You had fallen back asleep after you woke up the first time. You just felt so comfortable, and your head was pounding, so you closed your eyes, and you just eventually drifted off to sleep.

You open your eyes.

Usnavi's arm isn't on you anymore.

You sit up, then look over. Usnavi isn't there.

He must've woken up after you had fallen asleep again, then just left. He probably didn't want you to wake up and see that he had been spooning you.

You take off the covers, and are about to stand up, but then you see a note on the nightstand next to you.

You pick it up.

Y/N-

I went to the bodega to do the last of the packing, and to look after the store. I should be back around 1:00.

-Usnavi

P.S. Don't try and stand up just because I'm gone.

You smile, but then it dawns on you. Usnavi really is leaving today. No more delaying, no more stalling. He's really leaving.

You knew he was leaving to the Dominican Republic because it was his parent's home, but also because Abuela had wanted them to go together. He was mostly leaving for Abuela.

You suddenly get an idea. Maybe if Abuela could encourage him to leave, she could also get him to stay.

You quickly pick up your phone, and make a call.

"Sonny? I've got an idea."

You hear a knock ten minutes later.

You had already gotten dressed in your old clothes in that time, and carefully went down the stairs after a minor wave of dizziness.

You open the door.

"Sonny, Pete, come in."

They step inside, and you close the door behind them.

Pete drops his heavy bag full of spray cans on the ground.

"I have an idea that could possibly nudge Usnavi towards staying," you say, and Sonny's eyes light up.

"Where do I fit in?", Graffiti Pete asks.

You grin at him. "Well, that's the best part."

As you explain, smiles slowly make their way across their faces.

"Yeah, I'm digging that," Pete says when you're done.

"Great. Sonny, I'm going to need to you to somehow distract Usnavi and get him out of the bodega for a few hours."

Sonny salutes.

"Let me know if you need anything."

They both nod, then hurry off.

You just hope that it'll work.

Two hours later, while you're reading one of Usnavi's books, your phone rings.

You see that it's Sonny, and quickly pick it up.

"Hey, Sonny, what's-"

"IDIDN'TKNOWHOWTOKEEPHIMDISTRACTEDHEWASABOUTTOGOBACKTOTHEBODEGAIDIDN'TKNOWWHATELSETODOPETEISALMOSTDONEBUTHE'SNOTSOIHADTO-"

"Sonny, my gosh, slow down. What is-"

"Usnavi's going to back to his house!"

"What?!"

"I ran out of things to distract him with! So I panicked and told him that you needed him."

"Sonny..."

"I'm sorry!"

"Just go try and help Pete, okay? Call me as soon as he finishes."

"'Kay."

"When is Usnavi going to be-"

You hear the front door burst open. "Great," you mutter. "Okay. I need to go," you whisper. "Be quick."

"Good luck!"

"You too."

You quickly hang up, and hear Usnavi's footsteps coming up the stairs.

Great great great great great. What are you going to do?

"Y/N?"

You look over and see a breathless Usnavi in the doorway.

"Are you okay?", he asks, worry all over his face.

"Um, yep," you respond awkwardly.

He sits next to you on the bed.

"Are you sure?"

You nod.

"Well then why did Sonny say that you needed me?"

You shrug.

Usnavi sighs. "You're sure you're okay?"

You nod, trying to think of what to do.

"Okay, then I'm going back to the bodega. Call or text me if you need anything," he says.

He starts to get up just as your phone buzzes. You glance at it.

Just need five more minutes

Crap crap crap.

"Wait, Usnavi."

He looks at you and sits back down.

"Um..."

You only need to buy a few minutes.

Just a few minutes.

You put your hands on your side of his face and smash your lips against his.

He pauses, surprised, but then puts one hand on your neck and the other on your shoulder and kisses you back.

At first, you were only doing it as a distraction, but then you melt into it. After all, you still did like Usnavi. It's not like you were faking attraction just to stall him.

You can sense desperation in his kiss too. Maybe he's been thinking about the same things as you: that he was going to leave forever, and never see you again.

Suddenly, he deepens the kiss, and you press closer to him. You move your hands to the back of his neck, and he digs his hands into your hair.

The kiss was absolutely electric. You and Usnavi had such a connection that you had felt before, but were just now beginning to explore. Right when he was about to leave the country.

You hear a buzz, but ignore it.

Your whole brain was fuzzy and you were completely consumed by the kiss.

Then you remember why you were kissing him in the first place.

You open your eyes and discreetly glance at your phone.

: We good! Come down with Usnavi!!

Crap. You got distracted by your distraction to distract Usnavi.

You pull away, breathing hard.

Was there a good way to smoothly transition kissing to going to his bodega?

Neither of you speak.

"I'm sorry", you say.

He looks confused. "Why?"

"Well, you're leaving, and kissing you probably just makes it harder for you to go."

Usnavi glances away, then sticks his hat back on that had fallen off.

You stand. "Come with me."

He looks up at you. "Hey, you shouldn't-"

"Be standing. I know. It's just minor light-headedness at this point." You start walking out of the room.

Just as you're getting to the stairs, you're swept off your feet, and being held in a bridal carry.

"Usnavi-"

"If you insist on walking around, I'll at least get you down the stairs."

You're again surprised at how effortless he makes carrying you seem.

Sure, he has to carry milk and stuff every day, but doing that wouldn't make him that strong, right?

Usnavi sets you down at the bottom of the stairs. "Alright, where are we going?"

"Your bodega."

"My bodega?" He looks at you, confused. "Why?"

"Um, final coffee?"

He looks extremely skeptic.

"You'll see!"

Since his bodega was close, it only took a couple minutes to get there, and just got more and more nervous on the way. What if it didn't do anything? What if he still wants to leave? What if you'll actually never see him again?

Sonny waves as you arrive.

"Yo cuz, we fixed the grate!", he says.

"What did I tell you about this punk?!", Usnavi exclaims, pointing at Pete. "Plus he's a jerk," he mutters.

"You have to commission an artist while his rate is still good."

You chuckle.

"It's the first work in my new series," Pete says, then pulls down the grate.

Even you're speechless at the beautiful mural.

It was a portrait of Abuela Claudia with New York in the background, and "paciencia y fe" across the top.

Usnavi's mouth parts. He doesn't speak.

"He hates it," Graffiti Pete says.

Sonny shushes him quickly. "He's forming an artistic opinion."

After a moment, Usnavi asks, "You did this this afternoon?"

"Yeah," Pete replies.

"There goes my flight."

Joy and relief every good emotion fills you. You let out a breath. Usnavi was staying. Usnavi was staying!

"Graffiti Pete you're gonna need some new cans. Here's some money, finish up.There's been a slight change of plans."

Pete looks down at the money in his hand, surprised. "Nice!"

"Listen up guys, you got a job, I'm not playin'. You gotta go now, tell the whole block I'm stayin'! Go ahead, tell everyone we know! Sonny..."

Sonny wraps his arms around Usnavi.

Usnavi smiles. "Alright, go!", he says, his voice breaking a little.

Sonny and Graffiti Pete run off.

Usnavi turns to you.

"You're staying," you say happily, a wide grin on your face.

"I'm staying," he says, smiling back.

You pause, but only for a second. "I like you, Usnavi. A lot. And I have for a long time. That's why I didn't want you to go, and why-"

He stops you by kissing you.

You both pull away after a minute.

"Does that mean you like me too?", you ask, laughing.

Usnavi grins. "Yeah," he chuckles.

You take his hat and put it on.

"How come you decided to stay?", you ask. "Not that I'm complaining."

He shrugs. "If it's not me, who keeps our legacies? Who's gonna keep the coffee sweet with secret recipes?" He turns and looks at the mural. "Abuela, rest in peace, you live in my memories, but Sonny's gotta eat, and this corner is my destiny. Abuela, I'm sorry, but I ain't goin' back because I'm telling your story."

You set your hand on his shoulder, then he puts his own over yours.

"And I can't say goodbye to you smilin'! I found my island, I've been on it this whole time! I'm home!"

Usnavi looks at you again, grinning, and you intertwine your hand with his.

You're home.