Rediscovering You

fourteen

19th March 2023 – one week and eight weeks old.

Stretching her arm above her head, Leah groans slightly as she attempts to stretch out her back while ensuring she doesn't wake the brunette who's lying mostly on her chest while Leah's hand rests on her lower back. She's not sure what time it was when they eventually got to sleep but she knows it must have been in the early hours of the morning when she'd finally drifted off with Imogen in her arms. It surprised her just how easy it was to fall back into that same position they found themselves in a year ago.

'Hey... What happened here then?' Lia asks quietly as she makes her way into the living room with Rory perched on her hip.

'She was upset... She'd hurt her hand and Steph wasn't home.' Leah replies glancing up at her friend who gently bounces her daughter on her hip.

'She okay?' Lia asks as she watches the blonde successfully removing herself from under the brunette without waking her up.

'Mm... She will be.' Leah replies taking Rory into her arms as they make their way through to the kitchen.

'What time is it anyway?' Leah asks running her free hand over her face causing Lia to smile.

'31 minutes past 8.' Lia replies and the blonde nods her head as she continues what she was doing.

'Le...' Lia says softly causing the blonde to glance over her shoulder as she pops Rory into her highchair.

'Happy Mother's Day.' Lia adds, a small smile on her face as she holds up a small pink gift bag that she failed to notice in the living room.

'Oh Wally... Thank you, you shouldn't have.' Leah says smiling as she makes her way over to hug the other woman.

'It's nothing big but just a little something to celebrate the wonderful mummy that you are.' Lia replies and the blonde shakes her head.

'You're amazing, do you know that? Absolutely amazing.' Leah says smiling as she presses a kiss to the Swiss-midfielder's cheek.

****

'Thank you for letting me stay last night... I'm sorry for just turning up like that.' Imogen says as Leah slides a cup of coffee towards the brunette.

'I'm always here if you need me, Imogen. I know things haven't been right between us for a while but if you need me, I am always here.' Leah replies.

'How's the hand?' Leah asks.

'Sore.' Imogen admits glancing down at her bandaged hand.

'I don't know if you'll be able to play with that. You don't want to knock it and cause the bleeding to start again.' Leah says and Imogen nods her head.

'I know... I'm going to speak to Jonas tomorrow before we leave and see what he says.' Imogen replies.

'That's a wise idea. So what are your plans for today?' Leah asks and Imogen shrugs her shoulders.

'I don't have any. I think I'm just going to have a chill day before travel day tomorrow, well if Jonas lets me come.' Imogen replies.

'I'm sure he'll still let you come even if you can't play, Imogen.' Leah says softly.

'What about you? What are your plans for today?' Imogen asks.

'Roo and I are going to lunch at my grandma's with my mum.' Leah replies.

'Oh it's Mother's Day today, isn't it? I forgot about that... Happy Mother's Day, is that something you say? God I've just made it weird, haven't I?' Imogen says causing Leah to smile.

'Thank you... No you haven't made it weird, Imogen. Please, please stop overthinking everything around me. I swear I can see the cogs turning in your head.' Leah replies causing Imogen to sigh.

'Oh hi, Imogen... How are you?' Lia asks making her way into the kitchen with a giggling Rory in her arms.

'Mimi!' Rory squeals reaching her arms out to the brunette.

'Hello, you...' Imogen says smiling as Lia passes the little girl over to her.

'I'm okay thanks, Wally... How are you?' Imogen asks.

'I'm good... I'm gonna head, Le. She's been bathed and dressed and she's good to go.' Lia says softly as she leans over to kiss the blonde's cheek.

'Thanks, Wally... I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?' Leah says.

'Mm-hmm... Have a good day. See you tomorrow, Imogen.' Lia replies.

'See you tomorrow, Wally.' Imogen says.

****

'You look tired, baba... Are you okay?' Amanda asks softly,

'Mm... I just didn't sleep well last night. A good night's sleep and I'll be fine.' Leah replies smiling as she glances over to where Berny and Rory are playing with some toys.

'Are you still okay to have her while I'm away?' Leah asks and Amanda nods her head.

'Of course I am. Are you sure you're going to be okay leaving her for a few days though? You don't particularly like leaving her overnight never mind leaving her for a few days.' Amanda says and Leah sighs.

'I know. It won't be easy but I need to do it at some point, don't I? Plus it's not fair taking her out her routine just for a few days.' Leah replies.

'What's the plan? Are you going to drop her off in the morning or do you want me to pick her up?' Amanda asks and Leah shrugs her shoulders.

'Either will work. I need to meet the team at eleven I'm sure it is so I can bring her to you or you can pick her up.' Leah replies.

'Maybe I'll pick her up? That way I can just take her straight out, we can go for some lunch and stuff.' Amanda says and Leah nods her head.

'That sounds fine. I'll have all her stuff together for when you're picking her up; I'll need you to maybe get there about quarter past ten?' Leah says causing Amanda to smile.

'That's absolutely fine... She's going to be fine, you know? I'll take good care of her, I promise.' Amanda says softly as she gently squeezes her daughter's hand.

'I know she will. I know she's going to be fine with you but it's just the leaving her, the not being here...' Leah almost whispers and Amanda nods her head.

'I know, baba. It will get easier though once you've done it.' Amanda says.

****

'So what's going on with you then? You looking forward to the game? Seeing Georgia?' Berny asks and Leah nods her head.

'Mm... It'll be a hard game, I think. But as long as we don't come after from this leg multiple goals down I think we'll be fine.' Leah replies.

'How's Beth doing?' Amanda asks.

'She's getting there, I think. I mean it's been a lot for her all at the one time, I mean I can't even imagine going through doing my ACL let alone doing my ACL and losing you.' Leah replies shaking her head.

'It doesn't even bear thinking about, does it? At least she's got Viv with her. I mean it can't be easy but she's not going through it on her own.' Amanda says and Leah nods her head.

'She's accepted that she's not going to make it to the world cup which is just shit, isn't it? I mean this is just everything you work towards, major tournaments like this and to not make it, especially after the high of the Euros... It's just shit.' Leah replies.

'You girls will go do her proud.' Berny says softly.

'I hope so, I really hope so.' Leah replies.