Summary:

Bruno offers to look into Gabriela's future. He gathers the courage to ask her the question that will change their lives forever.

-o-o-

Written in Gabriela's and Bruno's POV.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"Okay, so you put the fingers of your left hand on the bellows here. The fingers of your right hand go here on the buttons. Press them together then slowly pull the instrument apart to make the sound come out. Think you can play the chords I just taught you?"

Mirabel nods at me. She plays a tune perfectly. I'm amazed. It's only been a few days since she started learning the accordion. "Wow, Mirabel! That was amazing. You have such a natural talent for music!"

She smiles shyly. "Thanks, Tía. I'm glad that you're teaching me. I want to be able to play music for primo Camilo when gets his gift next month."

The door to the nursery opens and Camilo enters, grinning from ear to ear. "Really, prima? That's sweet of you."

Mirabel giggles. "Aw, you ruined my surprise!"

I laugh as I watch the two youngest Madrigals start teasing each other. "Ay, Tía," Camilo blinks at me. "I almost forgot. Tío Bruno was looking for you."

"Me? Did he say why?"

Camilo grins. He slouches a bit and messes his hair to do an impression of Bruno. "Eh…Camilo, could you tell your Tía Gabriela when you see her that I have something to show her?"

Mirabel starts laughing when he finishes his act. "It's just like Tío Bruno!"

"But I don't sound like that!"

We all turn to find Bruno standing in the doorway, his arms crossed against his chest. His eyes twinkle when he sees me. "There you are, mi vida. I was looking for you."

The two young Madrigals immediately run up and giggle as they drag their Tío into the room. "Ay, don't drag me along, you two. I can walk. I can walk!" Bruno huffs.

I laugh. "Well, you found me. I've just been here the whole time teaching Mirabel how to play the accordion. Anyway, what is it that you wanted to show me?"

"It's a secret," He hedges as Camilo starts making kissing noises. It earns Mirabel's disgust and an eye roll from Bruno. "Stop that, Camilo."

"Stop that, Camilo," Camilo parrots back. I snort.

"What's so funny?" Bruno raises an eyebrow at me.

I puff my cheeks, trying to keep my laughter in. "He's acting just like you!"

"You don't think I sound that high-pitched, do you?"

"No, no, I don't," I pull myself together. "I just think Camilo nailed his impression of you. You have to admit he's such a good actor, just like his Tío."

He concedes. "Okay, okay, I'll admit it. He is pretty good. But that's only because he learned from the master." Bruno waves his hand with a flourish.

Camilo sticks his tongue out, unimpressed. "Hey, prima, want to see what Dolores is up to?" He asks Mirabel who nods enthusiastically. They both run out of the room. I'm not sure if I'm seeing things, but I think Camilo gave his Tío a thumbs up before they disappear around the corner.

"I can't believe time flies so fast." I sigh as I stare at the open door. "Imagine, Camilo's turning five next month, then Mirabel right after. They're going to get their gifts soon."

Bruno hums. "Hmm. I'll miss having their company, but I think it'll be okay." He tilts his head to check that the two little Madrigals are indeed out of sight before he leans in for a kiss.

"Bruno!" I dodge him and he kisses the pillow instead. "Behave, cariño. The door is open!"

He makes a defeated sound. "Fine…then come with me to my room, mi vida."

I roll my eyes. "Hmm. Tempting, but why? Does it have something to do with what you'll show me?"

"Again, it's a secret."

"You wouldn't try to jump on me in there, would you?"

Bruno laughs. "No, I'm not. Unless…" He trails his fingers up my arm and whispers into my ear with a voice like velvet. "...you want to do something else…"

I blush. I know what he's implying. It's a miracle Bruno and I don't burn to the ground every time we step into church on Sundays.

I smack his arm. Bruno sputters. "I'm joking! I'm joking! I was…thinking of giving you a vision if you want one."

"Is that what you want to show me?" My jaw drops. I've always been genuinely curious about Bruno's ability, but I never even thought of getting a vision. "Really? Are you sure?"

Bruno sighs, pretending to be disappointed. "Yes. And I thought you'd want to do something else with me…"

"Maybe I'll consider doing something with you right after," I beam at him. I've been thinking more about the future lately and he presents me with the perfect opportunity. "But for now, I'd like to take you up on your offer to see my future…with you."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

I've been in Bruno's room so many times, but this is the first I'm going to see his vision cave. I follow him up the flight of stairs, watching the ground get farther and farther away from me.

I gulp. I hate heights.

Bruno reaches for my hand when he hears me squeak nervously. "Don't look down, mi vida. Just look at me. I've got you."

"Lo siento, amor. I forgot I hate heights."

"We're almost there," He murmurs. "Just a few more steps."

"You know, this part of your room reminds me of Los Estoraques," I mumble as I distract myself by looking around as we reach the top.

Bruno hums. "Hmm. Never thought of that. I've always seen my room as Ciudad Perdida or El Peñón de Guatapé."

"Why? Is it because it looks like a lost city, or is it the fact that you have so many flights of stairs? Magical how many fit in here…" I tease as we finally reach solid ground…but then I see the hanging bridge. I groan.

"Maybe. My room is the worst, isn't it?" He leads me across slowly, careful not to rock the bridge so much until we make it to the other side. "There. You made it through, Gabriela. You can breathe easy now."

"Unconventional maybe, but it's not that bad," I let out a shaky laugh. "Thanks, Bruno."

He smiles at me and motions over to a large, temple-like structure. "This way." I follow him in. We walk through a narrow corridor and my curiosity grows. "Hey, Bruno?"

"Hm?"

"Why do you think there are so many wall carvings and relief impressions of your face?"

Bruno's laugh echoes throughout the chamber as we approach a wooden door. "I don't know. Maybe because this is my temple?"

"Like Catedral de Sal de Zipaquirá."

Bruno raises an eyebrow at me. "Maybe that's too much of a stretch," He opens the door to reveal the heart of his entire room. The vision cave. "I'm not Jesucristo."

"Dios mío, I didn't say you were God. Maybe just close to being one…" I giggle as I enter. I nearly jump when Bruno closes the door and the room goes pitch black. "Bruno?"

"Don't worry, Gabriela, I'm still here." One by one the candles in the corner flicker to life as he lights them, illuminating the room.

"I thought you locked me in here."

"Ha! Now, why would I do that?" Bruno says as he motions me to sit in the circle of sand.

"I don't know. Maybe to keep me here with you forever?"

He smirks. "That's not a bad idea, though I'd rather lock you with me in my actual bedroom. We can do all sorts of things there…"

I shake my head at him. "Focus on the task at hand, tesoro." His whole body vibrates as he tries to control his laughter. "Okay. Okay. I'm on it, mi amor. Don't get mad at me."

I watch as he prepares himself. His hands move in a swift but graceful motion through each step. Bruno once told me he does an elaborate ritual each time a vision is requested so that it would help him concentrate.

The wind suddenly picks up, even if we're in a sealed room.

"Gabriela?"

I raise my head to look at him. He opens his eyes to reveal that they're glowing the brightest shade of green.

"Do you promise to still love me, whatever I see?" Bruno asks me.

I blink at him. "I know you can only see the future, cariño, not cause it. Of course I will still love you whatever it is you decide to show me."

"¿Prometes?" He offers his hands out to me.

"Te prometo, Bruno. Confío en ti, mi amor," I say as I hold on to him. The sand around us swirls, immediately engulfing us both to see into the future.

Our future, together.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

I watch Gabriela anticipate with bated breath as the visions swirl and become clearer. Her mouth opens in amazement when her future shows our life together.

I see…a bed. She's in bed. Her hair is a mess, stray strands clinging to her flushed face. It looks like she's just given…birth.

Now she's holding a baby in her arms, cooing at them as a pair of hands reach over to hold the child.

Mine.

I beam at her as she hands over our baby. Something on the fourth finger of her hand gleams of gold as she settles our newborn in my arms. A wedding band.

I don't recognize the room we're in, but it doesn't matter. The place is filled with love and joy.

The vision ends before I can see more. Gabriela doesn't say anything for a while as the last moment materializes in front of me. My heart thumps against my chest and I become aware of the weight in my pocket.

"Bruno?"

I turn just in time to catch Gabriela with one arm when she tackles me. I hold the vision away from her with the other, careful not to drop it on the ground. "I can't believe it! Our future!"

"Hey, careful. We don't want to break this," I say as I hand her the tablet. She stares at it with so much love in her eyes. "A baby," She breathes. "We're going to have a baby! I'm…I'm so happy! I was worried for a moment about what we would see, but…" Gabriela stops midway when turns around and finds me kneeling on one knee. "Bruno? What–"

"Gabriela," I begin, my voice wavering in nervousness. "I'm glad we got a good vision. This makes what I'm about to do a whole lot easier."

Realization crosses her face as she gently sets the vision aside. "...Are you…?"

"I've been waiting for a long time for this day." I gulp as I reach into my pocket to pull out the ring I had been keeping a secret from her this whole time. "I didn't know how the vision would go, but I thought I would give it a chance. And…and when I saw our future together…well, there's no better time to do this than now."

Gabriela stares at me as I pop the question I've been longing to ask her. "Gabriela Álvarez, mi amor, mi cielo, luz de mis ojos…¿Quieres casarte conmigo?"

She bursts into tears. My heart sinks for a moment before she nods. "¡Sí! Mi respuesta es si, Bruno Madrigal!"

I waste no time and slip the ring on her finger. YES! SHE SAID YES!

I pull Gabriela close in an embrace. I feel her happy tears on my shoulder and I start to get emotional as well. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with her. "Thank you, Gabriela…thank you…thank you! I promise I'll love you till the end of our days. Today, you've made me the happiest man alive."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Glossary of terms (in order of appearance in-text):

Los Estoraques - a national park shaped by large brownstone pedestals and columns formed by thousands of years of erosion. Located at the Norte de Santander Department, Cordillera Oriental, Colombia.
Catedral de Sal de Zipaquirá - an underground Roman Catholic church built within the tunnels of a salt mine 200 metres underground in a halite mountain near the city of Zipaquirá, Cundinamarca, Colombia.
Jesucristo - Jesus Christ
Prometes - Promise
Confío en ti - I trust you
Quieres casarte conmigo - Will you marry me
Mi respuesta es si - My answer is yes