The World (Sequel to International)

Your Heart

Mariana's POV:

I shot up and looked around. 

Where am I?

Why am I at home?

Wait a minute.

I got up and looked out the window. "What the hell." I whispered.

"Mari!" I heard. My door opened. "Mari come on."

"Leo?" 

"Yeah? Who were you expecting? Come on we're gonna be late."

"Late?"

"Yes. You start at the academy today. Come on Mari what's going on." 

"Nothing. Just a weird dream. I'll be right down." I stared at him. 

"Ok? Hurry up." He ran downstairs. "Granddad is getting us!" He yelled.

"What." I whispered. "What fucking year is it?" 

I got ready and ran downstairs. "Hey what day is it?" I asked Leo. 

"Friday."

"Yeah but like Month?"

"July 2009. You're acting weird."

"Yeah. I know shut up." We went outside and my grandfather was there. 

"You look confused."

"Just had a weird dream."

"Don't lie to me child." He crossed his arms. "We're dead."

"What!" We turned to Leo. "Yeah I know I was trying to be gentle about it." He got in the car.

"I'm dead?"

"Almost. That's why we're here." He smiled.

"To kick your ugly face back to the real world!" My grandfather looked at him. "Hey gentle went out the window after your "we're dead" bullshit." 

We laughed. 

"I missed you." I hugged him.

"I missed you too, querida." He kissed the top of my head. "I'm proud of you. Everything you've done for Portugal. For football. You are incredible." 

"I have a good support system. People who I love to play for."

"Also. That free kick against Spain to win the first Algarve Cup? My favorite goal."

"You know she's literally engaged to a Spanish girl right?"

"Yes, I do." He said to Leo, then turned back to me. "And she seems wonderful. I wish I was around to know her."

"I've told her a lot about you. Because of her I finally started working on our list again. I hope you don't mind."

"I'm with you every day." He put his hand on my cheek. "I've seen those stadiums with you, I'm happy you're seeing them with someone you loved. When I knew my time was up, all I wanted was you kids, to continue on the things we started. Even though I knew it would be difficult for you, especially you, Mari. But this woman, she brought you back. And I am thankful for that. Keep our traditions alive. And remember that I'm with you every day."

"I will." I smiled.

"First we have to get you back." He turned to the car. "You're driving." 

"I'd love too but it's 2000 which means I'm 12 years old. Which means I can't drive."

"There are no rules here. Get in the car." Leo said. 

I got in the car. "Where are we going?"

"You start at the academy today."

"I'm also not the 12 year old I should be. So this should be fun."

We got to the facility and it was empty. "Ha. Surprise." I looked around. "Is this one big sign secretly telling me to leave Barca and go back to Sporting?"

"No." Leo laughed.

"Yes." My grandfather said seriously. "I said that girl seems wonderful, you playing for Barcelona is pretty disappointing."

"Well, maybe one day I'll go back home."

"One day at a time, Mari. One day at a time."

"That's a good show." Gabriel whispered. I turned to my brother. "Don't act like you don't miss my weirdness."

"I miss it every day." I smiled. "Your son is your clone though. I get my fix."

"That's my boy." He smiled. 

"Want me to give him a message when I get back?"

He shook his head. "I visited him a few nights ago. Just tell him his dad loves him and is proud of him. Every single day."

"Copy that. So! The academy. I showed up earlier than everyone else, got some practice in which impressed the coaches."

"Then what?"

"Then I became a member of Sporting. Officially. Kind of. There wasn't a women's team until 2016." I said. "So I trained at the academy and was a member of Sporting but I never played."

"What did you do?"

"I wanted to give up. I remember I came back to the car after and asked what the point was. Joining an academy for a team that doesn't even exist." I looked at my grandfather. "And you told me that joining before there was a team was the most important thing. Because it showed the club how important it was to me. I showed them that when the time came, I'd be ready." 

"And from there?" 

"They loaned me out in 2012. I played with Valadares Gaia. That's where I met Tatiana." I smiled. "In 2015 Sporting said they were getting a women's team, I played my last season with Valadares Gaia and then rejoined Sporting in 2016. The rest is kind of history." 

 "Your heart." My brother smiled. "That's your biggest weapon. Yes, you have the skill, but your heart is what makes you stand out. You give your all to everything you do."

"This whole thing was to show me that my heart is strong?"

"Because right now in the real world, your heart is weak. That's why you're here. Your heart is the reason you are where you are. The love and dedication you put out." I nodded. "It's not your time. Everyone knows that. People are going to try to bring you down. Love will win. Your passion will drive you. And when Sporting comes calling again, pick up." My grandpa smiled.

I laughed. "I missed you. Both of you. Mom and dad are great but you two took me to the academy that day. You too pushed me to join Valadares Gaia even when I didn't want to. If I didn't go there, it would've been over. Everything I do, I do with the two of you in mind. I am who I am because of the love and support you two gave me. I love you both." I hugged them.

"We're not gone. Not fully." Gabriel whispered. "I'll see you soon, Mari. Stay out of trouble, get married, keep doing what you're doing with Gabriel Jr. He's in great hands." He started to walk away. "And tell Mapi thank you."

"For what?"

"For keeping her promise." He was gone. 

I turned to my grandfather. "Any last words for me?"

"Barcelona? Seriously."

"Hey."

"I'm kidding." He smiled and put his hands on my face. "My beautiful little girl. Now this beautiful woman. I could not be prouder of who you became. You will be an amazing wife, an amazing parent to Gabriel and to any future children you might have. Mariana, you were the biggest blessing in my life. I had sons, then Gabriel was born I loved him, of course, but I wanted a granddaughter. Then you were born and I just knew that you would be the best of all of us. I told your parents that you were going to be the one to make not only the dos Santos and Mendes families proud, but all of Portugal. I love you, querida. Never forget it. And when you need me, I will always be there." 

I hugged him. "Thank you. For everything."

"Get back there. Continue what you started."

"I will."