Holding Her, Loving You

Chapter Twenty-Five: Merry Christmas

“Are you sure about this?” Núria Soler asked as she looked between her son and his girlfriend, she adored Belina but to hear that the brunette was pregnant again by her son unsettled her slightly.

Cesc nodded his head as he took Belina’s hand and laced their fingers, he knew why his mother was worried and he wasn’t going to make a mess of things this time; he had lost Belina once and he couldn’t do it again.

“I know you are worried madre but I am sure about this,” Cesc said as he smiled at his mother, he had decided to break the news to his parents about Belina being pregnant with their second child; he didn’t want them finding out via the press or anything else.

Francesc Fàbregas frowned as he stared at his son, he couldn’t help but be worried about the news he was going to have a third grandchild; he didn’t believe that Belina was using his son but this had all happened to quickly for his liking.

“You’ve only just got back together Cesc… are you sure you are prepared for this?” Francesc asked as he eyed his son, he had no doubts that Belina would be able to cope since she had raised Alejandro alone; but his son already had Lia who was only eight months old to deal with.

Cesc glared at his father as he realised what Francesc was saying, he had no intentions of walking out on Belina again; he knew that if he did then he would come to regret it.

“I’m more than prepared padre,” Cesc said as he gritted his teeth, he knew that his parents were worried but he was determined to see Belina’s second pregnancy through to prove to her before anything else could happen between them.

Francesc opened his mouth to protest when Núria stopped him, she sighed as she shook her head knowing that if they pushed then it would only cause more problems between them and their son.

***

Belina smiled softly as she watched Alejandro unwrap his Christmas presents, she knew that next Christmas; he would have a baby brother or sister to cope with as well as having Lia as a half-sister.

The brunette sighed as she pushed herself away from the door and walked away knowing that Cesc was happy right now; she didn’t want to spoil the first Christmas that he had with his children even if he had to go back and forth from Daniella’s to spend time with Lia.

“Núria could we talk?” Belina asked softly as she approached her boyfriend’s mother, she could always trust the older woman to be completely honest with her even if Cesc didn’t like it; she knew that Núria and Francesc had worries and she wished to ease them in anyway.

Núria sighed as she stopped preparing the Christmas dinner and looked at the brunette, she had known that Belina would come to her when she was ready.

“Of course,” Núria said as she nodded and signalled for Belina to take a seat, she watched the brunette remembering how pleased she had been when she had heard that Cesc had gotten back together with her; however now she wasn’t so sure.

“You didn’t break them up did you?” Núria asked carefully as she looked at Belina, she hoped that this wasn’t the reason that Cesc had ended things for Daniella; the brunette blinked as she looked at the older woman knowing that this was going to come up at some point.

Belina had hoped that Cesc hadn’t ended things like that with the Lebanese, she hated to be the reason that Lia was now having two parents fighting like this.

“I don’t think so,” Belina admitted making Núria sigh as she nodded her head, she knew how stubborn Cesc could be but it was clear that Belina hadn’t done any of this deliberately to hurt her son or her granddaughter.

“I didn’t mean for any of this to happen…” Belina said as she looked at Núria, she truly hadn’t meant for anyone to be hurt and she wished that she would have pushed Cesc away if she had known that it would end like this.

The brunette was wearing a white and pink placement embroidered shift dress paired with silver heeled sandals; she had wanted to look nice for the holidays and she knew that the holiday wasn’t going to be easy for anyone.

“I know you didn’t… I just worry for him,” Núria said softly as she sat down across from Belina, she knew that they were being a little hard on the brunette and she could remember just how in love the younger woman had been with her so before he had broken up with her.

“I don’t want him to rush into this only to hurt you, Alex or that baby in a few months when someone else takes his fancy,” Núria admitted as she smiled softly at Belina; she knew that the brunette would have similar doubts and she didn’t blame her for having them.

***

Cesc swallowed as he listened to his mother and girlfriend talk, he was aware that everyone was going to be wary of them getting back together and expecting a child together; his friends had even threatened him over hurting Belina again.

The footballer had sworn that he had no intentions of ever hurting the brunette again but listening to his mother talk; it was clear that he was going to have to do something to prove that he was in this until the end.

“I have no interest in other women,” Cesc said walking into the kitchen making Belina and his mother look at him surprised, they had assumed that he was in the living room with the others; however he had followed after Belina when he seen her slip away.

Belina swallowed nervously as she looked at her boyfriend, she hadn’t known that he had followed her and it worried her how much he had heard when he had been listening in.

“Bel didn’t break me and Daniella up… she did that on her own by allowing Joseph to bully Alex,” Cesc said making Belina pale slightly as she realised that he had heard enough of the conversation; she looked down at her hands as Cesc approached them.

The footballer sighed as he shook his head, he couldn’t believe that she thought his break up was her fault; he had always loved Belina and even if they were back together now, his break up with Daniella wasn’t her fault.

“I don’t know why you think it was your fault but it wasn’t,” Cesc said as his mother watched him, she had never seen him like this before and it made her heart warm that he was starting to settle down.

Belina looked up at him as she opened her mouth to protest before Cesc stopped her, he shook his head as he took her cold hands in his warm ones; he wasn’t going to let her blame herself for something that she hadn’t caused.

“No… I’m the one that made the mistake, none of this is your fault,” Cesc said as he pulled her into a warm hug as his mother smiled and slipped out of the room leaving them to talk; it was almost like a Christmas miracle that her son was finally settling down like this.

Belina wrapped her arms around Cesc as he held her close, she knew that there was nothing that she could say that would change his mind; she closed her eyes knowing that everything would work out even if it took some time.