If you want to read 20 Chapters ahead and more, be sure to check out my P-Tang12!!!
_____________________________
(A/N: Don't forget to give those power stones to Skyrim everyone!)
...
For the first time since everything happened, it felt like life was truly moving forward again.
The living room stayed loud for a long time after the team arrived.
What had started as a quiet Richmond morning had turned into something closer to a locker-room gathering that just happened to take place inside a luxury mansion.
The coffee table was no longer tidy.
Half-finished toast disappeared quickly.
Scrambled eggs were claimed by multiple hungry professional athletes who had clearly skipped breakfast before driving over.
And Cheddar had officially decided that six additional footballers meant six additional sources of attention.
The corgi moved from player to player like a tiny celebrity greeting fans.
"Alright," laughed Kyle Walker as the dog jumped onto his lap uninvited, "I didn't sign up for this."
"He likes you," said Andrew Robertson, grabbing a piece of toast from the plate.
Walker looked down at the corgi.
Cheddar stared back proudly.
"I think he's judging me."
"That's because he is," said Héctor Bellerín.
Across the room, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had already grabbed the television remote.
He flipped the channel back to sports highlights.
"Oh look," he said dramatically. "Francesco's favorite thing."
On the screen appeared a replay of a recent match highlight.
A commentator's voice echoed faintly.
"—and what a finish that was!"
Oxlade grinned.
"Mate, they're already talking about when you'll be back."
Francesco groaned.
"Can we not talk about football for five minutes?"
"Impossible," said Olivier Giroud from the kitchen island as he poured himself coffee.
"Footballers only know three topics."
"What are they?" asked Leah.
Giroud held up his fingers one by one.
"Football."
"Food."
"Complaining about training."
Everyone laughed.
Even Alexis Sánchez, who was kneeling on the carpet playing with Cheddar, nodded in agreement.
"Accurate."
Francesco leaned back against the wall with his arms crossed.
For the first time in days, he felt completely relaxed.
His teammates weren't treating him like someone who had just been through a legal storm.
They were treating him like the same guy who shared a locker room with them.
The same guy who argued over music playlists in the gym.
The same guy who missed easy chances in training and got mocked for it.
Normal.
That was what it felt like again.
And that meant everything.
Leah leaned closer to him and whispered quietly,
"They missed you."
Francesco glanced at the group.
Robertson and Walker were now arguing over who ate the last piece of fruit.
Giroud was explaining something dramatically with hand gestures.
Oxlade had stolen the remote again.
Sánchez was trying to teach Cheddar how to "high five."
Francesco smiled slightly.
"Yeah."
The team stayed for hours.
At one point they moved outside into the garden.
Walker found a football near the patio and started juggling it.
Within seconds Robertson challenged him.
Then Bellerín joined.
Soon there were six professional footballers casually playing keep-ups in the backyard like teenagers in a park.
Leah stood near the patio watching them with amusement.
"They can't help themselves," she said.
Francesco chuckled beside her.
"Nope."
At one point Giroud attempted a dramatic overhead kick with the ball Walker had chipped up.
He landed safely but theatrically rolled on the grass anyway.
"Foul!" he shouted.
Robertson pointed at him.
"There was no defender!"
"Psychological pressure!"
Everyone laughed.
Eventually the sun began lowering toward the trees.
The group slowly gathered their things.
"Alright," said Walker stretching his arms.
"We should probably let the man enjoy his freedom."
Sánchez nodded.
"Yeah."
Giroud clapped Francesco on the shoulder.
"Good to have you back, my friend."
"Thanks for coming," Francesco said sincerely.
The players climbed back into the SUV one by one.
Robertson leaned out the window.
"Next time we visit we're bringing actual food."
"Please do," Leah replied.
The car pulled away slowly down the driveway.
Cheddar barked dramatically as if escorting them out.
The gate closed behind them.
And once again the mansion returned to its quiet Richmond calm.
Francesco exhaled.
"That was loud."
Leah laughed.
"But good loud."
He nodded.
"Yeah."
Morning arrived again in Richmond.
But this time the day felt different.
The calm still existed.
The birds still chirped.
Sunlight still filled the tall windows of the mansion.
But Francesco's schedule had returned.
The peaceful bubble of the previous day was over.
At exactly 8:30 AM, his phone buzzed on the kitchen counter.
He didn't even need to check the message.
He already knew who it was.
Still, he picked it up.
The message came from his agent.
Jorge Mendes.
Jorge:
Morning. Car will arrive at 9:15.
Francesco sighed.
Leah looked up from the kitchen table.
"That bad?"
He shook his head.
"No."
Then he showed her the message.
She smiled.
"Last day?"
"Yeah."
He leaned against the counter.
Jorge had promised him something the night before.
Just one more day of obligations.
One final round of interviews.
One final set of photoshoots.
One final public appearance with fans.
Then.
Nothing.
A full vacation.
No cameras.
No interviews.
No media chaos.
Just rest until pre-season arrived.
Leah raised her coffee mug toward him like a toast.
"Survive today and you're free."
Francesco chuckled.
"Sounds like another trial."
"Less lawyers though."
"Hopefully."
Cheddar trotted into the kitchen and sat near Francesco's feet.
The corgi looked up expectantly.
Francesco glanced down.
"Oh right."
Breakfast.
He poured the dog's food into the bowl.
Cheddar immediately attacked it like a tiny professional athlete.
Leah shook her head.
"That dog eats like Giroud."
"Hey," Francesco laughed.
"That's not fair."
Right on schedule, a sleek black car pulled into the driveway.
Francesco stepped outside wearing a simple black jacket and jeans.
The driver opened the door politely.
"Good morning, sir."
"Morning."
Leah followed him onto the front steps.
She crossed her arms.
"You'll be back tonight?"
"Yeah."
He kissed her cheek.
"Last day."
She smiled.
"I'll hold you to that."
Cheddar barked from inside the doorway.
Francesco laughed.
"Guard the house."
The corgi wagged his tail proudly.
Then Francesco stepped into the car.
The door closed.
And the vehicle pulled away from the mansion.
The drive took about thirty minutes.
When the car arrived at the media building, Francesco immediately recognized the setup.
Cameras.
Lights.
Producers moving around with clipboards.
One of the producers approached.
"Mr. Lee, thank you for coming."
Francesco nodded politely.
Inside the studio, a familiar interviewer greeted him.
"Francesco, good to see you."
"Good to see you too."
They sat across from each other.
Cameras rolled.
The interviewer smiled toward the lens.
"Today we're joined by one of football's most talked-about players this month…"
Francesco resisted the urge to sigh.
But the conversation went smoother than expected.
They talked about the trial.
They talked about the truth coming out.
They talked about how he handled the pressure.
Francesco answered calmly.
Carefully.
But honestly.
And after forty minutes.
It ended.
The interviewer extended his hand.
"Thank you."
Francesco shook it.
"My pleasure."
One down.
The next location was a commercial photography studio.
A huge white backdrop filled the room.
Bright lights hung overhead.
A photographer approached enthusiastically.
"Francesco! Great to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too."
The photoshoot was surprisingly quick.
Different poses.
Different expressions.
Arms crossed.
Serious look.
Casual smile.
At one point the photographer asked him to hold a football.
"Look confident," the photographer said.
Francesco laughed.
"I'm trying."
Click.
Click.
Click.
Within an hour it was finished.
"Perfect," the photographer said.
"Thanks for your time."
The last stop was a small fan meet-and-greet organized outside a sports store.
A small crowd had already gathered behind barriers.
As soon as Francesco stepped out of the car, cheers erupted.
"FRANCESCO!"
He smiled and waved.
Fans held his jerseys.
Posters.
Football boots.
One young boy stepped forward nervously.
"Can you sign this?"
Francesco crouched slightly and signed the shirt.
"What position do you play?" he asked.
"Striker."
"Good choice."
The kid grinned.
Over the next hour Francesco signed dozens of items.
Took pictures.
Shook hands.
Listened to stories.
And something about the interaction felt good.
The last week had been about accusations.
About courtrooms.
About headlines.
But this reminded him why he loved football in the first place.
The fans.
Their excitement.
Their support.
Finally the event organizer approached.
"That's the last one."
Francesco signed the final jersey.
He stepped back.
Applause rose from the crowd.
"THANK YOU!"
He waved.
"Thank you!"
Then he returned to the car.
When Francesco arrived back at the Richmond mansion, the sun was setting.
The sky glowed orange behind the trees.
He stepped through the front door.
Leah looked up from the couch.
"Well?"
Francesco dropped his keys onto the table and stretched.
"It's done."
She smiled.
"All of it?"
"All of it."
He walked into the living room and collapsed onto the couch beside her.
Cheddar immediately jumped onto his lap.
Leah laughed.
"Welcome back."
Francesco leaned his head back against the cushion.
For the first time since the entire nightmare began—
His schedule was empty.
No interviews tomorrow.
No cameras.
No obligations.
Just vacation.
He closed his eyes for a moment.
Leah nudged him gently.
"So… what are you going to do with all that free time?"
Francesco smiled without opening his eyes.
"Nothing."
Cheddar wagged his tail.
The Richmond evening slowly settled around the mansion.
The orange glow outside the tall windows faded gradually into deep blue twilight. Streetlights flickered on somewhere down the quiet road, and the wind through the trees softened into that gentle nighttime rustle that always seemed to wrap the neighborhood in calm.
Inside the living room, the atmosphere was peaceful again.
The loud chaos of teammates laughing, arguing, and juggling a football in the garden had long faded.
Now there were only three occupants in the house.
Francesco.
Leah.
And Cheddar.
The corgi had claimed his favorite position across Francesco's lap like a tiny, furry king sitting on a throne.
His short legs dangled lazily over the side of the couch.
Francesco scratched behind the dog's ears absentmindedly.
Cheddar's tail wagged slowly with sleepy approval.
Leah watched the scene from the other end of the couch and smiled.
"That dog is spoiled."
Francesco didn't even try to deny it.
"Absolutely."
Cheddar made a soft happy grunt and rolled slightly onto his back, exposing his belly like a small invitation.
Francesco laughed quietly.
"See? Now he wants more."
Leah reached over and rubbed the dog's stomach.
"Well he's been working hard all day."
"Doing what?"
"Security."
Francesco chuckled.
"Ah yes. Guarding the house from dangerous footballers."
Cheddar yawned dramatically as if agreeing.
The TV played quietly in the background again.
But this time it wasn't news.
No reporters.
No analysis.
Just a late-night football highlight show.
Francesco barely noticed it.
His body felt heavy in the best way possible.
The stress of the past weeks had finally loosened its grip.
He stretched his legs out slightly.
Leah glanced at him.
"So…"
He raised an eyebrow.
"So?"
"You're officially unemployed for a few weeks."
Francesco smirked.
"Vacation sounds better."
"Fair."
She leaned back against the couch.
"So what's the plan?"
Francesco shrugged.
"I thought you'd decide."
Leah blinked.
"Me?"
"Yeah."
He pointed at her lazily.
"You've been patient through all this."
He gestured vaguely toward the television.
"The drama. The trial. The media circus."
Leah rolled her eyes.
"That's one way to describe it."
"So you choose."
She tilted her head thoughtfully.
For a moment she didn't answer.
The room stayed quiet except for the soft hum of the television.
Then Leah's eyes lit up slightly.
"Oh."
Francesco noticed immediately.
"That look means trouble."
"No it doesn't."
"It absolutely does."
She sat up a little straighter.
"I have an idea."
Francesco folded his arms.
"Let's hear it."
Leah smiled slightly.
"What if we go somewhere?"
"We can go anywhere."
"No interviews."
"No cameras."
"No teammates."
"No lawyers."
"No courtrooms."
Francesco nodded slowly.
"That sounds amazing already."
Leah leaned forward slightly.
"What if we go to Paris?"
Francesco blinked once.
"Paris?"
She nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes."
Then she spread her hands dramatically.
"The City of Love."
Francesco laughed softly.
"You've been waiting to say that, haven't you?"
"Maybe."
She shrugged playfully.
"But seriously."
She leaned closer.
"Think about it."
"Good food."
"Beautiful streets."
"The river."
"The lights at night."
Francesco watched her for a moment.
Her excitement was contagious.
He leaned back against the couch again and looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully.
Paris.
He hadn't been there in a long time.
Most of his trips there had been quick.
Champions League matches.
Club obligations.
Short business visits.
Never really a proper vacation.
He rubbed his chin slightly.
Leah studied him carefully.
"Well?"
Francesco tilted his head.
"You really want to go?"
"Yes."
He thought for another moment.
Then slowly nodded.
"Alright."
Leah blinked.
"That easy?"
He shrugged.
"Why not?"
Then he smiled slightly.
"The City of Love, huh?"
Leah laughed.
"Don't make it sound sarcastic."
"I'm not."
He reached for his phone on the coffee table.
"You know what this means."
Leah raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Francesco unlocked his phone.
"I need to call the wizard."
"The wizard?"
He grinned.
"Jorge."
Leah laughed.
"That man really does fix everything."
"Pretty much."
Francesco scrolled through his contacts and tapped the name.
Jorge Mendes
The phone rang twice.
Then the familiar voice answered.
"Francesco."
"Hey Jorge."
"You survived the day?"
"Barely."
Jorge chuckled lightly.
"I heard the interviews went well."
"They did."
"So what do you need?"
Francesco glanced at Leah.
She was watching him expectantly.
He smiled.
"I need a favor."
Jorge sighed dramatically on the other end.
"You always need a favor."
"True."
"So what is it this time?"
Francesco leaned back into the couch.
"Private jet."
Jorge paused.
"Where to?"
Francesco looked at Leah again.
She mouthed the word silently.
Paris.
He nodded.
"Paris."
There was a short silence.
Then Jorge spoke again.
"Vacation?"
"Yeah."
"Finally."
Francesco chuckled.
"Exactly."
"When do you want to leave?"
Francesco didn't hesitate.
"Tomorrow afternoon."
Jorge exhaled slowly.
"You don't waste time."
"Nope."
Another short pause.
Then the agent spoke again in that calm professional tone he always used when solving complicated problems.
"I'll handle it."
Francesco grinned.
"I knew you would."
"I'll have a jet ready tomorrow afternoon."
"Perfect."
"And Francesco?"
"Yeah?"
"Enjoy the vacation."
Francesco smiled.
"That's the plan."
They hung up.
Leah immediately leaned forward.
"Well?"
"Done."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"That fast?"
"Jorge works like magic."
She laughed.
"Apparently."
Cheddar shifted on Francesco's lap again, stretching his little legs.
Francesco scratched his head again.
"Well."
Leah tilted her head.
"Well what?"
"There's one small problem."
Her eyebrows lifted.
"What?"
Francesco looked down at the corgi.
Cheddar looked back up at him happily.
Leah followed his gaze.
"Oh."
They both said the same word at the same time.
"Cheddar."
The dog wagged his tail proudly.
Clearly unaware that he had just become the subject of a logistical discussion.
Leah frowned slightly.
"We can't bring him on the trip."
Francesco nodded.
"Yeah."
"Dogs and Paris hotels don't always mix."
Cheddar barked once like he was protesting.
Leah sighed.
"So what do we do?"
Francesco thought for a moment.
Then snapped his fingers.
"I've got it."
Leah looked curious.
"What?"
"My parents."
Her expression brightened.
"Oh!"
Francesco nodded.
"Yeah."
He smiled slightly.
"My mom would love it."
Leah laughed.
"That's true."
"Seriously."
Francesco leaned back again.
"My mom, Sarah, already treats Cheddar like a grandchild."
Leah nodded.
"I remember."
"She'll spoil him even more than we do."
Cheddar wagged his tail again as if approving the idea.
Leah grinned.
"Well then."
Francesco picked up his phone again.
"I'll call her."
The phone rang only once before being answered.
"Francesco?"
The warm voice of his mother filled the line.
Sarah Lee
"Hi Mom."
"Hello sweetheart."
"How are you?"
"I'm good."
He glanced at Leah and smiled.
"I actually wanted to ask you something."
"Oh?"
Francesco looked down at Cheddar again.
"Do you want to babysit your favorite grand-dog for a few days?"
There was a short pause.
Then Sarah laughed warmly.
"Cheddar?"
"Yes."
"Of course!"
Leah laughed quietly from beside him.
Sarah continued happily through the phone.
"Bring him tomorrow."
"I'll make sure he's fed properly."
"And he can play in the garden."
Francesco smiled.
"I knew you'd say yes."
Sarah paused again.
"Why?"
Francesco leaned back.
"Leah and I are taking a vacation."
"Oh!"
"Where?"
He glanced at Leah again.
"Paris."
Sarah sounded delighted.
"The City of Love!"
Leah covered her mouth trying not to laugh.
Francesco rolled his eyes slightly.
"Yes Mom."
"Well that's wonderful."
"You two deserve it."
"Thanks."
"Bring Cheddar tomorrow morning."
"We will."
They said goodbye and ended the call.
Francesco placed the phone back on the table.
Leah crossed her legs comfortably on the couch.
"So."
"So."
She smiled.
"Paris tomorrow."
Francesco nodded.
"Paris tomorrow."
Cheddar barked happily.
Leah looked down at him.
"Sorry buddy."
"You're going to grandma's house."
The corgi tilted his head curiously.
Francesco scratched his ears again.
"Don't worry."
"You'll probably get more treats there anyway."
Cheddar's tail wagged immediately.
Leah laughed.
"Yeah he'll survive."
Francesco leaned back into the couch again.
For the first time in what felt like forever, the future felt simple again.
No courtrooms.
No scandals.
No headlines.
Just a trip.
A vacation.
Paris.
The Richmond night deepened outside the mansion.
The last streaks of orange twilight disappeared behind the tall trees lining the quiet street, leaving the sky a deep velvet blue. Inside the house, warm lights illuminated the living room in soft golden tones, reflecting off the polished wood floor and the wide glass windows that overlooked the garden.
Francesco remained on the couch for another moment after the call with his mother ended.
Cheddar was still sprawled comfortably across his lap like he owned the place.
The corgi's eyes were half closed now, the earlier excitement fading into pure contentment. His little chest rose and fell slowly as he drifted somewhere between awake and asleep.
Leah watched them both with amusement.
"You know," she said softly, "if he gets any more comfortable, we might have to carry him upstairs."
Francesco looked down at the dog.
"Hey."
Cheddar opened one eye lazily.
"We have plans tomorrow."
The corgi blinked once… then closed his eye again as if to say that sounds like a tomorrow problem.
Leah laughed quietly.
"Yeah, good luck explaining travel logistics to him."
Francesco gently lifted Cheddar and set him onto the couch cushion beside him.
The dog barely reacted, curling into a tighter ball immediately.
"Well," Francesco said, stretching his arms above his head, "we should probably start packing."
Leah nodded.
"Yeah."
She stood up from the couch and glanced toward the staircase.
"Paris isn't exactly a one-outfit trip."
Francesco smirked.
"You say that like you've already planned the entire wardrobe."
Leah placed a hand on her hip.
"I absolutely have."
He laughed and followed her toward the stairs.
The house creaked softly with quiet nighttime stillness as they climbed up to the second floor.
Their bedroom sat at the end of the hallway overlooking the garden. When Leah opened the door, the cool evening air drifted in from the partially open balcony doors.
The curtains moved gently with the breeze.
Francesco walked inside and immediately headed toward the closet.
"Well," he said, pulling a suitcase down from the shelf, "how long are we staying?"
Leah thought for a second.
"A week?"
He placed the suitcase on the bed and unzipped it.
"A week in Paris."
"That sounds about right."
Leah opened her side of the closet and started pulling out clothes.
Casual summer dresses.
Comfortable walking shoes.
A jacket for the cooler evenings by the river.
Francesco grabbed a few shirts and tossed them into the suitcase.
Leah raised an eyebrow.
"You pack like a footballer."
"What does that mean?"
"You throw things randomly into a bag and hope for the best."
"It works."
She shook her head.
"Not in Paris."
Francesco chuckled as he grabbed another stack of clothes.
"Alright, fashion expert. You handle the organization."
Leah moved beside him and immediately started rearranging the suitcase properly.
Shirts folded.
Shoes placed neatly along the side.
Extra space left for anything they might buy during the trip.
Francesco leaned against the dresser watching her.
"You've done this before."
She smirked.
"Unlike some people."
He crossed his arms.
"Hey, when you travel with a football team, someone else usually handles the bags."
"Exactly my point."
They packed slowly, talking about the little things they wanted to do during the trip.
Walking along the Seine.
Trying different cafés.
Maybe visiting some museums.
At one point Leah held up a black dress.
"What about dinner somewhere fancy?"
Francesco nodded.
"Definitely."
She folded it carefully into the suitcase.
"Good."
Francesco added his last pair of jeans and zipped the luggage closed.
"That should do it."
Leah glanced at the suitcase.
"For you maybe."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You packed twice as much as me."
"Preparation."
"Overpacking."
"Preparation."
Francesco laughed and carried both suitcases toward the bedroom door.
"We can argue about it in Paris."
They placed the luggage near the staircase ready for the morning.
By the time they returned downstairs, Cheddar had moved from the couch to his favorite spot on the rug near the coffee table.
The corgi lifted his head as they walked in.
"Woof?"
Francesco crouched and scratched his ears.
"Big day tomorrow, buddy."
Leah knelt beside them.
"You're going to grandma's house."
Cheddar's tail wagged lazily.
Then he flopped onto his back again, asking for belly rubs.
Francesco sighed dramatically.
"See? He's not worried about anything."
Leah smiled.
"Dogs are smarter than people sometimes."
Soon the house lights dimmed as they headed upstairs again.
The Richmond night passed quietly.
And morning came sooner than expected.
⸻
Sunlight streamed through the bedroom curtains the next morning, filling the room with warm golden light.
Francesco woke first.
He blinked slowly and glanced toward the window.
Birds chirped somewhere outside.
The calm suburban rhythm of Richmond had already begun for the day.
Beside him, Leah stirred slightly.
"What time is it?" she mumbled sleepily.
Francesco checked his phone.
"Eight."
Leah stretched under the blanket.
"We should probably get moving."
"Yeah."
They got dressed quickly, the excitement of the trip giving the morning a sense of energy.
Downstairs, Cheddar was already awake.
The corgi ran across the kitchen floor the moment he saw them.
"Woof! Woof!"
Francesco laughed.
"Someone's ready."
Leah grabbed a small travel bag from the counter.
Inside were Cheddar's things.
Dog food.
His favorite toy.
A small blanket he liked to sleep on.
"You're packed too," she told the dog.
Cheddar barked proudly.
Outside in the driveway sat Francesco's black BMW X5, gleaming in the morning sunlight.
Francesco opened the back door and began placing Cheddar's bag in the rear seat.
Then he carried the suitcases out of the house and placed them carefully in the trunk.
Leah stepped outside holding Cheddar in her arms.
The corgi looked around curiously, ears perked.
"Ready for a road trip?" she asked him.
Cheddar wagged his tail.
Francesco closed the trunk.
"All set."
Leah opened the passenger door and climbed inside, still holding the dog comfortably on her lap.
Cheddar settled immediately, his head resting against her arm.
Francesco slid into the driver's seat and started the engine.
The SUV hummed to life smoothly.
"Next stop," he said, glancing toward Leah with a smile.
"Grandma's house."
She laughed.
"I think Cheddar's going to have the best vacation out of all of us."
Francesco pulled out of the driveway and onto the quiet Richmond street.
The morning drive felt calm and relaxed.
London traffic hadn't fully built up yet, and the roads were still relatively open.
Cheddar sat happily in Leah's lap, occasionally looking out the window as the scenery passed by.
Green parks.
Rows of townhouses.
Quiet cafés beginning to open for the day.
Leah scratched the corgi's neck gently.
"You're going to be spoiled today."
Cheddar wagged his tail again.
Francesco chuckled from behind the wheel.
"My mom is definitely going to give him more treats than we do."
Leah nodded.
"No doubt."
About forty minutes later, the car turned into a familiar quiet neighborhood where Francesco's parents lived.
The house looked warm and welcoming, surrounded by a tidy garden full of flowers and small trees.
As soon as the BMW rolled into the driveway, the front door opened.
Sarah stepped outside with a bright smile.
"Well look who's here!"
Leah opened the passenger door carefully.
Cheddar immediately jumped down and ran toward the house.
"Woof! Woof!"
Sarah crouched down and scooped him up into a hug.
"Oh hello my little sweetheart!"
Francesco shook his head laughing as he walked up the driveway.
"See? I told you."
Sarah scratched the corgi behind the ears.
"You're staying with grandma for a few days."
Cheddar wagged his tail wildly.
Leah handed Sarah the small bag.
"His food and toys are in here."
Sarah nodded.
"Perfect."
Then she looked at Francesco.
"So when's your flight?"
"This afternoon."
"Well you have time to stay for coffee."
Francesco smiled.
"That sounds good."
They went inside for a short visit.
The house smelled like fresh coffee and baked bread.
Cheddar immediately ran around the living room exploring before settling beside Sarah like he had lived there forever.
Leah laughed.
"I think he's already forgotten us."
Sarah grinned.
"That's because he knows he's getting spoiled."
They stayed for a while, chatting comfortably.
But eventually Francesco checked the time.
"We should head to the airport soon."
Leah nodded.
They both stood up.
Francesco bent down and scratched Cheddar's head.
"Be good."
The corgi barked happily.
Sarah waved them toward the door.
"Enjoy Paris."
"We will."
They stepped outside and got back into the BMW.
As Francesco started the engine again, Leah looked back toward the house.
Cheddar sat in the window beside Sarah watching them leave.
She smiled softly.
"He'll be fine."
Francesco nodded.
"Definitely."
He pulled out of the driveway and turned toward the highway leading to the airport.
The journey ahead felt exciting.
No stress.
No obligations.
Just travel.
Just Paris.
And waiting for them at the airport, as the private jet arranged by the ever-reliable Jorge Mendes that told them as their vacation had officially begun.
______________________________________________
Name : Francesco Lee
Age : 18 (2016)
Birthplace : London, England
Football Club : Arsenal First Team
Championship History : 2014/2015 Premier League, 2014/2015 FA Cup, 2015/2016 Community Shield, 2016/2017 Premier League, 2015/2016 Champions League, Euro 2016, Premier League Champion 2016/2017, and 2016/2017 Champions League.
Season 16/17 stats:
Arsenal:
Match: 55
Goal: 87
Assist: 5
MOTM: 14
POTM: 1
England:
Match: 1
Goal: 1
Assist: 0
MOTM: 0
Season 15/16 stats:
Arsenal:
Match Played: 60
Goal: 82
Assist: 10
MOTM: 9
POTM: 1
England:
Match Played: 2
Goal: 4
Assist: 0
Euro 2016
Match Played: 6
Goal: 13
Assist: 4
MOTM: 6
Season 14/15 stats:
Match Played: 35
Goal: 45
Assist: 12
MOTM: 9