Alright ya'll! This chapter is a bit short, but OH you do not want to miss where I will be taking things after this. THIS is when things start to get more interesting. ;) Hope you all enjoy!

({No POV})

The country club event was still in full swing as Diego walked out of the bathroom and back into the hallway.

While still disappointed and frustrated with his confession to Claire being ruined, he was trying to push it back down and try to maintain his composure to save face and at least try to enjoy himself.

He was about to walk back into the ballroom until he caught sight of his mother standing by herself a little further down the hall.

Curious, he quirked up an eyebrow before making his way down the hall toward her.

After all, from his perspective, if he wasn't able to be brave with Claire… he might as well prove he wasn't entirely 'spineless' by attempting to talk to his mother.

He got closer and noticed her just seeming fixated on something on the wall. There was confusion for a fraction of a second until he realized what she was looking at.

The Dance Showcase Award Wall.

And even more specifically she seemed to be looking at the area where all her plaques with Shane resided on the wall.

But, seeing this as the perfect opportunity to try and finally get to have a genuine and in depth conversation with his mother.

Diego grinned as he started, "Hola madre, what are you looking at?"

Heather whipped her head over, clearly so deep in thought that she didn't even realize Diego was there.

But, reacting on instinct to save face, Heather turned her attention away and shrugged as she said, pointedly yet very evasive, "It's nothing. You don't need to know about it… I'm going back in to find your father."

With that Heather strutted off, leaving nothing but the clicks of her high heels in her wake along with a very confused Diego.

Well, until that perplexion in his expression seemed to slowly but surely started to almost contort.

First to frustration, then to almost... anger.

This was reflected as he clenched his fists and looked back at the wall of plaques, specifically to Heather and Shane's plaques as he narrowed his eyes and said to himself, sound nothing short of frustrated, "Then what 'can' I know? Considering you never care to tell me anything at all."

Meanwhile in an adjacent hallway outside the Huntington Country Club Ballroom

Natalie was slinking around the hallways of her grandparents country club, looking like she was practically on a covert 'spy mission' rather than being an invited guest.

But she was determined to fly below the radar and remain unnoticed.

Finally she rounded the corner down another hallway and kept testing doors. Several of which were locked until she saw what looked like a custodian's supply closet.

Natalie cautiously approached the door and tested her luck.

Unlocked.

"Halle-fucking-lujah." She said in relief under her breath as she immediately slipped inside and shut the door behind her.

Even with the smell of cleaning agents overwhelming the air in the storage closet, Natalie practically welcomed it as she sat on a small step stool in the corner.

After letting out a relieved sigh, she pulled out her phone and immediately made a video call instantaneously.

She waited until after a few moments the call picked up to reveal Felix, grease stains all over his face but none of that mattered as they smiled at each other.

Felix smiled wide as he said, "Hey babe, what's goin' on?"

Natalie scoffed before responding, "Oh you know, just avoiding the fake-ass poser show right now. That and hiding from stupid rich guys. I'm literally talking to you inside of a closet at the club right now."

Felix got a slightly serious look as he said, his tone practically radiating concern for her, "Anyone try anything?"

Despite Natalie knowing that Felix is very aware that she is more than able of 'looking after herself', Felix even before they were dating had always been almost protective of her, especially when it came to other guys hitting on her and making her uncomfortable.

Which she appreciated but Natalie immediately soothed his nerves as she said, "Don't worry about it. No one's tried anything. But, that's why I decided to lay low until this shit show was over. Sorry if I got in the middle of work for you."

Felix smiled again and shrugged as he said, "Eh, don't worry about it. I was just tooling around with an old model a guy brought in, so I straight up smell like gasoline right now."

Natalie smiled as Felix kept telling her about his day and even though she never said it out loud and as weird as it sounded even to her… she always loved how Felix smelled.

Just almost having that permanent smell of oil, gasoline, and grease from working on cars that seemed to permeate his entire being.

But to her… it was comforting.

Just giving him a hug and taking in the familiar scent of him. Feeling warm, secure, and just… comfortable.

Finally she was pulled out just in time as Felix asked, "Nat, when's your…"

"Felix?! Estás ahí?!" A familiar female voice called out in the background.

Felix looked behind him to see an older middle aged woman with black hair pulled back in a messy bun, tanned olive skin, and dark brown eyes.

It was none other than Felix's mother.

Maria Heredia.

She walked into the room and immediately asked, "Mijo, what are you still doing down here? Your dinner is starting to get co-."

Maria looked at the screen of Felix's very old and cracked phone screen and saw Natalie as she smiled and said, practically now inadvertently hijacking the call, "Natalie! Encantada de verte!"

Natalie just smiled slightly and did a slight wave as she responded, "Hola Señora."

Before her and Felix even started dating, Natalie would get invited over constantly to have dinner with Felix and his parents.

While the Heredia's really didn't have much at all, Maria and Felix's father Luís always made sure there was a hot meal on the table with enough to feed anyone and everyone who came over. And at first Natalie felt a little uncomfortable during her dinners with Felix's family.

Not only because she felt guilty about her (who was by all accounts considered a 'privileged, rich girl' to many) crashing their family dinners, but also because she wasn't used to the idea of a regular family dinner.

But… that was because she never had this sort of a 'healthy environment', just to regularly sit down with people who were nice and have a good yet simple time chatting over a meal.

The closest Natalie ever had to that was when her Abuela (Elena) would come over once a month and would pick her up after school growing up and take her to the park and out for ice cream or dinner.

But even that was rare by comparison since her grandmother lived in Spain and only came back to Canada for business reasons with her parents once a month.

However over the past 2 years, she at least had dinner at the Heredia's a couple times a week. And it was always something she looked forward to.

Despite everything and while it was still hard for Natalie to express, the Heredia's always treated her as if she was like family… and she appreciated that more than anything.

Then all of a sudden Maria looked toward her son and immediately grabbed a nearby rag as she said frantically, spitting on it before starting to try and wipe the grease stains off Felix's face, "Oh Felix, dios mío! Look at your face! Here." Natalie's view was immediately obscured as she assumed Felix was actively trying to avoid his mother as he complained, "Ma! No!"

But then she immediately heard his mother respond, pointedly but still well meaning, "But look at you! You look filthy! Is this what you think passes for 'presentable' for your girlfriend?!"

Although that didn't stop Felix from avoiding her and the rag that she just spit on to clean his face as he responded in embarrassed annoyance, "Ma! Stop it! That's nasty! And Nat doesn't even care!"

Natalie couldn't stop herself although tried to hide it as she put a hand over her mouth to keep herself from cracking up into fits of laughter.

5 days later; Madrid, Spain

Diego was walking out of his fencing academy after school.

He readjusted his gym bag over his shoulder as he looked around until he finally located his designated chauffeur and car.

But, as Diego was throwing his things into the back of the car and had a look of focus to him as he kept methodically looking to make sure he had all his things before going home.

But he appeared to not be the only one focused. About a hundred feet away was a black sedan parked along the opposite curb.

The back rear window was open partially showing someone from the inside looking directly at Diego behind a pair of sunglasses.

But, Diego didn't seem to notice as he closed the trunk and climbed into the back of the car before giving the chauffeur the cue to drive.

Their car took off en-route out of the city, but not before the black sedan followed not too long after.

So, before you guys kill me due to the cruel cliffhanger (lol), start making your guesses on who was watching Diego? Place your bets all! Haha. ;) Anyway I hope you enjoyed seeing a bit more of Felix as well as the introduction of Felix's mom, Maria. As you all saw… Maria is literally just a total 'mom'. She's sweet and means well, but she has no shame trying to still 'mother' her now young adult son (even in front of his girlfriend). Sorry Felix! Lol. XD Then on the other hand, we had another mother-son interaction between Heather and Diego… Oh geez. It seems Heather's standoffishness with Diego is starting to 'wear a little' huh? Stay tuned on that one! Anyway, thank you all so much for reading and constructive feedback is always very much appreciated.

Stay Classy!

Dexter1995