Relationship: Héctor & Imelda Rivera + Miguel and his entire family
Characters: Héctor, Imelda Rivera, Miguel, Mamá Coco, Tíos Oscar & Felipe, Tía Victoria, Tía Rostia, Papá Julio, the living Rivera family
Words: 7356 (total so far)
Summary: Imelda and Héctor give Miguel his blessing, except Imelda once again adds the condition to never forget how much his family loves him. A story about love, family and friendship.
Link to AO3
They walked home in silence, everyone felt sad. When they got home Héctor and Imelda walked up to their bedroom and when Imelda had pulled away the sheets, Héctor put him down on the bed. Imelda gently tucked him in and kissed his forehead.
They quickly walked down the stairs and got the family back together in the kitchen. “We need to talk.” Imelda said sternly. “How do we help this boy? How do we make him realise he’s loved?”
“How do we make our living family realise he’s telling the truth?” Héctor added with a sigh. Imelda stood behind him and placed both her hands on her husband’s shoulders. Héctor leant closer to her and she kissed his head. He looked behind himself with a sad and tired expression and Imelda softly kissed him. He smiled sadly at her. Imelda smiled back the same way.
They brainstorm for hours to find ways to let their living family know, and for ways to let Miguel know that he’s loved. For ways to make sure he would remember that they love him.
At some point they all come to an agreement that there is just no way to let their living family know. All except Héctor.. he thinks it’s outrageous they’ve just pushed the option aside as a whole and he walks off, angrily talking to himself.
In the mean time Miguel woke up and he rubbed his eyes sleepily. He looked around the room and at first was startled. He didn’t understand where he was until he looked at the nightstand and saw a photo of his mamá Imelda, papá Héctor and a young Coco. Miguel smiled at the picture.
It was different from the one they had on the ofrenda. It was clearly taken on the same day, but it was a little bit sillier. Héctor was halfway through pulling a funny face, and Coco was half turned around to her papa, with a giant grin spread across her face. Imelda was rolling her eyes, but the corners of her mouth were turned upwards; she was clearly enjoying it.
Miguel got out of bed and looked around the room some more. That was until he heard yelling downstairs. He frowned and quickly opened the door to listen. He couldn’t quite make out what they were saying and so he walked down the stairs and back to his family.
“After all that he’s done for me..!” He heard his papá Héctor yell out. He sounded… frustrated. “After all that he’s done for me, you’re telling me there’s nothing we can do to help him? There has got to be a way! I won’t accept it!” He heard him yell, almost angrily.
“Héctor, we’ve thought of every option, but there is just no way.” he heard his mamá Imelda try desperately.
“That’s not good enough!” Héctor yelled, now fully angry.
“Héctor please…” Imelda said hurt. “I don’t want to fight.” She looked down sadly.
“I-I’m not… I’m not fighting… I don’t mean to fight..” Héctor whimpered. “I’m sorry, Imelda.” He said as he took a step closer to her. At the same time Imelda walked over to him and they hugged each other tightly. Imelda held onto him as if the land of the dead depended on it.
Due to this hug Héctor felt himself fall apart.. figuratively.. “I… I can’t do this Imelda…” He cried onto her shoulder. “After all that he’s done for me.. for us… and then there’s nothing we can do to help him..? I don’t like it- no; I hate it. I hate it so much.” He grumbled passionately.
He closed his eyes tightly. “He’s done so much for me…” He uttered as he backed away from the hug. He stood there and closed his eyes, completely devastated. “Without him… I never would have been here.. I never would’ve had a family again… I never would’ve had you…” He reached out and gently touched Imelda’s cheek. She leant into the touch.
“…I wouldn’t have been here at all anymore…”
Imelda closed her eyes tightly. “You know I don’t want to think about that.” She told him sadly.
“I know, mi amor, and I’m sorry… but what I’m saying is that I… that we have all of this right now, because of what Miguel did… and now he’s hurting… he’s hurting so much, you were there, you saw it..! He quite literally fell apart in front of our eyes.” He sighed angrily. “I can’t let this happen to him. I refuse to stop looking for a way.” He decided determinately.
Suddenly they heard a sniffle and everyone’s heads shot up.
“Miguel?” Every member of the family asked at the same time. They heard Miguel laugh shortly, before seeing the door to the stairway open slowly.
