#double the trouble fic

[scribblesofagoonerr]

we are the champions! | buddy & monkey: double the trouble

summary: arsenal win the champions league final which is the best birthday present that monkey could wish for.

double the trouble masterlist

“Come on, Monkey. You need to eat up,” Leah gently nudged the bowl of cereal in your direction, her voice was gentle and patient despite the stress of the morning, “If you leave your breakfast any longer then the cereal will go soggy.”

You stared across the table at the bowl like it had personally offended you, “I don’t care. I’m not eating it,” You were adamant on your decision, sure you did love Coco Pops and Leah had made sure to bring a box out to Lisbon so you had them, but you weren’t going to eat them. 

Not today, at least.

“Why not?” Leah arched an eyebrow, “You know it’s important to eat, Monkey.”

You couldn’t—You didn’t want to eat. You didn’t really know how to describe how you felt, but there’s so much noise around you that you can’t handle it.

It was the Champions League Final today. Sure, you were probably going to end up on the bench, but you still couldn’t help the anxiety bubbling up inside of you.

Arsenal were against Barcelona. An incredible team that were reigning champions three years in a row. 

The best of the best.

There felt like there was so much pressure riding on this game.

You snapped your arms tight across your chest and glared at the bowl in front of you, “No I don’t hafta. Breakfast is stupid!”

“Baby, it’s Coco Pops,” Leah tried the soft route, considering you weren’t about to budge any time soon, “They’re your favourite breakfast cereal. I made sure that we brought some with us to Lisbon so you wouldn’t be without.”

“Don’t wanna eat,” You mumbled, remaining stubborn as ever.

“Monkey, you have to eat,” Leah’s tone turned more firm, “You can’t skip breakfast—Look, we can even load the iPad up and you can watch cartoons?” She offered, hoping for a win.

“Nooo!” You whined, shaking your head in firm disagreement, “M’ not eating them and you can't make me!”

Leah exhaled a sigh and raked her free hand through your hair, “It’s going to be a big day today, sweetheart. It’s really important that you eat, or you’ll be no use when you get subbed on in the game, will it?”

“I don’t want to eat ‘em, Muuuuum!” You yelled, voice breaking as your breath came short and quick.

Everything felt hot.

You’re too hot.

“Hey, hey, settle down,” Leah said in a gentle tone of voice, placing a gentle hand on your back, “No shouting, please. What’s the matter? Are you nervous? That’s pretty normal to feel like that. I think we’re all feeling a bit nervous.”

You wanted to just… You wanted to scream—It was everything, and more.

Your skin didn’t feel like it even fit right.

There was just so much more that you couldn’t even put into words right now.

You just knew that right now you didn’t want to eat your breakfast.

Even if it was your favourite.

You let out a small sob and buried your face in Leah’s shoulder in an attempt to hide from the outside world around you, “N… No! I don’t wanna!”

Leah shifted in her chair to wrap both of her arms around you, “Okay, alright, it’s all okay,” She held you close, rubbing circles on your back, “Do you remember what we were talking to Auntie Al and the rest of them the other day at lunch?”

You sniffled, trying to listen.

“They were telling us about when they won the Champions League, remember that?” Leah continued to speak in a gentle tone of voice, “It was eighteen years ago, and they were so proud. Auntie Al still speaks of it being one of the best days of her life.”

You didn’t give a real response, other than a shaky breath.

“I have a good feeling about today, my girl,” Leah whispered against your hair, “It’s gonna happen. Do you believe in magic?” She pulled back just enough to tilt your chin up, “I do. And I think it would be a pretty amazing birthday present for you if we win, wouldn’t it?”

Before you could respond, Katie strode into the hotel dining room with her usual cocky grin plastered on her face, “Oi, oi, what’s going on in here then, little lady?”

You glanced up and scowled at the familiar brunette unimpressed, proceeding to curl further into Leah like she was able to just shield you from everything.

“Someone doesn’t want to eat her breakfast,” Leah said, a knowing glance to peer down at you all but practically clinging to her, refusing to sit in your own seat.

Katie crouched beside the table, eyeing you playfully, “Yer not wanting to eat yer brekkie, aye? That’s not like yer.”

“I’ve tried with her,” Leah exhaled a sigh, dropping the spoon back in the abandoned bowl, “I’m havin’ no luck. I think she’s feeling overwhelmed.”

“Here, let me have a go,” Katie reached for the cereal bowl, “Come on, yer’ve gotta keep yer strength up all for when we lift that trophy, yeah?”

There was still no response from you.

“Alright, time to bring out the big guns then,” Katie shared a grin with Leah, lifting the spoon, “Here comes to choo-choo train—”

You turned your head in a dramatic fashion.

“Geesh, tough crowd,” Katie muttered, dropping the spoon back in the bowl, “Alright, listen lady. Even if yer being a stubborn little… Right, yer’ve gotta eat, like it or not.”

Once more, you didn’t budge.

Katie tried again, relentlessly attempting to try and achieve getting you to even eat a single bite, “Open up…” 

You weren’t having any of it. 

You squirmed. 

And then, without further warning, you snapped, “I’m not fuckin’ Buddy!” You didn’t even think twice before flinging the bowl with force, the milk and Coco Pops flying through the air, until the entire thing landed on Kim.

“Logan Reece!” Leah exclaimed in outrage, “That is not okay to do! What has gotten into you today, young lady?!”

The moment should have been comical. It was déjà vu all over again.  

Twice.

Most of the girls remembered you doing the same thing eight years ago, with a chocolate cupcake to the poor Scottish woman.

Not to mention when you flung your breakfast at Caitlin in Melbourne last year.

There was a stunned silence for a brief second.

Kim just stood there, frozen and in complete disbelief.

“Oh my God,” Kyra burst into a fit of laughter and breaking the initial silence in the room, “No way did that just happen… again!”

“Seriously?” Kim murmured, deadpan as she glanced down at herself where the milk and cereal was dripping off her now, “Again?!”

“I’m so sorry, Kim,” Leah was quick to apologise, spluttering and reaching for napkins to frantically dab at Kim’s shirt, “I’m so sorry—she’s just… she’s pretty overwhelmed right now.”

“Yeah, I can tell,” Kim muttered, the napkin in her hand doing little effort to soak the spilled milk, “Why is it always me?”

“Don’t forget it’s happened to me as well,” Caitlin chimed in at the perfect opportunity, “The little menace just loves to throw her food at people.”

Kim barely spared a single glance at Leah, “She needs a timeout. Now.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Leah muttered, already untangling you from her side and was now standing up, “I’m already on it now. Don’t worry.”

“I cannot believe that just happened,” Kyra snickered, “Should’ve worn your raincoat to breakfast today, Cap.”

“Don’t rile her up, pest,” Steph nudged Kyra, giving her a knowing look.

Kim slowly turned to her with a sharp look, “Do you want to join your counterpart in timeout as well?” She questioned, not even waiting for a response from the young Australian girl, “Zip it, Kyra.”

Kyra did as she was told and shut her mouth immediately.

“This isn’t fair,” You whined, not having a whole lot of choice but to be tugged away from the table and led back upstairs to the hotel room you had this misfortune of sharing with Leah, once again—After the whole fiasco in Melbourne last year, you never had the opportunity to have your own hotel room.

It wasn’t even you sneaking into your room, and that was all on Kyra right there.

“Muuuuuum, s’ not fair. I don’t wanna,” You whined, in full sulk mode, “I’m twenty now. Timeouts dumb, and stupid… and I don’t need one!”

Leah stopped abruptly, turning to crouch so she was level with you, “Are you  sure about that?” Her tone was steady, “Because throwing your breakfast across the room doesn’t exactly scream ‘mature adult’, does it, Logan Reece?”

You scowled. You hated hearing your first name—especially from her. It always meant you were in trouble.

“Go,” Leah said firmly, pointing towards the designated timeout spot she’d set up in the corner of the hotel room, “Five minutes. Sit, calm down, and think about your choices. Then we’ll talk, okay?”

“S’ not fair,” You grumbled, slumping into the chair with exaggerated reluctance, arms crossed over your chest, “Don’t like this,” You mumbled, kicking the carpet.

“Actions have consequences, Monkey,” Leah reminded you gently as she settled down on the edge of the bed, pulling out her phone but keeping an eye on you, “No talking. Just think.”

Timeout felt like torture.

You continued to shift around on the chair for what felt like the millionth time. You fidgeted, crossing and uncrossing your arms all while you kicked your legs grumpily against the carpet in the hotel room.

Five whole minutes to you felt like the longest time in the world.

That was like, forever.

You even tried glaring at Leah every couple of seconds in a silent plea for mercy, hoping that she’d maybe forget the rules for this once and let you off.

But no… apparently not.

Instead, she sat on the edge of the bed carelessly scrolling through her phone in her hand.

“Mum,” You whined, trying to get her attention.

There was no answer from the blonde.

You flopped back in your chair in a dramatic fashion only you could handle, “Muuuuuum. M’ bored sittin’ here!”

Still, nothing at all.

“This is so dumb,” You muttered to yourself, “I’m twenty now. S’ not fair!”

“I know exactly how old you are, Logan Reece,” Leah said without missing a single beat, her tone was calm but firm, “But you weren’t acting twenty when you launched your cereal.”

You shrank back instantly at the mention of your full name again, scrunching up your nose, “I didn’t mean it… Was an accident.”

“Oh, really?” Leah finally looked up, her eyebrow raised, “You shouted, swore and then threw your cereal across the table. Which part of that exactly was the accident?”

You didn’t answer, instead you just continued to stare down at your lap.

Eventually, the timer went off on her phone and without any hesitation, you bolted from the chair and threw yourself into Leah’s arms like nothing had happened.

“I… I’m sorry!” You cried, burying your face into her shoulder, “I… I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean it. I promise, I… I didn’t!”

“Hey, hey, calm down,” Leah soothed, holding you tightly, “Take a few deep breaths, yeah?”

You did what you were told, inhaling and exhaling. Just enough to help.

“Better?” Leah asked, tucking a loose stray of hand behind your ear.

You gave a wobbly nod, “Uh-huh.”

“You’re not a bad girl, Monkey,” Leah murmured, brushing a hand down your back, “But you need to learn how to use your words instead of throwing things. Especially when you’re overwhelmed.”

You sniffled, nodding into her shoulder while your fingers curled into the fabric of her training top, “I’m sorry, Mum.”

“It’s alright, sweetheart,” Leah reassured you quickly, rubbing your back, “You made a mistake but it’s okay now. I know you felt overwhelmed in there, and I should’ve removed you from the situation before it escalated in the way it did. I know you’re having a bit of a tough morning, aren’t you?”

“Uh-huh,” You murmured, remaining to cing to Leah, “Didn’t… I didn’t mean it to throw my breakfast at Auntie Kimmy. M’ sorry.”

Leah brushed a strand of hair out of your face, “I know, sweetheart. That’s why I thought it was best to have a timeout, so you could get the chance to stop and breathe, yeah?”

“Didn’t like everyone bein’ in there,” You admitted, reluctant to let go of Leah, “Too loud… And everything felt itchy.”

Leah hummed, rocking you slightly in her arms, “I know, baby. I know. You’re allowed to feel all of that,” She paused, “But throwing cereal? It’s not the answer, is it?”

You gave the tiniest shake of your head.

“So, what are you going to do next time that everything gets too much?” Leah questioned, thoughtfully.

You hesitated, sniffling into her shoulder, “Tell you?”

“Exactly,” Leah kissed your temple, “You come to me, and let me help you. I’m your Mum. That’s my job to take care of you, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” You whispered, melting into her arms the moment she pulled you up and into her lap, “I don’t like bein’ in trouble anymore.”

“You’re not in trouble anymore, Monkey,” Leah promised, rocking you gently against her chest, “You’re having a hard morning. You just need to reset and try again now, alright?”

You nodded, letting yourself sink into her completely, “M’ sorry for throwing breakfast at Auntie Kimmy,” You repeated your apology, “I… I don’t want her to be mad with me.”

“Oh I know that you are, Monkey,” Leah hugged you tighter, her chin resting on top of your head, “Auntie Kimmy will understand, she won’t be mad. You know she loves you to pieces and can see you were having a tough time as well. I’m sure it’s nothing that a big hug can’t fix, is it?”

“I can do that,” You mumbled, a faint smile appearing on your face, “Can I still play in the game today?”

Leah’s smile faltered, “I don’t think that’s quite a good idea, Monkey. It’s clear you’ve been having a hard morning, maybe it’s better to sit on the bench for this game?”

“What? Nooo!” You whined, immediately protesting against the idea, “That’s… That’s not fair! You can’t do that—It’s the Champions League Final!”

“I know, and I know you’re not pleased with the idea of it,” Leah said, pulling back just enough to look at you, “But even if you sit on the bench, you’re still a part of the team, sweetheart. And you’ll have Auntie Wally there to keep an eye on you.”

“S’ not fair!” You huffed, definitely not happy with the decision, “I… I promise I’m fine. I want to play, Mum.”

“I know you do, Monkey, but I think this is for the best. You’re not fit to play, regardless of what happened this morning. You’re still recovering after giving birth,” Leah explained, while you stiffened at the sudden mention of the one thing you were trying your hardest to forget, “Right now, we just need to focus on getting you back to a good place. You… You can’t play like this, you’d only be hurting yourself more than helping the team.”

“N… No, you can’t take football from me!” You whispered, tears returning to your eyes, “Mum, it’s the final—Everyone will be watching! I…. I wanna be on the pitch! I wanna… I wanna make you proud…”

“Oh, my girl,” Leah’s heart cracked right down the middle, “You’re already making me so proud of you,every day you make me so, so proud of you! I know how much you want too, but you need to take the time to focus on yourself, yeah? Regardless of what happens today, win or lose, I’m proud of you.”

You gave a faint soft nod and buried your face in Leah’s chest.

“And you know what? Bench or not, you’re still a part of this team,” Leah murmured, lowering her voice to be more gentler now as she slowly rocked you in her arm, “You’ll still be right there with us, but you need to be sensible about this.”

You sniffled once more, peeking up as your voice remained hesitant, “I… I know.”

Leah smiled, scooping you further into her lap as she shifted properly on the bed, “You’ll come back even stronger next season,” She kept her arms wrapped firmly around you, “I know it, my girl.”

“This isn’t fair! This is ridiculous! I’m fine! I could be helping!” You huffed, fidgeting in your seat on the bench as you watched the game pan out, the nerves coiling tight in your chest.

You sat beside Lia, who had been tasked with watching over you—not exactly your idea of a good time, all things considered. 

Arsenal tried to carve out an opening within the 22nd minute and forcing an own goal from Irene Paredes when Frida delivered a dangerous cross into the box.

You jumped up high in the air, excited to think that Arsenal had taken the lead—only for VAR to rule it out and declare Frida offside when she recovered possession of the ball.

The injustice of it stung just a bit.

The 67th minute had just ticked past and the tension was so thick in the air. Your knees bounced wildly. Your sleeves were taking a beating from how much you were tugging at them—Your mood soured even more when you saw the sub’s board lighting up.

“S’ not fair!” You grumbled once again, seeing Beth’s number going on to replace Chloe and Stina coming on for Frida, “I should be goin’ on! S’ not fair!”

That should have been you.

But no… Instead, you were forced to sit on the bench and watch in absolute despair.

“This ain’t fair! Why am I not allowed to be subbed on and they are?!” You scowled, huffing and crossing your arms over your chest. 

Of course you weren’t annoyed with either of them, they deserved it but you were annoyed with the situation.

It really wasn’t fair.

“Monkey,” Lia gave you a firm look, “Knock it off.”

“No, like actually, I don’t get it! Everyone’s out there grafting and I’m stuck ‘ere watching this… And I can’t do nuffin’ to help!” You fumed, tugging at your sleeves anxiously while your heart raced every time a player from Barca got near the box.

“Hey,” Lia pulled you in close, wrapping an arm around you, “It’s okay. You’re still part of the team, remember?”

“Pft, as if! I don’t feel like it!” You exclaimed, pulling away as you scrunch your face up in protest, “This… This is supposed to be my game too!”

“Calm down, little one,” Lia warned in a gentle tone of voice but it still held an edge of firmness, “You might not like it. But there’s no point in throwing a strop in front of everyone here.”

“I’m… I’m not throwing a hissy fit!” You protested, crossing your arms over your chest, “S’ not fair. I just… I wanna be on the pitch. Not sitting here, not bein’ able to doin’ nuffin! I feel… I just feel useless!”

“Let’s go!” Emily screamed off camera after a good clearance.

You flinched as you watched Emily scramble back to recover from a Barca break, “I could’ve been there, doin’ something… and instead—instead i’m being fuckin’ forced to sit here—”

“Aye! Language!” Lia chastised.

“English,” You muttered cheekily, barely caring anymore.

“Don’t get cocky, little one,” Lia warned, but you were too fired up to flinch.

At one point, Leah caught your eye during a water break, “Stop it,” Even then she was able to remain stern, causing you to shrink down in your seat while your face was hot with frustration and embarrassment.

You had no choice but sit there and watch with disappointment seeping through you as the minutes passed.

It was the 74th minute of the game when the breakthrough came, Beth slid a reverse pass through to Stina, who managed to tuck it into the bottom left corner.

“O… Oh my God!” You shot up from your seat, the strop forgotten in an instant as you screamed loud enough to make half the bench jump, “YES! G’WAN STINA BALLERINA!”

You were high on energy and bouncing on the spot, your arms flailing in the air and shrieking in delight.

“Stina… She was actually on side for once!” You shouted as Lia grabbed the back of your shirt instinctively to stop you from running over into the tactical box in your excitement, “She was bloody onside!”

“Sit down, Monkey,” Lia laughed, yanking you back but you couldn’t stop grinning with wide eyes,your hands rested on your head not actually believing what had just happened.

“I knew it! I bloody knew it!” You exclaimed, vibrant energy as you yelled to nobody in particular.

“Calm down, Monkey,” Lotte laughed, shaking her head.

You scoffed, looking at the brunette in question, “Calm down? This is big! Stina just scored!” You shouted just before you turned to Kyra, your counterpart, “Ky! Ky! Stina fuckin’ scored! Stina Ballerina went and put it in the back of the net! G’wan girl! Pop off!”

“She was onside! She was onside!” Kyra grinned, leaning over and putting you in a headlock, “Stina Stina Stina Stina Stina Blacksteniuuuuuuuus!” She shouted at the top of her voice, excitement bubbling up.

Even Renee cracked a smile at the noise that the pair of you were making from where she stood on the sidelines of the pitch.

But that still didn’t stop you itching to get on the pitch yourself.

By the 80th minute you were starting to become insufferable to deal with.

“When can it be my turn to go on?” You questioned, very much near breaking point, “I’m bored sittin’ here!”

“Monkey,” Lia fixed you with a firm warning look, “Reign it in a bit.”

You huffed, slumping down and crossing your arms over your chest—You have no doubt the camera’s probably already cut you mid-sulk on the bench and it was now displayed on the big 4k screen.

“Aye, look, Monkey!” Kyra grinned, not so gently nudging your shoulder before pointing to the said screen, “You’re on the big screen! Give everyone a big smile!”

“No,” You scowled, trying to look away because you have no single doubt that everyone watching would mention this to you—including your family up in the stands, and extended family such as Alex and her girlfriend, Jess Glynn, who also happened to be one of your favourite singers.

Not to mention Jacob would absolutely tease you over this.

Yeah. Just brilliant.

“Relax, Monkey. It’ll happen,” Lotte murmured, beside you as she nudged your arm and grinned, although she hadn’t clocked the full story—she had no idea you’d already been told no, “You just gotta be patient, yeah? You’ll get your moment.”

You really did want to believe her.

However, it was difficult when the minutes were nearing until the full time whistle blew.

“I hope you do, otherwise I’ll chuck you on there myself,” Kyra leaned forward from her seat beside you, “You’re fidgeting like mad right now—Come on, Gaffa. Give ‘er a chance, eh? She deserves this!”

“Give the kid a shot,” Vic piped in from the bench.

Renee hesitated for a brief second before exhaling a sigh, “Alright, fine. Go and start warming up. You’ll be subbed in during the added time.”

“YES!” You bolted upright from your seat and wasted no time in starting to warm up on the sidelines—You were going to be ready.

This was your moment now.

Even if others wouldn’t agree with that decision.

With a quick warmup on the sidelines, the added time was announced before you and Lotte both stepped onto the pitch, subbed in at 90+1.

Lifelong childhood Gooners.

On the pitch.

In the Champions League final.

It felt like fate.

As you stepped onto the turf, your heart thudded with excitement and there was a faint buzzing in your ears as your name was called out to be subbed in for Mariona. 

Across the pitch, Leah’s head snapped towards the board with a mixture of shock and confusion spread across her face.

Your number was lit up to place Mariona’s.

That wasn’t the plan.

Surely it was too soon for you to be returning to the pitch?

You waited for the Spaniard to make her way over to you, allowing her to pull you into a hug, “Make the most of this moment, sweetheart,” Her voice warm and gentle, You’ve earned it.”

“Go on, Monkey,” Alessia encouraged warmly, embracing you and squeezing you tightly. 

You raced onto the pitch and began to make an immediate impact in the game.

This was your moment. Like Mariona said. 

You weren’t about to waste it. 

Not for one single second.

With an extra seven minutes of added time, you ran harder than what you had in months. The passion burning deep inside your core—-every touch on the ball, every sprint, nothing was going to matter now, but you just wanted to make sure you were present in the game. 

You wanted to live in the moment. 

And then—-the full time whistle blew. 

The stadium erupted.

“YEEEEAAAAHHHH!” You screamed at the top of your voice, fist pumping and jumping in the air as triumph took over your face, “WE FUCKIN’ DID IT! C’MONNNN!”

You didn’t spare another single thought other than turning around and sprinting full-tilt towards Leah, the adrenaline was still screaming through your veins. 

“Muuuum!” You screamed, barely allowing Leah to have any chance to react in time before you barrelled into her, both of you crashing to the ground in a tangle of limbs, noise and pure, unfiltered emotion.

You were crying before your knees even hit the grass.

You continued to cling to her like a lifeline and sob into her shoulder, your arms wrapped around her as if letting go would undo the whole thing.

You wanted to remember this moment forever.

“Oh my girl… We did it,” Leah whispered, tears streaking her cheeks as her hand cradled the back of your head, “We fuckin’ did it, my girl!”

If you weren’t so shocked and emotional you definitely would have called her out on her use of colourful language, never to miss the opportunity to wind her up. 

Even today.

“We… We are the fuckin’ champions!” You choked out between ragged breaths, your voice cracking with disbelief, “We… We actually won!”

“We did indeed, baby girl,” Leah murmured, her voice trembling softly and thick with pride and love, there was so much that she wanted to say but she just couldn’t find the words as she just held onto you tightly, “You… You were on the pitch with me, remember this moment, my girl. We did it together.”

“I barely even touched the ball,” You murmured, 

You couldn’t even speak anymore. You just buried your face in her neck while your body shook with laughter and sobs as you lay tangled up with her on the pitch amidst the rest of the chaos.

It wasn’t long before you were piled on by Kim, Lia, Manu, Lotte and Naomi joining your post-match celebrations with screams, hugs and bodies flopping over yours.

Any other day you’d have hated it—the weight, the noise, the touching—you’d have shrieked for everyone to get off, to let you move and breathe.

But today?

Today was so much different.

Because today, you were officially Champions of Europe.

Eventually the dogpile untangled itself, bit by bit until you were helped to your feet by Beth and tossed straight into another tight embrace by none other than Katie, who spun you in a circle in happiness.

“We fuckin’ did it, little lady!” Katie shouted, cupping your face between her hands, “We fuckin’ did it!”

“Language, Auntie Katie!” You giggled infectiously, allowing her to lift you up and throw you up on her shoulders—for old times sake, you know?

“Katie! Put her down before you drop her!” Leah panicked, back in full-mum mode as she saw an accident waiting to happen, marching over with her eyebrows already halfway to her hairline.

Katie just chuckled, “Ah, don’t worry, Le. She’s fine—I’ve not even had a drink yet,” She joked, spinning in a slow circle.

“Leave her be, Mama Bear, we’re celebrating!” Beth teasingly grinned as she jogged up beside Leah, throwing an arm around her shoulder, “Let her have her moment. Champions of Europe. First time in Eighteen years!”

“CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE!” You screamed at the top of your lungs, throwing your hands in the air from your perch on Katie’s shoulders—the words still didn’t feel real right, as if they never actually would.

“Yeeeeah baby!” Katie grinned, bouncing slightly and making you shriek with laughter, “This is the celebration of a bloody lifetime!”

You didn’t care, you were having the time of your life right now. Your face was streaked with happy tears and your hair was a wild mess in comparison to how it started, and you were so high on life after the win.

Arsenal were Champions of Europe.

That name had never sounded so good to you right now.

“Oi! Oi! Oi! British Menace!” Kyra yelled, grinning like a devil, “Planning to get down and celebrate together any time soon?”

“Nahhhhh, Aussie Pest!” You grinned, trying to kick your leg out at her from Katie’s shoulders but nearly overbalancing in the process, “I’m livin’ the life, Ky! I’m absolutely livin’ the life right up here!”

“Aye, little lady! Stop flailing about or I’m gonna drop yer,” Katie held onto you tightly as she felt you start to wobble, “I’ll have yer Ma’s on my case if yer not careful.”

Leah was instantly at your side again, “Katie, man, put my daughter down before she breaks her neck and I have to take her to the hospital instead of the podium!”

“Alright, alright,” Katie groaned theatrically, crouching to let you slide safely to the ground, “Fun police are out in full force tonight.”

Your legs wobbled when you hit the grass, but Kyra was already there to steady you while laughing, “I can’t believe we did it!”

“Me neither! It feels… surreal!” You shrieked, grabbing her hand in an attempt to run towards the crowd of Arsenal fans in Lisbon, “We fuckin’ did it, Gooners! We fuckin’ did it! C’mon!”

“Yeah baby! Best believe we did!” Kyra whooped before promptly tackling you to the ground.

“Ah, Kyra!” You squealed in surprise, landing in a heap with a breathless laugh, “Nooo! Ky! Nooo!”

“Careful, Monkey,” Kim said in a warm tone of voice that still held a sense of sterness to it, “We don’t need you injuring yourself before the celebrations even start.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know, Auntie Kimmy!” You called, grinning up from the grass, “We’re only messin’ about and havin’ a good time!”

“C’mere, you,” Kim attempted to pull you into a tight hug as you stood up, “I want to talk to you.”

“Agh, no!” You groaned, tilting your head back in a dramatic fashion, “Seriously! You’re not gonna start to get all soppy on me now, are you?”

“I’ll pretend like you didn’t just say that,” Kim remarked in a playful tone, “I just wanted to say that I’m proud of you, Monkey.”

You shrugged, feeling instantly uncomfortable, “Why? I hardly did anythin’ at all,” You mumbled, “It was all you and everyone else!”

 Kim could see your facade, pulling you closer to her, “Stop being cheeky for once and just… listen.”

“Okay, okay, alright. I’m listenin’ to you!” You went quiet, nodding in agreement.

“I’m proud of you, sweetheart,” Kim spoke up again, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to your temple, “After everything you’ve been through… You’re still standing, and still fighting. You still love the game. And now… Look where we are!” She gestured around you, to the cheering team and the flashing cameras, “We’re standing here as Champions of Europe!”

You swallowed hard, your throat suddenly feeling tighter, “... Yeah.”

Leah joined you properly, wrapping her arms around your shoulder protectively, “We did it, my girl,” She whispered, her lips brushing your hair, “If only your Grandma Jean could see this moment now. She’d be so proud of you, Monkey!”

Your grin faded into a trembling smile, “You… You really think so?”

“I know so,” Leah said softly, brushing a tear from your cheek, “She’d be standing up there with the rest of the family and shouting louder than all of us combined. She would be so proud of you right now!”

“I… I miss her,” You quietly admitted, tilting your head up to look at the sky, “I did this for you, Grandma. I love you.”

“And she loves you too,” Leah protectively wrapped an arm around your shoulder and pointed up into the crowd, “Look over there, your little sister is waving!” 

You followed her line of sight to where you could make out a small figure—Buddy, donned head to toe in her own Mini Arsenal kit while on David’s shoulders, beaming from ear to ear.

“I see her!” You beamed a matching smile, just about able to make out the high-pitched squeal that she was no doubt shouting at the top of her lungs from the stands, “When can she come down onto the pitch? She’ll love this!”

“You bet she will,” Leah chuckled, a fond smile plastered on her lips as she waved and blew a great big kiss into the crowd—no doubt something that fans would have easily captured, “Soon enough. We have to lift the trophy first, though.”

To the left, you caught Elle and Jacob—the two of them with their arms wrapped around one another, both grinning wide and proud. Absolutely buzzing and overwhelmed with pride and emotion.

Then, your eyes found Amanda.

There she was, swaying Rugrat gently to her chest. The infant’s tiny frame bundled up, her face tucked against Amanda’s neck with a pair of tiny pink ear defenders bobbed gently with each step. You noted the way that one of Rugrat's hands was curled around the fabric of Amanda’s shirt while the other rested limply against her chest.

Your breath caught for just a second.

It was too much.

Leah felt it in an instant.

“Hey,” Leah murmured, her grip tightening protectively around your shoulders as she pulled you in close, “You’re okay. You’re safe, right here. I’ve got you.”

You nodded, a bit too quickly, “I know… I just…” You swallowed the lump that formed in your throat, your eyes were locked on the tiny pink ear defenders that bobbed gently as Amanda swayed. 

You had to look away—right now… right now it hurt too much to even think about.

You didn’t want to dwell on anything today. Today was supposed to be a happy day.

Today your team won.

And today? You were Arsenal. You were Champions of Europe.

Leah didn’t push you to speak, she knew you weren’t ready as she kept her arms firmly around your shoulder, she just leaned in and pressed a kiss to the side of your head, right above your temple, “It’s okay. I’ve got you. Everything is fine, yeah?”

You nodded in agreement, this time slower as you finally allowed yourself to let the tears fall freely, burying your face in her shoulder in an attempt to look away and block out any emotions that you didn’t want to feel right now—right now, you wanted to live in the moment and be happy.

Looking at Rugrat—your baby… It was agony. Pure, raw agony.

It reminded you of everything that happened, everything that you didn’t want to relive again.

Your whole body trembled and the sobs that left you were quiet but full of ache.

“Come on,” Leah gently guided you forwards with her arms wrapped around you, “Let’s go and join everyone else. We’ve gotta clap for the Barca girls, yeah? Then we’ll get our medals and do the trophy lift.”

That’s when Alessia appeared on the other side of you and looped her arm around your shoulder.

“Hey, Monkey,” Alessia whispered gently as she glanced at you, “Hey, are you okay? What’s wrong? What’s the matter?”

You didn’t know what to say—the words just weren’t coming out.

Your mouth opened, but nothing came out. Nothing more than a strangled breath and followed by a broken sob, and suddenly it felt like your legs didn’t quite feel so steady anymore.

“She’s okay,” Leah tightened her hold, rubbing soothing circles on your back, “She just… She saw the baby. My mum’s got her at the minute, it’s all a bit too much.”

Understanding dawned across Alessia’s face in an instant as she softened her expression, giving you a small, knowing nod.

“Leah!” Lia called her over, waving her hand frantically.

Leah turned at the sound of someone shouting her name, “One sec!”

“Go on,” Alessia gently squeezed your shoulder, “I’ve got her. She’s safe with me.”

“Thanks, Less,” Leah shared a grateful smile with Alessia and headed over to Kim.

“C’mere you,” Alessia tucked you close to her, wiping a stray tear from your cheek before turning to wave up at the stands—right where Buddy was still bouncing and waving her arms excitedly, “You’re so brave, you know? So strong. You deserve this day. Every single moment we’re about to make.”

You couldn’t muster the right words—You didn’t know what to say. You just leaned into Alessia’s side and clung to her while your teammates were all just dotted around, buzzing in the atmosphere of the win.

“Come on, my girl. It’s time to collect our medals now,” Leah murmured, her voice soft as her fingers curled around yours.

You didn’t want to let go of Leah’s hand.

Not even for a second.

Everything felt so loud. Your heart hurt and the flashing lights were too much to handle as you stood in the line to receive your medal. The noise pressed in from every single side of the stadium—You weren’t a fan of the cheering, the shouting nor the booming volume from the large speakers.

It felt like the ground was moving under your boots as you tightened your grip on Leah, there was an attempt to cling onto her as if you were almost afraid that she would disappear if you even let go for a single second.

Your chest felt squashed. The heat felt unbearable. Like everything going on around you was too fast. You didn’t know what to do, other than duck your head and keep it pressed against Leah’s arm in hopes to try and block out some of the noise and flashes that were making your eyes sting.

“You’re okay, my girl. You’re okay,” Leah whispered, rubbing gentle circles on your back as her voice tried to keep you anchored, “I’ve got you, right now.”

“H… How much longer?” You questioned, though your voice was barely louder than a whisper.

“Not that much longer,” Leah promised, brushing her lips against your hair, “We’ll get our medals. Then we’re going to lift the trophy, yeah? We’ll keep it simple, Monkey.”

You weren’t very keen with that answer, overall.

It didn’t feel simple to you.

None of this was simple.

“What’s wrong?” Kim questioned, concerned as she caught the tail end of the conversation.

“She’s just feeling a bit overwhelmed,” Leah explained in a gentle tone of voice, “She’ll be okay, though.”

“Not long now, sweetheart,” Kim sent you a reassuring smile, understanding the overwhelming feeling of everything, “Before we know it, we’ll be celebrating our win, yeah? You’re doing an amazing job, right now, darling.”

You didn’t say anything. You couldn’t—You just pressed yourself further into Leah’s side as your whole body vibrated with the effort of trying to hold it all together.

Before you know it, your free thumb is making its way into your mouth and sucking hard, you couldn’t have cared less about people seeing though—you were just trying to not cry in front of everyone.

Leah could feel you trembling and leaned down, “You’re doing brilliant, baby,” She murmured, gently prising your thumb out of your mouth, “But let’s try to not put your thumb in your mouth though, yeah?”

You whimpered softly as your bottom lip wobbled and the line inched forward. Every step closer made your legs feel heavier—The lights were bright. The clapping was becoming louder. Your ears rang and your stomach flipped as you clung onto Leah tighter while your hands became increasingly sweaty and shaking inside of hers.

You didn’t want to go up there.

Did you even deserve a medal?

It wasn’t like you’d even played in the match. It was just seven measly minutes.

You hadn’t done enough to deserve one.

Leah gave your hand a squeeze, “Just one step at a time, okay? It’s going to be fine,” She told you in a soft tone of voice, moving closer towards the podium to step up and receive your medal.

It didn’t feel like one step, though. It felt like a mountain.

“Mum,” You faltered in your step as you moved that slightest bit forward, you wanted to keep your body pressed right up against Leah’s side and not say a single word, “I… I don’t want to do it.”

“I’m right here, my girl,” Leah murmured, pulling you close to her and rubbing her hand up and down your back, “I’m right here. You’re safe. You’re doing so well today.”

But even her calm voice didn’t stop the panic flooding through your entire body.

“I… I don’t wanna,” You clung to her arm tighter, then tried to clamber upwards, tugging at Leah’s top as you tried to scramble into her arms, desperate to be held.

“I know, sweetheart,” Leah murmured, her own voice cracked with heartbreak as she held you close, “Monkey, I can’t pick you up right now. I know that it’s hard. You’re being so brave, and it’s just a little bit longer, okay?”

You let out a high, whiny sound which almost sounded like a sob. Your whole body felt incredibly tense, but you didn’t care how ridiculous you currently looked—You just wanted her.

You just wanted your Mum.

“I’m right here, I’m not letting go,” Leah leaned in closer, pressing her forehead against your own, “I’m not leaving you. You’re okay.”

You didn’t want to stand in the line anymore to receive your medal.

By the time that you were about to collect your medal, you were very reluctant to let go of Leah’s hand so it happened that you collected both of them together—You didn’t care about the thoughts or comments. 

You didn’t want to let go of her hand.

You stepped up, barely as you clung to Leah and trembled.

The medal went over your head and straight into your mouth, your teeth clamping around the cool metal like you thought it could help you and anchor you to something real… something safe.

It didn’t.

“Right then,” Leah said gently, keeping her voice soft against the roar of the crowd in the background, “Auntie Kimmy is going to need my help to lift the trophy now…”

“No, no, no… Don’t go!” You cried, fingers tightening around hers in a panic.

“I know you want to hold my hand still, baby,” Leah murmured, crouching a little closer, “But it’ll just be for a minute—”

“Noooo!” You whined, not caring less about causing a scene at this very moment.

“Monkey,” Leah added more firmly, but you weren’t wanting to hear anything as you shook your head while your voice was high pitch in panic.

Leah paused, gazing around and fully aware of the cameras, of the fans in the crowd and the way that your distress might play out on screens and in the headlines, “Listen to me, yeah? Listen, sweetheart… It won’t be for long, I promise. You’ll still be able to see me.”

Before you could fall apart any further, Lia stepped in as she rested a steady hand landing gently on your back, “It’s alright, Le,” She said kindly, “I’ll stay with her while you lift it. She won’t be alone. You go ahead.”

“Thanks, Wally,” Leah gave a grateful smile, giving your hand a final squeeze before gently passing it over, “I won’t be long, Monkey. Don’t worry. You’ll be okay.”

“Me and you will be alright here, won’t we?” Lia spoke to you in a gentle tone of voice, “You can hold onto my hand and squeeze it as hard as you’d like.”

“Want Mum,” You whined pitifully, reluctantly holding onto Lia’s hand as she guided you over to the podium to join the rest of your teammates.

“She’s right there in front of us. You can see her,” Lia looped her arm around your waist and lifted you slightly so you were tall enough to peek over the shoulders of everyone, “Just one trophy lift, there’ll be some confetti and celebrations and then you can go straight back to her.”

“I… I see her,” You whispered, your eyes fixed on Leah the whole time.

“It won’t be long now,” Lia kept her tone of voice gentle which is exactly what you needed right now, “Any minute now your Mum and Auntie Kimmy are going to lift the trophy, and then you can go see her, okay?”

You gave the tiniest of nods in response, flailing in Lia’s grip as you anticipated the wait for Leah and Kim to lift the trophy, but that still didn't stop you wanting to be with Leah, "I want my Mum," Your voice was barely louder than a whisper.

"I know," Lia murmured, her hand resting gently on your back, "You can soon enough, sweetheart. You're doing so well right now."

Then it was time.

Leah moved towards Kim to grasp the other handle of the gleaming silver trophy. The stadium buzzed with electricity—The two of them lowered the trophy slowly, then lifted it high.

And then everything erupted.

Everyone was jumping up and down, and going mental.

The confetti cannons exploded, showering the air in shimmering gold.

The music pounded loud through your chest.

The bright lights were flashing directly in your eyes.

It was all too much to handle.

You flinched violently and your whole body tensed up, everything felt completely overwhelming to you right now.

“T… Too loud,” You cried, shaking your head desperately as your hands automatically flew to your ears, “Too loud. Too bright. I… I don’t like it, I don’t. Make it… Make it stop.”

“Hey, it’s okay. You’re alright, sweetheart,” Lia said swiftly, turning your body away from the stage and lowering you slightly, trying to shield you.

But you weren’t interested in any of that right now.

You wanted Leah.

Determined to reach her, you twisted free, and ignored the shouts of your name and hands trying to hold you back. You ducked under arms and wove through the crowd, “Mum!” You called aloud in a panic, your voice cracking as you got closer to her, “Mum!” You repeated, gripping onto Leah’s arm like it was your lifeline, tugging hard with both hands.

“Hey, my girl,” Leah said softly, dropping the trophy’s handle and bending down to scoop you into her arms without hesitation, “You’re okay. It’s alright, I’m here. I’ve got you now.”

“D… Don’t like it. Too… Too loud,” You crumpled your face up in protest, panic wild in your chest, “I… I don’t like it. Make… Make it stop, Mum, please!”

“You’re okay, I’ve got you now,” Leah whispered, pressing you close to her, “I know it seems a lot, but it’s okay. You’re going to be alright.”

“Mummy! Mummy! Monks!” You heard the familiar voice of your favourite little buddy running straight towards you and Leah, as Leah continued to have her arm wrapped around your shoulder, “Mummy! Monks!”

The post match celebrations were still in full swing as the players' families joined everyone on the pitch to continue the celebrations.

“Oh! Here comes trouble!” Leah teased in a light tone of voice, “Incoming!”

Buddy came sprinting onto the pitch as fast as her little legs could carry her while Jacob was hot on her heels, running after her slightly out of breath but grinning all the same. Amanda followed shortly after, cradling Rugrat against her chest once it was safe to step onto the pitch. Elle and David were also there—Elle was decked in an Arsenal 24/25 home top with Williamson on the back, and David…

You had to be a double take.

David was wearing an Arsenal top.

He was a lifelong Spurs fan in a rivals top.

Now that was pretty funny.

“Ooh, there’s my little Bubba,” Leah cooed, immediately bending down and scooping Buddy up into her arms and showering her face with kisses, “Hi! Did you enjoy the game?”

“Uh-huh! It was sooo fun!” Buddy insisted, her giggles infectious as she was in Leah’s arms.

“She barely sat still at all through the second half,” Jacob teased, leaning forward to ruffle Buddy’s hair, “Itching to get down here to you both, weren’t you, munchkin?”

Leah chuckled, adjusting her hold on Buddy on her hip, “Oh, I can imagine so. I thought you were sitting with your Mama, huh? Didn’t fancy staying put?”

“She was determined to make Jordan come and find us during half time,” Amanda filled her daughter in, using her free arm to wrap around Leah’s shoulder and congratulate her, “Well done, Bubba. We’re all so proud of you!”

“Thanks, Mum,” Leah beamed a wide smile.

“I think this little madam wants a cuddle,” Amanda motioned down to the baby in her arms, “You want to take her?”

“Course I do,” Leah murmured, carefully trading arms to easily take Rugrat from Amanda, “Ooh, hi baby girl. How’re you doin? Oh, I missed you!”

You stood there beside her with the medal heavy around your neck and your heart hurting a little heavier.

“Mummy! Mummy! Stina scored!” Buddy chirped, almost like she completely forgot that Leah was actually playing in the game herself, “She shooted! She scored! Everyone was screaming!”

“She did, didn’t she? It was very impressive,” Leah grinned, brushing back sweaty strands of Buddy’s hair from her forehead, “I’m glad you liked it!”

Buddy stared at the gold medal around Leah’s neck curiously, “Can I wear ‘our medal, Mummy?”

“Of course, Bubba,” Leah smiled, taking the gold medal from around her neck and gently settling it over Buddy’s head, “Be careful, though. It’s quite heavy!”

Buddy gasped loud and dramatically, “Woah!” She whispered reverently, clutching the medal in both hands like it was the most precious thing in the world she had ever held., “It so shiny! It mine?“

Leah let out a laugh, shaking her head, “No, Bubba, it’s mine but you can borrow it for now.”

Amanda turned to you, arms opening wide, “C’mere you,” She gave you a warm and kind smile, “I’m so proud of you as well, sweetheart!”

“Why?” You furrowed your eyebrows, “I didn’t barely do nuffin’!”

“You still played a part in your team though and that’s what matters,” Amanda told you honestly, pulling you tighter in her embrace, “You’re a Champion of Europe, sweetheart. At twenty years old. How does that feel?”

“Surreal,” You murmured, your eyes landing on your shiny gold medal, “It feels like a dream right now, Nana ‘Manda.”

“Then soak it up,” Amanda retorted, pressing a gentle kiss on the side of your temple, “This is one of those forever memories.”

“Aye! Look at you, superstar!” Jacob grinned, throwing his arm playfully around your shoulder, “That gold medal around your neck suits you, Monks’!”

“Thanks!” You beamed a smile, your fingers fumbling with the cool gold in her hands, “You’re not borrowing it, though. It’s mine!”

Jacob held up his hands in mock surrender, “Relax, I wouldn’t dare dream of taking it from you,” He paused, “Oi, take a look at this. What’d you make of this then?” He motioned to David wearing an Arsenal shirt with Williamson on the back.

“Grandad!” You exclaimed as you smirked, the sight of him in red and white was too good to ignore, “I can’t believe Mum actually made you wear that!”

David let out a hearty chuckle, pulling you into a side hug, “A bet’s a bet, sweetheart. Arsenal made it the final, didn’t they?”

“And we won it,” You added, smugly.

“And won it,” David echoed, giving your shoulder a squeeze, “I’m so proud of you. Even if wearing this shirt has ruined my reputation.”

Before you could reply, you heard a familiar voice shout your nickname from just behind, “Monkey!”

Your head snapped round in an instant, “Mama!” You ran towards her and throw yourself in her arms as she caught you with ease and held you close.

“Ooh, I am so, so proud of you, little one!” Jordan murmured, against your hair, swaying you  gently from side to side, “Look at you, with that gold medal wrapped around your neck! You’re a little baller!”

You buried your face into her shoulder and clung tighter, “Did you see me, Mama? I… I played. Just at the end, but I played!”

“I saw every second, little one. You were brilliant,” Jordan kissed your temple, “I knew you’d be amazing in the game. I just wish I could’ve—” She stopped herself, but you’d already heard the crack in her voice as her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

You pulled back slightly to peer at her face, “You’re sad?”

“No sweetheart,” Jordan blinked to try and keep the tears at bay, “I’m so proud of you today. And nothing else other than that matters!”

“No, Mama,” You interrupted, brushing your thumb against her cheek just like Leah or Jordan always did the same when you were upset, “I know how much you wanted to be a part of it too.”

Jordan didn’t reply straight away, she kept her hands steady around your waist but you could feel the slightest tremor in her breath and she nodded, “I… I did, but like I said, it’s your day. I’m just glad to be here, for you. You won, little one. You’re a European Champion. That’s incredibly special and I’m so proud of you!”

“I love you, Mama,” You mumbled, resting your forehead against hers, “I’m glad you were here as well!”

Jordan smiled, her eyes filled with tears as she hugged you tighter, “I love you so much, Monkey.”

“Oi!” You heard the unmistakable voice of Alex, “Don’t hog all the cuddles with our little superstar now, Jord!”

“I wouldn’t dream of it, Al,” Jordan chuckled, placing you back down on the ground and kissing the top of your head, “She’s all yours now.”

“Auntie Al!” You squealed, running straight over to her for a hug and jumping into her arms.

“Ooh! Ello’ there, stargirl!” Alex grinned as she caught you with ease, spinning you around just a bit, “How’re you doing?”

But your attention faltered as you clocked the woman standing beside her.

“Omg! You’re Jess Glynne!” Your jaw dropped in sudden starstruck, “Auntie Al, look… look, it’s Jess Glynne!”

Jess laughed, brushing her curls back with an easy grin, “That’d be me.”

“Ohmygodohmygodohmygod,” You mumbled, suddenly becoming shy and hiding your face in Alex’s shoulder.

 “Our Monkey here is a big fan,” Alex told her with a grin, “She absolutely loves your music.”

“You are?” Jess replied warmly, crouching a little to your level, “You alright, sweetheart?”

You're in a complete state of shock still as you peeked out and shyly nodded, “I… Wow! You’re amazing!”

Jess laughed gently, “So are you from what I can tell. Proper little wonderkid, aren’t you?”

“Wow,” You whispered, still in a state of shock, “I… I can’t believe you’re here! Wow… Auntie Al, look, look!”

“I know, pretty incredible isn’t it?” Alex laughed, ruffling your hair, “C’mon superstar, how about we go and see your Mum? I reckon we need to get a photo of you three all together.”

“Okay!” You exclaimed eagerly, your heart still thumping in your chest as Alex placed you back down on the floor with ease, so you could run over to Leah, “Mum! Mum! Look, it’s Jess… Jess Glynne! And she’s with Auntie Al!”

Leah turned at the sound of your voice with a wide, proud grin on her face before putting Buddy down and gently handing Rugrat to Amanda before jumping up and down a bit before throwing both of her arms around Alex, “Al!”

“Congratulations, girl!” Alex beamed, throwing both of her arms around Leah, “I am so bloody proud of you! Well done! You smashed it!”

“I told you… I told you I believed in magic,” Leah murmured, squeezing her best friend tight, “I told you, and we did it. We really did it!”

Alex let out a soft laugh, pulling back just enough to see her face, “You really did say that, didn’t you?”

Before Leah could answer, a little voice piped up behind them.

“Auntie Al! Auntie Al!” Buddy squealed, running over and wrapping her arms around Alex’s lower legs and peering up with an innocent smile, “Ou’ ‘ere!”

“Hello, little legs! How’re you doin’?” Alex leaned down to swoop Buddy up into her arms, “What’ve you got there then?”

“Mummy’s medal!” Buddy declared proudly, holding the medal high like a trophy, “Mummy said I could ‘ave it!”

Leah raised an eyebrow with an amused sigh, “No I didn’t, Bubba. I said you could borrow it to wear.”

“Nooo!” Buddy clutched it tighter, completely unfazed,  “I like it do. It mine now!”

“Oof, she’s definitely got your stubborn streak,” Alex laughed, pressing a kiss to Buddy’s cheek.

“Apparently so,” Leah replied with a smile, already reaching for her again, “Conned me out my own medal now as well.”

“Mum! Mum!” You burst in, practically bouncing with excitement, “Looky! It’s actually Jess Glynne! From the Jet2 advert!”

That comment had everyone laughing in hysterics.

You turned to the red-headed singer with wide, sparkling eyes, “Are you real?” You asked in awe before boldly reaching out and poking her arm, “You are real!”

“Oh, Monkey. Never change,” Jordan grinned, clearly entertained.

“You’ve met her before, sweetheart,” Leah reminded gently, “You know who she is.”

“Nah, I ain’t. I would’ve remembered!” You insisted, shaking your head furiously.

“Yeah? Are you sure about that?” Alex teased, grinning, “I seem to recall a certain photo of you snoozing on her shoulder after that late dinner we had.”

“No, no, no—Wait!” Your eyes went as wide as saucers, “That was you?! God, that’s so embarrassing! You’re like… So cool!”

Jess laughed, “It’s true. Your head was on my shoulder, out like a light. Proper little nap queen.”

“Noooo! No way! God, that’s… mortifying!” You threw your hands over your face and dragged your hands down, “Stop! Stop! I don’t wanna hear nuffin’ more ‘bout it!”

“Alright,” Amanda interrupted with a smile, “How about we take some pictures before our Monkey here actually combusts?”

“Sounds great, Mum!” Leah grinned, throwing her arm proudly over your shoulder.

“Fire one with Monkey in the middle, and Leah and Jordan on either side,” Amanda suggested, “Then one with Monkey and Leah, and Monkey and Jordan.”

“Perfect, and then we’ll get one with all the kiddies!” Alex added, already arranging people like a pro.

You posed between Leah and Jordan, both of them grinning proudly, arms around your waist while you hugged them both tightly. 

Followed by another one with just Leah behind you, arms wrapped around your middle, and another one with Jordan pulling you close and planting a kiss on your forehead right as the shutter clicked.

“Right, let’s get Buddy and Rugrat in the next one,” Alex instructed, “Leah, you take Rugrat, and Monkey… You stand in the middle. Leah to her left. Jordan to the right. Buddy, you stand in front of your Mama. Perfect. Everyone ready?”

“Can we just get it over with?” You grumbled, shifting your weight.

“Big smiles! Say cheese!” Jess called out carefully.

“CHEEEEESE!” Buddy shouted, flashing her toothy grin—complete with the missing ones—and still proudly wearing Leah’s medal.

“Ah, that’s lovely,” Alex smiled, taking the picture, “Okay I think we should have one with Buddy and Monkey.”

“Urgh, not another photo!” You groaned, tilting your head back dramatically.

“Just stand there and smile with your little sister,” Leah encouraged, chuckling, “It’ll be over soon enough!”

“Urgh, whatever,” You huffed, resisting the urge to roll your eyes.

“Ready? Big smiles, and say cheese!” Alex insisted, ready to take the photo, along with the rest of the adults capturing the photo.

“Crackers,” You joked, crouching beside Buddy and smiling at the camera, while Buddy clung her arms around your neck and toothy grinned.

“Oh, that one’s definitely becoming my new lock screen,” Jordan insisted.

“And mine,” Leah added, bouncing Rurgat gently on her chest while the tiny baby looked up at her with bright, curious eyes, “Hi, angel. You’re finally awake, huh? Didn’t want to miss out on the fun?”

“Right I think we should have one now with just the kiddies,” Alex suggested with a keen smile, “Monkey, if you can hold Rugrat—”

You tensed, and Leah automatically felt it.

“Al, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Leah interjected quickly.

“Right, right, no worries,” Alex pivoted smoothly, “Okay, grandparents next, step up! I reckon that we do one with the grandparents and grandkids, and then one with Monkey and the grandparents.”

“Dad, do you want to hold Rugrat?” Leah offered, gently transferring the alert six-week-old into David’s arms.

“Of course,” David agreed warmly, settling Rugrat against his chest, “Come here, little one. Come to Grandad. You’ve very wide awake, aren’t you? Don’t worry, you’re not missing much.”

“Amanda, you take Buddy, and Monkey can stand in the middle,” Alex directed, “Alright, everyone ready? Big smiles!”

“CHEEEESE!” Buddy squealed, while you offered the camera a much more reluctant smirk.

“Lovely,” Alex praised, “Now let’s grab one with just Monkey and the grandparents.”

“How many more photos?” You groaned, tilting your head back in exaggerated despair, “I’m so over this!”

“Don’t pretend you don’t love it,” Jordan teased, “Now go on, stand there and smile for a picture with your Nana and Grandad.”

After a few more reluctant photo with your family—Leah and Amanda proudly lifting the trophy, Leah and David laughing in the moment, you tucked under Alex’s arm, then you squeezed between her and Leah, another shot with Jess pulling faces beside Alex, and finally Jordan crouched beside Buddy and you as Buddy beamed and held up Leah’s medal—you were completely spent.

“Can we be done now?” You complained for what felt like the hundredth time in the span of the time you’d been taking photos, “I’m bored!”

“Yeah, we’re done,” Leah chuckled, looping her arm around your shoulder, “We’re going to go in now and join the rest of the team, yeah?”

“Finally,” You muttered, sagging against her side.

“Buddy, can Mummy have her medal back?” Leah asked gently.

“It mine,” Buddy declared firmly, clutching it tighter to her chest, “No ‘ours!”

“Bubba, Mummy needs it for now, okay?” Leah kept her voice gentle, crouching down the 4-year-old’s height, “You’ve done a really good job holding onto it for me though, and I’m so proud of you!”

“Fine,” Buddy huffed, reluctantly allowing Leah to take it from around her neck, “I come in der wif ‘ou?”

“I’m afraid you can’t, Bubba,” Leah told her honestly, “But we’re going to see you at the party. Okay? You just need to stay with Mama and everyone else for now, alright?”

Buddy wasn’t so keen on the idea of that, pouting and crossing her arms over her chest, “I come wif ‘ou, Mummy! I no wan’ stay wif Mama!”

“Hey, Buddy!” Jacob swooped in just at the right moment, crouching beside your favourite little buddy, “How about me and you kick a ball about on the pitch, yeah?”

“... Otay!” Buddy hesitated to agree.

“Thanks, J,” Leah thanked the lad, patting him on the shoulder before Jacob ran with Buddy to find the nearest football to kick, turning to face the rest of your family,“We’ll see you all at the party in a bit.”

“Peace out!” You stated, starting to head down into the tunnel.

Leah laughed, giving you a slight nudge, “Come on, my girl. Let’s go join the chaos in the changing room, yeah?”

The second you stepped through the doors of the changing room, the chaos hit you full force.

It was boiling, loud and completely unhinged. There were wet footprints streaking across the floor, half the squad was in various stages of kit and champagne-soaked victory shirts, and someone was already blaring music from a speaker someone had smuggled in.

You barely made it three steps before someone shoved a drink into your hand—something fizzy and most definitely dangerous and far too strong.

You blinked at it, sniffed it and took a cautious sip, “Oh… It’s strong,” You said, and then took another sip.

And then another.

And that was all it took.

You were an absolute lightweight when it came to drinking.

Within minutes, you were red-cheeked, starry-eyes and absolutely buzzing. A complete livewire. The shy kid from an hour ago was long gone. Replaced by something wild and gleeful and just a little bit dangerous.

Leah watched you guzzle half of your drink and raised a brow, “Steady on there, my girl.”

“Muuuum, leave it out. I’m havin’ fun!” You declared promptly, not wasting time to have another drink, “I’m buzzin’!”

Leah laughed, shaking her head and deciding to just let you have all the fun you wanted, “Alright then, baby. Just be careful not to break anything.”

You had no such intentions to do anything like that.

Kyra was the first one to rope you in and drag you by your wrist towards the crowded group screaming the lyrics to Stina’s chant, bouncing up and down fueled by the alcohol in everyone’s systems.

“Stina Stina Stina Stina Stina Blackstenius!” You screamed along with them, shrieking with laughter as Katie tackled you to the floor mid-chorus and slid with you across the champagne-soaked floor.

“Watch out!” You warned with barely any time before you crashed dramatically into Leah’s legs, grinning up at her innocently, “Hi, Muuuuuuum!”

“Hi, sweetheart,” Leah chuckled, patting your hair before proceeding to have another drink of her own, “Are you having fun?”

“Tons of it!” You insisted, grinning at her cheekily and breathless, scrambling up to get off the floor, “I don’t ever want this night to end!”

“Plenty of time still, kid!” Steph chimed in, ruffling your hair as she directly handed you a heineken bottle to swig, “Ave’ at it!”

You frowned while pouting at the bottle, “What am I supposed to do with it?”

“Shake it and spray it everywhere,” Beth encouraged, finally joining in on the chaos after she had the unfortunate luck of having to dope after the game instead of joining in on the celebration, “Go wild, Monkey!”

So you just did what anyone would do—pop open the cork and spray it everywhere.

You shrieked in delight as it foamed over your hands, pointing it upward like a fountain and soaking Alessia’s hair and earning a scandalised scream from her.

“Monkey!” The blonde exclaimed in shock-horror before proceeding to tackle you into a headlock, “I’ll get you back you little menace!”

“Right, girls! Picture! Picture!” One of the assistant coaches insisted, gesturing to you all to come together for a group photo, “Come on! Picture time!”

“Urgh! Not again!” You whined in complaint with an exaggerated eye roll, but you still dragged yourself into the clump of girls, tucking yourself neatly in front of Leah as everyone crowded around the trophy. You leaned back into her, your drink still sloshing in one hand, medal swinging from your cheek while your cheeks were pink from all the shouting and Heineken.

The phone was snapped just as you were mid-complaint.

“Hey! You got me bad side!” You grumbled, mock-scowling at the poor assistant holding the phone. You weren’t really mad honestly, and you didn’t have time to keep sulking because the opening notes of another iconic anthem suddenly boomed through the speaker.

Your whole face lit up in glee.

“ABSOLUTELY EVERYBODY! EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY!” You shrieked at full volume, pointing in random directions with a whole lot of energy.

“Sing it, little lady!” Katie whooped, charging over and before you could even run, grabbing you around the waist and hoisting you clean off the floor.

You squealed as she spun you around in dizzy circles with your arms flailing and hair going wild in all different directions, your shrieks of laughter echoing off the wall as Leah took the opportunity to capture the whole thing on a video.

You didn’t care though, you were feeling high on life.

You didn’t ever want this moment to end, and you were going to make sure absolutely everybody knew about it.

“Let’s party it up, bitchessss!” You yelled, stumbling into the afterparty with Katie, who had the trophy held proudly above her head, “I’m ready t drink and have a good fuckin’ time!”

“Monkey,” Leah warned softly from behind, walking beside Laia as the room erupted into cheers, “Reign it in a bit, please.”

“What?” You grinned, head cocking to the side, arms flung out like you were embracing the world, “I’m livin’ my best life right now! Woohoo—Buddy! There you are!”

“Monks’!” Your favourite little buddy squealed in excitement, running straight to you.

“Missed you! Where’ve you been?” You wondered in a drunken state, wrapping both your arms around your little sister, “Are you ready to party? We’re gonna dance the night away!"

“Listen,” Leah said, easily taking Rugrat from Amanda, who was wide eyed and awake amongst the chaos in the room, “You can tonight Just be sensible, okay? Know your limits.”

You huffed, exaggerating an eye roll, “Don’t worry, Mum. I’ll be fine!” You insisted, sparing a glance at the six-week-old infant, “What’s she doin’ here? I don’t like her!”

You didn’t wait around for an answer before pulling Buddy towards the dance floor, trying to not think about the baby in Leah’s arms.

“Has she eaten much?” Alessia asked quietly, eyeing you with mild concern.

“If three bags of crisps and a jelly pot count, then sure,” Steph mumbled, shaking her head.

Alessia winced, “She’s a proper lightweight.”

“I fear it’s already gone to her head,” Beth chimed in, watching you start to bounce around the room high from the energy and alcohol.

“LET’S FUCKIN PAAAAAARTY!” You shrieked, vibrantly as you threw your free arm around Kyra while holding Buddy on your hip, ”Buddy! What’re we sayin’? North London Forever?”

“Uh-huh! I like dat one!” Buddy nodded excitedly in your arms.

“Let’s gooooo!” Kyra added, just as excited with alcohol in her system.

“Aye, Jess Glynne!” You spotted the red-hair in the distance of the room, walking over to her, “What’re you doin’ here? Ooo! Ooo! Can we sing a song?”

“Down, Monks’!” Buddy insisted, trying to wriggle free in your arms.

“Spoil sport,” You mumbled, reluctantly putting her down as she toddled over to Jordan.

“Hello again, troublemaker. You seem a bit drunk there,” Jess smiled, amused, “We can sing a song together if you would like that.”

“Auntie Al! Auntie Al!” You squealed, excitedly stumbling towards Alex, “I get to sing a song with Jess Glynne! So cool!”

“Oh good lord,” Alex muttered, catching your arm before you tripped, “That is pretty cool. How many have you had to drink now?”

“Eh, not a lot,” You carelessly shrugged your shoulders,” I’m only a bit tipsy. I can still walk in a straight line… kinda!”

“What’ve you even been drinking to get in this state?” Jordan wondered, watching in concern as she handed Buddy a cake bar.

You stumbled around, grinning like an idiot, “Lord I don’t know, but it was… pretty fuckin’ good, Mama!”

Jordan arched an eyebrow, turning to look at her ex girlfriend, “Leah, what have you been giving her to be in this state?”

“I had nothing to do with giving her anything,” Leah chimed in, swaying a wide awake Rugrat in her arms, “If anything then blame Katie for that.”

“Typical,” Jordan mumbled,  shaking her head.

“I want some more!” You exclaimed, swinging your arms about in the air, “Gimme! Gimme!”

“Oh my God,” Jordan mumbled, rubbing her temple, “I can’t believe she’s already in this state. I have a good piece of mind to go and have a word with Katie over this.”

You didn’t waste time lingering around as you heard the opening tune of one of Jess Glynne’s songs, “Oh my God, I loooooove this song!”

“Monkey, do you want to come up here and sing a song with me?” Jess called you over from the DJ booth, motioning you to join her.

“Can I?” Your eyes lit up in excitement, “Let’s fucking goooooo!”

“Monkey swore!” Buddy gasped in realisation, glancing between Leah and Jordan, “Dat not allowed!”

Leah hummed, brushing a strand of hair out of Buddy’s face, “She did, and you’re not to repeat it either, alright?”

“You got it dude,” Buddy responded with a thumbs up, “Can I go an’ dance wif Auntie Wally?”

“Go for it, little ‘un,” Jordan chuckled, waving her hand off in the direction of where Lia is dancing with Mario, “Have fun!”

You were having a wail of a time up on stage, performing with Jess Glynne as cameras were out and everyone was filming the performance.

“Thank you! Thank you!” You joked, staggering down off the stage as you searched for another alcoholic beverage, “Thank you very much!”

“What a performance that was, Monkey,” Elle let out a low whistle.

“I think you need to slow down on the drinks, sweetheart,” Amanda said in concern, noting the way you were stumbling all over the place, “Why don’t you drink some water?”

“Pft, I’m fine! I’ve only had… three,” You struggled to remember, trying to count on your fingers, “... I think?”

Jacob snickered, “You think?”

“I’ve told her to just be sensible, and I’m keeping an eye on her to make sure she doesn’t go too wild,” Leah informed her family, sitting down on a chair as she was mid-feeding Rugrat a bottle.

“Heh, check it out. I got a blue tongue!” You exclaimed, sticking your tongue out in front of your own phone, “I like that!”

“How’ve you managed to get a blue tongue?” Beth laughed, amused with your current antics as she now had a fast asleep Phoebe cradled to her chest, “What’ve you been drinking to get that?”

“I dunno, but it tastes like victory!” You exclaimed, bobbing up and down with your medal around your neck, “Yeeeehaw!”

“Oh, she’s pissed for sure,” Jacob grinned in amusement.

“Here, Monkey, have another one,” Katie encouraged, shoving a drink into your hand much to the disagreement of your family.

“Katie no,” Jordan eyed the drink in your hand but it was too late as you were already drinking it, “Remember to get her to drink some water, Monkey.”

“Oh looky out, the fun police have arrived!” You exclaimed, rolling your eyes as you neck back the rest of the drink that you were handed, “Boooo!”

“Logan,” Leah gave you a warning look, “Stop being rude and drink some water, please.”

You groaned, tilting your head back for dramatic effect, “I don’t want any water. I wanna drink more! We’re champions, baby!”

“Dance wif me, Monks’! Dance wif me!” Buddy insists, holding her arms out for you to take and spin her around, “Dance wif me! Spin me ‘round!”

You did as Buddy requested, taking her hands, dancing and spinning around with her as her giggles became infectious, “Ready for me to catch you, Buddy? Ready?” You picked her up and held her high in the air, trying your hardest not to stumble in your step.

“Logan Reece!” Leah’s voice cut in, sharp, “Don’t you bloody dare think about throwing your sister in the air!” She shouted across the room, quickly getting your attention.

You pouted while you placed Buddy gently back down on the dance floor, “But she likes it…”

“Absolutely not!” Leah was quick in her stride to pass Rugrat over to David now she was done burping her and storm over to where you was, “You don’t ever think about doing that, especially when your three sheets to the wind!”

“You’re overreacting a tad there, Mum,” You groaned, rolling your eyes in exaggeration as you proceeded to climb on top of a stray table and hold your arms out like you were in a scene from Titanic.

Leah was still not letting up, “Get down off the bloody table right now, young lady!”

“Ooo, young lady. You’re in trouble now!” Kyra teased, not realising the seriousness of it at all.

“Down,” Leah didn’t wait around for you to get down before proceeding to lift you off the table herself, “Come with me, you’re going to drink some water before you end up injuring yourself!”

“Do I hafta?” You huffed in protest, “M’ only havin’ a good time!” You swooped up a random drink from a table and took a swig.

Leah scoffed, “A good time? It’s a bit more than that,” She paused, taking the alcohol away from you, “No more drinking until you’ve drank some water, my girl.”

“Oi, that’s mine!” You scowled, not happy with that decision of Leah stealing your alcohol, “Give it back! Thief!”

Your words did little to phase Leah as she retrieved a bottle of water and handed it to you, “Here, water. Drink it now,” She instructed, “I’m your Mum, I care about you and I don’t mind you drinking tonight, we’re celebrating but I want you to be safe. At this rate you’re going to fall asleep on the floor by the DJ booth.”

“I don’t wanna drink water,” You grumbled, reluctant to crack open the bottle of water in your hands, “I wanna party!”

“You’re not drinking anymore alcohol until you’ve drunk some water first,” Leah stood form on her decision.

You groaned in disagreement, “Muuuuuum, I’m twenny now. You can’t just—”

“You live under my roof,” Leah swiftly cut you off with a firm look, “I can, and I will.”

“That’s fuckin’ bullshit!” You swore directly at her without even thinking twice about it.

“She swore! Monkey said the F word!” Buddy shouted mid-twirl as she danced with Rory.

“That’s naughty,” Rory added, gasping.

“She did, and she shouldn’t have,” Jordan said, exhaling a sigh, “No one’s saying the F word anymore tonight, alright?”

“Cept me!” You declared proudly, jumping back up on the table, “I’M A FOOKIN’ CHAMPION OF EUROPE! THE ONLY IN THE LAND!”

“Right. Off the table. Now!” Leah barked.

“Bah humbug,” You pouted, wobbling slightly, “I’m celebratin’! Leave me ‘lone!”

“Monkey, don’t think I won’t throw you over my shoulder,” Leah warned, resting her hands on her hips and giving that look that you were all too familiar with.

You scoffed, rolling your eyes and continuing to dance on the table, “Pft, whatever. I’m fine—”

“I don’t care if you’re fine or not, drink this water now,” Leah told you firmly, “Either you drink it, or you’re cut off for the rest of the night, alright?”

“Ugh, fine, whatever…. Captain Buzzkill,” You sloppily gulped it down, then shoved the bottle back, “There, done. Can I go back to drinking and partying now?”

 “Sure, just be careful, alright?” Leah stated firmly, exhaling a sigh with a feeling that she wasn’t getting through to you at all.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever, buh-bye now!” You waved cheekily before continuing to dance and have the time of your life.

“God, she’s going to be an absolute pain to deal with tomorrow,” Alex winced, witnessing your antics for herself, “I wish you luck.”

“And she’s gonna have a horrific hangover,” Jordan added.

Elle frowned in sympathy, “She’s definitely going to feel it. Are you going to be alright dealing with her tomorrow, babe?”

“It’s not like I have a choice,” Leah laughed faintly, admiring Jordan coo over Rugrat in her arms, “At least we’ve got a good while until Buddy or Rugrat are like this, and it’s not every day that you’re a champion of Europe. Just let her have this one.”

You were having a time of your life living it high and dancing around on the dance floor with your teammates, “Oi, Buddy. C’mere!” You shouted over to your favourite little buddy.

“Monks! Monks!” Buddy shouted, running up to you with wild and sweaty curls while Rory continued to dance with Lia and Mariona, “Come dance wif us!”

You grinned, reaching forward to ruffle Buddy’s hair, “I will! I’m just having some… juice,” You weren’t sure how to word it.

Buddy scrunched her face up in disinterest, “Dat no’ like juice, dat smells funny an’ so strong! Ew!”

“Sure it is,” You waved your hand off, going to hand your little sister the drink over without even thinking twice about it, “Think of it like… apple juice, or summit.”

Before you can even properly hand the drink to Buddy, it’s quickly swept away by Steph, “Jesus! Monkey, what the hell are you doin’? Are you out of your mind right now?!”

You blinked, suddenly startled, “... I was only givin’ her a small sip.”

“She’s four, Monkey!” Steph shouted, “This isn’t a drink you can give to your sister!”

“You… You just told me off!” You mumbled, your bottom lip starting to wobble, “You can’t do that!”

“Yes, I did and I can when you’re putting your four year old sister in danger!” Steph shot back, furious that you even attempted to do such a thing like that.

“Muuuuum!” You barrelled into Leah, throwing your arms around her neck and plonking yourself on her lap, “Tell her she can’t shout at me!”

“Oof, Monkey,” Leah let out a groan, startled by your sudden appearance as she chatted with Elle, “What’s the matter, baby?”

“Auntie Stephy just shouted at me!” You proceed to shout, clinging your arms around her neck, “Tell her she can’t… Tell her she can’t do that!”

Leah’s brow was furrowed, “What? Why? What’s happened?”

“I… I don’t know,” You mumbled, burying your head in her neck to try and shelter from it. You weren’t that keen to tell Leah what happened knowing you’d definitely be in trouble for it.

“Steph?” Leah glanced at the Australian women, “Why did you shout at my kid? You have no right to do that!”

“Le, before you go off on one you need to understand that I found Monkey trying to give Buddy alcohol,” Steph explained, cautiously, “I think it might’ve been vodka.”

Leah’s eyes were high in alert, “Vodka?!” She  exclaimed, gazing at you disapprovingly.

“... I thought she might like it,” You told her, innocently and hopeful that Leah wouldn’t go absolutely nuts about it.

“Right,” Leah exhaled a dangerously calm breath, pinching her nose, “Bed. Now.”

“What? No!” You exclaimed in disbelief, quick to protest against the idea, “Nobody else is going to bed yet! S’ not fair!”

“I don’t care,” Leah shifted you on her lap to start and get up, “You are. You’re done.”

You shoved back, shaking your head in disagreement, “No! I’m a champion of Europe, I don’t need a fuckin’ bedtime!”

“Logan Reece,” Jordan stepped in, sharply and fixing you with a look that made you straighten up instinctively.

Leah turned to her, exhaustion already sinking into her bones, “I’ve got Buddy on the dancefloor with Kyra and Alessia, Rugrat’s dead asleep… Can you—?”

“Yeah,” Jordan said, already reaching out, “I’ll handle her. You stay and enjoy the party. Where’s your room key?”

“Right, yeah, it’s here,” Leah handed it over without hesitation and then leaned down, pressing a kiss to your hair, “You may be twenty, but just so we’re clear, you’re also my daughter. And I’m not going to wait until you’re slurring your words and putting your baby sister in danger to step in. What you did was really silly, Monkey. So now I think it’s best you go with Mama, let her tuck you in, and call it a night, alright? I love you, but bed means bed.”

“I don’t need to go to bed!” You insisted, the alcohol fueling your system as you still stood your ground. 

“When you’re putting your sister in danger and making reckless decisions then you're done,” Jordan cut in, calm but stern, “Now are you going to walk, or am I going to carry you?”

“I’m not partying yet! I still… There’s ages!” You weakly protested, throwing your head back for extra dramatics, “I’m not goin’! You can’t make me!”

“Tough,” Jordan interrupted with her voice still firm, leaning out to take hold of your hand, “You lost that right the minute you tried to pour vodka down your 4 year old sister's throat! Bed, now. Move it.”

“Mamaaaa! I don’t wanna!” You whined in complaint, refusing to take her hand and garing at her, “S’ not fair!”

“Come on, Monkey,” Jordan exhaled a sigh, taking it upon herself to take a hold of your hand, “Time for bed, little one before you say something that you’ll regret.”

“Why’s everyone against me? S’ not fair!” You huffed in a sulk, reluctantly allowing yourself to be dragged through the room,  “Didn’t do nuffin’ wrong!”

“You don’t think so, huh?” Jordan questioned with an arched eyebrow, “I think that we have very different opinions on that now, so come on let’s get you to bed before you cause anymore trouble.”

“I’m a grown up! M’ not goin’ to dumb, stupid bed!” You thrashed around in Jordan’s grasp, “Not fair! I… I don’t wanna!”

Jordan sighed like someone already regretting every life choice that led to this moment, “Okay, champion of Europe. Let’s go. You’re done for the night.”

You pouted, tugging against her arm half-heartedly, “Don’t wanna…” As Leah’s voice cut in just before Jordan could exit the packed room.

“Make sure to brush your teeth, please,” Leah called over the laughter still echoing down the hallway, soft and firm as her arms cradled Rugrat close.

You turned with a defiant glare that didn’t quite land, “You brush your teeth!”

Leah smiled with deliberate patience as she shared a subtle look with Jordan before Jordan continued to tug you in the direction of your hotel room that you shared with Leah.

“Come on, little one,” Jordan mumbled, realising it was too late to disagree with handling things now.

The door clicked shut.

Somewhere down the hall, someone was already filming.

When you’re a champion of Europe, but you still have a bedtime.

The TikTok edit practically made itself.

© scribblesofagoonerr

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

[starcrossedxwriter]

Double Trouble (Aaron Pierre x Black Reader x MBJ)

Warnings! NSFW, HEAVY BDSM, HEAVY Daddy kink, threesome (MFM), Everything is consensual! Degredation kink, Praise kink, Bratty reader, Dom! Aaron, Dom!MBJ

A/N: went hella overboard with this one! The plot is pure filth.

***

“Baby?” 

Your soft calls were barely loud enough to be heard over your boyfriend’s latest afrobeats obsession, which blasted through your shared home’s sound system. You lazily kicked off your red bottoms, a guttural sigh of relief escaping you as your exhausted feet relaxed out of the painful position it required to sport such beautiful but impractical shoes all day.

On your way to hunt down the love of your life, you stopped by your study, not even bothering to turn on the light as you discarded your Chloe work tote in your chair and closed the door behind you. 

After closing the biggest case of your career, you would not need to see the interior of either of your offices for a week and that almost brought tears of joy to your eyes. You and Aaron did not even have the energy to plan a trip. Having just wrapped a project two weeks prior, you both were overjoyed to spend a week at home wrapped up in each other.

You rolled your shoulders. Prayerfully, your boyfriend would take pity on you and give you a massage to ease the knots that took up residence in your back. You lazily made your way to the kitchen, knowing where you’d find the man you loved - but currently did not like. 

His back was to the arched entryway as you snuck in behind him, stealing a grape from his masterful charcuterie board that sat nearby. 

Despite your righteous annoyance at him, you never missed an opportunity to simply admire Aaron in his element. Like most actors, he suffered from the curse of always having to be “on.” But in the sanctuary of your home, he could just be Aaron, your gentle, loving, goofy, carefree boyfriend. 

And it certainly helped that he looked positively delicious today, setting a stupid table for a stupid dinner you didn’t want to host. He did every day but something was about him today in particular just made you want to sink to your knees and worship him with your tongue. But you wouldn’t give him the satisfaction today. You were pissed off. 

And that lust simply soured into red hot annoyance at the surprise guest your too-kind boyfriend invited to dinner. And while you never usually complained about company,  after months of endless days and sleepless and sexless nights, your vision of a relaxing evening was not entertaining a third wheel. 

It was a tall glass of wine, an amazing meal. And… then having your daddy twist you into a literal human pretzel and fuck the stress out of your body. 

But he hated you, clearly.

A sentiment you articulated (along with others) in a snarky text hours earlier. But Aaron, forever unbothered by your theatrics, merely responded that you should trust your daddy because… 

Daddy knows best. 

And despite the strong independent lawyer inside you who demanded control and to be right (and she usually was), you knew he was right about this one thing. Aaron could always see exactly what you needed. 

And despite your attitude earlier, you still spied his traditional gift for you after winning a big case neatly displayed on the white marble counter: your favorite cake from a bakery nearby and a bouquet of tulips. The varying vibrant shades of pink made something in your soul smile. He knew you too well.

Your silent studying did not go unnoticed for long, Aaron turning around not even startled to find you there. His expressive eyes lit up at the sight of your half grin, which you tried to suppress because you were supposed to be angry at him, and the hand on your hip as you leaned into the counter. 

He was in front of you before you could blink, his strong arm wrapping around your waist to pull you into his embrace. His muscles were threatening to destroy the fabric of his crisp button down, many of his clothes ill equipped to handle the additional muscles he gained for his latest project. 

“Hey princess.” 

Forever a brat and annoyed at the implosion of your plans for the night, you jerked your head to the side as he kissed you, forcing his lips to catch your cheek instead. 

Aaron merely let out a low chuckle, knowing that your bark was far worse than your bite. 

When it came to Aaron, you were about as strong as a lawn chair. You’d fold without resistance. Every. Single. Time. You always thought you were God’s strongest soldier… until you met Aaron. Kryptonite indeed. 

“Still mad at me?” 

“Yes,” you folded your arms as best you could against your chest, scoffing. “Between you playin’ the british assassin all around LA and me trying to negotiate with that asshole partner, we’ve had zero time together and no time to relax. And our first real free night in months without briefs and lines to run, you wanna play captain save a nigga with your friend? And then you spring it on me on some last minute shit. Those lips aren’t gonna get you outta this one, A.” 

“I know, I know, Y/N. And I’m sorry for messing up your plans for the night. I know how excited you are to finally have a break. But I’m trying to surprise you so please just trust me. If I know you like I think I do, you’re gonna like it.” 

“Well I think we’re about to make history then.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“The first time you get a surprise wrong. Honestly it’s probably a good thing? You’ve always been a bit too perfect to be real,” you added, causing him to grin. “But the only thing I would like right now is for you to fuck me into oblivion. So unless this dinner guest can help with that, I doubt I’ll like it. But what’s done is done. Now let me go so I can get ready.” 

A stare down. Another moment where you’d inevitably crumbled. Because only Jesus himself was strong enough to stare in those eyes and not give this man everything you had. 

However, to your surprise, he looked away from you first, nodding and letting his arm fall so you could head upstairs. 

You started to walk out of the kitchen, prepared to sulk the last of your frustrations away before putting on the smile of a gracious host when you heard him call after you. 

“What if they can?”

“What if they can what?” you glanced behind you. 

“Help me fuck you into oblivion.” 

You lurched forward, his words stopping you dead in your tracks. 

No… he couldn’t mean… The tiniest thrill of excitement jolted across your brain like a shooting star. But you steadied yourself. He couldn’t possibly mean what you were thinking. So you played it off. 

“Ha. ha. Ha. Very funny, A.” 

“You hear me laughin’?” 

You slowly turned around to find him behind you, his eyes brimmed with pure lust. But nothing in his face signaled he was joking about a single thing. 

“Remember all those fantasies you told me about, princess?” 

It would take lifetimes for you to forget. You had the most Earth-shattering orgasm of your life telling Aaron every filthy fantasy you had while he fucked you on your apartment balcony. You prayed they were long forgotten by breakfast the next morning, but he remembered every single one. And ever since, he made it his mission to help you fulfill them. 

“Wait… you’re ser- you’re serious? You want to-” 

It was most certainly a fantasy but the practicalities of it seemed unrealistic. You never seriously considered that Aaron would ever try to arrange it.

He merely smirked and pressed his lips to the top of your nose. His voice was low, hypnotic and mesmerizing. 

“Got a few treats upstairs for you. Go get ready.” 

“Wait… we aren’t gonna talk about this?? You aren't gonna give me details?” 

“Nah. You’re gonna be a good girl for me tonight right, baby? I’d hate to punish you in front of company, princess.” 

But EYE wouldn't hate that. A voice echoed in your brain, the thought of a spanking making you want to disobey just for the hell of it.

“Of course you’d like the sound of that,” he teased you before his eyes softened a bit. You could tell he saw it. That kernel of hesitation at the whole affair, that side of you that had to be in the driver’s seat wanting to talk and litigate every risk before you leaned into the pleasure of it.

“Hey, Y/N… baby. This is just going to be a fun night. And the moment it’s no longer fun for you, we stop. Just like that. Just say the word. If you aren’t feelin' it and him, we end it and it's still just a fun night with a friend. Understand?” 

You nodded before correcting yourself so he didn’t have to. “Yes, I understand. Your surprise might’ve won out again… maybe you really are perfect.”

He shrugged. “That’s what I’ve been tryin' to tell you. Just gotta trust me. Now go get ready. Only wear what I laid out for you.” 

Every step to your master suite pumped up your adrenaline. And made you fall deeper in love with your boyfriend. And his ability to fulfill your needs and desires and center your pleasure. He knew your limits, your boundaries, your needs and never wavered. 

A black cocktail dress waited for you with strappy gold heels. Along with your gold choker, with “good girl” engraved on its gold charm and your gold bullet.

Your skin felt electrified, a buzz radiating from every cell as you readied yourself. You weren’t surprised at the slick already pooling at the crest of your thick thighs when you slid your thong to the side and eased the bullet into you. You hissed at the cool silicone against your heat but you persisted. It was uncomfortable for a moment but as you continued dressing, you long forgot its presence. You knew its companion, a small gold remote, was with your master. Exactly where it should be.

You examined yourself in the mirror, hands running over your soft curves as you studied yourself. You had to admit that Aaron picked well. The dress accentuated his favorite parts of your body, hugging your hourglass shape so your ass and thighs were on display. The cutouts and mirroring each side of your ribs and plunging neckline would give him easy access to your boobs, which were begging to be freed from the confines of the tight bodice. 

“You look fuckin’ gorgeous baby.” 

“Thank you. You picked well.” 

“Final touch?” he picked up your choker, which waited for him on the bed. He always had the privilege of putting it on you. Because it signified the official start of your game. When the choker was on, your pleasure, your body was his to command, his to give and his to take away. Sweet surrender of control to the person you trusted most in this world. 

He towered over you as he stood behind you and placed the piece on your neck.  

“We’re gonna have dinner, dessert and then if you’re comfortable with continuing the night, just ask him to stay for a drink. Otherwise, the night will end. Understand?” 

“Yes sir.” 

“Good girl.” His hands traced the hourglass shape of your curves, his hands stilling only once along the near-indistinguishable lines of your thong. However, as he opened his mouth to speak, the shrill chime of their doorbell interrupted him. He sighed, turning you around in his arms. “Later. Ready to have some fun?” 

“Yes daddy.” 

Even in heels you had to stretch yourself to reach his lips. He took your hand, leading you down the stairs, some of your nerves being replaced by sudden intrigue. 

“You really aren’t gonna tell me who it is??” 

“What would be the fun in that?” With a wink back at her, he jogged the remaining steps and crossed the foyer with the quickness of an athlete and swung their door open. 

“Hey man! Thanks for coming by. Glad we could do this.” 

“Definitely, definitely. Thanks for the invite, man.” 

And that was the second time today you found yourself stopped dead in your tracks. The Michael B. Jordan stepped into your foyer, his charisma and star-powered charm oozing out of his pores as if he naturally produced it. 

Fuck me. He invited your celebrity crush, the main character of far more wet dreams than you’d ever admit out loud. And while Aaron was it for you, if you could ever take advantage of the “celebrity hall pass” concept, Michael Bae Jordan would be at the top of your list.

Well, that’s what he’s here to do. Daddy does indeed know best. 

At first, you had a feeling you’d be taking Aaron’s out. But now? Hell would have to freeze over before you gave up the opportunity of your dreams. Part of you cursed yourself for not guessing it was him to begin with. Aaron had been in a total bromance with the man since they wrapped filming. But now you had more questions. How did this even come up? How do you organize a threesome? Is this just a normal thing to talk about?

Who the fuck cares? You’re about to have the night of your life. 

You pushed them to the back of your mind, filing them away for tomorrow.

“And I don’t think you met my girl yet officially, but this is Y/N." The introduction forced your legs to start to move again, down the stairs and toward him.

“Geesh… they didn’t make lawyers like this when I was comin’ up. Michael,” he introduced himself. He held out his arms for a hug. “Aaron’s told me so much about you.” 

“Good thin-,” You started to toss your boyfriend a teasing grin as you closed the last couple of feet to return Michael’s hug. However, just as you were in arm’s length, the forgotten vibrator nestled inside you came alive. You let out an involuntary cross between a sigh and a moan that couldn’t be hidden. 

Could the ground open and just swallow me? 

Michael’s eyes glistened with amusement, letting you know he was not ignorant to your reality. 

“You good, baby girl?” he asked, with a knowing grin as you tried to avoid squirming in his embrace.

“Y-Yea, yea. Just h-had a chill. I was just gonna say that I hope he’s t-telling you good things,” you stammered, the jolts of pleasure siphoning off fractions of your vocal ability.

“Only good things, I promise. Just that you were the sexiest and best lawyer he’d ever seen. He was right about the first part, I’m sure he’s right about the second too.” 

“Hardly the best.” Your tone and smile were the picture of humility at his praise. You liked the sound of it on his lips, you also didn’t hate the way “baby girl" sounded when he said it too. 

“Y/N is being hella modest. She’s about to be the youngest junior partner in her firm’s history. And the first black woman.” 

“Aye! That’s what’s up! So we’re celebrating tonight?”

You grinned. “Don’t wanna get ahead of ourselves… just office gossip you know. We’ll see in a week.” 

Fuck, he was sexier than you imagined. Somehow tvs and movies simply didn’t do him justice. Like Aaron, he was at his peak physical weight, his muscles thick and lethal. They both stood in front of you looking like Gods, cut from the most perfect stone. 

“I-it’s just so great to meet you. You’re one of my favorite actors.” 

Michael drank you in like you were the finest glass of scotch, savoring every inch of skin exposed, every curve on prominent display. You felt hot underneath his stare, as if he had xray vision to see the promised lands this dress covered. You almost wilted like a flower under his intensity. 

We aren’t gonna make it through dinner, you thought to yourself. Or I can just be dinner. 

It was not your worst thought by far. The vision was quite enticing. Aaron ordering you to strip for them before displaying you on the table so they could feast on you. Your eyes darkened with clouds of lust. You cleared your throat, taking a deep breath, noting the amused glance that passed between the two men. Were all your thoughts broadcasting to them? 

“We… should go into the dining room. Dinner’s basically ready,” you offered as the lamiest attempt to escape the spotlight of them. You held your hand out for his coat, giving both men a perfect view of your ass as you turned to hang it in the closet. 

You didn’t attempt to hide the grin at the quiet but distinguishable wolf whistle from Michael. It felt good to know he liked what he saw. 

And the feeling was most certainly mutual. Michael and Aaron kept you laughing all through dinner as they enthralled you with stories from set. He was engaging and funny and you loved the genuine brotherhood between him and your boyfriend. There was nothing but raw sexual chemistry between you but that was all you needed. Mutual attraction.

The only disappointing aspect of dinner was the utter silence between your legs. Once he turned it off at the start of dinner, Aaron didn’t touch that remote again, much to your chagrin. Two hours and several glasses of wine at the dinner table with two men gently caressing your arms and exposed thighs was a recipe for disaster. And you knew he could tell, see how worked up they had made you, how desperately you wanted more attention. 

By dessert, you stopped retaining their words. They were utter nonsense to you because there were far more important things to consider. Like Michael’s dominating muscles and large hands, wondering how strong his grip will be when he fucks you from behind. Punishingly so, you prayed. 

You swung between wanting to savor the compliments and worship of two men with needing to be filled, a need that almost had you begging them to fuck you right amongst the dinner plates. But you knew Aaron. The night was young and he liked to play with his prize. 

By everyone’s fifth glass of wine, the conversation started to wind down, Michael getting up to head home. 

“Thanks so much for this, man. Appreciate the invite. Good to catch up n shit.”

“Oh you have to leave so soon?” There was a hint of sadness in your voice, coupled with the pleas of your signature puppy eyes. 

“I probably should… Gettin’ late, can’t take up your whole night.” 

You assessed the moment briefly, confirming with every cell in your body and functioning brain cell in your head that you needed this more than the oxygen in the room. 

So instead of wishing this walking wet dream a good night, you said, “You should stay for one more drink. We got this amazing bottle when we went to the South of France for our anniversary. Baby, we should open it and sit outside? It’s so nice out. We’re down to keep the good times going if you are.” 

“You sure?”

“I insist! Besides, between the three of us, I think we can find some ways to entertain ourselves." The implication in your words couldn't be clearer. You were in and you were ready. 

“I’ll grab that bottle from the cellar. Take Michael outside and make him comfortable, princess. Show him a good time while I’m gone.”

And with that, he turned your vibrator back on. He chose the second setting, which was just distracting enough to make the simple tasks of walking, talking and speaking exponentially harder for you. 

“Yes sir.” 

You forced your feet toward the giant sliding glass doors that led to your expansive backyard. You glanced behind you to find Michael jogging up behind you as he slid something into his pocket.

You tried to distract yourself from the pulses against your g-spot, the growing tension in your belly as pleasure started to build ever so slowly, by turning on the soft string lights hanging above your patio and the speakers to play music. 

“Yall got a great view.” 

“It was definitely the selling point of the house,” you smiled, awkwardly standing behind one of the chairs across from the couch.

His stance was wide, powerful and assured as he stared at you. 

“You gonna sit with me?” When you didn’t move, he sighed. “He said you were obedient. But maybe you just need an incentive…” 

Your knees almost gave out beneath you as he increased the setting to five. 

“If you wanna feel better, I think you should sit, baby girl,” he offered, his voice low and comforting. “I don’t bite, promise.”

The menacing glint in his eyes let you know that he most certainly would bite if asked. And you would most certainly ask. 

“S-sorry,” you awkwardly, quickly finding your way to the couch next to him. You started to sit when he beckoned you closer with a mere gesture of his finger. By the time he had you where he wanted you, you were sitting on his lap. 

You leaned into his chest, your eyes falling closed as pleasure shot through you with every pulsing vibration. You bit the inside of your cheek to avoid moaning. 

“You ok, Y/N? Seem a little flustered?” His fingers created flames all across your bare thigh as he subtly pushed up the fabric of your dress. 

There was still something… tamed about how he touched you and caressed you. He came so close to the spots that demanded a firm strong hand, he held back every time. Like right now. Drawing featherlike patterns on your exposed side, toying with the edges of your thong but not shifting them to the side like you craved. 

No, he simply savored the time teasing you, enjoying the soft moans his touch and the bullet caused. 

“I’... I’m… fine, t-thank you,” you whispered back. “Just… o-overwhelmed.” 

“You wanna cum, don’t you?” his husky voice demanded in your ear. At the sound, you couldn't suppress the moan of pleasure that escaped your lips. You rolled your hips, chasing more.

“Y-Yes…” you whimpered. “P-Please…” 

“How’s my girl treating you, Michael?” Aaron’s voice interrupted their moment, his eyes piercing with desire as you writhed and rode another man's thigh. You looked perfect, unrestrained and free. 

“Oh she’s perfect. You got a great girl here, A.”

“I know… she is. But she disobeyed me earlier so before she can cum, we have to punish her. Isn’t that right, baby?” 

“Y-yes sir.” You didn’t even know what you did wrong but you weren’t going to argue or push back on him. Because this was already like entering a promised land of bliss. To hear him speak so openly about your punishment to another man while he masturbated you on his lap? Aaron was right. This was the destressor you really required. 

“Can you tell Michael and daddy what you did wrong, princess?” 

You raked your brain, knowing that “I don’t know” would only increase your punishment. Not that you would have particularly minded. Frequent punishments were simply the norm for a proud and loud brat. 

And then it hit you, such a small and silly infraction that Michael’s fingers were currently playing with. 

“I… w-wore my panties w-when I wasn’t allowed,” you answered. 

“That’s right. And we don’t cover up daddy’s prize, do we?” 

“No… daddy.” 

“You want to be a good girl for Michael and I… don’t you?”  

His voice was hypnotic. Despite the pleasure disobeying him brought, you could not help but want to please him, to be his good girl again. 

“Y-yes, daddy.” 

“And good girls deserve what?” 

“Punishment before pleasure.” 

“That’s right, baby. So tonight, Michael’s gonna have the honor. How many spankings you think our slut deserves?” 

“I’d say 25… 30?” 

“30 feels fair. What do you think, princess?” 

“Wh-whatever daddy wants,” you whimpered. That was the only acceptable response. Besides, you knew Aaron knew your limits and wouldn’t let Michael cross them.  “That's right, baby girl. She can be good when she wants to, just needs remindin’ of her place sometimes,” he mused. And with that, Michael turned off the bullet, a groan of pure frustration escaping your lips.

Punishment before pleasure, you reminded yourself. Why can’t my punishment be sucking their dicks or something?? 

Michael helped you up, your legs feeling slightly weak after they robbed you of your orgasm. They didn’t bother trying to carry you up the stairs, Michael merely directed you to your deep forest green sectional in the living room and leaned you over one of its arms. He slid off his belt and tied your hands behind your back, ensuring they were loose enough to avoid injury but tight enough not to escape without effort. 

You were deliciously helpless. 

“Fuck, that’s a gorgeous sight,” you could hear Michael mutter as the two men merely stared at you, boobs pressed out due to your hands being bound, your ass high in the air from being bent over. “Her ass is perfect, man.”

“It’ll look even better when you’re done. Don’t hold back. She loves that shit and she knows our safe word.” 

You were glad he assured Michael that you would adore the sweet sting of his palm. You encouraged Aaron to put his entire weight into your spankings when you took on the role as his princess. Forever a gentle soul at his core, he did not like the idea of causing you real, significant pain, preferring to lean heavily into other aspects of dominating you. 

It certainly made you fall more in love with him, witnessing his gentleness and concern for your well-being to such a degree. You supposed it was the greenest of flags that it took about 10 long discussions for him to feel comfortable. And even years later, he still checked in throughout to make sure you still enjoyed it. You weren’t a masochist by any means spankings in particular were more than enticing to you. It left you drenched and on the cusp on an orgasm without Aaron doing anything else. 

Even more so right now with your ass presented to the two men like a hard-earned prize. You subconsciously stuck your ass out further in search of something. A touch, a slap… literally anything. Your body was reeling. 

And you did not even care who was behind you to give you what you needed.

“She’s fuckin’ desperate for it.” 

“Yea, she’ll be begging you for it in a minute. I mean I was gone for what? 5 minutes, princess? And I come back and you're humpin' his leg like a filthy whore? And you loved it didn't you? Wanted more? I bet you wanna beg him to tear that ass up right now, don't you?” 

Daddy knows me too well. Because the word please was on the cusp of your lips, begging to tumble over like water on a cliff. 

You moaned as two hands gripped the firm meat of your ass, kneading and caressing you before they found the helm of your dress. You knew exactly whose hands they were, confirming that Aaron was indeed giving Michael the pleasure of administering your punishment. 

His fingers pushed your dress up the rest of the way to expose your ass cheeks, an unmistakable wet spot at the center of your thong. 

“Don’t think she’ll be needing this anymore. Whatchu think?” Michael asked Aaron as his finger hooked the delicate fabric around her hips. 

“Nahhh, definitely not.” 

“FUCK!” You cried out as your thong was unceremoniously ripped clean from your body, the fabric leaving welts on your skin. 

You felt his fingers graze your lips.

“All this for us, kitten?” 

You merely whimpered an affirmative answer as he presented his fingers covered in your juices. He stuck them in your mouth, you sucking your cum clean off his fingers.

"Can't wait to make you cum all over my tongue, kitten. You taste so fuckin' good."

“P-Please…” You thought you’d implode if you continued to suppress your desperation. Your body felt as if you were betraying her. Why weren’t you trying hard enough, begging loud enough to earn the pleasure you were being deprived of. 

“See?” 

“You weren’t lyin’. Tell me what you want, kitten”  

He’s gonna make me say it?? 

The words were caught in your throat, blocked by a mental barrier to admit such a depraved thought out loud. 

“If you wanna cum at all tonight, I suggest you say that shit. Cause we got all night.” 

The lethal warning in his tone forced your thighs together, an electric shock through your body. He was a natural. And the dominance in his voice was all it took to rip the weeds of hesitation right out of your soil. 

“S-spank me… please,” Half words, half sobs filled the quiet air. This was untenable. Could you die from this? It felt like you might die from this. “I n-need it. P-Punish me… please.” 

The first vicious sting of his hand did make a real sob of joy escape, the sound reverberating through the living room. 

You buried your face in the couch cushion for the first few in a foolish attempt to quiet your mounting screams of pain wrapped in the sweet pleasure. His brute strength ensured you felt the ache of every hit. On par with Aaron when your punishments were severe. You were still feeling it days later. 

Your head pulled back, his fist wrapped around your curls.

“Do that again and I add five. Understand?” 

“Y-yes, yes. I’m sorry,” you moan, keeping your eyes forward and head up. 

You felt familiar hands cradle your head, Michael releasing your strains to play with your slick folds in between each blow. 

Aaron’s body came into view as he held your chin, forcing you to stare into his beautiful eyes. Clouded with lust, you still could see every ounce of his love and devotion. 

“You ok, precious?” he whispered. “Got 10 more.” 

“M-More.”

“You’re such a good slut for me, baby. I love you.” His eyes softened a bit. “You want a treat while Michael gives you your punishment? I wouldn’t usually but tonight is all about you, princess.” 

You licked your lips, the sudden sparkle in your eyes answering his question without words. You were impatient at the pace he went to unbutton his pants. 

He knew how much you loved sucking dick. Genuinely loved it. On more than one occasion, you came home after a long day and immediately dropped to your knees to serve him unprompted. Of course, it always ended up leading to him giving you back the same pleasure tenfold. So it was a win all around. 

You licked the beads of precum from his head before enveloping him into your mouth, moaning around him just as Michael rained down the last of your punishment. 

Fire. Your skin felt hot and inflamed with every bite of his palm against your skin. And they sent jolts of lust straight to your clit. 

“You’re taking your punishment so well. You’re not gonna disobey me again, are you?” 

Strings of your spit stayed connected to his dick as he pulled back so you could answer him. 

“Never again, daddy!”  

“That’s my good girl. You took that so well. Didn’t she?” 

You hissed as he gently massaged your hot skin. Fuck, why did his hands feel so good? 

“She did. You think she’s ready, A?” 

“I think she is.” 

You found a secret joy in the way they spoke only to you to dole out orders, but then talked about you to each other like you were merely a piece of furniture.

Aaron scooped you up in his arms, your body immediately nestling into his chest as he carried you to your master suite. He tossed you on the bed like a rag doll as Michael closed the door to your suite. And for a few moments, they simply stood there. Towering over you, intoxicated by the power and anticipation, they didn’t speak or move. They just watched you squirm beneath them. 

“You know I love you right?” Aaron broke character for a single moment. 

“Of course.” 

“Good. Cause it ain’t gon' seem like it for a minute. You know how daddy wants you.” 

Fuck. Yes. 

There was a challenging grin on your face as you removed the last obstacle to their conquest, leaving you bare before them. With great pleasure, you shifted onto your hands and knees and sank into position. Presenting yourself to him. Vulnerable, exposed. To two apex predators. 

And you were ready to be devoured. 

Michael pounced with such swiftness of jaguar indeed, you suddenly finding yourself straddling his hips. His punishing grip around your lower back kept you flush to his chest as his lips claimed yours. 

Frenzied, animalistic, downright sloppy kisses as you two gave into your most base desires. There was no love here, just lust in its most instinctual level. You two fought for dominance in your kisses, you mainly showing him that you were no damsel.

He moved you with ease, like you were a feather, turning you so your head dangled off the edge of the bed.

“I think our kitten needs a bit of attention.” 

His lips kissed a burning trail down your body, veering off course to engulf each of your nipples in his wet mouth, while his hand played with your throbbing clit. 

You whined, feeling his breath against your sex, his grip holding your hips firmly to the bed to stop you from getting any more pleasure than he decided. 

“So eager.” 

He licked up the wetness that spread to your thighs, still avoiding touching you there. He was a menace. The devil really.

You screamed as he wrapped his lips around your bud, every nerve ending in your body zeroed in on him.  

Aaron guided your agape mouth onto his hard member again, your tongue licking him like he was your favorite lollipop. He exchanged the bullet for his fingers, easing a second one inside your pussy. 

Your litany of curse words were indecipherable with Aaron’s mouth ramming down your throat. He did not let you control the pace one bit. Your mouth was merely a means to an end for him. 

You gagged, tears streaming down your face from the sensory overload of having them work in tandem to bring you pain, pleasure, and everything in between.

You arrived at the cliffs of pleasure far faster than you expected, your body ready to fall for the first time all night. Your thighs tightened around Michael’s head as you tried to control it. Foolish it sounded, to stop the fall. But you couldn’t tumble just yet. 

You didn’t stop your task of sucking to ask. Instead, you simply stared up at him with plea-filled round eyes.

“Cum on his tongue, princess. Cum for daddy.” 

You dove off the cliff with earnest as Michael chose that moment to add a fourth finger, finger fucking you with relentless speed.You let your eyes fall close and surrendered to the crashing waves and thrilling currents that pulled you into oblivion. Right where you wanted to be. 

Only Aaron could find the cherry on top to this already perfect sundae as he spilled down your throat. It was typically reserved for her treat as he knew you adored swallowing. And you were grateful he found you deserving. 

Aaron took a step back, you pouting at the loss of his dick in your mouth.

“Don’t worry, princess. Won’t be your last taste for the night.” He leaned down and kissed you deeply, a soft whimper escaping at how familiar his lips felt. Home. “I think you need to thank Michael for punishing you earlier and making you cum. How do good whores say thank you?” 

"On their knees, daddy."

You moved off the bed and onto the carpet, Michael already sliding off his boxers. Your voice hitched as his girthy thick member sprang from his boxers.

He smirked told her he knew what he was wielding and how to use it well. Admittedly, you had only had sex with three men in your life, two of whom were present. But you felt confident in saying these two Gods among lesser men had the most impressive dicks you’d ever seen. 

You’d never live down the humiliation of your near panic attack during you and Aaron’s first time. 

“I don’t think you’ll fit,” you remember muttering before trying to escape to hide in his bathroom, your brain overloaded with the fear that he would somehow break you. 

But like the perfect gentlemen he was, he held you close and calmed you with sweet kisses and talked you through every inch as he sank into you for the first time. He naturally reached regions you thought were anatomically impossible. You often referred to it as his weapon, one that left you utterly immobile too often. 

Michael was similarly blessed and highly favored. Though he lacked a bit of Aaron’s length, his had a girth to it that you knew would cause a stinging stretch. It would be different and you liked the idea of that. As much as your body wanted to skip to that part, you also were feral for a taste of him. 

Aaron sat in the arm chair across the room, the perfect view to watch as Michael slid his dick between your plump lips. He stroked his dick back to life watching you spit and gulp down his dick.

“That’s right. Fuckkkk. Get it sloppy, baby girl. Fuck your throat feels good.” 

Your body glowed at his praise, Aaron grinning to himself. He adored seeing you in this light, gaining a new perspective to how you felt freedom and pleasure. He never wanted to stop learning how to love you better, please you better. 

Inexplicable pride swelled when your eyes connected with him, your dilated pupils lighting up at his smile.

“You ready for me to fuck that pussy, kitten?” Michael demanded, punctuating each word with a deep thrust into the back of your throat. Attempting to respond was a foolish endeavor with him balls deep down your throat. 

He pulled out of your mouth and lifted you up to your feet, immediately moving you into his desired position. He bent you over the edge of the bed, one hand glued to your hip while the other pushed your head into the mattress. He positioned you so you were staring right at Aaron.  

Being watched. New kink unlocked. You were an actress on display and he was your director, in full control. And it was time to watch his masterpiece. 

Your eyes fluttered out of enticing humiliation and bliss as Michael’s head bounced against your pulsing clit. 

“Eyes open, princess. And on me."

And this was a moment that made you question who you truly were. A good girl or a disobedient slut? The devil on your shoulder didn’t need deliberation time. You were a disobedient whore. You wanted to be utterly spent when this night was over. 

But you also knew he knew that, which is why he picked a task he knew you’d fail either way. You could try as hard as you wanted, it would be impossible to maintain eye contact. 

“You ready for Michael to fuck you, princess?” 

“Yesssss! Fuck me… I need it.” It was as critical to your survival as air. 

You immediately failed at your task, your eyes clenching shut as he pushed inside of you. 

“Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!” you hissed, begging for the moment when the lightening flash of pain subsided and pleasure took root. 

“Fuckin’ tight ass pussy on you, kitten,” he gave you a few moments to adjust. When your expletives turned into quiet moans, he moved. 

"Won't tell you this shit again, princess. Eyes open and on me or I start spankin’ you when it’s my turn. And you ain’t gon’ like that shit.” 

“Sorryyyy, dadddyyyyy.” 

His hips snapped viciously into you, his dick curving into your g-spot with every thrust. 

Bliss. 

Joy. 

You panted as  he fucked you with relentless precision, he didn’t let a moment go to waste as he fucked you. His grip along your hip was bruising as he pushed and pulled against your body. Never the lazy lover, you met every thrust, using your arms as leverage to throw your fat ass back at him. 

“That’s it! Take this dick, slut! You like how I’m fuckin’ this pussy??” he demanded, a hard smack coming down on your still aching ass when you didn’t answer fast enough. 

There was no way he actually believed you could form coherent thoughts right now. 

“I… love it! D-... don’t stop! Fuck… I’m gonna cum!” Your eyes had not stayed on your master as they should’ve, nor had you even tried that hard. But you deliberately cast them on him to beg for permission. “C-Can I cum daddy?? He feels so gooddddd…” 

“Why the fuck would I let you cum? You disobedient whore? Can’t follow simple fuckin’ instructions. 

Well shit. He was pissed. 

Your face was one of sadness at upsetting your daddy but everything inside was filled to the brim with glee. You weren’t going to be able to walk tomorrow. And then you could look forward to a day of aftercare and pampering from your love. 

“P-please, please. I-I’m sorry!! I tried. I-I can’t…” Michael was not helping your cause as you pleaded your case in front of a less than sympathetic judge. He found some superhuman ability to increase his already punishing pace, jackhammering into your g-spot. “Let me cum, pleasseeeee! I can’t hold it.” 

“She’s clenchin’ on my dick, brah.” 

You were going to cum either way, inevitably, but you were holding strong for those magic words. Moments before you felt yourself starting to break, you finally heard him.

“Cum for me.” 

“She’s creamin’ on this dick. This some good pussy, my man! You one lucky nigga.” He didn’t slow his pace as he fucked you through your second orgasm. "That's right, cum all over this dick, baby."

How were you not spent yet? No, you still wanted so much more. 

You lost track of your orgasms as Michael moved you into his desired positions, fucking you every type of way that suited him. And all the while, Aaron just watched, commanding your eyes to him in the moments leading up to your orgasms, forcing you to hold his gaze across the dark room. 

You thought the Earth had reversed on its axis somehow. 

“I’ll let you decide where you want it, kitten. On you or down your throat.” 

“Cum on my ass!” 

“Whatever baby girl wants.” He pulled out of you and sprayed your back and ass cheeks with his seed. You sighed out of contentment as you laid there, knowing your night was far from over. But you were grateful for the brief reprieve. 

Michael shifted off to the side as Aaron rejoined you, the Brit studying your ass painted in another man’s cum. If there was a way be any harder than he already was, he would be it right now. 

“You’re fuckin’ gorgeous, princess. I love you so much, you’re such a good girl for me. You ready for daddy, now?” 

You nodded enthusiastically. Michael was amazing but no one fucked you quite like Aaron. Those were the simple facts. 

“Good girl,” he flipped you and pushed your legs up so your knees were essentially up at your ears. 

This was a frankly evil thing to do, to start with this position. It was simplistic but he would pound you so deep, you saw fucking stars. At this rate, you would be tapping out far earlier than you would have hoped. 

“Ahhhh! Yessssss… thank you daddy! Love your dick, daddy!” You screamed as he entered you in one fluid motion, ending deep in your guts. 

“You take me so well, baby. You like how deep I’m fuckin’ this pussy?” 

“Yes, yes! Shit! God I love it! Oh Goddddd, fuck, baby…” 

“Ain’t no God to call out to here, princess. Just your masters.”

You gasped at the sudden all consuming emptiness of him exiting you. You felt his hand catch your ankle, which was still in the air where he left you. He dragged you to the edge of the bed and lifted you to your feet. You almost collapsed on your stiff legs but you quickly realized, he was not intending for you to support your own weight long. 

He hinged you at the waist, your fingertips supporting balancing some of your weight until he reentered you and regained control of your hips. He did all the work, holding all your weight with his strength as he fucked you straight into a sweet abyss. Nothing else mattered. Just the two of you. 

Well… three of you. Speaking of which… as if Aaron could read her mind, he says, “Suck him like the whore I know you are.” 

Using his strength to turn you both so you were eye level with Michael’s dick. He was getting hard, rested and ready for round two with ease. Both men looked as if they could do this all night while you knew you looked like you had been fucked just as good as you felt. 

You surrendered your mouth to Michael, allowing the actor to face fuck you to his heart’s content. And you simply enjoyed every moment of them fucking your holes like men possessed. No breaks, no time for breaths. Nothing. Just unforgiving feral fucking. 

You didn’t bother counting the orgasms they gave you as the two men traded places multiple times, using your mouth and pussy to their heart’s content. They worked up a perfect rhythm that brought you thrilling moment after thrilling moment  

“Don’t run, fuckin’ whore! You been takin’ it all night. Came in here with that fuckin' attitude. Take this dick!” Aaron ordered as you shied away from his forceful thrusts as he fucked you doggy style. 

Your body was being driven past overload as they stimulated every part of you. You could barely concentrate on Michael’s dick in front of your face with how Aaron was fucking you, clearly getting the last word of the evening. 

You thought you knew what overstimulation felt like but you had no fucking idea until today. But you knew the orgasm you were building toward would be your best yet, would be worth every moment of this. 

“Shit, I’m gonna cum!” Michael called out. 

“I’m close too. Daddy’s gonna cum in this sweet pussy, baby. But first, your other punishment. Cum as much as you want.” 

And with that, he and Michael went utterly and completely feral on your body, chasing one goal: their collective simultaneous pleasure. 

Michael grunted as he painted your face in his cum, much of it landing in your open mouth. He collapsed on the bed next to you, your body immediately crumbling forward without him holding you up. He caressed your skin as Aaron mercilessly fucked you, matching every thrust of his hips forward with a harsh slap to your ass. You knew you would have to endure as many as it took for him to cum.

Shit. You really fucked up.

You screamed and squealed, Michael roughly making out with you and sucked and bit your titties as if you needed more. You and Aaron reached the peaks of your mountains at the same time. At the warmth of him filling your pussy, white blanketed in your vision and sent you free falling into a new stratosphere.

Time felt inconceivable when you opened your eyes again. In your mind, no time had passed but instead of being on the bed, you were surrounded by warmth. Warm water lapped over your aching muscles, something hard propping you up from behind. 

“What’s…” you started to say, trying to lift up when a muscular arm snaked around your chest to hold you flush to him. 

“Relax, relax, princess. You’re good. Take a breath. Just blacked on us for a minute.” 

His voice calmed all the uneasy waters of your soul, you were safe and home with him. There was no better place to be in this life or the next. 

“Where’s… our guest?” Your voice cracked from the overuse of your throat. You rubbed your neck instinctively. 

“I’ll make you some tea when we get out,” he kissed your temple. “And he passed out in one of the guest rooms. I may have told him there was a strong possibility you’d be up for another round in an hour or two. Told me to get him when you finish soakin’ so he can give you a massage.” 

And you knew exactly where the yellow brick road of a massage would lead: to the Emerald Fucking City of Round 4.  

Your libido was just as high, if not higher than Aaron’s. More than once, it had been you demanding rounds 4-6 after he already wore you out during 1-3.

“One day you’re gonna get it wrong, you know?” you tease, allowing your head and back to rest with ease onto his chest. His hands massaged your hips and thighs and breasts, all sore from their spanking and biting. “That feels soooo good. You got the magic touch, baby.” 

  You ok, love? We were rough on you.” 

“More than ok. That was the most… insane and fun thing I’ve ever done. Exactly what I needed and wanted. Thank you, Aaron.” 

“Anything for you, princess. Rest for me, love.” 

You allowed your eyes to flutter closed again, dozing in the comfort of your boyfriend’s arms as he continued releasing knots from your muscles. You simply laid there with him, savoring him and the afterglow of being his. 

However, after about 15 minutes, you had rested long enough. This night would end eventually, you wanted to make the most of it with your two daddies. 

“Daddy… I think I’m ready for that massage now,” your eyes glistened with your true intentions, letting Aaron know that you were no close to done. 

He let out a low chuckle of disbelief. “You really are one of a kind, Y/N.” 

“I know,” you winked at him with a playful grin. “Now massage, please.,” you demanded like the spoiled brat you were.

Aaron got out of the bath first, his entire body glistening with water on every perfect panel of muscle and taunt skin. Was it nice being a bead of water sliding down that skin? It might be nice to be a bead of water on his skin. 

He quickly toweled himself off before helping you up, using his arms around you as your legs shook. 

He dried you before laying you back down on the bed, disappearing down the hall while you laid on your stomach and simply waited. 

“Well well well… couldn’t get enough could you, kitten?” 

You heard them before you saw them. 

“No sir.” 

“She’s insatiable. Makes her a good little whore for me, doesn’t it, princess?”

You felt their weight on both sides of the bed. 

“Yes, daddy,” you whined as their fingers started doing the Lord’s work massaging out every knot and kink buried in your limbs. 

You turned your head toward Aaron, reaching up and kissing him softly as a private thank you before laying down again. You closed your eyes and let them work, let them take care of you. 

Whoever said “three’s a crowd” clearly hadn’t met these two.

Tag list: @hxneyclouds @planetblaque @slutsareteacherstoo @theereina @prettyisasprettydoes1306 @apenasumlug4r @motheroffae @blackerthings @kindofaintrovert @thegreatlibraryofalex @melaninpov @hiwasteland @yamst3rdamctrl @miyuhpapayuh @dxddykenn @sageispunk @atribecalledqwest @4pfsukuna @beenathembo @throwmymbackout @nahimjustfeelingit-writes

***

A/N: Hoped you enjoyed that as much as I did! Thanks for reading!

[silvertherogue715]

it's been a minute since i've read Double Toil and Trouble but i think about the concept of demon sun and moon. way too much.

@naffeclipse i love your fire demon sun! bro has a criminal lack of art </3

[nataliasquote]

Double the trouble | Switch Up | n romanoff

Double the trouble AU

Summary: Yelena is back, the twins are older, and her scheming ways do nothing but backfire. a mother always knows…

Age: 8

Warnings: none

wc: 3.3k

note: hello! I’m back with another little oneshot for DTT. I’ve missed writing tbh and although this isn’t the best, I’m pleased to finally write. I’m sorry for keeping you waiting!

-⧗-

Leaving the twins with Yelena was either the best idea or the worst idea Natasha had ever had. But with Wanda away visiting her brother, Natasha didn’t really have much of a choice. Work didn’t allow her to take time off like this, so she turned to the next best thing.

The blonde was as grumpy as anything until she was faced with the two bundles of joy that were her nieces. She hated kids, but Isla and Y/n were an exception. She opened the door with a huge grin as the twins came barreling towards her, crouching barely over the threshold to collect them in a hug.

Natasha hovered back by the stairs with a soft smile tugging at her lips. Despite having a rocky patch, she truly loved Yelena with all her heart. And seeing her girls happy was all that mattered. She wished she could stay, but with new development plans happening at the studio, she had to oversee the final meeting.

“Are you staying all day?” Isla asked, peering round to look at Yelena’s truck parked in the driveway. “Where’s Fanny?”

“I’ll get her out in a minute, and yes I am, lucky duck.” The twins cheered at her response, their chatter tumbling over the top of each other as they bombarded their aunt with questions. Natasha quickly stepped in, taking them by the hand so Yelena could finally enter the house. After sending her girls over to the couch, Natasha pulled Yelena to one side, whispering in hushed voices.

“It shouldn’t take long, but in case I’m held back, there’s boxed mac and cheese in the cupboard and the girls made cookies last night so they’re in the green jar.”

“Mac and cheese, green jar, got it.”

“Please don’t give them too much sugar,” Natasha warned, knowing her sister’s tendencies, “and they have been arguing a lot, so good luck.” She didn’t really need to tell Yelena what to do, she’d babysat since they were really little, but it gave Natasha a piece of mind to know they were well looked after.

“Natasha, they’ll be fine. Don’t you trust me? Yelena asked with a grin.

“Absolutely not.”

Yelena rolled her eyes, stuffing her hands into her pockets. “So who’s the troublemaker this time?”

“Y/n has been in a mood for the past few days, so it’s currently her. Apparently Isla's existence annoys her.” As if on cue, a yell sounded from the living room and Natasha inwardly groaned. A moment of peace was never on the cards.

As she went to sort out whatever argument was occurring with her eight year olds, Yelena let Fanny out of the car and watched the Akita bound up the front steps, her tail wagging frantically. Any normal person would feel bad about the amount of hair she shed, but it only made Yelena laugh. She truly made every place her home.

The scene in the living room was absurd even for Yelena. Natasha was scolding a pouting Y/n whilst Isla cried in her arms, clutching something hidden behind her hair. Yelena hovered awkwardly, unsure how to approach, and Fanny did the same. It was almost like she could read the room.

Natasha, breathing a sigh of relief, gestured for Yelena to approach, to which she did. A sniffly Isla was pushed in her direction and the young girl lunged at her aunt, clinging to her waist with a sob.

“What happened?” Yelena mouthed, her eyebrows shooting up as Natasha held up what looked like a barbie doll. “Where’s the hair?”

“This one got scissor happy,” Natasha said exasperatedly, jabbing her thumb in Y/n’s direction.

“She stole my barbie!” Y/n protested, folding her arms across her chest in a huff.

“No!” Isla burst out,” that’s mine!”

“Well I don’t care, I was playing with it!”

“Get your own!”

Above their heads, Natasha gave Yelena a look. This is what she had been dealing with since Wanda left and although she hated leaving her kids, the bickering was starting to wear her down. It was Yelena’s turn to handle it for once. She just hoped the house would still be standing when she got back.

“Girls, please,” Natasha sighed, standing up with the barbie in her hand. “Mama has to go in a minute, and I’m not having you acting up for Yelena.” She used her stern mom voice and Y/n paled, hating being told off. “Y/n, can you apologise to Isla please.”

“No.”

Natasha may have a soft spot for her youngest but the glare that crossed her features made the little girl’s eyes well up and she hung her head in shame. “Y/n…” Natasha warned, knowing what came next if she didn’t start behaving.

“Sorry,” Y/n mumbled, suddenly very interested in the sleeve of her pink sweater.

“Good,” Natasha stated, brushing off the dog hair from her sleek black suit trousers. “I want you two on your best behaviour, and Yelena will tell me everything that happens. If I find out that you’ve been disrespectful and naughty, I will tell Mama. Okay?”

The girls mumbled in chorus, with Isla still clinging on to Yelena and Y/n standing by herself. It was just a phase, Natasha had to keep reminding herself that, but it certainly felt as though it was going to last forever. She wasn’t the bad mom, but Y/n’s behaviour had been so bad lately that not a day went by where she wasn’t being told off. It hurt her to see her daughter so upset, but Natasha stood strong. It was her own kindred spirit that she saw in Y/n, and now she understood why she was such a difficult child sometimes.

“We’re going to have fun, right guys?” Yelena asked with extravagant enthusiasm, although the responses she got were far from it. “You can go and do your boring adult stuff whilst the cool kids do… cool kid stuff.”

Natasha anxiously glanced at her kids, a wave of doubt washing over her. “Are you sure you’ll be okay? I can cancel-”

“Natasha, go, I’ll be fine. They’re angels with me and I’ve got Fanny with me if it all goes wrong.”

The dog in question gave a small woof and Natasha eyed her warily, far more a cat person than a dog person. She wasn’t totally convinced, but motherhood had made her anxious so she straightened out her jacket and nodded, psyching herself up.

“I’ll be back by 5, 6 at the latest.”

“Have a good day Mama,” Y/n said quietly, trying desperately to get back on her good side. Having Wanda mad at her was bad enough, but having Natasha was the worst thing she could think of. And when her Mama crouched down and opened her arms, Y/n took her chance to get to the hug first, muttering another ‘sorry’ to try and make amends.

“Be good, girls. I’ll be home soon.”

‘Aunty Lena, does Mama hate me?” Y/n asked as the door closed. The blonde frowned and turned to her niece, her large green eyes piercing into the Russian’s soul.

“Of course not, little bug. But you have to start being nice to Isla, okay?”

“I know,” Y/n replied. “She just really makes me mad.”

“That’s what sisters do. Your mama and I used to fight all the time.”

Y/n’s eyes lit up. “You did?”

“It’s totally normal, little bug. When your mama had blue hair, I used to tease her about it all the time.”

Isla’s head perked up at that. “Mama had blue hair?”

“Has she never shown you pictures?” Yelena asked in disbelief. Both girls shook their heads and Yelena grinned. “I’ll make some hot chocolate and I can show you. Your grandma put all our photos as kids in an album.”

The twins cheered loudly and ran to the kitchen, laughing with each other. It was such a stark contrast to earlier that Yelena had to do a double take at what she was witnessing.

“I’m glad you’re not this much work,” she muttered to Fanny, who barked happily at the noise. Kids really were hard work.

~~~

“Lena, kick it!” Isla yelled across the garden, dancing around the goal whilst her aunt really took her time. She was doing it purely to mess with her niece, and it was working perfectly. With another yell, Isla sprinted out of the goal in an attempt to tackle, but Yelena took her chance and sent the ball flying into the goal with a thud.

“That’s not fair!” She cried, running over to retrieve it.

“Another point to Aunt Lena!” Y/n announced from her place at the side before launching into another back walkover. She’d only recently learned the skill at dance and was more than happy to do acro tricks whilst they played. As long as she kept score as promised.

“No! That doesn’t count,” Isla protested, one foot propped up on the ball. “She cheated.”

“I didn’t cheat, you just have no patience,” Yelena said sassily, propping a hand up on her hip. “You’re not going to make a very good goal keeper.”

“I hate soccer anyway,” Isla grumbled, kicking the ball as hard as she could in Yelena’s direction. “It sucks.”

“It’s only because you’re bad at it,” Y/n piped up, now sitting on the porch steps after exhausting herself from cartwheels.

“You’re worse!” Typical comeback but Yelena had had enough. With a roll of her eyes, she marched towards the goal, giving Isla a bump with her elbow as she walked past.

“New game, I’ll be in goal and you have to work together to score. Deal?”

Isla shook her head. “I’m not playing with her, she can’t even kick a ball!”

“I can too!” Y/n protested, sprinting up to her sister. “I’m better than you and I don’t even have lessons.”

“That’s so not true. You-”

“Guys!” Yelena shouted, her Russian accent thickly coating her words. “Do you ever stop this fighting? It’s so annoying!”

The twins went silent, an uncommon phenomenon. Y/n muttered something under her breath but Yelena didn’t have it in her to care anymore. Every time she babysat it made her more and more impressed at how Natasha did it. A true saint.

“New rules. You have to pass it to each other before trying to score. If you don’t, the point goes to me. Okay?”

“Fine!”

Surprisingly, very few fights broke out over the course of the game. Isla did most of the scoring after Y/n well and truly botched her tries. But in her defence, her legs weren’t made for kicking the shit out of a soccer ball.They were made for cartwheels, which Isla soon got fed up with.

After far too long outside, Yelena rounded them up and herded them back inside after teeth started chattering and Y/n’s soaked trouser legs from falling over were turning her lips slightly blue.

After a quick bath she sat them both on Isla’s bed and dug through her closet for some comfier clothes. After a few minutes she sat back on her knees, her mind racing.

“Do you guys match anymore?”

“Ew,” Isla said, her nose scrunching. “Never. All Y/n wears is pink, and I hate pink.”

“You also hate dresses too.”

Yelena was quiet for a moment, the cogs in her head turning. She turned around with a sheepish smile, almost shaking with excitement.

“I have an idea, but you need to cooperate… okay?”

~~~

Natasha sighed as she stepped out of her car, her breath forming a small cloud in front of her. It was far too cold for October and she rushed up the front steps to get inside. The building work was looking amazing and she knew Y/n was itching to get back to the studio just as much as she was (there was only so much kitchen ballet they could do).

It was eerily quiet as the front door opened, only her heels sounding on the wooden floor as she approached the kitchen. She wasn’t met with a pile of bodies throwing themselves at her, which was probably more strange than the silence. Had she trusted Yelena too much and her sister had kidnapped her children and ran off to Russia? Honestly it wasn’t such a surprising theory.

Empty kitchen… empty living room… this was weird. But the sound of giggles couldn’t be hidden and Natasha kicked off her heels at the bottom of the stairs and took the stairs two at a time, her trousers straining around her thigh muscles. Isla’s laugh was the most distinguishable and she pushed the door open slowly, trying not to startle anyone.

The wholesome sight of the three of them sitting on the floor surrounded by stuffed animals was enough to melt Natasha’s heart and she smiled softly, leaning on the doorframe waiting for someone to notice her. And strangely it wasn’t Y/n but Isla who jumped up first, almost stumbling over Fanny to get to her Mama with a shriek.

Natasha caught her daughter in her arms and pressed kisses all over her face, warmth flooding her body. She would never feel complete when she was away from her girls.

Y/n quickly joined in, wanting the same cuddles. Natasha crouched down and stroked their cheeks before pausing slightly, squinting. Something wasn’t right and Yelena’s overly wide grin didn’t help her suspicions either. She stroked Isla’s hair with a chuckle and straightened up, her back aching from bending down so much.

“Did you girls have a good day?” She asked, watching as Y/n settled back on the floor beside Fanny. “You both look happier than when I left.”

“We played soccer and beat Aunt Lena!” Y/n piped up. “I scored all the goals.”

“No, I helped too!”

Natasha didn’t miss the way Yelena nudged her nieces or how their eyes went as wide as saucers. But the redhead just chuckled and took a seat on Isla’s bed, her legs slightly aching from standing all day.

Isla stood in front of her, clearly torn with where to go. Natasha knew she wanted to sit on her knee but watched as she settled beside Yelena again. It was impressive, Natasha gave her that much. Very dedicated to the cause.

“You did? Well done baby. Have you behaved today?”

“They’ve been angels, sestra, as usual. It’s only you they are bad for.” Yelena had a shit eating grin and it took everything in Natasha not to launch a pillow at her head. But she could not condone aggression around her violent children anyway before Y/n got any more ideas.

“Is that right?”

“Mama you had blue hair!”

If looks could kill, Yelena would be well and truly dead. If there was one thing Natasha hated, it was pictures of her younger self. She made far too many questionable decisions and went through one too many boxes of hair dye, so seeing pictures was a no no. Not even Wanda had seen many. And now her daughters had seen the worst ones which she was never going to live down.

“Yelena Belova… what did you do.”

The blonde just shrugged and jumped up, causing Fanny to do the same. The queen of avoiding things. “Who wants Aunt Yelena’s special mac and cheese?”

The twins both cheered and raced out of the room after their aunt, leaving Natasha slightly bewildered in the blue and white room. There were times where Natasha convinced herself that Yelena wasn’t all that bad, and then she pulled stunts like this and put herself back on top of Natasha’s hit list. But that was never going to change.

“What else did you show my kids, Yelena?”

No reply. Typical.

Natasha truly was outnumbered when her sister was around. But then she remembered what was really going on and a small laugh escaped Natasha’s mouth. Adorable, really.

Y/n and Isla helped as much as they could to make dinner, including standing on a chair to stir the boiling noodles and dumping the cheese packets in when instructed. Natasha was banished to setting the table after Isla gave her a lecture about her inability to cook, clearly something else she’d picked up from Yelena. But Natasha yielded, setting the cutlery down with a shake of her head. The longer it went on for, the more she tried not to laugh. And the more slip ups she noticed.

Like how Isla wouldn’t stand on the chair because she was scared of heights, even though yesterday she climbed the largest tree in the backyard. And how Y/n stood still when waiting for her turn, when she’d usually be twirling around with her apron. Natasha could only watch as Yelena heavily emphasised their names and the twins burst into giggles whenever they answered her. It was adorable to see and she couldn’t wait to tell Wanda.

They ate in silence, which was usually the case when mac and cheese was involved. And the girls did very well, Natasha gave them that, until she pulled an admittedly evil move.

“How about cookies?” Yelena asked once plates were cleared and the table was wiped down.

“It sounds good to me,” Natasha agreed, grabbing the tin and sitting back at the table. “One each, you too Yelena. And Y/n, you know the rules. You got in trouble today so you don’t get a cookie.”

She slid the tin to Isla who happily reached in until a protest sounded from the girl next to her.

“That’s not fair! That’s my cookie!”

Isla had already shoved her cookie in her mouth at this point, the crumbs sticking to her cheeks and the front of her shirt. She grinned happily, thankful she agreed to Yelena’s scheming plot.

“Mama! That’s mine!”

Natasha shook her head. “No Y/n, those aren’t the rules, you know that.”

Isla smacked her palm against the tabletop. “I’m not Y/n! She is!” She pointed at her sister harshly, who was licking the crumbs from her fingertips. “We switched!”

“Isla!” Y/n whined, “You weren’t supposed to spoil it!”

“I’m not losing my cookie, give it to me!”

“No,” Y/n said with a grin. “Mama said you can’t have one, so you can’t.”

“I hate you!”

Natasha watched the scene unfold, with Yelena looking more and more concerned. The blonde turned to her sister for help, but was met with only a smirk and a raised eyebrow.

“Do something!” Yelena hissed, but Natasha shook her head.

“Absolutely not,” Natasha said, leaning back in her chair. “It’s your mess, you fix it.”

“Tell her Aunt Lena!” Isla cried, tears threatening to spill. “Tell her I’m Isla! I’m not Y/n.”

Whilst Isla was nearing a breakdown, Y/n’s mean streak thickened. “These cookies really are good.”

“Mama please!”

Natasha rounded the table and placed a kiss on Isla’s forehead before passing her the biggest cookie from the tin. “Here baby, you’re okay,” she soothed, gently wiping her tears. “But your Aunt is an idiot. I did know it was you all along Isl’s, I’m sorry baby.” She picked her daughter up and set her on her lap, holding her close as she ate her cookie.

Yelena’s mouth fell open. “You knew?”

“From the moment ‘Isla’ ran to me first.” Yelena hit the table, muttering ‘dammit’ under her breath. “A mother always know, Yel. Always.”

[thebat-musicman]

WIPS I COULD REREAD OVER AND OVER AGAIN:

Wants and Needs (well, mostly wants): Chefs kiss, I am in love. Tim is so evil and so cute. Such long chapters that i totally love.

1-800-Gotham: SO MANY MISUNDERSTANDINGS!!!! All the bats want to adopt Jax and think Angel is evil.

Drake’s Spoiled Brat (I’m sorry Dad): As you can see I am a SLUT for Tim joining the batfamily late or early. This is also filled with identity shenanigans which are my favorite.

little menace: He’s such a cute little monster. Timmy is deaged to a vaguely evil toddler which is just awesome.

Double Trouble: CHAOS LORD TIM. Nothing else exists of this which is so disappointing as im in love now.

Jason Todd’s Guide on How to be Haunted with Minimal Stress: MWAH I AM KISSING THIS. I literally reread this the second i finished it. If it’s abandoned i will host a funeral. Dick, Tim, and Damian are sent back in time and Robin!Jason mistakes them as ghosts. They’re all surprised by what a sweet innocent child he is.

god turned human: Percy Jackson crossover. It only updates once a month which is so sadddd. I need to know where it’s going.

[scribblesofagoonerr]

Lots more stuff to come! 🎉

Saw you reposted the fic and I have no one to freak out to over this so I'm turning to you 😂😂

MONKEY IS HAVING A BABY!!!!!

The way ya'll writers get us in a grip with your original characters is insane because why did I feel like a proud mum reading that fic even though Monkey is only a few years younger than me lmao

Shout out to @scribblesofagoonerr for the amazing universe they've created, everyone needs to check that out 🥹🥹

I absolutely love @scribblesofagoonerr little world, it’s so amazing! im lucky enough to know the plans and you guys will love it 🤭 I adore monkey and buddy

[cipher-the-sidhe]

“You cannot speak to him,” Moon says as he sets his hand over your mouth, silencing you. You don’t have the strength to resist, much less stay conscious, but your heart begins pounding.

“You cannot look at him,” Sun says gently but with a great deal of warning in his voice as he covers your eyes with his dark digits. You’re in the dark. The speed of your breath through your nose picks up as you become hyper-alert through the fog of tiredness.

“You cannot listen to him,” they say together, voices overlaid and sending your pulse spiking as arms reach across your chest as your familiars cover the ear opposite of them. Together, their combined efforts hold you in a cage of their palms.

You’re made deaf. You’re in the dark. You’re held silent.

Perhaps you have tempted an evil into this world you were not ready for.

. ✨✨🌙✨✨✨🌙🌙✨✨✨🌙🌙✨✨

From @naffeclipse ‘s “Double Toil and Trouble”

I love this scene and this fic and I wish wish wish I had time to do a proper illustration but I DONT, so I did this instead and it’ll have to do.

[jamieroyjamieroy]

Double Date

This is a one shot that takes place in my Tommy and Rocker are long lost twins universe. Buck and Tommy host Rocker and Luca for a dinner to allow Tommy and Rocker to spend more time getting to know one another. Brotherly banter and swapping weirdest call stories ensue. Just some fluff (with a bit of smut) because I love the thought of Tommy and Rocker being twins and I couldn't leave this story alone.

“Baby it’s Rocker and Luca I’m sure they are going to be happy just to be fed.” Tommy says resting his chin on Evan’s shoulder.

“I know. Sorry. Just running through the checklist of things we still have to do.” Evan replies sinking into the hug.

“Oh no. Not a checklist. Is your clipboard around here somewhere?” Tommy asks pushing his hips forward and smiling into the kiss he places on Evan’s neck.

Evan smirks over at Tommy “No, no clipboard. Just a mental checklist, sorry to disappoint.”

“Still sexy” Tommy kisses Evan’s birthmark.

Read on Ao3

[scribblesofagoonerr]

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

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

double the trouble masterlist

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

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

It’s too early for this much noise.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You flinched.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Monkey—” Leah began.

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

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

You froze, the guilt creeping up in your throat.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The car was already off to a rocky start.

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

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

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

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

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

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

You grunted in response, head leaning against the window.

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

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

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

There was a sudden silence that filled the car.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Not angry. Not loud. Just… hurt.

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

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

The rest of the drive was quiet. Too quiet.

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

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

Instead, it was disappointment.

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

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

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

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

You didn’t answer.

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

“Yes, Mum,” You begrudgingly responded.

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

You didn’t answer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You didn’t answer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You didn’t know what to say.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You froze.

Leah.

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

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

“Mum…” You began to protest.

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

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

Your knees buckled.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You nodded into her top.

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

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

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

And then… warmth. A sudden gush of it.

You froze.

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

But your heart was already pounding in your ears.

Something definitely wasn’t right.

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

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

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

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

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

But you didn’t stop.

You couldn’t.

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

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

This one was different.

Alessia.

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

Your breathing turned ragged.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Alessia caught Leah’s eyes over your head.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It hit Leah like a freight train.

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

Her blood ran cold.

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

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

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

How could you be pregnant?

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

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

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

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

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

Leah’s breath caught.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You nodded, just a small, tiny movement.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A split second of stillness.

Then, a shrill cry.

High-pitched. Raw. Real.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Monkey—”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

No one answered immediately.

Then there was a wail.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It was too late.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You didn’t want her.

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

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

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

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

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

You didn’t move—You didn’t answer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Monkey—”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The phone clicked—Jordan answered on the other end.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jordan stepped inside, and immediately froze.

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

“What… the fuck?” Jordan whispered.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

© scribblesofagoonerr

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

[starcrossedxwriter]

Y’all want a double trouble part 2 👀👀

I’m currently inspired by all the terry richmond fics I consumed today soooo I may or may not have another one up my sleeve 🙈

[furashuban]

Fairy Memories

Words: 200

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/57228424

Summary: Johanna remembers being a kid and meeting Hilda in the Fairy Isle.

Curled up cozily on the sofa, Hilda kept herself busy with her sketchbook over her lap and a pencil on hand. She drew herself and Twig strolling along fairy country, and beside her was a younger girl, staring and grinning back at her as they held each other’s hands and pressed on.

“Aww, Hilda, that looks lovely,” Johanna admired, taking a seat beside her daughter.

“Thanks, mum,” Hilda held up her artwork for her and Johanna to behold, “it’s been helping me relax drawing our time at the Fairy Isle. Well, all the good parts about it, at least.” She carried on putting the finishing touches on the gargantuan mushrooms and overgrown shrubs surrounding the girls as her mother watched closely.

“I still have memories of that day, you know,” said Johanna, “You finding me alone while I was crying, exploring fairy country together, yet somehow, it really feels like that happened so long ago for me. I always realize one thing whenever I look back on it, though.”

Hilda looked up at her mother curious, and Johanna grinned softly, caressing her cheek in return.

“It’s that you aren’t just my daughter, Hilda, you've always been my best friend, too.”

[lopsicle]

••Everyone Wears A Costume••

TickleTober Day 21: Costume

Characters: Lee! Double Trouble, Ler! Glimmer

Summary: While Double Trouble is held captive at Bright Moon, Glimmer decides on a different method of interrogating her prisoner.

Warnings: SFW Tickle Fic, Non-Con Tickles.

Double Trouble's time at Bright Moon had been unsuccessful, for both them and their captors. Being captured at all was obviously undesirable for the shapeshifter, but their captors had proved very, very annoying. Adora and Glimmer were constantly at each other's throats with Bow caught between them, Mermista had been sitting in a bath tub, depressed while devouring tubs of ice cream. They'd been excited to meet this Entrapta character that Catra had mentioned, only to have learned that was a lie. All they could do was sit around in their very lovely prison, shooting taunts at their imprisoners to pass the time.

And for the residents of Bright Moon, Double Trouble was nothing more than an uncooperative nuisance, not willing to give up any information about the Horde. Glimmer had suggested using more...practical means of getting them to talk, only to be promptly shut down by Adora, much to both of their irritation. Since doing anything to harm Double Trouble was out of the picture, and that Shadow Weaver's teachings were slow at helping Glimmer, she began thinking of another method to get them to talk.

Glimmer entered the lavish dining room where Double Trouble was kept, sealed within a magical circle in the centre of the room. They were draped over a velvet couch, their long legs hanging over the arm of the couch. They perked up a little at Glimmer's entrance, smiling cockily at her.

"Ah, Sparkles, what an unpleasant surprise. Here to bother me with more of your failed magic?" They let out a little giggle at the word failed, though it just caused Glimmer's stare to harden before she took in a deep breath.

"No, actually, I thought of a better way to bother you." Glimmer smirked, approaching Double Trouble who sat up with curiosity.

"Really, what's that? Gonna call in your little blond friend to argue with in front of me? Ugh, please, I can hear you two through the walls, can you keep it down?" They smirked at her, remaining unfazed as Glimmer stepped through the mystical seal, standing before Double Trouble.

"Oh, I'm gonna enjoy this." Glimmer declared with certainty that Double Trouble hadn't heard from her before, making them raise an eyebrow in curiosity before rising to their full height, staring down at Glimmer.

"Oh please, what are you gonna do Miss Friendship is Magic?" They taunted her once more, to which Glimmer looked up at them to meet their gaze.

"This." She responded simply before clasping Double Trouble's sides in her hands, vibrating her fingertips against their skin. Double Trouble made a sound akin to a dying bird and flinched back, falling back onto the couch leaving them at eye level with Glimmer. Double Trouble had been expecting something much more horrible or much more pathetic from Glimmer, given that living in the Crimson Waste for most of their life had really toughened them up. It was almost embarrassing that something as soft and silly as tickling finally got them to break composure.

"Ah! J-jehehez, I knew that ahahall of you wehehere incompetent but thihihis is a nehehew low, Spahaharkles." Still, they tried to keep up their bravado, even if they didn't look as imposing while giggling.

"Ugh, don't you ever shut up? You are going to stop belittling everything we do and actually be honest for once!" Glimmer exploded, their fingers digging into Double Trouble's torso and scratching about roughly.

"Hah, ahahahs if, prihihincess! Ihihits going to tahahke a lot mohohore thahahn your chihihldish gahahames to get me to breahahk my act!" Double Trouble smirked confidently, making Glimmer realise they were right. They weren't squirming or breaking down or even batting her hands away, they were just sitting there and taking it.

"Don't call it an act, this isn't some stupid play, its war!" Glimmer exclaimed, stomping her foot against the ground, getting more and more frustrated with Double Trouble by the second, who was finding this increasingly amusing.

"Everything I do ihihis an ahahact, juhuhuhust like how everyone wehehears a costume." Double Trouble recoiled away from Glimmer's touch, standing up off the couch and escaping her hands. She huffed in aggravation and turned to face them; they were standing so sure of themself as per usual.

"Take yourself for instance." Double Trouble's skin become silhouette-like, before appearing to melt down and then reform itself, shifting to take on Glimmer's appearance. She recoiled at the disturbing mirror, before reminding herself to keep it together.

"Your trying so desperately to be a good leader, aren't you? But, let's face facts, darling," Double Trouble approached Glimmer, who kept a stern, but combative expression on her face, like a dog acting out. "Your whole alliance is going down worse than Catra and Adora's friendship." Double Trouble flicked some of their new hair with pizzazz, about as pleased as a cat which just knocked a glass vase off of the counter.

"You are so annoying to deal with! You are talking about things you don't understand!" Glimmer whined defensively, taking a hold of Double Trouble's hips and squeezing them. Surprisingly, they shrieked and jumped back this time, seeming startled at their own reaction. It took Glimmer of guard for a second too, before a look of conniving realisation sparked in their eyes.

"Oh, I get it, you become as ticklish as the person you become, don't you?" Glimmer smirked, moving closer to her double who also stepped backwards until their back hit the transparent magical seal.

"It would appear that way, darling, real smart move to reveal your own weaknesses to me though." Glimmer, however, wasn't taking any of their teasing seriously anymore, simply reaching for her, and therefore Double Trouble's, death spot. She began kneading her fingers against their thighs, scribbling their hands about against the pudgy skin.

"H-HEHEHEHEHY-WHYHY ARE YOHOHOU SO DAHAHAHMN TIHIHIHCKLISH?!" Double Trouble screamed, having trouble adjusting to their new found sensitivity. Their composure broke instantly, keeling over and desperately trying to grab at Glimmer's hands. Unfortunately, she was a lot more coordinated than them and expertly swerved her hands away whenever they got close. Glimmer knew exactly how to press their buttons, suddenly starting to scratch at Double Trouble's inner thighs, causing them to lose their balance and fall on the floor, kicking their ticklish legs up in the air.

"What's the matter, DT? I thought you were too good for my childish games." She teased them, earning a whine from Double Trouble. She smirked in satisfaction and kept scritching and scratching away at their inner thighs, making them howl in laughter and buck their legs about in the air. A little idea buzzed into Double Trouble's head; they're only this ticklish because they shapeshifted into Glimmer, all they have to do is shift into someone else! With little time to think, Double Trouble quickly shifted into someone else from the Princess Alliance, the first person that popped into their head, Bow. Glimmer blushed for a brief moment at the change in view, before a new wave of confidence burst through them.

"Great move, genius, Bow's my best friend, I know where he's most ticklish." With pride, her fingers slid to Double Trouble's waistline, delivering light but sharp jabs against the sensitive stretch of skin. The goosing made Double Trouble scream and twist about on the floor, wrapping their arms around their torso in a protective hug while trying to unsuccessfully flip themselves onto their hyper sensitive stomach.

"G-GLIMMER, IHIHISN'T THIS A WAHAHR CRIHIHME OR SOMETHING?!" Double Trouble screamed, praying that just about anything would save them from this fate. Glimmer just tutted and shook her head.

"Shadow Weaver has it on good authority that it is not, and she seems like she'd know something like that." Glimmer responded coolly, earning another whine of some mix of desperation and frustration from Double Trouble. There had to be at least one person in this cursed castle that wasn't ticklish, right? Frantically, they began shifting their form once again, landing on a familiar blond sight, donning a red jacket with white pants. Adora. Glimmer's eyes narrowed in a mix of motion, but she kept up her costume, retaining her bravado.

"Not gonna work either, DT, I got Adora's spots down too." She teased, quickly straddling their waist before plunging her fingers into Double Trouble's ribs, scratching against the delicate bones. They pounded their heels against the floor, covering their face with their hands and gripping onto their scalp so, so tightly.

"GLIHIHIHMMER, QUIHIHIHIT IHIHT!! WHYHYH ARE YOHOHOU AHAHAHLL SOHOHOHO TIHIHHICKLISH?! JUHUHUST STOHOHOP, IHIHI'LL PAHAHAHY YOHOHU!" That offer just made Glimmer realise how much progress she had made with her previously stuborn prisoner, only encouraging them to scrape against their ribs even faster.

"You and I both know the only thing I'm interested in being paid in is information. Go on, tell me all about the Horde's plans, I'm alllll ears." She prompted them, but surprisingly, Double Trouble still shook their head, mostly because their loyalty had been brought out by the Horde and partly because of some misplaced affection for Catra.

"I-I'M GOHOHOHOHNNA PAHAHAHASS OHOHOHOHUT!!" Double Trouble announced triumphantly, all their shifting had ended up really tuckering them out, and Glimmer's constant, intense ticklish barrage. Glimmer looked into their drained eyes, realising that they had gotten them to tell the truth. Finally. It was a start, she thought to herself. Double Trouble breathed a sigh of relief as they felt her touch leaving their body, panting for breath.

"Fine, if you can't handle my childish interrogation tactics, I guess we'll call this a draw." She annouced, hoisting Double Trouble up back onto their couch, which they lazily flopped onto, burying their face in one of the soft pillows.

"I can respect that judgement, darling." They offered, not wanting to snap back and potentially anger Glimmer even more. They'd had just about enough tickles for a lifetime after that, but Glimmer still seemed like they were just getting started.

[tippenfunkaport]

Chapter 3 of my Music Industry AU is up

In which Bow, Adora, Glimmer and Catra meet together for the first time all story, but it's only because they are preparing for Double Trouble's evil interview

Read Chapter 3 of It's Not Me, It's You on AO3

[loverbobby]

"I didn't say you couldn't, I just wanted to help." He says, shrugging a shoulder but he doesn’t pull his gaze off her, noticing the way that India puts space between them with a step back, hitting her hip against the edge of the bar.

“Yeah, well.” She huffs, rolling her eyes. “You lost that privilege when you lied to me.”

after her ex—boyfriend, Marshall, steps in to save her from a man in a club, it leads India down a path of unlearning everything she thought she knew about her breakup.

read on ao3

[welcometololaland]

Double, Double, Acting Trouble | RWRB | 30k | E

(for @clottedcreamfudge. thank you to @celeritas2997 for beta reading)

I don't really have any way to describe this fic except to say that if you've ever wanted to read the most unhinged version of Alex and Henry getting together (in a crack-taken-seriously way), then this fic is for you. It features a divorce subplot (not Alex and Henry), a sea cucumber in a pickle costume, sushi for breakfast and a rat with half a tail named Henry.

Alex, Nora and Henry stare blankly at Professor Jenemy for a long moment before Henry sighs. “Sir, is that really the point of the play?” “Yes.” “I thought the point of the play was sea cucumbers,” Nora mutters under her breath. “Would a hug suffice?” Henry offers hopefully. “A long one?” Nora adds. “We can make it extra tender. I can leap into his arms—” “A hug could be interpreted as platonic,” Professor Jenemy argues. “It must be a kiss.” “Idea,” Alex offers, seemingly without thinking. “Nora and I swap roles.” Professor Jenemy’s jaw drops open. “In what world does that make sense?” “She doesn’t want to kiss Henry and I…wouldn’t say no,” Alex amends quickly. “And besides, I’m a better kisser.”

Read more on Ao3

[argonaut--keene]

Okay fuck it, even if I don't finish it anytime soon or ever, I have 40 chapters of this fic that have been waiting to see the light of day for years and you know what, they're good, so I'm going to share them. Get ready, it's time to find Another Way