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Chapter Text

Sergio was sitting on the couch, looking out the window towards the beautiful panorama that he had in front of his eyes. In the distance the Atlantic opened up. The sky was beginning to tint with the first light of dawn. Soft reflections of yellow and orange illuminated the sky, welcoming a new day.

After their successful escape the day before, the band had taken refuge in a village in Portugal, not far away from Oporto , where they would spend a few days to recover and arrange the fair distribution of the gold to all those involved in the heist before embarking on a new journey to their respective destinations. This time of their choice, without limits, without hiding places. Like new, free people.

The last few days had been the most intense of Sergio's entire life. Yes, even more intense than his days at the Royal Mint. He couldn’t help but think that it had been a bittersweet triumph, because although in the end some managed to get out of there, two important members of this family of robbers had been left behind.

Sergio sighed and turned to look at Raquel who was still sleeping soundly, completely wrapped under the thick white duvet. Her relaxed features, her breathing easy and calm.

She had agreed to marry him.

A rush of adrenaline traveled through his entire body as he remembered that moment. All the things she said, for a fraction of second, he was terrified. There was an instant when he came to think that it was the prelude to their breakup, that she was going to confess that, despite everything, she was tired of running, of living in fear, of living hidden behind the shadow of his desires to steal and fighting with his past, with the memory of his dead people. But it turned out to be the opposite.

Raquel was right, it was time to accept who he was. He was not Superman. He was not Clark Kent. He was Sergio Marquina, even if his new DNI and passport said otherwise. He was and from now on would be Sergio . No more past, no more heists, no more living in fear and constant grieving.

And although breaking old and ingrained habits wasn't easy and didn't happen overnight, for Raquel he would. Because he wanted the rest of his life by her side. He wanted the breakfasts with Mariví, the walks on the beach with Paula and maybe something, or someone else. They were free now to do what they wanted, to travel the world and love each other in front of everyone's eyes, and he couldn't wait to live the rest of his new life to the fullest. Raquel made him want to live life to the fullest.

Sergio hadn't realized that he had been staring at Raquel for the last few minutes until the gentle stirring of her body brought him out of his thoughts. She slid her hand to the spot next to her on the bed, searching for his body. He smiled and got up from the couch to join her again.

"Where were you?" She growled softly, not opening her eyes but with a soft smile on her lips.

"Just watching the sunrise." He answered and placed a kiss on her shoulder.

"Without me?" She opened one eye.

"I didn't want to wake you up, Olivia."

Raquel laughed lightly. "So now it's Olivia? Are you going to tell me once and for all what my new name is, Salvador?" 

Since the army had given Sergio the new passports and DNIs with everyone's new identities, he had kept Raquel’s new name a secret, creating a little game between the two in which each time he called her by a different name, or tried to make her guess.

Except for Paula, Cincinnati, baby Victoria and Mariví, the names of everyone in the band were changed. Sergio claimed his old alias, becoming Salvador , however, Raquel was still clueless about her new identity.

“Fine. I'm gonna tell you." Sergio beamed and gave Raquel a quick peck on the lips.

He got out of bed and from his coat pocket hanging over the back of a chair he took a passport and a red envelope.

"And what is that?" Raquel propped up on her elbow, looking questioningly at the envelope in Sergio's hands.

“It's from Sierra. In fact… she chose your name.”

"You are kidding." Raquel chuckled.

"I am not kidding."

“Did you tell her that I chose hers?!”

"No. But apparently the two of you have a lot in common."

She couldn't help a small smile. "She better have chosen a pretty name." She warned as she took the envelope from Sergio's hands. “I gave her the name of our hypothetical daughter!" Raquel opened the envelope and took out a sheet of paper with a note.

What a mess we've made at the CNP, huh? They will be talking about us until the end of days.

But that's nothing new, since the academy we were always pure chaos.

I don't have much time to write everything I want to tell you, besides, you know that I am not good at expressing my feelings with words. I am not corny, like you.

But I hope that despite not being able to tell you everything I feel, you will remember the good memories of the two of us. The ones we were before everything. Before everyone. When it was just you and me trying to memorize the academy manuals with a bottle of tequila.

Anyway… I gave a lot of thought to what name would be appropriate for you, and after knowing, and witnessing how you gave your everything inside the bank, your pair of ovaries being bigger that the balls of all the men in there put together, I think VALENTINA is an appropriate name for you.

Brave bitch.

I hope one day to meet you again. Somewhere in the world now that it’s ours to see it all. And if Lucía comes one day, look for me, surely Victoria will want a playmate.

Say hello to gafitas.

Have a good life, Valentina. You deserve it.

Tears had soaked Raquel's face when she finished reading that letter. Not being able to avoid bringing to her memory all those beautiful moments of better times with Alicia.

Swiftly, Sergio sat next to her and handed her her new passport and her new DNI.

Valentina Murillo Fuentes.

At least she was able to keep her two surnames. Changing them would imply changing Paula and Mariví’s too, and while she had no problem explaining it to her mother, she was still not ready to explain to her daughter their change of names. She knew that, eventually, she’d have to have that talk with her daughter. Now they were free she had more chances to get in touch with the world and the possibility of her finding out what her parents had done was inevitable. She just needed some time to go there, she was sure her girl was smart enough to understand the situation.

"It's a beautiful name. Valentina." Sergio said.

"It is." Raquel sniffed. "It really is."

Sergio settled back on the bed next to Raquel and brought her to him with his arm. She laid her head on his shoulder, placing her hand on his chest, rubbing her fingers lazily over his hairy skin.

"So..." Sergio began, "you gave her the name of Lucía."

"Hmmm." Raquel hummed, she was so tired that she was starting to fall asleep again.

“The name you liked for a girl. Even after I told you that… one day I wanted to be the father of a thief."

His words banished any drop of tiredness that might be in her. She rose on his chest and looked at him with a mischievous expression.

"Well... what if it’s not a girl." She smiled.

Sergio looked at her with narrowing eyes. “Then we will look for boy names. Because I meant it, Raquel. I would love to be the father of a thief... even if we are never stealing again and the only thing she or he is going to steal is our heart... and a few... many hours of sleep at night. But hey, a thief after all. Continuing with the family tradition."

Raquel burst into laughter and her eyes sparkled with pooled tears. "Do you really want that?"

“How many times should I say it? Or, should I say it better?" He raised an eyebrow at her.

“No, no, no! It's just… it's kind of surreal. You and me... a baby?”

Sergio shrugged with a coy smile. “All these hours that I spent with Victoria… I couldn't help but imagine what our daughter would look like. What would it be like to carry her in my arms. Calm her crying... love her. Or him.”

"Raise her to be a thief." Raquel added.

"Until a few hours ago... yes." Sergio laughed.

When the laughter died down, Raquel cupped Sergio's face with one hand, stroking his beard with her thumb, looking at him with eyes that overflowed with the most intense love she had ever felt in her life.

"I have dreamed countless times what a child of ours would look like and my heart explodes just imagining you holding our child in your arms."

"Then... what if… we… try to have a baby?"

Raquel swallowed the lump in her throat, her jaw quivering. "Maybe... maybe we already have one."

Sergio choked on a sob. "Do you mean…"

"I don’t know yet." She mumbled. “But… it's a possibility. We were not very careful at the monastery!” She chuckled between tears.

"A-and... are they just suspicions? Or..."

"Let's say if my period is one more week late, I should take a test."

"Are you late?"

"A week." She numbed, sounding even scared.

"A week." Sergio exhaled shakily.

“But at this point it can be anything. All the stress from the heist."

"What if it isn't?"

"Then I will be the happiest woman in the world."

Sergio beamed and took off his glasses to wipe his tears. “I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you. Start this new life with you. Finally to be able to do everything we wanted and due to the circumstances we couldn’t. I want to travel the world with you, with your mother and our children. I want to give you the world."

“I don't need the world when I have our family."

Sergio took Raquel and trapped her under his body, catching her lips in a hungry kiss.

“I suppose that if up to now everything is just suspicions, it would be good for us to continue practicing. I mean, so there are more possibilities.”

"You are totally right. I would love to keep practicing. Practice is elementary."

"Practice makes perfect."

They both shared kisses mixed with laughter as they stripped off their clothes one by one to love each other as they didn’t do so many days ago.

Later that day, Sergio and Raquel lounged on a blanket on the grass, under an orange tree, in one of the villa's gardens.

Sergio was leaning against the trunk, and Raquel was sitting between his legs. The wind from the Atlantic blew cold at them, making her shudder and he wrapped her tighter in his arms.

They both watched as the rest of the band had fun with the gifts Sergio had given them. Latest generation cell phones, tablets, wireless headphones, smart watches. Common objects for regular people, but for some of them, after having spent almost 3 years without any type of technology, they were a very precious luxury.

"Follow me on Instagram!" Manila said.

"Done!" Mónica replied.

"Have any of you already downloaded Twitter?" Rio asked.

"You should download Tinder!" Matias laughed.

"Well, maybe you should too, so you stop hitting on the Professor’s girlfriend.” Rio fired back.

" FIANCÉE! " Sergio clarified from his spot under the tree.

Matias ducked his head embarrassed, and everyone else started laughing at him.

It had been a hilarious and embarrassing moment when Sergio found out that Matías had been hitting on Raquel, and he had found out that she was engaged to nothing more and nothing less than one of the masterminds behind the Bank of Spain heist.

Matías apologized thousands of times, deeply mortified, while Sergio pretended to be furious and the rest of the band, including Raquel, couldn't stop laughing. Until Sergio also burst into laughter, the young man was able to relax and the embarrassing moment became a hilarious anecdote for the entire band.

"Look at them. They all look like children on Día de Reyes. ” Raquel smiled as she watched the band put on some kind of photo shoot and record videos with their cellphones.

"And wait for me to hand over their new bank accounts." Sergio said and placed a kiss on her head.

Raquel laughed. "They will have a stroke!"

"You didn't seem very excited about your new cellphone though.” He said. "After your video call with Paula and your mom I haven't seen you use it again."

Raquel shrugged. "I don't know. I think I got used to an austere life, without a television, without a cell phone, without any of that technology. The one who is going to be over the clouds with her new cell phone and tablet will be Paula."

Sergio chuckled. “Do you remember at the beginning how much she begged us to get a television? I guess in the end she got used to austerity too, since she stopped asking for it."

"That's what you think, but wait for her to have them in her hands. We will have to set some rules for the use of those devices!"

"Don't be strict with her!” Sergio kissed her temple. "After everything we've put her through, I think she deserves it."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, pamper her like always!” Raquel rolled her eyes. "That's why she always goes to you, because she knows you will never say no to her."

“Sorry… well, actually no. I love her too much to deny her anything." He laughed.

“You are going to ruin our children. You will turn them into materialistic monsters."

"Hey, no, no, no, no, no! It is one thing to be... let's say... a good parent, who fulfills a few whims, and another very different is not to teach them values. We can give them everything, but keep them grounded."

"Not if you keep giving in to Paula’s whims!” Raquel retorted.

Sergio laughed. "I promise I will try not to be so soft anymore."

"Yeah, sure."

“But, to all this. You still don't tell me where you want us to live now. You have the whole world to choose from."

Raquel sighed. "I don’t know. I was very happy in Palawan, but every now and then I missed the countryside a bit, and, believe it or not, the chaos of the city."

“We can have a house in the countryside and one in the city if you want. Go there when we want something different. Can you imagine a penthouse in Manhattan? On the Upper East Side?"

Raquel laughed out loud. “Do I look like a Park Avenue trophy wife? Do you think I can fit with those stuck up women?"

"Honestly? I don’t think so." Sergio answered and they both laughed.

"While I loved our Friday's street market shopping, I wouldn't say no to a day of shopping at Saks for a change."

Sergio smiled, although he was not sure if this " Saks " was a supermarket, a bakery, a butchery or a bookstore. "You can go and empty that Saks if you want."

"I'll keep it in mind.”

He sighed. "But really, do you want us to go back to Palawan?”

"I’d love to, but… I also want a change, a new start. What about... República Dominicana ?" She beamed and looked up at him. “A house in Punta Cana by the beach?”

"Then Punta Cana will be." Sergio kissed her on the cheek. "I'll tell my men to start looking for something—"

"No!" Raquel interrupted him. "I want us to do it, as a normal family looking for their new home. I want to hear what you think of the rooms and the kitchen, or what Paula and my mother think of the gardens... consider whether or not it is a baby-safe house.”

“In that case, as soon as the distribution of the gold is resolved and Paula and your mother are here, we will take the first flight to Punta Cana and begin our house hunting." He said and hugged her tighter.

"Also... we have a wedding to plan." Raquel teased.

"Did you think I had forgotten? That wedding is at the top of my priorities. And actually...” He released one of his arms from around her to take something from his trouser pocket. "I think this ends up sealing everything."

A beautiful engagement ring appeared before Raquel's eyes.

"Where did you get that? When?” She turned around to look at him.

"Since before we started the heist."

"What?!" She breathed with a delighted smile.

Sergio took her hand and placed the ring on her finger. "Now, it is where it should have been from the beginning."

"Nothing yet?" Sergio asked Raquel when she came out of the bathroom.

She shook her head slowly. “Nothing."

Raquel had woken up with mild cramps that persisted throughout breakfast and past noon. The idea that it was her period saddened her a bit, and even to Sergio, she was already almost two weeks late and she couldn’t stop thinking that it was due to a pregnancy, although at that moment, everything pointed that it was her next period about to come, especially when she felt a moist sensation between her legs. She hurried to the toilet, expecting to find her paties soaked in blood, but they were clean.

"Do you think it would be time to... buy that test?"

"What if it's just my PMS?" She bit her lower lip.

Sergio got up from his seat and walked over to her, taking her by the waist. "Have you had any other symptoms?"

“Yes, but they are symptoms that are PMS and pregnancy symptoms. I have back pain, I'm tired, my breasts hurt... but I feel all that before my period too."

"So why don't we go for a test and get out of doubt once and for all?" He suggested. "I don't want to see you another minute stressed out, thinking about whether or not you are pregnant."

"But then if I'm not, I know I'll be disappointed."

"Nothing that more practice cannot fix." He smiled. "Come on, let's go get that test."

"How long?" Sergio asked.

"Three minutes." Raquel replied, biting the tip of her thumbnail.

They both stared at the test on the table intently, a tiny hourglass flashing on the little digital display. Sergio looked at the clock, even counting the seconds in his head before looking at it again and checking if he was counting right. Raquel's leg jumped up and down frantically. She was sweating and shaking.

"2 minutes, 25 seconds" He said.

"Shut up!" She said between clenched teeth.

And then...

Pregnant

3+

They both released a shaky breath at the same time.

"I'm pregnant." Raquel mumbled. Unable to keep her eyes off the test until it was impossible to continue seeing it clearly because of the tears that had already pooled in her eyes.

"You are pregnant." Sergio said, his voice trembling in amazement.

"We are having a baby."

"We are having a baby."

"Stop repeating everything I say!" Raquel cried and laughed. "We are having a baby." She brought her hands to her mouth.

Sergio nodded, a smile the size of the world plastered on his face, his eyes as watery as those of his future wife.

The two joined in an effusive hug that was followed by a fervid kiss, accompanied by tears and laughter.

"And now what?!" Sergio pulled back, he couldn't stop smiling.

"We wait!" Raquel replied. “Another 33, 34 weeks. Maybe more."

"More?!" Sergio exclaimed.

“I had Paula at 41 weeks and two days. And that was because my OB decided to induce me."

“The OB! We have to find a doctor as soon as possible, you and the baby have to receive medical attention, we have to make sure that everything is fine!” He ranted. “Wait! 3 plus... what does that mean?" Sergio asked, noticing the number on the test.

"That I am around three weeks along or more.”

"Three weeks. Three weeks." Sergio murmured. "That means you were pregnant all this time?! Since before the heist began?!”

Raquel shrugged. "It looks like it."

“And I took you to war with me! You-you... the baby—"

“Wait, wait!" Raquel interrupted him. "There was no way that I knew or at least suspected my condition!"

“But-but."

"But nothing, Sergio! All that is over now,” she cupped his face, “we are free, truly free. We are alive, we are fine, we are getting married and we will have a baby. The past doesn't matter anymore."

Her words and her soft hands caressing his face managed to relax him.

"Should we wait to tell the others?" Sergio asked.

“I think it will be the most wise thing to do. At least two more months." Raquel said.

"These months will be the longest months of my entire life."

"Believe me, for you they won’t. You won’t have to, literally, create a whole human being from scratch and carry it until its birth, 9 months will pass in a sigh. My body will be making lungs, or kidneys, while you just have to make dinner!" Raquel mocked. 

He laughed. "I will make dinner, breakfast, lunch and all the cleaning of the house for the next months. No, no months, years!" 

"I better record you saying this!"

Sergio laughed again. All he had done since they were free was laugh and now he knew that all he would do for the rest of his life was going to be laugh. Laugh until his chest and belly hurt. 

He wasn't lying when he told Alicia that his life with Raquel had been a dream. The most beautiful dream came true. What he had with Raquel felt good, better than good. She was the calm that his soul needed so much and that until not long ago had been living in a constant storm between past, present, guilt and grief. She had come to pull him out of his own act of illusion.

Chapter Text

"Are you ready?" Sergio asked the three women in his life as he pulled over outside of what would be their new home.

"YES!" Paula yelled in excitement.

"Why is it so hot?!” Mariví complained, not looking too excited to see the new house.

"Grandma, we can get in the pool later!" Paula giggled.

Sergio looked at them through the rearview mirror with a wide grin. "Ready?" He looked at Raquel next to him in the passenger seat and placed his hand on her thigh.

"I've never been more ready."

"Then let's go."

They all got out of the car and hurried toward the entrance. From there they could already hear the breaking of the waves on the shore. Even from the outside, the construction was already impressive.

Raquel, Paula and Mariví had seen the house without any furniture or renovations, so it was going to be their first time seeing the house finally fully furnished and ready to move in and start their new life there.

For many reasons, it had been quite difficult to find the house. Their main idea was Punta Cana, however, they never considered how large the tourist population was in that area, perhaps even more than local people. Too many resorts, hotels and tourism for their liking.

They scoured the island in search of quieter areas, or at least not completely overrun by hotels, but they didn't seem to find anything that convinced them. Fortunately, they didn’t have a budget, that already opened up a lot of possibilities, but still, it was not easy. Some houses were way too big, way too small, way old, too far from the city or not worth their price. Despite having the capital, that didn't mean they were going to make an unwise purchase.

When they had already spent almost 3 months living in a hotel in Punta Cana and still without their dream home, Sergio suggested, or rather, insisted that they take a leap to Puerto Rico and look for something there. Raquel's pregnancy was progressing, and he didn’t want them to continue living in a hotel, nor did he want them to continue looking for houses when she was 7 or 8 months pregnant. He didn’t want to subject her to that stress nor hustle and bustle. He wanted to bring their baby into an established home.

Raquel considered it, she even considered to take a bigger leap and go to Colombia, Panama or even Mexico. But just when they were about to give up, their realtor came up with the perfect house. The house of their dreams. It was very close to La Romana and Santo Domingo. The fact that both cities were so close was what finally convinced them. With Mariví, Paula, Raquel’s pregnancy and soon the baby, they would need quick and easy access to hospitals, doctors, schools and supermarkets.

Although initially, Sergio put up some negatives.

"It's way too close to the beach." He observed.

"Of course! It’s a house on the beach!” Raquel replied.

"I don't know. I would like it if it had some barrier, or protection for the baby, what if she crawls to the beach and we don't realize?!"

Raquel laughed. “Those are minor details! We can install protection. But look at it, Sergio! Look at those gardens, those balconies, the kitchen, the common areas, the bathroom. Oh, my god, I'm dying to take a bath in that tub! The rooms. We can even set up a playroom for the children, a study-library, for when we want some time alone. Look at this room, look how beautiful the natural light comes in. Imagine the nursery in that room."

Once Raquel mentioned the baby's room, there was no going back for Sergio. He could already imagine walking into that room in the morning, with the sunlight filtering through the white curtains, taking their baby in his arms and kissing its tiny head, breathing in the sweet baby smell.

The moment Sergio opened the door, all the women let out gasps in amazement. Paula ran in, pulling her mother by the hand.

"Come on, mom!"

"Careful!" Sergio warned them when he saw that Raquel almost tripped.

"What a beautiful place!" Mariví linked her arm with Sergio’s. "Who lives here?"

"Us. We live here." Sergio squeezed the old woman's hand and walked with her after Raquel and Paula.

"Us? No, this is not my house." Mariví looked around, trying to recognize the place. “I live in Madrid, with Raquel and my granddaughter. They moved in with me recently after Raquel got divorced."

Sergio smiled wistfully. The illness of his mother-in-law progressed every day and her moments of clarity were less and less. He felt for Raquel, although she didn’t show it, he knew how concerned she was for her mother’s health. They had hired a full-time nurse to take care of her. Back in Palawan they had help, but only part time. Raquel didn’t have to be after Paula, taking care of her, on the contrary, she had to be after her mother. But now, with her pregnancy and the baby coming soon, that was going to get difficult, so hiring a full-time nurse was the first thing Sergio did when Mariví reunited with them.

That without counting some health issues, typical of the pregnancy, that Raquel had presented, which was why it also took them so long to find their dream house. She spent a lot of time feeling unwell, exhausted, sleeping or being sick. And Sergio didn't want to make a big decision without her being present as well.

Raquel had been diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum at 7 weeks of pregnancy and it persisted until she was well into 14 weeks. Sergio had lived in constant fear ever since, despite the fact that the doctor assured him a thousand times that it was nothing to fear. However, she had ended up at the hospital twice, and had been administered IV fluids on at least 4 occasions. She had lost weight, around 6 kilos. Everything she ate, she threw it up in minutes. She was constantly weak and dizzy. And coupled with the unsuccessful search of home, that had ended up draining her.

Paula didn’t understand what was happening with her mother. They still didn’t want to tell her the news of the baby, they wanted to wait until the second trimester, and preferably already have a house. Organize something special to announce it to her and Mariví. But the more Raquel’s situation got worse, Paula asked more and more questions. It was until they had to take her mother to the hospital the first time and leave her there for two days that Raquel and Sergio finally decided to tell the girl what was happening.

The little girl took the news with mixed emotions. While she was happy to know that she was having a baby brother or sister, she feared for her mom. She didn’t like to see her sick, much less to see her in a hospital bed.

"I don't want a little sibling if that means mommy will be sick!” She had vocalized more than once.

But Raquel assured her that what happened with her was normal, that it had even happened when she was pregnant with her. Also, the doctor had been kind enough to explain to Paula that, despite how serious the situation seemed, there was nothing to fear, that very soon her mom would feel so much better and that her little brother or sister would be born healthy and strong.

By week 15, Raquel began to feel much better. She still felt exhausted all the time and at times nauseous, but if before she vomited 5 or even 6 times a day, now she only did 2 or 3 times.

"What do you say if I show you the rest of the house?" Sergio suggested Mariví while he walked near her.

"What a beautiful house!" She kept smiling.

"Grandma!" Paula ran back and took her grandmother's hand. "Come, the pool is over here!"

"Paula, mi amor , calm down!” Raquel appeared behind her. "Be careful with grandma, ok?"

"Yes, mommy!” Paula replied, and took her grandmother by the hand, walking slowly so that both could appreciate the garden where the pool was located.

"So far she seems delighted with the house." Raquel smiled.

But Sergio smiled even wider when he saw her there, standing in the middle of their new home with the light reflecting on her wavy blonde hair that cascaded down her shoulders and chest, the turquoise sea behind her and that floral flowy maxi dress, the first traces of her baby bump showing up.

"And what about you?" He walked over to her, keeping his smile and adding a naughty look. "What do you think of the house?" He hugged her around the waist.

"I see you were serious about putting protection for the baby." Raquel pointed.

The house had an open garden to the beach. The glossy tiles of the house turned to wood in the pool area, then grass and beyond, sand and the breaking waves. Sergio had ordered to place a barrier about a meter high made of tempered glass, so as not to lose the incredible view, with a concealed door to access the beach.

“And we still have to baby proof the rest of the house. The stairs, the kitchen, the plugs, the drawers, the toilets. And , I’m still working on an electric cover for the pool."

Raquel burst out laughing. “Sergio, the baby won’t be here for another five months! And it won’t be crawling for another… 7 or even 10 months. All that security is not going to be necessary for at least a year."

"Better safe than sorry." He kissed her forehead. "Anyway... verdict?"

"This house is a dream." She tilted up her head and stood on tiptoe, placing a soft kiss on his lips. “No, it's more than I dreamed of. It’s spectacular, Sergio."

Although Raquel didn’t show it jumping with joy, she was truly fascinated with the house. The decorator knew how to capture exactly what she wanted since given the characteristics of the house, they ran the risk of making it feel like just another house next to the beach of a wealthy family. But this really felt like a home, this was home . Sergio had had some objects brought from their old home in Palawan, like the large wooden table that was now part of the pool area. Decorations. Some furniture. Photographs. Raquel was delighted.

Sergio turned her around in his arms, resting his chin on her shoulder and his hands on her little bump. "And wait until you see the main bedroom." He placed a kiss on the side of her neck.

"Really?" Raquel sighed, tilting her head.

"The bed is... uff!"

"Good to know, because I'm dying to take a nap."

Sergio laughed against the skin of her neck and then placed another kiss there. "A nap is not what I have in mind."

Raquel exhaled and turned around, circling her arms around his neck. “Well, you'll have to settle for that. I'm exhausted. The heat and your child have absorbed all my energy."

"How are you feeling?" Sergio asked sweetly, brushing the hair away from her face with his hand.

"Better. Better than last week for sure."

"Did you take your medications?"

Raquel rolled her eyes. He asked her that question at least five times a day. "Not today."

"Raquel-"

"It was not necessary!" She interrupted him before he gave her a speech. “The doctor said that from now on, I should take them only when the nausea or vomiting is uncontrollable, and right now I feel good. It's medication, Sergio, not chocolate! I can't take it just like that. Right now I'm just exhausted, but nothing else."

He shook his head with a smile. "What am I going to do with you?" He kissed her on the lips. "I can show you the rest of the house later if you want." He suggested. "Why don't you go upstairs and take a nap? I'll get the suitcases out of the car and take them to the rooms later. I’ll take care of Paula and your mother, too."

"No. I want to spend our first day here with you and them."

"Ok, but if you feel sick or want to sleep, don't hesitate to tell me."

Raquel rolled her eyes again. "Stop worrying so much!" She cupped his face. "I'm fine!"

Sergio took her hands and kissed them. “I will always be worried as long as your health and well-being are concerned. And our kids’ or your mother's. You are all I have."

Raquel brought his face down to hers and kissed him deeply.

"Sergio!" Paula showed up again. "Can we go upstairs? I want to see my room!"

"Let's go see the rooms then!"

Again Paula ran ahead of them and up the stairs. Sergio linked arms with Raquel and Mariví and they followed Paula to the second floor of the house.

Everyone was elated. Paula was going crazy with her room. She immediately knew what door it was, given the sign with her name on it. The same one that she had back in Palawan. Everything was lilac and white with hints of gold and soft gray, just the way she wanted it.

Mariví seemed pleased too, even though her room was, obviously, much less colorful than Paula's. She had a bed, a rocking chair, a television, and most importantly, air conditioning. She was more than happy with that.

The main room was almost a world apart. It spanned much of the second floor. The entire wall overlooking the sea was made of glass with two sliding doors that led to a large terrace with a round table with chairs and two loungers.

The bathroom was huge. Two sinks and the tub separated from the shower, which at the same time worked as a sauna. And not to mention the closet. Like almost everything in the house, most of the decor was white, but with touches of wood and turquoise blue here and there. A huge king size bed and next to it, was already a bassinet.

Raquel turned her gaze to Sergio with teary eyes.

"And wait until the nursery is ready."

Sergio had not wanted to start setting up the nursery until Raquel was completely ready to do it together. They didn’t want to leave that part of the decoration to someone else, they wanted to choose everything . From looking for ideas on the internet, going to the stores for paint, furniture, decorations, to giving life to that space soon to be inhabited by the smallest of the family.

Later that day, after getting some rest, they all went down to the pool. Raquel and Mariví took a lounger and Sergio and Paula immediately jumped into the pool. 

In Palawan, Sergio was teaching Paula to backstroke, so they decided to resume their lessons.

"Mommy, grandma, look!" Paula yelled at her mother and her grandma to see how she started to master the technique little by little.

"You're doing great, mi amor !" Raquel congratulated her.

"You look like a little mermaid!" Mariví said.

The family of four soon to be five spent the rest of the day in the pool, Sergio ordered food and in general, their first day in their new home was beyond wonderful.

Raquel was enjoying the afternoon relaxing on the lounger, watching her daughter and her future husband playing and losing her gaze on the sea. All the excitement of the day began to take its toll on her body, little by little the sound of the waves lulled her and her eyes started to feel heavier, until everything was just peace.

"Raquel. Cariño , wake up."

Sergio's deep voice woke her from her pleasant nap. She stirred slightly, moaning softly, her eyes fluttering open, a smile spreading across her face as her eyes met Sergio's.

She looked around, it was already dark, the house lights were on and it was even raining. The waves roared with the storm and the wind blew fine breeze.

"What time is it?" She asked sleepily.

"It's after 7pm." He smiled as he sat next to her, facing her.

"What? Why didn't you wake me up?"

"Because I know how tired you were."

"And Paula, and my mother?"

"Your mother is watching a movie in her room, and Paula has just taken a shower, she is getting dressed to come downstairs for dinner."

"What's for dinner?" She flashed a playful smile.

"Chinese. Paula's choice. And a double order of spring rolls for you."

"Hopefully I can keep them down."

"Well," he placed her hand on the still very slight curve of her belly, "you've only been sick twice today, that's a big step."

"See? And you almost wanted to call a doctor and what not." Raquel teased.

"I'm going to be a basket case when she or he is here, right?" He said, softly rubbing the tip of his finger over her stomach.

"Let's say you should be working on that obsession to always have everything under control."

 Sergio sighed. "I'll try."

“And… now that we're home and I'm feeling much better… don't you think it's time to go back to our wedding plans?"

"Are you sure?"

"Of course! Better now than when the baby is here and we don't even have time to sleep. Also, since we are going to reunite the band we could share the news of the baby with them." She placed her hand over Sergio's. "Don't you think it's time to break the news?"

“I think the timing is perfect. It would be a kind of housewarming-baby shower-wedding."

Raquel laughed out loud. "Something like that!"

"So... it's time to reunite the band."

Even though Raquel and Sergio wanted a small and intimate wedding, it took them about two months to get everything ready and get everyone in the family to come to República Dominicana for the wedding.

They all started new projects in their new lives, and not all of them were immediately available. So there was nothing left to do but wait for everyone's schedules to square so that they could meet to celebrate the union of Lisboa and the Profesor .

But finally, everything was ready. The wedding would be at their home. The ceremony would be on the beach, during the sunset, and the party in the garden. Everything, wherever they looked, was covered with white flowers and golden lights.

The band was exalted, it was the first time that they were ruined since they left the Bank of Spain, and although it had only been a few months ago, they all felt the absence. That heist had brought them together in a way that no one anticipated.

They all had a group chat  where they maintained constant communication. Also, they had formed unexpected friendships. Sergio and Raquel kept in contact with Alicia, although it was not constant. She kept them informed of how Victoria was doing and in general, how her life was going. Lisboa was in constant communication with Mónica and Palermo, who now lived with Helsinki. And, something that nobody saw coming, she maintained a very close relationship with Rio. The young man kept her informed of his life or what he did practically every day. She had become like a big sister to him. Despite the distance, the entire band maintained constant communication.

However, there was a little big surprise that they were still unaware of, and that was the arrival of the next member.

Sergio had gone to pick them all up at the airport. Luckily, everyone's flights had arrived around the same time, so once everyone was gathered, they made their way home. When they arrived, they were greeted with a delicious feast and drinks and introduced to Paula and Mariví.

"What a beautiful house, Profesor !" Mónica congratulated, looking around as everyone gathered at the table for dinner.

"It looks like one of those American movie houses." Denver let out his trademark laugh.

"Imagine the pool parties that could be thrown!" Matías exclaimed.

"Don't tell me your house doesn't have a pool." Bogotá joked.

“I don't have a house yet. I have been traveling around the world for the last few months. But I'm already thinking of settling down, huh. And I don't know, I think I'm liking República Dominicana . So wait for the invitation to the housewarming party soon!” The young man replied.

"But, where is Raquel?" Palermo asked.

"She's finishing getting ready." Sergio answered, adjusting his glasses, nervous because of the big surprise they had for the band and their reaction.

"I heard we have visitors." Raquel's voice echoed and seconds later she was in the dining room, with a huge smile and a protruding 6-months baby bump.

There were a few seconds of silence. The band was processing the news. They all gaped at her.

"Don't look so happy to see me." Raquel laughed.

"You are pregnant!" Mónica exclaimed.

"A little Lisboa is coming!" Manila joined excitedly.

"Surprise." Raquel shrugged shyly.

All the members of the band exploded in shouts of joy and celebration. Mónica and Manila ran to join in a hug with Raquel and then pat and rub her bump. Helsinki gave her a hug so tight he even lifted her off the ground.

"Look at you!" Palermo laughed. "Who'd have said! Congratulations, dad”. He gave Sergio a hug. "Andrés would be very happy for you." He whispered in his ear. "I know he is.” He pulled back and patted his cheek softly.

After the effusive celebration and congratulations on the baby's upcoming arrival, everyone sat around the table for dinner and conversation. Catch up on what had happened in their lives in recent months. Tomorrow, tomorrow was going to be a big day.

Sergio felt that he was going to vomit or that he was going to faint at any moment. In just a few minutes, he and Raquel would be husband and wife. He was standing at the foot of the altar. A large and beautiful arch of white roses with a direct view to the sea, the whole band sitting in front of him, all dressed in white, all eager for the arrival of the bride.

"Why so nervous?" Palermo whispered. He was standing next to him, acting as his best man. "It's not like she's not coming."

"It is always a possibility." He adjusted his glasses.

Palermo let out a loud laugh. “I'll give you a pass just because I know you're nervous. But you have to be an idiot to think that Lisboa will stand you up! Although, I really don't know why you're nervous. You have lived together for years, you have a house, you live with her mother, you are a father to her daughter and you have another on the way… this is just like… a formality. Paperwork.”

“This is not a formality, Palermo. This is-is… this is the first day of my new life. My life as the husband of the most wonderful woman I have ever met.”

"Not that you have met many." He mocked.

"Shut up!" Sergio hissed.

“I am kidding, hermano ! It is to relax you." He hit his shoulder.

Sergio was about to continue complaining about Palermo's attitude, when the soft music that indicated Raquel's arrival began to play.

Paula and Cincinnati walked down the aisle. She was carrying a little cushion with rings, and the little boy was throwing red rose petals that contrasted with all the white around. Behind them came Mónica, Raquel's maid of honor.

When Raquel finally showed up, Sergio shrugged with the force of everything he was feeling running through his body. She looked breathtaking. Stunning. Out of this world. Her flowy white champagne dress, made of chiffon and lace with strapless neckline and some sparkly details, framed her chest and her bump perfectly well. Her natural makeup and her wavy hair in a loose half ponytail with pearl and diamond hairpin details.

Sergio almost wanted to run up to her and find her in the middle of the aisle and eat her lips. When he finally got her in front of him, he couldn't help the excited giggle.

"You really took your time." Sergio teased when she was only inches from him.

"I couldn't zip up my dress." Raquel stifled a giggle. "Our child decided to make me grow a few inches overnight and I couldn't zip it."

They both giggled and shared a quick peck on the lips.

"You look flawless." Sergio sighed. "You look... I have no words in my vocabulary to express how beautiful you look."

Raquel swallowed a sob to keep from bursting into tears.

“Are you ready?" The judge who was going to officiate the ceremony interrupted them. They really had locked themselves in their own bubble of happiness.

"We are ready." They answered in unison.

They had been through so much in the barely more than two years that they had been together. Perhaps so much more than any 20 or 30 year married couple would have lived. They knew every layer of their soul and their heart. Their deepest corners. They complemented each other. They were a team. The suffering of one was the suffering of the other, but the joys always outweighed the sorrows. They had lived many lives, and this was only the first day of their new life. Of their new life as husband and wife.

Chapter Text

The party was in full swing. Despite the late hours of the night, with the exception of Mariví who had retired to rest shortly after dinner, everyone, even Paula and Cincinnati, continued to enjoy the evening enormously.

Raquel, Mónica and Manila were deep in conversation, sitting on the steps of the pool with their feet submerged in the water. Marsella was playing chase and catch Paula and Cincinnati all over the garden. Rio and Matías were talking near the snack table about taking a trip together. Denver, Palermo, Helsinki, Bogotá and Benjamín had put together a beer pong table with all kinds of drinks. Meanwhile, Sergio looked at everyone from the bar while pouring himself a glass of white wine.

After pouring the drink, he took the cork to put it back on the bottle, he couldn’t contain the huge grin on his face when he saw the gold band on his finger. He rubbed it and twirled it with his thumb then removed it, staring at the etching on the inside.

Estoy contigo ~ R&S

Sergio sighed happily and put it back on. He wanted to wear that band until his last breath.

”Nice party." Palermo appeared next to him. "Who would say that you could throw such parties?"

Sergio chuckled and shook his head. “It’s not just the party. It’s the people.”

"And what people!"

"You all are my people."

Palermo looked at him with remembrance. Images of Andres's wedding flashing in his head. How uncomfortable Sergio looked, how out of place. However now... who didn’t know him before would think that this and that Sergio are two different men. Who did not know him before Raquel.

"And tell me," he sighed, "where are you and Raquel going on honeymoon."

"Oh no, no honeymoon for us right now."

"What?! Why?!"

“First of all, Paula. She's still in school. Then there is my mother-in-law. We cannot leave them alone. And well… I don't know if Raquel wants to travel the world when she is six months pregnant."

“You don't have to go to the other side of the world, you can go nearby, I don't know, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands. A week just for the two of you before the other munchkin arrives. Your mother-in-law has her own nurse and Paula… Helsinki and I can take care of her."

Sergio looked at him with a deep frown of disbelief. "Yeah, sure!" He scoffed.

"I'm serious!" Palermo assured him. " Hey, gordo! " He called Helsinki and waved for him to come over to them.

"Hey!" Helsinki appeared with a big grin and a completely flustered face, a mix of heat and alcohol.

"What do you say if we stay one more week in this paradise?"

"One week? Sounds great!"

"But read him the fine print of the contract." Sergio said.

"Oh yeah. We can make use of this wonderful house in exchange for taking care of our newlyweds’ daughter for a week, so they can go on their honeymoon."

"Take care of her?!" Helsinki questioned.

"Yes. You know, make sure that she eats, sleeps, goes to school, does her homework… keep her alive, I mean!”

"Paula is a very good and well behaved girl." Sergio added.

"Look at this poor man." Palermo side hugged Sergio and slapped his cheek slightly. “Look at his poor face, it's the face of a man who just got married and knows that he won't have a proper wedding night and that in a few months he won't be able to get a decent night of sleep for at least a year. Don't you think he deserves a honeymoon?"

“Well, well. Don't put it that way either!” Sergio stepped aside from his hug. “You make it sound like my life is ruined!”

Palermo waved his hand dismissively. "So... what do you say?" He asked his partner.

Helsinki burst into laughter. "Of course I accept!"

"Really?!" Sergio exclaimed, almost unable to believe it. “I swear to you that Paula is the sweetest girl you will ever meet. She won't give you any problem."

"Really!" Helsinki assured him. "One week in this place, who says no to that?!”

“In any case, ask Raquel first. We are more than available."

"Yes, we are." Helsinki added.

The three men continued with a small talk when they were interrupted by the shouts and whistles of the rest of the group. Apparently they had thrown Marsella into the pool.

“ Profesor! Profesor! Profesor! ”

They all began to shout, heading towards Sergio as if he were their prey.

"Oh no, no, no, no, no!" Sergio warned them as Palermo pushed him towards them.

"Come on, professor!" Marsella yelled from the pool. Raquel, Mónica and Manila couldn't stop laughing.

"I said no!" Sergio insisted.

But his refusal wasn’t enough against Bogotá’s strength, who, as if he were a small sack of potatoes, took him under his shoulders and Denver by his feet, both carrying him to the edge of the pool.

"Raquel, tell them to let me down!"

But Raquel was too busy laughing. After rocking him a couple of times, Bogotá and Denver threw Sergio into the water, creating a big splash.

When Sergio came to the surface, everyone around him were cackling, their bodies bent in laughter.

"Come here, you backstabber!” Sergio swam to where Raquel was sitting, but before she could get to her feet, he reached for her ankle.

"Sergio, don't you dare!" Raquel warned him, still laughing. Sergio took her hand and began to pull her towards the water while Mónica gently pushed her.

"Do not resist, my wife." Sergio climbed the steps and swiped her up in his arms.

"Sergio, be careful!" Raquel screamed. "Sergio, I am pregnant. I swear that if you drop me, tomorrow I will file for a divorce!”

"I will be damned if I let you fall.” Sergio assured her, and although the moment was hilarious, there was much more meaning in his words.

Carefully descending the last couple of steps, once he made sure he was stepping on the bottom, Sergio gently lowered Raquel onto her feet. She giggled and circled her arms and legs around his neck and waist, capturing his lips in a fervid kiss. Soon after, the rest of the band jumped into the water as well, joining the hug, which immediately brought back memories of that peculiar night in which Sergio had lost his cool over a stinky and sticky hake.

The wedding party turned out to be a resounding success. They had all stayed partying until dawn. Laughing and enjoying being together. In the end, Raquel agreed to leave Paula in the care of Palermo and Helsinki, which were also joined by Mónica and Denver, so that she, with complete confidence and assurance that her daughter would be in good hands, could go to enjoy a week honeymoon with her husband to Puerto Rico.

Sergio had presented her a couple of options, maybe a trip to the woods or some big city to get out of the beach routine, but in reality, they both wanted more beach, only this time without house obligations. Just their love and the two of them (and a tiny plus one included).

"Gentleman, please understand, it is past noon, we stop serving breakfast at noon." The young worker at the resort where Sergio and Raquel were staying during their honeymoon - babymoon in Puerto Rico tried to make Sergio understand that they couldn't serve what he was requesting.

"No, you don't understand, I need an order of waffles and olives now ." Sergio almost implored him.

It was past noon and Raquel had decided that her little one had a craving for waffles with olives, as always, Sergio couldn’t deny her a craving.

He immediately got up from his lounger and hurried to get the waffles with chocolate, whipped cream, and olives for her. 10 minutes later he was still arguing with one of the workers, asking him, begging him to prepare an order of waffles, but unfortunately he wasn’t having much luck.

“Believe me, sir, I understand and if I were the kitchen manager I would prepare your waffles, but I am just a waiter and the chef is busy with lunch. I invite him to visit our snack carts that are all over the resort, you will surely find something to your liking."

Sergio huffed in despair, running his hand through his hair, about to tug it. " Amigo , come here." He said kindly, waving at the worker to come closer, the young man did so and Sergio put his arm around his shoulders. "See that beautiful pregnant woman in the black bathing suit sitting on that lounger?"

"Yes, I see her."

"Well, she is my wife. And do you see that kind and sweet face?"

"Yes, I see it."

"Well, it's a lie! If I return without those waffles and olives she will get so mad. Believe me, you don’t want to see her mad.” Sergio told the employee threateningly in a lame attempt to get Raquel's waffles.

The worker withdrew Sergio’s arm from his shoulders and stood straight in front of him with his hands behind his back, clearing his throat. “Sir, I am very sorry, your wife is, with all due respect, beautiful and I understand that you want to fulfill all her desires, but I cannot do anything. The only thing I can recommend to you is to take a golf cart and go to the nearby village, there are several cafeterias, maybe they can make you some waffles."

"Why didn't you tell me that from the beginning?!"

Sergio ran out to the lobby of the resort and took a golf cart to drive to the village. Luckily, in the first cafeteria he managed to get some waffles and he could get the olives at the resort. More than half an hour later, he returned with Raquel's request, sweating and sunburned.

Before approaching her, he took a few seconds to admire her from afar. She was stunning . She was sitting on a lounger under a huge umbrella with her eyes closed and her hands caressing her belly up and down, her blonde hair falling in its natural waves around her face, her tight black bathing suit accentuating her baby bump and that only made her look even more beautiful in Sergio's eyes.

Sergio approached her silently and leaned down to give her a soft kiss on the lips. She opened her eyes and smiled as soon as she saw him, grabbing him by his shirt and bringing him down to kiss him again.

"Where have you been?!" Raquel asked.

Sergio sat on the lounger facing Raquel and handed her the takeaway box. "Your craving, my dear wife." He said grinning widely.

"What is this?" She frowned, taking the box from his hands.

Sergio looked at her confused. "Didn't you tell me you were craving waffles with chocolate, whipped cream and olives?"

" Cariño , that was almost an hour ago! And I already had them, see?" She replied, pointing to the empty plate on the small side table.

"That is impossible! How?! They are no longer serving waffles."

“I only asked the head chef for some waffles and he agreed to make some for me. That was it, he even added extra chocolate and whipped cream and a side of aioli!" Raquel replied with a broad grin of satisfaction.

Sergio couldn't believe it, he laughed incredulously. After minutes arguing with that man and running under the sun to get Raquel's craving, she just had to ask for them.

Seconds later, the same worker who had refused to make the waffles approached them to pick up the empty plate and make sure they didn't need anything else. “Lady, gentleman, do you need anything else? Any drink, a snack?"

"Oh, I would like pineapple and watermelon in pieces, please, and a lemonade." Raquel asked.

"Sure! And you, gentleman?"

"A whiskey on the rocks, double, please." Sergio answered, pressing the bridge of his nose with his fingers.

"Of course, I'll be right back with your orders."

"Wait!" Sergio said, stopping the employee. "A moment ago you told me that the kitchen could no longer prepare an order of waffles and yet they did it when she asked."

"Sir, I told you that I have no power over the kitchen, she asked the head chef directly, he couldn’t refuse a request from a pregnant woman, now if you'll excuse me, I'll go get your orders."

Sergio scoffed in frustration, making Raquel laugh. "It's not fun!" Sergio said warningly, pointing his finger at her. "I ran under the sun to get you waffles."

Raquel took him by the shirt and brought him back close to her. "And you have no idea how much your child and I appreciate it, that's why I love you, always with your loving gestures."

"Just for you." He replied, giving her a series of kisses on her belly making her laugh and then looking into her eyes. "I love you, I would do the impossible to make you happy."

"You already did, when you took me out of the National Audience and flew me in a helicopter all over Madrid." Raquel reminded him.

"And I would do it again."

"I know. I love you, Sergio". Raquel said with a trembling voice and teary eyes.

"Hey, don't cry." Sergio smiled, wiping a tear with his thumb, making her giggle.

"Hormones!"

Sergio took Raquel's hand and placed the other on her round belly, feeling their child stir softly. "I love you, I love you both."

"We love you too."

"I need to get the sweat off my body. Are you coming for a swim?"

"No, you go, meanwhile I'll go to the room for the sunburn gel to put on your face and shoulders."

"Oh so now are you going to take care of my sunburns?"

"It's the least I can do. Thanks for my waffles." Raquel smiled, kissing him sweetly.

After taking off his glasses and his shirt, Sergio ran to the beach to give himself a quick rinse. Raquel remained for a moment watching as he submerged into the water and then came to the surface, shaking his head. A tingly sensation stirred inside her and her breath got caught in her throat. That wonderful man was her husband. She still had a hard time believing it. Deciding that later she would fix her sudden rush of lust, she walked the room to bring the gel to alleviate his sunburns.

"Are you enjoying our honeymoon?" Sergio asked her, while Raquel was standing behind him, gently spreading the gel over his shoulders.

"You have no idea!" She replied while she chewed on a piece of juicy pineapple.

"By the way, I saw that you packed a bikini in your suitcase…" Sergio teased. “I haven't seen you wear it." He took her by the hand and brought her to him, sitting her on his leg, his hand going immediately to her bump, rubbing it sweetly.

"Ugh!" Raquel made a face. “And you won't see me wearing it! I tried it on when we arrived and I looked hideous!”

"I am sure that’s a lie."

"I look like a damn whale."

“Have you ever seen a whale? Whales are magnificent, wonderful creatures. It takes your breath away to see all that majesty.”

“So you are basically telling me I do look like a whale?!”

“NO!” Sergio laughed. “I am saying you look breathtaking. That’s what I am saying.”

Raquel’s eyes soon got filled with tears. “Shut up if you don't want me to burst into tears right here or slap you. Because I'm in the mood of doing both." She warned him with a trembling voice.

”Damn hormones." Sergio kissed her on the lips and Raquel hugged him.

The next day, when they were both preparing to go down to the beach, Sergio's face lit up when he saw Raquel come out of the bathroom with a cover up duster and under it the bikini that he had mentioned the day before.

"Don't say anything!" Raquel warned him before he could say anything.

"You look stunning." He blurted out, unable to contain himself and took her in his arms. Little by little their clothes fell to the floor. He wanted to show her how much he loved her and how much he worshiped her here and now.

“It was then that the fox appeared.

‘Good morning,’ said the fox.

‘Good morning,’ the little prince responded politely, although when he turned around he saw nothing.

'I am right here,' the voice said, 'under the apple tree.'

‘Who are you?’ Asked the little prince, and added, ‘You are very pretty to look at.’

‘I am a fox,’ the fox said.

‘Come and play with me,’ proposed the little prince. 'I am so unhappy.’"

"And I am so tired." Raquel interrupted Sergio in the middle of his lecture. " Cariño , can you continue tomorrow?"

"Only this chapter. I'm almost at the part where the fox asks the little prince to tame him!”

"Sergio, she is already asleep, and I want to sleep too."

Sergio sighed with an almost childish gesture. He closed the book and placed it on the nightstand table, propping up on his elbow next to Raquel, right next to her bulging baby bump, giving it a soft kiss. She was already in the final stretch. 39 weeks. Baby Lucía could come to this world at any moment.

After they returned from their honeymoon, time slipped away. Between daily life with a 10-year-old girl, a grandmother and the preparations for the arrival of the new member of the family, when they least expected it, the doctor was informing them that their little girl was already placed in the perfect position to be born, and that could be soon .

The last few weeks were bittersweet in many ways. On the one hand, everyone was euphoric when they learned that it was a baby girl, but then the dilemma arose whether or not to use the name that Raquel had longed to name her daughter since that name already belonged to someone relatively close to them. After discussing it thoroughly, they both agreed to stick with what they had in mind from the beginning and name their girl “ Lucía” .

There was also the emotional side. Raquel’s emotions were all over the place. She hated her volatility, despite knowing that she was not in control of her state of mind. Going from crying to laughter, or from calmness to rage. Burst into tears because they had run out of shampoo or because she couldn't park the car in the exact spot where she intended seemed the stupidest thing in the world. But there she was, crying inside her car because Sergio had used her parking spot.

Then there was the physical part. Carrying a baby for 9 months was strenuous. Not counting the rest of the changes in her body. Slight stretch marks on her hips and breasts. Tender and leaking breasts. Swollen ankles. Thick and deep purple veins on her legs. Bloating. Heartburn. Back pain. Shortness of breath. Difficulty sleeping. Bad Memory. Braxton Hicks. And all the nuisances that hardly anyone talked about pregnancy. Raquel felt furious every time she saw all those magazines and advertisements with these gorgeous pregnant women looking radiant and flawless, romanticizing the experience, when, at least in her case, it couldn’t be further from reality. She felt like hell. But she was on the last stretch. Her baby girl would be here any moment. She had a great support system and she couldn't wait to embark on this new adventure with her family.

And Sergio, he had been the best partner anyone could ask for. So different from her first experience with Alberto when she was expecting Paula. Sergio was over-attentive. Gentle. Careful. He was invested in everything related to her and the baby, at the same time without neglecting Paula. Including her in everything.

Pregnancy was a rough experience for her, it had been from the beginning. But with Sergio everything had been a million times easier.

Right now what he loved to do the most was talk to Lucía at night before going to sleep. Tell her made-up stories or read her a book. That week it had been The Little Prince . He even tried different voices for the dialogue. Raquel's heart only swelled with love more and more and Lucía reacted to her daddy’s voice with vigorous kicks and some somersaults. Creating waves and lumps in her mother's abdomen which Sergio rubbed until making them disappear.

"How do you imagine her?" Sergio asked as he rubbed a lump probably caused by her elbow.

"Physically?" Raquel said as she ran her fingers through her husband's soft black hair. "Or her personality?"

"Both."

Raquel took a deep breath. “I imagine her as a strong woman. Free. Sure of herself. Loved. I know that she will be a strong, free, confident and loved woman. I want her to have no limits when it comes to achieving her dreams. May she not be afraid to speak her voice. I don't want…” her voice began to quiver, “I don't want her to know violence. I don't want her to grow up fearing being herself. Fearing of being a woman. Not her, not Paula. Even if I couldn't save Paula from knowing violence and fear.”

Sergio took Raquel in his arms, as if a single hug could heal years and years of pain and fear. “I swear that Lucía will never know what violence or fear is. And that Paula will be so happy, that she will forget that she ever experienced it. Our daughters will be strong, free and happy women.”

When Sergio opened his eyes one morning, Raquel was not in bed next to him. He assumed she was in the bathroom, but when he heard the hiss and moans coming from there, he immediately sat up in bed and hurried to see what was happening, finding Raquel bent over the countersink, one hand supporting her weight and the other rubbing her back.

"What's happening?!" Sergio asked terrified.

“15 seconds contractions every 25 minutes for the last 3 hours. This one lasted 20 seconds and only 15 minutes apart from the previous one. Considerably more painful." Raquel gasped for air looking at her wristwatch. She then took a pencil and wrote down in a small notebook that Sergio had not noticed until then.

He took the notebook, the first recorded contraction was at 5:20am. “Why didn't you wake me up when you felt the first contraction?!”

"I really didn't need your panic bugging me when I wasn’t even sure I was in labor." Raquel waddled back to the bedroom, sitting on the yoga ball that had been her best acquisition for back pain relief in the last couple of months.

“But you were in labor, you are in labor! What if it had sped up? Raquel, I read that sometimes you can go from mild contractions to deliver the baby in minutes, especially if it’s not the first pregnancy." Sergio argued, going after Raquel.

"Well, it didn’t happen!" She snapped. “Now calm down, the one who is going to push a human being out of their body is me, not you. I should be the one freaking out! Now go bring me a glass of water and something to eat. I'm starving." Sergio ducked his head and turned around to leave the room. "Sergio!" Raquel called him before he left. "Please, don't tell Paula or my mother anything yet. It’s Saturday, they will surely sleep until late."

"I won't tell them anything." He turned around again.

"Sergio!" She called him again. ”I love you."

Sergio walked towards her and took her face in his hands, giving her a soft kiss. "I love you more.”

Labor was rough .

Little by little the contractions became longer and longer, with less and less time between one and the other. Raquel wanted to wait at least 10 minutes between contractions to go to the hospital. But she couldn't convince Sergio, who after the first contraction that really made her cry out in pain, took hers and the baby's bag to go to the hospital.

Paula was scared and excited, she wanted to go with them to welcome her baby sister, but it wasn’t possible. She had to stay with Mariví and Carmen, her nurse. However, both her mother and Sergio promised to keep her informed of everything and to come for her as soon as they could to take her to meet her little sister. Surprisingly, Mariví was on a fairly lucid day, with some gaps, but compared to other days, she looked quite well. Something that Sergio greatly appreciated. Mariví showered her daughter with hugs, kisses, words of encouragement and love that only a mother could give.

Raquel wanted to attempt a 100% natural delivery, but the pain was so overwhelming that through tears, she begged for the epidural.

"Asking for an epidural doesn't make you less strong." A nurse assured her. “It will help you rest. You will need all your strength when it is time to receive this little girl.”

When the anesthesiologist arrived, Sergio stood in front of Raquel while some nurses uncovered her back and cleaned her skin. She hugged his torso and buried her face against his chest, sobbing in pain. Sergio was trying with all his might not to cry too and when a tear escaped from the corner of his eye, he immediately wiped it away.

" Valentina ." The doctor called her. “I'm going to need you to stay very, very still, please. This will hardly hurt you, but you will see that soon you will feel much better.”

Raquel didn't answer anything, but Sergio could feel her arms tighten around his torso. When he saw the epidural’s needle, his heart almost leapt out of his chest and he placed a kiss on the top of her head.

About half an hour after the epidural was placed, the pain from the contractions decreased considerably and Raquel was able to sleep for a couple of hours until she woke up again and although the contractions were not so painful anymore, they were getting closer and closer. A sign that Lucia was probably only minutes away from being born.

Sergio looked at the clock. It was after 3am, if Raquel's first recorded contraction had been around 5am, that meant that she had been in labor for almost 24 hours.

Around 4am, Raquel's OB entered the room to give her a check-up. "You are fully dilated, Valentina." She smiled. "It is time to push and welcome Lucía."

Raquel had been pushing for about half an hour, but Lucía refused to be born.

"I can't. I can’t." Raquel panted with a thin voice. Limp over one of Sergio's arms while with his free hand he brushed the hair that had come out of her braid from her face and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"Just a little more, cariño .” Sergio tried to encourage her. “A little more and she will be here.”

“Come on, Valentina. This is almost over, just don't slow down." Her OB said.

Suddenly, one of the machines began to beep frantically.

"Baby's heart rate is dropping." One of the nurses informed.

Sergio felt like all the air had left his lungs and his heart had fallen crashing to the ground. Hearing that, Raquel sat up on a snap of fingers, panting rapidly.

“Valentina, we need to do this now and quickly . Come on!” The OB ordered. "I need you to push!”

She had to do this. She had to do this. She had to do this. 

Raquel repeated herself like a mantra, searching for the last drop of strength within her to continue and bring her daughter safe and sound into this world. She would never forgive herself if something happened to her baby girl because of her.

She pushed. Once, twice, three times, while the machines kept beeping. Until she felt a tremendous sense of relief. Lucía was born, however, contrary to what she expected, listening to the high pitched cry of her baby girl, all there was was silence.

" Lucía ." Raquel mumbled out of breath. Her eyes searched for her daughter.

"What is happening?!" Sergio asked frantically. But nobody said anything to him. A group of doctors had taken Lucía to the pediatric station and were surrounding her, preventing them from getting a glimpse of her. "WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING WITH MY DAUGHTER?!" He again demanded an explanation.

Sergio wanted to run to where his daughter was, but he didn't want to let Raquel go. She was weak and tired. She could barely keep her eyes open.

"Your daughter is in good hands." The OB assured them while she was still working on Raquel.

"Go with her." Raquel was trying to push him away weakly. “Go with her, don't leave her alone. Go !"

Sergio obeyed and went to where his daughter was. A nurse was kind enough to make room for him next to the station. His heart got caught in his throat when he saw his daughter for the first time. Tiny. Chubby. With a fuzz of dark blonde hair on her head. However, her skin looked pale and her lips were colored with a hint of purple.

Lucía seemed to be asleep, the pediatrician hovered a teeny tiny oxygen mask over her nose and mouth. Her limbs moved and wiggled slightly, but she still didn’t react entirely.

“Come on, little one. Give me a big cry. " The pediatrician encouraged.

"Come on, mi amor ." Sergio spoke to her, brushing the top of his index finger over her head. "Mommy wants to meet you. Don’t you want to meet her, too?"

As if reacting to his voice, like she still did until a few hours ago inside her mom's womb, Lucía began to shake her limbs and her face contorted in a deep scowl, letting soft whimpers escape.

"That’s it, that’s it, mi niña !" Sergio kept talking to her through tears and stroking her head. Little by little, Lucia's paleness was disappearing, and her skin was turning into a soft pinkish color, her lips were blurring the purple to red, and her chubby cheeks blushed until without further ado, she released a loud wail, waving and shaking his arms and legs vigorously.

Sergio burst into tears and laughter and shot a glance at Raquel, who was also in tears. Everyone in the room released a breath of relief. Both mom and baby were fine.

After a more thorough check up and a cleaning, Lucía was wrapped in a blanket with a purple beanie on her head, then she was delivered into her father’s arms.

Sergio could not see anything clear due to the tears pooled in his eyes. He whipped them over and over again, but they resurfaced like overflowing rivers.

Lulling his baby girl, he walked to the bed where Raquel was already more recovered and anxious to finally meet her daughter.

"Ready to meet mommy?" Sergio murmured to Lucía. She still fussed and stirred in his arms. As if asking for the presence of her mom, as if saying "daddy, just put me in mommy's arms already!"

And indeed, that was just what Lucía wanted because the moment Sergio placed her on Raquel's chest, she stopped whimpering and in just seconds she was calm again. Both baby and mom’s breathing in sync.

Raquel cried as she held her baby girl against her chest, kissing her head and covering her with her arms. Carefully, Sergio sat next to her, placing his arm around her shoulders, bringing them closer to him, giving his wife a kiss on the temple.

“You were amazing." Sergio said as he stroked Lucia's back.

"I can’t believe she's here and she's so perfect." Raquel sobbed. She just couldn’t stop sobbing, neither did Sergio.

"She is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen." The proud father pronounced still incredulous that he had just become the father of this precious and perfect little thing. That his and Raquel’s love had resulted in this wonderful little human being.

After a long and hard labor, Lucía Murillo Martín , legally the daughter of Valentina Murillo and Salvador Martín, was born in Santo Domingo, República Dominicana at 4:42am.

There was a bit of nostalgia on both parents' sides. The fact that her birth certificate didn’t include Raquel Murillo and Sergio Marquina’ s name was hard. But it was what it was and they were sure that in the future, when she was old enough, she would understand why and know the whole story behind that decision.

After all the bustle of the birth, Sergio and Raquel were left alone in the room with Lucía. They were both completely mesmerized, neither could help but admire their little miracle. The baby suckled at her mother's breast with quite the strength for a newborn, making soft baby noises, her tiny hand on Raquel's chest.

"Don't you think she has your nose?" Raquel asked, rubbing Lucia's cheek with the tip of her finger.

"Hmmm… I don't know, but I do think she has your smile."

Raquel laughed lightly. "She still doesn't smile!"

"Of course she does!" Sergio argued. “She smiled at me just now. Still, I think she has your mouth therefore your smile."

“I think she's got your dimples, look." She pointed with her finger.

"And your hair color." Sergio kissed Lucia's head.

"She is perfect. I'll never get tired of saying it."

“Considering whose daughter she is, it couldn’t be any other way." Sergio said and shared a kiss with Raquel.

"You are not that bad either." She smiled.

That night, Sergio and Raquel began the first day of their new life. Their new life as Lucía's parents. It was still hard to understand how they got to where they were now. Until a few months ago that would have seemed impossible. They believed that they wouldn’t leave the Bank of Spain alive and on more than one occasion Sergio had lost sleep thinking that Raquel had been pregnant all that time, during the war with the army, during their fights, her supposed death. This last one in particular gave him chills every time he thought about it. If she had died… No , he didn't want his mind to go there, not right now.

After breastfeeding Lucía, all the emotion and fatigue of the last hours fell on Raquel like a rain of bricks and she couldn’t keep her eyes open for another minute. Sergio took care of the baby while she took a very well-deserved sleep.

Sergio paced the room with Lucía in his arms, mumbling songs or simply humming at her. He stood in front of the window that had a privileged view of the ocean. The ocean had taken on a new meaning in recent months. What was a plain form of escape back in Palawan, had now become his new way of talking to his dead people.

"Mom... dad... Andrés... I hope you are happy for me." Sergio mumbled, looking at the sea and then at his baby girl. “I became a dad today. Her name is Lucía …"

~ THE END ~