Hear Your Heart

“How are you feeling?” Olivia mused as she moved into the living room of Iker’s home, her blue eyes scanning the interior which was slowly becoming more and more cluttered with cardboard boxes. It had been a quick process, once he had decided on what offer he wanted to take up, he’d found a home in Los Angeles and was in the process of packing ahead of the move which would take place after they’d celebrated the New Year. It was odd, the idea that Iker had played his last game for Real Madrid, but at the same time, Olivia couldn’t help but be a little excited about the move. It would be different, strange, and she was a little excited about moving out of their comfort zone. The move to LA was a big step for them and she was excited to see how it would work out.

Iker, who had just finished packing another box, sighed. “Tired” he muttered “Frustrated, a little angry, but mostly nauseatingly nervous” he added, turning to look up at her “What about you?” he poked, gesturing to her stomach.

Olivia smiled. “I’m fine, Iker, you don’t have to ask every five minutes” she mused “I’m 6 weeks into nine months” she pointed out.

Iker sighed. “I just worry” he murmured, moving to stand beside her “I didn’t exactly get to see much of you pregnant the last time and I am probably going to be overbearing and annoying until we have our little baby in our arms” he explained gently, his arms happily wrapping around her waist. It was still a strange thought, the idea that she could be expecting another baby so soon after Thiago, but it was a thought that thrilled the goalkeeper. He wanted a chance to experience all of the moments he had missed out on with Thiago first hand.

Olivia nodded. “I know you are, and I think it’s adorably cute” she grinned, kissing his cheek.

Iker nodded and cuddled her closer, enjoying the silence for a moment. “I can’t believe that I am going to be without you for 5 weeks” he murmured, resting his head in the gap between her neck and shoulder.

Olivia sighed. “You knew that it had to be this way” she mused gently “I want to be a little further along before I make my way over” she added.

Iker hummed and pressed a kiss to her neck. “I know, I’m just going to miss my little family a lot” he muttered.

“And you don’t think I am going to miss you?” Olivia noted gently “Iker, five weeks is going to feel like an eternity, but when me and Thiago get there, we’re there for good” she explained “We’ll be living together again” she added.

“That’s something I have been wanting since we got back together” Iker admitted gently.

Olivia smiled and moved to kiss his cheek gently. “I know you have” she noted gently “But we need to get going. The guys have arranged something for you and I promised to get you there before I went to get Thiago from your parents” she explained.

Iker shook his head. “I want to spend the night with my two favourite people” he pouted gently.

“You’ll have plenty of time to spend with me when we get out there, but your friends want to say goodbye. Can you give them that?” she posed gently.

Iker huffed, but nodded his head, conceding that Olivia was probably right.

~#~
“You could try and look less miserable” Sergio teased as he placed another drink ahead of the keeper, a wide smile on his face. It was still strange, the idea that Iker was leaving Real Madrid and not retiring, but Sergio couldn’t help but think it would be good for the keeper. He had a couple more good years left in him and Sergio was pleased he wasn’t going to waste them stuck on a bench.

“One, I am leaving the club I love, and two, you lot cost me a night in with my girlfriend. I think I am entitled to mope a little” Iker replied, picking at the label on the beer bottle.

Sergio shook his head. “You’ve got years of nights in with Oli to come yet, hombre” he teased “And as for you leaving, we all clubbed together to get you a little something” he mused.

Iker shook his head. “You lot didn’t have to do that” Iker replied, noting the other men who had come to stand around them.

“We couldn’t let you go, Captain, without a little something” Cristiano teased.

Iker shook his head. “Please don’t make this all sentimental” he muttered.

“Aww, you going to cry?” Sergio grinned, setting a small gift bag on the surface ahead of him.

Iker shoved the defender lightly before he moved to open the gift bag, shaking his head at the gift they’d gotten him.

“How the heck did you know?” he commented, laying the small Real Madrid baby kit on the surface.

Sergio shrugged. “It was a guess. You seem oddly clingy and I remember, for the brief period of time before you fucked up, that you were clingy to Oli when she was pregnant the first time. I didn’t know until you just asked” the defender quipped.

Iker rolled his eyes. “You’re all idiots” he muttered “But you’re the best bunch of idiots I could have wished to have been stuck with for all these years. I have had some wonderful times, like winning La Decima or the World Cup, and I am grateful that I got to share those experiences with such a good group of men. Although I yell and I scream, like any good captain ought to, you lot ought to know that I am grateful that I ever got to play with some of the talents on this team and I hope you can all go on from here and achieve much more. Thank you for putting up with me and for allowing me the chance to work my some of my very best friends” he mused, charging his glass.

“To Iker” Sergio contributed, lifting his own glass “The best captain we could have asked for, but more importantly, the best friend we could have asked for. We’re sorry you’re going, hombre” he added, patting the older man’s shoulder.

Iker smiled at him softly and gently tapped his glass, suddenly aware of how real his decision to leave was.