Summary:

The family receives a few good blessings that they never expected.

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Written in Bruno's POV.

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It had been a grueling four months, but finally, with such precise timing and calculation, the house is whole again. The whole town made a show of solidarity to stand by us in our time of need, and now we will find the moment of truth.

Magical or not, Encanto would always be an enchanting place.

"We did it!" Mirabel cheers. "Home sweet home…"

"Indeed," Mamá beams at her as the rest of the family gives way. "This calls for a celebration, especially with all the hard work everyone has put in to make this happen. But before we do…there's just one thing missing."

Mirabel blinks in confusion at our strange behavior. "You all have been acting strange since earlier. What's going on?"

Everyone laughs. "Amazing you didn't notice it." Isabela teases her sister. "I thought with you'd catch on pretty quick, but I guess not."

"Okay, now you're just making fun of me, Isa. Come on, just tell me!"

"We need a doorknob," I offer before the two start bickering. On cue, Antonio walks up to his favorite prima and hands her a golden knob, one that we made just for her. Her eyes widen when she realizes what's going on.

"...is this…for me?" Mirabel sniffs. The tears start to spring from her eyes and she hastily wipes them away. "You all…made this, for me?"

Everyone's voices overlap with one another as they share their feelings for our miracle that brought forth a new change.

"Mija, you've been so brave…"

"So bright…"

"Full of love…"

"We've been so blind not to see…"

"We thought the one who brought the family together should do the honors of reopening our home!"

"Can I say we have a house?"

Félix promptly smacks his son's arm which earns another round of fits.

"You get the gist," I cut above everyone else. "So go on, Mirabel. Let us in."

The affirmation lights up in her eyes. There is a little hesitation, but she bravely walks over to the door. Julieta squeezes my shoulders while we anticipate our family's new beginning. Fifty years had to pass, but I'm hopeful for the future. The moment the knob comes into contact with the wood, something unexpected happens. We don't even have enough time to say anything before Casita drags us all inside.

"How is this even possible…?" Mamá asks. She places a hand on the wall in disbelief. "Our…Casita…?"

We stare in wonder as we feel the magic flowing back over the town, stronger than before. There are no words that can describe the joy.

"It's our family, Abuela," Mirabel murmurs when she finally finds her voice. "We're together. It's what made this all possible. I think Abuelo would be pleased to see this."

I nod in agreement as Pepa sets off rainbows, sunshine, and hail. "She's right, Mamá. I don't need to look into the future to see that we'll be okay from now on. All good things for us all. Especially with Mirabel here."

Mamá lets out a tinkling laugh that surprises us both. "You're right, Brunito." She pats me comfortingly. "All good things and also the bad. Whatever happens, going forward, we will weather them together. La Familia Madrigal."

"La Familia Madrigal," I repeat while my eyes scan the crowd of townsfolk that convened to join in the festivities. She is nowhere to be found, though that was the least of my worries. I wonder how Gabriela's doing. It's been a while since we last saw each other. I haven't visited her again the day after I returned her ring to give her space to think about things.

I miss her.

"You're awfully fidgety, Tío. Looking for someone?" Mirabel nudges me and I blush. Is the look on my face that obvious? Mamá looks at me with concern. Her mouth opens to say something but thankfully Casita pulls everyone for a photo. I straighten myself, grateful for the distraction.

I don't need my mother to ask about her, especially since…it's all up in the air at this point. Mirabel presses on like she always does with a follow-up question. "Are you looking for…her, Tío Bruno?" She whispers to me. "Do you think the ermitaña…I mean…Tía Gabriela would be here?"

"How did you know?" I gulp. It's definitely written on my face. "You didn't dare tell your parents about it, did you?"

"It's as clear as Tía Pepa's skies. Don't worry, I didn't tell anyone. Isa, Luisa, and Dolores didn't too, but I understand you a little bit more now, Tío."

"What do you mean?"

"Dolores was more than willing to tell me stories about her." Mirabel beams as we all prepare to smile at the camera. "I think Tía will be here."

"How are you sure?" I eye her cautiously. "You know how I am."

"I just know," She insists. "Tío Bruno, you're not a mess of a person. Abuela, Mamá, Papá… we all know you care for the family. You and Tía Gabriela are the same, loving so much to the point it hurts. I think we could agree, that seeing you with someone who would stick with you through thick and thin is more than anything we could ask for."

When did my niece get so mature? "Maybe I'm just afraid. What if? What's next?"

"The worries won't ever go away Tío, but we'll be better. It'll only get better. Just trust the process?"

"I don't know what to say to that." The rest of the family files up next to us, fidgeting and tucking away flyaways. "Except maybe thanks, Mirabel."

"De nada, Tío Bruno."

The chattering calms as Mamá waves a hand. "Everyone, together! On the count of three, La Familia Madrigal." She calls out. "Tres…dos…uno…"

"La Familia Madrigaaaaaal!" We all yell and Casita smooshes us all together. Camilo doesn't seem too pleased that he's sandwiched between me and his Papá. We fall into a pile, screaming in delight.

It'll make one heck of a family portrait.

As we pick ourselves up, my eyes catch a familiar silhouette standing by the door. The air grows still and quiet. I barely register the noise around me. Before anyone can say anything, I pull away from the family and run like my life depended on it. It feels like time slowed down and sped up when I open my arms wide and Gabriela crashes into them. We say nothing. There is no need to.

At this moment, there is no one here but us.

The ring on her finger gleams. "Why are you crying, Bruno?" Gabriela breaks the silence. It only occurs to me that I'm a blubbering mess when she caresses my cheek. "I'm home."

"I'm just happy." I hiccup. "So happy. You're here. You came back."

"Just like you asked."

I lean forward and capture her lips in mine. My heart swells. I never want to let go of this feeling. We share a tender kiss before she tells me her piece. "Bruno, I know we still have a long way to go. We've made decisions that we both know we can never take back. The past may be gone, but the future hasn't happened yet."

"I know, and I'm sorry…"

"Let me finish!" She pouts. "I've thought about it, and I can't deny it. Yo también te amo, Bruno Madrigal. I'll let you have forever to make it up to me. Let's get married. Immediately."

"¿Qué?" Her bluntness sends a shiver down my spine. My cheeks flush and I feel dizzy. The world feels like it's spinning beneath my feet. I'm too engrossed by the way her lips move, one that I would very much want to kiss again. And again. And again. "Would…would your family be okay with that?"

She nods and turns in the direction of the door, where Señor Mauricio and the rest of the Álvarezes are. "It was hard to convince Papá, but…I've made up my mind. We've both waited for each other for far too long. We're home, Bruno. So yes, I want to marry you."

"Gabriela?"

My sisters suddenly interrupt our moment before I could even answer my beloved. "GABRIELA!" Julieta and Pepa squeeze both of us into a hug. "You're back! You're back!"

"Hey, Julieta, Pepa…" She sighs as my sisters release us from their grip. "It's me."

Pepa begins to pour rain, but no one seems to mind. "You're…you're really here."

"Where have you been hiding all this time?" Julieta breaks into whimpers. "You left without a word. Do you know how hard it was for us, losing you and our brother on the same day?"

"Lo siento, I didn't mean to hurt you two." Gabriela takes their hands and squeezes them in hers. "I've always been hiding in plain sight, watching over everyone, just like Bruno. It's a long story, and I promise I'll tell you then. Right now, can you forgive me?"

"Of course…" Pepa breathes. "We're just happy you're okay. We missed you! It's so nice to see you and Brunito finally together again."

"Oh, Pepa. I missed my cuñadas as well."

"What?" Pepa screeches. Julieta looks like she's about to pass out.

"I was in the middle of asking your brother to marry me."

My sisters both restart and nearly break Gabriela and me with another bone-crushing hug. "Does that mean you'll be a part of our family now? For real?"

"I mean, isn't she?" I gasp. "Can you guys let go, please? I need to breathe."

"Sorry, sorry."

"It's fine." I clear my throat. I wrap an arm around my beloved's waist and it's the most natural thing in the world. "Let's make it official then. Te amo, Gabriela. I want to marry you, too."

"YES!" I hear Dolores and Isabela high-five each other. It makes me grin from ear to ear. All around me, the expression on everyone's faces is priceless.

"I feel like the luckiest man on earth. Eres mi suerte, amor."

"Eres buena suerte, mi cariño, but you're my luck," Gabriela glances over to both of our families. "But before we do get married, I have to confess something to the rest of them, don't you think?"

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

Glossary of terms (in order of appearance in-text):
Tres - Three
Dos - Two
Uno - One
Cuñadas - Sister-in-laws
Eres mi suerte - You are my luck
Eres buena suerte - You are good luck