The Quiet One

little man

The airport was already buzzing when the notification came through to the team group chat: "She's landed."
Sarina didn't even have to say who — every head turned toward Jae immediately.

Jae froze mid-conversation, Elijah perched on her hip, his little fists tangled in her shirt. Her heart somersaulted in her chest, and the expression on her face flickered between disbelief, joy, and a tiny bit of panic, like she wasn't sure whether to run to the arrivals hall or pass out first.

"Go," Georgia grinned, nudging her toward the doors. "Don't make the poor woman walk out to a crowd alone."

"And take your child, obviously," Keira added. "Emotional reunion, not custody exchange."

The squad laughed, and Jae rolled her eyes, but she didn't hesitate. She rushed forward, Elijah bouncing excitedly as if he knew exactly who they were going to meet.

The sliding airport doors opened — and there she was.

Leah.
Sun-kissed from England's accidental heatwave, hair up in a messy bun, backpack slung over one shoulder, walking with that careful but confident gait that said rehab had gone well.

The moment she saw them, her face cracked open into pure, unfiltered love.

Jae didn't walk. She bolted.

Leah dropped her bag just in time, arms open wide as Jae crashed into her with a choked laugh, nearly knocking her off balance. Leah held on tight, burying her face into Jae's shoulder, mumbling, "I missed you. I missed you so bloody much."

Elijah screeched happily and lunged between them, smacking Leah's cheek with both hands in excitement.

"Well, hello to you too!" Leah laughed wetly, kissing his forehead, his cheeks, the top of his head. "You've gotten so big. What's Sarina been feeding you, protein shakes?"

Jae sniffed a laugh. "Welcome to Australia. We've been emotional disasters waiting for this moment."

"Speak for yourself," Leah teased, rubbing her nose against Elijah's. "I've been perfectly stable."

Jae arched a brow. "The airport staff said you cried when the plane landed."

"I didn't know the video would get out," Leah muttered.

The squad finally caught up, cheering, whistling, filling the arrivals hall with noise as they engulfed Leah in hugs. Elijah soaked it all up from Jae's arms, squealing and patting anyone who came close.

By the time they reached the team bus, Leah looked overwhelmed in the best way — loved, welcomed, home.

And just in time, because the quarter-final was tomorrow.

Match day hit like a truck at full sprint.

The stadium buzzed with pressure, the Australian heat clinging to everything. Jae paced the tunnel, rolling her shoulders, tapping her studs against the floor, Elijah already with Leah in the stands wearing noise-cancelling headphones and his mini England shirt with "MUM" on the back.

She could hear him babbling happily over the crowd noise. Somehow, that helped more than any tactical prep.

"Captain," Sarina said softly, hand to her shoulder. "You ready?"

"No," Jae admitted honestly. "But we're doing it anyway."

"That's leadership," Sarina said with a grin.

The squad gathered, bouncing, buzzing, nervous. Alessia slapped Jae's back. "We got you. Go make your kid proud."

"Oh, he's already proud," Ella snorted. "He clapped when Jae tied her shoes earlier."