Bruno came down the next morning, face pale, hair messy, and he stumbled into the kitchen, appearing lost. Julieta went to lead him to the table, to sit down, but he dodged away from her, grabbing an arepa and leaning against the counter.

"Bruno..." Julieta began, but he shook his head and closed his eyes.

"Don't." He said, his voice laced with defeat and hopelessness. "Just don't."

She sighed and wrapped him in an awkward hug, gripping his ruana with as much comfort as he could.

"I'm so, so sorry, hermano. You don't deserve this."

Bruno didn't hug her back, and didn't say a word.

Agustín walked into the kitchen, and Bruno glanced up at him, his lips in a tight line, as if he was holding back tears. Agustín frowned, crossing his hands over his chest shyly. He knew that it was his fault. He knew that Bruno hated him.

"Bruno, I didn't mean for this to happen. I know...I know how you feel about her. I messed up, and I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault." Bruno whispered, but Agustín heard him. "You didn't want to hurt us."

"Mama didn't want you to get hurt, either." Julieta said. Her comment was met with silence, as if none of them believed it.

Loud footsteps could be heard, as well as thunder, and Pepa walked into the kitchen, the cloud above her head bigger than ever. She looked at Bruno, concerned, and faced him, trying to steady her breathing.

"I told Cassidy what happened."

Bruno stiffened. "What did she say?"

"She wants to talk to you. She sounded really hurt, and I can't imagine how she feels."

Bruno nodded, picking up a rat that had escaped from his pocket and walked out of the room, down the hallway. He passed his mother in the main room, and looked to the floor, knowing that he wouldn't be able to face her. She didn't even acknowledge that he was there, and Bruno counted it as a blessing.

It wasn't long until he was outside, and he saw a familiar gray dress by the creek. Unlike most other days, Cassidy's hair was down, blowing in the wind. She stood stiffly as he came up beside her, taking measured breaths. Bruno saw tears in her eyes and knew that he probably mirrored her.

"I would've said yes, you know."

Bruno took her hand gently, his heart breaking at the words. Agustín and Félix were right, she loved him, they could've been happy together, married, but... what had they done to deserve this?

"I really wanted to ask you. I...I bought a ring and everything."

She gave a sad smile, catching his eyes. "I would've loved to marry you, Bruno. A part of me just wants to run away with you, where we could be happy. Be together."

"You know we can't do that."

"I know."

Bruno sat down, taking off his sandals and dipping his feet into the water. Cassidy followed his lead, leaning against him and resting her head on his shoulder.

"Cass?" Bruno asked quietly, and she looked up at him, her brown eyes shining with tears.

"Yes?"

"I...I want you to be happy. I want you to find someone else."

"No." She said, gripping her hand in her own. "No. I'll never love anyone else. You're the only one I love, Bruno, and the only one I'll ever love."

"But, Cassidy, we can't be together."

"Why should we even listen to your mother?" She asked. "Why does she have to control our lives?"

Bruno was taken aback. "Cass, it's my mother, she's in charge of the Encanto. We can't just disobey her!"

"I want to!" She got to her feet, gesturing to the world around them. "I really want to, Bruno! Look around! Everyone here is happy, everyone but us. Encanto was made as a haven, a new start, and yet we're being denied the right to get married? Do you not see how messed up this is?"

Bruno stayed silent, thinking. She was right. How could anyone prevent them from being happy together? His mother was being unreasonable. But her word was law. There was nothing they could do, no matter where they lived or who they were.

"I don't...I don't know. We can't really disobey her, can we?"

Cassidy's whole attitude changed, and her hands flopped down to her lap, empty of joy. Her face fell, and Bruno wrapped her into a side hug, letting her head rest on his shoulder.

"No. No, we can't disobey her."

Bruno kissed her forehead hesitantly, knowing that this may be the last time they could be together, and closed his eyes.

He could see the future. He had a powerful gift. He was one of the most popular, and the most feared, people in the whole town. And yet he could do nothing. He couldn't see this coming, and he couldn't fix it.

There was nothing that they could do.

But, as he felt Cassidy relax in his hold, her warm body curling into him, Bruno knew that he couldn't give up like this. He loved her, and she deserved to be happy. If he made her happy...then why would he let his mother stop them from that? Stop her from being content? How could Bruno just blindly listen to his mother like that, robbing the love of his life of joy? How could he do that to Cassidy?

And, Bruno knew himself, too, and he knew that he couldn't live without her. Cassidy was his life. He loved her. He wouldn't be the man he was today without her.

"What if we kept it a secret?" Bruno whispered, and Cassidy looked up into his eyes.

"What?"

"What if we stayed together? Secretly? We've done it before, and I..." Bruno felt tears burn behind his eyes, and he held onto her more earnestly. "I can't live without you."

"Do you really want to risk that?" she asked, her voice soft. "It could go bad. Really bad."

"Yes. I want to risk it. For you I'd do anything."

A smile returned to her face, and she nodded.

"Then I'll risk it too. And, Bruno?"

"Yeah?"

"No matter what keeps us apart, or how much time passes, I'll marry you. I'll say yes every time."

Bruno kissed her lovingly, and he felt her lean into him lovingly, kissing him back gently. She pulled away, a small bit of pink blush on her cheeks, and she glanced around cautiously.

"It's going to be hard to keep this a secret."

Bruno chuckled nervously, rubbing his arm awkwardly. "I guess we probably shouldn't be kissing out in the view of everyone."

Cassidy nodded, her beaming smile returning to her face.

"I guess...we're going to have to figure this out. Plan stuff out. When we'll meet, where..."

Bruno pulled her to her feet and met her eyes.

"We're going to have to figure out how to lie to our parents, too, especially my mother."

"We have to pretend we're devastated." She commented. "Or else they'll suspect things."

Bruno sighed. "Yeah...that's gonna be difficult."

She punched his shoulder playfully. "Really? Come on, Bruno, we all know your true gift is acting. You'll be fine. We'll be fine. Just act really sad for a week or two, stay in your tower for the most part, and then act like nothing happened. I'll do the same, but, you know, I won't be in a tower."

"Okay." Bruno took a deep breath. "Okay, this is going to work."

She nodded. "It'll work. And we'll get to be together."

"We'll get to be together."

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Julieta was worried. Bruno, after seeing Cassidy, went back up to his tower and locked himself in, refusing to come out to eat. Agustín said that he just needed time, and that she shouldn't be worried, but even she could tell that her husband was concerned.

Alma had a family meeting without Bruno later that night, telling them all that Bruno was going to be okay, that he would get over the break up, and that they needed to focus on the two children that were on the way. Julieta knew that she was right, but she couldn't shake the thought of her brother drowning in pain, alone, in his room. She knew that she couldn't let him go through that.

She carried a basket of food up the stairs and to his door, knocking very loudly.

"Bruno! It's Julieta! Can I come in?"

"One second!"

Her brother opened the door, his hair a bit messy but he gave her a tired smile.

"Hey, Juli." He said, and she offered him the basket.

"Hungry?"

He nodded, taking the basket thankfully.

"Do you want to come in?" He asked, and she gave a small smile.

"Do you want me to?"

"Ehh, I guess."

Bruno sidestepped and gave her room to walk in, which Julieta did, observing the room with interest. More stairs. His vision cave was higher in the room than ever. She didn't know what to think about it.

"How are you doing, Bruno?" She asked as Bruno sat down on his cot, swinging aimlessly. He shrugged, petting a rat that climbed onto his lap.

"I'm...I don't know."

His voice was a bit strained, and Julieta didn't know if it was because he was so hurt by what was going on or if he was lying. He was a horrible liar, as a child, whenever he tried to lie he spoke in a forceful and stressed way, much like he was now. But, what would he even be able to lie about?

"Are you lying, Bruno? Your voice is giving it away."

His eyes widened, and he sighed, raking his hands through his hair shakily.

"Can you keep a secret, Juli?"

"From who? Everyone? Or just Mama?"

Another shrug. "I...I don't know, we never talked about it."

Julieta began to piece together who he was talking about.

"Cassidy? You and Cassidy are keeping a secret?" When Bruno didn't respond, she smiled. "You two are staying together, aren't you?"

Bruno got up and quickly put a finger over his lips.

"You can't tell anyone! Please, Juli, I can't live without her!"

She pushed his hand away and wrapped him in a hug. "Pepa, Félix, and Agustín should know. They want you to be with her, Bruno, and maybe we can help you two keep it a secret. But we'll never, ever tell Mama."

"You're...you're not mad?" His voice was small and worried, and she shook her head.

"Of course not. I really hoped that you wouldn't listen to her, you deserve better than what she has planned for you. I'm glad that you and Cassidy are still together."

Bruno broke the hug and looked to the ground, tracing the sand with his feet.

"Thanks, I...I appreciate it. I just wish it didn't have to be this way."

"I know. But, I think that everything will work out in the end. Somehow."

"Hopefully soon, I know that Cassidy wants to be a part of the new lives that are going to be joining our family soon."

Julieta laughed, rubbing her swollen belly gently. "I'm glad. She would be a great aunt."

Bruno nodded, casting a quick glance to his vision cave, deep in thought.

"Should I have a vision? To see what's going to happen?"

She paused, following his gaze to the wide room above them. "I think you shouldn't. You already unintentionally hurt others with your visions, I don't want you to hurt yourself with them, too. And, why spoil the good surprises that life may throw at you?"

"But what if things go bad? Why would I want to wait to see a disaster? Why not see it now?"

"I think that's something that you have to decide for yourself. Do you take the chance at spoiling a good life because of the possibility of pain?"

Bruno didn't know how to respond to that, and Julieta knew. After giving him another quick hug she left the room, closing the door tightly behind her. Within the room, Bruno stared up at his vision cave, eyes and mind fixated on the gift he held. The power he had. The decision he had to make.

Without any other thought, he began moving toward the stairs, climbing them to the top, where he set some small fires, drew a circle, and sat down, closing his eyes tightly.