The Only Exception

Part Two - Chapter Twelve: The Waiting Game

Lucia groaned as she moved to sit up a little realising that Lionel wasn’t in the room, the room was still light by the fluorescent lights since there was no sign of sun rising and it was still very early in the morning.

“You alright? I hear it’s a right pain in the, well, you don’t need me to tell you that do you,” the man rambled making Lucia eyed him questionably, she really hoped that Lionel would be back soon.

Lucia racked her mind trying to think what to do, she glanced at the buzzer to call for a nurse wondering how quickly someone would come to her side.

“He’s a great player isn’t he?” said the man smiling in admiration as he ignored the uncomfortable look on Lucia’s face, he clutched at his pen and paper in his hands.

When he had heard that Lionel Messi’s wife was on the same ward as his own, he couldn’t resist the urge to go and see the footballer himself; he just wanted to meet his idol up close.

“Yeah, a once in a generation player. Sweet left foot, fantastic dribbling…” the man continued as Lucia stared at him incredulously at the fact that he thought that this was an appropriate time for this.

Lucia knew that her husband did a lot for his fans and signed autographs when he could even if they were limited now that she was due to have their first child.

The man didn’t get to continue his rather pointless ramblings as Lionel strolled back into the room holding a cup of coffee and his mobile; the footballer paused confused for a moment as Lucia eyed him warily.

“You’re Lionel Messi,” the man gushed turning to look at the world famous footballer that looked far from pleased that he was there.

Lionel eyed him knowing that this really wasn’t what he wanted and if this wasn’t handled right then it would be splashed all over the morning papers and news.

It might have only been six o’clock in the morning but Lionel was certainly not prepared to have anyone around his wife right now; he wanted them to be alone as they waited for their birth of their first child.

“Out,” Lionel said as he stared at the man that was interrupting this private moment, he was being as calm as possible for this; he wanted the fan gone as quickly as possible.

The man stared at Lionel for a moment wondering what he had done wrong, the footballer looked far from friendly right now and it made him a little nervous.

“Señor Manuel, your wife is ready to have her baby now,” a nurse said as she rushed into the room, she shot an apologetic look at the couple as she hurried then man from the room so he wouldn’t miss the birth of his own child and wouldn’t be attacked by the angry looking footballer.

Lionel moved to shut the door after her as he stuffed his phone into his pocket and looked at Lucia concerned; he really hadn’t expected anyone to realize that he was at the hospital and find them.

“Are you okay?” Lionel asked concerned, he didn’t like the idea that she had been alone with a fan like that; he had only popped out to get something to drink and to call the club so that they knew he wouldn’t be at the morning training session because he was about to become a father.

Lucia nodded her head tiredly as she offered him a small smile, she rested a hand on her bump as Lionel moved over to sit next to her again.

“He wasn’t here long,” Lucia reassured him, she took his hand in comfort knowing how worried he was; she was glad that they didn’t have to call security but their cover had officially been blown now.

***

The midwife smiled as she delivered the news that Lionel and Lucia had been waiting for since they had arrived in hospital eight hours before; it was finally time for their little girl to come into the work.

Lionel pushed himself to his feet while the midwife started to prepare to deliver the baby, he took Lucia’s hand and kissed her knowing that this was what they had been waiting for.

“This is it,” Lionel murmured brushing some sweaty hair from Lucia’s face, he couldn’t believe that in a few moments they would have their little girl and he felt incredibly nervous.

The footballer could only recall the stories that his friends had told him about their partners giving birth and he wasn’t sure he was prepared to see Lucia do this.

“Alright Lucia… it’s time to start pushing,” the midwife said as she sat between Lucia’s parted legs, she smiled up at the blonde as Lionel took her hand; there would be no going back once they had started.

Lucia nodded her head as she gritted her teeth, she clutched at Lionel’s hand knowing that she was going to cause him as much pain as possible as she brought their daughter into the world.

Lionel winced as she squeezed at his hand knowing that he didn’t mind if she hurt him, it made him feel a part of the process while he coached her through the birth of their daughter.

The footballer couldn’t wait to see what his daughter would look like when she was entered the world; he knew that she was going to be just as strong as her mother.

***

Nine months of pregnancy, eight hours of labour and it had all been worth it to finally have the little girl in their arms.

Lionel grinned as he held his newborn daughter, he couldn’t believe how perfect she looked as Lucia lay resting beside him.

Lionel hadn’t been able to put her down since the midwife had popped her into his arms after everything had been done.

“She’s perfect,” Lionel whispered as he smiled down at the newborn, she had tuffs of blonde hair on top of her head and was sleeping soundly in his arms; the footballer looked over at Lucia, who smiled at him tiredly.

Lionel ducked down and kissed Lucia softly, he really couldn’t believe that he was a father nor could be believe that his wife had managed to push her into the world.

Maia Camila Messi Castro had come into the world screaming at the top of her lungs and weighed a healthy 6Ib 9oz, something that had relieved and thrilled both of her parents.

“Gracias,” Lionel said as he shifted his hold on Maia, who was wrapped in a blanket in his arms; he kissed his wife again knowing that there was nothing that could compare to this moment.

Lucia smiled as she brushed her fingers tenderly through her husband’s hair, she had never felt so happy and exhausted in her life.

Lucia rested her head against his as she closed her eyes, she knew that once word had gotten out that she had given birth that they would be mobbed.

The couple already knew that there was a large media presence building outside of the hospital since they had arrived; the news had spread like wild-fire that Lucia had been admitted in to hospital.

Maia whimpered softly making her parents pull apart and look down at her, her tiny arms wiggled in the air as her father carefully handed her to her mother.

“I think she wants her madre again,” Lionel said proudly watching his little girl, he couldn’t believe that she was so small; he really hadn’t known what to expect when all of this had happened.

Lucia smiled down at her daughter; she was still adjusting to the idea that she was a mother and she had the most beautiful baby girl in the entire world.