#woso x child reader

[leahsgf]

LOSS - mcfoord

mcfoord x child!reader | ireland doesn’t qualify for the euros

little monster masterlist

the energy rippling through the aviva stadium could only be described as electric. the stands, filled almost to the brim by a wave of green, were almost shaking - the sheer noise of the fans bouncing off of every corner.

amongst the chaos and stress of the ireland fans, sat you, perched on caitlin’s lap in the designated ‘mccabe family’ box - a mini ireland scarf clutched in your grasp, and a flag painted on your cheek, now rosy with the sheer bitterness of the dublin air.

katie stood on the pitch metres below, proudly wearing the captain’s armband for her country, and doing what she does best - even if that meant making everyone watch whilst wincing as she teetered on the edge of a second yellow card within minutes.

even at two years old, you understood somewhat how important this game, and this team was to her. it was your entire life in fact - your mother’s bursting passion for her country was engrained in you, having been told one night as she tucked you into your ‘big girl bed’, in the softest voice, how much it meant to her to wear the green jersey, how her team’s hard work was slowly but surely paying off, and, how important it was that you pick ireland over australia, of course.

(the most katie mccabe bed time story imaginable)

and despite how much they both attempted to shield you from the pressure of football, and tonight in particular- you were very much sensing it.

“can you see your mammy down there? she’s doing amazing, like always” caitlin pulled your green (of course) ear defenders away from your head as she whispered in your ear, pointing down to the pitch - whilst rocking you softly, attempting to distract herself from the stress of the game as the minutes dragged on.

the match was only getting more and more intense, every single pass and tackle becoming a battle as ireland fought for a goal, for anything, and wales fought to hold them off. caitlin’s grip on you tightened as full time rapidly approached - leaning forward nervously, as if she could already feel the incoming devastation, as your little eyes darted around, watching every desperate throw in intensely (despite not having a clue what they were doing, you just thought it looked fun)

before long the final whistle blew, and the stadium fell into almost an eerie silence. even your family around you, who had been bellowing and singing the entire time - were completely mute, and that was something you’d never experienced before.

katie practically collapsed down onto her knees on the pitch as the reality sunk in - her face in her hands, sobbing - with many of her fellow players doing the same, their long awaited euros dream well and truly shattered. you simply couldn’t grasp why the cheers had stopped, or why they weren’t kicking the ball around any more.

“why mammy sad?” you turn in the australian’s arms, picking up instantly on her own saddened expression, your tiny voice sounding so loud amongst the quiet - almost piercing the tension with a knife.

caitlin’s heart ached, not only for her partner but also for you, breaking at the idea of explaining this to you when you’d been so excited for weeks about this - adoring absolutely everything that your mammy did, being her little double.

“she’s a bit upset because her team didn’t win.” she spoke gently, “she really wanted this, like she’s been telling you.”

you frowned, clutching your scarf tighter, whimpering slightly at the thought of her being sad without you with her to make it better.

“go there?” you point down to the pitch, shifting to try and climb down, leaning forward to grip the barrier in front of the seat - caitlin almost instantly pulling you back, earning a whine in response.

“let’s wait a little bit pudding, kay? she’s still on the field, we’ll go and find her soon, don’t worry” she stroked your hair softly, suddenly standing up with you balanced on her hip, taking you away from the seats and back inside, away from the chaos for just a moment, bouncing you lightly, knowing all too well that if you can see katie without being able to be with her for a second longer you’ll be quickly on your way to a meltdown.

-

after a short while, and the heartbroken ireland team slowly started to filter out of the locker room, not wanting to spend another minute drowning in the overwhelming sadness - katie remained planted in her seat. the sting of this defeat cut her particularly deep, not solely because of the loss, but also because of everything in her that she’d poured into this campaign, into being captain in general - the sacrifices, the hours of extra training, and the dreams of being the one to lead her country to something bigger, something they deserve - all of it.

sat on the bench with her head in her hands, her chest rose and fell unevenly, and tears continued to stream down her cheeks as every emotion under the sun swirled through her head.

the door swinging open broke her out of her train of thoughts - revealing a very concerned, almost tearful looking caitlin, with you bundled in her arms.

“katie?”

the irish woman’s head snapped up instantly, her red rimmed eyes meeting the piercingly blue ones of her girlfriend, getting lost in them like she always did. the mere sight of the pair of you - her family, of the little, now smeared ireland flag painted on your face, only made her tears flow faster, the remains of her resolve crumbling.

you wriggled in caitlin’s arms as katie stood up, collecting the remains of her stuff - not wanting to hang around anymore either, reaching out for her desperately.

her arms opened in an instant, allowing you to be passed over into them before even a slight whimper could leave your lips, burying her face into your tiny shoulder as she sobbed a little more, muffled by your warmth, holding you almost impossibly close to her chest.

“it’s okay mammy, no cry” you babble, your words accenting your wonderfully weirdly blended accent, patting her cheek softly, causing the woman to let out a shaky laugh through her tears. “you the best” your little brow furrowed as you continued, poking at the tears on her cheek, having not quite learned how to ‘wipe them away’ properly just yet.

“oh my sweet girl, thank you” she nuzzled her nose against your cheek, pressing a kiss to your forehead as the three of you made your way slowly towards the car, wanting nothing more than to just be away from all of this.

caitlin watched silently as katie buckled you into your car seat, tickling you softly and kissing your cheek, lingering for a second longer than usual, as if she was delaying the inevitable hard part, where she’ll have to process this without an innocent, clueless toddler to distract her.

“you’ve done so much, love, you’ve made them all so proud, you’ve made us proud. you’ve made that little girl so proud - all she’s talked about all day is you.” caitlin wrapped her arms around the irish woman almost immediately after she closed your car door, rubbing her back comfortingly.

“thank you baby, i needed that, thank you for being here. i know you’re probably exhausted.” she sniffled, knowing that her girlfriend flew straight from australia to dublin to be here for her - before moving around to the passenger side, an unfamiliar one to her - but she wasn’t in the headspace to be in charge of a vehicle, not right now.

the drive back to the hotel (that was more of a stopover before you all head back to london in the morning then anything) was an unfamiliarly quiet one, the mood that settled sombre in stark comparison to the constant loop of ‘baby shark’, a personal favourite of yours - that boomed out of the speakers in order to keep you content.

-

the evening drew in with a lot of tears and hugs from all three of you at different moments - curled up in the plush of the hotel bed, watching some disney movie you’d all seen a million times over - your parents trying to keep the mood fairly light for you, knowing the walls would come crashing down once you were asleep.

despite this, you could sense that your mammy was still sad. very sad. she usually was constantly playing with you, making you screech with giggles, even when you were meant to be getting ready to go to bed and calming down for the night, but tonight she was just quiet, barely saying a word as caitlin got you ready for bed.

“come on then sweetheart, sleep time for you, say goodnight to mammy” your mumma held you and your bottle in her arms, crouching down so katie can kiss and hug you softly.

“milk?” you ask, words muffled by the dummy between your lips as you hold out your bottle towards her, tilting your head - knowing that that was one thing that always made you feel better, and all you wanted to do was make her happy.

and with that, katie couldn’t help but smile, the loss sitting on her shoulder feeling just a little bit lighter.

“i love you, my beautiful little monster”

[samkerrworshipper]

bar-ca

alexia putellas x reader x putellas!child

no warnings just my first kidfic so no judgement

The sound of the bottle sanitizer whirring hurts your brain.

The four month sleep regression is no joke, the non-stop crying, the no sleep, the teething pain. It’s the pains of motherhood that nobody has ever brought up to you.

Everything hurt.

Your head from the lack of sleep, your boobs from constantly being sucked dry, your body from rocking a baby all night who had no intentions of going to sleep.

You just couldn’t understand why little Lili wouldn’t sleep.

You’d tried it all, sleep training, sleep school, nannies, co-sleeping.

None of it worked, Liliana was just set on running yours, and her other mothers life.

You groaned as the machine pinged, signalling that it was done cleaning out the bottles.

You grabbed the one closest to you and poured the water you’d already warmed and the scoops of the formula into the bottle.

Formula really was your saving grace, although the effort to put it all together was something tat you felt was unnecessary, it was the expense of giving your boobs a break.

You were grateful enough that Lili took formula, because according to most of the women in your mothers group you were very fortunate.

You shook up the bottle until the formula had all dispersed evenly.

You would be lying if you said that you didn’t take a moment to yourself, setting the bottle down on the counter and leaning over, enjoying the rare moment of silence in the putellas household.

You knew that you should be grateful, grateful that you were in a position where you could spend so much time with your newborn, that you could spend so much of this valuable time with your biggest treasure, but it didn’t make it any easier.

You were the main parent, Alexia had a football career, games, trainings, media commitments, leaving you at home with Lili constantly. You were starting to get some cabin fever, and a little bit of annoyance with your baby who was always crying.

You’d thought it was croup, but no, Lili just cried and cried and cried, and a lot of the time you cried with her.

There were good moments, but that didn’t change the everyday constant exhaustion you had. The most annoying part though was that you were so attached to Lili that you couldn’t leave her for longer than an hour. You couldn’t explain it, but every time anybody had offered, Eli, Alba, Mapi, any of the girls of the team, and you’d tried to leave Lili with them you’d gone through the worst mom guilt imaginable. So, you were stuck, with a broody baby attached to your hip, pretty much at all times. It didn’t help either that Lili had been significantly premature as a baby, so not only had she been sick, but she’d also craved the constant skin to skin contact in her first weeks of life, only strengthening your connection to her.

Alexia tried her hardest to take the pressure off of you, but at the end of the day you were the one breast feeding, you were the one who had sacrificed her career for motherhood, you were the one with the stretch marks and body that had been wrecked by your daughter.

You picked up the bottle, knowing that the silence across your house would very quickly be replaced by screaming if you didn’t get the bottle to your hungry daughter soon.

You walked slowly through the house, making your way to your shared bedroom as slowly as possible.

You stopped in the hallway when you heard the sound of babbling and an occasional giggle coming from the inside of your bedroom.

The giggling was new, but it made the moments a little bit sweeter when you got to hear it, although Alexia was the one who mostly got it out of your daughter.

You turned the corner and smiled at the sight in front of you.

“It’s not funny liLI, i know you can do it, say it for me, bar-ca.”

You stopped yourself from laughing at the serious expression on your wifes face as she stared at your daughter expectantly.

All Lili did was laugh at her.

“It’s in your blood, you’re a culer, c’mon, you can say it.”

It was another new thing, the little babbles of syllables that would leave your daughters mouth, it was cute, and you’d been aiming for mama, but clearly Alexia had other intentions.

Lili just giggled again at Alexia’s pointed finger and the seriousness on her face.

“You can do it, do it for me, say it, cu-ler, or bar-ca.”

Lili contemplates for a second, before babbling something completely incomprehensible.

“I thought we were aiming for mama first?”

Alexia looked up at you, like she’d been caught red-handed.

She flushed red, and then laughed, and when Lili laughed along with her you didn’t have it in you to even try to tell her off.

“Barca is basically her mother, both of her mothers are curlers, culer is in her blood.”

You rolled your eyes effortlessly at Alexia, she wasn’t wrong, in fact the when you’d seen your daughter for the first time after waking up after birth, instead of being dressed in the previously picked outfit she’d been decked out in a miniscule barca jersey.

“I’m also her actual mother and I would like it if all of the sleep I’m losing to her would be used to at least say my name.”

Alexia nodded, she couldn’t really argue your point, it was smarter for her to just agree with you.

You stepped up onto the bed, looking at Lili, who was uncharacteristically bright for this time of day. You were hoping that you could get her milk drunk and hopefully she’d pass out, but you also were aware that your chances were slim.

You reached for her, noticing the way that her face immediately dropped as you lifted her from Alexia’s arms.

Just as she looked like she was about to burst into tears, you pushed the bottle nipple into her mouth, watching as her face immediately relaxed.

You sunk back against your pillows, happy now that she was able to hold herself up without fully relying on leaning on you.

Alexia leant over, pressing a kiss to your hairline.

“How about I take her to training with me? She can sit in the gym with me and one of the staff or injured players can watch her whilst were out on the pitch. You can get a shower, sleep, go for a walk if you want, go see your mami or mine?”

You shook your head.

“You insinuating that I smell, Putellas?”

Alexia shook her head against your forehead.

“I’m insinuating that you need to give yourself a break, let me take her for the day, it’ll be fine, I’m just as much her mother as you are, take a break for yourself, si?”

You felt sick at the idea, but you couldn’t deny the need you had to get some proper, undisturbed sleep.

“Plus, you know how desperate all fo her aunties have been to see our girl, she’ll be saying the words barca by the end of the day.”

Your eyes shot open.

“Alexia Putellas Segura, I am not joking, if she says any words besides mama as her first ones than you will be on night duty for the next month, away games be damned, am I understood?”

Alexia pouted.

“I can’t help it if she’s destined to be a barca player and already knows it.”

You let one of your eyebrows raise.

“Alexia.”

She frowned again, but nodded her head.

“You let me take her, and I’ll get her to say mama, deal?”

You bit your lip, as much as parting ways with your daughter terrified you, as needy as she was, you were so desperate to get a proper run in, or a proper workout, or some proper sleep and proper food that wasn’t ordered off of your phone.

“I want her back in one piece by the end of the day, and with the same amount of barca memorabilia she already has in her wardrobe, and I want her aunties to not indocrinate her, okay?”

Alexia smiled, already bouncing out of bed.

“Finish her feed and we’ll be off, we’re going to have such a good day lili baby, just you and mommy day.”

You rolled your eyes, looking down at the baby in your arms, who was looking at her mommy curiously.

“She’s crazy lil, don’t you listen to her, your mama’s forever, even if you cry for the rest of your life.”

[silverb0wties]

Lemonade - Part 5

leah williamson x alessia russo x child!reader

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

Chapter Summary: the aftermath of your concussion

Warnings: pregnancy, self-harm, disordered eating, bullying

a/n: sorry if this chapter is a little bit dark in parts. if you're still reading the series, thanks so much for sticking with me. I appreciate it more than you know.

|| Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4 ||

PART 5

You woke up on a plastic bed in a room that smelled like the awful cream your Mummy would rub on her legs after Netball, surrounded by a million different kinds and colours of sellotape.

You could hear voices, and you looked over to the corner of the room to find your Aunty Leah consoling your Aunty Lessi as she cried.  She looked distraught, her eyes red and puffy with tears.

“I should have known it would overwhelm her.  I was just so excited to share this with her…”

“Babe, she’s going to be okay.  We’re still learning all this, yeah?”

“But we’re meant to protect her, and… and I- I…” Aunty Lessi choked on her words before Aunty Leah cut her off.

“And I should have had a tighter grip on her when I saw she was panicking.  Like I said, we’re both still learning how to do this.  The medics said she’s got a bit of a concussion, but she’ll be alright.  We know how concussions work, so we’ve just got to keep our eyes on her and make sure she gets lots and lots of rest.”

There was a quiet knock at the door, before an important looking lady with a clipboard came in.

“Less, sorry but we need to know if you’re going to play the second half or not?” she asked.

As your Aunties turned toward the door, they realised that you were awake.

“Oh Bunny, sweetie, you’re awake.  How are you feeling?” your Aunty Lessi rushed over to you, her hands coming down to gently cradle the sides of your head.

You looked up at her a bit stunned, rather confused about why you were where you were and why everyone seemed so upset.

“Does your head hurt?  Do you feel sick or dizzy at all?” she asked, her hand softly brushing through your hair.

You tried to think about if you felt sick or dizzy, but all you could really feel was a powerful throbbing rattling through your head.  You also felt really, really tired.  But you had just woken up, so that could perhaps explain that.  You don’t remember going to sleep though, which was starting to concern you.

“I feel okay,” you replied, trying to brush away your Aunty’s concern.

“Alessia, sorry, we need t-” the lady at the door began to ask again.

“I won’t be playing, sorry.  My family is more important right now,” Aunty Lessi told her.

“Less, you should go play.  I’ll stay with Bunny and make sure she’s-”

Your Aunty Lessi whipped around to face Aunty Leah. “No, Leah.  I’m not leaving her.  She’s hurt.   We’ll get a car to take us back to the training centre so we can go home early,” she insisted firmly.

Aunty Leah replied with a sad smile and a nod.  “I’ll go get our stuff packed up then, yeah?”

“I’m okay Aunty Lessi, you should play!” you tried to insist.

“No Bunny, there would be no point in me playing anyways.  I would be so distracted out there and worrying about you I would probably kick the ball into the wrong goal by mistake.”

By the time you finally got back home that night, your head was still pounding and you were struggling to stay awake.  You were trying your hardest to be big and brave and pretend like you were okay, but as soon as you stepped into bath, your whole façade fell apart.  As the warm water lapped at your tense muscles, which you now realised you’d been clenching in an effort to distract from the pain in your head, your resolve melted and you began to weep.

You brought your knees up to your chest and dropped your head forward, your hands entwining at the back of your head as your little body shook with each sob.  The tears and jagged breaths only intensified the pain in your head though, which in turn caused more tears and jagged breaths.  You tried your hardest to stay as quiet as possible, but you were aware that your cries were becoming increasingly vocal.

There was soon a soft knock at the door, followed by your Aunty Lessi’s voice.  Whilst making sure you still got clean and dressed, your Aunties had always tried to give you your privacy while bathing and dressing, which you appreciated.  They were your Aunties, but it still felt weird being undressed around people who weren’t your parents.

“Bunny?  Are you okay?” she called through the closed door.

“It hurts” you cried in response.

“What hurts honey?”

“Everything.  My head hurts most.”

“How about we give you some medicine to make it hurt less, yeah?”

“Okay.”

“And then we can get you to bed, and you can try and get some rest, alright?”

“Okay.”

There was a short pause.  You’d assumed your Aunty had gone away to get the medicine, but then you heard her voice again.

“Bun, you don’t always have to try and be big and brave y’know?  If you’re hurting, you can tell us.  Always.  I promise you won’t be in trouble or we won’t make fun of you or anything.  We just want you to feel okay.”

“Okay.”

You didn’t fully believe her.  You wanted to, but a part of you still believed that there was only so much love and affection to go around and you needed to space that out at least until Lemonade arrived.  You didn’t want to use it all up on this incident.

So you tried your hardest to push the pain down and away as you quickly washed yourself.  You managed to get yourself up and out of the bath and wrapped in a towel before there was a knock at the door again.

“You can come in,” you mumbled, making sure the towel was secured tightly under your arms.

Your Aunty Lessi entered with a little cup filled with pink medicine and a cup of water.  She kneeled down to your height as she offered it to you.

“Now it says strawberry flavoured on the bottle, so hopefully it won’t taste too bad.”

You gingerly took the cup and gulped the medicine down, wincing at the distinctly fake strawberry taste.  You quickly grabbed the cup of water from your Aunty’s other hand and skulled that down to wash away the lingering flavour.

“Good job, Bun.  Now let’s get you into your PJ’s and into bed, yeah?”

By the time you were under the covers, arms tightly wrapped around your beloved Arthur, the pain in your head had dulled to only a mild ache.

“Goodnight sweet girl” your Aunty Lessi whispered, kissing the top of your head.

“Night Aunty Lessi” you mumbled back.

It was the first time you slept through the night without waking up to a nightmare since the fire.

--

You woke up to the smell of Aunty Lessi’s lasagne wafting through the house.  However, as you opened your eyes and came to your senses, you immediately panicked. 

You were not in your own bed. 

You were in your Aunties bed.

You had no idea how you’d come to be in their bed.  The last thing you remembered you were lying on the floor in the loungeroom studying one of the books the Arsenal girls had given you about football.  You were trying to understand where all the different positions were on the pitch and what responsibilities each position had.  You had been figuring out the difference between a centre-back and a full-back when you had… fallen asleep.

Bad. Bad. Bad.

Whilst it had been a few days now since your accident and you’d had a couple of days off school and your head no longer hurt, you were still feeling extra extra tired from your concussion.  You’d spent most of that day at school trying to hide your yawns from your teacher and classmates.  When you’d been given some free time after finishing one of your activities ahead of the rest of the class, the same group of students that always seemed to catch you at your weakest had caught you dozing off in the corner of the room where you’d been reading.  They’d tied your shoelaces together and were starting to draw on your arm when you woke up.  You hadn’t realised they’d also put rolled up pieces of paper in your hair braid until your Aunty Leah pointed them out when she picked you up.

You’d tried to brush it off and said it was just a game all the kids were playing with each other, but the concerned frown your Aunty gave you implied she didn’t quite believe your lie.

“You know you can tell us if there’s anything going wrong at school, yeah?  If anyone’s picking on you or calling you names or anything?”

You just nodded.  There was no way you would ever tell your Aunties what was really happening at school.  You would just deal with it like a big girl.  Push through.  Be brave.  They had bigger things to worry about than some kids putting paper in your hair and saying mean things.  Your Aunty Leah was growing a human AND mending her busted knee for heaven’s sake!  You could deal with some silly paper in your hair.

When you’d got back to the house, you went straight to your room to undo your braid and pluck all the little pieces of paper from your hair.  You’d counted them (23 in total) before scrunching them up and throwing them in the little wastepaper basket beside your desk. 

As the paper hit the basket, a tiny ball of raging heat began bubbling in your chest.  You didn’t know what to do with it or how to describe it, but it made you want to stomp your feet and hit a wall and scratch at your skin.  You’d never been the best at describing emotions, but you were pretty certain this wasn’t sadness.  Perhaps, this was anger? Frustration? Disappointment? 

The tiny ball continued to bubble and grow as you lunged for your bed where Arthur lay.  You attempted desperately to use your tried and tested method of rubbing his ear against your cheek to calm the feeling, and whilst it felt nice, it did nothing to soothe your need to stomp or hit or scratch.

You searched your room urgently for something else to ease the searing heat in your chest, even gulping down the remnants of a cup of water on your bedside table.  But nothing worked.  You needed to stomp or hit or scratch.  You knew couldn’t stomp your feet or hit a wall, because that would be loud, and your Aunty would hear and come ask what was wrong.  So, you decided to scratch. 

You had to pick somewhere not too visible so that if you left a mark, nobody would see and ask what happened.  So, you tugged up the hem of your school dress and pushed down your tights and began scratching at the skin at the top of your right thigh.

The relief was instant. 

The second your nails dug into your flesh, the little ball of heat in your chest began to cool.  You scratched and scratched, and scratched some more until it finally, finally disappeared.  By the time you eventually stopped, your skin was stinging, and your fingers were cramping.  But the little ball of heat was gone, and that was all that mattered.

There was a gentle knock on the door as you speedily pulled your tights back up, wincing as they brushed against your newly tender skin.

Your Aunty Leah popped her head in through the door, “Bun, do you want a snack? I got some blueberry muffins from the bakery…”

“Oh… um, yeah, I’ll be right down, just getting that paper out of my hair,” you mumbled, quickly running your fingers through the ends of your messy blonde mane.

“Alright, I’ll pop them in the microwave to warm them up,” she replied before heading back downstairs to do so.

As you heard her footsteps fade away, you turned around and pulled your tights down again, trying with all your might not to release a pained noise as the fabric ripped away from your newly raw skin.  The area you’d scratched was an angry red colour and the skin seemed wet, but there was no blood, which whilst a relief, made no sense to you.

Not wanting to keep your Aunty waiting, you hastily pulled your tights the rest of the way off and threw them in your laundry hamper.  The house was warm enough, but you decided to grab your soft little blanket that had purple and grey clouds, as well as the book on football you had been reading and the little notebook you’d been making notes in (and Arthur of course), and head downstairs.

“Perfect timing Bun, just took them out of the microwave.  Do you want a drink?”

“I’m okay.  Thank you, Aunty Leah, this looks lovely” you replied, climbing up onto a stool in front of the kitchen bench where a little plate with a yummy looking blueberry muffin sat.

“Well, we all know the kitchen is Aunty Lessi’s domain.  That woman can cook like a dream!  But I’m not too shabby at picking out a good pastry.  I guess you could say bread and bread-adjacent foods are my domain,” she teased.

You giggled as you tucked into your muffin, appreciating your Aunty Leah’s silly jokes about how bad at cooking she was and how limited the range of foods she ate was.  Your extended family often seemed to tease her a bit about being a picky eater and she would usually laugh it off or join in on the joke.  But you knew it was something she was actually a bit self-conscious about. 

A few days into your stay here you’d gone to the fridge to grab some milk for your cereal and had accidentally knocked a container off a shelf.  As you bent down to pick it up, you noticed a little letter stuck to the lid that read “Leah, my love, it’s okay if you can’t eat this.  I know you tried and I’m proud of you.  Please just make sure you eat something or at least have a protein smoothie.  For you and for ‘L’.  Love you – xx Less.”  You’d immediately felt guilty for reading it as you rushed to put it back on the shelf, knowing you’d intruded on a bit of your Auntie’s privacy.  You’d seen a few similar little notes stuck to containers since then.  At the time you’d been very confused about what “for you and for ‘L’” meant, but you had since figured out it meant ‘for you and for Lemonade’. 

When you finished your muffin, you wriggled off the stool and headed over to place your plate in the dishwasher.

“Are you done with your plate too, Aunty Leah?” you offered.

“Oh, thanks sweetie, you didn’t have to do that,” she replied as she passed you her plate with a smile.  “Feel free to watch something on the telly if you want.  I’ve got a bit of boring adult housework stuff to catch up on before Aunty Lessi gets home.”

“Is there anything you need help with?” you asked.

“No, no.  I’ve just got to do a couple of loads of laundry and there’s no way I would make you deal with Aunty Lessi’s gross smelly training socks!  It’s bad enough poor little Lemonade is stuck with me and can’t escape from it,” she laughed, jokingly shielding her belly from the smell.

“Is it okay if I just read in the loungeroom?” you asked.

“Of course it is!  Just remember if your head starts to hurt or you’re feeling too tired or anything, to have a rest, yeah?” she smiled at you, stroking her fingers affectionately through your hair.

“I will, thank you.”

So, you made yourself comfortable in a little spot on the loungeroom floor, surrounded by a couple of cushions, the blanket you’d brought down from your room and, of course, Arthur.  Soon you were laying on your belly, nose deep in the book and jotting down notes in your notebook all about what a penalty shootout was and what circumstances led to one.  You drew a little picture of the goal and the line markings and where the goalie had to stand and where the other players had to stand, before turning back to the book to read about in-game penalties when slowly but suddenly you… were… asleep.

The next thing you knew you were waking up in your Auntie’s bed to the smell of your Aunty Lessi’s lasagna.

The realisation hit you like a hundred bolts of lightning.

You’d slept in someone else bed.

Bad. Bad. Bad.

Bad things happen when you sleep in someone else’s bed.

The last time you’d slept in someone else’s bed, your house burned down, and your Mummy and Daddy had died.

You jumped out of the bed as though it was burning you, panic rattling all through your little body.

“Bad. Bad. Bad.”

Your right hand began hitting at the side of your head before you even knew it was happening.

“Bad. Bad. Bad.”

Your other hand clawed at the skin of your neck, scratching determinedly at the tender skin there.

“Bad! Bad! Bad!”

You tried so hard to stop them, but your feet began to stomp loudly, your whole body seemingly moving with a mind of its own.  Everything around you seemed like it was spinning.  You thought you could smell smoke and when your eyes began to water you weren’t sure if it was because you were crying or if it was because there was actually smoke. 

You vaguely heard a commotion and saw the door swing open, but everything around you continued to spin making you feel like throwing up.  You couldn’t throw up in your Auntie’s bedroom!

“Bad! Bad! Bad!”

“Bunny?  Sweetie, what’s going on?”

You could hear your Aunty Lessi’s voice and feel her presence, but the only word you could think was ‘BAD’.

“Bad! Bad! Bad!”

The word kept falling from your lips and you continued to stomp and hit and scratch.

“Okay, Bun.  I’m going pick you up so you stop hurting yourself sweetie.  I need to make you nice and safe, alright?”

Again, you heard your Aunty but all you could think was ‘BAD’.

“Bad! Bad! Bad!”

Carefully you felt your Aunty wrap her arms around you, trapping your arms and lifting you off the ground.  You struggled as your body fought to keep hitting and scratching and stomping, but she gently tugged your hands away from your neck and head, tucking them tightly against her chest.

“You’re okay, lovely.  You’re safe, I promise.  It’s just you, me and Aunty Leah here okay.  Nothing bad is going to happen alright?  We’re safe.  You’re safe.  Everything’s okay…”

“Bad. Bad. Bad.”

“What do you mean by bad, Bun?” Aunty Lessi asked.

You shook your head, unable to explain yourself.  All you could say was “bad.”

“Oh sweetie, you haven’t done anything bad.  You’re not in any kind of trouble.  I promise.  And nothing bad is going to happen either, okay?” she whispered.

You began to slowly unclench in her arms, comforted by the soothing way she was swaying gently.  Eventually you opened your eyes to see your Aunty Leah standing in the doorway watching on, her face red and blotchy as though she’d been crying.

You immediately came back into your body, realising whatever you’d just done had upset your Aunty Leah.  You tried to wriggle slightly to free yourself from your Aunty Lessi’s grip, but she tightened her hold.

“Not yet sweetie.  I need to what’s going on?  What happened?” she asked, sitting down on the edge of the bed with you in her lap.

“I’m sorry, I’m so so sorry.  I didn’t mean to be bad and upset Aunty Leah.  I’m so sorry.  I promise I’ll be good.  I promise.”

“Darling, you didn’t upset me” your Aunty Leah assured you as she came over to sit next to Aunty Lessi on the bed.

“But your face is blotchy like you’ve been crying” you replied, your Aunty Lessi finally loosening her grip on her as your reached toward Aunty Leah.

“Well, it’s because I have been, but it’s not because you upset me.  I’m just worried about you is all.  Why were you hurting yourself?” she asked, taking your hand in hers.

“I just had to.  I don’t know.  I just did.  I was bad.”  You jumped off Aunty Lessi’s lap and started pacing on the floor in front of her and Aunty Leah.   “I woke up in this bed and I had no idea why I was in your bed and all I could think was ‘bad’ and I just did it without realising.”

“I washed your sheets and they’re in the dryer.  So, when you fell asleep on the loungeroom floor, I just put you in here for your nap.  I didn’t mean for it to upset you so much, sweetie,” Aunty Leah explained, tears still rolling down her cheeks.

“You didn’t upset me, I just I don’t want you and Aunty Lessi and Lemonade to die too!”

You heard your Aunties gasp at your explanation, but you just kept pacing, trying to figure out a way to stop the inevitable from happening.

“Bunny, oh my goodness, why would Aunty Leah and Lemonade and I die because you had a nap in our bed?”

“Because that’s what happened when I slept in Mummy and Daddy’s bed!”

You watched as your Aunties exchanged a series of looks.  The seemed confused and shocked, which was confusing and shocking to you, because it all seemed so obvious.

“Darling, your Mummy and Daddy didn’t die because you slept in their bed,” Aunty Leah tried to tell you.

“Yes, they did!  They did.  They DID!  I know they did!  It’s the only thing different I did that night from all the other nights.  I had done so so good all summer getting into my big girl routine and kept it up really well for the first couple of weeks of school.  But then… then I slipped up, and I was bad and I asked to sleep in bed with Mummy and Daddy that night.  And and th- the fire happened.  And if I had of been in my own room, I could have got myself out.  Because we’d practiced.  Daddy made sure we practiced.  And and and then… then Da-Daddy wouldn’t have needed to get me out and he could have helped Mummy because of her leg.  And they could have got out too.  But I was bad.  I slept in a bed that wasn’t mine.  When I should have just slept in my own bed, like a good girl.  Like a big girl.  And now they’re dead.  They’re both dead.  And it’s my fault.  And now what if you die too!?”

[starsjulia]

angel chapter one // calm before the storm

leah williamson x child!reader

masterlist

a/n : my first chapter in this little series i’ve been working on, decided to make the first one a short and sweet one, though i fear that’s going to change

warnings : none!

Leah Williamson stood at the edge of the football pitch, her boots planted firmly in the grass as she watched her daughter run across the field, her little legs pumping with all the energy she could muster. Five-year-old Angel was a bundle of life and laughter, her golden curls bouncing with every step. Dressed in a miniature version of her mum’s Arsenal jersey, with “Angel” printed across the back, she was the perfect embodiment of joy, brightening the world around her. Leah had made sure to get her a headband that matched her own, knowing that Angel loved to imitate everything her mum did.

“Mummy, Muma, watch this!” Angel called, her voice high and bright, echoing across the field. She kicked a small ball toward the goalposts, her concentration etched on her face. It wasn’t much of a kick, but it was enough to make Leah’s heart swell with pride. Angel had recently discovered the thrill of scoring a goal, even if it was just a soft tap against the grass.

“I’m watching, love! That was amazing!” Leah cheered, clapping her hands and glancing over at her teammates, who had gathered on the sidelines after their training session. The Arsenal Women’s team had become accustomed to Angel’s presence at the pitch; she had become their little mascot, the team’s ray of sunshine.

“She’s gets better every time,” Vivianne Miedema said, leaning against the fence with a fond smile on her face. The sun was beginning to dip lower in the sky, casting a warm glow over the pitch. “You’ll have her in the academy soon, Leah.”

Leah grinned, brushing a stray hair behind her ear. “Hell yeah, she’s already talking about playing for Arsenal one day,” she replied, her voice tinged with a mother’s boundless hope. “She’s got her head set on the Emirates.”

“Just like her mum,” Katie teased, giving Leah’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. The bond between the players was strong, forged through years of teamwork and shared dreams. They often joked that Leah was the team’s backbone, holding them together on and off the pitch. But today, it felt as if Angel was the glue binding everyone with her radiant spirit.

The other Arsenal players treated Angel like their own little sister. Leah’s best friend, Lia, always kept a stash of Angel’s favorite candies in their bags, while Lisa patiently taught her new tricks with the football whenever she came to practice. Every time Leah looked over at her daughter, she felt a wave of warmth wash over her. Angel had even started calling some of the players by the nicknames they used for each other. “Auntie Wally” was a regular visitor at Leah and Angel’s house, often coming over for dinners that inevitably turned into long evenings of cartoons and laughter.

“Can I try again?” Angel asked, running back to Leah with a determined glint in her eyes. Leah nodded, her heart swelling as she watched Angel’s tiny feet stampede back toward the goal. She stood tall, arms crossed, as if she were preparing for battle. Leah had never seen anyone so fiercely competitive, even at such a young age.

“Go on, Angel! You’ve got this!” Leah shouted, the words echoing off the surrounding buildings.

Angel took a deep breath, her face scrunching in concentration, and then charged forward. With a swift kick, she sent the ball sailing toward the net, where it rolled gently against the post and stopped just shy of the goal line. A chorus of cheers erupted from Leah’s teammates, and Leah couldn’t help but join in, clapping her hands and laughing.

“You were so close! That was really good baby”

“I can do it, Mummy! I just need to practice more!” Angel declared, her blue eyes sparkling with determination.

Leah planted a kiss on her daughter’s cheek. “That’s the spirit! You keep practicing, and soon you’ll be scoring goals for Arsenal!”

As they made their way off the pitch, Leah looked around, noticing the faded lines painted on the grass, the worn-out goalposts that had seen countless games, and the crisp, cool air that carried the promise of another beautiful day. This was their sanctuary, a place where Leah had spent countless hours honing her skills and nurturing her passion. And now, it was also Angel’s playground.

“Can we get please ice cream?” Angel asked, her voice bubbling with excitement.

“Sure sweet! Anything for my little champion,” Leah replied, laughing as she turned to the counter. They ordered their ice creams and found a cozy table by the window, sunlight streaming in and illuminating Angel’s face.

As they sat together, indulging in their sweet treats, Leah couldn’t shake the feeling of contentment. It was moments like this that made all the hard work worth it. She watched Angel, who was animatedly describing her favorite parts of the day—the goal attempts, the cheering teammates, and her plans for the future.

“Mummy, when I grow up, can I play for Arsenal and wear your number?” Angel asked, her eyes gleaming with admiration.

“I know you will, love” Leah explained, her heart swelling with pride.

“I’ll be the best player ever! And I’ll help my friends, just like you do!” Angel declared, her little voice brimming with determination.

As Leah listened to her daughter, she felt a sense of hope that made her heart soar. She promised herself that no matter what challenges lay ahead, she would be there for Angel, nurturing her dreams and instilling in her the strength to pursue them.

But as the sun began to set, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, Leah couldn’t help but feel a flicker of unease. She wanted to protect Angel from any pain or hardship that life might throw their way. In that moment, she made a silent vow to be the strongest mother she could be, no matter what challenges lay ahead.

With ice cream smeared across their faces and laughter ringing in the air, Leah and Angel left the shop, hand in hand, ready to embrace whatever adventures awaited them. Even if they would be the toughest either would have to face.

[lvnleah]

could you please write a hc of mcfoord toddler maybe like readers first day of preschool and she gets hurt?

Tiny scrapes | Caitlin Foord x Katie McCabe.

word count: 700

Your morning started like any other, waking up to the soft sounds of your mums moving around the house. Caitlin was already in the kitchen, making you your favourite breakfast—pancakes with a little bit of syrup. You sat in your chair, still a little sleepy, as Mummy smiled at you.

“Ready for a big day at preschool, kiddo?” she asked, handing you a plate.

You nodded your head, “Mhm! I can’t wait to see all my friends.”

Katie came in a moment later, her hair still damp from her shower. She ruffled your hair as she sat beside you with her own plate of breakfast.

“It’s going to be a good day, kid. We’ll pick you up after training, so be good for your teachers, alright?” she said. You nodded eagerly between bites of pancake.

Once breakfast was done, Caitlin helped you get dressed and into your coat while Katie grabbed your backpack. The three of you headed out the door, and as always, you held both of their hands.

The drive to preschool was filled with the usual chatter. Caitlin asked you what you wanted to do today at school, and you told her about the swings and how you were going to be the fastest runner.

Katie laughed, “That’s my girl, the fastest runner on the playground.”

When you arrived at preschool, Caitlin knelt down to kiss your cheek. “Be good, little one,” she said, her voice soft as she hugged you tight.

Katie did the same, giving you a quick kiss on the top of your head. “We’ll see you later, kiddo. Have fun!”

The day started like any other at preschool. You played with your friends, built towers with blocks, and sang songs during circle time. Everything was going well until it was time to go outside for a break.

The playground was your favourite, and you were ready to show everyone how fast you could run. You darted around, pretending to be a superhero, your cape (which was really just a coat) flapping behind you.

But as you ran toward the swings, your foot caught on a tree root you hadn’t seen. Before you could stop yourself, you tumbled forward, landing hard on your hands and knees. The sting of the fall hit you all at once. You looked down at your knee, seeing a scrape with a bit of blood, and tears sprang to your eyes.

Your teacher rushed over, helping you up and giving you a comforting hug. “It’s okay. Let’s go inside and clean that up.”

But it hurt, and all you could think about was wanting Caitlin and Katie. The teacher called them, and while you waited, she gave you some ice and a drink, but nothing felt right.

Not long after, Caitlin and Katie arrived. They both came rushing in, eyes full of worry. Caitlin was the first to scoop you into her arms.

“Aw, sweetheart, what happened?” she asked, kissing your head as she held you close. Her voice was gentle, but you could hear the concern.

“Fell over,” you mumbled, sniffling a little, “Knee hurts, Mummy.”

Katie crouched beside you, looking at your knee with a frown. “Ach, that looks like it hurts,” she said “We’ll get you home, get that all cleaned up, eh?.”

Katie carried you out to the car, holding you tight as you rested your head against her shoulder. Once you were in the car, Caitlin kept a close eye on you from the front seat, turning around every few minutes to check if you were alright.

Instead of going home, though, they took you to the training ground. You were feeling a little better now that you were with them, but your knee still hurt. When you got there, Caitlin and Katie took you straight to the medical room. The team’s medic was gentle, cleaning your knee while Caitlin kept you distracted.

Katie held your hand the whole time, “You’re a tough one, aren’t ya, kiddo?” she said with a smile. “Braver than most of the players, eh!”

Once your knee was bandaged up and you’d had a big cuddle from both of them, you felt much better. Your bear even got his own little bandage while you got a little crayon plaster.

Caitlin kissed your forehead. “There’s my brave girl,” she said proudly. “How about you stay here with us and watch training?”

So, for the rest of the day, you sat on the sidelines with a snack in hand, cheering whenever Caitlin or Katie did something amazing to you on the field. Caitlin would give you a wave every time she looked your way, and Katie always made sure to pull funny faces at you when she ran past.

By the end of the day, you’d forgotten all about your scraped knee. You had your Mummy and Mama with you, and that made everything better.

[insomniakisses]

alphas beth and viv with pup reader when she joins arsenal hcs pls?

-🩷

Moon, Mama and Pa

Warnings/Notes: Changed it from HCs to a little Hc / Drabble about living with them for Moon & Sunshine day. Omegaverse au, Alpha Beth x pup!reader, omega viv x pup!reader, Found family, pup!reader / child!reader

Moving in with Beth and Viv, had seamed daunting. Terrifying even. At least until you actually got there. The house was homely and welcoming just like its occupants. They showed you to the spare room the second they’d brought you back from that hell hole you called an apartment.

Beth had started dinner when you all got in, stating judging by the state of your fridge you needed proper food. Viv took you on a mini tour, stating that the spare room was yours now for as long as you wanted it and that you could all look for some decorations to make it more homely.

You were overwhelmed, truthfully, you never expected to be shown such kindness from strangers. Sure, they were your teammates but that didn’t mean that they were necessarily required to help.

Sure enough, by the end of the week you had gone shopping and picked out a few things with Viv. She was someone you found yourself gravitating to. She felt the same about you. It was strange, Beth was usually the friendlier on, always making friends and drawing people in. And you did like Beth. It was hard not to, but with Viv it was different. The immediate sense of family you had with her was unmatched.

You had found a home with them, with the whole team really but Beth and Viv took on the  most motherly roles with you.

Waking you up before training with food and forehead kisses, driving you to the training grounds, always carrying your favourite snacks and always so aware of how you were feeling.

It started as a little inside joke with you and the 3 that Viv was like a dad, she really did act like one even down to the dad jokes and mannerisms. But then the longer you stayed with them the more she felt like an actual parent.

The teasing “Alright dad” followed by a playful eye roll was soon replaced with a soft “okay, Pa” and a kiss to her cheek as you scurried of to do who knows what with Kyra.

The term was the Dutch word for “dad” and it had her routed to the spot mouth open slightly, Beth cooed beside her girlfriend giving her a soft shoulder squeeze when Viv’s eyes watered. Her soft murmurs of “pup….my pup… My pup..” making Beth melt.

The next time Viv saw you was at home, you having gotten a lift from Steph, and the second you entered the lounge you were pulled into a bone crushing hug from your Pa.

You couldn’t help but giggle, trying to wiggle free to no avail and you might have escaped if you hadn’t let a yell of “Mama help me!” escape followed by reaching for Beth.

Because now you had another set of strong arms encasing you as you were pulled to the couch. Forced to sit between a Mama and Pa sandwich getting face kisses and your head nuzzled.

A parental scenting ritual that relaxed you immediately soft pup purrs escaping as you grew tired, barely registering Beth tell you to sleep and that Mama and Pa would be there when you awoke.

After that the nicknames became common place, you were home with your parents, and you’d never felt happier and safer. And OFC they bragged that they got nicknames first.

[greynatomy]

part 4/7 of life of baby preath! also the video is so cute, something tobin would do for her kid.

hope you like it!

-grey

———

163,838 likes

tobinheath gotta start em young! @/christenpress

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fan1 baby preath will be read for the world cup in no time!

fan2 do you think she’ll be a winger or a forward?

↳ fan3 winger for sure. You see that footwork?

christenpress i didn’t even know you started this when she was barely out my womb

↳ tobinheath gotta keep some secrets from mommy

liked by tobinheath, alexmorgan and 162,840 others

christenpress think we got a future soccer star? @/tobinheath

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fan1 this baby gonna have the best footwork and scoring abilities

fan2 imagine your parents being christen press and tobin heath

tobinheath pretty positive we do!

[pixiesfz]

does anybody have any head cannons for sunshine they think she would have (sunshine is my Steph Catley x child series)

[reminiscingtonight]

The Bet

Leah Williamson x Stanway!Reader

Word Count: 769

[WOSO Masterlist]

“So like… do you hate me or something?”

It’s six am on a Wednesday morning and you’re definitely not awake enough to be having this conversation. But be it as it may, Leah’s taken it upon herself to drag you to some cafe close to your place for your pre-game breakfast tradition.

Ever since you began dating, if Leah had a game coming up, the two of you would go grab a bite to eat in the morning. 

And usually everything is great. You and Leah will have a quick catch up as if you don’t spend every second of every minute together, and you’ll pretend to be interested when Leah begins talking about football. 

But it’s six in the morning and you’ve barely even sat down before Leah is glaring at you as if you woke up this morning with the sole purpose of offending her. 

“Why in the world are you wearing a Bayern jersey?” The disgust in her voice is palpable and you have to resist the urge to roll your eyes. 

“You mean my sister’s jersey?”

“A Bayern jersey,” she repeats. If you stare hard enough you’d swear you can see her shudder at the name of the other team. 

“Your best friend’s jersey,” you shoot back, paying Leah no mind as you browse the menu.

Leah’s eye twitches. “Bayern. Jersey. Where is the girlfriend loyalty?”

Sometimes you wonder how the stubborn person sitting in front of you is best friends with your sister. Leah may be stoic and the captain of the national team, but then you remember that she’s also equal parts a child at heart as your sister. The countless pranks Georgia and Leah have pulled on you when the three of you were growing up is a testament to that, and it’s a miracle why you ever decided to give Leah a chance. 

“Babe, she won the bet. And a Stanway promise is a Stanway promise.”

“Georgia isn’t even here right now!” Leah whines, a second away from banging her head on the table. 

Georgia and Leah have always been competitive. And the second you started dating Leah meant their bets extended to you. If Leah won a game? You were dressed up as a living memento of all things Arsenal. If Georgia won a game, you’d be forced to wear nothing but the colors of her club for days to come. The stakes only go up higher when the two of them have a match against each other. 

Since Bayern won the last game, Georgia smugly told you to wear her jersey at the second leg game tonight. You were never one to back down from a challenge, so on the jersey went. Leah spent days trying to convince you to cut up the jersey, or let her accidentally place it in the washer, but you were unmoved. You might not be a Bayern fan at heart, but you’ll always support your sister, and damaging your Stanway jersey would be grounds for a break up.

“Can you at least, I dunno, cover it up or something?” Leah groans, waving her hand around your top as if staring at it any longer will cause her to melt to the ground,

“You are a child,” you sigh, doing nothing of the such. 

“We’re getting looks from people around!”

You roll your eyes. The barista had taken one look at your jersey and then your girlfriend before smirking. You’re regulars at this place and even they are attuned to the fragility of your girlfriend’s ego. 

“Eat your toast, darling.”

Breakfast carries on in silence, and it isn’t until the third time you catch Leah’s pout that you break. 

“Will it make you feel better if I wear an Arsenal beanie?”

Leah perks up a bit before she realizes you mean paired with your Stanway jersey. “No.”

“Babe, it’s the Arsenal beanie or nothing.”

“How ‘bout nothing? I quite like the look of you dressed up in nothing.” Leah giggles and jerks backward when you reach across the table to punch her shoulder.

“Nothing but the Bayern jersey,” you deadpan, internally laughing at the way Leah’s face instantly falls. 

“How about this. You win the game tonight and I’ll wear nothing but the Arsenal jersey.”

It takes a second for the words to register. Leah blinks, mouth dropping open a bit. 

“And the red lace you love.”

You laugh when Leah’s up in an instant, ushering you towards the door like a woman on a mission.

“No time to waste, babe, gotta get to the Colney and train so I’m ready to win tonight.”

[leahsgf]

DISTANCE II - mcfoord

mcfoord x child!reader | sometimes things work out

read part one here

-

“i’ll figure something out, promise”

the irish woman smiled softly in response to her girlfriend’s words, but she knew deep down that it would be unlikely, as much as she’d love to believe it. flights from australia weren’t typically what you’d think of when you heard of last minute, impromptu plans - and caitlin still had her own international duties to carry out, being without a doubt a pivotal player for the matildas.

despite the call helping your mood massively, the hours and that days that followed it were even worse than before, you demanding to ‘see mumma’ constantly, and simply not understanding the concept of sleeping, or time difference.

-

after about four days of little to no sleep, it’s safe to say you were both pretty close to losing it.

katie had spent most of the evening busying herself with packing for the next days’ training, making the absolute most of you finally being somewhat content for a brief moment - finding much joy in scribbling in your colouring pad, and also trying to distract her mind from spiralling ever so slightly.

she was incredibly worried about you, but alongside that was just simply exhausted. you hadn’t slept properly the entire time you’d been stuck in this hotel, and if you had it was flat on top of her (almost directly on her face, making it impossible for her to rest even for a second)

and when you were awake you were miserable, crying or throwing a fit over things you never usually did - like her putting socks on you, or even just looking at you ‘in the wrong way.’

above all else, she missed caitlin, more than anything. arguably even more than you - it just wasn’t socially acceptable for a twenty nine year old woman to kick and scream over not wanting to put a shirt on because of how much she did.

she struggled with long distance usually anyway, being a major home body - and you were typically her distraction, though right now you were quite the opposite.

and as much as the facetime calls helped you both, hanging up just brought her back to reality, and made her feel even sadder than before.

a sharp knock at the door broke her from her train of sorrows thoughts, standing to answer it with a sigh, assuming it would be a teammate wanting to talk over tactics, or even better, some kind of god coming to save the day.

turns out, she wasn’t too far from right.

“here sweetheart, i’ll be right back, kay?” she murmured softly, ruffling your hair and wrapping you in a blanket, figuring that you should probably be covered than more than just a nappy in front of whatever unsuspecting visitor was on the other side of the door.

when she opened it however, she realised that she was in fact the unsuspecting one, freezing in shock.

“what the fu- cait?” she gasped, her eyes widening.

“surprise?” the australian grinned in response, suitcase stood next to her. “spoke to the staff and managed to sort things out so i could catch the next flight to you. they can do without me for some friendlies” she shrugged, chuckling softly as she’s pulled into her girlfriend’s arms.

“you, caitlin foord, are unbelievable” katie breathed in pure relief, her body physically relaxing, almost slumping into her hold.

“now, where’s my little monster then?” caitlin broke the moment of silence, peeking over the brunette’s shoulder.

katie stepped aside in response, chuckling in disbelief, gesturing inside and in the direction of the bed. “go see for yourself.”

you were so invested in your colouring, and being grumpy - your back facing the door, that you didn’t notice her entering.

“hey pudding” she spoke, so softly it was almost a whisper, but your head snapped up as if she had shouted.

“mumma”

caitlin opened her arms just in enough time for you to launch yourself off the bed and into them, with an alarming amount of strength for a toddler. you clung to her like a koala, burying your face in her neck and letting out a string of happy squeals and babbles - being by far the happiest katie had seen you in days.

“you came back!” you said, voice muffled against her shoulder - your speech still being at the stage where it was just about understandable, but your two mothers understanding you perfectly every time.

“of course i did silly girl” she tickled you, kissing the top of your head softly. “i missed you, my baby”

katie leaned against the wall, still by the door, watching the two of you, her girls, with a loving smile, the weight she’d been carrying for days finally beginning to lift.

the night drew in with the three of you curled up in the duvet of the hotel bed that had been the centre of all the weeks chaos - you nestled snugly in between your parents, having crashed out almost immediately after the initial excitement wore off.

katie and caitlin exchanged a look over your head, a silent agreement that nothing - no crazy schedules, no distance, would ever keep their little family apart like that for too long, ever again.

-

i have indeed not proof read this as i just got back from work and promised you all an update….enjoy

[woso-dreamzzz]

Melting Pot III

Alexia Putellas x Child!Reader

Jenni Hermoso x Child!Reader

woso-dreamzzz Kids x Child!Reader (Bambi)

Summary: The weight of responsibility

You have three siblings.

(But Mami is thinking about adding another soon).

Only one is a boy.

He's the youngest, still a baby. His name is Jaume and Mami had him with her new girlfriend.

The next youngest is Osita. Mama had her after the breakup with Mami and two failed pregnancies before her.

You are the oldest but not by a lot.

Pequeñita is your twin, younger than you by not very long at all.

Mami says Pequeñita needs help sometimes. Even though you are twins, Pequeñita is different to you. She needs help with certain things. Mami says accommodations need to be made for her because of the way things affect her.

Osita is similar, you think but not the same. You asked Mama once if Osita had the same thing as Pequeñita did but she doesn't. Osita is similar to Pequeñita but in a different way.

Your sisters get a lot of attention because they need it. Your brother gets a lot of attention too.

You don't need it as much.

You are a big girl. You are independent. You don't need much. You do well on your own.

You think you are made to be on your own.

But then your twin slips her hand into yours when you walk to school and your youngest sister drags you over to her plushie collection and your brother toddles towards you when you come through the door.

You don't need much attention. You don't need it like Pequeñita and Osita do. You are happy with your trains, shepherded into the corner of the room to play while Jaume demonstrates his walking abilities.

You are not the biggest at school. You are not the loudest like Tia Mapi's girls are. You are not the most popular girl either, not like the Williamson girls or the new Swedish girl.

You are just you and you can't understand why anyone would care too much about you.

You think you must be made to be alone but every time you think that, you're reminded that you aren't.

You aren't made to be alone because you didn't come into this world alone.

You have always been a part of a pair.

"Alright girls," Alexia says softly to you, zipping up your jacket all the way up to your chin," Have you got everything?"

Pequeñita nods, her backpack secure on her back.

You don't respond, just staring off into space again.

But then Pequeñita slips her hand into yours and you look at her again, clarity coming back into your eyes.

She smiles to you, like a mirror image of something you can never be.

You smile back though because Pequeñita is your twin and you love her.

Pequeñita is not at fault for all the things that swirl in your heart. You came into the world with your twin. You don't know how you could cope with it all if she wasn't be your side.

Sometimes, you feel like you're being forced down a river, the rapids beating you around as you float down to somewhere unknown. Sometimes you feel like you can think of nothing but the whirlpool that is forcing your head under the tides but then there's a little hand pulling you out.

A little hand pulling you up onto the raft and there's a familiar mirror image of yourself looking back at you.

Pequeñita understands you like you don't think anyone else can understand you. But Pequeñita is where all your icky feelings started to spark.

You pull your hand from hers as Alexia helps you into the car.

You don't glance at the shocked look on your twin's face as you turn away from her, slipping off from the safety of the raft.

Alexia can see you in the rear view mirror. You've been having episodes like this a lot lately, turning away from all comfort, even from Pequeñita.

She'd hoped your weekend spent with Jenni and Osita would brighten you up but you'd returned even more sullen and quiet and nothing she tried to do helped.

it's a mystery as to what's going on and you refuse to give her even an inch to work with.

"Are those my girls?"

Jenni's opened the car door before Alexia's even had the time to turn the car off.

"Hi, Mama!" Pequeñita says, unbuckling her seatbelt and shuffling over so Jenni can help her out. "Hi, Osita!"

Osita waves.

You sit in the car though, even when Jenni's unbuckled your seatbelt. You just stay there, staring out of your window.

Jenni runs her finger over your cheek and you finally look at her, tearing your eyes away from the outside.

"Hey, you," She laughs," I don't get a kiss and a cuddle?"

You're tense as you give her what she asks for before slipping out of the car.

Alexia purses her lips as you and your sisters walk ahead on the short trip up the road to the front gate.

Jenni's frowning.

"Did something happen this morning?" She asks," Bambi isn't..."

"I don't know," Alexia admits," She's just having one of her moments again."

Jenni stares at the back of your head, the way you're slighting curled into yourself, the way you're not touching either of your sisters.

They're talking, voices carrying across the road.

But you're not.

You stay silent.

"Pequeñita!" Alexia calls," Come here!"

"Osita!" Jenni calls as well," Wait a minute!"

All three of you were about to go and line up with your classes without saying goodbye.

Pequeñita and Osita shuffle back towards them but you stay by yourself at the gate, staring longingly at the school building.

You don't cross the gate but you don't go back to your mothers either.

You just wait there.

Pequeñita and Osita get smothered in kisses and cuddles and reminders to be good and to eat all their lunch.

Alexia's hand lands on your shoulder. "You look after your sisters, alright? You know they need a little help sometimes."

You nod.

"You're a good big sister," She tells you.

You shrug her hand off your shoulder and accept the hair ruffle Jenni gives you.

You are the one in charge when you cross the threshold of the gate.

You take Osita to her class' line.

You take Pequeñita to the line you share.

She slips her hand into yours. You stare at it, little brow furrowed in confusion.

You spare a glance over at Tia Mapi's daughters. They have the other set of twins in the school.

Bebita and Skatt are twins but they don't seem to be like you and Pequeñita. You're not sure how they are different but they are.

Bebita is not in charge of Skatt like you are in charge of Pequeñita. Cub is not in charge of Sunshine and Teeny like you are of Osita.

Bebita is the oldest twin and Cub is the oldest daughter. You fill both of those roles in your family and, yet, they do not fill their roles like you do.

Their sisters don't need help like yours do.

You suppose it should make you happy that you are responsible enough to look after your sister. You suppose you should feel important but you don't.

You don't think you're important at all.

Sometimes, when you push yourself off the raft Pequeñita has made for you, you feel fragile. As the waves batter you, you can feel yourself cracking, like you're a piece of glass.

The waves crash and crash against you and you fracture in every place you can think of, right down to your very core.

Pequeñita is your twin and you love her. Osita is your little sister. You love her too.

But sometimes you wish that it was just you.

You came into the world with a pair, a mirror image that's not really a mirror.

But you've always been built to be alone.

Pequeñita's hand is in yours.

You pull away from her, walking to the front of the line, leaving her behind.

[etherealstar-writes]

I WANNA BE YOURS | WOSO X READER | PT 17

pairings: woso x reader

summary: in which you're accidentally added to a random group chat, not knowing they're all actually famous footballers, and obliviously end up having many of them competing for your love and attention.

part: seventeen

part one here

✦ ——— ✦ ——— ✦

Y/N PROTECTION SQUAD

lotte has anyone checked on y/n lately?

lessi no why? what's up

lotte i feel like she's been trying to ignore us and the groupchat is quite dead that itself should be ringing some bells

niamh last time i saw her was when we went to nandos together a week ago but i could tell she was feeling a bit down, and these past few days she keeps saying she's busy or tired whenever i try to make plans with her

charli same here

leah wait you guys went to nandos again?!

steph that's what's concerning you the most rn omg? nandos? and not my child?

kyra i think we should revoke leah's privileges to be in this chat tbh raise your hand if you agree ✋

niamh ✋

lotte ✋

lessi ✋

charli ✋

katie ✋

steph ✋

georgia ✋

ona ✋

ella ✋

viv ✋

leah EXCUSE ME?! ALSO SINCE WHEN WAS VIV PART OF THIS GC?!

kyra see that just shows how uninvested leah is in this gc she isn't worthy to be part of the y/n protection squad

leah kyra istg you're gonna catch these hands the next time i see you

steph oi you won't lay a hand on my children not on my watch, williamson

kyra thank you mum 🥰

the REAL karate kid guys have we noticed that y/n's disabled comments on all her posts lately?

viv the fans and media can be quite toxic i won't be surprised if they caught up to her

niamh sent a few screenshots

kyra oh.

lotte no wonder she's been trying to avoid us she's most definitely seen all those tweets

katie i'm gonna fight em 😈

kyra i'm joining you 😈

niamh count me in 😈

georgia me too 😈

lotte guess i'll see you all on the battlefield

steph the battlefied it is

✦ ——— ✦ ——— ✦

THE NATIONAL DIVING TEAM

brightness why are we at war in twitter rn

sam the skippa HELP this is so entertaining

rusty metal @ the imposter aka y/n ❤️

meado y/n you need to see this

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ what is happening

mccard y/n protection army reporting for duty

meado

willybum DAMN YES STEPH

rusty metal i need more popcorn for this

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ stop you guys tysm i'm crying

the REAL karate kid you see those are the more .... civilised ones and then there's kyra's ones

pest don't be shy show em 😈

the REAL karate kid

willybum KYRA 😭😭

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ thank you kyra 😈

pest you're very welcome y/n 😈

kie ONA WHO TAUGHT YOU THIS 😭😭

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ PLS IM SO PROUD OF YOU ILYSM HAHAHA

pest our teachings have paid off

ona they sure have pookie 😈

rusty metal STOP 😭😭 you two are banned from teaching her slang

pest it's not our fault you're a grandma

the imposter aka y/n ❤️ okay but genuinely thank you so much everyone you guys really didn't have to back me up there but it truly means a lot to have your support i love you all so much 🥺😭❤️🙏

pest we love ya too y/n ❤️

mccard ❤️

stephy ❤️

neev ❤️

cha cha ❤️

elton ❤️

meado ❤️

viv ❤️

ona ❤️

rusty metal ❤️

the REAL karate kid ❤️

stairway ❤️

willybum ❤️

✦ ——— ✦ ——— ✦

[starsjulia]

angel chapter two // the diagnosis

leah williamson x child!reader

masterlist

a/n : all the chapters are around 1000 words, so sorry about that, but i have a few longer ones in the works

warnings : medical talk, medical equipment, cancer, brain tumor, the whole lot honestly

The headaches had started out as a minor annoyance—nothing more than the occasional discomfort that Leah thought was part of growing up. Angel would clutch her head with a little frown, but a bit of rest seemed to do the trick each time. Leah told herself it was nothing serious, just the tiredness of a child who loved to do everything at full speed. Angel was always running, always laughing, always eager to squeeze every last drop out of each day. But then came the dizziness.

It happened one morning when Leah was making breakfast. She’d turned away for just a moment to flip a pancake when she heard the soft thud behind her. Spinning around, she saw Angel sitting on the kitchen floor, a look of confusion in her big blue eyes.

“What happened, darling?” Leah asked, rushing over to scoop her daughter up, her heart beating just a little faster than normal.

“I don’t know,” Angel replied, rubbing her forehead. “I just felt… funny.” She shrugged, then nestled closer to her mum, as if trying to brush off the incident.

Leah held Angel close, her fingers running through the little girl’s curls. “You’re okay, love,” she murmured, though a twinge of worry had already begun to creep in. “Maybe you just stood up too fast.”

But over the next few days, the headaches grew more frequent, and sometimes Angel would complain of her vision going blurry. It wasn’t like her to be so quiet or tired, not when she usually sprang out of bed at the crack of dawn. One day after practice, Angel had even fallen asleep on the bench at the pitch—a place she would normally be buzzing with excitement.

Leah knew then that it was time to stop brushing it off. She scheduled an appointment with their family doctor, trying to stay calm as she explained the symptoms. They ran some tests, but when the results came back inconclusive, the doctor recommended a specialist to look deeper. Leah did her best to stay positive, to keep her voice steady as she reassured Angel that it was all just a check-up.

The specialist ordered an MRI, a word that sounded far too serious to Leah. Still, she kept a smile on her face, one that grew tighter as she watched her little girl lay inside the noisy machine. Angel’s tiny frame seemed to disappear beneath the vast, cold metal, and for the first time, Leah felt truly afraid. She didn’t know why yet, didn’t even know if she had any reason to be. But a mother’s instinct is powerful, and something deep in her chest tightened painfully.

The call came just two days later. Leah had been folding the washing when the phone rang, the number flashing on the screen a reminder of the doctor’s visit she’d tried not to think too much about. The doctor’s voice was gentle but strained, and in just a few words, Leah’s world cracked open.

“Miss Williamson… we found a tumor on Angel’s brain. It’s… it’s quite large. We’ll need to start treatment immediately.”

The rest of the conversation was a blur—a jumble of medical jargon, treatment plans, and reassurances that Leah could hardly process. All she could think about was that one word: tumor. It lodged itself in her mind, refusing to budge, as she sank onto the floor, the phone slipping from her hand. It felt like the room was closing in around her, the walls pressing tighter and tighter until she could hardly breathe.

How was she supposed to tell Angel? Her sweet, brave little girl, who didn’t even know what cancer was, let alone that she was about to start a fight for her life.

Leah had to pull herself together. Angel was due home from school in half an hour, and she needed to be the strong one now. She needed to find a way to explain this without shattering the world Angel knew.

When Angel came through the door, her backpack bouncing on her tiny shoulders, Leah knelt down to greet her, wrapping her in a hug that was perhaps a little too tight.

“Guess what, darling?” Leah said, forcing her voice to stay cheerful as she stroked Angel’s hair. “We’ve got another special appointment soon. The doctors just want to take extra good care of you.”

“Like at the hospital?” Angel asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. “I didn’t like that big noisy machine.”

“I know, love,” Leah whispered, swallowing hard. “But this time it’ll be different. They’ll help make the headaches go away, okay?”

Angel tilted her head, sensing something in her mum’s voice that she couldn’t quite understand. “Will you be with me the whole time?” she asked softly.

“Every single second,” Leah promised, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill over. She wasn’t going to cry—not in front of Angel. “And so will Grandma and Grandpa, and Auntie Wally, and all of your friends from the team. We’re all going to help you feel better.”

Leah wished she could have given her daughter a clearer picture of what was coming next, but how could she? She didn’t even know what lay ahead herself. The doctors spoke of chemotherapy, surgeries, long hospital stays, and possible complications with a clinical detachment that Leah found almost unbearable. Every step of the plan felt like it was filled with a million different ways things could go wrong.

The first round of chemotherapy began two weeks later, and Leah felt a cold, helpless anger build inside her as she watched Angel’s little body endure the harsh treatment. It wasn’t fair that such a young child should have to suffer like this. When Angel lost her appetite, Leah would sit beside her for hours, coaxing her to take just one bite of her favorite pudding. When the nausea hit, Leah would rub Angel’s back and whisper soothing words, trying to comfort her in ways that didn’t seem enough.

Still, Angel showed a strength that took Leah’s breath away. Even on the days when she was too tired to get out of bed, she would look up at Leah with that same bright spark in her eyes, the one that had always made her seem so much older than her years. “We’re gonna beat this, right, Mummy?” she’d say, her voice no louder than a whisper. “Like when we win at football?”

“Yes, love,” Leah would reply, her heart clenching as she kissed Angel’s forehead. “exactly like that.”

After one particularly rough day, Leah found herself sitting in her car outside the hospital, her head resting against the steering wheel as she tried to gather the strength to go back inside. She hated feeling so powerless, hated that no matter how much she loved her daughter, she couldn’t just take this burden from her and bear it herself. For the first time in a long while, Leah allowed herself to cry, her shoulders shaking with the weight of it all.

When she returned to Angel’s room, she found her daughter asleep, clutching the small stuffed lion that Alessia had brought over earlier that week. The toy had been a favorite since it arrived, and Angel had named it “Little Leo” after her mum. Leah sat down in the chair beside the bed and took Angel’s hand in hers, marveling at how small and delicate it seemed. She had once thought of Angel as invincible, her laughter strong enough to ward off any shadow. Now, Leah knew just how fragile and precious life could be.

In that quiet room, with the hum of medical equipment in the background, Leah made a silent promise to herself and to Angel. She would fight for her daughter with everything she had. She would be the rock that Angel needed, no matter how rough the road ahead became. Because that was what a mother did—she protected her child, even if it meant standing firm in the face of the unimaginable.

[lvnleah]

okay sooo I need a little help from you guys! I’m currently planning a few things for Rory and was wondering how would you guys like her to be introduced to the lionesses? is there anything in particular you guys want to see? If so please send me some ideas!

[alotofpockets]

A change of plans | Lotte Wubben-Moy x Reader

5k celebration prompt: "I should've called."

Warnings: foster care, past parental death, mention of drug abuse

Woso masterlist | Words: 3k

-----

Today was your two month anniversary with Lotte. While it was only two months, you wanted to do something special. Usually when the two of you would get together, it was a restaurant or activity. On the rare occasion that you decided to hang out at someone’s place, it had been at Lotte’s. 

That is why you had invited her over for dinner at your place tonight. It was only fair that she got to check out where you lived as well. Your plans were nothing fancy, just cooking a nice meal for her and maybe watching a movie after. Yet, you were buzzing with excitement as you entered the store.

You were walking down the first aisle of the store when your phone rang. “Hi Michelle, it’s been a while.” You say while answering the phone and stepping to the side. “Hey, yeah the only type of call where that is a positive thing.” She jokes.

Michelle was the caseworker at Child Protective Service you had been working with for a few years now. You were a foster parent, and were mainly helping out with emergency placements. 

“I’ve got two kids who need a place to stay. A six month old boy and an eight year old girl. They are siblings, and despite the age difference, I don’t want to split them up. Is there any way you can take them in for a few days?” 

There wasn’t a moment of doubt in your mind, you would never turn down a child in need. “Yeah, of course.” You knew not to ask too many questions about their past, because Michelle would let you know when she would bring over the kids. “I’m at the grocery store right now, so I will pick up some things. Should be back home in about an hour.” 

“Great, thank you. I will grab the kids and pack some of their stuff. We’ll see you in a bit then.” Michelle hung up the phone and you quickly changed your grocery run for dinner into a quick shopping spree for children’s necessities.

You had a few basics at your place like toothbrushes, toiletries, and some toys, but you hadn’t had a baby in a long time. So, you grabbed the necessities for both their ages, knowing that once they were there, you could always get more if needed. 

Once you’ve got everything you thought you needed, you rush back home to get your place ready. Making sure the bedroom is fully set up, getting the toiletries out from the cupboards, and getting the boxes with stuff out for their ages.

Over the years you’ve learned what kids of certain ages like, which was always a huge help in preparing when a new child would arrive. Just as you were making your final touches, the doorbell rang.

You quickly made your way over to the door, but completely froze once you saw Lotte stand on the other side of it. Shit, in your haste you had completely forgotten to call her. Her bright smile faded slowly into confusion when she saw your expression. “You look like you weren’t expecting me. Did I get the time wrong?”

“No no, you’re right on time.” You say after looking at your watch. “I- eh, something came up and I should've called, but I completely forgot.” 

Lotte put her hand on your arm. “It’s alright, take a breath.” She stepped into your home and closed the door behind her. “What’s going on? Is everything alright?” Lotte asked as she pulled you down onto the couch.

“Yes, everything is alright. Just, well. Okay there is something I haven’t told you before.” You started getting nervous now. “I’m a foster parent. Mostly kids who need an emergency placement, so always very last minute. Like today, I got a call that two kids needed a placement, so I was getting everything ready, but I forgot to call you. And I was going to tell you about me being a foster parent. I just haven’t had a placement for a while, so yeah I hadn’t gotten to it yet. I promise I wasn’t trying to hide this from you.”

Finally you allow yourself to look at Lotte, who just looked at you in awe. “Wow, that is such an amazing thing. I fully understand that the rush of getting everything ready for their arrival came with forgetting to call. When are they getting here?”

Before you answer her question, the doorbell rang again. “That must be them.” You say as you make your way to the door again. This time when you open the door it is Michelle. She was holding a baby carrier in one hand and the girl's hand in the other. She was hiding behind Michelle’s legs, trying to observe her surroundings from a safe distance. 

You crouched down to her level. “Hi, my name is y/n and this is Lotte.” You point to where Lotte was sitting on the couch. “I’ve known Michelle for a long time, did she tell you that?” The girl responded with a shake of her head. “When I was about your age, she was my caseworker too. She took really good care of me and helped me find a nice place to live.” The girl slowly stepped away from behind Michelle’s legs. 

“What’s your name, sweetheart?” You asked when she seemed to get more comfortable. “Lauren.” You smiled, “That’s a beautiful name. I have a bedroom for you and your brother, can I show you?” She nodded. “Alright, let me grab your bag, and then we can go upstairs to check it out.”

You take the bag that Michelle is holding out for you. “Thanks Michelle. Oh and this is my girlfriend.” Lotte reached out her hand, “I’m Lotte, nice to meet you.” Michelle shakes it and sets the baby carrier down on the table. “I’m gonna show Lauren her room, but please make yourselves at home.”

After showing Lauren where everything is and placing her things to the side, so she can decide what she wants to do with it, you ask if she wanted to come back downstairs or if she would like to stay in her room. She picks the latter, which was of course fine by you. “Alright, I’ll be downstairs if you need anything, okay?” Lauren nodded, and you took that as your sign to give the girl some space. 

When you came back downstairs, Lotte was gently rocking the baby, and Michelle was sitting on the couch sipping on a cup of coffee. 

As you walked back into the living room, you found Lotte gently rocking the baby. The sight warmed your heart. A calm moment in the not so calm hour or so you’ve had. Lotte looked up and smiled, her soft expression confirming that she was on board with you being a foster parent.

“His name is Levi,” Michelle said, setting her coffee down on the table to grab the kids their file. “Their mom was admitted to the hospital yesterday after an overdose. She’s had a hard time since Lauren’s dad passed a few years ago. Levi’s dad isn’t in the picture, no one on file either. Luckily the kids weren’t home when it happened, but we did tell Lauren that her mom wasn’t doing well.”

You nodded along, it was alway tough to hear what kids had been through, but knowing their background was necessary to take care of them well. “Do you know much about Lauren? What she likes or what might help her feel comfortable?”

“She didn’t speak much on the way over, but I did notice her face light up when we drove past the football stadium.” Michelle answers. “Emirates Stadium?” Lotte questioned. “Yeah, that’s the one!”

You and Lotte share a look. “She’s a football fan,” you say, a smile tugging at the corners of your mouth. “I think we can work with that.”

Content with that knowledge, Michelle stands. “I should get going. I’ll check in tomorrow to see how everything’s going.” She looks at you with a grateful smile. “Thank you again for doing this. And Lotte, it was nice to meet you.” 

You get up and walk her to the door. After discussing a couple more small details, you wave her off and close the door behind her. Just as you were about to turn back into the living room, you heard Lauren creep down the stairs. 

“Hi sweetheart, do you want to come join us?” The girl timidly nods her head. “Awesome, come on. Levi is right in there with Lotte. I will be right there.” You head into the kitchen to grab something to drink for her and yourself before you join them.

You walk back into the living room, drinks in hand, and find Lauren sitting next to Lotte, who is still gently rocking Levi. The sight makes you smile.

“I heard from Michelle that you got excited when you passed Emirates Stadium,” you say, handing Lauren her drink. Her eyes light up slightly, though she remains quiet. “Do you like football?” She nods her head.

“Do you like Arsenal?” She starts smiling wide. Seemingly happy that someone knew about the team. “Yeah.” You smile back at her, glad that you found something that might help her feel more comfortable. “Did you know that Lotte plays for Arsenal?”

The girl's mouth falls open and she moves her eyes towards Lotte. “Really?” Lotte nods, “Yeah, I’m a defender. You recognized the stadium, does that mean you’ve been there before?” 

Lauren nods again, “Yeah, with my daddy. He liked football too. Mommy doesn’t, but sometimes I can watch a game on the tv at my friends house.” It was the most she had spoken so far, but you didn’t want to linger on that too much, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.

“Lotte has a game there tomorrow. Would you like to go and see it at the stadium?” The girl froze with widened eyes, as if she was not expecting to ever go back to the stadium. “Can I?” 

You nodded, “Yeah. We can do whatever you want to do while you’re here with me.” The girl started nodding slowly. “Can I see Arsenal then?” This time Lotte chimed in. “I’ll do you one better. We can head in early, you can meet the whole team.”

With that plan set, Lotte asked if Lauren wanted to kick the ball around in the backyard. Hoping that staying on the topic of football would keep her comfortable. Lauren said yes immediately. Playing with a player from your favourite club, who would say no to that?

Lotte handed Levi to you, and went to her car to grab a ball from the trunk. You had learned by now that Lotte didn’t go anywhere without a football, which you thought was really cute. When she returns and Lauren is excitedly waiting by the backdoor, you mouthed a thank you her way.

While they were out in the backyard, you started making a simple meal in the kitchen. According to Michelle, there weren’t any allergies that they were aware of, so you went with an easy pasta recipe, that most kids you’d had so far, had enjoyed.

After dinner, you brought Levi to bed. Lauren didn’t want to leave him alone in the room, so she asked if she could stay there and continue reading the book she had been reading earlier. One of the books you had laid down on her bedside table earlier. 

Levi was already nodding off, so you said that she could. With her teeth brushed and pajamas on, she laid down into bed, ready for when she was tired. You clicked on the nightlight. “If you need anything, I am going to be right downstairs, okay?” She nodded. “And if I’m asleep, you can also come knocking on my bedroom door. Second door on the left.” When she nodded again, you smiled. “Alright, goodnight sweetheart.” She smiled back, “Goodnight.”

When you get back downstairs, you plop down on the couch next to Lotte. “I am so sorry about the change of plans today. Please let me make it up to you with a redo-date?” Lotte takes your hand in hers. “We can have a redo-date, but only because I want to go on more dates with you, not because we did something different today. While it wasn’t at all what I was expecting when I rang your doorbell, I had a great time.”

“That means a lot honestly. Also, thank you for sticking around. Not just for me, but I think it did Lauren really good. Plus you were so good with Levi, I can’t believe you got him to stop crying instantly.” 

Lotte smiles, “Being a footballer and auntie has its perks. Speaking of Lauren, I texted the girls, some of them are able to come in early and meet with her before the game. I also wanted to ask if it would be okay if I got her a jersey to wear to the match?” 

“Yeah, I think she would love that. Just tell me how much it is, and I’ll pay you back for it.” She quickly shook her head, “No need, I want to get it for her.” It took some convincing, but eventually she got you on the same boat.

Then Lotte got a serious look on her face. “I know we haven’t been together for long, so if you don’t want to talk about this, please let me know. But, you told Lauren that Michelle was your caseworker as well, is that the reason you became a foster parent?”

You sat up straighter before you answered. “Yeah, as a kid I was moved around quite a bit. I had a different caseworker before, but after a couple bad houses, they put Michelle on my case. I know what a bad house is like, and I wanted to do my part in bettering the homes available. Got my license as soon as I was allowed and have been fostering kids ever since.”

Back then you hated talking about foster care. There were homes that ruined your childhood, but eventually Michelle had found you a great home, the home that became your forever home. Now the topic came easier for you, and you didn’t mind talking about it. Not even with Lotte, although you had been nervous about when you were going to have to tell her you were a foster parent, but after how today went, you realised that those nerves weren’t necessary. 

The two of you continued talking until Lotte had to head home. With her match tomorrow, it meant an early night. So, you said your goodbye’s, and would see each other the following day at the Emirates.

The next day when you’re driving up to the Emirates, you see the exact look on Lauren’s face that Michelle had mentioned. You smiled at the moment too, happy to see that despite going through a hard time, she was happy being here.

When you got inside, Lotte greeted you with a gift bag in hand. “I’ve got something for you.” She said to Lauren once she had walked the three of you inside. Lauren looked into the bag and her face lit up again. An Arsenal jersey and a jacket. She asked if she could wear it right away, and Lotte showed her to the bathroom where she could change, while you laid out a blanket for Levi to lay on in the room. 

When Lotte came back with a beaming Lauren, you knew that her day had been made before the match had even begun.

“I was gonna do some doodling before the girls got here, want to join me?” She said, holding out a big piece of paper and some markers. Lauren hesitated at first, but when Lotte sat down on the floor and laid the paper out, she gave in and sat down with her. 

Lauren’s shyness faded away, the more that they were chatting and colouring together. Such a simple activity, yet what it did for the girl was major. 

You watched as one by one the Arsenal players began arriving. Greeting Lotte and then crouching down to meet Lauren. They all gave her a moment of time before they headed to the locker room. Asking her about her favourite players, and telling her where they played on the field. You could see Lauren’s confidence grow with every interaction, her eyes sparkling as she was talking to them.

When it was time for the match, you sat down in the front row seats that Lotte had gotten you. The excitement that Lauren had while watching the game was contagious and soon you found yourself cheering and yelling along.

After the match, Lauren got to take pictures with all of the players, including Lotte, who had promised her a picture. Before you headed home, Lotte said she had one more surprise. 

When she came back from the locker room, she was holding the jersey she was wearing before. It was filled with signatures and messages from the girls on the team. Lauren couldn’t believe her eyes. “Thank you so much.” She said while hugging your girlfriend tight. 

That evening, Lauren wouldn’t stop talking about the match, and you knew you had done something right. Well, Lotte had. When you were putting Lauren to bed, she gave you a hug. “Today was the best day ever.” Your heart melted. “I’m glad you had fun.” You said hugging her back.

Back downstairs you wanted to message Lotte about what Lauren had just said, but she had texted you first.

Lotte: Thank you for letting me be a part of today. You’re amazing. Not just for opening your home and your heart for these kids, but for the way you care for those around you. Goodnight ❤️

You: You’re too kind. Thank you for making today so special for Lauren. She just told me that today was the best day ever. You’ve given her an experience she will never forget. And I won’t either, thank you. Goodnight ❤️

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[greynatomy]

this is the second part of my life of baby preath social media fic

this series won’t have long fics or many pic posts cause i don’t think it needs a lot as you won’t need any context of things if that makes sense

it’s my bday, hope y’all enjoy

-grey

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liked by mrapinoe, christenpress and 30,844 others

tobinheath just five hours ago, we welcomed baby press-heath into the world. christen is the strongest woman i know and today proved that. mommy and momma can’t wait to show you the world

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christenpress most precious baby

alexmorgan13 can’t wait to have cousin playdates with baby

mrapinoe i will be stealing your baby a lot

preathfan1 OMG BABY PREATH!!

preathfan2 BABY PREATH IS HERE

liked by tobinheath, alexmorgan13 and 43,829 others

christenpress amaya press-heath.

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preathfan3 ITS A GIIIIIRRRLLL

tobinheath our baby girl

alikrieger congrats!

alexmorgan13 can’t wait for the play dates with charlie