Hear Your Heart

“Are you nervous about this, Iker?” Jose mused as he stood beside his son, his eyes peering up and down the unfamiliar kit which he sported. It was always going to be difficult, seeing Iker in a kit that didn’t bear the crest of Real Madrid, but Jose couldn’t quite wrap his head around how odd it was. He’d thought, like many people had, that Iker would retire before he left Madrid.

Iker, who had been pulling his gloves onto his hands, nodded. “Petrified” he murmured “But it’s only an introduction. A few pictures of me, a few pictures with the coach and then with you guys before I can go and get changed and go home” he explained. He’d never thought he’d have to go through it, the idea of being paraded as a club’s major signing, but he knew he couldn’t opt out. He had a reputation that preceded him and a lot of the fans were itching for the first shot of him in the colours of LA Galaxy.

“Oli texted a little while ago” Carmen noted as she padded up to her husband and son “She asked me to show you this” she added, holding the phone out to the goalkeeper it. Iker eyed it for a second before he reached out for it, a slight smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. It was adorable, the picture that Olivia had sent of her and Thiago decked out in their newly bought LA Galaxy shirts, and, for a brief second, it made Iker feel a little better. He hadn’t spoken to them that day, after bumbling out a proposal to Olivia, he was a little nervous about doing it again, but he doubted he could refrain for very long. Nothing made him feel better like a small conversation with his girlfriend.

“Iker?”

The keeper lifted his head and looked at the man who stood in front of him, a clipboard clutched in his hand. “We need to start now?” Iker noted. The man with the clipboard nodded his head and offered him a small smile, something which made Iker sigh. “Here goes” he murmured before he followed the man up the tunnel, stepping out onto the pitch ahead of the gaggle of photographers that had gathered.

~#~
“We’re so proud of you, Iker” Carmen mused as she pressed a kiss to his cheek “This was a big deal and you did so well” she added.

Iker smiled. “Gracias, mama, but right now, I just want to call Oli. Do you think I can do that?” he posed gently, causing his mother to pull away from him slightly.

Carmen smiled and nodded her head. “Of course” she cooed “Your papa and I will give you some peace for a little while before we take you out to dinner” she mused as she padded out of the room. Iker smiled at her gratefully before he padded towards the coffee table, opening up his laptop.

Swallowing a little, he moved to connect a call with Olivia and sighed, feeling a little nervous about seeing her again.

“Iker?”

The keeper jumped a little at the sound of Olivia’s voice and smiled, noting just how beautiful she looked. “Querida, you’re glowing” he enthused.

“That’s odd, because I spent most of the day vomiting” Olivia teased gently.

“Are you OK?” Iker pressed.

Olivia nodded. “Fine. It’s just something that comes with the territory. It only happens when I eat certain foods anyways” she explained.

Iker nodded his head before a little silence settled between them, causing Iker to shift in his seat. “Oli, about what I asked…”

“The answer is yes, Iker” Olivia interjected “I will be your fiancée, but you need to understand that I want to take things slowly. I want the baby to be born and a few months old at least before we make it up the aisle” she explained.

Iker smiled. “I think we can do that” he mused gently.

Olivia returned his smile before Thiago’s babbles echoed from beside her, earning a little laugh from his mother. “I think someone wants his chance to say hello to his papa” Olivia cooed as she leant out of shot for a second, appearing once more with Thiago sat in her arms “Wave to papa, Thiago” she noted. The little boy seemed to think for a second before he spared a little grin, his tiny hand moving in something which was close to a wave.

“He’s getting better at that” Iker noted gently, smiling at the sight of his son.

“He’s getting better at a lot of things, which brings me to something I want to tell you. Iker, Thiago said his first word” she murmured softly.

Iker frowned. “He did?” he squeaked.

Olivia nodded her head softly. “I’m sorry you weren’t here for it” she whispered.

Iker scoffed. “It’s just another thing to add to the list, isn’t it?” he muttered “I missed his scans, his birth, choosing his name, I may as well miss his first words and first steps too” he snapped.

Olivia sighed. “The first ones, they were my fault, but this isn’t” she muttered “I am sorry, Iker, but I can’t help that he said his first word whilst you weren’t here” she added.

Iker shook his head. “I hate that I am not there or that you aren’t here Oli” he muttered “I am sick of it already and it has only been a couple of days. How the heck am I supposed to cope for the next five weeks?” he added.

“I don’t know” Olivia replied, her voice softening “I don’t know what we can do Iker, but we can’t start yelling at one another. It’s just distance, a few weeks of being apart” she explained.

Iker shook his head. “This doesn’t seem worth it, Oli” he muttered.

“I know” she agreed gently “And I know it sucks because I am going through the exact same thing you are, but it will get easier and before you know it, I will be there with you” she explained gently.

Iker sighed. “I suppose you’re right” he murmured.

“Mama” Thiago babbled, drawing Iker’s attention to him.

“It’s adorable, isn’t it?” Olivia whispered as she placed a kiss on the baby’s head, her blue eyes peeking at the camera.

Iker smiled. “It’s amazing” he enthused “Gosh, he seems like an actual little person” he added dumbly.

“He’s always been a person, Iker” Olivia teased “But I know what you mean” she cooed gently.

Iker chuckled. “Te amo, Thiago” he cooed, smiling at his son.

Thiago looked at the screen before he moved to reach out for the screen, something which made Olivia shake her head. “No, Thiago” she whispered “You can’t hug papi now, but it is OK, because it will only be like this for a little while” she murmured, gently levering him back into her lap, her eyes peeking at Iker who nodded his head softly.

It was only for a little while.