Hey! My name's Roxy Goth, I've done a few [2] fics for Encanto now, and I've come up with the idea of trying to write a bit of a series. Not sure how well it will work, but the idea's there. So this chapter is meant to be kind of a 'pilot'/introductory stand-alone special.

Hope you enjoy, I do not own Encanto - or indeed anything Disney - in anyway shape or form.

Mirabel paced back and forth looking over the list she had drawn up for helping her family with Christmas.

1. Help Mamá cook.

2. Help Luisa with lo que sea*

3. Look after Tío Bruno.

4. Help Antonio wrap gifts

She nodded thoughtfully and tapped her pencil against her chin. Seemed simple enough. She might need some help with the second one though...

[One dart down the corridor later]

"Isabela!" Mirabel banged on her oldest sisters door for about the third time. "I know you're in there! Open the door you imbécil!*"

"Excuse me!?" Isabela threw open the door, stuck her hand on her hips and glared daggers at her sister.

Mirabel took the opportunity to dart into her sisters room and run to the center so Isa couldn't just easily drag her out. Unless she used her plants that is.

Isa gave a huff of annoyance and, with a swish of her hair, turned to face her sister. "Mirabel-"

"-Can you shut the door, please?" Mirabel interrupted.

Clearly she must have looked desperate because Isa did it without complaint and turned back round. "Okay, what it is?"

"I have a list of things to do for Christmas." Mirabel explained. "One of which is stopping Luisa doing to much-"

Isa raised an perfectly-plucked eyebrow.

Mirabel gave a goofy grin and a shrug. "Yeah, I know, but we have to try. Don't you remember last year?"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Last year]

Luisa pushed the door open and called out happily. "I've got the tree!"

Mirabel blinked, taking in her sister's appearance [she had a few twigs in her hair and looked generally dishevelled.] "I thought Papá was going to help you?"

Luisa waved a hand. "Don't worry, I've got it. Why should he do his back in?"

"Luisa!" Abuela called from the veranda. "Can you put the lights up?"

Luisa grinned and gently placed the tree in a corner. "On it! I'll be back to decorate that later." She said to her sister, pointing at the tree before disappearing.

"You know I can hel- never mind." Mirabel sighed, realising her sister was out earshot.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"And then she ended up sleeping most of Christmas day." Mirabel finished.

Isa nodded, a thoughtful look on her face. "...I'll see what I can do." She said, eventually. "But no promises. I might rope Camilo in. He's good at getting people to relajar*."

Mirabel beamed and hugged her sister tightly. "Gracies*, Isa!"

Isa rolled her eyes and pushed her sister away gently. "Yes, I know, I'm amazing. Now go." And she ushered her sister out the door.

On the other side of it Mirabel beamed and ticked the second 'to-do' of her list.

She then leapt downstairs to find her Mamá, who was [perhaps predictably] in the kitchen. "¿Necesitas ayuda, mamá*?"

"No." Her mamá replied, surprising Mirabel slightly. "I've got your papá and Tío Bruno helping me. Gracias for the offer though." And with that she kissed her daughter on the cheek, lovingly.

Mirabel nodded and ticked the 1st to-do off her list. After a moment consideration she ticked the third one of as well; seeing as Tío Bruno was helping her mamá it was safe to assume she didn't need to keep an eye on him.

So Antonio. Mirabel headed upstairs and knocked on his door.

"C'min!" Her only younger cousin called.

Mirabel opened the door and beamed at him. "Hey, Antonio! I'm here to help you wrap gifts!"

Antonio smiled at her, excitedly. "Gracias, 'Bel! But Dolores is helping me." And he leaned against his sister's arm, affectionately.

Dolores gave Mirabel a quick, sympathetic smile. "I think Luisa may need some help." She said, softly. "I can hear her coming back with the tree."

The tree! Mirabel turned on her heel and headed back down the stairs. She couldn't actually see Luisa herself, but trusted Dolores's hearing.

She threw the front door open and saw her sister pulling a massive tree towards the house. "Luisa!" With a smile Mirabel practically danced over to her immediate older sister. "¿Necesita ayuda?"

Luisa opened her mouth to say her usual 'I'm fine', but changed her mind and said, slightly clumsily. "Eh...can you get the door?"

Mirabel did so and Luisa manoeuvred the tree in, with some difficulty.

"Here, Luisa." Isa appeared out of nowhere with a base.

The middle sister gave a wide grin and nodded her thanks. Together with Isa's help she got the tree upright.

"Great!" Mirabel said, enthusiastically, despite the fact that she helped in no way what so ever.

"By the way." Isa said to Luisa. "Next year let me have a shot at designing the tree. Save you arrastrar* it."

"Alright guys, I've got the decorations." Another Luisa walked in the door, holding a big boxful of decorations. Camilo-as-Luisa saw the real Luisa and sighed. "Worth a shot." Before transforming back into himself.

Luisa gave him an amused smile. "What were you trying to do?"

"You always get to put the star on the top." Camilo complained.

Luisa looked surprised that something that simple was the reason, and immediately offered to lift Camilo up so he could do it.

Camilo looked tempted, but then sighed. "No...Antonio will want to do it. ¿Dónde está, por cierto*?"

"In his room with Dolores." Mirabel said, rolling her eyes.

She hadn't meant to sound bitter, but clearly she had because her sister's quickly exchanged a glace and Luisa immediately said. "I haven't finished wrapping my gifts yet."

In the background Isa rolled her eyes and mouthed 'she has' at Mirabel.

"To be fair, Luisa, I think I need more help than you-" Camilo said.

"We're talking about Christmas specifically, not in general, Camilo." Isa said, snarkily.

Camilo stuck his tongue out at his cousin who, in response, flicked a handful of petals at him.

Mirabel laughed. "You know what, Camilo? Gracias, but I think I'm okay. After all - I have you guys."

Her family all made a mixture of 'ah's' and playfully exaggerated sighs while hugging her.

Mirabel grinned. Who needs a list anyway?

*Whatever

*Jerk/idiot/fool ext...

*Relax

*Thank you

*Need any help, Mama?

*Where is he now, by the way?

*Lugging