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Chapter Text

Week 14

“Do you think Narla and our baby will be instant besties or Narla will be scared at first?” Keira asked randomly as Lucy came into the weightroom at the Chelsea training grounds.

Lucy snorted a laugh and shook her head, “Besties. Narla is our brave girl; she’d never fear a baby. Anyway, how’re you feeling after your workout?”

Keira grinned as Lucy ducked to kiss her lips and her stomach.

“Alright alright, we get it, you’re in love or whatever, but gross.” Aggie teased as she came twirling into the room, boots in hand.

Lucy deftly flipped the young forward off without even looking.

“How’s it going Walsh?” Aggie asked sitting down on a yoga ball next to her.

“Pretty good. Actually, I feel really good. I feel strong again, physically.” Keira replied with a small smile.

“Aw, I’m so glad Keira. So, I was wondering if I could take you to dinner this week? Pick your brain?”

Lucy cocked her head, “You trying to steal my wife Beever-Jones?”

Aggie rolled her eyes, “No, just trying to give her a break from you.” She teased, “Nah, I’m kidding, I just need to pick a brain and Keira’s seems like the best one of the two of you.”

Keira burst out laughing as Lucy made a confused face.

“I don’t know if I’m supposed to be offended for myself or proud that you think Kei is the best because she is.”

Keira leaned over rubbing the back of Lucy’s neck, “Sure Aggie, somewhere a bit discreet maybe? I’m starting to show a bit, and I don’t want to involve social media just yet.”

Aggie hummed, “There’s a place down the street from my townhouse that’s lowkey but nice. They know who I am, but no one’s ever made a big deal about it.”

“Sounds good, I can head home with you after training or meet you later.”

“Depends on if you need a nap or not?” Aggie half teased.

“Not sure if that’s a dig at me being pregnant or my age.”

Aggie grinned even wider, “Nah, if I wanted to go after someone for age I’d go for Lucy.”

“Hey!” Lucy protested from the floor where she was doing her pre-lift stretches.

“You know the kids only tease because they love you.” Keira reminded her.

After training, Aggie sat cross legged on Lucy and Keira’s car, waiting for them to come out of the training center.

“If my car has your ass print indented on it, you’ll be buying me a new one.” Lucy threatened as she swung her and Keira’s clasped hands together.

Aggie hopped off the car and opened the passenger door to her own for Keira.

“Aw such a gentlewoman, thank you.” Keira grinned climbing in.

“You take care of my family.” Lucy said firmly as Aggie came back around to get in the driver’s side.

“I will Luce, I’ll get them home safe to you, I promise.” Aggie replied softly.

“Alright Aggie, what’s up?” Keira asked as they took a back corner booth in the little restaurant.  

“I typically get the roast chicken with the garden veggies. They use a really nice spice blend. It kind of reminds me of some of the food I’ve eaten in Spain.” Aggie dodged.

Keira hummed, accepting a glass of water and asking for a cup of tea from the waiter. Aggie got a cup as well and held the warm mug in a vice grip.

“Honey, what is it?” Keira asked gently.

Aggie swallowed, “I fucked up and caught feelings I shouldn’t have.”

“Happens, why is it a problem?”

“I mean…I’m not known for dating, am I?” Aggie asked a bit self-deprecating.

Keira hummed, “Take it she knows that and doesn’t really trust your intentions?”

Aggie nodded.

“I thought we were friends. But then she got weird. And then I got weird because she got weird. And now it’s just weird. I asked her out, at the Olympics, and she shot me down.”

“At?” Keira confirmed.

Aggie nodded, not meeting her eyes.

“Plays for Chelsea?”

Aggie nodded, playing with the condensation from her water glass on the table. Keira was quiet a moment.

“Aggie, I need you to know that you’re a wonderful young woman. You deserve to be happy and if you want to date instead of just have a string of hookups this season, then you should be serious about that. I know Lucy has been all over you about cleaning up your act and being all tough love, and I’m really glad you wanted to get dinner and spend time together tonight, but honey, just spit it out so we can really talk.”

“It’s Wieke.” Aggie whispered.

Keira felt her growing mother’s instinct kick into gear. She adored the young midfielder and thought of her as her own most of the time. She’d tucked her in bed between her and Lucy more nights than she could count over the last few years: when Wieke was homesick, when she was actually sick, when she was heartbroken, when she was hurt. She’d never quite understood the relationship between Aggie and Wieke. It was an elaborate dance. Wieke had struggled with depression throughout her teenage and young adult years so far, Aggie had taken care of her a few times when she found her before Lucy or Keira did. She’d also taken care of Wieke when she had a 24 hour bug a few years back, physically carrying her to her apartment, tucking her safely into bed and caring for her. Aggie had immediately gotten sick and Wieke had taken care of her that next day.

“That makes sense actually.” Keira said softly.

Aggie’s head snapped up then, “What?”

“Baby, it’s ok. You can want to date Wieke, you don’t need to be scared about talking to me. You can tell me whatever you need, and I won’t even tell Lucy if you don’t want me to.” Keira explained as she reached over and took one of Aggie’s hands.

Aggie swallowed thickly, she wiped at her eyes, “I don’t know what to do.”

“Ok, tell me about it.” Keira encouraged.

Keira started yawning around 8:30. They’d exhausted the conversation about Wieke, finished their dinner, and were on a second kettle of after dinner tea. Aggie grinned.

“You can’t tease me; I’m literally growing a human.” Keira said noticing that Aggie was about to say something.

“That’s fair. Alright, I’ll settle the bill and take you home. I’m sure Lucy is about to start stress pacing.” Aggie said slipping out of the booth, “Midfield Magician, my arm for our journey.”

Keira laughed as Aggie opened the door to the restaurant and then the car.

“You’re a surprisingly good driver.” Keira commented as Aggie turned onto her and Lucy’s street a few minutes later.

“Keira, I don’t think I’ve ever driven more carefully in my life than I have tonight.” Aggie admitted.

Keira was still smiling softly at her as she parked in the driveway, “That’s very sweet Aggie. You should always drive carefully. You always have someone important and very loved in the car with you.”

Aggie blushed, “I hadn’t thought of it like that.”

Keira squeezed her knee, “Come on, I’m sure Lucy was watching us on find my friends and has another cup of tea waiting.”

“You sure?” Aggie asked, getting out of the car.

“Come on kiddo.”

Lucy opened the front door before they even got to it. Her eyes tracked over Keira fully once before she relaxed and turned to Aggie with a smile. Keira laughed, pushing them both into the house and leading the way to the couch where Narla lazed. And Wieke slept.

“What’s our eldest doing here?” Keira asked teasingly.

“Well, she heard that you were out for dinner and hoped that meant she could convince me of the dinner menu.”

“And?”

“She did.” Lucy grumbled.

Keira grinned, “I don’t know how we’re ever going to raise a kid when we already give the big one anything she could ever want.”

“We’re supposed to spoil them! It’s our job! Make sure they love football and give them anything in the entire world they could ever want on top of a truly inconceivable amount of love that grows each day.” Lucy defended passionately.

Aggie grinned, “You’re gonna be such a sap when they get here. You’re already wrapped around Keira’s finger; this is going to be even more and that’s insane to think it’s possible.”

“I’m not wrapped around Keira’s finger! I just adore her! She’s my wife! She’s carrying our child!” Lucy woke Wieke with her near shouted passion.

“What?” Wieke grumbled, confused, blinking and looking around the room.

“Sorry sweetheart, Lucy is just trying to argue that she isn’t wrapped around Keira’s finger and it’s just that she loves her that much.” Aggie said softly from her perch on the arm of the couch next to Wieke.

Wieke blinked a few more times thoughtfully, “Same thing, I’m going back to sleep.”

Lucy’s jaw dropped open as she sputtered trying to figure out how to say it was not the same thing, before huffing and shaking her head as Keira and Aggie both giggled at her.

“You’re cute.” Keira flirted softly.

Lucy huffed, softening immediately, “So are you.”

“Alright, I’m going to take that sickening level of cuteness as my cue to go. Want me to wake Wieke and take her home or is she sleeping on the couch tonight?” Aggie asked.

“You can try and wake her; I drove her here after training so someone will need to pick her up in the morning if you can get her home in the first place.”

Aggie hummed, reaching out to softly rub at Wieke’s shoulder, getting grumbled at by the midfielder after a few moments.

“Do you want to sleep here on the couch, or do you want to sleep in your own bed with Blue?” Aggie asked softly near her ear.

Wieke frowned sleepily, “Blue, but I don’t have my car.”

“I can take you home and pick you up in the morning. Come on.” Aggie coaxed the mostly asleep woman into a sitting position, tied her shoes for her, took her bag from Lucy, and cautiously steered her into the passenger seat of her car.

“Drive safe.” Keira whispered in her ear as she slipped out the door.

Aggie felt herself blush a bit as she nodded.

“Did Wieke actually just let herself be soft around Aggie or was she too asleep to notice?” Lucy asked as Keira followed her up to their bedroom suite.

Keira hummed, “Both maybe, but Aggie is almost certainly carrying her inside. I’m not sure she knows where she is.”

“Poor kid wakes up like a mummy if she hasn’t had enough sleep.” Lucy agreed.

“I showered after training, but I feel like the hot water would get some of the tightness out of my middle back.” Keira said as Lucy changed into her pajamas next to her.

“I can rub your back for you.” Lucy offered.

Keira hummed, “Somehow that always leads to other things as well.”

Lucy grinned, “What can I say? I love having my hands on you. But I can also behave and just focus on what you want or what would give you some relief as well.”

Keira smiled, “I’m just messing with you Luce. I’m thinking both though, start with the hot water and move to you.”

“Sounds good. You want water or snack or anything before bed? I’m going to go do the double check of everything.”

“Can you bring me up the big water cup please.”

“Coming right up my love.” Lucy murmured, dropping a kiss on the shell of her ear.

Keria laughed as goosebumps rose on her arms. She shooed Lucy out of the bathroom before she undressed, knowing that otherwise she’d have an attentive audience for her shower. The warm water felt nice against her skin, she rolled out her neck, did some stretches, and just relaxed a bit. She’d had a long day. Lucy had set a fluffy oversized towel on the heating rack that was perfectly toasty when she got out. She decided to forgo clothing and just wandered into their bedroom after finishing her night routine fully naked.

Lucy, who’d been scrolling on her phone, sitting with a leg half tucked under her on the edge of the bed, dropped her phone and her jaw at the same time.

“Good god.” Lucy breathed taking her in with wide eyes.

Keira laughed, “Close your mouth before you start drooling Luce.”

“You…you’re just so beautiful. I love you so much.” Lucy murmured as she tugged Keira between her legs while she was still standing.

Keira laughed and steadied her hands on Lucy’s shoulders. Lucy rested her forehead against Keira’s chest and sighed as she dropped a kiss on her head.

“I was promised a tension relieving back massage, not to be drooled over.” Keira teased.

“I can do both love. Here, I figured we may as well start trying to figure this thing out.” Lucy said barely putting a bit of space between them to point out the pregnancy pillow.

“I’ve got a few more weeks, but yeah, may as well start figuring out what’s comfortable before nothing is.” Keira agreed climbing on their bed and adjusting the pillow so she was laying on it.

Keira shuffled a few times then sighed, “Ok, actually this is fantastic. It holds my hips at just the right angle.”

Lucy hummed distractedly as she was treated to the full view of naked Keira. She readjusted so she was sitting next to her, keeping her own knees protected, and reached over her to grab the lotion to make the glide of her hands easier.

“Just tell me if you want more focus anywhere.” Lucy told her gently.

Keira sighed after a few minutes. Lucy had focused in on the sides of her hips and her lower back. She hadn’t even realized she was carrying any tightness there. She moved to the middle of her back and carefully dug her thumbs along the lines of the muscles there causing Keira to groan as they released their tension. Keira was nearly asleep, her body felt loose and relaxed under Lucy’s skillful hands.

“Do you want to sleep like this or readjust?” Lucy asked softly noticing how close to sleep Keira seemed.

“On you.” Keira mumbled as she pushed up to her knees and shoved the big pillow away before making grabby hands at Lucy.

Lucy flicked out the bedside lamp and lay on her back, allowing Keira to drape herself over her. Keira pushed up and kissed her softly on the lips before settling comfortably on her human pillow. Lucy stroked the tops of her shoulders and rubbed her head as she fully transitioned into sleep.

The next morning Keira woke first, slowly registering the soft light coming through the window. Lucy was warm and soft under her, her steady heartbeat against her ear, her hands slung low across her back holding Keira to her. She relished morning moments like these. Lucy was moving the second her eyes opened in the morning it seemed most days, so Keira loved waking up just before her and having time to just bask in her arms. She tucked her chin down just enough to press a soft kiss to the swell of Lucy’s chest. One of her hands was curled under Lucy’s back, the other just barely tucked under her shoulder, she wiggled that one free, using it to stroke up and down Lucy’s arms and across her collarbone.

She felt more than heard the soft shift in Lucy’s breathing as she woke up. These types of mornings had the added benefit of Keira touching Lucy like this held Lucy still in her arms. It was like her brain came on line and just told her to stay instead of immediately jumbling with all the things it normally held. Lucy hummed a few moments later, just enough to let Keira know that she was conscious. Keira kissed her chest again, moving just enough to pepper kisses over her collarbone and down to the top of the swell of her chest. One of Lucy’s hands pressed into her lower back softly, encouraging her. Keira smiled against her chest, shifting again to access a broader expanse, slowly covering her in soft kisses. She trailed a line up to Lucy’s ear and whispered that she loved her before softly leaving kissing all over her face before paying her lips any attention.

Lucy sighed into her mouth the second Keira’s lips touched hers. It was a lazy soft kiss that went on a long while, just kissing, not really moving to anything further, just spending time together like that. Lucy’s hands started trailing up and down her back then. Keira smiled and shifted to rest her head on Lucy’s chest again. Her hand tracing Lucy’s side teasingly. Lucy’s breath caught and Keira shifted further down her body, pressing kisses all over her stomach and the soft lines of her abs. Lucy caught her teasing hand in hers, interlacing their fingers lightly.

Keira kissed a line up her sternum before landing on her lips, clear intent and questioning in them this time. Lucy shivered, opening her mouth for Keira, fully content and wanting whatever her love had planned for their lazy morning in bed together. Keira smiled, pressing one last soft kiss to her lips before moving down her body with purpose. Lucy sighed, then groaned as Keira finally stopped along her breasts. She nosed at Lucy’s already sensitive nipples, making her wait just a bit longer before she flicked her tongue out and pulled her into her mouth earning a proper moan out of her wife. Lucy’s hips shifted against her and Keira pulled away from them, giving her nowhere to find friction or pressure. Lucy whined at that. Keira grazed her teeth across her then getting a stuttered gasp and moan.

“Kei.” She gasped.

Keira hummed and Lucy’s fingers tightened in the base of her loose ponytail. Keira switched sides then, but not before blowing a soft breath of cold air over the nipple she’d just released. Lucy’s hips twitched below her.

Slowly Keira moved lower. She tapped Lucy on the hip and tugged at the fabric of her pajama shorts. Lucy lifted her hips and shoved at them almost comically fast. Keira tugged them off the rest of the way and positioned herself fully between Lucy’s legs. She looked up to find Lucy staring down at her, her chest flushed, breathing erratic, and pupils blown wide.

“Love you.” Keira murmured as she kissed the insides of her thighs, already a mess from the morning’s affections.

Keira lightly licked through her, Lucy’s hips bucked up and Keira pulled back, readjusted to throw an arm over her hips to hold her in place. Lucy choaked a moan, fighting to keep her hips steady. Keira smiled, focusing her tongue just around where Lucy wanted her the most, drawing out delightful sounds from her. Keira backed off when she could tell Lucy was starting to teeter on the edge, earning a whine. She changed her focus until Lucy relaxed a bit before starting again, Lucy nearly panting above her. She let her have it this time though, not wanting the love to be overshadowed by teasing.

Lucy was left gasping, her full body trembled and shook apart around Keira who kept her movements steady and gentle, so she didn’t get overstimulated. Lucy whined, alerting her that she could coax a second one out of her. Lucy was shaking apart in no time, squeezing the hand of Keira’s she was holding, her feet scrambling against their sheets as her toes curled at the force. She pulled Keira back up her body shakily and tucked her under her chin, holding her just tightly enough to cocoon her. Keira smiled against her neck, pressing soft kisses where she could. She could taste the sheen of sweat on Lucy’s neck from the exertion.

“I love you.” Lucy finally whispered, kissing the top of her head.

Keira hummed contentedly, “I love you too.”

“Want to take a bath with me?” Lucy asked quietly.

“I’d love to.”

Lucy hummed, not moving just yet. Keira pushed up, moving off of her.

“I’ll get it started; you stay here.” Keira told her, holding her down with a soft kiss.

Lucy did as she was asked. Keira came and took her by the hand, guided her out of bed carefully, and led her into their ensuite. Their almost comically large tub was covered in a top layer of lavender and eucalyptus smelling bubbles. Lucy smiled softly, slipped away to use the toilet, and then climbed into the bath behind Keira. They relaxed in the soft morning and took turns sipping from the same massive water bottle that still had ice in it from the night before. As the bubbles subsided and the water slowly began cooling Lucy traced her hands up and down Keira’s torso, skimming over the top of her pubic bone lightly.

Keira hummed. Lucy dipped her fingers a bit more intentionally. Keira tucked her head against her neck, breathing already ragged. Lucy pressed a kiss to her forehead as her fingers made soft teasing circles. Keira sighed, easing into the feeling, her breathing stuttered as Lucy’s skillful fingers became more focused. She pressed her lips together, noise escaping from the back of her throat as Lucy led her over the edge without even teasing her. She sighed.

“I could use a nap I think after all of this.”

She felt Lucy’s laugh all over her from how melded together their bodies were.

“How about you relax on the couch while I make us some brunch and then we can cuddle together and maybe take a little nap.”

“Perfect.” Keira agreed.

Lucy tugged her into the shower, rinsing off to ensure they didn’t feel residual bubbles as the day wore on.

Chapter Text

“What are you reading?” Keira asked softly an hour later as she played with Lucy’s fingers from her vantage point sprawled out on her lap.

“Week 15. I’m reading that our baby is getting some solid bones this week.”

“Oh?”

Lucy hummed, “You’re officially week 15 today. Their ears and eyes are moving into place and if you were to get an x-ray we’d be able to see some of their tiny bones.”

“That’s neat.”

“Everything about this is amazing. You’re amazing.”

A few days later, Keira caught Lucy staring at her when she was changing in the locker room at the Chealsea training grounds.

“Luce, what are you doing?” Millie asked, chucking a shirt at her.

“No, no I’m not staring like that!” Lucy defended.

Millie raised her eyebrows, clearly disbelieving. Lucy opened her mouth, then grimaced. She looked at Keira apologetically, who’d paused with her bra halfway on to stare at her wife in surprise.

“Uh then like what mate?” Mille asked.

Lucy scratched at the back of her head blushing, “There’s just a clear bump now and I can’t help but look.”

Millie yanked around then to look closer at Keira as did the entire locker room. Wieke gasped excitedly.

“They’re really in there!” Wieke cooed.

“That’s so amazing.” Hannah said thickly.

Sjo laughed softly, tugging the keeper into her shoulder so she could feel her feelings slightly tucked away from everyone.

“Honestly the only person who might be more absolutely in love with their partner in this moment might be Hannah if she ever has kids. Poor thing can’t even witness without bursting into tears from them.” Erin teased as she poked at the keeper, getting a glare from Sjo.

Guro was smiling, “It’s an amazing process to watch. I didn’t know I could love my partner more and then everyday I woke up and proved myself wrong again.”

Lucy nodded in clear agreement. Keira smiled, still beet red from the sudden attention on her half naked body. She’d been able to get her bra on at least before everyone turned to stare.

Chapter Text

Lucy was giving the team a pep talk. It was halftime of the first champions league game and they were tied 2-2. Chelsea still hadn’t won the champions league and she wanted it so desperately. Keira wasn’t playing for obvious reasons that were now the size of a sweat potato. She did get to sit on the bench though which made her feel a bit better and more connected to the team. Wieke leaned into her side, the young midfielder was soaked in sweat. She’d been double marked and bullied off the ball for 45 minutes. Her knees were grass stained and Aggie had a near yellow for mouthing off at the ref for not calling a clear foul on Wieke.

Keira’s mind wandered to the two young women. Aggie was now firmly trying to convince Wieke that she wasn’t going to flake on her when things got in the way and that she wasn’t a notch to add to her list. Keira and Lucy had learned that Aggie had snuck into the Netherlands camp to hang out with Wieke during the Olympics. They’d both raised a bit of a disapproving, but understanding, eyebrow at that. They’d both done it so they couldn’t say too much. Wieke explained it as a lapse in judgement at a time when nothing seemed to be going right and she just wanted to hang out with someone that wasn’t from the Netherlands. Aggie explained it as a hopeful turning point that was stuck as a stalemate because she’d decided to sleep with half the professional athletes in Europe the last three years since she won the Euro’s on England’s second trophy lift.

She and Lucy had laid in bed after finding out just how many people the kid had fallen into bed with and stared at the ceiling. The next day, Keira woke up to find Lucy’s side of the bed cold. There was a note stuck to her phone that she’d gone to talk to Aggie because she couldn’t sleep. Keira had winced and promptly checked Lucy’s location.

She’d taken the young striker to their own primary care clinic. Keira smiled at that. Later Lucy explained that she’d ensured Aggie had every test for sexually transmitted infections that England had to offer and had a full reproductive exam. Aggie had been grumpy about the invasion of privacy she was confronted with at 7am on a Tuesday. Lucy came home with a migraine. But Aggie got a full clear and an appointment with a therapist out of it so she could talk about things instead of fuck about them, as Lucy had so eloquently put it as she explained it to the younger woman.

Keira was so zoned out and in her own world that she almost dismissed it. Lucy was wrapping up her speech. Her voice was passionate and loud and so clearly Lucy. And Keira felt a flutter. She didn’t believe it at first, but then Lucy caught her up in a sweaty hug and kiss and dropped to kiss her stomach, speaking to their child and Keira knew then, she felt a flutter.

Her fingers locked around Lucy, stopping her from filling out of the locker room with the majority of the team.

“Kei?”

“Keep talking.”

“What?”

“Lucy. They like your voice. I can feel them. Keep talking.”

“You…you can feel them?” Lucy asked choking on her tears as she dropped to her knees and shoved her hands up Keira’s shirt.

Lucy started rambling then, going on about how much she loved their child and how much she loved Keira and Keira felt them again. She gasped lightly, her hand trying to find a place where she could feel them on the outside.

“I don’t know where it’s happening to put your hands.” Keira explained with her eyes shut grasping onto Lucy’s hands through her shirt.

“But you can feel them? What does it feel like?”

“Butterfly kisses.”

Lucy laughed then, thinking of the little childhood memory. The soft tickle.

“You’re so amazing.” Lucy told her in awe.

“Uh.” Sonia interrupted surprised.

It wasn’t everyday she saw two of her most professional players in a very unprofessional way.

“She can feel them fluttering.” Lucy answered the unasked question in awe.

Sonia laughed then, relaxing a bit, “Oh that’s so wonderful. Congratulations Keira. It’s a wonderful time in this process.”

Keira nodded a bit dazed.

“Unfortunately, I do need to steel Lucy back for the game.”

“Does that matter right now? My kid just responded to my voice for the first time.” Lucy sounded awestruck.

Sonia smiled, snapping a quick picture of the pair that they didn’t notice.

“I can sub you out.”

Lucy blinked back a bit then, “What?”

“If you need to stay here and live in this moment, I can sub you.” Sonia offered.

Keira ran a hand through Lucy’s dark hair, “Go Luce, we’ll talk to them all night and I’ll tell you all about it. Maybe when you win they’ll move around a bit more because they’ll know I’m excited and happy.”

Lucy kissed her stomach, then her lips, she took her hand and they walked back out together. Keira slipped back onto her comfortable chair and tucked the blanket offered to her by the physio around her. Lucy jogged back to her place in the backline. She was grinning. Positively beaming. And she played like a woman possessed. She scored a goal out of thin air in the 53^rd minute. The ball didn’t leave the opponents side of the field almost the entire second half. Lucy was everywhere. Grinning. Beaming. Her tackles were perfect. Her passes were crisp. The Chelsea team was obviously confused at first, but the word spread like wildfire on the pitch when Lucy scored.

Keira felt a flutter when I was giving the team talk. They know my voice.

The game ended 7-2 to Chelsea. The Greek team didn’t know what hit them. Some of the players stood dumbfounded after the final whistle ended their champions league campaign.

Keira’s phone lit up with a text from Leah

Leah: What the hell happened in that change room and is Lucy’s face ok?

Keira giggled: I felt a flutter when Lucy was giving the team talk.

Leah: OH MY GOD OK YEAH THAT EXPLAINS THE MADWOMAN GRIN THAT’S SO EXCITING HOW DO YOU FEEL

Keira: It literally just feels like the faintest little flutter. It’s weird enough that you notice it though.

Leah: Could Lucy feel on the outside?

Keira: Not for another two weeks at least. Maybe four.

Leah: So amazing Kei.

Georgia texted then. Chelsea were set to play Bayern Munich next in the champions league so it made sense that Georgia was watching.

Georgia: What the hell was that? Where did that come from?

Keira: I felt a flutter during Lucy’s team talk. The team had feelings about that.

Georgia: Fuck

Georgia: If that’s how they’re going to play when you hit milestones, we’re gonna have to kidnap you before our game

Keira: That would go so well. Lucy would set things on fire.

Georgia: Seriously though, that’s amazing Kei. You’re amazing.

Keira had enough time to heart the message before she realized the team was gathering around her, tugging her through the tunnel, confused staff following them. Sonia laughing as she tossed an arm around her own wife and whispered the update in her ear. Camile’s smile was one of gentle understanding as she squeezed her own wife.

“What’s it feel like?” Hannah asked thickly, already crying and the door wasn’t even shut.

“Hannah honey.” Keira laughed, “Just a little flutter. I…I don’t know how to explain it. Like if you barely touched someone with a feather, but on the inside. It’s weird. Different enough from anything I’ve felt that I noticed it.”

Sjo glared over the top of Hannah’s head at anyone who dared giggle at the emotional keeper’s response.

“Do you think Sjo has realized that if they have kids this is going to be her daily life?” Guro asked Keira quietly.

Keira stifled a laugh. Guro smiled gently over at the two younger women. Sjo eyed them suspiciously, but Guro already had a child and Keira was actively pregnant, so it seemed like they were spared from the protective glare.

Lucy beamed the rest of the day. She talked nonstop too. She narrated the whole drive home, making dinner, everything they did the rest of the night. Keira smiled softly, watching the excitement practically vibrate out of Lucy the whole time. It was sweet, but she also secretly hoped this new narration was not going to be a new constant in their lives. She loved Lucy and loved that Lucy wanted their child to know her voice as surely as they know Keira’s, but both women were a bit quieter and that was going to tire them both.

Chapter Text

Week 20

“Hey Lucy?” Keira called from their bathroom as she’d just gone to get in the shower.

“Yeah?” Lucy called coming into their bedroom and to the bathroom door.

Keira opened it, letting some of the heat from the shower mix with their cold room. She ushered Lucy in, who was immediately and completely distracted by the clear bump.

“Do my legs seem swelled to you?” Keira asked as she tapped Lucy’s arm to bring her brain back to the matter at hand.

Lucy blinked confusedly a moment, thoughts derailed, “You’re so pretty.” She said with an air of awe.

Keira laughed softly, “Thank you, but focus Luce, swelling?”

Lucy did clock into the present then, “Yeah, maybe a bit. Do your legs feel tight? Or your feet?”

“A bit.”

“Did you have enough water today? Or eat more salt than normal?” Lucy asked, thinking through their day.

“I think I had enough water, maybe that second electrolyte drink I had at the club wasn’t needed after training? I was drenched in sweat from the humidity though.” Keria replied squinting at herself in the mirror.  

“Maybe we’ll just get some more water in you and put your feet up tonight? I think I read something about swelling, I’ll see what I can find while you shower.” Lucy offered.

Keira hummed, “Or you could do it after my shower and you join me?”

Lucy’s eyes darted to Keira’s taking in the clear intent. She immediately undressed, grinning, “Don’t have to ask me twice.”

Keira laughed as Lucy ensnared her hips with her arms and brought her in for a sloppy kiss. Lucy held Keira’s back to her front in the shower, murmuring sweetly in her ear as one hand anchored her to her and the other worked expertly between Keira’s legs.

They only got out of the shower when the water started to cool and Keira really couldn’t feel her legs anymore after the third round, her chest heaving. Lucy pressed delicate kisses to her face and shoulders as she guided her out of the shower, wrapped her in a massive soft towel, and then carried her carefully out of the bathroom and lay her down on their bed. She crawled over her carefully positioning her knee so she didn’t tweak it and adjusted her weight to rest mostly on her arms or Keira’s hips and just watched her a moment before resuming the trail of kisses.

Lucy and Keira had both read that Keira’s sex drive could be elevated, especially during the second trimester, and Lucy couldn’t be anything but thrilled that it was. She loved Keira. And she loved taking care of her like this.

“What are we going to do when I can’t see you?” Keira asked as Lucy slid down her body.

Lucy glanced up, taking in the angle of the growing bump, she hummed, stroking the hand of Keira’s that she was holding.

“Find a different angle? Maybe utilize the couch? Or you could just feel instead of seeing.”

“Couch would hurt your knee.” Keira reminded her.

Lucy huffed a laugh, “You’ve had four orgasms and still have a train of thought, what am I doing wrong here?”

Keira grinned down at her face flushing a bit shyly.

“Insatiable looks good on you.” Lucy admitted.

Hours later Keira was all but melted into the mattress, boneless and satisfied. She whined when Lucy tried to let go of her, getting a soft laugh and kiss for her suffering.

“I’m going to get water and a snack love.” Lucy murmured, tracing soft patterns on Keira’s arm and side.

Keira pouted and Lucy kissed the corner of her mouth as she easily broke out of Keira’s spent grasp. Keira was half asleep when Lucy returned, climbing into their bed and then immediately climbing back out of it.

“I’m going to run us a bath for a few, sound alright?” Lucy asked softly.

Keira hummed, she shifted a bit and made a face at the cooling stickiness she was soaked in.

“And change the sheets?” Keira asked.

“Yeah.”

Lucy was back in record time, having moved their snack tray into the tray in the bathroom and turned on the water. It was still thankfully warm and Lucy dimly registered that the money they shelled out for the new hot water heater the previous year was worth it. Lucy carried Keira back into the bathroom, depositing her into the warm water. She was a bit more alert then, reaching for the glass of water and all but chugging it. Lucy kissed her temple, content that she wouldn’t fall asleep and drown in her brief absence and went to change their bed and then fill a pitcher with water to bring up for them.

“Good?” Keira asked as Lucy settled in behind her in the water.

Lucy sighed, “Perfect.” As she entwined their hands

Keira twisted in her arms to kiss the underside of her jaw lazily. They made their way through the snack tray Lucy made them, and almost the entire pitcher of water.

Keira sighed, “I’m going to have to pee an annoying number of times tonight.”

Lucy laughed, “Yeah, but me too probably so at least you won’t be waking up alone.”

“Luce?” Keira asked once they were comfortably back under the covers, relaxed and mostly asleep.

Lucy hummed, signaling she was still awake, if barely.

“I’m scared about the anatomy scan.”

“Yeah? What for?”

“I don’t know, I think it’s just a general “what if” type of thing.”

“That’s ok. I’m glad you told me. I’m nervous about it too.”

“What are you nervous about?” Keira asked.

“It’s you Kei, anything that could lead to you being hurt or upset makes me nervous, especially when there’s nothing I can do but hold your hand.”

Keira smiled then, “You love holding my hand.” She murmured.

“Of course I do, I love everything about you.” Lucy said quietly.

Keira sighed, tucking into Lucy’s secure arms, “I love you too.”

Lucy smiled as she kissed her hair, “Wake me if you want me for anything.”

Keira fell asleep easily, even if she woke up four times to pee, Lucy got up two of them for the same reason. They smiled blearily at each other in the wee hours of the morning.

Chapter Text

Week 21

They had to reschedule their anatomy scan that was normally done the 20^th week for the 21^st. Their doctor’s office had called them to let them know that they had partaken in a office catered lunch the day before and they were all effectively glued to their toilets. Lucy had thanked them hastily and let the receptionist, who sounded horrified and miserable, get on with her day. They felt bad for them, but they also couldn’t help laugh just a little bit at the same time.

Keira shifted nervously as she waited for Lucy to run back into the house and confirm they had turned off the oven from breakfast.

“All good!” Lucy grinned, sliding into the drivers seat and taking a deep breath.

“You good?” Keira asked, not quite believing her.

Lucy looked over sheepishly, “Just a bit nervous.”

Keira nodded, unable to really put words to her feelings.

“Are you two ready?” Their tech, Madison asked as they followed her down the hallway.

“Yes.” Both of them responded, tightening their grip on the other.

“Are we finding out the sex today or are we waiting? I saw in the chart you opted to not find out with the blood work at the start of the second trimester.”

“Yeah, we are.” Keira answered nervously.

“Alright, so this first part takes about 45 minutes. I can point things out to you as I see them. After that I’ll get the physician and they’ll kindof go over things again, and they’ll be able to answer any questions that may come up. After that, then you’ll get to use the restroom and then we’ll check the length of the cervix and go from there.”

“What’s that last bit?” Keira asked surprised.

“The cervical length? We just check to ensure it’s more than 3 centimeters long.”

“And if it’s not?” Lucy asked, unaware this was a thing and feeling off kilter.

“We’ll cross that if we have to. We just want to ensure we check that because you’re a professional athlete and are still exercising at a high level.” Madison explained.

Keira squeezed Lucy’s hand tightly.

“Ok.” Keira managed.

“Have you been feeling them move?” Madison asked as Keira awkwardly pushed her shirt up.

Keira flushed slightly, thinking back to the first time she felt them move, “Yeah. It’s weird, like a little butterfly kiss. I can’t wait for Luce to be able to feel them too.”

“Should be soon.” Madison smiled over at her, “Alright, hopefully it’s not too cool, ready?”

“As I’ll ever be I guess.” Keria responded, a slight wobble to her voice.

Lucy stroked her thumb with hers. She leaned in and kissed her on the temple.

“Love you.” Lucy murmured in her ear.

“Love you.” Keira murmured back, tightening her grasp in hers.

“Alright Mums, here we go.”

Keira and Lucy both snapped their eyes to the other, not used to being referred to as a mum yet.

The screen danced to life then, showing a teeny little baby on the screen. Keira inhaled sharply. Lucy felt immediate tears slid down her face, just like at every ultrasound, she just got so emotional and bursting with it.

“Here is our heartbeat, you can see the length of time between beats, looks really good, I’ll turn the sound on and you can hear them.”

“Strong.” Lucy murmured in awe.

Madison was focused, “Alright, let’s look at some details here Mums. We’ll start here with the head and brain, I’m looking at the shape and structure of the ventricles, the midline, they look really good. Their face here I’m looking for any indication of a defect like a cleft palate or lip as well as the formation of their eyes and nose. As you can see here, they’ve got this cute little nose, everything looks good so far. They’re positioned a bit away from us, so I’m going to look at their back first and then move around to their abdomen. I’m looking for closure and alignment of the spine here, just give me a few minutes to look thoroughly at each piece.” Madison was quiet for a solid five minutes. Lucy’s eyes flicked from Keira to the screen at a dizzying rate.

Eventually Madison nodded, “Spine looks like a spine, closed and aligned nicely. We’ve got two arms, two hands, I see fingers”

“So tiny.” Lucy whispered thickly.

“Two legs, two feet, tiny toes. Alright little one, let’s get a look at your organs. At this stage we’re looking at the formation of their stomach…bladder…two kidneys…their abdominal wall…all looking good. Mums your daughter is developing just as she should.”

“Daughter?” Keira squeaked.

Lucy sobbed, slamming a hand over her mouth to contain the sound as tears poured down her cheeks.

“Daughter.” Madison confirmed.

“You’re so amazing Kei.” Lucy said thickly.

Keira’s own face was wet with tears as she stared at the screen, at their tiny daughter, growing inside of her.

“She’s perfect.” Keira said softly.

“Just like her mum.” Lucy clarified.

“Alright ladies, I’m going to step out a moment and grab your physician. Are you alright a few more minutes or do you need to use the toilet now?”

“I’m alright.” Keira managed to reply, still staring at the screen.

Madison smiled at them, “This will be in your file so you can watch on repeat if you want.”

Lucy nodded, barely registering her words as the screen darkened and Madison slipped out.

“A baby girl.” Lucy whispered, “Keira, a perfect baby girl. I love you so much. I love you both so much.” She cooed.

“A little you.” Keira murmured reaching over to trace the contours of Lucy’s face.

“A little you.” Lucy mimicked her lovingly.

They barely pulled apart at the knock on the door. The conversation was quick, a confirmation of what they’d learned. Then Keira was allowed to pee, which she realized once she stood she really needed to.

“Keira do you want Lucy to stay for this part or would you like a bit of privacy?” Madison asked before leading Keira back into the room.

Keira did a bit of a confused double take, “She’s seen it all already.” She laughed.

Madison shrugged, “Sometimes people would rather not, so I like to check.”

“Thank you.” Keira replied stepping back in.

She shirked her shorts and underwear, rolling her eyes at Lucy who tracked up her legs.

“Didn’t read about this bit.” Keira grumbled.

“I know. The overview was interesting but would have been good to know.”

There was a knock on the door and Madison was back.

“Alright, just relax. I’m going to measure three times and we use the shortest measurement as the official one.”

“Why?” Lucy asked curiously.

“Well, the shortest measurement means the highest risk for preterm labor so it’s a way to be on the conservative side.”

Keira nodded, ducking her head into Lucy’s arm. She hated these bits. Lucy chattered to her about a bunch of random nothings, just letting her voice soothe her.

“Alright, I’m just going to step out and give the measurements and we’ll talk about them.” Madison told them as she covered Keira back up, “You can get dressed in the meantime.”

Their doctor knocked on the door not even three minutes later. She came in and sat down, the atmosphere a bit less relaxed than it had been twenty minutes before. Keira stiffened a bit into Lucy’s side.

“Ok, so ideally what we want to see at this stage is a length of 3 cm or more. Right now, you’re at 2.5, which is not where I want you to be, but also isn’t a reason to panic.”

Lucy stiffened. Keira’s breathing picked up.

“It’s a three step process that I want you to do for this over the next few weeks. In an ideal universe, the length will remain as it is until the start of the third trimester in a few weeks.”

Keira nodded.

“It’s alright Keira, this isn’t uncommon, however, as an athlete, it will impact you more than most. First, there is a progestorene gel that I want you to apply each night before bed that will strengthen the area. Second, you unfortunately will be changing your training plan. I can talk with the club and explain everything when I do the call later. I don’t want you doing anymore running, or any high intensity training, or lifting anything more than 10 pounds. I also don’t want you on your feet a ton. I don’t mean bedrest, not at all, but I do mean I want you to lay down a couple times a day and rest and relax. I don’t want you standing for hours, go on some nice walks, some hikes, but not hours long, not super intense ones. We want low impact, high rest. Don’t drive yourself insane, and Lucy don’t drive yourself insane trying to do everything for her, but also don’t over do it.”

“What about travel?” Keira asked quietly, the champions league was picking up and she thought she’d be fine to join the team on the road.

She hesitated, “I’d rather you not fly. If you really need to for something we can talk about that, but it would increase the risk of pre-term labor. I want to see you weekly for the next seven weeks at least to measure. If nothing changes, fantastic, if it shortens, we can do more intensive measures to mitigate the risk.”

Keira felt overwhelmed, stressed, scared, “What else?”

“While sex during pregnancy is typically perfectly fine, safe, and even encouraged, I am going to caution you two. At least for the next two weeks, I would prefer you to abstain for orgasms. I know that sounds awful, but there is some risk for orgasms to lead to further shortening. I’m not saying you two having sex up until now is the cause of this. We have no idea why this happens. We’ve done control groups where there has been no sex and there is no difference in rates of occurrence. So please do not spiral into that train of thought. This is not to say that you should not touch each other at all, cuddle, connect emotionally, you can even do some external stimulation if you can handle that not ending in an orgasm.”

“We didn’t do anything wrong?” Lucy asked smally.

“No. No Lucy. Neither of you did anything wrong. You didn’t do anything to cause this. But now we can do things to mitigate the risk now that it exists.”

Lucy nodded slowly, trying to engrave that into her brain so she could help Keira believe it later.

“I know this is a lot, and that it feels scary, but I need you to understand that it’s more common than you think.”

Keira cleared her throat then, “Can you write all that up for us? I…uh…I don’t think I’ll really remember all of it with how I feel right now.”

“Absolutely.”

It was a tense car ride home. They’d been bursting with joy at the news that their daughter was developing as she should, and now they were both scared. And Lucy wasn’t usually good at emotions like this.

Lucy parked in the driveway but didn’t shut the car off immediately.

“I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what you need. But I’m right here ok? And I’m going to work really hard to not be overbearing and overprotective. If I am, I know you’ll tell me, and I want you too. I love you.” Lucy told her, not looking over at her.

Keira felt a fresh wave of tears. A decade ago, Lucy would have shut down, not known what to say, or how to navigate out of her own head for a day or two until she could regulate her emotions a bit more manageably.

“That’s all I need Luce.” Keira said softly, reaching over to turn her face to hers, “Ok, that’s what I need, is for you to try, just like you always do. I love you.”

Lucy nodded, still not quite able to meet her eyes.

“And Luce. I need you to do one more thing?”

“Anything.” Lucy said immediately, latching onto something to do.

“I need you to tell me when it’s hard for you too. I need to know when you’re freaking out so I feel better about freaking out. I need you to talk to me. Please don’t bottle it. It won’t be good for either of us ok?”

Lucy nodded, chewing on her lip, “I’m really freaking out.”

“Me too.”

“I feel like I did something wrong.”

“Me too.”

“But she said you didn’t do anything wrong, Kei! Why do you think you did something wrong?” Lucy asked.

“Love, why do YOU think you did something wrong?”

Lucy thought a moment, her forehead crinkling as she tried to figure it out. Keira leaned in then, pressing their foreheads together.

“Luce. It’s because we’re searching for a reason that doesn’t exist. It’s not a rational fear, but we both have it because we’re scared and it’s easier to be scared of something that you can name than something that just is.” Keira murmured gently, navigating the minefield that Lucy’s mind sometimes became, knowing the steps to do so safely for both of them at long last.

“I need it to make sense. I need a why.” Lucy finally said, voice stressed.

“I know that would make it more manageable, but there isn’t one, and we can’t make one up. We’re not blaming you and we’re not blaming me.”

“Of course we’re not blaming you!” Lucy jerked back with wide eyes, “That’s not what I meant at all! You didn’t do anything. You’re perfect!”

Keira kissed her on the nose, “And you need to believe that when you look in the mirror too, ok?”

Lucy looked unmoored still. Keira hadn’t seen her like this in a long time. It reminded her of the flashes of Lucy reading to her when she was in a medically induced coma when her leg was broken a few years back. It had taken months of therapy to get Lucy back, even if they’d done really well rekindling during that, Lucy was an anxious mess, and she did a lot of very uncomfortable growing in a very small timeframe.

“Hey, can we go lay down? I think we’ve done enough for today.” Keira asked brushing a loose strand of Lucy’s bun back.

“Yes! Laying down is good!” Lucy clung to the idea immediately.

Keira smiled after her as Lucy jumped out of the car and all but ran to open her door. Tangible tasks and tangible feelings were what the Bronze-Walsh household needed. Keira didn’t know where they were going to find those things, but she was going to figure it out.

“I want to shower and get the doctors’ office smell off of me. Want to join?” Keira asked following Lucy up the stairs to their bedroom.

Lucy visibly hesitated, “I…are you sure?”

“We can’t have sex in the shower, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have you wash my hair like I know you secretly love.” Keira murmured against her neck as she hugged her.

Lucy’s breathing relaxed a bit, “Come on then, I’ll get us some comfies.”

Lucy dug out a worn soft Lyon team issued hoodie that Keira stole every chance she got for years. It was one of the softest things they owned. Lucy made a mental note to send a text to their former Barcelona teammates at the thought though, she’d roomed with Caroline once when Marta was injured and didn’t travel and Caroline had the softest things. Briefly, Lucy wondered how the secretly soft Norwegian fared when Marta was pregnant with their two daughters. She sucked in a breath then: Irene. Irene and her wife had had trouble when their son was born, they’d ended up in an emergency C-section a few weeks before he was actually due.

She heard the shower start as she thumbed open the Spanish woman’s contact information.

Lucy: Hi Irene, I hope you are well. We just had Keira’s anatomy scan, and our daughter is developing perfectly! Daughter! Don’t spread that word just yet though. I’m wondering if you all had this though, we found out that Keira has a shortened cervix so she’s on a much more restricted and restful next several weeks.

Irene texted back almost instantly.

Irene: Lucy!!

Irene: A daughter!!! She will be so loved!! Congratulations Lucy, really, and to Keira as well!

Irene: This is not what we had with Mateo actually, but I do know what you’re talking about. It’s more common than you’d think. It will be alright. If you need to talk, Mum to Mum, let me know. I know how scary it is to have your love carry your love.

Lucy: Thank you. I will. We just found out today, but maybe in a few days we can call?

Irene: We will be in London playing Arsenal next week, I can come by then, and if you want, I can bring Caro, she gets it too.

Lucy felt something in her chest ease. She’d been talking with her friends of course, but she was the first to have a child. Jordan, Stani, and Demi were all childless still at least. Irene was right, she and Caro had been here before.

Lucy: Please. And if Lucia or Marta come to support the team, maybe bring them as well?

Irene: If Keira wants them too, they’re both coming.

Lucy: I’ll talk to her.

Lucy: Thank you Irene, miss you

Irene: Miss you too, now go cuddle your wife and talk to your daughter.

Lucy’s vision blurred.

Daughter.

In all the fear that came with today, that’s what she wanted to feel.

The feeling that spread through her whole body at the knowledge that they were having a daughter.

She slipped into the shower with Keira a few moments later, wrapping the smaller woman into her arms, splaying her hands out over where their daughter was safely developing.

“A baby girl, Kei.” Lucy whispered thickly.

Keira laughed then, which immediately turned into a sob, “A baby girl. And she’s perfect.”

“I love you so much.” Lucy sobbed, hugging her under the warm spray.

It was a tiring few days. They hadn’t told anyone the date of their scan so they could have time alone with anything they needed to know.

Keira had been tense at the idea of talking to Marta and Lucia at first, a bit hurt at the initial idea that Lucy didn’t think Leah and Georgia were enough in this, but a few hours later she came downstairs to Lucy with her noise cancelling headphones on mopping the floor and leaned in the doorway. Lucy didn’t notice her at first, fully focused on the task so her brain could work in the background. She startled after a few minutes, pulling the ear defenders off sheepishly.

“I’m so sorry love, did you call for me? I just needed some sound break. I could hear the lights.” Lucy told her sheepishly.

“You’re fine Luce, I just came down to tell you that I think it would be a good idea to spend some time with Marta and Lucia. I know I didn’t react the best earlier, but that wasn’t about you, ok? It was just a big emotion for me to deal with that I didn’t know I had.” Keira told her gently.

Lucy nodded carefully. She chewed her lip. Keira made a mental note of the wrap on a few fingers, an indication that she’d picked at them too much.

“I do want to go to Leah’s tonight though.” Keira told her.

Lucy gave her a fearful and panicked expression, confusing her a moment.

“Oh! No! I’m sorry! Not to stay! I’m not leaving for the night. We don’t do that anymore and I’m not starting today.” Keira soothed.

Lucy stared at her with wide eyes, “I’m sorry, that was poor wording. What I meant to say, is that Leah invited us for dinner tonight so we could tell her about the scan. I want her to know she’s got a goddaughter on the way in person.”

Lucy took a few measured breaths, flexing her fingers as she did, and Keira waited for her to finish her system check. Keira stepped closer, lightly taking hold of her hips.

“That was poor wording on my part Luce. I’m not upset with you. I’m not going anywhere without you. I’m sorry I scared you.”

Lucy blinked rapidly, “I’m scared all the time.”

“What are you scared of Luce?” Keira asked softly.

Lucy’s lip trembled then, and she looked away.

“That I won’t be enough. That I’ll have a hard time connecting with her and she’ll resent me.” Lucy admitted.

Keira’s heart broke for the woman she held gently in her arms. She squeezed her hips.

“Come with me.” Keira murmured softly.

“I need to wash my hands.”

“Ok, then you’re coming with me though.” Keira allowed.

Lucy scrubbed her hands from where she’d been using chemicals to clean the floors and then took Keira’s warm, outstretched hand and followed her to the couch where Keira lay back on a few couch pillows. Keira pulled her down then, settling her against the back of the couch and curling her around her growing stomach, tucking their daughter between them. She took the arm the wasn’t tucked under her back as Lucy encircled her and slid it up her shirt, onto her stomach.

“You are so much more than enough Lucy.” Keira started softly, “So much more. I hear you some nights. If I can’t quite get comfortable, or if I keep needing to pee, I hear you talking to her. I hear you murmur in Portuguese, French, Spanish, English, and even Catalan. I hear you tell her how much you adore her, how much you adore me, and how much she’ll adore me. Lucy, you are so much more than enough for me, and you’ll be so much more than enough for her too. All she needs is for you to love her and try to understand her, and you will, you already are. You’ve read so many books and articles and blogs about how she is growing, and you’ll read so many more as she grows up. You’re already connected to her. She is yours, Lucy. She is your baby girl. And she loves you. She loves hearing your voice. She flutters around when you talk, especially when you’re excited about something. She knows when you’re talking to her. I can’t wait until you can feel her on the outside because she’s amazing and she loves you Luce. And she will never question if you love her. You’re her mum Lucy, her mum! You’re enough. You’re so much more than enough. You always have been.”

Lucy was sobbing then, her face buried in the side of Keira’s sweatshirt, pressed to their daughter through Keira. Keira who didn’t shy away from the whirlwind of Lucy’s brain anymore, Keira who didn’t even roll up her sleeves and try to fix it, Keira who held her, who told her exactly what she needed to hear even if she didn’t know that’s what it was, Keira who was growing their daughter, Keira who loved her, almost as much as Lucy loved Keira.

Lucy kissed Keira’s side then, peppering kisses as close to their daughter as she could get as she stilled her sobs. Keira stroked her softly. Lucy settled finally, curling around their daughter as best she could, resting her ear to her. Keira held her as she fell asleep, snapping a picture of Lucy curled around her, knowing immediately it was going to be one of her all time favorites.

Lucy blinked awake an hour later, her throat sore and eyes burning from the tears she’d cried. Keira was playing with her hair, scratching dully at her scalp, soothing her.

“What time do we need to be at Leah’s?” Lucy asked a while later from the safety of Keira’s arms.

Keira hummed, “Around 7. We can reschedule Luce.”

“No, I want you to have her as much as you can, and I want to see her reaction to a baby girl.”

“Alright, but if you change your mind, we’ll come home, ok?”

“Love you.” Lucy murmured instead.

“Love you Luce, more than you could ever imagine.” Keira replied evenly.

Lucy swallowed a wave of affection, barely managing to resist squeezing her from the cuteness aggression.

Hours later a buzzing Leah wrenched the door open excitedly. Alessia laughed behind her.

“Lee, did you need to sprint?” The younger woman teased appearing at the door to hug Lucy and Keira gently.

Leah pouted over at Alessia, who grinned brightly at her.

“She’s good for you Lee.” Lucy told her friend softly.

Leah blushed, nodding as they made it further into the house.

“Lessi cooked, she wouldn’t let me near the food lest I burn or undercook it.” Leah explained diplomatically as she nodded to the spread she carefully carried to the dinning room table.

“The formal table? Leah we would have dressed nicer!” Keira exclaimed teasingly.

“Enough of that, you are dressed perfect. How’s my godchild?” Leah asked with thinly veiled excitement.

Keira smiled over at Lucy before turning to Alessia, “Lessi, do you need Leah to step away from your gorgeous meal for this?”

“Perhaps the livingroom?”

“Rude.” Leah grumbled ushering them all to the living room, perching on the edge of the couch expectantly.

“Your goddaughter is developing just as she should.” Keira announced.

Leah burst into tears, “A BABY GIRL!”

“A baby girl.” Keira confirmed as she accepted the hug Leah pulled her into.

“I mean I would have reacted just the same for a godson, but a goddaughter! A baby girl! Oh, she’s so loved, so so loved. And so are you Kei, so amazing.” Leah cried rocking her friend in her arms.  

“Love you too Leah.” Keira replied, resting her chin on Leah’s shoulder as Leah clung to her.

“Congrats Keira, truly, so happy for you. And you Lucy, how do you feel.” Alessia told them thickly as she led them back to the dinning room.

“A baby girl.” Lucy cooed, unable still, to form more words about that.

“A future lioness!” Leah beamed.

Keira laughed, “Maybe, if she isn’t sick of football.”

“Course not, she’ll love it. I got her an Arsenal baby socks set the other day. Lessi wouldn’t let me get the whole store though.”

“Thanks Less.” Lucy grinned.

They made their way through the dinner easily. They were all long time friends. And when Alessia and Leah started dating just before Leah tore her ACL, they’d tucked Alessia right into their group. She was the youngest, and by far if you looked at the distance in years between Alessia and Lucy, but that made it even easier for Lucy to adore her.

Leah made them all an after dinner tea as they settled onto the couch.

“So Keira,” Alessia began, “How are you doing? I know we just spent the whole dinner cooing over your baby girl, but how are you?”

Keira blinked rapidly, “Lessi you’re such a sweetheart.” She told her warmly.

Alessia blushed as Leah looked extra head over heels in love with her.

Keira settled back into Leah’s shoulder, Lucy having taken her usual that armchair put her knees up at the best angle. She explained all of it from the safety of her best friends arm around her. Alessia listened intently, asking careful questions, providing meaningful affections to both Keira and Lucy.

“That’s… I didn’t even know that was a thing.” Alessia admitted with a furrowed brow.

“Us either really.” Lucy admitted.

“So it’s not bed rest for a normal person, but it is for a footballer.” Leah summarized.

Keira snorted, “Pretty much.”

“I’m sorry Kei, that’s got to be a bit scary. Also, no sex? With how high a libido you’ve had the last few weeks? That sucks mate.” Leah shook her head.

Keira squeaked a protest of that information as Alessia burst into nervous giggles.

“So that’s really a thing then?” Alessia asked bashfully.

“Being horny while pregnant?” Lucy asked.

Alessia nodded.

“Oh yeah. It’s a thing.” Lucy grinned as Keira groaned into Leah’s shoulder.

“And we can’t do anything about it now.” Keira pouted.

“Nightmare. Well, at least you’ve got the best seats in the house at Chelsea games. Even if it’s the wrong side of London.” Leah noted.

Keira rolled her eyes at her best friend, “And Arsenal if I ask nicely, yeah?”

“Only if you wear an Arsenal hoodie.” Leah quipped.

“I’ll wear Less’s England shirt.” Keira sassed.

“Oi!” Leah sputtered as Lucy laughed.

“Cheers Kei.” Alessia grinned.

“Not nice to gang up on me.” Leah grumbled playing it up.

“It’s my job mate, and Less’s too really.”

Alessia smiled bashfully, softening her gaze at Leah.

Chapter Text

Week 24

“Lucy wake up.” Keira shook her excitedly.

“What’s wrong?” Lucy asked snapping awake.

Keira grabbed her hand, holding it to her stomach firmly. Lucy felt it then. Her eyes went wide.

“Is…she’s…I can feel her!” Lucy sputtered.

Keira nodded, tears trailing down her cheeks.

Lucy took her face firmly in one hand and kissed her soundly before dropping down to their daughter and talking to her. She moved against Lucy’s hand which Lucy quickly replaced with her lips, kissing the movement.

“I love you baby girl.” Lucy cooed, receiving a flutter against her lips in response.

“She loves you too Luce. You were talking in your sleep. Dreaming about an old game and telling the Man City back line what to do and she started moving when you were talking.”

“She knows my voice.” Lucy said in awe, “She…you know my voice. Hi baby! Hi, it’s me! I’m your mum. You’ve got two Mum’s. You’re safely in Mummy right now, growing big and strong, and then you’ll be out here with Mummy and Mum. I love you so much already, and more everyday, just like how I love your Mummy. She’s amazing, growing you.”

Keira thanked every deity she could thank of that she’d started recording right before she woke Lucy up and captured all of that on video.

She texted Marta and Lucia the news after sending the video to Leah and Georgia and both their mums. Marta and Lucia had been a balm to the soul the last two weeks. She’d been nervous to talk to the other birth giving mothers, fearful that somehow they would blame her for something or tell her she wasn’t doing something right.

Marta had scooped her right into her arms and held her while she cried as she told them all the gritty details of the last few months. The older woman held her, rocking her in her arms. Lucia joined them, holding her tightly, telling her everything she was feeling was normal and valid. While Lucia hadn’t had the same complications when carrying Mateo, Marta actually had. She’d hummed knowingly, stroking Keira’s arm as the English woman word vomited everything at her in her thick accent full of tears. For once, Marta didn’t need any help understanding the northern accent, her soul knew.

Keira latched onto every word Marta said about her experience. She listened intently at how scared Marta had been, how she and Caro had fought to find a balance between fear and joy, how protective Caro was and what she did when she felt smothered by her wife’s protectiveness, how she all but put Caro on the plane to an away game herself when she couldn’t travel, going as far as walking the jumpy Norwegian to the steps of the jet. Lucia explained how she’d gone into labor when Irene was at an away game, how Irene had quite literally arranged trains, planes, and automobiles with the club and friends that got her off the field and to Lucia in less time than should have been possible. How scared she’d been when Mateo ended up an emergency c-section and how much she needed Irene in the months after, even if she had felt like a burden, how Irene made sure she felt loved. Each word soothed Keira. She ended up sitting between the two women at the Barca v Arsenal group match the next day.

She’d convinced a much calmer Lucy to get on the plane to Germany after she’d spent some time with Caro and Irene that night. Georgia was waiting for Lucy, team protocol out the window for the time being at the understanding of both coaching staffs.

She’d cried watching her friends’ babies be their mums’ mascots for the game. The Arsenal players had stooped to hug and high five the little ones who told them good game in excited Catalan before switching to English halfway through, Caroline and Marta’s eldest daughter murmuring in Norwegian to Frida who she knew from national team camps. Mariona scooped Mateo out of Irene’s hand and took him around to the Arsenal bench to give him a little towel with the Arsenal crest on it. She winked at Irene as Mateo bounded back over to her. Caroline and Marta’s daughter stayed safely tucked in Caroline’s arms until Alexia held out her arms for her and she went cautiously. Caroline kissed her daughter before Alexia carried her to the tactical area and handed her off to Marta behind the bench. The captain long learned that if Caro had to give the baby back she couldn’t focus on anything other than the tiny fist she pulled from its place curled in her jersey for the first twenty minutes of the game.  

Leah and Alessia slept in the guest room that night. Keira thought she’d feel smothered by the protectiveness of that request from Lucy, but instead, she rested in the quiet love of her friends, and she watched the match from the armchair, curled in Lucy’s oversized sweatshirt the next day. Leah snapped a few pictures of her and the screen, so clear that her eyes never left Lucy for more than a few seconds at a time, always flicking back to her love.

Chapter Text

Week 25

Keira sat between two physios in the technical area, tucked under a mountain of blankets in the January cold. Lucy had helped bundle her into a heat reflective parka that went down to her knees when she was sitting. It was thin and much more comfortable than her usual thick winter coat. Her skin was already stretching, and she could feel it more than she was used to. When Keira explained that issue to Lucy she’d nodded thinking and then bought a nearly 2,000 pound heat reflective parka that Keira actually loved. It was bigger than it needed to be when she didn’t have a bowling ball strapped to her front though, Lucy had merely shrugged saying they’d get her a new one next winter if she liked it.

She’d had her weekly ultrasound that morning before Lucy had to go into lockdown at the stadium. Sonia told them she didn’t care if Lucy walked onto the pitch ten minutes late to the warmups if Keira needed her. Camile merely nodding beside her in agreement.

It had been good news the last three weeks, she was still at the same cervical length. She hated everything about the measuring, but she’d coaxed the tech into doing a normal ultrasound so they could see their daughter for a few minutes every week. It was still good news today. Now they just had two more weeks until 2.5 was more acceptable as her body actually prepared correctly for the baby girl to be on the outside.

Lucy walked Keira out to her seat just before the fan gates opened. They were well aware that there were photos of Keira floating about where it was all but written in neon that she was pregnant, but they hadn’t put it on social media. They didn’t want to. Their daughter would be visible enough as a mascot in the coming years, that’s what would be public, not much else.

The Bayern Munich team came out to do their warm ups a few minutes earlier than expected, crowding around her. Georgia curled around Keira, hugging her tightly. Lucy had fully filled in their friend when she’d been in Germany for the reverse fixture the week before. The Bayern women cooed over the baby girl announcement Keira shyly provided them and promised a good game for them in the cold.

Lucy winked at Keira as the Chelsea team came out for warmups, still a bit distracted from the morning. She’d rather have been sitting next to Keira, which was a jolt to her system when she’d realized it the few minutes before. She wondered if she should speak with Sonia about that, if she was fully in the game with Keira and their daughter on the sidelines. She decided that warranted a text to Irene and Caroline before she talked to the coach, just to see if it was normal.

It was quite the game; Keira launched to her feet cheering when Lucy got the opener just 12 minutes into the game. Lucy beamed over at her, tapping her heart instead of the badge on her chest. Keira grinned, relaxing back into the game at hand. At half time she followed the team in so she could pee having been provided with copious amounts of warm tea and hot chocolate to keep the freezing cold at bay. It started sleeting when the teams went back out for the second half. The tiny ice crystals decorate the field, making the ball and the pitch a bit more slippery. Just as Keira and the physios were getting nervous about the conditions, it changed to big snowflakes. Keira tilted her head up, watching them come down in front of the cover she was tucked under.

Lucy was on the wrong end of a tackle in the 74^th minute. Keira sucked in a breath, seeing her knee hit the ground at a bad angle after being caught. Lucy stayed down and the Physios beside Keira went running to the field. Keira watched the deep heaving breathes Lucy was taking, watching every move she could in an effort to read the situation. They helped her stand after checking it over a moment. Lucy grimaced as she put pressure on it, she walked back and forth a few times, jumped on it, and nodded as she came off that she was alright to continue. Sonia shook her head, subbing on a new defender instead. Lucy tried to argue, gesturing back to the pitch, clearly arguing that she was fine. Sonia shook her head and told her she’d rather be safe with the changing conditions, they were at 3-1 Chelsea, they’d be fine without her for thirty minutes.

Lucy grumpily dropped into a seat with some of their teammates a few rows up. One of the physios wrapped her knee in ice and threw a blanket over her shoulders. Keira could see her pout without even seeing her face as the game went on. Lucy was slow getting into the locker room after the game. She hadn’t gone very far to chat with friends and teammates on the field.

“How’re your toes?” Lucy asked tossing an arm around Keira who was waiting at the tunnel.

Keira laughed, “Good actually. For a minute there I almost thought I was going to start sweating until I unzipped the coat a bit. I’ve got toe warmers in my shoes though so nice and toasty. You’ve got to be freezing though.”

Lucy hummed, “Yeah, think I’d rather shower at home so I can get warm and stay warm”

“Sure, team talk and home it is. Want me to order warm dinner we can grab on the way?”

“Sounds good, you choose, and I’ll drive.” Lucy agreed as they meandered into the locker room.

Keira climbed into the driver’s seat instead with a concerningly little fuss from Lucy about the arrangement. She drove quietly, Lucy’s hand resting on her thigh as she drove. Keira opted to order their dinner directly to the door while Lucy changed, she was holding her bodyweight just a bit too wrong for Keira to want her out for longer than necessary.

Narla greeted them excitedly at the door. Keira ushered the little dog to the backdoor and let her out so she could burn some energy.

Keira took a deep breath then followed Lucy into the bathroom. The shower was on but she was leaning onto the sinks instead, weight off her knee. She was glaring at the shower, jaw jumping. Keira shut the shower off and started the bath instead. She added soothing smells and lit a candle.

She stepped up to Lucy, cupped her face in her hands softly, Lucy met her eyes, pain swimming.

“Let’s get in the bath and relax a bit.” Keira said gently.

Lucy nodded and allowed Keira to undress her and guide her into the warm water. Keira sat down behind her. Lucy sighed as the warm water started to seep into her muscles. She relaxed back into Keira. Silently Keira scrubbed Lucy’s hair, getting the last of the grass out of it. As the water cooled, she helped Lucy out of it, bundling her in a fuzzy towel and taking her to bed, having her lean most of her weight on her than on her knee.

“I’m going to go get our dinner, alright? I’ll be right back. It just got here.” Keira murmured, she kissed her temple and made her way downstairs.

She thanked the driver, coaxed Narla to use the mat to wipe her paws, and then traipsed back up the stairs, dinner in hand, bottles of water and electrolytes tucked under her arm. She set the spread out on their bed where Lucy had remained, she didn’t comment on the redness in Lucy’s eyes.

“Here we are love. We can eat and go to bed. Anything else we can deal with tomorrow.”

“My knee hurts.” Lucy whispered, not moving toward the food.

“Yeah, I know. Does it feel different than other hurts? Like surgery hurts?” Keira asked, surprised they were talking about it.

“No. It’s just going to hurt a bit more for a few days. It doesn’t feel like scar tissue or anything really tore, just a bit of a tweak in there when I went down like that.”

“That’s good.” Keira said.

“Yeah. I just…I think it scared me more than anything. I mean what if I really hurt it? What if I couldn’t take care of you and our daughter because of it?” Lucy asked thickly.

Keira leaned her head against her, tucked under her neck, “Luce, I know you’ll be there for everything. I’m not scared of your knee hurting.”

“You’re not?” Lucy asked surprised.

That was a fight they’d exhausted in their first go around. Keira always on her about protecting her knee. She used to beg her to not get into so many tackles or involve herself in as much of the attack. She was so scared of Lucy’s body giving out, of her having to retire in her 20s. She was scared of how devastated Lucy would be. She was scared that she wouldn’t be enough for Lucy when the time came. She wasn’t scared of that anymore. She was more comfortable in herself. She knew her own worth. And she knew Lucy wouldn’t rely on just her. They had friends. They had family. They had a team of therapists and doctors to help Lucy as she got through injuries. It wasn’t as insurmountable as it had felt when she was 23 and everything felt like she had to do it alone.

Keira smiled softly, looking over at Lucy. Lucy who looked vulnerable.

“No, I’m not. Because I know it hurts. I know the end is coming because of it. And I know you’re strong and you’ll be ok. I know you’ll need a new knee, and I know me and little miss will dote on you the whole time.”

Lucy blinked rapidly, tears streaked down her cheeks, “Promise?” She asked brokenly.

Keira took her hands, put one under her shirt on their daughter, pressed her lips to the other one, “Promise.”

There was a soft movement against her hand, as if their daughter too was saying she promised.

“I love you.” Lucy murmured as she kissed the top of her head.

“I love you more.” Keira replied.

Lucy huffed a teary laugh, “Nope, I love you more.”

Keira pulled back, grinning, “Nuh uh!”

Lucy grinned then too, “I love you more every day!”

Keira hummed, “And I love you. More.” And she leaned in, kissing her fully.

Lucy shifted, then winced, “This is not an argument we will ever settle is it?”

“Nope! You feel up to food now?” Keira asked.

She smiled, “Yeah, ok, thank you.”

Chapter Text

Week 26

Lucy missed the game on Sunday as a precaution. She was on the team sheet, but Sonia told her that she wasn’t coming in unless they were down a goal and on a red card ejection. Lucy had groused about it to Keira, but Keira simply kissed her on the cheek.

“Welcome to the view from the cushy seats.” Keira told her as Lucy sat down next to her after warmups while the team lined up.

A physio took up residency at Keira’s side. She was flanked by at least one constantly whenever they were with the team. There was some talk that when the third trimester started, the team would accommodate a nurse from Keira’s and the baby girls care team with them full time. Keira had voiced hesitation, she didn’t want to take a resource from another person carrying a baby. The clinic and club had both explained that they were well staffed and able to provide that as a service to higher risk pregnancies. Keira didn’t feel like she was a higher risk. She was in peak physical condition. She felt good. Baby girl was developing perfectly. But she was a higher risk for pre-term labor. Keira had relaxed markedly once they’d passed the threshold where their daughter would be able to survive outside, with a lot of medical intervention. Each week, she developed more, each week, she was safer. Keira kept her safe. Lucy held them both.

Lucy was antsy watching the game.

Keira reached over, smoothed the back of her hand with her thumb.

“How do you do this every week?” Lucy asked as the game kicked off.

Keira hummed, “I don’t love it, but then I remember why I’m doing it, and the bigger picture makes it all better.”

Lucy smiled then, fully interlaced their fingers. Keira pulled them under their shared blanket, pressed their hands to Keira’s stomach. Their daughter was active during games. Keira hoped she’d show off today for Lucy, and she did.

Lucy stopped fidgeting, she focused on the game, held her daughter with her hand as the game went on.

Keira allowed herself a moment to look into the future. Lucy holding their daughter, bouncing her lightly in her arms as they watched a game. Lucy murmuring to her the whole time. Lucy telling their daughter all about the game, all about what was happening, Lucy just being with her daughter. It made Keira nearly burst with the love she had for her wife and her daughter. She leaned over and tucked herself into Lucy.

“She loves football.” Lucy murmured at half time as they stood at the back of the team talk.

It was the first thing Lucy had said in a while. She’d seemed lost in something the last ten minutes of the game. She’d been stroking Keira’s stomach, fingers dancing over where their daughter moved.

“What?” Wieke asked.

“Baby girl. She loves football. She flutters around the whole time y’all are out there on the pitch. She’s cheering you on.” Keira explained.

“Wait. Lucy. Lucy, you can feel her now?” Aggie asked perking up.

“Yeah, she flutters around, and I can feel her.” Lucy answered with a grin.

Hannah had been in the toilet, and she came back to a very sparky looking team.

“What’d I miss?”

“You need a bit more magic in goal?” Keira asked carefully.

It wasn’t like Keira to allow someone to touch her bump that wasn’t Lucy or one of her closest friends or close family. She’d let Wieke once, but that was mostly because Wieke was curled up in her side while they watched a movie. She had a double ear infection and was miserable so Lucy and Keira brought her over and bundled her up. They’d been filling her with soup and fruit and warm tea. Aggie had been texting the midfielder worried about her. Wieke’s head was still spinning about the striker, and she didn’t really talk about it, even with Lucy and Keira. They knew she liked Aggie, but she was scared of getting hurt by her. Keira had been holding Wieke to her, a warm compress on her shoulder that she could press her ear to as it throbbed. She’d asked if Wieke wanted to feel the baby girl moving around and she’d perked up excitedly, asking if she was moving then, Keira held her hand to her so she could feel the slightest flutter against her palm. Wieke had cooed to her in Dutch as she moved, then looked up at Keira, tears in her eyes and thanked her for letting her feel her move, telling her how amazing she was for growing her.

But Hannah wasn’t having a good day. Chelsea had scored four, but two had gotten past Hannah and she was visibly frustrated about it. She’d picked up a rare for her yellow in the 43rd minute.

“Anything at this point, yeah.”

Keira motioned for her to come forward, Keira took Hannah’s hand and pressed it to her stomach. Hannah gasped a moment later as Keira smiled.

“Oh my god.” Hannah burst into tears, “Hi baby girl.” She cooed down to her.

Sjo came forward then, wrapping Hannah up in her arms, “Amazing.” Sjo murmured to them as she tugged Hannah back.

Keira turned and pulled Wieke away from the group then after nodding to Sonia to let her know.

“They’re double man marking me.” Wieke complained, “I can’t shake them. They keep tripping me up.”

Keira nodded as the midfielder vented. Then she got to work coaching her. Wieke seemed to feel a bit more settled as she went out for the second half.

“What’d you say to Hamps?” Sonia asked climbing back to sit with them for a moment as Hannah seemed to pull of miracles.

“I told her that baby girl liked football, she felt her fluttering around. So now she’s putting on a show it seems.” Keira explained.

Sonia twitched a smile over at her. She nodded and then went back to the tactical area.

Hannah was a brick wall the whole second half.

“Amazing save!” Lucy screamed as Hannah pulled off yet another seemingly impossible save.

Keira smiled as her daughter did a flip in her stomach.

“I love you.” Lucy said lightly as she carried their bags into the front room of the house.

Keira smiled, “After dinner, I was thinking we could take Narla on a little hike before it gets dark.”

Narla traipsed happily, tail wagging in front of them as they started up the trail. Keira swung their entwined hands between them, Narla’s lead loose in her other hand.

“So, Luce, next week we have time off and then it’s time for England camp. I was thinking, what if we went up North and spent a few days with our families?” Keira asked.

Lucy hummed, “That sounds good, Kei. And you’re still coming to England camp yeah?”

“Of course I am! I can’t travel to Germany for the second game, but I’ll be around for the first and then I’ll be there when you get back.”

Lucy chewed a piece of gum as she drove north the next morning. They’d only be gone four days, coming back to London and then heading to St. George’s Park for the first week of England camp. She glanced over at Keira who was already dozing against the window of the car. She had a blanket slipping down her bump, Lucy reached over, tugging it back up her so she stayed warm and comfortable.

Keira’s and Lucy’s families both stood in the front yard of Keira’s family home a few hours later as Lucy pulled in the drive. They were a bit behind their expected schedule, Keira had grumbled about needing to pee twice on their drive. Lucy merely twitched a smile over at her and pulled off each time.

“You alright?” Lucy asked softly as she parked.

“Yeah, just annoyed that I have to pee again.” Keira replied.

Lucy smiled, “Think you’ve got to give some Aunt level cuddles before you get to pee love.” She had time to say before two sets of little hands banged on the window to their car.

Keira smiled fully then, “Alright, alright, hello my little niece and nephew. How are you two?” She scooped them up in a hug, one at a time.

They went zipping around then to hug Lucy who scooped them up and swung them around tightly. Their mums were on Keira then, both pulling her into their arms. Tracy held her daughter tightly, running her hands up and down her back. She kissed her cheek, then her head, tucked her back into her arms. Keira relaxed into her, gripped her tightly.

“Hi Mum.” Keira whispered thickly, it had been a few weeks since she’d seen her, and at her heart, Keira was a homebody who loved her family and wished she could spend more time with them.

“Hi my baby, I love you.” Tracy murmured in her ear.

“I love you too.” Keira tucked her face into her mum’s shoulder further.

Tracy squeezed her one more time, before shuffling Keira into Diane’s arms.

“Oh Keira, love, it’s so good to see you.” Diane murmured hugging her warmly.

“I missed you.” Keira whispered into Diane’s shoulder.

Diane hummed softly, “How do you feel baby?”

“Good, tired, need to pee, and it’s getting harder to work around her when I put my shoes on.”

Diane laughed brightly, pulling back, but keeping her in her arms, her eyes twinkled so similarly to Lucy’s.

“Tracy and I might have done something you’ll like.”

“What’d you do Mum?” Lucy asked as she rejoined them after hugging her brother and sister, the kids still hanging off her arms.

Diane laughed at the sight of her daughter being the jungle gym, “Food!” Her nephew shouted excitedly.

“Food?” Lucy asked with a laugh.

“They’ve been making food all day. They put some of it in the freezer though which is weird.” He explained.

Keira’s eye widened then, “You’ve been making us food?”

“It’s our job to baby our babies.” Diane said with a grin.

“Just a few of your favorites. I’ve talked with the shops, and they’ve got some dry ice for us so you can take it home with you and put it in your own freezer.” Tracy grinned.

“Thank you.” Keira said softly, ducking into Diane’s shoulder.

“Anything for you baby. How is our granddaughter treating you?”

Keira giggled bashfully then, “She’s good. She has started playing a kick about with my bladder the last few days though. We should be able to start seeing her roll around in the next few weeks instead of just feeling her and I’m excited for that. She loves hearing Lucy talk, and she loves when we watch football. She’s the 12^th player out there, or at least she thinks she is with how active she gets.”

“Lucy was like that too.” Diane nodded, “Always moving about, especially when I’d just got comfortable she’d make sure I needed to pee.”

“Sorry?” Lucy grinned.

Diane rolled her eyes, “You thought the first trimester need to pee was something, just wait until someone decides your bladder is a perfect pillow and that your ribs are a snug place to nestle in, that’s what that one over there did.” Diane pointed to her youngest daughter at that.

Sarah grimaced, “Love you!” She called over to her mum.

“And I love you!” Diane replied brightly as she lead them all into the house behind Tracy.

“Keira wasn’t a walk in the garden. The second I would fall asleep she would wake up. It’s like she worked the night shift.” Tracey laughed, shaking her head at the memories, “And now my baby is having a baby.”

“Aw Mum.” Keira murmured, reaching out to hug her mum again.

“Alright, let’s not keep the food waiting any longer please. I’ve been smelling it for hours and I’m starving here.” Jorge grumbled then.

The whole family sat down then, cramming into the dining room. Keira tucked between her own Mum and Lucy’s while Lucy was trapped between their niece and nephew. Keira closed her eyes at the first bite of Diane’s lunch made with love.

The days flew by. It was a full house. Keira loved it. She’d taken these moments for granted a long time ago, especially when her and Lucy’s niece and nephew were really little. She’d been uncomfortable with the little kids around. She hadn’t known what to do with them, her role, she loved them as their aunt, but there was a part of her that feared what all it meant to be their aunt back then. They were older now, the oldest was seven, and played football for a local team and begged aunt Lucy and aunt Keira to come to practice. Keira loved it now. She was comfortable now. Solid in her role as an aunt and a daughter in law, Diane had merely rolled her eyes and reminded her that she had four daughters, and a son, and that she loved all of them as her own.

“That was good.” Lucy murmured as she crawled into their bed after a late evening drive home.

Keira hummed, “Really really good. My mum asked about coming to stay once baby girl is closer to making her grand arrival or after she does to handle all the us stuff while we handle the baby stuff. She said she and Diane both wanted to, but that it was up to us if we wanted them there or just one of them or to be on our own with baby girl.”

“What do you think about all that?” Lucy asked.

“I love our Mums.” Keira said softly, “And I love that they want to help. I think that would be really good. Part of me just wants it to be us, but the other part of me knows we’ll need the assist. And we should talk about how we want to tackle night times and feedings and diaper changes and what if she doesn’t sleep well and how to change off if she cries all night.” Keira listed off.

Lucy propped her head up on her hand, “Darlin, you won’t be lifting a finger for a while.”

Keira raised an eyebrow questioningly.

“So there is a saying, an old midwife guide, 5-5-5. Five days in the bed, five days on the bed, five days around the bed. I was hoping to convince you of more of a 7-7-rest of your life,” Lucy grinned as Keira rolled her eyes, “fine, 7-7-7. I was you to have the best chance at early healing so I want you off your feet as much as we can keep you off them. For the first 3 weeks at least I want to handle all of the night stuff, I’ll get up with her, I’ll change her, I’ll soothe her, because you need sleep to heal. If you feel good after that then we can start splitting it a bit more. What do you think?”

“I love you, you know that, right?” Keira asked softly, warmly.

“I love you too.”

Keira hummed, repositioning to be more comfortable, “Thank you for wanting to take care of me. I’m…I think that sounds ok. I don’t want to roll over and let you do everything, but at the same time, I am a little scared about a whole baby coming out of me, ya know?” She and Lucy both laughed lightly at that, “I need you to promise to let me do things though. I need to have the freedom to get up and check on her if I need to or take her and cuddle her if I wake up and not have you panic if you wake up and I’m up with her. I know you want to be protective, but I need you to not smother while you’re being protective.”

“I did a good job with your leg didn’t I?” Lucy asked carefully.

Keira brush a stand of hair behind Lucy’s ear, “You did, but you neglected yourself a lot too, and I don’t want you to do that. But I’ll be conscious and not half dead for this so I’m hoping it won’t be rough on you like that was.”

Lucy nodded, “We just have to keep talking and keep listening then?”

Keira smiled, “I’m glad we finally figured out how to do that.”

“I’d figure out how to land on the moon for you.” Lucy replied.

Keira laughed, “I don’t need the moon Luce, just need you and her and Narla.”

Lucy kissed her then, softly on the lips. Keira smiled against her, pressing closer, kissing her more. Lucy hummed, letting Keira press her on her back and lead for a while. Keira nipped her lip, getting her to gasp, and Keira took her advantage.

“What are you doing?” Lucy murmured.

“Making out with my wife, you have a problem with that?” Keira asked raising an eyebrow.

Lucy grinned, “Not at all.”

“Good.” Keira whispered, reattaching her lips to Lucy’s.

Keira shifted, kissing down the column of her neck, nipping and then soothing, coaxing out little noises from Lucy. Keira slid her hand lower, pushing it up Lucy’s shirt. Lucy gasped into her mouth as Keira tweaked a nipple between her fingers. Keira pushed Lucy’s shirt up and off her, readjusting to put her mouth on her then. Lucy groaned, putty in her hands.

“We don’t have to.” Lucy panted.

Keira pulled back, “Do you not want me to?”

“That is not what I said.” Lucy replied, “I just…I can’t reciprocate for you, we don’t have to…”

Keira shook her head, pressing a single finger to her lips.

“I’ve been thinking about it. I know we haven’t since that day… And I know you said you didn’t want to unless I could too, but I think…I get something out of making you feel good and I want that connection with you.” She explained.

Lucy’s pupils were blown wide, “Don’t have to give me a whole dissertation.”

Keira laughed, grinned, and then kissed Lucy again, working her way down her jaw, down her neck, back to her chest. Lucy shifted under her, already feeling the effects in her body.

“Not going to take much.” Lucy panted as Keira’s hand slid down her sleep shorts.

Keira shifted, laying mostly beside Lucy, fingers slipping into low circles, lips pressing their way up and down her neck and shoulder. She felt Lucy’s body tighten and eased up, getting a choked cry of her name for her troubles. She worked her up again, sounds she missed escaping her mouth. She smiled.

“Keira.” She groaned.

“I’ve got you.” Keira murmured as she held Lucy’s hips in place as best she could, finally letting her have what she needed.

Lucy lay there, gasping, eyes blown wide, “You’re so good at that.”

Keira grinned; she waited until she was making eye contact with Lucy to remove her fingers. Lucy’s body twitched, and she moaned as Keira brought her fingers up and into her own mouth. Lucy shook her head in awe.

Keira smiled, relaxing back into the pillows, watching Lucy come back, her breathing evening out.

“I know we can’t go all the way, but is there anything you want?” Lucy asked.

Keira closed her eyes, “I just want to feel you.”

Lucy hummed, “Lay back for me?”

Keira did, sighing as Lucy pulled her own shorts off as well as all of Keira’s pajamas. Lucy gathered her up in her arms, nuzzling into her neck, and trailed soft kisses all over her. Lucy repositioned her a couple of times, ensuring she could kiss just about every inch of her.

“Feels good.” Keira murmured.

“I should have been doing this the whole time instead of just not touching you.” Lucy murmured as she kissed the surgical scar on Keira’s ankle from before they’d even met.

Keira hummed melting into the mattress and her senses became fully focused on just Lucy. When Lucy gathered her in her arms what felt like an hour later, Keira was loose and floating, Lucy pressed a few more kisses to her shoulder, nuzzling her neck.

“Night my love.” Lucy murmured.

“Night Luce.” Keira barely managed.

Lucy slid a hand around to her front, pressed to her daughter, “Night my girls.”

Lucy stayed awake, just long enough to feel Keira fully fall asleep in her arms.

Chapter Text

Between visiting their family and England camp was the 28 week appointment for Keira and their daughter.

“How are you two doing today?” Madison asked, having remained their ultrasound tech and sonographer since week 21.

“Good!” Keira replied, “We spent the week with family and we leave for England camp tomorrow. Well, half of it for me at least. I get to be around for the Manchester game but they’re leaving me behind and heading to Germany for the second game.”

Madison smiled, “Sounds like an exciting few weeks.”

“Never a dull moment.” Lucy agreed.

“Alright, how are you feeling baby-wise? Any cramping, Braxton hicks, bleeding, weird feeling of doom? Anything you’ve dismissed that now you’re thinking you maybe shouldn’t have?” Madison asked as they all sat down and Keira tugged her shirt up.

Keira snorted, “Weird feels of doom?”

“Apparently it’s a thing!” Madison defended.

“No, nothing like that. She flutters around. She really likes practicing her free kicks on my bladder. She loves football. If you caught that last home game of ours Sunday where Luce didn’t play, the brick wall in the second half was because of some baby girl magic.” Keira explained happily.

Madison hummed, “Here we are.”

Their daughter kicked on the screen, and Keira rolled her eyes, “Is that my bladder?”

Madison snorted, “Yeah actually, I think that is.”

“Hey there, quit being mean to Mummy.” Lucy laughed as she did it again.

“She’s perfect.” Keira murmured watching her lovingly.

“Alright, ready for the less fun bit of this appointment?” Madison asked.

Keira sighed, “If we must.”

Madison stood to give her a moment to change and get back under the dressing.

“You know at this point, you really don’t need to leave unless you are required to or feel more comfortable doing so for your own reasons. You’ve seen it all. More than once.” Keira told her.

“You sure?” Madison paused.

“Gets it over with faster doesn’t it?”

Madison laughed and rolled her eyes, “Fair enough.”

Keira shimmied out of her sweats while Madison was turned away getting the next tool ready.

“Alright, just breath, yeah? Lucy?”

Lucy had already tucked Keira into her chest. Lucy nodded, arms protectively tightening around Keira.

“Alright, I’ll go grab Meach and be right back. Go ahead and get dressed again Keira.” Madison said lightly.

“Thanks.” Lucy told her quietly.

Madison nodded as she slipped out the door.

Five minutes later Dr. Meachum knocked lightly. She came in with a smile on her face and sat crisscrossed on her chair.

“Welcome to the third trimester Mums! How’re we feeling Keira?”

Keira smiled, “Really good.”

They chatted a while.

“Well you two, I’m really pleased with how everything is progressing. I’d like you to continue the pelvic rest and the progesterone for now. We can re-evaluate in week 34, but it’s most likely that we’ll have you continue to week 37.”

“Wait, we’ll stop it before?” Lucy asked.

Meach nodded, “Yes, sometime between week 34 and 37. That will give Keira’s body time to prepare for labor. That timeframe is when we want the cervix to shorten and thin out in preparation for the grand reveal.”

“Um…” Keira paused, flushing pink, “When we stop that…are there…other things we can resume?”

Meach regarded her a moment, “Ah, you mean sexually?”

Keira nodded.

“As long as there are no other potentials for complications, it would be fine to resume those activities if you wanted. It could still trigger labor, but at the same time, it’s your body actually responding correctly, she’d be developed and ready to come meet you on the outside by week 37 for sure. Before week 37, she’d spend a bit of time in the NICU just to ensure some stability and last bits of development. What I’d be most concerned with before 37 weeks is the last bits of lung development, so she’d likely get a little supplemental oxygen.”

“But 37 on she’d be fine to come home with us?”

“As long as there were no complications or concerns that arise between now and then or during delivery, then yes she would.” Meach explained.

“Alright, thank you.” Keira said with a nod.

Lucy smirked, nodding at Meach as well.

Meach smiled, “Alright, then if you don’t have further questions, I think you’re good to go. I’m fine with waiting two weeks to see you next if you are.”

“End of two weeks when Lucy gets back from Germany?”

Meach checked the calendar, “That should be fine, and as always, anything feels weird, give us a call or come in if your close by, anything feels bad or extra weird, straight to hospital and call me on the emergency line and the on-call nurse will get me to you. You’re doing great Keira. Truly. And Lucy, have a good camp, and please, my own wife nearly had a fit when you had your knee taken out from under you so, please take care.”

Lucy grinned, “No promises, but yes I will do my best. Thanks.”

Meach shook both their hands and walked them to the end of the private hall they used.

“We get to hold our baby girl in 12 weeks or less.” Keira said as they got in the car.

Lucy grinned, “I love you Kei. You’ve been amazing these last six months. Well, you’ve been amazing forever, but you’ve been especially amazing the last few months. You…I just. I love you so much it hurts.”

Keira watched her with heart eyes full of a adoration, “I love you. You’ve been amazing. I appreciate everything you’ve done and everything you will.”

Lucy surged over the console and captured her in a sloppy kiss which Keira returned with enthusiasm.

“Let’s go home and pack.” Keira murmured pulling back as she swiped her thumb over Lucy’s lips, “We have a whole house to make out in, we needn’t bruise your side to do so in the car.”

Lucy laughed and shrugged. She took a breath to steady herself and then turned the car towards their home.