unexpected love (Leah Williamson)

Home is Where You Are

Leah's POV:

A few weeks had passed since Ella surprised me at training, and each day felt like an extension of that moment—quiet, full of love, and unexpectedly beautiful in the simplest ways. Living together had become a rhythm, a balance between her demanding hospital schedule and my football commitments, with every shared moment feeling sacred.

Today, I got home from an away game feeling more exhausted than usual. As I unlocked the door and stepped inside, the warm scent of Ella's cooking greeted me—basil, garlic, and rosemary filling the air like a comforting hug. Instantly, my fatigue started to melt away.

"Hey, you're back!" Ella called from the kitchen, her voice full of warmth. She appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel, her face lighting up as she spotted me.

"You didn't have to cook," I said, smiling as she walked over, her arms slipping around me. She pressed a soft kiss to my cheek.

"I wanted to," she said, her eyes glowing. "Figured you'd be exhausted. Plus... I missed you."

Her words made my heart flutter, and I couldn't help but draw her closer. "I missed you too," I murmured, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to her lips. She sighed into the kiss, her arms wrapping around me as if she never wanted to let go.

"Come on," she said, pulling back with a smile that left me wanting more. "I made your favorite pasta. Let's eat before it gets cold."

In the dining room, Ella had set the table with candles, plates already filled, and a bottle of wine breathing on the counter. I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness she'd put into everything, the small, sweet touches that showed me just how much she cared.

"This looks amazing," I said as we sat down. Ella's smile was shy, and her eyes sparkled as she watched me take my first bite, clearly pleased with my reaction. The meal was delicious, and as we ate, we shared stories from our day, each one bringing us closer.

When dinner was finished, we moved to the couch. Ella curled up against me, resting her head on my shoulder as I wrapped my arm around her, feeling her warmth settle into me.

"You know, I was thinking," she said softly, tracing small patterns on the back of my hand. "We should take a weekend off soon. Just the two of us. Somewhere quiet where we can relax... no football, no night shifts. Just us."

I grinned at the thought. "That sounds perfect. Anywhere in mind?"

She looked thoughtful, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "There's this little cottage up north. I've heard it's beautiful—right by a lake. We could spend the whole weekend hiking, maybe even do some stargazing."

"Sold," I replied, kissing her forehead softly. "I'd love nothing more than a quiet weekend with you."

A few weeks later, we packed up and drove to that cottage by the lake, and the moment we arrived, it felt like we'd entered our own little world. The crisp air, the dense forest surrounding us, the lake shimmering in the afternoon sun—it was the perfect escape. No obligations, no noise, just us and the peace of nature.

Our days were spent hiking along winding trails and breathing in the earthy smell of pine and damp leaves, and our evenings wrapped up in blankets, watching the stars from the deck. Each night, we talked about everything and nothing—our dreams, our fears, the little moments that had shaped us. I felt our connection deepen with each word, each touch.

One evening, as we sat beside the fire pit, Ella leaned into me, her gaze soft and distant as she watched the embers glow. "I don't think I ever imagined finding someone who would make me feel this... at peace," she said quietly, her words settling around us like a gentle breeze.

I held her close, breathing in the scent of her hair. "Same here. You've shown me a kind of love I didn't know I could have."

She looked up at me, her eyes glistening, full of love and certainty. "Leah, I love you. And I know I say it a lot, but it feels like it grows deeper every day. Being here with you, away from everything else, reminds me of how much I want this. All of it."

Her words washed over me, and before I could say anything, I leaned down, capturing her lips in a kiss, tender and full of all the things I didn't have words for. She kissed me back, her hands moving up to hold my face, her touch both gentle and urgent, like she wanted to hold onto this moment forever.

When we finally pulled away, she rested her forehead against mine, her breath mingling with mine as we stayed there, eyes closed, wrapped up in the warmth of each other.

"I love you too, Ella. More than I can ever put into words," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "You're everything I didn't know I needed."

We sat there, wrapped in each other's arms, the quiet night blanketing us as the stars above shone like tiny promises. That night, as we climbed into bed, I felt a new kind of peace settle over me—a peace that came from knowing that, no matter where we were, Ella was my home.

In the darkness, as I held her close, her steady breathing lulling me toward sleep, I knew that this was just the beginning of our journey together. And wherever it led, I'd be right by her side, every step of the way.