Homecoming
The key turned in the lock with a familiar click, and Viv pushed the door open, stepping into the warmth of the apartment. The faint smell of coffee and the hum of the refrigerator greeted her, along with the sight of Calvin and Myle wagging their tails furiously at her feet. She couldn’t help but smile—Beth’s little mess was everywhere, and it felt like home. A pair of sneakers by the door, a jacket slung over the back of the couch, and a half-empty mug on the coffee table. Steph’s presence was evident too, a pair of boots neatly lined up by the shoe rack and a book left open on the kitchen counter. Viv bent down to scratch Calvin behind the ears, murmuring, “Missed you too, buddy.”
Myle nudged her hand with his wet nose, demanding attention, and Viv laughed softly, crouching down to give him a proper scratch. “Alright, alright, I missed you too,” she said, her voice warm. Calvin, not to be outdone, plopped down on her feet, his tail thumping against the floor. For a moment, the weight of the train ride and the quiet ache of being away from London melted away. She’d missed this—the chaos, the familiarity, the way the apartment always felt alive, even when Beth wasn’t home.
After playing with the dogs for a while, Viv stood and surveyed the apartment. It wasn’t messy, exactly, but it wasn’t the pristine space she’d left behind either. Beth’s socks were balled up on the armchair, and Steph’s laptop charger snaked across the floor. Viv sighed, rolling up her sleeves. She needed to do something with her hands, something to quiet the restless thoughts that had followed her from Manchester. She started with the bedroom, stripping the sheets and replacing them with fresh ones. The rhythmic motions of folding and tidying were soothing, almost meditative. By the time she moved on to the kitchen, scrubbing at the countertops with more vigor than strictly necessary, she’d almost convinced herself that she was doing this for Beth, for Steph, for anyone but herself.
The sound of the front door opening pulled Viv out of her cleaning frenzy. She turned just in time to see Beth step inside, her hair still damp from training and a grin spreading across her face. “Viv!” Beth exclaimed, closing the distance between them in a few quick strides. Viv barely had time to set down the sponge before Beth’s arms were around her, pulling her into a tight hug. “Missed you,” Beth murmured, her lips brushing against Viv’s in a soft, familiar kiss.
Viv’s cheeks warmed as she pulled back, her voice barely above a whisper. “Missed you too.”
Behind Beth, Steph and Jen filed into the apartment, their laughter filling the space. “Look who’s back!” Jen said, pulling Viv into a hug. “How’s Manchester treating you?”
Viv forced a smile, shrugging. “It’s… different. But it’s good. How’s everything here?”
Steph chimed in, her tone light. “Oh, you know. Same old, same old. Except someone”—she gestured at Beth—“has been insufferable since you left.”
Beth rolled her eyes, but there was no real annoyance in the gesture. “Ignore her. She’s just mad I beat her in training today.”
Viv laughed, the sound easing some of the tension in her chest. It was good to be back, to be surrounded by their familiar banter. But as Beth wandered into the kitchen, her eyes widened as she took in the spotless countertops and the freshly mopped floor. “Bloody hell, Viv,” she said, turning back to her with a teasing grin. “You just got here and you’re already deep-cleaning the place? You know you don’t have to do that, right? It’s not like you live here anymore.”
The words landed harder than Beth probably intended, and Viv felt her smile falter. She busied herself with folding the dish towel, her fingers tightening around the fabric. “I still live here,” she said, her voice steady but quieter than before. “Even if I don’t play here.”
There was a beat of silence, and Viv could feel Steph, Jen and Beth exchanging a glance. Beth’s expression softened, and she stepped closer, her hand brushing against Viv’s arm. “Hey,” she said gently. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
Viv nodded, forcing a smile. “I know. It’s fine.” She cleared her throat, putting away the cleaning products. “So, what’s for dinner? I’m starving.”Viv nodded, forcing a smile. “I know. It’s fine.” She cleared her throat, turning back to the sink. “So, what’s for dinner? I’m starving.”
Beth looked around, her eyes scanning the kitchen as if the answer might be written on the walls. “Pizza?” she suggested, her tone light. “Or Chinese? Honestly, I’m not cooking tonight. I’m too tired, and I don’t trust Steph not to burn the place down.”
Steph threw a dish towel at her from across the room. “Hey! I’ve gotten better!”
Jen chuckled, leaning against the counter. “Define ‘better.’ Last time you tried to make pasta, you almost set off the smoke alarm.”
They all laughed, and Viv felt some of the tension ease from her shoulders. They decided on Chinese, and soon the apartment was filled with the smell of sweet and sour sauce and the sound of crinkling takeout bags. They gathered around the table, plates balanced on laps, the conversation flowing as easily as it always did.
Of course, it didn’t take long for the topic to turn to football. Jen was recounting Arsenal’s latest match, her voice animated as she praised Renée performance. “Honestly, it’s such a relief,” she said, gesturing with her chopsticks. “The team feels so much more balanced now. It’s like you’ve finally moved on from… well, you know.”
Viv’s jaw tightened, and she focused on her food, pushing a piece of broccoli around her plate. Beth noticed immediately, her foot brushing against Viv’s under the table in a silent show of support. Steph, quickly steered the conversation to Jen’s upcoming commentary, and the moment passed.
After dinner, they moved to the couch, the dogs curling up at their feet. The decision to watch a movie was unanimous, and Beth immediately claimed her spot next to Viv, pulling her close. Viv sighed, leaning into Beth’s warmth. This was what she’d missed the most—the simple, everyday moments. The way Beth’s arm felt around her shoulders, the way she could kiss her whenever she wanted, the way their lives fit together so effortlessly.
The movie played in the background, but Viv barely registered it. She was too focused on the feeling of being home, of being surrounded by the people she loved. For the first time in weeks, she felt full, content in a way she hadn’t since she’d left for Manchester.
Eventually, Jen stood, stretching. “I should head back to the hotel,” she said, grabbing her jacket. “Early work tomorrow.”
Steph followed suit, yawning. “Same. I’ll see you guys in the morning.”
Beth walked them to the door, exchanging hugs and goodbyes, while Viv stayed on the couch, absently petting Calvin. When Beth returned, she found Viv in the kitchen, already stacking plates and wiping down the counters.
“You don’t always have to clean, you know,” Beth said softly, coming up behind her. She wrapped her arms around Viv’s waist, pressing a kiss to her neck and then her cheek. “I can take care of this.”
Viv paused, her hands stilling on the counter. “I know,” she said, her tone light but with a hint of something sharper underneath. “Especially since I don’t live here anymore, right?”
Beth froze, her heart sinking. She hadn’t meant for her earlier comment to linger like this, to cut so deeply. She turned Viv around, gently guiding her until her back was against the kitchen cabinet. “Hey,” she said, her voice soft but firm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”
Viv shook her head, her eyes avoiding Beth’s. “You don’t need to apologize. You’re right. I don’t live here.”
“That’s not true,” Beth said quickly, her hands moving to cup Viv’s face. “This is your home, Viv. It’s always been your home. I only said that because I feel bad that you feel like you have to come here and immediately clean up my mess. I don’t want you to feel like that’s your responsibility.”
Viv’s eyes flicked up to meet Beth’s, and for a moment, she looked so vulnerable that it took Beth’s breath away. “I don’t mind,” Viv said quietly. “My apartment in Manchester is so… empty. There’s not much to clean there.”
Beth frowned, her thumbs brushing against Viv’s cheeks. “Why don’t you buy some stuff for it? Make it feel more like home.”
Viv’s breath hitched, and she looked away, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I don’t see the point,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “You don’t really go there, so it’s just me. And when I can, I come here. Always. Besides…” She trailed off, her throat working as she swallowed hard.
“Besides what?” Beth asked gently, her heart pounding.
Viv’s shoulders slumped, and she finally met Beth’s gaze, her eyes filled with tears. “With my knee like this, I don’t even know how playing is going to be.”
Beth’s stomach dropped. “What do you mean, ‘with your knee like that’?”
Viv blinked, and a tear slipped down her cheek. “It’s hurting again,” she admitted, her voice breaking. “That’s why I’m not playing tomorrow. That’s why I said I could come.”
“Oh, Viv,” Beth whispered, pulling her into a tight hug. “I’m so sorry.”
Viv buried her face in Beth’s shoulder, her body trembling as she tried to hold back the tears. “It’s fine,” she said, her voice muffled. “It’s life, right?”
Beth held her tighter, her heart aching. She didn’t know what to say, how to make this better. So she just held her, letting Viv cry, letting her release all the fear and frustration she’d been carrying.
When Viv finally pulled back, her eyes were red, but she managed a small smile. “I’m okay,” she said, wiping her cheeks. “Really.”
Beth nodded, though she didn’t fully believe her. “You don’t have to be okay all the time, you know,” she said softly. “Not with me.”
Viv nodded, her face still buried in Beth’s shoulder. “I know,” she murmured, her voice soft but steadier now. She pulled back slightly, just enough to look at Beth, her eyes still glistening but no longer overflowing. “I just… I hate feeling like this. Like I’m not in control.”
Beth’s heart ached at the rawness in Viv’s voice. She cupped Viv’s face in her hands, her thumbs gently wiping away the last traces of tears. “You’re the strongest person I know,” she said, her voice firm but tender. “But even the strongest people need to lean on someone sometimes. Let me be that someone, Viv.”
Viv’s lips curved into a small, grateful smile, and she leaned into Beth’s touch. “You already are,” she said quietly. “You always have been.”
The air between them shifted then, the weight of their shared history and the intensity of the moment pulling them closer. Beth’s gaze dropped to Viv’s lips, and she felt her breath catch. She’d missed this—missed her—so much. The distance between them had been unbearable, and now, with Viv here, in her arms, it was like the world had finally righted itself.
“Viv,” Beth whispered, her voice barely audible, as if speaking too loudly might break the spell.
Viv’s eyes flicked up to meet Beth’s, and there was a flicker of something—longing, need, love—that made Beth’s chest tighten. “Yeah?” Viv breathed, her hands sliding up to rest on Beth’s hips.
Beth didn’t answer with words. Instead, she closed the distance between them, her lips capturing Viv’s in a kiss that was soft at first, almost tentative, as if testing the waters. But when Viv responded immediately, her hands tightening on Beth’s waist and her lips parting slightly, the kiss deepened, becoming something more urgent, more desperate.
Viv’s fingers tangled in Beth’s hair, pulling her closer, and Beth groaned softly, her hands sliding down to grip Viv’s hips. The counter pressed into Viv’s back, but she didn’t seem to care, her body arching into Beth’s as the kiss grew more heated. It had been too long—weeks of missed touches, of longing glances over video calls, of nights spent alone in unfamiliar beds. Now, all that pent-up desire came rushing to the surface, and neither of them could hold back.
Beth’s hands slipped under Viv’s shirt, her fingers skimming over the warm skin of her waist, and Viv shivered, a soft gasp escaping her lips. “Beth,” she murmured against her mouth, her voice trembling with need.
“I’ve got you,” Beth whispered, her lips trailing down Viv’s jaw to her neck, where she pressed a series of soft, open-mouthed kisses. “I’ve missed you so much.”
Viv’s head fell back against the cabinet, her breath coming in shallow gasps as Beth’s lips found the sensitive spot just below her ear. “I’ve missed you too,” she managed to say, her hands sliding under Beth’s shirt to feel the warmth of her skin. “Every damn day.”
Beth’s hands moved to the hem of Viv’s shirt, tugging it up slightly in a silent question. Viv nodded, her eyes dark with desire, and Beth pulled the shirt over her head, tossing it aside. Her own shirt followed a moment later, and then they were skin to skin, their bodies pressed together in a way that made both of them gasp.
The kitchen was forgotten, the world outside reduced to a distant hum as they lost themselves in each other. Beth’s hands roamed over Viv’s body, relearning every curve, every scar, every place that made Viv shiver and sigh. Viv’s nails dug into Beth’s back, her hips arching into hers as their kisses grew more frantic, more desperate.
“Bedroom,” Viv managed to say between kisses, her voice breathless.
But Beth wasn’t ready to let go just yet. Her lips trailed down Viv’s jaw to her neck, her hands sliding under Viv’s pants to feel the warmth of her skin. “In a minute,” Beth murmured against her collarbone, her voice low and teasing. Viv’s hands immediately found Beth’s waist, her fingers slipping under the fabric of her bra.
The cool air of the apartment brushed against their skin, but neither of them noticed. Beth’s lips moved lower, tracing a path down Viv’s chest, her hands sliding around to unhook Viv’s bra with practiced ease. Viv’s breath hitched, her fingers tangling in Beth’s hair as she arched into her touch.
“Beth,” Viv whispered, her voice trembling with need.
Beth hummed in response, her lips brushing against the curve of Viv’s breast, her hands sliding down to grip Viv’s hips. She was so focused on Viv, on the way her body responded to every touch, that she didn’t hear the soft creak of a door opening down the hallway.
“Oh my god!”
The sharp, startled voice cut through the moment like a knife. Viv froze, her eyes widening in horror as she realized what was happening. She scrambled to cover herself, one arm crossing over her chest while the other flailed toward the counter where her shirt had been tossed. “Oh no, oh no, oh no,” she muttered under her breath, her face burning crimson.
Beth, on the other hand, remained surprisingly calm. She straightened up, her hands resting on Viv’s hips as she turned to see Steph standing in the hallway, her eyes wide and her phone clattering to the floor at her feet.
“Steph,” Beth said, her tone dry but amused. “Perfect timing” she said this laughing but clearly also a bit awkward.
“I was just—I needed water!” Steph stammered, her cheeks turning an impressive shade of red as she bent down to pick up her phone. “I didn’t mean to—I mean, I didn’t think you’d be—oh my god, I’m so sorry!”
Viv, meanwhile, was still fumbling with her shirt, trying desperately to pull it back on without fully uncovering herself. “Steph, please,” she said, her voice high-pitched and panicked. “Just—just stop looking at me. Please.”
Steph groaned, covering her face with her hands. “I’m never going to unsee this,” she muttered, backing away toward her room. “I’m just going to… go back to bed. Forever. Goodnight!”
As Steph’s door clicked shut, Viv finally managed to get her shirt back on, though it was inside out and backwards. She buried her face in her hands, her ears still bright red. “Oh my god,” she moaned. “That was so embarrassing. I can’t believe she saw us like that.”
Beth chuckled, reaching out to gently pull Viv’s hands away from her face. “Hey,” she said softly, her voice warm with affection. “It’s not the end of the world. Steph’s seen worse, trust me.”
Viv groaned, leaning forward to rest her forehead against Beth’s shoulder. “I’m never going to be able to look her in the eye again,” she mumbled.
Beth laughed, wrapping her arms around Viv and pulling her close. “You’ll survive,” she said, pressing a kiss to the top of Viv’s head. “And hey, at least it wasn’t Jen.”
Viv let out a strangled laugh, her shoulders shaking with a mix of embarrassment and amusement. “Don’t even joke about that,” she said, her voice muffled against Beth’s shoulder.
Beth grinned, her hands rubbing soothing circles on Viv’s back. “Come on,” she said softly. “Let’s try this again. And this time, let’s make sure its in the bedroom.”
Beth closed the bedroom door behind them, the soft click of the lock echoing in the quiet room. Viv stood just inside, her arms wrapped around herself, her shirt still inside out and her cheeks flushed from the earlier embarrassment. But when Beth turned to face her, her expression was soft, her eyes filled with a warmth that made Viv’s breath catch.
“Hey,” Beth said, her voice low and steady as she stepped closer. She reached out, gently tilting Viv’s chin up so their eyes met. “You okay?”
Viv nodded, though her heart was still racing—not just from Steph’s interruption, but from the way Beth was looking at her now, like she was the only thing that mattered in the world. “Yeah,” she whispered. “Just… a little mortified.”
Beth chuckled, her thumb brushing against Viv’s cheek. “Don’t be. Steph’s probably more embarrassed than you are.” She leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Viv’s lips, and Viv melted into it, her hands instinctively finding Beth’s waist.
When Beth pulled back, her gaze was intense, her voice firm but gentle. “Let me take care of you, okay?”
Viv’s breath hitched, and she nodded, her eyes never leaving Beth’s. “Okay.”
Beth’s hands moved to the hem of Viv’s shirt, and this time, Viv didn’t flinch or fumble. She let Beth guide her, lifting her arms as Beth carefully pulled the shirt over her head and tossed it aside. Beth’s eyes roamed over Viv’s body, her expression one of quiet admiration, and Viv felt a shiver run down her spine.
“You’re so beautiful,” Beth murmured, her hands sliding up Viv’s sides to unhook her bra. The garment fell away, and Viv’s breath caught as Beth’s fingertips traced the curve of her shoulders, down her arms, and back up to cradle her face.
Beth kissed her again, deeper this time, her hands moving to Viv’s hips to pull her closer. Viv’s fingers tangled in Beth’s hair, her body arching into hers as the kiss grew more urgent, more desperate. But Beth was in control, her movements deliberate and unhurried, as if she had all the time in the world to show Viv exactly how much she’d missed her.
When Beth’s lips left Viv’s, they trailed down her jaw to her neck, her hands sliding around to unbutton Viv’s jeans. Viv’s breath came in shallow gasps, her hands gripping Beth’s shoulders for support as Beth knelt in front of her, pulling the jeans down her legs and helping her step out of them.
“Beth,” Viv whispered, her voice trembling as Beth’s hands slid up her thighs, her lips pressing soft kisses to her stomach.
“I’ve got you,” Beth murmured, her voice steady and reassuring. She stood then, her hands moving to the waistband of Viv’s underwear. “Can I?”
Viv nodded, her heart pounding as Beth slowly slid the last barrier between them down her legs. When Beth straightened, her eyes met Viv’s, and there was a flicker of something—love, desire, protectiveness—that made Viv’s chest ache.
“Lie down,” Beth said softly, guiding Viv toward the bed. Viv obeyed, her body sinking into the soft mattress as Beth climbed over her, her hands and lips exploring every inch of Viv’s skin with a tenderness that made Viv’s eyes sting with unshed tears.
Beth’s lips found Viv’s again, her hands sliding up to tangle in Viv’s hair as she kissed her deeply, passionately. But when Viv’s hands began to wander, Beth caught them, pinning them gently above her head. “Let me,” Beth whispered, her voice firm but loving. “Just let me take care of you.”
Viv nodded, her breath hitching as Beth’s lips moved down her body, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. When Beth’s mouth found the sensitive spot just below her navel, Viv gasped, her back arching off the bed. “Beth,” she breathed, her voice trembling with need.
Beth’s hands slid down to grip Viv’s hips, holding her steady as her lips moved lower, her tongue tracing patterns that made Viv’s toes curl. Viv’s hands fisted in the sheets, her breath coming in ragged gasps as Beth took her time, her movements slow and deliberate, as if she wanted to memorize every sound, every reaction.
When Viv finally came undone, her body trembling and her breath catching in her throat, Beth was there, holding her close, her lips pressing soft kisses to her skin as she whispered words of love and reassurance.
“I’ve got you,” Beth murmured, her arms wrapping around Viv as she pulled her into her chest. “Always.”
Viv’s eyes fluttered shut, her body boneless and sated as she curled into Beth’s warmth. For the first time in weeks, she felt safe, loved, and completely at peace. And as Beth’s fingers traced lazy patterns on her back, Viv knew that no matter what happened next, they would face it together.