A/N: I am SO sorry! I know I abandoned this story harshly and that was never my intention! I had some RL issues going on so my writing got a little neglected. But enough with this, I'll do some personalized stuff at the end and another apology. On with the story…

Katey could hardly believe the scene as Javier crashed out of the back room where he had a very loud and angry argument with his mother. Chabe, scared by the commotion and yelling had crawled onto Katey's lap, burring her face into Katey's golden locks.

When Javier had come out into everyone's view they were all shocked. The right side of his face was plump, as if he had been struck and sparks were literally shooting out of his eyes. Rafael ran up to his uncle and tried to embrace him but Javier would have none of it. He placed the little boy on the carpet and plucked a weeping Chabe from Katey's arms. In the confusion she heard he father trying to reason with Javier but to no avail. He picked Katey up and set her on her feet. After that he stormed out of the little abode with his mother screaming after him.

Katey tried to apologize to Javier's mother but she wound up having things thrown at her and demanded to leave at once. Katey had never know Mrs. Suarez to be so hostile but apparently this was one family issue that she was not welcome to. Or the cause of it, either one. A tug on the arm and a whisper in her ear gave her an anchor in this sea of turmoil.

"Katey, honey. Let's go."

Good old dad. Always the reasonable one. Someone to depend on and trust, even in the darkest hour. She looked at him with tears in her eyes.

"I must go find Javier. I need to put this right before we leave." Her voice trembled but was determined. He knew that tone; it was so like her mother's when she had made up her mind about something. His little girl was growing up but there was one last thing she had to learn. He couldn't stop that lesson even though he wished it didn't have to be.

"Alright, honey. You go tell him what he needs to know and hear. We'll be at the hotel down the road."

"Thank you." And with that, she turned her back to her broken family and searched for her love.

An hour or so later….

Javier had taken a seat upon the warm sand on the beach in front of the Hotel Oceana. This is what it came to. His love or his family. When he had contemplated this before all his devotion laid with his family; he loved Katey and she was as dear to him as the breath in his body but his family won his heart. But now, his family had betrayed his ideal picture of them. His mother betrayed her husband by believing that Castro would be worse for Cuba. All his father had fought for was lost on everyone save Javier. How could this be? It couldn't be! But reality had hit him in the face, as he touched his swollen cheek. This is what it came to, betrayal. When a cool hand touched him softly on the back he sighed out of the sheer beauty of it. Katey, his love, his life. She wouldn't betray him. He stood up and pulled her into his arms. He felt her tears soak through his shirt and he lifted her face up so his eyes would meet hers. She stared at him mutely; love and compassion radiated from her almost making him lose his cool exterior. He kissed her with all the tenderness in the world and a love that matched her own. As they both became lost in the kiss, Javier laid her down on the sand. If only they could forget their troubles just for a moment. That's all he wanted, to help her forget the world of pain, darkness and solitude and see a small light. As Javier pulled at her shirt Katey stiffened. She did the same thing the night they had made love before so Javier didn't think anything of it. That's why when her dainty fingers wrapped around his wrist and pulled his hand away he was so confused. Didn't she see he wanted to do this for her? What was wrong? Then Katey's voice drifted out from the night.

"No, Javier. We cannot do this, not again."

"But, Katey…" The confusion in his voice made her want to weep and submit to him completely but she couldn't. She had a more important task at hand.

"Javier, I came to you to tell you goodbye once again. We are leaving for America as soon as possible. You need to be here, with your family. They need you, Javier. More than I do." The last sentence came out in a squeak and tears spilled down Katey's white cheeks. Javier maintained a look of dumbfounded disbelief. He still had yet to move from his position on top of her.

"Why are you saying this? I chose you over my family, my home and now you are pushing me away? I won't let you leave, Katey. You may not need me but I need you. I can't lose you; you are all I have now."

Katey's small frame was wracked with sobs underneath him. He knew that Katey needed him, so why was she doing this. If she truly wanted to leave without him she would be this upset. When Katey found her voice again it was not the same. Deep sadness laced her words, making Javier shudder and crush her to his chest.

"Your family needs you, Javier. They cannot survive without you. I can."

Katey complied with him and let him hold her. She knew she was doing the right thing, sending him away but why did it hurt so much?

"No, my love, no. Do not say such things. This cannot be true. I know you better than this. You want me, I can feel it. Why do you deny this?" His voice was that of pure pain and torture. He couldn't hold back as his shattered world fragmented once again around him.

"Javier, please try to understand! This is about you and your family. I don't belong here, this is your world. I still have yet to find where I belong."

"You belong here!" Javier pulled back just enough to hit his hand to his chest, where his heart was.

"You are my world, Katey. I love you more than anything. I would give you the stars if that is what you wanted. Your love has changed me into a better man, a man who can see who deserves his love."

Katey pushed him off of her at hearing these words. She glared at him through her tears and a new fire was lit in her. She had to make him go back, even if it killed her on the inside.

"How dare you think that your family does not deserve your love? If that is what you truly believe then I don't know who I fell in love with but it is certainly not you!" She levelled her gaze at him as his shocked eyes registered what she had said. He didn't have time to amend his words before Katey spoke again.

"I can't be with you, Javier. I am leaving whether you will 'let' me or not. You must go back to your family. You have them; they will always love you and be able to forgive you. I will love you but not like this. It would never work if it had to be like this."

She stood up after this, brushing the sand off her skirt. Javier stood as well; he seized her around the waist and brought her to him. The pain that shone in his eyes will haunt her for the rest of her days. But it had to be like this. They knew from the beginning that their love could go on even if they had to sacrifice their happiness for it. Katey was giving him freedom, and it was breaking her heart. Katey looked up again into his eyes, she couldn't help but press her lips to his in a soulful kiss. Javier grasped at her love, no matter of the harsh words spoken before. Katey pulled away and spoke against his lips.

"Goodbye, my love. I will be with you forever but now you must be with your family."

With that she detangled herself from his arms and walked away. She walked back to her family, just as he was walking back to his.

El Fin

A/N: Sob! I hate sad endings but this is how it had to be  Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this story and please don't hate me for the ending! It was what came to me and hey, you've liked my inspiration so far! Just a comment going out to one of my reviewers; yes, I know the Spanish "sucks" but I was just using a free online translator, like I have already stated. I am fluent in French and English, not Spanish. Though it would be fun….Anyways, to all you lovely reviewers who gave me such kind encouragement, this story is dedicated to you! Because you are the reason I write and want to keep writing! Thank you and as always…

À bientôt!

La Esméralda