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[ginkgooou]

oh wow i also just realised is not your first language - you’d never know!!! 🥰

thank you so muuch 🥰🥰

i always get so nervous about my english, so that really means a lot 🥹

[ginkgooou]

omg your latest fic was sooo sweet! 🥹 so cosy and warm (but cold ❄️ hehe). alexia is such a cutie lol and i love how encouraging R was of her what an angel

thank you!! 🥰🥰 i'm glad you liked it!

[ginkgooou]

family trip | alexia putellas

summary: alexia joins you and your family on a new year's trip to cortina d'ampezzo. on the first day, you go skiing, but alexia forgot to mention something important: she's never skied before.

6,736 words

my first alexia fic...i struggled a lot writing it and i'm still not completely happy. it ended up being quite long. anyway, i hope you like it. english is not my first language.

---------------------------------------------------

alexia relished these quiet moments - a stark contrast to the whirlwind of her life. the past few months had been intense – gruelling training sessions and back-to-back football matches had taken their toll on her, while you were equally buried under tight deadlines and new projects at work.

in early december, barcelona was bathed in the soft glow of christmas lights, casting a warm shimmer over the streets. you and alexia wandered through the city, hand in hand, your breaths mingling in the crisp night air. you were on your way home from dinner, admiring the display of lights around you. conversation had long since faded into comfortable silence, simply basking in the rare calm of the usually bustling city.

as you got closer to home, a piercing wind picked up, causing alexia to shiver. you, seemingly unfazed by the cold, noticed her shivering and instinctively pulled her closer. your girlfriend immediately pressed herself against you, seeking your warmth and letting it shield her from the biting chill.

it wasn’t long before you were finally back at the apartment, the awaiting warmth a welcome change to the chill outside. alexia headed straight to your bedroom to change into a hoodie and pants, while you moved into the kitchen to prepare two cups of hot cocoa, the sweet aroma soon beginning to fill your home.

as alexia came down the stairs, she could hear the clinking of mugs and the faint sound of movement from the kitchen. following the noise, she came to a halt in the doorway, watching you with a soft smile as you busied yourself, completely unaware of her presence. you finished making the hot cocoa, taking a cup in each hand and turning around - startling when you saw your girlfriend standing there, nearly spilling the drinks.

“ale…”, you whined. “stop doing that. I nearly spilled our drinks.”

she chuckled, eyes twinkling in amusement. “lo siento.” with a quick, affectionate kiss, she took the mugs from your hands. “i’ll take these and find us something to watch. you go change.”

with that, she turned away, and you watched her carry the drinks to the living room before making your way up to change into one of alexia’s shirts and a pair of pants. when you came back down, you saw alexia already settled on the sofa, a thick blanket draped across her lap, and a steaming mug in her hands. on the tv, an episode of your favourite show was lined up, ready to play.

walking over to the couch, you picked up your drink from the table and sat down next to alexia. she immediately lifted her blanket and looked at you expectantly. being mindful of your drink, you carefully slid under the blanket, your body pressing against hers. your girlfriend’s arm naturally wrapped around your shoulder, and she placed a gentle kiss on the side of your head. taking the remote from her lap, you pressed play, and the familiar intro of the show began to fill the room.

throughout the episode, you quietly sipped the hot cocoa. once you had finished, alexia put the mugs back on the table and laid back down next to you. you adjusted your position, resting your head on her chest as her fingers carded through your hair. as the show came to an end, your thoughts began to wander.

suddenly, you remembered the conversation you had with your mother earlier in the day.

feeling you tense beside her, alexia gently nudged you. looking up at her, you could see the concern in her eyes. “what’s wrong?”, she asked softly.

sitting up to get a better look at her, you said, “i called my parents today. we were talking about the new year’s trip. i think i’ve mentioned it before - maybe you remember?” alexia thought for a moment before nodding. “yes, i remember. you spend new year’s in italy, right?” “yes. and…welll, my mom wanted me to ask if you’d like to join us this year.” you added, carefully watching her reaction.

this trip had long since become a family tradition. ever since you could remember, your family would go to italy around new year’s and spend a week in the dolomites. you would stay in your grandpa’s chalet in cortina d’ampezzo, escaping the hustle of daily life.

as you got older and eventually started to build a life of your own, your mom insisted on keeping this tradition alive. over time, the trip had become a much-needed escape from your hectic work life and you cherished the time you got to spend with your family.

the prospect of sharing this experience with alexia filled you with excitement. you’ve been together for nearly a year now, and inviting her had been on your mind for a while. however, knowing that she liked to spend this time with her own family made you hesitant to ask.

it was your mother who gave you the final push. after meeting alexia a few months into your relationship, your parents had quickly come to adore her. when your mother called you today, she spent the majority of the time trying to convince you to ask your girlfriend to join you. her persistence paid off, as you eventually agreed.

now, as you sat on the couch and the silence stretched between you, your anxiety grew. you became restless the longer alexia remained silent, your hands fidgeting nervously. alexia, on the other hand, was simply stunned, taken aback by the unexpected invitation.

feeling you pull away snapped her out of her daze. she quickly reached for your hand, pulling you back toward her. “wait!”, she quickly said. “i’d love to come,” your girlfriend continued, her thumb tracing circles on your hand. after hesitating for a moment she added, “but i don’t want to intrude.”

hearing the uncertainty in her voice, you immediately tried to reassure her. “you wouldn’t be intruding.” with your free hand you reached up and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “you’re part of my family and i want you there.” you paused, letting the words linger in the air. then, you added, “lucy and her family will be there, too. they'll be so excited if you come.”

your sister, lucy, was a few years older than you. the two of you had always been incredibly close, talking nearly every day. she and her family – her husband, joseph, and the kids, jacob and toby - often came to visit you in barcelona.

alexia had met them during one of their visits, a few weeks into your relationship. she liked lucy. her warm and open nature made it easy to get along with her. from the very first meeting, lucy and alexia had clicked, a friendship forming quickly.

it was clear that your whole family adored alexia, her natural charm winning them over almost instantly. she put in a genuine effort to make sure they liked her, knowing how important family was to you.

and you could see how hard she was trying, even though it wasn't necessary - your family would have loved her no matter what. they saw what you saw in her: someone kind, thoughtful and loyal.

they could see how happy the spanish woman made you, could see in her actions and in the way alexia looked at you how much she loved you. they welcomed your girlfriend into the family, treating her like she had always been a part of it.

you could see the wheels turning in your girlfriend's head. understanding that she needed a moment to think to herself, you kept silent, patiently waiting for her to talk.

after a while, alexia looked into your eyes, her hand tightening around yours. “if you're sure it's okay, i will come.”

an excited grin spread across your face. you leaned into her and pressed a series of quick kisses to her lips, murmuring between each one, “i love you.” alexia's lips curled into a soft smile at the affection.

wanting you closer, she gripped your hips and pulled you onto her lap, your knees on either side of her. you let out a surprised squeak, your hands instinctively moving to rest on her shoulders as you looked at her with wide eyes. one of your girlfriend's hands moved up to the back of your neck, pulling you closer, your lips nearly touching.

as you tried to lean in, alexia stopped you. “tell me more about the trip, amor. i want to know what to expect.”

you looked at her incredulously, completely caught off guard with the sudden shift. leaning back slightly, you asked, “that's what you're thinking about right now?”

alexia gazed up at you. “well, i need to prepare.” you shook your head in disbelief, but a smile started to form on your lips despite yourself. “we can talk about that tomorrow.” before she could answer, you cupped her cheeks and kissed her.

☆

the next day at breakfast you started telling her everything about the trip.

“we'll be staying in cortina from the 27th to the 2nd.”, you said. “my grandpa owns a chalet there. it's very old, but still beautiful. it's situated on a hill just outside town and the view is amazing.” your voice was full of excitement. “the whole week is pretty much about spending time together and catching up. and now with the kids, there's always something fun going on...”

alexia listened intently, her eyes fixed on you, feeling the sheer excitement coming from you.

with sparkling eyes, you continued, “we take them sledding and build snowmen and go hiking. but, the best part of this trip is the skiing. it's just a short drive to the lift station…”

alexia had been listening to you with a soft smile on her face, but as soon as the word ‘skiing’ left your lips, that smile faltered. her expression shifted, the warmth in her eyes replaced by a flicker of unease.

you didn't notice, too caught up in your own excitement. “it's so much fun, especially now that jacob can join us. we spend hours on the slopes together.”, you gushed.

alexia's heart raced. skiing. she had never done it before. not once. her stomach twisted at the thought, but she didn't want to ruin the moment or disappoint you by admitting it. the footballer stayed silent, forcing a smile back onto her face.

“that sounds fun.”, she managed, voice a little too tight. you were still oblivious to her inner turmoil. “you'll love it.”

☆

with just a few days to go, you started packing. however, alexia was unsure what to bring, not being used to the cold weather. she simply resorted to tossing every warm piece of clothing she owned into the suitcase - hats, scarves, gloves and many, many sweaters.

meanwhile, you were already finished with packing and had carried your suitcase downstairs. now, you were leaning against the doorframe, watching her in amusement. “you do know we're not going to the north pole, right?”, you teased, a grin tugging at your lips.

alexia shot you a defensive look, grabbing yet another sweater and tossing it in her suitcase. “i just don't like being cold, okay?”, she threw back, picking up a scarf next.

shaking your head with a smile, you walked over and gently took the scarf from her hands, placing it back in the wardrobe. “i know”, you said softly, “but trust me, you don't need all of this. the most important things are ski jackets and ski pants and we have those in the chalet already.”

right. skiing. alexia had already pushed that to the back of her mind. the footballer hated not being good at something and the idea of fumbling her way down a slope in front of you - and your family - made her stomach twist. should she just tell you? admitting it felt embarrassing, but pretending she knew what she was doing might be even worse.

no, she decided, she wouldn't tell you. how hard could it be?

maybe it was her competitive mindset, but alexia figured she'd just learn on the go and hope for the best.

pushing the thought aside, alexia sighed, glancing at the mountain of clothes in her suitcase before reluctantly starting to take out some sweaters and scarves. “fine.”

with a much emptier suitcase now, you turned to leave her. pausing at the doorway, you glanced back with a playful smile. “if you're really worried about the cold, just remember - i'm pretty great at keeping you warm.”

alexia laughed softly, looking over to you. “i'll keep that in mind.”

after you left the room, your girlfriend went back to packing. she quickly finished up, zipping up her suitcase and carrying it downstairs to place it next to yours.

☆

a few days later, you and alexia boarded the plane to italy. the flight was smooth and passed by quickly, and soon you found yourselves stepping into the airport, relatively quiet due to the late hour. while waiting for your luggage at the baggage claim, you turned to alexia and said, “joseph will be picking us up. he should be out front. from there, it's about an hour's drive to cortina.”

after collecting your suitcases, you made your way through the terminal and stepped out into the cold night air. you quickly spotted your brother-in-law, leaning casually against his car, eyes fixed on his phone. "joe!”, you called out, your voice cutting through the night. joseph looked up, his face spreading into a wide smile as he tucked his phone into his jacket pocket.

“hey, you two.”, he grinned, pushing off the car. you quickly made your way over, engulfing him in a big hug. “long time no see.”, he laughed, patting your back before pulling away.

next, he turned to alexia, enveloping her in a quick hug. “good to see you again, alexia.” “likewise.”, your girlfriend replied.

then, joseph moved to help you load your suitcases in the car. “you ready for the cold?”, he asked playfully, glancing over at alexia, knowing full well she was more used to the warm climate of spain. she chuckled, wrapping her coat tighter around herself.

“i'll survive.”, the footballer joked.

as you all settled in the car, the engine purred to life, and soon you were off, the lights of the airport fading into the distance as the quiet roads of the italian countryside took over.

the drive was peaceful, the soft hum of the engine and quiet conversation filling the car. along the way, the scenery changed, the ground becoming covered in more snow. by the time cortina came into view, the landscape had transformed into a white winter wonderland - snow-covered trees lining the road and snowflakes falling from the sky. the dolomites loomed in the distance, their peaks hidden in the night, adding to the magical view.

soon, you spotted the familiar silhouette of your family's chalet, its wooden structure and the light coming from the windows standing out amidst the white blanket pf snow.

when the car came to a stop in front of the house, you couldn't help but smile, feeling a wave of happiness wash over you. you stepped out of the car, snow crunching under your feet, your breath visible in the air. you closed your eyes, taking it all in. alexia, having followed you out, stood next to you, shivering slightly in the cold.

with a contented sigh, you opened your eyes and looked over at your girlfriend, seeing the shivers run through her body. taking her hand in yours, you were just about to turn around when you heard joseph shout from behind you. “well, i don't know about you, but i'm heading inside. i don't really fancy freezing to death.”

you quickly turned around and threw him the finger, making him laugh as he carried your suitcases into the chalet. eager to escape the cold, alexia interlaced her fingers with yours and pulled you toward the house.

inside, you quickly slipped out of your jackets and took off your shoes. hearing laughter coming from the living room, you turned to alexia with a soft smile, holding out your hand, and asked, “ready?” your girlfriend nodded, taking your hand and pressing a gentle kiss to the back of it. together, you made your way toward the noise, stepping around the suitcases that joseph had left in the middle of the entrance.

in the living room, you found your brother-in-law chatting with your parents. as soon as they saw you enter, your mother jumped up from the couch and hurried over. she enveloped alexia in a warm hug. “i'm so happy you could join us.”, she said, her voice full of warmth. alexia smiled softly, her eyes reflecting the sentiment. “i'm happy to be here.”, she responded.

you smiled brightly at the exchange, but couldn't help and tease your mom a little. “i'm here, too, you know?” your father and joseph laughed at your remark while your mother just gave you a stern look. “yes, i know.”, she replied, her tone softened by affection as she pulled you into a long hug. “i missed you, darling.”

after your mother released you, your father stepped forward, greeting you both with a short hug. as you looked around the room, you wondered aloud, “where's lucy?”

“she's upstairs, getting the kids to sleep. she'll be down later.”, joseph chimed in from his place on the couch.

your mother turned to you and suggested, “how about you go up into your room and unpack?”

nodding at your mother's words, you looked to alexia and gestured toward the stairs. “come on, let's head up.” you went back out to the entrance, alexia picking up both of your suitcases and following you up to your room.

as you reached your room, you and alexia began unpacking. you quickly finished putting everything into the closet and were now looking for something to change into. as you were sorting through the clothes, you felt alexia's arms wrap around you from behind, pressing close. “you're so warm.”, she breathed into your neck, making you shiver. “are you still cold?”, you asked, turning around and putting your arms around her shoulders. she hummed, her eyes falling to your lips and leaning in. “you said you'd keep me warm.”, alexia whispered against your lips before closing the gap and kissing you deeply.

you melted into her embrace, the kiss chasing away any lingering cold. as she pulled away, you remained with your eyes closed, a contented smile on your lips. she smirked, resting her forehead against yours as she admired the flush of warmth on your face. “thank you for warming me up, mi amor.”, she said softly, her voice full of affection. you spent a few more moments in her embrace before reluctantly letting go of her and turning back toward the closet.

you pulled out a sweater and joggers to give to alexia. for yourself, you chose one of alexia's hoodies and a pair of your sweatpants.

after getting changed, you made your way back downstairs into the living room. as you entered, you noticed your sister had joined the rest of the family on the couch. when she saw the two of you, lucy immediately hurried over to the both of you, a wide smile spreading across her face.

“hello, little sis! oh, i missed you.”, she said, peppering your face in kisses. “luce, stop!”, you exclaimed, trying to push her away from you. she looked at you with an offended look. “you know, when you were little, you liked that.” you just rolled your eyes, finally getting out of your sister's grasp. unbothered, she turned to alexia, hugging her tightly. “ale, it's good to see you again. toby hasn't stopped talking about you.”, lucy told your girlfriend, laughing softly. “he wanted to stay up until you arrived, but he fell asleep. he's so excited to see you tomorrow.”

alexia blushed, the color creeping up her cheeks as she smiled softly. “i'm excited to see him, too.”

lucy grabbed your hands and pulled you over to sit on the couch. grabbing a blanket, you draped it over both your and alexia's laps, cuddling close to her.

with everyone settled, you easily fell into conversation, catching up and enjoying the evening together. soon, the conversation shifted to plans for the next day. joseph leaned forward with a grin. “tomorrow should be quite sunny - no snow and not too much wind. so, how about skiing?”

you immediately nodded in agreement, as did your dad. “sounds like a plan.”, you said eagerly.

your mom and sister exchanged a look, shaking their heads with a smile. “we'll pass on skiing.”, lucy said, “but we might head into town instead, maybe do some shopping.”

not having said anything yet, you turned to alexia, asking, “what about you? want to join us on the slopes?”

alexia hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “of course.”, she said trying to sound confident. her mind ran a mile a minute. ‘oh god’, she thought, ‘this will not end well.’ you were unaware of her inner turmoil and just smiled excitedly at her, squeezing her knee.

turning to your mom, you asked, “we still have extra gear in the basement, right?” your mom smiled warmly at you and nodded. “yes, of course. tomorrow, you can look for something that fits.”

with the plans settled, you all decided to head to bed. climbing up the stairs, joseph said, “let's head out around 8, that okay for everyone?” you and your father nodded in agreement. saying your goodnights, you parted and went into your rooms.

after quickly getting ready for bed and setting an alarm for tomorrow, you slipped under the covers, waiting for alexia to finish up in the bathroom. a moment later, you felt the bed dip behind you as alexia joined you in bed. she wrapped her arm around your waist and pulled you close to her, leaving a gentle kiss on the nape of your neck.

“good night, mi amor.”, she whispered. “good night.”, you replied, her gentle breath against your skin and the warmth of alexia’s embrace quickly lulling you into sleep.

☆

the next morning, alexia stirred awake, the early morning light just barely peeking through the curtains. she reached for her phone on the nightstand and saw it was only 6 - half an hour before the alarm. turning her head, she glanced at you, still fast asleep beside her. a soft smile spread across her face as she watched you, your features relaxed and peaceful. she couldn't help but think of how adorable you looked, curled up beneath the blanket.

unable to resist, alexia leaned in and began peppering your face with kisses - forehead, cheeks, nose - until you stirred slightly, blinking your eyes open in confusion.

“what time is it?”, you mumbled, still half asleep.

“it's six.”, she whispered, brushing a loose strand of her from your face. groaning, you looked up at the ceiling, muttering something about it being too early.

your girlfriend chuckled softly, rolling on top of you and nuzzling into your neck. her lips found your skin again, kissing your neck softly, sending shivers down your spine. “come on, cariño.”, she murmured between kisses. “it's time to wake up.”

you let out a sleepy sigh as she moved up to your lips, pressing a kiss there. now, more awake, you blinked up at her, half-smiling. “i haven’t brushed my teeth, yet.”

alexia grinned, eyes sparkling as she leaned in again. “i don't care.”, she whispered against your lips. with a small laugh, you gave in, wrapping your arms around her and pulling her closer.

after that early wake-up, the two of you spent the next half hour nestled under the covers, enjoying the warmth and quiet before the day began. when the alarm went off, you reached over to silence it, letting out a groggy sigh as you sat up and stretched, trying to shake the last bits of sleep from your body.

meanwhile, alexia got out of bed and padded across the room toward the bathroom. you watched her disappear behind the door, the sound of running water soon filling the silence. with a yawn, you pushed yourself up and walked over to the window, pulling the curtains open to let in the early morning light. looking out the window, you saw the snow glistening under the soft glow of the rising sun.

stretching once more, you made your way toward the bathroom to join alexia, both of you getting ready to head down for breakfast.

as you made your way downstairs, the smell of pancakes and freshly brewed coffee greeted you. walking into the kitchen, you saw your mother stood at the stove, flipping pancakes, while the others were sitting around the table, eating breakfast and chatting.

“good morning.”, you and alexia greeted everyone.

toby, who was halfway through his breakfast looked up and his eyes lit up instantly when he saw your girlfriend. he let out a high-pitched squeal and jumped up from his seat. “tia ale! i missed you sooo much!”, he shouted, running over and leaping into her arms. alexia caught him effortlessly, her face breaking out into a bright smile as she hugged him tightly and planted a kiss on his cheek. “i missed you, too.”, she told him.

you stood there watching them, a soft smile creeping onto your face. “not even a hello for me, huh?”, you teased, though the sight of alexia and toby warmed your heart. your nephew glanced at you, resting his head on your girlfriend’s shoulder. “hello, auntie.”

suddenly, you felt small arms wrap around you. turning around, you saw jacob, his face beaming up at you. “good morning, auntie. i missed you.”

you laughed softly, ruffling his hair and hugging him back. “at least someone still likes me.”, you joked, pressing a kiss on the top of his head. soon, jacob let go of you and went back to breakfast.

with toby still in her arms, alexia made her way to the table. your eyes fell to her toned arms, admiring the way her muscles flexed as she carried your nephew. the sound of your mother calling your name brought you out of your thoughts. “honey, come get your pancakes.” you walked over to her and took the two plates she held in her hands, thanking her with a kiss to the cheek.

meanwhile, alexia sat toby down in front of his breakfast before taking the seat beside him. in between bites, he excitedly told her everything about his latest football practice.

with the two plates in hand, you walked over to your girlfriend, setting one down in front of her. she glanced up, her eyes soft as she quietly thanked you. you smiled in return, placing your own plate on the table and sitting beside her. as soon as you settled into the chair, alexia's hand found its familiar spot on your thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze. then, she grabbed the coffee pot and poured two cups of coffee, handing one of the cups to you, her fingers brushing yours briefly.

as the two of you dug into breakfast, alexia's attention shifted back to toby. the boy was still talking animatedly, his words spilling out in a rush as he continued recounting his practice. alexia nodded along, her face lighting up at his excitement, while you glanced over at them every so often.

after finishing breakfast, you put the plates in the dishwasher and headed upstairs into your room to get ready.

the both of you changed into warm leggings and a long shirt. you then pulled out a ski jacket and ski pants for alexia, turning around and handing them to her with a smile. “these should fit you.” she accepted them with a smile and began changing.

moving back to the closet, you grabbed your own ski gear and changed quickly. you also pulled out a pair of gloves, tucking them into your pocket, then turned to see alexia doing the same.

“ready?”, you asked, a small smile on your lips.

“sì.”, she replied, walking over to the door and holding it open for you. “lead the way.”

as you walked past her, you placed a quick kiss on her cheek. she smiled and followed you down to the basement.

you flicked on the lights, revealing an array of ski gear. first, you headed toward the helmets, scanning through them before taking one out. “try this one.”, you said, handing it to her.

after putting it on, she said, “it fits.” you couldn't help but chuckle as you took in the sight of her, looking both endearing and slightly awkward in the bulky gear.

“why are you laughing?”, alexia asked, shooting you an offended look.

“it's just…you look adorable.”, you replied with a grin.

alexia frowned. “i'm not adorable.”, she said, trying to sound serious but failing to hide the smile on her lips.

you laughed. “ok, not adorable. but pretty cute.”

she shook her head with a smile. “don't we need to…?” she trailed off, gesturing toward the ski boots.

“oh, right!”, you said, moving toward the boots.

you sifted through the various sizes until you found a pair that seemed right. pulling them out, you handed them to alexia. “try these on.”

your girlfriend sat down on the bench along the wall and began to put on the boots. she struggled a little, her movements clumsy. but finally, she managed to get both of them on. “stand up.”, you instructed as she looked up at you.

she wobbled a little, but quickly caught herself, giving you a thumbs-up with a dorky smile on her face. “they fit, too.”

you smiled at her adorableness. “great.”, you said, giving her a pat on the back. as alexia continued to walk around a little, getting used to the boots, you quickly slipped into your own, followed by your helmet.

once you were ready, you grabbed your girlfriend's skis and ski poles, turning around to see her now sitting on the bench, watching you. giving her a smile, you approached her and said, “here are your skis and poles. i'm going to grab mine and then we can go and put everything into the van.”

alexia nodded and took the ski gear. after you retrieved your own, you made your way outside. your dad was already at the trunk, loading the equipment. as you approached, he looked up and said, “just put your stuff here. i'll load it in.”

with a quick thank you, you and alexia set all your gear down and walked back to the chalet. your mother was standing by the door, chatting with joseph and jacob. when you saw jacob in his ski gear, you ruffled his hair.

“you joining us, bud?”, you asked with a smile.

jacob's face lit up with an excited grin as he nodded vigorously. “yeah!”

after saying bye to your mother, the four of of you walked back to the van. your father had already finished putting everything into the back and was now sitting in the driver's seat, waiting for you.

with everyone in the car and buckled up, he started the engine and began the drive to the ski lift. the conversation flowed easily, filled with jokes and excited chatter about today. but as the slopes came into view, you noticed alexia growing quieter, her gaze fixed on the towering mountains outside the window.

when you arrived at the lift station, everyone piled out of the van, your dad and joseph heading to the back to grab the gear. you and alexia joined them, getting your skis and poles.

as alexia stood by the car and looked at the mountain, her heart started racing. it loomed over her, and the reality of what she was about to face hit her like a wave. she clutched her poles tightly, trying to keep her anxiety at bay.

when you offered to grab everyone's passes, alexia quietly followed you. she walked alongside you, her mind racing. every step closer to the ticket booth made her stomach churn more. the mountain seemed to get bigger, steeper, more intimidating with every glance.

while you bought the tickets, your girlfriend's eyes darted nervously around. she watched people clipping into their skis, moving effortlessly across the snow. she couldn't back out now, could she?

when you came back over, you handed her the ticket with a smile. you looked at her and could immediately see the fear in her eyes.

“what's wrong?”, you asked her, your voice concerned.

alexia immediately looked down, face burning with embarrassment. “nothing.”, she muttered, hoping that would be enough, but she knew it wouldn't.

“alexia.”, you said, your tone more serious this time, urging her to talk.

she swallowed hard, feeling the knot in her chest tighten. it took everything in her to finally look up at you, her voice barely above a whisper as she confessed, “i don't really know how to ski.”

the words hung in the air between you and as she looked at you, the shock was clear on your face.

you hadn't asked her, and she hadn't told you. now here you were, standing at the base of a mountain she didn't know how to conquer.

“why didn't you tell me?”, you asked softly.

she couldn't explain it. maybe it was pride, maybe it was fear. she shrugged. “i don't know.”, she said, frustration creeping into her voice.

you didn't push, but the question still lingered in the air. “then…why did you agree to come today?”

“i don't know.”, she repeated.

you sighed softly, trying to think of ways to help your girlfriend. “it's okay. i can drive you back if you want. you don't have to do this.”

no. she couldn't leave, not after coming this far. alexia wanted to be with you, wanted to experience this trip with you. no matter how scared she was, leaving wasn't an option. “no, i'll stay.”

you looked at her carefully, stepping closer to her and placing your hand on her shoulder. “are you sure?”, you asked, wanting to make sure she wasn’t pushing herself just for your sake.

“yes.”, alexia said, trying to sound more confident. “i want to stay.”

you nodded, your expression softening and squeezing her hand. “okay, but we'll go on our own.”

you looked over alexia's shoulder, seeing the others approaching. when they reached you, you reluctantly stepped away from your girlfriend to give them their ski passes.

“so, where should we go first?”, joe asked, looking over toward the lifts.

you glanced over at alexia, then spoke, “actually, would it be okay if alexia and i went alone? i think we'll take it easy today. you go and have your fun.”

joe and your dad nodded in agreement. albeit your brother-in-law couldn't help but tease you. “want to spend time alone with your girlfriend, i see.” you just rolled your eyes at him, making him chuckle. “no, but really, it’s okay.”, he said. “we'll meet back here at noon?”

after you agreed, the three of them made their way toward the lifts while you stayed behind with alexia. she took a deep breath as you turned to her with a reassuring smile.

“we'll take it slow.”, you said softly. “just you and me.”

looking away from your girlfriend and over to the slopes, you said, “let's head to the children's area. it's the easiest place to learn.”

alexia immediately frowned. “i'm not a kid.”

you chuckled and glanced back at her. “i know that. but we need to start somewhere.” with that, you led her toward a small hill, where the slope was really flat. your girlfriend followed behind you, grumbling under her breath.

when you reached the slope, you turned to her. “alright, put your skis down.”

alexia did as you instructed. you then demonstrated how to clip into the skis, encouraging her to do the same. she managed that without any trouble. “good job. ready for more?”, you asked while adjusting her poles to the right size.

she huffed. “sì, but i'm still not a kid.”

“noted.”, you replied with a grin. “okay, so…when you're skiing, you have to bend your knees slightly for stability. like this.” you showed her, flexing your knees.

she mimicked you, bending her knees awkwardly. “this feels really weird.”

“i know, but you'll get used to it.”, you reassured her. “and now, push with the poles and try to stay upright.”

alexia began to push off, wobbling slightly on the skis. “whoa.”, she exclaimed, her eyes wide as she began to move.

after a few more pushes, your girlfriend became more comfortable. as she looked back to you, you smiled and gave her a thumbs-up. “you're doing great.”

skiing after her, you said, “ now we'll try the plough. it's the simplest way to slow down. you just have to make a v-shape with your skis.” you demonstrated, going up a small incline and slowly coming back down. “just like that.”

alexia watched you, her brows furrowed in concentration. “ok.”, she said, determined, trying to copy your movements and gingerly making her way down the slope.

when she reached you, she looked at you with an excited smile. “i did it.”

you grinned back at her. “you did! great job.”

agter she tried it a few more times and became more comfortable, you gestured toward the carpet lift. “come on, we'll take the lift and ski down from further up.”

when you reached the top, your girlfriend's nerves returned. she stared down at the hill, which looked much steeper than before. “i can't do it.”, she muttered, shaking her head.

“you can.”, you said, moving in front of her. “i'll ski ahead. you just have to follow, okay?”

alexia looked unsure, but gave you a nod. “okay.”

you began to ski down, stopping after a few turns and turning back, checking on her. “don't forget to bend your knees.”, you reminded her as your girlfriend pushed forward.

when alexia started to move, the nerves got the better of her. she leaned back instead of forward, making it hard to control the skis. losing balance, she let out a scream and toppled forward, landing on the snow with a grunt.

you had to suppress a laugh as you moved toward her. she sat up, glaring at you as you fought to hold in your amusement. “are you laughing?”

“no.”, you denied, trying to school your features, as you extended your hands toward her. “come on, i'll help you get back up.”

alexia groaned, clearly frustrated, but allowed you to help her stand. after she brushed off the snow from her clothes, you set off down the slope again and this time, your girlfriend was able to stay on the skis. you skied beside her, encouraging her, and soon you were safely back at the bottom.

looking at alexia with a proud smile on your face, you said, “you did really good.” your girlfriend blushed at your words, smiling shyly. “thank you.”

time flew by as you skied down the hill again and again and again. with each run, alexia grew more confident.

when you took a break, you smiled up at her. “you're doing really great. i'm really proud of you.” alexia smiled back, clearly proud of her progress. “maybe skiing isn't so bad. it's quite fun, actually.”, she told you, making you smile even wider.

when you glanced at your phone, you noticed it was nearly noon. turning to your girlfriend, you said, “i think whe sould head back. it's nearly 12:00.”

alexia looked up in surprise. “already?”, she said, glancing around. you nodded, “yeah, it didn't really feel that long.”

you got out of your skis and headed toward the van. the others were already there, loading up their gear. after you and alexia put your own gear in the trunk and with everyone in the car, you began the journey back to the chalet.

as you were driving, you asked the others, “so, what did you three get up to?” the car filled with lively chatter as they told you about everything they did.

when they turned the question to you and your girlfriend, you glanced at alexia, smiling and relaxed.

---------------------------------------------------

“eventful.”, you replied with a grin, your eyes meeting hers.

i've got a few more ideas for this fic. let me know if you'd like to see more :)

[ginkgooou]

Tracing Memories in the Morning Light

Your daughter notices your wife's tattoos.

Fluff, pure fluff

-

The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow across the room. It was a rare morning in the Putellas household where nothing was pulling either of you out of bed. No matches, no training sessions, no schedules, just a day to be together.

Alexia lay on her stomach beside you, her eyes half-closed, while your little girl, who was just shy of walking, nestled between the two of you.

She still didn’t talk yet, just sweet babbles that made your heart swell, but her expressions said more than words could.

You were sitting up, your back resting against the headboard, watching as your daughter clambered onto your wife's back with that determined look she always wore.

A small giggle escaped your lips as her tiny hands explored Alexia’s tattoos, her fingers tracing the inked lines with fascination.

“She’s obsessed with your tattoos,” you murmured, reaching over to brush a lock of Alexia’s hair away from her face.

Alexia smiled softly, eyes still closed, her voice low and sleepy. “She’s always like this when she notices them. It’s like she’s trying to figure them out.”

Your daughter gave a small, delighted squeal as her hands landed on the tattooed rose near Alexia’s shoulder blade, fingers gently patting it as if to say, What is this?

“Careful, baby,” you chuckled softly, guiding her little hands so she wasn’t pressing too hard. “Mama’s not a coloring book.”

Alexia let out a laugh, her back muscles rippling slightly under your daughter’s touch. “She might disagree with you on that,” she teased, turning her head slightly to glance at you. “I’m her favorite canvas.”

“She’s definitely an artist in the making,” you replied, your heart melting as you watched your little girl lean down and place a slobbery kiss on Alexia’s back, right on the tattoo. You and Alexia both burst out laughing.

“That’s one way to appreciate art, I suppose,” Alexia said, her voice warm with affection. She turned onto her side gently, careful not to dislodge the baby, who now sat between you both, her wide eyes watching your movements as if she understood the moment was special.

You leaned down and kissed the top of your daughter’s head, inhaling that sweet baby scent that somehow never faded. “You’re such a little explorer today,” you whispered to her. She responded with a series of babbles, lifting her arms toward you.

You pulled her into your lap, and she immediately snuggled against you, her tiny head resting under your chin. Alexia scooted closer, propping herself up on her elbow, her eyes soft as they roamed over the both of you.

“I could get used to this,” Alexia said quietly, her hand coming up to stroke your daughter’s back, her thumb brushing against the soft fabric of her onesie. “No rush, no pressure. Just… us.”

“Yeah,” you agreed, leaning your head back against the pillow, your eyes meeting Alexia’s. “It’s not often we get this, is it?”

“No,” she admitted, her expression turning slightly wistful. “But that’s what makes it special.”

Your daughter shifted in your lap, her tiny hand reaching out toward Alexia again, her fingers making a beeline for the small tattoo on her wrist this time. Alexia chuckled, offering her hand for exploration.

“She really is fascinated by them, huh?” you mused, watching your little girl’s concentration as if she was deciphering some great mystery.

Alexia nodded. “Maybe when she’s older, she’ll ask me about them. About what they mean.” She looked at you, her eyes softening. “About the memories behind them.”

You smiled at the thought. “And you’ll tell her all your stories. All the ones she hasn’t lived yet but will one day be a part of.”

Alexia’s gaze lingered on you, something unspoken passing between you both, a shared understanding of how these quiet, intimate moments were the ones that made everything else worth it.

The games, the traveling, the time apart.

It all led back to this.

To home.

[ginkgooou]

throw it all away

part 1 of 2 if no one is noticing any changes, there must not be a problem. but then, someone does notice. and there is a problem. that just isn't a reality you really feel like accepting. [putellas!reader]... alexia realizes you're struggling. how does she help you with something she doesn't understand? tw: this is a fic about r struggling with an ED. proceed with caution.

—

“You’ve lost weight.” 

It wasn’t said with an impressed nod or smile. It wasn’t said like a benchmark you’d met. It wasn’t said like it was a good thing.

Somehow, you knew it wouldn’t be. 

Instead, the physio’s voice was gentle, concerned. He spoke to you like he knew how you got here, but he couldn’t. How could he know?

No one noticed. Not your teammates, not your friends. Not Spain’s physios. Not even your sister. 

And that’s what you wanted. 

“Okay…” You said, like you didn‘t understand why he’d  brought this up. 

“Not a little weight. Enough that I’m concerned.” His eyes were squinted a little, like he was trying to see right through you. Still, you maintained your composure, kept your face blank. 

“Well, I didn’t have much of an off season. It’s been pretty nonstop even since the end of the league season. I’m just in shape.” 

He shook his head, now looking almost pityingly at you. “That’s what the issue is? You’re sure?” 

You did what you’d been doing for months: you lied. 

“Yep. Can’t think of anything else it could be.” Your tone was light, even as the weight of the unspoken words settled heavily on your chest. 

“We have to be careful with these things, you understand. We’ll change up your meal plan, and see how you are in a week. You’ll be on light training anyway, like the rest of the girls coming back. If it’s a matter of being overworked, we’ll get you back healthy in no time.”

He didn’t say what would happen if things didn’t go back to normal; if this wasn’t just being overworked. He didn’t need to. He was giving you a chance to correct this yourself before he has to involve the doctors and the coaches. And your sister. He was giving you a chance to fix this before it became a much, much bigger deal. 

As you left the medical room, you wished more than anything that this was a chance you could take, but you knew that it wasn’t. 

—

You knew the physio had opened his mouth a week later when he came out during a water break to pull Alexia, Irene, and Pere aside. He spoke to them quietly for a few minutes, all three of them furtively looking over at you every so often. You knew what you were in for when you got home; probably a very angry Alexia. Angry that you were jeopardizing your career and your health, throwing all your hard work away. For Alexia, football was the most important thing in the world. Sometimes it felt like it was more important than you, and you knew that she wouldn’t understand this. She would see what you were going through as a weakness, something you needed to quickly resolve, and get back to the most important thing. 

It was just that you weren’t capable of handling Angry Alexia right now. Not when you already felt kind of faint from training on an empty stomach, horribly grumpy because you were fucking hungry, and honestly still in denial that anything was wrong. It would lead to a whole blow up fight you didn’t want to get into, and as such, you weren’t looking forward to going home. Alexia surprised you. 

She’d started off angry, moving to stomp over, grab you, and haul you home so she could yell, when Irene grabbed her wrist and encouraged her to just listen for a second. 

“This is going to ruin her season.” Alexia seethed. “Does she not realize that she’s hurting the team?”

Irene regarded her incredulously for a moment, having to remind herself that the other woman’s brain just worked differently than hers. “Ale, she’s hurting herself. Whatever she’s doing isn’t a selfish decision she’s making. She’s sick.” 

Your sister grew quiet, chewing on her lip as she thought through Irene’s words. 

“You can’t yell, Ale. You can’t be mad at her. She needs help, and she isn’t going to want to accept it. You have to be careful with this, gentle and patient and kind. Okay?” Irene said, staring hard at her co captain. 

“Yeah.” Alexia said quietly. “Pedro, do you know why… or how?” 

Pedro shook his head, worry clouding his face. “I asked her about it a week ago, and she pretended she had no idea what I was talking about. I told her she had a week to get back on track, but she didn’t. I don’t know how, or why. Those are both questions for your sister.” 

Alexia nodded, her gaze stuck on where you were stretching, just inside the gym tent. “Pere, can we go? I need to talk to her, and I know there needs to be a conversation with everyone, but she’ll just feel cornered if that’s where we start. I want to take her home to talk.” 

Pere agreed immediately, telling Alexia to take as much time as she needed, and reach out to the club for any help they could provide at all. Irene walked with the blonde in the direction of the tent, her arm slung across Alexia’s shoulders. 

“She isn’t going to want to talk to me.” Alexia murmured. “She hates talking about her feelings, especially with me.” 

Irene frowned. “You’re her sister. She trusts you more than she trusts anyone. Just stay calm and don’t get angry. I know when you worry you tend to get angry, but try not to let that happen. It won’t help.” 

Alexia nodded, having arrived at the entryway of the gym. Irene patted her on the back, telling her to call if she needed help, before she headed inside. She called you over, receiving a few odd looks from her teammates at the strange tone of her voice. 

Your sister could see how terrified you looked, even from all the way across the gym. Her heart clenched at the brave face you were trying to put on; it didn’t hide how scared you were.  

“Yeah?” You said, trying to act casual as you walked over to your sister, even though you felt kind of dizzy, and your head was pounding with a headache, not to mention the anxiety that was coursing through your veins. 

“We’re going home, we need to talk.” Her tone wasn’t clipped or sharp like you expected it to be. Her face wasn’t set with anger, her hands weren’t clenched into fists at her side. She looked strangely… calm. 

“Talk? About what?” You questioned, feeling defensive even if your sister wasn’t mad. 

“We’ll talk about it when we’re home. Let’s go.” With that, she led you out of the tent, back towards the main building. You stumbled slightly, the dizziness and nerves combining to make you a bit unsteady. 

Your sister steadied you, both her hands on her shoulders. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?” 

If you’d had any hopes that Alexia didn’t know what was going on, those disappeared. Her eyes flitted over you, her grip strong, as if she was worried you’d collapse or something. 

“Nothing. I’m fine.” Your voice was shaking, for a reason you weren’t quite sure of. 

Alexia softened, surprising you as she wrapped her arms around you tightly, pulling you into a hug. It was nice, comforting, and you sank into it, taking just a moment to allow yourself to be weak. 

It wasn’t comforting for your sister. Suddenly, all she could feel was the bones of your spine, more pronounced than they should be. It was a noticeable difference, and she knew that it likely felt more dramatic than it really was, considering the information the physio had given her, that this wasn’t that bad yet, that it was fixable. Still, your sister wanted to cry at how small you seemed against her. 

More than that, she wanted to cry that she hadn’t noticed this happening. 

—

You kept waiting for her to blow up. All the way to the locker room and to the car, all the way home, but she didn’t. She watched you carefully out of the corner of her eye, she carried your bag for you, and she insisted you drink an entire water bottle on the drive home. Alexia was worried, more than she was upset, and that was beginning to terrify you. 

She didn’t even really talk upon arriving home. She just set your bag down, looking around for Olga like the brunette would have all the answers to fix this. 

“Go shower, we can talk after, okay?” Alexia said over her shoulder, disappearing in the direction of the office Olga worked out of during the day. 

As you headed up the stairs, you wondered if the screen still slid out from your window as easily as it used to, when sneaking out was a bit of a habit. 

You wondered if your body could even take the jump down to the ground underneath your window. You wondered whether you even cared, if it meant that you’d get away from this conversation, escape the walls closing in around you.

—

Downstairs, Alexia was pacing a hole in the rug spread across the office floor. Olga was watching her march back and forth, waiting for her girlfriend to talk herself out, which she didn’t seem anywhere close to doing. 

“How could I miss this? Do I not pay enough attention? Is this my fault? Have I pushed her too hard? How long has this been going on? How did no one notice before now? What if-”

Olga stood, grabbing her girlfriend’s hands and putting her movements to a stop. “Amor, take a second. Relax. None of these questions need to be answered right now.” 

Alexia leaned almost imperceptibly into her girlfriend’s touch, desperate for anyone to tell her what to do here. 

“We need to talk to her. That’s where we start, and that is going to be hard, Ale. She probably doesn’t want to hear anything we have to say about this, and she might lash out, but you have to remember how much she must be hurting right now. You have to be patient, okay?” 

Alexia nodded her jaw tightening as her resolve strengthened. She’d be the most patient person in the world, if that’s what you needed. She’d do anything you needed her to, but the possibility that this wasn’t something that she could fix for you was terrifying her. She just wanted to help. 

—

When you came back downstairs after your shower, you knew you were in for an intervention. Ale and Olga were sitting on the couch next to each other, speaking in hushed tones. You approached them warily, sitting in the armchair across from the couch. 

Your sister took a deep breath, her eyes scanning over the piece of paper on the sofa next to her. It was a few notes that Pedro had given her, a few reminders she had for herself, and a few that Olga had added. 

Don’t get angry. She needs help, she doesn’t need your anger. 

Don’t push too hard, but don’t let her off with excuses.

 Be firm, but be kind. 

Don’t threaten to tell Mami, because she’ll just run. 

“I’m not mad.” Alexia started. Now that you were sure she wasn’t going to yell at you, you realized how much easier that would have been. You hated the concern on her face, the worry in her eyes. “You were looking at me earlier like I’d be mad at you, but I’m not mad.”

“Why would you be mad?” You asked, crossing your arms over your chest. Playing dumb always infuriated your sister, yet this time, she didn’t take the bait. 

“I talked to Pedro and Pere earlier. Pedro has some concerns, about you.” Your sister paused, looking at her girlfriend next to her, as if for reassurance. Olga nodded encouragingly, and Alexia straightened up. “I think you know what these concerns are, hermana.”

“I don’t.” You said quickly. “And I don’t appreciate you talking about me behind my back.” 

“You do.” Alexia said, still annoyingly calmly. 

“I really don’t, Alexia.” 

“Pequeña, please. I know that you aren’t okay. You don’t have to lie to me about that.” 

You wilted a little, eyes anywhere but on your sister, but she leaned forward, seeing an opportunity; a fracture in your walls. 

“I want you to be okay. I want you to get better, healthier.” Alexia said gently, her eyes flickering to the piece of paper in front of her every so often. It was a mix of her handwriting and Olga’s, though you couldn’t make out what it said. 

“I am better. I am healthier, Ale.” You argued weakly, finally looking at your sister. You half believed yourself, half knew that you were very far from healthy, the two conflicting sides waging war in your head. Would it be easier to admit defeat? To break down and let your sister fix you? You found that you didn’t really want to be fixed.

“Hermanita, this isn’t okay. You can’t keep going like this. It’s not safe.”

You shook your head defiantly, a single tear tracking down your cheek. “Alexia, I’m fine. You don’t need to worry.”

You didn’t think about the times you’ve cried yourself to sleep after having no choice but to eat a full dinner. You didn’t think about the way everything is just a touch more exhausting, now. You couldn’t think about that, you wouldn’t. You were fine. Why couldn’t Alexia see that? 

She just stared at you, blinking rapidly. Fighting back tears, you realized with a start. Her hand gripped Olga’s tightly, and you couldn’t fight the wave of guilt that hit you like a truck. She was worried, and you knew she should be. Somewhere deep inside, you knew. And that was the most terrifying part. 

“Cariño, I am so worried. You aren’t okay, I don’t understand how you can’t see that. You are an athlete, you know you need to fuel your body in the right way. You know this isn’t normal. Can’t you admit that?”

You shifted uncomfortably in your seat, for the first time showing even a hint of emotion. It wasn’t anger, or sadness. It was fear. 

“I have it under control, Ale. I promise you, it’s under control.” Your voice wobbled, no confidence at all behind your words. Alexia shut her eyes tightly for a minute before blinking then open and looking at you in a much more intense way. 

“I don’t believe you.” 

You stood up, feeling a flare of anger surge through you. “I don’t care what you believe.” Moving to walk out the front door, though not sure where you were going, you froze at the sound of Alexia’s voice behind you. 

“You can leave, but we’re still going to have this conversation. I can wait, but the sooner we talk, the sooner you’ll be allowed back at training, and back on the team sheet.” 

You whirled around, hands balling into fists at your sides. “Since when am I off the team sheet?!” 

“Since today.” Alexia didn’t raise her voice to match yours, and she didn’t stand either. She remained sitting next to Olga, both of them looking at you so sympathetically, it made you want to sprint out of the house that instant. 

“How could you do that?” 

Alexia almost flinched at the genuinely betrayed tone of your voice, but she just shook her head. 

“I didn’t do anything, pequeña. The physios and Pere made this decision themselves, based off the information they have.” She replied, nodding towards the chair across from her again. “The only way you’re being allowed anywhere near training is if you talk.” 

“I don’t want to talk about this.” You snapped, throwing yourself down in the chair. 

“Well, we have to. I won’t watch you hurt yourself like this without saying anything.”

You flinched like she’d struck you. “I am not hurting myself, Alexia. I have it under control, it’s not dangerous, it’s not anything. It’s fine.” 

“You are hurting yourself. I don’t know how, but I know that you are. Whatever you are doing to make sure your body doesn’t gain weight is hurting you!” 

"You're being ridiculous, Alexia. Completely ridiculous." You spat back.

Nothing Alexia was saying was working. You remained just as defiant, just as frustrated. Nostrils flaring, hands clenched into fists, you refused to back down. 

Olga squeezed her girlfriend's hand, the blonde falling silent as she did so. 

“Pequeña, listen to me. We both love you so much. You are my sister, maybe not by blood, but in all the ways that count. And when you care about someone, it’s so hard to watch them go through something like this.”  

Olga’s voice was soft and gentle and somehow, the most threatening thing you’d heard. It was the way she looked at you, the way she spoke; like she knew what she was about to say would challenge you. 

“If this was anyone else doing what you’re doing, you’d have something to say. If this was a friend or a teammate, and you saw them doing this, you’d do something. Am I wrong?”

You found that you couldn’t lie, so you just shook your head. 

“Give yourself that same kindness. Give yourself that same love and care. You would get someone else help if they needed it, no matter what. Can you let us help you?”

Another tear ran down your cheek, your lip trembling as you fought to hold back your sobs. Only Olga’s hand in hers kept Alexia from leaping over the coffee table and pulling you into a hug. 

“I’m scared. I don’t want to.” You said finally. Your eyes fixed on Olga, refusing to look over at your sister and see the disappointment you knew was simmering. 

“But you need to. And you know you need to.” Olga said carefully. She watched as an array of emotions flashed across your face, until you finally landed on… resigned. 

“I… I don’t know where to start.” 

“That’s okay!” Alexia jumped in. “You don’t need to know. We can take it one step at a time. We’ll get through this, hermanita, I promise.” 

The way Alexia was talking made your stomach twist. There was no ‘we’ here. Alexia didn’t close her eyes when she got dressed in the morning, didn’t turn her back to the mirror before she showered. She didn’t have to come up with excuses to go to the bathroom after a big meal, she didn’t know exactly how to move her food around her plate to look like she’d eaten more than she had. Alexia loved you, and you had no doubt that this was hurting her, but there was no comparison to what you’d been putting yourself through. Alexia couldn’t fix this for you, couldn’t even really fix it with you. It was something you had to entirely be committed to, recovery, something that would take strength from the deepest parts of you. Alexia couldn’t promise that you’d get through it. It wasn’t up to her.

You didn’t say any of that to your sister. What good would that have done? Instead, you dropped your head into your hands, and tried to breathe. You still couldn’t quite believe this was happening, and a part of you wished you’d wake up and it would all be some horrible dream, and no one would actually know. Another part of you, though, felt like sobbing in relief that someone had finally noticed. 

Unbeknownst to you, Alexia and Olga were having a silent conversation. Alexia wanted to drag you into the kitchen and make you eat lunch, since she was absolutely sure that you hadn’t had breakfast. She wanted to talk, and talk some more, and find you a therapist, and call her Mami and tell her what was going on. She wanted to do every little thing she could think of, because she was sure if she tried hard enough, she could control this enough for you to be okay.

Olga knew better. She looked at you and could tell that you were barely restraining yourself from curling up into a ball and crying. She knew trying to make you eat a full meal in the way Alexia intended to right now would push you too hard. She knew that you needed time and space to process and breathe. The brunette could see how easily you’d be overwhelmed here, and it was this knowledge that had her firmly telling Alexia what she was to do. 

“Go upstairs and shower. I’ve got her.” She whispered, kissing Alexia’s cheek softly. 

Her girlfriend looked at her in confusion, both of them exchanging a few glances before Alexia gave in. 

“Please try to get her to eat something.” The blonde whispered back, standing and beginning to head upstairs. She paused at your chair, opening her mouth to say something before thinking better of it. Instead, she just kissed the crown of your head and headed upstairs. 

Only once Olga heard the shower turn on upstairs did she finally move, walking around the coffee table and crouching in front of you. 

“Nena?” She called softly. 

You looked up apprehensively. 

“What do you need right now? You tell me, and that’s what we’ll do.” 

Control. Olga was giving you control, but you didn’t know what to do with it. You felt overwhelmingly lost, not even sure if you could put one foot in front of the other without someone telling you how to. 

“I… don’t know.” You replied, shrugging your shoulders. 

“That’s okay.” Olga assured you. “We don’t have to talk any more today, but I’d like you to try to eat something. It doesn’t have to be big, or a whole meal, but something. Is there anything you’d like?” 

No, there wasn’t, you wanted to snap. That was part of the problem. Instead of snapping, though, you found yourself thinking. “Protein shake?” You requested shakily. 

Olga nodded, smiling proudly at you. “Protein shake and a piece of toast, I think.” 

You found yourself agreeing, somehow, rising from your chair and following Olga into the kitchen. You tried to think of what would be worse; eating or talking. Both seemed like pretty abysmal choices, but Olga set your small meal down in front of you, and you knew there wasn’t really a choice. As quickly as it had been handed over to you, you felt the control slipping out of your grasp. The shower turned off upstairs, and you reached for the glass, bracing yourself for everything you were about to feel, and everything Alexia was probably about to say.

—

back in my two parter era. let me know what you all think :)

[ginkgooou]

MASTERLIST

hello! i've been on here for a while, but only recently started posting my work. i don't really know what i'm doing. requests and feedback are always welcome :)

Alexia Putellas

family trip

Jenni Hermoso

tattoos and tulips

belly cast

[ginkgooou]

belly cast | jenni hermoso

summary: on a solo trip to the store to escape jenni's hovering, you find a belly casting kit.

i was working on an alexia fic when i got the idea for this one. it got a lot longer than expected. feedback is always appreciated. english is not my first language.

4,542 words

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ever since you found out you were pregnant, jenni had been waiting on you hand and foot. she made sure you drank enough water, reminded you to eat, and insisted on carrying anything remotely heavy.

part of you appreciated her attentiveness - it was sweet how much jenni cared for both you and the baby. as your pregnancy progressed and sleepless nights paired with the constant aches in your body became part of your life, her support became something you valued even more.

however, as you neared your eight-month mark, her care became too much. she treated you like you were made of glass. you couldn't stand up without her rushing to help, and her eyes seemed to track your every move, ready to jump in if needed. while her intentions were undoubtedly loving, the constant hovering was not something you appreciated.

you needed some time alone. when you'd mentioned going to the store, just to grab a few last things for the nursery, jenni had immediately jumped in before you could even finish your sentence.

“i'll drive.” she said, already heading toward the door with the keys in hand. you tried not to let your frustration show.

“no,” you snapped, voice firmer than intended. “i'll go alone.”

jenni stopped mid-step, turning back to you with wide, concerned eyes. “but what if something happens? it's getting dark out. what if you get tired and can't drive back, or…or need me?”

you took a deep breath, trying to keep your irritation in check. “jenni, nothing will happen. it's just a quick trip.”

she hesitated, worry etched on her face. “i just want to make sure you're okay. i don't want to leave you alone.”

you smiled, but it didn't quite reach your eyes. “i know, and it's sweet how attentive you are. but i still need to do things for myself. right now, i just feel…useless. like i can't do anything without you.”

jenni looked torn. she understood that you needed this time for yourself. she knew she had been hovering, but your girlfriend couldn't help it, afraid that something would happen to you while you were alone.

after a long pause, she sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. “alright.” jenni reluctantly handed you the keys. “just call me if you need anything.”

with that, you were out the door, getting into the car and making the short 5-minute drive to the store.

you quickly got everything you needed, but, not quite ready to head home yet, you browsed aimlessly through the aisles. as your eyes moved over the shelves, something caught your attention. you stopped and picked it up - a belly casting kit.

you turned the packaging over and read through the description. intrigued, you decided to buy it, thinking it would be a cute thing to do with jenni and making for a sweet reminder of the pregnancy.

you quickly went to the checkout to pay for everything, then left the store and packed all your things into the car before heading home. after parking the car, you grabbed the bags from the trunk, about to close it when you heard the door open. turning toward the sound, you saw jenni hurrying down the steps, speed-walking over to you.

“i've got it!” she exclaimed while taking the bags out of your hands and rushing inside. a few seconds later, your girlfriend came running back, moving to your side and taking your hand to help you up the stairs. now that you had some time to calm down, you allowed her to take over and let her lead you into the building.

as you entered the hallway, you let go of jenni's hand to shrug out of your jacket. after you slipped off your shoes, your girlfriend led you into the living room, where she had already placed your bags next to the coffee table, and told you to sit down on the couch.

“i'll be right back.” jenni said, heading toward the kitchen. in the meantime, you pulled the bags closer to you, rummaging through them.

when jenni came back in the room with a glass of water in hand, she noticed the growing pile of baby clothes beside you on the couch. coming to a stop, she looked at the clothes and teased “so you're allowed to buy baby clothes, but i'm not? that is so unfair.”

you shot her a look over your shoulder. “unlike you, i buy things that are actually useful. if it were up to you, our baby would only own football kits.”

jenni laughed, set the glass down on the table and sat down beside you, pressing a kiss on your cheek. she watched as you continued to rummage through the bag at your feet, most of its contents now on the sofa.

“what are you doing?” you quickly glanced up at her question. “ i'm looking for something. i found it in the store and wanted to try it out, but i…”

“there it is!” you interrupted yourself, grabbing something out of the bag. you sat up and turned to jenni with a bright smile on your face, holding a box in your hands. your girlfriend looked at it, trying to figure out what it was. you handed the box over to her. “it's a belly casting kit. i thought it would be a fun thing to do together. and we can paint it!”

jenni looked over the kit, eyes flying over the description. then, she looked at you, an excited smile breaking out on her face. “it would be very cute. something to remember this whole journey by.” as she said that, she placed her free hand on your bump, stroking over it with her thumb.

you looked into her eyes, your hand moving to rest over hers. jenni put the box onto the couch behind her and shifted closer to you. “te amo” she said, her voice soft and filled with affection. closing the space between you, her lips brushed yours in a delicate kiss, pouring all her love into the kiss. as if she was telling you with every gentle brush of your lips how much you and your baby meant to her, how much she cherished this life you were building together.

eventually she pulled back, but staying close. her forehead rested against yours, looking at you as if you hung the moon. even after all this time together, you still got butterflies when she looked at you like that.

suddenly, you felt a strong kick, right where jenni’s hand rested on your bump. her eyes dropped to your stomach, a proud smile forming on her face. “that's right; a future striker in the making.” you shook your head, hand rubbing your stomach. “yeah, but it would be nice if she waited till after she was born to do that. i could do without constantly getting kicked.” “ah no, she needs to start early.” then, jenni moved her head closer to your baby bump, whispering loudly, “don't listen to your mama.”

you let go of jenni's hand and gently gave her a tap on the back of her head. the action made her gasp, pulling back and sitting up with an offended look. “it was an accident.” you said, holding your hands up innocently. “my hand slipped.” jenni raised an eyebrow. “of course.”

with a kiss, jenni let go of you and stood up, moving over to your other side and gathering the clothes, putting them back into the bags. meanwhile, you leaned forward and grabbed the glass of water off the table, taking a few sips.

then, you tried to stand up, quietly struggling with the large bump in the way. without a word, jenni moved over to you and held out her hand. you took it, albeit begrudgingly, mumbling about not needing the help as you got to your feet.

“i'm just going to take the glass back to the kitchen.” you said, giving jenni a look that told her to stay put. after walking into the kitchen and putting the empty glass in the sink, you turned to head back into the living room, but jenni was already standing in the doorway, blocking your path.

“do you need anything?” you asked, looking at her expectantly. she shook her head with a soft smile. “no, i just wanted to tell you i'm going to head upstairs and put the clothes in the laundry. are you all okay here alone?” “yes, go on up. i'll join you in a bit.” you told her, shooing her away.

after she left, you walked into the living room and grabbed the belly casting kit from the couch. after you had turned off the lights downstairs, you slowly made your way up the stairs, heading into the bedroom and placing the kit on your dresser.

pulling open the closet, you grabbed one of your -jenni's - shirts and a pair of maternity shorts. sitting on the edge of the bed, you quickly got changed. as you tugged the shirt over your head, jenni walked in.

“do you need anything else or are you all set?” she asked, watching you. “just need to go to the bathroom real quick.” you replied, getting up and heading into the en-suite.

when you returned, jenni was already sprawled out on the bed, wearing nothing but a sport’s bra and boxer shorts, watching tv. your eyes fell on her toned abs, a familiar heat stirring inside you. you tried your hardest to tear your eyes away, looking up at her face instead.

jenni had, of course, noticed your gaze. she smirked, her voice teasing. “see something you like?” you rolled your eyes, refusing to give her the satisfaction of an answer. instead, you moved over to your side of the bed and slipped under the covers, cuddling up to your girlfriend.

your eyes fell on the box on the dresser, and you turned toward jenni. “when do you want to make the belly cast?” jenni hummed in thought. “we could do it on friday. i don't have a game this weekend, so i got the day off.”

“sounds good.” you agreed, sinking into a comfortable silence as you both turned your attention back to the movie. the exhaustion from the day slowly caught up to you, and by the time the credits rolled, you were fast asleep.

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friday came around quickly. you woke up to the sound of jenni moving around the room, getting ready for her morning workout. you groaned, still half-asleep, and cracked one eye open to see her tying her hair into a ponytail, her gym clothes already on.

hearing you groan, jenni turned around and came over to the bed, leaning down to give you a soft kiss on the forehead. “go back to sleep.” she whispered. “i'm just going to go train.”

you mumbled something incoherent, still mostly asleep. she just chuckled and brushed a strand of hair from your face. “sleep, hermosa. i'll make breakfast when i'm done.”

with that, she grabbed her phone from the nightstand and headed out the door, leaving you to drift back into sleep as she went downstairs to the home gym.

a few hours later, you woke up again, stretching as you sat up. making your way downstairs, the smell of breakfast greeted you. when you walked into the kitchen, you saw jenni, her hair still damp from the shower, making breakfast. a smile lit up her face when she saw you enter.

“good morning, amor.” she said, setting down a plate filled with food and a glass of juice on the table. she, then, came over and gave you a quick kiss. “come, sit. breakfast is ready.”

“morning, love.” you replied, taking your seat, and began to eat. a few minutes later, your girlfriend joined you with her own plate. as she sat down beside you, her hand brushed affectionately over your baby bump. you enjoyed a relaxed breakfast together, chatting comfortably.

jenni mentioned that she had a scheduled phone call with her manager at 11:00. given that the belly cast would take some time, she suggested doing it after lunch, having the entire afternoon free.

after finishing breakfast, you went upstairs to change while jenni cleaned up the kitchen.

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after lunch, jenni ran up into the bedroom to get the belly casting kit, telling you to sit down on the couch. when she came back down, your girlfriend put the box on the table and opened it, revealing its contents. grabbing the instructions, she sat on the ground and carefully read through them.

“okay!” she suddenly sprang up. “first things first, we need space.” attempting to stand up, jenni quickly came over to you and gently pushed you back down on the couch. “no, i'll do it. you just sit here and look pretty.” she went back to the table and pushed it out of the way, then rolled up the carpet and shoved it in a corner. you watched from the couch, not surprised that your girlfriend was taking charge, but still slightly annoyed.

taking the instructions again, she continued. “protect the floor with plastic wraps or old sheets…” jenni hummed in thought. she darted upstairs, your eyes following her as you chuckled at her behavior. she came back down with old sheets from the linen closet, laying them on the floor and smoothing them out to cover the entire area where you'd be working. she also threw one of her old training pants onto the couch next to you.

wanting to help, you spoke, “baby, i'm bored. isn't there anything that i can do?” jenni looked over to you, her face softening. reading over the instructions, she said “hm, you can get a bowl and fill it with warm water… and maybe change into the pants.” grateful for something to do, you headed into the kitchen, pulling out a large bowl from the cupboard and filling it with warm water at the sink.

as you carried the bowl back into the living room, jenni looked up from her preparations and smiled. “perfect.” she said, taking the bowl from you and kissing your cheek before placing the water on the sheets on the floor.

then, she sat back down by the coffee table and continued what she was doing before you came in. as you walked closer, you noticed that she had emptied the box and was cutting the plaster strips. sensing your curiosity, she glanced up and explained, “i'm just cutting them into smaller pieces to make it easier to apply to your bump.” your girlfriend gestured toward the piece of paper next to her. “it says on here to cut about 20 of them.” with a nod over her shoulder, she added, “amor, sit back down. i'm nearly done.” you complied, taking a seat on the couch again and grabbing the training pants, changing into them while jenni cut the rest of the strips.

when she was finished, she put away the remaining materials and moved over to where you were sitting. “alright,” she said, stopping in front of you and offering her hand to help you up. as you stood, she guided you over to the sheets laid out on the floor. “do you want to do it standing or sitting? it might take us an hour to make it.” you considered the options before replying, “i think i'm good standing.” jenni nodded, searching your eyes for any hint of uncertainty. “if you're sure.”

she briefly left you to walk over to the table and pick up the instructions. reading over them, a giddy smile spread on her face. “ah! now it gets to my favorite part.” looking up at you and seeing your questioning look, she read aloud, “apply the vaseline…”

jenni gathered the bottle of vaseline and the plaster strips, returning to your side. she placed the instructions and strips on the ground beside the bowl, holding onto the vaseline with a cheeky grin. “you'll need to take off your shirt and bra.”

you complied with a disbelieving shake of your head, but unable to suppress a smile at jenni's behavior. as you unhooked your bra and tossed your clothes behind you onto the couch, you felt jenni's eyes eagerly roam over the exposed skin, clearly appreciating the sight.

she stepped closer, her free hand moving to gently rest on your bump while her gaze locked with yours, eyes filled with adoration. “you're so beautiful.” she murmured softly.

before you could respond, she dipped her head and pressed her lips to yours in a lingering kiss. she reluctantly pulled back, a soft smile tugging at her lips as she opened the vaseline. “ok,” she said. “let’s get started.”

she paused for a moment, tilting her head thoughtfully. “do you want to just do the bump or also the chest?” you considered it briefly before answering. “let's do both.”

jenni grinned, her eyes lighting up. “i was hoping you'd say that.” with that, she dipped her fingers into the vaseline, gently applying it to your skin, starting at your chest and then moving down to your belly, making sure every inch was properly covered. her touch was soft and delicate, making sure to spread it evenly and thick enough.

once she finished, she wiped her hands on the sheets and reached for the instructions. “bien, next step.” she muttered, quickly scanning the page. “apply the plaster strips…we have to move fast or it'll dry and get uneven.” she set the paper down, moving the bowl of water and strips closer to you.

jenni grabbed a strip from the pile, holding it between her hands, and dipped it carefully into the bowl. “here we go.” she said, voice soft, as she placed the wet strip across your chest. “is the temperature okay?” your girlfriend asked, looking at you with concern. you nodded, offering a small smile. “it's perfect.”

focusing back on the task at hand, jenni smoothed the strip down, ensuring it clung properly to your skin. she continued, dipping and applying each strip carefully, her brows furrowed in concentration. despite her best efforts to keep everything clean, the process quickly turned messy, with droplets of water and plaster dripping onto the sheets and your clothes, and leaving her hands in white residue.

as she worked her way down your belly, she got down on her knees, focusing on the lower part of your bump. every few moments, she glanced up at you, checking in. “everything okay?” every time you gave her a reassuring smile and nodded. “everything's good.”

after applying the final strip, jenni sat back on her heels, wiping her forehead with the back of her arm. “i'm done.” she said, looking over her work with a satisfied grin. “now, we just need to let it dry for a few minutes before we can take it off.”

she stood up and stretched before heading to the kitchen. “i'll just wash my hands real quick.” your girlfriend called over her shoulder. you watched her disappear around the corner, hearing the sound of running water followed by clinking glass. soon enough, she returned with a glass of water, and handed it to you.

once you'd taken a few sips, jenni crouched back down in front of you. “i think it should be dry enough. let's take it off.” resting her hands on either side of the cast, she told you, “just wiggle around a little. that should loosen it up.”

following jenni's instructions, you wiggled slightly, feeling the cast begin to loosen. jenni gently tugged, carefully removing it. “now, we just need a place to set it down and let it dry.” she said, looking around the room. she, then moved over to a cabinet next to the tv and asked, “could you get me a towel?”

you headed into the kitchen, grabbing a fresh dish towel, and returned to the living room, spreading it out on the cabinet. jenni then carefully placed the belly cast on top.

with the cast safely put away, jenni began cleaning up. you grabbed your shirt and headed to the downstairs bathroom to remove the last traces of plaster and vaseline from your skin. after slipping on your shirt, you went back to help jenni.

by the time you returned, she had already dealt with the dirty sheets and cleaned the floor. she was about to carry the water bowl to the kitchen when you stepped in, saying, “i can do it.” you took the bowl and walked into the kitchen, pouring the water down the sink. when you came back, jenni had already rolled the carpet back out and was just moving the coffee table back in its place.

with everything back to its original place, you headed upstairs into the bedroom, changing into fresh clothes. the rest of the evening was spent cuddled up on the couch, watching tv.

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on sunday, after the cast had finally dried you and jenni - mostly jenni - set up a makeshift painting station on the coffee table. you spread old newspaper across the whole table and carefully placed the cast in the center. around it, you laid out an array of paints, sponges and brushes, in various sizes and colors.

with everything at the ready, you both sat down on the ground, mustering the cast, trying to figure out what to paint. “you're the artist, so you decide what we paint.” jenni said, glancing at you with an expectant smile. “so, what do you think?”

you pondered for a moment and decided, “i think some pastel colors would be cute - maybe blue and pink? we could add a few butterflies and swirls - keeping it simple.”

jenni considered this, nodding slowly, looking between you and the cast. “it would be cute. but you know what would also look really pretty?”, she asked, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. “footballs.”

you shot her a flat look. “we are not making it football-themed.” your girlfriend pouted, clearly not ready to give up. “but amor, it would be perfect! football is in her blood!”

you tried to suppress a smile, but jenni quickly caught it. “aha! you smiled! just admit it - my idea is good.” “no, jenni. why ask me to decide when you've already made up your mind?” you replied in a playful tone.

your girlfriend groaned. “i'm just saying!” she tried to defend herself, but decided to give in. ”but your idea is better, as always. let's go with that.” you chuckled and gave her thigh a light pat. “now that's what i wanted to hear.”

turning your focus to the supplies spread on the table, you picked up two sponges, handing one to jenni. “we'll make the background pastel, and use the sponges. that'll make it look like clouds.” you explained while sifting through the paints. grabbing blue and pink, you passed the pink to jenni with a smile. “you're going to make pink clouds.”

then, you squeezed some paint onto your palette, dipping your sponge in. jenni watched you carefully, copying your actions. she watched you as you pressed the sponge onto the cast, forming the first cloud. after a moment, she looked down at her own sponge, covered in pink paint, and gently patted it against the surface, creating her own cloud next to yours.

you stayed silent, the both of you focused on painting, but it didn't take long for jenni to get bored. without warning, your girlfriend slid her sponge across your arm, the cool paint catching you off guard.

“jenni!” you said, shooting her a disapproving look. “stop that.”

she just gave you the most innocent look. “i didn't do anything.” she said, going back to painting like nothing happened.

you shook your head at her antics, but weren't about to let her actions slide. with a smirk, you swiped your own sponge across her cheek, leaving a streak of blue paint behind.

jenni gasped, her hand flying to her cheek. “oh, you did not just do that.” eyes wide in disbelief. without missing a beat, she grabbed her sponge and smeared it across your forehead.

this quickly escalated into a full-blown paint war. after a lot of laughter and colorful swipes, you settled down, skin now covered in blue and pink color. you, then, went back to painting the cast, finishing the background in record time.

you took a quick break, waiting for the paint to dry before moving on. during this time, jenni brought over some water and snacks for the both of you. once the layer was dry, you prepared for the next step: butterflies. you picked out a few colors that complemented the background and grabbed a few thin brushes.

turning to your girlfriend, you began to explain, “now, we'll paint the butterflies. it's really simple and i'll show you how.” you picked up one of the thinner brushes and dipped it in black paint. “start with the outline and we'll add the details later.”

as you demonstrated, jenni watched intently, observing your movements as you painted a butterfly with ease. you handed her the brush with a smile. “your turn.”

jenni took the brush hesitantly, dipping it in paint before attempting her own butterfly. her attempt looked more like an abstract shape than a butterfly. not happy with the result, she whined, “it looks so easy when you do it.”

seeing her frustration, you offered a solution. “how about you paint some swirls?” you handed her the white paint, demonstrating a simple swirl. “try this. it's easier and still looks nice.”

jenni hesitantly tried again, and the swirls turned out way better than the butterfly. she looked at her work proudly. “this looks pretty good, if i do say so myself.” she said, her smile wide and satisfied.

you both continued painting in silence. after a while, you glanced over at your girlfriend's work and noticed her just finishing up a tiny football in the corner. clearing your throat to get her attention, you said, “i thought we agreed no footballs?”

jenni chuckled nervously, giving you a sheepish grin. “..did we really? i can't remember.”

you raised an eyebrow but smiled, deciding to let it slide for once. “fine, if you really want, you can add a few.” jenni's face lit up, eagerly adding more tiny footballs all across the cast. when she was finished, she looked over at you, seeing that you were still in the middle of painting the last butterflies.

she shifted around until she was behind you, wrapping her arms around you and resting her head on your shoulder. feeling her body press against yours, you turned and leaned in for a quick kiss. humming in content, she nuzzled into your neck while you continued with the finishing touches.

with a few more brushstrokes, you completed the last butterfly and leaned back into your girlfriend. admiring your joined work, you said, “it turned out perfect. don't you think?” jenni nodded, her eyes shining with pride. “absolutely.” after a moment, she added softly, “today has been perfect…and you are perfect. te amo.”

you smiled, feeling a surge of warmth and affection. “i love you, too.” you replied, intertwining your fingers with hers and giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

[ginkgooou]

tattoos and tulips | jenni hermoso

summary: jenni surprises you with a new tattoo, reminding you of how you first met.

hi :) this was my first time writing, so please bear with me. english is not my first language.

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you loved your work, and most of your friends and family affectionately called you a workaholic. normally, you started work at 7:30 and finished at around 5:00, but today, your boss had essentially banned you from working, insisting that you take the day off.

it might have been a better start to your day if jenni hadn't had an early-morning interview, which meant you didn't get to see her until she came home from training in the late afternoon. you vaguely remembered waking up to her kissing your cheek and whispering “goodbye, mi amor” before she left the apartment and you drifted back to sleep.

after sleeping in and grabbing breakfast at the little café around the corner, you found yourself lying on the sofa, scrolling through your phone. It wasn't as if you weren’t productive at all - you had already tidied the rooms, done the laundry and taken a short trip to the grocery store. but now, there was nothing left to do.

you were doom-scrolling through tiktok for what felt like hours when you glanced at the clock and realized it was already past 5:00. confusion settled in. jenni usually came home by 4:30, and you couldn't remember her mentioning any plans after training. it was strange that she hadn't texted you either, something she always did. worried, you decided to call her.

just as you were about to press her contact, you heard keys jingling, and a moment later the door swung open.

jenni stepped through, dressed in training shorts and a loose shirt, her hair down, and her training bag slung over one shoulder. from the sofa, you watched as she kicked off her shoes and tossed her bag on the floor. when her eyes met yours, a wide grin spread across her face.

“hola, bonita. how was your day?” she asked, walking over to the couch and sitting down and moving your head on her lap. jenni gently ran her fingers through your hair, placing a kiss on top of your head. closing your eyes and relaxing under her touch, it took you a moment to respond.

“it was good. not much to do…i slept in and spent most of the day here.” you said. jenni hummed and playfully tapped your nose, making you open your eyes.

“i didn't know you were capable of having a lazy day.” she teased with a cheeky smile.

you sat up and frowned at her. “of course i can have a lazy day!” then you added quietly, "i did tidy up a little and went grocery shopping”

“por supuesto” jenni murmured, scooting closer to you, clearly not happy with the distance between you. “i missed you, amor” she cupped your cheeks and began peppering kisses all over your face. when she seemed satisfied, she pulled back slightly and looked into your eyes. you could see the love in her gaze as her thumb gently stroked your cheek.

once again, jenni leaned in, her eyes drifting to your lips before she kissed you softly.

as much as you wanted to lose yourself in the feel of her lips on yours, you couldn't shake your curiosity. “baby…” you started, trying to pull back, but jenni's hands held you in place. you tried again, “baby, please”

finally, she let go, dropping her hands into her lap and giving you a questioning look. “que pasa?”

“why did you come home so late? i thought training ended at 4:00”

“sí, it did, but I stayed for extra training. then rafa called me, so I had to talk to him.” with that, she went back to kissing you.

you shared a few more kisses before you pulled back and nudged jenni playfully, “go shower. you stink.”

jenni clutched her chest in mock offense. “ay! i do not stink”

you laughed as she pouted, sticking out her lower lip. you stood up and headed toward the kitchen to start dinner. just as you entered the kitchen, you felt jenni's arms wrapping around your waist and lifting you off the ground.

“jenni!”, you squealed, laughing.

“sí, that is my name.” she replied cheekily, but set you back down, keeping her arms wrapped around you tightly. “what are you making for dinner?” jenni asked, pressing a kiss to your shoulder and walking you over to the counter.

“i thought I'd make lasagna.”

jenni hummed in approval and nuzzled her face into your neck. her hands, which now rested on your waist, started to wander. she toyed with the hem of your shirt and eventually slipped them under. her fingers, tracing paths up and down your sides, made goosebumps appear on your skin. you could feel her press open-mouthed kisses against your neck.

knowing you'd get distracted if she kept going, you turned around, putting your hands on jenni's stomach to push her back.

to your surprise, she flinched slightly at the touch.

“what's wrong? did i hurt you?” you immediately moved closer, concerned, but she stepped back.

"es nada!” jenni quickly replied, though her reaction only piqued your curiosity.

“jennifer” you said more firmly, “tell me what's wrong.”

avoiding your eyes, jenni mumbled something you couldn't quite catch, fidgeting with her fingers.

“what did you say?” you asked, stepping closer again.

eventually, she met your eyes and sighed “i may have lied about what i did after training.”

you didn't say anything, waiting for her to continue.

jenni took a deep breath. “i got a new tattoo.”

you blinked. that wasn't surprising - you knew jenni loved tattoos - but you didn't understand why she'd lie about it.

“okay…but why wouldn't you tell me?”

jenni looked sheepish, an expression so unlike her. “well…” she hesitated, her voice softening, “it's a tattoo for you. i wanted it to be a surprise, but wanted to wait for it to heal before showing you.”

your heart skipped a beat. jenni had gotten a tattoo for you. you knew that she had a lot of tattoos for people that are important to her, but you couldn't quite believe that she had gotten one for you.

jenni shifted nervously under your gaze. the longer you stayed silent, the more uneasy she became. you gently took her hand and squeezed it, offering a smile.

“you really got one for me? what is it? where?”

jenni visibly relaxed at your reaction, a smile spreading across her face. “sí, i got it for you. you are the most important person in my life.” she stepped back slightly, lifting her shirt to reveal her ribcage. just below her heart were three yellow tulips, the skin around them still red.

"it's tulips. yellow ones. to remind me of how we first met.”

jenni continued talking, but you were barely listening. a warm and fuzzy feeling enveloped you, and you couldn't help but wonder what you did to deserve someone like her. jenni's small and big gestures, like this tattoo, made you fall even more for her.

at the same time, you couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed at the reminder of how your first meeting went down.

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it hadn't been a good day for jenni. she had overslept and rushed to training without breakfast. arriving late meant extra laps in the heat and to make matters worse, her performance on the pitch was terrible. her passes were off, and she was frustrated.

all she wanted was to go home and watch some mindless tv, but she had to pick up a present for a friend's birthday party. so she found herself walking through a park, with her head down, hoping no one would notice her.

of course, jenni’s wish wasn't granted today. out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone walking straight toward her, stopping right in front of jenni. with a resigned sigh, she looked up and forced a smile.

you stood there, shorter than her, looking shy but determined. there was something endearing about you. though jenni wasn't really in the mood to talk to anyone, curiosity got the better of her. ”hola?”

you cleared your throat nervously. “if i had a garden, i would put our tulips together” you thrust a yellow tulip toward her, looking mortified.

jenni stared at the flower, then at you, her brain momentarily short-circuiting. she blinked, then burst into laughter - genuine, uncontrollable laughter. it wasn't the reaction you were expecting, and you stood there, frozen, still holding out the flower.

when jenni's laughter finally subsided, she smiled warmly. “that was…weird. but it made my day a little better. thank you.”

you blushed deeply, mumbling, “happy to help. i'm sorry for bothering you.”

with nithing more to add, you turned to leave. not wanting the conversation to end just yet, jenni quickly thought of something to say. settling back into her usual confident self, she let a playful smile spread across her face “well, before we put our tulips together, we should get to know each other. how about we go out sometime?”

turning back around at her words, you now held a wide-eyed expression. you stammered for a moment, before managing to respond, “i–uh…i mean…okay?”

jenni grinned, delighted. “great. i know a café. are you free on saturday?”

“yes!”, you answered eagerly, before clearing your throat and repeating more calmly, ”yes, i'm free on saturday.”

“perfect!” jenni replied, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she watched you blush. “can i have your number? i'll text you the address and we can figure out the time.”

scrambling to unlock your phone, you handed it to jenni. she quickly added her contact info, texting herself before returning the phone to you.

just then, jenni's own phone buzzed, reminding her she had to get going. with a quick “goodbye” and a small wave, you went your separate ways.

for the rest of the day, whenever jenni thought about the encounter, a smile tugged at her lips.

-----------------------------

you and jenni did indeed meet up at the café and you hit it off right away. while you were still a bit awkward, jenni was confident.

a few weeks passed, and you met up whenever you could. when you weren’t together in person, you texted constantly. you both found yourselves falling in love quickly. so when Jenni asked you to be her girlfriend, the decision was an easy one.

after a few months of dating, you finally let it slip that approaching her in the park had been a dare from your friends. when you told her, she laughed and said “i'm happy they made you do it. it makes for a funny story”

“yeah well, it was embarrassing. and the fact that you tell everyone about it doesn't help!” you replied with a pout.

now she had a permanent reminder of that first encounter tattooed on her skin. studying the tattoo, you had to admit it was beautifully done, and the thought jenni had put behind it warmed your heart, despite the embarrassing backstory.

“can I touch it?” you hovered your finger over the fresh ink, looking up at jenni for permission.

"it's still healing, so no, lo siento.” she said apologetically, “but do you like it?”

“i love it.” you said with a smile. “it's beautiful.”

jenni grinned at your words and couldn't resist leaning in for a quick kiss. letting her shirt fall back down, she put her hands on your waist, gently backing you up against the counter. her eyes were filled with love as she murmured, “te quiero mucho”

she began kissing you, her kisses growing deeper and more passionate. soon, her tongue swiped over your bottom lip, seeking entrance, which you granted without hesitation.

the two of you got lost in the moment, wrapped up in each other, until a sudden rumble from jenni's stomach interrupted the mood. she pulled back, looking sheepish at the noise, while you just smiled and patted her stomach.

“i think someone’s hungry.” you teased, “go shower and i'll start on dinner.”