Heather had never been so excited to get out of her dorm room before. She finished packing her suitcase, hoisting it up on its side and letting the handle come out. She heard Courtney in the shower and thought about saying goodbye, but she knew it was no use.  She had already told her ex-best friend where she was going for the weekend, and she only responded with a slight nod.

She sighed, left the room, and walked out of the sorority to meet Alejandro in the parking lot. He gave her a warm, loving smile and helped her put her things in the trunk. They got in the car, and he started driving.

Heather looked out the window, anxiously fiddling with her hands. Alejandro noticed and gently took her left hand. "Are you nervous, mi amor?"

"No... maybe...fine, I am, ok? I don't know if your mom is even going to like me."

"I know she will. You are incredible, Heather."

"I don't know, I... you know I don't get along with people easily. I just don't want to fuck things up with your family." This was the first time Heather genuinely cared about making a first impression on someone.

"You won't." He smiled, rubbing her hand. She took a deep breath. Just be polite, she told herself.

They arrived a couple of hours later. Alejandro took out a small remote, which opened the gates at the front. He drove through and parked in the circle driveway.

Heather stared out the window in awe. "I still can't believe this is the house you grew up in." She had only been there one other time when they pranked José. His mother hadn't been home then.

He smiled. "It was a wonderful place to be brought up in."

Heather bit her lip. She wondered just how different his childhood had been from hers. She reached to open the door once the car stopped.

"Nuh-uh, let me escort you out, Hermosa." Alejandro got out of the car and walked around to her side. She rolled her eyes as he held his hand out for her to take and got out.

"You know how I feel about all that extra stuff."

"I know you love it. No one treats you that way, so let me be the first."

Heather sighed, a hint of blush across her cheeks. Ugh, he's right. I do love it. I love being treated like a queen by him. It's like Heaven.

Alejandro led her up the steps to the front door. A part of Heather wanted to postpone this whole serious relationship thing. But that was the same part that told her not to open up to anybody, which never worked out for her. Her love for Alejandro kept her there. It kept her from running. And she liked it.

He rang the doorbell and squeezed her hand, seeing the tension in her shoulders. "It's ok. Everything will be fine."

The door opened, revealing a woman with curly dark brown hair. Her eyes were bright green, and her smile was charming. Heather could see the resemblance. "Aye! Alejandro, my little papaya!" She welcomed him with a warm embrace.

"Hola, mother," he smiled, hugging her back. They pulled out of the hug. "Mom, this is my girlfriend, Heather."

Her face lit up. "Hi Heather, I am Mariana. It is so nice to finally meet you! I have heard so much about you from mi niño! He talks about you over the phone non-stop! Sometimes we have to tell him to tone it down," she laughed.

Really? Heather bit the inside of her cheek to hide how flustered she was. He really talks about me that much? It was nice to know she was on his mind just as much as he was on hers when they weren't together.

"Mamá," Alejandro laughed awkwardly. "Of course, I talk about her. She is the love of my life, after all."

"Oh, so preciosa!" She squealed. "Come in, come in!" She waved her hand, and Alejandro let her in first.

"Your house is beautiful, by the way," she complimented.

"Gracias, darling! You can sit anywhere you'd like. Dinner will be ready shortly."

Heather nodded and sat on the couch with Alejandro, playing with the handle of her suitcase. "Oh, we have a guest room I can place this in," Alejandro told her.

She raised an eyebrow, a smirk across her lips. "Guest room? You want me to sleep in there?"

He reciprocated her smirk. "No, of course not. But if you want your own bathroom, you are welcome to use it."

"Hmm, tempting," she giggled.

"I set the table last time!" A whiny voice came from upstairs.

"Oh mi Dios, José, it doesn't matter as long as someone gets it done!"

"Oh no..." Alejandro grumbled. "He's here to visit."

"Then you get it done, Carlos!"

"Fine! I don't-" the men stopped in their tracks when they saw Alejandro and Heather on the couch.

José immediately straightened his posture, pretending he was never in a petty fight with his brother. "Heather!" He smiled. "I've missed you, señorita."

"There's still a bit of pink in your hair," she told him.

He gasped. "What?! But I got it dyed back to normal!"

"Hm, guess they didn't do a good job then," she quietly snickered.

Carlos rolled his eyes at José. "Hola, I'm Carlos." He politely shook her hand. "I see José already knows you. I apologize for his and Alejandro's behavior."

"You mean just his," Alejandro hissed.

"No, I mean the both of you."

"José is always bragging about everything he does!"

"Maybe because I have bragging rights, unlike you!" José shot back.

Alejandro growled, balling his fists. Heather grabbed his hands. "He's not worth it."

José was taken aback. "Are you two dating?!"

"Yes, did mom not tell you that?" He retorted, giving him an annoyed side-eye.

"She said you had a girlfriend visiting for the weekend," Carlos said.

"But I had no idea it was her!" José crossed his arms, pouting like a child. I thought she was a lesbian!

"Do you have an issue with her? Because I'd love to address that with you," Alejandro growled.

"No, I have no issue with her whatsoever," he smirked at Heather, who rolled her eyes at him. "I just...wasn't expecting this."

Mariana came into the living room, her arms crossed. "José, I told you to set the dinner table up. I had to do it myself."

"Carlos volunteered for me tonight," he said.

Carlos sighed. "I'm sorry, mom. I'll do it next time I come over."

"That's ok. Heather, do you like roasted chicken?"

"Yeah, I'm cool with that," she smiled.

"Great! Dinner is ready, so everyone wash up!" They all washed their hands and sat at the table.

"Fun fact of the day. In Peru, where we're from, fried guinea pigs are a local delicacy," Carlos said.

Heather blushed, and Alejandro chuckled quietly. "Oh, yes, Alejandro did tell me that! So, um..." she took a deep breath to contain her laughter. "When did you guys move to Canada?"

"Just a few years ago," Mariana answered. "so we're still fairly new to the area. We caught onto speaking English so quickly because my boys had English teachers throughout their years of grade school and high school."

"Wow, how are you liking it?" Heather was genuinely interested.

"Oh, the people are so nice here! It is true what they say about Canadians," she laughed. "Have you lived here all your life, Heather?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "My mom was born in Japan, but she met my dad when she studied abroad here."

"That's so cool!"

Alejandro grabbed her hand from under the table. This was the first time he had ever heard Heather talk about where her parents were from. All he had heard before were occasional negative comments about them. Not too many details about her past, except for the electroshock therapy experience. He wanted to know more, but he didn't want to push her.

"What are you studying in school?" Mariana asked.

"Business. I want to run my own fashion line someday."

"I can tell you will be very successful. You definitely have a great sense of fashion!"

"...Really?" Heather was not expecting that kind of response. She was used to people laughing at her or trying to find some negative aspect of it. Those people were her parents and siblings. It seemed like they'd look for any excuse to crush her dreams.

"Yes! You are gorgeous!"

Heather smiled, genuinely happy. "What do you do?"

"I'm a flight attendant, so traveling is a huge part of the job. We've moved so many times, but never to another continent! It's so fun here in North America!"

"You like it here?" She grimaced. "It's like a big, stupid garbage can." Mariana burst out in laughter. Heather raised an eyebrow. "...What's so funny?"

"You! The way you word things is funny! I think we are going to get along well, Heather. I really like you. Alejandro, keep her," she told her son firmly.

Heather and Alejandro both blushed. "Uh," Alejandro laughed, clearing his throat. "Thank you for that, mother."

"I mean it! You two make a good couple. I think you complement each other well. Like color compliments a flower."

"That's funny because last time Heather was here, she told me she was a lesbian," José said.

Alejandro rolled her eyes. "That was an obvious attempt to get you to leave her alone."

"Or you resemble a female."

"José!" Mariana scolded.

Alejandro glared daggers at his brother. "You are just angry because you're unhappy with Sonya!"

"Do not bring Sonya into this!"

"Boys! Both of you-that is enough!" Their mother snapped. "This is no way to act when we have a guest over!"

José sighed. "Yes, mother."

Alejandro clenched his jaw, still angry.

Once they finished eating, Mariana showed Heather the guest room. "This bathroom was cleaned just for you! I also bought a nice, scented candle!"

"Thank you," Heather nodded politely, scanning the room. It was nice, but she wanted to sleep with Alejandro.

Mariana smiled knowingly when she saw her looking around. "You know, you do not have to sleep in here alone. I know you and Alejandro are both adults. I won't care if you share a room."

She blinked, surprised. "Oh, um...thanks."

"Of course, sweetie! Let me know if you need anything!"

Heather nodded with a smile before she left the room. Seconds later, Alejandro entered. "So, what do you think?"

"It's...super homey. But like...fancy at the same time."

"I know." He wrapped his hands around her waist. "Do you think you will be comfortable sleeping in here?"

"Yes, but only with you."

He chuckled, kissing her nose. "My mother really likes you."

"Yeah, well she won't for long."

"What makes you think that?"

"Because," she rubbed his shoulders. "I have no social skills."

"I think you do, mi reina. You use them perfectly with me."

"Well...you're different from other people."

"We trust each other." He gently stroked her face, running his fingers through her hair. "You are free to socialize however you want when you're with me, and I will still love you."

"Does your mom know I'm pregnant?"

"No, not yet. I would never tell her without your permission."

She furrowed her eyebrows worriedly. "I hope she doesn't flip out."

"She loves babies. But I am not sure how she will feel about one out of wedlock."

"Ugh, and this is where she'll start hating me."

"No, no, don't say that" he shook his head. "If we are doing adoption, then all should go smoothly. She would only be concerned about me being a young, unmarried father. The only thing that will irk me is when José finds out about this. He will not let me hear the end of it!"

"José can suck his own dick."

Alejandro laughed. "He probably does." Heather giggled, leaning on him. "You know, you're right. I don't care what José thinks." He took both of her hands in his.

She placed a chaste kiss on his lips. "As you shouldn't."

"You've got me in the mood for some serious cuddling, mi amor."

"How serious?" She teased.

"Serious enough to do this." He picked her up and carried her over to the bed. She laughed, snuggling her head into his chest. He held her close, running his fingers through her hair. "Heather?"

"Hmm."

"Do you feel safe here?"

She lifted her head to look at him. "What do you mean?"

"Do you feel safe with me? And my family?" He rubbed her back soothingly.

She nodded. "Yes. Your mom...she's so nice. Do they actually  like me, or are you just being nice?"

"Absolutely. If they didn't, you would be able to tell."

Heather felt her heart light up with pure joy. 'They...they like me.' She found herself smiling genuinely. She looked her lover in the eyes, tenderly, more sure of any feeling she ever had.

Alejandro ever so gently kissed her lips, never taking his gaze off her. "You are always welcome here. If you ever need someone to be a mother to you, my mother will. She will take care of you." He rubbed her hand.  "You don't have to be afraid."

"Thank you. I love you."

"I love you too. More than anything." He played with the ends of her hair.

"Do you...do you want this baby?"

Alejandro paused, her question catching him off guard. "Do you?"

"I'm asking you."

He swallowed hard. "I... I am not sure. I know it's such a big responsibility, but I think I am in love with him or her already."

"Tell me why," she whispered, stroking his face.

"Why? Porque, they will look like you and I combined. They may have your hair, my eyes. Your smile..." he placed his thumb on her lips. "Your beautiful smile that I wouldn't mind waking up to every day."

Heather's cheeks grew hot. She imagined what their baby would look like. The possibilities were endless. What would their first words be? What kind of personality would they have? What would their favorite color be? Favorite movie? Song? What would they grow up to be like?

"Alejandro." She stared at the wall.

"Yes, mi amor?"

"I can't keep this baby. Their life would be ruined. I could never be a good mother, no matter how hard I try." She blinked, a single tear streaming down her cheek.

He placed his hands on her shoulders. "That is not true. You and I both know that."

"How the hell am I supposed to be a good mother if I don't know how they're supposed to be? My mom was hardly ever around," she choked out as more tears fell. "A-And she didn't treat me like your mom treats you guys. I never saw that with other kids' moms at school. I-I'd get so jealous because everyone else was loved by their parents! I didn't understand why...I-I thought I was unlovable."

"You are not unlovable. I love you. More than the moon and stars. More than the sun. More than all the seasons. More than this earth. My mother loves you. Courtney loves you."

"No, I messed things up with her," she sniffled. "It's too late."

"It's not too late. If she loves you, she will come around. And I know she does."

"What if...what if the baby doesn't love me?"

Alejandro rested his forehead against hers. "This baby will love you with all of his or her heart. I know you, Heather. I know how caring you are. You have a beautiful soul that never got to shine. They didn't teach you how to love. It's not fair," he whispered.

She let out a shaky breath. "I'm just really, really scared. This is another human life. I could easily fuck it up."

"You do not have to make any final decisions right now, mi reina. You still have a while. Just know that I will support you with whatever decision you make."

She smiled. "You're the best."

"I am, aren't I?" He smirked.

"Shut up."