Emery Walsh's little sister who comes into PTMC with a broken ankle after a nasty collision during her varsity soccer game and refuses to say anything other than "I want Sam" in a sluggish voice, adrenaline wearing off and pain setting in. Robby, Dennis, and Mel keep trying to ask the teen questions, which she shakes her head to, very clearly in pain but refusing to talk.
Everyone is thoroughly confused as to who "Sam" is and no one puts two and two together until Samira is bursting through the door with panic etched into her face. Suddenly the teenager they couldn't get to say anything is now can't stop.
"Sam, thank god."
"What happened?"
"I was about to score then I got fucking blindsided. She came outta nowhere, Sam. Trucked me straight in the back then cleated my ankle. Asshole should be kicked off the team."
Samira's right by her head, hand brushing the hair out of the teens eyes.
"Dr. Mohan, you know the patient?" Robby asks.
Before Samira can even answer, the door to the trauma room slams open, revealing one Emery Walsh.
"Dude! The hell happened?" she says, grabbing gloves and making a beeline for her sister's ankle.
Emery scoffs and she examines her sister's ankle carefully. She presses her fingers just above the angry red skin already swelling, which results in a yelp of pain and Samira getting an inadvertent punch to the gut.
"She said she got blindsided and the girl stepped on her ankle." Samira winces, rubbing where she just got hit.
Emery shakes her head. "They did always play dirty."
Robby shakes his head. "Dr. Walsh? You also know the patient?"
"Yes, I do." Emery doesn't look at him, just continues her examination.
"Patient's name is Eleanore..." Dennis trails off, nodding his head as he reads the name from the chart. "Walsh."
"Ellie is fine." The teen says.
"So this is your sister?" Mel asks curiously.
Emery nods. Mel looks over at Samira.
"Which makes her your sister-in-law?"
"Yeah." Samira nods, a smile creeping its way up.
"Is it bad, Em?"
Emery takes her gloves off before standing beside Samira, right next to her sister.
"I'm not sure yet. We're gonna get you in line for an MRI and x-ray to see if you need surgery. Hopefully, it's just a sprain and nothing major."
Ellie nods. Samira's hand hasn't moved from the top of her head.
"You know if you wanted to come visit us, you could've done so less dramatically." Samira quips.
Ellie chuckles, trying not to jostle her ankle as she does and flips her middle finger to both of them.
"I've got patients to go check on, but I'll come back as soon as you're out of the MRI. Deal?" Emery says.
"Deal."
Ellie holds out her pinkie, which Emery interlocks with her own. She forms a fist and kisses her thumb which Ellie copies, a handshake they formed before Emery went to medical school. Emery ruffles the teen's hair as she leaves.
"I'm gonna watch you until your MRI. Your friends are here, I'm assuming?" Samira asks.
"Year, they're in the waiting room."
"Ok, I'm gonna tell them what's going on. You want me to bring some of them back so you're not alone?"
"Please."
Samira nods and kisses her forehead before making her way to the door.
"Love you, Sam."
"Love you too, Ellie." Samira calls as she walks out.
yolanda garcia who loves being a tía. she loves her nieces and nephews with her entire heart and would go to prison for each and every one of them. yolanda who has never really seen motherhood in her future, surgery was her purpose, her life, but starts to want it after seeing trinity interact with them. she can look at trinity and see the reason why people want to have children in front of her.
yolanda wants a little girl with trinity’s eyes. she wants a little boy with trinity’s dimples.
trinity santos has never wanted to be a mother. she had a hand in raising her little brothers since they were born. trinity held her best friends hand at fourteen when she got an abortion with their coaches baby and then had to stand outside her tombstone four months later. the idea of having her own baby brings up the deep wound that was left standing in front of her grave.
so when yolanda is sleepy and a little drunk off trinity and lets it slip that she’s been wanting more as trinity is curled next to her. because it’s good, because she can see it.
bit longer than usual… but the one everyone’s been asking for
masterlist
the house had been quiet when alessia left that morning. she'd kissed leah goodbye and then crouched down in front of you, still curled up beneath the duvet after climbing into your mummy's bed in the early hours, hair sticking up in every possible direction.
"i've laid everything out for you, lovie." alessia smiled as you moved slightly still not coming to the terms of it being morning time, as you nodded sleepily.
"and your england shirt's on the chair." alessia continued even though she was talking to you she was merely more reminding leah as you nodded sleepily again. "and your trainers."
"ok." was the most response your mummy got this morning as you stirred a little more, leah lying across from you scrolling aimlessly through her phone.
"and don't give mama a hard time." alessia added on the end her expression a bit more firm even though you didn't see it you could hear it
you moved to sit up slightly as you shot your mummy an offended look. "i never do. i mama's angel!"
leah had laughed so hard she'd nearly spilled her coffee on the white sheets of the bed, before muttering, "my angel devil"
several hours later and leah would come to regret not checking the wardrobe before casually mentioning the england shirt.
she's been so confident, too confident of everything going smoothly.
alessia had laid everything out before leaving for matchday. your tiny england shirt. navy shorts. white frilly socks. even your favourite little trainers sat neatly by the bedroom door.
simple and easy. there was absolutely no reason this should become difficult.
"angel," leah called from the bottom of the stairs as she slipped her own jacket on, having been ready for ages now. "are you nearly ready?"
"nearly!" you callled back your voice travelling down the stairs.
leah smiled to herself. "good girl!" she checked the time on her phone, you both were running perfectly on time.
five minutes passed and leah packed snacks into your little backpack, knowing majority would more than likely be gone before you even made it to wembley.
another five minutes disappeared. still no small footsteps. still no excited five-year-old charging down the stairs announcing that you were ready.
leah frowned as she placed her keys back on the table that was next to the door, "angel?"
"still getting dressed!" you called back, sounding hurried.
"...how are you still getting dressed?" leah called back but you probably hadn't heard her as there was no response just the unmistakable sound of wardrobe doors opening and closing and drawers sliding
something falling onto the floor and a tiny voice saying, "oops."
leah laughed quietly to herself but that should've been her warning.
she climbed the stairs, already rehearsing a gentle reminder that they needed to leave soon. "angel?" she knocked lightly before pushing open the bedroom door.
"...absolutely not." leah gasps as she stood mouth wide open at the door
you stood proudly in front of the full-length mirror, one hand on your hip, the other smoothing down the front of your shirt with enormous satisfaction.
not the england shirt alessia had carefully folded onto your bed. not even one of your many arsenal tops.
instead... you were wearing a tiny barcelona shirt that reached just below your shorts. the blue and garnet stripes looked almost comically bright against the rest of the room.
leah slowly walked around until she could see the back, her shoulders dropped.
across it, in bold white letters... ALEXIA.. 11
you spun around with the biggest grin imaginable. "i look pretty."
leah pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to think of a way that was going to slowly let you down, "angel..."
"what?" you glanced at your mama through the mirror, slightly confused you were ready so why weren't you leaving yet?
"...you do look pretty." leah began, her bottom lip being bit by her top lip at she tried desperately to find the words, "you also look.... very spanish-"
you giggled, the type that would make anyone melt, you definitely not understanding what leah was getting at, " i match alexia!"
"...you certainly do." leah sighed as you twirled twirled once in front of the mirror before holding your arms out dramatically.
"so we're ready!"
"no." leah said quickly as you stopped still.
you blinked, confused. "...no?"
"no." leah echoed as she walked over to the bed and picked up the untouched england shirt. it still had the tiny fold lines from where alessia had laid it out that morning.
leah held it up. "what happened to this one?"
you shrugged with complete innocence. "i changed my mind."
"i can see that." leah said as the england top stayed in her hands, there was no ways she could let you watch england in a barcelona shirt.. "we're watching england."
"i know."
"so..."
"so." you shrugged, you didn't get what the problem was, mama had asked you to get ready so you did.
"...why are you dressed like barcelona?" leah asked as maybe there was a compromise the two of you could make and you would wear the england shirt to the england game.
"'cause alexia plays there." you smiled, pointing to the shirt you were wearing as leah nodded, "and she's my favourite."
"i know she is."
"so..." you looked at her as though that explained absolutely everything which, in your mind, it did.
leah stared back as the silence stretched. eventually leah crouched so you both were at eye level. "sweetheart..."
"yeah?" you smiled at leah.
"you can wear this another day." leah tried slowly it hurting slightly that she was going to have to hurt your feelings slightly.
"but i want it today." you frowned, as your brow furrowed.
"but england are playing spain" leah tried again to explain, as you nodded along "alexia plays for spain... so don't you think.."
leah paused, mentally trying to solve a puzzle that had currently had no solution. "...maybe today we wear england?"
"i am supporting england." you told leah as she blinked losing your point of argument straight away.
"...you're wearing spain's captain on your back." leah pointed to your barcelona shirt.
"it's barcelona."
"i know it's barcelona."
"so not spain." you quipped back with a smile as leah was stunned slightly by your quickness.
leah opened her mouth then closed it again. technically... "that is not the point."
"but mummy knows i love alexia." you pouted, as leah held you closer rubbing a hand up and down your back as she hummed.
"she love alexia too..." you continued your ramble, as leah's face turned a little, "and alexia is mummy's friend"
"...they are?" leah asked more thinking aloud, not being totally in the loop on that apparent friendship.
"so it's nice." you finished your ramble as you looked a leah with a small smile, as she rubbed a hand over her face.
somehow every answer only made the conversation harder, "you're making this incredibly difficult for someone who's only five." leah mumbled as she looked back at you.
"i'm nearly six."
"that doesn't help."
you folded your tiny arms, deciding you weren't taking the shirt off. "i'm wearing this one."
"no.”
twenty minutes later, the england shirt had been offered and rejected. an arsenal shirt had been suggested as a compromise and again rejected.
even a plain white t-shirt had somehow been dismissed because... "it doesn't have football on it."
leah was rapidly running out of ideas.
"angel."
"no."
"angel."
"no."
"you have approximately three minutes before we absolutely have to leave." leah spoke seriously looking at the time on her phone before sliding it back in her pocket.
"i'm ready." you said with a hint of sass as you stood hand on the stair railing coming down the stairs painfully slow.
"in the wrong shirt." leah mumbled turning to grab her keys as you heard her, "in the right shirt."
leah turned back to you as you managed to come down a stair, "what if mummy feels sad?"
your eyes widened as you pressed both hands dramatically to your cheeks taking a seat on the stairs, "mummy would never be sad."
"she might." leah raised an eyebrow, this was her last gamble.
"no." you huffed.
"she could think you aren't cheering for england."
you frowned, really frowned and for a whole five seconds leah thought she'd finally won.
then your little face lit up. "i'll cheer really loud."
"...in a spain shirt."
"a barcelona shirt."
"that's... somehow worse."
"i'll shout..." you took the deepest breath you could manage. "COME ON MUMMY!"
the shout echoed around the hallway so loudly it probably reached the neighbours that leah actually flinched.
leah rubbed a hand over her face before looking back at you who was standing in front of her with all the determination of someone three times her size.
"...thank you for the demonstration," leah said dryly.
you folded your arms across your little barcelona shirt and lifted your chin triumphantly. "see?" you declared. "i told you i can shout really loud."
"i heard you," leah replied, trying not to laugh despite herself.
"so mummy will hear me too." there was absolutely no flaw in your logic, at least not in your own mind.
leah pinched the bridge of her nose. the two of you had been having the same conversation for the better part of half an hour.
england shirt? "no."
arsenal shirt. "no."
anything that didn't have alexia putellas' name on the back was apparently a "definite no." in your eyes
every suggestion had been met with the exact same answer, so with no ideas left...
leah reached for her phone. if anyone was going to convince you...it would be alessia. leah opened their messages and quickly typed.
le | we have a situation.
the typing bubble appeared almost instantly.
less | ??
leah glanced over at you, who immediately posed the second you realised a photo was being taken.
you planted your feet proudly on the third step up from the bottom, backpack already on. barcelona shirt neatly tucked into your shorts. alexia's name stretched proudly across the back.
then, just to make absolutely sure alessia understood how pleased you were with yourself. you gave the camera two enthusiastic thumbs up and the biggest grin imaginable.
leah sighed dramatically before sending the photo. three little dots appeared almost immediately. another message popped up.
less | 😂😂😂
a second later...
less | that's the one gio bought her
leah slowly lowered her phone and looked back at you. the shirt. the suspiciously smug smile and the complete lack of guilt.
"...of course he did," she muttered to herself.
leah typed another message.
le | THIS IS NOT FUNNY.
the reply came before she'd even locked her phone.
less | little bit funny.
leah rolled her eyes so hard they practically reached the ceiling.
leah | she has refused for THIRTY MINUTES.
another typing bubble.
less | gotta pick your battles sometimes babe 😂
leah stared at the message in complete disbelief.
le | you're unbelievable.
the was a pause this time before another reply appeared.
less | she's still coming to support englnad.
less | just... in a very lovie way.
leah looked over at the little girl again.
you were quietly spinning in circles now, making the barcelona shirt flare out around you as though you'd already won the argument.
which, judging by alessia's response... you probably had.
leah sighed cause as frustrating as it was...alessia wasn't entirely wrong. you weren't refusing to support england.
you were just insisting on doing it while proudly wearing the shirt of the footballer you adored most in the world.
another message appeared.
less | tell her i love her.
leah smiled despite herself, of course that was alessia's priority.
she typed one final reply.
le | she'll use that against me.
less | yeah probably 😂
leah laughed quietly under her breath before slipping her phone back into her pocket then she turned around.
you were already standing by the front door, bouncing impatiently on the balls of your feet. the second leah looked at you, those bright eyes widened hopefully. "mummy says she loves me?"
"...yes."
your smile grew even wider. "and she didn't say i have to change my shirt?"
leah hesitated, only for the tiniest fraction of a second. just enough for the guilt to settle in. "...no."
you gasped dramatically before throwing both fists into the air. "i win!"
you celebrated as though you'd just scored the winning goal at wembley, bouncing twice on the spot before rushing over and grabbing leah's hand.
"come on!" you said excitedly, already tugging her towards the front door. "we don't want to miss mummy!" leah allowed herself to be pulled along, laughing softly as she followed.
halfway down the hallway she glanced at the little barcelona shirt beside her. at the bright navy and garnet stripes. at PUTELLAS 11 stretched proudly across the back. then at the tiny hand wrapped so trustingly around her own. her heart softened despite every ounce of exasperation she'd felt over the last thirty minutes.
she let out the long, weary sigh of someone who had accepted defeat long before the final whistle. "i hope your mother appreciates how many grey hairs you've just given me."
you immediately looked up at her, studying leah's hair with complete seriousness. and after several seconds of careful inspection you shook your head. "you don't have grey hairs."
leah smiled. "...i will by kick-off."
you burst into a fit of giggles that echoed through the hallway then you tilted your head. "i still look pretty though?"
leah's entire expression melted. she crouched just enough to press a gentle kiss against the top of your head before smoothing down one of the little curls that had escaped your ponytail.
"you do." her smile grew. "you also happen to be the most stubborn child in england."
you beamed proudly, taking that as the highest compliment imaginable. "i get it from mummy."
leah laughed properly this time, she couldn't even deny it.
"...unfortunately," she said, giving your hand a gentle squeeze as you both stepped outside together, "you really, really do."
⸻
the atmosphere at wembley swallowed up almost everything else.
flags, songs, england shirts everywhere. except... one very small barcelona shirt.
several staff members smiled as you walked past hand in hand with leah
one laughed. "brave choice today."
you nodded confidently. "i know."
leah muttered under her breath. "tell me about it." as you took your seats not far from the england dugout
england won and as the final whistle blew the stadium erupted.
you were already bouncing on the balls of your feet, practically tugging leah's arm out of its socket every few seconds.
"mummy!" you squealed, already pointing towards the pitch even though alessia was still surrounded by teammates, staff and cameras.
leah laughed quietly, shaking her head. you bounced again, unable to stand still for more than half a second.
"can we go?" you asked, your voice high with excitement. "please mama? can we go now?"
"as soon as they let families through," leah said patiently, smoothing down a curl that had escaped your ponytail. "they'll open the barrier in a minute."
"but it's been ages." you dragged out the word in frustration.
"it hasn't." leah smiled knowingly.
"it feels like ages." you let out an exaggerated sigh, your shoulders slumping dramatically before you immediately started bouncing again.
every few seconds you stretched onto your tiptoes, trying to see over the crowd of waiting families. "can you see mummy?"
"not yet."
"what about now?"
"nope."
"now?”
leah couldn't help laughing. "no, sweetheart."
the wait felt endless. for you, every second seemed to last a whole minute. you practically vibrated with excitement, clutching your esme the elephant
the second the barrier finally open, you didn't even wait for leah to finish saying, "careful..." you were already off.
tiny trainers flying across the grass.
"slow down!" leah called after her, laughing despite herself. across the pitch, alessia turned at the sound of a familiar voice.
"lovie?"
there you were. tiny, curly hair bouncing behind you with every step. the bright barcelona shirt stood out amongst a sea of white england shirts like a beacon.
alessia couldn't stop herself laughing. of course, only her daughter would wear a barcelona shirt to an england match.
alessia opened both arms wide. "lovie!" she called, her face breaking into the biggest smile she'd worn all day.
"mummy!" you squealed back, your little legs somehow moving even faster. you launched yourself the final few steps.
alessia caught you effortlessly, lifting you straight off the ground with a soft grunt before spinning you around once.
"there she is," alessia laughed warmly, pulling you into a tight hug. "there's my girl."
you wrapped both arms around her neck so tightly it was almost impossible to breathe. "i missed you," you mumbled into alessia's shoulder.
"i missed you too," alessia replied softly, rubbing gentle circles across your back.
you leaned back just enough to beam at her. "i saw you score!" you announced proudly, your eyes impossibly bright.
alessia gasped dramatically, "you did?" she asked, widening her eyes in mock surprise.
you nodded so enthusiastically your curls bounced. "i shouted really, really loud."
"you did?"
"mhm!"
alessia tapped the end of your nose. "i heard you."
you narrowed your eyes suspiciously before dissolving into a giggle. "you didn't," you declared confidently.
"i definitely did," alessia insisted with a grin
"no you didn't."
"i've got super hearing."
"you haven't."
"i have."
"you were all the way over there," you argued, pointing towards the corner flag on the opposite side to where you'd been sitting.
"i still heard you."
"nuh-uh.”
"yep."
you laughed so hard you nearly slipped from alessia's arms "you being silly, mummy"
"i might be, just a little bit" alessia brushed a curl away from your face before finally taking a proper look at what you were wearing.
her eyes dropped to the navy and garnet shirt, she tilted her head dramatically. "...hang on," she said, pretending to sound confused as if she hadn't seen the photo of you before you'd left the house with leah. "where's your england shirt?"
you blinked then looked down at yourself as though you'd genuinely forgotten what you'd put on that morning. "oh."
you shrugged one shoulder without a hint of guilt. "i wanted alexia."
alessia pressed her lips together, trying very hard not to laugh. "i can see that," she chuckled.
you searched her face carefully. "you don't mind?" you asked quietly.
alessia's expression softened immediately as she shook her head. "no, baby,," she said gently. "i don't mind."
"really?"
"really."
you smiled with obvious relief. "you still know i wanted england to win," you explained earnestly.
"i know," alessia replied, nodding.
"and i cheered when you scored."
"i know you did."
"i shouted, 'go mummy!'"
"you did."
"and..." you hesitated for a second before admitting with complete honesty, "...i shouted for alexia too."
alessia laughed again, unable to help herself. "i figured that might've happened."
"i like both of you." you admitted as alessia nodded she knew this, "but you're my favourite.”
alessia raised an eyebrow playfully. "...by a lot?"
you leaned in conspiratorially. "by this much," you whispered, holding your fingers barely an inch apart.
alessia laughed loudly. "only that much?"
you burst into giggles. "no." and you threw both arms as wide as they would go. "THIS much."
"that's better," alessia said, pulling you into another hug and kissing the top of your head.
a little later and you had somehow vanished. alessia frowned, immediately scanning the pitch.
"where's..."
"there!" leah laughed, pointing towards the opposite side of the grass.
ella was sprinting away with exaggerated panic plastered across her face. "no!" ella cried dramatically, glancing over her shoulder. "she's too fast!"
behind her, you chased after her with determined little legs. "i'm gonna get you!" you squealed between giggles.
"you'll never catch me!" ella called, deliberately slowing down just enough for you to think you were gaining.
"i will!"
"no chance!"
"I'M REALLY FAST!"
"you are!" ella laughed. "that's the problem!"
a second later ella pretended to trip over absolutely nothing.
"oh no!" she stumbled dramatically before collapsing onto the grass with an exaggerated groan. "i've been caught!"
you launched herself onto ella's back, laughing so hard she could barely breathe.
"i win!" you declared triumphantly, throwing your arms in the air.
"you always win, kiddo" ella sighed theatrically, throwing one arm over her eyes. "i never stood a chance."
"you didn't," you agreed very seriously.
leah and alessia smiled as they watched the pair rolling around on the grass as alessia slipped an arm around leah's waist, "you look tired."
"i argued with a five year old for thirty seven minutes," leah said with a dramatic sigh, folding her arms across her chest.
alessia glanced over at her, a smile already tugging at her lips. "only thirty-seven?" she teased. "i'm impressed."
leah let out a quiet laugh and shook her head. "thirty-nine if we're being precise," she corrected.
alessia laughed, the sound bright and unrestrained. "you could've just let her," she pointed out, bumping leah's shoulder lightly.
"i know," leah admitted with an exaggerated groan. she looked across the pitch to where you were currently chasing ella around with determined little legs before turning back to alessia.
"but it's england!" she exclaimed, throwing one hand into the air.
"i know," alessia replied, still smiling.
"and she's wearing spain's captain on her back," leah continued in disbelief.
alessia chuckled, trying not to laugh too hard at how genuinely offended leah still sounded. "it's barcelona," alessia corrected gently.
leah gave her an unimpressed look. "it's practically the same thing today," she argued.
alessia couldn't help herself. she stepped closer and pressed a soft kiss to leah's cheek. "thank you," she murmured.
leah blinked, her teasing expression immediately melting into something much softer. "for what?" she asked quietly.
alessia glanced over to where you were now triumphantly declaring yourself the winner of yet another game you'd definitely been allowed to win.
"for looking after her," alessia said, her voice warm with gratitude. "for putting up with thirty-nine minutes of negotiations over a football shirt... and everything else while I've been away."
leah smiled, reaching for alessia's hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "always" she replied without an ounce of hesitation.
the final whistles of conversations echoed around the pitch as staff began gently ushering players towards the tunnel.
"come on, girls!" someone from england's staff called. "inside, please!"
one by one, players started saying their goodbyes to family members.
ella dramatically complained that she'd "definitely pulled a hamstring" after losing six games of tag to a five-year-old before jogging away, making you giggle as you waved your auntie ella goodbye.
leah reached for your hand. "come on, angel. mummy has to head in, we'll see her afterwards"
you nodded, though your eyes wandered around the pitch one last time, trying to soak everything in.
then you stopped. "...mama." leah followed her gaze.
a small group of spanish players were making their way towards the same tunnel from the opposite side of the pitch, chatting amongst themselves and signing the odd shirt and taking a few photos with fans.
one of them looked up, mariona. the arsenal forward paused mid-conversation her eyes immediately landed on the tiny barcelona shirt.
a grin spread across her face. she nudged the player walking beside her, saying something quietly in spanish. laia looked over too before laughing softly.
mariona gave the group a quick wave to say she'd catch them up before changing direction completely. instead of heading for the tunnel...
she walked straight towards them.
"lovie," alessia laughed quietly beside leah. "i think you've been spotted."
your eyes widened. "super mario!"
you let go of leah's hand and hurried over, stopping just in front of the arsenal teammate you'd seen dozens of times at your mummy's training.
mariona's smile softened immediately, she crouched down so she was eye level with you, "hola, pequeña," she greeted warmly.
you gave a shy little wave. "...hiya."
"its good to see you again," mariona said, her english carrying its familiar spanish accent.
you nodded. "you too.”
mariona's eyes drifted down to the shirt as she laughed quietly. "i had a feeling you'd be wearing barcelona."
you looked down proudly, smoothing a hand over the front. "my uncle gio got it for me," you explained. "when he was in spain"
"its beautiful," mariona told you sincerely.
you beamed. "i love barca."
"i can tell," mariona replied with a grin.
laia had wandered over by now, folding her arms as she smiled at the little girl. "even today?" she asked teasingly, raising an eyebrow.
you nodded without a second's hesitation. "i wanted england to win," you said earnestly. both spanish's players smiled.
"nut..." you continued, glancing down at the shirt again with obvious pride, "...i also like alexia."
mariona laughed, exchanging an amused look with laia. "i think someone would quite like to hear that."
you frowned in confusion. "...what?"
mariona held out her hand with an encouraging smile. "venir."
you instinctively looked back over your shoulder towards your mummy and mama, "can i?"
alessia smiled immediately. "go on."
leah chuckled, giving you a gentle nudge forward. "just don't forget who feeds you, yeah!"
"i won't!" you promised quickly before slipping your tiny hand into mariona's.
mariona smiled to herself as she led you towards the tunnel where the remaining spanish players were waiting and across the pitch the a few players drifting between groups of supporters.
they were signing shirts, posing for photos, stopping for small conversations that were never quite as quick as security wanted them to be.
meat the advertising boards, alexia was doing exactly that. a barcelona shirt then a spain one, a programme and then another shirt.
she thanked each supporter with a smile, chatting in spanish before moving onto the next person. then she looked up.
mariona was walking towards her and beside her a tiny little girl with bouncy curls and a barcelona shirt that looked just a touch too big.
alexia’s eyes immediately landed on the back of it.
PUTELLAS. 11.
her own name and she couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face. “hola.”
you stopped, instantly. every ounce of confidence you’d somehow found talking to mariona and laia completely disappeared.
you simply stared, wide-eyed. mouth slightly open.
mariona chuckled quietly beside you. “i think you’ve made someone very nervous.”
your trainers stayed rooted to the grass, mariona gave your shoulder the gentlest little nudge. “it’s okay.”
alexia laughed softly, already lowering herself into a crouch so she wasn’t towering over the little girl. “hola.” her voice was gentle as she waved slightly, patient and warm, “you don’t have to be scared.”
you swallowed, you couldn’t quite believe the alexia putellas was in front of you, “…hi.”
alexia glanced back at mariona with an amused smile “you’ve found a Barcelona supporter at wembley?”
mariona grinned. “not just any supporter.” she rested a hand lightly against your shoulder. “this little one has spent all afternoon proudly wearing your shirt.”
alexia looked back at you. “you wore my shirt?” a tiny nod came from you,
“you came to watch england…” another nod. “…and you still chose barcelona?”
you finally found enough courage to speak, very quietly. “so everyone knew.”
alexia tilted her head. “knew what?”
“…that you’re my favourite.” it was barely above a whisper. the kind of confession only someone standing inches away could hear.
for a second, alexia’s smile softened into something almost emotional. “well…” she placed a hand gently against her own chest. “thank you.”
she glanced back at mariona again, curiosity dancing across her face. “whose little girl is she?”
alexia looked between them once more then shook her head with a small laugh. “no…”
mariona nodded towards the england players still scattered across the pitch. “she’s baby russo.”
alexia blinked. “…russo?”
“alessia’s daughter.”
recognition immediately washed over her face as her eyebrows lifted. “no…”
mariona laughed. “si.”
alexia looked back at you in complete disbelief before glancing across the pitch. and sure enough standing a little further away: alessia and leah were both watching.
alessia had one hand over her mouth, already smiling before anything had even happened. leah folded her arms with a grin.
as alexia looked back to you. “so…” a playful smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “your mummy plays against me…”
you nodded. “…but today you wore my shirt.” another tiny nod as alexia laughed. “i think that’s very brave.”
nearby, laia had spotted the entire exchange unfolding and saying a word she pulled her phone from her pocket, “this needs recording,” she muttered with a smile.
the camera quietly captured everything.
alexia turned her full attention back to you. “so…”
“how old are you?”
“five .”
“five?”
you nodded. “i turned five.”
alexia smiled. “a big age.” she pointed gently towards the football still tucked under one of the advertising boards. “do you play football?”
“a little bit.” you nodded as mariona spoke for you saying you were football mad.
“a defender?”
you immediately looked horrified. “no.”
alexia laughed. “no?”
“i like passing.” you told alexia imitating one of your passing moves that you had learnt.
mariona snorted, “already a midfielder.”
alexia nodded approvingly. “a very important job.” she looked down at the barcelona shirt again. “and who bought you this?”
“my uncle gio.” you grinned proudly, “he knows barcelona is one of my favourite.”
“and he chose very well.” alexia nodded approvingly as you smiled shyly at the compliment. every answer came in tiny sentences, barely louder than a whisper.
nothing like the confident little chatterbox who had spent the afternoon proudly explaining to anyone who would listen why you couldn’t possibly wear an england shirt because “mummy already wears england.”
alexia found it endlessly adorable. another another minute of chatting and she reached into the pocket of a staff member standing nearby and borrowed a marker.
then she held it up. “may i sign your shirt for you?”
your eyes became enormous. “the… the shirt?”
alexia nodded with a smile “if that’s okay with you.”
for a second you simply stared as though you couldn’t quite believe you’d heard correctly then your entire face lit up. “yes please!”
alexia carefully turned the fabric so it stayed flat. slowly and neatly she signed her name beneath the number eleven. making sure not to smudge the ink before handing the pen back.
“there.”
you immediately looked down you reached out with one tiny finger and very carefully touched the fresh signature then looked back up.
your eyes were sparkling. “…thank you.”
“it was lovely meeting you, y/n.” alexia smiled before gently ruffling your curls. “i hope you keep enjoying football.”
“i will.”
“and maybe…” alexia winked. “…one day i’ll see you playing.”
you looked as though you’d stopped breathing altogether. “i’ll try.”
mariona smiled. “i think someone will remember today forever.”
“i think so too,” alexia replied warmly as she waved goodbye, a media officer ushering her away.
mariona held out her hand. “come on, pequeña.”
you slipped your tiny hand into mariona’s as you started walking back and laia’s phone was still recording and caught the exact second you spotted alessia standing not too far in the tunnel.
“mummy!”
you broke into a run. alessia barely had time to open her arms before the little girl launched herself forwards.
“oof!” she laughed, catching you effortlessly. “you met her!”
“I MET HER!” you squealed, practically bouncing in alessia’s arms.
alessia laughed, unable to stop smiling. “i know!”
“she talked to me!” you continued breathlessly, your words tumbling over one another in your excitement.
“i know she did,” alessia replied warmly, smoothing a curl back from your forehead.
“she knew my name!”
alessia’s eyes widened in exaggerated surprise as she gasped dramatically. “did she?”
you nodded so enthusiastically your curls bounced. “yeah! mariona told her i was little russo, and then she said, ‘it was lovely meeting you, y/n!’”
alessia couldn’t help laughing. “well… she was right.it was lovely meeting you.”
“and she touched my shirt!” you added, looking down at the signed barcelona top as though it had suddenly become the most precious thing in the world.
alessia grinned, glancing at the signature beneath the number eleven. “i noticed.”
“and she said uncle gio picked a good one!”
alessia smiled fondly, already imagining giorgio’s reaction when he heard the story. “i’m sure he’ll be very pleased to hear that.”
you hugged the front of your shirt protectively before looking back up at your mum, still beaming from ear to ear. “he’ll never believe me.”
“and…” you leaned in close, lowering her voice as though sharing the world’s biggest secret. “…she signed it.”
alessia looked down at the shirt, there it was. alexia putellas’ unmistakable signature beneath the eleven.
she couldn’t stop laughing. actual tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. “i think…” she kissed the top of your curls. “…she liked you.”
you looked down at the signature one more time carefully smoothing the shirt with both hands then you looked back at her mum.
your voice was barely a whisper. “i think…” a tiny smile spread across your face. “…this is the best day ever.”
⸻
for the next three weeks, everyone suffered. every conversation somehow found its way back to alexia.
one morning over breakfast, you took a bite of your toast before announcing very matter-of-factly, “did you know alexia said my shirt was beautiful?”
alessia didn’t even look up from making coffee, used to this now. “yes” she replied with an amused smile.
a few hours later, as leah walked past the living room, “mama,” you called after her, “did you know alexia signed it?”
leah paused dramatically and rested a hand against her forehead. “only because you’ve told me fourteen times today.”
you frowned thoughtfully before holding up one finger. “it was fifteen,” you corrected proudly.
leah looked towards alessia. “…we’re raising a statistician.”
at breakfast the next day, you poked at your pancakes before looking up. “i think alexia likes pancakes probably.”
alessia smiled over the rim of her mug. “probably.”
leah snorted into her tea. “what makes you think that?”
you shrugged. “because everyone likes pancakes.”
“…can’t argue with that logic,” leah admitted.
in the car on the way to training, you gazed out of the window for a few moments before wondering aloud, “i wonder what Alexia’s favourite colour is.”
from the driver’s seat, alessia laughed. “i’ve absolutely no idea, baby.”
“you should ask her.”
leah burst out laughing from the passenger seat. “oh, just send her a quick text, less. ‘morning, by the way, what’s your favourite colour?’”
alessia shook her head, laughing. “i don’t think that’s happening.”
that evening, after stories had been read and the bedroom lights were dimmed, you hugged esme the elephant tightly.
“mummy?”
“mh?” alessia hummed, tucking the duvet around you.
“do you think alexia remembers me?”
alessia’s expression softened instantly. she brushed a curl away from your face. “i think she probably does.”
“you do?”
“i do.”
you smiled to herself. “good.”
even facetiming nonno and nonna became impossible. the second mario answered, “hi, tesoro!” he greeted with a grin.
“look!” you exclaimed, already scrambling to hold the barcelona shirt up to the camera.
mario chuckled patiently. “i’ve seen it, tesoro.”
“but have you seen the signature today?” you asked very seriously, tilting the shirt to make sure he had the perfect view.
carol laughed from somewhere behind him. “i don’t think signatures move, sweetheart.”
“they don’t,” you agreed with complete confidence. “…but it’s still nice to look at.”
eventually, leah found alessia laughing in the kitchen one evening while you carefully folded the signed shirt for the night.
"this," leah said, leaning against the counter, "is your fault."
"my fault?" alessia gasped with such dramatic effect as she was still trying to compose herself.
"you laughed instead of backing me up." leah pointed out with a smirk as she nicked one of alessia’s biscuits
"i did." alessia agreed quietly.
"and now our daughter thinks she's best friends with alexia putellas."
from the living room, you called proudly, "i am!"
leah closed her eyes. "there it is." alessia couldn't help herself. she laughed, wrapping an arm around leah before looking towards the living room where you were already telling esme the elephant, in great detail, exactly how alexia had smiled at her.
"you know," alessia said with a grin, "it could be worse."
leah raised an eyebrow, alessia smiled. "at least she still wanted england to win."
leah considered it. "...i’ll allow it."
from the living room came one final announcement. "when i grow up..." a dramatic pause. "...i’m going to play with mummy." another pause. "...and then with alexia.”
alessia and leah exchanged a smile. some dreams, they decided, were simply too lovely not to encourage.
i have college orientation tomorrow and i actually am going to shit myself and suffer. i don’t know who im staying w and i have to be there at the butt crack of dawn
are you kidding me? if this is true, my head is on mars right now.
so let me get this straight: we are willing to pay €1.5 million on ONE player in transfer fees (this does not include salary!) on a 4 year contract. kerolin is a good, not a great player, and has a tendency to be injury prone. not to mention she plays the same position on the right wing as caro. 😵💫
and in exchange, we completely fucked over alexia with her lowball 2+1 contract in 2024 and were completely unwilling to match mapi, salma, and ona on salary demands this season. and we lost quite a few la masia b team girlies to other teams, who were tired of waiting in the wings🤦♀️
once again, marc vivés, excellent business as usual 👏👏👏
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