My captain.

fast forward

It's now christmas time, arsenal are top of the table, we've won all our games so far and leah and i are closer than ever. We've decided to take the plunge of moving in together. As my flat had more space for double the clothes, i helped her move in with me.

After a few weeks of making the flat our home we proudly sat on our sofa, knacered from the hard work of picking up boxes.
"look at these now" leah says flexing her arms to show her biceps
"yeah impressive but watch this" i stand up and flex both mine, which have double the muscle of leah's
"yeah ok you won" she says laughing and asking the touch
"get lost" i say as leah starts to chase me around the kitchen.
we fall into a heap on the floor laughing. I stare at her and realise we are now living together. Having this everyday is one thing that people could only dream of.

We decide to go our separate ways christmas day. but have a boxing day party at ours. We spend the run up to christmas shopping for food, and boxing day morning lead to hungover cooking, leah and i arguing over the temperate of which a sausage roll goes in the oven.

My family first. Lucas wearing a little rudolph outfit runs straight up to leah hugging her and hands her his present.

As we didn't see leah yesterday, he saved her his present to give to her today.
"PUN!" lucas says clapping his hands
"open, open open!" i say chanting to leah
"yeah auntie leah" gemma says smiling at leah
i look at her and mouth "really?"
she nods with approval back at me. Leah has really been accepted into my family.

Leah opens up her present and it's a little dream catcher in the shape of a football boot that lucas painted at nursery.
"oh. my gosh!" leah says tickling his tummy and hugging him tight
"this is amazing!! thank you lucas" she says as he smiles back
"welcome" he says giggling

Gemma and mum both hand over leah their presents to her as she opens with them with such gratitude and love.

"right your turn guys" leah says grabbing a few presents from a sack behind the sofa

She hands over the presents, a car set for lucas which he screams with joy at.
"mummys turn"lucas shouts pointing at gemma
"ok ok" she replies laughing. she opens up her present to find a booklet of pictures from the birth of lucas to now. Gemma slowly stops laughing and starts to tear up
"sienna told me you your a little softie, so i thought what a more fitting gift" leah says smiling
"ok firstly sienna i hate you" she laughs and death stares me "but leah this is amazing i- i don't know what to say . look mum it's lucas at his first birthday when you slipped in the paddling pool" she turns round a picture of mum falling over in the pool
"leah what a beautiful gift" she walks over and kisses her forehead gently
"thank you leah, thank you so much" gemma walks over and hugs leah greatfully
"ok my turn" my mum says clapping her hands and picking up her present
Her mouth drops.
"you-"
"i know" leah says smiling, watxhing my mums eyes sparkle
"what is it mum" i ask, acting oblivious to what leah got her
"she got me the tiffany bracelet- the one - the one i had that your dad got me what i lost" she gets emotional as she picks up the bracelet
"oh leah" she says walking up to her and wrapping her in the biggest hug
"here i'll hellp you" leah helps mum put on the bracelet
"you. you are all i've ever wanted for my daughter" mums tears floods out her eyes as she looks over at me "simon would've loved you, wouldn't he girls"
me and gemma look at eachother and say yes

The door knocks suddenly and leah's family arrive. In walk hee brother jacob, her mum and her dad
"hello all!" jacob says walking in and greeting my mum sister and nephew
"sienna your apartment is huge!! it's lovely" amanda says greeting me with a bottle of wine and a bunch of deserts
"i told her to calm down on the trifle sienna honestly she just doesn't think the one was enough" david says hugging me
"oh david give it a rest" amanda says as she greets my mum for the first time

As the christmas spirit continued throughout the day and drinks were poured constantly, we sat playing card games like a family. I look at leah and kiss her gently. "i think they are meeting well" leah whispers to me
"i think so too" i reply as she hugs me tight.
I see my mum and amanda chatting away in the corner as if they'd been mates for years, jacob and lucas sat playing cars (jacob being forced to play along by lucas will) and gemma and david talking about ... i have no idea but they are both laughing. After a while. my mum and amanda join lucas playing with cars as jacob talks to david and gem.

We watch closely our mums playing with lucas, as we look eachother.
"i think it's time for a baby" leah says jokingly
"oh leah" i laugh "put a ring on it first and we will discuss this matter again" i joke as i show her my bare ring finger.

The night went on and convos changed. I watch gemma as she's smoking on the balcony, i go and join her
"hey you" i say as i sit next to her on the patio
"hey" she replies
"christmas day tradition?" i ask and point at hee cigarette
"keeping it up for dad" she laughs.
From the young age , me and gemma would play in the garden whilst our dad smoked on christmas day. That's just how we did it, every year. And since dad died gemma took on that role

"i am happy for you" gemma says
"why do you say that" i ask looking at her
"you've got your life together, a beautiful girlfriend - before you ask in not hitting on her" she laughs as she offers me some cigarette
I take a drag as we laugh about memories about our dad .

"I don't want to move out from mum yet" she adds
"why are you considering it?" i ask
"i worry i'm too much for her, especially with lucas growing" she says whilst stumping out the end of her cigarette
"mum loves having you around, and especially lucas. she loves it gem. there's no rush to move out, don't feel obliged too"
"yeah that's true" our convo is interrupted as leah walks outside
"hey you guys"
"hey" we say in unison
"actually sienna can i talk to gemma for a second"  leah adds

"ok what's going on between you two? we might look the same -" i joke
"ooo leah i've been waiting to get me hands on you all day" gemma jokes looking at leah
we all laugh as i head inside .
i sit playing with lucas and jacob as i watch gemma and leah talk. a shocked expression on gemma's face. i wonder what they are talking about?

As everyone leaves later on in the evening, leah and i are left to our own devices.
"what was that about with you and gem" i ask
"oh nothing. i feel like i didn't have chance to know her propely, i mean she is your best friend and your sister. i speak to your mum all the time" leah says  caringly

"you're so cute" i say squishing her cheeks