AUTHOR'S NOTES: Unfortunately, those wanting to know about Bruno's date with Roslyn Ruiz will have to wait for the next chapter. I wanted to put it in this one, but it didn't fit with the storyline of this chapter, so Chapter 10 will be where we get the picnic date.

CHAPTER 9

"Ungh..." Isabela groaned as she slowly woke up the next morning, trying to get her bearings. Blinking as she looked around, she was momentarily confused by her surroundings, especially when she saw Bruno sitting nearby with a breakfast tray. "Tio Bruno?" Sitting up as she tried to remember what had happened, she focused on the tray. "Hot chocolate, coffee, juice, and tortillas?"

Bruno smiled shyly as he handed the tray over. "Yeah, it... it-it's what Julieta used to make for me after I had multiple visions or really bad migraines. The juice is a combination of orange juice and coconut water."

Sipping the juice mixture, Isabela blinked as she felt her head clearing. "I wasn't dreaming about being lost in the forest?"

Bruno shook his head as Isabela set the tray on the coffee table nearby before taking a bite of tortilla and washing it down with a sip of coffee. "You had another night terror and you were sleepwalking. Mirabel found you about a mile into the woods behind the casita."

Rubbing her face with both hands and pulling her afghan about her, Isa shook her head as she took a deep breath. "With everything going on lately, I've been having trouble sleeping. A-And learning everything that Mirabel has been going through and doing to herself... Tio Bruno, I'm so scared she's going to slip and start hurting herself again. And-And I'm worried about Luisa getting hurt while she's trying to help rebuild our home. I'm worried about Papa if he gets hurt and Mama can't heal him because she doesn't have her Gift anymore and I need to be doing something to help everyone but I also want to just be left alone so I can try and figure out who I really am-"

Isabela broke off as her heart began racing and her breathing became erratic. A wave of strangled sobs overwhelmed her and she felt like her mind was going in a million directions all at once.

"It's okay. You're okay," Bruno assured Isabela quickly as he sat on the sofa next to her, holding his sobrina. "It'll be okay. It's just a panic attack."

Isabela's frenzied sobs brought Olivia Suarez rushing into the room and she sat on Isabela's other side, trying to soothe the young woman.

When Isa finally began to calm down, Bruno handed over the hot chocolate, watching her sip slowly. "You're alright. Just take it easy."

"I'm sorry," Isabela muttered, looking at her tio and Senora Suarez. "I-I-I don't know wh-what happened. I-I-I just..."

"It's alright, carino," Olivia assured Isa, stroking her hair. "Pobrecita... You've grown up much too fast, haven't you?" When Isabela started crying again as she downed more of the hot chocolate, Olivia exchanged a look with Bruno before asking, "What would you like to do today, Isa? I don't mean helping anyone or any chores."

"You mean... for fun?" Isabela sniffled, unable to keep an incredulous tone out of her voice. The concept was completely alien to her but when Hazel the rat scurried over to her, she smiled. "Could...? Tio Bruno, could I just... spend some time with your rats?"

"Absolutely," Bruno agreed, giving his sobrina a smile in return. Watching Gabriel, Timo, and Xavier join Hazel, Bruno looked over at Olivia and asked, "You wouldn't happen to have some blank paper and a pen handy, would you? I-I think I want to just work on writing my telenovelas today."

Olivia laughed as she stood up, nodding as she fetched writing supplies. When she handed them over, she turned to the kitchen for a moment before addressing Bruno and Isabela. "As nice as it's been having Julieta cook, I miss doing it myself. So, while everyone else is helping at the construction site and the two of you are having a 'day off', I am going to prepare the most amazing lunch any of you have ever had."

Starting to feel more relaxed, Isabela leaned against Bruno as she began asking him questions about his storylines. Feeling Timo scurry up her shoulder and begin settling in her hair, Isa couldn't help a snort of laughter as the rodent sneezed several times before going to sit in her lap. "I'm so sorry, Timo," she cooed, petting her new friend before fingering the blue streak in her hair. "I've washed my hair several times now and I think some of those plant pollens dyed it permanently."

"It looks good on you," Bruno assured her, looking at the streaks of green and blue. "It's unique."

Shaking her head slightly as she remembered when the house fell, Isabela sat up more, turning to face Bruno as she tucked one leg up. "You should have seen Abuela after Mirabel encouraged me to let my powers go. "I was 'out of control' and a 'messy disaster'."

"I-I did see," Bruno nodded, thoughtfully. "I was watching from inside the walls and... and I saw you..." Smiling, he finished, "I saw you embracing your Gift. I saw you finally seeing your sister as someone to cherish and protect."

"I've been trying so hard to help Mirabel... But last night... I guess I never realized until now that I have my own problems to work through," Isa mused. "I let go of being perfect - which is wonderful! - but that was my identity for the past 10 years. Who am I, really?"

"You're a caretaker, a gardener," Bruno replied, at once. "You need plants or... or people to tend to and nurture. You're a support for others." Fingering the afghan, he grinned, "You're a creator." Putting a reassuring hand on Isabela's shoulder, he added, "Give yourself time, Isa. Finding your true self is like... like planting a seed. You've got to let it grow on it's own."

Leaning forward and hugging Bruno, Isabela smiled as she murmured, "I'm glad you're back, Tio. I missed you."

X

There wasn't much that Mirabel could do at the building site with one good arm, so she designated herself the task of fetching supplies, snacks, or beverages and watching to make sure that everyone was being safe.

As much as she'd wanted to stay with Isabela, there was also a part of her that was rather unnerved by her sister's night terror. Seeing Isabela not recognize her for a moment and forgetting about the house falling had left Mirabel unable to go to sleep until her mother had given her a cup of chamomile tea with honey.

Not to mention the fact that Mirabel was still hearing her abuelo's voice which made her more than a little confused and wondering if maybe it was possible for the magic to come back.

Feeling a hand on her shoulder, Mirabel turned to see Abuela standing there with an almost timid expression on her face. "Is everything alright?" Mirabel asked, tentatively.

"I was wondering if the two of us could talk," Abuela said, simply. "Do you have a moment, mi mariposa?"

Mirabel couldn't remember the last time her grandmother had called her 'butterfly' and the use of the nickname reminded her of how Abuela used to be before that disastrous night 10 years ago. "Uh... sure. Let me just let everyone know I'm taking a break."

"Of course, mi vida," Abuela acquiesced, nodding patiently. Once Mirabel had accomplished her task, the two headed towards town and sat down on a bench nearby.

Preparing for some condescending talk about working harder to become 'normal', Mirabel was caught off guard when her grandmother took her hand and said, "You broke apart because of me. You felt so much pain and rejection because of me. You thought that our family would be better off without you in it because of my words and actions. If you had died that night, two and a half months ago, I would have been haunted by the fact that it would have been because I valued Antonio's Gift ceremony more than your birthday and quinceanera."

"All I ever wanted was to make the family proud of me," Mirabel said, pulling her hand from her grandmother's and wiping away the tears in her eyes. "To make you proud. I wanted you to love me again, like you did before my door disappeared."

Looking away, Abuela nodded, remorsefully. "You were right when you said that I cast you aside after you didn't get your Gift. For decades, the encanto has relied on our family to grow and thrive." Turning back to Mirabel, she studied her granddaughter, her gaze lingering for a moment on the young woman's arms. "I put too much importance on the magic and not enough on who you are inside. The miracle was the second chance I was given with my children after Pedro was killed." Gently caressing Mirabel's cheek and giving her a tender look, Abuela added, "It's the incredible grandchildren my daughters blessed me with."

Taking a shaky breath, Mirabel tried not to break down. The swirl of conflicting emotions inside of her left her confused about what to say or how to feel. It was as if her abuela could read her mind and was saying everything that Mirabel had longed to hear for so long. And yet... they were just words. But the emotion behind them... Was her grandmother capable of faking tears like that?

Abuela lowered her hand, first resting it on the cast on Mirabel's arm before touching the scars on her right wrist and forearm. "I am so sorry for hurting you so deeply," she said at last, leaning forward and kissing the top of Mirabel's head. "You are not useless, Mirabel. You have so much love inside of you and I squashed it because I didn't see who you really are. I crushed Isabela's spirit by trying to mold her into the next leader of the encanto instead of letting her grow on her own. I robbed Luisa of a childhood that should have been filled with games and friends rather than chores."

"And you made Tio Bruno into some... some monster sent to doom people to misery," Mirabel pointed out. "He loves this family, too, Abuela. He's been in just as much pain as I have and he needs to hear that you value him just as much as you do me." Watching her grandmother for a sign of the old Abuela, Mirabel's eyes widened slightly as she saw Abuela nodding in agreement.

"My Brunito and I have much to talk about," Abuela concurred, looking almost nervous. "I admit I have been waiting for him to feel more at home with everyone before we speak. I don't want to chance pushing him away again."

Thinking on ways that Abuela and Bruno could find neutral ground to start talking, Mirabel was caught off guard as Abuela squeezed her hand and said, "I didn't just want to apologize for hurting you. I also want to start making amends, if you'll let me."

Looking perplexed, Mirabel frowned slightly as she asked, "What do you mean?"

Straightening up, Abuela gave Mira a smile as she explained. "I would like to give you the 15th birthday you should have received. Senorita Roslyn would be delighted to make you your quinceanera dress and I'm certain your hermanas and primos would be honored to be part of your court. Mariano has even offered to be your escort for the celebration."

Mirabel was flabbergasted and she could only stare dumbfounded as she listened to Abuela's plans. "Abuela, with everything going on with rebuilding the casita, I-I don't... And-And... w-with everyone knowing about..."

Taking Mirabel's good hand and kissing her cheek, Abuela smiled kindly, giving a slight shake of her head. "You focus on yourself, mariposa. Focus on healing. I will take care of everything else, okay?"

X

"Mama, have you lost your mind?!" Pepa snapped as she listened to Alma's plans for Mirabel's belated quinceanera. Hands on her hips, the ginger Madrigal was a force to be reckoned with, even without her powers. "An extravagant party with half the town is hardly what Mirabel needs right now!"

Putting her hands up in a calming gesture, Alma refrained from telling her daughter to reign in her emotions. Instead, she pressed on, laying out her plan. "I told Mirabel that her priority is to work on getting better." Seeing Julieta about to object on the phrasing, Alma nodded. "I have been talking to Doctor Suarez and he has admitted that there isn't an actual 'cure' for Mirabel's problems, and Isabela has pointed out that she can't just be 'fixed'. But I want my nieta to know how precious she is to all of us. I believe that if the encanto proves to Mirabel that she is loved, it will serve as a reminder of how many people would be hurt if she tried to hurt herself in the future."

Slowly sitting down on the sofa in the Cruz home, Julieta buried her face in her hands, taking a long, deep breath to calm herself down. Lowering her hands, she closed her eyes for a moment before fixing her mother with a pointed look. "Mama, I understand that you are trying to reconcile with Mirabel and I am grateful for that. But it's been just over a week since all of Mirabel's demons have come to light, and I'm afraid that crowding her like this will be too much too soon."

"I'm not talking about having the celebration in a few days," Alma reminded her daughter, calmly. "It will take time to have Mirabel's dress and shoes made and since I doubt Mira would want to have the party while her arm is healing, we would have to wait until the cast can be removed."

Anxiously stroking her braid, Pepa fixed her mother with a look as she demanded to know, "What does Mirabel have to say about all this? Or are you planning her quince behind her back?"

Julieta looked sharply from Pepa to Alma, ready to put an immediate halt on all party preparations if there was even the slightest hint that Mirabel didn't approve of the whole thing.

"Mirabel is nervous, which is to be expected," Alma replied, honestly. "But I think the anticipation of her belated quince will give her something positive to look forward to."

Slowly standing up, Julieta gave her mother a warning glare as she stated, "Mama, if this blows up in my little girl's face, I swear to you, I will never speak to you again."

Agustin and Felix, both of whom had been keeping out of the disagreement between mother and daughters, joined their respective wives and while Felix immediately agreed with Pepa, Agustin was a bit more optimistic. "I think Mirabel celebrating her quince will be good for her. It's something that is in no way dependent on magic or the family miracle. It's something that every young lady her age gets to enjoy." Looking from Alma to Julieta, he went on. "Yes, it will take time to get everything prepared and Mirabel can take that time for herself to-"

"But that's why this is a bad idea," Felix protested, frowning. "Mirabel is not normal. You're telling her what to do because every other 15-year-old girl does it. Not every 15-year-old has tried to kill themselves!"

"Enough!" Julieta shouted as Agustin started arguing louder with Pepa and Felix. When she had everyone's attention, Juli took a deep breath and stated, firmly, "This has to be Mirabel's decision. I know she's only just started facing her problems, but if this is genuinely what she wants-" She gave pointed looks to Pepa, Felix, and her mother. "-then I think that it's a good plan."

"If Mirabel changes her mind and believes she is not ready," Alma promised, "-the celebration will of course be postponed until she is."

X

During dinner that evening, as the Suarez and Madrigal families discussed Mirabel's upcoming quinceanera, Isabela gave her sister a worried look. Luisa and Dolores were talking excitedly about helping plan the reception and Mirabel was talking to Penelope about dress designs.

But across the table, Bruno cause Isa's eye and she saw that he was concerned as well, whispering with Cecelia and Camilo while the three of them flicked glances at Mirabel every now and then.

"It's just too soon to put Mira through this," Pepa murmured in Isabela's ear. "And you know your Abuela is going to insist on everything being perfect."

Isabela nodded slightly, turning towards her tia so it would be harder for Dolores to read her lips. "I'm afraid she's going to stress Mirabel out. I-I can just imagine Mira having an anxiety attack in the middle of her quince and Abuela complaining about everything being ruined when she was the one who..." Isabela stopped, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath to ward off her own attack. Looking at her tia once again, she shrugged off the look of concern she received. "Mira's not the only one with emotional issues."

"We should be focusing on healing as a family," Pepa concluded, firmly. "Rebuilding the house and rebuilding our connections with each other."

But as much as Isabela agreed, she had feeling that, one way or another, her Abuela was going to get her way and when it was all over, Mirabel was not going to come out of it for the better.

x

While Camilo, Antonio, and Felix did the dishes after dinner, Isa pulled Mirabel away and the two of them sat outside on the porch swing, enjoying the evening.

"Bruno said he enjoyed spending time with you today," Mirabel said, smiling at her eldest sister. The smile faded slightly as she added, "And he also told me about your panic attack this morning." Taking her sister's hand with her good one, she asked, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Only three weeks ago, the idea of sharing her feeling and fears with Mirabel would have been unthinkable. But feeling Mira's hand in hers, Isa nodded, feeling a sense of relief as she talked about everything she'd been holding in for so long and about her 'day off'. "It was something I really needed," she concluded. "Not worrying about being perfect or pretty, just doing nothing. And Tio Bruno's telenovela is so fascinating. And his rats really like me... except for poor Timo who likes nesting in people's hair, but because of the pollen dye, the poor thing kept sneezing when he was around mine."

Mirabel nodded, happily and after a while, she raised an eyebrow as she said, "So what were you and Tia Pepa talking about at dinner tonight? I know it had something to do with my quince and I know Tio Bruno, Camilo, and Cecelia are in on it." She waited for a while for Isabela to say that it was a surprise, or that it wasn't related to the party planning. Therefore, Mira was caught off guard as Isa leaned back, swinging lightly, before starting to speak.

"Not all flowers thrive in the same environments," Isabela pointed out, simply. "There are some that are more hearty and can even grow through broken stone. Others are delicate and need lots of care. Some flowers need plenty of sun and water, and then there are the ones that need something sturdy to support them as they climb." Turning to her sister as she squeezed Mirabel's hand, she said, "Mira, you've only just been replanted. You need time to really put down roots and find the best way to grow. I'm afraid that too much attention is going to keep you from growing on your own."

"Isa, I do want to have my quinceanera," Mirabel assured her, smiling sincerely. "Yes, I was... I was caught off guard when Abuela brought it up and I'm not going to lie and say that I'm not worried about what everyone in town is going to say about me." Looking down at the cast on her left arm and the scars on her right, she could only imagine how many people would respond like Benedict Zapata.

Feeling Isabela squeeze her hand, she looked up again. "I'm scared, Isa. I'm scared that this-" she nodded at her arms. "-is all anyone in the encanto will ever remember me for. I just... Celebrating my quince feels like something normal and I think that's what I need right now. Talking about how I feel helps but doing the positive things I used to do will help me, too. I can sew, help with the construction on the house, plan my own party... and I can cry if I'm feeling sad or upset. I know everyone's worried about me. And I'm not really fine. But I need to keep moving forward, not stay stuck in the past."

Hugging Mirabel, Isa nodded as she murmured, "Okay. If this is all what you really want, then I will be in your corner. I love you, Mira. I just want you to be happy."

A/N: While I wouldn't call it a plot hole, exactly, I've always been curious why Isabela would keep the pollen-stained dress during the entire reconstruction of the Madrigal house. She really had nothing else to wear? I get that it's animated movie logic, but that still confused me.

But I thought, what if she genuinely liked the color splashed look? It certainly inspired the new dress she created at the end of the movie and she kept the color streaks in her hair, but maybe that was pollen stained as well.

Also, when Olivia Suarez calls Isabela 'carino' it's used as a general friendly term of affection, like how you'd call someone 'honey' or 'sweetheart'. And 'pobrecita' means 'you poor thing'.