Xibalba had waited until Alejandro fell asleep to go back home, making sure the little one was comfortable. As soon as he stepped inside their bedroom, he had expecting to find his beloved wife already asleep beneath the velvet covers, but he panicked when he found she was missing. He had a bad feeling about this.

"Xibalba."

The dark god felt a shiver down his spine as he heard La Muerte's voice behind him. Tensing up, he turned around and found her sitting on the chair of her boudoir, looking at him with crossed arms. "Where were you?"

For some reason, he couldn't feel any feelings of anger coming from her, only a twinge of curiosity. Still, he better be wary. "Well, I was out for a walk."

La Muerte stood up an approached her husband, containing her giggled when he tensed up, thinking she was going to lash out verbally at him. She surprised him by pacing a hand on his shoulder. "You know you don't have to keep anything from me, my love. You can trust me."

Xibalba guessed La Muerte somehow figured out what he had been doing, and figured it would be wise to tell her the truth. Sighing he took her to bed and sat down on the edge. "It's… A few nights ago while I was out in San Ángel, I encountered a boy."

La Muerte sat down next to him, listening to him intently. "A child?"

"He was running from his father." Xibalba continued, rubbing his arms. "When I next encountered him, his father was about to give him a beating, I just… I couldn't stand to watch, so I… I stopped it from happening and took the boy to the doctor. He's recovering, but I don't know how much time it will take him. I wouldn't like him to come down before his time, he's just a boy, he has a whole life ahead of him…"

"Ay, Balby…"

"When I saw what he was going through, I… I recalled when… My father… I saw myself in that boy."

La Muerte embraced her husband, full of compassion, and kissed his cheek. "I understand, mi vida. I think it's very nice what you're doing for that child."

"Thanks…"

"Balby, I'd like to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"Would you take me with you the next time you go see him? He sounds like a good boy."

Xibalba thought for a moment, before he sighed. "Okay, I don't think it'll do bad. Alex has been asking me a lot about you, anyway."

Some of San Angel's male citizens were single, others were married, another few widowed, but what all had in common was that they kept staring at the beautiful woman riding with the Black Rider as they went through town. In human shape La Muerte had the appearance of a beautiful woman with fair skin wearing a long dress with white bodice and yellow skirt, long dark waves that reached her forelegs and exquisite curves. Her long black eyelashes and her red lips contrasted with her porcelain pale skin, and a long, red silk shawl covered her upper body from both the cold and the perverted glances of a few of the men staring at her.

Xibalba led Medianoche through town while accommodating his wife in his embrace as she gripped unto him to avoid slipping from the saddle. He could tell whenever one of these humans glanced at his wife, it took him merely a warning glare to sent them scrambling away back to their business. The men felt pangs of envy as they watched the Black Rider with that beautiful woman, wondering what such a lovely lady could see in him.

Once they arrived at the hospital, Xibalba dismounted and helped his wife dismount, before proceeding to tie Medianoche's reins to the pole once again. "I hope he's better. The last time I came he had a little fever."

"I'm sure he will be okay, my love." La Muerte reassured her husband with a smile as she cupped his cheek. "I'm sure he will feel better when he sees you."

"I hope so, mi amor."

When they walked inside, the doctor was just coming out from Alejandro's room, and as soon as he spotted Xibalba he approached with a polite smile. "Buenas noches, señor Sevillo."

"Buenas noches, doctor." Xibalba nodded, placing a hand on La Muerte's shoulder. "I brought my wife Catrina with me, if you don't mind that I bring more visitors…"

"Oh, no, señor. It's no problem at all, actually the more visitors we have, the better."

"It's my pleasure to help those who need it, doctor." La Muerte smiled. "But my husband told me about this child in particular…"

"Oh, yes. Alejandro is recovering quite fast, I assume that in a few more days he'll be as good as new."

Thanking the doctor once more, Xibalba led his wife down the corridor towards the door of Alejandro's room and led her inside. Alejandro was still in bed with freshly-changed bandages, but he looked a bit chubbier and happier than before. As soon as he spotted Xibalba his eyes lit up, then his shift glanced over at the beautiful woman that accompanied him. "Hi, señor."

"Alex, I'd like to introduce you to my wife Catrina." Xibalba said, smiling as he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer. La Muerte giggled.

"Ay, Camilo, you don't have to be so formal." La Muerte smiled at him, calling him by the name of his human vessel as she snuggled against his embrace.

"Nice to meet you, señora…"

La Muerte walked closer to bed and sat down at the edge, smiling at the little one warmly. "You don't have to be formal with me, pequeño. You may call me Catrina, okay?"

There was maternal warmth to her voice, and Alejandro liked it. He had never felt it before. "Okay, Catrina…"

Xibalba felt a little uncomfortable that the boy referred to La Muerte like that, but chose not to say anything. Besides, he knew his wife was not very fond of formality, especially in children, she knew their age was the time for innocence and games. La Muerte brushed a few hairs away from Alejandro's face and spoke warmly. "So this is where my Cami has been lately…" Xibalba couldn't help but blush at the nickname.

"He is very nice. He often comes to visit me and brings me snacks." Alejandro replied, smiling.

"You're very lucky, pequeño. He usually doesn't like to be much around children, but it seems you somehow managed to worm into his heart."

"Catrina, I don't think you should be that graphic." Xibalba groaned with a flare blush.

La Muerte giggled. "Don't be like that, Camilo." She turned her attention back to Alejandro. "Chiquito, my husband told me of what happened to you…"

Alejandro grew uncomfortable. "He did…?"

"Sweetie, you shouldn't grow up like that. I understand you love your father, but it doesn't mean you have to bear his mistreatments. I guess Camilo also told you he went through the same."

Alex nodded.

"He knows what it's like, so you're not alone, Alex. You don't have to be afraid to speak anymore, the both of us will not let anything happen to you."

There was a spark in Alejandro's eyes that Xibalba identified as hope. "You promise?"

"Te lo prometo." La Muerte smiled, leaning down and planting a small kiss on the child's forehead. She now saw why Xibalba had grown so attached to this boy, Alejandro truly was something special, she couldn't believe how his father didn't see that.

Xibalba couldn't help but smile at the sight. However as he was about to step closer to them he heard a door slamming outside and a commotion. Feet running, yells and protests as well as incoherent growls and snaps of a drunken man. Alejandro immediately stiffened and grabbed unto La Muerte's hand tightly, his features distorted by a terrified expression. La Muerte noticed and gripped on his hand, while Xibalba had the feeling of what was going to happen as he stood between the door and the bed.

"You can't go in there!"

Like Xibalba predicted, Armando burst through the door, his entire being reeking of alcohol, the doctor coming behind him. "Mr. Sevillo, I tried to stop him, but-!"

"What are these strangers doing here?!" Armando snapped, glaring at Xibalba and La Muerte, though his eyes fixed on La Muerte's exquisite curves.

Xibalba noticed and returned the glare as he hid his wife from view with his body frame. "Doing what you should, you irresponsible, uncaring bastard." He replied coldly, though there was a fire in his eyes and voice that made La Muerte know that he was beyond angry.

"You have no reason to be here, you're nothing but a bunch of strangers!"

"And also the onse who have been taking care of Alejandro, something that you should be doing. "

"Don't come and tell me how to raise my son!"

"Oh, so now he's your son?" La Muerte glared at the man. "A father doesn't mistreat his children, he protects and cares for them no matter what. What would your wife say if she could see you now?"

"Don't you dare talk about my wife, you-!"

Before he could get any closer to La Muerte, Xibalba stood in the way and pushed him back. "Put a hand on my wife or the boy and you will not live to see another day."

"I'm sick of you, damn it!"

Armando lunged at Xibalba and the two men rolled on the floor, exchanging punches with one another, though due to Xibalba's status as a god he barely injured, while he returned Armando's attacks with twice the strength. But soon he was subdued once more and received more punches.

"Papa, don't hurt Mr. Sevillo!" Alejandro cried out in horror.

"Stop!" La Muerte tried to intervene, but as she tried to pull Armando away from her husband, the man reacted and smacked her cheek, sending her against the floor.

But that was a grave mistake. Not even the Land of the Cursed could be compared to Xibalba's wrath towards anyone who dared lay a finger on his wife. With a roar of fury, he kicked Armando off him and lunged at him, punching him now with thrice as strength as before, before the doctor and some nurses had to intervene and pull the both of them away.

La Muerte managed to recover and get back on her feet, walking over to Alejandro to comfort him over what had happened. However Xibalba wasn't done and, breaking free from the doctor's grip, walked over to Armando and pinned him to the floor with his foot, glaring down at the man with hate and scorn.

"Now listen carefully, pal." Xibalba spat the last word. "If I ever find out you laid another finger on the boy, I will hunt you down like the dog you are and end with your pathetic life. Understood?"

Armando would have retorted, but suddenly he saw a shadow behind him, that of a being of darkness with equally black wings, glowing red eyes and pointy fangs. Scared beyond reason, the man managed to crawl from underneath Xibalba's weight and ran out of the room, and out of the hospital. Once he was certain the danger was over, Xibalba rushed to La Muerte's side and checked on her. "Catrina, are you alright?" he asked with worry, glancing at her reddened cheek.

"I'm okay, Cami, don't worry." La Muerte replied, touching her husband's bruised cheek but withdrawing it when he flinched. "What about you?"

"Are you okay, señor?" Alejandro asked him, worried.

"I'm alright, Alex, don't worry." Xibalba replied, before placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "How about you?"

"I…" the little one glanced at La Muerte. "I'm sorry for what my papa did to you, Catrina…"

La Muerte smiled at him. "Don't worry, sweetie, it was not your fault."

"Why does he have to be so mean with everyone…? I knew he was always beat me up, but I never thought he'd be capable of harming a girl…"

"It'll okay, child." Xibalba assured him once more as he placed a hand on his shoulder. "Like I told you before, I'm not letting anyone harm you. You have nothing to be afraid of, but the next time social services comes around tell them the truth."

Alejandro was sniffling as he embraced Xibalba and buried his face into his chest. Sobbing. The dark god returned the embrace, cooing at him and telling him it was going to be aright. La Muerte soon joined in, hugging her husband and the child tenderly to let them know she was there too.

For the first time in his life, Alejandro knew the warmth and love of a family.