Rediscovering You

thirteen

28th March 2023 - one year and eight weeks old.

'I give it approximately 32 seconds before she's screaming...' Leah says glancing at Lia as she watches Rory begin to stir on the baby monitor screen. Sure enough in less than a minute, the soft cries filter through the baby monitor causing Leah to let out a small sigh.

'Can I?' Lia asks and the blonde nods her head.

'Feel free.' Leah replies smiling. Stretching her legs out over the coffee table, she runs her hands over her knees. Watching the Swiss-midfielder leave the room, Leah grabs her phone before beginning to scroll through her unread messages. She quickly shoots back replies to a few of them before settling on one from Imogen. Her finger hovers over the text before Lia makes her way back into the room carrying Rory in her arms.

'Mama...' Rory sobs reaching out for the blonde.

'Oh what's the matter, my girl?' Leah says softly as she takes the little girl into her arms and smiles at her immediately snuggling into her chest. Running her hands up and down the little girl's back, Leah smiles as Lia lowers herself down onto the sofa beside her.

'So what are the plans for your birthday then?' Lia asks.

'Well we've got the Bayern game so going to see my family in the morning and then I think I'm going to properly celebrate in April, after the international break.' Leah replies.

'That sounds good. Are you going to have a party? I know you were thinking about that, weren't you?' Lia asks causing the blonde to nod her head.

'Mm... I think I might. Nothing too wild because obviously she'll be there but yeah, just a little something.' Leah replies.

'It'll be fun whatever you do, I'm sure.' Lia says smiling.

****

The persistent knocking on the door causes her to groan as she lifts her head from where it was resting on Lia's knee.

'What's going on?' Lia mumbles sleepily.

'I've got it... Someone's at the door. Go back to sleep or go through to bed, Wally. I'll be through in a minute.' Leah says. Nodding her head, Lia pushes herself to her feet and makes her way through to the bedroom while Leah goes to the front door.

'Fuck, Imogen... What's happened?' Leah asks as she opens the front door to be greeted by the brunette standing with tears streaming down her cheeks and her hand wrapped in a bloodstained teatowel.

'I-I'm sorry... I uh-I tried Steph and Dean but they didn't answer and I didn't know where else to go.' Imogen says and the blonde immediately shakes her head.

'Don't be silly... Come on in.' Leah says guiding the brunette into the apartment. She closes the front door and leads her through to the living room. 

'What happened?' Leah asks softly as she sits the brunette down on the sofa.

'I smashed a bottle.' Imogen replies quietly.

'Can I see?' Leah asks and Imogen nods her head. Carefully the blonde removes the towel, apologising as the brunette winces at the touch.

'Okay, it doesn't look too deep actually and you seem to have stemmed the bleeding. Let me grab a bandage and some wipes to clean it up.' Leah says as she pushes herself into a standing position.

'I'm sorry... I know you said you needed space and time.' Imogen almost whispers.

'Hey, look at me... You've got nothing to apologise for. I wouldn't have wanted you to be on your own.' Leah says gently squeezing the blonde's uninjured hand before making her way through to the kitchen.

****

'He knows where I live...' Imogen mumbles, her head resting on the arm of the sofa as Leah sits at the opposite side.

'What? Who knows?' Leah asks.

'L-Logan... He sent me a letter.' Imogen replies.

'Fuck.' Leah says instinctively moving closer to the brunette who quietly sniffles.

'Mum must have given him my address and I just- I don't really understand why she'd do that.' Imogen says shaking her head.

'Neither do I. Why when she knows what he done to you?' Leah replies watching the brunette reach up to wipe her eyes.

'That's how I cut my hand. I was holding a bottle of wine when I opened the letter and I just dropped it when I saw his name. I tried to clean it up and well...' Imogen admits.

'Oh, Ims... Come here.' Leah says softly as she gently pulls the brunette into her arms.

'I'm sorry.' Imogen whispers and Leah shakes her head.

'No, you've got absolutely nothing to apologise for... You're okay, I've got you. I'm right here.' Leah says softly. Tears stream down her cheeks as her head rests on the blonde's chest, Leah's fingers running gently through her hair.

'What do you need from me right now, Ims? What can I do?' Leah asks.

'I just don't want to be on my own at the moment.' Imogen admits and Leah nods her head.

'You're not on your own. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere, okay? Do you want me to grab you some pyjamas and you can get changed? Wally is in my bed so we can't go in there but we can lie on the sofa?' Leah says and Imogen nods her head.

'I'm okay on the sofa.' Imogen replies quietly and Leah nods her head.

'Let me grab you some pyjamas.' Leah says softly. She presses a kiss to the top of the brunette's head before pushing herself into a standing position and making her way through to the bedroom.

****

She adjusts them both until they're lying on the sofa, the brunette sprawled out across her chest as her fingers run through her hair. It's been a little over an hour since the brunette arrived at her door and they've been lying with some random comedy programmes playing in the background.

'A-Are you sure you don't mind me staying, Le? I can go home.' Imogen asks quietly.

'You're not going anywhere, Ims. You're staying right here where you are.' Leah replies and Imogen nods her head.

'Thank you.' Imogen says and Leah shakes her head.

'Don't be silly. You've got nothing to thank me for.' Leah replies. Her arms tighten around the brunette as Imogen curls further against her and Leah leans down to kiss the top of her head.

'I told you, I've got you... Now and always.' Leah says softly.