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Chapter Text

Mirabel stared at the river with tears running down her face. How could it have gone so wrong?

All she wanted was to save the miracle and instead, she destroyed it. 

Her family would never forgive her…

She would never forgive herself…

She felt so alone…

She tried everything she could but it wasn’t enough. It was never enough. No matter how hard she tried she could never do the right thing. Somehow she always ended up doing more bad than good, hurting her family. 

She was a curse on her family!

But she wouldn’t burden them anymore. She had to leave, she couldn’t face thier judgment, she couldn’t face what she had done to her family. 

She couldn’t see the disappointment on their faces. She just couldn’t, she would break into a million tiny pieces if she had to see that look one more time. 

So with one last shaky sigh, she stood up and looked back towards Encanto.

She remembered the good times before she had her gift ceremony, before she became the family disappointment. 

Back when her Abuala would look at her with pride and love in her eyes, it had been years since she had seen that look. 

And she never would again…

As one last tear ran down her cheek she turned away from Encanto and made her way across the river. 

She never looked back as she wandered further and further away from her home. 

If she would have turned back she would have seen her Abuala just walking towards the river as she left, but she didn’t, she just kept walking. 

She walked and she walked until She could barely stand. 

She didn’t know how long she had been walking before she collapsed in a heap on the forest floor. 

Mirabel was exhausted, she couldn’t go any farther, at least for tonight. She needed rest. 

She lay on the forest floor and caught her breath for a few minutes before dragging herself to a nearby tree and curling up in a ball in between the roots. 

She was so worn out that it only took her a few moments before she was asleep, the exhaustion catching up with her.  

~~~~~~~

Mirabel woke up to the sound of voices, very close voices. 

Before anything could register she was shooting up and stumbling away from the sound. 

She looked around herself frantically only to see a man, probably in his early 20’s holding both hands up and taking a step away.

“Senorita, Are you okay?” He asked in a soft calming voice as he looked around trying to see where the girl had come from. 

It wasn’t every day you find a random girl in the woods by your home after all. 

Mirabel stumbled slightly and stuttered  “Oh, oh yes, yes I’m fine. You just scared me” She said as she dusted off her skirt nervously. 

The man looked her over in concern “What are you doing out here all alone?” He asked as he continued to look at her.

Miribel could just blink for a few moments as she scrambled for an explanation “I..I got lost, do you know where the nearest town is?” She asked as she nervously adjusted her glasses. 

The man nodded “Just a few hundred yards that way” he said as he pointed to the left where Mirebel could just see the shape of buildings. 

Mirabel smiled lightly “Thank you, Senor, I’ll just be on my way” She said awkwardly as she motioned to the town. 

The man nodded “No problem, If you need anything my name is Julian. My mother owns the clothing shop, if you ever need something” He said with a charming smile on his face. 

Mirabel nodded and pushed the hair out of her face “Nice to meet you Julian, my name’s Mirabel” She said quietly before turning towards the town. Her new life awaited. 

Chapter Text

The entire town spent days looking for Mirabel with no success, they could not find any trace of her. 

The Madrigals were in shambles, they had lost their gifts and a member of their family all in one day.

Everyone was blaming themselves.  

They knew they had never treated Mirable right after she didn’t receive her gift and they all were truly seeing what life was like without her there. 

They never even realized how much they took her for granted until she was gone without a trace. 

She was a light in their lives and now that light had been snuffed out.

The only bright light in the tunnel was the return of Bruno, he had come back with Abuela after searching for Mirabel. 

While everyone was happy to see him it didn’t erase the pain they all felt at the loss of a member of thier family. 

Julieta had been practically inconsolable when no one could find her daughter, screaming at the top of her lungs for Mirable, hoping somewhere she could hear her and come home. 

Augustine had tried his best to comfort her but short of finding Mirabel, there wasn’t much he could do. He was trying to be strong for his wife but the loss of their daughter was beginning to get to him. 

He had searched Encanto high and low for his daughter but there was no sign of her anywhere. 

Eventually, everyone accepted that she must have left Encanto altogether and with Mirabel’s absence, the family fell into shambles.

~~~~~~~~ 

Luisa and Isabella were desperate to find their sister.

Isabella had just started to mend the relationship with her sister when she disappeared. 

She couldn’t help but feel partially responsible for her leaving, she had never made Mirabel’s life any easier. And now that she was gone there was a hole in her heart that she had no idea how to fill. 

Isabella wouldn’t leave Luisa’s side since Mirabel’s disappearance, she had already lost one sister she REFUSED to lose another. 

~~~~~~~

Abuela Alma was wracked with guilt, she had done this. 

She had ruined their family.

She had chased Mirabel away.

She could see her mistakes as clear as day now and all she wished she could do is fix them. But her little Mirable was long gone, and she had no one to blame but herself. 

She had brought her family to ruin. 

For days they searched desperately for Mirabel, even sending search parties out of Encanto but it all ended the same.

There was no sign of Mirabel.

All that she could do now was try and fix what she could. She promised to do better, for Mirabel. 

She just hoped one day she could show her granddaughter how sorry she was.

Chapter Text

The years passed in Encanto with no sign of the lost Madrigal. 

Slowly the once proud and powerful family that had been broken into pieces started to repair itself. 

It would never be the same, they all knew it. 

Too much damage had been done but time still moved and slowly the family got back a semblance of what they once were. 

They could never bring themselves to build a new casita where the old one stood, they left the ruins as a reminder.

They never wanted to forget the lessons they learned, as painful as they were to face. 

The town came together to build them a new home in town, it was smaller but then the family wanted to be closer together.

Some family members clung to each other and others wanted distance. 

Doloras married Mariano and had two beautiful children, first was a little girl they named Lita.

She was the first grandchild of the Madrigal family and she was doted on from the start as she alone mended much of the family’s pain simply with her birth. 

Their second born child was a boy they named Carlos, as soon as he could walk he became Camilo’s shadow.

Little Carlos loves his fun uncle and Camilo adores him all the same. 

Camilo never married but he did find love with a young man named Rico from across town.

When Dolores moved into a small house with Mariano, Camilo and Rico moved into the house across the street. 

They were never far from the rest of their family but it gave them some much-needed distance.

Luisa was lost for years without her strength, she just couldn’t find a place to fit, until a loving dorky man showed her she didn’t need to be strong all the time.

Nothing is wrong with leaning on others from time to time, what started as a friendship blossomed into marriage, and shortly after little Carlos was born the third Madrigal child was born to the family in the form of a little boy Luisa named Lorenzo. 

Isabella never married, instead, she put all her effort into being with her family, she doted on her little niece and nephews while teaching them how to garden and what plants in the forest were safe to eat, and what plants were medicinal. 

While her Abuela wanted her to marry she refused to marry for anyone but herself after the disaster which was her first proposal.

Sure, it ended fine but she never wanted to feel like she wasn’t being true to herself again, she refused, it was her way of honoring Mirabel, her sister showed her she didn’t need to be perfect and she wasn’t about to turn back. 

It was her own way of remembering her sister and staying true to herself and none of the family could fault her for it, even if Abuela still tried to introduce her to eligible bachelors every once in a while. 

Antonio was never the same after Mirabel disappeared, they had always shared a connection that the rest of the family just didn’t understand.

For years he barely spoke to anyone outside of the family but slowly he came back out of his shell but he always found the most companionship out of animals, that never changed even without his gift. 

He missed talking to his animal friends but he missed Mirabel more, he never forgot his old roomie and he never will but that didn’t mean he didn’t move on with his life. 

Julieta and Augustine never fully recovered from the loss of their youngest daughter.

Julieta stayed the village healer with the help of a doctor who had ventured into Encanto after a year of the mountain being split. 

He was kind enough to teach her everything he knew and gift her with several medical texts. 

Julieta had always had a natural affinity for healing even without her gift so she took to it like a duck to water. 

Augustine finally learned how to avoid the bees, well the bees learned to avoid him after Luisa moved the hives across town after her Papi got stung a few too many times. 

Isabella also gifted him some natural repellent she had made out of plants she grew in her garden, and ointment for the itching. 

Pepa and Felix stayed the same fiery couple they had always been, they spent time with their children and Grandchildren, oftentimes they would take the kids to give their parents some alone time, secretly hoping for more grandbabies. 

They missed thier niece but they did not let it consume them like some members of their family. 

Bruno was happy to be with his family again but he missed his niece. 

He had spent a long time blaming his mother but time heals all wounds and eventually, mother and son grew close again and bridges were mended but he would never stop hoping to see Mirabel again, just to tell her how proud he was that she had tried, she had done her best and he wished she was here so he could simply tell her that. 

He never found love but he was happy with his family.

He was no longer seen as some bad luck charm by the town. 

He had even gotten Fish Lady a new fish! This time with a big enough tank the thing didn’t die, Who keeps a fish in a tiny bowl and then is shocked it dies!? 

Abuela Alma had seen her mistakes laid bare, she had learned her lesson about pressuring her family but that didn’t mean she didn’t still try and help the town. 

She would never again force her family to be something they weren’t but she still pushed them in certain directions, she was the matriarch after all, it was her job. 

She just wanted what was best for her family. Even if sometimes they didn’t see it that way. 

Chapter Text

Mirabel held her infant daughter close as she turned away from the town that had housed her for the last 5 years. 

She glanced at Julian who was holding their 3-year-old son in his arms before nodding her head to herself and motioning for the people to follow her. 

She had a small group of about 20 people with her, the only others that had survived the massacre.

She would have never believed people could hurt each other as she had just witnessed, since leaving Encanto she had come to understand how sheltered she was.

Men had come riding into town with guns and just started shooting. 

The town had refused to pay for protection from them, so they decided to burn people’s homes and then shoot them as they ran for their lives. 

She had never seen anything like it and it would haunt her for the rest of her days.

Julian had lost his parents in the shooting, she could see the pain in his eyes but he stayed strong for her and the children. 

What people in the town that were left gathered and started talking about where they could go that was safe.

Mirabel knew immediately what she needed to do. 

She had stood up in the middle of the group and loudly told them all she knew a place and she could lead them there.

Some people didn’t follow her, choosing instead to go towards the coast but the people who had known her personally over the years she had lived there were quick to follow her as she lead them through the forest with Julian at her side. 

He was her rock, after the first day they met there had been an instant connection that had blossomed more and more every time they were together. 

It had only taken them a year before they were married and then another before they had their little boy Fabian, 2 and a half years later they had their baby girl Rosa who was currently being held against Mirabel’s chest by a sling she had made to hold her children close. 

Little Fabian was being held by his father as they stumbled through the jungle.

They had seemed to be walking for days when Mirabel saw a familiar river.

She stopped as soon as she saw it and took in a shaky breath “This is it, this is Encanto” She whispered so only Julian could hear her. 

He glanced at her and then back at the river “It’s beautiful” was all he said as he glanced at his wife.

Mirabel grimaced and nodded but before she could say anything she heard a scream from behind her. 

Julian and Mirabale quickly turned around to see men approaching on horseback, they immediately panicked and started running across the river with the rest of the survivors. 

They had made it about halfway when they heard the gunshots start and watched as the few people they had left started to panic as their family members died in front of them. 

Julian handed Mirabel Fabian and yelled “Go! I’ll hold them off!” He said urgently as he motioned for her to run with their children. 

Miribel shook her head frantically as she clung to her children “No Julian! I can’t lose you!” She said desperately as tears of desperation and pain ran down her face. 

Julian grabbed her face and brought it to his in a heartbreaking kiss that she knew was goodbye.

As he pulled away he pushed her gently “Go, my love, Go NOW!” he said loudly as he turned towards the men. 

With him turned a few of the other men that had come with them as they willingly sacrificed themselves for their families. 

Mirabelle reluctantly held her children close and ran.

She heard gunshots behind her but she couldn’t bear to look back, not until she had made it to the other side. 

Once she had made it back to land, in the very same spot she had decided to once leave Encanto she turned back towards the invaders only to see her husband standing in front of the men’s horses. 

She watched in what felt like slow motion as the bullet flew through the air and pierced Julien’s chest.

She could have sworn she felt the bullet in her own heart with the pain she felt seeing her love fall to the ground. 

As he fell so did she. 

She fell onto her knees as she pushed her son behind her and clung to her infant daughter.

She let out a wail of despair so profound it could be heard throughout the entire Encanto. 

With her pain she sent out a burst of magic she thought she never possessed and decimated the invaders that had dared to destroy her home and kill her love.

She watched as the wave of magic turned them into nothing but dust as the crack in the mountain they had made their way through began to close. 

Once again the Encanto was born.

Chapter Text

A Sound of despair was heard throughout the entirety of Encanto.

Everyone was woken from their beds by the sound of profound pain and gunshots. 

People rushed to the streets to see what was happening, no one understanding why they had been awoken in the middle of the night. Were they in danger? 

The Madrigals all heard the scream but they also felt things they hadn’t felt for years, They felt it in thier bones, the return of their magic. 

Every member of the family felt their magic return to them all at once, like a wave crashing through them. 

None of them knew what it meant except Julieta, She knew that scream anywhere. 

She burst from her home as if it was on fire as she tore through the town with Augustine and Isabella on her heels. 

Abuela followed behind as quickly as her old bones could manage, she was dreading what she would find. She knew their magic always came at a great cost. 

Isabella was confused, She chased after her mama yelling out to her “Mama!? Where are you going!? MAMA!?” But nothing would grab her mother’s single-minded attention. 

She raced to keep up with her mother as she tore through the streets, She glanced at her father but he was just as confused as her. 

She could feel her magic again for the first time in years, she almost forgot what it felt like but she couldn’t enjoy it, not until she knew what was happening with her Mother. 

Luisa woke up with a gasp as she heard a scream, she was immediately out of bed checking on her son before anything else. 

She was so singularly focused on her child’s safety it took her a few minutes too long to realize she could feel something she hadn’t for the past 5 years, her strength. 

She was left blinking in shock in her son’s room as she stared at her hands, now that she knew her child was safe she had realized she looked different. 

Over the years she had lost much of her old muscles but they were suddenly back. 

She clenched her fists before turning around and walking out of the room.

As soon as she was in the hallways she blinked, She couldn’t believe it, it was back. 

It took her years to become comfortable without her strength being gone, and now it was just back. 

It took an embarrassingly long time for Luisa to really question why and decide to go ask her family.

She wandered out into the town only to see chaos, townspeople all over looking around in confusion, not knowing what was going on. 

Doloras woke up to a scream and before she knew what was happening she was overwhelmed by noises. 

She threw her hands over her ears and whimpered. 

She could suddenly hear everything again, she had no idea what was happening or why she just knew she wanted it to stop. 

She could feel Mariano asking what was wrong and trying to get her to look at him but she was in too much pain. 

It had been 5 years since she had to deal with the burden that was her gift and her old room at the casita used to be soundproof so she didn’t get woken up like this. 

She curled into her husband as the sounds from all over the town assaulted her, she couldn’t escape them no matter what she did. 

Pepa shot up from her bed as she heard screaming and gunshots.

She started hitting Felix who was still sound asleep next to her.

Felix eventually woke up when it started raining, not a strange occurrence but it took his head a minute to remember it hadn’t happened in the last 5 years. 

“Mi Amore, you have a cloud. What’s - wait you have a cloud!” He said as he stared above his wife’s head in shock. 

That seemed to catch Pepa’s attention as well as she stared up at the cloud in confusion.

She shook herself out of her shock “Felix, something’s wrong! I heard screaming” She whispered frantically.

Bruno woke up with a start, he felt his nightmare return, his magic.

With his magic came a vision, the first he had ever had without having to call upon it first. 

His eyes glowed green as he saw what looked like an older Mirabel hugging Abuela then the image shifted to the casita but different. 

His vision kept shifting as he saw images of children he had never met and visions of Doloris and Luisa’s children. 

He saw a flash of fire, of speed, of Metal soaring through the air. 

He couldn’t understand what he was seeing but he did understand one thing, Mirabel has returned.

Chapter Text

Julieta ran past the townspeople towards her daughter in desperation. 

She knew her child was in pain, she had no idea what was happening but everything in her was screaming to get to her daughter as soon as possible. 

It didn’t matter that she hadn’t seen her for 5 years, She could never forget the sounds of her child in pain, it was ingrained in her instincts. 

She came to a crowd of people she didn’t recognize so she pushed past them before freezing in place by what she found.

Her daughter, her little Mirabel was no longer so little. 

Her hair had grown and she seemed taller, but that wasn’t what stopped her short, the sight of her daughter clutching two small children protectively as she kneeled on the ground made Julieta freeze. 

She took a hesitant step forward and whispered “Mirabel?” but got no reaction from her daughter who was staring at where once there was a river with so much pain in her eyes Julieta had no idea what to do. 

What had happened to her daughter?

She stared for a few moments waiting for her daughter to react before throwing caution to the wind and kneeling down next to her. 

“Mirabel? Are you hurt? What happened?!” Julieta asked gently as she brought her daughter’s face up to meet her eyes. 

Mirabel blinked as her mother’s face entered her field of vision “Mama? He’s gone!” Was all she was able to say as she clutched her children desperately, all she had left of her husband. 

“Who’s gone, Mirabel? Talk to me” Her mother whispered desperately, Mirabel knew she wanted to fix it but there was nothing to fix, Julian was dead, there was no healing death.

Fabian looked up from where he was tucked into Mirabel’s chest protectively and whispered “Mama? Why are you crying? Where’s Papa? Papa will make it better” He said with his innocent little voice. 

All at once Juileta knew who her daughter was talking about as she watched her daughter flinch and clutch her children desperately.

Mirabel looked at her sweet innocent little boy and whispered “Shhh, Papa went to protect us from the bad men, everything will be okay now” She said with a shaky breath as she tried to smile reassuringly down to her son. 

Mirabel turned to her mother with fresh tears in her eyes “We’re home now, I hope” She said quietly as she ran her hand through her son’s hair that reminded her so much of her husband. 

Julieta nodded immediately and put her hand on her daughter’s cheek “Of course, come on, let’s get you inside” Julieta said as she stood up and offered her daughter a hand. 

Mirabel nodded and stood up with her daughter in her arms and continued to run her fingers through her son’s hair as he leaned into her skirts and looked around confused. 

Mirabel glanced at the people who had followed her “Is there anywhere they could stay for the night? We’ve been walking for days now through the jungle, everyone’s very tired” She said as she turned back towards her mother. 

Julieta immediately nodded and turned to see her mother approaching.

Alma watched her granddaughter and daughter with a heavy heart, She could recognize the pain in her grandaughter’s eyes, a very familiar pain.

She had never in a million years wanted Mirabel to face the horrors she had faced but she would help her now. 

Alma nodded and motioned to a few townspeople that were around “We can find somewhere for them to stay and then figure out something more permanent in the morning” She said taking quick control of the town. 

Immediately people were volunteering their homes, it only took 10 minutes before everyone had a place to stay the night. 

While Alma handled the townspeople Isabella had stepped forward and hugged her sister while being introduced to her new little nephew and niece. 

Mirabel felt like she was walking through a haze as things happened around her. 

She remembered hugging Isabella and her father but she barely took in anything as they led her to a house she didn’t recognize. 

As she walked through the town she could hear a few people call her name but she just focused on her children and getting somewhere to rest for the night.

Luisa followed and walked quickly towards her family as soon as she saw Isabella’s familiar dress.

She froze in shock as she saw Mirabell before practically running to her sister. 

She was stopped by her father who quickly filled her in while her mother continued to lead them back towards the main Madrigal home. 

She was confused but she had her sister back so she just followed, determined to find out what had happened. 

Chapter Text

Mirabel was led to a small room in the new Casita where she proceeded to curl up with her children and try and get some much needed rest. 

She knew there would be questions in the morning but for right now she just needed peace. 

She laid Fabian down, as he had cried himself to sleep while she proceeded to rock her daughter. 

It was easier to focus on them than the pain in her heart. 

Eventually, there was a timid knock on the door which had Mirabel tensing before letting out a deep sigh. 

She got up quietly and walked to the door. 

When she pulled it open she was surprised to see Isabella standing nervously on the other side. 

Isabelle just held up what looked like a sleeping bassinet making Mirabel smile in relief. 

Isabella hesitantly stepped in the room before placing the basinet down “I thought you could use it, it used to be Carlos’s but he grew out of it a year ago. Though Dolores might ask for it back in a few months” Isabella said awkwardly as she glanced at her sleeping Nephew on the bed. 

Mirabel nodded “That’s fine, I can make something for when she needs it” She stumbled out awkwardly as she placed Rosa in the bassinet. 

Isabelle nodded and stood there for a few moments before walking towards the door.

Once she was just outside of the room Mirabel let out a gentle “Thank you Isa” Just before the door shut. 

~~~~~~~

The next morning was a very hectic affair. 

Every member of the family was at the main Madrigal home. 

Everyone wanted to know what had happened, how did they get their powers back?

It quickly went through the family that Mirabel was back, they were all so excited to see her again. 

They had missed her so much the past 5 years, they couldn’t wait to see her. 

They were saddened that she lost her husband but more than anything they missed their lost family member.

Eventually, after Mirabel didn’t come down Julieta went up to check on her. 

Julieta came back a few minutes later holding a baby, She was followed by Mirabel who seemed to be holding a small 3-year-old boy.

Mirabel smiled emptily to her family while kissing Fabian’s little head as he shied away from everyone. 

Immediately Alma stood up “Okay everyone, let’s not crowd them. Why don’t we sit down for breakfast and everything will be explained” She said as she calmly motioned toward the backyard where a large table was set up.

Everyone immediately walked to the back while Isabella went towards the kitchen with Antonio to get the food. 

Antonio gave Mirabel a bright excited smile that had her heart melting just the littlest bit. 

She gave him a small smile back, she had missed him so much the last 5 years. He was one of the only members of the family truly blameless in her disappearance. 

She always regretted leaving him, but eventually her Julian made the ache for her family disappear, she would always miss them but she was happy. Well…until it all fell apart. 

Mirabel immediately ducked her head away as tears came to her eyes. 

She took a deep breath and straightened her back, she couldn’t break, not now. 

Her children needed her. 

When she turned back to the main room Antonio was gone but someone else was standing there. 

“Hello Tio Bruno, long time no see” She said with a crooked smile when she saw her nervous uncle standing there wringing his hands. 

Chapter Text

It only took a moment for Bruno to spring forward and bring Mirabel into his arms, eventually pulling away with an awkward cough “I missed you” he said softly, only meeting her eyes for a few seconds at a time. 

Mirabel had a tired smile on her face “I missed you too, but I’m glad you aren’t living in the walls anymore” she said as she gave him a nudge. 

“Hehe, yeah, having a room not filled with sand is much better” He said with a large grin on his face before he looked down towards Fabian who was hiding behind her skirt. 

“Who are you?” Bruno asked with wide eyes making Mirabel smile softly “This is my son, Fabian. Say Hello to Tio Bruno” She encouraged her son softly. 

The three year old looked up at her with big eyes before glancing at Bruno uneasily “Hi” he squeaked out before returning to the back of her skirt. 

Mirabel gave her son an amused smile as she ran her hand through his hair while Bruno gave Fabian a large grin “Hello, it’s nice to meet you. Do you like rats?” He asked, a rat coming out of his sleeve. 

She grimaced and took a step back while Fabian grinned “Yes! Mama says I can’t touch them though!” the three year old said with a grin, suddenly much less shy. 

Bruno chuckled as he glanced up at Mirabel “I see that hasn’t changed” he said, amused that even after all this time she was still afraid of rats. 

“Yes laugh at my expense while the food gets cold” Mirabel said fondly as she led her son towards the back door where the rest of the family was sitting, waiting for an explanation. 

Her eyes immediately looked for Rosa who was now in Isabela’s arms as she grinned down at the baby, making flowers to entertain Rosa who was giggling happily. 

It was both comforting and painful to see her daughter not affected by the death of Julian. 

Mirabel quickly found a place beside Isabella who had saved two chairs for her, she helped Fabian into his chair before going to grab two plates.

Once they were all seated Abuela stood at the head of the table “I know you all must have questions, last night the magic was born again the same way it was before. Mirabel’s husband bravely gave his life to protect her and the children from bad men. When he died another miracle was born, from Mirabel.” 

She motioned to Mirabel who had wide eyes as everyone turned to her. 

She nervously tucks a strand of hair behind her ear that had fallen loose from the tie keeping her hair bound into a bun. 

“Where have you been all this time?” Antonio asked curiously, his eyes wide and pleading for him to tell her. 

Mirabel sighed “I town a few days walk east, It’s where I met Julian, and we got married and built a life. Until the bandits came” Her voice had turned somber as she looked down at Fabian and made sure he was more focused on his food than the conversation. 

“Why didn’t you ever come back, before…” Luisa asked softly, who Mirabel assumed was her husband sat beside her, looking slightly awkward and uncomfortable. 

She shrugged slightly “At first it was because I didn’t think I was wanted but after a few years I thought about it. By then I had made a life, a good one, Julian’s entire life was in that town. We had discussed coming back but before we could we weren’t given much of a choice” Mirabel didn’t meet anyone's eyes as she explained. 

Isabela grabbed her hand and squeezed “You have always been wanted. It hasn’t been the same since you left” she said quietly but most of them at the table heard and nodded thier heads in agreement. 

Mirabel gave her sister a half smile “I know, I realized after having Fabian what a fool I was being” Once she had a child of her own she began to realize at the very least her parents deserved to know where she was. 

They had been considering making the travel when she fell pregnant again with Rosa.

Breakfast continued after that and when they finished Camilo approached her with a man following behind them. 

Mirabel smiled as she hugged Camilo, they had always been close since they were the same age. 

“I missed you” Mirabel whispered before pulling away. 

Camilo grinned brightly “You wouldn’t have had to miss me if you didn't run off” he said good naturedly, making a joke out of it as always. Some things never change. 

Mirabel rolled her eyes “Then I wouldn’t have my children” She glanced towards Rosa who had been handed off to Mirable’s father while Isabela was entertaining Fabian. 

“Yeah you have some cute kids, I can’t wait to get to know them. In the meantime let me introduce my partner, Rico” Camilo said while pulling a man towards him with a grin. 

Rico looked at Camilo annoyed before giving Mirabel a forced smile “It’s nice to meet you, I have heard much about you from the family. Though I wish we were meeting on better circumstances” He said politely, obviously uncomfortable. 

Mirabel shook the man’s hand with a welcoming smile on her face, wanting him to feel comfortable “It is nice to meet you as well. Anyone dear to Camilo is dear to me.”

She could see the relief in the man’s eyes, Rico had obviously not been expecting such a welcome. 

It was easy to figure out why, most people weren’t as accepting of things they didn’t understand. 

Before they could speak anymore Mr.Torrez came around the back of the house looking concerned “You better come see this!” He yelled out, getting everyone's attention as he motioned for them to follow him. 

It seems nothing ever changes as Aubuela followed behind Mr.Torrez, most of them following behind her.