Back to You (An International Story)

Blood or Not

"He is. Two great years with our little boy." She kissed his cheek. "They flew by."

"Get used to it." Mariana sighed. "I swear Gabriel just took his first steps. Now, look at him."

I laughed. "Big game this weekend. You Atleti girls ready?"

"Hell yeah!" Virginia yelled.

"Babe." Nahikari sighed. "There's children."

"Right." Vir nodded. "Sorry Patri."

"OK!" Patri looked at her. 

Alexia laughed. "Hey! Leave poor Patri alone. It's not her fault she hasn't aged. How old are you turning Patri?"

She sighed. "31."

"And she still looks 5!" Mapi cheered. "To our baby faced, baby goat."

"I should make t shirts!" Lola jumped up.

"You should sit down." Carmen grabbed her. She looked at the brace on her leg and sighed.

"We'll win it for you, Carmen." Virginia said. 

"Well, will you?" I said. "Atleti does tend to, you know. Choke."

"How's Barca doing in the Champions Lea- oh." Mariana said. "Right."

Alexia gave her the finger.

"There are children!" Virginia yelled and covered Patri's eyes. 

I laughed. "You can't talk shit about them babe." I grabbed her hand. "Not when they got further than we did."

"And not when Mari's in the room." Lola said. "Which reminds me. I granted you one free roast when you were in labor with Felicia. You never cashed in."

"I told you then and I'll tell you now." Mariana smirked. "I don't need your permission." 

"I'm her wife." Mapi looked at us. 

"You're an idiot." Alexia said. 

"Yep!" Mapi gave us a thumbs up.

July 2029

Alexia's POV:

"They're engaged." I looked at Mariana.

"How come we have to throw the party?" Mapi asked. 

"Because we love them." Mariana said.

"Do we though?" Mapi laughed. She noticed Mariana's glared and stopped. "I'll go get more cups." She left.

I laughed and looked at Mariana. "You got the face down."

"Well, spend enough time around you, how could I not perfect it." She smiled. "How's Maxi?"

"He's perfect." I smiled. "Jenni and I started talking about maybe having another baby. Not now though, but soon."

"That's great, Alexia." She looked at me. "I remember growing up. My brother would tell me that he always wanted a little brother. But when I was born and he first met me, he couldn't remember why he wanted a brother. He said that telling his friends "this is my sister, Mariana" made him proud." She smiled. "Having a sibling is the best. You have your sister, you know I'm right."

"We had our moments." I laughed. 

"Where you just want to kill them." She laughed. "But at the end of the day, that's your best  friend for life." She nodded. "Whenever you do decide to bring another baby into your lives, Maxi will be so happy. A new play partner, someone he'll always rely on." She looked down. "Mapi and I are having another baby." She said. "Due next month." She looked up at me and smiled. "We don't know if its a boy or a girl yet."

I walked over to her and hugged her. "You and Mapi have all the kids you want." I stepped back. "I love spoiling my nieces and nephews. Well, your kids more than Lola and Carmen's."

"Don't punish those cuties because Lola's their mother. They got those Menayo genes!"

"That will be ruined by that Gallardo parenting." She laughed. 

"If you never pulled me back after my brother died." She shook her head. "None of this would've happened. I probably would've shut down completely. Pushed everyone away, even Mapi. My parents couldn't have any more kids after me. Even having me was a risk. And meeting Mapi? That was the best day ever. But I didn't just meet the love of my life. I met the siblings I never thought I'd have. Blood or not. Siblings are the best part of life." 

I smiled and hugged her again. "And I'll always look out for you like I look out for Alba, Mariona, Virginia, Patri. Everyone. We're all one big family aren't we?"

"We are."

Mapi walked back in. "I got cups!" She smiled. "What's going on here?"

Mariana laughed. "Let's go, cups."

"No. It's bad enough you still call me neck tattoo." 

I watched them walk away. 

"Blood or not. Siblings are the best part of life." 

We don't have to be blood to be family.