Again, 'Soap Opera, Drama Monger Dexter' is here… and dammit she went crazy in this chapter! Lol. XD So for all of you drama lovers… this one is dedicated to all of you! This chapter picks up right after Kelsey and José stormed in to interject at Natalie's wedding. Hope you all enjoy and stay tuned to the end for more info on the status of the fic! :)

(Natalie's POV)

Fuck… FUCK!

WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY DOING HERE?!

The room was dead silent as I just saw my parents staring me down from the other end of the room.

But… HOW?! How did they even find me or even know where I was?!

But, I think my anger took me over more than my shock, as I directed out loud, "What are you doing here?! How the hell did you even find me?!"

All my mom did was roll her eyes and scoff as she crossed her arms and said, her tone practically oozing with sarcasm, "What do you think?! Ever since you moved out we've had eyes and ears everywhere. So just what the hell do you think you're doing anyway?! How oblivious do you think we are that we wouldn't figure it out?!"

I mean… does she really want me to answer honestly since they didn't even realize I'd been dating Felix for years?

I felt like a time bomb about to go off until I heard and saw my Aunt Heather scoff and roll her eyes, not even bothering to turn back and look at my mom which didn't surprise me at all, "Um, what does it look like she's doing? She is doing one of the smartest things she could ever do by staying the hell away from you."

Then immediately my eyes went even wider as I heard Abuela let out the most defined scoff-like laugh I've ever heard as she added, almost thinking out loud in full agreement, "Hmph. Here, here…"

My eyes felt like they fell out momentarily at that since I don't think I've ever seen my Abuela and Aunt Heather agree about anything… ever.

Come to think of it, they usually don't talk to each other much anyway whenever we have a family gathering. The most I've seen them do is either nod at each other or give a quick 'hi' or 'bye' before going separate directions at family gatherings.

My mom completely froze up, almost shooting daggers out of her eyes at the back of Aunt Heather's head… not that Aunt Heather even remotely cared since she just kept looking forward with her usual look of annoyed disinterest whenever my parents walk into a room.

Which is honestly?... Understandable.

Well until my mom almost looked like she was 'asserting herself' as she took a couple steps forward and planted her right foot down almost on emphasis as she stared me down and directed, "Well, whatever, because this isn't fucking happening!"

I could feel my entire being clench as my jaw became so tight I thought my teeth were going to shatter and every blood vessel in my head felt like it was going to burst.

But then the celebrant cut in as she started, pathetically trying and totally failing to control the situation, "Um, I'm afraid we already got through the 'objection' portion of the…" "You shut the fuck up!" My mom practically growled through her teeth.

"Okay…" The celebrant responded and immediately took even more of a step back, sounding terrified. It looked like our celebrant was about to walk away until I held my hand up and looked back at her as I demanded, "No, you stay."

Meanwhile my mom took another step forward and I was this close to exploding as my heartbeat sounded like a deadly stampede pounding in my ears, until I saw her looking at Felix.

Like looking at him in a way that was making my stomach twist, pretty much 'scanning' him up and down until she shrugged and looked at me, narrowing her eyes again, "Natalie, this is ridiculous. I mean he's… well enough. But, can't you at least marry a guy with at least some money?! Or do you intend to spend the rest of your life living in a fucking ghetto?"

I was about to snap until I was shocked when I saw Felix step forward, "Hey, I know you just met me and I don't really give a damn what anyone thinks of me and where I come from, but don't talk to Nat like she's stupid. And maybe you'd know that she wasn't too if you ever bothered to pay attention to her. And yeah, I'm not rich, but I don't live in a box or somethin'. Because she's not with me for money and doesn't need anyone for their money either. Cuz I provide for her where it really matters. Like you never did for her."

I was literally in a state of shock as I watched Felix almost staring down my mom as I felt him grabbing my hand, making my mom go wide eyed.

Even though I was still enraged and felt like I wanted to blow a gasket, it was like Felix's hand was almost 'steadying me'. I maintained my ground as I started, sounding nothing but dead serious, "Mom… Leave... Now."

It was taking every bit of restraint I had right now and I'm sure I would have completely lost it by now if Felix wasn't holding my hand.

At first I forgot for half a second that everyone else was still here as Diego stood up and started, clearly trying to 'calm the situation', "Aunt Kelsey, with all do respect, is this really necessary for you to?..." My mom immediately cut him off as well as proceeded to 'bite his head off' as she snapped, "Did I ask for your opinion?! This isn't FUCKING OVER! So sit your ass down and mind your own fucking business, you little shit!"

THAT'S IT!

I could see Abuelo, Abuela, and Tío Alejandro about to stand and do something like me until Aunt Heather immediately stood up before all of them and threw her bag on the floor as she pointed toward my mom and pretty much erupted, me personally never seeing her this angry… and that's saying something, "HEY! Don't you fucking dare, talk to my son like that, you bitch!"

The whole room remained silent as everyone froze in wide eyed shock but Aunt Heather looked far from done as it looked like she got fire behind her eyes and looked like she literally wanted to and probably could incinerate my mom into a pile of ash on the floor if reality allowed it, "My entire damn life, you have always had to stick your damn nose in and ruin everything and make me feel like shit! Even now! I can't have just one fucking visit without you showing up and ruining it!"

Even though my mom was initially frozen in shock, she eventually knit her eyebrows and pointed back at Aunt Heather as she called out, "Excuse me?! Need I remind you of what you did to me, you sociopathic little bitch?! You may have people thinking you're 'hot shit' with your dumbass show and publicity, but I know you. And to me you are still a fucking overrated cunt brick who got lucky with a 'glow up' by the time anyone gave a shit! You ruined any semblance of a social life I had in high school with that shit parade you 'bestowed' upon me and took MY place away from me!"

Um… what happened?

I didn't really have any time to think about it as Aunt Heather strutted over with her stilettos clicking across the floor like a pissed off horse and pretty much getting nose to nose with my mom now, as she practically ground out, "Oh, you want to go there now?! Don't. Because don't you pretend like you didn't have any of that crap I gave you coming! Because you deserved it. Every time you have even tried to screw me over, you never actually got to. Because I always win and you will never one up me on the coldest day in fucking hell. Not you or that 'yes man' skeez of a douchebag that you call a 'husband' back there!"

My eyes went wide as I saw my dad's whole body get taut as his eyes went even wider and his hands almost started shaking in tightly clenched fists at the back of the room.

Then I was surprised to see Aunt Heather turn back and look at Abuelo and Abuela and then me before saying, not sounding in any way 'sorry' but more just clarifying herself, "Um, no offense."

I knew she was mostly saying that to us since she just said that about my dad and it wasn't meant toward any of us with Abuelo and Abuela as my dad's parents and me as his daughter.

But, honestly… none taken.

My mom looked almost livid with an expression I could only describe as angrily embarrassed… but I think mom was more pissed than anything.

But even then, Aunt Heather still looked far from finished as she continued to get right in mom's face and directed, "Look, I flew all the way over here and had to 'rough it' by sharing a first class cabin on a public plane with a bunch of losers dressed in a stupid-ass disguise to see this wedding happen, so dammit I am going to see this wedding happen. Got it?!"

My eyes reflexively went wide yet again as I heard that.

Yeah, I know to most people that everything that came out of my Aunt's mouth just now would sound like 'first world, wealthy celebrity problems', but to me and weirdly enough… I was kind of touched.

My Aunt Heather is a person with a lot of very high 'standards', so to hear she did all of that even though she didn't want to just to attend my courthouse wedding and not draw public attention to it when she loves nothing more than to have attention just to give me privacy?… Again, I'm kind of touched right now.

None of that stopped my mom though still as she spouted, still seeming far from letting this go, "Oh like I fucking care! Besides, this whole damn thing is completely fucking ridiculous! How can any of you just be allowing her to do this?! And keeping it from US?! Are you all out of your minds?!"

My Aunt immediately got right back as she jabbed, "HELLO?! She doesn't need your stupid damn 'permission'! Natalie's 19 and lives on her own! So, she doesn't 'owe you' anything!"

If my eyes were wide now… then I felt like they were almost going to fall out of my head again at this point. And even though I don't like it when someone 'talks for me', I actually didn't mind.

I mean, I've usually always been on good terms with Aunt Heather and Tío Alejandro since both of them hate my parents as much as I do, but I just never expected Aunt Heather to almost seem like she was 'sticking up for me' right now.

Right then, I saw my dad come in, although still 'annoyed', didn't seem half as 'pissed off' as he looked a couple minutes ago which honestly surprised me.

Then I was even more shocked when he walked up to Felix and I saw him reach into his suit jacket as he started, "Since we seem to be getting absolutely nowhere and I was hoping to avoid this, I see only one way to stop this."

He then looked right at Felix specifically as he started, pulling out a checkbook and pen from his pocket, "Alright muchacho, how much do I have to give you to make you go away? Name your price. I'll be more than generous if it'll put a stop to this insanity."

My body tensed up and I saw Felix doing the same thing as he tilted his head and questioned, sounding nothing but offended, "Qué?"

I saw my dad roll his eyes slightly in annoyance before he elaborated, almost talking down to Felix which pissed me off even more, "I said…"

But, Felix immediately cut my dad off and stood over him as he said, "Oh no, señor. I heard you. But, I don't have a 'price' when it comes to your daughter. Cuz there isn't a 'price' for how I feel about her. Hey, I'm broke as a fuckin' joke, but I'm no 'sell out'. So you can stop flashing your money at me and put that damn pen away."

Right then I felt Felix squeeze my hand as he kept staring my dad down.

I... I seriously had no idea what I was feeling anymore? My head felt like a fucking disaster and I had no idea how to react.

Well, until my dad took a step back and looked at me as he said, smiling slightly in that 'fake way' he always does to schmooze people at parties to get them to like him, like both my parents do, as he started smoothly, "Natalie, there's no need for any of this. So, why don't we step out and 'renegotiate' before anything is done you might regret. Now, mija, why don't you…"

Then I felt something in me just 'snap' he tried to grab my other hand and I immediately smacked it away and gave him a death glare as I exploded in completely unfiltered rage, "Oh, don't you give me any of that BULLSHIT! Since when have you ever given a genuine fuck about me my entire life?! WHAT?! You think just because of that one time you threw boxing gloves and lessons at 'the problem' when I was a kid just to get mom and my principal off your back that it means anything?! Since when have you ever gone to any of my matches?! Or stood up for me when mom was on my ass?! Or even just fucking talked to me?! You never care about anything with me unless it has to do with you and how it will make you look to everyone else at a country club or business meeting! And you know what?! I don't give a crap and half about your stupid-ass 'reputation'."

My dad was just frozen in place, looking at me wide eyed as I squeezed Felix's hand.

My parents were both wide eyed and silent as I looked to Felix and then looked at the celebrant (who looked like she was so scared she was going to piss herself at this point) and said, trying not to let this ruin the happiest day of my life and what I want to do, "Can we keep going now?"

The celebrant was shaking but looked like she was trying to find her place in her book from before my parents interrupted the ceremony. Well, until I felt all the nerve endings in my body flare as my mom called out, "Natalie! If you do this, I will write you out of everything and you will be CUT OFF!"

Mom was looking at me as if she just issued some sort of 'social death sentence', thinking that 'what she issued' was enough to make me change my mind, especially seeing a slight smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth now that pissed me off even more.

But, there was one thing she always keeps forgetting when it comes to me… I'm not her.

I didn't even give her the satisfaction though as I stayed where I was and looked down at her before I said, letting every single word just honestly fly out of my mouth as I also thought of 'something else' I still had on me from months ago, "Well, then ain't that just a darn… fucking… shame. It's too bad I don't give a flying fuck about your damn money. Which reminds me."

I strut off and grabbed my purse that I set off to the side on a table and dug in until I found it.

Dad's 'bribe'. Even though I still had no idea why he gave me that money several months ago, but like most things with my parents… I don't give shit anymore.

I just threw it at my dad and said, "There, you can take back your stupid 'hush money' too. I don't want it and I don't care."

I immediately went back to ignoring him despite my dad now looking almost 'seething' as mom now whipped her head over at him and questioned, "José… what the hell did you give her that for?"

My dad immediately grit his teeth and completely ignored my mom as he looked at Abuelo and Abuela as he exploded, "CARAJO! WHAT IS WRONG WITH ALL OF YOU?! Why are you all just allowing her ruin our name by marrying this street trash… MAMAHUEVO?!"

Right then I saw Luís and Maria stand up and look like they were about to jump in until Abuela beat them to it and got right in dad's face and put her right index finger right up to his nose, looking just as enraged as Aunt Heather was several moments ago, talking to my dad as if she was scolding a child rather than yelling at a grown man, "José, that is QUITE ENOUGH! How dare you in come here and say those things with that horrid, nasty little!…"

Abuela looked as if she would have kept going and started tirading about my mom until Abuelo came up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder, and even though he kept it to a whisper, I could hear him say in her ear, "Calm down, mi cariña. I know you're as angry as am I, but let's not ruin Natalie's day."

Even though it looked like it took a lot of her restraint, I saw Abuela calm down but continue to look at my parents in absolute scorn as Abuelo cut in, also giving my parents a hard look, "There is no need for any of this. Not to mention, I'm afraid to say neither of you could be more wrong. If anything, I think Natalie's young man only improves our family by being part of it. Speaking of…"

I saw Abuelo reach into the inside breast pocket of his suit jacket and saw him pulling out what looked like a thin necklace chain until I felt my eyes go wide for the thousandth time in shock when I saw what was hanging from the chain on the necklace.

Our Longhorn crest pendant.

Abuelo smirked and continued, "I was meaning to keep this a secret and give it to you after the ceremony like we usually do in the tradition of these things. But, seeing things as they are… well, to hell with it all! Why not give this to you now? This was a tradition started hundreds of years ago at this stage in my family. And as custom, everyone either born or married into our family is given this necklace to wear to show their connection to our family. And despite you not being fully married into the family yet… I can see you are going to marry Natalie regardless of what is happening here today. And I hope you will enjoy it and wear it with pride as we all do… or most of us anyway."

Gerardo took a moment to glance at my mom with a perturbed look in his eye, seeing my mom wasn't wearing her necklace… and only really put it on to suck up to Abuelo and Abuela since she never wears it otherwise when they aren't around.

My mom's expression contorted as her face turned red, but it was hard to tell if it was from anger or embarrassment from Abuelo pretty much 'calling her out' in front of everyone.

Felix's eyes went wide as he took the pendant from Abuelo and smirked before saying, sounding nothing but genuine, "Whoa, this is awesome! Gracias, señor… Muchas gracias."

Abuelo smiled and nodded his head, seeming happy Felix seemed grateful.

Then almost immediately Felix put it on and leaned toward me as he said, sounding very much like him with a huge grin on his face, "Man, that's how you got this? I always tried to figure out where you got your skull necklace thing. This is badass!"

If I wasn't so confused and pissed off about all the 'fuckery' going down right now, I probably would've laughed. But, I couldn't hold back a smirk though.

Right then I saw Abuelo and Abuela come on either side of me and Felix, staring my parents down. Even my Aunt Heather and Tío Alejandro stepped in, seeming to be almost burning a hole through my parents more than Abuelo and Abuela.

This time my dad's whole expression seemed to almost contort in on itself before he snapped indignantly, "You all are FOOLS! We are trying to stop this insanity to keep her from throwing away her life and you're supporting this! Am I the only one with any sense left in this family?!"

Right then, I saw Abuelo step down, his eyes staying steady on my dad, as he folded his arms behind his back and straightened up.

It was so silent that all that could be heard were Abuelo's shoes on the tile floor. His steps echoing a bit in the lofted room until he was a couple feet from my parents.

Abuelo continued to give my father a hard and steady glare before letting out a deep sigh and saying, "José… you are 53 and I was hoping at your age that this sort of thing would go without saying and that maybe you learned something over the years. But, since you seem to have no shame at all by acting in this way, perhaps I need to remind you again, sí? Mijo, as my son I love you… but I have tried and failed to like or even tolerate you for how you act and behave. Especially at an occasion such as this for your own daughter. Have you no shame?!"

Oh… Damn.

Everyone, including my parents, all went wide eyed after 'hearing that'.

My dad's whole body went taut again as his fists started shaking before he practically exploded, "ME?! I AM the 'disappointment' in all this?! HOW?! I have done nothing but achieve everything you and madre wanted me to! I graduated top of my class, held high honors all throughout university, got my Master's in Business Administration, and successfully took over as CEO! Not to mention married a woman you deemed more than suitable who you introduced me to! And for what?! For you to approve of my daughter for marrying him! You are nothing but a hypocrite! Go on! Tell me I'm wrong!"

I continued to see Abuelo hold his ground, hardly even flinching before he took his arms out from behind his back and straightened out his suit jacket before replying, sounding much more calm than he did before, "If you are referring to my involvement in introducing you and your wife, I will not deny that. And I will also not deny my previous beliefs. I always wanted and encouraged you and your brothers to find potential spouses based on status similar to our own. However, I never told you to marry your wife or have a child with her. Those were your decisions. And furthermore and unlike you, at least I was able to see past my errors and learn from them. Because in time and experience, I have learned there is more to a good match than wealth and status… and your daughter and her novio have proven that to me ten fold."

Abuelo looked back at me and smirked while giving me a slight wink as I was still 'taking it all in'.

My dad was still almost seething before he tried to interject, "But Padre, you can't possibly?!..." "José, I will agree with your mother… enough is enough. And to agree with Heather's words from earlier, we came here today to see your daughter's wedding and if you don't like that concept to be able to sit quietly and allow it to happen, then you and Kelsey may either leave, or I can call an authority to make you leave. Now… which would you both prefer?"

Did… did Abuelo just threaten to call the cops on my parents?

After another tense moment of silence, my mom scoffed and grabbed my dad's arm before saying, "Fine…"

I thought she was going to start dragging dad out with her until she looked at me and said, "FYI, it still stands. You do this and you are done and you will get nothing."

She kept her eyes locked on me, but… she isn't the only one who's done. I held eye contact with her for another second until I just turned back to the celebrant and said, "Sorry about that… Where were we?"

I heard my mom 'huff' in annoyance before her and my dad stormed out, slamming the door behind them, but I was hardly paying attention as Felix just grabbed my hands and smiled at me as everyone went back to their seats.

And even though our celebrant looked like she had been through the biggest 'shit storm' of her life at the hands of my insane family… it was also because of my family that I got through this.

Yeah, Diego told more people than I was expecting to come to my wedding, but I don't think I would have gotten here without my family having my back at the same time.

But, if one thing is for sure… I think my real life with my real family can finally start now.

Oh… My… GOD! I've done it! I have finally finished the last of the mini-arcs of this 3 part fanfic series! I apologize for shouting. Lol. But seriously, I will again sound like a broken record and maybe a blubbering mess too (haha), but you have no idea how grateful I am to each and everyone of you who have read this series and taken this journey with me. I went into this just wanting to write a fanfic for Aleheather (the best ship in "Total Drama" and I will stand by it until I die) and it turned into something I was not expecting and became so much of a bigger thing than I could've ever imagined. So, seriously, thank you for all the love and support you all have given me and this fic. :) Now, let me pick up my pieces from the floor and I'll finish my closing note here. Haha. I know I went FULL blown dramatic, but as we've all seen even before… Kelsey and José really have no class or shame in trying anything they can to keep everyone else down to make themselves feel bigger and in control, even over their now 19 year old adult daughter [Natalie] and making a scene in front of their family in order to do so. But, if anything and rather than ruining the wedding, it seemed Kelsey and José attempting to make a scene only encouraged more solidarity in the family, even showing how Heather and Elena's somewhat strained relationship has seemed to have grown over the years… even if it mostly stemmed from their mutual hatred of Kelsey. Lol. XD All in all and in the end, at least Natalie and Felix seemed to finally get to have their wedding. :) Now the burning question… is this the end? Yes, it is… kind of. I have ONE more chapter to act almost as an epilogue of sorts. Partly because I really want to end this fic with a focus on Alejandro and Heather specifically… and because I'm that sort of weird and I physically CANNOT end this fic on chapter 54 instead of 55. So, either way, the next chapter will be the final one and from there this fanfic will only be updated based on reader requests only for canonical requests related to this series. I have a couple to save for a rainy day that some of you already requested. But, if there is anything you wanted to see that I didn't cover in this fic, then by all means! Send them to me in the reviews and I will happily jot them down! :) So, once again, I would like to thank you all so much for reading and reviews are always VERY much appreciated!

Stay Classy and Wonderful All!

Dexter1995