Mini sat in her kitchen, the adoption paperwork spread across the table. Her heart raced as she stared at the official letter confirming that, after a grueling year of legal battles and endless waiting, she was now officially Y/n's foster parent.
It had been a long and painful journey. The team had been devastated when Y/n's previous foster placement had abruptly taken her to Melbourne and cut her off from soccer. Mini had fought tooth and nail to bring her back, keeping the team in the dark to avoid getting their hopes up. Now, she could finally share the good news.
The Matildas gathered in the locker room, stretching and chatting after a light training session. Mini stood at the front, her arms crossed, waiting for everyone to quiet down.
Kyra leaned back in her seat, her brows furrowed. "What's with the serious face, Mini? Did we lose our snack budget or something?"
Mini chuckled, shaking her head. "No, it's better than that. I have some news—big news."
The room fell silent, curiosity spreading like wildfire.
"Y/n is coming home."
The words hung in the air for a moment before chaos erupted.
"WHAT?" Kyra shot to her feet, nearly knocking over her water bottle.
"Are you serious?" Caitlin exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"Where has she been? When is she coming back?" Macca asked, her voice a mix of excitement and urgency.
Mini held up her hands, trying to calm them down. "I've been working on fostering her for the past year. It wasn't easy, but it's official now. Y/n moves in with me tomorrow."
Kyra was practically vibrating with energy. "Why didn't you tell us sooner? We could've helped!"
"I didn't want to get anyone's hopes up," Mini admitted. "But now that it's official, I couldn't wait to tell you."
Alanna grinned. "The kid's not going to know what hit her when she sees all of us again."
Mini drove to the foster home in Melbourne the next day, her nerves bubbling as she pulled into the driveway. She'd kept in touch with Y/n through sporadic letters, but the year apart had been hard on both of them.
Y/n sat on the porch, her head down as she fiddled with a loose thread on her hoodie. She looked up when Mini approached, her eyes lighting up in surprise.
"Mini?"
"Hey, kiddo." Mini smiled, crouching down to her level. "I've got some news for you."
Y/n's brow furrowed. "What kind of news?"
Mini hesitated, her voice soft as she said, "You're coming home with me."
Y/n blinked, her mouth falling open. "Wait, what?"
"I'm your foster mum now," Mini said, her own voice thick with emotion. "You're coming back to Sydney. Back to the team. Back to us."
Tears welled up in Y/n's eyes as the words sank in. "You mean it? I get to come back?"
Mini pulled her into a tight hug. "Of course I mean it. We've missed you so much. I've missed you so much."
Y/n buried her face in Mini's shoulder, her tears soaking into Mini's jacket. "I missed you too. So much."
The next day, Mini brought Y/n to the training ground. The teen was nervous, clutching Mini's hand as they walked inside. She hadn't seen the team in a year and worried they might have forgotten her.
"Don't look so scared," Mini whispered, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "They're going to be over the moon to see you."
As they entered the locker room, the team was already gathered. Y/n hesitated in the doorway until Kyra spotted her.
"NO WAY!" Kyra bolted across the room, scooping Y/n up in a bear hug. "You're back!"
"Kyra—can't breathe!" Y/n gasped, laughing through her tears.
The rest of the team quickly surrounded her, showering her with hugs and rapid-fire questions.
"Where have you been?"
"Are you okay?"
"Why didn't you call?"
Y/n looked at Mini for help, overwhelmed by the outpouring of love.
Mini stepped in, raising her voice. "Alright, give her some space! She's not going anywhere."
Caitlin grinned, ruffling Y/n's hair. "You better not. We've been waiting for this moment forever."
Kyra slung an arm around Y/n's shoulder, her tone teasing but affectionate. "Guess what, kid? You're stuck with us again."
Y/n's heart swelled as she looked around at the familiar faces. For the first time in a year, she felt like she was exactly where she belonged.
"Good," she said, her voice steady despite the tears in her eyes. "Because I missed you guys too much to ever leave again."