The Captain's Heart

forty-five

Trigger warning - contains references of child abuse throughout.

21st August 2022 - six months and twenty-four days old.

'So what time is everyone going to start getting here at?' Imogen asks glancing at Leah who's using a baby wipe to clean Rory's face. Tonight Mia and Tommy have gone out for dinner so Leah is hosting a team night at her place.

'6-ish, I said. Are you sure you're feeling up to this? You've had a lot going on lately. I can cancel if you just want to stay in and chill out?' Leah says, dropping the wipe into the bin and moving to wrap her arms around the brunette who shakes her head.

'I'm fine, absolutely fine. I promise.' Imogen replies cuddling herself into Leah's chest.

'Are you sure?' Leah asks.

'Mm-hmm... Positive.' Imogen replies smiling as Rory squeals from behind them and throws her arms up in the air.

'Oh my goodness, are we not giving you enough attention?' Imogen says peering over the blonde's shoulder causing Leah to smile.

'She wants her Immy snuggles as well.' Leah replies smiling. Loosening her arms from around the brunette, she makes her way over to the highchair and lifts Rory into her arms before returning back to Imogen who immediately wraps her arms around the both of them.

'Family snuggles...' Leah says softly as Imogen kisses both of their heads before tucking her face into the crook of the blonde's neck.

'I love you.' Imogen mumbles.

'I love you too...' Leah replies.

'And so does Rory, don't you? We love our Immy so much.' Leah adds. They remain standing in their little huddle in the kitchen, their arms tight around each other until Rory lets out a giggle and reaches up slapping her hands on Leah's cheeks.

'Oi, cheeky!' Leah says smiling.

****

'Do you wanna put her to bed, Ims?' Leah asks glancing at Imogen who has Rory cradled against her chest.

'Mm... Sure.' Imogen replies smiling. She makes her way over to the blonde who kisses the top of the sleepy little girl's head and runs her finger down her cheek.

'Sleep tight, baby girl.' Leah says softly.

'Will she settle for Imogen then?' Katie asks as Imogen leaves the room.

'Mm-hmm... She settles for Immy pretty much just as well as she settles for me. I think she's so used to her being round that it's just normal, you know?' Leah replies.

'Can we ask how long you guys have been together? Obviously we all know you're together now but none of us really know how long it's been going on because you've always been quite touchy-feely with each other?' Katie asks.

'A little while now.' Leah replies shrugging her shoulders.

'A while? Is that all we're getting?' Katie asks and Leah smiles.

'March.' Leah replies.

'Shut up! You guys have not been together since March. We would've worked it out well before we did.' Katie says and Leah shakes her head.

'I swear. We were just good at acting normal. Plus I wasn't back in training yet so you guys weren't constantly seeing us together.' Leah replies.

'That's insane...' Katie says.

'So while I was trying to convince Wally to let me meddle a bit so you guys could see how perfect you are together, you guys were already together?' Caitlin asks and the blonde nods her head.

'I guess? I mean I don't know when you were trying to convince Wally but yeah, since March.' Leah replies.

'And you thought it was your meddling that did the job, ey?' Lia says smiling as she gently squeezes Caitlin's knee.

****

'Babe, your phone is ringing.' Leah says glancing towards the kitchen where Imogen is standing talking to Steph and Beth.

'Who is it?' Imogen asks causing the blonde to reach for the phone.

'Your mum...' Leah replies softly.

'Decline it.' Imogen says.

Do you not think maybe-' Leah begins.

'I said decline it, Leah.' Imogen says, her voice coming out harsher than anyone has heard before. Silently, Leah hits the button to decline the call and slides the phone back onto the table.

'You okay?' Lia asks softly as she takes a seat next to the blonde.

'Mm... She's got a lot going on at the moment.' Leah replies.

'Where are you going?' Leah asks glancing up at Imogen who grabs her phone off the table with her jacket flung over her right arm.

'Home.' Imogen replies.

'Ims, you don't have to leave. I'm sorry I just- I wasn't thinking.' Leah says.

'Of course you weren't. If you had even began to think how I was feeling, how it feels to not have a family so fucking perfect like yours then you would just have declined it as soon as I asked.' Imogen replies.

'Imogen, Leah didn't-' Katie begins and the brunette shakes her head.

'Don't you get involved because you don't have a fucking clue what you're talking about.' Imogen says. Tears fill the blonde's eyes as she pushes herself into a standing position and shakes her head.

'I'm sorry.' Leah almost whispers as she makes her way out the room.

'Whatever you are going through, you have no right speaking to her like that. She loves you and she was only trying to help you.' Lia says before following the blonde out of the room.

'I don't think you're in any fit state to drive... Let me take you home?' Steph offers and Imogen nods her head.

'Thank you.' Imogen says quietly.

****

'She had no right speaking to you that way, Le. You done nothing wrong.' Lia says softly, her arms wrapped tightly around the blonde.

'I should've just kept my mouth shut. I know she's going through shit. I know she's struggling and I still tried to push her to answer.' Leah replies, tears streaming down her cheeks. Everyone slowly left after Imogen, leaving just Lia and Kim to console the distraught blonde.

'You didn't push her, Leah. Not the way she's made it out in her head... Think about what you've said, she's going through a lot and she's struggling. Everything feels massive when you're struggling.' Kim says and Lia nods her head.

'Kim's right. Imogen just needs time to chill out and then you two will be absolutely fine. You'll be back to normal.' Lia replies.

'I don't want to lose her.' Leah almost whispers.

'You're not going to lose her over this. It's just a blip, your first argument out the way, that's all.' Kim says.

'And if you lose her over this then she's stupid and she'll have me to deal with, okay?' Lia says causing the blonde to chuckle slightly as she wipes her cheeks.

'Want me to grab her?' Kim asks as Rory's whimpers begin to filter through the baby monitor and the blonde nods her head.

'Please.' Leah replies. Kim makes her way through to the bedroom as Lia places a kiss on top of the blonde's head.

'I mean it, Le... If she walks away over this then she doesn't deserve you.' Lia says softly causing Leah to sigh.

'I don't even know if she got home safely.' Leah replies quietly.

'Steph took her home. She got home fine.' Lia says.

'Thank you for staying.' Leah almost whispers.

'Always.' Lia replies smiling.