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(A/N: Don't forget to give those power stones to Skyrim everyone!)
...
And as the first moments of 2018 unfolded around him beneath the brilliant colors lighting up the winter sky, he silently hoped for one thing above everything else as the year ahead would give them many more moments like this one.
The celebrations continued for a while after the photograph.
Not because anyone had planned it.
Nobody wanted the night to end.
That was the strange thing about good evenings.
The ones you remembered years later.
Nobody ever noticed when they started becoming memories.
They were simply happening.
And then suddenly you found yourself wishing they could last a little longer.
The fireworks continued illuminating the Richmond sky for nearly another hour.
Some displays were small.
Just families celebrating in their gardens.
Others were far larger.
Professional displays exploding above the city skyline in brilliant waves of color.
Gold cascaded across the darkness.
Blue bursts painted the clouds.
Silver sparks drifted slowly downward like falling stars.
Every few minutes another explosion echoed across the cold winter air.
Every few minutes someone pointed toward a particularly impressive display.
Every few minutes Jacob reacted as though it was the greatest firework ever created.
Which was understandable.
Because every new firework immediately became his favorite.
Until the next one arrived.
Then that became his favorite.
And so on.
Cheddar, meanwhile, had developed complicated feelings regarding fireworks.
At first he seemed fascinated.
Then suspicious.
Then mildly offended.
Eventually he settled on staying close to the humans.
Which, in fairness, was usually his solution to most situations.
The group remained gathered in the backyard long after midnight.
Wrapped in coats and scarves.
Talking.
Laughing.
Sharing stories.
Enjoying those first quiet moments of 2018.
Eventually the fireworks began fading.
The sky slowly returned to darkness.
The distant sounds of celebration became less frequent.
The city gradually settled.
People started returning indoors.
And the cold finally began winning.
Sarah rubbed her hands together.
"I think my fingers have stopped working."
Amanda laughed.
"That happened twenty minutes ago."
Mike nodded immediately.
"We should probably go inside."
"Probably?" David replied.
"I'm already freezing."
Nobody argued.
Within minutes everyone retreated back into the warmth of the mansion.
The contrast felt wonderful.
Cold cheeks.
Warm air.
Soft lighting.
The scent of coffee still lingering somewhere in the house.
The Christmas tree continued glowing peacefully in the corner.
Almost as if it had been quietly watching the entire evening unfold.
The living room welcomed them back.
Blankets reappeared.
Hot drinks materialized.
Nobody questioned where they came from.
At family gatherings, beverages simply appeared when needed.
It was one of life's great mysteries.
The conversation continued for a little while longer.
Not energetic anymore.
Comfortable.
Relaxed.
The kind of conversation people had when the important part of the evening was already over.
The pressure of reaching midnight had disappeared.
The new year had arrived.
Now everyone could simply enjoy it.
Jacob fought bravely against sleep.
Very bravely.
Unfortunately his eyelids had other plans.
At one point he was actively participating in a conversation.
Five minutes later he was half asleep on the sofa.
Ten minutes later he was completely asleep.
The transformation happened so quickly that everyone noticed simultaneously.
David pointed.
"Gone."
Amanda laughed softly.
"Completely gone."
Mike shook his head.
"Didn't stand a chance."
Leah smiled.
"He lasted longer than I expected."
"Same."
Nobody woke him.
There was no reason to.
New Year's celebrations had exhausted everyone.
Even Cheddar looked tired now.
Curled into a small furry ball near the fireplace.
Occasionally opening one eye just to confirm everyone was still present.
Then immediately falling asleep again.
Eventually the evening reached its natural conclusion.
The kind that wasn't announced.
The kind everyone simply recognized.
Yawns appeared.
Conversations slowed.
People stretched.
The house grew quieter.
One by one goodnights were exchanged.
Hugs followed.
Promises of breakfast the next morning.
Warnings not to wake anyone too early.
Mostly directed at Jacob.
And then gradually everyone disappeared toward their rooms.
The mansion finally settled into silence.
The peaceful silence that arrived after a day filled with laughter.
After a holiday filled with family.
After the ending of one year and the beginning of another.
For the first time all evening, everything became still.
And before long, Francesco and Leah were asleep too.
The first morning of 2018 arrived gently.
No alarms.
No rushing.
No football training.
No reporters.
Just morning.
Soft winter sunlight filtered through the curtains.
The room remained warm beneath the blankets.
For several peaceful seconds Francesco simply remained where he was.
Half asleep.
Half awake.
The strange state where dreams hadn't completely disappeared yet.
Then gradually reality returned.
The thought made him smile.
A new year.
A fresh chapter.
New opportunities.
New challenges.
New memories waiting to be created.
He stretched slightly before instinctively turning toward the other side of the bed.
Empty.
Francesco blinked.
Then looked again.
Still empty.
The blankets were slightly disturbed.
A clear sign Leah had been awake for a while.
He smiled immediately.
Of course she had.
Leah possessed a mysterious ability to wake up early even after late nights.
Nobody truly understood how.
Science probably couldn't explain it.
After another minute he finally climbed out of bed.
Pulled on a hoodie.
Added sweatpants.
Ran a hand through his hair.
And headed downstairs.
The mansion was already awake.
Not fully.
But awake enough.
The faint sounds of conversation drifted upward from below.
So did another familiar smell.
Coffee.
Fresh coffee.
And breakfast.
A lot of breakfast.
The scent alone was enough to guide him.
He followed it through the hallway.
Down the staircase.
Toward the kitchen.
And immediately found exactly what he expected.
Organized chaos.
Again.
The kitchen had become headquarters once more.
Standing near the stove was Leah.
Still wearing comfortable morning clothes.
Hair tied back.
Looking entirely focused on whatever she was cooking.
Beside her stood Sarah.
And beside Sarah stood Amanda.
The three women were already working together.
Moving naturally around one another.
Talking.
Laughing.
Cooking.
The scene looked remarkably similar to the night before.
Only slightly less dramatic.
And slightly more caffeinated.
Leah noticed him first.
Naturally.
Her face brightened instantly.
"Good morning."
"There he is," Sarah added.
"Finally awake," Amanda teased.
Francesco leaned against the doorway.
"You all started without me."
Leah laughed.
"You were sleeping."
"A terrible crime."
"Exactly."
Sarah pointed toward the coffee machine.
"Coffee first."
The instruction sounded less like a suggestion and more like a command.
Years of experience had taught Francesco an important lesson.
Never argue with mothers holding cooking utensils.
Especially multiple mothers.
He obeyed immediately.
Several moments later he returned holding a fresh mug of coffee.
Life instantly improved.
The kitchen already felt warm and alive.
Morning sunlight streamed through the windows.
The Christmas decorations remained throughout the house.
The tree lights still glowed softly in the living room.
Outside, frost covered parts of the garden.
Inside, breakfast preparations continued.
"What are we making?" Francesco asked.
The question earned three different answers simultaneously.
"Pancakes."
"Eggs."
"Everything."
He blinked.
"Everything?"
Amanda nodded proudly.
"It's New Year's Day."
"That doesn't answer the question."
"It absolutely does."
Leah laughed into her coffee.
Clearly she had heard that logic before.
On the counter sat enough ingredients to feed a football squad.
Again.
Eggs.
Bacon.
Sausages.
Fresh fruit.
Pancake batter.
Toast.
Pastries.
Several things Francesco couldn't immediately identify.
The sheer quantity was mildly concerning.
Though also extremely appealing.
"You know," he said carefully, "most people eat normal breakfasts."
Sarah looked horrified.
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Sounds boring."
Amanda nodded in agreement.
"Very boring."
Leah pointed at them.
"See? It's not just me."
"I never said it was."
"Yes, you did."
"I absolutely did not."
"You implied it."
Francesco decided arguing was pointless.
The evidence against him was overwhelming.
Meanwhile the kitchen continued functioning like a well-organized machine.
Sarah handled one section.
Amanda managed another.
Leah floated between both.
Helping wherever necessary.
Tasting things.
Adjusting things.
Making sure everything was perfect.
The whole operation looked remarkably efficient.
Far more efficient than any football training session he'd ever seen.
Eventually Francesco wandered closer.
"What can I help with?"
Three pairs of eyes immediately turned toward him.
The silence lasted just long enough to make him nervous.
Then Leah smiled.
"Set the table."
The relief was immediate.
"I can do that."
"Good."
Because everyone remembered what had happened the last time he attempted food preparation.
The vegetable incident remained fresh in their memories.
Unfortunately.
As Francesco began carrying plates toward the dining room, he could still hear the women laughing behind him.
Almost certainly at his expense.
Almost certainly deserved.
A few minutes later more footsteps echoed through the house.
The rest of the family was waking up.
Mike appeared first.
Looking surprisingly alert.
David followed shortly afterward.
Looking significantly less alert.
Jacob arrived last.
Hair completely destroyed by sleep.
Walking like someone who hadn't fully returned to consciousness yet.
The sight alone caused immediate laughter.
"Morning," Jacob mumbled.
"Did a hurricane hit you?" Francesco asked.
The teenager frowned.
"What?"
"Your hair."
Jacob instinctively touched it.
Then immediately headed toward the nearest reflective surface.
The reaction from everyone else only made the situation funnier.
Soon the kitchen was full again.
Coffee cups appeared.
Conversations resumed.
The peaceful rhythm of family life returned as naturally as breathing.
Outside, the first day of 2018 stretched ahead.
Football would return soon enough.
Training.
Matches.
Pressure.
Expectations.
The endless cycle would begin again.
But not yet.
For now there was breakfast cooking in the kitchen.
Laughter around the house.
Family gathered together beneath the fading glow of Christmas decorations.
And as Francesco stood in the doorway watching Leah laugh at something Sarah had said while Amanda continued cooking beside them.
The morning continued at exactly the pace everyone wanted.
Slow.
Comfortable.
Unhurried.
Nobody had anywhere important to be.
No schedules.
No meetings.
No interviews.
No training sessions.
Just family.
And for a footballer whose life was usually planned down to the minute, that felt like a luxury.
The kitchen remained alive with activity.
Pans sizzled softly.
Coffee continued flowing at an almost supernatural rate.
Conversations drifted effortlessly from one subject to another.
Nobody seemed particularly concerned about what they were discussing.
The discussion itself mattered less than simply being together.
At one point Sarah and Amanda found themselves debating the correct way to make pancakes.
A dangerous subject.
A very dangerous subject.
Because apparently both women had strong opinions.
Very strong opinions.
Leah wisely refused to choose sides.
Francesco followed her example immediately.
Years of survival instincts kicked in.
Mike wandered into the kitchen carrying another cup of coffee.
"What are we arguing about?"
"Pancakes."
The answer came simultaneously.
Mike paused.
Then slowly backed away.
"Not getting involved."
"A smart decision," David said from the doorway.
"A very smart decision."
The two fathers immediately disappeared again.
Nobody blamed them.
Not even slightly.
The cooking operation continued.
And eventually, after another half hour of preparation, tasting, adjusting, and making sure everything was perfect, the final pieces finally came together.
The last pancakes were stacked.
The final tray emerged from the oven.
The coffee was refreshed.
The fruit was arranged.
The table was already set.
And for the first time all morning, the kitchen grew quieter.
Not because conversation stopped.
Because the mission had been completed.
Breakfast was ready.
A proper New Year's breakfast.
The kind that could only happen when multiple parents joined forces.
Sarah stepped back from the counter and looked around proudly.
"There."
Amanda nodded.
"Perfect."
Leah smiled.
"I think we may have made too much."
Everyone stared at her.
Leah immediately laughed.
"Okay, I don't actually think that."
"That's what I thought," Sarah replied.
Amanda pointed toward the hallway.
"Go get them."
Sarah didn't need clarification.
She already knew exactly who she was being assigned.
With the confidence of someone who had spent years managing a household, she headed out of the kitchen.
"Mike!"
Her voice echoed through the mansion.
A few seconds later came the response.
"I'm coming!"
"Bring coffee."
"I already have coffee."
"Bring more coffee."
The answer arrived immediately.
"Fair."
The kitchen erupted into laughter.
Meanwhile Amanda headed in the opposite direction.
Her targets were significantly more difficult.
David.
And Jacob.
One moved slowly in the morning.
The other barely moved at all.
Several minutes later her voice floated back down the hallway.
"Breakfast!"
Silence.
Then—
"Five minutes!"
Jacob.
Of course.
Amanda didn't even pause.
"No."
More laughter.
Apparently this conversation had happened many times before.
Eventually footsteps echoed throughout the house.
The family slowly converged on the dining room.
Jacob arrived last.
Naturally.
Still looking slightly sleepy despite being awake for nearly an hour.
Nobody let him forget it.
Especially David.
"You look tired."
"I am tired."
"You slept for nine hours."
"I needed ten."
"That's not how sleeping works."
"It should be."
The discussion continued all the way to the table.
Breakfast began almost immediately.
And for several seconds the room became unusually quiet.
Not because nobody had anything to say.
Because everyone was eating.
A lot.
The food was incredible.
Fresh pancakes.
Crispy bacon.
Eggs cooked exactly how everyone liked them.
Toast.
Fruit.
Pastries.
Sausages.
Enough coffee to power a small city.
The table looked magnificent.
And judging by how quickly plates began filling, everyone agreed.
Francesco sat beside Leah as usual.
Across from them sat Mike and Sarah.
David and Amanda occupied the other side.
Jacob somehow managed to position himself nearest to almost everything.
A remarkable achievement.
Nobody understood how he kept doing it.
The conversation gradually returned.
Stories resumed.
Plans for the coming year were discussed.
Travel ideas emerged.
Football inevitably appeared as a topic.
Though only briefly.
The holiday atmosphere still lingered.
Nobody wanted to spend the entire morning talking about football.
Not even Francesco.
At one point Mike looked toward him.
"So when do you return to training?"
"In a couple of days."
"Ready?"
Francesco nodded.
"Always."
David smiled.
"That's the answer of somebody who doesn't know how to relax."
"Probably."
Leah immediately pointed at him.
"He checked Arsenal's league table twice during Christmas."
"I did not."
"You absolutely did."
Jacob looked delighted.
"Really?"
"No."
"Yes."
"Traitor."
"Accurate."
The room dissolved into laughter once again.
Breakfast lasted much longer than normal.
Nobody rushed.
Nobody looked at the time.
The plates gradually emptied.
Coffee was refilled.
Then refilled again.
Eventually even the hungriest members of the family surrendered.
Which was impressive.
Particularly in Jacob's case.
The dining room slowly emptied afterward.
People stretched.
Collected drinks.
Migrated naturally toward different parts of the house.
For a while it seemed as though everyone might simply settle into another lazy afternoon indoors.
Then Francesco glanced out the window.
The weather looked surprisingly pleasant.
Cold.
But pleasant.
Winter sunlight illuminated the gardens.
The frost had mostly disappeared.
The backyard looked inviting.
An idea immediately formed.
A dangerous idea.
A football-shaped idea.
And because footballers never truly stopped being footballers, even on holidays, the thought refused to leave.
A little while later the family found themselves outside.
The backyard looked beautiful beneath the pale January sunlight.
The large lawn stretched across the grounds behind the mansion.
The winter air felt crisp and fresh.
Cold enough to remind everyone it was still January.
Not cold enough to keep them indoors.
The women naturally settled near the outdoor seating area.
Wrapped in warm coats.
Coffee cups in hand.
Leah sat between Sarah and Amanda.
The three quickly disappeared into conversation.
Nobody knew exactly what they were discussing.
Nobody needed to know.
Some conversations belonged exclusively to mothers and daughters.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the garden, a very different scene was unfolding.
Football.
Naturally.
Francesco had a small training area set up in part of the backyard.
Nothing extravagant.
Just enough space for individual work.
A few mini goals.
Cones.
Training equipment.
The sort of setup professional footballers often kept at home.
Partly for convenience.
Partly because football had become part of their daily lives.
Jacob's eyes widened immediately.
"You have goals back here?"
"Of course."
"You never showed me."
"You never asked."
"Can we play?"
The answer was obvious.
Within minutes teams were formed.
Not balanced teams.
Not fair teams.
Family teams.
Which were far more entertaining.
Francesco and Jacob versus Mike and David.
The logic behind the selection remained unclear.
Nobody questioned it.
The match began almost immediately.
And from the very first kick, it became obvious that everyone had dramatically overestimated their current fitness levels.
Especially the fathers.
The first sprint lasted approximately four seconds.
After which Mike looked personally betrayed by his own lungs.
David wasn't doing much better.
"Why is he running already?" David demanded.
"He's a professional footballer," Jacob replied.
"That feels unfair."
"It definitely is," Mike agreed.
Francesco laughed so hard he nearly lost possession.
The football itself quickly became secondary.
The entertainment value came from everything else.
Jacob celebrated every completed pass like it was a World Cup final.
Mike provided a running commentary on every decision.
David argued with imaginary referees.
And Francesco spent half the match trying not to laugh.
The women watched from a distance.
Occasionally commenting.
Frequently laughing.
Always entertained.
At one point Jacob somehow nutmegged David.
The teenager reacted as though he had personally won the Champions League.
"Did you see that?"
"Yes."
"Did everyone see that?"
"Yes."
"Did you see that?"
"We all saw it."
The celebration continued anyway.
David demanded an immediate replay.
No replay was provided.
Justice was never achieved.
A few minutes later Mike scored.
The goal itself wasn't particularly impressive.
The celebration, however, was extraordinary.
Both arms raised.
Victorious expression.
Several unnecessary laps around the mini goal.
"Still got it."
"You scored from two meters away," David pointed out.
"Still counts."
"Unfortunately."
The match continued.
Laughter echoed across the garden.
The crisp winter air filled with friendly arguments and exaggerated celebrations.
Cheddar eventually joined as well.
Which immediately made everything more chaotic.
Because Cheddar believed footballs existed solely for him.
Every few minutes he attempted to steal the ball.
Sometimes successfully.
Always proudly.
At one point he managed to intercept a pass and sprint halfway across the garden with the ball in his mouth.
The game stopped completely.
Nobody could continue.
Everyone was laughing too hard.
Meanwhile, Leah watched from her seat beside Sarah and Amanda.
A smile remained on her face almost the entire time.
Because the scene unfolding in front of her was ridiculous.
Completely ridiculous.
A Ballon d'Or winner.
Two fathers.
One teenager.
A dog.
All treating a backyard football match as though it were the most important game in the world.
And somehow that made it perfect.
The afternoon drifted onward.
The score became increasingly irrelevant.
Nobody kept track properly.
Nobody cared.
The point wasn't winning.
The point was being together.
The point was enjoying the first day of 2018.
The point was creating another memory.
And as Francesco stood in the middle of the backyard laughing while Jacob argued that one of his goals should count double and David insisted it absolutely should not, he realized something.
This was exactly what he had hoped for when midnight arrived.
Not grand celebrations.
Not luxury.
Not headlines.
Not trophies.
Just moments like this.
Simple moments.
Family moments.
The kind that eventually became the stories everyone remembered years later.
And beneath the pale winter sun of New Year's Day, surrounded by laughter, football, and the people he loved most, the first chapter of 2018 couldn't have started any better.
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Name : Francesco Lee
Age : 19 (2017)
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 17/18 stats:
Arsenal:
Match: 30
Goal: 37
Assist: 1
MOTM: 4
POTM: 0
England:
Match: 2
Goal: 2
Assist: 0
MOTM: 0
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