Since their near-death encounter with the snake, Bruno and Elsa had decided it was best to sleep in another room. Dolores gladly volunteered and even let them have her bed. Throughout the rest of the night, while Elsa had slept peacefully, Bruno was wide awake, thinking. Thinking he knew exactly who had placed the snake into his and Elsa's bed. It had to be his mother, no one else. The family loved Elsa just as he did, Alma did not. But would she go so far to keep Elsa away that she had intentions to murder her? There was no other explanation. Bruno turned over and saw Elsa asleep, he smiled lovingly at her then gently kissed her forehead then caressed her bare shoulder then he had gazed down at her belly and carefully put his hand there without even causing Elsa to stir. Bruno could feel their baby moving against his hand, he chuckled quietly then gently rubbed Elsa's belly, trying to soothe the baby. Bruno moved closer, placing his lips against his wife's bump, kissing it.

"I suppose you couldn't sleep after tonight, huh, mi carino? I don't blame you, not a bit. Your Mother and I, we were pretty scared too. No te preocupes, nuestro angel. Calmate. You can sleep, you're safe. Nosotras estamos aqui contigo. And I won't let another bad thing happen to your Mother or to you. I promise to protect you, no matter what it takes." Bruno whispered to Elsa's belly.

As Bruno felt the baby's movement starting to slow down against his palm, Bruno had looked at both the swell of Elsa's stomach and to her in concern. Then he had looked up at the wall and saw a portrait of Alma. Bruno's blood turned cold but then as hot as a fiery sea. His mother had messed with Elsa and frustrated him to the limit now. He was going to confront her. But it was going to take all his willpower to not do something bad to her.

The next morning, Bruno had fallen asleep just as Elsa had opened her eyes to wake up. Elsa had carefully sat up then she turned and saw Bruno, sleeping, snoring loudly. Elsa giggled then she had kissed Bruno's forehead. Bruno opened his eyes and saw Elsa. Bruno smiled at her then yawned then had sat up beside her.

"Good morning." Elsa said, kissing Bruno's cheek.

"Good morning, amor." Bruno replied, stroking Elsa's cheek.

Elsa and Bruno shared a kiss then Elsa frowned when she saw dark circles underneath Bruno's eyes. Elsa kissed the tip of Bruno's nose then treaded her fingers against his hair.

"Bruno sweetie, did you get any sleep?" Elsa asked.

"About an hour worth. Really couldn't find any way to close my eyes. Spent the night wondering about something." Bruno said, shrugging.

"Wondering about what?"

"A problem I'm going to fix. What I want to know is how are you and our little miracle feeling." Bruno said, placing his hand onto Elsa's belly, leaning his head against her shoulder.

"We're alright." Elsa said, touching Bruno's cheek, then kissing it again.

After spending a few more minutes holding each other, Bruno had got off the bed then he had gone over to Elsa's side, then had helped her up to her feet. Elsa and Bruno had grabbed hands then had left the room.

Inside the kitchen, the family was beginning to head to the dining area for breakfast. Bruno and Elsa had entered and saw Julieta cooking and Antonio playing with his pet jaguar. Julieta turned and noticed her brother and sister-in-law approaching them.

"Buenos dias, you two." Julieta said, giving a small wave.

"Buenos dias, hermana."

"Good morning."

"Tia Elsa!" Antonio cried out, smiling.

Antonio had run over to Elsa, Elsa chuckled then she picked up Antonio while Bruno held her steady as she did so. Regaining her balance and holding onto her new nephew, Elsa then kissed Antonio's cheek making him giggle while Bruno ruffled his hair.

"Tia Julieta told me about the snake. Were you or Tio hurt?" Antonio asked, worriedly.

"No, Antonio. We're okay, so is your cousin." Elsa said, tapping Antono on the nose.

"I'm relieved to know that." Antonio said, hugging Elsa.

"We are too, kid." Bruno added, putting his arm around Elsa's shoulder, kissing her cheek.

"How would a snake get in your bed?"

"That's actually what I came in here to talk to your Tia Julieta, alone. Why don't you and your Tia Elsa go to the table while we talk, okay?"

Antonio nodded then Bruno had kissed Elsa then her hand then she had left the kitchen carrying Antonio. After making certain nobody else was around, Bruno went over to Julieta then she turned to him.

"What's going on, hermano? Why did this matter needed to be discussed in private?" Julieta asked, curiously.

"I didn't want Tonio and especially Elsa to hear this, I really don't want to scare them."

"Why should an accident be concerning?"

"Because...I believe it wasn't an accident all." Bruno said, sighing heavily, looking down.

"What do you mean?" Julieta asked, confusingly, raising an eyebrow.

Bruno had let out another sigh. This was going to be an easy thing to tell Julieta and soon Pepa for that matter. This was their mother he was to about to bring up but if he didn't tell someone about his suspicions first, there could be a chance that Alma would manipulate that person and twist it around. Bruno grabbed onto Julieta's hands then he looked up at her.

"Juli...For as long as we here on this earth, M'ma had done nothing but love us, that we were the greatest things to ever to happen to her. We did drift apart for some years but in the end, family did always matter to her...to us. But since Elsa came...things have been looking worse than ever so far."

"I thought you and Elsa were trying to see past that though, Brunito."

"I wanted to but what I can't let go is...suspicions." Bruno said, looking back down.

"Suspicions?"

"Juli, answer me honestly. When you saw the snake, did you assume anything else besides it being an accident?" Bruno asked, looking back up at Julieta, frowning.

"Well...For a moment...I did think that..."

"That it was M'ma who'd done it?" Bruno finished.

"Yes." Julieta replied quietly, sadly, nodding.

"And do you still think she'd...?"

"...Yes."

Bruno gave Julieta a slight saddened look then he groaned loudly then he leaned against the counter. Julieta had touched her brother's shoulder then they both looked at the large portrait of Alma...where the portrait of their father used to be.

"To M'ma, Casita will always be her castle and she sees Elsa as the monster to take it from her, to take us from her." Julieta said.

"As long as she lives here, Elsa and our child will never be safe."

"Maybe what she needs is time away from here. We can take her somewhere else until she sees to reason." Julieta suggested.

"Do you think that would work? Would she actually go?" Bruno asked, turning to Julieta, looking somewhat hopeful.

"She may not go if you made her, but maybe she'd listen to me." Julieta said, beginning to smile.

Bruno also smiled then he hugged Julieta. This was indeed the best way to ensure their mother did not do any more horrible things to Elsa...or something far worse that there was no coming back from. And the rest of the family could no longer be afraid to get near Elsa due to Alma's attitude.

"You go and alert our family doctor about this. I will help finish making breakfast." Bruno told Julieta.

"Okay."

Julieta and Bruno hugged each other, unaware that Alma had been listening near the door. Her heart had felt broken before but now it had turned to stone hearing her son and daughter's act of betrayal towards her. She saw Julieta go out the door to the kitchen, she was obviously going to see the doctor like she and Bruno had planned. Alma glared angrily over at Bruno then she had looked down at the tray in her hands. My first deed to rid our family of this witch did not work, but this surely will, Alma thought as she held up a small vile and poured a reddish liquid into one of the juice-filled goblets.

Alma, however, didn't notice that Mirabel was watching in shock and horror as she saw her pour the poison into Elsa's drink. She could not let her Tia drink that. Once Alma had set the tray down, Mirabel had crept over to the table where the tray was, while Alma had gone to join the family for breakfast. Mirabel had picked up the poisoned drink and glanced down into it, her reflection, eerily staring back at her with saddened and hurt-filled brown eyes. She turned and glanced over at her Tio Bruno and Tia Elsa kissing each other then Bruno pulling out a chair for her as they stared at each other fondly, contentedly.

"I'm sorry, but I need to save you, I hope you two understand, it's for the best." Mirabel whispered over to Elsa and Bruno, tears filling her orbs.

Mirabel also looked over at her parents, her sisters. She began to hesitate but then she saw the way her Abuela glared at Elsa, while she and Bruno weren't looking. Elsa wasn't going to be safe from her. She needed to do this to protect her Tia. It was a sacrifice and Mirabel did consider the consequences but Elsa and Bruno and their child mattered far more to her. Holding onto that thought and taking a deep breath and closing her eyes, she had raised the goblet to her lips...and drank the poison down as more tears ran down her face. Forgive me, Mirabel thought.