Heartbreak was a funny thing...okay, well not funny, how about, peculiar?

And second hand heartbreak, that was complex, something that no one really had the vocabulary to explain or understand. Which begs the question, how does a twenty-something year old woman who takes photos of footballers for a living explain it to an eight year old?

It was late in the evening, the night before, when Billie and Jamie were curled up in bed, facetiming his mum. Both women had spoken over the phone dozens of times, which mainly consisted of Georgie gushing about how happy she was that her son was with a woman like Billie.

They were discussing the trip to Portugal, insisting that next summer, Georgie and Simon would have to join them on a long weekend away and right on cue, Simon chimed in, reeling off a list of places that had the nicest patisseries in Europe.

That conversation continued until there was a knock at the door, which Billie made her way downstairs to answer, met with the sight of a frowning Roy and a sulking Phoebe.

"You told her?" Billie had frowned at her brother, who simply nodded, "And?"

"Can I stay here tonight?" Phoebe asked her auntie.

"I'll have to ask Jamie, kiddo," Billie answered, even though she knew he wouldn't mind, "Why don't you head into the kitchen, find some of those milkshake straws Jamie keeps for you?"

"Alright, Auntie Billie." Phoebe nodded, heading straight for the kitchen at the back of the house.

"How did it go?" Billie asked her brother.

"Phoebe called me stupid," Roy sighed.

"I make her right," Billie huffed, recalling the conversation she'd had with her brother after it happened, "But, I also know that you need to sort your head out."

"We broke up because we're busy," Roy insisted.

"That's not true," Billie quipped, "We both know it, you need to work on yourself, alright?"

"You know, Phoebe asked me to bring her here because she said you and Jamie are her last shot at believing in true love," Roy replied, and admitting it hurt, because he saw the way that Jamie loved Billie, it was a fearless kind of love, the kind of love that Roy didn't believe he himself deserved, and that belief ultimately strained his relationship with Keeley.

"You'll be okay, Royo," Billie assured her big brother, wrapping her arms around him, "I promise, and I love you."

Roy remained silent as he hugged his little sister, because he wasn't even sure he deserved her love.

"I'll tell Jamie you've got a headache or something," Billie assured him, not because she intended on lying to her boyfriend, but because she knew what her brother needed.

"So, he had a headache?" Jamie frowned as he stood beside Billie in his kitchen the following morning, the pair watching Phoebe as she ate the chocolate chip pancakes the striker had made them all for breakfast.

"Yeah," Billie nodded as Nelson sat between their feet, waiting eagerly for any dropped crumbs, "Needed to sleep it off, Phoebe was sad she couldn't watch Shrek with him, which is why she watched it with us last night instead."

"And Keeley couldn't-"

"She was busy with work," Billie promptly answered.

"Right," Jamie nodded, "How long till we have to leave for school?"

"Like five minutes," Billie told him, "You know how it'll look if people see us together at the school gates, right?"

"I'll wait for you around the corner, babe," Jamie smiled, kissing the side of her head, "Just like old times."

"Auntie Billie," Phoebe looked up from her pancakes at the two adults who stood on the other side of the kitchen island, "Do you believe in soulmates?"

"Sure," Billie nodded, because it was true, she believed in soulmates in all aspects of life, not just romantic.

"I think you and Jamie are soulmates," Phoebe replied, causing both adults to smile, "And when you get married, I'll be an excellent bridesmaid."

"I don't doubt it, kiddo," Billie smiled fondly.

"Would Uncle Roy give you away?" Phoebe asked.

"I hadn't really thought about it," Billie hummed, knowing that her own father was more or less absent from her life, meaning that such a responsibility would end up falling to her big brother.

"Hey," Jamie smiled at Phoebe, sensing Billie's hesitation, "Why don't you get those teeth brushed and I'll sneak an extra chocolate bar into your lunchbox when Bils ain't looking?"

"Okay, Uncle Jamie," Phoebe grinned, hopping down from the bar stool and hurrying upstairs to the bathroom.

"You okay, babe?" Jamie glanced at Billie, noticing the way she tensed up at the mention of being 'given away.'

"It's been a year and a half since I last saw my dad," Billie whispered, "And I hate myself everytime I find myself wishing I had a dad who could've just cared, because I remember everything that yours did, and well mine is nothing in comparison."

"Hey," Jamie soothed, wrapping his arms around her and kissing the top of her head, "Your pain isn't any less important, alright?"

"Do you think we've got daddy issues?" Billie asked and Jamie simply smiled.

"Probably, babe," Jamie laughed, forever amazed by her ability to surprise him with her choice of words.

"Explains a lot," Billie mumbled, "You being older than me."

"Bils, I'm only ten months older than you," Jamie grinned.

Despite their efforts to keep their relationship private, Jamie still insisted on driving Billie to work. It made sense, given that they shared a workplace, and ultimately, Jamie loved being around her, he liked to savour every moment together that he could.

They were grateful that it was Ted that had seen them arrive together that morning rather than one of the boys, Ted who had waited by the clubhouse entrance before walking up to Rebecca's office with Billie, the pair discussing the most recent season of Queer Eye.

The last thing either of them were expecting was such a joyous morning greeting from Higgins, Rebecca and Keeley. Keeley, who Billie still hadn't found the right words to offer, following Roy's heartbreaking decision.

"Ted!...and Billie!" Rebecca exclaimed with a smile.

"Hey, look who's here," Ted smiled, "Good to see you, Keeley."

"Hello, Ted."

Billie and Ted were quick to notice the additional presence of former journalist Trent Crimm, who was seated in one of the two chairs opposite Rebecca's desk.

"Trent Crimm, are you kidding me?" Ted exclaimed in jubilation, shaking the former journalist's hand, "Good to see you man, you know, they got a big old ziploc bag full of your hair ties down at the lost and found, you should pop on down, if you still want them."

"Mr Crimm has requested to follow the club this year," Rebecca told Ted and Billie, who were both intrigued by the news.

"Have you been binge watching You?" Billie asked Trent, "Because, if so, there's people you can talk to about that kind of stuff."

"No, Billie," Rebecca shook her head, "He wants to write a book about us."

"I think there's a story worth telling," Trent told the head coach.

"Yes, and we all love the idea," Rebecca insisted, "But obviously as manager, we thought you should have the final decision."

"Oh, okay," Ted sighed as Trent turned to face him, while Keeley, Higgins and Rebecca all shook their heads, suggesting that the book was in fact not a good idea, "I mean, geez, you know, like-"

Ted glanced at Billie, who was well versed in the world of sports media, but all she could offer him was a gentle smile of reassurance. She quite liked Trent as a person, she didn't like that article he wrote about her brother when he was younger, she hated the article he wrote about Ted's panic attack, but she knew what the world of journalism was like, Trent wouldn't have printed the article about Ted's panic attack if he didn't have to.

"Sure what the heck? Why not? When can you start?" Ted exclaimed, "No time like the present, except 11:11, that's my wishing time, or 23:11, if I'm at a military base or Euro Disney."

"Right, well, decision made," Rebecca nodded in earnest, "Wonderful, Trent, welcome."

"Holy shit," Higgins muttered, his eyes trained on his phone.

"Uh oh."

"Zava is leaving Juventus," Higgins remarked.

"What about their kids?" Ted exclaimed, "I'm sorry I didn't know what any of those things meant, I thought it was like Greek mythology or something."

"Zava's a world class striker who's about to leave his club in Italy," Trent explained.

"Dude, even I knew that," Billie told the American coach.

"Cacio later, Pepe," Ted muttered.

"Apparently, he wants to play in the Premier League because his wife binged The Office and she wants to live in England," Higgins remarked in delight.

"I think you mean Scranton, Pennsylvania, buddy," Ted replied.

"The British Office, Ted."

"Oh, that's right, y'all did a premake over here," Ted sighed.

"Not a premake, the original," Billie corrected him.

"If we got Zava that would be amazing," Higgins grinned.

"He would be huge for the club's brand, he's got like ninety million followers," Billie told the room, "But that can be a slippery slope, when the star player has a bigger following than all your other players added together."

"That's true," Rebecca nodded, "And he's very expensive, nevermind what people say about him being a bit of a diva."

"Huge diva."

"He goes through teams like you go through manicurists," Keeley added in agreement.

"The fumes make me dizzy and I over share," Rebecca replied before turning to Trent, "Please don't print that."

"Zava has played for fourteen teams in fifteen years, leaving behind nothing but chaos and trophies, beautiful shiny trophies," Higgins smiled.

"Trophies aren't everything," Billie told the group, reminded of her conversation with Jamie just the night before.

"And who wants to deal with all that drama?" Rebecca remarked.

"Apparently everyone who can afford him," Higgins looked down at his phone, "Chelsea, Arsenal, United, West Ham."

"I say let's just go for it," Rebecca was quick to change her tune at the mention of her ex husband's team, "I mean, maybe he's a handful, but who doesn't love a handful?"

"I mean, if you're talking salted peanuts, yes please," Ted remarked, "If you're talking Skittles, no thank you, the dye melts and it gets all over your fingers, makes them all sticky, and that, you can print."

"Wonderful, let's set up a meeting!" Higgins grinned.

"Great, let's go and get Zava!" Rebecca exclaimed as her colleagues dispersed from around her desk, heading for the door, "Zava dabba doo!"

"So, am I right to assume you're going to pursue a notoriously mercurial player you can't really afford simply because the team your ex husband owns wants him?" Trent asked, stopping the rest of the group in their tracks.

All four of them offered intense headshakes and thumbs down, with added gesticulation of negativity, assuming it was a bad idea to be honest with the man who would be writing a book about the team.

"Yes."

"Love that," Trent smirked in delight.

"How've you been?" Billie smiled as she walked down the stairs towards the clubhouse alongside Keeley, "I'm sorry I didn't reach out sooner, you know how Kents can be."

"Yeah, I get it," Keeley couldn't blame Billie, she was loyal to her brother, "But this doesn't mean that we can't be friends, right?"

"Of course," Billie assured her, "We were friends before you started dating my brother, it's my fault for making it weird by not saying much about the whole breakup thing."

"None of this is your fault, Bils," Keeley smiled as they hovered outside of the locker room.

"He'll see sense, you know that, right?" Billie replied, "His emotional development was somewhat stunted by leaving school at nine, but he'll get there...In the meantime, you just be the best fucking CEO boss ass bitch that you were born to be, okay?"

"Yes, ma'am," Keeley saluted her, "And you and Jamie?"

"It's going well," Billie nodded, not wanting to flaunt her relationship to her recently heartbroken friend, "He told me he'd go to United for me last night, hypothetical obviously."

"Right," Keeley nodded slowly, not quite understanding the significance of the statement.

"Keeley, Billie," Isaac's voice startled the two women.

"Isaac, hi!" Keeley exclaimed.

"Yeah, can you help me get a shoe deal?" The team captain asked.

"Any brand in particular?"

"No brands, just shoes in general," Isaac told them both, "You know."

"We'll look into it for you," Keeley nodded.

"Cheers."

"Well, I need to drop this off to your brother," Keeley held up the large leopard print holdall, "Lunch at my office soon, okay?"

"Yeah," Billie smiled, wrapping her in a hug, "Love you."

"Love you too, Bils," Keeley whispered, squeezing her brunette best friend before heading off in search of Roy, passing Colin, Bumbercatch and Jamie in the process.

"Morning, boys," Billie smiled at the three of them, "You boys sleep okay?"

"Always," Jamie smirked, because he always slept best beside Billie.

"Yeah," Colin nodded slowly, "Gotta grab a protein bar from the canteen."

"Yeah, me too," Bumbercatch nodded, following after him, leaving the couple alone in the corridor.

"You boys sleep okay?" Jamie teased with a smile.

"I didn't fucking know what to say," Billie hissed with a smile, "Obviosuly I know how you slept, your arms were wrapped round me all night."

"Yeah," Jamie smiled to himself as the pair moved to the side, Billie's back pressed against the wall as Jamie's hand rested above her head on the wall, "What are you doing after work?"

"You, preferably," Billie teased.

"Like that, is it?" Jamie smirked.

"It's hard not to think like that when you're talking to me after an hour in the gym," Billie replied, running her tongue over her bottom lip, admiring his toned muscles and beads of sweat on his skin.

Jamie looked her up and down, he really wanted to kiss her, "You know this building has dozens of storerooms and cupboards if you wanted to-"

Billie looked to her left, spotting Roy as he approached Keeley, "Not today, I'm a busy woman."

Jamie leant towards her, muttering in her ear, "A fucking tease is what you are, Billie Kent."

"Be good," Billie smiled before she wandered down the corridor, heading for her office.

Jamie made his way over to the water cooler where Isaac was already standing, observing the interactions between Roy and Keeley.

"Woah," Isaac muttered, "Keeley and Roy have broken up."

"What?" Jamie looked up, assuming that if it were true, Billie might have told him, "Who told you that?"

"It's not 'who,' bruv, it's 'what,'" Issac replied, "Kinesics, study of body language, just look at 'em, no eye contact, Keeley's crossed arms, Roy's clenched arse, it's science."

Isaac patted the striker on the shoulder before slipping off into the locker room while Jamie watched Keeley and Roy part ways. He believed that as Billie's boyfriend, he had some sort of responsibility to make sure that her brother was alright, that's what families did, right?

He slowly made his way down the corridor, following Roy into the boot room, laying eyes on the former captain, who appeared even more tense than usual as he turned to face Jamie at the sound of the door opening and closing.

"What do you want?" Roy frowned.

"You and Keeley break up?" Jamie asked, getting straight to the point.

"Did Billie tell you that?"

"No," Jamie shook his head, understanding that if Billie did know, she would've had her reasons for keeping it to herself, "I used body science, why? Is it true?"

Roy grunted, which was enough of an indication for Jamie. Jamie tilted his head to the side, sticking his bottom lip out as he hummed, looking the man up and down.

"What's that fucking face?" Roy retorted defensively.

"It's called empathy, you dusty, old fart," Jamie quipped with sarcasm, "Look, as someone who's been dumped by Keeley, I get it."

"She didn't dump me," Roy huffed.

"You dumped her, why?" Jamie remarked, "I bet Billie weren't impressed."

"I don't want to talk about it," Roy was quick to reply, because despite Jamie Tartt's relationship with his sister, he was the last person he wanted to confide in, "Why'd you come in here? Oh let me guess, you want to know if I'm going to be third wheeling you and Billie?"

"No, I was just- I was just seeing if you were okay, man," Jamie assured him, leaning towards the man he had admired as a teenager, offering him a hug, but before he could, Roy shoved him away and Jamie shoved him back, "Dickhead."

"What the fuck you doing?" Roy scoffed.

"I was gonna hug you," Jamie replied, because he knew that Billie always appreciated a hug when she was upset, so had just assumed it was a Kent thing.

"Well, you came at me too fast," Roy retorted, because he was only used to being hugged by a few people, his sisters, Phoebe and until recently, Keeley, and they were all shorter than him.

"Jesus, sorry," Jamie remarked, pushing his hair back, "I forgot how skittish elderly people could be 'cause of the war."

Jamie was trying, not just because he knew Billie would want him to, but because Roy was in some ways, his family too.

"Come on, man, we've got to look out for each other," Jamie insisted, "We're basically brother-in-laws now."

"We are absolutely not," Roy scoffed, "You and Billie ain't even married."

"Yeah, but one day-"

"You really think I want to talk about you marrying my sister?" Roy replied, clearly frustrated, "On top of all of this?"

"I was just trying to comfort you," Jamie sighed, frustrated by Roy's obstinance.

"Well I don't want comfort," Roy huffed, "And I told you, I don't want to talk about it, so don't you say a fucking word, do you here me?"

"Fine, I won't," Jamie replied, even though he knew that he would immediately be discussing the matter with Billie, and in an attempt to lighten the mood, he looked over his shoulder, "And don't you say a fucking word about it either, William."

"I, no, no, I won't," The kitman stuttered, clinging to a freshly washed and dried towel, "I actually just went through a bit of a breakup myself, so I can somewhat relate."

Jamie and Roy stared at Billie's honourary little brother in disbelief.

"Hey, maybe we should all go out sometime, us three, get a couple drinks, couple pints, couple shots, fishbowls...single guys club," Will suggested, rambling anxiously, "But then I suppose you're not single, Jamie, you're with Billie, which I obviously know nothing about, so it'd just be a guys night out, maybe we could start with a meal at Pizza Express, I actually have a gold membership-"

The two men continued to stare at him blankly, Jamie didn't hate the idea of a lads night out with Will and Roy. Roy was Billie's big brother, and Will may as well have been her little brother, so he liked the idea of bonding with them both.

"Or I can just not say a fucking word, no, I hear you, I hear you loud and clear."

"Shut the fuck up!"

"You must be wrong!"

Ted and Beard had been discussing the lore behind the team's potential new addition, Zava, when their conversation was halted by the sound of footballers fretting over...well, neither Ted or Beard knew what they were fretting over. The pair looked into the locker room, to see the team grouping together in the middle of the room, looks of uncertainty on their faces.

Billie, who had been working away in her office, was startled by the teams' voices, so she promptly closed her laptop and hurried into the locker room, just as Jamie strolled in alongside her.

"Hey, hey, hey," Ted and Beard entered the room, "Fellas, what's going on?"

"Coach, we just heard the most shocking rumour," Sam decided to speak up for the rest of the team.

"Okay, is this about Billie and Jamie being together?" Ted replied, assuming that the secret was finally out.

"Oh, God," Billie pinched the bridge of her nose, looking down at the floor as she awaited dramatic exclamations from the boys.

"We already knew about that."

"What?" Jamie and Billie exclaimed as they looked up in unison.

"You've been logging the same movies on Letterboxd for months," Sam explained, which was a justified response.

"You saw Harry Styles at Wembley together," Colin added, having envied that he wasn't invited.

"He organised you a surprise birthday party!"

"And a One Direction flashmob!"

"Well, here we were, thinking we were being subtle," Billie sighed, smiling at Jamie.

"Oh, neither of you have been subtle about any of this," Colin grinned at his friends, making a mental note to plan a trip to the pub with Billie to discuss the relationship, "But we're happy for you both."

"Okay, so, you already know about Billie and Jamie, our own Posh and Becks," Ted replied, "So, is it about us getting Zava?"

"We're getting Zava?" Bumbercatch remarked.

"I just wished for that thirty seconds ago!" Dani beamed as the team jumped up and down in excitement as Billie and Jamie stood beside each other, sharing clueless looks of despair.

"Wait, no, hold on a second," Ted regrouped with the team, "If y'all weren't talking about Zava, or Billie and Jamie, what were you getting so passionate about?

"Is it because Trent Crimm's writing a book about us?" Billie asked the team.

"Wait, Trent Crimm's writing a book about Billie and Jamie falling in love?" Colin frowned, wondering what would possess the man to be so inspired by the love story, which the public didn't know about.

"I thought they'd be more hung up on Zava," Billie sighed.

"He's just coming here to write a book about the team," Ted explained.

"Zava's writing a book about Billie and Jamie?" Bumbercatch remarked.

"No, Trent Crimm," Ted corrected him.

"You just said Trent Crimm wasn't writing a book about Billie and Jamie!" Zoreaux exclaimed as the rest of the team exploded in uproar.

"Give me strength," Billie sighed, resting her head against Jamie's shoulder.

"Hey, hey, hey, stop! Okay, hold on!" Ted calmed the group, "If y'all already knew about Billie and Jamie, and y'all didn't know about Zava which may or may not happen, and y'all didn't know about Trent Crimm, which is happening, then what were you so worked up about?"

The team shared looks of concern, wondering who should be the person to break the news.

"Roy and Keeley broke up," Jan spoke up, Beard screamed in shock, while Ted lost consciousness, falling into Beard's arms, who was quick to catch him.

"Oh, sorry, I'm okay," Ted slowly stood up, "Got a little light headed there."

"Fuck's going on?" Roy muttered as he appeared in the open doorway.

"Awww," The team sighed in sympathy.

"Tartt!" He began storming towards his sister's boyfriend.

"No, no, no, no, no," Billie stepped in front of Jamie as a few of the boys restrained Roy.

"Hey, hey, hey, I didn't say anything!" Jamie was quick to insist.

"I will fucking kill you!" Roy grunted, attempting to wriggle free from the team's clutches.

"No, I came in and they was talking about me and Billie," Jamie explained.

"They know about you two?" Roy frowned at his sister.

"Yeah," Billie nodded, "And then they started talking about us getting Zava."

"What?" Roy shrugged the boys off, "We're getting Zava?"

"Roy, do you want to talk about it?" Ted stepped forward.

"No, I'm not talking about my sister dating Jamie Tartt," Roy remarked.

"I meant Zava," Ted replied, "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Sure, he's nuts, but he'll help us win games," Roy stated.

"That time I was talking about you and Keeley," Ted replied.

"Fuck's sake," Roy whispered.

"Will, come here a sec," Ted gestured for the kitman to join him.

"Yep, I'm here," Will weaved through the team, standing before the coach.

"I need you to run to my apartment, go into my desk and grab my CD called 'Ted's breakup mix,' okay?" Ted told the kitman, holding his keys in his hands.

"Got it," Will nodded, "What's a CD?"

"Oh boy."

"On it," Beard turned on his heel, leaving the room.

"Hey, Coach, you gonna need my keys," Ted called out, tossing his keys, expecting his friend to catch them as they landed on the floor.

"I got a set," Beard declared as he left the room.

"Okay," Ted nodded, before turning to Will, "Thanks, don't worry about it."

"Okay," Will smiled as he joined Billie and Jamie, whispering softly, "I'm glad you two can be public now."

"Cheers, kid," Billie nudged him with a smile.

"Hey, Roy, look, we're here for you, okay," Ted insisted, "We've all been dumped before, right, fellas?"

"She didn't dump me, I broke up with her," Roy told the room.

"Huh?" Beard hurried back into the room, "What?"

"This day couldn't get any worse," Roy huffed.

"And this is the locker room," Higgins wandered into the room, accompanied by Trent Crimm, "Hello, boys, I believe you all know Trent Crimm."

"Gentlemen," Trent nodded with a smile.

"The fuck is this prick doing here?" Roy huffed, looking between Higgins and Trent.

"Trent's writing a book about our season, so let's welcome him with open arms and open minds," Higgins told the team.

"Absolutely, yes," Ted smiled as the rest of the team nodded in agreement.

"Oi! Listen up!" Roy shouted, "No one says a fucking word around this prick unless they want my forehead through their fucking skull!"

Jamie wrapped his arm around Billie's shoulder, burying his head in her neck, trying to stifle his laughter, because he always found it funnier when Roy was shouting at someone else who wasn't him.

Roy wandered past them without a word, heading into the coaches' office, as Ted spoke up, "Okay, well-" The door slammed, cutting Ted's sentence short, "We'll work out the specifics later, but until then, welcome, Trent."

"Wooo!" Dani cheered, until his teammates encouraged him not to be so delighted by the man's arrival, "I mean, fuck off, Trent Crimm."

"This is weird, ain't it?" Jamie smiled down at Billie, and then their interlocked hands as they left the locker room after another day of work, Jamie's bag on his shoulder, Billie's bag in his free hand, "Like it's not bad weird, it's fucking great, I'm just not used to doing this in public with you."

"I love it," Billie grinned, squeezing his hand, "And it still blows my mind that the boys knew and said nothing, they're not the best at keeping secrets."

"You're not wrong," Jamie let go of her hand, wrapping his arm around her shoulder, kissing the side of her head, "I do fucking love getting to kiss you whenever."

"Ditto, pretty boy," Billie stopped in front of him, standing on her toes to give him a quick kiss before the pair resumed their walk to the car park.

"Ah, Jamie, Billie," Trent smiled as he laid eyes on the couple, Billie instinctively interlocking her hand with Jamie's.

"No, no, no," Jamie hummed, knowing better than to do something that could put him on the receiving end of a Roy Kent headbutt.

"Sorry," Billie mouthed at the journalist as she walked alongside Jamie.

"Your brother scares the fucking shit out of me, Bils," Jamie told her.

"I know, but you're a big boy," She nudged him, "You can look after yourself."

"Yours or mine tonight?" Jamie asked as they headed outside to his car.

"Mine, if that's alright," Billie smiled, "I've barely seen Alf recently, he's dating someone new, the most he's told me is that he met him on Raya."

"So you want to grill him?" Jamie frowned.

"I would normally," Billie sighed, "This just seems different, he seems more protective of it."

"Like us, I guess," Jamie hummed.

"Yeah, I suppose so," Billie grinned.

"Let's get you home, Kent."

author's note: that locker room scene is one of my favourite and writing it with the added reveal of billie and jamie's relationship just adds even more chaos which i love!