Alejandro Vargas x Reader

Two

"I have to confess something, mi vida.", Alejandro breathed a kiss to your temple as the two of you stood inside the door, watching the kids sleep.

Taking a deep breath, you let your hand slide on top of his that rested below your chest and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"You're leaving soon.", you said, audibly not thrilled but also not wanting to start a fight.

"I'm sorry. But my duties wait out there. My men need me."

You sighed.

"I know.", your eyes wandered over each of the kids' faces. "But you know what my opinion on that matter is."

"I know.", he grabbed your hand to breathe a kiss to the back. But I have to support my men. "They need their leader."

"Alejandro...", gently, you freed yourself from his grip to turn and make eye contact. "I married you, knowing that there was a risk that came with it. I'm not mad that you're a working man, fighting for our country. But I'm afraid that one day my husband won't return."

"Mi corazón..."

"Don't, mi rey.", you grabbed his face with both hands. "I know you're not good with apologies. Just... promise me you'll come back."

A sad expression crossed his eyes. He frowned, guilty and yet realistically harsh.

"You know I can't promise you that.", he whispered with his raspy, almost scared voice.

It always send shivers down your spine whenever he talked to you like this, eyes locked, as honest yet vulnerable as a man could be.

It broke your heart to know that he was right.

You, out of all people in this narco infested country, knew that there were no guarantees for happy endings. That's why you had pulled your tail in and ran from danger ever since.

The kids were only one more reason to stay under the radar. But unlike you, he had an honourable job, one that wasn't easily disposable. He kept the country together. That was something you weren't able to say of your old self.

"Try not to die recklessly.", you said and rubbed your cheek on his scratchy chin.

A low hum made his chest rise. The vibration chased through your skin and bones, all the way to your heath and made it beat with ecstasy.

A few years ago you wouldn't have dared to dream about a man like him. Or this kind of love that the two of you had.

But everything had turned out to the better. At least that's what you had to tell yourself every single night before closing your eyes.

Otherwise the memories of past days would drive you mad.

"I should get food ready.", you gave his stomach a firm pat and walked past him.

With a chuckle, he grabbed you by the wrist and pulled you back.

"Did you just call me fat, wey?", he asked with a playfully offended grin, showing off his perfectly white teeth.

Playfully, you pushed him off with a smile, shaking your head and walked away.

A low sound got stuck in his throat.

Alejandro was a man who knew how to control his temper, he preferred to keep his head cool and his behaviour proper. But there was one thing he couldn't keep to himself and that was how much he hated to be ignored.

Especially by you.

A smile was on your lips as you walked into the kitchen, only in your underwear and a white tank top. Your ears already picked up how he followed you as you opened the kitchen door and stood on the porch to take in a deep breath of warm, dusty desert air.

After the two of you had married Alejandro had made sure to find a place as far and hidden away from civilisation as possible.

It was a huge ranch with more than a few acres of pasture and paddocks for livestock. After running away from your old life, the idea of becoming a farmer was not a bad one for you.

Alejandro had gifted you a pet pig as a joke for your first wedding anniversary. Meanwhile, four large pigs wallowed in the muddy shade under trees. The farm had grown by two horses and a cow. But the children had the most fun chasing the many chickens around the yard.

Your eyes wandered to the big orange tree in the middle of the yard. A few blossoms already started to turn into fruits.

Your heart got heavy at the sight.

"She would have turned seven this year.", you sighed and sat down in your hanging chair that dangled off the porch roof.

With a grim look on his face, Alejandro crossed his arms in front of his chest and locked eyes with you.

"It's been a long time, mi amore.", he grabbed your hand to give it a squeeze. "It's time to let go."

Pulling a face, you took a deep breath.

"I'm not crying anymore.", you said with a tired smile. "How did you move on?"

He shook his head.

"I didn't. She'll always be in my heart. But we both know that Las Almas is not for kids. And...", he had to stop himself to not sound cruel. "Even if we try everything, we don't know if there won't be more."

It hurt to hear him talk this way. But you knew that he had lost his family due to the narcos' influence on his home town. Two sisters and a mother.

Now all there was left of the Vargas family was him.

And yet, even though this wasn't a tragic individual case, you didn't want to feel the pain of holding a dead child in your arms ever again.

"I'll protect them no matter what.", you whispered. "But please, Alejandro, promise me that you won't jump into death headless. You're not just a Colonel anymore."

"I know.", dedication burned up inside his eyes. "I'm your husband and a father to these orphans."

"Our kids."

"Our family.", he pressed a kiss to the back of your hand only to steal another from your lips. "And that's why I have to go, mi vida. I have to make sure this country is safe. For us."

"Tu vida por este país?"

"Mi vida por ti."