Chapter Text
Bruno stood in the nursery, gently rocking his 2 year old son in his arms, smiling at him. “Camilo, mijo, you are so loved… Your Papá will always be here for you, no matter what.” He kisses Camilo on the forehead softly as he lays him down in the crib. “Buenos noches mijo. Sleep well.”
Bruno shuts off the light and exits the room, startled when Pepa runs up to him. “Bruno, it’s time!” His eyes widened as he realized what Pepa meant. “Where is she, Pepa?”
“She’s in Julieta’s room. Go, be with her!” Bruno took off towards his sister’s room, not even bothering to knock as he rushed in to be by his wife’s side. “Mi vida, are you okay?”
Anita nodded before groaning in pain as she pushed again, Julieta guiding her through the birth. “Bruno, grab that damp towel and gently wipe Anita’s forehead, to help cool her down some” He nodded and followed his sister’s instructions, gently blotting the towel along his love’s forehead.
“Hang in there Anita, you’re almost there! Just a couple more pushes.” Julieta readied herself to grab the baby as Bruno did his best to comfort his wife.
No one knew how this was going to end. The doctors in town had warned against Anita having any more children, especially after Camilo was born prematurely. As her due date neared, everyone was concerned when she woke up with a fever just a few days ago. It was difficult for anyone to know how this would go.
Anyone, that is, except for Bruno. He wished he had looked into the future of this day, but Anita had forbidden him. She had never asked him for a vision of their future because she knew there would be no changing it once it had been seen.
Still, as his wife laid beside him, crushing his hand and crying, he wished he had looked into their future. So he’d be prepared for what came next. He looked down towards Julieta as he heard his child crying. “She’s here! Mi amor, she’s here! She-“ He looked back at Anita and choked back a sob. “Anita, mi vida! Look at me, please… Julieta! Help her! Please, do something!” Tears streamed down his face as he pleaded for his sister to help Anita.
Julieta moved quickly and passed the newborn over to Bruno. “Hold her, Bruno.” She began to look over Anita, doing what she could to help her, before looking over at Pepa and shaking her head softly.
Bruno kept his focus on his newborn daughter, studying her features and smiling softly as he realized how much she resembled her mother. He barely noticed Pepa come up behind him and lead him out of the room. “Wait, where are we going? I need to be with Anita. She needs to meet our daughter.”
“Brunito, why don’t we take your daughter to the nursery and let her rest?”
“Pepa, she needs to be with Anita. Why won’t you let me take her to Anita? What’s going on??” Bruno moved out of Pepa’s grasp, running back to Julieta’s room only to see his sister covering Anita with a sheet. “Julieta! I thought you would help her!”
“I did what I could, Brunito, but there are some things that even magic can’t fix… I’m sorry Bruno.”
“No…” He fell to his knees, clutching his daughter to his chest, sobbing. “Mi Vida, Mi Amor…. I can’t do this without you, Anita… What will I do? I’m sorry mi vida…” Bruno held his newborn close to him as he stood up and moved towards Anita, gently kissing her forehead. “I promise, I will do my best to raise our children. I won’t let any harm come to them. They will know you as I do. They will know just how strong and beautiful and caring you were. We will make you proud, Mi vida.” He kissed her forehead once more, whispering his final goodbye before leaving the room.
As he walked into the nursery, he sighed softly, rocking the infant in his arms. “Camilo, meet your sister, Mirabel.” He smiled softly at Mirabel, sitting down in the rocking chair and singing softly to both of them.
Look at you grow, Isn’t it amazing? And you’ll never know how I love you so… I may not see in all the different what ifs and maybes, but I know in every one you’ll shine.
You’re gonna make this family proud, I swear I’ll always be around… And I can only hope and pray, The Miracle will let you stay.
Mirabel, I can tell That your future is blindingly bright. Don’t give in, We’ll get through thick and thin. Don’t you know, you’re our family’s light. At least I could do one thing right.
Bruno smiled softly as Mirabel fell asleep. He stood and gently laid his daughter into the same crib as her brother, knowing he’d need to get the new one set up tomorrow. “Goodnight mi luces.”
He stood there for a few minutes, grinning as Camilo turned to hold his sister. When he finally left the nursery, he was surprised by Dolores standing just outside the door. “Dolores, what are you doing up, niña?”
“I heard you crying, Tio Bruno.” She hugged his legs, hiding her face a bit. “I also heard what happened to Tia Anita… I’m sorry Tio Bruno.” He nodded a bit and leaned down to lift her up into his arms. “Thank you Dolores, but you should be in bed right now.”
“I know… I just thought you could use a hug…” She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight.
Bruno smiled and hugged her before starting to walk towards her room. “Thank you Dolores. Now let’s get you back to bed before your Mama finds out. He took her into her room, gently laying her down on the bed. “Goodnight Dolores. Sweet dreams.”
As he left the room and shut the door, he sighed softly before heading towards the kitchen. The light was on as Bruno approached, and his sisters rushed to embrace him as he entered.
“Brunito, I’m so sorry… I wish I could have done more.” Julieta held him close as she apologized. When they finally pulled away, Bruno sighed softly. “What am I gonna do? What will I tell Camilo? I know he’s only two, but he’s bound to wonder where his mother went. And how am I going to raise Mirabel by myself? I don’t know how to make her hair look pretty or give her braids, or whatever else she may want to do… And what about-“
“Bruno!” Pepa cut him off, gently taking his hand. “You have a while before you really need to worry about that stuff. Camilo can barely talk, and Mirabel doesn’t have that much hair for you to worry about right now. But just know, your children will always have motherly figures in myself and Julieta. We may not be able to replace Anita, but we will do our best to help you when you need it, okay?” Bruno nodded, smiling softly.
“Thank you… both of you. You’re the best sisters I could’ve wished for.” He smiled softly and rested with his sisters in the kitchen, knowing he wouldn’t be returning to his tower until Mirabel was able to sleep through the night.