LOST INTO THE VINE (BWWM)

CHAPTER 52

  Nala looked toward her partner, "are you sure it's okay? I mean I can-" Matteo grabbed her hand, putting it into his pocket as if it will warm her up, grinning with a raised brow, "princess, we're already here." That's right, they were, already done collecting their luggage from baggage claim, and walking towards the exit sign. To say she was nervous was an understatement. She had a whole zoo in her belly, and not the good kind. "Matteo!" He stopped and looked at her, really looked at her, seeing her nervousness really showing on her face. He put the suitcase down, turned her to face him, and took both hands this time, "if you're not ready, that's okay. I can arrange a cab to take you to a hotel for a few days, give you time to think it over. But Irina and I will still wait for you, I told you that. and I'm telling you again, but please don't make us wait long" Nala wanted to kick herself, even when she was unsure, instead of lashing out seeing as they few a few thousand miles back to Spain only for her to chicken out, he still put her first before himself, even though it was evident he was disappointed and hurt. Nala raised on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his, not quite like she did the past week as their bodies reunited, igniting a flame none of them could extinguish. This kiss was sweet, a gesture meant to tell him exactly how she felt, "thank you for waiting for me." Squeezing his hand, she looked him into his blue orbs, "take me to your home." "Our," he corrected, but Nala didn't say anything after that, still into her head.

 She asked herself if she'd made the right move, moving in with Matteo. She'd have to extend her passport time and time again before they got married, but she would do it, for him and his mini-me. What was she thinking? Marriage? They barely just got back together a week ago. They had stayed in Texas reacquainting their bodies, Matteo also met Matthew's family. They were like family to Nala and when he asked if it was okay to meet them, she didn't hesitate, telling him that they would love him and him them. And they did, after they balled their eyes out, at the resemblance to their son. Nala also decided to let him in completely, she showed him pictures of herself during her pregnancy and told him how she lost the baby. Matteo held her as she cried, he did not say a word, he did not know what to say, to him Irina was his world and he would not imagine living without her, he pulled her tighter and told her he would be there for her to soothe the hurt in her heart. 

"Nalaaa!" she heard a high-pitched scream. Nala's eyes widened a fraction, her heart seemed to relax and expand in her chest, her body sagged with what she wanted to think of as relief and acceptance, she got on her knees, bracing herself for the impact of the hug from the little girl who ran to her with her arms wide open, her mouth open in the widest smile and her blue eyes sparkling. Irina collided with her, having her bend backward, her arms engulfing the little girl in a tight hug. "I missed you so much, Nala!" the little girl sobbed. Nala held her tighter, her body shaking, "I missed you too, baby. So, so much!" They both cried in each other's arms. Irina pulled away slightly and Nala reluctantly let her, she looked at her in her red-rimmed eyes that were sparkling no more, but mirrored the dark ocean on rainy days, Nala didn't like it, more so she knew she was crying because of her.

With her hands holding the little girl's face, Nala wiped her tears away with her thumbs, she choked her sob, "don't cry, baby. Nala is here." "You won't-leave-again?" Irina asked, in between hiccups, with more tears streaming down her face. "No, pretty girl. I'm not going anywhere," Nala kissed her all over her face, her eyes clenched tight, willing her tears to stop streaming. Irina raised her pinky finger in the air, "you have to promise me, Nala. You won't leave me and papa again." Laughing lightly, she intertwined her pinky finger with the little girl's finger, then kissed her thumb and Irina mirrored her actions. Nala smiled at her through teary eyes, "you've made a promise, pretty girl. You won't leave me either." Quickly the little girl shook her head no, "never. I love you Nala. I want you to be my mama because you make me and papa happy and we are sad when you leave, can I call you 'mama'?"

If Nala's heart was expanded before, if it was threatening to burst before, her heart actually burst at its seams at that little statement. It was just five words, but they carried a heaviness to it, the meaning behind those words... Nala couldn't stop the tears from flowing once again. the warmth in her heart spread through her entire being like a fire, "oh baby girl, you don't know how much that means to me!" "B-but you're crying," Irina's bottom lip trembled with unshed tears. Nala shook her head, trying to quieten the ringing in her ears and the fastening beating of her heart. "yes, I'm crying, but it's happy tears. Because you and your papa mean the world to me." She wanted all but to scream for everyone in the airport to hear, 'Yes! I'll be your mama!'

But she knew Irina deserved more than that, she'd laid her heart on her sleeves and Nala was going to protect that little heart with everything she got. Pulling the girl closer, she wiped her own tears and then her little girl's tears, held her by her jaw one more time, and pressed their noses together, looking into the blue eyes, much like her father's that sparkled with hope, and she hoped the girl would see how much she really meant through her eyes, "Irina Alvarez, i would love very much to be your mama. Nothing would make me happier than hearing you call me, 'mama'! I love you, okay? Never forget that."

The little girl's eyes sparkled with so much magic, this time mirroring the blue ocean on a good sunny day, her smile so wide. Nala couldn't help but shower her face with sloppy kisses, just to hear her screaming with excited giggles, bouncing in place, but not making any move to resist the affection Nala was showering her with, "no, mama!"

Nala could not get used to her being called 'mama' fast enough. Irina turned to her father who was watching their interaction, "papa, let's take mama home!" Nala then remembered that Matteo was in the vicinity, she rose to face him and his brother who stood by him. "Teo-," she said, staring at his teary eyes. He pulled her to him. "Group hug!" Irina shouted, squishing between the two, just as Matteo lifted her up in his hand and held her with one hand, Nala with the other.