So… This was death.

It didn't feel bad, not at all. It didn't hurt, it didn't feel intrusive. In fact it was like a warm welcoming embrace inviting Coco to take her first step upon a new journey.

Her mind that had seemed like such a foggy place for so long had now cleared up, and by pure instinct she already knew where to go. She took a last glance behind herself, at the empty husk that had ones been her body. A husk that was just to old, to worn down, to broken.. It was time to let go.

Coco turned back, towards the door just as a creature came flying towards her. It was a little bird! No bigger than a tight fist and it had the most wonderful colors, it was bright yellow, blue, green, pink red. "You must be my guide." Coco commented reaching out a skeleton hand allowing the bird to settle down. "Hallo there." she smiled kindly. "Will you guide me to where I need to be?" she asked.

The bird nodded as its eyes were blinking and it spread out its wings before it flew.

Coco chuckled amused and then walked as she let the bird guide her.

She followed the bird outside, and let it lead her over the hills as the sun was slowly starting to rise, it was quite a walk yet Coco didn't feel tired at all. She was not out of breath, her bad didn't hurt in the slightest, in fact she felt wonderful!

Then she reached it, a huge bridge made of just petals that seemed to cross a giant black void and lead to…. Where?

Coco didn't know, but she knew this was the right way, she was supposed to cross and so she took her first step, and the second allowing the bird to show her the way.

Then… slowly… the other side was revealed and Coco gasped as in front of her she saw… Lights! Buildings… More spirit animals! So many of them.

And then came the sounds, the smells, the cheeriness. All the colors, all the happiness. The land of the dead!

Coco gasped by the sight and then kept walking, music was playing from this place, a lot of music and it all sounded so happy. She could smell a hundred different kinds of food and where-ever she looked there was something new and amazing.

Then though, Coco looked down at the foot of the bridge and there was the most amazing sight of all.

A whole bunch of skeletons waiting for her, and she knew each and everyone of them. "Mama…" Coco breathed. "Julio! VICTORIA!" she shouted and then without even thinking she started to run. "EVERYONEEEEE!" she cried and they all had their arms open wide as they were all yelling her name.

"COCOOOO!"

Coco didn't even know who to aim for, so she just ran aimlessly towards them and grabbed the first one that happened to be in her way as she yelled. "MAMAAAA!" Holding her own mother, Imelda. "I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!"

"Coco!" Imelda cried as she held Coco tight. "I missed you to! You sure took your time, welcome to the land of the dead." she cried giving Coco a squeesh and finally let go allowing Coco to move on.

"Victoria! Mija!" Coco cried. "Oh, you're here!" she stated embracing Victoria as well, then grabbed her face and kissed Victoria all over the face. "My little girl! I hope you've been well."

"Mama." Victoria cried. "I've been well, honest!" she stated.

"Oh my sweet little girl." Coco cried in spite of now being shorter than Victoria, then though Coco got a poke on her shoulder and she turned her face to face her late husband. "Julio." she breathed.

"Coco." Julio breathed. "I just want to…" then he couldn't keep it back any longer as he simply grabbed Coco's face and pulled her into a deep kiss as tears ran down both their cheeks and finally they let go. "I missed you so much!" he stated.

"I missed you to." Coco stated just as she was pulled away by Rosita for a hug.

"Welcome Coco!" Rosita stated and Coco grinned.

"Rosita! It's so good seeing you again!" then turned her eyes to two tall man. "Uncle Oscar, Uncle Felipe." she smiled allowing them both to hug her on the same time.

"Our little girl!" They both grinned.

"Have you been good?" Oscar asked.

"Of couse I have." Coco smiled.

"Come on, you must have done a little mischief to!" Felipe proclaimed.

"Maybe but i'm not telling." Coco grinned as she looked at them, her eyes wandered over all of them as she beamed, then though… she halted. Her happiness seemed to dampen as her eyes were searching but to no help. "Where's?" she asked then silenced.

Imelda lifted an eyebrow. "Were you looking for someone?" she asked.

"I… I don't know." Coco swallowed. "Well I… I thought that maybe. I had hoped that." she bit her lip. "I don't know, what I mean is." her eyes kept searching in desperation but still it was no good. "Was it… to much to hope?" she asked, her voice starting to waver. "I just wanted to… I mean… I.." her eyes lowered.

"Mija." Imelda spoke softly then shook her head.

"I was stupid wasn't I?" Coco asked. "I really thought that."

"You're not stupid Coco." Imelda stated. "In fact, you've been wiser than I ever was. Because you were right, I was the one who was wrong."

"What?" Coco asked looking up. "But.. I don't understand."

"Wait for it." Imelda asked in a smirk holding up a hand. "Wait." she asked again.

And Coco held her breath, she could not help it.. The anticipation was great. Could it be? After all this time? Was it even possible?

Just then a big great shout sounded from all across the street, so loud that it drowned out any other sound and startled anyone who heard it, making several skeletons look around after the source of the shout. "COCOOOOOOOOO!" Wide-eyed Coco looked up and Imelda smiled amused.

"A word of advice, brace yourself." Imelda suggested.

And then suddenly a rush of white, blue and a straw hat came, knocking over any skeleton in his way, so fast was he that Coco didn't even manage to register it before suddenly she was swept away in the biggest tightest embrace she had ever had in her entire life… well life and death and a voice babbling.

"COCO! I'm so sorry! I missed you so much! I just want you to know, I want to tell you. I love you so much. Your papa loves you so much!" A broken voice cried and Coco's eyes widened as she recognized it! She recognized this voice, she recognized the scent, she recognized the aura! It was warm and familiar and filled with love, then suddenly a rain of kiss's was all over her face not allowing Coco to get a word in, nor a look, and then as the kiss's finally ended the embrace just continued.

"Papa?" Coco asked stunned.

"Yes." The familiar voice swallowed, clearly broken. "I'm here Coco! I'm here!" he outright cried.

Then suddenly Coco's mouth started to quiver, she sniffed and then she cried. "PAPAAAA!" as she embraced him right back. "You're here! You're actually here!" she cried, and then felt herself being swung around as the two held each other close.

"COCO! It's my little Coco!" Hector shouted and then finally sat her down on the ground, only to embrace her yet again.

And finally, finally Hector stepped a little bit back allowing the two to actually look at each other.

Coco gaped by the sight of the skeleton face… Her papa had no skin anymore, and his large nose which she had always remembered as being rather funny was gone. But she could recognize him anywhere. His warm smile, his ruffled up hair, the little beard that was just as funny as the lacking nose, but most of all, his pleasant and always shining warm eyes that seemed to have this strange consistent light in them. A light so filled with energy and warmth... Only two people in the world had eyes like that. her great grandson Miguel whom had reminded her so much of her dead Papa and... "It's really you." she gasped as it finally dawned on her. "Papa, you're actually here."

"Yeah." Hector nodded. "I wanted to see you, for so long! You have no idea!" he stated. "I wanted to tell you, how sorry I am. I should never have left you or your Mama, and I wanted you to know. How much I love you, Coco." he stated. "Mi mija."

Coco swallowed. "The reason you didn't come back… It's because you couldn't isn't it?" she asked. "You wanted to come back, but for some reason you couldn't."

Hector nodded. "The truth is… I died Coco." he told honestly. "Only a few months after I left, I died." he admitted. "Ernesto concealed my death, so he could pass off my songs as his own. And i've been here ever since, waiting to see you." he stated. "And I hope, I hope you'll find it in you to forgive your foolish papa." he asked. "For all he's put you through."

"To be honest." Coco then said. "I just want us to be together again, that's all I ever wanted." she admitted. "Papa, I want you to sing for me again. Will you sing for me?" she asked.

And Hector nodded as he chocked up. "Yes." he then said in a squeakily voice. "I'll sing for you when-ever you want! Any song you want." he stated and then embraced her yet again. "Cocoooo!" he cried.

Coco smiled then looked at the rest of her family whom looked like they were trying to hide how touched they were… But they all failed. Everyone looked beyond touched, even the iron woman whom was Imelda, she had to pull out a handkerchief and dry her eyes too. "Hector… Are you done yet? We need to get home."

"I'll never be done with this!" Hector stated as he was crushing Coco in his hug but then finally he managed to pry himself away, though clearly it was hard for him. Then though Imelda grabbed his hand and pulled him over to herself.

"You need to be able to share her Hector." Imelda stated a bit sternly. "And calm down will you? There'll be plenty of time to catch up."

By the sight of the two holding hands Coco gaped. "Are you two… Together again?" she asked.

And Hector grinned happily. "Not in life and not in death, there is no other woman I can be with than your Mama!" he stated.

Imelda looked a little embarrassed but nodded. "He's the love of my life." she shortly informed and Coco beamed.

"I knew it!" Coco exclaimed happily. "I knew you would be here and be singing many songs together! I'm so happy!"

The two looked a bit embarrassed, but it seemed like everyone had just decided not to tell Coco that they had only found together again recently and thusly only let Hector back into the family very recently.

And Coco seemed very happy with that as she allowed her own husband to grab her hand, and then her own daughter grab her other.

"Let's go home." Imelda then invited. "All of us, there's much to show you Coco."

And Coco was beaming like a thousand suns, her smile so big and genuine it warmed everyone who saw it. "I can't wait!" she stated.

End