Chapter Text
Bruno was pacing in the living room. Felix was pacing in the kitchen. Augustin was sitting at the bottom of the stairs, fidgeting with his hands, wide worried eyes fixed on nothing in particular.
Felix poked his head into the living room. "Any word yet?"
Bruno shook his head, chewing on his nails. "I know this takes a long time, but jeez," he muttered, casting his eyes towards Augustin on the stairs. "Shouldn't we have heard something by now?"
Felix stepped fully into the room, watching his Bruno pace for a moment before joining his other brother in law on the stairs. "How're you feeling, eh?" he prodded, nudging his shoulder.
Augustin shook his head. "I don't know, I know she'll probably be okay," he began, tugging at the cuffs of his sleeves. "She's got plenty of her tea up there, if something happens she can just take a sip and she'll be fine, but -" He broke off and rested his chin in his hands, biting his lip.
Bruno swerved from his path to join them, leaning against the wall. "It's normal to feel nervous," he assured him, although his voice betrayed more worry than either of theirs. "It's - y'know, it's a big thing." He knocked quickly on the railing. "Knock, knock, knock," he muttered, "knock on wood."
The others had long since gotten used to his stress-induced tics, and so took little notice. He had already littered the kitchen floor with salt and sugar before Felix had pointed out that Abuela would be upset about the waste. Then he had felt guilty and swept it up, more out of a desire for something to do than anything.
He knocked on the railing again.
Felix elbowed Augustin with a teasing grin. "You're the first new father of family Madrigal, cuñado," he said.
Augustin allowed a small smile, laughing nervously. "Yeah," he murmured. "I guess I am."
The three of them fell silent for a moment. Bruno made another loop around the room before leaning against the wall against with a heavy sigh.
From upstairs, a baby cried.
All of them snapped to attention, gazes turning in amazement and apprehension to the second level. Bruno and Felix shared a thrilled, shocked smile.
The door to Julieta's room opened and Alma stepped out. "It's a girl!" she called gleefully.
"Haha!" Felix cried, pulling Augustin into a tight embrace as they scrambled to their feet. "Congratulations!"
Bruno patted him on the shoulder, grinning in relief. He couldn't find the words, but Augustin spared a second to give him a grateful look before practically sprinting up the stairs.
Bruno and Felix held back a moment before following.
"We're Tios now," Bruno murmured with a smile. He elbowed Felix. "And you'll be a dad in no time."
Felix laughed as they round the corner to the second level. "Let's just enjoy this for now."
Julieta looked tired, but overjoyed, cradling the tiny bundle in her arms. A heavily pregnant Pepa sat in the rocking chair next to her bed, a hand on her arm. Felix moved to stand by her side, craning to see the new addition to the family. Alma and Augustin stood on Julieta's other side, smiling.
Bruno edged nervously into the room. He was unsure at first of where to stand, eventually settling on standing a little way behind Felix and Pepa. He couldn't quite see the baby, but he waited.
"Isabela," Julieta said with a smile, handing her to Augustin, "meet your Papa."
Augustin almost melted at the sight of her. He just held her in silence for a few minutes, smiling, eyes full of tears, lightly stroking her head.
"May I?" Alma asked, holding out her hands.
Augustin nodded, passing over the bundle of blankets. "Here you go, Abuela."
She gasped a little at the name, eyes welling with tears. "Oh, she's perfect," she murmured, smiling.
Little Isabela was passed around the room, first to Pepa, then to Felix.
Pepa sighed heavily. "Oh, I'm sorry," she sighed, standing shakily from the chair. "I need to lie down."
Felix nodded and handed Isabela back to Augustin. "Yes, yes, and Julieta should rest."
Bruno's heart sank as everyone filed out of the room. He hadn't even gotten to see her yet. But he nodded and began to follow Abuela out.
"Bruno!" Julieta called. "Don't you want to meet her?"
He turned back in surprise. "Oh, uh." He wrung his hands and shrugged. "I don't know if I should, uh, hold her, I don't want to drop her, or -"
"C'mere," his sister insisted. He hesitantly went to her bedside, still fidgeting with his hands. "You can sit there," she indicated the now-empty rocking chair. "And I know you won't drop her."
Bruno sat slowly. Augustin walked around the bed and handed him the tiny bundle. "Here, just support her head," he said quietly.
Bruno finally looked.
Her eyes were so big, taking up most of her face, staring out at him with wonder. Her head was wreathed with thick dark hair, her little mouth moved and babbled with words she couldn't yet say.
Bruno felt his eyes filling with tears. "Oh, Julieta," he whispered. "She's beautiful."
The corner of her blanket came lose, freeing one tiny hand. She held it up towards him, cooing curiously.
Bruno chuckled, taking her hand gently. "Nice to meet you too," he said quietly, shaking her hand. "I'm your Tio Bruno."
She blinked, tilting her head to the side. She began squirming around, pulling her hand out of his, and took a deep breath.
Then she started screaming.
"Oh, no," Bruno gasped, eyes widening in panic, "oh no, what did I do?"
"Nothing, nothing," Julieta assured him hurriedly, reaching out her hands as he passed her back. "She's probably just tired, you didn't do anything."
He nodded, standing quickly. "Right, right," he mumbled, "I - I'll let you rest." He hurried from the room and shut the door softly behind him, wiping his hands on the front of his poncho.
"Leave it to Bruno," he muttered as he opened his door, retreating to his own room once again.
The news of little Isabela traveled quickly in the small town. Everyone was dropping by with gifts and food and congratulations within the day. The next few weeks were a confusing adjustment, everyone trying to get used to having a baby in the Casita, but by the end of the month, everyone was getting comfortable with the idea.
Which was just as well, because five weeks after Isabela was born, the three men were once again at their stations in the downstairs of the house. Augustin still sat on the stairs, bouncing Isabela on his knee. Felix wasn't pacing as much as he was standing in one place for a few minutes, staring off into space, before moving to another. Bruno was circling the living room as before, threatening to wear a path in the tile. He was muttering and knocking on the coffee table, the mantle, anything within reach.
Felix turned away from the window, where a storm raged outside. "I wonder if it'll be a boy or a girl," he mused for the fourth time.
Augustin looked up. "What's the girl name you chose again?"
"Dolores," Felix smiled fondly. "After my Mama."
Bruno patted his shoulder as he passed. "I know she'd be proud of you," he murmured with what he hoped was an encouraging smile.
Felix sniffled, wiping his eyes. Bruno stopped his pacing to stand with him.
"Sorry, sorry," Felix mumbled. "It's just a lot."
Bruno rubbed his back reassuringly. Augustin stood to join them. The clouds faded to reveal a crystal blue sky, sun shining brightly.
They all jumped at the sound of a door opening upstairs.
"Felix!" Abuela called happily. "Come meet your daughter!"
His eyes widened, a grin spreading across his face. "It's a girl!" he cried gleefully. He ran his hands through his hair, laughing. "Oh, it's a girl, I knew it!"
"Go meet her, then!" Bruno cried, laughing.
"Oh, right, right," he gasped, hurrying upstairs.
Augustin grinned at his daughter. "You hear that, Isa?" he murmured. "You're going to have a cousin to play with!"
Bruno smiled at the two of them as they made their way upstairs. "I bet they'll be best friends."
"I sure hope so," Augustin smiled.
Felix was already holding Dolores when they walked in. He was sitting in the chair next to the bed, openly crying, but smiling. "Hey, Mija," he said softly.
She was passed around the room, much like Isabela was, before finally landing with Bruno, once again at the end of the queue.
He smiled at her. Her big dark eyes were full of curiosity, mouth opening and closing soundlessly as though to ask who, exactly, he was.
"Hey, kid," he said softly, stroking her head. "I'm your Tio Bruno. And I am going to be the coolest Tio in the world for you and your cousin."
Months had passed. Isabela was starting to sit up, although she hadn't yet rolled over. Dolores was easily the more talkative of the two, babbling and cooing day and night. Everyone was still learning how to juggle the stress of two new babies along with the usual demands of the town. The townspeople were supportive, as always, but Abuela continually pressed everyone to work as hard as ever.
Bruno sighed heavily as he trudged down the steps of his tower.
"You okay?" Augustin asked distractedly, passing by with Isabela, who was today clad in a ruffled pink dress.
Brun gestured vaguely back to his room. "Bad vision," he muttered. "Didn't you hear that guy storming out of here?"
"About the going bald?"
"Yeah, him."
Augustin chuckled. "Jeez, if that's the worst thing in his future, he's pretty lucky."
"Augustin!" Pepa called. "We need you in town, quick!"
"Oh, I forgot about that," he hissed. He wavered for a moment between the nursery and the door before turning and thrusting Isabela into Bruno's arms. "Can you take her for a bit?" he asked, already hurrying down the stairs.
Bruno stuttered in surprise. "W - What do I do with her?"
"Talk to her!"
"About what?"
"The economy or something, I don't know!" Augustin called over his shoulder. Then he was gone.
Bruno sighed and turned to his niece. "Do you even know what money is yet?"
Isa cooed seriously, waving around the flower she held.
He chuckled. "No, of course not," he murmured, carrying her down the stairs. "Of course you don't because you're just a little tiny baby." His voice picked up a little singsong tone as he sat down, bouncing her on his knee. "You're just a little tiny baby, with little tiny hands, and little tiny feet, and little tiny teeth."
Isabela babbled excitedly, opening her mouth in a wide grin.
Bruno gasped in mock dismay. "Oh no, you don't even have teeth yet!" he cried. "Oh the humanity, where are your tiny little teeth? How are you meant to know about money when you don't even have little tiny teeth?"
"Bruno?" He glanced up to see Abuela in the doorway, brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?" she said.
Bruno shrugged lamely. "The economy," he said meekly.
Abuela hummed and stepped forward, holding out her hands. "Well, I think I should take her," she said firmly.
He recoiled as she stepped closer. "We're just talking," he mumbled, although he could feel his defenses crumbling. "I just - I just want to hold her for a bit."
"I should take her," she repeated more firmly, taking her from Bruno's lap. "Especially after today," she muttered as she left.
Bruno couldn't tell if he was meant to hear that or not.