After knocking on all of the family's doors, starting with Julieta's, breakfast went exactly as Alma remembered. Though watching herself descend the stairs and sit with the rest of the family while also standing behind Mirabel was…interesting.

From there they all went their separate ways leaving Alma to follow her youngest granddaughter into town to meet with the children.

Right by the mural of the family, gathered around and whispering to one another, was more than just the three niños from earlier. Eight children greeted Mirabel with giggles and excited smiles. Their voices all overlapped as questions came flying out all at once.

"I don't remember all the gifts." "Which one is which again?" "Who does what?"

"Alright, alright, relax." Mira tried calming them down with a chuckle.

"It is physically impossible to relax!"

"What are your powers?!"

"JUST TELL US WHAT EVERYONE CAN DO!"

Honestly, that boy is far too high strung. Who on earth let him have their cafécito?

"And that's why coffee's for grownups." Alma sighed, thankful that Mira had the sense to take the cup from the wired child.

"Now," Mirabel stood in front of the mural. "You know my Ta Pepa? Well her mood controls the weather, and when she gets upset well…" she leaned down to whisper. "That's when you get snow days from school."

The children beamed at that and Alma released a tired sigh. Pepa…was Pepa and she loved her daughter. She knew she did her best.

"Then there's Tio Bruno-"

Hearing her son's name fall from Mira's lips so easily startled Alma, but not as much as the harsh whispers the villagers responded with.

"We don't talk about Bruno." Several hissed as they paused what they were doing just to interject.

Alma frowned at them. Her son was none of their business and while she didn't like speaking of him, neither did Pepa, Mira was a Madrigal and they weren't. If anyone was allowed to speak of Bruno it was family.

"They say he saw the future…but one day?" Mira whispered dramatically. "POOF, he disappeared."

For years Alma could only guess why he left. Could only truly weep for his absence, it still hurt to think that her Brunito didn't care enough to…no. Alma wiped the tears that gathered in her eyes. She wouldn't go down this road of what-ifs again. Bruno was gone because he decided to leave and never tell his family why…and that's all she knew. Another loved one ripped from her; her fists clenched at the thought.

"And that's my mamá, Julieta, you guys see her in town everyday." Adjusting her glasses, Mirabel looked up at the picture of her mother with a loving smile. "Anything she makes can heal you, just like that." She snapped her fingers for emphasis.

"And then there's Tio Félix, he married Pepa. And my papá Augustín who married Julieta and now you have my primos, hermanas and me." She gave a little bow.

"But who's a sister and who's a cousin?"

"There's so many people."

"How do you keep them all straight?!"

"Okay, okay, I know there's a lotta people in our house. So let's start from left to right." Mira pointed to Dolores who was painted beneath her mother. "Here's cousin Dolores, she can hear a pin drop from all the way across the village."

The children 'ooed' and 'awed'.

"Camilo, you see, is a bit of a prankster." Even Alma chuckled with the children at this; a bit? "He can shapeshift into anyone. In fact…" she eyed the children before singling one out. "Are you Camilo?" Gentle fingers tickled the child's neck before quickly retreating. "No? Then are you Camilo?"

"No." The children each cried with laughter.

"Okay, just checking." She gave them a side eye as if she didn't quite believe them.

Mirabel was so good with the children, perhaps she should go into town with Camilo…

"Antonio will get his gift later today. We'll see you at the party right?" The kids all cheered, each saying yes in their own way. "These are my older sisters. Isabela," the little girls all whispered about how pretty Isa looked. "And Luisa." The boys all whispered about how cool Luisa was.

"What does she do?" A little girl asked excitedly.

"She makes flowers for everyone. The whole town goes wild over it." Mira rolled her eyes as she said this, the movement not going unnoticed by Alma. "Señorita princesa perfecta."

It almost sounded like Mirabel bit those words out in disdain. Alma was not aware of any…negative feelings between the sisters. Had they had an argument? Over what? Mira was too kind, Isa too genteel for such things…weren't they?

"What about Luisa?"

"Luisa," Mirabel beamed. "She's super strong. She can lift the church all by herself. In fact, I don't think there's anything Luisa can't do."

There was a stark contrast between how Mira spoke of her sisters. Where she had just proudly spoken of Luisa, voice warm with love, her description of Isa was bland and to the point; the warmth in her voice lacking when describing her eldest sister.

"And those are the Amazing Madrigals!" Mirabel bowed deeply to the cheers of the children. "Alright niños, I gotta go help set up the party."

Each child pouted, giving Mira teary eyes and crocodile tears. They begged her to stay and play.

"Sorry guys, I'll see you later ok? Adios." She gave them a two finger salute before whirling around. Mirabel paused, squeaking in surprise to find a little girl right behind her, blocking her from leaving.

"But what's your gift?"

Alma held her hands together to keep from fidgeting. They didn't know? Of course they don't know, they're so young, but…no one told them…of course they didn't…it's none of their business. Mirabel helps where she's needed, gift or no she's made herself useful despite her clumsiness. The girl was simply still learning to not be too much and let others handle the jobs they were better suited for.

But still, Alma knew from the look on Mira's face that she had finally grown uncomfortable with the questions and constant pestering about her. It made her feel nervous and guilty as she watched her nieta dodge niños while trying to make her escape back to Casita.

Mere moments ago she was smiling so easily, happy to talk about her family and answer any and every inquiry the little ones had. Now? She was fleeing as fast as she could, excuses tumbling from her lips as she hurried along.

Mirabel even started reciting the information she had given them earlier. "Cousin Dolores can hear a pin drop. Camilo shape shifts. Antonio gets his gift today. Isabela is perfect. Luisa is super strong. The beauty and the brawn do no wrong."

"Hola Mira!" Mariano waved to the young girl smiling brightly.

"Hola Mariano." Mira's returning smile was strained.

The small interaction didn't bother the kids in the least and as their questions started up again so did Mira's mantra. Reciting every member of the family, including Alma, everyone except herself.

Alma knew the failed ceremony was hard on her. Mirabel had cried all night afterwards…but she had picked herself up and learned to help as she is. Her granddaughter could embroider, sew, knit, crochet and cook. All excellent skills and she was very talented. She hadn't let not getting a gift slow her down, which made Alma so very proud of her.

Does she know that?

Soft as a whisper, a golden butterfly fluttered around Alma's head unnoticed. It circled above her head for a moment before gently landing in the back of her hair to remain unseen.

Of course she knows…she's part of la familia…

"But what about you?!"

Alma had followed the gaggle all the way to Casita's front yard. She grasped at her shawl in uncertainty. Mirabel knew that she was loved, that Alma was proud of her…

"Well…" Mirabel fiddled with her fingers as she turned to the huddle of children behind her. She bit her lip, readying herself to admit-

"MIRABEL!" Alma straightened immediately, though it was her own voice that startled her.

The niños all jumped but Mira went rigid. Her youngest went so stiff like she'd been caught doing something wrong and was about to get in trouble. It made Alma wince when she realized how she sounded.

"What are you doing?" In hindsight the question seems silly.

At the time Alma had been concerned that Mirabel had brought the children there on purpose to help. The last thing she had wanted was a slew of niños getting under foot while everyone was too busy to watch them.

"She was about to tell us about her super awesome gift!" Mirabel's mouth opened, but she seemed to trip over her explanation prompting the little girl to get to the point for her.

From here she could see how uncomfortable and embarrassed she was under the attention and subsequent scrutiny she was suddenly receiving. She had no reason to be though. A simple, the kids were asking questions or some other similar phrase would have sufficed.

"Oh," Dolores leaned out of the doorway. "Mirabel didn't get one." With a small 'mmh' that was the end of that…for Dolores and past Alma.

'Current' Alma watched Mirabel's face crumple slightly at the blatant reminder. Mira was still bothered by this?

"You didn't get a gift?" The little girl sounded so…sad for her nieta.

Eight pairs of eyes latched onto Mirabel and she fidgeted from the weight of their disappointed gazes. She watched Mira try and gather herself only to be interrupted again.

"Oh Mirabel, delivery!" Osvaldo pulled up on his donkey. Hopping off he walked over with a basket full of fireworks to hand to Mirabel. "I gave you the special, since you're the only Madrigal without a gift. I call it, 'The Not Special' special."

"Excuse you?" Alma couldn't help but eye the man.

"You know, since you don't have a gift." Osvaldo handed the basket over, none too gently.

Mirabel gave him a strained and clearly fake smile. "Thanks." She stood there awkwardly waiting for him to leave, but the blundering man wasn't finished.

"OH! Tell Antonio good luck." He gave her two thumbs up along with his well wishes. "Last gift ceremony was a real bummer. The last one being yours…that did not work." He added unhelpfully, completely unaware that he was making Mira feel worse.

Alma glared at the man, surprised to hear him speak of such a sensitive matter so brashly. Intentionally or not, he had just insinuated that Mirabel was less than simply for not having a gift.

If Mira was less, then so was she; Alma didn't have a gift. Her job was to simply watch over the Candle and insure Casita and the town's safety. She made herself useful and so had Mirabel.

"If I were you, I'd be really sad."

She was, Alma could see it in the unshed tears in her eyes before the emotion was whisked away behind a mask and a smile. Mirabel turned to the niños with a practiced grin.

"Well my little friend, I am not. Because the truth is, gift or no gift, I am just as special as the rest of my family."

Good, Alma smiled softly, she didn't let Osvaldo's poor word choices bother her.

"WHO WANTS MORE PINK?"

"WHERE SHOULD I DROP THE WAGON?"

The whole group stared up at the house in awe as they watched flowers spread across its surface and Luisa marched by with an entire wagon full of wine barrels hefted above her head.

"Maybe your gift is being in denial."

Alma huffed. Out of the mouths of babes!