Where the wind whispers

Title: The Eternal Heartache, Chapter 27 of ???
Characters (this part only): Cesc Fabregas, Bojan Krkic, Pep Guardiola/Raul Gonzalez, Xavi, Andres Iniesta; Iker Casillas, OFC, Cristiano Ronaldo implied briefly
Rating: PG-13 for implications
Words: this chapter is 2,118; overall total is 69,269
A/N: I swear I’m going to do better about updating this. This chapter has been a long time coming and I’m sorry for the wait but I’m really seriously thinking that this fic is going to become first priority so I can get it done. I want to thank everybody that has stuck by and read through this from start to finish, thank you very much for your patience. I’m sorry once again and without further ado, here’s the next part :-)



Last part here. All previous parts listed here.




The warm breeze drifted in off the sea and rose above the beaches to hit the sides of the buildings with a teasing softness that wrapped the sun-heated stones with a gentle touch. The air was full of moisture but it was not yet insufferable, it was comfortable which was a nice change after the chilly tugs that winter kept pushing into the air.

The breeze kept things cool for the pedestrians as they walked beside La Rambla on their way to various destinations. The sun shone warmly even as it slowly continued to get closer to the western hills. All in all, it was what most people would classify as a pretty day out.

However, as nice as the weather was, Cesc could not bring himself to pay attention to it because of the strong feeling of nausea in his stomach. Ever since Pep had delivered his message of needing to talk, Cesc could not stop thinking the worst. A small part of his mind knew that he was being irrational but the bigger portion could not stop from inserting various scenarios of horrible scenes into his mind’s eye.

Cesc hated that he could not stop the images from flashing in his mind but ever since things with Iker had ended so horribly, he couldn’t help them. He questioned everything and his mind never provided reassuring answers—only more questions.

Bojan hung back with him as Pep led the three of them down the sidewalk. He insisted that fresh air was a necessity and had purposefully had their driver park away from Amor Eterno so that they could walk. Bojan was lost in his own thoughts but Cesc did manage to notice that he didn’t seem as worried as Cesc was about their predicament. Cesc supposed that was a good thing.

“Here we are boys.” Pep gave them a small smile and opened the door of the restaurant so they could go in ahead of him.

Cesc followed Bojan in while the maitre d’ smiled at them. They had become a fairly common fixture in the place since they had started coming quite frequently.

“Right this way gentlemen.” The maitre d’, Andres, said with a friendly smile as he led the way through the filling up dining room to their usual table. Bojan took his usual seat in the far side corner so that he could look out the window and see the people walking out on the street and Cesc sat next to him as per usual.

When Pep was seated, Andres slipped away from the table and back to his usual position at the front of the restaurant. Cesc knew that in a minute their usual waiter, one of Raul’s apparent favorites, at least that was according to Pep, would come and find them to take their order. Sure enough, it was not three minutes before the classy looking waiter stopped by their table, pad and pen ready to go.

“Hello sirs. It’s nice to see you in today.” Xavi said with a welcoming smile.

Pep smiled his business smile back at him. “I promised the boss I would bring the boys by and so I have.”

Xavi nodded and recognized that Pep wasn’t in the mood for a friendly chat this time. “What can I get you to drink?”

A few moments later Xavi disappeared to go fill their drink orders and Pep looked at his nephews for a few moments. Cesc shifted in his seat and tried desperately for his nerves not to get the better of him. Pep must have noticed his discomfort because he finally softened his expression and spoke soothingly.

“I am sorry that I disturbed both of your evening plans. I’m afraid that it did not occur to me to think that the both of you might think there is something wrong. I’m sorry if you think that; it is not my intention.”

“Are we in trouble?” Cesc asked quietly and dared look up away from the table to look at Pep for a second before averting his eyes back down.

“Of course not. I didn’t mean for you to think that you were. I apologize.”

Cesc looked up again while the instant relief evaporated quickly into doubtful unease. “Then why…?”

Pep opened his mouth to speak but then stopped when Xavi returned with their drinks. It was a few minutes later when they were all alone again, that Pep finally answered Cesc’s question.

“I was forced into interrupting your plans because I have some news for the both of you.”

“What kind of news?” Bojan asked.

Pep took a sip of his water before he relaxed back into his chair and watched both of them for their reaction to his words. “Your mother wrote me a letter, she and your brother will be paying us a visit the weekend after next.”

Cesc paled slowly while Bojan shifted back into the chair and back into himself. Of course Cesc knew that things would not remain as they were forever, they were still their family after all. As the news sunk in painfully slowly, the rug felt like it was teasingly being pulled out from his feet.

“How long?” Bojan asked quietly as he unconsciously wrapped his arms around himself.

“As far as I know, just the weekend. They should be leaving Monday. They won’t be staying with us—I have seen to it that they have a comfortable hotel room to stay in.” Pep provided patiently. Bojan nodded relieved slightly and rubbed at the sudden goosebumps on his arms.

Pep waited another moment more for the news to settle before he continued. “I want the both of you to know that I have no intention of letting her take you anywhere. Nor will I tolerate that boy’s behavior. If he raises his hand to either of you, I will call the police.”

Cesc scoffed slightly. “The police back at home never did anything. They didn’t care.”

Pep felt his heart tug in pain and more than a fair share of anger. “Well I can promise you that something will be done if it happens. My influence alone can make sure that he is arrested and then lost in the system.”

Cesc looked up and saw something dark in Pep’s eyes and he felt oddly safe. He knew that he should not feel like that but he couldn’t help it. For the first time in what was probably forever, he felt a small amount of safety and protection.

Pep saw Cesc’s look and pressed forward. “While it has only been a few months, I have grown terribly fond of you two boys. I love you both as if you were my own sons. I just hope that you feel a small amount of the same affection in my favor. But even if you don’t, I do love you boys. If I had known the full extent of what had happened to you—though I should have done something based on my own speculation—I would have done something a lot sooner. I regret deeply that I did not.”

“Of course we love you!” Bojan looked up surprised that there was even a question of that. Cesc nodded his agreement.

Pep gave them a small smile in return. “Thank you boys. It means a lot to me.”

“And we love Raul too.” Cesc added while Bojan nodded fervently.

Pep smiled bigger at that when someone caught his eye. “I’m very pleased to hear that and so will he. He’s already claimed you both for his own and as far as he’s concerned you’re his own sons too.”

“Yes I do. You both are very sweet boys.” Raul beamed brightly as he sat next to Pep at the table. At the boys’ quizzical looks he explained, “I’m taking my break and joining you for dinner. But I do love you boys very much.”

Pep kept his eye on Cesc and noticed as he shifted uncomfortably. “Why does that bother you?”

Cesc looked up, surprised that he had been caught. “It doesn’t…bother…me really. It’s just that… Well nobody ever really said this to either of us before. Nobody has ever cared like you two or been so open about it.”

Raul’s sad facial expression did not even reflect the sadness he inwardly felt for the two of them. “Nobody should be forced to go through that.”

Pep shook his head in agreement. “If it takes my last breath, you won’t ever have to deal with it anymore. You have a home with the two of us,” he gestured to Raul with his thumb, “as long as you want it.”

“Something tells me that that is going to be a long time.” Bojan gave a small smile in an effort to lighten the mood.

Raul, the eternal optimist, echoed Bojan’s small gesture. “I’m glad to hear it. And old frumpy pants over here is too.”

Pep scowled and turned to glare at Raul. “Who are you calling frumpy?”

Cesc listened to the two of them halfheartedly. Inside his head, his mind was whirling. His thoughts pinged from Pep saying that he and his brother had a home for as long as they wanted it all the way to the impending visit of their mother. As his thoughts spun around like a dervish, Cesc recognized the familiar hollowness inside his chest.

One thing was for absolute certain, Cesc was beginning to get really tired of missing Iker.


“What are you thinking about Cesc?” Bojan whispered in the darkness.

Cesc turned his head on his pillow to look in his brother’s general direction. “I don’t suppose you would believe me if I said ‘nothing’?”

He heard Bojan smile. “No, not really. So tell me the truth.”

Cesc sighed tiredly and shifted on the bed to stare back up at the ceiling. “I was just thinking about all the stuff that’s happened since we got here.”

Bojan sat up quietly in his bed and hugged his pillow close. “Can I…you know…?”

Cesc nodded. “Of course you can Bo.”

Bojan slipped out of his bed and moved the few steps over to Cesc’s and got in with his brother. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Cesc gave his brother a small smile while he shifted to make room for him. “What’s on your mind?”

“Nothing special. I just know what you mean about things changing. I’ve made a bunch of new friends and a really good best friend.”

“Better than me?” Cesc teased.

Bojan nudged Cesc’s arm. “Nobody’s better than you Cesc.” Cesc made a content noise and waited for his brother to continue. “It’s just that…well, a year ago it didn’t seem like we were ever going to be able to do anything. Now, we have so many possibilities. Like you, you’ll get to go to university now.”

Cesc was sure that other boys would have groaned at the thought of more school. He, however, was genuinely interested in further education. He was no Silva by any means but he did like learning. “Yeah, but now the big debate will be on where to go. I don’t want to go too far away from you though. You still need protecting.”

Bojan scoffed. “I do not, I’m a big boy! I can take care of myself!”

“Keep it down you two! And besides, Cesc’s going to the University of Barcelona anyway.” Pep called loudly from their bedroom.

“What if I wanted to go to Valencia?” Cesc shouted back.

“Tough, you’re going to Barcelona.” Pep teased and Cesc smiled at Bojan. “Now both of you, go to sleep. It’s late and you have school tomorrow.”

“Yes Pep.” They both called and smiled at each other.

“I know what you mean Bo.” Cesc whispered. “I like the changes though.”

“Me too.” Bojan agreed and then they both fell silent again.

They both were lost in their thoughts but it was Bojan who fell asleep first. He curled on his side, back to Cesc, and had his hand tucked up under his chin and he held onto his pillow tightly.

Cesc lay awake for a little longer, watching the shadows change on the ceiling as the time passed. The last fleeting thought he had was about university. Barcelona might not be so bad, but he did want to get out in the world and see things. He wanted to see other places, other people, and just learn how to live his life. But he could never leave behind Bojan, so that would just have to wait.

As he yawned and felt his eyes close, he wondered how hard it would be to convince Pep that Valencia really wouldn’t be that bad of a choice.