Warning: It's Sexual Near The End.

The Riveras went for a family shopping on Sunday, taking a break from the exhausting events that have been thrown upon them since Dia de los muertos. Victoria looked at violín books at the music section of the book corner.

"You interested in violín? Mija" Julio asked, looking at the book Victoria picked.

"Yeah, Récono was always smiling when he played his violín, it was inherited to me, so I guess I better learn it than go back to drugs." Victoria answered dryly as she looked at another book.

Julio nodded woefully, Victoria immediately realized the mistake in the timing she chose to be sarcastic. She didn't mean to hurt him, it was just… the only thing she knew she could do to act like everything was fine.

"I'm sorry, Papá, I didn't mean to-".

"It's okay, Mija" Julio reassured his daughter, "I know you need time. I'm here… we're all here.".

"Gracias, Papá." Victoria held him, "I'll take this one." she smiled, and let go of him to show him the book.

Julio nodded, and then the two met Coco, Rosita, and the twin at the cashier. Paying for the stuff, and then returning home with large shopping bags.

"What did you bought home? Mija" Héctor asked after he let them in through the door.

"A carving set!" Coco beamed, and showed him the tool, "I want you to make my skull markings like yours!".

Coco remembered the arrival agents' colourful markings she woke up to when she first arrived here. She arrived with no marking, contrasted to all her familia, so she thought it was only for some unique cases until she saw Calavera making design's book at the store, and realized it's actually a tattoo, but on skulls.

"It will look nice on you, Mija, but it's the forgotten's markings." said Héctor, "Are you sure you want to have it?"

"Of course! We'll all get to that point in our afterlife anyway." Coco replied, "And it's beautiful art, I'll wear it with pride.".

"Good! mija" Héctor beamed, "These markings are Amistad Tatuaje, so it must be done by your best friend! Like how Cheech did for me!".

Coco nodded eagerly, and then the two turned to the chubby skeleton.

"Rosita! Can you do it for me?" Coco asked.

"Are… Are you sure?" Rosita asked timidly, "I've never done sculpting before, I got my markings by a escultora."

"Why not? We grew up together, you helped me and looked out for me in life, and after life too! I trust you." Coco handed Rosita a sculpting kit.

Rosita practiced sketches of Héctor's markings on paper, and then finally drew the markings on Coco's skull with a sharpie after the family finished their dinner, and shower.

"What do you think?" Rosita asked Julio after she finished.

"Bonita!" Julio smiled at the sharpie marks on Coco's skull.

"Now the hard part." Rosita took a deep breath as she lifted a carving knife.

Coco looked at the knife nervously, she'd never get a tattoo done before in her life! Would it hurt? She remembers Julio's groan after he fell out of bed this morning. It doesn't make sense, the skeleton shouldn't feel pain, and yet here we are.

"It won't hurt, Mija." Héctor reassured her.

"Only unpurposeful injury hurts." Imelda explains, "Your marking is getting done on purpose, so don't worry.".

Coco nodded at her parents, and then at Rosita, she's ready.

Héctor watched Rosita carving Coco's skull from the doorway, and then turned to Imelda, observing her from a distance. This woman amazed him, she is strong, and independent, and yet loving, and nurturing… was that the reason I married her? Héctor thought as he looked at her in long sleeve chemise, how gentle it looked on her with her hair down.

Then she turned to him, and walked closer, "Would you like to go for a fly with me?".

"W-What?"

"I'm going for a fly with Pepita, do you wanna come with me?" Imelda asked.

"Sure!"

Imelda took Héctor's hand, and then they snuck out in their pajamas, almost like a teenager. They met Pepita at the courtyard, and then climbed up onto Pepita's back. Héctor wrapped his arm around her waist, and with the wings spread, Pepita launched off the ground.

Héctor looked at the city in awe as Pepita kept their distance from the columns, but still in the sights. He remembered living here! and everywhere that he went too!

"This is really comforting" Héctor smiled as he watched the skeletons living their lives.

"Hm?" Imelda turned her face to him.

"These places, they hold memories," Héctor, "I always prefer keeping the good one, and ignore the bad, but from here… I could look back at them, and smile. It felt… I don't know, free? I guess." he chuckled nervously, "I'm sorry, Estoy siendo tonto.".

"It's okay." Imelda turned her face back toward the city in front of her, "I understand what you mean. Up here, I feel free, I don't have to be the matriarch, the business owner, or even a shoemaker… I can be just me." She took a deep breath, "But it's lonely too, you know?"

"I'm sorry."

He understood nothing of her sorrow, but he can feel there's a tug in his soul, begging for a connection, and letting her know he's with her would somehow reassure her. None of this makes sense, and yet with merely his soul, Héctor feels like he knows her well more than even his own memories.

"Let me show you something." Imelda smiled at him, and then turned back to Pepita.

Pepita flew them past the crowded city column, and then stopped at the top of the constructing town column, landing them on the crane jib. The couple sat with their legs hanging down, looking at the Land of The Dead, and The Land of The Living paralleling each other.

"I've spent almost a century here, exploring columns, talking to generations, living every inch… but I've never got to see The Land of The Living" Héctor smiled at the view, "Never thought I'd get to see it this way.".

"I'm glad it was a good experience, but I didn't bring us here for the view though," Imelda confessed. "I wanted to speak with you. I think it's time I stop giving you mixed signals, or wishing you read my mind all the time. I can give you hints, or tell you about my horrible past life that you've caused all I want, it will never give me what I want, and I'm tired of it.".

"So… what is the 'thing' you want to say to me?" Héctor asked, trying his best to sound reassuring through worries.

"I know I'm a puta sometimes, and mean most of the time. I bet on my boots that everyone, even my family has bad-mouthing me at some point in their life" Imelda chuckled softly, "There is nothing I can do to make up for my mistakes, but I can try to be better, that's all I can do. You already accepted me on that part before the accident, but it was when you clearly had bias on me." Imelda paused to breathe even if it was unnecessary, "So since now you remember nothing about me, you have no more reason to choose me, I want to know if you'd still want to be with me as a husband, and wife.".

It doesn't make sense, none of this makes sense, Héctor thought as he resisted the tug in his soul, there's guilt, confusion, and longing. He wanted to pull her close, and hug her, telling her how much he wants that, but without memories, she'll never believe him. However, how can Héctor know that she'll believe him or not if he didn't tell her yet?

"After the accident, I kept feeling something in here," Héctor circled where his heart used to be with his finger, "I feel loco, and yet relief whenever you're near, and last night when I finally held you for the first time as we slept, I felt belonged." Héctor's eyes lit up, "I felt like I've done all this before, and have been longing to do it again.".

Héctor expected a mock, but Imelda's reaction shows no signs of disbelief… only understanding.

"So if I've chosen you despite remembering everything, then me at this moment without any memory between us would like us to be us again." Imelda looked at him with worried eyes, as if asking if he was sure about his decision, but "I want to get to know you again, and live the rest of my afterlife with you...if that's what you want to of course." he chuckled nervously.

"Of course! I want that, IDIOTA!".

Imelda sobbed and threw herself into her husband, holding him close. 'Idiota', idiot… that word should have hurt him, or offended him, and yet he felt right. He closed his eyes, and consistently held her close.

Imelda, and Héctor returned home after she finally managed to calm down, and woke Pepita. The couple entered the dark living room, everyone already went to bed. Imelda gently pulled Héctor into her room with a smile, knowing that he'd share the room with her every night from now on.

She closed the door, and then turned to him. They didn't turn on the light, but the moonlight through the curtain was enough to illuminate them. Héctor leaned closer, and then embraced her, resting his forehead on to hers.

"May I?" Héctor asked with his eyes closed.

Imelda nodded, and leaned up on her toes to kiss him. Their first kiss ever in death. Héctor returned the kiss, and then grabbed her chemise before he let it go, afraid if he's crossing the line. Imelda looked away shyly, and then pulled her chemise over her head, letting it fall to the bed beside them.

While trembling, Imelda reached her own hands for the buttons of his pyjama shirt, and then looked up at him, asking for permission. His nodding soothed her as she freed him from garments. They were all bare, and exposed to the world, but they weren't ashamed.

However, Imelda did feel weak, and uncertain. Closing her eyes, and leaned forward to hold him, needing comfort and reassurance. Héctor contently rested his cheekbone on top of her head, and just... stood there with her… feeling her as she felt him.

Imelda eventually let go of him, and then laid herself back on her bed, pulling Héctor down onto her. The embrace fused their bones into one as the kiss sealed their soul. Héctor ended the kiss, and then nuzzled Imelda's cervical vertebrae as she closed her eyes... letting herself feel along with him.

I always wondered why Ernesto could feel the pain when Imelda stepped on him when Héctor could jump off the stairs, and disassemble himself. So I came up with the idea that the injury hurts only when the dead weren't prepared, or got it on purpose, because Héctor jumped off the stairs on purpose.

Thank you so much for reading this chapter:)