"Talking"
'Thought'
"YELLING"
'YELLING IN THOUGHT'
*Flashbacks*
Quote about Love and Forgiveness
Without forgiveness and love, you will live with resentment, bitterness, malice and strife which result in more pain. You can never love without forgiving. Forgiveness deepens your ability to love and frees you from pain...by Kemi Sogunle.
Disclaimer: I do not own Coco, and this is a genderswap and if you have anything against the change of gender please kindly leave and don't comment it because I will delete them. Now, on with a story.
Note: This is requested by jedimaster and I enjoyed writing this chapter.
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They finally got the photo of Hermosa from Ernesto and Emilio did it through singing and dancing that he forgot what had felt like when he did it with his wife, and through exhilaration, he hugged Hermosa so tightly and he lifted her up and spins her around like he always did when they were alive.
How he forgot the feeling of having her in his arms again. Bringing her small frame so close to his body that they fit like a puzzle piece.
In which, it brings terrible ache in his old bones and it not because of Hermosa left his familia but because of what he did to her.
After discovering the real truth from his Great Great Grandson Miguel on what Ernesto did to Hermosa while she is trying to get home to her familia. The wretched man had his clutches around Hermosa to cage her like a bird and make her write songs for his performance, and when he got frustrated and jealous he poisoned her to steal her songs and to deprive her of her familia, and Emilio did nothing except he had hurt her verbally.
He will never forget it when he said those words, those words had left scars on her fragile bones. Those words encompass with bitter accusations, deep hatred, and the hot anguish he kept inside turn it into a weapon to inflict her pain as he has, and those words were like this.
"Don't you touch me, you wretched whore! If you ever come close to me I will not hesitate to call the policía. You left, no, you abandoned us, your familia, your only daughter in her hour of needs. All for what, fame, money...Ernesto. You ran away to be with another man. Then, go to him whether on stage or on a bed because you are nothing to me, you hear, nothing." Those words haunt him for the rest of the days because he can never neglect the broken look upon on her face and the tears that ran down on her bony cheeks like falling rain. Frightened and hurt she was that she took off to who knows where and Emilio just stood there stunned, and even more cracked for he had damaged the love of his life.
A flash of sorrow and shame are clear in his eyes and puts her down very gently as if he's holding a delicate flower. Hermosa is confused at the sudden change of feelings and the look on his face made her worry for him.
"Emilio, what's wrong?" Emilio felt a sharp pain directed at him because after what she said to her in the past she still worried about him. He doesn't deserve such a kind woman like Hermosa, he had discarded her from his life she should be angry with him, resent him for what he had done to her. But, she has a pure heart that could never hate anyone.
"Hermosa, once we get your photo on the ofrenda I will make everything right for you." Hermosa's eyes widen a bit.
"I have wronged you...appallingly! I made Coco forget her mama, and worst of it all I treated you as if you are nothing. I may not take back the words I said to you but I swear I will make up to you...If you'll take me back, Hermosa." He spoke truthfully but also with fear. Fear that after years and years of abandonment and loneliness of her life in the Land of the Dead she may never want to be with him after what he had done to her. But Hermosa hadn't uttered a word to him, she is completely stunned, touched, and well, she is most fearful.
Fearful that the man who was once her husband hurt her in a way that made her bones rattles but, despite it all, she never stopped thinking about him day and night, she can't stop loving that fiery man. But will they go back to the way they were? Will he make up the decades she spent alone? She most certainly doesn't know.
But the look of shame and guilt are written on his face and that's something she is not used to seeing on her husband. She was about to open her mouth to respond to him when Ernesto made an appearance.
"Give me the photo NOW!" Miguel, Emilio, and Hermosa have gasped in shock when they saw Ernesto is holding the twins in vice grip as hostages.
"NO!" Emilio took a step.
"GET BACK." Ernesto forces to tighten his grip that causes the twins to twitch in pain and they can hear a painful crack of bones. Emilio froze in his place fearing for his dear brothers.
Ernesto drags the twins around the Rivera family while using them as a shield. He continues to drag the twins till he reached to the edge.
Ernesto looks absolutely crazy. Any wrong move he may do great harm on Oscar and Filipe. The twins feel embarrassed and angry for getting themselves caught but mostly scared for not knowing what will Ernesto is going to do them? The guy murdered Hermosa for her songs but the real crazy part that he believed that Hermosa betrayed him for choosing family over him.
The guy is so self-centered.
"Hand me the photo and the boy and maybe I will release them." His voice is full of threats and there is no promise in his voice for releasing them because no matter what it takes he will harm them in any way if he doesn't get what he wants.
Hermosa had her hands-on Miguel's shoulders, letting her motherly instinct to protect the young Rivera from Ernesto but she is extremely worried for the twins. There was never a grudge between them ever since their arrival to the Land of the Dead.
They met from time to time spending time together, chatting about everything that happened in their time when they were alive or remembering funny moments where they burst into full-blown laughter.
Hermosa loved them as if they were her brothers. Much better brothers than Ernesto.
Right now, they are in trouble. Giving him Miguel and her photo is not an option but nobody wants to see the twins suffers.
Then, out of the corner of her eyes, she sees Rosita positioning the camera toward Ernesto and Victoria pressing the button so that the whole audience can see Ernesto of what he truly is. Then, it got an idea that will save Miguel and the twins. She let go of Miguel and she slowly walks toward panicked Ernesto.
Ernesto saw her coming toward and he pressed his hands on the twins as they cringe in pain.
"I said get back!"
"Easy, Ernesto. Please, just let them go they have nothing to do with this."
"EVERYTHING to do with your family is involved. I won't let you or any of you jeopardize my legacy that I've worked so hard to achieve my dream." Then, Miguel's face twisted in disgust and hate at his once idol and hero and he sneered.
"You didn't achieve anything! Hermosa is a true Musician. You're just a guy who murdered her and stole her songs." The revelation has got the audience shocked and horrified.
Nobody has thought that their beloved idol could do such a heinous act but they are witnessing on a big screen, holding the twin's hostage, and threatening them so he can save his career and reputation.
They are simply upset.
"I'm Ernesto De La Cruz, the greatest Musician of all times. I will do whatever it takes to seize my moment...Whatever it takes!" Then, Hermosa saw that look in his eyes and she knew what he about to do to the twins. Summoning every ounce of her strength she dashed so fast that Ernesto didn't see it coming and she bite Ernesto's forearm as he screeched in pain and making let go of the twins.
Filipe and Oscar managed to escape but Ernesto in his blind fury pushed Hermosa down and he starts to strangle her as she chokes for her breathe. Emilio saw it and quick as lightning he pulls his fist and punches Ernesto's face.
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF MY WIFE!" Hermosa quickly crawls away from Ernesto and watch her husband and former brother swinging their fists everywhere. But Ernesto shoved Emilio off of him and he turns his face toward Hermosa with eyes full of hatred and promise of hurt, and he advances toward her as she gasped.
However, Ernesto could not reach her because Pepita landed just between Hermosa and Ernesto as the mighty Alebrije roared right at Ernesto's skull. The man fell and whimpered like a child as Pepita loomed over him, snarling and baring her sharp teeth at the coward that dare to hurt his Master's wife. He will pay for this.
He snatched Ernesto by hind legs as the skeleton man screamed and calling for help. The audience is applauding to Pepita and watching in eager satisfaction as the fraud and the murderer about to get what he deserves.
Pepita played roughly on Ernesto like a ball of yarn and then she kicked him offstage and sending him flying to his doom, and his doom is a big golden bell.
Ernesto collided onto the bell and the force of the impact caused the base of the wood that holds the bell together to break, it rumbled and roared as the bell fell on Ernesto with a loud bang.
What a cruel irony to die by the bell...twice.
The Rivera family did it. They saved the photo, the saved Miguel, the twins are safe, and Hermosa is safe from Ernesto. Emilio looks at his wife with relief and love in his eyes and he darts toward her and cupped her cheekbones.
"Hermosa, you could've got hurt but you saved my brothers I 'um',"
"I love them as brothers just as you love them as well." Emilio sighs in relief, he clearly remembered how protective of her family, and he was really glad. Then, he felt his hands that touched her cheekbones are being touched. He opens his eyes and sees she has her hands on his hands as she smiles warmly and lovingly to him and then she said.
"And Emilio. I love you and I still love you and what happen in the past is in the past. For now, we have decades to make up for." She had forgiven him so easily that Emilio felt tears are forming in his eyes, filling him with relief and joy.
"Thank you, Hermosa."
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