One shots - Meadema

Beth stood in the kitchen, arms crossed as she addressed her family with her best I’m serious voice.

"I’m begging you, just be normal when Viv gets here. No weird stories, no baby pictures, and please—Mum—please don’t interrogate her."

Her mum just gave her a knowing smile, stirring a cup of tea. "Darling, I would never do such a thing."

Beth shot her a look.

"Alright, alright," Ben laughed, sitting on the couch. "We’ll try to behave. But only because we like you."

Beth huffed. "You’re all menaces."

Grabbing her coat, she checked the time. Viv’s train would be arriving in twenty minutes, and she didn’t want to be late. She was oddly nervous—not that she thought her family wouldn’t like Viv, or that Viv wouldn’t like them—but because bringing her here, to this part of her life, felt… big.

With one last warning glare at her family, she left, heading to the station.

Beth parked and checked her phone. Viv: Just got off the train.

She got out, scanning the crowd until she saw Viv heading toward her, suitcase in hand, dressed casually but still somehow making Beth’s stomach do something annoying. Her hair was down again, and Beth bit back a smile, wondering if that was intentional.

She hesitated for half a second, not sure if they were at the greeting kiss stage yet, but Viv took the decision out of her hands. As soon as she reached her, she stepped in close, pressing a soft kiss to Beth’s cheek, lingering just a second before pulling away with a small smile.

"Hey, you," Viv said, adjusting the strap of her bag.

Beth cleared her throat, hoping her face wasn’t red. "Hey yourself. Good trip?"

"Yeah, not bad," Viv said. "Though I did sit next to an old man who snored the entire way."

Beth laughed. "You have the worst luck with train seats."

They started walking toward the car, their steps falling easily in sync.

"So, am I walking into chaos, or did you manage to threaten your family into behaving?" Viv asked, raising an eyebrow.

Beth groaned. "I tried. But let’s be real, it’s my family. No guarantees."

Viv chuckled. "As long as no one tries to scare me off, I think I’ll survive."

Beth smirked. "Nah, they already like you. Just don’t embarrass me too much, yeah?"

Viv grinned, bumping their shoulders together. "No promises."

On the way home, Beth took a detour through town, pointing out some of the places that had been part of her life growing up.

"Alright, quick tour before I throw you to the wolves," Beth announced, slowing the car as they passed a familiar row of shops. "That’s the café I used to go to every Saturday after games. They do the best hot chocolate, hands down."

"Noted," Viv said.

"Over there is where I had my first job. Lasted about three months before I got sacked."

Viv turned to her, amused. "Why am I not surprised?"

Beth huffed. "Listen, I was not made for retail."

Viv smirked. "What did you do?"

"Nothing, technically." Beth hesitated. "I just… may have ‘forgotten’ to show up a few times."

Viv laughed. "So, you quit without actually quitting."

"Exactly," Beth grinned, then pointed ahead. "And that—that pub? First underage pint. No, I will not elaborate."

Viv raised an eyebrow. "I’ll get that story out of you eventually."

Beth smirked. "You can try."

After a few more stops—including the football pitch where Beth first played—she finally sighed.

"Alright, enough stalling. Time to face the family."

Beth pulled into the driveway and shifted the car into park, glancing at Viv, who was staring out the window like she was mentally preparing herself for battle.

"This is it," Beth said, giving Viv a small smile before unbuckling her seatbelt.

Viv exhaled, gripping her hands together. "Right. Yeah. Okay."

Beth bit back a grin at how visibly stressed Viv was. "Oh, and just so you know, my brother's probably here for dinner."

Viv turned to her sharply. "Wait, what? You didn’t mention your brother."

Beth shrugged as she opened the car door. "Didn’t I?"

Viv shot her a glare, but Beth just laughed, stepping out of the car. She grabbed Viv’s suitcase from the boot while Viv hesitated for a moment before following her to the front door.

Beth could see the nerves radiating off Viv—the way she adjusted her sleeves, shifted her weight, took a deep breath before Beth even reached for the handle.

Beth paused, turning to her. "Hey," she said gently. "Relax. They're just normal people, okay? No need to be this stressed."

Viv exhaled sharply. "I just don’t want to say something stupid."

Beth smirked, bumping Viv’s shoulder playfully. "You will say something stupid. It’s fine, they’ll love you anyway."

Viv huffed but before she could say anything else, Beth pushed the door open.

The warm scent of something cooking filled the air as Beth stepped inside, the faint sound of a football match playing from the living room.

"Mum, Dad, we’re here!" Beth called, stepping aside so Viv could enter.

Before Viv could properly prepare herself, Beth’s mum appeared from the kitchen, a warm smile spreading across her face.

"Oh, you must be Vivianne!"

Viv barely had time to nod before Beth’s mum pulled her into a tight hug, squeezing her like they had known each other for years. Viv stiffened for a second before awkwardly patting Beth’s mum’s back.

"Uh—hi, yeah, I’m Viv," she mumbled against Beth’s shoulder.

Beth tried not to laugh at the absolute panic in Viv’s eyes as her mum finally pulled away.

"It’s so lovely to finally meet you, love," Beth’s mum said, beaming. "Beth’s told us all about you."

Beth definitely had not.

Viv blinked, throwing Beth a quick look before forcing a polite smile. "Oh… good things, I hope?"

Beth’s mum just winked. "Mostly."

Before Viv could dwell on that, Beth’s dad stepped forward, offering a strong handshake.

"Nice to meet you, Viv," he said, his voice warm but firm.

Viv took his hand, trying not to let her own handshake feel weak in comparison. "Nice to meet you too, Mr. Mead."

Beth’s dad let out a small chuckle. "Call me Richard. Mr. Mead makes me feel ancient."

Viv nodded quickly. "Right. Richard. Got it."

Beth leaned against the wall, watching Viv go through every single polite interaction imaginable like she was ticking boxes off a checklist.

"Alright," Beth cut in, rescuing Viv before her dad could ask any more questions. "We’re gonna head upstairs, sort her stuff out."

Beth’s mum nodded. "Of course, love. Dinner will be ready in an hour or so. Do you eat everything, Viv?"

Viv, still trying to recover from the whirlwind introduction, nodded quickly. "Uh, yeah, everything’s good."

"Perfect," Beth’s mum beamed. "And don't be shy, this house runs on tea. Just say the word."

Viv chuckled softly. "I’ll keep that in mind."

Beth grabbed Viv’s suitcase and motioned for her to follow. "Come on, before they start pulling out baby pictures."

Beth pushed open the door to her childhood bedroom and stepped inside, glancing over her shoulder as Viv followed her in. The room was very Beth—walls lightly decorated with old posters, shelves with football memorabilia, and a few things that had definitely been there since she was a teenager.

Viv looked around, taking it all in, her fingers brushing lightly over a bookshelf as she walked slowly around the room.

Beth leaned against the edge of her bed, watching her. “So, what did you think?”

Viv turned, her brow furrowed slightly. “About what?”

Beth chuckled, shaking her head. “Meeting my parents, obviously.”

Viv hesitated, then exhaled, rubbing the back of her neck. “Oh. Uh, I think I survived?”

Beth raised an eyebrow. “Viv, they hugged you. That’s like, the highest form of approval.”

Viv let out a small laugh, finally meeting Beth’s eyes. “I know, I know. Your mum was really sweet, and your dad—well, I thought he might crush my hand, but I think that means he likes me, right?”

Beth smirked. “Yeah, if he didn’t like you, you’d know.”

Viv gave a small, nervous nod, then went back to scanning the room. Her eyes landed on a framed picture on the dresser, and she picked it up with curiosity.

“You were so young here,” Viv mused, glancing at a photo of Beth, probably around ten, holding up a tiny trophy with the biggest grin.

Beth rolled her eyes. “I was tiny but still had a killer left foot.”

Viv smirked, setting the frame down before moving to the bookshelf. “What’s this?” she asked, pulling out a very battered copy of a football tactics book.

Beth groaned. “Oh my god, put that back. I was, like, twelve and thought I was gonna become a manager or something.”

Viv grinned, flipping through the pages. “Did you highlight stuff?”

Beth covered her face with her hands. “I annotated things, okay? I was very serious about my craft.”

Viv chuckled, finally setting it back on the shelf. “It’s cute.”

Beth dropped her hands, shaking her head. “You’re the worst.”

Viv just smiled at her before walking closer, standing right in front of Beth. “No, I’m not.”

Beth’s breath caught for a second, her heart stuttering at the sudden closeness.

Viv must’ve noticed because she hesitated for just a moment before leaning in, her lips brushing lightly against Beth’s. The kiss was soft, slow, almost shy, and Beth melted into it easily, her hands finding Viv’s waist.

When they pulled apart, Viv lingered close, her forehead almost resting against Beth’s. “I, um…” she started, suddenly remembering something.

Beth tilted her head. “What?”

Viv stepped back slightly, reaching for her bag. “I, uh, actually have something for you.”

Beth blinked, watching as Viv dug into her bag before pulling out a small, neatly wrapped package.

Beth stared at it for a second, then at Viv. “You got me a Christmas present?”

Viv shrugged, looking down at the box like she was suddenly unsure. “Yeah, I mean… you don’t have to open it now. But I just—I wanted to give you something.”

Beth’s chest warmed, and she reached out, taking the gift gently from Viv’s hands. “Viv…”

Beth watched as Viv shifted on her feet, looking down at the small, wrapped box in her hands. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve, a slight nervous energy radiating off of her.

“I just thought, you know… since we’re, um, close and all…” Viv trailed off, clearing her throat as if that would make the moment less awkward.

Beth smirked immediately, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Close?” she teased, tilting her head slightly. “What do you mean by close?”

Viv groaned, rolling her eyes but unable to hide the way her cheeks turned slightly pink. “Beth…”

Beth grinned, stepping a little closer, holding the wrapped gift between them. “I just want to make sure we’re on the same page.”

Viv huffed a quiet laugh, finally meeting her eyes. “You know what I mean.”

Beth pretended to think about it, tapping her fingers against the box. “Do I?” she asked, biting back a smile.

Viv exhaled sharply, shaking her head. “You’re insufferable.”

Beth laughed, finally easing up on the teasing as she gave Viv a soft nudge with her elbow. “I’m kidding. I know what you mean.”

Viv relaxed slightly, watching as Beth carefully started peeling back the wrapping paper. “You didn’t have to get me anything, you know,” Beth murmured as she worked.

Viv shrugged, shoving her hands into the pockets of her jeans. “I wanted to.”

Beth carefully peeled back the wrapping paper, feeling Viv’s eyes on her the entire time. There was something oddly delicate about the moment—like unwrapping this gift meant unwrapping something else between them too. When the paper was finally off, she lifted the lid of the small velvet box inside, and her breath caught slightly.

Nestled inside was a silver necklace with a beautiful green pendant, deep in color but soft in its shine, hanging from a delicate chain. Beth traced her fingers over the smooth surface of the stone, tilting it slightly to catch the light. It wasn’t flashy, but it was undeniably beautiful.

She swallowed, feeling warmth spread through her chest. “Viv…” she murmured, her voice softer than usual.

Viv shifted slightly, rubbing the back of her neck. “Do you like it?” she asked, and Beth caught the slight nervous edge to her voice.

Beth looked up at her, blinking a few times before glancing back at the necklace again. “Are you kidding? This is—” She shook her head slightly, trying to find the right words. “It’s gorgeous.”

Viv let out a small breath, some of her tension easing. “I wasn’t sure if you’d like something like that,” she admitted, her voice quieter now. “But I saw it and thought of you. The color reminded me of your eyes.”

Beth’s fingers froze on the pendant.

She glanced up, finding Viv watching her carefully, a faint pink dusting her cheeks like she hadn’t really meant to say that out loud. Beth felt her heart stumble over itself.

She cleared her throat, shaking her head with a small smile. “Viv, this is—” She exhaled, running her thumb over the pendant again. “It’s really, really special.”

Viv shrugged lightly, trying to downplay it, but Beth could tell she was nervous. “It’s just something small,” she mumbled.

Beth reached for Viv’s wrist, tugging her a little closer. “It’s not small,” she said firmly. “It’s perfect.”

Viv swallowed, her gaze flickering between Beth’s eyes and her own feet. “I just thought… you could wear it, you know, even when we’re not together.”

Beth stared at her, her chest tightening at the sentiment. She knew exactly what Viv meant, even if she hadn’t said it outright.

Beth carefully lifted the necklace from the box, letting the chain dangle between her fingers. “Will you help me put it on?” she asked, her voice quieter now.

Viv nodded, stepping in closer. Beth turned around, lifting her hair up, and felt the coolness of the chain graze her skin as Viv fastened the clasp. Her fingers brushed against the nape of Beth’s neck, and a shiver ran down Beth’s spine.

“There,” Viv murmured, stepping back.

Beth turned around, her fingers immediately finding the pendant, rolling it gently between them. It sat perfectly against her collarbone, resting warm against her skin.

She smiled at Viv, tilting her head slightly. “I love it,” she said again, her voice carrying something softer now.

Viv smiled back, but she looked almost shy about it. “I’m glad.”

Beth looked down at the pendant once more before stepping closer to Viv again, her hand still holding onto it like it was grounding her. Without really thinking, she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to Viv’s cheek, lingering for just a second before pulling back with a quiet smile.

Viv’s face was unmistakably red now, but she didn’t move away. She just exhaled, a small, almost bashful smile tugging at her lips.

Beth lifted the pendant slightly, glancing between it and Viv. “Thank you,” she murmured.

Viv just nodded, watching her like she was committing the moment to memory.

Beth exhaled, running her fingers over the pendant one more time before finally breaking the silence. “So…” she teased, raising an eyebrow. “You got me something pretty—should I expect this to happen often?”

Viv let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. “No promises.”

Beth smirked. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Viv rolled her eyes but didn’t argue, and Beth couldn’t help but grin as she reached for her hand, giving it a small squeeze.

Beth let her fingers trail over the pendant one last time before clearing her throat, suddenly remembering something. "Okay, so... I actually have something for you too," she admitted, glancing at Viv with a slightly sheepish smile.

Viv’s eyebrows lifted in mild surprise. “You do?”

Beth nodded, reaching into her bag and pulling out a small wrapped package. "Yeah, but—" she hesitated, rubbing the back of her neck. "It looks kinda bad compared to what you got me."

Viv frowned playfully, tilting her head. "Beth, it's not a competition."

Beth let out a small huff of laughter, shaking her head. "I know, I know. Just... don't get your hopes up for something fancy, okay?"

Viv gave her a knowing smile before carefully peeling back the wrapping paper. As soon as she saw the book cover, her hands stilled. She blinked down at it, turning it slightly in her hands as she took it in.

It was a book about the history of Dutch football—detailed accounts of the evolution of the sport in the Netherlands, key players, iconic moments. It was thick, full of stories, a piece of home.

Beth watched her reaction closely, suddenly feeling nervous. "I mean, I know it's not a necklace or anything, but I saw it and thought of you, you know? You’re always talking about how much you love the history of football, and, I dunno, I figured you’d—” She trailed off, her voice uncertain when Viv still hadn’t said anything. "If you don’t like it, it’s okay, I—"

"I love it."

Beth froze, looking up at Viv quickly.

Viv was still staring at the book, running her fingers over the cover like it was something precious. When she finally looked up, her eyes were softer, something warm and unreadable behind them. "Beth, this is… this is really thoughtful."

Beth let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Yeah?"

Viv nodded, flipping through the pages briefly before looking at her again. "This is so you."

Beth’s brows furrowed slightly. "What do you mean?"

Viv shook her head with a small smile, like she didn’t know how to put it into words. "It’s just… you listen. You remember things. You didn’t just get me something nice—you got me something that means something." She tapped the book lightly. "This is perfect."

Beth swallowed, feeling her chest tighten in a way she wasn't sure how to describe. She wasn’t expecting Viv to react like that.

Viv exhaled, still looking down at the book before shaking her head lightly. "You know, I actually saw this once in a shop and thought about getting it."

Beth grinned. "Well, good thing you didn’t, huh?"

Viv looked up at her, her lips twitching into a soft smile. "Yeah. Good thing."

Beth nudged her foot lightly. "So I did okay?"

Viv let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "You did more than okay."

Beth felt a wave of relief, followed by something warmer when Viv flipped the book open again, already engrossed in the pages.

Beth and Viv made their way downstairs, stepping into the warm, inviting atmosphere of the dining room where the table was already set. Viv glanced around, taking in the cozy setting, and when her eyes landed on Beth’s brother, Ben, she straightened slightly.

Ben looked up from his drink, offering a small smile. “So you’re Viv, huh?”

Viv nodded, giving him a polite smile. “Yeah. Nice to meet you.”

Ben smirked slightly. “You too. Heard a lot about you.”

Beth groaned, rolling her eyes as she pulled out a chair for herself. “Don’t start.”

Ben ignored her, turning back to Viv. "You comfortable here? Because, you know, if Beth’s room is too much, my old one is still free."

Beth groaned. "Ben."

Viv, who had just taken a sip of water, nearly choked on it. Her eyes darted to Beth, then back to Ben, clearly unsure how to react.

Beth's mom clucked her tongue. "Ben, enough," she scolded, shaking her head. "Let the girl eat in peace."

Ben grinned. "I’m just being welcoming."

Turning to Viv, she asked, “So, how was Christmas back home?”

Viv relaxed slightly at the shift in conversation, taking a sip of her water. “It was nice. Just good to be with family, you know? We don’t do anything too big, but it’s always nice to see everyone.”

Beth’s dad nodded. “Always good to get home when you can.”

The conversation flowed easily, with small talk filling the space as they ate. At one point, Beth’s dad leaned back slightly, looking at Viv. “So, what do you think of England? London in particular?”

Viv wiped her mouth with her napkin before answering. “I really like it. At first, it was a big adjustment, but it’s starting to feel a little like home now.”

Beth’s dad nodded. “That’s good. Settling in makes all the difference.”

“Yeah,” Viv agreed. “It took some time, but now I really enjoy it.”

Viv nodded, smiling slightly, but before she could respond, Beth’s dad followed up. “Do you rent an apartment there, or…?”

Beth gave him a look, subtly shaking her head, but Viv didn’t seem to mind. She took a sip of her water before answering. “I actually own one. Bought it a while ago.”

Beth smirked. “Well, she is rich so-”

Viv shot her a mildly exasperated look but didn’t argue. “Beth.”

Beth’s mom, June, chuckled at their interaction, clearly amused. “That’s a good investment, though. Smart thinking.”

Viv smiled, nodding. “That was the plan.”

Beth, still grinning, nudged Viv’s foot under the table, earning a quiet shake of Viv’s head, but she didn’t seem as nervous anymore.

Ben, who had been listening quietly, finally chimed in. “So, did you always plan on moving to London?”

Viv shook her head. “Not really. Until Arsenal came into the picture. But now, I love it.”

Beth smirked. “Yeah, London does that to you.”

Viv smiled, and for the first time that evening, Beth noticed how much more comfortable she looked. The initial nerves seemed to be fading away, and she was settling in.

As dinner wrapped up, Ben glanced at his phone before pushing his chair back. “Alright, I’m heading out. Meeting some friends.”

Beth’s dad stood, picking up some plates. “I’ll take these to the kitchen.”

Beth’s mom got up as well, walking Ben to the door while Beth and Viv stayed seated.

The room was quieter now, just the two of them left at the table.

Beth turned to Viv with a small smirk. “See? That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

Viv exhaled softly, her lips curving into a smile. “No, it was nice.”

Beth’s gaze softened. “They like you, you know.”

Viv glanced at her, smiling. “Yeah?”

Beth nodded. “Yeah.”

There was a small pause before Beth leaned in slightly, her voice softer. “And I do too.”

Viv’s breath hitched slightly, her eyes flickering down to Beth’s lips before back up. Beth took that as all the encouragement she needed, reaching out to brush a strand of Viv’s hair behind her ear before leaning in.

The kiss started slow, gentle—like they were still testing the waters—but it didn’t take long for it to deepen. Beth’s hand slid to Viv’s waist as she pulled her closer, the warmth between them growing.

Viv’s fingers brushed against Beth’s arm, gripping lightly as she responded, the kiss turning into something neither of them had planned but neither of them wanted to stop.

Beth felt herself getting lost in it, the feel of Viv, the way her lips moved against hers. She was about to deepen it further when—

A voice.

“Oh—”

Beth froze.

Viv froze.

They both turned their heads way too fast toward the doorway, where Beth’s mom was standing, her eyes wide for half a second before she quickly looked away.

“Oh, um—” June cleared her throat, immediately turning toward the kitchen. “I’ll, uh, make some tea.”

Beth could feel her entire body heat up in mortification, while Viv immediately looked down at her lap, completely flustered.

There was a long pause before Beth let out a slow, controlled breath, shutting her eyes for a second before glancing at Viv.

Viv still wasn’t looking up, her cheeks flushed deep red.

Beth swallowed down a laugh and pressed her lips together. “Well. That happened.”

Viv groaned softly. “Beth.”

Beth nudged her gently. “It’s fine. She’s fine. It’s just tea.”

Viv sighed, finally looking up at her. “We were literally—”

Beth cut her off, smirking slightly. “—being very friendly.”

Viv gave her a look. “Beth.”

Beth held up her hands, grinning despite herself. “Okay, okay, I’ll fix it.”

She stood up, grabbing some plates and a few empty glasses from the table, then glanced down at Viv, who still looked completely mortified.

Beth reached out, squeezing Viv’s shoulder. “Stay here, I’ll handle it.”

Viv shot her an unimpressed look. “Beth.”

Beth grinned. “Just sit there and look innocent.”

Viv rolled her eyes, mumbling something under her breath as Beth turned and walked into the kitchen.

Beth walked into the kitchen, exhaling slowly as she tried to act like nothing had just happened. She kept her focus on the sink, rinsing a plate she didn’t even need to wash, just to keep her hands busy. She could feel her mum’s presence beside her, but she refused to look up, already bracing for whatever teasing was coming her way.

June poured tea into two mugs, stirring hers slowly before finally speaking. “So… should I set a place for Viv at the next Christmas dinner, or are you still pretending this is nothing much?”

Beth froze, her grip on the plate tightening. “Mum.”

“What?” June sipped her tea, far too smug. “I think it’s a fair question.”

Beth sighed, setting the plate down. “It’s—” She shook her head, rubbing the back of her neck. “We’re just—figuring things out.”

June hummed, unimpressed. “Mmm. Right. Is that what you call making out at the dinner table these days?”

Beth groaned, covering her face. “We weren’t making out.”

June smirked. “Oh, sure. Looked very respectful from where I was standing.”

Beth shot her a look. “Are you seriously doing this right now?”

June leaned against the counter, her expression playful but warm. “Oh, come on, love. I like her.”

Beth let out a breath, some of her embarrassment shifting into something softer. “Yeah?”

June nodded. “She’s polite. Sweet. Clearly completely gone for you.”

Beth bit her lip, looking down. “I don’t know about that.”

June tilted her head. “Oh, please. She came here.”

Beth’s fingers brushed over the pendant at her neck instead. “And she gave me this.”

June glanced at the necklace, her face softening. “She’s got good taste.”

Beth smiled a little, her fingers wrapping around the charm. “Yeah. She does.”

June studied her for a moment, then smirked. “So, what did you get her?”

Beth shifted uncomfortably. “I—uh. A book.”

June blinked. “A book?”

Beth scowled. “It’s a nice book! About Dutch football history.”

June bit back a laugh. “Oh yes, very romantic.”

Beth groaned. “I thought it was thoughtful.”

June chuckled, shaking her head. “You really are your father’s daughter.”

Beth rolled her eyes. “Alright, enough.”

June lifted her hands in surrender, still grinning. “I’m just saying, love. You might want to step up your game if she’s out here giving you jewelry.”

Beth huffed but didn’t argue. Instead, she picked up one of the mugs and nudged her mum lightly. “Let’s move on.”

June grinned, squeezing Beth’s shoulder. “Come on, love. Let’s go check on your very lovely not-girlfriend before she gets scared off.”

Beth barely had time to sit down before her mum leaned forward, eyes twinkling with curiosity. She hadn’t even taken a sip of her tea yet, and already she knew where this was going.

“So, Viv,” June started, her voice casual but far too calculated. “Tell me, what do you like most about Beth?”

Beth choked on nothing. “MUM.”

Viv, mid-sip of her tea, froze completely. Her eyes darted to Beth, then back to June, and Beth swore she saw a flicker of panic before Viv composed herself. “Uh—I—” Viv hesitated, clearing her throat. “I mean—there’s a lot.”

Beth buried her face in her hands. “Oh my God.”

June grinned, waiting. “Go on, then.”

Viv let out a soft, nervous laugh, her fingers tapping against her mug. “She’s—well, she’s funny. And really easy to be around. And she’s—” Viv glanced at Beth, who refused to make eye contact. “She’s incredibly passionate about what she loves. She cares a lot about people, even when she pretends she doesn’t.”

Beth groaned, wishing she could sink into the floor. “Can we not?”

June smiled, clearly thrilled with Viv’s answer. “That’s sweet.”

Beth peeked at Viv through her fingers. She was still looking slightly shy, but she was also smiling softly, her eyes warm. Beth hated how much she liked that.

June wasn’t done.

“So, do you want kids someday?” she asked, taking a sip of her tea like she hadn’t just dropped a bomb.

Beth physically flinched. “Mum!”

Viv blinked, visibly thrown. “Oh—I—yeah, definitely.” She said it with surprising certainty, like she had thought about it before. “I for sure want kids one day.”

Beth, despite herself, raised an eyebrow, surprised. “Really?”

Viv turned to her, shrugging a little. “Yeah, I’ve always wanted that. I don’t know when or how, but I know I want it.”

Beth stared at her for a second longer than necessary, like she was seeing her in a different light. Then, realizing she had been staring too much, she quickly cleared her throat and looked down at her tea.

June beamed. “That’s lovely.”

Beth was suffering.

And then—because of course—June hit her with, “When did you first realize you liked her?”

Viv’s eyes flickered to Beth, and Beth was staring at her, maybe expecting something casual, maybe expecting her to brush it off. But Viv didn’t. She took a slow breath, fingers tracing the rim of her glass before she finally spoke.

“There were probably a lot of little moments,” Viv admitted, her voice softer now. “But I think the one that really hit me was this one time, I stopped by Beth’s place after training, and on the way, I saw this chocolate bar she’d mentioned once. It was nothing special, just something she said she hadn’t had in a long time. So I grabbed it for her, didn’t think much of it.”

She glanced at Beth, a small smile playing on her lips before she continued.

“But when I gave it to her, she lit up. Like… like I had given her the world. It was just a stupid chocolate bar, but she looked so happy, so genuinely excited over something so small. And I remember thinking—” Viv exhaled softly, looking almost embarrassed at her own words. “I remember thinking, I would do this every day if it means I get to see her smile like that.”

Beth’s stomach flipped.

She hadn’t expected Viv to say something like that, hadn’t expected such an honest, quiet confession in front of her mom, of all people. She could feel her cheeks warming, and she wasn’t even sure what to say.

Her mom, on the other hand, looked thrilled.

“Oh,” June grinned, clearly enjoying Beth’s stunned silence. “That’s very sweet.”

Beth finally blinked, snapping out of it. “Uh—yeah.” She quickly looked away, staring at the table like it was suddenly very interesting.

Viv shifted in her seat, cheeks pink.

June wasn’t finished.

“So, what’s something you’ve learned about Beth since you started seeing her?”

Beth groaned. “MUM.”

Viv, still a little pink, smiled softly. “That she’s softer than she lets on.”

Beth’s head snapped up.

Viv glanced at her, then continued. “She acts tough, and she is. But she’s also… really thoughtful. She overthinks a lot. She cares so much about people that she doesn’t always know what to do with it.” Viv shrugged. “I don’t think most people realize that about her.”

Beth didn’t know what to say.

June, looking far too pleased, nodded. “I’d say that’s very true.”

Beth needed to get out of this conversation.

She stood up abruptly. “Right, that’s enough of that—I need more tea.” She grabbed her empty mug and marched toward the kitchen.

June called after her, “I was just getting started!”

Beth ignored her.

Viv was laughing as she stood up to follow her.

As they stood in the quiet of the kitchen, the warmth of the house settling around them, Beth leaned against the counter, watching as Viv rinsed the last of the dishes. There was something peaceful about the moment, the soft hum of the tap running, the gentle clink of plates. But Beth’s mind wasn’t on that—it was on something else entirely.

She exhaled, tilting her head slightly, her voice quieter when she spoke.

“So… ‘I would do this every day if it means I get to see her smile like that’?” she repeated, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Viv paused, her hands stilling for just a second before she turned to face Beth. Her cheeks were tinged pink, and Beth caught the way she gripped the edge of the sink just a little tighter, like she’d been caught saying something she hadn’t meant to say out loud.

“Well,” Viv started, shifting on her feet, “it’s true.”

Beth let the words settle, let them wrap around her like something warm and weighty. Her fingers tapped lightly against the counter, her heart doing this small, unsteady thing in her chest.

“You really mean that?” she asked, her voice softer now.

Viv nodded, eyes flickering down for a second before meeting Beth’s again. “Yeah. I do.”

Beth swallowed, something unspoken stretching between them. She took a slow step closer, reaching out without really thinking, her fingers brushing lightly over Viv’s wrist before trailing up her arm, just enough to feel the warmth of her skin.

Viv didn’t pull away.

Beth could see the way her breath hitched slightly, the way her lips parted just a little, and so Beth leaned in, closing the space between them. It wasn’t rushed, wasn’t anything more than a simple, gentle press of lips, something light and warm and lingering.

When she pulled back, Viv was still close, her eyes still half-lidded, like she wasn’t entirely ready to move away.

Beth smiled, her thumb brushing lightly against Viv’s forearm. “You really are something else, you know that?”

Viv let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head as she looked down for a second before glancing back up at Beth. “You make it really hard to breathe sometimes, you know that?”

Beth’s smile grew, her hand squeezing Viv’s lightly before she took a small step back. “Good.”

Viv huffed out a small laugh, rolling her eyes, but she was still smiling, still looking at Beth like she hadn’t expected any of this but wasn’t sure she’d want it any other way.

Beth nudged her playfully, breaking the moment just enough. “Come on, let’s go back before my mum comes in here and starts asking more questions.”