It was with deeply satisfied eyes that Hector observed Miguel turning into golden dust and all of that dust collected to fly upwards, like a soaring bird flying home… Miguel had vanished from the spot and had gone home. He made it… And Hector smiled deeply thankful for that. Then also thankful that even though he was never to see Coco again, he got to meet his great grandson! He got to talk to him, sing and perform with him, even cry with him. It was more than Hector could ever have hoped, and in this moment, even as he was disappearing. He was happy.

"He's gone…" Imelda breathed.

"Thank goodness. He made it home." Hector smiled warmly then glanced up at Imelda. "So… Coco had children of her own?" he asked.

Imelda gasped. "I… I never told you did I?" she asked.

"No, but I assumed it. There has been a couple of family members joining you here, I saw. I'm happy, I got to meet one of them. My great-great grandson, can you believe it?" Hector smiled warmly as the orange glow was gently swiping over his body.

Imelda swallowed. "Oh god, this is all my fault. Why did I have to be so stupid?! Tearing up your picture?! Demanding that no one speak of you. Why did I have to be… so…" she swallowed.

"Stubborn?" Hector asked. "Proud?"

Imelda bit together.

"That's what I love about you, Imelda." Hector smiled. "You were always so stubborn, and so proud. Beside it's not your fault, I should never have left. Not for a single moment. I was a fool, it was first when I was away from you and Coco… I realized just how much you meant to me. And then all of a sudden, without warning… It was to late. You just did what you had to do, you became strong, you survived, you strived… My Imelda." he stated reaching up touching her cheek. "You took care of her, all the things which I should have done, not you." he stated. "Listen, before I go. I just want you to know that I always loved you. You don't have to forgive me, that's okay. Just… Know I loved you, I really did. And Coco." he swallowed. "I loved her so much."

"Hector." Imelda swallowed, clearly she could barely even keep it together as she sat over his fading body. "I… " she squinted her eyes. "The truth is… The mention of your name, the sound of your voice, the sound of a guitar. It only hurt so much because… Because I never stopped loving you! If I could just stop loving you and hate you instead it wouldn't have hurt so much, it would have been so much easier! When I saw you here... I could not bear to let you close, I was to afraid to be hurt like that again. Because, having you close and then seeing you leave for a second time, it would hurt more than anything else in the world and it terriefied me. Because I still loved you and I still do! I… I love you!" she stated leaning over and grabbed Hectors shoulders. "Now i'm the fool! I should never have tried to ban you for the family, and all of a sudden. It's to late!"

Astounded the family around looked at the to, in respectful silence they stepped away trying to grand the two privacy yet confirm their support through their presence as Imelda, the proud Matriarch was breaking together and Hector, the estranged banned family member was making his peace.

"You'll be fine." Hector smiled weakly as he laid back, unable to even lift his head anymore. "You didn't need my help before, you wont now. Just… be happy. Do that for me?" he ased. "And tell Coco… her papa loves her. Remember me, that song… It was never meant for the world, it was only meant for her and no one else. Our secret song." he smiled weakly as his bones started to slowly dissolve and Imelda gasped.

"No… Hector NO!" Imelda shouted grabbing his shoulders, though Hector was to weak to even move. "I was stupid, I was stubborn! I was insincere! I don't want you to go! Please stay! STAY WITH ME! HECTOR!" she shouted. "Don't go away! I DEMAND OF YOU! You're not allowed to do this!" she shouted as she raised a hand, as if she was about to smack him. But then her hand shook as she realised how pointless it was and it fell down on the ground Then she started to shake and she sniffed. "Please… Don't do this." she asked.

Hector couldn't even respond… though suddenly… instead of the golden dust flying away from him it flew straight back! His bones re-formed, mended themselves and then suddenly Hector took a big breath before suddenly he sat up straight, a fully formed skeleton. He gasped for air and then wide-eyed he lifted his skeleton hands looking at them. "I… I.."

"Hector?" Imelda asked looking more shocked than anyone else.

There was an absolute stunned silence as everyone looking at the skeleton which has formerly been half turned into dust, but now he was sitting upright all of sudden making everyone look startled at him.

"Coco… She… She's remembering." Hector gasped for air and Imeldas eyes widened.

"What?" Imelda asked, then finally remembered she was supposed to be proud and wiped her eyes to regain her posture.

"And that's not all, something else is going on… I'm feeling stronger than before. More than just one person is remembering." Hector commented then his eyes widened. "SHE'S TELLING MY STORY!" he exclaimed. "This is… I feel it, I feel the void being filled out. Everyone is listening! Not just Miguel but… My granddaughter, my great granddaughter." he gasped. "There's so many!" he gaped. "Imelda! Our family it's… So big!" he gasped. "I feel them, in here! Remembering me!" he exclaimed pressing a hand against his chest.

And Imelda smiled, then she sniffed. "Yes, it's a good and big family. And you need to learn to know all of them." she stated before she threw herself in his arms and cried. "This is your family after-all! You need to help look out for them!"

"My… My family." Hector breathed then he smiled and hugged Imelda close. "Thank you… Thank you Imelda."

"Just… Never leave again you hear me!" Imelda asked grabbing his face. "You got my blessing if you promise to never. NEVER EVER! Leave again!" she exclaimed.

And hector sniffed. "Nothing would make me happier." and then he just leaned over and kissed her deeply making the entire audience grin and then cheer as Imelda took hectors hand and pulled him up.

For a moment Hector was stumbling a bit around on his lanky legs, but then finally he found his balance and then suddenly just grabbed Imelda and swung her around. "AAOOOOOOH!" he shouted in that way that only he always would… Him and now Miguel. "Familia! My familia! I swear to you, from now on! I'll do what-ever I can I'll…"

Then he halted, Imelda as well blinked confused then realised Hector was looking to his left, so did Imelda and realised, they had an even bigger audience than just their family.

People were standing there, wide-eyed looking at them. Then Imelda realized she was still up in the air, frozen in position and she cleared her throat. "Hector, would you mind?"

"Ah yes, of course! I'm sorry." Hector gently put Imelda down and let go, then turned to the people.

In front stood the band leader, wide-eyed looking at Hector, the man that earlier had made fun of Hector because Hector thought he had died from food poisoning.

"You.." The band leader gasped. "You wrote all of his songs?" he asked. "All of them?"

"Erh, well." Hector grabbed his hat and then held it in front of his chest. "I… I didn't write them for him to use like that though. Half of them was… for my famillia." he admitted. "What I mean is… I…"

"Yes, he did." Imelda stated proudly standing beside Hector. "Hectors song cannot be compared, because they all come from his heart!" she stated making Hector glance at her, and he smiled a little sheepishly.

"Will you…" The band leader asked. "Play us a song?" he asked.

"What?" Hector asked.

"It's the big De La Cruz concert, and we are barely twenty minutes in. The world is watching… Play us something." The band leader asked.

"Ah… That's. I… I rather not." Hector then stated making everyone look confused at him.

"Why?" The band leader asked.

"I don't desire this kind of fame." Hector then admitted. "I just… I just want to be with my familia."

Imelda smiled amused and then shook her head before she walked a few steps and then picked up the brown guitar Hector had been carrying around for the better part of the evening, then walked back to Hector and offered it to him.

Confused Hector looked at Imelda.

"Remember when we were young?" Imelda asked. "You were the most obnoxious brat, every single day you would sing me a new love song. You wrote a new one for each day, for thirty days until I finally agreed to go out with you. And what did you do at that date? Another love song… I loved each and everyone of them." she admitted and then sat down arranging her dress around her. "Sing something."

"ah, okay." Hector asked. "Urhm… Any requests?" he asked.

"REMEMBER ME!" A shout suddenly sounded.

"Oh god no anything but that!" Hector exclaimed. "That song is for…." then he halted. "Coco… And she's talking about me right this moment." he realized then smiled lightly. "All right, fine." he stated. "Then make sure to listen closely. Because this is the one and only time I am EVER going to play this one in front of a large audience, and i'm only doing it because I am singing to Coco! She can hear me now, I know she can." he stated promptly "After this is over, I will only sing this song to Coco ones she is here. My daughter, this is for you and only you." he stated as he gently brushed his fingers over the strings, then slightly turned the guitar until he was satisfied and then gently.

Very gently and very slowly he brushed the strings making the finger play, this version… was so much different from how Dela Cruz did it. While Ernestos version was loud and bombastic this version… Was so gentle and quiet as Hector song the first couple of lines.

"Remember me.
Though I have to say goodbye.
Remember me
Don't make it let you cry."

It was like a stunned silence had fallen over everybody, nobody even dared to move a muscle as they in awe listened to the simple tune, performed with such pure sincerity.

It was not only the people backstage whom had fallen to silence, the witness's at the big audience chamber was beyond quiet, people at home watching television were stunned into silence and everyone… was quiet as the gentle tune washed over them. None of them had heard this song like that before.

And not one single person whom listened were in any doubt that Hector was the true author.

And as he sung the final lines, it was like the entire land of the death was holding their breath.

"Know that I am with you, the only way I can.
Until you're in my arms again.
Remembers me."

The last note and last sound, it seemed to linger for-ever and then it was absolute silence… Hector exhaled deeply and then glanced up to see the beyond stunned audience and then suddenly, a great surge went through all of them as the greatest shout and cheer came.

Everyone shouting, everyone applauding, people were even crying, the energy being so great that Hector stumbled backwards and then fell down on the ground. Wide-eyed he then sat up looking at all of them.

Imelda smiled amused. "So, are you giving an extra number?" she asked.

"No, I don't think anything can top this." Hector stated, then glanced at Imelda. "We're done here now right?"

"Yes indeed." Imelda stated offering Hector a hand which Hector accepted to let her pull him up. "Let's go home then."

"Home?" Hector asked.

"Home." Imelda nodded as she guided her long lost husband and the rest of the family away from the crowd.

The people were crazy, everyone wanted to stop them and give Hector words of encouragement or words of apologies for what had happened and how he had been treated.

Hector only weakly nodded to all of them… he could barely stand up and relied deeply on Imeldas support to even walk. It seemed like that last performance had drained the last bit of strenght from him.

Other family members offered their assistance but Imelda snarled at all of them stating she could handle her own husband as they finally made it out on the street… and had to go through all the smaller back allies to avoid all the other people whom had seen them on television.

Finally they made it home, to the big Rivera house and Imelda kicked open the door with her foot dragging Hector inside.

"I am… So sorry about this." Hector stated.

"Shush! You nearly experienced the final death. Of course you're tired!" Imelda stated. "You need to sleep, right now!"

"Yes Imelda." Hector replied dutifully as Imelda turned to the right and kicked open another door leading to a single bed bedroom with a big closest, a writing desk and a one person bed.
Hector glanced around and noticed the pictures of flowers hanging there, the books on the desk that was in fact being used and he quickly came to the logical conclusion.

"Imelda… Isn't this your bedroom?" Hector asked.

"Yes, what of it?" Imelda asked. "Husband." she added making Hectors eyes widen before finally Imelda put him down on the bed, then she pushed him further in so he was placed against the wall before she yawned deeply stretching her arms and then… Hector could only look wide-eyed as she determinedly laid down right next to him.

Hector was.. quite obviously stunned into silence. Imelda could litterately feel his body behind hers being tense and not at all relaxed then she exhaled deeply. "Hector i'm your wife." she pointed out.

"Yes I know. But.." Hector hesitated. "What I mean is… I…"

Imelda was quiet as she laid there, feeling Hector beside her. "Hold me." she asked.

"What?" Hector asked.

"Do you want me to spell it out for you? I want you to hold me." Imelda muttered then exhaled. "Please, I just want to really feel like you're here. I was so close to loosing you for good... never being able to even see you again. I... I want to feel you."

"Are you… sure?" Hector asked.

Imelda didn't respond but laid on her back, face towards the wall and her back towards Hector inviting him, then… she felt the presence of someone gently moving closer to her body until they at least touched, then a gentle arm laying around her shoulder, before she was pulled into a strong embrace and she exhaled.

"You used to sing me lullabies." Imelda breathed. "Will you sing one for me now? please?" she asked.

Hector nodded drowsily. "Anything you ask.." he breathed as the arms around her tightened and then, the gently voice right by her her ear, singing so quietly like it was almost a whisper and only she could hear it. Because this was song for her and only her.

"I ones held a treasure in my arms.
A beautiful rose with the greatest charms.
Though her thorns were sharp her smell was so sweet.
And her eyes alive as her voice hit that beat.

Only this I know.
I should never have let go.

I was aiming for the stars
Traveling the world with my ares.
But any wonder I saw any treasure I got
She was all on my mind, forget her I could naught.

Only this I know.
I should never have let go.

When you lost a treasure like her
You will never be as happy as you were.
So listen to my plea.
Don't be a fool like me…

This for certain I know.
I should never have let go.

Imelda was quiet as she laid in his arms, then Hector crawled over as he whispered in her ear. "There's just one more verse, bear with me." he asked and then gently continued.

"So I packed me suite case and my guitar
I was determined to return to her.
I traveled the land to at last at our home I stood.
And then she hit me with her shoe like I knew she would.

And this I know.
I will never let go.

Yes this I know.
I will never… Never, ever ever… Let go." he whispered.

And Imelda exhaled deeply as her body felt so relaxed in Hectors arms, she sighed deeply.

"You have yourself a new best seller, the people will love it." she commented.

"No… This song, is only for you." Hector stated. "No one else is to hear it, ever." he stated burying his face into her neck. "It's yours."

"Dios, i'm such an idiot." Imelda breathed.

"What are you talking about Imelda?" Hector asked.

"When… When you stopped writing us letters and sending money." Imelda swallowed. "I got worried, I was terrified something had happened to you. Then… Remember me became the greatest song sensation around and I… I got mad. you had told Coco that that was her song.. Her secret song, only for you and her… And then it was there on the radio. And that's when I got convinced you were a liar, that you had left us, that you didn't want us anymore and were living the big life… in another womans arm."

"Imelda! That's not.." Hector exclaimed.

"I know… now I know." Imelda sighed. "The letters, they stopped so abruptly, you always wrote at least ones a week. And very long letters to, then suddenly… It stopped. Then a few months after Remember me became that big sensation. I heard that song everywhere but hadn't gotten a single word from you for months... I could only assume the worst about you, that your success had made you not care but I was wrong wasn't I? The letters stopped when you had died didn't they? And that bastard… He had stolen your songs and used them to build his own success."

Hector swallowed then nodded. "Yes." he admitted. "I was killed…. The same night I posted my very last letter." he admitted. "We hadn't even made it to the big stage yet... It's when I was posting that letter I took my decision to go home, that same night I..." he swallowed.

"So when we received that final letter, you were already." Imelda's voice broke.

"I'm afraid so." Hector exhaled then pulled her closer. "It's in the past though… There's no use." his voice broke and he sniffed. "I'm sorry I just… it's all hitting me right now." he admitted. "I just… I wanted to go home. That's all I wanted."

"Sssh, my love." Imelda breathed as she turned around in Hectors arms so they were now face to face. Revealing tears were running down her eyes to. "You're home now… You made it home. Here." she gently reached forward her arms and laid them across Hectors head before she pulled him in and gently held him. As she cried to. "After all this time, you're finally home." she stated and Hector exhaled deeply.

Then nussled himself closer to Imelda, the two laying in silence crying together before exhaustion overtook them and they both fell into a deep dreamless sleep, wrapped in each others arm, feeling like they were resting in a big dark comfortable and very safe cocoon.