The World (Sequel to International)

End Like This

January 2032

Mapi's POV:

I sat around and waited. My leg bouncing.

Leila put her hand on my knee. "Relax." She whispered.

I sighed and grabbed her hand, she held it. "You guys don't have to be here," I said. "Go home. Get some rest."

"I don't know if you've noticed, but we all adore your wife, Mapi. She needs us, we're here. You need us, we're here." Leila said.

"We all love her, Mapi. We're not going anywhere." Mariona smiled. "Not until we know."

I put my head down. "The doctor warned her that there would be risks with this." I wiped a tear away. "But we wanted that 4th baby." I shook my head. "There were other ways, I should've told her. I should've-"

"Hey." Sandra kneeled in front of me. "Mariana knew the risks, Mapi. Don't start with the "I should've" bullshit. She's an adult. You both are. Everything will be fine, just don't start with that."

"Anything?" Lola walked in. She passed out the coffee and sat down.

"No." Leila sighed and sat up. "Anyone hear from Alexia?"

"Her and Jenni are outside." Nahikari said. "Alexia didn't want to leave, but she can't be in here."

"Does she know?" Lola asked.

"Yeah. I told her." Nahikari said. "Jenni has her phone in her hand. I'll let her know if there's an update."

"Thanks, Nahi." I mumbled.

"Vir didn't come back yet?" Carmen asked.

"She didn't leave she's just not here." Nahi sighed.

"She doesn't want to be near me." I looked down.

"Mapi?" I looked at Gabriel. "Where's Mariana?"

"She wasn't feeling well. The doctors are taking care of her." I said.

"Will she be ok?" I looked at Mariana's mom.

"Yeah, she will. Because you're here now." I smiled. Lola picked him up and sat him next to her.

Jenni walked in a few minutes later. "Hey." I looked at her.

"Alexia didn't want to come up." She said. "I needed to." She sat down. "I need to be in here. I'll get her if anything changes."

I took my phone out and looked through my pictures.

"Say hi to mama." Mariana said. "We miss you."

"We miss you!" Felicia screamed.

Mariana laughed. "Don't let Nahi score too many goals. We love you."

"Love you mama!"

I looked through all my pictures and videos of Mariana. That I heard it.

"Mapi?"

I jumped up. "Are they?"

"Come with me."

I followed the nurse. "Here's your baby girl." I looked down.

"Where's Mariana?" I looked at the nurse. "Is she ok?"

"They're still working on her. I'll try to update you when I can. This was pushed back too far."

"But she's ok?" I looked at the baby.

"She will be, yes."

"And Mariana?"

"Is holding on. They're doing everything they can."

I nodded. "I need to tell my family." I looked down at the baby. "I'll be back little one." I whispered.

I walked back to the waiting room.

"Say hi to mama."

I closed my eyes.

"We miss you."

"Well?" Jenni stood up.

"The baby is fine." I said. "She'll be ok."

"And Mariana?" Jenni looked. "Is she ok?"

"They're still with her. She's really weak." I looked down. "Um I need to go back to be with our daughter but," I shook my head. "I look at her and I just see Mariana. I can't do this without Mariana. We're supposed to be a team!"

"Mapi." Lola walked toward me. "Look at me."

"I need her!"

Lola grabbed me. "Mapi!" She held me. "I got you." I grabbed her arm. "I got you. We're all a team. Now let's go see your daughter."

October 2031

Mariana's POV:

"Another girl." Mapi smiled. "I love her already."

We finished up at the doctor and went home. "We should pick a name now. So we don't struggle like we did with Felicia and Luca."

Mapi laughed. "Well, what do you have in mind?"

I smiled. "I like Jordana."

"Jordana." Mapi repeated. "Gabriel, Felicia, Luca, and Jordana."

"The Mendes Leon family."

Mapi nodded. "Can I make a suggestion?"

"Always."

"Gabriela." She said. "Jordana Gabriela."

"Gabriela?"

"She'll be our mircale baby. She should have a part of her angel with her. Your brother."

I looked at my stomach. "You sure?"

Mapi nodded. "He's going to make sure this is a smooth pregnancy."

"Jordana Gabriela." I said. "Our daughter."

January 2032

Mapi's POV:

"He was supposed to protect them."

"Who?" Nahikari said.

"Her brother. He was supposed to make sure they were both ok. But Mariana isn't ok!"

"She will be, Mapi." Leila walked towards me. "You need to relax." She looked at the kids. "They need you to be calm right now. Pull yourself together for them."

"Hey let's go for a walk." Carmen stood up. "Come on." She took Felicia and Luca. Gabriel looked at me.

"I want to stay." He crossed his arms.

"I'm going to see Alexia." Jenni stood up. "She needs to know." She left.

I looked back at the room where our daughter was. "How can I go in there and hold that baby knowing Mariana might not get that chance?"

"Becaused that baby needs you." Lola said. "I know this isn't a good situation, Mapi. But you have a newborn baby. Mariana will be ok, I know she will. Her story doesn't end like this. It can't end like this."

"How are you so sure?"

"Because she promised me." Tears filled Lola's eyes. "She promised me that she'd fight and fuck Mapi. She's going to fight like hell. Her story doesn't end like this. I can't let it end like this. She promised me. And Mariana doesn't break her promises."

"What if this ones too hard to keep?" I whispered. "What if I have to lose her? I'm not ready for this Lola."

"No one is, Mapi. But we can't think like that. She's going to fight. We can't let her give up. She has to meet Jordana." I nodded. "Now let's go see my niece, ok?"

"Ok." We walked to the room and I looked at her. "She looks like Mariana." I whispered.

"She's beautiful Mapi." Lola smiled. "You're not alone in this. Neither of you were ever alone." She put her arm around me. "I got you, ok you neck tattooed idiot?" I laughed. "I got your back."