Till There Was You

The rest of the team noticed how cheerful Steven was, the Englishman smiling and joking with everyone during practice. "Did you get laid, amic?", teased Gerard.

Steven just laughed as Luis shot the tall defender a look. "No, Luis will kick my ass. I went on the first date I've been on in six months, I feel like a lad in secondary school", he chuckled.

"Veritat, my English friend. Think of it as a new beginning, new club, new friends, new country and new love", said Gerard thoughtfully.

"Just don't get too distracted, but i used to think girls were a distraction until I met my wife. Speaking of which, Nuria and I expecting a baby", said Xavi proudly.

"Congratulations, Capita. Do you think it's going to be a girl or a boy?", asked Gerard.

"No importa, as long as the baby is heatlhy. I'd like a boy so I could play football with them, but a girl would be good too", he replied.

"I've played footy with my girls, Lexie likes it but Lilly is into more girly stuff. It could turn out either way", said Steven.

"Veritat, amic", said Xavi.

"You didn't waste any time, Capita. You jsut got married this June and you're already expecting", said Gerard, clapping him on the back.

Xavi's tanned cheeks turned pink as he accepted their congratulations. "Gracias, amics. I'm the last of my siblings to get married and have kids, I have two nieces so I have some experience", he said.

"Trust me, you are going to be in such awe when your child is born. It's best feeling in the world, even better than winning anything", said Steven passionately, his blue eyes blazing.

"I believe you, Steven. I can't wait to meet your daughters, they sound like wonderful girls. Maybe they will get along with my nieces, they are learning English at school", said Xavi.

"I have to improve my Spanish at least, then again I don't think anyone can understand me speaking Spanish with my Scouse accent", he joked.

"I had to learn Dutch when I went to play for Groningen and English when I went to Liverpool and Catalan when I came here. Espanol son facil, Stevie. Necessitas ayuda, dige Ari para ayuda", said Luis.

"Si, Luis. Xabi tried to teach us but I was crap at it, he was better at learning English thatn I was in learning Spanish", he joked.

"Alonso is Basque, if you can speak Euskara you can speak anything", teased Gerard.

"Steven, tu nombre es Esteban en Espanol. Dices, soy Steven Gerrard, vives en Barcelona y soy Ingles de Liverpool", said Luis.

"Soy Steven Gerrard y vives en Barcelona, soy Ingles de Liverpool", he repeated.

"Bueno, amigo. Necesitas hablar Espanol a menos acqui, vas aprender Catalan mas tarde. Sabe que yo digo, amigo?", asked Luis.

"Uh, I need to learn Spanish and Catalan", he replied.

"Si, verdad. Mira television Espanol y leer algo en Espanol, revistas de desportes y cual quiere. Vas a hablar Espanol en tiempo", said Luis.

"All right, I'll watch Spanish telly. It canna be that bad", he chuckled.

"Miras television Espanol, son bueno. And when you speak English, we are going to fine you", said Xavi mischieviously as Lionel got out a metal coffee can.

"When are you going to start?", he asked.

"Ahora, mi amigo Ingles", replied Luis.

"Aye, si. Uh, gracias. Adios, va a go en mi casa", said Steven as Lionel handed him the can.

"Dice que voy a mi casa, Stevie. Pone dinero aqui", he said.

Steven sighed and put a Euro coin in the car. "Bueno, cuando son lleno vamos hacer una fiesta grande y tu vas a pagar, Stevie", teased Luis.

"No, amigo. Va a hablar Espanol bueno", he vowed.

"Si, mi amigo Ingles. Hasta luego, Aracelis tiene el dia libre di trabajo", said Luis.

Steven smiled, knowing today was her day off from work. "Bueno, Luis", he said.

Steven got in his car and followed Luis' car back to the house, unable to keep the smile fof his face. I feel like a teenager again, is being in a new relationship always like this?, he mused. He turned on the radio and flipped through the stations playing nothing but Spanish and Catalan pop. I'll have to ask Xabi or the guys if they know any good Spanish rock music, he thought.

Steven parked the car out front of the house and followed Luis inside. Sofia was in the kitchen preparing lunch while Aracelis sat on the couch in the parlor with her guitar, Benjamin sitting in her lap as she took his fingers and placed them on the strings to form a chord. The strings vibrated under his fingers and his brown eyes widened in delight, forming another set of chords with her help. "Hola, Steven. I was showing him a few chords, the first one was an A and the second is a B", she said.

"Okay, I can't tell one from the other", he chuckled.

"Ari, vamos ayudar Steven aprender Espanol", said Luis, holding up the can.

"Not bloody here too, Luis", he grumbled.

"Paga ahora, Stevie", he said, shaking the can.

Steven gave his friend a look and dropped a Euro coin into the slot. "No me jodas, son mierda", he growled.

"Sabes las palabras malos, verdad? No dices esos palabras en frente de ninos, mi amigo Ingles", teased Luis.

"Aye, yo sabe", he sighed.

"Bueno. Dige tu nombre en Espanol", he ordered.

"Me llamo Steven Gerrard, soy Ingles de Liverpool", he replied.

"Bueno. Y dige, ese son mi amigo Luis Suarez", he said.

"Ese son mi amigo, Luis Suarez", he repeated.

"Bien, bien. Y ahora dice, ese son mi novia muy bonita Aracelis Suarez", said Luis.

Steven gave Luis a look as Aracelis giggled, a blush on her cheeks. "Ese son mi novia muy bonita Aracelis Suarez", he repeated.

"Steven, soy tu novia?", she asked.

Steven blushed as Luis grinned like a jack o'lantern. "Si, Ari", he replied.

"Hace algo malo a mi hermana, voy a matar, mi amigo Ingles", he said, the grin on his face but his dark eyes deadly serious.

"Si, Luis", he replied.

"Vamanos, Stevie. Hasta luego, Luis", she said, kissing her brother's cheek.