#feli rauch image

[skipper1331]

Public? // Felicitas Rauch

a/n: based off this request. Hope you like it:)

The tension was thick at home.

Felicitas loved you.

You loved Felicitas.

But that didn‘t change the fact that there was this strange atmosphere ever since the two of you had one of your biggest fight ever.

-

At the age of 15, Feli and you met.

At the age of 16, she asked you out on a date.

After several dates, you asked you to be her girlfriend - it took you some weeks to build up the courage to do so.

At the age of 23, Feli asked you to marry her.

At the age of 24, the two of you were happily married.

Both of you seemed to be happy - you were, but something in Felis mindset shifted which had led to your argument.

She hated that she couldn‘t wear her ring.

She hated that nobody knew she was married.

For the world, you didn’t exist - that‘s how many people knew about you.

You‘re her wife.

She wanted to show everybody how much in love she was with you.

She wanted to post pictures with you,

she wanted to hold your hand in public,

she wanted to be seen with you.

You‘re everything to her and nobody knew about it.

-

It started as a simple conversation.

"Liebe, can we talk about something?" the German asked, taking a seat in front of you. You looked up from your laptop, putting the pen down, so your complete attention was on her. "Is everything alright?" you questioned, a big frown displayed over your features. It was never a good sign to start conversations like that, "what‘s wrong?"

The defender took a deep breath before she answered straightforward, "be my wife." which came out ruder than intended.

Confused, you looked at her, "I am"

"You‘re not" she declared, her jaw tense.

"What‘re you talking about?" you closed your laptop, "does that mean nothing?" wiggling with your ringfinger.

"No" she didn‘t want to get mad but slowly anger started to float through her body, all her emotions discovering the surface, "because I can‘t wear mine!"

Taken back by her outburst, you matched her tone, "that‘s not my fault! You‘re the athlete, not me"

"You wanted us to be private!" her voice raised, "I could‘ve easily taped my ring" with her finger at the brick of nose, she tried to calm down. That’s not the way she wanted it to turn out - not at all.

"I want to be public" she stated, this time a much softer voice talking to you. The voice you could listen hours to.

"I don’t!"

With her voice level back angry and heart hurt, she growled, "Why not?!"

"I don‘t want to"

Your answer only made her angrier as she stood up and walked around the kitchen counter to pour herself a glass of water.

"That‘s not a reason!"

"You know what?!" leaving the chair, you gathered your notes, "I don‘t have to explain myself"

Feli could only watch as you took your laptop and walked away, in the direction of the front door.

Quickly, she followed you, stopping you in your tracks as she grabbed your wrist, her touch gentle, "Where are you going?"

"Away from you!" you felt so hurt, the insult of not being her wife. Was this whole marriage a joke to her?

"Y/n" she started, the hurt on your face visible for her, "please-"

"No, i got the message" you grumbled, "it‘s yours" angrily you took of the ring, slamming it down on the shelf.

Maybe it was childish to take off your ring but you felt helpless. She had been your girlfriend for many years and your wife for a few years, but never, never ever had she hurt you as much with a statement as she just did.

You left shortly after, Feli standing in the hall with an empty expression on her, your ring between her fingers.

She fucked up. She really did and she knew.

-

It was dark outside, 10 minutes before midnight and you still weren‘t home which made her anxious. The varnish of her nails was peeled off, her leg hobbling up and down and her mind racing with worst case scenarios.

Liebe❤️

When are you coming home?

please let me know

Even though you were hurt, you replied to her text. You hated it not reply to her texts and you could imagine how she was feeling, you hated it too when you didn’t know when she was coming home.

You

one hour.

Feli was laying in bed, anxiously watching the clock in your bedroom as she waited for you to come home. There was no way she would fall asleep before she knew you were safely at home.

Exactly an hour later, you opened the front door, walking into your home, eyes puffy and red. The defender didn’t leave the bed, she didn’t try to approach you nor talk to you. She wanted to let you be. Yet that didn‘t stop her from hoping you would join her in bed.

And you did.

Wordlessly you laid down, your back facing her. The German felt her heart sink, usually you would always cuddle her - she really had fucked up.

It took you about 20 minutes before you fell asleep, your body physically exhausted, Feli still wide awake. As your soft snores filled the room the defender was quick to decide what her next move would be. She couldn’t sleep without holding you, so that‘s what she did. Her arms snuggled around waist as she pulled you close, your body relaxing in her touch. She would make it up to you - that was a promise.

-

You woke up alone in bed, the wolfsburg player nowhere to be seen. Making your way out of bed, dressed in a oversized shirt and shorts, you walked in the kitchen, the smell of pancakes hitting your nostrils, "good morning" you muttered as you rubbed your eyes, taking on seat at the bar stool.

"Hey" the german whispered as she took you in, "I made you breakfast" she handed you the plate which was filled with pancakes.

"Thank you"

It was silent for a few moments.

"I‘m sorry" your wife started, "I’m so sorry. You‘re my wife no matter if the world knows that or not- I shouldn’t have yelled at you and I’m so sorry for insulting you like that" she inhaled sharply, turning to you as she gently interwined your fingers, "I love you. You are everything to me"

"Your comment hurt me" you whispered, your head falling against her shoulder as she instantly wrapped her arms around you. Silent tears streamed down your face as she mumbled sweet nothings in your ear.

"I‘m so sorry, baby" multiple kisses were pressed against your head, "I don’t wanna be public if you don‘t want to. I want you to be happy"

Her hands cupped your cheeks as she made you look at her, her eyes determined with her statement, "I love you"

-

"Can you tell me why you don‘t want to be public?" she asked one evening as she held you in her arms with the tv playing in the background. Her tone was gentle, understanding and as if she would accept every answer, she just had to know an answer.

"I like privacy"

And even though, it was indeed true that you enjoyed your privacy, the real reason to stay in secret was because you were afraid. You feared the public and their words. You didn‘t want your relationship to break down because her fans didn‘t like you or your looks or the fact that you don’t play nor enjoy football.

Just you and her.

-

The topic wasn‘t brought up again yet you could see how it killed Feli from day to day, how much it hurt her to take off her ring every morning. Her eyes stopped shining the way they used to, her smile didn‘t reach the corner of her eyes anymore - the light was missing.

She loved you, she really did and she still treated you like a princess but not wearing her ring, not having the opportunity to show you off left her heart in pain.

Which is why you did what you did one day after her training.

The defender came home with a smile tugged on her lips as she told you about her day.

After her story about the day, "I‘m going to shower, baby" she stated, pressing multiple kisses to your cheeks before she walked towards the bathroom, her phone resting on the kitchen counter.

When you heard the shower, it was safe to say that she wouldn‘t come out of the bathroom for at least 20 minutes.

Snatching her phone from the counter, you made yourself comfortable on the couch. Feli never had a problem if you take her phone, she had nothing to hide and was fully convinced that you would never control her which was true. Never ever would you stalk through her phone or anything, most of the time when you used her phone was for music, hay day or when she asked you to reply to someone. You trusted each other blindly and more than anything, so opening instagram, you did the thing that made her happy, hopefully.

You revealed your marriage with a simple post.

Within seconds her phone blew off, notification after notification.

feli_rauch

jule_brand and 20.364 others

feli_rauch 🤍

When Feli left the bathroom, you were happily cooking some dinner as music played softly in the background. You swayed with the beat, humming along the lyrics as you prepared your meal.

In the meantime Feli walked in the living room as she heard her phone ring constantly. What was happening?

And then she saw it.

Over a thousand notifications on instagram.

Why?

Your post.

"Liebe!" she yelled while she quickly entered the kitchen.

"Ye-" you‘re cut of as lips were pressed against your own, strong arms wrapping around your waist.

Feli kissed you with every inch of love in her body,

she kissed you with so much happiness,

she kissed you with a new found passion.

When air became a problem, you pulled away, the defender chasing after your lips for multiple pecks.

"What was that?" you asked, completely out of breath, lips swollen and chest heavily rising and falling.

Replying with "A thank you" she cupped your cheeks, thumb softly caressing it, "for the- that the world knows I‘m married and happily so"

your cheeks turned red, her gaze so intense as it was filled with love. She smiled brightly at you, a smile that reached the corner of her eyes.

"I‘m sorry for being so secretive, I was afraid of the outcome- the media and fans but I’m done with it. I love you and it‘s time for everyone to know" you stated in a firm voice, ready to fight the world if needed.

"I‘m so in love with you"

-

Since that day, there hasn't been a day where Felicitas took off her wedding ring. In games, she would tape it up, the same as in training. It was her good luck charm and everybody should know it.

—————

[cinnies-stories]

felicitas rauch / remember when...

first post! had to be feli! A little angsty hehe :)

-

A sharp, searing pain shot through your left ankle, forcing you to crumple to the ground with a loud, terrifying scream. The stadium roared with a mix of cheers and gasps as the reality of the foul - the injury - sank in.

Lying on the turf, your mind raced with a tumult of thoughts. The throbbing pain in your ankle was eclipsed by the disappointment of having to leave the game prematurely, with the thought of how serious the injury might be. You clenched your teeth almost painfully, determined not to let the anguish show on your face.

Immediately, your teammates rushed to your side, their expressions a mix of concern and helplessness. Amidst the sea of worried faces, you caught glimpses of empathy and shared frustration. You wondered if they understood the weight of the disappointment you felt, not just for yourself but for the entire team.

Laura was the first one to break the silence.

"You're going to be fine, okay?"

You didn't know if she was trying to convince you or herself with her shaky statement.

As the medical staff hurried onto the field, your mind replayed the moments leading up to the injury. Each step you took, each kick of the ball, now felt like a distant memory tainted by the harsh reality of the present moment.

You questioned the timing, the unfairness of being sidelined when you had just come back from your ACL injury.

The pain intensified as the medical team assessed your injury. Your jaw tightened, and you found solace in focusing on your teammates, who hovered above you, refusing to leave you on your own.

Laura's hand had found your own, gripping it tightly and holding it close to her chest, a reminder that no matter what - she would be there for you.

You chuckled at the absurdity and caught her eye.

"Remember when everything used to be fine?"

-

As the camera focused on your strained expression, Feli hesitated, torn between the remnants of your shared history and the present animosity. The TV screen became a window into a world where choices carried no consequences.

Your injury unfolded before her eyes, and a surge of conflicting emotions washed over her. The bitter memories of your recent break up clashed with the lingering echoes of her immense feelings for you.

In a moment of vulnerability, Feli picked up her phone, fingers hovering over the keys. She recalled the countless times you had faced challenges together, side by side.

"Remember when you gave me your all, like I gave you mine?" she thought to herself.

However, in this moment of unresolved pride and lingering resentment, the defender chose to withhold the message, leaving you to stare at your silent phone.

-

You couldn't shake the void left by Feli's silence. You checked your phone almost every minute, hoping for a message that never arrived. The disappointment weighed heavily on you, and your team mate's chatter became distant echoes against the ache in your chest.

With a heavy sigh, you muttered to yourself, "Remember when you cared about me?"

It was a painful reminder of the emotional distance that had grown between you and the German. The absence of Feli's message felt like a tangible rejection, a confirmation of the fractures in your once unbreakable connection.

Laura's hand found your shoulder in a soft pad. Your best friend didn't have to hear you confirm it, she knew that her Germany teammate was still on your mind.

-

Alone in her room, the brown-haired defender sat surrounded by the remnants of a shared past—photographs scattered like fallen leaves on her bed. Each image held a soft, poignant memory, a testament to the love that once flourished between her and you.

As she gazed at a photo capturing a stolen moment of laughter under the shade of an old oak tree, Feli's heart swayed with the weight of nostalgia. Your smiles were genuine, carefree, and the world seemed to fade away in those stolen moments of intimacy.

Feli smiled at the memory.

-

The gentle rustle of leaves created a natural canopy under the old oak tree, casting dappled sunlight on you and Feli as you sat side by side, fingers intertwined. It was a day etched with the warmth of late spring, a day that held the promise of blooming love.

Feli had stolen glances at you the entire time, your eyes reflecting the hues of the sky as you shared soft smiles that spoke of yet unspoken feelings. The air buzzed with the energy of something new, something more than just friendship.

"I've been meaning to tell you something," Feli had confessed, her voice carrying a nervous excitement that mirrored the fluttering butterflies in her stomach.

You had immediately turned to her, your curiosity evident in the quirk of your eyebrow. "What's up?"

A shy grin had played on the defender's lips as she mustered the courage to speak from her heart. "Y/N, I've been thinking a lot about us, about what we mean to each other. And, well, I was wondering if you'd ever see me as more than a friend?"

The words had hung in the air, a fragile bridge between friendship and something deeper. Your eyes were wide, and a soft blush painted your cheeks. The oak tree seemed to hold its breath, as if waiting for your response.

Of course you said yes.

The relief in Feli's eyes mirrored the joy that blossomed within yourself and the moment was sealed with a gentle kiss, the world around you two had seemed to fade, leaving only the soft murmur of leaves and the shared warmth under the protective embrace of the oak tree.

Under the old oak tree, time had slowed, creating a space where the fragility of new love was shielded by the enduring strength of nature. The soft, cute moment lingered like a timeless snapshot—a memory woven into the branches of the tree and the fabric of their shared history.

-

The softness of their past contrasted sharply with the current reality of heartbreak and silence. The room, once filled with the echo of your laughter, now felt hollow, haunted by the question lingering in the air:

"Remember when you actually loved me?"

As Feli traced the outline of your smiling face in the photographs, she couldn't help but wonder how they had arrived at this distant point. The images whispered tales of a love that had been vibrant and real, now reduced to a collection of fading snapshots.

Lost in the reverie of your softer moments, Feli couldn't shake the yearning for a time when love was a shared language, not a casualty of circumstances. The photographs, once cherished tokens of your connection, now served as bittersweet reminders of a love that felt like a distant, fading star in the vast expanse of your shared history.

Nevertheless, she smiled, while she put the pictures away again.

-

Back in your own room, you - just like Feli - stood surrounded by fragments of your shared love—photographs, handwritten notes, tokens of a love that now felt like a distant echo.

Disappointment, sadness, and anger converged in your trembling hands as you clutched the memories that had once been a source of joy.

With each tear, the glossy surface of a photograph was marred, mirroring the cracks that had formed in your relationship.

Old notes, once exchanged in moments of intimacy, were now reduced to confetti, scattered on the floor like the remnants of a celebration gone awry.

As you ripped through the tangible echoes of your past, your emotions spilled into the room, a tempest of conflicting feelings. The sound of tearing paper echoed in the silence, punctuated by your own heavy breaths - you didn’t know whether it was because of your injury or your broken relationship. The room became a battlefield of emotions and you found yourself losing the war.

In the midst of those torn fragments, your tear-streaked face bore the weight of a love turned bitter. The photographs and notes, that Feli had given you with soft kisses and promises of 'forever', now lay discarded, a testament to the irreversible damage inflicted on the bond you  had once believed to be unbreakable.

Finally, you found yourself whispering to the empty room,

"Remember when we thought none of these would become past tense?"

[skipper1331]

A fling? // Felicitas Rauch

a/n: based off this request.

"Hello gorgeous" you said smiling. Your hand placed the loose strand of hair which had fallen in front of her face behind her ear as you memorized every feature of her face. She looked beautiful.

Feli blushed under your gaze, shyly looking away while she tried to control her breathing. "So, aside from taking my breath away, what do you do for a living?" you asked with a cheesy grin covering your face. The defender rolled her eyes, playfully pushing you away yet her heart racing.

The moment you joined Wolfsburg, there was the massive attraction towards the brunette and you tried to ask her out with your famous pick up lines but she just brushed them off. You kept trying though.

"Stay." you told her sternly, grabbing her wrist as she was about to walk to her team mates, "I didn’t know what I wanted in a woman until I saw you."

Again with a roll of her eyes, she brushed you off like you were a nothing. Even If you didn‘t want to admit it, your heart stung. Every time, every ignorance of your presence, every brush off, you heart broke a bit more.

-

You let out a scream of pain as Laura Freigang tackled you, your body flying over the pitch before you landed in the grass. Your shoulder made a weird noice, knees scraping along the dirty pitch.

Feli was the first by your side, shoving Laura away who tried to apologize. Your face was hidden in the grass as you held your shoulder, tears streaming down your face.

"Can you sit up for me?" Felicitas asked, herself getting anxious because the medic took so long. With a grunt, you did as she wished, holding your shoulder with a death grip. For sure, it wasn‘t the thing you should do but it was out of reflex, you had to put pressure on the pain.

"My shoulder" you said through gritted teeth, "it cracked"

The brunettes face went pale, did you really just said cracked?!

When the medics arrived, the defender felt a kind of relief knowing you were in safe hands yet seeing your face scrunch in pain hurt her too. "She‘s going off, right?!" she asked, panic radiating in her voice. "What? No!" you interrupted her, "just tape it or something!" you told the medic, about to get up. "Stay the fuck down!" You had never heard the German curse or so scared. As she squatted down, you locked eyes, "you‘re crying, your shoulder hurts, you‘re getting subbed off. You will accept it, thank the medics and do as they told. Understood?" Your mouth fell agape, so bossy. Nodding in respond, you let the medic take you of the pitch as he talked about your injury and pain.

As you sat in the physio room, there was an ice pack on your shoulder to prevent further swelling and you were high on painkillers, babbling about something without someone in the room.

When the final whistle blew, Feli immediately left the field, searching for you. "How are you?" she asked as she saw your laying figure. Looking up to see the prettiest girl, you gave her a lopsided smile. "I’m coooool" you answered, the defender smiling lightly.

"Come here" you mumbled, "do you happen to have a Band-Aid? ‘Cause I scraped my knees falling for you." giggling at your pick up line, you didn‘t see the way her cheek caught fire and burnt red.

-

You were ruled out for a few weeks due your shoulder injury yet that didn‘t stop you from flirting with your favorite german player.

"I would never play hide and seek with you because someone like you is impossible to find."

"Hm" like usually, she rolled her eyes, walking past you.

Yet the soft smile that she sent you across the field later on, made your heart skip multiple beats. Maybe there was still a chance even if her answers grew short by every day that went by.

"Why don‘t you tell her that you like her?" Svenja asked the young woman who she had known for years.

"I don’t like her" she replied instantly.

"So how did you know who I was talking about?"

Caught in her own excuse, she smiles shyly before settling into a thoughtful expression, "she‘s- i don‘t know" Feli shrugged, eyes looking away from you as you walked in the facility.

"I don‘t think she wants the same thing I want"

"Why‘s that?" the blonde asked as they started to pass the ball, absently.

"You know the reputation she has, always flirting with everybody and sleeping around. I don‘t want to be a one night stand"

In the meantime while Svenja talked to Feli about you, Alexandra talked to you about Feli.

The Og-german players watched you dance around your feelings, Felicitas with her obvious ignorance and you with your flirty nature. They both knew there was something between the two of you, but not how both of you would realize it, so they made a plan - at least to get you on the right track and provide some clarity.

"So Feli, huh?" Alex asked, smirking. You blushed under her intense gaze, looking to the ground as you played with your fingers, "she‘s pretty amazing, yeah" you admitted, for the first time ever.

"So are you gonna ask her out?"

Looking up, you answered, "I did once but she just brushed me off, like always" you mumbled the last past yet still audible for Alex who had a pitty look on her face, "will you ask again?"

"Probably not. I flirt with her all the time only to be ignored in the end" you sighed, your fingers holding the bridge of your nose, "i don‘t get it. Sometimes she makes me think that she likes me too and then nothing"

"Can you blame her? You had quite the reputation before you came here"

You looked at Poppi with shook in your eyes and disgust on your face, "does she really think that? That she’s a fling?" you hated yourself for your behaviour in your past, you knew someday it will haunt you down - like it would now.

For the first time in years, you fell in love, actually in love, and the girl you liked thought bad of you, that you would use her.

"Did she reject me because of that?"

The older woman saw the hurt flash in your eyes - something she shouldn’t see.

"I don‘t know. I didn‘t even know that you asked her out. But i know you‘re not the person you used to be. You‘re a good person."

-

Felicitas noticed the change instantly, how you wouldn‘t flirt with her anymore, how you didn‘t greet her with a pick up line, how you barely talked to her. She didn‘t ask you about it, she just accepted it.

Svenja and Alex quickly realized that they worsened the relationship between the two of you rather than helping you to realize the feelings behind each others facades.

-

As you were able to play again, the champions league match against Arsenal was the perfect opportunity to show that you’re back better than ever. The first leg ended in a 2-2 draw yet it felt awesome to be back on the pitch again and when you scored Feli couldn‘t help the pride that washed over her body. She knew you waited long for the come back.

"Looking stunning as always" the blonde defender of Arsenal greeted you as she hugged you. Leah Williamson and you go way back, knowing each other since you were little and playing together in the national team. She was the sister you never had, the shoulder to cry on when ever you felt like it. "Not bad yourself" you joked, walking around together, arms around each others waist.

Feli hated the sight in front of her, the way you would smile at the skipper or laugh at something she said. She should be at your side instead of Leah.

"You good?" Svenja asked as she saw the growl on the brunettes face.

"Everything is perfectly fine" she answered, sarcasm laced in her voice as her eyes were still drained on your walking figure. "Back at her old habits, just great" she scowled, leaving the pitch without looking back. She didn‘t take pictures with fans nor signed anything, anger rushing through her veins.

"What‘s wrong with her?" Leah asked as she saw your favorite girl walking with quick steps away.

"Don‘t know. We‘re not talking at the moment" you muttered.

"What?! Why? I thought you liked her"

"I do. She just thinks I’m-"

"She thinks she‘s gonna be a fling, right?"

"Jup"

"You’re so stupid sometimes" she smacked the back of your head, "show her that she isn‘t"

"I tried!"

"Not hard enough apparently. 10£ she thinks you‘re flirting with me"

You looked at the skipper, confusion written over your face, what did she mean?

"Go" she pushed you away, towards the tunnel, giving you a reassuring nod, "seriously go!"

And you did. You ran after the brunette, calling her name. In the changing room, she sat in her cubby, head resting in her hands. "Felicitas" you said, voice low, you didn‘t want to startle her.

Feli loved the way her name rolled over your tongue. You had never called her Feli once, always Felicitas. You were the only one besides her parents who were allowed to do that. "So you‘re talking to me, wow" the defender grumbled, aggressively wiping away the few tears that left her eyes.

"Don‘t be mean"

"Mean?! You‘re the one who ignored me for weeks" she yelled as she stood up.

Matching her tone, "I know!" you sighed, "I know, okay?"

"You’re an idiot!" Felis anger was bubbling out of her, "you’re an idiot for making me fall for you!" she continued to ramble about your behavior how stupid you were for ignoring her, for making her feel worthless.

"I didn‘t talk to you because you thought you’re a fling to me! I didn‘t want you to think that"

"So you‘re flirting with Williamson? That’s low, even for you"

"Why the fuck are putting words in my mouth?" you were pacing around the changing room, Feli following every movement of yours, "you- bloody hell, Felicitas! Why are you making this so hard?"

"I‘m making this hard?! You‘re the one-"

"Stop it right now. I didn‘t flirt with Leah, gosh ew. We‘ve known each other since god knows when. And I didn‘t flirt with anyone besides you since I’m at Wolfsburg. Hell, you’re the only one I want to flirt with. You’re the only who I want to think that I’m a good person - not the person from my past. Felicitas, you‘re that one person to me!" You sat down, not meeting her eyes as you tried to control your emotions and your outburst.

The moment you arrived in Germany, you wanted to change. You transferred clubs to get a new chance, to prove everyone wrong. You didn‘t mean to fall in love with someone, you didn’t mean to flirt with her like in your old patterns but you couldn’t help it. With Feli everything felt different. Everything felt easy, you felt at peace. Wolfsburg felt like a new home. She felt like home.

"You‘re in love with me, too? It‘s not some weird-"

"Of course I am!" you interrupted her, making your statement clear. "How can I show you that I mean it? That I mean everything when I’m with you?" you asked with pleading eyes, eyes full of hope and regret.

"Take me out on a date" even after yelling, crying and running for more than 90 minutes, she looked absolutely breathtaking. It was a good thing that you were sitting otherwise you‘re knees would‘ve betrayed you.

"Deal"

In that moment, you promised yourself to treat her better than anyone could.

-

It didn‘t take Feli long to realize that you meant what you said that day in the locker room. The few little dates you had were more than perfect, you treated Felicitas like you promised and the way she deserved. Both of you seemed happier with each other and at Champions league final -1, you asked her to be your girlfriend.

Your heart fluttered every time you thought about the answer, "yes"

Maybe your past wasn‘t the greatest but the universe did give you another chance which you gladly accepted.

You showed the world that you deserved it.

You showed football fans all of your talent, getting nominated for the Ballon d‘or.

You showed your family and friends the vulnerable, caring and loving side of yourself.

And you showed Felicitas that she did the right thing with saying yes to be your girlfriend.

Felicitas was the one person that changed you for the better and you will thank and love her forever because of everything and more.

She was always more than just a fling.

————————

[skipper1331]

No thoughts, quick actions // Felicitas Rauch

a/n: based off this request.

Long distance relationships were something you never wanted to do. The thought of having your lover not near you, made you feel unwell, the risk of misunderstandings high and the longing terrible at times. You had seen it with your friends - nights that were spent crying on your couch because of a fight or dozens of rom com movies because they missed their lovers.

It broke your heart to see your friends that miserable and you could only imagine how awful their partner felt in another city, country or even continent. Those moments made you realize that you wouldn‘t want to be in a long distance relationship.

You kept that promise for a long time but when Feli, the german international and vfl Wolfsburg player approached you after a international friendly your heart was immediately stolen by her.

She came up to you with the intention to apologize for her sloppy tackle but the conversation took a quick turn as you found yourselves engaged in holiday stories.

Fast forward, the two of you have been a couple since 5 years.

In less than a few months after your encounter, the defender had let you forget all your opinions about long distance relationships.

Felicitas was worth the distance and every single misunderstanding - she was worth everything. You couldn’t deny that it was hard, super hard, at times but you managed. Holidays were spent together instead of telling each other stories about it, daily phone calls, short cute messages throughout the day made it possible.

You had to admit though, after 5 years of long distance you grew tired. You wanted to wake up next to Feli everyday, share a home with her, hug, kiss and touch whenever. From day to day it became harder to hide your disappointment or the fact that you missed Felicitas terribly. Nights were spent crying on the couch, some sappy rom com playing while you ate ice cream. It was getting too much, the honeymoon phase was over, you weren‘t blinded anymore - the familiar feeling resurfaced.

You hated long distance relationships.

and slowly you couldn‘t do it anymore nor did you want to.

Felicitas noticed your behavior, the bags under your eyes visible through the phone, the change in your mood and schedule. Besides being a professional football player, you started to do even more sports in your free time. You had to distract yourself, if you didn’t do so, the feeling of sadness would eat you alive.

Actually, the change was not only noticed by Feli but your teammates too, nobody asked you about it though.

Some of them didn‘t want to assume - maybe they were just imagining things.

Some of them were afraid of your reaction - would you be mad?

Some of them respected you too much to intrude in your life - if you had a problem, you would talk to them when you‘re ready.

It was Lia who took the matter in her own hands - she was one of your closest friends as she asked you if you wanted to get some coffee together after training.

It was a rainy day. The two of you sat at a table near the window, the smell of coffee filling the café, "You alright?" the Swiss asked.

A simple question, a question that most people would answer without any hesitation, even if the answer was a lie. You thought about lying to Lia, telling her everything was fine which it wasn‘t - Lia knew that. Added to that, Feli had texted her, both of them friends ever since their Turbine Potsdam time, to make sure everything‘s alright with you. So, there was no point in lying.

"I will leave the club in the upcoming transfer window" you replied and not with 'no' like Lia expected you answer.

There were no thoughts, just quick actions.

You looked at her no sign of confusion, anger on her face displayed - you couldn’t tell what she was thinking, her reaction calm and composed, something you appreciated very much. Wally always had to hear every thought before she could say something about the situation.

"I miss Felicitas" you mumbled with sad eyes, "and Wolfsburg offered me a great contract" you let the words sink in, not for Lia but for yourself. You would leave Arsenal in about 2-3 months, the club you spent the most time of your career and it will break and heal your heart at the same time.

"Say something, please?" the silence was deafening.

"What do you want me to say?"

"What do you think about it?" nervously, your fingers hit the table while you hoped her respond wouldn’t hurt your feelings or questioning your actions.

"I think it‘s the right decision"

-

After many conversations with your management and Wolfsburg, you flew to Germany as the deal was settled and ready to sign.

Feli didn‘t know about your arrival in her home country nor that you were in the exact same building as her - your transfer wouldn‘t be announced till the very end of the transfer window, Wolfsburgs wishes.

When you signing the contract, a heavy weight fell of your shoulders - you couldn‘t wait to see Felicitas everyday.

"In case you‘re wondering, training ended half an hour ago" Tommy Stroot winked, leaving you alone.

It took you about 25 minutes to your girlfriends home, one single rose in your hand. You rang the bell, cinnamon already barking behind the door as Feli opened it, trying to hold her dog back.

"Hi" you said, smiling widely. Your heart felt so complete.

"Wha- hi?" the defender pinched her arm, was this real? Were you really in front of her? "What are you doing here?" she asked, perplexed and shocked. Her question was forgotten when her senses kicked in. You were standing in front of her! Within seconds, Feli‘s arms wrapped around your neck, hugging you like you would disappear. Your own arms went around her waist, pulling her impossibly closer. Oh, how you had missed her.

Neither of you could tell how long you stood in the hall, only when cinnamon barked, you pulled apart yet still in each others embrace. "I missed you so much" you breathed out, one hand coming up to caress your girls cheek. There was so much love shared, eyes telling the truth as you stood there in silence.

"I can‘t believe you‘re here" the defender chuckled happily, still in cloud nine, "for how long?"

"We should go inside" you told her at the same time, both of you giggling lightly before the German pulled you into her home. "So? How long?" she asked again, turning around.

You were silent for a moment, taking a deep breath, "I signed with Wolfsburg today. They will announce it soon" you replied in a low voice, somehow shy and afraid - how would she react?

No thoughts, quick actions

"You did what?"

"um, I signed a contract with Wolfsburg?" nervously, you scratched your neck, "I couldn‘t be away from you anymore. I just wanted to wake up next to you, see you everyday and kiss you good morning. I‘m sorry! I‘m sorry I haven’t told you about it! Please don‘t be mad" you rambled.

There was a deafening silence as Feli let your words sink in.

You were here.

For longer than just a few days.

You signed with Wolfsburg.

You‘ll be here everyday.

"I don’t know what to say" your girlfriend told you honestly. She was confused, happy and terrified but overall happy. She just didn‘t understand. Why haven‘t you told her about your signing? Was this the reason you acted differently? Did you miss her as much as she missed you?

you gulped, "oh" not expecting that kind of reaction. You thought she would be a little bit happier but her expression was empty. "I should go, um, this is for you. Sorry again" you mumbled, holding out your hand with the red flower.

"No, wait" the brunette said, gathering her thoughts as quickly as possible, "I’m happy you‘re here but it overwhelmed me" she smiled shyly as her hands went up to cup your cheeks, "you‘re so beautiful" her thumbs caressed your cheeks, eyes looking at you with so much love. Slowly but surely, her expression became readable - she was happy and so in love, "Will you move in with me?"

"If you want me to?"

"yes!"

-

Living with Felicitas was wonderful, the two of you matched perfectly - while she did the cooking, you did the laundry.

Your life in Germany was amazing as well, most of the Wolfsburg players knew you already and welcomed you with open arms. You adapted rather quickly to the german playing style, working yourself to the top - key player of the team.

It was hard at times, especially in the first few months as you missed England, the wsl and your family and friends but being with Feli healed every open wound.

Playing in the Frauen Bundesliga didn‘t stop you from watching all of the matches - you were a gunner through and through, no kisses or celebration touches at the Wolfsburg emblem.

Felicitas always joined you watching every gunners game, supporting the Arsenal the the same as you did. She did it before when you still played there, so why not now? It was something you appreciated very much.

-

"Was?! That‘s a yellow!" she jumped out of your arms, yelling at the tv. Chuckling at her, you pulled her back, "you know they can‘t hear you" you said. In fact, it should have been a yellow card for the Aston Villa player but as so often, the ref didn‘t agree with that opinion. The German international grumbled, sinking further in your embrace as she elaborated why that should have been a yellow card. Seeing Felicitas in your Arsenal jersey, in your arms and annoyed with the ref’s decision as it was against your club made you realize that she was the woman of your dreams. You wanted her to be your wife.

It didn‘t take you long to find the perfect ring for your girlfriend. As soon as you had entered the jewelry store and saw the shining simple ring, you knew it. That‘s the ring. You bought it immediately.

Now, you had the ring but no idea where to propose.

Beach proposal? No beach.

Restaurant proposal? No, too many people watching.

It had to be simple, somewhere Feli felt comfortable and where the two of you had enough privacy.

Home!

That‘s it!

Ring? Check.

Place? Check.

When? As soon as possible.

Leaving the jewelry store with so much confidence radiating off your body, you made your way to the heart of the city, buying flowers, wine, candles and balloons. You‘ve never been so sure about something.

-

Thankfully, Feli was still out with Obi and Ewa for a photo shoot, which gave you the perfect opportunity to set everything up. Rose petals decorated the path to the living room, flowers and balloons filling the room as some nice dinner and wine waited on the balcony.

However, as the stress subsided, a new emotion came to the surface - nervousness. Sometimes, you did things before your brain could even register what you were doing or rather what you were about to do - It often led to rushed actions without second thought.

But for once in your life, the thought and quick action was perfect, even if your brain wasn’t connecting all the dots, at least not yet. This was right. This was the right move.

Felicitas and you have been a couple for years, you lived together, worked together and loved one another - your heart knew what to do.

Make her your wife.

You sat on the couch, waiting for Feli. The food was probably cold, the varnish of your nails completely pealed off as you started outside, the velvet box in your hand. When was she coming home? With each minute that passed by, your nerves rose. Your earlier confident self turned into an anxious one - you hadn‘t even prepared a speech. Gosh!

Desperately trying to think about some loving words, you only snapped out of your trance as you heard the keys being placed down, "Liebe?" the brunette called right after.

"Living room" you called, standing up from the couch, arms hidden behind your back.

Just now, the defender realized the pool of rose petals on the floor, heart skipping more and more beats, the closer she got to the room.

She gasped when she saw the beauty of a living room, her true love standing in the middle as candles lit the room, "hi" you smiled.

"Hi?" your girlfriend said, looking around, eyes so bright as she walked up to you, "what‘s all this?" she asked a bit confused. Of course, the german knew about your no-thoughts-quick-actions as she called them, always surprised with the things you decided - never a clue what you were 'thinking'.

Her arms looped around your neck, claiming their usual spot as her fingers started to play with your hair, the most effective manner to calm you down.

"Marry me" you breathed out, no others words spilling out of your mouth.

Silence.

"I love you and I don‘t want to spend another day knowing that you’re just my girlfriend when I want you to be my wife. I promise to treat you right and love you with every inch of my heart till the end of time" you filled the awkward silence, rambling about the love you shared. "Take this ring," you opened the velvet box, "as a promise and a sign of love and fidelity. You‘re my forever." you got down on one knee, looking up at the love of your life, "please, will you marry me?"

"Yes!" she shrieked, clinging on to you for her dear life, kissing every inch of skin in her reach. She had waited so long for this moment. She knew she wanted to marry you as soon as she saw your first no-thoughts-quick-action move. She was totally smitten for you ever since.

[skipper1331]

VfL Wolfsburg

Felicitas Rauch

Rebecka Blomqvist

Merle Frohms