Warning: Drug Use, and Prostitution Mentioned in This Chapter.

Victoria visited the hospital the next day after her husband's demise, and then returned home with a golden dust bottle with white label, her husband's remains. Victoria entered the kitchen, and found her family eating their breakfast at the dining table.

"Buenos días a todos." Victoria took a seat.

Everyone greeted back as Victoria laid her head against the table.

"Do you wanna take a day off, nieta?" Coco asked, and reached her hand out for Victoria.

"No, Mamá." Victoria replied gently, "I don't wanna be alone at home."

She's done with isolating herself. She knows she can't handle today on her own, being alone is the last thing she should do. And the last thing I did when I was alone didn't end well too, last time Victoria thought as she remembered seizured to death.

"We'll be here for you, mija" Imelda placed a plate of huevos rancheros in front of Victoria, "You won't go through this alone."

Victoria nodded, and Imelda went back to her seat next to Héctor.

"How did you met mi Papá, Mija?" Coco asked.

Victoria smiled as she started eating, "When I first came here I wanted to join a rehab, but don't know where to go. So I went to the exit of the Department of Family Reunions, and found Héctor doing a guía turístico there with Chicharrón.".

"A tour guide?," Coco looked at her father in amusement, "Then you must know this land really well! ".

"I've been here quite a very long time, so I had quite a lot of time to explore" Héctor winked, "But there's some part I regret exploring though." he looked down at his plate.

He's scared, he knows Óscar, Filipe, and Rosita wouldn't mind, and Julio would understand, but what about his mija? Would she hate him? Imelda, and him weren't close yet, but if she'll be close to him again she better know about this.

And with Coco reaching for his hand, and looking at him in the eyes, supporting him, he's ready for what's to come.

"I got addicted around the 1970s," Héctor confessed, and unwrapped his bandage, revealing the mark he got after he finished the rehab. He has been clean over decades now, but the mark will always remind him of his path no matter what, "I got more, and more addicted until my money ran out."

He remembered checking his money box, and found it empty. "Coco's Money" jar stood dominantly on the shelf, Héctor refused to touch it, he'll never use the money he collected for Coco's plan on this disgusting thing.

"So I tried to earn some money, and at that time a man hired me to drive a girl to an address. I thought she was newly arrived, and her parents can't come pick her up, so I agreed, and took the money. But after I drove her to the place..."

Héctor followed the address on the map, and parked the car at a large red hotel. The girl at the back seat left the car, and a group of colorful women took her inside. They all disappeared behind the black gate, leaving Héctor shocked behind his wheel.

"I damned a girl to the red-light district." Héctor looked away, "She was only a few years older than Miguel.".

Imelda, and Coco squeezed his hand gently, it's not his fault. He did let the drug lead him to that situation, but he didn't know that it would end up that way.

"Do you remember where that Hotel was?" Imelda asked him, "We can report it to the government, or maybe even tell La Muerte.".

"The government closed that Hotel, but it was too late... she was already forgotten" Héctor replied, "After that day I swore I'd quit. So when I dropped Victoria off at the rehab, I registered myself too.".

"You came a long way, Papá Héctor. We're proud of you." Rosita smiled.

"And you helped Victoria-."

"-out of that path too!" Óscar finished Filipe's word.

Héctor nodded with a small smile. He doesn't have to be afraid anymore, he can finally let go, and move on.

"Let's finish this, so we could go to work." Victoria smiled.

The Riveras continued working at the workshop after they washed the dishes, and then finally finished Jorge Negrete's order for his film actors. Héctor usually does sketches only from shoe size mannequins, so Julio taught his young father-in-law how to measure his own feet. Coco watched her mother trying her best to look like she didn't eavesdrop on Héctor's feet measurement, and then turned to look at Victoria whose eyes remained longing at the window.

~ Barra de Desahogar

Julio poured Héctor a tequila shot as they sat at the table. The dart's bar was as busied as the last time Julio brought them here.

"Dios, I missed tequila," Héctor spoke after they finished the shot, "Thank you for bringing me here."

"Eres muy bienvenido, Papá Héctor." Julio smiled, "The last time I brought you here, you helped me get closer to Victoria. She always has quite a preserved world, but after you gave me courage to take Victoria out for a father, and daughter day, she finally let me in. I am forever grateful for that.".

Héctor can't remember a thing about what Julio said except 'Victoria always has quite a preserved world', he already knows that, and he was grateful that Victoria let him inside her world, but there's one thing he wonders.

"But aren't you angry? That you didn't get to walk her down the aisle. That I took that chance away from you." Héctor asked.

"Of course I was jealous," Julio confessed bluntly, but not cruelly, "I've always wanted to see Victoria married, walking her down the aisle, but also I understand why she didn't choose me. So even though I was sad by that, I could never hate you both, I love you both too much to dwell on that." Julio chuckled at the last sentence, "Come! Dart's fight is waiting.".

Julio hummed happily as he got off the chair, and walked toward the dart's bar. He forgave me! HE FORGAVE ME! Tears streamed down Héctor's eyes as he smiled, but why was it so important to him? Héctor looked down at the shot glasses, and then at Julio as he did his signature dart throwing's pose. I remember!

"You're celebrating like you don't win every single week" a bartender huffed as Julio danced at his bullseye.

And then another dart hit Bullseye's mark in the next bar, Julio quickly snapped his head toward the thrower, "Can you beat this Bebedor?" Héctor smirked, and Julio's eyes grew big as pan dulces along with his smile.

Julio threw their tequila cash at the bartender, taking Héctor's hand, and then they sprinted out of the bar. Rushing inside the car, and turned on the radio.

'Quiero que me quieras

Quiero que me amores

Quiero que me sientas

Que urge que me ames'

They drove, and sang with windows down on the way home. They're both sober, but at the same time, euphoric. However, let's hope the police won't stop them as they sing.

'Yo mis botas lustrare y mi sombrero me

pondre, tempranito llegare

Si me dices que me amas'

~ Ofrenda Room, Rivera Hacienda

Victoria lit a new candle at the altar, smiled ruefully at the familiar smile from the photo, her late husband. Coco put her arm around her daughter. No one knows what happens to the forgotten beside the fact that they just disappear from this world. Nothing can change what happened, all the dead could do was remember the forgotten. Her husband, and everyone who is important to her familia.

"I'm glad you weren't alone here like in Santa Cecilia," Coco rubbed Victoria's humerus, "That you once had someone take care of you.".

"I still have them, Mamá." Victoria smiled at her mother, "We still have our familia, and I'm so sorry I hurt you. No parents should have to bury their child.".

Coco pulled out from the hug, "It's not your fault, Mija. I'm the one who failed as a mo-".

"Don't-Say-That," Victoria cut her off, "I already cleared the air with Papá, now let me do it for you." Victoria added with her sensible tone, "My death is not your fault. Could it be prevented? maybe? I don't know, all I know is my decision is not your responsibility, and I don't want you to blame yourself. This moment is all we have, so… can you forgive yourself? for us both?".

Coco nodded in tears, "Of course!" pulling her daughter into a hug, "Gracias, Mija.".

Music came from outside along with a car sound. Coco wiped her face, and left the ofrenda room with Victoria, bidding her daughter goodnight as she went out to get her husband, and Papá.

'dime q dime q dime

Q tu estas sintiendo!'

Julio, and Héctor sang after they got down from the car.

"Mi amor!" Julio smiled at Coco, "Look! Who's memory I managed to jog with tequila!"

"Your memory is back?" Coco asked excitedly.

"Yes!" Héctor replied as they entered the living room, "Julio used to call me Bebedor! He taught me designs of wingtips, and also called me 'mijo' sometimes too!"

Coco laughed with her father as Julio ducked his head into his hat shyly. Imelda watched them from the distance until Coco noticed her.

"Come! Mamá, Papá remembers!" Coco pulled her mother to Héctor, "Papá, what do you remember about Mamá?".

Héctor tilted his head, "I'm sorry, Mija. I remember just that she was there in some moments, but I can't remember anything we did together.".

"It's ok, Papá." Coco reassured, "You already remembered Julio, I'm pretty Mamá's next.", taking Julio's hand, "Goodnight you both".

Coco left the living room with Julio, leaving her parents awkwardly silent where they stood. She knows it's cruel, but they need to talk. Mamá needed to stop beating around the bush, Coco thought as she entered the bedroom with Julio.

"I'm glad you came home sober," Coco said gently as she snuggled her husband in bed, "I hate it when you're sad.".

"I'm sorry, Mi amor." Julio confessed, "But I swear I'm not alcoholic anymore! I only drink once a week when I… don't know who to vent to without you around.".

"I understand." she replied, "Estoy aquí.".

Héctor fidgeted where he stood after Coco, and Julio left him alone with the stranger they called 'His Wife'. She is his wife, and yet he doesn't know how he was supposed to act around her.

He saw Imelda around with others, and interacted with her a few times, but most of the conversations were with others, and 80% of the conversations are trivial. The groceries shopping before Récono's passing was the only time he spent alone with her, and when he'd finally held her hand for the first time it felt… belonging, almost as if he'd been dying to hold her hand again. Héctor wanted to interact with her more, and explore the feelings that he can't remember the cause, but knows it exists. However, he's not sure if Imelda wants to do that.

"I think that it's time to go back to bed," said Héctor, trying his best to break the silence.

Imelda nodded, and offered him her hand. Héctor raised his eyebrow, she wanted me to come sleep with her? Héctor thought as he fought his urges to take her hand, he won't cross the line until she let him in.

"That stupid couch is going to ruin your back" Imelda rolled her eyes at the couch Héctor have been sleeping on since the accident, "I don't wanna waste the AC here, it will be better if you sleep in my room.".

"Okay…" he doesn't know what else should be said.

Once they hopped on the bed, Héctor looked at Imelda as she remained facing the door with her back to him. It was very inviting, Héctor reached his hand out toward her shoulder, but stopped before he touched her. Just because she has her back at you doesn't mean she wants a cuddle! Héctor scolded himself, but how do I know what she wants if I don't ask her?

"Can I hold you?" He asked finally, bracing himself for a hit by her shoe.

"Qué?" She asked back, obviously not sleepy.

"Can I hold you?" Héctor repeated, clear, but gentle, "I don't know why, and I don't understand why, but I-"

Imelda turned to him before he could finish, moving closer, and then tuck herself into him. Héctor immediately nuzzled her, and returned the embrace, not because she did first, not because it felt familiar, not because it felt right, but because he felt belonged...

First hug! After 6 chapters!

Vocab

Humerus = a long bone in the arm that runs from the shoulder to the elbow.

Todos = Everyone

Estoy Aquí = I'm Here