Bruno groaned deeply as he was snuggling himself closer to the pillow under his head.

He didn't want to wake up… He had had the most amazing dream. His family had been there, and he had been with his family. They had been smiling.

He had felt warm arms around his body pulling him into an embrace. His mother had given him one of those warm proud smiles he had always yearned for.

And now he felt warm and cozy and like he was made of jello snuggling up under his blanket… He didn't want to leave.

Then Bruno felt something against his back. His first thought was… Wow, that's a really big rat.

Then the weight became even heavier and covered most of Bruno's back and he blinked… Massive rat… Mutant rat. Bruno was scared now.

Slowly, shaking, did Bruno turn his head to see what kind of monster was laying right behind him and was greeted with a wild set of red curls.

Only barely did Bruno stop himself from screaming, he covered his own mouth and bit his lip but managed to keep quiet.

It was… Pepa?!

Wide-eyed Bruno looked down at his sleeping sister and then looked up… Yestedays' events came flooding back to him.

It was real… It had actually been real… Yeah, it was still unbelievable to him.

Bruno looked around the room and noticed that there were in fact, several beds here. Several beds that Pepa could have chosen from if she wanted.

So that was… Bruno looked down at his sister again. Then shook his head. It was true, when they had been kids they would sleep together all the time.

But that had kind of ended when Julieta and Pepa had gotten permanent boyfriends. Like it should have.

Where was Felix? Bruno looked around… There were only the two of them there. The bed right next to theirs did look slept in. But there was no actual sign of Felix.

All Bruno found was a hairpin that was probably Julietas. She was the only one using hairpins…. So… She had been in here.

Bruno swallowed as he slowly and carefully untangled himself from Pepa, who groaned annoyed but kept on sleeping as Bruno gently wrapped the blanket over her shoulders. Felt bad for all of the distress he had caused her.

Then he eyed the nightstand and saw a bundle of clothes neatly folded for him.

Hesitating did Bruno pick it up to hold a green shirt in his hands, and a pair of dark brown pants…. Mirabel did say she was going to find clothes for him.

And… Bruno couldn't deny that he was not comfortable with the state of his current clothes. Dirtied from all the rubble and the sweat of several anxiety attacks as well as a mad dash to find Mirabel.

Yeah, he needed a shower. Bruno had always been taught to be clean… Being clean was important. Mama got mad when they weren't clean.

Bruno inhaled deeply, and softly knocked on his own head so he wouldn't wake Pepa…. Easy… There was a shower. Mirabel had said there was a shower down the hall.

And true enough. Down the hallways, Bruno found the promised bathroom with a shower and finally got to shed the old stinky clothes.

Only for the first time… In forever. Being faced with an actual mirror to reveal his body.

…. Mirabel had said it was pretty bad. But Bruno had to admit he was shocked himself, he hadn't thought it was that bad but… He was pretty sure you weren't supposed to be able to see the ribs through the skin.

Urgh and his eyes. Or more specifically the dark bags under them. Now in the bright light facing a mirror. Bruno could tell… yeah it was pretty bad.

Well, at least he had all of his hair Bruno supposed. Father Mendoza had lost all of his before even getting to this age.

Then finally Bruno turned on the shower and was suddenly given something else he had sorely lacked for so long.

Warm… Water…

For a moment Bruno just looked at it. Glorious warm water just running from the tap. He didn't need to use a sponge to painfully clean himself with cold water and a bar of soup on Wednesdays. The water was just running in a continuous stream as if it didn't matter at all.

Bruno hesitated a bit but then finally stepped under the stream and then sighed deeply, feeling the water wash away so much tension.

And there was soap. Multiple kinds… Of different scents and uses. It was honestly pretty overwhelming and Bruno felt his own breath rising again.

Then closed his eyes and shook his head while knocking at the wall.. He could do this! It was just a shower.

He could do this, he could do this, he could do this.

And so Bruno just grabbed a random bottle to use that one soap for his hair and entire body. Scrubbing himself as clean as he could now that he had the chance.

Once out of the shower Bruno was faced with a soft fluffy towel… honestly, he still couldn't understand this level of pure luxury.

And finally, Bruno put on the clean clothes. It was a little big on him, but Bruno didn't mind. He liked things to be big… all though as Bruno was moving down the halls with the pile of dirty clothes in his arms and his damp hair stuck to his face. He did feel underdressed… His Ruana needed to be washed for sure. But he didn't want people to look at him.

So finally as Bruno had found a place to put his clothes, he picked up a blanket to wrap around himself as a sort of makeshift Ruana… It was doable. He had done it before when washing his ruana and it needed to dry.

Then his ears picked up sounds, they were pretty familiar, he had heard them through the walls every day.

Glass's clinking and plates put down… As well did the smell of fresh bread reveal the situation as well and Bruno hesitated.

Then slowly… Slowly made his way in the direction of the Parish kitchen and finally glanced through the door to see Julieta busying herself preparing breakfast.

Bruno hesitated…. He was not sure what to do. Should he say hi? Or just leave her to her work… He was so used to just keeping as quiet as possible that he was shaking by the mere thought of interrupting.

Suddenly Julieta stopped anyway and Bruno halted, then she turned and saw him in the door frame.

The moment Julieta saw him she just brightened up in a big wide smile. "BRUNO!"

Bruno halted, then swallowed as he slowly raised a hand. "Erhm… Hi."

Julieta just smiled warmly. "You slept well?"

Bruno nodded slowly. "Yeah."

And Julieta just rushed over there and shortly hugged him as she chuckled making Bruno blink.

"Can I get you something?" Julieta asked. "Some coffee?"

"Coffee." Bruno looked up. "I don't remember when I last had coffee." he breathed.

Julieta swallowed, then smiled. "Sit down. Sit down." she pulled Bruno inside and pushed him down on the chair. "I just put over the pot! Sorry, it's going to be a few minutes."

"That's okay." Bruno blinked. "Thank you."

Just then Mirabel marched in and she beamed. "TIO BRUNO!" and she hugged him shortly from behind making Bruno splutter. "And you changed clothes! I'm glad it fits. Looking good Tio."

"Erhm." Bruno blinked. "Thanks."

And Mirabel just grinned as she walked to the cupboards and started to pull out plates so she could set the table just as Julieta came with a coffee cup and poured for Bruno.

"And sugar." Julieta put down a sugar bowl next to him. "You always liked sugar in your coffee!"

Bruno nodded. "Thank you," he whispered and lifted the spoon, to put some into the coffee and stirred.

Then slowly… Slowly Bruno lifted the cup. Feeling the heat in his hands and the familiar sense he swallowed. The smell of coffee beans he was used too, but not actually drinking it. It was such a familiar and nice smell of morning and Bruno breathed. Preparing himself to take a sip. But he never got that far.

"BRO! You're up!"

Startled Bruno had to grab his cup a little tight so he wouldn't drop it, then looked up to see Felix who was all grins and sunshine.

"Hahaa! Good to see you up and above!" Felix beamed.

"Well erhm I." Bruno began.

"BRING IT IN!" Felix beamed as he pulled Bruno up from his chair, only so he could hug him and put him back down again. And then Felix just continued over to Julieta as if nothing of note had happened. "Need any help Hermana?"

Bruno was gasping for breath, inhaling and exhaling deeply… Well… That was Felix for you… Felix did that… It was okay… It was okay.

Bruno tried to center himself. Concentrating on the coffee in his hands and slowly he raised it again for another attempt at a drink.

"TIO BRUNO IS AWAKE!" A scream sounded making Bruno lower the cup again as he wide-eyed looked up to see Isabela, Luisa, and Antonio heading straight towards him.

Bruno blinked as he looked at them.

"Tio!" Luisa cried as she was in front of him. "I just want you to know. It's awful that you had to live in the walls for ten years! And I know it has been a long time but… I'm glad you're back!" and she hugged him. Nearly knocking over the chair Bruno was on.

"I'm sorry." Isabela sniffed. "I had no idea all the things you were going through! Thank you for protecting my sister!" she cried hugging from the other side and suddenly a little guy was hugging Bruno's leg.

"I'm going to continue to help you practice," Antonio whispered.

"Eeerh…" Bruno halted. "That's… Okay." he hesitated. "Thanks… I just… I…" he gasped for breath his body shaking and he managed to put down the coffee cup again before he dropped it.

"Tio Bruno are you okay?" Isabela asked concerned as she let go.

"Breathe…. Air… breathe." Bruno gasped and then just grabbed some sugar in the sugar bowl that happened to be in front of him and threw it over his shoulder.

"Oh. Sorry! Sorry!" Luisa stepped back. "You get overwhelmed easily. Dolores told us about that."

And Bruno was gasping for breath.

"So that is like… Centering yourself right?" Isabela asked. "Oh we should probably step away," she said and they all stepped away while Bruno was just gasping for breath, shaking over his whole body. Breakfast hadn't even been served yet and he was a nervous wreck.

He tried to reach for the coffee cup again with his poor shaking hand but didn't get that far before Alma stepped into the room.

"Brunito," Alma spoke in such a soft voice that seemed oddly out of place for her and Bruno's head just snapped towards her to be faced with Alma's soft smile.

Then Alma stepped forward, gently put her hand on each side of Bruno's face, and kissed him on the cheek. "It's so wonderful seeing you here." she swallowed, let go, and moved on.

And Bruno just sunk back into his chair, his mind starting to go black and he inhaled deeply… Okay… This was fine. This was good.

He could do this… He could get through the morning. It should be easy and slow… Slowly Bruno picked up his coffee. And finally… Bruno managed to put the cup to his lips.

A small drip of bitter and sweet liquid found its way to his tongue and then suddenly a big shout just went through the entire kitchen.

"WHERE IS HE?!"

Bruno spat the coffee back out and looked up to see his red haired sister looking like thunder and lightning as she stood in the door in her nightgown.

"Where's Bruno?!" Pepa demanded in an angry voice.

There was silence, and then everyone looked at Bruno just sitting there with his coffee cup and Pepa's eyes widened as she rushed towards him and grabbed Bruno's shoulders and shook him.

"Don't you ever do that to me again!" Pepa exclaimed shaking him. "I didn't know where you were! I woke up and you were just gone!"

"I...I...I…" Bruno stammered. "I just… I…" he stammered.

Now Mirabel stepped in and sighed deeply. Then grabbed Pepa by the neck of her nightgown and pulled her away. "Tia Pepa. Remember what we talked about space?"

"But." Pepa began.

"Do you intend to also always follow him to the bathroom too?" Mirabel asked. "Calm down."

At that Bruno's eyes widened and then he blushed deeply only to realize, his coffee cup was now empty and the content spilled all over the floor.

…..

"Okay. I think everyone needs to get out now." Mirabel started to hush them. "Everyone out! Breakfast will be in thirty minutes. Get out of here! All of you. Out! Only Mama and Bruno allowed in here!"

Alma opened her mouth.

"You too! OUT!" Mirabel exclaimed at her own grandmother and just pushed them all out leaving a shaking Bruno and an amused Julieta who shook her head.

"It's a big family," Julieta commented and Bruno glanced at her.

Then Julieta headed over and re-filled Bruno's coffee cup for him. "Breathe," she instructed as she bowed down to wipe up the spilled coffee.

"Sorry I didn't mean." Bruno began.

"Not your fault. It was clearly Pepa assaulting you." Julieta said as she stood up and returned to the sink. "Just relax and breathe."

And Bruno did. He breathed. As he put sugar into his coffee… And finally… finally he managed to take a little sip and sighed deeply as he deflated unto his chair already feeling beyond exhausted.

"Are you okay?" Julieta asked.

"Yeah… Yeah." Bruno gasped. "I just need to… Center myself. I'll be fine." he said while shaking like a leaf.

Julieta nodded. "That's good. We haven't even had breakfast yet."

And Bruno's eyes widened.