CHAPTER 32

Gen clutched the blanket to her body even tighter as she tossed in her sleep. As of late, sleeping without Oliver was a new thing, but something she was getting adjusted to as he was still in the running for the national team. She wasn't sure exactly when they had fallen into a rhythm of sleeping over every night but as soon as he got the second letter, she realized that they'd spend another weekend apart. Fred lay curled up next to her like a croissant in place of Oliver instead which tickled her. Oliver was hesitant when spending the night in letting the cat sleep with them, but eventually grew fond of it over time.

Tonight was an early night. After the girls' night on Friday, Gen had spent most of Saturday and today getting chores done around the apartment and spending time with herself. As much as she missed Oliver, it was nice to have a little space to do whatever she wanted. Today had been spent getting things in order for the week and she had gone for a run before inviting Cress over for breakfast. She knew it would be like this for a while if Oliver made the national team. They had agreed that they'd split their weekends: some weekends they'd spend it apart and others, she'd go into London with him and they'd stay at the Zhao loft.

"M'love," she heard a voice say. Gen was convinced that she was dreaming and clutched the blanket closer to her body.

She heard that all too familiar chuckle and the Scottish accent that she loved murmur, "Figures. Fred, you little shit. That he'd take my side of the bed while I was gone… C'mon Fred. Help a guy out."

Realizing that it wasn't a dream, Gen began to blink her eyes open slowly, to find her boyfriend gently moving the cat down, off of the bed.

"Ollie?" she muttered, still half asleep.

"Yes, m'love?" he answered, crawling into bed with her. She rolled over onto his side, reaching for him, delighted to feel a body next to hers. She blinked her eyes open, nuzzling her nose up to the side of his face.

"You're back," she said, sleepily but happily.

"I'm home, baby," he smiled.

"Mmmm," she sounded, kissing him on the cheek.

Oliver smirked, turning to his girlfriend in bed, "Well that's no way to welcome me home."

She giggled, placing a hand on his face and kissing him on the lips, "Well, how is this then?"

He smiled into the kiss, deepening it, "Better."

"And this?" Gen asked, wrapping a leg around his hip, pulling them closer together.

"I like where this is going," Oliver answered, his hand immediately snaking down to explore her leg. He moved from her leg to her hips to her butt, pulling her even closer. She laughed a little, biting her bottom lip as she knew exactly where this was going.

"Me too," Gen said, now wide awake, blissed out in her happiness. Oliver gently and playfully rolled her over onto her back, climbing on top as he leaned down to kiss her again. This time the kiss was deep, passionate, and urgent. Gen knew they had only spent a weekend away from each other but she could tell just how eager he was now, to come home to her. "Looks like someone missed me."

"I did, m'love," he smiled, sitting up tall and removing his shirt.

She raised an eyebrow at her handsome and shirtless boyfriend, taking a moment to check him out, "I missed you too."

"We goin' out for drinks or what?" Nate asked after practice to both Oliver and Benjy.

"We've got training tomorrow!" Oliver exclaimed, out of shock.

"Come off it, Wood. Now that you and Williams are big shots and Waddington's stepping into my place after this season, let a guy have his last months of normal before I become a father," Nate shrugged, innocently.

"He's right, you know. 'S gonna change your whole bloody life around. Or so I've heard," Benjy said.

Oliver shrugged, thinking it over, "Well it IS a later practice. It's just we've got the prelims against the Wanderers in a few weeks and if we make it… we've got finals at the start of May!"

"Oh loosen up, Wood. You and Zhao go back to not shagging or something?" Benjy teased. Oliver rolled his eyes. He could tell them the welcome back that he and Gen had had last night but he wouldn't. He'd rather take the teasing from Benjy than say anything to disrespect what they had together. He knew Benjy was kidding but it wasn't always funny.

Oliver blushed, "Shove off, Williams."

"I'm just teasin' you," William sighed out. "Think of it this way. We're ready for the game against the Wanderers. It won't be easy but we're ready. This is Nate's last season before he and the wife pop out a kiddo and if you and I DO make the team… we'll we're head down and hard at work for the next two years."

"What do you say?" Nate asked.

"Last night of freedom?" Benjy proposed.

Oliver looked from Nate to Benjy. They had been doing this longer and he had always looked to them both as mentors. They were right. A lot was going to change

"I-," he started, but was immediately cut off by Daniel Deverill.

"Williams! Wood! In my office, please," the man bellowed, grabbing both Benjy and Oliver's attention.

"Alright, yeah, I'll meet for one drink," Oliver said softly, almost afraid that if Dan heard him, he'd be in trouble.

"That's it, mate," Nate smiled. "Looks like we may even have something to celebrate too." He nodded towards Deverill, both Benjy and Oliver turning to following their coach off of the pitch and into his office.

Oliver was unsure that they'd have anything to celebrate. He knew that they were supposed to be hearing about the trials as soon as possible but he hadn't expected that it'd be this soon. After the first round, it had taken a week or two to get back to them through owl. After the second round and scrimmage games, he had noticed both him and Benjy being put into play a lot. He hadn't wanted to assume but could only imagine it was a good thing. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. This had been his dream ever since he was a boy. He was so close and it could go either way. What if he didn't get the spot and Williams did? What if he was offered a reserve spot? There were about fifty possibilities running through his head at once as the three men walked back to Deverill's office.

As soon as they entered the office, Oliver's eyes flickered for the open mail on Deverill's desk. He swallowed, trying to cope with the anxiety he felt in that moment.

"Williams… Wood…" Daniel started, looking sternly at both boys.

Uh oh.

"You've done an exceptional job representing not just Puddlemere, but also yourselves in this round of national team trials," Daniel started.

"Thank you, sir," Wood said, nervously.

"Williams I know this has been something that you've been up for before… Wood, it's your first time trying out…" Daniel continued. He picked up the open letter on his desk, glancing at it one last time before looking to both men. "The English National team wants to offer both of you full spots on the team."

Benjy's eyes lit up in excitement as he exclaimed in disbelief, "What?!"

"Yes. Congratulations," Daniel said.

It was like the wind had been knocked out of Wood for a second and he was frozen in time. This was a dream. This was THE dream. All he could do was stand there in absolute shock and listen to the words that followed.

"McConnell is sending over both of your contracts by the end of the week and we're going to negotiate from there. Obviously within the next year we'll have more opportunity for reserves to step into your spots temporarily and ehm, ehhh, we'll navigate the training schedule for the World Cup. We'll be using the reserves for the second half of your season in 2002 so that you'll be there in London to practice," Daniel said.

"Thank you, sir. Merlin, I can't believe," Benjy said happily. "Wood, you hear that? We're gonna be on the national team. Full spots."

Wood let out a laugh in surprise, "I-, I don't know what to say."

"Wood, you deserve this. You don't have to say anything," Daniel answered.

"Thank you, sir. Thank you," he said, unable to hide the grin from his face.

"Ehh you guys did all the work. I'll eh, I'll try my best to coach you up till then but you're the ones that held your own at the trials. I'm proud of you guys. Now go out there and tell your team… tell anyone who's still here from practice. You guys should celebrate," Daniel satisfied, satisfied with both of his athletes.

"Thank you," Oliver said, standing up, immediately knowing what he had to do. Buzzing with excitement, he hurried down the hallway to where Gen's office was. He knew she had been working with Abbot after practice but hoped she'd be done.

Wood saw the door to the office cracked, eagerly pushing it open.

"Woah! Wood, you're coming in hot or what?" Lucy asked, a little surprised as she stood in front of the door. The door had flown open to reveal an elated looking Oliver, just as she was going to reach for the door handle.

"Where's Gen?" he asked, gazing into the empty office.

"Out on the pitch. Think she had to catch up with Cress before she was going to find you or-," Lucy started, but before she could even finish her sentence, Wood had taken off, sprinting off to the pitch. "Nice talking to you too, Wood."

Oliver let his feet carry him down the hallway, his stride widening as he couldn't wait to tell her. He practically ripped the door off of its hinges as I sprinted onto the pitch, seeing both Cress and Gen talking as Cress collected her things.

"Zhao!" he called out, running towards her.

"Ollie, what's going on?" she asked, immediately picking up on his urgency.

"I made it! I made the team. I-, Deverill just told us. I made the national team!" Oliver shouted, about to burst through his skin with the news.

"Bloody hell!" Gen practically screamed, jumping into his arms. Oliver caught her, squeezing her tight. "You did it!"

"We did it," he grinned, kissing her.

"Blimey, Wood. This is incredible. Congrats," Cress said, standing up and walking over to the couple. Gen landed softly on her feet, turning to her friend.

"See, I told you a celebratory drink would be in order!" Nate said, entering the pitch with Benjy by his side.

"You too?!" Cress exclaimed, turning to Benjy.

"Could've seen that one coming, darling," Benjy replied with a wink, causing Cress to roll her eyes.

"You're great at making me regret giving you any kind of compliment. You know that, Williams?" Cress shot back, only half joking. "Your charm - or whatever you'd like to call it - doesn't work on me." She crossed her arms across her chest.

"Then what would?" Benjy smirked.

"Benjy!" Gen exclaimed, rolling her eyes at her friend. "Come off it for one damn second. Merlin."

Benjy let out a laugh, "Yes, Wood and I both made it. So… who's up for that drink after all?"