Well now that we have just about officially wrapped up the Heather and Diego conflict storyline (I have one more chapter to officially mark this coming up next), but for now we're going to jump back into the story by taking a trip back across the Atlantic Ocean in Ottawa… and with a new added POV too. ;) Anyway, this chapter begins 2 weeks after the previous chapter and we have now hit later November in the current timeline. Hope you all enjoy it! :)

(Felix's POV)

Just gotta… agh, carajo.

Wrong wrench.

I slid back out on the creeper from underneath the car and looked over at Natalie sitting on a milk crate next to me like usual. She was looking at something on her phone until she looked at me and smirked before saying, "Wrong wrench?" She immediately reached over for my wrench one size up before we swapped.

Damn, she always knows.

I smiled back and sat up as I started off, "Sure you wanna box, chica? At this point you can for sure run the shop here with me. Feels like you always know what tool I need better than me half the time."

She just gave me an even bigger smirk and rolled her eyes before saying, "Yeah, right. I think we already established you are 'the fixer' and I'm 'the breaker'. I'd be too out of my element here. Or are you trying to find more excuses to get me to spend more time in the garage?"

Hmm…

I smirked and got up off the creeper before holding my hand out to her. She eventually got that cute half-smile on her face and (totally lame as it sounds)... damn, I can't get enough of it when I see her looking like that as she grabbed my hand.

I pulled her up and she didn't even waste any time as she put her hands on my shoulders and I immediately pulled her in closer against me as I jabbed back, "Why do you always gotta be like that? You know I support you kickin' ass in the ring, right?"

Then I seriously thought I was gonna lose it when she started brushing her fingertips against the hairs on the back of my neck that always drives me crazy in the best way possible.

She got even closer as she said, getting that small smile back on her face as I felt like I was practically getting pulled into those gray eyes, "I know… although I can't believe you still can't tell when I'm just messing with you."

We both started laughing and I couldn't even do anything else as she immediately leaned in and kissed me.

We stayed like that for a few moments until I couldn't help myself when I pulled back and kissed her on the forehead as I kept holding her close.

A'right, I know it sounds kinda weird, but ever since I was little and I'd see my dad do the exact same thing with my mom.

Every time he'd come up from the garage in the evening when my mom would be watching me after coming home from her job at the laundromat in the morning when I was little, my pop would always pull my mom into a bear hug that always made her laugh and playfully give him crap about 'smothering her' until he'd just laugh and give her a kiss on the lips and the forehead before letting go of her.

And… I always wanted to do that too with a girl ever since I realized I was into girls like that.

And it's not like I didn't try before I met Nat.

Cuz trust me, I tried!

Especially at Quinceañeras and other neighborhood parties, I always tried to go for a lot of the girls I thought were 'feeling it' with me from school and on our block… nothin'.

Well, first I noticed they always got this weird look before giving me the 'you're a nice guy, but…' or 'it's not you it's me' stuff to let me down… it wasn't until I was 17 and walking out of the store getting some stuff for my mom that I heard a couple of girls around the corner talking and I heard them talking about me.

One of them was a girl I asked out a few days ago at a block party we had on our street and everything they were talking about with me was basically 'he's cute but the leg thing freaked them out'.

Not gonna lie… that stung pretty hard and I was mad about it for a few days until my dad saw what was going on with me and made me talk to him about it.

Look, I love my pop and he taught me everything I know about cars, but I didn't want a pep-talk or more lies about 'it's not me it's them' stuff and feel like an object of pity.

I've only had one 'normal' leg my whole life and it used to never bother me since I was always able to walk and play soccer in the street with the other kids when I was little and I never really felt like there was anything 'wrong' with me… until I heard those girls talking about me.

Not gonna lie and lookin' back on it, I was kinda bein' an asshole to my dad when he was trying to talk about what was up with me.

At first I thought my dad was gonna get pissed at me, but instead he said something that was pretty solid and still remember to this day.

Hey, I know hearin' stuff like that burns like hell, but if that's how they feel about you… then you don't really want girls like them. You need someone who really likes you for everything about you and doesn't treat you like anything less than a man.

My dad usually isn't the best with words and stuff and even though it took a while and I had that 'run in' with Nat a couple weeks later, he was right.

Sure at first I was still not believing any of that, especially after Nat snapped at me for just trying to help her (even though I had no idea at the time that I wasn't 'the problem' for her).

It wasn't until the next day when Nat came back that at first I had no idea what to do with it at first.

She actually came back and said she was 'sorry', and she actually meant it.

At that moment, it was like flipping a switch as we started talking to each other that first night when she came back to say she was sorry for yelling at me.

A'right, I'm not gonna lie, Natalie's hot… like 'perfect 10' hot. So I'm not gonna lie and say 'looks' had nothing to do with why I was crushing hard on her that first night we really talked to each other.

But, it was also because we talked that really clinched it with me being totally into her and trying anything and everything I could to keep hanging out with her.

Mainly because… she was also really cool.

Look, I've known Natalie and practically spent almost every day with her for almost 2 years and I know what she can be like.

Natalie can be impulsive, defensive, and pretty explosive sometimes when something pisses her off. There's a reason why I say she can be a 'firecracker' and I've seen her 'flaws' first hand and her temper can be a lot to handle sometimes.

But, despite that and being a 'rich girl' that a lot of people would think makes her shallow and stuck up, she's really cool and kinda 'sweet' once you actually get to know her and I know I'm only 19 but… she's been the best thing that's ever happened to me.

Even from day one, she never judged or 'pitied' me for anything. She even wanted to see my leg and know about it because she actually wanted to know.

And that was when it hit me. My pop was right.

Natalie never treated me like 'less'.

She's on her way to being a professional boxer, she's from a wealthy family, and she's hotter than hell… So at first I had no idea why she kept coming around and wanting to hang out with me and eventually wanting actually to be with me?

Because, at least to me and not that I was in any way complaining, but… what the hell did I have to give her that would make her want me?

Because I know who I am and where I come from and I have no shame admitting it.

I'm broke as a fuckin' joke, man.

I'm lucky to have a couple bucks in my wallet at any time, I was raised in an old-ass and dirty garage, and I know I'm not going anywhere by choosing to be a mechanic like my dad and taking over the garage just cuz I love working on cars.

That's who I am and I'm not ashamed to admit any of that about myself, because all in all… I'm happy with 'me'.

Honestly, that was part of the reason my parents gave me my name.

Because my parents really wanted kids and were lucky to have any kids at all honestly. Since my parents are older and never had much money, adoption was pretty much 'off the table' and could only have kids 'naturally'.

But, since my parents had so much trouble 'conceiving' for decades, they thought it was never gonna happen… until they had me.

And despite me being born without the lower half of my left leg, my parents were so happy to have me that they didn't even care and just felt 'happy' and 'lucky' to have me.

So, they named me 'Felix' which means both of those things and never made me feel like I was 'different'.

And as a kid and even though my family was always poor, I never knew any different. Because my parents always loved me, I was always well fed, had clothes on my back (despite them being hand-me-downs from neighbors and cousins), and I was always happy just doing whatever.

Then it all hit me.

As Natalie and I hung out more, I saw how much her life sucked and how fuckin' miserable she was.

As a stupid 17 year old, I thought a girl like her probably had 'everything'. She was pretty, her parents were rich, and all her clothes were brand new and from expensive brands at that… but her life was sad.

Her parents really don't care about her (I never met her parents but they sound like scumbags from what Natalie told me), they don't support her being a professional boxer despite her dad being a former boxer at her gym, and she was lonely and had no friends because she didn't trust anyone.

I just had no idea about any of that with her and only realized she was in my neighborhood because she was running away after getting hit on and felt up by some guy at her gym (still wish she would've told me who he was so I could've kicked his shit in, but she kept wanting me to drop it).

But then I realized it… I made her happy.

It took awhile for me to realize it as we started hanging out and eventually started dating, but I could see I really did make her happy… just like she did for me.

Sure I know I'm 19 and she's the only girl I've ever been in a relationship with but, I can't even think about what my life would even be like without her.

And... agh, man, I love her so much and its killing me to hold back right now.

On some level even I still can't believe I want to do this and even Diego and my parents were a little shocked but… damn, I really want to take that next step with her.

I just want to wait until she's closer to graduating high school in a couple months to ask her. But, I want to make sure it's perfect and with Diego 'helping me out' and telling me something about her I never knew... I know how to make it even more perfect.

But, right now… I'm good.

I'm running the garage, I've got a girlfriend who totally kicks ass in every way possible, and… hey, I'm happy.

We both kept holding onto each other until the service bell went off and heard, "Perdóname. Espero que no estemos interrumpiendo."

Natalie and I broke apart a little as I looked over and saw this old man and lady standing in the doorway of the garage door.

Yeah, they were older, but they looked good. I mean, my parents are both 65 and even though they both looked older than my parents, they looked really good for their age and… fancy.

No joke, I didn't even know people dressed like this anymore.

Yeah, the older lady was just in a nice dress with a jacket over it, but the older guy was dressed in a full on three-piece suit and taking off a fancy looking hat like you'd see guys wear back in the day in movies or somethin'.

I also had no idea what people like this were doin' in my neighborhood?

I was about to ask if they wanted something until I heard Nat say under her breath, "No…"

My head whipped over to look at her and she looked like her eyes were about to fall out of her head and her whole body looked as coiled up as a spring.

Before I could ask her what was up, I heard the old man speak up again as he said, "Please, I really hope we aren't disturbing you, but we were 'in the area' and wanted to introduce ourselves. I am Gerardo Burromuerto Navarro and this is my lovely wife Elena, we're Natalie's grandparents."

Wait… Natalie's grandparents?

Once all that 'set in', I tensed up too.

Sure Natalie talked to me about her grandparents a bit, but she talked out how they were even more 'high society' types than she was so… damn.

I had no idea what was up until her abuela walked up to me (who I now realized looked a lot like Natalie that it was kinda freaking me out). Then again if this is what Natalie's gonna look like later on… I'm not gonna complain.

I shook my head inside to get back on track as her abuela slowly smiled at me and reached out her hand as she started, "Hola, I'm sorry we haven't met until now and as my husband already said, I am Elena Ledvora Ortiz de Burromuerto, Natalie's abuela. I understand you must be Natalie's novio, sí?"

Her abuelo jumped back into it as he continued, "Again, we apologize for intruding and meeting like this, but it also wasn't without reason. From what I heard you're a very mechanically apt young man and I was wondering if you wouldn't mind having a look at my car? If that's alright, Felix? It is Felix, isn't it?"

Wait… her grandparents know about me? And they wanted to 'meet me'?

But, I was trying to keep it cool even though my palms felt so sweaty right now as I reached out and shook both their hands, really trying to make sure I was making a good impression.

Hey I don't usually care what people think of me, but these are Natalie's grandparents and I know they're important to her. I know I'm a grease stained all over mechanic that always smells like gasoline and her grandparents are pretty 'ritzy' and stuff so… I'm gonna show them how much I love and care about her, aside from the fact that I also tattooed their granddaughter's name on my arm as my first tattoo back during the summer that everyone I show it to thinks is crazy (including Natalie and my parents at first).

But, I really didn't care, it was worth it.

Luckily I had a long sleeve flannel shirt on right now since it's late November and cold as hell out, so at least that's something they don't have to know about… at least right now.

"Sí señor, Felix Heredia. Nice finally meeting you both. Nat's told me a lot about you guys." I said, nodding my head to them to try to be respectful.

At first I thought things were going pretty well until I saw them looking almost 'concerned' as they looked behind me and I saw what was up when I turned around and saw Nat pretty much locked up in shock or something?

Okay… this is freaking me out.

"Babe, you okay?" I asked, watching the color draining from her face and almost like she saw a ghost.

Then I heard heavy steps coming downstairs and my dad calling out, "Oye! Felix! I'm going out to get some beer. Do ya?..."

Right as my dad got to the base of the stairs, I felt like I was right there with Natalie as we all stood in awkward silence.

Ahhhh… Damn…

1 hour later

(Natalie's POV)

What the?...

And how did?!...

Just… FUCK!

WHAT the FUCK is happening right now?!

Seriously, am I going full on delusional and seeing things from the exhaust fumes from spending all day in the garage with Felix?!

Like what is happening?!

My grandparents, who I have never seen set foot into a place with less than 3 stars, are currently sitting around on stacked up milk crates and tires while talking, laughing, and drinking coffee with Felix and his parents in the garage.

Just… WHAT?!

I felt like I was still spiraling in confusion over the past hour as I watched Felix practically having an overjoyed stroke while he tuned up abuelo's sports car for him and then Maria came down with coffee as soon as Luís called up that my grandparents were here.

Which… How the hell did they end up here?!

And how did they even find me?

Apparently I didn't even need to say anything to have anything addressed as I heard abuelo say, "Something wrong, mi cariña?"

I whipped my head up and it was like I had 'word constipation' as I looked up at him and kept opening my mouth to say something but had nothing come out and made me look like an absolute moron.

Eventually he sat on a stack of tires next to me as he said, sighing a bit, "To spare your confusion, I'll be honest. Diego told me everything."

Immediately I felt all my muscles in me lock up as I robotically looked in front of me.

My veins felt like they were tightening as my blood that was on the verge of boiling was trying to force its way through. I grit my teeth and started almost snarling out, "That double crossing little piece of…"

But right as I was about to stand up in the middle of my tirade, feeling ready to swim the entire Atlantic and run all the way to Madrid to strangle Diego, Abuelo immediately stopped me as he said, "Natalie, take a deep breath and try to calm yourself. I know you and Diego have always been close and I assume you feel like he betrayed your trust by not keeping this all a secret, but I want you to listen to me. Because Diego shared this same sentiment with me and expressed doubts on whether he even wanted to tell me."

"So then why the hell did he?! He no fucking right to do that after he promised me he wasn't going to!" I snapped, still feeling like I wanted to blow a gasket.

But, Abuelo just gave a steady yet calm look as he said, making my stomach tense up in guilt immediately, "Because he was concerned about losing you… and quite frankly so were myself and your abuela when we both found out about your 'plan' to just run off without telling any of us and casting yourself out. Why didn't you want to tell us about any of this, mija?"

Agh… fuck…

My insides kept twisting in intense guilt and I was barely able to look at Abuelo anymore.

I looked away even more as I bit my lip and hung my head, knowing I was busted big time, until I eventually swallowed hard and finally got out as I continued to push down the guilt of feeling like the world's shittiest granddaughter, "Because… Ugh, look around here, abuelo! Felix isn't exactly 'our people'. I just didn't think you or abuela would approve of a guy like him and where he comes from and… I freaked out. I know you'll probably say I'm young and stupid for saying this but… Felix is everything to me. He actually cares about me, supports me with boxing, and he loves me. And… I love him too, Abuelo. I've never had anyone like Felix in my life and I just... I don't want anything to happen to lose him. But, I know with Felix and his family and who they are… you even have to admit they wouldn't exactly be the 'types' in our usual 'social circles'?"

Somehow I managed to get my backbone back enough to look over at Abuelo again only to see him letting out a slight sigh before smoothing back in hair and looking at me as he replied, "Well, if you would have brought up that point to me 20 years ago, I'm sorry to say I probably would have agreed with that opinion. But, that was how I was raised to think as well. After all, your abuela and I met due to us consorting within our own social class. However, time and life has shown me that while something seems 'proper' and 'respectable' in concept and on paper doesn't mean it always equates to a 'great match'... and I have unfortunately realized this in full force for the past two decades."

He didn't even need to say anything more to me to make me realize he was talking about my parents.

Then he caught me off guard even more as he continued while putting a hand on my shoulder as he said, "Natalie, I have said this to Diego just recently as well, but I am not here to complicate your life when your life is already complicated enough. I am not here to be your critic… I am here to be your grandfather. My only concern is to make sure you are happy and loved… and I can tell he makes you feel that way. Besides, being in a family means more than just blood. It's also about accepting new members and having all of us bring our skills to the table to help each other. There's always a first for everything… and I think it's time the Burromuerto's had a talented mechanic to join our ranks, sí?"

As if I wasn't already in a state of shock enough at everything he just said about pretty much 'approving of Felix', he smirked and added, "So, if you ever want to take a break from your boxing for a holiday and want to visit with your young man to the house, you both will always be welcome no matter what or who is there. I have no intention of telling either of your parents and will leave that entirely up to you since you are a young woman perfectly capable of making your own choices and decisions. But just know that you will not nor will you ever be cast out."

He smiled at me before he leaned over and gave me a kiss on the cheek and I couldn't stop myself as I immediately latched my arms around him in a hug.

At first my throat felt so swollen and I was trying so hard not to cry despite how relieved I felt right now.

Eventually I felt 'okay' enough as I got out, "Gracias, Abuelo."

Right then I tensed up a little for a second on reflex until I immediately relaxed as I heard him respond in his usual calm tone, "De nada, mija."

Sorry, I keep giving you all 'emotional assassin ' chapters between Heather and Diego in the previous one and Gerardo and Natalie in the one, but I just really wanted to make sure started tying up some loose ends in this series of arcs before moving onto the next/final bits before this fanfic officially becomes updated by reader requests only. Stay tuned for more info! I do really hope you enjoyed this peak into Felix's perspective and also enjoyed seeing how despite Natalie's concerns with her family toward her chosen life path and relationship with Felix, Gerardo and Elena don't really seem to mind too much at all. Because I really wanted to show something through Gerardo and how he feels partially responsible and guilty over setting up Kelsey with José after seeing how toxic of a couple they ended up becoming when really he just wanted to push his son into a 'suitable match' in an attempt to 'tame him' from his rude and womanizing ways, but ended up getting married and having a daughter with a woman [i.e. Kelsey] who is just as toxic and rude as he is and only kept and had Natalie for material and social gain. So, Gerardo at this point in his life really keeps learning life lessons and really just wants Natalie to be a happy and productive young woman with her own life and be with someone who loves her, which she already has done on many fronts. ;) Either way, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and more to come for Natalie and Felix, so again… stay tuned! Thanks as always for reading and constructive feedback is always very much appreciated.

Take care and stay classy all!

Dexter1995

P.S. For those of you who picked up on the little 'Easter Egg' in this chapter of Felix having a tattoo of Natalie's name on his bicep, 'this' is also the same tattoo that Diego saw under Felix's sleeve but just couldn't quite make it out. But, yes, Felix really did go to a friend of his in the neighborhood who runs a tattoo parlor and impulsively got Natalie's name written on his arm as his first love, best friend, and girlfriend. Yes, there is a social stigma jinx about tattooing the names of romantic partners on yourself, but hey… Natalie and Felix are just a couple of crazy kids in love and one way or another which one of us didn't make some questionable choices in our teens? I know I did A LOT of cringey and embarrassing stuff when I was in high school and my early university years. But, hey, I've liked to think I learned and gotten better now as an almost 27 year old woman. Haha.