The World (Sequel to International)

Then, Now, Always

April 2030

Mapi's POV:

I woke up and rolled over to look at Mariana. She was peacefully sleeping. Finally. I leaned over and kissed her cheek then got out of bed. 

She took the remainder of the season with Atleti off, due to medical reasons. 

Mental health is important too.

I went into Gabriel's room. "Hey, kid." I whispered. "Time to get up." I shook him gently.

He opened his eyes and looked at me. "Where's Mari?"

"She's still asleep. It was a rough night. I'm taking you to school today." 

He smiled. "Ok." He sat up. "Can I have cereal?"

"Sure." I laughed. "I'll get it ready. Hurry up."

"Ok!" He got out of bed. 

I went to Luca's room and took him out of the crib. "Hi, little boy." I smiled. I got him changed and grabbed my phone. 

Virginia

I called her and waited. "Hey Mapi." She answered.

"Hey. I'm taking Gabriel to school, would you be able to come sit with Luca and Felicia? Mariana had a rough night again last night. She just fell asleep a few hours ago."

"Go see my adorable goddaughter and equally adorable nephew? Hmm. Let me think." I shook my head. "I'll be there in 10 minutes." She said bye and hung up.

I walked to the kitchen with Luca and got Gabriel's stuck ready. I put Luca in the highchair. When Gabriel came in he started eating. "Can you watch him while I go get Felicia?" He nodded. "Vir is coming. She'll let herself in."

"Ok." He continued to eat.

I walked to Felicia's room. "Good morning baby girl." I picked her up. "Ready for your day?"

"Mama." She looked around.

"Mama's still sleeping." I got her changed and held her hand as we walked to the kitchen. As we got there, Vir walked in. 

"Vir!" Felicia smiled and walked to her. 

"Hey, little one." Virginia laughed and picked her up. "Miss me?"

"Yeah!"

She sat down with her. We ate together and then Gabriel finished getting ready. 

Felicia and Luca started playing in the living room. I sat with Virginia and watched. "Is it getting worse?" She asked.

"She's better than she was but there's good days and bad days. It's not just the anxiety anymore. It's depression." I looked down. "She never fully coped with her brother's death, and me being," I sighed. "me didn't help."

"You can't beat yourself up about this Mapi. You need to move on."

"But I left her, Vir." I shook my head. "I told her I wouldn't and then I did anyway. When she needed me most, I walked away. She was bleeding out after Felicia was born and I froze. She was having a panic attack and again, I froze." I looked at Virginia. "I can't comfort my wife, my best friend, the woman who's been there for me so many times. I can't comfort her. What is wrong with me?"

"Well if you want my honest opinion."

"Vir." I sighed.

"Look. I can't answer those questions. But there have been a lot of times when Nahi needed me and I froze too. There have been times when I needed her and she froze. We're human. Sometimes we don't know what to do and we freeze." She shrugged. "You need to communicate with Mariana though."

"I'm ready!" Gabriel walked in. 

"Take him to school. I'll watch these nuggets." She looked at Felicia and Luca.

"Alright." I stood up and grabbed my keys. "Let's get going."

"Bye aunty Vir!" Gabriel hugged her. 

"Have a good day at school." She rubbed his back. 

Mariana's POV: 

I woke up and looked to my right. "Mapi?" I patted the bed. It was empty. I sat up and looked around. "Did you fall off?" I looked at the floor. "No." I grabbed my phone and got up. 

After getting changed I walked to the living room. "I thought I was taking Gabriel to school today?" I walked to get myself some coffee.

"Haha. I'm not your wife." I looked at saw Virginia on the couch.

"What the hell?"

"Good morning sleepy head." She smiled. I got my coffee and sat with her on the couch. "Mapi took Gabriel to school. She asked me to come watch these two while she was gone."

"She could've woken me." 

"You need to sleep, Mari. I know you haven't." I looked down at my lap. "Come on. Talk to me." She said. "It's me." 

"My mind just won't let me sleep." I looked at her. "The thoughts just get louder and louder. Telling me that everyone's going to leave. I can't hear them right now, telling me to not talk to you. Because you're going to leave too." She opened her mouth. "I know, I know. You aren't going to, but that's just how my mind is, Vir. I can't help it. I'm broken." 

"Nothing wrong with being broken." She put her arm around me. "I'll tell you every day. I'm not going anywhere." She said. "You and me. Family. Then, now, always. Understand?" I nodded. 

"I don't like feeling like this." I whispered.

"And I don't like seeing you like this. But I'll do whatever I can so that you don't feel like that for too long." 

We sat there and watched the kids until Mapi came back. Virginia went home and left us on the couch. I sat with Mapi and watched the kids. "I feel like I'm not helping." I said.

"They're my kids too. I missed too much when I walked away, let me do this. Let me help you." 

I looked at her. "I'm cooking dinner tonight." 

She laughed. "If that's what you want."

"I'm going to sound like my grandmother for a second." I nodded. "The kids are too skinny what are you feeding them." She laughed. 

"She said that?" 

"We were always "too skinny" to her. Never eating enough even though we were both athletes in training. We had certain diets and worked out a lot. Trust me, we ate more than enough. Just a grandmother looking out."

She nodded. "We have an athlete in training."

"A few months till he's back in Portugal." I sighed. "It will be weird without him."

"I know it will, but we'll figure it out, together." She kissed the side of my head. "I love you."

"I love you."