The afternoon sun was beginning to dip lower in the Barcelona sky when Mateo noticed three familiar figures approaching across the newly unveiled mini-pitch.

Elena, Pablo, and Miguel, the older kids at Casa de los Niños, were making their way toward him with purposeful strides. All three were seventeen now, preparing for university entrance exams by the end of the year, and they had been like older siblings to Mateo during his time at the orphanage.

Elena was the first to reach him. Tall, with dark hair pulled back in a ponytail and sharp, intelligent eyes, she had always been the protective older sister type. She pulled Mateo into a fierce hug, then held him at arm's length to look him over.

"Look at you," she said, her voice a mixture of pride and affection. "A Bundesliga champion. We watched every match we could find online. You were incredible."

Pablo, stocky and athletic with a mischievous grin, clapped Mateo on the shoulder. "Man, that goal against Hertha Berlin? In the 88th minute? That was legendary. We were screaming so loud Don Carlos had to tell us to quiet down."

Miguel, the quietest of the three but no less fierce in his loyalty, simply smiled and said, "We're so proud of you, hermano."

Mateo felt his heart swell with emotion. These three had been there during his darkest days at the orphanage, had stood up for him when other kids made fun of his muteness, had included him in everything. They were his family.

But then Elena's eyes shifted to Isabella, who was standing a few feet away, watching the reunion with a warm smile. Elena's expression changed not hostile, but assessing, protective. She exchanged a glance with Pablo and Miguel, and the three of them seemed to come to a silent agreement.

"So," Elena said, her tone suddenly more serious as she turned to Isabella. "You must be Isabella."

Isabella, sensing the shift in energy, straightened slightly but kept her smile. "I am. It's wonderful to finally meet you all. Mateo has told me so much about you."

"Has he?" Pablo said, crossing his arms over his chest and adopting what he clearly thought was an intimidating stance. "Well, we've heard about you too. The girl from La Masia. The one who's dating our Mateo."

Miguel stepped forward, his usually gentle expression now stern. He spoke slowly, deliberately, "Mateo is very important to us. He's our little brother. And we take care of our family."

Mateo, watching this unfold, had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. He could see exactly where this was going, and it was both touching and absolutely hilarious.

Elena took a step closer to Isabella, her eyes narrowing slightly. "So here's the thing, Isabella. Mateo has been through a lot. More than most people could handle. He's been hurt, rejected, abandoned. And he's still the kindest, most genuine person we know. So if you and I mean if do anything to hurt him, anything at all..."

She paused for dramatic effect, and Pablo picked up the thread. "We will find you," he said, his voice low and mock-threatening. "It doesn't matter if you're in Barcelona, Dortmund, or on the moon. We will find you."

Miguel nodded solemnly and said, "And we will come for your head."

There was a beat of silence. Isabella's eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, Mateo wondered if she was genuinely intimidated. But then he saw the corner of her mouth twitch, and he knew she was trying not to laugh too.

"I understand," Isabella said, her voice steady and respectful. "And I appreciate that you care about him so much. But I want you to know I would never hurt Mateo. He means everything to me. And if I ever did anything to hurt him, you wouldn't need to come for me. I'd turn myself in."

Elena studied her for a long moment, then her stern expression cracked into a grin. "Good answer," she said, nodding approvingly. "I like her, Mateo. She's got spine."

Pablo laughed and clapped Isabella on the shoulder. "Yeah, okay, you pass. For now. But we're watching you." He pointed two fingers at his own eyes, then at Isabella, in the universal "I'm watching you" gesture.

Miguel said, "Welcome to the family," and then pulled Isabella into a hug, which she returned with a surprised laugh.

Mateo finally let himself laugh, shaking his head. He signed to his three protective siblings, "You three are ridiculous. You know that, right?"

"Ridiculous?" Elena said, feigning offense. "We're being responsible. Someone has to look out for you. You're too nice for your own good."

"Seriously," Pablo added. "You'd probably forgive someone who stole your shoes and thank them for it."

Isabella, now fully relaxed and grinning, looked at Mateo. "They're not wrong," she said. "You are absurdly kind."

Mateo rolled his eyes, but he couldn't stop smiling. This this right here was what he had missed. The teasing, the protectiveness, the sense of belonging. These three had always treated him like their little brother, and even now, after everything he had achieved, they still saw him as the kid who needed looking after.

"So," Elena said, sitting down on one of the new bleachers and patting the spot next to her for Isabella to join. "Tell me everything. How did you two meet? And don't leave anything out. We want all the details."

Isabella sat down, and Mateo joined them, with Pablo and Miguel flanking him on the other side. For the next hour, they talked and laughed, sharing stories and catching up.

Elena, Pablo, and Miguel told Mateo about their university preparations Elena was hoping to study law, Pablo wanted to go into sports medicine, and Miguel was interested in graphic design. They talked about their fears, their hopes, their dreams for the future.

And they grilled Isabella mercilessly, asking about her family, her studies, her intentions with Mateo. But it was all done with warmth and humor, and Isabella handled it with grace and good humor, giving as good as she got.

At one point, Pablo leaned over to Mateo and whispered, "Okay, I'll admit it. She's perfect for you. Don't screw this up."

Mateo signed back, "I'll try not to."

Elena, who had been watching the exchange, smirked. "You know we can see you two whispering, right?"

"Just telling him not to mess this up," Pablo said with a grin.

"Good advice," Elena said, then turned to Isabella. "But seriously, you're good for him. We can see it. He's... lighter. Happier. And that's all we want for him."

Isabella's eyes softened. "He makes me happy too. Happier than I've ever been."

Miguel said, "Then you're both lucky."

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