Somewhere Only We Know

Looking down at the magazine in her lap, Isabella Costa sighed, her blue eyes noting the expression on her daughter’s face as she posed for pictures with Iker. Ariana looked beautiful, Isabella had never seen her daughter look so bright before, and it hurt her to think that she wasn’t going to be around for her anymore. She liked that Ariana was happy, her youngest daughter deserved something so wonderful after all that Lucia had put her through, but still Isabella couldn’t ignore her reservations. Ariana had always been a family minded girl, until Iker, Ariana’s family had always com first and Isabella didn’t like the change the keeper had instigated in her daughter. Now, Ariana’s whole world revolved her soon-to-be husband and Isabella hated it, it was the sort of change she had expected from Lucia, not Ariana.

“What are you reading mama?” Lucia posed as she stepped into the lounge, a wide smile on her face. It had worked out well for her, since her accident, she had had her parents wrapped around her finger and she was thrilled. Even if Ariana did have Iker, Lucia had the attention of everyone else and that was what she relished. No one was looking at her baby sister any more, instead, they were all looking at her.

Isabella smiled. “I was just reading about your sister. Ari and Iker are engaged” Isabella mused wistfully.

Lucia stopped in her tracks. “What?” she spluttered.

“Your sister, Ariana, she’s getting married to Iker. Apparently he made some massive declaration when they were at a charity dinner the other night” Isabella explained as she held the magazine out to her daughter. Lucia stormed towards her and stole it out of her mother’s hand, her dark eyes narrowed bitterly on the image of Iker and Ariana. They looked good, the keeper had his arms wrapped happily around Ariana’s waist as she laughed at something he had said and it made Lucia’s blood boil. She had been certain that by now Iker would have realized that Ariana was no good and would have made a move on her.

“Doesn’t she look happy?” Isabella mused with a little smile.

Lucia snarled a little and tossed the magazine away. “I thought he would have seen sense by now” she muttered, her voice angry and bitter.

“Luci, Iker loves your sister, he wasn’t just going to change his mind” Isabella murmured.

“And why not? I am much better for him than her” Lucia snapped, her voice reminiscent of a spoilt bratty child.

Isabella sighed. “Lucia, love is funny, we do not pick who we fall for or who falls for us. Iker loves Ari, Ari loves Iker and they are getting married, something I want to be a part of” she murmured as she moved to her feet.

“You’re not going over there” Lucia snapped “You’re my mother” she added.

Isabella sighed. “I am Ari’s mother too and I have done a bad job of it. Lucia, you need to get used to sharing” she muttered before she moved to grab her jacket. She knew she had been a bad mother, it had been evident to her the moment she had stormed out on Ariana after their fight, and she wanted to make things right. Ariana would be the first of her three children to get married and Isabella didn’t want to miss out on it, especially when she was marrying a sweetheart like Iker.

“Madre” Lucia spat.

Isabella sighed. “Luci, I love you, but you’re not my only child and, right now, Ariana deserves to have my attention. Your baby sister is getting married Luci, and if I were you, I would start coming up with a way to forgive her because you will kick yourself if you aren’t there for her” she mused as she picked up her bag.

Lucia rolled her eyes. “She wouldn’t get married without me” she muttered stubbornly.

Isabella sighed. “I think you underestimate how badly you hurt her Luci” she mused before she wandered out of the door.

Lucia rolled her eyes.

There was no way that Ariana would even contemplate getting married without her there.

~#~
“You look comfy” Iker commented with a small laugh as he peeked over at his fiancée. She was sat on their bed, her laptop sat a little ahead of her, and Iker couldn’t help but admire her. She was wearing what appeared to be one of his Real Madrid polo shirts and a pair of wooly socks.

“I was getting ready to take a nap and I realized that I hadn’t finished a report so I grabbed the first things I could find. Why, do I not look wonderful?” she teased, her blue eyes peeking up over the top of her glasses.

Iker smiled. “Of course you do. I like you in everything” he cooed.

Ariana rolled her eyes gently before she heard the doorbell, causing her to sigh. “Do you want to get that?” she muttered as she closed her laptop, moving to find some trousers.

Iker nodded his head and stepped out of room, moving quickly towards the door before he pulled it back, his head tilting at the sight of Isabella. “Mrs Costa” he breathed “What are you doing here?” he breathed gently. It was a surprise, Iker had assumed that after their fight, he wouldn’t see Isabella or Harry again, but he was sort of glad that she was there. He knew that Ariana would struggle to get married without her mother and father.

Isabella smiled softly. “I was sort of hoping that I could talk to the future Mrs Casillas” she mused.

Iker nodded. “She’s up in our bedroom, the first door at the top of the stairs” he noted.

Isabella nodded. “Gracias Iker” she cooed.

“Just try not to upset her Mrs Costa. I don’t want to have to pick up the pieces again” he urged with a little smile.

Isabella nodded and made her way upstairs.

~#~
“Who was at the door Iker?” Ariana mused as she heard the door open.

Isabella smiled. “It was me Ari. I wanted to talk to you” she breathed gently.

Ariana turned and frowned at her mother. “What are you doing here madre? If you have come to fight, I am not interested” she breathed. She was surprised, she had assumed that her mother and father were done with her, but she felt a little better seeing her mother. It gave her some hope.

Isabella shook her head. “I don’t want to fight Ari. I wanted to talk about what happened. I am so sorry Ari” she breathed as she padded towards her daughter. “Lucia’s not your responsibility and your father and I were wrong to try and force her on you. She’s our problem Ari and we are so sorry to have not seen that sooner” she explained.

Ariana folded her arms over her chest. “Mama, you suggested that I put Iker on the backburner” she murmured.

“We were wrong to do that. Iker is the most important thing to you now and that is just going to take some adaptation on my part. You’re my baby, my little princess, and the notion of sharing you is unfamiliar, but I can work on that. I will work on that for you” she whispered as she padded towards her daughter.

Ariana sighed. “You’re not mad that I am engaged to him?” she squeaked, her nose wrinkled shyly.

Isabella laughed. “Of course not, Ari, Iker’s the sweetest guy and you shouldn’t ever doubt being with him. He’s made you into such a wonderful woman” she enthused.

Ariana blushed. “I love him madre, more than anything” she admitted.

Isabella smiled and wrapped her daughter up in a hug. “I know you do mi hija” she whispered.

It was going to take a lot of adaptation, she had never had to share her youngest child with anyone before, but she would learn to share her with Iker. The keeper was the best thing for her and Isabella wanted to help ensure that they made it up the aisle. There were going to be people that wanted them to fail, mostly Lucia who clearly hadn’t gotten over her jealousy of her baby sister, and Isabella was going to work to keep them away.

She wanted Ariana to be happy.