This is based on my theory that A. all three Madrigal sisters (Isabela, Luisa, and Mirabel) are queer and B. that Luisa is actually really smart and interested in stories, like the myths mentioned in Surface Pressure.

This wasn't supposed to be my first Encanto fic and it definitely won't be my last, enjoy!

"I'm going to the library," Luisa announced, though no one was paying attention except Dolores, who smirked at her, and Mirabel, who noticed Dolores' smirk.

"Can I go with you?" Mirabel asked, already curious about what secrets Dolores knew about Luisa. They had just gotten their magic -and the Casita- back so Mirabel had been fairly certain there had been nothing left to uncover until right now.

"I, uh, well, um. I usually go alone." Now Luisa looked flustered.

"You'll barely notice me, I just want to pick up a new songbook. I want to learn something new on the accordion."

"Okay, but I'm meeting my friend who I haven't seen in a while so just…"

"Give you some space?" Mirabel guessed.

"Yeah. Not that I don't love you, I just sometimes need to spend time with people outside of this family." Again Dolores smirked, and Mirabel decided she was going to get to the bottom of this mystery.

"I'll be out of sight the whole time." Out of sight, watching her sister and this strange new friend.

"Yeah, you can come." Luisa looked nervous but she put on a smile, acting like this was nothing more than a trip to the library with her sister.

But her demeanor changed immediately when they entered the small building and she saw her "friend." Her face lit up and she crossed the room to the shorter woman who was putting up books, leaning against the shelf and almost knocking it over. Luisa really was her father's daughter, strong when she had to be but a little awkward when she got flustered or overwhelmed.

Mirabel slipped away, as promised, but kept an eye on the pair.

"So much has happened since you left," Luisa said, after making sure that the shelf didn't fall and her sister really was out of sight.

"I heard! Busy few weeks for the Madrigals, huh?"

"I blame it on you leaving me, actually," Luisa said, offering the mystery woman a lopsided smile.

"Ah, yes. What would you do without me?" She touched Luisa's arm and Mirabel held back a gasp.

"Alejandra…" Luisa whispered, lost in the moment.

Then she remembered herself and stepped away from Alejandra.

"My sister's here, we can't-"

"Maybe later, then." Alejandra seemed a little disappointed, but then she plucked a book from the shelf and offered it to Luisa.

"You'll like this one. Star crossed lovers, kept apart by their families."

"I would have liked you to be there," Luisa said quietly, "With me, with my family."

"I'm here now, mi vida."

Mirabel stepped away, feeling like she was inserting herself in something that deserved its privacy.

"I know, yes, yes. I…" Luisa sounded like she was on the verge of a breakdown.

"I'm here," Alejandra reiterated, "I don't need more than being right here, right now. You don't have to introduce me to my family ever but certainly not until you're ready."

Alejandra was not expecting what Luisa said next.

"Mirabel, you can stop hiding behind that bookshelf."

Mirabel let out a little squeak and then came over.

"I don't know how much you heard, but this is Alejandra." Alejandra smiled warmly at Mirabel, who was feeling a bit overwhelmed herself.

"Hello! I've heard a lot about you, Mirabel."

"Really?" That was possibly the most shocking thing that had come to the surface today.

"Of course, Luisa's baby sister. You play the accordion, right? We have some books around here that you might like."

"Oh, thank you."

"Alejandra essentially runs the library," Luisa bragged.

"It's not as glamorous as Luisa makes it sound."

"Are you kidding me? You spend your days surrounded by stories… It sounds like a dream."

"Well, we can't all hold up the world."

"I don't do that anymore," Luisa said, sounding just as proud of that fact as she was of her partner, "Not alone, at least."

"Yeah. Our family has each other's backs." Mirabel smiled at Alejandra and Luisa, hoping her point was clear. Alejandra seemed to care so much for Luisa, and she clearly made Luisa very happy. Mirabel knew their family could be a lot but the love at the core would accept Alejandra in an instant.

"Yeah, they do. Mirabel, Alejandra is my girlfriend." Luisa's eyes widened as if she just realized that was the first time that she had ever said that out loud. Alejandra beamed and squeezed Luisa's hand.

"It's really nice to meet you, Alejandra."

Mirabel stepped back and took in Alejandra's full appearance. She was much shorter than Luisa, to the point where Luisa could comfortably rest her arm on Alejandra's shoulder. Her hair was dark and tied back in a high ponytail with a ribbon that looked like it had been stolen directly from Luisa, she wore a thick pair of glasses, and she was wearing a pretty red floor-length skirt and a simple white blouse. It wasn't completely fair to judge a person by what clothes they wore to work, but Mirabel could tell that Alejandra at the very least had some style.

"I'll introduce you to the rest of my family one day. Maybe one at a time, like this…"

"That's sounds perfect, mi vida. Take as much time as you need. I'll be here."

"I love you," Luisa whispered, quickly pressing a kiss to Alejandra's cheek, "I'll be back soon. To tell you what I think about the book."

"I can't wait. Did you want those accordion books, Mirabel?"

"Oh, yeah! That would be great, thank you."

"I'll even return them for you when you're done," Luisa said, which Mirabel took to mean that she was not invited to the couple's next date.

"Right…"

When they were heading back, Mirabel couldn't help but ask some questions.

"When did this happen? How did you meet?"

"We met at the library, obviously, about a year ago. I've always been interested in stories and Alejandra has always had an abundance of them. She'd give me recommendations, myths like the ones Tio Bruno used to tell me at first, and then romances. That was when I developed feelings for her. You can't tell anyone, but I'm pretty sure Dolores already knows."

"Dolores definitely knows. She was smirking at you earlier."

"I want to tell everyone, but I need a little more time…"

"I won't tell anyone, Luisa. I really meant it when I said I had your back. There's no pressure, Alejandra and I understand and so will everyone else."

"I hope so," Luisa said quietly.

"I know so. Our family loves us. All of us. And they're going to love Alejandra as well."

"I'm sure you're right. I'm sure they'll love her, I already do. There's just so much to love, and one day everyone's going to see it.." Luisa spoke of her girlfriend with a reverent tone that made it clear that to her, Alejandra was her magic and her strength. Mirabel hoped that Luisa never lost that feeling because she deserved this happiness more than anyone Mirabel knew. And Mirabel also knew that the pair were going to get a happy ending like the ones found in Luisa's books.