The day Pepa gave birth, a wonderful and beautiful day of late spring. Bruno was glued to the wall going to the living room. Desperately trying to hear news of the birth.

Alma, Felix, and Julieta were with Pepa in her room with the doctor. So Agustin was left in the living room with all of the kids trying to occupy by to the best of his abilities.

Now that Isabela was sixteen and Dolores fifteen, they didn't really need any looking after and could help Agustin. Which was probably a good thing as the man was incredibly well meaning and caring. But still a walking disaster. And four of these five children had magic powers.

Bruno didn't leave his spot that day for anything, just pressing his ear against the wall, anxiously waiting for words, and then finally.

Alma came. Making everyone silent, even the children and….

It was a boy! A healthy boy! Pepa had given birth to an energetic and healthy little boy!

Bruno had to stop himself from shouting in delight, fortunately for him though he was not alone as all the children on the other side cheered.

The following days… Bruno was still glued to the wall. Just a different wall. His little crack to the dining room. Desperately trying to get a glimpse of the little new one.

The first evening it was just Felix and Agustin celebrating with each other, drinking rum and having a cigar while laughing and talking…. Though one thing Bruno got. Antonio! The kid's name was Antonio!

But yeah no baby. It took another day before finally, Pepa brought the little baby down.

A cute boy with skin as dark as his father's and tiny black curls promising a wild set of curly hair like most of the family Madrigal had.

He was adorable! Bruno fell in love on the spot. Just like the entire rest of the family clearly did.

Felix was so proud as he kept complimenting his wife and held up his new son to proudly showcase him. Which Bruno appreciated because then he could see too as Antonio babbled and giggled and everyone around the table 'awed' at how impossible adorable this kid was.

Bruno was in total agreement.

Soon the family ran into a problem though. The nursery was now Mirabel's room! And they didn't have… Extra rooms that could be turned into new nurseries.

In the past, it had been no issue to just let the children share a nursery when everyone in the nursery was below the age of five. Now though… Mirabel was ten! And she deserved her own room.

At first, Antonio slept with his parents in their room, but that turned out to be unsustainable as Pepa sometimes released bad weather in her sleep.

Felix didn't mind, he would just cuddle up to his wife and enjoy the experience. But Antonio would get scared and cry loudly.

And so Bruno heard the conversation that was going on in the dining room.

"I am so sorry Mirabel." Felix gasped. "You don't have to take care of him if he wakes up though. I can sleep on the floor…. I know that's not really great either having your Tio sleep on your floor but."

"It's okay," Mirabel said. "I can take care of Antonio! And if it's too much I can wake you up. Just sleep in your room."

Bruno's heart melted. She was such a sweet girl… Impossible sweet.

"Are… Are you sure?" Felix asked honestly nervous.

"Yes!" Mirabel exclaimed.

Then Felix swallowed. "Okay then. Just come and wake me if you or Tonio need anything! And I promise you this won't be permanent. We'll figure something out so you can have your room back."

"Tio Felix," Mirabel said in a firm voice so much like her… "It's okay."

And finally, Felix relaxed a little bit as he send Mirabel a grateful smile.


That night… As usual. Bruno crawled out of his portrait located right next to the long line of magical doors… And the door to the nursery was to Bruno's left.

In the kitchen, Bruno found an amazing yield of Pandebonos and a whole bowl of oranges. And happily, Bruno stuffed his large pockets with cheese bread and the delicious citrus fruit, and even as his pockets were filled, you couldn't even see someone had been pilfering.

Then Bruno made his way back up the stairs and stopped… He turned towards the nursery and saw. The door was slightly open.

Bruno froze… Just froze. Part of his screamed this was a bad idea. This was such a bad idea. It was way too risky.

But the other half of Bruno was just overwhelmed with the longing… And guilt.

Just once… Just this one time. He might never have an opportunity ever again.

And so… Bruno as quietly as he could. Snuck towards the nursery and pushed open the door to glance inside.

There was Mirabel's bed at the left wall, and a lump on it, small snores as the figure slowly moved up and down and… There. At the other wall. A baby bed.

Bruno held his breath and then slowly… Slowly he stepped inside and headed towards the baby bed and looked down to see his little dark-skinned nephew.

Bruno's heart just melted and he swallowed as slowly, and gently. Bruno reached down his hands, to pick up the little boy. Then held him tight.

The baby's face wrinkled and he made a little sound.

"Sorry," Bruno whispered. "Just keep sleeping… Ssshhh."

The baby frowned and then, slowly he opened his eyes. A pair of dark eyes looked up at Bruno. Looking completely mystified.

Bruno gasped in a breath and held it… So scared about what would happen next and then. The baby smiled and even giggled.

"Heh." Bruno smiled amused as he reached down to find a pacifier and put it in Antonio's mouth so now the baby could suck happily. "Hola Antonio." he whispered. "I'm Bruno… Your Tio," he whispered. "Don't worry. You won't be seeing me again," he said. "But… I'll see you. And I'll make sure you'll be safe. Okay?" he asked.

The baby was smiling.

Bruno smiled fondly as he bumped him a bit up and down. "Look after them Tonio," he asked. "You have such a wonderful family. And they all love you very very much."

Antonio made another little happy noise.

"Ssssh." Bruno shushed him. "You need to go back to sleep now. Sorry I woke you," he whispered as he bowed down and gently put Antonio back, and then pulled the little blanket over the child as Antonio yawned and did in fact, close his eyes seemingly going back to sleep.

Then a snore sounded from behind Bruno and Bruno turned around to see the lump curled under the blanket. Bruno swallowed and slowly took a few steps so finally he could see a face behind the wild curls of the sleeping girl.

Bruno smiled as he squatted down on the floor next to Mirabel's bed to see her better. "Hola Mirabel," he whispered. "You've been really amazing these five years. You know that?" he asked. "See I told you you didn't need a gift to look after your family. You've been looking after all of them, haven't you? And now you're even looking after little Antonio. And I am so… So proud of you." he whispered.

The little girl didn't reply, just inhaled another deep breath in her sleep.

Bruno swallowed but took the risk as he leaned over and kissed Mirabel's on the hair. "I love you Sobrina." he whispered. "Just continue being you… And be happy. That's all I ask." he said and then Bruno stood up. And slowly… Slowly he backed out of the nursery back into the entrance hall and finally, slipped back through the portrait to his space in the walls where he could unload his yield on the shelves and lay down among all of his blankets.

This night he felt warm and happy, a little sad yes, there was a tear or two escaping his eyes, but mostly happy.