Tales of the Tournaments

In the physio room, Ivana and Esther were gently shaking Laia awake.

"Alright pequeña, time to go," Esther said firmly. "Ivana will carry you alright, so you don't have to worry about walking just yet." 

Laia woke, sobbing softly as the pain in her feet reasserted itself. She was gently scooped into her teammate's arms and held securely, clinging tightly so Ivana wouldn't drop her. As they headed for the ice baths, they passed Irene and Jenni, but Esther tsked slightly when Laia turned her head to look.

"That's none of your business, little girl. Don't you start worrying about Irene and Jenni now."

"But Jenni, and, and him, and when Irene before and Lucia--"

"He's not here, and whatever Lucia and Irene had to discuss is over with, Laia. Don't make us regret not spanking you."

"Sorry." 

When Laia was out of hearing, Alexia followed Irene and Jenni. She needed to be close to Jenni, after this, they couldn’t be apart for long. “Amor?”

Before Jenni could answer Alexia, the door opened to reveal Miss Marta who greeted them with a smile and said, "You don't have to worry, Caro is now sitting down in front of this door with a chair against the door, so there is no way anyone is getting to us cause if they somehow get past the British, they will not be able to get past an angry version of my Caro. So, should we get this over with?”

Alexia put her arms around Jenni, who was still trembling slightly, though she was doing her best not to show her emotions otherwise. "Oh amor, I have you," she soothed. "You're safe with us. Irene and Marta and I have you." They weren't going to let anything bad happen to Jenni again if it could be helped.

“Would you give us a second please”

“A second for what Alé?” There’s things to be handled, and you are one of them”

“ I know, I know, I just… need Jenni right now, just for a moment”

Irene stepped closer to Jenni and Alexia, putting a hand on each of their backs and rubbing reassuringly. "You can have Jenni, Alé. Marta and I are patient. We know you need each other. How about if Jenni holds onto you while you're over Marta's lap, would that be alright Alé?"

Alexia sighed and nodded.

"Alé?" Jenni spoke up quietly, surprising Alexia.

"Si, amor?" 

"This is going to sound crazy--"

"I love crazy."

Jenni couldn't quite hide an eyeroll. "Not this kind of crazy you don't."

"Okay, this sounds important, Jenni amor. Why don't we sit down here, while we still can that is," Alexia winced at the thought, "and you tell me." They sat side by side on the massage table and Alexia gave Jenni a comforting squeeze.

"Can I have Marta's bag please?"

"Is there something specific you need from her?"

"Umm...well, Marta has it, but I want you to do it."

"I think she's looking for this, Alexia? I'm guessing he left a bad taste in her mouth?" Miss Marta passed a shocked Alexia a brown paper wrapped package. Alexia then turned to Jenni, who herself was shocked that Miss Marta was able to understand her so well.

"Si Marta," Jenni said quietly. "I told you it was crazy, Alé."

"I think I see, though, amor. It's a bad taste too, but a different one, a familiar one, and you want your mouth to be clean again," Alexia said slowly, as Jenni nodded. "Alright then," Alexia allowed. Irene quietly brought a cup and a bottle of water, setting them down on Alexia's other side as she unwrapped the little bar of specialty soap.

Jenni opened her mouth willingly to receive it, for the first time ever in Marta, Irene, or Alexia's memory.. Alexia put the bar in Jenni's mouth and didn't even need to order her to chew, she was already doing it, frantically. The soap broke up, filling Jenni's mouth with bitter suds, and Alexia took Jenni in her lap, holding her and rubbing her back.

"Okay amor. You let me know when you've had enough," Alexia said, as Jenni pressed close to her, coughing and sputtering. The soap was terribly bitter but compared to her experience, it might as well have been clover honey. Soon the flavor of the Catalan soap was overwhelming Jenni's other senses, the texture, the taste, the smell erasing all traces of him. 

Jenni couldn't speak, obviously, but she had Alé's hand clasped in hers and squeezed it tightly, sitting up properly. Alexia held the cup so Jenni could spit out the pieces - the slush, she thought, as Jenni had chewed the bar more thoroughly than ever before - and with the ground up soap and suds so thoroughly coating her mouth it took some time for her to spit it all out and rinse out what else she could, with the uncapped water bottle. 

Finally, finally, Jenni's mouth was free of soap, though not of the lingering taste.

Still, it wasn't that taste anymore.

"Gracias, Alé."

Alexia kissed Jenni's cheek, not wanting to push too far. "De nada, amor."

“Jenni,” called Irene.

 As she turned around to face her, Jenni found herself in a tight hug, the other woman holding her like someone was gonna take her away the moment she let her go

That left Alexia facing Marta, as Irene led Jenni off to one side. She grimaced slightly. A number of remarks ranging from Do we have to and Haven't we been through enough to shouldn't we just go tear Rubiales apart flashed through her mind but she kept all of them from leaving her mouth, though Marta seemed often enough to be able to tell what she was thinking. "Er...hi, Marta," she settled on, when she could open her mouth without cursing Rubiales to the everlasting fires of hell.

"Hello, Alexia, we might as well get started, hmm?"

"I guess so," Alexia sighed reluctantly, "as long as Jenni's going to be alright? As alright as she can be?"

"She's fine. Right now, we're focused on you and your naughtiness."

Alexia grimaced. It was more guilt over a missed shot than actual naughtiness, she knew, though she supposed the murderous thoughts swimming in her head about Rubiales counted as naughtiness. Still, Marta couldn't exactly call her on that, either.

Alexia found herself following Miss Marta over to the bench in the room, then draping herself over the older footballer's lap without being asked, ready for this to be over with.

Marta bared Alexia's bottom, causing La Reina to let out a soft whine in protest, but Alexia didn't resist further, knowing that the fewer layers in place, the fewer swats she was due to take, likely. She didn't expect Marta to be terribly hard on her just 'for cause' with guilt relieving swats, either. Most of her problem was that she wanted to be back with Jenni right now.

"Easy, Alé, this won't take long and you'll have your amor back in a minute," Marta said firmly. Alexia gave a reluctant nod, and then the first smack fell. 

Alé fought the urge to swear. Marta still had more of that soap after all. But - "Jesu, Marta, you're not Sandra," she growled. "Unfair." Since when did Marta smack like a keeper?

"No, but we can call her if you want to?" Miss Marta said, giving the younger footballer another smack with the same intensity.

"Ow! No, please Marta, we don't have to call Sandra," Alexia promised hastily. "You're doing just fine on your own."

Jenni cracked a reluctant grin. "Alé, trust you to be funny when over Marta's knee. Only you."

"Anything -ow- for you, amor."

"Let’s finish this up now." With that said, Miss Marta smacked Alexia's bottom and sit spots a total of eight more times before setting her clothes back to rights and helping her to stand up.  Now they could finally deal with Jenni and be finished with all of the discussions for now, Marta thought. "Alexia sit here please," Marta patted the spot next to her on the bench. "Irene, if you could bring Jenni over here please?"

Alexia took a seat gingerly - her bottom was sore, but not as sore as Marta could have made it if she'd been minded to, so it just took her a few moments to adjust. 

Irene led Jenni over, and Jenni immediately sat beside Alexia. "Are you alright Alé?"

"I'm okay amor. That wasn't fun, but I've had worse. Speaking of worse."

Jenni stared at her lap. "Do we have to, Alé?"

"I know, amor, but we couldn't let Olga off either."

"And we're not going to start with you, Jennifer Hermoso Fuentes." Miss Marta looked at Jenni pointedly.

Jenni sucked in a breath sharply, and Alexia put her arms around Jenni, giving her a comforting squeeze. "It's okay amor. You're okay," she whispered. "Just keep breathing, you're safe, alright? I'll stay right here with you." 

"Alright," Jenni exhaled as Alexia rubbed her back. 

"Good, amor. That's good. Soonest begun, soonest over, as you like to tell me, and when it's all done it'll be over, then we can do whatever you want."

"What's going to happen, amor?"

Alexia took a breath, trading looks with her fellow Barca captains.

"Our hands, Alexia first then me. She'll go softer, then I'll finish, five smacks each, whenever you're ready." Miss Marta said softly with her kindest smile. 

"Can I stay on Alé's lap?" Jenni asked, and Alexia rubbed her back.

"If Marta objects she'll have to take it up with me. I wouldn't have it any other way, and I imagine Irene would have given you five smacks, too, but considering you took a Catalan soaping, willingly, maybe Marta's decided to reduce your sentence?"

Marta nodded. “Exactly,” she agreed as Alexia squeezed Jenni’s hand.

"Ready, amor?"

Reluctantly, Jenni nodded, and let Alexia settle her into place. Jenni's shorts were tugged down, though her boxer briefs stayed in place as Alexia delivered five swats with her hand, just hard enough to be felt. Taken all together, there was a mild sting left behind that would quickly fade - if Marta wasn't about to refresh it, Jenni thought. Reluctantly, she allowed herself to be repositioned so her bottom rested on Marta's lap, instead, her torso on Alexia's.

"Okay amor, I'm here," Alexia took Jenni's hands  in hers, holding her still for Marta. "Good job, you're halfway through this part." 

Jenni blushed a little at being soothed like one of their little girls, but she knew why Alé was doing it, and nodded thanks. 

"Whenever you're ready  Jenni. I don't mind waiting. It's not the first time and probably won't be the last time you will be over my lap, hmm?"

"Si Marta," Jenni said quietly. She clung to Alé's hands; Alexia hadn't made her cry, and she was resolved to do her best not to for Marta, either. Not now. Not yet.

It wasn’t Marta’s intention to make the younger footballer cry, at least not yet, not when she was inevitably going to cry from what was coming, but she did need to finish the warm-up. "Okay, here we go, these will be slightly harder."

"Si Marta," Jenni said again. She didn't cry, but she did gasp at the impact of the first swat. Definitely harder, she thought. Still, it wasn't the worst smack Marta had ever given her.

Four smacks later, the warm-up was finally completed. However, this time it was Irene who spoke up, scaring Jenni and Alexia who had forgotten she was there because she had been so quiet. “Alright Jenni, it’s time for your next dose. A little tenderizing, shall we say, before Alexia gets to the main event.”

Irene was on Marta's other side, behind Jenni, and as  Jenni was lifted up to sit on Marta's lap she could see what Irene was putting down on the bench.

An acupressure mat, a thin towel spread over the top.

Jenni swallowed hard. "Irene--"

"I know, Jenni, but we're going to do this. Ten minutes," Irene said firmly, and Jenni tried not to wince.  "Alé's going to stay right here," Irene added, "and so are Marta and I. You're not being left alone." 

"Come on, amor. You can do it," Alexia said encouragingly, squeezing Jenni's hand. 

Jenni let Irene help her onto the mat, settling her on the towel with her shorts still lowered to her knees. Her briefs were still up, and the towel was there, but the two thin layers didn't make for much protection from the acupressure points pressing up into her bottom.

When she tried to grab on to the bench for support to stay still and not squirm, Irene tsked.

"No, Jenni," Irene shook her head. "I may not be smacking your bottom, but your hand was naughty, too."

"I...what, Irene?" Jenni asked, honestly having forgotten in the aftermath of everything that had happened.

"You showed Chloe Kelly the naughty finger, amor," Alexia shook her head and took Jenni’s hands in her own, then lightly stroked Jenni's palm. "You know what you would do if our Salma did that."

"If mija did that..." Jenni was still trying not to react  to the pain from the mat. "She would have to meet Mr. Ruler." 

"That's right amor. So what do you think should happen?" Alexia asked, and Jenni hesitated.

"You almost did it twice, too, Jennifer," Irene added. "You might have caught yourself the second time, but you started to. So that means both your hands have earned smacks."

Jenni's stomach dropped, and she tried to hold as still as possible. "I'm sorry Irene," she tried as Irene produced the ruler. "I can't even remember, to be honest."

"I’m not surprised you don't remember, amor. But there's evidence," Alexia said softly, "and it's obvious you meant it in the moment. It's being spread in the media," along with everything else, she thought but didn't say, "and so we have to take care of it so you don't get into trouble out there." She pulled out her phone, and showed Jenni the photos in question of Jenni flipping off Chloe Kelly, very carefully avoiding any of the other photos of Jenni being shared in the news about tonight.

Jenni nodded reluctantly, conceding her guilt.

"How many, Irene?" Jenni looked at her teammate and friend warily as she reluctantly held her hands out, palms upward.

"Ten, Jenni." Marta interjected. She took the ruler from Irene. "I'll give you these smacks, since Irene set you up on the mat for me."

That wasn't much consolation, Jenni thought, as she knew just how hard Marta was capable of smacking.

"At least it's not your bottom in the line of fire yet, amor," Alexia said in an attempt to be comforting. "I know how uncomfortable the mat is, but you'll be off it soon." 

Jenni nodded, trying to put a brave face on things. "I'm ready, Marta."

"Five on each hand, one at a time," Marta instructed. "You can use your other hand to hold that one still." 

Jenni cupped her left hand with her right, and held her palm as still as she could. Marta brought down five quick smacks, leaving her palm rosy and stinging, and Jenni just managed not to pull out of position by the time it was over.

Then she felt Irene's hands grip her shoulders, securely but not too tight. "It's time to squirm a little, Jenni."

Jenni gulped. "No Irene, please, sorry--"

"Now Jenni, would you take that from Salma?"

"I wouldn't put Salma on the mat," Jenni protested.

"Fair. Misa then," Irene amended.

"Well..." Jenni hesitated. "If Misa or one of the others was scared I'd want to help."

"Are you scared, Jennifer?"

Jenni paused, then shook her head slowly. "No...of course not."

Alexia looked at Jenni. The hesitation was problematic, but still, Jenni wasn't one for lying.

Lying, no, but telling a careful truth, now...

"You're not scared of the mat, amor," Alexia said. "You're not happy about it, but you're not scared. Or scared of your other five smacks. But you’re holding something in, and you know you have to tell us. Let Irene take care of you, Jenni, so we can move forward, sooner done soonest over, right? We'll get there, and I'm here."

Jenni slipped one hand into Alexia's, briefly, stubbornly still refusing to shed tears as Irene shifted her around on the mat.

When Irene was finished, Alexia guided Jenni's other hand back into position for Marta, holding it still for her.

Five swats with Mr. Ruler, and Marta was done.

"And that's your time done, too, Jenni, you can come on up," Irene added. Jenni got to her feet on shaky legs, and was immediately pulled back into Alexia's lap, Alexia ensuring her weight didn't land on her tender bottom.

"Okay amor, it's alright to cry, I've got you, we're almost finished."

Jenni's eyes widened slightly. "Al-almost?"

"Almost," Alexia confirmed, "but you can have a cuddle first, it's alright amor."

Jenni relaxed a little in Alé's arms, sighing as her hair was stroked gently. These gentle, loving touches were different from what had happened outside, earlier, with him, and being back in Alé's arms feeling safe and loved helped to ease some of what had happened. 

"What now, Alé?" she asked after another minute or two of this, knowing Irene and Marta's patience with them wasn't infinite.

"This now, Jenni amor," Alexia said, taking the paddle - more of an oversized wooden spoon - that Marta handed her from her bag.

It was a paella paddle, but this one, in particular, was very useful for smacks. 

There was a little card attached to the handle by a loop of yarn.

"What's that say on it, Alé?" Jenni asked guardedly.

"Are you sure you want to know, amor?"

Jenni looked down at it before she could stop herself.

Miss Marta's Paella Paddle

1) For best results, 'saute' for at least 5 to 10 minutes. 

2) No doubt whine will be added by now, Jiggle the 'pan' to get an even layer.

3) 'Cook uncovered' to ensure tenderness and proper absorption.

Jenni threw Marta a scowl. "You're not funny, Marta Torrejón."

"I don't recall trying to be," Marta replied calmly. 

"Alé," Jenni grumbled. Definitely whining, Alexia thought.

"Don't scowl at me and Marta, amor. You're the one who decided to read it anyway."

"I think it's about time you got on with things, Alexia. Unless you need a little more sauteing, Jennifer."

"No, but - Alé?" Jenni sputtered.

"I assume this last direction means mi amor has to be paddled bare bottom, Marta?" Alexia ignored her love's protest.

"You assume correctly, Alexia."

"Alé..."

Alexia stroked Jenni's hair lightly. "Come on, amor. It's just me, Marta, and Irene. No one else." 

Reluctantly, Jenni allowed Alexia to settle her facedown again over Alexia's lap. Then, Jenni's briefs were tugged down to just below her bottom. The cool air in the room touching her warm pink bottom made Jenni's skin prickle. 

"Cold, amor? Not for long, I promise."

Jenni shuddered, and tried to stay stoic as the first four smacks fell, two sharp swats to each cheek with Marta's paella paddle.  It was obvious, though, that Marta had enough of that.

"Jennifer Hermoso Fuentes, you may be as strong and stoic outside this room as you like, but you can trust the three of us with your tears, we're not letting you go until you allow yourself to let go."

The next four smacks followed as Jenni absorbed the words, and by number eight the paella paddle had spread the burn throughout her bottom.

Nine and ten landed on Jenni's sit spots, and Jenni's breathing was more labored, her effort to control her tears becoming too much for her. 

She let out a soft sob, and Alexia rubbed her back.

"There, amor, let it out, that's right, you're safe to cry here with us." 

Once the tears had started it felt like Jenni couldn't stop.

“This is about you and only you amor, not him, about your guilt for missing that penalty and a couple of shots, there’s nothing more that you are guilty of.” No matter what anyone else said or was going to say, because Alexia could already imagine some of the things that would be said.

Jenni sobbed harder, and she was lifted up into Alexia's embrace, held securely in her love's arms as Alexia cuddled her.

"It's all done now Jenni amor, that's all right, cry it out, there's no more smacks, no more to worry about my love."

It was a nice idea, no worries left, Jenni thought hazily, but that's not really how it worked. She clung to Alexia, crying herself out, and then as she calmed, Marta brought her another small bottle of water to drink. Her clothes were righted carefully over her burning bottom, and Alexia pressed a kiss to Jenni's forehead. 

"There you go amor, settle, when you're ready and only then, we'll go back out there."

"I could use a load of cerveza right about now to forget all our problems."

"I'm sure, amor," Alexia said sympathetically. "Well, we can have that, if that's what you want."

Marta and Irene went on ahead to arrange it, taking Jenni at her word. Alexia remained behind with Jenni for a few minutes more, and by the time they returned to the locker room, the rest of the team was there. Salma, Tere, Misa, and Tana ran to Jenni and Alexia immediately, and Olga wasn't far behind, Athenea clinging to her.

While Alexia was mobbed by their little ones, Jenni stood with Olga and Athenea in her arms, hugging them tightly in solidarity.

"Mama Jenni."

Jenni looked at Salma. "What is it, our little Salmine?"

"There's lots of cerveza being brought out."

"I see that. You can have a couple, but no more than two, okay? It’s Fanta for you after that, little one." 

In the end, despite claiming to be in desperate need of a drink, Jenni only took it when Alexia brought her one. The other girls all took their own bottles, and clinked them together.

"We're World Cup winners," Salma said, determined. "We did it. Don't forget that, Mama Jenni. It was us."

"Thank you, mija," Jenni took a swallow of her beer and closed her eyes. 

Yes. We did it.

"We should be celebrating," Olga said softly. "This is our victory. Papi would want it to be, wouldn't he?"

"Si, he would," Irene gave Olga a pat on the back. "There's no more to be ashamed of. That's all behind us."

"Some of us more than others," Jenni muttered.

"I think my sense of humor is getting to you, amor."

Once the team had given themselves permission to celebrate, though, they did so in earnest, trying to put the problematic parts of the match's aftermath behind them for now. 

Drowning their sorrows, cheering their joys - the cerveza flowed freely, even for Salma.

She was nineteen, after all, of age since last year. 

“We’ve won the World Cup, now let’s do UEFA! Come on Barca!” Salma clinked bottles with Keira and Lucy, who had come back to their Barca teammates as soon as they had finished returning the strap to Miss Brooke. They each took a deep drink, Ona joining them. She cuddled close to Lucy and Keira, half afraid they were going to disappear on her and relieved they had come back after all.

“Don’t you mean Madrid’s gonna win it?” Olga countered, getting nods from Misa, Tere, and Athenea as they banded together with their own club teammates. Ona sputtered in disbelief, making Keira grin fondly at her indignant expression. 

“It’s alright Ona,” Keira whispered. “Olga’s  got to be loyal to her club when she goes home, of course. We’re all friends here now. You and Olga are World Cup winners, remember.”

Ona nodded. “And you and Lucia made it to the final with your team,” she added bracingly. “That’s something no other Lionesses have ever done before this year.”

Lucy and Keira smiled, gratified, before paying attention to Salma.

“Good luck Olga,” Salma said generously, after swallowing another mouthful of cerveza, draining her first bottle. “And Misa, Tere, and Athe.” 

“Mija,” Alexia scolded as Salma was handed her second beer by Olga in a gesture of friendship.

“What, Mama Alexia? I really mean it, I hope all our family has good luck. Though of course Barca’s the one that really has to win.”

“Well, alright,” Alexia conceded, watching as the teen took a swallow from her second bottle..

Salma’s mamas kept an eye on her, and after two beers they cut her off, switching her over to Fanta instead. Not that it would be any healthier, but at least it was better than letting the teen get drunk.

The resulting sugar rush had Salma careening around the locker room at top speed, chasing Mateo through the crush of teammates until the two exhausted themselves. She dropped wearily on the bench with Irene and Lucia's little boy in her arms, both drowsing.

"I think it's someone's bedtime."

"Probably a few someones," Jenni acknowledged. "But once we leave this room..."

"I know." Alexia squeezed her hand. "We'll go together."

"Promise, Alé?"

"I promise, amor."

As the rest of La Roja headed for the door - some more reluctantly than others - Lucy and Keira took Ona aside.

They could see Salma cuddled between Jenni and Alexia, and did the same for Ona, if for slightly different reasons.

"I can't promise you," Keira said reluctantly, but honestly, "that it's all going to be alright out there. Things are crazy, especially after a World Cup win, especially after things like - what happened." 

"I don't think anything like that's ever happened at a World Cup before," Ona said quietly. "Lucia, are you...."

"With you two here, I'll manage."

Ona nodded as Keira hugged them close.

"I can't promise that it's going to be alright. But I can promise that whatever happens, we'll handle it together," Keira promised.

"Together," Ona and Lucy echoed, just before the door opened and their English doorwardens interrupted, tired of languishing outside. It was time to get back.

"You finish macking and smacking the Spaniard, Walsh?" Rachel's attempt at calming down everyone only got her a smack on the back of the head from Millie Bright right  behind her and a "Leave them be. They'll figure their business out on their on time at the club in Spain. Let's focus on leading the way out of here. Unless you need smacks somewhere else, Rachel Ann Daly?" 

"Yes, ma'am. Sorry." As Rachel quietly said sorry to the three Bąrca teammates were stunned into silence and now had a red tint on more than one pair of cheeks, especially Keira. Caro took this opportunity, partly out of still slightly simmering anger to step forward and lead the way for La Roja behind the two English footballers. In a move of international solidarity for what Spain's national team had ust gone through, Keira was the last person to leave and close the door, Lucy and Keira surrounding Ona from the front and back respectively; all three still  had a slight blush, but it had went down significantly as La Roja went to find their bus back to the hotel they shared with the England team. Behind Ona and Lucy, Keira could be sure no one approached her girls in the crush of Spain teammates.

The World Cup trophy was held by Esther, for the moment; Alexia was too busy holding Jenni.

"Come on amor. We'll get you to bed. Safe."