A/N: Even though the Coco fandom has died down in these last years, which makes me very sad because it is a gorgeous movie, I still want to share this story with anyone who is interested in this idea.

The story starts one year before the film. It is mainly written in Rosa's POV, thus the title.

This fic contains Spanish words. They are written using italics to set them apart from English.

Disclaimer: Coco is property of Disney Pixar.

Enjoy!

PART 1: SOMETHING NEW

Chapter 1

A flicker of light

It was happening again.

Rosa subconsciously clutched the wooden box of tools in her hands, her brown, gold-flecked eyes growing big.

Those beautiful yet prohibited sounds in the Rivera household drifted through the opened window of the shoe shop, making everyone momentarily stop what they were doing.

The twelve-year-old girl hardly resisted the urge to tap her fingers to the beat. She realised the music came from the daughter of one of the customers, who was passionately playing her violin while they were waiting for her tía Gloria to finish packing their order of shoes.

Cautiously, Rosa stepped closer to watch the scene attentively. The tips of the girl's fingers appeared to be shifting and pressing on the fingerboard by themselves, while her other arm moved the bow gracefully onto the strings, effortlessly and flawlessly producing a ravishing melody. Her eyes were closed as a content smile crossed her features; it gave the impression that she was living a delightful dream.

The view was… surreal, even though Rosa could see it all herself. Her eyes remained glued to the violin atop the girl's shoulder, the notes that were being played easily making their way into her heart.

A voice startled her out of her daze. "Hey, stop that right now!" her papá, Berto, gruffly spoke, and the little girl immediately ceased, wide-eyed as to why he looked so irritated.

"Stay here, mija!" he instructed, squeezing her shoulder briefly, then approaching the doorway.

Rosa rapidly surveyed the room and instantly noticed the brimming tension. Those kinds of situations were usual for the family, albeit never pleasant. She quickly exited the shop, not wanting to witness her father driving away the two, and strolled to the courtyard, sitting on the well as sadness suddenly overcame her.

It was the third time that week they were compelled to face music-loving clients. Although Rosa felt guilty for thinking in such a shameful way, she was grateful abuelita Elena had not been there at that moment, otherwise a huge scandal would have taken place. The Riveras were notorious for their hatred towards the world-widely beloved art.

She heaved a sigh and put her head in her hands, with her elbows resting on her knees.

Her entire life, she had been told that music had torn her family apart, and therefore was forbidden. But if Rosa was being honest, she felt torn between the two. She had always obeyed her grandmother's strict rules and way of living, but, as she got older, she couldn't help but start to feel as if something was missing from her life.

She recalled the first time that strange feeling had settled in her chest, and from then on had refused to leave.

She'd been ten. She had sneaked off after classes to watch the violin practice sessions at her school for the first time. And she remembered everything precisely, from the lustre of the instruments to how wondrous the music had been. Rosa had been stunned by the unfamiliar, yet so pleasant sound of music. It had been then that she had started aspiring to learn how to play an instrument.

That day she'd returned home late because she had lost track of time, and her parents and Abuelita had scolded her fiercely. She remembered asking -once more- why music was not permitted in their family, why they could not be "normal" like everybody in Mexico were. And Abuelita had retold the story of her own grandmother and how her husband had abandoned her and their daughter to follow his stupid dream of becoming a musician.

But then, Rosa had lost her patience and had told them where she had been all day, that she believed music was amazing, and that Elena's stubbornness was blinding her from seeing the beauty of it. She had been grounded for a week, and the event had never been brought up again.

The girl shuddered as the vivid details of the flashback ended. She'd cried herself to sleep that night because her heart had been broken since Elena was adamantly against the acceptance of music. It was still hurting her, even now after more than two years had elapsed. Her relationship with her grandmother had healed pretty quickly because Elena's deep love for her family didn't allow her to stay mad at them for too long, and everything had gone back to normal.

Rosa had found out every member of her family had undergone the same experience at least once during their childhood. Though she didn't want to admit it, it was a bit comforting knowing she wasn't the only one who had had to deal with such circumstances. That was just how things worked.

She'd promised herself that fateful night that she would not stop listening to music regardless, while still retaining her position in the family business.

But over time, she had found herself feeling wary when thinking about music, the memory of what had happened to her simply because she had been incapable of holding her tongue, always being there to remind her to be careful.

Months had passed and Rosa hadn't been able to keep the promise she had made to herself, fearing someone might find out about her intending deeds in some sort of way. So she had instead been burying herself in making shoes with her family and taking extra credit in school. But that had not put an end to her contemplating, nor day-dreaming, and the new-found longing was simply refusing to leave her mind. She was not sure about wanting it to leave either.

But she was older now, and the signs were showing. She was starting to question everything she'd ever been taught about resenting music. While she did feel a lump in her heart for devising to do something her family would never put up with, Rosa had been having, in the last few months, thoughts about how she could start listening to music again, feeling it was the right thing to do, even if it was against the rules.

"Rules are made to be broken." she had sometimes heard people asserting confidently.

Despite the fact that she'd used to roll her eyes whenever those words would reach her ears, Rosa was now beginning to reconsider the phrase, as it could lead to the set off of her secret plan.

A long-awaited opening suddenly popped up into her mind, which brightened her up immediately. She skipped to her feet, knowing she had to find the only person she could freely talk to, who she laid odds would understand, perhaps even sympathize with her.

Rosa had been suspicious of her cousin for some time. She was convinced Miguel was up to something, as he always disappeared for shorter or longer periods of time. They had occasionally even caught him at the plaza. Whatever her primo was doing, she had a vague idea about it. And she was going to find out and talk to him.

A faint creaky sound came from somewhere above her, making Rosa violently stop and jerk her head in the direction of where it came from. She covered her mouth with her hands to muffle a gasp as she spotted Miguel climb up onto the rooftop and enter the attic. What can he possibly do there?

She pushed the confusion aside and started shimming up a tree. In less than a minute, she was standing on the roof. She made her way to the big logo of the family business that was the entrance to the attic. She stupidly thought about knocking, but dropped the idea right away. Shaking her head, she pushed the huge sign and got inside.

It was dark at first, but, as her eyes got used to the darkness, she could make out a few markers, jars and brushes dispersed onto the floor, and she took in the scent of burning wax. A thin curtain was hanging in front of her, and just as she reached to draw it aside, she heard a few soft notes being played on a guitar.

Rosa froze, her arm suspended in the air, eyes wide and jaw dropped in shock upon making the discovery. All that time, Miguel had been… playing music? But... but how? So many questions were spinning around inside her head.

She didn't need to wait for too long, as she heard a recorded voice speak on a television, saying something about the importance of music to themselves, then another guitar being strummed.

Her head was racing with all kinds of thoughts. But it all made sense. The way Miguel hummed whenever he believed no one could hear him, or how he was such a dreamer all the time, or who knew how many times he had actually sneaked off to the plaza?

She shook her head in an attempt to clear her mind. She needed to focus on the present. She could uncover more later.

With a thumping heartbeat, Rosa pulled the curtain out of the way to reveal a slightly bigger space, where her cousin was sitting with his legs crossed in the centre while holding the guitar. Where did he get that instrument from?!

The only source of light were some pillar candles and the greyish light of an old TV, but it was enough for Rosa to see marigold flowers and many photos of probably the singer Miguel listened to, whom she had no idea about.

Despite the initial shock and astonishment she had experienced, hope was starting to rapidly rise in her heart, and she was more eager than ever before to learn about music. She felt genuinely joyous to find out Miguel had the same passion as she did.

Even though she could barely suppress her excitement, she had to remain quiet, for she didn't want to disrupt her cousin. He was immersed in what he was doing, and the notes that he played on the guitar were mesmerizing, something that she had only heard a few times throughout her life.

Rosa listened intently, intrigued by the music and the calming atmosphere, wishing it would never have to end. The fervour that Miguel put into playing was truly praiseworthy, and she could tell he was both talented and hard-working.

At last, Miguel finished the song; Rosa forgot how to clap. They both just sat there, one still caught in his dreams and the other more delighted than she had ever been.

Just as Rosa was about to say something to let Miguel know about her presence, he turned around swiftly and saw her knelt down on the floor, inches away from him. He flinched and gasped, the instrument falling to his side with a twang, and she noticed it was a white makeshift guitar. Judging by the broken and replaced strings and the big patch it had, she guessed it must have been abandoned somewhere and that Miguel had found it.

The recorded video on the TV ended and was followed by a monotonous buzz, but neither of the cousins paid any attention to it. They stared at each other for a couple more seconds before Miguel broke the silence. "Rosa, I-I can explain, I-"

"Tell me everything!" his prima pleaded, briskly closing the gap between them and taking his hand in hers.

Miguel looked at her with his eyes wide in surprise. The first moment he had laid eyes on Rosa, he was afraid she would rat on him to the rest of the family, but he was actually taken aback by her desire to learn music with him. Her wide smile and the hopeful yet determined glint in her eyes made the boy realize that he finally, finally had that one someone he had been longing so much for, someone from his family whom he could confide in, apart from Mamá Coco.

Miguel returned his cousin's smile, which made Rosa's worries that he might not trust her right away with such a serious matter subside. She suddenly gasped and took a deep breath, having not been aware that she had been holding her breath for a bit too long, thanks to the wild mix of emotions that were flowing through her.

"Wow, primo," she spoke contemplatively as she looked around the small space and gestured with her hand, "you have all these things here…"

"Yeah, I know it's a lot to take in." Miguel scratched the back of his neck.

Rosa spotted a few posters stapled on the wall, which she hadn't observed, and she slid closer to be able to read one of them, shifting her glasses up her nose. All the posters contained information about talent shows that took place in Santa Cecilia. Or better said, had taken place. They were all outdated, she realised sadly.

"I keep them because they give me hope that maybe one day, I'll be able to play music for the world. Maybe even for our family because music connects people and opens their hearts."

Miguel's voice was filled with misery, but also with that yearning that Rosa had once experienced herself. The pain which she had buried in the bottom of her heart years ago suddenly surfaced. She felt a pulling at her chest at the comprehension that Miguel was suffering just as much as she was, if not more.

No! Rosa reminded herself stubbornly. They couldn't give up now. There had to be a way they could bring music back into the family, even if that meant crossing some lines. They had to find a solution. She shook her head before turning to her cousin and saying: "Look, Miguel. We have to lift this ban. We cannot live with it our whole lives. We have to do something."

Or at least try to. She added in her head. No matter how bad they wanted music to be a part of their family, there was still that lingering, uneasy feeling that whispered they weren't going to be able to make it real, that she knew both of them were very well aware of.

"Sí, prima, I know. You think I haven't tried discussing this with our family multiple times? And you have too. I'm not quite sure what we could do about it though, anyway. They won't listen to us."

That, Rosa couldn't deny. The statement made the two still for a few moments, analysing the possibilities and the outcomes, as well as the consequences they would have to face if they failed.

She pondered and eventually came to the conclusion that there was no fully safe way they could bring the task to success without having their secrets discovered. And judging by Miguel's unsure look, he was thinking the same thing. They couldn't risk that much. At least not now.

She sighed and leaned against one of the walls of the hideout, knowing that their plan –whatever that was– had to wait until the right opportunity arose.

Her eyes suddenly landed on the makeshift guitar that Miguel clutched the neck of and she straightened her back. Something ignited in her chest. "Did you make this?"

"I found it broken in the trash one day and I did my best to repair it so I could use it to learn how to play. All those hours that I spent looking at papá make shoes have surely paid off."

Rosa was staring at him in awe. "Wow, you're awesome, primo, have I ever told you that?"

"Not really." he chuckled before handing her the instrument.

She froze again, eyes wide and heart throbbing as she scanned the guitar from top to bottom. Attentively, she gradually took it from her cousin's waiting arms, as if fearing it might disintegrate under her touch.

It was a strange feeling, something she had never experienced before. She had only seen and heard violins and a few other instruments from afar, but to be given the opportunity to hold and play one was different on so many levels.

She turned the guitar so that her right hand was over the middle of it. She then glanced at her primo, who nodded and gave her an encouraging smile before looking down at the guitar in her lap again.

She grabbed the neck of the guitar and slowly slid her fingers on the strings. Although she had no clue how to play and the few soft notes barely qualified as music, Rosa felt a display of another kind of joy dance within her, which filled all her nerves with pure delight. She giggled and proceeded strumming the instrument enthusiastically, with Miguel being just as animated as she was and giving her a few pieces of advice here and there.

Rosa ceased plucking after a while and carefully placed the already fragile guitar on the floor.

"So how was it? What do you think?" Miguel asked as she rubbed her fingers.

"What do I think? Uh…" she stumbled, being at a loss of words. She looked around the attic once more, opening and closing her mouth like a fish out of water. "This is… this is… a dream-"

"Yet to come true." Miguel added for her, lowering his head, and Rosa dismally perceived how much pain he was in. She saw herself in him on that day when she had had to face the cruel truth of their family's principles head-on. She regarded him with sad eyes, feeling the question that lingered in the air.

"Miguel, for how long have you been playing?"

He shifted uncomfortably and gripped his right arm nervously, a gesture Rosa also did when dealing with the same emotion. She waited for his response with bated breath, not sure if she ought to be anxious or eager to find out.

"Um… a while actually… you know?" A sheepish smile appeared on his face.

Rosa couldn't resist the urge to roll her eyes and use her sarcasm. "Very specific indeed, tonto."

Of course, she knew he must have been playing for some time, for no one could play an instrument that well overnight. And she saw with her own eyes how advanced in playing the guitar her cousin was; his ear for music must have been excellent too. It was obvious he had been putting a lot of effort and dedication to get where he was. But, most importantly, passion and patience.

She truly admired him now in contrast to before, when she hadn't known about his potential.

"It was years ago." he eventually responded. Her eyes enlarged. "I've loved music ever since I can remember. And over time, it became clear that I wished to be a musician one day. And so I managed – he gestured around – to gather all the things you see."

Rosa looked around once more, astounded and impressed by everything: from how resolute and undaunted her cousin was in following his dream, to how he had made his own playable guitar from a destroyed instrument that he had found in the garbage. Moreover, if she looked close enough, she could distinguish some calluses on Miguel's hands, which she hadn't spotted before.

"And who is that?" she pointed towards the photos of the singer unbeknown to her.

"Oh, that's Ernesto de la Cruz, the greatest musician of all time!" Miguel lit up and grabbed one of the pictures, giving it to her. "He has written the most amazing songs and the best music ever."

Rosa took the photo and studied it carefully so as not to miss anything. He did seem to be an incredible star.

"He is the one who inspired me to become a musician." he continued fervently and shortly described the famous man for her.

"And his videos taught you how to play the guitar?" she enquired with inquisitiveness.

"¡Sí!"

Abuelita's words crossed her mind, but Rosa forced the thoughts away nonetheless. She was over them. She wanted to learn music with Miguel now. She wanted to welcome music in her life like an old friend, not to think of it as a curse anymore. Even if that meant keeping secrets from the family, at least she wouldn't be alone in this. At last, she would be happy.

She rubbed her right forearm. "Miguel, can I join you in this? I know I used to be a telltale when we were kids, but I promise I won't tell a soul. Por favor, can you teach me? Can you tell me everything you know about music?"

"¡Por supuesto, Rosa! I would be more than glad to have you by my side." he grinned, cheerful.

"When can we get started?" she exuberantly uttered and hugged him warmly, a broad smile on her face. Miguel beamed, returning the affection.

He held his chin thoughtfully as a roguish glint appeared in his eyes, which made Rosa smirk wondering what impish mischief he was up to.

"I think I have a plan."

A/N: Thank you for reading! Feedback would be greatly appreciated!