As you could tell by the summary, this takes place in my Disney Renaissance AU, six years before "Disney's The Owl House". Just a bit of backstory on this version of Luz.
Christmas Day, 1990:
"Momma! Daddy; Wake up, it's Christmas!"
Camila Noceda woke up to the sound of her daughter's lovely voice urging her and her husband to rise from their slumber.
"Momma!" Luz said again while hopping on the bed like an excited bunny.
Camila groaned tiredly as her eyes fluttered open to see the outline of her daughter illuminated by the hallway light and not from the nearby window.
Camila turned her body to look at her alarm clock and was unsurprised to see that it was a few minutes before 7 AM. Now Camila loves her daughter, but she wishes that Luz could at least wait until 8 to wake them.
Oh, well. It is Christmas, after all.
"Santa came, momma! Santa came!" Luz cheered.
A tired smile formed on Camila's face as she looked back at Luz.
Ok mija. Go wait for us in the living room." she said followed by a strained yawn.
"Yay!" Luz rejoiced before bouncing off the bed followed by a THUD! coming her feet landing on the ground and her immediately running out of the room.
"This must be what my parents had to go through with me?" Camila asked with a chuckle.
She then heard a deep groan coming from the giant lump in the blankets. Camila playfully poked the lump with her finger.
"Come on, 'Santa'. Our little gift wants to open up her gifts." said Camila.
The blankets suddenly moved to reveal a half-asleep man.
"Oh, I love the holidays." he said with a breathless sigh.
Camila laughed at her husband's sarcasm.
"So does Luz. Now let's get up before she grows too impatient."
"Come on you two! I wanna see what Santa brought me!" Luz yelled from the living room.
Camila leaned close to her husband and and whispered in his ear.
"Little does she know that Santa is really her hunk of a daddy." she said in a flirty tone.
Mr. Noceda smiled at that remark. "That must make Mrs Clause the most smokin' hot dame ever!"
Camila bit her bottom lip. "Oh, you charmer~"
But before the two could kiss, Luz all of a sudden burst into their room.
"It's not Valentine's Day, you two!" the little girl snapped, causing her parents to laugh.
...
A few minutes later, Mr and Mrs Noceda sat on the couch, drinking coffee as Luz ripped open her presents. She got the usual stuff a kid could get for Christmas, various toys, some clothes (which kids hate to get) and a buttload of candy which is sure to give Luz more energy than a nuclear reactor.
Her parents smiled at her daughter ecstatic for her presents, especially Mr. Noceda who loved to see his little girl smile. His gaze the shifted to his wife who was wearing a smirk.
"What's this all about?" he asked with a curious scowl.
Camila looked at him with half-lidded eyes.
"I got Luz a special present which will blow the ones you got her out of the park." she said in a cocky tone.
Amused, Mr. Noceda accepted her challenge.
"Funny. Because I got her an extra gift which I'm sure she'll love even more." he said confidently.
"Alright. Whoever's gift gains the best reaction from Luz has to take the other out on a date and pay the bill." Camila explained.
"You're on!" he said.
Already knowing that she has won, Camila stood up from the couch.
"Hey, sweetie? Mommas got you another gift! Wait her while I go fetch it."
Luz grinned with a nod. Mr. Noceda watched has his wife left the room. He heard what sounded like some boxes shuffling around which told him that her present was hidden in the broom closet. About a minute later, Camila returned carrying a rectangular box wrapped up.
Luz danced excitedly as the box was sat in front of her.
"Go ahead and open it up!" she instructed.
Luz didn't argue. She ripped off the wrapping paper as her parents watched.
Not even a second later, Luz screamed happily at what she held in her hands, even Mr. Noceda was surprised!
Camila bought Luz a brand-new Sega Genesis game system.
"Wow." That's all Mr. Noceda could say.
Camila wore a triumphant smile.
"Debby from work recommended it to me; she said her own kids have one and play it every day. I even got a few games to go with it." Camila spoke with a smug tone, not even attempted to hold back on rubbing it in.
Mr. Noceda sat his coffee down on the small table in front of him for the surprise of Camila's gift would cause him to spill it.
"I'd be lying if I said I'm not impressed. However, I got a little something-something of my own." Mr. Noceda replied.
Camila rolled her eyes. "Just admit defeat, babe."
But her husband ignored her as she watched him reach his hand behind where he was sitting on the couch. He then revealed another present that was far smaller than the game system box, but enough to make Luz curious.
"Open this one, my little light." he said to Luz, handing her the present while Camila partially smiled hearing her daughter's nickname.
Luz grabbed the present and tore off the paper. A few seconds later her eyes grew to the size of saucers.
"WOAH!" Luz yelled, catching Camila off guard.
The older woman wondered what caused Luz to react like this to something that was obviously not a game system. She stepped behind Luz and looked over her shoulder only to immediately look up at her husband with a deadpan stare.
"You cheater." she mumbled.
Mr. Noceda winked at Camila before facing his daughter.
"So, what is it, Luz?" he asked knowingly.
Luz quickly stood up and raised the box high.
"It's an Azura action figure!" she announced.
The one thing that Luz's parents knew she loved more than cartoons, ice cream and weekends is her favorite book series: The Good Witch Azura. Camila remembered when Luz first took interest in this character after watching the short-lived cartoon series on tv, so Mr. Noceda got her a few books that the cartoon was based on. Being a fan of fantasy novels himself (his favorite series being 'The Lord of the Rings') he quickly helped Luz get invested into it.
And seeing Luz already having Azura out of her box and playing with it while the poor console sits alone on the carpet, Camila knew that her husband had victory in a bag.
"Alright, I give." she admitted.
Mr. Noceda chuckled as he approached his wife and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, don't be so down. How about I make it up to you? This weekend we'll drop Luz off at your mom's house and we go find a nice steakhouse. My treat."
Camila glanced up at her husband, confused.
"But I lost, so I'm the one who pays." she explained.
Mr. Noceda waved that off. "Oh, now you know I didn't take that bet seriously. And after that we can catch a movie for old times' sake; popcorn also being my treat." he offered.
Camila kept a straight face, but her husband could immediately see the love in her eyes.
"How did I get so lucky with you?" she asked, hugging her husband.
He smiled down at her and held her close. "Well, it all started back in high school when I saw this hottie named Camila walking down the hallway to her science class-"
"Ah, yes, it'll all coming back to me now." Camila smirked.
The two lovebirds then shared a kiss much to the disgust of their little girl.
"Ew!" Luz revolted.
This caused the two to chuckle.
"Alright, let me get breakfast ready before Luz fills her belly with chocolate." said Camila as she walked into the kitchen.
Mr. Noceda nodded as he returned to his daughter nd crouched in front of her.
"Do you like your presents, Luz?" he asked.
Luz turned to him with a wide smile. "I love them!" she proclaimed and then hugged her dad around his next, "And I love you!" she said. Mr. Noceda smiled and hugged her back.
"I love you, too, Luz. I always will. Now, while your mom is busy, let's watch something to pass the time."
"Like what?" Luz asked.
Mr. Noceda cleared his throat and began to sing a tune that Luz is very familiar with.
"Life is like a Hurricane-"
Luz smiled and raced to the tv while singing along. "-Here in Duckburg!"
A minute later, Luz just finished putting a vhs tape in the tape player and scrambled to the couch next to her dad. Both watched the cartoon quietly, enjoying each other's company.
Luz hopes moments like this lasts forever!
Christmas Day, 1991:
Camila Noceda slowly woke up and noticed that sunlight is shining through her curtains. She quickly looked at her clock to see that the time was almost 11 AM. Usually she doesn't sleep this long even on her days off of work, but something else was bothering her and she couldn't put her finger on it.
Is something going on today? An event? A holiday? That's when it clicked in her head.
"It's Christmas." she said to herself.
Wait, then why is she now waking up instead of before the sun shines like usual? Where was Luz?
Camila sat up and stretched. She assumed her daughter was already waiting in the living room.
"Hey, babe. Time to wake up." Camila said as she reached for the spot on the bed next to hers only to feel it flat. Her tired eyes looked next to her to see nothing under the blankets.
It was then when Camila remembered that the spot next to her has been empty for months now.
"Oh..." she said simply as she felt her eyes beginning to well up with tears.
"No, Camila!" she snapped at herself. "You've been crying for long enough; tears won't bring him back!"
Though despite the cruel reminder, this didn't make things any easier.
A few minutes later, Camila walks out of her bedroom wearing a white robe and made her way to the living room to greet her daughter, but she saw that no one was in there. The tv was off and the presents have been untouched. Weird.
"Luz?" Camila called but got no response.
She checked the kitchen, bathroom and the front and backyard but found no sign of her daughter. This means she's in her room.
"Is she still asleep?" she asked herself while walking towards Luz's bedroom door.
Camila lightly knocked on the door and called for Luz but was met with silence. She turned the knob which allowed the door to open and revealed a dark room illuminated by the natural light coming from the window.
Camila quickly found Luz lying in bed. She was awake and staring up at the ceiling, but her face was completely devoid of any emotion.
"Good morning, mija." Camila greeted, but Luz only responded with a slow blink.
Camila knew full well why her little girl is like this, but she wanted to try and lighten the mood.
"It's Christmas! Let's see what Santa brought you." Camila said with a smile, but Luz stayed still.
The only noise that could be heard in the room was the sound of Luz's light breathing.
"Well, maybe I'll bring you one present that might get you excited!" said Ms. Noceda.
Camila raced out of the room and came back under a minute later with a small present in her hand. It was small and rectangular.
"I'm sure you'll love this one!" Camila promised as she held the present out towards Luz who made no effort to grab it or to even look at it.
"O-Ok, I'll open it for you."
Camila tore off the wrapping paper and acted surprise by what it was.
"Well, well, if it isn't a new game for your Sega console!" Camila spoke but Luz still didn't respond. "I heard this new game is very popular with the kids. It's about this blue hedgehog who runs super-fast! Isn't that exciting?" she asked.
Though the only expression on Luz's face looked to be a mixture between boredom and sadness.
Camila sighed. She knew that Luz was deeply hurt by what happened with her dad and she has tried her hardest to bring a smile back on her cute little face, but nothing seemed to work. Sometimes, Camila feels like she isn't doing enough, and it's bad enough that she has started working extra hours to make sure bills are payed and food is on the table. But she won't give up. Not on Luz and not on herself.
"Well, I'll be in the living room waiting on you. You have a lot more presents to open."
Camila walked towards the door while not taking her eyes off of Luz hoping she moves her body or at least looks her way, but Luz remained still.
"I love you, Luz." Camila said simply before exiting the room.
...
Camila poured herself a fresh mug of coffee and took a sip of the hot beverage as she tried to take her mind off of things, though that has proven difficult. She has no energy to cook any breakfast so maybe her and Luz can just heat up some leftover pizza or something.
Entering the living room, Camila found herself still alone. Was Luz still in bed? No, no, maybe she's in the bathroom.
So she sat on the couch and waited patiently for her lovely daughter. She waited and waited and waited to where she finally turned on the tv hoping time will move faster, but she didn't pay attention to what was paying any attention to what was onscreen. Minutes eventually turned into an hour, and it was clear that Luz wasn't coming.
That was enough for Camila to finally allow her true feelings to show its ugly head. She buried her face in her hands and cried the same way she has been since her husband died. She just felt so useless as a mother while Luz has been constantly dour and her grades in school have been slipping and Camila has no idea how to help her, especially with what Luz had gone through.
Camila sniffed. She looked next to her to see a photo of her late husband. She grabbed it and gently dragged her thumb over his face.
"I really wish you were here right now. You'd know how to help our daughter."
Camila hugged the photo close to her chest and continued to cry unaware that Luz was quietly watching her from around the corner, clutching the final present her dad ever got her.
The End