Mirabel exposes her feelings and thoughts as to how she felt before she left and why she left.

Apologies are made. Tears are shed. Threats are issued.

There is laughter too, as the family reunites.

And yes, we finally talk about Bruno.

A/N: Buckle up folks, this is a doozy of a chapter. Lots of dialogue from Mirabel right off the bat.

This took a while to write as I wanted to balance the emotional with some lighter moments to break it up a bit. Hopefully it flows well.


"Why don't we start with why you left?" Luisa asked softly.

Mirabel nodded, gripping Julio's hand like a lifeline. "Alright. Well the final straw was the day of Antonio's gift ceremony…"

"But if we go further back… I think it is obvious that the cracks, so to speak, started when I didn't get a gift." Mirabel paused, trying to find the words. "Instantly everything changed. I-I saw the looks everyone gave me. It was devastating going back to the nursery as the whole town watched. I wanted to believe so badly that it was a mistake, but the next morning dawned and there was no door." She frowned a little as it still hurt to remember. "Tío Bruno was gone too…"

She paused, swallowing a little. She smiled a pained smile. "I spent weeks standing in the hallway in the middle of the night, staring at the candle, waiting for a miracle. One day I just decided I would make my family proud by doing as much as I could to help out around the house and in the community."

Mirabel shrugged. "I almost talked myself into how the nursery was just my room. And Mamá did try to help, we fixed it up with new paint and everything. But then it was announced that there would be a new baby, and suddenly my illusion was shattered… There I became a 10-year-old girl, sharing a room with an infant." She glanced over to Antonio, who gave her a guilty look. "Toñito, it wasn't your fault, none of what I will say tonight was ever your fault. The first time I held you in my arms, I knew you were special."

He gave her a watery smile, which she returned. She then looked down at her hand that was resting on her bump, and sighed.

"I know you were all busy with the community and your chores, and I am not sure how much you realized at the time… But you practically gave me a baby to raise at the age of 10. Anywhere I went, anything I did… I had to first make sure Toñito was safe, fed, happy…" She swallowed. "Then I had to sit back and watch how everyone complimented on his achievements, as if I wasn't the one who helped him talk, walk, or read." Mirabel glanced up at Julio, who placed his other hand over their joined ones, giving her silent comfort.

"I didn't even have any friends my age - no one wanted to play with the giftless Madrigal… The only ones who ever paid attention to me were the kids under 5… and even they would avoid me once they got old enough to understand." She took a calming breath, to keep the pang in her heart from overwhelming her before she could finish.

"But I managed. I didn't let it get to me, as long as I was helping my family." She swallowed. "The day of Antonio's ceremony was already a hard day for me… and no matter what I did, no one would allow me to escape remembering my fate as the giftless Madrigal. I was repeatedly told that I was in the way or that I should leave the decorating to other people."

It didn't escape her notice that Isabela and Abuela both flinched at those words, but she continued. "Walking Antonio up to his door was both the easiest and hardest thing I had ever done, at that moment in my life. I felt so loved that he needed me. But all I could see was my door fading away. In that moment I could recall everything from my failed gift ceremony. The looks, the whispers, the hushed arguing later that night…"

She paused to calm herself, rubbing her hand over her bump. Her bebé decided to kick and make theirself known. She could hear the sniffling from others, but avoided their eyes. She took a deep breath before continuing.

"But I was so proud of Antonio getting his gift." A small smile graced her lips as she looked up to glance at her youngest primo. "It suited you so well, mi pequeño explorador." But she soon averted her gaze once more, her smile faltering. "Up until that point, I was coping - not well, but I was fine to step back as all of you shined… The proverbial straw that broke the camel's back was once again not being included in the family photo. Something snapped in me and I realized how much I was holding everyone back.

"So I left the room, and went to the nursery and packed a couple bags. Casita did her best to try and stop me, but I was determined. I managed to make it outside and I took one of the donkeys that I knew the owner was not very nice to, figured we could make a new start together."

"Esmeralda was a lovable, feisty thing." Julio said quietly, as he rubbed his thumb across their joined hands.

Mirabel squeezed his hand back. "I-I loved my family enough to realize I was only making things worse, so I removed myself from the situation… From Encanto…" Mirabel ducked her head further, and leaned more into her Julio. He shifted to make sure she was more comfortable, placing a kiss on her head. "I am sorry for leaving without saying goodbye, but I am not sorry for leaving."

The room was silent except for the quiet crying and sniffling.

The first to break the silence was Luisa. The gentle giant stood and rushed to Mirabel, dropping to her knees in front of her. "Lo siento, Mira. I'm so sorry for not making more time for you. I love you so much, and I regret everyday that I didn't show that more to you. Lo siento, lo siento mucho…" She broke down sobbing, and was startled when Mirabel cupped her face.

"Luisa, I know you were overworked. I did see you try." Mirabel offered her big sister a tender smile, tears leaking from her own eyes as she gently wiped away the ones from her sister's face. "I never blamed you. But if you need to hear it, I forgive you and love you too."

Luisa let out another sob and laid her head on Mirabel's lap. Mirabel rubbed her shoulder as they shook. Once they lessened, Mirabel pulled her up enough to give her a proper hug. Luisa gripped her tightly, but not enough to hurt her sister or her unborn bebé. "Te amo mucho, Mira. I am so relieved you are happy and healthy." Luisa whispered in her ear.

"Te amo, Lu. I'm so happy you are also so happy. Your niños are beautiful. I wanna know everything later." Mirabel whispered back.

"Right back at ya, sis!" Luisa said, pulling back and patting her sister's baby bump. She received a kick back, which had the gentle giant tearing up again. "Hola, pequeño." She said softly, before standing up and going back to her esposo's side.

Mirabel was ambushed by Camilo next, who cut in front of Isabela who had also stood.

"I'm sorry too, Mirabel…" He let a frown grace his face. "I listened too much to my friends who didn't want to hang out with you anymore, and it is my fault we grew apart. We used to be best buddies… Mellizos in every way that mattered… You didn't do anything to deserve the way I ignored you, or for not standing up to my friends or others when they said things about you." He hung his head. "I love you, Bel; I always have, I just lost sight of what you meant to me. I'm so sorry."

"Help me up, Cami." Mirabel said, holding out her hand to his. He grasped her hand and helped her to stand. She immediately drew him into a hug, and they held each other tightly. "I love you too, mi mellizo." She said quietly, before kissing his cheek. She pulled back. "As much as I love you, this one is on my bladder, I'll be right back."

Camilo grinned and kissed her forehead, before letting her out of his arms. The family watched her waddle slightly as she left the room. Julieta excused herself to la cocina, so that she could prepare some drinks and snacks; though Agustín knew it was more to take a moment to herself after the upsetting revelations Mirabel had given them.

Camilo then turned to Julio and studied him for a moment. He then stuck his hand out for the slightly older man.

Julio quirked his eyebrow at him, but accepted the handshake.

"Muchas gracias, for taking such good care of Mira. I am glad she found you." Camilo said honestly.

Julio offered him a smile. "She is un alma hermosa. I knew it the moment she crashed into my life. I can honestly say there has never been a moment of doubt since I met her that we were meant for each other."

"Good." Camilo grinned. "But if you ever hurt her…" He didn't finish his sentence, but shifted into one of the burlier men in town and cracked his knuckles.

Julio just chuckled, "trust me, I'd rather be eaten by a jaguar than hurt mi corazon."

"That could be easily arranged." Antonio said, arms crossed as he came to lean against Camilo's shifted form. "Parce would be happy to protect my Mira."

"Antonio, Camilo, stop threatening mi esposo." Mirabel chided fondly, as she came back into the room.

Antonio pouted as Camilo shifted back into himself with a smirk on his face.

"Mirabel…" Isabela said, as she approached her hermanita.

Mirabel gave her sister a strained smile. "Hola, Isabela." She said softly.

"I was a horrible hermana to you." Isabela admitted, ducking her head in shame. "I was so wrapped up in trying to be perfect, that I lost sight of what was important."

"It's okay, Isa. I know I frequently was underfoot and-" Mirabel started.

"No, Mirabel. Don't make excuses for my poor behaviour. I should have been a better sister to you. It was never your fault." Isabela cut her sister off, meeting her eyes. "For too long, I took my anger out on you, when I should have talked about how I was feeling to Mamá or Papá. I thought you were free to do what you want, and I had to be the perfect Madrigal… I was jealous… But I have realised that was wrong. Especially with what you have shared today. I don't expect you to forgive me, Mira. But I am so very sorry for everything. You deserved a better hermana than me."

Mirabel blinked at her hermana, her eyes welling with tears. "I always thought you hated me." She said softly.

Isabela's face took on a pained expression, as her own eyes filled with tears. "I have never hated you, Mira. Never. I love you, and I will forever regret not telling or showing you that for so long. Lo siento, mi hermanita. Te quiero mucho."

It was Mirabel's turn to let out a sob, as she fell into Isabela, who caught her sister and hugged her tightly. Isabela let her own tears escape and they both sank to the floor. "I love you." Isabela said softly, and repeatedly into Mirabel's ear.

Finally Mira's sobs slowed and she pulled back. She took in her sister's face; visible tear tracks and blotchy redness, a little snot coming from her nose as she tried to sniffle it away. She couldn't ever remember her sister not looking so perfect, and Mirabel was struck by how much her hermana mayor had changed.

She reached up and cupped Isabela's face. "I forgive you, Isa. I love you too, always have."

Isa smiled brightly and hugged her sister tightly again, as more tears ran down her face.

They were interrupted by their madre, who had returned from the kitchen. "Mijas, as much as I love seeing this moment, I think it would be best to get Mira off the floor." She said softly, her own eyes teary at the moment she had always hoped for.

"¡Ay dios mio, lo siento Mira!" Isabela exclaimed as she realized she had her pregnant sister on the ground with her. "You must be so uncomfortable. Here, let me help you up." Isa scrambled up and used her vines to help lift Mira up.

"Gracias, Isa." Mira said with a sheepish smile, as she placed her hands on her back to stretch. "Didn't realize how uncomfortable I was getting. Thank you Mamá for thinking of it first." She shot her madre a grateful smile.

Julieta came over and kissed her forehead. "I remember the joys of getting stuck on the floor while pregnant, and it wasn't all that fun." She winked at her daughter. "Here, come, I made a snack."

Mirabel allowed her mother to usher her back to her seat beside Julio. She smiled at her esposo and leaned into his warmth beside her. She then smelt something heavenly. "Is that chocolate santafereño?" Her mouth watered just thinking about it.

Julieta just smiled at her daughter and brushed a curly lock behind her hijas ear. "Eat up, mi nieto is hungry."

Mirabel nodded and eagerly bit into the buñuelo, humming as the flavours hit her tongue. She could feel her aching back from being on the floor ease from her madres cooking. She missed the looks of amusement that was cast on her from various members of the family who thought she looked adorable as she happily munched on her snack.

"How far along are you Mira?" Luisa asked, wanting to keep the conversation light while they had their little break.

Mira finished her sip of the hot chocolate, before smiling at her sister. "About eight-and-a-half months." She answered with a smile. She patted her bump before picking up another buñuelo and dipping it into her drink before biting into it.

"They sound very active." Dolores said, with a soft smile. She'd learned when her madre and tia were pregnant with Camilo and Mirabel, that hearing a bebé's heartbeat and first movements in the womb was a soothing sound. She absolutely loved laying her head on their bellies and listening to her hermano and prima.

"Hmm." Mirabel hummed in agreement. "If I hadn't experienced mellizos already, I would've thought there was another one in there with the way they manage to kick and hit at the same time."

"Luisa was the same." Julieta said with a fond smile to her middle hija. "Felt like she was going to kick her way out."

"¡Mamá!" Luisa exclaimed, blushing. Her esposo, Diego, just chuckled and put his hand around her waist, kissing her reddened cheek.

"Camilo was very active too. Always keeping me up at odd hours cause he decided to dance." Pepa exclaimed.

Mirabel hid her smile into her mug as her primo acted all offended at his mamá's words.

"At least you were never violently ill with any of your niños." Julieta said.

Isabela frowned at her madre, "I don't remember you being very sick with mi hermanas."

"That's because it was you who made me sick. Any time of the day, and it carried on until you were born." Julieta replied, reaching over to pat her eldest hija's knee. "But you were worth it, mi flor."

"Good to know that runs in the family then." Julio said, looking over at his esposa and seeing her grimace of remembrance.

Mirabel saw the curious looks and sighed. "I spent most of my pregnancy with my hijas either over the toilet or getting kicked at all hours of the day and night. They only settled for Julio." She pouted.

"Lo siento, mi amor. But you know they are las chicas de papá." He teased as he placed a kiss to her cheek.

"Hmph…" Mirabel huffed, but her eyes showed she didn't hold it against him. She took another sip of her drink and almost moaned when she finally got to the saltiness of the melted cheese.

"What are mi nietos cumpleaños?" Agustín asked. "We have a lot of birthdays to catch up on."

Mirabel swallowed the last of her drink, and handed the empty mug to her esposo. She smiled at her padre's eager expression. "Well, Aarón just turned 2 on February 5th. Aleta and Luna's birthday is August 18th. Obviously time will tell for this one. Sometime in the next couple months." She said with a smile as she caressed her bump.

"Ooh! Is the new bebé going to be born on my birthday?" Antonio asked eagerly.

Mirabel laughed. "We'll see hombrecito. Bebés like to come on their time."

"Pepi you have a cloud, mi amor." Félix said as he pulled her into his side.

Everyone looked up to see a dark grey cloud. Pepa pushed away her esposo. "I know, Félix. But do the math! She said at dinner the niñas are four-and-a-half. Which means they will be 5 in August." Pepa started ranting, working herself up. "August is only just over 5 months from her birthday!"

"Pepita-" Julieta started.

Pepa cut her hermana off, spinning to face Julio, thunder rumbling from her cloud. "Did you hurt mi sobrina? Why was she having a bebé not long after she became an adult? Wh-"

"Tía, it wasn't like that!" Mirabel interrupted, managing to stand up and step between her tía and her esposo. "I also mentioned at dinner that we got married after a year of knowing each other and another year-and-a-half later we got married. Yes, I was 17! We were going to wait, but then Tía Rosa got ill, and we couldn't bear the thought that she wouldn't get to be there. So with the blessing of the Padre and Tía Rosa as my guardian, we got permission to marry early." Mirabel sucked in a breath, before blushing as she calmed and tried to explain the next part. "And then you know… we were already married… hehe, so," she cleared her throat. "Yeah… our hijas were born just over 8 months after…" Her face was flaming in embarrassment.

The room was quiet as they processed that information. Antonio had a look of disgust on his face, while Camilo's face was almost as red as his primas.

Pepa stared at Mirabel for a moment, her cloud lightening to a lighter grey. "Lo siento, mi sobrina, por saltar a conclusiones. And I'm sorry for not being there enough for you as you grew up. I've missed you so much." Her chartreuse eyes were wide and filled with unshed tears.

"Te amo Tía." Mirabel said, pulling her tía into a hug.

Pepa happily wrapped her arms around her youngest sobrina. "Te quiero, mi arcoiris."

After a moment, another set of arms wrapped around the two and Mirabel felt a kiss placed on her head. "Bienvenido a casa, Mira. Te hemos extrañado mucho."

Mirabel sniffled and shifted to hug her tío too. "I've missed you too, Tío." She kissed his cheek, before resting her head on his shoulder. After her parents and Antonio, Tío Félix was another who had tried to make more of an effort to support her. He would make chores around Casita a lot of fun, and he taught her her best dance moves. But over time, he was required to help Tía Pepa more and more as her moods became even more unpredictable from stress.

After a moment, they pulled back, and Pepa littered kisses all over Mirabel's face as she held it in her hands. Mirabel sighed, but didn't move away, having missed how affectionate her tía was. Eventually Félix pulled Pepa away, so that Mirabel could sit down again.

"Speaking of tío's," Mirabel started, finally narrowing her gaze onto her thought to be missing tío. "When did you return?"

Bruno rubbed the back of his neck. "Heh-heh, that's a good story… I uh, never left."

Mirabel furrowed her eyebrows. "Never left?"

"I… I was going to leave, but Casita showed me another option, a hole behind the painting upstairs."

"You were in the walls!" She gasped, shocked and saddened by that thought. "But why?"

Bruno fidgeted in his seat. "Well, I - Mamá asked me to have a vision after your ceremony… I saw a fate that had two possible outcomes. It was undecided, but I-I couldn't let anyone see it. So I destroyed it, and ended up hiding away."

"You left because of me?" Tears filled her eyes.

"N-no! No!" He was quick to say, as he shook his head. "I left because I didn't want you to get hurt. I loved my family, but I was known as Bad Luck Bruno… I knew how others would take it, and only think the worst."

"You left to protect me?" She asked softly.

Bruno nodded his head, giving her an awkward, but warm smile.

Mirabel accepted the napkin Julio handed her and dabbed at her eyes. "When did you come back?" She sniffed.

"I- uh- heard everyone looking for you, so I came out. I thought maybe I could have a vision." He shrugged his thin shoulders. "But I couldn't get a clear picture. As hours, then days passed the images got fainter and fainter until there was nothing. There was some type of block… but knowing now that you left Encanto, makes more sense. Our gifts don't reach too far beyond the mountains."

"And the vision you saw…" Mirabel swallowed and looked down.

"Doesn't apply anymore. The moment you stepped foot outside the mountains changed your future and made the original vision a dud." He said with a shrug. "It was," he gives a thumbs down and makes a farting sound. "So don't worry about it."

Mirabel held her hand out to him, too tired to get up again, hoping he would come to her. He did, and she pulled him to sit beside her, before she wrapped her arms around him.

He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back warmly. A stark contrast to when he had finally returned to the family and was fairly skittish regarding physical touch.

"Way to show fate that you can do what you want, kid." He said fondly into her ear and she let out a small chuckle as she pulled back.

"It's good to see you Tío."

"You too, mi sobrina." He patted her head and ruffled her hair like he used to when she was small. He got up and nodded to Julio, before going back to his seat.

Mirabel sighed and leaned further into Julio's side, starting to feel tired from all the emotional conversations and the tears. He wrapped his arm around her, resting on her hip. "Shall we head to bed, mi amor?"

Mirabel nodded, covering her mouth as a yawn escaped her.

Just as they were about to make their excuses, a voice that had been silent the whole time finally spoke up. "Mirabel… Nieta." Mirabel looked up and found Abuela looking at her with a pained expression. She gulped, knowing out of everyone, this was the one member of her familia that she was the most nervous to speak with.


A/N: Next Chapter - Abuela finally gets to apologize to Mira... But does she accept it?

Translations

mi pequeño explorador - my little explorer

un alma hermosa - a beautiful soul

las chicas de papá - daddy's girls

Lo siento, mi sobrina, por saltar a conclusiones - I'm sorry, my niece, for jumping to conclusions

Te quiero, mi arcoiris - I love you, my rainbow

Bienvenido a casa, Mira. Te hemos extrañado mucho - Welcome home, Mira. We've missed you so much