#julieta pepa y bruno i love you all

[zafirosreverie]

Little furry friend (Bruno x F!Reader) part 2

For @hectic-hector (ily 💕)

Part 1

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"Julieta!! Do something about your sister!!"

The healer sighed and rolled her eyes fondly before turning to see Pepa effortlessly carrying Bruno into the kitchen. She knew that her brother justified that with the weight loss he had while living in the walls, but the three of them knew that Pepa had always had incredible strength and that she could lift both of them on each arm without breaking a sweat.

"Julieta!! Tell your brother to stop being a crybaby!!"

"I'm not a crybaby!"

"Yes you are!"

"Julieta!!"

"Okay, that's enough" the older one said, trying not to laugh at Bruno's pout when Pepa sat him down in a chair "what's going on?"

"Your sister is a nightmare"

"Your brother is an airhead"

"...okay, something else I don't already know?"

"HEY!!"

Julieta laughed at her siblings’ expressions and rolled her eyes again. Sometimes it was exhausting mediating their fights, but she truly loved them with all of her being and wouldn't have them any other way, no matter how many gray hairs they gave her in a day (definitely more than the six grandchildren combined).

"And you're supposed to be the good triplet?" Pepa crossed her arms with a pout.

"I always said that we should be careful with her, she has a mischievous glint in her eyes" Bruno whispered to the redhead

"So it's against me now?" the older one said, putting her hands on her hips "two seconds ago you were arguing for god knows what"

"oh yeah! You're right"

"Oh no, did you have to remind her?"

Bruno growled when a rainbow invaded the kitchen and Pepa got a little closer to her older sister, taking her by the hand like an excited child. It was always funny how Pepa could change her mood so quickly, especially when she was with her siblings, when she felt safe from being judged. But it wasn't as funny when he was the victim of her plans.

"Let's invite Y/N to dinner!"

"What?"

"We are NOT going to invite her to dinner, Pepa!"

"Why not? You already spend all day with her anyway, Bruno"

"It's different!"

"Why?!"

"Because you are not there to try anything"

"Excuse me?!" the redhead thundered "well sorry but someone has to take the next step if you're not going to do it yourself"

"There is no next step, Pepa, we are just friends!"

Julieta sighed again and pinched the bridge of her nose as her siblings returned to a heated discussion that must have started long before they entered the kitchen. She could understand Bruno's anger or concern, and would usually agree with him that things should happen on their own.

The thing was, this time, she was on Pepa's side. It had been months since you showed up at the house with Bruno's rat in your hand and the whole family had been surprised at how well you got along with him. She had to admit that like her sister, she felt quite betrayed that he hadn't told them about you sooner, but she understood that he had a right to his privacy as well.

And if she was honest with herself, she was relieved at how well you treated her little brother. It wasn't common for townspeople to associate with him of their own free will, even after the candle fiasco, but you didn't seem to have any problem, you were kind to him, you treated him as an equal, and you were even one of the few people he felt comfortable enough about physical contact with.

Of course, the nervous mess he was when you were around him, or the blush that would always come over his face when you smiled at him, or the goofy smile he had all the time when you talked to him, didn't go unnoticed either. Dolores even confirmed that his heart raced every time he saw you or someone said your name. It was obvious to everyone that Bruno Madrigal was completely in love with Y/N Y/L/N, and would be cute, if it wasn't for him refusing to do anything about it.

Her brother was already exhausting the family's patience and even Casita had tried to intervene (which is why Bruno chose to go to your house instead of having you visit them). Julieta was really beginning to consider that they would have to take that step for him.

She snapped out of her thoughts when Pepa's thunder began to get louder. The kitchen began to be filled with black clouds and if she didn’t intervene soon, all her effort would be wasted due to the rain. However, she did not have time to do something when you popped your head through the window, with a small rat on your shoulder.

"Hi Juli!" You said, always smiling "What are you doing?"

Months ago, it would not even have occurred to you to be so open with her, but after the kind reception that the whole family had made, you could not help but feeling comfortable and happy every time you approached Casita.

"These two, always fighting" she returned the smile

"For the last arepa again?"

"No" she laughed, remembering the time Pepa almost threw a knife to Bruno when he took the last arepa, although she quickly calmed down when she saw that he had taken it for you "for something that Pepa wants Bruno to do"

"Ohhhh" you said, with curiosity in your eyes "What thing?"

She was about to answer when Antonio suddenly entered the kitchen. The boy smiled widely as soon as he saw you and ran to greet you. After Bruno, Madrigal's youngest son was the one who more time spent with you.

"Hello Y/N!"

"Hey Buddy!" You answered "Long time no seeing you"

"Yes, you didn't come for three days!" he pouted

"I'm sorry, I had things to do in the carpentry" you apologized

You did not even notice that the black clouds had disappeared, or that the Madrigal triplets were looking at you with curiosity, kindness and nervousness.

"It's okay" Antonio smiled at you "is just that the animals began to ask me where Uncle Bruno's girlfriend was" he shrugged

You felt your cheeks turning red, and you quickly looked where the seer was, a few steps behind his nephew. He did not look better than you, on the contrary, he looked pale and two seconds of fainting, while his sisters smirked and tried to hide their laughs behind their hands, although the rainbow that filled the room betrayed the redhead.

If you were honest, the idea itself was not bad. Actually, you had long accepted your feelings for the younger triplet, even if you didn’t plan to do something about it because you did not think the man returned your feelings. But now, seeing him so red and nervous, you committed to question it.

"S-she’s not my g-girlfriend" Bruno stuttered, resisting the impulse to hide with the hood of his Ruana

"She's not?" Antonio asked innocently

"No, I'm not" you replied

For a moment that seemed frozen in time, you could feel the eyes of the three adults on you, Pepa seemed disappointed, Julieta contained her breath and Bruno looked really defeated. That was what made you take a risk.

"Toñito, your uncle and I share Sebastián, remember?" you said gently

"Yeah?"

"That means we have a child together" you smiled with malice when you heard the triplets gasps "I am not his girlfriend, I am his wife"

"W-what?!"

Pepa and Julieta laughed at their brother's complete shock, and you couldn't help noticing how adorable it was. But then, as if he was a statue, he fell backwards, harshly hitting against the ground.

".... ooops" you said.

#reader insert #x reader #bruno madrigal imagine #bruno madrigal x reader #bruno madrigal preferences #bruno x reader #bruno magridal #encanto preferences #encanto x reader #encanto imagine #encanto

[sundaybee]

Miscommunication (Julieta x Fem!Reader)

Take note that I do not speak fluent Spanish so if I’ve butchered a word or phrase (Google Translate) I apologize. Please let me know so I can correct it. I also did not make the gif.

This will be part one of maybe eight or nine parts if there is interest in me posting the rest. I’ll update once I figure out how I want to divide it up. I hope you all enjoy and don’t tear it apart too much!

Part 2

Take note: Y/N is eighteen and the triplets are twenty.

Shout out to @zafirosreverie who’s stories are the inspiration behind mine!

“Feliz Cumpleaños mi corazón!”

You looked up from your spot at the kitchen counter. You were finishing up the labels on the jars of jam you and your mother would be taking to the marketplace to sell. 

“Gracias mamá.” You replied with a smile and went back to your task. Today was your eighteenth birthday and your mother had agreed to let you have the house tonight for a sleepover with your friends. She’d be spending the night with her boyfriend at his house.

“Are you excited for your friends to come tonight?” Your mother asked as you finished your final label.

“Sí it should be a fun night.” You said, your smile widening at the thought. All week you had been practically shaking with excitement at the thought of your birthday. 

“And what time will the Madrigal’s arrive?” 

“Around 5:30pm, when they finish their chores.” You replied and packed the final jar into the crate. 

You pulled your dark hair out of its ponytail and shook your curls back into place. You hated having your hair pulled back, but it did make doing your job a lot easier. You wiped some remaining jam onto the apron wrapped around your waist before removing it and hanging it back up in its spot, revealing your typical sage colored dress.

The Madrigal triplets were your dearest friends. You had known them for practically your whole life and you were one of the few that didn’t try to use them for their gifts. 

You never asked Bruno, the youngest triplet, for visions. Instead you asked for new episodes of his rat telenovelas. Bruno had the heart of a true artist. You never thought of him as a bad omen or this scary villain lurking around the village and you were definitely the first friend he had outside of his sisters. He was the most soft spoken, timid person you had ever met and you hoped he never changed.

You always encouraged Pepa, the middle triplet, to feel what she was feeling. You didn’t mind getting soaked by her rainstorms or whipped up by her tornadoes. You were the first person to suggest that instead of crying for sad reasons to water the crops, she should instead laugh so hard that she cried. The red head seemed happier with the chore ever since. 

What could be said about Julieta, the eldest triplet, other than she was the kindest soul you knew. Anytime you injured yourself, even just a simple scrape, you had to assure the eldest you were fine. She often had to force you to take food from her, even for serious injuries, because you wanted her to always know that you valued her more than her gift. Other than yourself and her family, you couldn’t say for sure if anyone saw the value Julieta the girl had and not Julieta the healer. 

You loved the triplets and they loved you. It was as it had always been and always would be.

“Well mi vida let us get going. These won’t sell themselves.” Your mother said and with a nod you lifted the crate and followed your mother out into the morning air.

—-

“Y/N! Are you as excited for tonight as I am?!” You looked up to see Pepa waving wildly at you and rushing to your family’s stall. By the look of her wet clothes she must have just finished her chore of watering the crops. It was midday by now and the sun was high in the sky, a reflection of the red head's current mood.

“Hola Pepa! Sí I can’t wait for tonight!” You said, your smile widening.

“I bet you’re excited to see a certain someone in her nightgown.” Pepa said quietly, and her smirk only grew when she saw how red your face turned.

“Pepa!” You practically shrieked and grabbed at the girl, earning a look from her mother. You shot her a nervous smile and forcefully turned Pepa away from your mothers gaze.

“You are going to be the death of me!” You said in hushed tones. It took a lot of convincing to get both your mother and Señora Madrigal to agree to let the triplets spend the night at your house and Pepa was going to ruin it in one comment. 

No matter how close you were to the triplets, having the freshly minted twenty year olds spend the night, especially with Bruno, had been a task. Both mothers were concerned with you and Bruno being in a room together at night. Little did either of them know that your affections were for a different triplet. But with promises of Bruno sleeping in another room you had received both blessings for your little party. 

Pepa laughed and hugged you close with her free arm.

“You are much too easy to frazzle.” She whispered before pulling back and laughing again at your red face.

It was no secret to Pepa (or Bruno for that matter) that you had a certain fondness for the eldest triplet. You had confined in Pepa your feelings for her sister and she watched as you lived with your longing for years. 

Pepa had told you, begged you, countless times to confess to Julieta, but your fear of losing her friendship outweighed the chance she might return your feelings. 

“Y/N come here for a moment.” You looked back at your mother before giving Pepa a look to control her snickering before moving to your mother.

“Here.” Your mother extended to you a small wrapped package. Taking it you looked up at your mother who was grinning ear to ear before you finally tore open the paper.

“Mamá…” the words died on your lips. In the box lay a locket, and upon closer inspection there was a picture of you, your father, and her from your childhood nestled inside. Your father had died when you were eleven after battling illness for a long time.

“He would be so proud of the woman you have grown to become.” Your mother said, putting her hands on your shoulders. Pepa had creeped closer to see what you had received and smiled at the gift.

“Now you can have a little part of him close to your heart at all times.” Your mother said and wiped away the loan tear that ran down your cheek. 

“I’ll treasure it always.” You said and turned around so your mother could clasp it around your neck. 

“Now run along and enjoy your birthday.”

“But mamá the day isn’t over yet.” 

“Y/N I think I can handle running our stall by myself for a few hours.” Your mother rolled her eyes at you. “Think of it as another birthday present.” She said giving you a kiss on your cheek.

You glanced at Pepa and then back at her. 

“Are you sure?” 

“Sal de aquí!” Your mother said as she shooed you out of the stall.

“Gracias!” You called out before linking your arm with Pepa’s and running off with the girl. Your mother smiled fondly as the laughter of the two of you faded away.

—-

Julieta was having a rotten week. Every morning she was up at 3:30am to begin preparing food for the village and breakfast for her family. She spent no more than two minutes scarfing down her breakfast with her family before she was back in the kitchen finishing up for the village before she was scurrying out the door.

This week so many people had come complaining to her about what she made. Someone always hated its flavor, someone had an allergy she didn’t account for, someone dropped it and needed another. She wasn’t used to days, let alone weeks, like this. The people should just be happy receiving life saving food for free and quit complaining. If she was more rebellious like her sister maybe she’d boycott one day and see what would happen.

As she passed out food her mind drifted to the conversation she had with her mother the other night while washing the dishes.

“Julieta, remember you are meeting that boy from the city for dinner Friday night.”

“Yes mamá I remember.” She said rinsing the glass of soap.

Ever since she and her siblings turned eighteen she had been trying to find matches for her children. Julieta simply smiled and went along with her mothers notions but deep down she knew her mother would never pick the one person she could see herself with. Her mind began to drift to a pair of soft brown eyes and dark curls.

“Do you understand mi vida?” 

Julieta blinked back to reality and looked at her mother, she missed everything she just said.

“Sí” she replied and placed the glass on the shelf. Alma sighed.

“His name is Agustín and you’ll meet him at Señora Guzman’s restaurant at 5:00pm tomorrow. If all goes well we might begin to plan a wedding!” Alma said and clasped her hands together. Julieta turned away from her mother, not daring to say anything. 

“Señorita Madrigal are you alright?” A soft voice awoke her from her thoughts. A young man stood in front of her.

“Sí I’m okay. Just drifted off.” Julieta said as she offered the man an arepa. She didn’t recognize him but his wrist was twisted in a terrible way.

“What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Oh I was helping my abuelo paint the side of the house when I slipped off the ladder.” He said with a chuckle.

“Goodness! You must be more careful!” Julieta said.

“I guess that’s what the city boy gets for trying to help.” The man chuckled. Julieta must have made a face when he said the city because he chuckled again.

“I’m Agustín, I believe we are meeting for dinner tonight.” He said with a smile. Julieta visibly paled.

“Lo siento, yes we are! I just didn’t expect to meet you in my line.” She nervously said, taking note of the growing line, at this rate she’d be meeting no one for anything. 

“I’ll let you be, it seems you have a lot of customers. I look forward to tonight.” He said, giving her one last smile before he headed on his way. He seemed nice enough, like a gentleman, but if she didn’t feel a spark now she doubted she would later, but she’d do her duty to her mother and go to dinner. What’s the worst that could happen?

#julieta madrigal #julieta x reader #encanto #julieta x fem reader #reader insert #julieta madrigal x reader #miscommunication

[usedtobeguest123]

Sana, Sana

La Traes Chapter 13, in which Mirabel gets mansplained to by Osvaldo and Bruno reconnects with Julieta.

I almost called this chapter "Augurios," which means omens. Do with that information what you will ;)

Very appetizing changua image (and recipe) courtesy of Sweet y Salado

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Bruno scraped the dregs from his bowl and sighed. Her magic had taken the edge off his headache and he felt much less shaky than before. He was healed and refreshed, once again, by the local expert in healing and refreshment… except when it comes to herself . He glanced over at his sister, who was gazing out the kitchen window, her chin resting in her other hand, knuckles covering her mouth thoughtfully. 

Sometimes, even if you try to hold them close and safe, they still slip through your fingers anyways, she'd said.

He frowned. She caught him looking and smiled, shaking herself from her reverie. She rose and picked up his bowl, planting a kiss on his head as she went, and carried it to the sink to wash. 

All you can do is be there for them when they scrape their knees. 

As he watched her then, bolstered by magic she’d always explained as love, comforted by closeness he didn’t even think he needed, all together better than he’d been only moments before…it suddenly occurred to him that everything he now understood mothering to be, well, it had all come from Julieta. 

Now, now, now, he thought, chiding himself guiltily. He meant no disrespect; he loved Mamá and was impossibly, endlessly, gut-wrenchingly, grateful for her unwavering strength, hard as a stone, always steadfast and steady against the whirlwind of time. 

But warmth…

All the maternal warmth and comfort he could remember in his childhood had come from his sisters, had come from Juli. 

She had been the one he crawled into bed with when he had nightmares, letting her squeeze him desperately tight until the shadows faded away. She had been the one to whisper comfort in his ear when everything just felt too heavy, to rub his back or bring a cool cloth for his head, to hum a soft lullaby that he had only vague memories of in Alma’s voice. She’d been the one to lure him out of his room when he’d hidden himself away for too long, been the one always waiting in the kitchen with solace and sugar and changua for a headache. Julieta was steadfast and steady through her tenderness, ever patient, ever self-sacrificing….eh, perhaps a bit snippy at times, sure…yet never cold.

He found it strange, now, that though she was a mere moments older than him, her soul had jumped to don that heavy, too-big garment of motherhood for him and Pepa as though she was always meant to wear it. Where did that come from? How did she know how to do it? He wondered if her gift had ushered her into that role, or if it had been the other way around. He wondered if she ever missed having the same warmth for herself as she carried everyone else.

He suddenly, oddly, wished with all his heart that he could give that all to her now, as if it were something he could pull from his pocket and wrap around her like a blanket. To somehow return just a small piece of the childhood she’d given up for them…that they’d all lost, really. But he hadn’t the slightest understanding of where to begin. And he was a million years too late.

“Hey,” he mumbled weakly, anxious to somehow tell her everything and simultaneously too terrified to put any of it into words. 

“Hm?” she hummed, running a knuckle gently across his stubbled cheek as she sank back into her chair beside him.

“Um…” he grimaced, his words stuck and his train of thought lost. “Just uh, thanks. For the food. You’ve…y-you’re always…um, y-you’re the best.” He winced at the lame inadequacy of his stammering.

She winked at him. “I know. I’m the best sister there ever was.” 

He just stared back at her, and her smile faded. 

“What’s wrong, Brunito?”

He shook his head slowly, pulling his mouth to the side and frowning. If only I could give her something of it back. Anything.

Pepa had voiced the same longing, only a few weeks before. Maybe it's not too late…to get back what we had as kids, she’d said, asking him for something he had no idea how to give. 

You need a new perspective, Mirabel had said. To look at things differently. Ay, he felt like all he’d been doing was "different" for the past several months. He thought of Antonio's laughter, and of a butterfly landing on Mirabel's nose. Of tag and paper butterflies, of dancing and leapfrog. He thought of poems and leaves and stillness and….and…all the indescribable things that made up his sobrinos' most powerful—most healing— magic. 

And then, a sudden, outrageous thought struck him. Nuts, even. He felt a small shiver down his spine…a measure of intuition? A nudge in the right direction, maybe.

“Juli,” he began softly. “You, uh, you got any plans after breakfast?”

#Encanto #Encanto fanfic #bruno madrigal #mirabel madrigal #julieta madrigal #La Traes #Bruno from Before #Augurios is inspired by Auguries of Innocence by Blake #I may use it for a future chapter....or just change this one later 😁

[iheartsapphics]

Mi Anhelo Por Ti (2)

julieta madrigal x fem!reader

tw: topics and scenes of abuse

“y/n! get back here!”

you bolted out of your home- at least what used to be your home. it was the house you grew up in with your parents. being able to call it home made you feel so safe, but santiago had to ruin that.

santiago hernandez. who you used to call the love of your life turned into your worst nightmare. the honeymoon phase had been the best, but you hung onto it too much. the places he used to kiss you would be covered in bruises and scratches. his loving touch turned dirty and you couldn’t take it any longer.

why were you back running from him? you were sure you had reached a different town and got taken care of by the so called madrigals.

“wake up,” you told yourself.

“wake up!”

“y/n, hon, wake up.”

a sudden grab of your shoulder was enough to make your surroundings morph back to the room you were left in. you jumped and sat up quickly, julieta stepping back carefully. you looked around and let out a sigh of relief.

“oh, y/n, i apologize for scaring you. i just came to wake you up to let you know breakfast will be ready soon.”

a warm smile formed on your face as you responded.

“it’s fine, just a startling dream was all.”

“may i ask what it was?”

you went quiet. you didn’t want to make her uncomfortable or share what had happened anyway. julieta was still a complete stranger, though you felt safe with her. how strange.

julieta grabbed the side of her dress as she felt the awkward tension rise. she didn’t mean to go too far. she came closer to you and placed a pair of clothes down on the bed. she didn’t want you to keep wearing the same ones you have been for the past few days.

“there’s a hot shower running the next room over. you can come down whenever.”

“gracias senora.”

she smiled and turned to exit the room. you noticed a few burn marks on her arm, must’ve been from cooking.

—————————————————————

the outfit julieta had given you was comfortable and fit pretty well. you were confused by the large house as you saw windows and floor tiles moving, but amazed at the same time. the front doors were open and you peeked outside to see a few others gathering food and sitting down.

everything seemed so in order, of course you felt out of place. these strangers took you in but why? you weren’t used to such kindness. eventually you figured out what foods were which and made your plate. julieta waved at you from the table and you went to sit next to her.

the table was filled with the rest of the madrigals. you only felt somewhat comfortable with julieta and isabela as they were the only ones introduced to you.

“julieta, where’s agustin?”

the older looking woman that sat at the end of the table asked. you looked at julieta and noticed her tense up a bit.

“oh, he left for work early. i already packed him some food last night.”

she smiled and continued eating her food. you began to eat as you let out a sigh. you hadn’t tasted food this good in forever, it was nice. you felt eyes on you and you knew it was the other people at the table.

from the time you sat there, you picked up on their names and magic they had. it was interesting and something new to you. camilo and isabela’s interactions were hilarious, and you absolutely loved little antonio. felix and pepa just seemed to be in their own world together. they spoke of bruno and claimed he had gone out to run a few errands. you then noticed luisa and dolores helping mirabel eat. you wondered what was wrong with the younger girl, but felt it wasn’t your place to ask.

you finished up your food as you saw the others leaving to attend their duties. julieta quickly sighed and began picking up the dishes. she looked very tired as you noticed the dark circles surrounding her eyes. you didn’t know what to do, and the least you could do is help her out.

you began picking up the empty plates as the other quickly noticed.

“y/n, it’s fine. i can do them on my own.”

that same warm smile she had last night appeared on her face. you found it cute but quickly shook your head “no” in response.

“i want to help, i’ve got nothing to do anyway.”

the older woman’s heartbeat slightly quickened. julieta could tell you were a stubborn one and knew there was no point in arguing with you. you gathered up the rest of the plates and followed her to the kitchen.

there was a comfortable silence between the both of you. the sink surprisingly wasn’t too big so you had to stand close together to wash the dishes. your shoulders touched and the warmth of your skin contacting with julieta’s made her shiver.

“your family is very interesting.”

you were the one to break the silence. julieta looked up at you for a couple seconds before setting her focus back to the plates.

“ha, yeah. my two other daughters were luisa and.. mirabel. i love them with all my heart.”

“your mother mentioned a man agustin. is he your husband?”

the shorter woman stopped scrubbing the plate then resumed quickly. her tone of voice had changed and she didn’t look up at you after that.

“y-yes.. he is. we’ve been married since our late twenties. he’s changed since the fall of casita, though.”

as you were about to ask another question, the older woman from earlier came into the kitchen. you both turned around and julieta quickly changed her expression. you waved and said a quiet “hola,” waiting to see her speak.

“hola, mama. me and y/n were just doing the dishes.”

“ah, y/n. call me alma. i’ve come to tell you that a few of the workers in town will be building you a house for you to live in. you’re very much welcomed and can stay in casita until the house is finished.”

you formed a smile and quickly wiped your hands to be able to take alma’s in yours.

“thank you so much, alma. i deeply appreciate it.”

alma smiled back and nodded. she was happy to be of help to you as she could tell you were a great person. she then left the kitchen and you went back to the sink only to see julieta finished the dishes.

“y/n.. if you’d like you could come into town with me to help out the citizens since you have nothing to do. i also prefer not to leave you alone here.”

“of course! i’d love to.”

you gently squeezed her shoulder and left to go gather your things. julieta stood there beginning to gather up the food she had cooked earlier.

she was confused with herself. you were still a stranger she just met last night. what was this sudden attraction to you? it was wrong. she loved agustin with everything she had, unless she’d been forcing herself to think that. you’ve shown her nothing but kindness. julieta stuck with thinking it was just the excitement of a new friend. she quickly ignored the thought as you came back down with your bag in hand.

there was just no way she could love anyone in that way except for agustin… could there?

#julieta madrigal #julieta x reader #julieta x fem!reader #julieta encanto #julieta madrigal encanto #julieta madrigal x reader #encanto #julieta madrigal fanfic #encanto fanfic #x reader #encanto imagine #julieta madrigal imagine #mapt #mi anhelo por ti #julietas wife material

[justanisabelakinnie]

October 17

(Aka my birthday fanfic for Julieta, Pepa, and Bruno. If you’re thinking it’s out late, that’s because it is. But I ended up deleting a large chunk of it and having to rewrite most of it from scratch and memory, so I hope you will forgive me. I still couldn’t bring myself to abandon this story because the triplets deserve their birthday fic the same way the primas-hermanas do and so I had to give it to them. I hope you all enjoy nevertheless!)

Isabela peeked around the corner. “Is the coast clear, Dolores?” 

Dolores chirped then gave a thumbs up to her prima-hermana. “The coast is clear as a whistle.” She squeaked. 

Isabela grinned. “Great! Now’s my chance!” She ran to the kitchen, she knew it was now or never, if only she hadn’t procrastinated. But someone stopped her. 

Before Dolores could tell Isabela to abort mission and turn the other way, before she could even call “code yellow”, she was too late. Because Pepa was there in the kitchen. 

“Oh, hello, mi amor!” Pepa chirped with glee as she bent down into the cupboard, Isabela praying that she would never open the one with the surprise in it. “Just getting some desserts to take to Bruno’s room. We decided to have a triplet sleepover reunion, you know how it is.” 

Isabela gave a stilted nod in response, not wanting to ignore her tia but not wanting to answer and occasionally give away the secret either. 

Pepa tilted her head to the side. “Is everything all right, Isabela?” 

Isabela nodded once more. Pepa continued to look at her confusedly. 

“Yup. Totally. I’m fine,” she responded, making sure that Pepa knew she could speak, unlike her girlfriend Monika. 

“Okay, that is great, mi sobrina.” Isabela almost had a heart attack as Pepa opened the cabinet right next to the pantry was in and took out two muffins. “I’ll disappear and get out of your way for the night. Love ya!” 

“Love ya too, Tia Pepa.” Isabela waved as Pepa walked off. She looked up to the upper floor on the other side, where Dolores gave her a thumbs up. 

She had to hurry quick and get to work, carefully opening the pantry, Isabela took out the birthday cake and placed it gently on the kitchen counter. Then she used her vines to open the refrigerator and take out the yellow, green, and blue icing. 

Placing them next to the cakes, she picked up one at a time and used each of them to write “¡Feliz cumpleaños, Pepa, Bruno, y Julieta!” Pepa was written in yellow. Bruno was written in green. And Julieta was written in blue. 

When she was done, Isabela wiped her brow. Phew. And she didn’t get caught. 

But then she noticed that she had squeezed the blue icing a little too hard, and now there was an ugly blue smudge next to Julieta’s name. Isabela winced. What was she going to do? 

“Isabela? ¿Mija?” 

Uh oh. Isabela panicked, scrambling to hide the icing and cake behind her back as she stood awkwardly in a manner that blocked it. 

“What’s the matter, mi vida?” Julieta was standing there, looking confusedly at Isabela with an eyebrow raised. 

Isabela shrugged. 

“Nothing? You don’t know?” 

Isabela shrugged again. 

Julieta smiled. “You sure that’s not a birthday cake behind you?” 

Isabela was sweating bullets at this point as she rapidly shook her head. 

“Oh,” Julieta said, somewhat let down. “Well, that’s a disappointment, because I was so excited to try it. I guess mi familia doesn’t care about me after all.” She lowered her head sadly. 

Isabela felt very ashamed and disappointed to see her mother in such a state of sadness. But she knew she had to keep it a secret. The rest of her sisters and cousins were counting on her. 

Isabela sighed. “Look Mami, I’m sorry. But you don’t want your birthday surprise to be spoiled, do you? Just trust me and let me plan a birthday for you and the triplets that you’ll never forget. Please?” 

Julieta smiled. “I understand, mi vida. Mind if I give you a hug? I promise I’ll keep my eyes shut so I don’t take a peek!” 

“You promise?” Isabela asked suspiciously. 

“I promise.” Julieta’s smile seemed to be sincere. 

“Oh, Okay!” Isabela extended her arms. “Get in here!” 

Julieta walked over to her daughter with similarly outstretched arms, and hugged Isabela warmly, her eyes being closed, as promised. The hug lasted for about a few seconds, however, before she was abruptly shoved aside as Julieta’s big, greedy eyes took in the birthday cake. 

“Aha!” She cackled. 

Isabela watched in astonishment, gaping. “Mami!” She roared. “You promised!” 

“I promised myself that I would have some of this delicious cake!” Julieta sneered at her daughter, taking off some of the icing with her finger and sticking it in her mouth. “Mmm! Green and sweet!” She bent down into the cupboard to get a knife, fork, and plate. “An early birthday present for moi,” she was saying as she giggled, shoulders heaving, and started to cut the cake. “It’s what I deserve for being the best mother the world has ever known—“ 

“CAMILO!” Isabela screeched. “What are you doing?” 

Julieta sighed, then shapeshifted back into her nephew. “So you finally figured out it was me, huh?” He grinned. “Gotta say, I’m pretty disappointed in you Isabela. You need to be more perceptive and better at keeping secrets.” 

“You need to be better at not snooping!” Isabela roared. “This is exactly why we didn’t invite you to be part of the plan!” 

“Well, you did a bad job of trying to hide it from me!” Camilo mocked, sticking out his tongue. “And anyway, I think I deserve a slice for being so unbelievably smart and funny and sneaky and handsome—“ 

“Do NOT DARE take a slice!” Isabela hissed, vines erupting out of the ground and tightening themselves around Camilo’s wrists, cuffing them together. He winced at the pain. “Or you will feel my wrath.” 

“I’m not scared of you,” Camilo lied. 

“Get out.” The vines pulled Camilo out the door, forcing his feet to skitter towards the exit. 

“Woah!” Camilo squeaked, as he made it past Isabela, who couldn’t help but notice that some of the icing had somehow spontaneously ended up on his face. 

“And clean off your nose before you look suspicious,” Isabela ordered. 

“Will do, big prima.” Then, with a grin, he shot forward, touching noses with Isabela’s, until her face had green icing and crumbs on it too. 

“Urrrrrrggghhh!” She growled, wiping it off. But Camilo soon left the room. 

Gazing sadly at the messed up cake, Isabela sighed as she continued trying to fix it before putting it back in the pantry. 

💙💛💚

“So we’ve got the gifts,” Mirabel said while in her new room with Luisa. “And we’ve got the presents and ribbons too. All that’s left is to sign the card, which Antonio has. And then we’ll be good to go.” 

“All right!” Luisa was very pleased. “We should start wrapping then!” 

The two sisters started wrapping. Bruno’s wrapping was green with brown hourglass patterns on it. Julieta’s was blue with cupcakes on it. And Pepa’s was a yellowish-orange with teddy bears on it. 

Wait— 

“Umm, Luisa…” Mirabel paused skeptically, then gasped. “Luisa!” 

Luisa looked up. “What?” She asked confused. 

“That’s the wrong wrap for Tía Pepa! Don’t you see?” 

Luisa gave Mirabel a blank expression, then turned her head down. She gasped as well. “Uh oh. Mirabel, you’re right. This is Antonio’s gift wrap!” 

“We have to go to his room and find the right one. But we’ve gotta hurry and be discreet!” She rose to her feet. “Or—“ 

But Mirabel was cut off by a rhythmic knock on the door. 

Knock knock knock-knock knock. 

Mirabel and Luisa exchanged a fearful, worried glance. That knock was code for “we have an emergency.” And not the good kind of emergency. 

They raced towards the door, Mirabel opening it. And Dolores stood there with a worried expression. 

“Code orange.” Dolores said. The granddaughters and Antonio had a unique code for every form of emergency and to let the others know who was in their vicinity. Code yellow was for Pepa. Code blue was for Julieta. Code green was for Bruno. Code orange was for Camilo. 

“Excuse me?” Mirabel gawked. 

“We have a code orange,” Dolores repeated. “The chameleon is onto our plan. He ruined the cake for Isabela. And he’s trying to ruin or plan for the triplets! We’ve gotta stop him.” 

“We do!” Luisa whispered, agreeing. “But how?” 

“And we’ve got another problem on our hands!” Mirabel took the wrapping paper from Luisa’s hands and showed it to Dolores. “We need the correct wrapping paper for Pepa! Otherwise we’re in for a birthday disaster!” 

“The we’d better get from your room—“ Dolores turned and pointed ahead to Antonio’s room. “To across there to Antonio’s room fast. Without the chameleon being hot on our trail.” 

“Then let’s go, now!” Mirabel hurried over to Antonio’s room, and Dolores and Luisa followed. 

But on the way there, they saw the very last person they wanted to see. 

Camilo opened the door to his bed room and yawned. Blocking their way to Antonio’s room. “And just what do you girls think you’re doing?” 

The granddaughters gulped. This was not good news. 

“Camilo, it is frankly none of your business,” Dolores spoke up first. “Just let us pass and we can—“ 

“Oh, I don’t think so, my sweet sister!” Camilo cut off with a creepy giggle. “The three of you are up to something, and I am going to figure out what it is.” 

“Cami—“ 

“Oh wait!” Camilo interrupted Luisa. “I already know what it is! You three are trying to plan a birthday surprise for Tia Julieta, Mami, and Tío Bruno. And apparently Antonio is in on your little plan. Well, rest assured that you won’t get away with it that easily. Once the triplets find out about what you’re trying to do, the birthday surprise will be ruined! And you’ll all have made fools of yourselves! Isn’t that right?” 

“Why are you even trying to do this?” Mirabel demanded. “Why can’t we plan something for the triplets? What is your problem? What does it cost you?” 

“Why am I trying to do this, mi querida primita? Because I can, that’s why! Because it’s fun!” Camilo laughed. “Seriously, why else would I do it? Although maybe if you had included me in your plan we wouldn’t—no, you wouldn’t—be in this situation!” 

“This is literally why we didn’t include you, Cami!” Mirabel groaned, facepalming. Unfortunately, the hand she used to attempt a facepalm was the one behind her back, with Antonio’s wrapper in it. 

Oh no. 

“What’s that? Gift wrap?” Camilo reached to snatch it, but Mirabel quickly put it behind her back. 

Camilo circled the three of them like a hawk as the girls awkwardly rotated so that they were facing him. It got to the point where they had to hide the wrappers under the bottom of their dresses. 

Except for Luisa, as Camilo snatched Julieta’s birthday present wrapper from her hands. 

“Hey!” Luisa angrily growled. 

“Ha!” Camilo laughed out loud at the girls’ angry, disappointed faces. “It’s mine now! Sorry you don’t have anything to wrap your gifts in, what a disappointment! But it’s not like I care!” 

Dolores pushed Camilo aside and forced open Antonio’s door, not even bothering to knock like she always did. Mirabel and Luisa glared at Camilo as they followed their dear older prima. 

“Antonio, come quick!” Dolores said, not knowing where Antonio was in the jungle that was his room. 

But before she could step in, Antonio came out riding a Jaguar, with armadillos surrounding him and Parce. “I got the birthday card!” Then his smile disappeared as he noticed his older brother giving him a shit-eating grin. “Oh no.” Awkwardly, he was about to hid the gift behind his back, before Camilo snatched that from him too. “Camilo, no!” Antonio cried. 

“Camilo yes!” Camilo shot back. “Sorry not sorry, hombrecito, but this is my birthday card now!” Camilo couldn’t wait! It was a good thing the others hadn’t signed the card yet, aside from Antonio who had signed it in pencil because he was too little to use pen, because now he could put his name! All he had to do was erase Antonio’s and replace it with Camilo! Yes, this was all going perfectly as planned. 

“Well, I love you all, but I have a gift to go make. And I know it’ll be much better than all of your gifts combined. Later!” He ran away. 

Everyone blinked, unmoving for a second. 

“Oh no,” Mirabel lamented. “What are we gonna do?” 

Luckily, Antonio had the answer. Climbing back onto Parce’s back, he pointed at Camilo. 

“Charge!!!” 

Parce roared, and made a beeline(or a jaguar line, if you will) towards Camilo, the girls screaming angrily at Camilo as they joined him(Dolores covering her ears as she screamed along). 

“CAMILO! GIVE IT BACK!” Luisa roared. 

“Camilo, don’t you dare go into my room!” Mirabel commanded. She knew this boy like the back of her hand. The rest of the gifts were in there, wrapped and set to be presented to the triplets on their birthday. Camilo was probably going to use the wrapping paper to wrap his own gifts. If not pass off the girls’ gifts as his own. And with the birthday card, who would know otherwise? 

Being the second oldest and the most reasonable, Dolores instantly took to calling the shots. “Antonio! Try to sneak up on him!” She whispered in her youngest brother’s ear. Antonio sped off. Luisa was about to join him. 

But that’s when someone else got in their way. Abuela came out of her room and stopped the trio in their tracks. 

“Hello, mis nietas,” Alma folded her hands formally. “I’m so sorry to bother you now,  but I really need help trying to plan a birthday gift for mis hijos. Care to lend a hand?” 

Dolores, Luisa, and Mirabel blinked awkwardly, twiddling their thumbs as they looked past them to Camilo, Antonio, and Parce, begging internally for Alma to get out of their way so that they could finally stop Camilo from ruining the surprise for everyone! 

Isabela saw what was happening from below. Gasping in horror, she knew exactly what to do. 

Spontaneously sprouting figs from the floor underneath Camilo’s feet, she caused him to gasp in shock as he tripped, tumbling and trying his hardest not to fall, but that wasn’t enough as he got back on his feet. The figs rolled behind him and strategically around the granddaughters, Antonio, Parce, and Abuela, leaving them out of harm’s way. 

Alma looked down, raising her dress as she watched the figs roll. “What in God’s name—?” 

That’s when Isabela noticed Antonio slowly rising to his feet on the jaguar’s back, eyes dead-set on Camilo and ready to pounce like the animals he learned from. 

Isabela saw this as an opportunity. With quick thinking, she summoned a vine that attached itself to the ceiling. It was now or never. 

Dolores saw the vine, and instantly has the same thought as Isabela did. The primas-hermanas were like twins, and their mental link was out of this world, something that no one could match. 

“Antonio!” She called out over Abuela’s shoulder. “Swing!” 

Abuela blinked. Then looked behind her. 

Antonio didn’t need to be told twice! He grabbed hold of the vine and propelled himself, like Tarzan, over to the target. With a war cry, he landed himself on Camilo’s shoulders, forcing the older boy to give Antonio a piggy back ride. 

Camilo glared up at Antonio as Antonio tried to snatch the birthday card from his hands. 

“Stop this nonsense, Antonio!” Camilo growled. “Just let me have the card.” 

“Never!” Antonio protested. 

“Boys!” Alma stomped over to her grandsons. “Stop this madness at once.” 

“Please!” Camilo begged with tearful eyes, before his expression grew irate. “I am your older brother. You MUST do as I say!” 

“Not this time!” Antonio tried to lean over Camilo’s loose curls and grab the card. Suddenly a Venus Fly Trap gripped hold of Camilo’s left wrist. Once again, he cried out in pain as he knew who was responsible for this predicament. 

As he tried to wrestle himself free, a thick, low vine, almost easy to miss, grew at his feet, tripping him by the ankles as he toppled, Antonio hollering in fear. Not to worry though, as a pile of pink roses showed up to cushion him from the rough ground. 

Antonio continued to wrestle the card from Camilo’s hands, whining as he did so, Camilo holding the card in the air as he grinned down at his little brother. 

And that’s when Antonio started to cry. Loudly. So loudly that Dolores had to cover her ears. Luisa comforted her as they and Mirabel made their way over to the grandsons and Alma. 

Mirabel pointed angrily at Camilo, who was instantly apologetic of his actions, and glanced up at Alma in cowering fear, desperate to prove himself innocent. “You…” she uttered in a low, gravelly tone. “Will…pay.” 

“What on earth do you boys think you’re doing?” Alma glowered at the two from above. “Am I raising civilized young men? Or am I raising a zoo?” 

Mirabel walked past Abuela, and glared at Camilo. Somehow, that scared her older male cousin more than Abuela’s reprimanding did. Antonio got the hint and moved out of the way, even though he still didn’t have the birthday card. And Mirabel realized…Camilo was still holding it. 

“Camilo…GIVE ME THE CAAAAARD!” Mirabel leapt, pouncing at Camilo, as she took her turn in the ring with him, wrestling him for the card, Camilo squealing in pain and in protest. Alma merely rubbed her temple. 

“I am getting too old for this…” she murmured. “And I’m sure my Pedro would agree.” She turned on her heels and walked away. “Make sure you clean up this mess.” 

Between Antonio’s crying, Mirabel’s hollering angrily at Camilo, and Camilo’s moaning and groaning in pain as he tried to force Mirabel off of him while still keeping the card, it was all too much noise for Dolores to take. 

“SHUT UP AND GIVE HER THE CARD!” Dolores yelled. 

And she wasn’t the only one who couldn’t take it. 

The door to Bruno’s room opened. “Is everything all right out here…oh.” 

What Bruno saw was a complete and utter spectacle. Antonio crying at the top of his lungs like the toddler he was, Dolores’ ears being drowned in Antonio’s wails as she covered her ears, Luisa hugging her and patting her head, Mirabel trying to knock Camilo’s lights out as she tried to force something out of his hands, the two roughhousing in a pile of pink roses that could only be Isabela’s creation. And a Venus Fly Trap that snapped at Camilo threateningly. Bruno blinked, the others looking up at him in shock, Camilo smiling with glee. 

Mirabel snatched the card from him and stood up, making her way to stand beside Dolores and Luisa with her hands behind her back. 

“Wh—what is going on?” 

Camilo sprang up. “They were doing—“ 

“Rehearsal for a play.” 

Everyone turned to look at Isabela, who had swooped in on a vine from downstairs to stand next to Camilo. 

Camilo glared at Isabela. 

Bruno’s eyes lit up. “Ooh! A play! Que interesante, what kind of play?” 

“Well, it’s a really exciting story, filled with adventure, danger, and suspense,” Isabela explained. “Camilo is the villain, you see.” She ruffled Camilo’s hair, and he glowered. “A pretty but daft young fellow lacking in all manners of cleverness or good judgement. At least that’s what he lets people believe so as to get away with his acts of thievery.” 

“Woah!” Bruno exclaimed, clearly impressed. 

“He only steals from the rich, so as to make a fortune for himself. But he’s so sneaky and manipulative that he gets off the hook all the time. Or almost all the time.” 

“Seriously?” Camilo grumbled to her quietly. 

“Yes, seriously,” Isabela whispered back, using Camilo’s head as an armrest. 

“But Tío, you don’t understand,” Camilo proclaimed, desperate for the girls and Antonio to be caught in the act. “Do you know what Dolores, Mirabel, and Luisa were doing??? They were chasing me because—“ 

“Because they, along with me, are the heroines of the story,” Isabela cut off, flipping her long raven tresses. “Wealthy, cultured Spanish aristocrats by day, fearsome and brave fighters by night. Nobody would guess it from us elegant noblewomen, but the truth is we work as spies for the king and our job is to assassinate crooks and scoundrels. With Camilo being our current target.” 

“And I’m guessing Antonio’s the king?” Bruno looked down affectionately at his youngest nephew. 

“You’re right!” Isabela chirped, realizing that Bruno was making this all too easy. “We have to assassinate Camilo and bring him back to King Antonio, otherwise—“ 

“MY JAGUAR WILL EAT THEM!” Antonio roared. “Oops, sorry Dolores.” 

“Yeah.” Isabela was sweating glands. 

“Oh!” Bruno was not expecting that turn of events. “Well, hope you catch the criminal soon, if you don’t wanna be Parce’s dinner.” 

Isabela laughed, the granddaughters and Antonio giggling along. “Oh, don’t worry, we won’t. Because after all—“ 

“DOLORES ISABELA LUISA MIRABEL AND ANTONIO ARE PLANNING A BIRTHDAY SURPRISE FOR YOU MAMI AND TÍA JULIETA!!!” Camilo yelled at rapid fire speed, slapping Isabela’s arm away. 

That was when Pepa and Julieta came out. 

Mirabel groaned. “All our plans were for nothing,” she grumbled, crossing her arms and stomping her feet petulantly. 

“A birthday surprise?” Julieta said, eyes aglow. “You’d really do that for us?” She gasped. 

“So that’s why Isabela wanted to use the kitchen?” Pepa asked. “Will there be cake?” 

The grandkids—minus Camilo, who looked quite satisfied with himself—were silent and longing for death to take them as they shifted awkwardly and glanced at each other worriedly. Even Parce looked downcast as he let out a feline whimper. 

Then at last, Mirabel spoke up. 

“No, it’s nothing like that,” she confessed. “I mean, obviously there will be cake. Every birthday party has cake.” 

“Mira!” Dolores hissed. 

“Umm,” Mirabel stammered awkwardly. “Bht the real surprise is the…play…that Isabela and Antonio were just telling you about.” 

“I can’t wait!” Bruno cheered, clapping his hands. “Well, I don’t want it to be spoiled for me. I want to see how it ends, and if the spies will get eaten by the king’s mighty jaguar.” 

Parce licked his lips ferociously. 

“Well, let’s go back inside, mis hermanas,” Bruno said as he ushered his sisters gently back inside his room. “Give the grandkids time to practice.” 

“But they have to do it quietly!” Pepa said as she snowed. 

“Yes, that’s right, quietly, yhear?” 

“Yes, Tío Bruno,” they all said, even Camilo. 

“Great!” Bruno waved. “Can’t wait for the show, bye!” 

Then he locked the door behind him. 

“Phew,” Mirabel wiped an eyebrow as Isabela collapsed into a giant sunflower which she used as a chair. “That went well, don’t ya think?” 

“Yeah,” Dolores said. “Let’s get out of here.” She glared at Camilo. “And you,” she told him. “Don’t even think about following us.” 

Then she left, her arms on each of Luisa’s and Mirabel’s backs as they too walked away with her. 

“Guess you failed after all, Camilo,” Isabela said to Camilo’s downcast face, smirking as she did so. “Wait for us!” Isabela ran after her sisters, Antonio following on Parce. 

“Bye big brother!” Antonio said before Parce sped off. 

Camilo watched them leave silently, tears stinging at his eyes. 

Only Dolores heard him cry. But she couldn’t care less. 

💙💛💚

“I can’t believe that metiche tried to ruin our birthday surprise!” Mirabel snarled, pacing back and forth in Dolores’ room as she who owned the room, along with Luisa and Isabela, sat down on her bed, wrapping their gifts. Dolores was in the middle, with Isabela on her left and Luisa on her right. “Just who does he think he is? ‘Oh girls, don’t even think of doing anything good for the triplets! I’m gonna ruin it like I always do!’” She picked up the card which was on Dolores’ nightstand. “And it’s torn!” She huffed. “Can we even give them this?” 

“Of course!” Dolores said as she finished wrapping Pepa’s gift with the correct paper, which was yellow with thunderclouds shooting lightning on them. “There’s nothing a little tape won’t fix. I don’t think they’ll be upset at it not being perfect. That’s something our family needed to learn, after all.” 

Mirabel sighed. “Yeah, you’re right. But I’m just so mad at Camilo.” 

“So am I,” Isabela agreed, sharing Mirabel’s uncharacteristically grouchy expression. 

“Ay Ay Ay, when I find that little punk, I’m gonna—hrrrggh!” She made clenching motions with her hands. “He almost hurt Toñito too and he didn’t even care. What if Isabela hadn’t made the flowers?!” Mirabel bent down to Antonio’s side and cupped his face in her hands. “Ay, Toñito, are you all right?” 

“I’m fine,” Antonio said, rubbing his nose. 

Mirabel smiled. “Oh, I’m glad.” She wrapped Antonio in a hug. Antonio returned it. Isabela smiled at this. Though not as emotional, sometimes Mirabel could take after her Tia Pepa in alarming ways. 

“Thanks, Mira,” Antonio said. “And thanks for saving me, Isa.” 

“No problem,” the sisters chirped in unison. 

“Now, let’s sign the birthday card.” Mirabel opened the card and placed in on the nightstand. “Isabela, you get to sign first, since you’re the oldest.” 

“Okay,” Isabela said. She signed the card in delicate cursive. Dolores followed in her own cute handwriting, then Luisa in round, bubbly letters, then Mirabel, who didn’t forget the hearts over her i’s. 

The girls were astonished when they heard someone knock on the door. 

“I’ll go see who it is,” Dolores said, walking towards the door. 

But the moment she saw who it was, she slammed the door shut in his face. 

“What’s Camilo doing here?” Luisa demanded. “Hasn’t he caused enough trouble for us all?” 

The door knocked again. 

Dolores opened the door. “Look, stop trying to come in. We are not letting you in! You already tried to spoil the surprise for us. You really think we trust you?! Go away, Camilo!” 

“I just wanna talk,” Camilo uttered barely above a whisper, before a large cactus grew between them, forcing Camilo to take a large step back. 

Isabela stormed over to the door. “Excuse me, prima-hermana,” she said gently, Dolores stepping aside so that Camilo was forced to really feel Isabela’s wrath. “What part of GO AWAY do you not understand? Listen to your older sister and leave! Now!” 

“But—“ 

“I do NOT wanna see you and neither do the rest of us, you untrustworthy brat!” 

“Please!” Camilo begged. “I just wanna say that I’m sorry!” 

Isabela snorted. “Sorry for what?!” 

“Sorry for…everything. I just…I’m sorry.” 

Luisa and Mirabel approached just then, Mirabel carrying Antonio. 

“Why didn’t you just plan your own birthday surprise?” Luisa asked genuinely. “Why did you have to ruin others’?” 

“Yeah, make your own gift next time,” Mirabel said, still vexed at Camilo but lacking the adrenaline to yell and rant at him again. 

Camilo sighed, fiddling with his ruana. “I don’t have a gift, all right?” he finally spat out. “I don’t have one! I procrastinated and now there are three days left until the triplets’ birthday reunion and I have nothing to show for it!” Despite the crack in his voice, Camilo went on. “It’s just that, when you girls started planning the birthday surprise without me I felt left out. So I tried to take your presents and pass them off as my own instead of buying a gift by myself. But now—“ 

Mirabel snorted. “Did it ever occur to you that we wouldn’t have gifts either, tonto?” She sneered. “Get real.” 

Camilo resisted the urge to say “you don’t have a gift either, Mirabel.” He frowned. “But now I realize that was wrong. And I apologize.” 

He looked down at the floor as his tears dropped onto his sandals. 

“I’m sorry.” 

“We forgive you, Camilo,” Dolores said graciously. “But we’re still not letting you in on our birthday surprise. You betrayed our trust, and that isn’t okay.” 

Camilo hiccuped and nodded. 

“And quit crying please. It’s getting annoying.” Dolores sighed. Camilo wiped his face with his hands. “Look, we may not want to help you. But maybe Abuela will.” 

“Why would Abuela want to help me?” Camilo asked flatly. 

“Ask her and you’ll see.” 

“Oh okay.” 

“I think you should leave now,” Luisa said. 

“I agree,” Isabela said. “You should.” 

“Bye, Camilo,” Mirabel said. 

“Bye,” Camilo said, walking away. The girls went back inside, closing the door behind them. 

“Now, where were we?” Dolores said to the rest of the grandkids. They decided not to give Camilo the time of day. 

“Wait, I just realized something!” Isabela pointed out. 

“What?” Mirabel asked as they all looked at the eldest granddaughter. 

“Tío Bruno genuinely thinks we’re putting on a play on their birthday. Even though it’s not a surprise anymore, that’s what he thinks!” 

The girls took a while to process this fact, before realizing that Isabela was right. 

“Oh no,” Dolores said, her face matching Mirabel’s expression of dread. “Just great. Now we’re gonna have to tell Tío Bruno that the play was a cover-up all along.” 

But Isabela shook her head. “Not so. We can still put on the play! Do we really want to disappoint him?” 

“Of course not,” Mirabel said. “But we only have three days? How are we going to plan it?” 

“Three days is more than enough time to put on a play if you know what you’re doing!” Isabela retorted. 

“But we don’t have costumes!” Luisa protested. 

“I’m sure Mirabel has something extravagant that we can wear,” Isabela said. “And even if not, who needs costumes when you pull off a convincing performance?” 

“But what about our lines?” Dolores asked. 

“That won’t be hard!” Isabela explained. “And you’re the best at writing out of all of us. You could be the director and tell us what to say.” 

The girls all considered it. “Hmm, it seems like a good idea,” Mirabel quipped. “What do you all say?” 

“I’m in!” Antonio chirped. 

“Well, if Antonio’s in, then I guess I’m in too,” Luisa shrugged. 

“And if Luisa’s in, then I guess you can count me in as well,” Dolores agreed. 

“Great!” Isabela hugged her prima-hermana! “Oh, this is gonna go excellently! And I think this the only birthday surprise that Camilo will get to be in on.” 

“Oh, brother,” Mirabel groaned. 

💙💛💚

Camilo hesitated, then knocked on the door to Abuela’s room. 

“Come in,” said a seemingly sweet voice, but Camilo was still afraid. What if this voice meant trouble for him? 

He opened the door to see Alma sitting on her bed, writing something down in a book. 

“H-hi Abuela,” Camilo said, hesitating. 

“Hello, well, if it isn’t my lovely grandson!” She patted the seat next to her. “Have a seat.” 

Camilo hesitantly sat down next to Alma, who smiled generously at him. The smile reminded him of Isabela’s smile, but rather than putting him at ease(not that Isabela’s smile put him at ease either), it disturbed him. Why was she being so nice? 

“Abuela…I’m sorry about what I’ve done and I’m sorry for behaving like…umm…an animal in a zoo. Please forgive me.” 

“It’s all right, son. I was young and crazy once too!” Abuela giggled. “Anyway, what did you need?” 

“A gift for Mami, Tia, and Bruno,” Camilo said, getting straight to the point. “But I don’t have any. Dolores said I could come to you for help. So can you help me?” 

“Oh, well, what a coincidence, I don’t have one either.” Alma closed her eyes sadly as she lowered her head. 

“You don’t?” Camilo gasped. “But you’re their—”

“Their mother. Yes. I know. But I have been so distracted lately that it just slipped my mind until the last minute. Or perhaps my age is failing me. Either way, I have failed to come up with a present to bestow upon my marvelous children, especially Bruno, who will be celebrating his birthday with us for the first time in ten years.” She buried her head in her hands. “I know things can’t always be perfect, I know that now, but I’m a failure of a mother.” 

“No, you’re lovely at being a mother, Abuela. Listen to me! Eurgh, this is so weird. Look, I’m sure the triplets would tell you you’re a great mother. After all, where do you think your daughters learned to be such great mothers from?” 

“I suppose you are right.” Alma smiled again at Camilo. And this time Camilo felt at ease. 

“How about we plan a surprise for them together? And only the two of us have to be in on it?” Camilo whispered. 

“I say that’s a marvelous idea!” Abuela hugged her grandson tightly. “Oh, ¡mi nieto es tan inteligente!” 

“Awesome!” Camilo squealed. “I’ve always wanted to be a part of something.” 

“I’m glad,” Alma laughed. “Well, shall we start thinking about it now?” 

“Sure!” Camilo agreed. “What are you writing?” 

The two of them got to work writing down gift ideas for the triplets. And while they were doing so, it suddenly occurred to Camilo that he never knew what gift his siblings and cousins were planning. 

 But he found that didn’t matter. He had his own birthday surprise to share with Alma. 

💙💛💚

It was early in the morning, right after breakfast, that Isabela kidnapped Camilo using her vines. 

“Ow!” Camilo hissed as he felt the pain jolt through his system. “Why, Isa? Why?” 

“Shhh!” Isabela shushed. “Look, come with us! You wanna be part of our secret, right? Well now you’re part of the secret!” 

“I don’t wanna be part of your secret anymore, Isa,” Camilo grunted. “I’m already part of another secret that you’ll never get to know. So there.” He stuck out his tongue. 

“Well too bad. Because you’re part of the secret now.” With her vines, Isabela dragged Camilo into Dolores’ room and slammed the door. 

Camilo looked around to see the rest of his  cousins, his brother, and his sister. Dolores was sitting on her bed writing something on a stapled sheet of paper. Luisa was sitting next to her on her left and looking over her shoulder. Mirabel was on the floor, sorting through a bag. Antonio was trying on a costume that looked quite regal on him. 

“The end!” Dolores said declaratively as she finished writing. 

“Yay!” Luisa clapped her hands. 

“Can I see?” Isabela walked towards Dolores and Luisa. 

“Sure!” Dolores said, giving Isabela the paper to take. 

Isabela walked over to Camilo and shoved the paper in his face. “This is the play we’re putting on for the triplets tomorrow. It’s called ‘Las Cuatro Hermanas y El Ladrón’. And the good news is that you get to be a part of it!” 

“I don’t follow.” 

“Remember the play I claimed we were rehearsing for yesterday? That’s what we’re going to do—“ 

“Oh HELL no!” Camilo turned on his heel and walked away. “I am not doing that!” He reached for the doorknob. 

“Yes you are!” A sundew sprouted on the knob, and Camilo shrieked, pulling his hand back. “You have to! I already told Tío Bruno that you are the villain. And we can’t let him down! Besides, aren’t you a theatre kid? This is your chance to truly shine!” 

“But you came up with that to make me look bad!” Camilo exclaimed. “Why can’t I play the leading role?” 

“Because the leading role is a female role, Cami.” 

“So? I can play a lady!” And just to prove it, Camilo shapeshifted into Isabela. 

“But you’re not one. You’re playing the villain, and that’s final.” 

Camilo shapeshifted back. “Can’t Mirabel and I change roles?” 

“No. Here is the script, this is what you have to remember for the play.” 

Camilo flipped through the script, annoyed. “This is so blatantly done last-minute, it’s saddening.” 

“No duh, chico. But Dolores was the main writer, and she’s pretty talented and coming up with things rinitis on the spot. The rest of us still helped though, Mirabel and I came up with the songs, for instance, and Luisa did the fight scenes. And with you onstage with us, you’ll be able to help her vision come to life. Doesn’t that sound fun and exciting?” 

“It sounds like one of Tio’s rat telenovelas.” Camilo grumbled. 

“Well, whatever. Anyway, Mirabel already chose a costume for you.” 

Mirabel pulled out a black ruana and matching mask, a shirt that looked just like Camilo’s, but deep magenta, and black shoes. 

Camilo took a step back. “I am NOT wearing that. That looks embarrassing!” 

“Come on, just say you’ll agree.” Isabela gestured to their little brother and cousin. “Antonio looks so happy in his outfit.” 

Antonio twirled around in his regal cape and golden flower crown that Isabela had made for him. “I’m the king, Mira! Look at me!” 

“Yes you are! Oh, and here’s your outfit, Dolores,” Mirabel said, handing Dolores an elegant red dress with gold and pink heart-shaped trim. “Fit for a princess.” 

“Where did you get those?” Camilo demanded. 

“From my closet,” Mirabel said. “Also from Dolores’ and my sisters’ closets. I just…did my magic on them to make them look really royal. Although I’m not finished yet. The king outfit however I stole from a trunk in your bedroom.” 

Camilo wanted to eat his face off. “From MY bedroom?! That’s for the little kids I babysit when they come over, Mira! Why? How could you?” 

“Sorry,” Mirabel shrugged, clearly not sorry. “But you tried to go into my room first. And besides, I did what needed to be done.” 

“Camilo,” Dolores said. “Would you like me to paint your nails black for you to really complete your evil look? You’d look delightfully malicious.” 

“No.” 

“He’s lying, he would love to.” Isabela dragged Camilo’s body over to Dolores’ chair. “Sit down Camilo and let Dolores get to work.” 

“Fine,” Camilo said, but only because he liked when Dolores did his nails. He had ever since he was a little kid. It was a fun way of brother-sister bonding even if most boys didn’t get their nails painted. Just like most boys didn’t play dress up with their older sisters. But Camilo didn’t care. He had found it fun. 

He took a deep breath. Maybe this performance wouldn’t be as bad after all. 

💙💛💚

Later that noon, the grandkids were all practicing the last-minute play for the triplets in Isabela’s room, which was by far the most spacious with the widest and clearest area to rehearse in. And most of them were having a good time. 

“Wait, I just realized. Why do I have to die at the end?” 

“Because you’re the villain, and that’s what villains do,” Isabela replied. “The villains die and the heroines triumph. That’s how it’s always been, since the beginning of time. And that’s how it will be, till the end of times.” 

“Whatever,” Camilo said. 

“I’m confused,” Mirabel said, walking up to Isabela. “When Dolores says this part, am I supposed to look up and run away, or am I supposed to run away and look up?” 

“Either way is fine,” Isabela said. “You just have to wait for my signal before leaping up and grabbing the vine that I will send down to swing on.” 

“Oh, I get it now. Okay!” Mirabel shot her a thumbs up. 

“Let’s get into position!” Dolores shouted. “And action!” 

“Go, Camilo, go!” Isabela shoved the sack of cotton in Camilo’s hands and ran away, Camilo running on “stage” as Isabela followed him. 

“Stop right there, Carlos!” Isabela shouted as she pointed at Camilo. Then she grew a circle of cactuses around him, Camilo stopping dead in his tracks. “That money belongs to my family’s estate. I demand you give it back! Otherwise I shall have you hanged for your crimes!” 

“We’ll see about that, Doña Ines!” Carlos sneered. “The truth is, you snobby members of the upper class have it too easy. You were born with a silver spoon in your mouth. Everything was handed to you, and not a thing was earned. If a lowly being like me wants to make his way in life, the only way to do it is to steal from the rich folk, such as yourself! Don’t act like you wouldn’t do the same if you were in my position.” 

“I am nothing like you, you unscrupulous knave!” Ines fired back. “Do as I say, for I am of noble birth. Hand over the money at once, or—“ 

The door opened. “Camilo?” 

“GET OUT!” All the granddaughters yelled at once. 

“Nobody can see yet, it’s a surprise!” Mirabel exclaimed in protest as Alma came closer. 

“Sorry, I gotta go, Alma and I agreed to go out.” Camilo pulled his hair out of its slick ponytail, shaking it left and right to revert it back to its original state. He then removed the mask. 

“Go where?” Dolores asked suspiciously. 

“Does it matter?” Camilo mocked. “It’s our surprise, not yours. Anyway, buh-bye.” 

“Wait, Camilo, you still haven’t taken off your costume!” Luisa protested as Camilo ran out the door. 

“Wait, Camilo, you have a musical number to sing!” Dolores called out. 

“Camilo, you’d better not get it dirty!” Mirabel barked. 

But Camilo wasn’t listening. 

Mirabel sighed. “What do we do?” 

Isabela turned to the director for instruction. “Should we just do the scene where the four of us report to the king?” she said. 

“Sí. And then Mirabel and I will do our song and dance number for the scene where Luisa and Isabela get kidnapped by Camilo,” Dolores said. 

“Perfect.” Isabela agreed. 

“All right, places everybody!” Dolores commanded. 

And so they set the scene. 

Mariana, Ines, Lydia, and Lola curtsied before the king, their bodies trembling as they knew a reprimanding was exactly what they were in for. 

“Have I not told you what is expected of you ladies?” The king gnarled, displeased with the women. “You are to bring back Carlos’ head. I don’t think that is too simple of an accomplishment. But if it is, let me know, so I can prepare a punishment for you.” 

“It’s not that,” Ines, the oldest of her sisters, was the first to speak. “It’s just that—“ 

“I don’t want to hear excuses,” the king interrupted. “Have you slain Carlos?” 

“N-no,” Lola said, “But I promise we are coming closer and closer to—“ 

“Enough!” The king rose from his throne, pointing his mighty scepter at the girls, and silence at once fell upon them. “I am getting impatient at this point. I trusted you ladies to deliver that…that…” 

Dolores sighed. “Cut.” 

Antonio scratched his head as he peered at his script. “What does this say?” 

Dolores took the paper from him. “Vagabond.” 

“Vaga…bond?” 

“Yes.” 

“What’s that?” 

“You know, like a nomad?” 

“What’s a nomad?” 

“…Basically Camilo’s character wanders about without a job or a specific place to call home. He’s a homeless crook.” 

“Oh.” 

“Let’s start from the last line, and remember, it’s vagabond. Got it?” 

“Got it.” 

“Aaand action!” 

“I trusted you ladies to bring that…vagabond…to justice! And you have failed!” 

“We’re terribly sorry, your highness!” Lydia apologized. “Give us one more chance. We beg of thee!” 

The king was getting restless and irate at this point. But he still had some faith in these women. So he sighed and relented. “I will give you two more days to find Carlos, slay him, and bring his head back to me.” He stroked his jaguar’s fur, and the sisters’ blood ran cold. “If during that time frame you fail to complete your task, you will be devoured whole by my jaguar here!” 

Little Mariana gasped. “Please, your majesty! You couldn’t. You wouldn’t!” She cried out in desperation. She was too young to die! She would never see her true love Yamilet again if she did! 

“I can and I will!” The king stroked his jaguar, which growled. “Mi amigo, show them I mean business.” The jaguar obeyed. Lunging at the girls, they took a step back and embraced each other in fear as the large predatory cat bore its fangs. “Am I clear?” 

The sisters nodded. 

“Am I clear?” 

“Yes, your majesty!” 

“Good. Out with thee, out, I say!” 

Mariana collapsed in Lydia’s arms, weeping bitterly and relentlessly, as they walked away, Lola and Ines hugging each other as they also awaited what was sure to be their fate with doom. 

“Whatever are we to do?” Mariana cried out. 

“Fear not, hermanita,” Lydia comforted. “God is with us. We will catch that criminal. And when we do, he will not escape with his life a second time.” 

“More like a third time,” Lola quipped. 

“More like a seventh time,” Ines shook her head. “Really, it is a wonder we haven’t been executed yet.” 

“But we will find a way. I am sure of it.” Lydia said, looking up at the sky. 

Abuela and Camilo came back just when it was lunch time. 

“Hola, Mama!” Pepa came running and wrapped her mother in a hug. “Welcome home. “You too Camilo!” She bent down to kiss his cheek. 

“Hola Mama,” Camilo said, smiling at Pepa. “We just went to buy you a—“ 

Alma nudged him. 

“Food for lunch.” 

“Already taken care of, chico,” Julieta smiled at Camilo from the kitchen. “But thanks for your generosity.” 

“Oh, okay.” Camilo pulled at Abuela’s arm. “Come on, Abuela, let’s go wrap!” he whispered.

He and Alma walked up the stairs, giggling to themselves as they talked in hushed whispers. Even Alma was excited for the triplets’ birthday. 

“Umm, we will be back downstairs soon, mis amores. Set the table!” 

Then they disappeared. 

“I guess Camilo really did plan something with Abuela for the birthday reunion,” Dolores quipped emotionlessly. 

“Well, that’s good for him, I guess,” Luisa said. “By the way, remember to tell him about the changes you made to the play.” 

“Oh, I almost forgot. Yeah, you’re right. I’ll tell him at lunch,” Dolores said as she put Camilo’s plate right next to hers on the table. 

💙💛💚

“Aaand that’s a wrap,” Dolores said as the scene ended. “Wow, that change went more smoothly than I anticipated. Great work everybody.” 

The vines tying Isabela and Luisa unraveled, and they stood up. 

“Has anyone ever told you that you make a really good villain, Camilo?” Isabela asked. 

“I hope they never do,” Camilo murmured. 

“Well, I’ll be the first to tell you!” Isabela chirped, pretending to be oblivious. “You make a really good villain, Camilo!” 

“Of course you would think that,” Camilo murmured. 

“I can’t wait for tomorrow when we can rehearse this play again!” Dolores cheered as she changed behind a room divider. “It’s going to be awesome and I’m sure they’ll love it!” 

“I know they will,” Luisa agreed. 

The next day was spent almost entirely practicing for the performance. In fact, the grandkids did nothing else but rehearse for “Las Cuatro Hermanas y El Ladrón” religiously every time they weren’t eating or taking a shower/bathroom break. The only other exception was when Camilo would run off to do something with Abuela, but there were plenty of scenes without him anyway. 

“Are you done yet?” Dolores demanded as Camilo walked back in. 

“Yup.” Camilo said. 

“Did Abuela ask you why you were wearing that ridiculous outfit?” Mirabel asked with a smirk. 

The girls giggled, even Antonio joining in, and Camilo rolled his eyes. 

“Let’s get on with it,” Camilo said, and Dolores laughed, wiping a tear from her right eye as she dragged Camilo by the forearm into his place. 

And so they continued to practice the play. As Isabela and Luisa slept, Camilo kidnapped them in their sleep. 

Before they knew it, the triplets’ birthday had arrived. 

“Happy birthday, Tío!” Mirabel and Dolores, Bruno’s favorite sobrinas, said as they hugged him and kissed him on either side of their cheek. 

“Aww, thank you both!” Bruno said with a laugh. He kissed Dolores on the cheek, then Mirabel. 

Camilo and Luisa were hugging Julieta. “Happy birthday Mami!” Luisa sang. 

“Happy birthday Tía.” Camilo snuggled his face into her shoulder as he hugged. 

“Thank you, thank you so much!” Julieta replied. “I intend to have the best birthday possible today.” 

“And you will!” Luisa chirped. “We promise!” 

Isabela and Antonio were hugging Pepa. That is to say, Isabela was hugging Pepa, while Antonio was being held by Pepa. 

“Feliz cumpleaños, Mami/Tía! Te amamos!” 

“Awww, thank you thank you thank you! I love you both too!” She kissed them both on the cheek. 

“Everyone, to the table! It is time for the birthday dinner!” Alma commanded. 

The rest were happy to oblige as they sat at the table, the triplets sitting in chairs at the head did the table where Alma normally sat. The three of them next to each other with Bruno in the middle, as they should be. 

“Except for you, Camilo,” Alma said as she smiled, taking Camilo gently by the hand as she ushered him into a private area. Camilo nodded, grinning from ear to ear, as he stuck out his tongue at Dolores and peeled at his lower eyelid, showing the pink. 

Dolores only rolled her eyes, but she grinned. She was happy that Camilo was no longer antagonizing his siblings and cousins and was able to plan a birthday surprise with Abuela instead. She couldn’t wait to see what the gift would be. 

“Cumpleaños feliz, te deseamos a tí, feliz cumpleaños a los trillizos, feliz cumpleaños a tí! Que los cumpla feliz, que los vuelva a cumplir, que los siga cumpliendo, hasta el año tres mil!” 

“Hurry up and blow out the cake before I sneeze on it!” Mirabel urged, privy to imitate her uncle’s tricks. 

The triplets didn’t need to be told twice. They blew out the cake, and everyone cheered. 

“Never mind,” Mirabel said, rubbing her nose with a grin. Bruno smiled at her, realizing what she was trying to do. 

They cut the cake—well, Julieta, Pepa, and Bruno did, each cutting the first three slices with Alma joining them—and before long, everybody else was eating cake too. 

“So awesome!” Camilo said as he chewed with his mouth open. “Will there be seconds?” 

“That’s for the birthday triplets to decide,” Alma replied with a friendly grin. 

“Of course!” The triplets all affirmed in eerie unison. 

After getting over the uneasiness, they all laughed. 

Camilo laughed too, and turned to Mira. “Hey, Mira. Remember when it was Isabela and Dolores’ birthday and you got cake crumbs and frosting all over your hands and dress, and on the floor, and on Tía’s—“ 

“Stop.” 

“Oh, okay.” 

“Does that remind you of anything Camilo?” Isabela grinned mischievously at her cousin. “Anything you did a few days ago that you shouldn’t have? At an age when you should have known better?” 

“He messed with the cake?” Bruno asked. 

“Sure did!” Isabela said. 

Pepa laughed. “It seems like something he would do.” 

“But it’s okay, because this cake is really good!” Julieta complimented. And coming from a masterful cook like her, it certainly was a compliment. 

The granddaughters beamed with praise, as Dolores added. “You think so? Thanks! All four of us made it while you three were out! Hmm!” 

“That’s right, we did!” Luisa added. “And it certainly is a masterpiece.” 

“It tastes like one, too!” Bruno praised. 

Later, after they had all had their fair share of cake and decided to pack some away for later, it was time for the triplets to unwrap the gifts. 

“Are we ready for gifts now?” Bruno asked. 

“Oh, I am!” Mirabel picked up her gift, which was for Julieta, and bounced up and down on both feet. “Eek! I can’t wait for you to see what gifts we have!” 

“I had too much cake,” Camilo lamented, wiping his forehead. “I can almost feel the frosting pouring from my eyelids like tears.” 

“Me too,” Isabela agreed. 

“So, whose gifts should we open first?” Julieta asked. 

“Here, Mami, open yours first!” Mirabel shoved the blue-wrapped gift in her hands before she could refuse. 

Julieta giggled. “Well, I suppose I will.” 

Julieta opened the wrapper, and Mirabel moved to stand by Camilo’s side, between him and Luisa. She crossed her arms and smirked at him. 

“Now you’ll finally get to see what we got for the triplets,” she sneered. 

Camilo ignored her, although don’t think she didn’t hear him huff slightly. And that’s when Mirabel knew that she had won. She chuckled and bumped his hip with hers. 

Julieta gasped in joy. Her gift was a new pair of shoes, they were blue like her regular shoes, but they were a darker shade and much more beautiful. She had seen those shoes in the store for many days, but each time she asked for them, the store clerk merely shook her head and said that she was already saving them for someone else. Julieta was disappointed at first, but now she knew why. 

“Oh, mis vidas…” was all Julieta could say. 

“Do you like them, Mami?” Mirabel inquired. 

“Like them, I love them!” Julieta wrapped Mirabel in a hug. As she was doing so, she extended a hand warmly for Luisa, Dolores, Isabela, and Antonio to join into the hug. “Thank you so much! Mwah!” She kissed each of their cute little heads. 

Camilo moved towards the group hug, desperately longing to be a part of it, but Alma held him back with a firm grip on his shoulder. 

“But Abuela, I want to get a hug too.” 

“You’ll get a hug for your gift soon, querido,” Alma explained gently as Mirabel helped Julieta try on the shoes.

“Oh right!” Camilo beamed. 

Luisa and Dolores were next to present Pepa with her gift. 

Pepa opened it. It was a warm yellow blanket with cloud patterns on it. And behind each of those clouds was a pattern of a sun. 

“This is wonderful!” Pepa wrapped it around her, snuggling in the blanket. “Now I’ll be nice and warm!” 

“It’s for when you start raining or snowing especially,” Luisa informed her tia. 

“Or hailing,” Dolores said, punctuating her add-on with a wince for emphasis. “Just because we don’t want you to get cold, shivery, and potentially hurt yourself or get yourself sick.” 

“Awww, that is so sweet. And very smart of you children!” Pepa beamed. 

“Wow, looks snuggly, I’m jealous.” Bruno scooted over to Pepa’s side, trying to warm his way in the blanket. “You know, there’s a saying that there are always two peas inside a pod. And maybe that means you and me could—“ 

“Shoo, Bruno!” Pepa resisted, shoving him off gently. The family laughed at this, Bruno pretending to look downhearted. “Only one woman fits inside my sheets. Although I second thought, you may be right…Felix, how would you like to—“ 

“Say no more, mi vida.” Felix snuggled under the blanket with Pepa and gave her a peck on the lips. The married couple was now warm and comfortable. 

“Awwww!” Everyone but Camilo(who shielded his eyes and looked away) cooed. 

“And finally, Bruno.” 

Isabela placed the gift in Antonio’s hand. “Go on, hombrecito.” 

“Eeee!” Antonio ran up to Bruno and handed him the wrapped gift. “Open it open it open it, Tío Bruno. Please please please please please?” 

Bruno laughed. “Okay!” He took the gift and opened it. Inside it was a box. And inside the box were…tiny little costumes that not even Antonio could fit in. 

“What are—“ 

Bruno gasped, cutting Camilo off. “Awww! These are for my rats! I love them!” 

“It was Dolores’ idea,” Mirabel said, gesturing to her oldest cousin as Bruno wrapped Antonio and Isabela in hugs, once more carrying the youngest of he family. 

Dolores smiled. “Yeah. I heard you lamenting that you no costumes for the rats to wear for your telenovelas! So I told Mirabel and we got to designing them together. And Mirabel ended up making them!” 

“That is splendid!” Bruno gushed, admirably feeling the texture of the farmer’s wear, the princess dress, the cute little hats, it was all just so adorable and perfect. “This will be perfect for my shows!” 

Dolores beamed as she started thinking about the show they were going to put on. She knew Bruno especially would appreciate it. 

“And that’s not all!” Mirabel presented them with a card. “Open it!” 

Julieta gasped. “You even made us a birthday card?” 

“We sure did!” Mirabel beamed. “Now open it! Please!” 

“All right, mi chica.” Julieta opened the card and read it aloud. “To the most wonderful set of triplets who ever walked the earth, nobody nurtures like Julieta’s warm words, Pepa’s smile is brighter than the sun, Bruno is a blessing to everyone. To the five of us, it is clear as day, you’re the most dynamic trio all the way! Signed, Isabela, Dolores, Luisa, Mirabel, y Antonio!’ Mis vidas, this is perfect.” Julieta smiled affectionately at the girls and Antonio. 

Pepa wiped a tear from her eye. And more. And more. “You don’t know how happy this makes me!” 

“Seriously, amores,” Bruno patted his chest. “I’m glad I’m seen as a blessing to this family.” 

“Thank you!” They all said at once, bringing the grandkids in for a hug. Minus Camilo, who stood cross-armed next to Abuela. 

“We forgot the card.” He sighed. 

“Yes, but it’s okay,” Alma said as she rested a hand on his shoulder. “We still made up for it with our amazing presents. And I’m sure they’ll love them just as much.” 

“I should have stolen their card while I had the chance.” 

“You should have what?” 

“Never mind.” 

“Mijo, were you really going to—“ 

“Who’s next?” Bruno asked. 

“Oh, that would be me and Abuela, who also bought good gifts to share with all of you.” 

“That’s wonderful!” Julieta said. 

“Thanks. Tía, you’re first, since you’re the oldest triplet.” 

Abuela held out the gift for Julieta to take. “For mi hija.” 

Julieta opened it. She gasped. “A trinket box?! For me?” 

“Of course!” Alma said. “It was mi Camilo’s idea.” 

“Yeah, Tía, because you always made such lovely trinket boxes for all of us, and yet you had none of your own. So we bought you this. Sorry we couldn’t make it, it was sorta last-min—I mean I’m not really gifted in that arena like you are.” Camilo scratched the back of his head, and Abuela stopped glaring at him and looked pleased. 

“Well I love it!” Julieta said, opening her trinket box to admirably watch the little ballerina inside it twirl. 

“And this one’s for Pepa,” Alma said, piking up another present and giving it to Camilo to give to his mother. 

“Here ya go, Mami.” 

Still wrapped in the blanket, with her beloved husband’s arm around her waist, she daintily unwrapped the gift. 

Inside it was a snow globe. 

“Shake it!” Alma and Camilo said in unison. 

So she did. 

“It’s lovely dears!” Pepa cooed as she wrapped her mother and son in a hug. “Thank you so much!” 

Camilo had to resist the urge to squeal. 

“And finally, Bruno,” Alma said, handing her son the gift. 

Her grandson beamed, bouncing on his heels as he giggled. “I picked the best gift for you, Tío Bruno. We’re both theatre kids, so I thought you would love it!” 

Bruno opened his gift. “A sketchbook?” 

“Yeah!” Camilo chirped. “So that you can draw all of your ideas for your rat plays.” 

Bruno scooped up Camilo in a hug, then extended a hand and dragged Alma to join in. “Thank you,” he wept. 

“Relax Tío, you’re making me wet.” 

“Sorry,” Bruno said. 

“It’s cool just don’t use me as a living tissue next time.” Camilo smiled excitedly at Bruno. 

“Camilo!” Abuela demanded. “Speak to your uncle with respect!” 

“I-I—“ 

“It’s fine, mama,” Bruno said. 

Agustin and Felix then joined in with their gifts. For Julieta they got her a cookbook(which Felix said his mom used to use), for Pepa they got her a portrait of herself(where she was dancing in the rain with grey clouds surrounding her in all her temperamental glory), and for Bruno they got him a new and cleaner ruana that actually fit him. 

They got lots of hugs of course(and kisses from Pepa and Julieta). 

“Now that we’ve done all that, do you know what it’s time for now?” Dolores  asked. 

“Music and dancing!” Alma proclaimed with her hands in the air. “Oh, it will be such a delight—“ 

“No,” Dolores cut off. “It’s time for our play!” 

“The play!” Bruno remembered. “My, I forgot about the play! Well, let’s see it!” 

“We’ll be doing it in my room, that’s where we’ve been practicing after all!” Isabela said. 

They all went into Isabela’s room, the adults taking seats in the fancy pink flowery chairs that Isabela had set up for them. 

“Wow, it’s like a real theatre!” Bruno whispered to Pepa. 

“I know, tell me about it,” Pepa whispered back. “They really went all out for this, I just know it’ll be good!” 

“And to think they did it all in only three days!” Julieta agreed. “I’m just prepared to he impressed.” 

Meanwhile— 

“Come on!” Dolores commanded as she ushered everyone around “backstage”. “Hurry up and put on your costumes.” 

Mirabel twirled around in her dress. “I never cease to amaze me.” 

Camilo admired himself in the mirror. “My hair looks so good in a ponytail!” 

“Thanks for helping me, Luisa!” Isabela said as Luisa helped her tie the bow around her dress from behind. 

“No problem,” Luisa replied, and then Isabela helped her with her hair. 

“Now we look like real aristocrats!” Isabela said. 

Meanwhile, Dolores helped Antonio into his own costume. “All right, i think we’re all set—wait, wheres your crown?” 

Antonio felt his curls. Then panicked. “I can’t be a king without my crown!” His eyes watered and he started to sniffle. 

“Hey, hey, it’s okay. Isabela, we need another flower crown.” 

“Right on it, sister!” Isabela said as she created a new flower crown for Antonio. One with white lilies and yellow roses. “This one’s even prettier than the last one, if I do say so myself.” 

“Yeah!” Antonio cheered, hugging Isabela. “Thank you, prima!” 

“You’re very welcome, chico,” Isabela said as she kissed him on the forehead. He giggled and kissed her back on the nose, making her giggle too. 

“Did you just—“ 

“All right, that’s enough, we don’t have time for sentimentalities! Let’s get in places! And remember, Ines, you have the introduction to do!” Dolores commanded. 

Isabela nodded. 

“Go go go!” 

The sky around them dulled, as the room slowly grew dark. Pink flower vines used as curtains were opened slightly for Isabela to stop out and address the audience. A single pink spotlight was shining on her. 

“Aww,” Bruno whispered before being silenced by Felix. “Sorry.” Felix nodded. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it is with great pleasure that I present to you all the play that me and my sisters and cousins have been rehearsing for the last three days. I hope you all find this very enjoyable, because we worked very hard on it with the short time span we have had to practice. This is a story of love and death, of joy and sadness, of tribulation and tragedy, of fierce warrior women, brave kings, and rugged scoundrels. Welcome, to the Madrigal grandkids’ first production, which of course was my idea. ‘Las Cuatro Hermanas y El Ladrón”! 

The audience of six whooped and cheered, before the curtains parted and the play officially begun. 

“Long long ago,” Isabela narrated, “in the faraway country of Spain, there lived a happy couple with lots of money and status, but none of that money compared—“ Isabela placed both hands over her heart and sighed. “—to the passionate love they felt for each other. Their names were Don Agus y Doña Juliana. And at the center of this story are their four lovely and noble daughters. The eldest, Ines…that’s me, the second eldest, Lola, though not theirs by blood, was taken in and loved by them all the same, and the two youngest, Lydia and little Mariana.” 

The other three daughters came on stage and began dancing together as Isabela continued to narrate. 

“They lived a lavish and charmed life, never happier than when in one another’s company, and not a force in the world could bring them apart, not even a man’s love. They were the quintessential picture of elegance, grace, and poise. However, there was a secret about them that nobody, not even their parents, knew. It happened the same way it did any other day. The king’s messenger came to them on horse and told them to come to his palace at once. There, they would be informed of what task they were to accomplish.” 

The four ladies curtsied in front of the king as was customary to, and waited for the king to lay out their mission. 

“This is a very important task, and I expect you not to mess it up,” King Antonio instructed. 

“We won’t let you down, sire,” Mariana said. 

“I hope not, because this is a man too dangerous to be left alive.” 

Bruno leaned over in his seat towards Pepa. “Hey hermana, this is actually good!” 

“I know right?” Pepa hissed back. “And the best part is, it’s like an actual play you’d seen in a theatre!” 

“Yeah, I can tell they went all out even though—“ 

“Shhh!” Felix hissed again. “You’re gonna miss important stuff!” 

“Sorry,” the younger two triplets both said at the same time. 

“I want you to find the man that fits that description, kill him, and bring his head back to me!” The king demanded. 

“Don’t worry, your highness,” Lola said. “We will!” 

“We won’t let you down!” Lydia added on. 

Throughout the entire production, the adults watched in sheer, unadulterated amazement as the grandchildren acted out their performance, from Carlos sparring with Ines and placing her in the very trap she set to capture him, to the sisters dancing at a fancy ball before Lola heard the sound of a painting being stolen off of the walls. It was all very amazing and impressive. 

And then before they knew it, it was time for intermission. 

Then the play returned. 

Ines and Lydia woke from their deep sleep, looking at each other in confusion. Tight ropes were tied around them as they were lifted from their beds forcefully. 

“Hermana, what is happening?” Isabela immediately fretted, trying to wrestle free from the vines, to no avail. 

“My dear Ines, I fear that we may have been captured!” Lydia said, as she began to weep bitterly. 

At this point, Ines started crying too, overcome with despair as Carlos carried them away. The two girls knew they were in deep danger, as Carlos was a cruel and vindictive man who would not hesitate to harm or even kill two lovely ladies such as them. 

Carlos noticed their wailing, and before long, the two girls began crying for their remaining sisters. 

“Lola! Mariana! Help! Please! We have been captured by that evil spirit Carlos! Please! You must free us!” 

Carlos sighed, he didn’t have time for this. He took out a frying pan. “You two ladies make far too much noise.” He chuckled mischievously and grinned. “It’s time to go back to sleep. Goodnight.” 

“Carlos, no, no! NOOOOO!!!” The girls pleaded, desperate for their lives to be spared. 

But Carlos quickly silenced them. Whacking Ines on the head with the frying pan so hard that her eyes fluttered shut and she slipped into unconsciousness. 

Lydia watched in horror as tears enveloped in her eyes. Before her attention turned to Carlos as she glared at him with the heat of a thousand suns. “You will not get away wi—“ 

CLANG! And just like that, poor, sweet Lydia was out cold as well. 

Carlos grinned evilly at the two unconscious girls. Rubbing his hands together, he felt a twisted joy overtake him as he realized he was much closer to achieving his dreams. “Everything is going just according to plan,” he spoke aloud to himself. “With these two lives at mercy, Mariana and Lola will have no choice but to submit to my wants and make me the most powerful and wealthy man in ALL OF SPAIN! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!” He laughed, a horrific and monstrous cackle, screeching wickedly into the moonlit sky. 

Mariana and Lola were scared out of their wits at this point, but they nonetheless knew it had to be done. Only they could stop Carlos from inflicting further harm on their beloved sisters. And if they didn’t act, not only would their fortune be stolen from them, but they would be eaten by the king’s most trusted feline companion. 

To be fair, with them gone, they wouldn’t have to see their fortune get stolen, but that was of no comfort to them as Carlos would still win. And they needed to stop that from happening. 

It hurt them so to see Ines and Lydia tied up as they sat back to back on the floor behind the wicked man that had caused them so much misery and suffering. With a determined finger, Lola pointed angrily at Carlos. 

“You will give us back our sisters, at once!” 

Carlos grinned. “I will.” 

Mariana gasped once more. “You will?” 

“Why yes, of course, my little one,” Carlos grinned, and Mariana knew he was not at all being truthful. Carlos went on. “But only if you do one teensy little favor for me! Give over all your riches, all your money, all your most valuable possessions, to me! I want them all!” 

“Never!” Lola roared. 

“Never?” Carlos said. “Well, if that’s how it is…” Carlos grabbed hold of the captured girls, who began kicking and screaming, and dragged them over to the fire he had set up. “You can say your last goodbyes to your sisters right now! Because I will be placing their heads in the fire unless you do what I say!” 

“No! NOOO! No!” Ines and Lydia screamed in desperation, sobbing relentlessly once more as the stench of death could be detected right under their noses, beckoning them closer and closer. 

“Not a sound!” Carlos screeched at them to be quiet, but they didn’t listen. 

“Please, Mariana and Lola!” Ines yelled. “Just do what he says!”

“We can’t!” Mariana responded. “Don’t you see? It’s a trap! We can’t give in to his temptations!” 

“I’d rather do without my riches than without my sisters,” Lydia said with a smile, her facade of joy tarnished by her fearful desperation to live. “Wouldn’t you? Wouldn’t you rather the four of us all be together?” 

Lola let out a heavy, shuddering exhale. “All right, Carlos. You want our riches?” 

“I sure do!” 

And that’s when Lola drew her sword. “Then you have to battle me for them!” 

Carlos grinned. “Challenge accepted!” He pulled out his own sword. 

The two fought each other with their swords, Lola coming closer and closer to overpowering Carlos. However, Carlos was not privy to give up that easily. 

Meanwhile, Mariana rushed to unravel Ines and Lydia. 

The three girls hugged each other, and kissed each other’s faces, overjoyed that their lives had finally been spared. Then they put out the flames. 

As the battle progressed, Lola was getting increasingly weaker, and was running out of stamina. 

“Aha! Not so fierce and tough now, are you princess?” Carlos grinned satanically. “Fear not, for I will pierce through your aching and trembling heart with my sword, seizing the win and putting you out of your misery!” He laughed. “Adios!” 

“Now!” Mariana yelled. 

And that’s when the jaguar leapt out of the bushes, pouncing on Carlos and saving Lola’s precious life, just as Carlos was about to slay her. 

“Please!” Carlos pleaded pathetically. “Spare me, I beg of you!” 

But the jaguar knew no mercy. Tearing at Carlos limb for limb, the beast of nature feasted on his delicious body, until it left nothing but skull, bones, and tattered fabric behind. 

The girls ignored Carlos’ blood-curdling wails of pain and agony as he was made a delectable jaguar meal. When the deed was done, the girls rejoiced loudly. 

“We are free!” Mariana cried out, leaping and hugging Lola. 

“Yes, we are!” Lola proclaimed with joy, leaving a sloppy kiss on Mariana’s cheek. “We are free and Carlos is no more!” 

“And the best part is that we won’t be eaten by the jaguar!” Ines added. “Mariana, Lola, you have no idea how thankful we are for your quick thinking, fierceness, and brilliance. If it wasn’t for you taking away the king’s jaguar, we would be at the mercy of Carlos, and perhaps not live to see another day!” 

“Sí, the king will be so proud of us once he realizes we have been victorious!” Lydia agreed. “We’ll have rekindled his trust and faith in us. I can’t wait for him to receive the news.” 

The four girls were joyful as they hugged and kissed not just each other, but their good friend the jaguar too. They went home, jolly and in good spirit, and spent the rest of the night up in Lola’s room, gossiping and chattering away quietly so that their parents wouldn’t be aware that they were awake. 

They had never been as proud of themselves as they were in that moment. 

The adults watched, stunned, as Isabela continued to narrate the ending of the play. “The girls were elated that they had defeated the wicked thief Carlos, and the king was pleased with them. Although he had been enraged at them at first for stealing his jaguar, he very quickly  forgave them after seeing just how efficient they were at carrying out his tasks set out for them. And they bestowed upon him Carlos’ skull as a gift, and as proof that he was indeed slain. And so the girls went on, continuing to be good friends and close sisters, and lived happily ever after. The end.” 

The audience clapped as the characters all showed up onstage to take their bows. When they all showed up together, they received a standing ovation. 

“Well, that was an interesting ending,” Bruno told his sisters. 

Julieta nodded. “Yes, but you know Dolores. She always comes up with the weirdest and wildest of stories.” 

“She’s a good writer though,” Pepa wiped a tear from her eye. “That’s my baby!” 

“Definitely,” Felix and Agustin agreed. 

Once the play was finally done, Bruno was the first to wrap Dolores in a hug. “You were stellar out there!” He told her, giving her a fist bump. “And honestly Lola was my favorite character! I loved her drive, her fire, and her spunk!” 

“Thanks Bruno!” Dolores chirped. “I’m so glad! I put a lot of effort into the role.” 

“I can tell!” Bruno hugged Isabela. “Great job everyone! And Isabela, that was a really good idea to put on a play for us.” 

“No problem!” Isabela said. “I liked getting to do this, since we don’t do it often, but I just thought we ought to repay you for all the plays you have put on for us!” 

“That’s true,” Julieta said. 

“And it was an awesome idea!” Bruno agreed with a giggle. 

“Was I a good king?” Antonio said, running towards them. 

“You were an excellent king, mijo,” Pepa said, bending down to Antonio’s level and rubbing his hair. “And look at your pretty little crown.” 

“Isabela made it!” Antonio said. “Tell them Isabela, tell them you did!” 

“I did.” 

“Yay!” 

“Well, everybody did an awesome job!” Bruno agreed. “And I love the costumes!” 

“I enjoyed it too,” Agustin agreed. “Especially when Carlos got eaten in the end. Rawr!” He made clawing motions with his hands, as the grandkids giggled at the praise. Except for Camilo, who rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, but a grin crept onto his face nevertheless. 

“That was my favorite as well,” Alma said. “Along with the sword fight. She smiled at Dolores, and Dolores smiled back. It was certainly a good thing that Agustin and Alma agreed on something. 

Mirabel yawned. “As fun as that was—“ she punched Isabela’s forearm jokingly. “I’m never doing a last-minute play again, no matter how good it turns out.” She collapsed into Luisa’s arms. “I’m tired.” 

“All right, get some sleep,” Felix said. “It is almost midnight.” 

“Yes, that is a good idea,” Alma agreed, patting Felix on the back. “Goodnight everybody.” 

“Goodnight,” they said, as they all retreated to their rooms, the grandkids to their room, the triplets to Bruno’s, and the husbands to Pepa’s. Alma went to her own room of course. 

That night, Alma pulled out a locket, and opened it to see Pedro inside. 

She smiled warmly. “Pedro,” she said softly. “I just wish you could see your children today. They are so happy to be reunited, and their bond is stronger than ever. Each day they grow and Bruno is becoming more and more handsome like his father, Pepa is showing more and more of your wit and perseverance, and Julieta is displaying more and more of your love and kindness.” A tear slipped from her eye. “I wish you were here, mi amor. For you have given me the greatest gift of all. My children.” She kissed the picture inside the locket. “Goodnight Pedro. I will see you again one day.” 

💙💛💚

The kids camped out in Mirabel’s room that night, Dolores and Antonio sleeping in a second bed, Isabela and Luisa sleeping in sleeping bags on the floor, and Mirabel and Camilo sleeping in Mirabel’s bed. Except only Mirabel was sleeping. Camilo was awake with the rest of the siblings, holding Mirabel protectively as she snored on his chest. 

“Awww. She’s so cute like this. In the daytime she’s a total nuisance. Coochie coochie coo!” He wiggled her nose and mouth. 

“Camilo, she is not a baby.” 

But Camilo didn’t listen to Dolores as he played with Mirabel’s eyelashes, making her wince and rub her eyes but fortunately remain asleep. Camilo grinned and kissed her nose. 

“That was a fun play everybody!” Isabela smiled. “I’m so glad I came up with it.” 

“Of course you are,” Dolores said. 

“My favorite part of the play, besides the ballroom scenes, was when Carlos and Ines fought one on one,” Isabela continued saying. 

Camilo huffed. “And Carlos should have won.” 

“So not true.” 

“So true,” Camilo protested. “Carlos deserved much better than the story he was in. I mean, all he wanted was to not be poor and at the bottom of society, is that so bad? But no, instead he gets devoured alive by a jaguar just for wanting a better life for himself.” He sighed sadly as he absentmindedly combed Mirabel’s curls with his fingers. “That hardly seems fair.” 

“Carlos may have been poor, but that still doesn’t excuse the things he did throw the story,” Isabela pointed out. “Like kidnap innocent people. Or try to set Ines and Lydia on fire unless Lola and Mariana gave over their wealth to him.” 

“He wasn’t just looking for a better life, Camilo,” Dolores explained. “He was selfish and greedy and dishonest. Not to mention opportunistic. And in fact I wanted to have a scene where he even killed the sister’s parents and hoarded the wealth for himself, but I decided that was overkill.” Dolores paused. “Plus, I had nobody to play the parents.” 

“But why didn’t the king help him?” Camilo asked as an arm was wrapped around Mirabel. 

“It’s not like they’re brothers in real life,” Dolores answered. “And once again, he’s a criminal.” 

“But—“ 

“Sounds to me like someone’s just upset at the role they were asked to play!” Luisa pointed out with a grin.” 

“W-what?!” Camilo spluttered. “N-no I’m not!” 

“Yes you are!” Dolores grinned. 

“Nuh-uh,” Camilo turned around to face Mirabel. “I’m going to sleep. Goodnight.” 

“Don’t forget that it’s your fault we had to do the play in the first place Camilo,” Isabela said. “After all, if you hadn’t tried to ruin the surprise we were planning for them, I wouldn’t have come up with that lie.” 

“I said goodnight.” Camilo huffed, hugging a sleeping Mirabel closer and burying his face in her hair. He had to fight to resist a grin. Secretly he had liked being in the play. But he wasn’t going to give the granddaughters the benefit of the doubt. 

“Goodnight Camilo.” Isabela smirked, rolling her eyes. 

“Goodnight big brother!” Antonio whispered in the night. 

“Goodnight Antonio.” Camilo said as he continued to snuggle with his cousin. It was times like these that made him happy that he and Mirabel were so close. Hugging her closer as he accidentally breathed in strands of her hair—not that that was a problem, since her hair smelled good—Mirabel wrapped an arm around Camilo as well, mumbling something. 

Camilo closed his eyes. 

“Anyway, I think he’s asleep.” Isabela turned back to the girls and Antonio, not knowing that Camilo wasn’t in fact asleep. “Anyway I really liked the play. Maybe we could perform it for the village as well.” 

“That would be a good idea,” Dolores said. “Not tomorrow though, maybe much later in the future.” 

“What if Bruno’s not okay with it?” Luisa asked. 

“I’m sure he will be,” Isabela said. “After all, this play will remind him of the best birthday party he ever did have with his grandkids! I’m just glad we got to do something like this for them. Not just Bruno, but all of them.” 

Luisa nodded. “It wasn’t just entertaining, it was a good way of showing our love for the family.” 

“Yes, that’s true!” Isabela said. She pulled the blankets over her head. “Well, I’m going to bed now. Goodnight.” 

“Goodnight,” Dolores said. 

“Buenas noches,” Luisa said. 

“Buenas noches!” Antonio said as he snuggled with Dolores the same way his brother was doing with Mirabel. 

And the grandkids all fell fast asleep. 

THE END 

#october 17 #encanto #fanfic #encanto fanfic #encanto one-shot #isabela madrigal #isabela my beloved #isabela is best girl #dolores madrigal #luisa madrigal #camilo madrigal #mirabel madrigal #antonio madrigal #julieta madrigal #pepa madrigal #bruno madrigal #alma madrigal #felix madrigal #agustin madrigal #grandkid roundup #pb&j triplets #birthday #encanto birthdays

[gamerbearmira]

Werewolf au

Mirabel snuck into casita, it was nighttime she went to see the moon. She entered her room to see her mamá sat down." I wondered when you'd come back" she stood up, casita closed the door. Mirabel scratched it but julieta picked her up. "Where did you go?" She placed her on the bed as she turned back." T to see the moon" mirabel said and julieta sighed." Cmon no one wakes up for six hours" julieta said, "huh?" Mirabel asked." Casita alarmed me when you left, if you wanna sneak out go through the window" sue pulled a rope from a loose floorboard" I did it all the time" she said "sneaking out?" Pepa and bruno entered." Not without us" Bruno said and julieta smiled. They were all dressed. Mirabel went first( basically falling) the others slid down the rope with ease, "you'll get used to it" Bruno said as they ran to the woods. Mirabel turned into wolf form and carried julieta." No fair!" Pepa yelled." I'm her mother" julieta responded as they reached the woods. She got off as mirabel ran, she sat and howled. The triplets sat down chatting." Lovely night" she snapped their heads to see luisa and isabella." We saw you" dolores said "sit down" Bruno said, the entire family except alma was there. They sat down chatting for about an hour. They heard a growl and turned to see the nine foot tall wolf holding the pup in her mouth, "m mamá!" Julieta stood up. "It's the full moon" pepa said and the wolf walked towards them, the walked towards a tree as the wolf jumped. They flinched but nothing hit them? They faced the two women laughing their heads off. Mirabeo was near tears as alma was in her wolf form." Y you should've seen your faces!" She laughed" we planned it all" alma sajd" you pranked us!" Camilo exclaimed" we were bored" they both said and walked back to casita.

OT THEM FALLING FOR WTF 😭😭😭

Now me personally, if I was there? That would not have happened.

That would not have happened.

#encanto #encanto au #au #my asks are open #my asks #encanto mirabel #encanto alma #werewolf alma and mirabel au

[oh-no-a-whovian]

Two more lonely people Part 18

NSFW 18+

Summary: “no matter what happens, I love you”

Pairing: Bruno Madrigal x fem werewolf! reader

Warnings: age gap (Y/N is 25 and Bruno is 50) swearing, violence, blood, alcohol, death, injury, trauma, some smut, oral (f).  any others let me know please.

Word count: 2828

Masterlist PT1 Next

It’s hard to hide the fact that inside you’re freaking out. What if Evaline was telling the truth? She lied about other things, why wouldn’t she throw in a curveball and tell the truth. She’d do anything to get what she came for right?

“When will we know?” Alma asks, looking to you by the doorway as she rubs her son’s shoulders, trying to comfort him while he eats another of Julieta’s arepas. The bite wound is gone from his skin, no signs of scarring like what covers your arm, just some blood soaking into his shirt and some holes in the cloth.

You brought him back to casita, a bleeding dizzy mess, barely able to stand and everyone was already waiting for you. Julieta was already making food to heal both you and Bruno. Dolores had heard everything, your conversation with Bruno, the confrontation, the fight, right down to your limp as you supported Bruno’s weight all the way home.

His sisters and mother were horrified at the sight of the blood coating his clothes, still seeping from the wound. A storm cloud formed above Pepa’s head instantly, soaking her clothes and showing everyone how she feels. Julieta practically shoved an arepa in each of your mouths the moment you walked through the door, watching eagerly for the healing to work. Felix had ushered Antonio to his room so he couldn’t see the brutal sight and though their parents tried, they couldn’t get Mirabel or Camilo to go to their rooms.

“Umm, a month.” you sigh sliding your hand through your hair as you try to breath even, tears prickling your eyes. “He um… He won’t be able to shift until his first full moon. Nothing will change about him till then.” You tell them. The guilt inside you feels like it’s burning you up, destroying you on the inside. This is all your fault. His whole family is here, worrying for him and you feel like the cause of their distress. “I’m so fucking sorry. This is all my fault.” You sob.

“No, mi vida.” Bruno says, rising from his seat and pulling away from his mother to wrap you in his arms, finally strong enough to move again. “This isn’t your fault. Please don’t blame yourself.” He whispers as he kisses your temple, his chin scruff scratching your cheek. As much as you love him and want to believe him, you can’t stop. Your mind keeps trying to come up with ways you could have stopped Matt from biting Bruno and each time it deepens the belief that you failed him.

“What are you gonna do if she was telling the truth?” Camilo asks from his spot, sitting on the window frame.

“we’ll have to take precautions.” You sigh “maybe shifting in the tower, blockade the door… maybe even in the vision cave itself…”

“wh-what about y-you?” Bruno asks, trying to push through the anxiety rising in him. you can tell each time he thinks about the worst-case scenario ‘cause his heart rate picks up, his blood pressure rising each time.

“I will be with you” you cup his cheek, pressing your forehead to his “every step of the way.”

“at least I’ll be in good hands then... or paws” he smiles, the little wrinkles at the corners of his eyes becoming more prominent at his amusement.

“funny” you huff, giving him a small smile despite the negative thoughts in your mind.

“Tio Bruno” Mirabel says, trying to get her uncle’s attention. “Why don’t you use your ability? Look into the future and see what’s gonna happen?”

“I uh di-didn’t think of it, years of not using it I suppose. I’ll get right on that.” He tells her, fiddling with your fingers in his hand as he looks to the ground by his feet. You notice his heartbeat change a tiny bit; the lie obvious only to you. “I um... I wanna rest for a bit…” he says, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. “I’ll do it later and tell you what I see at dinner.” Another lie. “we’ll be down later, just need to talk about a few things.”

You snatch the plate of arepas and wave goodbye to your friends as Bruno leads you out of the room, practically dragging you up the steps and onto the platform. He takes the plate from your hand the moment you reach his bedroom, placing it of the little table beside the door.

His hands are on your before you even have the chance to pout about wanting to eat the arepas. He pulls you tight to his body, his lips on yours, kissing you hungrily. One of his hands slides down, squeezing your butt in a firm grip, and the other pressing the middle of your back, holding you to him.

You want to pull back and make sure he’s okay, this action unusual for him, but you also never want him to stop. His kiss is making to breathless, and his touch is making you wet, squeezing your butt and slowly pulling your skirts up as he tries to get his hand under them.

“Are you okay mi amor?” you ask, smiling but watching him with worry as he finally pulls back for a breath of air.

“Si, I just…” he smiles, staring at you with what you can only call love. His eyes seem to take in each of your features one by one, cementing them into his memories once more. “I need you. There are so many thoughts going through my head right now, I need something to ground me or at least distract me f-for a bit.”

“Oh well if that’s the case. Whatever you need” You grin leaning forward pressing your mouth back to his, the rush from before simmering just below the surface. You grip the edges of his ruana tight, running your tongue along the seam of his lips, begging for entry. He moans into your mouth as he lifts your thighs around his waist, pinning your back to the door. He sucks and nibbles on your tongue and lips, kissing his way along your jaw and down your neck to your collar bone, leaving you a breathless mess as he grinds into you.

He's not normally one to take control, usually a blushing moaning mess, pliable to your every wish. He loves having you in control.

He holds you tight, transferring you to the plush bed with a heavy puff of the duvet. He whispers apologies into your skin for being rough as pushes your skirts up, kissing his way up the inside of your thighs. His desperation sets a fire I your belly and you’re already soaking wet as he hooks his fingers in your underwear, dragging them down.

Threading your fingers through his salt and pepper curls, you gasp as his lips wrap around your clit. He teases you with the tip of his tongue, swirling tiny circles as his scruffy chin hair scratches lightly against your folds. As he teases you, the urge to hold him there and grind on his face rises in you, making you grip his hair tighter much to his delight.

You want him to keep control though, to see where he goes with it. you taught him what you enjoy in great detail, making him blush with each word of praise as he got it right. Clearly, he’s using a couple of those lessons as he spreads your folds with his slender fingers and laps his tongue through the moisture. His moans are muffled in your heat as he presses his tongue into you, his free hand gripping your thigh tight, holding you against his face. He's drinking you in like a man starved and desperate, sucking on the sensitive flesh till you’re moaning gibberish.

You’re an exhausted mess by the time he’s finished with you, taking what he needs after he’s pushed you through your first orgasm. He filled you with his cock, his face buried in your neck, pressing kisses to your skin. You came a second time with him inside you, your pussy gripping  him tight as he spilled inside you, his mouth open and brow furrowed as he moaned into your skin.

You enjoyed every minute; you just hope he’ll tell you what’s wrong when he gets back from the bathroom.

~~~~~

Bruno’s POV

Part of him wanted this, he’d be lying if he said otherwise. He wanted to be like her, to see what she sees, to spend every full moon by her side. he wanted to feel it all and be exactly what she needs. And now he just might, but if what Evaline said is true, it’s gonna come at a massive price. Now he hopes that Julieta’s cooking worked.

With all the shock and stress of it his mind focused on one thing. If what Evaline was saying is true maybe the other part is too. If he is now like [Y/N], he can get her pregnant, make a child and a life with her. It made sense. Months of unprotected sex and not even a scare? The thought of her baring had driven him mad and the moment he had enough blood back in his veins he was hard, making him painfully aware how much that turned him on. He was silently hoping for months that maybe he hadn’t missed his chance.

It was like a hunger overcame him, desperate and greedy, and although she seemed concerned, she wasn’t complaining.

“Are you gonna tell me what’s on your mind now?” she asks when he finally stepped out from the bathroom. She’s laying on her side, her head propped up on her hand and her skirt riding high up her thigh. “And why you lied to your family about looking into the future?”

“I couldn’t help you… seeing that in the vision didn’t help.” He admits as he collapses beside her. The vision showed her angry with them, but it didn’t show him bleeding out beneath her or her fighting for their lives, for his life. All it did was create anxiety and, in the end, didn’t even help. “When you told me not to do a vision for you, you were right.” He’s not ready yet to tell her the other thing on his mind, that part of him wants a child with her.

“obviously” she smiles at him, cupping his cheek, scratching her fingers through his scruff. “That doesn’t mean that in certain circumstances it’s not useful.”

“You think I should look?” he asks. He feels exhausted, can practically feel the familiar bags under his eyes, so he’s not even sure he actually has the strength to do a vision.

“it’s entirely up to you, mi amor. I’m not gonna tell you when you should or shouldn’t use your gift” fuck he loves her. There are times where he just can’t wrap his head around it. How’d he become the one blessed with her love and affection. No matter what his decision, she’ll be with him.

“I won’t. I want to live the rest of this month free of the burden the next full moon may bring.”

“Fine by me” she smiles, leaning down and kissing him sweetly.

~~~~~

Dolores’s POV

Dolores heard her friend leave casita again a few hours after the attack by the river and has been keeping an ear on her since. [Y/N] called out saying she was heading to check on her mother, making sure Dolores knew where she was going. She listened as her friend walked all the way to her home by the market.

It’s always made her smile whenever [Y/N] would do that, telling her something even when she’s on the other side of town. whenever she needed comfort or a distraction from the sounds she didn’t want to hear, she focused on her friend or Mariano. Hearing them out there, living their lives, eases her mind and brings her peace.

‘I’m leaving you and we’re leaving Encanto’ Dolores hears Evaline say, a ruffling sound of clothes being hastily shoved into a suitcase accompanying her voice.

‘wha? Yo-you’re leaving me?’ [Y/N]’s father Liam slurs, already drunk even though it’s barely passed two pm. ‘why?! Evaline, you will fucking explain yourself now!’ he shouts as he grabs a hold of his wife’s arms, making Dolores jump.

‘Something happened…’ she sobs ‘we can’t be together… I can’t it’s too much!’ she cries.

‘Tell me woman!’

‘Your… Your daughter bit us… me and Matty…’ she lies, crying crocodile tears. Dolores’ heart pounds at the thought of what this woman saying, spinning a tale to manipulate. What will she gain from telling such falsehoods? ‘I tried to hide it from you… bu-but when I asked her why… she said she wants to ruin your life for what you did’ The man is silent, but Dolores can hear his feet stumble back in shock. ‘She hates you so much and she wouldn’t even tell me why… what are you doing?’

‘What I should have when she was a child.’ The man practically growls, slamming a door and stomping along the wooden floor. ‘Killing the bitch’

Dolores is on her feet in a flash, racing from her room and into Isabela’s, not even knocking before barging in.

“Isa! You need to get into town now!”

“What? why?” her cousin asks, turning away from her statue made of carnivorous plants.

“[Y/N’s dad is going to kill her.”

~~~~~

[Y/N]’s POV

You hum as you fold the laundry and place it all in the basket, pulling each piece one by one from the line to take in. Your mother had to pop to the market before they pack up, having forgotten something when she went earlier. You’re always happy to help her when she needs it. 

Sudden pain erupts in your skull as you’re knocked to the ground. Your vision is blurry, and you can’t think straight as you try to focus on the person standing over you, what kinda looks like a thick branch in their hand.

“You really hated me this much?” your father angry voice meets your ear as you try to shake away the disorientation. “I never thought you the type to be cruel.” He growls.

“I d… I don’t know what you’re ta-talking about.” You try to say, slurring and stuttering, unable to form coherent thoughts.

“You think you can lie to me now you little bitch?” he shouts, grabbing the front of your dress and slapping you across the face. “I knew you were a monster the moment you turned the first time.” He sneers.

“I didn’t do anything!” you cry, trying to push him away to no avail. The impact to your head was too strong.

“You turned Evaline and Matt to hurt me!”

“I didn’t” you try to shake your head only to make your mind spin more. “She was werewolf before I was even b-born. He was born a werewolf…”

“Stop lying!” he screams, dropping you with a thud as he looks around the small yard. His eyes focus on an object by the wall and his wrathful frown turns into a sadistic grin as he steps over to it. he lifts it with emphasise, staring up at the three prongs on the end with bloodlust in his eyes.

“No. please” you beg, trying to pull yourself away from him. once again, you’re seeing the monster you thought you’d escaped, the same scent of alcohol wafting around him. “I didn’t”

“This town, hell this world would be better off without a monster like you in it” he stalks toward you, the pitchfork tight in his anger filled grip. “I’m doing everyone a favour” he snarls, pointing the prongs down at you and holding it high above his head. “I should have done this years ago”

You see the flash in his eyes as he’s about to force the weapon down into you. The look of pure hatred. You close your eyes and wait for the pain, but it never comes.

Your eyes blink open to see shock on his face, his grip around the pitchfork loosening. Blood seeps into his shirt around a sharp vine speared through his chest, getting longer and longer as it’s forced through his body.

You glance to the back door of your home to see Isabela, her eyes wide with horror and her hand up as she controls the vine killing your father. As soon as she releases it, sending it back into the earth, the man collapses to the ground beside you. The monster that has haunted your dreams for years is finally dead.

“Isa” you whisper as she races to your side, lifting you into her lap and holding you close as she cries into your hair.

“it’s okay. I’ve got you, you’re safe.” she mumbles in your hair over and over. “Mi mama is coming, everyone is coming”

A/N: for the person who thought her dad would be pissed about being manipulated. Didn’t remember all of Bruno’s visions, eh? Two more chapters! We’re almost done! Remember! Like and reblog to share the love!!!

two more lonely people tags:

@pink-hufflepuff @kyriekurokami @goblinenby @fraujar @ducks118 @lemonbaby @sylum @life-hater39 @abelbai000 @sarashitposts @sweatyroadcowboyjudge @mother-dragon-and-her-hatchlings @elysiadjarin @multifandombtch @insanitybyanothername @inthewindsomehow @gloryekaterina @anactualvelociraptor @originalsoulcollector @hlxoos @tangerine-kitten @psychomanias @nectamburne @mary-wolf @wo1fwitch @jesuisravenclaw @shaddow-darkcloud @ryou-cosmos @puck-the-puppy @totofranken @butchcupid @mintymonicalei @azeret-mirror @a-gay-cryptid @cl0vr @tigreost @kenzi-woycehoski @acdassenza @coffee-cupps @krazyk99 @small-town-wayward-daughter @unstableyetloveable @nikt-wazny-y @animeluver23 @fuxkyoshizz @slytherinxhunter @butterfly-lies-chase-them-away

#bruno madrigal x reader #bruno my beloved #bruno magridal #encanto x reader #reader insert #disney's encanto #werewolf reader

[inthishousewestanspiderpunk]

One Encanto HC I will fucking die on is when Pepa and Félix are still courting, Pepa is wondering out loud if Félix loves her. It's in thr market square, this big musical number and it's the its in his kiss song by Cher. I am not budging on that. Cue the back up singers consisting of Bruno, Julieta and a few friends being all "is it in his eyes?" and Pepa being like "It's in his kiss..." whilst holding a bunch of flowers and lying back on the flower stall. The stall owner is part annoyed, part concerned. "Are you okay?" *song goes on* "Y-you'd better pay for that!" *Pepa and the others walk off still singing* "I know where you live!"

#encanto thoughts #pepa madrigal #felix encanto #cher #its in his kiss #that's where it is #encanto hcs #julieta madrigal #bruno madrigal #and the rats helping as well like yrying to lure Félix into Pepa

[achitka]

Rosary

Chapter 12: Rosary

Summary:

Memories of the past can get a little weird when magic is involved

As Mass was ending Julieta looked past her mother’s bowed head at Bruno and Pepa. He was looking straight ahead, face blank. Pepa turned and caught her eye and looked meaningfully at Bruno’s hands. Julieta leaned slightly forward and when she saw the rosary there, she blinked. That should not exist. But there it was.

She clearly remembered the day four-year-old Bruno had finished it. He’d spent more than a week working on it and had been so proud of it. She thought of their mother, how she had praised his piety with much love and kisses when he’d given it to her for her birthday. But Julieta also held the memory of the day she, Pepa and twenty-year-old Bruno sat on the roof of Casita as he carefully, almost methodically took it apart. He’d likely been up there for hours before Pepa came to get her in the kitchen. They climbed and sat on either side of Bruno while he worked. Ignoring them while mumbling; ‘Sana, sana colita de rana. Dame un besito para hoy y mañana’ the bitterness in his voice was palpable.

Their mother and Bruno were more often than not, at odds with one another. Over the years, as a sort of punishment their mother would ask Casita to shift his room to the tower. She knew that he hated that more than anything else. Each time he’d relented and conformed to her wishes. Bruno’s room had moved no less than four times in the past six months but this time, he flat out refused to do anymore visions. So, it was this day his room moved permanently from the hall to the tower. To seal it their mother had Casita move her own room between hers and Pepa’s.

She’d banished him in his own home.

His hands were shaking now and several of the beads he’d spent hours removing bounced down Casita’s tiled roof. He watched them fall and became frustrated when several others bounced after them. She’d wondered how he’d gotten a hold of it. Obviously, he’d entered their mother’s rooms and taken it back. Now he pulled the next one off and crushed the tiny clay rosette with one of Casita’s tiles and watched the wind blow it away from him. Pepa’s cloud started to drizzle and she was stroking her braid in a vain attempt to make it stop.

Bruno looked at what remained and frowned. The anger in his face was clear and Julieta thought he looked more like the image on his door than ever before. He’d let his hair grow long, and he was angry most of the time. Pepa thought he did it to stop everyone telling him how much he resembled his father and in the same breath tell him how much he was not like him at all. Bruno continued now with much less care as he crushed several more until only the wooden crucifix remained. He lifted the tile to bash that as well but Pepa took the tile he’d raised and Juli told him it was enough.

“It will never be enough Juli and I don’t know why you two can’t see that,” Bruno said barely above a whisper. He looked over the edge and got up, “I could jump…” he didn’t finish the thought as Pepa’s shower intensified. Bruno sighed and his face softened back to the Bruno they were used to. He looked at Pepa and said with a small smile, “Just kidding Pep…I gotta go.”

He left then and Pepa hugged the tile before putting it down. Casita bounced it back into place and Julieta picked up the small cross. Pepa’s rain stopped and Julieta finally felt the tears that were slipping down her face. He wasn’t kidding. She put the cross in her apron pocket and she and her sister made their way off the roof. They stood together looking up that staircase that led to the tower aware that their brother’s door was wavering and Julieta feared Bruno would run away and leave them behind. She knew that if he ever did, she would not fault him for it, she refused to. Worse than that she knew that she wanted to leave too.

#emotional pressure kinda sucks #abuela alma madrigal #julieta madrigal #pepa madrigal #casita #encanto fanfic #encantober 2022 #encantober #bruno madrigal

[melghi]

Part 3 of A trip with a lot of surprises

Previously...

"Good girl," the bespectacle gentleman kissed her sweetly on her cheek. "Let's rest for a moment, Corazón."

---------

Julieta still hadn't recovered from what had happened, although in all honesty, she felt great, and as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

"Are you okay?" Agustin asked her with some concern.

Sighing, Julieta settled better in her companion's arms. "What a way to start a vacation."

Agustin laughed, infecting Julieta with his joy, making her join in.

It was exciting to be able to share not only Intimate moments with someone but also to be accomplices, to have someone you really like by your side, someone who gets you.

Of course, no one even knew about their... relationship? You could call it that, but it was better that way, they didn't have to worry about gossip or what would people think. If they knew, they would be in shock for sure. they were suposed to hate each other guts.

However, the desire to let everyone know was strong. To shout at them and tell them, yes I am with this person, so what!? But not yet, first, some issues had to be resolved.

"J-Julieta?"

Shit, Bruno...

"Y-yeah?"Julieta replied as she quickly separated herself from Agustin.

Rubbing his arm, Bruno came closer and peeked his head out while the rest of his body was hidden behind the wall.

"Mmm it's just that everyone is already waiting on the bus, so I thought... it would be good for you to come back, everything okay?" Bruno said as if every word was a question.

"yeah, no problem, it's just that Agustin's stomach was hurting, right Agustin?" Julieta made a worried face.

"Mmm, well ah-"

Julieta hit him with her elbow knocking the air out of him.

"Yep... Cof, I still feel bad," the one with glasses panted.

"Oh, you're still coughing, are you sure you're okay?" Bruno inquired, looking at him up and down.

"Yeah, just give me one more second, i'll be right behind you." Nodding, the siblings took their leave.

Agustin leaned against the wall and watched them walk away. When Julieta turned to look at him, he held her gaze as he sucked his fingers one by one, causing the brunette to turn around quickly and start walking faster.

It was fun to tease her, unlike her sister Julieta was not known for using violence when she got angry, but nevertheless she remembered every foul you had done to her and charged you ten times for it, without even lifting a finger.

Shaking his head, the boy started walking towards the bus, but not before buying a couple of chocolates covered with a yellow foil, they were supposed to look like gold coins. he knew about two girls that loved it a lot.

When the bespectacled boy reached the bus he noticed that most of the occupants had gotten off. Weren't they supposed to be leaving? What was going on?

"What happened?" Agustin asked Pepa as she looked at the box of arepas that was now on the floor.

Empty...

"Someone ate all the arepas, how do you eat 30 arepas?" Pepa rolled her eyes, as a black cloud appeared above her. It was then that Felix appeared by her side to hold her hand, making her calm down a bit.

"The problem isn't that someone ate one arepa, the problem is that they ate all my healing arepas," Julieta explained.

"Surely it was the filthy rat your brother carries with him," Manuel accused as he turned to look at his friends. "Isn't that right boys?"

Bruno just squeezed his pet, protecting him from the accusing eyes.

As always, frog-face had the worst opinion of Bruno, well of anyone but him. What is it about that idiot that women like him even knowing how he was?

Before he could defend his friend, Agustin was interrupted by little voices.

"It's not true, Bruno didn't do anything, neither did Fergus!" Maria shouted.

"that's true!" Rogelio supported her.

"Yes, we saw him eat them and give some to his friends, even my brother ate a couple with them." Margarita finished by pointing to the real culprits.

Everyone watched them, moving from side to side, in various states of shock and annoyance.

"Why don't you shut it? You don't know anything." Manuel hissed, causing the little ones to cringe a little.

He always treated them badly, but acted like nothing ever happened in front of the girls, he was a total jerk. It's good that now they see him for what he really was.

"Hey, don't be mean to the kids, they're just trying to help," Susana scolded them.

"Shame on you guys," Daniela interjected, then all the girls nodded, even his number one fan.

"Okay, fine, sorry," Manuel apologized without a hint of remorse. "It's not as if Juliets couldn't do more later, we were hungry."

"Ohh, you also have magic Manuel? And you didn't tell us anything? incredible." Pepa said sarcastically. "You are going to cook 30 or so arepas, and when i eat them, they will take away any discomfort or wound? Wow" Pepa clapped slowly.

"Also, be grateful there are children here, if you bully my brother again it will be your end," Pepa threatened.

Sighing heavily, Julieta got up from where she sat and put the lid on the empty box so she could give Bruno a hug. "It's okay Pepi, when we get there I'll bake some more." The weight that was gone quickly returned.

"Julieta, this is supposed to be a vacation, it's only two days but still." her sister said annoyed, looking sideways at the thieves.

Shrugging her shoulders Julieta took the box and put it on the bus, "we'd better go, before it gets later, so I can finish early." Everyone began to climb back on in silence as they gave annoyed looks to the boys in the front row and pity looks to Julieta.

"I'll help you, Julieta" Margarita said as she turned around in her seat, to look at her.

Laughing, the brunette accommodated Margarita's disheveled hair, "don't worry, I'll be fine, you have fun and tomorrow we'll play together, ok?"

"Mmm, fine but at least take Mr. Bunny for a while he'll cheer you up." The little girl said as she gave Julieta her precious toy.

Actually it was not a bad idea... Mr. Bunny was very handsome, he was tall and thin, white and fluffy. And not only that, this cutie had a monocle, a little blue tie with a matching vest and a small moustache, he looked like someone she knew, except for the moustache.

Although, Agustin once told her he was thinking of letting it grow, Julieta was lucky to had been able to see him with one of those some time ago, it was a fake one because the boy didn't have too much facial hair just yet, even if he was in his 20's... but it looked so so good on him.

Blushing, Julieta thanked Margarita and hugged Mr. bunny to her chest, giving him a little kiss, it worked.

And so... another hour passed quickly.

------

I was only supposed to do a short story but I couldn't help myself that's why I did some stories BEFORE "A trip with a lot of surprises", there you will see the development of this relationship from enemies to lovers.

See you soon ✌️

Look who's going to eat some arepas right now 🤤🤤🤤

#agustin madrigal #encanto #the madrigals #fan fics #julieta madrigal

[sourpatchsamm]

The Sound of Falling Sand Pt. 5

Since you agreed to attend Julieta’s wedding with Bruno and the following meetups, the villagers have all been abuzz with rumors. At first, you expected malicious intent behind these rumors, but surprisingly the other villagers were teasing in nature. Their gazes soft as they nudged their husbands and wives to reminisce in young love, something that never failed to make you blush.

As it turns out, most of the villagers don’t hate Bruno Madrigal, or, at least, are silent in their dissent. Some have even openly said that they feel bad for the youngest Madrigal triplet. A gift to see the future is surely a heavy weight to carry, they say, especially one that focuses so clearly on unfortunate events. Older generations will tell you how it’s changed him over the years from a confident, albeit goofy boy to an skittish, self-deprecating young man. “His father’s smile is gone,” one particularly aged villager said. “He used to look so much like his father when he smiled, but now you rarely see it.”

Some have compared the change to his mother shortly after arriving in Encanto, having lost her husband. The glow in her eyes faded, dulled even as she nursed the babies in her arms; even as they grew into toddlers reaching for the comfort of a mother, teens seeking reassurance in themselves. You get the feeling that, even if there is a shine in her eyes once more, it isn’t the same as when she had the love of her husband. The thought twists your stomach in an unpleasant way, making you hope, pray that you’ll never have to face that same pain.

You have all these thoughts and more swirling around in you head like one of Bruno’s infamous visions as you walk to la casa Madrigal. Considering Bruno always met you at your house, you figured it only fair to finally ask to see him at his house. You didn’t quite know what to expect to be honest. You tried to imagine a normal Bruno bedroom, but the best you could conjure was a standard room with a bed, maybe a dresser, and probably a few vases holding sand or something. You wondered if he had anything to support his acting hobby, but couldn’t think of anything of use to that. Maybe he would have a little cage for his pet rat?

When you first reached the doorstep of the casita, you prepared yourself to knock, only to find that the doors opened willingly. You stumbled slightly, the shift in weight as your hand fazed through where the door would have been. What confused you even further, however, was the fact that no one opened the door for you. It just opened.

Pepa stormed though the room, looked at you like an alien walking the planet for the first time, and turned on her heel to find someone. “Who invited a villager over? Sorry dear, what your name?” Her green eyes, same as her brother’s look at you with such curiosity you couldn’t help but smile. “Y/N.” “Bruno! Julieta! Somebody!” She stomped up the stairs in obvious annoyance at being ignored. A few minutes of shuffling their awkwardly, Bruno pokes his head out from beyond the staircase and smiles fairly. “Hey, sorry about my sister. She’s been having a rough day.”

A smile graces your lips at the sight of him, and you take a few more steps into the house to meet him halfway in a hug. “It’s fine! I can’t imagine having to live with a gift like hers. You’d have to have such strict control of your emotions all the time or at least find suitable ways to let it all out! Could you imagine?” Bruno seemed to think about it for a minute before responding, his face tightening every few seconds almost as if to suggest he’s unhappy with the thought. “I couldn’t. In some ways, I think our gifts pressure us all, but no doubt Pepa has it rough.” You nod in agreement, “I couldn’t imagine living a life like you guys. You get to tell people their future and risk being the scapegoat for everyone’s problems, Julieta’s solely responsible for a whole village’s healthcare and wellbeing, and Pepa has to worry about a bad day turning into a hurricane that could wipe out everyone’s crops.” You two made it up the stairs and around the corner to a small staircase containing Bruno’s door. You stop for a minute to observe the golden, shivering carving in the wood. “Your door carving looks nothing like you, but it looks like I was spot on with the hourglass theme.”

Bruno flushes and rubs the back of his neck in embarrassment, “Yeah, I was waiting for someone to notice that. I guess my family is so used to seeing it they never questioned it, but I used to wonder if that’s how people really saw me.” You gave his hand a gentle squeeze, blush settling into your cheeks as well. He tenses, but waits for you to speak again, “Well, I think you look better than that, personally, but I imagine casita must have had to guess what you would look like at the time.” He nods, shrugging off the uncanny appearance and placing a hand on the door knob, “Ready to see my room?”

When Bruno first saw your room, he wasn’t surprised in the slightest. A bed, dresser, and small desk. The furniture wasn’t the expected part however. It was, but the part that really screamed at you was the colorful scribbling on everything. Your desk was covered in paint, something he didn’t know you did, only to find out you do pottery from time to time too. Your bed was covered in a blanket you patch-worked yourself with scraps of your favorite fabrics over time. Pillows embroidered with funky patterns that didn’t match you covers, but did. It was hard to explain. Your dresser had drawers half-open, overflowing with the fabric of clothes you deemed too cute to give away and kept for yourself. All in all, the room just felt like one Bruno could see you occupying.

Even though you had let him see your room plenty of times, even shared parts of yourself he hadn’t initially thought he’d ever get to know, he was in no way ready to share his space, but he was also strangely excited for it. On one hand, he was scared you would think his hobbies were dumb and uninteresting, maybe even too dorky for your liking, but on the other he was interested to see what you would make of him. A small part of himself even craved any scrap of validation that he was an interesting and worthy person that you would give, and you often did. There wasn’t a lack of moments where you found yourself calling Bruno out for his demeaning self-talk, urging him to change the tune in which he saw himself. You saw him as a genuinely sweet and lovable man. Yes, he was very dorky, but it was endearing to his character as you knew it just meant he was passionate about his interests. It made you want to become an interest of his.

You were aware of your little crush on Bruno Madrigal, and whether or not it led somewhere, you enjoyed the feeling of butterflies parading through your stomach as you lay with him in your bedroom talking about anything and everything. You would tell him about projects you were working on or interested to start, and he shared his stories with you. He would sometimes get so excited to tell you some plot twist that popped up in his head that you would catch him practically running to your house to tell you some days. Similarly, you would be jumping up and down in place as you remembered a project you finished and were particularly proud of. You never really had a best friend to share these sorts of things with, finding yourself busy after the death of your mamá and keeping the shop afloat in the wake of her passing. You were genuinely happy with your relationship to Bruno, and relished every minute with him you could.

Meeting eyes on the many stairs that lead to Bruno’s room, you whistled playfully and turned to Bruno with an amused smile. “You couldn’t think to give me a warning, much less a better way up? No wonder you’re so skinny.” He flushed and folded his arms protectively within his ruana. “Yeah, it’s definitely a climb. I don’t control the room though, just make sure you don’t leave anything down at the bottom or up at the top when you leave. It’s a long way back.” You wave your hand dismissively, “I could use the workout anyway. Let’s get climbing.”

The trek up started off quiet. Bruno was fiddling with his hands quietly while you were controlling your breathing pattern in hopes of preserving stamina. After a while though, you turned to look at him to see why he was so quiet, only to find he was lost in thought. Clearly, he was worried about something, and you would put money on it being that he was worried you wouldn’t like his room or maybe already hated it. “You know, I already like you for you. Anything you might have in your room is going to just be more of what makes you, you. And even if I don’t like what I see, you do, and that’s what matters.” You breathlessly huff out. On second thought, talking and climbing the stairs might not be a good idea, but one look at Bruno is enough to justify the ache in your lungs. He seems to visibly relax, although he still fiddles around anxiously, “I know, I just get so caught up in hoping that you won’t suddenly dislike me. I know it’s dumb to think that way, but sometimes I have to convince myself you wouldn’t hang out with me unless you liked me somewhat.” Oh, if only he knew.

You take a moment to respond, hoping to catch your breath first, but you don’t. So you stop to rest on the next step and turn back to Bruno. “That’s the anxiety speaking. You have nothing to worry about. If I had a problem with you, I would say it. I’m not gonna just up and leave without a word.” He nods wordlessly, seemingly too anxious to come up with something else to say, and sits beside you on the staircase. You take the time to catch your breath before turning back to Bruno. He still seems so anxious, so you stand up wordlessly and offer him a hand up. “Maybe we should save this for another day. We can work our way up if it helps. One, to build up my stamina for these stairs, and two, to help you feel more comfortable with having me around.”

He takes a moment to respond, seemingly conflicted. You patiently wait for him to conclude his thoughts before he finally speaks. “I just feel like it’s unfair that I get to see your room and hang out whenever I want but you’ve never seen mine.” You wave your hand dismissively, like you often do, and give him a reassuring smile. “If it really bothered me, I would climb these stairs all day. I don’t need to see your room in order to be your friend, and I’m not worried about things being “even.”” He fiddles with himself some more before meeting your eyes, “Are you sure though? I don’t want you to be upset at all.” You feel a little pang in your chest that makes you want to hug him. Sometimes, he just has a way of making you want to hold him and protect him from every little anxiety riddled thought that bothers him. “Positive. I’m the one who suggested it, Bruno.”

He takes some time again before walking down the stairs with you in tow. You find that going down is significantly easier than going up, and are able to easily keep a conversation. “Has Augustín proposed yet? I feel weird knowing it’s gonna happen, like I’ve watched the next season of everyone favorite telenovela and can’t spoil the finale.” Bruno smiles and shakes his head, “Imagine how it feels to life your whole life like that.” You shove his shoulder playfully, chuckling as you give him the stink eyes. “That must be your new favorite saying or something.” He grins mischievously, careful to avoid anymore shoving, even if he knows you’re just kidding around. “Seriously though, he hasn’t. I don’t get to know exactly when, just that it does in fact happen. I’m thinking it’s soon though. He’s been getting hurt a lot lately, and he gets clumsier the more nervous he gets.” You shake your head in disbelief, a small smile playing across your lips. “They really are a match made in heaven. It keeps me hopeful for when my future husband.”

Unnoticed by each other, a small tint colors both of your cheeks as you picture what your future lover will entail. Good thing neither of you can read minds, because you would both be caught red-handed thinking of each other. Bruno naturally gets more fidgety over the thought, though you’re too swept up in your own thoughts you don’t even notice you two reaching the bottom of the stairs. It really is quicker going down than going up.

At the exit to Bruno’s room is his mamá, Alma Madrigal, getting ready to enter his room. You notice that she didn’t even bother to knock, but don’t comment as their family dynamic isn’t your business to comment on. She seems taken aback to see you, however. She looks between the two suspiciously and scans your appearances for any signs of unsavory behavior. She seems to find none, as there wasn’t any said behavior taking place to begin with. “Brunito, who is your friend? I don’t think we’ve met.”

Bruno shifts nervously, growing more flustered at the moment. He didn’t usually act like this, and it’s strange to see him get this nervous around a family member much less. “Uh, well. You see. This is the s-seamstress you had me take the linens to. We chatted while she took our order down and we kind of hit it off.” You blush at his choice of words, and Bruno’s eyes widen slightly as well, “N-Not like that, though! We’re just good friends.”

Alma’s gaze is unwavering, unreadable. You see why Bruno gets so nervous. You yourself are feeling a bit sheepish. You wonder briefly if she is always like this to him, cold, calculating, almost as if she’s not really even there. You think back to what the villagers say sometimes behind her back. She never recovered after the death of Pedro. You can still see the pain in her eyes sometimes, like a fog that clouds her brain. You can see it, now that you think of it. If makes you shiver to think of the happy love that Julieta and Augustín have turning into something so sullen like Alma has.

You realize a bit too late that Alma is looking at you, almost as if she expecting you to confirm or deny his statement. You notice the shawl around her shoulders and perk up slightly, you recognize that black shawl. “If I remember correctly, that shawl is one of the pieces you had me fix up. The lacework is beautiful, so intrinsic to the structure of the body.” Alma’s face shifts, almost imperceptibly, but you caught it. She gives you a look that you can’t quite make out, but if almost seems as if she’s lifted her head out of the fog for a brief moment. “It was my mother’s. It’s one of the few things I have after… after los desplazados.”

Bruno and you both look away, faces hardening for different reasons, but due to the same cause. For Bruno, it’s much more personal, it’s the reason he doesn’t have a father, the reason he was given a gift in the first place. For you, it’s a story your parents would tell you when they felt the need to explain how lucky you all were. Your parents escaped safely, your mom even escaping with her mom and brother, but it was not an easy trip. They weren’t much younger than Alma when they made that same journey. Only for them, they met because of the displacements. It’s a bittersweet moment they share, and you relive through their eyes when they tell it. For Bruno and Alma, however, there was no light to be found in this times, and you know that there are many just like them that face the same history. It’s painful to think about, and the pain of it reflects in all of your faces. You notice the fog slip back over Alma, and you feel the need to hug her, but you know better.

“Anyway, I’m here to talk to you Bruno because I wanted to know about how your trip into the village went. How were the visions?” You turn to look at Bruno, and see his lips narrow nervously. They weren’t good, that much was clear. “Some of the villagers were upset. They don’t seem to like me very much because I don’t always have good new to share.” Alma takes his words in before shaking her head abruptly, “That’s no excuse Bruno. You know your powers better than they do. You should be looking for positive things. If they don’t like you, it’s because you aren’t trying hard enough.”

You almost couldn’t believe her words. You were almost sure you heard her wrong, but looking between her and Bruno it became clear that this wasn’t the first time she’s gotten on him for this. Bruno tried to stand up for himself, something that surprises you. “W-Well… I‘ve actually recently found out it’s all tied to my emotions and mental state. When I’m struggling, bad things appear. When things are good and I’m doing good, I see positive things. I can’t always control it th-“ Alma stops him in his tracks with a wave of her hand. She looks disapprovingly at him as she waves her hand to the house, “That is no excuse. You are doing well. We have this home, we have each other, you are fed and clothed. You have no reason to struggle because you are not struggling. I will not have any more talk of you being ungrateful in this house.” The silence after her statement is heavy. She looks at him wryly, “Am I understood?” You can’t believe what you’re hearing, how unafraid she is to say this all in front of you, How little she cares for Bruno’s well-being at her own words.

“How dare you.” The words leave your mouth before you fully realize they’re yours. Both parties turn to you with a look of surprise before Bruno’s falls to fear; Alma’s, anger. You find you yourself are angry, and the impact of the unexpected emotion surprises you, but you speak anyway. “I know you know better than anyone the effect emotions can have on people, even people who have everything they need. The villagers talk of you, you know, about the depression you had after the death of your husband, Pedro.” His name hits her in the face, and you can’t read the expression on her face that follows in its wake. She looks like she wants to say something but is too indisposed after the mention of her late husband. “I know that was hard on you, I can see it on your face. Even with all of these blessings: healthy children, a beautiful home, plenty of food, people who care about you: you are struggling yourself to get over his loss. I know you are. Maybe instead of tearing your son down for sharing your struggles, you help him overcome them since you clearly know how hard it is to rise above it all.”

You take a deep breath, overwhelmed by the words that have erupted from your anger, but you do not take them back. Alma looks as if she wants to smack the ever living shit out of you, and you half expect her too. You are instead interrupted by a sharp wind blowing at your clothes mercilessly. A light drizzle pin pricks your skin, and a cloud swirls above your head. Pepa stands behind Alma, just having reached the top of the stairs leading to Bruno’s room and hearing your outburst. She wears an expression that screams, ‘Oh SHIT. This is the kind of drama you watch from a distance.’ Alma takes notice as well, and turns to you again with a resigned look, anger still bubbling below the surface and behind her words. “What would you suggest then? Since you can see think so clearly.”

The pause is almost louder than Pepa’s wind in your ears. Bruno’s face is expressionless, almost as if he has mentally checked out of the conversation long ago. You wouldn’t be surprised if he did, clearly this isn’t the first time Alma has berated him so harshly. You think, almost scared your words left you with your last outburst, before it clicks. “We help him. If he needs the mental support, we give it. On the days that that doesn’t work, and there will be days it doesn’t work, we find a way to phrase the bad visions as a good thing. A warning perhaps, if they don’t make the changes necessary to prevent them, bad things will happen. There’s nothing else you can do after that. Sometimes, some people will always find something to blame all their problems on if it absolves themself.”

Alma gives you a look that says she’s not happy with you, but mulls over your words anyway. She looks to Bruno, who has since checked back in and his beside himself with nerves. “Cálmate, Brunito. Do you think that will work?”

Bruno isn’t happy with the attention shift onto him. He seems apprehensive at the thought of confirming or denying your solution, but with all eyes on him, it’s clear he has to pick something. “It’s the best we can do. Unfortunately, she’s right. You can’t appease everyone, even if they’re the reason for all their problems to begin with.” Alma looks to the three of you slowly, clearly tired of this conversation. She gives you one last disdainful look before whispering her final words on the matter, “Then, do it. Don’t say I never bothered to help you.” She turns around sharply and leaves.

The words tear the anger inside of you open again and you feel like chasing after her for a moment, before you stop yourself. You should stay here for Bruno. Besides, his demons with his mother, though concerning as a best friend, aren’t your problems directly. Opening that can of monkeys for him might be worse than simply waiting for him to come to terms with it himself. Turning your attention back to him, he is looking at you, speechless. You look at Pepa, who is still whipping the wind around her frantically, she mirrors Bruno’s expression. For a second, you can see how they’re triplets even though they look vastly different.

Finally, after a solid few seconds of staring at the two, eyes darting back and forth. Pepa speaks up, “I don’t think anyone has talked to my mamá like that in a very long time.” You flush at the sentiment, almost feeling ashamed for the way you acted, but you know you wouldn’t have done it differently. “I just didn’t like the way she spoke to Bruno, you know? I think you’d know better than anyone just how taxing it can be to have to control your emotions all the time because if your gift.”

Pepa’s face softens, and the wind settles almost right away, leaving a faint billow to her skirt and Bruno’s ruana. “She’s had it rough ever since our father died. It’s easier, I think, for us. We never knew him, so it’s hard to mourn a loss you never really had, ya know?” Bruno shakes his head, clearly disagreeing. “You say that, but you’ve never had to learn how to shave by yourself. You’ve never had to deal with the awkward questions you have about getting older and a clueless mother who never had to worry about that stuff. We’ve all had it rough one way or another.”

There’s another silence after that. You reach for Bruno’s hand, but he pulls it away before you can meet. He shakes his head, clearly sorry for the look of rejection in your eyes at the action, but unable to handle it at the moment. “Maybe you should head home. I’m not mad, but it’s definitely been a day, and I could use some time to myself.”

You try to understand, but you can’t help but take it personally. You worry you might have overstepped and that Bruno might no longer want to be near you. You were only trying to help him. Yes, it’s a tricky situation, but no one deserves to be spoken to like that. Surely, he knows he shouldn’t have been treated like that and you only wanted to protect him. You nod numbly, feet moving to leave, but you feel yourself mentally lingering long after you’ve left the Madrigal house and entered your own home. You ignore your father’s concerned questioning entirely and walk straight to your bed only to collapse in a heap. You stay there for a while, still mentally replying the moments in your head over and over again

#bruno madrigal fanfic #bruno madrigal x reader #encanto #encanto fanfic #disney fic #disney #disney encanto

[zafirosreverie]

Tía Y/N (Madrigal triplets & Reader) part 2

Part 1

_____________________

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!"

"I WASN’T EVEN PART OF THIS!"

"FÉLIX, I WANT A DIVORCE!"

"JULIETA, COME BACK HERE!"

“YES JULI, COME BACK! 

“NEVER!”

“SHE DOESN’T HIT YOU THAT HARD!”

"BETTER YOU THAN ME!"

“YOU’RE THE ELDEST! YOU HAVE TO SACRIFICE FOR YOUR BABY SIBLINGS”

“I KNOW NO SIBLINGS BUT THE ONE WITH THE CHANCLA BEHIND US, YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN”

“JULIETAAAAAAAA”

Alma tried not to laugh and maintain a serious face, but it was quite difficult when her triplets, all 50 years old with their own families, ran as a soul that the devil carries to avoid what everyone is afraid of: la chancla.

She didn't really know what was happening, it had been a quiet and normal morning, with the whole family taking a day off to enjoy each other's company. She had been embroidering with Mirabel in the living room (she did it more and more often, in an attempt to fix the relationship with her younger granddaughter), when Isabela and Camilo had entered laughing out loud, with Felix and Luisa smiling behind them.

They did not even have time to ask what happened before three green, yellow and blue spots flew next to them, with a very angry Y/N yelling from upstairs.

Alma was no fool, she knew that you, her eldest daughter and the one who reminded her most of Pedro (at least in appearance), had long taken the role that corresponded to her in the life of the triplets. On the one hand, she was happy they had you, but on the other it hurt her heart and guilt consumed her for knowing that she was never really present in her children's life to the point where they had to turn to you for help.

She never knew when Bruno had told you that he didn't want to have his own family, that he was not interested in having a partner of any kind. She wasn't present when Pepa had run to you on the first day of her period, or in the long night talks about crushes when she met Félix. She didn't even know that Julieta liked women too.

Just a few months ago she had discovered that Pepa calmed down when she was caressed, that Bruno liked to play the guitar or that Julieta loved painting and that the beautiful pictures in your room were made by her. In truth, she didn't know her own children. But you did.

You had been with them on every step of the road, even when they took different paths, you had never let them be lost for a long time. A task that you later performed with the grandchildren as well. Isabela and Dolores had learned to walk with you, Luisa always looked up to you especially when she had a problem, Camilo told you the secrets that he could never tell his parents, Antonio still followed you around all day when he was feeling sad and Mirabel...for the girl you were the whole world. There was absolutely nothing that she didn't tell you.

You were the only other family member besides her grandmother who didn't have a gift, you understood what it was to grow up with magical siblings when there was nothing special in you, you understood the looks of people's judgment, murmurs and teasing. That was why you had made your special mission to make the girl protected from all that.

Little by little, you wove a warm blanket of love and humility, you taught her that she did not need to have a gift to be a light, to shine and be a source of comfort. Mirabel could be identical to Julieta in appearance, but she was definitely a coal copy of you in everything else.

It took her too long to realize it, but now Alma understood that the miracle, the magic, was not what united them, that it was only a feature that most of them shared and nothing else. The answer was you. Really, you were the angel who kept the family together.

...And that's why no one should mess with you, unless they wanted all of heaven's strength chasing them. Or that it was one of the triplets. 50 years and they had not yet learned not to make you angry? Or perhaps it was their way of getting your attention when they felt you were abandoning them for the grandchildren.

A silly thought perhaps, but children will always be children, and the age did not matter, they would always need even if it was just a hug from their mother. And you were definitely the triplets' mother, no matter how much it hurt her.

"What do you think happened?" Mirabel whispered, taking her out of her thoughts

"I don't know" Alma smiled "but it must have been bad if your mother is running too"

It was true. Of the three, Julieta was usually the one that was spared from your fury. It was no secret to anyone that she was your favorite sister/daughter/family/person, despite Pepa and Bruno's anger, who would always get offended when her sister avoided your scolding.

"What about Julieta?! She also helped with the joke!" they would said

"Maybe, but she looks cute doing it" you'd shrug "besides, who could be mad at this precious face?" You would add while taking your sister by the cheeks

Your younger siblings would cross their arms and looked at you with an annoyed pout while a black cloud hovered on the redhead, and Julieta simply let you use her cheeks as a squishy and fill her face with kisses (something she took from you and did with her niece, nephews and daughters too), while she smirked at them. 

The only times she actually got scolded was when she wasn't taking care of her own health. So either Julieta just wanted to do exercise or whatever the hell they did was really stupid and dangerous.

"YOU'RE ALL SO GROUNDED!!" You growled when you managed to get to the first floor.

You cursed Casita for siding with the triplets and letting them run while it trapped you on the second floor, but that didn't mean they were safe. Nope, there was no escape. 

"What happened, mija?" Alma asked you walking up to you

"Your mocosos share the same fried brain cell and unfortunately for them, it wasn't Julieta's turn to have It" you growled 

Your mother laughed and rolled her eyes fondly. She knew that you loved your siblings more than anything and that any insult you might have for them would never come out of the heart, just from a motherly anger, and there was something she could think that this was about. 

"Did they try to test Julieta's gift with poisoned food again?" She asked 

"They tried to test my patience" you answered "they used arsenic, mom. ARSENIC!"

Okay, that was new. Alma felt bad for thinking it, but she could have expected something that stupid and irresponsible from Pepa and Bruno, but Julieta? She knew better than that, she wasn't a silly girl who didn't know what arsenic could do. She must have been really desperate to get your attention if she let her siblings drag her into that.

"How are they even alive?" She gasped

"Félix caught them before they could even finish the empanadas and ran to tell me" you sighed "and I'm glad he did"

"Of course, I don't want to thinking what could have happened to them"

"And because now I can kill them myself" 

Alma looked at you for a moment. You were frowning and looked ready to hit whoever stood in front of you, but she was still your mother and she could see the fear in your eyes, and honestly, she felt it too. She followed your gaze to see her younger children still running and she made a note to scold them right after you.

You felt your mom's aura changing and knew she was on your side, so you smirked and took your sandal with a single move, your eyes never leaving your adorably stupid siblings.

"Who do you want me to hit?" You asked, just for fun 

Alma thought about it for a second. Julieta would definitely get the worst scolding once they were back for letting the other two convince her to do something stupid, but you both knew it hadn't been her idea. It probably wasn't even Bruno's, but there was someone who had never feared death nor god. 

"The middle one" she told you 

You nodded and focused on your victim for a moment before your chance flew directly at her. Your smirk never left your face and grew even more when Pepa fell to the ground after it hit her right in the head. Bruno and Julieta didn't even look at their fallen sister, they just ran faster to save their lives. 

"AND YOU BETTER BRING IT BACK TO ME, YOUNG LADY" You yelled at the redhead while the whole family laughed behind you. 

These three would be the end of you one day, you were sure of that. But god knew you wouldn't have them any other way. Besides, they were your cute little babies, so you guessed that gave them some points too.

#reader insert #x reader #madrigal triplets #madrigal triplets & reader #julieta madrigal #bruno madrigal #pepa madrigal #imagine #encanto preferences #encanto imagine #encanto x reader #encanto #tía y/n

[sundaybee]

One More Time (Julieta x Fem!Reader) Pt 11

As always I am not a native Spanish speaker, so if I butchered a sentence or word let me know so I may correct it.

This one ended up being super long so I hope it’s something you all find worth reading.

Part 11 of 20

Pt 12

I did not make the gif.

Things to note: Julieta is a widow. Reader is 30. Talks about depression early on.

Please don’t tear it apart too harshly!

You and Julieta joined the others. Julieta carried dessert while you carried plates and utensils. The rest of the night was pleasant and everyone seemed to have given up on their teasing. Your quick wit was too difficult to match and Julieta was thankful for it. 

“It’s late, I should head out.” You said rising from your seat. The children had since left to do what they pleased for the rest of the night leaving Alma, her triplets, Felix, and yourself out in the garden for an additional two hours.

“Lo siento we shouldn’t have kept you this late.” Julieta apologized.

“You have nothing to apologize for, Señora. I’m a grown woman who chose to stay out late.” You replied, smoothing out your dress.

“Bruno, accompany Y/N home. Make sure she makes it there safely.” Alma said to her youngest.

Julieta felt knots grow in her stomach. She loved her brother, she loved him more than words could articulate. Still the idea of him walking you home and not herself left her feeling jealous.

“Oh no need Señora, I’m actually not going home. I have some work to finish up at the store.”

“You really are attached to your work.” Pepa said rising with the help of her husband.

“I love that store more than you realize.” You said with a smile.

“Allow me to escort you to the door.” Julieta said and rose. You faced the family and smiled brightly.

“Gracias. I truly enjoyed my time tonight.”

“De nada, you are welcome in our home anytime.” Alma said, Bruno helping her to her feet. You nodded at her, bid them a final farewell and left with Julieta.

“You have a lovely family. I can see why my parents adored them.” You said as the two of you approached the door.

“I’m quite lucky with who I share a roof with.” 

“I’m sure they feel the same way.”

Once at the door Julieta had to ask.

“Are you really going to work?”

“Sí, I just have a few things I need to finish to prepare for tomorrow's shipment, it shouldn’t take more than an hour at most.”

“Well, don’t work too late. Get some rest.” 

“Okay mom.” You teased before leaning in for a hug.

Julieta forced a smile but the statement hit deeper than you could imagine. She had tried to avoid the obvious, the age difference, and pretend that the two of you were on the same level. Life had to continue to remind her she was old, she was a mother, she was crazy to allow her heart to flutter at every embrace.

Pulling back you kept the smile on your face but you knew something was bothering the woman. The hug felt strained and you had grown used to the warm affection Julieta gave you and this wasn’t it.

“Gracias, dinner was wonderful. You really are the best cook in the whole Encanto.”

Juleita blushed at the compliment but was quick to shake it off.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’ll gladly cook for you anytime.”

Now it was your turn to blush and to hide your face you turned to grab your bag that casita had deposited on a nearby table.

“Maybe I’ll hold you to it Señora.”

“How many more times will I need to ask you to call me JuIieta?” She asked, placing her hands on her hips.

“At least one more time.” You replied in typical fashion and smiled, earning an eye roll from the healer.

You bid the woman goodbye and left, smiling the whole way to the shop. You never once questioned the sounds around you and the eyes that followed you through town.

Julieta shut the door and sighed dreamily. Never knowing who was lurking she quickly made her way to her room. As she stood looking at her reflection in the vanity she lifted her hand and stared at the band. 

“Ay Agustín. I miss you. I miss you more than anyone will ever know…but I think this needs to be in a place closer to my heart now.” 

Julieta removed the ring and dug through her jewelry box and found a thin chain. Sliding the band on it she clasped it shut around her neck and slipped it under her dress. The metal felt cool against her skin. 

It felt weird, she had worn that band every day since he put it on her finger. Her hand felt naked without it, but she knew it was in the right place now. 

——

Weeks turned into months and for three months life progressed as normal. You sold your books, you made Julieta lunch, you enjoyed the company of more Madrigals who came for books. For the first time since your parents died you felt like you were a part of a family.

“Why do you avoid talking about yourself?” Julieta asked. She had carefully taken note of every time you changed the subject when she asked anything remotely close to a personal question over the course of the past two weeks.

“No I don’t.” You replied, handing her her coffee and a plate and taking your seat.

“I tried a new cookie recipe, let me know how it is.”

“See there you go again. Why won’t you share anything with me? Do you not trust me?” Julieta asked, placing both the drink and plate off to the side.

“Of course I trust you! I just….don’t find myself very interesting.” You said, your hands immediately twisting the fabric of your dress.

Julieta was quick to reach out and take your hands, stopping the nervous action.

“I happen to find you very interesting.”

You blushed and looked away, Julieta’s hands suddenly feeling hot in yours. You searched for the fixed point that always brought you back to reality but it was no longer on her left hand. 

“I just want to get to know my dear friend better.” 

You looked back at the woman, her eyes filled with sincerity.

“Alright, what do you want to know?”

For the next hour you spoke. You spoke about your childhood, your parents, the store you grew up in and how much it meant to you, your morning routine, how much you loved your mothers empanadas, and you even went as far to admit your intense fear of thunderstorms. 

“When I was very little I got lost while exploring the forest. I couldn’t have been missing for more than two or so hours but I was so young and it felt so long and during that time a bad storm rolled in.” You admitted, remembering the day as if it was yesterday. 

“I was so scared and the water poured down on me and the thunder was just so loud. Lightning struck the tree I was hiding under and a massive branch fell and struck me.” You pulled your hands free from Julieta’s to hoist up your dress to your thigh revealing an ugly scar. 

Julieta stared at the grotesque mark. It was large, larger than a scar that had decades to heal should look. She cursed herself that she never knew about it. You seemingly read her thoughts and continued.

“I think in the confusion of everything and in my parents' relief that they had found me they just didn’t think to bring me to you for healing. They just took me home and vowed I’d never be lost and alone again.” 

You lowered your dress and sighed at the irony of it.

“A few times I tried to face my fear and went out in some storms. I think I traumatized myself more.” You awkwardly chuckled and forced yourself not to mess with your dress.

“Now when I hear the thunder during the day I just close the shop and find a spot to curl up and wait it out; and as childish as it sounds at night I hide under my covers and wait.” 

You were absolutely embarrassed to be admitting this to the woman but she looked at you so softly and reached out again to take your hands.

“Thank you for sharing with me. I’m honored to know more about you.”

The blush overtook your face immediately and you looked away. Your heart raced wildly and you wanted nothing more than to hug the woman, but the ding above your shop door interrupted any chance of that.

“You are far too kind with your words.” You said, finally looking back at her for a moment before rising to greet the customer.

#julieta madrigal #julieta madrigal x reader #julieta x fem reader #julieta x reader #reader insert #Encanto #One More Time

[palskippah]

Trillizos Madrigal!

#encanto #pepa madrigal #julieta madrigal #bruno madrigal #my art #están medios mal proporcionados aklsdjas #se hace lo que se puede #:'v #julieta pepa y bruno i love you all

[cheridraws]

Shout out to everyone making content of the triplets, you’re doing god’s work

#I love all of you #every time I see it I gain 12 temporary hit points #and a week of seratonin #just #yes #y e s #encanto #pb&j madrigal #bruno madrigal #pepa madrigal #julieta madrigal

[justanisabelakinnie]

questions 20 through 22.

Thank you! omg.

20. Aside from Isabela and the wcf calling Dolores “princesa”(because she is a princess and nobody can prove me wrong!), there’s also the fact that the scarf Dolores wears in canon was given to her by Pepa for her twenty-first birthday(also I made her birthday February 5th because that chapter was written before her actual birthday was confirmed; I chose it because it’s the same date as Adassa’s birthday!). 21. If Jared Bush read AIHY?! I would freak the fuck out and hope he likes it, but he probably wouldn’t like the way Camilo is written. That’s just about it though(and I don’t condone any of Camilo’s shitty actions, mind you, but still). Ultimately I would be glad because it would mean that the story gets more clout and then I’d have more motive to continue writing it! Not that I’m not still gonna finish it though but still. 22. Hmm…

• for Dolores, I’m thinking Heather by Conan Gray, or I’m Not Her by Clara Mae. But Adassa also wrote a really kickass unrequited love song in Spanish called “Porque Ella Y No Yo”(why her and not me?), which isn’t inherently about Dolores but it fits her so well(I only really understand the chorus without a translation tho lol). I can’t choose omg. • Mirabel gets “I Know It’s Today”(from Shrek: The Musical) all the way! She’s too much of a hopeless romantic for it to not be the case! • Camilo would get “LEMONS” by Shawn Wasabi. Obviously. ‘Cuz he’s a sour, jealous little bitch lol. “I just think she’s kinda ugly, I’m not trying to be cruel 🤷🏾‍♀️“. • Isabela…hmm…that one’s a toughie. I’m thinking either Alyssa Greene from The Prom or Angry Too by Lola Blanc. The primas-hermanas are my favorite characters and def the most interesting and developed in the fic, so it’s understandable that there’d be so many songs that I feel fit them. Luisa I would consider “Lucky” by Twice(no, not the KPOP TWICE, different Twice) with how she tries to cheer Dolores up(especially later on, as you will see), and for Bruno the song “Stuck in a Room” by Bo Burnham really reminds me of how he struggles to keep himself sane and happy while isolated. Idk about Pepa, Alma, or Julieta tho.