Okay, I'm just going to go ahead and scold myself before you guys do… DAMMIT DEXTER! WHERE IS THE ALEHEATHER CONTENT IN THIS FANFIC ALREADY?! YOU SUCK, DEXTER! Lol. XD Look I promise on everything I hold dear that the next chapter will be Aleheather centric, but… let me explain my reasoning for this chapter. Next Chapter is going to start a series of a 3 part mini-arc of Alejandro and Heather having a 'meet the parents' visit after their engagement was announced and prior to their engagement party in the spring. In that series, it will revolve around Alejandro and Heather driving up to Toronto with Heather's parents to Alejandro's parents' home in Ottawa. First; however… I wanted to elaborate more on Gerardo and Elena. I had this suggested to me by a couple of people in the PM's who actually asked if there would be any flashbacks to show the pasts of Alejandro and Heather's parents and how they met when they were younger… and that intrigued me and I just had to start. And what better place to start than with Alejandro's 'couple goals' looking parents, Gerardo and Elena. I know I've left little tidbits here and there in the previous fanfics about how Gerardo and Elena met as teenagers in a dance class and a few other details about how Gerardo used to be more arrogant and full of himself as a young man like Alejandro, but not much else. Let's just say that it wasn't all 'sunshine and daisies' for Gerardo and Elena either during their whole time of knowing each other. So for those of you that wanted to see teenage Gerardo and Elena content… here you go! This chapter goes way back to 40 years ago in this fanfic universe during the 70's when a then 17 year old Elena Ledvora Ortiz met a then 17 year old Gerardo Burromuerto Navarro… and maybe some other characters if you catch my drift. ;) Hope you enjoy it!
40 years ago
Seville, Spain
({No POV})
It was a cooler winter evening even for Spain with the street lamps already going a glow.
Although not necessarily a national holiday, it was Valentine's Day and the more romantic portion of the population was going out and about going on dates and exchanging gifts and cards to mark the occasion.
At least that's what the more adult portions of the population seemed to be participating in.
At a particularly 'upscale' looking dance academy, teenagers and older adolescents pooled in for what was the start of a new set of classes they were signed up to do by their parents.
Well, many were.
To a particular young woman who just moved to Seville several months before with her family from Madrid, this is what she had wanted to start doing since she moved and made friends at her new school.
It was a young woman about the age of 17 with an olive complexion and long, wavy medium brown hair tied back slightly to keep her hair out of her face. Her heels clicked against the stone path leading up to the dance academy entrance as she subconsciously smoothed out her skirt.
Elena Ledvora Ortiz.
She straightened up and casually strode through the door before looking around.
The inside was about as grand as the outside, but her fellow students within made the atmosphere quite lively, almost to the point of rowdy.
Elena tried to look past it as she tried to keep her eyes peeled for her friends.
Well until she was distracted as she heard rapid music already start up on a piano and a young man and his dance partner both about her age practically almost run into her and a couple of other people, both appearing to be doing some form of rockabilly/East coast swing type dance.
The young man in particular caught her eye.
He was good looking, clean shaven, fit, tall, and tan and had slightly long and tousled light brown hair with bright and almost mischievous light green eyes that matched his equally mischievous grin.
Elena looked as if she was about to shake her head in disapproval of their 'lack of awareness' in almost running her down on her way in with their carelessness.
The young man's dance partner hardly seemed to care either as she just kept giggling, seeming aloof and amused by the young man who randomly grabbed her for a dance.
Elena looked like she was about to move on to find her friends until she heard, "Oye, Julio!"
Elena looked back over only to stop dead in her tracks. Approaching the pair and the rowdy group surrounding them, was a young man who bore a very striking resemblance to the young man who had just almost run her over, 'Julio' she surmised.
However, Julio was the last thing on her mind at the moment as she saw this new young man enter the situation.
Like Julio, this young man was also quite handsome in her opinion, tall, tan, and athletic with short light brown hair smoothed back with pomade. And a smile that practically made her eyes go wide and her lips part on reflex for a moment until she quickly recomposed herself.
The new young man looked at Julio and his partner with his smile becoming even more confident and amused as he practically playfully prodded with a slightly arrogant chuckle, "Is that what you call dancing, hermanito? Or do I need to always be the one to show you how to do things properly?"
But rather than getting offended, Julio just smirked back, still holding onto his still aloof dance partner as he responded, "Considering you're only 8 minutes older, I hardly see how that holds any weight, Gerardo. Or are you just itching to steal the show as always? And everyone says I'm always the one to seek the attention."
Gerardo.
Elena made a mental note of that in her mind as she proceeded to look at Gerardo and who she now figured out was his twin brother, Julio.
Though in Elena's view, you'd have to be pretty oblivious to not see the very obvious mirror image resemblance between Gerardo and Julio. In fact, it wouldn't surprise Elena if they were identical twins by the extremely uncanny resemblance between the two.
All Gerardo did was smirk as he proceeded to step forward and hold out a hand to the girl Julio was dancing with as he bowed slightly and inquired short yet smooth as icing on a cake, making direct eye contact with her, "If I may… señorita?"
The girl who before seemed to be uncontrollably giggling before was now almost completely wide eyed and speechless as she slowly took Gerardo's hand and got into first position with him.
Right as it seemed like Gerardo was about to say something, Julio playfully clapped a hand on his brother's shoulder before playfully teasing, "Well, as they say, 'age before beauty', hermano." Julio even gave his brother a joking grin and ran a hand through his hair, clearly making a joking jab at his twin that he was the subjectively 'the better looking one' despite the two being identical.
Although from Elena's perspective… it appeared she still begged to differ as she kept looking at Gerardo.
But, Gerardo just smirked and shook his head at his brother as the surrounding observers sniggered to themselves at Gerardo and Julio's typical teasing and brotherly banter.
Right then, Elena snapped out of her thoughts as she saw Gerardo smile and look back at a boy their age sitting at an old piano in the corner as he called back, "Oscar, por favor!"
Oscar smirked and immediately started going into that rockabilly melody on the piano again like when she walked in.
Gerardo and the girl immediately started swaying and getting into the count and rhythm of the music until an older gentleman walked into the room and started clapping his hands as he called out, "Oye! Niños! Niños!"
Eventually all the students in the room calmed down enough and gathered around the well dressed and stern looking older man about the age of 65 who called their attention.
Once the man was sure he had their attention, he asked, "Buenas noches, estudiantes. While I admire your enthusiasm to start dancing already, I want us to briefly pause and make introductions. Though many of you know who I am, I see many new faces so I would like to introduce myself. I am Ignacio Roquer Jimenez, though you may just call me señor Roquer or simply just 'señor'."
"Elena!"
Elena heard someone quietly call out to her as she looked behind her and saw her friend Rosa smiling and waving at her from several feet away.
Elena smiled and looked like she was about to subtly make her way over to her friend until she felt someone gently yet firmly grab her arm and pull her until she made contact with someone.
She looked up only to reflectively go wide eyed and have her face heat up slightly when she saw who it was. Looking equally surprised and wide eyed as they stared right back at her... was none other than Gerardo.
Well until he quickly settled out his expression and smiled slightly at her, definitely seeming not to mind being pulled into an unexpectedly close proximity with Elena. It was at this point they realized their instructor was starting to randomly pair everyone up as he elaborated while continuing to pair up his students, "Like life, not every scenario is going to be something you will be able to pick and choose what you want. Dancing requires you to think and act at a moment's notice and read your partner. Plus, this is also a social class and this is also a great chance to mingle on the first day of this session. We shall start with something simple, a waltz. Vamos!"
Señor Roquer went over to the record player in the corner of the room and put on the first set of music as the students in their randomly assigned pairs started to go in step with the music.
Some more gracefully than others.
Though it was clear that Elena wasn't about to let her little crush on this boy she just met to distract or cloud her thoughts and judgement as she immediately got into first position with him. They got in step and Elena kept her expression as casual as she could.
They kept going in step as Gerardo seemed to just keep smiling at Elena, still clearly not minding and quite enjoying the situation. Gerardo eventually grinned and started, "Well, my apologies, but I don't seem to recall seeing you here before. You must be new, sí? I would have remembered seeing a woman as beautiful as you if you would have been here before. A man would have to be an absolute fool not to notice you. If I may ask, what is your name?"
Elena kept herself casual as she responded cooly, "Elena. Elena Ledvora Ortiz."
Gerardo smiled and replied, "Ah, Elena. A name as lovely as the woman it belongs to. Oh, how tactless of me. It's only fair that I introduce myself as well. I am Gerardo Burromuerto Navarro."
Elena kept herself neutral as she responded, "Pleasure. And yes, we moved here a few months ago when my padre was transferred to Seville from Madrid for work. He works in banking."
Gerardo just continued to grin as he continued, "Well, that explains why I haven't seen you before. Quite a pity really that I have yet to meet a woman as hermosa as you. And not to worry, you are in quite skilled hands this evening. I happen to be the best dancer in this class so if you find yourself lost in step, all you have to do is follow my lead. And please, just let me know if you need me to slow down if I am going too fast for you."
Although still conceding her attraction toward him, Elena felt something in her internally twinge, completely seeing through his 'flattery'. Namely she had never met a more (while polite) arrogantly pompous and egocentric young man in her life.
But… she wasn't about to let him leave the situation 'satisfied', not if she had anything to say about it.
Gerardo's eyes went wide as he felt Elena's grip on his hand get firmer as she took over the lead and on a two count lead them into a fleckerl series of steps until they settled back into a normal one step, and in the process catching the attention of the surrounding pairs and even their instructor.
Gerardo continued to look at Elena in almost a state of caught off guard awe as Elena simply gave a slight smile (feeling satisfied that she proved him wrong) and replied, "Gracias for the offer, Gerardo. But I think I can handle myself just fine."
Although still in shock, Gerardo regained his composure as he replied, though now sounding uncharacteristically caught off guard, "Well… my apologies. Clearly I was mistaken. You're quite light on your feet."
Elena grinned in almost smug satisfaction as she replied, feeling vindicated that she seemed to put Gerardo in his place, "I have a dozen years of ballet to thank for that."
They kept dancing and even when they were told to switch partners… Gerardo hardly took his attention away from Elena for the rest of the class.
2 hours later
Class was over and the students who hadn't already gone home were still hanging around the outside of the dance academy entrance and socializing in various groups.
Elena was one of these as she stayed back to talk to her friends from her new school that she didn't have time to socialize with at the beginning of class. Elena and her friends were talking and laughing about various things like a normal group of teenagers until all of a sudden Elena saw all of her friends go silent and wide eyed as they proceeded to look past her.
At first Elena tilted her head in confusion by her friends' sudden change in demeanor and was about to ask what was wrong until she heard a familiar voice behind her say, "Perdóname."
Elena whipped her head back to see Gerardo standing behind her with a smile on his face and not taking his eyes off Elena for a second.
Before anyone could say anything, Gerardo put a hand over his head and bowed his head slightly as he started, "My apologies for intruding on your conversation. But… I was merely just wanting to ask if I could walk you home. If you'd do me the honor, Elena?"
Elena was taken aback as Gerardo held his grin and held out his arm to her.
At first she had no idea what to do?
Especially considering he was asking her this right in front of her friends… she had no idea? Well, until her friends basically made the decision for her and made various excuses about needing to get home.
Although still confused, Elena eventually gave in a bit and linked her arm with Gerardo's as she responded, "I suppose."
Gerardo continued to make eye contact with her as he responded with that same grin and responded, "Wonderful. Just point me in the right direction and I will ensure you get home safely. Buenas noches señoritas."
After politely nodding to her friends, Gerardo looked forward and started to lead himself and Elena onward.
Well until a still confused Elena looked back slightly to see her friends giving her approving yet mischievous looks and winks before giggling, seeing now that her friends were trying to intentionally 'hook her up' with Gerardo.
And… Elena didn't know how exactly to feel about it?
Yes, she still felt attracted to Gerardo… very much so. But, she didn't know? She was still a bit unsure about him after his arrogant behavior earlier.
Although, despite that… she had to admit she was enjoying the current situation.
Although being an attractive young woman and used to boys having crushes and asking her on dates at her old school, she had never had a young man ask her to escort her home like this before.
So at the very least… Elena was enjoying the chivalry.
They kept walking as Elena kept directing him to her family's house. Eventually Elena looked over and saw this sterling silver necklace around his neck that had a pendant in the shape of the skull of a longhorn bull… a necklace she also recalled seeing around his brother Julio's neck as well earlier.
"That's an interesting necklace." Elena started, just trying to make conversation in this (while oddly pleasant) confusing situation.
Gerardo looked down before looking over at her and grinned before replying, "Gracias. It is practically a crest-like symbol of my family. 200 years ago, a distant relative of mine was over in the Americas and received this necklace from a local as a gift. He came home and his relatives loved it so much that he commissioned a jeweler to make one for each member of his family. And thus the tradition began where each person born and/or married into my family gets one. It's something every member, including myself, wears proudly to show our heritage as Burromuerto's wherever we are."
They kept walking until Gerardo started, "Elena, I wish to apologize further. I clearly underestimated you earlier. You certainly are quite a skilled dancer… I've never met anyone who was able to keep up with me on the dance floor. And I admire you for that, truly."
Elena tried to repress a blush she could feel coming on, for once hearing a genuinely honest compliment come from Gerardo rather than some 'arrogant flirtation' of some sort.
She didn't quite know how to respond at first and instead swallowed to clear her throat a little before responding, trying to maintain even in her demeanor, "Gracias, Gerardo."
They eventually got to the front stoop of her family home.
At first, Elena turned to at the very least say goodnight and thank Gerardo for walking her home… until she was caught completely off guard as Gerardo got her between him and the banister on the stair leading up to the door.
Their faces barely an inch away from each other and a blush came through in full force as Gerardo brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. He was smirking in almost an arrogantly triumphant fashion at Elena's responses to his advances, clearly seeing she was just as attracted to him as he was to her. Something he had suspected since the moment they met just hours ago.
She wasn't stopping as she proceeded to just continue to stare right back at him.
Gerardo decided to eventually take a chance as he rest his hand on the side of her face as he started, smoothing his thumb over her cheek, "Perhaps… you'd allow me to say a proper goodnight?"
Slowly but surely, Gerardo closed his eyes and started to lean in… and Elena was wide eyed and felt like her face was burning, looking extremely conflicted.
Mainly that she was fighting an internal battle between her standards and teenage hormones.
As much as she just wanted, really wanted to give in and just kiss him… she gained enough self-control to duck out of the way and slide out Gerardo's reach.
At that same moment, Gerardo lost his balance and let out a confused 'Qué?!' as he ended up diving into a tall shrub and over the banister.
Elena put her hands over her mouth, partially because she wasn't expecting that to happen, but also… she was trying to stifle back a laugh as he thrashed around until he eventually fell out into the yard with leaves stuck in his hair. A
nd it appeared he even got some leaves in his mouth by accident as he frantically tried to spit them out.
Eventually he looked back at Elena wide eyed only to see her smirking and leaning against the front doorway to her family's house. Eventually Elena remarked, sounding teasing yet also leading, "Lo siento, Gerardo. I'm afraid it takes more than that to get to me. Besides, quite honestly, I don't even kiss on the first date."
At first, Elena was expecting Gerardo to act very put out, but instead… Gerardo slowly smirked at her as he replied, "Very well, señorita Ledvora. Perhaps I could take you out on Friday? I'll be sure to come prepared to impress. Then you can deem my luck properly?" He flashed a smile and wink at the end, which made her muscles lock and her stomach get a warm rush as a blush came full force on her face.
Elena didn't know what to do at first and eventually settled on just getting into the house as fast as possible and closing and locking the door behind in an attempt to somehow save face.
All she heard was muffled and amused chuckling outside before she heard Gerardo call out, "Buenas noches y dulces sueños, Elena!... Ay, Dios mío…"
Elena quirked up an eyebrow and looked out the window next to her door and fought back from laughing when she saw Gerardo standing in the yard and saw his pants ripped across the right side of the buttock area to show his underwear.
She closed her eyes and quietly laughed to herself until she looked back out to see Gerardo walking away as he continued to ruffle leaves out of his hair with one hand and holding the other hand over the ripped portion of his slacks.
She kept watching him walk away until she was surprised to see Gerardo stop in his tracks at the edge of the walkway and looked back at the house for a moment until she the corners of lips curling up into an almost genuine smile as he looked like he was laughing to himself before shaking his head and proceeding to walk home.
Slowly pulled her gaze away from the window and pressed her back to the door again, a genuine smile of her own as well as a subtle blush going over her cheeks.
Even though she never gave a true answer, it was pretty clear there was a silent agreement between the two that a proper date was definitely going to happen between them later that week.
I hope you enjoyed this look into how a teenage Gerardo and Elena met… and they also seemed to have some 'Aleheather-esque' energy in their dynamic as well. But at the same time, I wanted there to be some differences to define and make each pair unique. While Alejandro and Heather were a bit more 'intense', Elena and Gerardo were just a bit more 'playful' and fun with their 'hard to get' dynamic. ;) As much as Elena would detest to admit it, her and Heather were both on the spectrum of playing 'hard to get' with their respective love interests. Particularly when it comes to making their love interests want them more by playing little games and sticking to their standards and not just blindly swooning. Seems Alejandro (like everything else) got his taste in strong-willed women from his father. Hell yeah! Haha. XD Speaking of Alejandro and Gerardo, I hope you enjoyed how I also showed where Alejandro got his pompously arrogant yet politely smooth talking personality from since Gerardo as a young man seemed much the same. While age, experience, and being with Elena seemed to tailor Gerardo into the smooth talking, suave, and calculated gentleman he is in middle age, he turned out to be just as arrogant as Alejandro in his youth. Again, like father, like son! ;) I also hope you also enjoyed seeing a teenage Julio briefly as well and seeing where Elena's dislike of her future brother-in-law started. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and get excited because the next chapter is going to be VERY Aleheather centric. ;) Thanks so much for reading as always and constructive feedback is always appreciated.
Stay safe and classy all!
Dexter1995