[ once ]

The plane ride to Germany wasn't very long and the three stayed the flat where Toni had been living in Munich when he was playing for Bayern. His parents would be coming in from Greifswald to support him, in case he were to need witnesses, even though their lawyers assured they had a strong case. They thought it unlikely that a judge would side with a woman who was capable of abandoning her son. Valerie would stay with Leon at Toni's flat, keeping him distracted until his father returned that afternoon.

Since they lawyers had been working all month, and Toni was an important person, they had agreed that the trial would be synthesized and moved to take place over the span of four days, rather than expanding those four trial days over the course of months. Jessica had complained about it, but the court of Munich was understanding about Toni's job and the fact that he couldn't just miss practice whenever he wanted.

Toni's parents hadn't met Valerie yet, they had no idea he was seeing someone. And Valerie was just as nervous as Toni felt when he met her parents. But she thought that if he could do it, she could as well.

Valerie was exhausted and she felt it more the moment she set foot in his flat. 

With Leon in her arms, she hurried to one of the couches in the living room and sat down. "I'm so tired. Toni. I'm going to die on this couch, I swear." She groaned loudly. But she was more sore than tired, especially after what had happened the night before.

"Mama," Leon shifted onto her lap and his small hands pressed to her cheeks. "Play football with me."

Valerie shook her head slowly, her eyes closing tiredly. "Mami's done for the day, sweetie. Ask daddy to play with you. He's the one with the mad football skills. I mean, he's German and I always heard they had a secret pact with the immortal football gods."

Toni stifled a laugh. "Where'd you hear that, liebe?"

"I read it on Tumblr, or maybe it was a youtube comment under an Adidas commercial. I honestly can't even remember." Valerie shrugged.

"Mama, play with me." Leon said again, this time his little voice sounding more weepy and desperate. His chubby fingers pushed her eye lids up to open her eyes, making her giggle.

She finally opened her eyes and shot a look at Toni, a smile tugging at her lips. "Lets all play football. Leon and mami against papi."

"Fine by me." Toni grinned.

Valerie got up from her seat on the couch with a bit of a struggle since she was tired, but she followed Toni to the back yard with Leon in her arms. They waited while Toni went to get a football out of Leon's toys and had their football match. Valerie was doing everything to help Leon win, and had gone as far as to jumping on Toni's back and knocking him to the ground. But Toni let them win.

That afternoon the three of them had fun together.

-

On the first day of trial, Toni's parents arrived in the morning to pick him up and head for the courthouse together. Toni had insisted for them to stay with him, but they said they didn't want to impose, especially after knowing that he was seeing someone, and that she had accompanied him to Munich.

He was dressed up in one of his best suits and kissed Valerie goodbye, as well as gave his son a tight hug and asked him to behave. 

Valerie kept Leon distracted as best she could in the house, or the back yard. She didn't feel comfortable leaving the flat with him because she didn't know Munich and didn't want to get lost, and even less when she was caring for a child.

Instead, she had taken a box with toys, coloring books, and movies from the daycare, which her mother had let her borrow. And his parents had brought some groceries to put in the refrigerator, which she used when she made lunch. 

Not much was accomplished on the first day, and he returned to their flat tired and frustrated.

On the second day was Jessica's turn to make her claim for the custody of Leon.

And it showed that she had said many things to make Toni look bad because he had even been kicked out of the court room that day. Toni didn't want to talk about it, but according to his parents, Jessica had used the crying tactic and was saying lies about him, to which Toni would respond by either scoffing or interrupting her, yelling that she was lying. Valerie wondered what kinds of lies she was saying to get him angry like that. But it was what she wanted, to make herself look like a victim.

On the third day was when Toni would present his argument. And he would also need to apologize for his behavior the day before, even though he knew she was lying, but it was what his lawyers had suggested.

That afternoon, he returned more calm than the previous days, but he was still nervous. He had been told that after hearing both parents, he would be making his decision on the fourth day, which was the last.

On that last day, Valerie was allowed to be in the court room with Leon. The three of them left, with Toni's parents, early that morning. Valerie hoped that everything would work out in their favor. 

When they arrived at the court room, Jessica spotted Valerie and shot her a glare. But both kept their distance. They knew that an argument would just damage all the work they had put into their case. The only thing she approached them for, was to hug her son Leon, who was reluctant because he hadn't been around her in so long. As his mother hugged him, his bright blue eyes looked back at Toni and Valerie, who he saw as his parents.

The group of people filed into the court room and Leon returned to Valerie's side. She picked him up in her arms and sat at the back, watching everything unfold. Her heart pounded against her chest nervously, out of fear that she would have Leon taken away from them.

There were a few opening statements by the judge and the lawyers. Jessica's lawyers communicated with the judge in German, while Toni's communicated in English. 

It was several minutes before the judge let them know of his decision.

"After the case presented to me, I heard both sides, and I have decided that the child will stay with..." He trailed off, looking at Jessica and then Toni. "The parent who didn't abandon him." And with that, he banged his gavel, closing the case.

Toni's parents immediately hugged him, while Jessica stomped her foot on the ground in a tantrum. As she stormed out of the court room, she stopped at the back, hissing at Valerie, "This isn't over." And she walked away. But Valerie was too happy to care about Jessica's seemingly empty threat. She picked Leon up in her arms and lifted him up high, with a smile on her face. From the front of the room, she caught Toni smiling at her, and he shot her a thumbs up.

Now they would be able to be happy together as a family.

-

Toni wanted to return to Spain as soon as possible, to be as far away from Jessica as he could. And they returned that very day, leaving him with a couple of days left off to themselves. With those few days, Valerie pleaded for them to go visit Marc and Ashley in Barcelona, who were now living together. 

In the last few months, their relationship had progressed and Ashley had moved out of her mother's house in Valencia to be with her Barca boy.

They took a flight to Catalunya from Munich and then drove out to Barcelona in a rental car. Valerie was very excited to see her best friend, especially because she had always cheered for Toni and Valerie to end up together. Marc had found it unlikely, considering that Valerie didn't like Madrid boys, but he was happy for them.

Valerie rushed out of the car as soon as it was parked, and Ashley opened the gate. Valerie let out a gasp when she saw a visible baby bump under her friend's blouse.

"Ashley!" She yelled, pulling her in for a hug. "Why didn't you tell me I was going to be an aunt?"

Ashley giggled at her friend's excitement. "Marc and I wanted to keep it out of the media as long as possible. I don't want our personal business to be talked about that much, especially when its about a baby."

"Is it going to be a boy or a girl?" Valerie wondered.

"We don't know yet." Marc said with a grin, walking up behind Ashley and wrapping his arms around her waist. "Its a stubborn little thing, won't let its gender be seen during the ultrasounds. So we're only getting yellow and green things for now." He rested his chin on her shoulder and greeted the blondes, "Hi Valeria, hi Toni."

Toni had been watching them, only understanding tidbits of the conversation, but he smiled at them and gave a shy wave of his hand, "Hey."

Leon waved at them as well.

Picking the child up in her arms, Valerie announced, "This is our son Leon."

"He's adorable." Ashley cooed.

"Do you all want to go eat with us?" Marc asked with a smile. "Ash and I were just about to go out."

"Sure." Valerie nodded. "But can we go somewhere kid friendly? I don't want to take Leon somewhere he wouldn't be comfortable."

"Okay." Ashley agreed. "I'm just going back in the house to change into a different blouse."

Ashley went back into the house while Marc remained outside, making conversation with Toni and Valerie. He was also playing with Leon, and Valerie knew he would make a great father to the baby he was expecting with Ashley. 

And she was glad for her friend, who was starting a family of her own.

-

i wanted to update now because i was feeling inspired, and also because i wanted to get another update in before starting school tomorrow. i honestly don't want to go. i want to stay home and mooch off my parents forever. lol

but that's part of growing up.

anyway, i hope you all like the update. thank you so much for reading and supporting me. it means a lot. and there are only a few more chapters left in this, i would say about two or three plus the epilogue, but there will be one last twist and drama. you all know as a mexican soap opera watcher, i love me some drama. so stay tuned for that.

have a blessed day!

-clary xx