76

MIRELLA :

I wake up in the middle of the night because I hear a thunderstorm outside. I look out the window with a smile and stroke Noah's chest.

We must have fallen asleep on the couch. The movie wasn't really interesting. Sighing, I pull the thin blanket closer to me, noticing Noah's grip on me tightening as if he's afraid I'm about to leave.

I can't believe this is our home now. It's perfect... perfect for raising a family.

The future can only get better... It will be... a happy future. I know that. We marry, have children and become a real family.

"Why are you awake?" I hear Noah ask tiredly.

"The thunderstorm woke me up." I answer and look up at him. He starts to smile, smoothes my hair and sighs.

"Try to sleep baby. You need your sleep."

That will be impossible. It's too beautiful outside. I just want to watch the rain... I used to do that a lot.

"I can not sleep anymore."

He laughs softly and sits up with me in his arms. He grabs the remote and turns off the TV before picking me up and taking me upstairs.

"Then at least let's lie in our bed. I think there's an even nicer glass front upstairs and it's cozier."

He is right. The glass front in our bedroom looks even better and is bigger than the one in the living room.

When we get upstairs in the bedroom, he puts me on the bed and lies down next to me. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me close.

It's quiet between us for a few minutes, but then he starts talking.

"Are you feeling weird?" he asks quietly, looking out the window.

Strange ?

I look at him confused and shake my head. Should I be feeling weird? And if so, why should I feel weird?

"Hmm... I just thought... well..." he clears his throat.

"You...don't care either."

No it is not ! What was he thinking?

"Tell me. I want to know what you think." I bite my lower lip and look into his eyes.

These eyes...

"I..."

"Wait." I breathe as he starts to speak. What did I do to deserve this man?

"What babe?"

"Nothing... it's just... I love you." I whisper and move my hand to his cheek. I stroke it gently and feel his hand on mine.

"I love you too... and... I want us to take a pregnancy test. We... have never used contraception. What if... if you're already pregnant? It was clear from the start what was between us. We were engaged the first time, so we didn't even think about using birth control."

That's right... I might be pregnant, but if I'm being honest, I don't necessarily feel pregnant right now...

"What are you saying?" he asks after a few minutes of silence.

I really want a child... with him. I just don't want it now... Not because I'm not ready, but because the thing with Catarina is anything but safe. She could do things that would harm me... and therefore harm my baby. I don't know if I'm currently willing to expose myself or my child to this danger... on the other hand, I can't change anything. Noah and I had sex... unprotected sex and that means I could very well be expecting a child from him.

"We should do a test to be sure..." I mumble, biting my bottom lip.

It's so weird. On the one hand, I wish I wasn't pregnant. On the other hand, I want it so much and would be so happy about it. Ultimately, the test will give us the answer...

"Hmm.. but there is something... isn't it ? Something that worries you. What is it ?"

He knows exactly what worries me.

"It's her. I'm... scared of her."

I'm so scared of her. I'm afraid she'll ruin my relationship. I'm afraid she'll hurt Noah or me. I'm afraid... that this damn war will break out between Fernando and Noah.

He sighs.

"We talked about it baby. You don't have to be afraid. Everything will be fine. Somehow everything will clear up and when she clears it all up you'll see that it wasn't that bad. You worry about otherwise."

No I don't and I know he worries more than I do. He just doesn't want to admit it.

"We should sleep." I give briefly wanting to lay my head on his chest, but he stops me.

"No, we shouldn't. Look at me." I do as he says. He looks deep into my eyes.

"Everything will be fine... I will protect you with my life Mirella. I promise you that on high and holy."

no

He can't do that.

I sob softly and hug him. He shouldn't promise me anything like that. I don't want him protecting me with his life.

"Shh... it's alright baby. please don't cry Everything will be fine. Try to sleep. Everything will be better tomorrow. Don; t worry so much."

***

"And ? What does it show?" Noah asks excitedly when I leave the bathroom and comes towards me.

This is so depressing.

"I'm sorry... he failed. I'm not pregnant." I mumble under my breath, looking down at the test.

No baby...

"That's okay. It was just a test to be sure. Sooner or later we're going to have a baby, so it's all good... isn't it?" he asks carefully, putting his hands on my shoulders.

yes it's ok In a way, I'm glad that it's negative. I want things to be settled with Catarina first before we start thinking further into the future. It's just important that we get this all sorted out.

"Of course everything is fine. I would have been very happy, but we are still young. We can wait a long time if we want to. I mean... you're 25... I'm 22. Age won't be a problem."

It makes me happy to know that I found the man for life so early. It's all so much easier now. We have enough time and can enjoy our life.

"Well then... unfortunately I have to go now... but I'll be back in two hours at the latest... I have to explain to Fernando what's going on and I hope that he will understand everything and doesn't freak out. They won't be staying much longer, so I'm concerned about what's next. I hope... there won't be a war because that would break my heart. Cat is dead to me now, but Fernando will always be my mentor and my friend. He was there when I needed someone... made me who I am today. I just can't give that up, but I won't let anything happen to you or our relationship break down either. I can hardly allow that."

I'm worried...

"Please take care, okay? And always remember. He may have been your mentor, but his wife still comes first. He would do anything for her... After all, he loves her like you love me. Just ask yourself what you would do if someone said that to you..."

"I would start the war..." he interrupts me. I know that and Fernando would do it too. That's why I'm so scared.

"Come back safe. I beg you." I breathe softly and kiss him.

"I will. I promise it."

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Noah, and now go... and talk to him."

HALF AN HOUR LATER... NOAH :

"So, what's up ? Why should I come here and why without Catarina?" Fernando asks confused and leans back.

What's the best way to start now?

"Because it's about Catarina... Something happened and I want you to know about it, even if it means we both start a war."

Swallowing, I look over at my members who are standing there for my safety and making sure Fernando doesn't do anything stupid, but I can't talk to him like that. I can't do all this in front of the others.

"I want you to go outside... everyone." I call once across the hall and look back at Fernando.

I know my members will not agree with this, but they must do what I tell them to do and they will. Out of the corner of my eye I see them all staring at me in horror. They hesitate, but then they all run out together and close the door behind them.

"What about Catarina?" he asks calmly and sighs.

Just tell him, Noah. This is the best for everyone.

"She kissed me... and... tried to break me and Mirella up. She invented things and now Mirella is very scared of her. I want you to know You're my friend and you have a..."

"Noah... Catarina and I... well, you know. We divorced... a year ago. After you left everything was fine. We were happy and had a really good marriage, but... then she cheated on me more than once... I know inside that I still have feelings for her... but I also know what she's capable of is and believe you. There will never be war between us. The two of us, we're brothers and we'll never be against each other, you hear? We'll sort this out somehow and you'll be happy like you deserve. You've been through so much shit in your life. It's time for you to be happy with the woman you love."

Why didn't I see that?

"But why are you still acting like everything is fine?"

He chuckles softly and starts shaking his head. "What should we have done? You invited us both and we didn't want to ruin your night so we decided to pull ourselves together and come here. We didn't want you to be sad and think we forgot you. But it looks like... Cat wanted something different. I just can't understand it. She knows that you love Mirella. Why is she doing all this?"

Isn't that obvious?

"Because she's not satisfied with anything. She always wants more and more and can't handle it when she doesn't get what she wants. I think it's because of my career. She is impressed and thinks that she will have a good life with me. Now that you left her, she has none and is now trying to seduce me again. Too bad for her that my heart belongs to only one woman. My Mirella."

Now that Fernando is on my side, I know everything will be fine. We'll find a way to talk sense into Catarina.