Chapter 10

ALEX

At this moment we're going to the house where her cousins and uncles were staying. I had no idea what she really wanted to do, but I followed her anyway. As soon as we reached the door, Gabriela we entered the house. "Beautiful, what are we here for?" I asked curiously, "I wasn't going to eat upstairs, the kitchen must reek of that and I'm about to throw up again."

"Seeing it like this, I understand." I admitted, because the truth is right now, I don't have the slightest idea what I'm feeling. "Plus, I'm starving, I know Kev always has some food I like in case I show up out of nowhere." She commented, "Then let's go to the kitchen so I can make you something to eat."

"I'll have to stay with you to keep you from burning down the kitchen." My fiancée joked and I put my hand on my chest to make the dramatic effect "I'm offended you say that beautiful." I said and she rolled her eyes. "Well, don't do it because, you yourself told me you were bad in the kitchen." she reported "I've gotten better about it." I defended myself, "And I won't deny you love, but I'll have to make sure, it's the only thing you let me do."

"And the only thing I'll let you do until our child is born." I assured, or at least until they assured us that both she and our child were out of danger. "Well, that's why I'll have to distract myself with something. Also, I can't miss the views you give me while you cook, and that face of concentration you make is funny." She said, giggling. "Now are you laughing at me?"

"I'm not laughing, I just said your face is funny, but the most beautiful of all." My fiancée responded with a big smile on her face "That's impossible, that is what you are for, my queen." I assured "You know I'll never believe you." She pointed out and I nodded, because I knew it's true. "And I won't stop trying to convince you, you know that, right?" I asked, "Unfortunately I know, but I'm not going to take away your illusions, I'm just telling you, you won't be able to convince me otherwise."

I had followed Gabriela until we reached the kitchen, and when we were in it, I started looking for something for Gabriela to eat, so I ended up making pasta. While I was making food, Gabriela got up and started looking for something in the cupboards until she found it and went to sit down. I didn't turn around to see what I had grabbed, more than anything to avoid burning anything and prevent the pasta from sticking to me.

When I finished making the food and turned to look at her, I saw she had a box of cereal and was eating it while looking thoughtful. "What are you thinking so much about, beautiful?" I asked curiously. "Not at all." She responded, but without looking away from whatever she's looking at. "Well, it's not what it seems." I reported "It's nothing, really. Can we eat on the terrace?"

"We can eat wherever you want, beautiful." I said with a smile on my face "Then let's go." I followed her up the stairs with the dishes, and when we got there, she sat on the floor on the side facing the sun, which I'm not sure is good for her right now, but the thing is, I kept seeing her thoughtful, as if the energy she had in the morning was gone, she was more serious.

"Beautiful, are you sure there is nothing wrong with you?" I asked, starting to worry she's so quiet. "No, there's nothing wrong with me, don't worry." She assured again and I denied "Something is wrong with you, it shows. Tell me what's worrying you, I'm sure I'll be able to help you." I said seriously, "I just don't know if I'm being the mother Ana deserves, that's all."

I didn't understand why that doubt was coming at this moment. We were all know Gabriela is and a great mother, and above all she's the mother Ana deserves, better than anyone she should know that girl is happy she's her mother. "Beautiful, of course you are being the mother Ana deserves. You do everything you can and more, she's more than happy with that. Why do you doubt that now?"

"I don't know, I just know that if I'm not as good a mother as she deserves and everyone expects me to be, how am I going to be a good mother to our child? I don't know, everything is complicated." I could see her eyes were filling with tears and I didn't want her to cry, so I left the plates on a table by the door, approached her, hugged her with one arm and with the other I began to run my hand over her hair.

"Beautiful, you shouldn't doubt that. I know you will be a great mother, the likes of which there are almost none in the world." I assured her, trying to make her calm down a little at least. "You don't know that." She responded and I shook my head with a small smile on my face. "Yes, I know. And do you know why?" I asked and she denied "Because seeing how you take care of Ana, how much you love her, all the love you give her, how you take care of her, everything. You are a great mother without being her biological mother, do you really think you won't be a great mother being your child?

"I'm exaggerating?" She asked with a small smile on her face "Yeah, but I guess it's because of the hormones. From what I read, they make you change your mood quite easily, they make you more sensitive than you normally are…" I began to tell her, "Have you been reading about pregnancies?"

"Obviously, I have to be properly informed to be able to help you and understand everything that is happening to you." I commented, "So did you read somewhere why I love you so much?" She asked and I shook my head with a smile on my face "Well no, I didn't read that, but I love you too. Now come on, it's time to eat."

"Okay, did you read any of that too?" She asked curiously and I nodded "I read about the cravings, as it seems to be your new taste for cereals, that some foods..." I started to tell her, but Gabriela ended up putting her fingers on my lips to stop me from talking. "Love, I said it in jest." She responded, laughing, "Ah, well, but just know I was reading things."

"I see it. At least I know I'll be well taken care of. Now tell me when you read, because I don't see you doing it." She noted, "I do it on the nights I can't sleep after your nightmares." I said "My what? What are you taking about?" Gabriela asked with a frown. "Nothing, don't worry." I responded, "I really don't know what you're talking about, love. I don't have nightmares."

"Beautiful, don't worry about it, really, it's okay." I insisted because I didn't want her to worry about it. "Do you expect me not to worry after you told me you're not sleeping because of me?" He asked in an annoyed tone. "Yes, I'm sleeping, beautiful, but let's stop talking about it and let's eat before you really die of hunger."

"Alex…" she started to say, "It's nothing, really, I'm fine." I said, "Alejandro Rodríguez Cruz, now you tell me what my nightmares are about." She practically ordered, "I'll tell you later, okay?" I said calmly, knowing that at this moment I was not going to be able to change his mind. "You better, because I don't think you want to see a pregnant woman angry."

I laughed, I couldn't help it, mostly because she looked beautiful with that sulky face she had at the moment. With that I grabbed the plates I left on the table a couple of minutes ago and sat down to eat. During the meal I could tell Gabriela was relaxing a little after being half angry with me for not telling her about the nightmares, but it's true, she had nightmares since we returned home. I don't know if she had them before, but from time to time I did. I'm worried about that, I don't know what exactly they were about, I just know she got upset enough that she didn't sleep as well as she should.

When we finished eating, he got up and walked away from me. I knew she's angry because I didn't tell her what she had said about the nightmares, but I didn't want to upset her with that, there's no need for her to worry about that, not now that it seems her anxiety were under control and the pregnancy is going better. Now I must tell her, I hated it when something made her angry, much less when it was my fault, I really hated that, so I left the plates on the table inside the house, walked over to her, and sat down looking towards her.

"Stop looking at me like that," Gabriela asked. "And how am I looking at you, beautiful?" I asked curiously. "With that face you always put when you think I'm angry with you." She pointed out and I shrugged my shoulders. "But in this case, that's what happens." I said, "I'm not angry." She mumbled and I frowned. "So?" I asked. "Confused, that's all."

"I take it you're confused by what I told you earlier." I noted "More or less." My fiancée admitted, "I don't understand." I said confused, "I don't know how to explain it, love." She responded "Try." I asked, "It's just that sometimes, when I'm half awake…" she started, but stopped, "What's wrong?" I asked curiously "I remember the moment Paula shot you, and I don't wake up... It's like I'm reliving what happened there... I hate having the feeling I'm always going to lose you..."

"You won't lose me, beautiful, you know that. Not even the end of the world could do that, I love you too much to lose you." I said, intertwining our fingers and giving her hand a squeeze, but I ended up bringing her closer to me and giving her a kiss on the temple. "That's clear to me... I mean that feeling... that you almost died... I hate it too much."

"But nothing happened to me, I'm fine, and I'm not going to let that happen, not until we're old and see our children and grandchildren grow up, I promise, beautiful." I promised "That can't be promised, love." she pointed out and I nodded, because it might be it's something I couldn't promise, but I didn't want to keep her worried about anything either. "Well, I do it, but don't think about it anymore. I will help you get through it, we will get through it together, after all, it's what we do, right?"

"Yes, but I never remember it when I wake up." She admitted "So how do you know you have nightmares?" I asked curiously. "The feeling I wake up with is the worst of all." My fiancée responded with a whisper, "Well, when you feel bad, tell me. I'll do everything in my power to make sure you don't feel bad about it."

"I'll always feel bad about it, I'll just have to learn to deal with it, like everything in my life." He commented and I nodded, because I knew that's something that would haunt both of us for the rest of our lives. "You don't have to do it alone, now you have me to help you handle it." I said sincerely "I know, I love you for that." Gabriela responded, "Are you not angry anymore?" I asked with a small smile forming on my face. "I told you I wasn't angry."

"So, you stopped being confused?" I rephrased the question "Sort of, I'm sorry for not letting you get enough sleep, I feel bad about that." She said and I denied, because that's the last thing she must worry. "You don't need to feel bad, I'm fine. Besides, I was always a light sleeper, like you."

"I know, but now it seems like I'm not a light sleeper like I was before, sometimes I just want to sleep, I don't want to do anything other than that." He admitted "And now what do you want to do then?" I asked, trying to get him to put the nightmare topic out of her mind. "Sunbathing and being with you." He quickly replied, "Then that's what we'll do until they finish eating, okay?" I asked, "I love the idea."

I put an arm over her shoulders and pulled her closer to me, making her rest her head on my shoulder. We spent a couple of minutes in a comfortable and calm silence, and I could notice Gabriela calmer than a moment ago, which made me happy more than anything.

"Beautiful." I said to get her attention, "Mhmmm." She responded without opening her eyes or moving a single millimetre. "How do you think they will react when we tell them we are expecting a child?" I asked, "My grandmother will be delighted; I remember when we were little, she always wondered which of her grandchildren would be the one to give her her first great-grandchild."

"Oh really?" I asked, straightening up a little more on the ground. "Yes, we were innocent at that time and didn't understand what she meant, but over time we understood." She responded, adjusting to the new position. "Well, I'm sure she'll love it, but the rest?" I asked, "Well, I have no idea about my parents, my mother didn't care if she have grandchildren or not and my father, well, I don't know, considering that recently he couldn't see you… I don't know how he's going to react. I guess it's going to excite him."

"I'm sure of that, if you see the way he looks at you when you're with Ana…" I said "He'll look at me like always." she responded, shrugging her shoulders. "No, it doesn't, but keep going." I assured, "Well, I don't have the slightest idea about twins, María doesn't like little children too much, it will be funny to see her with a child in her arms. Mario is somewhat like María, but without exaggerating so much, I think, deep down I know he likes them. I suppose my uncles will be happy with the news, Kev I'm sure will be happy, and I don't know what he can do. Nerea will go crazy when she finds out, she practically adores small children as much as I do, Roberta will continue to exaggerate things as she has done until now, she tends to exaggerate everything, but with the pregnancy she exaggerates too much.

"Maybe it's because she knows the risks it brings for you, and how you will behave in case something happens to our child." I said and Gabriela shrugged her shoulders. "It is possible, but it's not to exaggerate so much from my point of view." She pointed out and I denied, because she's wrong about that. "I think it is an exaggeration."

"But you are because you are hopelessly exaggerated, that's why you're reading about pregnancies." She said, laughing, "I do that to understand you better, my queen, and because I must be informed of what to do at all times." I informed my fiancée, and I can almost guarantee she was rolling her eyes, but when she looks at me, I can see a big smile on her face. "You're so cute when you want to." Gabriela said, "That's what I'm here for, to be cute in your eyes."

"You are so much more in my eyes, love." She whispered, "Well, I'll have to keep all that. Now a serious question." I said, getting serious, but trying to contain my laughter. "You, serious? That's weird. What is that serious question?" He asked curiously and without looking away from me, "What do you think our child will be?" I questioned "Honestly, I have no idea. I would like a mini-Alex, with your eyes, obviously. Why?"

"Curiosity, and I already told you I want a mini-Gabriela at home, I need my princess since I have the queen." I answered and she rolled her eyes. "You're exaggerating, my love." She responded, laughing, "I know, but that's how you love me. What do you want me to do against that?" I asked, laughing with her. "Nothing." She simply said "You know? I think at some point I will have to talk to our child."

"What are you taking about?" At that, Gabriela separates from me to look at me with a face of not understanding anything, which made me a little funny, but it's true. At some point I would have to talk to our child, even though I knew it is not going to hear me, so I took my arm off of her shoulders and lay down, leaving my head on my fiancée legs. "What are you doing?" Gabriela asked with a laugh. "I already told you, at some point I will have to talk to our child, why not start now?"

"You're crazy, my love." she said, still laughing. "Crazy about you and our child, is that bad?" I asked, raising an eyebrow and my fiancée denied, "No, it's not." I could see a smile on Gabriela's face, which made mine grow bigger, but at this moment I had to focus on was what to say to our child.

"Well princess, or at least I hope so. I'm your father and you must ask yourself what I am doing at this moment as your mother is doing, who, by the way, is the most beautiful person in this world. The thing is even though I found out we're expecting you recently, I already love you like I love your mother, well, it's a different love, but I love you and I'm looking forward to having you in my arms now, but you have to grow up, so I will have to wait a while until you are born, but know I'll be looking forward to that day." I kiss Gabriela's belly when a drop falls on me, which is what makes me look up and see that Gabriela is crying, but with a big smile on her face.

"Are you okay beautiful?" I asked curiously and giving her a hug "Yes… it's just that you say such nice things… you make me cry." She admitted, "That must be the hormones." I commented "I hate hormones." Gabriela protested, pouting. "Well, I adore them, what do you want me to tell you? You usually don't let it be seen how you feel easily and right now it's always reflected on your face." I said and she nodded, but with the pout still on her face. "Well, that's why I hate them."

"It can't be that bad." I said, knowing it's something she didn't like very much. "Sure, right now you must be enjoying it, but I hate it." We were looking at each other while she had started running her hand through my hair, which is the most relaxing thing in the world, and obviously, I was gawking at her. "What are you looking at me with that face?" Gabriela asked with her smile still on her face "Nothing, can't I admire the beauty of my future wife?"

Her smile widened like mine, but it was the truth, and now that I realized, we hadn't talked about it at all since I practically asked her. "I'm not as beautiful as you think." She pointed out and I rolled my eyes, because it wasn't true, yes, she is. "Of course you are, you can be more than clear about that. But now we must talk about something important."

"About what?" My fiancée asked curiously. "When we will get married, we'll have to start thinking about whether what we want to get married" I said, and she smiled "The sooner we wait for our child to be born." She informed me and I nodded because that's the same thing I thought. "If you want it that way, obviously that's how it will be. But we must start thinking a little, we put it aside a little."

"I know but considering that you almost died…" she pointed out and I denied since I didn't want her to think about that. "It didn't happen, and it won't happen until I'm an unbearable old man or you don't want to see me anymore." I reported "That won't happen." She assured "What exactly?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow. "Neither. You won't be an unbearable old man, and much less will I stop wanting to see you, you're a human monument."

"Look who went to talk." I said with a big smile on my face "Ik wist dat je van drama's en romans hield, maar ik had nooit dedacht dat je zo was. (I knew you love dramas and romantic novels, but I never thought you were like that.)" It is at that moment we turn to the terrace door to see her cousin who we hadn't the slightest idea of was there. "How long have you been there?" Gabriela asked, suddenly tensing up, "Genoeg om meer over jou te waten te komen, neef. Maar ik zeg je echt, ik had niet verwacht dat je zou zijn zoals die romans die je leest, of in ieder geval zo veel op elkaar. Je zou kunnen zeggen dat je partner ook een roman is. (Enough to discover more things about you, cousin. But I'm really telling you, I didn't expect you to be like one of those novels you read, or at least so similar. You could say your partner is from a novel too.)"

"Het is niet zo erg. (It's not that big of a deal). Better tell me how long you've been there." Gabriela responded partially in Dutch "Sindsdien moet je de bruiloft plannen en Alex zal een ondraaglijke oude man zijn. Ik moet toegeven dat hij gelijk heeft, je moet her gaan plannen, ik wil zien hoe je gaat trouwen voordat ik weer naar Nederland ga. (Since you should plan the wedding and Alex will be an unbearable old man. I must admit he's right; you should start planning it, I want to see how you get married before I go to Holland again.)"

"You're a big gossip Kev, I didn't expect that from you. Now tell me why you came, and about that you should not worry, because we'll do it when you can come, ik ben niet erg genoeg om you trouwen zonder dat je me hebet gezien. (I'm not bad enough to get married without you seeing me.)" Gabriela said, and I could see how in the last part a big smile appeared at her cousin. "I know you're not bad, I just want you to know, and I was coming to tell you we have finished eating, you can come, or rather, you must come to tell us what you have to tell us that is so important. Laat me je vertellen dat ik beledigd ben dat Roberta en niet ik, dat is erg lelijk van je. (Let me tell you I'm offended Roberta knows this and not me, that is very ugly of you.)"

"Wie is un het dramatische? (Who is the dramatic one now?)" Gabriela said to what sounded like a question "Okay, but come before I take you or the others come looking for you, we are all on tenterhooks." He informed and my fiancée rolled her eyes. "We're coming, annoying."

"You better, because I'm not saying it as a joke." With that, we laughed while Kev walked out the door heading to her grandparents' house. I sat up, kissed her on the forehead and started running my hand through her hair, which makes her come closer to me and put her head on my shoulder. "We must leave before they come looking for us." I said, knowing everyone wanted to know what's happening with Gabriela. "I know, but it's great here, without anyone bothering us…"

"Well, don't worry, then you and I are going somewhere, okay?" I asked "To what place?" She asked curiously. "A surprise." I said and Gabriela rolled her eyes. "You know I hate surprises." She protested, pouting. "And it seems like it's something that's not going to change with pregnancy." I pointed out, laughing, "No. I can say I hate it even more than before, which is saying a lot."

"Well, in this case that's what it's going to be, a surprise." I got up from the floor and then helped her to her feet, not that she needed it much, but she wanted to. In addition, she had to try to prevent her from hurting her hand more.