millyh23

[millyh23]

Send through some quick fic requests I can get done in the meantime

[millyh23]

Right I have the list of players there will be 9 different dates with the requested players and a final date with the player who got the most requests

[millyh23]

Got a lot of different players to use for the new story and I have decide to use them all for multiple dates so if you have any left in mind send them through or send a player and reason for which should be the final partner

[millyh23]

i also want to get back into posting regularly so send any requests through and ill put out some shortish fics around 1k-2k words

[millyh23]

This is the start of the story let me know if you have any players in mind for the next part

Lonely Nights Part 1

word count: 1k

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

The Arsenal training facility, transformed into a haven of festive cheer for the annual Christmas party, hummed with the soft strains of holiday music. Strings of fairy lights draped over every surface twinkled against the warm, fragrant air, suffused with the scent of pine and mulled wine. Laughter and cheerful exchanges punctuated the room, where teammates and staff mingled, sharing intimate moments with their partners in a tableau of connection and joy.

Y/N stood apart near the drinks table, a glass of sparkling water in hand. Her choice, long removed from alcohol, symbolized the discipline that had carried her to this point—an illustrious career punctuated by Champions League triumphs, Ballon d’Or nominations, and records with Arsenal and her national team. On paper, she was the epitome of success.

Yet, as her gaze drifted across the room, a subtle disquiet settled over her. Katie leaned casually, her arm draped around Caitlin’s shoulders as they laughed at Kyra's story. Leah twirled her girlfriend on an impromptu dance floor, their faces alight with shared delight. Even Lina lingered in a private corner with her wife and kids, their quiet intimacy a stark counterpoint to the festive clamor.

Y/N sipped her water and turned her attention elsewhere, managing a polite smile as Beth waved her over. “Enjoying yourself?” Beth asked as she settled beside her.

“Always,” Y/N replied lightly. “You?”

Beth’s face softened as her gaze drifted to Viv, animated in conversation with Lia. “It’s nice to unwind, especially with Viv leaving. This year’s been… challenging but I'm just glad she's home for a while”

“I’m glad you have her,” Y/N said, her sincerity unblemished by the peculiar ache the sentiment left behind.

Beth’s smile lingered, though her scrutiny deepened. “And you? Anyone special waiting under the mistletoe?” she teased, nudging Y/N with playful insistence.

Y/N’s laugh came easily, but her response betrayed nothing. “Just me, myself, and I.”

Beth’s humor dimmed into faint concern, but before she could probe further, Viv called her over. Y/N waved her away, maintaining her outward cheer as Beth departed. The hollowed quiet that followed left Y/N pondering her solitude.

Relationships, once peripheral, now loomed in sharper relief. She had known fleeting affections, impermanent and inconsequential. Football’s supremacy in her life had obviated deeper bonds, and she had convinced herself that her singular focus sufficed. Yet, surrounded by the tactile, tangible affections of her teammates, the absence of such intimacy struck a discordant note.

Seeking solace, she wandered to the expansive window overlooking the frost-tinged training grounds. Reflected in the glass was the image she had cultivated over years: poised, resolute, and self-sufficient. Yet, in the faint shimmer of unshed tears, she glimpsed a vulnerability that had eluded her reckoning.

The frost-dappled grass outside seemed to mirror her inner state, serene yet cold, beautiful yet devoid of warmth. Memories of her youth surfaced—days spent running drills with unrelenting fervor, nights studying game footage while her peers pursued youthful indiscretions. Every sacrifice had carved her path to greatness, but at what cost? The accolades lining her shelves were mute witnesses to a life devoted to singular ambition, but now, they felt hollow without someone to share in their glory.

“You alright?” Leah’s voice, uncharacteristically subdued, interrupted her reverie.

Y/N turned, her practiced composure quickly restored. “Just needed a moment,” she said, her tone carefully modulated.

Leah joined her at the window, her posture relaxed but her concern evident. “It’s a lot sometimes, isn’t it? All the… togetherness.”

Y/N’s laugh was faintly sardonic. “Not exactly my area of expertise.”

Leah’s expression softened. “You’ve got us, though. Don’t forget that.”

“I know,” Y/N replied quietly. “And I’m grateful. But sometimes it feels like I’ve spent so much time chasing dreams that I’ve forgotten to leave space for anything else.”

Leah remained silent, then offered a gentle nudge with her shoulder. “You’ve got time. And we’ve got faith in you. Maybe this is just the beginning of something new.”

For the first time that evening, Y/N smiled with unguarded warmth. “Maybe.”

The night unfolded with renewed vigor. Y/N allowed herself to be drawn into the festivities, her laughter genuine as she engaged with her teammates. She joined a spirited debate over Christmas trivia, shared a dance with a giggling Beth, and even let Katie convince her to wear a ridiculous Santa hat for a group photo. Yet, as she returned to her quiet flat that evening, the stillness carried an unfamiliar weight. Facing her reflection once more, she resolved to confront the void she had long ignored.

The days that followed saw subtle shifts in Y/N’s demeanor. At training, her focus remained sharp, but there was a new openness in her interactions. She lingered in conversations, laughed more freely, and even joined a team lunch unprompted. Still, the nagging sense of incompleteness lingered.

Two days later, in the locker room after training, the team launched their ambush. Katie, her grin equal parts mischief and determination, crossed her arms as she delivered the proclamation. “Y/N, we’ve decided to set you up on a date.”

“What?” Y/N asked, her incredulity evident.

“You don’t get a say,” Leah interjected, her stance casual but her tone resolute. “We’ve seen you moping, and we’re not having it.”

“I don’t mope,” Y/N protested, her reddening cheeks undermining her argument.

Beth raised an eyebrow, her skepticism plain. “Right. Look, you’ve mastered football, but even the best need someone to share it with. Trust us on this.”

Y/N hesitated, her gaze flickering across the eager, teasing faces of her teammates. Their camaraderie was infectious, their concern genuine. For years, she had prided herself on her independence, but in that moment, she realized that accepting help didn’t diminish her strength—it complemented it.

“You’re relentless.”

Katie smirked triumphantly. “So, that’s a yes?”

After a long pause, Y/N exhaled a resigned sigh. “Fine. One date. But if it’s a disaster, I’m never listening to any of you again.”

The room erupted in cheers, and Katie clapped her hands. “Oh, it won’t be. We’ve got someone perfect in mind.”

As the team dissolved into excited scheming, Y/N couldn’t suppress a quiet laugh. Perhaps relinquishing control, for once, might yield something worthwhile. The prospect of exploring a new chapter, however uncertain, brought an unexpected lightness to her step as she left the locker room, her teammates’ laughter echoing behind her.

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

The End of Part 1

[millyh23]

Lonely Nights Part 1

word count: 1k

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

The Arsenal training facility, transformed into a haven of festive cheer for the annual Christmas party, hummed with the soft strains of holiday music. Strings of fairy lights draped over every surface twinkled against the warm, fragrant air, suffused with the scent of pine and mulled wine. Laughter and cheerful exchanges punctuated the room, where teammates and staff mingled, sharing intimate moments with their partners in a tableau of connection and joy.

Y/N stood apart near the drinks table, a glass of sparkling water in hand. Her choice, long removed from alcohol, symbolized the discipline that had carried her to this point—an illustrious career punctuated by Champions League triumphs, Ballon d’Or nominations, and records with Arsenal and her national team. On paper, she was the epitome of success.

Yet, as her gaze drifted across the room, a subtle disquiet settled over her. Katie leaned casually, her arm draped around Caitlin’s shoulders as they laughed at Kyra's story. Leah twirled her girlfriend on an impromptu dance floor, their faces alight with shared delight. Even Lina lingered in a private corner with her wife and kids, their quiet intimacy a stark counterpoint to the festive clamor.

Y/N sipped her water and turned her attention elsewhere, managing a polite smile as Beth waved her over. “Enjoying yourself?” Beth asked as she settled beside her.

“Always,” Y/N replied lightly. “You?”

Beth’s face softened as her gaze drifted to Viv, animated in conversation with Lia. “It’s nice to unwind, especially with Viv leaving. This year’s been… challenging but I'm just glad she's home for a while”

“I’m glad you have her,” Y/N said, her sincerity unblemished by the peculiar ache the sentiment left behind.

Beth’s smile lingered, though her scrutiny deepened. “And you? Anyone special waiting under the mistletoe?” she teased, nudging Y/N with playful insistence.

Y/N’s laugh came easily, but her response betrayed nothing. “Just me, myself, and I.”

Beth’s humor dimmed into faint concern, but before she could probe further, Viv called her over. Y/N waved her away, maintaining her outward cheer as Beth departed. The hollowed quiet that followed left Y/N pondering her solitude.

Relationships, once peripheral, now loomed in sharper relief. She had known fleeting affections, impermanent and inconsequential. Football’s supremacy in her life had obviated deeper bonds, and she had convinced herself that her singular focus sufficed. Yet, surrounded by the tactile, tangible affections of her teammates, the absence of such intimacy struck a discordant note.

Seeking solace, she wandered to the expansive window overlooking the frost-tinged training grounds. Reflected in the glass was the image she had cultivated over years: poised, resolute, and self-sufficient. Yet, in the faint shimmer of unshed tears, she glimpsed a vulnerability that had eluded her reckoning.

The frost-dappled grass outside seemed to mirror her inner state, serene yet cold, beautiful yet devoid of warmth. Memories of her youth surfaced—days spent running drills with unrelenting fervor, nights studying game footage while her peers pursued youthful indiscretions. Every sacrifice had carved her path to greatness, but at what cost? The accolades lining her shelves were mute witnesses to a life devoted to singular ambition, but now, they felt hollow without someone to share in their glory.

“You alright?” Leah’s voice, uncharacteristically subdued, interrupted her reverie.

Y/N turned, her practiced composure quickly restored. “Just needed a moment,” she said, her tone carefully modulated.

Leah joined her at the window, her posture relaxed but her concern evident. “It’s a lot sometimes, isn’t it? All the… togetherness.”

Y/N’s laugh was faintly sardonic. “Not exactly my area of expertise.”

Leah’s expression softened. “You’ve got us, though. Don’t forget that.”

“I know,” Y/N replied quietly. “And I’m grateful. But sometimes it feels like I’ve spent so much time chasing dreams that I’ve forgotten to leave space for anything else.”

Leah remained silent, then offered a gentle nudge with her shoulder. “You’ve got time. And we’ve got faith in you. Maybe this is just the beginning of something new.”

For the first time that evening, Y/N smiled with unguarded warmth. “Maybe.”

The night unfolded with renewed vigor. Y/N allowed herself to be drawn into the festivities, her laughter genuine as she engaged with her teammates. She joined a spirited debate over Christmas trivia, shared a dance with a giggling Beth, and even let Katie convince her to wear a ridiculous Santa hat for a group photo. Yet, as she returned to her quiet flat that evening, the stillness carried an unfamiliar weight. Facing her reflection once more, she resolved to confront the void she had long ignored.

The days that followed saw subtle shifts in Y/N’s demeanor. At training, her focus remained sharp, but there was a new openness in her interactions. She lingered in conversations, laughed more freely, and even joined a team lunch unprompted. Still, the nagging sense of incompleteness lingered.

Two days later, in the locker room after training, the team launched their ambush. Katie, her grin equal parts mischief and determination, crossed her arms as she delivered the proclamation. “Y/N, we’ve decided to set you up on a date.”

“What?” Y/N asked, her incredulity evident.

“You don’t get a say,” Leah interjected, her stance casual but her tone resolute. “We’ve seen you moping, and we’re not having it.”

“I don’t mope,” Y/N protested, her reddening cheeks undermining her argument.

Beth raised an eyebrow, her skepticism plain. “Right. Look, you’ve mastered football, but even the best need someone to share it with. Trust us on this.”

Y/N hesitated, her gaze flickering across the eager, teasing faces of her teammates. Their camaraderie was infectious, their concern genuine. For years, she had prided herself on her independence, but in that moment, she realized that accepting help didn’t diminish her strength—it complemented it.

“You’re relentless.”

Katie smirked triumphantly. “So, that’s a yes?”

After a long pause, Y/N exhaled a resigned sigh. “Fine. One date. But if it’s a disaster, I’m never listening to any of you again.”

The room erupted in cheers, and Katie clapped her hands. “Oh, it won’t be. We’ve got someone perfect in mind.”

As the team dissolved into excited scheming, Y/N couldn’t suppress a quiet laugh. Perhaps relinquishing control, for once, might yield something worthwhile. The prospect of exploring a new chapter, however uncertain, brought an unexpected lightness to her step as she left the locker room, her teammates’ laughter echoing behind her.

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

The End of Part 1

[millyh23]

writing a new story currently and was wondering if you guys had a player in mind as the love intrest let me know who you'd like

[millyh23]

Hi dear all,

I’m reaching out to let you know that I’m currently dealing with an issue regarding the tagging of my fics, which is preventing them from showing up in the tags where they should be. Unfortunately, this has been an ongoing problem across my previous account as well, and I’m actively trying to find a solution.

Because of this, the fics I’m uploading now will only be visible on my account. I’ll still include them in my masterlist, but there's a high chance you won’t see them through other blogs. I really appreciate your understanding, and I encourage you to check my masterlist to stay updated on any new fics!

This situation is quite frustrating, and I’m doing my best to resolve it as soon as possible.

If you could help by reblogging this post, it would really help spread the word to more people!

And for those interested, here's the link to my latest fic, which didn’t appear in the tags: The Bookstore Café

Thank you so much for your support!

[millyh23]

Ok it’s done I’m hooked I need the next parts ASAP

One of the best fics I’ve read in a while

learning curve

alexia putellas x reader [& r's nephew] r gets custody of her 5 year old nephew when her brother gets into trouble. alexia insists on sticking around even though r gives her an out. it's a new and entirely stressful situation for r, but alexia makes it a bit easier. fluff, angst, etc. this is a kidfic.

—

How was it possible? That the most ordinary of days could be just one phone call away from shattering life as you knew it. 

You should have known, really. Should have seen it coming. You were happy for the first time in a while. Happy in your career, in your relationship. Of course something would come along to change everything. 

It was a pleasant day off, the day you got the call. A slow morning where Alexia woke up way before you, but didn’t get up. Instead, she let you sleep in her arms, completely content to just… be there with you. You’d made breakfast together, Alexia’s voice raspy from lack of use, pressing kisses to your shoulders, your face, your neck, as if she couldn’t help it. It was purely and entirely happy. 

Your phone rang just after breakfast. It was an unknown number and you never answered unknown numbers but something about the call made your stomach drop. You clicked the answer button and gave Alexia an apologetic smile, walking out of the room. 

“Hello?” You greeted, tapping your foot impatiently when no one said anything right away. Alexia had put on her favorite show, and as much as you pretended to despise the soap, you were hooked. 

The robotic, pre-recorded message that began startled you.

“This call is from a person currently incarcerated in prison. All calls are logged and recorded and may be listened to by a member of prison staff. If you do not wish to accept this call, please hang up now.” 

It wasn’t shocking, not really. You’d gotten calls like this before, but not for a few years. He used to call a lot, when he first started getting into trouble, asking for money for a lawyer. At the time, you hadn’t had any to give him. Eventually those specific calls stopped. You still heard from him, but not through a call being recorded by a prison. 

He hadn’t been arrested in 5 years. And now… the stakes were much higher. 

“Hello?” The deep voice of your brother came over the line, sounding utterly defeated. 

“Leo.” You sighed. “What happened?” 

“I fucked up. I… Will wanted to start football. But I couldn’t… I couldn’t pay for boots for him. I just wanted to get him something nice.” Leo choked out. You could hear the emotion in his voice, and ignored the pang in your chest as you pictured the little boy just two years older than you, lip trembling as he promised he’d take care of everything. 

“Leo, why didn’t you call me? And ask for help?” 

“I didn’t want to bother you. You’re busy and I should be able to provide for my son. I shouldn’t have to ask my little sister for help, I should have it figured out.” 

“So… this is better? Getting arrested for petty theft and then calling me for help?” You asked sarcastically, though you understood him more than you’d admit. The need to be independent, completely self sufficient. The sinking feeling you’d get when you had to ask for help with something… you still felt that, too.

Your brother was quiet for a moment. Long enough that dread started to build up inside of you again. 

“It’s not petty theft.” He said finally. “It’s grand theft. And accessory to assault. The guy I was working with went a bit rogue.” 

“Jesus.” You sighed. “How long?” 

Another long silence. 

“How long, Leo?”

“10-15 years.” 

You could practically see the tears falling from his eyes in your head, and you knew just by his tone he wasn’t calling for money. Not this time. You could see Alexia out of the corner of your eye, hovering in the doorway uncertainly. 

I… I signed the papers, to give you custody of Will. To make it easier to take him back to Spain with you. He’d be yours, and I know it’s a lot to ask, and if I had any other option, I would, but the only other option is putting him in the system, and I don’t want that for him. I don’t. I’m so sorry to ask this of you, really I–”

“It’s okay.” You breathed. “It’s alright. Of course, I’ll take him. Of course I will.”

Alexia moved closer, resting a hand on your shoulder once she noticed the tears in your eyes. You let her anchor you, suddenly very sure that this was it with her. Today had been the last nice day you’d have with her, and you hadn’t even known it. 

 But there wasn’t a question of whether you’d do it or not. 

“Are you sure? With your career and–”

“I can make it work.” You said. “I’ll make it work.” 

“Okay.” Leo replied, sounding overwhelmingly relieved. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I wish I–” 

“I’ll be there as soon as I can to get him.” You cut in, unwilling to hear another apology. It wouldn’t fix anything.

 Leo gave you the name of the woman to call, before saying goodbye and hanging up. Even after the call ended, you remained frozen, thinking through all the details, all the things you needed to do, unsure where to start. 

“Amor?” 

Right. That’s where you had to start. 

You turned to Alexia, your face completely impassive. It was the face you made when the team lost and you were upset, or when you got hurt and didn’t want to cry. It was you running from vulnerability, and it had been a long time since Alexia had seen you make it towards her. She’d thought you were past this. 

“My brother was arrested. I’m getting custody of his son. Will. He’s 5. I’m going to bring him back to Spain with me.” You spoke robotically, eyes fixed on a point on the wall just beyond Alexia’s shoulder. 

“Oh… oh wow.” Alexia breathed, nodding her head slowly as she took the information in. 

“It’s a good thing I didn’t get rid of my old apartment. I’ll move my stuff when I get back, you don’t need to worry about any of it. I’ll move back in there and–”

“Why would you do that?” Alexia interrupted, her face twisted with confusion. You looked at her for a moment, her brown roots growing out and the oversized t-shirt she had on. It was soft, your favorite for her to wear because you loved the way the fabric felt on your skin when she held you. 

God this was hard.  

“I… I won’t do this to you, Ale. I won’t. You don’t need this, but I have to–”

“No. Stop. We are not breaking up, and you are not moving out.” 

You turned away from her when you saw the tears in her eyes, clenching your fists tightly and taking a few slow deep breaths. She was making this so hard, but you should have known she would. 

“Alexia,” you began, your voice abruptly cutting off when the midfielder gently grabbed you by the shoulders and turned back towards her. 

“No. No.” She repeated, shaking her head over and over. “Do you love me?” 

You exhaled sharply, desperately wanting to wipe the tear off her cheek. To cradle her face in your hands, and kiss her frown away. You should lie, that would be the best choice. But you couldn’t bring yourself to do so. 

“I do, Ale. I love you so much. That’s why–”

“Then that’s it. You love me and I love you and people who love each other do not break up.” Alexia said firmly, her lip trembling even as she bit it to make it stop. 

“Alexia, please. It’s okay. You don’t have to do this with me, I could never ask you to.” 

“You are not asking. I am telling you. I am not going anywhere, and neither are you. You bring Will here and we’ll figure it out together. Together, amor.” 

She moved closer, her hands cradling your cheeks, wiping your tears away just as you’d wanted to do with hers. Somehow, she was convincing you. Like she always did. Whenever it felt too unbelievable that she loved you, whenever you became absolutely convinced that you’d tricked her or something, and tried to leave for her. She always convinced you to stay, because she knew you never really wanted to leave her. 

“It’s gonna be a lot.” You murmured, your hands finding their way to her waist, your body giving in before your brain did. “It’s gonna be really hard, especially with work.” 

“We can do it. Together.” Alexia promised, leaning forward to dust a kiss across the tip of your nose. “I love you. I’m not going anywhere. We’re going to do it together, okay? Don’t push me out. Please.” 

“Okay.” You allowed, finally giving in and leaning into her. She wrapped her arms around your body, squeezing so tight it almost hurt. 

“Promise me? No pushing me away.” She whispered into your ear. 

“I promise.” You breathed the words back, knowing, somehow, that you wouldn’t break this promise. Never before had you gone back on something you’d promised Alexia, and you didn’t intend to start now. 

—

The plane ride had been long, and though you were already exhausted, you hadn’t slept a wink. You were wide awake when the plane took off, and wide awake when it landed hours later. Some sleep would have really done you some good, but there was nothing to do about that now. 

It was really an amalgamation of all of your least favorite things. The social services office was just as bad as you remembered it. Just as… lonely, regardless of how incredibly crowded it was. It was overly beige, from the walls down to the outfit the woman sitting across from you was wearing. Susan. Even her name sounded beige. Then, there was the paperwork. An endless pile of it on the desk in front of you. Your hand was starting to cramp from signing, and all you wanted was to see Will. Physically see him, make sure he was okay. He was somewhere in this building, surrounded by strangers. It was impossible not to picture him, all small and scared in an office, wondering if you were really coming for him. 

You remembered that feeling. No one had ever come for you and Leo. 

But you were here for Will. You were here for him, and it didn’t matter too much that he barely knew you; at least, that's what you told yourself. 

You were his aunt that lived far away in Spain, that sent at least three presents for his birthday every year, and three more for Christmas. You talked to him on the phone every so often, and Leo liked to send a picture of Will wearing your kit every few months. He liked dinosaurs and crafts, and he adored your brother. Will’s mom had never been in the picture; you’d never met her, never even gotten Leo to tell you her name. It was just the two of them, and you knew it was hard. You didn’t know it was this hard for your brother, though. You’d have stepped in much sooner if you’d known. 

Signing the last piece of paper, you inhaled deeply and slid it back across the desk towards Susan. 

“Okay! That’s everything in order. It would be a lot more complicated if your brother hadn’t signed over his rights. Great foresight of him, to have the paperwork all ready!”

Yeah. Great foresight. Leo clearly possessed that. 

“I’ll go get Will! Like I said before, he’s been having a tough time, but the minute he arrived here he asked for you, telling us he was supposed to make sure that his Aunt came for him if anything ever happened to his Dad. I think he’ll settle once he finally sees you.” 

Susan smiled kindly, stepping away from the desk and briskly walking down the hall. 

The words settled something in you that worried Will wouldn’t want to go with you, while at the same time, making you so incredibly frustrated. Leo could make sure to prepare Will for this exact situation to occur, yet he couldn’t avoid committing felonies? 

Before you could think too hard about what to say or do, there he was. Walking slowly down the hall next to Susan, a blue dinosaur clutched tightly to his chest. His brown hair fell messily around his head, in a way that reminded you of your brother. He was small, wearing a sweatshirt and shorts and a pair of velcro shoes. Small and scared, his face creased with anxiety and fear, even as he approached you. 

“Here she is!” Susan said encouragingly, gently nudging Will closer when he came to a stop just in front of you. He was gazing up at you with wide, unsure eyes, and you could see tear tracks on his cheeks, his eyes red and puffy. He was so small. 

It was instinctual, something you didn’t even know you possessed that had you kneeling down and opening your arms. Will’s forehead un-creased just slightly, and he rushed forward, wrapping his arms tight around your neck. 

“Hey, buddy. Everything’s okay now. I’ve got you.” You whispered, holding tightly to the little boy that was clinging onto you as if you were the last stable thing in the world. And you supposed you were; in his world at least. 

Will exhaled shakily. For the first time in two whole days, he felt just a tiny bit safe. He didn’t know you well, granted, but his Daddy had always told him that if there was an emergency, to make sure to call you. He’d taught Will how to click your contact and call. Will hadn’t been sure you’d come. You lived far away, and he barely ever saw you. The two of you were strangers practically. But Leo had always told Will that you’d come for him if he needed you. And Leo had never broken a promise to Will before… Well not until the other day, he’d waited in the office at school for a whole hour after the bell rang. When someone came for him, it wasn’t his Dad. It was a police officer with a mustache and a mean face, and all Will could do was cry, and make sure that the police officer knew he had to call you. And though the details Will had been given were few, he knew his Dad had been bad and he was in trouble. Big trouble. The police officer had sounded all angry and stern when he’d told Will this, softening only slightly when Will asked when he’d get to see his Dad again.

The police officer hadn’t answered, instead telling Will that he was being taken to the social services office, where he’d wait to figure out what the next steps were. 

Will had waited for you, and even though the nice lady had told him you were coming, it took a while. More than one day, but he couldn’t quite remember. It felt like forever. 

But now you were here, and you’d given him a hug that felt like the hugs his Dad gave him, and he didn’t feel like he had to try to be brave anymore. Your arms didn’t loosen around him even as you stood up, and Will let himself relax. Just for a moment. 

—

“We going to Spain?” Will wondered, gripping two of your fingers when you held out your hand towards him. He trotted along next to you as you headed from the social services building down the block to your hotel. 

“Yeah. Barcelona.” You affirmed. Luckily, Will had been able to talk to Leo on the phone, and Leo told him what the plan was. 

“Bar-sa-lonuh? Or Spain?” 

“Barcelona is a city in Spain.” You clarified. “We’ll go there on a plane tomorrow morning.” 

“Is it a big plane?” 

“It’s a pretty big plane. Have you ever been on a plane before?” 

Will shook his head, brown curls blowing backwards slightly in the wind.

“It’ll be fun. We’ll get snacks and… pick out a few movies to watch. And you can sleep if you want to.” 

“Snacks and movies?” Will repeated. 

“Yes! Does that sound fun?” You tried to sound excited even though there wasn’t really anything you were dreading more than the long flight with a five year old. 

Will just shrugged, his hand tightening around your fingers. Shifting the strap of his big duffel bag so it was further up on your shoulder, stopping just outside the hotel and bending down so you were eye level with him. 

“I know it’s a lot of change, Will. And I know you don’t know me very well but–” 

“My Daddy said you’re nice. And that you’ll take good care of me.” Will whispered, tearing up as he remembered the phone call he’d gotten to have with his father this morning. Leo had called you right after, himself trying to hold it together as he explained he told Will that you were coming for him. 

“I’m going to do my very best to take good care of you. We’re gonna figure it out together, alright?” 

Will nodded slowly, taking a deep breath and rubbing at his eye with his fist. “Alright.” 

You figured that was the best you’d get, for now. 

—

“Tia?” Will whispered. You turned, finding him all tucked into one of the double beds, the covers pulled up to his chin. He was so small, the dinosaur pajamas he’d pulled out of his duffel bag a bit too big on him. ‘Dad said I’d grow into them if I ate my vegetables’, Will had said. Your brother was many things, and a good father was one of them. He was giving you a huge responsibility and huge shoes to fill. 

Refocusing on Will and not how much he looked like your brother, you smiled, walking over and sitting on the edge of the bed. 

“What’s up, buddy?” You asked, hesitating for a moment before reaching and out brushing one of his curls away from his face. His whole body relaxed at the motion, and he looked a bit more confident as he opened his mouth to speak again. 

“Do we have to go to Spain? We… we can’t stay here?” 

Your heart twisted in your chest. You thought of your brother's words on the phone the past few days. He’d repeated it a few times, as if knowing the doubt you’d carry. 

You can’t leave Spain. You have a career and a life there. Will speaks a bit of Spanish, and he’ll adjust. He needs to be with you, and you need to be where you’re going to be happy. That will be the best thing for him.

Leo spoke with a wisdom in his voice that used to infuriate you, but you’d decided to trust the big brother voice, this time. Because he was Will’s dad, and he knew what Will needed. 

“We have to go to Spain.” You confirmed. Will frowned, an unhappy look on his face that tore at your emotions. “I know, it’s going to be an adjustment. But your Dad told me to take you there, and he always knows best, right?” 

Will looked conflicted. “I like it here.”

“I know, I know you do.” You paused, thinking once again back to your brother's advice. 

Talk to him like he’s a person, not a baby. He��s a smart kid, he’ll understand. 

“I play football in Spain. It’s my job there, so that’s where we have to be for now. But you’ll like it, I promise. It’s warm and sunny and it has really good food. Alexia is there, and I know you’ll love her, and she’s so excited to meet you in person.” 

Thankfully, Will had met Alexia over facetime before, and knew that you were together. You didn’t have to introduce the idea to him, as he’d somehow already seemed to know it wouldn’t just be the two of you when you arrived in Spain. 

Will looked doubtful, and you could see the anxiety clearly written across his face. His features were so like Leo’s, and it was the same face your brother always had when he was nervous about something. The same face you had when you were nervous about something. 

“Why don’t you ask me questions about Spain? And I’ll answer them, and then you’ll know more before we get there.” 

Will was a talker, that much you knew. And so the questions began, about the food in Spain, about school in Spain, about the team you played for, and whether there were dinosaur toys there. Question after question, until you laid down on the bed next to him, eyes barely open. 

“Do you live in a house in Spain?” Will asked, his energy still in full force as he asked what felt like the 500th question of the evening. 

“An apartment, but you’ll have your own room.” 

“And Alexia lives there?” 

You nodded groggily. 

“Does she speak Spanish?” 

“She does, but she also speaks English.” 

Will hummed. “My Dad was teaching me some Spanish for when we met Alexia. He said your tia taught you both Spanish and that's why I call you tia because that’s Spanish for aunt.” 

At this, you cracked a smile, forcing your eyes open as you nodded. “That’s true. We lived with our tia for a while and she taught us Spanish.” 

“Is it hard to learn? I’m not very good.” Will wondered, his questions seemingly endless. 

“Mmm, not hard. You’ll pick it up quickly, especially at school and with Alexia helping you with it.” 

“Is she nice?” 

“She’s very nice.” You promised, eyes flying open when you realized you had a text from Alexia you hadn’t yet read or responded to. Will yawned hugely as you pulled your phone out of your sweatshirt pocket, and you smiled down at him again. 

“Go to sleep, buddy. I can answer more questions tomorrow.” 

With a small grunt of agreement and another yawn, he rolled over. Right into you, his head resting against your arm. It was indescribable, the soft feeling that filled your heart. Soft adoration, even as you stilled the left side of your body completely so as not to disturb him. 

You didn’t know much about kids, but it seemed you knew enough. For now. 

Finally, you opened Alexia’s text, tears pooling in your eyes as you read her words. 

Amor! I hope everything is going well. You’re doing great already, I am sure of it. I stopped at the store and got a few things for Will. You said he likes dinosaurs, sí?I love you, I’ll see you tomorrow. I can’t wait to hug you. 

God, you couldn’t wait to see her. It wasn’t very odd for the two of you to spend a night apart, but something about this felt different. You missed her deeply, fully, needed her to hold you and promise everything was going to be okay. The anxiety of how this whole new life would work was almost overshadowed by your excitement to see her again. 

Almost. 

—

Will was a pretty well behaved kid, you’d learned. Very sleepy when he woke up in the morning, but he snapped right out of it when you asked him what he wanted to download to watch on the plane. He very eagerly selected three disney movies, and you realized with a pang to your chest that all three were movies you and your brother had grown up on. 

All three were Leo’s favorites, if you remembered right. 

And now they were Will’s. 

Not being the biggest fan of crowds, the airport clearly made your nephew nervous. He fidgeted his little hands together, walking so close to you that he ran into you every time you stopped. His hand would dart out to grab onto the hem of your t-shirt whenever anyone got too close to him, and he almost cried when the security agent made him walk through the metal detector by himself. 

You figured this made sense, that after his whole world had been turned upside down, of course he’d attached himself onto the most stable thing he could find. That happened to be you. It was just… odd. Something you weren’t used to. The checklist you’d made on your phone helped, reminding you to ask Will if he had to go to the bathroom, if he was hungry or thirsty, if he had any more questions about the plane. It was more than terrifying, honestly, that you were suddenly fully responsible for this small boy. 

There was stress, of course. But there was also something so… incredibly different in the way Will pressed his face to the glass of the plane window, staring wide eyed as the plane took off. For every moment you worried you were messing up, even in the first 24 hours, there were 10 moments where Will rested his head against your shoulder or reached for your hand, or offered you one of his animal crackers with a smile that had you convinced that for your nephew, maybe you could do this. 

—

“I can walk, Tia.” Will mumbled, squirming slightly in your arms. 

You chuckled, rubbing his back softly. “It’s okay, buddy, it’s crowded and I know that makes you nervous.”  

You’d picked him up a moment ago, after noticing how terrified he looked at the massive crowds making their way through the airport. It was a struggle to wrangle both of your bags in one hand, while holding Will in the other, but you didn’t want him to be uncomfortable. You took two steps towards the exit before you had to stop and readjust, wishing you had another pair of hands here to help. 

Alexia had texted that she was there, and though you’d assumed that meant she was outside in her car, your eyes met hers across the bustling baggage claim before you had to take another step. 

Your whole body practically sagged with relief, your bags falling to the ground where you stood as Alexia made her way over to you both, a concerned and sympathetic smile on her face. 

“Mi amor,” she greeted, softly kissing your temple and pulling you into as much of a hug as she could manage with Will still in your arms. 

“Hi.” You choked out, almost in tears at the sight of her. Here, in front of you, at the perfect time. With a smile on her face, already reaching for your bags. 

“Hi, Will.” She said gently. 

Will peaked out from where his face had become hidden in your neck, relaxing a bit when he saw the semi familiar face. 

“Hi.” He whispered back, turning his face back in towards you and shutting his eyes. 

“He’s tired.” You explained, but Alexia just waved you off, beginning to lead you from the airport to the parking garage. It was much easier now that you only had to worry about carrying Will, who was quickly becoming dead weight in your arms as he drifted off. 

“Of course he is, it has been a long few days. I bet you’re exhausted too. We can go home and go right to sleep, sí? We can worry about anything else tomorrow.” 

You nodded your agreement, not even wanting to contemplate the state of your to do list at the moment, though it was getting harder and harder to ignore. 

As you arrived at the car, you shouldn’t have been surprised by the car seat perfectly installed in the back of Alexia’s car. You’d mentioned needing one to her, but for some reason… you half expected her to forget. Or get the wrong one. You weren’t sure why, but it was just something that you thought you’d have to do. 

Yet when you opened the door to the back seat, it was all done for you. The perfect size for Will, buckled in correctly and everything. You carefully deposited him in the seat and buckled him in, before turning to Alexia, once again with tears in your eyes. 

“Thank you for getting that.” You mumbled, shutting the car door as quietly as you could. 

“Of course.” Alexia said easily, her lips curving into a smile as she opened her arms for you. You practically collapsed into them, gripping tight to your girlfriend as she did the same to you. 

“I missed you so much.” You cried. 

“I missed you too, mi amor. You have no idea.” Alexia whispered back, her hand threading through your hair as she just held you for a moment. Eventually she leaned down to press her lips to yours. You kissed her back, taking in the feel of her hands as they cupped your jaw, her fading blonde hair tickling the side of your face. 

When you pulled back from the kiss, she was still gazing at you so lovingly it made your heart burst. 

“Let’s get you both home.” She suggested, and you nodded your agreement, needing nothing more than to be home in that moment. 

—

The relief you felt when you finally stepped back into your apartment wasn’t complete relief. Because you were home, but everything was different. There was a whole other person that had to fit into your life now, and you didn’t even know where to begin carving out a space for him. There was figuring out a school that could accommodate a five year old that spoke very little Spanish. Then there was finding childcare for when training didn’t perfectly align with school, or when the team was traveling. Would you bring Will with for away games? 

The issues you needed to address were seemingly endless, but most urgently was that the extra bedroom was not fit for a child. It had a double bed, which would work for now, but didn’t leave much room for anything else. What did a kid even need in his bedroom? 

Toys, of course. 

Books. 

A desk? 

A dresser? Or would the closet be enough? 

God he would need more clothes. 

And food that he'd like to eat. 

And shampoo and conditioner for kids. Those were different from adult hair products, right? 

That was most urgent, you decided. Making your home a home for him. 

“We should go shopping tomorrow.” You murmured, shifting Will in your arms a bit as you headed for the guest bedroom. He’d fallen asleep in the car and it was night, so it made sense for him to keep sleeping. 

What time did kids his age go to bed? 7? 8? You had no idea. Another question to answer. 

With a gentle hand on your back guiding you down the hall, Alexia hummed in agreement, but you missed the small smile on her face. “I bought a few things.” She reminded you. 

Your assumption was that a few things were a pair of pajamas, a new toy. A book, maybe? But when Alexia stepped around you to push the bedroom door open, your jaw dropped. 

A few things, apparently, was an entirely redecorated room. A beautifully redecorated room. The walls were no longer white; instead they were painted a soft green. A wooden twin bed sat in the corner, a green canopy hanging the tall headboard and footboard. The bed was covered in a green comforter, a soft throw blanket, and 4 different pillows. A long shelf sat just under the large window, filled with toys and books. There was a separate toy box next to the bookshelf, overflowing with even more toys; cars and books and dolls and stuffed animals. Everything. Wall decor, a rug, a dresser, a cozy chair in the corner next to a lamp. 

Alexia had thought of everything. And if you’d had any doubts about her dedication to this, to you, to Will, you no longer did. Alexia had done what you’d been too preoccupied to think of and made Will a space that was entirely his own, a place he could feel safe and comforted. She’d made your home his home without a second thought. 

Without a word, you walked further into the room, choking back a sob as you laid a still sleeping Will down carefully on the bed. He shifted in his sleep, snuggling close to the soft pillows as you draped the throw blanket over him. 

When you finally turned back towards your girlfriend, she was hovering in the doorway, chewing on her bottom lip as she gazed at you worriedly. 

“Too much?” She whispered. 

You barely held back the scoff that would have been much too loud, crossing the room quickly and throwing your arms around her. 

“No. Perfect. You're perfect. Thank you.” You mumbled into her neck, pressing kiss after kiss to the skin you found there. Alexia tightened her hold, walking the two of you backwards and out the door so you didn’t wake Will. 

“Are you crying?” Alexia asked, her thumb tracing across your cheek bone as she leaned back from your embrace. 

You sniffled pathetically, leaning back in to press your forehead to Alexia’s chest and steady yourself. 

“I was just so overwhelmed and you did this and it’s perfect Ale. Thank you. Thank you.” 

Alexia pressed a kiss to the top of your head, squeezing you tightly. 

“You don’t have to thank me. I promised, no? I’m here. We are doing this together.” 

“I love you.” You cried, overwhelmed with love and wonder at what an incredible person your girlfriend was. You’d already known, but she always found a way to surprise you, doing something so absurdly kind and thoughtful that you were struck all over again with how good she was. 

“I love you too.” Alexia replied, swaying the two of you back and forth gently. 

There were still a lot of unknowns. A lot of problems to solve and things to figure out. But you’d never been more sure that you could do it. It wasn’t ideal, but you had Alexia and that was certainly ideal. 

—

JUST finished this so PLEASE tell me if you catch a typo also planning more parts to this but i'm VERY open to ideas if you have them :)

[millyh23]

Fishy Business

Katie McCabe x Reader

word count:

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Katie and Y/N had been living together for a few months now, and their cozy little apartment was beginning to feel a bit too quiet. The two had spent many nights discussing how to make their home feel more like a family, and one thought kept creeping up: getting a pet. They’d always joked about it, but now that the idea was on the table, it was time for some serious discussions.

“I’ve been thinking,” Katie began one afternoon, as she snuggled up to Y/N on the couch, “We should get a cat. They’re independent, clean, and they’re just… perfect.”

Y/N turned to her, raising an eyebrow. “A cat?” She grimaced slightly. “I’m not sure about that. Cats are… sneaky, and they don’t really care about you unless they want something.”

Katie’s face lit up, and she playfully nudged Y/N’s shoulder. “That’s what I love about them. They’re mysterious, and they’re so cute when they ignore you just enough to make you want their attention even more.”

Y/N rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “Yeah, but I want a dog. A big one. Someone who’ll love me no matter what and follow me around the house like a shadow. A loyal companion.”

Katie crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. “A dog? They’re so needy. Always jumping on you, licking your face, begging for attention.”

Y/N raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like you, babe,” she teased, and Katie scowled playfully.

“I’m not needy!” Katie shot back with a grin. “I’m just affectionate. But you’re right about one thing… I do want someone who’ll follow me around. That way, I’m never alone.”

“Exactly,” Y/N agreed, her tone softening. “A dog would do that. A cat would just stare at me like I’m the hired help.”

The two fell into an awkward silence for a moment, both of them clearly invested in their opinions but not sure how to move forward.

Finally, Y/N broke the silence. “Okay, fine. You want a cat. I want a dog. What do we do now?”

Katie looked thoughtful for a second before grinning mischievously. “What if we get both?”

Y/N blinked, taken aback. “Both? You want two pets?”

Katie shrugged. “Why not? We could get a cat for me and a dog for you, and they can have each other as company when we’re both out.”

“Uh-uh,” Y/N said, shaking her head. “I’m not having a cat and a dog tearing up the place. It’ll be chaos.”

Katie rolled her eyes. “Okay, okay. So we’ll have to compromise, right?”

The idea of compromise wasn’t one Y/N enjoyed, but she knew they needed to figure something out. After all, this was something important to both of them.

“What if we get a fish?” Y/N suggested hesitantly, a little unsure of how Katie would respond.

Katie paused, thinking. “A fish? Really?”

Y/N nodded. “It’s low-maintenance, no barking or meowing, and we can just watch it swim around. It’s like… the perfect middle ground.”

Katie sighed dramatically. “I wanted a furry little friend, not a fish that just floats around.”

“Well, I wanted a big dog who’ll run around the yard with me, but we’re not exactly in a house with a yard,” Y/N shot back, her tone teasing. “A fish will do just fine.”

Katie folded her arms, clearly not convinced. “Fine. We’ll get a fish. But I’m not going to be excited about it.”

Y/N grinned. “Well, at least we won’t have to deal with your cat fur all over the place.”

The two of them went to the pet store the next day, picking out a small aquarium, some plants, and a couple of colorful fish. They both looked at each other as they set up the tank, their eyes not exactly filled with excitement, but more with the realization that they’d just made a decision neither of them was truly happy about.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Katie muttered, half-laughing as she filled the tank with water.

Y/N chuckled, glancing over at her. “I know. It’s not the dog or the cat we wanted, but it’s something.”

Katie gave a mock-sigh. “I was hoping for a cat that I could cuddle. Now I’m stuck with a fish that… I can’t even pet.”

“Well, we can’t exactly pet a dog when it’s on a walk, can we?” Y/N shot back. “At least a fish won’t bite you.”

The two of them stared at the fish, their eyes softening just a little. The fish swam gracefully, moving in and out of the plants in the tank.

“It’s kind of peaceful, though,” Y/N admitted quietly. “I like watching it swim.”

Katie nodded, her arms crossing as she leaned against the counter. “Yeah, it’s kind of… relaxing.”

“I guess it’s not so bad,” Y/N said, glancing at Katie with a small smile. “And hey, if we ever change our minds, we can always get a cat or a dog later.”

Katie rolled her eyes but smiled, reaching out to poke Y/N’s side. “We’re not getting another pet. This fish is our baby now.”

Y/N laughed. “Sure, babe. Our fish baby.”

Katie shrugged. “At least it’s not a hamster. We’d be arguing about the cage size all week.”

As they both stood there, looking at the small, quiet fish, they realized that sometimes compromise wasn’t about getting exactly what you wanted. It was about making things work, even if neither of you was entirely thrilled with the outcome. And in the end, that was enough.

After all, they had each other. And a fish.

It had been two days since Katie and Y/N brought home their fish. The tank had settled in nicely in the corner of their living room, and the little fish, a shimmering orange and white goldfish with delicate fins, had quickly become a peaceful, if somewhat unexpected, addition to their home.

However, there was still one pressing issue left: the fish needed a name.

“Okay, we’ve been avoiding this long enough,” Y/N said, sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of the tank. The fish swam around, blissfully unaware of the importance of the conversation at hand. “It’s time to name the fish.”

Katie, who was lounging on the couch with her feet propped up on the coffee table, looked over at Y/N with a dramatic sigh. “I know. But what do we name it? We’re just going to call it ‘the fish’ forever, aren’t we?”

Y/N shot her a playful look. “Don’t tell me you’re not getting attached already.”

Katie rolled her eyes, but a faint smile tugged at her lips. “I mean, I’m not attached, but it’s hard not to get a little fond of something that doesn’t argue back.”

Y/N grinned. “Exactly. So, let’s give it a name.”

Katie sat up, crossing her arms. “Alright, alright. What do you have in mind?”

Y/N squinted at the fish, watching it swim in slow, graceful circles. “What about… Fluff?”

Katie raised an eyebrow. “Fluff? It’s a fish. I don’t think it’s fluffy.”

“Okay, fine. Maybe not Fluff,” Y/N conceded, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “How about… Bubbles?”

Katie snorted. “Bubbles? You’re naming it after a childhood cartoon character?”

Y/N shrugged. “It’s cute. And it’s an easy go-to name for a fish. Plus, it suits this little guy.” She pointed at the fish, which was now hovering near the surface, its fins fluttering like delicate lace.

Katie scoffed dramatically. “That’s a bit too cliché, don’t you think?”

Y/N gave her a side-eye. “You’re one to talk. You suggested Sir Swims-a-lot.”

Katie blushed and smirked, clearly embarrassed but not willing to back down. “It’s a good name. He’s got a lot of energy. Could be an aristocrat of the fish world, ruling over all the other tank creatures.”

Y/N chuckled. “Oh, Sir Swims-a-lot. That’s rich. We might need a crown for him.”

Katie stuck her tongue out at her, but then paused, looking at the fish again. “Okay, okay. Let’s take this seriously for a second.” She shifted on the couch, resting her chin in her hand. “What about something more… regal? Like Neptune?”

Y/N shook her head. “That’s a bit too formal for a fish that’s just chilling in a tank.”

Katie frowned. “You know, you’re no fun sometimes.”

“Hey, I’m just thinking practically. We need a name that’s cute but also a little ridiculous, don’t you think?” Y/N said, smirking.

Katie raised a finger, as though struck by a sudden revelation. “What about… Fishy McFishface?”

Y/N blinked at her. “Oh no, you did not just go there.”

Katie grinned, leaning back with satisfaction. “I did. And I stand by it. It’s a classic.”

Y/N groaned, shaking her head. “I can’t believe you just referenced that. It’s too much of a meme.”

“But it’s perfect!” Katie argued. “It’s funny and it makes people smile. You love making people laugh.”

Y/N paused, considering. “You know, it does have a certain charm…”

“I knew you’d come around,” Katie said smugly, crossing her arms and leaning back on the couch.

Y/N shook her head, trying to hold back a grin. “I mean, it’s ridiculous, but it’s kind of our ridiculous. Fine, Fishy McFishface it is.”

Katie’s eyes lit up with triumph. “Yes! I knew you’d see the genius in it.”

As Y/N got up to grab a marker and label the tank with the new name, she paused and glanced back at Katie, who was now looking at the fish with a fond expression.

“You know,” Y/N said, her tone softer now, “even if it’s just a fish, I’m kind of glad we did this. It’s nice having something… alive in here that we get to look after together.”

Katie smiled, her eyes warm. “Yeah, me too. Maybe it’s not a dog or a cat, but it’s still part of the family.”

Y/N gave her a teasing look. “You’re not gonna start getting too attached, are you? I don’t need you calling it your ‘baby.’”

Katie stuck her tongue out playfully. “It’s my fish, and I’m going to spoil it rotten. It’s just as good as a dog, but without all the barking.”

Y/N rolled her eyes but smiled as she walked over to the tank. “Alright, Fishy McFishface, welcome to the family.”

The fish, as if responding to the name, swam in lazy circles, oblivious to the discussion that had just taken place.

Katie McCabe had always been a little too carefree about things. She loved her spontaneous adventures, her carelessness, and her ability to laugh at almost everything, even when it wasn’t entirely appropriate. But when it came to taking care of Fishy McFishface, she thought she had it all under control. After all, how hard could it be to care for a fish? Just feed it, change the water once in a while, and keep the tank clean. Right?

Wrong.

It had started out innocently enough. The tank had been sparkling clean, Fishy McFishface was happily swimming around, and Y/N was admiring the little fish from across the room. But Katie—busy with training, social media, and all the distractions that came with life—had let a few things slide. She’d forgotten to feed Fishy a couple of times, skipped cleaning the tank for a few days longer than she should have, and, most unfortunately, she had gotten a bit careless with the water temperature.

That’s when things went wrong.

Katie had come home one evening, after a particularly grueling practice session, to find Fishy McFishface floating lifeless at the top of the tank.

“Oh no. No, no, no…” Katie muttered, panic rising in her chest. She reached into the tank, scooping up the little fish with trembling hands. “Please don’t be dead…”

But there was no denying it. The fish was gone.

Katie quickly sprang into action. She drained the tank, cleaned everything out, and made a decision: she would replace Fishy McFishface. It was a small fish, after all. Y/N would never notice the difference, right? Katie was sure she could pull it off. She went out and bought a nearly identical goldfish, one that looked just like their beloved pet, only this one was a little more vibrant in color, as if it had been dipped in a bit too much gold.

When Y/N came home, she barely glanced at the tank, distracted by the bag of groceries in her hands.

“Hey, babe,” Y/N greeted her, setting the bags down. “How’s our fishy today?”

Katie, trying to act casual, nodded. “Oh, you know. Just swimming around. Same old.”

Y/N didn’t think much of it, but as she glanced at the tank, she could have sworn the fish had gotten brighter. "It looks different, doesn’t it? A bit more… golden?"

Katie laughed nervously. “Nah, I think it’s just the lighting. Maybe it’s been eating well.”

Y/N raised an eyebrow but shrugged. “Well, Fishy McFishface is looking good. I’ll take it.”

Katie breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe this would work. Maybe the new fish would slip under the radar.

The next day, however, the truth came crashing down.

Y/N had been in the kitchen, making some tea, when she casually glanced over at the tank. Something was off. The fish was definitely not the same one as yesterday. It was slightly larger, a little more sleek, and—now that she was really looking—its fin markings were wrong. The markings on the fins of the original Fishy McFishface had been a bit more spread out. This one had a more symmetrical pattern.

Y/N crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes, suspicious. She leaned closer to the tank, staring at the fish with increasing doubt. The colors were even brighter than before.

Wait a second…

“Katie!” Y/N called out sharply from the kitchen.

Katie froze in the living room. She had been doing some stretches, trying to keep her body loose, but the tone of Y/N’s voice made her stomach drop. “Uh, yeah?”

Y/N slowly walked over to the tank, arms crossed, eyes narrowed. She pointed at the fish, now darting around happily. “Katie, did… did Fishy McFishface just get a makeover overnight?”

Katie’s heart sank. She had been hoping this wouldn’t happen. How did she figure it out so fast?

“Well… uh…” Katie stammered, walking over nervously. “I, um… It’s just the lighting, right? Maybe you didn’t notice before, but—”

“Katie.” Y/N’s voice was calm, but the sternness in it sent a little chill down Katie’s spine. “This is not the same fish.”

Katie’s face went pale. “What? Of course it is! What are you talking about?”

Y/N’s eyes flickered with amusement, but she kept her face stoic. “You’ve replaced Fishy McFishface, haven’t you?”

Katie’s mouth went dry. “Okay, fine. I might’ve… replaced it. But it’s the same species! It’s practically the same fish, just… newer.”

Y/N raised an eyebrow. “Newer?”

Katie rubbed the back of her neck, looking sheepish. “I—uh, I might’ve accidentally… killed it. And, uh, panicked. So I got a new one. I didn’t think you’d notice.”

Y/N blinked a few times, processing this. She then crossed her arms and let out a dramatic sigh. “Katie McCabe, you killed our fish?!”

Katie looked absolutely horrified as she took a step toward Y/N. “Babe, I swear, I didn’t mean to! I messed up with the water temperature, and then I—” She trailed off, biting her lip. “Please don’t be mad. I’ve already replaced it, and it’s just as cute—”

Y/N interrupted her, a mischievous glint in her eye. “I can’t believe you would do that, Katie. First, you kill Fishy McFishface. Then you think you can just sneak a new fish in and act like nothing happened?” She placed a hand over her chest. “I’m deeply hurt, Katie. You’ve betrayed me.”

Katie’s face crumpled as she looked at Y/N with pleading eyes. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t know what else to do! Please don’t be upset. I—” She dropped to her knees in front of Y/N, clasping her hands together. “Please, Y/N, I’ll do anything to make it up to you. I’ll… I’ll clean the tank every week. I’ll feed it every single day. I’ll even get another fish if you want—just don’t be mad at me.”

Y/N looked down at Katie’s dramatic display, unable to keep up the act any longer. She burst into laughter, doubling over as the tension lifted from her body. “Oh my God, you’re ridiculous!”

Katie blinked up at her, still kneeling on the floor. “Wait… what?”

“I’m not actually mad at you!” Y/N gasped between giggles. “It’s just a fish, Katie. But you should’ve seen the look on your face when you thought I was upset!”

Katie’s expression shifted from panic to confusion, then to realization. “You were messing with me the whole time, weren’t you?”

Y/N nodded, still chuckling. “You should’ve seen yourself. You were ready to do anything to make it up to me.”

Katie stood up, rolling her eyes with a relieved sigh. “You’re cruel, Y/N. Absolutely cruel. I’m going to remember this.”

Y/N grinned, taking Katie’s hand. “Don’t worry, babe. I forgive you. And I’ll let you off the hook… this time.”

Katie pulled her in for a kiss. “You’re lucky I love you,” she muttered, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

“I know,” Y/N said with a grin. “But, uh, next time you ‘replace’ the fish, maybe just let me know beforehand?”

Katie laughed. “Deal. As long as you promise to pretend to be upset again. It was kind of fun.”

Y/N shook her head. “Yeah, yeah. Whatever.”

And so, Fishy McFishface lived in their hearts definitely still part of the family.

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The End.

[millyh23]

Too Fit to Quit

Alexia Putellas x Reader

word count:

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It all started during a light-hearted conversation after training. The team was winding down, catching their breath, when Alexia, still stretching, casually said, "I think I might just be the fittest on this team." She glanced around with a confident smirk, her eyes sparkling with the challenge she didn’t even need to voice.

You chuckled, rolling your eyes. "Oh, is that so?" The other players caught the look you gave her, eyebrows raised as though you couldn’t believe her nerve. "Let’s see about that, then. How about a bleep test?"

A glint of excitement flickered across her face as she nodded. "You’re on. Prepare to lose."

The team perked up instantly, laughing and eagerly gathering around to watch. Your competitive streaks were legendary, and they knew neither of you would make this easy on the other.

The beeps began, and the challenge was simple: run back and forth in sync with each beep. Each round, the beeps would speed up, and eventually, the less fit ones would give in. But you and Alexia were as stubborn as they come, pushing each other to keep up no matter how fast or relentless the beeps became.

At first, it felt almost too easy. You both stayed light on your feet, easily keeping up with each beep, glancing over at each other with playful, taunting smirks. But as the rounds progressed, the pace picked up, and so did your mutual determination. Everyone else had either dropped out or settled into watching, laughing and cheering you both on.

“Come on, Alexia, that’s all you’ve got?” you teased, though you were breathing harder now, each step starting to feel heavier.

She shot you a look, her grin turning fierce. “Oh, cariño, I haven’t even started yet.”

You both pushed harder, sweat beginning to bead on your foreheads, muscles burning, breaths coming faster with each sprint across the pitch. The beeps seemed to blur into each other, like an unending taunt neither of you could back away from. The team looked on in awe, practically vibrating with laughter as they witnessed this spectacle. Even the coaching staff exchanged glances, eyebrows raised at the intense show of stubbornness.

Round after round, neither of you slowed. Your legs felt like they were made of cement, but you couldn’t quit—not with Alexia watching you, waiting for any sign of weakness. And from the look in her eyes, she wasn’t about to quit either.

Finally, with a gasp and a triumphant laugh, you stumbled on a particularly quick turn, only to see Alexia falter as well. You both crumpled onto the grass in unison, panting and grinning despite yourselves, the team breaking into cheers and laughter around you.

“Not so fit now, are you?” you managed to say between gasps, throwing her a playful glare.

She rolled her eyes, still catching her breath. “Speak for yourself. You look like you can’t even get up.”

You both laughed, pushing yourselves up slowly as the team crowded around, still laughing and clapping as they helped you hobble off the field.

The next morning, you felt like you’d aged fifty years overnight. Just sitting up in bed took a monumental effort as every muscle in your legs seemed to scream in protest. Groaning, you reached for your phone, grimacing at the text Alexia had already sent.

Ale: You’re dead to me. I can’t even stand up right now.

You: Look who’s talking. I’m still blaming you for this.

With reluctant laughs, you both agreed to skip training and meet up in the recovery room, where you limped in to find Alexia already sprawled on a padded chair, looking as miserable as you felt.

“You just had to open your mouth,” you muttered, settling in beside her with a wince.

She scoffed, wincing as she tried to adjust. “You didn’t have to challenge me. If anything, this is entirely your fault.”

As you grumbled back and forth, the door swung open to reveal Mapi, grinning from ear to ear. She took in the sight of the two of you slouched, still bickering, and burst into laughter. “If it isn’t our ‘fittest players’! Look at you both—too proud to quit, too stubborn to admit you’re both hopeless.”

“Oh, shut up, Mapi,” Alexia mumbled, trying not to laugh and failing.

Mapi didn’t let up, of course. She sauntered over, crossing her arms with a teasing smile. “Remind me never to take a bet with either of you two. You’d probably run a marathon just to win a ‘who’s faster’ argument.”

She mimicked a dramatic gasp, hand on her heart. “The mighty Alexia and Y/N, defeated by a beeping noise. Truly, we’re all in awe of your strength.”

You managed a laugh despite the soreness. “Keep talking, Mapi, and maybe next time we’ll challenge you.”

Mapi held up her hands in mock surrender. “Oh, no, I value my legs, thank you.”

Alexia shot her a glare, half-laughing. “Just wait, Mapi. You’ll regret that.”

Mapi’s laughter echoed in the recovery room as you and Alexia shared a tired but amused look, knowing all too well that your competitive streaks had definitely gotten the best of you this time. But as you leaned back and settled into the recovery session, grumbling and sharing smirks, you couldn’t deny the odd satisfaction of knowing you’d both pushed each other to the limit—even if you’d be paying for it for days.

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The End

[millyh23]

Just a Scratch

Leah Williamson x Reader

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It was supposed to be a peaceful day. The kind of day that Y/N and Leah loved, filled with quiet drives and lighthearted conversations. After a week of intense training, both were looking forward to a bit of downtime. Leah had suggested a short road trip to the countryside, and Y/N couldn’t argue—spending the afternoon together, winding through the rolling hills and quiet roads, sounded perfect.

Leah had parked her car in the apartment’s underground garage, as she usually did, a spot meticulously chosen to ensure her car was out of harm’s way. Y/N, however, wasn’t used to this kind of care with a vehicle. In the past, she had always treated cars like just another mode of transportation, never really focusing on keeping them pristine. Leah, on the other hand, was a different story—her car was her baby.

Y/N didn’t want to mess up the vibe. She wanted to impress Leah, to show her that she could be just as careful. But as she backed the car into the tight garage space, something went horribly wrong. Her attention had been elsewhere, distracted by the morning's conversation with her teammates. She hadn’t noticed the trash can that had been left in the corner.

The moment she heard the screeching sound—metal against metal—her heart plummeted. Y/N winced, quickly putting the car in park and getting out. Her eyes immediately went to the side of the car, where a long, deep scratch ran across the door.

Her stomach churned. She knew Leah loved this car. She had heard Leah talk about it with so much pride, how she��d worked hard for it, how she maintained it like a precious gem. And now… Y/N had ruined it. In that moment, a thousand thoughts raced through her mind—what if Leah was furious? What if she couldn’t forgive this? What if this was the thing that broke them?

Her palms were sweaty as she ran her hands through her hair in distress. She’s going to hate me. She’s going to break up with me. She’ll never look at me the same way again.

When Leah came back from running errands, she was in a cheerful mood, humming softly as she entered the garage. Seeing Y/N standing near the car, she smiled, but the expression quickly faded as she noticed the tense posture of her girlfriend.

“Hey, babe,” Leah said with a warm smile, walking over to Y/N. “Everything okay?”

Y/N swallowed hard, feeling like her throat was closing up. She could already see the disappointment in Leah’s eyes, even though Leah hadn’t said anything yet. She could hear it in her own head, the sharp edge of anger Leah would surely direct her way.

Y/N took a shaky breath and spoke, her voice small. “Leah… I think I messed up.”

Leah’s smile faded into a look of concern. “What happened?” she asked gently, her eyes scanning Y/N’s face.

“I… I scratched your car,” Y/N muttered, voice barely above a whisper. “It’s… it’s pretty bad.”

Leah’s eyes flicked to the side of the car, inspecting the mark. Y/N immediately tensed up, bracing herself for the worst.

Leah didn’t say anything at first. Her brow furrowed slightly, but then, instead of the anger Y/N had feared, Leah took a deep breath and turned toward her, walking slowly.

Y/N couldn’t hold back anymore, and her words rushed out like a dam bursting. “I’m so sorry. I know you love this car. I didn’t mean to. I know it’s your baby, and I just… I didn’t think, and now it’s ruined, and—”

“Y/N,” Leah interrupted softly, taking Y/N’s hands in hers. “Stop.”

Y/N blinked, looking into Leah’s eyes, surprised by the calmness in her voice. Leah stepped closer, brushing a few strands of hair behind Y/N’s ear as she searched her eyes with a tenderness that took Y/N by surprise.

“Look at me, babe,” Leah said, her voice still soothing, yet firm. “I’m not mad. I’m not upset.”

“But it’s your car!” Y/N cried, still feeling the weight of guilt. “You love it, and now it’s… I scratched it, Leah. I’m such an idiot.”

Leah shook her head, a small, reassuring smile pulling at the corners of her lips. “It’s just a scratch, Y/N,” she said, her voice calm, almost amused by how worked up Y/N was. “It’s not the end of the world. I’m more worried about you.”

Y/N’s frown deepened, confused. “Worried about me?”

Leah nodded, taking a step closer, wrapping her arms around Y/N’s waist. “I can tell you’ve been stressed lately. You’ve had a lot on your mind, and I can see it. But you’re letting something small like this eat at you, and it’s breaking my heart to see you like this.”

Y/N’s shoulders slumped. “I just… I didn’t want you to be disappointed in me,” she admitted, her voice cracking. “I thought… I thought maybe you’d break up with me over something so stupid.”

Leah’s expression softened even more. She gently pulled Y/N into her arms, holding her tightly against her chest. “Don’t be silly,” Leah whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of Y/N’s head. “I could never break up with you over something like this. It’s just a car. We can fix it. But if you’re worried about anything, I want you to talk to me about it. Don’t bottle it up.”

Y/N melted into Leah’s embrace, feeling the comfort of her warmth, her steady presence. “I’m sorry, Leah. I didn’t mean to… I just freaked out.”

“Babe,” Leah murmured, brushing her fingers through Y/N’s hair, “I’m not mad at you. I’m just glad you’re okay. And I’m more concerned about your stress than I am about any scratch. We’ll fix it, together.”

Y/N looked up at her, her eyes slightly watery. “You’re really not mad?”

Leah smiled, leaning down to kiss Y/N softly on the lips, a gentle, lingering kiss. “Not at all. I love you, okay? And I love you more than anything, even if your parking skills need a little work,” she teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Y/N laughed quietly, wiping her eyes. “I love you, too. Thank you for being so… understanding. I don’t know why I thought you’d be so upset.”

“Because you’re a bit of a worrywart sometimes,” Leah grinned, her voice playful. “But that’s why you have me. To remind you that not everything is as big a deal as you make it out to be.”

Y/N smiled, finally feeling the weight lift off her shoulders. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Leah squeezed her tight, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “You’ll never have to find out. Now, how about we go inside, relax, and forget about the scratch for a bit? We have a whole afternoon ahead of us.”

Y/N nodded, the tension finally gone from her body. As they walked back into their apartment, Y/N felt a rush of love for Leah, for how she always knew just what to say, just how to make everything feel okay.

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The End.

[millyh23]

Falling for You

Leah Williamson x Reader

word count:

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Leah Williamson was never one to get flustered. On the pitch, she commanded the game with precision, reading plays before they even developed. Off the pitch, she was composed, never letting her emotions get the better of her. That is, until Y/N walked into the room.

It had been months since they’d started dating, but Leah still felt like she was seeing Y/N for the first time every day. There was something magnetic about her—her smile, the way her laugh made Leah’s heart flutter, even the way she managed to light up a room without even trying. Y/N had that kind of presence.

Today, Y/N walked into the locker room, fresh from training, laughing with Alessia as they entered. Leah couldn’t help herself; she immediately turned her attention from the group she was chatting with to her girlfriend, completely entranced. Her eyes followed Y/N, admiring the way she carried herself with such confidence.

Y/N caught Leah’s gaze and winked, making Leah’s breath hitch. She quickly looked away, hoping no one noticed the sudden heat rising in her cheeks.

“Earth to Leah,” Katie’s teasing voice broke through her daze, and Leah’s eyes snapped back to her. Katie was smirking, clearly having noticed Leah’s distraction.

Leah grinned sheepishly, realizing she’d been staring at Y/N a little too long. “Sorry, just… distracted,” she muttered, trying to recover.

Katie raised an eyebrow, the mischievous glint in her eyes unmistakable. “By who? I’m guessing not me, huh?”

Leah glanced over at Y/N again, who was now chatting with Alessia and laughing at something funny. Her heart fluttered once more. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, avoiding eye contact.

“Well, someone can’t seem to keep their eyes off her,” Katie quipped, nudging her with her elbow. The others in the locker room, including Vic and Kyra, shared knowing looks and stifled laughs.

Leah rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips. She was about to respond when she took a step backward, still thinking about how adorable Y/N looked when she caught her mid-laugh.

Then it happened.

Leah backed straight into the water cooler, sending it crashing to the floor with a loud thud. A cascade of water spilled across the locker room floor.

“Oh no,” Leah groaned, her face going bright red as she stumbled forward to catch herself. She ended up off-balance, her knee knocking into a nearby bench, sending a few towels tumbling to the floor.

The entire locker room fell silent for a split second before a chorus of laughter erupted.

“Smooth, Lee,” Katie said, struggling to keep a straight face. “You planning on redecorating the room with that cooler, or…?”

Leah’s cheeks were flaming as she bent down to grab a towel to clean up the mess. “I wasn’t looking where I was going, alright?” she muttered, wiping the water off the floor with an exaggerated frown.

“You okay there?” Kyra’s voice rang out from the back, amusement written all over her face.

“I’m fine!” Leah responded a little too quickly, trying to get a grip on herself. “I’m just—”

Before she could finish, Y/N turned around, her eyes meeting Leah’s for a brief moment. And once again, Leah’s focus was gone. She forgot everything else around her. In an instant, Leah stood up a little too fast, her foot catching on a chair in the corner of the locker room.

She yelped and staggered forward, knocking over a stack of towels on a nearby bench.

“Leah, for the love of god,” Katie teased, barely able to contain her laughter. “How many times are you going to do that?”

Leah felt herself turn crimson. She opened her mouth to explain but immediately closed it when she realized she had once again been caught red-handed.

Y/N had already stepped toward her, concern in her eyes. “You okay, Lee?” She reached out, placing a gentle hand on Leah’s arm to steady her.

Leah felt like her heart had jumped out of her chest. “Yeah, just… clumsy.”

Y/N’s lips twitched into a smile, clearly trying to hold back a laugh. “You’re cute when you’re flustered,” she teased softly, giving Leah a playful look.

Leah chuckled nervously. “Yeah, well, I think I’ve hit my head a few too many times today.”

“I’m starting to think you need a handler,” Alessia piped up from across the room, enjoying the show. “Maybe one of us should be on ‘Leah watch’ every time Y/N walks in.”

Leah looked between her teammates, mortified. “It’s not like that,” she muttered, her cheeks still burning.

“Oh, really?” Katie raised her eyebrows, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Seems like someone’s got two left feet every time Y/N is around.”

“I’m fine,” Leah insisted, but the laughter from her teammates wasn’t helping. She felt herself sinking further into embarrassment.

“I’m just saying,” Katie continued, her tone playful, “it’s a miracle you’re still standing, considering how much time you spend on your knees in front of Y/N.”

Leah’s head snapped to look at Katie in surprise, but she couldn’t help but stutter. “Katie, don’t- dont make me—”

“Make you what?” Y/N cut in, raising one eyebrow and laughing.

Leah groaned, but she didn’t mind. Not really. Being distracted by Y/N wasn’t the worst thing in the world. She just had to learn to walk and talk like a normal person when her girlfriend was around.

“I think she should get a fine for every time she bumps into something,” Kyra suggested with a wicked grin. “Let’s start a collection for the ‘Leah is Clumsy Fund’.”

Leah rolled her eyes but was secretly grateful for her teammates’ teasing. They weren’t being mean—just playful. And the attention was worth it when Y/N wrapped her arms around her, gently pulling her into a side hug.

“You’re a mess, but I love you anyway,” Y/N whispered in Leah’s ear, making her heart flutter all over again.

Leah couldn’t help but smile, looking down at Y/N. “Maybe you should be the one who gets distracted by me once in a while. That way, I won’t be the only one crashing into things.”

Y/N laughed softly. “You’re lucky I find it cute when you get all flustered.”

Leah grinned. “I’m going to need all the help I can get, then.”

Y/N leaned in and kissed her cheek, making Leah feel a little less like a walking disaster. “No need to worry, love. I’ve got you.”

And with that, Leah realized, maybe she didn’t mind being distracted after all—especially when it meant she got to be with Y/N.

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The End

[millyh23]

Selective Standards

Alessia Russo x Reader

word count:

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Y/N walked into the changing room, expecting to find the usual post-training chaos—water bottles here, jerseys there, a few bits of kit scattered on the benches. But this was on another level. A mess of epic proportions.

Protein shake bottles lay on the floor, half-empty, with their lids off, spilling sticky liquid across the floor. An assortment of clothes, some still in training gear and others discarded in the middle of the room, was strewn about, creating an obstacle course. Half-open snack wrappers crinkled underfoot, and towels were abandoned haphazardly across the benches. It looked like someone had taken a whirlwind tour of the room and forgotten to clean up after themselves.

Y/N froze in the doorway, mouth agape.

“What the hell happened in here?” Y/N muttered, stepping into the chaos, surveying the damage. Her hands flew to her hips as she turned to face the team. “Who even leaves a place like this? This is so disrespectful. We’re a team, we’re supposed to take care of our space. Whoever made this mess should be reprimanded. They should pay a fine or be suspended for a game. This is ridiculous.”

The room fell silent. A few players exchanged awkward glances, and some even stifled small chuckles, glancing at each other. It wasn’t every day they saw Y/N go off like this. Normally cool-headed, Y/N’s frustration seemed to be bubbling over today.

Leah, who had just come out of the showers, raised an eyebrow, clearly amused but trying to hold back her laughter. “Y/N… I don’t think it’s that deep.”

“It’s that deep, Leah,” Y/N snapped, gesturing to the mess. “Look at this. It’s disrespectful to all of us. You know how hard we work. This—” She pointed to an empty water bottle rolling across the floor, “—this is a disaster.”

Katie, who was sitting on the bench nearby, grinned mischievously. “You know, you could always just pick it up yourself, right?”

“No,” Y/N huffed, her eyes scanning the room, clearly riled up. “Someone needs to be held accountable. This isn’t just a little accident. It’s a pattern of neglect.”

Just then, the door opened, and Alessia Russo walked in, her attention quickly drawn to the group as she noticed them all looking toward her. She hadn’t noticed the mess yet.

Y/N shot a pointed glance toward the protein shake bottle, still leaking a sticky mess onto the floor. “Whoever did this needs to clean it up—immediately. No exceptions.”

Leah couldn’t help but smile, taking a slow step toward Y/N. “Well, you might want to turn around, because—”

Before she could finish, Y/N’s voice rang out again, sharp and direct. “And I’m serious. If this happens again, I don’t care if it’s—”

“Uh, Y/N,” Leah interrupted, a grin tugging at her lips as she stepped to the side. “It’s Alessia’s mess.”

Y/N froze mid-sentence, her eyes wide. She turned slowly to see Alessia, who was now staring at the group, completely unaware of the mess she had left behind. Her eyes darted from teammate to teammate, catching their expressions. And then her gaze fell on the aftermath she’d left in her rush.

“Oh no,” Y/N muttered, her face turning bright red. She hadn’t even noticed that Alessia was the culprit when she was ranting. “I didn’t—uh… I didn’t realize it was—”

Katie raised an eyebrow, giving Y/N an amused look. “You sure? You were just about to have someone suspended for this.”

Y/N, caught in the moment, quickly tried to backtrack, her voice dropping an octave as she rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. “Well, I mean, we all get caught up in things, right? Just a little… oversight. Nothing major. It’s fine. Not a big deal. Right, Alessia?”

Alessia, who had been listening with an amused grin, walked over and casually tossed her gym bag on the bench. “Yeah, I was running late for media stuff,” she said with a shrug. “Guess I left a trail behind me. Sorry about that.”

Y/N, now visibly flustered, waved her hand dismissively, trying to cover up her earlier outburst. “No, no, it’s… it’s really not that serious. Just, maybe next time, a little more care when you’re in a rush? That’s all. Right, guys?” She forced a smile, but it was clear she was embarrassed.

Katie burst out laughing, slapping her hands on the bench. “Oh, you were so ready to fine someone for this mess, and now you’re backtracking?”

“I was just—” Y/N started, but she didn’t have the energy to continue. “I guess I got a little carried away. It’s Alessia. I’ll let it slide… just this once.”

Alessia, who had clearly caught the shift in Y/N’s tone, grinned and casually threw an arm around her shoulders. “It’s all good, babe. Thanks for being so understanding. I’ll do better next time.”

Y/N shot a playful glare at her, trying to regain her composure. “Just… don’t make me do a whole speech next time. I’ll have to give you a fine or something.”

The entire team erupted into laughter as Y/N’s serious demeanor quickly crumbled into a sheepish smile. Alessia leaned in close, still grinning. “You’re the best, Y/N. Maybe I’ll get you to help me clean up next time?”

“Yeah, sure,” Y/N muttered with a roll of her eyes, “I’ll bring the fine book.”

And with that, the room returned to its usual chaos—but this time, everyone was a little lighter, the tension having dissolved in a fit of laughter.

---

The team was starting to form more bad habits. Every day, without fail, more and more players were coming late to training. It wasn’t anything too serious at first—just a few minutes here and there—but Y/N, always one to stick to the rules and maintain discipline, was getting fed up.

It had been the third day in a row that several players were running through the gates minutes after the scheduled start time. She couldn’t take it anymore.

“Alright, that’s it,” Y/N muttered to herself, crossing her arms tightly over her chest as the last player jogged onto the field. “Enough is enough.”

She marched up to the front, her voice firm and clear as she addressed the entire team. “I’m done with this. We’re all professionals here, and we can’t keep letting people stroll in whenever they feel like it. From now on, anyone who’s late will be fined. A minute late? A minute’s fine. You’re five minutes late? Five minutes’ worth of fines.”

The room went silent, the rest of the players exchanging nervous glances. They knew Y/N wasn’t messing around.

Katie, ever the troublemaker, leaned in and whispered to Leah, “She’s not serious, is she?”

“Oh, she’s dead serious,” Leah replied, eyes widening as she watched Y/N cross her arms and glare at the group. “You’ve seen her like this before.”

Y/N’s eyes scanned the room, locking onto the players who had been late. “This isn’t school, people. You all know better. You’re adults. You can show up on time. It’s disrespectful to your teammates, and we need to take this seriously.” She turned to face a particularly late-looking Kyra. “Five minutes late today. That’s a fiver.”

Kyra rolled her eyes but said nothing, too tired of the back-and-forth to argue. Y/N then turned her eyes to the next culprit, Alessia, who had just jogged in, breathless from her sprint to the field.

“Alessia, you’re late again!” Y/N snapped, hands on her hips, but before Alessia could even start to apologize, Y/N’s tone softened. “No, no. It’s okay. It’s not your fault. It’s just—training was probably a little too early for you today. I’ll take care of the fine. Don’t worry about it.”

Alessia blinked, surprised by the sudden change in tone. “Really? You’ll take care of it?”

“Of course,” Y/N replied, shaking her head, her voice calming. “You don’t need the added stress. We’ll make sure your fine is covered. You can count on me.”

Y/N then glared back at the others. “But for everyone else? You’d better pay up. You’ve all been warned.”

Leah gave her a pointed look as Y/N turned her attention to the rest of the group. “If anyone else is late, there’s no excuse. I mean it. We’re not running a daycare here.”

The session went on, but Y/N couldn’t help but notice how the other players seemed to keep a little distance from her. They knew Y/N meant business, and with her new fine system, she wasn’t about to let anyone get away with being tardy.

The next few days passed, and the fines kept racking up. By the end of the week, Y/N had nearly filled a small notebook with the fines from late arrivals, most of which had come from the usual suspects: Katie, Beth, and a few others who just didn’t seem to care. But when Alessia was late yet again, Y/N was quick to brush it off.

“Alessia, don’t stress. I’ve got this,” she’d say, her voice soft and reassuring, even as she filled in the fine for her late arrival.

The others watched this dynamic unfold. The fines were getting hefty—very hefty—but every time Alessia was late, Y/N would simply wave it off and mutter that it was okay. They all found it strange, but there was something about the way Y/N spoke to Alessia that made her seem… untouchable, in a way.

By the end of the month, Y/N had paid off all of Alessia’s fines, covering the hundreds of euros in late fees. Every time she brought it up, Alessia would try to refuse.

“You really don’t need to do that, Y/N,” Alessia said, a hint of guilt in her voice.

“I’ve got it covered,” Y/N replied with a smile, brushing off Alessia’s concern. “It’s not a big deal.”

But even as she said it, Y/N couldn’t help but wonder why she was doing it. Why did she always soften when it came to Alessia? Why was she willing to put up with the fines when everyone else had to pay up without a second thought?

One evening, as they sat together after training, Y/N gave Alessia a sideways glance. “You know, if you just stopped being late, I wouldn’t have to pay these fines for you.”

Alessia looked at her with a half-smirk. “Maybe I’m just testing how far you’ll go.”

Y/N chuckled softly, rolling her eyes. “Well, consider this the last time, okay? I’m not made of money, and I’m not paying your fines forever.”

Alessia laughed, leaning in close. “I know. But I appreciate it, Y/N. More than you know.”

Y/N just smiled, knowing full well that no matter how many fines Alessia racked up, she’d always be the one to take care of it. She didn’t mind. Not when it was Alessia.

It was one of those days where the team was a little too playful for their own good, and Katie had a mischievous gleam in her eye. She leaned in towards Alessia, a sly grin creeping across her face as she whispered her idea.

“Why don't you come in an hour late to training? You know, just to test if Y/N will actually follow through with paying your fine,” Katie suggested, practically vibrating with excitement.

Alessia raised an eyebrow. “Are you serious? You really think she’d pay a £200 fine?”

Katie’s grin only grew wider. “Y/N loves you. She’s a softie for you, trust me. She’ll pay without batting an eye.”

Alessia hesitated, but then the thought of seeing how far Y/N would go for her made her heart flutter. “Alright, fine. But if she gets mad, I’m blaming you.”

Katie winked. “Deal.”

The next day, as the team finished their warm-ups and got into their drills, Alessia sneaked in, only to join the sprints, breathless and looking sheepish as she entered the pitch.

Y/N, who had been keeping track of everyone’s arrival times as usual, immediately shot her a glare. “Alessia, you’re late,” she said, arms crossed and voice stern.

The team watched with baited breath, knowing full well that this was going to be interesting. Y/N pulled out her notebook, jotting down the fine.

“1 hour late, that’s £200,” she said, her voice sharp as she turned to the rest of the team. “You all know the rules. Late is late.”

Alessia bit her lip, trying to keep a straight face as she watched Y/N turn back to her, ready to pay the fine. Without a single word of complaint, Y/N pulled out her wallet, counted out the money, and handed it to the coach.

“Here you go,” Y/N said, her voice oddly calm.

Katie couldn’t contain her smirk. “Wow, I didn’t think you’d actually do it.”

Y/N barely even looked at Katie. She turned back to Alessia, her face softening. “You don’t need to worry about this,” she said gently. “It’s not your fault. I’ll take care of it.”

Without thinking, Y/N reached forward and cupped Alessia’s cheek, leaning in for a kiss, soft and sweet, making the rest of the team collectively roll their eyes. When they pulled apart, Y/N smiled, her eyes full of affection.

The rest of the team, including Leah, watched in stunned silence, unsure of what to say. Katie, trying to keep a straight face, let out a dramatic gasp. “I can’t believe you actually paid it, Y/N! You’re such a sucker.”

Leah, smirking, chimed in, “Looks like Alessia’s got you wrapped around her finger.”

Y/N rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a soft chuckle. “I’m not a sucker. I’m just making sure my girlfriend isn't stressed over something silly like fines.”

Katie raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really?"

Alessia leaned in, trying to hide the smile tugging at her lips. “You really didn’t have to do that, you know. I was just testing you…”

Y/N turned to the group, suddenly serious. “You shouldn’t have pressured poor Alessia into that,” she said, her voice taking on a more reprimanding tone. “If you all have issues, you come to me. We don’t put her in situations like that. You’ve all got to start acting your age. We’re supposed to be grown, not schoolkids that mess with each other for fun.”

The rest of the team exchanged glances, bored for Y/N's thousandth lecture, and nodded in acknowledgment.

Leah nudged Katie, both of them smirking. “I think Y/N’s getting soft,” Leah teased. “Guess the only one who can make her pay £2000 without a fight is Alessia.”

Katie laughed. “I’m just amazed. She didn’t even hesitate! It’s like she has a weakness for her. She's like kryptonite”

Y/N gave them a mock glare, but her voice had a playful edge. “Alright, alright, I get it. You two are clearly jealous because I didn’t pay your fines.”

Katie threw her hands up in defeat. “I mean, I would have asked, but I’m pretty sure you’re whipped for Alessia.”

Leah chuckled. “I think she just wants to see if she can get away with being that spoiled.”

Y/N rolled her eyes, turning back to Alessia, who was clearly enjoying the teasing. She gave her a smile, though. “You’re lucky you’re cute. And you know I’d do anything for you.”

Alessia grinned, her heart swelling with affection. “I know. I won’t make a habit of it. I swear.”

Y/N chuckled softly, her protective nature not fully letting go, but a warmth in her chest that reminded her just how much she cared for Alessia.

The rest of the team couldn’t help but laugh at the playful dynamic between the two, and even though they were teasing Y/N, there was a sense of warmth in the air. It was clear they were a team in more ways than one. Even if some of them had to be teased a little for their soft moments, they all knew Y/N had their backs—just as much as she had Alessia’s.

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

The End

[millyh23]

Consolation Prizes

Katie McCabe x Reader

word count:

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The day of the Arsenal fitness tournament had finally arrived, and you couldn’t help but feel the thrill of competition coursing through you. The team had hyped it up for weeks, and with Katie’s competitive streak, you both knew it was going to get intense.

Round one: Sprints.

Katie, known for her quick feet, gave you a smug grin as you lined up. She leaned over, murmuring, “Don’t expect to keep up, love. This one’s mine.”

You rolled your eyes playfully. “We’ll see about that.”

The whistle blew, and you both shot off, legs pumping, the turf flying by underfoot. Katie edged you out by a split second, throwing her arms up as soon as she crossed the finish line, beaming.

“Told ya!” she shouted, casting a satisfied smirk your way.

You jogged over to her, smiling despite your loss. “Alright, alright. One down. Don’t get cocky, McCabe.”

Round two: Agility drills.

Katie started out confidently, weaving through the cones with speed, her footwork sharp and precise. But as you stepped up, you could see her smile falter as you powered through the drills, beating her time by a few seconds.

Katie’s brow furrowed as she watched, her hands on her hips. “Alright, show-off,” she muttered under her breath.

You raised an eyebrow, grinning as you passed by her. “Not so easy, is it?”

She glared, but the fire in her eyes only made you more competitive.

Round three: Endurance.

As the run began, you set a steady pace, glancing over to see Katie’s expression already tightening. The minutes ticked by, and you watched her frustration grow as you pulled ahead, her determined gaze fixed on your back. When you finally finished, you could see her jaw clenched, hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath.

“Feeling alright, babe?” you asked with a mischievous smile.

Katie scowled, wiping the sweat from her brow. “You’ve been practicing,” she grumbled. “There’s no way you’re actually this good.”

You chuckled, patting her on the back. “Maybe you’re just off your game today.”

She shrugged off your hand, her eyes narrowing. “Last round’s mine,” she said firmly.

The final round: Strength.

By now, Katie’s irritation was palpable. As you both lined up for the weighted sled push, you could feel the competitive tension buzzing around you. She gave it her all, muscles straining, face set with pure focus as she pushed the sled down the length of the field.

But when it was your turn, you beat her time by just a second.

Katie stared at you, her mouth open slightly, frustration brewing in her eyes. “That was… that was a fluke,” she mumbled, crossing her arms as if that would shield her from her mounting irritation. “You couldn’t do that again.”

“Oh, sore loser, are we?” you teased, grinning as she scowled.

“I am not a sore loser!” she protested, but the blush creeping up her cheeks betrayed her.

You moved closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her into a hug despite her attempt to squirm away. “Alright, alright. How about I take you out for a pint to ease the pain of your… thorough defeat?”

Katie groaned, finally letting out a reluctant laugh. “Fine. But you’re not gonna let me live this down, are you?”

“Not a chance,” you said, leaning in to press a kiss to her cheek. “Just remember, I’m the reigning champ now, so if you want a rematch, you’ll have to work for it.”

She shot you a playful glare, finally relaxing in your embrace. “Next time, I’m leaving you in the dust.”

“Oh, I’ll be looking forward to it,” you replied, savoring the spark of challenge in her eyes that you knew would keep things interesting, in and out of competition.

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

The End

[millyh23]

Love this series I’m so glad it’s back can’t wait for the next part.

Lemonade - Part 4 ~ new content~

leah williamson x alessia russo x child!reader

Summary: When something bad happens to your Mummy and Daddy, you end up living with your Aunty Lessi and Aunty Leah.  But is there room for you considering they have a new baby on the way?

Chapter Summary: It's game day, but first you need to ask a few important questions

Warnings: pregnancy, panic attack

a/n: This is the first 'new' chapter (as in hasn't been previously posted), so I'm very nervous about posting this. Fingers crossed you all enjoy it.

|| Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 ||

PART 4

It’s quiet in the car on the way to the training centre, the low hum of the radio the only noise.  Your brain however hasn’t stopped running wild with thoughts ever since school the other day.  You’d tried to find the answers to your questions in books, but Mr Webster the librarian had told you they were too grown up for you to be reading without an adult. 

Rubbing the soft fur of Arthur's ear against your cheek, you slowly mustered up the courage to ask your Aunties the questions you’d been dying to know the answers to.

“Aunty Lessi, Aunty Leah… C-can I ask a… a question?  About the b-baby?”

You could see Aunty Leah smile through the reflection in the rearview mirror as your Aunty Lessi turned around in the passenger seat to look at you.

“Of course you can, Bun.  You can always ask us anything.”

You let out a sigh of relief, before taking in a deep breath and beginning your line of questioning.

“Okay, so all the books I’ve ever read and the movies I’ve seen, there’s a Mummy and a Daddy, and well, my Mummy said that babies happen when a Mummy and a Daddy love each other very much.  But I also heard at school that there’s something to do with birds and bees, but I don’t really know how that works.  So, because there’s no Daddy here, did you have to get something from birds and bees, like feathers and honey or something to make a magic potion to make the baby? Oh and, and, and also, where does booby milk come from?  Like I know the baby is in your tummy Aunty Leah, so you will have booby milk, but will you also have booby milk, Aunty Lessi?  And is it just like the same milk you buy at the shops?  Like what we use on our cereal or is it different? And is that different to the milk bunnies make? And how do bunnies make babies? And h-”

“Alright, alright let’s answer one question at a time, yeah?” Aunty Lessi cut your questions off with a chuckle.

You took another deep breath and nodded, rubbing Arthur’s ear across your cheek, relieved to have finally gotten those questions out.

“Okay, so, you’re right.  Generally, but not always, babies happen when two people love each other very much.  It doesn’t have to be a Mummy and a Daddy, though, it’s just that that is what tends to happen a bit more often.  But these days there’s more and more families that have two Mummies or two Daddies or a completely different type of family structure all together.  The science of it all is a bit more complex, but I promise you…” Aunty Leah caught your eye in the rear-view mirror with a mischievous glint “…there are no magic bird feathers or honey potions involved.”  You giggled at her as she winked at you in the mirror.

“Yeah Bun, every family’s story is a bit different, but for us, your Aunty Leah and I went to the doctors and asked them for help in making us a baby.  Some families can make their babies at home, like your Mummy and Daddy made you at home, but lots of families need some help from their doctors” Aunty Lessi explained.

“So, you went to the doctors, and they put a tiny little baby in Aunty Leah?”

“Basically, yeah” she confirmed.

“But why Aunty Leah, why not you?” you wondered.

“You know how Aunty Leah hurt her leg?” Aunty Lessi asked.

You nodded.  Your Daddy had told you all about how it was really sad because she was meant to go play in the World Cup thing in Brazil with Aunty Lessi, and she was captain of the England team, but she couldn’t play because of her injury.  And he had said that she had hurt her other leg the exact same way just before the last big World Cup thing and wasn’t able to play in that either.  You were only 4 back then, but you kind of remember watching your Aunty Lessi play in those games on the TV.  And you remember her bringing home a shiny silver medal but being pretty sad about it. Your Aunty Leah wasn’t your Aunty yet back then though, so you didn’t know about her leg the first time around.

“Well, I decided that if I wasn’t going to be able to go play at the World Cup again, then I wanted to do something really, really meaningful with my time away from football.  I’ve always wanted to start a family, but it’s super difficult with football to fit it all in with our schedules.  But I knew that I would be away from the pitch for at least another 9 months, so, I asked Aunty Lessi if we could have a baby.  Try and make the best out of a bad situation” Aunty Leah explained, a sad looking smile on her face.

“Oh, that makes sense, I guess.  When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, right?” you replied, repeating the phrase your Daddy had taught you.

There was a short silence before your Aunties burst into an absolute fit of laughter, tears falling from their eyes as they tried time and time again to unsuccessfully stop their hysterics.

You didn’t know what was so funny about what you said.  Did you use the phrase wrong?  It was one your Daddy used all the time.  You’d thought it was a little bit silly at first too, but it definitely wasn’t laugh so hard you cry kind of funny.  But what if you’d used it totally wrong and they were laughing at you like the kids in school laughed at you when they thought you were uncool?

Loser. Loser. Loser

“S-sorry Bun, we’re not l-laughing at you, we promise,” your Aunty Leah muffled through her laughter.

“It’s… it’s just that, when Aunty Leah first talked to me about having a baby, she used that exact phrase, and I made her swear on her life that she would never, ever refer to our future child as lemonade ever again!” Aunty Lessi giggled.

You gasped, immediately terrified that you’d insulted your Aunty Lessi, mistakenly making fun of her unborn baby.  “Oh, I’m so, so sorry Aunty Lessi, I didn’t mean to be rude! I really didn’t-”

“No, no Bunny, it’s okay.  Because after that, pretty much everyone we told that Aunty Leah was pregnant and they realised the timeline with her knee said the exact same thing – when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!”

“And while Aunty Lessi was adamant at first that we couldn’t refer to the baby as Lemonade, well… we now sometimes do call them our little Lemonade.  It’s become an affectionate nickname of sorts,” Aunty Leah assured you.

“Really?” you asked, still terrified that you’d upset them.

“Yeah.  I guess we just weren’t expecting to hear that saying from you, so it caught us off guard a bit.  Sorry, we got a bit carried away.” Aunty Lessi promised you, reaching her hand back to take yours, her gesture both reassuring and comforting you.

“So, you call the baby Lemonade?” You asked after a short silence.  They both nodded with a giggle.  “Can I call the baby Lemonade?”  They both laughed again

“Okay, but only when it’s just us, alright?  We don’t want the team or anyone else catching on.  It’s our little secret. And once they’re born, we’ll call them by their real name,” Aunty Lessi bargained with you.

“Deal!”

“Deal!”

There was a short silence as the excitement of the revelation settled.  You suddenly realised all your questions hadn’t been answered.  “Okay, but what about the booby milk?”

Your Aunty Leah laughed before replying, “Only I will make that, and it’s just for the baby.  We won’t be putting it on cereal.  It’s got special nutrients in it that are just right for the baby because they can’t eat or drink anything else for the first several months.  Only the Mummy who is pregnant makes milk.”

“But what if the baby is hungry but you’re at the shops or something?  How does Aunty Lessi feed them?” you asked. 

“Well, I can do what is called pumping, which is basically using a machine to squeeze the milk out of my boobies so that we can store it for when I’m not around, or just so Aunty Lessi can feed the baby even if I am here.  You can even feed them if you want to”

“I can? Really?”  The thought of helping feed the baby, helping feed Lemonade, made you feel a strange, but nice, sense of warm and tingly.  You didn’t know what the feeling was, but it made you want to sing and fly and twirl.

“Yeah.  It might take a little while for them to get used to using a bottle, but once they’re used to it, you can definitely have a turn feeding them,” Aunty Lessi told you.

“So, it’s different to our cereal milk then?” you questioned.

“Yes, that’s cow’s milk.  Or some people use oat milk or goat milk or soy mi-”

“What about bunny milk?” you interrupted.

 “I’ve never heard of humans drinking bunny milk, I think only baby bunnies drink that.”  Aunty Lessi laughed at your question.  You weren’t too sure why.  If people drank cow’s milk and goat’s milk, why not bunny milk?

“And how do bunnies make babies?  Is it the same as people? They just love each other?” you enquired.

“Well, there’s a little bit more to it than that for both people and bunnies.  But it’s a bit complicated and I think we would be better off explaining it with the help of some books from the library.  How about we pick some out the next time we’re there, yeah?  We could maybe go on Tuesday after school,” Aunty Leah suggested.

“I like the sound of that” you agreed.

“I thought you might.”

--

As the car parked at the training ground, you looked out the window to see people dressed in red everywhere.  There was a large bus waiting out the front of the building, and a big brown dog with soft looking ears lying on the ground in front of the bus door.

You loved dogs.  You loved all animals really.  You connected with them far quicker, easier and deeper than you seemed to connect to humans, especially those your age.  You’d never been able to get a pet because your Daddy was allergic to lots of different kinds of fur, but whenever you got the chance to meet a dog or a cat or a bird or a lizard or a fish or turtle or a guinea pig or a horse or a BUNNY… you jumped at the opportunity.

As Aunty Lessi opened your door and helped you out of your car seat, your eyes stayed glued to the big brown dog the whole time.

“Alright Bunny, we just have to sign in, get our lanyards and th-” Aunt Leah began explaining.

“Can I pat the dog?” you interrupted, simply unable to wait any longer. 

Your Aunty Leah looked up from where she was pulling a bag out of the boot of the car and noticed where your gaze was fixated in the direction of the big soft looking brown dog.

“Oh yes, of course you can sweets.  That’s Winnie.  She’s our team dog.  She’s really friendly.”

Not needing to be told twice, you ran towards the dog, dropping to your knees as you reached her.  You carefully held your hand out to her as you’d been taught to do when meeting a new animal, and she gave you a good sniff before she sat up and rubbed her cheek against your hand. 

“Hi Winnie, I’m Y/K, but everyone calls me Bunny, or Bun.  It’s so nice to meet you.”  You began scratching at the fur behind her ears, her head tilting as you hit what seemed to be a good spot.  “You are such a pretty girl.  And you are oh so soft and shiny.”

“I’m happy to see you’ve made a friend already, Bun.”

You looked up to see your Aunty Lessi smiling down at you as she crouched down to give Win a pat too.

“Does she come to all your games and practices and stuff?” you asked.

“Not all of them, but she hangs around the training centre a lot and she does come to some games.  I believe she’s coming along to the Emirates with us today,” she replied.

“Really?  Is she coming on the bus too?  What kind of dog is she?  Where does she go when the game is on?  Does she sit in the stands?  If she’s the team dog, then where does she live?” you asked.

“Well, she’s a chocolate labrador-” your Aunty Lessi began to explain.

“Ya got a new fan, Win?”

You whipped your head around to the source of the peculiar sounding voice as a lady with big eyelashes and a really pretty smile came walking towards you.

“Bunny, this is Katie” your Aunty Lessi stood to greet the new arrival.

“Hey there Bun, I’ve heard all about ya from yer Aunties!”

You didn’t really know how to reply.  You had never been good at talking to new people, especially when you didn’t have a specific topic or task to talk to them about.

“Well, the girls and I heard yer big into reading, and wanted to learn a bit more about football, so we got ya a few books.  Some of them are about football, some of them are just ones we liked when we were kids.  I was never much of a reader, so I wouldn’t trust my recommendations, but there’s a few smarties in the team like you are, so those are the ones who we took the recommendations from.”  She winked at you as she held a large glittery purple gift bag out towards you.

“Oh wow. Th-Thank you. I’m sorry I didn’t bring any presents for you or the others.”

Selfish. Selfish. Selfish.

“Nah, don’t be silly kid.  This is a welcome to the team present from all the gals.  I just hope there isn’t any double ups with ones you’ve already read.  I’ve heard ya read loads of books!” 

“I-I have.  I love to read.  Thank you for the present” your hands trembled slightly as you took the bag from her grasp, overwhelmed by her kindness.

“No worries kiddo.  I hope you enjoy the game!”  She winked at you again before heading onto bus.

Winnie nudged at your hip with her nose, saddened that you’d stopped your pats to collect your present.  You looked between the bag in your hands and the dog, unsure of how to give both the attention they deserved. 

“How about I pop the present in the car, and we can go through it tonight after the game?  That way you’ve got something to look forward to at home, yeah?” Aunty Lessi suggested.

You nodded hastily, thankful for the suggestion.  She collected the bag from your hands and you immediately turned your attention back to Win, giggling as she rolled onto her back for you to scratch her tummy.

Much too soon it was time to say bye to Winnie and get on the big bus.  There was already lots of people bustling about amongst the seats as your Aunty Lessi guided you down the aisle toward two pairs of empty seats behind each other.  Your Aunty Leah sat in the front seats and you and Aunty Lessi sat in the back two.

The bus ride to the stadium was… chaotic.  Everyone on the team wanted to come meet you and say hi, but it’s rather overwhelming trying to learn all the new names and faces.  At some point you caught your Aunty Leah not so subtly waving people away as you began to curl against the window and rub Arthur’s ear softly across your cheek.  You’d reached forward and squeezed her hand through the gap in the seats in a silent thank you.  

You do specifically remember one player you met named Lia, because she has the same name as your Aunty, but apparently, it’s spelt differently.  She said she helped pick out some of the books in your present and that she’d love to go to the library with you some time.  When you asked your Aunty Leah if that would be okay, she had said “Absolutely!”

There was also another kid on the bus; a little boy running up and down the aisle with light up sneakers and a jersey with the number 19 on it.  You couldn’t quite figure out who his adults were though, because everyone seemed to treat him like their own.  He couldn’t be more than 2 or 3 years old you figured because he doesn’t seem to speak in full sentences and he still seemed a bit wobbly on his feet. 

At one point in the bus trip, he got upset over something and began crying and screaming for his Mummy.  A lady with pretty blue eyes and her hair in a tight little bun scurried down the aisle to pick him up and cuddle him.

“Is he okay?” you asked your Aunty Lessi.

“Oh, I’m sure Jack will be just fine.  I think he just took a little tumble.  Caitlin will make sure he’s all better,” she reassured you.

If you had thought the bus trip was overwhelming, that was nothing compared to the stadium itself.  As the bus drove in, there was a sea of people dressed in red and white that stretched on for as far as you could see.

You had watched your Aunties play before, both on television and in the stands, and you knew there were lots and lots of people who came to watch, but there was something different about seeing it from this perspective.

“It’s gunna be a bit loud once we park up and get out of the bus, alright Bun?  And like we talked about, there’s gunna be lots of people all over the place.  So make sure you keep your lanyard on and just hold tight to my hand until we get into the locker room, yeah?” Aunty Lessi reminded you.

“Can do, Aunty Lessi” you replied.

When the bus came to a stop, you gripped your Aunty Lessi’s hand tight.  It was only a few steps, but the noise as you got off the bus and entered through the players entrance was entirely overwhelming.  You couldn’t help but screw your face up as the screeches and squeals rattled and clawed at every bone in your body.  You lifted your hands to cover your ears, but both were full – one with your Aunty Lessi’s hand, and the other clutched tight to Arthur.

Thankfully the cheering and squealing noise faded out pretty quickly as you moved through the underbelly of the stadium, making your way into the locker room.  Your Aunty Lessi guided you over to a cubby that had your Aunty Leah’s name on it.

“I’ve got to go do pitch inspections and get dressed and ready for the game now.  Will you be alright just hanging out here?  Aunty Leah is just doing a quick interview, but she should be in shortly and I will be around, yeah?” she asked, handing you your backpack.

You nodded, quite happy to curl up into the little nook with Arthur and a book.  You unzipped your bag and retrieved your book as well as the little purple blanket you’d stuffed in there, and bundled yourself up.  But before you could start reading, your eyes drifted over all the different names on the back of the players shirts that hung in the other cubbies.

Fox, 2.  Mead, 9.  Walti (there was some funny dots above the A in her name, which you made a mental note to research when you next had your iPad), 13.  Foord, 19.  McCabe, 11.

Wait.  McCabe.  McCabe’s number was the one Aunty Leah had said you weren’t allowed to get printed on your jersey. 

“The only rule is that you’re not allowed to pick McCabe’s number, because we will never hear the end of that, okay?”

They had all seemed really nice on the bus, but if Aunty Leah had made a rule, then there had to be a reason for it.  Maybe McCabe was mean to your Aunties like the kids at school were to you?

When the players all shuffled in and placed their belongings in their cubbies, you were immediately confused to see the nice lady with big eyelashes who had given you the bag of books sit down in front of the McCabe jersey.  You were even more confused when the little boy from the bus toddled up to her and asked “Ma! Ma!  Kywa has sweeties.  I has them too?”

“Ya already sweeties on the bus Jack.  If ya have too many more, ya won’t be able to sit still enough to watch the game” she told him, crouching down to straighten out his red and white shirt.

The little boy’s head fell forward immediately, his bottom lip jutting out as he looked like he was about to cry.  “But-but- Ma! I want the sweeties! I be good.  Promise.  I sit still.”

“Alright, but just one.  You hear that Kyra, just one,” she shouted, making sure a cheeky looking player holding a bag of sweets heard her.

“Kywa, Ma said yes.  I has sweeties!” the little boy cheered, running off toward who you figured must be Kyra’s direction.  She scooped him up in her arms and gave him a high five before offering him the bag of sweets to choose from.

You really couldn’t wrap your head around how the McCabe you’d met and observed today could possibly be mean to your Aunties like the kids at school were to you.  She seemed like a good ‘Ma’ and she had been really kind to you.  There had to be another reason why your Aunty Leah wouldn’t let you get her number on your shirt.

As you sat and pondered, your Aunty Leah entered the locker room.

“Looks like you’ve got yourself all set up here, Bun,” she chuckled as she approached you, placing her bag in the shelf below where you sat.  You nodded, squeezing Arthur tight.

“Okay, so normally for the game friends and family sit way up the top of the stadium in fancy seats, so that’s where like my Mum and cousins and stuff will be sitting.  But because I can’t play at the moment because of the baby, we thought you might like to sit down behind the subs bench with me, so you don’t have to go sit with people you don’t know very well.  Is that alright?” she asked.

You nodded immediately, terrified at the thought of having to sit with a bunch of people you didn’t really know.  “Y-yes please.  If that’s okay with your boss?”

“Of course it is.  I double checked with all the big bosses and it’s totally fine.  I do warn you that I can get a little bit… well… passionate about the game at times” she chuckled. 

“Passionate?  She’ll scream your bloody ear off!” a lady with blonde hair and blue eyes interjected.  She’d introduced herself of the bus but you couldn’t quite remember her name.  You think it started with a B?  Belle?  Bess?

“Oh, ignore her Bunny.  I’ll be on my best behaviour.  But I did bring you a pair of earmuffs just in case it’s a bit too loud in the stadium,” she reached into her bag and pulled out a pair of sparkly purple ear defenders.  There was a little cartoon bunny sticker on each of the ears.

You were in awe.  They were so pretty and they had obviously been purchased specifically with you in mind.  Wriggling out of your blanket burrow, you leaped toward your Aunty Leah, wishing a simple hug could show just how much these earmuffs meant to you.

“Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.”

Thank angle was awkward due to her big baby belly, but you felt her nestle her nose against the top of your head and smile.

“Anything for you, babygirl.”

--

The game was intense.  There was lots and lots and lots of people.  Your Aunties team was versing a blue team called Chelsea, and from what you could tell, they seemed to be Arsenal’s archrivals.

The noise between the fans was beyond intense, and you were so overwhelmingly grateful for the earmuffs your Aunty Leah had given you.  They didn’t block out everything, but they took the edge off the screeching sounds of horns and squealing cries of other young girls in the crowd. 

During the game there were lots of attempts from both teams at kicking the ball into the back of the net, but none of them had been successful.  Toward the end of the second half, the referee had pulled out several yellow cards from her shirt pocket – you weren’t quite sure what that meant, but you had made a mental note to research that.  Your Aunty Leah had told you that each half went for 45 minutes but when the big clock hit 45:00 another lady on the sideline held up a board with the number 4 on it and play appeared to go on.  It was all very confusing. 

But then… then the blue team made some kind of mistake, and it seemed like Arsenal had heaps of room to themselves and out of nowhere your Aunty Lessi was flying down the pitch towards the goal with the ball at her feet.

Within moments she was smashing the ball passed the opposition’s goalkeeper and into the back of the net.  Beside you, your Aunty Leah sprung to her feet, screaming with joy.

“Yessss!  That’s my girl!  Come on, Less!”

The crowd around you roared, scarves swinging, horns shrieking, music blaring.

Your Aunty Lessi ran towards where you were sitting and threw her hands up into a love heart shape, before pointing right at you, the smile on her face as big as you’d ever seen it.

For a brief moment it felt really nice to know your Aunty Lessi had been thinking about you while she was playing and scoring the goal.  You felt that same warm feeling, tingly feeling that you’d felt early in the car; the one that made you want to sing and fly and twirl.  You felt a sense of safety and home, thinking for just a moment that maybe you could be a part of your Aunties forever family, maybe there could be room for you in their lives even after Lemonade arrive.

But then, you realised there were cameras pointed in your direction and your face was on the big screens and everyone in the stadium was looking directly at you.  Your hands began to tremble, and your cheeks began to flush as the walls of the stadium felt as though they were crashing in on you.  You burrowed your face deep into the plush fur of Arthur’s belly and soon your felt your Aunty Leah’s arms wrap around you and pull you into her side.  You could hear your heart beating in your ears as you clung to fabric of your Aunty’s jacket. 

A few moments later you felt her gently tug back the cup on your earmuffs and whisper to you, “You’re okay Bun, it’s alright.  The cameras are off you now.  It’s okay sweetie.”

Whilst you were relieved to hear the cameras were no longer directed at you, your whole body was still trembling; your breath so tight in your throat you thought you might soon pass out.  Your Aunty Leah pulled back a little to look down at you, her face covered in concern.  She tried to tell you something, but you couldn’t make out the words, her voice muffled by a mixture of the earmuffs and what you could only describe as the sound of ringing and whooshing and thumping and silence all mixed together.

You could feel your chest becoming tighter and tighter as your eyes flickered around trying to figure out the source of the tightness.  It kind of reminded you of the tightness you felt when you couldn’t breathe because of the… smoke.

Smoke means fire!

Was there a fire?

You needed to get out of there.

You needed to get your Aunty Leah out of there.  You needed to get Lemonade out of there.

You couldn’t see fire.  You couldn’t smell smoke.  There was no smoke alarm.  But the tightness in your chest.  It could only be that.  It had to be that.

As you tried to get to your feet to get you and your Aunty Leah and Lemonade out of there, you felt them collapse underneath you.  You felt a thud to your head, but then there was nothing.  Simply nothing.

[millyh23]

Abuelita

Alexia Putellas x Reader

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The Barça team was gathered at a lively café, chatting and laughing over coffee and pastries. Alexia was seated comfortably beside you, her arm resting on the back of your chair, as she listened to Vicky animatedly tell a story to Jana, Bruna, and Salma across the table.

Vicky’s words flowed quickly, with phrases that even you had to concentrate on to catch. But Alexia was nodding along, as if she understood every word—until she leaned in, eyebrows furrowing.

"Wait… what does ‘it hits different’ mean?” Alexia asked, looking between them, a bit lost. The younger girls exchanged amused glances.

“Ah, Ale,” Bruna said, barely hiding her grin. “You wouldn’t get it. Too old-school.”

You bit back a laugh, glancing at Mapi, who had also caught the teasing. She shot you a mischievous look before leaning in with a grin. “Hear that, Ale? Gen Z is trying to tell you something.”

“Excuse me,” Alexia protested, scandalized, her eyes darting between the girls and you. “Old? I’m not old!”

“Oh, sure,” you teased, patting her knee. “Next thing you know, they’ll be showing you how to use emojis, abuelita.”

Everyone burst into laughter, and Alexia’s mouth dropped open in exaggerated shock. “I am not an abuelita! Just because I missed a couple of phrases!”

Salma winked. “It’s okay, Ale. You’re vintage.”

Mapi leaned closer to you, laughing as she whispered, “And here I thought she was the queen of cool.”

Later that evening, you and Alexia were back home, winding down on the couch. She had one arm slung over the backrest, scrolling through her phone, her usual relaxed expression back in place. But you couldn’t resist one last tease.

You nudged her, hiding a grin. “You know, they had a point. You were really struggling today with the slang.”

Alexia narrowed her eyes, giving you a playful glare. “Don’t even start.”

You stretched your arms over your head dramatically. “It’s fine! I get it. You’re probably used to words like… I don’t know, fax machine and VHS—totally normal, classic stuff.”

She scoffed, setting her phone aside and shifting to face you. “Excuse me, I’m not ancient! I’m 30, Y/N.”

“30 is practically 40,” you said with a smirk. “And 40 is practically—”

“Don’t you dare continue.” She tried to look offended but couldn’t keep a straight face, her lips twitching into a smile.

You shrugged innocently. “Hey, I’m just saying, maybe you should start preparing. We can get you one of those pill organizers and a nice pair of reading glasses—”

Alexia scoffed again, though her eyes sparkled with amusement. “You’re hilarious, you know that?”

“I try,” you said with a wink. “But seriously, I could teach you some phrases. We can get you caught up with the cool kids. How about lowkey? Like, lowkey, you’re kinda cute even if you’re old.”

“Lowkey, you’re testing my patience,” she shot back, but she was laughing now, tugging you into her side.

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop… for now,” you relented, snuggling up against her, feeling her relax under your touch.

Alexia huffed, pretending to sulk. “I’m telling the team you’re a bully.”

“Oh, please. They already know I’m your biggest fan,” you teased, smiling as you felt her laugh under you.

---

It was a typical Saturday evening, and you and Alexia were sprawled out on the couch after a long day of training. You were scrolling through your phone, catching up on messages, while Alexia sat next to you, humming absently as she flicked through a magazine.

Suddenly, your phone pinged, and you saw the group chat lighting up. The usual suspects—Vicky, Jana, Bruna, and Salma—had started their usual banter.

Vicky: “Anyone up for dinner at 8? I’m thinking sushi 🍣.”

Jana: “I’m in! LFG! 🍻”

Bruna: “Same here, but gotta bounce early. Gotta get my beauty sleep 😴”

Salma: “Same, girl. TTYL!”

You smiled, seeing the typical chaos in the chat, but then you noticed Alexia peeking over your shoulder, trying to read the messages.

“What’s ‘LFG’?” Alexia asked, squinting at the screen.

You turned to her with a grin. “You don’t know?”

She straightened up, looking defensive. “Of course, I do. Just wanted to see if you were paying attention.”

You raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Right. Sure.”

Alexia leaned back with a casual shrug, trying to act like it wasn’t a big deal. “Well, what does it mean?”

You suppressed a laugh. “It means Let’s F*ing Go, Ale.”

Her eyes widened for a moment, then she quickly tried to recover. “Oh, right. Totally knew that.” She gave you a nod, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

You couldn’t help but chuckle. “Sure you did.”

The next message pinged up.

Vicky: “Yo, can someone get the S&P from the fridge? ASAP?”

Alexia furrowed her brows again. “What’s ‘S&P’?”

You raised an eyebrow, trying to keep a straight face. “Salt and Pepper, Ale. Obviously.”

Alexia looked at you, trying to keep her cool. “Well, I knew that,” she said confidently, though you could see the uncertainty in her eyes.

Another ping came through.

Jana: “BRB, gotta grab my OOTD for dinner!”

Alexia just blinked. “Okay, I know BRB means ‘be right back’… but what’s OOTD?”

You bit your lip to suppress a laugh. “Outfit of the Day, babe. Classic fashion lingo.”

She exhaled sharply. “Of course, I knew that.”

“Right,” you teased. “Totally.”

Another message came through, this time from Bruna.

Bruna: “That’s a mood, Vicky!”

Alexia stared at it for a long moment. “…What does ‘mood’ mean? Like, the weather?”

Now, you couldn’t hold it in anymore. You burst out laughing, clutching your stomach. “No, Ale. Mood means—well, I guess you can think of it as like when something vibes with you.”

Alexia looked horrified, but instead of admitting defeat, she crossed her arms defiantly. “Okay, well, I’m learning. I’m not old like you think I am.”

“Uh-huh,” you teased, ruffling her hair playfully. “Keep telling yourself that, Ale.”

Alexia rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips. “I’m definitely not as bad as you make it sound.”

You leaned over, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. “You’re adorable, Ale. Don’t worry, I’m here to help you with your cool kid education.”

As the next message came through, you saw Alexia’s eyes narrowing at the screen, but this time, she kept her mouth shut, likely trying to figure it out on her own.

Salma: “Catch y’all at 8, IRL. Can’t wait for the vibes ✌🏼”

You waited a moment, then turned to Alexia with a grin. “Do you know what IRL means?”

Alexia’s face betrayed her confidence now. She stared at the screen and then looked back at you, frowning slightly. “It’s… not important.”

You raised your eyebrows in amusement. “You don’t know, do you?”

“I know! It’s… I’m Really Lame,” she said, her voice rising a bit as if she was trying to convince herself more than you.

You burst into laughter again, earning a playful shove from Alexia. “You’re so full of it, Ale.”

“Fine,” she huffed, slumping dramatically. “Maybe I’m a little behind. But I’m catching up!”

You smiled, wrapping your arm around her. “Don’t worry, I’m here for you. You’re not that old.”

“Ha ha, funny,” she muttered, giving you a sideways glare. “I’m going to learn all the abbreviations, and then I’ll make you feel ancient.”

“Good luck with that,” you grinned, kissing the top of her head. “In the meantime, I’ll just keep you up to date on all the latest slang.”

Alexia mumbled something, but you caught her trying not to smile. It was cute—though she’d never admit it, you knew she was secretly enjoying being the student for once.

After a long week of intense training, you dropped onto the couch beside Alexia with a dramatic groan, sinking into the cushions like you were trying to become part of the furniture.

“Ugh, my back is killing me,” you muttered, rubbing at a sore spot between your shoulders.

Alexia raised an eyebrow, the corners of her mouth curling up in a smirk. “Who’s old now, hmm?” she teased, giving you a light nudge.

You glared at her, feigning offense. “Excuse me, my back pain is from being overworked, not from old age.”

She chuckled, stretching out beside you and crossing her arms over her chest. “Sure, keep telling yourself that. You sounded like a grandma just now.”

“Alright, abuelita,” she cooed in a teasing tone, grinning as she patted your hand like you were ancient.

You gave her a playful shove, trying to suppress a laugh. “Listen, just because I have one tiny backache doesn’t mean I’m old.”

Alexia tilted her head with an exaggerated look of sympathy. “Do we need to get you one of those heated blankets? Or maybe a nice back brace?”

“Oh, you’re hilarious, Ale,” you said, rolling your eyes, though you couldn’t stop smiling.

She leaned in, clearly relishing the moment. “I mean, I could help you schedule a physical therapy appointment. Maybe get you into some gentle yoga?”

You laughed, trying to hide how much you were enjoying her teasing. “Please, I’m still in my prime! You, on the other hand, are the one struggling to keep up with Gen Z slang.”

She raised her hands in surrender, feigning innocence. “Fine, fine. I’ll let it go… for now. But I’m just saying, if you need me to fetch you some extra pillows, just let me know.”

You groaned, reaching for a pillow to toss at her, which she dodged easily, laughing.

“Alright, maybe I’ll go see the team physio,” you admitted, finally giving in. “But only if you promise to stop calling me abuelita.”

Alexia leaned back, crossing her arms with a self-satisfied grin. “We’ll see, grandma. I- I mean amore," Alexia quickly corrected.

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The End