Surprise, second update!

I decided to do an entire chapter from Hunter's POV just because I can and I'm getting good at writing Hunter angst. This is also gonna be a shorter chapter just to serve as a sort of interlude while I prepare for the King reveal (I'm putting it off while I figure out Titan Trappers and how they fit into this) and for our days at Hexside.

Bad but sad boi hours, activate. Trigger warning for trauma and blood.

He was awoken by the sound of his phone going off.

With a groan, Hunter reached over and picked it up, checking the calendar notification that had popped up. His stomach dropped upon reading it.

Event with Mamí, Luz, and Vee. 5 PM.

Today was the day, huh. Nine years and it still didn't get any easier. He still remembered that day like it had just happened—every moment, everything he'd seen and heard and felt as a terrified seven-year-old, and everything that had come after. He didn't know why he remembered it so much more clearly than Luz. Maybe it was because he'd been older when it happened, or maybe it was something else. Whatever it was, today was going to be a rough one.

He set his phone back down on the nightstand and laid back, sighing.

The sound of his door creaking open got his attention, and he sat up slightly to see Vee in her pajamas. In her arms was her stuffed tiger. Without a word, she crossed his room and clambered onto his bed. He knew what she was trying to do and scooted over to make space for her. She snuggled up beside him, giving him that warm hug he got from her every year on this day. The one that made it a little easier to get through it. Luz had done it for a few years, too, when she was younger.

"…are you gonna be okay today?" she whispered, her voice almost inaudible.

"I can't make any promises. I'll do my best, but it's hard."

She nodded.

Maybe it was time he asked Mom to track down a therapist for him here in Bonesborough.

A chirp rang through the air as Flapjack flew over to join them. He'd been sleeping in the little nest Hunter had made out of a sweatshirt that was ready to be thrown out and now he was apparently ready for the day. He landed on Hunter's head, settling there and making Vee giggle a little.

"Flapjack wants you to feel better, too."

"Yeah."

He didn't say it, but just a couple of inches away from where Flapjack had nestled was the one and only scar that Hunter had from his time as a Noceda. Today marked nine years since he'd gotten it. Nine years since the accident.

Nine years since they'd lost Luis Noceda.

About an hour and a half later, he and Vee went downstairs to find Luz and Camila were already up, the former picking at her breakfast while the latter searched through the craft supplies.

"Hey. How you doing?" Luz asked.

"Good as I can be." Hunter got out his favorite cereal and poured himself a bowl. "How long have you been up?"

"Six. My notification went off and I just… couldn't sleep."

He nodded in sympathy, then started eating his cereal as Camila set out the paper and markers and everything else they'd need for another one of their yearly rituals. She gave him a patient smile.

"Hey, Mom?" spoke up Vee, stirring her own cereal in the bowl.

"Yes, mija?"

"…what was Dad like?"

Hunter felt his throat tighten. He silently reminded himself that this was a day to remember their father, and that talking about him was a good way to do that. But he was worried that if he started, he wouldn't be able to start.

You were only his son for three years, hissed a voice in his head, one that had a peculiar accent. What right do you have to mourn him like that? You aren't even his real child.

"Your father… he was a good man," Camila said, and Luz put her bowl in the dishwasher before grabbing some of the paper and a pair of scissors. "Kind and gentle with a big heart. Creative, too. That's where your sister gets her imagination from."

"He read to me and Hunter a lot. And he read to you, too, even if you don't remember it," Luz added. "And I remember he used to tell really bad jokes that I didn't get because I was too young."

"We make flowers every year for him. Is there a reason?"

"He always brought flowers for all of us on our birthdays," Camila explained. "You tried to eat yours on your second."

"I remember that," Hunter chuckled. "He had to pull the petals out of your mouth and he said he bet you wouldn't be a picky eater."

"And I'm not."

"Yeah, you're not." He gave her a small smile, then returned to his breakfast.

At five till five, the Nocedas gathered on the couch as Camila set up her laptop. Vee held the flowers she'd made, leaning against Hunter as their mother made the video call to Tía Lola. Their aunt appeared onscreen, the camera shaky as she walked through the Gravesfield Graveyard.

"Hey," she greeted them with a smile. "It's nice to see you all."

"Hi, Tía," the three kids greeted her in unison.

"You all did a great job on the flowers. I don't think I did too bad a job on mine."

She held up the bouquet in her hands before coming to a stop and fumbling with the camera to set it up properly.

When the picture truly focused again, there it was. Dad's grave.

"Thank you for doing this, Lola," Camila told her.

"No problem. Anything for my cuñada and my sobrinos. Luis would really appreciate this."

Lola walked forward, setting the flowers in front of the grave and then kneeling beside it to brush away the late-summer debris that had accumulated. She smiled at the camera.

"Maybe next year you'll be able to come up here when things are more settled."

"Maybe," agreed Camila.

"Hi, Dad," Luz greeted the grave. "I, uh, we're not there. This year, I mean. But we're here."

"We moved," Vee mumbled.

"We miss you," Hunter said in almost a whisper.

And I'm sorry.

The next half hour was telling Dad about the two-and-a-half months they'd been in Bonesborough—their new friends, what they'd been up to, how excited they were to start at the new school. It was mostly Luz and Vee doing the talking and Mom and Tía Lola occasionally chipping in with some of their own stories of the past year. Hunter was just… having an off day as he looked at the stone that marked where the first father he could remember having was buried.

"Why do you call me mijo?"

"Because you're my son."

"But I'm not your kid. Not like Luz."

"Listen, we may not be related by blood, but that doesn't make you any less of my kid. You're my son, Hunter, and I love you very much. Just as much as Luz, and just as much as I'll love the new baby."

"Even if it's a boy?"

"Even if it's a boy. You'll still be my son no matter what."

The call ended, they said their goodbyes, and Hunter went back up to his room.

As he laid down on the bed, he reached up and touched the scar hidden beneath his mess of blonde hair.

Suddenly he could hear it all over again—the sound of rain, the screeching of tires… the crash. He could feel the warm blood trickling down the side of his head and he could hear Luz screaming beside him, wailing for their father. And he could see his father's arm, stuck out to protect them both despite him being in the driver's seat and them both being in the back.

There was the sirens, police radios and their mother sobbing as she clutched Vee, who was crying because she didn't understand what was going on. A paramedic lifted him and Luz out of the car and they were brought over to an ambulance to be tended to while their mother begged them to tell her if Luis was alive, please tell her he was alive, tell her that her children were alive.

He could see his father being loaded onto a stretcher, unmoving as a paramedic delivered the news and he could hear Camila scream in grief in response.

"Your husband didn't make it."

And still, above it all, the sound of rain pouring down.

He turned over, resting that side of his head against the pillow. His door opened and he heard the sound of small feet crossing the room to come climb into bed beside him. And surprisingly, a second set following shortly after.

"It's gonna be okay," Luz assured him.

And then he let himself cry as his sisters hugged him from either side. He kept crying until eventually he fell asleep with them beside him.

They didn't leave his side all night.

Uh…

That got dark. Should I make a joke? Nope, I shouldn't.

Like I said, this was an interlude chapter, and I properly introduce Tía Lola (who is more or less inspired by Dolores from Encanto for no reason at all) who will be showing up later. And I gave Hunter more trauma, fun.

My update schedule is unpredictable, so friendly reminder to follow or subscribe if you wanna know when this is gonna update.

So long and thanks for all the fish!