Unfolding Truths: KO x LMM

Prologue

It was the last day before winter break and Gracie sat in the uncomfortable chair of the detention hall. She tapped her pen against her desk. Detention wasn't anything new to her. Especially not since she and her mom had moved to Madison, Wisconsin after her mother had left Moulin Rouge! The Musical.

"Gracie, your mother is here." The teacher said, clicking the classroom phone back into place on the wall. The freshman slowly packed her books into her backpack and stood up, slipping her arms into the straps and walking out to the reception area. Her mom, Karen Olivo, stood there, bundled in a winter coat and a hat on their head.

"Detention? Again? Really?" Karen asked, placing their hand on their daughter's shoulder. Gracie shrugged.

"Well maybe it's all this change." She finally answered as the two got into Karen's car.

"What do you mean?"

"A third divorce? Seriously?"

"The first one wasn't even a divorce." Karen said.

"Okay, but still. It's all over social media." Gracie grumbled, looking at her mom, a glare in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, sweetie, but it's out of my control."

"It's bad enough everyone knows you're my mom here. Half the kids in my grade have seen In The Heights and the other half all listen to Moulin Rouge." The 14 year old stated. "And it's even worse that I skipped a grade. I'm the nerd with a famous mom."

"Gracie, you're not a nerd. You're just brilliant." Karen said, pulling out of the school parking lot. "Are you excited for our move back to New York?"

"Where even more people will get to make fun of me? Sure." She groaned. "At least it's the home of In The Heights and Moulin Rouge."

"You have always loved those soundtracks." Karen mused.

"I've met most of the principle Heights cast. So why haven't I met Lin?" Gracie asked as they pulled into their driveway.

"Lin's busy," was all Karen offered.

"But mom." Gracie whined.

"Hey, watch it." They said in a warning tone that told Gracie to lay off the matter. "Most of our things are already headed to New York. So why don't we order in?" Karen said as the two of them walked inside the house.

"Pizza?" Gracie suggested, forgetting the previous conversation almost entirely.

"Sure. That sounds good. Large veggie lovers as usual?"

"Yes please." Karen nodded and went to order the pizza. Gracie plopped down on the couch and pulled out her homework.

About half an hour later, the pizza arrived and Karen got it. They served it up on paper plates and gave two slices to their daughter. "Here you go, kiddo."

"Thanks Mom." Gracie said and put it to the side to finish their homework.

"What're you working on?"

"The homework sent by my teachers from my new school." Gracie replied. She would be going to La Guardia because it was only 23 minute commute from NYU.  "I guess they have students write about winter break. It's so stupid.

Back in New York, Lin was playing with his sons, Sebastian and Fransisco who he and his wife, Vanessa, usually just called Frankie. Vanessa made dinner for the four of them, smiling to herself as she heard her husband and their sons playing one room over. She was excited to have been able to get the 15th through the 26th off work to spend that time with her family.

"Lin? Could you get the boys washed up for dinner?" She asked.

"Of course." Lin responded, taking his sons' hands in his, leading them to the bathroom to wash their hands. Frankie fussed, as Lin had expected, so he made a game out of it. "Frankie, if you wash your hands, you help the good germs battle the bad germs!" Lin said.

"WITH LIGHTSABERS?" Frankie asked, excited.

"With lightsabers." Lin repeated. Frankie put his little hands out, ready for Lin to put some soap into them. The little boy scrubbed his hands together, imitating lightsaber sounds. Lin chuckled and Sebastian washed his hands by himself. Once all three had washed and dried their hands, they headed out to Vanessa.

"It smells yummy Mommy." Sebastian said.

"Thank you baby." Vanessa smiled. "That means a lot coming from you."

Lin's phone buzzed in his pocket and he fished it out. It was one of his good friends from Heights, Mandy Gonzalez.

M: hey Lin, not sure if you're aware but Karen's moving back to NYC and a bunch of us are throwing a surprise housewarming party for them and their daughter.

Lin had no idea Karen even had a daughter. He also knew that this was the first time anyone had even brought Karen up to him since they had left Heights six months into their 12 month contract.

LMM: okay, thanks for the heads up.

He didn't know if it would even be appropriate to mention he had no clue Karen had a kid. They'd blocked him on all social media platforms and when he'd gotten Instagram earlier that year, they'd blocked him there too. He hadn't even gotten the chance to follow them.

Lin pocketed his phone and went to the dinner table to join his family. "Alright, how about we say the best parts of our day?" Lin asked.

Sebastian shot his hand up. "Okay bubba, you can go first." Vanessa said with a smile.

"My best part was building a snow man with Luca!" He giggled.

"That's so cool! Did you make a face?" Lin asked.

"No. But it was fun!"

"Frankie?" Vanessa motioned to her youngest.

"Cuddling with Momny." He said.

"Awe, buddy, that was the best part of my day too." Vanessa smiled.

"My turn then, huh?" Lin chuckled as the other three nodded. "The best part of my day is right now. Eating dinner with my amazing sons and my beautiful wife." Vanessa leaned over and kissed Lin's lips.

"I love you." She whispered against his lips. Lin mumbled, just imagining he was kissing Karen again.