Holding Her, Loving You

Chapter Four: Old Friends and Fathers

“So how have you been?” Belina asked softly as she sipped on her drink, Gerard had insisted on taking her and Alejandro for something to eat; he wanted to hear all about his friend’s life since she had disappeared seven years ago.

“I’ve been good but I guess you already know all about me,” Gerard mused as he looked at the brunette, his life was all over the papers and he hadn’t brought her to the café to just talk about him; he had so many questions and he knew that he had very little time.

Belina sighed as she looked at the footballer, she knew what he wanted to know and she was a little nervous about talking to him about her life.

“We looked for you… after what happened with him,” Gerard said as he watched the brunette, she was dressed in a peach top with peplum and V-neck and black high waisted pencil skirt with elastic sides paired with black classic pointed heeled court shoes.

“I know… I guess I was a little bit embarrassed about what happened, I never expected that to happen,” Belina admitted softly as she glanced at Alejandro, she had never told him anything about his father and she didn’t want to in fear of what would happen.

Gerard followed her gaze to the little boy, he doubted that Belina had told him that his father was Cesc Fàbregas; he knew it wasn’t to be cruel but to protect him.

“So what do you do now? We checked every bakery in Barcelona and couldn’t find you,” Gerard said as he turned his attention back to Belina, he was curious about what she had been doing for the last seven years; he doubted that she had gone into cleaning like her mother.

Belina smiled at him as she took a bit of her sandwich, she had changed so much since she was their friend; she had been forced to grow up and quickly when Alejandro was born.

“I’m a paralegal… I graduated from law school back in 2011,” Belina said shrugging while Gerard stared at her, he had never thought that she would go and do something like that.

The brunette smiled knowing that her friend was shocked, she had never paid a lot of attention back in school and spent a lot of time baking or hanging around the football pitch as the boys played football.

“I know… doesn’t seem like me, but after Alex was born I wanted something that would support the both of us,” Belina said as she looked at her son, she had done everything in her life so that he wouldn’t go without; he was the one good thing in her life sometimes.

Gerard nodded his head knowing that he would do the same for his son, he didn’t know any parent that wouldn’t do anything for their children.

“So what’s it like being a papa yourself?” Belina asked as she turned the conversation away from herself, she knew that he was curious but she didn’t want to risk Alejandro finding out that Cesc was his father at least not until she was ready to tell him herself.

“It’s great… I never thought I would feel like this,” Gerard said as he smiled at the thought of his son, he glanced at Alejandro as he thought about all the moments that Cesc had missed out of his son’s life.

***

“Madre how do you know Gerard?” Alejandro asked as they stepped into their home, he looked at her curiously as she closed the front door; Gerard had refused to let her disappear again and had insisted that she give him her number.

“We grew up together,” Belina said softly, she knew where this was going and carefully moved to sit down in the living room knowing that it was time that she was honest with her son; she looked at him knowing he was going to be hurt.

“Like you and padre…” Alejandro said as he sat down, he had never really asked about his father because he could see that it hurt his mother but he wanted to know who he was; he needed to know since all of his friends had father’s and he didn’t.

“Yes… I want you to listen to me Alex, I love you more than anything and I would never change anything for the world,” Belina said as she patted the seat next to her, she knew what he wanted and she hoped that her answer wouldn’t hurt him.

Alejandro moved closer to his mother before he hugged her, he wasn’t going to allow the news of his father change anything; his mother had done everything for him and he loved her more than anything.

“Your padre and I were together for two years before I feel pregnant with you, he wasn’t ready for a child and we broke up; I haven’t seen him since,” Belina said softly as she prepared to tell Alejandro, who his father was for the first time.

“He didn’t want me, did he?” Alejandro guessed making Belina sigh as she hugged him close, she wished that there was something that she could say that would make this easier for him.

Alejandro cuddled into his mother’s arms, he had always known that his father was a walk out but he had never thought that he hadn’t wanted him; he sniffled slightly as he looked at his mother, who pressed a kiss to his head.

“Who is he?” Alejandro asked as Belina wiped away his tears, she sighed as she ran a comforting hand through his hair as she rested her head against his; she closed her eyes wondering how he would take the name.

“Francesc Fàbregas Soler Jr.,” Belina said as she pulled back and looked at him, she watched as his brown eyes flashed with recognition as he realised that his favourite footballer was his father; she sighed knowing that this was going to change things.

“You mean that Cesc Fàbregas the Barcelona footballer is my padre,” Alejandro said shocked as he stared up at his mother; he had never thought in a million years that his father would be someone like that.

Belina nodded her head knowing that he would want to hear the story one day about how she had met his father and what had happened; but she wasn’t ready yet.

***

“Are you going to tell him?” Lionel asked as he looked at Gerard, the Spaniard had come to his house to tell him who he seen and had lunch with and was now wondering what he should do.

Gerard shrugged as he ran a hand through his hair, on the one hand he knew that he should tell his best friend that he had run into Belina and met his son but on the other; he didn’t want to drive Belina away again.

“I was thinking of waiting a while… I’ve missed her Leo and I want Lina back for a while,” Gerard said as he thought about all that he had missed in the brunette’s life; he wished that there was some way he could fix the damage that Cesc had caused when he had ended things with Belina.

Lionel sighed as he nodded his head, he knew that he wanted to see the brunette again himself when he got the chance; she had been one of his best friends even after she had followed Cesc to London when he had signed for Arsenal.

“She really loved him didn’t she?” Lionel said making Gerard nod his head, Cesc had made a major mess of things when he had ended them with Belina because she was pregnant; now he just hoped that there was a way forward for them all now.