In The Darkest Hour

Part Two - Chapter Five: Don't Let Her Go

Gerard smiled spotting Isla, he was happy that they were seeing a lot of each other even if it was going to hurt when she left again; he was happy just to be her friend right now and that was what mattered.

“Hola,” Isla greeted hurrying over to Gerard who was waiting for her, she was running a little late since her mother had tried to talk her out of coming to see Gerard; Tracy was far from happy that Isla was even speaking to the footballer after what had happened.

Gerard wrapped his arms around Isla, he wanted to spend as much time as possible with her while he still could; he wanted to still be able to talk to her when she returned to Australia, even if he was just a friend.

Isla peeked around a little nervous, she knew that Gerard wouldn’t let anyone upset her while he was around but it didn’t make her feel any calmer about any of this.

“It’ll be okay,” Gerard murmured pulling back from Isla, he knew that she was wary and he didn’t blame her after everything that had happened; he wished that he could make things better for her.

Isla stepped back from Gerard and brushed some hair from her face, she didn’t want anyone snapping a picture of the two of them and trying to pass it off as if they were dating; she had promised Dev that she would be careful.

Dev wasn’t worried about Isla spending time with Gerard, he trusted her and knew that it was all about her putting the past behind her and moving forward; however he was worried about the media attention that followed the footballer around.

“Let’s go,” Gerard said smiling at Isla, he wasn’t going to give anyone the chance to approach them and he knew that Isla wasn’t ready to face that part of his life.

Gerard couldn’t imagine what the press would do when they started releasing stories about them but he doubted they would let what had happened go so easily and there was no way that he could stop them.

***

“I can’t believe how big he’s gotten,” Isla fussed moving to cuddle Milan, she hadn’t seen him since she had left for Australia and had missed him almost as much as she had missed his father.

Gerard nodded his head, he knew what she meant and he was so happy to spend time with his son when he had the chance; he adored Milan and he knew that Isabel would have been so happy with him.

“He’s missed you,” Gerard said sitting down on his couch and watching Isla with Milan, the little boy had spent months with the brunette and she had been the one to look after him when Gerard hadn’t been able to even look at him.

Isla nodded her head, she had no idea how hard it had been to be away from Milan but she wasn’t his mother and had no rights to see him; she was sure that Gerard was doing a wonderful job with him.

“Mama,” Milan cooed making Isla look down at him, her heart stopped at his word and she wondered why he had called her that; she doubted that this was going to end well.

Gerard stared at his son speechless, he had no idea who had taught him that word and directed it at Isla; he had only referred to Isabel as his mother and now he seemed to think that Isla was.

“Mama,” Milan repeated again holding onto Isla, he smiled up at the brunette that was the closest thing that he had to one; he would never know his real one and his father loved Isla like he had his mother.

“I didn’t teach him that,” Gerard whispered a little worried that Isla would run away, he could only imagine what she thought about what the little boy had said; he didn’t want to lose her after only just getting her back in his life.

Isla was important to Gerard and he knew that things would take time to recover after spending so much time apart.

“It’s okay,” Isla reassured gently, she knew that Gerard wouldn’t do something like that and she wondered what had lead Milan to think that she was his mother; she guessed she was the only woman that fitted that name.

***

Tracy took a deep breath as she approached Dev, she had to do something to make sure that her daughter didn’t fall under the charms of Gerard again; she would never accept the man that had hurt her daughter so much.

“Isla been gone awhile,” Tracy mused knowing that the only way to stop Isla from doing something stupid was to convince Dev that they should make the next step in their relationship.

Tracy had noticed that Isla seemed to see Dev as more as a friend than her boyfriend, she feared that this was going to spell the end unless she did something about that.

Dev raised an eyebrow at Tracy and nodded his head, he didn’t mind and he was sure that Isla was having a good time; he wanted her to be happy and he wasn’t going to mess with that.

“Do you not worry what she is doing with him?” Tracy mused moving to look out of the window, she was going to have to play this right if she wanted things to work out.

Dev was the man that Tracy and Theodore wanted to see their daughter marry, he was so perfect for her and they didn’t want Isla even considering things with Gerard.

“No I trust Isla completely,” Dev replied shaking his head, he had a feeling that he knew where this was going and he wished that Tracy would let this go; he had no intentions of asking Isla to marry him just to make her parents happy.

Dev wanted Isla to be happy and that was what mattered to him, he had no idea why Tracy thought that she could push things and he hoped that Isla was going to make her decisions for herself.

“Then you are a fool,” Tracy replied shaking her head, she could see that if Dev didn’t do something then he was going to get hurt, she liked him and wanted Isla to settle down with him.

“That man will steal Isla from you,” Tracy murmured shaking her head, she would never accept the fact that Isla could end up with Gerard; the man had nearly cost her daughter, her life.

Tracy knew that Isla had feelings for Gerard, she wasn’t stupid and she could see that this was going to end in tears the more time that Isla spent with Gerard instead of with Dev.

“He can’t steal anyone,” Dev replied calmly, he wasn’t going to tell Tracy that Gerard couldn’t steal what he already had; Isla was always going to love Gerard and Dev knew that.

Dev had only come to Barcelona to ensure that Isla was happy, he was being supportive and he knew that Gerard was the man that Isla wanted; he was just making sure that her parents didn’t mess things up.

Tracy frowned at Dev, she had no idea how he could be so calm about this when he had been dating Isla for a year now; she wondered if her daughter was already messing things up.

Isla was a wonderful woman but she was completely stupid if she lost Dev in hopes of ending up with Gerard; Tracy wasn’t going to let that happen.

“Don’t let her go Dev… you’re so much better for her,” Tracy pleaded hoping that Dev would listen to her, she had no intentions of giving up here; she wanted Isla away from Gerard and this was just the first step that she would take.

Dev looked at Tracy, he had a feeling that she was going to push her daughter away if she didn’t stop this now; it was Isla’s decision to make and whatever made her happy was better for her.