you got me in love again

Early Birthday Present

Maries POV:

I land in London at around 5 o'clock on the 27th. Alessia, Katie and I texted last week and managed to change my flight to surprise Leah. I will pick her up from training today. Katie got me a visitors pass which will allow me to enter the training ground. Leah and I facetimed every day over the past weeks, and I finally sent my application out. I hope it will come back positive.

We really got to know each other and told each other very deep things about ourselves. Still, one thing we haven't said yet, and it kind of stresses me a bit.

I get into an uber and give the driver the address.

I arrive there twenty minutes later. I show my visitors pass to a woman at the entrance.

"Friend of Miss McCabe?", she asks as she looks at it.

"And Miss Williamson.", I nod. "I want to surprise her for her birthday.", I further explain.

"That's lovely.", she smiles at me. "Training ground is to the left. They should be done in ten minutes."

"Thanks.", I say as I walk past her.

I turn to the left and already a football pitch where some of the girls' train. I spot Katie and Alessia, but not Leah. I walk over nonetheless and wave at them.

"Hey there.", Katie smiles at me when I arrive at the pitch.

"Good to see you.", I offer her a smile.

"Good to see you, too.", Less joins us. "Looking for someone?", she notices as I search the field for a certain blonde.

"She is in the shed over there.", Katie points to our right.

"Hey, Katie, Less, can you help me over here?", I hear Leah shout from inside the shed.

"Go.", Katie mouths and I walk over there grinning.

Leahs back faces the door when I walk in. I take my chance and sneak behind her, putting my hands on her eyes.

"That is not funny Katie.", she pouts.

"Good thing I'm not Katie.", I say, and Leah takes my hand in hers to move them away from her eyes, so she can turn around.

She looks at me in surprise until she hugs me tight. Complete Success.

"I thought you would come tomorrow.", she says as she loosens the hug.

"Surprise.", I smirk and kiss her.

"How did you get on the training ground?", she asks, still a bit confused.

"Hey, lovebirds, are you naked or can I come in?", Katie speaks from the outside.

"She stands outside.", I answer to Leah then sigh. "You can come in.", I say and open the door for Katie.

"Did I interrupt something?", she smirks.

"Katie, you cannot seriously think we would do anything in here. I just said hello, Jesus Christ.", Leah lectures her and Katie just shrugs her shoulders. "But I have to thank you.", she hugs Katie shortly.

"And Less.", I add.

"Did anyone know this except me?", Leah expresses offended.

"No, just Caitlin.", Katie clarifies.

"And Lotte.", I add.

"I cannot believe it.", Leah says even more offended.

"It was supposed to be a surprise." I clarify. "Aren't you happy to see me?"

"Of course, I am, baby.", she reveals and kisses me again.

"Okay, I've got to go.", Katie says as she sees us kissing. "And you should too, we have another exercise.", she adds and picks up a bunch of training cones.

"Will you watch me train?", Leah asks, picking up a stack of cones before pecking my lips one more time.

"Of course, I will.", I say after the kiss and follow her outside.

I sit down on the side of the pitch. The girls seem to play one little dribbling game for the end of training. After that, Jonas, their coach calls them together and tells something to them, before most of them walk into my direction, including Leah.

"That was really interesting.", I say and stand up as Leah is near me.

"Glad you liked it.", she breathes out. "I will just get my stuff and we can go.", she adds and takes my hand to guide me to their locker room. I wait outside not for long since Leah is really quick and just grabbed her backpack and put on other shoes as well as a jacket.

"So, who had the initial idea that you fly here today?", she asks while we walk to her car.

"Myself.", I answer. "When I told my boss I need the last days of March off, she said that she can give me a weekend shift a week earlier, so I have one more day.", I further explain.

"And you texted Katie, not me? How did you even get her number?", Leah seems so confused.

"No, Laura and Less text a lot and she mentioned it to her, so Less texted me and we sort of thought you would like a surprise.", I explain and get into the passenger's seat.

"I did.", she says and leans over to kiss me before we drive home.

"I will just take a shower really quick, make yourself a home", Leah says when we enter her flat.

"I already made myself a home here.", I chuckle and get rid of my shoes and jacket.

"I know.", she giggles and enters the bathroom.

I walk over to the kitchen and open the fridge. Leah is seriously the plainest eating person I have ever met, and I thought I am a picky eater.

"Well, pasta it is then.", I whisper to myself and begin to cook.

"Wow, that smells awesome.", Leah says as she walks out of the bathroom.

"Thanks.", I smile. "May I present: Pasta and Marie Schmidt's famous tomato sauce.", I tell as I fill two plates with the meal.

"World famous, huh?", she chuckles as I hand her one of the plates and sit down across her.

"Well, my family and friends were the only one who had it.", I confess. "But it's really good."

"We will see.", Leah displays and begins to eat.

"Wow.", she notices after a while. "You really didn't promise too much, the tomato sauce is fantastic.", she continues.

"I am surprised that you eat tomato sauce actually.", I say and chuckle.

"I actually don't.", she murmurs.

"So, you tried it for me?", I ask and cannot suppress a smile.

"Of course. I love you.", she says so casually.

Did I hear that right? Did she really just say these three words?

"I love you.", I say without a pause, and I can feel pressure falling from Leahs shoulders.

I am relieved Leah said these three little, yet so meaningful words. I wanted to for a bit, but I was afraid it would be too early. These words say everything but still not enough. I never felt so much like home in somebody's arms, let alone after such a brief time. Leah felt right from the moment we sat in that café and talked for several hours, while the meeting was only supposed to give me my pen back, which I still have not get back yet. I sometimes ask myself how I got so lucky.

"I am relieved that these three words are said.", she says after a moment. "I wanted to for a while, but I was not sure if it was too early. I still think it is a bit early but- "

"It isn't.", I cut her off. "For us, it isn't.", I stand up, walk over to her, take her hands in mine and peck her lips. "We both know that other people could think we were too fast, and while it is true, that we were fast, it does not feel like we were too fast with anything. I felt home with you immediately. I love you.", I say and kiss her hands.

"I am glad you feel the same way.", she whispers.

"Of course I do, baby."