Héctor doesn't know why. Maybe it's the fact that he knows no one else is listening. Maybe he's just tired of keeping everything inside and he wants to let it out. And, yes, maybe part of it is because he doesn't want to make Elena upset again.

But whatever the reason, he finds himslef telling Elena the full reason why he left. And for once Elena doesn't interject or snap at him at all. She sits with her heands folded, quietly listening. The door to the bedroom is closed so no one can interrupt them.

"It's simple," he says, leaning back a little and crossing his arms. "Yes, I did leave to try and make things better for mi familia. At first, I wasn't open to the idea, but he talked me into it."

Elena tilts her head. "What do you mean? You didn't want to leave at first?"

Héctor takes a deep breath. "No. Your mamá was so little when I left. I didn't feel comfortable just leaving her." He sighs, uncrossing his arms and folding his hands. "And Imelda... she despised the idea from the start. I didn't want to make her upset, either."

Elena smiles wryly at him and shakes her head. "You were afraid of her, weren't you?"

Héctor startles. "N-no." Regaining composure, he gives her a stern look. "That is not the point."

Elena laughs, a sharper sound than his and a lot more defined. She arches her brow at him, putting her hands on her hips and grinning. "But you were, weren't you? You didn't want to make her mad because of what she might do to you?"

Héctor turns away. "Like I said, not the point right now."

Elena gives a bemused roll of her eyes. "Alright, then. Continue."

"Anyway." Héctor turns back to her. "I agreed to do it, but not just because I believed it would make our lives better. I also did it because..." He trails of and rubs the back of his neck. He leans in. "I felt weird about letting Ernesto do it by himself."

Elena's smile fades. "Was he planning to?"

"No." Héctor swallows and sighs. "I knew that if I didn't go with him, he wouldn't make it back."

Elena's expression is now both confused and concerned.

Héctor leans back and puts his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling and not continuing. Still averting his gaze, he starts to speak again.

"Have you ever experienced... depression before?"

Elena narrows her eyes, but not with anger like usual. It's suprise and confusion, not a single trace of rage this time. "That's what happened to him?"

"Sí."

She's silent.

Héctor takes that as his cue to explain. "I wanted to protect him. So he wouldn't get like that again. At first, it was fun, because I was performing-- which I love to do-- and it kept his mood lifted." He fidgets with his hands anxiously as he stares at Elena, waiting for her reply.

She nods slowly. "I'm guessing it worked?"

"For a while, yes." Héctor stares at the ground. "But I began to feel homesick. I missed Imelda and Coco. And Ernesto kept extending it, which I knew was making Imelda mad because I'd promised it'd be no more than two months."

He looks at her again. "Ernesto noticed, of course. Him and Imelda have always hated each other. So when I told him I wanted to leave, he got desparate. And angry." Héctor shudders as he remembers how Ernesto reacted. He takes a deep breath. "But I presisted. I didn't let him win. I told him I was leaving no matter what. I should've known soemthing was up when he calmed down so quickly."

Elena widens her eyes. "So he..."

Héctor wrings his hands again. "He poisoned me. I didn't even make it on the train home." He deflates as a thick silence follows.

Elena huffs and puts her hands on her hips. "He should've handled his rage better."

"It wasn't just rage; it was jealousy. Like I said, he despised Imelda. And he has always been jealous of my musical talent." Héctor brightens up and smiles. "But that's behind me now. It's in the past. It happened; now it's over."

Elena half smiles. "I guess you're right."

Héctor smiles back at her.

Elena sighs. "I should've given you a chance sooner. I wasn't ready to forgive you for leaving. I thought that you had no remorse for your actions."

Héctor puts a hand on her shoulder. "Well, now you gave me a chance, didn't you?"

Elena nods. "I'm sorry for not letting you share your perspective."

"It's alright." He gives her another wide smile. "Like I said, it's all behind us."

For a second the two of them just look at each other, and for once Elena doesn't glare or narrow her eyes at him. After a while, Elena stands up and goes over to the bedroom door. She opens it and stares at him. "Are you coming?"

Héctor laughs and stands up. "Sí." He follows her out and down the stairs. Elena sends him another satisfied glance as they head into the living room. Héctor returns her expression, cherishing the fact that she has finally given him a chance.