#awfc x reader

You knew deep down that this would be your last season playing, feeling the effects on your body after a long career. But you wanted more than anything to make it to one last major tournament with England in the summer, knowing that if you won the world cup then you could retire knowing that you had won everything that you had been able to throughout your career at least once. A lot of these successes and trophies had come with your wife, Renée, the pair of you having played together for most of your senior careers.

Today was one of the last games of the season, and your team had a big game in the title race against Man city at home, you had to admit, playing for the team that is the biggest rival of the team your wife managed was weird, the only time either of you played against each other when Renée was still playing was for your countries, you playing for England and Renée for the Netherlands, and so the first time the teams played each other, there was a bit of tension between you and your wife to begin with, until Olivia, your daughter who was only three at the time, asked why mummy and mamma weren't talking to each other and you both realised how silly it seemed, agreeing that in the future, nothing from football would be brought home, an agreement which lasted about two weeks until you and England beat the Netherlands and you came home after camp, teasing Renée relentlessly, especially when Olivia kept asking to wear her little England shirt with your name and number on the back wherever she went.

"Good luck today babe, I'll see you later," Renée says, kissing you on the head and then picking up Olivia's bag ready to leave.

"Bye-bye mamma, go score goals," Olivia says as she jumps up for a hug.

"Thank you Livvy, be good for mummy yeah and I'll see you both later,"

After another two hugs from Olivia, as always, your daughter never letting you leave before a game without at least three hugs and goodbyes, something which had become almost a pre-match ritual for you. After that you finally leave the house, running a little bit late but not too bad and know that you would be able to make the time up on the way to the training ground. 

"Y/n you're late," your captain, Millie, says as you get out of your car when you arrive at the training ground.

"Yeah sorry, Olivia didn't want to say bye this morning," you explained.

"Just get on the bus," Millie says, you just roll your eyes and walk off. You've never really got on with Millie, the pair of you had never fully argued but it was clear neither of you were the others biggest fan.

"You two still at each others throats?" Kiera asks as you sit next to her on the bus. 

"She just has a problem with me, she always has, doesn't bother me anymore to be honest,"

"I don't know what her problem is, she isn't like that with anyone else," 

"Yeah, well she isn't the one leading us in goals is she so she can say what she wants," you laugh, putting one airpod in and handing the other to Kiera like you always do before a match.

The journey to the stadium is not too long thankfully due to it being a home game and when you get there you all get off the bus and make your way into the changing room, you and Keira still having your shared playlist playing. 

Pre-match preparations go as they always do, the routine comforting before a big important match like this. Once you have all warmed up and had the final team talk from Sonia, it is time to line up in the tunnel and get ready to start the game. You always make an effort to talk to the mascot that is walking out with you, knowing that this could be a little girl or boys biggest dream. 

"Hello, what's your name kiddo?" You ask, leaning down to sort out your socks and to be more at the kids level.

"I'm Ava," the little girl responds.

"Hello Ava, it's lovely to meet you, who's your favourite player?"

"Uhm, either you or Hannah," Ava responds.

Before you can respond, the girls in front of you start walking out, so you reach your hand out for Ava to take and then you start to walk out of the tunnel too. After shaking hands with the other team, the mascots all run over to the sideline where their families are all waiting, whilst you are walking towards the team huddle, you make a mental note of where Ava and her parent went to sit, wanting to go over to her after the game, and you have an idea to take Hannah over since the girl said that you two were her favourite players.

The game starts off well, Sam scoring after sixteen minutes and then Aggie getting the second after ten minutes. These meant that you and the girls went into the changing rooms at half time with a 2-0 lead in the crucial game in the title race. 

It is in the second half where things start to go wrong, as soon as you come out and kick back off, you notice straight away that they now have two players on you whenever you get the ball. The opponents clearly wanting you to not be able to play anymore balls through their defence like you had to assist both of your teams goals in the first half. 

It is in the sixty-fifth minute when it happens, you had been being fouled for twenty minutes, and without the ref doing anything about it. You don't hear or see her coming, one minute you're passing the ball to Keira and then the next you felt studs in the back of your leg and you were then on the floor, grabbing your leg and ankle in pain. 

"Y/n/n! Are you alright?" Lucy says, crouching down next to you, getting there first as she was closest to you when the foul came. 

"No, fuck that hurts," you reply, opening your eyes and looking down at your ankle, seeing the blood coming through your socks already as she physios get to you.

"Y/n can you move your hand away, we need to be able to get to your ankle." The physio asks you, having to lean down right by your ear because of the noise coming from the crowd. 

You do as the physio says, moving your hand away from the affected area, the pain only seeming to feel worse as the physios start to try and assess the extent of the damage. When you look at them, they're both talking to each other, you can't hear what they are saying but you can tell by the looks on their faces that it isn't going to be news that you will want to hear.

"Do you think you can walk Y/n?" The physio asks you.

"Yeah, I'll be fine, I can carry on," you reply, knowing you can't but also not wanting to have to come off injured. 

"No you absolutely can't, so you're even walking off or we can get the stretcher, which I recommend, I don't think you should be walking on it."

"No, no stretcher, fine I'll come off, but can you just help me walk off instead of the stretcher?" You ask hopefully.

"Fine, but just be careful please." The physio gives in, helping you up and each physio putting an arm around you from each side as you start to hobble off the pitch. 

When you finally get to the edge of the pitch, you give Wieke a hug as she is the person coming on for you, and then Sonia comes over to you, patting you on the shoulder and wishing you the best luck and hoping that the injury isn't as bad at it looks. After that the physios help you down the tunnel and into the changing room to be able to assess the extent of the injury.

After what feels like hours of waiting and the physio prodding and checking your ankle, but could have only been minutes in reality, the physio turns to you and from the look on her face alone tells you all you need to know. 

"I'm so sorry to tell you this but it looks like with the way the opposition came in from behind studs up, and the way you landed, I think it is likely that it will be broken, we will get you some x-rays tomorrow and for now I'll give you some crutches, you can go and sit back out on the bench if you want, and I'll put a boot on it for you once I have cleaned and dressed the wound from the studs catching you, sound alright?" The physio finishes as she puts on a clean pair of gloves and starts to get all the stuff she will need.

"As alright as it can sound, how long will I be out for?" you ask, trying to hide how much it is hurting when the physio is touching around the area affected.

"If it is broken, then six months," 

You don't say anything else, just letting the physio finish clean up the cut and put the boot on before she hands you the crutches and then you decide to try and have a quick shower without getting your leg wet, which takes longer than you anticipated and by the time you have got changed into a tracksuit and made you're way back out to the side of the pitch, the final whistle is being blown as you make your way out of the tunnel.

"Oh Y/n, what are they saying it looks like?" Sonia asks as she sees you come up behind her.

"Looks like it could be broken, I'm having scans tomorrow so I guess we'll find out then." 

"I'm sorry Y/n, I hope it isn't too bad and that we can get you back out there as soon as possible, we're all here for you through it all ok?" Sonia says, carefully placing an arm around your shoulder as you both make your way onto the pitch for the post match huddle with your team mates, when she sees you Keira jogs over. 

"You alright mate? That looked nasty," she asks you.

"I've been better I won't lie, physios think it's broken so could be six months out," You reply to Keira before Sonia starts her post-match talk.

After all the usual post-match responsibilities and rituals everyone gets on the bus, Keira not letting you carry your own bag, even after you protest that you could still carry it. Once you've settled on the coach you finally check your phone for the first time since before the match and you turn it on to see five missed calls and seven messages from Renée asking if you were ok, saying she had seen the tackle, you decide to call her back now, knowing you're wife will be worrying and won't calm down until she hears from you and actually hears your voice. You press her contact and she answers after the second ring. 

"Y/n/n? Are you ok? Have they said what it is?" Renée asks, not giving you any time to answer one question before she asks you the next one, and from the noise you can hear in the background you can tell she is on the bus back to the training ground after her own teams game and you can hear Olivia in the background too. 

"I'm fine babe, well as fine as I can be," you admit.

"Me and Oli will come and get you when you get back, we are only about five minutes away from the training ground so I'll get her off the coach quickly and then I'll drive to your training ground to come pick you up." Renée says, panic still clear in her voice.

"Okay thank you, no need to rush, I can wait," you reply.

The phone call ends soon after that and before you know it the coach is pulling back into Cobham and everyone is getting off, Keira picking up your bag again before you can get the chance to take it yourself. Surprisingly it is only about fifteen minutes of waiting until you get a message from Renée to say that they're outside so you start to stand up, sorting your crutches as Keira, who waited with you despite you saying you could be on your own, picked up your and her own bag and then you both make your way outside to the car park where you see Renée waiting by the car, pushing herself off the car and rushing over to you.

"I am so sorry I wasn't there when it happened, you know if I could have I would've been right next to you," Renée says.

"It's fine Renée, I'm fine, now come on let's get home, I need some sleep, and we need to by Liv down as well," you reply, getting into the car on the passenger side and turns around to say hello to Olivia.

The morning after the injury is slow, Y/n barely slept, the pain medication not doing much to help and also just because she was worried about how serious the injury is.

"How long have you been awake?" Renée asks as she rolls over and sees her wife sat up looking at her phone already.

"Quite a while, didn't sleep much at all to be honest, kept thinking about what if it is broken, I'll never get back to fitness in time for the world cup, it starts in 3 months, and even if it isn't broken I won't play again in the season so I won't get called up anyway, my career is over," Y/n replies.

"Calm down it's okay Y/n/n, even if it is broken, and god forbid it, but it means you can't go to the world cup, you have still had such an amazing career that you should be beyond proud of, and I know you wanted to help England win the world cup because then personally you could say that you have won everything, but this doesn't mean you are any less of a player, injuries happen to all of us," Renée starts, "do you remember when I did my knee?"

"Of course I do, it still gives you pain now sometimes," Y/n replies.

"It does, and I was absolutely devastated when I was told I had to retire, I took it all out on you which was wrong of me, but now that I have been through that I know what it feels like right now, so let me help yeah? No matter what the outcome of these scans are today you are still amazing, and you're still Olivia's hero, her favourite player and you always will be."

Just as Renée says this, as if on queue, the bedroom door opens and then Olivia comes and jumps onto the bed, narrowly missing Y/n’s ankle which was resting on a spare pillow to keep it elevated.

“Careful Livvy, mama’s foot is poorly remember baby,” Renée says, lifting their daughter up the bed so the little girl is sat between her and Y/n.

“Sorry mama,” Olivia says quietly, leaning into Y/n for a hug.

“It’s okay baby, I’m fine you didn’t get me, you just need to be a bit gentler for the moment, like when mummy had a poorly knee when you were really little remember?” Y/n asks, not sure if Olivia will actually remember because she was only just turned one at the time.

"When she couldn't pick me up and had that weird thing on her leg?" Olivia asks.

"That's right darling, and that 'weird thing' is called a brace, it helps to make someone strong again after they are injured," Y/n replies, trying to explain it in a way that will make sense to the young child.

"Mama if you're injured does that mean you can take me to school in the mornings?"

"I am sure we can arrange something if that is what you would like?"

Renée smiles at how Y/n interacts with their daughter, Renée always says that Olivia is like a carbon copy of Y/n, even though Y/n seems to say the exact same thing that their daughter is more like the Dutch woman. Y/n and Renée agree that a quiet Sunday is very needed after the chaos of the day before.

The morning is spent just sat on the sofa watching cartoons with Olivia and Renée not letting Y/n do anything, making both breakfast and lunch, despite the protests from Y/n that she can still do things herself. By the afternoon, Olivia is starting to get restless and so Y/n and Renée agree on going to the park, but Renée goes into full protective mode saying that Y/n can only go with them if she promises to be careful of her ankle, Renée not wanting her to hurt herself even more.

"Renée it's fine, I won't start climbing or going down the slide or anything, I just want to get out the house too," Y/n laughs, "No you are going to be on playing parent duty for a while babe."

"Mummy, Mama, hurry up! I want to go to the park" Olivia says, running back into the front room, clearly having put her shoes on herself, them being on the wrong feet.

"Woah slow down Liv, let me help you sort your shoes out first, they need to go on the other feet silly," Renée laughs, picking Olivia up and putting her next to Y/n on the sofa.

After Renée helps Olivia in putting her shoes on the correct feet, Y/n's wife hands her the crutches and the family make their way out of the house and into the car, even though it is only a five minute walk to the park and Y/n said multiple times that she would have been able to manage. When they finally got to the park, Y/n helps Olivia out of the car and then her daughter runs straight off to the swings, quite content to play on her own, at least for now, both Renée and Y/n know that it won't be long before their daughter gets bored and drags Renée over to the slide or something.

Due to it being a lovely afternoon, the family spend a few hours at the park, trying to get Olivia to burn off as much of her built up energy as possible, the pair of parents wanting to make bedtime as easy as possible tonight, both of them being absolutely exhausted because of the lack of sleep the night before. When they're back home later it is nearly time for dinner and they decide on a simple pasta dish, something that's quick and easy to make. After they have all eaten dinner, Renée goes upstairs to get Olivia in the bath and ready for bed, and once bath time is finished, Olivia demands a story from Y/n, who slowly makes her way up to her daughters room so that she can read the story, picking up Olivia's favourite, the three little pigs, and sits down on Olivia's little bed, tucking her daughter in before starting to read the book, barely finishing before Olivia is fast asleep, holding her favourite teddy with a death grip.

Y/n knew that she should not have gone to training today, she was feeling awful, but she had only just started training with the first team regularly as an actual part of the team. At 16 she was already living the dream she had since she was a little girl, and so she was under the impression that she couldn't afford to miss a single day of training. Y/n was worried that if she did then she would get dropped from the team and be sent back to the academy, if she as thinking rationally she would have realised that this was completely irrational, but she was thinking anything but rationally at the moment. 

It was just a cold, Y/n assumed that all the training in the cold weather and then having to go home and still focus on school, something which Arsenal were very keen on when she was moving up to the first team, saying how important education still is. So Y/n would have training and stuff all day, and then have to go home and do work for her A-levels. So Y/n kind of assumed that the cold was only being made worse by the lack of rest she was getting at the moment, so she decided the only thing to do was push through and carry on.

"Hello kiddo, you okay?" Katie asks as Y/n walks into the changing room.

"Yeah not too bad, you?" Y/n replies, her voice betraying her a bit and not sounding normal.

"You sound a bit ill, are you feeling alright Y/n/n?" Kim asks when she hears, putting on her captain voice immediately.

"Yeah, I'm fine just a little tired, I had quite a lot to do last night," she replies.

It was no secret to any of the girls that Y/n did not have the greatest home life, nothing too bad but it was clear that her parents didn't really care. Since she started training with the first team and turned 16, it was clear that they didn't want to have to look after her any more, claiming that Y/n was practically an adult now anyway. It was this which had led to Y/n practically living with Chloe, who she had got especially close with over the past few months. 

However, since she started feeling off last week, Y/n hadn't stayed at Chloe's place once, even though nearly all of her stuff was still there, not wanting to worry the older woman, but she had actually done the opposite. Chloe had been worrying all week but whenever she tried to bring it up, Y/n would just change the subject so that it wasn't on her.

"Morning Y/n/n, you alright?" Chloe says as she walks in, going in for a hug like always.

"Yeah I'm alright, how are you Chlo?" Y/n responds.

"No you're not, you don't sound right, are you ill?" Chloe asks, ignoring the question of how she was.

"No no I'm fine, just a bit tired, come on or we are going to be late out if you keep talking," Y/n deflects.

Chloe drops it, but she gives Y/n a suspicious look before walking over to her locker, which is next to Beth's and when they're over there Chloe starts whispering to Beth, both women looking over towards Y/n at the same time, trying and failing to be discreet about it. Y/n just ignores it and goes outside to start warming up.

It doesn't take long into training at all for everyone to notice something is seriously off with Y/n's passing being off, her tackles coming in a second late in all the drills, after a little while, Renee decides to pull her aside to have a chat.

"Y/n quick word please?" Renee asks gently, trying not to scare Y/n.

"Yeah of course," Y/n replies, hesitantly before following Renee to the side of the training pitch, away from the rest of the girls so that they can have a little bit more privacy.

"What's going on, you're not yourself today," Renee says, clearly actually concerned.

"Nothing, I guess I'm just a little tired," Y/n responds.

"Y/n/n, you don't need to lie to me, or any of the girls. If something is wrong or you don't feel well you need to tell us so we can help you," Renee continues.

"It's just a bit of a cold, I'll be fine, I'll do better I promise," 

"It's okay to take a break you know, none of the girls will see you as any less or anything if that is what you are worried about,"

"No I don't need a break I am fine," Y/n defends.

"Fine, I will let you carry on training but if there is something going on, please can you promise me that you will tell someone at least," 

"Yes okay, I promise," Y/n replies, knowing that she probably won't actually say anything.

"Okay good, now off you go, and be a bit easier on yourself, you are more than talented, you're going to have an amazing career."

Y/n just nods and jogs back over to rejoin the drill, now even more aware of how closely most of the girls were now looking at her, especially Chloe and Kim, both older women having a very close bond with the teenager. They don't say anything but for the rest of the session their eyes do not leave where ever Y/n is for very long.

After training all Y/n wants to do is go home and lay in a dark room, coming to training was certainly a massive mistake, her head was banging and she just felt absolutely drained, but there was no way that she was going to show that until she got home and could be alone, without all the girls worrying about her.

"Right team bonding night, round Chloe's?" Kim suggests, having clearly already discussed it with Chloe.

Everyone says yes but Y/n just tries to keep her head down and hope no one notices that she hasn't said anything, but as expected that didn't work.

"Y/n/n, you want to come home with me now? Or one of us can pick you up later?" Chloe offers.

"I'm going to pass if that's okay, I have loads of school work to do, sorry" y/n responds, refusing to meet any of the girls eyes, knowing that if she does they will instantly know that she is lying to them.

None of the girls say anything at first, and Y/n just sits there, pretending to take her time to get ready, she was so lost in her own world that she didn't notice that nearly everyone had left until Kim and Chloe come up and sit on either side of her, each placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Y/n/n, we know something is up," Chloe starts.

"It's okay, no one is mad at you, we just want you to be okay," Kim adds.

She thinks it is just the accumulation of how she has been feeling for the past few days, but at that Y/n just broke down. At first both Kim and Chloe have no idea on what to say or do, but then Chloe just opens her arms, expecting Y/n to accept the hug, which eventually the teenager does. 

"You're okay kiddo, whatever it is, we've got you," Chloe says, trying to reassure Y/n.

"I'm sorry, it's silly,"

"No, nothing that would make you cry like this could be silly, is it our parents?" Chloe asks.

"No, well kind of but no it's not that," Y/n answers.

"What is it then, you've been off all week, but especially today," Kim asks.

"I've just got a bit of a cold, I guess it's knocked me a bit more than I thought it had," Y/n admits.

Kim's instincts kick in at that and she puts the back of her hand against Y/n's forehead, trying to see if she is warm.

"Jesus Y/n, you feel roasting, don't you want to take your jumper off?"

"No I feel freezing," Y/n replies.

"I think you have a temperature Y/n, you shouldn't be at training," Kim says, concerned about Y/n.

"No I'm fine to be at training," Y/n protestss.

"Y/n you can barely talk, you've been sneezing and couching all day, we need to get you home," Chloe replies, leaving not much room for Y/n to argue.

"Yeah, and no school work tonight, you need to rest, I can message the girls and call off tonight if you want," Kim suggests.

"No no it's fine," Y/n says, not wanting to spoil the team bonding night.

"Okay okay, right Chloe get this one back to yours and I'll see you both later," Kim replies.

After that, Chloe picks up both her own and Y/n's bags, even when Y/n argues that she can carry her own bag, but Chloe is taking none of it. They get back to Chloe's and Chloe disregards both bags near the door, not worrying about the mess and focuses solely on Y/n.

"Right, you go upstairs and get changed and then you're staying on that sofa and relaxing all evening," Chloe intsructs.

"Chlo I'm fine I promise, I have so much work to do," Y/n argues back.

"Y/n, you're working yourself too hard, that will be partly why you're feeling so ill right now, please just let me look after you for now,"

"Fine, but only because my head is banging right now,"

Chloe just smiles and walks into the kitchen to put the kettle on to make a hot drink and then into the front room to get on of the blankets and make it all cosy for Y/n when she came back down from getting changed.

When Y/n does come down, Chloe is just walking back into the front room with the hot chocolate she made for Y/n, placing it onto the coffee table before she sits down and opens her arms for Y/n to sit down.

"What do you want to watch until the girls get here kiddo?" Chloe asks.

"I don't mind," Y/n whispers, already nearly asleep despite having only just sat down.

"Okay Y/n/n, I'll pick something, you're about to drop off already anyway," Chloe laughs.

It really doesn't take long and before she knows it, Y/n is fast asleep on her. Chloe messages the group chat just to make all the girls aware that Y/n wasn't feeling at her best. 

After a few hours, all the girls are round and Y/n is still asleep, but now on Alessia after Chloe carefully moved her so that she could let all the girls in and get them all drinks and stuff. No one could decide on which movie to watch and so they're all just sat around talking about random stuff, being careful not to wake Y/n up, knowing that she clearly needed the rest.

A little while later Y/n starts to wake up, stretching and then snuggling back into Alessia, slowly opening her eyes and noticing that all the girls are there.

"Hello sleepy head, feeling any better?" Alessia asks, gently moving Y/n's hair out of her face as the teenager wakes up properly.

"A little bit better, hi Lessi, when did you get here?" Y/n asks, clearly confused to the change. 

"Hi, Chloe had to get up and do stuff so I sat here so we didn't disturb you," Alessia explains.

"Oh ok," Y/n responds, before snuggling into Alessia more, being just as comfortable with Alessia as she is with Chloe.

The rest of the evening is just nice and relaxed, the girls all just having different conversations about just random stuff like what they are doing over Christmas and that kind of thing. The whole time at least one of the girls is giving Y/n a hug, even after Y/n tried to push them all away, worried about giving them her cold, but they all reassured her that didn't matter in the slightest. Just as everyone is starting to leave, Leah comes over to Y/n and sits down to put her shoes on.

"Let people look after you for once alright kiddo, it's okay to take a break," Leah states.

"Thanks Le, I know, I guess I just got in my head about it a bit," Y/n confesses.

"That's normal, but we are all here for you so no need to worry," Leah reassures.

"Yeah I know, thanks Leah."

After all the girls have left later and it is only Y/n and Chloe left at home and Y/n decides that it is time for her to go to bed, still not feeling 100%.

"I'm going to bed, but thank you Chloe," Y/n says as she's getting up.

"Okay Y/n/n, what do you mean thank you?" Chloe asks.

"Thank you for looking after me today, and sorry for being so stubborn earlier" 

As soon as your agent told you that Arsenal were interested in signing you, you knew it was what you wanted. The transfer came in the winter transfer window which is never ideal because it's in the middle of the season so the rest of the team are already past the awkward stage and are comfortable around each other so it can be easy to feel like you're imposing. But you were also very confident in your abilities, knowing that if they wanted to sign you then there must have been a reason.

You first day at London Colney couldn't of gone much better, everyone was very inclusive and they couldn't of been much nicer to you if they tried, well apart from one person, Daphne. The fellow goalkeeper being very hostile towards you, and that was when she even bothered to acknowledge that you were there, you didn't want to let it affect you, knowing why the most likely explanation was just that she was scared of losing her place on the team as first choice keeper, it hadn't been the first time and you were certain it wouldn't be the last, you've been on both sides of the situation throughout your career. 

The next few weeks went the same way, everyone welcoming you apart from Daphne, who you think had only said about four words to you by the time you had been there for nearly a month, which brought you to where you are today, getting on the bus for the trip up to Sunderland for the first game after the winter break, your first game at the club, a fa cup clash against the championship side which a number of your teammates started their career at. 

“Come on Y/n/n, Beth has more pictures of Myle to show us on the bus, I can hardly contain myself” Steph laughs as she walks past you and gets on the bus, you following close behind. 

“Oh I can't wait, this is going to be a long journey isn't it" you laugh as you get on the bus as well and follow her to sit down at the back of the bus, not your usual choice but given the group of players you had become close with it was sort of inevitable that it would be where you were dragged to on your first matchday.

"Good luck back there" Kim says as you walk past her, "they're mental"

"Yeah thanks, think I might need saving before we make it to Sunderland"

"We aren't that bad, come on sit next to me" Beth comments as she comes up behind you, tapping you on the shoulder and playfully shoving you to get you to keep walking.

The bus journey wasn't actually as bad as you originally thought it might be, although you could safely say that it was the loudest that you had experienced, but for once you didn't mind the noise, it took your mind off the match tomorrow as well as a certain keeper who, although seems to hate you, you can't seem to get her out of your head. It had been one of the many sources of the relentless teasing that Beth had subjected you to since you first day at the North London club. 

Having travelled up the day before the match after training that morning which meant the whole team would be able to relax in the morning before the game, something which, even though you didn't really expect to get any game time, the thought of not having to rush around was very appealing. 

You got to the hotel and most of the girls seemed to know who they are rooming with, all seperating into little groups and just talking whilst one of the staff members sorts out room keys. You just get handed one, and then you start to walk up with Katie and Kyra, the latter looking around before teasing that you might be rooming with your 'crush' as she puts it, the younger girl having come to the conclusion that this was the reason for you and Daphne being so weird around each other.

"Kyra I swear to god how many times have I told you, keep your voice down, anyone could hear you" 

"Just admit the kids right, we all know it Y/N" Katie joins in, looking up from her phone finally.

"I don't like Daphne" You protest, although your voice definitely betrays what you're saying.

"Caitlin said that about Katie before they got together" Kyra comments.

"Yeah well Katie didn't hate Caitlin so it's not really the same is it" You snap, not really meaning to sound as angry as you did, "sorry it's not your fault"

"Right we really need you two to start talking, the sexual frustration is too much now" Katie chimes in with her usual smug smirk plastered across her face.

"Katie McCabe I swear to god, right finally, I'll see you both later" You say as the three of you get to the door with the same number as on your keycard.

You open the door, expecting it to be dark in the room but when you do push the door open you notice all the lights are on already, meaning your roommate beat you up here, something which you were hoping wouldn't happen, you having had a superstition since your time in the youth england age groups where you always had to have the bed furthest from the window.

You walk into the room properly to see, just to your luck the bed next to the window is the one that had been taken by your roommate, you place your bag on the emtpy bed and then sit down just in time for your teammate to come out of the bathroom, however when they walk back in, it's the one person you hoped it wouldn't be, flipping Daphne van Domselaar. 

"hey" you try to start a conversation, only getting a glare from the shorter woman. "look Daphne I can tell you don't like me, although I have no idea why, but please can we at least pretend to get along for the team" you say, not once breaking eye contact.

"Oh yeah, I'll pretend to like you when I'm sat on the bench the rest of the season" Daphne snaps back.

"What? Now I'm even more confused, what does pretending to like each other have anything to do with that? And who said you're going to be on the bench the rest of the season"

"Don't you see, you've just waltzed in here and are going to take the no.1 place that I've had to work so hard for" Daphne snaps, looking away.

"Is that it? Is that the reason you've barely spoken to me since I got here?" 

"Why else would I not like you, look at yourself" Daphne says, clearly not realising how she's just exposed herself and her feelings.

"Did you just call me good looking Domselaar?" You say, your voice much more suggestive and teasing now as you stand up from where you were sat on the edge of the bed.

"n-no that's not what I meant" Daphne stutters, clearly flustered.

"Oh of course it wasn't, and that would be why you are blushing so much right now yes" You say, stepping closer to the Dutch girl, brushing some hair behind her ear and it shows how big the height difference really is, "you can tell me, it won't go anywhere but between us, I promise" you smirk, and then before you can think of another way to make her even more flustered, Daphne leans up, having to go on her tiptoes and captures your lips in a kiss. "Oh that was confident for someone who's blushing that much" you smirk after you've both pulled away from each other, her hands still on your waist.

“Well you wouldn’t shut up, as usual so I thought I would use my initiative” Daphne smirks, repeating your earlier action of pushing hair behind your ear. 

“You know, it’s actually quite cute that you were scared about me taking your place on the team, you trying to ignore me thinking that would help your true feelings go away” You say, continuing to tease Daphne, liking the reaction you got the first time. 

This time Daphne just hides her face, clearly trying to hide that she is still in fact blushing very deeply. You just smirk before you move away and sit back down on the bed, this time tapping the space next to you, indicating for the other goalkeeper to sit next to you. 

"Right then how do you want to deal with this? I think it is quite clear there is some very mutual feelings between us" You start.

"You're such a nerd" She chuckles.

“Well you clearly like that so there's no problem there then"

"You're very confident, I’ve never actually said that I do like you” Daphne smirks, playfully bumping your shoulder. 

“Daphne you literally kissed me, that is all the confirmation I need” 

"Ok maybe you're right, but do you mind if we don't tell anyone straight away, I don't think I can deal with that much attention"

"Anything you want, but that does mean that we will have to continue to keep hating each other" You say, clearly upset that you're only going to be able to be this close to Daphne when you were both alone.

"Or we could say we talked tonight, which isn't technically a lie, and say that we sorted out our differences, become 'friends' in front of everyone else"

"I like your thinking, just to let you know I'm always hugging my friends"

"Oh well how perfect is that, now do you want to go downstairs now or wait until we have to for dinner"

"You're not going anywhere," Daphne laughs, playfully pushing you back so you're now laying down.

"You're quite bossy has anyone ever told you that?" You reply, also laughing.

Daphne doesn't respond, she just moves to lay down next to you, you now having moved to be on your side, propped up by one of your arms. The pair of you spend the next few hours just laying there talking, getting to know each other more beyond football. Unfortunately before you know it, it's time to go down for dinner with the team, you groan when Daphne physically makes you get up off the bed (or tries, she's not really able to because you are significantly stronger than her).

"Y/n we need to go, or do you want to get shouted at by Kim and Leah?" Daphne says, finally giving up with her attempt to drag you off the bed.

"Ok, let me just go to the toilet, you start going down, I'll catch up" You reply as you do get up, pressing a kiss to Daphne's forehead before walking into the bathroom as she makes her way to the door.

It had been eight months since that away day, and somehow still no one knew about you and Daphne, the whole team just thinking you were both friends, every away trip since you and Daphne had roomed together, you had nearly been caught out countless times but one of you had always managed to make an excuse wuick enough so that you didn't blow your cover. Originally you had decided to take things slowly with your relationship, wanting to enjoy it, however that idea had arguably gone out the window when you moved in with each other two months later. Niether of you were quite sure how the team hadn't worked it out yet but you weren't complaining. This week was going to be another time when you would both have to be very careful, another season had just finished and the whole team had planned a nice little break away, some time to relax and recover after the very long, and successful season just gone. 

"Right I'm assuming rooms are going to be the same as normal" Daphne says, pretty much as soon as the group of you got into the villa you had all booked.

"Yes don't worry Daphne, no one is trying to take your girlfriend away from you" Katie laughs, not really meaning anything by her teasing.

"How many times do we have to tell you, we aren't dating each other" Daphne says, so convincingly that you almost believe it as well.

"Ok ok, whatever, I'm going to unpack so I can get changed and go sit by the pool, someone has to try and keep up with Y/n's tan" Caitlin says, dragging Katie away to a room so they could both get changed and unpacked.

The rest of the girls, Kyra, Alessia, Beth, Viv (who came along even though she doesn't play with you guys anymore, the Dutch girl still being very close to all of you), as well as you and Daphne all make your way to your respective rooms. You and Daphne get upstairs last, meaning you got the last room, Kyra and Alessia are laughing down the corridor and you can tell why when you step in the bedroom to notice that there is only one bed, the other girls thinking they've formed some master plan, but you just look over your shoulder and smirk at Daphne, more than happy with this arrangement. 

You unpacked much quicker than Daphne and then got changed before laying back on the bed, looking at your phone while you wait for Daphne to be ready, not having the effort to go downstairs yet, you must have been proper zoned out because you didn't even notice that Daphne was finished until she practically launched herself on top of you.

"Oh hello, you finished now love?" You say, your hands going straight to your girlfriends hair, an action which was second nature to you by now.

"Yes, I just need to get changed then we can go down if you want, but I don't think it is very fair that you're sitting there looking like that"

"Looking like what, I'm not doing anything" You smirk, knowing exactly what she meant. 

"Y/n you're sat there in just your bikini and now I have to pretend that we're just friends, that's so unfair" She whines.

"Yes well correct me if I am mistaken but you are about to get up and get changed yourself, which will mean that I am in the exact same situation” You say back as she finally gets off you to get changed. 

“Ok ok, I have a solution for all this,” Daphne starts. 

“And what might that be love?"

"We just stay up here, and have our own fun" The shorter woman smirks, drawing patterns over your exposed abs, trying to convince you.

"As amazing as that sounds, I think that could blow our cover, so come on, lets go down"

"You're no fun" Daphne pouts.

"You weren't saying that last night babe" you just smirk, walking off without waiting for a response.

You get downstairs and just go straight outside, assuming thats where all the girls already are. When you get there, Daphne not far behind, you see that all the girls are out there, Caitlin and Katie as well as Beth and Viv sharing sunbeds in their respective couples, with Kyra and Alessia already messing about in the pool. 

"Oh here they are, just a quick one this time girls?" Katie laughs, earning a slight smack from Caitlin, even though the Australian was also laughing at the comment.

"Oh grow up Katie, just friends" You reply, smiling before just pulling your sunglasses down and laying down on one of the free sunbeds.

"Well you may want to tell her that because the only other time I have seen anyone look like that was when Beth used to when we first started going out" Viv comments.

"Guilty" Daphne mutters, not really meaning anyone but you to hear.

"I knew it!" Kyra shouts as she gets out the pool, not before splashing Alessia one more time.

"Daphne!" You exclaim, but the massive grin on your face betrays your supposed annoyance.

Me and Kyra have known each other for as long as I can remember but we've been friends since the start of senior school. We have both played football since we were little so we've kind of been on a journey together, I have had a crush on her since we were about 16 but I didn't want to say anything to her because I knew I needed her in my life and if that could only be as a friend then that is what I would settle for, it made it hard when I left Australia before her and moved to England after I got an offer from arsenal, it was always both of our dreams to play for arsenal since we were little but I did feel quite guilty about leaving her behind and although we saw each other for international duties, it just wasn't the same, considering we had spent most of our childhood seeing each other everyday, but we still tried our best to still talk everyday most days calling but on days we had busy schedules we would just text. But yesterday was a great day, so you see I've just signed a new contract with arsenal and I travelled back home for the upcoming World Cup, which meant that I got to see Kyra for the first time in what feels like forever, and of course she is the one who is waiting for me at the airport when I land.

Kyra: I've missed you so much!

Y/n: I've missed you too Ky.

Kyra: Look this is going to be a bit of a shock but I need to tell you something when we get to camp.

Y/n: Ky is everything ok?

Kyra: Of course Y/n/n, there's just something that I can't hide from you anymore.

Kyra helps me get my stuff in the car and then she drives us to camp, I could've come a day earlier with Caitlin and Steph but I had to sign a new contract before the World Cup so I came a day later on my own. We get to camp and go straight up to our room because Kyra's stuff is already there because she got here yesterday.

Y/n: So Ky, what do you need to tell me?

Kyra: Well there are two things.

Y/n: Don't be scared, you know that I will support you no matter what.

Kyra: Well I know we've known each other for the most of our lives and I know that this may come as a bit of a shock but I'm just going to come out with it, I like you as more than a friend and I can't hide it any longer, I understand if you never want to speak to me again but I just had to tell you.

Y/n: Ky shush, stop panicking.

Kyra: But I just told you I liked you.

Y/n: Yeah and if you would shut up for a minute then I could tell you that I feel the same way back.

Kyra: Really? I don't believe you.

Y/n: How could I not like you, now come here *hugs Kyra tight and kisses her on the head* I have liked you since we were like 16.

Kyra: I can't believe that I am getting to ask this but will you be my girlfriend?

Y/n: Of course I will gorgeous. Now what was the second thing you needed to tell me?

Kyra: I may or may not be signing for arsenal after the World Cup.

Y/n: Oh my god really? This is amazing!

Kyra: I'm so glad that this went so well.

Just then there is a knock at the door, Kyra removes herself from where she was practically sitting on me and goes to open it. It turns out it's Macca and Steph telling us that we need to go down to dinner. They say that they'll see us down there and then Kyra comes back to put her shoes on.

Kyra: Would you mind if we kept us kind of a secret for now? my family aren't exactly supportive of this are they?

Y/n: Of course Ky, we will tell people when you are ready, you know that the girls would never judge us though.

Kyra: I know, maybe we can tell Steph, Cait and Macca.

Y/n: Whatever you are comfortable with, now come on lets go down and get something to eat.

We walk downstairs and most people are already in there, we walk over to the table with Caitlin, Steph and Macca on. We get our food and return to the table, joining in on the conversation which is already going on.

Macca: No way, neither Cait or Y/n/n can ever score past me. 

Caitlin: Just wait for training tomorrow right Y/n?

Y/n: Oh yeah Macca you're gonna regret being so cocky. 

Macca: If you say so. 

Kyra: Right children, do you three want to come watch a film in mine and Y/n's room after we've eaten?

Macca: Yeah, but Ky you can't call us children, you're the youngest here. 

Steph: I'm up for it. 

Caitlin: I'm in. 

Kyra: Ok good, we have something we need to tell you. 

Caitlin: Ok we'll see you in a bit then.

We walk back up to our rooms and me and Kyra shut the door and she is straight away standing with her arms around me. We both walk over to one of the beds and lay down, turning the tv on and getting ready for the girls. There is a knock at the door so I get up to answer it this time and let the girls in.

Kyra: Hey guys. 

Macca: Hey Ky, so what did you two have to tell us. 

Kyra: So me and Y/n are kind of together. 

Caitlin: How many times did I tell you that she liked you back Y/n/n?

Y/n: Well done Caity, you were right.