Off The Field

nineteen

'Mummy... It's a puppy!' Bunny gasps as Courtney follows the little girl into the living room where Leah is sitting on the floor with Beau curled up on her lap.

'Mm-hmm... Lele got us a puppy, Bunny. How lucky are we?' Courtney says smiling as the little girl immediately plants herself down on the floor in front of the blonde.

'Ours? We get to keep it?' Bunny asks and Leah nods her head.

'This is Beau... Do you want to come and say hello?' Leah says softly gesturing for the little girl to move closer to her. Sitting down on the floor, Courtney smiles as she shuffles Bunny closer to Leah and reaches out to clap Beau.

'He's so soft, Bunny... You try but we need to be gentle, okay?' Courtney says and Bunny nods her head. Hesitantly, she reaches out before ever so softly running her hand over the top of the puppy's head. Giggling, she moves even closer to Leah and continues to clap the dog.

'He's only a baby so he's not quite as big as Calvvy or Myle are yet but he will get there and he still wants to play with you.' Courtney says softly causing Leah to smile.

'Will we sit him in your knee? Let you have a cuddle?' Leah suggests and the little girl nods her head. Smiling, the blonde places the puppy on the little girl's knee who immediately giggles as the wagging of his tail tickles her leg.

'Beau, you silly.' Bunny giggles as Courtney slides towards Leah's other side and rests her head on the blonde's shoulder.

'Thank you, again... This is so special. You're so special.' Courtney almost whispers.

'Anything for my favourite girls.' Leah replies smiling. Her arm wraps around Courtney's shoulders as the three of them remain sat on the living room floor with the puppy.

****

The real reason for Lioness captain Leah Williamson's departure from international camp revealed.
The real reason for Lioness captain and Arsenal star Leah Williamson's sudden departure from the international camp earlier this month has been revealed by an anonymous source. It has been revealed that Williamson was expecting her first child with partner Courtney Lawson, who already has a child from a previous relationship, when the pregnancy unexpectedly ended in a miscarriage during the early stages of the pregnancy. It is believed that Lawson was alone when the miscarriage happened as Williamson had chosen to travel to the camp despite the pregnancy. Our anonymous source has revealed that it was later that Williamson turned up to the hospital wearing her England tracksuit with fellow Lioness Beth Mead while Williamson's own mother had spent her time attempting to entertain Lawson's young child.

'Do not let that get in your head, Le... You and I both know that I wasn't alone and that I practically pushed you out of the door for that camp.' Courtney says taking the phone out of the blonde's hand and placing it on the table.

'I just- How do they get this information, Court? It must be from someone in the hospital? How can they get away with just revealing private information about someone? It's not fair.' Leah replies and Courtney nods her head.

'I know it's not, bubs.' Courtney says.

'We should have been allowed to reveal this information if and when we wanted to, put our story out there using our own words.' Leah says.

'I know, bubs.' Courtney replies softly.

'I fucking hate this part of my life... If I could have the growth of the women's game, the awareness that has come with it without having this constant invasion of my privacy, of our privacy I would take it in a heartbeat... I would never take back winning the Euros but I would love to go back to being able to live my life without a worry.' Leah admits.

'Come here... All the people who matter know the truth and the people who believe that shit? Well fuck them.' Courtney says wrapping her arms around the blonde who sighs and lets her body fall against Courtney's.

'What do we do now?' Leah asks quietly.

'Nothing. Neither of us has done anything wrong, the only person who's done something wrong is the person who thinks it's okay to profit off someone else's heart ache.' Courtney replies softly.

'Do you want me to cancel the girls coming over to meet Beau? If we're not feeling up to it they'll understand?' Courtney asks.

'Are you not feeling up to it?' Leah asks pulling back slightly to look at the brunette.

'I'm okay... It could prove a nice distraction from the media.' Courtney replies and Leah nods her head.

'A good distraction.' Leah replies softly.

****

'How you doing, Le?' Lia asks softly as the blonde gestures for her to make her way into the house.

'I can phone round the girls, let them know there's a change of plan...' Lia says softly as she wraps her arms around the blonde who sighs.

'No, this is a good distraction... Plus we've got a beautiful boy to show off.' Leah replies.

'How's Courtney?' Lia asks.

'Surprisingly okay... She's upstairs getting Bunny into her pyjamas.' Leah replies.

'Okay, now are you gonna answer my first question? How are you doing?' Lia asks.

'I'm alright, I suppose... I think I just- The articles and the comments brought to the surface a lot of feelings, a lot of guilt that I thought I'd worked through.' Leah admits.

'Have you seen social media?' Lia asks and the blonde shakes her head.

'I don't think I could face reading the comments.' Leah admits.

'They're not bad.' Lia says softly. Together they make their way into the living room and Lia pulls her phone out of her pocket.

'Listen to these...' Lia says as she begins to read different comments which have been posted.

'My husband was working away in a different country when I miscarried... No one knows when these things are going to happen and you certainly can't put your life on hold for 3 months just in case.'

'A miscarriage is heartbreaking enough without having to worry about twats writing articles like this.'

'Everyone who's ever even heard Leah speak about her family, about Courtney knows that had there been any belief that this was going to happen she wouldn't have left Courtney's side.'

'There's plenty more, Le... That's only a few of them.' Lia says softly as tears stream down the blonde's cheeks.

'I wouldn't have...' Leah almost whispers causing the Swiss-midfielder to nod her head.

'Everyone who knows and loves you knows that, Le.' Lia replies.

****

Glancing around the living room, Leah can't help but smile as she takes in the sight of some of her favourite people just lounging around. Courtney is curled into her side while Bunny is sitting on the floor with Beau, Beth, Steph and Lia.

'You okay, bubs?' Courtney asks, her voice barely above a whisper meaning only the blonde can hear.

'Mm-hmm... This is exactly what I needed tonight. My loves, friends and pizza.' Leah replies, her smile growing as she presses a kiss to the top of Courtney's head.

'I love you.' Courtney says.

'I love you too.' Leah replies.

'I love you!' Bunny squeals as she stands up and immediately launches herself towards Leah and Courtney causing everyone to laugh.

'Oh my goodness... We love you too.' Courtney says smiling as Bunny cuddles into them both.

'To the moon.' Leah almost whispers.

'And back.' Bunny says grinning.