Make It or Break It

Chapter Twenty-Four: Back in London

Riley looked at Fernando suspiciously as they arrived back at Heathrow airport, it was afternoon unlike when they had left for Spain and the brunette could tell that her boyfriend had something planned.

The couple had spent the rest of their holiday with Riley’s grandparents and the brunette had refused to speak to Flori whenever she called.

“Okay what’s going on?” Riley asked making the footballer roll his eyes as he collected their suitcases, he knew that he kept smiling at her but he couldn’t help but be excited about going to the new house.

Fernando knew that it was a big step in their relationship but Riley’s apartment was just too small for them and the footballer knew that the five bedroom house that he had gotten was perfect for them.

“Nothing,” Fernando said smiling at her, Riley pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow at him while they started off into the airport; she took hold Nora and Aiden’s hands as they went not wanting the two children to wander off.

Fernando had been strangely happy all the way back from Madrid and couldn’t seem to stop smiling at Riley; it was starting to become a little unnerving.

As they reached Fernando’s Audi Q7, the footballer looked at Riley knowing she was suspicious about how he was acting and he didn’t blame her; he just hoped she’d take his surprise well.

Nora held her hands up at Riley wanting to be picked up so that she could be put into the car, the brunette did so as Fernando slowly loaded the suitcases into the boot.

Aiden padded over to the footballer and smiled up at him making Fernando smile as he finished loading the car and picked him up.

“Don’t get upset,” Fernando said softly as he looked at his girlfriend of over a month, he knew that he had to be carefully and he couldn’t wait to show her their new home.

Riley looked at him oddly as she moved to put Nora in her car seat, her brown eyes filled with confusion as she looked at her boyfriend wondering what he was planning.

“I have a surprise for you and the kids,” Fernando said simply as he put Aiden into his car seat, Riley looked at him confused; Fernando pressed a kiss to her lips.

Fernando helped her into the car while she tried to figure out what was going on, they had only been together for about a month and Riley could tell that this was something big for Fernando.

***

As they started to pass Richmond Park, Riley frowned wondering where they were going; Fernando glanced at her nervously, happy that he had asked his friends for a bit of help while he and Riley were away.

They pulled off the main road, making Riley look at her boyfriend confused as they passed through a nice neighbourhood.

“Fernando?” she asked making him smile reassuringly, as they pulled up outside of a house; Riley looked at the house then back at Fernando who smiled at her.

“I know that you love your apartment… but it’s too small for the four of us,” he said as they pulled through the gates, Riley stared at her boyfriend speechless.

Fernando stopped the car and turned the engine off as he took a deep breath, he hoped that she was happy with what he had done for their small family.

“I want us to be a family Riley… so will you move in with me?” Fernando asked her; she looked at him trying to take in what he was saying.

Riley hadn’t expected this and she hadn’t even considered moving to a new home, she opened and closed her mouth wondering what had brought this on.

Fernando chuckled at her before he pressed a kiss to her lips, he was glad that she hadn’t said no straight away to what he had said and he hoped she’d like the house.

“The house is new... a new start for us,” Fernando said making her smile at him, Riley knew that he was trying and she couldn’t fault him for wanting a place of his own; her apartment was pretty small.

Fernando looked at her as he waited for her to answer, his brown eyes watching her as he wondered what she thought about this; they were already living together but he wanted to make it official.

“Yes,” she said making him smile at her; she knew that this was fast, but what about them wasn’t fast.

The couple had been together for about five weeks and already it was becoming clear that they were meant to be together.

Fernando pulled Riley into a kiss, which was followed by the squeals of their children; they smiled as they kissed for a moment content with how their relationship was going.

“Daddy don’t kiss mummy… she has germs,” Aiden cried making the couple look at him making Riley rolled her eyes while Fernando chuckled as they got out of the car.

The brunette looked up at the house and swallowed as she stared up at the large house, she had no idea what to expect inside but she knew that she trusted her boyfriend.

 “Papa, where are we?” Nora asked as Fernando helped her out of the car Aiden looked at his mother confused as he waited for an answer as well about why they hadn’t gone back to Riley’s apartment which had been their home before their trip to Spain.

Fernando smiled at his daughter, he was thrilled that she had come out of her shell in the past few weeks and he knew it was all down to his girlfriend; Riley had saved Nora from the troubles that Fernando just hadn’t seen.

“This is our new home,” Fernando said smiling at Riley as he looked at her, this was a fresh start for all of them and the sooner his divorce was finalised the better.

The footballer didn’t care what was happening with Olalla’s life, she had made her decision and she was now stuck with it; she had Damien and Leo to look after now.

Fernando pulled the keys from his pocket as the small family moved to the front door; he grinned excitedly knowing that this was going to be amazing.

“Packing should be fun,” Riley mused thoughtfully making Fernando laugh and shake his head as he unlocked the door so that they could enter their new home.

The footballer hadn’t told his girlfriend yet that he’d asked his team-mates to move their stuff while they had been away, he knew that he wanted them to just start over now that they were home.

“I had some of the guys move our stuff while we were away,” Fernando admitted as he looked at his girlfriend, she kissed him gratefully since she hated packing and she hoped that everything was okay inside their new home.

Setting the children on the floor, Fernando moved to get their suitcases; while Riley moved to look around the ground floor of her new home.

Nora was by her side, she looked happier than she had in days as she admired the new house and she knew that her father was happy as well. It had been a long time since they had both felt that way and it was all down to Riley and Aiden.

Fernando closed the door behind him and grinned as he watched his girlfriend and daughter, the house had been professional decorated and he had ensured that everything was perfect for when they moved in.

The footballer took a deep breath as he watched Riley, he really didn’t know what he would ever do without her and he knew that he didn’t want to ever find out.

Riley had been the one to help him see that things with Olalla weren’t right and he couldn’t be happier about it.