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Chapter Text

Alma Madrigal, new mother and widow, stared down at the three babies sleeping in her arms as the light of the candle, the Miracle Pedro’s sacrifice had created, flickered over them.

Her heart ached and she felt like she was drowning in her grief, the truth only truly settling over her now.

Pedro was gone. Her sweet, kind, amazing husband was never coming home. Her babies, her niños, had lost their papá before they ever got to know him.

Pedro wouldn’t read them to sleep. Or sing them lullabies. Or watch them grow with joy in his eyes.

She was alone in raising them now, something she’d never even considered in her life.

These three lives rested solely in her hands and that terrified her.

Could she protect them? Could she somehow make up for Pedro’s absence in their lives?

She stared down at the three. Little Julieta, her oldest by mere minutes was sleeping peacefully. Pepa, her second-born who she could already see had inherited her Abeula’s fiery red hair, was more restless than her sister. And then little Bruno. Her only hijo, the youngest by ten minutes who had been so quiet after being born that they’d feared the worst. But he’d pulled through despite being the smallest, the weakest.

These three niños were relying on her to keep them safe, to keep them happy and to give them the lives she and Pedro had always imagined for them.

Alma looked up at the candle, tears still wet on her face. She couldn’t fail. It was all Pedro had wanted for them. He’d spoken so often of how happy they’d make their children, of how they’d keep them safe.

He’d done the impossible tonight and kept them safe. He'd saved them.

It was up to Alma to continue and keep that up. To keep them safe. To keep them happy.

She couldn’t lose another member of her family, she couldn’t lose someone else that she loved. And she refused to allow Pedro’s sacrifice to be in vain.

Their children would grow up happy and safe.

She wiped her cheeks quickly before standing and moving to the bed, still reeling from this beautiful, living house that had grown from nothing and opened it’s doors to her.

Alma settled her niños into a nest of blankets, watching as Pepa fussed for a moment at the movement before settling down again. Once sure they were steady and comfortable, she walked over to the window where the candle burned with a bright golden glow.

Outside, there was everyone that had escaped the soldiers, who had been with her when this sanctuary sprang up. They were all relieved to have safety and there had been many tears and awed whispers of the magic they’d seen.

She was more grateful for the Castillo family than the people that had poured praises on her as she clutched that candle in the aftermath. Carlos Castillo had gently guided her away from the crowds while she was numb with shock and encouraged her to go rest in her new home. His wife, Maria, had already cut down any ideas of the others staying inside the house.

“This house and magic is Señora Madrigal’s. We will not intrude,” she’d stated firmly while Carlos sent Alma inside.

She hadn’t really heard much more than that, moving on autopilot as she walked through the house. She’d barely even reacted as tiles shifted and moved, guiding her to the stairs and up to a carved door. Inside was a bedroom and she’d placed the candle on the windowsill before sliding down to sit at the foot of the bed, cradling her niños close as she let the tears flow freely down her face.

Alma shook herself out of her thoughts. She should thank the Castillo family in the morning. They’d been neighbours of Pedro’s for years and had always been kind. They’d also been fleeing with their young son, little Felix barely even two. Maria had given her a lot of advice when Alma had admitted to being pregnant and had offered help when they realised she was having triplets.

She may end up taking her up on that offer now…

Alma studied the sleeping refugees outside the house quietly. She was no fool and Pedro had always been the optimist between them. But Alma was a realist. She’d seen so much of the cruelty of people tonight. On the side of the soldiers, yes. But also among the people here. She hadn’t missed that some people had pushed others aside in their rush to escape, dooming some in the process. She hadn’t missed how easily some had left their neighbours behind without a second thought.

Those with families, she could understand. As much as it had hurt Pedro, he hadn’t turned back to help even though he’d clearly wanted to. He had to prioritise his family. But there were those who were alone and yet hadn’t thought twice about pushing their way through the crowds, uncaring about who got hurt.

Alma herself had almost been thrown to the ground by one of them, Pedro catching her at the last minute as he dragged her forward.

She wasn’t a fool and she knew that the people who had escaped with her weren’t all good people, weren’t all like Carlos and his wife.

They were feeling relief now and were exhausted. But she had no doubt that some would be turning their attention to this large house soon. Turning their eyes to the magic.

She was only a young widow after all, only a new mother of three on her own now.

She was vulnerable.

Alma clenched her hand on the windowsill. She had to be prepared, to protect her niños and her right to this house. She didn’t know how, but she just knew that it was hers.

She looked to the candle again.

Pedro had given them this. She wouldn’t lose it to the greed of others. She had to be strong.

For herself.

For her niños.

Alma took a deep breath despite the way her chest ached at the crushing grief she still felt.

“Give me strength Pedro,” she whispered.

Her eyes widened as the candle flared brighter beside her and a tremulous smile pulled at her lips.

She could do this.

She had to.

Chapter Text

As the refugees recovered and planned to begin building a new village in this beautiful Encanto that they found themselves in, Alma opened her home up to the young mothers like her that needed someplace safe to watch their children during the day.

There were eleven of them, excluding Alma, so that was eleven other children of varying ages up to five.

Maria helped Alma with her three niños and Felix trailed after her everywhere, eyes bright and curious over the babies.

The other mothers were very reluctant to put their children down for any reason so he could only really get close to the triplets.

“So small,” he declared to Maria who chuckled as she fed little Pepa.

Alma smiled fondly as Maria crouched down so that Felix could get a better look. She was feeding Bruno who was a lot more difficult to coax into eating consistently. Julieta was resting in a pile of blankets, having already been fed.

“Curious one isn’t he?” Sophia commented from nearby as Felix studied the baby. Her own one-year-old son, Agustin, was sleeping in her arms.

Sophia’s husband had left the moment he’d found out she was pregnant and Alma respected her strength a lot. She’d lived down the street so it wasn’t surprising that the three of them had gravitated towards each other. The other mothers were gathered across the room. They didn’t really seem to know what to say to Alma except for condolences and repeated thanks for the magic.

It made Alma uncomfortable which Maria had picked up on. So she played interference a lot for her.

“The 'why' phase was a nightmare,” Maria answered Sophia’s question.

The three mothers chuckled softly.

Alma swayed side to side as Bruno began to look sleepy again once he finished drinking his milk. Maria moved to sit down on the couch and Felix clambered up to sit next to her so he could continue watching the baby. He seemed fascinated.

Alma continued to sway, staring down at her hijo while tuning out the conversations around her. She still felt numb most days but focusing on her niños helped with that.

There were still times when it was too difficult to hold back the tears and Alma would find herself sobbing on the floor or in her bed. But she always dragged herself up again when she heard one of her niños. She wouldn’t let them suffer while she struggled with her grief.

“You have a problem or something?”

She was startled out of her thoughts at Sophia’s sharp question and looked up to find the woman glaring over at the other group. Maria also looked upset about whatever it was.

One of the other mothers was flushing in embarrassment.

“I’m just saying. This house is so big. Would it really be wrong to let a few of us stay inside?” she asked.

Alma’s heart sank. She wasn’t ready to interact more with the others. She could barely hold it together long enough for the others to leave before she’d break down again.

Their constant mentions of Pedro didn’t help in the least.

Maria scoffed. “How entitled are you?”

The woman, Catalina? Alma thought that was her name. Catalina flushed even more.

“Excuse me? Señora Madrigal isn’t the only young mother here.”

“She does have the youngest children though,” Sophia pointed out harshly. “Agustin is the second youngest. Your own child is four Catalina. Besides, that’s beside the point. You want to intrude in a grieving widow’s home because it would make you more comfortable? It’s barely been two weeks!”

The others ducked, shame colouring many faces.

“Ungrateful,” Sophia continued relentlessly. “You have some nerve. Alma has no obligation to even open her home during the day. You can handle sleeping outside at night until the first houses are built. You already know that the young families are the first on the list.”

“It’s summer and the nights are warm and dry,” Maria added, annoyance clear in her voice. “Suck it up.”

None of the other women seemed able to meet Alma’s eyes as they all looked away.

Sophia turned to fix a stern look on Alma.

“You owe no one in this place anything. This house was for you, there is no argument about that. We appreciate you opening your home during the day when it’s hot, but you do not owe anyone anything more.”

Maria was nodding in agreement while several of the others flinched. Catalina was bright red out of a combination of anger and embarrassment.

“You deserve your privacy,” Maria agreed. “Don’t be afraid to say no to the more selfish people around here. You need to focus on yourself and your niños Alma. No one can blame you for that.”

She gave them both a tremulous smile before her eyes dropped to Bruno again, darting to look at Julieta and Pepa as well.

She wasn’t sure she would even be comfortable with strangers in her home with her niños. It was fine during the day when she was actively with them. But when she was going about her evening routine? When she was grieving and crying again?

No, she didn’t want anyone close by then.

The next time someone tried to guilt her into opening her home to them all the time, she raised her chin and told them ‘no’ in no uncertain terms. And she stood her ground when they grew upset with her answer.

When someone tried to ignore her response, they all learned just how aware Casita was. She sent the man flying out of the house without much hesitance.

Everyone finally accepted (some more grudgingly than others) that they would not be allowed in that magical house without Alma’s explicit permission.

Sophia smiled at her in clear approval and Maria continued to support her decision, her husband backing them up when someone grew a little too pushy. Carlos could look intimidating with his size if he ever felt like it. He was also the one leading the reconstruction efforts so no one really wanted to upset him.

A few months into their new lives in the Encanto, Alma found herself staring out of the nursery window. Her niños were sleeping peacefully and she could see lights in the distance as everyone got ready for bed. The houses were popping up surprisingly quickly.

Thankfully, that meant fewer people in her house during the day and having to repress her grief less meant that she had a better handle on it at night.

She still felt the ache of Pedro’s loss keenly and wasn’t ready to take off the black shawl. She wasn’t sure if she would ever be ready to take it off.

But as long as she didn’t allow it to interfere with her niños, she could learn to live with it.

“I’ll keep them safe,” she whispered to the quiet night, clutching the locket with his photo inside tightly. “I swear I’ll keep our niños safe.”

Chapter Text

Being a mother was hard.

“Pepa!” Alma called out in exasperation when she spotted the little redhead trying to climb up onto the table.

Pepa froze at her mamá’s sharp tone and gave her an innocent smile. Bruno was watching with wide eyes, thumb firmly in his mouth and Julieta looked worried.

The moment the three had become mobile, Alma learned why Maria seemed so tired all the time. How did two-year-olds get into everything?!

“Get down now,” Alma ordered as she put the food down.

Pepa pouted but dropped back to the ground with a huff. She was the most active of them, always wanting to climb on everything and getting hurt more often than not. Bruno was also curious, just in a different way. He was often climbing into the cupboards to explore them and Alma would never forget the heart attack he’d given her when she found him trying to get into the oven. Julieta wasn’t as likely to get into trouble as her siblings, but she still managed it sometimes.

“What have I told you about climbing on the table?” Alma asked, hands on her hips.

“To not to,” Pepa mumbled, ducking her head.

“Why?” Alma pushed.

“Cause we get owie,” Pepa sighed.

“Then mamá gets really worried,” Alma added. “I don’t want any of you to get any owies.”

Pepa nodded. “Sowwy mami.”

Alma ducked down to press a kiss to her curly red hair as she picked her up.

“That’s okay mija, just remember for next time okay?”

Pepa nodded again while Alma set her down in her chair. She helped her other niños up into their chairs and put their plates down in front of them.

There was a chorus of ‘gracias’ before the three dug into their food, making a mess like usual.

Alma settled down in her own chair and watched them with warm eyes as she started on her meal. These three had been the only reasons she didn’t lose herself to her grief. Her three sweet little niños who always tried to cheer her up if they noticed she was looking sad.

When they were all finished eating she took them upstairs to clean them up, Casita helping to catch any runaways who didn’t want to take a bath yet.

Pepa couldn’t help giggling as Casita swept her up the stairs even as she was complaining.

“No bath!”

Bruno nodded fervently. “No bath.” He agreed.

“When you’re messy you get a bath. And you both have food in your hair.”

Both of them pouted at her which really was just too cute even when she was exhausted and exasperated with them.

After a bit more of a fight, she got all three into the bath and cleaned them up. After that, she helped them get into their pajamas before Casita let her know that someone was at the door.

“At this time?” Alma wondered in confusion.

She told her niños to head to their room while she checked on who was visiting after dinner time. She’d somehow ended up as the unofficial leader of the Encanto due to being the holder of the candle that protected them all, so it wouldn’t be the first time someone came to her for help with something. Sometimes a decision, sometimes a conflict between villagers.

She opened the door to Manuel Rodriguez and immediately frowned when she spotted the flowers in his hand.

Her wariness grew to irritation and then to anger in record time as the man explained why he was there.

“Raising three children must be hard.”

“All alone in this big house.”

“Not trying to replace Pedro, I just want to help.”

“I only want to help.”

She was seething. She still wore the black shawl around her shoulders and he so arrogantly walked up and asked this? Asked that she open her heart to someone she didn’t know? For the sake of her niños?

She did not need a man to raise her niños.

“No,” she cut off his next words, leaving him gaping at her. “I have no intention to remarry Manuel. And I’d really like you to suggest that a woman cannot raise her niños on her own within Sophia’s hearing.”

She felt satisfied when he went pale at those words.

“My answer is no,” she repeated firmly. “Please do not bring this up again.”

She closed the door in his stunned face and turned back to the stairs. Alma wasn’t truly surprised to find her niños standing at the top of the steps, watching her curiously. All of them, so very curious about everything.

“Mami mad?” Bruno asked around the thumb stuck in his mouth.

Alma took a few deep breaths. “Some people can be very dumb.”

Pepa ran up to hug her as she reached the top of the stairs and she felt her anger fading. She bent down to pick her hija up and headed into the nursery with the other two trailing behind her.

“Dumb man gone?” Pepa asked as Alma tucked her into bed.

“Yes, he’s gone,” she chuckled in amusement, pressing a kiss to Pepa’s hair. “Now settle down Pepi, it’s bedtime.”

She went around to the other two, tucking them in and kissing their hair. Julieta cuddled her teddy bear and Bruno’s thumb was still firmly stuck in his mouth. The habit didn’t bother her all that much. Pepa and Julieta still did it when they got nervous or anxious about something. If it made Bruno feel better then who was she to complain?

“Sto’y?” Pepa asked hopefully.

Alma chuckled again and sat down at her bedside. She switched beds every time she told a story and it was Pepa’s turn tonight.

“Alright mija. What story do we want tonight?”

“Beat up da dwagon!” Pepa suggested.

“Is it a bad dwagon?” Bruno asked worriedly.

“Supa bad,” Pepa confirmed seriously.

Bruno settled after that. He was definitely the most sensitive of the three and always worried about someone getting hurt.

Alma leaned back and spun a story involving a princess that rescued herself from the tower and the dragon guarding it. Pepa was the only one still awake when she finished, although she was well on her way to sleep already. Alma pressed a light kiss to her hair as her eyes closed and stood up, checking on them all one last time before heading to her own room.

She sighed to herself as she closed the door behind her. She was still upset by Manuel but didn’t want to dwell on it. She didn’t feel alone in the way some villagers seemed to think she did. She still missed Pedro every day but her niños didn’t let her mope for very long.

She was finding her way back to happiness and she didn’t appreciate it when others told her marrying again was a shortcut for that.

That wasn’t how grief or love worked.

She took another few calming breaths before leaning against the windowsill, gazing out at the village.

She still wasn’t sure if it was a good thing that the village looked to her as a leader. But she supposed it was a way that she could protect her home from the greedier of the people that lived in the Encanto.

There were still whispers about her having Casita all to herself with only three young niños living with her. They sometimes underestimated what she could hear.

But Casita had made it quite clear. She would not allow anyone but the Madrigals inside unless they had permission from Alma. And no one had voiced the idea of taking the Miracle from her though she had noticed the gleams in certain eyes when they looked to the candle.

She’d just have to stay vigilant and alert.

She would protect her family and home.

Chapter Text

Bruno, Pepa and Julieta were trailing behind their mamá through the market as she shopped. It was pretty busy so, initially, they didn’t notice that they’d been separated from her until Bruno looked up and realised that he couldn’t see her.

“Mami?” he asked, drawing Pepa's attention.

His hermanas looked around and Pepa pointed to the left. “I saw her!”

They quickly weaved through the crowds until they found a narrow alley off the side of the market. Peering in they found their mami but also that meanie Manuel who wouldn’t stop bothering her.

They were all surprised when their mami slapped him but he’d been crowding her against the wall and she looked super angry. So he probably deserved it.

“Juli, go get Tio Carlos,” Pepa urged quietly.

Their hermana nodded nervously as she took off to find him. Meanwhile, Pepa’s temper was ignited when she saw the meanie grab her mami’s wrist and say something that had her looking even angrier.

Surprisingly, Bruno was the first to react. He was usually the most shy out of all of them.

“Leave mami alone!” he yelled, running forward.  

Manuel startled in shock while mami looked concerned about them being there suddenly. Pepa ran after her hermano as her own anger mounted.

“Leave mami alone!” she repeated Bruno’s words since the dummy hadn’t moved yet.

Both of them glared up at him.

“Listen kids, go play alright? Your mamá and I are just talking.”

“Nuh uh!” Bruno shook his head, curls flying wildly. “Leave mami alone!”

Pepa didn’t like how he glared at her hermano. She tugged Bruno back a little so he was next to her.

“Go away,” Manuel repeated, irritation clear on his face. “This is grown-up stuff.”

“No!” Pepa stomped her foot. “You go away meanie!”

He scowled down at the three-year-olds.

“Don’t you touch them Manuel,” mami said sharply. That was the same voice she used when one of them was in big trouble. So Manuel must be in BIG trouble then. Last time Pepa heard it was when she jumped off the railing cause she was racing Bruno to the kitchen. Mami had been so mad but luckily Casita caught her before she hit the floor. She guessed the stairs were there for a reason...

Pepa heard footsteps behind them and smiled widely as Julieta re-joined them.

“What the hell is going on here?!” Tio Carlos sounded super mad and the dumb meanie went very pale. Good.

“Juli! Brunito! Pepi!” Tia Maria called from behind him. “Come over here with Felix and me.”

They all ran over obediently as Tio Carlos stormed forward. And then he punched Manuel in the face. Pepa and Felix cheered while Bruno and Juli looked shocked.

Tia Maria quickly moved over to mami while Tio Carlos yelled at the meanie.

“Are you alright Alma?” she asked gently as she led her back over to them.

“I’m fine,” she assured, smiling as all three of them latched onto her legs in a hug. “He was being an idiota.”

“Hmm, I feel like it was more than that,” Tia Maria lifted her wrist to look at it with a frown. “He hurt you Alma.”

“Meanie hurt mami?!” Pepa demanded in outrage. “Tio Carlos! Punch him hard!”

“Sí!” he called back and the next punch was definitely harder.

“Pepa!” Mami scolded but she set her jaw stubbornly as she stared up at her.

“Does it hurt mami?” Bruno asked, a waver to his voice and their mami quickly knelt down.

“I’m fine Brunito,” she insisted but all three of them could see the bruise showing on her wrist now.

Bruno sniffled. “He hurt you.”

“Bad man,” Pepa insisted.

Their mami sighed and gathered them all up in a hug and they latched on tightly.

“I’m okay,” she promised. “But good work getting your Tio Carlos. Very smart you three.”

“If Juli took too long I was gonna scream,” Pepa informed her. “Scream supa loud like you said we must if someone tries to hurt us.”

“Pepa can scream really loud,” Bruno agreed.

“That she can,” their mami was smiling again and that made them all happy. “Why don’t we all head home?” she suggested.

The three nodded and she gathered up the shopping bags she’d dropped with Tia Maria’s help before they set off back to Casita.

Felix talked to the triplets, trying to cheer them up as they walked. They stuck close to their mami, Bruno keeping a hand fisted in her dress.

Once at Casita, Tia Maria shooed their mami into a chair despite her protests and put some tea on. Bruno immediately clambered into her lap, wide green eyes staring up at her worriedly.

“I’m fine Brunito,” she assured gently, brushing his curly out of his face.

He didn’t say anything, just throwing his little arms around her neck in a hug. Pepa and Julieta were crowded on either side of her chair, both looking just as concerned as their hermano.

“I hope Tio Carlos punched him real hard,” Pepa announced, hands clinging tightly to her mami’s dress. “When I’m bigger, then I’ll punch all the meanies.”

“Hitting people isn’t the answer Pepi,” mami reminded sternly.

“He deserved it,” Julieta mumbled, fidgeting with her hands. “He hurt you mami.”

She sighed and absently rotated her wrist, wincing slightly. The reaction drew frowns from all three of them.

Felix suddenly shoved two chairs right next to their mami and both girls scrambled into them so that they could be closer to her and cuddle into her sides. Pepa gave their friend a bright smile in thanks and he returned it with a thumbs up.

Tia Maria walked back over with the tea and a soft smile when she saw them all cuddling up to their mami.

“That man’s behaviour isn’t acceptable,” she told mami sharply as she placed the tea down on the table.

Mami sighed. “I know that. I didn’t expect him to get so aggressive today.”

“How many times have you told him no by now?”

“At least twelve.”

Tia Maria scowled. “He deserves that beating then. And Carlos is going to give it to him. He hates men like that. Entitled pigs.”

“It’s a minor bruise.”

“If someone had given one of your niños a ‘minor bruise’ you would be the one beating them into the ground.”

Mami sighed again but Pepa wasn’t really paying any attention to the conversation anymore. All that excitement had left her tired and she wanted a nap. Bruno was already asleep in their mami’s lap and Julieta was close behind, leaning on mami’s left side.

Pepa cracked an eye open when she heard the door and saw Tio Carlos come in. He still looked upset but not as angry anymore.

“He won’t come near you again,” he promised their mami.

Pepa closed her eyes again and drifted off to sleep, satisfied that their mami had good friends who would keep the meanie away.

She was going to tell Tia Sophia all about this tomorrow though. That would be fun. Tia Sophia was terrifying when mad. She scared everyone.

Chapter Text

Alma firmly believed that a birthday was one of the most important days of the year. And to her, her niños birthday was the most important day of the year.

Since arriving here, since their very first birthday, Alma had been making sure that they knew how loved and special they were every single year. It was more complicated with all three of them sharing a birthday of course. She had to make sure that none of them ever felt left out, she had to make sure that it was equally special to all of them.

And she liked to think that she’d succeeded over their first three birthdays.

The first one was still tainted bitter with grief over Pedro’s absence so she’d brought the candle down with her as her three niños crawled around and played with Felix and Agustin. Maria and Sophia had asked why she’d been carrying the candle and she’d admitted that it made her feel like Pedro was there, that he could see their niños happy and smiling on their birthday.

The two mothers had smiled sadly and accepted her words just before Carlos came bursting in with presents. Her friends had far too much fun spoiling her niños.

Their second and third birthdays had gone pretty much the same and now that their fourth birthday was here, Alma was determined that they would all enjoy it. They were old enough to understand what day it was now and they’d been excited for weeks.

She refused to let them down.

When she woke them up for breakfast it was with hugs and kisses and whispered happy birthdays. They were smiling from the moment they were awake and those grins only grew when they found their favourite breakfasts waiting for them.

Alma glanced to the candle where she’d set it on the counter. She’d decided to make it a tradition and loved the way it made her niños light up at the sight of it.

When breakfast was eaten, she helped the three get dressed in their new clothes. That was also a new tradition she’d decided to start. They each got a new outfit on their birthday. She’d briefly considered putting them in more formal clothes but quickly dismissed the idea. She wanted them to be comfortable and they could use the clothes for the rest of the year as well.

Pepa giggled and spun in her new yellow and orange dress. Julieta was smiling as she smoothed down her soft blue dress. And Bruno stayed still as she buttoned up his new green shirt.

At least they all had very distinct tastes in clothes.

Casita waved the nursery door and Alma smiled.

“I think our guests are here,” she told them and they raced back down the stairs to the front doors. 

Maria, Carlos and Sophia had arrived together and the triplets chorused a polite greeting before dragging Agustin and Felix inside so they could start playing. Those two had ended up becoming very good friends to her niños. Agustin was a little more shy but Felix managed to draw him out of his shell pretty easily most days.

Alma invited the parents inside after the kids had stampeded off again, candle still in hand.

“They seem excited,” Maria chuckled.

“They’ve been looking forward to today since Agustin’s birthday,” Alma admitted in amusement.

The four adults chatted to each other as they made their way to the sitting room, listening to the shrieking laughter of the kids. Casita would make sure they were okay so they weren’t worried about supervision.

When lunchtime rolled around, Alma called them all over for food and it was mere seconds before the five reappeared. The cake had been taken out and it sat on the counter waiting for after the proper meal was eaten.

It was a mishmash of blue, green and yellow since the triplets had been insistent about sharing a cake even after she’d offered to make them each their own.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of food ending up everywhere, cake over faces and somehow ending up in their hair, presents being opened with great enthusiasm and many pictures being taken that she was sure would embarrass them to no end when they were older.

As she tucked her exhausted triplets into bed that night, all cleaned up and falling asleep as soon as their head hit the pillows, she whispered a last happy birthday.

Another successful one.

Alma stared at the three doors in confusion. They’d appeared out of nowhere during the night and she’d found them when she left her room to prepare her niños birthday breakfast. 

They were already turning five and she could hardly believe it.

She’d been stopped in her tracks when she saw the doors though.

“Casita?” she asked worriedly.

The house only shuffled her roof tiles excitedly.

The nursery door opened and she turned to see her three niños peering out, already awake.

“Mamá?” Julieta asked while they all stared at the doors. “We heard the humming.”

Alma frowned slightly.

“Humming?” 

“Uh huh,” Bruno nodded as they all came closer to her. He pointed at the doors. “It’s coming from those.”

“Where’d they come from mamá?” Pepa asked.

Alma looked down at the candle in her hands and then to the doors. Emotion welled up in her, almost choking her.

“I think,” she whispered. “I think this is a birthday present from your papá,” she breathed.

Somehow, that seemed right. She didn’t know how she felt so sure, but she did.

The three crowded around her and stared up with curious and excited eyes.

“A present?” Pepa asked eagerly.

“Do we gotta wait until after lunch?” Bruno asked with a pout.

Alma looked back at the doors.

“No mijo,” she murmured. “This is a special present. You can open it now.”

She loved her friends but she felt like this was something that should be private to their family.

The triplets lit up in excitement and ran over to the doors, somehow seeming to know where to stand and which one was theirs.

As they reached out to open the doors, Alma smiled. She just knew that this would be a birthday to remember.

Chapter Text

Alma was sitting down in shock when Casita let their guests in.

“It’s a rainbow!”

“I can cook with mamá now!”

“Look! The glass is green!”

Her friends came to a stop as they stared at the triplets running around. Felix and Agustin didn’t really hesitate to run in and join in on the fun. Despite the literal rainbows, sand and glass tablets.

“Uh, Alma?” Carlos asked, rubbing the back of his head and looking baffled.

Alma stared at her three five-year-old niños.

“When I die and see Pedro again, I am going to kill him,” she declared.

They stared at her in shock.

“Bruno! I tripped on your sand!”

“Juli, I think I cut my hand…”

“Is that blood?!”

Alma’s eye twitched.

“Who the hell gives five-year-olds magic?!” she demanded as thunder rumbled in a previously clear sky. “I swear Pedro! I love you but you can be such an idiota!”

By the time the day ended, Alma was exhausted. Thankfully, so were the triplets.

They’d spent the entire day experimenting with these new… Gifts, that they’d fallen asleep in the bath. She hadn’t been able to help smiling as she carried them each to their bed and tucked them in.

She was still reeling from what had happened.

And the impact that might have on the future.

Magic.

Her niños had magic.

Healing. Weather control. Prophecy.

Those weren’t little things. They were life-changing abilities and her niños were so excited.

Alma, on the other hand, was terrified.

Some in the village already looked at Casita, at the Miracle, and coveted it.

Now her niños had something else that they’d want.

She imagined for a moment, as she watched them sleep, what it would be like. They could help the Encanto flourish. No fear of injuries. No fear of droughts. No fear of the future.

It painted the picture of a utopia.

She clenched her fists at her sides.

A utopia where her sweet little niños would be tools, would be practical slaves.

No.

She refused to allow that to happen.

She refused to allow anyone to take advantage of her babies.

Alma had spent four years putting herself back together after Pedro’s death.

It was time she stood up for her family now instead of relying on her friends to.

Her niños needed her and she would not fail them. They would always be her first priority.

Always.

Sometimes, Alma hated it when she was right.

The news of the Gifts had been met with awe and excitement and many villagers came up to them the next time they were in town and asked about them.

Alma was calm and composed as she answered any questions and then there were the requests to see the magic in action.

Her niños were more than excited to show off their new abilities.

The rainbows and healing and images etched in green glass awed the crowd and her babies looked so very proud of themselves.

Alma wasn’t fooled. She kept watching and waiting, staying prepared.

She made a big fuss about teaching Julieta to cook when her hija pleaded with her to. Only the easy dishes of course. And she limited the time Julieta could be in the kitchen so she didn’t go overboard.

She watched Pepa delight in every new part of the weather she discovered with a smile.

She sat with Bruno when he finished his visions and would praise the beautiful tablets they produced, distracting her hijo from exhausting himself with too many visions since he was just so excited.

But she still waited. And eventually, the inevitable happened.

And Alma nipped that right in the bud from day one.

As Julieta carefully explored cooking under her mamá’s close supervision, Alma would put aside the successful extra food that would last a few days at least. She would throw away anything that spoiled but she made sure that there was a small supply ready if needed.

Bruno and Pepa got into enough trouble that the healing food really did help with stopping the tears, and whenever she helped her hermana or hermano, Julieta just lit up like the sun.

So when a villager came to Alma explaining that his son had broken his leg, she sympathised and handed over some of the food wrapped in a cloth. The man thanked her profusely but she insisted that he thank her hija before leaving.

Julieta was walking on clouds the rest of the day.

The next day, a woman showed up with her arm in a sling. Alma knew her, she’d injured her arm when a runaway cart clipped her. They chatted for a bit before the woman thanked Julieta after taking the food.

The third time, Alma put her foot down. Serious injuries, she understood. Julieta adored helping people and being able to get rid of their pain made her positively shine.

But now, she crossed her arms as the man asked for healing food.

“And how did you get a black eye?” she asked, eyebrow raised.

He stuttered and stumbled over his words for a moment in surprise.

Roughhousing at the bar last night it turned out.

“No,” she decided. “You chose to go and get drunk and fight with your friends. You deal with the consequences. I’m sure the hangover and black eye are all part of the ‘experience’ anyway. I wouldn’t want to rob you of that.”

She smiled sweetly before closing the front door on his stunned face.

It wouldn’t be the first time she said no to the hungover, to those that started fights and that one memorable time an idiot asked for food after gaining a papercut.

But she was steadfast in her refusal and didn’t back down. She set the rules and they needed to follow them.

Serious injuries only.

If you got it through your own stupidity, deal with it.

Children were always welcome, as long as their injury wasn’t from a fight they started.

She kept a small stock of healing food for those who truly needed it and taught Julieta early on the importance of saying no to people. She wasn’t to give anyone healing food unless it was an emergency or had Alma’s permission.

Alma knew that her hija loved helping people. Saying no would be a hard lesson for her to learn, but she needed to.

She’d be damned if her niña ended up trapped in the kitchen catering to a town of spoiled babies.

The town’s attention was truly caught on the first day that Pepa got hurt after getting her Gift. The little girl had tripped on the stairs and Casita didn’t catch her in time, resulting in her hitting her chin and wailing loudly enough that the entire house heard her.

Julieta was already rushing to the kitchen by the time Alma reached Pepa and the rain was pouring down and absolutely soaking them.

Some soothing words and an arepa later, Pepa was sniffling but the rain had stopped. Alma cuddled her for a bit until she managed to coax a smile from her and Alma sent her off to play with her siblings again.

She wasn’t truly surprised when the farmers came.

No.

She was just pissed.

“How do you think Pepa makes it rain?” she asked sharply, temper on a short leash.

The farmers stared at her in perplexed confusion and Alma wanted to slam the door in their faces. Instead, she took a deep breath.

“The weather is connected to Pepa’s emotions. When she’s happy, the sun shines. When she’s angry, it thunders. When she’s sad, it rains.”

They continued to stare at her and Alma resisted the urge to slap them.

“I’m not going to make my hija cry to make your jobs easier,” she deadpanned.

Realisation dawned on their faces and they ducked their heads in shame under her glare.

“I’m sure, that during a drought or emergency like a forest fire, Pepa would be willing to find a way to help us. But you are not going to make her sad just to get out of watering your crops.”

Casita slammed the door in their faces. So technically, she didn’t do it.

People were both more tentative, and excited, when they approached Alma about Bruno’s Gift.

And she understood. She really did. After what they’d all gone through, having a prior warning over something like that attack on their home sounded amazing.

However, she still put her foot down.

“Bruno will only do one vision a day,” she repeated when they tried to convince her otherwise. “The visions put strain on him and more than one a day gives him a headache. If anyone wishes for him to try and focus a vision on them, they need to put in a request ahead of time, with me. If there are no requests, he’ll do one aimed at the Encanto in general.”

It was a tiny bit of a lie. More than one big vision in a short period of time did give him a headache, but after a rest he could do another without a problem. She didn’t want that though. She wanted her hijo to play with his hermanas and enjoy being a child. She didn’t want him to work.

So they were forced to accept the one vision a day limit. Bruno already knew he wasn’t allowed to do visions outside of Casita and he was fine with that. The brief, involuntary visions were something else entirety and Julieta and Pepa were already good at recognising them. They’d wait the needed few seconds or minutes, ask what he’d seen and if it was important, they’d tell her. Felix and Agustin were also learning quickly.

This way though, Bruno got to help the Encanto like he wanted to but still had the entire day to play. He could also still choose to have a vision for his friends or hermanas later in the day, safely in Casita.

The kids all thought it was the best thing ever to sit in the dome of glowing green sand in his room and watch the future fly by.

There were grumbles from the village. Of course there were. And people tried taking chances. But her niños were good and listened to her instructions, politely turning anyone down when they tried to get them to do something while Alma wasn’t there.

The one time someone tried to push, Pepa got angry and brought down a thunderstorm.

No one tried that again and Alma snuck Pepa an extra cookie for protecting her siblings.

The little girl looked smug for days.

Rightfully so, in Alma’s opinion. That idiot man ran whenever he saw her Pepita now.

Alma was smug about that.

Chapter Text

Since her niños had gained their magical abilities, Alma had known they’d face new challenges.

She’d stopped the town from trying to take advantage of their Gifts from the first year, firmly cutting them off when they tried until they gave up.

However, she’d known that wasn’t the end of it. She was proven right when a few villagers showed up at the door, clearly annoyed.

“It’s been raining for days Alma,” one of them said, gesturing to the sky in irritation. “Please, you need to teach that child control.”

Alma felt anger bubbling up in her chest but before she could say anything, little seven-year-old Felix appeared at her side. He and his mother had been helping her out over the last few days.

“Pepa’s sick you meanies!” the boy shouted at the villagers, making them take a few startled steps back. “She can’t help the rain! She’s sad and hurt and how’d you like it if someone told you to smile when you were sick?!”

He glared up at them before running back inside.

“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” Alma said, voice calm and cold.

The villagers shifted uncomfortably, ashamed.

“We didn’t know,” One of them tried to defend their actions.

Alma regarded them with cold eyes. “You didn’t ask,” she corrected. “Try and tell my hija how she should feel so that you can have your preferred weather, and we’re going to have some severe problems.”

This time, she did slam the door without any help from Casita.

How could anyone think that it was fine to manipulate how a six-year-old was feeling? Sure, trying to cheer Pepa up when she was upset was one thing. But demanding happiness? With no knowledge of why she was upset in the first place?

Alma hadn’t wanted to slap anyone so much in a long time.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she returned to the sitting room where her niños were all tangled together in a nest of blankets on the floor. They’d all been suffering through a nasty cold the last few days and Maria and Felix had been helping her take care of them.

She knelt down beside the pile and found glazed, green eyes looking up at her. Bruno and Julieta were asleep but Pepa must have heard them at the door. She was biting her lip worriedly, tears already welling up in her eyes.

“Oh mija,” Alma whispered, brushing her hair back. “If anyone ever tells you that you’re not allowed to cry or feel bad, you don't listen to them okay?”

Pepa sniffled and climbed into her lap so that Alma could cuddle her.

“They don’t like me cause of the weather…” she whispered, voice hoarse from the coughing.

“Mija,” Alma whispered, nudging her chin so that she was looking up at her. “Never let others dictate how you feel. If you’re sad, then cry. If you’re happy, then laugh. If you’re angry, don’t hold it in. I don’t care if the weather changes, I don’t care if it’s raining or shining or if there’s thunder. Never hide how you’re feeling, alright?”

Pepa sniffled again but she nodded, wide eyes locked on her mamá. 

“I love every part of you mija, including the rain. The only thing I don’t like is that you’re sad.”

Pepa threw her arms around her mamá’s neck and hugged her. Alma hugged her closely and rocked in place, glancing up when she heard someone in the doorway. Maria smiled back at her and nodded in agreement. Felix looked worried and Alma gestured for him to come closer.

She reached out to ruffle his hair when he was close enough. “Gracias, for standing up for Pepa,” she told him seriously.

He straightened up a little. “Of course! She’s my best friend,” he insisted.

Pepa turned her head to give him a bright smile and outside, sunlight broke through the clouds for the first time in days.

The rain hit them out of nowhere.

It had almost happened in slow motion. The children were all playing down by the river and one boy decided it would be funny to shove Pepa into the water, ruining her dress.

Julieta had hurriedly moved to pull her hermana out of the water and check that she wasn’t hurt while Pepa sobbed. She was only seven. And this was her favourite dress.

“Hah! I made her rain!” the boy thought it was hilarious.

Until Bruno shoved him into the water as well.

“Don’t touch my hermana!” he shouted angrily, eyes glowing green in his anger.

The kids rapidly backed up, not having seen any magic from Bruno who was always sweet and a little shy. But now his eyes blazed green and the sand on the riverbank shifted in response to his anger.

He glared at them for a moment longer before turning to his hermanas. Pepa’s sobs had diminished into sniffles but the rain still fell heavily around them.

Agustin and Felix were just reaching them as well.

“You’re nothing but a jerk and a bully,” Julieta scowled at the boy who was struggling up the now muddy riverbank without any help from anyone.

Felix looked like he wanted to punch the boy but Agustin held him back and pushed him over to Pepa who was clinging to Julieta and Bruno.

“I’m telling the teacher!” one of the other kids suddenly said. “They said you’re not supposed to make other kids cry and you really made Pepa cry,” she pointed at the sky.

The boy scowled at her. “She’s a freak. She ruined a great, sunny day.”

“No,” another boy frowned. “You ruined the sunny day. If you didn’t make her cry then none of us would be cold and wet right now.”

The kids all mumbled in agreement as they saw their teacher coming their way.

“What happened?” she asked, eyes scanning over the whole group.

“Ricardo made Pepa cry!” they didn’t even hesitate to snitch on him.

“He pushed her into the river,” another added.

Ricardo scowled at all of them. The rain was starting to lighten up a bit as Pepa calmed down in the hug from Julieta and Bruno.

“Are you alright Pepa?” the teacher asked gently. She was a friend of Tia Maria’s so she’d always understood their Gifts a bit better since she could ask her friend if she had questions.

Pepa sniffled and nodded. “Lo siento…” she mumbled, wiping at her eyes.

“No no Pepa, remember what your mamá said. You’re allowed to cry as much as any other kid.”

Finally, the rain stopped and Pepa smiled at their teacher a bit as she nodded. Her smile dropped when she looked down at her dress, ruined with mud and river water.

The clouds remained above them but when Felix finally got his hug in, uncaring about how dirty her dress was, no more rain fell.

Ricardo got in a lot of trouble while their mamá fussed over Pepa and promised to get her a new dress.

The kids whispered about Bruno for a while after that, about his magic that they never saw but even when they asked or begged for him to use his Gift, he always shook his head.

No visions outside of Casita and without his mamá.

The storm hit with a force and rage that the village had never seen. One moment, the skies were blue and the next the winds were howling and a vicious rain was pounding down, thunder chasing lightning across the sky.

Alma’s heart was racing in her chest as she ran through the village, searching for her missing niños. Julieta was visiting Agustin at Sophia’s house so she was safe. But she didn’t know where her other eight-year-old triplets were.

And this sudden storm made her fear the worst. Pepa was angry. No, more than that, Pepa was furious.

And the icy bite to the wind told her that her hija was afraid as well.

Finally, she found the pair down an alley near the edge of the village. Her stomach dropped as she took in the scene. Pepa was standing between Bruno and two men. Her hijo was curled up against the wall, arms covering his head and green tablets littering the ground around him.

Every time the men tried to step closer to her niños a lightning bolt struck between them, keeping them away.

Alma raced down the alley, her vision briefly blurring to see Pedro standing between the raiders and his family.

“What do you think you’re doing?!” she snarled, pushing Pepa behind her.

“Mami!” Pepa sounded on the verge of tears and it only pushed Alma’s fury higher.

The men paled at the sight of her. She still held a lot of respect and power in the community despite her refusal to give in to the village’s wishes to use her niños’ Gifts more.

“They were hurting Bruno!” Pepa sobbed, the wind somehow carrying her words clearly to Alma.

“He could help the village so much!” one of the men shouted and she recognised him now. Manuel. He had stayed away from her since Carlos had beat him when her niños were three. The other man with him backed up a bit, looking nervous now.

Alma straightened up despite the near hurricane around them. 

“My hijo is not a tool!” she snarled, stalking forward. “He is a child and he will be treated as nothing else but a child!”

“Stop being so selfish with that magic!” Manuel shouted over the wind.

“Bruno? Bruno please wake up!” Pepa sobbed behind her and fear turned Alma’s blood to ice.

Her usual calm was out the window as she grabbed Manuel’s shirt and dragged him down to her height.

“That magic is not yours to decide how it’s used!” she snapped, maintaining eye contact.

“That magic is for the Encanto!” Manuel shouted back.

Alma didn’t even think as she slapped the man hard enough that her hand throbbed.

“That magic is a gift from Pedro!” Alma shouted at him, making the other man startle. She rarely spoke of her deceased husband. “That Miracle is a gift from Pedro. And Pedro didn’t give a shit about the rest of you that night! He did what he did because he was trying to protect his family! He wasn’t thinking of you or anything else Manuel! He was thinking of his niños! You all owe your lives to him and you repay him by attacking his niños?! By demanding more and more even though you already have a new home and safety?!” She pushed him away from her, into his friend who was staring at her with wide eyes.

“My family owes you nothing!” Alma shouted at them both, frustration over years of standing between them and her niños surfacing. “Get out of my sight!”

And the strangest thing happened.

Her chest warmed and a burning light lit up on the hill where Casita rested. A wave of golden light raced out from her home and down to the town until it hit them, enveloping the pair.

Between one blink and the next, the men were gone.

Alma was rooted to the spot as she stared at the empty space ahead of her for a moment. Then she felt the briefest brush of a hand against her cheek and heard a quiet “Protect them mi amor” in her ear.

She blinked stunned tears out of her eyes. “Pedro?” she breathed.

“The Madrigal Miracle has always been for our family, not the Encanto,” the words were barely a breath on the wind still howling around them. “I’m so proud of you Alma. I’ll always be with you.”

The presence faded into nothing again and Alma gripped the locket around her neck, tears trailing down her cheeks.

She suddenly knew what had happened. The Miracle protected their family, the Miracle created the Encanto.

It had rejected the men who suddenly posed a threat to her niños.

“Get out of my sight!”

The Miracle had reacted to her words, to her wish to get the threat away from her young niños.

They were gone from the Encanto.

She pushed that thought away, pushed her concerns over the repercussions over this reveal aside as she spun to check on her niños.

Pepa was frantically shaking Bruno who wasn’t reacting. Alma dropped to her knees beside them, pulling Pepa close to her body and nudging Bruno’s head up. His eyes were half-closed and burning green. Her heart pounded as she took in the countless tablets around them. How many visions did they force her hijo to have? He wasn’t coming out of the trance, he was trapped in the future and seeing who knew what.

“Bruno? Brunito? Mijo, I need you to focus, please,” she begged, pulling him close to her and holding both Pepa and Bruno tightly. Pepa was still sobbing and the storm around them morphed into a relentless, icy downpour instead as her anger faded fully into fear.

“Alma!” 

She turned her head quickly to find Carlos and Maria racing down the alley towards them. Their eyes widened when they took in the scene, Pepa sobbing, Bruno’s state and the visions scattered around the place.

Carlos’ expression hardened into determination. He started gathering all the tablets hurriedly while Maria helped Alma stand with Pepa clinging to her and Bruno held tightly to her chest.

“Come inside, our house is closer than Casita,” Maria urged.

Within minutes, they were inside her friends’ house, Felix rushing over at the sight of them.

“Pepa?! Bruno?!”

Pepa let Alma put her down so that she could latch onto her best friend, sobbing into his shoulder as the story spilled out of her.

She’d stumbled on the two men hurting Bruno and forcing him to have visions. And she’d just lost it, anger and terror overwhelming her and bringing the storm down on them.

Alma listened numbly as she settled on the couch, Bruno in her lap. Now that she was looking closer and in better light, she could see the bruises on her hijo’s face and arms.

She hadn’t felt regret over what happened to the pair before, but now she felt even less. They’d hurt an eight-year-old boy because they wanted visions of the future. Because they couldn’t be happy with there being a limit to the number of visions Bruno did.

Tears dropped down onto her hijo’s face as Alma stared down at him, feeling terrified and lost. She didn’t know how to bring him out of this. He was trapped in the future.

She pulled him closer as Maria tried to help Felix calm Pepa down and Carlos packed the visions out of sight into a bag. Alma just held her hijo close, his head tucked under her chin as she whispered to him.

“Mijo, please, you need to come back to us. Brunito, mi vida, they can’t hurt you again. They’ll never hurt you ever again. No one will, I promise. You’re safe mijo, you’re safe.”

She kept whispering frantically to him, unable to stop her own tears until, finally, Bruno shifted weakly in her hold.

“Mami?” he whispered.

Alma pulled back a little to see dazed and exhausted, but no longer glowing, green eyes staring up at her. She let out a sob and pulled him close again as Pepa called out her hermano’s name.

Moments later, she slammed into them, clambering onto the couch and squeezing into the hug to practically smother Bruno. Alma easily readjusted to hold them both.

“You’re alright,” she promised them both. “You’re safe. No one’s going to hurt you again.”

“What happened to those bastards?” Carlos asked, sounding angry enough to go hunt them down despite the rain still pouring outside. 

“They’re gone,” Alma answered, still feeling shocked about that. “They… the Miracle reacted and… it sent them away.” She looked up at her friends. “It sent them out of the Encanto.”

Maria gasped while Carlos nodded grimly. 

“That Miracle was born out of a desire to protect your family. It makes sense that it would rescind that protection from anyone that threatened your niños.”

Alma let out a shaky breath as she held her babies closer. “J-Julieta. She’s at Sophia’s. Could…” the question stuck in her throat but Carlos understood. 

“I’ll go fetch her now. She’s probably worried sick.”

Maria settled down on the couch next to Alma, reaching out to rub her back.

“They’re gone?” she checked.

Alma nodded numbly, staring down at Bruno who looked like he was on the edge of sleep already.

“Good,” Maria nodded her head sharply. “Actions have consequences. They have to deal with that now.”

They sat in silence for a while, the only sound Pepa’s sobs as she held her now sleeping hermano.

Then the door slammed open and Julieta came racing in, followed by Agustin and then Carlos and Sophia. Julieta scrambled up to join in on the hug and Alma let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding.

All her niños were safely in her arms.

They were okay.

“Pepa?” she whispered and her hija looked up with wet eyes.

“Good work protecting your hermano. And brilliant storm.”

Chapter Text

Alma watched her nine-year-old hijas running around in the field. They were laughing and smiling but the mark from what happened the previous year showed in how they didn’t move far from Alma and Bruno.

Her hijo was half asleep on her lap, expression peaceful as she played with his curls.

He’d only just recently started sleeping through the night again, having been plagued by nightmares of Manuel and his friend hurting him again.

Her baby had struggled with headaches for weeks after that and hadn’t wanted to venture far from Alma at all. His hermanas refused to let him out of their sight as well, Felix and Agustin acting the same.

She let out a sigh and rested her head on the tree she was leaning against. It always helped her to have her niños nearby and safe. Especially Bruno.

It had been hard to accept that some people might actually hurt him to get access to his magic. She’d tightened up on visions even more after the attack, after he recovered enough that he insisted on starting to do his regular visions again. Thankfully those terrible headaches hadn't returned. They only appeared when he seriously overdid the visions.

Most of the time, those who asked for the vision weren’t even allowed in the room while he had it anymore. Alma was the one to hand the tablet over to them afterward as well.

Sometimes Bruno joined her, sometimes he didn’t. It depended on the day.

He was still understandably skittish.

But things were getting better again.

Pepa didn’t have panic attacks when her hermano was out of sight anymore. Bruno didn’t freak out when they went walking through the village as much. And Julieta had stopped carrying around as much ‘emergency healing food’ as she used to.

The villagers themselves had been horrified by the news. While they were naturally uneasy to find out that Alma apparently had the ability to evict them from the Encanto if they threatened her niños, no one really argued that the pair had deserved it.

Almost everyone loved the triplets. They were sweet and kind and brought a smile to most people’s faces when they went by. Bruno himself was known for being shy and gentle and everyone had been horrified to learn about what had happened to him.

It had broken their hearts to see him so scared when he next showed up in the village, clutching at Alma’s dress and eyes downcast.

The villagers had been doing everything they could to make the three feel safe in the village again, and it was working. They were wandering off from her to play and leaving Casita on their own to find Felix and Agustin again.

It eased her heart to know that they were healing.

She smiled down at Bruno, brushing his hair out of his face.

Her little Brunito, he hadn’t deserved that.

Bruno immediately clung to Alma’s skirt when the woman frowned at the sight of the tablet. Alma rested a comforting hand on the ten-year-old’s head and met the woman’s scowl head-on when she looked up.

“This isn’t what I wanted to see!” she waved the tablet.

Alma could understand that. Seeing that your husband is cheating on you was never pleasant.

“It’s what Bruno saw in his vision. That you requested he have,” she pointed out, a little sharply.

“He- he wouldn’t cheat though. He just wouldn’t,” tears filled her eyes. “This must be a mistake. Or- or he did something!” she jabbed a finger at Bruno who flinched. “He predicted that that poor girl’s fish would die! He’s bad luck!”

Oh. Hell. No.

“That girl refused to put her fish in a larger bowl. Bruno didn’t predict its death. He was telling her a fact. It’s her own fault that she wouldn’t listen. Besides which, bad luck? My hijo? Who predicted the bountiful harvest we will have this year? Who predicted happy marriages for four couples already? Who predicted healthy twins to the Morenos?” Alma took a step towards the woman and she cowered back a bit. “One bad vision among many good ones means little. And even without that, Bruno does not control the future. He only sees it and then passes on what he saw to the person who asked. The only person who can affect your future, is you. You just chose to marry a dick. Casita, see her out.”

Their house swept the ungrateful woman out of her sight and she immediately crouched down next to Bruno.

“And you, Bruno Madrigal, do not listen to people like that. They simply refuse to accept that they, or someone they love, is at fault for something. They want to blame someone else. Never let them blame you. Do you hear me mijo?”

Bruno nodded, gazing up at her in wonder. He always did when she put a villager in their place. Pepa was starting to pick up her habits and had done it herself already a few times even at her young age.

Alma couldn’t be prouder.

“You are doing these people a favour Brunito. And if they cannot understand that, then they do not deserve it.”

Bruno nodded a bit more firmly now and Alma smiled.

“Now, how about some hot chocolate?”

Her hijo lit up and nodded eagerly.

“Mamá!” Bruno’s yell startled her and she looked up in alarm to see him sliding down the stairs, green tablet in hands.

The eleven-year-old was much more comfortable doing his visions again and he could do them whenever he wanted in his room, as long as it wasn’t for a villager if Alma wasn’t there.

“Mijo?” she asked in alarm, drying her hands from washing the dishes on her apron.

Bruno was smiling as he ran up to her. Positively beaming actually.

“Mamá, I had a vision.” There was a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.

She raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And what did you see?”

He held the tablet out proudly and Alma’s breath caught. She trailed her fingers over the image of Pepa, all grown up in a wedding dress, dancing with a grown-up Felix who gazed at her with adoring eyes. There was light rain falling around them both as they danced.

Alma had never seen anything more beautiful in her life.

She smiled at her hijo.

“Gracias Brunito. But let’s keep it a secret from your hermana hmm? Some things are better experienced as a surprise.”

Of course, Bruno teased Pepa when she got home that he knew who she was going to marry. She chased him down and demanded answers but he only laughed and refused. When she was getting worked up he hugged her and whispered that he’d never seen her look so happy.

Alma watched them fondly, having shown Julieta the vision before hiding it in her room. When that day happened, she would frame it and hang it up on her wall.

Bad luck. Honestly. Bruno was the furthest thing from it.

He was her little good luck charm.

Chapter Text

Bruno squinted up at the sun as he waited for his hermanas.

It was way too early.

“Have any more prophecies of doom?” Ricardo sneered from nearby.

Bruno yawned. “Nope, it’s my day off.”

And he was still up early because he couldn’t deny his hermanas anything. Ugh.

Ricardo scowled at his lack of a reaction to the taunt but why would Bruno react? He had just as many good visions as bad ones and they were only something he watched. He couldn’t affect anything about the future.

Bruno started when Pepa and Juli burst out of the bakery and shoved something that smelled amazing right under his nose.

Maybe he’d forgive them for the early hour after all.

“And look, here comes the weather witch,” Ricardo muttered.

Juli and Bruno rolled their eyes with all the judgment twelve-year-olds could muster while Pepa snorted.

“I love that nickname. Makes me sound badass.”

“You are badass,” Bruno pointed out while Ricardo spluttered, trying to find another insult.

Unfortunately for him, Pepa was an expert at taking what people tried and hurt her with and owning it.

She shoved her own treat into her mouth and grabbed Bruno’s hand to drag him along.

What were they even doing today?

By the time they returned to Casita at lunchtime, he still didn’t have an answer to what they’d been doing all day. It had felt like they’d just spent it wondering around aimlessly until lunchtime hit and then beelined straight for Casita.

And Pepa seemed excited about something.

When he saw the twinkle in his mamá’s eyes, he realised that they’d all been plotting something together.

It was dangerous being the only boy in the house. The girls ganged up on you.

“What did you do?” he asked suspiciously as they shooed him up to his room.

“Mamá needed time to set it up,” Pepa chirped. “So we needed to keep you busy.”

“Set it up?” Bruno asked in bewilderment.

“Tio Carlos made it,” Juli explained. Which explained exactly nothing.

He gasped when he opened his door though. There was a large rat playpen in his room. He’d started befriending the little animals lately, they were cute and smart. He knew most people thought it was weird though.

But… they got him a rat playpen?

“I’m hoping this keeps them out of your bed,” mamá teased gently.

Bruno beamed up at her and hugged her tightly. Then he hugged his hermanas. 

“You’re a weirdo,” Pepa told him with a laugh. “But you’re our weirdo. So if you want rats, you get rats.”

This was the best day ever.

Bruno watched the strange weather in concern.

“Mamá? Did someone upset Pepa? The weather’s been weird for two days now.”

He heard his mamá sigh and mutter something about his papá under her breath before she moved to sit next to him.

“Brunito. I think we need to have a… a talk about what happens when girls hit a certain age. Your hermanas are thirteen now. They’re starting to grow up."

Bruno stared up at her with innocent confusion.

He raced out of Casita with a burning face twenty minutes later, that innocence in tatters. Tia Maria opened the door to his frantic knocking and he ran straight to Felix’s room and threw himself on the bed.

“Girls are gross!” he shouted into the pillow.

Felix grimaced. “I was wondering when your mamá would tell you."

Alma wished her hijo wouldn’t be so blunt about certain things. Ever since discovering exactly why his hermanas were in bad moods for a few days every month, the poor boy had become painfully in tune with when it was happening. He could usually figure it out before Alma could, just from their expressions or tones of voice.

But he didn’t have to be so blunt about it.

She was just letting Carlos, Maria, Sophia and their boys in when Bruno piped up from the sitting room.

“The red devils are in occupation.”

Felix and Agustin both grimaced and seemed to steel themselves. Carlos cracked up and fell over since he was laughing so hard and Maria and Sophia stared in Bruno’s direction in shock.

“I wish you wouldn’t call it that Bruno,” she sighed.

“I’m in hell for three to five days. It’s accurate!” he shouted back, only making Carlos laugh harder.

His hermanas weren’t impressed with the way he went about it but they grudgingly accepted it since he always knew just when they needed a bar of chocolate and he was impossibly sweet to them during that week.

When they were fourteen, Bruno made a comment to a villager that had Alma snickering in her room for hours.

One of the villagers had gotten annoyed with Pepa’s moody weather during her ‘red devil’s visit’ as Bruno put it, and stopped her in town while Bruno was trying to cheer her up.

He told her that she needed to learn to control herself, drawing thunder from the teenager.

Bruno had looked at him with complete innocence and asked if he told his wife the same thing during her time of the month.

Since his wife was present, she informed Bruno that no, he didn’t. She then proceeded to force her husband to apologise before dragging him off, promising to give him another lesson on the subject so he didn’t say something so dumb again.

Pepa was all rainbows for the rest of the day and hugged her brother no less than twice every hour.

Sometimes Alma wished Bruno wasn’t as blunt as he was. But then again, he wouldn’t be Bruno if he wasn’t. And she loved every part of him.

Even his long-suffering ‘the red devil’s’ here comments.

Pedro would be laughing his ass off if he could see this.

Alma opened the door to find sixteen-year-old Felix standing there, looking like he was afraid she might bite him.

“I would like to humbly request your permission to date Pepa,” he told her, straightening up and looking adorably serious.

Inwardly, Alma smiled and thought of that vision she treasured up in her room.

Outwardly, she raised an eyebrow.

Even though she knew how it ended, it was fun to make the poor boy sweat for a few minutes. This was her baby girl they were talking about after all.

Chapter Text

Bruno made a face as he turned the corner and did an abrupt about-face.

“Really Bruno?” Julieta sighed as she caught sight of Pepa and Felix cuddling on the couch.

“Nope. I see enough of the lovey-dovey in my visions. I don’t need to see it in reality.”

The sixteen-year-old went straight for the kitchen where his mamá gave him an exasperated look. But she also gave him an arepa and let him sit there while Pepa and Felix were being all sickeningly sweet together.

Best mamá. His hermanas could lighten up on the love stuff though.

Which reminded him. 

“I had a vision of Juli,” he told her as his hermana walked into the room.

“Oh?” mamá asked.

Julieta stopped and narrowed her eyes on her hermano. 

Bruno smirked.

“I know who she’s going to marry.”

“Bruno!” Juli whined.

Mamá chuckled. “Did you do what I asked you to with the tablet?”

“Yup,” Bruno watched his hermana fume in amusement. “Juli won’t ever find it.”

His hermana made an incoherent sound of rage.

Riling them up would never not be fun.

Alma smiled softly as she studied the tablet Bruno had hidden in her room for her. Julieta looked radiant in her wedding dress and she and Agustin were smiling so sweetly at each other it made Alma's heart ache.

She sighed as she hid this one with the other one. She both looked forward to those days and dreaded them. Because her babies were growing up so fast.

Sixteen already.

Julieta and Pepa were growing into beautiful girls and she saw more of Pedro in Bruno every day. 

They were growing up.

Agustin’s request to date Julieta when she turned seventeen was an utter disaster. The poor boy was a nervous wreck and it ended in Alma calming the teenager and sitting him down with a cup of tea.

“I’m not going to snap at you Agustin,” she told him in amusement. “You’ve been a good friend of my niños for years now.”

“B-but… b-but Felix…” he stuttered and Alma chuckled.

“It really was too much fun terrorising that boy,” she admitted.

Agustin stared at her.

“Bruno gets it all from you,” he decided.

That only made Alma laugh more.

“Be quiet!”

The hissed not-quite-a-whisper woke Alma and she frowned to herself. No one should be up. Her niños were out with their friends late tonight. It was their eighteenth birthday and Alma remembered letting loose on her own.

Well, she didn’t quite remember.

But that was the whole point.

Starting to get an idea of what was probaby happening, she opened her door and stepped up to the railing, leaning on it and smirking.

Julieta was shaking Pepa violently while Pepa only giggled uncontrollably. Rainbows kept winking in and out of existence above her head.

Bruno was sitting on the floor while Agustin tried to get him up again.

“Come on Bruno,” the only sober one in the group tried. “Time to go to bed.”

“I don’t wanna,” her hijo complained and Alma hid a smile.

Oh dear.

Julieta was swaying as she shook her hermana, hissing at her to be quiet. Pepa was still giggling. Bruno seemed to have decided that the floor was a great place to be.

It didn’t even look like Felix got past the entryway.

“Casita…” Bruno whined. “Stop- stop spinnin’.”

“Casita isn’t moving,” Julieta snapped.

Pepa suddenly threw herself at her hermana in a hug and bowled them both over.

“Pepa!”

“Wanna hug.”

“I don’t.”

“Hug me Juli.”

“No.”

The rainbows turned to clouds as Pepa’s lower lip wobbled.

“Juli doesn’t love me anymore!” she wailed.

“Get off!” a very irritable Julieta shoved at her hermana.

Bruno clumsily patted Agustin’s shoulder. “Good luck, Juli’s a bitch when drunk…”

“What did you say Bruno!?”

Bruno’s eyes went wide as his hermana tried to stand, only to topple right over again.

Agustin buried his face in his hands.

Felix snored.

And Alma gave into her laughter as her niños blearily looked up at her.

“Why are there three mamás?” Bruno whispered.

“Mamá! Juli doesn’t love me anymore!”

Julieta scowled. 

Alma just kept laughing.

All three of her niños looked like death warmed over in the morning.

Bruno had his head on the table and let out a small whimper at every slightly too loud sound.

Pepa was staring ahead of her, a slightly green tinge to her skin.

Julieta was still in a mood, head resting in her hand.

“I wish my food cured hangovers,” she muttered petulantly.

Alma chuckled, keeping the sound soft for their sakes.

“You shouldn’t enjoy our pain,” Julieta mumbled.

“You chose to drink too much,” Alma pointed out. “You get the consequences. Besides, you three are hilarious when drunk.”

Bruno whined.

“I wouldn’t have guessed that Juli was the grumpy, irritable drunk.”

Julieta’s face turned red and she hid it in her arms.

“Or that Pepa was the clingy drunk.”

Pepa barely reacted, still staring vacantly ahead of her.

“Or that Bruno was a whiny drunk.”

“Not whiny,” he mumbled almost too softly to hear.

Alma hummed.

“Whatever you say.”

“I’m never doing that again,” Bruno breathed.

“Me either,” Julieta groaned.

Alma more believed Bruno than Julieta.

“I’m doing it next week,” Pepa decided.

That was hardly surprising.

“Mamá?”

Alma looked up to find Bruno standing nervously in the doorway.

She frowned. Her hijo hadn’t been nervous about talking to her for as long as she could remember.

She gestured for him to join her and he hesitantly sat next to her.

He was tense and anxiously tapping his fingers in a rhythm on the side of the couch.

“Bruno?” she asked gently.

Even at nineteen, finally taller than her and hardly a child anymore, he would always be her baby. Her youngest.

He was the only one that still let her baby him a little, indulging her in her fussing while Pepa got irritated and Julieta exasperated.

“What’s wrong mijo?”

“I think… something’s wrong with me,” he admitted after a moment.

Alma frowned as she watched him. Was he not feeling well?

“What do you mean?” 

Bruno swallowed. 

“Felix just proposed to Pepa, I’m sure you saw the rainbows. A-and it was great. I’m happy for her. She’s happy. Felix is happy. But… I just… don’t get it?”

“Get what?” she asked, trying to figure out where Bruno’s rambling thoughts were going.

“Why. I don’t get… why. Juli and Pepa are happy and in love and I don’t really… understand it. I’ve never felt like that about anyone. I’ve never had a crush. I’ve never seen the point. All the kissing and hand-holding just seems… meh?” He fidgeted with his hands. “When the girls flirt with me, and yes I’m not that oblivious, I notice. But when they do, I just don’t really feel anything. I don’t get like Pepa and Juli do. Or how Felix and Agustin do when mi hermanas flirt with them.”

He looked away and swallowed. “Is there something wrong with me?”

“Oh no, no mijo,” she grabbed his hands tightly in her own, several things falling into place in her mind. “Brunito, I need you to listen to me very carefully okay?”

He reluctantly looked up to meet her eyes.

“There is nothing wrong with you. You don’t like or understand romance? That’s perfectly fine. It’s actually normal for a lot of people. There’s nothing wrong or broken about you. You’re just aromantic. You just don’t see the point in romance or romantic interactions. You’re not interested in them. And that’s perfectly fine.”

“There’s a word for it?” Bruno asked in confusion.

Alma smiled gently at him. “Sí, there is. And it’s normal. Bruno, your hermanas are going to get married. But that doesn’t mean that you have to. It also doesn’t mean that you won’t find someone that you form a special connection with, in your own way. All I want for you is to live a happy life of your own choice. Understand?”

He gave her a slightly shaky smile and she pulled him into a hug.

“There is nothing wrong with you,” she repeated firmly in his ear. “Nothing.”

Bruno burst into Alma’s room looking like a man that had seen war.

“Biology is evil to women!” he shouted. “I’m so sorry mamá.” He pressed a green glass tablet into her hands. “I’m going to get you chocolate. You deserve it. Pepa and Juli do too. I’m going to smack Felix and Agustin for putting them through that.”

He turned to leave.

“There are some things a hermano should never see!” he shouted as he disappeared out the door.

Completely bewildered, Alma looked down at the tablet. Her breath caught and she shakily traced over the image of an exhausted Julieta holding a tiny little baby in her arms.

Ay, that boy was so dramatic.

But she did pity him for having seen that. Pedro had fainted during her labour.

Chapter Text

The wedding was beautiful and chaotic, just like Alma had expected. Everyone had given her strange looks when she showed up with an umbrella but now she was able to stand in the rain and watch her hija and Felix exchange vows without getting wet.

Of course it would rain.

And thunder.

And hail.

A wedding was amazing and terrifying and the best day of a woman’s life.

The mix-up of emotions was normal and Alma would never want Pepa to suppress them on her special day.

It didn’t matter if it was raining. There were rainbows in the air and Pepa was smiling.

That was all that mattered.

Pepa frowned as Bruno darted over and all but hid behind her. With her being married and Juli planning her own wedding, the women in the village had all turned their attention to Bruno.

She could understand. Her hermanito had grown into a handsome young man. He was sweet and thoughtful and sensitive. Everything that women wanted.

He was also not interested in romance at all, something that their mamá had explained to them. Bruno had been so nervous when he told them and they’d been sure to smother him in affection and assurances that it was alright and he was perfect the way he was.

He’d also been pretty honest with the village whenever he was asked out. He told anyone that asked that he wasn’t interested in a relationship.

Most of them took this as a challenge. That they just needed to work harder to catch his attention.

Resulting in them harassing him and setting his poor nerves on edge until he inevitably took refuge with one of his hermanas or with their mamá.

This was getting on Pepa’s nerves and she scowled at the woman approaching them, making her shift nervously. She crossed her arms and moved to stand more fully in front of Bruno.

“Why are you bothering my hermano?” she demanded bluntly.

The woman scowled, drawing herself up.

“I just wanted to ask him something.”

“And I’m pretty sure that he’s already said no to this ‘something’, multiple times,” Pepa shot back.

The woman flushed red in both anger and embarrassment. 

“Let me give you a little tip,” Pepa continued before she could speak. “No doesn’t mean ‘try harder’ or ‘keep going’. No means no. It’s a pretty simple to understand word. And honestly, desperation isn’t a good look on anyone.”

She steered Bruno away from the spluttering woman, taking her thundering cloud with her.

“Gracias,” he murmured.

“Anytime Brunito,” she slung an arm over his shoulders. “Now, when are you going to give me the next episode of your telenovela?!”

Bruno lit up and started talking excitedly about when it was scheduled for. It was their favourite family bonding time, everyone getting together for whatever new dramatic twist Bruno had come up for the story.

Pepa and Felix were maybe a bit too invested. The rats looked cute in those costumes though.

And mamá got just as invested, even if she claimed that she didn’t.

Julieta’s wedding was beautiful and Alma wasn’t surprised when poor Agustin tripped down the aisle and then fell into the wedding cake later during the reception.

Personally, she thought that it made the day more memorable and from Julieta’s laughter, she was pretty sure that her hija agreed.

Alma leaned back in her seat as the new husband and wife danced around the room, absolutely adoring expressions on their faces.

“Can you believe we all ended up related?” Sophia asked with a chuckle.

“Meant to be,” Maria murmured with a soft smile as she spotted her hijo dancing with Pepa.

“I bet that Felix and Pepa will have the first grandkids,” Carlos stated bluntly, already on his fifth drink.

“Carlos!” Maria smacked his arm while Alma and Sophia laughed.

“Considering all the places Casita has to shoo us away from inside, I would believe that,” Alma said dryly. “Poor Bruno walked in on them once. That poor boy has the worst timing sometimes.”

They all winced in sympathy.

“Well, I think it’ll be Agustin and Julieta. It’s always the quiet ones you should watch out for,” Maria pointed out.

“Then we should be watching Bruno,” Sophia smirked.

Suddenly her eyes narrowed and she sighed. “One moment. I’m going to shame another young woman for harassing that poor boy.”

Alma scowled when she turned to see a woman clearly pleading with her hijo for a dance. Honestly, he’d made it pretty clear. He’d also explained why he didn’t want to date multiple times. These girls just refused to listen.

Sophia stalked straight over and Alma could see the girl practically crumble under her sharp words as Bruno looked to his Tia in gratitude.

She was going to lose her temper at this rate.

It wouldn't be pretty if she did.

“The girls in town are mortified,” Pepa said with a smirk as she slid into her seat across from Alma.

Alma raised an eyebrow while Julieta turned to look at her hermana curiously.

“Why?” Alma asked, already amused just from the glee in Pepa’s eyes.

“Bruno slept with Juan.”

Alma blinked in surprise. “The baker’s hijo? He's a nice boy.”

Pepa nodded while Julieta let out a laugh, already knowing where this was going.

“They think he’s gay now don’t they?”

Pepa snorted and nodded again. “They can’t get it into their heads that aromantic and asexual are two very different things. Juan doesn’t want a relationship, but both him and Bruno are attracted to each other. So they had some harmless fun together.”

“Did Bruno say anything?” Juli asked curiously.

“That it was fun but he still didn’t get why Felix and I did it so much,” Pepa snorted.

Alma laughed and Julieta snickered.

She felt a little sad, knowing that her baby boy was also growing up, finding the courage to explore and learn about himself on his own.

But she’d raised her niños right. They knew how to stand up for themselves. They knew how to stand their ground and say no.

Now Alma had to trust them to live their lives, to make their own mistakes and overcome their own challenges.

And to find their happiness in whatever form it took.

“Congratulations,” Bruno mumbled as he shuffled into the room, barely awake.

His hermanas looked at him in confusion.

“To who?” Pepa asked, perplexed.

“Both of you,” Bruno yawned and dropped into his seat.

“Why?” Juli asked.

Alma was watching them with mild confusion as well. Felix and Agustin looked puzzled so they didn’t know either.

“You’re gonna be parents. And Tia Maria won the bet.”

Alma dropped a plate.

Felix choked on his coffee.

Agustin straight up fainted.

Julieta and Pepa stared at their hermano, jaws hanging open.

“No, I’m not telling you the genders,” Bruno added after a beat.

Pepa suddenly squealed and launched herself at him, knocking him out of his chair as she hugged him. 

Juli stared into space. “I’m going to be a mamá?” 

“It’s too early for this,” Bruno complained from where Pepa was hugging the life out of him.

Alma stared at him. She was going to be an Abuela? Already?!

Chapter Text

“I saw it once and I won’t see it again!” Bruno shouted.

He was drowned out by Julieta’s screams and curses directed at her husband.

“We are never having sex again!” she shrieked.

Bruno covered his ears and hummed, expression screwed up in disgust.

Pepa sat beside Felix, rubbing her own swollen stomach anxiously.

“This is terrifying,” she decided.

“It’s been ten hours…” Felix whispered in horror.

Alma worked with the midwife, the only calm in the chaos of her family. Sophia rolled her eyes at Bruno’s antics as he refused to come near Julieta’s room.

Maria was comforting Pepa who was really starting to fear her own upcoming labour.

“Is this normal?” Felix squeaked. “How long its taking?”

Maria patted his cheek. “Felix, mijo, you took fifteen hours. I cursed your papá to hell and back several times.”

He made a strangled sound and Pepa rested her head in her hands.

“Whoever said childbirth is a wonderful experience was definitely a man,” Bruno mumbled.

“Agreed,” Carlos sighed, sitting beside the younger man and wincing at every new scream.

It was a long night.

The wails of a newborn drew everyone towards the room though. Juileta was exhausted but smiled adoringly at the small bundle in her arms. Agustin was leaning over her, awe on his face.

Julieta looked up and smiled at them when Pepa and Bruno peered in through the door.

“Come meet your sobrina,” she murmured tiredly.

“A girl?” Pepa breathed.

Bruno didn’t look surprised. “What did you name her? I tried to avoid finding that out.”

Julieta’s smile widened a bit at that admission.

“Isabela. Our little flower,” she whispered, brushing at the wisps of dark hair on the baby’s head.

Bruno looked at the little girl and his eyes flashed green, surprising everyone. He didn’t get the involuntary visions too often anymore.

Pepa reached out automatically to steady him as he lost himself to the future for a moment.

He saw a smiling little girl with long straight black hair and wide hazel eyes in front of a glowing golden door. She reached for it and the door blazed.

Bruno blinked back to the present, seeing the familiar concern on everyone’s faces. He was usually a bit dazed after these since they were unexpected.

A chuckle escaped him. “She’s going to be a beautiful little girl,” he told Julieta. “And she’ll get a Gift on her fifth birthday.”

There were some surprised gasps at that. They hadn’t been sure if the magic would continue into the second generation. Wondering eyes turned back to little Isabela sleeping soundly against her mamá’s chest.

“What wonders will you bring us mi flor?” Julieta whispered.

“Something amazing,” their mamá murmured, resting a hand on Julieta’s shoulder. “She will be amazing. And the Gift will be a nice perk too.”

They all laughed, not surprised that she was already downplaying the importance of the future Gift. Their mamá had spent years ensuring that they didn’t define themselves by their magic.

That would hardly change for her nieta.

Little Isabela completely captured all their hearts in a very short space of time. Alma especially was enamoured with her first nieta. She was a big help to Julieta and Agustin who were adjusting to an erratic sleep schedule.

Their sweet little flower wasn’t afraid to scream her lungs out when she was upset about something.

“How on earth did you do this with three of us?” Julieta asked her one early morning as Alma rocked Isabela to sleep while Juli collapsed in the rocking chair in the nursery.

Alma hummed. “Sheer stubbornness,” she chuckled, watching Isabela’s eyes slowly slip closed again.

Julieta watched them for a moment with a smile. Alma had taken to being an Abuela like she was born for it. And Isabela already adored her. Personally, she hoped they stayed close. Ever since the triplets grew up, she knew that her mamá missed this, missed babying them.

She rested her head against the back of the chair with a sigh while her mamá sang a familiar lullaby to Isabela.

Isabela was three months old when Pepa finally had her baby. Since Juli had been early and Pepa's pregnancy stretched later than it should have, the age difference between the children stretched from the expected two months to three.

"I hate you," Julieta deadpanned as she glared at her hermana. 

Pepa only gave her a sheepish grin.

"Four hours?! Instead of fourteen?!"

The others laughed at her complaints over the unfairness. The village wouldn't be complaining. The labour had brought down one hell of a storm on the Encanto. They were probably relieved it was only four hours.

Bruno approached his hermana to see the little bundle with hints of curly hair. Felix was beaming like an idiot and Pepa smiled at him.

"Another little girl, but you already knew that."

He smiled sheepishly. "What did you name her?"

Pepa looked down with an adoring smile.

"Dolores."

He smiled at the sleeping baby. Their latest addition to the family.

He knew they'd only continue to expand.

The moment the girls were mobile, the triplets regretted everything they put their mamá through as toddlers.

"Isabela! Get off the table!'

"Dolores! Out of the cupboards!"

The poor parents were relieved to get help from the rest of the family. Their parents were always eager to help, adoring their nietas, and Bruno was smitten with the girls as well. He surprised himself with how comfortable he was with the little ones, happy to take one when their parents needed a rest.

The girls both had very clear favourites when it came to babysitters though. 

Isabela adored her Abuela and Alma returned the affection happily. The little girl tottered after her Abuela throughout the house as she did her own things, giving Agustin and Julieta a much-needed break.

Isabela had turned out to be a demanding little one, crying when she wanted something or someone.

The kid had one hell of a set of lungs on her.

Dolores was a lot quieter, and more likely to sleep through the night much to Pepa and Felix's relief. 

She only had to turn those big, brown eyes towards her Tio Bruno though and he just melted, carrying her around and making her giggle.

The girls couldn't be more different. And yet they were practically joined at the hip. Isabela and Dolores adored each other and played together happily when they weren't with their parents or the other adults. It wasn't an uncommon sight to see Isabela running as fast as her little legs could carry her and for Dolores to be following close behind. Just a lot more careful and needing a lot less of Julieta's food for scrapes and scratches.

"They're more like hermanas than primas," Julieta chuckled one evening, Isabela dozing in her arms.

Bruno was in the armchair they'd moved to the nursery, Dolores sleeping on his chest.

"Nothing wrong with that," he murmured softly. "They're being raised together. They're living in the same room. It's natural that they're close."

"I'm glad they are," Julieta admitted. "We had each other when we grew up, as triplets. I'm glad that these two will have each other. I hope they always stay close."

"Me too," Bruno admitted, smiling as Dolores cuddled closer in her sleep.

He didn't need visions to know that these girls would grow into amazing women. They were his hermanas' niñas after all.

"Congratulations," Bruno mumbled as he shuffled into the kitchen.

Pepa froze where she was feeding Dolores while Julieta's head whipped around, cloth she'd been using to clean Isabela's face hovering in midair.

Everyone stared at the half-asleep seer.

"To who?" Alma was the one to ask.

"Julieta," Bruno yawned. "No, I still won't tell you the gender."

Agustin fainted again. Julieta dropped the cloth in shock.

"Oh thank goodness, I wasn't ready for another one," Pepa breathed. Felix nodded fervently in agreement.

Alma patted Julieta’s shoulder and put a coffee cup in front of Bruno. He made a thankful noise and started sipping at the drink. 

Dolores and Isabela frowned up at their parents. They were so weird…

Chapter Text

Isabela pressed her hands against her mamá's stomach with wide, curious eyes.

"Do you think you're getting a hermanito or a hermanita?" Julieta asked with a soft smile.

Isabela screwed up her face as she thought.

"Hermanita," she decided firmly.

Dolores watched quietly with wide eyes from her mamá's lap.

Both two-year-olds were fascinated with the idea of a new baby. Isabela trailed her mamá everywhere now.

It really was the cutest thing.

When Julieta went into labour though, Pepa and Felix were quick to grab both girls and go for a walk outside so they wouldn't have to hear anything traumatising.

Bruno resigned himself to hearing Julieta's creative swearing again and nine hours later he went to fetch the others where they had the girls napping between them as the sun set.

Isabela raced up to her mama's bed when they opened the door to her room, eyes wide and excited. Agustin helped her up onto the bed and she stared at the new baby in awe.

"Meet your hermanita Isa," Julieta murmured tiredly. "Luisa."

"Luisa?" Isabela whispered while Dolores watched curiously from her papá's arms.

Julieta nodded.

"Sí, your hermana." 

Isabela beamed.

Isabela approached having a hermanita with all the seriousness that Julieta approached being the oldest triplet. She was determined to be the best hermana ever.

At first, they were worried about Dolores getting jealous. She quickly put that worry to rest as she adored Luisa just as much as Isabela did.

Isabela spent hours talking to the new baby, telling her about all the fun stuff they'd do when she was older. Dolores preferred to quietly watch or hum softly to little Luisa.

Either way, the girls took to a new baby in the house without any problem.

Luisa, it quickly became apparent, was a sweet little daddy's girl. While Isabela was excitable and impulsive, Luisa was quieter and was always happier when in her papá's arms.

"I want one," Dolores pouted one day, the four-year-old cuddled up in her Tio Bruno's lap. They were watching Isabela playing with Luisa in the courtyard.

"A hermana?" Bruno asked.

She shook her head though. "I've got hermanas. Isa and Luisa are my hermanas. I want a hermanito."

He chuckled at the firm, decisive tone.

"Well, your mamá isn't ready to have another baby yet. So you'll have to wait a little bit before you find out if you'll get one."

"Can't you just tell me?" She complained.

He laughed softly. Lo siento mi sobrina. But no spoiling big surprises like this."

She gave a long-suffering sigh and he bit back a laugh.

"Ay I swear you come back covered in mud more often than you don't," Julieta said in exasperation, holding her hija out at arm's length.

Isabela was covered in mud, all over her skin, hair and clothes. She was also beaming happily.

"I made mud cakes!" She said excitedly.

Julieta looked down at Dolores who had been playing with Isabela now that the rain had cleared. Her hands were covered in mud as she looked up curiously, a tiny smudge of mud on her cheek the only other evidence of what she'd been doing.

How did she stay so clean in comparison?

"And we made a friend!" Isabela declared, pointing at the muddy boy who was still putting together mud cakes.

Julieta was fifty percent sure the muddy boy was Mariano Guzman. She couldn't quite tell through the mud.

She sighed.

"That's really not how a little lady should behave," someone nearby muttered.

Julieta shot them a sharp look while the three kids all looked over.

"Excuse me?" She asked dangerously.

The woman flushed but straightened. "Look at her! At least little Dolores is mostly clean."

"Dolores doesn't like dirt," Pepa said, having come up behind the woman. "Isabela doesn't care. Why should she? She's four."

"As the oldest hija in your family, you should really expect more!" The woman burst out.

Julieta narrowed her eyes. She was pretty sure this was one of the girls who had harassed Bruno when they were younger.

"She's four," their mamá said dryly as she came up as well. "As for expectations as the oldest girl, I expect Isabela to grow up doing what makes her happy. Not what makes you happy."

She glared down the woman who wilted under the look.

“Abuela! I made mud cakes!” Isabela cried out happily, too young to understand, or care, about what a stranger was saying.

Mariano was back to making his mud cakes, clearly not caring.

Dolores was frowning at the woman though, a little downturn of her mouth showing that she was upset.

Abuela turned to say something to Isabela, already smiling.

A loud splat echoed in the air, cutting her off.

They all turned to stare at the rude woman who was staring at Dolores speechlessly as a mud cake dripped down her cheek.

Dolores blinked innocently up at her.

“Oops,” she smiled sweetly. “It slipped.”

Pepa started howling with laughter. Julieta sighed.

“Good aim,” Abuela complimented. “But only throw things at people that are mean to the familia.”

Dolores nodded somberly in understanding.

Alma found Julieta standing in the kitchen doorway, staring up at the candle.

“Nervous?” she asked gently.

Julieta gave her a wry smile. “My baby is turning five tomorrow and apparently going to get a magical Gift. Of course I'm nervous."

Alma looked at her.

"What is really worrying you Juli?" She asked gently.

Julieta swallowed hard. "What if her Gift is amazing and useful and the village… tries to pressure her like they tried with us?"

Alma looked up at the candle.

"Then I will do what I did back then. I will stop them. And so will you. You're her mamá Juli. I've seen how protective you get when they try anything with Pepa and Bruno. You'll be even worse if they try it with your hija."

Julieta let out a shaky breath.

"I never told you how much I appreciated you protecting us," she whispered.

“Mija, don’t be silly,” she scolded gently. “I’m your mamá. I’ll always protect you. That’s never going to change. And I’m Isabela’s Abuela. I’ll be damned if anyone hurts or tries to use my nieta.”

Julieta turned and hugged her tightly.

“Gracias,” she whispered.

Alma held her tight. Her niños had grown up.

But they were still her niños. She'd always protect them.

The day was planned to perfection. Mariano was invited over since he'd become a good friend of Isabela and Dolores. The cake was baked, Isabela’s favourite breakfast prepared.

Birthdays were always a special day in the Madrigal family.

This one even more so.

Alma gripped the candle tightly and smiled, tears in her eyes as Julieta and Agustin led their hija up to the glowing golden door.

Isabela stared at it in wonder as she reached out for the doorknob.

The door blazed.

A new chapter of magic began.

Chapter Text

The family watched in awe as Isabela ran around the courtyard, throwing little flowers up into the air as she shrieked with delight.

Dolores and Mariano had run over to join her, little Luisa following after them when she managed to squirm out of her mamá's arms.

Julieta let out a disbelieving laugh as she looked at her husband.

"Our little flower. Her Gift is flowers," she murmured wonderingly.

"Probably more than flowers," her mamá mused, watching the children play. "I hardly think it would be that limited. No doubt she'll learn more about it as she grows older.

Julieta stared ahead while Bruno suddenly got dragged into the game the kids had started playing.

"If my hija starts growing poison ivy I'm going to have words with papá when I die," she muttered.

"Get in line," her mamá patted her arm. "I've got first dibs. Weather control and visions of the future. At five."

She walked off muttering to herself about her well-meaning idiot of a husband.

Julieta tucked a completely tired-out Isabela into bed that night in her brand new room while most of the adults worked on cleaning up the flowers and petals scattered through Casita. Agustin put Luisa to bed and Pepa asked Bruno to tuck Dolores in for them as she concentrated on coaxing the wind into helping her gather the petals up.

“Tio?” The quiet girl asked as he smoothed the blankets down.

“Hmm?” he looked up at her curious eyes.

“Am I gonna get magic on my birthday too?”

He sat down on the edge of the bed. “Probably,” he admitted. “It looks like everyone’s going to get magic when they turn five.”

“What do you think I’ll get?”

“I don’t know little one. I don’t like spoiling the surprise for me too.”

She pouted up at him a bit and he chuckled.

“Whatever it is, I’m sure it’ll fit you though. Something that you will learn is perfect for you.”

“Perfect for me?” she asked in confusion.

He nodded. “Like my visions. It took me a while but I figured out why I got that Gift,” he smiled softly at her. “Because, even if it’s bad, I like to see what’s coming. Whether that’s something happy that makes everyone smile or something bad that we can prepare for. My Gift was perfect for me because of who I am. Do you know why your mamá’s is perfect for her?”

She thought about it for a moment, little brow wrinkling as she concentrated.

“Cause it lets mamá protect us,” she decided. “Cause mamá is strong enough to control the weather and make it protect the family.”

He smiled at her and nodded.

“And your Tia?” 

“She’s always happy when she can make other people feel better.”

He nodded again. “Now, can you figure out why Isa’s is perfect for her?”

Dolores chewed on her lip as she thought about it. She was such a serious little girl and it was adorable to watch her carefully think all his questions over.

“Cause Isa’s wild. Like the jungle,” she decided eventually.

Bruno beamed at her and kissed the top of her head. “Smart little girl,” he complimented, drawing a smile from her. “And whatever your Gift ends up being, it’ll be perfect for you. Okay?”

She nodded, more satisfied with this answer.

He waited a bit until she drifted off as well and then slipped out to help with the clean-up.

The village was fascinated by Isabela’s Gift when they went into town with her. She was happy to hand out little flowers that she created, still riding on the high of having magic. But then, inevitably, she got bored and went back to playing with Mariano and Dolores.

Some villagers complained a bit but not too much when Julieta turned a glare on them. Isabela was oblivious to the mutters about how she could be helping to make the town beautiful instead of playing in the mud.

Again.

Dolores didn’t miss it though, and there were a few more ‘slips’ with the mud pies.

At some point, as the kids played and the adults shopped, a few people approached Alma.

“Dolores’ birthday is in three months right?” the leader asked excitedly.

Alma was immediately suspicious. “Sí,” she answered slowly. “It is. They’re three months apart.”

The woman clapped excitedly. “Well, we were thinking, what if we made it a big party? We can cater and have music and it can be a proper fiesta! It’s a huge thing for them to be getting magic after all.”

It was the last line that gave away their true motive. They wanted to see it, see the little ones getting their magic, and to feel like they were a part of it.

She was certainly not going to let them take the focus away from her nieta’s special day. Gaining magic or not, the day was about celebrating the niños, not the magic, the candle or anything else.

“That’s kind of you to offer,” she started diplomatically, “But birthdays are a private event for our family. We only invite close friends. We don’t want to turn it into a large party. Besides, that would overwhelm the little ones. They hardly know the entire village after all. And the day is about them, so they should be happy and comfortable.”

The group faltered a bit before trying again.

“But certainly this birthday can be different,” she tried again. “It means so much to the village, to see the candle working to further protect the Encanto.”

Alma cocked her head. “What on earth are you talking about?”

They stared at her.

“Protect the Encanto? Hardly. My family keeps gaining Gifts because they are from my Pedro. And I still question his decisions sometimes. But just because they gain magic does not mean that they are suddenly in service to the community or anything. It is a skill that is theirs to use however they wish to. I’m going to be frank with you. I will not be allowing you to hijack my nieta’s birthday so that you can have a party and feel important. Dolores’ birthday will be about her. It will be her special day. And when Luisa reaches five, it will be her special day. Every birthday in the Madrigal family is the same. The village is not invited.”

She walked away from the gaping group, shaking her head. Honestly, the nerve of them, trying to intrude on a private family event.

Why on earth would she want the entire village at a five-year-old’s birthday party? It would only stress the poor dear out.

No, she did everything she could to make every birthday special. 

The village had no right to try and touch that.

Chapter Text

Dolores stared up at the glowing door with wide eyes. Her parents stood on either side of her while the rest of the family watched from a bit of a distance.

She reached out to touch the doorknob and let out a gasp as her hands flew to her ears,

"Dolores?" Pepa asked in concern and her worry only grew when she whimpered, pressing against her ears.

Alma frowned, looking at the door as it settled.

"Ah," she whispered. 

She waved to get her hija’s attention and gestured to the door as she walked closer.

"Dolores," she kept her voice at barely a whisper and her nieta looked up at her with wide, overwhelmed eyes. "Is it your hearing?"

She nodded as realisation dawned on everyone.

Pepa hurriedly gathered her hija close as everyone else fell silent.

"Dolores," Alma said again, voice still so soft. "Can you do something for me? Can you focus on your mamá's heartbeat?"

Dolores twisted her head slightly and after a moment she relaxed a bit, snuggling closer to Pepa as she listened to that steady beat.

Alma gestured for them to wait a moment as she hurried to her room.

Moments later, she returned with something in her hands.

It took some coaxing to get Dolores to lift her head again but she blinked up at her Abuela when she slipped something over the little girl's ears.

"Is that a bit better?" Alma asked gently.

Dolores touched the earmuffs before smiling and nodding.

"Sí Abuela." 

"Was it all too sudden? Did it scare you?"

Dolores nodded again. 

"I could hear everything. Even down in town."

The family exchanged some surprised looks.

"Don't worry, we'll figure out how to make it easier on you," Abuela promised, kissing the little girl's forehead. "But for now, I think it's time for your special breakfast. And then you know what I think we should do?"

Dolores tilted her head curiously and Alma smirked.

"Hide and seek."

The adults were exhausted and Dolores was laughing as she chased Isabela through the house. 

"Super hearing?" Pepa asked in a wondering tone as they watched them run.

"Hmm," Alma hummed. "It's something she'll need to learn to control, but I think she'll grow to enjoy it. She's always liked knowing where everyone was and what was going on in the family. We'll help her learn to control it."

She was even more set in her decision to keep the villagers away from these birthdays. If a large and noisy crowd had been present it would have been a disaster. 

But instead, they were able to calm her quickly and let her slowly get used to a large amount of new sensory information.

And they let her have fun while doing it. She did look terribly smug every time she found Isabela.

The earmuffs were helping to dampen the sound a bit, enough that she said the town was muffled.

By the time they put the kids to bed, the adults were all just about ready to collapse.

“Were we ever that energetic?” Julieta asked in disbelief.

“Yes,” Alma deadpanned without looking at them. “It was like you got a surge of energy at night too. Especially whenever someone mentioned the word ‘bath’.”

All three of them gave her sheepish looks. They’d heard all the stories of their mamá's struggles to keep them clean.

Bruno and Pepa had certainly been the most difficult. Julieta at least gave up semi-early into the nighttime chases.

Dolores, Mariano and Isabela were playing in the shade while their parents chatted a short distance away. Isabela was growing little flowers that they were diligently turning into a long flower chain for… reasons.

The village hadn’t seemed to know how to react to little Dolores’ Gift. It was certainly different from the others.

The earmuffs helped her stay focused but she could still hear the quiet conversations going on in the area.

“Not as showy,” she heard whispered.

That was fine. She didn’t like having all the attention on her. It made her nervous. She unashamedly pushed her prima into the spotlight to avoid the unwanted attention.

“An odd Gift. What could she do with it?”

That was a dumb question. She’d already figured out what she could do with it. She knew exactly where her family was. Mamá was behind her, she could pick her heartbeat out of a crowd in seconds already. Papá was on the other side of the plaza, she could hear his laugh.

Tio Bruno was a bit further away, the squeaking of the rats he’d snuck out in his ruana giving him away. He was paying her in candy not to snitch.

She could hear her family all around her, and even further away. If she lifted the earmuff then she could hear Casita in the distance and then even further.

She liked it. No, she loved it. 

She listened to their heartbeats at night before closing the door of her new room and silencing the outside world.

Everyone had their own unique beat to her ears and she loved the song that her family sang.

The five-year-old tilted her head slightly as she caught determined footsteps walking towards them. She looked up before Isabela or Mariano noticed and stared at the woman.

“Ah Dolores!” she cooed.

Dolores pursed her lips. She was one of the ladies calling her creepy earlier. She hadn’t decided yet if she was telling mamá or not.

Isabela sat up a bit and frowned. She could tell that Dolores wasn’t happy about this lady interrupting them.

“I was wondering dear, could you do me a favour?”

Tilting her head the other way, an inquisitive look and a move that let her refocus on the sounds around her, she noted that Abuela had moved so that she was watching them.

Dolores hummed, liking the way the sound echoed in her ears. She could get distracted with how nice sounds were now.

Music was the best. And she could sit with her mamá for hours as she hummed or sang to her.

“Just a little question,” the woman gave her a sweet smile. “I just want to know what Señora Lopez is doing right now.”

Dolores screwed up her face. She knew. She was talking to someone like her mamá and papá talked to each other.

She was pretty sure the man she was talking to wasn’t Señor Lopez though since he was on the other side of town.

“Why?” she asked instead of answering, looking down to carefully thread her flowers together.

She heard the way the woman stiffened at the question.

“It’s important that I know, dear,” she said. Her voice sounded more tight now.

“Why?” Dolores asked again, noting how her heart sped up and she grit her teeth. It wasn’t a nice sound.

“I really need to know Dolores.”

“Why?” she asked again, picking up a new flower and continuing with her task.

“Now listen here,” her voice rose and Dolores frowned. It rang in her ears despite the earmuffs and kind of hurt.

“Ow,” she blatantly said as she reached up to cover the earmuffs. “That hurt.”

“You hurt my prima!” Isabela exploded and vines literally launched the woman away from them.

Dolores blinked in surprise and pressed harder against her ears as chaos exploded around them. Isabela stood up with a huff when everyone started yelling.

She pointed imperiously at Dolores, looking at Mariano until he moved over to help cover her ears. It muffled everything more.

She could still hear everything Isabela yelled but it didn’t hurt through the earmuffs and two pairs of hands.

“Hey!” she stomped her foot and prickly cacti sprang up. “Being loud hurts my prima and if you hurt my prima then I’m going to shove a cactus where the sun doesn’t shine! Dolores is mi melliza and no one hurts her!”

She stomped her foot again for emphasis.

The lightning coming from mamá’s cloud made her look more intimidating.

“Quiet down before I rip your tongues out and make you eat them!” mamá yelled.

Everyone got so quiet suddenly that Dolores couldn’t hear anything anymore. She didn’t like that so she gently pushed Mariano away.

“You okay?” he asked worriedly.

She smiled. “Sí, all better.” 

Isabela was still waving a cactus around threateningly, mamá was hissing some interesting words at the mean lady who made her ears hurt and the rest of the family was pretending that nothing was happening while hiding their snickers.

She heard all the muffled laughter though and it made her smile.

Tio Bruno was right. Her Gift was just right for her.

And she was going to be the best at hide and seek.

“Congratulations,” Tio Bruno mumbled as he walked in.

Dolores glanced up at the sound of a glass cracking. It was a sharp sound even through her earmuffs.

“Who?” Tio Augustin squeaked. That was weird. She didn’t hear others squeak like she did sometimes. She liked the sound, so she did it a lot.

Dolores squeaked in surprise. And Isabela yelped when surprised. 

Dolores preferred the squeaking. And everyone called it cute.

Tio Bruno yawned wide.

“Both of them.”

He reached out and covered her ears as everyone yelled “What?! Again?!”

Tio Agustin fainted and papá stared ahead blankly.

Tia Julieta threw a wooden spoon that Tio Bruno ducked. 

Mamá was acting weird too. She was resting her hands on her tummy.

Dolores looked up at her in confusion as Tio Bruno moved away again now that they were all quiet.

“And I expected Pepa to be the impatient one,” Abuela muttered to herself.

“Mamá?” 

Her mamá looked down, hands still resting on her tummy. And then she smiled. She was crying and smiling at the same time and it was weird because it was raining but there were pretty rainbows too.

“You’re going to get a hermanita or hermanito Dolores,” she whispered.

“Oh…” she stared at her mamá with wide eyes.

She was going to be a hermana.

“I want another hermana!” Isabela declared excitedly, picking up on what Tio Bruno had meant.

“Hermana?” Luisa asked excitedly.

Dolores smiled. “I hope I get a hermanito.”

Chapter Text

The adults in the house were stressed out of their minds with two pregnancies again plus three young children on top of that. But at the same time, these kids were melting their hearts.

“Sit!” Isabela insisted again, tying Julieta to her seat using her vines with a little scowl on her face. “Papá said you gotta rest so you’re gonna rest!” she stomped her foot and a cactus popped up.

Julieta stared at her in a mix of bewilderment and amusement. Her insistence on helping during this pregnancy was frankly adorable even if she was very bossy while doing it.

Luisa was just fascinated with the idea of getting a little sibling. She kept going on about how she was going to be a great hermana to whoever they got.

Then there was Dolores who, with her Gift, could hear the babies’ heartbeats as the pregnancies progressed. She was often found sitting beside Pepa, a small smile on her face and her eyes closed as she listened to the heartbeat of her little sibling.

It was a heart-melting sight.

Inevitably, one of them went into labour. Despite the fact that they'd both been very close in their pregnancies, Pepa's had been harder and had meant she was stressed. She ended up going into an early labour and the kids were rounded up and sent to play in Dolores' room so they didn't hear anything.

Bruno unashamedly hid with them, claiming the job of babysitter.

The labour was long and hard and no one truly wanted to admit how close things got and how much they needed Julieta's food at the end.

But finally, Pepa was holding her second-born in her arms, tears slowly trailing down her cheeks as she smiled.

"Dolores will be happy," Felix murmured softly, drawing a chuckle from Alma.

The first boy of the new generation slept soundly in Pepa's arms.

"He's perfect," she whispered.

"Have you decided on a name?" Alma asked gently.

The couple nodded.

"Camilo," Pepa smiled down at the little boy.

Their little miracle. Too small, too early. But breathing all the same.

Julieta smiled. "I'll go get Bruno and the kids." She walked out the door to go fetch the rest of the family. 

"Bruno probably saw how close it got," Felix murmured into the quiet. "He's the one who insisted Julieta should be here."

Pepa rested her head on his shoulder. "He needs to stop carrying these burdens on his own," she sighed.

"He likely didn't want to add to an already stressful pregnancy," Alma pointed out gently.

"Ay, no more for a while," Pepa huffed softly.

Felix pressed a kiss to her forehead as the sound of rapid footsteps grew closer.

The door flew open and Dolores raced towards the bed with wide, excited eyes. The six-year-old tried to peer at the baby in Pepa's arms until Felix lifted her onto the bed so she could see him properly.

"Meet your hermanito Dolores," Pepa murmured. "Camilo."

Dolores beamed at them.

"Hermanito?"

They nodded and she turned her attention to the sleeping bundle. 

"Hola Camilo. I'm going to be the best hermana ever," she promised in a whisper.

Pepa and Felix smiled as she stared down at the baby in quiet awe. 

Little Camilo was two months old when Julieta went into labour, resulting in the pair of babies being even closer in age than Dolores and Isabela.

Isa was over the moon with happiness to get a hermanita again and she spent a lot of her time trying to help out. Luisa was fascinated with the tiny little girl.

Dolores was also eager to help, jumping to her feet at the smallest noise of discontent from her hermanito.

“Can I hold him?” she asked hopefully one afternoon after Pepa finished feeding Camilo.

Julieta was still trying to get Mirabel to finish her meal, she was the fussier one between them, not sleeping regularly and often crying for attention. Camilo was quieter, the easier baby between the two and always calming when Pepa took him.

A mamá’s boy in the making.

Pepa adored him.

With Bruno’s help, since he was conveniently in the nursery and playing with Luisa, they got Dolores settled in her Tio’s lap so that he could help her support Camilo as Pepa gently laid the baby in her arms.

She stared down at her hermanito who stared back with wide, curious eyes. Anyone could see the adoration in the girl. It was a different kind to what Isabela showed. Isa was loud and almost defiant about it as she declared how much she loved her hermanas to the world.

Dolores was quieter, the care clear in how she moved and looked at little Camilo.

“I’ll always keep you safe,” she whispered to the boy. “I’ll always listen for you.”

Pepa and Bruno shared a soft smile as Dolores quietly whispered to her hermano who seemed pretty happy to be held by her.

Nothing made Pepa happier than seeing her niños together like this. She hoped they stayed close as they grew older.

The village tried to get invited to Luisa’s fifth birthday like they had with Dolores’ but Alma shut that down quickly. She had no interest in turning the special day into a spectacle for the village.

She watched proudly as Julieta and Agustin walked Luisa to her door and the girl nervously reached out for the doorknob.

She did feel like smacking her head with the candle after though.

“Super strength Pedro? Really?” she whispered to herself as Luisa took great delight in lifting the piano and giving them all heart attacks. “Couldn’t you have given them their Gifts at thirteen instead? You were always so impatient…”

She had to smile at Luisa’s clear delight though and the laughter she drew from Isabela and Dolores.

Camilo and Mirabel watched it all with wide, curious eyes, barely old enough to toddle around on unsteady legs.

Their mamás were quick to scoop them up when Isabela let her plants run a little too wild in her excitement over her hermana getting a Gift.

Eventually, the chaos died down as the day ended and Agustin and Julieta tucked Luisa into her new room. Seven-year-old Isabela proudly helped put Mirabel to bed while Dolores did the same with Camilo. The younger pair adored their hermanas and the feeling was very clearly mutual.

The house that had once felt so large and empty was now filled with laughter and energy every day. Her family had grown so much more than a lonely widow and her triplets.

She set the candle in the window of her room and gazed out into the night with a soft smile.

“I question some of your choices Pedro, but I can’t deny that they make our family happy.”

The candle flame flickered playfully and she touched the locket she still carried around her neck for a moment, almost feeling like she could hear his voice again.

“What will the future bring us now?” she wondered softly as she turned to get ready for bed.

Chapter Text

“And then I called ‘im a dummy,” Camilo finished telling his story by waving one arm wildly and almost hitting Dolores in the head.

She huffed and readjusted her two-year-old hermano on her back when the wild movements almost made him fall.

“But why?” Isabela asked again, mildly annoyed that she hadn’t got her answer from that long and winding story while Mirabel giggled on her back. 

The pair had wandered off from the family without anyone noticing so Isabela and Dolores had gone to find them. 

It had been no surprise that the two were in trouble, in the middle of some heated argument with ten-year-olds. The only reason the older kids backed off so quickly was because Isa used her vines to scare them off. 

“They said mean things about mami,” Camilo mumbled into her shoulder.

That explained it. Camilo adored their mamá and was quick to anger when he heard any villager say something mean about her. It wasn’t often but it did happen sometimes since their mamá wasn’t as polite as Tia.

Dolores rolled her eyes fondly as they approached the rest of the family again. Mamá glanced over at them for a moment to check that they were all okay before she went back to talking to Tio Bruno about something.

The girls carried their siblings over to where Mariano was still sitting with six-year-old Luisa. She looked relieved to see that the youngest members of the family had been found. It wasn’t like they lost anyone often or for very long. Dolores could always find anyone in the family and she especially knew where her hermanito was.

She was able to pick out his laughter and giggles from anywhere in the Encanto and hear his heartbeat across town.

Camilo was a menace but Dolores still adored him. Isabela loved both Mirabel and Luisa but she was a bit baffled over why Dolores didn’t get very annoyed with her hermanito. Mirabel could get under her skin like it was her Gift come early.

She settled on the floor with Cami in her lap, resting her chin on his mop of curly hair. Isabela did the same with Mirabel, tickling her when the little girl tried to escape. Her shrieks of laughter echoed in Dolores’ ears but she didn’t mind. It was a good sound to hear.

“You shouldn’t wander off,” Luisa scolded them both when Mira settled down in Isa’s lap, still giggling breathlessly.

Camilo huffed and rolled his eyes dramatically. “Dolores knew. It’s fine.”

She smiled softly and cuddled her hermanito a little closer. He was sweet when he wasn’t annoying everyone.

Dolores opened her eyes when she heard her door open. She’d always been a light sleeper and that only got worse with her Gift.

She sat up, rubbing her eyes as she heard rapid, light footsteps.

“Cami?” she asked in confusion as the three-year-old scrambled into her bed, diving under the blankets.

He let out a quiet whimper and she woke up the rest of the way, peering under the covers to find her hermanito staring back with wide, frightened eyes.

“What’s wrong?” she whispered, scooting closer and pulling him into her arms. He was shaking.

“Bad dream,” Camilo whispered as he cuddled closer.

She frowned to herself as she started rubbing his back. “Do you want mamá?” she asked quietly.

He surprised her when he shook his head though. “You can hear if the monsters come,” he explained easily. “Cause you hear everything.”

She smiled to herself and cuddled him close at the realisation that he trusted her to keep him safe, even from whatever monsters his mind came up with in his nightmare.

“Nothing can sneak up on me,” she agreed and he relaxed a little. “Sleep hermanito. No monsters are going to sneak up on us.”

It wasn’t long before he dozed off again, tucked into her side. Dolores moved the blankets so that they were covering them a bit more comfortably before snuggling into the bed with her silly little hermano who always got her to smile. Even if it was just a nightmare, she’d still keep him safe.

She woke up in the morning to her door opening again and peered up at her mamá as she walked over to the bed quietly.

“He had a nightmare,” she whispered, Camilo still deeply asleep in her arms.

Her mamá smiled softly at the sight of them cuddling together and leaned down to kiss her forehead.

“Gracias, for taking good care of your hermano,” she murmured.

“Always,” Dolores answered seriously. 

Tio Bruno had told her that they all had their Gifts because they suited them. Well, she believed that fully now. Because her Gift would let her protect her hermanito and that was the best Gift she could ever ask for.

“Dolores?”

She looked up from her book to find Camilo peering up at her from next to the couch.

“Hmm?”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Anytime Cami.” She patted the couch next to her and put her book down.

He scrambled up next to her, looking unusually nervous. She frowned at the uncommon expression.

“What’s wrong?”

He fiddled with the edge of his shirt. “Were you nervous about getting your Gift?” he asked hesitantly.

She blinked in surprise. His fifth birthday was a week away and she hadn’t realised he was feeling nervous for it. Then again, he hadn’t seen any of them get their Gifts since he’d been too small when Luisa got hers. So he only had the stories to go on.

“A little,” she admitted. “But Tio Bruno helped a lot.”

“How?”

“He told me that no matter what I got, the Miracle would make sure that it’s perfect for me. And he was right. I love my Gift. And Isa loves hers.”

A little too much sometimes, especially since she figured out the pollen pods… Hopefully no one in the family ever developed allergies.

Camilo looked thoughtful for a moment before his shoulders slumped. “I can’t think of anything that would be ‘perfect’ for me.”

“What’s got you so worried Cami?” she asked with a frown.

He fidgeted in place for a moment. “Just something some kids said…” he mumbled.

She narrowed her eyes and reached out to tilt her hermanito’s face up to look at her.

“What did they say?” she asked calmly.

“That I’ll probably get something useless,” he muttered, gaze darting away from her.

She’d get the names of those kids later. For now, she had to focus on her silly little hermano.

“Cami, our Gifts don’t need to be ‘useful’,” she explained gently. “They just have to be something we like. It doesn’t matter if the village likes it. Or if anyone else likes it. All that matters is that you do. And I know that you’re going to get something amazing that fits you just perfectly. And you’ll probably drive everyone nuts with it.”

He let out a little laugh at that.

“You think so?”

“I know so,” she said firmly. “Now, gimme the names so that Isa and I can go ‘talk’ to those kids.”

He gave her a look. “I know you don’t actually mean ‘talk’,” he told her with an unimpressed expression.

“A cookie for every name.”

He spilled the names very quickly after that.

Dolores watched with happy tears in her eyes as her mamá and papá led an excited Camilo up to his new door. He was wearing the brand new ruana their mamá had made him since he’d routinely stolen Tio Bruno’s since he liked them so much.

She could hear his heart pounding in his chest, could hear the candle burning softly in Abuela’s hands. 

Mirabel was bouncing excitedly next to Isabela and Luisa looked on the verge of joining her.

She held her breath for a beat when Camilo reached out for the door and the candle burned a little louder than usual.

And then she laughed when she saw his Gift.

“Dios mio Pedro, why?” she heard Abuela whisper in horror.

Mamá swept Camilo up in excitement, cooing over their camaleón and papá cheered.

Shapeshifting.

It fit. And he was going to drive them all crazy with it.

She could already see it in the brilliant, mischievous smile Camilo was sporting.

Tio Bruno let out a quiet huff of laughter and Tia Julieta muttered in exasperation to herself.

When Camilo finally got put down, Dolores walked up to him and pulled him into a hug.

“Told you,” she told him smugly.

He grinned up at her wildly.

“I’m gonna have so much fun.”

Dolores laughed as Isabela let out a quiet whine.

Camilo loved his Gift. He got up to nonsense with it almost immediately after getting it. No one in the family really got mad though, not when he was so happy about it.

The village was less thrilled when he and Mirabel only caused more chaos with it. They paid Dolores in cookies to not snitch on them though so people rarely had proof that they did anything.

Trying to accuse a shapeshifter of anything was pretty difficult after all.

Mostly, people didn’t seem to know what to do with this new Gift. None of the kids dared call it ‘useless’ though. She and Isabela made sure of that.

She was still waiting for the village to try and find a way for Camilo to be ‘helpful’ though and she knew that her mamá and Abuela were keeping an eye out for it too.

None of them could have ever imagined this happening though.

The two eleven-year-olds were spending some time together, taking a break from all the chaos in the house and planning on meeting up with Mariano in the town centre when she heard it.

“Dolores!”

She stopped dead, head whipping to the side at the distant shout. That was Camilo and he sounded terrified. She didn’t hear his voice again though and she held her breath as she searched out the sound of his heartbeat.

“Dolores?” Isabela asked in concern but Dolores ignored her for now.

There. It was frantic and beating much too fast. Camilo was scared and whoever had caused that was going to regret it.

“Camilo’s in trouble,” she told Isa hurriedly, grabbing her hand and starting to run in that direction. 

Still confused, she was relieved when her prima didn’t keep asking questions and just started running with her. She needed to focus on that familiar heartbeat. It sounded like it was moving but she still hadn’t heard Camilo make another sound.

Dolores didn’t pay any attention to the people around them as they raced to the edge of town. Her lungs were burning by the time they got to the source of the sound.

There was a lady heading out of town with a cart being pulled by a donkey. There were just the normal barrels and crates that usually carried food from the farms on the cart but Dolores knew there was a sound that didn’t belong coming from it.

“Stop the cart!” she gasped and Isa didn’t even question her, stomping her food and halting the cart with a vine tangled in a wheel.

The lady turned around in surprise which morphed to fear when she spotted them but Dolores ignored her as she scrambled up onto the back, pushing crates aside. Now that she was closer she could hear muffled crying and it made her temper spike. The lady was saying something now but Dolores trusted Isa to watch her back as she reached for the crate right at the back. 

She shoved it open and immediately decided that she was going to make that lady pay for this.

Camilo had been tied up with his own ruana, a scarf shoved into his mouth to keep him quiet. He stared up at her in fear and relief, tears still running down his cheeks.

She reached into the crate and hauled her hermanito out, holding him close and whispering reassuringly as he let out a muffled sob.

“I’ve got you Cami, I’ve got you. It’s okay.”

There was a commotion outside the cart but she didn’t pay it any attention as she hurriedly untied her hermano and pulled the gag out. He let out a sob and threw his arms around her, shaking.

“You heard me,” he whispered.

“I’ll always hear you,” she vowed fiercely. “No matter what.”

She got his ruana back on him before tugging him over to the edge of the cart and dropping down to the ground. She picked him up, letting him hold on tight and hide his face in her shoulder.

Only then did she turn to Isabela. 

She blinked a few times in surprise. Isa was glaring heatedly at the lady who was trussed up in vines and was also covered in a multitude of colours. She lost control of her pollen pods when she got upset.

There were also cacti all over the place, showing just how angry Isa was.

Dolores rubbed Camilo’s back soothingly as she moved over to her prima.

“Is he okay?” Isabela asked worriedly, eyes fixed on the five-year-old.

Dolores nodded. “Just scared,” she murmured.

She studied the lady who had dared to try and take her hermanito away from her. Who had scared him and made him cry.

She didn’t know why she’d tried to take him but she didn’t care.

“Let’s take her to my mamá,” she decided. 

The lady paled and Isa smirked.

A storm would be great right about now.

Chapter Text

"Mamá!" The twin shouts drew both Pepa and Julieta out of Casita.

Mirabel and Luisa peered out from the kitchen where they'd been baking with Felix.

Pepa immediately frowned at the sight of the kids approaching the house.

Dolores was upset and Camilo was clinging to her like a lifeline, arms wrapped around her neck and face buried in her shoulder.

Isabela, on the other hand, looked pissed. She was dragging a woman from the village behind her with her vines and Pepa was pretty sure she was hitting every rock on the path on purpose.

"What happened?" Julieta asked in bewilderment, staring at the eleven-year-olds as the rest of the family made their way to the front door.

Pepa's heart dropped when Dolores looked at her, anger and fear clear in her eyes.

"She tried to take Cami," she whispered, her hold on her hermano tightening.

Pepa stilled while the rest of the family gasped and Felix made an outraged sound.

She couldn't focus on that though, zeroing in on the way Camilo's little shoulders shook with quiet sobs and how Dolores held him like she was afraid he would disappear.

Someone tried to take him? Scared her little camaleón to the point of tears?

She clenched her hands at her sides and took a deep breath. The sky was already darkening.

"She did what?" Her mamá demanded, sounding coldly furious in that way she only got for family.

"I heard Cami shout my name and he sounded scared," Dolores explained. "When we found him, that lady was trying to leave town with him. She tied him up and put him in a crate."

"She tried to stop Dolores from getting to him," Isabela added, restrained rage coating her words. "But I wouldn't let her."

Tied up?

A fucking crate?!

Pepa sucked in a sharp breath, holding her anger back for a moment. Just a moment longer as she strode over to her niños. 

Dolores blinked up at her, tears starting to well up in her eyes. She was still just eleven and she'd probably got such a fright today.

"You did so well mija," she whispered, kneeling down next to them and pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Then she focused on Camilo, rubbing his back gently.

"Mijo, Cami. Por favor, can you look at me?" She coaxed.

He sniffled as he lifted his head to look at her. Thunder rumbled at the sight of the tear stains on his cheeks and the fear in his eyes.

"Did she hurt you Cami?" Pepa asked gently, wiping his face as best she could.

He nodded slightly, lifting one arm from around Dolores' neck. "Hurts," he whimpered. 

Bruises were already blooming on his skin and Pepa had to wrestle with her anger again.

She pressed a feather-light kiss to the bruises.

"Your hermana is going to get you some of your Tia’s food to make you all better and then she'll cuddle with you in your room, okay? I think Tia made some of those yummy brownies you like too."

He perked up a little at the mention of the brownies, lifting his face and sniffling again.

Pepa pressed a kiss to his cheek and looked at Dolores who nodded, heading straight inside and for the food. She'd likely be listening to this all but that was fine. Pepa just wanted the youngest niños away from this.

"Luisa, take Mirabel upstairs too," she called. Her sobrina agreed quietly and Pepa waited until they were sure that all four of them were up in Camilo's room.

Then she turned to face the woman who caused all this. 

She was squirming against Isabela's vines but she stilled when the thunder crashed and a proper storm rolled in.

"You tried to take mi hijo?" Pepa demanded in a snarl, stalking forward.

Felix did nothing to stop her, jaw clenched in anger and likely barely restraining himself from losing his temper entirely. 

The rest of the family fell back and the vines loosened enough that the woman could talk.

She seemed too frightened to now though.

"Why?" Her mamá's cold, calm voice cut through the air, and Pepa held herself back from screaming at this person who dared to touch her baby. She wanted to know that too. Wanted to know how the woman could justify this. The glare on Felix's face told her that he wanted the same before they acted.

"You had another child!" She cried out suddenly, looking directly at Pepa. "And you still have your husband! I lost both my husband and mi hijo last year. Camilo's the same age as Rico was. When he got his Gift… it seemed like everything was just… just working out perfectly. You can have more niños Pepa. I can't."

She stared up at the redhead, begging her to understand. There was no pity or empathy in Pepa though. There was only rage now.

"Camilo is not a fucking replacement!" She snarled, causing the woman to flinch back. "He is a five-year-old boy who likes to play pranks and tell stories. He loves arepas and dancing and he runs to his hermana when he has a nightmare. You can't erase that because you want him to be someone else!"

She sucked in a harsh breath as the rain poured down and the wind whipped past them.

"Camilo deserves more than to be seen as a convenient replacement for someone else," she said, voice calmer again. "He is a person, not an object you can make decisions for. He is mi hijo." Her voice broke on the last words. "And you tried to take him from me."

The woman flinched away from the pain and anger in Pepa's eyes and Felix let out a sound that was almost a growl. 

"What were you going to do? Lock him in your house and watch us panic? Watch us search for him? Watch us mourn him?" Felix demanded angrily.

Pepa strode forward when the woman looked down and forced her to look her in the eye.

"Were you going to force him to shift into that dead boy? Force him to act like him? Force Camilo to pretend that he's someone completely different? And then what about when he couldn't hold the shift anymore? When he grew too exhausted and hungry to keep it up anymore? What were you going to do then?!"

She glared at the now crying woman.

"I just wanted mi hijo back…" she whispered.

"Not at Camilo's expense. He deserves better than to be a replacement for the dead," Felix snarled behind her.

Pepa dropped her in disgust and the woman started sobbing at her feet.

"Children are a blessing, not a possession," her mamá said softly. "You cannot take someone else's niño because you lost yours."

She moved forward to stand next to Pepa and Felix stood on her other side, tangling their fingers together. Her husband was practically vibrating with rage.

"It's not fair," the woman sobbed. "It would have been perfect. I would have loved him and taken care of him. He would have been mi hijo."

Pepa wanted to launch forward and punch the bitch.

"You are not going to let this go," her mamá sounded almost sad about that.

"It would work," she insisted. "Por favor, I need him. I need him! He has that Gift for a reason! For this reason! To give me my Rico back!" 

Her mamá shook her head and sighed.

"Pedro gives them Gifts for them. Not for the village. Not for you."

She stared into the crazed woman's eyes and Pepa felt a chill run down her spine. This woman wouldn't stop. Not until she had what she wanted. Not until she erased Camilo to make a replacement hijo.

Her mamá must have seen the same thing.

"I will not tolerate a threat to mi nieto in this Encanto," her mamá's voice was hard now. She took a deep breath.

"You are no longer welcome within the Encanto."

A flood of golden magic surged from inside the house and over them, hitting the woman whose eyes widened in fear. Between one blink and the next, she was gone.

Pepa turned her head, briefly convinced that she felt a light touch to her cheek, but the energy dissipated and left just the family outside the house.

"Pepa, Felix," her mamá spoke softly. "Go comfort your niños. I'll inform the village of what happened and the punishment."

"Gracias mamá," Pepa whispered, the words cracking as Felix wrapped an arm around her. It was truly hitting her now what had almost happened.

Isabela sent her plants away, seeming in awe of what she'd just seen.

Abuela gave them a smile and the couple raced inside and up to Camilo's room. They found all four kids cuddling on the bed and Camilo had a brownie shoved in his mouth, tears long since dried.

He lit up when he saw them, reaching out with his arms. Pepa didn't hesitate to scoop him up and pepper his face with kisses, making him giggle around the food. Felix poked Camilo in the nose and ruffled his hair before going to check on Dolores.

"She's gone?" Their hija asked quietly.

"Sí," Felix assured, just as softly.

Dolores let out a quiet sigh of relief and Pepa held her baby boy close, thankful that a disaster had been averted thanks to her hija and sobrina.

She didn't want to imagine what would have happened if Dolores hadn't heard Camilo. 

That woman was lucky she'd been exiled. If she hadn't been, Pepa would have rained down hell from above.

Anything for her niños. 

Thankfully, Camilo recovered from his fright relatively easily. He was back to racing around with Mirabel by the time her birthday rolled around which they were all thankful for. For a week or so, he'd refused to leave his family's side throughout the day.

As the latest celebration started up, everything was back to normal.

Or so they thought.

Dolores watched with the same confusion and bewilderment as her family, as Mirabel's door faded to dust at her touch. 

The family looked at each other in confusion and concern and Dolores heard little Mira ask her Abuela a question in a small voice that didn't suit her at all.

"Did I do something wrong?" 

Everyone turned to look at Abuela as she knelt down next to Mira, a serious expression on her face.

"Don't be silly mi mariposa. I think it's quite simple what happened." She smiled at Mirabel, reaching out to cup one of her cheeks. "You were already so perfect that the Miracle didn't know what it could possibly give you to make you any more amazing." She leaned down and kissed Mirabel's forehead. "You've stumped your Abuelo Mira, he's certainly confused right now." She winked and held up the candle to her.

Mirabel giggled and reached out to touch it. "Lo siento Abuelo. I didn't mean to confuse you."

"Why don't you go play and enjoy your birthday Mira?" Abuela suggested.

And just like that, Abuela avoided a complete disaster. Camilo and Mirabel ran off with Luisa close behind them, determined to keep an eye on the mischievous pair.

Dolores heard everyone else let out sighs of relief and Abuela stood up calmly.

"Mamá, should I have a vision?" Tio Bruno asked nervously, all of them confused by what had happened.

Abuela gave him a gentle smile. "No need mijo. Nothing changes, even if Mirabel doesn't have a Gift. She's still our mariposa. She's still just as special as anyone else in the family." 

Her words made everyone relax and they all followed after the three youngest of the family to join in on the birthday party. Isabela raced ahead, already muttering about making this the best birthday ever.

Dolores heard Abuela speak and paused for a moment to listen.

"I don't know what Pedro means by this, and if we just don't understand something important yet. But Casita," Abuela's voice hardened. "There better be a magical room waiting for mi nieta by the end of the night, one just as amazing as everyone else's, or so help me I will paint you the most drab grey I can find."

Casita lifted her tiles in alarm.

"Roof to floor tiles Casita," Abuela threatened.

Dolores ran after her family, stifling giggles as Casita panicked over the threat.

Abuela always took care of them.

Chapter Text

“Mami!” 

Pepa turned as Camilo came careening around the corner. The excitement in his voice and the wide smile on his face calmed her initial panic. She still worried about her baby boy getting hurt again. Ever since the attempt to kidnap him, everyone in the family was more protective of their younger members.

“Sí, Cami?” she asked as he slammed into her legs, clinging in a hug.

He beamed up at her.

“Mami I wanna get Dolores a present!” he declared.

“Oh?” she bent down to pick him up, resting him on her hip as she started walking. 

Dolores was sick with a cold so she was currently in her room and wouldn’t hear them.

Camilo nodded excitedly.

“Mira and I found the perfect present!”

“You did?” Now she was curious.

Camilo nodded frantically again and pointed in the direction he wanted her to go, other hand holding tight to her dress.

Too curious not to go now, Pepa headed out of Casita and down towards the river. She raised her eyebrow when she spotted Bruno sitting near the river with Mirabel. He didn’t look happy about something and looked up at the sound of her footsteps.

Mirabel looked up when he did and lit up. “Tia Pepa!” she called. “Tio Bruno found the best present for Dolores!”

As Pepa got closer, she noticed that Bruno was wet and there was a cloth sack thrown a distance away. She had to consciously stop herself from scowling when she spotted what was in his hands.

A tiny, soaking wet kitten blinked up at them, meowing softly.

Dios mio if Bruno knew who did this she was going to pay them a visit with her lightning. That kind of casual cruelty did not belong in the Encanto.

She put Camilo down when he squirmed and he ran over to Bruno to look at the kitten again.

“We found Tio Bruno out here with him!” Camilo told her brightly. “Silly kitty got wet and Tio Bruno saved him!”

“Tio Bruno is a hero,” Mirabel agreed seriously.

Bruno flushed at their words and Pepa had no doubt that the pair probably missed what actually happened and misunderstood it.

At least they wouldn’t have to deal with the truth. 

Bruno must have had a vision of what happened and rushed out here to save the little thing. He’d always had a soft spot for animals, even if they weren’t his rats.

She’d get the full story from him later. For now, she crouched down with them and reached out to pet the soaked kitten gently.

“Why do you think he would be a good present for Dolores?” she asked Camilo as she helped Bruno try and dry the poor animal.

“Because she said she likes the sound they make when she sees them in town,” he answered eagerly before mimicking a cat’s purr.

Pepa was a bit surprised. She hadn’t thought of that. She knew that Dolores liked the sound of humming and music but she hadn’t thought of any animal sounds she would like.

A cat’s purr was very soothing though.

“Hmm,” she mused to herself, looking up at Bruno.

He raised the hand not petting the kitten. “Hey, don’t look at me. I have rats. I can’t keep a cat as a pet. Isabela prefers plants to animals and Luisa would stress herself out if she had the responsibility before she thought she was ready. I think Dolores is a pretty good pick.”

Camilo looked up at her with wide, hopeful eyes and she sighed.

“When Dolores is feeling a bit better,” she gave in. How could she deny those eyes anything? 

“We can hide him in my room until she is!” Mirabel declared.

“Alright alright,” Bruno chuckled as she started tugging on his ruana until he stood up. “We need to get him dried and fed though. Poor little guy must be hungry.”

Pepa picked up Camilo again as he tugged on her dress and they headed back to Casita and up to Mirabel’s room.

Pepa had cracked up laughing when Dolores told her what her mamá had threatened Casita with. It worked though. By the time the party ended, there was a new door sitting next to Luisa’s and inside was the perfect room for Mirabel. It was cozy with pillows and blankets and a large bed that could fit her favourite primo as well when they decided they wanted a sleepover.

There was also a space dedicated to her crafts since Mirabel had grown interested in sowing very early on and had some early attempts already started. The walls were painted a light blue with golden butterflies on them and there were pictures of the family everywhere.

Mirabel had adored it on sight.

Fetching a towel, they dried the kitten and then set it in a nest of blankets and pillows that Mirabel and Camilo made together. 

“We’ll take good care of him until Dolores is feeling better,” Camilo promised them seriously and Pepa smiled as she and Bruno left.

“What happened?” she asked as she headed down the stairs with her hermano.

“Ricardo,” he muttered with a scowl. “Their cat had kittens and he didn’t want them. That one was the only one they didn’t manage to give away.”

Pepa growled under her breath. She’d have a little talk with that man next time she saw him in the village.

They were both still scowling when they walked into the sitting room and their mamá frowned in concern.

“Is everything alright?” she asked.

Pepa’s gaze flicked to where Isabela was sitting nearby with Luisa, entertaining her younger hermana by growing different plants.

“We’ll tell you later,” she promised.

Felix looked at her in concern, stopping his discussion with Julieta and Agustin.

“Dolores is getting a pet,” she said, just deciding to bluntly tell them.

“Okay?” her mamá said with a raised eyebrow.

“I found a kitten and Camilo decided it was the perfect present for Dolores.”

“She does like it when they purr,” Isabela admitted, looking up. She didn’t sound the least bit jealous. Then again, Bruno was right about her preferring plants to animals.

“Wonderful idea!” Felix declared excitedly.

“She is the most responsible person in this house,” her mamá muttered.

“True,” Isabela and Luisa agreed, not even offended.

The triplets, on the other hand, were offended.

“Hey,” Julieta complained.

“Your eighteenth,” their mamá deadpanned.

Julieta blushed and Pepa looked away.

“Fair point,” Bruno admitted.

“And Felix is Felix.”

“Also a fair point,” Felix laughed.

“And Agustin-”

“Is far too clumsy to have a pet underfoot,” Agustin chuckled.

Pepa pouted at her mamá. Dolores was admittedly very responsible. 

She was torn between being proud and annoyed.

Dolores blinked down at the kitten in her arms, still settled in a blanket to keep him warm.

“Oh,” she whispered in surprise and the little animal gave a tiny meow.

“Do you like him?” Camilo asked hopefully, peering over the edge of her bed at her.

Dolores gave him a warm smile.

“I love him. I think I’ll name him Milo. After my favourite hermano.”

Camilo beamed at her.

Milo started purring and Dolores closed her eyes with a soft hum.

Pepa quietly closed the door and left them. Dolores still needed rest but she doubted she was getting Camilo to leave his hermana at this point.

Dolores adored Camilo. But the opposite had always been true and Camilo loved his hermana with everything in him.

He wouldn’t leave until he was sure Dolores was completely cheered up from her cold.

Chapter Text

“ Por favor Tio ,” Dolores pleaded, eyes wide as she hugged Milo to her chest.

“ Por favor !” Isabela added, eyes just as pleading as her prima’s .

“That,” Tio Bruno pointed at them. “Is cheating. But still no.”

They both pouted at him.

“Why not?” Isabela whined.

"Mi sobrinas, there are rules about my visions," he told them gently while constructing his sandwich. "You have to be eighteen to ask for one."

"But Catalina got one," Isabela pouted. "She's only a couple years older than us."

"That's because her parents made the request," he explained. "Your mamás won't. They told me already that they won't ask me to look into your future. I only ever gave them one prophecy about you both. And that was just to tell them that they were pregnant."

He bit into his sandwich and studied his pouting sobrinas .

" Niños , my visions aren't always nice. They don't always show good things."

"We can handle it!" Isabela insisted while Dolores had quieted and was just staring at him over her cat's head. She barely put the animal down. 

Their Tio shook his head though. "Maybe. But you're also eleven Isa. You're still young. You still get upset when dessert isn't the kind you like."

They both ducked their heads at that and he crouched down to their level.

"When you turn eighteen and you decide you still want a vision, I'll give it to you mi sobrinas . But until then, we follow the rules. Your parents agree with me. It's better to wait. Besides, why would you want to spoil the surprise? That's the best part of life."

They both still pouted but didn't argue as he ruffled their hair and walked off.

It all started with stupid Catalina bragging about how she was going to get a prophecy of who she was going to marry.

That idea got stuck in their heads. They'd seen how happy their parents were together so it was a nice thought to think that they might get that too.

But Tio Bruno was being pretty firm on saying no.

Going to their papás got the same answer for both of them.

"Ask your mamá ."

So they did.

"No."

"But why not mamá ?" Isabela whined.

Her mamá was making arepas with Mirabel eagerly helping (and making a mess).

"We decided a long time ago, Isa," her mamá answered calmly. "When you're eighteen, you can ask. Not before."

Isabela scowled at the floor, kicking at the tiles petulantly.

Her mamá sighed.

"Did you know that your Tio had visions about both your Tia's and my wedding?" She asked.

Isabela's head snapped up and Luisa looked up in interest from where she was drawing at the table.

"You got a vision?!" Isabela demanded in outrage.

"Not me. Your Abuela ."

They looked at her in confusion.

"Your Tio refused to tell me. Just like he refused to tell me if I was having a boy or girl with all of you. I didn't know who I was marrying. I was annoyed with him at the time, but later on…" she smiled to herself. "I was thankful he didn't. It let me fall in love on my own, let me be surprised when your papá asked me out. When he asked me to marry him. Your Tio left me all the big surprises in my life. And I'm glad he did."

Isabela was quiet as she watched her mamá . 

"It was really better?" She asked after a moment. "Not knowing?"

" Sí ," she answered without hesitation. "It made everything better."

Isabela fell silent as she thought about her mamá's words.

Was it really better to be surprised?

"No mija ," Dolores pouted at her mamá's answer. "That's the rules. No visions until you're eighteen."

"What do you wanna know so bad?" Camilo asked curiously from their mamá's lap. She was brushing the mop of curls on his head and it was easier to keep him still like that.

"...if I'm going to get married and to who," she mumbled in embarrassment.

Camilo frowned.

"I don't wanna share you," he pouted.

Dolores melted a little while their mamá cooed.

"No matter what happens in the future Cami, you'll always be mi hermanito," she promised.

"No matter what?" He asked a little timidly.

"I promise," she assured him.

"Well, then I guess you can get married. But only if they deserve you!"

Dolores couldn't help it. She swept him out of her mamá's lap and hugged him tightly.

He was so sweet.

Maybe it wasn't so important for her to know who she was going to marry. Why worry about the future when her present was so amazing?

Maybe that's what Tio Bruno had been trying to tell them?

Either way, she dropped the topic of the visions.

She didn't need it.

Catalina bawled her eyes out as she stomped on the shattered green tablet.

"He ruined my life!" She wailed.

Isabela raised an eyebrow at the display, Mirabel staring from her place in her arms, as Dolores walked up next to her.

"The vision showed that she wasn't going to get married before thirty. Tio tried to tell her that that didn't mean she'd never get married but she wouldn't listen. She's upset she won't be married before she's old. "

Isabela shook her head as the girl continued to wail loudly.

"Maybe those rules are there for a reason," she admitted grumpily.

Dolores nodded in agreement.

"Well no one wants to marry a baby," Mirabel said in confusion. "She cries more than Cami and me combined!"

Isabela started laughing and Dolores sighed.

When did the five-year-olds get so wise? 

"That rat bastard cursed me!" Catalina howled.

Oh no.

Dolores quickly took Mirabel as Isabela snapped.

"What did you say about my Tio you bitch?!"

She tackled Catalina who screamed. Isa could use her plants but she said a fight was better when she used her fists. More satisfying.

She never did have a problem with getting dirty.

"What's going on?!" Mamá had rushed over with Cami in her arms and papá close behind her.

"She said mean stuff about Tio Bruno," Mirabel pouted.

Papá promptly took Camilo just before mamá exploded.

"She did what?!" She turned to storm over to Catalina to yell at her and her parents who were trying to scold Isa and get her off the still crying thirteen-year-old.

Hey, she thought she was mature enough to handle a vision of the future.

She could handle the consequences of talking badly about Dolores' Tio then.

Everyone knew what would happen if they did after all.

Don't talk bad about Tio Bruno if you didn't want a storm crashing down on your head.

"Why's she mad at Tio ?" Camilo asked in annoyance.

"She's not getting married like she wanted," Mirabel answered.

Camilo pulled a face. "Duh, who wants to marry someone dumb?"

"And a baby," Mirabel added sagely.

Papá snorted as he shooed them away.

"Let's get ice cream," he suggested.

Chapter Text

"And then Tio tried to hide his rat but Tia didn't believe him so she tackled him," Mirabel explained happily to her amused Abuela.

They were walking through town to pick up some things from the market and the six-year-old was happily clinging to Alma’s hand as they went.

"Your Tio Bruno should know better than to lie to your Tia Pepa by now," she chuckled. 

Mirabel nodded seriously. "Mamá and Tia always know."

She was pouting a bit about that and Alma laughed again.

"It comes with being a mamá Mira," she reminded the little girl. "Did they catch you and Cami out in a prank?"

Mirabel let out a long-suffering sigh that reminded Alma so much of Julieta at her age.

"Cami was pretending to be me and we were confusing papá and Tio Felix. But mamá and Tia came in and knew exactly who was who."

Alma bit back another laugh at the pout Mirabel was sporting. 

"A mamá always knows her niño."

Pepa had never had a problem identifying Camilo, even when he was shifted. It was something the little boy pretended to be annoyed with while he was secretly pleased by it.

Mirabel continued her story as they arrived at the marketplace and Alma started getting what she came for. It wasn't long before the little girl wandered over to a stall that sold material. She was getting more interested in sewing and embroidery every day. And she clearly had a talent for it.

Alma kept an eye on her as she went about her shopping so she noticed when the problem started.

Mirabel was staring up at a villager with an annoyed expression, having been pushed out of the woman's way so she could get to the material.

"You're rude," Mirabel declared, never the type of child to hold back her opinion.

The woman sneered down at her. "The useless, Giftless Madrigal."

Alma narrowed her eyes on the woman. No one spoke to her nieta like that.

Before she could go over to intervene though, Mirabel rolled her eyes, something she'd picked up from Isabela and Dolores, and threw her hands up into the air in clear frustration.

"You don't even have a Gift so how come you try and insult me like that?!"

The woman spluttered in shock.

"No one but mi familia has Gifts! So you're insulting and being mean to everyone in the village. You're being mean to my papá and my Tio Felix. And you're being mean to my Abuela! None of them have Gifts!"

The little girl sounded completely exasperated with them.

"I don't need a Gift to be a Madrigal. Cause my family loves me no matter what. And if they say it's fine that I don't have a Gift, then it's fine. You're just a nosey villager who thinks she can say mean things cause I'm a little kid. But that won't work, cause I'm gonna grow up to be just like my Abuela so I don't need a Gift. She's awesome without one."

She crossed her arms and glared up at the flabbergasted woman.

Alma had never been prouder.

"Very well said," she murmured, coming up behind the woman and making her stiffen up. "I'd like to know why you believe you can insult mi nieta?"

She gave the woman a hard look when she turned around.

"She doesn't have a Gift," she said weakly.

"So? Neither do I. My son-in-laws don't either. No one in the village does. You don't. Claiming that Mirabel not having a Gift means that she's less than everyone else is nonsensical and foolish. That would mean that everyone that doesn't have a Gift is less than those who do. We have never claimed that the Gifts in my family make anyone better than someone without."

"She was supposed to get a Gift," the woman said faintly.

Alma raised an eyebrow.

"And why do you think you know my family and the family Miracle better than I do?"

The woman wilted under her glare and fled.

Alma shook her head. She'd never viewed the Gifts as anything more than talents. It didn't make anyone better or worse than anyone else.

She smiled down at Mirabel as the little girl let out an annoyed huff.

"That was very well done Mira," she praised and her nieta beamed up at her.

"She's a dumb lady who thinks she knows Abuelo better than you," she scoffed, holding her arms out to her Abuela.

Alma picked her up and pressed a kiss to her curls.

"You got all your mamá's smarts," she said to the giggling girl.

She couldn't be prouder of her little mariposa.

Alma told the rest of the adults in the family about what had happened when the kids were tucked safely into bed.

"Ay mamá," Julieta shook her head with a smile. "She got that all from you. Isa might have inherited your looks, but Mira got your refusal to tolerate idiocy.

Pepa was still trying to get her laughter under control.

"I can't wait until she's a teenager," she wheezed.

"I almost feel sorry for the village," Bruno mused.

Felix snorted. "She's perfectly sweet and polite until someone tries to badmouth her or a member of the family. It's their own fault."

"Honestly, the village needs to stop putting so much focus on the Gifts," Agustin sighed and shook his head.

"They seem insistent on making them more important than they are," Alma agreed with a sigh. 

Pepa rolled her eyes. "They're interesting abilities. But that's all."

Alma smiled to herself as the triplets all agreed. She was pleased that she'd managed to prevent the villagers' words from making her niños believe that their Gift was tied to their self-worth.

Complete rubbish. 

Her family was more than a magical Gift. They were incredible people. Amazing mamás and a loving Tio.

She couldn't be prouder of the people her babies had grown into.

They were strong, confident and completely unwilling to take anyone's shit.

She knew Pedro was proud of them too.

They'd taken his Gifts and mastered them, loved them and treasured them as presents from their papá. 

But they'd never let it define them.

Julieta knew she was more than the food she cooked and she had no problem saying no to villagers who tried to take advantage of her.

Pepa was comfortable in her emotions, understanding that repressing them only made it worse in the long run. The Encanto had the occasional day of strange weather but for the most part, it was contained to Pepa's immediate vicinity. And no one in the house got upset with her if there was a bit of hail or rain in the house. They normally took the appearance of odd weather as a reason to search out Pepa and cheer her up. Whether that was a triplet cuddle pile or the niños offering flowers or drawings to make her smile. Camilo was undoubtedly the master at cheering his mamá up.

Bruno had come a long way from anxiously giving people their prophecies. Now he could stand his ground when someone tried to blame him for their future, firmly reminding them that he could only see it, not change it. He also had no problem with refusing to give visions when someone had reacted badly in the past. He'd rightly pointed out that if they couldn't handle a bad vision before, why would he risk giving them another one?

Her babies were all grown up and confidently living their lives. They were happy and weren't burdened by everything that the villagers had tried to put on their shoulders.

Alma couldn't be happier for her family.

"Oh!" Bruno's exclamation drew her attention back to the conversation. "I almost forgot." He pulled a green tablet from under his ruana.

Everyone immediately perked up and leaned in as Bruno gave Pepa a mischievous smile.

The redhead raised a suspicious eyebrow but accepted the vision tablet.

Her breathing caught as she looked down at the image, a shaking finger tracing the figures.

Alma’s eyes filled with tears at the sight.

Dolores, all grown up and beautiful in a wedding dress. Next to her stood a grown-up Mariano who gazed at her adoringly.

Pepa covered her mouth, tears glinting in her eyes.

"She looks so happy."

"She is," Bruno assured.

Pepa threw her arms around her hermano and hugged him tightly.

"Gracias."

"Better hide it well," he teased. "She's a curious little mouse that one."

Pepa let out a watery laugh and Felix took the tablet to study it closely, looking both happy and wistful.

"Ay, my baby girl," he sighed.

"Welcome to my world," Alma said dryly, prompting everyone to laugh.

She smiled softly, looking at the tablet again. The future was intimidating. But Bruno always had a way of making it seem more manageable.

Magical abilities were all well and good. But Alma maintained that her niños would always be the true Gift.

No one would be able to convince her otherwise.

Chapter Text

"You like Mariano?!" Isabela asked excitedly.

Dolores blushed bright red and hid her face. The girls were thirteen years old and starting to look at boys with a bit more interest now.

Isabela had, of course, been the first person that Dolores confessed her little crush on their friend to.

"Sí," she squeaked into her hands.

Isabela squealed and threw her arms around her prima in a hug.

"Have you told him?!" She asked excitedly.

Dolores dropped her hands again. "Of course not! I just realised I had a crush recently!"

Isabela pulled back again and gave Dolores a serious look. “You are an amazing person and if anyone says otherwise, I’ll kick their ass. You should tell him!”

Dolores flailed her hands at her prima. “I’m not ready to yet Isa! I’ve still got to- to process it all!”

Isabela sighed. “Fine. But no pining for years! Or I’ll lock you two in a closet together.”

Maybe she shouldn’t have told her nosey best friend…

Dolores opened her mouth to threaten her favourite prima so that she would do no such thing when something caught her attention.

She frowned, turning her head.

That was Camilo and Mirabel. And they sounded agitated and upset. Isabela fell silent as Dolores focused on the conversation happening. She normally turned out what was happening unless she heard her name being called, but Camilo would always be a special case. She was always subconsciously listening out for his voice, so when she heard it rise a bit and sound upset, she listened.

“No! I’m not gonna do that!” the seven-year-old shouted, sounding annoyed.

“Cami’s not gonna take your place so you can sneak out to a party,” Mirabel added, like it was the dumbest thing she’d ever heard.

Which it was. Camilo was seven. And if she was right about who the three boys with them were, then they were really dumb since they were fifteen. How did they expect a little kid to fool their family into thinking he was a fifteen-year-old?

It sounded like the confrontation was happening down by the river and Dolores got nervous when the boy who wanted Camilo to listen to them started to get angry.

“Listen, just do what we tell you to,” he ordered. “Your Gift will actually be useful then."

Dolores stood up and started moving towards where they were. It wasn’t far but she had a bad feeling about this.

“Dolores?” Isabela asked in concern as she followed.

“Some teenagers are trying to get Camilo to do something for them and they aren’t taking no for an answer. Mirabel is with him,” she explained quickly.

Isabela immediately looked annoyed. She hated it when anyone tried to take advantage of someone in the family and she was very protective over the younger family members. Especially Camilo and Mirabel since they got into so much trouble so often. But she’d also punched a girl once when she made a rude comment about Luisa.

The village should have realised by now that Dolores wouldn’t hesitate to snitch when it came to her family. She wouldn’t tolerate people being mean just because they didn’t want to use their Gifts for every little thing the village wanted.

She kept listening to the argument as it got more heated, Mirabel joining Camilo in yelling at the older boys.

They reached the top of the hill where it sloped down to the river just as the argument reached its climax.

The lead boy reached out and grabbed Camilo’s wrist, yanking it up and lifting her hermano off the ground while he kicked out at the teenager.

“Just do what you’re fucking told, you brat!” he shouted.

Dolores could hear her hermanito’s heart speeding up in fear as he tried to get free from the hold on his wrist.

Before they could do anything though, Mirabel jumped forward and hit the boy with her little fists.

“Let Cami go you bully!” she shouted.

Clearly losing his temper, the teenager shoved her away with his free hand. Mirabel tripped backwards and lost her balance. 

They’d been too close to the river, the group of teenagers having boxed the two kids in against it.

The little girl fell backwards, into the water, and disappeared from sight.

“Mirabel!” Isabela screamed, making Dolores’ ears ring.

She didn’t care though. She was already running down the hill, trying to hear her youngest prima under the rushing water.

“Mira!” Camilo cried out in fear, still struggling in the boy’s hold.

He was standing rooted to the spot, clearly shocked by what he’d just done.

Dolores didn’t care if he didn’t mean to do that. He’d hurt her prima and he was still hurting her hermanito. 

The plants around them were going crazy, making the other two teenagers panic as Dolores ran up to their leader.

Her mamá had made sure that she could take care of herself if Isabela or her family weren’t nearby and she got into trouble. She drew back her fist and punched the asshole like her mamá taught her to, forcing him to let go of Camilo as his nose broke.

She swept her hermano up before running along the river, trying to find where her prima was. Behind her, vines erupted from the ground and wrapped around the three bullies so at least they didn’t need to worry about them. Isabela was running after her moments later.

“Dolores! Can you hear her?” Isabela asked frantically.

Dolores took a few deep breaths to calm herself before trying to listen past the sound of rushing water.

“There!” she suddenly pointed ahead of them.

Isabela threw her vines into the water, blocking the flow entirely and she let out a sob when Dolores heard the little girl hit them underwater. They stopped running as Isabela carefully wrapped her vines around her hermana and pulled her out of the water.

Dolores could have cried when Mirabel immediately started coughing up water. Camilo did start crying in her arms while Isabela pulled her hermana close and frantically checked her over. Mirabel clung to Isabela, shaking violently as she hacked up the rest of the water in her lungs.

Isabela let out a sound of anger when Mirabel flinched as she checked her head. She must have hit her head when she fell into the river. That would explain why she didn’t reach the surface of the water despite being able to swim. She must have been dazed from the blow.

“I’ve got you Mira, you’re safe,” Isabela promised, hugging the little girl tightly, not caring about the water seeping into her dress.

“Isa!” Mirabel choked out, clinging tightly to her hermana.

Dolores moved closer so that Camilo could reach out for his best friend and make sure she was alright himself.

Isabela lifted her eyes from her hermana to lock on the boys still wrapped in her vines. With a sharp move of her head, she threw all three of them into the river.

Dolores didn’t blame her. They deserved far worse than that.

Maybe it was time they reminded the bullies in town about why it was such a bad idea to target their family again. 

Apparently, it didn’t sink in the last few times they did it.

Chapter Text

Julieta checked on Mirabel again. She'd caught a nasty cold from being dumped in the river and her poor hija was miserable.

Julieta had never wanted to strangle someone as much as when Isabela and Dolores came running back home, a hysterical Camilo in her sobrina's arms and a sobbing Mirabel in her eldest's hold.

Pepa and her mamá had stormed off to deal with the problem though so that Julieta could take care of the distraught kids.

Isabela still refused to leave her hermana's side and the village had been shocked when the house of the boy who pushed Mirabel ended up covered in thorny vines.

When Isabela was nowhere near it.

Her hija was growing stronger with her Gift and she wasn't afraid to use it to defend her hermanas.

Camilo switched between fury at the bullies and fear for his prima so Dolores was keeping a close eye on him.

"How is she?" 

Julieta looked up from where she'd been staring at Mirabel's door to see Pepa and Bruno nearby, both looking worried.

"Coughing and miserable. But it's just a cold. Her fever's very mild," Julieta reassured them.

They looked relieved and all three of them started walking toward the stairs.

"Those bullies that did this?" She asked in a deceptively calm tone.

"Scared witless of Isabela," Bruno answered easily.

"Their parents were horrified by what they did and those brats are going to be grounded for months. They'll be forced to apologise to Mira when she's feeling better," Pepa added.

Julieta nodded sharply.

"Good."

"Like mamá always says," Bruno said. "Family first."

They shared a grin and headed to the kitchen to get some tea and calm down.

And plot ways to make sure this never happened again.

Mirabel felt awful. But Isabela still managed to make her smile.

She was making pretty flowers bloom and grow for Mirabel.

"And this is a new one I found in a book from the library," she said, creating a beautiful gold flower.

"Wow," Mirabel stared at it with wide eyes. "It's so pretty Isa."

Her hermana smiled smugly. She waved her hand and vines wove themselves into a basket that she started arranging all the flowers into.

"Hey Isa?" Mirabel said quietly.

"Hmmm?"

"Why do you stomp when you use your magic? When you can use it by just waving your hands too?"

Actually, she'd seen Isabela use her magic without even moving before.

"Well, it's easier," Isabela started explaining. "When I stomp I connect to my magic easier. I think it's because I can connect to the earth easier that way. Sure I can just wave my hand, but I'm more focused when I stomp. Plus," she smirked. "It irritates the jerks in the village who think I'm not 'girly' enough." She rolled her eyes.

Mirabel pulled a face. "Luisa's the girly one between us," she huffed.

Isabela nodded in agreement. "Luisa likes all that stuff. So when I stomp like that, all those dumb villagers get all annoyed. But they can't say anything since mamá and Abuela would get mad if they did.

"They're scary when they get mad," Mirabel nodded solemnly.

"Sí," Isabela agreed, putting the completed flower arrangement on Mirabel's bedside table. "Now, why don't you try and sleep a little?" She suggested. "Mamá always says rest is the best medicine."

"I hate being sick," Mirabel pouted.

"I know," Isabela pet her sweaty curls. "That's why we'll keep you company the whole time."

Mirabel smiled at her. "Gracias Isa. You're the best."

Her hermana leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead.

"Only the best for mi hermanita," she murmured.

She stayed with Mirabel until the girl fell asleep before leaving to let their mamá know that she was resting.

When Mirabel woke up again, it was to find Luisa sitting beside her bed, reading.

"Mira!" She said when she realised the six-year-old was awake.

Mirabel yawned before coughing. Luisa hurriedly offered a glass of water.

"How are you feeling?" The older girl asked in concern.

One look at Mirabel's miserable expression was all the answer she needed. She fussed over her for a moment and fluffed her pillows, tucking her in under the blanket a little more.

“How about a story?” she asked.

Mirabel perked up. While Tio Bruno was the best at telling stories, she loved listening to Luisa read to her. She nodded and her hermana got up to fetch one of the books from Mirabel’s small collection.

The older girl settled back into her chair and opened the book. Mirabel smiled to see that it was about José the Donkey Explorer.

She snuggled down into her blankets as Luisa started reading, relaxing under the covers. She felt awful, but her hermanas always made her feel better.

She drifted off before the story was over and vaguely felt Luisa tuck her in again before she fell asleep.

When Mirabel woke up again, she heard soft humming. Turning her head she found Dolores sitting there with Camilo in her lap.

“Mira!” he cried when he saw her awake. He scrambled off Dolores’ lap to stand right at the bedside. “Are you okay?”

Mirabel yawned and reached out automatically to take her primo’s hand. “Just sick Cami,” she mumbled sleepily.

“Lo siento,” he said miserably. “I couldn’t stop them…”

Mirabel shook her head and squeezed his hand. “It’s not your fault they’re bullies,” she said firmly.

“It’s really not Cami,” Dolores agreed, reaching out to brush a hand through Mirabel’s hair and press it against her forehead. “It’s those kids’ fault for being jerks.”

Camilo didn’t look like he completely believed them but he didn’t argue.

“No feeling bad when I’m sick,” Mirabel declared, squeezing his hand again. “It’s not allowed.”

“Since when?” Camilo asked, scrunching up his nose.

“Since now. I said so.”

Dolores smiled a little and helped Mirabel sit up to drink some water. “I’m going to get some soup from your mamá,” she said. “Cami, you keep an eye on her okay?”

Camilo nodded seriously and they both watched her leave the room.

“Isabela covered their houses in vines,” Camilo told her.

“Isa is cool.”

“Isa is scary.”

“That too. Good thing she loves us.”

Camilo nodded in agreement and climbed back into the chair that Dolores had been using. He caught her up on everything that had happened and Mirabel listened with a smile.

She had the best family ever. 

She beamed when the door opened again and her Abuela came in with Dolores.

“How are you feeling Mira?” she asked gently, feeling her temperature as well.

Mirabel smiled. “I’m fine Abuela.”

She felt loved.

Chapter Text

"See you later!" Pepa called as she waved.

Felix was carrying the picnic basket they were taking out to a secluded spot for their date.

Abuela had gone out to meet up with Maria, Sophia and Carlos for a relaxed day and Julieta and Agustin had already left for their own date.

Bruno waved back, Camilo in his arms as he waved to his mamá. The eight-year-old was turning out to be more clingy than Mirabel, wanting to be picked up while Mira preferred her independence on the ground.

Although she never refused piggyback rides from her hermanas.

"Alright," Bruno turned to look at the gaggle of niños gathered around him. It wasn't the first time he had babysat his sobrinos for a day to give his hermanas a break. "How about we start with a game?"

"Hide and seek!" Isabela suggested excitedly, the fourteen-year-old always trying to beat Dolores at the game.

Dolores smirked at her, the competitiveness already sparking between the pair.

Luisa sighed while Mirabel and Camilo agreed excitedly.

"Can we have a time limit this time?" Luisa asked. "So someone doesn't give us a heart attack when she doesn't come out at the end."

Mirabel smiled innocently at her.

Bruno gathered all of them close and put Camilo down where he bounced excitedly in place.

"Remember the rules?" He asked.

They all nodded.

"No leaving Casita," Dolores murmured.

"No going in the adult's rooms," Mirabel chirped.

"No hiding in the oven," Camilo added.

That rule was added because of his… adventurous hiding place choices.

"No trying to get Casita to help," Isabela ended.

He smiled at them. "Good. Now go hide. I'll seek first."

They all giggled and ran off while Bruno waited patiently, counting to one hundred to give them a good head start.

He loved days like this, when he could play with his sobrinos and just spend some quiet time with them.

Well, as quiet as time with them ever got.

By the time the game was over, Isabela was pouting and Dolores looked smug. Camilo and Mirabel were trading hiding place discoveries. And Luisa was looking done with all four of them and their nonsense.

It had been an interesting game and they were all covered in Isabela’s pollen pods.

Except for Dolores. She always seemed to manage to avoid them. She still wasn’t fond of getting messy in any way.

"Right!" Bruno clapped his hands, getting their attention. "Everyone go clean up quickly. Dolores and I will get lunch ready. Isa, Luisa, make sure Cami and Mira actually get clean please."

The youngest two pouted while Isabela and Luisa nodded, herding them towards the bathroom.

Dolores followed him into the kitchen to help with the sandwiches.

"Are you ever going to let Isa win?" He asked in amusement.

Dolores smirked. "No."

He chuckled and shook his head. She reminded him so much of Pepa when she was like this.

They got some sandwiches together before the other four came back from washing up.

Bruno checked that they were all clean before handing over the food.

Camilo immediately shoved half his sandwich into his mouth and Bruno had to remind him not to choke. There was an extra sandwich on his plate since he needed more food to keep up with his Gift's high metabolism. 

Bruno ate his own sandwich as he watched the five interact fondly.

Dolores poked at her hermano whenever he started eating too fast. Luisa scolded both of the youngest for their messy eating habits and then watched Isabela in dismay as she wasn't any better. She'd never been a girl who cared much for appearances.

Dolores just watched in amusement.

When everyone was finished, they washed dishes and then the kids attacked.

"Story!" Camilo and Mirabel called in unison while the other three looked hopeful.

Bruno chuckled and gestured for them to go upstairs. They all rushed up to his room and waited impatiently for him to get there and open the door.

None of them hesitated as they barreled through the sand waterfall and slid down the hill into his room. 

It took the form of a three-level tower. The first level was covered in a layer of soft sand with a raised platform where his bookshelves and reading area sat.

Following the stairs up to the second level led to his bedroom with its cosy bed piled with pillows and blankets.

The last level was his vision cave, a quiet open space he could focus in as he had his visions.

The entire place was lit by a soft green light that came from carvings along the walls.

The kids all scrambled up to the reading nook and sat in their usual places, staring at him expectantly.

He shook his head in amusement as he stopped just in front of the platform.

"What kind of story do you want today?" He asked.

"Adventure!" Camilo called out.

"Dragons!" Isabela added.

"Knights," Dolores requested quietly.

"I want the dragon to eat someone!" Mirabel piped up.

They all turned to look at her and she smiled innocently.

"You have spent touch time with your Tia," Bruno chuckled.

He thought for a minute and then snapped his fingers.

"I got it."

He felt his magic shift and the sand in the room rose, glowing green and ready to play out the story.

Just like Juli's Gift wasn't limited to just healing, instead improving the family’s health tenfold and Pepa's Gift extended far beyond her emotions affecting the weather, Bruno's had never been limited to just seeing the future.

Some might say that manipulating the sand around him wasn't much of an ability. Those people didn't realise that they were surrounded by sand every day.

And sand was just a step away from glass.

By the time the other adults of the house started drifting back home, Mirabel and Camilo were already asleep in their beds.

Luisa was reading one of her books, completely focused on the story. Isabela was growing little succulents in a pot, the process needing a lot more control and concentration than flowers and trees did.

Dolores was tucked into Bruno's side, eyes half-closed as she listened to everything in the Encanto.

Isabela and Luisa swarmed their parents when they arrived and Dolores hurried over to hug her mamá and papá moments before they were through the door.

The parents fussed over their niños for a bit, checking that the two youngest were asleep.

"Gracias Bruno," Pepa said with a smile as Juli kissed his cheek.

"You know I like spending time with them," Bruno reminded.

They talked for a bit before Pepa seemed to realise something.

"Where's mamá?"

Dolores poked her head back into the room.

"She's drunk along with Abuelo Carlos and Abuela Sophia. They're going to egg someone's house and Abuela Maria is just watching and laughing."

They stared at each other for a moment before Pepa shouted.

"Agustin! Give me your camera! I need photographic evidence!"

"Which house mija?" Felix asked.

"Ricardo's."

"Ay she never forgave him for pushing Pepa into the river," Julieta sighed.

"I didn't either," Bruno stated bluntly. "I hope they use rotten eggs."

"Bruno!"

Pepa and Felix raced out of the house, cackling gleefully. Julieta groaned and Bruno just grinned.

Their mamá held grudges.

Chapter Text

It was approaching Camilo’s tenth birthday when Bruno came stumbling into the room, still half-asleep.

Everyone called out good mornings, not really paying attention to him since they were trying to get Camilo to sit still long enough to eat. He got very excited the week before his birthday.

“Congratulations,” Bruno yawned and the activity in the room screeched to a halt as heads whipped around to face him.

Pepa and Julieta looked shocked while Dolores, Luisa and Isabela held their breath as they waited excitedly.

“Who?” Alma asked, watching her hijas carefully.

They hadn’t been expecting any more niños in this generation. She knew Pepa and Felix had tried for a while but they hadn’t had any luck. That was a few years after Camilo’s birth.

“Pepa,” Bruno said.

Dolores cheered, not caring that it hurt her ears. Isabela tsked in disappointment while her mamá slumped in relief. She was too old for another baby.

“I’m forty-five!” Pepa shrieked, Bruno covering Dolores’ ears just in time. “How?!”

“Magic,” Bruno deadpanned.

Pepa threw a plate at him, eyes a little wild.

And then Felix was there, pulling her close and beaming wildly. “You are magical mi vida,” he said sincerely and she just melted, giving him a small smile as the growing cloud above them disappeared.

“What’s going on?” Mirabel asked, Camilo looking just as curious and confused. The family seemed to be going crazy for no reason.

“Mamá’s going to have a baby!” Dolores said excitedly, beaming widely.

Camilo stared at her for a moment, stunned, before looking at his parents. For a moment, they were worried he’d have a negative reaction. They’d never talked to him about a little sibling before since it didn’t seem to be happening for them.

“Can I change my wish for a birthday present?” the nine-year-old asked. “I want a hermanito. There’s too many girls in the house.”

Isabela threw a pollen pod at him, Dolores rolled her eyes and Luisa and Mirabel made offended noises.

Pepa just swept her spluttering, now green splattered, hijo up into a hug. “We’ll just have to see what happens in nine months,” she giggled.

“But that’s what we have Tio Bruno for!” he complained.

“Hey!” Bruno complained and Pepa just laughed again.

Camilo smiled, always glad when he made her smile like that.

For the next nine months, Camilo followed his mamá everywhere, always trying to help and make things easier. He talked to Dolores about how to help best and what to do with a baby in the house. And he asked about the baby’s heartbeat often, sitting with his hermana and mamá as Dolores’ listened.

Camilo was jealous she could hear their sibling but he enjoyed feeling the baby kick under his hands.

Mirabel eventually dragged a reluctant Camilo away to let his mamá rest and so Camilo got some fresh air. As much as Pepa loved her hijo and his earnest wish to help, sometimes she just needed some peace.

And that was something none of the niños were good at providing.

Dolores was doodling in a notebook on her balcony, little snippets of the poems she heard Mariano come up with. She was still mostly quiet about her crush, having only told Isabela. 

She was considering saying something soon though. She just had to build up the courage to ask their handsome friend out.

Hearing her hermano’s name drew her attention and she paused in her writing, tilting her head to listen.

“Getting a little sibling is the worst,” one of the boys from town was saying to her hermanito. “They get all the attention and love and your parents forget about you.”

Dolores bristled at the words but calmed a little when she heard her hermano scoff.

“My parents didn’t stop loving Dolores after they had me. So that’s dumb and a lie.”

She smiled a little as the boy spluttered at Camilo’s blunt argument.

“You’re going to be the middle child now though,” the boy recovered enough to say. “No one pays the middle child any attention.”

“Luisa is in the middle and her parents still give her just as much attention as Isabela and Mirabel get.”

The boy was clearly getting angry with Camilo’s easy rebuttals.

“Well that’s cause they’ve all got better Gifts than yours,” he spat and Dolores was already standing to head to town.

She wouldn’t allow someone to talk to her hermanito like that.

Mirabel beat her to it though, apparently having been nearby.

There was the sound of the boy falling as she pushed him.

“Camilo has an awesome Gift and you’re just a jealous bully! His Gift makes everyone in the family smile. What do you do except complain about your hermanita and try and make others as miserable as you are?”

Dolores smirked at the stunned silence that followed her prima’s words.

“What she said,” Camilo piped up. “Come on Mira. Let’s go get that material you were looking for.

Dolores smiled as she heard the pair return to what they were doing. She would always want to protect her hermanito. But she wasn’t the only one who would, and sometimes he didn’t even need it.

He was growing up so fast. It made her both happy and sad.

When Pepa went into labour, the kids were all shooed into Dolores' room again, Bruno having to carry Camilo over his shoulder since the little boy wanted to stay with his mamá.

“Trust me Cami, you really don’t want to stick around,” Bruno said and shuddered.

He kept them entertained until they all dozed off and then leaned back and waited. He knew this one would go a lot easier than Pepa's last one had.

Eventually, Agustin came to fetch them and he woke the kids up.

Camilo went tearing out of the room, beelining to his parents’. Dolores was close behind.

When Bruno reached the door, he smiled at the sight of Camilo on the bed and beaming down at the bundle in Pepa’s arms.

“I got a hermanito!” he said excitedly.

“Sí,” Felix murmured with a smile. “Your hermanito, Antonio,” he told both Camilo and Dolores.

Dolores stood next to the bed, cooing at her new hermano.

“Hola Antonio,” Camilo said as he leaned over the baby. “I’m Camilo. I’m going to be the best hermano,” he promised the little boy.

The rest of the family crowded in to meet the newest addition and Bruno met his mamá’s eyes, returning her smile.

He was pretty sure that was the last one. He hadn’t seen any other niños in the future.

Well, not for his generation anyway. 

But he was definitely not telling yet. The future was better as a surprise after all.

Chapter Text

“I’m going to do it,” Dolores said firmly to her reflection.

“Of course you are,” Isabela assured as she helped thread flowers into her prima’s hair.

“I’m going to do it.”

“Yup, you’ll do great.”

“I can’t do this.”

“Don’t you dare, you are doing this or I’m going through with locking you two in a closet together.”

“Isa…”

“You’re head over heels for him Dolores. He’d be an idiot to turn you down. And while Mariano might not be the most book-smart person around, he’s not an idiot. And we’ve known him for years.”

Dolores fiddled with her dress anxiously. Why did she tell Isabela that she was planning on asking Mariano out?

Probably because she knew that she’d chicken out and needed her best friend to give her a shove.

She was seventeen now and it was ridiculous that she couldn’t ask her crush out. But after hearing all the girls go on and on about Mariano day in and day out… it made her more than a little anxious.

Mariano had his pick of women.

Why would he pick her?

Isbaela flicked her forehead, making Dolores yelp.

“What was that for?”

“You were thinking bad things again. I could tell. No thinking anything but good things about you. I won’t let anyone talk badly about my best friend. Even you.”

Dolores huffed while Isabela smirked, finishing up with her hair. Her makeup was done and she was wearing her favourite dress.

She was as ready as could be.

She was terrified.

“Let’s go!” Isabela said cheerily, dragging her terrified prima out of the room.

Dolores regretted everything.

Alma waved to her nietas as Isabela dragged Dolores out of the house. She was certainly on a mission and Dolores looked as terrified as Bruno did when Pepa got an idea into her head.

She shook her head fondly and turned back to her guest.

Señora Guzmán chuckled.

"They seem busy."

"They usually are," Alma said as she handed over a cup of tea. 

She was curious about what the woman wanted to discuss. They weren't particularly close but she was nice enough.

They made small talk for a few minutes before her guest finally got to the point of her visit.

"I'd like to talk to you about arranging a marriage between my hijo and one of your beautiful nietas."

Alma blinked at her in surprise. Well, she was direct at least.

"You want to arrange a marriage between one of mi nietas and Mariano?" She asked, voice politely interested. 

It wasn't uncommon for families to do that in the Encanto.

Señora Guzmán nodded. "I know he and Isabela have been close for years. I was thinking they would make a beautiful couple."

Alma had to fight off a smile. She knew her nietas and she knew that Isabela would hate an arranged marriage. And of course, there was another reason why she would refuse.

Dolores wasn't as subtle about her crush as she thought. And then there was that vision.

"Mariano is a good man and anyone he marries will be very lucky. But Madrigals don't do arranged marriage," she told the woman gently. "I married for love. So did my hijas. So will my nietos."

Señora Guzmán was frowning now and opened her mouth to argue.

"One of them might choose to marry him. Or they might not. It's up to them in the end." She kept her voice firm but kind. She knew Señora Guzmán just wanted the best for her hijo.

But Alma wanted her family to marry for love and only love. Not out of an obligation.

Before they could continue, Bruno wandered into the kitchen, nodding politely to their guest and beelining straight for the coffee.

"Morning mijo," Alma greeted while Señora Guzmán processed her refusal.

"Morning mamá," he yawned. " Good morning Señora Guzmán. You'll get a nice surprise in approximately ten seconds."

Alma smiled while their guest looked confused.

Moments later, Isabela came careening into the house, crowing in triumph.

"And?" Bruno asked with a smug smirk as she rushed into the kitchen.

"Like you don't know," she playfully scoffed. She turned to face Alma. "Dolores asked him! And he said yes!"

Alma smiled widely.

"It was so sappy and cute. They were staring into each other's eyes like lovesick puppies when I left."

"What?" Señora Guzmán asked, baffled.

"Dolores asked Mariano out," Alma said with a smile, holding back a laugh when she gaped at them. "She's had a crush on him for years and worked up the courage today."

"They're so cute together," Isabela cooed.

Alma looked back at Señora Guzmán. "I don't arrange marriages for my family," she said gently. "If they want to marry, they figure it out on their own. And Madrigals are notorious for dating once. Pedro was my first and only partner. The same for Pepa and Julieta. Bruno is single by choice. The niños will figure themselves out.

Señora Guzmán chuckled after a moment.

"Life is certainly never dull in this house, is it?"

"No," Alma agreed. "It will get more interesting when Felix and Pepa hear that their baby girl is dating."

Now Señora Guzmán laughed while Isabela grimaced.

"Poor boy," Bruno shook his head, but he was grinning.

The second generation was growing up so fast.

It was raining and the Madrigal family found that hilarious.

"My baby is growing up."

"Mamá-"

"I need to have a talk with Mariano."

"Papá!"

"I still remember when you were in diapers."

"Seriously mamá-"

"I'll take a bat. No, a crowbar."

"Papá! Don't you dare!"

Dolores was following her papá around as he paced while Camilo was handing their mamá a cup of tea. She didn't doubt that her hermano would tease her about her new boyfriend later. But she wanted to hug him right now as he helped calm their mamá down, shooting Dolores sympathetic looks.

He knew when to joke around and when to help.

"You're only seventeen!" Her papá grumbled.

"You were mooning over Pepa way earlier than that," Bruno piped up, shrugging in the face of Felix's glare. "Payback for the lovey-dovey stuff I had to sit through for way too long after you two got together."

"I'm not ready for my baby to marry!" Her mamá wailed, grabbing Camilo and dragging him into a tight hug. 

Her hermano just seemed to resign himself to the fate of being an emotional support teddy bear.

"I'm not ready to be an Abuela!" She sobbed into Camilo’s hair.

Her papá's eyes widened while Dolores choked.

"Mamá!" She shrieked, her own voice echoing in her ears.

"Hell no! I'm going to teach that boy a lesson!" Her papá' stormed out of the room and Dolores ran after him in a panic.

Bruno watched his hermana cry while squeezing the life out of her hijo.

"You won't grow up yet, right mijo?" She asked.

Camilo tilted his head back and wrinkled his nose.

"Girls are gross," he said as firmly as an eleven-year-old could.

Pepa smiled at him, sunshine breaking through the clouds and Bruno shook his head with a chuckle.

Leave it to Camilo to get his mamá to smile again. 

He dreaded the day that Camilo showed interest in love. Pepa was going to be inconsolable about her baby boy growing up.

And Antonio was going to be so much worse.

Chapter Text

Mariano had been friends with Dolores, Isabela and Luisa for years. He'd babysat both Camilo and Mirabel for the family. He'd been on good terms with the rest of them, the adults being Tios and Tias to him.

Nothing prepared him for dating a Madrigal though. 

And that wasn't about how Felix chased him down the street with a crowbar.

Somehow, he'd missed exactly how chaotic the family was.

Joining them for breakfast as Dolores' official boyfriend certainly showed him what he was in for.

Señora Madrigal was serenely eating in the chaos that was her family, not batting an eye as Camilo and Mirabel tossed bowls of food to each other, Isabela snagging them out of the air with her vines if they went off course.

Julieta and Agustin were ignoring most of it. Pepa was drizzling and sniffling every time she looked at him

Felix was eating his meal very aggressively as he glared.

Bruno looked like he was enjoying it all far too much.

Isabela too.

Dolores looked like she wanted to sink into her chair out of embarrassment and Luisa kept muttering about how cute they were together.

Mirabel was clearing fighting amusement and Antonio was blissfully ignorant in Pepa's arms.

Camilo was probably the most sympathetic to his situation. He'd refrained from any teasing since Dolores already looked ready to melt into the floor.

Overall, it was a very uncomfortable breakfast.

And it only got stranger as Mariano stayed longer. 

Pepa's cloud cleared up as she spent time with Antonio and Felix was distracted trying to keep Camilo and Mirabel out of trouble. Trying but not succeeding.

Dolores looked relieved to escape everyone.

"Lo siento," she groaned. "I'm so embarrassed."

Mariano chuckled. "I knew it before but it's even clearer that they love you Dolores. They're feeling protective."

She huffed, but didn't argue with him.

Their conversation was interrupted by the true chaos breaking out.

Camilo and Mirabel came careening out of Isabela's room as the oldest Madrigal grandchild let out a shriek of rage.

"You're dead!" She screamed after the pair, vines racing after them.

Bruno appeared out of nowhere, grabbing the pair and pulling them out of the way.

The next hour was a mess of pollen pods, screams, shrieks of laughter and Casita making everything worse.

It only ended when Señora Madrigal stepped in and calmed it down with a single sharp word.

Mariano felt like he'd been through a war.

He was covered in coloured pollen from head to toe like everyone but Señora Madrigal and Dolores.

He had no idea how his girlfriend avoided it.

Camilo and Mirabel were hanging from the second floor by vines, giggling like mad. 

Luisa looked exasperated.

Isabela was still fuming.

Bruno was standing to the side, clearly ready to jump in just in case it was needed. 

"Put those menaces down," Señora Madrigal ordered.

Isabela pouted and set the two down on the ground, being gentle despite her anger.

"Mirabel, Camilo, apologise to Isabela for whatever you dyed pink this time. Bruno, stop enabling them. Then everyone get cleaned up."

The family dispersed again, Mirabel and Camilo racing up to Isabela to hug her and apologise sweetly.

She clearly didn't believe them but it was hard to stay mad in the face of their smiles. She hugged them both and told them to leave her dresses alone for once.

Mariano shook his head and Dolores chuckled.

"Is this a normal day?" Mariano asked faintly.

"No," Dolores brushed down her skirt despite being free of pollen. "That was pretty mild. There weren't any giant venus flytraps."

He gaped at her and she giggled, leading him to her room so he could clean up in her bathroom.

"Your family is insane. I mean that in the nicest way possible."

She laughed. "Yes. They are. They're annoying sometimes but I love them."

He smiled at the soft look in her eyes as she looked back at where Isabela was mixing more pollen into Mirabel and Camilo's hair while they squealed and tried to escape.

"They're a good family," he murmured.

Later, when things were calmer and Mariano had left, the family gathered in the sitting room for some family time.

Camilo had Antonio on his lap, the rest of his side of the family completely focused on Bruno's telenovela.

Julieta was sitting with Alma while Agustin spent time with his hijas.

"The first nieta is dating," Julieta sighed. "Time moves so quickly."

"It does," Alma agreed, sipping on her tea. "It might be Isabela next," she teased.

Julieta smacked her mamá lightly on the arm, but she was smiling.

"I'm not ready for them to grow up."

"We never are," Alma sighed. "But it happens no matter what we want."

Julieta hummed, watching the niños. 

Personally, Alma wasn't sure Isabela would get married at all. She was so independent and had never shown an interest in a relationship. It might still happen but she knew her nieta had priorities that didn't really include love right now. She might change her mind later down the line.

But Alma was pretty sure she didn't want children. She liked the young niños in the family but had little patience for those from the village.

Luisa, she knew, would get married. She was as big of a romantic as Dolores was. Alma knew she'd had a few crushes by now, all harmless puppy crushes so far. But Alma didn't doubt she'd find love much sooner than Isabela ever did. Mostly because she was looking for it.

And she wanted kids, but not a huge family. Probably one or two at max. She would be a lovely mamá. 

The younger ones were harder to guess.

Mirabel and Camilo would likely get married one day. And she knew they both adored kids. They would want big families with their partners. 

Only time would tell really. They were only eleven now after all. They had a lot of time to make up their minds.

Romance was still gross to the pair after all.

She leaned back in her chair and watched her family with a smile.

There was no hurry for any of them to find love. There was no expectation either.

Bruno never got married after all and he was perfectly happy.

Something the village still struggled to understand.

So if Isabela never wanted to marry? That was her choice.

If her nietos didn't want to conform to what the village considered normal?

She'd slap anyone who said anything cruel to them.

It was their life after all. So it was their choice.

Who had the right to make their decisions for them?

Chapter Text

Camilo and Mirabel stopped walking as an enormous thorny tree burst into sight beyond some houses.

Moments later, Dolores rushed past them in that direction.

"It was probably flowers," Camilo said. "Cliche roses at that."

"Nah, did you see the size of that tree? Someone definitely proposed," Mirabel argued, crossing her arms.

The twelve-year-olds changed direction to head towards the tree. Seeing the aftermath was always fun. And seeing Dolores trying to calm Isabela down was hilarious.

They knew what they'd find by now since it had happened so many times.

Since turning eighteen, Isabela had been bombarded with courting requests and even proposals. Requests for marriage completely skipping everything that was supposed to happen beforehand.

It was driving her up the wall.

After she'd turned down all the guys that had tried (some a few times each), a few girls had even asked.

Isabela had had to explain that refusing guys didn't make her gay. She was straight and not interested.

That last part just didn’t seem to be getting through to them.

It was Bruno all over again for the family. It wasn’t completely the same since Isabela wasn't aromantic. She just didn't want a relationship yet. And especially not one with pushy people. But the result was the same.

People that kept pushing, kept asking, refusing to take no for an answer. 

And her temper was fraying more by the day. She’d never been the most patient to begin with either.

"Don't kill him!" Dolores shouted as she all but jumped on her prima.

Camilo and Mirabel looked at the man pinned by an angry tree. The ring lying next to a small box a few feet away from him gave it away.

"Called it," Mirabel announced smugly.

"Kill him Isa!" Camilo called. "Maybe they'll learn a lesson that way!"

"Camilo!" Dolores shouted back, tone scolding.

"No means no!" Camilo and Mirabel chorused together.

"Well, yes," Dolores nodded as she held onto her prima. "But killing is bad."

They pouted.

"Mamá says it's just culling the population of idiocy," Camilo huffed.

"You aren't supposed to listen to mamá before she's had her morning coffee." Dolores looked back at Isabela. "Let him up. I think you've made your point."

Isabela huffed but sent the tree vanishing back into the ground.

The terrified man ran off immediately.

"Cowardly bastard!" Isabela shouted after him.

Dolores sighed and hugged her murderous prima.

It was annoying but at least things couldn't get worse.

The family was all out in town, Mirabel and Camilo playing with their friends, when it happened.

Dolores' gasp was all the warning they got before a literal explosion of foliage appeared a few streets over.

Julieta sighed and moved in that direction but Dolores grabbed her hand.

"Don't," she said tightly. "He deserves everything coming to him."

That caught everyone’s attention. Dolores was so angry she was shaking and all the adults gathered around her in concern.

"Mija?" Pepa asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.

Dolores took in a shaky breath.

"He said that since Isabela didn't want to date, he'd be willing to sleep with her since she won't get it anywhere else."

The adults froze.

"What?" Julieta asked in a dangerous voice.

Felix immediately put Antonio in Pepa's arms to stop her from sending a hurricane after the fool.

"Is Isa dealing with him?" He asked, forcibly calm.

"She punched him and broke his nose. Now she's throwing him around with her vines and most of the village is cheering her on because they were offended for her."

"He said that in public?!" Pepa whisper-yelled. “In front of everyone?!”

Dolores nodded tightly, going quiet as Camilo and Mirabel ran up to them.

"Is Isa okay?" Mirabel asked worriedly, never having seen such a violent environmental reaction from her hermana.

"She's… upset with someone. But she's okay," Dolores reassured.

"Was someone dumb again?" Camilo asked.

"Sí," she nodded. "Very very dumb. We're going to wait until she's feeling better and then I think she'd really like some hugs."

The twelve-year-olds nodded seriously.

When Isabela finally stormed into sight, Camilo and Mirabel didn't hesitate to jump on her in a hug.

She looked at them in surprise before smiling softly and crouching down to return the hug.

"Gracias," she murmured to them, kissing their cheeks.

"Are people being dumb again?" Camilo asked, wiping his cheek after pulling a face.

"Very dumb," she said. "Super dumb. The dumbest."

"Did you scare them off?" Mirabel asked. 

The explosion of plants was still there.

"Sí," Isabela smirked. "I did."

The kids cheered and pulled her over to the rest of the family.

Isabela looked up to smile at Dolores and she returned it.

They may be completely different girls, but they were primas and best friends. Practically mellizas.

Dolores was getting payback for this one.

She’d destroy that bastard’s reputation. He should have known better than to mess with a Madrigal.

And Dolores’ had her mamá’s ability to hold grudges.

She never forgot and rarely forgave.

The last incident seemed to have scared wannabe suitors off from Isabela for now, much to her relief.

She sighed as she looked out at the town from Casita’s roof.

She loved her home and she liked the town most of the time.

But this last month had been infuriating.

She glanced up as someone joined her on the roof.

"You okay sobrina?" Tio Bruno asked gently.

She huffed. "I will be when everyone stops being stupid."

He chuckled softly, sitting next to her.

"Afraid that's not happening. They still ask me out and it’s been decades."

She growled. "They're idiots. You say no over and over again and all they hear is-"

"Try harder," Bruno finished and she slumped, nodding.

She leaned against his side and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Their situations weren't the same, but they were similar enough for mutual empathy.

"Don't let anyone pressure you into anything," he told her quietly. "You owe no one anything. You owe yourself happiness. That's all."

She nodded against his shoulder. 

"I know. And besides, I've got a family that would destroy anyone who tried to pressure me."

"If you didn't get there first," he chuckled.

She smiled smugly. "I am rather terrifying."

"Sí," he agreed. "Like your Abuela."

She felt proud of that comparison.

Chapter Text

“Gracias again,” Felix thanked his parents.

“You don’t need to thank us for spending time with our nietos,” Maria waved off his words while Carlos wrestled with a squirming and laughing Camilo.

“You know we enjoy all the time we get with them,” Sophia added, Mirabel practically hanging off her dress as she talked at high speed.

“Go and enjoy your night,” Maria said.

No one said it but everyone knew that most of the adults were going to the bar to unwind, something desperately needed with so many niños in the house.

Alma was visiting a friend in the village before she’d have to track down the others before they did something stupid. 

She had her camera ready.

Antonio was in Dolores’ arms, the three-year-old watching everyone curiously. Isabela and Dolores technically didn’t need anyone to watch them, already nineteen. But they’d never turn down a chance to spend time with their Abuelas and Abuelo. Luisa was seventeen by now, already dating and still refusing to babysit her hermanita and primo.

They were menaces together and most of time only Dolores and Isabela could keep them under control if their parents weren’t around. And the two thirteen-year-olds were already plotting chaos. They could tell.

Dolores would be too busy talking to Maria about her boyfriend while Isabela would be ranting to Sophia about rude and idiotic people in the village. So they’d be no help. Luisa would likely get bombarded with questions about her new boyfriend when Isabela ran out of steam.

So that left Carlos dealing with the two youngest which he was perfectly happy with.

He tossed a laughing Camilo over his shoulder as he waved goodbye to the family. Maria stole Antonio from Dolores to fuss over as she settled down to listen to Dolores sigh over Mariano.

Isabela got into her venting session quickly, Sophia giving her tips on shaming people into leaving her alone. Luisa settled down with a book to enjoy before getting interrogated about Dario.

She’d already warned the poor guy that her Abuela Sophia was going to hunt him down after tonight.

They’d only been dating for less than a month and she wasn’t surprised her Abuela was biding her time to ambush the guy.

She was evil like that.

Hopefully she didn’t chase him off. He was a bit shy but she really liked him.

“Alright you two,” Carlos said, turning to Mirabel while Camilo was still draped over his shoulder. “What have you got for me tonight?”

They both grinned. Carlos was one of the few that met their chaos head-on.

Everyone else stayed out of the way of it all as they talked love and idiocy.

Pepa strode into the bar.

“I am getting so drunk tonight!” She declared to the room at large, drawing a few good-natured laughs and cheers.

“Me too!” Felix agreed eagerly.

“I’m babysitting,” Bruno said immediately. He’d never got drunk again after his eighteenth.

“I’ll just have one or two,” Julieta said.

No one believed her. She always said that.

An hour later, Pepa was in an arm wrestling contest with half the bar cheering her on. Julieta was destroying everyone at pool despite barely being able to stay on her feet.

Felix was singing cheerfully with a group of friends.

Bruno and Agustin watched from the corner as they sipped on their drinks.

“Ay, every time,” Agustin sighed.

“It’s hilarious,” Bruno smirked, watching Pepa destroy everyone and crow over a well-deserved victory.

Considering she was probably seeing double after all those drinks, it was impressive that she was still winning every round.

A sharp crack had Agustin jumping to his feet and rushing to his wife as she held a broken cue to a man’s neck, threatening him with a painful death if he tried to cheat again.

You would think that people would know not to try and cheat at pool with Juli. Even if she was completely sloshed, she would still know.

“Felix! I wanna dance!” Pepa called out and Felix popped up next to her like he’d teleported.

“Anytime mi vida.”

They both ended up on a table, somehow managing to stay on top despite how many times they almost slipped off the edge. Pepa had rainbows above her head and they were dancing a little too close to technically be proper in public. But Pepa was still a clingy drunk even this many years later.

As long as clothes stayed on this time, Bruno wasn’t getting involved.

Agustin was literally dragging his wife away from the idiot cheater and offering to play a game with her.

Without a cue that she’d broken over her knee of course.

She’d absolutely destroy him in the game, but she would be happier.

Bruno sipped at his drink again, taking note of the woman that sidled up next to him but not looking at her.

“Bruno-”

“No.”

“But you don’t-”

“I do. Still no.”

She huffed in irritation. “Maybe after a few drinks-”

“No, I’m not accepting drinks from anyone. I’m not drinking more than this one I’m currently holding. I’m not putting it down either. I’m not getting anyone pregnant tonight so that I could be pressured into marriage. And I had a vision of you dropping pills into that bottle last night already so fuck off.”

The woman scurried off, face somehow pale and burning with shame at the same time as those who’d been nearby glared at her.

“Nice work Bruno,” Diego, one of Felix’s close friends, commented.

Bruno wasn’t blind to the fact that one of his friends was always close by when Felix was drunk.

Even at forty-eight, he was still considered the baby of the triplets. His family and their friends were forever protective.

Not that he minded all that much.

Pepa shrieked with laughter. Felix almost dropped her all the table, barely catching her in time. Juli crowed with triumph and Agustin just watched her with a lovesick expression.

Bruno shook his head fondly, not looking as Juan slid into the seat next to him.

“Wanna have some fun?”

“Dios mio yes. Mamá’s on her way. Let’s go.” He grabbed his friend’s hand and dragged him off while Juan laughed and Diego waved.

Friends with benefits was the best thing to ever be invented.

Chapter Text

Pepa groaned, vaguely realising that she was wet. Actually, she was lying in water.

“Am I in the fountain again?” she mumbled.

“Sí,” her mamá answered serenely and Pepa squinted open an eye to see her sitting on the edge of the fountain.

And the sun.

“Turn out the sun,” she grumbled.

“That’s your ability, not mine.”

She could hear the smirk in her mamá’s voice.

“What happened?”

Everything between entering the bar and waking up now was a blank.

So that meant it had been a very good night.

“Well, I believe you got into a bar fight and gave someone a black eye after you finished dancing on the table. And then you decided to go steal a donkey with Felix because that was somehow romantic. At some point, the donkey bucked and threw you into the fountain where you passed out. Felix somehow ended up on the roof and I’m not sure how. He’s still asleep.”

“... did you get photos?”

“Many.”

“Awesome. I wanna see them when my head doesn’t want to explode. Juli?”

“Agustin had to drag her off of someone when she went rabid fury gremlin on someone for making a comment about you while you were dancing. He locked her in the closet and fell asleep in front of the door waiting for her to pass out.”

“That’s where Isa gets it from.”

“True.”

“Bruno?”

“Likely still in bed with Juan. You know Juan likes to cuddle and Bruno likes to sleep.”

“Well at least one of us got some last night.”

“You and Felix certainly tried while on that poor donkey. Why do you think it bucked you two off?”

“Damn… we can’t tick that off on the list yet.”

“You are fifty. How haven’t you finished your list yet?”

“We’re very creative.”

She laughed and Pepa let herself smile despite her pounding head.

“How are we getting Felix off the roof?”

“I called Isa.”

“Great. Imma pass out again.”

“Don’t drown.”

Pepa gave her a thumbs up before letting the darkness take her. Hangovers didn’t exist when passed out. It was a great invention.

Isabela sighed to herself as she walked down the path to the village, seeing her papá half carrying-half dragging her mamá home.

He gave her a sheepish look.

Well, it wasn’t like she could say anything. Her own eighteenth had been something to remember. She’d invented new plants after all.

They were still trying to track down all those weird snapping ones.

“Don’t forget to hydrate,” she reminded him.

He nodded and continued up the path while she headed on to the village.

She found her Abuela sitting on the edge of the fountain, looking incredibly amused.

“Why does Tia always end up in the fountain?” she asked.

“Who knows what goes through her head when she’s drunk?” Abuela shrugged. 

Isabela had to give her that. “Where’s Tio Felix?”

It was usually him that she had to drag to safety. They didn’t know how he got to the places he did, but he always passed out in the very worst spots. 

Like the bottom of a well.

Her Abuela just pointed to a nearby roof.

“Seriously?” Isabela rolled her eyes. “Again?”

“Considering where you and Dolores woke up, I don’t think you can comment,” her Abuela smirked.

Isabela blushed.

She’d woken up in a tree towering over the village. Dolores had woken up in Mariano’s bed. 

Mariano was, thankfully, passed out in the donkey field.

That didn’t stop Tio Felix from almost killing him.

Isabela waved an absent hand to send vines to pick her Tio up and put him down nearby. She made a mental note to talk to Dolores about a girl’s night out soon. It had been a while.

Isabela moved closer to look at her Tia passed out in the fountain. Her Tio was snoring on the ground nearby.

“I can’t wait until Mira and Cami are old enough to drink.”

“It will be utter chaos,” Abuela nodded in agreement.

She was quiet for a moment.

“Did you get pictures of the night?”

Her Abuela raised an eyebrow at her. “What do you take me for? I’m a mother. Of course I have all the embarrassing photos of my niñas being idiots.”

Isabela snickered. She couldn’t wait to see them.

Time to get her Tia and Tio home though.

Luisa had been right behind her though, just putting her book away. Abuelo Carlos was cooking a very greasy breakfast that was sure to make those with hangovers nauseous just from the smell and Abuela Sophia had already opened all the shutters when she left.

This was going to be great.

Bruno yawned as he woke up, rolling off of Juan’s chest. He could feel the warning signs already and blinked up at the ceiling as green took over his vision and dragged him into the future. He vaguely felt Juan’s hand on his arm. The man was his best friend for a reason. He knew practically everything about Bruno, including what to do when he had an unexpected vision. An anchor helped but he didn’t like feeling enclosed so hugs were a no go.

He blinked out of it after a few minutes and yawned again.

“Whatcha see?” Juan asked around his own yawn.

“Antonio’s Gift Ceremony,” Bruno mumbled, squinting at the sun shining through the windows. "Pepa is going to be so pissed at papá for his Gift.”

Juan yawned. “Like Julieta was pissed about Isabela’s and Luisa’s?”

“Pepa was so smug that her niños had pretty relaxed Gifts compared to control over all plants and super strength. She’s going to be so pissed about this one. It's a doozy.”

Juan laughed again and Bruno felt him sit up in bed. “You sticking around?”

“My hermanas are going to be in full hangover mode. You really think I’m going back until that’s mostly passed?”

“Fair point. Let’s go get some breakfast.”

“I’m starving,” Bruno groaned, sitting up.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Bruno threw the pillow at him. “Arrogant ass.”

Juan laughed and left the room, leaving Bruno to stretch and climb out of bed on his own. People in the village still didn’t understand his relationship with Juan and the older generation judged them both for it. But Bruno didn’t care.

Juan was a friend, his best friend after so many years.

Sex was just a benefit when the urge struck Bruno.

That, and Juan made a great breakfast.

Chapter Text

Things had mostly calmed down from the wild night. The kids were all up in their rooms, either sleeping or, in Isabela’s case experimenting with her plants.

Dolores was out on a date with Mariano.

It was peaceful.

The family did not expect Felix to come crashing through the door with a murderous expression when he was supposed to have been spending non-drunk time with his friends.

“Bruno Madrigal!” he shouted, making Julieta jump and Bruno freeze. “Why do I have to hear from Diego that a woman tried to drug you last night?!”

“What?!” Pepa screeched, thunderclouds filling the room while Bruno’s eyes widened in panic.

“I’m fine!” he almost squeaked. “I saw it in a vision! Besides, I’m not dumb enough to drink anything they give me.”

Julieta grabbed his arm as he tried to edge away and spun him around to face her.

“What. Is. Her. Name,” she bit out in a deadly calm tone that contrasted Pepa’s fiery fury beautifully.

There would be a murder tonight.

Bruno looked desperately to his mamá but that was useless. She was livid and Bruno could have sworn the candle outside was sparking.

“Catalina!” he blurted, folding under the combined weight of their stares.

“That bitch!” Pepa shrieked, spinning and running out the door, Felix hot on her heels.

“No killing!” Bruno yelled after her in a panic.

“I’m not healing her,” Julieta muttered as she followed. “I’m going to do the exact opposite.”

“Juli! Be the sensible one!” he pleaded.

Even Agustin wasn’t moving to help. 

Well… Catalina was doomed.

That’s when he realised his mamá wasn’t in the room anymore and that just promised disaster.

By the time he caught up to his hermanas, Pepa was on the brink of a hurricane and had backed Catalina into a corner. Julieta was right by her side, coldly furious in comparison.

Felix stood a few steps back while his friends kept the other villagers out of the way.

Why was everyone so damn protective? He could handle himself!

“You dare!” Pepa snarled at the woman. “You dare try and harm mi hermano?!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” the panicked woman pleaded. “He’s lying!”

“Rude,” Bruno huffed.

Also, that was just pouring more fuel on the fire. A crack of thunder made the woman start crying.

“You accuse him of lying now?! It wasn’t even Bruno that told us! Diego saw what you did you bitch!”

Julieta placed a hand on Pepa’s shoulder, causing her to take a small step back. But the storm didn’t die and she hadn’t taken her eyes off of Catalina.

“You’d really think that this village would have learned not to try and mess with our family by now,” she said. “For years, you’ve bothered us, harassed us, all for our Gifts. You’ve harrassed mi hermano for a chance to join the magical family, to have a magical niño. What you all still fail to understand on a fundamental level is that you have no rights to our magic whatsoever. It’s not yours. It’s never been yours. It will never be yours.”

“I didn’t do anything!” Catalina screamed.

“You tried.”

Their mamá, now Alma Madrigal, widow, holder of the candle and a fiercely protective mother, came forward.

Bruno grimaced when he saw the green tablet in her hand. So that’s where she went… She knew how he organised his visions. It wouldn’t take her long to find an important one that showed danger.

“You tried to harm mi hijo. You attempted something despicable.” She cocked her head as the wind fell silent. “I wonder, have you tried this on others?”

Catalina’s eyes widened as the villagers started whispering among themselves.

“How did you know how much to use safely? How did you know you would get away with it? Without practice? How many men here have nights where they cannot remember anything after far too little alcohol to explain it?”

Catalina looked like a cornered animal, staring at Alma as she lifted the vision to show her slipping something into a drink with a sinister smile on her face.

A practiced move.

Several men in the crowd went pale or stumbled back.

“You are a plague on the Encanto,” Alma said sharply.

Bruno watched her, wide-eyed. He hadn’t considered that she might have done what she’d attempted on him to others.

And successfully at that.

He swallowed hard at the thought, seeing his hermanas looking equally as ill.

“You proved yourself a threat to mi hijo,” Alma said softly, voice still carrying.

Eyes were widening all over the place as they realised what was about to happen.

“You proved yourself a threat to the villagers.”

Pepa and Julieta stepped back from Catalina.

“You proved yourself a threat to the Encanto.”

“Please, no!” Catalina screamed. “I never meant harm! It was just a bit of fun!”

Alma stared her down with hard eyes. There was no sympathy for the woman in the crowd as sons stepped closer to their families and husbands looked ill at the realisation of missing memories.

“Goodbye Catalina,” Alma murmured.

The magic swept down from Casita, brushing over everyone until it hit Catalina. Her screaming cut out and when they blinked the spots from their eyes, she was gone.

Bruno couldn’t help it.

“Yeet.”

“What?” Felix asked him.

“If I told you, you’d tell Camilo. And I don’t want to live in a house with a Gen Z. I’m too old for that nonsense.”

They watched Bruno walk off in complete confusion.

Alma shook her head with a smile. Ay, that boy was the reason for most of her grey hairs. She was sure of it.

Pepa was the reason for the rest.

The villagers watched the family head back up to Casita, reeling from what had happened.

But also feeling safe.

The magic might not be theirs, but in the hands of the Madrigals? The Encanto was perfectly safe.

And so were they.

Dolores slipped into the house, shushing Casita who flipped her tiles in a scolding sound.

“I know I’m late,” she whispered. “I had something to do.”

Everyone had forgotten she’d been out in all the chaos. Handy for her.

“Catalina lived alone,” Dolores said as she headed up the stairs. She glanced up to find her Tio leaning against the wall in the hallway leading to his room. He raised an eyebrow at her.

“Did you have to burn her house down?”

“She tried to hurt my favourite Tio,” Dolores huffed. “It was an ugly house anyway.”

He chuckled, shaking his head as he held out his arms. She gladly accepted the hug.

“You are so like your mamá sometimes that it’s terrifying. And don’t tell Agustin I’m your favourite. He thinks he’s still got a chance.”

Dolores smiled.

She loved Tio Agustin. But Tio Bruno had always been her favourite.

“Get to bed before they notice,” he shooed her along.

“Goodnight Tio.”

“Goodnight mi sobrina.”

Ay, they were lucky Camilo hadn’t inherited his mamá’s ruthlessness. Although he didn’t doubt that his sobrino would have caused havoc in his own way.

Dolores was just especially terrifying. Just like her mamá.

Chapter Text

Dolores watched Mariano with what she knew was a sappy, dreamy expression. That’s what Camilo had called it and as much as she disliked the teasing, it was accurate.

She’d got a double dose of being a romantic from both her parents.

But she couldn’t help it as she watched her boyfriend read his poetry. She didn’t care that she’d heard him craft it at night. It was different when he was reading it to her face to face.

Isabela bluntly called the poetry bad. Bruno said it was cringe, whatever that meant. Her mamá thought it was sweet which immediately sent her papá rushing for paper to write her what could only be described as an epic poem which he read proudly to her mamá.

Everyone had been in tears by the end and her mamá had pounced on him like a rabid animal.

They barely made it to their room.

But she didn’t care that Mariano’s poetry wasn’t like that. It was genuine and heartfelt and written especially for her.

So she loved it.

She loved him.

She was so smitten.

He looked up hopefully when he finished, still a little bashful about his hobby. He hadn’t noticed Dolores inching closer so he was surprised to find her right in front of him.

She didn’t give him much of a chance to say anything as she kissed him.

They’d held hands and gone on many dates. But they hadn’t kissed yet. It seemed like such a big step to her and he’d never pushed.

But it felt right now. She knew without a doubt that she loved him.

This was the man she was going to marry.

When she pulled back, he was staring at her with a stunned expression. She just smiled back shyly.

“I thought your poetry deserved a reward,” she murmured, leaning in and kissing his cheek this time. 

He stared at her for a moment longer.

“I’m never going to stop writing poetry.”

She giggled and cuddled into his side. He was such a loveable idiot sometimes.

He hardly needed poems to convince her to kiss him.

Luisa and Dario were on a walk through the jungle, shyly holding each other's hand.

Everything was still so new and Luisa didn't know how Dolores made romance seem so effortless. She and Dario were stumbling their way through it most of the time.

It was their first time holding hands and Luisa was blushing so much it felt like her face was on fire.

Dario wasn't much better.

And they weren't even really in public! How did her prima stroll so casually through the town, hand in hand with her boyfriend?

Did that confidence come with time? Or was she doing something wrong?

"You're thinking loudly again."

Luisa blinked and looked at Dario who was smiling softly at her.

"You've got that expression that says you're thinking intensely about something."

She bit her lip and looked away.

"What's wrong Lu?"

She blushed even harder at the nickname.

"Just over-worrying. Over-stressing about dumb things."

"If they worry you then they're not dumb."

He really was so sweet. Luisa didn’t agree with Dolores' claim that Mariano was the sweetest man in the village. Dario definitely was.

"I just… is it normal to feel so embarrassed?" She mumbled. 

He looked up at her. Dario was shorter than average but he didn't mind her tall height unlike many other guys.

"Luisa, we are two of the most socially awkward people in the town. Yes, it's normal for us to be walking around looking like tomatoes. That's how we are."

She ducked her head but a small smile pulled at her lips.

"We are pretty awkward."

"The most awkward."

She laughed this time.

No matter how anxious she got, Dario always knew the right thing to say.

It wasn't love yet. It was a crush. Stronger than her puppy crushes from before. But she knew it was something real and could lead to something amazing. Given time.

Mirabel crept into her hermana's room while Isabela was sitting on her bed, picking thorns out of her hair after an experiment with her plants went wonky.

The twenty-one-year-old huffed when her bed suddenly swayed forward on its vines and she turned her head to look at her hermanita who had thrown herself onto the bed.

Like she always did.

The fourteen-year-old had loved her hanging bed for as long as she could remember.

Although, to Mirabel it was more of a swinging bed.

"What brings you by, you menace?" Isabela asked as she tugged at a particularly stubborn thorn.

Maybe she should just cut it out.

Or cut her hair.

Tio Bruno had told her about a cool hairstyle called a mohawk. It sounded awesome.

While she was thinking, Mirabel had scurried closer, sprawling over Isabela's bed.

"I need to talk to you," Mirabel mumbled into the duvet.

That set off alarm bells in Isabela’s head. Mirabel never mumbled.

She turned to face her hermanita, taking in her tense muscles.

"About what?"

There was a long silence that Isabela impatiently waited out. Patience wasn't her strong suit but she'd deal with it for her hermanita.

"I think I like someone," she finally said, face still buried in the blankets.

Isabela blinked a couple of times before a wave of emotions hit her.

Dios mio, her hermanita was growing up this was too fast she was fourteen!

She'd deck this boy if he didn't treat her hermana like the princess she was.

Internal shrieking Mirabel had a crush and she was the first to hear about it!

Outwardly she lay down and started playing with her hermana's curls.

"You like someone?" She asked gently.

Mirabel nodded.

"Do I get his name?"

There was a very long pause.

"That's the thing," Mirabel said hesitantly. "They're a she."

Isabela blinked in surprise again. Huh, she hadn't seen that coming.

"So what's her name?"

Mirabel peered up at her, glasses having indented the skin across her nose.

"You're really okay with this?"

"Is she pretty?" Isabela asked with a widening smirk. "I bet she's pretty. Is she nice?"

"Isa!" Mirabel whined, face heating up.

Isabela dragged her back with a vine when she tried to escape.

"No no, I want to know everything," she grinned down at her hermana.

"You're awful."

"Love you too Mira."

"...gracias Isa."

Camilo watched Isabela and Mirabel gossiping about something in the corner. Dolores was describing her date to their mamá and Luisa was blushing as Julieta tried to pry details out of her of her outing with Dario.

"You okay sobrino?"

Camilo looked up at his Tio Bruno as the man sat next to him.

"You look like something's bothering you."

Camilo leaned back as he thought about how to answer.

"I don't think it's really bothering me. But… I was wondering if I was, I dunno, falling behind? Most of them are already getting into relationships or getting crushes. But I'm not?"

He bit his lip as he searched for the words to explain. His Tio was patient as he waited.

"Girls are pretty and one day I'd really like to have a relationship with someone like mamá and papá do. I want to fall in love one day."

"But not now?"

He shook his head. "The girls might be pretty but they're irritating. I'm the only Madrigal boy until Antonio is old enough. And that's like ten years away."

His Tio grimaced. "Yeah, they think we can't tell when it's not genuine huh?"

Camilo nodded.

"So take your time."

Camilo looked up at him.

"There's no time limit Cami. No rush. Just go at your pace. Love will find you whether you're looking for it or not. I might not know that from experience but mi hermanas sure know."

Camilo smiled a little. Taking his time sounded nice.

They sat in silence for a moment.

"Don't torment Mariano too much tomorrow," his Tio said.

"If he wants to date Dolores he needs to be prepared for unexpected chaos," Camilo huffed, used to his Tio saying things like that out of the blue.

"Fair point," his Tio ruffled his hair as he stood up, drawing an offended noise from the teen as he walked away. "And boy will it be chaotic. That was one hell of a vision."

Camilo grinned.

Chapter Text

The house was in chaos. Both Isabela and Julieta were two seconds away from tears as they were reminded that the baby of their family was growing up.

Agustin kept pulling Mirabel into random hugs along with Luisa.

Camilo was following his mamá as he tried to chase the clouds away while she sniffled over her sobrina becoming a young woman.

Dolores was trying to do damage control with Abuela and Felix as everyone turned into a mess over the youngest girl’s approaching quinceañera.

Bruno just watched because it was hilarious and Antonio was mostly confused.

“Why’s everyone going crazy Tio?” he asked as Bruno grabbed him just in time to avoid getting trampled by a sobbing Luisa.

“Mirabel’s growing up,” Bruno explained, juggling holding the four-year-old and his half-eaten arepa. He’d been relying on minor flashes to the future all day to avoid getting caught up in the chaos. “She’s the youngest girl so everyone’s emotional over that.”

They both looked up as it started to rain. Luckily Bruno was in a sheltered part of the house.

“It’ll be worse when your birthday rolls around,” he said dryly. 

“But birthdays are fun!” the little boy argued.

“But you’re getting older Antonio,” he explained gently, moving away from the chaos. “And it’s sad for us when that happens because you’ll grow up into adults and won’t be our babies anymore.”

Antonio thought for a moment.

“All the kids in the village say they can’t wait until they grow up.”

“They’re idiots,” Bruno deadpanned as he neatly stepped around a sapling springing into existence. 

He bit into his arepa and hoisted Antonio a little more securely under his arm.

“When you grow up you get adult responsibilities. And all the confusing things like love.”

Antonio wrinkled his nose. “Ew.”

Bruno chuckled. “That’s what everyone says before they grow up.”

“You still say ew,” he pointed out dubiously.

“That’s because it’s usually your parents I see,” he answered dryly. “How do you feel when you see Dolores kissing Mariano?”

Antonio pulled a disgusted face.

“Exactly,” Bruno jumped over some vines that were snaking their way through Casita.

He looked up when pollen exploded into the air.

“Let’s go to my room huh? I think it’s safer.”

Antonio looked around. “I don’t want my birthday anymore if it’s like this.”

Bruno laughed as he snuck off with his sobrino.

He did feel a little melancholy about Mirabel growing up. She was the last girl in this generation who was going to have her quinceañera. It was sad to think of that cheerful, sweet five-year-old growing into a young woman just like his other sobrinas.

But at the same time, he loved to see them blossom like this.

Their futures looked so bright they were almost blinding.

Julieta was still crying when Mirabel appeared in her special dress, a sapphire blue that matched the sapphire jewelery set Agustin had got her.

“My baby,” she whispered to herself.

Mirabel smiled shyly back.

“I’m still your baby mamá. I’m just growing up too.”

Julieta gave a watery laugh and pulled her hija into a hug. “You look beautiful.”

Mirabel blushed and gave her a smile. “Gracias mamá.”

Her hermanas hugged her next, gushing over how she looked and Dolores and Camilo got there next.

“Hey, don’t hog mi sobrina!” Pepa mock-scolded and walked forward when they scattered with laughter. “Ay Mira. You’re all grown up. You look stunning.”

“Gracias Tia,” she smiled at them.

“This is going to be the party of the century,” Felix said with an excited grin.

And when a Madrigal promised something, it happened.

The weather alternated between rain, clear skies and rainbows lighting the night sky. The music was loud and vibrant as the family danced and laughed together.

Mirabel was the centre of attention, constantly dragged into a dance or conversation with her family and their significant others.

Her papá changed her shoes which left them both crying as they had their father-daughter dance. Camilo stole her next, claiming rights since they were mellizos.

Everyone got a dance at some point. Felix swept her across the dancefloor until her sides ached with laughter. Bruno gave her a break when she needed it from the more enthusiastic members of their family. Antonio insisted on dancing with her, tongue poking out in concentration as he did what his parents had taught him.

Mariano was a gentleman and asked for a dance, complaining lightly about his hermanita growing up. Dario shyly asked for one as well, congratulating her on her birthday before coaxing Luisa onto the dancefloor.

Mirabel danced with her sisters, with her prima. She danced with her Tia and her mamá.

She even dragged her Abuela onto the floor and managed to dance with Casita as well.

It was a perfect night.

By the time things were winding down, more than a few of those of drinking age not quite sober anymore, Bruno sat in the chair next to Mirabel.

They watched her mamá and Tia cry again. Her papá was mournfully mumbling into the punchbowl. Tio Felix was slumped against the wall and fast asleep as Camilo and Dolores drew on his face with her makeup.

Isabela was giggling to herself and picking flowers that she carefully tucked into Antonio’s hair. Thankfully she was a happy drunk.

This night was an exception for her Tia apparently.

Luisa had passed out after two drinks and Dario was sitting next to her, sipping on his own and letting her sleep.

“Did you have a good night?” Tio Bruno asked her.

Mirabel smiled as she looked out at her crazy family, at her Abuela who was watching them all with fond exasperation as she talked to Abuelo Carlos and her Abuelas Maria and Sophia.

“Sí,” she answered without hesitation. “It was amazing. But you knew that already.”

He chuckled. “I’ll admit, I peeked. I always do before these parties. They have to be perfect for you girls. You deserve no less.”

Mirabel smiled up at him and hugged him tightly. He returned the hug easily.

“I’m glad you had a good night Mira.”

She hummed.

“When do you think they’ll figure out you switched out the alcohol for juice?” she asked after a moment.

He snickered. “It’ll be a while. Gotta love the placebo effect.”

Mirabel shook her head in amusement.

Camilo got it from somewhere after all.

Chapter Text

Everyone was practically falling out of bed in excitement that morning, showing up in the courtyard still in their pajamas. Antonio was bouncing around with a wide smile as they all looked up at the new door shining next to Camilo’s.

“You ready?” Dolores asked her youngest hermano quietly.

The little boy nodded eagerly, grabbing his mamá’s hand and dragging her to the stairs as she laughed. Felix followed while the rest of the family gathered at the foot of the stairs. Dolores grabbed Camilo’s hand as they watched excitedly.

“It’s got to be something to do with animals,” Mirabel muttered, bouncing in place next to Camilo.

“Agreed,” he grinned as they watched.

The candle burned brightly in Abuela’s hands and she smiled as her youngest nieto reached for the door.

Time had flown by so quickly. Her three niños were happy and living their best lives. She had two amazing hijos through marriage. She had six nietos who she adored and made her so proud every single day.

Isabela was fiercely independent and a fiery woman, getting into art now and loving every minute of it. She threw herself whole-heartedly into every part of life and Alma couldn’t be prouder.

Dolores had grown into a beautiful and graceful woman. Alma knew she regularly turned heads in the village but she also knew that marriage wasn’t too far off. Dolores and Mariano were deeply in love and it was enough to bring tears to Alma’s eyes. Love was a beautiful thing and she was so happy her nieta had found it with someone.

Luisa was such a confident young woman and her relationship with Dario was as strong as she was. Her sweet nieta was such a wonderful girl and she deserved everything good in life.

Camilo, her mischievous nieto, took life head on and despite his still young age she could already tell he was going to be a shining star to the village and family. He felt everything wholeheartedly. Joy, sadness, anger, he threw himself into every emotion and his passion was breathtaking to see no matter what he directed it at. And if she wasn’t mistaken, someone in the village might have even caught his eye. The softer smiles he wore around that young lady spoke of a different kind of emotion. She didn’t doubt he’d pour all his passion into any relationship he ended up in. He was very like his papá in that way.

And Mirabel, her mariposa. Her nieta was so vibrant and enjoyed every second of life. She was empathetic and kind and people easily got drawn into her orbit. She was probably the most popular member of the family in the village in the end. It was impossible not to love the girl. And seeing the blossoming romance between her and Gabriela just warmed her heart.

Now her youngest nieto was slowly growing up and it left her feeling wistful. She couldn’t have imagined that she would ever feel this happy without Pedro.

But her family worked miracles of their own.

Her kind Julieta. Her fiery Pepa. Her gentle Bruno.

They’d kept her going in those early years when she'd felt like she’d been fighting to keep her head above water. Her friends had helped immensely, their support and kindness pushing her to keep going when she faltered.

And then her family started growing with enthusiastic Felix and kind Agustin joining them.

And it only continued to grow and the Madrigal family had never shone brighter.

She smiled when Antonio grabbed the door handle and the light flared, almost blinding them.

Her family had always been her Miracle.

“Dios mio why?!” Pepa moaned as she watched Antonio race around the courtyard on the back of a jaguar.

Julieta was cackling and needling her sister about what a ‘tame’ Gift it was. Bruno had run off to play with the niños to avoid his hermana’s demands over whether he’d known.

Felix was fighting his laughter as he tried to comfort his wife. It was clear he thought Antonio’s Gift was amazing but Pepa was no doubt thinking about the animal hair that was going to end up in every crevice of Casita now.

“Why papá?” Pepa whined.

Julieta looked smug and Agustin just seemed resigned.

“This generation ended with a bang,” he chuckled.

Pepa just growled at him.

When Maria, Carlos and Sophia, arrived their reactions were what Alma expected.

“Seriously?” Maria sighed.

“Theoretically, can we ask him to get the jaguar to eat people?” Sophia asked.

Carlos cheered and ran over to get a jaguar ride too.

“Carlos! You’re allergic to cats!” Maria shouted after him.

Dolores was giggling uncontrollably as she listened to everyone’s reactions. Isabela was cheering wildly as she swung around the house, trying to keep up with the animals. Mirabel and Camilo were competing to see who could stay on Parce longer when he playing tried to throw them off after Antonio explained the game to the jaguar.

Poor Luisa was trying to control the chaos in vain.

Ah to be the only responsible person in the house. Julieta only pretended.

Alma looked to the candle set on the table.

“You are such a little shit,” she whispered fondly.

The flame flickered playfully and Alma chuckled.

Her family was chaotic and messy. But she loved them all, maybe more for their flaws. They were perfect to her.

Pepa tucked in her hijo with a tired smile on her face. His Gift was a lot more chaotic than she would have expected. But it suited Antonio and he loved it so that was all that mattered.

He hugged his jaguar toy a little tighter and Pepa made a mental note to thank Mirabel for making that again. That girl had been scarily accurate about the Gift.

Glancing around she saw that all the animals were settling down to sleep as well. It would be an adjustment, but they’d get used to it.

Meeting Felix outside the jungle-like room, she looked around the quiet courtyard. Everyone was already in bed since Antonio had been reluctant to actually go to sleep and she’d had to wait him out.

“Our baby’s growing up,” she whispered to Felix, tearing up a little. 

Dolores was an adult and it looked like she was on a collision course with marriage already. Camilo was already a teenager and growing more each day. And now her baby had already received his Gift.

It felt like only yesterday that they’d been small enough that she could pick them up. Antonio would be too old for that one day.

Felix pulled her close. “They are. But they’ll always be our babies.”

She gave him a watery smile.

“You know, we could always try for another one,” he joked.

Pepa laughed. She was much too old for another baby. Antonio had already been a surprise.

However…

“Are you aiming for a little fun tonight Felix?” she asked with a playful smile.

His eyes lit up. “Always mi vida.”

“Well, what’s there to stop us?” she asked, voice almost a purr. “We’re not too old for that just yet.”

“You will never be old Pepa. Works of art are eternal.”

She melted at his words and kissed him eagerly. Felix swept her off her feet and into his arms to carry her to their room, all without breaking the kiss.

It was most certainly going to be a good night.

Under the pair, on the ground floor, Bruno stood frozen. Expression screwed up in disgust, he turned to put his plate of arepas back in the kitchen.

Suddenly, he’d lost his appetite.

He wished he hadn’t heard all that, but it did explain his last vision.

Pepa’s face was going to be hilarious in a couple of weeks.

Chapter Text

“Congratulations,” Bruno mumbled.

Felix choked on his breakfast. Pepa and Julieta froze while Agustin accidentally threw an apple at Bruno. He held up a plate to block the fruit while yawning.

All eyes zeroed in on the second generation.

Dolores squeaked. “No no no, Mariano and I are waiting!”

“Don’t look at me!” Isabela almost yelped. “Not interested in anyone right now!”

“I’m dating a girl!” Mirabel raised her hands in a panic.

“Dario and I haven’t even really kissed yet!” Luisa was shaking her head.

“Not me!” Camilo said frantically. “Not even dating yet!”

Slowly, all eyes turned back to Pepa and Julieta.

“We’re fifty!” Julieta’s voice went up a few octaves.

Pepa was staring at Bruno with wide eyes.

“Who?” Abuela asked, eyes twinkling in amusement. Apparently, this generation wasn’t done just yet.

“Pepa,” Bruno wandered around the kitchen, grabbing a cup of coffee as he went.

Felix’s jaw dropped and Pepa stared blankly ahead.

“Ay dios mio gracias,” Julieta slumped in her seat. She loved her hijas but she was happy with the amount of niños she had.

Agustin rested his forehead on the table with a sigh of relief.

Camilo and Dolores exchanged a shocked look. They were getting another sibling? Antonio was watching everyone in confusion.

“I’m fifty,” Pepa said weakly.

Bruno was digging around in the cupboard for something. “Seriously guys, magical family. Plus Juli’s magical food. We’re all probably going to live way longer than we should. Which means you can have kids when you should be too old to.”

“Very good theory,” Abuela mused, sipping on her coffee and eyeing her middle child.

“What’s going on?” Antonio asked.

“Mamá’s pregnant,” Dolores explained, looking and sounding stunned.

Antonio blinked before grinning excitedly. “I’m getting a hermanita or hermanito?!” He asked eagerly.

“I’m pregnant?” Pepa asked weakly.

“You’re pregnant?” Felix sounded dazed.

“Well you weren’t the first to have a baby but you’ll definitely be the last,” Abuela noted.

Bruno was still rummaging around in the cupboard.

“I’m going to have another niño?” Pepa asked, hand moving to rest on her stomach.

“Ah, about that,” Bruno straightened, pulling a bottle of alcohol into sight.

Everyone frowned at him in confusion as he opened it and took a swig.

“What are you doing?” Agustin asked in confusion.

“Liquid courage,” Bruno said, taking another swig before dumping some in his coffee and downing it. 

He turned to face Pepa and took a deep breath.

“Get the vines ready Isa,” he told his sobrina before looking back at his hermana. “You’re having twins.

Silence descended on the kitchen as they all were struck speechless with shock.

Then Felix fainted, only caught by Isabela’s quick reflexes with her plants.

Pepa was back to staring blankly ahead of her while everyone else gaped at Bruno. Even Abuela.

“Now what?” Antonio asked in annoyance.

“We’re getting two little siblings,” Dolores told him faintly.

Antonio’s jaw dropped before he grinned. “That’s awesome!”

“Well, the nursery is getting used again I guess,” Camilo mumbled.

“I’m fifty!” Pepa screeched as Bruno covered Dolores’ ears.

It had taken the family a while to recover from Bruno’s surprise revelation. After they did though, Pepa and Felix predictably grew excited. They’d always wanted a big family after all and were hardly upset about it growing even more.

Julieta was teasing her hermana relentlessly about having almost double her amount of niños.

Dolores was as excited as she’d been with both her hermanos. Camilo was already plotting ways to corrupt the mellizos into menaces. Antonio was just excited to not be the youngest anymore.

Mirabel was hopeful to help out again like she did with Antonio. Isabela was already stating that she was not changing any diapers. Luisa was as excited as Mirabel was.

Alma was just happy at the idea of having little ones in the house again.

The news sent shock through the village but many theorised that it was the magic that allowed this to happen. They received many well wishes and Pepa and Felix were acting like it was their first pregnancy, like they did every time. 

When Pepa was six months pregnant and showing more because of the twins, Mariano proposed to Dolores after a romantic date near the lake.

Naturally, she’d said yes, jumped on him and burst into tears.

The news sent Pepa bursting into tears as well at the thought that her baby was going to get married (and the hormones definitely played a part).

Everyone was happy for the newly engaged couple but Luisa and Dario were relieved when no one started asking them about when they would plan their wedding. They loved each other but they weren’t ready for that step yet.

Mirabel was happily dating Gabriela and the two were often seen together around town. 

Camilo had been spending time with a girl named Sara from the village. They weren’t together yet but the family was already placing bets.

Alma was happy that Pepa’s pregnancy wasn’t the only reason that the family was growing. She was going to gain another hijo after Dolores’ wedding. And her nieta fully agreed with Mariano on wanting a big family.

Just like her mamá in that respect.

Casita was going to have to do a lot of expanding at this rate. She was curious over how the house would do it

She looked up when she heard footsteps to find Mirabel looking at her curiously. Everyone was still celebrating Dolores’ engagement out in the courtyard.

“Are you okay Abuela?” her nieta asked in concern.

Alma smiled at her. “I’m better than fine mi mariposa. I was just thinking about how lucky I am to have such a wonderful family.”

Mirabel smiled back at her.

“We only turned out this way because of you Abuela,” she told her. “You’re the heart of the family after all.”

Alma chuckled. “Go back to the party Mira. I just want to enjoy watching everyone for a moment before rejoining the chaos.”

Mirabel nodded and kissed her cheek before heading back to the party.

Alma looked up at the candle, a smile still pulling at her lips.

“Your family turned into something amazing Pedro,” she whispered. “I’m so proud of them. And I know you are too.”

She wasn’t ready to join her husband. But one day she would be.

And she knew that her family was strong enough to keep going after she was gone. As long as they had each other, they would be just fine.

Chapter Text

Felix sighed and rubbed his temples as he stared down at his hijo, who had a bruised cheek, and Sara who was silently fuming while her hair was in complete disarray.

“Run that by me again?” he asked tiredly. 

Dolores had run up to Casita to get some food to heal Camilo’s cheek. And hopefully head off Pepa. She was eight months pregnant and didn’t need any kind of stress.

“We were hanging out,” Camilo started.

“Our first date,” Sara interjected, giving Camilo a soft smile that made him duck his head. He couldn’t quite hide the pleased quirk of his lips though.

Felix hadn’t been aware that the two had finally taken the step into romantic territory yet and he’d celebrate that later and find a way to break it to Pepa. But for now, he had to figure out this mess with the pair of dishevelled teenagers on the bench in front of him while two parents fumed nearby, the mother fussing over her hijo and hija who looked to be in much worse shape than Camilo and Sara.

“We were walking through town together when this girl just popped out of nowhere,” he gestured at the girl nearby who was alternating between sobbing and glaring at them. “She shoved flowers in my face and told me that she was taking me on a date.”

Felix raised an eyebrow, glancing at the girl who sniffled pathetically, looking every inch the victim. Sara was scowling heatedly at her.

“And then?” he prompted.

“After spitting the flowers out of my mouth, I told her that I was already on a date and that I wasn’t interested.”

“Very politely too. She didn’t even deserve that much,” Sara grumbled, picking a pink petal out of Camilo’s curls and looking at it in distaste. 

Felix nodded. His boy was always polite unless someone provoked him. Then he could rival Pepa’s temper and sharp tongue.

“He strung me along!” the girl wailed, making her parents bristle.

Before anyone else could say anything, Camilo did.

“I don’t even know who you are!” he said in disbelief. “I’ve probably spoken to you once, at max!”

Felix was starting to figure this out now. 

“And the cheek?” he asked since that was what was bothering him the most now. 

Camilo wasn’t a physically aggressive boy. Someone had hit his hijo and Felix would make sure they were punished. 

“Well, we tried to keep walking except she burst into tears and grabbed onto my arm, demanding I go on a date with her and leave Sara. I said no and the next thing I knew, her hermano came out of nowhere and punched me.”

Felix shot an angry look at the man that was at least five years older than Camilo. He didn’t seem the least bit repentant.

“It knocked Camilo down,” Sara picked up the explanation. “He was going on about Cami making his hermana cry and she was wailing at the top of her lungs. It looked like he was getting ready to punch Cami again.”

“And?” Felix asked. He couldn’t see other injuries on his hijo but that didn’t mean there weren’t any.

“Sara kicked him in the nuts before slapping the shit out of her,” Camilo summarised.

Silence descended before the mother broke it.

“She attacked my niños!”

The father, on the other hand, was covering his face and likely realising that his niños were so clearly in the wrong it was ridiculous.

Someone had all the common sense in this relationship.

“They attacked first!” Sara surged to her feet. “She physically grabbed onto Cami, despite him telling her to let go. And then he punched Cami after no provocation!”

The woman rounded on Felix. “Well?! What do you have to say for your hijo leading my baby on?!”

Felix raised an eyebrow and looked at Camilo.

“Just like your papá hey? Finding a firecracker of a woman.”

Camilo grinned in response while the mother gasped in outrage.

“I think it’s pretty clear that what happened wasn’t their fault señora,” Felix faced her again. “They didn’t start the altercation and Sara only defended them.”

“They’re lying!” the other girl shouted in a last attempt to win this one. Her hermano nodded in agreement, not having said a word this whole time.

Felix was pretty sure it was because his voice would come out a little higher than it should. 

Claiming that they were lying was the dumbest move Felix could imagine them taking though.

He glanced up to see Dolores heading over with an arepa for Camilo who took it gratefully. The bruise did look nasty and Felix was relieved to see it vanish.

“What about my niños?!” the mother asked angrily.

Dolores inspected her nails as she answered. “I heard the whole thing. I’m not giving them anything. I just wanted to hear them dig their holes even deeper.”

Both of the other participants in this mess abruptly looked nervous.

“What do you mean?!” the mother shouted.

Her husband sighed. “It means that she heard everything that happened which means she knows everything that happened. And Dolores is known to never lie. So their story is the truth.”

“How dare-”

“We’re going home now before you all make bigger fools of yourselves than you already have,” he shook his head, pulling his niños to their feet and dragging them off. “We’ll talk punishment at home and you’d better hope that Pepa Madrigal doesn’t decide to push for anything worse.”

Felix watched them go, shaking his head.

Ay, the things girls would do to get with the single Madrigal men. Luckily, Camilo seemed to have found a good one already.

He turned back to them to see Dolores helping Sara fix her hair.

“You can’t go around like this for the rest of your date,” she fussed.

The pair looked embarrassed for a moment as Felix came over.

“Can’t let something like that ruin a great outing,” he agreed with his hija. “Continue on like normal and show them all that their nonsense isn’t going to stop you from having a good time together.”

Camilo grinned back at him and Sara nodded after a moment.

“Oh, and Sara?”

She looked back up at him.

“Nice work watching out for my hijo,” he winked at her. “You’ll fit in just fine.”

She squeaked, Dolores laughed and Camilo groaned.

“Dio mio papá! It’s the first date!” 

Felix just laughed. Madrigals rarely had more than one first date after all.

Chapter Text

Mirabel munched on her snack, kicking her legs out absently so her shoes hit the wall she was sitting on. Gabriela was nibbling on her own treat, looking a lot more proper next to her while they stared down at the boy talking to Mirabel very passionately.

“Uh huh,” Mirabel hummed around her mouthful of food and Gabriela gave her a playful smack.

“You would not survive a dinner with Camilo,” Mirabel told her after swallowing her mouthful.

Gabriela just pulled a face. Everyone knew about his messier eating habits.

“Hey!” they looked down at the boy again. “Are you listening?”

Mirabel nodded. “Uh huh. Confused, just need to date a guy, will make me realise what’s right for me, I got it all buddy,” she bit into her treat again.

Gabriela sighed, tucking her light brown hair behind her ear. Mirabel admired how it shone in the sunlight. Her girlfriend had such pretty hair. Straight like Isabela’s and shiny in a way that proved she took very good care of it.

“You’ve made your point by now. It’s been half an hour,” she told the boy in a scolding tone. “Are you done yet?”

“No!” he cried, gathering even more of a crowd than he already had. “Not until you agree that you’re not gay Mirabel! You’re just confused.”

Mirabel rolled her eyes. “Actually I’m bi. Gabby is a lesbian.”

Gabriela examined her nails. They were a very pretty pink today.

“Now, I suppose you’re going to continue with your lecture about how we’re just confused since we don’t want to date a boy. Because that’s just so very wrong and just can’t be right so therefore we’re just confused," she said smoothly. 

Mirabel chewed on the last of her snack as she watched the guy splutter at Gabriela's words.

“I bet that when we agreed that we were ‘oh so confused thank you for revealing this to us’, he would have graciously offered to take one of us on a date while oh so conveniently having a friend available for the other.”

“Hmm, oh so conveniently,” Gabriela agreed while the boy went through a variety of expressions before settling on embarrassed anger.

“I’m just looking out for you!” he insisted.

Mirabel smirked as her eyes moved past the boy to land on the person behind him.

“Who’s looking out for you?” Isabela asked, leaning down to whisper in his ear.

He froze before slowly turning around to look at her fearfully.

Now, Isabela had always been terrifying. But with the new look, that fear had risen to new heights.

“Why did she do that to her hair?” Gabriela whined.

“I think it suits her,” Mirabel argued.

The long hair that tended to get in her way was gone, chopped off to the point that it was only about a hand's length long. The sides and back were shaved and the tips of her hair had been permanently dyed a bright blue.

“She had such nice hair,” Gabriela lamented.

“And she hated it so she was either going to do this or cut it off in an irritated fit with a kitchen knife.”

Mirabel found it hilarious and cute how her girlfriend shuddered in horror at the thought.

Meanwhile, Isabela had the guy that had been bothering them by the front of his shirt.

“What’s this crap about you trying to mess with my hermana’s relationship?” she demanded.

“She’s just confused,” he tried weakly.

Isabela scoffed. “Hardly. Mira knew she was bi a long time ago. Not everyone thinks men are God’s Gift to women you know.”

She shoved him hard enough he fell to the ground. “Anyone can date whoever they want. Whatever gender or orientation that may be. Or they might not date at all. They might just want sex. They might not want sex at all. That is their choice. You don’t have any right to try and dictate who someone else loves, or lusts, over.”

She looked around at the crowd. 

“I’m getting sick of people trying to shame or judge others for their choices. If I choose not to date, that’s my fucking choice. If Mirabel and Gabriela end up getting married, that’s their choice. My Tio Bruno is never going to get married despite your repeated attempts and neither is Juan. Again, their choice. Camilo’s happy, so leave him alone. Dolores is happy so back the fuck off. The next person to interrupt one of Luisa’s dates gets a visit from me. And anyone of you try this crap on Antonio when he’s old enough and I’ll start breaking bones. Got it?!”

The older villagers that had always had a problem with it cowered and shuffled back a few steps while a fair amount of the younger ones cheered. There had been a lot of progress in the village but they got drowned out by the noisy complaints sometimes.

Isabela gave them a smile that was more a baring of her teeth before tossing the guy who started this away with her vines and walking over to her hermana.

“You kicked ass Isa!” Mirabel cheered and Gabriela smiled at her.

“That was a long time coming,” Isabela said with a sharp smile.

“Dolores?” Gabriela guessed.

Isabela nodded her head. “She’s sitting back in Casita, sipping tea and listening like the shit-stirrer she is.”

Mirabel laughed while Gabriela wrinkled her nose at the language.

“But what did you do to your hair Isabela?” Gabriela asked, still mourning the loss of those long, black waves.

Isabela laughed. “I just got a little trim,” she teased, running her hand through the short, messy strands.

Gabriela sighed but smiled. “It suits you.”

“Gracias,” Isabela grinned at her. “You two good?”

Mirabel nodded. “We had lunchtime entertainment. Great date.”

Isabela snorted. “I think Dolores and I were a bad influence on you.”

“You’re only figuring this out now?” Gabriela asked dryly.

Mirabel snickered. “But you love me,” she teased.

“Of course I do querida,” Gabriela replied without missing a beat, finishing off her own snack.

Mirabel blushed and abruptly looked like an embarrassed mess and Isabela had to fight with herself not to laugh at her.

“Shall we go? You wanted to visit the material stall,” Gabriela reminded her.

Mirabel nodded and dropped to the ground while trying to hide her sappy grin. She helped Gabriela down and the two wandered off.

Isabela shook her head. Ay, her hermanita had grown up. She was so damn proud.

Chapter Text

Pepa went into labour a little earlier than all the other pregnancies but Alma assured her that it was normal with multiples. Apparently, the triplets had been weeks early.

Which had sent Abuelo Pedro into an absolute panic since he wasn’t prepared.

She was glad that Felix handled every pregnancy and labour so well.

Agustin and Bruno… not so much.

She shook her head as they fled with the younger generation, Isabela and Dolores hot on their heels.

Being older came with understanding exactly what was happening and none of them were sticking around.

It was a long labour and Alma worried that it might be difficult before remembering that Bruno hadn’t seemed concerned.

Eventually though, There were two tiny bundles in her arms.

Felix had to laugh as he looked down at the babies in Pepa’s hold.

“And so the trend of girls outnumbering boys continues,” he joked. 

Pepa chuckled as well and looked down at the babies fondly. She’d always wanted another hija, and now she had two. Three girls and two boys.
She hadn’t realised it before but now she felt like her family was complete.

“No more,” she joked and Felix laughed again.

Alma went to fetch everyone from Dolores’ room where they were playing a card game. They all scrambled up and stampeded out of the room while Bruno chuckled. He exchanged a smile with Alma before she followed her nietos.

She found them crowded around the room, Dolores and Camilo the closest while Antonio was on the bed.

“Hermanas?” he asked curiously as he leaned up to look at them.

Mirabel and Isabela high-fived while Luisa shot them an exasperated look.

Camilo groaned playfully, getting a smack from Dolores’, but everyone could see the happiness in his eyes as he looked at the babies.

“What are their names?” Dolores asked.

Everyone waited with bated breath. This was the one thing Bruno always tried to avoid finding out.

Felix and Pepa smiled at each other.

“Maria,” Felix brushed a finger over the girl in Pepa’s left arm.”

“And Alma,” Pepa finished, smiling up at her mamá who inhaled sharply.

She smiled back at Pepa, tears in her eyes.

Ay, Maria was going to bawl like a baby over this.

Two years later, Camilo was doing his shopping with two little shadows dogging his steps. Most villagers tried to cover their smiles at the sight. The two red-headed twins were almost spitting images of their mamá and easy to spot in town.

“This is still hilarious,” Sara snickered as she walked up to her seventeen-year-old boyfriend.

He rolled his eyes at her but she knew he wasn’t actually annoyed.

Little Alma and Maria absolutely adored Camilo and were usually following him around ever since they moved on from crawling.

Everyone in the family found it both endearing and funny. She bent down to pick up Maria so that Camilo could pick up Alma and rest her on his hip. They’d be getting tired soon if they kept walking. He’d been going to meet up with Dolores but Sara solved that problem.

Sara cooed at his hermanita and Camilo couldn’t help but smile at her. They continued walking after a moment, Alma happily reaching up to try and yank on Camilo’s hair.

“Do you want your own?” Sara asked suddenly.

Camilo looked at her in confusion, tilting his head.

She looked away, smoothing Maria’s hair out of her face. “Kids,” she clarified.

“Oh,” he blinked and they stopped again, looking at each other.

“I do,” he admitted after a moment of thought. “I see how chaotic my family is, but also how happy my parents are and, well, I want that.”

“Lots of kids?” she asked with a teasing lilt to her voice.

He surprised her by nodding though. “Sí,” he looked a little embarrassed but he answered honestly. “I’d love to have lots of kids.”

He looked down at Alma. He’d been able to help out a lot more with the twins than Antonio since he was older. And it had only solidified his opinion. 

He wanted to be a papá. And he wanted more than one or two niños.

“Me too,” Sara murmured, not looking up from her feet.

Camilo stared at her for a moment before smiling slightly.

“Well, that’s good.”

Sara nodded.

They resumed walking, both embarrassed and unable to look at each other but smiling to themselves.

They were seventeen, so the future was still far off. But it was nice to know they were on the same page.

Dolores’ wedding was stunning. There were rainbows and rainclouds mingling above them. Bruno was handing out umbrellas. 

Maria and Alma toddled down the aisle as the flower girls. Isabela stood as Dolores' maid of honour with Mirabel and Luisa as bridesmaids. Mariano’s best friend, Dario, stood as best man while Camilo had been asked to be a groomsman much to his own surprise. But he supposed he’d grown closer to his future brother-in-law over time.

Felix burst into tears after giving away Dolores at the alter and cried through most of the ceremony. Pepa was smiling through her own tears and honestly, most of the guests and family cried as they watched.

The umbrellas came in handy but the rainbows were certainly a stunning sight.

Pepa rested her head on Felix’s shoulder during the reception as they watched Dolores and Mariano dance.

“I don’t know how I survived giving my baby away,” he sighed.

Pepa had to admit that she was going to be in as much of a state when Camilo got married. But she really couldn’t help but tease her husband.

“You’ll have to do it two more times with the twins.”

Felix thunked his head on the table and she laughed.

She watched wistfully as Camilo and Sara danced while her husband complained. She didn’t know what the future held for Antonio or the twins. But it seemed pretty clear for Camilo and Sara. She doubted she'd ever be ready but she was still happy for them all.

“I am never having children!” Isabela declared as she shoved Alma into Pepa’s arms as the woman laughed.

Isabela glared at her while Dolores snickered, Maria on her hip.

“You only babysat one of them,” she pointed out.

“Children are the worst!” Isabela threw her hands up. “Keep your spawn to yourself!”

Pepa was laughing so hard she was crying and Dolores had to bite her lip as Isabela stormed off.

Alma shoved her hand into her mouth, the three-year-old happy to be with her mamá again. But her prima was lots of fun too.

Maria yawned and rested her head on Dolores’ shoulder.

“And the irony is that Maria’s usually the difficult one,” Dolores snickered.

That only set Pepa off more.

Mirabel knew that something was bothering Gabriela but she couldn’t figure out what. So instead of stressing herself over it, she asked her girlfriend bluntly.

Gabriela sighed and sat down with her.

“We’re pretty serious you know,” she joked weakly. “We were looking at wedding dresses and I know it was a joke since we’re eighteen but… we were both more serious than we pretended to be.”

Mirabel nodded in confusion.

“I love you Mira, but I need to know… I accepted the reality a long time ago since I’ve known I’m a lesbian for ages. But you’re bi. I… do you want children? Because I can’t give you that Mira.”

Mirabel stared blankly at her for a moment before she gave an awkward laugh which immediately had Gabriela’s eyes narrowed. That was Mirabel’s ‘I did a thing’ laugh.

“What?” she asked warily.

“So, I may have, possibly, looked into, uh, adoption?” she squeaked.

Gabriela stared at her. “But the Madrigal bloodline…”

“Love’s more important than blood,” Mirabel said with a small smile.

Gabriela threw her arms around her girlfriend and held on tightly as the anxiety drained away. Mirabel had just loved niños so much! She’d seen how Mira was with the twins… she didn’t want to take that away from her if it was something she wanted and with the magic running through the Madrigal blood… she hadn’t thought adoption was an option.

“You worry too much Gabby,” Mirabel said as she returned the hug.

Gabriela let out a huff of a laugh.

“One of us has to mi mariposa. Or you’ll flutter off with your excitement and leave me behind on the ground.”

Mirabel nuzzled her cheek. “I’ll never leave you behind mi amor.”

“I don’t want any niños yet,” Dario said in exhaustion.

“Me either,” Luisa agreed, feeling exhausted. 

It had taken forever to get Alma and Maria tired enough that they fell asleep. The four-year-olds looked completely innocent while sleeping but Luisa knew better. She was twenty-three, but she could wait a bit to have kids thanks.

Dario leaned against her side and wondered for the hundredth time how to propose without seeming like an idiot.

He still looked like an idiot a month later, tripping and panicking, mixing up his words, but Luisa didn’t care. Her yes had still been genuine and excited and she’d been smiling for weeks after.

Everyone watched with bated breath as Pepa and Felix led their twins up to the doors waiting on the second floor.

Alma watched almost wistfully. She knew this was the last ceremony she would see. She was seventy-six and Dolores wasn’t planning on having a child just yet.

Besides… she was tired. Her family was happy and thriving and she found herself thinking wistfully of Pedro more often.

Her family would live on far longer than was normal, but Alma didn’t want that. Her heart was waiting for her on the other side and the magic wouldn’t keep her here longer than she wanted it to.

She smiled as the doors' light blinded them.

She wanted to see her first great-grandchild before she went though.

...

And then she could smack Pedro for giving five-year-olds power over water and fire respectively.

Her husband was a fucking idiot.

Chapter Text

Dolores’ first hijo was born healthy and the spitting image of his mamá.

Camilo was half stunned to have become a Tio but he smiled down at little Pedro while Maria and mini Alma crowded around to see their sobrino.

The family was celebrating the first of the third generation and the Miracle practically glowed with their happiness.

Alma lightly pressed her fingers against the locket around her neck as she watched them and caught Bruno’s eye across the room. He was smiling, but he also seemed sad.

Her hijo had always been good with the future. With knowing what to say and when.

With accepting it.

He followed her when she slipped away from the celebration, already having held her great-grandchild.

“They should know,” he murmured softly to her as they both stared up at the brilliantly glowing candle.

“I know,” she answered, a melancholy smile on her lips. “Not yet. Not while they’re so happy. Not that I have that much of a choice in the matter,” she chuckled. 

There was only so much she could do to influence it after all.

Bruno turned and hugged her, her little Brunito all grown up and having lived such a wonderful life already. He had many years left she was sure. And he would spoil his grand-nieces and nephews rotten.

She held him for a moment before pulling back and kissing his forehead.

“You'll see him walk,” Bruno murmured and Alma smiled back with tears sparkling in her eyes.

“Gracias.”

Alma Madrigal passed away peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by her family. They’d been warned in advance, long enough in advance to spend the time they needed with her.

It had been a sad few months in Casita, even as most of them were accepting of it.

Some, not so much. The younger members of the family struggled to understand, but that was why Bruno had told them early.

The candle flickered for a brief moment, the first time it ever faltered since it first lit, when she breathed her last.

Even with the preparation, it still hit the family hard.

It rained for a week as Pepa was quick to tears. Julieta cooked more than usual, often being caught staring up at the candle. And Bruno locked himself in his room for a long time before reappearing again.

Seeing it twice was the curse of futuresight.

The second generation grieved in their own ways while Felix and Agustin helped soothe the grief of their wives and hermano.

Isabela vanished into the jungle and returned days later, tired and worn, but seemingly more at peace. Luisa found comfort in Dario, mourning the loss of the strongest woman she’d ever known. Mirabel sobbed on Gabriela’s shoulder over her Abuela never getting to see her wedding. Camilo holed himself up in his room, similar to his Tio, Sara finding him in a maze of mirrors and sitting next to him as he cried. Dolores spent hours holding Pedro, humming to him as tears trailed down her face. Antonio found himself surrounded by his animals as they comforted him in his grief.

Maria and little Alma were too young to understand everything, but old enough to know that Abuela wasn’t coming back. And they cried while Pepa held them close, the rain still pouring.

Eventually though, the pain abated somewhat. They grieved and processed and the sun shone weakly again.

Abuela wouldn’t want them moping around like this. She’d said as much. She wanted them to live their lives to the fullest. She wanted them thriving and happy.

And they’d do their best to see her dream realised.

There were still bouts of crying. Still melancholy days and moments when they’d turn to speak to someone who was no longer there.

But they healed and they moved on, however painful that was.

The village healed too, from the scar the passing of the woman who led them for so long left.

There were some fearful whispers. Of the candle bearer dying. Of whether the Encanto would stay safe. Of whether the magic would survive.

The whispers made Dolores smile a little.

Mirabel had screamed in shock the morning she woke to find the candle in her room.

The note from Abuela that lay next to it had sent her into tears.

From one candle bearer to the next.

Mirabel had always aspired to be like her Abuela. It had overwhelmed her to find herself with very big shoes to fill.

The Encanto couldn’t be in better hands though as she rallied the family back to a better state, everyone talking their feelings out in whatever way worked best for them.

And Mirabel got married with her head held high, not a tear in sight as she knew her Abuela was watching the wedding.

Was watching over them with Abuelo now.

Camilo married not long after, Sara getting impatient and proposing to him which sent the older generation gasping over the unorthodox methods.

Camilo hadn’t cared though, sheepishly asking if he’d made her wait too long. She’d told him that he could make it up to her with a pretty ring.

The answer from Camilo had been yes, obviously. That was never in question.

Madrigals rarely dated more than once.

The Miracle was burning. The family was thriving.

Decades ago, Pedro had defied the world with his sacrifice, creating the Encanto and Miracle out of sheer will and love.

And against everything the world could throw at it, the Encanto stood strong and proud. And it always would.

“Mi amor.”

Alma smiled at the sight of her husband, looking just how she remembered. The years had fallen from her as well and they looked like the day they’d last seen each other.

Tears welled in her eyes as Pedro smiled at her and pulled her into a warm embrace.

She’d finally reunited with the other half of her heart.

Alma took a moment to just drink in his presence, the warmth he’d always brought to her and the peace she felt in his arms.

And then she slapped him upside the head.

“Ow!"

“What the hell were you thinking?!”

“Mi vida-”

“Magic at five? Five?! ”

“They had so much fun with it though-”

“Fun my ass! Most of my grey hairs came from them!”

“You looked beautiful in silver mi amor-”

“Why not at thirteen? Or even better, eighteen?!”

“That would take forever though!”

“Healing wasn’t too bad. But weather control?!”

“Well, what else would suit our little huracán?”

“And futuresight?!”

“Oh come on, Bruno loved his Gift.”

“Don’t even get me started on the superstrength and literal control over mother nature!”

“I… got a little carried away there I’ll admit.”

“A little?!”

“But hey! Superhearing and shapeshifting was way less hectic wasn’t it?”

“Shapeshifting to the biggest menace in the family!”

“... Camilo’s pranks are brilliant though.”

Alma grabbed him by the collar and yanked him down to her height, decades of frustration being released all at once.

“The animals?!”

“Oh but Toñito loves his animals. That one was a given.”

“The fire and water?!”

“...”

“Pedro.”

“Well, it was my last chance before you got here so…”

“You are a fucking idiot Pedro.”

“But I’m your idiot.”

She rolled her eyes and huffed, but a smile curled her lips. “Yes, you are.”

She let go of his collar and let him pull her into another hug.

“You’re still an idiot.”

“And madly in love with you.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere.”

“It got me you.”

Damn it but he’d always been a charmer. She’d never been able to stay mad at him. She leaned her head on his shoulder and sighed, just enjoying his arms around her again.

“Forgive me?”

“Maybe,” Alma turned her head so that he caught sight of her wicked smirk. “But you’ll still have to face Juli and Pepa when they get here.”

There was a beat of silence.

“Shit.”

Chapter Text

Alma examined her nails as a flame threaded it’s way between her fingers.

“We could-”

“No.”

She pouted at Maria who was calmly reading a book across from her and sipping on a cup of tea. They were relaxing in the kitchen, the only ones in Casita at the moment.

“You didn’t even know what I was going to say.”

“Yes I did,” her melliza said easily. “You want to go swipe spiders from Antonio’s room to hide in Lola’s room.”

Alma gaped at her. “How’d you know?!”

“Because you want to do it every week and as much as Cami loves us, if we leave spiders in his arachnophobe hija’s room, he’d kill us.”

Alma pouted at her again. “It would be funny.”

“Mamá would then kill us as well for making her nieta cry. And don’t get me started on what Sara would do.”

Alma grimaced. She had to give her hermana that one.

“Why do you want to prank Lola so much anyway?” Maria asked, peering over her book suspiciously.

“I want to have pranked everyone before we turn eighteen and we only have two more weeks to do that!”

Maria rolled her eyes. “Dial back the pranks. Remember, Cami said they’re not supposed to make someone cry. They’re just for laughs.”

Alma sighed. Okay, she’d agree there. It was just so difficult to prank Lola. She might only be eight but she was as good at tricks as her papá which meant she could see them coming a mile away. She was the only one they didn’t manage to get. They got their parents and Tios and Tia. They got their siblings (Camilo took forever to get) and their primas. They got all their sobrinos, except for Lola. 

Pedro had been so miffed when they caught him with one of Isabela’s pollen pods. Alma loved her for providing them with supplies. She was their coolest prima by far.

Alma sighed again and slumped over the table. Maria rolled her eyes and went back to reading.

“We could ask Antonio for help,” Maria said after a beat and Alma perked up. “No one would see a prank coming from him.”

The smile the pair shared was positively wicked.

Camilo tried. He really did. But he had to bite his lip to try and hold back the snickers at the sight of his hija storming after Alma and Maria, coated in green paint.

Lola may have loved Tio Bruno, but she hated green.

Antonio was standing next to Camilo, giggling madly. He was a little surprised his hermano had helped out with the prank, but then again it was really hard to say no to the twins.

“I blame you for this,” Dolores waved in the direction of the chase happening in the courtyard and giving Camilo a deadpan look.

He just grinned though. “Gracias. I’m very proud of them.”

She rolled her eyes and Camilo laughed.

They watched the chase for a few moments in silence.

“Can you believe that they’re almost eighteen?” Camilo asked wistfully.

Antonio and Dolores’ expressions softened as well. Alma and Maria had been the babies of their generation. And now they were almost adults.

The family had only grown over the past decade. Camilo had two hijas, eight-year-old Lola and three-year-old Antonia.

Antonio had been chuffed to get his sobrina named after him. 

Dolores already had four niños. Pedro was the older hermano of three girls and the boys had all given up on ever outnumbering them. 

Isabela was still happily single, dabbling in a couple of one-night stands but mostly focusing on refining her ability with her Gift.

Luisa had one hija currently and another baby on the way. 

Antonio’s wedding to Elena was coming up rapidly and Casita was only growing to accommodate everyone.

They all knew that they could live in another house without judgment, but everyone loved the chaos that came from living inside Casita together. There were several different family rooms for separate gatherings and the villagers were still scratching their heads over how Casita hadn’t grown any larger from the outside.

The family had long since stopped questioning the magic.

Camilo looked to his left when Mirabel sidled up, her second-born hijo on her hip while the one-year-old chewed on his own hand.

His prima was thriving as much as the rest of the family. She and Gabriella had adopted two niños and, somehow, no one was surprised when little Jada got a Gift just like all the other Madrigals.

The village had been left reeling and still hadn’t really recovered.

“They finally got Lola?” she asked him in amusement.

“With Antonio’s help,” Camilo chuckled. “She’s not impressed.”

Mirabel laughed. That was an understatement. Lola would laugh about it later, but for the moment she was livid.

They both looked up as more of the family arrived from their trip into town. Tio Bruno looked amused while Camilo’s mamá and Tia Julieta looked exasperated. Papá was snickering and Tio Agustin was clearly torn between watching and trying to calm down the chaos.

“We were gone for an hour,” Tia Julieta said.

“That’s more than enough time to cause chaos mamá,” Mirabel reminded.

They all watched the chase for a bit longer.

“Sara’s mamá is coming to dinner tonight,” Camilo said conversationally as Lola got tired and just tripped the twins up by manipulating the ground under them. She smirked when the two face-planted. 

Lola was a menace whenever she decided to use her Gift over the earth.

“Not her papá?” Mamá asked in confusion.

“He’s in the doghouse,” Camilo snickered. “He fell off the roof while trying to fix it after he was told explicitly not to do that. He’s grounded apparently.”

That drew some laughter. Sara had definitely inherited her fire from her mamá.

They all looked back when Lola tossed the twins into the air in irritation with a foot stomp they were sure she picked up from Isabela.

Bruno snorted. “Now we just need an air bender,” he muttered as he wandered off.

They all stared after him in exasperation.

“I wish he’d explain the weird things he says,” Mirabel complained.

“I still want to know what 'yeet' means,” Camilo sighed.

At that moment the rest of the family returned and the chaos doubled. The Madrigal family wasn’t really ever calm when they were all together. But he wouldn’t really change anything.

His family was perfect with their imperfections.

He looked up at Mirabel's room where the candle burned in it’s place, golden light always bright and strong.

He just knew that Abuela was watching them with a smile.