The Only Exception

"That's it for today boys," Gerardo Martino shouted as he called the training session to an end, his dark eyes looking over the team; he nodded his head before moving to speak with the other coaches.

Lionel Messi took a deep breath wiping the sweat from his forehead, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that the session was over; it meant that he had to go home to his empty house.

"What are you doing tonight?" Gerard Piqué asked as he jogged forward to walk alongside Lionel, his friend was suffering and he was trying to help as much as he could.

It had been five months since Lucia had left for Italy and the blonde rarely called to let Lionel know that she and the baby were okay.

Lionel shrugged his shoulders, he didn't want to admit that he would be working on the nursery and spending time with Poppy; they were where the only things that he had to look forward too at home.

"Shakira was wondering if you wanted to come around for dinner. Milan has been missing his tío Leo," Gerard said as they headed into the training building and for the locker room, he knew it wasn't much of an offer but it was better than sitting home alone.

Lucia was off living her life in Rome and no one could blame her for wanting to get away for a while after what had occurred between her and Lionel; it was only sad to see the footballer suffering in silence like this.

"Or you could come to mine since Lia wants her tío Leo," Cesc Fàbregas said joining the two, he shared a look with Gerard knowing that they were doing all that they could for their best friend but it just didn't seem to be working.

Lionel shook his head as he offered the two a small smile, he was grateful for the offer but Lucia was due home in a few weeks and he wanted everything to be perfect for when she returned.

"Team meeting," Gerardo called appearing from nowhere making a couple of the team roll their eyes as they hurried into the locker room so that they could all get this over with and head home.

There had been a large baby boom at the club in recent months with most of the team welcoming children in the previous year or expecting them in the coming months; something that had led to the players being more relaxed lately.

"I know but there is news that I have to tell you," Gerardo said as he heard a couple of the footballers mutter annoyed with the fact that they couldn't rush home to their families.

Lionel leant against his locker as he looked at the manager, everyone was worried about him but he would be fine when Lucia came home; it was a fact that he had held onto in the last five months.

"We're holding a charity match in Rome in a couple of days and we need volunteers," Gerardo said as he held up the signup sheet, he doubted that they would get many signatures but the higher-ups were still hopeful.

The Argentinian looked around the room and smiled as he spotted Lionel now staring at him eagerly, he knew that maybe there was one person that he could count on to go and play in this match even if it was only because his wife lived there.

***

Francis Diaz grinned as Lucia Messi walked down the stairs to greet him, he was glad that she had come with him and was keeping him company on this trip; she was thirty-four weeks pregnant and looked amazing.

Lucia was wearing a black maternity raglan skater dress in grey short sleeves paired with black pointed high heels, she couldn't believe that she was now carrying a bump.

It had really shown up until the sixth month of her pregnancy but now Lucia felt huge when it came to her ever growing stomach and baby.

"So have you made your decision yet?" Francis asked as he moved to help Lucia down the last few steps, he looked at her knowing that she'd had quite a bit on her mind recently and it mostly lay with her unborn child.

Lucia nodded her head as she shouldered her black leather bag with fringing and looked at Francis, in two weeks' time she wouldn't be able to fly until after the baby was born and Lucia knew that she needed to make a decision now.

"I'm going to fly back to Barcelona at the end of next week," Lucia said as she smiled at Francis, she was grateful for all that he had done for her and it had allowed her time to think.

Francis nodded his head as he looked at Lucia, he had known that she would leave early because of her pregnancy, he just couldn't help but wonder what this meant for her and Lionel.

"Have you told Messi yet?" Francis asked as the two of them started to walk down the street, he knew that Lucia had been resisting the urge to call her husband lately as she discovered more about their baby.

It had been especially hard for her when she had learnt that they were expecting a baby girl, she had wept at the idea of not having Lionel there with her to share that moment but Lucia had remained strong.

Lucia shook her head as she chewed on her bottom lip, she wanted to teach her husband a lesson that he would never forget.

If Lionel wanted to win her back then he was going to have to earn it; something that Lucia hoped that he had put a lot of thought into while she had been gone.

"So I have these tickets to a charity football match and I was wondering if you would be my date?" Francis said changing the difficult subject, he didn't want to think about what would happen to his best friend when she returned home.

He only hoped that Lionel had realised just what he would lose if he didn't fix things and quickly.

Lucia was an amazing woman and deserved the best, she deserved someone who would not only love her and make her happy but would help her raise her daughter when she was born.

***

"You're going to go aren't you?" Gerard guessed as he walked over to Lionel, he had seen the smaller footballer slip away and he didn't doubt that Lionel had signed up for the charity football match.

As soon as Gerardo had announced that it was being held in Rome, it was clear that Lionel would sign up for the match; it was where his wife was right now and he wanted to see Lucia again.

"I have to see her Geri... it's killing me not to," Lionel said knowing that he needed to win Lucia back, he wanted his baby to grow up in a family and not have to worry about Lucia finding someone else to love.

Gerard nodded his head with a sigh, he didn't have to argue that his best friend wasn't the same person anymore; Lucia leaving had certainly done a number on him and had changed him for the better.

"I'll come with you," Gerard murmured knowing that everyone feared that Lucia might have found someone new while she was away; it was something that Lionel refused to think but it was still a big possibility.

Lionel nodded his head gratefully, his brown eyes filled with hope in a few days' time he would be seeing his wife of nine months again.

"Gracias," Lionel replied knowing that he need support, he was going to win Lucia back and he didn't care what it took to bring her and their unborn child home with him.