The Captain's Heart

twenty-three

8th February 2022 - sixteen days old.

Running her hand over her face, Leah can't help but smile as she feels Imogen slide closer to her until her arm is stretched out over the blonde's stomach. It's been five days since Imogen got the results of her scan and moved in with the blonde for a little while and for the most part it's been going smoothly. They've almost fallen into a comfortable routine without really having to put much effort or thought into it.

'She awake?' Imogen mumbles sleepily as Leah lifts her head to glance into the moses basket.

'No, it's still early. Go back to sleep.' Leah says softly. Her head drops to rest back on the pillows as her arm wraps around Imogen. It blows her mind how comfortable she is with the brunette; her family used to joke that her walls were so high after Jordan that it would take someone years to knock them down.

'Have you got plans today?' Imogen asks.

'Wally and Caitlin are going to come over this afternoon. Cait hasn't met Rory yet and I've not see Wally since before international break.' Leah replies.

'Oh... I can go back to mine.' Imogen says.

'You don't have to. I mean obviously if you want to then I can drop you off and pick you up but don't feel like you gave to. Wally and Caitlin will be happy to see you.' Leah replies.

'Are you sure?' Imogen asks and Leah nods her head.

'Of course. For now, my home is your home even if I don't have a bed for you.' Leah replies smiling.

'Quite comfy in this one, thanks.' Imogen says softly as Leah subconsciously presses a kiss to the top of the brunette's head and closes her eyes.

****

'Oh my goodness...' Caitlin says staring into the moses basket as Lia wraps her arms tightly around the blonde.

'I've missed you so much.' Leah says softly, her head resting on Lia's shoulder as the Swiss midfielder runs her hand gently up and down her back.

'I've missed you. How are you? I know we spoke every day but how are you really doing?' Lia asks.

'Okay... I'm doing really okay though. I had a moment the other day where I just felt so emotional but apparently that's normal with the drop in hormones.' Leah replies and Lia immediately nods her head.

'You look good, more than good actually.' Lia says smiling. Glancing over at Caitlin, Leah can't help but smile as she sees the Aussie hunched over the moses basket.

'You can lift her up, Cait.' Leah says softly.

'Oh I don't want to disturb her.' Caitlin replies shaking her head. Smiling, Leah makes her way over and lifts Rory into her arms before almost forcing the Aussie to take hold of the baby.

'She's so like you.' Caitlin almost whispers and Leah nods her head.

'So many people say that.' Leah replies smiling.

'Have you heard from Imogen, Le? None of us have really heard from her since she left Aus.' Caitlin asks and Leah nods her head.

'She's actually staying here until she's a bit more mobile. She's just upstairs having a shower.' Leah replies causing the brunette to raise her eyebrows.

'She's staying here?' Caitlin asks and Leah nods her head.

'Kim dropped her off here when she picked her up from the airport and she's been here ever since.' Leah replies.

'That's nice.' Caitlin says glancing at Lia who immediately shakes her head at her girlfriend.

'Well look at you little tiny dot.' Lia says softly as she makes her way over to run her finger down Rory's cheek.

'So she's Rory then? Is that what you've been calling her?' Caitlin asks and Leah nods her head.

'Legally she's Aurora but I've been calling her Rory or Roo at times.' Leah replies.

'She's perfect.' Caitlin says softly.

****

'So what's a high ankle sprain then?' Caitlin asks glancing at Imogen who's leg is stretched out on a pile of cushions on the coffee table.

'It's the ligaments that are above the ankle joint which are affected.' Imogen replies and Caitlin nods her head.

'So how long are you in the boot for? How long are you out?' Lia asks.

'Likely to be three months. So I've got another week and a bit of nothing, just resting and using ice on it before I can properly start physio but it'll still be more time before I can start properly training and stuff so they've said likely three months before I'm properly back with you guys.' Imogen replies.

'Three months? I didn't realise it would be that long.' Caitlin says and Imogen nods her head.

'So how long will you be on crutches and using the boot for?' Lia asks.

'That's a sort of wait and see thing. The boot is purely because I still have so much tenderness and stuff but hopefully that won't be too long.' Imogen replies.

'You'll be back before you know it.' Lia says reaching over to gently squeeze the Aussie's hand.

'What are your plans then, Le? Have you thought about how long you're going to take off?' Caitlin asks turning her attention to Leah who's cradling Rory against her chest.

'No, I've got to be medically cleared before I even start exercising again and that'll likely not be until six weeks post partum do I've got a few weeks before I even consider coming back... I would like to be back in time to put myself in contention for the Euros but we'll see. I'm not going to push myself.' Leah replies.

'I mean it makes sense not to push yourself too hard. You're body has just been through something absolutely major.' Lia says and the blonde nods her head.

'Yeah, I'm just going to give my body time to recover and see where we go.' Leah replies shrugging her shoulders.

****

'Lia is going to absolutely kill me but what's going on with you and Le?' Caitlin asks, taking her opportunity while Leah and Lia have gone to pick up their dinner.

'Nothing... Why would Lia kill you?' Imogen says causing Caitlin to sigh.

'Because she's told me to stop meddling and I've been trying, I really have but now you're staying here and I know she doesn't have a spare bed because she turned the spare room into Rory's nursery.' Caitlin replies.

'We're friends. She's been really good helping me out when I've been struggling with this.' Imogen says gesturing to her foot.

'But are you guys just friends? Like there's nothing more there?' Caitlin asks and Imogen shrugs her shoulders.

'We're just friends, Caitlin. She's just had a baby and she's got so much to focus on right now.' Imogen replies.

'So there could be more is what you're saying?' Caitlin asks.

'No, that's not what I said at all, Caitlin. Leah and I are friends; she's really helped me settle in London and right now she's helping me get around on one leg because it's hard, really hard.' Imogen replies causing the other Aussie to sigh.

'I'm just saying, that if there was something there I think you guys would be perfect for each other. Le isn't as tough as she looks and acts, which I imagine you've probably realised by now but she is a big softy at heart.' Caitlin says.

'I won't say another word about it.' Caitlin says putting her hands up at Imogen raises her eyebrows at the brunette.

'Le's great and I really appreciate our friendship.' Imogen replies.