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Remind Me That There’s A Room To Grow Part 4

Life looked different for the two of you now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t grow together.

(a/n: Hi guys! So just a little personal update - I had a bit of a mental health episode recently and as a result I'm now spending a solid 10-12 hours of my week in therapy to try and get some help with that. I'll be fine, but I might be a little delayed in updating sometimes! Appreciate those who are willing to stick with me here.

Reminder that COVID doesn’t exist here, because I said so! This is a little bit of a longer part, and it details the rest of the 2020-21 season. Next chapter we’re going to be going over the 2021-22 season, so if there are any not to miss moments I should be writing about, do let me know! I hope you guys enjoy :)

Subconsciously, you had resigned yourself to the fact that Alexia would be gone in the morning when you had fallen asleep last night. Even without having spent much time with her now, you knew how the brunette was. She was forever busy with training, extra training, media responsibilities, and that had been when you were both eighteen! You assumed there was even more placed on her shoulders now that she was a prominent member of a big club.

However, when you felt yourself rising from sleep, you looked down and realized that there was still an arm wrapped around your torso. You blinked slowly, your mind whirling as you stared down at Alexia’s hand, her palm resting gently over your stomach.

“G’Morning,” you turned your neck as far as you could back, realizing that Alexia was awake as well as she greeted you. The footballer pressed a kiss to the base of your neck before you flipped over in bed so that you could properly face her.

You were pretty sure you’d never seen anything more gorgeous than Alexia in that moment, a tender smile on her face. Her hair was mused with sleep but not messy, her eyes still half lidded with sleep. They trailed down your face, as though she was attempting to commit every single ounce of you to her memory.

“Hi Flori,” she whispered softly, and you ducked your head in a vague pursuit to hide the flush that adorned your cheeks. The footballer didn’t seem to like that though, reaching her hand forward as she tucked her fingers under your chin and lifted your head back up.

Despite your initial shyness, you couldn’t help but bask in the openness of it all as you looked up. No longer was it a dream to wish for her to be here - she was here. Right next to you, looking at you as though no amount of time had passed. As though she still adored you just as much now as she had when you were both eighteen.

“I love you,” you murmured gently as you reached one of your own hands up to card through some of her hair. You allowed your fingers to come back to her face, to trail down her cheeks, her jaw, her neck. The warmth under your fingers proof that she remained here, that she was not a dream.

The Catalan accepted the touch easily, taking it a step further as she pulled you into her. You allowed yourself to be moved and manipulated easily, until you were laying practically on top of the brunette, her arms tight around you.

Her skin was warm against your own, and somehow she still smelled just as she did when she was eighteen. For every thing about her that seemed so vastly different, there was always something that had remained the same about her. It surprised you honestly, but you were grateful for it nonetheless. The strength and security with which she held you felt unyielding. After years of sleeping alone in your bed, you had forgotten what it was like to be held with such a reverent touch.

You released a sigh that you hadn’t realized was building, lolling your head into Alexia as she pressed a soft kiss to your temple. The content feeling of just laying there soon gave way to a certain curiosity after several minutes had passed. You unlooped your arms from the midfielder, sitting up and looking down at her with a raised brow.

“When did you get so…muscly?” You questioned suspiciously as you poked at her abdomen, your heart skipping a beat at the peal of laughter Alexia let out in response. She puffed her chest out a little, and you could feel her trying to flex in bed.

“I train at the gym a lot more than I did before,” she smirked, clearly looking rather proud of herself. You rolled your eyes, wholly unimpressed. Alexia had always been attractive to you, and her being in the best or worst shape of her life meant nothing to you compared to having her there.

“Alright, relax muchisimo,” you quipped, though trying to hold your laughter in was futile. Alexia leaned forward suddenly, snatching you at the waist and pulling you back onto the bed, squeezing you tightly. You allowed yourself to go willingly as you giggled, the sound ricocheting off the walls.

Had they ever heard such happiness before?

Surely they had not, because rarely had you been this happy without her.

“But it means I get to do this,” Alexia explained as she finally sat up, but this time with you wrapped in her arms. You squealed as she carried you toward the kitchen with your legs wrapped around her tightly, setting you down on the kitchen counter as though you were the finest piece of porcelain.

She stepped back just a touch after she let you down. She allowed her hands to reach up as she tucked a lock of hair back behind your ear, her face softening as she did so.

You watched as the footballer turned toward your fridge, finally giving you a moment to work up the courage to ask the question that has been on your mind ever since you had woken up.

“Do you not have gym today? Or training, or anything like that?” You asked hesitantly, almost as though you were bracing for her to say she was leaving.

It wasn’t as though you thought she could stay forever. But for whatever reason, the thought of her leaving at this very moment felt like it might tear you to shreds. The Catalan turned back toward you, instantly worried about the tone of your words. She shut the fridge, stepping closer to you as you slipped off the counter to stand in front of her.

“I called in earlier and told them I wasn’t coming. I’m here with you for today, and as long as you’ll have me,” Alexia promised, and by the tone of her words, you knew she was talking about more than just football practice.

You stepped forward at her words, wrapping your arms around her and hugging her tightly. She met you halfway easily, tucking her head into the side of your neck. The footballer allowed herself to breathe in deeply, grounded by the notes of violet and sandalwood in your perfume.

Even when you tried to step away and release her after a few seconds, the midfielder only gripped you tighter.

“Please, just a few more seconds. Just…stay. Just one more minute,” she nearly begged, and you stepped back into her body with a speed you were unaware you possessed. Your hands around her were firm and consistent, just as they always had been.

Just as she remembered. You angled yourself into her, pressing a kiss to her cheek before you tucked her into your body even further. Alexia was certain in that moment that if she could have crawled into your skin she would have, but still you were here.

“Thank you,” the brunette breathed out, and you only held her tighter.

“Always,” you promised, and it was a promise you intended to keep this time.

—

Alexia ended up staying for the entirety of the weekend, to your absolute delight. It didn’t even need to be anything special for the two of you to bask in the closeness that enveloped the two of you.

The brunette was incessantly clingy, following you from room to room like a lost puppy. Even now, she dragged you into bed under the guise of taking a nap, but you knew that secretly she just liked the closeness. Some things never changed.

You laid down flat on your back with Alexia climbing in after you. You turned your head toward the brunette, who was on her side with her elbow and hand propping her head up. She seemed to be holding something back, but what that was, you weren’t sure.

“What is it?” You inquired, your eyebrows furrowed together at the way she worried her lip between her teeth.

“I…I don’t know how to ask?” Alexia seemed to be questioning herself, as though she were lost in her own mind. You reached up to smooth the crinkle that had formed between her brows with the pad of your thumb, and felt as she relaxed slightly under your touch.

“Try me,” you replied, ready for any question that the midfielder might ask.

“How have…how have things been? Since…well, since, you know–” Alexia managed to cut herself off as she began to ramble, clamping her mouth shut as she shook her head with annoyance. She was getting frustrated, but for what you were not sure.

You were confused about the request considering it seemed like a perfectly normal question to ask. You had asked her that earlier in the weekend, checking on how her family was and how football had been. For whatever reason though, Alexia seemed nervous to do the same with you.

“What’s wrong, mi alma?” You asked after a beat, sensing there was more to the story than Alexia was letting on.

“I just…I feel horrible for saying this. I don’t like thinking about you living your life in the last nine years. I feel as though there is this big gaping hole in my knowledge of you…this big gaping hole where…”

“Where you were not there?” You finished for her gently after she trailed off. She nodded in defeat, the shame she felt rippling within her. You leaned forward to press a kiss to her forehead, your hand coming to cradle her cheek as you sat up. “That is perfectly normal, Ale. It bothers me as well, of course it does. But when I think of it, I try to remember how much I know you missed me. For every good moment, I spent twice as many missing you, and I know that you were not far off,” she agreed instantly, and you smiled at her steadily.

“I also know that I am not going anywhere, so we might as well fill in the time we missed and move on,” you described, something that seemed to renew some of the faith in the Catalan.

She began asking you questions about everything she had missed. She asked about your diagnosis, how treatment had been. As much as she tried not to shy away from it, you could tell it pained her immensely to hear about the experience, so you sped through the details as much as you could.

You informed her the whereabouts of your brothers, how their lives were going. You told her all about your university degree, how she had gotten the job to come to Barcelona. When you explained that you picked the job offer that got you here, she squeezed you just a touch tighter.

But finally the heaviest question laid ahead, and you knew it was going to be a knife to Alexia’s stomach. There was simply no way around it, no matter how hard you tried to steer the conversation away.

“How is your Mama?” Alexia asked hopefully, excited for the update on Paula. She was never particularly close with your mother, much like you yourself were not, but your mother had been nothing if not fun to be around. She had always loved you, and loved that you and Alexia were together immensely.

Secretly, Paula loved the way that Alexia gave you the space to relax where she and your family could not. She knew it was something you needed, and though the two of you never spoke about it, Paula had felt that loss for you when the footballer had left.

Secretly, she had always hoped that the two of you would find some way back to each other.

“She…” you paused for a second, bracing yourself. Alexia tilted her head slightly, wondering why you had trailed off. “She passed away a little over a year and a half back, Ale.”

The midfielder froze just a second after you had finished the sentence. Her heart skipped a beat, and her breathing ceased for several moments. Though her body did not move, her eyes were on you in a second.

“What?” She asked, barely a whisper. All you did was nod, a sorrowful and apologetic look on your face. You watched as crack by crack appeared in the brunette’s expression, emotions spilling through until the whole thing collapsed. Not only had you lost your mother when she was not there, but you knew it would bring up all of the memories of her own father’s death.

You hated yourself for saying it, even if you knew that the brunette needed to know eventually.

You were right there to support the footballer as she began to cry. You knew her, and you knew that she would be taken aback by your statement.

It still pained you to be right.

You tucked the Catalan into your arms easily as silent tears slid down her cheeks. It was easy for you, to care for her and hold space for her. It was what you had always done, for as long as you had known.

“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you,” she whispered into your shoulder, and all you could do was turn your head to the side to kiss her cheek gently, moving one of your hands to wipe the tears that rained down from glossy eyes.

“You didn’t know, mi alma,” you beseeched as you allowed her to lean back into you. Your forgiveness was endless, and you would throw it recklessly if you needed to. You would hold her for as long as she needed to be held, that was for certain.

—

It was Friday afternoon, the day of Alexia’s first game back since you had come into her life once more. She had spent most of her time with you since the two of you had reunited, practically living out of your apartment in favor of her own.

The brunette clung to you like a koala, and though you did not mind, you found it rather amusing. You’d all but had to shove her out the door for the game today, or else she would have been late. It took three kisses, two hugs, and a promise that you would find her directly after the match for her to finally step toward her car.

The brunette had explained to you that she had gone over to her mother’s house after leaving your place last weekend to apologize to them. She had promised you that at the game you would sit with her family in the family and friends section of the stadium, which was where you had always belonged, according to the brunette.

When Alexia had inevitably left your house on Sunday evening, the first place she went was to her Mami’s house. She knew that both Eli and Alba would be there, and she knew it was time that she apologized properly.

The door was unlocked, leaving the brunette free to enter the house without needing an introduction. She toed off her shoes before she walked over to the living room, where she heard the voices of both her mother and sister.

Both of their voices petered off when Alexia turned into the living room, and both of them seemed rather surprised to see the footballer standing there.

“Um…hi?” Alexia tried, but she shook her head instantly.

“That was awkward, I am sorry. I came here to apologize to both of you,” she explained swiftly, and though Alba started to interject, the brunette stopped her sister.

“I came to both of you in a moment of anger, and I never should have done that. It was unfair of me to place blame on you guys when all you did was offer a perspective for me to consider. I’m really sorry for the way I treated you both, and I promise I will work to be better,” she pledged, with both Eli and Alba looking at her with compassion in their expressions.

“No Ale, we are sorry. We were both very judgmental and unwilling to consider a different perspective. I am sorry it caused things to go poorly with Flori,” Alba expressed, and Alexia could simply see in both her mother and her sisters' faces that they were steadfast in their regret.

The brunette walked over to both of them, sitting down on the couch between them and pulling them into a tight hug.

“I love you guys,” she said gruffly, trying to hold back tears. God, she really had done a lot of crying this week.

“We love you too honey. Have you had a chance to talk with Flori again?” Eli inquired as they all pulled away, genuine concern in her tone. Alexia nodded, a slight flush to her cheeks as she held back a smile.

“We…we have. We’re back in each other's lives now, even all these years later. I know it might sound stupid but…I still love her,” the footballer admitted, much to the delight of her mother and sister.

“She’s coming to the game on Friday, so the two of you need to be on your best behavior! I told her that she could sit with you guys,” Alexia looked at both Eli and Alba with a serious expression, and her sister held up her hands in surrender.

“We will be nice Ale, we promise!” She declared as she looked over at Eli with excitement.

You had felt secure in Alexia’s words and promises, until now. It was the day of the game, and suddenly your nerves were through the roof. You made it into the stadium just fine, allowing someone to escort you to the correct section before they left you to attend to other matters.

For a second you allowed yourself to take a deep breath, trying and failing to center yourself.

You made your way down to your seat slowly, watching Eli and Alba the whole time. They seemed lively, animated, whispering to each other and laughing afterward.

Your stomach twisted in anxiety, because despite Alexia’s apology to them, you had no clue if they still felt that you were a horrible person or not. Each step felt like it was torture, taking you closer to a reality you didn’t want to live in.

You had always loved both Alba and Eli, and they had loved you. If you never saw them again, in your head they would love you forever. Even if it wasn’t realistic, it was a nice thought.

Both Eli and Alba’s heads turned to look at you at the same time as you entered into the row of seats, and you paused in your movement. You didn’t even realize you were holding your breath until they stood, making their way over toward you.

It was Eli who reached you first, and she immediately tugged you into a big hug. You stood stock still for a moment, not expecting that she would treat you so kindly. Your hand lay listless at your side, your body tense as you struggled to relax.

After several moments your mind seemed to come back to you, and you relaxed into the hug as you wrapped your arms around the older woman.

“Hola Flori,” Eli smiled as she pulled back, allowing Alba to rush past her to hug you tightly as she murmured a greeting in your ear. You were prepared this time, and returned the hug back with fervor. When the two women finally stepped back to truly take you in, you noticed how wet their eyes were.

You looked away from them for a moment, swallowing thickly. You fought the urge to look at your shoes as you spoke, instead facing your fear directly.

“You two aren’t…mad?” You questioned softly, trying to restrain the fear in your voice and failing spectacularly. Eli shook her head earnestly, and she reached forward to pat your cheek affectionately.

“I think we were sad, and we missed you. We did not understand then, but Alexia told us what had happened. Now all that we wish is to be here with you, as we should have been the whole time,” she replied easily, as though her forgiveness was something to be given out freely.

Perhaps it was, when it came to you.

It was you who reached forward for a hug this time while you struggled to keep the tears at bay.

“We love you Flori,” Alba added on, and you reached behind Eli to grasp her hand tightly, trying to convey all your gratitude in one glance.

“Come on now, we have a football match to watch!” Eli declared as you pulled back from the hug. She dragged you back to your seats, squishing you in between Alba and herself.

“It’s strange to see you here without a single piece of homework, I must admit,” the older woman teased, and you released the first real laugh in the afternoon, shaking your head as you knocked her shoulder with your own.

No matter how hard you tried to convince yourself that you didn’t, you had missed this. You had missed spending time with them, being loved by them. They were so affectionate and kind, and despite all this time, it felt as though they had hardly changed.

The three of you kept chatting as the players began to stream out onto the field. You were much closer than you typically were at these games. The three of you were sat basically right above the end of the tunnel, so much that you could see the highlights in some of their hair as they ran out onto the pitch.

While you were engaged in the conversation, it was obvious to both Eli and Alba that you always kept one eye on the field, waiting.

She was one of the last ones out onto the field, and instead of just running straight into her warm up, the brunette stopped and looked back at the stands. Given that the three of you were seated practically front and center, you were not hard to find.

You tried not to let it show, but there was a rush of relief within you when Alexia’s whole body seemed to light up at the sight of you. Her very essence seemed to relax, and suddenly she became so incredibly settled.

She was settled for the warm up, she was settled for the game.

So settled in fact, that when she scored the first of her two goals, she turned to the stands and blew you a kiss. When you realized what she was doing you could feel the flush rising on your cheeks, coupled with the unhelpful fact that both Eli and Alba turned to you in excitement. You ducked your head to hide your smile, though your heart soared.

It seemed to stay there after the game as well. Instead of going to sign and take pictures as the Catalan sometimes did, she opted to make a beeline for the stands - for you.

And there you were, more than prepared and willing to accept the hug as the footballer took the steps up two at a time, clattering in her boots as she came to give you a huge hug.

You didn’t say a thing when she pulled back and kissed you soundly on the lips either, despite the fact that there was a crowd.

—

You knew this was coming eventually.

It was a day off, and you and Alexia had spent the morning in bed together, snuggled under the covers and pressed into one another. It had been a few weeks of peace, and still, you hadn’t slept together.

The brunette seemed in no hurry to rush you, but at the same time you could tell she was waiting. Your anxiety transcended every logical thought that you had, steam rolling it until all you felt was worry.

Sure, at one point you had known one another's bodies, but a lot can change in nine years. Where Alexia had toned, gained muscle, become something solid and secure, you felt innumerably more delicate. Scars littered different areas of your chest, back, and ribs, and they were not something you typically shared.

You wore high cut tops to cover them, avoiding crop tops and swimsuits.

But there was something about the way Alexia pressed her lips to you that morning, a sweetness and curiosity that had you pressing further, deepening the kiss. Despite your worries, you still wanted her. There was a closeness in sex that you found familiar and comforting, and you wanted that with Alexia.

The Catalan met you stride for stride, easily leaning into the kiss while still allowing for you to take control at the same time. It was only when she started to move closer to you that you pulled away from her, suddenly feeling overwhelmed.

When you looked over at the midfielder, you expected judgment but received only concern in response.

“What is it?” She questioned gently. Nine years didn’t change the fact that she knew you like the back of her hand. The footballer could tell that something was off, and you weren’t feeling right. You flushed, looking away for just a moment before you shrugged slightly.

“My body has…changed from the last time you’ve seen it,” you admitted quietly, as though it was a secret rather than just a fact of growing throughout life. “You’ve gotten fitter, and I…well I just look different now.”

Alexia watched you for a moment, noting the discomfort that seemed to ripple through you with every movement. Admittedly, she cared little for what your body looked like, no matter the shape, size, marks, whatever it was.

“I love you not because of how your body looks, but for you,” she explained softly, placing her hand palm up on the blankets. It was an open invitation, and the footballer watched as you stared at it for several minutes, almost as though you were considering a business deal.

You fought with yourself internally. You knew Alexia would never lie to you. At the same time, insecurity felt as though it would overwhelm you.

But above all, you trusted her. You really wanted to continue doing so.

When you reached out to take her hand, it was tentative, gentle, and slightly fleeting. The brunette moved toward you carefully, leaning in to kiss you carefully. You allowed yourself to relax into the motion, into the familiarity of it all.

Alexia knew you.

Even now, she still did.

When her hand tucked under your shirt and splayed over your hip bone, you felt yourself arching into the warmth of it. Her hands trailed upward as her lips trailed down, sucking gently at the juncture between your jaw and neck as your shirt was pulled upward.

The midfielder pulled back for long enough to gauge your reaction, and she waited until you gave her express permission before she removed your shirt carefully.

You braced her for to be appalled at your body, your eyes screwed tightly shut. But when her hands returned to your body, it was with a gentle, fluttering touch that caused the entirety of your being to relax.

She traced your scars, the physical presence of everything you had been through since she had been in your life. There was reverence in her touch, an aching sincerity as tears shimmered in her eyes at the sight of you. Not repulsed by you, but rather upset that she hadn’t been there.

When you were just about to finally break the silence, the footballer dipped her head, pressing a featherlight kiss to your old port scar. She did the exact same to every single foreign mark on your body as you felt yourself melting back into the mattress at the feeling.

It was such a strange feeling, to be worshipped and loved with such an effortless touch.

Alexia’s hands were everywhere and yet nowhere at all, nothing but gentle and loving and reverent. She kissed down your body, deliberate in her faith in you, in her care. You found yourself growing relaxed, the insecurity you once felt giving way to something akin to need.

You arched into her, tugging at the sheets and fighting the urge to chant her name like a prayer. Perhaps it wasn’t a prayer but rather one answered, especially when her mouth met where you needed her the most.

She was gentle at first, as though trying to remember exactly what you preferred. But as much as you were changed, some things had stayed the same, and it took barely any time at all for her to be reminded of exactly what you needed.

The brunette was gentle with you. It was not hot and heavy, not by any means. But the two of you had time for that, and she knew that what you needed now was something entirely different.

You found yourself grinding down against her, your back curled off the bed as you struggled to keep the whimpers and wanton moans at bay.

When you felt her hand tap at your ribs, you instantly reached down to interlace it with hers, a place of tether as you felt the heat building within you. It was reminiscent of something younger, the tapping at the ribs that meant she wanted you to hold her hand.

The familiarity of it gave you peace, a tether to know she was there with you, that she still loved you. It was when she finally pressed two of her fingers into you that you felt yourself start to collapse.

You moaned her name as you came, and she followed your body off its precipice, never once leaving you. You crashed over the edge violently despite her softness, your entire body shuddering as you let out a cry, a rush of intensity followed by an instant soothing as your body relaxed.

When Alexia had cleaned up the mess she made, she moved herself to lay beside you, cleaning her fingers before she stroked your forehead, down your cheek, over your neck and chest before she tugged you closer to her. She wrapped her arm around you protectively, and you met her easily as you collapsed into her, heady off the smell of sex and Alexia.

“I’m yours,” you whimpered slightly as you pressed a chaste kiss to her neck, and you could feel her tremble under your touch. Whether it was with emotions or want, you weren’t entirely sure. The arm that kept you close to her tightened, and when you finally opened your eyes slowly, you found her staring down at you with adoration you never thought you’d get again.

It lit a fire within you, and suddenly you found yourself sitting up and slipping your hands under her shirt, trying to keep yourself from moaning when all you found were muscles that seemed to ripple under your hands, as though they belonged to you.

If you were to ask the brunette as you straddled her, they did belong to you in that moment.

Wholly and completely.

—

You were supposed to be at her apartment at half past nine. After a full day of training and a dinner that was necessary for a sponsorship she was doing, Alexia was so excited to see you and decompress.

The footballer honestly had forgotten the joy in how nice it was to have someone to come home to. She felt that it had made her more whole, more relaxed, and allowed for peace she was unaware was possible with her lifestyle.

That was, until it was ten in the evening and you still hadn’t arrived. Alexia had tried calling you several times, but received no answer. You weren’t the kind of person to do that. You never stood up plans without alerting someone, and you were not the type to arrive late without at least a warning.

Before she could spiral further, the brunette simply decided to drive over to your apartment. She gathered her wallet and keys, jogging down to her car and pulling out of the car park. It was possible she was overreacting, but something felt off.

You wouldn’t just leave her.

Would you?

She gripped the steering wheel with a vice while she drove, counting down the seconds until she arrived at your place.

The drive over was quick, helped in part by Alexia’s not-so-subtle speeding on the way over. She didn’t care though, throwing her car into park as she bound up the steps to your second floor apartment before she knocked on the door.

There was no answer.

She paused for a moment, knocking once, twice, three times. Each more aggressive than the next, and still there was no response from inside.

Alexia found herself growing uneasy, and she finally fished for her keys. She had no clue if she was overstepping boundaries wildly, or making a very intelligent choice. You had given her a key in case of emergency, and right now this felt like an emergency to her.

Regardless, she unlocked the door and stepped inside, announcing herself loudly as she entered.

“Flori? Flori, are you here?” She asked, looking around at the kitchen and sitting room, both of which were entirely empty.

“Ale?” You called out, the sound vaguely weak and coming from your bedroom, changing the path of the Catalan instantly. The brunette pushed the door open, enveloped into darkness as you sat up slightly in bed.

“Flori, my love,” she breathed out in relief before she walked over to sit on the edge of the bed. She twisted slightly to turn the bedside table lamp on, and she frowned only when she turned back to you and found that your cheeks were flushed. When the two of you spoke, it was at the same exact time.

“Are you feeling okay?”

“What are you doing here?”

Alexia raised an eyebrow as she glanced at the clock, and you followed her line of sight before your eyes bulged, realizing your error.

“Oh God, I am so sorry! I was feeling a little under the weather and I came in here to lay down and must have fallen asleep,” you admitted sheepishly. The midfielder could feel her own heart rate regulating at the sight of you in one piece.

“No, no, it’s okay, I was just worried about you,” Alexia promised simply, and you seemed to relax at her words, tucking your head down at the sweetness of them. However, the feeling left your body in a rush as you realized the implication of Alexia’s presence.

“Ale, I am sick. You have a game in two days, you need to go home before you catch what I have,” you insisted, which went over as well as you expected. The footballer acted as though she had not heard you, getting you water and medicine before she pulled on some of your pajamas and laid down in bed with you.

“I’m not going anywhere,” she insisted, feeling something within herself ease at the feeling of having you right up against her. If she was there, nothing bad could happen to you, and she would make sure of that.

—

When the brunette woke up in the morning to her alarm, it was immediately noticeable that you were warmer than the night before. In fact, it was the first thing she noticed as she blinked her eyes open, and concern flooded through her at the thought.

She sat up, shaking your shoulders impossibly softly to rouse you from sleep. The only response she received was a grumble about the time, and you rolling toward her looking for solace. When you found nothing, you cracked an eye open to look for the Catalan.

Alexia did not miss the way that you winced at the light coming in from the curtains, or the fact that you seemed out of breath just sitting up to greet her. But still, you smiled warmly, the picture of sincerity.

“Good morning mi alma,” you breathed gently, delighted at the smile you received in response. It was easy to tell that the footballer was nervous about you being sick, but you did your best to assuage her fears as you rested a hand on sternum comfortingly. Even as her eyes flitted nervously over you, your voice was soothing.

“I am fine Ale. You have practice soon, you have to go if you are going to be on time love,” you said matter of factly as you looked over at the clock. Alexia didn’t even spare a glance at it, too focused on observing every single moment you made.

Everything was screaming at her to stay. Her anxiety was bubbling in her throat, threatening to overwhelm her. What if you were sick again? What did it say about her if she left? What if something serious happened in her absence?

The pit in her stomach grew larger and larger, and her eyebrows twisted in worry. You reached a hand out to soothe them with your thumb, but all the Catalan could focus on was the slight tremble in your fingers as you did so.

“I am worried,” she stated plainly, as though the fact wasn’t written into the very lines of her face. You nodded, trying to stave yourself of any symptoms and reassure the brunette of your health.

“I am okay, Alexia. It is normal to get sick, it is probably just a cold. I will be okay, and when you come back from practice we can cuddle on the couch and watch a movie, alright?” You promised her, conviction in your tone. You knew she needed to go to practice today to prepare for the match the following day.

“Are you sure? It is a double today with recovery, I will not be home until later today?” She explained, but still you gently pushed her out of bed.

“This is your job Ale, you need to go. I will call if anything goes wrong, I promise,” you implored, and though she didn’t seem to agree with you, the midfielder finally walked toward your closet to retrieve clothes.

Even as she dressed, all Alexia did was watch you with thinly veiled anxiety. Every single movement you made, she was just one step behind you as though she were your shadow. When she trailed behind you to the kitchen like a lost puppy, you finally turned around and fixed her with a glare.

“Alexia,” you said with exasperation.

“What?” She asked, playing dumb as she looked at you with innocence. There was too much worry swirling around in her stomach to play it well though, and she stepped forward to press her hands to your forehead in a clear show of anxiety.

“You’re too warm,” she declared, worrying her lip between her teeth as she moved past you to grab medicine and dole out the pills to you. Though you took them willingly, you placed your hand on the brunette’s arm.

She was practically vibrating with concern, her eyebrows having seemingly collected a permanent crease in between them as she took you in.

“It is only a few hours. I promise to call if anything is wrong, okay? It is just a cold, I will be perfectly fine,” you insisted once more, and finally the footballer forced herself to relax, even if it was just a tiny bit.

She stepped forward, wrapping her arms around you tightly, her hand cradling the back of your head with care.

“Okay, okay,” she said after a moment, more to herself than anyone else though. You relaxed into her, relishing in the coolness of her body. In truth, you felt like shit and didn’t want her to go anywhere. But you knew she had a life, an important one, and you weren’t going to ask her to stop her entire day simply because your body felt like it was on fire.

“You call me if anything is bothering you, okay? I do not care about training, just call me, please,” she begged as she cradled your cheeks in her hands, watching with intensity as you nodded your head in understanding. She moved forward to press a kiss to your forehead, internally trying to fight the wave of anxiety she felt at how warm you were.

Even after she had left and was driving to training, her entire system felt as though it was pushed off its equilibrium. You were ill and it was her job to take care of you, and yet she wasn’t there.

How many times had she not been there?

She tried not to think about it as she arrived at training, forcing herself to place a mask of indifference and orderliness on her face as she made her way toward the changing room.

“Good morning Capi!” Jana sang out, a greeting echoed by the rest of the team as they watched their vice captain step into the locker room.

“Morning,” she replied curtly, making a beeline for her locker. She grabbed her phone, turning it off of silent mode and checking for any messages or calls from you, only to see there were none.

Everyone watched as she clutched her phone even as she changed and walked out to the pitch, clearly looking for someone. When she finally found who she was searching for, the Catalan split off from her teammates, moving toward Cata.

The goalkeeper was out with a meniscus injury, though she tried to observe practice as much as she could. The young woman straightened up when Alexia approached her, sitting up in her chair.

“Yes Alexia?” She inquired, looking down at the older woman’s phone in her hand.

“Here is my phone,” the brunette explained cautiously, the worry clear in her tone. “If anyone calls during practice, speak up and let me know, please? It’s really important,” the vice captain explained, her voice edging on desperate.

The goalkeeper had never heard Alexia with such concern in her tone, and she nodded wordlessly, clearly grasping the importance of the request. When Alexia felt she had appropriately showcased the gravity of the situation, she turned back toward practice.

“What was that about?” Leila asked her as the midfielder walked onto the pitch, falling into line with the defender.

“Nothing,” Alexia snapped, instantly softening as she realized her rudeness. “I’m sorry Leila, I didn’t mean that. It’s just something personal, that’s all,” she amended concisely. The tension between her shoulders betrayed her, and something about her face seemed more pinched with worry than it usually was.

Personally, Leila held no animosity but only rather curiosity. It was unlike Alexia to be so concerned about something not to do with the pitch.

The defender gently patted her on the back, silently accepting her apology with ease. But Alexia remained the same for the rest of practice. She was unfocused, often peering over at Cata as though the keeper was her lifeline.

She played fine, nothing for the team to complain about. But it was clear to everyone her head wasn’t in it, that there was unease in her heart.

As it turned out, it was Mariona and Vicky who managed to get out of her what was wrong.

“What is going on Alexia?” Vicky questioned as she approached the midfielder with Mariona during a water break. Alexia was torn from her doom spiral, physically jumping at the arrival of the two. They looked at her with clear surprise, instantly followed with apprehension at her behavior. An uncomfortable silence settled over them for a moment as all three of them looked at each other.

“Flori is sick,” Alexia blurted out after a second, ending the awkward silence abruptly. Both Vicky and Mariona nodded in understanding, despite the oddness of the vice captain's words. It was common for people to get sick. Nothing about this should have been alarming.

But Vicky and Mariona seemed to understand despite Alexia’s vagueness, glancing at one another for a beat before they turned to their friend, who was very clearly in distress.

“Alexia, are you sure you don’t want to go h–”

“Alexia!”

It was Cata who cut Vicky off, her voice filled with alarm. The midfielder didn’t even bother with formalities before she was sprinting toward the keeper, slamming to a stop in front of her.

“Someone named Flori called, but just as I answered the phone hung up,” Cata explained, handing the phone off to the brunette as though it were a hot potato. Alexia opened it quickly, hitting your contact as Vicky, Jenni, Mariona, and Marta came jogging over.

“Come on, come on, pick up for God's sake!” Alexia ground out desperately, trying to calm the rapid beating of her heart. The phone rang and rang, but you didn’t answer. She tried once more, with the same result.

When the midfielder turned around, her eyes were wild with stress, and she seemed almost lost. Like a prey animal that was caught between a rock and a hard place, with nowhere to go.

“I have to get home,” Alexia announced abruptly, barely waiting for a reply before she was taking off for the locker room, Jenni and Vicky hot on her heels.

The vice captain stopped abruptly as she turned toward the two women who had followed her, still on the pitch. Her mind had caught up to her, and formalities taunted her need for urgency.

“Can I go home, please?” She asked Vicky, the woman nodding instantly at the begging tone present in the brunette’s words.

Vicky wasn’t sure she had ever heard Alexia Putellas beg for something. She was the picture of sophistication and grace in moments like this, as a professional. There was nothing professional about her voice now, about the way she looked on the precipice of tears.

“Go, Alexia, go,” Jenni all but shoved the brunette toward the locker room, pressing her to head home. She certainly didn’t wait for another instruction, taking off toward the changing room with a speed she usually reserved for balls coming in from the wing.

Jenni and Vicky watched her as she went, something akin to sadness in their expressions as they turned back to practice, a sea of equally concerned faces staring back at them.

—

Alexia’s heart raced as she drove home, and it soared as she flew up the steps. She all but kicked the door down to get into the apartment, immediately calling out your name.

“Flori? Flori? Estás aquí? Flori!” She thundered as she moved from room to room as she attempted to find you. It was only when she entered the bedroom that she noticed the ensuite light was on, and she nearly sent herself crashing to the ground she moved so quickly.

There you were, passed out on the floor of the bathroom.

“Fuck, fuck, no,” Alexia all but sobbed as she fell to her knees in the bathroom besides you. Her hands were everywhere and nowhere all at the same time, ghosting over your body with panic. The brunette finally settled on your face and shoulders, shaking you gently and trying to get you to stir. You were breathing but not responsive to her, as though you had fallen into a deep sleep.

Your face, your entire body was unbearably hot. Alexia looked around in a panic with the realization that she had no clue what to do. You stirred slightly under her, wincing at the light and the overwhelming pain all over your body.

“Help,” you croaked out, unsure of who exactly you were talking to or what you were instructing, but also knowing this wasn’t bearable.

“Right, help, oh God,” Alexia repeated breathlessly, looking around the bathroom before she made an executive decision. She stood up, rushing back through the apartment to gather her keys and wallet once more. The footballer barreled back into the bathroom, lifting you up with the urgency of a 96th minute goal and the gentleness of a soft breeze.

Although you were relatively similar in stature to Alexia, she picked you up with ease and began to move back through the apartment. Suddenly, each and every session she spent weightlifting felt as though it was worth it.

You were awake now, tucked safely into Alexia’s chest as she hurried you down and into the car. She placed you in the passenger seat before reclining it back for you. The midfielder buckled you in, glancing around her car before she finally saw her sunglasses. She tugged them from their case, easing them over your eyes with cool fingers.

You brought your hand up, holding her hand there in place as you let out a relieved sigh and leaned into it. The Catalan allowed herself a moment to take a deep breath before she bowed her head to place a gentle kiss to your forehead.

“You’re going to be just fine, Flori, okay? I am right here. I’ve got you, I love you, I love you so much,” she commanded, more than thrilled when she got even just a small nod from you as you tried your hardest to smile.

The pain was both everywhere and nowhere at the same time, and you despised it. The ride to the hospital, every pothole and turn was agony as it jostled your body.

Alexia was barely keeping it together, knowing that she was the one bringing you pain as she drove. She sped slightly, despite her aversion to doing so on a regular basis. Her Cupra flew into the hospital parking lot, and the footballer gave no mind as she illegally parked in a reserved spot.

You were the only thing she cared about.

By the time she had come over to your door, you had slipped the sunglasses off, opened the car door, and were trying to stand up. It ended up being a good thing that Alexia got there when she did, because as soon as you placed weight on your feet, you faltered.

The brunette wasn’t interested in playing games, all she wanted was to get you inside so you could get help. She dipped down to pick you up once again as she ignored your slight protests, charging you into the hospital as her heart struggled to match the amount of anxiety that swirled in her veins.

“Help, she needs help!” Alexia barked as she marched into the emergency room, and immediately you were met with a swarm of doctors, a gurney she placed you on, and nurses who tried to pull her away.

“No, no! I need to stay with her,” Alexia pleaded as she pushed the nurses off to stay with you, trying not to be cruel in spite of the fact that she was stronger than they were.

“You need to let the doctors do their work first, Miss. As soon as she is stable, we will take you back to see her. Right now I need you to help me fill out some intake forms,” the nurse coached carefully, and finally the Catalan allowed herself to be pulled away from you. Her eyes stayed on you as they briskly wheeled you back though, until you had completely disappeared from sight.

She took the forms from the nurse, settling down in the empty waiting room and attempting to get started on them. If only they could have distracted her from the haywire feeling she had inside of her entire body.

—

“Hello? I’m here for my sister, she was admitted about an hour ago.”

Alexia recognized that voice.

The forms she hadn’t managed to complete were sitting in front of her, woefully filled out. Turns out, the best of her ability wasn’t very much when it came to information on you. She knew so little about your medical background, it was pathetic. She couldn’t sit here and claim you were the love of her life if she knew nothing about you.

But that voice, that voice took her back ten years. It took her back to sunny afternoons spent in the park running after each other, fighting over who was the fastest.

It reminded her of summers spent with an ice cream cone dripping down her hand, the hand of one of littler kids in her hand.

“Leo?” She called out, and his head snapped to greet her own. There was surprise in his features before he schooled it expertly, an air of calm settling over him. He turned to apologize to the nurse before he walked toward her, the footballer standing as Leo approached her.

“Alexia, it is good to see you,” Leo admitted as he hugged her. The midfielder took the hug graciously, trying to hide the fact that her hands shook with worry. Even with your brother in front of her, all she could think of was you.

Were you okay? Were you in pain?

Were you safe?

It was a harsh realization, understanding that no matter how hard she tried, she could not protect you from the world. She hated it, even if she knew it was something she had to accept.

“Good to see you as well,” Alexia answered, offering a brief smile before she sat back down heavily. Leo sat next to her, leaning forward only to grab the remaining forms and beginning to fill them out.

The Catalan looked over at your brother for a moment, her eyebrows furrowed together. He seemed so calm, so prepared for this. She didn’t understand where his concern was. Your brother seemed…more resigned than anything.

“You didn’t ask what happened,” she pointed out, and Leo paused in the middle of his writing. He glanced over at the brunette, looking at how tense she was, practically vibrating in her seat. He set the clipboard in his lap while turning more fully toward the footballer.

“She’s going to be just fine Alexia,” Leo stated clearly, but it was clear in her expression that Alexia didn’t really believe him. The younger man sighed before he placed the clipboard down on the table once more.

“After she was declared in remission, and eventually cancer-free, the doctors told us everything would go back to normal for her. But her immune system has never been quite the same after that. Sometimes she gets sick and she’s fine, other times she goes downhill fast and has to come into the hospital,” he explained, sympathy oozing out of his tone as he tried to assuage Alexia’s fears.

“How often does this happen?” The hazel-eyed woman inquired as she stole a glimpse toward the hospital wing. She hated this, hated that you had been forced to live like this for years. She swallowed thickly, trying to stave off the tears she knew were fighting to release.

“Once, maybe twice a year. It doesn’t happen every time she gets sick, but when it does, it comes on quickly. She called me and told me I would need to come this morning,” Leo described, and Alexia shifted nervously in her seat. You hadn’t told her a thing, and insecurity rose within her unbridled from logic.

“Alexia,” Leo’s hand on her arm interrupted her thought process in its tracks. “She wouldn’t have wanted you to know. She was hoping I would get here before it got bad so that way you wouldn’t have to miss training or any games.”

“Screw work! She’s in there, in pain, football is the last thing on my mind! All I want is to see her,” Alexia started loud, rising from her chair with a bite to her tone. The energy drained out of her by the end of her last sentence, and she collapsed back into the chair beside Leo with a wobbling lip.

Your brother reached forward to place a hand over hers, quiet about his support. With his other hand he returned to filling out the forms the doctors had asked for. After having a few minutes to collect herself, Alexia peered over at the paper, and eventually leaned in and began asking questions.

If she had to come here again, she would know every single small detail about you down to the tiniest freckle on your back. She was sure of that, if nothing else.

—

You were fast asleep by the time Leo and Alexia were allowed to see you, but they went in anyway. Alexia pulled her chair up right close to your bedside, gently taking your hand in her own and staring at it as though it were her lifeline.

The doctor came in not long after to explain everything. You had been dehydrated with an overly elevated fever on account of a virus that your body had struggled to fight. The hospital gave you fluids and some medication, and said you would be fine to leave tomorrow. You just were not supposed to do any strenuous activities as you healed in the next few days, and you would likely be low energy.

Alexia hung on his every word in a way that Leo did not. Your brother was understanding, warm, and followed the doctor's instructions perfectly. The footballer was practically a disciple, hanging off every word that left the man’s lips. Leo looked over at your girlfriend with a thin layer of amusement, but deep down he understood.

He remembered the first time this had happened and how he had been there, how beside himself he was. You were his big sister, and seeing you knocked down to your knees was more unsettling that he remembered it being when you were sick.

It didn’t sit right with him, it tore away at him until he felt raw. Over the years it just became…normal.

Somehow.

It was just a part of your life they had come to accept, he supposed.

Seeing Alexia suddenly reminded him of how nauseous he had been that first time, and even the second time. It brought back his intense fear that you were going to die, taken from this earth entirely too soon.

“I’m going to step out just for a moment,” he said suddenly, only a few minutes after the doctor had left. Alexia nodded absentmindedly, far too enraptured by you to notice the dread that had settled over your younger brother.

It had only been a few minutes of Leo being gone before you began to shift in bed, squeezing Alexia’s hand in your own. A few seconds later you were blinking your eyes open, and the rush of relief that released in Alexia’s body felt like a high.

“Hey you,” you rasped as you opened your eyes slowly, squeezing her hand once more. The footballer stood, leaning down into your face to tuck your hair back and press a kiss to your cheek.

“Hi hermosa,” she breathed out after a moment, her smile unwavering. You closed your eyes briefly before you opened them once more, taking in your surroundings.

“I’m sorry for scaring you,” you murmured after a moment, but Alexia shook her head vehemently.

“No apologies Flori. You are okay right now, and I am here with you and not going anywhere,” she promised, gripping your hand tightly in her own. You smiled up at her softly, before you paused for a moment.

“No, no, you have a game tomorrow Ale, you cannot mis–”

“I’m not going. You’re more important than some game Flori, and I say that with all the truth in the world,” Alexia proclaimed, and she didn’t miss the nearly imperceptible way that you relaxed at her words. She knew at that moment she had made the right decision, and it was not one she regretted.

“I love you very much,” you said in a hushed tone, bringing the midfielder's hand to your lips so you could kiss the back of it before you placed it down on the hospital bed without your own. When Alexia began to protest at the lack of contact, you shushed her gently as you began to move over in bed.

When you’d finally managed to shift over, you patted the space next to you with a silent invitation.

Alexia did not need to be told twice, sliding into the bed on her side and instantly pulling you into her. It didn’t matter that she was squashed, or that in twenty minutes she wouldn’t be able to feel one of her arms, she didn’t care.

She rested her forehead against the top of your head, breathing in deeply and finally allowing herself to relax into the feeling.

You were okay.

You were safe.

You were going to be fine.

She was right here with you.

When Leo returned from his momentary break, he found you and Alexia curled up in the bed together. Where one of you ended and the other began, he wasn’t entirely sure.

—

A week and a half later, you had made a full recovery. Leo stayed for a few days to help, especially when you forced Alexia to return to training. You regained strength day by day until you were fully functioning once more, given the full green light.

Alexia had planned a casual dinner for you to meet her teammates later in the week, but it seemed that the universe had other plans.

You were waiting in the parking lot, leaned back against your car when the first person stepped out of the building. Practice was just now ending, and Alexia had instructed you to wait in the parking lot for her before the two of you drove to your lunch reservation. She had given you a guest pass to park in their lot, and instructed you to wait there.

The one thing she had forgotten to do, however, was explain to her teammates that you would be there.

When the first woman stepped out of the building, you knew instantly who it was.

However, Vicky Losada had no idea who you were, and she was not the kind of person to be polite in her displeasure.

“What are you doing here?” She asked suspiciously as she approached you, looking around as though she was expecting someone else to pop out from behind your car.

“I am waiting for someon–” you couldn’t even finish your sentence before she was cutting you off with a huff.

“Fans are not allowed to wait in this parking lot, it is forbidden!” She exclaimed with frustration, and you could do nothing but blink back at her in surprise. You were a fan, technically, but you were here for a player.

“I’m just here for one of the players, I am with–” you tried to explain, but the older captain just shook her head.

“So is everyone else! That does not give you the right to our parking lot! Speaking of parking lots, how on earth did you even get in here? There aren’t supposed to be passes for random peo–”

“Vicky?” Alexia called out, a clear amount of confusion present in her tone. When Vicky stepped away to reveal you, the midfielder’s eyes widened in surprise at who her captain was speaking to.

You looked like a deer in the headlights, frozen and too scared to speak up for yourself, leaving your girlfriend to handle the situation.

“This random woman was here, just loitering in the parking lot and waiting for one of us to…what are you doing?” Vicky trailed off before she hissed the latter part of her sentence to Alexia, who began to walk forward with focus.

She bypassed the older woman completely, brushing off Vicky’s vague attempts to stop her as she enveloped you in a huge hug, turning her head to press a kiss to your temple.

“Hi you,” she murmured into your skin, and your body finally managed to unclench as you melted into her arms, burrowing your head into her shoulder for a delicious moment. When the brunette stepped back, she kept an arm around you protectively, raising an eyebrow at her captain.

“Vicky, this is my…my Flori,” she explained with emphasis, struggling over what exactly to introduce you as. Meanwhile, you were just fighting to keep your own laughter at bay, considering how panicked both of the women looked.

Now it was Vicky’s turn to look like a deer in the headlights. Most of the girls had stepped out of the building and were greeted with the sight of Vicky completely floundering as she realized the implications of her actions.

“I am so sorry,” Vicky stumbled over her words, turning bright red as she looked from you to Alexia and back again. She couldn’t even seem to gather the correct words, fighting to finish sentence after sentence and still seemingly coming up empty.

After staring at her sternly for a moment, Alexia finally released you solely so she could double over with laughter. She couldn’t control her breath with how hard she was laughing, and she shook her head with clear amusement as she kept her hands on her knees and caught her breath. You patted her on the back with a roll of your eyes, stepping forward to hold out your hand.

“Nice to meet you Vicky,” you offered with an apologetic smile, looking back at the brunette in amusement. The Barcelona captain stepped forward to take your hand gratefully, her entire face sheepish. You were nothing if not understanding, and you waved to the rest of the team with a kind but reserved expression on your face, as the eyes of twenty women stared back at you in surprise.

“Hi!” Mapi finally called out, breaking the silence with relative excitement. It was in a rush that the team stepped forward, thrilled to meet you after hearing so many good things from Alexia.

It was easy to understand how easily Alexia loved if these were the people she surrounded herself with every single day.

—

When the first goal went in, Alexia was relieved.

When the second goal went in, her goal, Alexia was floored, filled with euphoria as she turned toward the stands and let out a euphoric cry.

She screamed and celebrated for her family, for her Mami and Papi and Alba.

She screamed for the fans who had been with her every step of the way.

She screamed for the hundreds of thousands of girls who never had the chance to be here.

She screamed for you, for second chances and a love she had never imagined having once more.

When the third goal went in, her joy was unbridled.

When the fourth goal went in, all she felt was euphoria.

Sure they had to play another sixty minutes, but it didn’t matter, did it? They held control, they remained calm and sure footed. And when the final whistle inevitably went off, she fell to the ground in relief.

For everyone who had been a part of her journey, for herself, for the team.

The booze flowed freely, champagne poured down her throat and a medal placed around her neck. The feeling of the cool metal of the trophy underneath her fingertips, as she clutched it tightly.

The relief and exhilaration she felt when she finally found you hours later, clutching you to herself. It was an accomplishment for herself, but she had done it with you, and that somehow felt like so, so much more.

She found the trophy eventually, dragging it back to her table and pressing it into your hands. She snapped picture after picture, nearly heady off the idea that she had the two great loves of her life in one photo.

No sacrifice. Just a relative moment of peace, the understanding that two things can, in fact, exist all at once.

“I love you,” you whispered to her, a softness to your voice despite the loud music that pounded around you. She pressed her face into the side of yours, her nose pressed into your cheek as tears slipped down her cheeks.

“Go away with me?” She asked after a moment, and you pulled back to look at her directly. She stared back at you earnestly, and you reached up with one hand to brush the tears from her cheeks. The midfielder’s eyes fluttered shut at the warmth of your hand, and she leaned into your touch as though she was addicted to it.

“Always,” you murmured, passing the trophy back to her, an encouragement to go party. She didn’t care, however, much more content to spend the time here with you than partying.

“I love you,” she vowed softly, ignoring the trophy in front of her in favor of holding you, pressing your body as close to her as physically possible while the trophy was cast aside.

Sure, the trophy might be proof of one of her biggest achievements with her and the team, but it was just a moment.

You?

Well as far as she was concerned, you were the rest of her life.

—

“Nope, no swimming. You stay right here,” Alexia declared, her arms a cage as they wrapped around you tightly. You squirmed in her hold, managing to flip over so your chest was pressed into hers and you were face to face.

It was the summer, and Alexia made good on her promise of going away with you. There was nothing but the two of you and this private villa for kilometers, and you used it to the fullest.

Neither you were bothering with tops, roaming around in just your bikini bottoms. It was a view Alexia certainly was not complaining about, and neither were you for that matter.

That was, until the Catalan had decided that the only appropriate location for you was to be attached to her side at every moment. If you had thought Alexia was clingy before, it had nothing on now. You hardly took a step without the brunette trailing after you, trotting after you gleefully wherever you went.

“You are supposed to be right here Flori,” Alexia continued, and you acquiesced as you melted back into her body, your face tucked into her neck.

You peppered light kisses along the skin there, relishing in the way it made Alexia’s whole body shiver. The midfielder had hardly so much as looked at a football since the two of you had arrived, far too focused on having your full attention and presence.

The brunette leaned back slightly, and she looked down at you with glossy eyes.

“Thank God I found you again,” she whispered, her voice broken with emotion. You reached up to swipe a singular tear with your thumb, leaning forward to press a kiss where your fingertip had been. “You are my salvation.”

“As you are mine,” you echoed, allowing your arms to wrap tightly around Alexia and fall into her embrace with complete trust.

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