The World (Sequel to International)

Distance

June 2030

Mariana's POV:

"Mari." I felt Mapi shake me. "It's time to get up, my love." 

I opened my eyes and looked at her. "What time is it?"

"9." She smiled. "I'll get check the kids." She kissed my forehead and left the room.

I sat up and grabbed my phone. 

Today was the day. Packing up Gabriel.

I joined everyone in the kitchen.

"Mama." Felicia smiled.

"Good morning baby girl." I kissed the top of her head. I hugged Gabriel. "Love you. All of you."

Gabriel was quiet. "You alright?" Mapi asked. He nodded. We ate breakfast and then Mapi took Gabriel to his room.

Mapi's POV:

"Will Mariana be ok?" Gabriel asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I'm leaving and I want to know she'll be ok." 

I smiled and kneeled down in front of him. "Look at me." He looked. "Mariana will be just fine. You don't have to worry about her. First, because you're a kid. You shouldn't worry about anything. Just focus on being a kid and enjoy your life."

"Because it all goes down from here!" He smiled proudly.

"What? No! Who told you that!"

"Aunty Patri." He said softly.

"Ok. Rule number 1, never listen to Patri. Ok? If you're ever stuck with Patri, don't listen to her."

"What if we're in a fire and she tells me to run?"

"Don't listen to her. Also, don't run, you crawl. Heat and smoke rise, you crawl." He nodded. "Second, I'll be with Mariana. I won't let anything happen to her, Felicia or Luca. Or you. I won't be with you, but I'll still look out for you. Understand?" He nodded. "Good now let's start packing!"

Mariana's POV:

Everything was packed up. He had stuff at my parent's house from when he spent the summers. Over the next few days, it started to become real that he was leaving.

Leila and Mariona, his godparents, threw him a "good luck in Portugal party."

Leila was really proud of it.

"You ok?" Jenni asked.

"I've been taking care of him since the second he was born." I smiled. "And now he's so grown up?" I looked at her. "Where did the time go?"

"I don't know." She shook her head. "Seems like just yesterday Mapi was telling Alexia and I about this girl she was crushing on. Now, look at the two of you." She put her arm around me. 

"Aw, she talked to you guys about her crush on me?" 

Jenni laughed. "Yes, she did. And then when she saw you in the tunnel before the final, she just stared at you."

"I know." I said. "I felt her eyes burning a hole in the back of my head. That and Tatiana said "that hot Spanish girl is staring at you" so she was obvious with it." 

"How'd you know she meant Mapi?" Virginia said. "We're all hot Spanish girls."

"Eh, you're weird looking. Now, Nahi is attractive."

"Thanks." She smiled.

"But you? I don't know man."

"Oh. Ok. This is why no one can point Portugal out on a map."

"Yeah. THAT'S why." I walked to find Mapi. 

"You ok?" 

"Yeah. I have you and our kids and all these friends."

The next day we got everything together and headed to Portugal. 

This was going to be harder than I thought. 

We got to my parents and they were waiting. 

Gabriel ran right over to his grandparents. "He's home." Mapi smiled. "So are you."

I nodded.

We went inside and sat in the living room. "We're going over a few rules first." My dad said. "You're older now. We're so happy you're going to be living with us now that you joined the academy. But we expect some help around the house."

"Ok." Gabriel said. "I help out with Mariana and Mapi."

My parents looked at us. "He does. He's a big help, just ask him and he does."

"Are we sure he's Gabriel's son?" I laughed. "I never got that boy to do anything." My mom said. "Gabriel take the trash out! Do I have to?" Mapi grabbed my hand. 

"I'll be good." Gabriel said. "I really want to play for Sporting and I love you guys." He said. "So I'll do what you ask."

I ruffled his hair. "Why don't you go get your stuff from the car." 

"Ok!" He ran outside. 

"You did good with him, Mari." My dad said. "I'm proud of you."

"I had good role models." I said. "You are the best parents, I learned from you."

"We weren't always the best."

"We all have our flaws." I said. "Speaking of flaws." I looked at Mapi. "There's something I need to talk to you about."

"I'll go help Gabriel." Mapi whispered. "Let you talk to them."

"Thank you." 

Mapi got up and left.

Mapi's POV:

"Grab that ball." I said when I got outside. "Let's juggle for a little."

He kicked the ball and that's what we did. He stopped and looked at me. "I know you told me not to, but thank you." He said. "For pushing me and helping me with my school work and football. I know you're not my mom, but you are the best mom ever." He hugged me. 

"It's easy when you have a kid as awesome as you." I kissed the top of his head. "Hey, you know I'm proud of you right?" He nodded. "And when you finally play for your country, I'll wear a Portugal jersey and not complain." 

He laughed. "You wore Mariana's and didn't complain."

"Oh trust me. When we first started dating, I complained often." I laughed. "And she did the same thing when she wore my jersey. She always joked that it was burning her skin." I smiled. "You're going to do great things in your life, Gabriel. You are the best kid. You have that strong Mendes heart." I hugged him. I saw Mariana in the doorway. "Come on. Let's get you settled."

We walked into the house with his stuff.

"This was your father's room." Mariana's mom said. "It's yours now." 

Gabriel looked around. "Dad." He smiled. 

"I leave you guys to it." She left. Gabriel turned to us.

"You ready for this?" Mariana asked.

He looked down. "I'm going to miss you guys."

Mariana smiled and kneeled down. "Here." She pulled her necklace out. "When Gabriel and I were younger, my grandfather got us these. He had one too. I kept Gabriel's so I had him with me," She took it off. "and now I'm giving it to you." She put it around his neck. "That way you know that not only am I always with you, but your father and great grandfather are too." Gabriel held it in his hand. "Distance never stops family."