As we pulled into Caitlin's driveway, a wave of emotion washed over me. The adrenaline from the final match was still fading, leaving behind an ache that settled deep in my chest. I had just said goodbye to my teammates, the Lionesses, and now here I was, stepping into Cait's world.

The moment the door opened, Jamie and Simone rushed toward me, their arms wide. I felt a rush of warmth as they embraced me tightly, their support like a soothing balm against the sting of defeat.

"Oh, Elena," Simone murmurs, her voice gentle. "We're so proud of you, sweetheart. You played so well out there."

"Thanks, Simone," I reply, my voice shaky but grateful for their kindness. Jamie squeezes me next, and I can feel her energy radiating.

"You did amazing! Seriously, you should have seen how many fans were rooting for you," she says, pulling back with a grin.

"Thanks, Jamie," I manage, still feeling the weight of loss pressing down on me.

"I'm going to make dinner for everyone," Simone announces, ushering us toward the living room. "You girls sit tight. I'll have something delicious ready in no time."

I nod, but as we move to the cozy living room, the heaviness of everything hits me all at once. The adrenaline that had kept me going throughout the match and the aftermath now fades, leaving a hollow ache in its wake. Without thinking, I sink onto the cushions of the sofa next to Caitlin, who immediately wraps her arms around me. Her embrace is warm, grounding me. I melt against her side, feeling her warmth envelope me like a shield against the world. In her arms, I find a sense of security, the kind of peace I didn't know I needed.

"Hey, you okay?" Cait asks softly, her voice filled with concern as her lips brush lightly against my temple. I nod against her shoulder, hoping to reassure her even though I'm still wrestling with the mix of emotions—grief, frustration, exhaustion. The bitter taste of losing is still fresh in my mind, but her presence takes the edge off.

Jamie flops down on the other sofa, her legs splayed out lazily as she watches us with a smirk. She rolls her eyes and feigns a dramatic gag. "Ugh, can you two be any more mushy? Seriously!" she says, pretending to gag further for effect. Her teasing is lighthearted, but it feels like a welcome distraction.

Caitlin doesn't miss a beat, her hand finding a pillow to throw at her sister. "Shut up, Jamie. You love it!" she retorts, her laughter infectious as it fills the room. I can't help but smile too, feeling a flicker of warmth in my chest, melting away some of the residual tension from the day. It's a familiar scene—the teasing, the banter, the way Cait's family just makes me feel like I belong here, even when I'm feeling like the weight of the world is on my shoulders.

Jamie grabs the pillow Cait threw at her, tossing it aside, and leans back with a grin. "Can't say you're wrong, but still, you two are disgustingly cute. Don't get too comfortable, Elena. She'll make you do all the cuddling from now on."

Caitlin gives her a mock glare. "And what's wrong with that?" she shoots back, squeezing me a little closer, her fingers tracing gentle patterns on my arm. "I'm the best cuddler."

I laugh softly, feeling my chest lighten with each passing moment. I reach for Caitlin's hand that's draped around my shoulders, intertwining our fingers, and begin drawing circles on the back of her hand with my thumb. It's a small gesture, but it brings me comfort. The steady rhythm of my fingers against her skin calms my racing thoughts, reminding me that, despite the world collapsing around me, I have this—her.

Jamie watches the two of us for a moment, her smirk softening into something more genuine. "So," she says, kicking her feet up onto the coffee table in front of her. "What have you been up to? You're not always stuck with Cait, are you?"

Caitlin scoffs playfully. "She loves being stuck with me."

I smirk but glance over at Jamie, appreciating the easygoing nature of her question. "Not much," I reply, shrugging slightly. "Just football, mostly."

Jamie raises an eyebrow. "So, what was it like playing for London City Lionesses?" she asks, her tone curious, but her casual demeanor makes it feel like a normal conversation, not one forced by politeness.

I pause for a moment, thinking back on my time there. The city, the training, the matches—all of it feels like another lifetime ago, even though it was only months. "It was... different," I begin slowly, glancing at Cait for reassurance before continuing. "The team was great, but... the environment there was so intense, you know? Constant pressure. It wasn't always easy."

Jamie nods, her expression thoughtful. "I bet. London's no joke when it comes to footy, huh?"

"Yeah, definitely," I agree, absentmindedly tracing more patterns on Caitlin's hand as I speak. "But I learned a lot. And... it helped me grow, as a player and as a person, I think." I bite my lip, trying not to let the memories of the World Cup cloud my thoughts. "But it was hard being away from... all of this. From people who make it feel like home."

Caitlin presses a soft kiss against the side of my head in response, silently supporting me. "Well, you're back now," she murmurs. "And we've got you, always."

Her words make my chest tighten, but in a good way. The warmth of her family, their acceptance—it's something I hadn't realised I needed so badly until I was here, surrounded by it. The sting of the World Cup loss is still fresh, but being here, in this house, with Cait and her family, feels like a balm for the ache I've been carrying.

Caitlin suddenly gets up, stretching. "I'm going to check if dinner's ready," she says, throwing me a quick smile before disappearing into the kitchen.

For a few moments, I'm left sitting with Jamie. My mind starts to wander, and I find myself zoning out, lost in thought about everything—about what the future holds, about the loss still looming over me.

A soft thud jolts me out of my thoughts. I blink, looking around to find the pillow Caitlin had thrown earlier now sitting in my lap.

"Catch, dreamer," Jamie says with a knowing smirk, her tone light but her eyes sharp as if she's reading deeper into my mind than I'd like. "Don't get too lost in your head. You've got good things ahead, yeah? Big things." She gives me a wink, the subtle edge to her words making me pause for a second.

Big things? What does she mean by that?

I force a smile, though Jamie's words linger in my mind. "Right. Big things," I say, hoping my confusion doesn't show.

Jamie just shrugs, throwing her legs over the arm of the sofa and settling in. "You'll see," she adds cryptically, and I feel a shiver of uncertainty mix with the warmth of Cait's home.

As we gathered around the table, I felt a flutter of warmth in my heart. The dining room was filled with laughter, the clinking of cutlery, and the comforting smell of Simone's cooking. Caitlin animatedly talked about her day, her passion infectious, and for a moment, I forgot the weight of the World Cup loss.

The lasagna Simone made was incredible, each bite like a warm hug. I sat quietly, listening to the easy flow of conversation between Cait, Jamie, and Simone, feeling like I was slowly sinking into this new rhythm of comfort and familiarity. Even though this house was full of memories for Caitlin, her stories filled with laughter and inside jokes, they were beginning to feel like part of my world, too.

Midway through dinner, Simone turned her attention toward me, her eyes soft with affection. "You know, Elena," she begins, her voice warm, "I knew you were special the moment Cait brought you home for Christmas a few years back."

I can feel the flush creeping up my neck, and Caitlin shifts beside me, her fork pausing mid-air. "Mum," Cait says softly, a knowing smile tugging at her lips.

Simone just waves her off. "Oh, don't give me that, Cait. It was obvious! You were so smitten. The way you looked at Elena—it was like nothing else in the world mattered." Simone's eyes crinkle at the edges as she smiles, and Caitlin's face turns a shade darker, matching the warmth now spreading through my chest.

"She wasn't wrong," Cait admits, her voice a little shy as she glances at me. I squeeze her hand under the table, silently grounding her while my own heart thuds in my chest.

Simone leans in a little, her gaze settling on me with the same softness I remember from that Christmas night in 2021. "And that daisy you gave Cait for Christmas—when she showed me, I thought it was the sweetest gift I'd ever seen. She couldn't stop smiling after that."

My breath catches in my throat at the mention of the daisy. It wasn't just a Christmas gift—it was a piece of my heart, a connection to my mother, whose name I shared and who had passed away when I was born. Giving that to Caitlin had been my way of saying she was someone I trusted, someone I loved enough to share that part of myself with. And it was Caitlin, that night, who said "I love you" first.

Caitlin looks over at me, her eyes full of warmth, and for a moment, I could see the memory of that night reflect back at me. The soft, glowing Christmas lights, the quiet hum of the house, and the way her voice trembled when she whispered, "I love you more" before kissing me goodbye.

"You've always had that daisy, right?" Jamie chimes in, breaking the moment with her usual playful grin. "Honestly, I thought Cait was gonna start growing flowers with how giddy she was about it."

I laugh, glancing down at the bracelet I still wore—one that Cait had given me at the Olympics for my birthday with our Arsenal numbers dangling from it— 19 and 14– to remind me she was always there for me. "Yeah," I say softly, "it means a lot to me. I guess Cait's pretty good at holding on to things that matter."

"She sure is," Simone says, her voice full of motherly pride. She leans back in her chair, watching us with a soft smile. "It was that Christmas when I knew. I could see it in her eyes, how deeply she cared about you. And when she said she told me she loved you, well, that was it. I knew it was real."

Caitlin chuckles, a little flustered but smiling as she bumps her shoulder gently against mine. "Well, you made it pretty easy to love you," she whispers, her voice tender, just for me.

I feel my face heat up again, my heart swelling as I remember how far we've come since that Christmas. Sitting here, with her family around us knowing that we're together, it feels like we're exactly where we're supposed to be.

"Thanks, Simone," I finally say, my voice a little thick with emotion. "For accepting me. For all of this."

Simone reaches across the table, her hand resting briefly on mine. "You're part of the family now, Elena. Always have been, always will be."

Caitlin's hand squeezes mine under the table, and I can see the quiet joy shining in her eyes. It isn't just about the food or the conversation—this is a piece of the future we're building together, a future that stretches far beyond this dinner table.

After we finished dinner, Simone stood up and headed to the door. "I'll let Peach in!" she calls out, and Caitlin practically bounces in her seat with excitement.

"Peach! I can't wait to see her!" Caitlin exclaims, her eyes lighting up with an infectious energy that tugs at my heart.

I stay in my chair, smiling softly at Caitlin's enthusiasm. She jumps up, barely able to contain herself as she rushes toward the door where her mum is waiting. "Come on, Elena! You have to meet her!" Caitlin urges, turning back to me with a bright, irresistible smile that always makes my heart skip a beat.

"I'm okay," I reply, shaking my head with a teasing smile. "You know I'm a cat person."

Jamie and Simone both burst into laughter at my stubbornness. Caitlin throws her hands up in mock defeat. "She will grow on you, I promise!" Jamie chimes in, her laughter filling the cozy dining room.

"Sure, if she doesn't eat me first," I tease back, earning even more laughter from across the table.

When Simone opens the door, Peach comes bounding in, her little legs moving so fast, her tail wagging like crazy. She's all energy and excitement, and Caitlin's face lights up like a child on Christmas morning. She crouches down immediately, petting Peach with such affection, whispering something to her that makes the dog practically wriggle with joy. I can't help but watch them, my heart softening as I see how much this moment means to Cait.

"See? She's harmless!" Caitlin looks back at me, her grin so wide it almost hurts to look at. "Come pet her!"

I stay in my chair, arms crossed but with a smile tugging at my lips. "I'll pass for now."

Jamie snickers from across the table. "She'll wear you down eventually. Just wait until Peach starts sleeping on your feet."

I snort. "Not going to happen."

Simone, returning to her seat, shakes her head with an affectionate laugh. "Peach has her way of winning people over, trust me. She's part of the family. You'll see."

Cait stands, coaxing Peach to sit at her feet. "You sure you don't want to at least say hi?"

I shoot her a look, one that says 'I know what you're doing', but I can't resist her for long. "Fine," I grumble playfully, standing and walking toward them. I reach down to give Peach a tentative pat on the head. Her fur is surprisingly soft, and she doesn't bite me like I half-joked she would. In fact, she seems rather content just soaking up all the attention from Caitlin.

"There, see?" Cait beams, and I roll my eyes.

"Okay, okay, she's cute," I admit, still feeling a little out of my element with all the canine affection, but the sight of Caitlin with Peach is undeniably sweet.

The night begins to wind down, and after a while, Caitlin nudges me lightly. "Want to come for a quick walk with Peach before bed? I usually take her out this time of night."

I groan dramatically, sinking back into my chair. "A walk? Now?"

Cait flashes a grin, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "It'll be a short one, promise. Besides, it'll be cute—you like cute things."

I roll my eyes but can't hold back a smile. "Fine, but only because you're cute."

She laughs, grabbing my hand and pulling me up from my chair. I let her, knowing full well that I'd follow her anywhere if she asked me to.

As we step outside, the cool night air brushes against my skin, refreshing and calm. Caitlin hold's Peach's leash with one hand, and with the other, she links her arm through mine, pulling me close as we stroll down the quiet street. The stars above twinkle faintly, the streets are quiet, and it feels like we're in our own little world.

"Look at you," Cait teases, giving me a playful nudge. "Out for a walk with a dog. You're almost a dog person already."

I shoot her a sidelong glance. "Don't get ahead of yourself. This is a one-time deal."

Cait chuckles softly, the sound warm and familiar. "We'll see about that."

As we walk in comfortable silence, Peach trots happily ahead, tugging gently at the leash. Every now and then, Cait would glance over at me, her expression soft, her eyes filled with that affection I was still getting used to. It was overwhelming sometimes, how much she cared, how she made me feel like I truly belonged here—with her, with her family, in this new chapter of our lives.

"I think Peach likes you already," Cait says, breaking the silence, a teasing lilt to her voice.

"Doubt it," I mutter, though a smile tugs at the corners of my lips. "But...maybe she's not as bad as I thought."

Cait's face lights up in triumph. "Ha! Knew it. Just wait until she starts curling up on your lap."

I groan. "Don't push your luck."

She just laughs, giving my hand a squeeze. "I'm just happy you're here. In Australia. It genuinely means so much to me and I'm going to make these 2 weeks before preseason the best weeks of your life."

"That's a lot to fullfil." I tease and she nudges me back with a small smile playing on her lips as she leans forward and pecks my lips lightly.

After the walk, we made our way back to the house. As soon as we stepped inside, Cait let out a soft yawn and stretched, her hand still intertwined with mine.

"Bed?" she asks.

"Yeah," I reply, feeling the weight of the day settle in my bones.

Together, we make our way to Cait's room, the comforting hum of the house surrounding us. As we climb into bed, I feel her arms wrap around me, pulling me close. And for the first time since the final whistle, I felt a sense of peace. Wrapped in Caitlin's warmth, the weight of the world didn't feel quite as heavy anymore.

She whispers against my hair, "I'm glad you're here with me, Elena."

"I'm glad too," I murmur, letting my eyes close as I drifted off with my head against her chest, listening to the steady rhythm of her heart beat that just reminds me I want to spend a lifetime with Cait and I hope she does too.

I felt at home here with Caitlin, Jamie and her mum because they didn't make me feel bad about how much I missed growing up with only my dad around and then not even that afterwards, they made me feel like I was always apart of their family.

Maybe Peach would grow on me after all—but Caitlin? She already had my heart completely.