concern that made Jay feel like the worst person in the world for keeping things from her.

"It is really nothing important," Jay insisted, setting the pharmacy bag down on the counter behind Alexia so it was out of sight, trying to make it disappear from the conversation. "Just some stuff I needed to pick up. Not worth talking about. Now tell me about dinner because whatever you are making smells incredible and I am starving."

Alexia looked like she wanted to push harder, wanted to demand answers, wanted to know exactly what Jay was hiding and why.

But she also clearly recognised that Jay was not going to give her those answers right now, that pushing would just make Jay more defensive and closed off.

So she made a visible decision to let it drop, at least for now, though her expression made it clear this conversation was not over, just postponed.

"Fine," she said, though her tone suggested it was not actually fine. "Keep your secrets. For now. But you know I will find out eventually, yes? I always find out. So you might as well just tell me now and save us both the trouble of me having to investigate like detective."

"There is nothing to investigate," Jay said, pulling Alexia back into her arms, pressing a kiss to her temple. "I promise. Everything is fine. I am fine. Now please tell me about this amazing dinner you are making because I really am starving and it smells so good."

Alexia allowed herself to be redirected, started explaining about the mushroom cream pasta she was making, the special sauce she had perfected, the way she had cooked the pasta just the way Jay liked it.

But Jay could see her glancing at the pharmacy bag on the counter throughout the conversation, could see the wheels turning in her mind, could see her making mental notes to come back to this topic later when Jay's guard was down.

They ate dinner together, the pasta as delicious as it had smelled, the conversation easy and comfortable on the surface but with an undercurrent of tension that had not been there this morning.

Jay volunteered to do the dishes, partly to be helpful and partly to have an excuse to dispose of the pharmacy bag without Alexia seeing exactly what medication it contained.

She managed to slip the pill bottle into her pocket and toss the bag in the trash while Alexia was in the living room, felt like she was being ridiculous and secretive about something that probably was not even a big deal.

But she still was not ready to have the conversation about the medication change.

Was not ready to see the worry and concern in Alexia's eyes.

Was not ready to admit that maybe she was scared about this change and what it might mean.

So she kept it to herself and told herself she would explain everything once she knew how the new medication was going to affect her.

Once she had actual information to share instead of just anxiety and uncertainty.

Tomorrow.

She would start the new medication tomorrow morning and see how it went and then she would know whether this was going to be a problem or not.

And if it was a problem, then she would tell Alexia everything.

But if it was fine, if the transition was smooth and easy, then there was no point worrying her about something that turned out to be nothing.

That was the plan.

That was what Jay told herself as she finished the dishes and joined Alexia on the couch and let herself be pulled into a comfortable embrace while they watched something mindless on TV.

Tomorrow would tell her whether she had made the right choice.

Tomorrow would tell her whether keeping this from Alexia had been the right call or a terrible mistake.

Tomorrow everything would become clear.

The sunrise alarm went off at the usual time, gentle light gradually increasing, soft nature sounds pulling Jay slowly out of sleep and into consciousness.

She blinked awake feeling surprisingly well rested despite the anxiety that had been churning underneath all evening, despite the secret she was keeping, despite everything.

Alexia was still asleep next to her, curled on her side facing Jay, one hand stretched out across the mattress between them, her face peaceful and relaxed in sleep.

Jay took a moment just to look at her, to appreciate how beautiful she was even first thing in the morning with messy hair and no makeup and slight pillow creases on her cheek.

This was worth protecting.

This relationship, this life they had built together, this peace and happiness and love.

If the medication change was a problem, if it affected her badly, then she would tell Alexia immediately and they would deal with it together.

But if it was fine, then there was no reason to create worry and stress over nothing.

Jay carefully extracted herself from the bed without waking Alexia, made her way to the bathroom to start her morning routine.

Shower, getting dressed, the familiar comfortable rituals that helped ease her into the day.

The new medication was sitting in the cabinet where she had hidden it last night, the pill bottle looking innocent and ordinary despite what it represented.

Jay stared at it for a long moment, her hand hovering over it, second guessing herself for what felt like the hundredth time.

She could just not take it.

Could throw it away and continue with her regular medication and tell Dr. Reyes that she had decided not to switch after all.

Could refuse to make this change that she did not want and had not asked for.

But then what?

Then she would be labeled as difficult, as non compliant, as someone who did not follow medical advice.

Then there would be questions and possibly consequences and definitely conflict with the new team doctor.

No.

Better to just try it.

Give it a fair shot for a week and see what happened.

If it was terrible she could always switch back.

But she needed to at least try.

Jay opened the bottle, shook out one of the capsules, filled a glass of water from the tap.

Took a deep breath.

Put the capsule in her mouth and swallowed it before she could change her mind, washing it down with water, feeling it slide down her throat and into her stomach where it would dissolve and release the medication into her system.

Done.

No going back now until tomorrow morning.

She put the bottle back in the cabinet, hidden behind her moisturiser and face wash where Alexia would not casually stumble across it, and went to the kitchen to start coffee.

Alexia emerged from the bedroom about ten minutes later, still sleepy and adorable in her pajamas, her hair messy and her eyes not quite fully open yet.

"Morning, babe," Jay said, handing her a cup of coffee already prepared exactly the way she liked it. "Sleep well?"

"Mmm," Alexia hummed, accepting the coffee and taking a long grateful sip before actually attempting words. "Slept good. You are already dressed. You are very efficient this morning. Very productive. Is almost suspicious how awake you are."

"Just feeling energetic," Jay said, which was actually true, she did feel fine right now, felt completely normal, no different from any other morning. "Excited for training I guess."

Alexia gave her a skeptical look over the rim of her coffee mug but did not push, just settled at the counter and started waking up properly while Jay made them both breakfast.

They went through their normal morning routine, easy and comfortable, driving to the training ground together with music playing and Alexia's hand warm on Jay's thigh.

Jay felt fine the entire drive.

Felt completely normal during the walk from the car to the facility.

Felt exactly like herself as they changed in the locker room and headed to the meeting room for the pre training tactical session.

Maybe this was going to be fine after all.

Maybe all her anxiety had been for nothing.

Maybe the new medication would work perfectly and she would not even notice the difference.

The team meeting started at nine on the dot, the entire squad gathered in the meeting room while Jonatan went over the training plan for the day and some tactical adjustments he wanted to work on.

Jay was sitting in her usual spot next to Alexia, their chairs close together, Alexia's hand resting on Jay's knee in that casual way she had, both of them half listening to Jonatan talk about defensive shape and pressing triggers.

About twenty minutes into the meeting, Jay started to feel weird.

Not bad exactly.

Just... off.

Like the world had shifted slightly sideways and she had not quite caught up with it yet.

The lights in the room seemed too bright suddenly, harsh and glaring in a way they had not been a few minutes ago.

Jonatan's voice seemed to be coming from very far away, muffled and distant like she was hearing him through water.

Her body felt heavy, disconnected, like her brain was sending signals to her limbs but the signals were traveling too slowly to arrive properly.

She blinked hard, trying to clear her vision, trying to shake off the wrongness.

It did not help.

Next to her, Alexia's hand tightened on her knee, clearly having noticed something.

"You okay?" Alexia whispered quietly, leaning closer, her eyes searching Jay's face with concern.

"Fine," Jay mumbled, though even forming the word felt like it took more effort than it should, her tongue feeling thick and clumsy in her mouth. "Just tired."

"You do not look fine," Alexia said, her voice still quiet but more worried now. "You look pale. Are you feeling sick? Do you need to leave? We can..."

"I am fine," Jay insisted, though she really was not feeling fine at all, was feeling progressively less fine with each passing minute.

The wrongness was getting worse, spreading through her body like cold water, making everything feel slow and distant and difficult.

She tried to focus on what Jonatan was saying, tried to make her brain latch onto the tactical information he was explaining, but the words just slid off her consciousness without sticking, meaningless sounds that she could not make sense of.

Her head felt full of cotton wool, thick and foggy and unresponsive.

Her limbs felt like they weighed a thousand pounds each, heavy and difficult to move.

She was so tired suddenly, exhausted in a way that made keeping her eyes open feel like a monumental effort.

"Jay," Alexia said again, more urgently now, her hand coming up to Jay's face, turning her head gently to make eye contact. "Jay, look at me. Something is wrong. You are not okay. Tell me what is happening. Please."

Jay tried to respond, tried to form words to explain, but her brain was not cooperating, was not providing the language she needed.

She just looked at Alexia with what she knew must be a confused dazed expression, unable to articulate what was wrong because she did not fully understand it herself.

The meeting ended at some point, Jay was not sure when, people starting to stand up and head out toward the pitch for training.

Jay tried to stand up as well, tried to make her body respond to the command to get up and move, but her legs did not want to cooperate.

She managed to get to her feet but immediately felt the world tilt sideways, felt her balance desert her completely, felt herself starting to fall.

Alexia caught her immediately, her arms strong and sure around Jay's waist, holding her upright.

"Okay that is it, something is very wrong," Alexia said firmly, her voice cutting through the fog in Jay's brain. "You are not training today. You can barely stand up. We are going to medical right now. Lucy, can you tell Jonatan that Jay is not feeling well and we are going to get checked out?"

Lucy had appeared at Jay's other side at some point, was looking at Jay with a very specific expression that Jay could not quite read through the fog.

"Yeah, I will tell him," Lucy said, but she was still looking at Jay with that expression, concerned and knowing and something else. "But Alexia, I do not think this is a regular illness. I think... I need to ask Jay something. Jay, can you hear me properly?"

"Mmhmm," Jay managed, though it came out more as a sound than an actual word.

"Did you change your medication recently?" Lucy asked directly, her voice gentle but serious. "Your ADHD medication specifically? Did the new team doctor tell you to switch?"

Alexia's entire body went rigid next to Jay, her grip on Jay's waist tightening.

"What?" Alexia said, her voice very quiet and very controlled in the way it got when she was trying not to explode with anger. "What are you talking about? Jay did not change her medication. Jay would have told me if she was changing her medication. Jay tells me everything about her health. Right, bebe? You would have told me about something like that?"

Jay wanted to explain, wanted to tell Alexia everything, wanted to apologise for keeping it from her.

But her brain was so foggy, her thoughts so slow and disconnected, that she could not form the words she needed.

She just looked at Alexia with what she knew must be guilt written all over her face, unable to speak, unable to explain, unable to do anything except stand there being held upright while Alexia stared at her with dawning realisation and fury.

"The pharmacy," Alexia said, her voice getting louder, her accent getting thicker the way it always did when she was getting angry. "Yesterday afternoon. The bag you would not tell me about. The errands you said were not important. You went to pick up new medication. You changed your ADHD medication and you did not tell me. You lied to me. You kept this from me. Why? Why would you do that? Why would you not tell me about something this important?"

"Did not... want you... to worry," Jay managed to get out, each word a struggle, her tongue not cooperating properly. "Thought... would be fine... doctor said... safer..."

"Safer?" Alexia repeated, her voice rising. "Safer? Look at you! You can barely stand! You can barely talk! You look like you are about to pass out! How is this safer? How is this better? What doctor told you this was a good idea? Who decided this was appropriate?"

"The new team doctor," Lucy answered when Jay could not. "Dr. Reyes. She did the same thing to a player I knew at City. Decided stimulant ADHD meds were too risky for athletes and switched her to non stimulants without proper transition planning. Made her feel like shit for weeks. I recognise the signs. This is exactly what that looked like."

Something in Alexia's expression shifted from anger and betrayal to cold fury, the kind of rage that was actually more terrifying than yelling because it was so controlled and focused.

"Where is this doctor now?" Alexia asked, her voice very quiet and very dangerous. "Where can I find Dr. Reyes? Because we are going to have a conversation. Right now. Immediately. About what she thinks gives her the right to change my girlfriend's medication without proper consideration and make her feel like this."

"Ale, maybe you should calm down first..." Lucy started.

"I am perfectly calm," Alexia said, though her hands were shaking slightly with suppressed rage. "I am extremely calm. I am going to very calmly go find this doctor and very calmly explain to her exactly how inappropriate her treatment of Jay has been. Jay, can you walk? Can you make it to medical with me?"

Jay was not entirely sure she could walk, but she nodded anyway, not wanting to be left behind, not wanting Alexia to have this confrontation without her there.

Together, with Alexia supporting most of her weight and Lucy hovering nearby in case Jay actually did pass out, they made their way down the corridor toward the medical wing.

Toward Dr. Reyes's office.

Toward what was about to be a very, very unpleasant conversation.

The walk to the medical wing felt like it took forever even though it was probably only a few minutes, every step requiring conscious effort from Jay, her legs feeling like they were made of lead, her balance completely shot.

Alexia was practically carrying her, one arm wrapped firmly around Jay's waist, her other hand gripping Jay's arm to keep her steady, guiding her down the corridor with grim determination written all over her face.

Lucy was walking slightly ahead of them, occasionally glancing back to make sure Jay had not actually collapsed, her expression concerned but also somewhat resigned, like she had seen this play out before and knew exactly how bad it was going to get.

Jay's brain felt like it was operating through layers of thick fog, her thoughts slow and disconnected and hard to hold onto. She was aware of moving, aware of Alexia's arm around her keeping her upright, aware that they were heading somewhere with purpose, but processing the details beyond that felt impossible.

Everything was muffled and distant and wrong in a way that was getting progressively worse rather than better.

Her vision was doing strange things, the edges going slightly blurry, the corridor seeming to stretch and contract in ways that did not make physical sense.

Her body felt so heavy, like gravity had increased just for her, like every movement required twice the normal amount of energy.

And she was so tired, bone deep exhausted in a way that made her want to just lie down on the floor right here in the corridor and sleep for approximately a thousand years.

"Almost there, bebe," Alexia said quietly, her voice tight with barely controlled fury but gentle when directed at Jay. "Just a little further. I know you are struggling. I know this is hard. But I need you to stay with me for just a few more minutes, okay? Can you do that for me? Can you stay awake and upright for just a little bit longer?"

"Trying," Jay mumbled, though even that single word felt like it took monumental effort to produce, her tongue thick and clumsy in her mouth. "So tired, Ale. Everything... wrong. Do not feel... right."

"I know, amor," Alexia said, and Jay could hear the pain and anger warring in her voice, could hear how much it was hurting Alexia to see her like this. "I know you do not feel right. And I am so angry that this was done to you. So angry that someone made you feel like this. But we are going to fix it, okay? We are going to make this better. I promise you. I am going to fix this."

They reached the door to Dr. Reyes's office, the nameplate newly mounted on the wall beside it, still shiny and official looking.

Alexia did not knock.

Did not pause.

Did not give any warning whatsoever.

She just pushed the door open with her free hand, the one that was not currently wrapped around Jay keeping her upright, and walked straight in with the kind of controlled fury that made the air feel electric.

Dr. Reyes was sitting at her desk, looking at something on her computer, and looked up with surprise when they entered unannounced.

"I am with a patient in ten minutes," she started to say, her tone suggesting she was about to tell them to leave and come back later. "You need to make an appointment if you want to..."

"My girlfriend can barely stand," Alexia interrupted, her voice very quiet and very controlled and absolutely terrifying in its calm intensity. "My girlfriend can barely form complete sentences. My girlfriend looks like she is about to collapse. Because yesterday you changed her medication without proper discussion, without proper transition planning, without any consideration for how this would affect her. So no, we are not making an appointment. We are having this conversation right now."

Dr. Reyes's expression shifted from surprise to something defensive, her back straightening, her professional authority clearly feeling challenged.

"I made a medical decision based on my professional judgment," she said, her tone crisp and dismissive. "If Jay is experiencing side effects, that is normal for the first few days of a new medication. Her body needs time to adjust. This is not a cause for concern."

"Not a cause for concern?" Alexia repeated, her voice getting slightly louder, her accent getting thicker. "Look at her! Actually look at her! Does she look like someone who is just experiencing normal adjustment? Does she look like someone who is safe to be training and playing football right now?"

Jay was leaning heavily against Alexia, using her for support, barely able to keep her eyes open, her whole body swaying slightly even while standing still.

She knew she must look terrible, could feel how wrong everything was, could see it reflected in the concern on Lucy's face as she hovered nearby.

Dr. Reyes glanced at Jay with what looked like mild concern but mostly annoyance at having her authority questioned.

"As I said, adjustment periods can include fatigue and some cognitive dulling," she said in that patronising tone that made Alexia's hands clench into fists. "These symptoms will improve over the next few weeks as the medication builds up in her system. She just needs to be patient and allow her body to adapt."

"She is not cognitively dulled, she is barely conscious!" Alexia said, her voice rising properly now, her composure starting to crack. "She cannot walk without support! She cannot speak in complete sentences! This is not normal adjustment, this is a medical crisis that you created by switching her medication without proper planning!"

"I understand you are concerned about your girlfriend," Dr. Reyes said in that calm professional tone that was clearly meant to be soothing but was actually just infuriating. "But I am the medical professional here. I have training and expertise in these matters. The decision to switch Jay to a non stimulant medication was made for her safety. Stimulant medications carry cardiovascular risks that are inappropriate for elite athletes. The non stimulant alternative is much safer and more appropriate for her situation."

"Did you do any cardiac screening before making that determination?" Lucy asked suddenly from where she had been standing quietly by the door. "Did you check her heart rate, her blood pressure, do an ECG, any actual medical testing to determine if the stimulant medication was causing problems? Or did you just decide it was risky based on your personal opinion?"

Dr. Reyes's jaw tightened slightly, clearly not appreciating being questioned by a player rather than another medical professional.

"Medical decisions are based on a comprehensive review of the patient's file and current best practices in sports medicine," she said stiffly. "I do not need to justify my medical decisions to players. I am the team physician. These decisions are within my purview and my professional judgment."

"Your professional judgment is making my girlfriend unable to function," Alexia said, and her voice had gone very quiet again, that dangerous quiet that meant she was furious beyond the ability to yell. "Your professional judgment has taken someone who was perfectly healthy and functioning well on her previous medication and turned her into someone who can barely stand up. Your professional judgment is shit. And I am not going to stand here and let you hide behind your title and your authority while Jay suffers because of your bad decisions."

She stepped forward, still supporting Jay with one arm, using her body to shield Jay while she got in Dr. Reyes's face, her eyes blazing with fury.

"You do not get to do this," Alexia said, each word precise and cutting. "You do not get to change someone's medication that has been working perfectly for years without proper discussion. You do not get to dismiss their concerns and their input about their own body and their own health. You do not get to make Jay feel like this and then tell us it is normal and we should just wait it out. This is not acceptable. This is not appropriate medical care. This is you being controlling and dismissive and not listening to your patient."

"I was acting in Jay's best medical interests," Dr. Reyes said, but there was a note of defensiveness creeping into her voice now, clearly not used to being challenged this directly. "The cardiovascular risks of long term stimulant use are well documented. I was trying to prevent future problems by switching her to a safer alternative."

"She does not need to be protected from medication that has been working!" Alexia shot back. "She needs to be protected from doctors who think they know better than the patient about what the patient's body needs! She was fine! She was healthy! She was functioning perfectly! And you decided without any actual evidence of a problem that you knew better than three years of successful treatment!"

Jay wanted to contribute to this conversation, wanted to defend herself, wanted to explain to this doctor how wrong she had been.

But her brain was so foggy, her thoughts so slow and disconnected, that she could barely follow what was being said let alone formulate a coherent response.

She just stood there leaning on Alexia, trying to stay upright, trying to stay conscious, feeling utterly useless and hating every second of it.

"If Jay was experiencing problems with the stimulant medication then yes, a switch would be appropriate," Lucy said, her voice calmer than Alexia's but no less firm. "But she was not experiencing problems. She was doing well. Her previous doctors had her on a stable dose that worked for her. You cannot just unilaterally decide to change that without proper justification and without proper transition planning. This is not how you change someone's psychiatric medication. This is not safe. This is not appropriate."

"I do not need lectures on appropriate medical care from football players," Dr. Reyes said coldly. "I am the qualified medical professional here. I made a decision based on my expertise. If you do not like that decision then you are free to seek a second opinion from another doctor, but I stand by my medical judgment."

"Then your medical judgment is fucking terrible," Alexia said bluntly, all pretense of professional courtesy completely abandoned now. "Your medical judgment has made Jay unable to function. Your medical judgment did not take into account that stopping a stimulant medication suddenly causes withdrawal. Your medical judgment did not consider that the new medication takes weeks to start working, leaving her completely unmedicated in the meantime. Your medical judgment is shit and I will not let you continue to treat Jay when you clearly do not know what you are doing."

"You do not have the authority to make that determination," Dr. Reyes said, standing up from her desk now, her own composure starting to crack. "I am the team physician. Medical decisions go through me. If Jay wants to continue playing for Barcelona then she follows my medical protocols."

"Then maybe Jay will not continue playing for Barcelona," Alexia said, and Jay felt a jolt of shock cut through the fog at those words, at the implication that Alexia would actually consider that option. "Maybe we will both leave if this is the kind of medical care the team is providing. Maybe we will go somewhere where doctors actually listen to their patients and do not make arbitrary decisions based on personal opinions rather than actual medical evidence."

The room went very quiet.

Dr. Reyes was staring at Alexia with a mixture of shock and anger, clearly not having expected that level of ultimatum.

Lucy was watching with wide eyes, clearly surprised by how far Alexia was willing to take this.

Jay was trying to process what was happening, trying to understand if Alexia was serious, if she would actually consider leaving Barcelona over this.

"You are being dramatic," Dr. Reyes said finally, though her voice was less certain now. "This is a simple medication adjustment. There is no need for threats or ultimatums. Jay's symptoms will improve over the next few weeks as her body adjusts."

"No," Alexia said firmly. "No, they will not. Because Jay is going back on her original medication. Right now. Today. She is taking her regular stimulant medication starting tomorrow morning and stopping this non stimulant that is making her like this. And if you have a problem with that then you can take it up with the club management. But I am not watching my girlfriend suffer for weeks just so you can prove that your medical judgment was correct. This ends now."

"I cannot authorise that," Dr. Reyes said. "I cannot approve her going back on a medication that I have determined is inappropriate."

"Then I will get authorisation from someone else," Alexia said. "I will go to the doctors. I will go to management. I will go to whoever I need to go to. But Jay is not staying on this medication. She is not continuing to feel like this. This is done. We are done with this conversation."

She turned to leave, still supporting Jay, clearly finished with this discussion.

"If she goes back on the stimulant medication against my medical advice then I cannot be responsible for any cardiovascular incidents that result," Dr. Reyes called after them, one last attempt to assert authority, to make them doubt.

Alexia stopped, turned back to look at the doctor with absolute contempt.

"Jay has been on stimulant medication for three years with no cardiovascular incidents," she said coldly. "She has had regular check ups. She has been monitored. She has been fine. The only incident that has happened is you changing her medication and making her unable to function. So do not talk to me about responsibility. You are not responsible for Jay's wellbeing. I am. And I am getting her away from you before you do any more damage."

She guided Jay out of the office, Lucy following behind them, leaving Dr. Reyes standing in shocked silence.

The walk back down the corridor was a blur for Jay, her brain barely processing what had just happened, barely able to comprehend that Alexia had just confronted the team doctor like that, had just essentially told her to fuck off with her medical advice.

"I am taking you home," Alexia said quietly as they walked, her voice still tight with anger but gentle when speaking to Jay. "You are not training today. You are going home and you are sleeping this off and tomorrow morning you are taking your regular medication. The medication that actually works. The medication that does not make you feel like this. Okay, bebe?"

"Okay," Jay managed to mumble, too tired and foggy to argue, too grateful for Alexia's fierce protection to do anything except agree.

Lucy helped them get back to the locker room, helped Alexia gather both their bags, helped get Jay to Alexia's car.

"Let me know if you need anything," Lucy said as Alexia got Jay settled in the passenger seat. "Seriously. Anything at all. I have been through this before with my teammate at City. I know how rough this is. It does get better once the stimulant is back in her system but the next twenty four hours are going to be pretty shit. So if you need backup or support or someone to bring you food or whatever, just call me."

"Thank you," Alexia said, and she sounded genuinely grateful despite the anger still simmering underneath. "Thank you for recognising what was happening. Thank you for backing me up in there. I appreciate it."

"Of course," Lucy said. "Jay is my friend. I am not going to let some overcautious doctor fuck with her meds without pushing back. Now get her home. Get her comfortable. Take care of her. I will handle Jonatan and explain why you both are not training today."

Alexia nodded, got in the driver's seat, started the car.

The drive home was quiet, Jay drifting in and out of awareness, Alexia's hand tight on the steering wheel, her jaw clenched, clearly still furious about everything that had happened.

They made it back to the apartment and Alexia helped Jay inside, guided her to the bedroom, helped her change into comfortable clothes.

"Lie down, guapa," Alexia said softly, helping Jay into bed, pulling the covers up over her. "Close your eyes. Try to sleep. Your body needs rest. And when you wake up this will be over. Tomorrow morning you will take your regular medication and you will start to feel better. I promise. I am going to fix this. I am going to make sure you never have to go through this again."

Jay wanted to respond, wanted to thank her, wanted to apologise for keeping the medication change secret in the first place.

But exhaustion pulled her under before she could form the words, sleep claiming her immediately, her body grateful for the permission to just shut down and escape from the wrongness for a while.

Alexia sat on the edge of the bed and watched Jay sleep, her hand gentle on Jay's hair, her expression a mixture of love and fury and fierce protectiveness.

She would fix this.

She would make sure Jay was okay.

She would make sure this never happened again.

No one got to hurt her person like this and get away with it.

No one.

Jay woke up feeling wrong in an entirely different way than yesterday.

Yesterday had been fog and slowness and exhaustion so profound it felt like her bones were made of lead.

Today felt like her entire nervous system had been plugged directly into an electrical socket.

Her heart was racing, pounding against her ribs so hard she could feel it in her throat, in her temples, in her fingertips where they were gripping the sheets.

Her thoughts were moving too fast, scattered and chaotic, jumping from one thing to another without any logical connection, her brain unable to slow down enough to focus on anything for more than a second.

Everything felt too bright, too loud, too much, sensory input flooding in without any filter, overwhelming and intense in a way that made her want to crawl out of her own skin.

She sat up in bed too quickly, the sudden movement making her head spin, and looked around the bedroom with wide eyes, trying to understand what was happening to her, trying to make sense of this wrongness.

Alexia was still asleep beside her, curled on her side, peaceful and unaware, her face soft and relaxed in the early morning light filtering through the curtains.

Jay's brain immediately latched onto her, onto how beautiful she was, onto how much Jay loved her, onto how desperately Jay needed to touch her right now, needed contact, needed grounding, needed something to anchor her to reality because she felt like she might float away if she did not hold onto something solid.

She leaned over Alexia, her hands already reaching out before she had consciously decided to move, her body operating on pure instinct and need.

"Ale," she said, and her voice came out too loud, too urgent, vibrating with energy she could not contain. "Babe, wake up. I need you. I need you to wake up right now. Please. I need... I cannot... everything is too much and I need you."

Alexia stirred at the sound of Jay's voice, made a sleepy protesting sound, started to burrow deeper into her pillow in that way she did when she was not ready to be awake yet.

But Jay could not wait, could not be patient, could not give Alexia time to wake up slowly and peacefully.

She needed her now.

Needed her immediately.

Needed grounding and regulation and something to make this overwhelming intensity stop.

"Ale, please," Jay said again, her hands on Alexia's shoulders now, shaking her gently but insistently. "Wake up. I need you. I need... I do not know what is happening to me but everything feels wrong and I need you to help me. Please, baby. Please wake up."

Alexia's eyes opened, immediately alert despite having been asleep seconds ago, that protective instinct kicking in, clearly hearing the urgency and distress in Jay's voice.

"What is wrong?" she asked immediately, sitting up, her hands coming up to frame Jay's face, her eyes searching. "What happened? Are you okay? Are you having side effects from the medication still? Tell me what is happening, guapa."

"I do not know," Jay said, the words coming out fast and tumbling over each other, her thoughts moving too quickly for her mouth to keep up. "I woke up and everything is too much and I cannot slow down and my heart is racing and I feel like I am going to vibrate out of my skin and I cannot focus on anything and I need... I need you to kiss me. I need you to ground me. I need regulation. Please. I know how to fix this. I know what helps. I just need you to kiss me and help me calm down because I cannot calm down on my own right now."

Alexia's expression shifted from sleepy confusion to understanding, clearly recognising what was happening even if Jay could not articulate it properly.

"Okay," she said, her voice calm and steady and exactly what Jay needed to hear. "Okay, amor. I am here. I will help you. Come here."

She pulled Jay closer, one hand sliding into Jay's hair, the other wrapping around her waist, and kissed her.

Slow and deep and grounding, the kind of kiss that demanded Jay's full attention, that forced her racing thoughts to slow down and focus on this one thing, this contact, this connection.

Jay melted into it immediately, her hands gripping Alexia's shoulders, using her as an anchor, letting the steady sure pressure of Alexia's mouth on hers pull her back from the edge of whatever this was.

Her heart was still racing but it felt less terrifying now that she was being held, was being kissed, was being given something concrete to focus on instead of the overwhelming chaos in her head.

Alexia kissed her for a long time, patient and thorough, clearly understanding that Jay needed this, needed time to regulate, needed to be brought back to herself slowly and carefully.

When she finally pulled back, Jay was breathing hard but felt marginally more grounded, marginally more present, marginally less like she was going to fly apart into a million pieces.

"Better?" Alexia asked softly, her thumb stroking along Jay's cheekbone.

"A little," Jay admitted, though she still felt wound tight, still felt like there was too much energy in her body with nowhere to go. "I do not understand what is happening. I feel so weird. Like everything is turned up too high. Like I cannot slow down. What is wrong with me?"

Alexia's expression shifted into something concerned and thoughtful, clearly trying to piece together what was causing this.

"When did you last take the non stimulant medication?" she asked. "Yesterday morning, yes?"

"Yeah, yesterday morning," Jay confirmed. "Why? What does that have to do with this?"

"Because I think you are experiencing rebound from it," Alexia said slowly, working through the logic out loud. "The non stimulant medication was very strong, was suppressing your nervous system significantly. Making you foggy and slow and exhausted. And now it is wearing off, leaving your system, and your body is reacting to that. Rebounding. Going in the opposite direction. Too much instead of too little."

That made a horrible amount of sense.

Jay had felt like a zombie yesterday on the new medication, could barely function, could barely think.

And now she felt like this, like she had been wound up too tight and released, like a rubber band snapping back too hard.

"How long will this last?" Jay asked, hating how her voice shook slightly with anxiety about the answer.

"I do not know, guapa," Alexia said honestly. "Maybe a few hours? Maybe the whole day? I do not know how quickly the medication leaves your system or how long the rebound effects last. But you are not taking that medication again. You are taking your regular medication. The one that actually works. Where is it? Do you still have it?"

"In the cabinet in the bathroom," Jay said. "I hid it. I still have the bottle. I did not throw it away."

"Good," Alexia said firmly. "Very good. You are taking that this morning. Your regular dose. The medication you should never have been taken off. And hopefully that will help regulate you. Help bring you back to baseline instead of swinging between too slow and too fast."

She got out of bed, went to the bathroom, returned a moment later with Jay's regular medication bottle, the familiar orange prescription container that Jay had been taking from for three years.

"Here," Alexia said, handing it to Jay along with a glass of water from the bedside table. "Take this. Now. Your regular dose. And then we are going to stay home from training today because you are in no condition to be around other people and definitely in no condition to be playing football when you feel like this."

Jay took the pill gratefully, swallowed it with water, felt a wave of relief at the familiar routine, at going back to what she knew worked.

It would not help immediately, would take an hour or so to kick in, but knowing she had taken it made her feel better anyway, made her feel like she was taking steps toward feeling normal again.

"I am sorry," Jay said quietly, setting down the water glass. "I am sorry I did not tell you about the medication change. I am sorry I kept it from you. I am sorry I made you worry. I should have told you right away. I should have been honest. I just... I did not want you to worry about something that might not even be a problem and then it turned out to be a huge problem and I handled it badly and I am sorry."

"I am not mad at you for not telling me," Alexia said, pulling Jay back into her arms, holding her close. "I understand why you did not say anything. You thought you were protecting me from unnecessary worry. You thought you were being strong and handling it yourself. I get it. But bebe, you do not have to be strong all the time. You do not have to handle everything yourself. I am here. I am your partner. I want to help you with these things. I want to support you. So next time something like this happens, tell me. Right away. Even if you think it might not be a problem. Tell me anyway. Let me help you. Let me be there for you. Okay?"

"Okay," Jay agreed, pressing her face into Alexia's neck, breathing in her familiar comforting scent. "I will tell you. Next time I will tell you immediately. I promise."

They stayed like that for a while, just holding each other, Jay gradually feeling marginally less like she was going to vibrate out of her skin, the physical contact and the knowledge that she had taken her regular medication helping to calm the chaos slightly.

"What do you need right now?" Alexia asked after a while. "How can I help you feel better? Do you want to try to sleep more? Do you want food? Do you want to just stay here and I will hold you until the medication kicks in and you feel more normal?"

"Just want you to hold me," Jay said quietly. "Just want to be close to you. Everything feels less overwhelming when you are touching me. When I can feel you and smell you and know you are here. It helps. You help."

"Then I will hold you," Alexia promised. "For as long as you need. We are not going anywhere today. We are staying right here. Just you and me. And I am going to take care of you until you feel better. Until this horrible medication is out of your system and you are back to being yourself. Okay?"

"Okay," Jay said.

She felt Alexia press a kiss to the top of her head, felt her arms tighten around her, felt safe and protected and loved despite the chaos still churning in her system.

It was going to be okay.

The regular medication would kick in soon and help regulate her.

The rebound effects would fade as the non-stimulant fully left her system.

She would feel normal again.

She just had to be patient and let Alexia take care of her and trust that this would pass.

And she did trust it.

Trusted Alexia completely.

Trusted that she would be okay because Alexia was here and would make sure of it.

Everything was going to be okay.

By mid morning, Jay was starting to feel more human again, the worst of the rebound effects beginning to fade as her regular medication kicked in and started to regulate her system properly.

She was still more wired than usual, still had more energy than she normally would, but it was manageable now instead of overwhelming, contained instead of chaotic.

Alexia had stayed with her the entire time, holding her through the worst of it, talking to her quietly when Jay needed distraction, staying silent when Jay just needed presence, being exactly what Jay needed without Jay having to ask.

Now they were both sitting up in bed, Jay leaning against Alexia's shoulder, Alexia's arm around her, both of them just existing quietly together.

"How do you feel now?" Alexia asked, pressing a kiss to Jay's temple. "Better? Worse? The same?"

"Better," Jay said honestly. "Still a bit wired but nothing like this morning. The regular medication is helping. I can feel it working. Bringing me back to baseline. Making my brain work normally again instead of too fast or too slow."

"Good," Alexia said. "I am glad. I hated seeing you struggle like that. Both yesterday when you were too slow and this morning when you were too fast. I hated that doctor for doing that to you. For making you feel like that."

"I should have pushed back harder," Jay said. "Should have refused to change in the first place. Should have told her no and insisted on getting a second opinion. Instead I just let her bully me into switching because she was a doctor and I did not know how to argue with medical authority."

"She should not have put you in that position," Alexia said firmly. "She should not have made you feel like you could not refuse. She should have discussed it with you properly, listened to your concerns, worked with you to find the best solution. Not just ordered you to switch and refused to hear any objections. That is not good medical care. That is just being controlling."

"What happens now?" Jay asked. "Do I have to keep seeing her? Is she going to make problems for me being back on the stimulant medication? Is this going to affect my position on the team?"

"You are not seeing her anymore," Alexia said decisively. "I am going to talk to management. I am going to explain what happened. I am going to make sure you can see a different doctor, someone who will actually listen to you and treat you appropriately. And if they have a problem with that then we will deal with it. But you are not going back to her. I will not allow it."

Jay felt her chest get tight with gratitude and love, felt tears sting her eyes at the fierce protectiveness in Alexia's voice.

"I love you," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I love you so much. Thank you for fighting for me. Thank you for protecting me. Thank you for making sure I am okay."

"Always," Alexia said, kissing her softly. "I will always fight for you. I will always protect you. You are mine and I take care of what is mine. No one gets to hurt you. Not doctors, not anyone. I will make sure you are safe. I promise."

And Jay believed her.

Believed it completely.

Because Alexia had proven it already, had confronted the doctor without hesitation, had taken Jay home and cared for her, had made sure she was okay.

Everything was going to be okay.

Because Alexia was here.

And Alexia would make sure of it.