Work Text:
Chapter 1
Your day
Enjoying the waves as they come to her feet, washing the sand off, she watches her daughter having fun in the clear water while she’s sipping her Mojito. Never she thought she would be this happy, with a totally new, but wonderful life. Without her family, it wouldn’t have been the same and she was sure of it. With him only it would have been enough if she didn't have a daughter and a mother. But there they were all, in the beautiful island of Palawan, enjoying every minute, if not second, because they both know, Sergio as Raquel, that it could be the end anytime. Even though they have nightmares about that, they were and they still are benefiting life here. She never saw her little girl this happy in her whole life and saying that to herself hurts, because she thinks it’s her fault. Thinking every day she wasn’t happy back in Madrid with only her and her grandmother. Sergio tries so hard to take that out of her mind, but nothing. Every single thing he is trying to say to calm herself down, it is never working. Always overthinking about her life since her divorce. But today, he has an idea that could actually help. She needs a day off. He knows, her daughter knows and everyone in the island knows. It’s simple, she needs a day for her. Take care of herself and nothing more. Always planning something, this time, it is for the love of his life. It has been 1 month since he had planned that surprise. He is sure of what he is doing. Quite nervous though, but sure as hell. “Honey?! I need help here!” he yells at his girlfriend, knowing that Paula will get out of the water. Of course, that smart girl found out every detail of that plan and Sergio took this as an advantage. Raquel gets up from the beach and walks toward the house where she heard him scream 30sec ago. Still having an eye on Paula, she enters the house and demands the woman who takes care of the house to watch Paula as she’s swimming. Once again, everything has been planned and the housekeeper is aware of everything. She knows Paula has to get out of the sea when she sees her mother entering the house. “Is there anything wrong?” she asks as she walks toward the love of her life. They had spent so much time together and all he wants is her to be as happy as they are. He knows she feels guilty about everything that happened, but of course, there is no need to be. “No, I just wanted to see your beautiful face and to kiss your lips quickly.” he says with a romantic and sexy tone in his voice before leaning to her and kisses her lips tenderly. She responds by putting him closer. Deeper the kiss is, the more they want to. But they can’t. Not now. She pulls him back with regret and watches him right in the eye.
“Actually, there’s another thing I wanted to show you.” he says in her ear as she raises an eyebrow.
He smiles at her widely as he takes her hand. She follows him outside and almost forgot her daughter.
“Sergio! What about Paula?” she asks worriedly.
He puts his hands on her cheeks and kisses her forehead.
“Don’t worry about her. The housekeeper and your mother got her.” he answers calmly and kisses one of her cheeks.
She nods her head and continues to walk with her boyfriend.
They enter a vast forest. A path is at the entrance of the forest, waiting for them to walk on it and to follow it. So they do so. Walking on the dirty footpath, she can smell the trees. One pin to another, she feels the wind on her body. From her toes to her lips and from her cheeks to her fingertips, the breeze is enveloping her. The trees move every time she puts a foot on the ground, feeling the nature around her. The river flows, following them slowly. The birds sing for those two lovers. Nothing could be more beautiful than it is now.
She feels alive and connected with what surrounds her. Raquel stops, closes her eyes and breathes for real for the first time in 1 month, releasing her tension she had built up. She suddenly feels a hand on hers. Still her eyes closed, she smiles, knowing from whom the touch is. Now it is not the pins that she can smell, but his perfume. The perfume she will never, ever forget. Seeing her smile makes him smile even more. Even God could see his smile from heaven and all the angels would be jealous.
That is what love looks like. They are happy, sharing a life together. No doubts, no fears. Everybody wants a relationship like they do.
“Let’s continue my love.” he whispered through her ear not to alarm her.
So from then, they walked for at least 2h non-stop. Raquel wasn’t complaining. No. She enjoyed it. Sergio knew what she likes and made her a surprise. Believe me or not, but this is just the beginning of their afternoon.
Sergio had thought about so much for her. From what she likes to what she hates, wondering how he could make her happy. He knew about her love for nature and how much she likes to spend her energy, but also how she needs to relax right now. Just walking in a forest makes her so damn happy. There were no questions. She loves him more than ever. In every way. And he loves her too. His first love, fine, but the most wonderful one. He wouldn’t change anything from what happened the last 2 years and a half. She wouldn’t either.
Looking around her, she sees something huge in one of all the trees. She comes closer and looks at Sergio who is smiling at her.
“Is this… Is this a treehouse?” she asks with stars in her eyes.
He nods, still smiling as he comes behind her, putting his arms around her waist, leaving a few kisses in her neck.
“Do you like it?” he says now looking deep into her brown cafe eyes, hoping she really, really, really does.
She turns to him and kisses him like never before. He returns that kiss, opening his mouth to finally let her in. After a few minutes, they break apart sadly and he takes her to the small house he built for her.
“Why don’t you go and take a look?” he asks as he takes her hand to help her climb on that tree.
They go up and when she sees everything that is there, only for them, tears start falling down her cheeks. She walks in what he had built, wiping off the tears that had fallen on her sweet skin. There is a garland of lights, just above a small, but tall enough for 2 people, mattress where her favorite stuffed toy is lying, a letter in hand.
“Read it” he says behind her, still in the front door of the treehouse.
She turns around to look at him and goes to take the little card. She takes it in her own hands and opens it carefully, to be sure not to break it. She pulls out of the red envelope a beautiful paper made in the trunk of a pine tree, the edges carefully cut. She could immediately recognise his hand writing.
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Inspectora, Lisboa, Raquel…
I would love to say how much I love you, but there is no word to describe my love for you. You saved me from a horrible life. A life I thought was normal, until I found you. Or maybe you found me.
The almost 2 years here were the most beautiful years of my whole life. With you, your mother and your girl, nothing was impossible. Playing in the sand, swimming in the sea with my clothes or teaching Paula how to play chess, those are my best memories.
I’m a lucky man, you know.. My brother was my only family, my everything. He was everything and nothing I had. Then, he died. Heroically, maybe, but in the worst moment of my life.
And when I thought, after 365 days, that everything was about to end, you came. With the most beautiful smile on your lips, a white dress and your cellphone with no battery, you came.
You gave up everything you had just to be with me. You threw yourself in my arms without even thinking. How could I not be in love with you? It was clearly impossible not to fall for you. It still does though, but like I said, I’m a lucky man and you’re mine. Mi Inspectora del alma.
All of this is a little surprise for you. For everything you’ve done for me and your family. You are a strong woman with goals in life and you never stop when there is a difficulty. The challenges, you beat them. You can't stand it when there’s no action in your life and this is what makes me wanna live.
I hope you like your small gift. Take care of yourself, you are amazing and even if I do not say that a lot to you, I love you Raquel Murillo.
Your Profesor xx
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That was the most beautiful gift he could give her. She turns around and runs toward him. She jumps in his arms and she puts her legs around his waist and he puts his hands below her butt. Lucky they are, the treehouse is high enough for both of them to stand up.
He puts her down and kisses her quickly on the lips. She grins to him and lies down on the mattress, squeezing the teddy bear.
“Paula and your mother are aware that we will spend one or two nights here. And I say one or two, but if you want we can stay here for more days, but I’m not forcing you it’s just be-” she cuts him putting her lips on his.
“Shut up. You’re doing great. Calm down.” she says as she sees him getting nervous. “Two nights is enough for me.” she smiles.
He nods gently and lies down in the small bed too, looking to the ceiling of wood. She comes closer to him and lies down between his shoulder and his neck. She kisses him on the nape and he is quickly turned on.
For the rest of the day, they made love like in heaven, they cuddled and talked about their lives together. The night comes fast and Sergio wants her to see the sunset. In fact, they both were also hungry.
“Let’s go!” he says as he stands up from the mattress, putting his pants and his shirt back on his body.
She looks at him with a concerned look.
“We already leave?” she asks as she stands up too, putting her clothes back.
“No, don't worry. Do you trust me?” he asks quickly as he goes toward her.
“Of course I do Love.” she says, certain of her.
Then, he picks a headband and goes in front of Raquel. She raises her eyebrows, but lets him do what he wants to do. He then puts the headband in her eyes as she closes them.
“What are you doing Sergio?” she asks while laughing.
“Stop moving please.” he laughs.
She listens to him and stops, waiting for the rest of his surprise.
“Fuck! Hum… Can you actually take it off? I forgot we have to get out of the treehouse.” he says, a bit uncomfortable.
She burst out laughing, taking off the headband. When she opens her eyes, she can see his shy smile, but his eyes are shining with the light of the rays of the sun.
“Sorry.” he then says, looking at his feet.
She takes his cheeks in her hands and kisses both of them. Understanding her gesture, he finally helps her come down. When they reach the ground, he replaces the band on her eyes and starts to walk, holding her hand.
They walk for almost 15 minutes until Sergio stops. Raquel, still not understanding what is happening, hears a motor sound. She tries to take off the stripe, but Sergio sees her fast and prevents it.
“Not yet Raquel. Wait a bit more” he says while putting her in the car. At least, this is where she thinks she is.
She doesn’t know how long the ride was, but they probably reached the other side of the beach, because when she gets out of the vehicle, she can feel the sand on her feet. Her lover takes her hand again and they keep walking. After maybe 5 minutes, Sergio stops and goes behind her. She feels her hair been drawn a bit, but she does not complain about that, because 2 seconds later, she can see the light of the sun hitting her eyes. She turns around and yes, she was right, they are on a beach. She can also see one table with glasses of wine and some roses. There is an open cabine around the table. She walks to the table and Sergio quickly pulls her chair so that she sits down.
“Thank you Honey.” she says while she sits on the chair.
He smiles in response, sitting down in front of her. A waiter comes and serves them some wine.
They don’t talk, their silence is talking for them. Their eyes are shiny because of the sun on their face. The water is moving slowly with the same rhythm as the wind one their body. They look at each other, not stopping to smile. They drink some wine while eating their food, still in silence. There is not a more romantic thing than that. They look at the sunset, which is beautiful.
“Why did you do all that for me? I didn’t ask anything” she says, finally breaking the loud silence around them.
“That’s why. You don’t ever ask anything and you deserve the world.” he says, looking deep in her eyes. “You do everything in the house. Cleaning, dishes, you take care of your mother and your daughter, you work 6 hours a day, 4 days in the week.” he says again, now taking her hands on his. “And I’m not even able to give you what you want.” he finishes with wet eyes, now looking at his plate.
When a tear escapes his eye and makes its way to his cheek, she whips it off, lifting up his head.
“You are doing more than you should, or more than you think, Sergio” she reponds quickly. “You are an amazing man and an amazing father, even if Paula doesn't call you that way, I know she means it. She told me. And my mom loves you more than anything. She is your biggest fan.” they laugh. “For me, you’re doing more than you should. You love me, take care of me, my daughter and my mother, you’re making love to me in the most precious and sweet way possible and you make our family happy. What could I ask more?” she finishes.
They look at each other again. The sun is now down. Only the moon and the stars enlighten them. Tears still escaping now both of their eyes, they smile, cuddling in the sweet sand, holding hands, with just their breaths and the wind to break the silence. The water is hitting the wet sand silently. The moon is half there. The stars are shining wild. She cups his cheeks and kisses his lips deeply. Putting his hands on her back, he intensified the kiss. They kiss, their lips melt on the taste of the other’s. Mixing both of their tongues and feeling their bodies against each other. Nothing could be more beautiful than it is now. With the most wonderful view, both of them together on a beach, feeling the wind as it comes on their faces, they are living their best moment, today, tomorrow and forever.
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