A/N: I'm not entirely sure what I think of this one! I wanted to get something written, but I had writer's block today and so I really hope this is okay and that you like it! No plot, really, just a bit of family fluff because I need that.
Using her hip to open the nursery door since she had a plate of cookies in one hand and a glass of milk in the other, Julieta sighed as she entered the room and glanced over at the bed to see a Mirabel-sized lump beneath the covers. Her little girl had clearly tried to wriggle down as far as she could go, the embarrassment the events of the evening had brought her making her want to hide away from the world and everyone in it, but her wild curls were giving her away and she smiled despite the circumstances as she closed the door. "Ay, I have no idea where my little Mira has gone," She said, beginning to make her way across the room. "I suppose I'll have to eat all these cookies by myself."
At the mention of cookies, the covers moved and she watched her daughter wriggle her way back up the bed before she poked her head out and looked over at her. Her heart sank and her smile faded at the sight of her red, swollen eyes, runny nose and tearstained cheeks. She had been so excited and full of hope when she had skipped down the stairs less than an hour ago, so it pained her to see her so heartbroken as she removed her glasses and palmed her tears away. "Mi vida…" She whispered as she watched her sit up and hug her knees tight to her chest with a sniff, a lump coming to her throat as she placed both the plate and glass on the nightstand before sitting down on the bed.
"I was supposed to make Abuela proud, mami," Mirabel whimpered, her lower lip quivering as a fresh wave of tears began to trickle down her cheeks. "I was supposed to make the familia proud by getting my gift, but I did it wrong."
Julieta shook her head before turning in place on the bed to take hold of her chin and direct her gaze to meet hers. "I know you feel sad and confused and you want someone or something to blame for this, but you blaming yourself is the last thing papi and I want. You knew exactly what to do because he and I went over it with you so many times before tonight. We were watching, remember? We were standing right there and I know you did everything right, so this is not your fault," She used her thumb to wipe underneath her eye, catching a tear that was about to fall before tucking several little curls behind her ear. "I think what you need is some sleep. You had a big day and you're tired."
"I am not tired," Mirabel pouted, crossing her arms in defiance, though her statement was quickly proven to be false when her body was wracked by a huge yawn and she brought a hand to her mouth. "Okay, maybe I am the teeniest bit tired, mami, but I think papi needs to come and tell me a story before I can go to sleep. He has the best stories."
Julieta feigned offence. "I thought I had the best stories!"
"You both do," Mirabel assured her. "But his are silly stories and they make me laugh."
"Well, papi is already in bed, but I doubt he'll mind me taking you to have a cuddle with him," Julieta told her. "How about we take the leche and cookies with us? We can have them while he tells us a story and he can have some too!"
Mirabel nodded before reaching for her mother and allowing her to draw her into her lap, the two of them sharing a smile when she gave her the glass of milk before taking the plate of cookies and rising from the bed with her. While she carried her from the nursery and down the hall to her bedroom, she sipped at her milk and laid her head on her shoulder before sharing a smile with her father when she opened the door and they entered to see him sitting up in bed with a book. "Hola, papi," She said softly before her mother placed her on the bed and she crawled over to him.
"Hola, princesa," Marking his page and closing his book, Agustín set it down on the nightstand before opening his arms to her and chuckling when she fell into them. He gave her a squeeze and allowed her to snuggle in close as he covered her with the quilt and they waited for Julieta to join them, and he smirked when she tilted her head back on his shoulder and looked up at him. "You know, that is a very stylish moustache. I think it might be nicer than mine!"
It took her a minute to realise what he was going on about, but she laughed and licked the milk from her upper lip when he pointed to it. "Silly papi, everyone knows that moustaches are for hombres! That's just milk!" She told him.
"Ay, silly me," He tutted with a kiss to her temple. "Are mami and I going to have a little guest in the bed tonight?"
She nodded. "She said it would be okay. I want a story because your stories are always so silly and they make me laugh."
"Will a silly story help you feel better?" He asked, tightening his hold of her.
"Si, I think so." She told him while resting a hand on his chest and curling it into his nightshirt.
"Good. I don't like it when you're feeling sad," He smiled. "Well, when your mami decides to finally come and join us in bed then I can start!"
Glancing over at her mother to see her shaking out her hair, Mirabel pulled back the quilt. "Bedtime, mami!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Julieta assured her as she put her hairpins on her dressing table before approaching the bed, climbing in beside her little girl and moving over so that she could cuddle up to her and her husband. "So, she seems to think you tell the best stories," She informed him. "I see that as a challenge, so this has to be asombrosa."
"And it will be," Agustin said with certainty. "Ready?"
"Ready!" She and Mirabel replied.
"Then I'll begin…"
A/N: Thanks so much for taking the time to read this one-shot. Please let me know what you thought with a comment and I will see you all soon!
