The World (Sequel to International)

Unexpected Moments

While trying to regain control of my life, I sat down and wrote a few things. This is something I wrote.

Thank you for all the love and support. 

Words can't even cover how much I appreciate it. 

Thank you.

May 2032

Mariana's POV:

"How are you feeling?" The doctor asked.

"A little sore sometimes. I've got most of my energy back, I'm up on my feet again. Mapi still doesn't let me do ANYTHING," She laughed. "but considering what happened? I feel pretty good."

"And Jordana? How is she?"

"Perfect." I smiled. "She is the happiest baby. My kids were pretty good, Gabriel was a little fussy as a baby but he didn't live with me till he was around 2 or 3. But Jordana is perfect. So quiet, I forget we have her sometimes. Mapi doesn't let her out of her sight though."

"So Mapi really stepped up?"

"More than I thought she would." I nodded. "They're her kids too, she's been good with them since everything that happened. But now? She's going above and beyond." I laughed. "Gabriel was here till April. Helped out so much. That kid is a blessing."

"From what you tell me, sounds like you did a great job raising him."

"I can't take all the credit. My parents did so much for him. Even Mapi's parents. And Mapi of course."

"It sounds like you're realizing that you were never alone in any of this?"

"I always knew I wasn't. But in my mind I was. Those who I thought I'd have with me for a long time left quicker than I was ready for. And it was one after another. I didn't have time to fully process my feelings before another thing happened." I sighed. "It seemed like that with everything. When it started to rain, it poured and it flooded. And I started to drown."

"Mapi pulled you out?"

"Mapi tried but she fell in too." I laughed. "But luckily Alexia was there. And Jenni, Virginia, Leila, Mariona, Lola, Nahikari, Carmen, I can go on and on. When I met Mapi I thought this is it. This woman is the love of my life, I'm going to spend forever with her. Then I met her friends and they haven't left. I was never just Mapi's girlfriend. I'm their friends. I just." I looked down.

"What Mariana? You just what?"

"I just wish I had my brother here. I wish he could be here and see his son grow up. I wish he could meet his nieces and nephew. I wish he could've given a speech at my wedding, and I'll love Vir forever for that video, but it's those moments that I'll miss forever."

"Life is full of unexpected moments. Good ones and bad ones. A good one in your case, meeting Mapi and gaining all those friends." She smiled. "But a bad one? Losing your brother. Life has its ways of making us grateful and hateful within seconds. But it's up to us to choose how we continue."

Mapi's POV:

"Ok Mendes-Leon family!" I clapped. "I am going to Sevilla for the weekend. Big game. While I wish I could be home with all of you and your smelly butts." Felicia laughed. "This is my job though, I have to go. So while I'm gone, aunty Lola will be here to help!"

"Really?" Luca tilted his head. "Why not aunty Carmen?"

"You little sh-"

"Lola!" Mariana walked in. "I know you weren't about to say some adult words in front of my kids."

"Of course not! Never! Come on Mariana. You know me better than that." She grumbled. 

"Mapi, I told you. I'm ok now. I can handle you being gone for a weekend."

"I know my love, but it's only been a few months. You're still a little sore and Lola offered!"

"I did?" Lola looked at me.

"You did." I glared.

"I did!" Lola turned to Mariana. "Look, Carmen has an away game too. My mom wanted to see Xavier and Isabella this weekend and she took them away without me even getting to answer." I laughed. "I'm kid-free, my wife abandoned me, let me spend the weekend with my best friend and my adorable nieces and nephew?" She pouted.

Mariana sighed. "Fine! But only because Carmen abandoned you." 

"And because you love me." Lola whispered.

"We'll see how I feel on Monday."

"I'll take it!"

Mariana's POV:

It was Friday night. Mapi was gone, Lola and I were on the couch. "Are we gonna cuddle?" Lola asked.

"I was gonna say you could stay on the couch but," I shrugged. "We've shared rooms and beds before, why not?" I laughed. "Remember when the hotel messed up our rooms during that one away trip? Who were we playing?"

She laughed. "Real Sociedad! Yes! They booked us with 1 less room and 1 room only had 1 bed. So you and I got stuck with Vir? And we all shared 1 bed like 3 idiots. Why didn't we send her to Nahikari?" I laughed. "At least we were close friends at that point."

"Vir is definitely a bed hog, poor Nahi." I sat in silence.

"How are you doing though? Not post-birth, like mentally? Any panic attacks lately?"

"One." I said. "I woke up in the middle of the night and Mapi wasn't next to me. Usually, she falls off the bed but she wasn't on the floor either. It was a few weeks after I got home from the hospital. I was in a little bit of pain and couldn't find her and I couldn't move and I just," I shook my head. "I couldn't get words out to call for her? She came back a few minutes later and just held me." Lola grabbed my hand. "Jordana started crying, that's where Mapi went. And I just, suddenly I was back in the hospital."

"You weren't awake?"

"No, I wasn't. But I heard everything." I said. "I heard you," I looked at her. "When you came to visit. That you tried to keep your promise."

"You kept yours." She said. "You fought. You came back to me, to us."

"Alexia and Virginia were just so mad, and I get it. But they didn't have to go through that c-section with Felicia." I shook my head. "I felt myself get weaker and weaker when they delivered her. It terrified me, Lola. I didn't want to feel that again." 

"I know." She put her arm around me. "Before we had the twins, Carmen and I tried to have a baby. Before we got married. I tried." She looked down. "I lost the baby, Mari." She said. "And I hated how I felt after. I hated how the doctors looked at me when I left the hospital. Carmen was upset but she was more concerned with how I shut down. I didn't want to go through that again. Have to feel that love growing and then just lose it. But then Carmen told me she was pregnant. And it was twins. We've all had our scary moments, Mari. But we get through them together. Either as a team or with our partners. If you can't go to Mapi, you come to me. If you can't go to Alexia, which I know you always do, I hope you know I'll always answer when you call. Even if you just want to say hi." 

I smiled. "Mama Lola." I mumbled. "We don't need to wait till Monday. I already know. I do love you, you big idiot."

"Yay. I win."