If It Gave Us Time

Quirking a soft smile to himself, Gerard rested against the doorway which led into the living room, his blue eyes settled on Isla who was curled up on the couch, her soft snores filling the otherwise quiet room. It wasn’t overly late, with the team’s match having kicked off in the early afternoon, it had still been relatively early when they’d touched down back in Barcelona, but despite the relatively early hour, Gerard wasn’t surprised to see Isla sleeping. It was a trait he’d grown used to in the time that they’d been dating. She was an early riser, she always had been, and it wasn’t unusual for him to walk in and find her snoozing. If anything, he liked knowing that she felt comfortable enough in his home to fall asleep without a second thought.

Readjusting the bag that rested on his shoulder, he shook his head to himself before he moved to step out of the door, only to flinch as he bumped into someone. Blinking a couple of times, he took a step backwards before he tilted his head, glancing down at Eva who stood ahead of him. “Eva” he breathed “What are you...?”

“Isla needed a hand with some of the boxes” Eva mused, answering the question she had been expecting him to ask “We managed to get almost everything packed up into them, but her car’s pretty small, so me, Daniel and Rodrigo offered to help. The boys are just out picking us up something to eat. We weren’t expecting to see you back so soon” she added, offering him the best smile she could muster.

Gerard simply smiled awkwardly, not quite sure what else he could say. They hadn’t spoken much, aside from a couple of phone calls that he had answered on Isla’s behalf after Rodrigo’s announcement, Gerard was certain that he and Isla’s parents hadn’t said a word to one another, and he didn’t quite know what to say to them. He didn’t want to hold a grudge, regardless of what Daniel had done, things between him and Isla had still worked out, and he didn’t want to dwell on the past, but that didn’t mean that the anger had entirely disappeared, even if he had been quick to insist that Isla work on forgiving them. A small part of him couldn’t help but be still a little angry.

Eva glanced up at him, studying the tight smile that he wore, before she shook her head, gesturing through towards the living room. “Isla?” she asked, her voice deliberately bright.

“Asleep” Gerard replied simply.

Eva nodded slowly, something which made Gerard shake his head softly. “Eva...”

“I get it” Eva interrupted “I mean, if I were in your shoes, I’d be awkward around us too, and I don’t blame you for it. My husband, he made a mess of things when he did what he did, and I didn’t help by keeping it a secret, and we can only apologise for it now. It wasn’t our place, and we should never have interfered, but...”

“But it worked out” Gerard interjected.

Eva blinked a couple of times, surprised that he’d interrupted her, before she quirked a faint smile. “We can’t give you those years back” she noted softly “And we’re not trying to duck out of taking the blame. We were at fault and we accept that, but it did, didn’t it? You and Isla, you are together, and we’re thrilled for you, honestly. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so happy” she gushed gently.

Gerard couldn’t help but smile a little, a bashful blush spreading across his cheeks. “Really?” he prodded.

Eva’s smile softened, not missing the slight spark that had appeared in his eyes. “It’s always been you, Piqué” she quipped “I mean, I don’t think Isla’s always known it, or at least, I don’t think she’s ever really acknowledged just how she felt about you when you were kids, but I am pretty sure that it’s always been you. There’s always been something about the two of you” she added gently.

Gerard’s small smile grew a little. “I like to think so” he mused “I mean, I know how crazy I was about her when we were younger, and I really regret never just telling her. I should have done, it would have saved us all some bother” he joked gently.

Eva grinned. “It’s a pretty romantic story to tell your children” she quipped suggestively “Childhood sweethearts separated before they really told each other how they felt only be reunited by chance and fall madly in love all over again. It’s a gorgeous story” she fussed

Gerard smirked, shaking his head slightly. “You think I have thought about our children?” he prodded, knowing that she hoped that she had been subtle in probing a topic he knew she would be curious about.

Eva shrugged nonchalantly. “They’d be adorable” she mused “Your eyes, Isla’s smile...you’d make me some gorgeous grandbabies” she gushed.

Gerard breathed out a soft laugh. “I don’t doubt that” he mused “If they took after their mother...” he trailed off, smiling more to himself than to Eva. He couldn’t deny that it was a thought that had passed through his mind, on occasion, when he’d found himself merely looking at Isla, he had let his thoughts wander towards a possible future for the two of them, but he knew that it was a way off, if they reached it all. They’d only been together for a few months.

Eva opened her mouth, preparing to say something in reply, but she stopped herself, her eyes glancing past Gerard towards Isla who stood in the doorway, a sleepy smile brightening her features as she stared at the back of him. Shaking her head, she admired the warmth which had almost immediately appeared in her daughter’s eyes before she caught Gerard’s eye, something which caused her to gesture over his shoulder. “Look who’s up” she chirped.

Gerard turned around, grinning at Isla who grinned equally widely back at him. “Hi” he mused.

“Hi” Isla replied “You’re back” she added.

“I am” Gerard confirmed “You’re awake” he teased.

Isla scoffed. “I’ve spent the whole day packing and moving boxes” she quipped “I’m allowed to be tired. Don’t be such a jerk” she teased.

Gerard playfully rolled his eyes before he stepped towards her, wrapping her in a soft hug that Isla didn’t hesitate in returning. Holding onto him tightly, she glanced over his shoulder towards her mother, feeling her cheeks warm as she smirked at her. Shaking her head, she gently pulled back from him before she cleared her throat, her eyes glancing self-consciously down at her feet. “My papa and Rodrigo are on the way back with dinner” she mumbled “I mean, I know it’s pretty sudden, but you don’t mind, do you?” she asked.

Gerard couldn’t help but smile a little before he nodded. “I am sure I can cope” he noted, his voice caught between sincere and teasing.

Isla offered him a dubious look, something which made Gerard smile softly before he leant forwards, kissing her forehead gently. “As long as you’re happy, I’m happy” he whispered quiet enough for just her to hear.

Isla smiled down at her feet gently, her cheeks a rosy shade of pink. “Thanks” she murmured quietly.

Eva, who was watching the two of them, smiled gently before she stepped away from them quietly, not wanting to disturb their moment.

Isla kept her stare on her feet, listening to her mother’s soft footsteps as she walked away, before she looked up, her blue eyes mirroring Gerard’s for a split second before she pushed herself up onto her toes, pressing a soft kiss against his lips. Gerard startled slightly, not quite expecting it, but he warmed to it quickly, kissing her gently for a few seconds before he drew back, simply smiling down at her as she smiled gently up at him.