By your side (Rúben Dias)

Chapter Fourteen

After people found out about Ingrid, speculation started. Where was the mother? Who was the mother? Was it a hookup where the woman got pregnant and Rúben was decent enough to look after the baby? That seemed to be the most popular version. If only people knew...

But soon they found an answer to their questions because when the families joined the players on the pitch for the little end of the season celebration, Maddie was the one who got to Rúben first. He lifted her in his arms and spun her around a couple of times before putting her down and kissing her. Anyone watching would have been able to tell how in love they were with each other. Those looks and those smiles didn't lie.

It was Rúben's mum who was carrying Ingrid. She and her husband took turns to hold her throughout the match. Their excuse was they wanted to give Maddie a break but she knew they were just head over heels with the little one. They barely paid attention to the matches when Ingrid was around.

When Ingrid spotted her dad, she started to laugh and move her arms in his direction. And Rúben wasted no time taking her from his mum's arms and lifting her in the air, which always made her laugh. And then he brought her close to him to kiss her pretty face.

"Dad is a Premier League champion, Ingrid. Are you happy?"

"I would say she is", said Maddie, who was looking at them both and wondering if she was drooling. "Ingrid, don't do that".

The poor baby was teething and everything she saw, she tried to bite to get some relief from the pain she was in. That included a Premier League winners medal now.

"Honey, that has been touched by so many people. It's dirty. Rúben! Don't just laugh while she does that".

"It's cute".

"And not very hygienic".

Rúben took the medal off, much to Ingrid's dismay, and placed it around Maddie's neck.

"There. Looks better on you anyway".

"Uncle Rúben! Can I play with Ingrid?"

He looked down to find Carlota, Bernardo's daughter, staring at him. She was a year older than Ingrid and loved playing with the baby.

"You'll have to be very careful, ok? People are running around and playing with the ball. Ingrid is very small and can be hurt easily".

"I know. I'll protect her. I'm her older cousin".

It was so cute to see how much Carlota loved to pretend Ingrid was her baby. A real baby was so much more fun than her dolls. But they still kept an eye on the children. Ingrid just tried to crawl and Carlota copied her.

"You have a nice family, miss teacher".

Maddie turned to see Rodri by her side and smiled at him. "I do".

"All thanks to me".

"Really? How?"

"It was because of me you met Rúben, so...".

"And we didn't even think of making you Ingrid's godfather. How rude!"

"I know. I'll forgive you. But if you have a son in the future, I recommend you call him Rodrigo. Great name".

Finding out Rúben wasn't Ingrid's biological dad worried Maddie. She felt she was always going to have that thought on the back of her mind. But when Rodri made that comment, assuming Rúben was the biological father like everyone else did, Maddie didn't even think for a second about him not being that. She had all but forgotten about it.

"Look at her crawling to the goal".

Ingrid kept crawling faster until she got to where a ball was and headed it just by moving. She didn't mean to, obviously, but still moved the ball enough to score a goal. Everyone laughed and cheered at her and she was laughing too...until she started to cry.

Rúben was there in two seconds, kissing her head and trying to calm her down.

"It's ok, my love", said Maddie, caressing her face. "I think she's more scared than hurt".

And unbeknownst to them, all of that was being filmed and shared on social media. People were going insane over how cute they all were. They never got to see this side of Rúben and they also finally got to find out who the mysterious mother of his child was.

But soon, it was time to go back home.

"I'll get one of these things she likes to chew on from the fridge".

"I'll get her bath ready".

"I need a bath too", whined Maddie.

"You can be in the bath together. It's big enough".

"Good idea. Do you want to join us too?"

"It's not that big", they both laughed. "But I'll get some dinner ready while you two relax".

Rúben fixed some dinner quickly for the adults and the baby before going back to the bath to see his favourite girls there. Ingrid was playing with some toys and splashing water everywhere while Maddie washed her hair and Rúben could only stare.

"Feeling better?", he asked and she nodded. "I can take her with me and get her dressed while you enjoy the bath a bit longer. The water is still warm".

"You're perfect".

"No, she is perfect", he said, picking Ingrid up and quickly wrapping a towel around her little body. "My favourite burrito".

Maddie laughed and looked at them going back to the room. She closed her eyes and sighed, trying to relax a bit. Even if it was just five minutes, she had learned to appreciate any alone time she got.

Rúben placed Ingrid on their bed and got everything ready. First, the diaper. He was very proud of his technique in changing them. He dressed Ingrid with a little onesie and put some baby cologne on her hair. And then she was back in his arms, her favourite place. Daddy's little girl indeed.