Hello fanfiction community! So this is a Coco fanfiction, I know it's been almost a year since it came out but I still love it so much and am still so inspired by the story. I love love love the romance between Hector and Imelda and I wanted to create a story that was about how their story came to be. Please review and enjoy! (P.S. I do not own these characters Disney does)


The sun was high at the hour just past noon as people strolled about the plaza. Light cascaded down onto the brick paved road, baking it to a crisp. Small adobe brick buildings of shops, houses, and even schools lined the streets in the plaza where a myriad of people gathered for all different reasons and tasks. However it was a nice spring Saturday so many of the town's children were out playing and chasing each other while the adults were taking care of the things they needed to. Some people walked about the plaza hurriedly like chickens with their heads cut off, while some leisurely strolled down the streets simply enjoying the nice weather. There were loud conversations, vendors desperately trying to market their goods and small children whining whilst clutching their mothers' hands.

Hector watched all the hustle and bustle go by intrigued that some people could get so caught up in life that they hardly stopped to take the time to appreciate the ever continuous mariachi music playing on every corner of Santa Cecilia. How could anyone not stop to listen to it? It was always so beautiful what with the melodious songs and rhythmic beats. It could make anyone forget about all of the stress and woes in their lives and just want to dance and sing and be happy. Music was that powerful...at least it was to him. He chuckled to himself thinking about whether or not he was crazy. He just always seemed to without fail get swept up by music no matter the time or place. As soon as any tune filled his ears, his previous thoughts simply melted like a block of ice on the sidewalk on a hot summer's day.

He sighed and slouching back he hummed absentmindedly while on the edge of the stone constructed fountain. He began to strum his guitar, playing whatever melody popped into his head. He admired the way the threaded strings vibrated against the pads of his fingers as he did so, it was quite a therapeutic feeling. Closing his eyes, he let a small smile play out across his lips. He began to pluck out an upbeat little tune, perfect for this kind of day.

He sighed full of contentment. This was all he ever needed to be happy: just his guitar, the peaceful sound of the rushing water behind him, and the warmth that pricked his skin from the sun's radiation. With his eyes closed he could feel as if he were in his own little world where music was all he heard and thought about. It felt like the world was balanced and everything was at peace.

Suddenly the pressure of someone's arm on his shoulder jolted him from his tranquil music world and back onto the streets of Mexico. He opened his eyes and looked up to see his best friend standing close to him.

"Hola, my wonderfully talented friend Hector." Ernesto teased with a wink and mischievous grin, plopping himself down next to Hector on the fountain edge. Hector laughed knowing that tone of voice always meant one of two things: Ernesto wanted a favor, or Ernesto wanted a new song. He shook his head at his friend and decided to play dumb.

"Hola Ernesto, what do you want?" He asked with a playful smirk.

"Well," Ernesto started, drawing out the e, "that sounded to me like the start of a pretty good song opening, eh?" He said nudging Hector with his elbow.

"You mean what I was just playing? No, that wasn't a song. I was just sorta messin around." Hector smiled contentedly once again, looking back at his guitar and letting his fingers glide over the strings again for emphasis. He really wasn't trying to write a new song or anything. "And besides, didn't I just write you a song last week?"

"Yes but-"

Just as Ernesto was about to continue to plead and beg Hector to write him another hit song, the two stopped their conversation short at the frenzied and sudden sound of whistles and catcalls coming from down the road. They looked towards the direction which the noise was coming from and there amongst a group of by standing men was that woman Hector saw almost everyday in the plaza. She always had her dark brunette hair tied up in the same intricately styled bun with a purple ribbon keeping it in place. And her strong brow bone made her always appear to be stern and serious. And just below her eyebrows she had long dark lashes that extruded from her almond shaped brown eyes. Her lips puckered naturally and she caught her bottom lip between her teeth nervously as looked around her. And her deep purple dress swished about her hips as she walked, her black boots clacked against the pavement with every step she took and every time she walked past him, he could hear her softly humming the old folk song 'La Llorona'.

"Oye mira," Ernesto exclaimed excitedly pointing in the young woman's direction, "That's the chick I was telling you about. The one I met in the bar and-"

"Oh you mean the one you tried to hit on but she hit you with her shoe in response?" Hector said with a grin. That was a pretty great story especially since Hector knew just how much of a player Ernesto could be. He was Hector's best friend of course but sometimes Hector thought he behaved quite stupidly and sometimes deserved such things that should happen to him; like getting hit in the face with a shoe for example. He was glad to know that that woman was smart enough to reject whatever dumb pick up line Ernesto tried to use on her.

"Yeah, man even when she was hitting me with her shoe she was still so hot." He said dreamily. Hector laughed and rolled his eyes at his friend.

"You are such an ass, you know that?" He teased Ernesto while giving him a shove.

He let out a chuckle and straightened out his shirt sleeves from the shove.

"Maybe," Ernesto started unsure of how Hector would react if he said what he was thinking. He had been thinking of bringing it up for a while and he finally decided that it needed to be said. Still he hesitated so he spoke somewhat under his breath, "but at least I'm an ass that tries." Hector was about to start playing again but stopped himself quickly at Ernesto's words.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hector questioned, genuinely confused.

Ernesto nervously made eye contact with him but then he quickly shook his head earnestly and said "Nada."

Hector however wasn't satisfied with that, he really wanted to know what Ernesto meant by what he'd just said so he pressed the matter on.

"No really, I want to know. What did you mean by that?" He said furrowing his eyebrows.

Ernesto sighed and looked at him hesitantly, but spoke nonetheless.

"It's just that you never go for anything. We've been friends for how long? And every time anything comes along your way that requires you to do something out of your comfort zone you shy away from it. Especially when it comes to women. I know you're not the confrontational type Hector but gosh you are eighteen years old and you've never once been on a date with a girl let alone even kissed one!"

Hector sighed, he really couldn't say anything to deny it, Ernesto was admittingly completely right. It was true, he never really was the confrontational type and he was very shy. It was just frustrating though because well sure there have been many times in Hector's life when he wanted to stand up for himself or maybe even try to ask a girl out on a date. However every time he'd stand in front of his mirror at home, staring straight into his reflection saying "Alright today's the day, you can do this." he'd go back on his promise to himself. It wasn't until about half way through his secondary schooling that he finally felt comfortable being the way he was. And everyone thought he was crazy, including Ernesto. But what was so wrong about being the way he was? He had his music and to him that had become enough. And sure there were times he did wish for the company of someone else but for the most part he was fine. And besides he didn't want to worry about the anxiety and stress that approaching someone would bring him. He sighed once again letting his eyes fall back to his acoustic, tracing the lines and swirls of the bold coloring that covered the face. No one would ever understand the way he felt.