What begins as a heavy prank devised by Beth Mead ends up bordering on disaster in the Arsenal locker room. After using professional makeup to fake a black eye on Y/N, Leah Williamson's reaction exceeds all expectations: the captain enters a state of protective fury that puts the entire team on alert.
Based on this request-> here, I hope you like it!!
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The idea was Beth Mead's. That should have been your first, second, and third red flag. When Beth has free time, a twisted sense of humor, and a professional makeup kit, the result is never world peace.
“You don’t dare, Y/N. You’re too afraid of the Cap,” Beth said, sitting on a gym stool, twirling a blending brush between her fingers with the smile of an absolute villain.
“It’s not fear, Beth. It’s respect for my physical integrity,” you replied, though you were already letting yourself be convinced. “Leah has that protective instinct that is scary sometimes. If she thinks someone has touched me, she won’t ask for a name; she’ll ask for the nearest hospital.”
“Exactly! That’s the best part,” Beth insisted, leaning toward your face with an eyeshadow palette. “Besides, I want to see if this concealer is as good as they say. Stay still.”
For twenty minutes, Beth worked with the concentration of a surgeon. She mixed deep purples, greenish-yellows for a "healing" effect, and a touch of clear gloss to simulate recent swelling. The result was terrifying. When you looked in the mirror, you let out a gasp.
It looked real.
Too real.
“Does it hurt?” Beth asked dramatically.
“It’s going to hurt when Leah sees this.”
“It’s perfect. Now, get in there, look like the world is ending, and don’t say a word.”
The Arsenal locker room was a chaos of laughter, background music, and the sound of boots hitting the floor. Leah was in the center, one leg resting on the bench, reviewing tactical notes with Kim Little and Katie McCabe.
She was the picture of calm and leadership. You walked in with your shoulders slumped. You didn't look at anyone. You went straight to your locker, which happened to be two meters away from Leah, and began rummaging through your backpack with slow, clumsy movements.
The silence wasn't immediate, but it spread like a virus. First Katie went quiet. Then Kim. And finally, Leah looked up.
“Y/N? We’ve been waiting for you to...”
The sentence froze in mid-air. You saw the color drain from Leah’s face in a second, replaced by a deathly paleness. She dropped the papers on the floor without even noticing.
“Look at me,” Leah said, approaching where you were.
You turned slowly, letting the overhead light highlight the reddish glow and deep purple of your eye. She took a step toward you, her breathing becoming heavy. Her hands trembled slightly as she tried to reach for your face, but she stopped before touching you, as if she were afraid to break you.
“Who was it?” Her voice was low, a husky whisper that carried more danger than a scream.
“Leah, really, I’m fine, it was just an incident in the...”
“I said: who... was it?” This time the locker room trembled. Leah turned toward the rest of the players, who were watching the scene with wide eyes.
Beth, who at first was in the back holding back a laugh, stopped smiling when she saw that Leah’s jaw was so tight it looked like it was going to shatter.
“Does anyone want to explain to me why my girlfriend walks into the locker room like this?”
There was absolute silence.
A bottle fell to the floor somewhere.
Leah took another step toward the center of the locker room. “If someone touched her, we’re settling this right now.”
You started to enter real panic. Not because of the makeup. Because of the look in Leah’s eyes. It wasn't theatrical. It wasn't exaggerated. She was ready to fight.
Kim, with the calm of someone who has seen a thousand battles, approached you. She took you by the chin firmly and forced you to look toward the light. She frowned. She dampened her thumb with her water bottle and, before you could react, rubbed it hard against your cheekbone.
“Kim, what are you doing? It hurts her!” Leah shouted, ready to pounce.
Kim held up her thumb. It was stained with a bright purple color that didn't look like blood, but cosmetic.
“Leah,” Kim said, throwing a tired look at Beth, who was now trying to make herself small behind a pile of towels. “Unless Y/N bleeds glitter, I think you should review your combat priorities.”
The silence returned, but this time it was interrupted by a nervous, explosive laugh from Beth. “It’s long-lasting! The manufacturer wasn't lying!” Beth shouted from her hiding place.
Leah stood frozen. She looked at Kim’s finger, then looked at your face where there was now a blurry smudge revealing your intact skin. The air seemed to leave her lungs all at once. She covered her face with her hands and leaned against the locker, letting out a groan of frustration and relief.
“I’m going to kill you,” Leah muttered under her breath. “Both of you. I swear I’m going to kill you.”
Ten minutes later, the locker room was still a hotbed of teasing. “Watch out, here comes Mike Tyson,” Katie told Leah, while the others reenacted the scene of her breakdown.
When the locker room finally began to empty, Leah approached you with a wet wipe and began to clean off the rest of the makeup with extreme gentleness, even though she was still pretending to be angry.
“That wasn't funny, Y/N,” she whispered, avoiding your gaze. “For a moment... I felt like my heart stopped. I thought someone had actually hurt you and you couldn't defend yourself.”
“I’m sorry, really,” you said, taking her hand. “Beth started with the dares and... well, you know how she is.”
“I know. She’s walking chaos. But you should have more common sense.” Leah finally looked you in the eye, and the fury had dissipated, leaving only an immense tenderness. “I almost committed a crime for you today.”
“That’s a bit romantic, don’t you think?” You gave her a quick kiss on the nose. “My knight in shining armor... or Arsenal tracksuit.”
Leah let out a short laugh and wrapped her arms around your waist, pulling you close. “Don't get used to it. The next time Beth offers you a makeover, tell her you'd rather keep your girlfriend out of jail.”
“I promise,” you laughed, relaxing against her chest. “No more war paint for a while.”
Leah leaned in to give you a soft kiss on your forehead, sealing the peace.
pairing: katie mccabe x longterm girlfriend!reader
katie is so proud of you after you finally graduated, what better way to celebrate then to finally move in together after years of going long distance
yourusername
liked by katie_mccabe11, yourbestfriend, yourmum, viviannemiedema, bethmead_ and others
yourusername finally!! after three years of uni, one placement and a whole lot of crying i finally get to say that i graduated (swipe for my first ever uni photo)!!!
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katie_mccabe11 my girl my girl my girl (liked by author)
↳ yourusername i love you forever, thank you so much for all the support 🩷
yourbestfriend AHHH congratulations girl!!! im so so so proud of you!! (liked by author)
↳ yourusername i couldn't have done it without you!!
yourmum my baby! you did it!!! (liked by author)
↳ yourusername i love you
yourclassmate im gonna miss you!! thank you for everything
yourclassmate ugh im already crying
katie_mccabe11
liked by yourusername, bethmead_, viviannemiedema, leahwilliamsonn, user1, user2 and others
tagged: yourusername
katie_mccabe11 dinner out for the best graduate
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yourusername i love you so much (liked by author)
↳ katie_mccabe11 no i love you so much (liked by yourusername)
↳ yourusername i love you MORE (liked by author)
↳ bethmead_ GET A ROOM PLEASE
user3 congratulations!!! yourusername
user4 damn katie's girl is kinda fine icl
user5 i love them already
user6 parents frfr
yourusername
liked by katie_mccabe11, yourbestfriend, yourmum, viviannemiedema, bethmead_ and others
tagged: katiemccabe_11
yourusername finally together again
view comments
user7 how long have they been together, this seems quite fast
↳ user8 no ikr
↳ user9 pretty sure its been like a decade?? maybe a few years less
katie_mccabe11 can forgive these photos because FINALLY i dont have to deal with your shit uni wifi anymore (liked by author)
↳ yourusername THATS YOUR TAKE AWAY?? (liked by katie_mccabe11)
user10 cuties
user11 please adopt me
user12 is it just me or is this relationship moving FAST
user13 NO POOR KATIE she's been done dirty for these pics
katie_mccabe11
liked by yourusername, bethmead_, viviannemiedema, leahwilliamsonn, user1, user2 and others
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katie_mccabe11 eight years down, finally got her to move in with me.
who she runs to | alessia russo x child!reader x leah williamson
-> based on this request⚽️
grumpy masterlist
the late-afternoon sun painted the youth pitch in warm gold as little feet pounded across the grass. you, in your slightly-too-big kit with the number '19' taped onto the back, was a whirlwind of energy and cheeky grins.
on the sideline, alessia, leah, and a handful of the arsenal girls had formed an informal cheering squad, snacks and water bottles at the ready.
"go on, tiny girl!" beth hollered, cupping her hands around her mouth as they cheered for you as you ran down the pitch.
"she's got more control than you, less," katie teased, nudging alessia slightly as they rested against the barrier.
"hey, i taught her everything she knows," alessia shot back smugly, a few of the girls humming.
leah laughed. "you mean how to do a step-over and immediately trip?"
"still counts as some sort of flair."
lotte stood behind them, filming on her phone. "this better go viral. i can see it, 'tiny sends opposition to the shops.'"
you, who was clearly fueled by all the attention, zoomed toward goal and toe-poked it into the bottom corner. as the final whistle blew, you threw her arms in the air like you'd just won the world cup.
all eyes were on her, but one pair of eyes watched from a distance harrison, standing behind a few rows back, out of direct sight his arms crossed with a small smile of pride on his face. he hadn't made his presence known yet.
the kids scattered after the whistle, some toward their parents, others toward the post-match oranges. but you?
your eyes locked on your mama like a magnet. "MMAAMMA!" you shrieked, sprinting at full speed.
leah crouched instinctively, arms open. "c'mere, lil superstar!"
you launched yourself at your mama and leah caught you, lifting you high and spinning you. you screamed with laughter, clinging to her neck.
"i saw your goal! that finish, oh it was lovely!" leah said, grinning her entire body filled with pride.
"you think it was good?"
"better than mummy's at the euros."
"yes! but not the back heel though-" you beamed, soaking up the praise.
leah slung you over one shoulder piggyback-style, and you giggled, playing with the ends of leah's ponytail. "you're my horsey now."
"you got it, angel. princess pony service."
beth leaned in. "oi, tiny, what about the rest of us? don't we get post-match hugs? we helped with the cheering too!"
you peeked out from leah's shoulder. "maaaaybe. if you bring me ice cream." you grinned pointing at the ice cream van that was in the car park, people already queuing in the warm afternoon sun.
"blackmail," katie muttered, impressed.
meanwhile, harrison approached, the laughter and affection around leah and you making his chest tighten.
he cleared his throat as he reached alessia. "hey."
alessia turned, eyebrows lifting, slightly startled by his presence. she hadn't seen or heard from him in a solid two weeks. "didn't know you were coming."
"i wanted to see her play." he said, hands still placed in his pockets as he looked at alessia, he could tell she was surprised by him being there. her brain ticking on how to react.
"you could've told me."
"she's my daughter, les-alessia," he said sharply. "i shouldn't need permission."
"hey, no i didn't mean that. but a heads up would have been nice-" alessia quipped back quickly, not liking his sharp tone especially when you were in ears length from hearing the conversation.
that tone. it was so familiar, so condescending and it grated on alessia.
but harrison's eyes drifted to the pitch, to the child, his daughter who hadn't even noticed him. still wrapped around leah's back, giggling and smiling as leah jogged lightly with you on her back.
his fists clenched slightly. "this—this isn't right. she should be running to me, not leah. i should be the one carrying her, not..." he trailed off, shaking his head. his eyes still looking at the scene of you and leah.
"y/n's not a prize you get for showing up late," alessia replied, her voice tight, her focus on gathering your little boot bag, not really having the effort to listen to harrison and his antics as frankly to her, now, they were boring.
"i'm her dad."
"and what is leah?" alessia fired back, quickly as she stood up now facing him. "cause to lovie, le is the one who helps her tie her shoe laces before school, reads to her at night, and gets up when she has nightmares."
harrison scoffed. "you let her play parent. that's on you."
alessia stepped closer, patience running a little thin with his excuses and ignorance. "leah didn't ask for any of this. she chose it. when we got to together, she showed up, over and over again. i never asked her to, once. and y/n loves her for that. that isn't something 'i let happen'. it happened by itself and cause you weren't there."
behind them, katie and beth had fallen quiet, exchanging glances at each other as they watched with unreadable expressions.
harrison shook his head. "it's not fair."
"no," alessia snapped back , "it's not. it’s not fair that, that little girl has to navigate your ego every time she's happy."
at that moment, you turned from your perch on leah's back, having heard the change in tone and recognising who your mummy was talking to. "mummy?" you said, voice small. "why's daddy shouting at you?"
the group went still. your eyes found harrison and the joy drained from your face, the smile that was once there had dropped quicker than your goal had hit the back of the net.
"hey, my little girl," harrison said gently, forcing a smile. "come here, daddy has missed you."
instead, you slid off leah's back and stepped behind her legs, peeking around only slightly, you little head confused at how he could shout at your mummy then want you in his arms.
"c'mon, y/n. don't be shy."
"no," you whispered, hugging leah's leg. "i don't want you to be mean to mummy." leah's heart broke a little, as she glared at harrison.
"she's scared," beth said quietly, stepping forward now, arms folded. "you might want to think about that."
"y/n," harrison tried again, his voice now slightly cracking. "i'm not trying to be mean, i just.. i miss you, kiddo."
still, you didn't budge.
"she doesn't owe you affection on demand," katie said, bluntly as alessia exhaled, rubbing a hand down her face.
lotte stepped closer and offered leah a soft look who was trying coax you from behind her legs. "you okay?"
leah nodded, then crouched beside you. "hey angel, want to go sit with auntie beth and katie for a bit while mummy and i clean up?"
you shook your head, firmly. "wan stay with you."
harrison opened his mouth but closed it again. there was nothing left to say. harrison took a shaky breath admitting defeat, but alessia stopped him with a look.
"maybe you should go," she said quietly. "we can talk later. but not now."
he looked like he wanted to argue, but something in the way you clung to leah made him finally understand. he wasn't the one she ran to. he wasn't never going to be. and until he earned it, he wouldn't be.
he nodded stiffly, turned, and reluctantly walked away. and harrison, watching from the shadows of the car park, realised for the first time...
he wasn't just competing with leah. he was competing with consistency. with love. with presence. with time.
and right now, he was losing.
as soon as he was gone, beth knelt down and offered you her hand. "alright, superstar. i've got jelly worms and a capri sun with your name on it."
you perked up. "do i get both?"
"mhmm, i'm sure mummy won't mind since you played your socks off in that match."
you cheered as you ran over to the snack bench with beth, katie and lotte in tow, your little socked feet rushing across the grass which alessia was definitely going to regret letting you do when she had to find a way to get the grass stains out of them..
leah stood slowly, brushing the dirt from her knees. alessia stepped beside her, watching their daughter dance around with the girls.
"she's lucky," leah said softly as she wrapped an arm around alessia pulling the blonde close into her chest.
"she is, she has the best people around her" alessia's voice cracked on the last word, and leah reached out to intertwine their fingers, grounding them both as they rested against alessia's shoulder.
in front of them, your laughter and giggles bubbled up again. you had launched herself onto katie's back, demanding another piggyback.
"i'm switching sides!" you yelled. "katie my horse now!"
"hey!" leah called, pretending to be offended. "i'm retiring from horse duty, am i?"
"no, never!" you yelled turning your head around to face leah as you yelled from katie's back. "you're my unicorn!"
leah and alessia looked at each other, hearts full.
unicorn. mama. safe place. whatever the name, leah had become someone you ran to, again and again. and no one could take that bond away.
Wait...you're not together? | Katie McCabe x Irish!Reader
Where you figure out your real feelings for Katie
Warnings: mentions of internalised homophobia
Woso masterlist | Words: 2.9k
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It was a rare evening off during camp, and you and a couple of the girls decided to head into the city. You loved camp and the traveling that came with it for matches, but you hated that you were confined to the same spaces for long durations of time, so nights like these were once you always looked forward to.
Denise, Grace, and Katie tagged along for your plans. Not that you had very elaborate plans, just getting some dinner, and going on a walk around town after. The girls were good with whatever you had in mind, and followed your lead.
It was always nice to catch up with them, all of you playing for different teams, and usually only seeing each other during camp, or on the rare occasion that you played each other’s teams. You grew up with these girls, and it was always lovely to be around them again.
Dinner was filled with chatter and laughter, just like it always was. You and Katie were sitting next to each other with Grace and Denise on the other side of the table. By the time dessert came around, you were all a little delirious, laughing all evening with your best friends does that to a person.
You posed for the hundred pictures of tonight, taking a quick look at it before pocketing your phone again when the waiter brought the desserts the table ordered. Only one bite in and Katie already reached over to take a bite of your dish, you just continued talking with Grace like nothing happened, and it didn’t. There wasn’t a meal you had with Katie where she wouldn’t try some of your food, it had happened so often now that it was basically a tradition.
Usually you also took a bite of Katie’s food back, but when Katie realised you were too deep into conversation to grab your bite of her food, she scooped some on her spoon and held it out in front of your mouth. You look down and then to her, smiling at the sweet gesture to keep the not so official tradition alive. You ate the scoop of dessert of her held out spoon, and continued your conversation with Grace.
When everyone finished their dessert, you pulled out your phone again, the camera app already open. “We don’t have any silly ones yet.” You said, a cheeky grin already forming on your face, as you started pointing the camera to your friends, and taking pictures at odd angles, trying to make them laugh.
Your camera roll filled with tons of pictures, and you only stopped once the waiter brought your table the bill. With the bill paid, the four of you headed outside. The weather was still nice out, the fresh air hit nicely after sitting inside for so long.
You look at the last couple pictures in your camera roll, looking to see the beauties you might have captured. Snorting instantly at a close up picture of Katie mid-conversation, so her face looked to be in a shape no human’s face should ever be. “Oh, I am so posting that.”
“Let me see.” Katie says, already looking over at your phone. “Oh god, no please don’t.” But she saw that look in your eyes that she knew all too well, you had made up your mind and nothing was going to stop you from posting that picture. Still she was going to do everything in her power to stop you. And with everything in her power, she meant literally using her strength to try and pry your phone out of your hand so she could delete the picture off your phone before you would ever be able to show it to the world.
Grace and Denise just watched the two of you fighting over your phone with amused smiles on their faces. It was almost like back when you were all still just kids, the two of you really hadn’t changed that much according to the people that had seen you acting like this for years and years.
Once you were back at camp, you each headed your own way, but you quickly found your way to Grace her room. Besides Katie, she was the closest friend you had in the team, and therefore you valued her opinion highly, only speaking your thoughts out loud wasn't easy.
You enter her room and let yourself fall down onto the bed with a deep sigh that instantly signals Grace that something is up. “You good?” She giggles, not having any clue of the struggle that is going on in your head right now. Only once you sit up and she sees the serious look on your face, she gets serious as well and sits down with you.
After another deep breath, you finally share what’s been on your mind. “I think I like Katie.” Grace stays quiet for a moment, thinking there was going to be more but that was it. She breaks out in laughter, “Yeah, no shit Sherlock.”
But you’re not laughing with her, you’re just looking back with a face full of confusion. Grace quiets down again, “Wait..you’re not together?”
You jump up, now even more confused. “No? Why would you think that?” Now Grace is the one that looks confused. “Oh, maybe because you spend every waking hour attached at the hip, are the closest people I have ever met, argue like an old married couple, and oh I don’t know the double dates we’ve been on?”
“What?” Is all you manage to say. “No. No! This is not happening.” Grace lifts her hands up in surrender, “You came to me. What is going on?”
You sit back down with a sigh of defeat. “I came here telling you that I might have feelings for Katie. Feelings that I should not be feeling at all, feelings that are wrong, and you’re telling me that people have been thinking we were a couple?”
“Yup, I genuinely thought that you were past your internalised homophobia fully and that the two of you had been dating for years now.” Your eyes widden, “Years? Oh my god.”
Growing up you were taught that homosexuality was a sin. It was hammered into you from a young age, it was already a big step when your friends started coming out when you were younger. You had to learn your own beliefs, and see that it wasn’t a sin, that they were the same people you had always known. But having feelings for a girl yourself brought a whole new level of trauma to the surface.
Grace was one of the people you had openly spoken with about the trauma, and the beliefs you had been taught. She was one of the people that made you see that your parents, and their take on your religion was wrong.
She sees you fading away, deep into your own mind. “Hey,” She says, nudging you with her shoulder. “Why is this actually stressing you out?”
“Because it’s Katie. It’s not just a random crush that I can experiment with, and see how I actually feel. If I get this wrong, I will lose her.” Grace shakes her head, “You’re never losing her, and definitely not over this.”
“What makes you so sure of that?” You say in disbelief after her quick answer. She shrugs her shoulders, “Because it’s Katie.” Your head instantly turns so you can glare at Grace, “That explains exactly nothing.” She chuckles at your slight frustration. “Just as it is clear as day that you love Katie,-”
“I never said that!” You quickly interrupt as your heart skips a beat. “No, but I know you do. Just as clear as it is that you love her, it is clear that she loves you too. Like I said, you’re already acting like a couple all of the time. The way she looks at you isn’t just friendly, trust me.”
You take in everything she’s saying, and stay quiet for a moment. In your head you’re thinking a million things at once, going over every little interaction you’ve had with Katie, trying to see things from Grace's perspective and suddenly things click.
“Oh my god, I am in love with Katie.” Grace smiles knowingly. “What do I do now?”
“Maybe just something small, like stop pretending you don’t already act like a couple. Lean into it a bit and see what she does.” She suggested it like it was the most logical thing in the world.
But your stomach flips even at the thought. “That sounds like a horrible idea.” Grace shakes her head, “You know it’s a great idea, you’re just scared that it might actually work.” She stated matter of factly.
You groan and let yourself fall back down onto the bed. “I hate you.” She laughs, “No, you don’t.” She leans down to look you in the eyes. “You’re just freaking out because you’re about to flirt with Katie on purpose.”
To end the conversation you grab the pillow above your head and smack it into Grace, who joins in with another pillow instantly.
The next day at training was as normal as ever, except it wasn’t. Every time your eyes locked with Katie, your heart skipped a beat. Or when she would brush past you like she always does, but now you notice it. Every little interaction with her sticks in your mind.
Training ends, and you’re walking back with Katie by your side, again something not out of the ordinary, but it feels different. The way her hand brushes past yours, the way she laughs at a joke one of the girls made, the way she bumps into you when she turns around slightly to talk to someone. You're in your own head, not speaking as much as you usually would, but you thought she didn’t notice, too busy with everyone around you.
You couldn’t have been more wrong though. When you’re all done and heading back to your rooms, Katie pulls you into her room. She walks right in and plops down on her bed, looking back at you with confusion written all over her face. You had closed the door behind you and stayed standing against the door.
“You can come in, you know? I don’t bite.” She adds a wink to be funny, but it just gets to you more than the rest of the day has been. “I’m good here, what’s up?” You wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. Grace’s words kept repeating in your head ‘Lean into it. Flirt with her on purpose.’, but why was that so scary?
“You’ve been off all day, just wanted to see if you were okay.” Katie said softly, nothing in her words sounded accusing, just genuinely caring about you. “Yeah, I’m fine.” You shrug your shoulders with your response but stay standing far away from the bed.
Katie gets up and takes a few steps forward, “You’ve barely said two sentences to me, every time I look at you, you look away like I’ve caught you doing something illegal. Everytime I get near you, you take a step back.” She takes another step forwards, and chuckles when you prove her point instantly. “Did I do something? You can tell me, you know?”
“You didn’t do anything.” You say quickly, you’re creating a whole mess of everything, but the last thing you want is for Katie to think she did something wrong. Katie just keeps standing there, patiently waiting for you to feel comfortable enough to tell her what’s going on. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
Grace’s words play in your head again, ‘Lean into it.’, so after a deep sigh, you do.
“I’ve just been noticing things.” You say nervously, not daring to look at Katie. She stays patient, her voice softens, “Noticing what?” Asking for clarification without pushing you too much.
You look up at her now, your eyes connected. For a moment it feels like she’s looking into your soul and knows exactly what you were thinking. Your heart was beating a million miles an hour, yet you couldn’t look away anymore.
“You.”
It stays quiet, your eyes still connected. Nothing seems to change in Katie’s expression, only maybe her eyes softened just a little bit. You stared at each other in silence, you swear you could hear your heart beating in your ears.
“I don’t know why I said that.” You turn around, “It was stupid.” as you’re about to step away, wanting to leave the room and the moment you had just created, Katie catches your arm.
“Don’t go.” She says while she gently pulls you back around. You end up closer to her than you were before. “It’s not stupid. I’m glad you’re noticing things.” She moves her thumb gently over your wrist, before letting go of you. She keeps standing where she is, and gives you the chance to step away if you want to. “Yeah?”
She nods with a smile, “Yeah.” Without thinking, you take a small step forwards. Katie looks down for a moment to the space you were closing, and then back up at you. “You sure?” She says to check to see if you were actually ready. You nod, “Yeah, just might take me a bit.”
Katie lifts her hand up to your cheek and caresses it with her thumb. You lean into her touch and close your eyes. “I’ll be here waiting until you are.” She says, followed by a whispered, “Like I have been.” Your eyes fly open at the last part. “What do you mean?”
She smiles, her eyes shining in a way you haven’t seen before. “I think we’ve been us for a while now, you just weren’t ready yet, so I waited until you were.”
You let her words land, she’s been there with you all this time and was waiting for you to catch up on your feelings. Now you were there, but you were still scared.
“What if I mess this up?” You ask, speaking your fears. “What if I try this, and I freak out? I don’t know how to do this properly.” Katie’s thumb moves over your cheek again, “I don’t need proper from you, we can just figure it out together.”
“Together.” You repeat as if it was a word filled with more meaning than it should. Katie just nodded, and kept looking at you lovingly, not making any moves. Just letting you take the lead, do everything at your pace.
Then you take another step forwards, now closing any distance between your bodies. Katie’s hand on your cheek with her thumb caressing your cheek keeps you grounded. You lean in slowly, until the last bit of distance is closed.
Your lips are on Katie’s and it feels better than you could have ever imagined. Katie kisses you back softly, even after waiting all those years, there was no rush behind the kiss. She smiled into the kiss, which finally made you relax into the kiss.
Your hands find her hips, hesitant at first, like you’re not fully sure if you’re allowed to. In response Katie leans into you, just enough to tell you that it’s okay. The kiss deepens, not in urgency but in certainty.
When you finally break away from the kiss to catch your breaths, Katie leans her forehead against yours. “Definitely worth the wait.” You stay like that for a moment until she pulls you in for a hug.
You melt into her touch, and stay there for a while, neither one of you in a rush to move. Katie’s hand traces slow, absent patterns against your back, grounding you in the moment. Subconsciously making sure you know she’s in this with you.
Eventually, she pulls back just enough to look at you again, “You okay?” You nod, while a tear rolls down your cheek. She wipes it away gently. “Yeah, that was just terrifying.”
Katie keeps her hand on your cheek, moving her thumb in soothing patterns. “I get it, this is all new. Going from what we were to this is a big step.” She lifts your face up gently so you’re face to face again. “We are taking this as slow as you need us to go. Fully at your pace, no need to rush anything. I am here, and I am not going anywhere.”
You nod slowly, letting her words settle in. “Can we like watch a movie or do something relaxing?” Katie’s face lights up, a fast change from the serious expression she had on her face before. “Yes! I love our movie nights.”
She sits back against the headboard of her bed and is already starting up Netflix on the TV. You step closer to the bed, you always watched movies in the same bed, so why did it feel different this time?
When Katie turned your way with a bright smile on your face, it all felt normal again. She patted the spot next to her, and you plopped down beside her. Already leaning into her side before the movie even started. Katie pressed a kiss to the top of your head, it made you feel safe and comfortable. You cuddle further into her side, and she wraps her arm around you before pressing play on one of your favourite movies.
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Summary: they day they finally get to meet their new foster daughter. It's hard. You're so tiny and scared, very scared. But the two footballers are sweet and try not to push.
Warnings: tiny neglected three year old. Anxious and traumatized baby reader.
Masterlist
Today was the day. After months of preparation and getting approved today they'd meet the child they'd foster. If it went well they could adopt the little girl in the end. The doorbell rang sharply. The shrill sound echoing through the quiet house. Caitlin opened it to find the social worker standing there, a small backpack slung over her shoulder and a file clutched in her hands. Behind her, still outside of the doorway, peered a tiny little figure. You were so small that you were barely reaching anyone's waist.
“This is Y/n.” The social worker said softly. “She’s three years old. She’s been through a lot, so please be patient. She might need time to warm up to you.”
Your big, wary eyes flicked between the three adults and without a word, you hugged your small backpack tightly to your chest. Katie knelt to your level, smiling gently. “Hi, Y/n. I’m Katie and this is Caitlin. We’re so happy to meet you.”
Your eyes didn’t soften. You didn’t answer. Instead, when the social worker turned to hand over some papers and instructions, you shrank back. It was almost like you wanted to be invisible against the edge of the hallway.
“Take your time.” The social worker said kindly. “You don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for. I’ll be back later to check in, but for now…” She glanced at Katie and Caitlin. “…just let her feel safe.”
And with that, the social worker was gone, the click of the door sounding deafening in your ears. Panic surged through your little body. You spun, darting toward the living room and squeezing yourself into the narrow space between the couch and the wall. Your knees pressed to your chest and your arms wrapped around them protectively. The plush cushions of the couch pressed against your back, and for the moment, it was your tiny sanctuary.
Katie froze for a moment, taking a careful step forward. “Y/n?” She said softly, keeping her voice low and soothing. Caitlin moved beside her, crouching slightly so she wasn’t looming. “It’s okay, sweetheart. You’re safe here.”
But you shook your head fiercely, hiding your face against your knees. Every sound in the house felt threatening. The soft hum of the refrigerator, the ticking clock, the distant traffic outside. It all was too much. You didn’t understand why strangers kept coming and going. Why you constantly had to move and why nobody ever wanted to keep you forever like their real babies. But how could such a small child understand why the world felt so unsafe. All you wanted was to disappear.
Katie sat down gently on the floor a few feet away, careful not to make sudden movements. “We’re not going anywhere.” She whispered. “We’re here for you. I promise.” Caitlin’s hand rested lightly on Katie’s shoulder. A silent show of support as she added. “ We’ll let you come to us when you’re ready. There’s no rush.”
So you sat there, your tiny body was shaking with a mixture of fear and emotional exhaustion. Always being scared was hard. You peeked through the narrow gap between your fingers and watched the two women with wide eyes. They were wide with fear and anxiety, like you expected them to hurt you. But they weren’t yelling. They weren’t forcing you. Their calmness, their patience. It felt almost alien, but it was… comforting, in a way you hadn’t felt in a long time.
Minutes passed slowly. Katie kept talking softly, telling you about the cozy bedroom they’d prepared. The little stuffed animals waiting for you, the books you could read together. Caitlin occasionally chimed in, promising bedtime stories and gentle hugs. Slowly, almost unnoticeable you inched a little further from the wall, still hidden but listening. Your curiosity cautiously rising above your fear.
But still you stayed there for a while, just listening and watching a tiny bit. At one point Caitlin left to the kitchen while Katie still went on and on about what was on her mind.
The kitchen smelled of melting butter and simmering chicken as Caitlin stirred the pasta with gentle care. She had chopped vegetables already. She had worked quietly as if she hoped that the calmness in the kitchen could seep into the rest of the house. They had both agreed that tonight, there would be no pressure, no forced introductions. Just small steps, a lot of patience and working to build your trust.
From the living room came the faintest shuffle, the soft scrape of small feet shifting between the couch and the wall. You hadn’t moved from the hiding spot since the social worker had left hours earlier, your little body curled tightly against the cushions. Katie was still there and talked quietly. But Caitlin glanced at the door and sighed softly, her heart aching a little.
“She’s hungry.” Caitlin said quietly as she stood in the doorframe, as if speaking too loudly might make you vanish entirely.
Katie nodded. “I’ll get a bowl. We’ll sit near her.”
Once the macaroni and cheese with pieces of tender chicken were plated, Caitlin carried it carefully to the living room, Katie following with a small napkin tucked beside the bowl. They didn’t sit on the couch. They feared it might be too imposing, but instead lowered themselves to the floor again. Still at a respectful distance from the narrow space where you had made herself almost invisible.
“Hi, Y/n.” Katie whispered, keeping her voice soft and calm. “We made dinner. It’s my favorite. I hope you'll like it too. Mac and cheese with chicken. You can stay right where you are if you want. You don’t have to come out yet.”
Caitlin held the bowl gently, extending it toward the gap in the couch. “We just want to make sure you eat. You’ve had a long day, and we thought this might be easier for you. Take your time.”
For several minutes, nothing moved. The only sounds were the faint clinking of their forks against their bowls and the occasional shuffle of your small fingers along the edge of the couch. Slowly, very slowly, a tiny hand appeared from between the cushions, trembling slightly. It reached for the bowl and pulled it closer, fingers brushing against the soft napkin Caitlin had placed underneath.
Encouraged, you managed to lift a bite of macaroni to your mouth. Your little body still pressed tightly into your hiding spot. Caitlin reached out a hand, not to pull you out. Just to rest gently near you, letting you know you weren't alone. You paused for a moment, then took another tentative bite.
Katie watched you carefully, speaking quietly in between bites. “It’s okay, Y/n. You’re safe. We’re not going anywhere.”
Your fear didn’t vanish instantly, but the warmth of the food and the patient voices of the two women slowly worked against the tension coiled in your small body. Bite by bite, you began to relax, your tiny shoulders lowering slightly.
By the time the bowl was half empty, your head had lifted just enough for Katie and Caitlin to see the soft curve of a tiny, cautious smile. It was small but it was there. A small sign that maybe this could be the start of something safe, something you could trust.
Katie and Caitlin exchanged a glance, hearts swelling with quiet triumph. No words were exchanged. But the two continued eating with you quietly.
After finishing most of your dinner, you stayed hidden for a few more moments, your small body pressed against the couch. But curiosity finally won. You peeked out from behind the cushions. Then with a tiny, careful scoot of your bottom, you crept into the center of the living room. Your wide eyes scanned the space. The soft glow of the overhead lights. The clutter of a lived-in home, the comforting hum of normalcy. Every shadow made you flinch a bit, but something about the warmth in Katie and Caitlin’s eyes kept you from running back.
Katie noticed first. “Look at you, Y/n.” She whispered softly, kneeling to your level. “You’re out! That’s amazing.”
Caitlin smiled, crouching down as well. “Do you want to see something special?” She asked, her tone gentle. She was very careful not to rush you. Your head tilted slightly, unsure, but the offer of a safe, interesting place sparked a flicker of trust.
So you allowed Katie and Caitlin to guide you toward the bedroom. Every step was cautious, your tiny hand hovering near the wall as if expecting the world to collapse around you. Katie held out her hand, letting you brush against it but not forcing contact. While Caitlin walked alongside.
When they reached the door, Caitlin gently pushed it open. A soft, warm glow spilled into the hallway and you froze at the threshold. The room was bathed in a cheerful yellow light. Soft rugs cushioned the floor, and shelves held neatly arranged toys. Stuffed animals, blocks and colorful books. The bed was positioned near the window, had a tiny mobile of stars and moons spinning lazily above it.
Katie knelt near the entrance, her voice tender. “This is your room, Y/n. It’s all yours. You can play here, sleep here and keep anything you want. You can even decorate it however you like someday.”
Your eyes widened, taking in the gentle colors and the softness of the space. Your fingers itched to touch the fluffy rug and the plush toys, but fear still held you back. Caitlin stepped closer, kneeling beside Katie. “It’s okay to be scared.” She whispered. “This room is safe. You can stay in the doorway if you want or you can sit on the floor and explore a little at a time. We’ll be right here.”
So you stepped forward tentatively, your little feet sinking into the soft rug. You crouched down near a basket of stuffed animals. Your hands hovering over the fabric as though testing its safety. Katie and Caitlin didn’t move too close. They gave you space, letting her take control of how much you ventured around.
After a few moments, you picked up a tiny beautiful plush Baby Kangaroo. It had oversized ears and a gentle, stitched smile. Immediately you were hugging it tightly to your chest. A small almost non-audible sigh escaped you, a mix of relief and wonder. You weren't alone, the kangaroo was there with you.
Katie smiled softly, reaching toward the bed and motioning to the soft blankets. “See how cozy it is? You can lie down here anytime you like. There’s no rush, Y/n. Just take your time.”
Caitlin added, “And look at all your toys! You can choose one to play with or even two. We’ll help you find the ones you like.”
Your big eyes darted around, drinking in every detail. The plush yellow rug, the neatly lined books, the mobile twirling slowly above the bed. Slowly, you allowed herself to sink into the warmth of the room, holding the stuffed Kangaroo a little closer, the fear in your eyes softening ever so slightly.
“Roo…” You mumbled softly. The little voice barely above a whisper. The single, first word wobbled. It felt uncertain and worried, but it carried a sweetness. One that Katie and Caitlin hadn’t heard from you yet and they couldn't wait to hear it daily.
Katie’s chest tightened with a quiet kind of joy. “Roo.” She repeated softly, kneeling a little closer but still giving you space. “That’s a perfect name for your kangaroo.”
Caitlin added, her voice gentle and encouraging, “Do you want to keep Roo with you? You can take him anywhere in your room. He’s your friend.”
You clutched the little kangaroo a bit tighter, pressing your face against the soft fur. You didn’t answer. But the small nod of your head was enough. It was the first real sign that you were beginning to trust them.
Roo became your comfort object. Your tiny companion in this new and unfamiliar space.
Katie leaned a little closer, her voice soft. “Would you like me to show you the rest of the room, Y/n? You can explore, and Roo can come too.”
You tilted your head, the kangaroo clutched tightly to your chest. But after a few seconds you nodded a bit and followed her to see the rest of the house.
Summary- Looking around at the faces of your British(and Irish)teammates you realize you fucked up.
Warnings-None
Masterlist
AN- Just posting old fanfics . I do remember this being inspired by my sister when we went to visit family in London lol. @jess107
There are certain unwritten rules in the Arsenal Women’s dressing room.
You do not touch the prematch playlist. You do not ask Katie if she has a temper. And, above all else, you respect the sanctity of Chippy Friday.
It was a dreary Friday afternoon in North London. The squad had just finished a two hour session on the pitch. You were wet, your muscles were screaming, and morale was hanging by a thread.
That was until Beth walked through the doors of the players' lounge carrying three paper parcels. The smell of deep fried batter, salt, and malt vinegar hit the room, and the squad instantly turned feral.
"Get out of my way," Alessia practically growled, shoving past you to get to the table. "I would kill a man for a battered sausage right now."
"Civilized line, ladies!" Leah ordered, taking charge as the captain, though she was already pulling a huge portion of chips toward herself. "Beth, you are a saint. Did you get the curry sauce?"
"I got three pots of curry sauce, four gravies, and the mushy peas," Beth announced proudly, distributing the forks.
You grabbed yours and took a seat on the sofa next to Lotte. You were an American, in your first season with the club, and while you had adapted to the football perfectly, the cultural transition was still a work in progress.
You unwrapped the paper. Inside rested a piece of fried cod the size of your forearm, resting on a mountain of thick, chunky potato wedges.
You stared at it. It looked incredibly dry.
"Hey, Beth?" you called out over the sounds of chewing. "Did they forget the ketchup?"
"Chippy doesn't do ketchup mate," Beth said, already dunking a chip into a brown puddle of gravy. "We’ve got vinegar, curry sauce, or the peas."
You looked at the small styrofoam container of mushy peas resting on the coffee table. It looked like radioactive guacamole. You physically shuddered.
"That’s fine," you said casually, setting your fork down. "I came prepared."
You unzipped your gym bag. You bypassed your shin guards, your deodorant, and your spare boots, reaching all the way to the bottom. Your hand closed around the plastic of a family sized bottle of Hidden Valley Ranch that your mother had internationally shipped to you from the States at great personal expense.
You pulled it out.
You didn't notice that Lotte had stopped chewing.
You flipped the cap open. You held the bottle upside down over the beautiful, golden, crispy cod. And you squeezed.
A thick, white avalanche of buttermilk ranch dressing completely coated the fish. You didn't stop there. You zig-zagged the ranch back and forth, drowning the cod and completely covering half of the chips in the white sauce.
You snapped the cap shut with a click, picked up your fork, and sliced off a ranch covered piece of fish.
It was then, looking at the faces of your British teammates, that you realized you fucked up.
The players' lounge had gone completely silent.
Katie was standing by the kitchenette. The chip she had been holding halfway to her mouth had fallen onto the floor. Her eyes were wide, her jaw locked in a look of absolute disgust.
Beth looked like she was about to cry. She was staring at your plate horrified.
Leah was just staring at you, her mouth slightly open, failing to comprehend the atrocity she had just witnessed.
"What... is that?" Lotte whispered from beside you, leaning away from you as if the ranch dressing was highly contagious.
You froze, the fork hovering near your mouth. "It's ranch."
"You put ranch," Katie said.
"It’s fried fish!" you defended, your voice cracking slightly under the sheer weight of the judgmental stares. "It's basically a giant fish stick! It needed a dipping sauce!"
"It is a sacred cultural institution!" Leah yelled. "You don't drown a beautiful piece of cod in American salad juice! It’s a war crime!"
"It’s not salad juice, it’s buttermilk and herbs!" you argued, panic setting in as Alessia actually covered her eyes, refusing to look at your plate.
"I queued in the rain for twenty minutes for that," Beth said, her voice shaking with genuine grief. "The bloke behind the counter battered that fresh. And you’ve just you’ve just desecrated it. You’ve disrespected him, Y/N. You’ve disrespected all of us."
"Beth, you're being dramatic," you tried to laugh, but nobody else was laughing.
"I am going to be sick," Katie announced, grabbing her own portion of chips and taking three steps backward. "I can't even look at you. I feel physically ill. Williamson, fine her. Fine her a week's wages for bringing the club into dishonor."
“Dishonor?”You say.
"I absolutely will," Leah agreed. "If you put that fork in your mouth, Y/N, I will strip you of your squad number."
"You guys literally eat beans out of a tin for breakfast!" you shouted desperately, standing your ground. "You eat blood sausage! You have no culinary moral high ground here! Ranch is delicious!"
"Put the fork down, Y/N," Lotte said softly. "Just put it down, and we can pretend this never happened."
You looked at the fork. You looked at the incredibly angry deeply patriotic football team surrounding you.
Slowly, you lowered the fork.
"Right," Leah commanded, stepping forward and picking up the entire paper parcel containing your ruined, ranch covered fish. She held it at arm's length like it was a ticking bomb. "I am throwing this in the biological waste bin in the medical room. Beth, give her a spare battered sausage. Y/N, if you ever bring that bottle of white poison into this facility again, your contract will be terminated."
You watched Leah march out of the room with your dinner, completely humiliated.
Katie sat back down, glaring at you suspiciously. "You Americans have no respect for history," she muttered, dipping a chip into her curry sauce. "Fucking ranch."
You quietly put the bottle of Hidden Valley back into your gym bag, zipped it shut, and accepted your dry, batter-fried sausage in silence.
