It All Leads Back to You

Chapter 22 - Leah

AN: Possible trigger warning. There's mentions of infertility. I'll put a ⚠️ when it's beginning and a ✅ when it's done.

~

Love Makes You Blind

"Are you enjoying yourself, Dans?" I asked.

"I am." I could hear the smile on her voice. "I'm not even close to being done, so you enjoy whatever boring documentary you're watching."

I laughed, "Okay."

"I need some more red." She waved her brush down in my face. I took it and dipped it into the paint then handed it back up. "Thanks."

Since we had no game or practice, and I didn't have any meetings, Dani came over for a lazy Sunday. We turned off our phones and shoved them into a drawer for the day. I wanted to watch a documentary I had recorded and Dani wanted to paint, so we compromised. I'd watch my documentary while Dani painted my back.

I laid on the couch while she painted. I didn't have a shirt or bra on, nor did I have any pants on. I think she primarily wanted to sit and stare at my ass. She'd been doing her artwork for about an hour.

"What do you want to do after this?" Dani asked.

"What do you want to do?"

"That's so helpful, Le. But I don't know. We could make out."

We both laughed hard. "You sound like you're nineteen and in my bedroom with me again."

She giggled and handed me her brush. "I'm done."

"I want to see." She slid off my legs. We went into the bathroom and I turned. "Wow. That's some interpretation of the Arsenal crest."

"I tried, okay? That's all that matters."

"I love it." I pecked her lips. "I think it looks good."

"Le?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you want kids?"

"Yeah, someday. Why? Do you?"

"Yeah. I would love to. But I'm not sure I would want to carry. Would you?"

"I would consider it for sure. I don't know if I'd want to have kids during my career then."

"So, if we were ready for kids, but neither of us wanted to carry, would you look into adoption?"

I laid my hands on Dani's waist and pulled her close. "Dans," I pecked her lips several times. "If we were ready for kids and we were both not wanting to be pregnant, then yes, absolutely. What's brought all this up?"

"I was just thinking about it."

⚠️

"Would you consider carrying?"

"No."

"Why?" I felt her shift. "Dans, talk to me."

"I can't get pregnant. I'm infertile."

"Dan—"

"And I really, really wanted to have a family with you, Leah. I really wanted to have a baby." Tears started to form in her eyes. "I really wanted to."

"Is the paint dry on my back?"

"Le—"

"Is it dry?" She touched my back and nodded. "I'm going to put some clothes on, so we can talk." I kissed her forehead again. "We're going to figure this out, Danielle. We were led back to each other for a reason and we're not going to lose ourselves."