I don't own Encanto, and I'm ashamed to admit it, but I've talked about Bruno.
A different kind of gift
It started with a deathbed wish, so to speak.
For all that her gift could accomplish, not even Julieta Madrigal was a match for death. A hard truth the Encanto had learned early in her childhood. Alma had been in denial for some time, her husband's fate still fresh in her mind. She'd tried desperately to find a way to make it that old age was the only cause of death, but eventually, she'd been forced to accept it as well.
Not because of the toll it was taking on her daughter, if she even noticed, but because several residences had spoken up in the girl's defense. It wasn't fair to ask so much of little Julieta, this was simply a hard truth they'd have to make peace with. They all had, thus, Alma had as well. Albeit begrudgingly.
From then on it became common knowledge that if someone ate her food and wasn't healed, that meant they weren't going to heal.
That was sadly the case with seventeen-year-old Lorenzo Delgado.
When Julieta's food didn't cure his illness, they all knew the young man's days were numbered. The news was especially devastating for his poor Mother, who'd lost her husband years earlier. Nevertheless, he came to terms with his fate, and wrote out a bucket list. Vowing to accomplish as much of it as he could.
He'd managed to get through the majority thanks to Mirabel.
They'd been best friends since they were small. He'd been one of the few people who hadn't treated her differently after her gift ceremony. Why should he? So she had no gift, neither did he or his Mama, most of Encanto's residents didn't. He didn't see what the big deal was.
Besides, there was plenty she could do he couldn't. She could sing, play the accordion, sow, those were fairly impressive talents as far as he was concerned. So why should she be treated differently over something as silly as a gift? She shouldn't, he decided, so he didn't.
"On the bright side, dying young means I'll leave a handsome corpse" he tried to joke as they sat together, coming to terms with the horrible reality.
"That's not funny" she scolded him, her voice hitching as tears stung her eyes.
Lorenzo frowned with a sigh "I guess I won't be keeping my promise to you" he mumbled softly.
When they were nine and eleven respectively, he had promised to marry Mirabel after several cruel comments from some older girls about how Alma would never let her get married for fear her kids would be giftless like her. Well, not if he had anything to say about it. He had declared he would marry her, getting a giggle out of the tear-stricken girl, which was already a win in his books. Later, when they were eating some cake he'd snatched to cheer her up, he shyly promised that he would ask for her hand once they were of age regardless of what Alma said. If she would have him of course, they had plenty of time to worry about that after all.
At least, they thought they did.
"We could get married now?" He said with a shrug, although he regretted it instantly. Asking her to become a widow at such a young age? It was too cruel.
He was about to take it back when Mirabel shook her head with a sigh "no, I won't hold you to that promise, not when you have so much more you could do with your time" she assured him. "I mean, as tempting as beating Senorita Perfecta to the altar is, my parents would have a heart attack if we did" she said as they shared a chuckle "but…if there's anything I can do to help, don't hesitate to ask" she promised.
So once his list was written out, Lorenzo and Mirabel set off on their "missions" as they called them. Even as he grew weaker, even when he required a wheelchair to get around, Mirabel never left his side.
One day, he worked up the courage to ask her something important. "There's one thing I left off my list" he began as they ate their picnic lunch. Antonio had joined them that day, so Lorenzo made sure to wait until the boy was out of ear shot.
"Oh yeah?" Mirabel asked, looking at him curiously as she took a bite of her sandwich "why's that?"
He shrugged "it's kind of a…sensitive topic."
"How so? You already tried alcohol, you wanna kill a man now?" She joked.
He chuckled nervously "no, no, nothing like that" he sighed. He knew he needed to say it before Antonio came back, but he still wanted to be tasteful, he was in the presence of a lady after all. "I…want to know a women's touch before I die" he finally confessed, his face heating up.
Mirabel almost choked on her juice "like…that way?"
"Like that way" he confirmed with a nod, lowering his bowl of soup. He couldn't handle solid foods most days anymore.
Well, she hadn't been expecting that. "Alright…" Mirabel said carefully, making sure her little cousin couldn't hear them. That was…understandable, she supposed. Okay, she could figure this out, maybe "well, that could be a little more…complicated. But okay, let's see what we can do. Isabela's engaged to be engaged and Abuela would freak, so that's a no go. Oh, but maybe Delores-"
"Actually" Lorenzo cut her off, placing his hand over hers "I'm…asking you."
Mirabel froze, her face heating up so much she was amazed she didn't pass out. "M-me?" She asked, pointing at herself in her stupor. She'd never really thought about…that before. Sure, she was a little curious, but it just wasn't something she was worried about right now.
Lorenzo nodded "you've been the best friend I could've asked for" he began to explain. "And you've been here for me since the beginning, and…I can't deny I like you, like…a lot" his face heated up again. "There is no one I'd rather ask" he took her hand in both of his, he was so thin now.
He liked her–liked her? Darn it, Camilo was never gonna let her hear the end of it "y-you sure you wouldn't want to ask Delores or…or Luisa?"
He shook his head "you are my first, last, and only choice Mirabel Madrigal" he said, his voice filled with nothing but confidence and sincerity.
Words couldn't describe the flurry of emotions that filled Mirabel's heart. When was the last time she'd been anybody's first, last, or only choice? When was the last time she'd been that important to anyone, including her family?
She honestly couldn't remember.
Still, that wasn't a good enough reason to say yes. Abuela was always telling Delores and Luisa not to fall for the first boy who offered them a few kind words, and she was fairly certain that applied to dying boys. "I…Lorenzo I am so, so flattered" she began "you have no idea how flattered…but I don't know, I-I need some time to think…"
"Of course!" Lorenzo said quickly "of course, please, take as much time as you need. A-and please, please don't feel like you have to say yes." She smiled, squeezing his hand. Antonio returned shortly after so they dropped the subject, but Mirabel couldn't stop thinking about it.
She couldn't deny a part of her wanted to say yes. Just about everyone had to have a first time eventually, and who better then one of her best friends, right? Plus, she couldn't deny a part of her liked him–liked him too. It was such a big decision though! One that couldn't be undone!
Ay, she was in over her head.
In the end, her decision ended up being easier to make than she'd anticipated.
They'd been eating dinner and Abuela wouldn't stop talking about Isabela and Mariano. Mirabel was mostly tuning out the conversation, instead talking with Antonio about his upcoming birthday where he'd receive his gift. She'd been asking if there was anything special he wanted to do in the days leading up when her Tia sprung the big question.
"So what about you girls?" Pepa asked playfully, looking at her daughter and nieces with a cheeky smile, a rainbow forming over her head "any young gentlemen catch your eye?"
"Ay, Pepa" Julieta groaned, rolling her eyes.
"Oh hush, you know I'm a romantic" Pepa said, not the least bit sorry. It was true and they all knew it, there was nothing Pepa loved more than a good love story.
"No Mama" Delores said softly, lowing her head with an expression Mirabel couldn't quite make out. If she didn't know any better, she'd swear it was a mx of guilt and heartbreak.
Luisa chuckled sheepishly, rubbing her neck as she blushed "I, uh, I don't really have time to think about boys, Tia." Again, there was an expression and tone Mirabel couldn't quiet place, besides embarrassment. Resentment was the closest she could come up with.
"I'm sure you have a few admirers, why wouldn't you?" Mirabel said with a smile, playfully nudging her sister "you're a catch Luisa, any guy would be lucky to have you."
Luisa's blush increased "aw, you think so?" She asked, practically red as a tomato as her sister nodded "thanks Mirabel."
"How about you Mirabel?" Pepa asked, genuinely curious. She couldn't blame her Aunt, as embarrassing as it was. She was at that age now, after all.
That didn't stop her parents from getting defensive of course, she was their baby. "Pepa, she's fifteen" Julieta scolded, Agustin looking almost horrified at the notion. It was kind of funny.
"So? Felix and I were even younger when we met."
"But you didn't start courting until-"
"Uh no, no!" Mirabel said quickly before the conversation between the sisters got heated, the wind was already starting to pick up. "No, there are no guys. Not really…" she said, mumbling the last bit. She'd rather not get her entire family's opinion on the whole Lorenzo thing if she could help it.
Unfortunately, Delores had of course heard her. It was Mirabel's fault really; she should've known she would "what do you mean not really?" Delores asked before she could stop herself, covering her mouth in guilt "sorry" she squeaked as Mirabel glared at her.
"Ooh! So there is somebody!" Pepa gushed slyly, and just like that, all attention was on her. Her family's reactions ranged from shock to curiosity, even a little excitement. All except Abuela, whose face was unreadable. Mirabel hated that; it made her nervous when she couldn't tell what the matriarch was thinking. Especially when it had to do with her.
Well, no getting out of it now. "W-well…" she fiddled with her fingers "…I found out there's one boy who kind of likes me" she explained awkwardly. It wasn't like it was a lie, she was just…omitting some details.
"Who?!" Her parents, Aunt, and Uncle cried. Each with different emotions. Her Tia bursting with rainbow filled excitement, her Tio in shock, and her parents about to have an aneurism. Especially her poor Father.
"Its not that Chico guy, is it?" Isabela asked, her nose scrunched up looking almost insulted "cause I'm only gonna say this once Mirabel, you can do better!"
Mirabel stared at her, that was an…unexpected reaction from Senorita Perfecta. "N-no…no, it's not him." Her eldest sister hummed with a stoic nod, but Mirabel hadn't missed the way her shoulders sagged in relief.
"I bet its Lorenzo" Camilo snicked and oh Lord, Mirabel hoped she had a good poker face on right now.
"Are you getting married too, Mirabel?" Antonio asked with a smile.
The table chuckle at his innocent question. Even Mirabel couldn't help giggling, some of her tension fading away thanks to her wonderful Primo "I-"
"Of course she isn't!" Abuela snapped as she stood abruptly.
The room became dead quiet, everyone staring at the matriarch in stunned silence. Her expression was one of anger, as if the very idea was a personal insult to her, with panic in her eyes. As fast as the tension had died, it was back tenfold. "Y-your Abuela is right sweetie" Pepa said, trying to keep the wind calm "Mirabel's too young to get married just yet" she explained, everyone nodding in agreement.
"Julieta, a word" Abuela said curtly as she left the room. Julieta gave her daughter a look she guessed was supposed to reassure her, but it really didn't, and left. The rest of the table fell into anxious small talk, but Mirabel couldn't shake the feeling of dread. Excusing herself under the guise of needing the bathroom, she quietly followed. Hiding with Casitas help, Mirabel listened in on the conversation "I want you to find this boy and put a stop to this!" Abuela hissed, Mirabel couldn't help but flinch.
"Mama, don't overreact" her Mothers voice came "so a boy has a crush on Mirabel, its not a big deal."
"What if this boy tries to court her?!"
"What if he does? It doesn't mean she'll say yes. Besides, odds are all the girls will be courted eventually."
"No! Not Mirabel! Think of the miracle!" Abuela cried almost hysterically.
Mirabel felt her blood go cold.
"…And just what does that mean, Mama?" Julieta asked, her voice low and threating.
Abela just sighed, regaining her composure "we will talk more about this later" she said, avoiding the question completely. Mirabel just barely got out of the way as Abuela walked by, her Mother following not long after.
Mirabel stood frozen in place, feeling sick. Those girls' words from all those years ago ringing in her head like a bell.
She was really going to do it, wasn't she?
Abuela was going to make sure she never got married to ensure she never had children out of fear they wouldn't receive a gift like her. She was going to take all those choices away from her, like it was nothing, because she didn't have a gift.
Because of that stupid candle!
No, that wasn't fair. The candle had no control over Abuela, this was all on her!
Mirabel didn't say anything when she returned to the table, but inside, she was seething with a rage she didn't know she possessed. Abuela was going to rob her of so much without a second thought just because she was the unexceptional Madrigal. Treat her like some kind of virus that needed to be wiped out before she infected the rest of the family.
How could she.
How dare she!
"You are my first, last, and only choice Mirabel Madrigal." Lorenzo's words suddenly rang through her head, cutting through the fury. Such a stark contrast to her family's attitude towards her. To Abuelas attitude towards her. Mirabel's hands clenched into fists, it wasn't a good enough reason, she knew, but she couldn't bring herself to care.
Abuela could take a life of marriage and children away from her, but she wasn't taking this away from her.
That night, Mirabel snuck out of Casita with its aid, it was a clear night so she made her way to Lorenzo's house with ease. When she'd told him the story, well, she could honestly say she'd never seen him so angry. "Yeah so, if your offer is still on the table, I'm in" she said firmly.
"Are you sure?" He asked carefully.
"Yes, I'm sure" Mirabel nodded "Abuelas word is law. If this is her plan, I don't know if my family and I can fight her." She looked down with glossy eyes "I don't even know if they will fight for me" she confessed "I can't just let her take everything from me, not when I can do something about it."
He hesitated for a while longer, but eventually gave in with a nod "alright but not now" he said firmly "you deserve romance Mirabel, so we're going to do this properly."
He arranged an entire day for them. Nothing fancy, which was fine by her, although she still dressed up for the occasion. They had a nice lunch, danced together best they could with his chair to the town band, they watched the clouds and talked about whatever popped into their heads. It was one of the nicest days Mirabel had ever had.
When the night finally came, they retreated to his house. They waited until they were sure Delores was asleep in her room, where she couldn't hear anything. It was a little awkward at first, but Lorenzo gently kissed her hand, she gently kissed his cheek, and soon their lips found one another.
The rest was history.
As Mirabel crept out of his house under the cover of night, she could honestly say she had no regrets. "I'm glad my first was you" she told him softly as they parted ways.
Lorenzo kissed her hand again "I'm glad you were mine, too." He smiled sadly "in another life, I truly believe we could've been happy together."
Mirabel smiled, tears pricking her eyes "then here's to the next life" she said, like she was making a promise.
"Until we meet again" Lorenzo agreed as their hands slowly parted.
Lorenzo passed away two weeks later.
His funeral was a modest one. Mirabel stayed by his Mother's side the whole time, doing her best to console the poor women. She asked Isabela to make Senora Delgado a bouquet of her favorite flower, to which she complied with no argument. Although she did notice her sister made sure Abuela wasn't looking before or as she did. She wondered why; it wasn't like Abuela had a problem with wildflowers, right?
Mirabel lingered by the grave for a few minuets longer once everyone left, saying an extra goodbye with his Mother. "Gracias, Mirabel" Senora Delgado said softly as she walked the older women home "you've been such a blessing during this time, I don't know what we would've done without you."
"He was a great man" she said with a sad smile "I was happy to do what I could." Far more then anyone in the Encanto would ever know.
Or so she thought.
It was another two weeks when Mirabel noticed she was late.
At first, she thought nothing of it. She knew stress and strong emotions could affect a women's cycle. She recalled her Mother scolding Abuela about letting Luisa take it easy during hers for fear of the damage it could do. Her sister's relief apparently going unnoticed by everyone but her.
She'd merely assumed that was the case now. That the grief of her friend's death had caused it to delay or skip a month. So she shrugged it off, figuring it would resume as normal the next month. No big deal.
Until she found the door.
She'd been wandering around Casita when she'd found it. A brand-new door shimmering with golden magic waiting to be unleashed. Just like Antonio's currently was.
Just like hers had been.
She remembered before Antonio was born, how her Mother explained a new door would show up when there was a baby on the way. She knew that this new door was a sign their family was about to receive a new addition. That someone was expecting.
Who though? She doubted it was her Mother or Tia, although she could be wrong. It couldn't be Delores or Luisa; they didn't have any boyfriends as far as she knew. It for sure wasn't Isabela.
That's when two important details hit her like a bolt of lightning.
…She'd been with Lorenzo before his death, and she was late.
Subconsciously, her hands came up to her stomach.
No, it couldn't be, could it?
One trip to the mid wife confirmed that yes, it could and was.
She, Mirabel Madrigal, was pregnant at fifteen.
The mid wife promised not to breath a word of her condition to her family or anyone else. It wasn't her news to tell and it went against her oath. Mirabel barely heard her over the ringing in her ears, her mind reeling from the news. She'd been sure they'd acted while it was safe. Guess she was wrong.
She spent the entire day in a fog, trying to think of what to do. That night, she crept out of the nursery and stared at the new door, her child's door. So far, no one else had noticed it, which was probably a good thing. She couldn't help thinking about her own, fading away like nothing. Would that really happen to this little one? She hoped not, she hoped they got a wonderful gift. Something that would make them so happy.
Even if that did happen, she wouldn't think less of them. They would still be exceptional and wonderful in her eyes and would never, never doubt they were loved. It was almost ironic, her Abela seemed determined not to let her breed for fear of that, and now she was the first of her generation to bare a child. She almost laughed.
Then she thought about Lorenzo. The father of this door's future owner, how they'd conceived this child during his final days and how he would never know he had a son or daughter. As if his fate wasn't cruel enough. She wished she found out sooner, that she could've told him. She didn't doubt he would've been happy, would've loved them for as long as he could.
It was almost like a parting gift from him.
…Practically a miracle.
Mirabel's hand went back to her stomach, as a smile graced her face. That's what this was, wasn't it? A gift.
This little one would never take the place of the gift she never got, but she didn't want or expect them to. Honestly, they were already so much better than anything a door or the candle could have ever given her.
She knew it might be selfish, she knew the challenges it would bring, but once again Mirabel's decision was made.
She was keeping her baby.
Her precious gift.
So on AO3, still don't currently have an account there, I've noticed a few fics with tags like "Mirabel goes blind/mute and family doesn't notice." So naturally, I took it a step beyond and said "hey, what if they didn't notice a whole baby!" Because I don't know what I'm doing!
I don't know any Spanish so I had to look up a few things. I hope I did alright; I promise I mean no offence.
I'm not sure if this chapter is my best work, but I hope its passible and the rest are better.
Anyway, I hope you found this start at least interesting.
Until next time.