Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“What?” 

Pepa’s voice was flat, lacking any inflection that could clue them in on how she was feeling. Even her cloud had frozen above her head.

“What did you say?”

She’d spent the last week trapped in her grief over her hermano’s disappearance, in her fears over what his door going dark meant. 

And now this?

“We’ll send her to Agustin’s family,” her mamá continued. “She didn’t get a Gift Pepa. And whatever Bruno saw in the future drove him away from the family. We cannot allow a threat to the magic to remain.”

“A threat? A five-year-old is a threat?” she couldn’t keep the sneer out of her voice and her mamá’s lips pursed in disapproval.

For once, the expression didn’t affect Pepa. Because this wasn’t about her or her siblings who should, in theory, be able to defend themselves. This was about the five-year-old who still refused to come out of her room. Whose oldest hermana had outright disowned her as family yesterday because she didn't get a Gift. Whose other hermana was ignoring her after being pressured to by her Abuela. 

Whose parents were in the room and saying nothing as it was planned to send her away from the only life she’d ever known.

“Sofia hates you,” Pepa stated bluntly. “If you send Mirabel to her, then she’d never interact with the family again. We'd barely see her around the village since Sofia lives on the opposite side.”

Agustin flinched and Julieta looked down. But they still didn’t say anything. Pepa dug her nails into her palms to keep her emotions under control. Julieta had always had a problem with saying no to their mamá. Bruno too admittedly. But the difference between them was that Bruno had trouble saying no when it came to himself. When it came to someone else, especially someone he cared about, her hermano could get downright defiant at times. It hadn’t happened often, but the times it did were memorable. Bruno didn’t rebel against their mamá in the typical ways. But he still did when it was necessary.

It made her wonder about his absence… Whether it was over what he saw, or how he expected their mamá to react to it.

She pushed that aside for the moment. Thinking of him only made the ache in her heart worse.

“We do what we must. For the good of the Miracle and the Encanto,” her mamá told her firmly.

Pepa looked to her hermana, seeing the tears in her eyes that betrayed her true feelings over the situation. And yet she still didn’t speak up. Fine then.

“No,” Pepa stated simply, an ominous rumble of thunder coming from her cloud.

“What?” her mamá demanded sharply. A warning.

“No,” Pepa repeated. “No, you will not tear a five-year-old who is already scared away from the only life she’s ever known because of your paranoia. No, you will not take away the girl my niños love because she’s different. No, you are not abandoning that little girl, my sobrina, because you’re scared.”

Pepa turned away from her spluttering mamá to meet Julieta’s wide eyes. “If you are incapable of standing up for your hija Julieta, you shouldn’t have become a mother at all.”

Julieta reeled back in shock and it gave Pepa no pleasure to hurt her hermana like this. But she refused to stand by and let this happen.

“If you don’t want Mirabel, she’s mine then,” she stated simply, turning to leave.

“Pepa!” her mamá snapped and a bolt of lightning snapped to the ground.

“Don’t,” Pepa whispered. “Don’t push me any further right now. I’ve already lost most of my respect for everyone in this room after this conversation. Don’t make me lose my temper too. You know how badly that goes when someone hurts my family. And in case you’ve somehow forgotten, Mirabel is my family.” 

She shot an icy glare at them over her shoulder, a cold wind whipping up in the room.

“From now on, Mirabel is my hija. I don’t care what you tell anyone. I don’t care what story you concoct to make yourself feel better about the situation. But she’s mine now. You lost all rights to that girl the moment you thought this was an acceptable idea.”

She slammed the door shut behind her before they could argue further, Casita not stopping her and giving away just how upset the house was about this whole thing.

Pepa stood there for a moment, trying to stop the anger raging inside her from escaping into a hurricane.

Part of her was tempted to say ‘fuck it’ and let loose for once. Her mamá and hermana wanted to send her five-year-old sobrina away because of paranoia and Agustin said nothing because fuck that man needed to grow a spine when it came to his mother-in-law.

If her mamá had tried that shit with Felix, he would lost his absolute mind on her.

On top of that all, she had no idea where her hermano was or if he was still alive. The kids in the house were either getting dragged into this insanity through her mamá pressuring them or were just stressed out over the adults being stressed out.

Camilo was still crying over the fact that Bruno was missing. She didn’t know where Dolores was and really maybe a hurricane wasn’t so bad-

Pepa was yanked out of that spiral of thoughts as Dolores ran up to her, looking distressed.

“Mija? What’s wrong?” she asked gently, figuratively throwing her thundercloud out of the window for the moment.

“I-I heard your conversation,” Dolores admitted, fidgeting with her dress. “Are we really- is Mira going to stay?”

Pepa nodded firmly. “Sí.” She hated that Dolores had to hear that at all. She shouldn't know how easy her Abuela found it to throw one of them away when they became 'inconvenient'.

Some of the tension drained from her hija’s shoulders at that but she still seemed upset.

“Dolores?” 

“It’s just… Abuela already told Mirabel earlier that they were sending her away. She’s been crying in her room all day. Even Camilo can’t make her stop.”

And the thundercloud was back, front and centre.

“Mija? Do me a favour and fetch your papá for me? Meet me at the nursery okay?” she was careful to keep her tone calm and the eleven-year-old nodded before racing off to fetch Felix.

Pepa, meanwhile, turned and walked straight to the nursery.

That would be the first thing they’d change. Mirabel needed to stay somewhere else, not in the nursery. She shouldn't be stuck in there for the rest of her childhood.

Her heart broke when she opened the door to Mirabel’s sobs. Her Camilo was crouched down and peering under the bed, looking completely distressed. He looked up at his mamá as Pepa closed the door and scrambled up, running straight to her.

“Mami!” he grabbed fistfuls of her dress. “You won’t let them take Mira away right?” Her hijo looked on the brink of tears himself.

Pepa cupped his cheek and gave him a reassuring smile. “Never mijo.”

He relaxed a bit, rubbing at his eyes and sniffling. This entire situation had upset her niños and that only made her angrier.

“Mamá’s going to talk to Mira now, okay? Papá  and Dolores are on their way so wait by the door for them?”

He nodded and glanced back at the bed before slipping out the door. Pepa took a few deep breaths before moving over to the bed and kneeling down next to it.

Under the bed she found a huddled five-year-old, sobbing to herself.

“Oh, Mira,” Pepa whispered, her heart aching for her sobrina. “Will you come out for Tia?” 

“I d-don’t wanna leave,” Mirabel sobbed out. “Please d-don’t make me l-leave!”

“I would never make you leave Mira,” Pepa told her firmly. “Never. And you’re not going to leave.”

Tear-filled eyes looked at her from behind round glasses

“I promise Mira,” Pepa assured her, stretching a hand under the bed towards the little girl. “No one is going to make you leave.”

Mirabel bit her lip, the tears escaping again. “Mami and papi don’t want me anymore,” Her voice wavered. “Isa and Luisa don’t either. Abuela said they’re sending me away cause I’m dangerous. She said Tio Bruno left cause of me. No one wants me.”

This time a roll of thunder came from outside but Pepa didn’t care. She was so unbelievably angry. She kept calm for the moment though.

“Well, Mira. That’s not true. Because I want you very much. And so does Camilo and Dolores and your Tio Felix.” She took a deep breath. “And I know that your Tio Bruno loved you so, so much. It wasn’t your fault that he left.”

Mirabel wiped at her eyes miserably. “Really?”

“Really,” Pepa nodded her head firmly. “And I will zap anyone that tries to take you away with the biggest bolt of lightning you’ve ever seen.”

Mirabel uncurled little. “I don’t have to go?”

Pepa shook her head. “No, you’re not going anywhere.”

Hesitantly, Mirabel reached out to take Pepa’s hand and she pulled the little girl out from under the bed and into a tight hug. Her sobrina buried her face in her dress and started crying again.

“But what do I do?” she wailed. “They don’t want me!”

Pepa stroked her hair and rocked her gently, hearing the door open behind her again. 

“You’re just going to be ours then Mira,” she told her simply.

Miserable eyes stared up at her in confusion while Felix came to crouch down next to Pepa.

“Everyone else is being very silly lately,” he told Mira in a hushed voice. “So your Tia and I are gonna steal you away so you’re all ours,” he booped her on the nose when she turned to stare at him.

Pepa loved him all the more for how easily he was going along with this.

“What do you mean?” she asked while Dolores came to kneel on Pepa’s other side with Camilo in her lap.

“What I mean, is that you’re going to be my hija now Mira,” Pepa explained gently. “You’re going to be our hija. You’re ours now. Dolores is going to be your hermana and Camilo is your mellizo.”

Camilo let out an excited gasp and threw himself out of Dolores’ arms and onto Mirabel.

“Mira is my hermana?!” he asked excitedly.

Pepa smiled at his obvious joy at that.

“Sí, Mira is a part of our family now.”

She knew it wasn’t that easy. That Mirabel was going to carry insecurities over this for a long time to come. But she refused to watch her sobrina get thrown away for something that wasn’t her fault. She refused to lose her.

Mirabel stared up at her with wide eyes.

“It’s okay now Mira,” she murmured, cupping the girl’s cheek. “It’s going to be okay.”

Mirabel burst into tears again and clung tightly to her dress while Camilo hugged her from the side. Dolores leaned against Pepa’s right and ran a hand through Mirabel’s hair while Felix wrapped his arms around them all in a hug that never failed to make Pepa feel safe and loved.

And between the sobbing girl in Pepa’s arms who was now her responsibility and her sharp, painful grief over her hermano’s absence, Pepa finally let out her frustration and anger.

The Encanto would survive a hurricane. And maybe they deserved it for the shit human beings they’d been recently.

Karma was a bitch and honestly, she’d never claimed to be anything but a bitch.

Pepa owned that title. Everyone else needed to remember it.

Chapter Text

Pepa and Felix bundled their children into their room and Pepa set her hands on her hips as she studied them. Mirabel was still sniffling quietly while Camilo held her hand in an attempt at comfort. Dolores was watching them both in concern.

“Right, Dolores, can you go and find your old dresses? From when you were Mira’s age?” Pepa asked. “We need to get your hermana in the right colours.”

Her hija nodded with a small smile and hurried out to go do as she was asked.

Pepa knelt down in front of the pair of five-year-olds, drawing their attention.

“Okay, I know that some sad stuff has happened. And you're allowed to be upset about it. But I promise Mira, things are going to get better. Okay?”

The little girl nodded while Camilo glomped on her in a hug, apparently deciding that holding her hand wasn't enough.

Dolores ran back in, her arms full of dresses and a scowl on her face.

“Mamá? Abuela is talking to Tia and Tio about how Mira has to stay in the nursery if she's staying since we can’t ‘waste space’.”

Pepa gritted her teeth as she accepted the clothing and Felix made an angry noise behind her.

Before they could say anything though, Camilo piped up.

“Mira can just come live in my room!” he declared. “We shared for five years already. I miss her.”

Pepa blinked at him in surprise. That was actually… a very good idea. It got Mirabel out of the nursery and she and Camilo had loved living together. Just until she was ten maybe.

Dolores huffed. “And what if I want her to come stay in my room?” she asked her hermano. “You can’t hog her!”

Camilo scowled at his hermana. “She’s my melliza!” he argued.

“Well, she’s my hermanita!” Dolores argued back.

It really was adorable and Mira looked very confused, still squished in Camilo's hug.

Pepa chuckled, drawing their attention. “How about this? Mira can stay with Cami until she’s ten. And then she’ll move in with Dolores hmm? Sorry Cami, but a girl needs some space from boys when they start getting older.”

Camilo pouted while Dolores seemed more willing to accept the compromise.

“How’s that sound Mira?” Pepa asked gently. “Do you want to move in with Camilo?”

Mirabel looked genuinely surprised. “I don’t have to stay in the nursery?”

Her heart ached for her sobrina. Now her hija.

“No Mira. Actually, you deserve a room all of your own. But until Abuela stops being dumb, no one can stop you from staying with your mellizo.”

The five-year-old wound her arms around Camilo in return and nodded shyly.

“Great! We’ll do that in a bit,” Pepa smiled as Camilo cheered, spinning Mirabel around and making her laugh in surprise. “For now, we need to get you in your new colours.”

She lay out some of the dresses. Thankfully Dolores had been a careful kid. Her old clothes were all in good condition. They’d still be getting Mira her own, new clothes as soon as possible though.

Mirabel looked over the yellow and orange clothes nervously before picking up a bright orange dress. Pepa helped her get changed before they all headed back to the nursery to start packing up her things.

Mirabel looked at the clothes in the closet for a long moment before closing the doors again. Felix crouched down next to her to ask her if she was alright while Camilo and Dolores gathered all her toys. Pepa listened from where she was gathering up Mira's blankets.

“Mira, you okay?”

She looked up at him, one hand fiddling with her new dress.

“I don’t want them,” she whispered. “They’re the wrong colours.”

The resignation in her voice made Pepa want to go scream at her hermana but then Mira turned to look Felix properly.

“Can I get a yellow blanket too?” she asked shyly, pointing at the green and blue that primarily made up her bed.

“Of course, you can,” Felix assured. He swept her up into his arms, drawing a startled squeak from her as everyone finished gathering what they needed. They made one last check around before making the short trip to Camilo’s room.

Opening the door… showed Pepa that this was without a doubt the right decision. Her sweet little Cami always amazed her.

His room reacted to his feelings and wants subconsciously. And now the room was divided down the middle with one side being the familiar shifting chaos and the other side being stable and unchanging with a bed, a desk and a closet just waiting for Mirabel.

Pepa swept Camilo up into her arms as Felix headed over to what was clearly Mirabel’s side with her still in his arms. The walls were a soft yellow and the carpet was a deep red. Their family colours were so boldly on display that Pepa wouldn't be surprised if Camilo tried to paint Mirabel in them to claim her even further.

“You did good mijo,” Pepa whispered as Mirabel looked around at the space in awe.

Camilo beamed up at her, clearly excited to have his melliza back and staying. He had thrown one hell of a tantrum when he realised that he couldn’t stay with Mirabel anymore. It had taken weeks before he stopped trying to sneak back to the nursery at night.

They’d probably reach some trouble again when Mirabel turned ten, but until then, letting the pair share really wasn’t a problem.

They packed away Mira’s toys and clothes and Pepa found some colour appropriate bedding for her so they could make up the bed.

By then, it was almost time for dinner and Pepa was determined to make sure that Mira didn’t miss any meals like she just knew the girl had been doing the last miserable week. She scooped her hija up in her arms and headed for the stairs with the rest of her family trailing behind her. Mirabel tensed and gripped tightly to Pepa’s dress as they got closer to the kitchen.

Pepa brushed a kiss over her hair and murmured a reassurance before striding into the room without any hesitation.

The conversation ground to a halt but she pretended not to notice, plopping Mirabel into the seat next to her while Camilo scrambled into the chair on Mira’s other side. Dolores sat next to him, blatantly ignoring her primas and Felix sat next to her. An awkward silence fell and Pepa wasn’t surprised when Camilo was the one to break it.

“Arepas!” he declared excitedly when he saw what was for dinner. 

Dolores elbowed him for being too loud. 

Mirabel laughed at him when he whined.

And Pepa glared at them warningly all to settle down which they did.

Just like that, dinner continued on. Pepa walked away from the meal with mainly disappointment as Julieta had refused to look at her or Mirabel and their mamá was going on as if nothing had happened.

Honestly, she didn’t blame Bruno for leaving if this was what he saw.

Felix tucked Mirabel into bed after the pair were bathed and changed while Pepa tucked Camilo in. Then they switched to wish the other five-year-old goodnight.

“Tia?” Mira whispered as she finished smoothing out the blankets.

“Hmm?”

“Thank you for wanting to keep me.”

Pepa leaned down and kissed her forehead. “We will always want to keep you Mira. Always. You’re our hija now. And we love you very much.”

“Love you too.”

Pepa smiled softly to herself as the little girl drifted off, exhausted from everything that had happened that day. She brushed Mirabel's hair out of her face lightly as a cloud formed above her.

No child should ever feel like she had to thank someone for ‘keeping them’.

She wasn’t sure if she could forgive Julieta for this one. For the sake of her children, she should have been able to say no to their mamá.

With a sigh, Pepa followed Felix out of the room.

“We’ll make sure she feels loved,” Felix promised her as they headed to Dolores’ room to wish her goodnight. “She will never doubt that again.” 

Pepa rested her head on his shoulder. No, they would never allow Mirabel to feel like this again. She would grow up loved and respected in their family.

And Pepa would drag good behaviour from her hermana’s side of the family by threat of thunderstorm if she had to.

That’s what a mother did after all.

Chapter Text

Mira woke to Camilo landing on top of her, jarring her out of sleep.

It was both familiar, because he’d done that regularly when they’d shared a room before, and not since they hadn’t shared a room for two months.

But they were sharing again now… She blinked up at the ceiling in surprise as she remembered the previous day. She didn’t even have long to feel upset over it all again since Camilo got nose to nose with her.

“Mira! Time to wake up!” he declared.

"Cami…" she whined. 

"Breakfast!" He insisted. "You've been skipping meals."

She groaned but sat up when her primo… mellizo? Kept pushing.

By the time she climbed out of her bed, there was a knock on the door and Dolores poked her head in, giving them a smile.

"Good morning Mira, Cami. I'm here to help you get ready."

Mirabel felt a bit relieved about that. Her mamá had… had always helped her before…

Dolores sat her down and brushed through her hair while Camilo made the executive decision on what she would be wearing, insisting on a pale yellow dress with red accents.

Once Dolores was finished with Mira's hair, adding a red ribbon to keep her hair out of her face, she helped her into the dress. 

"You look so pretty," her prima… hermana? Cooed at her.

Mirabel blushed, fiddling with the skirt of the dress and giving the older girl a shy smile.

"Gracias, Dolores," she murmured.

Dolores just smiled in return and took their hands, leading them out of the room and down to the kitchen.

Most of the family was already waiting and Tia Pepa broke into a wide smile at the sight of them, her cloud clearing up immediately.

Mira’s attention was caught by that smile instantly because she was included in it. Her Tia… Tia? Was smiling at all three of them. 

Before she knew what was happening, Tio Felix had swept both her and Camilo up, causing them to break out into giggles. He spun for a second before plonking them into seats next to Tia Pepa. Dolores followed after them, smiling as they continued to giggle.

"Did Dolores help you get ready Mira?" Tia Pepa asked, poking the red bow in her hair. "You look very pretty today."

Mirabel beamed at her. "Sí!" She nodded excitedly. "Cami picked the dress."

"Very nice choice mijo," she nodded in approval while Tio Felix put plates of food in front of them.

Mirabel smiled shyly. She did feel very pretty with them making such a fuss. And Dolores was always pretty, in a different way than Isa was. Isa was too pink.

"Pepa, stop this nonsense." Abuela’s voice cut into the conversation and Mirabel shrunk in on herself. She still remembered how mad she'd been before and how she said it was too dangerous to the Miracle for her to stay.

Everyone startled when Tia Pepa slapped a hand down on the table, hard. 

"No," she stated forcefully, a cloud reappearing over her head. "My niños are my business. Not a topic for breakfast."

There was a tense silence during which Tia and Abuela glared at each other. Mirabel snuck a peek at the rest of the family.

Mamá and papá… they weren't looking at her. And neither were Luisa or Isabela.

Mirabel's heart ached and she blinked back tears before Camilo squeezed her hand and she looked back at her primo and prima.

Camilo looked worried and Dolores gave her a sad smile.

They were looking at her. So was Tio Felix. And Tia Pepa was before she started glaring at Abuela.

They still looked at her. They still wanted her. Even without a Gift.

They still loved her.

Mirabel squeezed her mellizo's hand back and was rewarded with his smile. Then she turned to the other side and tugged shyly on the bright yellow dress.

Warm green eyes immediately snapped back to her and Tia Pepa smiled at her. It made Mirabel feel all warm and fuzzy.

"Sí?" She asked gently.

Mirabel leaned closer and she immediately leaned down so that the five-year-old could whisper to her.

"Can I have some more food mami?" She was so soft that her words wouldn't even be audible for Camilo who was right next to her.

But Dolores squeaked in happy surprise and Tia… mami stared at Mirabel with wide eyes before a rainbow broke out over her head and she pulled Mira into a tight hug.

"I'm stealing you all day," she declared loudly. "And of course you can mija."

Mirabel snuggled into the hug happily.

"Feed our hija more Felix," mami ordered and it was only moments before there was more food in front of her. She was really hungry after not eating much this week.

"Mami? Can I come with you and Mira today?" Camilo asked hopefully.

Abuela cut in before she could answer.

"You have chores, Camilo," she reminded sharply. 

Mirabel could feel Ti- mami tense under her.

"He's five," she deadpanned. 

"I figured out how he can be useful to the community. He can keep the other children entertained so their parents can get their work done. Dolores can tell him where to go."

Mami picked Mirabel up and passed her over to Ti- to papi. 

"You want my five-year-old hijo to babysit the town's children so their parents can get a break?"

A dark cloud was growing over her head but papi didn't seem bothered. He pulled Mirabel's plate over and encouraged her to eat her food.

"Pepa, it's for the good of the community," Abuela said sternly.

Mami lay a hand flat on the table and leaned in, furious eyes locked on Abuela as lightning flickered in her cloud.

"Take your 'slaves to the Encanto' bullshit and fuck right off."

There was an outcry of protests from the others but mami's cloud let out thunder that was so loud that they all fell silent. Dolores' ears must be ringing.

"I am not a child anymore," Mami's voice was very calm despite the rumbling cloud. "I am forty years old. I have a family of my own. Camilo, Dolores and Mirabel are my children. You have no say in how I raise them. You can suggest all you want but I can ignore you as much as I want. The only people who have a say in how they're raised are Felix and I."

She didn't take her eyes off Abuela for a moment.

"Felix, do you think Camilo should babysit the town's children?"

"Hell no," papi answered immediately, chin resting on Mirabel's curls.

"Dolores? Do you want to keep listening in on the town?"

"No mami," Dolores answered softly. "It makes me feel guilty to tell all their secrets."

"Well, there we have it. My children, my rules. My children are coming with me today. On a picnic. Because the farmers can handle watering their own crops today."

"Brilliant idea mi vida," papi said, sounding very happy. "I'll pack the basket."

He moved Mirabel to Dolores' lap and she immediately cuddled the little girl.

"You will not talk to me like that under my own roof!" Abuela sounded really angry.

"Go on! Kick me out," Mami snapped back. "You already drove one kid away. Why not go for two in one week?!"

Abuela reeled back at that and mami studied her with cold eyes.

"If you truly think that Bruno left because of Mirabel, then you're a fool. The children are the only reason he put up with your and the town's treatment for this long. You drove him away mamá. Don't blame my hija for your actions."

Abuela and… them… were all staring at mami with wide, shocked eyes.

"I heard him, when he left," Dolores whispered into Mirabel's hair, drawing everyone's attention. "I heard what he said. He seemed really scared and kept saying that Abuela could never see something. That she'd make it worse."

Mami was immediately there to comfort Dolores and Mirabel squirmed around until she could hug her hermana.

"I wanted to tell you but Abuela said no talking about Tio," Dolores continued softly.

Mami took in a deep breath.

"Well, Abuela's rules don't apply if they conflict with what your papi and I tell you okay? And if you feel like you have to tell us something, then you do it. No matter what she says."

She moved to look at all three of them. "From now on, when someone wants you to do something you don't want to, they need permission from your papi and me. Okay?"

"Sí!" They all chorused together and she smiled.

"Alright, now finish your breakfast. We're going for a walk and then we'll eat lunch somewhere nice."

Papi popped up out of nowhere with a blanket and basket of food.

"All ready mi amor!" 

Mami turned back to them and rolled her eyes as Camilo shoved the rest of his food in his mouth. Dolores was already standing up with Mirabel on her hip.

They were gone before anyone could think to argue again.

Chapter Text

The town had taken Pepa's new attitude and resolve… badly. About as badly as mamá and her hermana did.

As far as Pepa was concerned, it was long past time for her to step up. Everyone's treatment of Mirabel had just pushed her over the edge.

She was determined to put her niños first no matter what. Like she used to wish her own mamá would.

The farmers didn't take her decision to cut back on watering the farms very well but she'd missed enough of her niños lives with her days so busy with chores.

Enough was enough.

"You have arms," she snapped when the farmer continued to insist that her cutting down on watering to once a week would devastate the crops. "You have hands and working legs. You can pick up a fucking bucket and carry it to the nearby stream if the crops are so desperate for water every single day. I have a life outside of being your living irrigation system. And I'm going to live it. Like I said before, I'll water the crops on Mondays. And if there's a drought I'll help out as well. But you don't need a daily sprinkling of rain." She caught the gleam in his eye and continued. "And go complain to my mamá all you want. It won't change a fucking thing. But piss me off enough and you can water your own damn crops."

With that, she spun around and stalked off to town. Mirabel and Camilo were with Felix, picking out new bedding for Mira. She'd been planning to meet up with them and this conversation had delayed her long enough.

When entering the town she found Dolores making a beeline for her while a group of the older ladies in town was hot on her heels.

Pepa's eyes narrowed and she met her hija halfway, tugging the eleven-year-old into her side with a protective arm around her shoulders. She felt Dolores immediately relax a bit.

The group following her faltered as she turned her attention to them.

"Just why are you chasing my hija through town?" She asked in a low, dangerous tone.

They shifted awkwardly on their feet before answering.

"We were just asking some questions but Dolores refused to answer and then started walking away from us." The idiot woman actually looked offended.

Pepa looked down at her hija questioningly.

"They were asking personal questions about different people in town and I didn't feel comfortable answering them," Dolores explained softly.

Pepa was so proud of her for standing her ground and coming to find her when she needed help.

"Well, there you have it," Pepa turned back to the women. "She didn't want to give you answers to questions you had no right to be asking anyway. So stop harassing her."

"They were innocent questions-"

"They were asking about other people's sex lives," Dolores interrupted bluntly.

The women all flushed while Pepa bristled.

"You were asking my eleven-year-old hija to talk about other people's personal and private sex lives?!" She demanded, furious.

Now they were flushing in shame instead of embarrassment.

"Get out of my sight and stay away from my hija!" She spat, cloud rumbling ominously.

The group scattered hurriedly and Dolores leaned more into Pepa's side.

"Gracias mamá," she murmured.

"Anytime Dolores," Pepa assured. 

She was still storming a bit as they began to move towards where Felix would be.

"Did they ask you things like that often?" She asked gently.

Dolores gave a small nod and Pepa wanted to turn right around and go slap some sense into those women.

Asking a child that! What was wrong with them?!

"No more mija," Pepa promised. "You're allowed to tell them no. I'm proud of you."

She pressed a kiss to Dolores' temple lightly before they turned the corner.

Her cloud had just started to calm down but the sight that greeted them a short distance away sent it right back to rumbling thunder again.

Felix looked furious, arms crossed as he faced an irritated looking mother with a three-year-old on her hip.

"Señora Madrigal said that he'll watch my son. He cries if it's anyone but me. Camilo can solve that."

Camilo and Mirabel had both been shuffled behind Felix and Mira was clinging to her mellizo's arm while Camilo himself looked uncomfortable.

"My son is five," Felix deadpanned. "He won't be babysitting for anyone. Not to mention how irresponsible that would be."

The mother looked geared up for an argument when a harsh blast of wind almost knocked her over.

Pepa directed Dolores over to Camilo and Mirabel while she stalked up to stand next to her husband.

"Motherhood is a full-time job. If you don't feel cut out for it, then say so. Don't try and dump your responsibility on Camilo so that it looks like you're still a decent mother."

There were some shocked gasps from the crowd that had gathered and the mother looked incredibly offended.

Good.

"What kind of mother would decide they need a break so they hand their three-year-old over to a five-year-old? And your excuse? Oh, Camilo can shift to look like you. But for how long?" Pepa demanded. "Shifting takes a lot of energy and sustained shifts take even more. He's had his Gift for two months and you want him to sustain a shift for what? Two hours? Three? Half a day? You would exhaust my hijo so that you can get a break?"

The woman backed up as Pepa stepped forward, expression changing to unease now.

"What if something happened? Camilo wouldn't know what to do. Not to mention, again, he's five. He is not anyone's babysitter."

She put her hands on her hips and stared the woman down.

"You chose to have that baby. Step up and own the responsibility. Or find someone else who will. No child needs a mother who wants a break and leaves her baby with a five-year-old. You need some rest? Ask your neighbours. Ask your friends. Do NOT ask my hijo again."

The mother shrank back before rushing off, face burning with shame.

Pepa swept a glare around at the gathered crowd.

"I am done being your emotional slave. It rains? Suck it up and deal with it. I am not a tool or a toy. I am a mother. And do not even think of trying that shit on my niños. I will leave this Encanto with my family before I allow you all to take advantage of my niños the way you took advantage of me and my hermanos. I blame every single one of you for the fact that Bruno, that my hermanito who only ever did what you asked him to, is gone. And I will never forgive you for that."

Absolute silence reigned as Pepa glared at all of them.

"I won't let you take more family from me," she murmured.

Preventing a hurricane through sheer willpower, Pepa turned and picked Camilo up. Felix followed her lead and picked Mirabel up, setting a hand on Dolores' shoulder to lead her away from the crowds.

No one spoke as they left.

Pepa didn't care. She'd said her piece. She'd warned them.

They needed to learn now.

Chapter Text

Things were tense in both the town and in Casita, but Pepa and Felix stood their ground and forced everyone else to accept that if they wanted Pepa to stay, if they wanted to keep their ability to protect their crops from droughts and the Encanto from the worst of the storms she held off, they needed to accept the new normal.

Dolores, Camilo and Mirabel were off-limits. They couldn't just demand anything from the three. If they wanted to ask for help with something, they had to ask Pepa or Felix who usually said no because so far 'help' was the same as 'make my life easier'.

There were some exceptions of course. When a parent was searching for their child, Dolores didn't mind helping them. If she wasn't busy when a villager asked her where someone was, she would tell them as long as it wasn't too private.

But the days of demanding answers were gone. 

And if someone tried to make Camilo help in any way, they usually had an angry Pepa coming after them.

Dolores was honestly relieved to see her hermanito being able to just have fun with his Gift. His favourite thing to do was make Mirabel laugh and smile. And his favourite way to do that was to shift into a replica of her.

The pair would run around and declare themselves gemelos while Camilo refused to shift back until he got hungry.

Pepa and Felix thought it was the cutest thing while it only frustrated the other members of the house.

Camilo also wasn't shy about telling Pepa if Abuela or Isabela were mean when speaking to him, thinking he was Mirabel.

That caused more than a few fights.

Isabela hadn't taken the entire situation very well at all. Her relationship with Dolores had soured very quickly when the slightly younger girl prioritised Mirabel and told her off for any cruel words she spat at the five-year-old.

Pepa was almost certain that her hostility was due to Abuela’s whispers in her ear. The same went for Luisa's continued avoidance of the little girl.

Pepa only shook her head as Julieta and Agustin allowed her mamá to pressure the other girls into shunning their hermana.

When the behaviour drew tears to Mirabel's eyes they were all quick to act.

Pepa would scoop her up and pepper her face with kisses until she was giggling and smiling again. Felix would dance with her, spinning their hija until she shrieked with laughter.

Dolores was quick to cuddle Mirabel and shower her with soft praise and compliments until she was smiling shyly again.

But Camilo was always the best at pulling her out of a funk. He'd pull her off and in no time they'd be getting up to mischief with laughter ringing in the air. The pair were even more attached at the hip than ever before and Camilo was insistent to anyone that tried to argue that Mirabel was his melliza, or gemelo depending on if he was shifted into her or not.

He'd become very good at mimicking Mirabel by now. The rest of the family couldn't tell them apart anymore.

Pepa and Felix always could of course. They were their parents. Of course they could tell their little gemelos apart.

Dolores could as well but that was because their heartbeats sounded slightly different and she'd memorised the entire family's heartbeats early into having her Gift.

Everyone else was clueless.

Pepa would wistfully think some days that Bruno would have loved the mischief and probably also be able to tell them apart. He'd always been observant. Although he would have likely played along and pretended not to be able to.

She missed her hermanito every day and sometimes found herself thinking back to certain moments and wondering if she'd done better, would he still be there?

And when the grief crushed her and the rain fell, much to her mamá's displeasure, her sweet little niños would pile on top of her, Dolores carrying a warm cup of her favourite tea.

It usually didn't take long for the sun to peek through the clouds after that, with no chanting of 'clear skies' needed.

Felix was so very smug about that, having believed the chant did far more harm than good. Pepa was starting to finally believe him about that since she felt much less stressed in general when she got some crying in.

It made her rethink many things.

"Mami!" Pepa turned her head to find Mira running up with a wide smile on her face, Camilo not far behind her.

"Sí mija?" She asked.

Mirabel pointed to the bright red bow in her hair.

"I look like my hermana!" She stated proudly.

Pepa noticed Isabela stiffen a little out of the corner of her eye where the girl was growing rose bushes in the empty pots.

"I see Mira. Did Dolores help you?" She asked, spotting her older hija heading their way with a small, pleased smile.

"Sí!" Mira beamed happily. "Dolores has been helping me learn to take care of my hair!"

“You look beautiful mija,” Pepa smiled at her.

Mirabel did a happy spin before darting off with Camilo again. Probably to cause some mischief again.

It had been three weeks since Pepa took Mira as her own and it was good to see her smiling so easily again.

“Bonding with your hermana?” she asked Dolores as she came to stand beside Pepa.

Dolores gave a happy hum.

“I’m glad you two had some fun.”

Pepa wrapped an arm around her firstborn and guided her away from Isabela as they chatted. She’d noticed the thorns growing on the rose bushes.

As much as Isabela may try to deny it, jealousy was inevitable when you lost something and someone else gained it right in front of you.

She’d keep an eye on her sobrina. She was still upset that her mamá was pressuring Isabela and Luisa to act like this. But she wouldn’t let jealousy hurt either Dolores or Mirabel.

Pepa and Felix were woken abruptly by their door slamming open and Dolores rushing inside in tears.

“Mija?” Pepa was immediately alarmed while Felix gathered her close as she sobbed.

“What’s wrong?” he asked worriedly, rubbing her back soothingly.

“It’s- I heard them- I went to get some water so I was out of my room and I heard them.”

Pepa was very concerned about the frantic, distressed words.

“Mija, what did you hear? Who did you hear?” she asked gently.

“Some of the v-villagers,” Dolores buried her face in her papá’s shirt. “They- mamá they-”

She was crying so hard she could barely get the words out.

Felix rocked her soothingly while Pepa stroked her hair.

“I think they did something to Tio Bruno,” she finally got out in a frightened whisper and Pepa’s world screeched to a halt.

Chapter Text

Pepa didn’t even bother with getting dressed, grabbing two of Felix’s shirts and throwing one to Dolores before tugging the other over her head. She was feeling eerily calm, part of her pointing out that she didn’t want to give them any warning.

The calm before the storm.

“Where?” she asked, keeping her voice gentle as Felix stood up, carrying Dolores who was drowning in his shirt. It was summer though and neither Dolores nor Pepa were wearing anything that was appropriate for going out, but time was limited.

“I can show you,” Dolores whispered, calming a little now that her parents were acting.

Pepa nodded before walking out the door, Felix close behind.

Casita was quiet and opened the doors for them. She was probably as worried about Dolores’ words as Pepa was.

Their hija guided them towards an area on the outskirts of town and when they were close enough to hear aggravated voices, Felix set her down and told her to stay put. 

There was no stopping her from hearing what was about to happen. She wouldn’t stay in her room right now even if they’d left her at the house.

Pepa straightened her back as walked forward, focused on the voices that were talking frantically.

“We need to do something!”

“We can’t just keep going how we have!”

“She’ll kill us if she finds out!”

The words only made her worry grow and some clouds started drifting over the sky.

As she approached the edge of the alley, Felix only a few steps behind her, she slowed and peered around the corner. 

There was a group of five men gathered and speaking rapidly and frantically. One of them lifted something and shook it violently.

“I didn’t sign up for this shit!” he snapped, sounding afraid. “This… this crossed a line guys.”

“Why the fuck did you take that?!” another snarled, snatching whatever the first guy was waving around and throwing it to the ground.

As the material settled, Pepa got a good look at it in the moonlight. Even washed out in the pale light, she would recognise that anywhere. 

She’d helped mend that green ruana so many times over the years, wrestling her hermanito out of it every laundry day.

Bruno’s ruana. He never took it off willingly.

And…

She took a step forward, still unnoticed by the men who were back to arguing.

And…

Another step.

And stained dark in places with…

She stopped.

Blood.

It had been four weeks since Bruno disappeared in the dark of the night. She didn’t know how old those blood strains were.

Lightning raced across the sky, thunder crashing in its wake. The clouds roiling above them had swept in almost faster than the eye could see as a howling wind whipped up around them.

Five heads snapped around to face her. She hardly made an impressive figure, Felix’ shirt baggy on her slender frame and hair in a messy braid for sleep.

They still took a step back as one away from her. The wind shoved them right back though, knocking them onto their hands and knees in front of her.

Electricity skittered over her skin as she clenched her hands, glaring down at them with burning green eyes.

Felix stepped past her and picked the ruana up, fury clear in every line of his body.

“Where is he?” he demanded lowly and Pepa was glad he did. 

She wasn’t sure she could speak right now without losing control of the hurricane that lingered just under her skin.

Just waiting.

The rain didn’t fall yet. Not until she knew if she was going to need to grieve all over again.

If the rain did fall though, it would be followed by every speck of her rage bundled up and given voice in the worst storm that would ever hit the Encanto.

Felix suddenly grabbed one of the men and lifted him by the front of his shirt until his feet left the ground. People forgot how strong her husband was but she couldn’t even swoon over it right now. 

“Where. Is. He?” Felix demanded, slamming the man into the alley wall. “What did you do to my hermano?”

The man’s eyes darted between the pair of them while the wind kept the other four crushed against the ground, unable to stand under the pressure.

“I-I- we wanted to help!” he practically begged. “After Mirabel didn’t get a Gift… It must have been his fault! He must have done something! He’s a Curse-”

He grunted in pain as Felix pressed him harder into the wall.

“What did you do?” Felix demanded in a low, furious voice.

“We found him outside after the Ceremony failed!” he was speaking frantically. “We just tried to get him to admit what he did! To tell us how to undo what he’d done!”

Pepa’s thoughts were racing. Since the ceremony? They’d done something to Bruno the night of the ceremony?

Did he… did he not leave willingly then? She knew he took nighttime walks to clear his head, especially after visions. And Dolores had said that the last she heard from him before being ushered into her room was fear over how mamá would react to the last one he’d had.

They ambushed him while he was trying to figure out a way to break the news of whatever he’d seen?

It had been four weeks…

“You have his ruana, covered in blood!” Felix snarled.

“We got frustrated! He kept denying he did anything!”

“Maybe because he didn’t you fucking moron!” Felix roared. He rarely swore but when he did it meant he was pissed. “You all are always so insistent on seeing the worst in Bruno! He had nothing to do with Mirabel’s ceremony. Now, what did you do?! Where is he?!”

The man stared at Felix in terror and Pepa finally spoke.

The air practically crackled with energy as the wind carried her soft words over to the men, ensuring they’d hear it over the noise that was no doubt causing a stir outside the barrier of rushing wind that was a breath away from becoming a tornado.

“You only get to keep breathing if my hermano still breathes,” she whispered, promise dripping from every word.

Being connected to the weather like she was, it would naturally have side effects.

The weather was not merciful.

Neither was Pepa.

Terrified eyes stared up at her and she met each and every pair, eyes cold.

“A- a cabin out in the woods,” another stammered. “We- he’s still alive. We wanted answers. We just… he must have-”

“The only curse I see is you,” Pepa snarled, the wind kicked up and lightning struck near them. Calm was slipping away from her now. “A vile, entitled, self-righteous curse and stain on this Encanto! My hermanito has done nothing to you! Has never hurt this village! He only sees the future! He doesn’t cause or control it! And you ask him to look into the future over and over. And blame him when you don’t like the future you make for yourself!”

Lightning struck the ground again and they cried out in fear, a few of them pissing themselves and sobbing now.

Pepa raised her right arm above her head, green eyes burning. Felix let go of the man he was holding and stepped back.

“Bruno was never the one you had to fear. I was!”

With a snarl, she slashed her arm down and five blinding bolts of lightning slammed into every man lying on the ground.

They screamed. They screamed loud enough it rang in her ears.

But they didn’t die.

She wasn’t a murderer. But she would make anyone who hurt her family suffer.

She was done watching them hurt her sweet little hermanito for no reason other than a refusal to accept that their futures were their own faults.

When her vision cleared, she eyed the five groaning men and the winds died around them, allowing the crowd that had gathered to see what had happened.

What lay in wait for the next fool who touched what was hers.

“Where?” she demanded simply, the thunder echoing her words with ominous promise and threat.

The closest man stuttered out a terrified set of directions. Felix nodded, telling Pepa that he knew the cabin they were talking about.

Holding a hand out, her sweet Felix who hadn’t flinched at watching that display, handed over Bruno’s ruana. The blood was old, dried into the material.

Still feeling the threat of a storm at her fingertips, Pepa turned to face the crowd, chin high and expression defiant.

She could see her mamá and hermana at the front looking completely horrified. But she didn’t let that bother her. They had their priorities.

And she had hers.

“If any of you touch Bruno again,” she held the ruana up in clear sight. “That is the least of what I will do to you,” she spat, making the crowd cower back.

Many gazes were locked on the fabric though and Julieta’s eyes were wide and afraid over the implications of the blood.

“Do not test me again,” Pepa snarled, lightning highlighting her point beautifully. “I’m done holding back. Stay away from my husband, my niños and my hermano. I will keep your crops watered once a week. I will keep the storms at bay and away from the Encanto. But that is it. And I will fry the next person to try and demand a vision from my hermano.”

She met her mamá’s eyes defiantly as she said the last words.

After a moment of staring them all down and seeing the silent agreement to her words, she turned her head.

“Dolores, go and stay in Mira and Cami’s room okay? Mamá and papá will be home with your Tio soon.”

Dolores nodded, eyes wide with awe as she took off back up to the house.

“Stay away from her,” Pepa warned her mamá before stalking forwards. 

The crowd rapidly parted in front of her. She’d never wanted the town to be afraid of her, but if it was the only way she could secure safety and peace for her family?

So be it.

There were still some, like Felix’s parents, who smiled encouragingly and proudly at her. Seeing that eased something tight in her heart and she walked off with her head held high.

Time to find her hermano and figure out just how much she was going to make those five men hurt.

Chapter Text

Felix and Pepa rushed through the forest until they found the cabin that that man had told them about. It was clear across the village and deep among the trees. No wonder Dolores hadn’t heard anything if they were careful during the day.

Felix squeezed Pepa’s hand as she took a deep breath. The sky was still blanketed in black clouds, making the dark night nearly pitch black. It was only lit by flashes of lightning that appeared on Pepa’s command.

Fear choking her, the redhead reached out to open the door. Her expression twisted into a scowl when the door wouldn’t open. They hadn’t asked if it was locked.

Anger still too close to the surface and feeling a new urgency, Pepa stepped back and lifted a hand. The weather had never responded to her so perfectly before now, but the lightning arched at her command and shattered the door on impact.

She stepped through the smoke and quickly looked around the small building. It was a one-room cabin with very little furniture. A twitch of her fingers sent another bolt of lightning racing across the sky and briefly lit up the room.

Pepa’s heart almost stopped at the sight of the figure curled in the corner of the room. She didn’t hesitate to race over even as the light faded again.

She dropped down beside him and reached out, fingers tangling in familiar curly hair. Now, the sob caught in her throat as the head under her hand flinched away from the touch.

“Brunito,” she whispered and the clouds opened, rain pouring down outside.

He stilled under her hand at her voice but didn’t reply. She tilted her head and lightning illuminated the room again.

“I’m going to kill them,” she snarled, the crashing thunder roaring her rage.

Her hermanito, her sweet hermano, was tied up in fucking barbed wire. It was wrapped cruelly around his wrists, keeping them behind his back, and around his ankles all the way up his legs and past his knees. There was more wrapped around his head, keeping a gag in place while a blindfold was tied around his eyes.

“We’re getting you out of here Brunito,” she whispered, feeling him start to shake under her hand.

She was surprised when light suddenly filled the room and turned to see that Felix had found and lit a lantern that was on the old, rickety table. He carried it over to them and looked just as livid as Pepa felt over the state of Bruno.

With a more constant source of light, Pepa quickly got to work on the blindfold, pulling it off. The sheer relief in those green eyes hit like a gut punch. Bruno had been here for four weeks, suffering, while she’d been completely unaware. 

She summoned up a reassuring smile as she brushed her knuckles over his cheek, above the wire.

“You’re safe,” she promised softly.

“We’ve got you hermano,” Felix agreed.

Bruno squeezed his eyes shut, trying to hide the tears that had welled up. Pepa didn’t comment on it, shifting to the side so that she could carefully lift his head and rest it on her legs.

“We need to get that wire off,” she whispered.

He only gave a tiny nod in reply and Pepa’s stomach already rolled as she reached down to trace through his hair until she found the end of the wire. Felix had moved to start on his wrists.

Every flinch and muffled whimper of pain tore at her heart and Pepa’s hands were shaking when she pulled the last of the wire free. Blood slicked down his cheeks and chin but he still moved to talk when she eased the cloth that had been gagging him out of his mouth.

“Pep-” he croaked, breaking out into a coughing fit and making Pepa worry about when he last drank water.

“Shh,” she soothed him, petting through his hair gently. “It’s okay, you’re going to be okay.”

He winced again as Felix finally peeled the last of the wire away from his wrists and together they shifted him so he was more on his back, head resting in Pepa’s lap.

“Gonna get the rest off now hermano,” Felix warned him.

Bruno swallowed and nodded, eyes closing a bit as Pepa’s fingers returned to his tangled hair.

“Storm?” he rasped, gritting his teeth as Felix began unwinding the last of the wire.

Pepa pursed her lips. “I wasn’t pleased when I found out that those men had hurt you, that that’s why you were missing.”

“Pepi electrocuted the lot of them,” Felix informed him cheerfully.

Bruno looked worried though. “Pepa,” he grimaced. “Mamá-”

“Fuck her,” Pepa snarled and Bruno’s eyes widened in shock.

She took a deep breath and calmed herself again.

“Lo siento,” she whispered. “But I’m very… upset with mamá at the moment. I’m not taking her shit anymore.”

He stared at her quietly for a moment.

“I’ll explain it all later,” she promised quietly. “But… no more watering every day. I cut down to once a week. And no more visions.”

His eyes widened again and she held his gaze.

“I swear, only the visions you choose to have.”

He swallowed again and nodded slightly.

After a few quiet moments, Felix succeeded in removing the rest of the wire.

“Let’s get you home,” she murmured, helping Bruno into a more upright position. He still flinched and winced a lot and then yelped when Felix crouched and picked him up.

“Felix?!”

“You aren’t walking in your state,” her husband told Bruno sternly and Pepa smirked.

Her hermano subsided after a moment with a grumble. He looked around before they got further than a few steps to the door though.

“Wait, my ruana… do you…” he trailed off and relaxed when Pepa showed him the rolled-up bundle of fabric.

“I’ll clean it up at home and you’ll get it back good as new,” she promised him.

“Gracias,” he said in relief.

Pepa took a deep breath, reminding herself that Bruno was okay and the rain calmed outside until it stopped entirely. She could practically feel the look her hermano gave her.

“So maybe actually embracing my emotions was the key to controlling my Gift better,” she grumbled as they started walking back to Casita.

Felix was kind enough to say nothing.

Bruno, the little shit, wasn’t.

“Told you.”

“Shut up Bruno.”

Chapter Text

Pepa felt a weight fall off her shoulders as she stepped into Casita, Felix still carrying Bruno. Her plan was simple. Feed her hermano, get him cleaned up and into a bed. And then sleep until midday.

That didn’t happen.

“Pepa!” her mamá’s sharp tone immediately had her hackles up. She was tired, and still pissed off. That was not a good combination as she turned to face the matriarch of the Madrigal family.

She caught of glimpse of Julieta’s horrified expression before her hermana rushed off to fetch food for Bruno so at least she didn’t need to worry about that.

“What?” Pepa asked bluntly, still too wound up to handle this politely.

“That behaviour was completely unacceptable and you are out of control!”

Pepa raised an eyebrow, unaffected by the words that would have cowed her a few weeks ago.

“Those men are lucky I’m no murderer or I would have hit them a lot harder than I did. I know for a fact that Julieta probably healed them up as soon as I was gone. But now everyone in this village will think twice before attacking my hermano again.”

Her mamá narrowed her eyes in a glare.

“You are walking dangerously close to becoming a threat to this Encanto,” she murmured and Pepa heard Bruno’s sharp inhale behind her but she didn’t flinch.

“This damn Encanto wouldn’t last one year without my Gift,” she scoffed. “The farms are in the worst places and the only irrigation system you have, is me! You’ve backed yourself into a corner mamá. Your precious Encanto can’t survive with me! It would crumble without both Julieta and me. And it’s too reliant on Bruno too. You’re all stuck putting up with my choices now because kicking me out of the entire Encanto would doom you all.”

Her mamá looked furious at her words and Pepa shook her head, already knowing what she was thinking. 

“Kick me out of the house. I don’t care. You can’t hold that over my head either.”

“My parents would welcome us with open arms, we will always have a place to stay,” Felix added.

“Look,” Pepa sighed. She was tired and sick of all this fighting. All this arguing. It would be nice for her mamá to be on her side for once but she was too blinded by the Encanto to ever consider that Pepa was right. “You keep to your business and stay away from my side of the family. And Bruno. Then we won’t have problems. We will help the Encanto with what is necessary, not what makes life easier for everyone.”

She glanced back at Julieta as she hurried over to Bruno with a plate of arepas. She was bitter over the fact that their mamá hadn’t asked after Bruno yet. She knew from the hunched set of his shoulders that he’d noticed too.

“For now, I’m exhausted and I’m still holding a hurricane back by the skin of my teeth. Bruno needs to eat, drink some water and get cleaned up. 

“You think I won’t kick you out?” her mamá demanded and Julieta almost dropped the plate as she whipped around to stare at them.

Before anyone could respond though, Casita pushed their mamá away from Pepa. The redhead blinked in surprise while the older woman seemed just as shocked.

Almost against her will, Pepa looked up at the candle. It was shining brightly, brighter than usual.

“Huh… Casita?”

The tiles rippled at her feet.

“Is that your way of saying that I’m not getting kicked out?”

The next ripple of tiles seemed almost indignant before the stairs beckoned her over and she heard her door opening upstairs.

“Well… that settles that,” Pepa shrugged. She was surprised though. Casita didn’t usually take sides and normally she listened to their mamá. 

She’d made her opinion very clear here though.

Their mamá was staring up at the candle as well with a puzzled expression.

Whatever, she was too tired to try deciphering this. She gestured to Felix who started walking towards the stairs, still refusing to put Bruno down even though he’d already eaten an arepa.

“I can walk!” Bruno complained, voice still raspy and sending Julieta rushing to get water.

“Nope,” Felix responded cheerfully, carrying Bruno to their bedroom. Pepa agreed completely. There were too many stairs in Bruno’s room.

Despite his protests, Felix set her hermano down on their bed.

“I’ll mess up the sheets,” he tried to argue as Julieta shoved a glass of water into his hands.

“I don’t care,” Pepa deadpanned, dropping onto the bed next to him. “Now drink that water and finish the arepas or I’ll force them down your throat.”

He pouted but followed her instructions.

Pepa stretched, letting all that tension flow out of her. Julieta was lingering awkwardly near the door, anxious gaze flitting over Bruno, and Felix was setting up the couch in their room as a second bed.

Looked like he had the same idea she did.

Pepa waited until Bruno finished his food before speaking.

“Dolores, you three can come over now.”

It was barely seconds later that they heard a door slam open down the hall and three sets of footsteps rapidly approached. Dolores was the first in, tear stains still on her cheeks as she launched herself at her Tio.

“Whoa!” Bruno barely caught her as the eleven-year-old started sobbing into his shoulder.

Mirabel and Camilo weren’t far behind, both scrambling up onto the bed and squeezing into the hug with cries of "Tio Bruno!"

Pepa smiled softly to see her three niños dogpiling on her hermano.

“He’s okay,” she assured them. “Dolores is the reason we found out about those guys that had you,” she explained to Bruno. “She heard them tonight and came to us.”

Bruno’s expression softened and he rubbed Dolores’ back.

“I’m fine,” he promised. “Your Tia’s food fixed me right up.”

“So you didn’t leave?” Mirabel asked timidly and Pepa cursed her mamá for blaming his disappearance on her all over again. “Mean people took you?”

Bruno’s brows were furrowed as he took in the yellow nightdress Mirabel was in but he didn’t comment.

“I would never leave,” he promised. “If I ever tried, I’d probably chicken out and hide in the walls or something. I love you all too much.”

That got bright smiles from the two youngest and they snuggled into his side while Dolores finally sat up, wiping her face.

“You’re really okay Tio?” she asked quietly.

“Sí,” he assured again.

She gave him a relieved smile and Pepa made an executive decision.

“Alright, sleepover here you three. Your job is to make sure that your Tio doesn’t move and gets lots of rest.”

She smirked at Bruno’s betrayed expression while her niños nodded solemnly. Checkmate.

“Good.” With that sorted, she climbed under the blankets with Bruno, clearly intent on getting some sleep.

“Uh, Pepa? What about Felix?” Bruno asked in confusion.

“I’ve got the couch hermano,” Felix waved his concern off. “You’re sleeping in a proper bed tonight but we’re not willing to climb those stairs. Besides, it’s been too long since Pepa got to cuddle with her hermanito.”

“Literally older by a few minutes,” he muttered.

But he didn’t really fight as the three kids snuggled in closer and Pepa scooted over to throw an arm over all of them.

“Sleep hermanito,” she whispered as Julieta left quietly. Probably to let Isabela, Luisa and Agustin know about what happened. “You’re safe.”

He didn’t say anything but some tension drained from his body as he sighed softly.

Bruno was home. And she wasn’t letting anyone hurt him again.

Chapter Text

Pepa woke up feeling far more settled than she had felt in a long time. She smiled and propped herself up on her elbow to study the sight next to her better.

Bruno was still out cold, his sleep peaceful for once. Dolores was tucked into his far side and Mirabel was curled up into the side closest to her. Camilo had sprawled out over her hermano’s chest, little hands holding tight to his Tio’s shirt even in sleep. Her niños had always adored Bruno, much closer to him while Julieta’s niños were closer to their Abuela instead.

Poor Camilo had been devastated when Bruno disappeared and she knew that Dolores had spent a lot of time trying to listen for his familiar heartbeat in the Encanto.

Pepa could tell that was what was soothing her hija now, head tucked close enough that the steady sound was nice and clear to her.

And then there was Mira, who’d still been affected by her Abuela blaming her for Bruno’s disappearance.

Pepa did wonder what her hermano would think of the drastic changes that had happened. Would he agree with what she did? With what she said?

She found herself wondering what it was that he had seen in that prophecy that had sent him on a midnight walk, trying to figure out how to break the news to their mamá.

“You look deep in thought.”

She glanced up in surprise to find sharp, green eyes on her. 

Pepa hummed. “Can you tell me what the prophecy was about? After you’ve eaten and gotten cleaned up of course.”

He was shaking his head though. “No, I want to tell you now. It’s important and… well, I think it’s already happened anyway.”

He shifted into a sitting position, waking the children and getting sleepy looks. Felix moved over from the couch to sit at the foot of the bed.

“Dolores?” Bruno spoke, making the girl perk up. “You know where I hide the prophecies I don’t want to talk about?”

Dolores nodded her head. “I never told anyone.”

He gave her a soft smile. “I know. But can you go fetch the last one I put there for me?” he pointed down at the two limpets still clinging to him. “I can’t get up yet.”

Dolores giggled and nodded, standing and hurrying out of the room quietly.

“You should really eat something,” Pepa insisted but her hermano shook his head again. 

“After,” he argued stubbornly.

They bickered over it for a bit, long enough that Felix was able to get to the kitchen and back, dropping a plate of food next to Bruno.

“Do both,” he told the seer cheerfully.

Bruno huffed, Camilo stole an arepa and Mirabel laughed.

They were interrupted by voices outside.

“Is that a prophecy Dolores? Hand it over.”

“No, it’s Tio’s.”

Dolores came rushing back into the room, tablet clutched tightly to her chest, and Abuela followed her with an annoyed look. Julieta trailed behind her with the rest of her family.

“Let me see it,” Abuela demanded again.

“No,” Dolores insisted, handing the tablet straight to Bruno.

The rest of the family was gaping at the normally quiet and sweet child. Dolores only huffed and sat down next to Bruno again.

“Might as well do it while everyone’s here,” Bruno sighed. “I didn’t want to show you this vision mamá. Because it’s the first one that wasn't set in stone.”

They all looked at him in complete confusion. His prophecies always came true. Even if only on a technicality.

Bruno was staring down at the green glass. “It changed, never stayed the same. There were two possible futures ahead of us and I didn’t know how you’d react to that. But it doesn’t matter now.”

He turned the tablet before they could question it more.

Mirabel peered up in surprise. “That’s me!”

And it was. An older version of Mirabel who looked absolutely miserable, off to the side while Juieta, Abuela and Isabela talked about something. Behind them was an image of Casita, enormous cracks covering their home.

Before anyone could panic, Bruno tilted the tablet and it changed. It still showed Mirabel, but now she was happy. The girl was laughing at something Camilo was doing while Pepa, Dolores and Felix watched with smiles on their faces. Casita was behind them as well, perfectly whole.

Pepa’s head was spinning.

“Could have been a crisis,” Bruno mused, looking back at the tablet as they all stared in stunned silence. “Something was clearly going to threaten the Miracle, probably whatever was making Mira so sad. But seems like that got avoided.”

Bruno looked up at them, an unusually serious look in his eyes. “What happened?” he asked, a little more sharply than they were used to.

No one knew how to answer that.

So Mirabel did.

“They didn’t want me anymore,” the little girl explained, sadness tinging her voice with a shocking amount of acceptance. “Cause I didn’t get a Gift. But mami and papi want me! And Dolores and Cami too! So I get to stay. And I even got to move out of the nursery Tio! I get to live with Cami again!”

Camilo was nodding excitedly. “We’re gemelos!” he declared, shape-shifting into Mirabel.

Bruno’s expression was unreadable.

“That’s amazing kiddos. Hey, can you do me a favour? I’m really thirsty. Can you two get me a glass of water?”

Both of them nodded eagerly and scrambled down, racing out of the room.

Casita closed the door behind them and was probably going to distract them for as long as Bruno needed.

The youngest triplet crossed his arms and turned to glare at mamá. An unusual occurance on it's own. 

And then he spoke.

“Well,” his voice was drier than the desert. “You almost broke the Miracle. Congrats.”

He tossed the vision down onto the bed, closer to where their mamá was standing looking shocked.

“Who would have thought that treating a member of your family like shit would have resulted in the family Miracle breaking?” he continued sarcastically.

Casita clattered her tiles in clear, annoyed agreement.

“Bruno!” mamá chastised while the rest of them were too busy staring at him in stunned disbelief.

Pepa felt glee start to well up in her as Bruno cut across their mamá.

“No! I put up with your treatment of me because I’m used to it. But I’ll be damned if I watch one of the kids go through what I have! You were all ready to abandon your own nieta! Just because she didn’t get a Gift?!”

They hadn’t heard Bruno this angry since that one time boys made Pepa cry hard enough to almost flood the rivers.

“For fuck’s sakes mamá!” Bruno hissed. “What is wrong with you?!”

“Bruno!” Julieta scolded, glancing pointedly at the children. Isabela and Luisa were gaping at him.

“Not now Julieta!” he snapped back. “I’m pissed off with you too! Because I’m guessing you didn’t stand up for Mirabel and let this happen since she calls Pepa ‘mami’ now!”

Julieta flinched back at the words.

“That is your hija! You should have stood up for her! Now it’s too late.”

“W-what do you mean?” Julieta asked in a wavering voice.

Bruno sighed and Pepa knew how he felt. They couldn’t take pleasure in her pain. Even if they were angry with her.

“In the visions where Casita wasn’t cracking, Mirabel was happy. And in yellow. Yellow flowing dresses with orange accents, red bow in her hair. Julieta,” his voice softened a bit as all eyes fell to the tablet again. “She’s not your hija anymore. You can’t… fix this. Mirabel doesn’t see you as her mamá anymore. She won’t go back. Not when Pepa and her side of the family were there for her when she most needed it.”

Bruno grimaced at the sight of the tears trailing down his hermana’s cheeks. Agustin wasn’t looking any better.

“You fucked up,” Bruno stated bluntly.

He glanced at Pepa. 

“What pushed you to make the decision you did? What did they do that pushed us into this future?”

Pepa knew the answer without thinking. “They were going to send Mirabel to live with Sophia.”

Bruno’s expression twisted between anger and horror.

“We would never have seen her again,” he murmured, shaking his head. He let out a humourless laugh. “Mamá choosing to go to that extreme pushed you over the edge into acting. If she hadn’t, we would have likely been in the other future, with Mirabel staying but miserable.”

He shook his head again.

“Congratulations mamá,” he murmured in a defeated tone. “You cost Julieta her hija. But maybe say thanks to Pepa for saving your precious Miracle. That’s all that matters in the end to you, isn’t it?”

He stared at their mamá, bitterness coating his words.

“We’re supposed to be a family. United. Not… tearing ourselves apart from the inside out. Guess Pepa’s side of the family being stable was enough to keep the Miracle safe. Try not to screw anything else up.”

Bruno Madrigal was completely and totally done with their mamá’s choices and behaviour. And Pepa was over the moon to see it.

He stared at their stunned mamá for another moment, sadness entering his eyes.

“You still haven’t asked me how I am after being tortured for four weeks because some idiots thought I’d cursed the Miracle,” he said softly, tone defeated and somehow, final.

Pepa quickly caught his hand in hers, giving it a comforting squeeze.

“I think you should leave,” Felix stood up and faced them. “Bruno needs to rest. Healing food or no, some things just take time to heal.”

For once, there were no arguments or protests and Felix closed the door behind him, probably going to fetch the youngest members of the family.

Dolores hugged Bruno tightly and Pepa leaned against his side as he deflated.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I know that was hard.”

“I’m done,” he whispered back. “I’m just… I’m done Pepa.” He rubbed Dolores’ back. “I refuse to see any of the kids treated the way I am.”

Pepa closed her eyes and nodded. “I’m done too. I love mamá and Juli. But not at the cost of my niños health or happiness.” She paused for a beat. “Mira is mine now.”

“You’re a great mamá,” Bruno told her.

“The best,” Dolores agreed.

Pepa smiled. She hoped so. She opened her eyes and looked at the prophecy tablet. From here, she could only see Mirabel’s happiness with her side of the family.

She’d never regret the choice to take Mirabel in as her own. Never. This only solidified that she made the right choice.

Mirabel would grow up happy, never doubting that she was loved and wanted.

Pepa would make sure of that.

Chapter Text

“This isn’t funny.”

“It’s hilarious.”

Pepa smirked at Bruno’s exasperated expression. Camilo and Mirabel looked up at them in confusion from where they were still clinging to Bruno’s now clean ruana.

The pair hadn’t left his side in hours. They’d decided to take up guarding their Tio so that no one could hurt him again.

It really was the cutest thing she’d seen and she was taking all the photos, much to Bruno’s horror.

“Pepa!” he whined.

“They’re worried about you,” she reminded him gently.

“I don’t need tiny bodyguards,” Bruno sighed as he followed her, five-year-olds still hanging by his ruana.

“Are you going to tell those worried eyes no?”

She smirked when he determinedly didn’t look down at said worried little eyes. He’d never been able to deny that pair anything and they both knew it.

The siblings stared at each other for a long moment before Mira tugged on his ruana. Bruno automatically looked down and Pepa smirked again as he just melted.

“Tio? Let’s go play.”

Pepa laughed as her hermano folded like wet tissue paper and let the pair drag him off to his room to play in the sand.

Life had definitely been looking up since they’d found and rescued Bruno. Her niños were happier and more lively, all of them trailing behind their Tio or checking on him, including Dolores. Bruno himself was recovering from what those bastards did to him. She knew he still had nightmares and he hadn’t actually gone back to town yet, but he was smiling again and spending a lot of time with Camilo, Mirabel and Dolores. 

Admittedly, Pepa hadn’t been to town since everything happened. If she saw those bastards she wasn’t sure she wouldn’t strike them with lightning on the spot. Felix had been the one going into town whenever they needed something and even he’d come back with busted knuckles and a too innocent expression a couple of times.

Pepa had given him a searing kiss every time he defended her hermano like that.

As for the rest of the family… things were still strained but at the very least, their mamá seemed to have been shocked into thinking over her choices by that prophecy.

Luisa and Isabela were still pretty much the same but Julieta avoided her and Mirabel. Pepa wondered if she was coming to terms with what she’d lost due to her actions, or rather inaction.

She still loved her hermana, and she hated that she was hurting over this. Pepa couldn’t imagine losing Camilo and seeing him every day, but knowing he wasn’t hers anymore.

The mere thought turned her stomach and made her search both Mira and Cami out to cuddle them.

A new normal slowly settled over the house.

With Casita so clearly siding with Pepa and Bruno, their mamá had been forced to back off and think. She no longer tried to force them to go help the town, although she definitely didn’t agree with their decision to no longer throw all their time into working.

Pepa refused to go back though. She was actually able to spend time with her family this way. She could curl up with Felix and read a book without it needing to be a sad one. She could play with her niños ad hear them laugh. Dolores was able to spend time with both Camilo and Mirabel and she loved it, getting caught up in the games and loving the pair all the more for how they kept quieter when playing with her.

Since Bruno was so reluctant to go back to the village and no one was ready to brave a protective Pepa to ask for a vision, the niños often dragged him into their games as well.

Within a matter of weeks, Bruno was probably the closest he’d ever been to both her niños and admittedly, to her as well.

Pepa was hoping that her hermana would change her mind about following their mamá’s orders but she didn’t seem to be having second thoughts yet. In a way, Pepa understood. Julieta honestly loved helping people and she’d never had to deal with the negative side-effects of having a Gift that wasn’t always helpful.

She’d always been the golden child of the family and Pepa supposed that that had left its own mark. But she couldn't force Julieta to change her mind. It had to be her decision.

Isabela was following in her footsteps, basking in her Abuela’s attention as the perfect grandchild. Isa had always idolised her Abuela so Pepa wasn’t too surprised that she was eager to follow her instructions. And Luisa had always been so eager to please people…

Pepa wondered if her mamá realised what she’d done as the girls continued to avoid not only Mirabel, but the others in the family as well.

She didn’t know what the future held for them, and Bruno was reluctant to look again after the last vision so she’d never push him.

They’d just have to wait and see.

“Mira, why did you bite that man?” Pepa studied her pouting hija who was standing next to an equally pouting Camilo.

“He was being mean to Tio. He kept calling him bad luck and told me to get away from him,” Mirabel mumbled, clearly upset about it.

“...”

“Pepa, don’t you dare-” Bruno didn’t get far before Pepa cut him off.

“That’s my girl.” Pepa ruffled her hair.

“Pepa!”

“What? He deserved it.”

“Pepa, stop encouraging your hija to bite people. You know Camilo will jump on that permission immediately.”

“Hmm, you’re right. Niños?”

“Sí?” Both six-year-olds looked up at her.

“Only bite mean people okay?”

“Pepa!”

“Okay!”

“Felix!” Bruno tried to drag Felix into it.

“Oh no hermano,” her husband just grinned. “Pepi’s right. They deserved that.”

“I wonder if Camilo can shapeshift his teeth sharper?” Dolores mused quietly.

Bruno stared at her in utter betrayal while Camilo lit up with glee.

“Happy birthday Mira!”

Felix swept her up in a hug the moment she stepped out of the room, making her shriek with laughter as he spun around.

Camilo was grinning widely, having kept the upcoming secret surprise beautifully.

Every year, they tried to make a big fuss on Mirabel’s birthday to make up for the disaster her fifth one had turned into.

To see the now seven-year-old smiling so widely warmed all their hearts.

Mira was passed around between them, getting hugs and kisses from Pepa, Dolores and Bruno before Camilo glomped on her once she was on the floor again.

“Guess what we’re doing!” he was practically vibrating with excitement, having helped come up with the idea for her birthday this time.

“What?!” Mirabel looked so genuinely excited, unlike the day of her sixth birthday. She’d been so nervous and anxious that day that it had broken their hearts. This was much better.

“Treasure hunt!” Camilo yelled.

Mirabel squealed in excitement and they were off on a day that left them all exhausted but pleased.

They capped the day off with a visit to Felix’s parents who were more than happy to fuss over their new nieta.

Pepa and Felix tucked their little mellizos into bed that night, smiles still on everyone’s faces. 

“Mami?” Mirabel whispered, hugging her new bright yellow butterfly plush.

“Hmm?” Pepa hummed after smoothing the blankets down.

“Gracias,” the little girl murmured with a sweet smile.

Pepa pressed a kiss to her forehead. 

“Only the best for you Mira,” she promised.

Her sweet hija beamed at her and was soon asleep, completely tired out from the day.

Pepa paused and watched her for a moment before heading back outside. They said goodnight to Dolores and then went to their own room.

“She didn’t look for Luisa and Isabela today,” Felix murmured and Pepa’s smile wavered.

“I noticed,” she sighed. “Julieta stayed away as well. I honestly don’t know if I want her to at least try and be a Tia or if that would make things worse.”

Felix drew her close. “We can’t make Julieta’s decisions for her.”

Pepa hummed. “Mamá didn’t even acknowledge today,” she muttered bitterly.

Felix sighed. “She’s so determined to not be wrong, that she doesn’t want to look at the person she failed the most.”

Pepa just shook her head and forced herself to relax. Mirabel had spent the day smiling and laughing, like she should have. That was what was important.

The gaping chasm that still existed in the family, now visually represented by the courtyard after Casita had moved her mamá’s door next to Julieta’s, still hurt her. She’d never wanted her family to split down the middle like this.

But she refused to compromise when it came to her niños.

Up in his tower, which he’d noticed had less stairs by the day, Bruno sighed softly to himself. The cracks he’d found years ago were still there, but they’d stopped spreading.

Their family was still hurting, but Pepa’s choices had essentially put a band aid over it.

He had no doubt that his hermana was going to be their only shot at saving the family.

He wasn’t surprised that it would be Pepa. She’d always been the only one of them willing to put her foot down and stand her ground about something.

Bruno didn’t have to look into the future to know that her decision to prioritise her family had stabilised the Miracle.

Somehow, they needed to get Julieta to see what they’d long since figured out.

The Gifts shouldn’t have turned them into slaves to the Encanto. No matter how pretty their mamá dressed it up with words like ‘duty’ and ‘responsibility’.

He sighed again. He’d keep an eye on the cracks but he wouldn’t say anything. The only other one who knew about them was Dolores and she wouldn’t say anything either.

Bruno was certain that their mamá would blame Pepa for the cracks and that was something he refused to allow.

For now though, the future hadn’t arrived yet. He rolled over to try and get some sleep. There was no use in obsessing over what was still coming. There were far more important things happening right now.

He smiled softly to himself as he remembered how much fun they’d all had that day. That was what they should focus on right now.

The future would come when it was ready.

Chapter Text

Pepa did not expect to come downstairs to breakfast to find her hermana and mamá in an argument. She blinked at the scene a few times. Even walked out and walked back in to make sure she was actually seeing what she was seeing.

Well… that was new.

“They’re sick mamá!” Julieta half snapped, half pleaded. “Their fevers are too high for them to even leave their beds, much less Casita.”

For once, their mamá seemed to falter in her argument. The pair stared each other down.

“We can’t let the village down Julieta,” mamá pointed out after gathering herself again.

Yeah, no. Pepa had gathered enough of what was going on.

“Luisa and Isabela are sick?” she asked, cutting into the argument and startling them.

“Uh, sí,” Julieta answered. “They caught the same bug…”

Pepa nodded her head decisively. “Bruno won’t mind watching them I’m sure.”

She would offer but it was her one day to water the crops and she didn’t want the villagers whining. And Felix always went with her.

Bruno was good with the niños when they were sick though.

Mamá pursed her lips.

"I'm sure the village can survive without a fourteen and twelve-year-old for one day." She didn't even try and hide how her voice dripped with scorn as she spoke.

For a moment, it looked like mamá might argue further but then she let out an annoyed sigh.

"Very well," she snapped. "But you can't neglect your duties, Julieta."

"Sí," Julieta assured quickly, flicking a grateful look at Pepa.

Pepa just thought that they were lucky their mamá didn't push it.

She was perfectly willing to water the crops with a thunderstorm instead.

"Thank you for agreeing to this Bruno," Julieta said again as she hurriedly packed the last of her food with Agustin’s help.

Bruno waved the thanks off.

"I don't mind."

Things were still a little strained between the triplets but it was getting better over time. There were just topics they needed to avoid.

Namely, mamá and Mirabel.

It saddened Bruno that they'd drifted apart somewhat over this. But he refused to change his mind, to take back anything he said.

Besides… his headaches had practically disappeared over time as he stopped doing constant visions. He didn't feel exhausted all the time either.

He hadn't felt this good in a long time and he wasn't about to give that up so that the village could yell at him about being a bad omen again.

He still did at least one vision a day and he passed the important ones on to the relevant people (aka asked Pepa to do it since he really didn't like going into town.)

Julieta pointed out the soup she made one last time as she finished packing and then faltered when the two youngest in the house ran in.

"Tio!" Cami yelled. "Come play with us."

Mirabel looked up at him eagerly.

"Ah, not today guys," Bruno said as he crouched down in front of them. 

"Why not?" Mirabel pouted.

"Tio is taking care of Isabela and Luisa today," Dolores answered for him as she walked into the kitchen. "They're sick."

"Oh…" the pair looked at each other while Dolores spoke to Bruno.

"I can't look after these two today Tio," she told him regretfully. "One of the kids wandered into the forest early this morning. I'm going to go help find him."

"That's not a problem," he assured her, thinking quickly. "They can be my helpers today."

Camilo and Mirabel perked up.

"We can?" They asked in sync, excited.

It was probably the best way to keep them out of trouble and they genuinely did like to help.

Bruno nodded at them with a smile while Dolores chuckled a bit before leaving on her search.

Julieta hesitated for a moment before she left as well, gaze briefly flicking over to Mirabel before she was gone.

Bruno looked over the excited pair.

This shouldn't be too bad right?

Julieta needed to stop understating things.

The 'pretty bad fever' that she'd mentioned was actually at the point where the girls were experiencing hallucinations. The poor things were barely aware of what was going on at all.

Luisa was crying and when Bruno tried to comfort her, she latched on. Meaning he was pretty much stuck there until she let go.

That left Mirabel and Camilo to help Isabela.

They'd been a little wary about it since she was the one that tended to snap at them the most. They'd long since stopped trying to spend time with her and Luisa avoided them.

This was the most time the pair had been around them in three years.

It didn't go as they expected.

"Cami! What am I supposed to do?!" Mira asked in a panic while Isabela clutched her and wailed.

"I don't know!" Camilo replied, equally freaked out by their prima's behaviour.

He flitted around the bed, not sure what to do.

Mirabel focused back on the older girl holding her in a death grip.

"Isa, Isa, it's okay. You're just sick," she tried to tell her but Isabela only sobbed harder.

"It's not okay!" She wailed, burying her face in Mira's hair.

She was radiating heat which was probably really not good.

"Maybe we need mami?" Mira whispered to Camilo.

Before he could answer, Isabela hiccuped and spoke again. Her voice was muffled by Mirabel's hair and a little slurred from the sickness.

"I lost my Mira," Isabela said miserably. "Nothing's been okay for years."

Mirabel and Camilo stared at each other in shock while Isabela continued to cry quietly.

"What do you mean?" Camilo asked, climbing onto the bed with them now.

Isabela hiccuped again and then the words just seemed to spill out, like they'd been locked up for a long time.

"We can't say no to Abuela but she said I can't be close to Mira anymore since she didn't get a Gift. And I panicked cause everyone was scared and I was mean and awful and I lost my Mira and she hates me now!"

Mirabel stared at Camilo, looking lost. It didn't seem like Isabela was really aware that Mira was actually here. She seemed to think that this was all her imagination. 

"And now Luisa's sad and cries all the time," Isabela continued, breathing hitching with sobs and breaking her words occasionally. "And mamá cries and papá is sad. But it's our fault and we still can't say no to Abuela cause- cause she's Abuela."

Mirabel felt tears prick her eyes. They didn't talk about… that. They didn't talk about it because she had a mami and papi and she loved them. Dolores was the best hermana and she always made sure they were okay. And she had her mellizo, her best friend, in Camilo.

She was happy now.

Like Tio Bruno said… some things couldn't be undone and she didn't want to go back. Because her family had been there for her when she needed it. Had stood up for her.

But…

"Tio Bruno and Tia Pepa hate me cause I'm terrible and Tio Felix too," Isabela was still rambling and it broke Mirabel's heart.

"Isa, Isa," she tried to get the older girl's attention.

But Isabela didn't seem to hear her.

"And Dolores and Cami definitely hate me," she sobbed. "Cause I'm awful and terrible and- and- and-" her voice broke on the next words. "I miss my Mira."

Mirabel wondered if Dolores could hear this from the forest. She wished her hermana was here since she gave the best advice. 

But with everyone else out and Tio Bruno stuck in Luisa's hug, it was just the two of them who could help Isabela.

"Isa," Mirabel finally wrapped her arms around the older girl, her heart breaking at the flood of stressed-out rambling that had spilled out. "Isa, I don't hate you."

"Neither do I," Camilo was quick to add.

"No one hates you," Mira continued. "Tio Bruno volunteered to take care of you and Luisa remember? And it was mami's idea cause she didn't want you guys working when you're sick. Papi definitely doesn't hate you. And Dolores doesn't either."

"She misses you," Camilo admitted. "She misses her friend."

Isabela whimpered at the words.

"But I'm awful."

"You said some mean things," Mirabel had to agree. "But you said that you panicked. What scared you?"

There was a beat of silence where Isabela sniffled before answering.

"I was scared that Abuela would stop loving me too if I didn't listen…" she whispered.

Mirabel tightened her hug on the girl.

It made her want to cry. She'd lost Isabela because she was afraid that Abuela would stop loving her. Like she did with Mirabel after she didn't get a Gift.

Like she did with mami and Tio Bruno when they stopped listening to her.

All Abuela did with her parents and Tio was fight now. She hadn't seen her hug them or smile at them in years. 

The same for Dolores and Cami.

Isabela… and maybe Luisa? They'd been scared of the same thing happening. And they'd always been really close to Abuela. They loved her so much.

It wasn't fair.

"I've missed you too Isa," she whispered. "Cause… you're still my prima you know? But we never get to play or anything because of… all this."

"I miss when you let us climb your vines when no one was looking," Camilo admitted quietly. "It was so cool."

Isabela sniffled. "I don't want to be mean anymore. But it's the only way I get to talk to you…"

"It doesn't have to be," Camilo said suddenly and Mirabel looked at him curiously. "We just have to make Abuela think that Isa and Luisa are still avoiding you."

Isabela finally turned her head to look at Camilo. She looked awful, all flushed and her eyes were red from crying.

"I'm sure Dolores wouldn't mind helping. We can be sneaky about it. And I know mami, papi and Tio Bruno would help too."

"I don't get it," Isabela sounded confused.

"You pretend to ignore Mira but when no one's looking then you can be our prima," he explained.

Isabela blinked at him in confusion while Mirabela was getting excited.

"Yeah! We can sneak around and play like we used to! All of us." She turned back to Isabela. "It doesn't matter if you're a hermana or a prima Isa. Cause I still love you. Can we please try?"

Tears welled up in Isabela's eyes again and Mirabel let out an 'oomph' when she latched on in a hug, wailing again.

"I love you too Mira, I didn't stop. I promise, even when I was terrible."

Something that had been hurting since she was five healed up at those words and Mirabel returned the hug tightly. Camilo glomped onto them as well and they both tried to calm Isa down with reassurances that everything would be okay. That they'd fix it.

Tio Bruno found them like that when he carried a sleeping Luisa to Isabela's room and he looked mad when he heard the whole story.

Sitting down next to them, he brushed a hand through Isabela's sweaty hair and waited until her fever-glazed eyes met his own.

"We will always love you Isa," he told her firmly. "Nothing will ever change that, okay?"

Her lip wobbled as she nodded shakily.

"We'll fix this mi flor, I promise."

Hearing the old nickname made her wail all over again as she tried to hug her Tio without letting go of Mirabel. They all ended up in a hug pile after that.

A few hours later, after a lot of water and soup and sleep, Isabela was a lot less delusional and a lot more embarrassed. 

"I acted like a baby," she whined, covering her head with a blanket.

"Everyone's allowed to do that sometimes," Tio Bruno chuckled while Luisa didn't want to let go of Mirabel at all.

She’d broken down crying when she woke up to Mirabel offering her a hug.

They all looked up when the door opened and Dolores walked into the room. Isabela sat up straight, biting her lip nervously. There was no way that Dolores had missed all of that unless she’d been on the other side of the Encanto.

Isabela had been loud…

Dolores walked right up to Isabela and lifted her hand to flick her on her forehead.

“You can be such an idiot sometimes Isa. You could have just talked to me, I would have listened,” she scolded gently. Then she smiled and opened her arms.

Isabela couldn’t help the renewed sobs as she hugged her prima, and best friend, for the first time in years.

Dolores just rubbed her back soothingly, not really bothered that Isa was a mess at the moment.

“I told mamá and papá about it,” she said to Tio Bruno. “Mamá said she was going to pick a fight with someone so that everyone was stuck in town for longer.”

“Of course she did,” Tio sighed, but he looked fond.

“That gives us enough time to clean you two up and make some plans,” Dolores continued, pressing the back of her hand to Isabela’s forehead and frowning at her temperature. “And then send you two back to bed. You need to rest.”

She smiled gently at Isabela. “We’ll figure this out. We’re pretty good at sneaking around. And Casita will help us.”

Isabela gave her a shaky smile in response.

Mirabel and Camio looked at each other with grins. Their hermana was the best.

Later that night, when everyone was asleep, Bruno crept up to a painting hanging innocently on the wall. Taking a deep breath and feeling hopeful, he swung it back, revealing the hole that led into the walls.

After a short walk he came across what he was looking for and stood and stared for a few minutes.

He left the walls with a smile and feeling lighter than before.

The cracks were still there, but they were smaller.

The family was healing. Slowly, but it was getting there.

Chapter Text

“Pepa?!”

“Not now! Luis has amnesia and Gabriela doesn’t know yet!”

Alma and Julieta stared at her in bewilderment as the redhead hunched over a book, umbrella in hand as she cried her eyes out. Rain was pouring around her.

“Pepa have you seen Isabela-” Julieta tried when Pepa suddenly let out a wail. 

“No Gabriela! Don’t believe that bitch! She’s lying!”

Felix came skidding into the room with a bowl of popcorn in hand.

“Pepa?!” he sounded absolutely betrayed. “You carried on without me?! You said you’d wait!”

“I couldn’t help myself!” Pepa wailed. “I had to know! Luis just proposed to Camila!”

Felix gasped. “But he’s in love with Gabriela!”

“He doesn’t remember that!” Pepa broke down into sobs and Felix rushed over to reassure her.

“Pepa, have you see Isabela?” Alma asked more sternly now.

“I can’t see past the heartbreak,” Pepa mourned, clutching her trashy romance novel to her chest. Felix caught the umbrella before it could fall over.

“Didn’t she say she was going to encourage plant growth in the farms?” he asked distractedly as he cradled his devastated wife close.

“And Luisa?”

“Luis!” Pepa wailed. “Don’t listen to the lies!”

Felix shooed the confused pair out with his scolding. “Have you no heart?! She’s mourning! We’re grieving true love lost here! We don’t talk about Luis!”

“Luis!” Pepa wailed again.

The pair walked away, completely bewildered. When they were gone, Pepa and Felix smirked at each other.

The kids were all playing in Bruno’s room. They were just keeping the other adults busy for the day.

This would be fun.

Isabela was not, in fact, by the farms.

Alma and Julieta returned to Casita, confused and a little frustrated. They hadn’t found Luisa either. But she might just be helping others in town. She was usually on the move.

They stopped when they saw Bruno crouched in the courtyard. Maybe he might have seen them.

“Bruno!” Alma called and Bruno jumped a foot in the air. 

A little rat raced away from where he’d been crouched and he turned to scowl at them in irritation.

“Really mamá?” he asked in frustration. “I’ve been trying to catch Rosalita all day. She’s extra skittish and I’m pretty sure it’s because she’s pregnant.”

They both balked at the idea of a rat having babies in their house.

“You’re the one who told me to make sure they don’t overpopulate. I don’t want the poor thing to think she has to go hide in a cupboard or something.”

They both paled even further at that thought.

“Please don’t do that again. I’ve got to go find her now.”

“Bruno,” Julieta called out hurriedly while Alma looked like she was still thinking terrifying thoughts of rats overrunning her home. “Have you seen Isabela?”

He paused and looked at her with a confused expression. “Wasn’t she helping the Guzmans with something?”

The pair raced off at that and Bruno waited until they were gone to crouch down again. A little rat ran back into his hand when he placed it on the ground.

“Good work Rosa. Nice acting.”

“Mariano!” 

The fifteen-year-old turned to face Julieta and Alma as they hurried up to him.

“Can I help you?” he asked, wide eyes sincere.

“Have you seen Isabela? Or Luisa?” Julieta asked in worry.

“Oh, sí!” He gave them a beaming smile. “Luisa had to chase after the donkeys again. It’s probably going to take her all day.” He sighed sadly at that. “And Isa’s helping my mamá with something. Do you need her urgently?”

They both relaxed. “No, we were just worried,” Julieta assured him.

“I think you stress too much,” he insisted. “You should go rest by the fountain. They’re playing music today.”

With a little more encouraging nudges and oh-so-hopeful looks, they both caved and headed towards the middle of town.

Mariano watched them go and only turned around when he heard his mamá behind him.

"Where did you learn to lie like that?" She asked in astonishment.

He grinned brightly at her.

"Dolores has to confide in someone. I'm honoured she chose me and I will protect her secrets, even if I must lie."

His mamá chuckled. "You're lucky I like that girl. Now, when are you going to ask her out?"

Mariano blushed and panicked.

"Mamá! She'll hear you!"

His mamá only laughed as he panicked further.

"This wasn't how I wanted to ask Dolores!" He said to thin air. "Please believe me! It was going to be much more romantic!"

Back in Casita, Dolores squeaked and stared blankly at the wall, face slowing heating up and turning bright red.

“Dolores?” Isabela asked, distracted from playing in the sand. 

Luisa was painstakingly building a sandcastle while Mirabel and Camilo were digging tunnels.

Dolores continued to stare ahead until Isabela reached out to touch her shoulder. Then she blinked and looked at her prima.

She looked awed and hopeful and terrified.

“I think Mariano just asked me out?” she squeaked.

Isabela stared at her for a moment before she squealed in excitement, the sound echoing in the tower and ringing in Dolores’ ears.

“Tell me everything!” she demanded.

Julieta and Alma returned from a long day of being distracted in the village, exhausted. Agustin had been roped into all manner of requests so he’d been missing all day too.

They found Isabela refreshing the rosebushes in the courtyard. She flashed them a smile and a serene "good evening" before returning to her work.

Luisa passed through the courtyard muttering about donkeys and fences.

What a bizarre day.

Dolores listened dreamily from her balcony as Mariano recited poetry, this time directed at her as he tried to make up for the very unromantic reveal of his feelings.

“I hope you say yes,” he whispered.

She sighed. “Yes,” she breathed into the quiet night.

It did make her wonder though. Her Tio’s prophecy said that the man of her dreams would be betrothed to another. But it sounded like his mamá was perfectly fine with him choosing her.

So… what did the prophecy mean? Because Mariano was certainly the man of her dreams.

What did the future hold in store for them?

Chapter Text

Bruno stared at his sobrina in bewilderment. Her shoulders were shaking hard and she was biting her lip to the point that he was worried it was going to bleed.

Dolores was trying her absolute hardest not to burst out laughing like she so clearly wanted to.

He peered out past her to where Isabela was leaning against the wall, shaking as she snickered uncontrollably.

Luisa looked long-suffering as she hoisted an out cold Mariano on her shoulder.

“Uh, sure, you can hide him here. But I need answers in exchange,” he told them.

They nodded quickly and he let them in.

“What happened?” he asked as Luisa dumped Dolores’ boyfriend on the sand, looking done with life.

Isabela was still snickering, trying to muffle the sound with her hands.

Dolores was shaking she was trying so hard to keep it in.

“It’s not that funny guys,” Luisa scolded.

“Yes, it is,” Dolores squeaked, before bursting into gales of laughter.

Bruno watched in bafflement as Isabela wheezed, Luisa sighed and Dolores collapsed, crying because she was laughing so hard.

Mariano just kept snoring.

“I don’t understand it Julieta,” Alma sighed, staring into her cup of tea. She'd found Julieta baking since she couldn't sleep. Alma had been kept up by her own thoughts so she'd settled down for a cup of tea and to think. “Why wouldn’t Mariano want to marry Isabela?”

She missed her hija’s annoyed look.

“Mamá, Mariano has been dating Dolores for three years now. I’d be concerned if he dumped her only to date her prima.”

"I didn't even know Dolores was dating," she said with a hint of irritation.

Julieta looked back at her in confusion.

"What do you mean you didn't know mamá? Pepa was talking about it for weeks. Bruno and Felix both gave the poor boy a heart attack when they ambushed him when he showed up to take her on their first date."

"I thought he was trying to court Isabela."

Julieta crossed her arms now.

"Mamá, Isabela and Pepa helped Dolores get ready for her date. She's been supportive of this from the beginning."

Alma pursed her lips. Hearing about Isabela spending time with Dolores made her uneasy. Pepa had stubbornly planted all these ideas in her family's heads and now they refused to put the Encanto first.

Bruno rarely did requested visions anymore and he only handed over the tablets from the ones he did in private if they pertained to her or the Encanto specifically. Otherwise, they were handed directly to the people they were about by Pepa.

Dolores no longer told her everything that was happening in town, only actively helping if something happened, like someone went missing or there was an emergency. Otherwise, she did her own thing. Reading those books Pepa so loved, listening to Bruno's stories or spending time with Mariano. Which turned out to be dates apparently.

Camilo had repeatedly refused to help the town with his shapeshifting and Alma had stopped pushing when Pepa brought a storm down on them during a confrontation about it. She didn't want Camilo burdened with taking care of other children at his age and she also didn't want him using his shifting constantly or for long periods of time. As it was, his use of his Gift for pranks and to play around already made the boy hungry during the day, meaning he often snuck food if his parents weren't there to give it to him. Alma didn't approve but Julieta always let him sneak off with an extra arepa or two. 

Alma was certain that he would be a big help since he always gathered a large group of children when he played in the village. But he refused to take responsibility for the group.

And then there was Mirabel… Alma was still afraid of what she represented. They never did find out why she didn't get a Gift and that frightened Alma. But she had taken to avoiding the girl entirely over the years. Pepa was fierce in defending her and their arguments over her were always the worst.

And… Bruno's dual vision still haunted her. Seeing the twin futures that could happen, Mirabel smiling with Pepa's side in front of a whole Casita. And Mirabel looking devastatingly miserable with Julieta's side in front of a cracking Casita.

She still feared that part of the future coming true, so she'd forbidden Julieta's side from interacting with her, just in case.

The decision had weighed on her heavily in recent years. She had noticed the depression that had settled over her hija but she didn't know what to do about it. She didn't know how to fix it.

Isabela and Luisa were pillars of the community and Julieta still beloved by the entire village.

And yet Julieta was miserable while Pepa and Bruno seemed to thrive more and more every year.

Pepa, her hija who had started this all. Everything had changed after Mirabel's fifth birthday, after Pepa refused to accept her decision and took the girl as her own instead of allowing her to be sent away.

In her defiance and determination to stand between Alma and her niños, Pepa had flourished. Her control over the weather had reached new heights as she allowed herself to feel her emotions instead of repressing them like Alma had taught her to.

It rained when she cried over Dolores growing up so quickly.

Rainbows bloomed when she found out that she was pregnant again.

The weather was beautifully peaceful and sunny when she held Antonio for the first time.

Alma had started to doubt her choices over the years. But she didn't know what to do about that.

"Okay, so, Mariano's friends took him out to the bar to celebrate his eighteenth birthday. And you heard them getting out of control when you went to drink water," Bruno summarised as the girls laughed again, cutting off the story.

Dolores wiped at her eyes, nodding.

"Sí," she answered. "He- he started talking about how he wanted to marry me one day."

Her smile turned a little softer as she said those words. 

"But that he was worried about messing up a proposal. He was still upset about not asking me out 'right'." She made finger quotations around the word. "His very drunk friends suggested that he practice. My very drunk boyfriend thought this was a great idea. They started with a teddy bear first. But apparently, it turned him down pretty harshly."

Bruno had to fight hard not to burst out laughing at that.

"And then they tried a photo he had of me but Mariano said he got intimidated. So- so they decided to try something alive instead."

She bit her lip as her shoulders shook again.

"So- so they decid- decided to try proposing to a sleeping donkey. Because if its asleep, then it doesn't count."

"But it woke up!" Isabela cackled.

Bruno snorted, covering his mouth and trying to suppress the laughter.

"But he didn't realise so he finished asking and then- then looked up to find it looking at him. And he panicked."

"By the time Dolores got us and we got there, he was sobbing and all his friends were freaking out because they'd made Mariano break Dolores' heart which meant that Tia was going to kill all of them," Isabela finished, wiping tears off her cheeks. "But- but the best part is that when we got there, Mariano stared at Dolores with this heartbroken look and he said- he said-" She broke out into laughter again.

Bruno knew though, feeling incredibly amused at the turn of events. At how this future had unfolded. So he repeated what he vividly remembered hearing in that vision so long ago.

"My love, I'm betrothed to an ass."

They all burst out laughing, even Luisa now.

"When I heard that in the vision, I didn't think he meant it literally!" Bruno doubled over laughing.

Dolores shook her head, still chuckling. "All that worrying over a vision. And we panicked so hard when Abuela got interested in setting Isa up with him."

"You can keep the big dork," Isabela snickered.

Bruno smiled at his sobrinas. That prophecy had worried him for a while, but Dolores had decided to give the relationship a go regardless.

And it had clearly been the right decision.

Camilo and Mirabel peered down at their sleeping hermanito. They were determined to be the best big siblings ever, like Dolores was to them, so they were sneaking into the nursery every night to check on little Antonio.

They were both smitten with the little boy, following their mamá around when she carried him. Pleading to hold him or look at him throughout the day.

"He's so cute," Mirabel sighed as they headed back to their room.

After begging and pleading and pestering their parents, they'd agreed to let Mirabel live in Camilo’s room until she was twelve instead of ten. Then she was moving in with Dolores since Abuela was still being stubborn about her getting her own room.

Mirabel didn't mind. She got to live with her mellizo and then she'd live with her hermana.

She actually liked not being alone.

Once they returned to their room, they flopped down onto their beds and got ready to sleep.

"Hey, Mira?" Camilo called in the darkness.

"Hmm?"

"Let's steal a donkey next time they get out."

"That sounds like fun!"

Chapter Text

Mirabel was walking through Casita with her mellizo by her side, Antonio in her arms, when the storm crashed down and they heard their mamá’s shouting.

“If you even think about finishing that sentence I’ll bring a fucking hurricane down on your head!”

Antonio’s eyes went wide while Mirabel and Camilo exchanged a glance. They heard a door shut quickly above them, no doubt Dolores escaping to her room as the thunder rolled.

Abuela tried to say something but their mamá cut her off again.

“No! This isn’t a discussion. This isn’t up for debate. My hija is getting her Quinceanera and you’re going to suck it up and smile, or so help me you’ll see the worst storm of your life!”

“Oh…” Mira looked down. She hadn't thought that Abuela would have tried to cancel her Quinceanera. It was… it was important! Every other girl had got theirs. 

Isabela’s had been stunning and she’d looked radiant and actually genuinely happy throughout it all.

Dolores had hers and Abuela didn’t interrupt at all, didn’t even try and stop the others from attending like Isa had feared. It had meant a lot to her hermana that their primas attended as well.

Luisa’s had been fit for a princess and she got to be as girly as she wanted all night long.

Mirabel had really thought… but of course, Abuela didn’t like it when any attention was drawn to her. She wouldn’t want there to be a whole night all about her.

Camilo was scowling and muttering unflattering things about their Abuela under his breath. Antonio was frowning, not quite understanding what was going on, but picking up that Mira and Cami were upset about it.

Suddenly, their papá was there, appearing from nowhere behind them.

“Cami! I need a favour.”

Camilo looked back at papá’s too innocent face. “Sí?” he asked warily.

“I need you to babysit Antonio,” he swiped the little boy from Mirabel’s arms to tickle him before handing him over to Camilo.

“Okay?” Camilo looked confused.

“And I need to steal your melliza,” he grabbed Mirabel and bolted while Camilo cried out in outraged protest behind them.

“Gracias Cami!” papá called back with a laugh as he grabbed an umbrella and dragged Mirabel out into the pouring rain. “See you later!”

They ended up sitting by the fountain in the plaza, eating snacks from the nearby stalls who were smart enough to have covers up just in case Pepa ever rained without warning.

Felix was holding the umbrella up as they watched the rain hit the ground.

Rain was peaceful to the both of them. They usually liked it if it wasn’t created by her mamá being upset.

Speaking of…

“Mamá is really mad, isn’t she?”

Papá hummed. “Sí, she is.”

Mirabel looked down.

“It’s not your fault mi mariposa,” he told her quietly.

Mirabel let out an explosive sigh. “I know. I just thought that… this would be different. It’s- It’s important. I thought… she’d at least let me have this…”

“You are going to have your Quinceanera Mira,” he told her firmly. “You and your mamá have been planning it for months. And I want to dance with my baby girl when she finally turns fifteen.”

He sniffled a little. “Ay, you all grow up too fast…”

Mirabel huffed out a laugh. “Just wait until Mariano finally gathers the courage to propose.”

“We don’t speak of that yet!” he waved his arms wildly and Mirabel laughed.

“What about if Camilo finally takes an interest in one of the girls that always follow him around?” she asked with a cheeky smile.

“Lalala!” 

She laughed as her papá covered his ears. He’d always been good at getting her to laugh.

It made her think back, on all the times that he’d swipe her away from an irate Camilo to spend time with her. Walking through the forest, shopping in town, wandering through the streets.

They’d always talk and Mirabel loved their time, just to themselves. Even if Camilo pouted and latched onto her when she returned, scolding their papá for stealing her away.

She smiled softly at the memories.

He’d always been there for her. After nightmares. After she overheard Abuela saying something. After fights with Dolores, which were very rare. After fights with Camilo, which were even rarer and could be counted on one hand.

Her papá could always be counted on to be there, with a hug and comforting words. He always knew when she needed a bit of peace, dragging her out to the forest. He knew when she needed to get out of Casita and away from her Abuela’s wary glances.

She had the best papá.

And of course, the best mamá. Who was storming because she was so mad Abuela would try and take this special night away from Mirabel.

She had the best mellizo, who had shared his room with her until she was twelve. They were practically attached at the hip still.

She had the best hermana who had been genuinely excited to share her own room with Mira over the last three years. Dolores was always there to talk to and never seemed irritated when Mirabel would seek her out.

She had the best Tio who told them stories and hid them from Abuela when she was in a worse mood than usual.

She had the best primas, who went against Abuela’s orders and played with them in secret. Isabela had helped Mirabel design her dress for her Quinceanera and Luisa had cried over how quickly she was growing up.

She loved everyone. Even Abuela. She could still vaguely remember before her ceremony, when Abuela still smiled warmly at her. She missed those days. She also knew that back then, she technically had a different family but it was all vague and blurry.

She still remembered what it felt like to not be wanted vividly though. She remembered turning her back on blue and how comforting yellow and orange had become to her.

Sometimes she wondered what would have happened if her mamá hadn’t stopped them. If they’d sent her away.

And sometimes she wondered what would have happened if they’d kept her, with this uneasiness still laying over them.

She didn’t think she would have been very happy. She didn’t think she would have felt this loved.

“You’re getting your Quinceanera Mira,” papá told her seriously. “You are going to get a jewellery set just like your hermana and primas did. You are going to wear your beautiful dress and change into your new shoes and dance with me and make me cry. You are going to have a wonderful night Mirabel. It will be perfect. I promise.”

Mirabel smiled up at him. 

With her family, she didn’t doubt him for one second.

Chapter Text

“Mi amor, you’re going to get her all wet.”

“My baby, all grown up.”

“Mamá, don’t cry,” Mirabel beamed at them. Even papá had some tears in his eyes. Her mamá wasn’t even trying to hide her tears.

She reached out and took one of their hands each. “I’ll always be your little Mira,” she assured them.

Mamá pulled her into a hug and pressed a kiss to her hair. Papá copied her a moment later.

“You ready Mira?” he asked gently.

Mirabel smoothed down the skirt of her red dress and smiled.

“I’m ready.”

Camilo grinned widely as he spotted his parents and melliza at the top of the stairs. Next to him, he heard Dolores’ breathing hitch as she fought not to cry.

Across the courtyard, Isabela was losing the fight against tears as she covered her mouth. Luisa was unashamedly crying.

Mirabel looked beautiful. Her hair was done up with a bow she must have borrowed from Dolores and her dress was a deep red with yellow accents. She’d made it herself, with Isabela’s help designing it.

She wore her new jewellery that their papá had commissioned himself with input from Dolores and Camilo. The rubies shone in the light and the choice to make the necklace and earrings in the shapes of butterflies was brilliant. That was all Dolores’ idea.

Camilo had to blink tears out of his eyes as Mirabel walked down the steps, a beaming smile on her face. Tio Bruno was crying too.

He guessed he got it. Mira was the youngest girl. The last Quinceañera that would happen for their generation.

Even Tia Julieta and Tio Agustin were watching in awe.

Camilo’s hermana was stunning. They were going to have to fight off the boys when they saw pictures of this.

Camilo met her eyes and her smile widened. He returned it just as widely.

He was so happy for her.

After the shoes were changed, her papá led her onto the dance floor for the first dance.

“Ay Mira,” he sighed wistfully. “You grew up much too fast. Where’s the little rascal that was running around irritating everyone into laughing?”

She smiled at him. “Still here papá. But I had to grow up sometime.”

“I should have put a brick on your head to keep you small and cute.”

Mirabel laughed.

“Now I’m going to need to beat those boys off with a stick.”

She kept snickering and he smiled at her.

“Happy birthday mija.”

“Gracias papá.”

It surprised no one that Camilo swept in to steal her for the next dance. 

“You and papá are so weird,” she told him in amusement while papá cried out in outrage.

“Mellizo trumps papá,” Camilo sing-songed and Mirabel laughed.

They danced for a while, Camilo had often dragged her into dances so of course she was comfortable out on the dancefloor.

“Are you having a good night?” he asked, voice soft and eyes gentle in that way he only got for family.

Mirabel smiled at him. “Sí,” she murmured. “It’s perfect Cami. Gracias. I know you worked hard on the decorations with Isa.”

He ducked his head a little in embarrassment. 

“Only the best for my hermana,” he told her genuinely. “You deserve the world.”

“Ay, you’re going to make me cry Cami,” she punched his shoulder lightly. “I’m wearing make-up tonight.”

“I know, I helped Isa put it on you remember? You’d think we were trying to stab your eye out when we were putting the eyeliner on with how you complained.”

“Sharp and pointy near my eyes Cami!”

He just laughed at her.

Her Tio danced with her as well, not nearly as comfortable on the dancefloor but he’d folded to her puppy dog eyes and “pleeeeease?” beautifully.

“Are you happy Mira?” he asked at some point and she looked up at him in confusion.

“Why wouldn’t I be happy? I have a mamá and papá who love me to pieces. I have Camilo, mi mellizo. I have my hermana and hermanito. I have my primas. I’ve got the best Tio.”

She looked around at the beautiful party they’d set up for her and caught her hermana’s eye as Dolores smiled warmly at her words. 

“I am so happy it makes me want to cry sometimes.”

Tio Bruno gave her a gentle smile at that. 

“I’m glad.”

Before she could ask about his weird question, Antonio barrelled into her and declared it was his turn to dance. Mirabel laughed and swept her hermanito up into her arms and started to spin around the dancefloor.

As she danced she heard a bit of a commotion in the corner and glanced over. Isabela was standing with Abuela and she seemed upset. If Mirabel listened closely, she could hear what her prima was saying.

“No Abuela. I don’t want to leave yet. The party’s barely begun.”

“I just worry Isabela. You need a good night’s sleep.”

“That wasn’t a concern at any other Quinceañera,” Isabela stated flatly.

“Well… you know what I’ve told you about spending too much time with Mirabel.”

Mira looked away, joy dimming a little. She should have expected Abuela to try and send Isa and Luisa away early. She still didn’t like them spending too much time with her. Still worried that Mirabel not having a Gift meant something bad.

Her papá had squashed that worry for Mira early on by pointing out that he didn’t have magic so did that make him bad? And since her papá was the furthest thing from bad she’d ever met, besides maybe Antonio, it had been drilled into her early on that she wasn’t wrong.

She didn’t have a Gift. So what? She was still a Madrigal. She was still loved. She was still wanted. 

She was just different. And that was okay.

Suddenly she heard Abuela say something but she couldn’t make out what. She turned in time to find Isabela stopping in front of her. She blinked up at her in surprise while Isa looked determined, more so than Mirabel had ever seen her.

Then Isabela smiled at her. Not the forced polite ones she had to show in public. This was the one she gave Mirabel in private, when they were sneaking around and spending time together with Luisa, Dolores, Antonio and Camilo. This was the smile that Mirabel loved to see on her but she’d never had directed at her in public before.

“Can your prima also have a dance Mira?” she asked softly, holding a hand out.

Mirabel beamed at her while Antonio squirmed down, muttering about people stealing his Mira.

“Anytime Isa, you know that.”

Isabela smiled and grabbed her hand, dragging her into the middle of the dancefloor. As they spun, petals filled the air and Mirabel didn’t miss that they were her favourite flower.

Abuela was no doubt watching in horror. Tia Julieta and Tio Agustin must be so confused.

But Mirabel beamed up at her prima as Isabela danced with her openly and not in secret. As Isa essentially declared that she loved Mira, despite everything that had happened and what her Abuela wanted.

Mirabel adored her for it.

She couldn’t have imagined a better birthday present.

And it only got better when Luisa shyly asked the same thing and Camilo appeared to sweep Isabela off into a dance again, making her laugh. Dolores was dancing with Antonio on their other side.

They’d decided they weren’t going to hide anymore. It was enough to bring Mirabel to tears.

Bruno watched the second generation flood the dancefloor, finally ignoring those silly divisions that had formed in the family years ago. He couldn’t be happier for them.

They were happy. That was all he’d wanted for them.

Pepa was practically in tears as she watched with a wide smile on her face and a rainbow over her head. Felix cheered the kids on excitedly.

He glanced back at his mamá and he understood her fear to a point. She still believed that Mirabel not getting a Gift meant something bad about her. And she’d taken the vision to mean that if Isabela and Luisa interacted with her, the negative part of the vision would happen.

She didn’t understand that because Pepa had taken Mirabel in, that second future just… no longer existed. He’d tried to explain but she hadn’t listened.

Keeping the kids apart had only delayed the healing process of the Miracle. It hadn’t done anything else.

He watched Julieta catch their mamá’s hand with interest, taking in how exhausted his hermana looked.

“They’re happy mamá. Just… let them be happy,” she murmured.

Their mamá fell silent and turned back to watch the dancing. Felix and Pepa had joined in now, much to the kids’ delight.

Bruno walked over to Julieta as she moved to restock an empty platter of arepas.

“You need to stop punishing yourself,” he whispered to her, making her startle.

“What?” she looked up at Bruno while he gazed back sadly.

“You screwed up Juli, but you need to stop punishing yourself over it. You might not be Mira’s mamá. But you could be her Tia. If you let yourself be.” He sighed as she stared back at him. “I hate to see you so miserable. And Pepa does too. It’s long past time to fix this all Juli. Think about it.”

He squeezed her shoulder before moving on to watch the chaos unfolding on the dancefloor.

He was pretty sure that vines weren’t allowed in dance contests. Ah well, as long as they had fun.

Deep in Casita's walls, more cracks healed over like they'd never been there to begin with.

Chapter Text

“I. Am never. Wearing pink again!”

Isabela raced through the house, pollen pods exploding behind her.

“Was only a matter of time,” Mirabel sighed.

“Yup,” Camilo agreed. “Isa snapped.”

“And Luisa is having a nervous breakdown in her room,” Dolores winced as she listened to her prima’s cries.

“I did not expect to see Tia Julieta explode like that at Abuela though.”

That had been unexpected.

Mirabel listened to the chaos for a moment. Isabela was tearing through the house and Casita was starting to look more jungle than man-made (or magic-made) structure.

Luisa was crying in her room and Tio Agustin was doing his best to cheer her up after she’d absolutely lost it on the donkey owner and told him to finally fix his damn fence.

And then when Abuela yelled at Tia to control Isabela, Tia Julieta just… lost it.

Mirabel hadn’t even known some of those swear words and she knew a lot. Mostly from mamá.

“And all this from Antonio saying that he wanted Mira to walk him to his door during his ceremony,” Dolores sighed. “One little thing tipped everything over.”

Mirabel rubbed her face as she remembered the total disaster of a day.

Antonio announced it at breakfast, a few weeks before his birthday.

“I want Mira to walk me to my door. I don’t wanna do it alone.”

Silence fell.

Mamá looked like she might swoon from how cute he was being. Papá shrugged and nodded, smacking Camilo’s hand to stop him from stealing off his plate.

Camilo pouted and reluctantly stood to get seconds the normal way.

Dolores smiled at their hermanito.

“Why not Dolores instead?” Abuela tried.

Isabela’s grip on her fork tightened and she took a deep breath.

Luisa’s eye twitched.

Mirabel raised an eyebrow at the both of them. They’d been awfully stressed lately, what with Abuela trying to find a husband for Isa and all the villagers constantly asking for Luisa’s help.

Tia Juileta was resting her head in her hands while Tio Bruno looked to the skies for help as the clouds started descending.

“Cause I want Mira,” Antonio said as if it was obvious. 

“Of course I’ll walk you to your door Toñito,” Mirabel said to head off the impending storm. She shot a look at Camilo who was eating his food at the counter since he didn’t want to return to the line of fire. He just shrugged and continued eating. Coward.

Abuela looked upset and everyone else looked tense but breakfast ended okay and they all split up to do their own things.

It was a girl’s day for Mirabel and Dolores so they were heading into town to do some shopping.

They were only half an hour into it when Dolores squeaked and grabbed Mira’s hand, dragging her towards the edge of town.

Mirabel gaped at the sight that they found. Dolores was blinking rapidly too.

“-every week! Every single week!”

Luisa was shaking the poor donkey in the man’s face and she looked half-crazed.

“Do you know how many crops they’ve eaten?! How much time Isa had to spend helping the farmers replenish?! Do you know how many hours I’ve spent chasing your fucking donkeys?!”

Mirabel looked between her prima and the donkey owner.

“Hmm… I wonder if he does it on purpose to save money on food…” she mused out loud.

Luisa froze.

The donkey owner blanched.

“Oh, nail on the head,” Dolores murmured. “His heart is racing now.”

Luisa’s eye twitched.

Mirabel had never seen Luisa throw someone so far.

“There there Luisa,” she patted her prima’s shoulder as the older girl rocked in the fetal position on the floor. “We’re gonna tell our mamá and he’ll be barbecue.”

Dolores nodded in agreement as they led their sobbing prima back home.

This nervous breakdown was a long time coming…

“Oh dear…” Dolores’ words were all the warning Mirabel got as they walked up to Casita.

Foliage burst from every window and opening of the house in a rush and the hermanas exchanged a glance before shooing Luisa to their Tio Agustin who was just rushing up before they ran inside.

They had to climb over branches and roots to get to the courtyard where they found Isabela having a meltdown.

“I’m not going to marry him! Or him or him or him or him!” she screamed, flowers that looked suspiciously carnivorous sprouting up along one wall. Isabela grabbed her hair as she tugged it and dropped to her knees. “Fuck fuck fuck! Fuck being pretty! Fuck being perfect! Fuck every single one of those men!” she paused. “Or… I mean… don’t. I don’t want to.”

She stared ahead for a moment, seeming lost.

“Would you prefer a girl?” Abuela asked almost timidly.

Isabela’s eye twitched. “I don’t want anyone! I’m not ready! I’m twenty-one! I haven’t even been drunk yet! I haven’t made one stupid, dumb ‘I’ll regret this my entire life’ decision like everyone else my age has!”

“Well…” Dolores looked away when her prima’s eyes snapped to her, playing with the fabric of her skirt. “There was that one night where you made out with that boy for fun.”

Isabela stared again. “Oh yeah… that was fun. He was so drunk.”

“He was,” Dolores nodded in agreement.

“So were you.”

“Maybe.”

“You made so many dumb decisions that night. I want that too.”

Dolores purposefully wasn’t looking at Abuela now as she gaped at them. Mirabel was staring at them in betrayal. They left her out of all the fun.

“I’m pretty sure having a breakdown in the middle of Casita counts?” Dolores offered kindly.

Isabela hiccupped. “You’re always so nice Dolores.”

“I disagree fundamentally with that statement as her hermana,” Mirabel felt she needed to add. Dolores smacked her over the back of her head.

“Maybe do something dumb now?” Mirabel suggested, rubbing her head and glaring at her hermana. “It’s never too late.”

“Or early, you started at seven,” Dolores sighed.

“I told you she’s not nice.”

Isabela wasn’t listening to their squabbling though. She was staring down at her hands.

“I. Hate. Pink.” she decided. She pushed herself to her feet and Mirabel got a really bad feeling. There was a crazed look in her prima’s eyes. She’d been pushed way too far for way too long.

“Uh oh,” both Mirabel and Dolores said at the same time.

It was the enormous cloud of multi-coloured pollen that drew Camilo home. He found his hermanas hiding behind a couch and streaked in multiple colours.

“Isabela finally lost it?” he asked, joining them.

“Sí,” they confirmed.

They peered over the couch as Isabela raced around, shrieking with laughter.

“I always knew she was insane,” Mirabel murmured.

“Pressure can do terrible things to a person,” Dolores sighed.

“And Luisa?” Mirabel asked. 

“Up in her room. Tio Agustin got her there before…this. She just needs to cry it out and get a break.”

“They both need a therapist,” Camilo deadpanned.

Neither girl could argue that.

Things got even more bizarre when Tia Julieta came running in, stopping dead at the sight. Abuela turned to her and demanded that she get Isabela under control.

Tia only stared for a moment before whispering, “I’ve never seen her so happy…”

“Julieta!” Abuela snapped. “Focus! This behaviour will only hurt the Miracle, hurt the Encanto! For the good of the community we must-”

Tia Juileta’s eye had twitched. It must be a family thing.

Tio Bruno came tripping down the stairs as Tia Julieta screamed at Abuela. She was yelling all the swears.

“I always knew she had the dirtier mouth!” Mamá crowed from the door, cackling hysterically.

Papá was cheering Tia on next to her.

“-made them miserable and stressed-”

The three of them stared at their Tia in disbelief.

“-grew up too fast-”

Abuela was gaping at her.

“-can do what they want, what makes them fucking happy!”

Tia Julieta took a deep breath, her voice breaking on the next words.

“You already cost me one hija. I won’t let you take another!”

She broke down into sobs, crumpling to the ground. Tio Bruno caught her just in time and gave Abuela one of the most terrifying glares they’d ever seen on him.

“You just couldn’t let it go until you broke them huh?” he asked as mamá rushed up to help him take Tia upstairs.

Camilo was a little shit and couldn’t help himself.

“You gave half the family anxiety!” he shouted, gesturing wildly around at the jungle their house had turned into.

Abuela looked lost while Dolores hugged Mirabel.

That was the first time that Tia had ever acknowledged what happened…

“Do you think she’ll run out of energy any time soon?” Camilo asked as they watched Isabela run one way, and then the next.

“I’ll give it half an hour,” Dolores sipped at her tea, listening to the family and making sure everyone was alright.

“What happened?” Antonio asked from behind them, looking bewildered as he looked around.

“Some people were holding things inside too much and they finally let it out,” Mirabel looked around. “It was a little violent but it’ll be good in the long run.”

“Oh…” he stared at them. “I’m supposed to tell someone that the farmers are chasing the donkey owner through town. They tried calling Dolores but she didn’t listen.”

Dolores shrugged when they turned to look at her. “He deserved it.”

Camilo and Mirabel nodded in agreement after a moment.

“Is it a good angry mob?” Camilo asked.

Dolores nodded. “With pitchforks and everything.”

“You guys are so weird,” Antonio sighed.

Chapter Text

Dolores hugged Isabela close while Mirabel poked at the new foliage that had erupted in her room.

"Is this going to bite me?" She asked suspiciously.

Isabela didn't look up from where she was hiding her face in Dolores' shoulder.

"...possibly…"

Mirabel withdrew her hand.

Camilo snuck back into the room, eyeing all the plants warily.

"Tio Agustin is with Luisa. Antonio too. He's determined to make her smile again."

"And Tia?" Mirabel asked.

"Mamá and Tio Bruno have her. And papá is sitting Abuela down to explain why they all just had breakdowns."

Isabela whimpered. "I can't believe I did that."

"I can," Mirabel argued. "It was brilliant."

"Abuela's going to be so mad."

“If she is, then she’s wrong. You needed that Isa.” Mirabel dropped onto the bed next to where Isabela was trying to burrow into Dolores.

“I’m mortified,” her prima moaned. “I can’t believe I acted like that. And the things I said!”

“It was a long time coming,” Camilo told her. “Abuela kept piling pressure on you Isa. You broke under it.”

“I exploded,” she mumbled.

“It was amazing. I didn’t know you could make plants like that.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, looking at Camilo but it was Mirabel who answered.

“The plants you grew? They were amazing and kind of terrifying. But you grew so much more than flowers Isa. There were trees and giant bushes and flowers that might have tried to eat us. It was all so… so wild. So different. And seeing you covered in all those colours? That was amazing too.”

“Suits you better than pink,” Dolores added.

“I hate pink,” Isabela mumbled.

“I think everyone knows that now,” Camilo chirped cheerfully.

She shot him a look and Camilo just grinned in response.

“It’ll be okay Isa,” Dolores promised her.

“How can you be so sure?”

“Cause the family will make sure it’s okay now,” Mirabel assured, not liking how vulnerable her prima sounded. “We’ll make sure it’s okay.”

Isabela sniffled a little and went back to burying her face in Dolores’ shoulder. Camilo started telling a story he’d heard in town and Mirabel rubbed their prima’s back comfortingly.

They didn’t know about the cracks that healed up when Camilo drew a watery laugh from Isabela.

“I’m a terrible mamá.”

“Juli.”

“And a terrible hermana.”

“Juli…”

“You should have taken them too Pepa, they’d be happier and-”

“No,” Pepa grabbed her hermana’s face in her hands since Bruno trying to gently coax her out of this spiral wasn’t working. “Julieta, listen to me. There isn’t a single doubt in my mind that you love your niñas.”

She hated the absolutely miserable look on her hermana’s face now that she wasn’t hiding her real feelings anymore.

“Look what I’ve allowed to happen!” Julieta cried. “They’re miserable. And I healed those bastards after what they did to Bruno when they should have lived with the scars you gave them.”

Pepa had known that had always bothered her despite her acting unaffected by it all.

“You don’t even go into town because of them anymore Bruno,” Juli continued, heartbreak in her voice. It didn’t seem like she could stop talking now that she’d started. “And I’ve just got to smile and interact with them like nothing’s wrong, like I don’t know you still wake up from nightmares about it all. I’ve got to listen to them badmouth you and Pepa and I just can’t do anything but smile.”

She choked on a sob and Pepa gave in to the urge to hug her, sharing a worried look with Bruno.

“Juli, you’re not a horrible hermana or mamá.” She shushed Julieta before she could argue. “Listen to me. You’re not. What keeps getting in the way of you trying to be the best at those roles, is that you’re still trying to be the best hija to mamá as well.”

“We gave up on pleasing mamá a long time ago Juli. Because, in the end, it was impossible for us,” Bruno explained gently. “The fact that our Gifts had negative downsides meant that we figured that out early on. We had time to accept it. You were always the golden child Juli. Because your Gift didn’t have an obvious downside like ours did. Because the village loved you and you didn’t fight mamá like Pepa did. You weren’t the family weirdo like I was. That role put a lot of stress on you Juli. And you drowned under it, trying to keep mamá happy. Because that kept her focus off of us.”

Juli startled in Pepa’s arms and Pepa sighed. “Of course we’d notice. You were doing it from practically right after our Gift ceremonies. When the weather turned sour or Bruno had a bad vision, then you were there distracting mamá with something, drawing her attention back onto you. And we were grateful Juli. We just never meant for you to get stuck doing that forever.”

“When you became a mamá yourself, hell when you became an adult, you didn’t need to do that anymore,” Bruno added quietly.

Julieta made a quietly pained noise.

“I may have been angry with you a few times, we might have been disappointed in recent years, but we’ll always be thankful that you protected us when we were small Juli. We just wish that you didn’t feel the need to continue to put yourself last.”

“I never meant for any of this to happen…” Juli whispered. “It all just…”

“Spiralled out of control?” Bruno asked with a soft smile.

She nodded miserably.

“It’s okay Juli,” Pepa assured her. “Now that you’re all not pretending everything is fine, we can start fixing things.”

“The first step is always the hardest,” Bruno added.

“Mamá is going to be furious,” she whispered.

“You leave mamá to us,” Pepa told her firmly. “You focus on your hijas. They’re going to need a lot of reassurance after all that. You’re going to need to fix things Juli.”

Julieta took a deep, shaky breath.

“I’m so tired of being the good one,” she admitted.

“Who said there has to be a good one?” Bruno asked with a small smile. “Want my opinion? Take a vacation. You and your hijas. No work for a month at least.”

“But the village…” Julieta bit her lip anxiously.

“Leave them to me,” Pepa murmured ominously. “I got them to back off from Bruno. I’ll do the same for you.”

“You shouldn’t have to.”

“But I’m still going to. You took care of us for years Juli. It’s time for us to return the favour.”

They fell into silence for a moment, Julieta cuddled between Pepa and Bruno as she calmed down.

“I just want to know where you learned all those swear words,” Bruno mused after a moment. 

“I know!” Pepa exclaimed while Julieta made a mortified sound. “There were some there that even I didn’t know!”

Juli groaned and hid her face in her hands and they both laughed. The rift that had been between the triplets for years now wasn’t mended, but it was healing. Pepa brushed her hermana’s hair back while Bruno teased her gently about her swearing.

They’d be alright.

And between the walls, more cracks slowing began to mend.

“And I’m going to make sure you take breaks from now on.”

“But Antonio-"

“No buts! I’m very good at time management. I help Mira all the time to make sure she eats when she’s sewing.”

Agustin watched, bewildered, as a four-year-old lectured his nineteen-year-old hija. What even was his life?

Chapter Text

“No,” Pepa said flatly, crossing her arms.

The villagers that had turned up at the house when Julieta and her family didn’t show up in town, scowled.

“It’s very important-”

“No.”

“I need-”

“No.”

“She promised-”

“No.”

“Now really-”

“No.”

“Mami? Do they need me to explain what ‘no’ means?” Antonio asked innocently from behind Pepa. “I figured it out long ago so I can help!”

A few villagers flushed at the boy’s words. Pepa smirked.

“They might need that but not now Antonio. Right now, they need to leave so that your papá and I can finish breakfast.”

“Pepa-”

“No. Listen, my hermana and her family are on vacation for the next two weeks. That means no one is allowed to bother them,” she pointed at them threateningly as the cloud above her rumbled. “If there is genuinely healing that needs to be done, there’s a stockpile of food that we can hand out. But that doesn’t mean it's for papercuts and scratches. I mean actual injuries like broken bones. Or dangerous cuts.”

They glanced at each other.

“I have a black eye,” one guy mumbled.

Dolores poked her head out the door. “You shouldn’t have started a bar fight while drunk then,” she told him sweetly and he flushed.

“Do any of you have a genuine need for healing?” Pepa asked sharply and they all shuffled awkwardly again.

“I need Isabela’s help with my garden,” one stubborn woman spoke up.

“You mean you want Isa to make it look perfect so that you can claim the credit again?” Dolores asked with an innocent smile. “Like my mamá said, no.”

“Do the work yourself for once,” Mirabel added from somewhere behind Pepa.

Were all her niños listening in?

“Luisa was going to help with the church-”

“For fuck’s sakes you don’t need morning sunlight for every service you whiny old priest! Just deal with it and stop working my prima like a slave!” Camilo shouted from inside the house and several people flinched at the words.

Pepa watched them shift uncomfortably and clearly struggle to find arguments when they were now being confronted about their blatant taking advantage of Juli’s family, when another voice spoke up.

“Excuse me, pardon me, I was polite now move.” One of the mothers from the village pushed her way through the crowd to the front, panting. “Lo siento Dolores,” she sighed. “Would you mind telling me where my hijo is? My idiota husband left the coffee in reach again and he’s run off on a caffeine high again.”

Dolores gave her a sympathetic look and tilted her head to listen. “He’s off running towards the farms.”

“Ay not again,” she groaned.

“Need some help?” Mirabel asked, poking her head out the door with Camilo not far behind her.

She looked at them gratefully. “If you don’t mind. I'll pay you in those biscuits you like.”

“Done!” Camilo darted out after Mirabel and ran off towards the farms, the poor mother following after them.

A few of the villagers gestured wildly in the direction they’d gone, expressions annoyed.

“What? She always asks instead of demanding. And she gives them something in return.

“Plus it's for a good reason,” Dolores added as she headed back inside. “That boy can cause some chaos if he isn’t found and entertained until his caffeine rush wears off.

Pepa nodded in agreement, waiting to make sure that Dolores had taken Antonio with her.

“In case I wasn’t clear enough in all this. Fuck off. Unless it's an emergency, don’t ask.”

She slammed the door closed and went back to making breakfast with Felix. They'd banned Juli from the kitchen for two weeks.

“Damn,” Pepa muttered, drawing Bruno into the kitchen.

“Everything alright?” he asked, looking around at the mess they were making.

Pepa and Felix could make meals, as long as they worked together on it. Otherwise, they were just as likely as Bruno was to burn the kitchen down.

“We ran out of eggs,” Felix sighed.

“I’ll have to run to town quick,” Pepa mused.

“Oh no no no, you two aren’t allowed to cook without the other,” Bruno reminded them. “I can go.”

They both froze and turned to look at him.

“Bruno,” Pepa frowned. “You haven’t stepped foot in that town in ten years.”

He looked away self-consciously and Pepa hurried to continue.

“Not that I blame you, with that group still walking free. What I mean is you don’t have to force yourself to go.”

“It’s fine,” he summoned up a smile for her. “I’ve been thinking about it. I should really just get this over with.”

Pepa’s frown didn’t disappear. “Bruno, even I still get anxious at the idea of you going,” she said worriedly.

He opened his mouth to say something, only to be interrupted.

“I’ll go with him mamá.”

She relaxed a bit at Dolores’ offer, her hija leaning through the kitchen doorway.

“I can say hi to Mariano while we’re there,” she added before Bruno could worry about putting her out.

A little reluctantly, Pepa told him how many they needed and watched the pair head towards the front door. It did make her anxious in all honesty. The last time he’d been near villagers, they’d basically tortured him for four weeks and then those monsters had been let off scot-free because her mamá was too focused on maintaining a good relationship with the village.

The thought was still enough to get her blood boiling and she had to take a few deep breaths to calm herself down before she started thundering.

“Mi vida, they’ll be fine. Dolores is smart and she knows who hurt him before. She’ll steer him away from any of them. And if she spots Mariano he’ll likely join them. He’s always been kind to Bruno,” Felix pointed out gently.

“I know,” Pepa sighed. “I just… I can’t help but worry. I never want to see him in a state like that again. And I know he’s still scared of those men after what they did…”

Felix moved up and pulled her into a hug. “If anyone does try anything, regardless of what Alma says, I’ll help you throw them out of the Encanto myself.”

Pepa allowed herself to relax into his arms, feeling the cloud fade away.

It would be fine. Because they knew what the villagers were capable of now. 

And the village knew what Pepa was willing to do to protect her family too.

They’d have to be prepared for a hurricane if they decided to touch her hermanito again.

Plus, she had a feeling that Juli wouldn’t be quite as willing to heal them next time.

Chapter Text

Dolores could hear her Tio’s heart pounding in his chest. Despite what he said, she knew that going into town terrified him.

It terrified her too.

She still remembered when she was eleven and heard those men saying horrible things about her missing Tio. She’d never been so frightened in her life and she’d almost sobbed in relief when she’d heard her mamá bring him home, hurt but alive.

But he seemed determined to do this today so she linked her arm with his as they walked down to the village and kept a sharp ear out for any of those bastards. She’d never forgotten their voices.

The town was abuzz with noise, mostly annoyed mutters over her Tia and her side of the family taking a vacation. After the breakdowns most of them had had, Dolores was pretty sure that things would have gone pretty badly if they did try and go back to doing their jobs in town.

Isa would have definitely punched someone.

Definitely.

Knowing that they were getting the break they needed would have to be enough for her for now. So she gritted her teeth and tried to ignore the sour mutterings. That got harder when people started to notice her Tio and the whispers of ‘bad luck’ almost set off her temper.

Dios mio these people made her want to scream sometimes. 

They weren’t even being that subtle, she knew that her Tio was noticing the looks and whispers since he’d ducked his head deeper into his ruana's hood.

Dolores pursed her lips and stared at the nearest group, making them flinch and shut up. They knew she wasn’t shy about snitching to her mamá.

They walked straight for the market and Dolores stared down the people in the stalls as Tio Bruno got the eggs they needed, daring them to say anything.

As they started heading back, Dolores narrowed her eyes and cursed internally. One of those bastards had heard that her Tio was in town and he was making a beeline for them.

She relaxed a bit when Mariano reached them first, cheerfully greeting her Tio without any fear and choosing to stand on his other side instead of next to her.

She loved him so much for his kindness.

Her Tio stiffened when they spotted the man heading straight for them and she squeezed his arm in comfort.

Before he could reach them though, he was shoved out of the way of Mirabel and Camilo as the pair shamelessly bullied their way through the crowd towards the three.

"Tio Bruno!" Mirabel yelled happily.

Camilo waved since he had a cookie in his mouth.

"What am I?" Dolores asked in mock offense. "Chopped liver?"

"You're not my favourite Tio is what you are," Mirabel stated cheerfully.

Camilo nodded in agreement and actually offered one of their hard-earned cookies to their Tio.

Blatant favouritism.

Dolores huffed but she didn't really mind. The pair had always adored their Tio Bruno. She and Mariano moved aside so that the two could take their places, Mirabel launching into the tale of finding the coffee-hyped kid.

Honestly, those two had a special kind of magic all their own as they got Tio Bruno to relax and laugh as they continued walking towards Casita.

"Hey!" 

Dolores sighed as the man from earlier yelled in anger.

She glanced back with cold eyes to look at him.

"You're still here?" She asked mildly.

Her words only made him angrier. He knew that she was the reason they got caught and he was still mad about that.

"Who's he?" Camilo asked around a mouthful of biscuit.

"An idiot," Dolores answered without hesitation.

"Dolores…" her Tio murmured anxiously. 

"He is," Dolores stated primly. "Even after mama's warning he still tries the same thing."

The man scowled. "I won't let that she-devil cow me."

Dolores narrowed her eyes and Tio Bruno stiffened, in anger this time.

They didn't have to do anything though and Dolores just settled in to watch the fireworks.

Because you did not insult Pepa Madrigal in front of Camilo or Mirabel.

It was truly the height of stupidity.

Camilo slipped the biscuits into his ruana while Mirabel turned cold eyes on the man.

"What did you just say about my mamá?" She asked lowly.

The man scoffed. "Everyone knows you aren't Pepa's," he snapped. "And you somehow ended up in that woman's grasp after whatever he did," he pointed at their Tio accusingly.

Camilo raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "What our Tio did? Which was… get kidnapped and tortured. By you."

The man froze at his blunt delivery and Camilo cocked his head.

"Dolores hears everything but you'd be surprised what you hear as a shapeshifter," he shrugged, gaze never leaving the man.

"So… because you kidnapped and hurt our Tio," Mirabel tapped her chin thoughtfully. "My family almost disowned me."

Dolores winced. Mirabel had never spoken so candidly about it before, at least where she could hear.

"So mamá taking in Mira is your fault by that logic," Camilo continued in that odd way of finishing each other's thoughts they had.

The man was spluttering. "He's a bad omen! He did something that night!"

"He got kidnapped," Mirabel agreed with a nod. "We already established that. But bad luck? Seriously? Tio is the best good luck charm around."

"We always win when we team up with him," Camilo nodded solemnly.

"He brings visions of doom!" The man yelled.

The pair tilted their heads in sync.

"So you're saying that Tio brings bad luck through visions?" Camilo asked, all innocent curiosity. "And that led to Mira not getting a Gift?"

The man nodded frantically.

Mirabel and Camilo smiled.

Checkmate.

"But Tio never had a vision about me," Mirabel pointed out innocently.

The man froze and the muttering died down around them.

“So if Tio never had a vision about Mira, then how did this ‘bad luck’ affect her getting a Gift?” Camilo asked in faux confusion.

“What if,” Mirabel asked in a loud whisper, “This is all bullshit because he’s got a grudge against Tio Bruno?”

“Oh,” Camilo nodded his head seriously. “Like the idiots that blame Tio for their futures. Even though it’s their own decisions and actions that lead to their futures, and Tio just sees it. He doesn’t cause it.”

“They’re very dumb,” Mirabel sighed, overdone pity in her voice. “I mean, it’s obvious that Tio just sees the future. He can’t affect it. And if some people just, I don’t know, went on a diet or put their pet fish in a bigger bowl, then maybe they could have changed their fate.”

Camilo crossed his arms as he nodded gravely now. “Instead, we have a village full of idiots that yell at Tio about their own futures, can’t deal with a papercut without Tia healing them, have forgotten how to help themselves so they make Luisa do it and are apparently permanently depressed unless Isa is brightening their lives with flowers.”

“It’s very sad,” Mirabel said mournfully.

“Very,” Camilo agreed. “I hope stupidity isn’t contagious.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t stay too long just in case,” Mirabel mused. “Plus, we need to tell mamá all about our exciting visit to the village.”

“Yeah, we saw some random nobody yell at Tio Bruno like a nutcase with very weird logic,” Camilo nodded thoughtfully. "And then he insulted her."

“And he claimed that I’m not her hija,” Mirabel added sadly. “I need a hug from papá after that. I’m very sad. You know how they get when we're sad.”

“And then we realised just how dumb the whole town is,” Camilo sighed.

“At least there are the kids,” Mirabel pointed out. “There’s hope.”

She linked her arm with Camilo’s who grabbed Tio Bruno’s hand. 

“We’ll get Tio back Dolores!” Mirabel called. “You enjoy your date! Don't catch any of the stupid!”

And with that, the pair bolted with their Tio, leaving a stunned silent crowd behind.

Dolores could hear her mamá’s cackling all the way from Casita as they told the story. Of course, thunder followed quickly when they got to certain details and the village had to deal with a really bad storm for the rest of the day.

Couldn’t have happened to a more deserving lot of people.

She smiled serenely at the idiot who started it all as she walked by with Mariano, heading back to Casita as the storm rolled in.

When would they learn?

Don’t fuck with the Madrigal family.

Chapter Text

It was a mix of excitement and nervousness that filled the air the night of Antonio’s Gift Ceremony. There hadn’t been one since Mirabel’s and the village hadn’t been inside Casita since the divide that split the family down the middle.

Things were better now though.

Isabela and Luisa were openly showing their affection for the rest of the family and a break had done wonders for them and Julieta. They had yet to actually return to their jobs and Abuela surprisingly hadn’t mentioned it at all.

Julieta did insist on returning to the kitchen for this though. She said she wanted Antonio’s birthday to be amazing and everyone agreed that she cooked the best food, regardless of her Gift.

Isabela helped decorate with Luisa, both following Mirabel in what to put up since she knew her hermanito the best. Camilo was helping to keep Antonio from getting stressed out from villagers as they entered. If any of them even hinted at Mirabel’s fifth birthday, Casita kicked them out and Camilo told them not to bother trying to get back in.

Pepa was alternating between sunshine and rain as she cried over her baby growing up. Felix was also pretty emotional about it.

They all kept a close eye on the villagers though. Antonio had said it was okay for them all to come, he wanted to have the same kind of birthday as everyone else in the family so they’d reluctantly agreed to have the Gift Ceremony like every other time.

Pepa was more than ready to punch the first person to make a comment about her niños or her hermano. 

Felix was also making sure that no one went into the kitchen to bother Julieta and Mirabel kept her primas too busy to let anyone bother them.

Soon enough the party was in full swing and they were all getting ready for the main event.

Felix drew Pepa away from Antonio gently when she started to drizzle. Camilo mimicked their papá and made them all laugh. Dolores told them when it was time and Antonio latched onto Mirabel’s hand.

There were a few whispers in the crowd when they both started walking toward the stairs but some glares and subtle lightning strikes ensured that no one said anything further.

Mirabel faintly remembered her own Ceremony and how it had gone horribly wrong, everything falling to pieces in a matter of minutes.

And then her mamá and papá picked up the pieces and helped put her together again. Her mellizo and hermana were there for her the entire time, never letting her feel less than the rest of the family.

It was that which gave her the strength to face a glowing golden door again and lead Antonio up to it, stepping aside to stand with her parents. She glanced out into the crowd and zeroed in on her family.

Camilo and Dolores beamed at her and gave her thumbs-ups. Isabela looked like she might cry while Luisa was definitely crying. She met her Tia Julieta’s gaze and the woman gave her a shaky smile which Mirabel returned.

Tio Bruno hung around near his tower, still not comfortable with the villagers.

Her fifth birthday, a day everyone called a disaster, no longer had any hold on her and she eagerly watched as Antonio reached for his doorknob.

She didn’t doubt this would be amazing.

And she was right.

“I knew it would be animals!” Camilo crowed as they stampeded into Antonio’s new room. 

“I said it would be animals first!” Mirabel argued.

The air was filled with excitement and people cheering. Mirabel swept Antonio up into a hug and peppered his face with kisses the moment her mamá let go of him.

“I knew you’d get something amazing,” she whispered as he laughed.

In the excitement, everyone was called over for a family photo.

Her mamá grabbed her hand and dragged her over to where everyone was gathering and moments later, Camilo appeared, dragging Tio Bruno with him who looked exasperated and resigned.

The flash of the camera went off and Mirabel was swept up in the chaos of another family hug. She hugged Isabela and Luisa, Dolores and Camilo. She cuddled Antonio again, got caught between her parents and squeezed the life out of Tio Bruno. She even got a quick hug from her Tia Julieta and Tio Agustin too and she beamed up at them for that.

Then the music started up and Mirabel laughed as Camilo dragged her onto the dancefloor. Their parents followed only moments later. It was well known that their side of the family adored dancing.

Mirabel was no exception and she only left the dancefloor when her lungs were burning and she needed a drink.

She could see Dolores with Mariano being all sappy together in a corner. Antonio was running around with his new animal friends looking thrilled.

Tio Bruno was being dragged around by mamá now which kept the nastier villagers away from him. Mirabel was fully willing to yell at them if they gave him any trouble on Antonio’s special night though.

Okay, if they gave him any trouble any day of the week, she was fully willing to yell at them. She was her mamá’s hija after all.

As she was getting her drink, she heard someone speak behind her and rolled her eyes as she turned around.

“Jealous of your primo?” the teenager sneered. “You’re officially the only Giftless Madrigal now.”

Mirabel gave him a puzzled look. “I don’t have a primo so I don’t know who you’re talking about,” she told him innocently. “But I do have two hermanos who have amazing Gifts. Also, an amazing hermana. You might know her. She’s standing right behind you.”

The guy never learned. Dolores heard every attempt to bully her or Camilo and she always beelined straight for them when it did happen.

She had her arms crossed when he turned to look at her and an unimpressed eyebrow raised.

Camilo peered out from behind her.

“You know, I don’t get it. You guys keep going on about Mira not having a magical Gift and how that makes her less than you. But you don’t have a magical Gift so how the hell do you get to that conclusion?”

“Jealousy,” Dolores deadpanned. “No magic in their family so they want to hurt ours. It’s very sad.”

The guy ran off before Dolores could really get going. Her words could be sharp when she wanted them to be and she never even raised her voice.

“Idiots,” Mirabel and Camilo said in sync.

They wordlessly dropped the subject when their hermanito came running over excitedly and asked if they wanted to see the waterfall.

“Waterfall?!” Mirabel asked in shock. “That’s it, I’m moving in with Antonio.”

Antonio cheered while Dolores and Camilo pouted.

By the time the day party was over and their parents were putting Antonio to bed, Mirabel paused on her way to Dolores’ room and looked up at the candle. 

She wondered if her life would have been very different if she did get a Gift all those years ago, but after a moment she decided it didn’t matter.

She was happy as she was now and she didn’t want anything to change that. The divide in her family was slowly healing and nothing would make her happier than to see them whole again.

And maybe, one day, Abuela would actually look at her again. She hoped so. She missed the Abuela she remembered from before her fifth birthday.

After another glance at the candle, she headed to bed. Dolores was probably waiting to spill all the new gossip that she’d heard at the party. Mirabel was her favourite person to tell because she could keep a secret and she gave the best reactions.

No, she didn’t need a Gift. She never had.

She just needed her family and they were always there for her. What more could she ever want?

Chapter Text

Pepa threw her hands up in the air in complete and utter frustration.

“We went on a camping trip! For a week! How did you break the Miracle in a week?!” she demanded while the rest of her side of the family, plus Bruno, stared at the shattered remains of Casita.

“Was our side of the family literally all the stability left in the house?” Mirabel whispered in mild horror.

“Well, actually, mamá got into a huge argument with Abuela and there were tons of cracks and then everything suddenly exploded,” Isabela admitted, trying to wipe the dust from her face and not really succeeding. Luisa looked shell-shocked next to her.

“Why?” Pepa asked, forcefully pushing her anger down for the moment. "What were you fighting about?"

Julieta crossed her arms and scowled. " Mamá was pushing for Isabela and Luisa to go back to working like before."

Bruno let out a low whistle as Pepa exploded.

"Even after everything?!" She demanded. "You still don't understand?! When did you stop seeing this family as people mamá?! When did you start seeing us as nothing more than tools to make your perfect Encanto?!"

Her mamá stared at her in shock but Pepa wasn't sure if that was from her outburst or the rumbling cloud hanging above her head.

"Wait… the Miracle’s gone," Isabela whispered. "Our Gifts are gone. But you…"

"I can still hear everything," Dolores spoke up softly.

Camilo shrugged and shifted into a copy of his papá and then back again.

"Maybe the Miracle isn't fully gone because mamá's side of the family is okay?" Mirabel suggested. "Maybe it's trying to force you all to take a proper break and make the townspeople actually do their own work?"

Pepa sighed and massaged her temples as her cloud grew a little smaller.

" Ay dios mio ," she muttered to herself. "Priorities, was anyone hurt?"

Her hermana's family shook their heads.

"Good, we'll start with finding someplace to stay for now."

She shook her head as she started walking to the village, muttering to herself.

"One week. One week. "

In the end, they all did find someplace to stay in the village. Pepa's side of the family were welcomed into Felix's parents' home and they dragged Bruno with them. Pepa wasn't letting him out of her sight while they were in the village.

Julieta and her side of the family ended up staying with Agustin's madre and Abuela stayed with a friend.

The village was reeling from the collapse of Casita and how some of the Madrigals had lost their magic. Mirabel wasn't shy about stating her theory to anyone who brought up why Pepa's side still had their Gifts.

It was actually a solid theory considering everyone who lost their magic did tend to give in to Abuela when she pushed hard enough.

Of course, many tried to argue against it. They didn’t want to think that they were wrong in demanding that Luisa, Isabela and Julieta devote every minute of their lives to making the villagers’ lives easier. That just wouldn’t do.

But the evidence was pretty hard to ignore.

Pepa still displayed her emotions through the weather, shooing clouds away with vague annoyance or blasting the Encanto with sunlight when her niños did something that made her smile.

Dolores still shot knowing glances at people who muttered about her family, generally shaming them into silence with a simple look.

Camilo still shifted forms, telling stories and entertaining for the fun of it before wandering off when he decided he was done, refusing when the parents tried to get him to babysit.

Bruno still wasn’t doing visions for the village but they knew he still had his Gift as well, having seen him pull Mirabel out of the way of a falling beam once.

Some were surprised something good came from his vision. Most blamed the falling beam on him.

They had a nasty storm that day.

In the end though, they weren’t able to deny that the Miracle itself didn’t agree with how half of the family had been using their Gifts.

“Well, duh,” Mirabel gave them a baffled look when they finally admitted this. “It’s from Abuelo . What kind of Abuelo would be happy if his family was used as slaves?”

She’d wandered off to hang out with Camilo after that, leaving the villagers flabbergasted by her bluntness.

“Do you think that things are going to change?” Mirabel asked her mellizo as they watched the reconstruction of Casita from a nearby roof. They were on their lunch break, something that their mamá was strictly enforcing, chasing Isabela and Luisa off for their own breaks when they put it off too long.

Their Tia had apparently reached her limit and flat out refused to cook for anyone outside the family until they started treating her hijas better so she didn't need to be chased. It was a surreal experience to watch their gentle Tia tear into the more stubborn of the townspeople when they tried to demand something.

“I think so,” Camilo answered after swallowing his current mouthful. “ Tia Julieta is completely done with everyone. She’s been spending more time with mamá and Tio Bruno too. I think they’re helping her figure out what her boundaries should be.”

“I think Isa’s following in her footsteps. She slapped some guy yesterday when he made a comment about Luisa not being good for anything now.”

“A slap? That was a punch Mira.”

They snickered over the memory of the guy flat on his back, cradling his jaw and staring up at the fuming formerly perfect princess of the Madrigal family.

Luisa had to hold her back from pouncing on the idiot.

“ Mamá was so proud,” Mirabel remembered in amusement. 

“Pretty sure Tia was too,” Camilo pointed out, still snickering.

There was a moment of silence as they got their amusement under control.

“Do you think Abuela will finally change?” Mirabel asked softly.

“I don’t know,” Camilo admitted, just as quietly. “ Mamá won’t talk to her. And Tia won’t either. Isabela is avoiding her and Luisa gets so flustered when she’s around that she makes up an excuse to be somewhere else.”

Mirabel sighed, looking at the slow rebuilding of their house. Mariano had given the entire town a tongue lashing about helping considering all the Madrigals had done for them over the years. Dolores had been swooning the entire time. There were definitely wedding bells in the near future. They didn't need their Tio's Gift to know that.

“We’ll just have to wait and see…” Mirabel mused.

She had a feeling that there were going to be some tough conversations happening in the near future. Certain things had been ignored for way too long.

Camilo reached over and squeezed her hand, understanding where her mind had gone.

No matter what happened, those talks were probably going to hurt. She was grateful for his support.

Looking over at where her Tia was fussing over her primas, she knew this had been left ten years too long.

Chapter Text

Mirabel and Camilo had been asked to call everyone for supper. The family was still trying to eat at least one meal all together and their mamá had offered to cook so that Tia Julieta got a break.

The only person they couldn’t find was their Tia though, so they’d split up to look for her.

Mirabel was the one to find her eventually, sitting on the hill next to the remains of Casita and looking at the town.

“Tia?” she called as she approached.

Her Tia startled out of her thoughts and looked up in surprise.

“Lo siento,” Mirabel apologised sheepishly. “I didn’t mean to give you a fright. Just came to tell you that dinner’s ready.”

“Right,” Tia Julieta looked away for a moment before seeming to steel herself. “Can I talk to you for a bit Mirabel?”

The teenager looked up at her in surprise. Her Tia didn’t exactly avoid her, but she didn’t go out of her way to talk to her either.

“Uh, sure.”

She sat down next to her Tia and stared out at the village, waiting for her to gather her thoughts.

“I wanted to apologise,” her Tia murmured.

Mirabel didn’t say anything. She had a pretty good idea of what this was about and she wasn’t sure if she was ready to face it.

“I failed you very badly Mirabel.”

The teen glanced at her Tia out of the corner of her eye to find her staring ahead with a sad expression.

“I don’t remember much from when I was little,” she admitted quietly. 

“But you know what I’m talking about.”

“...sí,” she sighed. “Everyone in the house knows about it. Except for Antonio. We just don’t talk about it.”

She turned to look at her Tia to find the woman watching her with a wistful expression.

“I never hated you Tia,” she felt the need to say and watched some of the pain fade from her Tia’s eyes. “I was hurt and confused for a really long time. Mamá helped me a lot. She always told me that you still loved me. You were just… confused. And making some really dumb decisions.”

Tia Julieta gave a watery-sounding laugh. “That sounds like Pepa.”

“I understand why you did what you did. It’s hard to say no to Abuela. Mamá just makes it look really easy. I understand. But it hurt. Thank you for apologising but… you know it won’t change anything right?” she asked nervously.

Her Tia gave a sad, wistful smile.

“I know,” she whispered, reaching out and tucking one of Mirabel’s curls under the orange bow she was wearing today. “Some mistakes can’t be fixed.” She let her hand linger on Mirabel’s cheek for a moment before sighing and pulling it back. “I was hoping I could work on being a better Tia to you.”

Mirabel gave her a tentative smile. “I’d like that Tia.”

The woman returned her smile with a shaky one of her own before turning to look at the town again.

“I’m glad that Pepa took you in,” she whispered. “She was a better mamá to you than I could have ever been.”

Mirabel reached out hesitantly and squeezed her hand. She’d never been very close to her Tia for obvious reasons. But she didn’t like to see her look so small and sad.

“You’re a good mamá to Luisa and Isabela. You’ve just got to get better at saying no,” she said gently.

Her Tia quirked a smile. “You sound so much like your mamá.”

She took a deep breath and turned to fully face Mirabel, cupping her cheeks in both hands. “Mirabel,” she said, voice serious. “I just want you to know. I’ve always loved you. Even if I was very bad at showing that. Okay?”

Mirabel smiled shakily while an old, scarred wound in her heart finally healed over.

“Okay.”

Her Tia leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Mirabel closed her eyes and soaked up the affection for a moment before her Tia leaned back again.

She gazed wistfully at Mirabel for a moment longer before dropping her hands.

“I should get back before your mamá comes out to drag us both back,” she joked and Mirabel snickered. She could definitely see that happening.

They both stood up and dusted themselves off before heading down to the Guzman’s where they were having the big family meals.

Just before reaching the house, Mirabel caught a flash of yellow out of the corner of her eyes and told her Tia that she’d catch up.

Tia Julieta gave her a smile that was less wistful now and more knowing as she nodded and continued on into the house.

Camilo sidled up to Mirabel, knocking their shoulders together lightly.

“You okay?”

Mirabel stared up at the stars just starting to peek out in the sky.

“...sí. I think I am.” She leaned against her mellizo’s side and he didn’t move, letting her get the comfort she needed. “I think we both needed that.”

He hummed.

“She apologised.”

“Good.”

“I told her that I’m glad she did but it didn’t really change anything.”

“And?”

“She said some mistakes couldn’t be fixed. She had this really sad smile the whole time. I think she needed the talk more than I did actually. I’m not sure if she forgives herself for what she did.”

“And you?”

“You know I never held it against her. I was just…”

“Sad?”

“Yeah.”

She dropped her head to rest on his shoulder, feeling tired. He snuck an arm around her waist and pulled her into a side hug.

“I should talk to Tio as well,” Mirabel sighed.

“Yeah, but not tonight.”

“No?”

“You’re tired. And we’re late for supper.”

She hummed, letting her eyes slip closed for a moment and soaking up the comfort from her hermano.

She didn’t need to open her eyes to identify the owner of the light footsteps approaching them a moment later. A hand reached up to brush along her temple and Mirabel sighed.

“You alright?” Dolores asked gently.

“Sí,” Mirabel assured, opening her eyes to find her hermana gazing at her in concern. “I’m just… sad. I can’t help but wonder. What would have been different? But at the same time… I can’t imagine anything being different. I don’t want anything to be different. I’m happy. And I’m sad that that makes her sad.”

Dolores hummed and pulled her into a hug. Camilo wasn’t willing to let go yet so he got dragged into it too.

“You’re a good person,” Dolores murmured.

“She’s not bad,” Mirabel whispered. “But some mistakes are too big.”

“Consequences don’t go away after an apology,” Camilo said quietly.

“She knows that,” Dolores pulled back enough to look Mirabel in the eyes. “She’s not going to fight it. She’d going to try and be the best Tia she can be.”

“We’re still family,” Mirabel said, letting herself slump between her hermana and mellizo. 

“Sí,” Dolores agreed. “But it’s okay to cry. Even if you’re happy. You still lost something you shouldn’t have all those years ago.”

“I cried enough back then,” Mirabel argued, even as her vision blurred.

“Doesn’t matter,” Camilo muttered. “Grief doesn’t work that way.”

She couldn’t argue anymore as a sob caught in her throat and she started crying in the safe embrace of her siblings.

She was happy with her family. She had amazing parents. A hermana she looked up to. A mellizo who she adored. A hermanito who she loved to bits.

She had primas who she was close to.

She was happy.

But she’d still lost something ten years ago, something she shouldn’t have. And the five-year-old in her still cried over an abandonment that should never have happened.

She knew she’d repair her relationship with her Tia and Tio over time. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t allowed to cry now.

A distance away, Julieta sobbed in her husband’s arms for the same reason. The talk had been bittersweet and it had hurt. Old wounds could start to heal now though and they could move forward and make things better.

Never perfect. But better.

Chapter Text

Mirabel let her Tio pull her into a hug, returning the embrace while he shook slightly. She felt wrung out from all the emotional talks she’d been having lately.

He pulled back and gave her a watery smile.

“Gracias Mirabel,” he murmured. 

He pressed a kiss into her curly hair before reluctantly letting go.

“You’ve grown into an amazing woman,” he whispered.

The talk with her Tio Agustin had hurt just as much as the one with her Tia. But it was just as necessary.

He let out a shaky breath and squeezed her hand before leaving. She slumped against the wall behind her and let out a sigh.

It was like reopening an infected wound. It needed to be disinfected so that it could heal properly.

Still hurt like hell though.

“Mira?” she heard and she looked up to find her mamá watching her in concern. “Are you alright?” 

Mirabel gave her a weak smile. “Sí, just… talked to Tio Agustin.” 

Her mamá’s eyes softened and she came closer.

“How’d it go?” she asked gently.

“It hurt,” she answered honestly. “But it needed to happen. Like with Tia.”

Her mamá pulled her into a hug and Mirabel melted into the comforting embrace.

“My brave hija,” she murmured. “You know you don’t have to take this burden on by yourself right?”

Mirabel nodded, clinging to the hug. “I know. But I needed those talks too,” she whispered. “It helped.”

Her mamá nudged her chin up and studied her face for a moment before nodding.

“Alright. But don’t push yourself too hard mija.”

Mirabel gave her a smile and nodded. “I won’t mamá.”

“Alright. But with that out of the way, I think we’re overdue for some family time.”

She took Mirabel’s hand and started drawing her away.

“Family time?” Mirabel asked in surprise.

“Sí, we’re going on a picnic,” her mamá told her. “Your papá has already packed the basket. We just needed to find you.”

Mirabel grinned. A family picnic sounded nice.

As they turned the corner, they found her papá waiting with Camilo and Dolores.

“Come on!” Camilo called. “We’ve been waiting ages! I’m starving!”

Mirabel laughed while her papá gave Camilo an exasperated look. Dolores rolled her eyes and her mamá shook her head fondly.

She’d be okay. No matter how many difficult conversations she had to have.

Progress on rebuilding Casita was going well with the village offering a surprising amount of help. Mariano had had some sharp words for anyone who complained about the Madrigals needing help.

It was good to see change happening though.

Mirabel's side of the family was still fiercely protective and more than willing to stand up to anyone who had an unkind word to say about the family.

Tia Julieta was slowly gaining the confidence to do the same, having stood between her hijas and the townspeople a few times now with Tio Agustin backing her.

There was only one main problem in the Madrigal household.

Abuela.

The relationships with her were all completely strained.

Her mamá and Camilo were explosively angry with her. Her papá and Dolores were coldly furious.

Tia Julieta couldn't be in the same room as her and Tio Agustin could barely look at her.

Isabela was bitter and angry over the years she'd wasted being 'perfect'. Luisa was wary and a bit scared of speaking with her.

Tio Bruno was still avoiding her and Mirabel…

Well, it was complicated. She'd always struggled to hold a grudge.

She'd never really hated her Abuela. She'd been hurt, and she'd longed for any kind of affection from the woman.

But she hadn't hated her.

She knew that the woman had been doing what she thought was right in her own way. And even though it was wrong, Mirabel hadn't doubted that Abuela loved the family.

She just… never put them first.

Not the way her mamá did. And Tio Bruno did.

Not the way Tia Julieta wanted to.

Her hermano and hermana would forever put her before the town or anyone else and that's what they could never agree with Abuela on. Because she would always choose the town first. It made her a brilliant leader.

But a terrible Abuela.

"You look like you're thinking hard," the voice of her prima broke Mirabel out of her thoughts and she gave Isabela a smile as she sat next to her.

"Just thinking about… stuff," Mirabel shrugged.

"Should I be concerned?" Isabela teased. "When you and Cami start thinking, a prank is usually on the horizon.

Mirabel smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Her smile dropped after a moment and she sighed.

"Just thinking about… Abuela. And her relationships with everyone. They're not very… good."

Isabela huffed and looked down at her dress which was dusty and wrinkled. She visibly refrained from smoothing it out.

"It's not your job to fix it. And I don't know if it can be fixed anyway," her prima admitted.

"I know," Mirabel sighed. "Your relationships with Abuela are your business. I wouldn't get involved unless it was serious. But you guys have all the right to be mad at her. It's just… it's me."

"You?" Isabela asked with a raised eyebrow.

Mirabel gave her a slight smile.

"I don't like the strain between me and Abuela. I've never liked it. I just… want to be her nieta."

"Mira…"

"I know it wasn't my fault. I know she made mistakes. But I'm not the type of person that likes this… tension. I just want to get rid of it."

Isabela watched her for a moment before sighing.

"You're going to talk to her."

Mirabel nodded, even though it wasn't really a question.

"I need to. I need… closure. I know it's going to hurt. And it might not fix anything. But… I need to do it for me. If I don't… I'll always wonder if I could have fixed it. I don't want what ifs hanging over me."

Isabela sighed again before she pulled Mirabel into a hug.

"You've always been too good for us Mira," she whispered.

Mirabel didn't agree, but she returned the hug.

She'd need all the cuddly comfort she could get before the upcoming conversation.

Chapter Text

It took a while, but eventually Mirabel managed to get a moment alone with her Abuela. It was something that hadn’t happened in ten years. 

She took a deep breath and braced herself for the conversation.

“Abuela? Can I talk to you?”

The woman startled, clearly not having known that Mirabel was there. She looked at the fifteen-year-old warily before nodding.

They ended up at the kitchen table with a cup of tea each.

Mirabel sighed softly. “I thought it might be a good thing if we got some things out in the open.”

She gave the woman a tremulous smile. 

She hated the tension in the room.

After a long moment, her Abuela looked down.

“I never meant to tear the family apart,” she murmured. 

“I know,” Mirabel nodded.

She’d never doubted that. Abuela had just taken a really, really bad approach to it.

“I’ve made so many mistakes and they started with you.”

Mirabel thought for a moment, finger running around the rim of her cup.

“Not really. I think it started with Tio Bruno.”

Her Abuela looked up in confusion.

“He was the first black sheep of the family,” she shrugged. “That set a precedent. Pushed to the side, not… enough.”

Abuela flinched.

“I was the second black sheep and you already knew how… troublesome one was. So you tried to get rid of me before I could cause trouble.”

Her Abuela couldn’t look at her.

Mirabel felt almost detached as she spoke.

“And then you thought I was trouble when mamá rebelled. When she stopped listened and papá backed her up. You thought you were right to be worried since the family wasn’t united anymore. And then they took Tio Bruno into our side of the family more firmly. And suddenly both troublemakers were in the same place all the time. But mamá was too much of a barrier to do anything anymore. So you tried to ignore it. Tried to keep the black sheep away from the side that was still listening to you.”

She looked thoughtful for a moment.

“You thought that would fix the family. Or keep half from making the ‘wrong decision’.” She huffed a laugh. “And then things went downhill when that side started to crack under the pressure. Isabela couldn’t handle being perfect anymore. Luisa couldn’t handle the expectations and demands anymore. And Tia Julieta couldn’t handle being the perfect hija anymore. So they,” she waved her hand in the air as she looked for the right word. “Imploded.”

Abuela winced at that again.

“And then they weren’t listening anymore. Just like us. They were rebelling. You were losing control. The control you thought you needed to keep the Encanto safe. So when the ‘bad influences’ left for a bit, you tried to regain that control. And everything exploded this time. And the Miracle had enough and forced everyone to take a break. Those that needed it anyway.”

“Mirabel-”

“The magic will return,” she said, knowing that for certain somehow. “The Gifts and Casita will return. But this is… a timeout for us. An enforced rest. And one where the villagers have no choice but to see it. So they have to do some serious self-reflection as well.”

She sipped at her tea. 

“I think things will be better after this. But it won’t be the same. It can’t be.”

Silence descended on them for a long moment before Abuela sighed.

“I know.”

Mirabel stayed quiet this time.

“I’ve made many mistakes and I didn’t want to-I refused to see how much it was hurting the family. You’re right, it started long before your Gift Ceremony.” She stared into her tea. “I hurt my niños. I pushed Camilo and Dolores aside. I drove Luisa and Isabela to a breakdown. I hurt Julieta… so much. I cost her her hija.”

Mirabel closed her eyes. “You cost me my parents.”

“...I know. I’m sorry.”

Mirabel gave her a pained smile. “That doesn’t erase what happened.”

“I know.”

“Some things can’t heal completely,” Mirabel murmured. “But they can get better. I don’t want this tension between us forever Abuela. I don’t think we can ever be close again. But we can be family again.”

Her Abuela was blinking tears out of her eyes.

“I’d like the chance to make up for what I’ve done to you, Mirabel.”

Mirabel hesitated before reaching over to take her hand.

“I’d like it if we could try,” she said softly. “To salvage something between us.”

Abuela gave her a shaky smile that she returned.

They sat there in silence for another moment before Mirabel finished her tea and washed her cup. That awful tension from before was gone though.

And Mirabel felt a little more at peace than before.

Pepa found her niños in a cuddle pile together. She chuckled as she leaned against the doorframe.

“What are you three up to?” she asked.

“Cuddle piles solve everything,” Mirabel said cheerfully.

Dolores hummed in agreement and Camilo squirmed so that he was more firmly situated in the pile.

“I talked to Abuela,” Mirabel admitted.

Pepa tensed up but forced herself to keep the clouds away. “Oh?”

Mirabel nodded, expression melancholy.

“How’d it go?”

“...okay. I feel better. But also sad. I think I had to accept that we’ll never be close again.” She looked up at Pepa. “It was nice to hear her apologise. But it wasn’t enough in the end.”

“No,” Pepa sighed. “It never is.”

But she’d known it was something Mirabel had to do. While Pepa was perfectly happy to avoid her mamá for as long as possible, Mirabel wasn’t like that.

She needed the closure. Pepa couldn’t be upset at her for seeking it out.

“I’m glad you got what you needed,” she said eventually.

She gave Pepa a small smile.

“I’m not talking to her,” Camilo mumbled into a pillow. 

“Me either,” Dolores huffed.

Pepa snorted while Mirabel rolled her eyes.

Those two inherited her ability to hold a grudge for sure. Mirabel was more like Felix in that regard.

More willing to forgive.

But never willing to forget.

Chapter Text

It was the golden glow that drew everyone out and up the hill to where Casita once stood. Those that had been alive when the living house first appeared recognised the sight, remembering that night so long ago.

Everyone else watched in amazement as golden magic turned into their familiar home and Casita happily waved to them.

“Told you everyone just needed a break!” Mirabel said loudly, not willing to miss the opportunity to give a well-deserved ‘I told you so’ to the villagers.

“Huh, guess talking to family does actually do something. Even if that talking is yelling,” Camilo mused

Which is what Pepa, Camilo and Dolores each did when they ran into Abuela. They’d vented out their feelings before storming off, somehow feeling lighter even through their anger and hurt. 

Bruno’s talk with his mamá had been sad and painful, but he got the closure he needed. And Abuela might have found some of her own in learning how she’d wronged her hijo so many times.

Julieta and Abuela were tentatively rebuilding their relationship, although Julieta had been clear that she wouldn’t compromise on her hijas again.

Or her sobrinos.

Overall, the family was still a mess. But as Bruno put it, they were a healing mess.

And so Casita and the magic healed as well.

“You did so well mi mariposa.”

Mirabel’s head whipped around to find a shocking sight. The rest of the family and town gasped to find the spirit of Pedro Madrigal leaning in Casita’s open doorway. He smiled gently at them, gaze focused on Mirabel as the house finished magically rebuilding itself.

“You will be an amazing Candle Holder when you’re older,” he said, still looking directly at Mirabel.

Shocked whispering swept through the crowd as the implications of that statement sank in. Mirabel couldn’t look away from her Abuelo though.

“You were never a mistake mi mariposa,” he said softly and Mirabel’s breathing hitched.

Despite everything, that was a fear that had lingered deep in her heart.

“You are the future Mirabel. And the future looks bright.”

He threw a cheeky wink at Bruno before turning around to walk into the house. He paused and looked over his shoulder to study his shocked family.

His eyes turned sad when he looked at Abuela before they moved on to the rest of them.

“I love you all. And all I ever wanted for you was to be happy. The village can go jump off a bridge. I didn’t sacrifice my life for them. I’m not a saint.”

And with that, he disappeared, leaving them all gaping.

“Did that just happen?” Mirabel asked weakly.

“Did I just have a fever dream?” Camilo wondered.

Dolores just squeaked.

Isabela wavered on her feet as it looked like she came close to actually fainting. 

Luisa sat down heavily, staring blankly ahead.

Julieta burst into tears, clinging to Bruno and Pepa as they cried as well, clouds gathering above them.

Abuela stared in complete shock at the empty doorway.

“Was that Abuelo?” Antonio asked innocently, looking up at his papá who seemed to be the only family member still functioning.

Agustin wasn’t any better than his hijas.

Felix nodded, picking Antonio up.

“I see where your mamá gets it from,” he decided. He looked up at the rest of the family. “Ay! Let’s get inside before Casita drags us in herself.”

Gradually, with some not-so-subtle encouragement from their house, they got the family inside. The front door closed after them firmly, cutting off any uninvited guests.

Multiple doors glowed up on the second floor and Casita’s tiles rippled in the courtyard in excitement.

“It’s good to be home,” Camilo said, deciding to have his freakout over Abuelo later.

“Let’s hope no one breaks it this time,” Mirabel agreed.

“I think there’s an extra door,” Antonio said loudly.

Everyone looked up and counted.

“Well, it’s about time!” Pepa shouted. “Ten years overdue!”

Mirabel decided that was a great time to sit down since it was pretty obvious who that door was for.

Candle Holder.

Not a mistake.

Her own door.

Her own room.

“Abuelo is a troll,” Camilo decided. “Dumps a huge plot twist out of nowhere and then disappears while everyone freaks out.”

Casita rippled her tiles in amusement and probably agreement.

“Pepa got it from somewhere,” Bruno pointed out and Pepa’s head snapped around as she glared at him.

“Excuse me? Who’s the little shit who dumped random and important tidbits of information before vanishing back into your tower?!” she demanded.

“I didn’t do anything like that,” Bruno defended.

“Sorry about your cat Pepa. It’s a shame about your dress hermana. Did Juli get the arepas out of the oven in time?” she quoted and Bruno pointedly didn’t meet her eyes.

“You have no proof. And your cat got covered in paint. It didn't die or anything. You overreacted.”

“You got it all from papá.” Pepa hissed.

Mirabel sighed as a sibling fight broke out between her mamá and Tio. Tia Julieta was still crying a bit and everyone else was in varying states of shock. 

“Can I take a nap?” she wondered.

Camilo subtly nudged her and gestured up at his room with a tilt of his head. Mirabel grinned at him.

Best mellizo.

They snuck off from the chaos with Casita’s help and slipped into Camilo’s room. Mirabel relaxed as soon as she stepped into the familiar space. She’d grown used to the fluid nature of his room and didn’t hesitate to join Camilo in dropping into the comfortable beanbag chairs that appeared.

“So… that was a lot,” Mirabel said after staring at the ceiling as it changed colours for a bit.

“Yup,” Camilo agreed. “I’ll have my freakout later.”

“I’m too emotionally tired for a proper freakout,” Mirabel complained.

“Freakout? You’re going to have a full-on panic attack Mira,” he scoffed. 

“He said Candle Holder! What does that even mean?!”

“That you’ll get Abuela’s job. And you’ll do a much better job at it.” He slouched down further in his seat and yawned. “I thought we came here to nap. You panic more if you’re tired.”

Mirabel rolled her eyes but followed his example. He was right after all. There was no point in stressing over this all now.

They’d figure it out later, together, as a family. Like they did everything.

The pair of mellizos were asleep only moments later and Casita hummed in smug satisfaction. Things were finally better for her little family.

Chapter Text

Mirabel smiled softly to herself as she picked up the candle. She could hardly believe that Dolores’ hijo was already turning five. The first niño of the next generation to get their Gift.

Time really seemed to have flown by.

She smoothed down her yellow skirt and fixed her orange bow before stepping out of her room. The courtyard was filled with her excited family.

Her mamá was crying on one side, under her own little cloud while her papá held an umbrella up for her and comforted her. Her Tia was still setting the tables with food and chasing Tio Agustin away so he didn’t knock anything over.

Tio Bruno had resigned himself to being a jungle-gym to Camilo’s two-year-old twin girls while her hermano only cackled at the sight, his wife watching in exasperation.

Isabela was helping with the last of the decorations while Luisa chased after her four-year-old hija. The little girl definitely got her energy from her papá.

Antonio, now fourteen, was riding around the courtyard on Parce. He was just as excited as everyone else since he’d never seen a ceremony except for his own.

Abuela sat off to the side, watching all the activity with a smile.

And then were was little Carlos, named after their Abuelo on papá’s side. Dolores had tears in her eyes as she fussed over her hijo and Mariano was beaming proudly like he had been all week.

Mirabel smiled at the sight of her sobrino, all dressed up and ready for his ceremony. He’d been excited for this for weeks.

She caught Camilo’s eye first and he grinned up at her as she headed for the stairs, candle in hand.

She still remembered the shock of finding the magical candle in her bedroom the morning of her twentieth birthday. She’d spent a good ten minutes freaking out over it before her mamá came to fetch her for breakfast.

She’d been shocked at the sight too before smiling, tears appearing in her eyes.

Ay mija, you’re growing up. You’ve finally grown into your Gift.”

And in that moment, it just clicked. Her mamá had swept her up in a hug and the sight of the candle sitting in her window didn’t scare her anymore.

The family had reacted with both shock and excitement to the news. Camilo and Dolores had hugged her tightly while Antonio ran around them in circles. Isabela and Luisa had teared up over her growing up.

Surprisingly, her papá had been the one to start crying over his ‘little girl’ growing up.

Abuela hadn’t seemed to know what to think but in the end, she’d just given Mirabel a small, wistful smile and nodded her head.

Mirabel had taken care of the candle over the last four years, watching the golden flame dance every night before falling asleep.

It felt like something she’d been missing for years had finally arrived and she felt whole in a way she never had before.

She dreamt of golden flames and a golden spirit often now and she knew one day those vague dreams would grow more clear and she’d learn about the other abilities of being the candle holder.

For now though, her job was to guide the next Madrigal into receiving his Gift. Everyone smiled at her when they spotted her heading down the stairs. Carlos grinned and ran up to her.

“Tia Mira!” he called excitedly. “Is it time yet? Is it?!”

She laughed and reached down to ruffle his hair.

“Sí,” she told him fondly. “It’s time.”

He cheered and ran back to his parents. The candle warmed in her hands and she looked up at where the newest door was glowing. Casita had expanded as the family did and so had the nursery with four niños in residence.

The trend of more girls than boys had continued, much to Carlos’ dismay.

Everyone rushed to their places as Dolores and Mariano led Carlos to the foot of the stairs that had shifted to lead up to the glowing door.

There were no more massive parties for the entire village. This was a private family event and it was better this way.

Mirabel climbed up to the door first before turning and nodding at them. The candle almost seemed to vibrate with energy, like it was just as excited as they were.

Carlos seemed to grow a little nervous as he climbed the stairs with his parents, eyes on the door. Mirabel kneeled down next to him as Dolores and Mariano stepped to the side.

He stared up at her with wide eyes and she couldn’t help but remember another little boy staring up at her with trepidation and a little fear.

It seemed so long ago.

“You got this,” she whispered, getting a small smile from him.

Mirabel held the candle out and Carlos hesitantly reached out to touch it, looking awed as it shone brighter with magic.

“What’s the most important thing to a Madrigal?” she asked quietly.

“Family,” Carlos answered immediately and Mirabel smiled.

“And that’s always the biggest Gift. Never forget that okay?” 

He nodded seriously and then turned to the door. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward and reached for the doorknob.

The candle burned brightly and Mirabel smiled as the door shone like the sun.

Her family had fallen apart once. But it had come together stronger than ever. They’d learned from their mistakes and the next generation wouldn’t suffer the same way they did. 

She heard Carlos laugh and looked up as Casita celebrated the first Gift of the next generation.

They’d be just fine.