Chapter 10

"M-Mirabel?" Isabela stammered before engulfing her baby sister into the tightest embrace possible. "How are you here? I thought you were gone. Where have you been all this time?"

"Cálmate, Isa. I've been alright, if that's a suitable word for everything that happened. But come on now, you must be freezing."

"We all missed you so much!"

"You have?" Mirabel's eyes were wide in shock.

"Of course! And yes, that includes Abuela."

As Mirabel led her through the town, Isabela took the opportunity to study her. The girl's cheeks had lost some of their roundness, while her figure seemed slightly slimmer than before. Her eyes held profound dejection, the usual cheerful smile that could light up almost anybody having vanished. Her skirt and top weren't the same as that fateful day, though.

"Where have you been, Mira? We've been worried sick."

"You needn't have felt so. And you'll see," was all Mirabel replied.

They reached a modest house, one that seemed vaguely familiar to Isabela. Upon entering, a figure rushed to Mirabel, hugging her closely and asking if she was okay.

"Carlos?!" Isabela gaped at the boy.

"Hi, Isa."

"So, you've been here all this time?"

"Sí, hermana. My heart didn't let me leave Encanto, but I didn't feel ready to face you all after what happened."

Isabela turned to Carlos. "Why didn't you tell us anything?! You even visited us at dinner, for heaven's sake!"

"Don't blame him, Isa!" Mirabel defended. "I asked him not to say a word about me, and I know it's been very hard on him, especially when he knew how desperate you all were."

"I did consider telling you," the young man added, "but Mira told me how much she needed space and time to think, so I was kind of obliged to listen to her."

"Did your parents consent to this?"

Mirabel and Carlos exchanged glances that Isabela didn't understand.

"It's a long story." The girl sighed.

"But when will you come back?" Isabela's eyes watered. "Mamá's getting sick with worry, and Papá hasn't slept in weeks."

Mirabel bit her lip. "When I noticed you at the fountain, I realised how much I've been hurting you all, therefore I decided to… to come back today, if… that's okay?"

Isabela almost cheered from exhilaration. "Yes! Yes, Mira! How come that's even a question?!"

"And that means…" Mirabel turned to her boyfriend with longing eyes. "...Thank you, Carlos. For everything."

He smiled softly as she stood on her toes and kissed him. He kissed her back just as gently, their arms around one another.

In spite of herself, Isabela smiled at the scene. Carlos did care about her sister, and that was one big reassurance.

A cough caused the lovebirds to pull away from each other, equally flustered. Bruno was standing with his back propped against one of the walls, his arms crossed, his face slightly frowning and glaring at the boy, who grew even more nervous.

Isabela gasped. After the house had been destroyed, she, Luisa, Camilo and Dolores had searched for their uncle besides their quests for Mirabel, but he'd been a mystery the entire month. No one had seen him, and it had frightened her greatly that he could have been injured while being entirely on his own.

But that seemingly hadn't been the case.

"Tío Bruno, you're alright! I assume you've been here too?"

"You're right about that, mija."

"So, when will we be leaving?" Carlos questioned.

"Wait. You're coming?" Isabela said.

"Of course, I am! I'll have some explanations to give."

All three of them left, but not before Isabela changed into one of Mirabel's dresses and partially dried her hair.

When they reached the Guzmáns' house, Julieta was standing on the porch. Upon seeing her long-gone daughter, she rushed to hug and kiss her lovingly, doing the same with Isabela afterwards.

"Oh, mi amor, I was so worried. We couldn't find you." she whispered to Mirabel, who was silently crying happy tears.

Antonio was the one who noticed his prima next. He pounced on her with all the force a five-year-old boy had, embracing her as tightly as he could.

One by one, the rest of the Madrigals came to Mirabel, either sobbing happily or mumbling all sorts of reassurances, telling her how loved she was, how much they missed her. Agustín's hug lasted the longest, while Luisa's was obviously the tightest. Pepa was unable to stop her tears, Félix was more than relieved, while Camilo and Dolores had the brightest smiles possible. The Guzmáns also joined the reunion.

When Bruno came out from behind a tree, everyone gasped. He barely had time to shyly mumble a greeting before his sisters enveloped him in their arms, quickly followed by the rest of the Madrigals.

Silence overtook the joyous group when Alma climbed down the stairs. Everyone gazed at her, unsure of what to do or say. Her eyes were swimming in tears, darting between her youngest granddaughter and her only son.

Alma made the first move and embraced Mirabel, who was overwhelmed by the amount of affection coming from her and her words:

"Please forgive me, mija. Te amo mucho."

"Te amo también, Abuela."

Alma then strode towards Bruno, and of all the things he'd expected to receive from his mother, a heartfelt embrace was undoubtedly not amongst them.

"I missed you, Brunito."

"I missed you too, Mamí." He responded, returning the love.

"So, where have you been, Mirabel? And you too, hermano?" Julieta questioned what was burning in everyone's minds.

"Remember that I mentioned my boyfriend Carlos?" Mirabel took his hand, bringing him in their view.

Mariano's jaw dropped. "Mi primo has been in on it all this time?!"

"I asked him to keep quiet." Mirabel defended again. "Believe me when I say that it's been incredibly hard for him."

"And Tío Bruno has been in the walls of Casita for a decade." Dolores let them know.

"And he stayed with me in Carlos's home until we decided to come back to you."

"So, you never truly left…" Alma uttered, shocked like all the others.

"How could I have done that? I love this family."

"Me too." Mirabel strengthened. "I just… needed some time to think things through and calm down."

"Wait, wait, wait. Mirabel, so you were in Carlos's home this entire time?" Agustín raised a sceptical brow, eyeing the young man sternly.

"Don't be gross, Papá! It was nothing like what you might be thinking right now." His daughter argued.

"How did you two meet again?" Julieta added.

"It's a long story." Mirabel twisted one of her curls around her finger.

"Speaking of stories, I have something to tell you all." Alma gestured to them to enter the house.

Abuela told them her life story. How she'd once hoped she'd have a modest life with Pedro, never imagining that fate could hit her so hard. She missed him just as much as the day she'd witnessed his death.

"I was so terrified of losing the miracle that I forgot who it was for. And I apologise to you all. You never hurt our family, Mirabel. We are broken… because of me."

A tear rolled down her wrinkled skin.

The two families had gone pensively quiet.

"Abuela…" Mirabel draped her arms around the old woman's shoulders. "I can finally see. You lost your home, lost everything. You suffered so much all alone so it would never happen again. We were saved because of you. We were given a miracle because of you. We were given a miracle because of you. We are a family because of you, and nothing could ever be broken that we can't fix together."

Abuela smiled, thoroughly relieved and content. "I asked my Pedro for help. Mirabel, he sent me you."

Mirabel hugged her grandmother and the rest of the family soon followed her lead.

Isabela felt the need to voice her repentance. "I'm deeply sorry for what I said earlier, Abuela. I didn't mean anything; I was hurt. I do believe we have a miracle."

Alma smiled, cupping her face. "I know, mija."

"And I am very sorry for putting you all through so much suffering by disappearing without a word." Mirabel hung her head. "Abuela, I also… dreamt Abuelo Pedro one night while I was away. I felt that it was truly him talking to me."

Alma's eyes filled with tears, while everyone else grew tense with anticipation.

"He said… he said that he loves us more than anything and I'm sure that he's really proud of us now."

Casita was finally fully rebuilt. The Madrigals, along with the entire Encanto, stood in front of the house with big proud smiles. Carlos watched gleefully from the sidelines as his girlfriend received all the love and care she deserved.

"Just one more thing before the celebration." Abuela smiled at Mirabel warmly.

"We made this for you." Antonio gave her youngest cousin a shiny golden handle with a "M" initial.

Mirabel's eyes swam in tears.

Was this really happening?

She was led to the front door, everybody smiling widely at her on the path.

The magic was restored as soon as she set the knob in. Mirabel's eyes widened in astonishment and hope as a golden light washed over the whole house.

Then, Casita greeted them with a swing of the window. Mirabel laughed as they were all pulled inside by the invisible force, her family members giggling and chorling along.

There was a new type of magic inhabiting the Madrigals' residence. The doors were glowing brighter than before, the designs on each of them gone. They weren't the same as before, and Mirabel knew it.

She watched content as Antonio rode his jaguar again, his animals surrounding him. Isabela used flower dust to give her dress a new look, one that displayed her true spirit, and grew a row of various plants. Luisa could lift all sorts of weights again, but she was free to relax. Pepa was even more joyous than the day of the field trip, and now, the hail cloud above her head wasn't threatening at all as she danced and Félix cheered.

Mirabel gently tugged Abuela to the centre of Casita, the whole family gathering there to take a picture. On Mirabel's left, Bruno held her arm lovingly, and Isabela hugged her little sister from behind.

"¡La Familia Madrigal!"

The snapshot of their family, even though blurry and funny-looking, but with them being truly bright at last, could not have immortalised the moment any better.

"You ready, Mirabel?"

"Finally, yes, I am!"

The teenager stood in her new performance dress and shoes, gazing in the loving eyes of her boyfriend. Carlos kissed her cheek, intertwining their hands.

The crowd on the other side of the stage was watching one of the last numbers, clapping and yelling to encourage the dancers.

"We'll do great," he whispered with a soft smile.

"DefiniteLLLYYY!"

Mirabel tripped in her heels, bringing Carlos down with her and landing awkwardly on the soil.

"Hey, Mira, how are you–"

Isabela and Luisa emerged from the stage left, but immediately froze, the rest of the words remaining stuck in the former's mouth. Mirabel and Carlos hastily got up, both of them flushing like never before.

"It wasn't what you think!" They said in their defence at the same time, but only Carlos was regarded with stern, frowny looks from the two young women.

"We hope so." Luisa crossed her arms.

"We'll have a talk, Carlos. Soon." Isabela wagged her finger threateningly, trying her utmost not to allow her thorny plants to invade the entire stage and her hair. "We know our sister, but we're watching you."

"Isa! It was nothing, I swear!" Mirabel desperately gestured.

The boy nodded just as Alma and Julieta arrived next to them, and left to give them a moment.

"You ready, mi vida?" Julieta inquired.

"Sí, Mamí." Mirabel grinned and hugged them both.

"Look at you, mi nieta." Alma's eyes watered. "I'm so proud of you. Of all of you," She stroked Isabela and Luisa's cheeks, the girls melting.

"Good luck, hermanita! You got this!" Luisa embraced her younger sister in her signature super tight way.

"Remember!" Julieta smiled. "The most important thing is that you feel good, okay?"

"I know, Mamá."

They all left to occupy their seats in the audience, except for Isabela, who gazed at her youngest sister with teary eyes. Before Mirabel could ask what was wrong, Isabela hugged her tightly.

"Thank you, Mira. For everything. You changed everything."

Mirabel returned the affection, equally tearful. "I love you, Isa."

"I love you too."

They parted, sniffling.

"Come on, now. This is no time to be sad."

"We're not sad. These are just happy tears." Mirabel giggled.

The emcee suddenly thanked the couple who had finished their number, the two descending the stage.

Isabela grinned eagerly, heading to corner the stage and join the family. "Go on and shine like the star you are, sis."

"I will, dear."

Mirabel grasped her partner's hand, she and Carlos finally taking the stage in a storm of applause and cheering.

The lights shone upon them as music started.

Throughout it all, the vivid smiles of all her family members were all that mattered to Mirabel.

Fin

A/N:

This story has ended, and I almost cannot believe this. I appreciate your support a lot, your comments and likes and follows have played a huge part in keeping me going. I hope my fic was thoroughly enjoyable!

I think I will write a second part to this story, which will be centered around Mirabel and Carlos. So, if you're interested in that, stay tuned!

Thank you all so much again! Stay safe and healthy and don't forget to smile!