What I Did for Love

Ana shot Marco a Nervous look, she told him she was fine about meeting his parents officially, but she had lied to him, she was really not looking forward to it.

Marco noted the Nervous look, sighing to himself, he stopped a few yards from his parents house, and turned to Ana.

" Ana you have nothing to worry about, my parents will love you" Marco said quietly.

Ana forced a smile on her face, she could do this, it was just one little dinner.

" You know we could cancel, if you are not ready" Marco continued to Ramble.

Ana shook her head, they had agreed to come tonight, and it would be rude to cancel at the last minute.

" I am fine, lets go" Ana said, placing her hand in Marco's and let him lead her to his parents house.

Marco shot one more look at Ana, before he pressed the bell, he had been excited about tonight, but was worried about Ana, she had been a little quiet on the drive over.

" Do I look okay?" Ana asked, smoothing down her black dress.

Marco let his gaze wander lazily over her and grinned. " You look beautiful, so stop stressing" he replied, leaning over to give her a quick kiss.

Ana pushed Marco back, when she heard the door open, she looked away from Marco, and directed her gaze at Marco's Mother.

" Marco you came" Manuela squealed, clearly delighted to see her son.

" I told you I was coming over" Marco moaned, as Manuela fussed over him.

Manuela gave her son a quick hug and then turned to Ana " Nice to see you again Ana" she said politely. She wasn't sure what to make of Marco's new girlfriend.

Marco coughed loudly, drawing his Mum's attention away from Ana.

" Are you going let us in?" he asked.

Manuela nodded and took a step back allowing Ana to walk into the house, tonight was going to be very interesting.

***

Ana quietly ate her dinner, as she listened to Marco talk with his parents, he clearly loved them, which was lovely to see.

" So Ana tell us about yourself" Thomas spoke out loudly, he had noticed that Ana hadn't talked much.

Ana looked up from her plate " There is not much to tell, Originally I am from New York, I moved here for work" she said.

Manuela wasn't sure what it was but she had a feeling that Ana was holding back.

" What type of work do you do?" Manuela asked, taking a sip of her wine.

" I am a Magazine Editor sometimes designer" she replied.

Manuela was taken back, she had assumed Ana was another model, it was her son's usual type.

" Are you Here in Germany on your own?" Thomas asked, liking Ana already, he could see his son was totally taken with her.

" Yeah, my family live in New York" Ana replied, feeling Marco's hand on her thigh, she shot him a shy smile, before she turned back to her dinner.

Manuela watched Marco and Ana carefully, they seemed close, and Ana did seem a nice girl, but then she thought the same of Carolin.

" How did you two meet?" Manuela asked innocently.

" At a Football Match"

" At a club" Marco and Ana said at the same time, they both didn't want Marco's parents to know how they really met.

Thomas looked at the couple a little oddly, they looked happy but they were a acting strange.

" Football Match?, Club?, which one is it?" Manuela questioned, a little amused.

Ana groaned, she and Marco should have spoke about this before coming over tonight.

" We Originally met at the Match, but then we bumped into each other at the club" Ana lied, hoping Marco's parents would buy her lie.

Marco leaned into Ana " Nice Save" he whispered into her hear, before laying a soft kiss on her head.

Manuela smiled warmly at her son and his girlfriend, they looked happy so who was she to Judge.

Marco pulled away from Ana, and turned to his parents. " So where are my sisters tonight?" He asked, it had been a while since he had seen them and his Nephew Nico.

"They had stuff to do tonight, but they can't wait to meet Ana" Manuela said.

" I can't wait till I introduce Ana to Nico" Marco grinned.

Ana looked at Marco confused " Who is Nico?" she asked.

Thomas chuckled lightly, so Marco hadn't told her everything about the family.

" Nico is his nephew" he replied warmly.

" Oh okay" Ana said, she had never been good with kids, she usually avoided them like the plague.

Marco heard the flatness in Ana's tone, he turned his eyes on her, narrowing them a little.

" Why are you staring at me like that?" Ana asked.

Marco didn't want to start anything while his parents were watching, so deciding to drop it for now

" No reason" Marco muttered, before he turned to his dad, they started to talk about football, so Manuela and Ana decided to clean up.

***

Manuela handed Ana a clean plate, she watched as Ana dried it and placed it in the cupboard.

" So how long have you been seeing my son?" she asked.

Ana turned back to face Manuela, she was bracing herself for all the question she was about to be asked.

" A little over three months" Ana replied, while picking up another plate, drying it.

" Are you being Genuine with my son?" Manuela asked, she hated to ask, but she just wanted her son to be happy.

Ana turned to the older woman " I am sure that I like you son, more than like in fact" she admitted.

Manuela seemed happy with the answer as she turned back to the other dirty dishes.

" Please don't hurt him, I can see he is clearly besotted with you" Manuela added.

Ana smiled shyly at what Manuela said " I am perfectly happy with your son" Ana replied.

" How happy" Manuela asked, her eyes burning holes on Ana, or that is what it felt like.

Ana thought about what she felt for Marco, she had known for a while how she felt about him, but she was just a little too scared to say those words out loud.

" I think I am in Love with Marco" Ana whispered, not sure if Manuela heard her.

Manuela smile on her face, told Ana she had heard perfectly " Then why don't you tell him?" she asked.

Ana shifted on her feet awkwardly " One I am scared, and two Isn't it a bit soon?" she asked.

Manuela chuckled lightly, as she finished the last of her dishes. She then looked back at Ana.

" Everyone is scared of putting themselves out there, but once you get past that, the happier you will be... As for it being too soon, I know my son he is in love with you too" Manuela said quietly.

Ana smiled at Manuela, she was worried about meeting her, but it seemed that she was worrying over nothing.

" Shall we go back to the dinning room? Manuela asked Ana.

" Yes" Ana agreed as she followed Manuela out of the room.

***

Marco looked up as mum walked back into the room with Ana, they were both laughing at something. The smile widened on his face, as he realized that Ana had nothing to worry about.

Thomas saw the twinkle in Marco's eye whenever he looked at Ana, he had a good feeling about this girl.

" She is a keeper son" Thomas said quietly.

Marco nodded his head in agreement as Ana walked towards him, his hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. He pulled her into his lap, laughing at the blush creeping onto Ana's face.

" So what stories did my Mum tell you?" he asked quietly.

Ana eyes danced with amusement, as she played with strand of Marco's hair at the base of his neck.

" Just woman stuff" She replied.

Marco raised a eyebrow at that " You aren't going to tell me are you?" he asked.

Ana just grinned at him, before she looked back at Marco's parents, they were lovely. Yet she couldn't shake off the lingering doubts at the back of her mind.

***

Ana yawned as she got ready for bed, they had just arrived at Marco's house a little under an hour. She seemed to spend more time here, than at her own apartment.

Ana picked up Marco's shirt, she had taken to wearing it to bed, something that seemed to please Marco. She quickly changed into it and then climbed into bed, waiting for Marco.

Ana didn't have to wait long, Marco walked into the bedroom after his shower. A towel tied low on his waist. His hair slicked back, water dropping down his chest. Ana groaned as she forced herself to look at the wall. She knew Marco was trying to get a rise out of her.

Marco grinned as he noticed Ana's response, he walked closer to her, turning her face, so she would have to look at him.

" You should have joined me in the shower, when I asked" he teased.

Ana breathed in deeply, she had taken a shower, in Downstairs bathroom. She knew that if she had shared a shower with him, that they would be in there all night. She was up early tomorrow.

" You and I both know, you wanted a lot more than a shower" she huffed as she climbed into bed.

Marco just winked at her, before he grabbed a clean pair of boxers and pulled them on.

Ana watched him, Manuela's words from earlier ringing in her ears, it was now all never.

"Marco" she whispered.

Marco looked over at her, as he dried his hair with a towel, she had his attention. How hard could it be to say those three little words.

" I love you" she said quickly.

Marco stopped what he was doing, and stared at Ana stunned at what she had just said.

" Could you repeat that?" he asked, although he was pretty sure what she just said.

" I said, I love you" She replied Louder.

" That is what I thought" Marco muttered, as he looked away from Ana, not sure what to say, no words would come out.

" You don't have to say it back" Ana rushed out, before she turned on her side, turning the light out. Leaving Marco to stand in the dark, conflicted.