DISC: I DO NOT own any of the characters from Elena of Avalor. They belong to Craig Gerber! I do however own the idea for this story.
Enjoy!

A/N: This is my first solo multi chapter EOA story. Please be kind.

"More Important Than a Meeting"

Chapter 1

Sixteen-year-old Elena Flores glanced around at her familia. Her ten-year-old sister, Isabel, was sitting next to her, while their grandparents and cousin sat across from them. She was grateful to have her familia back-well most of them. Suddenly, her gaze travelled unbidden to two empty chairs in the far right corner of the table. Squeezing her eyes shut, she could see her parents sitting in them just as they had done the week before Shuriki tore their familia apart. Reaching subconsciously for the amulet of Avalor, Elena remembered she had given it to Sofia. Had it really been four months since she and her familia had been freed? It felt like yesterday. A lot had happened in those four months. Elena had met and befriended Naomi Turner, the harbormaster's daughter, as well as Mateo and Gabe. Isa had started fourth grade with a wonderful teacher named Andrea Ortega. As for Elena, she was focused on learning how to rule her kingdom. She blinked back tears as the realization hit her. She shouldn't be ruling at sixteen. This second realization sent a shiver down her spine. Her parents were really gone. And it was her fault. Guilt bubbled in her stomach, making her swallow hard all of a sudden. Taking a deep breath, she was successful in getting rid of the nausea.

"Elena? Elena…Are you okay?"

Elena blinked a few times. Coming out of her reverie, she was met by the concerned brown eyes of her little sister.

"Elena, que estas mal?" Isabel inquired.

"Estas es Nada, Isa. Estoy bien," Elena tried. Seeing Isabel raise her eyebrows, she sighed. "Estoy consada." Turning to their grandmother, she declared, "That was delicioso," with that, she ate the last bite of rice and beans with chicken.

"Gracias, mija," Louisa smiled at her. "Would you and Isabel mind doing the dishes?"

"Sure," Elena nodded. Turning to her sister, she proposed, "How about it, Isa? Then we can have hermana tiempo."

"Okay!" Isabel agreed.

Once the sisters were alone, they started the small task.

The two worked in comparable silence, Elena humming a song as she washed while her sister dried. Glancing over at her sister, she could tell something was on Isabel's mind. Isabel's eyes were darting around and she was working quickly as though wanting to finish as soon as possible.

"That's the last one," Elena announced, putting the last dish on the counter.

"Huh? What did you say?" Isabel asked.

"That was the last dish," Elena frowned in concern. Putting the dish towel down, she went over to her younger sister. Pulling her into her arms, she kissed her forehead. "Isa, is everything okay? I know it's going to take some getting used to, us being free and everything."

Isabel nodded.

"Estoy bien," she assured her. "I'm just…tired. It's been a long day."

Elena nodded. Somehow, she knew her sister had just lied to her. Pushing the hurt down, she forced herself to be patient. She had gotten lots of practice while being trapped in Sofia's amulet. She would just have to wait for Isabel to come to her.

"Do you wanna go for a ride on Skylar with me?" Elena offered.

"No thanks. I think I'm gonna go read for a while," with that, Isabel turned to leave.

"Isa, wait!" Elena called after her. She watched Isabel turn back to face her. "Te quiero pase lo que pase."

"I love you too, " she softly replied.

"What did I say?" Elena asked the empty room. She was completely confused by her sister's reaction. Leaving the dining hall, she went in the direction of her sister's bedroom. Knocking, she entered. Going over to the bed, she sat down next to the ten-year-old. Resting her hand on her sister's back, she spoke. "I'm sorry if I hurt you with my words."

"You didn't," Isabel tearfully assured her. She let out a sob as more tears flowed.

"Talk to me," Elena softly requested, "por favor. You always can. Nothing's changed between us. At least I hope it hasn't."

Isabel shook her head.

Elena's heart clenched as she and Isabel locked eyes. The tears she saw made her blink back her own. These tears weren't kid ones. They were full of long held pain and fear. What's worse, she was responsible for them.

"Isa, que es eso?" Elena gently inquired.

"The last time you said that to me, you…you…" her voice trailed off in a sob.

"I didn't come back," Elena softly realized.

Isabel nodded, tears flowing freely down her cheeks.

"Isa, bente aqui…" Elena pulled her sister into her arms. Kissing the top of her head, she ran a hand through her hair. She started speaking to her softly in Spanish, hoping her words of comfort would ease her sister's fears and pain.

"I'm not going anywhere," Elena assured her in English. "I promise." She ran a hand through her hair as Isabel buried her face in her chest.

"Don't say that!" Isabel cried. "You can't promise that!"

"I can in this case because Shuriki is gone for good. I destroyed her wand," Elena explained. "I'm back for good. You have me."

"I missed you!" She sobbed.

"I missed you too, Isa. There wasn't a day that went by when I didn't think of you. Te quiero."

"I love you too," Isabel replied.

"Tell you what? Why don't I sleep in here with you tonight," Elena offered.

Isabel wiped her eyes.

"Ya-you don't have to do that. We have our own rooms. You probably need time to yourself."

"I want to," Elena told her.

"Okay," Isabel accepted.

*****

"Do you think I'll be able to meet Sofia?" Isabel asked. Their grandmother had just kissed them both good-night. Now the two sisters were alone in Isabel's room.

"I'm not sure. Maybe," Elena yawned as she spoke.

"Buenos noches. I Love you," Isabel mumbled as her eyes closed. She accepted Elena's hug and returned it. Lying back down, she let her eyes close once again. Feeling Elena lie down beside her, she relaxed even more. With that, the two sisters fell asleep.

"Elena! Elena! No! No!" Isabel ran through the palace in desperate need to find her sister. As she rounded the corner into the hall that lead to the dining room, angry orange flames greeted her. Watching them build in intensity, Isabel gulped. Feeling someone pull her to the ground, she screamed, but relaxed when she heard a familiar voice.

"Isa, esta bien Follow me! Don't let go!"

Isabel obeyed her sister without question. As they got closer to safety, Isabel's grip on her sister's arm started to slip.

"Elena! Elena, I can't hold on!" she cried.

"Isa, whatever you do, don't let go!" Elena ordered. With that, she lifted her sister onto Skylar and jumped on herself.

Isabel tried to hold onto the jacwin's fur, but her hands kept slipping. As they hit a bend, she felt herself falling off. As she fell, she screamed, reaching out for her sister's hand.

"Elena!"

****

Isabel shot up in bed, tears streaming down her face. Letting out a scream of terror, she cried out for the one person she prayed was still there.

"ELENA!"

****

Over in the next bed, Elena sat up with a start. She had moved over to the daybed in the night, wanting to give Isabel her space.

"Huh? Wha-what's…que esta…" Sitting up, she pushed hair out of her face. Hearing sobbing, she turned in that direction. Recognizing it, she was fully awake instantly. Standing, she was at her younger sister's side in seconds. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, she pulled Isabel into her arms. Running a hand through her hair, Elena soothed her with words, hoping she would tell her what had scared her. Feeling Isabel push herself into her, she continued to soothe her. As her purple pj top became wet, her heart broke.

"Isa, esta bien. You're safe. I have you now. I'm here…" Elena soothed.

Isabel responded by tightening her hold.

"Que estas mal?" Elena inquired.

"It doesn't matter," Isabel tearfully declared.

"If it has you crying around two in the morning, it matters," her sister countered. Then added, "It matters to me. You matter to me. tu tiene mal swenio?"

"Yes!" Isabel sobbed.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" Elena offered.

Isabel took a shaky breath.

"There was a fa-fire…you rescued me, but I fell off Skylar!" Isabel let out a sob.

"You're safe now," Elena assured her, "yo te tengo."

Can I stay here with you?" Isabel asked after she was done explaining.

"Of course. You never have to ask that," Elena kissed her sister's forehead. "I love you. Let's try to get some more sleep."

"No puedo dormier!" Isabel confessed.

"Would it help if I sung you Mami's lullaby?" Elena offered.

"You still remember it?" Isabel's eyes grew wide.

"Of course!" with that, Elena started singing the lullaby. She had barely made it to the second verse when she felt Isabel become heavy in her arms. Glancing down, she discovered her little sister drifting back to sleep. Kissing her forehead, Elena got comfortable. "Sweet dreams, Isa," with that, Elena soon joined her younger sister in sleep.