Lover II- ML

299. A Sense Of Reality

Mapi woke the next morning in Kaia's loving arms, in their warm bed and with the house peacefully quiet.

Still, there were no emails or calls to say Nina was caught, still their balcony door stayed shut like every window in their house despite it being humid last night.

It felt wrong to have the balcony closed in the middle of June.

So Mapi made a point of opening it the moment the sun was up, sitting out on the balcony with a book and the baby monitor at her side.

Kaia didn't wake when Fabian alerted the camera, she stayed fast asleep hugging the duvet against her chest as Mapi left to check on their son.

Mapi took Fabian downstairs, let him run around the island a few times as she got him cold milk, changed his nappy and then took him back upstairs.

Kaia still had her back facing the ceiling, only the top of tattoo between her shoulder blade visible to them as they reentered the bedroom.

"Shh, mami's still asleep." Mapi hushes as she places him on the bed, letting him crawl up and race her towards the warm space she left.

The time on the clock was only 6:09am, far earlier than Mapi usually woke on her day off. But she had a restless night anyway so she wasn't too surprised, she just hoped tonight would be better because it was her last in Kaia's presence for quite a while.

If she still couldn't sleep properly with Kaia next to her, she had no chance in a hotel bed with Leila snoring at her side and no one to cuddle.

Fabian rests his head on Mapi's pillow when he gets there, staring at Kaia as he sips his milk through the straw in his new 'big boy' cup.

It had been hard weaning him away from bottles, but they were both glad he was getting good with straws and open cups before the Euros started.

"Chiquito, budge up." Mapi urges, tapping Fabian on the bum as she tries to shuffle back into her place.

She ends up having to wrap her arm around Fabian as they both face Kaia, a silent demand from the one year old who grabbed Mapi's hand and pulled it under his chin to cuddle.

The loud whispers from Fabian talking rubbish and Mapi's soft, happy chuckles in response is what stirs Kaia awake.

The sight before her was one she had memorised ages ago, but it still didn't take the emotion away from seeing it each time.

"Good morning." Kaia greets sleepily, brushing a hand through Fabian's curls. "Did you both sleep well?"

"He woke twenty minutes ago or so." Mapi replies as she kisses Fabian's neck repeatedly to make him laugh, feeling his hair tickle her nose. "I can't believe he's getting a haircut today."

"I know." Kaia chuckles, still with her fingers in the end of Fabian's deep curls. "I don't want to but it's getting in the way of his ears too much."

Just as she says that, Fabian gives a wipe to his ear, like he's half-arsed trying to tuck his hair behind it but not knowing how.

"He's going to look so grown up when we go to Switzerland." Mapi smiles down at the boy in her arms.

"He already looks so grown up." Kaia drags her thumb back and forth on Fabian's chubby cheek. "Look at you, you know you have us in wrapped around your finger."

Fabian smiles and scrunches his nose up cheekily before letting his lips form a curious pout. "Fly?" He asks.

"Tomorrow, hijo." Mapi answers softly. "You and I are taking the train to Madrid and we're going to see your tías."