Matilda's Imagines

Willow: Surpise, I guess

It was an ordinary day at the Matildas' training center. The usual banter filled the air as the team stretched and prepared for another intense session. Mini sat at a small table, sipping her coffee, her gaze occasionally drifting toward the locker room where Y/n's nameplate still hung, untouched since the day she'd left.

Kyra threw a ball at Macca, breaking the silence. "Oi, think Y/n's ever coming back, or should we auction off her locker to the highest bidder?" Kyra joked, though her tone had a forced lightness to it.

"Kyra," Mini chided, her voice firm. "Don't."

The truth was, everyone missed Y/n deeply. She had disappeared without a word a year ago, leaving the team heartbroken and confused. They hadn't stopped wondering why or if she was okay. Even Kyra, who masked her hurt with sarcasm, often caught herself looking at the door, hoping Y/n would walk through it.

And then, as if summoned by their thoughts, the door to the training center creaked open.

At first, no one noticed, too engrossed in their routines. But Mini froze, her cup halfway to her lips, as a familiar figure stepped inside. The room went silent as the rest of the team turned toward the door.

"Y/n?" Mini's voice was a whisper, barely audible.

There she was—Y/n, standing hesitantly in the doorway, her eyes scanning the room nervously. She looked different. Older, maybe. More tired. Her hair was pulled into a loose ponytail, and she clutched a baby carrier in one hand, a diaper bag slung over her shoulder.

In the carrier lay a tiny baby, no more than three months old, her little head adorned with soft tufts of dark hair. She squirmed slightly, letting out a soft coo.

The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop.

"Hi," Y/n said softly, her voice trembling. "I—I'm back."

For a moment, no one moved. Then Kyra, breaking the stunned silence, blurted, "You have a baby?"

Y/n flinched slightly, shifting the carrier protectively in front of her. "Yeah," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "This is Willow. She's my daughter."

"Wait, wait, wait," Macca interjected, stepping forward. "You disappear for a year, don't tell us anything, and now you just show up with a kid?"

"Macca," Mini said sharply, shooting her a warning look.

Y/n's eyes welled with tears, and she looked down at Willow, as if drawing strength from the tiny baby. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice cracking. "I didn't know how to tell you. I didn't know how to handle it myself. I just... I didn't want to be a burden."

Mini stood, her expression softening as she walked toward Y/n. She stopped just in front of her, reaching out to gently touch her arm. "Y/n," she said, her tone firm but full of care, "you could never be a burden."

Tears spilled down Y/n's cheeks. "I didn't know what to do," she admitted. "I was scared, and everything happened so fast. But I missed you all so much."

Mini pulled her into a hug, careful not to jostle the baby carrier. "You should have come to us," she murmured. "We would've helped you."

As if on cue, Willow let out a tiny cry, breaking the tension in the room. Caitlin, who had been standing silently, stepped forward, her usual calm demeanor softening as she crouched to look at the baby. "She's beautiful," Caitlin said gently, smiling up at Y/n.

"Yeah, she is," Y/n said, her voice full of love as she glanced down at her daughter. "She's my everything."

Kyra finally stepped forward, her arms crossed. "So... does this mean we're all aunties now?" she asked, her lips quirking into a half-smile.

Y/n let out a watery laugh, wiping her eyes. "Yeah. I guess it does."

Macca sighed dramatically. "Great. Guess I'll have to babysit when you're off running drills."

"Like I'd trust you to babysit," Alana teased, finally breaking her silence.

The team slowly began to crowd around Y/n, the initial shock giving way to curiosity and excitement. Mini gently took the baby carrier from Y/n, peeking inside at Willow. "Hello, little one," she cooed, her motherly instincts kicking in. "Welcome to the family."

Y/n watched in awe as her teammates, one by one, accepted her and Willow without hesitation. Kyra was already brainstorming ways to make the baby Matildas' gear, and Caitlin offered to help Y/n with anything she needed, from late-night feeds to advice.

By the end of the day, Y/n felt a weight lifting off her shoulders. She had been so afraid of rejection, of being seen as a failure. But the Matildas weren't just her team—they were her family. And now, they were Willow's too.

For the first time in a long time, Y/n felt at home.