Off The Field

two

'Lele...' Bunny almost whispers, her little arms wrapping around the blonde's legs as the noise from the crowd filters down the tunnel where they're all lined up waiting to make their way out onto the pitch.

'You okay, sweet girl?' Leah asks bending down slightly until she's level with the three-year-old.

'I'm scared.' Bunny says quietly.

'Do you want me to get someone to take you to mummy? You don't have to walk out on the pitch if you don't want to, sweetheart. You never need to do anything you're not comfortable with.' Leah asks brushing her thumb over the little girl's cheek who immediately shakes her head.

'Come here then.' Leah says smiling as she puts her arms out. Effortlessly, she swings the little girl onto her hip causing her to giggle as her little arms wrap around her neck.

'Where mummy?' Bunny asks.

'She's up sitting at your seats... When we're finished on the pitch I'm going to take you over to Wally and she'll take you up to mummy, okay?' Leah says and Bunny nods her head.

'And you stay on pitch?' Bunny asks.

'Mm-hmm... I'll stay on the pitch with the girls.' Leah replies.

'Let's go...' Leah says smiling as they begin to make their way out towards the pitch.

'Wow...' Bunny mumbles as Leah takes her position in between Manu and Beth.

'It looks even bigger from here, doesn't it? Can you see mummy? She's right the way up there?' Leah asks.

'Mumma!' Bunny shouts causing Beth to smile.

'Can you see your mummy?' Beth asks leaning towards the little girl who begins to wave in the direction that Leah pointed to.

'Right we're going to shake hands with the others now, okay?' Leah says and Bunny nods her head. They make their way along the line of the officials and also the Villa players, each one of them shaking Bunny's hand immediately before Leah's.

'If I put you down at you going to run to Wally? She's over by the tunnel, can you see her?' Leah asks pointing towards Lia and causing Bunny to smile.

'Wally!' Bunny squeals. Placing the little girl down on the ground, Leah bends down to her level and smiles as she brushes her finger across her cheek.

'I'll see you at the end, okay?' Leah says.

'Play good!' Bunny replies.

'Oh I will... Can I have a kiss?' Leah asks smiling as the little girl leans forward to give her a rather sloppy kiss.

'Thanks, Bun-Bun... See you soon. Go get Wally.' Leah says smiling. Standing up, she can't help but smile as she watches her stepdaughter run towards her best friend who is standing at the edge of the pitch, unfortunately missing today's game due to a concussion picked up in last game. Lia immediately lifts the little girl onto her hip, both of them waving back to Leah before Lia takes Bunny to go get Courtney.

****

She makes her way around the group, saying hello to her parents, her nan and her cousins and thanks each of them for coming out today before making her way over to Courtney who is standing talking to Ben Mead with Bunny balanced on her hip, the little girl burying her head in the crook of Courtney's neck pretending she's shy. Quietly making her way behind Courtney, Leah smiles and blows against Bunny's cheek causing her to giggle as she lifts her head.

'Lele!' She squeals leaning away from Courtney and closer to the blonde.

'Hey, squidge... Did you have a good time?' Leah asks taking the little girl into her arms before kissing Courtney's cheek and saying hello to Ben.