Chapter 32
30 years before Encanto
Felix climbed the walls of the casita and pulled himself up onto the roof, carefully stepping across.
The tiles of the roof moved with a sudden jolt and Felix dropped to his knees, his hands clutching the roof in fear. The shutters of the casita flapped at him scoldingly.
"I'm not gonna do anything bad!" He whispered to the casita, holding up his hands peacefully. "I just wanna see her. Promise."
Felix held onto the roof again as the casita considered.
"It's Pepa's birthday tomorrow." Félix explained with a smile. "I want to surprise her."
Casita hesitated. A couple tiles lifted up, then clattered along the roof, leading over to a window. The shutters slowly opened in invitation.
Felix smiled.
"Thanks." He replied breathlessly, patting the roof as he got back up.
The window shutters smacked Felix from behind as he passed, warning him to behave. He winced a little, then grinned at the casita, heading to the window.
Peering in, Felix saw Pepa asleep in her bed. She held her pillow sideways so she could hug it to her chest, her head resting against it with a soft and gentle expression.
Felix smiled, then tapped on the window.
Pepa stirred, her arms hugging tighter to the pillow.
"Pepi."
She mumbled something in her sleep, frowning a little.
Félix tapped again.
"Pepi," He laughed. "Wake up."
Pepa opened her eyes sleepily, then noticed the silhouette of someone standing at her window. She jumped up in surprise, a thundering cloud of electricity appearing over her head as she glared at the window with fierce eyes.
"Ay!" Felix laughed. "It's just me, amor."
Hearing his voice, Pepa's cloud disappeared and she smiled. She jumped out of bed and hurried over to the window, opening it.
"No me diga!" She whispered in disbelief, laughing as Felix climbed in. She glanced out the window to check no one had seen, then closed it, quickly turning back to him with bright eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"Couldn't sleep." He whispered back. "Can I sleep here?"
"Here?" She grinned. "Mamá would kill you!" She threw her arms around him and hugged tight, a rainbow appearing over their heads.
"Is that a yes?" Félix laughed, getting squashed into Pepa's enthusiastic embrace.
"Yes!" Pepa laughed. "Of course."
She took Felix's hand in hers and led him to her bed, her other hand shaking back and forth in excitement. She pulled back the quilt for them and climbed in. Felix took off his shoes and ruana and climbed in after her.
"Ay! You are so cold, amor." Pepa complained as their legs touched.
Felix chuckled, then rubbed his icy foot against her. Pepa pulled her leg away with a gasp. "Don't!" She laughed, tapping his chest scoldingly.
Felix smiled and kissed her, then pulled the quilt over them, surprised at how heavy it was.
"Dios, amor." He grunted softly, "Does this bed squeeze the life out of you?
Pepa grinned and nodded, helping him to pull the heavy quilt over them. Pepa's body relaxed as the firm weight pressed down on her chest.
"Casita gave me this blanket," She explained. "To stop me worrying."
"Does it help?" He smiled, stroking her loose hair. "Hm? Squashing out all your worries?"
Pepa laughed, then nodded. She felt so excited to have Félix here in bed with her. It felt so forbidden and exhilarating.
"Come here, then." He smiled, holding out his arm.
Pepa's face lit up and she shuffled over, cuddling up against him.
"Like this?" He asked, tightening his arms around her chest and squeezing her body. Pepa made a little sound of discomfort as the air escaped her.
"Ay! Not like that." She pushed him off. "You squeezed too tight."
Félix kissed her face apologetically, his hand rubbing her back. "I'm sorry, Pepi."
"Lucky." Pepa teased. "If you break me, I'll have to call my sister for healing." She raised her eyebrows at him, "And how do I explain this?" She gestured to Felix in her bed.
"You'd have to throw me out the window first." Félix smiled.
"Hm. Don't think I won't." She grinned.
Felix chuckled, then held his arm out for her. "Can I try again?"
Pepa nodded, her eyes warm and trusting.
"Show me." He smiled. "How do I squash out those worries?"
"Not squash," She laughed, taking his hand in hers. "It's more like this," She brought his hand to her chest, then hesitated. She glanced at him.
"Is it ok?" She asked softly.
"Only if you're comfortable." He smiled, his voice gentle.
Pepa smiled back, then put his hand on her chest. Felix felt her heartbeat.
"It's like this." She explained, placing her hand over his. She pressed down firmly. "It stops my heart from hurting."
Felix's expression softened.
"Does it hurt a lot?" He asked in concern. "Your heart?"
"Sometimes." She admitted.
He gently stroked her fringe back, looking into her eyes. "I wish I could take that away for you, mi amor."
"But you already do." She smiled at him, her eyes bright with love. "More than you know, Félix."
Félix smiled back. It made him happy to hear that.
"Will you do it again?" She asked, her expression hopeful.
Félix nodded, then gently rubbed her chest. Pepa took a breath, her heart beating faster at his touch. Félix pressed his hand down like she'd shown him, and Pepa closed her eyes.
"Does that help?" He asked softly.
She nodded, her eyes still closed. She felt Félix kiss her mouth and she relaxed into it, enjoying the moment.
"And that?" Félix smiled.
"Yeah." She smiled back breathlessly, looking up at him. "That helps a lot."
Pepa continued to kiss Félix, enjoying the feel of his body against hers as his hands ran through her hair. She leaned into him, her leg wrapping around his waist like tango. As Pepa took Félix's hand in hers and stroked it down her stomach, the weather in the room became hot and humid.
She tried to bring Felix's hand lower, but the bed shook with a sudden jolt. The abrupt movement knocked Félix and Pepa's heads together and they fell away from eachother. The bed shook again.
"Casita!" Pepa exclaimed, sitting up and rubbing her head. The window opened and closed scoldingly and the bed shook again. Pepa glared at the window, a cloud appearing over her head. "I'm not a child!"
The curtains flapped at Pepa and the wall tiles clattered as Pepa's cloud thundered back. Félix watched the window, his face apologetic and a little embarrassed.
Pepa groaned, collapsing back onto her bed in resignation. Casita pulled the blanket up over her body, the curtain waving once more before becoming still again.
"Dios." Pepa sighed heavily, pushing the blanket off again. She frowned, feeling frustrated. "What a joke."
She turned to Félix and as their eyes met, they couldn't help but laugh.
"Lets just leave." Pepa grinned. "We can run away together, hm?" Her eyes sparkled at the thought. "No more crops, no more people telling us what to do." She shot her room a scathing look, "No more old fashioned house."
Félix smiled, knowing she didn't truly mean it. Pepa adored her family, she was just frustrated.
"I don't want to get on your Mamá's bad side." Félix stroked Pepa's fringe behind her ear, then glanced at the window. "Or Casita's."
The shutters snapped shut in approval.
"This visit is just for tonight." He smiled.
"I wish it could be every night." Pepa sighed longingly, hugging Félix close. "I like falling asleep together. I wish we could just be together and do whatever we want, all the time."
Félix watched Pepa with knowing smile, but decided now wasn't the right time.
"Maybe we should run away." Pepa muttered.
"If you run away tonight," Félix reminded her with a smile. "You will miss out on tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Pepa's face lit up with sudden realisation. "Something important is happening tomorrow, did you know that?"
Felix laughed. Pepa was so excited about her birthday.
"Ay, I don't know, amor." Félix shrugged casually. "Just another day, I think." He faked a yawn, rolling away so his back was to her. "Well, buenos noches."
The silence was deafening.
Felix held in a laugh. Pepa leaned over his body and peered down at him with a frown.
He closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep, making soft snoring sounds.
Pepa scoffed.
"Are you joking?"
"Can keep it down?" Félix complained, pushing her away, "I have big birthday plans tomorrow with Julieta and Bruno."
Pepa gasped, her face breaking into an excited grin as she shoved him. "So you did know!"
"That my girl is turning 40?" Felix joked, rolling back over to face her. "Of course I know."
A cloud thundered as Pepa glared at him. "That's almost as old as my Mamá, you know."
Felix grinned and tickled her. She frowned, unimpressed. She turned away and hid under the blanket.
"Ay! Where'd you go, mi amor?" He laughed, putting his hands to the shape under the blanket and shaking it.
"Don't." Pepa scolded from under the blanket.
Felix laughed, going under the covers too.
"I'm sorry." He rubbed his nose against hers.
It was dark under there, but Félix could make out the soft silhouette of Pepa's face and glitter of her eyes.
"This is important to me." She said quietly. "The whole village celebrates our birthday. It's the anniversary of our magic... And it's the one time of year they act like I'm worth something."
This caught Félix by surprise. He hesitated, feeling bad for teasing her.
"Come here, amor." He said in a gentle tone. "Let me see you." He pulled the blanket back and sat her up so he could look into her face.
"Look how beautiful you are." He smiled, stroking back her hair. "Why would you be worth less than anyone else?" He asked her. "Hm?"
Pepa avoided his eyes. "Because I'm different."
"You are." Félix agreed, kissing her face. "Very different."
She looked back at him in surprise. Félix grinned.
"And I love that about you." He reassured her, his voice genuine. "All those quirky things you say and do, your clouds, your beautiful hair," He chuckled. "That little gap in your teeth."
"Hm." Pepa frowned, covering up her mouth with her hands. Félix grinned, taking her hands in his and kissing them.
"These are all things I really love about you, Pepa." Félix insisted. "They make you so special, hm?"
"But I do things wrong." She muttered.
"You are human." Félix smiled. "We all make mistakes, mi vida. That's ok."
Pepa's face fell and her cloud thundered.
"It's not." She sighed. "You don't understand."
"Will you tell me?" He smiled kindly, putting his hand to her cheek. "I can't do better if I don't know better, amor."
Pepa looked back at Félix and took a breath. She'd never really told anyone before, but she knew she could trust him.
"They hurt me for being different." Pepa said quietly. "When I was little." She shuddered. "The kids crowded over me and made me rain."
Felix's expression softened. He watched Pepa's cloud darken at the memories.
"When I was older, I scared them away." She continued, avoiding his eyes. "I hurt them with my powers. After that, nobody came near me again. They were too scared of the storms." Pepa's hands fidgeted anxiously, stroking her hair. "But people said I was bad. They told Mamá I wasn't good for the village." Pepa took a shaky breath, "And Mamá was so disappointed."
Rain began to fall and Pepa flinched, looking up it.
"See?" Her voice was shaky. "I can't do anything right. Even now."
"Hey, come here." Félix put his arms around her, rubbing her back as she leaned into him.
"You're allowed to be upset, Pepi." He said softly. "That's a sad story."
Pepa swallowed, tears running silently down her cheeks. Rain pattered over her bed and got absorbed up by the magic of her room.
"I could never make her proud." She said quietly. "I tried so hard. I did everything I was supposed to. But it was never enough, the clouds kept coming back."
She took a deep breath, resting her head against Felix's chest. He watched her sadly, stroking her hair.
Félix considered giving advice, or telling Pepa that it was ok, but in the end he decided the best way to help her right now was just to listen.
"I would hide in this room, waiting for the rain to stop." She took a shaky breath. "Sometimes I'd wait all day. And when it didn't stop, I'd go to sleep in it," Her voice broke a little. "And wish I wouldn't wake up in the morning."
Félix's heart sunk at her words. He cuddled Pepa, his hand pressing into her chest like she'd taught him. She looked at him with grateful eyes.
"Do you still wish that, amor?" Félix asked softly. "That you won't wake up?"
Pepa shook her head.
"I always look forward to the next day now." She smiled, putting a hand to his face. "Because I get to see you. And I'm always enough for you, Félix. Even when it's raining."
"You're more than enough, Pepi." Felix reassured her, holding her tight. "You know how much I love the rain." He kissed her face. "And how much I love you."
Pepa's eyes softened, the cloud disappearing. She lay down, inviting Félix to join her. When he did, she curled up against him, relaxing into his arms.
"You make a big difference in my life, mi cielo." Pepa smiled, resting her head against his chest.
"Mi cielo?" Félix smiled back. He hadn't heard her call him that before.
Pepa nodded, closing her eyes. "My sky."
The next day
Félix woke up to the sounds of voices coming from outside Pepa's room. The sun shone in through the window.
He glanced at Pepa, who was still asleep on top of him, her face resting into his shoulder and her breath soft against his neck.
Félix carefully slid out from under Pepa and she whimpered, her hand touching the bed in search of him until Félix took the pillow and placed it against her chest. Pepa relaxed again, hugging the pillow close and resting her face against it.
"I'll see you soon." He whispered, kissing her face before gathering his things and climbing out the window.
Later
It was almost sunset when Felix and Pepa got another chance to be alone together. They walked through the fields, holding hands as the golden light illuminated up the long grass and crops.
Pepa had enjoyed a day full of celebrations and was feeling very loved, a rainbow floating over her head as she walked with Félix.
"Do you remember being too afraid to talk to me?" Félix chuckled at the memory.
Pepa groaned.
"And look at you now." He said proudly.
Pepa glanced at him with a smile.
"You have been so brave," He continued, his eyes sparkling. "Getting to know my Pá, spending time with my nieces and nephews... Facing your biggest fear."
"Do you mean the jaguar?" She asked.
"Ay, the jaguar." He grinned, squeezing her hand. "Of course. But I was thinking of something even scarier."
"Hm?" She looked at him in confusion.
"Your Mamá." He explained with a smile. "You stood up to her, to protect your sister." He kissed her face, his eyes warm with love. "You convinced her to give Agustín a chance, before any of us even got there. You knew there was a big chance she'd be upset, or disappointed, but you did it anyway, Pepa... Because you love Julieta."
"Oh." Pepa's face softened into a smile. She hadn't thought about it like that.
"Since I met you," Félix continued, "I saw you go from being afraid and embarrassed of your powers, to accepting who you are, and embracing your clouds." He smiled. "I've loved seeing you grow on this journey, Pepi."
Pepa's face fell, a worried cloud appearing over her head.
"Why are you talking like it's about to end?"
Félix chuckled.
"Not the end of us." He grinned. "Just the end of a chapter. The one where you hide your shine from the world... Not anymore, hm?"
Pepa sighed in relief, the cloud fading again as she nodded.
"Now starts the new chapter of your life." Félix encouraged. "The one where you live fearlessly."
"That's easy," Pepa smiled. "All the scary things are done now."
Felix smiled back knowingly. "There might be one more."
Pepa watched in confusion as Felix knelt down in front of her and took her hand in his.
"Pepa Madrigal." He grinned. "Will you keep making me happy for the rest of my life?"
Pepa watched him with wide eyes.
"Wait," Pepa took a breath, glancing around. "Is this-" She turned back to him in disbelief. "You want to marry me?"
"You're surprised?" Felix laughed. "I love you, Pepa. Of course I want to marry you."
Pepa began to breathe quickly, her hand holding tight to Félix's while the other grabbed her hair anxiously. Around them, the wind started to blow.
"Why?" She managed to ask.
"Because I want to go to bed holding you every night, and wake up to your beautiful face every morning." He smiled, his eyes bright. "I want to bring you coffee, and get blinded by the sun every time you take a sip."
Pepa laughed, her hands holding his as she relaxed. Above her rainbows began to form.
"I want to chase you through these fields, and lift you up in my arms." He continued. "I want to hold you when you cry, and when you laugh. I want to spend all day with you and never have to worry about going home, because my home is with you."
Pepa gently pulled Félix's hands closer to her face, hiding her smile as she watched him with bright eyes. Rainbows shone around them. She wanted that too.
"I want us to get all dressed up and have a big wedding together." Félix grinned. "With lots of music and dancing."
Pepa's face suddenly fell, the rainbows fading. Félix looked at her in concern.
"But I'm not allowed to go to weddings, neither is Bruno." She explained quietly. "We bring bad luck to the marriage."
"Who said that?" He frowned.
"Everyone." She sighed.
"Well, everyone," Félix grinned, "This is our wedding, so we make the rules." He kissed Pepa's hands, then looked into her eyes. "And I can't think of anything luckier than having you in my life, Pepa Madrigal."
Her face lit up, the rainbows returning.
"It might rain" She warned him. "Rain on your wedding day is bad luck."
He grinned "I love the rain."
"But if I get stressed," She insisted. "It might be really bad." She leaned in, lowering her voice. "It might even be a hurricane."
Felix laughed. "Then we'll get married in a hurricane. And I will remember it as the happiest day of my life."
Pepa stared at him.
"So," He asked. "Will you marry me?"
"Hm." Pepa glanced around at all the crops that surrounded them in disapproval.
"Hm?" Felix laughed in disbelief. "Is that all I get?"
Pepa turned back to him with a grin.
"I do have a ring." He smiled, reaching into his pocket. "If that helps."
"Don't!" She said quickly, putting her hand over his. She looked around at the field again. "The crops-"
Felix burst into laughter. "The crops?" He shook his head in disbelief. "Did you already marry them, amor?"
"No." Pepa groaned. "But, I hate them. And this is the happiest moment of my life. I don't want it to happen here, where I work."
"But we have so many beautiful memories here." Felix smiled. "And it's where we first met."
"Ay, but not where I first loved you." She smiled. "I want to go there. Then you can show me the ring and I will tell you my answer."
"You already have an answer?"
She grinned and nodded.
Ok, Pepa." Felix smiled. "Where did you first love me?"
"You don't know?" Pepa smiled back, her eyes gesturing to the nearby treeline.
"The river?"
Pepa nodded. "You want to go there?" She asked, holding her hand out for him. "Your choice."
Felix laughed, taking her hand in his and standing up.
"Ok, amor." He agreed. "Let's go to the river. Though if the answer is no, are you going to push me in?"
Pepa smiled, her eyes full of love. Rainbows floated over them as Pepa put her arm around Félix, leading him into the trees.
"We'll have to go find out."
.
.
.
Thank you so much all of you who keep coming back each chapter, it's beautiful to see a group of people form together who all connect with this story and characters. Your comments really brighten up my day, more than you'll ever know. This fic comes from a very real place in my heart. So glad that you have enjoyed and made it this far.
I'm probably going to start a new fic soon which will follow the events of the Encanto film from start to end, but from Pepas family's POV. I will update it along with this one, so if my updates here slow down, I'm probably just updating in the other one :)
Lots of love to all of you,
Cloudy Encanto
Ps, To say thank you for reading, here is a fanvideo I made for you of the Madrigal triplets and their Mama
(English) watch?v=Uz0VM03wZZE
(Espanol) watch?v=bLiMRzBpp_g
