Tonight is Day of the Dead. The sun is set, and the graves light up and decorated with food, marigolds, and pictures of loved ones. Children play between the graves, families talk about their loved ones who passed, and music plays in the air.
It's a perfect night to have the annual family picnic. Every year, Xibalba and La Muerte bring their children to the Land of the Living to celebrate Day of the Dead. They started a picnic tradition ever since Sartana was a baby. Now it became a yearly thing as their family grows.
Xibalba, La Muerte, and all the children rise from the graves. Xibalba has Milagros in his arms, wrapped in a black blanket. La Muerte has Miguel in her arms, wrapped in a red blanket.
Seven-year-old Arka carries the basket full of food while five-year-old Elphaba carries a large, colorful blanket.
"Come along children. Let's sit under that tree." La Muerte said.
Arka, Elphaba, and three-year-old Adeleine run to the large tree near the top of the hill. La Muerte and Xibalba walk together, following their children.
The children help each other putting the blanket down on the grass. La Muerte and Xibalba kneel down on the blanket and let their ten-month-old twins lay on the blanket. The twins struggle to get out of their blankets, but once they got out, they crawl around the larger blanket, exploring the world around them.
"Mami, papi, can we go play?" Arka ask.
La Muerte nod. "Yes, you can play for a while. But make sure you come back to eat."
Arka, Elphaba, and Adeleine run off to where the graves are. Xibalba snuggle with his wife, watching their daughters play tag between the graves.
"Ah, mi Amor, this is my favorite time of the year. Being here with you and the children. It is a wonderful tradition." Xibalba mention.
"Hmm. Yes. And it is the twins first Day of the Dead." La Muerte picks up the wondering children and set them in front of them.
Xibalba went into the basket and pull out two colorful sugar skulls. He gives each twin one. The twins took the sugar skulls and play with them.
La Muerte chuckle. "There both so cute and innocent."
"Just like our daughters when they where that age, they grow up so fast." Xibalba comment.
"Xibalba, do you mind getting me some pan de Muertos?" La Muerte ask.
"Not at all, my dear." Xibalba respond and he reach in the basket again and took out a big piece of pan de Muertos. He rip it in half and give one-half to La Muerte.
"Thank you, my love." La Muerte took a bite of the sweet bread.
Xibalba also took a bite. They both eat quietly, watching the twins playing with their sugar skulls. Miguel crawls over to his parents and show them the sugar skull. La Muerte picks him up and set him on her lap.
"Yes, my dear. This is a sugar skull. You eat it. It made out of sugar, just like you." She pokes Miguel's tiny black noise and he giggle.
"I think we should call the kids to come eat," Xibalba said, setting the food out on the blanket.
"Yes, otherwise we will eat all the food." La Muerte joke. "Arka! Elphaba, Adeleine! Come here! It's time to eat!"
The three girls run to their parents and sit down across from them.
"Can I have my sugar skull?" Elphaba ask.
"After you eat your dinner." La Muerte said, pushing a plate of tamales to the girls. Xibalba also brought out some fruit like oranges and bananas.
While the girls eat their tamales and fruit, La Muerte and Xibalba feed the twins some cut up fruit. The family talk about whatever's on their mind. They watch people sing and dance. They watch children play. They watch people decorate the graves.
After dinner, Xibalba give all three girls some pan de Muertos and a sugar skull.
"Thank you papi." All three girls said as they eat their dessert.
Milagros point at the bread Elphaba has.
"No no, your still too young to eat bread. Next year you can have some." La Muerte said to Milagros.
After dessert, the girls run off to play again. The twins start to get tired so La Muerte and Xibalba wrap them in their blankets and let them rest on their laps.
"Aren't they cute? Soon they'll grow and play with their sisters." La Muerte said.
Xibalba nuzzles against La Muerte. "Yes, my love."
"Do you want the last sugar skull?" La Muerte ask.
"No, I have my sugar skull already. And I can't wait to eat her up when we're alone tonight."
La Muerte giggle. "Xibalba!"
La Muerte leans in and their lips meet. Another successful Day of the Dead. When the twins get older, they'll show them the graves and teach them about the traditions. They'll play with their sisters and eat sugar skulls and pan de Muertos. Day of the Dead is truly a special holiday.