Never Not You

At the matches

A/N: short chapter here but I wanted to include this but couldn't think of how to make it a full chapter

The end of the Women's World Cup wasn't quite what Leah had hoped for. After a hard-fought tournament, England finished 4th, losing to Sweden in the third-place match 2-1. The sting of defeat was still fresh as Leah walked off the pitch, her heart heavy with disappointment. But despite the loss, there was one constant that had kept her going: Aurora.

Aurora had attended every one of Leah's remaining games, even though she'd initially argued she could stay at the hotel with Mateo. Leah's family, however, wouldn't allow it. They insisted that Aurora had to be at the matches, reassuring her that Mateo would be well looked after. Leah's mum, dad, and brother took turns staying with him, rotating who would attend the matches so Aurora could be there to support Leah. It was a battle Aurora hadn't won, and despite her initial protests, she was grateful for the way Leah's family had embraced her and Mateo.

Now, in the wake of the loss, Aurora stood in the stands, watching Leah make her way off the field. The atmosphere was somber, but as Leah glanced up and saw her, a soft smile crept onto her face, one that only Aurora could draw out in moments like this. Aurora waved gently, her heart swelling with pride despite the result.

The crowd began to disperse, the energy of the tournament winding down. Aurora could feel the weight of it all—the exhaustion, the emotional rollercoaster of watching Leah fight through each match, the quiet moments between games where they could just be together.

Leah's family had been right. She needed to be at those matches.