A/N: I am so sorry it took me this long to update. I had some serious trouble writing this chapter. It was a mixture of writer's block, and uncertainty over what a guy like Javier would really do in this situation. I tried to make it as realistic as possible, and I hope I succeeded.

Chapter 6: Reunion

Katey wanted so badly to walk up to him and touch him, or to run her fingers through his hair. Anything to prove that he was really there, and that she wasn't just dreaming. She had imagined this moment so many times in her dreams, but now that it was actually happening she didn't know what to do. Javier was here, in America. He actually left Cuba. Why? She had dreamed about it and wished for it for so long, but she never imagined that it might actually happen.

"Javier?" She asked hopefully, in a desperate attempt to make sure that this was real. The phone was forgotten as she looked at the man she had been longing to see for ten years. He was a little taller, with muscles that were more defined than she remembered, but the greatest change was in his face, and behind his eyes. The years of stress and toil that he went through to support his family were clearly visible even though his face still retained that ever-youthful appearance. It was a look that Katey could only describe as worn out. She knew then that his years in Castro's Cuba were not all that he thought they would be and that is what had driven him to America. She watched as he slowly got to his feet, his eyes never leaving her the entire time. It was then that she noticed that Maria was sitting right in front of him. Doubt and panic filled her. She knew that Maria would have recognized Javier almost immediately and may have said something to him in her excitement. Did he know that Maria was his daughter? Was he angry? Was he happy? His face revealed none of those as his eyes drank her in. They have not spoken to each other at all since Katey left Cuba so he wouldn't have known how to get in touch with her, and she had been too afraid to try and contact him. She knew how much his family meant to him, and she did not want to burden him with a child that he probably would never see. She just hoped that he would understand and give her a chance to explain everything to him.

Javier rose to his feet slowly, his eyes taking in the sight before them that they had so craved to see for the last ten years. Time had been good to her. The laugh lines, and the worry lines, in her face were more prominent, no doubt from having to raise and support a daughter by herself, but besides that she looked exactly like he remembered her. He heard her say his name and reveled in the sound of it before nodding his head in reply.

"I missed you," he said as he walked up to her and gently laid his hand on her cheek, needing to feel for himself that she was there.

"I missed you too." He watched the tears glisten in her eyes as she replied. That was all the answer he needed to know that she had not forgotten him. Without another word she threw her arms around him and he held her as tight as he could without suffocating her. They stayed like that for some time until Javier finally pulled away. As much as he missed her, there were things that he just had to know; questions that needed to be answered. Katey's eyes searched his for a moment before turning to Maria.

"Maria, why don't you go and say hi to your Aunt Susie while Javier and I talk, okay?" Maria nodded and walked into the back office. Katey lead Javier over to a couple of chairs that were set up in another corner of the studio.

"I guess she told you then. I kind of figured that would be the case." She received only a nod in response.

"I can't imagine what you must be feeling right now and I know you must have a lot of questions, but let me explain okay?" When he didn't protest, she thought it safe to continue.

"I didn't even know I was pregnant with Maria until about two months after we got back to America. I was still so upset over having to leave Cuba and leave you that the possibility of being pregnant never entered my mind until I started getting morning sickness on a regular basis, and even then it was my mom who figured it out and took me to a doctor. As soon as the doctor confirmed it I knew it was yours. My mother was not pleased to say the least. I think deep down she secretly hoped that I would either have an abortion or give it up for adoption. After all, having a baby out of wedlock is not something that is looked well upon in high society. But I couldn't do it."

"Thank you, for not giving her up." Katey looked up in surprise, and smiled before continuing.

"I couldn't give up this baby knowing that she was a part of you. At the same time, I had refused to be a burden to anyone, including my parents. She was my responsibility. That's why I didn't try to contact you and tell you. I know you Javier. I know how hard you work to take care of your family. And I also know that at that time there was no way you'd leave Cuba. Relations between Cuba and America had started to get bad by that time and I knew that there was no way I could get Maria and I safely back into Cuba. I knew there was a chance you'd never get to see your daughter. I didn't want to burden you with knowledge of a daughter in another country that you'd probably never see when I knew that you had enough to take care of." Katey finished her explanation and looked at Javier again anxiously. She wanted so badly for him to understand and forgive her, but this was reality and not some fairytale. She waited impatiently while he processed all that she had told him.