[hr][hr][center][h1][b][i][color=orangered]Caesar Gonzalez[/color][/i][/b][/h1]
[img]http://cdn.movieweb.com/img.news.tops/NEvyrxPbk7zLyD_2_b/Inmate-Number-1-Movie-Danny-Trejo-Documentary.jpg[/img][hr][b] [color=orangered]Location:[/color][/b] La Hacienda 
[b][color=orangered]Skills:[/color][/b] N/A[hr][hr][/center]

	The quartet of slightly mismatched persons of venerable ages scurried their way past the main viewing area and up the stairs to the second floor bedrooms. To say "scurried" was a stretch; the three abuelitas might have been aptly described as scurrying. Caesar himself moved with something more akin to plodding, seeing as he was still carrying the lion's share of the gear he had gathered from the basement. It was a strange day, and not just because he was giving traditional honors of interment to his only legitimate daughter. As his feet hit step after ascending step, he come to a lovely hindsight conclusion about his choice of guests and how appropriate their presence really was. 

	On the one hand, Cecily's life may very well have been in danger. The easy answer was to get her out of town until things cooled down, if they were going to cool down for her. At face value, it made sense. Caesar was headed out of town on easily explainable and understandable business, using a private plane. An extra person or two on the manifest would not be an issue. But was bringing them to La Hacienda really the best option? It was secure, yes. Safe, even. But if people knew the extent of Caesar's company's involvement with this Juno crowd, it would definitely be a location of interest if it wasn't already. Again, hindsight dictated that he probably should have re-asserted his offer for her to work for his company directly and transfer her immediately to the home office in Tennessee, using executive privilege to minimize publicly accessible paperwork. The offer was still valid if she wanted it, as he reminded her earlier, though with the current social climate now he figured it would be less likely that she would accept. Caesar had to tend to his own violently quixotic affairs before he insisted upon saving anybody else. 

	Then there was Natasha. Maybe he did make a mistake. Not in checking up on her privately; he was planning on doing that to damn near everyone he had come in contact with over the course of this series of fuckups and misadventures, now that he had his Tech team in place. His mistake came in confronting her about her association with a prominent member of Juno. Intentions noble or ignoble, he should have played it much closer to the vest. And he still didn't trust her. Not as much as Cecily did, obviously. Asking to come with them on this trip was a bit of a red flag, but again, [i]hindsight[/i]. If any harm came to Cecily, Dr. Brinne was definitely going on The List.  

	It was easy to tell which room belonged to Thalia. Even if this wasn't Caesar's home and he was arriving for the first time, it would have been evident. It was not like cartoony stink lines were radiating from the open door, but there could be no mistaking the muffled grunts of disgust coupled with the bubbly giggles of a highly smug baby boy. Steeling himself against what he knew awaited him, Caesar approached the offending room, even as the elder women around him fell silent. 

	[i]Meanwhile, in Thalia's room...[/i]

	As Thalia did whatever she could to stand her own presence, Benicio took to little Liam as an experienced parent might, removing his jacket, rolling up his sleeves, and diving right in. He uttered many small prayers in supplication to God, Jesus, Mary, and Dama Muerte, invoking saints and reciting snatches of hymns meant to inspire patience and strength. He was underprepared for this explosion of challenging, post-digested material. He was going to soldier on nonetheless. His daughter decided to then get back to business, now that the brunt of her splatter was removed. 

	"Why would Alicia give me... or, us... something that she didn't want her father to see?"

		[b]"I do not know, Angelita."[/b] he responded as he wrestled with ass-swamped baby clothing, [b]"She kept many things from him. And from us. Maybe it was to protect."[/b]

	"Maybe she wanted a life outside of La Familia."

		[b]"Could be. Is that why you wanted to be like her, so much?"[/b]

	"It's not like that, Dad. Alicia was [i]so strong[/i]. She was the first friend I had after Mom died. She made me feel comfortable down here, you know, before..." Thalia trailed off, unsure as to how she would proceed without hurting her father's feelings.

		[b]"Before what, M'hija?"[/b]

	"Before I even knew you, Dad. You didn't know how to deal with a ten year old. I know you loved Mom, I know she left you and never told you about me. You didn't deserve that, and you didn't deserve a scared, lonely little girl who wouldn't even talk to you for a month. I'm sorry. Alicia's visits were the only thing that I looked forward to. Before I got to know my Familia. Violence and all."

		[b]"You look so much like her, Angel. You might have your uncle's eyes, but you have her spirit."[/b]

	"Thanks, Dad."

		[b]"Don't thank me."[/b] he smiled a little, [b]"She could be [i]such[/i] a bitch."[/b]

	Thalia couldn't help but start to chuckle. Tears formed, spilling down her face. But she kept laughing in a flurry of mixed emotions. "Is this where we're supposed to hug, now?"

		[b]"You're covered in shit, M'hija. We'll hug later."[/b] he chuckled, glancing to his little girl with endearing eyes.

	[color=orangered]"Let's get this over with."[/color] came Caesar's voice from the doorway. He plunked the shop vac down and began unloading the mountain of cleaning supplies. One of the women with him raised a hand to her forehead, dramatically feigning a fainting spell. Another suddenly remembered a pressing appointment elsewhere. The third shook her fist at the one who retreated, picked the "fainting" one from the floor, and began fussing at people to get to work. 

	And so, the cleaning process began. God help them all.