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historysquib · 2 years

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Stay Tuned

One-Year-Old Isabela

Agustín sat at the piano, clacking away at a melodious tune. He got lost in playing fairly often as his fingers swiftly graced the keys while Julieta and baby Isabela prepared for bed. Some people read before bed to relax, he enjoyed playing a few songs before bed. As he kept playing, a slight interruption occurred. A gentle tug on his pant leg signaled someone was in his presence. A glance down, a tiny face greeted him with a smile.

"Pa," the tiny baby babbled with a wide grin.

Agustín beamed at her, lifting his sweet baby up into his lap. Excited, Isa slapped the keys to the piano. A sound that would make most musicians cringe, he let his little girl play on the keys. Notes flew out from the most thunderous sound to the brightest bing as Isa played. Leaning against the doorframe, Julieta watched the duo clack away on keys. She could hear the encouraging words of her husband speaking softly to their baby.

"Like this, amor," Agustín gently pressed down on the key.

Isa giggled, resulting in more keys being pushed and more fun sounds filling the room. The duet’s laughter and the piano created the perfect melody for Agustín. Here was his sweet baby girl playing happily on the instrument he loved so much. He could only hope she would embrace a love for music like him. Watching his happy baby giggling and smiling, Agustín never wanted the moment to end.

Five-year-old Isabela

"Here is the new sheet music that I came up with. Go ahead and give it a try," He encouraged.

Isabela studied the music and began playing, "Papí, this note doesn't make sense here. It should sound like this," She said, hitting a different key.

He focused and asked her to play the original and the slight change. She played it twice as he listened intently.

"Ay Isa, you are a natural. That sounds much better," Agustín smiled.

Isabela beamed at her father's words. He could feel her pride fill the room as she began to play again. Every note was hit with such grace at the right time. A smile appeared when he noticed the flower petals dance along the keys. It had only been a few months of her newly acquired flower power but a clear indication that Isa was happy playing. Everything from the sound to the petals showed that the little girl was feeling good and at peace. Another moment that Agustín was sure he never wanted to let go of.

Ten-year-old Isa

"It's okay, it isn't perfect," Agustín reassured, turning the sheet music back to the beginning.

The song he had Isabela playing was a challenging piece of music. It wasn't easy, but he would attempt to have her play it. She was so gifted at the piano that he wanted her to at least try.

A frustrated sigh came from her mouth, followed by, "Why can't I get it? It isn't supposed to sound like that!"

She slammed the keys resulting in an unpleasant sound and flower petals fluttering everywhere. He sat back as Isabela's elbow leaned on the keys. Her head fell into her hand as she looked down, not facing her father. She sat there tracing the keys with her fingers.

He sighed. Her perfectionist tendencies have always been there, but since her gift ceremony five years ago, her perfectionism had been in overdrive.

"It's not going to be perfect the first time you play it," Agustin states.

Isabela continued looking down, "I'm not going to get it, Papí. I keep messing it up."

"Isa," He whispered, "I know it's hard. It just takes a little while to learn it. It took me some time to learn this piece."

"It has to be perfect!" She snapped. "I am trying, and it isn't turning out! It has to be perfect, Papí!"

Agustín sighed, pushing her hair off her face. His heart hurt at his daughter's frustration. He would never bring up his own frustrations about how much pressure was put on his daughter to uphold a standard at the mere age of ten. He took a breath and began to comment, "Mi flor, you will get this. Give it some time. I know you can do it. I want to remind you that it's okay when things aren't perfect. Sometimes things take time, and that's okay too." He gave her a reassuring smile.

Isa looked up at her dad and gave him a big grin. She vowed, "Okay, Papí. I will keep practicing, and it will be okay." She began to play the piece again, not getting frustrated when she hit the wrong key, or the timing was off. Agustín would always be his girls' biggest cheerleader in moments of doubt and uncertainty. A constant in their corner.

Fifteen-year-old Isabela

Julieta listened intently to how excited Agustín was for the new piece of music he found to play with Isabela. His voice practically sang. Julieta smiled at how happy her husband was that their eldest daughter played piano with him once a week since she was little.

She darted through the kitchen out of the door, not even acknowledging her parents, who stood there.

He jumped up and hollered after the blur that was his daughter, "Isa! Wait, what about your lessons today?"

She froze and turned slowly, "Abuela needs me to put some floral pieces together for the Contreras's engagement party."

"Well, I can go with you and help, then we can practice," Agustín suggested.

"No, thank you, Papí," Isabela muttered. "Plus, I think it's better if I go by myself. We wouldn't want any accidents." She shrugged, giving her parents a half smile. As soon as the words left her mouth, Julieta closed her eyes, knowing they would hit him like a dagger.

A wave of devastation slapped him in the face. He stared at Isabela with hurt in his eyes. Looking away, he whispered, "Okay, Isa. Have fun."

Julieta watched their daughter leave before looking at Agustín, who had already left the kitchen. Her heart broke for the two of them. Agustín just wanted to spend time with Isabela and do what they always enjoyed doing. However, the little girl, who spent time with her papí, was growing up.

20-Year-old Isabela

Agustín sat at the piano, scribbling some notes on the composition paper. Isabela walked by the music room when he looked up.

"Isa!" He called to her, "Play some bars with me. For old time's sake?"

She paused and grinned, "Okay, Papí. I'll play." Agustín lept up, trying to play it cool.

"Alright, I just threw this together. Try it out." He set up the music on the piano ledge. She looked over the music, sitting down on the bench. Isa studied the music intently while placing her fingers on the keys to play. Like old times, she started to move among the keys. Playing like she never stopped, her father watched excitedly. She fell into playing the melody perfectly. A big smile draped across her face, a smile that Agustín hadn't seen in a long time. A familiar scent found its way to his nose, the smell of heliconia, as flower petals flooded the keys. Agustín followed the music, bouncing between the sheet music and Isa’s delicate fingers. Every now and then, a chuckle or word of encouragement fell from his mouth. Soon, their moment was interrupted by the matriarch of the family.

"Isabela, what are you doing?" Alma asked.

The young woman shot up, fixing her dress. "Ay, I'm sorry, Abuela. I was on my way–."

"I asked her to play the new bars I wrote. It was my fault," Agustín confessed.

"Be sure that you finish your chores before playing around. Señora Guzmán is expecting flower samples for her granddaughter's wedding bouquet," Alma declared, adjusting her earring before walking out.

Isa looked away shyly, upset that she had let herself get distracted. She hurried out of the piano room.

"Sorry, Papí. I have to go. I'll see you at dinner!"

"Isa, I am sorry! I didn't mean to distract you!" Agustín yelled out for her, but Isa was out the door. A wave of disappointment crushed his heart.

22-Year-Old Isa

Agustín had finished organizing the music room in the newly built Casita. Since the fall, the family spent their days rebuilding Casita and making amends with one another. Apologies allowed among the family members allowed them to bond about things. Agustín was happy that his family began repairing their relationships with one another. Mirabel and Isabela cultivated a better relationship with each other that created a better relationship between the Madrigal sisters. Alma and Mirabel amended their relationship after several serious conversations. His heart soared that his family could bounce back after many years of differences. His heart bursted with gratitude at the thought his family healing. He finished placing the last tiple on the wall, startled by a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see his eldest daughter smiling at him.

"Hola Papí," Isa grinned, looking around the room. "It looks great in her better than it did before! I like how the tiple wall looks."

"Ay, thank you. I wanted to try something new," Agustín shrugged, looking at the wall. "I figured that the wall could use more decoration. Why not decorate them with instruments?"

"I like it a lot. Very aesthetically pleasing to the eye,” Isabela beamed before whispering, “Umm, can I talk to you about something?"

"You know you always can. I'm always in your corner. I'm here to listen to you." He was always the best listener, giving his full attention to whoever he was talking to.

"I would like to start off with an apology. Papí, I am sorry that I stopped playing piano with you."

"Isa," Agustín sighed. "You don't need to apologize."

"I do, though. Time always got away from me because of my chores. I never had time to do what I wanted like okay the piano and spend time with you. I hurt your feelings too. I worried about my image that I struggled with wanting to be around anything that could disrupt my image," Isa confessed. "I'm so sorry, papí." Tears rolled down her cheek as exasperated sighed fell from her mouth. Engulfing her in a giant embrace, she cried even harder.

"You have nothing to apologize for, mi flor," her father comforted, hugging her. "I was never upset with you. At times, my feelings would be hurt but I never blamed you. You were growing up. No one wants their embarrassing dad around them."

"I missed playing piano with you. I’m so for everything," she cried, wiping her face, trying hard to collect herself.

Agustín held his daughter, whispering that it would be okay and there was no reason to feel guilty. He assured her that they would be alright and his love for her would never falter no matter what.

Isa pulled away, looking up at her father with a great feeling of admiration. "Pa, do you know what would make me feel better?"

"What's that, mija?"

Isa walked over to the piano and pressed a key. A grin crept on her face, "Do you have time for a piano lesson?"

Agustín's sudden smile lit up the room erasing all the memories of lost time. He leaned against the piano, "Of course. What would you like to play?"

I just wanted to write a wholesome father daughter moment between Isabela and Agustín. @sophiasi1172 told me that it is possible Isa pushed her father away because he is so accident prone. She didn’t want her father to harm her perfect image.

#agustin madrigal #isabela madrigal #Encanto #encanto fic #drabble #father daughter moments #squib fanfiction #light angst #fluffy #family fluff

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sokkas-first-fangirl · 1 year

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Mirabel found herself in Casita’s kitchen, squinting at a recipe for orange and cranberry cookies. It was a new recipe book from the next town over and everything Julieta had baked from it so far was, of course, utterly amazing.

Mirabel wasn’t much of a baker, but she wanted to give her mamá a break, okay? A nice surprise. One less thing to worry about in the morning.

It’s just, you know, Casita was always so dang busy and Mirabel wanted this to be a surprise…So she was baking in secret at midnight.

Well, no one ever said it was a well thought out plan.

🍪

Mirabel wants to make a nice surprise for Julieta, but no one can ever accuse Mirabel of planning ahead. At least Bruno's happy to help her out.

Or: Mirabel and Bruno make cookies for Julieta, and Mirabel loves her family very much

🍪

For @junosaccount for the secret Santa exchange! Happy holidays 🎄

#small hours #secret santa #la familia madrigal #mirabel madrigal #bruno madrigal #julieta madrigal #the madrigal family #madrigal family shenanigans #encanto #encanto fanfic #encanto fanfiction #my writing #new story #one shot #update #nothing but wholesome fluff #which is rare from me!

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aurelia11fan · 2 years

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Tío Can Heal, Too

(Agustín is a great tío, y’all)

It was 11:30 at night when Dolores jerked awake from a dead sleep. Cramps were tearing through her and her eyes watered at the painful sensations that only seemed to get worse with every movement. For the millionth time in her life, she wished someone could hear her and come to her rescue. She groaned when she realized she had bled through her nightgown, but the pain was too bad in the moment and she decided against changing. She took her robe from the hook next to her bed and pulled it on, desperately hoping to get to the bathroom for some relief.

Stepping out of her room, she paused suddenly in the hallway, the glow of her door reflecting off of her face. Tilting her head down, she made out sounds from the kitchen. Tia was still awake! Julieta had a raspberry tea blend that she always brewed special for her niece, sister, and daughters hidden carefully in her pantry for only these occasions. Dolores could have cried in relief at the realization. Tia Julieta would help. She only had to get herself downstairs.

The house rattled gently in an offer.

“No, Casita. Your tiles will wake someone. I’m okay.”

The house seemed to murmur a reply. If you change your mind, let me know.

Dolores’ bare feet were quiet against the floors of the house as she made her way downstairs, cringing as more blood emerged. She hadn’t expected it so soon and was more unprepared than she normally was. Hopefully her robe would be spared until she could get her rags. Embarrassment be damned, it was only tía Juli and she’d understand. Maybe she’d have an emergency stash in her apron. Turning the corner, Dolores made her way into the bright kitchen, ready to cry into Julieta’s arms, when she suddenly froze.

“Tío?!”

Agustín was at the sink, washing the remainder of the wine glasses from dinner. He jumped slightly, but mercifully didn’t drop anything.

“Dolores? You’re still awake?”

“Where’s tía?” Dolores asked with a hint of desperation. Her voice sounded needier than she wanted. Hopefully Tío Agustín wouldn’t be offended that she had asked for Julieta instead. Another cramp was coming on and she held her abdomen in preparation. Her pain always seemed to be the worst of the family, sometimes landing her in bed for a few days.

“Oh, I finally sent her to bed,” Agustín replied with a smile even though concern lined his face as he looked at his sobrina. “She had been up since 4:30 in the morning and I insisted on finishing the dishes. So far, nothing’s broken.”

“That…that’s good,” Dolores nodded. Craning her ear, she could faintly make out hear her Tia’s deep, easy breaths as she slept. She wanted to cry. Julieta had a calmness that even Pepa didn’t have and even though the young woman loved her mother, she needed a calm and reliable mood when she felt unwell and in pain. “Okay, thanks. Uh, and…um…buenes noches, tio.”

“Hey, hold on now,” Agustín said, his brows coming together in a worried frown. He dropped the towel on the counter and walked forward to place a practiced hand on Dolores’ forehead and then her shoulder. “You came down for a reason, didn’t you? And you seemed surprised to see me instead of Juli. I know your super hearing tends to dim a bit when you don’t feel well. Are you sick, pequeño buho?”

Dolores gave a weak smile at her Tios childhood nickname for her. He had called her “little owl” due to her large, beautiful, and dark eyes before her gift ceremony and then it was cemented afterwards when he told her that owls had some of the best hearing of any bird in the world. Agustín had presented her with a stuffed owl he had sewn together for her sixth birthday, and it remained one of her most treasured possessions.

“Well…um…”

Dolores hesitated slightly, not quite knowing what to say. Agustín had always made her feel safe, but she struggled somehow to talk to him about the truth.

“Is it something I can help with?”

“Uh…”

Agustíns eyes continued to regard her face with worry until they drifted to his nieces hands clutching her lower abdomen. A look of understanding—no doubt from raising three daughters— passed over his face.

“Ahh. I see.”

Dolores didn’t have much time for embarrassment. Her eyes watered as another strong cramp came on and she whimpered and flinched. Apparently it would be one of those months where things were especially nasty. Agustín motioned towards a chair and helped her sit, gently rubbing her back. Dolores struggled not to cry. Agustín handed her a bowl, (just in case, given that Isa got nauseous on her cycle) and then reached underneath the sink and pulled out a hot water bottle that Julieta kept for her sore muscles and filled it. He handed it to his niece, who took it with a grateful smile.

“Here. And…maybe try a deep breath or two.”

“I’ll try,” Dolores responded with some amusement. People said the same to her mother during her anxiety attacks. Sometimes breathing didn’t come as easily as people assumed it did, but as the heat from the bottle spread through her, relief slowly started coming and she relaxed into her chair, praying that more blood wouldn’t come. Agustín handed her a towel (“If you need it for…you know”) and she took it. For a moment, uncle and niece sat quietly, if a bit awkwardly, together. For as much time as they spent together in the house, this was a new situation for them. Agustín started cleaning his glasses on his vest when Dolores finally spoke.

“Tía…has a tea.”

Agustín smiled at her and refit the glasses on his face . “Do you know which one?”

“Not the exact one. I think it’s one of her specialty blends. It’s pink…and she has chocolate too, somewhere.”

“Hmm,” Agustín hummed as he opened the cabinets. “Let’s take a look. The chocolate at least…I think I know where she keeps it.”

“You don’t “think you know”, tío. I know you steal tía’s chocolate,” Dolores said with a smile. The heat was helping quite a bit and she was feeling more comfortable.

Agustín laughed and turned back towards his niece. “It’s really no use lying to you is it?”

“Last month she ran out early just before Alejandra Sanchez’s birthday. I heard her check the cupboards six times and she was not happy. She muttered something about you a few times and tried to find you, but you were hiding in the library.”

“Thanks for protecting me on that one. I felt so guilty until the next batch came in. Although when it did, I didn’t feel too badly to not sample a bit more.”

“I heard that too! Right as she turned her back, too. You’re terrible, tío Gus! One of these days…”

“You’ll rat me out? You’d do that to me?” Agustín asked in mock offense, clutching his chest.

Dolores giggled, rolled her eyes, and adjusted the water bottle. “Ay, tío...”

Agustín closed the tea cabinet after searching for a few minutes with an apologetic look.

“Dolores, I’m afraid your tía lets me in the kitchen so infrequently that I don’t have a good grasp on the types of her teas. There are about six or seven pink blends here, but I’m not sure how to tell which one you need. I can, however, do you one better. How about a chocolate santafereño?”

“Oh!…” Dolores paused.

Now that did sound wonderful and Agustín’s skills at making the beverage were not a secret in the family. The drink was very popular in Bogotá, where he had been born. All the Madrigal children had begged him to make it for them at least everyday when they were younger and he would oblige and tell them stories of the modern and sophisticated city where he had lived as a young child. Dolores never tired of hearing them and now that her appetite was back, she could feel her stomach growl. However, it was late and she didn’t want her tío missing his own rest on her account, so she continues “It’s late, and you just finished so get some rest Tío Gus. I’ll be fine, really.”

“Sorry,” Agustín replied, pulling out a pot from the drawer where Julieta kept them. “I saw your eyes light up at the mention of my famously amazing hot chocolate, so I’m afraid I need to make you one. It’s in the tío rule book.”

Dolores grinned at her doofus of an uncle. “Well, if it’s in the book…sounds great.”

“You got it,” Agustín replied. He found the chocolate stash with ease, of course, and began chopping away. “I made this for your mamá on her wedding day, you know.”

“You did? When?”

“After the downpour. We were all soaked and came back her before the reception to dry off a bit. The town was quite a sight and in addition to being soaked to the skin, I figured it would help your mamá’s mood so any surviving trees that were left in town weren’t uprooted with another storm.”

“And it worked?”

“I like to think it helped, but your papa was the main source of her joy that day. I had never seen her more happy. Once the ceremony was over, everything dried up pretty fast. Your tía was soaked to the skin and her hair had come undone. When the sun came out, she left it down and it dried into the most beautiful mass of curls I’d ever seen. Your mamá was a radiant bride, but she was still the second prettiest one that day.”

Dolores smiled at the obvious loving way he spoke of Julieta. “What was your wedding like, tío?”

“Which one?”

“Huh?”

“Which of my wedding days are you asking about?”

“Wh��you’ve had more than one?”

“Well,” Agustín replied , whisking the chopped chocolate into the milk and cinnamon mixture. “The first was when I was eight and then the second was almost 20 years later. Same girl.”

Dolores’ eyes widened in delight. She knew her tío and tía had met as children, but had never known for sure how old they had been. She had always assumed they were in their early teens.

“What was the first one like?”

Her usually accident-prone tío began to ladle the chocolate concoction into a mug as he spoke. “That was a Tuesday after school. I had asked Juli if she’d marry me that morning when I passed her stand in the village square. I gave her a flower and she tucked it into her apron and said she would…I made her promise three times.” He smiled at the memory. “Your papá did the ceremony. Now careful, it’s hot.” He handed the mug to her and she began to blow to cool it off.

“Thank you so much.”

“Of course.”

“Now this story sounds kinda familiar, have I heard this before?”

“Your mamá had to water the fields on his family farm that afternoon, so we held the ceremony there. We tied two sticks together to make a cross. I told your tía that I loved her and that I was going to marry her and love her forever and she said the same thing. Then your ten year old papá pronounced us married. I didn’t have a ring, but I did have a piece of thread on me from mamá’s sewing kit and I wrapped it too tightly around Juli’s finger and it started turning blue, so we had to cut it off. The string, not her finger, obviously. I saw her the next day, she had replaced it with a flower stem. I wish I’d thought of that instead. She wore it until it fell off three days later. I made it up to her much later by giving her a proper ring. And we had it sized correctly.”

Whether from the hormones or the story, Dolores sniffed a bit from the tears in her eyes. She slowly continued sipping the hot liquid and a divine taste filled her mouth. No one made hot chocolate quite like her tío did.

“How are you feeling now?” Agustín asked. He had shamelessly taken another piece of Julieta’s chocolate and was eating it as he cleaned.

“Better,” Dolores said, smiling. “And the story made me tear up a bit. It was so sweet.”

Her tío smiled again. “Im glad. All my memories of being with your tía are sweet. Even when they weren’t.”

“Tía was lucky to marry you. Actually, we’re all lucky that she did. The whole family.”

Momentarily startled at that comment, Agustín’s eyes widened at his niece who gave him a warm smile. He hadn’t been expecting it and it warmed his heart immensely.

“Gracias, pequeño buho.”

“De nada.”

As she closed her eyes and sipped her drink, Dolores’ warm smile gave way as a faint sound reached her ears. The rustling of paper wrapping. Around a yet another piece of her tía’s special chocolate. A stolen piece.

In Agustín’s pocket.

“Tío! Honestly!”

Amid Agustín’s protests, she only shook her head and insisted that whether it was her special hearing or something else, Julieta was going to find out one of these days and he’d be in trouble. She couldn’t cover for him forever, you know. Her cramps had faded to a manageable level and the warmth from the drink, the hot water bottle, and her loving dork of a tío had soothed her. A peaceful, pain free sleep would finally come for her that night.

Maybe tía Julieta wasn’t the only one with healing powers.

☕️

@hectic-hector @enigmaticdoctorscully @lizzywrites1 @historysquib @wikluk @magicalmadrigals @wifeofbean @adoptedmadrigal

#agustin madrigal #encanto fandom #encanto #dolores madrigal #uncle and niece bonding #period fic #normalize periods #Agustín is the best tio #hot chocolate #comfort #fluff #Dolores and Agustín #madrigal family #madrigal women and periods

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magicalmadrigals · 2 years

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A Difference to Celebrate

“All I can think about is poor Alma. She must be so embarrassed.”

“And what about Julieta and Agustin? They must be so disappointed in her.”

“She has always struck me as rather odd, to be completely honest, I mean look at their other two! Isabela has always been so beautiful and Luisa so helpful. Every time I see her, she just seems to be standing there. She looks so weird.”

Julieta blinked back the tears in her eyes as she set the plate in her hand down on the table and glanced across the square at her baby. Mira was still in the shade, drinking her zumo de naranja and having fun with her toys, and knowing she was unable to hear the comments being made brought her the slightest comfort. Not that long ago, she had been sat at her feet with her teddies and the thought of her hearing a word of what was being said truly made her seethe.

These were grown women, for goodness sake.

Women who had children of their own, she knew, because she had healed them!

It astounded her that they had the audacity to stand there, mere feet away from her, and talk about her daughter in such a manner. Especially since there was no doubt in her mind that the three of them had spotted her playing in the shade.

Deep down, she had known this would happen.

It would have been foolish on her part to think people would keep their opinions to themselves and no one would talk about what happened at the ceremony. She and Gus had told each other that night that they needed to prepare to hear things that would hurt them, but they had been certain people would drop the subject soon enough and move on to gossiping about something else as usual.

Almost a fortnight had passed now though, a full two weeks, and it was still a very big topic of conversation for some of those in Encanto. Some were easier to listen to than others because most people felt for Mira and would request she give her their love when she saw her, but there were a handful that were so cruel and would say the worst things about her baby. It was so hard for her to hear.

She had succeeded in biting her tongue and keeping herself from storming over to said ones up ‘til now, knowing it would do no good, but there was a limit to how much she would stand and take and she had just been pushed right past it.

Setting the plate in her hand down on the table once she was sure no one else was coming, at least for the time being, she took a breath and ran her hands down the front of her apron before turning and making her way over to the little group of women. It was clear when one of the three saw her coming because they shut up and turned, giving her the most ingenuine smiles she’d ever seen.

It would have made her laugh if she weren’t so furious.

“Ay, Juli, we were just talking about...”

“You have no need to tell me what you were talking about because I heard.”

“Then you’ll would have heard that-”

“I’ll tell you what I heard, shall I?” She cut in, crossing her arms as she looked at the three of them with disdain. “I heard you standing here, in the open, giving your opinión - your very unwanted and unwarranted opinión, I might add - of my hija. What was it that you were saying? You think she’s odd and just because she, for some reason, didn’t get her gift, she is inferior to her hermanas? I don’t require your opinión of her, Isabela or Luisa for that matter, muchas gracias.”

All the women could do for a time was stare at her with gaping mouths.

None of them had ever seen this side of her before, she knew that, but she was not about to be calm and collected with them when they had the nerve to speak down about one of her daughters and about all three of them as though they had more of an understanding of them than her. They were hers, for crying out loud!

“I think you might have mis-”

She scoffed, causing them to fall quiet again. “I do not care what you think and I think you’ll find I did not misinterpret a word of what any of you said,” She told them. “I think you should count yourselves afortunada that I was the one to hear you say it and not mi esposo because this is calm compared to how he would have responded. If you want my consejo, though I doubt any of you are going to take it, worry about your own children and allow me to worry about mine. Si?”

“Si...” Was the only response the women gave her.

Shaking her head at them, she turned and walked away since she had a feeling there was no point in waiting for them to apologise. She was more concerned about packing up, grabbing her daughter and getting home before her afternoon had the chance to get even worse.

It took her little time to clear the table and put the uneaten buñuelos and arepas in her basket, knowing her husband or one of the children would devour them later on, and when she turned to see her pequeña princesa running towards her she felt her spirits lift. She was as jovial as ever, the biggest smile on her face, and it was so infectious she failed not to smile too as she crouched down a little.

She wrapped her arms tight around her when she ran into her arms, potentially a bit too tight, and buried her face in the mass of dark curls on her head when her vision became blurred with tears. Her all upset was the last thing she wanted her seeing. “Hola, mi mariposa,” She sighed, kissing her crown. “Had a good time?”

“Si!” Mira nodded. “Can we go home now though, mamí? I’m a bit hambrienta.”

“Of course,” She breathed a sigh of relief before taking an arm from around her and hooking the handle of the basket on it, she and her sweet girl sharing a smile when she picked her up and got back to her feet. “Let’s get back home...”

A hand on her back made her jump out of her skin when she was sat at the table in the kitchen in the early hours of the next morning, head in hands, and she looked up to see Gus standing there with a concerned look in his eyes. “Amor, I thought you came to bed hours ago,” He said in a gentle voice. “I was sure.”

“No, I did,” She told him. “I couldn’t sleep though, so I thought to come down.”

Rubbing tender circles onto her upper back for a time, he was certain something was wrong when he looked at her hands on the table and saw she was playing with her wedding ring. She only ever did that if she felt anxious or upset and was attempting to conceal it from him, one of the many things he had learned about her over the years, so he pulled out the chair at her side and sat down in silence.

He wanted her to tell him in her own time.

He never wanted to rush her when she was struggling, so he sat and he waited.

“I have no idea why people have to be so cruel, especially about a child,” Came her barely audible whisper several long minutes later, causing him to reach out and rest a hand over hers to keep them from shaking. “I hear things when I heal in the square. People are still going on about that stupid ceremony and I...I just worry this is something that is going to follow Mira around for the rest of her life.”

His brows knitted together. “What happened this afternoon?”

“I was standing at the table, waiting to see if anyone else was coming or if it was okay for me to pack up, and I overheard Claudia talking with Maria and Sandra. She said mama must be embarrassed by what happened and Maria said that we must be disappointed in Mirabel, but it was what Sandra said that upset me the most. She said she always thought she was odd and that...that Isa and Luisa are so much better than her. She said she looks weird, always standing beside us.”

“I would have given them a piece of my mind if I had been there,” He seethed as he brushed his thumb tenderly against her knee. “I know you used to consider them your amigas, but I was never fond of them because they only ever seem to be making trouble or gossiping about something or other they heard recently.”

She was quiet for a second. “Do you think...”

“No, I never have and I never will think anything of the sort.” He cut her off.

“But I carried her,” She met his gaze at last. “Surely, it’s a possibility.”

“Si, but by that logic wouldn’t it make more sense to say that I caused it because I was born outside the familia? I’m the normal one, though I’m not certain that’s the right term to use, so surely I would be the one to blame for this and not you.”

“Ay, Agustín, what are we going to do?”

Reaching up to brush a fallen curl behind her ear, he moved closer to her on his chair and went back to rubbing her back. “I doubt there’s anything we can do, but I would never want to change a thing about her anyway. It makes her unique, being gift-less, and I think her uniqueness is something we need to celebrate, not try and change. She is perfecto just like this, but I don’t need to tell you that.”

“No,” She sighed as a soft smile appeared on her face. “How do you do that?”

“Hmm? How do I do what?” He asked, confused.

She turned in her chair, letting her legs hang over the edge of it, and laid a hand on the side of his neck so she could brush her thumb against his cheek. “For as long as I have known you, which is a very long time, you have always known the right thing to say at times like this. I love that about you, but how do you do it?”

“You should know a magician never reveals his misterios.”

“Si, but you are no magician as far as I am aware, so out with it.”

Chuckling, he leaned in to steal a kiss. “I have no idea, really, that’s the answer. I suppose I just know you so well now that I know how you need me to be when you feel like this. Sometimes, you need me to be an idiot to make you laugh and sometimes, like tonight, you need me to be serious because this is important.”

She hummed. “I guess that makes sense. What would I do without you?”

“Not have to heal bee-stings every day, have more food, have an easier life...”

“Agustín...”

“You would spend the rest of the night down here,” He teased before rising from his chair and taking her hands in his, making her do the same. “But, thankfully for you, you have me and I’m taking you upstairs so you finally get some sleep.”

Letting him lead her from the kitchen by the hand, she sighed. “You are an idiot.”

“Oh, I know, but I’m your idiot which means I am okay with that.” He teased.

“You are, mi vida,” She assured him. “You most certainly, certainly are...”

#julieta madrigal #agustin madrigal #young mirabel madrigal #julieta x agustin #agustin x julieta #julistin #julieta and agustin #julieta and agustin madrigal #encanto #encanto fic #encanto fanfic #encanto fanfiction #disney encanto #disney fic #disney fanfic #disney fanfictio #family fluff #domestic fluff

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wikluk · 2 years

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Play the part?? Slight twist on the movie, Mira finds out about Isabela's problems sooner, and, being Mira, she wants to help??

Going by your preemie!Mira hc, when she's sick, she's sick. So she knows in turn how to act sick and make in convincing. She does so, so all attention will be on her and Isa can go destroy her perfect image for an hour or two :D

play the part: [character] pretends to be sick – Mirabel (+ Isabela)

the secrets that you keep are ever ready

Mirabel couldn't believe it.

Her sister, her older sister, Señorita Perfecta Isabela, had a secret. She didn’t want to get married. She didn’t want to marry Mariano, yet she never told anything. Not Abuela, not their parents, not even Luisa.

Mirabel wondered if Dolores knew; after all, Dolores knew everything.

But the youngest Madrigal sister couldn’t believe she found out about it only because the rats told Antonio, and Antonio told her, and she swore him to keep it a secret, and she planned or doing something.

Maybe if she rescued Isabela from that awful situation she was in, their relationship would get better. Maybe it would help the Miracle, maybe it would save the magic.

Then her Papi found her in the nursery and saw the vision, and she was that close to telling him everything, but Abuela announced the dinner was ready and it meant the Guzmáns were there and there was no time.

So Mirabel decided to improvise. Always of weaker health and with a tendency to get sick quickly and easily, often pretty bad, Mirabel knew how to act when the need was. Sometimes, when she didn’t want to go to school, she’d pretend she was sick, and she felt bad for worrying her mamá so, but being born prematurely had some benefits.

As they sat down at the table, Dolores was staring at her, and Mirabel was staring back. Well, it was awkward, and as Dolores was close to breaking, Mirabel knew, she had no more time.

She coughed.

Dolores blinked, and Camilo looked at her as well, one eyebrow raised.

Mirabel grabbed the glass with juice and took a sip, immediately afterwards bursting into a fit of coughs.

Now, people were looking her way, and Dolores tilted her head, still staring.

“Are you alright, Mirabel?” Mariano asked.

It made Isabela turn her head as well. “Yes, are you alright?” she asked, though there was suspicion clear in her dark, barely narrowed eyes.

“Yeah, of course–” Mirabel wheezed, putting her hand on her chest. “It’s just–” she coughed deeply, to the point it sounded almost like a whistle. “Just a cough!”

Mamá looked at her with both eyebrows pinched together in concern. “Are you sick?”

“No, no,” Mirabel waved her hand absentmindedly. “It’s just... Something in the air...”

“Your eyes are glossy,” Dolores squeaked out quietly, the grip she had on her wine glass losening a little.

“Yeah? I don’t feel anything...”

She started thinking about the most embarrassing things she had ever witnessed in her life. She remembered tripping over her own feet and diving head-first into the fountain in front of the villagers. She remembered walking in on her completely naked tía Pepa in the bathroom. She remembered walking in on her parents doing... Stuff... When she was twelve–

And she knew her face got dark as a beetroot.

“Mi amor, you’re flushed,” her papá touched her forehead with the back of his hand. “Ay, you’re so warm!”

Mamá was by her side in a few seconds. “Ay mi vida, not this again,” she said, cupping her face with a worried frown on her face. “I think you’re running a fever!”

Mirabel shook her head, sniffling for a better effect. “That’s nonsense, mamá, I’m–” she burst into another fit of very convincing coughs. “I’m fine!”

“No, you’re not,” her mamá said firmly.

“I am! Oh, come on, I don’t wanna ruin Isabela’s perfect proposal dinner–”

Mirabel was almost sure she could hear Isabela gritting her teeth on her right.

Dolores squeaked again, her gaze flickering between Isabela and Mirabel, her eyebrows raised in confusion.

Mirabel was actually shocked when she felt a hand gripping her forearm. She moved her head to stare at Isabela who pursed her lips at her before turning her head towards the matriarch.

“Abuela, I think I should take Mirabel to my room,” she said in a calm, velvety tone, though her fingers dig into Mirabel’s arm. “She needs her rest.”

Before Abuela could answer, Mariano supported her on that. “Oh yes, the family member’s health should always come first!” he said, giving Isabela a dreamy, soft smile. “You’re such a good hermana, Isabela.”

Isabela smiled at him, patting Mirabel’s hand. “She’s the baby,” she said in a sweet tone, making Mirabel scowl. “It’s my duty as her older sister to take care of my youngest hermanita.”

Señora Guzmán gushed at it. “Oh, it’s amazing to see how close and caring all the Madrigals are!” she exclaimed and clapped her hands. “I’m sure we can postpone this dinner to when Mirabel is healthy and can take a part in this beautiful event, right, Alma?”

Abuela blinked, moving her gaze from both sisters to her friend. “Oh, of course, Andrea! One week won’t make that big of a difference, will it?”

“Of course not,” señora Guzmán said with a breathy laugh. “Love is very patient, isn’t it?”

It brought some chuckles from all the married (or formerly married, in Abuela’s case) Madrigals.

“Claro,” Abuela said with a smile, then looked at Mirabel, Isabela and mamá. “Julieta, Isabela, take Mirabel upstairs, por favor.”

And that was how all three of them found themselves in Isabela’s room, in her room full of flowers from the bottom to the top, so pink, and purple, and violet, and perfect, it was almost sickening.

Even mamá, to Mirabel’s smirk, looked a little overwhelmed by all the pastels as she glanced around.

Soon after Mirabel was placed on the bed Isabela created for her, and mamá left them, with a promise that she would return shortly with some medication for Mirabel, to make her feel better.

She barely closed the door, when Isabela put both hands on her hips with a scowl. “What was that?!”

Mirabel smiled innocently. “What was what?” she asked, coughing weakly. “I have no–”

“You’re not sick!” Isabela accused her. “Even you wouldn’t be able to get sick this quick!”

“You know I always was prone to sicknesses!”

Isabela’s gaze hardened as she tapped her foot impatiently.

Mirabel rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I’m not,” she said, sitting up and crossing her arms over her chest. “But I think you should be grateful because I just saved your ass!”

“Grateful?! For what? For ruining my life?!”

“I didn’t ruin your life!”

“You did! Mariano was going to propose to me, and Abuela was happy, and the familia was happy, everyone was happy but–”

“–you weren’t happy. You’re not happy.”

“What–”

“I know you don’t wanna marry this big dumb hunk.”

Isabela blinked rapidly, her eyes going wide. “What?”

“That!” Mirabel growled in frustration. “Antonio told me because his rats told him that they had heard you ranting to yourself last night about how you didn’t want to get married.”

“I–”

“You don’t love him, do you?”

Isabela was silent.

“You don’t even like him.”

Isabela shook her head. “I do like him. We’ve been friends since we were kids but...”

“You don’t wanna to be his wife.”

Isabela avoided her gaze. “No, I don’t.”

Mirabel shifted to the edge of the bed and jumped out of it, walking closer to her sister. “Then why did you agree to court him?”

Her older sister sighed. “It was Abuela’s idea and I...”

Mirabel felt enlightened all of a sudden. “You wanted to make Abuela proud.”

Isabela nodded.

Mirabel fell on her back on the mattress. “Wow,” she muttered, staring at the ceiling. “Who would think we had so much in common?”

“Oh, do we?”

“Yeah... We’ve always done everything to make Abuela proud.”

“Yeah...” Isabela agreed, and her tone suddenly got so soft, so friendly. “Yeah, I guess we have much in common.”

Before Mirabel could answer, half of their family burst through the door. Mamá and papá hurried her way with Luisa hot on their heels.

“Mirabel? Why aren’t you under the covers?”

Isabela groaned. “She’s not sick, mamá.”

“She’s not–” mamá repeated, clearly confused. “Please, someone tell me what’s going on because I think I don’t understand...”

Isabela opened her mouth to answer but Mirabel threw her arms in the air and looked at her parents with the most annoyed expression. "I pretended to be sick and I did it for her!”

“Mirabel don’t–”

Papá looked between them. “For her? Whatever you mean?”

Mirabel took a deep breath. “Isa doesn't want to marry Mariano."

The hell broke loose.

#wiktoria's fanfiction corner #encanto fanfic #my writing #my sickfics #mirabel madrigal #isabela madrigal #dolores madrigal #alma madrigal #senora guzman #mariano guzman #julieta madrigal #agustin madrigal #sickfic #mirabel is good at pretending #preemie mirabel #family fluff #humour and crack #sisters being sisters #isabela and mirabel

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moprp · 2 years

Text

im no baby, im a big brave girl! (and big girls dont cry!)

Eyy I’m finally done! This fic is dedicated to our dearest (and my favorite) authors, @wikluk and @adabofblessings!!! Since this is for said authors, I added small easter eggs for each. If u know, then u know ;)

Summary: Following her disastrous gift ceremony, little Mirabel thinks she isn’t allowed to sleep in the nursery anymore because she had her fifth birthday and that’s when the kids leave the nursery. Since there’s no other (her own) room for her, she feels the need to leave Casita, so she packs her things and tries to do so but she’s caught by Julieta/Agustin/both of them. Read to find out ;)

Word Count: 7178

(pls view the tags, they’re at the end of the post)

Happy reading! (constructive criticism is welcome!)

...

As soon as her big and pure eyes welled up with shiny tears, Julieta practically snatched Mirabel away, swiftly taking her to the nursery as whispers emitted from the courtyard. Something unexpected had happened; her door had dissipated into nothing, leaving a confused five-year-old looking to her parents for guidance. The event had shocked the whole Encanto at that very moment, and Pepa may or may not have thundered a couple of times, Julieta didn't notice, however, as her focus was locked on her youngest and her youngest only.

People are going to talk and she knew it, all of them did. But Julieta couldn't bring herself to care, all she could bring herself to think about is her Mirabel – her sweet and precious little mariposa that deserved every ounce of happiness.

As soon as she shut the door behind them, the tears that hung in Mirabel's eyes suddenly burst out, her body wracked with sobs as she cried into the fabric of Julieta's clothes. She clenched her mami's dress like a lifeline, her tiny knuckles turning pearly white. Julieta chewed at the inside of her cheek as she held her baby close to her chest, walking over to the bed meant for toddlers.

Mirabel, being a premature baby – although it's still slightly concerning on Julieta's part – had its perks. Fortunately, one of the said perks is being able to cuddle with her mamá on a single bed because of her smaller size.

As Mirabel and Julieta curled up together on the nursery bed, muffled sounds of Alma coaxing everyone to leave could be heard as well as what could possibly be the next hurricane started brewing, the temperature dropping significantly. Soft and barely audible squeaks were heard beyond the door and por dios, who knows what kind of nonsense rumors Dolores was currently hearing. The little voices of Isabela and Luisa bombarding their papá with questions about their hermanita made Julieta's heart constrict by an inch or two.

No one had answers right now.

Not that she minded, chasing Mirabel's sadness away is her mission at the moment.

"Mami?" her raw voice broke the older woman out of her thoughts as she sniffled quietly.

"Yes, mi vida?"

"Why didn't I get a gift? Did I do something wrong? Is Abuela mad at me?"

She ignored the feeling of her lungs ceasing to function. Just the fact that her hija's mind is currently raising with such thoughts gave her an unsettling sensation in the pit of her stomach.

"I have no idea, corazón. Your Abuela could never be mad at you, she's simply just as surprised as the rest of us are." she stroked her curly locks with her fingers, eyes never leaving her glossy ones.

"I thought maybe Abuela's angry with me and that's why I didn't get a gift."

Mirabel and transgression do not mix. How could a toddler be capable of committing a horrible mistake for the miracle to reject her? It's simply implausible, especially when she seems to have a special connection to Casita more than anyone else in the family.

"You did nothing wrong, amor. You did everything you were told. Your papi, Isa, Lulu, and I are so proud of you for being brave out there." she booped Mirabel on the nose, making her tears momentarily halt as she gave a small smile.

Good.

She's still smiling despite the circumstances.

"I was?"

"Sí, mi vida, you were mi valiente bebé!" she gave her daughter a tight hug, driving out some giggles from the toddler.

"I'm no baby, mamá! I was a big brave girl out there!"

"Ay mi vida, bebé or not, you're still our brave little mariposa." she attacked the young girl with smooches to the face, eliciting loud and hearty squeals.

Julieta internally smiled wide as Mirabel stopped crying, her focus was now on her dress, tiny fingers tracing every detail of embroidery on her clothes. She had always been interested in these kinds of things, the healer couldn't help but wonder if her youngest would grow up to be a tailor, just like her papi. Once Mirabel began dumping her mamá with questions about yarn and such, she released a breath she didn't know she held. Her hija was here, she was fine. She was able to chase the sadness away this time.

The failed gift ceremony would awaken something else within the family, she knew. Based on mamá's reaction alone, it had already started. The way her warm expression flashed multiple emotions in such a short duration could make anyone who had witnessed it stutter. Warmth, confusion, horror, stone-cold, professional, it was almost terrifying. She kept her gaze on Mirabel and wished the stars that she wouldn't be faced with any more burdens. She may have dodged the burdens of having a gift, but she knows it won't stop there. This time, she’ll be forced to carry the heavy weights of being giftless.

All alone too.

Because she is the first. The first to be centered in an unimaginable light. She's the only Madrigal who was born into the family only to not receive a blessing from the candle. Had the candle deemed her unworthy? Did they simply have to retry the whole ceremony to get a gift? Or did the candle truly just have other plans for Mirabel?

Too many questions and none to be answered, sadly.

"Mira?"

"Yes, mami?" she looked up to her madre, an innocent glow in her eyes.

"Promise me you'll be my strong amor. Stand tall and be proud of who you are, be brave no matter what happens. Because gift or no gift, you're just as special as anyone else in this family. Do you understand?"

Mirabel smiled brightly, the twinkling of her irises unfading at the newfound strength. "Of course mami, I promise!" she held up her pinky and Julieta followed as their fingers curled against one another. "I pinky promise!"

Her heart swelled with affection and she couldn't hold back the maternal instinct that flooded her entire being at that moment. For the millionth time today, she showered Mirabel with kisses as she squirmed. "Bien. ¡Ay, te amo mi cosa linda!" she exclaimed between the spray of smooches.

The toddler's squirms died down as soon as Julieta hummed her a soothing lullaby. She'd always favored this tune, even when she was an unborn baby living in her womb. She recalled Mirabel was a restless baby, always making her mamá's heart flutter with each movement she made. Whenever she heard the voice of someone she liked, she'd kick and maneuver with double enthusiasm. Once, Agustín had been talking to a very awake Mirabel as Julieta lay resting on the bed, listening to the conversation her esposo started with the baby about how chocolate is created. Out of nowhere, Mirabel unknowingly kicked Julieta's spine and had her bedridden for a good week, but her hija didn't need to know that. She followed her soft singing with gentle strokes on her back, hoping to ease any remaining traces of pain her mariposa was feeling.

As if on cue, the door to the nursery echoed with a soft knock, followed by a creek. Agustín peaked his head in the small crack, followed by Isabela and Luisa. "Hey mis amores, are we interrupting anything?"

Mirabel perked up, eyes wide and clear with excitement. "Papi! Isa! Lu!" she gently released herself from her mother's grasp before speeding to the door, letting all three of them in.

He chuckled as he watched all of his hijas hold each other in tight hugs, their chubby cheeks colliding together from the side. "I'll take that as a no." he ruffled Mirabel's hair as she giggled. "Doing good, Miraboo?"

"Yes, Papá!" She moved to hug his legs and was surrounded by her sisters in a second. She let go and faced them, only to bring them both into another embrace. The sweet display warmed the parent's hearts, possibly faster than some of Pepa's mood swings. Julieta stood up and regarded Agustín, hand automatically reaching in to hold his big and warm one as they looked at the scene before them.

"We were worried about you, Mira." Isabela quietly admitted and with a wave of her hand, she created Mirabel's favorite flower as she tucked it between her brown strands.

"Yeah, I thought something bad happened. I was ready to fight for you!" Luisa said, pulling her little sister off her feet and setting her on her shoulders while securely holding her thighs, making Mirabel shine bright and squeal in surprise.

"I'm okay, hermanas. Mami said I was a big brave girl out there!" she said with as much smugness she could muster. She glanced at her mother with a smile before diverting her attention back to her sisters.

"Mami said I'm brave too, you know." Isabela piped in with a playful roll of her eyes.

"Uh-huh, were you brave when you found an ant living in one of your flowers?"

"Hey! At least I didn't scream as loud as Luisa did when a butterfly landed on her finger!" she retorted.

"I want no part in this conversation." Luisa inquired with raised eyebrows.

"You don't like butterflies, Luisa? You make me sad." she feigned offense.

As the light-hearted conversation turned into some ordinary sibling bickering, Julieta instinctively squeezed Agustín's hand tighter as the latter reciprocated the action. She hoped this bond between their girls wouldn't change despite the events earlier.

At some point in the night, the girls had somehow squeezed themselves into Mirabel's bed without one of them falling off as they drifted into a peaceful slumber together.

Julieta looked on, her tilted head slightly; she couldn't help the toothy grin and contented sigh that slipped out.

Agustín bumped her hip with his. "We raised tres niñas pequeñas properly, didn't we?"

She hummed in response, her eyes never leaving the relaxed expressions of their daughters. He's right; Isabela, despite sealing herself off ever since her gift ceremony, is still the same bebé they had held in their arms after her birth, always so thoughtful and sweet. And Luisa, oh their adorable niña. She'd had unfortunately taken her overworking habit after her madre, though that didn't stop her from being equally loving and caring to everyone. Lastly, Mirabel. Ay, this child, such a young soul, and yet she's already gone through too much for her age. But even after being rejected by the candle, she kept a brave face. The way Mirabel's eyes welled up with tears as she looked longingly at her parents. The way none of those tears spilled until she was alone and in her mother's arms is a sight Julieta wouldn't forget anytime soon. The image will be permanently drilled into Julieta's skull, as well as Agustín's, despite his absence during the first half of their little get-away circle in the nursery.

It was getting rather late, however, Agustín didn't want to have to leave their side, especially not so soon after what had happened. It seemed like Julieta read his mind, for she felt the same, the idea of leaving her niñas right now could fall down a well, for all she cared. Suddenly, an idea popped up in her head and she glanced around the room.

"Casita?" the wooden floor flipped in response.

"Could you fetch me a double mattress, pillows, and a blanket por favor?” Julieta asked, “We would like to sleep here for the evening."

And just like that, with another flip of the wooden floorboards, a mattress came into frame, along with the pillows and blankets she'd asked for. Considering everything had come from under the floorboards, Julieta was utterly surprised when she noticed that none of the items were dusty or molded. Their magical casa truly works wonders, as her mamá said.

She smiled and patted the wall, hoping to convey the message that she was grateful. "Gracias, Casita." The house repeated its earlier actions, but this time, it bounced a roll of blue yarn up and down in response to Julieta.

They both settled down, pulling one another close as they pondered today's happenings. Today had been hectic indeed, from making sure the food and decorations were well-prepared, to fretting over Mirabel, the parents were expecting a perfect day, but today was far from perfect. Instead, they got themselves a bittersweet day.

They weren't blind to the misery of the Madrigals, no. They could see it in themselves, but also others. The way Pepa would walk around with a looming cloud threatening to spill water, almost like her own tears. The way Félix would follow his esposo around to bring comfort and whisper sweet nothings to her ear. The way Dolores winces when someone claps or shouts, hell, she even approached Julieta to ask for something that'd make her sensory overload fade. Camilo is still in the early stages of being a Madrigal, eventually, he will have a crisis too, despite their dismay about it. The way Bruno would shy away from basically anyone in fear of being called ‘Bad Luck Bruno’ like the town claims him to be. The way Isabela looks to her Abuela for approval, when, in fact, she doesn't need it. And finally, the way Luisa could never just say no. Behind closed doors, the miracle is both a blessing and a curse. It's tied to every Madrigal, unfortunately.

"I'm scared for her, Agustín. I'm afraid of what she might experience just because she's different."

"Lo sé, me too. All we can do is be there for her, amor." he ran his long fingers through her thick and curly hair as she stifled a yawn. This, however, did not go unnoticed by Agustín. "Sleep now, corazón, you need energy for tomorrow, we'll take it one day at a time."

Right, one day at a time.

~~~~

As Mirabel opened her eyes, she noticed one figure cuddled up next to her, Isabela. She knew based on the flower scent and the soft snoring alone, though as she looked to her left, she frowned once she noticed Luisa was gone.

Ay Lulu, Mirabel figured she was probably already in town overworking herself and as she slowly sat up, she climbed off the bed, careful not to accidentally hit Isabela and wake her up. She took her green glasses and gingerly put them on, watching as the world around her sharpened. Only then had she realized that next to the bed was a huge mattress where her papi slept alone, snoring softly against the pillows. Her mamá was nowhere to be seen, probably already in the kitchen cooking breakfast for the family. Her insides jumped with glee at the idea of getting to spend the morning with her mami, despite it practically being a personal ritual for the pair. Everyday since she could walk, Mirabel would wander into the kitchen and babble to Julieta nonstop until the food was fully prepared. Today was no different as she quietly exited the nursery and silently walked down the stairs, intending to surprise her madre as soon as she entered the kitchen.

However, instead of the soothing sounds of chopping and light sizzling, the voices of Abuela and her mamá were heard and none of them sounded happy.

Mirabel knew eavesdropping isn't good, in fact, she was about to turn around and give them some privacy when she heard her name in the conversation. Why are they talking about her? Is it because of her ceremony? But as people say, curiosity killed the cat, she couldn't help but listen in.

"Mija, have you perhaps talked to Mirabel about redoing the ceremony? She was originally supposed to get her gift, however, it failed." Abuela said, her voice laced with worry.

"What are you implying, mamá? That Mirabel isn't perfect without a gift? She'll do completely fine without one." Woah, she wasn't expecting her Mamá to have such a thick and aggressive tone in contrast to her usual voice, which was the exact opposite; soft and comforting. If her mama sounds upset, it must be bad.

"That's not what I meant, Julieta. I asked because the nursery is meant for Madrigals before their ceremony, not afterward. Shouldn't she have her own room instead of the nursery?" Abuela tried again, though Julieta was having none of it.

"Nothing's wrong with mi hija staying in the nursery, we can decorate it according to her desires" she said sharply as sounds of something being swiftly chopped made itself audible to her ears.

"Julieta, I know our magic is strong. It wouldn't just reject Mirabel so easily."

Julieta sighed, she seemed to want to bite back with something else, but held her tongue instead, almost as if she sensed another presence listening in on their conversation.

"Mamá..."

"We have to redo the ceremony, mija. I've asked Bruno for a vision. He still hasn't come up with something, so it's better to act now, just in case."

"No Mamá, I will not have my Mirabel do it again."

"What if it works this time?"

The healer said nothing. Yes, normally she'd let things slide when it comes to her madre, however today, she had hit a sore spot that made Julieta jump into action with zero hesitation. Mirabel wondered what could've been so sore about redoing the whole ceremony. Abuela was right, there's a chance it would work the second time! But since she'd eavesdropped, she could only wait for one of the adults to approach her with the idea to avoid being outed for listening in on someone else's conversation.

Then, it dawned on her: big girls don't sleep in nurseries after their ceremony, that's when they sleep in their new room.

But since she hadn't gotten her new room, where would she stay? Her mami and papi's room seemed the most appealing, although she couldn't bring herself to burden her parents. Besides, she's a big brave girl that can take on anything, as her mamá had said! Being brave meant keeping your burdens to yourself, and so, she did. She'd find a way around the issue eventually, for her familia.

What broke her out of her little daydream were heavy footsteps approaching the main area of the casa. She scurried away from the kitchen, ducking behind a giant vase that towers over her. She peeked around the corner just in time to see Abuela muttering a prayer of some sort while walking up the stairs, shutting the door behind her. Once she knew the coast was clear, she hurried to her mamá and greeted her with a warm smile.

"Buenos días, mamá!" she hugged her legs from behind, earning a soft chuckle from the older woman.

"Buenos días, mi amor. Did you rest well?" she watched as the five-year-old carefully climbed on the stool provided next to her.

"Sí, papi and Isa were snoring," Mirabel said with a fake pout, Julieta couldn't help the sudden urge to pinch her chubby cheeks. As expected, Mirabel grimaced and attempted to wrestle out of her mother's grasp to no avail.

"Don't let Isa catch you saying that."

"I'm not scared of a few cacti and a flower punch to the face, mami!"

At that, the healer momentarily paused before resuming her task of cutting vegetables and laughing lightly. "Ay Mira, do you think more gray hairs would do your mamá any good?"

Mirabel vigorously shook her head and gave an innocent smile as she watched Julieta continue with her work with a contemplative look on her face.

"Why don't you wake the rest of the familia up? Breakfast is almost ready."

With a quick sí mamá and a peck on the cheek, Mirabel rushed out of the room to fulfill her newfound task. She slowly trotted up the stairs and scanned her surroundings. Taking in the exchange between Abuela and her mami from earlier, it did make sense to her. If not the nursery, then where would she sleep tonight? She pondered her options: mami and papi's room is the most appealing idea, but she's a brave girl! And brave girls don't sleep in their parent's room. Isabela's room? No, it smelled of too many flower scents, it was almost nauseating and Mirabel wouldn't be able to handle it for long. Luisa's? Maybe. Based on the four times she had been in her hermana's room, she knows there's a huge pile of stuffed animals that resides in one of the corners. She could use that as a bed, although her room is known to be cold during the evening and slightly damp in the wee hours of the morning, and her mamá would fret over her if she catches something as small as a cold, so maybe not. Camilo's room? Too many mirrors, it's enough to give anybody a headache. She wonders how her primo manages to stay in his room without his head spinning. Dolores' room? Too soundproof. Besides, Dolores' room is her safe haven where no noise could be heard, so having a sleepover with her prima would be a nuisance. Tia Pepa and Tio Félix? If Mirabel has been observing them correctly, there hasn't been a day where her Tia Pepa hasn't drizzled at least once. The idea of wet clothing at some point in the night made Mirabel quickly throw the thought away. Anyways, she wouldn't want to be a witness to something possibly gross, especially when Tia and Tio seem to always be making those goo-goo eyes at each other. She grimaced and moved on to the other options. Tio Bruno's room is full of sand and stone, her little feet wouldn't be able to take walking up and down for meals and chores. Abuela's room is naturally off-limits, so scratch that.

Huh.

She frowned once she noticed the options weren't in her favor. If not inside their Casita, then...

She'd sleep outside! Where? Maybe in Señora Guzman's place. Wait no, if she went to anybody from town and asked to have a little sleepover with them, someone in the family would know about her top-secret plan and she couldn't risk her cover being blown, so she quickly erased the woman from the picture.

In the forest? Yes! She remembered the countless camping stories from her papá that the outside world of the Encanto was beautiful, full of plant and animal life, not to mention the number of butterflies and animal species that have yet to be discovered! The comfortable grass and giant banana leaves would do as bedding, she'd just have to bring a blanket and a lamp to scare off any predators. She could be resourceful with what she had!

Forest it is, then.

With her mind set on her big girl plans, she spent the rest of the day contemplating the best way to execute her plan flawlessly. From picking out the bag she'd use, to the amount of food she'd have to steal as midnight snacks (she internally apologized to her mamá for the sin she was about to commit), to how many stuffed toys she'd bring with her. It's just one night though, she'd come back in the morning with gifts for her familia!

Evening rolled around and greeted them with a cold breeze through the dimly-lit casa. Mirabel snuck out of dinner as soon as she devoured all her food and stayed in her room, the next step to her plan calls!

The whole day, she'd held her tongue, knowing if she did as much as mutter it, Dolores would hear her and tell everyone. Big brave girls don’t let their top secrets be known to others! In her mind, the plan was perfect. However, if anyone else from the Madrigal family found out – excluding Julieta, she'll probably go into a frenzy – they would shoot her worried glances and whisper to one another because, in the eyes of others, this plan is less than ideal. Worried glances and brave girls don't mix, in Mirabel's vocabulary.

~~~~

Mother's intuition, they say.

Julieta attempted to shake off the growing uncomfortable feeling in her stomach as she rinsed the dishes clean, her sleeves rolled up and several hair strands escaping her loose bun.

Something seems off about Mirabel.

The way Mirabel had acted today was incredibly suspicious; very unlike her. As she was preparing breakfast, the way her brows scrunched together in deep thought for a good 10 minutes caused her to frown slightly. Usually, her little mariposa would be talking about nothing in particular, each passing minute with no brakes. Every moment with her is never silent, especially for more than five minutes. Even the way she walked up the stairs seemed unusual. Her steps were slow and faint, very brow-raising for her normally bright and loud self, typically running up the stairs in fits of giggles – cackles even.

Once dinner had rolled around, instead of dishing up right after the prayer, she focused her attention on her youngest, who sat directly across the table with Camilo to her right, and Luisa to her left. As the rest of the family took their fair share of the meal (except Camilo, since 7 arepas had already been stacked on his plate), Mirabel's eyes locked with hers. Her eyes held fear for a split before being replaced with the brightest of smiles. Julieta returned a warm grin, taking a personal note to check in with her hija later in the evening. In all her years of living, she could tell the difference between a genuine smile and a masked smile. Hell, her eldest and middle child have been wearing it ever since their ceremonies. Mirabel's was uncharacteristically incomplete, lacking the glimmering effect in her eyes that's present each time she shows her baby teeth.

She did find it somewhat comforting to watch Mirabel gobble up all of her food, like a hungry wolf that hadn't eaten in days, ever so slightly muttering a gracias mama.

At least her appetite is favorable. It's only been a day since the failed gift ceremony, and that, without a doubt, drained Mirabel out. Maybe she's just imagining things, she'd have more time to observe other changes in the days to follow.

Healing the pain on the inside is her ideal wish, even if it sounds like such a pipe dream. If only her gift worked in her favor, allowing her to heal literally anything then she wouldn't have to worry much, wouldn't have a bunch of gray hairs at the unripe age of forty.

Actually, that's a lie, Agustín would probably force all her hair to go white before she even hits sixty, with all his accident-proneness.

She completed the dishes and wiped her hands on her apron, more than ready to head upstairs and give out smooches to her bebés. As if summoned, slender arms snaked around her waist, locking her in place as the scent of someone familiar entered her nostrils.

"Good evening, mi amor." he placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, nuzzling her hair and inhaling the unmistakable smell of herbs.

"Hello, to you too, mi vida." she chuckled and cupped the side of his face.

He hummed as they remained still for a while, sulking in the comfortable silence that befell them. Taking in the state of his wife; her hair is messier than usual, forehead lines are more defined, and her eyes look distant as if her head is far, far away. Somehow, an unspoken language was heard on his end.

"You're concerned," he concluded, "What about?"

She released a shaky sigh. "It's Mirabel. Something seems... off about her since this morning, I'm confused as to what it is." Agustín hummed, he seems to have the same thought, at least she knows it isn't all in her head. "If she had caught infection, it would've been healed since breakfast and lunch, but she still seems quiet. I can't wrap my finger around it, Tíno."

"You're right about that, Juli.""Have you checked on her?"

"Not yet, I thought I should get my wrist healed before doing so." With that, Julieta whipped her head around only to be greeted with her husband's beat-up sight. His hair was ruffled, his head bruised in some areas and just like his description, his wrist was broken and swelling red, she'd been so caught up in her thinking that she hadn't even noticed the limp hand dangling around her waist! "Mirabel wouldn't want to see her papá in such a state."

"Ay, Agustín." Exasperated, she snatched a hidden supply of arepas from her apron and shoved it into his mouth, patting him on the cheek like she always does. With a gracias corazón, she spoke again. "What happened to you?"

He gave her a sheepish grin. "I slammed face-first into a wall."

"How did that break your wrist?" she sputtered at the absurdity.

"Your guess is as good as mine."

She raised her hands in the air and turned, walking to the kitchen door. Agustín internally cursed at the loss of contact from his esposo. "I'm going to check on her."

She took a step, two–

"I'm coming with y – ACK!" he tripped over – literally nothing in particular, just the air – and landed with a hard thud on the concrete floor.

She turned and sighed, hands on her hips. It's not even 10 in the evening yet he's gotten into 6 accidents tonight. Walking over to his frame, she assisted him in standing upright, not even bothering to see his injuries over. She handed him another snack before taking him by the hand, anything to ensure this silly man doesn't get himself hurt again, and shutting the kitchen lights off.

Ay.

Unexpectedly, the tiles under their feet began to shuffle as Casita ushered them out of the kitchen faster. The casa seemed determined to complete its mission, so she didn't protest. Instead, she made sure her esposo wouldn't fall flat on his face again as they glided across the floor.

"Casita?"

~~~~

In the five years Mirabel has been living in Casita, wrestling with the house isn't one of the things she ever thought of doing over a packing session. At least her prima had already turned in for the night, so she didn't have to worry about being heard as she caused a ruckus in the nursery.

"Casita, I'm about to go on a trip tonight. Help me out!" she huffed when the house bounced her back on her bed, hiding the items she'd been secretly planning to take with her.

Her bedro–the nursery is currently in such a messy state, clothes strewn everywhere rooting from her–the dresser, tiny shoes scattered and missing pairs, her blankets hanging atop some of the tall furniture to keep her from leaving.

"Casita, this is for the best! I'll return tomorrow morning and the days to come will be filled with surprises for mi familia! That way, everyone will be happy with me again.

"The house responded by moving the windowsill disapprovingly.

Mirabel bit her lip as she thought of ways to convince the casa to set her free.

Camilo!

Even before his ceremony, he's got one of the best convincing skills out of everyone in the whole Encanto! She remembered the way he'd showcase his adorable puppy eyes at Tia Pepa, scrunching his brows and pouting, resulting in him getting his way, or when he'd use his words to manipulate her mamá into giving him another serving of his favorite food.

Tia Julieta, would you want your sobrino to go hungry? I'm a growing boy with growing needs!

To which her mamá would respond with a just one, don't tell your mamá then she'd ruffle his hair and send him off as if nothing had ever happened. Maybe, just maybe, it'd work with their live casa too.

"You wouldn't want me breaking the rules, would you? The nursery is for babies, and I'm no baby! I'm a big girl who can handle herself, especially after my gift ceremony.

"Another low shuffle, but this time, of the floorboards.

"Abuela said I can't sleep here anymore. Shouldn't we follow her orders?" She tried her best to impersonate Camilo's cutesy eyes at the house, internally crossing her fingers that it'd be enough to convince the house.A beat of silence.

Before she knew it, her bags were being pushed out from the walls and set neatly at her feet with everything she had packed inside. She smiled wide and kissed the wall. "Gracias Casita!"

It actually worked.

She made a mental note to use this method whenever she wanted to play with Isabela or Luisa, or if she wanted her papá to continue with another song on the piano, if she wanted her Tia Pepa to make another rainbow or if–She shook the distracting thoughts off. Focus is what she needs! Focus!

The house, although incredibly reluctant, responded with another shift of the wooden floor as Mirabel carried on with her packing. She wouldn't need much, just the necessities for one night. Blankets, socks, a small pillow, extra clothes, and of course, her butterfly stuffed animal. All she needed now were healing snacks. Of course, finding them wouldn't be a problem. The only issue is that her mamá is known for staying in the kitchen to clean up and prepare for the next day, even late in the evening. Dodging her will be a challenge, knowing her mami would freak out if she ever got caught and found something suspicious in her mannerisms.

Her eyes gleamed when a small hatch in the wall opened, revealing a little box neatly packed with arepas and jugged milk. "Gracias!" she squealed, before shoving said box into her bag.

Now, all she had to do was ensure nobody was outside, and slip outside the front doors. Easy.

Is this considered running away? Well, maybe. But it’s different because she’s coming back! Besides, she's doing it for a good reason! Abuela had a point; Madrigal children aren't supposed to stay in the nursery after their ceremony. Sadly, getting a darn gift was the only way to make her Abuela proud, and yet it had failed, she had failed in making her familia proud. Yes, she's a little terrified of leaving at night, especially when her mamá repeated to her time and time again not to, since that's when mosquitoes are most active and she might get bitten by a bug carrying some sort of disease. But this little camping trip could be another way to make them happy after the public humiliation they had faced during her ceremony, to fulfill her promise to her mami of being a strong and brave girl! She inhaled deeply.

For la familia Madrigal.

With that, she ever so gently creaked the door open and peaked left, then right.

Clear.

No sounds were heard, except the loud echoing of crickets around the house. Shutting the door behind her, she camouflaged herself with the teal and lavender flowers Isabela had grown a while back, looking down into the courtyard for any figure to avoid. It was dark, only being lit by a handful of candles in the corner along with the welcoming moonlight. It was on moments like these when she'd thank her mami for giving birth to her early because that resulted in her small size. If not through vision, the only way to spot Mirabel is through sound, easy enough. Casita moved some tiles as if to tell her to be careful.

"I'll be okay, Casita. I'm a big girl now," she whispered as she quietly slipped down the stairs, mindful as to not make a peep despite the coast being clear. She's super close, she can't mess up now! Not after her huge mistake the previous night.

Finally, finally, she reached the front door. Her ears ringing with bells, she thought about what the next morning would bring. This is it, when she comes back the next morning, her family will be here to greet her and cheer for her bravery. Tomorrow, she'd be given a tight hug from everyone with proud faces instead of concerned and anxious ones. She can already feel the sweet taste of victory coursing through her veins, giving her a giant sense of control. She wasn't able to control herself during her ceremony, but now, with this big decision, she's able to! With her slowly widening smile, she reached for the golden doorknob and felt a rush of déjà vu, like when she touched her doorknob. The single action that could've given her a gift, if done right.

"What do you think you're doing, young lady?"

~~~~

Gripping her now healed husband's hand with great determination to prevent him from tripping, they exited the kitchen as the tiles underneath suddenly came to a halt at the side of the courtyard.

It's either her eyes were playing tricks on her or she's just incredibly exhausted, either way, she's pretty certain that a ball of curly brown hair appeared in her peripheral vision to her left for a short moment.

She craned her head in the direction of where she thought the weird encounter was and froze, squeezing – maybe even breaking – his hand as she clutched him tight. Agustín thankfully didn't react and seemed to sense her instant rigidness.

"Amor?" he softly called out to her, his facial features writing concerned and matching her vibe as he turned to what she had her gaze on.

Then, he saw it.

Their five-year-old hija carrying a bag half her size and reaching for the door. On any day, this wouldn't seem irregular, mainly because their little Mirabel loved playing outside and chasing mariposas with some snacks from Julieta. The sight would never stop melting their hearts. Still, it doesn't change the fact that everyone in the family has a curfew. Nobody is allowed to leave their casa after dinner, to avoid wild animals and diseases being transmitted. But seeing Mirabel slowly turn the knob – with no lamp to scare off possible predators – snapped them out of their little awe-struck moment, Julieta was the first one to recover.

Putting her hands on her hips, she channeled her rarely-used inner strict voice and spoke. "What do you think you're doing, young lady?"

Mirabel jumped, turning in their direction in an instant and accidentally dropping her bag. The piece of fabric hit the tiles with a soft thud as the well-packed food escaped the folds, exposing the other items within her sack. Their eyes traveled over Mirabel, then to the scattered things on the floor, then back at her. Piecing together what could be their worst nightmare.

Mirabel? Running away?

Agustín almost choked up at the mere thought and without even looking over, he could tell Julieta was willing herself not to cry.

They understood now that she had been trying to get away, to somehow correct the non-existent mistakes she made during her ceremony, the regret creeping in like snakes slowly slithering behind their prey. It further confirmed their suspicions when a box with Julieta's specially baked food slipped out, revealing the additional goods stuffed inside the sack Mirabel was carrying. The items that she’d bring to her dangerous voyage outside and at night.

As they stood frozen in silence, Julieta was the first to break it, transitioning from a strict mami to a comforting mami. She ran over to Mirabel and enveloped her in a tight embrace as Agustín joined them in a millisecond. "Ay, mi vida, you don't have to leave just because you're different."

That seemed to hit a sensitive spot, as Mirabel collapsed into their warm arms, her sobs muffled by Julieta's thick apron. "I'm s-sorry m-mamá, papá. I thought I w-was making you p-proud." she heaved and shook, clutching onto both of their clothes.

"Mira, we're already proud of you. You have nothing to prove." Julieta held her in a death grip, hoping she wouldn’t accidentally crush her mariposa.

"But Abuela said that I shouldn't sleep in the nursery anymore because I'm a big girl and I already had my ceremony and that I should sleep somewhere else and you said I was brave so I thought I could sleep outside to be your big brave girl!" she practically rapped and sobbed, dropping the forgotten bag on the floor.

Ah, so she had heard.

"Mi amor, listen to me." Julieta pulled back and stared straight into Mirabel's puffy red eyes as Agustín remained unmoving, still clutching her despite the shift in motion. "Being brave – which you already are –" she emphasized her point by lightly tapping her nose, earning the smallest of smiles. "doesn't mean running away and endangering yourself. We don't do those two things, okay?" a nod. "Not everything your Abuela says is right, she's human too, she has moments where she's wrong. Venturing into the wilderness to search for your own room isn't a good idea, corazón. Since you didn't receive your own room, the nursery is all yours. Do you understand?"

Mirabel looked up at her from under her eyelashes as her lower lip wobbled again, water gathering at her eyes once more. "Lo s-siento." she dove back into both her parent's loving embrace and let all the emotions pour out, all the stress, all the pent-up emotions in just one day.

She's got a long road ahead.

"Está bien, mi bebé. Don't cry."

~~~~

As they tucked in for the night, Julieta glanced over to her right, where Mirabel had been asleep on the nursery bed for a good duration, snoring ever so slightly. Ay, the snoring from all her babies is definitely something they took after her esposo, without a doubt. But she wouldn’t change that for the world; she adores all of them equally. She thought about today's events and smiled once her hijas question echoed in her head again.

Can you sleep with me again, mamá y papá?

To which they agreed without a second thought. Another sleepover with one of their hijas? They wouldn't miss it for anything.

"What's your mamá going to think once she finds out you gave Miraboo full ownership of the nursery?"

"What is she going to do? Kick Mirabel out? She isn't that heartless, mi vida."

He let out a laugh. "You did it, Juli. You didn't even need my help when talking to our mariposa back there." Agustín held her hand from under the sheets, meeting her eyes with a soft smile before gently meeting her lips.

She smirked. "It was mother's intuition."

"Hey! What about father's intuition? I was the one that forced you to leave the kitchen just in time to catch Mirabel."

"Did you trip on purpose just to guide me out of the kitchen?" she looked appalled, her brows raised.

He gave a light-hearted chuckle. "Well, yes. It's what I've been doing since we got married. Besides, Casita indirectly helped me out too!"

"You're banned from setting foot in my kitchen, including my bedroom.”

Which is ironic. Julieta's room is basically a personal kitchen with extra comfortable furniture.

One, two, three-

"Amor, your room doesn't count!"

Ay Agustín.

...

Thanks for readingg

#julieta madrigal #agustin madrigal #mirabel madrigal #fluff #domestic fluff #family dynamics #hurt/comfort #mother/daughter relationship #father/daughter relationship #sibling bonding #pre-canon #encanto #wikluk #adabofblessings #AAAAA I LOVE YOU GUYS!#author wrote this instead of sleeping #how did this only take 3 days to finish-#tthank you to wikluk for the story idea #i hope this satisfies you aaaaaaa

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