A/N: I am sooooo sorry it has been over a month! I had severe writers block with this one. I hate when you know the direction you want a story to go, but its the in between that you can't figure out.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter. I will do my best that it isn't another month between chapters again.

Thank you for sticking by and being patient with me 3


He gave her a sheepish look. "I may have gotten carried away a bit." He glanced down at his pants. "I suppose I'll have to travel home with grass stains, I forgot to pack extra clothes for myself."

"I can try and get them out later today, maybe you could borrow a pair from someone else. Better to try and get it out sooner than later. But we should probably head out en la mañana."

A thud was heard from behind Mirabel, and they turned to find Julieta standing there with wide eyes. The newly packed third lunch basket was lying on its side by her feet.

"You-your leaving?" She asked, voice breaking.

"Mamá, we-" Mirabel started, but was unsure how to continue. Her mamís heartbroken expression made her own heart ache. A hand on her arm made her look up at Julio.

Julio walked past Mirabel and knelt in front of Julieta, he righted the basket and rescued the items that had tumbled out, thankfully still intact. He left the basket on the ground and stood. "Señora Julieta, I need to speak with Mirabel. Please, don't worry." He said softly, guiding her to a chair.

Julieta just blinked at him, still reeling from the words her hijita just said. Agustín came over and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, having heard what Mirabel had said as well. She leant into her esposos side as she tried to catch her breath.

Julio left them and gently took Mirabel's elbow, leading her away from the picnic.

"Mira, mi amor." He started. "You can't come back with me yet."

Mirabel frowned and shook her head. "What are you talking about?"

"What is our town going to think if you leave one day with a broken hip and ankle, and a concussion, then two days later return like nothing happened? I am grateful for your madre, mi amor, for saving you and our bebe, but this isn't how the rest of the world heals." He took her left hand in his, caressing where her wedding band was.

He saw the moment Mirabel understood.

"Inutil tonto imbecilé." Mirabel exclaimed, smacking her forehead with her free hand. "Why did I not think of that?"

Julio took her other hand from her forehead, kissing her palm and then her forehead. "You are not una idiota. You didn't think of it because it has been a crazy few days and I'm not sure we really told you just how bad your injuries were."

Mirabel quickly buried her face in his chest, hugging him tightly. He returned it just as tight.

"How- how long will we be separated?" She asked, choking slightly on her words.

"A week, maybe two. I will have to arrange for the house to be taken care of and help work get someone to cover me for a while."

Her hands tightened in his shirt at the thought of being separated for the first time in almost 8 years. Even when they weren't together as a couple, they had seen each other everyday as Mirabel had lived with him and Tía Rosa.

"It will be alright, mi corazon." He whispered, nuzzling his cheek into the curls on the top of her head. He didn't like the thought of being away from her any more than she did. "Our hijos will stay with you, and you can take the time to get to know your family again. They seem to be sincere in wanting to try harder."

Mirabel sniffed once, before pulling back. "You're right, mi amor."

He gave her a cheeky grin. "I'm always right."

"Ha!" She slapped his arm. "I'll believe it when it happens more than once!"

"I'm right in that you are mi único y verdadero amor." He said, leaning over to whisper that in her ear.

Mirabel blushed, and pulled him into a kiss. "Tú también eres mía, mi amor." She said as they pulled apart. She glanced over and saw her mamá still leaning into her padre with a saddened, but resigned look on her face. "I suppose we should go over and reassure mi madre. I feel so bad for worrying her."

"It'll be okay corazón." He kissed her forehead one last time, before beginning to guide her back to her family, most of whom had also turned with confused looks on their faces.

"Mija, is it true?" Agustín asked once they had approached, his arm still holding Julieta close to him.

Mirabel shook her head and stepped forward to grasp her mothers hand in both of hers. "Lo siento, Mamá. I wasn't thinking. I didn't mean for you to hear that either." She swallowed and gave her parents a nervous smile. "I forgot that the rest of the world doesn't have Mamá's healing food at their disposal. If it is alright with you and the familia, may mi hijos y yo stay for a while?"

Julieta stood quickly and pulled her daughter into her arms. "Por supuesto. Of course!" She pulled back and cupped Mirabel's cheeks. "You are always wanted here, mi amor. And please, please talk to us next time before you give your poor Mamá a heart attack."

"Sí Mamá. Lo siento."

Julieta smiled, then patted her own face dry of tears. "Let's have some lunch, hm?"

Mirabel smiled and nodded, allowing her madre to pull her along to where her Abuela was seated on a chair. Julio went and sat with their hijo to help him eat his lunch. She was gently pushed into a chair beside her Abuela, before Julieta took off to make up a plate of food for them both.

"I am glad to hear you aren't leaving us so soon, nieta." Alma started to say, causing Mirabel to meet her eyes. "Your mamá took it very hard when you left." She then turned to watch her eldest plate food. "This is the happiest I have seen her in 8 years. I'm sure as a madre yourself now, you understand how it hurts to see your bebés upset." Abuela looked back at her nieta. "I know most of what happened is my fault, and it made seeing mi dolce Juli so heartbroken. I know it wasn't how you planned it, but gracias mija for returning. Even if it isn't forever."

Mirabel swallowed at her abuela's words. Guilt swelled in her once again as she glanced at her mother and took in her appearance again. Tears threatened to fill her eyes.

"Ay, mariposita, don't feel guilty. That wasn't my intention." Alma said, reaching over to pat Mirabel's knee.

Mirabel just nodded and took a deep breath to calm herself before her mother returned. She was a little uncomfortable with Abuela's touch, but decided to let it be for now.

"Here you go. I hope these are still some of your favourite foods, mija." Julieta said, handing Mirabel her plate, as well as a plate to her own mother.

"Gracias Mamá. This looks amazing." Mirabel smiled at her, receiving a bright smile in return. It helped her to shake away the thoughts of guilt for the moment and enjoy the afternoon and good weather with her familia.


That night, after tucking the children into bed, Mirabel and Julio retired to their own room. Mirabel couldn't believe that it was only two days ago that she had fallen, and only a day since Julio had brought them to her hometown.

She was pulled from her thoughts as he joined her on the bed. As soon as he was laying down on his back, under the covers, Mirabel tucked into his side, her heavy belly resting on him, and her right leg bent up over his. Her right hand played with his nightshirt above where his heart rested.

Mirabel sighed. "I wish you didn't have to leave. We've never been apart since we got married." She said softly, trying to keep her emotions in check.

"It will be fine, mi amor. I am going to do my best to get back as quickly as possible. Lo prometo." He replied softly, rubbing a soothing hand over where their unborn bebé was kicking. "Nuestro pequeño bebé better stay in till I return." He let out a chuckle as he received a swift kick to his palm.

"You better return before they arrive. I'm not sure I could go through it alone."

Julio placed a kiss on the top of Mirabel's head. "Everything will work out how it is supposed to, mi querida. In the meantime you will get to show our niños where you grew up. Then I will return, our bebé will be born, and in a few months, we can go home."

"Okay." She agreed. She buried her face into his shoulder and fell asleep to the soothing pattern he rubbed on her belly.


The next morning the whole familia was seated at the table for breakfast. Part way through the meal, Abuela Alma spoke up to do her morning announcements.

"Today seems to be a be un hermoso día." She said with a smile. Mirabel noted that she no longer stood up to make the announcements like she used to. "First of all, I would like to pray that Julio travels safely back to the city today."

The family all bowed their heads and followed the matriarch in her prayer. Mirabel's hand found Julio's, and they tightened their fingers around each other. As if holding on tighter, would delay the separation that was soon to come.

"Now another matter that needs to be addressed before we go about our morning, is what to tell la comunidad. I am sure there were many who noticed the commotion two days ago, our unexpected absence yesterday, and many who will notice Julio leaving again this morning. They had questions yesterday when I said we would be unavailable yesterday, but I just said something urgent came up."

"Shouldn't we just tell them Mirabel is here?" Camilo spoke up. Then he turned to Mirabel. "I mean, they are going to see you if you are staying for a few months at least. You aren't gonna stay held up in Casita are you?"

Mirabel moved her gaze from Camilo to Julio. She knew it was the right thing, but just wanted to see if he was on the same page. He gave her a tender smile, and squeezed her hand. She smiled back and then turned to her abuela. "Alright, you may tell them I am back. I am sure I will need to head to town in the next day or so to get some extra clothes for us."

Alma nodded with a smile. "Excelente. I am sure the comunidad will be just as happy that you are home as we are."

Mirabel attempted a smile back, but she was unsure if it came across as anything more than a grimace.

The familia finished their breakfasts before splitting up for their daily chores. Julieta sent a large basket of food with Christían to hand out at the flower cart today, as she would be staying with Mirabel and the niños along with Agustín. Antonio and Adoria left to head to a day of school, while the rest of the niños were being entertained by Tío Bruno as their parents left Casita.

The familia bid Julio goodbye as they left until it was only the small family and Mirabel's padres left out front of Casita. He had his own bag slung over his shoulder, dressed in his clothes that Mirabel had washed after lunch yesterday. Mirabel and Julio attempted to keep their hijos from being upset over their papá leaving, but it was a lost cause. Thankfully Julieta and Agustín helped hold each of the girls as they cried; Luna clinging to Julieta, while Aleta tried to get out of Agustín's grasp. Aarón was sniffling in Mirabel's arms, as she tried to calm him down.

"Mijas, I will be back soon. You need to stay and help su Mamí look after your hermano. ¿Entiendes?"

"S-Sí, Papí." Aleta said, hiccuping. Luna nodded as she buried her head into Julieta's neck.

Julio placed a kiss on each girl's head, and then went to Mirabel. He kissed Aarón on the head, whispering to him to help out his Mamí and watch over his hermana mayores. Finally he kissed Mirabel. "Te quiero, mi corazón."

"Yo también te quiero, mi amor. Stay safe, and return as quickly as you can." She said, trying to hold back her own tears to stay strong for their hijos.

"Lo prometo. I promise." He said, placing a kiss to her forehead too. "I'll miss you so much."

"We'll miss you more." Mirabel replied with a soft smile. "Now head out, so you won't get there too late."

Julio nodded and swallowed passed the lump in his throat, before climbing onto the seat of the cart attached to Margarita. Isabela then rounded the corner on a borrowed horse, she would join him just to the other side of the mountain in order to make another bridge for him to cross the river safely.

"Ready?" She asked him, to which he nodded. Isabela then guided her horse in the direction of the cave passage.

"Vamos, Margarita." He then waved to his hijos and esposa, until he couldn't see them anymore.

Mirabel, with help from her parents, brought their hijos into Casita. Julieta insisted they go to la cocina for a special treat.

Upon entering, Julieta set Luna on the counter where she had sat the previous morning. Aleta and Aarón soon joined her, with Mirabel standing close to Aarón to make sure he didn't fall.

Julieta flitted to a cupboard and pulled out a plate of freshly baked alfajores. "I hid them so your Tío Camilo didn't eat them all this morning." She said with a smile to her nietos. "I know this doesn't make up for your papí leaving, but I always find a cookie makes me feel better."

"Sí, me too!" Agustín added with a wide grin.

Aleta took a cookie for herself and her hermano, offering him his first as Luna shyly took her own.

"Mmmm! Mamí, they taste like yours!" Aleta exclaimed, her eyes alight in happiness.

Mirabel offered them a tender smile. "Su Abuela was the one who taught me. I spent many hours in here learning to cook and bake. I'm sure if you ask nicely, Abuela will allow you to help too."

Luna surprised Mirabel again, by speaking up before Aleta. "Please Abuela?" The younger melizza asked.

"Sí, of course." Julieta said with a bright smile and then placed a kiss on Luna's cheek. "I would love you and your hermanos to help me." She bit back tears at seeing their excited faces. "But for now, take one more alfajor. The rest will be for a snack later." She said, handing them each. She then shoved one into Mirabel's mouth. "Eat, mija, it's good for you and the bebé."

Mirabel rolled her eyes fondly, before closing them to savour the taste of her mamás alfajores. There was something that her cookies had that she couldn't replicate even if the recipe was identical. It was most likely her gift, but her mamá used to always say that it was her love for her family that made everything taste better.

She watched as her padres spoke and kept her bebés occupied, giving her a moment to compose herself. Mirabel was grateful as pregnancy hormones made the whole separation feel much more intense. She took another bite of the soft cookie, relishing in the sweet and creamy dulce de leche filling. .

Upon hearing her niños giggling she smiled. 'It may seem hopeless, but we'll get by just fine.' Mirabel thought to herself as she watched the scene before her, one hand caressing her bump.


Translations

Inutil tonto imbecilé - Useless, foolish imbecile

mi único y verdadero amor - my one true love

tú también eres mía, mi amor - you are mine too, my love

¿Entiendes? - Do you understand?

hermanas mayores - older sisters

un hermoso día - a beautiful day

la comunidad - the community

Yo también te quiero, mi amor - I love you too, my love