The World (Sequel to International)

Married

January 2031

Mapi's POV:

"Good morning." Mariana said. 

"What happened?"

"You fell off the bed again." I looked up and saw her smiling. "What's the matter? You can't handle the big girl bed?"

I crossed my arms. "Maybe I like sleeping on the floor."

"Keep doing that then." I heard her move. "I am loving all this space." 

I sat up and looked at her. "We should just get two beds. We both hog the bed."

"You'd crawl into my bed in seconds." She got up and walked over. "You love cuddling." She helped me up.

"You're warm." I said. 

"Mari!" 

"That's Gabriel." She smiled.

"I love having that kid home."

"Well, we got a wedding today so, let's get them ready."

I got Luca and Felicia and we all huddled around in the kitchen.

"Today is Virginia and Nahikari's wedding thing." I said. "Mariana is going to the courthouse with them and their families. We are going to the venue for after to help Lola and Leila finish setting up. Then Vir and Nahikari will come and we'll all celebrate."

"But I want to see the wedding." Gabriel said. 

"He can come with me." Mariana said. "Virginia loves him."

"I'm wearing my bowtie!" He said.

"Sir yes sir." Mariana saluted. 

"Let's get ready for a fun day." 

Mariana's POV:

"I think I look great." Gabriel smiled.

"Yep, you've got your father's confidence." I laughed.

"How did he die?" He asked. "I know it was an accident but, no one tells me."

I sighed. "Because we didn't want you to know. But you're a smart kid." I nodded. "He and your mom were in a car driving. Someone who had been drinking hit them."

"Is that why you don't drink?" He asked.

"I was never really a big drinker anyway." He nodded. "They took them to the hospital, and you were born. Your mom was in very bad shape when she got to the hospital. They were concerned for you and her. After you were safe, they started helping her. It was bad though. Both of them were on life support. A few days after you were born, we decided to take your father off life support. He always made it clear that if anything were to happen, he didn't want to be kept alive by machines. A few days after he passed away, your mother did too. She wasn't close to her family and had no siblings. Your dad told me that if anything ever happened to him once he had kids if I'd look after them. And there you were." I put my hand on his face. "A newborn baby. You had no idea what happened, but at that moment I knew that I'd never let anything hurt you. You're my nephew, my blood. You have so much of him in you. He'd be so proud, both of them would." 

"My mom was very pretty." He mumbled. "She speaks Italian and I understand her? I dream about her sometimes." He looked down.

"That's good." I fixed him bowtie. "When I bring you back to Portugal, we'll have to watch the family videos." I smiled. "So you can see how crazy me and your father were."

"I want to go to Ponta Delgada." He said.

I nodded. "Then we'll go."

Mapi left with Luca and Felicia to go to the venue. I got to the courthouse with Gabriel. "Hope you don't mind." I said when I saw Virginia. "Your nephew wanted to be here." 

"Why would I mind." She hugged him. "Patri is inside. She's going to record for us."

"You ready to get married my friend?"

"Nope." She laughed. "I'm so nervous."

"Good." We went inside. I went to find Nahikari. "You ready?"

"Yeah. Vir is nervous right?"

"Of course she is." Nahikari laughed. "But she's waited for this. You both have."

As we both stood and watch their marriage become official, Gabriel stood with Patri. 

Nahikari and Virginia said their vows and exchanged their rings. "Congratulations. I pronounce you married."

Mapi's POV:

"That was Patri." Leila smiled. "They're on their way."

"PARTY TIME!" Lola cheered.

"They're married." Jenni smiled. "About damn time." Alexia gently hit her. 

The door opened and we looked. "Oh hell no." Leila said. 

"You shouldn't be here." I said.

"It's my friend's wedding day." Alex walked in. "I'm not staying, just dropping off a gift." She helped up the envelope. "I know they both want nothing to do with me." She said. "Besides I have to get back to Sweden." She put her hands in her pockets. 

"When is someone going to tell me what happened?" Lola whispered.

"When you're older." Jenni whispered back.

"Older? She's basically dead." Leila said. 

"I'm just going to go." Alex said. "I don't want to cause any trouble."

"You mean any more trouble, right?" I said. "Nahi cried because of you. You hurt her."

"I hurt a lot of people." She said. "And I live with that every day. Virginia's no saint either. She's responsible for Nahikari's tears just like I am."

"Maybe you both suck." Lola shrugged. 

"You need to leave." Jenni said. "They're on their way back, you can't be here."

"I'm going." She glared at me. "Or do you want to say something else?"

"I have nothing else to say to you." I said. "And my children are here. They don't need to see or hear that." I turned my back.

"Yeah, the kid you walked out on right? After your wife almost died. Yeah, I heard about that. How's she doing by the way? What's her name again, Mariana?" 

I turned around and walked to her. "Keep her name out of your mouth."

"There she is." 

Alexia grabbed me. "You don't want to start any trouble?"

"I didn't start it. Trouble just always finds me." 

"Get the hell out." I said. Alexia let go of me and I walked over to Jenni. 

Alex left and Lola looked at me.

"Last time I saw her was in America. When Leila, Virginia, and I went to visit Mariana. Before we came home, we stopped in Boston, where Alex was. Her and Virginia started going back and forth. I've seen Virginia get mad but I've never seen her get violent." 

Leila looked down. "We tried to stop her, but Alex kept pushing. Virginia just wanted Nahikari to be safe. She almost lost Nahi because of it." She sighed. 

"But they're together now and happy. That's all that matters." I said. "And we need to be happy too. They'll be here soon and we all need to be ready to celebrate them."

"Mama I tripped." Maxi walked to Alexia. 

"My boy." Jenni smiled proudly. 

"What did he trip on?" Mariona turned to Dario. 

"His own foot." Dario shook his head. 

"How's that nose, baby Ouahabi?" I smirked.

"I don't want to talk about it." He looked away.

Leila looked at Jenni. "Our kids are dorks like us, high fived."

"If you high five her I'll break your hand." Alexia glared at Jenni.

"See me later." Jenni mumbled to Leila.

Lola smiled. "Wedding day!"