Hello everyone! Now that my sinus headache from the shifting weather where I'm from has passed and stopped plaguing my life… I can FINALLY post this chapter! Lol. This chapter contains a flashback of Diego as an 11 year old in a situation with Heather. But, we'll start with present day, 17 year old Diego Burromuerto Wilson after his regimental Olympian training. Enjoy! ;)

({No POV})

Diego just got out of the shower and started toweling off his hair, still cooling down after an intense workout session with his trainer.

Now that Diego was considered the best fencer in the world currently after his Olympic gold medal victory, he was determined to ruthlessly defend his position and his image. Especially after he saw and knew Jules Dupont could have bettered him in their match if he hadn't gone out partying and treating then '16 year old him' like an 'easy win'.

As much as that belittling thought pissed him off, he also used it as strategic motivation to not underestimate any of his future opponents.

Speaking of his 'image' and things that pissed him off, Diego went wide eyed in the mirror at what he saw practically taunting him on his forehead that he didn't remember seeing earlier.

A newly formed zit.

Diego rolled his eyes before saying under his breath in annoyance, "Ay, mierda." He opened the drawer next to the sink and got out his pimple popper/blackhead removal kit and spot treatment cream.

He took his tool of choice and looked like he was about to rid his complexion of the intruder, until he stopped and looked almost thoughtful for a moment as a memory took over.

A 'memory' he hadn't thought of in years and that almost fondly yet frustratingly perplexed him to this very day.

6 years ago

Heather had a bit of a gap in her Sunday morning before she had to go meet with a new prospective sponsor to supply her wardrobe on her show.

Alejandro was already out as she made her way back upstairs to her accessory closet that she was hoping to find a more suitable clutch to go with her outfit.

She was making her way down the hall until she heard getting louder and louder the closer she got to the bathroom she was approaching, "No, no, no, no…"

Diego's voice.

She quirked up an eyebrow and stopped short of the door as she kept hearing his vocal tone increase in both dread and panic. Slowly she peered into the doorway to see her 11 year old son intensely staring at himself in the bathroom mirror and looking progressively more mortified as he kept touching a particular spot on his face.

It took a couple seconds until Heather's eyes went wide as her heart felt like it stopped as cement started hardening in the pit if her stomach, now feeling almost a strong mixture of PTSD mixed with a sense of déjà vu at what she was seeing.

Diego got and was freaking out over acne… specifically his first white head that decided to form square between the eyebrows on his forehead.

Practically advertising itself like a hideous billboard on her adolescent son's forehead… something she remembered all too well and made her stomach clench even more as she kept looking at Diego. Almost as if she was seeing herself at his age struggling with her own acne terrorizing her complexion for years to follow.

While her acne was much worse than Diego's seemed at the moment, it wasn't like she didn't understand what he was feeling. Much the opposite actually as she continued to watch him touch it only to back off and continue to look freaked out about it, pretty much indicating he had no idea how to deal with it.

As much as Heather usually felt hesitant when it came to most things with her son, she straightened up and crossed her arms as he got right in the middle of the doorway.

She gave her son a very determined look as she directed, maybe a bit too pointedly, "Stop touching it."

Diego reacted almost violently and almost stumbled back from being startled. Well, until he regained his footing and went wide eyed when he realized it was his mother.

Heather, while still a bit unsure how to approach the situation, got a grip over herself and remained determined as she said, pointing toward the floor with one hand as she got out her phone with the other and stated, "Stay there and just… don't touch it."

Diego, while still MAJORLY confused about 'whatever this situation was' between himself and his mother, kept his place and did what he was told and gave her a nod in understanding.

Sure not that they had a 'bad' or 'unhealthy' relationship… but it was a distant and unsure one to say the least.

Diego never really knew what to say around his mother and Heather felt the same way toward him since she never really had a solid 'mother figure' since her mom didn't fit that bill at all for her growing up.

But, Diego just kept staring at her in curiosity as Heather got on her phone and said, clearly talking to her assistant, "Gabriella, clear my morning, something came up… Yes, and?... Well, if they get pissed about it and change their minds then whatever, their loss. There's plenty of other fashion designers chomping at the bit to get me to wear their clothes. And if they don't like it, then they can get bent. Now, 'clear' my morning schedule… Good."

Diego went wide eyed at what he even realized as an 11 year old at this moment.

His mother, a woman who was so committed to her career that she refused to call off her show the night when she was in labor with him, actually canceled a meeting with someone for work and cleared her entire morning schedule just for him.

It was almost like he was paralyzed and had forgotten all about his zit as Heather hung up and immediately strutted over to him and put her purse on the counter before digging through it.

Diego was practically captivated as Heather said, while pulling out a small kit from her purse, "Okay, rule one, do not use your hands to pop a zit ever. And especially don't if you haven't thoroughly washed your hands or that one zit is going to turn into five more. Trust me. Instead, I want you to use this and this only to get rid of any acne you get. I'll get you your own along with some vanishing cream from abuela's company and I want you to always keep them in that drawer so you don't lose them. But, for now, use mine. Now, just line it up and then press it down, so…here, do it."

For about almost a full minute, Diego just stood there in almost overwhelmed shock with the pimple popper tool still in his hand.

Well, until Heather got frustrated with his confused and overwhelmed 'in-action' and exasperated slightly, "Ugh. Okay, fine, whatever. I'll show you."

Heather immediately washed her hands before she took the tool out of his hand with one of hers and used her other hand to rest on the side of her son's face to keep him steady.

But to Diego… this is one of the most affectionate gestures his mother ever gave him to his memory.

Aside from when she'd put a hand on his shoulder in family pictures or sometimes giving him a painfully awkward pat on the shoulder when they have rare 'one on one' greeting encounters together. But touching his face after possibly talking directly to him using more words than just an 'awkward greeting' like hello or goodbye was almost too much for his whole being to handle at this moment.

He kept staring at Heather as she proceeded to pop his zit and then went into detailed yet concise instructions on how to properly wash his face and how to apply vanishing cream.

And while most preteens would find this 'boring' or 'a chore' to take advice like hygiene/skin care from his mother… instead he was practically eating up this spontaneously unexpected morning of spending time with her.

Even to the extent of her showing him how to use concealer/cover up to smooth over any unwanted acne in a pinch.

With Heather even spending the time to find the perfect skin tone match since between her, Diego, and Alejandro… all of them were completely different on a cosmetic level in that department.

But, Heather was determined to ensure Diego would not be the 'object of ridicule' like she was at his age over acne by anyone.

It was almost noon by the time they were finished as Heather gave her son the cover up they managed to find in her designated makeup room in the house, which was basically a glorified half bath with a full vanity in it. Heather mainly used it as a room for her and her personal stylist to get her 'camera ready' when she had an early or later day of appearances.

"There, now don't lose that. And if you need more then just ask Luz [Alejandro and Heather's housekeeper who normally did their shopping and looked after Diego's basic needs now that he was too old for a nanny and more self sufficient] to get some more for you when you run out, okay?" Heather instructed as a still overwhelmed Diego simply nodded his head at her in understanding.

Heather looked like he was about to say something else until her phone sounded off, giving her a notification for an afternoon appointment before she headed to her studio downtown to film her show.

She put her phone back and looked like she was about to walk out until she stopped dead as Diego finally spoke up, stuttering slightly out of unsure nerves, "M-madre?"

Heather slowly looked behind her only to go wide eyed at seeing Diego now hardly a foot away from her.

Although nervous and unsure like with most things between them, Diego straightened himself up as he continued in an effort of braver gratitude… and also trying to prolong the morning he and Heather spent practically 'bonding' together, "Muchas gracias, madre… For helping me."

Heather could feel her stomach clench a little in unsure trepidation. Well until her stomach felt like it practically imploded and her eyes almost fell out of her head as Diego took a chance and hugged her before he had time to think, something that almost never happened between them.

Heather just stood there as if turned to stone by Medusa for a moment. Well, until she (though hesitantly) eventually wrapped her arms around him for a moment and responded almost inaudibly, sounding just as caught off guard as she felt, "No problem..."

Sure it wasn't a loving or sweet 'You're welcome, son' type response like he had been hoping for, but this was something that he never thought would happen between himself and his mother.

Well, until the hug abruptly ended as Heather let go and took a slight step back. She had a hand on his shoulder still as she said, "I have to go… Padre should be back by your dinner."

Then just as abruptly as the hug ended, Heather almost speedily strutted out of the room and made her way out the door.

And in all that… Heather never did change out her clutch like she planned to.

Present

Diego kept looking at himself in the mirror, looking thoughtful for a moment at the memory.

He didn't even realize for a moment he was putting his hand in the side of his face like Heather had done that day.

He kept thinking until a frustrated expression came over him, causing him to shake the perplexing memory from his mind as he went back to tending to the zit still taunting him on his forehead.

Well… I hope I did this justice to show more of Diego and Heather's mother-son dynamic. With Heather's personality plus her 'less than attentive childhood', I wanted to show more of how I envisioned in a realistic scenario of how she'd tackle a situation between her and Diego. And I thought helping her then adolescent son through his first zit and giving him skin care tips was perfect! At least I thought it was. :) After all, from my perspective, Heather may not be extremely 'maternal', but that doesn't mean she doesn't care. And after her tween and early teen years involved her having struggles with her own acne and being bullied over her appearance… no way in HELL she'd let anyone bully her son over it too if she had the capability to do something about it. But, because it's still Diego and Heather… you can see why Diego has 'mommy issues' in a way. Particularly since his mother keeps on being very 'hot and cold' with him. But, I just always envisioned Heather as being a bit standoffish in a way since her childhood kind of sucked. She was not raised in a loving environment so I can see that unfortunately impacting her parenting and confusing the ever living HELL out of Diego as a result. But, she does care nonetheless about him… Diego just needs to look deeper and see it while Heather needs to just be more open with her maternal love, even if in just her own way. And all this can be summed up to the main point of this story which is 'communicating'. Diego and Heather just need to figure out a way to do so before Diego eventually loses his mind. Poor boy. Haha. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and again, please keep suggesting whatever you'd like to see! :) Hope you all have a lovely weekend and constructive reviews are always appreciated!

Stay classy all!

Dexter1995