In The Darkest Hour

Part Two - Chapter Ten: Please Don't Hurt Him

"How did your parents take the news?" Gerard asked leaning back on the bed as he watched Isla pick up her underwear, she had a sheet wrapped around her and he smiled knowing that he had never felt like this before. 

Isla peeked back at her boyfriend, it was strange to think that everything had worked out for them and she was glad that she had done what she had since she was only fooling herself. 

"As well as expected," Isla replied with a shake of her head, her parents had been far from pleased that she had ended things with Dev; they had wanted their daughter to marry him and now there was no chance of that happening. 

Gerard sighed and nodded his head, he was worried about what would happen when Isla broke the news that they were now together; there was little that could be done to change her parents' minds. 

"They're gone for two weeks," Isla mused smiling, she was a little relieved about that fact and she got to settle back into life in Barcelona without any issues. 

Her aunt and uncle already knew that she wouldn't be returning to Barcelona and had offered to ship her things out for her; they weren't even surprised that Isla was officially dating Gerard now. 

Isla had been a little surprised at how much her aunt and uncle seemed to know about what had been going on; she guessed Kieran had been telling them about what had happened. 

Gerard smiled, he liked the idea of not truly having to share Isla for a couple of weeks; he wanted Isla settled back into Barcelona before more trouble came there way. 

"You'll tell them then?" Gerard guessed knowing that her parents had gone on their honeymoon that morning, he was a little relieved that they had gone so he could spend time with Isla. 

Gerard didn't want to start a fight so soon in his relationship with Isla, he wasn't going to lose her so soon after they had gotten together.

***

Montserrat laughed softly as she watched her son chase after Milan, the two were playing football and she knew how competitive Gerard got; she sat back in her chair enjoying the peaceful afternoon. 

Montserrat hadn't been able to resist coming to see her son and his girlfriend, she was hoping to speak to Isla alone and she knew that she had to say something with how everything was moving. 

Gerard had explained everything to her and while Montserrat knew that it had all worked out well, she couldn't help but be worried that her son was going to suffer in some way. 

It was no secret that Isla's parents weren't going to forgive and forget about what had happened even if Isla had, they would do anything to part the couple when the found out the truth. 

"Mama," Milan squealed hurrying away from his father and over to Isla, it was a word that Montserrat had never thought that she would hear and it made her smile. 

Isla was practically the little boy's mother in every way and Milan didn't know anyone else that could fit the word better than Isla; she was the one who had raised him those first few months. 

Isla picked Milan up and balanced him on her hip, she fussed over him as Gerard made his way over to them; they were slowly going back to the way they had been when they had lived together. 

Montserrat watched her eldest son, she couldn't believe how happy he looked and it worried her; she didn't want to see him hurt if this didn't work out, she wanted Isla and Gerard to be happy. 

Milan was also very attached to Isla, he saw her as his mother and was very clingy with her now that she was back in his life; it wasn't going to be easy if this relationship didn't work.

"I think someone is ready for the nap," Isla mused watching Milan yawn, he was adorable and she still couldn't believe how big he had gotten in the eighteen months that she had been away. 

Gerard nodded his head, he moved to take his son sensing that his mother wished to speak with Isla; she had already told him that she approved of them dating even if she was worried about all of this.

"I won't be long," Gerard murmured giving Isla a kiss before he walked away carrying Milan inside, he peeked over at his mother hoping that she didn't scare Isla away. 

Isla watched her boyfriend head inside before she took a deep breath, she had no idea what was going to happen with them but she knew that she was happier with Gerard than she had been with Dev. 

"He missed you," Montserrat mused watching Isla, she was thankful to have a moment alone with her; she didn't want to fight only give the brunette a warning. 

Gerard didn't realise just how attached he was to the woman that had helped him heal after what had happened with Isabel; he deserved to be happy and Montserrat hoped that he was. 

"I missed him too," Isla replied moving to sit next to Montserrat, she had been happy to hear that she could have her old job back without any problem; she was glad and had already spoken to her boss back in Australia about leaving. 

Montserrat just nodded her head, she had always liked Isla and she would love to see her son one day marry the woman that had become such a big part of his life. 

"You leaving devastated him Isla... I don't want to see him like that again," Montserrat said shaking her head, she had never seen him like that and she knew that losing Isabel had been hard enough; he had tried so hard to be happy and it just hadn't happened after Isla had left for Sydney.

"I didn't mean to hurt him," Isla whispered looking down at her hands, hurting Gerard was never the plan when she had left for Sydney and she had needed time to rebuild herself after all that had happened to her. 

Gerard had understood that and he had wanted her to fully recover from the dark period in her life; he wanted her to be happy even if he wasn't in her life. 

"I know you didn't," Montserrat replied offering Isla a weak smile, she was a mother concerned for her son and she knew that things weren't going to be easy for the couple; they might have only been together for two weeks but they still had a big problem. 

Isla's parents were never going to accept that they were together, they would do everything in the power to part the couple and Montserrat feared just what Tracy and Theodore would be willing to do. 

"I just worry about the future," Montserrat murmured shaking her head, she didn't want Gerard to be hurt and she knew that Isla's parents would target his career to break them up. 

Gerard's contract with Barcelona lasted until 2019, a fact that Montserrat hoped would last and that nothing would force the club to send him out on loan or sell him to another club. 

Isla was silent watching Montserrat, there was little that she could say that would comfort the woman that had every right to worry for her son. 

"I'm not going anywhere," Isla stated, she had done her moving away and she was back now because she truly couldn't bear to be parted from Gerard again; she missed him so much when she had been in Sydney and Dev had helped cover that. 

"I hope so," Montserrat murmured nodding her head, she flashed Isla a small smile before she got to her feet and walked away leaving Isla alone to think about their little talk.