Thank You For the Music Chapter 1: Thank You for the Music, a coco fanfic

Miguel Rivera was standing in the room, looking at the family ofrenda. With assistance from Papa Enrique, they had positioned the picture of Imelda back in its proper place. The boy and his father were happy to see that Imelda and Coco weren't the only ones on the ofrenda. Long ago, the face of the matriarch's husband had been ripped apart from the family photo in anger and heartbreak. Now his face has been restored to the picture, thanks to his daughter who had been keeping it safe for years.

"He's finally home," Miguel said softly, looking at Papa Hector.

"Si, mijo," Enrique nodded. "Back where he truly belongs." The man wrapped his arm around his son, still looking proudly at the picture. The 12-year-old boy turned to face his dad.

"Papa?"

"Si, Miguel?"

"If Mama Coco had been keeping her Papa's picture this whole time, how come she never revealed it, until now?"

The question threw Enrique off a little. Usually, he is good at answering his child's difficult questions but not this one. Like the rest of the Riveras, he was clueless about Papa Hector or the nature of his relationship with Mama Imelda (before the separation and misunderstanding happened).

"Yo no se, Miguel," he truthfully answered. The man paused before speaking again. "Perhaps, Mama Coco was afraid that someone would try to get rid of it." He winced as he remembered how his mom crushed his son's guitar. Yes, he understood the music ban but breaking someone's guitar was too harsh. Who knew what would happen if his mother tried to burn Papa Hector's picture? He shook the horrifying thoughts away. "Mama Coco never had the courage to mention about her father until you sang to her. And it was a good thing you did!"

"De verdad?"

"Si, for a long time, we, especially your Abuelita thought that music would make Mama Coco sad but it made her happy!" They shared a hug. For once, he was glad that his offspring's rebellion did something good for once.

"Enrique!" a feminine voice shouted nearby, in the family courtyard.

"I better go and see what your mother needs-you can stay here longer if you want."

"Okay Papa!"

After Enrique ran off to help his wife, the youngster looked back at the picture of his great-great grandparents.

"You're home, Papa Hector. You're finally home!" he smiled wistfully. "Just like what you wanted." His eyes caught the white guitar. It was lying nicely at the bottom of the ofrenda. The boy picked the instrument up and strummed a few strings. "You know, for all my life, I have always wondered why was I so drawn to music when I was supposed to hate it. I thought there was something wrong with me. But now that I know you played music long ago, I realized that it's okay to sing and play music! Thank you for understanding me. Because of you, Papa Hector, I don't feel so alone anymore." His fingers continued to strum the strings before he began to vocalize a slow tune.

I'm nothing special, in fact I'm a bit of a bore
If I tell a joke, you've probably heard it before
But I have a talent, a wonderful thing
Now everyone listens when I start to sing
I'm so grateful and proud
All I want is to sing it out loud

So I say
Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing
Thanks for all the joy they're bringing
Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance what are we?
So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me

Coco says I was a dancer before I could walk
She says I began to sing long before I could talk
And I've often wondered, how did it all start?
Who found out that nothing can capture a heart
Like a melody can?
Now, I know who you are, I'm a fan

I've been so lucky, I am the boy with one dimple
I wanna sing it out to everybody
What a joy, what a life, what a change!

Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing
Thanks for all the joy they're bringing
Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance what are we?
So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me!

So I say thank you for the music

For giving it to me!

He finished the last note softly and sweetly. Miguel's eyes widened when he heard clapping behind him. He swiftly turned around and saw that it was Mama Coco and Abuelita. The former was the one clapping.

"Oh that was hermoso, Miguelito!" Mama Coco gushed. "Wasn't it, Elena?" Her daughter nodded. It was still hard to believe that she could listen to music when she had been forbidden to listen it for so long. But she would try to accept music, for Coco's sake.

"Gracias!" Miguel blushed.

"Miguel, it is time for bed!" Abuelita said.

"Okay but can I say goodbye to the family?" the boy asked, referring to the pictures.

"Si," Abuelita nodded. She chuckled to herself. It was strange that long ago, her grandson did not show interest in the Dia De Muertos holiday. But now, he's been asking stories about his family, especially Papa Hector.

After Miguel bid goodnight to each picture, he walked out of the ofrenda room with his two grandmothers.

"Mama Coco, can you tell more stories about Papa Hector?"

"!Por supuesto, Miguelito! I will tell you and the family everything you need to know!"