#miedema

[vivsballer]

Need someone to create an twitter/x gc to talk about woso, arsenal…

I am @/mtcgabi

[onna0]

I'm jealous 🥲

[neuripley]

I do wish there was an arsenal version of this card but ah well

[ricegaard]

[aleswoso]

i may not be a gooner, but i have so much respect for viv, she is a fantastic, accomplished player who has inspired so many girls and women to watch and enjoy (and feel included) in football when they may have not felt that before.

she has accomplished and done so many incredible things and while i’m sad to see her leave the club she’s been at for 7 long years, i know she’ll go on to do even more amazing things, no matter what she does or where she goes.

once a gooner, always a gooner.

what a player. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[hermywolf]

i rly dont know how to feel abt viv leaving arsenal. on one hand i mean obviously thats great for us bc shes so good, AND theres the possibility that she'll join city apparently?? if she joins us i'll be delighted ofc. but shes SO arsenal though its never gonna be the same in the wsl, this really feels like the end of an era idk..

[dutchmeadema95]

Vivi 🥰

[rightscoop]

Arsenal fans' fury over Miedema was 'so great' I had to resign, says Eidevall

Former Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall said the departure of club icon Vivianne Miedema in July was the main reason for his resignation in October, saying the situation created a rift with fans who had no “quick solution” and cast a “cloud” over the new station. After joining in 2017, Women’s Super League (WSL) record goalscorer Miedema produced 125 goals and 50 assists in 172 appearances for the…

[vivsballer]

🤓

Vivianne Miedema Glasses Appreciation

Request an appreciation | with @totaly-obsessed

[woso-dreamzzz]

Foster III

Vivianne Miedema x Teen!Reader

Summary: You can't stop shaking

It was only when you got on the train, that you realised exactly what you had just done.

You could feel everything all of a sudden - the pounding of your heart, the noise of the train, the feel of clothes on your skin. Your chest feels tight and you reach your hand up to try and massage it out but it only serves to make it all worse.

Your stomach feels like a deep pit, swirling and churning as you try to keep your breathing under control. The hairs on the back of your neck prick up like someone's watching you but the moment you turn around, you know you're wrong.

You know you're just imagining things because no one here even knows who you are, least of all think you're someone important enough to even give a second look at.

But it feels like you're on fire, like everyone is staring at you, like everyone is judging you for even the rise and fall of your shoulders in time with your breathing.

Your throat feels dry, like you've been walking for three days in the desert and your hands shake near uncontrollably as you try to open the lid of your water bottle.

You give up, unable to stop your hands from nearly spilling the whole thing over yourself.

No one sits in the seats near you and for that you're grateful because you can hide your shaking hands under the table and try to forget that they even exist...

Try to forget you even exist.

You're still in your school uniform - the weight of your grey school blazer heavy on your shoulders and the cotton of your tights rubbing against legs.

It was a half day today. The final bell rang at half past twelve.

You hadn't told Beth it was a half day.

You made sure she thought this was just another normal day at school.

You made sure she didn't think you were going to get the bus to the train station. You made sure she didn't think you were going to get on a train.

You made sure she didn't even suspect you.

Train tickets were expensive, more expensive than you thought they would be.

If you were still living with your parents then there would have been no hope but Beth gave you pocket money every week - a decent amount - and you'd saved it up to buy just one ticket.

The tightness in your chest doesn't fade. It doesn't become more manageable. But you do get used to the pressure. You get used to the feeling of it not going away, to the feeling of your chest staging protest against you.

Your stomach still swirls, churning and twisting in rebellion, like you can suddenly hijack this train and drive it straight back to London.

Your phone rings and you flinch, your mouth already growing dry and the pressures in your chest and stomach tightening.

Your hands are shaking, still trembling uncontrollably as you see who's calling.

Who else?

You reach out for your phone.

To do what, you're not sure.

Maybe answer it, if you can bring yourself to do it.

The name flashes on your screen and the profile picture teases you.

You reach out, a small movement but enough to bring your shaking hands back into your vision.

You can't even look at them, the way they shake and tremble like they have minds of their own.

You can't do it.

You won't.

You hide your hands under the table again and try to take another breath, no matter how much it feels like forcing yourself to swallow molten metal.

Your phone rings again and you squeeze you eyes tight so you can't hear it.

You consider turning your phone off but that requires your hands.

Your stupid, shaking hands and your apparent lack of control over them.

So, you sit on the train with your earphones in.

You listen to your phone ring over and over again.

Like on a loop.

You try to shut it out. You try to ignore it.

But the calls keep coming and the pressure in your body weighs you down, crushing you under its immense weight.

You open your eyes again and a different profile picture is on your screen.

Your throat bobs nervously but you manage to somehow ignore your trembling hands as you reach for it.

"Hi," Comes the soft voice. It's quiet and soft and not at all angry like you thought it would. "Where are you right now? Are you okay?"

"I-"

"Are you safe? Can you tell me that?"

"I'm...I'm safe," You choke out the words," I'm safe."

"That's good. Now, where are you right now?"

"On a train."

"Alright. Where's that train going?"

"Man-Manchester."

A sharp breath is sucked in on the other end of the line and you brace yourself for the anger, for the shouting and screaming and swearing.

But it doesn't come.

It never comes.

"From London, right?"

"Y-Yeah."

"I'm going to check what trains are coming in and I'll be waiting at the station for you. Alright?"

"Y-Yeah...It is."

"Now, I'm going to stay on the phone with you, is that okay? We don't have to talk. I just want to stay on the phone to make sure you're safe."

So you sit in silence for the rest of the journey apart from the odd breathing sounds that come from the other side of the line.

You're amazed that your legs aren't shaking when you get off the train and onto the platform. You're amazed that you have the wherewithal to even cross the station.

Viv's arms twist themselves around your back as you come closer, drawing you in as you bury your head in her shoulder.

"It's okay," She says," It's okay. I've got you. You're safe."

You're crying before you even realise it, gripping her tightly like you're scared she's just a phantom and not actually real. Like if you let go of her, she'll disappear with the wind.

"I...I don't...I...I worried Beth. She-She kept calling me. She's going to be so mad."

"She's not mad at all," Viv assures you," She knows you're with me. She knows you're safe. She's not mad, I promise. She just wants you safe and you are. With me."

You sniffle against her jacket.

"I don't want to see my mum this weekend. Please don't make me."

"Shh, shh," She says softly," It's okay. I've got you. You've had a long day. Let's get you home, alright? Home and fed and we'll discuss everything later. Is that alright?"

You nod.

"Good," Viv says," Let's get you home."

[vivsballer]

Viv scoring a screamer against Aston Villa ☄️🐐

25.01.2025

[onna0]

favourite dutchies 😍🫶

[mercurycft]

𝐑𝐔𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐑 — 𝐀𝐖𝐅𝐂

## reader x awfc !!

hi all!! finally releasing this, which is in honour of jonas finally pissing off away from our girls and our team! i hope you enjoy! love always, RGx

warnings: angsty team x management arguments, mentions of mental health!

3.6k words.

“i’m sure the team will be buzzing with joy this evening after tonight’s win, but how are the girls and yourself taking the recent and surprising departure of a lifelong gunner?”

“yeah, as you said we’re all pleased with the result tonight - it was a great match with a good side and i think the score reflects the determination we took onto the pitch with us.” you watch as beth pauses, like she is searching for words that will do her feelings justice. “she was the best of us, not just the team but the best of us and our friends. i think she was and is destined for great things, but life and people unfortunately happened to get in the way. but i’m happy, we’re all, happy for her.”

you've known beth long enough to know when she is lying and it pains you to realise how the tone of her voice drops at the mention of you. it stings momentarily, but you shake it off and allow pride to take over you as the camera pans to the rest of the team taking their victory lap.

you find yourself smiling absentmindedly at your phone, having sat through the entire match with your eyes glued to your phone - watching your girls on the pitch from your home, instead of beside them for the first time in years. your stomach filled with a cocktail of emotions that you can’t seem to process at this very moment. a toxic mixture of sadness and despair, twisted and twined with anger and hatred for what the situation had become.

its been two weeks since your statement went out, three since you made the decision and four since the argument. in an ideal world, it wouldn’t have gone this way - you would’ve stomached your feelings for longer and swallowed your bubbling anger, bit your tongue and carried on as usual. but for some reason, you just couldn’t.

------

1 month ago.

a 3-0 win should be celebrated. it should fill you with joy and overwhelming excitement - but it doesn't. instead, it fills you with nothing but anger and resentment for the club you once loved, you used to love. in place of congratulations and pats on the back, is a lecture. a plethora of critiques and corrections despite the effort and conviction everyone had shown.

you and the rest of the girls stand huddled in a group in the locker room, stood in an agonising silence. your hair is still wet, from the sickly british rain that decided to visit, your face still tinted red and your chest still heaving.

you tune out to jonas' voice, watching absentmindedly as he paces ahead of the group - volume above his usual decibel as he tears into the group, pushing further and further. you don't listen, allowing your mind to wander. no one dares talk back, instead choosing to take his words. you, however, fail to be as nonchalant as them - swallowing the bubble of anger in your throat and biting your tongue to the best of your ability.

your mind is brought back into the tiled room at the snap of your name from the front of the group. you look up to be met with jonas' eyes on you - his eyebrows raised and seemingly awaiting an answer. "what?" you mumble through gritted teeth, eyes locked on his.

"do you care to fill the rest of us in on what is so important besides my feedback right now?"

you shake your head, matched with a sarcastic looking, sickly-sweet smile and lift your hand top gesture towards him. "oh please, carry on."

"i dont appreciate your attitude," he quips back, screwing his facial features together, feining disgust.

"whatever," you scoff, rolling your eyes and peeling yourself away from the bodies beside you - now overly aware of their eyes on you.

"i'm out." pause. "i'm going to leave, and have a glass of wine and celebrate a fucking win." you turn away from them, too busy to take off your kit and instead scrunching your clothes and belongings into your kit bag. "which by the way, is what we should all be doing! instead of standing here taking shit because he didn't like how we were moving on the pitch!"

there was a shift from him, and a deep red tint crept up his neck as he shot daggers at you from across the tiles. “i do everything for this team! maybe once in a while, it would be nice for you to do the same if you think you know better! please, do tell us, what makes you think you have done anything of significance for this team? for arsenal!”

it changed, then. the small shred of sympathy you had, the small shred of guilt - gone. ripped from inside you and splattered across the walls of your home stadium locker room. the girls around you seemed shocked at his words, confused and unsure of what to expect next.

you paused. taking a deep breath and halting your shoving of clothes and shoes into your bag, and turning to face him directly through the sea of red and white kits in front of you.

“what do i do, for this team?” the question sounded almost broken, like you couldn’t actually believe he was playing this card. you searched for the answer deep within yourself for a few seconds, allowing the hurt to build in your throat and fuel the fire burning deep behind your eyes and in the pit of your stomach. your eyes flicked over each of the faces now looking at you and a small smile teased at the corners of your lips as you looked at their concerned expressions.

after a few more moments of silence, you inhaled deeply and began. “i’ve given my life, to this club. to this team. i put in the work, i trained day and night in the academy, until i was enough for the senior team. and when i made it here, i made a difference. i stepped up when kim was out, when leah was out. when laura first moved here, i took her in.” you paused, taking another shaky breath, cautious of the tears held back by nothing more than your water line. “i don’t expect you to give a shit. but whilst you were too busy tearing this team down. katie for her aggression, kim for her captaining style, leah for her rehabilitation, viv for her performance, beth for her drive, lia for training hours and every other fucking player in this building. i was building them back up, i was trying to make this right.”

silence fell over the room, and you shook your head. “im done.” you all but whispered, slinging your bag over your shoulder and moving towards the large doors leading away from the locker room. “i can’t do this anymore, this club is my home - and i will not watch you tear it down.” you shoved the door, a single teare slipping down your cheek the second you heard the door swing back on its latch and close again. you didn't stop to say goodbye to the familiar faces in the building, instead, with your head down and focused on the floor beneath you - you walked straight into the carpark, got into your car and drove home.

as you drove away, the weight of your decision settled in your chest. you couldn't believe it had come to this, that you had walked away from the team you had poured your heart and soul into. all the emotions you had been burying for weeks and weeks on end were now uncontrollable, tears streaming as you contemplated your actions but you knew you couldn't bear to stay in an environment where your efforts were belittled and unappreciated.

after a 40 minute drive, you found solace and refuge in the familiar walls of your apartment. the silence enveloped you as you sank onto the sofa, reaching for your phone. you hestitated in pulling it out of your bag, unsure of what may be waiting for you when you unlock it.

but still, you did, heaving a deep breath when your screen lit up with a message from beth. her words expressing concern and confusion about what had transpired in the locker room. as you read beth's message, a mix of emotions washed over you - relief that someone cared enough to reach out, but also a pang of guilt for leaving without saying a proper goodbye. to her, to any of the girls in the room. you quickly typed out a response, skipping over the details of your motives - instead opting for a light hearted message, apologising for your abrupt exit and apologising for not controlling your temper.

minutes turned into hours as you sat there, staring at your phone, the weight of your actions heavy on your shoulders. you hadn’t moved, still sat in your jacket and kit, boots still tied to your feet. the sound of a familiar notification pinged through the room - like it had been doing on repeat since that first message from beth, and you saw more messages popping up from your now ex-teammates.

------

1 week later - 3 weeks ago.

the days blurred into a week as you settled into a routine without the training sessions, team meetings, and the constant thoughts of upcoming matches that used to consume your time. you found freedom in the quiet moments alone, the weight of expectation now lifted off your shoulders, a sense of liberation starting to bloom within you. you finally felt like a person, not just a player.

you had been speaking to the girls everyday, each of them keeping you up to date on life behind the scenes of the club. the drama and tension seemed to have escalated in your absence, with rumors swirling about disputes between jonas and some of the other players. your decision to leave had sent shockwaves through the team, but it also seemed to have sparked a newfound sense of unity among everyone.

it was a miserable london evening when you got your first unexpected visit, darkness just creeping across the clouds when a knock at the door interrupted your law and order binge.

to your surprise, standing on your doorstep was leah, with a hesitant smile on her face.

a flood of questions and uncertainties raced through your mind as you stood frozen in the doorway, unsure of what to say or how to react to her unexpected visit.

"hey," leah began, her voice soft yet laced with underlying tension. "uh, can I come in?"

you hesitated for a moment, the inner turmoil evident on your face as you considered whether to welcome her inside. finally, you stepped back, wordlessly opening the door wider to allow her entry. leah entered cautiously, taking in the familiar surroundings of your apartment with a mix of nostalgia and apprehension.

there was a palpable tension in the air as you both stood in the living room, the silence stretching between you like a taut wire. you shared the quiet for a second or two before leah spoke up, her words carefully measured. "i know things have been rough lately... for all of us, you especially, i wanted to come here and talk, clear the air maybe?”

you studied her face, searching for any hint of insincerity, but all you found was genuine concern etched in the furrow of her brow. with a sigh, you nodded, gesturing towards the couch for her to sit. as she settled on the edge of the cushion, you perched on the arm beside her, like you used to.

"i just... i wanted to say that i'm sorry. sorry for not speaking up before, for not standing by you when things blew up. i let my own fears and doubts cloud my judgment, and i should have been there for you, we all should have been there for you."

her words hung heavy in the air, mingling with the unspoken tension that had plagued your relationship for months. you could sense the sincerity in her voice, the raw vulnerability that she rarely showed to anyone.

“i appreciate it, but it wasn’t your fight, le.”

“your fights are our fights, you’re one of us, you always have been. you always will be”

you gave her a half smile in response, and moved closer to her on the sofa - opening your arms to her. she mirrored your smile, allowing your arms to wrap around her and hers around you.

after a few moments, you pulled away, looking at her directly. “thank you, for coming round. and for looking after me for all these years. but i think,” you paused, sniffling and turning your attention to the fabric of the sofa below you. “i think its time,”

she nodded along with you, taking a deep breath before smiling at you. “if that’s what you want to do, then do it, and we will support you. i promise.”

“i don’t know how to tell the girls, i haven’t seen any of them since i left. i don’t want them to find out through social media,” you rambled.

“we’re all meeting at mine tomorrow, why dont you come along? i know they want to see you, and i think you deserve a night to relax with us - gunner style.” you share a laugh at her comment, agreeing to see the girls. a small shred of anxiety tore through the depths of your stomach, but you shook it off; determined to do the right thing.

the next day seemed to fly by, seeming to disappear from you as you spent the hours doing odd jobs - attempting to distract yourself from the uneasiness gnawing at your insides.

now, you find yourself outside leah’s flat. she said 7, but you underestimated the traffic at this time in this part of the city - so you’re late, as per usual, and composing of yourself on the door step. after a deep breath, you raise your hand to knock.

once, twice, then the door flies open. a smiley young aussie waiting to greet you, her arms immediately around you and pulling you tight to her frame. “jesus, i missed you,” she whispers into your shoulder. “i missed you too, k.” you pull apart and she grabs your hand, pulling you from the now closed door and into the living area. it’s littered with everyone you know and love.

they greet you like nothing has changed, arms wrapped around you and whispers, comments and remarks of support. you slip into the group like you never left.

after you’ve eaten, and have returned to the living area, you stand up - allowing everyone’s eyes to fall on you. you take a deep breath, smiling at them then looking down at your thumbs. you twiddle them and enterlock your hands as you search for the best way to say it.

“i wanted you to hear it from me, that next week, a statement will be released. a statement explaining my temporary contract termination from arsenal. i love you all, like my family. i don’t want any of you to feel like any of this is your fault, but i just feel like i’m at a different point in my life right now - a point where my views, and the clubs managment’s views no longer align. i can’t jeopardise my mental health, for people who can’t seem to put me, or my friends, first.”

you say it in one, your mouth and words moving faster than your brain can comprehend. you finish with a shallow breath, looking up to the group. they take it well, a few of them shedding tears at the offical loss of their friend and teammate, others hugging you and sharing comforting smiles. you know it needs to happen, but this is the part that kills you. leaving behind your family, your people.

the night draws to an end and you begin saying your goodbyes, promising to keep in touch and arranging plans to meet up soon. as you start making your way out of the room and towards the door, kim pulls you aside. you can’t read her expression, a sickening mixture of sadness and happiness for you.

“i’ll miss you,” she says softly, reaching out to squeeze your hand. “but I know you’re doing what’s best for you. just don’t be a stranger, okay?”

you nod, feeling a lump form in your throat as you hug her tightly one last time before heading out the door.

------

1 week later - 2 weeks ago.

3pm. your phone dings with a notification from the arsenal woman’s football club instagram and app, giving you and thousands of others the news of a new and important post. you hover your finger over the notification, hestitating.

you open it eventually, propping your phone up as the video loads onto the screen. you cringe at the sight of you, expectant of whats to come.

“hi gooners, it’s so nice to sit down and speak to you. this year marks my 15th year at arsenal, if we’re taking it all the way back to my first academy scouting when i was 8. i have nothing my fondness and admiration for this club, these people and this community. to be apart of this team and to watch the growth of woman’s football has been an honour and a pleasure i will forever be grateful for. when i think back on my years here, i have nothing but happy memories. memories of friends, of wins and of losses, of meeting fans and selling out stadiums. some of these things we never believed would be possible, but you, every last one of you, have made it possible. after 15 years of my life dedicated to the game, i think it’s time to take a break. temporarily and indefinitely, i will be taking a step back from the club. thank you all for your unwaivering support, it means the world to me. this is a special club, which remains my home. but my health and wellbeing needs to be my number one priority. thank you.”

you watch as the video comes to an end, and the messages, comments and likes begin. you switch off your phone after a few minutes, tucking it under a cushion on your sofa and resuming your show - tuning out the constant buzzing.

------

present day.

you watch until the live recording of the match ends, you watch all of the post-match interviews, with nothing other than a smile on your face. when the stream finally does end, you feel like you can breathe again, switching to your messages app and drafting a text into the groupchat to congratulate the girls on their win. you press send, then abandon your phone beside you somewhere on the sofa. paying it no mind and you lean back into the comfort of the cushions and pillows surrounding you.

as you sink deeper into the softness, you let out a content sigh, feeling a sense of peace wash over you. you close your eyes and let the sounds of the television fade into the background, relishing in the quiet of your own thoughts.

you dozed off, allowing the safety of sleep to engulf you for a few hours. you lay peacefully until the doorbell rings, jolting you awake. you groan in annoyance, wondering who could possibly be bothering you at this hour. you reach for your phone as you stand, 9pm. reluctantly, you shuffle away from the sofa and make your way to the door, rubbing the sleep from your eyes.

as you swing open the door, you are met with a pair of familiar faces that brings an instant smile to your lips. beth and viv, stand on your doorstep with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"surprise!" beth exclaims, holding up a bottle of wine and a bunch of flowers. "we come bearing gifts. can we come in?"

you step aside, allowing them to enter, still slightly taken aback by their unexpected visit. they both breeze past the threshold, only stopping for a moment to give you a hug before making themselves at home on your sofa.

“i didn’t know you were back in london, viv!” you exclaim, watching her set the flowers on the counter. “and shouldn’t you be out celebrating?” you ask beth with a laugh, shutting the door and joining them on the sofa.

“there’s no where we would rather be, mijn liefje.”

its the later end of midnight when you all start to tire, spread across the sofa and floor with eyes barely open and focusing on the movie playing.

“do you guys want to just stay here tonight? i don’t wan’t you driving home tired.” you say through a yawn, stretching your back out and turning to look at the both of them cuddled up beside you. both of their eyes closed and chests rising peacefully. you smile to yourself, moving to grab a blanket from the basket beside you and cover them both up. you switch off the tv, turn off the big light and make your way to your bedroom.

it isn’t long before you’re asleep too.

------

the next morning you wake to a persistant buzzing sound, your phone rattling on your bedside table. notifications from twitter and instagram flood your lockscreen, along with messages from the arsenal groupchat and from distant friends.

your eyes are just barely open when you reach for it, giving your eyes a moment to adjust before looking at the screen. you swing yourself off the bed, feet finding the cold of the floor as you pad through the flat until you find beth and viv.

they’re awake, both sharing the same expression as they look at you in the doorway between the two rooms.

you begin to read from your phone. “we can confirm that jonas eidevall has resigned from his position as head coach of our women’s first team and leaves us with immediate effect.”

[meazalykov]

never a footballer

vivianne miedema x reader

summary: you told yourself that you would never date a footballer

you vowed to never date a footballer.

the memory of elisa always lingers when someone brings up relationships in football. back when you played for wolfsburg, you thought you had it all—a solid career, a supportive team, and a relationship with someone who understood your life. 

the reality of being with elisa had been far from perfect. the constant arguments, the exhausting long-distance flights to paris just to spend a day together, only to fight over something trivial. you’d promised yourself after that breakup that you would never mix your personal life with the professional one again. 

footballers were off-limits.  

you were doing just fine sticking to that promise.  

that is, until vivianne came to manchester city.  

she arrived during the transfer window, making the switch from arsenal, and you knew her from the pitch—vivianne miedema, one of the best forwards in the world. you’d marked her countless times when you faced arsenal.

her skill, her strength, her composure—everything about her had been a challenge to contain. but off the pitch, you’d never paid her much attention. now, here she was, training alongside you.  

vivianne had an undeniable presence, one that made you notice her even when you didn’t want to. four inches taller than you, with striking features and an aura that made it hard to look away. you hated how easily your eyes would drift to her during training sessions, especially when she had her hair pulled back, focused, intense. it was distracting, and you didn’t need distractions.  

one day, during training, you crouched down to tie your laces, stealing a glance at vivianne across the pitch. she was standing near the goal, her long legs stretching as she practiced shots. you didn’t realize you’d been biting your lip until jill crouched beside you, smirking.  

“what is that?” she whispered, nudging your arm.  

“what iss what?” you replied quickly, fumbling with the knot in your laces.  

jill gave you a knowing look. “don’t play dumb. i saw you looking at viv. with the lip bite, no less.”  

“you’re imagining things,” you muttered, standing up and dusting your hands off.  

“sure, i am,” jill teased, following you as you jogged back into position. 

“just know, i’m onto you.”  

you ignored her, brushing off the comment as nothing. deep down, you hated that jill had caught you in a moment of weakness. because that’s all it was, you told yourself—a fleeting moment of attraction. nothing more.  

a week later, mary cornered you in the locker room.  

“so, how’d the date with penelope go?” she asked, sitting down beside you on the bench.  

penelope, a manchester lawyer who’s friends with mary and bunny. 

you sighed, pulling your hoodie over your head. 

“it was okay, but its clear that there won’t be a second one. she’s nice, mary, but it’s just not there.”  

mary frowned. 

“not even a second date?”  

“no,” you said firmly, shaking your head. 

“nothing happened, and nothing will.”  

as you spoke, you noticed vivianne nearby, tying her boots. her expression was unreadable, but there was something in her eyes as she glanced in your direction. 

you couldn’t tell if she was amused or curious. either way, it made you nervous.  

then came the game against chelsea—a match that could put manchester city at the top of the league table. it was a massive game where your efforts could push manchester to the top. 

four minutes in, you found yourself with the ball near the halfway line. the chelsea defense was pressing high, and you saw the goalkeeper off her line. instinct took over, and you struck the ball with everything you had. it soared through the air, arching perfectly before dipping into the back of the net.  

the stadium erupted, and for a moment, you couldn’t believe it. you threw your hands up in disbelief, running toward the sideline. before you could process what was happening, vivianne was there, wrapping her arms around you from behind.  

“that was fucking insane!” she said, her voice close to your ear.  

your breath hitched as you felt her hands on your waist, her grip firm but gentle. the rest of the team swarmed around you, pulling you into a celebratory huddle, but all you could think about was the way vivianne’s touch lingered just a second longer than necessary.  

despite the early goal, the game didn’t go as planned. chelsea fought back hard, scoring three unanswered goals by the final whistle. the loss stung, especially with how much was on the line. 

back in the locker room, the mood was somber. you sat on the bench, your head in your hands, replaying every mistake in your mind.  

“you okay?” a familiar voice asked.  

you looked up to see vivianne standing in front of you, her expression soft.  

“no, not really,” you admitted with a weak laugh, trying to mask your frustration.  

vivianne sat down beside you, her knee brushing against yours. 

“you played well. that goal was something I couldn't even have scored. it’s not your fault we lost.”  

you shook your head, staring at the floor. 

“it doesn’t matter. we needed to win, and we didn’t. i feel like i let everyone down.”  

vivianne tilted her head, studying you. 

“you know, it’s okay to feel like that. but you’re not responsible for the whole team.” 

her words were kind, but it was the way she said them—calm, confident, like she truly understood—that made your chest tighten. you looked at her, and for the first time, you noticed how her eyes softened when she smiled.  

“thanks,” you said quietly, feeling a blush creep up your neck.  

she leaned back, resting her hands on the bench. 

“if it helps, i think you’re one of the best defenders i’ve played with. and that’s coming from someone who’s played against a lot of good ones.”  

you laughed softly, the compliment catching you off guard. 

“you don’t have to say that.”  

“i’m not just saying it,” vivianne replied, her tone sincere. “i mean it.”  

the conversation felt easy, natural, like you’d known her for longer than just a few months. but as much as you enjoyed talking to her, there was a part of you that couldn’t ignore the warning signs. the promise you’d made to yourself echoed in the back of your mind—never date a footballer.  

and yet, as vivianne stood up and gave you one last reassuring smile before leaving the locker room, you couldn’t help but question that thought. 

however, you weren’t expecting the change in routine eiher. 

training had always been predictable—tough drills, friendly banter, and the same partnerships. bunny was your go-to partner for most exercises, a pairing that worked well because of your chemistry on and off the pitch. 

so, when vivianne approached bunny during warm-ups and asked if they could switch, you were caught off guard.  

bunny raised an eyebrow, looking between you and vivianne. “you want to pair with her?” she asked, her tone more amused than surprised.  

vivianne nodded, her expression calm but determined. “if you don’t mind.”  

bunny glanced your way, grinning. 

“nah, it’s fine. jill and i will dominate anyway.”  

you blinked, unsure what to say as vivianne jogged over to you. 

“guess we’re partners today,” she said casually, as if this was normal.  

“uh, yeah,” you managed, adjusting your socks to cover the flush creeping up your neck.  

vivianne’s presence beside you felt different—focused yet playful, with a subtle tension you couldn’t quite place. during the 2v2 drills, her skill and vision were undeniable. she found you with perfectly timed passes, and you worked seamlessly to outplay the other pairs. 

by the end of the session, you’d won the mini-tournament, earning a round of applause from the team.  

as you walked toward the locker room, still buzzing from the morning’s success, vivianne jogged up beside you.  

“you were amazing,” she said, her voice light but genuine.  

“you’re not so bad yourself,” you replied, smirking.  

she laughed, the sound warm and melodic. “listen, there’s this italian place down the street. want to grab lunch?”  

you hesitated, assuming it was a team outing. 

“sure, sounds good. is everyone going?”  

vivianne shook her head. “just us.”  

the simplicity of her words caught you off guard. you blinked, trying to hide your surprise. 

“oh. okay, yeah, let me grab my stuff.”  

twenty minutes later, you found yourself sitting across from vivianne in a cozy italian restaurant, the scent of garlic and fresh herbs filling the air. the setting was intimate, far more personal than you’d anticipated.  

vivianne was relaxed, her elbows resting on the table as she scanned the menu. 

“they do a great spaghetti carbonara here,” she said, glancing up at you.  

you nodded, suddenly hyper-aware of how shy you felt under her gaze. 

“i’ll try that, then.”  

the conversation started easy—training highlights, upcoming matches, favorite foods. vivianne had a natural charm that made you forget your nerves, her smile disarming and her laugh infectious.  

after a while, the dynamic shifted. vivianne leaned back in her chair, her tone turning playful. 

“so, bunny mentioned you went on a date recently. with a lawyer, right?”  

you blinked, startled by the sudden turn. 

“yeah, but it didn’t work out.”  

vivianne tilted her head, her lips curving into a teasing smile. 

“so, no lawyer girlfriend waiting in the wings?”  

you laughed, shaking your head. 

“nope. no girlfriend, no nothing. it’s been a few years since my last relationship.”  

vivianne’s expression softened, her curiosity genuine. “what happened, if you don’t mind me asking?”  

you hesitated, then sighed. 

“i was with elisa, elisa from psg. we were long-distance for most of it since i was still at wolfsburg, and it just… didn’t work. we argued a lot, and balancing our careers made everything harder.”  

vivianne nodded slowly, her gaze steady. 

“i get that. things with beth ended not long before i found out i was leaving arsenal. it wasn’t easy.”  

you reached across the table, squeezing her hand instinctively. 

“i’m sorry. breakups suck.”  

vivianne smiled faintly, her thumb brushing against your fingers. 

“they do. but sometimes they make room for better things.”  

your heart skipped at the subtle implication in her words, and you pulled your hand back, suddenly flustered.  

things progressed slowly after that lunch, though not without hesitation on your part. vivianne’s flirtations became more apparent—small compliments during training, lingering smiles, a touch on your lower back that lasted a second too long. 

part of you enjoyed the attention, but another part was terrified. you’d promised yourself never to date another footballer, and yet here you were, drawn to vivianne like a moth to a flame.  

it reached a tipping point one evening when you found yourself overthinking everything. sitting on your couch, surrounded by the flowers vivianne had sent over the past few weeks—bright arrangements that made your apartment feel warmer—you decided to seek advice.  

jill and kerstin, vivianne’s dutch teammates and your friends, were the first people that came to mind. you texted them to meet for coffee the next morning, and they agreed without hesitation.  

“so,” jill said, leaning forward with a mischievous grin as you sat down. 

“what’s this about?”  

kerstin smirked, already sensing where the conversation was headed.  

you fidgeted with your cup, struggling to find the words. 

“it’s about viv.”  

jill’s eyes lit up. 

“i knew it! go on.”  

“i don’t know if i should… go through with it,” you admitted, staring at the steam rising from your coffee. 

“she’s amazing, but she’s a footballer. after what happened with elisa, i don’t want to make the same mistake.”  

kerstin leaned back, her expression thoughtful. 

“vivianne isn’t elisa. besides, you’re on the same football team as viv so there is no distance. she’s one of the most thoughtful people i’ve ever met.”  

jill nodded enthusiastically. 

“seriously, she worships the ground you walk on. she talks about you all the time when you’re not around.”  

you blinked, surprised. 

“she does? the same way you talk about jana?”  

“oh, shut up! but yeah.. constantly,” jill said, laughing before grinning softly. 

“and don’t even get me started on the flowers.”  

“wait, you know about that?” you flared your eyebrows. 

“yeah, viv told the whole team about it!”

kerstin smiled knowingly. 

“she’s smitten, y/n. if you’re even considering it, i think you should give her a chance.”  

their words stuck with you as you headed home. maybe they were right. maybe vivianne was different.  

that same evening, vivianne invited you to dinner, something casual at a small bistro she liked. you dressed simply but thoughtfully, your nerves buzzing as you arrived. vivianne was already there, standing near the entrance with her hands in her pockets.  

“hey,” she greeted, her smile lighting up the dimly lit street.  

“hey,” you replied, feeling the familiar warmth in her presence.  

dinner was perfect—easy conversation, laughter, and a growing sense of closeness that made your chest ache in the best way. as the evening wound down, vivianne leaned forward, her expression more serious than before.  

“can i ask you something?” she began, her voice soft.  

you nodded, your heart pounding. the question was inevitable at this stage. 

“would you… want to be my girlfriend?” she asked, her gaze steady but nervous.  

you froze for a moment, the question hanging in the air. then, as a smile spread across your face, you leaned in, closing the distance between you.  

your lips met hers softly, the kiss tentative at first but quickly deepening as you felt her hand cup your cheek. when you pulled back, your cheeks were flushed, but you couldn’t stop smiling.  

“yes,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper.  

vivianne’s grin was brighter than you’d ever seen, and she leaned in to kiss you again. something that felt undeniably right for someone who thought this would never happen again.  

masterlist

[enwoso]

Lovie fic nye party and Lovie is desperate to stay up till midnight but alessia doesn’t want to let that happen so makes the whole party fake that its new years before it actually is so Lovie can celebrate with them

MIDNIGHT MAGIC | alessia russo x child!reader

grumpy masterlist

it was new year's eve and you were bursting with with excitement. you were bouncing around the living room in a sparkled dress, your hair done to perfection with sparkly bobbles and hair slides as your face was painted with enthusiasm.

since you had been told about new year's eve by beth one afternoon while you waited for your mummy, you'd non stop talking about staying up until midnight.

but with that, your mummy knew there was no way you would make it. knowing you would be flat out asleep by the time the clock even struck ten pm.

you were a ball of energy but once that energy drained and it inched closer to your bedtime, your eyelids grew heavy faster than anyone could even say 'happy new year'

but alessia had a plan. an elaborate one that would ensure you felt like you had experienced the full midnight celebration without the inevitable crash into your slumber.

"alright, lovie. are you ready for the party?" alessia asked as her voice too was full of excitement, though her heart ached a little sing how determined you were. "but you have to promise me you'll try your best to stay awake"

you nodded, your eyes wide and gleaming, "i will stay awake, mummy i promise i'll wait for the fireworks and i'll say happy new year to all the girls"

alessia smiled, pushing your little head back which had '2025' in silver sparkly letters big and proud on it "tonight will be so special and you won't believe whose made the journey!"

you gasped, "who? who?" you asked, you asked your little legs hopping up and down in excitement.

"you'll have to wait and see" alessia dragged out her last word as a small huff came from you.

all the arsenal girls had been invited by alessia and had promised to help alessia with making tonight magical for you, the living room had been transformed into a festive wonderland, fairy lights twinkling— which you had helped put up, as well as a big balloon banner which read happy new year across the wall.

as well as your favourite part a table piled high with all of your favourite treats — mini cupcakes, juice cartons and of course enough crisps to feed a small army.

the plan was simple, set up a fake countdown and let you celebrate with all of your favourite people.

the doorbell rang and your eyes grew wide as saucers, "is that them, mummy? is that them?" alessia grinned as she nodded, helping you to open the door as all the arsenal girls were here.

each and every one complimenting how cute you looked as alessia hugged each one as they walked into her home. but as each one came in, you waved to beth and then you face lit up as you spotted someone who definitely didn't play in arsenal reds anymore.

"vivvy!" you squealed rushing into her arms, giving her a big hug as viv laughed at your reaction. "you came! beth said you might not be able to come"

"i wouldn't have missed it for the world, klein"

"how come i never get that type of reaction?" beth huffed as she leaned against the banister, alessia giggling at beth's reaction.

"beth she sees you at least five days a week-"

"and?”

once you had got over the star struck of viv making the journey down settling into a rhythm with the arsenal girls being around your house, music filling your ears until.

"where's my favourite little russo?" a voice with a thick accent called out as your head shot up. there was only one person who had a favourite russo.

"mummy? is that tooney?" you gasped as you looked towards your mummy, the smile giving away everything as she nodded.

you quickly getting up and making your way to the hallway, "auntie ella!" you squealed rushing into her arms as she hugged you once she'd put her bags down.

"'ello tiny, i've missed ya!" ella smiled as she tickled your side, earning a few giggles from you as you went to inspect what she had brought for you.

"are these for me?" you asked pointing to the chocolate cakes decked with icing and cool decoration. ella nodding as you rushed to tell your mummy with such excitement as ella followed you into the living room, saying her hellos to the arsenal girls.

your body was filled with even more excitement than you thought was even possible. all surrounded by those you loved, it was a dream come true for you.

but as much fun as it was, alessia had a little secret up her sleeve to ensure you didn't realise what was going on.

as the night grew later, alessia had kept a careful eye on the time, both the real time and the fake clock. when the real time had hit just past 7:55 pm which was exactly thirty-five minutes before your bedtime — alessia was beginning to gather everyone for the 'countdown'

"lovie, cmon it's time! we are gonna do out countdown for the new year!" alessia announced with a wink as ella helped to round everyone up.

you jumped up and down, "yay! i'm ready! i'll say happy new year like big girl!" you cheered umping up and down and clapping your tiny hands.

the girls all gathered around, pretending to check their watches making dramatic faces as if they were waiting for the clock to strike twelve.

"ten... nine... eight..." alessia started, and the room filled with cheers. "seven... six... five..." everyone joined in, chanting with exaggerated excitement.

in the moment, kyra was really paying attention as she glanced down at her own phone and at the time and then up to the other, "it's literally only-" she stopped herself mid-sentence, her eyes widening as she realised now what alessia meant by an early new years, "oh.. uh happy new year tiny!"

the room erupted in laughter as your eyes sparkled, you hadn't even noticed the slip up. too focused on watching the large clock on the wall strike, twelve. as you popped your party popper. "happy new year!" you shouted as you clapped your hands like a pro.

ella leaned over to alessia and whispered with a wink, "she's going to remember this for years. the best party"

alessia couldn't help but smile, "i think we done a pretty good job!" alessia paused as ella hummed in agreement before alessia broke into small laughter, "we aren't going to hear the end of that fact she's seen the real midnight, though"

as the fake new year's celebration continued, the team showered you with love, played games and even with a small persuasion game with your mummy were allowed to kick the ball around in the living room.

even if you did have to help kyra and katie hide the fact that the three of you had broken one of your mummy's ornaments that had lived on the coffee table for ages. but alessia wouldn't notice that it wasn’t there? and you would maybe tell your mummy about that later..

but by the time the actual midnight came around, you'd been changed into your pyjamas and were already fast asleep, snuggled up on the couch. your tiny hands clutching your esme the elephant teddy.

alessia looking down at you, her little girl, her heart full. she'd given you the magic of the night and you own kind of special celebrations and you could wake up tomorrow thinking you had stayed up till the very end of the year.

as a content left your mummy's lips, she whispered, "happy new year my lovie. you're my favorite part of every year."

and as she kissed your forehead, she could already picture next years celebrations. but for now, alessia savoured this moment knowing she'd made it a memory to last forever.

[lvnleah]

game day confusion

September 22nd 2024

“What shirt do you want to wear today, Roo?” Viv asked you as you twirled around your room. 

“Ermmm!” You stopped spinning and paused for a second, “My new Arsenal one!” 

“You sure you don’t want to wear Mamma’s city one?” Beth chimed in as she sat on your bed. 

You shook your head, “Blue’s nice but I like red better!”

Viv chuckled, exchanging a playful glance with Beth. "Well, I can't argue with that, can I?" She said, as she walked over to your wardrobe and pulled out your little Arsenal jersey, the number nine and ‘Mead’ proudly printed on the back. “Here you go, Mijn liefje.”

You took the shirt from her with a beaming smile, “I want to be just like Mummy!” you declared, “I’ll play for Arsenal one day too!”

Beth pulled you into her lap and began to attack you with kisses, "You can be anything you want, Roo. Whether it's playing for Arsenal or something else entirely." 

“Mum-mummy! Stop, it-it tickles!” You squealed as Beth tickled your side, Myle barking at her feet, “Mamma, tell M-mummy to stop!”

Viv pretended to consider it for a moment, “Hmm, I don’t know… It looks like you’re having fun to me,” she teased with a grin.

Beth wiggled her fingers playfully, keeping up the tickle attack. “You’re on your own, kiddo!” she teased, laughing along with your delighted squeals.

“Mammaaaaa!” you called again, trying to squirm out of Beth’s grip, though your giggles betrayed how much you were enjoying yourself.

Finally, Viv stepped in, scooping you up into her arms. “Alright, alright, that’s enough. We need to get this little monster ready for the day.”

You clung to Viv’s neck, still giggling as Beth leaned back on the bed with a smirk. “Fine, but I’m the favourite now. Right, Roo?” Beth teased, winking at you.

“Nope!” you said with a cheeky grin, pointing at Viv. “Mamma’s my favourite!”

Beth gasped, clutching her chest dramatically. “Betrayed! In my own house!”

Viv chuckled, bouncing you lightly in her arms. “Guess that’s what you get for tickling, huh?”

Beth stood up and laughed, “You’re my number one fan and my little superhero, aren’t you?” She ruffled your hair, making you squeal with delight.

“Yeah!” You nodded proudly, “I’ Mamma and yours number one fan!”

“Alright, little troublemaker,” Viv said, setting you down. “Time to get dressed. We’ve got an exciting day ahead.”

You wiggled your arms through the jersey sleeves with Viv’s help. Viv reached over and grabbed her phone from the bedside table, opening the camera app. 

“Alright, let’s get a picture of our little Gooner before we head off.” She knelt down, angling the phone to capture your radiant smile, Beth’s arms wrapped around you. “Say, ‘Go Mamma and Mummy!’” Viv prompted, her voice sing-songy.

“Go Arsenal!” you cheered instead, throwing your arms in the air as Viv snapped the photo.

“Roo!” Beth laughed, “You were supposed to cheer go Mamma and Mummy, you silly goose!”

You giggled, “But Auntie Le said that we bleed Arsenal, Mummy!”

Viv raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Auntie Le's been giving you lessons, has she?"

You nodded enthusiastically, your eyes sparkling with mischief. "Uh-huh! She said Arsenal is in my blood!"

Beth playfully rolled her eyes. "Leah's going to get in trouble with you," she said, "Maybe next time I should invite her over when Mamma's wearing her City shirt."

Viv smirked, shaking her head as she slipped her phone back into her pocket. "No surprises there with Leah." She reached out and gently patted your head. “You can support whoever, Roo.”

You scrunched up your face dramatically, thinking hard. “But I like red, Mamma! Red is what superheroes wear!” You stretched your arms out, pretending to fly around the room like a superhero.

Beth smiled warmly, “Well then, little superhero, we better get going before we’re late,” she said, standing up and grabbing her bag. She glanced at Viv, who was already ready to leave, and then at you, who was still twirling around in your Arsenal shirt.

Viv chuckled and grabbed your hand gently to stop your spinning. “Alright, little one. Time to save all your energy for cheering us on later, okay?”

You grinned up at her. "Okay, Mamma! I’m gonna cheer super loud. So loud everyyyyone will hear me!"

Viv chuckled, leaning down to kiss your forehead. “I have no doubt about that.”

You bounced in place, still full of energy. “Are you coming with us, Mamma?”

Viv smiled softly and shook her head. “No, sweetheart. I’ll be meeting my team at the hotel. But I’ll see you at the stadium later, okay?”

A little pout formed on your lips, but Viv knelt down to your level, “Hey, It’ll be okay! I’ll see you later, yeah?”

You nodded, still a bit disappointed, but Beth rubbed your back gently, helping to ease your mood. “You’ll see Mamma soon. Plus, you get to ride the coach with me and see everyone!”

That perked you up immediately. “Can I sit next to Steffy?”

Beth chuckled. “Of course. I’m sure she’ll save you a seat.”

Beth took your hand, and together, the three of you made your way downstairs, saying goodbye to Myle before heading out the door and into your separate cars. Viv gave Beth a soft, lingering kiss on the cheek before turning to you with a final hug.

“I’ll see you at the stadium, Roo. Cheer for both of us, okay?” Viv smiled. 

You wrapped your arms around her tightly. “Okay, Mamma! I love you!”

“I love you too, mijn liefje,” Viv whispered before standing up and giving Beth a wink. “Good luck out there, liefde.”

Beth grinned back at her. “You too, Vivi. Try not to break too many hearts in the City shirt.”

Viv smirked, then turned and headed towards her car, waving at you both as she left to meet her team. 

You and Beth got loaded up into the car, your little backpack placed beside your car seat while you cuddled close to Twix. It wasn’t long before you were arriving at the training ground to meet everyone and get on the coach. 

“Alright little miss,” Beth said, taking your hand after unstrapping you from your car seat. “Big jump!” She laughed as you jumped from the car. 

You giggled, landing on your feet with a bounce as Beth helped you out of the car. Beth held your hand as you both walked toward the entrance of the training ground, where the rest of the team was gathering. You could already see some of the players standing about, getting ready to board the coach.

“Look! There’s Steffy!” you pointed excitedly, spotting Steph talking to Lia. 

Beth smiled, “Yep, there she is. Ready to see everyone?”

You nodded eagerly, practically bouncing in place again. Beth chuckled softly and gave you a gentle nudge forward.

As soon as Steph saw you, her face lit up with a wide grin. “Well, if it isn’t my favourite little Rory!” she said, walking over and crouching down to your level, opening her arms for a hug.

You ran straight into her arms, giggling. “I’m the only Rory you know silly Steffy! I’m sitting next to you on the coach!”

Steph hugged you tight before pulling back and giving Beth a wink. “You’re in luck then. I saved you the best seat right next to me.”

Beth grinned. “I knew she’d choose you over me,” she teased, making both you and Steph laugh.

“Can you blame her?” Steph joked, standing up and ruffling your hair gently. “I’m much more fun, right, Roo?”

You looked up at Beth with a cheeky grin and nodded. “Uh-huh! Steffy’s so fun!”

Beth acted hurt, “Traitor,” she teased. She leaned down and kissed your head. 

“Can I go see Vic, please?” You asked, tugging on Beth’s hand. 

Beth nodded, “Quickly, we’ll need to get on the coach soon.”

You nodded your head before dashing over to Vic who was standing chatting with Kyra and Monkey, the both of them probably being pests like usual. 

You rushed over, nearly colliding with Vic as she caught you with a laugh. "Whoa! Someone's full of energy today!" Vic grinned, ruffling your hair.

Kyra tickled your stomach as Vic lifted you up onto her hip. "Are you causing trouble again, Roo?"

You giggled, shaking your head. "No, I'm being good! I'm gonna sit next to Steffy on the coach!" You declared proudly as if it was the most important announcement of the day.

Monkey leaned over and whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, “Don’t let Steffy fall asleep on you! She snores!”

You gasped, eyes wide with surprise, but Vic quickly gave Monkey a playful shove. "Don’t listen to her. Steffy doesn’t snore... most of the time," she teased.

Beth walked over, smiling at the sight of you laughing and chatting with the other players. “Alright, munchkin, time to get going. The coach is leaving soon.”

You pouted a little but nodded. "Okay, Mummy."

Vic gave you one last hug. "See you later, Roo!"

You walked hand-in-hand with Beth towards the coach, and as promised, Steph helped you find a seat right next to her while Beth and Lia sat opposite you. Once you were all settled in, the coach started up, and the bus began its journey to the stadium.

As the coach rolled along, Steph leaned down to whisper to you. “Are you ready to see Mamma play? It’s going to be weird seeing her in blue, huh?”

You nodded. “It’s weird but I love her even if she’s in blue,” you said. 

Beth smiled at the two of you. “Roo’s the best at cheering us both on, aren’t you, munchkin?”

You beamed. “I’m gonna cheer so loud for both Mamma and you!”

“Do you think Mamma and Mummy will score, Roo?” Lia asked you with a smile. 

You nodded, “Duh! They always score.” You said innocently. 

The ride to the stadium was filled with laughter and chatter, and by the time you arrived, you were buzzing with excitement. The bus came to a stop, and everyone began gathering their things to head inside.

Beth grabbed your backpack and helped you down from the seat. “Let’s go, Roo!”

Hours later, at the stadium, you were a bundle of excitement and nerves. The stadium was massive, and the atmosphere was electric. Beth was getting ready in the locker room, so you stood with some of the staff, watching everyone go by when you suddenly spotted someone familiar in the corridor.

“Mamma!” you called, running toward Viv.

She smiled when she saw you, arms open wide as you crashed into her for a hug. “Hey, mijn liefje,” she whispered. She was already in her blue Man City kit, her hair pulled back and ready for the game. “Excited?”

“Yeah!” you exclaimed, wrapping your arms tightly around her neck. Then you pulled back slightly, looking at her with a small pout. “But you’re in blue, Mamma. I don’t like it.”

Viv chuckled softly, smoothing down your hair. “I know it’s strange, liefje.”

You nodded hesitantly, resting your head on her shoulder. “You change to red?”

Viv kissed your forehead, holding you close for a moment as she chuckled, “But red isn’t a city colour.”

“They should change it,” you mumbled, “it’s too…blue.”

Beth appeared down the corridor, already dressed in her Arsenal kit, her hair in a ponytail and her number nine shining on her back. “Found you!” she said with a grin, walking over to where you and Viv were standing.

“Hi, Mummy!” you said, reaching out for her. Viv passed you into Beth’s arms with ease.

“She’s not too sure about me in blue,” Viv said with a small laugh.

Beth smirked, bouncing you lightly. “Bit strange isn’t it?” You nodded slowly, “but mamma still looks good!”

You nodded again before Beth kissed your temple. “Alright, Roo, let’s go say hi to Grandad. He’s waiting for you in the family box.”

You reached up to hold Beth’s hand as she set you down on the ground, looking back at Viv. “Will I see you after, Mamma?”

Viv crouched down to your level, “Of course you will. After the match, okay? Be good for Grandad.”

You gave her one last hug before following Beth through the tunnel. You waved goodbye to Viv, who waved back, her smile a little softer now.

Beth led you to the family and friends box, where Rich was waiting. He opened his arms as soon as he saw you. “There’s my little monster!” he said, scooping you up. 

You giggled, clinging to his neck. “Hi, Grandad!”

“You ready to cheer for Mummy and Mamma?” he asked, setting you down in the chair next to him.

“Yeah!” you said enthusiastically, holding onto Twix tightly. “But Mamma’s in blue.”

Rich chuckled, giving Beth a knowing look. “Well, as long as you cheer for Mummy and Mamma nice and loud, that’s all that matters.”

Beth ruffled your hair. “Alright, munchkin. Be good for Grandad. I’ll see you out on the pitch soon, okay?”

You nodded, watching as she left to finish her warm-up. The box began to fill with other families, but your eyes were glued to the pitch, scanning for Beth and Viv.

Finally, the players began to walk out onto the field for warm-ups. You spotted Beth immediately in her red Arsenal kit and Viv in her blue City one. Your little heart swelled with pride but also felt a bit conflicted.

You tugged on Rich’s sleeve. “Grandad, why can’t I go down there?”

Rich smiled gently. “We'll, it's a bit dangerous, sweetheart. For now, we have the best seats in the house and we’re nice and safe.”

“But I wanna see Mummy and Mamma now!” you said, your voice rising in frustration.

“Rory,” Rich said calmly, kneeling down to your level. “I know it’s hard, but if you wait patiently, you’ll get to see them after, I promise.”

You settled back into your seat, your little hands gripping Twix tightly as you sulked a little. Although, your mood was soon forgotten as the game kicked off. 

The game kicked off with a buzz of excitement in the air, and you could hardly sit still next to Rich. Viv started the game for Manchester City, her blue kit looking a little funny and different to what you were used to. Beth, however, wasn’t in the starting lineup, but you watch as she went back and forth warming up. 

It wasn’t long before the game picked up pace, and you were glued to the action, your little voice rising every time Viv got near the ball. In the 42nd minute, the stadium erupted. Viv had just scored for City, making it 1-1, and even though it wasn’t for Arsenal, you jumped up and cheered. 

"Mamma scored! Mamma scored!" you shouted, bouncing in your seat, and looking at Rich

Rich smiled, “Your Mamma’s a superstar, isn’t she?”

You nodded enthusiastically. “She’s the best!”

Half time soon came and went and you were happy with your pizza slice and apple juice. As the second half began, your eyes were darting back and forth between the action, and you gasped when Beth finally came on in the 63rd minute. 

Rich smiled down at you. “There she is, there’s your Mummy!”

In the 74th minute, Viv was subbed off, and you could see her making her way toward the City bench. You tugged on Rich’s arm. “Can we go see Mamma, Grandad? Please?”

“Not yet, Roo,” Rich told you, placing his hand on you to keep you steady as you stood on your chair. 

You pouted, “Why not, Grandad?”

Rich chuckled softly, “Because the game isn’t over yet, and Mamma has to stay with her team until it is. We’ll see her and your Mummy in a little bit, yeah?”

You crossed your arms and plopped back down onto the seat, your lower lip sticking out. Waiting was the worst, especially when Mamma wasn’t on the field anymore. But your mood brightened again when Beth got the ball. You stood up on your seat again, shouting, “Go, Mummy, go!”

Rich laughed, steadying you again. “Careful there, Roo. You’ll topple over.”

You went wild once again as Beth scored in the 81’ minute, Rich made sure to capture your reaction for Viv and Beth later on. The game ended in a 2-2 draw, and as the final whistle blew, you could barely contain your excitement. You grabbed Rich’s hand, practically pulling him out of his seat.

“Now, Grandad? Now can we go?”

Rich laughed, shaking his head fondly. “Yes, Rory, now we can go.”

Rich led you to the lift that took you downstairs to where the family and friends lounge was. The kind security let him take you pitch side where you saw Beth and Viv talking beside the dugouts. 

Without thinking, you shouted and ran to her, “Mamma!”

Viv turned immediately at the sound of your voice, her face lighting up with a smile. She waved and quickly made her way over. “Roo!” she called, kneeling down to scoop you into her arms as you ran to her.

“Mamma, you scored!” you said, throwing your arms around her neck. 

Viv laughed, holding you tightly. “Thank you, liefje. Did you cheer for me?”

You nodded enthusiastically. “Of course! Grandad says you’re a superstar and so is Mummy.”

“Well, Grandad’s very smart,” Viv said with a wink toward Rich, who had just caught up.

Beth appeared moments later, her red kit smudged with grass stains, her hair a little messy from the game. “What about me? Did my little cheerleader save some cheers for Mummy too?” she asked with a grin.

You reached for her, and she joined the hug, pulling both you and Viv close. “I cheered for you both!”

Beth kissed the top of your head. “Did you have fun watching?”

“I did! I wanted to come down sooner,” you admitted with a pout. “Grandad wouldn’t let me.”

Rich held his hands up in mock defence. “Hey now, I was just following the rules.”

Viv laughed softly, adjusting you on her hip. “Grandad’s right, liefje. We wouldn’t want you running out onto the pitch mid-game, would we?”

You thought about it for a moment, then nodded. “But I really wanted to!”

Beth chuckled, ruffling your hair. “You’re a troublemaker, munchkin.”

“Do you want to walk around the pitch with me, Rory? Just for a little bit?” Viv asked.  

Your eyes widened with excitement. “Really?”

Beth grinned. “Go on, Roo. I’ll meet you both back in the lounge in a bit yeah?”

As you walked, a few of Viv’s Manchester City teammates came over to say hello. One of them, Kerstin Casparij, you already knew a lot from her playing with Viv in the international team. 

“Hallo, Rory!” she greeted you in Dutch, her voice full of warmth. “Hoe gaat het?” 

You grinned, excited to show off what you’d learned. “Goed! Ik ben met Mamma!”

Kerstin high-fived you. “Heel goed! Je Nederlands is beter dan die van Beth!” she teased, glancing up at Viv.

Viv laughed. “That’s not a high bar, Kerstin.”

You giggled, feeling proud of yourself. “Mamma teaches me!”

Kerstin looked impressed. “Well, you’re doing amazing. And did you see Mamma’s goal? She was on fire today, wasn’t she?”

“She was the best!” you exclaimed, bouncing a little on your feet.

Kerstin smiled, ruffling your hair. “You’ve got good taste, kid. I’ll see you soon, okay?”

After a few more minutes, Viv led you toward the Arsenal side, where some of your “aunties” were lingering. Katie and Lotte waved, both looking just as happy to see you. 

Katie leaned down, smirking. “So, who scored the better goal—Mummy or Mamma?”

You blinked, suddenly torn. “Both!” you declared firmly, crossing your arms.

Katie laughed. “Are yer sure kid?”

You nodded, “Yep!”

After a bit more chatting and hugs from your Arsenal aunties, Viv led you back toward the tunnel where you waited with Rich while her and Beth got changed. It wasn’t long before you were all in the car and heading home. Viv sat in the front with Rich while you sat in the back with Beth. 

You leaned back in your seat, your head resting against the side as you snuggled Twix. The excitement of the day was finally catching up with you. Your eyes fluttered, trying to stay awake, but the gentle hum of the car and the warmth from the heating made it impossible.

Beth’s voice drifted from beside you. “You tired, Roo?”

You mumbled a sleepy “Mm-hmm,” not bothering to open your eyes.

Rich chuckled from the front, “She’s worn out, isn’t she?”

Viv glanced back from the front and smiled. “She’s had a big day.”

The last thing you heard was Beth’s soft laugh, and before you knew it, your eyes closed fully, your body sinking into the comfort of sleep.