born and raised at arsenal

- part 2 -

Leah's pov:

I wake up to Beth tapping on my shoulder and Isabella stretching on my stomach after also waking up.
"You were in a deep deep sleep" Beth says laughing.
"What I was comfy?!" I say back also laughing.
"We should get going" Viv says before picking up Isabella. "Come on you home time" she says kissing her cheek and carrying her on her hip.
"Noo auntie Leah" she says reaching for me.
"Bels you've got to go home at some point" I say laughing and standing up to hold her hand.
"You come home too??" She says so cutely.
I look at Beth and Viv. "Can I stay the night?"
"Sure" Viv says and Beth nods in agreement.
"Thank you! Bella I'm coming with you!"
"Yay!!!" She shouts.
"Shhh Bella inside voice" Beth says.
"Oops sorry"
"That's ok. Shall we go to the car?"
"Yeah!" she says before trying to run off. But I wrap my arms around her and pick her up.
"Not so fast young lady!" I say jokingly before swinging her up and putting her on my shoulders. Isabella giggles puts her arms around my neck and I hold onto her legs. We all walk to the car and Viv straps her into her car seat.

***

We stopped at my house on the way so I could pick up a few things to stay the night so I grabbed my bag from the boot and walked up the driveway.

Later, everyone decides to play football in the garden. Beth and Viv were strikers and Isabella and I were defenders. She's actually really good. She stopped Viv from scoring so many times and clearly she has been well educated because she even knew what the offside rule was. She's 3! Although, after a couple of hours she starts getting a bit tired so we all go inside.
"That's it, she's going to be arsenals number 1 defender when she grows up" I say walking into the kitchen.
"She's not bad is she?" Beth says.
"Definitely not. You've taught her well"
"Thank you very much, she's my newest creation" we laugh and Beth starts making dinner. We have stir fry and Isabella had rice, some of the chicken we were having and carrot sticks. We all sat down at the table to eat.
"Thanks Beth, and thanks for letting me stay over"
"Pleasure"

***

We've all eaten dinner and viv is upstairs putting Isabella to sleep. Beth and I are sitting on the sofa watching the Manchester derby in the premier league. Viv soon joins us and we all watch it together. It's quite an intense game since obviously there's huge rivalry and things get heated very quickly. We are all glued to the tv screen but we are interrupted by a crying Isabella walking down the stairs.
"What's wrong baby?" Beth says going over to her and holding her hand. They walk over to the sofa and sit down on it together.
"Don't feel good" Isabella says quietly.
"Oh no, what hurts?"
Isabella points to her head. "Really bad" she says crying more.
"Hey it's alright. I'm going to get you some medicine ok?" She says hugging her and getting up to get the medicine.
"Hey I'm going to go help Beth, you good here?" Viv says to me.
"Yep, all good. You go ahead"
"Ok thanks" she says before leaving.
"Come here bels" I say holding out my arms as she shuffles over and buries herself into me. She still hasn't stopped crying.
"It's ok, just calm down and take deep breaths"
"It hurts" she says.
I hold onto her hand and wipe away a tear. "I know it does Bella, I'm sorry. You'll feel better soon though, your mummy's have gone to get you medicine haven't they?"
She nods her head and then tucks it into the crook of my neck. I rub her back gently and she squeezes onto my hand. I softly put my hand on her forehead and it's extremely hot. "Hey viv?" I say in the direction of the kitchen.
"Yeah?" She says poking her head round the corner of the wall.
"She's burning up and getting a fever"
"Ok I'll get a wet towel for her"
"Ok thanks"
I then kiss Isabella's head and play with her hair to make her feel a bit better as I know she likes it.

Not long later, Beth and Viv come back into the living room with a cold cloth and some medicine.
"Here you go" Viv says to Isabella trying to give her the medicine but she wasn't having it. "Bella this will make you feel better, trust me"
She reluctantly takes it and then Beth puts the cold cloth on her forehead.
"Thank you" she says softly looking at all of us.
My heart melted then and there.
"You're very welcome baby" Beth says before kissing the top of her head.
"Do you want to stay here for a bit or do you want one of us to go upstairs with you?" Viv says to her.
"Can I stay here?"
"Sure Bella"

We continue watching the football game after Isabella has calmed down and I'm still playing with her hair. Eventually I think it makes her tired and at half time when we check on her she's fallen asleep.
"I'll bring her up" I say.
"You sure?"
"Yeah, it's all good" I say before standing up and carrying her up the stairs, trying not to wake her up. When we get to her bedroom I lay her down on the bed and put the blanket over her. She wakes up a little bit but only enough to quietly say "stay?"
"Course I can bels" I say. I lie in the bed with her and she cuddles into me.

***

Beth's pov:

After the game had ended viv and I go upstairs and get ready for bed. When we check on Isabella and Leah they are cuddled together and both fast asleep.
"Leah's going to make the best mum" I whisper to viv from the door way.
"She really is" she replies closing the door as quietly as she can.

We get into bed and Viv holds out her arms for me. I wriggle into them and snuggle up to her side.
"So how was it today, I haven't really hand a chance to take to you" she asks looking down  at me.
"Fine I guess. Training was good and it was fine with Isabella it's just different."
"Yeah I get that"
"And I feel like I'm way behind and it's like I'm playing catching up"
"Your form is still really good and if you work hard like I know you will, you'll be the best of the best again."
"Thanks viv"
She kisses me and then we both close our eyes and go to sleep.