I'm going to attempt to make a multi-chapter fic out of this so bear with me! No idea how often I will be able to update, but I will do my best. This takes place immediately after the 'Song of the Sirenas' special.

The Definition of Family

The tears on Esteban's face were as a hot as the flames dancing in the fireplace. Having given up on sleep hours ago, he had been sitting across from the fire as if it's warmth would somehow be a comfort; in truth, the chill he felt was something no earthly fire could extinguish. His hands would occasionally dig their nails into the arms of his chair to keep them from shaking. Haunting images raced through his mind: ones of the past, present, and the (imagined, worst-case-scenario) future.

Shuriki taking over the kingdom. His family being torn apart.

My fault.

They would hate him. Cast him out. He'd be nothing more but a treacherous villain to them.

It's all mine...

This wasn't his first restless night. He had thought that now with Shuriki being defeated for good, it would put an end to his inner torment, the bouts of anxiety that plagued him in the middle of the night when he was alone with his thoughts.

"But I am familia!" "You have no idea what that word means."

That's what Elena had said to Cristobal before he was imprisoned. If he could be sentenced for his small part in this debacle, what more, greater punishment would be reaped upon-

A knock at his door startled Esteban out of his thoughts, quickly wiping at his face with his sleeve. He cleared his throat so he could answer, "Yes?", in his most normal-sounding voice.

Elena's face appeared after she creaked the door open, giving him a sheepish smile. "Hey...I see you couldn't sleep either. Mind if I...?"

Esteban's heart seized up at her unspoken request. This was not the best time for her to visit, but how could he possibly deny her? He waved his hand to reluctantly allow her entrance. She smiled a little brighter, Esteban barely able to look at her. He stared intently at the fire while she pulled up an extra chair beside him.

Elena let out a deep sigh as she settled in. "So...quite the day we had, huh?"

"Yes, it was," he answered her tidily.

"I'm so glad it's finally over. We can actually go home tomorrow without fear of Shuriki attacking us ever again. I just...still can't believe Cristobal..." Her voice was filled with disappointment as it trailed off.

"I am sorry, Elena," was all Esteban could say. "I had no idea he was involved."

If Shuriki had been paying Cristobal this entire time without Esteban's knowledge, what else did she do that he was not aware of? He really had been played the fool. Why did he ever believe anything she had said to him?

"I know," Elena smiled softly. "I'm not blaming you."

She reached her hand out to lay on top of her cousin's. He hissed his breath out sharply when he felt her hand, his eyes squeezing shut. It was like being branded with a hot iron. He didn't deserve this kindness.

"Esteban?" Elena frowned at him. "Hey, are you okay? What's wrong?"

Her concern for him broke his heart. His chest contracted as the panic he had been trying to suppress finally overwhelmed him. He couldn't live like this anymore, the stress was going to kill him, all this guilt, this loathing, it was going to kill him, it was-

The most raw, feral sob that Elena had ever heard came out of her cousin's throat, and it would haunt her the rest of her life. He ripped his hand away from her so it could join his other one in burying his face. He shook violently all over as he rocked in his seat, doing nothing else but crying.

Elena was at a loss. She tried to wrap her arms around him, but he shrugged away. "Esteban, please, talk to me, I can't help unless-"

"Shuriki came because of me!"

His words came like a slap in the face. Elena stared at him quietly as she tried to process what he just said. Esteban slapped his hand over his mouth, feeling nauseated that those vile words had come out of his mouth. Elena felt lightheaded, her hand going to her forehead. "Esteban..."

"I'm sorry, Elena, I'm so, so sorry," he cried, unable to stop himself now that he'd started. He slid out of his chair, staying on his knees as years of internalized agony poured out of him. "Victor told you the truth at the carnaval, and you told me you didn't believe him-"

"Cousin, please, I can't..." She had started crying too, shakily getting to her feet. "I don't want to hear this..."

"And I wish that it were true, I wish he were lying, but it's my fault, Elena..." He shook his head at himself in disgust. "It's my fault..."

She took a step back. Her parents...the curse... "Don't do this, not tonight, please..."

He sensed her discomfort and all his fears intensified. Oh God, why did he say anything, why didn't he leave things alone, he made things worse, why couldn't he let the past be in the past and just move on like everyone else had, why was he torturing them all like this, why-

"Elena, I never meant anyone to get hurt, please believe me." He forced himself to look up at her with his tear-soaked face. "I'm sorry, I-"

Elena couldn't take it anymore. This was too much. With a choked sob of her own, she turned and ran out of the room, leaving her cousin to wallow alone.

"Don't leave me, please, Elena, please," he begged her before she shut the door on him. He heard the faint sound of her footsteps running down the hall. His hands clutched at his chest, his racing heart pounding with despair.

This was it. This was the end. She would surely tell their grandparents, Isabel, possibly her friends and everyone else. He would get either imprisoned or executed for this. His last view of his family would be their heartbroken faces, wondering how he could have done this to them.

His worst nightmare was coming true.