Once More. | Manuel Neuer

Chapter Twelve.

SORRY FOR NOT UPLOADING FOR SO LONG. I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AND DIDN'T HAVE INTERNET UP UNTIL NOW. IM SO SO SO SORRY.

Manuel had been laying awake next to Arabella for at least an hour now, not that he payed any mind to it. He felt entirely at peace with her in his arms, something that filled his heart with warmth yet terrified him to no end. His train of thought was interrupted by the young girl stirring before stretching her arms. 

Curiously and slightly terrified he watched her, silently awaiting her reaction.

Arabella yawned and squinted, she looked at Manuel with a blank stare as if she didn't quite realise what she was seeing.

"I had the weirdest dream, dude," she grinned tiredly.

Manuel looked at her in shock. Wasn't she going to say anything about the fact he had his arms wrapped around her? Or about the fact they were sharing a bed? Why wasn't she closing him out again, what had changed her mind?

"Do tell?" Manuel prodded carefully.

Arabella sighed before yawning again and cuddling into him. "It was so weird. You were pounding on my door, and I was suddenly in France? And then you talked about how I left you, and I felt absolutely terrified and heartbroken."

Manuel drew in a sharp breath through his teeth. She had her dream world and the real world confused.

"Weird," Manuel replied in a strained voice, not quite ready yet to tell her that wasn't a dream.

"I know right, I guess it was just one of those dreams you get after making decisions like marriage," Arabella stated with her eyes closed again.

Manuels breathing hitched. Marriage?
"Hm?" He asked, not trusting his voice.

"I know, I know, we haven't made anything official. But I know that someday I do intend on marrying you, Neuer. You aren't getting rid of me that easily."

Manuel resisted the urge to scream like a little girl. So that is what she dreams of at night? Him asking for her hand? Maybe they would manage to work it out.

It was evident to Manuel that Arabella was still half asleep, otherwise she would have realised what was going on by now.

"What? What did I do?" Manuel asked in amusement.

"Dinner," she mumbled sleepily. "You and me- flowers.."

Manuel snorted, totally forgetting the situation he was finding himself in. So he had asked her to marry him with some flowers? While they were having dinner? Manuel didn't see himself as a super romantic person, but at least he would put more effort in asking for her hand.

"Pancakes- I love you."

Manuel froze. Sure she was half asleep but still, she said she loved him. He had imagined her saying the words to him so many times, but to actually hear the words comming from her mouth made his heart swell.

Arabella was already sleeping again by the time Manuel looked back down to her, and he smiled softly. 
"I love you, too, Bella.. if you only knew how much I love you.."
**

It was late in the morning when Manuel woke up once more. This time he was met by Arabella who was hovering over him, her finger close to his face.

"Oh good, you're up. You need to go," she spoke before sitting up straight.

Manuel felt his chest tighten as he searched for words.

Arabella, who saw his face go from relaxed to pain quickly grabbed his hand.

"No, no, Manuel! I'm not doing it again!" She quickly blurted out. "Lately I had so much time to think, and what I did was wrong. It was so wrong. Not only was it unfair to you, but I wasn't listening to myself. I shut you out in attempt to protect myself from getting hurt, even though you made me feel happier then I had ever felt before. And trust me when I tell you this: I am going to do everything I can to be there for you. And if you don't want me to, after what I've done to you, I completely understand. But until you tell me to leave; I will fight."

Manuel was so taken aback by this he thought he was still dreaming.

"I want to regain your trust, and I know it will be hard for you to get passed these past two years, but I will do whatever I can to make it okay."

"Do you mean that?"
The words came out raspy. His mouth was dry and his chest felt like it was exploding as his breathing sped up.

"Yes, Manuel. It won't be easy, for the both of us it won't, but I'm done running. You gave me what I always wanted, a genuine happy feeling and I ruined it. These past few days made me realise how much you mean to me, and I thought about it over and over again. I mean it Manuel, with every cell in my body."

Manuel was at loss for words. How could she just change her mind like that? What if she would end up hurting him again, crushing him worse than she had already done?
Manuel knew the risks, yet he sat up and hugged her. He held onto her like it was the last time he would ever feel her touch.
Even if she did end up hurting him again, it didn't matter to Manuel. He would spend eternity in pain if it meant he could be with her for even just a few hours.

"But Mesut texted me, you have to be on the training grounds in thirty minutes, you have to go Manuel."

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A/N: guys, I've decided to post a photo at the end of each chapter with the view I had whilst writing. So that when this story finishes I can look back to each chapter and remember where I was and how I was feeling.
See it as a little diary of sorts.

So: this chapter was written on a train journey from Western to Eastern Italy.