#scribblesofagoonerr

[scribblesofagoonerr]

just a bad period | buddy & monkey: double the trouble

summary: monkey's bad period turns out to be labour

double the trouble masterlist

“Ow,” You hissed, jerking away as a sharp, intense pain twisted through your stomach, “What the fu…”

“Monkey! Time to wake up, or we’ll be late!” Leah’s voice cut through the fog in your head like a knife.

It’s too early for this much noise.

The hallway light slices under your bedroom door, and even with your head under the pillow, you can still hear Buddy charging around the house like it’s Christmas morning.

“Wakey wakey, sleepy head,” Leah popped her head around your bedroom door with a soft and genuine smile, “Time to get up!”

“M’ tired,” You mumbled, curling deeper into the warmth of your bed.

Leah chuckled and leaned against the doors, arms folded, eyebrows raised, “That’s what happens when you don’t go to bed at a decent time, my girl.”

“G’way,” You grumbled, dragging the covers tighter.

“Come on. Up,” Leah’s tone sharpened just slightly, as she stepped further into your room, “Maybe if you actually went to bed when I told you to, you wouldn’t feel like this every morning, hmm?”

“Too loud,” You whined, face still buried, aching everywhere.

Your stomach aches. It has been feeling that way for days now, and the idea of training feels impossible. But you don’t want to give Leah a reason to fuss. She already treats you like glass most days.

“Get up, Monkey,” Leah said, more stern now. Then the duvet is yanked away and the cold air rushes in, “We have this exact argument every morning. If you don’t get up now, you’ll be late. Again.”

“Urgh, whatever. I don’t care,” You snapped, but it’s hollow. You’re not in the mood to argue, but you’re also not in the mood to move.

Leah lets out a long-suffering sigh, “You’re not skipping training just because you’re tired. You’re a professional athlete, Logan. Get. Up. Now.”

“Muuuuum,” You whined, drawing out the word with dramatic flair, “I’m tired.”

“That’s not going to work on me, and you know it,” Leah said, already walking over to the window. She yanked the curtains open and let the light flood the room like a punch to the face.

You flinched.

“Get dressed,” Leah added firmly, “I want to actually see you eat breakfast today. I know you’ve been skipping it.”

Your stomach twisted again, low, sharp and wrong, and this time, it made your breath hitch. 

You tried not to let it show. Maybe it was just something that you ate. Maybe it was stress-related.

Or maybe it was your period coming on badly. That had to be it, there couldn’t be any other explanation. Could there?

“Mummy! Mummy!” You heard the telltale thud of Buddy’s headsteps heading in the direction of your bedroom.

“Oh, here comes trouble,” Leah muttered with a smirk, just as the three-year-old came flying into your room like she did most mornings.

“Monkey!” Buddy squealed excitedly, “Ook’! I got my Arsenal top on!” She twirled in place, showing off her top with all the excitement a 3-year-old could have, “Me be like ‘ou now!”

You forced a smile in an attempt to mask the pain that you currently felt, “You look great, Buddy!”

“I’m comin’ wif ‘ou and Mummy today!” Buddy declared, bouncing on her toes, “Me kick da balls an’ score loads of goals!”

You smiled faintly, “That sounds like a solid plan, shrimp.”

“And I go see Win as well! She sooo cute!” Buddy insisted.

“But not as cute as Tater-Tot though, right?” You teased.

“Noooo!” Buddy squealed, just as the little dog perked up and barked from his spot at the foot of your bed.

You reached over and ruffled his ears, grateful for the momentary distraction.

“I’m sure we’ll find, Bubba,” Leah said, still watching you carefully from across the room, and then her voice sharpened again, “Monkey, get up. I’m not asking again.”

You didn’t look up. Your hand tightened in Tater-Tot’s fur, jaw clenched against the pain that was building like a storm.

“I heard you the first time,” You muttered, voice muffled by your sleeve, “No need to get your knickers in a twist.”

Leah raised an eyebrow from the doorway, clearly not amused, “You can cut that attitude out right now, I’m not having it, Logan!”

You didn’t care. Not really. It was easier to be snappy then admit the way your stomach felt like it was trying to rip itself apart.

You kept your eyes down, chewing the inside of your cheek.

“Monkey—” Leah began.

“I’m gettin’ up, Mum!” You shouted across the room, louder than you meant to, “Urgh, why are you so annoyin’ today? Get off me back, will you?”

“Carry on, madam. You’re going the right way to being grounded,” Leah raised her voice, pointing her index finger straight at you, “Tired or not, that is not how we speak to each other.”

You froze, the guilt creeping up in your throat.

“I… I’m sorry,” You mumbled, suddenly very aware of how small your voice sounded.

“Right. Up. Now,” Leah said firmly, “I’m going downstairs to make breakfast for your sister. I expect you down in the next ten minutes.”

“Wait for me, Mummy! I comin’ wif ‘ou!” Buddy raced after Leah, not liking the mood that you seemed to be in, “Monks’ is bein’ grumpy!”

Leah chuckled, holding her hand out for Buddy to take, “I know, Bubba. Monkey isn’t a morning person, is she?”

“Nooo! She so grumpy!” Buddy chirped, “No like me! I wake up sooo early!”

“Don’t I know it,” Leah sighed as they walked into the kitchen together, “Right then, little miss. What do you want for breakfast this morning?”

“Coco Pops! Like Monks’ too!” Buddy insisted, letting go of Leah’s hand as she ran into the living room where she proceeded to tip all of her toys out onto the floor.

“Don’t make a—” Leah exhaled a sigh as she heard the familiar sound of Lego bricks landing on the floor, “... Mess. Never mind, I’ll just speak to myself then, I guess.”

The car was already off to a rocky start.

You were slumped in the passenger seat, hoodie drawn up around your face like it might somehow shield you from the morning sun and the rising discomfort twisting through your lower stomach.

Every single bump in the road made it worse. Sharp, cramping, and it was like something was pulling tight and refusing to let go.

Buddy was in the back, sitting in her car seat, kicking her feet and singing along to the music loudly.

“Turn it up, Mummy! I like dis one!” Buddy demanded, hearing the all too familiar intro of All Star by Smash Mouth kick in.

“Alright, Bubba. As you wish,” Leah reached over to turn the volume up on the stereo as the music blasted through the speakers, “I suppose it’s a nice break from Life Is A Highway,” She joked, peering to look at Buddy in the rearview mirror.

“I choose dis one for ‘ou, Monks’!” Buddy chirped from the back, beaming, “Shrek ‘our favourite, ‘member? Me know it cheer ‘ou up!”

You grunted in response, head leaning against the window.

Then Buddy started to sing along. Loudly. And off-key.

“Hey now, ‘ou’re an all-star, get ‘our game on—”

“Can you not?” You snapped suddenly, turning your head away from the glass, “God, you’re so loud! And you’re not even singing it right.”

There was a sudden silence that filled the car.

“Hey!” Leah exclaimed, her knuckles tightening on the steering wheel as she stared directly at you, “You don’t speak to your sister like that!”

You crossed your arms and slumped further in your seat, “I’ve got a headache.”

“That doesn’t make it okay,” Leah stated, her facial expression firm.

You didn’t answer. You just stared out of the window like the trees were somehow more interesting than the current conversation.

“Logan,” Leah continued, her voice not wavering, “What is going on with you today? Tired or not, you don’t speak to anyone like that. Including your little sister.”

“I said whatever, okay?” You muttered, glaring down at your lap, “Can everyone just stop speaking to me like I’m five? I’m almost fuckin’ twenty!”

“Logan Reece!” Leah scolded, her hands tightening on the steering wheel as she pulled up to a set of lights, “I will not have you swearing around your little sister, that stops now! Buddy was just trying to be kind and cheer you up. You do not get to snap at people just because you’re in a mood, Logan! That is not acceptable, and I won’t stand for it!”

“I… I’m not in a mood, Mum, ” You retorted, even though the certain tone of your voice made it clear that you were, “I just… I don’t want to deal with this today, alright?”

“Oh, really? You could have fooled me,” Leah raised an eyebrow, turning her attention back to the road, “Well, I suggest that whatever mood you’re in, you snap out of it before we get to London Colney because that attitude is unacceptable. I’m not going to take it, and I damn sure know that none of your aunties will either. If you carry on, then you’ll be finding yourself in time out, and I’m not bluffing on that one. Sort it out, right now.”

“Whatever,” You muttered again, yanking your hood further over your head, keeping your arms crossed so tightly it was like you were trying to disappear into yourself.

“Logan, I mean it,” Leah warned, her voice lower now, but no less firm, “You don’t get to throw tantrums and take your mood out on everyone else. You’re not the only person in this car.”

From the back seat, Buddy sat there, quietly sniffling, which broke the silence like glass.

You blinked, heart stuttering as you twisted just enough to glance over your shoulder.

You did feel awful. You didn’t mean to upset Buddy.

Buddy had gone quiet, her lower lip wobbling as she clutched Mr Bear, her little brown teddy that never left her side. Her eyes were shiny with unshed tears, and she looked hurt.

Not angry. Not loud. Just… hurt.

“I only tryin’ to be nice,” Buddy mumbled, her voice small, almost trembling, “I pick ‘appy song… for ‘ou, Monks’. I just want ‘ou to smile.”

Your stomach twisted, but it was no longer from the cramps anymore.

The rest of the drive was quiet. Too quiet.

Even with All Star still faintly humming through the speakers, the silence between the three of you was like a weight. Leah didn’t speak again—not out loud, anyway, but you could feel her disapproval radiating from the driver’s seat. 

It wasn’t really that angry. But it felt worse than that.

Instead, it was disappointment.

Buddy didn’t sing again, she just clutched Mr Bear tighter, her thumb creeping into her mouth—she didn’t even ask for another song after All Star finished. That was usually her cue to demand another song.

You kept your face turned to the window for the remainder of the ride, but you could still her in the reflection��small, quiet, and not bouncing like usual.

When Leah finally pulled into the car park at London Colney, she sighed and shut the ignition off but didn’t move. Her fingers rested on the steering wheel, tapping once, and then twice.

“Monkey,” Leah turned her head to you, her voice remained softer, but this time it still carried weight, “Right, young lady, I don’t know what on earth is going on with you this morning but that does not excuse the way that you spoke to your sister.”

You didn’t answer.

“I’m telling you now, Logan,” Leah continued to state, using your proper name to note the sternness of her words, “Pack it in. I don’t want to hear about you being horrible to anyone. Not your little sister. And not any of your aunts. Your attitude isn’t going to fly, and if you continue to act the way that you do, then you’ll be sitting out of training. I’m not going to stand by and watch you act like a complete brat for no apparent reason. And you will be going to bed at a proper time tonight. Is that understood?”

“Yes, Mum,” You begrudgingly responded.

Leah exhaled a sigh, “I can tell there’s something wrong with you, Monkey, whether you want to talk to me about it or not. But I do expect you to apologise to your sister. Properly.”

You didn’t answer.

Leah turned her gaze to the backseat, “Right then, Bubba. Come on. We’ll go and find your auntie’s now, yeah?”

“I go find Auntie Wally,” Buddy mumbled, unbuckling herself with slow and sluggish hands. She didn’t bounce. She didn’t giggle. She climbed out of the car with Mr Bear clutched to her chest, holding Leah’s hand but keeping her head down.

You hesitated before opening the passenger door. You felt heavy. Everything did.

As soon as your feet hit the pavement, the cramps kicked up again, sharp enough to make your knees nearly buckle. You winced, steadying yourself on the car door, trying to mask it behind a yawn.

Leah glanced over, immediately noticing, “Monkey, are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” You lied, brushing past her.

Leah narrowed her eyes but didn’t push, not yet. Not with Buddy still sniffling beside her.

You made it through the entrance of the training ground without speaking to either of them. Lia was waiting in the reception area with a big smile on her face, crouching down the moment she saw Buddy.

“There’s my favourite niece,” Lia grinned, Buddy racing towards her and crashing into her chest, still sniffling slightly, “Oh, no. What’s the matter, sweetheart?”

“Monks’ shout at me an’ be mean!” Buddy sniffled, a pout on her face to show her sadness, “I don’ like ‘er no more!”

Lia furrowed a brow, “What?” She asked, confused, looking towards Leah for more of an explanation.

“Things have been a bit… tense this morning,” Leah explained, running a hand through her hair, “Monkey and I are going to have a little chat about it in a bit, aren’t we?”

You didn’t answer.

Lia stood slowly, lifting Buddy into her arms, “How about me and you go and pick out some footballs? Get you some practice scoring goals.”

“Uh-huh,” Buddy sniffled, nodding in agreement as she clung to Lia with her hands wrapped tightly around the woman’s neck.

“I’ll take care of Buddy. You sort Monkey out,” Lia reassured the blonde, patting her on the arm as she brushed past her, “There’s something wrong with her. Go and talk to her.”

That’s when you felt the sudden anger, noting the way that Lia rested her hand on Leah’s arm for that long, “What is it? Elle goes back to America, and you move on to Wally instead, Mum?”

Leah’s facial expression darkened, “Right, you, me and you are going to have a chat,” She said firmly before grabbing hold of your upper bicep and dragging you into a private room so you could have your ear chewed off, “What was all that about? You know I’m with Elle. You know me and your auntie Wally are good friends—This is more than you just being tired, Monkey, so what is it?”

“I… Uh…” You froze, you didn’t know what to tell her, so you resorted to desperate measures, “Nothing! God, Mum can you just piss of for once in your life and leave me alone? I’m fine—Everything is fine! I’m absolutely fuckin’ fine!”

“LOGAN!” Leah raised her voice, her tone of voice firm and clipped, “I suggest that you stop swearing and stop with the attitude. I asked you a simple question. You're my daughter, if there’s something wrong, then tell me, and I can try and help with whatever it is! You do not speak to me like that, madam! Who do you think you are? You carry on the way you’re going, and you’ll be benched, do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal,” You murmured, not caring a less about saying anything more, “Can I go now, or are you not done chewing my ear off?”

“No… No, you can’t go. We’re not doing talking yet,” Leah caught your arm as you tried to walk off from her, “What is going on, Monkey? I know you, and I know there is something more that you’re not telling me. What’s the matter?”

“... I dunno,” You muttered, staring at the floor.

It was a weak response, and you knew it. Leah knew it too.

“Cut the crap with me, lady. You don’t just act like you are today for no reason,” Leah said softly but firmly, “What is the reason for it? If there’s something wrong with you, then you need to tell me, Monkey. It’s not healthy to keep things bottled up, you know this. We’ve been through this before, haven’t we?”

You clenched your jaw, blinking hard. The sting in your belly hadn’t gone away—it was just gradually getting worse now. Twisting, dragging, like something inside was clawing to be noticed.

Leah’s eyes narrowed, her voice dropping low with warning, “You wanna keep pushing me? You’re three seconds away from being grounded until you’re thirty, Logan. Do you understand me?”

You gave her a sullen glare, your mouth twitching like you wanted to throw another jab. That fire. The rage and pain and stubborn pride, all boiling over.

“Logan Reece, don’t you dare roll your eyes at me—God, I swear…”

“Stop treating me like I’m a bloody kid!” You snapped, hot tears prickling even as you tried to sound tough.

Leah’s jaw clenched. She stepped in closer, nostrils flaring. Her hand twitched at her side like she wasn’t sure if she was going to backhand you or catch you as you fell apart, “I wouldn’t have to if you just grew up, Logan Reece! You think this behaviour is any way to act and show that you’re responsible or mature?”

“I’m… I’m not throwing a tantrum! I am acting responsibe and mature!” You fired back at her.

“You aren’t,” Leah snapped, her voice trembling now, not from fear but fury, frustration, maybe even worry, “This behaviour I am seeing right now shows that you’re in no way mature or responsible as you think you are! I’ve had enough, Logan. You’re grounded. No electronics. No going out with your friends. You’re done. You come here, you train. You play in matches, and you go home… If you’re not going to learn how to talk to people, then you can think again. I’m not messing around this time. And if you think that you can sulk your way out of it—”

The door opened with a soft creak, and in walked Kim, stopping dead at the charged silence. Her eyes flicked from you to Leah, who looked like she was seconds from exploding—or crying.

“What’s going on—Wally has Buddy crying on her, and Le, I can hear you shouting down the corridor,” Kim murmured, confused.

Leah looked over her shoulder, hand still wrapped around your arm while her shoulders were tight with tension, “She’s been mouthing off all morning,” She said through gritted teeth, “Ignoring direct instructions and now she’s making accusations about me and Lia being more than friends!”

Kim’s brow creased as she looked at you properly—your face was pale, your lips drawn thin, and your eyes glassy.

“Right,” Kim began, looking concerned, “Le, maybe you should go and take a breather, yeah? I’ll handle it.”

“I know there’s something wrong, but she won’t tell me,” Leah murmured, raking a hand through her hair as she shot you a look in concern, “Maybe you can try and get it out of her, please?”

“I’ll try,” Kim reassured her, walking closer, keeping her voice calm and reassured, “Leah, go take a walk, okay? It’s not good to be wound up in this situation.”

“Alright,” Leah retorted, starting to walk out of the room before sharing one last longing look with you, “I… I don’t know if there’s anything wrong, if there’s something you’re not telling me. But please, talk to your Auntie Kimmy. Don’t bottle it up inside, yeah? It’s not healthy, Monkey.”

You didn’t answer. You couldn’t. The pain in your stomach was horrific.

“Monkey,” Kim walked closer, keeping her voice calm and measured, “Sweetheart, what’s going on with you today? This doesn’t seem like you.”

You didn’t know what to say.

“Logan,” Kim said your first name, which made you finally glance up and look at her, her expression melting into deep concern, “What’s the matter? Your Mum is severely worried about you—We all are. Whatever’s wrong, talk to me, we can fix it.”

Your defence finally cracked. Your lower lip trembled, and your arms wrapped around your stomach like a shield.

“I just feel… crap,” You whispered, voice cracking, “I… I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I think it’s my period; it hurts. More than usual.”

Kim crouched in front of you, her hand carefully just above your arm, while her face was etched with concern, “How long has it been like this, sweetheart?” She asked gently, “Because this… this doesn’t look like a bad period. You’re in a lot of pain here, Monkey. I think it could be something else, something more serious—I think we need to get your Mum in here.”

“N… No,” You mumbled, shaking your head, “I doon’t want her to worry about me. I’m fine.”

Kim brushed a strand of hair out of your face, “Monkey—”

“No!” Your voice rose sharply, eyes wide, “I… I don’t want her to find out. I don’t want her fussing over me. It’s just my period. It’s not a big deal!”

“It is a big deal,” Kim said softly, but firmly, “You’re in agony, Monkey. It’s clear to see, and you’ve been snapping at everyone—including your little sister, who’s innocent in all of this and doesn’t understand what you’re going through. Something’s not right, and you need help. Let me go get your mum, yeah? She’ll understand, won’t she?”

“N… Ow, fuckin’ hell,” You gasped, doubling over as a searing wave of pain tore through you. Your hands clutched your lower stomach, fingernails digging into the fabric of your top.

Kim was beside you instantly, one arm steadying your back, “Alright, okay, c’mere,” She murmured, soothing, “Let’s just sit down for a second, yeah? Just breathe for me, Monkey. You’re alright—I’ve got you, you’re okay.”

You barely registered Kim helping you onto the bench, your breathing shallow and teeth clenched against the pain that seemed to pulse through every nerve.

“There you go, it’s okay, you’re going to be okay,” Kim said quietly, brushing a few strands of hair from your clammy forehead, “You’re okay. Just keep breathing, alright?”

“Auntie K… Kimmy, it hurts,” You mumbled weakly, your whole body trembling. You hated this—being seen like this, weak and crumbling.

“Monkey?” Leah appeared back in the room, sharp with worry as she raced to your side, “Baby, what’s wrong? What’s going on?”

Your stomach flopped, not from the pain this time, but pure dread. You squeezed your eyes shut.

“Se’s in a lot of pain, Le,” Kim explained to her, “It’s in her lower abdomen. I don’t think this is just a period. I think we should get the medics in.”

“I told you not to tell her,” You hissed, your voice small and broken while your arms tightened around yourself, “I… I’m fine. It’s just… just a bad period.”

Concern etched Leah’s face as she crouched in front of you, “This is more than just a bad period, my girl. I’m seriously concerned about you right now.”

“Urgh, no mum, I’m fine!” You tried to plead the fifth, sure you didn’t feel great all but you didn’t want to miss the opportunity to train, “Please stop hovering. I’m fine. I… I ust want to train, and not have you on my back,”

“Oh no, I don’t think so. If you’re in this much pain, then you’re sitting this one out,” Leah declared, arms crossed over her chest.

“Mum! You… You can’t do that,” You protested.

“I can, and I am. I’m not having you in so much pain and suffering while training,” Leah insisted, motioning to the bench in the far corner, “Bench. Sit. Now.”

“I’m not a fuckin’ dog, you know?” You argued back with her, every fibre inside you hurt, and you really didn’t mean to snap, but the pain made everything unbearable, “I’m fine to train! I’ve been doing it all this time!”

Leah’s face grew darker, “Do not swear at me, Logan! I’m your mum, and I’m telling you that you’re sitting this one out.”

“Mum, I’m fine. It’s just… It’s just a bad period. I’ll be fine!” You protested in your defence, which clearly wasn’t going the way that you hoped.

“No, Logan. I’m putting my foot down!” Leah bit back, resting her hands on her hips, “What sort of mum would I be if I were to let you train while you’re experiencing this amount of pain?” 

“I don’t care. Urgh, get off my back, will you? I’ll be fine—” You walked off before she even had a chance to respond, doing so much as sticking your middle finger up at her.

“Monkey, come back, we’re not done talking about this—Monkey!” Leah shouted, voice sharp and rising, “Don’t ignore me, Logan! Get back here, Logan Reece!”

You didn’t turn around. Didn’t even flinch. You just kept walking with your jaw clenched, the heat of irritation burning through the ache in your stomach. 

Kyra was already eyeing you like she knew a storm was coming, “What’s up, mate?” She asked quietly.

You huffed, folding your arms across your stomach, “Dude, my mum is proper doin’ my head in.”

“Ah, well,” Kyra gave you a half-smile, “She’s just being caring, I guess?”

“I’ve only got bad period cramps, and she’s trying to make me sit out of training. How’s that fair?” You grumbled, your tone laced with sarcasm.

“If you’re in a lot of pain, then maybe it’s for the best,” Kyra said gently, “You know she  only cares about you.”

“I’ll be… fine,” You bit out through gritted teeth, one arm instinctively wrapping tighter around your middle, “She’s overreacting so much. It’s literally just period cramps. N… Nothing I haven’t had before, is it?”

“I don’t know,” Kyra said with a sideways glance, “You seem like you’re in a lot of pain, Monkey.”

“Oh my God, not you as well,” You scowled at your best friend, “I’ve already got my mum and auntie Kimmy breathing down my neck. I’m… I’m completely fine.”

Kyra still didn’t look entirely convinced, “Are you sure?”

“Y… Yes,” You hissed, feeling another wave of pain flood through you.

“Are you sure about that, my girl?” A voice appeared behind you, colder than you expected.

You froze.

Leah.

She’d heard everything, clearly, and was not in the mood for your games.

“Right, that’s enough,” Leah stepped beside you, her presence instantly commanding as she gently grabbed your bicep—not enough to hurt you, but enough to send the message that she was no longer messing about, “With me. Now. Let’s go.”

“Mum…” You began to protest.

“No. Don’t ‘Mum’ me right now, Logan Reece,” Leah said lowly, her voice sharp with frustration, “You’re not well, you’re being sincerely rude, and now you’re ignoring me after I’ve told you to sit out for your good.”

“I said I’m… I’m fine!” You tried to argue again, but the sentence barely made it out before another, sharper pain ripped through your abdomen.

Your knees buckled.

“Monkey,” Leah gasped, lunging forward to catch you before you hit the ground.

Your head dropped against her chest as a broken gasp escaped your throat while you gripped your stomach. The pain was no longer dull and cramping—it was sharp, deep, and radiating through your lower body like your insides were being twisted in a vice.

“M… Mum,” You whimpered, feeling afraid that something was seriously wrong.

Leah’s arms immediately went around you, “Woah, woah—okay, it’s alright, baby girl. I’ve got you. You’re okay. I’m right here.”

Your face was buried against her as your whole body trembled, “I… I’m scared,” You choked out, all the venom gone and now replaced with fear, “I… I don’t feel right. Something’s really wrong.”

“I know, my girl, I know,” Leah’s voice softened instantly, her hand stroking the back of your head, “It’s going to be okay. We’re going to sort it out, yeah? Just hold onto me, I’ve got you.”

“What’s wrong with her?” Kyra questioned, panicked.

“She’ll be alright,” Leah turned to your best friend, “Go and get a medic. Quickly.”

“O… Okay,” Kyra didn’t hesitate to rush and find the team of medics to help you.

“I’m scared,” You admitted, your voice barely audible.

“I know you are, sweetheart,” Leah murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of your head, “Come on. Let’s go inside. Somewhere quiet. We’ll wait for the medics, yeah? It’s going to be fine. Everything is going to be okay.”

You nodded shakily, too weak to walk on your own, as Leah half-carried you across the pitch and inside the training grounds, settling you on the sofa in the player’s lounge with her arms still around you.

“I know you’re scared, Monkey. Do you want Mini to hold?” Leah asked gently, already rummaging through her bag that she had with her before you could answer, “Here she is, baby. Just hold her. Everything’s going to be okay. I’m right here. I’m going anywhere.”

Leah tucked your stuffed monkey into your lap, and you curled around it, shaking.

“I… I didn’t want to tell you,” You admitted in a tiny voice, “Because I didn’t want to be benched or fussed over. But something’s wrong, Mum. I… I don’t feel right. It really hurts.  I just want the pain to go away. Make it stop… Please, make it stop.”

Leh was already moving, her whole face changing. The whole stern mum persona evaporated instantly.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay, Monkey, it’s going to be okay,” Leah stepped forward and gently cupped your cheek. Her thumb brushed along your jaw as she tilted your face up to meet hers, “Why didn’t you say something sooner, baby?”

“Because… I knew you’d make a fuss,” You muttered.

Leah gave you a look. Not angry. Just fell off something deeper… hurt, maybe. Worry. Something maternal and heavy.

“I am going to make a fuss, Monkey,” Leah said, brushing your hair out of your face, “Because I’m your mum, and I love you. It’s my job to make sure you’re okay. And if there is something wrong, I need you to tell me where it hurts. If you’ve been feeling like this for days, then we need to see about getting some professional help to figure out what is going on.”

You bit your bottom lip, “I… I just didn’t want you to think I’m weak. I’m not, but Mum… this really hurts... Please… Please just make it stop.”

Leah pulled you into her chest again, rocking you gently, “Oh, my girl Being in pain isn’t a weakness. You not telling me is what scares me. You’ve been acting out all morning because you’re hurting and scared, and overwhelmed, and instead of telling me about it, you’ve just been trying to power through and cope with it on your own.”

You nodded into her top.

“But now we need to think about what we’re going to do next,” Leah said, gently, “Because you can’t go on this and be in so much pain, baby.”

You sniffled, cuddling Mini tighter. Leah pressed another kiss to your hair, “Whatever happens, I’m right here, okay? I don’t like you suffering so much in silence. You can talk to me, always. You don’t have to bottle anything up. We’ve talked about this.”

You barely managed a nod, your face still buried against her chest, tears streaking your cheeks, your grip on Mini tightening.

And then… warmth. A sudden gush of it.

You froze.

Leah must’ve felt the change in your posture immediately, because she shifted slightly to look down, only to find a spreading damp patch beneath you both on the sofa, “Oh, Monkey,” She murmured, gentle but firm, assuming the worst, “It’s alright, sweetheart. It’s only a little accident. We can get you cleared up in no time, and nobody will know anything different. You’re really not feeling well today, are you?”

But your heart was already pounding in your ears.

Something definitely wasn’t right.

You couldn’t have another accident, not here. Not now.

“N… No, Mum—” Your voice cracked, rising with intense panic as you shoved yourself up, “I… I didn’t. I swear—”

“Hey, hey, it’s alright,” Leah stood too, concern etched into every inch of her face, “It’s nothing that we’ve not sorted out before. It’s going to be fine. I know you’re not feeling yourself, and we’re going to get to the bottom of what is going on. We just need to wait for the medics, but how about we go and clean up first, yeah?”

“N… No,” Before Leah could stop you, you were on your feet and bolting in the direction of the bathroom with Mini still clutched in your hand, the other pressed protectively to your abdomen.

You could hear your name echoed behind you. Leah’s voice, sharp with urgency and concern.

But you didn’t stop.

You couldn’t.

You felt so ashamed about everything that you just kept running until you came to the toilets.

“Monkey?” You heard a voice in the distance. 

This one was different.

Alessia.

You barely registered her voice as you came to a stop outside the toilets in the training grounds, You pushed open the door, staggering to the sink as you gripped the edge of it for support just as a wave of pressure crashed through you so hard that your knees almost gave out again.

Your breathing turned ragged.

“M… Monkey?” Alessia followed you into the toilets, concern etched on her face, “What’s the matter?”

You looked up in the mirror. Your face was pale as a ghost, wide-eyed and hunched over and you saw Alessia’s reflection standing in the doorway.

“What’s going on? Has something happened?” Alessia continued to ask, a mixture of confusion and concern written across her face.

“I… I don’t know what’s happening,” You whimpered, folding over slightly as you clutched your stomach again, “I’m scared, L… Lessi!”

Alessia was by your side in an instant, guiding you to lean against the wall, “Okay, okay, it’s alright. Just breathe,” She paused, “Deep breaths. That’s it… Listen, do you want me to get your Mum—?”

“I’m right here,” Leah burst into the toilets, more frantic this time as her eyes fly straight to you, hunched over and trembling, “C’mere, sweetheart. You can’t just run off like that, not while you’re in this condition, hey?”

“M… Mummy,” Your voice cracked as you turned into her open arms, you sounded so small and full of terror that every instinct in Leah kicked into overdrive, “I… I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m so scared.”

“It’s alright, baby. I’m right here,” Leah whispered, cupping your head and holding you tight, “It’s going to be okay. I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

Alessia caught Leah’s eyes over your head.

“She’s in a pretty bad way, Le,” Alessia said urgently, “This isn’t just bad cramps or a stomach bug. I think this is something a lot more serious.”

“I know,” Leah nodded, trying to steady her own nerves as she supported you with one arm, “Listen, my girl, I think we might need to take a little trip to the hospital—I know you don’t like them, but this is something that medicine just isn’t going to fix alone.”

“No!” You whimpered instantly, a wave of fresh panic rising in your chest, “I… I don’t want to go there! I hate hospitals! I… I don’t want to go!”

“I know, my girl, I know,” Leah whispered, tucking Mini back into your arms and gently rocking you, “But you’re in a lot of pain right now. We need to get some help, okay? This is something that doctors and nurses will be able to help you with… I can’t do anything, baby.”

Alessia stepped back quickly as the sound of running footsteps echoed down the corridor. Beth ran in, flushed and wide-eyed, skidding to a stop in the doorway, “What the hell’s going on?”

“Something’s not right with Monkey,” Alessia said immediately, voice tense, “There’s something really wrong with her.”

Beth furrowed her eyebrows, already reaching for her phone in her pocket,  “I’ll phone for an ambulance!” She exclaimed, not wasting time to dial the emergency services, “Ambulance please… My niece is experiencing severe pains in her lower abdomen—What, no, of course she’s not pregnant!”

“I found the medics—Well, technically, I found Rose!” Kyra appeared, breathless and red-faced behind Beth with the team of club medics following close behind, “It took a while, but I found her! Oh, and Steph as well!”

“What’s going on? Kyra said Monkey was in pain?” Steph chimed in, concerned.

“In here!” Leah called, her voice low and clear now, “We need help now—she’s in a serious amount of pain and something’s not right with her!”

Rose  stepped forward quickly, already pulling on gloves, “How long has she been like this?”

“I… I don’t know,” Leah said shakily, crouching beside you again, “She’s only been this bad in the last couple of hours. Please… help her. She’s never been this bad before.”

“We’ll do our best. Has anyone called for an ambulance?” Rose asked, already kneeling beside you.

“They’re on their way,” Beth reported, sliding her phone into her back pocket, “But there’s a half-hour wait.”

“Bloody typical,” Leah muttered, her voice sharp with frustration, “This is an emergency. They need to be quicker.”

“I… I can feel pressure,” You complained, confused as to what is happening.

“Hi, Monkey,” Rose smiled gently, crouching beside you, you knew her, she was familiar, and you knew you could trust her, “Am I okay to have a look at your stomach?”

You managed a slight nod, the pain making it harder to breathe, let alone speak.

Leah stroked your hair gently, “You’re okay, baby girl. Just let them help, alright? I’m not going anywhere.”

Rose gently pressed a hand to your abdomen, and then pulled her hand back sharply as her eyes widened, “She’s rock hard across the lower abdomen,” She muttered, “Tense as anything.”

“What… What the fuck does that mean?” Leah questioned, and the panic spread across her face.

Rose didn’t say anything right away. Her focus remained on you, her fingers gently assessing as she moved with purpose. But her face was changing. carefully blank with her lips thinning and her brows drawing together.

Leah could feel the hairs rise on the back of her neck.

“Rose,” Leah said again, firmer this time, “What the fuck does that mean?”

The medic glanced briefly at her, keeping her voice calm but edged with urgency, “It could mean a number of things, but the tightness and location… Well, it’s consistent with advanced labour.”

Leah’s stomach dropped, “I’m sorry—what?!”

“Mum… I’m scared,” You whimpered, clutching Mini tightly against your chest, body curling with the next wave of pain.

“I know, baby, I know, it’s going to be okay,” Leah did her best to keep you calm and not panicked, “It’s going to be fine. It’s alright.”

“Wait, she’s having contractions?” Beth blurted, her eyes flicking between you and the medic, “Wait, wait, Rose, are you saying that she’s in… that she’s in labour?”

“No,” Leah shook her head instantly, denial breaking across her face, “No, no, she can’t be—I would’ve known. There’s no… There’s no way this can be happening! There’s just no way—”

“Leah,” Alessia spoke up for the first time in a while, giving her a knowing look, “You were pregnant with Buddy. You should know.”

“No…” Leah swallowed the lump that formed in her throat, and shook her head again as she let out a small laugh, “N… No, you’ve made a mistake—Monkey? Did… Did you know?”

“I didn’t know,” You sobbed suddenly, your voice tiny, high-pitched and full of shame, “I swear, Mum, I… I didn’t know—”

It hit Leah like a freight train.

The accident. The water. The pain. The panic.

Her blood ran cold.

“No…” Leah whispered, almost to herself, “Fuck. No. No, tell me that… tell me you don’t think that—” Her head snapped towards Rose.

“I haven’t had a look but judging by the amount of pain that Monkey seems to be experiencing, it’s very possible it’s true,” Rose explained to Leah before turning directly towards you,“Monkey, am I alright to have a look, and see if I can see the head?”

You whimpered in defeat. You didn’t want to believe it.

How could you be pregnant?

Rose nodded gently, as if sensing your turmoil and carefully moved to help ease you back onto the floor.

“Okay, Monkey, I’m going to have to check if the baby’s coming now,” Rose said softly but firmly, “I promise I’m going to be as gentle as I can.”

Leah crouched down beside you again, her hand tightening protectively around yours, “I’m right here, my girl,” She whispered, keeping her voice steady but breaking with emotion, “Whatever happens, I’m right here. You’re not alone.”

Rose’s fingers moved cautiously, and then she looked up, eyes wide but calm.

“Okay, I can see the head. The baby is crowning,” Rose explained.

Leah’s breath caught.

“This baby is coming right now. It’s not going to wait any longer,” Rose said gently, her eyes meeting Leah’s without hesitation.

Leah’s mouth opened, but no sound came out as her face drained of colour.

Wh… What does that mean?” Steph asked, confused.

“It means that we’re going to have to deliver the baby here,” Rose explained, glancing around the group of girls hovered around, “Steph, get the emergency services back on the phone, tell them we’ve got a nineteen year old in labour and the baby is crowning, and ask them for direct instructions, and Beth! I’m going to need help!”

“W… What?” Beth asked, eyes wide in alarm, “You want me to help deliver this baby?”

“We have no time to discuss it. This baby is coming, and they’re not waiting,” Rose said sharply, her voice leaving no room for argument.

Beth dropped to her knees beside Rose without another word, her face was pale but determined, shaking slightly as she pulled on a pair of gloves from the emergency kit that Rose had brought with her.

Steph was already fumbling with her phone, her fingers trembling as she dialled the number, “Yeah. Hi, We’ve got a nineteen-year-old in labour, and… and she’s crowning,” She spared a look at you, “Whatever that means. We’ve already phoned an ambulance and been told their on the way but I don’t think this baby is going to wait any longer, so we’re in need of instructions, now, please!”

Your breathing was shallow and erratic as you clung to Leah like a lifeline, “M… Mum, I’m really scared,” You stammered in a panic, you had Mini crushed to your chest and hers. The pain was unbearable, all-consuming, and you couldn’t make sense of anything, “It hurts, Mummy. It hurts so bad,” You sobbed, voice barely audible.

“I know, my girl, I know,” Leah whispered, pressing her forehead to yours, even as tears streamed down her face, “But you’re doing so well, baby. You’re being so brave. Just hold on to me.”

“What’re they saying, Steph?” Rose checked in with Steph to see what the emergency services were saying.

“They said don’t move her, support her head… and they’re going to walk you through it,” Steph quickly explained, putting the phone on loudspeaker for clear instructions, “Leah, are you going to find Jordan? She needs to know about this.”

“Yeah… Yeah, I will in a minute,” Leah murmured, still in a state of disbelief that this was really happening.

“Okay, listen to me, Monkey. I’m going to need you to push soon, Monkey,” Rose said gently, positioning herself, “With the next contraction, I need you to try and push, okay? We’re right here. You can do this.”

“N… No, I can’t! I can’t do it! I… I don’t know how,” You whimpered, panic rising again as your body shook.

“You can, my girl. You can do it,” Leah said firmly, her hands cupping your face, “You can. Look at me, Monkey. You trust me, right?”

You nodded, just a small, tiny movement.

“Then listen to me, my girl. When Rose tells you to push, you have to do it,” Leah told you, keeping a firm tone, “You’re not alone, sweetheart. I’ve got you. I’m not letting you go. I’m right here. We all are.”

“O… Okay,” You mumbled, barely loud enough to be heard.

Then, another contraction ripped through your body, and this time, Rose’s voice cut through it, “Now, Monkey. Push!”

You screamed as you bore down, Leah holding you tightly as she continued to whisper encouragement in your ear, “That’s it, my girl. You’re doing so well. You’re so, so well. My brave girl.”

“That’s it, Monkey, that’s it. And again, just like that,” Rose encouraged, “You’re doing amazing.”

“I can’t—I don’t understand what’s happening. H… How is this real?” You sobbed, gripping Leah’s hand so tightly that she winced.

“Yes, you can, Monkey!” Leah insisted, “I know it’s scary, but you’re not alone. I’m right here. You need to push. Just one more time, yeah?”

The contraction hit again, and this time, your body took over.

You screamed, your whole frame tensing, and Beth guided the baby’s head out carefully while murmuring something soft and steady.

“One more, one more time, Monkey. You’re almost there!” Rose encouraged gently.

With one final cry, your body gave in, and suddenly, there was an unmistakable, wet sound of a baby being born.

A split second of stillness.

Then, a shrill cry.

High-pitched. Raw. Real.

Leah gasped, staring down at the tiny, slick bundle now being lifted carefully by Beth, who was staring at the tiny infant in disbelief.

“She’s here,” Beth whispered, “It’s a little girl.”

“We need to wrap her in something,” Rose stated, firmly.

Leah yanked her training jumper over her head without thinking and shoved it into Rose’s hands, “Here, take it!”

Wrapped in the oversized Arsenal training jumper, the tiny baby was passed gently into Leah’s waiting arms.

You collapsed fully against her, sobbing, shaking and barely able to process anything at all.

“It’s okay, my girl. It’s okay. You did it,” Leah whispered, voice thick with tears as she held both you and your baby, one in each arm, “She’s here, she’s tiny but she’s perfect.”

“It’s… It’s a girl?” You peered to look at the tiny baby in Leah’s arms.

But you didn’t feel anything—there was just emptiness.

There was no loving connection. You didn’t want to be near her.

“Yeah,” Leah murmured, staring at the newborn, “You’re okay. She’s okay. You both made it. Do you want to hold her?”

“N… No,” You stammered, you didn’t want to hold her, you didn’t even want her, “N… No. I don’t want to!”

“Monkey, come on, she’s… she’s your baby. Look at her, she’s so tiny, and I reckon she even has your nose,” Leah said, lovingly gazing down at the small baby in her arms, “She wants her Mummy.”

“N… No! I don’t want her!” You insisted, trying to shove the innocent baby away, “She’s… She’s not mine. Get her away!”

“Sweetheart,” Leah tried, adjusting her hold on the tiny infant, “Just try—”

“No, no! I don’t wanna!” You shouted with the rest of the energy that you had left, “I don’t want to hold the stupid baby. She’s… She’s not mine! I don’t want her!”

“Okay, alright,” Leah was quick to agree, gently moving the newborn to her other arm, “It’s alright, I know it’s hard but it’ll get easier…”

“No! You… You don’t get it. I don’t want her,” You fought the urge to literally push the baby in Leah’s arms away, “She’s not mine!”

“Monkey—”

And then just as Leah went to speak, the ambulance crew burst through the doors behind Kyra, breathless and panicked.

Leah looked up, still holding you and your daughter close, “You’re late.”

“C’mere, yer tiny terrors!” Katie’s voice echoed through the corridors, chasing after Buddy and Rory, who were sprinting ahead, giggling mischievously—Buddy’s hands were smeared with chocolate, no thanks to Katie herself, “Come ‘ere before yer get it all over the place!”

“Nooo, Auntie Katie!” Buddy squealed,  running as fast as her little legs could carry her, “Nooo! ‘Top it! ‘Ou can’ catch me!”

“Oh yeah? I’m gonna get yer!” Katie grinned, lunging and scooping her up, “Gotcha!”

“No, no, down, now!” Buddy thrashed in Katie’s arms, “I go down, p’ease!”

Katie chuckled, shaking her head, “I don’t think so, yer all sticky and covered in chocolate, madam,” She said, tickling the 3-year-old under her armpits, “We gotta wash yer hands before yer get it all on the walls, and then yer Mammy might be annoyed with me, won’t she?”

“I don’t have chocolate on my fingers, Auntie Katie!” Rory insisted, showing Katie her clean fingers, “I wiped it all off!”

“Good girl, Roo!” Katie leaned forward to exchange a high-five with the 5-year-old, “Right, wriggle monster, we’re gonna wash yer hands now before we have the place lookin’ like Willy Wonka’s factory has exploded!”

“It ‘ummy do!” Buddy defended, cheekily as she continued to thrash in Katie’s arms, “Where’ Mummy? I no see ‘er!” 

“I don’t know, Bud, but I’m sure we can find her afterwards,” Katie reasoned with the squirming toddler in her arms.

They turned a corner just as Rory pushed the door open of the toilets, “Hi, Mummy!” She said excitedly, oblivious to everyone around her.

“Hi, Munchkin,” Beth’s voice was strained, high-pitched like she wasn’t quite sure how to react to anything anymore, “Are you being good?”

“Yup!” Rory grinned, holding the door open, “What’re you doing on the floor, Mummy?”

Katie came behind her while still holding Buddy on her hip, “Right, yer little terror, let’s get you cleaned up. We gotta wash yer hands, and make sure all the chocolate is gone—”

The Irish woman stopped mid-step, as her eyes swept the room.

Katie noted the way that you were curled up against Leah, who was sitting awkwardly with one arm wrapped around you protectively. Paramedics were crowding them in the background, one of them crouched beside your legs. Beth was perched on the edge of the counter, pale as anything and staring like she had seen a ghost. Rose was talking rapidly on her phone, meanwhile Steph, Alessia and Kyra were scattered in the cramped space.

“What the fu… fudge happened in ‘ere?” Katie asked with wide eyes, adjusting Buddy on her hip, quick to correct herself with the two young girls around her.

No one answered immediately.

Then there was a wail.

A sharp, high-pitched sound of a newborn cry split through the room like a siren.

“Whoa!” Buddy gasped, her little eyes going as wide as saucers as she tried to twist in Katie’s arms, “Der’s a baby! Who baby dat?”

Katie’s eyes widened even more, “Is that…?”

“Der’s a baby!” Buddy repeated, half-excited and half-curious as she tried to wriggle to get out of Katie’s grasp, “I go down, Auntie Katie! Down, now!”

Rory peeked curiously around Katie’s frame, “Who delivered it? The postman?”

“Down, Auntie Katie!” Buddy protested, squirming in Katie’s arms and curious to take a closer look at the newborn in Leah’s arms.

“Right, we have to wash yer hands first, so yer don’t end up touching the baby with chocolate-covered fingers,” Katie carried Buddy over to the sink, resting her on the counter beside Beth, who still looked shell-shocked, staring at the baby girl bundled in the Arsenal training jumper.

“I wan’ say ‘ello to da baby!” Buddy tried to make a break for it.

Katie turned on the tap and adjusted the temperature before grabbing some soap, “Alright, yer little chocolate monster, hands out.”

Buddy reluctantly let out a huff but complied, putting her hands under the water while kicking her little legs against the counter beneath her, “I wan’ see da baby!” She whined, craning her neck to get a better look.

“Yeah, I know yer do, but yer can’t do that with sticky fingers, Tiny,” Katie reminded her, gently scrubbing at her fingers, “That’s a rule.”

“It good chocolate, do!” Buddy protested dramatically, wriggling in place, “I go down now!”

“I know, I know,” Katie chuckled, reaching over to grab a paper towel to dry Buddy’s little hands, “There we go, all clean and dry. Now yer can get down, little miss.”

“Mummy!” Buddy squealed, toddling towards Leah and the newborn baby, “Who dat?”

“hI, Bubba,” Leah greeted the 3-year-old with a kind smile, just as Buddy immediately reached out to touch the baby, “Ah, ah, no… Gentle, Buddy—”

It was too late.

Buddy reached out with curious fingers as the newborn baby stirred, scrunching her tiny face up and letting out the softest, sleepiest little grunt.

“... We have to use gentle hands, remember, Bubba?” Leah reminded the curious toddler, “She’s only tiny, so we have to be really careful.”

“Alright,” One of the paramedics stood up and gently cleared their throat, stepping forward, “I think we need to get both mum and baby checked out properly at the hospital.”

You stiffened in Leah’s arms. You didn’t want to to hospital—You didn’t even want the baby.

You weren’t a Mum. You couldn’t be. Not really. Not like this.

“M’... M’ not goin’ to the hospital,” You mumbled, anxiously, “I… I don’t wanna!”

“Hey, it’s okay, it’s alright,” Leah tightened her grip around your shoulder and gave you a small squeeze, “I’m going to come with you both. You’re going to be fine. You just need to get checked out and make sure that nothing is seriously wrong with either you or the baby.”

You couldn’t stand to look at the baby in Leah’s arms. 

There was so many different emotions going through you right now—But you knew one thing though.

You didn’t want her.

“Isn’t she lovely… Isn’t she wonderful… Isn’t she precious, ” Leah softly sang the lyrics, “Less than a minute old,” She continued, gazing down at the newborn bundle now wrapped in a soft pink blanket with loving eyes.

Leah sat on the hospital room’s windowsill, gently swaying the newest addition in her arms—the baby now dressed in a white babygrow with a hat to match, it was something that Katie had raced down to the hospital gift shop and found at the last minute. She was peaceful now, her little mouth working around nothing in her sleep with one tiny fist curled against her cheek.

Leah couldn’t take her eyes off her, “She’s healthy, my girl,” She said softly, not looking up, “Weighs six pounds, three ounces. She’s perfect… She’s tiny, but she’s perfect just the same.” Her voice cracked just a little as she looked down at the baby, using her thumb to lightly brush over the faintest whisp of hair.

You were lying in the hospital bed with your back turned, trying to block Leah out, to feel like any… none of this was happening.

“She’s adorable, Monkey,” Leah tried, keeping her tone of voice soft and gentle, “Do you want to hold her?”

You didn’t move—You didn’t answer.

“You could just hold her for a second? I bet she’d love a little cuddle from her mum, not from me,” Leah was determined to not give up, “You just… You just need to try, my girl.”

“I don’t want her,” You mumbled, the words escaping your mouth before you could even think, “Keep her away from me.”

Leah blinked in confusion, “What?” Her voice went quieter, her arms still bouncing the small baby as she stirred against her shoulder, “You… You mean you want to give her up?”

“No,” You turned around to face her, eyes wide and red-rimmed from crying, “I… I don’t know… I don’t mean that, I just…” You were fumbling with your words, “I don’t want her. She’s not mine, Mum. I… I didn’t even know—”

“Then, what do you want to do?” Leah stared at you, thrown completely, “You’re her mum.”

“I… I don’t know, mum,” You broke down into tears all over again, “I… I don’t feel anything for her.”

“Sure, you might not feel like that now. But she’s yours, sweetheart. You know, I know it might come as a shock, and none of us were prepared for this, but… she’s your baby.”

“N… No, she’s not. I don’t want her! I… I don’t feel like she’s mine.I don’t want to hold her, I don’t want to look at her—She’s not mine!”

“Monkey—”

“Beth phoned and wanted to let yer know Buddy’s okay. She’s currently on the sofa and eatin’ pizza as we speak,” Katie chuckled, walking inside the hospital room with takeaway coffee cups in hand, placing on down on the small table, “She’s full of questions for yer, though.”

“Yeah, that’s to be expected. I thought it was easier to leave her with Beth, and not my mum, or any family fo that matter. It would only cause them to ask questions, and that’s something I don’t think none of us are quite ready for yet,” Leah murmured, peering down at the newborn in her arms with the answer to her question still on her mind, “There’s a lot of questions I think we all want to know.”

“Have you spoken to Jord yet?” Katie wondered, slumping down on the spare chair in the room, “I think she deserves to know what has happened.”

“Yeah… Yeah, I know, you’re right, and I will,” Leah explained as she continued to rock the baby, “I’ve just…  I’ve been trying to figure out what to tell her, and when it’s the right time, but everything is so up in the air, right now.”

“I can stay with Monkey, if you want to go outside and make the call?” Katie offered, kindly.

“Are you sure?” Leah took a hesitant glance towards you, reluctant to leave you straight away in the condition you’re in.

“Course not,” Katie shifted from the chair to perch on the end of the hospital bed, “Yer go and make that phone call. I’ll stay with Monkey.”

Leah stood slowly while still swaying slightly as she moved with the baby, her hand instinctively cupping the tiny head beneath the white cotton hat. The newborn gave a soft, sleepy grunt, one of those strange little newborn noises that they make.

“You’re okay, angel,” Leah smiled faintly, brushing a kiss to her forehead before gazing in your direction—You were curled up on your side, back to the rest of the room with your arms wrapped around your middle,  “I shouldn’t be too long. Just… Keep an eye on her, yeah?”

Katie gave an affirmative nod in agreement, “We’ll be alright. The two of us, won’t we, little lady?”

You didn’t respond—You didn’t want to talk about things.

“I’ll step outside with the baby,” Leah said softly, reaching into her pocket to pull her phone out, “I shouldn’t be too long.”

“Okay,” Katie agreed, turning her full attention to you, “C’mere, little lady.Yer’ve been through a lot today, haven’t yer?”

Leah slipped out of the hospital room, shutting the door quietly behind her. The hallway was quiet, other than the nurses bustling around the room in the middle of the day, as the faint smell of hospital sanitiser lingered in the air.

“Let’s take a seat out here, yeah?” Leah cooed, gazing down at the tiny bundle in her arms—the newborn stirred again, letting out a high-pitched squeak as Leah bounced her gently, “Ooh, that’s better isn’t it, angel? You know, you’ve been born into chaos, but I promise that everyone is going to love you, regardless. And you have such a big family that is filled with nothing but love.”

Using her free hand to dial Jordan’s number, Leah balanced her phone between her ear and shoulder as she let it ring and awaited an answer on the other end.

“We’re about to give your other Nanny a huge shock, as well,” Leah murmured, each ring of the phone making her stomach twist, “C’mon, Jord. Pick up, pick up. Pick up the phone. This is important.”

Back inside the hospital room, Katie was trying to coax you into talking to her, “Come on, Monkey. Talk to me,” Katie looked at you in concern, reluctant to speak anytime soon, “I know yer feelin’ all distant and things about this. But it’s not good to bottle things up…”

You finally broke, turning around to face Katie with tear-stained cheeks, “I… I don’t want her, Auntie Katie.”

“Oh, little lady. C’mere,” Katie moved to be by your side, wrapping her arms protectively around you, “I know today’s been a lot, but yer don’t want to be makin’ rush decisions like that.”

“No, no, you don’t get it. None of you do. I don’t want her,” You repeated, your voice shaking now, “I don’t feel anything for her. It’s like.. It’s like she’s just someone else’s baby, not mine. I don’t want her.”

Katie didn’t argue; she just held you tightly and nodded slowly.

“That’s okay,” Katie murmured gently, “It’s okay to feel like that, though. It doesn’t make yer a bad person for having them thoughts.”

“She’s not… She’s not mine,” You whispered, curling in on yourself, “And I don’t want her to be.”

The phone clicked—Jordan answered on the other end.

“Le?” Jordan’s voice came through, casual and sounding like she wasn’t expecting this news, “You alright?”

Leah took a slow breath and adjusted the newborn baby in her arms again, just as she let out another soft grunt and stretched her tiny legs inside the babygrow

“Hey,” Leah said quietly, “I… There’s something I need to tell you. And I need you to just… listen, okay?”

“What?!! What… What is it?” Jordan asked, instantly panicked, “Has something happened to one of the girls?”

“They’re both fine, calm down, they’re okay…” Leah murmured, trying to keep her voice steady as she gently swayed, the baby nestled against her chest, “I think this is better explained in person, alright? But… Just please remember to keep an open-mind about things.”

“The hospital?” Jordan was immediately alarmed, “I… I thought you said both of the girls are okay—what do I need to come there for?”

Leah raked her hand through her hair, "Just... Look, Jord. I know it sounds worrying and it's difficult to understand, but I really think this conversation is better off said in person."

"Fine," Jordan exhaled a sigh on the other end of the phone, "Alright, I can be there in twenty minutes. Do you need to bring anything?"

"Yeah, that would be helpful," Leah agreed, "I'll send a list over."

"Okay. I'll grab what's needed and head to the hospital," Jordan said, already sounding like she was rushing around her flat.

"Just..." Leah continued, her voice wavering, "No asking questions, and no freaking out. Not until you're here, and then I can explain, yeah?"

"... Fine," Jordan reluctantly agreed, although Leah could tell she wanted to ask further questions.

"Good, alright," Leah took a moment to pause, "I'll see you when you arrive. Katie's here with me, so I'l send her out to find you." She hung up on the phone with a soft sigh, tucking it back into her pocket as she glanced down at the baby who had drifted back to sleep, “You really do know how to shake things up, don’t you?” She murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to the baby’s forehead.

The baby didn't stir at all, just remained safely asleep in the grasp of Leah's embrace, “Let’s go back inside and wait for your other Nanny, eh?”

Stepping back inside the hospital room, the door clicked shut behind her as you sat hunched on the bed with Katie beside you, wrapping a tight arm around you with a shoulder to cry on.

“Look, here’s yer Ma,” Katie softly said, turning to notice Leah walk back inside with the tiny newborn in her arms, “I bet yer could do with a big cuddle from her right now, couldn’t yer?”

You tensed in Katie’s embrace. Leah crossed over without hesitation, cradling your baby protectively, but her eyes were on you.

“Hey, my girl,” Leah shifted the baby girl in her arm as she carefully sat on the edge of the bed, “How’re you doin’? I‘ve just been on the phone with your Mama. She’s on her way now.”

“Y… You told her?” You stammered, turning to look at her in shock with red-rimmed eyes, “What did you say?”

“Hey, don’t worry, it’s okay. I haven’t told her anything yet,” Leah reassured, noting the worry in your facial expression, “I’ve only asked her to come to the hospital, because I think this conversation is best had in person, sweetheart.”

“Do you think… Do you think she’ll be mad when she finds out?” You questioned, fumbling with your hands, “I… I don’t want her to hate me, Mum.”

“Oh, baby,” Leah whispered, curling her arm around your back while your baby shifted slightly in her other arm, “Why would she be mad? I think if anything she’ll just be shocked. But we’re both going to support you. She loves you. We both do. Nothing is going to change that.”

You leaned into her automatically, pressing your forehead against Leah’s hoodie but your eyes kept darting to the tiny baby in her arms. The baby wriggled and let out a soft cry in Leah’s arms, and you flinched.

And then, without even thinking about it, you tried to shove the baby away from Leah’s chest, “I want a cuddle,” You mumbled, frustrated, “Not her. I… I don’t want her near me.”

Leah flinched at the movement, holding your baby tighter for a moment, but Katie reached faster.

“Here,” Katie said quickly, standing up and stepping forwards, her arms outstretched, “I’ll take her for a bit. ‘Bout time I had a cuddle with my new little niece.”

“Thanks, Katie,” Leah shared a grateful look with and passed the newborn over to her, “Come here, you. You just need your Mum to yourself, eh?

Leah barely finished wrapping her arms tight around you before you spoke up, “I…I don’t want her,” You told her, your words were muffled by her hoodie, “I don’t want her, Mum.”

Leah stilled, “What… What are you saying right now, sweetheart?”

“I don’t want her,” You repeated, a bit more firmer this time around. You sat up straighter, pushing away from Leah and glaring at the baby, “I don’t want her, I… I don’t want to look at her. I don’t want her anywhere near me. She… She’s not mine.”

“Monkey…” Leah’s voice was careful and steady, even as her heart dropped, “You don’t mean that, sweetheart. This little baby girl… she’s yours. She’s your flesh and blood. I know everything has come as a shock today, and it’s all been a bit chaotic, but you don’t really mean that, do you? Things will calm down, you’ll get used to it…”

“I don’t care,” You snapped quickly, jaw tight and refusing to look at the tiny bundle now cooing softly in Katie’s arms, “I don’t want her.”

Katie looked up with a furrowed brow, adjusting the baby more securely in her arms, “Hey, little lady. Yer shouldn’t make such a rush decision in this state. It’s been a long day, but look at her, she’s perfect, just like her Mammy.”

“I hate her,” You spat, shoulders trembling, “I hate her. I don’t want her near me.”

“What… What are you saying? You want… “ Leah swallowed the lump in her throat, “You want to put her up for adoption?”

You didn’t respond, you just stared at the floor in front of you.

Leah wasn’t quite done with speaking her mind, “Monkey… if you do that, then she’ll go to people she doesn’t know. Is that really what you want?”

You hesitated, only for a single second, but it was enough, “I… I don’t care,” You muttered, “I just… I don’t want her.”

The silence was thick in the air and the tension could be cut with a knife.

Katie remained to gently bounce your baby in her arms and whisper soothing words to her, but her eyes were flickering warily between you and Leah.

“Listen, my girl,” Leah kept her voice steady as her grip tightened around you, “I know you’re in a bit of shock right now, I mean… It’s been a huge day, and a lot has happened. You’ve just had a baby, you didn’t expect it and you’re scared. But look at that little girl, she’s innocent in all of this… You know she didn’t ask for any of this, Monkey. And right now, I bet that all she wants is her Mummy.”

“I’m not her mum,” You muttered bitterly.

“She is yours, though,” Leah said gently, “She’s your own flesh and blood. Regardless of what you might think right now.”

You shook your head violently in disagreement, “No. No, I don’t… I don’t want her! You don’t get it, Mum! She’s… When I look at her, I don’t… I don’t see her as anything—I don’t see the love I should have for her. I don’t feel anything for her—”

You were cut off by the high-pitched wail from your baby in Katie’s arms, “I think someone wants in on the attention, eh?” She teased.

“I… I don’t want her to be adopted by strangers,” You muttered, pausing to take a breath, “I don’t want to raise her either.”

Leah’s breath caught in her throat, “What… What are you saying?”

“I’m saying…” You looked at her, eyes red and puffy while your jaw was clenched, “I think that if anyone was to raise her then I want it to be you and Mama. She deserves to be with two people that will love her, just… just as much as you love me, and Buddy.”

“But… It’s not that simple, my girl,” Leah admitted, confused, “Me and your Mama, we’re not together anymore. We haven’t been for a long time. It’s just not that easy to say you want us to adopt and raise her. It’s… It’s going to be more complicated than just that.”

“Please, Mum,” You pleaded, “I can’t… At least this way I know she’ll be in good hands. Please, just think about it.”

Leah blinked hard, her throat tightened at the weight of your words, “I’ll talk to your Mama about this and see what she says. But this is a lot to think about, Monkey. This isn’t a decision that we can just rush into making.”

Down at the other end of the maternity ward, Jordan had arrived and stepped through the door with a car seat clutched awkwardly in one hand and her phone in the other, sending a quick text  to Leah to let her know she’d arrived.

There was nothing more other than complete confusion written over her face as she scanned the area and tried to make sense of things.

“Ah, mate, yer here!” Katie jogged lightly over to Jordan and exchanged a brief hug with her best friend, “Guessin’ yer a bit confused about all this, eh?”

“Just  a bit,” Jordan murmured, eyes flickering between Katie and the ward, “What the hell is going on? Leah just said to keep an open mind, but what the hell… What’s happened?”

Katie held up a hand to stop on the onslaught, “Breathe, mate. Everything is fine. It’s just better if Leah explained things. It’s not my place.”

“Everything is fine?” Jordan raised an eyebrow, impatient and clearly unconvinced, “You’re meeting me outside of a hospital ward, Leah asked me to bring a car seat and I’m supposed to act normal?”

“It’s… It’s alright,” Katie cracked a smile and gestured to the door behind her, “Trust me… This one’s better explained in person by the right person. Let’s just go through here, yeah?”

Jordan squinted at her, keeping her jaw tight but eventually, she gave a sharp nod, “Fine, alright. But this had better not be a prank or something. It’s a bit late for April’s fools day now.”

“It’s not a prank,” Katie confirmed, voice quieter now as she held the door open and nodded towards the corridor inside, “Come on.”

Together, the two of them walked the length of the long hall as Jordan grew further on edge with every next step that she took.

Katie stopped at one of the rooms and knocked gently before opening it.

Jordan stepped inside, and immediately froze.

“Hey, Jord,” Leah was the first to break the silence from where she sat in a chair next to the hospital bed, peacefully feeding a tiny newborn—your newborn baby girl while you had eventually fallen asleep, exhausted from the day you’d had.

“What… the fuck?” Jordan whispered.

Leah exhaled a deep sigh, “Just… Keep an open mind, alright?”

Jordan didn’t move as she kept her eyes locked on the baby in Leah’s arms. Her brain was scrambling to fill in the gaps, but nothing was making sense, “Is that… Did you… What?” She eventually finished on.

Katie gently stepped in, taking the baby from Leah with a sense of practiced ease to take over feeding her, giving Leah and Jordan the proper chance to talk.

“Come on, let’s go outside and talk about this,” Leah stood up slowly from the chair, approaching Jordan as she placed a hand on her arm, “I don’t want to wake Monkey up. She’s not long fallen asleep.”

Still stunned, Jordan reluctantly followed her ex-girlfriend out into the corridor.

“What the fuck, Leah?” Jordan hissed, her eyes wide as saucers, “What the… How did… I don’t get it? Monkey was pregnant? And you didn’t even think to tell me about it!”

“Would you calm down and let me explain, first please, and not just jump straight to conclusions?” Leah leaned against the wall, arms crossed as her heart raced, “There’s an explanation for this, Jord.”

“Oh yeah, this ought to be good…” Jordan mumbled, reluctant to be convinced, arms crossed over her chest, “Well go on then. I’m waiting to hear it.”

“Nobody knew Monkey was pregnant, Jord,” Leah admitted, raking a hand through her hair, “Not even herself, she thought it was just bad period cramps.”

Jordan snorted, “Oh course like anybody is going to believe that.”

“I’m being serious, Jordan! “ Leah hissed, trying to not cause a scene, “Monkey really didn’t know, nobody did… not until she was in the training ground toilets giving birth.”

“What the…” Jordan was left flabbergasted, “She was pregnant? All of this time, and none of us knew?”

“Yep… I don’t know how she didn’t know, I don’t know how none of us even realised she could be,” Leah mumbled.

Jordan pressed a hand to her forehead, pacing in a tight circle, “Jesus Christ.”

“She was in shock. She still is,” Leah continued, “And… And that’s not everything. She doesn’t want to keep the baby. But she doesn’t want her adopted by strangers either.”

“What?” Jordan stopped pacing, blinking slowly, “So what does that mean?”

“Well…” Leah hesitated, looking at her ex-girlfriend in the eyes, “She wants us to raise her. You and me.”

“What? That… That couldn’t work,” Jordan blurted, starting, “Leah, me and you… We’re not even together anymore.”

“I know,” Leah said quickly, “And I did tell her that. But she wants us to raise her. She wants us to raise this baby like how we have raised her, and how we are raising Buddy. That’s all she cares about.”

Jordan looked like she was ready to protest, but she took one glance through the window and saw the tiny newborn in Katie’s arms, “I… I don’t know.”

“Do you want to come and meet her?” Leah offered, reaching for the door and opening it enough to just see inside where Katie was still feeding her, rocking to her gently, “You could hold her?”

“... Okay,” Jordan stepped closer as her breath caught, “She’s tiny.”

“Yeah,” Leah murmured, stepping in the door behind her, “She weighs six pounds and three ounces. But she’s strong. Just like our girl is.”

Jordan swallowed hard and stepped further into the room as her eyes never left the baby. She stood directly in front of Katie, “Can I?” She motioned to the baby with soft adoration in her eyes.

“Here we go, little ‘un. Yer ‘bout to meet another face,” Katie cooed, gently handing the baby to her.

“Hi, little ‘un. You’re tiny, aren’t you? But you’re so… perfect,” Jordan whispered, gently rocking the baby in her arms, “I bet you gave everyone a shock today, didn’t you?”

“She certainly did,” Katie chimed in, amusedly.

“She’s so precious,” Jordan whispered, not taking her eyes off the newborn, who wriggled once, then settled, and the woman blinked fast, lips parting with awe, “Okay… Okay, I’m on board with it.”

“Really?” Leah smiled, a genuine one this time, warm and soft, “You know… She still need a name. Have you got any thoughts?”

Jordan looked down again at the baby, “I didn’t really plan to be thinking about this again,” She joked, looking at her ex, “How about you?”

“Posie,” Leah took a step closer, brushing a gentle hand over the baby’s cheek, “Posie-Jean, after Monkey’’s grandma. A strong woman if there ever was.”

“I like it,” Jordan agreed, smiling, “How about… Berny for a middle name? After your grandma? This little girl deserves to be named after someone meaningful. I know how close you are with your grandma.”

Leah’s eyes filled with tears that she didn’t blink away, “Perfect, for a perfect little girl.”

“Posie-Jean Berny Williamson-Nobbs,” Katie joined the conversation, sharing a kind smile, “I think it suits her.”

“Welcome to the world, Posie-Jean,” Jordan cooed, pressing a light kiss to the top of the baby’s forehead, “You’ve certainly come as a surprise, but you’re going to be surrounded with nothing but love and support, and you’ll have a big sister that is absolutely going to love you when she meets you properly.”

© scribblesofagoonerr

If you like this then please leave you support and leave me a tip 🫶🏼

[scribblesofagoonerr]

Ask away, I need a distraction please

Writers Truth & Dare Ask Game

🎱 ⇢ post your AO3 total stats  🍓 ⇢ how did you get into writing fanfiction?  🌵 ⇢ share the link to a playlist you love 🕯️ ⇢ on a scale from 1 to 10, how much do you enjoy editing? why is that? 🛼 ⇢ describe your latest wip with five emojis 🥑 ⇢ you accidentally killed somebody, which mutual(s) do you text for help? 🥤 ⇢ recommend an author or fanfic you love 💌 ⇢ how many unread emails do you have right now?  🌻 ⇢ tag someone you appreciate but don't talk to on a regular basis 🐇 ⇢ do you prefer writing original characters, reader inserts, or a mix of both?  🧃 ⇢ share some personal lore you never posted about before 🎲 ⇢ what stops you from writing more in your free time?  🍄 ⇢ share a head canon for one of your favourite ships or pairings 🧸 ⇢ what's the fastest way to become your mutual? 🪐 ⇢ name three good things going on in your life right now 📚 ⇢ what's the last thing you wrote down in your notes app?  🍬 ⇢ post an unpopular opinion about a popular fandom character 🔪 ⇢ what's the weirdest topic you researched for a writing project? 🦷 ⇢ share some personal wisdom or a life hack you swear on ❄️ ⇢ what's your dream theme/plot for a fic, and who would write it best? 🌿 ⇢ give some advice on writer's block and low creativity 🥐 ⇢ name one internet reference that will always make you laugh  🏜️ ⇢ what's your favourite type of comment to receive on your work? 🍦 ⇢ name three good things about a character you hate 🥝 ⇢ do you lie a lot? what's the most recent lie you told? 🦋 ⇢ share something that has been on your heart and mind lately  🦴 ⇢ is there a piece of media that inspires your writing?  🍅 ⇢ give yourself some constructive criticism on your own writing 🐚 ⇢ do you like or dislike surprises? 🪲 ⇢ add 50 words to your current wip and share the paragraph here ☁️ ⇢ what made you choose your username? 🐝 ⇢ tag your biggest supporter(s) and say one nice thing about them 🌸 ⇢ do you have any pets? if you do, post some pictures of them 🎨 ⇢ link your favourite piece of fanart and explain why you like it 🧩 ⇢ what will make you click away from a fanfiction immediately?

[alotofpockets]

Send this to the twelve nicest people you know or who seem to have a good heart and if you get five back you must be pretty awesome. 🩷🩷

💗💗

[chaotic-toasters]

Tunnel Vision

Arsenal Women x Teen! Reader

Thanks to @scribblesofagoonerr for helping me on this every time I got stuck (I got stuck a lot 💀)

TW: Graphic descriptions of injury and blood, allusion to a panic attack

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

"Hi, Foxy!" you chirped, hugging the older American from behind. "Are you ready to kick Aston Villa's butt?"

"Hey, kid," she smiled fondly, squeezing you tightly. "I'm always ready. That reminds me, are you all packed for US camp next week?"

"Yeah," you responded with a grin. "I'm excited to see everybody."

Emily released you, ruffling your hair as everyone began lining up in the tunnel. "They're all excited to see you too, but let's focus on the match right now."

"Okay, Foxy." Just before you slipped into your match mindset, somebody else tapped you on the shoulder.

"Oi," the new voice whispered. "No hello for your old roommate?"

"Jordan!" you beamed, tackling the older girl in a hug. "I missed you!"

The Brit's smile was blinding. "I've missed you too, kid. We'll talk more after the game, okay?"

You nodded, hugging her again before stepping into line behind Frida. It was always nice seeing old teammates, but you had no problem beating them in matches.

-

With the score at 4-1 in favor of Arsenal, the gunners should have been having a great time. For some reason, though, your teammates wanted more. They were hungry for a bigger gap in the scoresheet, and it was messing with some of their heads. Steph was pushed up even farther than usual, Leah's tackles were unreasonably harsh, and Stina's shots were so powerful, it was almost like she was angry. The most noticeable change in behavior, though, was Alessia's.

The Englishwoman's challenges and touches to other players were far more fierce than they should have been, and some of the Aston Villa players were making a conscious effort to stay away from her.

You, on the other hand, didn't think the forward's aggression applied to you. That was why you didn't blink twice when Alessia sprinted towards you in the box, trying to open herself up for a pass.

It was unfortunate, to say the least. Most of the players on the field were crowded into the 18-yard box, so when Alessia accidentally slammed into your side, none of the players or officials saw it. Alessia herself didn't even notice, too focused on the ball and too high on adrenaline to feel just how hard she'd hit someone.

Play continued on as you went flying headfirst into the advertising boards, colliding with the signs with a sickening crunch, players too busy yelling and trying to push each other out of the way to hear or see. Not that you could tell. To you, the world was completely devoid of sound. The nearly sold-out Emirates Stadium was silent and dark, things around you terribly blurry and dim. You tried to pull yourself to your feet, but your hand merely shook on your chest as blood started creeping down your forehead. It was strange, you thought, how you could be bleeding like this, but not feel any pain. While debating whether it was a good or bad thing, you passed out.

-

It was Beth's scream of terror that caused play to die down. She'd taken up space on the wing, looking for a pass, but when she glanced up at the goal, her eyes instead zeroed in on your limp form laying in the broken pieces of the advertising board. The Englishwoman's guttural cry of fear had rung out over the roar of the crowd and instantly caught the attention of everyone on the field, and they'd all followed her gaze only to be met with the sight of you, a curtain of crimson slowly oozing down to your cheeks.

"What- what happened?" Emily's voice was weirdly high-pitched as Lotte tried to lead her away. "She- she was fine just a minute ago!"

"Don't look," the Lioness murmured, gently guiding the other defender away by the shoulders. "You'll just worry yourself more if you look."

But she couldn't. Your only American teammate at Arsenal couldn't help but stare as paramedics ran onto the field, surrounding you, talking quietly but quickly amongst themselves. She wanted to look away, she really did, but fear gripped at not only her heart, but her head. It forced her to watch on, to watch as you suffered and didn't respond to the paramedics. The fear was stronger than anything she'd ever felt before, and she was certain that it would be the strongest thing she would ever feel.

-

The gunners were evenly split. Half couldn't tear their eyes away from where the paramedics were lifting you onto a stretcher, and the other half were trying to get their shock-ridden teammates to look elsewhere.

Most of the players apart of the second half were successful in getting the others to direct their attention away from you, but there was one player who was stood inside the box, firmly rooted onto the pitch where she'd stood when the whistle was blown sharply.

Alessia. She'd realized what had happened as soon as she saw you. She may have only felt herself collide with you subconsciously, but she could still remember it. She could remember sprinting as fast as she could, tunnel-visioned on the ball but hitting you in the process, and it was as if she'd been tased with the terrible realization of it all.

She had been the one to push you. She had been the one to send you flying into the advertising boards. She had been the one to cause whatever horrific injury you had just sustained.

She'd been so focused on the game that she'd sent one of the sweetest and most innocent people on the team to A&E.

And for it to be you? You were only sixteen. You were always so happy and and positive, and now you were in bad condition because Alessia was too busy being greedy and wasn't paying attention to anything other than scoring.

As the paramedics carried you away on a stretcher, Alessia's legs gave out beneath her. Her breathing was rapid, guilt taking over every fiber of her being as she gripped at the grass beneath her. Some of her England teammates crouched next to her, speaking quietly, but she was too spaced out to notice.

What was supposed to be a simple match day had turned into a horror show. And there was no one to blame but her.

[greynatomy]

neowwww @scribblesofagoonerr

[scribblesofagoonerr]

found a music ask, send me some numbers through and I'll answer away! 🎸🎵

Some music asks hehe 💖🎶

Favorite 3 artists/bands?

Favorite 3 songs?

Favorite 3 albums?

Last song you played?

Favorite music genres?

Favorite decade in music?

Play any instruments? If not, which would you like to play?

Do you like singing?

Do you like dancing?

Singing or dancing?

Have you ever written a song?

What do you think makes a great song?

Are lyrics and their meaning very important to you?

Do you like classical music?

Some songs that make you cry?

Think of someone; what song do you associate them with?

How many concerts have you been to?

Do you own any band/artist merch?

Do you own physical albums or singles?

Do you make/listen to your own playlists, or do you just shuffle all songs?

Favorite music video?

If you could meet any music artist, which would it be?

Your biggest crush in music?

At what age did you start enjoying music, and what kind of music did you like at first?

Alternative or "mainstream" music?

Have you ever been in a heated argumemt with someone about music?

What do you think of the Grammy awards? Do they deserve credibility?

What's more trustworthy? Popularity or critical acclaim?

Do you listen to music written in different languages?

Are you a close follower of a specific musician/band?

Any artists you absolutely hate?

Your least favorite music genre?

Have you ever dedicated a song to someone?

Do you listen to music while studying or doing homework?

Do you play music while taking a shower?

Do you think certain types of music could have a bad influence on people?

What's the most underrated musician/band in your opinion?

What's the most overrated musician/band in your opinion?

"Weirdest" music you like?

An album or song you dislike from an artist you really like?

[salemahn]

Arsenal

The Big Screen ~ @avaf00rd

821 / Fluff

April Fools ~ @wileys-russo

1.5K / Fluff

Can You Not Just Sit Still? ~ @wileys-russo

1K / Fluff

Contacts Chaos ~ @etherealstar-writes

841 / Fluff

Drop Kick ~ @wileys-russo

1.3K / Fluff

North London Bound ~ @adascore

4.4K / Fluff

Transferring To Lesbianism ~ @katiemccabeswife

1.9K / Fluff

Anxiety ~ @helen-with-an-a

2.4K / Fluff, Slight Angst

Family, Not By Blood But By Choice Instead ~ @scribblesofagoonerr

2.6K / Fluff, Angst

Baby of The Group ~ @p0orbaby

460 / Fluff

Loved Ones ~ @woso-fan13

386 / Fluff

Flashbacks ~ @woso-fan13

600 / Fluff

Misophonia ~ @mrchiipchrome

2.7K / Fluff

Have I Given Enough ~ @adascore

2.1K / Fluff, Angst

Daddy Issues ~ @katiemccabeswife

4.9K / Fluff, Angst

Paintball ~ @etherealstar-writes

1K / Fluff

Foster ~ @woso-dreamzzz

914 / Fluff

Flu Season ~ @imbored1201

1.4K / Fluff

Found Family ~ @samkerrworshipper

5.9K / Fluff

Endo Struggles ~ @lvnleah

3K / Fluff

Baby Arsenal ~ @dqrciedaily

620 / Fluff

Travel Day ~ @alotofpockets

1K / Fluff

To Jump The Gun(ners) ~ @adascore

3.5K / Fluff, Angst

I'm Never Babysitting Again! ~ @scribblesofagoonerr

5.2K / Fluff, Slight Angst

Little Sh*ts ~ @avaf00rd

4.2K / Fluff

[moonlight-alexia]

do you have any favourite teen reader fics that you recommend? thanks :)

most of what i read when it comes to teen reader tends to be hurt/comfort/angst :)

ad astra per aspera masterlist - b14augrana (this is my top favourite series for teen!reader atm) (alexia)

nena - kyra-cooneyx (barca)

in your corner - barcaatthemoon (barca)

sniffles - barcaatthemoon (barca)

i hate you for what you did and i miss you like a little kid - alesandraelin (awfc)

drop kick - wileys-russo (awfc)

birds of a feather - pitchsidestories (awfc)

family, not by blood but by choice instead - scribblesofagoonerr (awfc)

12 weeks - katiemccabeswife (auswnt)

crashing - chaotic-toasters (auswnt)

[scribblesofagooner]

Family, not by blood but by choice instead | awfc x reader

I messed up on this blog so I made a new one which is @scribblesofagoonerr so I’m gonna be posting over on there instead now.

You should have known, there was tell-tail signs all throughout the last several years and yet you were so blind about it all.

Your mother was a narcissist, she was manipulative and gaslighted you your whole life, you were always made out to the bad guy and she was the victim.

It was clear as day to anyone on the outside, but your niave self just chose to always believe different about things.

Looking back on the several years of your childhood, you had always thought you upbringing wasn't completely terrible. It was just the 2 of you, only your mum and you ever since you could remember. Your parents ended up splitting up when you were really little but ever since that day, you had always been made out to be the reason for their seperation.

You had always wonderd how it could be your fault. You was only 3 when he walked out, so how could it really be like that?

"You were always too much to handle. He couldn't cope," Your mum would say, all of them long nights when you would wrap your tiny arms around her and sob your little heart out to her.

"I'm here, you've got me. You've only ever got me," Her words were embedded in your head from the day that you'd decided to try and have an open conversation about the possibility of finding your dad. "Why go and find him? Haven't I been good enough. I'm the one that's looked after you all of these years and this is the thanks that I get in return?" It was always something that like, always a guiltrip and it was something that she knew would work well.

The harsh statement of the most recent conversation with the older woman left a bitter taste in your mouth and make you question every single thing in life.

"Aren't you happy for me? I made it, mum!" You exclaimed, you were happy enough to want to share the news with your mum but you found so dumbfound by her response which left you feeling shame and judgement for even wanting to tell her.

"Yes you have made it Y/N but you know, you only have me to thank for that now, don't you?" Your mum once again found a way to make it about herself, regardless of the situation;  It was always and only ever about her. "I'm sure that you can find some way to thank me though. All of those years and the amount I have spent on football boots for you. You'd be nowhere if it wasn't for me and I think you owe me now, don't you?" she told you.

You remember feeling stunned by her words, there was a lot of emotions that you had felt building up inside as you were ultimately confused how she'd somehow managed to twist this to make it all about herself but of course she was quick enough to make an excuse to end the call when she grew bored of talking to you.

You should have knew better, every phone call always ended up being the same way and it always left you with a feeling of guilt for making a life for yourself and that phone call that night wasn't any different. You had just been so excited to spill the news, however that excitment soon faded and was replaced by confused feelings of upset and anger once you'd told her, you fought to hold in your tears during the initial phone call but you were on the verge of breaking by the time she had hung up.

That phone call was the one you told her about making it into the national team, you had only been a part of Arsenal womens' first team for under a year and it felt like a massive achievement to be selected to represent your country and immediately you couldn't wait to share the news with your mum - You thought that she'd be pleased for you but you couldn't be further away from the truth.

Ever since that phone call, you had tried your hardest to distance yourself from your mum but it hurt to do that. The women was the only blood related family member that you had, it had only ever been the 2 of you, together through thick and thin.

Flash forward to now, the current time where you are sitting on the sofa, you had returned home after a long training session and you couldn't help but think about it that conversation on a constant loop in your head. 

"You were quiet tonight kidda," Leah perched on the arm of sofa as looked at you in concern. "I'm about to start cookin' tea. How's chicken dippers and smiley faces sound, eh?" she suggested.

"Mhm. Sure that sounds good to me," You mumbled as you kept your eyes focused on nothing but the telly.

The truth was that the conversation was constantly replaying in your head; The conversation, the bitterness and manipulation, every time you thought about it it then made you think of every other time that something like this happened.

Maybe your childhood wasn't as great as you really thought?

"Okay then... Is there anything that you want to talk about?" The blonde questioned, hoping for a bit more of an insight on your mood; Returning from her own rehab session, the entire car ride had been quiet compared to normal and the older woman couldn't help but feel something wasn't right.

"Nope," You stood firm in your reply, shaking your head as you kept your eyes glued on the TV screen; You couldn't really say that you payed much attention to whatever it was, the noise was pretty much a blur that was playing in the background.

"Are you sure?" Leah questioned, frowning worriedly as she took note of the tears welling up in your eyes. "Kidda, what's the matter? You look like you're gonna cry." she stated.

"I... I'm fine," You mumbled, fighting hard to keep the tears at bay until you could escape to your bedroom and allow yourself to be vulnerable and alone. You'd always felt complete shame to show any sort of vunterability in front of anyone, let alone the blonde footballer who'd virtually taken you under her wing ever since you joined during the transfer break of 2022.

You'd always been told that crying showed weakness and you refused to be seen as weak.

"Okay," Leah was quick to drop the subject when she realised you weren't going to open and talk about things. "It's okay if you don't want to talk about it but just remember that I'm always here to listen. Anytime that you want too, alright?" she told you.

Unfortunately you were stubborn to not give in and blurt everything out in the open. You were just trying to wrap your head around the idea of things and see things for how they really were.

"Uh huh," You mumbled a response as you got up from the sofa and trudged in the direction of your bedroom.

Leah exhaled a sigh as she shook her head, herself heading into the kitchen to make a start on dinner. The woman knew better than to try and get you to talk if you didn't want too.

She'd always been around to witness the moments like this and the backlash of it. Of course the blonde knew this was all stemmed down to one person causing you to be like this and she hated that you were left upset every single time.

Every single time you and your mum fought, you'd always ended up quiet and in a bad mood, often resulting in lashing out at people around you as a coping mechanism.

None of the girls ever took it to heart, they were old enough to realise that none of your anger was directly aimed at them and there was bigger issues to be dealt with.

The Arsenal women all had their own opinions on the teens' mother but they would never voice them out loud to you. It wouldn't be fair on the youngest in the squad even after the countless times they had seen the girl upset by her own mums actions.

Ever since the teen had moved in, there had been several nights where Leah would be the one to comfort the girl and pick up the peices, waking up in the middle of the night to hear the teen's heartbroken sobs and feeling her own heart shatter every single time, wanting nothing more than take away any sort of pain the girl was experiencing.

It was heartbreaking for all of the team to witness and always sought out to comfort the teen no matter the situation. They knew that no matter they say, they couldn't stop her contacting her and she would be able to make her own decision soon enough when she turned 18 and until then they'd be the ones' to pick up the broken pieces when the mum let her daughter down.

They were your family, not by blood but by choice. You'd probably be lost without them sometimes.

"I... I should have realised sooner," You thought to yourself as you lay crumpled up on your bed that following night, it was almost near 4 in the morning and you were still wide awake with things racing through your head.

You couldn't help but think about things, how you should have noticed the tell-tail signs of her gaslighting you were old enough to properly realise, that was your first mistake.

Your second being that you believed her manipulation, she would always twist things to make her seem like the victim in all different situations - back when you were a child and even now as an adult.

How long it had taken you finally realise it after all of these years. Why hadn't you realised it sooner?

Without realising, you were sobbing aloud as you clutched on to your pillow tightly - the pent up anger was replaced by complete sadness and loss. You only ever wanted the approval of your mum about things and you fought so hard for it.

The phone call, the hopeful seal of approval...  Every time it always seemed to be the same type of emotions when you spoke to your mum - It was a vicious cycle of emotional abuse, or so you'd been told from other people and you never wanted to believe it.

Only problem was that you'd not been able to see it yourself, even if it was clear as day. Even if regardless of a psychological therapist telling you this, you refused to believe them words. Nor your team mates, who had realised it the first time they had the chance to meet her and even then you wouldn't listen or hear them out.

It was your mum, your flesh and blood so how could she be like that? You had never been able to wrap your head around it.

The sound of sobs were what woke Leah up, she was quick to pad out of her bedroom and down the hall to where your bedroom was. "Kidda?" The women pushed the door open and her heart cracked to see you looking so distraught and vulnerable.

The blonde was quick to move to be right beside you, she was always the one to comfort you and she wouldn't ever stop doing that as long as you needed her.

"Hey, kidda. Come here," The blonde scooped you up in her arms and rocked you all while she ran her slender fingers through your messy bedhead. "You're okay. I'm here," she reassured you.

Leah was always patient enough to wait for you to calm down before she gave you the chance to speak, she wouldn't ever push you to talk if you didn't want too.

"L... Le," You cried aloud as you clutched onto her. You breath became shaky as sobs wracked your body.

"I'm here, it's okay," Leah spoke calmly, continuing to try and comfort you the best way she knew but she already knew it was going to be a long night ahead of them - An emotional night that would leave you drained tomorrow.

A vicious cycle of on a loop.

"Ready to tell me what's going on inside that head of yours, huh?" The blonde tried to carefully ask.

There was another brief pause of silence, nothing but the quiet sobs coming from you as the blonde continued to comfort you and reassure you that she was here and not leaving you.

To Leah's surprise, you did open up this time around, even if you didn't mean too.

"I should have realised. I should have... I should have realised," You made the mistake to speak aloud rather than think it like you thought you had.

"You should have realised what, kidda?" Leah questioned, confused about what you meant.

You snap your head in the blondes' direction as you bit your bottom lip, debating whether to be open with your thoughts that you tried so hard to keep buried inside.

"About my mum... I should have realised," You repeated your words as you fought the tears from spilling. "She's so... She's so-- Why does everything I tell her, why does it always get turned back around so it's about her?" That was it. You blurted out your own feelings - There was no hiding how you felt anymore.

Leah smiled sympathetically and moved onto the sofa to sit closer to you, wrapping her free arm around your shoulder to comfort you, "I... I don't know kidda," she spoke honestly.

"So many people, so many people have told me-- They've warned me about her but I have... I never wanted to listen," You confessed, the tears openly rolled down your cheeks and you probably looked a right blubbering mess but you couldn't stop your emotions pouring out. "And now... Now I finally realise how it's always been. Why is she like that, Le?" You asked.

"I can't say I know the answer to that one kidda, I wish I knew," Leah replied, exhaling a sigh as she couldn't fathem herself how a mother could be like that with her own child, she felt so much for the girl and always wished she could make the situation better for her. "Listen, I know it's hard but you've got us. All of us girls here at Arsenal and you're so loved by all of us." she told you.

"I... I just want her to love me, and she just... she doesn't even care about my feelings!" You stated, roughly wiping at your tear stained cheeks angrily to the point that you made them red. "Why does she always throw everything back in my face? Everything that I have ever done, she's always made it about her... Always!" you cried.

"I know, I know it hurts... I know it does," You kept your head buried in the blondes' chest as you hiccuped from the sudden breakdown in the middle of the night. "And I am sorry that you have to go through this. It's not fair on you kidda." Leah added, biting her bottom lip.

All of emotion had led you feeling exhausted in the end, you fought it hard to keep your eyes open as you lay slumped against the blonde woman.

"Come on let's get you back into bed, yeah? I mean you're almost falling asleep on me here, kidda," Leah joked with you, hoping for you to even crack a small smile as she gently moved you back to your bed and tucked you in under the duvet. "I'm so sorry you have had to deal with the kidda but you know you have a family here with us. We may not be blood but we really love you kidda." You heard the faint words spoken to you as you felt your eye lids close, completely warn out.

Sure, the Arsenal women weren't family by blood but instead they were family by choice and that was more important. They were there for you whenever you needed them and you knew you felt safe with them around. You truly felt happy with your chosen family.

[scribblesofagoonerr]

Christmas fic with the two chaotic little troublemakers 🎅🏻🎄

— christmas chaos buddies 🎄

a little Boxing Day treat featuring your two little favourites! written with @scribblesofagoonerr 💗 bit of a long one at 4.2k words

“Alright, Munchkin!” Beth said, hoisting you up onto her hip so you could see what was on offer at the canteen. “What would you like for your Christmas dinner?”

You looked at the food in front of you, wrinkling your nose. There were big dishes of turkey, potatoes, sausages, and vegetables that didn’t look anything like the ones you liked at home. 

You pointed at the rolls right away. “Bread please.”

Beth laughed softly, shaking her head. “You can’t just have bread, Roo. How about some turkey? Or potatoes? You eat the ones me and Mamma make at home!”

You glanced at the turkey and scrunched up your nose. It looked weird. “I don’t like it,” you mumbled.

“You haven’t even tried it,” Beth said, but she wasn’t really mad. “Come on, just a little bit.”

Next to you, Buddy was tugging on Leah’s hand, bouncing on her toes as she scanned the food, protesting about eating any of it, “I don’ want to eat it!” she announced, dramatically pointing ahead at the tray of steaming broccoli, “It smells funny!”

“Bubba, you have to try it,” Leah sighed, her voice already tired and definitely not in the mood to argue with a stubborn three-year-old, “I need you to at least try and eat one vegetable on your plate, okay?”

“Nooo!” Buddy whined, crossing her arms over her chest, “I don’ like it! It’ ugly, Mummy!”

“It might look ugly, but I promise you it tastes good,” Leah began to explain, trying to stifle her own amusement, “Why don’t you just try them?”

“I think she might have a point about the broccoli, Le,” Monkey chimed in, appearing the other side of Leah as she stood on her tiptoes and attempted to peer over her shoulder, “It looks proper rank and disgusting. I don’t blame her for not wanting to eat none of it.”

“See, Mummy! Monks’ said I don’ have to eat it!” Buddy exclaimed, adamant on her decision to not eat any of it, “Ou’ don’t even eat it either. Why do I’ have to?”

“You pair are a nightmare together,” Leah muttered to herself, shaking her head as she crouched down to Buddy’s level, “How about we just try and put a little bit on your plate, okay? Try it for Mummy.”

“No, I don’ wan’ it!” Buddy shot back, stomping her foot in protest, “If ‘ou don’t have it then neither do I!” she added, determined on her own opinion on the matter of broccoli.

Beth nudged you forward, “Okay, turkey for you. Maybe a few potatoes too?”

“Just the bread,” you tried again, but it was no use. The turkey and a scoop of mushy potatoes ended up on your plate anyway.

As soon as Leah wrestled some broccoli onto Buddy’s plate, you both made your way to the table. It was big and shiny with decorations, and everyone was already sitting down. You joined Lia, Steph and Monkey. Lia was chatting with Steph, Monkey was looking like she was up to something, and Vic was laughing at something Kyra said from the table beside you. Monkey was in a mood because Leah had banned her from sitting with Kyra as their recent antics had been a bit too much. 

Beth sat you on her lap, your plate in front of you. You poked at the potatoes with your fork. They looked mushy. “I don’t like these,” you whispered.

Beth kissed the top of your head. “Just try a little, Roo.”

Across the table, Buddy was already causing trouble. She was sitting on a chair on her knees, playing with her dinosaurs while Leah tried to get her to eat her dinner. 

“Roar!” Buddy shouted, making her plastic t-rex stomp on the table as it almost landed in her own dinner, “M’ t-rex don’ even wanna eat the smelly trees!”

“Bubba, come on, it’s time to put the dinosaurs away now,” Leah attempted to coax Buddy into eating her own dinner, “You can play with them afterwards, okay?”

Buddy scrunched her nose up in disagreement, “I’ no wan eat them smelly green trees! ‘Ou don’ even eat them yourself!”

Leah’s eyes widened at the sass from her three-year-old, “Buddy!”

Monkey snorted from across the table, “Touche, little Buddy,” she leaned across and high-fived the three-year-old, “Nice one!”

“Don’t encourage her,” Leah shot Monkey a look that could have turned her to stone, however, Monkey just continued to grin in amusement, “Bubba, please just try and eat something. How about the carrots instead?”

“They’ gross as well!” Buddy continued to scrunch her face up in disgust, “I wan’ beige food!”

“Well… She’s definitely your kid, Le,” Beth chimed in, amusedly.

“Unbelievable,” Leah muttered, shaking her head as she practically gave up on the idea of getting Buddy to eat any kind of vegetable at this point.

Meanwhile, you were still sitting on Beth’s lap, poking at your potatoes as if they might come alive. Beth sighed softly, guiding your hand with hers to bring a small forkful to your mouth. “Come on, Roo. Just one bite. I promise it’s not that bad.”

You scrunched up your nose but reluctantly took a nibble. It wasn’t as awful as you thought, but you weren’t about to admit that. “It’s okay,” you said, which for you was practically a five-star review.

Beth beamed, “See? I told you!”

Leah glanced over, noticing your tiny triumph, “Look, Bubba, Roo’s being brave and eating new things. Why don’t you try, and you can be brave as well?”

“Nooo!” Buddy shook her head firmly in disagreement.

“Why don’t you eat the potatoes, little miss? They’re very beige,” Beth attempted to help Leah out as Buddy squinted, looking sceptical at it before proceeding to nod, “There we go, we have some luck!” She joked.

“I’ eat off your plate!” Buddy declared, before prompting to take a spoonful of mashed potato off Leah’s plate, “Mm’ it yummy, Mummy!”

“Well I’m glad you at least like the mashed potato,” Leah chuckled, failing to hide her amusement as she now had no choice but to allow Buddy to eat off her own plate, happy as long as she was eating.

You leaned back against Beth’s chest, deciding you were done with the potatoes. That’s when your eyes wandered to the plate next to you—Steph’s.

You reached out tentatively, but Beth caught your wrist. “Roo,” she whispered, her voice both amused and warning as you tried to steal some peas.

You looked up at her with your best innocent eyes. “Just one?”

“Roo, no,” Beth laughed, “If you want some I’ll go get you some, okay?”

You sighed and leaned against Beth’s chest again as she started talking to Lia who was sitting on the other side of the table. When she wasn’t looking you reached over to Steph’s plate and stole a couple peas.  

“Hey!” Steph suddenly turned, catching you red-handed. “Are you stealing my peas?”

You froze for a second, “Nooo?” you giggled. 

Steph raised an eyebrow, her smile playing at the corners of her lips. “Oh really? Because it sure looks like you’re stealing my peas, little Munchkin.”

“Roo!” Beth gasped dramatically, “Are you being a little pea monster?”

You giggled, shaking your head, “Nooo!”

“You’re a little monster!” Beth said, tickling your sides. You giggled as you squirmed in Beth’s lap, slowly slipping off before you were fully standing. 

“Mummy, I’m bored!” You huffed as you stood beside Beth, “I’m done eating.” 

Beth looked at your half-empty plate and then down at you, her eyebrow raised. “Done already? What about your turkey? Or those potatoes you actually liked a minute ago?”

You crossed your arms and shook your head stubbornly. “I’m done, Mummy.”

“Do you not want any more turkey?”

You scrunched up your nose again and looked back at your plate. “Do I have to?”

Beth leaned down and kissed the top of your head before pulling you back up onto her lap. “Just a couple more bites, Roo. Then you can be officially done, okay?”

You huffed dramatically but picked up your fork, poking at the potatoes one more time. You sat on Beth’s lap and started to munch on some turkey, actually liking it this time. 

It wasn’t all that long before Buddy got bored of eating off Leah’s own plate and decided she was done with sitting on the chair.

“Roar!” Buddy shouted aloud, standing on the chair as she held a dinosaur in each of them before proceeding to make them stomp across the table, “Roaaaar!”

“Buddy, bubba, sit down,” Leah exhaled a sigh and rubbed her temple, “Everyone else around the table is still eating. I’m sure they don’t want to end up with a dinosaur in their dinner, do they?”

“I’ pretending to be a dino’daur, Mummy!” Buddy was eccentric, continuing to make her dinosaurs stomp across the table as one nearly fell directly into a plateful of gravy.

However, as soon as Buddy caught sight that you had nearly finished the last bit of your turkey, she had another bright idea, “Me an’ Roo go see everyone else!”

“Not yet, bubba,” Leah began to say, her tone of voice firm but Buddy had already hopped down from her chair, “Buddy, come back here please.”

“What’s the worst that can happen,” Beth joked with the blonde.

“Be careful,” Leah called over, exhaling a sigh as she went back to eating the remainder of her dinner after Buddy had finished picking at it.

“Just don’t cause too much trouble,” Beth called after you both as you slid down from her lap and immediately followed Buddy. 

“Come on Roo!” Buddy squealed with delight, dragging you toward the next table where Katie, Caitlin and Kyra were seated, “Hi, ‘Ra!”

“Hi, pipsqueak!” Kyra grinned, scooping down to lift the three-year-old onto her lap, “And what’re you two up to?”

“I’ be eatin’ my Mummy’s dinner!” Buddy grinned, proud of herself for eating at least some kind of dinner, before she got restless and proceeded to wriggle over to plonk herself on Katie’s lap, “What ‘ou eating Auntie Katie?”

Katie looked down at her plate, then at Buddy, eyebrows raised. “I’ve got carrots, potatoes, and turkey. Do yer wanna try some?”

Buddy scrunched her nose up, “Nooo! Carrots’ gross! Do ‘ou have chips? Me like them!”

Katie laughed. “Chips? At Christmas dinner? What do yer think this is, a takeaway?”

Buddy crossed her arms over her chest and leant against Katie’s chest dramatically, “It’ be better if there were chips!”

“The green things are smelly!” You added in as you climbed up onto Caitlin’s lap beside Katie. 

Alessia raised an eyebrow, “Green things?”

“The trees!” you explained, your voice filled with mock disgust.

Caitlin laughed, wrapping her arms loosely around your waist to keep you from sliding off her lap. “What’s wrong with broccoli? It’s good for you!”

Buddy shook her head fiercely from where she was perched on Katie’s lap, “Nuh-uh. Broccoli look like smelly trees! Mummy said I’ hav’ to try it, but I’ don’ wan it!”

“You should try it. It’s good for yer’ Tiny,” Katie chuckled.

“Nooo way!” Buddy giggled, turning to Katie, “Do ‘ou like smelly trees?”

Katie smirked, “Love ’em. They’re my favorite part of the meal.”

“You’re lying!” you giggled, narrowing your eyes suspiciously at Katie.

Caitlin laughed so hard she nearly choked on her drink. “Oh, you’ve got her figured out, Roo. Katie’s not fooling anyone!”

“Ou’ no’ lie Auntie Katie! It’ naughty!” Buddy insisted, peering up to look at Katie, “Ou’ can’ lie or Santa won’ come!”

“Course I do!” Katie said with a wink, though the way she quickly reached for her water to wash it down made you and Buddy burst into laughter.

“Ou’ lying!” Buddy declared, her voice triumphant as she threw her hands in the air.

“Lying’s naughty,” you added, leaning back in Caitlin’s arms with a cheeky grin. 

Kyra smirked, leaning back in her chair. “Oh, they’ve got you there, Katie. Imagine being called out by a three and five-year-old. What’s next, them doing a protest outside the canteen?”

“We do that!” Buddy insisted, her eyes lighting up in excitement.

“Oh no, no, no,” Caitlin said quickly, pulling you a little closer to keep you from getting any ideas. 

“We do’ it an’ protest again… against da’ smelly trees!” Buddy was already bouncing on Katie’s lap with a plot in mind, “We’ make signs. Monks’ can help! Roo, ‘ou can yell into the loud thing–”

“A ‘egaphone!” you supplied, giggling.

Katie shook her head, trying not to laugh as she put a hand on Buddy’s shoulder to steady her. “Alright, you two, enough of that. I’m not getting in trouble because you started a riot over vegetables.”

“Ugh,” Buddy sighed dramatically, flopping back against Katie, “Come on, Roo. Let’ go an’ find someone’ else!”

You slid off Caitlin's lap, saying your goodbyes as you grabbed Buddy’s hand. The two of you ran around a few tables before you and Buddy scurried over to Amanda and Vic, who were sitting together with Amanda’s baby, Mila, cradled in Amanda’s arms. Mila was tiny, Amanda had only been back for a few weeks but you had been completely obsessed with her. 

“Hi!” Buddy announced her entrance, loud as predicated, “We ‘ere! We see baby?” She asked eagerly.

“Hello, double trouble!” Vic giggled as she helped Buddy climb onto the seat beside her. 

“Baby Mila!” You squealed as you noticed the baby looking at you from Amanda’s lap. 

Buddy continued to look at Mila in Amanda’s arms, “She so small! Why is she’ like that?” She exclaimed, confused.

“She’s only three months old,” Amanda said softly, smiling as she adjusted Mila in her arms as she looked between you and Buddy. “Babies are very little when they’re first born.”

Buddy continued to tilt her head in confusion, “I’ no like that when I little?”

“Oh, you definitely were,” Leah chimed in, crouching beside Buddy as she wrapped her free arm around the three-year-old to keep her steady, “You were once a little tiny baby just like Mila is now, Bubba.”

“Why does she have no teeth?” you asked, pointing at Mila’s gummy smile.

“Babies don’t get teeth until they’re a bit older,” Vic explained, leaning over to tickle Mila’s belly gently. “She’ll get them when she’s ready.”

Buddy’s curiosity got the better of her, trying to reach her hand out as it stopped short of touching Mila’s face, “Can I’ touch her? She won’ bite me, will she?”

“No biting,” Amanda said with a laugh. “You can touch her gently, though. Be very careful, okay?”

“I’ can do that!” Buddy promptly nodded, seriously as her little fingers brushed over Mila’s hand, “She’ so soft! Why don’ she talk?”

“She’s too little to talk right now,” Amanda explained patiently. “But one day, she’ll learn words just like you and Roo.”

“Can she walk?” you asked, your curiosity endless.

“No, Roo,” Vic said, chuckling. “She can’t walk yet either. Babies have to learn how to crawl and then walk when they get bigger.”

“Does she eat smelly trees?” Buddy questioned, wrinkling her nose dramatically.

“Nope,” Amanda said with a laugh. “Mila only drinks milk right now. No smelly broccoli for her.”

“She lucky, cos’ they be’ gross!” Buddy muttered, crossing her arms and looking at Leah pointedly.

“What does she do?” you asked, leaning closer.

Amanda smiled. “She sleeps, eats, and sometimes cries. And she loves cuddles.”

“I’ show her my dino’daurs?” Buddy didn’t hesitate to wait for an answer before eagerly grabbing it and shoving it directly in front of Mila’s face, “I’ show her the t-rex! It’ be loud like me!”

Amanda shook her head gently. “She’s too little to play right now, Buddy.”

“Why no’ play?” Buddy frowned, clearly unimpressed that Mila didn’t do all that much, “She’ borin’ if she no’ do nothin’!”

“She’s just a baby,” Vic teased, nudging Buddy lightly. “You were the same way once.”

Buddy continued to frown at Mila, a small pout plastered on her face, before attempting to try and win Mila over with her beloved dinosaur in her hand, “Look, Mi’a! Roaaaar!” She shouted, her voice loud and excited.

Mila immediately scrunched up her face, her little bottom lip wobbling before a loud wail escaped her.

“Me’ no like how loud she is!” Buddy exclaimed, dropping her dinosaur from her hand and planting her hands directly over her ears, “Mummy! Turn her off, p’ease. Me no’ like it!”

“Bubba,” Leah groaned, scooping Buddy up into her arms before she could attempt to make any more loud noise, “Remember what I said about using our inside voices, hmm? Mila’s very little right now, and we don’t want to scare her now, do we?”

“But I’ just showin’ her my dino’daurs Mummy!” Buddy protested, feigning her innocence, “I’ no get why she no’ like them though!”

“Baby Mila sad?” you said, your eyes wide as you watched Amanda bounce Mila gently to calm her.

Beth came over and crouched beside you, pulling you closer. “Babies are very sensitive. You have to be extra gentle around them, she’ll be okay in a minute.”

“Do you think you can say sorry to Mila for making her cry, Bubba?” Leah coaxed Buddy to apologise to the tiny baby in Amanda’s arms, “I’m sure if it happened to you then you wouldn’t like it either, would you?”

“I’ sorry, Baby Mila,” Buddy pouted, looking genuinely sorry about scaring her.

Amanda smiled softly, rocking Mila in her arms until she settled. “It’s okay, Buddy. She’ll be alright.”

“Right, come on my little dino, how about we give it another attempt to eat some broccoli, hmm?” Leah tried her luck to wrangle Buddy to eat her own dinner, having the advantage of still having her in her arms, “Even dinos’ need to eat their greens, remember?”

“Fine, if I must,” Buddy huffed dramatically, reluctant to eat but having no choice as she’s set back down in her chair, “But if I’ eat them then so do ‘ou as well, Mummy. It only fair. Deal?”

Leah’s own face fell at her three years old’s words, and knew she wouldn’t be able to get out of that one now, “Deal, Bubba,” She agreed, reluctantly eating a forkful of broccoli and trying to not scrunch her face up in disgust at the taste of it in her mouth, “Mm’ this is really nice, I think you’ll definitely like it, bubba!”

“Ou’ no like it either, Mummy!” Buddy barely even ate a bit of it and screwed her own face up in disgust, “It’ no nice, Mummy. ‘Ou no fool no more! It’ yucky and gross! It’ goes in bin!” No more hesitation to climb down from the table, grab her plate in her hand and toddle over to the bin and toss it in.

“Buddy, you barely touched anything on your plate,” Leah chided, shaking her head in disbelief, “Now what are you going to have to eat instead?”

“I’ eat crisps and chocolate!” Buddy declared, promptly while puffing out her chest, “I’ no where there’s secret snacks! Come on Roo, we’ go find Monks’ locker an’ get snacks out!”

“I… I don’t know what she’s even talking about,” Monkey tried to feign her innocence, holding her hands up in mock surrender, while narrowing her eyes to look dead at Buddy, “I thought you and I had a deal, huh? You little snitch.”

“I’ no stitch, I just hungy now!” Buddy insisted, mispronouncing the word and pouting in disagreement as she proceeded to tug on Monkey’s arm, “‘Elp’ us please, Monks’!”

“I want chocolate as well!” Your eyes lit up in excitement at the prospect of sneaking chocolate out of Monkey’s secret stash in her locker. “Can we eat all of it?”

“You little rascals can’t steal all of my chocolate! What will I eat?” Monkey exaggerated a dramatic sigh, “So unbelievable!”

“Nooo! It’s our chocolate!” You said with determination through fits of giggles, “You have to share it with us, Monkey! Tell her Mummy!” You turned to look at Beth to back you up. “Sharing caring!”

“Before you run off and eat any chocolate, you need to finish eating your dinner first, remember?” Beth joked, tickling your sides which earned another fit of laughter. 

“Even the carrots?” You scrunched your face up in disgust, side-eyeing them on the plate.

“Even the carrots,” Beth chuckled, nodding in agreement, “Sooner you eat them then sooner you can run off and find some chocolate from someone!”

“I don’t like it, but fine, I guess I will try,” You dramatically leaned against Beth’s chest as you ate the smallest mouthful of carrot on your fork, “It’s not that bad, but it’s still gross!”

Just then, you heard a familiar voice behind you, and before you could turn around, you felt a tap on your shoulder. “Guess what, Roo?” Kyra’s playful voice cut through the chatter, and you turned around to see her grinning at you, looking mischievous 

“What?” you asked, genuinely curious.

“I heard there might be some leftover chocolate pudding for dessert,” Kyra said, her grin turning into a wink. “Wanna help me sneak some?”

Your eyes widened. “Chocolate pudding?”

“Uh-huh!” Kyra nodded, then looked around to make sure no one was listening. “You in?”

You looked over at Leah and then at Beth, who were too busy with the rest of the table to notice. With a cheeky grin, you nodded eagerly. “Yes, please!”

Buddy quickly chimed in. “I’ help! Me like chocolate!”

The two of you ran off with Kyra who helped you get some chocolate cake each which the pair of you ate in the corner, giggling away. Soon enough, you and Beth were on your way home. 

“Hi Mamma!” You grinned and Viv’s face popped up on the screen. You held Beth’s phone in front of you as you sat in your car seat.  

“Hi, lieverd!” Viv’s warm smile lit up the screen as she waved at you. “Did you have fun today with Mummy and everyone?”

“Yeah!” you exclaimed, leaning closer to the phone. “We had carrots. They were gross, but I ate some! And then Kyra gave me chocolate cake!”

“Chocolate cake?” Viv raised her eyebrows, feigning surprise. “Was it good?”

“Uh-huh, so yummy!” you nodded enthusiastically, “But Buddy wanted to steal all of Monkey’s chocolate first. She’s a chocolate monster!”

Beth’s laugh rang through the car as she listened to your conversation with Viv, “How’s Manchester?”

“Quiet, compared to your chaos,” Viv teased, but her expression softened. “I miss you both.”

“I miss you too, Mamma,” you said, your voice softening. “Are you coming home soon?”

“I’ll be home in a few days, Roo,” Viv reassured you. “And when I get there, we’ll do something special, just us three. How does that sound?”

“Can we have pancakes?” you asked, your eyes lighting up.

“Pancakes it is,” Viv promised with a nod.

“Baby Mila is cute, Mamma!” You told Viv, “She loud though, Buddy didn’t like her crying and wanted to turn her off! She’s tiny.”

Viv laughed at that, shaking her head. “Oh, Buddy wanted to turn her off, did she? I can imagine her face saying that. Babies can be loud sometimes, Roo.”

“Yeah but Mila still cute!” You nodded, “She has tiny hands! I held her, Mamma, and she grabbed my finger!” you added excitedly.

“She already loves you,” Viv said warmly. “You’re so gentle with babies, Roo.”

“Yeah, ‘cause I’m a big girl now!” you declared proudly.

Beth smiled, glancing at you through the rearview mirror. “That’s right, Roo. You’re so good with little ones.”

“I wish you were here too, Mamma,” you said, your voice softening.

“I know, lieverd,” Viv said, her own tone gentle. “But I’ll be back before you know it. And when I am, we’ll have all the pancakes and chocolate cake you want. Deal?”

“Deal!” you grinned.

“Alright, Roo,” Beth said, taking the phone back gently. “Say bye to Mamma.”

“Bye, Mamma! I love you!” you said, blowing a kiss to the screen.

“I love you too, mijn meisje,” Viv replied, catching your kiss with her hand. “Be good for Mummy, okay? I’ll phone you later.”

“Okay, Mamma!” you grinned, bouncing in your car seat with excitement. 

Beth chuckled, saying her own goodbyes before hanging up the phone and tucking it back into her pocket. She glanced at you, “Ready to go inside, Roo?”

You nodded eagerly, “Yep! And we’re having pancakes when Mamma gets home!”

“That’s right,” Beth said with a smile, “But first, how about we watch a movie before bath time?”

“Yeah!” You nodded as Beth got out of the car to unstrap you, “Only if I can have popcorn though!”

“Deal,” Beth said, opening the car door. “Let’s get inside, then.”

As the two of you walked inside, you chattered away about everything you’d seen and done today, the promise of pancakes and dinosaurs filling your thoughts. Beth smiled as she listened, already looking forward to the next few days when the whole family would be together again.

[batllethinker]

Hope that your alright?

It hurts like a bitch and I really hope I didn't like fracture anything and this is my sisters solution (didn't have any body tape)

[wosospacegirl]

idk about you but i am LIVING for the active era of tumblr. you, scribblesofagooner, and couva0911 have all been posting recently and let me just say that it is the only thing pushing me through this week.

@scribblesofagoonerr @couva0911 we are working 9 to 5 here on tumblr, I guess!!!! 🫡🙂‍↕️💪🏻 🫶🏻

[woso-dreamzzz]

yes it was scribblesofagoonerr fic I knew it was between you two but wasn’t sure

I'm glad we figured it out!

[alotofpockets]

Serious about you | Leah Williamson x Lioness!Reader

Where you cross a line with your best friend

Warnings: smut (with a plot), 18+ MDNI

A/n: @scribblesofagoonerr thank you for your support throughout writing this one!

Woso masterlist | Words: 2.2k

-----

“Leah!” You yell out for your best friend when you see her walk through the doors of St. George’s Park for the first time since she had done her ACL. At the sound of your voice she turns around with a smirk on her face, “You’re happy I’m here, aren’t ya? Your day just got ten times better darling’.” You roll your eyes and hug her. 

“Always happy to see you, but the comeback makes it just a tad bit more special.” Leah’s smirk grew impossibly bigger. “Knew you thought I was special.” There was only so much of Leah’s flirty personality you could take at once until your body would go into panic mode, so you decided you had to step away. “Yeah, great seeing you, I gotta gay- go! I gotta go.” You quickly walk off cursing yourself, while Leah’s proud smile goes right past you.

Beth, who noticed the whole interaction, followed you out of the hall. “I see your crush on Leah is going well.” You sink into one of the chairs in the room. “Oh god, people saw that?” The blonde chuckles, “I think everyone saw you run off with a face like a tomato.” What a great start to camp you thought while your face was slowly returning to its regular colour.

“When are you just going to tell her about your feelings?” Beth was well aware of your feelings for the Lionesses Captain, as she was often the one you came to for advice and a listening ear. Her being your roommate this camp would probably come very handy for those reasons, besides Beth of course being a great friend of yours.

“You know I can't, Beth. Everybody knows Leah doesn't do serious relationships.” It was well known that Leah hadn’t had a serious relationship since Jordan, every girl she had seen since was just a meaningless hookup, so there really was no use in you ever confessing your feelings for her. 

Once you’ve come down from your embarrassing moment on the first day back at camp, you and Beth join the rest of the girls again. It was great seeing everyone again, and your embarrassment was soon forgotten.

The next morning the dining hall was buzzing with energy and laughter. Everyone was happy to be reunited, and was catching up on the time since they had last seen each other. Beth nudged your shoulder, “Look who’s coming over.” 

Your heart started racing as Leah walked in your direction with a beaming smile. Internally you were screaming at yourself, Leah was your best friend, you shouldn’t panic every time she’s near. It used to not be this bad, but ever since Leah started making flirty comments towards you, your brain just went full mush.

“Morning, love. Did you sleep well?” You tried to sound casual, but your mind went a little numb at the nickname she only used on you. “Morning, Lee. Yeah, I slept well. How about you?”

“I slept great. Any plans for today?” Oh god she wanted to have an even longer conversation, while you still had the love on your mind. You glance at Beth for help, but she just raises an eyebrow and smiles, clearly enjoying your discomfort. “Uhm well just training with the team and recovery after.”

Leah nods contently, “Alright sounds good. I’ll make sure we’re paired up for drills so we can catch up some more.” You smile and nod, “Looking forward to it.” Leah smiles and turns around to get her own breakfast. 

You turn back to Beth, “Looking forward to it? Why did I say that?” Beth rolls her eyes, “Well, clearly because you’re in love with the woman.” You groan, “Don’t say that out loud!” Beth laughs at your antics, “Relax, it’s just drills. Also, it’s just Leah.” With a huff you respond, “Yeah, just Leah. Mind telling my mind that when it stops working when she’s near?”

One thing about Leah was that when it concerned football, she was always serious. So, while you were running drills with her as your partner, the flirty side of Leah subsided. It wasn’t like she was only serious, you were still having fun while training. You were actually very much enjoying spending time with Leah like this, no embarrassing yourself this way.

Over the next couple of days the team was in full training mode, which came with plenty of recovery where you would relax with the girls. There were movie nights where Leah would sit besides you and put her arm around the back of the couch, and team walks where Leah would always find her way to your side. 

Tonight on the final day before your first match, you joined a few of the girls to recover in the hotel hot tub. You were deep in conversation with Beth and Lotte when Leah walked up to the hot tub, “Got room for one more?” She takes off her training top, leaving her in her sports bra and shorts like the rest of the girls. Only since Leah wasn’t like the rest of the girls to you, your eyes fell on her toned stomach, making you fully space out on the conversation you were having. 

“Earth to y/n.” Beth says loud enough for only you and Lotte to hear. You snap your eyes away from Leah at Beth poking your shoulder. “You’re drooling.” You want to defend yourself, but you know there is no use since she had seen you staring on full display. 

You tried your best to keep your eyes away from Leah, but each time you glanced over you were either faced with a smile or a smirk from the blonde, making your heart beat faster. On the other side of the hot tub, outside of your field of hearing Keira nudged Leah, “I think you might give her a heart attack if you keep flexing, mate.” Which only made Leah smirk again.

Slowly more and more of the girls started leaving the hot tub, until only you and Leah were left. She sat with her arms spread over the edge of the small pool, and you couldn’t help but let your eyes wander. You don’t know what came over you to check her out without anyone around the two of you to cause enough distraction for it to go unnoticed. 

“Are you just going to keep staring from the other side, or are you going to come join me?” Leah asked with glint behind her eyes that you couldn’t quite place. You move across the hot tub and sit down beside her. She moves her arm that was laying on the edge behind you to your shoulder and starts drawing patterns on it with her fingers.

You hadn’t said a word to Leah since the other girls left, and your eyes were focussed on a glimmer in the water. Leah was doing things to your body right now that you couldn’t control. “You had no problem checking me out when the girls were here, what has gotten you so shy now?” Your only reaction was the blush spreading over your cheeks and the way you swallowed hard. Leah moved her other arm to turn your head her way softly by your chin. She was about to say something, when she realised that you were staring at her lips.

Leah starts slowly leaning in, to give you enough time to stop what was about to happen. You didn’t make her stop, so she placed her lips gently on yours. When Leah realised you weren’t kissing her back, she quickly pulled away again. “Sorry, I thought there was a vibe.” That’s the moment you sprung to life. “There was, sorry.” Leah’s smile returned to her face, “There was?” You nod and lean in this time.

You knew you should stop, but this was the only way you would ever have Leah and besides every fibre in your body telling you that this was only going to end up hurting you, you just couldn’t stop. Before you knew it, you were sitting in Leah’s lap and the two of you were fully making out. 

When Leah’s hands started moving up your thighs, you broke the kiss and halted her. Leah was about to apologise, but you were quick to speak first, “It’s okay, just not here.” You said looking around. Even though the area was currently empty, it was still a public place, and you were not about to have a stranger or even worse one of your teammates walk in on you.

With big towels around your bodies, you made it to Leah’s room. Leah had never been happier to have a room to herself during camp, the perks of being the captain. Without missing a beat, she closes the door behind you and pushes you up against it. Every thought of this not being a good idea left your mind the moment she slotted her leg between yours.

Leah’s hands roamed your body, losing both your towels in the process. It all happened very fast, the next thing your remaining clothes were scattered around Leah’s room and you were laying in her bed. Leah was laying on top of you and kissing your neck, with her hands between your legs. 

The pleasure she was bringing you with simply her lips and her fingers, was overwhelming and perfect at the same time. At no point did you want her to stop, even telling her “More.” A couple of times between pants, which Leah happily obliged to. 

You didn’t realise you had fallen asleep until you woke up the next morning, still naked in Leah’s bed. At first you’re a little disoriented but then it all comes flooding back to you. You crossed a line with your best friend. Your best friend that you were in love with. Your best friend who is the captain of your team. 

Quickly but quietly you get out of bed and put on a clean training kit from Leah, since yours was still wet from carelessly being thrown on the floor last night. You take your own stuff with you and throw it in the laundry on your way back to your own hotel room.

“Well good morning to you, stranger.” You had hoped Beth had still been asleep and you could pretend that you had come in after she had gone to bed last night, but all of that was out the window now that she was looking at you with questions behind her eyes. You confess everything to Beth, who simply cheers you on for finally acting on your feelings. It doesn’t feel that way to you though, Leah didn’t know about your feelings, and knowing Leah this was just a one time thing. At least that was what you were telling yourself. 

Before you could talk about it more, you had to head to breakfast since you had an early bus to take for your first match. You didn’t get to talk to Leah, and quite honestly you were trying your best to ignore her for the time being. 

The first time you interacted with Leah was after the match when you had given your jersey to a fan in the strands. Leah had rushed to your side and handed you her jacket. You thanked her before bringing your focus back to the fans. 

On the bus ride back, you avoided Leah again, opting to sit next to Lotte instead of Leah or Beth. You didn’t know what you wanted, but talking about last night was definitely not it. Back at SGP everyone goes their own way again. You opt on staying with some of the girls in the lounge and put on a movie. About halfway into the movie Keira walks in, “Hey y/n, Leah wants to see you in the meeting hall.” 

You curse yourself, this was it. You had ruined your national career because you couldn’t stop yourself. Nervously you opened the door and found Leah leaning against one of the tables with her arms crossed. Her first words came as a surprise to you, “Why did you leave this morning?”

For a moment you don’t know what to say, standing in front of her with a slightly furrowed brow. “You wanted me to stay?” Leah’s serious expression softened, “Yes, of course I wanted you to stay.” You take a deep sigh, knowing you need to speak your mind. “Lee, last night was… amazing, but you don’t do serious relationships. I left because I didn’t want to make it awkward.”

Leah realises what you’re talking about. “Look, I know I’ve got a bit of a reputation concerning that, but this is different. I haven’t brought a girl home for months because you’ve been clouding my mind. I’m serious about you. Last night meant everything to me, and if it did for you too, I would really like to explore this new territory with you.”

You couldn’t believe what you were hearing, Leah was feeling similar to how you were feeling about her? “It did mean everything to me too. I- sorry, I didn’t expect this, I am a bit at a loss for words.” Leah smiled and stepped towards you. “Maybe instead of using words, I can kiss you?” You nod and Leah crashes her lips on yours. 

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[lvnleah]

Rory meets AWFC.

Rory meets her Mummies teammates and gets a little anxious but soon meets a Lego loving friend.

find the Rory masterlist here

thank you to @scribblesofagoonerr for helping me write this! this may or may not feature a certain monkey…

August 24th 2023

“You okay, Roo?” Beth asked Rory as she packed a few bits into her backpack.

Rory had now been living with Beth and Viv for two months now, both of them had been given three weeks off from Arsenal to help them adjust and settle. They’d fallen into a nice routine with Rory and she was even more comfortable with them now, her little personality had truly begun to shine.

After the three weeks, they’d returned back to training. They were doing sessions in the gym with just them and Rory as everyone was away at either the World Cup or had time off.

Despite not being related to Beth biologically, she definitely had her bubbly and loud personality with Viv's shyness sprinkled in.

Today, Rory was going to training with them and meeting their friends for the first time. She’d already met both Viv and Beth’s family after spending a few weeks in the Netherlands with them and Myle. All of their family had fallen in love with the girl and by the end of the week she had them wrapped around her little finger.

Rory nodded her head shyly as Viv brushed her hair into a smooth ponytail, “Just a bit nervous.” Rory shrugged, holding Twix tight to her.

"You know," Viv said, finishing Rory’s ponytail before sitting beside her, "when I was your age, I was really nervous about going to new places too. But I always found that if I bought something familiar with me, like your bunny, it made me feel a lot better. I still get anxious too, Mummy will tell you.”

Rory looked up at Viv with a curious expression. "Really? You get anxious too?”

"Yeah I do," Viv nodded. "But you have me and Mummy with you, too. We'll make sure you feel safe and happy."

Beth joined them at the table, “We'll be with you the whole time, Roo. You can even play football if you want."

Rory's grip on her bunny tightened, but she nodded, taking a deep breath. "Okay.

Viv chuckled, “Why don’t we pack a few of your favourite things in your backpack?”

“Look, I’ve already packed your favourite snacks and some toys. You can bring them with you." Beth said, holding the bag open.

Rory peeked inside the backpack and smiled a little. "Thanks, Mummy."

Viv leaned down and kissed the top of Rory's head. "You're so brave, Rory. We'll make sure you have a good time."

Beth smiled, “You'll get to see where Mamma and I work and meet some of our friends. It'll be fun, I promise."

“Are they nice?” Rory asked.

“Super nice!” Beth reassured her, “They’re very funny too!”

Viv smirked, “Not as funny as Mamma though!”

Rory laughed, a smile spreading on her face, “No ones as funny as you, silly Mamma!”

Viv ruffled Rory's hair gently. "That's my girl. Now, finish your breakfast so we can get going.”

Once breakfast was done and the kitchen tidied, they gathered by the door. Viv helped Rory put on her tiny sneakers, while Beth checked her bag one last time. The anticipation in the room was palpable, a mix of excitement and nervous energy.

"Ready to go, Roo?" Beth asked, her voice gentle but encouraging.

Rory nodded, and held out her hand for Viv to take. "Ready!”

The drive to the training ground was filled with chatter and the hum of the car engine. Rory sat in the back seat, singing along to Taylor Swift with Viv like she had done for the past few weeks.

As they pulled up to the training centre, Rory’s nerves increased. Beth stepped out of the car and got her backpack whilst Viv unstrapped her.

“Mamma carry me?” Rory mumbled as she stepped out.

Viv smiled before lifting the four year old up, resting her on her hip. Rory buried her head in the crook of Viv’s neck, her arms wrapped tightly around her neck.

Beth rubbed her hand up and down Rory’s back, “You’ll be okay, Roo. I promise.” She said, placing a kiss on her temple.

They walked into the training centre, Beth leading the way and holding the door open for Viv and Rory. Steph and Jen were in the lobby and when they saw the trio approaching, they both smiled warmly.

Steph gasped, “Is this little miss Rory that I've heard so much about?”

Rory peeked out from her safe spot against Viv’s shoulder, her grip on Twix tightening. Her blonde eyebrows furrowed in confusion at Steph's accent before she started to giggle.

“What’re you giggling at, Roo?” Beth asked, tickling Rory’s stomach.

“Her accent!” Rory said just above a whisper as she giggled. “She sounds funny!”

“Have you heard of a place called Australia?” Steph asked, getting a nod from Rory, “Well that’s where I’m from! I sound different from your Mamma’s don’t I?”

Rory nodded, “You do!” Her eyes flicked over to Jen as she walked closer. Rory stared at her curiously, trying to figure out why the woman was so tall.

“I’m Jen! I sound weird too, eh?” Jen smiled, Rory shyly nodding as she hugged Viv tighter, “I like you Bunny! What’s their name?”

Rory looked at Jen and then back at Viv, who nodded encouragingly. “His name is Twix,” Rory whispered,

“Oh that’s so cool!” Jen smiled, “Do you like animals?”

“I love them!” Rory nodded, starting to warm up a little bit, “I love doggies!”

“You do?” Steph gasped, matching Rory’s excitement, “Do you want to meet the team dog, Win?”

Rory's eyes widened with excitement. "There's a dog here?" she asked, looking up at Viv with a mix of astonishment and eagerness.

Beth laughed softly, her heart melting at Rory's cuteness. "Yes, there is. Win is a very friendly dog and loves meeting new people."

Steph nodded enthusiastically. "Win is the therapy dog here, she helps us when we’re feeling down sometimes! She’s the unofficial team mascot."

"Can I see her now?" Rory asked, her shyness momentarily forgotten.

"Of course," Jen smiles, "Let's go find Win. She’s usually hanging out in the canteen area."

They made their way through the training centre, passing by a few players and staff who greeted Beth and Viv warmly. Rory clung to Viv but looked around with wide eyes, taking in everything.

As they entered the canteen area, a friendly chocolate labrador bounced over, tail wagging excitedly. Rory’s eyes lit up as Win approached and Viv set her down on the floor.

"Win, meet Rory," Steph said, sitting down to pet the dog on the floor. "Rory, this is Win."

Rory hesitated for a moment, looking up at Viv for reassurance. Viv nodded, smiling. "It's okay, Roo. Win is very gentle."

Slowly, Rory extended her hand, and Win sniffed it before giving it a friendly lick. Rory giggled, her nervousness melting away. "She likes me!" she exclaimed, petting Win’s soft fur.

"Can we bring Win home?" she asked, looking up at Beth and Viv with hopeful eyes.

Beth chuckled, shaking her head. "Win has to stay here and help the team, Roo. But maybe we can think about getting a doggy soon though!”

"Okay," Rory agreed, still smiling. "Can I show her my bunny?"

"Of course," Viv said. "I'm sure Win would love to meet Twix."

Rory held out Twix to Win, who sniffed the bunny curiously before giving it a gentle lick. Rory giggled again, delighted by the interaction.

"Win likes Twix too!" she smiled, hugging her bunny tightly.

Beth knelt down beside her. "See? There’s nothing to be nervous about. You’re doing great, Roo."

“Oh wow it’s a party in here!” Lotte laughed as she entered the canteen, “Win’s enjoying the attention I see.”

Rory looked up, her smile growing once she saw Lotte, “Lot! Hi, I missed you!”

Rory abandoned Winnie and immediately ran over to the English girl, hugging her legs. Rory had already met Lotte, as well as Vic and Laura, a few weeks after she moved in with Viv and Beth due to them being close friends who were always around.

She was shy at first but once Lotte was laying on the floor with her playing and Vic and Laura were sneaking her sweets she was their best friend.

“Hello, Rory,” Lotte said gently, crouching down to Rory’s level, “I missed you too! How’re you liking the training centre so far?”

Rory smiled and nodded, “I like it! I love Win though!”

Lotte gasped playfully, “Win’s the best isn’t she!”

Viv checked the time on her phone, “C’mon Roo, me and Mummy need to go get changed.”

Rory huffed, “I’m bored, Mamma!”

“It won’t take two seconds, Roo,” Beth said, “Then we can get you set up with some colouring!”

“I don’t mind sitting with her while you get changed,” Lotte offered, “Only if Roo doesn’t mind.”

Beth looked down at Rory, “What do you think, Roo? Want to stay with Lotte while me and Mamma get changed? It’ll only be for a couple minutes.”

Rory thought for a second, her eyes wandering around the now empty room that Steph and Jen had left to go and warm up, “Yeah…you come back?”

“Oh of course we will, Roo!” Viv said, crouching down to the girls height, “Me and Mummy will be a few minutes, you don’t have to stay if you don’t want to. You can come with me.”

Rory shook her head before talking Lotte’s hand, “I colour with Lotte!”

“Okay then,” Beth laughed, “We’ll be two minutes, okay? If you need us you can always come get me and Mamma.”

“Okay, Mummy,” Rory nodded, squeezing Lotte's hand tighter.

Viv and Beth headed off to the changing rooms, leaving Rory with Lotte. Lotte led her to a nearby table and got some colouring out of Rory’s backpack. Rory quickly got to work, her tongue poking out in concentration as she colored a picture of a butterfly.

“You’re really good at coloring, Rory!” Lotte said, smiling as she watched the little girl.

“Thank you!” Rory beamed, her shyness slowly melting away.

Just then, the door to the canteen burst open, and Katie stormed in, loudly announcing her arrival, "Guess who's back, back again! Kat—"

Her voice trailed off as she noticed Rory, who had jumped at the sudden noise, clutching her crayons tightly and looking wide-eyed at Katie.

Katie's eyes widened in horror at scaring the child. "Shit, I'm so sorry, kid!" she said, rushing over but lowering her voice. “I didn’t mean to scare you, kiddo. I’m Katie.”

Rory’s lower lip began to tremble, and her eyes welled up with tears. “I-I want Mummy and Mamma,” she whimpered, looking at Lotte.

Lotte immediately wrapped an arm around Rory. “It’s okay, Rory. Mummy and Mamma will be right back. Katie didn’t mean to scare you.”

But Rory’s tears began to fall, and she clutched Twix tightly to her chest. “I want Mumma and Mummy!” she cried, the distress in her voice clear.

At that moment, Beth and Viv hurried back into the room, having heard Rory's cries. Beth quickly scooped Rory into her arms, holding her close. “It’s okay, Roo. Mummy’s here.”

Viv knelt beside them, gently stroking Rory’s back. “What happened, Mijn liefje?”

Rory sniffled, burying her face in Beth’s shoulder. “She scared me,” she mumbled.

Beth rocked Rory gently, trying to soothe her. “Katie didn’t mean to scare you, Roo. It was just a mistake.”

Katie stepped closer, her expression full of regret. “I’m really sorry, kiddo. I didn’t know you were here.”

Katie exchanged a nervous look with Viv, “Viv, I’m so sorry! I didn’t know she was in here, I’m so sorry!”

“It’s okay, Katie,” Beth reassured her with a nod, “She’s just a bit anxious today, that’s all.”

“I’m so sorry,” she apologised once again, “I’ll leave you too it, I’m sorry kid!”

After a few minutes of Beth and Viv calming Rory down and cuddling her, Leah came through the door. Her eyes softened at the little sniffles coming from Rory, her cheeks still tear stained.

Leah calmly walked over and crouched down beside Beth who had Rory cuddled into her chest, “Hey! I’m Leah, are you little Rory who I’ve heard all about?”

Rory nodded her head against Beth’s chest, “Well it’s nice to meet you, Rory!” Leah smiled, “I bet I know what cheers you up when you’re upset…cake!”

Rory’s eyes widened at the mention of cake, “Cake?!” She asked, lifting her head from Beth’s chest.

Beth gasped, matching Rory’s enthusiasm, “Oh cake, that sounds nice doesn’t it! Why doesn’t Leah show you where to get some?”

Rory hesitated before nodding her head and jumping off of Beth’s lap. She took Leah’s hand and walked over to the canteen kitchen, Leah helped her pick out her cake before walking back to Beth and Viv.

“Chocolate cake!” Viv smiled, “Wow Roo, isn’t that good!” Rory nodded her head, a smile spread across her face.

“Where’s Monkey?” Beth asked, “Is she off causing trouble again?”

“No she was right…behind me,” Leah trailed off, looking around for the teenager, “I bet she’s causing mischief with Kyra!”

“That isn’t a surprise at all,” Viv laughed and shook her head.

Viv carried Rory into the gym whilst Beth had a quick session with the physio’s. She sat down on the bench in the corner, Rory facing her with her head pressed against her chest.

“Viv! You’re back!” A voice shouted aloud where Viv was sitting in the gym with Rory in her lap, “I’ve missed you round here– Leah’s being bossy as ever, ruining my fun, the complete buzz-kill that she is!”

“Hi Monkey,” Viv waved in agreement with the girl, “Glad to hear that you are up to your usual chaos.” She remarked, sarcastically.

“I’m not even doing anything that bad, everyone is just making a huge big deal out of it for no reason! Oh! Maybe now you’re here you can steer Leah to be in agreement that it would be a great idea for me to try sky-diving!” Monkey continued to ramble in Viv’s ear, which Rory couldn’t help but find funny as she listened to the girl natter on, “Oh! Who’s this?” She wondered, curiously.

“Monkey, this is Rory, mine and Beth’s daughter… And Roo, this is Monkey” Viv smiled before leaning down to Rory’s ear, “she’s the biggest kid around here,” she whispered but loud enough for Monkey to hear.

Monkey gasped, “Whoa, I take offence to that, you know! It’s actually Katie– Hi, it’s nice to meet you, Rory. I’m Monkey!”

Rory lifted her head from Viv’s chest, “You’re funny!”

“Thank you very much– Whoa, I like your bunny. Does it have a special name?” Monkey asked, crouching down to Rory’s level on Viv’s lap.

Rory nodded, “Mhm, it’s Twix!” She smiled, holding out the stuffed bunny so the girl could see.

Monkey gasped once again, “No way? Twix, that’s such a cool name! Oooh, do you like Lego?”

“Uh huh!” Rory nodded, her shyness being forgotten once again.

“Cool, do you want to go and build something? I’m meant to be training, but I don’t think anyone will care if I’m there or not.” Monkey shrugged, Viv laughed at how chilled the girl was.

Rory’s smile grew as she nodded her head and slipped off Viv’s lap, “Yeah!”

“So, how old are you, Rory?” Monkey asked as they began to walk over to her Lego corner in the gym.

“I’m 4!” Rory declared proudly, holding up four fingers.

“Wow, 4? That is such a cool age– You can definitely get away with a lot at that age!”

“I thought I heard your voice,” Beth joked as she entered the gym, “Don’t be leading her astray!”

“Would I ever? She’s adorable– We’re gonna build Lego together!” Monkey replied innocently.

“You’re aware that Leah is looking for you, right?” Beth questioned, raising an eyebrow.

“I didn’t do anything I wasn't meant to do!” Monkey protested.

“That definitely means that you did then…” Viv smiled, shaking her head with a knowing smile.

“Monkey!” Leah shouted aloud, trying to find the teenager.

“Uh, damn. I’m not here– Quick, hide me under the table or somethin’.” Monkey whispered to Rory, her eyes darting around for a hiding spot.

“I like her, she’s funny, Mummy!” Rory said, turning to look at Beth with a smile.

Beth couldn't help but smile at Rory's delight. "Yes, she is funny, but we have to make sure she stays out of trouble, right?"

"Right!" Rory agreed enthusiastically.

Just then, Leah entered the gym, her eyes narrowing playfully at Monkey. "There you are! What have you been up to now?"

Monkey put on her most innocent face. "Nothing, I swear! Just showing my new friend my Lego collection!”

Leah shook her head with a laugh. “C’mon, you need to actually train and not muck about.”

Monkey groaned, “Just give me five more minutes! Please, I want to do a bit of Lego!”

“You and your bloody Lego obsession!” Leah sighed, “Fine! Half an hour and then you need to train, deal?”

“Deal!” Monkey smiled, “What do you want to build, Roo?” Monkey asked as they sat down on the floor.

“Umm, I wanna build a castle!” Rory exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

Monkey grinned, rummaging through the box of Lego bricks. “A castle?! That’s the best plan ever!”

Beth and Viv exchanged a glance, smiling at how quickly Rory had taken to Monkey. Beth knelt down beside them. “Me and Mamma need to train, we’ll just be over there okay?”

Rory nodded. “Okay, Mummy! We’re gonna make the best castle ever, right Monkey?”

“Absolutely, kid!” Monkey agreed, handing Rory a handful of colourful bricks. “So who have you met so far?”

"Um, Steph and Jen. They both have funny accents," Rory giggled, concentrating as she arranged the bricks into a small tower. "Also, Lotte and Katie… But Katie yelled loudly and it scared me!"

"She did?" Monkey replied with a sympathetic smile. "That’s just how Katie is, but I’m sorry she scared you, Roo. You met Leah as well, right?"

Rory nodded, smiling as she concentrated on building Lego, "Uh-huh! She’s nice and she helped me get chocolate cake! I like her!"

"Aw, whoa. Chocolate cake? I want some too!” Monkey gasped, “Maybe you’ll have to show me where you found it,"

"Yeah!" Rory exclaimed, her eyes lighting up.

"Want to know a secret?" Monkey whispered, leaning in. "Leah is who I live with. She is nice, but she can also be pretty bossy sometimes."

"You do? Whoa, so cool!" Rory's eyes widened in amazement.

"Yeah, her and my favourite little buddy," Monkey continued with a little laugh.

"Who’s dat?" Rory asked, handing a brick to Monkey.

"Buddy? That’s Leah’s daughter, and Jordan’s too. I don’t know if you have met her yet, but she’s cool.” Monkey smiled, “Buddy is actually a few years younger than you, but I bet when you two meet, you’ll be best friends!"

"Is she funny like you?" Rory asked, her excitement growing.

Monkey nodded, "She’s a little sweetheart, really. I can’t wait for you to meet her!"

"I want to meet her too!" Rory said, grinning widely as she bounced on her knees.

“I’m sure your Mamma and Mummy can sort something out!” Monkey suggested, “Buddy comes here sometimes so you’ll probably get to meet her!”

It wasn’t long before the castle stood tall and impressive, complete with towers. Rory looked at it with wide eyes, clearly proud of their creation.

“Look, Mummy! Look, Mamma!” Rory called out, waving them over. “We did it! We built a castle!”

Beth and Viv walked over, “Wow, that’s amazing, Roo! You and Monkey did a fantastic job,” Viv smiled.

Monkey nodded, pretending to wipe sweat from her brow. “Phew, that was hard work, but totally worth it.”

“Can we take a picture?” Rory asked, looking up at Beth with hopeful eyes.

“Of course we can,” Beth replied, pulling out her phone. “Gather around the castle!”

Monkey proudly held up the Lego castle proudly while Rory stood beside her, smiling. Beth snapped a few photos, capturing the moment.

As the day went on, Rory continued to explore the training centre, meeting more of the team and even joining in with passing the ball. By the time they were ready to leave, she was buzzing with excitement and full of stories to tell.

“Did you have fun today, Roo?” Viv asked as they buckled her into her car seat for the drive home.

Rory nodded. “Yes! I made lots of new friends, and we built a castle, and I met Win, and… and it was the best day ever!”

Beth smiled, leaning over to kiss Rory’s forehead. “I’m so glad you had fun, Roo!”

As they drove home, Rory’s chatter eventually quieted, her eyes growing heavy with sleep. By the time they pulled into their driveway, she was fast asleep, clutching Twix tightly in her arms.

Viv gently lifted her out of the car, carrying her inside and laying her down in her bed for a nap. Beth tucked her in, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

“Have a good nap, Roo,” Beth whispered, smiling softly. “We love you so much.”

Rory stirred slightly, a sleepy smile on her face. “Love you too, Mummy… Mamma…” she murmured before drifting back into a peaceful sleep.

[chaotic-toasters]

Send this to the twelve nicest people you know or who seem to have a good heart and if you get five back you must be pretty awesome. 🩷🩷

XHDBXISBHWIXSBHDUEHDEB THANK YOUUUU <333

Ok so this js gonna be a little awkward bc some of these ppl don't know me and some ppl have probably already seen this but

@kamwilliamsonn @scribblesofagoonerr @woso-dreamzzz @rimunagenius @gamergirl929 @decaffeinatedcylelover @blankcanvas12 @silentwolfsstuff

Lmao I only know this many ppl don't judge