Love On The Pitch

16 Weeks

Germany vs. Portugal Friendly Match

Standing in front of her floor length mirror, Alex runs her palm across the smooth skin of her stomach. Only 16 weeks along, her stomach is still relatively flat. Only a small swell of her tummy shows. This being her first child she might not even start to really show until 18 weeks. That being said, there was already speculations circulating in the newspapers that Bastian and Alex were expecting a child.

It was rather comical seeing their pictures plastered on the front pages of her and Bastian walking out of a Starbucks holding hands. The smaller, zoomed in, picture of her mid section was laughable. Even though the speculation was correct, she couldn't help but laugh at the lengths they would go to get a snap of her stomach.

Pulling her jeans up over her petite bum, Bastian walks into the room and flops down on the bed.

" You almost ready to go?" he says

"yeah" she says in an anxious tone.

"You don't have to go if you don't want to"..he says

"Bastian....I absolutely refuse to give that asshole any sort of satisfaction" she says with heat in her voice. " besides I am a professional with a job to do and a team to support. I wouldn't be anywhere else"

"Good because I don't want you to worry about anything...none of us will allow anything to happen to you" he says as he rises from the bed and wraps his arms around her. Turning in his arms she says.."Bastian....I ....I'm not worried about my well being.....I'm fuckin terrified he's going to do something awful to hurt you" ...she says as emotion takes hold and choke her up.

Pulling away to plant a kiss on her forehead, Bastian places his hands on her cheeks and lifts her chin to look into her tear filled eyes. " we know his game now baby...he wont get away with anything....so please don't worry for me ok?" he says kissing her on the lips while he runs his hands through her long brown hair.

nodding her head up and down, she rises on her tip toes and wraps her arms around Bastian's neck. Pulling him gently down to her, he gets the hint and pulls her up into his strong arms.

" I love you" she whispers in his ear. " I love you too baby.." he replies as he runs a hand down her back.

Making their way onto the tarmac, and up the steps leading up to the private team jet, Bastian leads Alex onto the plane with a gentle guiding hand on the small of her back. Photographers snapping pictures of every gesture the two make towards one another.

Hey Hey!! Thomas hollers from the back of the plane..

Alex gives a big smile and a wave to the guys as she turns to bastian and say "10 dollars says the newspapers reveal I'm having twins with the amount of pictures they just took....how annoying Bastian... how do you handle it so well?"

"I don't.... I ignore it!!" he says with a chuckle

"WHOA!! so are the rumors true?" Thomas says as he grabs Alex's carry on from her and places it in the over head compartment.

"What??.... what rumors?".... Bastian says with an over-exaggerated look on his face.

"Smart ass!!"... Thomas says as he smack Bastian upside the arm.

"well...should you tell them or should I?" Alex says as she turns to look at Bastian.

"Ahhhh... hey guys.... ummmmm"...Bastian says as he clears his throat, like a nervous public speaker...

" So the rumors are true....Alex and I are expecting a baby in November."

"Holy shit" the guys holler in excited happiness.. "Pay up boys!!!!" Thomas yells.

"Do you place bets on every life event of mine?" Basti says
"Only on the important ones" Thomas say with sincerity as he extends his hand to his best mate.

Shaking hands, they finish it off with a big hug and a pat on the back.

Turning to Alex, Thomas takes her hands in his and pulls her into a kiss on each cheek. Bastian finishes his rounds of congratulations with the rest of the team. As he turns to take his seat he is greeted by a straight faced Low staring at Basti with his arms crossed against his chest.

Oh shit Bastian thinks to himself as he swallows slow. He has never really crossed Jogi as the boys call him, before.. But he looked ...right pissed now.
The only way you could tell he was genuinely pissed was if he called you by your last name.

" Schweinsteiger!" ein Wort ... jetzt!!! ....( a word... Now)
Following Low to the back of the plane, he feels like he's walking the green mile to a slow,painful death.

Fuck!

"I just have to say one thing to you".... Jogi says as he placed his hands sternly on his hips. I'm fuckin dead Bastian thinks to himself as he waits for the onslaught of curses.

"You hurt my niece in anyway ... I hurt you" Jogi says in a firm but incredibly intimidating tone.

Jawohl! ( yes sir) Bastian replies with sincerity.
As Bastian turns to walk back to his seat Low cuts in..."oh and Bastian....congratulations" as low extends his hand.

Shaking his hand with a huge smile on his face " thank you Jogi"

Walking back to his seat, Bastian settles next to Alex.
" what did uncle say to you?" Alex says with a lifted brow.
" just congratulating me privately. away from the guys. You know how he is...doesn't like to show too much emotion." Bastian says with a slight smile.

" why do I not believe you.... I know my uncle better than any of you...he threatened you didn't he?" Alex says with a massive smile on her face.

"Not in so many words!.. Bastian say with a scof.
Alex chuckles and reaches over to kiss him on the cheek.
"Remember what a told you a long time ago..." Bastian says

What's that? " she says
" Never doubt my feelings for you"..... He says. Alex smiles.
"And do you remember what I told you?" She says as she leans over and hovers an inch from his lips... What's that? He says as he reaches up to hold her head in his hands.
" you don't have to tell me you love me ..... I feel it every time you kiss me."
" like this?" Bastian says as he deepens a kiss.

GET A ROOM!!!! Thomas yells across the seats as the rest of the team bursts into hysterics.

Flipping the bird to Thomas, they continue their kiss.

Lisbon , Portugal Airport

Arriving 4 hours before game time, the team descended the stairs of the airplane and onto the Tarmac. Holding hands as they walk across the pavement , Alex, Bastian and the team are bombarded by reporters and photographers.

As they make their way through the crowd of annoying paparazzi, Alex instinctively grabs for her small baby bump, as Bastian holds her other hand as he shields her behind him. Immediately following suit, the rest of the team forms a clump around Alex as to not allow the paparazzi to harass her.
Hopping on the team bus, they head straight to the stadium.

Pulling up to the players entrance, Bastian turns to Alex as he feels his hand being squeezed. " are you alright?" He says with concern.

"I'm fine... Just a little nervous. That's all" I just want to keep focused today."
Heading down the long tunnel towards the locker rooms, Bastian turns to face Alex..... "Stay with the rest of the medical team. We have a quick team meeting in 20min. After that I will come and find you. Please Don't stray to far alone....You understand?"
Reaching up to touch his face.. She says.
"Bastian...I will be fine. There's too many people around...It's ok. But if it makes you feel any better I will text you and let you know where I am."

"Ok"..... He says kissing her, then heads into the locker room.