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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.

...

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