Coco, and Elena drank their coffee in the living room by the morning sun. Héctor entered the room with his own cup. Coco couldn't help, but smiled at his wild hair, and the smooth pajama that he had obviously didn't wear last night.

"You finally followed my advice." Coco grinned slyly.

"Coco." Héctor warmed with the 'Children's Present' voice.

Coco's baby face turned into a frown as if she'd wail, but instead, she burst into la risa along with Elena as Héctor shyly took a seat.

"I'm glad you two worked it out." Said Elena, "When you were still unconscious in the ICU, she was in a rota!"

"Not surprised." Coco replied simply.

When her Papá is around, her Mamá Imelda is always happier, and losing him broke her. She might be angry with him for a very, very long time, but she has never got over him. She never ever looked at any man after Papá, Coco thought.

"It's still hard for me to believe in my own eyes!" Elena explained, "The feroz Mamá Imelda cried!" Elena took a sip from her mug, "I mean, yes, she was sometimes wrong, but I didn't expect a curso completo cry about how she thought everything that happened to you was her fault, which I don't-"

"Wait-wait-wait." Héctor snapped his fingers with his free hand as the other was holding his mug, "What did she tell you guys?"

"I was still in the cell when it happened." Coco replied.

But Papá seemed to have no idea about this too! Coco thought, Then it must be important! He must know, so he can solve this with Mamá!

"She said you went on that tour, and got murdered because of her." Said Elena, "And when you guys meet again in...The Land of The Dead? she almost lost you forever.".

Héctor sighed, "She's always too hard on herself.".

"Maybe you can talk to her about this?" Coco suggested, "I'm sure now she is also blaming herself for you leaving the industry."

"I will." he quickly finished his coffee, and stood up, "Thanks, chicas."

Héctor kissed Coco's forehead, and ruffled his granddaughter's hair. Elena groaned in annoyance as he left.

"¡No tengo 3 años!" Elena whined, and her 3 years old Mamá laughed.

Imelda woke with fresh tears in her eyes, it wasn't a dream about Héctor turning to golden dust, that one was way kinder than this one, Imelda thought as she turned to her right.

It was empty... was last night just a dream? She panicked as her nightmare was now flashing in her brain. The sound of the gun, Héctor fell into her arms, the blood pouring out from his stomach, and his eyes begging her to forgive him if he dies.

I can't take this anymore, Imelda thought, buried her face in the pillow, not wanting the world to see her breakdown again after how it beat her.

"Imelda?"

She quickly sat up, and turned to the voice. She looked at Héctor holding a tray with a pan dulce and a cup of coffee, and then looked down at herself, she's still naked. It wasn't a dream! She thought as she watched him set the tray down on the table.

"You okay? mi amor" Héctor moved to sit in front of her.

"No."

She saw no more reason in hiding it. If I could talk with anyone, it's him, Imelda thought as she pulled the sheets around herself.

"May we talk about it?" he asked gently, and she nodded.

"Alright." he nodded calmly, "Who goes first?".

"You?" she doesn't know how to start it.

"Ok." he replied, and got his guitar on his lap, "I wrote you a song."

He started picking the strings, and then sang out the lyrics. It was the song that Miguel showed her! The lyrics reassured her, telling her that she didn't have to rush. Héctor understands her, they didn't talk about this a lot, he knows it must be hard for her. And then the lyrics after confirming her questions.

'We both might be different

And our love is not what we dreamt

Though there were so much tristezas in our life

I'd still choose you to be my wife.

My love for you has never changed.

I still love you like everyday

Porque te amo, te amo tanto

From this minute till my dust turns gold

Mi amor.'

Héctor ended the song, and Imelda smiled letting her tears flow freely. It is beautiful, the most beautiful song she's ever heard.

"Gracias." she thanked him as he held her close after he put the guitar away.

"You are the love of my life, Imelda" he whispered, "and my afterlife" he rubbed her back "I wouldn't change a thing, even if I have to go through every struggle, get poison, or go through the final death, and be shot again, I'd do it in a heartbeat."

"I'm sorry I made you go through all of that." Imelda whispered, "I caused you so much pain, and yet you are always concerned about what I wanted." She admitted. "I'm so sorry I didn't stop you then."

"No Imelda, I was the one who left." he pulled himself out to look at her.

"But you would have stayed if I only asked you to." Imelda looked away, "I should have done it by myself, it will be hard, but at least I wouldn't lose you." she sobbed, "I had always held you back, you didn't get to reach your dream because you have to marry me, so when you didn't return." She took a deep breath, "I was angry because I'm not ready to admit that it wasn't hard to replace me at all, I always get the feelings that you never need me."

And that was all, the feelings that have been haunting her both in life, and after life. Héctor smiled, and gently lifted her chin up to look at him.

"Imelda" Héctor kept his voice gentle, but serious, "No dreams of mine could ever be more important than you and Coco." he gently brushed her tears away, "I married you because I love you, and I stayed not because I need you, but because I want to stay with you, and our familia. Todos ustedes son mi sueño."

Imelda nodded, and held him. We both have hurt one another, and been hurt by one another, but we'll work this out, we'll move forward together, Héctor thought, and laid his chin on her forehead.

Héctor's Biography film, La Vida Mía premiered in The 76th annual Venice International Film Festival on 7 September 2019. The whole Riveras get all dressed up, go to the ceremonies and watch the film for the first time.

And after the credit rolled, it received a seventh-minute standing ovation. Héctor filmed everything that happened at the event, his time with his family, and the fans that were kind to him. He wrote the world his final song, and with Rosa's help, they used all the footage of Héctor's time among his loving fans, and the crew that made La Vida Mía for the music video of "Gracias.".

Héctor announced his retirement from the entertainment industry at the end of the video, and included la ofrenda he made, the collages of screenshots made from the comment his fan left at all his social media pages.

After the release Héctor worked full time at the workshop, and it filled the workplace with the greatest melodic energy. He was always tapping his feet, or humming, as he worked on the shoes, and the family was already used to this, but after hearing it constantly 8 hours a day, they started to unconsciously hum, and whistling along with him.

Miguel loved Héctor, and enjoyed spending more time with him after the man now only worked at the workshop, but Miguel wished his great great grandpa didn't give up on music. Héctor still played for his family, but it's no longer as serious as back then, and it made Miguel like reaching for his music career alone is selfish.

Miguel tried pushing those feelings away, and continued his guitar practice at the roof he sat on. Tomorrow is Día De Los Muertos, he doesn't know what to think.

Merry Late Christmas!

I swear I tried to make it end in this chapter, but it got too long. I tried my best to squeeze it, but I don't wanna make it too rushed, so I have to split it into 2 chapters :(

Vocab

La Risa = Laughter

Rota = Broken

Feroz = Fierce

Curso Completo = Full Course

Tristezas = Sorrow

Porque = Because