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[personal profile] meretricula
title: of every love that could have been
fandom: tennis rps
pairing: Roger Federer/Rafael Nadal, Rafael Nadal/Xisca Perello
rating: G
word count: 2300
summary: Rafa spends the evening before Christmas Eve with his sister and his girlfriend, thinks about his future and calls Roger to talk things through.
notes: this was a last-minute impulse fic for [livejournal.com profile] rilla_, which weirdly enough turned out better than the stuff that I've been planning for months. c'est la vie, I guess. thank you, [livejournal.com profile] t_lyrical, for reassuring me that I had probably not gone off the far end of bittersweet and ended up just plain bitter &hearts

"Maybe we should have a baby," Rafa said thoughtfully from his place on the floor of his living room, sprawled out in front of the television. Maribel, who was sitting on the couch behind him, kicked him and snorted with laughter. It was a very unladylike sound, but whenever he told her so, she always told him he should listen to himself sometimes, which was obviously not a fair comparison. Rafa wasn't supposed to be ladylike.

"Maybe you should figure out how to keep a baby in your stomach for nine months before you bring it up with Xisca," she advised him, and then they both screamed in triumph when Real Madrid scored onscreen. It was a taped match, but Rafa hadn't seen it before; Maribel recorded the games for him if she was home and he was on tour, so they could watch them together later.

"What's he bringing up with me?" Xisca asked, returning from the kitchen with a bowl of chips and a diet Coke. She sat cross-legged beside Rafa and slapped his hand when he reached for the soda. "That's mine, you pig."

"Rafa thinks you should get pregnant," Maribel said, the little traitor.

Xisca rolled her eyes. "You know, you don't have to do everything Roger Federer does, Rafa."

"And if you do, maybe you should try winning the US Open first," Maribel giggled.

"It has nothing to do with Roger!" Rafa protested. "I just was thinking, I want to have a baby someday."

"If I get pregnant now, your grandmother starts asking when will we get married, my parents start asking when will we get married, the whole damn island except your uncle Toni starts asking when will we get married. Thanks, but no." Xisca smiled and kissed him quickly to take the sting out of her words. "I love you, but I have other things I want to do right now."

"Everyone except uncle Toni has been asking when you're going to get married for years," Maribel pointed out, switching sides without a qualm.

"If he knocks me up, they'll ask me to my face," Xisca said darkly. "At least now they have the decency to do it behind my back."

"If anyone ever asks me, I'll punch them for you," Maribel volunteered loyally, slipping off the couch to give Xisca a hug. Rafa stared at the television, feeling uncomfortable; people would always gossip about him, and it wasn't something he knew how to fix, even if it made Xisca unhappy. Luckily, before he could be expected to say anything Maribel's phone buzzed, and she jumped up like she had a bee under her shirt. "It's Tomeu, I'll go talk to him in my room," she said, and hurried out of the living room. "Hi, baby," Rafa heard her say, before she shut her door.

She'd been dating Tomeu for three years now - long enough that their grandparents asked about when she was going to get married, too, so at least it wasn't just Rafa and Xisca in the line of fire. She always said she didn't want to move in with Tomeu because he still lived with his mother, but it wasn't a real excuse, of course; Rafa would have bought her any house she wanted. It wasn't like he didn't have enough money, and he liked giving Maribel things. She didn't want Rafa to be alone in his apartment, that was all, so she wouldn't move out until Xisca moved in. And Xisca didn't want to move in - or have a baby - because she didn't want everyone to ask her when she was going to marry him.

"We can talk about it later," Xisca said suddenly, after they'd been watching the game for a good five minutes in silence, except for the sound of Rafa crunching on potato chips. "It's not - I don't mean, not ever. I just mean not now."

"Okay," Rafa said, and shifted so he could rest his head in her lap. She ran her fingers through his hair, absent-mindedly, for the rest of the football match. It was soothing, comfortable, easy. Much like his relationship with Xisca, really. It was nice, but it probably wasn't going to go much further.

Maribel was still shut away in her room when the match ended. Xisca helped Rafa clean up the living room, and they kissed on the couch for a while like they were teenagers again, his hand splayed across her back under her shirt. He could almost stretch his fingers all the way across the narrowest point, at her waist; at moments like these, he forgot that Xisca played dirty at football if she had to in order to win, and never cried at movies like he did, and wasn't afraid of the dark, even when she was a little girl. All he could think of was how small she was, and how fragile it made her seem. The thought of Xisca with a baby inside her, his baby, made her seem paradoxically even smaller and more delicate. Rafa wanted to hold Xisca forever in that moment, protective and tender, loving her and the idea of making a child with her: even then, though, he wasn't sure he wanted to marry her.

There was no way they were going to have sex on the couch, or even in his bed, while Maribel was still in the apartment, and Xisca wanted to sleep at home, so eventually she pulled away, laughing a little, and straightened her shirt and found her coat. "I'll see you on Christmas Day, all right?" she asked, almost anxiously, even though their holiday plans had been set for weeks; they were both going to spend Christmas Eve at home, and then she would come over for Christmas dinner with him and his whole family. Rafa loved Christmas, and being around all his friends and family. They would both be happy again by the time they saw each other. "Tell Maribel I said good night," she added, fussing unnecessarily with the collar of her jacket.

"I'll tell her," Rafa said, bending down for another kiss in the doorway. "Good night, sleep well."

"Bon Nadal, Rafa," she replied, smiling, "I love you," and slipped away without waiting for him to say it back.

Rafa went and changed into his pajamas, trying not to think too hard. Maribel came into his bathroom while he was brushing his teeth, and sat on the edge of the tub as he spat and rinsed. "It's not fair to ask her to be having a baby alone while you're flying around the world playing tennis," Maribel said. "But, I mean. If she changes her mind, I'll help. I'll do whatever she needs. I'll be the world's best aunt." She stood up and wrapped her arms around Rafa from behind, resting her cheek on his back. "You'll be an amazing dad. Whenever it happens, you'll just be so amazing. Good night," she added, standing on tip-toe to smile at him over his shoulder in the mirror. "I'll see you in the morning."

"You too," Rafa managed. He turned around and pressed a minty kiss to her cheek. "I love you, Maribel."

She laughed. "I know. Sleep well." She went to bed, leaving Rafa bemused and still smelling her grapefruit facewash.

He turned off all but one light, crawled between his covers and stared at his cell phone on the bedside table. It was late. It wasn't that late. It was only a text message.

Before he could lose his nerve, he grabbed his phone and texted, did you plan to have the babies while you were still playing? It took much longer than usual to type; he gnawed on his lip for several minutes while deciding what words to use, and whether to spell "you" or just use the letter. He hit send and put the phone back down on the table and pulled his pillow over his head. Maybe he'd text back, maybe he wouldn't. In the meantime, Rafa needed to get some sleep.

Thirty seconds later, his cell phone rang and the pillow went flying off into a corner as Rafa scrambled to answer it. "Hola?"

"Hi, Rafa, um, it's Roger. I just got your message, and - are you okay?"

"Hi, Roger," Rafa said carefully. "I am very well, thank you. How are you?"

"Oh, you know, Christmas with two five-year-olds, it's a little crazy. But, I mean, I'm good. I'm happy, you know?"

It had made Rafa a little angry, at first, that Roger had chosen Mirka and babies and normal over him, but only ever a little, and even that anger had gone away the instant he saw the babies. He had known, then, that Roger had made the choice that would make him happy, which was the best choice, in the end. He was glad that Roger was still happy, really. It made him a tiny bit sad that he was happy without Rafa, but he had had years to get used to it, and he had even learned to be happy without Roger, most of the time. "I am very glad to hear," he said, and smiled.

"Thanks. Raf, I don't want to pry, but what you wrote - is Xisca - "

"Oh! No, she is not pregnant now," Rafa said quickly. "No, is only, I am thinking about it, no? I want babies, someday. I don't know if maybe is better wait until I retire. I think Xisca, she doesn't want to have baby if I will not be here with her."

"Oh." Roger sounded almost strangled. "Well, can't she come with you on tour? She goes to some of your tournaments."

"I don't think - no. She has a life, no? She lives in Mallorca, her family, her friends, Maribel, we belong in Mallorca. If there is a baby - baby belongs in Mallorca, too."

"Sounds like you've made up your mind, then," Roger pointed out.

"Eh. I retire soon, no? Everyone say, I am breaking down, soon my legs fall off. Anyway is boring without you."

"Boring?" Roger laughed. "You lost to Juan Martin in New York. Again."

"You watch?" Rafa asked, inexplicably excited.

"Of course I watched, you were playing," Roger said. Rafa bit his lip, and forced himself not to think about what that might mean.

"Is never boring, win tournament," he said instead. "But the tennis is not so fun, no chance I gonna play you in the final."

"I miss you, too," Roger said quietly, and it had been over a year since Roger retired and left tennis - left Rafa - for good, but Rafa could still picture him, pulling on the curl right beside his ear as he tried to think of the right words to say. "I always miss you, Rafa, I can't - I hate thinking about you marrying her, having a baby. It's not fair, I know, I'm sorry."

"We were never gonna be for real," Rafa said, which was only half a lie. They could have been once, maybe; Rafa would have wanted it. He didn't know if Roger would have. But once Mirka was having a baby, it didn't matter what Rafa would have wanted. He knew now that marriage wasn't always forever, and sometimes people who loved each other grew apart, but he never wanted it to happen to some little girl's parents. So that was that. "Rogi, you know - you know it was never real."

"Don't tell me it wasn't real," Roger snapped. "Okay, I kissed you in a thousand different hotel rooms and I fucked you in god knows how many locker-room showers, don't tell me it wasn't real. You loved me," he added, with probably unintentional cruelty.

"For sure I love you," Rafa said hopelessly. "It no change nothing. It no make it work. So you marry Mirka, you have little girls, and you retire, and maybe I retire and I have baby and I marry Xisca. Is way things are, no? No change nothing if I love you." He didn't say: this was your fault. He didn't say: you started it. He didn't say: I never asked to love you if you were only going to leave me in the end. "I want to be happy, no? And I want you to be happy. So, you say you are happy, with Mirka and girls and Switzerland and no tennis and no - no me. I am happy you are happy. But I no gonna wait all my life for you. I gonna try to be happy too."

"Rafa," said Roger. "I don't - I want you to be happy, too. I'm sorry."

"Okay. So we both gonna be happy, no? Is okay. Don't be sorry." Rafa lay back on his now pillowless bed and closed his eyes. "So what you think Xisca say, if I ask her to marry me?"

"I think she's an idiot if she says no," Roger said, low and passionate.

"Xisca, very smart, no? Smarter than you," Rafa teased. "Maybe she is idiot if she say yes. How you know, Rogelio?"

"I know." There was a long silence, and then finally Roger said, "Merry Christmas, Rafa."

"Merry Christmas," Rafa replied solemnly. "You will give your girls kiss for me, no? And sleep well."

"Okay, I will."

"Okay, goodbye."

"Goodbye."

Rafa put his phone down on the bedside table and stared up at the ceiling. There was a ring for Xisca hidden in his sock drawer; Maribel had helped him pick it out, three years ago. It had never felt like the right time to ask.

Maybe Xisca would say no. Maybe she would say yes. They could talk about having a baby, maybe, when Rafa retired and he could be with her for everything and Maribel would be the world's best aunt. Maybe none of it would happen, but Rafa was going to do his best to be happy.

Date: 2010-01-01 08:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/rilla_/
I TOTALLY THOUGHT THIS WAS BY YOU. !!!!

omg bb, I loved it so much. <3 <3 <3 it was perfect in every way.

Date: 2010-01-01 09:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meretricula.livejournal.com
ahaha, really? I thought I was being stealthy!

I'm super-glad you liked it! and also yay for getting more tennis fic into the yuletide archive. =)

Date: 2010-01-02 12:17 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/rilla_/
idk I just kind of... had a vibe. You usually have really gorgeous titles that add a level of loveliness to your fics and this one had that! And I kind of recognised your writing style, which I really really love.

I really sincerely loved it - I loved your Rafa (I am really effin' picky about his characterisation, but he was gooorgeously written) and I loved the ladies in it and oh god the BITTERSWEET, perfect perfect perfect. I love it when characters can't be together, for some crazy reason. Like, really love it. If I had my way every fic would end with a bittersweet 'I love you but we can't be together' type thing. Thank you again. <3333

Date: 2010-01-01 09:54 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pretty-panther.livejournal.com
Wow

This is just breathtaking!

I love Rafa and his worries and wondering. I love Xisca and Maribel and how you characterise them and their reasons for everything. It's just wonderful! Heee first fedal fic of the year and what a way to start :)

Good job:)

Date: 2010-01-01 10:08 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meretricula.livejournal.com
thank you very much! I'm glad you liked it.

Date: 2010-01-01 11:03 pm (UTC)

Date: 2010-01-01 11:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meretricula.livejournal.com
thank you!

Date: 2010-01-01 11:32 pm (UTC)
ext_24105: jackie and hyde, that 70's show (tennis)
From: [identity profile] miss-universe93.livejournal.com
Ooh I love this!

Date: 2010-01-01 11:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meretricula.livejournal.com
thank you!

Date: 2010-01-01 11:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] heyaeroplane.livejournal.com
this is lovely!

Date: 2010-01-02 12:29 am (UTC)

Date: 2010-01-01 11:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] viva-lla-gloria.livejournal.com
This is wonderful! Everyone is so vivid in this story and my heart is just aching for Rafa.

Date: 2010-01-02 01:29 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meretricula.livejournal.com
thank you very much! I was definitely aiming for bittersweet. =)

Date: 2010-01-02 12:46 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] aramley.livejournal.com
It's so strange, when I read this story I did think of you. I thought I had left a comment over at the AO3 but it must have been in the comment-eating mood, but I absolutely loved this. Maribel and Xisca were so awesome, and I always love your Rafa. The bittersweetness of the Roger/Rafa ending is perfect. ♥

Date: 2010-01-02 01:34 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meretricula.livejournal.com
lololol, my attempt at stealth on this one was apparently a failure. THAT'S OKAY.

~hugs~ thank you! I had so much fun with this Maribel. =D

Date: 2010-01-02 06:26 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] likeviolins.livejournal.com
Maribel! &hearts

His relationships with his sister and Xisca both were just +wonderful+.

From his conversation with Rogi to the end, it was just +ache.+

Date: 2010-01-02 03:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meretricula.livejournal.com
thank you! Maribel and Xisca were so much fun to write. ladies are boss!

Date: 2010-01-02 10:01 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] maiden-mist.livejournal.com
That was sooo sweet! Loved it!:D

Date: 2010-01-02 03:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meretricula.livejournal.com
thank you very much!

Date: 2010-01-03 12:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] secretsolitaire.livejournal.com
This is gorgeous. *sniffles a little*

Date: 2010-01-03 01:04 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meretricula.livejournal.com
aww, thank you!

Date: 2010-01-03 03:23 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] slyreflection.livejournal.com
Oh, I really liked the flow of this fic. Usually I'm not a big fan of Fedal, but I think the bittersweet, 4 years down the line thing really worked.

Also, out of curiosity, I've browsed through yuletide and it is awesome, but what does it consider a "small" fandom? I mean, tennis rps is small in comparison to harry potter ofc, but relative to a lot of the fandoms on yuletide its nothing short of gigantic.

Date: 2010-01-03 04:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meretricula.livejournal.com
thank you very much! Roger/Rafa is not my main ship either but I'm glad you liked this anyway. =)

it's at the discretion of the mods, but I believe they usually take into account things like how many fics are up on ff.net and how many lj comms are dedicated to the fandom, etc. yuletide gets a lot of oddball RPF nominations - I have to confess that I was surprised there was no swimslash this year.

Date: 2010-01-04 05:25 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] titania-torres.livejournal.com
aw that was sweet.
I love the relationship he has with maribel

Date: 2010-01-04 07:44 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meretricula.livejournal.com
thank you very much! it's purely speculative, but as a little sister myself I choose to believe that Maribel is awesome.

Date: 2010-01-04 06:43 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] somarem.livejournal.com
You wrote with strongly independent female characters that is Xisca and Maribel that vivid.

Love they way you highlighted his relationships with his Maribel, Xisca and Roger. Brilliant Rafa characterization.

Date: 2010-01-04 07:43 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meretricula.livejournal.com
thank you very much!

Date: 2010-01-05 07:40 pm (UTC)

Date: 2010-01-05 09:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meretricula.livejournal.com
thank you!

Date: 2010-01-20 10:53 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] surgical-rush.livejournal.com
Beautiful.

So very well written.

And the conversation between Roger and Rafael was so moving, emotional and honest. It made me feel sad, for Rafa.

Great fic!

x

Date: 2010-01-20 11:10 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meretricula.livejournal.com
thank you very much! poor Rafa, but it had to be done.

Date: 2010-01-21 04:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ishqjones.livejournal.com
This is too good. This made me cry but ther were glimpses of hope too.
Off to read your other fics.

Date: 2010-01-21 05:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meretricula.livejournal.com
thank you! I'm glad you liked it.

Date: 2010-01-21 04:58 pm (UTC)
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