Rediscovering You

twenty-six

27th May 2023 - one year and sixteen weeks old.

'Hey, sleepyhead...' Leah says softly as she leans into the back of the car and loosens the straps on Rory's carseat. Effortlessly, she lifts the little girl into her arms and smiles as Rory immediately tucks her face into the crook of her neck with a sleepy sigh.

'Do you want the pram set up, Le?' Imogen asks and Leah nods her head.

'Please, babe... Wally, you alright there? Manage?' Leah asks glancing at Lia who is getting out the car.

'I'm fine, Le.' Lia replies smiling. She'd gone on to pick up an injury, resulting in her being in a boot and on crutches, which she's thankfully now off although definitely not fully fit yet. Running her hand down the little girl's back, Leah smiles as she makes her way round to where Imogen has successfully set up the pram.

'There we go, sleepy girl.' Leah says softly as she leans down to place Rory in the pram. She straps her in and pulls the pram canopy up to shield the little girl from the sun.

'Ready?' Imogen asks and the blonde nods her head. Locking the door, Imogen smiles before the three of them begin to make their way into Meadowpark for the last time this season.

'What a weird season, ey?' Leah says softly as she drapes her free arm around Imogen's shoulders while pushing the pram with her other.

'Mm... It's certainly been one hell of a ride, hasn't it?' Imogen replies.

'Here's to next season being better and less traumatic.' Lia says smiling over her shoulder at the pair.

'Mm-hmm... Hopefully. Less injuries for us all.' Leah replies.

'Hopefully.' Lia says. Pulling Imogen further into her side and presses a kiss to the side of her head.

****

'Do you think you'll have another?' Laura asks glancing at Leah who's holding Rory's hands as the little girl giggles and attempts to jump, something she hasn't quite mastered yet.

'Another kid? I hope so. I mean I don't want another right now, like I want to get back on the pitch and back to doing what I love before I even begin to think about that... Plus she's still so little that I want to just enjoy her being little, you know?' Leah replies and Laura nods her head.

'Yeah, you've got plenty of time.' Laura says.

'How are you doing? Beth and Viv taking care of you?' Leah asks and Laura nods her head.

'It's hard. I mean I knew going into it from you and obviously Beth and Viv that it wasn't going to be easy but I just-' Laura says shrugging her shoulders.

'It's so much harder than first week post-surgery, isn't it? I could never have anticipated how hard I would find it, even after everything both Beth and Viv had told me.' Leah admits.

'Yeah. Do you think it's getting easier now?' Laura asks.

'Mm-hmm... Definitely. I still have pain but I have more movement and even just being off the crutches feels so much better.' Leah replies.

'I feel a bit more like me, you know?' Leah adds and Laura nods her head.

'Obviously I wish none of us had done this absolutely awful thing but I'm really glad I've got you to go through all this with. I think it would've been so much harder on my own.' Laura says quietly causing Leah to smile.

'I wouldn't have wanted to do this on my own either. It'll be good having each other to bounce off as well when things get really tough during rehab.' Leah replies and Laura nods her head.

****

She can't help but smile as she watches Katie zoom around the pitch with Rory on her back, the little girl's giggles getting louder and louder. The situation with Katie and Caitlin is something that they've all spoke about and managed to resolve thankfully.

'Hey, you...' She says softly as she feels a familiar pair of arms wrap around her waist from behind as a head settles against her shoulder blades.

'Having fun?' Imogen asks.

'Mm-hmm... You played great today.' Leah replies smiling as she turns to face the brunette who takes a step back.

'Why thank you. Had to impress the girlfriend, you know? She was here.' Imogen says causing Leah to tilt her head to the side.

'Oh was she now? What's she like?' Leah asks causing Imogen to smile.

'Oh she's pretty amazing... Beyond beautiful, incredibly sexy and the most amazing mum to her little girl.' Imogen replies.

'I love you, you know that right?" Leah says and Imogen nods her head.

'I love you too. More than words could ever explain.' Imogen replies smiling. They're interrupted by the most heart-wrenching scream causing them both to immediately turn in the direction of where Katie is now bent down in front of a screaming Rory. Without hesitation, Imogen begins to sprint in the direction of the little girl as Leah follows behind as quickly as she can possibly manage.

'I'd put her down and s-she was just toddling then she fell.' Katie says as Imogen scoops Rory into her arms.

'Kids fall, Katie... It's not the first time and it probably won't be the last.' Leah replies softly. She gently squeezes the Irish woman's shoulder before taking Rory from Imogen into her arms.

'Hey, baby... You're okay. Mumma's got you. I'm right here.' Leah almost whispers as she rocks slightly from side to side. Thankfully, there's no physical damage to the little girl and within a few minutes of being in Leah's arms, she settles. Her little fist gripping Leah's shirt as she buries her face into the blonde's neck.

'I promise she's fine, Katie.' Leah says.

****

'Do you want kids?' Leah asks softly as she watches Imogen who is dancing around the living room with Rory in her arms.

'Hmm? What's that, babes?' Imogen asks glancing over her shoulder at the blonde who smiles.

'Do you want kids? Not right now obviously but eventually?' Leah says.

'Yeah, of course... I mean, if you don't want more I completely understand that. I'm more than happy with just this monkey.' Imogen replies dipping Rory down towards the floor causing her to giggle.

'No, I definitely want more. I have some embryos already frozen but obviously we can do the whole journey with you as well if that was something you'd want to do.' Leah says and Imogen nods her head.

'I've never really thought about whether I'd want to be pregnant and give birth... I guess I just never really thought I'd be in the position to even consider it.' Imogen admits shrugging her shoulders.

We'll it's not something you need to worry about yet, babes. I just-It was just something I wanted to ask you.' Leah replies.

'Who wouldn't want another little Rory, ey? I would have ten of you.' Imogen says causing Leah to smile.

'Well I don't have that many embryos frozen but I've got a few so we could give it our best shot.' Leah replies, a smile on her face as Imogen nods her head.

'Mm... Sounds like a plan to me. What do you think Roo? Would you like a little brother or sister in the future? Or lots of brothers and sisters if we're lucky.' Imogen says gently bouncing the little girl in her arms.