AN: I Know what you're thinking, "Is she crazy for starting a new story?!" The answer is both yes and no! I actually wrote this a while ago and its all wrapped up. I forgot I had it on my laptop and discovered it again when I logged onto a desktop I usually never use. Anyway, this is a Spain / Fem! story. I had the idea for this story when my boyfriend and I first started dating…So I guess he inspired me? Don't tell him that though.

Summary: This story is about Antonio becoming an extremely popular fútbol (soccer) player in Europe. Lovina met and fell in love with him before the fame and riches and stuck loyally at his side and supported him the entire journey. Over time she subtly notices changes in him and doesn't like what the fame and money are making him. He pulls a stunt on live TV during a match and Lovina sees that as the final straw and packs up and returns home to Italy. When Antonio realizes what's he lost he goes after her knowing that eventually he'll have to choose between the two things he loves most in the world.

Prologue

Several years earlier...

Barcelona.

A Spanish city just as beautiful as the name inadvertently implied it to be.

In size and population it came second compared to the country's capital of Madrid. But its size and numbers had no effect on the ever-pouring income of tourist and adventures alike.

The name Barcelona had no true English translation but some would beg to differ. All kinds of favorable conversions in many different languages suggested that it meant just what the city offered; beauty, excitement, love, ingenuity.

The admirations were never ending. It was a city that gave just as much as heart and passion as one was willing to sacrifice into it. Those who took the risk were never dissatisfied and always returned for more.

It also offered opportunity, and perhaps that's what charmed the two young Italian ladies into moving there after much consideration. Country after country had been scratched off their well-thought-out list until just two remained, which were Spain and Germany. It was really a no brainer from there considering one sisters absolute loath of German cuisine and, well, anything German for that matter.

So the two Italian sisters packed their bags and left for Spain to continue their schooling in a Spanish city that they both agreeably had their hearts set on-

Barcelona.

~.~

At the normal hour in which many were released from the stress of work, Lovina was greeted with the hassle and high demand of hers more than ever.

When she didn't have to attend classes at the local university she spent her free time at work, slaving away to earn the money to pay for her education. Getting jobs was the first thing that she and her sister, Feliciana, did when they moved here. They found a job with a reasonable salary, rented a cheap apartment, and then enrolled themselves in school.

That had all been nearly two years ago for the sisters. Things were a lot better now, besides their hectic school and work schedules, but they were getting by just fine.

The sun was low in the sky but that didn't differ people from returning to their homes just yet. When people got off work they seemed to loiter around marketplaces and attractions, drawing out their day before going home to retire and prepare for the next.

It was because of this daily custom that Lovina always dreaded the late work shifts, hating that she slaved away while the people she served relaxed. Working at a café really made Lovina aware and slightly proud of high levels of respectful patience. Of course, she nearly ripped the heads off some jerks when she first started, but over time she liked to think she "mellowed down" since then.

Lovina retied the little red apron around her waist after it repetitively kept unwinding itself. The last thing she needed was for it to slip down and tangle in between her legs while she carried a tray full of steaming cups of coffee.

Next to her she could hear her sister fretting in their mother tongue while she tended to one of the many espresso machine, something that always concerned Lovina to see her sister too close to. There had been one too many occasions where Feli would somehow manage to backup the machine or have it spurt out coffee like the Niagara Falls.

It really didn't surprise Lovina when her sister whined and turned expectantly towards her.

"Lovi! It's making funny noises again and I didn't do anything!" she pulled a small lever in her uneasiness and the gold machine really started to make funny noises then.

"Maybe because you keep pulling and pushing things when you don't know what they do!" Lovina snapped and stepped up to the machine while her sister cupped her hands together nervously and stepped back.

"Please fix it!" she whined from behind while Lovina was trying to do just that. "The line is growing longer! Oh, we are going to get in so much trouble if we don't hurry!"

"We?!" Lovina snapped and groaned while she tried to pull a small handle that her sister had wedged awkwardly in a direction. The handle could only go either left or right, so how Feli managed to cram it forward Lovina really didn't know.

"If anyone is going to get in trouble," she hissed and used both hands to grab the lever and try to yank it back into position, "Then it's going to be you! I'm not taking the fault for this one!"

Feliciana nervously played with her fingers as she impatiently watched. The crowd behind the counter was beginning to grow restless and everyone once in a while a voice would holler something in Spanish. She didn't know enough of their language to understand them but apparently they must've said something rude for Lovina to bark back at them just as fiercely.

"Almost got it…" Lovina murmured and pulled a little harder. Just then the machine rumbled before sputtering and started dripping small drops of coffee.

Feliciana's eyes lit up and Lovina put both hands on her waist and grinned triumphantly at her work.

"Damn I'm good."

"Ve! You are the best! The best of the best!" Feliciana cheered and clapped excitedly for her sister.

Lovina couldn't help but to grin wider and shrugged. "There's not a single thing that you can break that I can't fix."

Her sister's excitement seemed to lower at that as she looked at her sister perplexedly. "But I didn't break it?"

"It's alright, sis." She lightly patted Feli on the back. "I won't tell on you. Doesn't matter anyway since it's all fixed."

"What's fixed?"

Both girls spun around to see their boss standing behind them, arms crossed and looking grumpy as ever but now with a touch of suspicion.

"Lovina fixed the coffee machine!" Feliciana cheered and Lovina tried hard not to smack her palm against her forehead at the comment. Their boss raised a dark eyebrow and glanced the said machine.

"What was wrong with it?" he questioned then turned his attention to the darker haired sister. "Would its culpability perhaps explain the length of this still growing line and unnerved customers?"

Before her sister could respond and get them into any more trouble, Lovina spoke up and redrew the attention back to herself. "Yes! But it is fixed now and is not a problem! We will get these customers served right away!"

"I'm sure your sister will but for you, Lovina," he pointed a finger at Feliciana then to her. "You'll be taking orders outside to those sitting in the front courtyard. They usually order a small pastry along with their drink and that means more revenue."

He made the motion of rubbing his thumb and his fingers together as a gesture for cash and raised an expected eyebrow like she should understand the application.

"But Feliciana will need my help-"

"I'll remain here and help her with what I can. She'll be stationed at the cash register," he eyed it for a moment and paused, "and if she manages to break that too then she can expect to get her hands wet because she'll be scrubbing the dishes to make up for it."

Lovina looked at her sister and thought about all the times where she'd broken their own dishware back at their apartment. If their boss really knew the habits of his employees then he should seriously reconsider how to threaten them that wouldn't adversely affect him as well.

But the only other option left after dish duty was sweeping or trash duty. Lovina was almost positive that if it weren't for their looks and Italian charm, they would've been put on the lowest rank within the workforce food chain. She also suspected that's why they've been able to keep their jobs for as long as they had.

"I don't want to do the dishes! Its make my fingers all spongy and the tiny food bits get stuck under my nails!" Feliciana pleaded and their boss grinned shrewdly.

"Well then I suggest do your uttermost best at the register and try not to break it then, eh? Now get to it!"

"Ve! I-I mean yes sir!" she saluted and squeezed in between them to rush back to the front counter and follow instructions.

Lovina held back an eye roll at her sister's obvious candid fear for their boss. She understood that they had to suck up to him and all but was the salute really necessary? He was a middle aged man that ran a lame coffee house not some drill sergeant, though he sure liked to think as such at times.

"Here," Lovina snapped back to attention when a serving tray and little notepad accompanied with a pen was shoved in her crossed arms. She had to act quickly to catch them when her boss let go and stepped back.

"Go out front and take orders, try to persuade them to get a little something extra with their drink if you can."

"I'll see what I can do." She grumbled and maneuvered around him to reach the little latch that opened a part of the counter that let workers through to the dining area.

"Oh, and one more thing!"

Lovina stomped to a stop and turned her head to look back at her boss who was looking at her critically. "Try and smile for once would ya? I don't want you scaring off the costumers with that snare of yours."

"What snare?!"

Her boss's face scrunched up and he shook his head. "Spoke too soon."

He just waved her off and Lovina was more than glad to turn her back on him and march her way through the crowded little shop, bumping and shoving people along the way. She nearly went flying out the door when she reached to shove it open just as someone opened from the other side.

The man looked at her in surprise and reached to help her as she stumbled a little in front of him but he quickly backed off and reserved any apologies when she glared and up at him.

"Keep it moving!" she snapped and he was gone from in front of her in seconds.

The few customers that had tables near the front door had either been fortunate to miss the whole seen or incredibly wise to turn away and not comment. She would've been all too glad if some fled because that meant fewer tables to wait upon. What her boss didn't know wouldn't' hurt him, besides the loss of revenue perhaps.

She tucked a few loose strands that slipped from her high ponytail back behind her ear and strode up to the nearest table that was seated with an elderly couple. The cheery looks on their faces and hand holding made Lovina want to roll her eyes and turn back around.

She couldn't stand couples of ANY age. All their adoring baby talk was just a bunch of cheesy rubbish and the stupid grins they exchanged were close to sickening.

What bothered her more about elderly couples than any others were the never-ending remarks about how a young lady like herself needed a man at her side. It was like they thought she was trying to remain single. It wasn't her fault that she didn't have a man in her life! It wasn't like she snapped at any who tried to get too close…most of the time.

Not that any of it mattered anyways. She had too many things that needed her attention that were too important to put aside and make room for another. Work and school came first. Plus, her sister was more enough of a handful not including a guy to add to that mix. Lovina could only handle one crazy person at a time.

Lovina stopped at the table's edge and tried taking her boss's suggestion by smiling at the two customers. The couple paused in their discussion and returned a friendly smile back at her; surprising Lovina that her boss's advise was actually having a positive affect.

"What can I get you two to drink today?" she paused as she remembered another thing her boss instructed her of. "Might I also recommend some of our berry flavored pastries? Freshly baked!"

The woman let go of her husband's hand and reached for the little menu in front of her. She studied it from behind her glasses at what Lovina could only hope was the food side of the menu. If she was just now trying to deicide on something to drink after all that time hey had waiting…

Lovina took a steady breath through her nose and forced herself to keep the smile intact on her face. Hopefully this would all pay off and they'd leave a generous tip.

While the woman was still looking over the menu that literally had only ten items to choose from, Lovina was momentarily pulled away by sound of loud, obnoxious male voices behind her.

She turned her head slightly and darted her eyes in the direction of the Spanish speaking voices.

Near the momentous fountain that resided near the center of the little marketplace, was a flashy group of young men that appeared to be about several years older than Lovina herself. They were dressed in popular sports wear of vibrant color varieties that almost drew more attention than the raucous of noises they were generating themselves.

A fútbol was flying through the air as the group laughed and bounced it back and forth to each other. Occasionally one would show off by joggling it from knee to knee before setting it and side kicking it to another. They all would cheer when one was able to out number the other by seeing how long they could keep it in the air without it touching the ground.

Lovina rolled her eyes when one of them stuck their foot out and kicked another's leg, causing them to stumble and drop the ball and loosing their record.

Men.

"They sure look to be enjoying themselves, hm?" the elderly man spoke up with amusement in his worn voice. "I remember when I had that kind of energy."

Just to be polite Lovina smiled at his comment but didn't say anything. She doubted he would even be listening since his attention was so clearly on the group of idiotic men who were in her opinion acting more like children.

"You would if you worked out and ate healthier." His wife responded and he gave a chortled laugh.

"Have you selected something, ma'am?" Lovina chose to hurry and speak up before an argument of teasing broke out between the two. This woman acted like Lovina wasn't the only waitress and didn't have many other customers waiting on her.

How long has it been since she first got to this table? Was her boss wondering where the heck she was with all the orders? She doubted he'd give her slack even if she explained her delay.

When Lovina focused again on the pair in front of her the first thing she noticed was the wide eye look on their aged faces. Had she accidently said some of the things she'd been thinking aloud to them by mistake? What was their deal all of a sudden?

When the woman opened her mouth to speak Lovina was intent on listening to what she had the say but she never got the chance when something hard smacked her in the back of the head.

Lovina dropped the tray she'd been carrying in shock and went stumbling forward, having been thrown off by the force in the hit and completely unprepared by the sudden event. She awkwardly grasped at the edge of the little wooden table but couldn't get a good hold and slipped right past to where she embarrassingly collided with the pavement.

She blinked a few times in surprise as her eyes trailed a familiar ball that slowly rolled right in front of her before coming to a complete stop. She stared wordlessly at it as two and two connected in her head about what she assumed just happened.

There were a few shouts in Spanish coming from somewhere in the street calling out and the recognizable worn voices of the elderly pair that were much closer.

A little too close in fact.

Lovina propped herself up on an elbow and looked up the man and woman whose feet she was currently lying next to. They both looked absolutely shocked at the turn of event and apparently so much so that neither of them offered her a hand up.

Their eyes suddenly darted away from her to somewhere behind where Lovina could hear the approaching footsteps of another. When she curiously turned to follow their gaze she saw that one of the flashy dressed guys that she had been mentally complaining about earlier was jogging in her direction.

Her eyes instantly narrowed at him as she determined whether or not to pick up his stupid fútbol and chuck at his head and see how he'd like it.

When he grew closer though Lovina found herself letting some of the pint up anger about being hit slip away. Suddenly she didn't know how to feel about the whole ordeal. Sure, she was still upset, but a little voice in her head told her not to be at him.

At this, her mind tried picking the right word for the approaching man before her.

GAWH!

When did her thoughts become so jumbled!? It must've been that crude hit to the back of the had… Yeah, that surely was it.

He stopped about a foot from her, towering over her with a serious expression of concern on his sculpted tanned face and bright apprehension in his rich green eyes. The sun radiated so brilliantly off his chocolate colored hair that Lovina had to convince herself that he was indeed not wearing a glowing halo.

It took her a few seconds to realize that he was speaking and she mentally shook her head to focus.

"¿Estas bien?" he asked and Lovina watched wide-eyed when he squatted to her level, putting his hands on his knees and leaning in her direction. "¿Señorita?"

"¿Está herida?" he questioned, clearly now more nervous by her sudden lack of unresponsiveness. "¿Usted necesita ayuda?"

He stuck his hand out as if to help her out and all of sudden on instinct she slapped it away to both her and his surprise. He was a little wide eyed at her refusal but slowly a grin started to make its way on his face.

Lovina blushed at her action but found herself not feeling all too guilty by it. The guy hit her in the head with a fútbol for crying out loud. He deserved more than a small smack to the hand like a parent would do to a disobedient child.

"Ella no habla español." Lovina heard the woman from behind speak up and the Spanish boys eyes flickered up to hers briefly.

Whatever she said seemed to amuse him and Lovina wished she knew what the old woman had told him.

"Ohhh. Gracias señora!"

"Do you speak English?" he asked politely then and Lovina's cheeks heated up a little more at the question. Odd as it might be it sounded like she was truly hearing him for the first time now that she could understand him.

"Sí," she replied and then nearly smacked herself in the forehead. Why would she reply with a 'yes' in Spanish when he had just asked her if she spoke English?!

He startled her when he let out a loud, humorous laugh at her response. Lovina could only stare in shock and slight annoyance that what she had found embarrassing was the complete opposite to him. He had some nerve to laugh at her while she was down. Literally!

"Oh for the love of…" she grumbled in irritation and picked up his fútbol and shoved it against his chest. His laughing quickly came to a halt and she grinned.

Lovina didn't waste another second and picked herself up off the ground, ignoring the attempts of the Spanish boy who tried to step closer and assist her.

"I was hit in the head not my legs!" she retorted when he held his arm out like she was about to lose balance and topple over.

He tucked the ball under one arm and held up his other in surrender, that stupid smile of his still not completely gone from his face.

"I came to apologize about that actually," he started but Lovina cut him off.

"Was it you?" she said hotly and pointed an accusing finger into his face, which he leaned away from while he stared cross eyed at it. "Were you the one that kicked it at me?"

"It was I that had kicked it, yes," he said slowly and her eyes narrowed. "but not at you. It was an honest mistake. I swear on it señorita."

Lovina blushed and pulled her finger away. "Don't call me that."

He raised a dark eyebrow. "Call you what?"

"You know what I'm talking about," she looked away and paused when she saw that the old couple was watching interestingly. What was with those looks?

"You mean señorita?" and even though her customers distracted her she could hear the grin on his lips as he said that word again.

"Yes!" she turned on him and was proved right by that stupid grin on his face. "Don't call me that!"

"Then what am I to call you?" he questioned, his eyes practically gleaming in enjoyment.

She hesitated for moment before responding in a low, somewhat impassive tone. "Lovina."

"That is a beautiful name." he remarked coolly.

"I'm aware."

"And it is Italian, no?"

"Obviously."

"As are you?"

Lovina rolled her eyes and sprawled out her arm dramatically. "Good job connecting those two together! Glad to know that there's a somewhat functional brain behind that pretty face."

Immediately she knew she made a mistake and stammered while trying to rephrase her poor choice of words. The guy on the other hand seemed almost stunned.

"You think I have a pretty face?" he sounded way too joyful for Lovina's liking and she groaned.

"I was trying to insult you, idiota."

"By complimenting me?"

This time she heard the old couple laugh softly amongst themselves. When she turned to the woman she swore she saw her wink. Lovina stared at her confusedly. What was that supposed to mean?

"My name is Antonio." The Spanish boy spoke up and Lovina directed her gaze back to him.

"I never asked." She frowned and he shrugged.

"Well now you know. Just in case." He grinned and winked.

What was everyone's deal with winking all of a sudden?

Behind Antonio the group that he'd been messing around with were all calling out to him but he seemed to be ignoring them. Lovina felt her once proud patient level rapidly start to decline.

What was this guy's problem? He already apologized and yet he was still lingering around making pointless inquires that he really didn't have the right to ask. Was he just stalling because he enjoyed discomfiting her?

Lovina didn't get him. He seemed so good-natured but he would grin and laugh at all the things that she found downright humiliating and so unlike her. She was embarrassing herself in front of him and her costumers and he was laughing about it. Was hitting her in the head with his ball really not enough to torment her?

Now that she thought it her head was a tad sore and the beginnings of a headache were starting to creep up on her. There was no way her boss would let her go home for a headache and she was positive she didn't have any medicine in her purse either. She sighed thinking about how much of a hell her workday was going to continue to be.

"You have yourself a pretty nice leg there, son. Such power in your kicks." The old man commented and Lovina went rigid. What did that old guy just say!?

Antonio laughed and rubbed the back of his neck at the compliment. "Gracias Señor. I have been practicing."

"Do you play professionally?"

Lovina watched how the carefree, silly demeanor Antonio usually had changed in a heartbeat. He stood straighter and the fun waver in his voice got serious and she admitted she was slightly impressed.

"Not yet, but I plan to be someday."

The elderly gentleman grinned. "I don't doubt that. How old are you?"

Lovina silently stood aside waited for Antonio's response also. Not that she cared or anything.

"I am 22, seńor." He responded kindly and the man nodded.

"Plenty of time, plenty of time. Keep practicing and I'm sure I'll see you on the television someday."

Antonio beamed at that. "It would be a dream!"

"And what about you?"

Lovina looked away from the grinning Antonio to find that old man staring curiously at her. "What about me?"

"How old are you?"

Lovina snorted at that and crossed her arms. Didn't men know better than to ask a lady her age? And why did he want to know? Creep.

"Jose," his wife chided softly and he looked to her. "You should know by now with all your experience how rude it is to ask a young lady that."

Lovina smirked at that. Damn straight!

"But," the woman gave a small lift of the shoulders and looked to Lovina. "I must admit I'm a little curious, too."

Dammit.

Then all pairs of eyes were on her and Lovina found herself turning redder. "I'm not as old as this loser." She hooked her thumb back at Antonio.

"Hey!"

"But I'm 19. I'll be turning 20 in a few months though." She didn't know why she told them that much. It wasn't like she was trying to seem older and close the gap between her and Antonio.

The old couple shared a knowing look with another at that. "You two are only a few years apart in age then. Three at most."

The woman giggled softly and reached for her husband's hand and clasped it with his tenderly. "My husband and I are only three years apart as well."

Lovina's gaze narrowed at that. "What do you mean 'as well'?"

"Who is the one that is older?" Antonio spoke up and Lovina glared at him.

"Does it even matter!?" It amazed her that she was even still conversing with these people. She had a job to get back to!

The man responded then. "I am of course, but none of that really matters when it comes down to love."

"I think I'm going to be sick…" Lovina grumbled.

"Love has no age limits?" Antonio asked while they all ignored her.

"There are no boundaries when it comes to love! Age, race, religion," the man paused and glanced at the young Italian girl. "Nationality."

Lovina blushed when Antonio's green eyes met hers.

"I-I really should be getting back to work." She stammered and turned her face away so the others wouldn't see her growing blush. Without waiting for any of them to reply she picked up her forgotten tray on the ground and rushed away.

She heard the woman call out to her about wanting to place her order but Lovina ignored her and sped walked her way through the maze of tables and to the front door of the café. A few other customers stuck their hands up as a request to order something but she acted like she hadn't heard them. She would eventually come back out and actually do her job, but first she needed to clear her head and hopefully the stupid Spanish guy would be gone once she returned.

Lovina clutched the door handle to let herself in but before she could even it tug it forward, she felt someone grip her other hand. She dropped her tray again in shock and a few seated guests turned towards her.

When she spun around to confront the nerve of the stranger who dared touched her she felt all harsh string of curses die on her tongue. Her eyes widened as she stared up into familiar green.

A few wordless seconds passed before Antonio dropped his gaze and released his hold of her hand. She watched as he bent down to retrieve her server's tray and brought it back up with him. Instead of handing it back to her like she had thought he instead just slowly played with it in his hands.

Lovina watched him quietly, waiting for him to speak first since he was the one that came after her. The way he couldn't hold her gaze for very long was unusual even if she had just met him and didn't know him very well. He was more confident than this.

"Lovina," he looked up at her then quickly looked away, continuing to slowly twirl the tray. "I was wondering if you, um…"

Lovina immediately felt her heart rate quicken and her cheeks heat up. Was he…? No. He couldn't possibly be. There was no way that he was interested in her like she was with him.

He finally seemed to find more confidence and stopped twirling the tray and stared her straight in the eye. Green clashing with hazel.

"Would you like to go out sometime?" he asked seriously and Lovina felt her breath catch in her throat. "I want to see you again and get to know you personally. I swear there is more to me than some guy with a good leg and poor aim." He gave a nervous lopsided grin and Lovina laughed despite herself.

"Like a date?" she asked and he nodded quickly.

"Sí!"

"There won't be any fútbols involved, right?" by the way that his smile faltered Lovina was able to tell that she hit the nail on the head.

She rolled her eyes than dug her hands into her apron and pulled out her pen and little notepad. He watched her almost anxiously as she scribbled onto it before it ripping free.

"Here," she handed him the sheet of paper and he curiously reached out for it. The pale colored sheet harsh compared to his dark tan.

"Call me when you come up with something for us to do. I usually have school during the week day mornings and work in the afternoon, but maybe we could grab lunch during one of my breaks or hang out over the weekend." Lovina was amazed at how well she was able to keep her voice so steady when she never felt so nervous about something before. Feliciana would be so proud at seeing her big sister talk to a guy without him running away in fear.

Antonio stared at the little paper in his hand as if in shock before looking up at her and nodding eagerly as she spoke. Lovina would never admit how childish and cute the whole thing was.

"I will not hesitate to call." He eagerly proclaimed then next thing Lovina knew he was leaning down and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. She froze instantly and still wasn't able to move when he pulled away and smiled down at her.

"Wait for me, Lovina." He said smoothly then handed her back her tray, which she just barely was able to latch onto.

She nodded and he gave her another wink before turning and jogging off to regroup with his friends.

D-Did he just…?

Lovina was startled when the crowd of customers that were seated around her started to clap. She snapped out of her state of shock and glared at them with a furious blush on her cheeks.

"He asked me out, not proposed!"

When none of them appeared to be stopping, she spun around and marched inside, ignoring the fact that she would eventually have to return to retrieve all of their stupid orders.

AN: Do you guys wanna hear a secret? I didn't want to write it in the authors note at the top because I was afraid I'd ruin the chapter for you but I'll tell you all now! How Antonino met Lovina was based off of how I met my current boyfriend. Thats right. I was kicked in the head with a soccer ball. You know that feeling when you smash your fingers into something when your hand is really numb when its really cold outside? Well yeah but image that feeling when my poor, numb face took a beating with a frozen soccer ball. I'm not going to lie and say that I didn't cry because I totally did because DAMN IT HURT.

Anyways now for some translations!

Fútbol: Soccer / Soccer ball
Señor: Sir
Señora: Ms
Señorita: Miss
Estas bien: Are you okay?
Está herida: Are you hurt?
Usted necesita ayuda: Do you need help?
Ella no habla español: She doesn't speak spanish
Gracias: Thank you

Please don't hesitate to correct me if I'm wrong! :)