effervescent | m. hummels & r. lewandowski

[ chapter one ]

"This memory of Eden haunts us all."
—Desert Rose by Sting

Clara was in her bed with me, sound asleep when Robert entered the house at almost two in the morning. As my fingers brushed through Clara's black locks, much similar to those of Robert's, I heard the door unlock. There was no point in asking him why he was late again, becaue he would only respond with the pathetic excuse of trainning.

Trainning at two in the morning? Exactly how dumb did he think I was?

"Oh, you're in here." His mouth reeked of alcohol and he smelt of cheap women's perfume. Again. The disgust in his voice was evident. "I'll sleep somewhere else then," He leant down to kiss Clara's cheek, without even sparring me another glance, he was out of the room.

I wondered what that woman could give Robert which I couldn't. Was it the sex? Robert hadn't even touched me after Clara's birth, which was three years ago. We don't even sleep in the same bed now, it's been too long to remember.

Tears threatened to spill from my eyes yet again, and I let them.

My sobs were endless, powering up to double after another. "Mommy, why are you crying?" Clara's soft voice brought me out of my little tear spill session. She looked at me with her clear blue eyes that seemed to glisten even in the darkest of nights -- another thing she had gotten from her father.

"I am not crying sweetie, Mommy's just tired. Go to sleep, love." Ever so gently, she closed her clear blue eyes, a small smile on her lips. "I love you sweetheart, you're the only reason I keep up with this." I kissed her cheek, snuggling closer to her.

Slumber enveloped me soon.

*~*~*~*

"I have invited some of my friends over, cook something good for dinner. I'll come when they do."

Another command, another order for me to follow.

I nodded my head at Robert who rolled his eyes at me before proceeding to the front door and going out. The door made a harsh voice, making me jump. Clara was home so I decided to go help her with homework, it'd also kill some time before I started preparations for the dinner tonight. As I approached Clara in her room, I smiled at the sight before me --Clara was sprawled on the carpeted floor with books lying all around her. Even though she was in kindergarten only, she took great interest in homework and all her studies. Carefully, I placed Clara in her bed and switched off the lights, making my way into the kitchen.

The door knocked, startling me.

Slowly, I made my way to the door before opening it wide. A man stood in front of me, his curly black hair giving him a childish look and a boyish grin on his face. Warm brown eyes found mine and I found myself looking at this beautiful man before me.

"Hello, is this Robert Lewandowski's house?" He said in a thick German accent. The smile on his face grew as he saw me fumbling with the hem of my shirt.

"Yes, you must be his friend. Please come in." My manners called and I found myself looking at him yet again. He smiled at me once more before getting inside of the house. I led him to the living room before I asked him to sit.

"I am so sorry I am early but the bus had no other route to this place. I hope it's not a big problem." He said. I shook my head, it wasn't really a problem at all.

"I'm Mats, Robert and I play for the same team. He's a good friend of mine." Mats shakes my hand firmly.
"I'm Arabelle. I'm uh, his wife." Mats popped his eyes at my answer. A small frown was evident on his face. "What happened?"

"Nothing...it's just Robert never mentioned he had a a wife." Mats rendered me speechless. How could Robert not tell his own friends about his family?

"Well, let me tell you, he has a four year old daughter too." I said in a flat tone. The moment I said it, Mats' hand shot to his mouth and hid welcoming warm brown eyes softened.

"Really? A junior Lewandowski? Well, isn't this night full of surprises," Mats spoke and we shared a laugh. After it had silenced a bit, I saw Mats looking at me with the most beautiful face, a small smile making its way to his face.

My breathing hitched.

What a beautiful view.

I don't remember when was the last time Robert smiled at me like that. Probably before our marriage. Seeing Mats like that, my heart warmed, he would be such a good father, just knowing his teammate has a daughter made him smile so much, I wondered if he would actually cry whenever he held his own child in his arms.

Robert hadn't cried.

Stop comparing your husband to his friend, just stop it, Ara.

"Ara," He called out, waving a hand in front of me and chuckling. "I hope you don't mind me calling you that, it's just an adorable nick name for an adorable girl." Mats gushed like nicknaming his teammate's wife was the most normal thing to do.

Strangely, I didn't mind it, not even a little bit.

"No, no, no, it's okay, I am sorry though, what were you saying?" My cheeks turned red when Mats smiled even more at that, his dimples showing.

"I said," he laughed, "Can I see her? Your daughter?" I nodded, a small smile playing on my lips. As I moved upstairs, I felt Mats jogging behind me. His hand landed on thr small of my back as we went further up. Although I attempted to look calm and collected about it, my sweaty hands and shaking arms failed me.

It had been so long since someone had touched me with such electricity passing through my veins.

In my peripheral vision, I saw him, looking absolutely calm like it was nothing and maybe it was nothing to him but it was so much more for me, so much that I could not even begin to explain. I felt his hand leave my back when we stood in front of Clara's room, the door being the only barrier between us.

Careful not to wake up Clara, I twisted the door knob, feeling Mats lurking behind me to get a view of the sleeping Lewandowski.

"That's Clara." I muttered when the door was half open. I saw Mats looking at Clara like she was the most beautiful thing in the world, his eyes actually held the gleam and love for a stranger to believe that Clara was his own child. Then, ever so slowly, he walked towards her bed, kneeling down to her sleepy self. He caressed her cheek in his hands and ran his long fingers through her black hair. Pressing a small kiss to her cheek, he stood up and walked over to me.

"She's beautiful, just like her mother." He said all too soon. Maybe he didn't know what he had said but I did, all too well.

He had called me beautiful, he had just called me beautiful. Robert hadn't called me beautiful in years.