#woso request

the photographer was still setting up for the next round of content, giving everyone a forty-five minute break. most of the squad had scattered, majority were making coffees while others were just chilling in the players' lounge.

you however… you were hunched over a laptop at one of tables, your phone wedged between your shoulder and ear. three colour coded notebooks open around you, tabs multiplying across your screen faster than you could close them.

"...no, i understand that's your policy..." you pinched the bridge of your nose, a huff coming from your lips. "...i'm just asking if moving the seating plan by two tables really requires an entirely new floor plan."

silence followed by another pause. you closed your eyes in frustration, "...right"

click. the call ended.

you let your forehead fall against the laptop with a soft thunk, for exactly three seconds before sitting back up.

- email.

- venue.

- spreadsheet

- guest list

- budget

- accommodation

- transport

you clicked between documents so quickly even you couldn't exactly be sure what you'd been trying to do anymore. "why isn't this saving?" you groaned, hitting the save button repeatedly.

nothing.

"...you've got to be jokin'!" you huffed the screen loading and that annoying little buffer sign spinning annoyingly, taunting you and again nothing.

"oh, come on." you whispered, the laptop had now frozen that stupid little buffer sign now sitting still in the middle of your screen.

you stared blankly at it in disbelief, "no, surely not-"

click. nothing"

"no, no don't you dare."

click. but still nothing.

your jaw clenched, your patience running thinner "you've actually got to kidding me-"

across the room, beth looked up from where she'd been arguing with alessia over a game of monopoly deal. "...is she talking to herself?"

katie glanced over, putting her cup of coffee down on the table nearby, "she's been sat there for half an hour"

leah frowned, looking over with a furrowed brow "i thought she was just editing media stuff"

"no," beth laughed, loudly. "she's deep in the wedding planning."

"still?" leah questioned as beth nodded, it being a common theme for you at the minute.

katie just looked over her shoulder, "didn't she spend four hours doing that yesterday?"

"no, five," alessia corrected absentmindedly before looking back at the card game they were playing. alessia had stopped keeping track as you insisted you were fine and had everything happily under control and that you were really enjoying the planning process

and alessia had believed her, mostly. until now as you let out another frustrated groan from across the room.

"that makes absolutely no sense." you swore, thinking aloud as your head sunk into your hands, your mind spinning in circles.

katie wandered over first, placing a hand on your shoulder as she sat beside you, "you al'right?"

you took your head out your hands quickly but you barely looked up from the screen as you hummed a little in response to katie's question.

"your a terrible liar"

"'m fine."

katie looked at the screen, eyes widening wonder how on earth you were able to make any sense of what was on the screen, it just being filled with words and charts. "...what are you supposed to be lookin' at?"

"it's not matching." you pointed to the screen, katie nodding her head as if she understood but really she was still just as clueless if not even more so.

"what isn't?" she asked as you turned your head to look at her, seeing the confused look on her face.

"the seating software." you said as if it was the most obvious answer katie could able come up with.

katie blinked, "sorry.. the what?"

you sighed, "the seating software." you repeated a little louder this time.

katie looked genuinely horrified but still confused before asking. "there's software for stuff like that?"

"there are seventeen different seating software programmes." you pointed out, only knowing that because you had tried each and every single one out before deciding on the one you were using, deeming it the best on however you were now having doubts.

"...why?"

"i don't know!" your voice cracked with frustration the stupid software starting to buffer again, "i just need it to work!"

katie slowly stood back up, lingering for a minute watching as you stared intently at the screen she was slightly worried your eyes may turn square. "i'll be back in a minute"

within minutes beth, leah and caitlin had all wandered over, crowding around the table alongside katie.

beth pointed at the screen sitting in the seat katie previously had been, "so..." you nodded distractedly, humming to acknowledge their presence. "...what's wrong?"

you gestured helplessly at the screen which hadn't been making sense to you for the last hour, "everything,"

leah leaned in over the top looking at your laptop, "you've got spreadsheets linked to spreadsheets.." you nodded as leah continued to analyse your work, "and colour coding... and formulas?... what do you need them for?"

"and...is that a seating simulation?" leah continued as you dropped your head back into your hands mumbling a 'yes'

there was a brief silence before beth eventually spoke, ".. you are aware people usually use pegs and plates for that type of thing..."

you lifted your head and turned to look at beth like she'd just suggested setting the venue on fire. "it's our wedding."

"yeah?"

"it has to be perfect."

leah softened, a concerned look flashing across her face at your words, "y/n..."

"what if someone can't see because they're behind a flower arrangement?"

"...could always move the flowers?" beth pointed out as you dismissed it straight away.

"and what if cousins who don't like each other get put too close together?"

"...move the cousins?" caitlin suggested but again you dismissed it straight away.

"what if—"

"y/n." leah said sternly over the top of your voice as you stopped talking. leah exchanging a glance with beth who nodded understanding the signal as she quietly slipped away.

"so..." katie whispered, trying to bring the sound back to another conversation that wasn't colour schemes and seating arrangements.

"where are you going?" caitlin asking spinning a little as she watched beth back away a little

"i'm getting her fiancée." beth called out walking straight in the direction of your blonde wife to be.

alessia was halfway through having photos taken when when appeared beside the backdrop.

"less." beth called over a worried look on her face as alessia looked up and around for the sound of the voice before landing on beth sending her a smile.

"i think your future wife might be having a breakdown."

alessia immediately lowered the football she'd been holding, brows furrowing immediately. "what?"

beth nodded towards the lounge, alessia following the movement and seeing you sat once again with that laptop.  "she's been wrestling with seating plans for about forty minutes now." beth said as alessia looked between beth and you.

"and?" alessia waited knowing there was something else as this was the 'norm' for you at the minute.

"and i think she's genuinely considering fighting the laptop." beth continued, as alessia hummed she knew there was going to be something else.

alessia's smiled faintly. "that bad?"

"less..." beth's grin and usual joker expression disappeared, "i don't think she's okay."

the smile slipped from alessia's face as she thanked the photographer before quietly making her way across the room. spotting you immediately still exactly where she'd left you after the first round of media attention.

your shoulders still tense and jaw tight with hair messier than usual from repeatedly running your hands through it. your eyes glued to the screen with an intensity normally reserved for major finals.

you didn't even notice alessia walking up behind you. alessia looked at the screen: seven different tabs, an inbox overflowing with unread replies, a spreadsheet she'd never be able to understand, notes, timelines, colour codes, checklists half written.

you had done all this... for one day. a day just for the two of you. the thought made alessia's chest squeeze.

without saying a word, alessia stepped behind your chair and wrapped both arms gently around your shoulders. you startled slightly at the sudden contact, but you knew exactly who it would be. "..hi"

alessia rested her chin against the top of your head. "hi"

you immediately reached for the keyboard again. "i've nearly fixed it." a sense of achievement in your tone slightly, however it came across more tiredly than you expected.

"you've said that for the last hour babe" alessia said sweetly, knowing you and your stubbornness that you wouldn't leave it be until there was a sense of accomplishment.

"but.. but i actually have this time." you said quietly, tapping away at the keyboard.

"y/n."

"i'm serious." you quipped back, your brow creasing with concentration as you carried on tapping away furiously at the keyboard.

"i know." alessia kissed your hair. "so serious you've forgotten you've not eaten lunch."

you paused. "...have i?" you asked looking around the room for signs of lunch but there wasn't any, everyone else was back to doing their media duties so you had in fact missed lunch,

"you've also ignored three messages from me." alessia listed her arms tightening around you.

"...did i?" you reached for your phone and along with messages to do with the wedding also sat alessia's messages which you hadn't even remember popping up on the screen.

"and you've been frowning so hard i'm worried your face is going to stay like that." alessia pointed out as she poked at your cheek with her nail.

you couldn't help the tiny smile. "it might."

alessia gently slid the laptop a few inches away and immediately you reached for it. "no."

alessia reached first, closing it with a soft click as you gasped dramatically as if she had just personally offended you. "babe-"

"no." alessia deadpanned looking at you dead in the eyes.

"but my work, our wedding"

"it'll still be there tomorrow."

"it won't if i don't—"

"it will, i promise baby" alessia said constantly as she held you hand in hers before kissing the top of your head again.

you sighed, leaning slightly back into her feeling somewhat of comfort for the first time since you arrived at training.

"it has to be perfect" your voice was quieter now, smaller and more vulnerable "its just.." you swallowed, the words on the tip of your tongue, "i only get to marry you once"

alessia felt her heart ache that little bit more cause you weren't stressed because you cared about centrepieces or the seating charts or the colour of the table linen.

you were stressed because every decision carried the same thought. this is the day i marry the love of my life.

alessia loosened one arm before gently taking your hand. "y/n." alessias blue eyes finally meeting yours, "i don't care if someone sits three chairs further away."

you opened your mouth to try and interrupt but alessia shut you down, "i don't care if the flowers aren't exactly the right shade."

"they're not—"

"i don't care if it rains." alessia carried on, before shrugging slightly "it probably will"

that drew a weak laughter from you as you agreed "it probably will."

"and do you know why?" alessia asked as you shook your head, "because i'm marrying you"

alessia brushed a loose strand of hair behind your ear."i could marry you in a registry office with two plastic chairs and a tesco meal deal afterwards."

you just laughed, as alessia continued, “i'm serious!"

"i know."

"the only thing i've ever cared about..." alessia leaned forward until your foreheads rested together. "...is that, at the end of the aisle, it's you waiting for me."

your eyes shimmered as you nodded lightly, alessia carrying on with her loving words, "so stop trying to build the perfect wedding."

a thumb brushed gently across your cheek. "because the moment you asked me to marry you..." alessia smiled, impossibly soft pressing a quick kiss to your lips, "...it was already perfect."

you breath caught. every spreadsheet, sleepless night, colour comparison, frantic email, backup plan, every moment you’d spent worrying...

all because you wanted alessia to have the best day of her life. and alessia... alessia had never needed any of it. she just needed you.

you let out a shaky laugh. "i hate how easily you fix me."

"i don't."

"no?"

"i quite enjoy reminding my future wife she's allowed to breathe." alessia smiled, kissing the side of your head as you finally stood, turning in alessia's arms until you could wrap both of hers tightly around her waist.

you buried her face into alessia's neck. "i love you."

"i love you too." alessia whispered into the side of your ear.

"i just wanted it to be worthy of you." you whispered, while it was quiet alessia still heard and felt every word as she held you a little tighter.

"you are."

you frowned, "the wedding"

"no." alessia shook her head lightly before pulling back just enough to look you in the eyes. "you." your eyes filled despite yourself.

across the room, beth nudged katie. a proud smile spreading across beth's lips. "told you she'd sort it"

katie watched you melt completely against alessia. "its actually disgustingly cute"

leah smiled over the rim of her water bottle, standing like a proud mum, "no." she watched as alessia pressed a gentle kiss against your forehead before leading you away from the abandoned laptop and towards the lunch room.

alessia was sitting beside you on a blanket which was spread across the sand, her legs tucked under neath her as she leans comfortably against your shoulder.

somewhere behind the two of you, a couple of people are laughing. a dog runs across the beach chasing a tennis ball. the scent of salt hangs in the evening air.

it's perfect.

you swallow hard. "you're quiet," alessia says, nudging your shoulder.

you glance down to find her bright blue eyes already looking at you. "i'm always quiet."

"not this quiet." alessia smiles before turning her attention back to the horizon.

the two of you had been together for nearly four years now.

four years of busy schedules. four years of late-night phone calls. four years of celebrating victories and surviving disappointments. four years of finding home in each other.

"i've been thinking lately," alessia says softly, as the a crisp breeze blows across you both as your stomach immediately twists. dangerous words.

"oh yeah?" you hum, your arm which was wrapped around her moving slightly closer to her. your mind going a hundred to one as you were unsure as to what she was going to come out with. 

"yeah." alessia begins to draws patterns into the sand with her fingertip. "about life."

you nearly let a laugh slip. of course. of all days. of all conversations alessia chooses this one.

"what about it?"

alessia just shrugs as the wind catches a few strands of her hair, "do you ever think about where you'll be in ten years time, like where we'll be?"

you feel the question settle in your chest. because you had thought about it. more than you'd ever admitted out loud.

⸻

three months earlier.

you had known before you admitted it to yourself. it wasn't some huge revelation or dramatic moment or lightning bolt. it was just a hundred tiny moments piling up until the answer became obvious.

moments like watching alessia fall asleep on the sofa after a match. like hearing her talk excitedly about absolutely nothing. like listening to her complain about some joke her teammates pulled on her that day whilst deep down secretly loving every second of it or like every single time you caught yourself thinking about the future and realising alessia was in all of it.

every version, plan and dream. alessia was there, at the forefront of it.

the realisation hit you properly at ella's wedding. not during the ceremony or the speeches. it happened later, when most people had moved onto the dance floor.

alessia had kicked off her heels and was laughing so hard she could barely stand upright. the fairy lights hanging above them reflected in her eyes and you had looked at her and thought- ‘there she is, my person.’

the thought had arrived with such certainty that it startled you. no 'i think'. no 'maybe someday'. no 'what if'. just certainty.

you wanted were going to marry her.

but planning a proposal had turned out to be significantly less romantic than you had imagined. mostly because you'd never realised how many decisions actually went into asking someone to marry you.

the ring, location, date, weather, photographer, travel, excuses. backup plans and then backup plans for the backup plans.

every time you thought you'd finally figured everything out, another detail appeared and there was something else to organise and something else which could potentially go wrong.

at one point you'd spent nearly forty-five minutes researching average sunset times before realising you'd completely forgotten to book the restaurant you'd already decided they were going to afterwards.

then the ring alone had nearly driven you insane.

you'd spent weeks researching. looking at hundreds of different styles, saving photos, deleting them again, second-guessing every decision you made.

some were too flashy, other too trendy or too complicated and some just weren't alessia. nothing felt quite right until the moment you seen it. a ring which was simple but so elegant in its own timeless sort of way and exactly like her.

the day you picked it up, you had sat alone in your car for almost twenty minutes with the tiny velvet box resting in her palm.

staring at it and turning it over while trying not to panic. because suddenly it wasn't some distant idea you'd been carrying around since ella's wedding. it wasn't a maybe anymore, it was real.

you were actually going to ask alessia russo to marry you and hopefully, hopefully, alessia russo was going to say yes.

but before you could even think about proposal locations or photographers, though, there was one thing you knew you wanted to do first; ask for her parents' blessing.

it wasn't something you felt obligated to do. alessia wasn't anyone's possession, the decision belonged entirely to her.

but you loved her family almost as much as you loved alessia, and you wanted them to know how serious this was before anyone else did.

the nerves you'd felt that day as you sat in the car rehearsing over and over on the drive over of what to say just to forget it the moment you got to the doorstep.

maybe worse. the house is quieter than you had expected. a kettle clicks somewhere in the kitchen. a tv murmurs low in the background. it's normal. ordinary. safe. which somehow makes you more nervous.

alessia's dad, mario was in the living room. he looks up from his seat, then straightens when he sees you properly.

"you're making me think you've done something you shouldn't have?" mario had laughed when you appeared at their front door looking unusually serious.

"i haven't but i need to ask you both something."

"should we be worried?" carol had asked.

you had swallowed hard, then harder. then somehow managed to force the words out. "no. well. hopefully not."

both of them were looking at you now. waiting, nervous to what you were going to say. you suddenly felt about sixteen years old. you opened your mouth to say the words but then paused.

a very long pause. then finally— "i want to marry your daughter."

the silence that followed lasted approximately three seconds but it felt like three years. then carol hand flew straight to her mouth. mario just blinked, twice before breaking into the biggest smile you had ever seen.

"oh thank god," mario said a big sigh coming from him.

you frowned, unsure if their reaction was good or not, "what?"

"we thought somebody was dying." he joked, carol immediately smacked his arm.

"what he means," carol said, already tearing up slightly, "is yes. of course yes."

you laughed despite yourself. relief flooding through you so quickly you thought your knees might actually give out.

"you make her happy," mario continued, his voice softer now as he moved to take a sip of his tea. "and that's all we've ever wanted for her."

"and you've loved her from day one, it was obvious and alessia, well she's head over heels for you," carol added, as she sent you a loving smile.

"you're already family, y/n."

and that, that line nearly finished you off. by the time you left their house that afternoon, your cheeks hurt from smiling.

the blessing wasn't permission. it wasn't an approval you needed but hearing the people who knew alessia best tell you you belonged in their family made something settle inside you chest. made everything feel even more real.

but once that was over then came keeping secrets. which turned out to be almost impossible especially around alessia russo.

because alessia seemed to noticed everything. everything.

the first near-disaster happened when you accidentally left a jewellery website open on your laptop. you'd practically launched herself across the room to close it.

alessia had looked suspicious for approximately three days afterwards.

the second happened when you received a phone call from the photographer whilst standing right next to alessia. you'd somehow managed to convince her it was a work call.

a terrible lie, if you'd ever heard one and one alessia definitely hadn't believed but somehow she'd let it go.

the third near-disaster involved ella which was honestly inevitable and you were surprised at how far down the line you had planned before ella sussed anything.

"you look stressed." ella looked right through your eyes as you were out for coffee with her and alessia, alessia up at the counter ordering for the three of you.

"maybe because i am stressed." you quipped back fast, not meaning for the tone of your voice to come across the way it did.

"proposal stressed?"

you had nearly choked on your words and ella's grin had been infuriating. "you are terrible at hiding things."

after that the weeks passed painfully slowly.

you checked the ring approximately twelve times a day. changed the proposal locations three times. panicked over the weather forecasts. then panicked because you were panicking.

the closer it got, the more nervous you became. not because you thought alessia would say no. you knew she wouldn't at least you hoped she wouldn't. ninety-nine point nine percent sure.

the nerves came from wanting it to be perfect because alessia deserved perfect. deserved every good thing in the world and you wanted this moment to feel like the two of you.

not grand. not over-the-top.

just real, honestly and just pure love.

⸻

you hum, thinking about alessia's question, "yeah i do think about the future definitely"

alessia nods her head in response, the conversation clearly not going any further as you both look out at the beach in front of you. maybe not talking but enjoying each others company,

the holiday you both were on had been nice, a time to really appreciate one another. alessia enjoying herself after a busy season, fully relaxing and letting her hair down while you knew in the back of your head this would be a holiday alessia wouldn't want to forget any time soon.

the beach however, was quieter than before. the sun beginning to disappear beneath the horizon, reflecting all sorts of orange tones onto the water.

your pulse is so loud your convinced alessia can hear it. as she beside you is resting her head against your shoulder. comfortable and completely unaware.

you take a shaky breath, soon, this is it. no more planning, waiting or rehearsing speeches while looking at the ceiling tiles while trying to fall asleep.

"i don't know," alessia says quietly. "i just think about it sometimes."

you smiles softly, knowing she's going back to what you were just talking about, "yeah?"

"yeah." alessia shrugs. "when we're old."

you lets out a laugh, your fingers playing the the end of her ponytail, "we're only twenty six, less-"

"i know."

"but you're already planning retirement?"

alessia nudges you shoulder, you still laughing. "babe, i'm being serious."

you raise your hands in surrender, "sorry, love" and then for a moment, neither of you speak. the sea fills the silence, the waves crashes against one another.

then alessia smiles. "i think you'll be one of those people who refuses to admit they're old."

you scoff. "excuse me?"

"you will."

"will not."

"you absolutely will."

you rolls her eyes as alessia laughs the vision seemingly playing out in her imagination. "you'll be complaining about your knees."

"i do not complain about my knees." you whine, wondering when this conversation became just taking the mick out of you.

"you literally complained about your knee yesterday." alessia deadpanned, turning slightly to look at you.

"that's because i hit it off the side of the bed." you frowned, a small pout lining your lips.

"oh my poor baby" alessia cooed, her hand reaching out to your cheek as you tried to keep your deep frown however the smile on alessia's face was enough to make you melt and you let out a laugh as did she.

the sound gets carried away by the wind. beside you, alessia smiles. the kind of smile you could spend a lifetime looking at. the kind that still makes you stomach flip, even now.

especially now.

"i think we'll still be like this."

you glance across. "like what?"

alessia looks down at your intertwined hands, shrugging like it was nothing, "us."

the simple answer makes your chest ache, good ache. the kind that only comes from loving someone this much.

"i think we'll still annoy each other."

you snorts, agreeing knowing that sometimes all you both did was wind the other one up, "oh definitely."

"and you'll still steal all the blankets." alessia continued her ramble as your brows furrowed slightly.

"i do not."

"you absolutely do."

you decide not to argue, mostly because alessia is right. she taking your silence as that she won that case, laughing slightly as her expression softens.

"i don't really care where we are." alessia admits, the confession is quiet but honest. your breath catching slightly as alessia squeezes your hand, "i just want you there"

the words hit harder than they should because alessia has no idea. no idea what's about to happen or that you've spend months planning this. no idea that the future she's talking about is sitting in your back pocket.

you stare at her, at the women you've built a life with and the women you want beside you forever.

you stand suddenly, a small gasp coming from alessia at the sudden movement before a frown appears on her life, "what are you doing?"

you hold out a hand, a small smile on your lips "come for a walk with me,"

alessia smiles immediately, smoothing out her skirt as she stands, "okay," as she takes your hand without hesitation, like she always does.

the sand shifts beneath your feet as you both wander slowly along the shoreline. the water occasionally brushes your ankles before retreating again. neither of you lets go.

you both don't need to fill the silence. you never have. eventually you stop and the beach stretches around them.

the sea sparkles beneath the fading sunlight. everything feels still and peaceful.

alessia turns towards you wind catches her blonde hair as her cheeks are pink from the cool evening air and for a moment she looks exactly like every future you have ever imagined.

every birthday. every holiday. every ordinary tuesday. every version. just her.

alessia smiles, looking into your eyes, "what?" you shake your head, you were just admiring her.

it was nothing but everything. how were you supposed to explain that your looking at the love of your life? that your looking at home?

so instead you steps closer, pressing a kiss against alessia's forehead which alessia immediately melts into it. a content sigh escaping her.

when you pulls back, alessia's eyes are shining. "i love you, you know."

you smiles, "i know and i love you,, so much"

alessia rises onto her toes and kisses you. slow, warm and familiar. the kind of kiss that feels like every day you've both already shared and every day still to come. when you finally part, neither moves far away.

forehead touching as your hands are interlinked and the world narrowing until it's just them.

and that's when you suddenly know you can't wait any longer. not when the future you've been dreaming about is standing right in front of you. not when every single thing you want is already here.

you looks at her, really look at her. the women who has become your home, the women you want beside you for every version of the future.

and then you reach into your pocket.

alessia frowns, not unhappy by confused like it’s not. clicked in her head what’s happening yet, "y/n?"

your hands are shaking and the small velvet box feels impossibly heavy.

alessia's eyes drop to it almost immediately, then widen and somehow widen again. "oh my god."

you laugh nervously, all the words you wanted to tell her suddenly disappearing, "yeah" is all you manage to squeak out before your voice cracks. a brilliant start.

alessia's hand flies to her mouth, "no, baby”

you laugh again, "unfortunately, yes."

tears are already gathering in alessia's eyes as you take a shaky breath before slowly lowers yourself onto one knee in the sand and the world seems to stop. alessia stares at you, lovingly but completely frozen in place. "oh my god."

you open the box and the ring catches the last golden light of the sunset and suddenly every speech you'd prepared disappears. every carefully rehearsed sentence, every plan.

gone meaning it only left the truth.

"alessia, my lessi." you start with as your own eyes are burning now. "i could stand here and tell you every reason i love you."

a wet laugh escapes alessia, a cute pout appearing on her lips, "y/n..."

"but we'd be here all night."

alessia laughs through her tears as you smile before continues.

"you make every ordinary day better and you make every difficult day easier." your voice trembles as you spoke with nothing but pure love for her. "and every good day unforgettable."

alessia is crying openly now and so are you, "

"i don't know what the future looks like." you take a breath, wiping your face, "and i don't know where football will take us"

"i don't know where we'll be in ten years." you slip in as alessia's face crumples remember the conversation you both just had. the question, the future.

"but i do know one thing." your grip tightens slightly around the ring box. "i know i want every part of it with you."

a sob escapes alessia, the kind that nearly makes you cry harder as you smile through it. then finally asks the question you'd carried around for months. "so alessia russo will you marry me?"

for a moment alessia just stares, letting the whole moment sink in. she's crying, laughing, in pure disbelief. feeling every emotion as it hits her. thinking for a moment that she can't belief this is happening.

then suddenly she drops to her knees in the sand. "y/n."

you start laughing through her tears, you whisper nervously, "you're taking a really long time to answer."

that earns a watery laugh as alessia grabs your face with both hands. your foreheads touching as your tears mix.

"you idiot."

you grin, "that's not a yes."

alessia laughs again the. whispers the easiest answer she's ever given. "yes."

your breath catches and every nerve you felt disappeared as alessia smiles bright and beautiful and completely overwhelmed, "of course it's a yes"

the relief hit you all at once, powerful enough to steal the air from your lungs. alessia laughs as you pull her into a hug. the two of you nearly topple into the sand but neither of you cares.

"yes?" you asks again, just to make sure.

alessia cups your face. "yes."

a kiss. "yes"

another kiss. "yes, yes yes!"

you laugh helplessly as the ring is still sitting forgotten in the box between the two of you, "should probably put this on you then"

alessia looks down, "oh”

you both laugh as you carefully slide the ring into her finger. perfect as alessia stares at it then back at you and suddenly she's crying again. "oh no"

you kiss her anyway. the moment your lips meet, everything falls away. the sound of a slight cheer in the distance from passer-by's, the wind brushing past, the tears still clinging to her lashes. it all disappears.

alessia kisses you back with the same overwhelming certainty she'd said yes with, one hand sliding up to cradle your jaw while the other curls tightly into the front of your shirt as though she's afraid that, if she lets go, she'll wake up and discover this was all a dream.

the kiss is slow, unhurried, filled with soft smiles that brush against each other's lips every few seconds, both of you unable to stop grinning.

you deepen it only slightly, your thumb stroking gently along her cheek, catching the dampness left behind by happy tears. she melts into you with a quiet, contented sigh, her forehead bumping yours for the briefest moment before she closes the distance again, stealing another kiss, then another.

every touch is tender, every movement full of years of love finally leading to this single moment. when you eventually part, it's only by a fraction, your noses still touching, your breaths mingling, both of you smiling so widely it almost makes kissing impossible.

yet neither of you can stop leaning back in, as if one kiss could never be enough now that you know you'll have forever.

when you both finally pull apart, the sun has almost disappeared completely. alessia rests her head against your shoulder and for a while they simply stand there.

listening to the waves and holding each other. watching as the sky fade from gold to pink. then alessia lifts your joined hands and the ring catches the last of the light. "ten years."

you smile "hm?"

"you never answered me."

"what?"

alessia looks at her, a small smile in between her lips, "where do you think we'll be in ten years?"

you stare at her. at the woman you loves, at your fiancée and then you smile. slow and certain. "i don't know"

alessia laughs. "great answer babe"

you squeeze her hand, "but i do know you'll be there" the smile that spreads across alessia's face could rival the sunset. "yeah?"

"yeah."

alessia steps closer. close enough that there isn't any space left between them. good."

you wrap your arms around her, holding her tightly. holding her like you plan to for the rest of your life and as the final sliver of sunlight disappears beyond the horizon, you both stand together on the beach.

no longer wondering about the future. no longer dreaming about it. instead living it, together.

mummy pickups were rare. only really reserved for off days or off season. they were special ones.

so on a random tuesday, the clouds grey and unpleasant as you lined up with other kids in your class, all wrapped up in warm coats and your backpack hanging off your shoulder shuffling towards the playground.

you were already lined up with the other kids, a slower step in your walk as the day had tired you out. you were already half-turned ready to spot familiar faces or a familiar laugh.

but then you saw.

saw the familiar blonde hair. your mummy. sunglasses on, hoddie pulled up and trying very hard to blend in and failing completely.

you stopped dead as your teacher called your name to help you spot who was collecting you. "MUMMY?" you spiralled, voice going an octave higher than usual.

alessia barely had time to open her arms before you launched yourself forward, backpack bouncing wildly as you ran. the teacher looking up with a warm smile as you ran towards your mummy.

"mummy! you're here!"

"i'm here, baby," alessia laughed, dropping into a crouch just in time to catch you, "i said i'd try, didn't i?"

you wrapped yourself around her like an octopus, legs squeezing tight as your face buried in your mummy's neck. to anyone else they'd think she'd been gone on a week long trip when in reality she kissed you goodbye as your nonna picked you up to take you to school this morning.

"i thought nonna was pickin' me up. she said dat this mornin'" you said, muffled. "i was gonna tell her about my book that we are learnin' bout!"

"well, you can still tell me," alessia said softly, lifting you properly as you settled on her hip like it was the most natural thing in the world and it was. "i'd love to hear all about it!"

you pulled back, eyes shining, "it bout a this big monster..." you began trailing off in big amounts of detail. your arms flying around as you spoke. alessia listening with a smile.

"wow, that sounds like quite the story" alessia smiled, her heart warm in her chest.

you waved some of your friends and your teacher goodbye as you still clung to your mummy like she might disappear if you let go.

once the two of you were through the gate and heading down the pavement, alessia set you down gently but you kept hold of her hand with both of yours.

"are you really taking me home?” you asked, suspiciously as sometimes your mummy would pick you up but then have to rush off somewhere else and do boring ‘adult things’ as she would tell you.

"i really am." alessia smiled as you looked up at your mummy your brow relaxing slightly but still not fully convinced

"all the way?" you asked just making sure as you both walked down the street and closer to your home.

"all the way." alessia echoed as that seemed to do it as you let out a content hum, you swinging your hand back and forth with your mummy’s

"what about your football?” you asked, cause the usual reason mummy couldn’t pick you up everyday from school was because her training finished at the same time you would finish school.

"we finished early today” alessia smiled, knowing it was the first thing that sprung to mind when wondering what to do with her early finish.

you gasped dramatically. "so this is a surprise pick-up."

"it sure is, lovie”

you beamed, wide. you liked when your mummy picked you up. "the best kind."

you skipped alongside alessia, excitement spilling out of her in bursts. "nonna picks me up slow," you explained, hopping over a crack in the pavement. "cause she talks to everyone. and nonno always brings me snacks and uncle gio lets me sit on his shoulders cause he walks too fast."

“uncle gio does walk like a giant doesn’t he?” alessia said drawing a string of laugher from you before asking “and me?"

you thought carefully. "you are the best, duh." alessia laughed, shaking her head. "high praise that is lovie!”

you walked past the small park which wasn’t far from your house and a one you often spent time in with your uncles after school. you tugged at your mummy’s sleeve. "we go later? cause i wanna show you where i scored against uncle luca the other day!”

"we can," alessia smiled, moving a bit of your hair out of your face, as your walking was starting to slow. "if you've got the energy."

"i do," you said confidently even though the two of you were definitely walking slower than when you came out the school gates. but then, quieter, "but i like just walking with you."

that did something to alessia. she squeezed your hand, thumb brushing over your small knuckles. "me too, lovie."

as they turned onto their street, you leaned into your mummy’s side, excitement finally settling into something softer, calmer.

"mummy?" you asked.

"yeah?"

"can you pick me up again tomorrow?"

as maid of honour, alessia had thrown herself into the role with typical determination, spending most of the day darting between responsibilities, fixing last-minute problems, and making sure everything ran perfectly for her best friend.

so while you were technically there together, you’d spent most of the wedding catching glimpses of your blonde girlfriend across the venue rather than having her by your side.

but you’d made your own entertainment, speaking to ella’s extended family and some of alessia’s teammates and now you had survived exactly four hours of ella's wedding before realising two things.

one: weddings were far more emotional than you'd expected.

and two: alessia russo in a tailored bridesmaid dress should probably be illegal.

you were stood near the edge of the reception venue, drink forgotten in your hand, completely distracted as alessia laughed across the room with some of the other bridesmaids.

she looked ridiculous. never in a bad way but in a devastatingly good way.

her hair curled perfectly and softly away from her face, gold jewellery catching under the lights, cheeks pink from laughing too much all day.

you genuinely couldn't stop staring. next to you, one of ella's cousins who you had been in conversation with before you got distracted had noticed immediately. "you're gone for her, aren't you?"

you blinked, not hearing exactly what they had said. "hm?"

the woman grinned knowingly. "you haven't looked at anything else in twenty minutes."

you glanced back toward alessia just in time to catch alessia already looking at you too. immediate eye contact, an immediate loving smile like it was instinct now.

you felt your chest tighten helplessly. "yeah," you admitted softly, with a knowing smile. "just a bit."

the whole day had felt warm. not just because of the summer weather, the endless champagne or the fairy lights wrapped around the outdoor reception.

just... emotionally warm.

ella had teared up during the ceremony. alessia had cried during ella's vows. half the team had cried because of they were watching their good friend take the next step in life.

not that you would ever admit it aloud but you had spent most of the ceremony watching alessia instead of the actual bride. but hey, who could blame you.. that was your girl.

because every time alessia smiled at ella from beside her at the altar, you caught this tiny glimpse of what alessia would look like on her own wedding day.

and honestly? that thought alone nearly finished you off.

then came the speeches. joe's best man's was chaotic. her mum's was emotional. and alessia's...

you thought she might actually combust halfway through it. you watched her spent nights writing it and rewriting. asking her if she'd give you a sneak peek of what she had written but her claiming it was strictly off limits until the big day.

so watching alessia stand there clutching cue cards with shaky fingers trying so hard to keep composure while talking all things ella and their friendship was so refreshing.

about growing up together. about football. about friendship.

and then she got emotional halfway through. voice wobbling slightly. you watched her laugh through tears while ella cried across the room, and suddenly everyone else disappeared for a second.

but you couldn't stop thinking: "god, i want this forever."

not even with the whole fuss of a wedding necessarily. just alessia. always.

when the time came around for the reception starting and winding down properly, most people had migrated back inside to dance.

you had found yourself at the bar mostly by accident.

the dancefloor had become chaos about twenty minutes earlier after somebody convinced half the guests to attempt some awful coordinated dance routine, and you had escaped before you got dragged into it.

the venue glowed warm around her fairy lights overhead, music humming through the room, people laughing loud enough to echo off the walls.

it was nice. really nice.

"oi."

you turned just in time to see ella appearing beside you, bridal heels already abandoned, veil missing, expression completely smug but glowing like a bride should on their big day.

"the big bride," you greeted solemnly with a smile as you milled over drink options for the night.

"the exhausted bride," ella corrected. "buy me a drink, y/n!"

you snorted at her dramatics as she lay slightly on the bar. "you literally have an open bar." you pointed to the bar you both were stood at.

"exactly. open for you to buy me one."

"that's not how open bars work, els."

ella leaned more dramatically (if possible) against the counter, grinning persuasively. "i'm the bride, y/n. have a heart or i'm telling less you upset the bride"

you sighed heavily knowing ella always used alessia to your expense, as you turned like it physically pained you, "your lucky i like you. one drink then i'm bankrupt."

"that's so generous of you."

a minute later they were both leaning against the bar with drinks in hand while the reception buzzed around them.

ella looked happy. not just wedding-day happy but settled happy. the kind that sat softly in someone. you noticed it immediately.

"you alright there?" ella asked suddenly, changing the topic from her favourite songs.

you blinked. "hm?"

ella grinned into her drink. "you've looked across the room at alessia at least twelve times since we've been stood here."

you glanced over instinctively again and there she was.

alessia stood near the dancefloor with a couple of teammates, laughing at something leah was saying. her hair had started falling loose from dancing, cheeks flushed pink beneath the warm lights.

she looked beautiful. painfully beautiful.

you didn't even realise you were smiling until ella nudged her shoulder. "oh, you are down horrendous."

you laughed softly, taking a sip of your drink. "shut up."

"no seriously," ella continued, delighted. "i've known less for years and i don't think i've ever seen her look at someone the way she looks at you."

you expression softened automatically. because you knew that look. that look across crowded rooms. the instinctive searching for each other. the little unconscious smiles whenever you both caught eye contact. it still got you every time.

"she's had a long season," you said quietly after a second. "i just like seeing her happy."

ella hummed knowingly placing her drink back down on the bar. "and she's happiest with you."

you looked back toward alessia again. almost like she felt it too, alessia glanced over at that exact moment. immediate smile. immediate softening. like the entire room shifted into focus the second she spotted you. you felt your chest tighten stupidly hard.

"oh my god," ella laughed beside her, asking the bar tender for another round of drinks. "that's actually disgusting."

you rolled your eyes but couldn't stop smiling. "she's staring now too," ella informed you, passing another drink with a dainty straw placed down the side of it.

"she's always staring."

"because she's obsessed with you."

you took another sip of your original drink, trying and failing to look unaffected. "i'm aware."

ella leaned closer conspiratorially. "wanna know something funny?"

you looked at her suspiciously, brow raising slightly. unsure with what was about to come out of her mouth. “always concerning when you start a sentence like that."

"before the ceremony less was panicking because she thought you might think she looked weird." ella admitted as she had a slightly smile on face as she waited for your reaction.

you looked genuinely offended. "weird? she looks unreal."

"exactly what i said." ella grinned. "she changed earrings three times."

you burst out laughing, your head immediately imagining the scene taking place this morning having encounter it a few times yourself whenever waiting for alessia to get ready. "no she didn't"

"she absolutely did. then she asked me if the dress made her shoulders look 'too broad.'"

you nearly choked on your drink. "the woman plays professional football for a living and still worries about that?"

ella shrugged dramatically. "love makes people stupid."

you smiled helplessly at that because maybe it did. maybe love was staring across crowded rooms all night like somebody hung the stars specifically for them.

maybe it was knowing exactly where alessia was even without looking. maybe it was how your entire body relaxed whenever alessia touched her.

across the room alessia laughed again at something, head tipping back slightly. you genuinely couldn't take her eyes off her.

ella noticed immediately. "soooo.." she said smugly, dragging the word out, "when are you proposing?"

you this time nearly inhaled her drink, placing the glass down abruptly "jesus christ, tooney."

ella cackled loudly. before you could defend herself, alessia finally made her way over through the crowd, immediately stepping between your knees while she stood against the bar like second nature.

her hands settled automatically on your waist. "you two talking about me?" alessia asked suspiciously, looking more so at ella then you as you placed a quick kiss to the side of her head.

ella took one look at your completely soft expression and lost it laughing again. "oh, absolutely."

alessia shook her head, before slipping back into a conversation with the two of you as she ordered herself another drink from the bar.

—

after sitting and talking with ella and alessia for a bit, they both bolted back to the dance floor when once of their songs came on, alessia pulling you over with a small pout telling you that you hadn't danced enough with her tonight.

even though you hated dancing, you let her drag you through the crowd as she swayed you around for a few songs. but once the dance floor began to die down again you managed to slip outside for some air.

the gardens behind the venue were quieter now. soft music drifted outside through the open doors while fairy lights glowed overhead

ella words of 'when are you proposing' circling your head. now because the words scared you but because it was what you wanted it and maybe this was the first realisation of what reality could be.

not that you hadn't thought about it, cause you had. maybe more than you'd like to admit but you knew alessia was the one for you.

but as you stated of into the distance, letting the cool air drift over you, sound of footsteps behind you. then alessia's arms wrapping around your waist from behind automatically making you jump a little before melting into them when you realised who it was.

"found you." she whispered as she kissed the top of your head.

you smiled immediately, leaning back into her. "you survived maid of honour duties then?"

"barely." alessia groaned dramatically against your shoulder. "i'm exhausted."

"so is this you escaping already?" you teased as you wrapped your arm around her.

"needed five minutes." she mumbled, playing with one of the bracelets on your wrist.

"five minutes away from the wedding?" you questioned as your mind replayed alessia's day just being surrounded with people having the best day ever.

alessia let out a laugh, as a breeze of air drifted past the two of you. "just minutes away from tooney and her walking on broken glass song."

"fair."

for a moment the two of you sat in comfortable silence, the muffled sound of music and laughter drifting through the venue doors behind you.

the evening air was cool against your skin. inside, the dance floor was packed. outside, it felt like the entire world had slowed down.

you glanced sideways at her, she was quiet but you could tell her mind was busy "you okay?"

"yeah." her answer came easily, but there was something softer underneath it.

she looked back towards the venue, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "its weird, isn't it?"

"what is?" you asked, looking down at her a smile still on her lips.

"ella being married." she answered, still looking ahead as if her mind was replaying all the memories from her childhood of the two growing up together.

you nodded, agreeing, "feels like five minutes ago we were all kids."

"exactly."

alessia laughed quietly. "i spent half the ceremony trying not to think about that."

"you did cry though." you pointed out, the moment replaying in your head as you tried to take your eyes off how gorgeous alessia looked in the moment.

"i was not the only one."

"you were one of the worst."

she nudged your shoulder. "i'll remember that." but you grinned. the venue doors opened briefly as someone slipped outside before disappearing again, letting a burst of music spill into the night.

alessia watched them go before looking back out across the gardens. "its nice, though."

"what is?"

"this."

you raised an eyebrow, not following. "sitting on a cold stone step?"

she rolled her eyes at your sarcasm, "no." you waited for her response to follow as alessia's smile softened. "watching your best friend marry the person she loves."

there was something thoughtful in her voice now. something almost distant. you followed her gaze back towards the glowing lights of the reception.

ella and joe were probably somewhere inside being dragged into another round of photographs or speeches or dances. the whole day had felt like one giant celebration of love.

"i know what you mean," you admitted as alessia hummed.

another few seconds passed then you smiled to yourself before turning pulling alessia in just that little bit closer and for a second neither of you spoke

you both just sat there quietly beneath the lights. alessia looked beautiful still, despite the slightly smudged makeup and tired eyes.

maybe even more beautiful now, more real.

you reached up, brushing a loose curl back behind her ear gently. "you've had a nice day?" alessia asked quietly.

you smiled. "yeah," then softer: "i think it might be one of my favourite days actually."

alessia's expression melted a little at that as she could hear the genuineness in your tone. "yeah?"

"mhm."

inside the venue someone started loudly singing terribly to the music and both of you laughed. then you glanced back toward the reception room where ella and joe were dancing surrounded by everyone they loved.

"you know," you said so casually, just saying what your brain had been thinking all day, "you'll be next."

alessia blinked, thinking she had misheard you. "...what?"

you shrugged lightly like you hadn't just changed the entire atmosphere. "you. us. wedding. eventually."

alessia stared at you for a second. actually stared like you had grown horns on top of your head for a moment.

you then suddenly realised what you'd said and laughed nervously. "okay wow that sounded way smoother in my head..."

"you want to marry me?"

you stopped talking because alessia wasn't teasing. she looked genuinely stunned. soft and hopeful. your expression gentled instantly. "well... yeah." the answer came so naturally it almost surprised you. but it was true, completely true.

alessia looked at you like you'd just handed her the entire world. "you do?"

you laughed quietly. "less, i followed you to three different countries this season and sat through approximately nine hundred ice baths. obviously i want to marry you."

alessia's eyes crinkled at the corners, all emotional again in that way she got. "you're serious?"

you cupped her face carefully. "one hundred percent serious."

for a moment alessia just looked overwhelmed then she leaned forward and kissed you. slow. certain and full of feeling. you felt alessia smiling against her mouth halfway through.

when you both finally pulled apart, alessia rested your foreheads together, laughing softly under her breath. "you can't just casually say things like that."

you grinned. "why? scared?"

the first thing as you opened your eyes was you became aware of was the warmth. then the second was the headache.

you groaned quietly into the pillow, immediately regretting it when the sound seemed to echo around your skull. every tiny movement made your head feel heavy and fuzzy, and when you cautiously cracked an eye open, the room tilted just enough to make you screw it shut again.

“no, nope.” a soft laugh sounded beside you.

you peeled one eye open to find alessia already awake, lying on her side facing you. her hair was messy from sleep, one arm tucked beneath her pillow while the other rested across your waist.

“there she is,” alessia murmured as you responded by burying your face further into the pillow.

“i think I’m dying.” you groaned out which was muffled from the face your face was in the pillow however alessia just managed to catch what you were saying.

“no, you’re just hungover, babe”

“so basically dying.”

alessia smiled, her hand immediately sliding into your hair. but the second her fingers began gently combing through the messy strands, you melted. your shoulders dropped. the tension in your face eased. as a pathetic little sigh escaped you.

“there it is,” alessia teased softly.

“don’t stop.” you whispered, as you melted more into her touch with strangely was helping with your headache.

“i wasn’t planning to.” as alessia’s fingers continued their slow path through your hair, occasionally scratching lightly against your scalp. it felt unfairly nice.

you shifted closer instinctively, pressing your forehead against her shoulder. immediately her arm wrapped around you properly. “better?” she asked.

“mhm.”

“head still spinning?”

“mhm.”

“thirsty?”

you groaned as the thought of a nice glass of water really came to the forefront of your mind, “mhm.”

alessia laughed quietly at your response, or so lack of response. “very talkative this morning.”

you opened one eye just enough to glare at her. the glare probably would’ve been more intimidating if your face wasn’t half buried against her neck. “mean.” you whispered as you placed her hand on the spot of your head which you wanted her to play with your hair.

“i’m taking care of you.”

“meanly.”

“that’s not a word.” alessia said quickly as a small laugh came from her as you chose to go back to not responding.

but that was mostly because her hand had moved from your hair to your forehead now, her fingertips tracing gently along your hairline. the motion was soothing enough that you nearly fell asleep again.

almost.

then another wave of hangover hit. you winced. “oh, that’s horrible.”

alessia immediately leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to your forehead. “you poor thing.”

you frowned immediately, “hey! don’t patronise me.”

but another kiss landed on your temple from alessia, “i’m not.”

“but you’re doing the voice.” you whined as another wave of spinning came across your head.

“what voice?”

“the voice.”

alessia’s grin widened as she knew exactly what you were on about.

“the one you use when I’m injured, ill or being dramatic?” you explained properly but your voice was still hoarse.

“so all the time?” alessia teased, as you groan loudly knowing alessia had that usual teasing smile spreading across her lips, the same smile she used every time she was winding you up

the groan however made your head hurt more which only made you groan again and alessia was openly laughing now. “baby,”

“my own actions have consequences.” you whined, screwing your eyes shut as if that was going to rid the headache you currently had.

“they do.” alessia whispered placing a warm kiss to the side of your head before you buried your face fully against her shoulder.

“i don’t like consequences.” you said although it was muffled and alessia only caught half of it, her hand returned to your hair immediately, fingertips moving slowly through it while she pressed another absent-minded kiss to the top of your head.

and for a few moments neither of you spoke. the room stayed quiet. just the two of you tangled together beneath the duvet.

but eventually you mumbled into her shoulder. “can’t believe you came to get me.”

alessia’s hand paused briefly before resuming its gentle movements. “of course i did.”

a small smile tugged at your lips. even with your head spinning. even with the hangover. even with the knowledge that the city girls almost certainly had enough videos to ruin your life.

you felt safe. comfortable. loved. “i love you,” you mumbled sleepily.

alessia laughed softly and kissed your forehead again. “i should hope so.”

“no.” you shifted slightly closer somehow. “i really love you.”

the smile in her voice was impossible to miss. “i really love you too, my champion.”

yet three hours in, alessia was sat cross-legged on the living room floor with her ten-month-old niece balanced between her legs, watching rosa enthusiastically attempt to eat a soft toy giraffe while you laughed so hard tears had gathered in your eyes.

"roro, sweetheart, that's not food," you said through a grin. rosa instead paused with the giraffe half way to her mouth as she looked directly at you before immediately shoving the giraffe back into her mouth.

you groaned dramatically as alessia burst out laughing, "oh, she absolutely knows what she's doing."

"no she doesn't."

"she does."

"she's ten months old."

alessia pointed at rosa. "look at that face. thats the face of someone causing problems deliberately." and as if she understood every word, rosa let out a delighted squeal.

the three of you dissolved into laughter and that was the way it had been like that all afternoon.

easy. comfortable. but domestic in a way neither of you got to experience often with football constantly pulling you in different directions.

there had been bottle feeds and naps that didn't happen when they were supposed to.

there had been several dramatic tears because rosa had dropped her favourite toy and to her that was on par with the whole world ending.

there had also been countless moments where alessia had looked over at you and felt her chest ache. not in a painful way. in a way that made her wonder how she had gotten this lucky.

because every single time rosa reached for you, your whole face softened. every time she babbled nonsense at you, you answered as though she was holding a perfectly coherent conversation.

every time she smiled, you smiled right back and alessia couldn't stop watching.

at one point she'd caught rosa crawling determinedly across the rug towards you. you opened your arms immediately. "come on then." you cooed as rosa practically launched herself into your lap.

and the look on your face when you'd hugged her-

god. alessia thought she might have fallen in love with you all over again. not that she'd ever stopped. but somehow moments like this made it worse. or better. probably both.

"why are you staring at me?" you asked with a smile as the sound of your voice pulled alessia from her thoughts.

alessia blinked. "hm?"

"you're doing the thing." you pointed out as rosa stood up against you, pulling at small strands of your pony tail.

"the thing?" alessia questioned, confused at what you were trying to get at.

"the heart eyes thing." you said, not before pulling rosa's tight little grip from your hair as alessia immediately looked away her cheeks blushing a slight shade of pink.

"there it is."

"i wasn't doing anything."

"you absolutely were."

alessia rolled her eyes, yet when she glanced back over, she found you smiling at her. softly. fondly. the same way she knew she was looking at you. the warmth that settled in her chest made her feel almost dizzy.

then rosa sneezed directly into your face and the romantic moment was ruined instantly. as you sat frozen for a moment, processing what had just happened.

alessia stared, before she completely lost it. laughing so hard she nearly fell backwards. "oh my god."

"oh my god?" you looked horrified. "your niece just sneezed in my mouth."

alessia was crying with laughter now and rosa, well she looked incredibly pleased with herself.

—

by the time afternoon rolled around, rosa was becoming noticeably sleepy. she’s gone from excited crawling and babbling to rubbing her eyes every few minutes and becoming increasingly clingy.

currently she was curled against alessia’s chest whilst alessia sat on the floor leant against the couch. a pictured book rested in one hand. the other rubbing slow circles quietly in the doorway.

you stood just across the room, watching on as you made two cups of tea. the room was warm from the sunlight filtering through the windows.

everything felt peaceful and safe.

alessia’s voice had dropped to a soft murmur as she read. not because rosa understood the story. she most likely definitely didn't. but because she liked hearing alessia speak.

the little girl was completely relaxed. one tiny hand curled around alessia’s shirt. her eyes fluttering more heavily with every page.

you couldn't stop smiling. alessia looked beautiful like this. her hair slightly messy. voice gentle as she held rosa as though she was the most precious thing in the world.

your heart squeezed painfully. because this wasn't football alessia. this wasn't the alessia everyone else knew. this was your girl. your alessia.

soft, patient and incredibly loving

the woman who melted whenever she saw her niece. who ried over sentimental videos. who still reached for your hand in crowded rooms but who would also mange to trip over thin air any chance she got.

eventually rosa’s eyes drifted closed completely. alessia continued reading for another few moments just to be safe.

then carefully closed the book as the room became quiet, just the small sound of you pouring milk into the cups.

you watched her stand slowly. every movement careful and deliberate.rosa didn't stir once and she gently settled her into her bouncer tucking a small blanket around her before pressing a kiss to her forehead.

as she stepped back, moving towards you as you handed her a hot mug of tea. as you both looked at the tiny sleeping baby. the little ride and fall of her chest and how peaceful she looked.

alessia leaning lightly into you as you placed sweet kiss to the side of her head before you both moved towards the couch.

the house felt strangely quiet after rosa had fallen asleep and you both found yourselves curled together on the sofa. a blanket thrown across both your laps.

alessia leaning into your side her head resting against your chest and for a while neither of you spoke. simply enjoying the rare silence.

then alessia sighed softly. "what?" you asked as you felt her smile against your shoulder.

"nothing." she said quietly, her hand tracing over a tattoo on your wrist.

"liar." as a quiet laugh escaped her making you tilt your head towards her with a small smile, "what are you thinking about?"

you watched as alessia hesitated and you immediately became curious. because alessia russo was rarely speechless. "less?"

she looked up at you and there it was. that look. the one that always made your stomach flutter. "i really love her." she said quietly.

you smiled. "i know."

"no, i mean..." she laughed softly. "i know she's my niece so obviously i love her. but every time i spend time with her i somehow love her more."

you nodded."roro is pretty easy to love."

"she is." alessia agreed as her gaze drifted towards the ceiling, thoughtful. "i think seeing her grow up has been one of my favourite things."

your expression softened. alessia rarely talked about things like this at least not out loud or very often.

"i like watching you with her." you admitted, as you looked down at her.

her eyes found yours again. "yeah?"

you nodded. "yeah."

the smile that appeared on her face was small. shy. almost. "i like watching you with her too."

you stomach flipped. "you do?"

"course i do." alessia smiled as she reached for your hand. threading your fingers together. "and you don't even realise you do it."

"do what?" you asked as your brows furrowed together.

"the voice."

"what voice?"

"the baby voice."

you groaned immediately, now knowing exactly what she meant as she laughed, “no but it’s cute baby”

"it is not."

"it is."

"it absolutely isn't."

she was grinning now. "it really is." as you shook your head yet you were smiling too. because there was no winning these arguments. not when alessia looked at you like that. not when she seemed so happy.

a comfortable silence settled between you again. then alessia spoke.quieter this time. "do you ever think about it?"

you looked at her. "think about what?"

she swallowed and suddenly looked nervous. "having kids."

your heart skipped. not because the question scared you, the two of you had briefly mentioned it before but scared you because of how vulnerable she sounded asking it.

tou turned slightly towards her, giving her your full attention. as alessia’s eyes searched yours. as though she was trying to gauge your reaction before you'd even answered.

"yeah," you admitted softly. "i do."

something immediately relaxed in her expression. a tiny exhale escaping her.

"yeah?"

you nodded. "yeah." as smile tugged at your lips. "maybe more than i probably should."

alessia laughed quietly. "me too."

the confession hung between you. gentle as neither of you rushing the conversation. neither trying to force it into something bigger than it needed to be.

your brushed your thumb over her knuckles. "you’d be an amazing mum, you know."

the words slipped out naturally because they were true. the way alessia’s face softened nearly broke your heart.

"you think?"

you stared at her. "in every universe, less."

her eyes immediately became suspiciously bright. you leaned forward. pressing a kiss against her forehead. then another against her cheek. “you're patient."

kiss.

"kind."

kiss.

"ridiculously loving."

kiss.

"you read the same page six times because rosa kept trying to eat the book."

alessia laughed through her smile. "that did happen."

"it did." you tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "and any kid would be more than lucky to have you."

for a moment she just looked at you. completely overwhelmed. completely in love. then she reached up cupping your cheek. "i think about it with you."

your breath caught. the confession was quiet. almost whispered. but it hit harder than anything else she could have said.

"i don't just think about having kids." she said in the same quiet tone as her thumb stroked softly across your skin. "i think about having them with you and..”

you felt your eyes sting. not from sadness. from the sheer weight of being loved so completely. so intentionally.

you leaned into her touch. smiling. “and?"

alessia’s small smile returned, slow and beautiful. “and one day… not yet.” she pressed her fore against yours, before planting a kiss to your lips as you chased her lips as she pulled away. “but one day, i think we’d make a pretty good team”

you laughed softly, finding her lips again peppering a few light kisses, “we already do.”

alessia smiled, then kissed you properly. slow and sweet. as her hand rested on yours chin. the type of kiss that felt like home.

For three months, you and Leah had been quietly orbiting each other — secret smiles in hallways, subtle hand brushes that went unnoticed, secret kisses behind the sport sheds, some alone time at each of your places and late-night talks where love felt like a whispered thing meant only for two hearts to hear.

It wasn’t that either of you were ashamed — it was just… private. Or more so, not ready yet. The world didn’t need to know yet. Your teammates didn’t need to know yet, your families didn’t need to know yet. And you especially not the relentless noise of social media. It was yours and Leah’s. Always.

Until it wasn’t.

-

Training had been brutal that morning. Rénne Slegers was testing defensive drills, to which Lotte Wubben-Moy was dominating. Corners coming in rapid fire, which had all the defenders on track. Like this very last corner Rénne told you to do. When the ball whipped toward the near post, you sprinted — last second, last line — and threw your body into it.

You cleared it. Like always.

Although, your leg, your leg didn’t clear the post that was coming speeding fast.

The crack, the scream, the impact on the post was eerily loud enough for everyone to at least turn to the scene. To see the absolutely horror.

Katie McCabe was one of the first to notice your leg. “Y/N?! Shit, shit, shit, shit! Katie’s clear broad Irish voice cuts through the air. To which made more players and staff thud towards you.

You couldn’t move. Even if you did, you wouldn’t dare to. The agony pain flaring like fire under your skin, spreading, burning. It was too much. You screamed.

-

Meanwhile, Leah Williamson, the love of your last 3 months was oblivious to what was happening. As she was ‘taking a break to rest her old cranky bones’ in her own words. In the changing rooms, the one mirror in the far back, Leah flexing. “Need to work more on these bad boys.” Leah grunts as she flexes again.

After… a while, Leah finally comes out of the locker room. Her water bottle in hand as she takes a sip. She sees a few staff members rushing down the corridor. Some swearing, others are calm but shows horror on their faces.

Leah stops one staff, Emma Perkins. “Emma, what the fuck is happening?” Emma eyes dart to Leah. “It’s bad, Leah. Y/n—she went for a clearance, her leg hit the post… they’ve taken her to hospital.”

Leah didn’t even hear the rest. Her girlfriend, in pain, leg possibly broken. Her stomach dropped, everything inside her freezing before instinct took over.

She ran.

The fastest she ran ever. She had to. To get to her. To Y/n.

-

By the time she reached the hospital (with insane driving she knows she will pay as she ran a few red lights) she’d ditched her training jacket halfway to the car. Her chest ached from how hard she’d been breathing, but she didn’t care. The only thing that mattered was you.

Katie, Caitlin Foord, Alessia Russo, and Kim Little were already in the waiting area when she arrived — shocked when Leah appeared, hair messy, cheeks flushed.

“How— how did you even get here that fast?” Katie asked, brow furrowing.

Leah barely heard her. “Ran red lights. Where is she?”

“They took her straight to surgery,” Kim said softly. “Compound fracture. But she’s stable.”

“I’m sorry, you ran red lights? Plural? As in more than one-?” Alessia gasps out.

Leah ignores her, as she sinks into a chair, elbows on her knees, hands clasped tight as she stared at the white tiles on the floor. She’d always been composed, calm — but not tonight. Tonight, her heart, her body felt like it was breaking apart piece by piece. Like with max in stranger things the two watched last night.

-

Two hours later, with Katie heading out to grab them some food. To which Leah thanks her on. She definitely wouldn’t have eaten.

The doctor came out with a tired smile. Leah sat up in an instant. “Surgery went well. She’s in recovery now. You can see her in a few minutes.”

Leah nearly collapsed from the relief that hit her chest. Leah stood up, the others following. The doctor stopped them.

“Though, I must warn you. We had or give her some medication. Pain killers. She will be loopy.” The doctor says. The others nod their head. Katie mumbling says ‘we’ve seen her drunk drunk, might not be a difference.’

-

When you finally woke up, you were a mess of tangled wires, soft beeping sounds, and the heavy fog of painkillers. Leah sat by your bedside, trying to keep herself together, while Alessia handed over a cup of coffee to Katie.

“Hey, superstar,” Leah murmured, brushing your hair back gently. “You scared the life out of me.”

You blinked groggily, eyes squinting as you recognized her. “Leeeah,” you drawled, a sloppy grin forming.

Leah chuckled quietly, heart breaking a little at how loopy you were. “Yeah, it’s me, I’m here.” Leah smiled. “So is Caitlin, Katie, Alessia and Kim.”

That was when Alessia piped up, “She looks good, all things considered.

Everyone nodded, the tension slowly melting into relief. They started talking among themselves — Katie cracking jokes, Caitlin quietly holding her hand — until your voice cut through the room again.

“Hey, Leah,” you said, eyes glassy but focused right on her. “Why haven’t you kissed me yet?”

Leah’s head snapped toward you so fast it almost gave her whiplash. “Y/N—” she hissed, her voice sharp and panicked.

“Kiss me!” you tried again, giggling now, reaching out clumsily.

The entire room went silent.

Alessia blinked. “Wait… what?”

Katie leaned forward, brows raised, but a slight hint of ‘I knew it’. “Leah, what is she talking about?”

Leah’s mind raced. “Nothing, nothing — she’s not herself, the meds—”

But you weren’t stopping. “No, I’m your girlfriend, you idiot… kiss me!”

You pouted dramatically, arms crossed like a child denied a treat.

Leah closed her eyes, muttering under her breath, “For fuke’s sake.”

The room exploded.

Katie laughed, as she yells “I fucking knew it!” Alessia’s jaw dropped, “no way, all this time?” Caitlin was trying to hide her grin while trying to calm her girlfriend, and Kim — calm, composed Kim — just pinched the bridge of her nose like a patient mother.

Leah’s cheeks turned crimson. “Okay, alright, fine, yes, we’re together, can everyone please stop looking at me like that?”

You, meanwhile, beamed proudly from your hospital bed. “Told you,” you slurred, eyes fluttering.

And just before drifting off again, you whispered softly, “Love you, Leah.”

Leah’s heart melted completely. She leaned down, pressed a soft kiss to your forehead, and murmured, “Love you too, trouble.”

The secret was out.