Part Three (Read If Only & Remember Me first)
What happens when Lacey returns home to London for Lauren and Declan's wedding, her heart still very much caught up on the Chelsea Midfielder.
A Year is a long time, time for people to change, time fo...
The sun was shining as Lacey walked up the steps to Wembley Park, Sasha, Lauren, Amber, Mia and Ellie all following in a line, the names of their boyfriends and husbands on the backs of their shirts, this was the day they had all waited for, the day that had planned to run smoothly, the day where history would hopefully repeat itself.
"I feel so nervous" Amber mumbled, as Lacey linked an arm with her, Mia on the other side of Lacey copying Lacey's movements, as the friends from long ago walked into the Wembley stadium together. "I want to say that you get used to the feeling, but you never do" Lacey mumbled, as Sasha nodded her head in agreement. "It seems fitting that we feel as nervous today, as we did all them years ago" Lauren whispered, as they showed security their passes, walking down into the familiar hallways of Wembley Park.
But it wasn't long until the girls all stood watching their partners play with their children on the pitch, what should of been a warm up session turned into a game of tig, the children running around chasing the adults, as Declan and Jack held their children close, running around with them on their shoulders, the pitch filled with laughter, so much laughter. "I'm not ready to say goodbye" Lacey whispered, as she looked around at the empty stands, her eyes casting briefly over the pitch, seeing the happiness radiate from all their faces. "All good things come to an end eventually" Lauren mumbled, as the girls all looked at each other.
"How you feeling?" Lacey whispered, as Mason jogged over, burying his face into Lacey's shoulder, as Lacey played with the ends of his hair, her fingers tickling the back of his neck. "Like this is all wrong" Mason mumbled. As Lacey placed a kiss to the top of his head. "I love you no matter what you decide to do" Lacey whispered. "I know baby, I know" Mason whispered, as he leant back, his hands on the railing as he pressed his lips to Lacey's, as Maisey come running over. "Dadda stop ew" Maisey mumbled as she hit at her dads legs, Mason laughing down at her. "Do it again?" Mason smirked, as he leant forward, placing his lips to Lacey's again, smiling into it. "I'll see you later" Mason smirked, as he scooped Maisey up in his arms, running back to the pitch with her, Lacey laughing at her family from a distance.
"It'll be weird to see them never play again" Lauren whispered, as Lacey looked at her friend, nodding her head slowly, Lacey hadn't prepared herself for the day where Mason stopped playing football, she wasn't sure she would ever be able to cope with him not playing, not that she didn't want to spend every day with him, but football was his first love, his only love, Lacey was sure nothing would ever rise about football, only their family, and Lacey didn't ever want to make Mason feel like he needed to stop playing football just to see his children grow up. "They'll always be kicking a ball around, that'll never stop" Sasha whispered, as Ellie nodded her head, taking a video of Ben running around with Ivy. "I don't think they'll ever lose their grass roots" Ellie whispered. "Never" Lacey whispered, as she turned to look at her friends, who all had some form of tears in their eyes, this was the day that no one ever really had time to prepare for, and if you did have the time, it never went how you wanted it to.
—
"And tonight, here at Wembley Park we have something a little different. Two time World Cup titles, 2022 and 2026, but unfortunately, tonight for our Lions we have to announce the departure of Mason Mount, Jack Grealish, Declan Rice and Ben Chilwell"
"We didn't think this day would ever come, we didn't want to think about it, but our lions have decided that this will be their last England debut for the senior team, ruling them out of any future call ups"
And as if on queue, Mason walked out of the tunnel first, Teddy holding onto one hand, as Maisey cling to the other, the toddlers both wearing their dads name and number, as Ben walked out, following Mason, holding Ivy in his arms as she looked around at the crowd that was booming for them. Jack walking out, with Eloise on his hip, the number seven shirt clinging to her body, being a little bigger than they had hoped, but it made her look all the more the part, he'd Dads tiny shin pads to his daughters overly big top, as Declan finally walked out, the tears streaming down his face, as he held Alfie's hand, walking next to him, before Declan wrapped his arms around the younger Rice, pulling him up onto his shoulders, before he took the fourth place next to his friends and their children, the whole of Wembley clapping for them. Lacey stood next to the sub bench, holding her phone, videoing everything that was happening, as Mason nodded his head, letting go of the twins hands to clap the crowd, Jack and Declan doing the same as Ivy clung to her Dad, Ben whispering into her ear, as Ivy began to clap her hands on behalf of Ben.
The rest of the England team began to walk out, wanting nothing more than to hug their teammates for the one last match, to be stood alongside them as the whole of Wembley began to witness not one person stepping down from the England team, but four, knowing that this was something they all wanted to do together, when the time was was right, and it felt right to all four of them.
But as the twenty six males stood there, all in an England kit, with the five children that were in awe of what was happening around them, the rumble of the crowd began to stop, music flooding through the speakers of Wembley Park.
Sweet Caroline, good times never seemed so good, Sweet Caroline, I believe they never could, Sweet Caroline, good times never seemed so good
As the whole of Wembley took in the history, that this was it, this was the final chapter closing, but another one beginning to open far into the distance.
