I woke up in Caitlin's arms, with the light sheets barely staying on our bodies as the Australian sun shone through the windows. Caitlin shuffled, pulling me along with her, making me laugh at her as I press a light kiss to her check.

"Come on, wake up." I tell her as I try to pull away from her, but she only pulls me closer while groaning. "Excuse me, Caitlin." I tap her forhead. "I've got things to do."

"What things could you possibly have to do in Australia, halfway across the world from where you actually live." Cait asks me as she finally opens her eyes and moves some hair out of my face.

"A lot of things actually." I say as I hold her face in my hand, running my thumb along her jaw. "Steph found out I'm here so she asked if we could all go out with some of the other girls."

"Who did she say?" Caitlin asks me.

"Me, you, her of course, Sam, Hayley, Alanna and Mackenzie." I say and Caitlin nods lightly before hiding her face in my neck.

"Halfway across the world and Steph still manages to organise something with us." Cait huffs. "I wanted you all to myself." She says against my skin and I laugh at her.

"How about tomorrow you can take me wherever you want."

"Even if it's with Peach?" She asks me and I let out a playful sigh.

"Deal." I say.

"Deal." She smiles back at me.

When we finally made it to the café Steph told us to meet the girls at, Sam and Macca wasted no time teasing us. "Well, well, look who finally decided to show up," Macca calls out with a smirk, raising her coffee cup toward us.

"Blame her," Caitlin points at me as she laughs.

I roll my eyes, but the smile never leaves my face. "Traffic," I quip back, sliding into the seat next to Steph, who squeezes my hand under the table, like she always does when she wants to say a silent hello.

"So, Elena," Sam begins with a grin, "what do you think of Australia so far?"

I shrug, leaning back as I glance at Caitlin, who's now chatting animatedly with Alanna. "It's beautiful. I enjoyed being here with the Lionesses but Cait's been able to show me a bit more. Though I have to say, I'm still a cat person. Not sure how I feel about all these dogs."

Laughter ripples around the table, and I can't help but join in. As the conversation flows around me, Steph nudges me gently under the table. "You okay?"

I turn to her, meeting her familiar gaze. "Yeah. It's just... it's been a whirlwind."

Steph smiles softly. "You've been playing out of your mind lately. I don't know whether to be proud or annoyed that you outplayed us in the semis."

I chuckle. "I wasn't sure if you were going to congratulate me or kick me when the final whistle blew."

She laughs, shaking her head. "Proud. Always proud." She pulls me into a side hug, squeezing me tight and I giggle as I wrap my arms around her waist. "It's really good to properly see you again. I've had about enough of Beth."

I laugh as we pull away. "Is she recovering well?" I ask.

"Yeah, she's back to being insufferable Beth again, but I think Jonas said it's best she starts playing again around November-December time."

"That's not too bad." I think. "I can't lie, I definetly missed her while at London City. I had no one chasing me unnecessarily or bugging me every two minutes. It was too peaceful."

"Don't worry she's missed annoying you too." Steph says with a light chuckle.

After breakfast, the girls took me on a tour of the area where Caitlin grew up. We drove around, stopping at a few of her old haunts—places that held little pieces of her childhood. Cait came alive, her energy infectious as she shared stories from her youth. I loved watching her in her element, surrounded by people who knew her best.

Eventually, we ended up at a beach Cait had mentioned a few times, one her mum and Jamie used to take her to all the time. The sun was beginning to dip lower in the sky, casting a soft glow over the sand as the girls started setting up a volleyball net.

I stayed back, sinking onto a towel and watching them with a small smile on my face. My thoughts wandered—thinking about how surreal it felt to be here in Australia, with Cait and her friends. The World Cup, the looming pre-season, all of it swirled in my head, but I wanted to savor this moment before diving back into that whirlwind.

"Hey, mind if I join you?" Sam's voice pulls me from my thoughts.

"Of course," I reply, smiling as she drops down onto the sand beside me, brushing her hands off on her shorts.

For a moment, we just sit there in comfortable silence, watching the others bicker over teams for the volleyball match. Then, Sam turns toward me with a smirk. "So, what do you think of the Aussie life? Can't say I'm surprised you're handling it well, you're practically family now."

I chuckle softly, glancing over at Caitlin, who's laughing with Macca while setting up the net. "Yeah, it's growing on me," I admit, shrugging. "I think... I didn't expect to feel this comfortable here. It's been nice to be around Caitlin's family and friends, you know?"

Sam nod, her gaze still fixed on the group. "You're good for her, you know that?"

I blink, caught off guard by her sincerity. "What do you mean?"

Sam grins, bumping my shoulder lightly. "She's happy, that's all. I can see it. Even in the middle of a crazy World Cup, there was something different about her. She's got that look when you're around."

I smile, warmth blooming in my chest at her words. "Yeah, well, I think I'm the lucky one. Cait's pretty incredible."

Sam lets out a small laugh. "That she is. But it goes both ways, mate. You make her better, too."

I nod, letting the words sink in as we both turn back to watch the girls still bickering about the teams. After a beat, I glance at Sam again, a thought crossing my mind. "How's Kristie, by the way? I haven't caught up with her in a while."

At the mention of her name, Sam's face softens instantly, a smile tugging at her lips. "She's good. Busy, obviously, but we've managed to make it work. She's been really supportive through everything."

I can't help but grin at the way Sam's entire demeanor changed when talking about Kristie. "You two seem solid. I'm really happy for you, Sam."

"Thanks, Elena." Sam's voice was is warm, genuine. She looks at me with a twinkle in her eye. "Feels like you and Cait are headed in the same direction, you know?"

I blush, suddenly feeling a little exposed. "Maybe. It's... still a little surreal sometimes."

Before Sam can respond, Caitlin's voice rings out from the volleyball court. "Come on, Elena! You're not getting out of this game!"

I groan playfully, earning a laugh from Sam as I get up to my feet. "Guess I've been summoned."

Sam smirks, rising with me. "Don't worry, I'll go easy on you. I'm in a good mood."

I roll my eyes, grinning. "Oh, how kind."

As we make our way over, I sidle up to next to Steph with a mischievous grin. "Remember the last time we played beach volleyball?"

Steph laughs, shaking her head. "How can I forget? Matching bruised foreheads from that collision."

We both burst into giggles as the game started, laughter filling the air as we passed the ball back and forth. There was something special about this—a reminder of how much these moments meant, of how lucky I was to have these people in my life.

After the beach, we found a local restaurant to grab dinner. The food looks good, but me being me I grab some simple food whereas the other girls enjoy themselves. What made the evening perfect was the light banter that flowed between us all. Macca and Steph, sitting across from us, kept trying to one-up each other with jokes, while Sam and Alanna debated football tactics from their last match.

Through it all, Caitlin sat beside me, her arm brushing against mine, her presence grounding me in the moment. Every so often, I'd catch her just looking at me, that soft smile on her face, and my heart would skip a beat.

"You settled in well, then." Hayley nudges me as she sits beside me and I remember our conversation back when I'd first joined Arsenal and felt out of place.

"Yeah, I had Steph helping me a lot. She's always felt weirdly like home and then when I found Cait it just got even better." I reply while Hayley smiles back at me and I can tell she's happy for me.

"So, Elena," Macca pipes up, smirking as she leans across the table. "What's the verdict on Australia?"

I grin, leaning back in my chair. "Well, it's definitely warmer than England, I'll give you that."

Hayley snorts. "You mean it's warmer than that constant rain you've got back home?"

"Yeah, but she lived in Houston for years, so she's used to it!" Alanna adds.

I shakw my head, laughing. "I've acclimatized back to English weather. Anything above 20 degrees feels like a heatwave now."

The table erupts into laughter, and when I glance at Cait again, she's already looking at me, her eyes filled with something soft and warm. I reach under the table, giving her hand a squeeze, and she squeezes back, her thumb brushing over my knuckles.

As the evening began to wind down, we all headed out, saying our goodbyes.

I hug Steph tightly, her arms wrapping around me like they always did. "See you in two weeks at Arsenal?" I ask pulling back to meet her gaze.

She nods, squeezing me once more. "Count on it."

Caitlin and I walk back to the car in comfortable silence, the night air cool against our skin. I glanc up at the stars beginning to twinkle in the darkening sky, feeling a sense of peace settle over me.

"You know," I start as we buckle up, glancing over at Caitlin, "I love this place."

She turns to me, a soft smile playing on her lips. "I'm glad."

"I didn't think I would," I admit, biting my lip as I lean back in the seat, still feeling the warmth of the day. "But being here with you and your friends... it just feels right."

Caitlin's expression shifts to one of warmth, her eyes sparkling under the dashboard light. "It's different seeing you here, too. I love sharing this part of my life with you."

I smile, my heart fluttering at her words. "I've never felt more at home, even though it's halfway across the world from London."

"Really?" Cait raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you like most about it?"

"Honestly?" I hesitate, gathering my thoughts. "I love how relaxed everything feels. It's like... everyone just enjoys life here. And the sunsets?" I gesture toward the horizon where the last remnants of daylight lingers. "They're breathtaking."

"Wait until you see one at the lake," Cait replies, her voice low and teasing. "I'll have to take you there to experience it properly."

I chuckle, shaking my head. "You know, I didn't realize how much I missed the beach until today. Watching you all play volleyball brought back so many memories."

"Good ones, I hope?" Cait ask, her tone light but her gaze serious.

"Definitely," I assure her. "Just... fun, carefree moments. I could use more of that in my life."

Cait's expression soften, and she reaches over, squeezing my hand gently. "You deserve it, you know? You've worked so hard, and you've been through so much. I want to see you happy."

Her words make my chest tighten with emotion. "You make me happy," I reply, softly, feeling vulnerable but wanting her to know the truth. "I don't know how you do it, but... I feel lighter when I'm with you."

Caitlin's gaze holds mine, her thumb brushing over my knuckles. "You're the best thing that's happened to me, Elena. I mean it." There's a sincerity in her voice that makes my heart race.

I smile, feeling a warmth spread through me. "That's a big statement."

"Yeah, well, I'm a big believer in going all in," she says, her tone playful yet earnest. "You know that about me."

"True." I laugh, my heart soaring. "I guess that's part of your charm."

She chuckles, leaning back in her seat. "I'll take that as a compliment. But really, I want you to know that you're always welcome here. You can make this place your home too, if you want."

The sincerity in her words strike a chord within me. "You mean that?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Absolutely. I want you here, not just for the next couple of weeks, but whenever you need a break from... everything." Caitlin's gaze is steady, filled with a warmth that makes my heart swell.

"I'd love that," I confess, my voice thick with emotion. "It feels good to know that I have a place here."

As we drive in comfortable silence, I feel the fatigue of the day creeping in. The warmth of Cait's hand in mine, the memories of the beach and laughter with her friends, and the soothing sound of her voice wrapps around me like a comforting blanket.

"Hey, Cait?" I murmur, my eyelids growing heavy.

"Yeah?" she replies, glancing over with a soft smile.

"Thanks for today. For everything. I really needed it."

She squeezes my hand again. "Anytime, Elena. You can always count on me."

With that, I feel my eyelids growing heavier. I lean back against the seat, allowing myself to drift into a peaceful sleep, comforted by Caitlin's presence beside me and the knowledge that I was right where I belonged.

By the time we got home, I was half-asleep in the passenger seat. Caitlin must've noticed because the next thing I knew, she was unbuckling my seatbelt and helping me out of the car.

"You're going to carry me, too?" I tease, though my voice was thick with exhaustion.

She grins, "If I have to."

With her help, I make it up the stairs and into bed. She tucks me in, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead before whispering, "Goodnight, Els. Thank you for trusting me again."

"It was hard." I fight the sleep overcoming me, "but after today I know it was worth it."

"I feel that too." Cait replies as she climbs into the bed beside me.

With her words hanging in the air, I realize how comforting it feels to have her beside me, the safety of our connection wrapping around me like a warm blanket. "Stay with me?" I murmur, my eyelids growing heavy again.

"Always," Caitlin replies, shifting to lie beside me. She tucks an arm around me, pulling me close. "Always, Elena."

As I drift back into sleep, the last thing I feel is the warmth of Caitlin beside me, the soft sound of her breathing lulling me into a peaceful slumber, comforted by the knowledge that I'm right where I belong.