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aggieharkness · 2 years

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Hay que encontrar su propio futuro

Summary: She never meant to hurt her family once more, she had only expected to wake up with a hangover not with someone beside her that was about to turn her entire life upside down. She never thought she would get a chance at a new life with someone so different and at the same time so alike. Can they really find a future together?

a/n: Well, we have reached the end of our journey. It has been a pleasure to write this story with you and for you and I promise this won't be the end. I have finished this one in a way where there isn't a real ending, I have too much planned to just leave it here. I hope that you have enjoyed this story as much as I have and I will be back with more side stories or new ones of this new world and ship I've created, unintentionally. Thank you so much for reading, for all the love and feedback and I hope to see you soon, maybe even sooner than you think. :)) I'm Spanish so I used expressions from my own language. I'm afraid I don't know Colombian ones so I had to work with the ones that I know. If there are any Colombians out there that would prefer for me to change what I have written I would very gladly do it, but even so, I hope you like the ones I have used.

warning: age difference. Most importantly no Alma Madrigal bashing, i love this woman.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15

Hay que encontrar su propio futuro

What a glorious morning, she could feel the heat coming through the windows and the gentle rays of sunlight softly passing through her eyelids, waking her slowly. This was the life man, laying over the soft mattress with those feathered pillows around her body as the heat of someone pressed against her back soothed her to sleep every five minutes before the screams of some random birds startled her awake once more. Even with that whole orchestra playing outside she’d rather stay in bed for a bit longer, just a few more minutes with him before they had to wake up and break the spell to face the world. Such an unpleasant thought, why wasn’t it considered socially acceptable to remain in bed for an entire day, when you had good reasons to of course, and she most certainly could consider this an excellent reason. Then again the day looked to be a rather good one and as her brain started regaining some kind of functionality it clicked what day it was and even in her sleepy state she felt a smile forming on her lips.

What a wonderful feeling it was, for Mariano to have her like this, so close he could count all the freckles that decorated her skin since the strap of her nightgown had somehow managed to fall off her shoulder throughout the night revealing her soft skin to his sleepy eyes; how could he not admire her when she laid so warm in his arms, so relaxed. The four walls that formed their bedroom were the only world they needed to face at the moment and both were very glad about it. Her toes curled under the blanket, his leg feeling the tension of her calves as she stretched discreetly so as not to disturb him; this kind soul didn’t know he had been awake and watching her for maybe thirty minutes, observing and admiring what he yet couldn’t believe was his and still she tried to be as careful as she could manage, he couldn’t he love her.

-Your breath stinks. - there it was, the delicacy of her morning jokes, he just had to laugh quietly at her words before she turned around in bed to face him trying to rub the sleep off her eyes. What a sight to wake up to, his shoulder length waves sprawled all over his pillow the same way her now fully silver locks were braided, pressed against her back and his hand that rested on her waist, fingers playing softly with its ends.

-I am rather hungry, could have made a quick trip downstairs but I assumed we would sleep in a bit more or maybe even skip breakfast today, so instead of leaving you all alone I brought us some snacks last night. Don’t tell Julieta or she’ll have my head, you know how she hates when we sneak food out of the kitchen.

-I won’t tell her. What’s on the menu?

-Well, - a bit awkwardly he detangled himself from her arms, the cold space that rested now between them sending shivers of disappointment down her spine, she was missing that wonderful heat his body steamed so sweetly. He bent off the bed, his nice firm ass for her eyes to watch as freely and as hungrily as she wanted, his hands lifting off the floor a tray full of fruit, chocolates and a couple of pastries that he knew she loved; I mean who doesn’t love a good milhojas or some chocolate cuñas? - I had to do a few trips but I got you mangos, papayas, the yellow ones not the red ones don’t worry, and a bowl of bananas and duraznos with some honey on top. I was going to bring a jug of orange juice but Camilo had already stolen it so I had to grab the alfajores and the bombons. It could be better but I didn't want the food to go to waste in this heat and I couldn’t prepare more than you can eat.

-She’s definitely going to notice all of this, but I’m very happy my husband had the wonderful idea of feeding his wife before he goes ahead and does something to make her mad. He’s learned his lesson after having to sleep on the couch for three days.

-Hadn’t you forgiven me already for forgetting to pick up those frames for the pictures of Julieta’s son? Gabriel is a beautiful baby and I’m very happy for your daughter but he won’t remember or even acknowledge all of this for at least another year, he’s only two months old and I thought I had apologised enough. - his face fell somewhat but Alma didn’t let it remain so for long, today was far too special to let something as dumb as this ruin it. With both hands on his cheeks she smiled and gave him a soft quick peck.

-I have, don’t worry, Juli talked with me after I threw the pillows at you and made me realise how stupid it all was and you are right, Gabi is far too young to even lift his head, he won’t notice if the pictures are not hanging from the walls yet. And his abuelo had a very long day in school and hardly had time to go shopping. It’s been a long month so what’s one more frame or one less, there’s plenty of time to go and pick them up. You are very much forgiven Mariano.

-I’m relieved, I hate it when we argue. And today is our anniversary, we can’t put a gloomy note on such a beautiful day as this. The sky is blue, I’m in your bed and we can stay for as long as we want.

-Which I’m afraid can’t be too long because I have things planned, but we can have breakfast here and later today we can have dinner, alone, and spend the night with each other simply enjoying the fact that we’ve been married for one whole year and survived.

-And boy have we survived, indeed. I’m never assisting in a birth for the rest of my life, I don’t mind changing nappies and the whole lot of having to take care of Gabi but the process of getting him here was just too much for me. Agustín dealt with it much better than I did, it shows that he’s done this before.

-He didn’t faint, you did. - if she had been able to photograph him sprawled on the floor completely knocked out, pale as milk while Agustín held both his wife’s hands while encouraging her to push, she would have. She still teased him about it and of course today wasn’t going to be any different, her laughter echoing against the walls as she picked a piece of mango and popped it in her mouth. It was perfect, sweet and rich on her tongue.

-There was so much blood and that slimy white thing dripping on the floor… Ugh, it still gives me the shivers after two months. I’m so happy we didn’t have to go through that bit in particular with Eva, she might not have come to us in the most orthodoxed way but at least I didn’t have to grab your leg and watch her potato head slip out of you.

-Still have nightmares about that? I’m sorry you had to grab Julieta’s leg, it just happened so fast and half the house was out. It’s a miracle Rosa just happened to be visiting and helped me, just like old times.

-I’ll be fine, once I stop getting chased in my nightmares by abnormally big placentas with eyes and mouths that scream and cry while they try to choke me with their cords. - How disturbingly explicit, he could still see them smiling at him calling him papá; how could anyone find them interesting or pretty when they were so simply disgusting? He might need to lay down later if he kept on thinking about those nightmares, they just always got the better of him and he would end up having to sit on a chair or the bed pale as the dead with Alma fanning him. - They are just so creepy.

-Don’t tell anyone that or they might get offended, although Pepa and Bruno laughed so hard when Dolores told them you had fainted I swear mijo’s skin was turning blue. But you did very well despite the circumstances and I’m very proud of you. And you got your wish of having a family with me, Eva loves her papá very very much.

-She does, doesn’t she? Just the sweetest little angel and she just began to crawl, I can’t believe after all the things we had to go through with her that we finally can call her our daughter.

-Still worries me that she might see me more like an abuela than her mamá, Pepa adores her and Julieta takes care of her a lot, it would be understandable if she chose them over me but it bothers me. It’s quite stupid to think so but I can’t help it.

-You shouldn’t worry, I talk about you with her all the time and she does recognize you as her mamá; every time we walk past one of your pictures she practically jumps to you even if you are not really there to pick her up and it upsets her. Eva has only one mamá and it’s you, my wonderful wife.

It had to be a gift, he just always knew what to say to her to ease her doubts or worries, it certainly showed just how well he knew her. Sitting in bed with all this food hearing him talk about their daughter she couldn’t help but think about how many things had changed during this year. First had been the surprise of Rosa and Mateo, that for Alma and Mariano wasn’t really a surprise at all, they had been far too invested on getting them together that when they made it official it felt as if the had won the nobel prize, a reward for a hard days work, well more like a month’s. Anyway, it had been a wonderful set of news that had only opened the door to quite a few more, the first one of a long list that made Alma cry and jump in joy along with Mariano. The brand new couple could have easily lied to the entire village about them having got married fifty years ago and they would have believed it, Rosa and Mateo just fit together so well and were always so natural around each other they really did look like an old married couple and it couldn’t bring any more joy to Mariano’s heart to see his abuela this happy, enjoying her walks along the lake or the dinner dates she shared with her partner in their home, sometimes at his place and others at hers. Alma had expected them to announce their engagement in maybe a few months time but after a long game of bridge one friday afternoon, Rosa had confessed that neither of them wanted to get married, that things were fine as they were and they didn’t want to lose it or damage it by introducing a ring into the equation and to be fairly honest, she might have a point. And so Rosa sneaked into his home late at night for the first couple of weeks and she sneaked him until they both realised they were old enough to do as they pleased; once she crossed the threshold of his home for the first time in broad daylight not caring how her neighbours were looking at her, and didn’t leave until the next days morning, the world still turning, they didn’t decide to stop playing games meant for teenagers.

The second set of wonderful news on the list had been Gabi and what a wonderful and unexpected announcement it had been. Exactly one month after the triplets' birthdays Agustín and Julieta had entered the kitchen holding onto each other with nervous smiles, stealing worried glances at each other. At first no one had paid them much attention, it was normal for them to get all lovey dovey out of the blue, but what wasn’t normal was for Julieta to decline her morning coffee when she was known for drinking bucket after bucket of the stuff every day. The instant the woman had said those words Pepa and Alma had looked up, shared a silent conversation of raised eyebrows and questioning glances before both directed their eyes towards the healer. It was undeniable that she was glowing, and that her frame was fuller, the look of accomplishment in Agustín’s eyes only confirming their suspicions. At least someone had had fun on their birthday. Juli didn’t get the chance to say anything though, Bruno came in with a blanket around his form like a human green worm and simply gave the couple one of his emerald tablets while he yawned the word congratulation just as they were about to reveal the news. For the next ten to fifteen minutes it was just a battle of screams and cries, Pepa raining all over them as she shed joyful tears with Felix searching for their umbrellas, Isa, Mira and Luisa jumping up and down around their parents running to their mother in less than a second to ask questions both normal and some rather strange due to the hysterics of the moment, like what would it be, when would they come and all those things pregnant ladies get tired of hearing when its their fourth child.

Once the commotion had calmed down and Julieta was finally left to have breakfast with her mother, sister and brother, Agustín having been snatched away by Felix to star getting the nursery cleaned up now that Mirabel had her own room, the older woman had congratulated her daughter and had insisted that she take it easy from now on. Like the hard working woman Julieta was she had refused but her mother wouldn’t hear of her working her ass off when the last time she had had two awful scares with Mirabel. From the other side of the kitchen Mariano remained in silence while he poured his wife a cup off coffee, finished off his and picked his lunch in case he got caught up in school; he whispered in her ear a gentle goodbye before giving her a peck on the lips and he was out the door, but the conversation didn’t stray from the main point. Her daughter wouldn’t cook unless it was strictly necessary and Alma would be the new chef in the kitchen for breakfasts and lunches, the dinner belonged to those who wanted to learn, unless Mariano wanted them to eat out, then it would be Felix and Camilo, the stern tone she had used leaving no room for arguments and although the healer had wanted to protests the smallest smile crept up on her features, grateful that her mother now listened and worried about her family's health before the wellbeing of the village. They weren’t going to deny them medical help, they would just use her powers for extreme injuries and let the town doctor get back in business after nearly forty five years, it was his job after all.

On a lovely morning in the middle of June with the heat settled deep into the foundations of Casita after another unpleasant heatwave had begun, Gabi was born into Alma’s waiting hands with no issues and with Mariano flat out on the floor, unconscious. It had happened so fast Julieta barely had time to register the first few contractions before her son was bungee jumping with his umbilical cord over the hallway tiles, Alma’s shawl wrapped tightly around the little thing so he wouldn't get too cold. It really had been a most miraculous day because in the afternoon Mariano and Alma went home as official parents to a beautiful four month old little girl and suddenly the calm house was filled with two babies that decided to sync and cry at the same time and in tune; sometimes when both mothers were too tired and sleep deprived, as it happens, they harmonised their own tired tears with those of their babies before they put themselves together once more and tried another round of lullabies and bounces. Of course in Casita the husbands helped to take care of the babies as much as they could and gave breaks to the tired mamás, as every father should, so when Alma came down to the kitchen on the third day of having Eva at home with the baby fast asleep after a hard night of colics, she was surprised to see Mariano preparing her breakfast fully dressed for the day and warming up so milk for their child, humming sweet songs under his breath as he flipped the arepas with one hand and poured some honey over Alma’s favourite fruits, much like the bowl she currently had in her hands.

Up until that moment they had really doubted they would ever get their little Eva, and he could see how much it hurt Alma and how at the same time she smiled and accepted with resignation that they wouldn’t have her. But it was too long of a story to think about now that she was enjoying a wonderful quiet morning with her husband in bed, no crying or screaming disturbing the wonderful silence, just the wonderful songs of the birds and warmth of the sun as it came through the brand new window Casita had installed on the back wall without giving neither Mariano nor Alma a warning; when they had come back from their honeymoon up in their cottage it had been s surprise to see it there and to be fair they didn’t want to get rid of it, it made the room far less gloomy and it gave a lovely romantic aura each night when the moon was full and shining through the linen curtains.

On this warm, not yet scorching hot morning the world was calm, and for being a wednesday the house was still rather quiet at eight in the morning; Camilo and Mirabel were due in school and Antonio was going on a trip to the jungle with his mates and his lovely teacher, señorita Gutierrez, the girlfriend of Sofia and neither Mariano nor Alma could hear a single sound coming from the courtyard, it was rather unsettling but she pushed the feeling to the back of her head. Alma still felt bad about what she had thought of Sofia back when she had seen her kiss her husband, and to be honest she still didn’t like it but as she had grown to know her she had discovered what a sweet thing she was and couldn’t be happier that her husband had found a friend in her, arguments aside. She had made herself a respectable woman with her shop booming every day, her kind words and interested questions making her a very loved member of their community at last, Alma and Dolores helping her with the plans for her upcoming wedding as if they had been friends their entire lives. As she thought about these random things it hit her like a ton of bricks that today was indeed wednesday, working day, and Mariano was due down at the school every morning at exactly eight fifteen; he still had to shower and get ready and he was just sitting there with her!

-Mariano! - she pushed the tray off his legs and placed it roughly over the blanket, pushing the young man off the bed. Hmmm, why couldn’t it be summer every day, the whole year, the sight of his muscular legs and arms and his broad back with only a tiny set of boxers covering his very well equipped body made her drift to unholy thoughts for a minute before she got off the mattress with her thin cotton nightgown flying around her legs. - ¿Qué leches sigues haciendo aquí? ¡Son las ocho!

-Alma, what…? ¡Alma!

-Get in the shower! I want you in here less than five minutes and out the door before you are too late!

-Late? For what?

-Work, cabezón!

-Oh- it startled her to see him laughing and grabbing her hands gently as he took them back to bed. With the sun still low in the horizon she looked like a message from God as the tender oranges of sunlight enfolded her form in what surely could be compared to a sight of Virgin Mary, his wife sweet and soft in between his arms and so very confused by his actions. - I didn’t tell you? I asked my boss to have the day off and my mentor was very keen on substituting me for the day while I enjoy my first wedding anniversary with my wife. Is that acceptable to you?

-You didn’t say… I must look like a fool.

-Yes, you do. - he earned a playful slap on his naked chest, her fingers lingering on his warm skin for several seconds. - But you are my fool, and I’m very happy my wife worries enough about me getting to work on time. I appreciate the effort, caramelito, honest, but today it’s just for us.

-And the other twelve members of the family. If you think we are going to be left alone you have another thing coming. Since we are already up we should get dressed because I have a few presents for you that I want to show you before Casita changes her mind or the village children accidentally damage them.

-I hope it’s not a plant, I can’t handle plants.

-It’s not. It’s a surprise, don’t ask questions and just get dressed.

-So picky in the morning, if I had known this before we had got married…

Alma feigned being offended before she threw the wardrobe doors open and handed him a simple white guayabera and his light brown pants, giving him a kiss on the cheeks and a slap on the butt before he disappeared through the bathroom doors. From the moment when they had said yes in the church up until today her life had been filled with both adventure and romance but also with pain and tears, some joyful and others full of sadness, but she wouldn’t change anything from this entire year, the balance between the good things and the bad certainly fell on the happy side: she had another grandchild, a lovely boy that she loved with her entire being, and hoped to have another in the way soon if Luisa and her girlfriend stopped bickering about it and made a final decision at last. Her best friend was the happiest she had seen her with Mateo and the gossip and rumours of their relationship had by now become just whispers every once in a while, the town had grown used to seeing them leave their homes together in the morning. Her eldests nieta, Isabela, had started her book on colombian flora and was in touch with some people from the university of Bogotá, with the botanical department to be precise, and had progressed quite a lot since her last meeting via letters, the house now filled with books and works that had been sent to her since the start of this collaboration. Obviously the one that brought most joy was not to see her family and friends like this although it filled her heart with unmeasurable delight, it was to have her little girl in her arms whenever she could; her Eva had come back to her through her adopted daughter and she loved that baby almost as much as she had loved her sister once upon a time. When they had found her in that basket by their cottage their entire world had turned upside down and suddenly they had found themselves in a race to both try and find their mother or to get the right family to adopt her before it was too late; no one wants to see a child through the window of an orphanage watching how the other kids play while no one comes to pick them up.

To be fair Alma had fallen in love instantly with the girl, the moment she had picked her up and swayed her in her arms from side to side to quiet her down her heart and mind had agreed for once that that baby was meant to be hers. When they had taken her down to Casita the commotion had brought more screams from the baby and in a stern voice Alma had commanded them all to keep quiet, Julieta examining the little thing before she declared her healthy, maybe a bit small for a newborn, and one that needed to be fed as soon as possible at that, but healthy. Then the authorities had got involved and everything just went to shit; some nights Mariano would find himself having to escort his wife down to the orphanage to get the nameless baby to sleep before the other kids started a mutiny because of course she wouldn’t stop crying unless Alma was the one holding her or feeding her, which meant she would have to strap the girl to her front in the morning and go about her day with the baby safely tucked to her, giving a well deserved rest to the girls. Around two months later that horrid woman had shown up and it had taken all of Alma’s will not to kill her when she had announced herself as the mother of the baby, but without any possibility to refute her statement she had had to give her the child. After that fateful moment Mariano hadn’t got his wife to eat or sleep for days until at the kitchen table she had heard that the woman would be leaving soon and Dolores had pulled her aside to tell her that something was wrong, that she had heard strange things coming from the woman’s house and she didn’t like them at all. Plan “rescue the bean” had begun exactly at that moment and like in a James Bond film the baby had been saved, the woman incarcerated and after the busy morning with Julieta and her own newborn the rest was history. When they had headed for the registry the next day to add her into the family book they had signed her as Eva Maria Madrigal and with a kiss on the forehead of the child they had taken her home.

If Alma decided at any point to write a novel about her life it would be a bestseller in under two hours and would sell all over the world translated into more languages that existed on this planet. Mariano’s voice startled her out of her walk down memory lane as he came out of the bathroom with his waves damp from the quick shower he had taken, the room free for her to get ready. While she was out of the picture he tied up the room, finished the last few bites of fruit and pulled his present out from behind a wall tile, thanking Casita for helping him hide it. It was a medium size box with a red bow tied around it, she would have found it if he had left it in its original hiding place, the wardrobe, and once she had seen it she wouldn’t have stopped looking for it, but Casita was always one step ahead and he had simply stood there as she moved some of her wall tiles to tuck it away before Alma discovered it. It was an unusual gift, the man at the store had looked at him like he was speaking in an alien language or making a preposterous request, but Mariano thought it was a lovely touch and he wouldn’t back down, not even for a gorgeous diamond necklace, his Alma wore all she needed in a thin white gold chain around her neck. A diamond wouldn’t give her the same feeling of love as her Pedro’s wedding ring did, and Mariano wouldn’t dream of switching it for something as material as a gem, as beautiful as it might be. For their first anniversary he hadn’t wanted to ask for help, he needed to sort this one out on his own and to be fair he thought he had done a pretty good job, he was almost sure his wife would love it. Ready for the day, Alma slipped out of the bathroom in a pale pink summer blouse with a thin but rich magenta skirt, her hair up in a much looser hairdo but similar to the one she used to wear, with two babies in the house hair cascading down ones back was a synonym for pulls and yelps of pain, better be safe than sorry. Turning the lights off she stopped on her tracks when she saw her husband standing in the middle of the room with a box in his hands.

-You couldn’t wait until tonight?

-I have something planned for later that includes the present, but I want you to see it now so you’ll have it in your mind all day and can’t wait to share it with me.

-Mysterious. Go on, give it here.

It passed from his hands to hers, feeling the weight of whatever was inside on the muscles of her arms. She placed it gently on the bed in case it happened to be glass and after her fingers united the bow and the top was off her breath caught in her throat. The smooth surface of the wooden box made her grip slide a few times before she pulled it out of the cardboard one. On the top and through a glass she could see a small golden disc filled with holes that surely would play a song when she twisted the key that rested in one of the corners, the frame in polished dark wood. Her hands were shaking a bit when she tried to open it, she didn’t want to break such a beautiful work of art with her clumsy fingers, but it opened up no problem and once it had been charged the gentle notes of “Cielito lindo” began to play. It wouldn’t have been her first choice, but when you really sit down to think about it he had chosen this one song in particular to serenade her on their wedding day, and she wouldn’t have accepted any other one, not when he was whispering the words quietly in her hears as he rested his head on her shoulder. Some movement caught her eye and when she kneeled on the floor followed by her husband, she found the sight of little figurines dancing to the song in a room that felt rather too familiar. Upon further inspection she saw that it was her and Mariano dancing at their reception in the middle of the courtyard with Pepa, Felix, Julieta and Agustín. Every single detail was right down perfect, from the colours of the flowers to the way the dresses twirled around their legs. She was too stunned by the beauty of the music box that she didn’t notice Mariano pulling a little drawer open underneath the scene of the figurines, until he closed the top and the music stopped, small little envelopes in his hand.

-I designed it and built it, the figures were hand painted and made just for us. To remember for all eternity the day that we finally began to live. These letters - the small envelopes were gently placed on the palm of her hand along with a kiss on the line of her hair, the cool paper tingling the skin of her hand. - I’ve been writing them since the day of our wedding, for an entire year and I want you to read them with me tonight.

-I will, don’t ever doubt that I wouldn’t read your words. It kills me not to know what those letters that I burned said your thoughts and feelings were ashes in my hands because I was too angry and it makes me feel guilty.

-Hey, we have these ones, forget about the ones you burned, the important one was the one you read in front of me, to see that you pushed your rightful anger aside to see what I had to say…that’s enough for me. Don’t think about it anymore, caramelito.

-I love you so much. I feel like my presents are going to be awful now.

-I’m sure they will be magnificent. Let’s put the box on the table and head down, I want to see what that wonderful mind of yours has come up with.

They placed the letters back in the drawer and moved the mahogany music box to their reading corner before they headed towards the door, Mariano carrying the empty tray. Not a soul was around, doors closed, placidly glowing, her eyes searching for a single clue where her family might be as they went on about their journey downstairs. Drifting paths, she headed for the nursery as he headed downstairs, but when she opened the door no one was there, both cribs empty. She lifted the mattresses, opened drawers, looked underneath the cribs, the entire room looked as if a hurricane had just happened but the babies were nowhere to be found. Her heart dropped to the floor as she rushed out, several scenarios playing in her head, each worse than the previous one; that crazy woman was still in town, behind bars but in town, what if she had escaped and had taken Eva and in the process had decided to take Gabi as well? She jumped two stairs at a time to get to Mariano, her heart in her throat as Casita helped her slide towards the kitchen, teh tiles smooth as a water current. When she got there she slammed her face against the back of her husband accidentally, both hands shooting to grab onto his arms to keep steady. A quiet huf was heard, and when he turned around to see her the words stumbled out but soon they became quieter until they were none existent. From over his shoulder Alma saw her baby girl was in the arms of her youngest daughter playing with the ginger curls that had escaped Pepa’s braid as if nothing was wrong. The sigh of relief that escaped her shook her to her core, her speeding heart slowing down now that her eyes had located Eva. She couldn’t go on living like this, they were bound to give her a heart attack one of these days and she couldn’t afford one!

-¿Mamá? ¿Estás bien? - it worried the redhead how flushed and yet so pale her mother looked, the face of terror that was now vanishing but had been so intense only a few seconds before making a cloud form on top of her head.

-Please, tell me when you take Eva, we are still waiting for the court order that will send that woman to jail, I can’t lose sight of your sister. I swear you are all going to be the death of me. - for a second she rested her forehead on her husband’s shoulder before she went to where Pepa was and picked her little baby up, the big green eyes of the girl looking at her along a wide toothless smile, mumbling absolute nonsense, the sweet smell of baby powder and cologne calming her nervous system. She made sure to reassure Pepa with a tender smile and a soft squeeze of her hands, the cloud dissipating in under a second.

-Sorry, I didn’t think you would still be a bit touchy about what the psycho almost did. Next time I’ll make sure, lo siento.

-No pasa nada Pepa, just inform me. Now, what are you all doing here? The kitchen is far too small for the entire family and you should be on your way to class. - Eva was static about being in her mamis arms, little chubby fingers playing with the chain around her neck, those wild ginger curls she possessed shining in the light of morning like melted honey and fire against Alma’s pale blouse. She was the vivid image of her sister even at this young age, it was uncanny since she wasn’t blood.

-You remember we had to cover the family tree because one of Antonio’s animals damaged it?

-Yes, Pepi. That’s why it’s a rule now that not a single animal can enter this room, your rats included Bruno.

-They don’t mind, they have a super pen in my room with their own pantry. Cecilia hardly ever comes out anymore, I miss her and our walks around the garden.

-At least you don’t steal Juli’s scarves for them to give birth in anymore.

-It was you? To do what?! I thought it might have been one of the children, you owe me twenty four of them, and I want them before christmas Bruno. - with Gabi fast asleep wrapped around her chest she looked both very angry and dangerous and so extremely cute, her voice low but filled with anger towards her brother, she didn’t want to wake her baby. Pepa looked quite proud of her achievement, something must have happened for her to sell her brother like that and Alma intended on finding out later, right now her eyes were jumping from her children to the covered family tree.

-Olvidándonos de todo eso, I must tell you that we weren’t quite honest mamá. It was a white lie, I promise. Camilo thought of it and we were so very proud of his brilliant idea, he’s just like his mamá, so smart, not even Isabela has been joking and teasing him as much as she used to. It’s our anniversary present for you.

Luisa being the tallest of the bunch took hold of the cloth and in one quick motion revealed what was underneath, an intact family tree with only one little new detail. Right next to the figure of Alma was Pedro and from them the entire family extended up until a little spot where Gabi had yet to be painted, but right on the other side of the matriarch Mariano had been added and underneath them both two lines met into one making way for Eva’s future portrait. They could see that whoever had painted it had tried to follow the same style, but the new additions held a fresh tone to them and it almost made it look as if the woman herself was smiling a bit more. The real flesh and blood Alma just stared like an idiot not knowing what to say or how to act, Eva squirming in her arms to try and get her papá’s attention but he was also too focused on the image before him to notice until that little devilish hand grabbed onto one of his locks and while she laughed and screamed in delight she pulled, breaking the spell for everyone. He turned his head to look at his wife, her eyes glazed with unshed tears of gratitude and love, picking Eva up to free Alma’s arms, the woman taking the opportunity to rush to her grandson and just shower him in kisses. The boy complained and tried to escape her arms but secretly he was enjoying it as much as he could. She was learning how to handle him, she was far more interested in his life and his tastes now that Mariano and Bruno were gently guiding her and it showed in the way their relationship was improving with each passing day, but she was still his abuela and that meant thousands of kisses on that little rosy face of his until he surrender to her power and just remained there letting her have her way. He had missed this moment with her, he hadn’t been kissed like this since before Mirabel’s gift ceremony.

When she grew tired of just kissing one of her grandchildren, her own triplets jumped into her arms the instant she left go of Camilo, wishing her a lovely day and assuring her that the paint was dry and none of Antonio’s animals would even dare to touch it, the tears she had been trying to hold finally sliding down her cheeks. Crap, she had decided to wear mascara today, maybe her new panda eyes weren’t the look she would have gone for but Dolores as the sweet thing she was handed her a handkerchief so she could wipe her eyes and clean herself a bit. After the initial shock and the following teary show the couple congratulated the anonymous painter which turned out to be Luisa and the calligraphy Mirabel’s handy work, Mariano grabbed the wrap from the hanger and with the help of Agustín Eva was tightly secured to Mariano’s chest and ready to go, kicking cheerfully in her papá’s arms while she screamed in joy for her mamá, who obviously after another round of hugs and kisses joined her husband. She had wanted to stay a little bit longer with her wonderful and talented nietas but Isabela while sternly explained she had work to do and couldn't have her abuela around, couldn’t help the few smiled that made their way to her lips; she was not a very good liar and simply wanted Alma to enjoy this wonderful morning, she had no plans to work on her plants today, she had to help her mother prepare the picnic for their family lunch down by the lake.

Before Casita fell she wouldn't have thought of going out without knowing perfectly well what she was going to do, she would have left the house with a mental schedule of her chores, now she was heading into the unknown, partially, on a lovely August morning letting the tsunami of her adoring Mariano wash over her and take her wherever he wished. She just hoped that they would walk past a certain street on their way to the plaza, that way she wouldn't have to steer him or wait until they went back home to show him her present. To be totally honest her gift felt less and less worthy after what he had given her and what her family had planned, and the doubts started settling in as they walked past the river over the bridge. At the sight of the ducks Eva mumbled some more and pointed at them, her bright emerald eyes reflecting the ripples of water that flowed in gentle lazy currents under the stone bridge. How much Alma wished her sister could see her, she would have loved her to bits and they wouldn’t have been able to keep her away. She would have talked absolute nonsense to the baby, and in the middle of the night when she would have tried to calm her down and get her to sleep to give her sister a break, Alma watching from the threshold of the nursery how the woman would have bounced her niece gently.

One day she would tell Eva about her aunt the same way she was now talking about her to the family. It took her great power and strength to gather everyone and even more to say the simple words “I had a sister”, if it hadn’t been for Mariano who stood there holding her hand through everything she wouldn’t have been able to even say her name. They met for several sessions throughout the course of two months, the memories and feelings were too overwhelming for Alma to try and tell them about her in one evening, but with a steady pace she spoke about every detail she could recall, only keeping to herself a few things that she had promised her she would never tell; Alma would take them to her grave. They seemed to be confused and shocked at first, but soon they began to ask about her and the interest for this unknown member of their family only grew as time passed by, making her see that Mariano had been right and her memory would live on as long as someone could remember her, she wouldn’t leave this Earth when Alma’s time came.

She celebrated internally the turn around the corner to the main street , it meant she might be able to stop him just in time to show him her present, if he didn’t decide to go and check on some of his friends, but as they got closer to the main plaza his steps didn’t falter and he carried on down the same path. She practised her speech mentally several times, Mariano’s voice as he pointed to things and chatted with their daughter background noise for her very nervous system, and just when they were about to reach the perfect spot he stopped. A quiet curse escaped her lips but thankfully neither her husband nor the random people that were walking past her seemed to notice, so when she approached him to inquire as to why he had stopped she saw that his eyes were fixed on someone who was leaving a house, Eva’s as well and upon lifting her head hers too. Rosa and Mateo were holding hands and in her free one a small bouquet of pink hyacinths swayed gently from side to side, contrasting with her tanned skin, her smile as bright as Pepa’s rainbows that morning when Alma had kissed her cheeks and thanked her for the changes in their family tree. Alma watched Mariano but she only saw joy and maybe a bit of pride showing up like an uninvited cousin, but it didn’t take the spotlight, not when his abuela was living her dream life just like he was. Eva had other plans though, and at the sight of her bisabuela she screamed as loudly as she could, earning the attention she wanted as soon as the older woman’s eyes had landed on the girl.

She loved her bisabuela and bisabuelo and like the excellent greatgrandparents they were they did everything she wanted even if she couldn’t talk yet and gave her all the things her parents had told them not to, both because that’s what they are meant to do, that was their role and because greatgrandparents know more than parents do, that’s an unwritten rule that everyone follows, so when Rosa began to coo at the little girl she laughed uncontrollably and shook her legs violently in joy, kicking Mariano in the process several times. Mateo remained a few steps behind so as not to overwhelm the little thing, but he still drew funny faces for her and thrived in her joy and happiness; he had lacked a family for so long, this was a miracle for him that he would thoroughly enjoy until his passing. The baby bounced against her father’s chest until a flock of birds caught her eye and her very entertaining bisabuelos became second choice over the feathered animals. Rosa and Mateo took it as an opportunity to wish them a happy anniversary before waving them goodbye and quietly slipping away not before Alma confirmed their cards session for friday. With just the little family left in the street once more they began to walk towards the plaza once more but this time they didn’t get too far. Really, he could have stopped just one in the right spot and saved her from cursing and the feeling of anticipation and dread that had settled in her stomach. Mariano had stopped abruptly only a few feet from where he had stood a few minutes before, exactly where Alma had wanted him, staring at the wall.

-¿Alma? ¿Qué…?

-I know it’s not a super awesome present, but you’ve been doing things for me since we met, and I wanted to show you that no matter what you do and what people might say, you are a Madrigal, and I love you very much.

The mural that had once been a perfect pyramid was now not so perfect but he didn’t care, they had painted him right next to Alma with a guitar in his hands and a smile as big as it could possibly go. It might have clashed a bit with the rest of the style if it weren’t for the fact that they had touched Alma up as well, and Mariano’s free hand was laced in hers while her other hand held the candle, a small golden butterfly flying over them. Much like the tree back at Casita the details of his clothes and hair were perfect, almost as if he had always been there and in a strange way he felt like that.So this was why they had taken to avoiding this street in particular, she had had someone painting during the day so it would be dry and ready for their anniversary. If he dared to love her even more he would explode, no one had ever thought of giving something as important as a family before, yes, he had his abuela and he loved her with every fiber of his being, she had taken care of him since he had been a baby but he still had felt like he had lacked something, his parents probably, and for some reason to have Alma tell him that no matter what they were his family, she was his family it brought a deep sense of belonging to his heart. Rosa had Mateo now, at last, she was taken care of in regards to love and family, but now Mariano not only had a wife and daughter, he had the entire Madrigal clan to call his own and for whom he would give his life. Just the gentle detail of them holding hands for the entire universe to see and for future generations to witness made him see he would never ever be alone anymore, and that Alma was not afraid to show off her wonderful husband even if those who were looking didn’t approved, she had got tired of running the moment she had kissed him in the plaza so many months ago.

Careful not to squash Eva he gathered her in his arms and kissed her as deeply as he could, from the corner his abuela and Mateo witnessing this moment with tears in her eyes, she knew now her nieto would be taken care of when it was her time to go, she had done her job. The sweet flavours of the mangos and the papayas still lingered lazily on her tongue, making this tender kiss even more wonderful than he could have expected. Her heart had been hammering against her ribs as she awaited his response, she had thought it would escape her chest any minute but actions speak better than words, and even though he hadn’t voiced his opinions his lips were doing a great job at expressing them. He poured all his feelings into that shared moment as the kiss became a little more heated, not improper but just a couple of notches hotter, an entire lifetime of grief and devastation making way for a beautiful green neverending field of love and dreams, something they were both building for their descendants and the descendants of their descendants. When their lungs began to scream for air they separated and her flushed cheeks and slightly swollen lips flashed him a smile the length of the river Nile, Eva quiet as she played with the wrap that her papá had her in. Her green bulging eyes caught sight of a golden butterfly that crowded around the couple for a few minutes before it landed on her tiny closed fists; she stared at the insect but didn’t try to touch it or screamed in delight as she usually did, there was something inherently calming about the little thing that made Eva simply enjoy having it around as her parents talked. Then her wings touched her skin and it vanished into a mist of golden ashes that neither Alma nor Mariano saw but which Eva clung to, the blurry image of a tall man with brown kind eyes appearing in front of her, kneeling on the floor, leaving an invisible kiss on her cheek before he was gone in the blink of an eye.

-I never knew I needed this until today. What you’ve done to me and for me… I’m so grateful I can call you my wife and we can build something important together. If this is what you’ve done for our first anniversary I can’t wait to see what you have planned for our twentieth.

-Maybe we’ll be sending our little one out into the world to make herself a woman of great future so she can go around telling everyone how wonderful her papá is and how proud he is of her. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

-Yes, but I’d rather keep her close for some time yet, I’m not quite ready to see her become a woman like you, strong, kind, with very clear ideas of what she wants, stubborn sometimes and so incredibly beautiful. It’s a lovely idea for our twentieth anniversary but I’d prefer something else, I want to keep my Madrigal ladies with me for a little while more.

-We are not going anywhere, I can promise you that cariño. It takes more than some psychopaths and a war to destroy me and as long as I’m around and you are her father Eva will be safe from the aches and pains of the world. I have one more surprise and I know we just got to town but we have to go back to Casita for it, do you mind?

-Not at all, it’s a wonderful day and our little bean likes to see the birds, don’t you bichito? yes you do, of course you do. - He tickled her chubby belly a few times, her loud contagious laughs echoing through the air as they turned round and went back up the path. Thye could have wiated to head down to town, it had been stupid and rushed, she could have showed him the other gift first, but for some reason she had wanted to show him the mural instead, something in the back of her head told her that she had to do things the wrong way around. As they approached the last slope and Casita’s roof began to show up Alma crossed her fingers.

-I’m warning you, it took a lot of convincing and I’m not quite sure Casita actually did what I asked her, so don’t be too disappointed if I’ve made us go back for no reason. She can be very picky and she’s still upset about the wall incident with Isabela and her explosive plants.

-You tried, that’s all that matters. We can use the trip to pick a little hat for Eva, don’t want her to get sunburns.

-Are you sure you wouldn't mind? I’m literally telling you that I might not be able to give you your present if Casita is still angry at me.

-Caramelito, being in the mural is more than I ever expected and it’s the best present I’ve ever been given. I don’t mind. The music box I gave you, feels… small, in a way.

-Oh, no seas así, no digas eso. I love the box, I’ve never been given a present like that, Pedro couldn't afford such things. Toquemos madera. - she was one second away from starting to bite her nails, or pulling her hair, the front doors just a few feet away and wide open but no one in the courtyard. She prayed in silence for Casita to be on good terms with her again. She ran up to the house, whispered a soft plea and knocked on the doorframe, the doors closing as she moved back a couple of feet and she shut her eyes. She didn’t want to see the disappointment on his face if the house didn’t reveal what she really hoped and prayed would be good news. - Remember what I said, Mariano, don’t be upset, I don’t know if… I’m sorry.

-Sorry? This is what you’ve convinced her to do? You can’t be serious.

-I don’t know what else to say, I tried, I really did, but she’s the most stubborn house I’ve ever met! I didn’t think she would actually not listen to me.

-What are you talking about?

-¿De qué estás hablando tú? - she couldn’t believe her eyes, as soon as she opened them she saw that she was face to face with Mariano and practically two metres away from the entryway, but on the wooden door the carvings of the usual members of her family remained the same with the only addition of the handsome form of Mariano. Next to Alma and covering Isabela partially his figure stared back at him, the only person in the entire glowing door that was touching another one, his arm behind Alma’s back with his right hand resting on her shoulder, his smile matching the one he had right now. The house had kept her hanging on by a thread for weeks only to actually do what she had asked, she would have to get her brand new skirting boards for this. - Dios, me ha hecho caso.

-Of course she has. You really want to send me the message that I belong, don’t you?

-I know how hard it must have been not having parents, my children had me but you only had your abuela, and she did it on her own, Mateo could have helped and yet she refused. You belong to our family, to our world and you won’t ever feel like this is not your place. When the time comes for Eva to know who her family is you’ll be there to tell her, and I trust your judgement to explain that when you felt you had no home your wife gave you a reason to have one.

-I always thought that I would marry into the Madrigal’s but that I would never be fully accepted because I was an orphan with nothing but my abuela and I suppose that my name, I didn’t think I was worthy of you or anyone for that matter, but I’m in your family tree, in the mural and in the front door, where everyone can see, and I say, let them talk, let them think whatever the want, I have you and my name in our mailbox.

-I shall drink to that tonight, when I show you just how much I love you and how much of a Madrigal you are. We are doing good, Mariano, we have an understanding that no one can take from us. Feliz aniversario amor. - it felt like the dawn of a new life, he had grown with Rosa and had been jealous of those kids that could run home to their siblings and parents while he had to go back to an empty house or be left there when his abuela had to go to work, he had been alone for such a long time he couldn’t fully understand yet how it felt to finally belong, but something told him he had all the time in the world to figure it out. His lips gave her a short peck, Eva had grown tired of the lack of attention and was beginning to scream and bounce like Juancho, the coffee kid. -Do you want to go down by the lake with our daughter, Mariano Madrigal? I think she has enough energy accumulated to power an entire country

-I would very much like to spend our anniversary like that. - she took a few steps towards the doors but they didn’t open and her ears weren’t picking any noise coming from behind, looking over her shoulder she could see Mariano still looking straight at the green gates as if he couldn’t believe his luck. She stretched her arm towards him, waiting, asking him a question that once upon a time would have just been words, now it meant everything to him. With no hesitation he took her hand and both walked inside Casita.

-Shall we go home?

#alma madrigal #abuela madrigal #encanto #dolores madrigal #bruno magridal #julieta madrigal #pepa madrigal #mariano guzman #señora guzmán #disney

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aggieharkness · 2 years

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Hello! My first Encanto fanfic has been finished, titled "Hay que encontrar su propio futuro". It's been a wonderful journey writing with you and for you, so if anyone wants to go and check it out, although I also post the individual chapters here, you are more than welcome.

Thank you so much for your support and I hope that we see each other soon with new side stories or continuations, we shall see. Nevertheless enjoy!!

#alma madrigal #abuela madrigal #encanto #julieta madrigal #bruno magridal #pepa madrigal #dolores madrigal #mariano guzman #señora guzmán #disney

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aggieharkness · 2 years

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Hay que encontrar su propio futuro

a/n: At last I'm back!! I hope I haven't kept you waiting for too long, but I'm afraid that I've had a lot of things to take care of and I've been multitasking as best as I could. About the chapter, it's the longest one yet, and it seems fair to me that it should be such length being the second to last chapter in this story. WARNING, IT CONTAINS SMUT, you don't have to read it if you don't want to, it's right at the end, you can jump it. As always if there's anything you would like me to change or add or maybe even write something for you I'm here. Enjoy the chapter!! :) I'm Spanish so I used expressions from my own language. I'm afraid I don't know Colombian ones so I had to work with the ones that I know. If there are any Colombians out there that would prefer for me to change what I have written I would very gladly do it, but even so, I hope you like the ones I have used.

warning: age difference, sexual content (smut), past use of alcohol. Most importantly no Alma Madrigal bashing, i love this woman.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 16

Hay que encontrar su propio futuro

The emotions of the day were finally spiralling inside her head making her slightly dizzy but in overall the most excited she had been in her life, she just couldn’t stop grinning like a maniac at the simple thought that she had just got married to the second man of her dreams. It started dawning on her as they were walking towards the graveyard just how beautiful the church had looked, she hadn’t been paying attention at all to the way the sun seemed to just know how to come through the stained glasses projecting the colours of the rainbow over the altar and the baroque style wood carvings that rested on their bases, Virgin Mary looking with eternal tears rolling down her cheeks how a new bride set foot in her home, the figure of Jesus with his extended arms blessing those in attendance. Maybe her brain hadn’t registered it but the air around them was filled with thousand upon thousands of sweet smells, perfumes, aftershaves, baby powders but they all seemed to be just soft tones among the lilies that Isabela had grown inside the Church, fireflies and beautiful small blue birds flying over their heads with soft buzzings and careful choir songs that seemed to fit perfectly with the organ. It really had been a sight to see but she had just been so preoccupied with getting to the altar in one piece without tripping or falling or letting Bruno take her down if he bent his ankle that she hadn’t even paid any conscious attention. Yet the image would always be engraved in her mind like the dream wedding she had never known she needed nor wanted.

Another little detail she only realised had happened right under their noses as they closed the gates of the cemetery and a single white butterfly landed on the hands of the angel statue, was that as they had left the church with the candle burning bright in their hands a flock of butterflies seemed to have appeared out of the blue and in a cloud of the golden little insects they had blown the flame and shared their first official kiss as a married couple, their little wings moving in the evening breeze high in the air until there was nothing left of them except for their gentle humming in everyone's ears like whispers in an unknown language that want to tell a story but can’t. Little things she only seemed to see now that metaphorically and literally speaking, the veil had been lifted off her eyes; no more having to worry about whether things would work out, or if they were meant to be together, whether someone would suddenly stand up and object as she had feared when the priest had pronounced those words, booming against the church walls, but as much as the sour angry faces of a few young girls spoke volumes of how they felt and what they thought of this whole things they remained seated and in relative silence. Another win for Alma.

It really had been a rollercoaster of emotions and she was right in the peak of it all, not that she was complaining, all the worry and absolute fear had made way for this unmeasurable amount of love, happiness and trust that made her thrive, just as Isa had said, like grapes on a vine. With a quiet I love you to the grave of her Pedro she stood up and held out her hand for Mariano, the veil wrapping itself around her waist as the wind blew around her, strands of hair framing her face. He was sure he had died and gone to heaven, she couldn’t just be standing there with the sun directly behind her giving her a most deserved halo of magnificence and holiness, but as if she were his guardian angel he stepped forward and interlaced his fingers with hers letting her take the lead for him, walking in slow steps towards the entrance, closing the gates and resuming their trek towards Casita. Today the world seemed a happier place, the colours more vibrant and everyone and everything that surrounded them even more beautiful than it already was, the dark memories that had once clouded their minds and lives gone, maybe not forever but they were glad it was at least for the time being. They could have easily escaped town, remained alone, hiding in the forest or even in the fields up in the mountains but it was visible in her eyes that she wanted to share this moment with her family for as long as she saw fit and he knew now that he would do anything, be her slave if she so desired, because even after all the things he had done wrong she had overlooked it all and let him have her, such trust couldn’t ever be broken and he would make sure to be the man she deserved, the man he wanted to be for both her and himself. It was about time he started looking in the mirror and instead of seeing a child he met the reflection of a real man who shared his thoughts and dreams with her, cried in her shoulder when things got too much or when something happened not expecting her to do anything but just be there, a man who woke up in the morning and as he turned his head he thanked heaven above and everyone down on land that he had the opportunity to share a bed with a friend, a companion, a wife and a soulmate.

The music was already playing, travelling down the path as they crossed the bridge; they hadn't even waited for them to start the party, outrageous! There really was no reason for Alma and Mariano to get mad, they had managed to spend a few minutes in the company of each other without being disturbed so the guests could have already cut the cake for them for all they cared. By the front garden with the doors wide open Dolores was directing people to move to one side or the other. The band stopped playing as they reached the curve, Casita waving her windows at them while Dolores stood in front of a human hallway giving everyone the thumbs up before she stepped aside and the bridal march began to play, guests and family clapping their hands excitedly at the couple. Alma wanted to die, this was just too much for her, she hadn’t been the main character of such a thing in her life and having everyone stare at her, thousands of eyes glued to her form made her turn the same shade as Dolore’s hibiscus flower. To save the day Mariano squeezed her hand pulling her closer as they began to walk towards the house, more rice and petals falling on their heads courtesy of Camilo and a way too happy Isabela, she had let go of that wonderful control she had over her powers, cacti and marmalade bushes sprouting from the floor around her and her family, one accidentally showing up right under her father’s foot, not that Agustín even complained as the spikes pierced his shoe, his smile only turned a little tighter and his clapping a bit more erratic; there would time for Juli to heal him once the party fully began.

Tables had been placed all around the courtyard, living room and dining room, beautiful white table cloths covering them. Some of the desks were slightly worn while others were hanging on by a discrete book that had been placed underneath their legs, the wobbliness gone for the time being; to Alma though the house looked impeccable, rows of magnificent flowers on the landing and bannister, vines filled with little dragonflies, fireflies and butterflies falling from the evening sky like a rain of colours and sounds, the lights from the little insects mixing with that of the lamps that hung from the ceiling projecting a soft glow. The tiles had even changed colour to a beautiful pale grey with a big dancing floor in the middle of the room made out of red squares so as not to clash with the beauty and delicate atmosphere that enfolded the house. What surprised the couple most was the absolute hugemongous display of dishes that rested on the tables, from the most simple plates of arepas and buñuelos, courtesy of Rosa and Julieta, to the most complicated or exquisite ones such as the gigantic bowl of Mondongo and the trays of carne Oreada that filled the space with the sweet smell of herbs and species with which the meat was cooked. Her eyes jumped from the Carimañolas to la Posta Negra to the Ceviche wondering how in hell her daughter had made all of this when she had hardly been in the kitchen.

Behind her Juli, Rosa, Sofía and the grocers, Alejandro, highed five proud of their work because oblivious to the whole situation, these four angels had done the entire catering for the wedding in between Rosa’s place and Sofias’, learning from each other dishes they had never even tried, cooking until exhaustion with only the desserts left for the said day. They had come up with this wonderful idea after they realised Julieta wouldn’t be able to use her own kitchen and there was no way she would not cook for her mother’s wedding but it wasn’t until Rosa showed up with two aprons and the recently returned Sofia that Juli began to relax in the foreign kitchen watching in silence and awe how the other woman fried the bananas for the Patacones, pressing them flat when they barely had been taken out of the pan only to put them back without a single blister even though there was oil in her palms. The surprise though came from the young girl, they already knew Sofia was handy with the knife, she was the new butcher for a reason, but they hadn’t taken her for a chef; her hands sliced through the fish for the Patarasca with meticulous care, bathing the skin in herbs and spices before wrapping it in the leaves of the banana tree Rosa had in her back garden to take later to the grill to cook. There wasn’t much of each dish but there were a lot of them to choose from so as they let ones marinate for a few days they would cook others and put them in the ice box until they were ready to be served, leaving the most complicated ones for last so they wouldn’t go to waste if another heatwave came or one of the ice boxes decided to give up on them.

Alejandro added the last bit to the menu when he offered his recipe for Cholado to the ladies, that was the beginning of a forty hour contract without salary nor actual papers to sign, but he was very happy to assist since he would be able to cook for once and not his wife, the poor thing was horrible in the kitchen but she insisted on doing this for him since he worked all day at the store; for once he would be able to go to bed without wondering if he would be fine in the morning. The pantry in Sofia’s house was filled in less than two days with blocks of ice and fruits, coconut pie after coconut pie occupying the spaces in her shelves, trays of the delicious chocolate Alfajores cooling in between them, two gorgeous Meregones resting on top of two big blocks ready to be admired as the raspberry juice fell in between the strawberries staining softly the merengue. He admitted to having wanted to be a baker his entire life, but that Lucia, his wife, had a thing for fruits so he became the grocers so she would have unlimited fruits all year round. Discreetly they had slipped all the food into Casita very early in the morning without anyone noticing, not even Camilo and had rushed up to set the tables with Luisa’s help to bring it all out before the guests began to arrive after the ceremony had concluded, the only thing remaining in the kitchen being the Cholados so the ice wouldn’t melt, but a big sign in one Casitas’ columns spoke of a delicious dessert that waited in the ice box for anyone interested.

Everything looked delicious and perfect but all of it was a bit too much for Alma, this whole display was for them both, an entire lifetime of grievances and rough times finally meeting with some well deserved recognition; they were giving her back all she had given to them in the last fifty years and her heart just couldn’t take all this kindness. Tears were threatening to fall, Mariano’s hands shooting towards her face when he noticed asking her if she was alright, if she needed a glass of water to which she shook her head, sniffling half her lungs back into her body. Dolores heard the quiet words between them and upon hearing her abuela confide in her husband that she didn’t feel like she deserved such a wedding, that he did, but not her, the girl just couldn't take it and rushed to her, hugging the woman. If Dolores had said something Alma hadn’t quite heard it but it wasn’t necessary, the way she clung to her dress with her head resting on her shoulder spoke in silent screams that those nasty voices were trying to take over the happiest day of her life and she would not have it. With a kiss on top of the girls curls and a simple thank you everyone began to approach them with boxes and envelopes, presents for the newlyweds as the band sat back in one of the corners and began to play. All Alma got in return was a bright smile from Dolores before she headed towards her parents, the cloud of worry that had begun appearing on top of Pepa’s head vanishing in an explosion of rainbows once more. Of course by the door Isabela was prying the cactus off her father’s foot while Julieta waited patiently with an arepa in hand as if she did this everyday, chatting lightly with Rosa, the woman’s eyes never leaving the bleeding foot with a slight mask of apprehension on her face.

The surrealism of it all would have disturbed others, but of course Alma was more than used to this whole thing, it was her life after all and she had had to survive three five year olds with powers, there was nothing at this point that she could consider strange or weird in any way. Gift after gift the kitchen floor soon filled with boxes of the most unthinkable objects as Casita slid each present through the courtyard floor to the other room. Someone had gifted them a pair of matching scarfs, Mariano found it cute, but somebody else thought that it would be a necessity for the couple to have a rake as a wedding present, polished and everything and Alma really didn't have the heart to say no, she accepted it all with a smile and incredulous eyes as she watched it vanish into the kitchen. Others hadn't had time or hadn't decided on what to give them so they came up to the newlyweds with envelopes filled with maybe a few pesos. Mariano was the one who declined them, saving Alma the trouble of having to push these guests away, the excuse that he would provide for her by his own means sparkling a little flame in her heart, determination and maybe a bit of his pride mixing with the kind words. How stupid to think he would even consider taking such a thing as money from those who needed it more than them. Once the queue of guests slowed down enough for them to grab a couple of chairs Mariano scurried away for only a second to the drink stand for two cups of very cold lulada, sneaking a couple more squirts of vodka in his.

Seeing that his mother was alone at last and unsure for how long she would remain as such Bruno hurried her way with his present gently wrapped in a cloth. He hadn’t meant to tell his sisters but it had kind of slipped out one day when they had been arguing about what to get their mother and he had just simply said that there wasn’t any need for him to purchase one which led to questions, many questions, until under the pressure of Julieta’s rolling pin and Pepa’s thundering clouds he had confessed. The next second he had found himself surrounded by arms and loud voices asking him why the hell he hadn't told them sooner and what had been an almost death experience soon turned into a battle of tears and words as the three of them cried and mumbled things no one understood. Seeing Bruno from the corner of their eyes heading towards Alma both daughters rushed to him, hands shooting to grab his arms in excitement as they finally stood before her like three little kids who want to tell their mamá about something they’ve done and are very proud of.

-Are you alright? You have those faces… What have you done?

-Nothing! - Bruno and Pepa’s voices practically yelled in unison, an automatic response to her usual questions, and even after such a long time the power a raised eyebrow held over them surprised them three more than it did to Alma. The two rascals fell under the burning gaze of their mother, swearing on their lives they hadn’t done anything and if they had it had been each other, Pepa pointing with one finger towards Bruno’s chest while he pointed at her face.

-Don’t listen to these two, mamá. We just have a present for you.

-Julieta… Oh, niños, de verdad que no deberíais haberos molestado. There really was no need.

-Don’t worry, we didn’t spend a single peso, so you shouldn’t worry.

-You make us sound so cheap Bruno. Listen and learn, huevón… Mamá, our gift is just too special, too unique to have a price. We could even say that it would be worth every single peso in the entire universe and yet there would never be enough money. See Brunito? This is how you do it.

-Why couldn’t you have got lost in the forest when we were little?

-Pepa, Bruno, please, not today. Let’s give mamá the present and keep the fights to a minimum or I’m going to get angry.

In all of this Alma simply sat there watching in amusement how even after fifty years they were still children, siblings in full form and manner regardless of age and status in life; Pepa was married. Had three children and she still insults and tries to jump over Bruno every chance she gets, that says it all. The only thing Alma didn’t appreciate was the rude words that always found place in her children’s vocabulary, but she had given up on that a long time ago, there just wasn’t any chance whatsoever of getting Pepa or Bruno to stop insulting each other, she had learned to just play deaf to that and go with the flow, sort of speak. Both siblings stuck their tongues out to each other before Bruno turned back to his mother noticing for the first time in the entirety of the day that if Pepa or Julieta had waited to get married until they had been Alma’s age he might be looking at a perfect reflection of both his sisters; the nose, the eyes, the cheeks, every single inch of his mother’s face was sculpted into his sisters, each unique in features and yet carbon copies of Alma. It hadn’t really dawned on him that they were not only their father’s children, but Alma’s as well. It struck her as a bit odd even for her son the way he seemed to be staring at her for just a few seconds before Julieta gave him a gentle push that woke him up from his daydreaming, the rectangular cloth covered object was placed on her lap, Bruno’s hands squeezing Alma’s before he stepped back. It really was exciting, absolutely thrilling to think her children had got her something, and even if it was horrid, like a clay sculpture or a painting she would hang it in her room, Mariano would have no say in that, but as her fingers slowly unwrapped the present a soft emerald glow came through the holes of the fabric until the vision was in perfect view for her and the guests.

The music slowed down somewhat, the previous loud voices and laughs becoming quiet whispers as they stared at Alma and the vision. Bruno was sure they were wondering why he would give her a bad omen on her wedding day, to his own mother, but all the rumours and quiet voices around them were nothing to him as he watched with absolute pride the smile that lightened up her face. It was worth all the pain and suffering he had ever gone through with his gift to see a genuine smile after all this time, one that made all of the bad things as little as a pebble. The cold emerald tablet underneath her fingertips felt surreal to her and yet she couldn’t stop looking, eyes glued to the shape of her husband holding the candle in between their hands, the wave of butterflies she hadn’t noticed in real life swimming around them with their pale green wings. Mariano had noticed the silence that had enveloped the room just as he was putting the jar back on the table, picking both glasses up, but the anxiety of these quiet whispers made him turn around to see Alma and her children stare at something in her hands. His steps were hurried and in his attempt to get to her he almost dropped their drinks but when he got there he saw it all from over her shoulder, a sweet happy smile breaking his previous worried features.

-I don’t want you to get mad, but I had this when you and Mariano argued and well, let’s just say that there might have been another outcome that thankfully never will be and… yeah, well… Here is… my vision.

-What he means mamá, - Pepa rolled her eyes at him before she took the spotlight and with nervous rainbows shooting from above her head she rephrased his not very on point words. - is that he had a vision and it changed when you two got back together and he kept it a secret from everyone so he could surprise you with this wonderful glimpse of your future and you know Bruno’s visions, they always come true.

-We were very worried it might follow the other path, but at last love prevails, as it always does. - brown eyes searched for Agustín in between the sea of people, the man softly nodding at his wife before her eyes returned to her mother’s. - And this moment is for you to keep forever, to look at when you’ve argued or when you think that things are not meant to be, that you made a mistake. Bruno saw it, we saw it, and you made it true on your own. With some help from Mariano, as well. - he chuckled behind Alma, his head resting on her shoulder now that he was crouching with the drinks still safely in his hands.

-That’s what I was trying to say, but you know that I’m not very good at explaining myself. I could make myself think this is a telenovela, but it would probably come out far too dramatic and you like me being… well, me, with my weird habits… so, si, tuve esta visión y bueno, no es tan mala, creo

-Bruno, mi niño, gracias. This means the world to me, to us, y estoy muy orgullosa de ti. De vosotras también, you are my girls and what you’ve done for me in all these years it's worth more than just a weak thank you, but it’s the only way I can express it. Thank you, to you three for saving me when you were just babies, for making me laugh, for bringing me joy, for existing. I love you with my entire being and I will frame this vision and hang it up in my room.

Their room, Mariano couldn’t help but let his mind drift briefly to the fact that her room was now their room, her home was their home, her life was now their life and he couldn’t be happier to share something as important as this with someone as wonderful as her. After this present no one else dared give them directly to the couple, the simply left them on the floor giving Casita direct instructions to put them with the rest, which also gave them a break from the constant bickering and light conversations they had had to engage in with practically the entire village, the food finally getting tasted. Alma would have to give her congratulations to those chefs that had made this possible and would enquire about it tomorrow to Julieta but as for today she filled her belly with spoonfuls of the wonderful dishes, letting the coolness of the lulada bathe her overheated body with a wave of relief, there were too many people and too much heat, it was a miracle no one had collapsed already. Mariano excused himself for a minute to fill his glass with some water in the kitchen only to find señor Hernandez sitting with a glass of rum watching something with a saddened smile. He was the jolliest person he had ever met, it was worrisome to see the older man so… defeated sitting at the kitchen table.

-One never expects to fall in love so late in life - Mariano had barely set foot in the kitchen when Mateo started speaking without bothering to look at him, he was far too focused on whatever or whoever he was staring at. - but here we are and I’m very happy for you. It’s a shame to know that an invisible wall stands between two people when they’ve wanted more since they were young.

-Mateo?

-Would you have stepped aside if Alma had asked you to?

-What a question… I mean… Yes, I believe I would, why? What’s brought this on?

-I had someone in my life once, it’s not your wife, don’t worry, but she couldn’t leave her family, and I knew there would never be an opportunity for us so I let her be because she means so much to me that I don’t even think I could stand to be one street apart from her. - Mariano’s eyes searched for the spot where Mateo’s were glued to, of course he didn’t think his own flesh and blood would be at the end of the invisible string. Rosa was sitting over some cushions on the floor with Antonio and a few more children around her, waving her arms in the air and making faces at the kids earning rich laughs.

-Since when has this been a thing?

-It has never been Mariano, that’s the problem. We wanted it but you were just a baby and your parents had just left, you were her entire life and there just wasn’t room for me. Don’t think I hate you for it, you are her everything, but I wish I could have been something more than just the old tailor to you.

-You know she’s never considered anyone in like… ever. She often spoke of a man who she loved dearly and I thought it was my abuelo, but the way she described him… She has never forgotten you.

-I’m glad, but well, moping around won’t change anything and I don’t want to spoil your day.

-You are not. Mateo, were you that secret admirer who sent her flowers and chocolates on her birthday and who accompanied her to the graveyard on her anniversary and on my abuelo's birthday although he’s not buried there? Are you that person?

-We started doing it before you were born so she could spend a day with her own thoughts and pain and we just never stopped. That’s as close as we’ve been in twenty years or more.

-I only have one thing to say to you. I’m married now and she has given up too much for me already. Give it a go, she has never stopped talking about you and I’m sure she has never stopped loving you. Patience is the key to everything and you have been patient enough.

-What if she doesn’t want me?

-What if she does? - strangely enough Mariano wasn’t worried about this whole side story he had lived through without knowing, Mateo was a kind gentle man and he couldn’t think of one reason why his abuela didn’t deserve the happiness he now shared with the love of his life. - Go get her Mateo, she’s waiting, you don’t see it, but she’s waiting.

It was very brief, but when he saw Rosa look up, only for a few seconds, winking at him in that saucy way of hers before she returned all her attention to the children, it lightened Mateo’s mood. Mariano had just left with his glass full of water so he didn’t see how the older man had gulped down his entire glass of rum to head her way knowing perfectly well his knees and back would bother the hell out of him tomorrow, but he still asked if he could join them grinning gently at the children, to which a very pleased looking Rosa nodded. It had been a rather unexpected conversation but Mariano couldn’t quite say he was disappointed, he wanted his abuela to be happy and now that he wouldn’t be with her at home at all times he wanted to make sure she was accompanied, that she had someone by her side and if Mateo was meant to be that person, partially chosen by Rosa herself, he would keep quiet and let it all happen, after all she had let him marry Alma, he couldn’t take her chance at happiness away. Upon returning to the courtyard he saw that Julieta was talking with her mother and both seemed serious, it unsettled him; his steps hurried their way in case something had happened but when he reached them Julieta was quick to explain that they were just going to bring the cake out for them to cut since people craved to party and get a bit drunk. In his mind the idea sounded too familiar and not very fun really, but suddenly a little voice in his head spoke saying that the sooner they got the first dance out of the way it would be easier for the guests to let them be, the opportunity to be alone for more than just a few minutes shining in his eyes as soon as the voice fell silent again. He agreed instantly startling Alma a bit with his excitement but she was rather pleased with it, having an entire village on your back even on your wedding day was tiresome and she just wanted to be in a quiet place with her husband; what a strange sensation it was to have someone to call husband after such a long time, it was exciting, empowering in a weird sort of way and she adored every minute of it. Casita brought a free table, where she had found it? no idea, to the middle of the dance floor, grabbing the attention of everyone as Julieta quickly scurried away to get the dessert from the ice box, Felix bringing a sword out of Lord knows where for the couple to use. Alma wasn’t fond of them, at all, they were linked to something horrible for her, but she had assured her children when they had discussed this bit in particular, that she would be fine; Pepa had even suggested using a normal kitchen knife. She could handle it for a brief period of time, no need to get all worked up over something as simple as it was to lift a sword.

The dessert wasn’t the most beautiful thing in the universe, there was no buttercream around it or gorgeous designs made out of fondant, it was a simple dark fruit cake soaked in red wine, another tradition that to be honest the adults enjoyed quite a lot, the children not so much since there was not a single ounce of chocolate in it. The band stopped playing as Julieta carefully placed the cake on top of the table ussering her mother and Mariano to grab the sword. Alma’s hands were shaking terribly, so much that she feared she might drop the weapon; Mariano noticed the hesitance and the way her shoulders tensed when her hands wrapped around the grip, so he rushed to cover her unsteady hands with his own, guiding her arms to lift the sword, both watching as it flawlessly sliced through the sponge cake and layers of fruit in between, the blade tainted with a soft red colour because of the wine and the fruits. A round of applause followed it, Felix rushing to take the weapon from their hands once two pieces had been cut, no need to let Alma suffer for more than necessary. It felt nice to have it taken from her, she had watched in absolute horror when her daughters had cut their own cakes, heart racing and hammering against her ribs, palms sweaty, but somehow it helped to have it in her own hands, she realised that as deadly as it could be it could also be sort of beautiful and well, she could live with this, she had no intention after all of holding another one in what was left of her life. She raised her slice in the air for Mariano to bite into amused as his lips became a lovely shade of red, maybe she ought to buy him some gloss or a lipstick in that colour, before he offered her his own; she didn’t doubt it and took a bite out of the cake tasting the sweetness of the fruits mixing with the texture of the sponge cake and the sourness of the wine, a strange and yet wonderful dance of flavours in their mouths. Then something took over Alma and instead of handing him a napkin she stood on the tips of her toes and pressed her mouth to his, her tongue running over his lips to lick him clean as discreetly as she could and to see how wonderful he tasted, how different the flavours might be if they came from him.

With what was left of their slices returned to a side of the plate Julieta quickly took the cake to the kitchen, bringing out a big chocolate one with the help of Rosa, this one covered in white buttercream with lovely flowers made out of sugar and fondant butterflies decorating what otherwise would be a very simple cake, explaining in loud voices that the one that contained wine one was in the kitchen for whoever might want it, Rosa had to make it clear that it was for adults only since through the corner of her eye she saw Camilo heading to the kitchen. Juli’s work had been cut out for her when in less than a second a line of little children seemed to form behind her, their sparkling eyes begging for some of the delicious chocolate cake that stood proudly and beautiful on the table. It really was no problem whatsoever but it bothered her a bit that from her spot on the side of the room she wouldn’t be able to see her mother’s first dance; Isabela noticed the disappointed look on her mother's face as she followed with her big brown eyes the form of Alma who approached the band with her husband following her like a happy puppy. He really would live out in the streets as happy as a child with new shoes as long as Alma was around him. The girl made her way to her mother, her hands resting on Julieta’s shoulders while she flashed her a soft smile in both understanding and gratitude; she could do her mother’s job for a while and let Juli enjoy herself for once, so after she picked the knife from her hands Isabela pushed her towards her father so they could relish each other’s company.

From a plate next to the dance floor the newlyweds took two shot glasses filled with aguardiente, downing them in under a second before Mariano grabbed her hand and took her to the middle of the room. The first notes of a waltz began to play, her hands travelling up his arms to his shoulders while his rested gently on her waist; this wasn’t how you danced this sort of music but they couldn’t care less, moving from side to side softly, swaying to the music with their eyes locked onto each other, the world around them simply vanishing, not even remaining as background scenery. To them both they were dancing in between clouds, in between the soft rays of pinks and purples with which dusk bathed their minds and skins glowing under the sun’s soft waves of colours, the music was almost just background noise in favour of the wonderful harmony of their hearts beating together. They were floating in heaven. Julieta doubted for a minute but when she saw her sister resting her head on her husband’s shoulder as with melting eyes she followed their mother’s steps over the dark tiles, Julieta pulled Gus towards the dance floor letting him guide her as best he knew to the sound of the music. His left hand rested on her waist, hers on his shoulder and pressed between them their right ones were laced with each other’s as their feet moved without even telling them to; it had been a long time since they had shared just a lovely moment as this with her blue flat alpargatas almost levitating, the skirt of her blue dress wrapping around Agustín’s legs over his dark blue pants, her long curly hair cascading over her shoulder and back tickling his fingers. Pepa and Felix followed just a few seconds later, their excited steps not really matching a waltz either but they had a way of living of their own, her yellow dress twirling around her with her braid dancing over her shoulders.

Unconsciously there were accompanying their mother and providing the couple with some uncalled for privacy, stealing their spotlight a bit leaving them as secondary characters in the story of their lives, and as much as they would later appreciated it there wasn’t really any need for her children to provide them with anything, they were in a world of their own where when the music stopped they didn’t notice and continued to sway along a precious silence that in their universe of unending beauty was like the voices of angels singing; Pepa had to break the spell and tap them on the shoulder telling them the dance had finished when after one of Felix’s last twirls she saw them still moving from side to side. In between the masses Mateo couldn’t stop looking at the clear want in Rosa’s eyes, he knew just how much she loved to dance, but no one wants to ask an older person when they have young people to choose from and so as soon as the next song began and Alma and Mariano had retired to their chairs he took the opportunity and with confident steps he trotted towards her, stretching his hand while raising one of his eyebrow in a silent question. His heart hammered against his ribs and if he hadn’t known that he was as healthy as a horse he would have mistaken it for a heart attack, but the feeling of her skin on the palm of his hands as she took it and let him guide her to the dance floor gave him another burst of life and lifted twenty years off his shoulders.

-Mariano, why are you smiling like that? - Alma’s eyes followed the trajectory of her husband’s to see the older couple dancing and laughing, oblivious to the eyes that observed them and the glances people were stealing. - Have you done something?

-No, not really. I just opened a door to someone, metaphorically speaking of course.

-And do you think that this person is going to like what’s on the other side of this metaphorical door?

-He’s been in love for an entire lifetime with who’s on the other side, I simply told him that he’s been patient enough.

-Are you okay with this? She’s your family and it would be horrid to watch her heart break. - they really fit together, in absolute sync with each other, steps matching, their smiles as bright as the sun, hands laced together as if they had been doing this for a hundred years, how could Mateo hurt Rosa when she was the reason he still breathed?

-They are only returning to each other after a rather long break, he won’t hurt her, I know it, he’s had twenty three years to grow without her, let's give them twenty years together.

She hoped to have twenty years with her husband as well. This is what she meant by the different air that she could feel around Mariano, he was maturing, growing to be a man and she found it much sexier than to have an idiot as a partner like some of the young girls nowadays seemed to be attracted to. The songs the band were playing now were much more party-like, the rythme contagious from the couples that were on the dance floor to those that were joining them, skirts twirling and feet practically speeding around the tiles, their voices providing a chorus to the singers in the band. Now, this is what people wanted, drinks and food flying over heads to get to the little groups of people that were gossiping in the sides and those who were getting their energy up to last all night or for as long as their bodies would allow them to. Pepa took Antonio to his room when things began to get a little heated, besides the boy was past his bedtime and was falling asleep on his mother’s arms as she took him upstairs, it was way past ten, time really did move fast when one is having fun. As the sounds and noises became louder Alma searched through the crowd for Dolores, the poor girl must have been going through hell but when she found Dolore’s red dress she noticed that she was wearing the earmuffs Mirabel had made for her and was chatting with a boy, a lovely young thing of dark features with sparkling blue eyes and hair short and wavy, and the girl did seemed rather happy and content with the conversation at the moment; jolly good for her. Everything was going swimmingly with Mariano taking her out to the dance floor every once in a while, her feet aching somewhat from the pretty but maybe slightly uncomfortable shoes but she fared well, she was used to achy feet and it didn’t stop her from enjoying herself as much as she liked.

It wasn’t until she saw one of the little girls trying to grab her bouquet that she realised most of the children were probably waiting for her to throw it to go home, some hadn’t been able to wait and now laid asleep on the living room couch with Mirabel and Luisa keeping an eye on them; she bent towards Mariano and whispered the idea to him to which he quickly agreed and stood up calling out all the ladies and gents in the room to get ready for Alma’s unique bouquet was about to be thrown. Just in time because Pepa practically jumped off the staircase to get to the mass of women and some few men that stood in the courtyard elbowing each other and pushing daughters to the front lines. Of course it all happened in slow motion; Alma picked the flowers from the table behind her and turned her back to the people, Mariano smiling encouragingly as she swayed the bouquet up and down before her hands let go and it flew backwards over the tiles towards the people, arms raising up in the air to grab it. Because everyone was pushing each other and trying to get to the front, Rosa accidentally ended up being thrown into the hungry sea of people just as the flowers' trajectory began to descend, landing right on her hands in the most unexpected and unclimaxing way ever. Dolores and Luisa came running to her congratulating her far happier about it than Rosa herself, the rest of women throwing dirty and murderous glances at them as if it had all been planned, but fate seemed to have another plan now that Alma and Mariano were together, it had to find another victim, sort of speak. Julieta laughed uncontrollably at the way Pepa pouted and complained that she was the tallest that she should have got her own mother’s bouquet, Bruno behind her imitating the redhead’s facial expressions, his youngest sister not bothering to listen to the voice of reason dressed in blue that reminded her she was already married.

Taking advantage of the fact that everyone was already up and more than willing to win another round of games, they decided they would do the equivalent to throwing the bouquet but for men and all those who wanted to participate would have to take a shoe off and put it underneath Alma’s dress; of course Isabela was not very fond of the idea of any man lifting her abuela’s dress and she was quick to offer herself as the link between the shoe and the underneath of Alma’s garment. One by one about twenty men handed Isa their shoes, some as old as her abuela thinking they might get a chance with her if Mariano left or with the other widows or renowned bachelorettes in the village, others as young as the girl forced by their eager mothers. Mariano sneaked number twenty one at the speed of light without anyone noticing and if they did they kept quiet about it, it had taken a lot of convincing from his part to let anyone butcher this chance; it had taken far too much time for Mariano to get the man to agree to just try, to let life decide if they should be together or not and that he wouldn’t regret it at all. Once everyone’s shoes were neatly placed and Isa gave her the thumbs up she began to twirl, about four times in total, squatting over the tiles as soon as she finished the last one with her hands shooting under the hem to grab the closest shoe. A pristine black moccasin was lifted high above her head, questioning glances directed to the unknown shoe until Mateo came from behind a table and kindly asked for it and beaming with delight she gave it to him not before winking and stepping off the circle of shoes with the help of Isabela. Of course, Mariano had learned from the best and was playing matchmaker on his own abuela, what a pro. From her spot and with the flowers still in her hand Rosa watched Mateo put his shoe back on before he headed her way, the disappointed guests returning shortly to their loud conversations and drinking games with the band playing those songs that returned everyone to the dance floor.

This was his moment, there wouldn’t be a better chance for him and he wasn’t going to sit and simply watch her walk by anymore, he would pull his pants up to his armpits, buckle up and finally have the balls to do what he’s waited twenty three years for. He wouldn’t spend another day of what ifs. His hand didn’t find any resistance from her when he laced his fingers with hers and pulled her aside and into the kitchen where he finally wrapped his arms around her waist until she was pressed against his chest, away from prying eyes. His scent of oranges and chocolate filled her lungs in familiarity, her shocked body tense for a few seconds until her arms encircled his neck, her face hiding in the crook of his neck fitting perfectly. They had waited a lifetime for this little moment, the bouquet forgotten on the floor now that her hands grabbed onto the fabric of his linen shirt. Mateo was beginning to believe that saying that one wedding brings another. Still in the courtyard Mariano had watched his abuela get swept off her feet and couldn’t be happier, Alma’s lavender perfume bathing his senses when she rested her head on his shoulder, watching a little cloud hailing above her Pepa’s head, the little round balls of ice falling softly over her and Felix as they danced their feet away, Julieta and Agustín snuggling into each other's arms in the furthest edge of the dancing floor as if the world was their oyster. Near the front door Luisa and her girlfriend, a stunning short girl of amazing emerald eyes and unruly blond hair, shared a bowl of cholado while they talked and planned their future now that the prospect of living together partial time in a house of their own didn’t seem to Luisa like was pushing her family away, just learning to be with who she choose, free and her own beautiful self.

Mariano noticed after maybe twenty or thirty minutes that they had settled in a corner sipping lazily their glasses of lulada, no one seemed to even remember that this was their wedding reception, not that he was going to complain it felt wonderful not to have forty people staring�� endlessly as if Alma and himself held the answer to the meaning of life. Then an idea sparkled in his mind; as he stood up his suspicions that no one was paying them any attention were confirmed so he took Alma’s glass from her hands to which she obviously complained and pulled her up into a standing position. For a second she thought he might take her to the dance floor but when he began pulling her in the opposite direction it became rather too obvious that whatever was in that pretty little head of his was not what she had in her own, and so in hurried steps that drew a girlish giggle from Alma he took her to the kitchen and after making sure no one was following them, out into the garden. It was close to midnight by now and the sky above them was a velvet blanket the colour of the depths of the sea, a rich dark blue splashed with thousands of little stars that gleamed up high in between the nebulosas of red and white clouds, painted into the canvas of the sky by an invisible brush, blending with the rays of silvery moonlight that bathed the village. On the edge of the forests that stood around the house small little fireflies floated in circles almost as if they were lighting up a path for them now that they had escaped their own party and stood in the relative silence of the night. Today her perfume seemed to intoxicate him at all times, those deep lavender tones mixing with the vanilla that steamed of her skin, it was as if all his senses had multiplied and everything he felt, smelled or tasted was a thousand times more powerful, his eyes never leaving her form when he turned to look at her.

-Alma, do you trust me? - it took her by surprise she was sure he would mention something along the lines of what a wonderful party or maybe that she looked stunning in that dress although he had already said it like twenty times since they had left the church.

-Is this a trick question?

-No, I just want to know. Do you trust me?

-I think you’ve worked hard enough to earn my trust since that day when I woke up with you in my bed. - it might have indeed been a trick question if it weren’t for the look in his eyes, the way he was expecting her to answer in all truth and honesty. She had given it a lot of thought, and it couldn’t be denied that he had made mistakes but somehow he had learned from them, he had reassured her that he would never make them again and although she knew that, he would surely make new ones and they would argue about them, that’s just how life worked but she didn’t feel weary around him anymore, she didn’t feel as if she had no idea what she was meant to do with him. Deep down she had forgiven him for all those things the instant he had come back to her and apologised demanding absolutely nothing in return. - Yes, I trust you. Why do you want to know?

-Because I want to start this marriage knowing that what we have is true and real and that you won’t fear me. When we argued it was quite obvious you hadn’t let go of the incident in the kitchen and it hurt to know that you still held me accountable for that, which you have every right to do. I just needed to see and hear that you trust me as much as I trust you.

-Believe me, I do, you’ve outdone yourself in showing me every single day that you want to be better and that’s more than enough for me. I’ve given you my heart and I know you won’t break it.

-Such an important task.

-But you are the man for it. - his heart was about to burst in happiness, he had longed to hear those simple words in what felt like an eternity and would hold onto them until death took him.

-I have something I want to show you, it’s all the way in our special place so I hope you're up for a bit of a hike.

-Wearing this? Absolutely not.

-Would it change your mind if I said that I’ve cleared us a path so you won’t damage your dress? It really is a wonderful and beautiful garment and I most certainly wouldn't want it to end up with tears or stains.

-You think of everything, don’t you?

-I try. So what do you say, shall we go? - her eyes glanced back at the house glimpsing through the kitchen window people coming in and out laughing, joking and talking about trivial things, Pepa’s voice practically booming from within the courtyard announcing the start of “La hora loca” that most certainly wouldn't be just an hour, loud bouncy music echoing through the walls of Casita as the songs were chanted in the wrong keys and by people not gifted with the ability to sing, but at this point no one cared.

-Let’s go.

With her hand still wrapped in his they began to walk away from the house, after all no one was going to miss them if they left a bit earlier than intended. From her spot by the drinks stand Dolores smiled coily before taking a sip from her tea, she might know everything but it didn’t mean everyone around her had to know it as well; she bid her mother a goodnight, waved to the boy she had been talking to and retired for the night hearing in the distance her abuela’s laughs each time Mariano talked about the insane conversations he had had with some of the guests, to hear such a wonderful melody under all the ruckus of the party was as if her abuela had just come back to life after a long time hidden inside a dark room. The trek was not as bad as Alma remembered, maybe because they were not carrying entire bags of tiles or cement, or trying to get big trunks up a hill in between trees and bushes, there was just a lovely path under their feet without a single obstacle slowing them down and to be perfectly honest it was quite nice to walk like this. Around them the trees were getting thicker as they went higher and higher, the noises and music from the reception almost gone by then, and the veil she was still wearing beginning to sway in the breeze far too lively for her liking, the fear of it getting caught in a branch forcing her to unclip it and carry it in her free hand the rest of the way. They hadn’t brought candles, or any source of light for that matter, but the form in which the full moon shone brighter than ever over their heads was enough for them to keep walking through the silvery beams until they met the entrance to the cave. Mariano stopped her from entering when she was about to press her palm over the rock by pulling her softly towards him, his mouth close to her ear whispering for her to close her eyes; she did without hesitation and let him guide her through the darkness, smelling the water from the lake through the walls of the mountain cave, feeling the cool air hit her skin and listening intensely at the way the leaves were dancing in the night as her feet stepped over grass instead of stone.

Mariano gave her the green card after a minute but when her eyes opened she didn’t find a creepy valley in between mountains, she found a perfect piece of heaven in front of her, her heart skipping several beats. Small candles hanged from the trees branches by thin thread making them look almost as if they were levitating, bathing with a soft orange glow the grass underneath her feet, above their heads the night sky was filled with pink, blue, white and purple nebulas and galaxies that moved in slow motion millions of miles away from them and which still felt so close that she could almost touch them with her fingertips, the colours and silvery beams of moonlight casting paintings over the surface of the lake were its gentle ripples only helped them look even more real. As beautiful as it all was, her attention swifted rather quickly to her right side where an exquisite little cottage stood. Their home, finished up to the last nail and screw, its white wooden panels that insulated the inside decorated with gorgeous vines that run all the way up to the roof, the big windows letting her get a glimpse of the inside in the soft white glow of the moon, the front door painted in a beautiful emerald green inviting, waiting. The last time she had seen it there had been just so many things left to do, they had barely got the plumbing to work and she was sure they wouldn’t finish it until the summer of next year minimum but there it stood, beautiful and completed.

-Before you ask I had a little bit of help, and yes they promised not to come here and that they wouldn’t breathe a word about this place. This is my wedding gift to you, I know we don’t have to give each other presents but I wanted to do this for you.

-You even furnished it, why didn’t you tell me? How did you pay for everything?

-I got a job, I’m the new teacher at the school now that Señor Caballero is retiring.

-What? Since when? - she had heard the rumours that the old man was going to retire soon and that they had already found someone to be his substitute to teach music, but she would have never even considered her husband would be the one though.

-Maybe a couple of weeks. The kids won’t return until September so he’s been teaching me how his classes work, all the instruments he has and all that. I didn’t learn how to play the piano and the guitar for ten years not to use it. Besides, I have a wife now and I am going to provide for her.

-She doesn't need it, you know. - hearing him call her his wife set her body on fire, her heart hammering against her ribs and corset in absolute delight; she could spend the rest of her life hearing him call her his wife, it was as if she had been unconsciously waiting for this moment since she was born. When she spoke her next words her voice trembled a bit, her tone amused and joyful. -She has enough to get by.

-Of course I know, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to do it. She’s more than capable of getting a job if she wished and she has more money than I ever got paid but I will most definitely work for our family. Your children are more or less my children now Alma, your grandchildren are ours as well and I will work for every single one of them even if they are old enough to be my parents. We are a family, a weird one but a family nonetheless.

-What did I ever do to deserve a man like you?

-Exist.

She hadn’t noticed that with each sentence his body came closer and closer to hers until they were barely a few inches away from each other, his strong aftershave still clinging to his skin in waves of pine that with each breath overflowed her lungs; the gap between their bodies closed as Alma took his face in her hands and pulled him to her, lips meeting lips in a short and soft kiss with the fabric of her veil caressing his cheek.. If she dared to love him more she would explode, he just couldn’t carry on with this sort of thing or she would die of romantic overload one of this days but at the same time it was like a drug and she just couldn’t get enough, she had gone without this sort of thing for far too long and was going to give in to him every chance she got. She would be his shadow and the oxygen he breathed the same way he was hers, a match made in heaven and hell. The way his eyes seemed to look right through into her soul, the feeling of his fingers on her skin was more than she could handle, her knees going weak for a second before his strong arms lifted her high in the air until her entire weight rested on them. In surprise she quickly threw her arms around his neck, no need to land back on the floor and once she was secure and comfortable he began to walk to the front door. He had dreamt of this moment for months, he spent entire nights imagining how to carry her under the threshold of their home would feel like but the reality of it all was only now crashing onto him and he couldn’t be happier because at last he was carrying her to the home they had built together and where he planned to show her around kissing her full lips in every room, admiring her from every angle when she sat on the couch, or a chair or when she laid on their bed, everywhere every single breathing moment he had. The door was unlocked so with a soft push from his foot the hallway came into view and as Alma giggled they crossed the entryway until he stood over the wooden floor with his wife still safely in his arms. As if a little bit of magic had followed them into their cottage the lights turned on and the door closed in silence not really startling any of them, after all they were used to Casita, this wouldn’t be much different if it was a bit of that house's essence what gave life to their second home.

-Do you want to see the house or should we…?

-As much as I would love you to do a tour I think I’d rather go upstairs and get these shoes off at last, and maybe… just maybe I might let you… undress me. - holy shit, she hadn’t even thought about what she was saying until the words were already out but it was worth it if the way Mariano’s eyes twinkled under the light of the chandelier were any indication and to be honest Alma felt quite proud of being this forward.

-Entonces vamos para arriba; whatever my Lady wants she will get.

The journey up the stairs was fast and full of laughter both in his hurry to get there and free his hands and because he couldn’t wait to have her naked in front of him at last, he had waited an entire year to see her and have her, the day spent in the lake not counting of course, and not a single more minute would go by with him simply having her in his arms. Her excitement though was tainted by a bit of fear, she hadn’t been sort of present the first time she had slept with him and suddenly the prospect of being aware of everything frightened her terribly, after all, to her that night was just a memory, she had no recollection of the feelings and sensations and it was sort of weird to be in his arms on their way to their bedroom when she was so incredibly scared and yet filled with anticipation. The tension in her body didn’t go unnoticed by Mariano who after opening the door with his back, both watching as the lights in the hallway and staircase turned off, let her stand on her own two feet in the darkness of their bedroom. For a minute or two she just remained still with her back to him as he closed the door, too stunned by what she was seeing to even acknowledge the way his arms wrapped around her waist. Instead of the ceiling she had been expecting to meet she was faced with a big set of crystal clear windows that let in the moonlight, watching from her spot the entire night sky along with the tiny fireflies and the millions upon millions of stars that floated miles over their home.

-I had the idea when I saw Isabela’s greenhouse and with Luisa and the glazier’s help we made it happen. Your room in Casita only has one window, you are missing all this beauty and I wanted to make sure you could see the world. Do you like it?

-Like it? I love it, it’s absolutely amazing, jamás he visto nada parecido.

-I’m glad, I was worried I would have to install thicker curtains or cover them completely, it was hard enough already to install the roller blinds and I must admit that the idea of falling asleep under the stars or to watch storms in the middle of the night is rather wonderful and waking up to the dawn with you beside me is everything I’ve ever wanted.

-You just keep on surprising me, how is it that you never run out of ideas, I will never know, but please don’t stop, I love not knowing what might be the next thing you come up with.

-At the moment I don’t have anything else planned except for one thing and it takes two to do that, so if my wife would be so kind as to help me with an experiment I would appreciate it. - his head rested on her shoulder nearing his mouth to her ear. The words were barely whispers, his breath tickling her skin sending shivers down her spine. - Relax Alma, we don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to.

They were sincere, it couldn’t be denied that he was trying his best to ease her troubles and fears, pushing aside his own wants and desires, there would be enough time to engage in any sort of naughty behaviour after all they had an entire life together ahead of them and the priorities were clear in his mind as well as they were in Alma’s. She turned around in his arms forcing him to lift his head from her shoulder ending up face to face, her left hand letting go of his and her right one sending the veil onto the bed before they began to travel up his arms slowly, almost in a taunting matter until she felt the rough hair of his beard against the palms of her hands, fingertips caressing his cheeks. The universe over their heads shone in his eyes reflecting all the little lights in those big full of life brown orbs that drowned her in an endless ocean of feelings and emotions; it was like this that she stood on the tip of her toes and with just a couple of inches separating them, noses brushing slightly that she whispered against his mouth that she would like very much to help her husband with his experiment, her cherry lips giving him a gentle peck before she took his hands back in hers and placed them on her back. A both blind and deaf person would understand what she was asking him even if she hadn’t spoken since the buttons of her dress were just underneath his fingertips, feeling the silk of the garment smooth and cool in his hands, her warm breath raising goosebumps all over his skin. He noticed that there was a soft tinge of maybe cherries in her perfume now that she was this close to him, his breathing deep to take in the essence of her being as if he could merge with her and become one complete human for all eternity. He didn’t even realise his fingers were playing with the buttons of her dress as he breathed in the perfume of her neck until he felt one of them unhooking, the embroidery of her corset underneath making him freeze his movements for a minute; Alma noticed this along with a flash of unsureness in his eyes but there wasn’t any motive for them to fear each other or worry about doing something, her hands pressed his more firmly over her dress again giving him permission to do what both desired so much.

He continued his journey upwards, unclasping his abuela’s necklace and throwing it on the bed, safe and out of the way next to Julieta’s veil, fingers working on unfastening each button with careful sure movements until the gament began to shift around her body. As much as she wanted to get out of her dress she couldn’t let him pull the garment and leave her in her underwear while he remained completely dressed, she just couldn’t deprive her eyes of the sight of his broad shoulders and toned body so as he played with her buttons she began to work her magic on his guayabera which by the way she would have to congratulate him on tomorrow, she was far too busy to focus on the beautiful patterns at the moment. What a naughty naughty man, with every inch of the shirt she pushed aside more and more skin came into view realising he had forgone his usual vests maybe because of the heat or because he had been thinking about this exact moment since he had woken up but she couldn’t find it in herself to care, eyes focused on his muscles and flawless skin that glowed under the colours of the sky. The last fastening of her dress came undone, the fabric releasing its tension and slipping of her body onto the ground just as his guayabera danced his way down to accompany her dress over the wooden floor of their bedroom. She stood before him with her white corset gleaming, his eyes roaming her form from her bare arms and her heaving bosom that seemed to be begging for release from its embroidered confinement all the way to her hips were her lace panties blended onto her stocking with her lavender blue garter decorating her left leg, hungry powerful eyes that made her feel like the most beautiful and desired woman in the world. He pulled her against him in a rough and quick motion, feeling her chest against his as her hands pressed onto his shoulders, his eyes landing on the white thread that held her other wedding ring around her neck. When she saw how his eyes were glued to her throat but he didn’t make any effort to move closer it dawned on her that he must have found Mirabel’s little detail and yet there were no shadows of possession or anger in his eyes as she had feared for a second, she could feel the pride practically steaming of his body as his fingers lifted the golden band to get a better look at it before he carefully returned it to its rightful place over her collarbones.

She had dreaded his reaction and had wanted to tell him that if he so desired she would take it off, but that submissive part of her wasn’t as convinced as she had previously thought, not that she would have to worry about it much, his smile and the soft kiss he pressed over her skin just next to it dissipated all her doubts and rising anger, although she had no right to be angry when he hadn’t done anything, yet. The spots and beauty marks she had on her exposed skin were paths that travelled to forbidden places that only he had the right to explore, eyes connecting each single one as if they were stars that had fallen from the universe up above through their glass ceiling, fingers following them while leaving goosebumps where he touched her skin and trails of invisible fire that soon expanded to her entire being. This was her first real experience with him and she couldn’t think of any reason to stop him from adoring every single inch of her flesh, the way he caressed her skin with tender movements made her feel as if she were a work of God sculpted by his own personal angels for Mariano only. He loved her with his entire body and soul and as much as he wanted to keep her beside him at all times, he felt unworthy, such a work of art shouldn’t been manhandled but as if he couldn’t stop himself his hands kept on tracing every wrinkle, every little mole and scar his eyes could see. His journey was cut short in a rather abrupt manner when his hands encountered what he could see of her full breasts, fingers brushing against the upper hem of the corset. If words had been needed the spell would have been broken but Alma understood perfectly well as he raised his eyebrows in an questioning manner what he wanted, turning around until her back was facing him and she was looking up at the sky to try and control her speeding heart. The strings that held the garment together were becoming less constricting and far more loose until she felt how it wanted to drop off her body to leave her half naked before him, her arms shooting up to cover her chest when Mariano managed to let it fall around her feet. She really did want to turn around but sudden shyness prevented her from moving as if her body were as heavy as lead and just the thought of lifting her legs was unbearable, his hands on her bare back leaving her breathless.

They travelled up to her shoulders gently turning her around until she was face to face once more with those gorgeous eyes of his locking with hers. This time there was no question asked. She took a deep breath and let her arms fall to the sides exposing her bosom to the chilly and yet warm air around them, seeing how his eyes were as black as coal and so dilated she almost couldn’t see his iris. It happened so quickly she stood there like an idiot for quite some time before she started melting into his arms, her mouth assaulted by his lips in a hot and hard kiss that would surely leave her lips swollen but she didn’t want him to stop, quite the contrary and so she granted his tongue access while her hands held onto the back of his head until she felt her knees hit the mattress. Her body fell over the bed just beside the veil and necklace that Mariano quickly pushed onto the floor resting his hands beside her arms admiring the way her cheeks and lips were as red as a beet, her chest rising and falling in heavy breaths. She was the most exquisite being in the entire universe, boundless, endless but he wanted to see more, needed more and she was more than willing to give it. With his hands on her back he pulled her into a sitting position but she was faster this time and her hands grabbed the buckle of his pants sliding it off his hips and onto the floor before unbuttoning and unzipping his trousers and watching with a naughtly smirk as they pooled around his feet. He really couldn’t help it, a roar of laughter escaped his throat, a contagious joy that soon filled Alma; both remained there laughing and grinning until she couldn’t breath and his lips crashed over hers once more, his feet kicking his shoes off to let the pants finally fall over the floor panels, the only garment left in his body being his shorts. The way his hands were itching to touch every part of her was torture but he fought it as much as he could while his mouth moved down her jaw towards her throat.

Her gasps turned into quiet moans as his lips left fiery trails and red angry marks on her olive skin where his teeth had brushed and bit her flesh, his mouth now sucking down hard on her pulse point making her eyes roll back for a second. Whether he had the intention to move further down there wasn’t much opportunity left since her hands had shot up to grab his hair and keep him close, his nose pressed against her neck bending quite hard over her skin in a rather uncomfortable position. It wasn’t until he stopped his actions that she let go with a disappointed whine that soon became another series of gasps as he travelled lower leaving kisses over her sternum, licking the melted reflections of the colourful nebulas off her flesh over and over with her heavy breathing making way for louder moans. There was not a soul around them for miles so she could scream as loud as she wanted or remain silent, it was up to her, but his main goal was to hear her, all she could give and more as his hands moved from their place around her hips up to the sides of her rib cage until they finally made contact with the soft flesh of her bosom. As soon as she felt his hands begin to knead them gently she was set on fire, yelping in surprise and pleasure while his lips carried on kissing and licking all around them but obviously avoiding them. After a little while his hands were not enough and she yanked his head away from her sternum and pressed him against her left breast quite rudely and commanding though he found it extremely sexy and hot, so he didn’t complain but sucked hard on her sensitive skin until he finally decided to give some attention to her nipple. She was sure she had died and was in heaven; the dull feelings she could sort of recall from their previous night together were bullshit compared to this, she felt both hot and cold all at the same time and the way his teeth and tongue played with her oversensitive nipple was driving her inside while from her throat moans and whines escaped without resistance.

Once he grew tired of her left side he switched to the right one with her fingers pulling his hair whenever he did something good and pushing his face closer to her body as if she might get more of him that way but soon she began to feel dizzy and the pool of endless heat that had formed on her lower belly began to make her legs twitch under his ministrations. She called out his name and practically yelled at him to stop when the first time his name came out more like a whimper than an actual word. He removed his face quickly from his previous place to see how her flesh was coated in a soft layer of sweat and red as a cherry with her breasts heavy and swollen filled with marks everywhere that would surely turn to bruises in the morning. The terror expressed on his handsome features went unnoticed for a minute by Alma as she more or less managed to steady her breathing and stop seeing white stars under her eyelids. When she opened them to find him staring at her like that she quickly sat on the bed and took his face in between her hands.

-Mariano, I’m sorry, it’s okay you weren’t hurting me at all.

-But you asked me to stop, if I was doing just fine why did you…?

-Because it was becoming too much, a woman’s breasts can be very overwhelming and you were playing all the right notes. I’m sorry if I scared you, I didn’t mean to.

-Then… I was doing great? - a smirk spread over his lips as he bent over her figure.

-I would say so, yes.

-Good… relax then, querida, I can do much more than this.

Laying her fully on the bed his hands walked over her left foot all the way to her thigh causing her to spread her legs a bit but his destination was not the treasure she hid under her lace panties, no, his teeth grabbed her garter and pulled it off slowly while his eyes remained locked on hers; he watched in amusement as her eyes became dilated once more and her breathing ragged and quick. What was so inherently sexual about a man taking off a garment with his teeth was unknown to Alma but she could spend all night watching him do this over and over but of course his skilled hands soon made her lose her train of thought as his fingers began to pull on the waistband of her underwear until he started sliding it off her legs making sure to keep her stockings on, the shoes having already been thrown to the floor sometime ago; for him seeing a woman not fully naked like this was like drinking from a fresh water lake after weeks of not having a drop. Fully exposed to him as she was, he drank in her form, every single inch of her skin as precious and exquisite as the next, all her marks and imperfections the most wondrous features he had ever seen. He lowered his head and gently spread her legs as wide as they could go and began kissing his way over her thighs, the smell of her arousal salty and exotic and yet so well known to him, red angry marks forming a path up her legs until he finally left a short peck on the junction between her pelvis and her thigh, so close to where she wanted and still so far. He commenced his exploration with the fingers of his right hand keeping the left one on her hip to hold her down, his hand moving up and down her folds finally hearing the moans and whimpers he so desired to, spreading her apart as her juices coated his fingertips, gleaming under the moonlight in what looked to be the elixir of life.

Her head stopped spinning to focus on what he was doing, her entire world becoming her lower regions as well as the feelings and sensations that came from deep within her as he finally placed his mouth on hers. The way his tongue run all over her pulling and sucking and, for lack of a better word, fucking her senselessly was just too much and yet so little, she wanted and demanded more with her yelps and quiet screams. He might not have been versed in anatomy too well but he certainly knew Alma’s body and more or less what she liked and what she didn’t and when her pants became not enough for him, his fingers teasing her entrance, he assaulted her bundle of nerves; the instant she felt him around her she was lost. Her hips jerked upwards, hands pulling on his hair and pressing him harder and harder, she was just so close, and with each brushing of his teeth and the force of his sucking and licking she could feel herself begin to drown in a pool of white deep heat, stars and blackness forming behind closed eyelids. Without warning his fingers pumped into her at full force and with just one more strong pull of his teeth around her clir it all unleashed with a loud scream that soon turned into his name as she came hard on his face, his tongues helping her ride her orgasm out until she collapsed over the mattress panting hard with her inner walls still contracting and twitching every once in a while around his still fingers which he pulled out as soon as she finally was able to open her eyes. He was kneeling over her, watching her flushed body in absolute awe and the veil of pleasure that still coated her eyes. She smiled lazily at him to reassure him that he had nailed it, which to be honest he was quite proud of, he hadn’t slept with anyone since that night he had shared with her and knowing that he still had it was rather pleasing for him.

Her arms were a bit weak and shaky as she pushed herself off the mattress a bit, but when her hands went to grab his firm ass to show him just how well he had done she discovered that he was still wearing his underwear and they couldn’t have that; with renewed strength she wrapped her legs around his waist and turned them around so she was now on top of him, a few locks of her silvery hair cascading over her shoulders and down her back mirroring the beams of moonlight that were now shining right over their heads. It surprised Mariano to see her take advantage of the situation like this, he had never taken her for a top person but he wasn’t about to start complaining, she was like a venus that had come straight out of Botticelli’s painting, soft of velvety skin as pure as water and as delicate as porcelain. Her slender fingers soon found the waistband of his shorts, pulling them down with a raised eyebrow as if she was challenging him to stop her, but he laid still until she was done, her hand raising the garment in the air to show him before she threw it on the floor. She bent over his body pressing her chest on his, her lips whispering in his ear.

-Tell me what you want.

-Alma.

-Dilo, dime lo que quieres.

-A ti.

-Then you shall have me.

He was two seconds away from exploding, Alma moaning against his lips as she kissed him deeply tasting herself in his mouth, her hands resting on his shoulders with her legs straddling him. He could feel her juices dripping on his lower abdomen in the sexiest way possible, definitely drugged on her perfume and the smell of her arousal, he was addicted to her and would remain so for the rest of his life. Her lips travelled south along his strong jaw, leaving what would be a bruise on his pulse point before her kisses turned into licks all over his toned pectorals. It caught him by surprise to feel that her hand had somehow gone down to his thigh and her fingers were so incredibly close to his painful erection, he almost came undone when her fingertips brushed against it gently; she had to be playing a game of torture otherwise he couldn’t understand how it was that he wasn’t dead yet from the inmense pleasure she was giving him with just her hand, warm and soft against his shaft. When she felt him twitch under her actions she stopped, letting him go and giving him a minute so he could calm his breathing down and stop whining so much, she wasn’t going to let him finish just yet; upon opening his eyes he saw Alma practically sitting on him and unbeknown to his own foggy mind he begged. Yes, for the first time in his life he begged for her to do as she pleased with him and finally offer him sweet relieve and to be honest to herself, she wanted it as well, there would be plenty of opportunities to torture him like this in the future. Her hand grabbed him once more and guided him to her entrance, lowering her body gently and slowly over him and until they were connected at last. The thousands of sensations that assaulted her mind and body were like both death and an extraordinary feeling of unruly life; she felt filled in every possible angle and couldn’t quite get enough of him. When his hips jerked upwards pushing him impossibly deep inside her, Alma’s eyes rolled out the back of her head for a moment before her hands were pressed on his chest and she began to move. Up and down, back and forth, in circles, every motion brought a new wonderful feeling of friction that made both moan and whimper, Mariano’s hands firmly on her hips to keep the pace steady and in sync.

Her walls were tight and so warm, a delicious feeling of being squeezed making him dizzy each time she moved, her hips slamming against his bruising each other but they couldn’t stop, he even bent his legs so he could match her thrusts and rail her as hard and fast as she wanted him to. Each scream and moan became louder and louder as they both got closer but he wanted to drag this out for her, so their mismatched movements when he slowed down lost some of that wonderful friction earning him an angry glare that only enhanced his own arousal; how could she look both so angry and so hot at the same time, it was driving him insane. Out of frustration her nails began to scratch the skin of his chest as a warning; why was he doing this, she needed more and he was holding back and if she carried on like this she was going to draw blood out but thankfully he noticed that she was getting more and more frustrated and angry by the minute and that wasn’t what he had been intending so with both hands back firmly on her hips and positioning himself properly under her he returned to his previous speed. The next thrust made her scream, accidentally piercing the skin of his chest with her nails though neither noticed, they were so close, almost there. In a spare of the moment thing, he grabbed one of her hands and took it down to where they were joined, rubbing with mixed fingertips her bundle of nerves; he was far too close to hold it together for much longer and he wanted her to finish first. His hand moved erratically along with hers, the slapping sound of their flesh as they rose and fell in unison echoing throughout the room, her juices dripping down his thighs. The flashes of light were beginning to overwhelm her and the pool of heat was setting her entire being on fire, she was a wildfire about to lose control and with each second she felt herself getting closer to release at the speed of light and at the same time so slowly until at last the white raw painful heat enfolded her. Her walls clenched around him with such power, her throat raw from the loud scream that had escaped her body, legs and arms trembling almost violently, but he carried on, the way she was milking him feeling like a heavenly experience, his own climax overwhelming his senses forcing his hips to slam harder than ever against her; she hadn’t come down from her orgasm when another one was already rolling over her body in a massive wave that rendered her weak, collapsing on top of him as he finished spilling himself inside her.

Since they had been joined far too focused on each other, they hadn’t seen that from the sky a rain of comets had been falling in between the stars and the moon leaving estels of bright light in their wake, resembling fireworks if you thought about it for long enough. They didn’t have much brain left at the moment, they were still trying to control their breathing after such a strenuous and beautiful activity, her arms wrapped around his neck with his hands resting on the small of her back. They had thought their little place where their now home stood was a piece of heaven on earth, after tonight it was paradise; it wasn’t until a few minutes later that Alma felt strong enough to roll off his body and onto her back watching the night sky through their glass ceiling with lazy eyes, their fingers laced together.

-I don’t know about you, but I think that if you give me ten minutes we could practise some more. It’s been amazing, better than the first time, but I’m sure we can top it; what do you say, caramelito?

-I’d rather think this was our first time, though are you sure you can handle a second round? I wouldn’t want you to hurt your hip, at your age it can be quite a nasty injury.

-At my age? Give me five minutes and I’ll show you what twenty three years can do.

-Promesas, promesas. - he was now the one on top kissing her all over her beautiful face drawing out one of those belly laughs that make you cry in joy. When he pulled away a bit and they were face to face once more he could have sworn he had fallen in love all over again with those deep brown eyes of hers, the beauty mark under eyes, her full lips… He had no doubts in his mind that he had been mistaking her for an angel this whole time when it was as certain as the sun that she had to be God, no other would be able to surrender him to her boundless power, intelligence and beauty. - Mariano… I want to tell you something.

-Are you okay? Did I hurt you?

-No, you did nothing wrong. It’s not bad, it’s very, very good I promise. - her fingers brushed some hairs of his beard before grinning softly at him, her wedding ring shining against the beams of moonlight; she had waited for far too long to say it and she wasn’t going to hold it back anymore. - I love you.

Fireworks were exploding in his chest, mind and soul, he hadn’t thought she would ever say it and he had come to terms with it but hearing it now, like this, he realised they were the most wonderful three words he could have heard in his entire life. All the heartache had been worth it just for this.

-Say it again, por favor.

-I love you.

-Otra vez.

-Mariano, te quiero.

-Yo también te quiero, Alma.

#alma madrigal #abuela madrigal #encanto #dolores madrigal #bruno magridal #julieta madrigal #pepa madrigal #mariano guzman #señora guzmán #disney

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aggieharkness · 2 years

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Hay que encontrar su propio futuro

a/n: Welcome back!! At last, the moment has arrived, so read it with all the love you can muster and enjoy it all as much as you can. A bit of a warning for the next chapter, it will contain smut, so if you are not ready for that, you've been warned... I was going to do one long chapter so I could give you everything, but this one is already my longest ever and I don't want you to get overwhelmed or bored. As always I appreciate feedback and if you have any ideas or what me to write something I'm always here, multitasking as best as I can. Enjoy!! :) I'm Spanish so I used expressions from my own language. I'm afraid I don't know Colombian ones so I had to work with the ones that I know. If there are any Colombians out there that would prefer for me to change what I have written I would very gladly do it, but even so, I hope you like the ones I have used.

warning: age difference, implied sexual content, past use of alcohol. mention of graveyards. Most importantly no Alma Madrigal bashing, i love this woman.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 15 Part 16

Hay que encontrar su propio futuro

-Did you get the garter? Dolores, please, for the love of God tell me that you went to the shop and got it, your abuela can’t go to her own wedding without it!

-Mami, calmate, I went yesterday morning and señor Hernandez gave it to me for free, he insisted it was a present. It's right behind you in that pink box.

-Madre del amor hermoso, now I understand what mamá means when she’s in charge of the parties and says that nothing is ready; how can she get anything done with this level of stress?!

-Pepi, hermanita, you are the only one who’s stressed. Take a deep breath and let Dolores handle it, she’s the Godmother for a reason.

-I still don’t understand why mamá didn't choose you.

-Because I didn’t want to be. I knew you would be all over the place and I’m not omnipotent yet, besides, I have to watch Agustín and make sure he doesn't die before the “I do”.

With the curlers still hot on their hair and wearing their blue and yellow robes they laid all the makeup the family owned on the kitchen table along with brushes, bobby pins, hair ties and lots (and I do mean lots) of hairspray that Rosa had brought as soon as she had managed to escape from her nieto, that today could be confused for a plate full of gelatin. Spring had ended some months ago and the heat that came through the windows stifling everyone inside Casita was a great representation of just how hot summer was going to be this year, the only thing that helped was Pepa’s giddy cold winds that thankfully blew all over the building; it was something that no one understood as of yet, why whenever she was nervous and the wind began to pick up it was always this freezing hellish air what surrounded them and not the normal temperature breeze everyone always expected. Up in the second floor Mirabel had secluded herself in her room to iron her abuela’s dress and leave it absolutely perfect for the ceremony in a few hours, Dolores waving her mamá and tía goodbye as she rushed out the door to check on Isabela and the flowers. How was it that at this time of the day and after having most of the family woken up around dawn, no one had collapsed yet was a miracle as big as that of why black makes you look slimmer and white bigger; shouldn’t it be the other way around? Alma was the only level other headed person apart from Dolores and that was enough to allow her to just go about her day; she had gone through this before and although she was nervous she managed to sleep until eight but her daughters and grandaughters hadn’t managed to keep quiet since about seven and with that much noise bothering her every five seconds she had been forced to get up and face the truth of her day: she was getting married.

After great discussion it had been settled that the wedding was going to be in the afternoon to survive this heat, somewhere around six or seven so they could head for the reception and the dinner around eight and party until the last person standing fell asleep. Isabela and Luisa had left shortly before lunch to make sure the church was ready and there were enough flowers to drown in inside of the temple and outside, the town dressed for the occasion with every single street decorated with wreaths of daisies and pink roses, a beautiful spread of blue, white and purple Canterbury bells with red lilies mixed in the plaza and around the fountain; that last flower had been chosen by Mariano without giving much explanations only a mysterious secret reason that Isa thought was related to something her abuela might like but in reality he had a memory from this “other life” he was grown rather accustomed to where he watched from a distance how Alma’s younger self was walking home with several red lilies for her sister, every day without missing a single one for almost seven years, that counts as something a person likes, right? Luisa had to make sure the church was straight and that the river, which she had rerouted at her mother’s request so it would be closer to the building a few days before, could be heard from every single point and angle of the temple. At first she hadn’t understood very well what her mamá had meant when she had asked for that but later that night she had realised Julieta had wanted her papá close to her mother’s wedding and the only thing she could link to him was the sound of the river, so Luisa worked her ass off to make sure not a rock or twig was out of place and that the waters that run around them were as pure and clear as glass. Reflecting on the surface you could see that the skies were the purest shade of blue anyone had ever seen with not a single cloud in sight, the sun way high up in the sky burning the cobblestones of the streets and the air that swayed lazily in between the scents of fresh flowers that floated around the town. It was a surprise to see that even if Pepa happened to be all over the place, much like Marianowas back at his house, she could still have some semblance of control over her powers thanks to all the practice and reassurance she had got from her mother in this past two years; as a thank you, today Alma would be married with clear skies, no hurricanes or rain even if it cost Pepa her sanity.

As well as the redhead was doing everything in her power to make the day perfect, Julieta had been forbidden from cooking, an order more than a request that Alma had made very clear the instant she had come down for breakfast, watching from the corner of her eye the suitcases Agustín and Felix had been carrying to the carriage outside Casita with the help of the recovered and in excellent shape señor Hernández. There wasn’t room for arguing, not when Dolores was in charge and her abuela had made things very simple so everyone would understand that even though today’s event was for her and Mariano, her family had the right to celebrate and therefor not work; the exception to the rule was that the cake had been finished at dawn by Julieta’s expert hands and put carefully in the ice box before anyone had woken up, away from her husband’s clumsy hands and Camilo’s always hungry metabolism. That’s all she had managed to get done in secret with her hysterical sister stuck to her back looking for things that were already there and others that weren’t necessary, and her missing hermano, because no one had seen Bruno since dinner. Although they were worried he had missed breakfast, his door was still glowing, a sign that he was still there, somewhere and if he dared miss his own mother’s wedding he would have to face the wrath of not only Alma, but his sisters, nephews and nieces, Rosa and the soon to be husband, Mariano and as dumb as Bruno could be sometimes he wouldn’t risk his life like that. Wherever he was, her sisters just hoped he wasn’t planning on getting into any mischief before the ceremony, afterwards it could always be blamed on the alcohol.

Camilo entered the kitchen, his hair soaking in a nutritious deep in conditioner hidden underneath a bright orange bonnet so he could later define his curls, little Antonio with a much similar outfit holding a little bag of painting brushes while his brother dropped his own makeup kit on the table with such force the legs cricked under the weight earning a scornful glance from his mother. Everything had to be in one place for everyone to grab if they needed it, there was no time to waste screaming through the halls where someone’s blush was or if anyone had taken a lipstick, they were already far too tense to worry about such a trivial thing. In the midst of it all they had forgotten to check on the most important person, Alma, who was sitting over the covers of her bed in her usual magenta dress rigling her hands on her lap as she looked intensely at the picture she carried of her Pedro inside her locket. Was she doing the right thing? Couples argued, that was natural, but her and Mariano’s disputes, as few as they had been, were big, like huge compared to the ones that she had had with Pedro and sitting here while hearing her family get ready she couldn’t help but wonder if maybe this wasn’t a good idea after all. He was young and had an entire life ahead of him, she felt guilty about taking so many chances away like starting a family of his own but in her heart she felt that even if there was a little sparkle of love and hope she could go ahead with it all. She had had nothing back when she had married Pedro, they built a life together out of thin air, now she had the entire world at her feet and yet she couldn’t care less as long as she looked into his eyes and still felt the butterflies flying inside her chest. For once the logical part of her brain could go to hell.

Lunch was a thing of the past and had gone by in the strangest way ever, picking up sandwiches off of a plate that had been placed buffet style on the kitchen counter as everyone went about their chores with barely any time to eat. If they hadn't left things for the last minute they wouldn’t have had to have such a shabby meal and they could have sat all together at the table to enjoy a home made lunch, but this whole pick what you can and run sort of meal was what they needed, at least today. Rosa had sneaked some for her grandson when she had accompanied Isabela and Dolores to the plaza earlier in the morning, through one of his friends who had made sure her nieto couldn't see her or he wouldn’t have let her leave in a thousand years, hearing Mariano scream where his cufflinks were while she passed a few sandwiches and a ton of cut up fruit for the growing boys, only for him to be reminded by another voice that he wasn’t going to be wearing any. How was he going to survive this day? No idea. It had taken her months to finally start accepting that Alma was all he needed and that her nieto was all her best friend had ever wanted but the age difference was something too big to wrap one's head around in just a few days, though in the end Rosa had understood that this was happening whether she liked it or not and she didn’t want to lose her family over something that she knew was clearly love. And what an erratic, eclectic and explosive love it was, Rosa had spent days without barely seeing him because he had planned something for Alma and he and other times she could barely make him leave the house based on the excuse that today his partner was busy on family duties and he wanted her to have that time as well. Rosa had a couple of ideas on why he stayed inside though: make more plans, save some more money to buy her pretty flowers and food, tons of food, and probably to let her have some well deserved space away from such a buoyant man, as a twenty three year old usually is. Then when the argument happened Rosa’s entire world shifted from not being very sure of this whole thing to wanting to rip the insides of his own nieto out for making a woman, not just her best friend, fall in love to then hurt her endlessly. Anger and frustration had been her day to day attitude for an entire week trying to come to terms with what he had told her the night of the incident when he had explained to her his real intentions towards Alma, when everything at last really dawned on her. They were in love and in her mind she couldn’t let one quarrel throw such an important thing away, although in the end the plans Dolores’ and her had been working on hadn’t been needed, they went back to each other of their own accord. Don’t they say love is blind?

And it all came down to this day: a wedding, her nieto’s wedding and to be more specific, to her best friend. Rosa was currently standing in front of Mirabel’s room waiting to get the dress out of the girls wardrobe praying that Alma hadn’t gained any weight in the last few days, there wasn’t any physical time to fix the garment before the ceremony and she couldn’t remember how to handle a nervous breakdown properly, she usually picked up a glass, filled it with some ron añejo and chuck it down in one gulp. Effective most of the time but not very pleasant for people not used to alcoholic drinks. Down in the courtyard the front door open to let Dolores, Isa and Luisa while up in the second floor Alma’s eyes rested on the picture of her soon to be ex husband, her beloved Pedro, letting her mind wonder how things might have been if he had made it out alive, if he had got to watch their children grow up, help them play pranks on her and the village, hearing their laughter run through the walls of Casita… In the end they were dreams, her life had been completely different and if Pedro had been alive Mariano would have been a friend of her nietas, nothing more, nothing less and she wouldn’t have even entertained the thought of becoming anything but maybe an acquaintance. She wouldn’t have minded, of course, her beloved Pedro would have been with her, but in the circumstances of the real world she was more than happy to engage in holy matrimony with someone who had both dark and light and with whom she could learn all the things she hadn’t got the chance the first time. It had been maybe an hour since she had secluded herself in her room and she knew she should head down to the kitchen before Pepa barged in in absolute panic, the poor thing wasn’t handling all this stress well, she hadn’t back during her own wedding, Alma couldn’t expect her to control herself during hers, but she’d rather stay in her room for a little longer enjoying the silence and peace of being a widow for just a few more minutes. Mariano had made it very clear after they had made their engagement official that Pedro was to be part of their lives, he didn’t want her to try and get him to fit a shoe that wasn’t his to wear and she had agreed; each were their own person and each had brought and would bring wonderful new things to her life.

Soon enough the first knock came disturbing the silence, signalling her that her single life was about to end and after a deep breath while putting the locket away in a drawer for the first time in fifty years she headed for the door ready to be a bride. Upon opening it she found Rosa smiling softly at her with Julieta behind her, a couple of hot rollers in her hand, flashing her mother a happy grin before returning to work on Rosa’s hair. There wasn’t a minute to waste, not when you had ten people to dress, not counting Bruno, who they only wished wouldn’t wear his ugly worn out sandals and put on a nice pair of shoes for once in his life. The kitchen was a mess of people and movement, Isabela straightening her hair with the iron while Dolores helped little Antonio with his curls after having washed the conditioner off in the sink, Camilo and Mirabel arguing in angry whispers about what colour codes to chose for the accessories while Luisa calmly brushed her soft waves in front of a hand mirror, the only free one in the entire house. Pepa rushed to her mother in under a second pulling a chair and forcing her to sit down while talking a mile per minute, each single word passing around Alma’s head like sand that gets blown away by the wind, her eyes simply looking at the way her Pepa’s lips moved without having any idea what her daughter was saying. A couple of words managed to make their way to her brain, but together they made no sense whatsoever so after a few minutes of hearing radio waves instead of a natural paced conversation she just gave up and let the metaphorical hurricane of her girl sweep her into the air. Alma’s meticulous hairdo started coming undone by the expert and kind hands of Julieta while Rosa helped Luisa do a half up half down with a lovely indigo bow, Pepa grabbing the curling iron from the table before Camilo could snatch it for Mirabel, the entire side wall filled with bags where their suits and dresses where neatly kept.

How strange it all was, not the wedding itself but how well her family blended together when faced with such a happy event. She hadn’t seen Isabela and Mirabel laugh so hard at something so simple as a uneven eyeliner but it brought joy to see that after the huge gap between the sisters caused by Alma's own wrong doings, they had learned and were now the best of friends, just like when Pepa and Julieta had been young and the redhead had argued with the brunette days on end because of the stupidest things like a missing scarf or a better mark in school. Life was nice now, with living, and she wouldn’t change any of this, not even the slightest detail even if she could.

-Alma, tell me, how did Osvaldo take your rejection? -Rosa looked over the top of Luisa's head while her fingers worked in braiding the girl's waves.

-I didn’t reject him, I explained that I was never free, sort of speak. He’s a nice man but I think he’s destined to be a bachelor forever.

-I suppose so, but you can’t tell me that it wasn’t funny having half the village after you before you announced your engagement.

-Not really, I had a psychopath stalking me for years who almost killed a man. -the way Julieta's fingers turned white at the forced used to take the pins out, lips thin as lines, didn't go unnoticed by Pepa and Rosa, Alma feeling the stronger and a bit more painful pull as Juli took one of the hairpins out letting a strand cascade down her mother's back.

-I was not talking about the butcher, which reminds me, Sofia is doing great with the store. Like she’s getting even more customers than Pablo did when he owned it.

-I’m glad, but it makes me much happier that she returned to the village even after what happened. If it makes Mariano happy, it makes me happy; I’ve said that word too many times now it makes no sense. Happy, happy.

-We are drifting, Alma. Doesn't having men after you make you feel, I don’t know, wanted?

-It flatters me, but I’m not defined by how many men want me or think they want me and saying it on my wedding day should count for something, so I hope that’s argument enough.

-Great way of dodging the question.

-I’m not dodging anything Rosa. Are you so desperate for me to leave your nieto alone that even today you are trying to get me with Osvalod?

-Madre del amor hermoso, no. I’d rather have you marry my Marianito than him, I’m not saying I have anything against Osvaldo but… please, the quality of my nieto's entire being it’s much better, he has my genes.

-Dios nos asista entonces.

-Don’t be like that Alma.

-Can we please focus a bit? We have so much to do and you are just chatting here. Where’s the foam? Julieta, have you seen it? - like a chicken without a head Pepa moved from one side of the kitchen to the other one lifting up boxes, opening drawers and cupboards with Camilo’s eyes glued to her form with raised eyebrows.

-What foam Pepa?

-Oh, you know! The thing that goes sufts or whatever and leaves a lovely whipped cream sort of thing in your hand that you can’t eat. I used it for Dolores' hair when she was little all the time. The foam! Do I have to spell it?

-Why do you always get so… bitchy when stressed? - she whispered the “naughty” word to make sure Antonio didn't hear it coming from an adult and think it was okay for him to repeat it, but whenever something wasn't going to plan or when people expected her to give more than she could Pepa would become this huge bitch that no one could stand or control. -The foam you are looking for is right behind you; it's a bright red can, you can't miss it and yet you did.

-I really hate you sometimes Julieta.

-Don't lie, you love me. I've saved yours and Bruno's asses more times that I can count. Which reminds me, did anyone go with him to get a new pair of shoes and a new ruana?

-New ruana? I made it very clear that he is to wear a suit, just like Agustín's. Who said he can go to my wedding in a ruana?

-He told us you had allowed him to, mami. -The last hairpin was placed on the table next to someone's hairbrush, greyish brown locks of wavy hair cascading down the back of the chair.

-I didn't say such thing. Where is he?

-Ey, sientate! - Alma pushed herself into a standing position to only be pushed back into her chair by the redhead’s hands, the can of curling foam landing on the table with a metallic click rolling onto the edge of it; it was grabbed by one of Isa’s vines before it reached the floor. - Ya le buscaremos luego and if he has to wear one of Agustin's suits or even one of Felix’s and go around grabbing his pants and pulling them up so he won't step on them, he will, I'll make sure of it but right now we have to work on you or we won't get to the wedding! Camilo don’t touch that curling iron or it’ll be the last thing you do!

The boy quickly walked backwards away from it until he was able to hide behind Mirabel, whispering something only her and Dolores heard, earning a playful chuckle from his sister as she applied various shades of lipstick on her lips to try and find a perfect match. She had got over Mariano’s betrayal partially, some part of her still felt something for him but the other half had been perfectly aware of the entire situation and understood that he had never been meant to be hers, if her tio’s words back on the day of the argument were true about his vision. She might have never got her heart broken if things had worked out differently, but would she have been happy knowing all along she was always going to be the other woman in his heart even if she wore his ring and bore his children? In a small little way she was glad this whole thing had happened and that the truth and love had finally won at the end of the day, besides people dress nicely for weddings and who know her perfect someone might be waiting for her in one of the church benches. Next to her Mirabel sat in front of a mirror she had managed to steal from Isa’s bag brushing and styling her soft curls with her thin fingers working on each strand slowly but her hair wasn’t as curly as Luisa’s and as much as she tried it ended up looking like it always did, nothing special like Isabela’s colourful strands or Antonio’s absolute perfectly tight curls. Seeing the way her face fell after inspecting herself in the mirror her twin came to the rescue taking a few strands and braiding each lock softly before pulling them back to pin them with a butterfly clip at the back of her head. The reflection she met on the surface of the mirror that time was someone she liked, very much, with her big green glasses framing her brown eyes and her hair pulled back so that her face was free with only a couple random little curls still falling bouncily on her forehead; she looked beautiful, just unique like everyone in this world and she liked how pretty she looked and how powerful it made her feel, like she could conquer anything. She was smart, of course, but every once in a while it wouldn’t kill if she put on some makeup or if she wore her hair in a different style, it was part of her journey of becoming her true self.

Back to the chair where Alma was sitting Julieta kept on working incessantly on her mother’s updo, brushing, twisting and pinning strand after strand of hair on the lower back of her head, spraying and intoxicating everyone around them with the hairspray Rosa wouldn’t stop handing her, making sure to shake the excess product off with a smaller brush to also help keep some random baby hairs were they were meant to be, Pepa curling two short front locks with the curling iron. At first they didn’t come out as loose as she had wanted them, her mother looked either like George Washington or like a grandma version of Goldilocks, but after the second try they managed to bounce nicely framing her face in a much more old Hollywood sort of look. Isabela had already finished both her own hair and makeup, with several Bellflowers and Morning Glories popping randomly from in between her hair, topping it all with a lovely orange Daylily that she had clipped to the side of her head to keep those long side fringe strands out of her face, soft tones of a pinkish eyeshadow making her dark eyes stand out as well as the purplish nude colour she had chosen for her lips. With a wave of her hand a big bright red hibiscus flower appeared on the table, the girls eyes pointing at it while looking at Dolores, who understood that as soon as she was done with her hair her cousin wanted her to clip the flower on her beautiful tight curls; she was forgoing her usual red bow to go for a more natural look, a small accessory wouldn’t hurt. As the she carried on with what she was doing Isabela walked over to her mother and abuela inspecting the hairdo for a few minutes before a bright smile was displayed on her features, a string of white daisies serving as a diadem right above the bun Julieta had perfectly nailed without any help. As much as Isa wanted to cover her abuela in beautiful flowers she knew that less sometimes meant more and back when she had placed all those gorgeous flowers in Alma’s braid during their sleepover she had been just so happy and excited she hadn’t noticed it was all a bit too crowded, today it wasn’t required, her abuela needed to look beautiful and she would make sure of it.

Like a chef who uses her sharpest knife to slice through onions and carrots effortlessly her eldest nietas worked as if they were professionals, ensuring that every single product they used on their abuela’s skin felt light and hydrating, fingers moisturising her face as a prep for the makeup. Alma had flawless skin with very few wrinkles and only a couple of spots that in their opinion didn’t need to be covered so Dolores pushed away the entire box of foundations her cousin had and pulled out the hundreds of eyeshadow palettes out of Isa’s case and Camilo’s, a rather tall tower of eye makeup forming on the kitchen table as she kept on pulling them out in an never ending procession of expensive makeup. After a few minutes the last palette was placed on top of the tower as Isabela examined her abuela’s face and studied her complexion and tones to choose the colours that she thought would look best on her. Pepa in all of this had been coaxed to sit down so Rosa could do her braid, Julieta finishing Antonio’s hair by twisting the very few curls that were left with the handle of his brush, doing the bouncy test before she tapped him on the butt and he rushed to sit on a chair with his jaguar pet. The kitchen was big but not big enough for ten people, furniture and a jaguar but no one had the heart to tell the animal he had to go, it kept the little boy occupied and out of harm's way, unlike Camilo. If Pepa didn’t know better she would suspect that Agustín might be his father and not Felix, she could swear on all of heaven above that her eldest boy had a knack for injuring himself in the most absurd ways and of course since Juli’s husband was not to be seen inside Casita today somebody else had to fill his shoes; Camilo’s hand landed right on the curling iron just mere seconds after his mother had placed it on the table, a howling screaming tearing its way out of his throat. Everyone stood still as his tía rushed to him to check on his injury, pulling him towards the sink and placing his burned hand under the water before she practically parkoured her way to the pantry to grab one of Gus’ emergency arepas.

She shoved it into his mouth before turning the tap off watching in relief as his skin returned to its natural pale tone and the frown of pain vanished into thin air. The next second he was getting lectured by Pepa on how to act around hot objects as if he were five years old but both her arms were around him to make sure he was fine and no longer in pain which made it more difficult for Rosa to finish her hair and for Camilo not to get his freshly styled curls crushed by the strength of his mother. Dolores and Isa’s eyes switched from the boy’s form back to their abuela’s who was staring intensely at her nieto two seconds away from standing up, her body on the edge of the chair; it wasn’t until both girls whispered that he was fine, complaining that Pepa was choking him that she visibly relaxed and sat back properly on her chair, but her eyes never stopped glancing back at him for the remainder of the time they spent inside the kitchen. Alma’s eyes closed for several minutes as Isabela worked on them, soft strokes with the brush leaving the rose gold pigment on her olive skin, a small thin line extending the lines of her eyes to give them a more almond shape with Dolore’s eye liner, aiming for a soft, natural look unlike Isabela’s almost scandalous sharp eyes, mascara giving some more volume to Alma’s usual full eyelashes. The practice both girls had on putting makeup on each other helped immensely at using only maybe ten or fifteen minutes to finish their abuela’s look, finishing their masterpiece with a soft mix of a purplish and peach blush giving some colour to her cheeks and a lovely pale red lipstick. Looking in the mirror they handed to her, Alma couldn’t remember when it had been the last time she had looked as beautiful as she did today, her natural glow shining through this magnificent look making bubbles rise in her chest like a child who sees their favourite toy under the tree at Christmas.

-Good job Lola, un placer trabajar contigo.

-Likewise Isa. Nailed it. What do you think, abuela?

-I don’t have words, girls. You should do this for a living, I’ve never looked so pretty in my life.

-Nonsense abuelita, you’ve always been beautiful and it helps working on something that we don’t have to change at all, not a single inch. Why did you think you have such a gorgeous nieta as me? Because I inherited from you.

-There’s the humble Isabela, who doesn’t need anyone to tell her that she’s pretty or smart, she says to herself.

-I have confidence Lola, why shouldn’t I say what we all think: I’m the prettiest Madrigal, after abuela of course.

-What about me? Am I not the prettiest and cutest? Mamá says it.

-Of course you are Toñito. - Rosa finally tied the orange bow to the end of Pepa’s braid, sitting on a chair Casita had brought for her tired body after having fought with the hyperactive woman. The redhead tried to throw a glare at Isa but upon seeing her hair and makeup she just couldn’t deny that the girl was beautiful but she wouldn't go as far as saying that she was the prettiest in the family, the only person she would call ugly would be Bruno and only because of his messy hair and the fact that he carried rats everywhere and she did mean everywhere. - My little boy is the most handsome boy in the entire world, right Isa?

-Yes, of course he is. I’m the prettiest girl, and there’s Camilo who comes from another planet.

-Isabela, please, don’t start an argument with your cousin today, we still have a lot of things to do and your abuela isn’t even dressed yet. Come and help me with the back rollers, I think I have knots and they are stuck.

Free from the furious activity of getting her ready, Alma took the opportunity to leave the kitchen and head to the courtyard, the only empty and relatively cold place in the entire house hearing in the background how Isabel was complaining about her mother’s hair and Pepa was practically yelling at Camilo to stay still so she could inspect his curls which he was refusing with the excuse that she was going to crush them and they would go all limp on him. She loved her family, they were her everything but that didn’t mean that she didn’t like to spend some time away much more so when they were as anxious and stressed as they were today and the one getting married was her! Her dress hung from the dining room wall in a transparent bag looking back at her as she eyed it from her spot, the boxes of her underwear, shoes and jewellery on top of the dinning table in their pristine cases away from dirty hands. In the back of her head she knew that she should be grateful Rosa was lending her her own wedding necklace but part of her felt that leaving her locket in a drawer on such a special occasion as it was today she was betraying herself and her previous marriage so after glancing at the kitchen to see that everyone had their backs to her she rushed upstairs and into her room, closing her door in the quietest way possible. Just as she was making her way towards her nightstand a loud noise came from the back wall, as if bricks were moving or falling and the walls were ripping and for an instant she wondered if the cracks were coming back even after the fact that as soon as Mariano returned to her life they had all vanished out of the blue as if they had never ever been there in the first place, but upon turning around she found a window facing her right next to her small reading area with a tiny bookshelf, a comfy armchair and a little wooden table, a brand new set of white curtains flowing in the breeze coming from the open window.

It took her several seconds to register a voice calling for her from the back garden, her feet heading its way to see down by the yellowish grass Mariano in a beautiful white guayabera with two patterned thick lines on the front. From this distance she couldn’t make out what the symbols were but if she were down there beside him she would be able to see that they were made out tiny little butterflies and waves representing the lake up in their little spot; he was also wearing pale yellow or brown pants and a pair of very light moccasins, his hair slicked back and onto one side letting his waves roam free and his fuller beard perfectly trimmed with not a single hair out of place. He was the most handsome man she had seen in her life, deceased people excluded of course, and she found herself staring at him with lovestruck eyes not hearing a single word he was saying, until Bruno made himself present by coming out of some bushes in a green linen suit and a pair of pale green open moccasins carrying a guitar which he handed to Mariano while giving him the thumbs up, returning to his bush to give them some privacy. The first strings of the guitar started playing and soon the sound of the birds chirping and the song of the cicadas was nothing but an almost nonexistent background noise as the man’s voice filled her soul making her ears only able to listen to him.

Ay, ay, ay, ay

Canta y no llores

Porque cantando se alegran

Cielito lindo, los corazones

His eyes gleamed in the sunlight like melted chocolate, as sweet as candy and as dark as the deepest part of the ocean, a pool of the most wonderful and tasteful candy that even from a distance she could taste on the tip of her tongue, her heart beautiful at the tempo of the serenata.

De la sierra, morena

Cielito lindo, vienen bajando

Un par de ojitos negros, cielito lindo

De contrabando

De la sierra, morena

Cielito lindo, vienen bajando

Un par de ojitos negros, cielito lindo

De contrabando

She was falling, slowly and at the same time at the speed of light into his soul as the words felt out of his lips, peach coloured and as soft as the petals of a rose, so delicate to the touch of her fingers and yet so far away from her reach the music filling the silence of her room like a transparent elixir of life freezing her on the spot.

Ay, ay, ay, ay

Canta y no llores

Porque cantando se alegran

Cielito lindo, los corazones

Ay, ay, ay, ay

Canta y no llores

Porque cantando se alegran

Cielito lindo, los corazones

Ese lunar que tienes

Cielito lindo, junto a los ojos

No se lo des a nadie, cielito lindo

Que es para mi gozo

Her fingers instinctively reached out to touch her own face, smiling as broad as her muscles would provide as he changed the lyrics of the song to fit her and only her. It wasn’t anything gloriously exciting or a change so big that made him feel like he was singing her a completely different song, it was a small little touchup that made it unique as his heart sang it just for her, each single word pouring out love from every pore and crevasse the invisible poem.

Ese lunar que tienes

Cielito lindo, junto a los ojos

No se lo des a nadie, cielito lindo

Que es para mi gozo

Ay, ay, ay, ay

Canta y no llores

Porque cantando se alegran

Cielito lindo, los corazones

Ay, ay, ay, ay

Canta y no llores

Porque cantando se alegran

Cielito lindo, los corazones

She couldn't believe that even after fifty years she had a man under her brand new window serenading her in private without anyone but her son hiding in the bushes. She hadn't expected Mariano to remember this tradition, no one in the village usually did, maybe Agustín had back when he had been courting Julieta but that was practically it; Pepa had never been very found of listening of it so it wasn’t strange to find that when Felix had tried she had thrown a shoe at him forbidding him from opening his mouth, explaining to him in her own way that if he wanted to sing they would do it together and have as much as they could along with it, but it was a lovely touch that her soon to be husband hadn’t completely erased such a simple and romantic action from the events of the day and was now throwing kisses up at her while two bony hands picked up the guitar and practically flew out of the back garden as if he didn't want to get caught or be seen. Maybe Bruno was hiding from his sisters so they would leave him alone, if that was the case she couldn't blame her son in the slightest. Her hand travelled to the back of her hair and took one of the white daisies, quickly taking a pin out of a drawer after half screaming, half whispering at him to stay right where he was, throwing the flower from her window. It swayed in the air softly from side to side landing perfectly on the palms of his hands, quickly pinning it to the front of his guayabera before looking up at her.

From where he was standing his view of her rosy skin and cherry lips intoxicated his lungs and he wasn’t even close enough to smell her perfume. She would be his end, her mere existence on this planet was wonderful enough for him to carry on living, but seeing her as beautiful as she looked today and mere hours away from becoming his legal wife was making his heart explode inside his chest. Noises in between the leaves of the forest cut this beautiful moment short and after she threw a kiss at him and he returned the gesture he was running back to his house and Alma quickly grabbed the locket from her drawer and rushed back downstairs. Now she was ready to get married. When she entered the kitchen everyone was practically dressed which made her wonder just how much time she had spent upstairs but her daughter’s didn’t give her any opportunity to check the clock, Alma was being pushed towards the dining room asking Camilo and Antonio to head down to Mariano’s place to see if they were ready and to get a head start to the church. She was stripped from her dress and handed her underwear which she quickly put in the bathroom to later suffer the pain of getting the corset on and settled before Pepa and Juli pulled and tied the strings. She was old, that was a fact but that didn’t mean she couldn’t look beautiful. There were no mirrors with which she could check herself in not that she needed to, the instant she heard the zip of the bag come undone behind her her questions and doubts about whether she had done the right thing by letting her nieta and her son in law make her a “modern” dress dissipated. The satin fabric swished over the tiles as her daughters and granddaughters quickly undid the buttons and placed it at floor length in front of her, waiting for Alma to step into it; she hesitated for a minute before Mirabel took the liberty of holding her hands and began to pull her softly towards her, Alma’s feet moving freely and into the dress.

Feeling the cool fabric around her body she smoothed the garment with her hands, her fingertips following the lines of the embroidered flowers on the bodice, the bishop sleeves made out white transparent chiffon finishing right about the middle of her forearms matching the same fabric around her neck and upper chest; the transparent turtleneck blended into a low portrait collar marking the beginning of the bodice. The rest of the dress was made out of pale cream colour satin, tight fitting, the main reason why today she was wearing a corset and not her usual less constricting underwear, beautiful little pearls and white tulips and carnations embroidered around her waist and hips, the flowy A-line skirt falling around her legs in a simple clean piece of fabric that ended just at floor length, a slight trail on the back of the garment of about maybe a feet or two with golden butterflies and real undying daisies sawn onto the fabric by expert hands that held the delicate touch of tailor and the love of a granddaughter. Not a single stitch was out of place and the dress felt both light and cool in the summer heat. Reflected, in a slightly blurry manner, over the tiles on the walls she saw a young brunette girl staring back at her with the same happy childish smile her older self had, lovestruck eyes full of hope and dreams locking with her much wiser ones; she realised on that spot as Dolores handed her mother the pink box with the garter and the linen stockings, that she would have to give up a little on that past life that she had been holding on to for fifty years, but not in a metaphorical sense of speaking; it was in a physical one, meaning that as she looked down at her hands, eyes landing on one finger in specific, she would have to take her ring off. The panic quickly settled in and at the prospect of letting go of such an important momentum of her life her knees started to buckle under her weight. As quickly as they could, Julieta's hand’s shot up to prevent her mother from falling flat on the floor, Casita sending a chair their way.

-Mamá, are you alright?

-Is it your blood pressure? - the brunette carefully guided her mother to the seat feeling how Alma’s muscles were tensing and trembling under her palms, her chest rising and falling at such speed Juli feared she might start hyperventilating. Of course her sister’s comments didn’t quite help ease her worry. - The heart? Have you drank and eaten anything today?

-Pepi, please, let her speak. Dolores, cielo, ¿puedes hacerle un té a tu madre a ver si se calma de una vez?

-Of course, come on mami, let’s get you some delicious lavender tea.

-But… Ugh, de verdad, sois imposibles. Go ahead, don’t listen to me but if mamá collapses at the altar don’t come crying to me! - she stormed out of the dining room with a growing cloud hovering over her head, small quiet thunders and lightning forming in between the fluffy clouds with an extremely calm Dolores following her into the kitchen.

-Mamá, what’s wrong? Cold feet? It’s very normal, I don’t I know of anyone who didn’t start asking themselves if they are doing the right thing by getting married, you don’t need to-

-It’s not that - Alma worked on her own at controlling her breathing, her heart rate slowing down after a few minutes. - It’s quite childish really. It didn’t occur to me until now that I need a free finger for my new ring and that means… taking off your father’s and I don’t think I can do that.

-Oh, mamá.

-I know I shouldn’t make a great deal out of it but… I can’t help it. It’s one of the very few things I have to remember him by and suddenly I’m expected to push it aside and I really do not think that I have the strength to take it off and just keep it in a drawer or my jewellery box. It’s meant so much to me for such a long time…

-Have you talked about this with Mariano?

-How could I, if I didn’t realise it until now?

-Hold on, I have an idea. Mamá, undo the first few buttons of abuela’s dress, I’ll be right back. - there was no hint, not even one word of what the girl had thought of, but her feet shot towards the staircase running to her room and back in under five minutes, a single piece of white thread in her hands. - Can I take it off for you, abuela? I promise I won’t let it fall or lose it. - a single nod was sufficient answer for Mirabel as she carefully pulled the golden band off her abuela’s finger letting it get wrapped on the thread she had brought before her hands wrapped it around Alma’s neck, under the translucent fabric, tying it at the back. It felt oddly strange not to have it on her finger after such a long time, she felt naked somehow but at the same time having it close to her heart seemed to her like it was its rightful place. With the dress buttoned up once more her fingers travelled to feel the cold metal band over the skin of her chest. - I promise I’ll get you a better chain for it but for the time being it should be more than enough. What do you think?

-Don’t rush it Mirabel, cariño. I quite like it this way, a little detail from your abuelo adjusted by her granddaughter, it’s quite fitting don’t you think?

-Si, creo que si but I will get you a better chain so you can wear it always. There is no reason why you shouldn't keep it close, abuelo is very important to all of us just as much as he is to you, Mariano will understand.

Mirabel was such a smart and kind girl, she could read everyone around her like a book and she had the wonderful ability to always know what people needed and wanted almost all the time without missing a beat. Being her abuela only enhanced this gift her Mira seemed to possess, helping and guiding the older woman through the treacherous paths of the modern world and on how to adapt her old life to the new one. Her hands caressed the girls cheeks for a moment before Pepa returned to the room with a steaming cup of tea and a sour face, Dolores following in her usual calm demeanour but in her eyes a thin veil of exasperation was beginning to form, her mother’s moods affecting her at last. Luisa handed the pink box to his abuela who quickly took it and opened it to free the delicate lavender blue garter after she had put the stockings on, stretching the garment softly in her hands before slipping it on her left leg. There really wasn’t much need for it, not with this new sort of tights and socks, but it added some spice to the activities planned for later and she most certainly wasn’t going to stop him from enjoying every single inch of her. The only thing left was the shoes that rested inside their white box on the kitchen table. It had been a nightmare trying to find a nice pair that wouldn’t be too ordinary or too luxurious for her feet, practicality was the main factor playing this time instead of prettiness, but like every moment of her life magic seemed to have her back and two weeks ago in the store in town a gorgeous pair of block heels of just a few inches with closed toes in an absolutely stunning tone of pearl white with two small bows on the front showed up. It had been like love at first sight, such beautiful shoes couldn’t have just been on that window out of luck, the world had smiled at her that day and without even thinking they had bought them. Isabela handed Alma the box helping her abuela to unwrap them and place them on the floor right next to her feet but just as the girl was about to raise the skirt her own mother asked her to stop, telling her that she had to go get something from her purse. As far as they knew there was no need for Alma to wear anything else on her legs and she wasn’t going to put any gloves on so it came as a surprise when Julieta had come back with her coin pouch instead of some forgotten garment. It clicked on their brains as she handed a single coin of fifty pesos to Alma that no one had remembered to leave some money out for her to wear on her shoe, another tradition but this one was indeed followed by everyone in the village; after placing los pesos inside the brand new pair of shoes Isabela tied the strings around Alma’s ankles until they were secure enough, the older woman shaking her feet a bit to test them.

The hours were passing as fast as possible and at the same time it all seemed to have frozen, everything around her walking past her in slow motion, words and noises dragging out for ages as she finally stood up to let Julieta clip her own veil on her mother’s hair, the something old, something new and something blue checked out of the list. From the kitchen table she could see herself in one of the mirrors that had been left laying around, finally meeting her reflection. She was looking at herself but she seemed to be facing a stranger wearing a wedding dress, the only recognizable thing being her eyes; time had been kind to her, that much was undeniable but age had modified her body in the strangest ways to a point that she could hardly believe this was her, she had grown accustomed to seeing herself as an old widow that it had never even crossed her mind that one day she would be standing in her own home dressed like this with no longer brunette braids but greish locks of thin hair, tired and wrinkled skin that showed just how long it had been, her once girlish eyes transforming into those of a woman who had lived and suffered too much. It really was strange just how different the circumstances were and yet how completely normal and similar it all felt to that first time. The lace of the veil rested on top of her shoulders swimming down her back up to her hips, Pepa’s cold breeze returning to the house as the redhead sipped on her cup of tea, the previous dark clouds dissipating. Then the church bells struck six, telling everyone that the feared yet expected time had finally arrived; her daughter’s were the first ones to get a move on, telling the girls to start heading to the door, leaving Juli and Pepa alone with Alma and Rosa, the latter handing out her jewellery box to her best friend, waiting for her to open it.

She had seen the necklace before, she was no stranger to such beauty but it never ceased to amaze her, the perfect white gold shimmering under the sunlight that came through the windows, sparkling diamonds scattered along the chain as Rosa took it gently from her hands and clipped it around her neck, the weight of the piece falling perfectly over her collar bone without hiding the ring. The something borrowed had finally finished the look, Alma’s heart thanking heaven above that it was over, hammering against her ribs and corset, but a soft ringing in her ears kept on telling her that something was missing, that she was forgetting something but couldn’t quite figure out what it was. Just as Pepa returned to the kitchen to leave her cup in the sink and Julieta and Rosa headed for the courtyard her feet started moving towards the door, that was until her eyes landed on the locket as she glance back at the table, where it laid half hidden, accidentally, underneath one of the boxes and without thinking her hands shooting to grab it, her arms slamming over the wooden surface in her hurry to get it. She had nowhere to keep it and she couldn’t wear it, it was slightly chipped and it had lost its shine but she was not going to leave him behind, he had accompanied her every single day of her life and it just didn’t feel right to have him forgotten underneath a box or inside a drawer to catch dust as the bubble of guilt grew and grew inside Alma’s chest. Without knowing what she was doing she wrapped the chain around her wrist until she was sure it wouldn’t fall off her arm and left the room to join the rest of her family.

There by the front door was Bruno with his messy curls brushed into a ponytail and his usual ruana ditched for the day in exchange for a dark green suit made out of linen, the sleeves rolled up all the way to his elbows, his horrid sandals laying on the mountains of sand in his room since his feet were covered by a pair of pale green open moccasins, just as she had seen him when Mariano had come to serenade her. He winked at his mother but it came out more as if he was about to sneeze, his other eye squinting a little but she understood, a soft smile plastered on her face as she walked towards him. Both his sisters were too busy making sure the girls looked perfect that they simply nodded at Bruno to acknowledge his presence before they returned to mother mode smoothing dresses and returning random strands of her to their rightful place. Underneath Rosa’s arm was the box where Alma’s mantilla was kept, safe until they got to the church. The sun was still pretty high up in the sky but the way it hit the ground underneath was less scorching than it had been around lunch time, the fresh smell of flowers and ready to be picked fruit mixing with that of the warmth that levitated in the air. The bells of the church sang the upcoming celebration with giddy notes that echoed in between the mountains, the procession of the Madrigal’s walking down the path, over the bridge and into town, the strong perfume of Isabela’s flowers filling up their chests. Bruno had asked his mother to walk with him by giving her his arm, not a word breaking the comfortable silence of their stroll, but behind them the rest of the troops laughed, joked and scandalously talked, excitement palpable in the air, Julieta, Pepa and Rosa chatting calmly at the end of the group.

-You sneaked Mariano out of his house, didn’t you?

-Maybe, but he did sing to you so…

-I wasn’t going to scold you. I’m rather thankful, Brunito, honestly, and it makes me very happy that you haven’t brought any rats to my wedding.

-Oh, but I have, Agustín made me some ratpockets on the jacket so Cecilia and Robeto could watch the ceremony.

With the smile of a child who had just been given some candy he opened his jacket enough for her to see two rats poking out from a rather big pocket in the inner part of the garment. And as angry as she wanted to be with him, the only thing she managed was a soft chuckle along with a short shaking of her head. He would always be a little boy in her eyes and it kind of saddened her to know that she had missed so much time; she had almost forgotten just how much he liked to have some Cholado in the summer months or the sound of his knuckles on the wooden surface of tables and the bannister when he retired for the night. Small little things that she hadn’t realised were part of her just as much as they were his. The concert of heels on the pavement echoed against the decorated walls of the buildings, houses closed as well as shops since everyone in town would be in church by now, their steps light and quick. The tower of the church came into view from in between the houses, the bells clunking over their heads as they got closer and closer and just as they rounded the corner the temple came into view standing high and proud, front doors fully closed except for the small gateways that allowed the very few people that were still entering the building. The wedding jitters were beginning to take hold of Alma’s body, knees trembling and hands sweating a bit, her breathing coming in long huffs to make sure she didn’t go into a full panic attack. He was at the other side waiting for her and for some reason she wanted to either run away or jump into his arms, unsure of which to do but her feet were glued to the floor and her legs felt like lead, impossible to move so either way she wouldn't have been able to do neither of them. She had dissociated for just a few minutes so when the sight of the church vanished under the white fabric of her lace mantilla, the garment brushing against her cheeks and nose, her hands clutched Bruno’s arm out of surprise and anxiety, her heart skipping a beat. She could still see through the holes in the embroidery but it didn’t stop her heart from hammering against her ribs now that she was mere minutes away from stepping inside the church.

Small little Bells of Ireland wrapped in between the fabric of the mantilla now that it was secured to Alma’s head, Isa’s job almost done; just before she headed inside with her family she quickly created out of thin air the most beautiful bouquet of flowers; laced inside the white bow that tied the stems all together soft pink Peonies mixed with white Gardenias, strong purple Lilacs giving that bit of colour along with bright yellow Chamomiles and blue Poppies that it need, between green leaves and stems that gave depth and a rich aura to the whole thing. The girl rushed to give her a peck on the cheek before she practically flew inside the building, Luisa flashing her a smile before following, Dolores and Mirabel squeezing her forearms to later disappear through the doors. There really wasn't much time left, the clock ticking in slow motion around her, the bells booming inside her head but she stood her ground. Rosa whispered a soft good luck in her ear; the next instant she was gone leaving her standing there with her children. She thought she had been done with this sort of thing after Pepa’s wedding, that once her grandchildren began to settle down she would be just a feature in their brand new lives, and a very happy one at that, but it saddened her that as much as she had dreamed of walking down the aisle once more it was not her place to do so anymore. She had watched with tears in her eyes when both her daughters had reached the altar in their beautiful white dresses, Bruno clinging to her as if he was afraid she would shove him towards any single woman out there but she wouldn’t have done that, as much as she had expected him to finally settle down, as the years went by she realised that was not the life for him and surprisingly she was okay with it. Being in front of the church today being the one about to get married was terrifying but it brought a rush of joy to know that her family was there, all of them, supportive and ready to watch her take the next step.

Julieta’s eyes were gleaming with tears and as if she hadn’t thought of this before she felt as if she was looking at her father smile through her dark pools of kindness and understanding, seeing her sister jumping in absolute delight through the green fields of nature that laid behind Pepa’s eyes, Bruno’s fingers pressing on her arm softly as she came face to face with him. Everyone was here today, her ears picking up as the bells stopped, the gentle sound of flowing water, the ripples on the surface reflecting its patterns on the walls of the church embracing her into a pair of invisible arms. Her daughters kissed her before walking inside meeting Felix as he came out with little Antonio. The boy would be the one to carry the rings up to the altar, so he was supposed to be the first one to enter the church, Felix heading towards them ready to walk Alma down the aisle, but Bruno didn’t let go of her arm; he seemed determined to tell him something although the words were getting stuck in his throat. It wasn’t until the broad man placed one of his hands on Bruno’s shoulder that he finally let the words fall off his lips in a rather hurried and a bit stumbly way. If she hadn’t been there hearing him she wouldn’t have believed it, her son, her little boy had asked Felix if for once they could change the traditions and let him instead of the Godfather walk her up to the altar, and like the good sport he was, Felix hadn’t even tried to explain to him all that bullshit Alma had heard throughout the years that they had to follow and honour the traditions and such, no, he had smiled as bright as the sun and simply had told him not to get his feet caught in her dress and to keep his back straight to make himself look taller. The tension visibly left his body, shoulders relaxing beside her, eyes following Felix’s form as he talked with Antonio, gave him the cushion with the sewn in rings and left, giving them all a thumbs up before Pepa’s hands grabbed his collar and pulled him inside.

At last the time had arrived and as the doors opened to let in Antonio she could have sworn she was two seconds away from fainting but her legs didn’t betray her and her feet took a step forward, and then another until she was maybe a foot or so from the tiled floors of the church. From the ceiling soft white petals fell over the aisle in a gentle rain getting caught in between the boy’s curls as he proudly headed for the altar, the cushion tightly in his hands. In the first benches fluffy clouds had formed, but a bright yellow umbrella protected those underneath from the shower that fell from them, probably Pepa and Julieta. The organ began to play the first notes of the bridal march and without even having to force herself to move, her feet accompanied Bruno’s in short calm steps down the central corridor, her eyes observing everyone through her mantilla until they landed on the figure of her beloved that as she walked got closer and closer. Bruno was practically beaming as he escorted her, holding onto her arm a bit as if she was the one guiding him and not the other way around, but no one cared, it looked right to have him accompany his own mother down the aisle until they reached the altar, passing the bouquet to Dolores as Alma took Marinao’s hands and walked up the mini stairs. The warmth of his palms against hers calmed her speeding heart as he guided her towards the priest, his fingers travelling up to her mantilla to lift it gently off her face, revealing her to the world but mainly his own two eyes where tears had gathered at the sight of his bride. Dolores came to the rescue picking up the garment from his hands since she feared it might fall to the ground without him even realising; finally everyone was in place.

Whatever father Flores was speaking came through one ear and out the other, she just couldn’t take her eyes off of Mariano. Not only he had made himself even more handsome but the air that surrounded him had changed completely and it drew her in like metal to a magnet, his aftershave sweet perfume that intoxicated and drugged her into this euphoric state of love and romance that she wasn’t battling at all. His eyes had locked with hers the instant the mantilla had been lifted and from then on they had been lost inside each other’s souls oblivious to the world around them. A bomb could have gone off right beside them that they wouldn’t have noticed. He felt his knees go weak every time she blinked or when her cherry lips turned up a bit, a smile just for him, sending soft electric shocks through his arms, because now that he had her right in front of him he just could let go, although that static might come from Pepa since she was practically all over the place. Around the couple time stood still, no one or nothing moved, no sounds disturbed them as if the world had stopped turning but they couldn’t care less, they were taking the last step, through thick and thin they had managed to stay together, forgiving each other’s mistakes and learning how to move forward, together, not listening to the voices that told them this wasn’t meant to be; they had built something they couldn’t break down, and they would continue to do so until their bodies drew in their last breath. The spell was broken when the priest announced the next few texts were going to be read by some members of this church. Mirabel stood up and headed for the pulpit, coughing softly before she looked down at the book claiming the text was from the book of Rut, her word echoing against the perfect walls of the church, the wooden carvings of the Virgin Mary and Jesus almost listening as intensely as her abuela was.

Rut respondió:

“No insistas en que te abandone y me separe de ti,

porque donde tu vayas, yo iré,

donde habites, habitaré.

Tu pueblo será mi pueblo

Y tu Dios será mi Dios.

Donde tú mueras moriré

Y allí seré enterrada.

Que Yahveh me dé este mal

y añada a este otro todavía

Si no es tan solo la muerte

Lo que nos ha de separar”

Palabra de Dios.

To her surprise Luisa stood up and took Mirabel’s place, quickly flipping the pages to find her text before people started to talk and their focus shifted to something else. Smoothing the page with her hands, her booming voice reverberated all over the building and explained that what she was going to read belonged to the first letter from the apostle Saint Pablo to the Corinthians.

El amor es sufrido, es benigno;

el amor no tiene envidia;

el amor no es jactancioso, no se envanece,

no hace nada indebido, no busca lo suyo,

no se irrita, no guarda rencor;

no se goza de la injusticia,

sino que se goza de la verdad.

Todo lo sufre, todo lo cree,

todo lo espera, todo lo soporta.

El amor disculpa sin límites,

cree sin límites, espera sin límites,

aguanta sin límites.

El amor no pasa nunca.

Palabra de Dios

The texts hadn’t been chosen by the priest, they were too specific for him to have randomly selected them, her granddaughters must have talked with him so they could read them, not that Alma would ever complain, the words were like balms to the part of her heart that still held onto Pedro as if it were the only thing that kept it beating, a single tear sliding down her cheek in silence as the girl returned to her seat in between her sisters. Mariano’s hand quickly travelled to her face, whipping the droplet with his thumb, but he wasn’t worried about her, the bright smile that she was giving him could have easily been the only oxygen he would have ever needed to survive. Soon enough, Father Flores began the most important part of the ceremony, the one that everyone wants to see, both because it means the wedding will end soon and they can eat and because it's the next step to finally be done with all this and be considered officially married. He asked them to stand up from their stools, neither of them ever breaking hand contact to look at the priest, ready and wishing it all was over already.

-Alma Madrigal y Mariano Guzmán, ¿vienen a contraer matrimonio sin ser forzados, libres y de manera voluntaria?

-Si, venimos libremente.

- ¿ Están decididos a respetarse y amarse siguiendo la vida del propio matrimonio, durante el resto de su vida?

- Sí, estamos decididos.

-¿Están dispuestos a recibir de Dios responsable y amorosamente los hijos, y a educarlos según la ley de Cristo y de su Iglesia? - a couple of chuckles were heard from in between the guests, a tight smile gracing Alma’s lips as she swallowed the lump that had formed on her throat.

-Sí, estamos dispuestos.

-Unan sus manos y manifiesten su consentimiento ante Dios y ante la Iglesia. - Mariano was the first one to speak, dropping his left hand to his side to leave just their right ones in front of father Flores. - Mariano Guzmán, ¿quieres recibir a Alma Madrigal, como esposa, y prometes serle fiel en la prosperidad y en la adversidad, en la salud y en la enfermedad, y así, amarla y respetarla todos los días de tu vida?

-Si, quiero

-Alma Madrigal, ¿quieres recibir a Mariano Guzmán, como esposo, y prometes serle fiel en la prosperidad y en la adversidad, en la salud y en la enfermedad, y así, amarlo y respetarlo todos los días de tu vida?

-Si, quiero

-Lo que Dios ha unido, que no lo separe el hombre - the breath he didn’t know he had been holding released the instant she said those words, one step closer to being hers forever and ever, feeling like all the traditions and things they had to do were keeping him from her more than helping him get her in all full honesty and commitment. Felix handed the priest a little silver tray where the rings were, free from the cushion where Antonio had carried them. - El Señor bendiga estos anillos que van a entregarse uno al otro en señal de su amor y fidelidad.

-Alma Madrigal, recibe este anillo, en señal de mi amor y fidelidad hacia ti. En el nombre del Padre, del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo. - he slipped the golden band on her finger effortlessly, the metal of the ring contrasting with the warmth of her body. It was strange, of course, she had spent fifty years wearing a ring that had been a symbol of a past life so the new one she wore now, polished and gleaming in the light of the stained glasses, fit perfectly and felt just right, not a doubt in her mind that she wasn’t making a mistake. Taking the other ring from the tray it was Alma’s turn.

-Mariano Guzmán, recibe este anillo, en señal de mi amor y fidelidad hacia ti. En el nombre del Padre, del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo.

In the excitement of it all Mariano almost jumped to kiss her, but Felix quickly pulled him back and whispered something in his ear, the young man’s face dropping for a minute, before with certain resignation he returned to his original posture raising his shoulders towards Alma. In all of this, Father Flores had turned his back to pick up yet another silver tray but this one contained twelve golden coins and a platinum one, holding it up in the air as if he was presenting it to the Lord and the guests before he did the sign of the cross over it.

-Bendice Señor, estas arras, que Alma y Mariano se entregan, y derrama sobre ellos la abundancia de tus bienes.

He dropped the coins in Mariano’s hands who carefully placed them on Alma’s open hands before she gave them back to him, returning them to the tray where a soft piece of lace laid over it. Of course, he had forgotten about that, they were supposed to use that for the hat of the Christening outfit of their first child, the thorn digging deeper in both their hearts, but they didn’t show it, only carried on listening to the priests words as he read several more texts, offering the bread and wine to the couple before he handed the cup and plate to a few of the monaguillos so he could bless the rest of the guests. There weren’t one or two, it was a whole town and it bothered the hell out of them both that they had to wait even more for them to finish before they could be done with this whole thing and finally be free, but fate seemed to be creating a bit of a setback for them and what they thought would be maybe ten minutes became twenty as they sat back on the stools to wait. Finally Rosa took the last sip from the cup and the priest returned to his place, handing each a candle, lighting them with a match before he stood in front of them with a third one. Carefully both tilted their own to light the new one, observing how the flame began to form until it burned on its own, each blowing their own candles before putting them aside and taking the one they had just lit, hearts hammering as the priest finally blessed them and declared them husband and wife before he bid them goodbye and a happy, healthy and long marriage. They stood there for a few minutes looking at the flame before their eyes locked, brains registering at last that it was over, that they had just got married. As much as he wanted to kiss her until the world ended he only gave her a quick peck on the cheek, promising her a better one in just a minute.

The guests rushed to the doors as the couple walked back down the aisle with the candle still burning in their hands until the sun of the evening greeted them and both blew it out once they were standing on the stairs of the church, his arms wrapping around her waist drawing her near. Lips pressed together in a gentle dance, the cheers of the people around them deafening, rice and flowers falling on their heads as she pulled him impossibly close while wrapping her arms around his neck, her feet lifted off the floor as he twirled them on the spot. SHE HAD GOT MARRIED!! If she had been a firework she would be exploding non-stop in the sky, rainbows and excited breezes enfolding them as Pepa cried and laughed in Felix’s arms, Julieta watching her mother with her head resting on Agustín’s shoulder. It had all worked out in the end, Bruno smiling softly beside Rosa, handing her a handkerchief since the poor woman seemed to be sniffling her lungs back into her body. With the grandkids screaming and heading to Casita the guests followed, Dolores not forgetting to return the bouquet back to Alma promising the newlyweds she would provide them with a few minutes of privacy, practically hoarding everyone to Casita. Alone in front of the church they just couldn’t believe what they had done, his arms never leaving her waist, while her free hand held onto the lapels of his guayabera, the few inches that had separated them vanishing as lips met once more. This was heaven, this was how living in the garden of Eden had felt to Adam and Eve, having Alma as his official wife made him feel like he was living in paradise.

When their lungs began to scream for air they were forced to break away from each other, a sudden idea popping into his head. With her hand secured in his he pulled her to the edge of town, the gates to the graveyard coming into view after maybe a five minute walk, the trees that surrounded it swaying softly in the afternoon breeze as the heat of the day dissipated somewhat and a gentle chilly air finally began to cool down the atmosphere. Her steps were unsure and maybe a bit slow, but she followed him nevertheless, Mariano pushing the gates open and guiding her to the back, where the sun bathed the statue of the angel and the marble cross. Standing in front of their graves she was unsure what to do or say, she usually felt sad and heartbroken when she came to visit but today she couldn't find those feelings anywhere, but when Mariano wrapped his arms around her waist from behind whispering in her ear that not always words were needed she saw the silver lining. Picking out some Lilacs from her bouquet she placed them on the ground in front of Pedro’s, kneeling to place a kiss of her hand before it travelled to the stone, inexplicably cold and warm under her fingers, some Peonies placed on the base of the statue, another kiss landing over the plaque. Mariano stood a couple feet away to give her some space so when she felt the brushing of some fingers on her cheek she assumed it had been him, but when her eyes landed on his form her heart skipped a beat, the translucent figures of those ghosts she had felt around her getting swallowed by the first few rays of dusk, their job done and their journey over now that hers was beginning.

#alma madrigal #abuela madrigal #encanto #dolores madrigal #julieta madrigal #pepa madrigal #bruno magridal #mariano guzman #señora guzmán #disney

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aggieharkness · 2 years

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Hay que encontrar su propio futuro

a/n: Hello!! Here's the new chapter, I warn you, it's long and writing it was exhausting I only hope you like it and that I have graced the wishes you left me in the comments. As you know I read everything you write, and all the feedback you give me, and if you have any ideas, requests, or changes that you want me to make I'll be very glad to do so. Now I leave the chapter for you to read and judge but I do hope you enjoy it :)) I'm Spanish so I used expressions from my own language. I'm afraid I don't know Colombian ones so I had to work with the ones that I know. If there are any Colombians out there that would prefer for me to change what I have written I would very gladly do it, but even so, I hope you like the ones I have used.

warning: age difference, implied sexual content, past use of alcohol. mention of graveyards. Most importantly no Alma Madrigal bashing, i love this woman.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16

Hay que encontrar su propio futuro

He could scream at the top of his lungs but decided against it, it was far too early in the morning to start getting lectured by his abuela and he really didn’t feel like starting another argument with her, not after the hellish week he had had. Each morning during the last seven days had consisted of getting death glares from Rosa and sharp words about what he had said to Alma, the kiss nothing more than an anecdote now in favour of what he had done back at Casita. There was no need for that every single day, he already knew he had fucked up but she didn’t seem to think he understood the damage the situation had caused, but what Rosa didn’t know was that he was very much aware. He wasn’t connected to his house by magic like Alma was, but if he had his walls would be filled with fractures and holes as much as her bedroom was back at Casita, he had broken his own soul the instant those words had left his lips, he had felt how the logical part of his brain had screamed for him to stop but he couldn’t, not now that he had stated and so he watched frozen inside his own mind how her eyes became blank, her sparkle completely gone, the shadow of a broken heart clear as day in her brown eyes. Today was not an exception. He woke up and headed for his work room, the only place in the house where he could be on his own with his thoughts as his strong fingers polished the metal that rested on his workbench. It felt better hiding like this than going out to meet a hostile world even though he knew he deserved all the hate he was getting, but that didn’t mean he liked it.

With the tea towel he finished cleaning the letters he had engraved over the bronze plaque, his thoughts drifting to the incident over and over again along with what he had been through in the past week. He didn’t leave his home after the argument with Alma, watching from the window of his room how Julieta made excuses for her mother while taking the basket and the very little shopping that had survived from Rosa’s hands; not even once had she looked up to see him but he was sure she knew he was watching, she felt his eyes glued to her form, making the hairs on the back of her head rise. That’s as much interaction as he got for the rest of the evening, not even at dinner his abuela had called for him, she had left a cold plate on the table for him when she went to bed which he ate in complete darkness letting, in the shadows of the night, the tears that had been threatening to fall all day finally stream down his cheeks. Every bite tasted like rotten eggs, a reflection of how he felt but he ate it all nevertheless because he knew he didn’t deserve to complain; if he could he would have erased all this from Alma’s mind but alas he had no powers and was rendered a simple man who had been left alone by his own doings. Not even the sweet breeze that came through the windows lightened up his mood, it only took his mind to the bouquet of perfect roses and daisies that Sofia had dropped, petals scattered all over the ground as he took off to chase Alma leaving the other woman behind. He had selected each flower with the utmost care only to leave them on the floor to be stepped on by anyone.

That night he had sat on his bed staring at the ring he had been carrying for two weeks, the small sapphire glinting on the light of the candle he had lit hours ago, the wax melting over his nightstand dripping on the floor but he didn’t see it, his eyes could only look at the golden ring he had purchased with what had been left of his savings after he bought her the painting equipment. As much as his body was claiming rest he couldn’t lay down and sleep, his body was locked in place watching in the moonlight as the last bit of the flame flickered before giving out, the way each gem gleamed in the pure white reflection of the moon not feeling at this point the way his guayabera was soaked in tears. He had lost her, after all they had been through he had let his temper get the best of him and had lost her with no possibilities of ever getting her back; he would have to get used to watching her from a distance hidden behind columns and houses adoring her in silence and resignation letting life go by until the day when he would only be able to sit in front of her grave and talk to her without the opportunity of hearing her voice again cursing his ownself for having driven the love of his life away. The only consolation would be to see her hair flowing in the morning breeze as she walked through the streets, her lavender perfume barely gracing his presence as she walked past him without so much as a hard glare, but at least his eyes would be able to see her even if he never got to speak to her, hear her again or even touch her. A simple consolation for a fool. He didn’t sleep at all that night and didn’t bother to move from his spot over the covers when the first rays of sun came through the window. There were a few clouds still up in the sky showing that Pepa was still upset but at least she had calmed down considerably but even the beautiful dawn felt cold and empty as if all of a sudden there wasn’t a single thing to be happy about in this world, or at least in his own little world.

Breakfast came and went and Rosa didn’t come to check on him or called him to go down to the kitchen, her hands pressed on the door as she listened to the deep silence that seemed to have engulfed her nieto’s room, the handle was barely a few inches away from her fingers but right at the last second she changed her mind and walked away without uttering a word. She was upset with him for not having handled this another way, for trying to lie to Alma and make it all seem like childsplay when he knew just how important it was for her friend only to top it all off by saying such horrid things. She could forgive a kiss but she couldn’t, for the time being, find it in her heart to forgive him for speaking ill of the dead, she hadn’t raised him like that, she couldn't understand where she might have gone wrong with him. And so she left the house around nine to do the shopping she had meant to do yesterday leaving Mariano alone with his own guilt and thoughts, he needed space to breath and think as much as Alma did. The ring didn’t leave his pocket that day either and after imagining several ways of apologising which all ended up with him dead by lightning or a random rolling pin he came to the conclusion that he could utilise his ability to write to beg for her forgiveness. The ink and paper rested on his desk against the window, his hand quickly and neatly writing each word with all the love and shame he could master, depicting the truth of the incident and his feelings hoping that it would be enough to start with making clear as he wrapped up the letter that he intended to earn her trust and love until she saw fit to let him back into her life. And for the first time since everything happened he set foot on the cobblestones of the streets.

What he hadn’t expected was the entire universe to be against him. As small villages are rumours spread like wildfire; right at the beginning of their relationship when they were still walking on eggshells around each other the most gossipy women started talking and so a few questions became full on rumours in under a week and after they got caught holding hands it just became facts; he should have expected after the yesterday’s spectacle that everyone would know they had broken up and it had been his fault, but what he hadn’t expected was to be thrown an entire basket of rotten tomatoes just as he was closing his front door. He barely had time to put the letter in his pocket to save it from the stinky juice but when he turned around no one was there and the few people that he encountered as he walked to Casita, shaking the tomato that still slid down his face, didn’t even bother to greet him. That would be today, he was sure that by tomorrow the town would have found something else to talk about and he would return to a relatively normal life. Upon finding the house something didn’t feel right, everything was far too quiet and the magical building seemed to be just like a normal house, no windows moving or tiles shaking, everything stood still in time. Whipping his hands clean he slid the letter underneath the front door and instead of turning and leaving as he knew he should he stood up and found himself face to face with the carving of Alma on the wood his fingers working on their own as he caressed her cheek over the warm entryway. Another consolation for a broken twat.

On the other side the tiles rumbled softly as the paper moved all the way to the kitchen where Julieta was finishing breakfast while Pepa coaxed their mother to get dressed and leave her room with the help of Mirabel and Luisa. No one saw the stray tears that Mariano was shedding in front of her home in silence and resignation with only the tiniest bit of confidence still burning in his heart, way deep inside it. He also didn’t see that Alma was wrapped in her fluffy pink robe with her black shawl over her shoulder, hair barely brushed and feet bare on the cold tiles. This was all they had managed to get her to do today, it was far too soon to expect her to jump to her old self, she didn’t have three newborns to take care of now, she didn’t have anything really to keep her busy; this time the overwhelming grief was taking over and she couldn’t find the strength to fight it. Without noticing the way the magical house was moving around them the letter was placed softly beside Alma’s coffee cup, her eyes landing on it as soon as she slumped on her chair. There was no way she could have mistaken his calligraphy for anyone else's; there was that smallest need to see what he had written but it hurt too much, she had barely stitched her heart up she couldn’t let anything open the wounds again and so her hands picked the envelope trembling and with weak steps she made her way to the stove. Julieta and Pepa simply watched as their mother turned it on and placed the paper close to the flame, eyes blank as the letter turned into ashes in her hand until she had to let it fall into the sink leaving the traces of tiny broken words over the metal until they were consumed by the flame and all his thoughts and apologises were forgotten, taken by the water when she turned the tap on watching the dust twirl in between the rivulets of the crystal clear liquid until there was nothing.

He went home oblivious to the fact that his words hadn’t even been read or that Alma sat back down without touching her coffee or looking at anyone except for the scratches on the kitchen table. All eyes were on him, whispers following each step he took but no one dared speak to him, they plainly stared shamelessly; at first he didn’t mind but as the minutes passed it got progressively worse until he started doubting whether he wanted to go out at all for the rest of the day. His dirty clothes were thrown into the laundry basket after placing the black velvet box with the ring securely on the bathroom counter. That’s how he spent each single day, waking up to another beautiful day that he couldn’t enjoy, writing another letter and getting the silent treatment from everyone in town, even his abuela and each single morning Alma would stand over the sink watching mesmerised as it got consumed by the flames the same way she was letting the darkness of her pain drown her. Every single time he stepped into the streets someone would insult him or throw him something like a rotten tomato or eggs, there weren’t any preferences really but all the harsh words and the way the world seemed to have forgotten about his existence started to take a great toll on him and when he heard Julieta tell Bruno one morning while he was hiding behind a column that their mother had burned today’s letter again without even bothering to open it that little light of hope he had had at the beginning vanished in under a second. He had dreamt of the possibility of them fixing this, of forgetting what had happened but now he had nothing but guilt and a deep sense of emptiness that he would never get rid of.

The sound of his hammer falling on the ground with great noise woke him up from his full on hike down memory lane staring with sad eyes at the object on the dirty floor of his workroom with the bronze plaque still in his hands shining at the light the sun provided through the small windows. He had found himself doing this quite often in the last week. On the other side of the village Alma was sitting on her bed looking at the half full crate that rested next to the bathroom door; she had been throwing all his presents and poems in there along with some of her dresses and shoes, basically anything that would remind her of him and today she planned on putting the painting equipment in there at last and be done with, but her body was frozen in place with her fingers grabbing the fabric of her bed sheets to the point where her knuckles were turning white, knees trembling softly at the simple thought of getting rid of such an expensive gift, but what was she meant to do when everywhere she looked she could see him, smell him in her clothes, even after so many months his aftershave still clung to her pillows easing her into sleep each night. She wouldn't call herself a masochist but to the eyes of a stranger it might sound like she was punishing herself by doing all this things but in truth she just didn’t want to forget him completely, even after his poisonous words that still pierced through her heart each night when she cried in bed she just couldn’t find the strength or the thirteenth reason to forget him. They had plans, an entire life ahead of them and all of a sudden she was finding it hard to think of a motive why she should get up in the morning, all her dreams were gone and much to her dismay she realised she had nothing left to do, the town didn’t need her now that her children were taking care of most of the things she used to handle and her grandchildren were almost fully grown, the only one that would have spent time with her would have been Antonio but at this age he was in school and so the dead hours of the day were spent walking around the house with lost eyes and unsure steps never knowing where she was going not that there was a goal to find at the end of her walk.

The voices of her family came through the window but just like every day she paid them no mind in favour of watching the crate. Maybe she was expecting it to fill with all this pain that she was swallowing every time she breathed but not even magic could do that, she was quite sure of that after fifty years but this time there wasn’t a miracle waiting to open her eyes to her mistakes; if only there was a little candle that would show her the way. The only difference that made her get up was that today would have been Pedro’s seventy seventh birthday, another lost year to add to the list and she wanted to head to the river at some point in the morning before her weary bones started bothering her and forced her to retire to her room before dinner. Everyone had already finished breakfast by the time she got downstairs fully dressed in her usual magenta dress and her hair neatly placed in the hairdo she always wore; everyone turned to look at her both her daughters smiling internally at seeing her up and about and for the first time in a week fully dressed, but they did not expect her to start barking orders and chores for the day forgetting or choosing to forget the schedule they had worked so hard on. Pepa was to go down to the fields and water the crops, Julieta had to prepare extra food to take to town before lunch, Luisa had to return the tilting church to its usual position and reroute the river for the second time that week, the worst bit though was for Mirabel. Alma looked at the girl with expressionless eyes and simply stated that she was meant to stay out of the way and let the others do their work. Without another word and so much as a glance at her family she wrapped her black shawl around her shoulders tightly and stepped out into the front yard where the previous beautiful clear morning was turning into a cloudy and slightly windy one in under a minute courtesy of Pepa and her now very sour mood.

No one liked the way Alma had talked to any of them but even after ordering them to do all these chores that sparkle that she used to have when speaking, passionate about something, with always a goal in mind was nowhere to be seen. It almost felt as if she wanted them to be away from her and they would grant her that even if the request hadn’t been made vocally. Well all of them except for Dolores. She had been working with Rosa all week on a plan to get her abuela and Mariano to talk and forgive each other, or maybe just to talk, better not get ahead of themselves and so far they had come up with several ways of getting that to happen. Of course she was mad at him, Pedro was still his abuelo and therefore family, he hadn’t just hurt Alma that day, but there were so many things hidden under an invisible veil that they needed to address before it got too late. She was meant to go down to her house and discuss which of the plans should be tried first and the percentage of success they believed each could have, and they had to do it quickly before the triplets came up with a horrendous idea that would definitely blow up any minimal chances they might still have of getting back together. She loved her family but they had to admit that most of the time their plans were shit and none of them seemed to work; so the girl sneaked her way to the kitchen and out the back door following her abuela from a distance in complete silence, another perk of her gift, probably the only one she adored. Watching from several feet away she noticed that even Alma’s walk had changed, her steps were shaky and unsure almost as if she was doubting where she was going, slow as well but she wasn’t looking at the scenery, that much Dolores knew. Alma’s breathing was controlled, normal but her heart was beating like a maniac, a sign that she was terrified of what she might find once she was finally in town. Every day after she had watched the letters burn she would find herself looking at the horizon while sitting on a chair in the living room wondering what he might have written, if maybe they were apologies or perhaps he was informing her of his upcoming nuptials with that girl, Sofia, or maybe his hash words weren’t over and each morning he would find more horrible things to say to her and instead of screaming them at her through a window like a psychopath he would write them so she could read them over and over until her eyes bleed. Or maybe he would just write that he missed her, she would never know and the guilt of not reading them or at least putting them in a drawer to go through once she felt better wouldn’t leave her.

The bloody what ifs that would chase her everywhere! Her feet kicked the little stones that she would find in her path without paying them much attention until her heels made contact with the cobblestones of the bridge and her whole body froze in place. She did want to go to town and get the pity comments and sad looks over with but part of her brain told her that if she did, somehow she would be making their breakup official and she wasn’t quite ready for that yet. She was clyinging to the most stupid thoughts and hopes and at the same time she wanted to eare his existence from her life as soon as posible; she was a complete mess and her head was a hurricane of emotions and thoughts that not even a mind reader would understand. Dolores saw the hesitance on her abuela’s shoulders but soon enough the older woman began to walk again, her shoes clicking over the pavement as she headed for the main street. Back at the house Bruno, Julieta and Pepa were arguing about what to do now that Alma was going out again but none of them had any idea how to begin with the plan basically because there was no plan and they were still discussing whether they wanted their mother to go out with Mariano again or not totally forgetting about the main factor: whether Alma wanted him back or not. Little detail they weren’t adding to the equation. As she carried on walking her mind drifted to a conversation she had overheard last evening between Isa and Dolores. Apparently Rosa and Mariano were barely on speaking terms and the older woman had even thought of forcing him to find somewhere else to live but according to Dolores, Rosa knew something that the rest of the village and the family didn’t know and that that had been the turning point for his abuela; the decision to not throw him out had been made purely based on a secret that no one knew and that made Alma angry.

How could her best friend hide something from her at this point in their lives when she was crying to sleep every night with her face hidden in between the pillows with barely any energy to stand up from the bed in the mornings! She deserved to know what it was that this idiot was hiding from her but she wasn’t supposed to know anything and so she went up to her room without barely acknowledging her nietas and didn’t accept Julieta’s dinner when she brought it up. She was just too tired of all these games, she was a person, wasn’t she? Why did the world think it was fair to treat her like this when the only thing she had done in her entire life was sacrifice herself for others, that’s supposed to be what God wants people to do and yet there are no earthly rewards for her and she was growing frustrated by all this obstacles she was finding in her path, metaphorically and literally speaking. Suddenly and without previous warning a bouquet of flowers was almost pressed against her face making her jump backwards to get away from it and whoever was carrying it. Behind the lilting plants was Osvaldo wearing a worn out brown suit and his usual hat with his hair pushed back by what Alma hoped was gel and not spit. He might think he looked dashing but to her he looked simply weird and to be honest she was in no mood to handle him today. A soft smile travelled his way before she continued on her way but of course he wasn’t going to give up so easily so his hand grasped her wrist as he began to talk about how he was hoping she was fine and that she would like the flowers, stuttering to try and get something out of his chest but his grip was strong and Alma was losing her patience and her will to be nice to people, she was two seconds away from snapping at him and shoving the bouquet up his ass when he finally spoke. He confided in her that no one in town was talking to Mariano and that it served him good for what he had done to her and that he wished her well and a happy life away from that moron, that he was sure there was someone out there made just for her, the only thing she had to do was looking around her a little harder and with that and a big smile he handed her the flowers and let go of her arm.

Saying that she was utterly confused wouldn’t begin to cover the astronomical sense of bewilderment she felt because a man had just talked about absolute nonsense to her in the middle of the pavement in the outskirts of the village before handing her a small bouquet of lilting flowers that looked worse for wear. If that was how only the beginning of her day was, she was terrified of what she might find in the afternoon. Perplexed and still holding the flowers in one hand she carried on, glancing a couple of times back at Osvaldo who was humming and dancing towards his farm. In his work room Mariano was finishing cleaning the plaque so as not to leave fingerprints on the perfectly polished bronze before wrapping it with the utmost care in brown paper putting it inside the bag Mirabel had made for him, along with a bottle of black paint and a brush. Just as he pulled his pen and paper from his desk Alma walked right by his workroom but she didn’t notice the open window and he had his back to it so just like that they were oblivious to how close they were and the opportunity of seeing each other again passed. He knew it was stupid for him to carry on writing letters since she would burn them but he couldn’t stop, the hope that she might open one, just one, kept him going so once more he wrote apologies that he had perfectionated in the last week, speaking of his love and that he would do anything for her to forgive him, anything and everything although the probabiblity of her not burning this one was low, very very low. Things would have to change out of the blue for her to have a turn of mind and since he hadn’t seen her in town since the argument he hardly thought today would be any different.

Just as she was rounding the corner Alma came face to face with the butcher, his toothy smile as creepy as always with those bulging eyes he had, hardly blinking as he looked at her. For a minute she thought he was expecting her to do something but she remained quiet watching as he lifted another bouquet of flowers her way, at least this one was better looking, it was fresh and they were carnations instead of the crushed and dry lavender Osvaldo had given her but his expression only made it even more weird and uncomfortable. Then of course like any man, he had to open his mouth and make it all even worse telling her just how much he looked forward to seeing more of her in his shop now that she didn’t have to care for a child, meaning Mariano and the fact that he was way younger than her. It wasn’t so much what he said but the way he said it that angered her, he had no right to talk about her personal affairs like that and if he thought that by giving her flowers she would forget about the many times he’d stalked her throughout the years, chasing and following her into her home he had another thing coming. She was forced to take the bouquet from his hand, his face inches away from hers but thankfully he only smiled a bit more brightly, just like a psychopath, and walked away still staring until he entered his shop leaving her in the plaza about to turn on her heels and leave but someone else caught her eye. Mariano had rounded the corner of the contiguous street and if his relaxed body was anything to go by he hadn’t seen the interaction with the butcher others had watched in silence, but his eyes did land on Alma as soon as he entered the plaza. His heart made backflips and felt like it was about to explode just at the sight of her side even if her eyes were not looking at him, the smile that had spread over his tired features growing smaller when he saw the flowers. Of course, who was he kidding, everyone in town had a right to try and woo her just like he had done, he had no right to feel angry or upset, who knows maybe the lucky man would treat her better than he did and give her the moon and the stars just like he had planned to do but it didn’t hurt any less seeing her with those bouquets staring at the empty stand where his fruit shop used to be. In slow motion he heard the music from an old record fill the silent plaza, just for a second, since the eldery señor Hernandez, Agustín’s old tailoring maestro, had just left his shop with a bright green box in his hands and was walking towards Alma.

Mariano remained half hidden by the walls of a house looking at the old man as he approached her with short determined steps. He handed her the box which she only managed to take after she placed the flowers on a nearby bench raising her eyebrow in a questioning manner after all no one had told her that they had bought something that needed to be delivered, but maybe they had told her and she had been too far away in her own world that she hadn’t heard it. Still she picked up the box and waited for him to say something but he just stood her smiling softly in that gentle manner he knew so she took it as her queue to open it. Inside was a gorgeous scarf with beautiful butterfly patterns in a soft pink colour; upon touching it she discovered the fabric to be silk, the most expensive in the entire town, not everyone could afford something of the such, but that wasn’t just it, underneath it two black velvety gloves were found wrapped in pristine white paper. He must have worked on both things for days, she had seen Agustín work on small pieces for the longest time but of course señor Hernandez was more capable and faster than his apprentice, that was quite obvious in the stitches and the way the fabric seemed to be flawless at the touch of her fingertips. She was no stranger to presents, for God’s sake she had the most expensive set of paints in the entire world hiding under her bed; she knew that men don’t just come up to you and give you silk and velvet because they like your arepas. No, she was sure that three men coming up to her with flowers and sweet, or what they thought were sweet words, meant they thought they were entitled to try something with her just because Mariano wasn’t in the picture anymore. They hadn’t even officially broken up, neither of them had said the words and yet the world was just so sure she had become public property all of sudden that she had found herself with gifts as soon as she set foot outside.

She despised these people with her entire being but there was something strangely exhilarating about seeing from the corner of her eyes the way Mariano froze and plainly stared at her as she observed the scar and gloves. Like the polite woman she was, a strained thank you fell from her lips along with a questioning why which señor Hernandez answered with no sign of wanting to cross the invisible line of decency that separated them. His words were quiet and truthful and to her surprise they didn’t hold any shadows of pettiness but of awe, he was very sorry about what had happened, he knew her to be a most wonderful person and couldn’t quite understand why anyone would want to hurt her, not that he would pry in personal matters and with an unusual nervousness that took her by surprise he asked her to join him in the afternoon, if the weather allowed it, for a stroll by the lake just to take her mind off of this horrid business that had kept her away from her town for such a long time. It had only been a week, she wouldn’t really consider it a very long time but she had never vanished from public life out of the blue for more than a day. In her brain the logical part was screaming at her to forget about who had hurt her and accept this offer from a much reasonable partner for her while the other side, the one that clung to his memory like flames to oxygen was begging her not to let go, to think about it thoroughly before she made a mistake that she wouldn't be able to fix, in short it was trying to get her to turn her head around and look at Mariano. Through the corner of her eyes she could see him waiting expectantly for her to make a choice, his chocolate eyes boring a hole through her side and although she wanted to say no she was being given the opportunity of shaming him even further and so instead of saying the awaited no she smiled kindly at the older man and accepted his offer.

The way Mariano’s eyes changed from anger to defeat surprised Alma who watched señor Hernandez walk back into his shop after squeezing her arm before her attention shifted back to the man hiding behind a wall in whose face seemed to reflect the most pure sense of loss she had only seen once in her life and it had been after looking at her face in a mirror. He had played the game and another one had bested him, that was obvious, he had been too young to understand the rules and in the end the prize he had hoped to cherish who he had dreamed to have in his arms for the rest of his life had slipped away and someone else who was much more suited for the game had conquered her. Maybe it had all been an illusion and all the times he had tasted her lips, all the times he had heard her laugh at his shitty jokes had been a product of his imagination and she had never been his in the slightest. The plaque in his bag was heavy and it felt even heavier now that his knees were buckling under his weight, with each passing second the sight of Alma felt like he was killing himself, as if he was jumping into a volcano like the idiot he was but she was just too beautiful and majestic not to look at. Her steps moved towards him even if her head had not yet turned to look at him fully; so close and in so much danger, his feet moved of their own accord away from her and down the street towards his original destination. There was no question that as soon as he noticed her going his way he scurried away, which made a swell of pride and accomplishment grow in her chest, at least he still graced her wishes of not seeing him again but she wondered why if what Dolores had said about the village hating him so, was he outside risking another round of insults and disgrace. She picked up her pace with the green box in her arms but forgetting the flowers on the bench which didn’t go unnoticed by the butcher, he was watching her through the glass of his shop with narrowed eyes and a dangerous gleam in his eyes that made the customers shiver in fear.

Hiding behind lamp posts and walls she followed him to the outskirts of the village not knowing where he was heading, a small doubt growing inside her head that he might be going to see Sofia and like the fool she was she was going to hurt herself by seeing them together again but the idea soon vanished when she saw the entrance to the graveyard just a few feet away. She came to a halt right by the gates, seeing how Mariano continued his walk towards the back of the cemetery until he reached a cross and a statue that she could have sworn she hadn’t seen in thirty years. It had been built shortly after they finished the village but no one had taken care of it after the artist had passed so it was a surprise to see it even at this distance clean and uncovered by the docens of plants that had hidden it before. From her spot next to the gates she observed him kneeling on the ground placing his bag over the dirty soil taking things out that the other graves wouldn't let her see. What she couldn’t understand was why he was there, his grandfather hadn’t been buried here and his parents although they were sure they had passed after they left hadn’t been graced with a stone here, Rosa refused to acknowledge that possibility and had made it very clear when Mariano had been a boy of maybe four or five. There was nothing for him there as much as there was nothing for her, she hadn’t been able to purchase a headstone for Pedro after the cemetery was built and as the years went by she had just let it go and forgotten about it, so seeing Mariano now painting or writing something over the cross with the utmost care left her confused. They had someone who did all those things, why was he doing it, she would have known if he had got a job at the graveyard. Soon enough he finished what he was doing with the black paint, cleaning it with a cloth before he turned to the statue, bending over his bag for something. Her heart was beating faster out of curiosity more than anything, eyes wide as saucers when she saw the hammer and the bronze plaque, the thumping of the nails on the stone as he secured it echoing around the empty cemetery.

Ten minutes later he stood up, securing his bag to him and cleaning his dirty knees, watching his work from a distance with short nods. Then in the quiet air that enveloped the graveyard she heard his words clear as day: “I hope this is enough for you to forgive me”. He hadn’t seen her, that much she knew but hearing that left her in a bewildered state and to be honest slightly worried, she didn’t had him as a murderer. Oh for God’s sake, of course he hadn’t killed anyone, what a stupid thought, honestly. She scurried behind a column as he approached the entrance leaving without even acknowledging her presence, the sudden fog that had popped out of nowhere swallowing him as he went back to town. Curiosity took the best of her, her feet taking her towards where he had just been with an overwhelming need to know just what he had been doing there but as if a ton of bricks had just fallen from the sky right on her head she stumbled backwards a bit with a gasp, hands flying to cover her mouth. If she blinked she feared it might all disappear but her eyes stung from the hot tears and after she opened them again the marble cross and the restored statue were both still there with not an inch of them changed. She hadn’t asked him in her entire life to do something like this, she hadn’t even voiced it and yet her eyes read the perfect black calligraphy engraved on the stone, legs giving away under her making her slump on the floor in front of them. Her eyes, even if blurry, could still read the words Mariano had written, the sentence he had voiced just a few minutes earlier making all the sense in the world now. Pedro Madrigal, 1890-1917, “Nadie tiene mayor amor que el que sacrifica su vida por los demás aún sabiendo que lo que deja es más importante que a donde va”. Her soul had been screaming for realise en entire lifetime, reading such a thing coming from the man who had claimed their deaths were unimportant to the world felt like a release of all this pain that had been rotting her heart; she had felt free after her outburst by the river after she had talked with Dolores but this, finally seeing his name on stone, to have somewhere to go where although his body wasn’t there she could come to visit as often as she could, a place were she could rest when her time came next to the memory of him made all her anger at him vanish.

He had spent his entire week doing this for her when he had no need to, sculpting and placing something that not even Alma herself had thought important until now, her palms pressed against the cold stone with her fingers tracing the letters although the paint was still wet. He had been twenty seven years when he had been taken away from her and as if Mariano had known, today, on her Pedro’s birthday she was finally able to cry in front of his grave. People told her that with time it would get better, that one day it would stop hurting… lies, they were all lies because with each passing day the lack of his presence only made it all more difficult and hurt worse each moment that she spent without him; no one had actually told her that things wouldn’t get better, just that she would learn to cope with it all, the tears would still come whenever she thought of him but with time they would stop being bitter and sad and they would become happy as she remembered the life she had with him. Turning her head to look at the plaque she could have sworn her entire world had exploded and she had died, maybe she was indeed laying on the floor and it was her ghost who was reading the other name, but the freezing feeling of the metal under her fingers was an indication that she was very much alive and that his harsh words had been locked away in the depths of a metaphorical trunk. Eva Castillo, 1893-1913, “La fragancia de tus flores se hizo bálsamo y con el último rayo de la tarde, al dulce sonido de tu risa, tus ojos se cerraron y desde entonces los míos no han dejado de llorar”. Sweet lord she hadn’t seen her old surname written in over fifty years, but it seemed rather fitting to read it after her sister's name. It was rather kind of him to have written such a beautiful epitaph when poor Eva hadn’t left her room since she had been born, she hadn’t seen the fields in bloom in the middle of Spring nor had she gone around picking up fruits from trees after a hard day in school, she had never watered their garden or had walks with her down the main street looking at the beautiful dresses on the shops and yet seeing her summed up in the engraved line she couldn’t have thought of a better way to grace her sister’s memory.

Once more he had outdone himself and the sheer willpower he had made her forget his mistake in favour of his way of fixing his errors. She really did want to be angry at him but as happy free tears streamed down her cheeks taking all her guilt and the pain she had been holding onto since she watched Eva slip away into bittersweet silence, her heart beat faster and stronger than ever with his words barely even an anecdote in her mind. Fate had chosen what she was meant to do without consulting her and she thanked it immensely. Kneeling in front of her family's graves she felt whole again, because for some strange reason reading their names brought a sense of peace she had been screaming for her entire life and of its own accord her soul had partially forgiven him. For how long she stayed there crying and talking to them she didn’t know, the words just flowed for the first time in a week without noticing that by the gate the keeper watched with a sad smile on his old wrinkled face the matriarch of the Madrigals visiting for the first time the graveyard. He couldn’t remember anyone who looked this relieved at seeing one's relatives. Soon enough her tummy growled reminding her that she hadn’t had any breakfast and as much as she wanted to spend the rest of her life sitting here she had people who wanted her to return home and to whom she realised she needed to apologise for this morning’s outburst so reluctantly she stood up after kissing the plaque and the cross heading for the front gate where the keeper was no longer, having returned to his shed to work. Her steps as she headed back home were light and free, she was still a bit upset with Mariano but what he had done for her without knowing if she would ever see it, for her husband and her sister was the most heartfelt thing anyone had ever done for her and without expecting something in exchange, just to mend what he knew he had fucked up. Upon seeing Casita she found someone standing in front of her home and with a closer look she found it was Mariano himself whose hand rested on the face of her carving with his forehead resting on the wood, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

It was at this moment after seeing him like this trying day after day to contact her but keeping her wishes of not seeing him firmly in place, that she realised she didn’t want to forget him and that as stupid as it might sound she wanted to give him another chance but at the same time she wanted to protect herself; all the pain she had been feeling this past week had been too greta for her to handle and she hated being that weak person that couldn’t even get out of bed. Her visceral anger was nothing more than just a few specks of fury, regardless of what he had done in the graveyard his words had damaged her soul and she needed to hear the apology from his lips before she could begin to think about forgiving him fully but seeing him like this, thinking he had lost her forever hurt her as well, she didn’t want to part from him, if it ever came to that, in bad terms having to see him everyday with sad eyes and the prospect of watching him consumed before her. He heard her footsteps before he saw her, turning slowly to finally be face to face with her, neither of them speaking for what felt like years simply staring at one another observing how she had lost some weight and her hair was missing its usual shine but he didn’t look much better, his beard had overgrown and his clothes hanged from his body rather too loosely if she was being honest, he hadn't trained and barely ate, that much was obvious and the bags under his eyes were too prominent for her liking. This had affected him as much as it had to her. She could see in his hand today’s letter but instead of letting him push it underneath the front door she took a few more steps breaking the distance that separated them and took it, his fingers never opposing her grasp on the envelope; he thought she would rip it apart for him to see that she didn’t care about what he might want to say to her, that she wanted him gone, but he watched stunned as she opened it with shaky hands and unfolded it reading each word slowly and with all the attention she could give it.

Querida Alma,

As much as I would prefer to tell you in person all the wonderful things you’ve done to me and how much you mean to me I can only hope this letter finds you well. I might be writing all this for nothing, I know you haven’t been reading them but I still cling to the possibility that one day your hatred towards me might loosen up a bit and you might find it in you to open one and read it.

You have every right in the universe to hate me and I will suck up all the consequences because I hurt you and by doing so I also hurt your family and myself to some extent. What I said to you was uncalled for, every single word about your sister and husband were wrong and I knew that I should have stopped before it had been too late but I already see that trying to convince you that the kiss with Sofia hadn’t been as important as you were making it had already been the first red flag for the both of us. I did kiss her and to me it meant nothing because she’s my friend and I only think of her that way, besides she has a girlfriend who she adores immensely but who you might not be acquainted with while I do know her. Her having a partner is no excuse for my behaviour, I know and I won’t beg for your forgiveness because I know I don’t deserve it, but I do hope that this news I bring to you will ease your pain somewhat. Sofia has left, she had been planning it for the longest time and only now that the town was turning on her, she and her girlfriend decided to find a new life away from here.

This doesn't make what happened better, and I could apologise a thousand times but that won’t matter unless I show you that I mean it, that’s why I’ve decided that if you want me to leave the Encanto I will. I know that if you burn this letter as well you won’t know what I’ve just written but I hope that if I see that my presence is bringing you too much pain that I’ll realise it's my moment to go and leave you to live your own life. Nevertheless I will write here that I am sorry, with every fiber of my being and that I am your slave until you see fit to let me back into your life if you ever do. I’ve made too many mistakes and you’ve given me too many chances, this is not some game, it's our lives and knowing that even though I’ve tried to mature and be the man you deserve I’ve failed brings me to this point.

I love you and I’ll always will but love is not enough to fix this relationship that I’ve damaged, but I do want you to know that even if we never go back to what we were there’s going to be someone here or outside the Encanto who loves you with his entire being and who would rush to your aid if called because there will never be another woman if I can’t have you but you are entitled to make a life of your own if you so desire with whoever you chose. I only wish you a happy life and I assure you I will never stand in your way unless you want me to. Every moment I’ve spent with you has been the most wonderful and I’ll cherish these memories for the rest of my life.

I love you Alma, I’m not perfect and I’m not the man you deserve but I hope that in the time we were together I helped you see just how wonderful you are and how much you mean to everyone. You are more than just a miracle and at the same time the main essence of it.

I hope the world starts showing you soon that you are but the sun and not just a star lost in the night sky.

With all my love, Mariano.

She folded it and put it back in the envelope before her head rose to look at him, eyes expecting her next move with such anxiety she could feel it pouring in waves from his body.

-It’s a lovely letter. Do you mean it or it's just a way of getting back in my life?

-Every word is true. I’d do anything to earn your forgiveness and I do mean anything. If you want me to go I’ll go.

-You are young, perhaps too young to understand what you’ve explained so eloquently in your letter, but I suppose that I didn’t go for a man that understood how to play the game by the rules, I choose someone who would take risks and make me feel alive, not just go on walks by the lake, someone who made me happy to get out of bed and who I knew could destroy me in an instant if he made the wrong choice.

-I can’t begin to tell you just how sorry I am. I’m a temperamental idiot who should think before acting, my abuela has told me a thousand times.

-And yet you stayed away just like I told you to. You obey orders well and at the same time you break them without blinking, that’s reckless and at the same time brave.

-I have always followed the directions of others, I’ve always been a good boy, I don’t understand why as an adult I’m such a jerk.

-Because we expect from you to behave as if you had lived a thousand lives and we’ve forgotten that you are starting this one and that you wanted to learn… with me. You’ve hurt me Mariano, deeply, and I don’t like that. It feels as if with you I can't ever catch my breath and I need to, I’m not Isabela or Dolores, I’m not even this Sofia girl, my pace is different and my circumstances as well.

-I never thought… You never told me you felt this way, we could have slowed down and let you have your moments, your peace. I’m just sorry that we’ve had to end it all in such bad terms and that it was my fault when you’ve been nothing but wonderful.

-I have never said I wanted to end this.

-But…

-Mariano, I like not being able to catch my breath sometimes, not always, it makes me feel alive and it makes me happy because you are happy. We’ve had very wonderful moments and I honestly believe we can have more. I’m willing to give you another chance, just one more, and see if we can make something out of this.

-You don’t want to break up? I thought that after a week and what I said that you would despise me.

-I did, with my entire being, but then I saw you in the graveyard. What you’ve done there means more to me than a thousand letters, more than words will ever be able to express because without knowing if I would ever see it, you did what you thought was right to earn my forgiveness and that of my deceased relatives. I didn’t ask you to but you did it anyway and that speaks volumes. I just want to do one more thing for me.

-What? I’ll do anything.

-Tell me what you were doing with Sofia.

-Are you sure?- she nodded at him, her demeanour calm and collected. - Fine. I had been planning one doing this for weeks and that day seemed perfect for it but when I went to Casita everyone was busy and I just couldn’t wait another week to practise so I asked Sofia to help me think of a perfect place where I could plan a romantic dinner, what flowers to chose and all that. We went down to the florist to purchase what I thought was the perfect bouquet to give to you when I asked you to join me for dinner down by the big eucalyptus tree that’s hidden in the forest. We had decorated it before we headed to town and just as we left the shop you saw us. The kiss was not my idea, Sofia gave it to me as a thank you for helping her not think about her problems with her parents, I didn’t think anything of it because, you know, she’s got a girlfriend.

-Okay, she was helping you prepare a romantic dinner for me. That’s nice but I wish she hadn’t kissed you.

-Trust me, I wish so as well. We are friends but she knew just how much you meant to me. I showed her the r- Nevermind.

-You showed her what? Please Mariano, no more secrets.

-My abuela and I assume Dolores are the only ones who know. I purchased a gift for you two weeks before we argued and I was going to give it to you at dinner. It was a ring. - something inside Alma’s brain clicked and as if she was building a puzzle the last piece that she had been looking for for years finally made its way to its rightful place. The little black box he had been carrying for three weeks straight saw the sun at last, or what little sun came through the clouds. - I was going to propose to you, I suppose that it was a nice idea but maybe it was too soon and fate simply made us see that if I had done it I would have fucked up more than I already did.

-You bought me a ring and were going to propose?

-Si. There’s really not another way of saying it.

-At my age I never thought I would get a chance like this ever again. Just the thought of you kneeling with that ring had been a dream I never allowed myself to think about.

-Well, I was going to but the dinner was kind of ruined, so…

-I don’t need a dinner.

-What?

-I don’t need a fancy romantic dinner, or to be taken to the ends of the world, I don’t need beautiful flowers or presents that are going to drown you in debt. You are here, I’m here, the ring is there.

-Are you telling me to… - he was obtuse but not that much and if the sparkle that had returned to her eyes was any indication that she wanted him to do what he had in mind who was he to object when that’s all he had been dying to do since that morning in the fields. A bit weirdly on the stairs of Casita he kneeled in front of her opening the box letting the ring gleam in the morning light. From the path Dolores and Rosa saw the scene playing in slow motion with wide eyes and stunned faces, from the windows on the side of Casita Julieta and Mirabel watched in complete silence. - Alma Madrigal, la he cagado, mucho y muchas veces, and I don’t feel deserving of this but I love you with my entire being and I don’t want to let anyone or anything destroy what we have, not even myself. We have so many plans and things that we want to do, an entire life to discover the world from our point of view, to love each other and to make one another better people. I love you and I don’t want to spend another second away from you, so… will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?

-¡Hijo de puta! - Behind Dolores and Rosa the butcher screamed at the top of his lungs with fury burning in his eyes. No one had seen him coming but he had a knack for stalking people without being noticed. - Get away from her, she’s mine! Only mine! You had your fun but this is too much!

-What the hell are you talking about? Alma, stay here.

-No, wait, he’s dangerous, let… Mariano! La madre que lo pario. - he didn’t listen to her, the main objective was to protect her, Dolores and his abuela from the wrath of this weirdo and he couldn’t do that if he stayed with her. Putting the ring back in his pocket he quickly made his way to the two women that were watching the butcher with worried eyes, running to where Alma was as soon as Mariano reached them and motioned them to move.

-Go home, there’s no reason for you to be here.

-She accepted the offer of that old bastard and he won’t be a problem no more, but you… You had left her, she was mine! She is mine!

-Pablo, calm down. What have you done to Mateo Hernandez?

-He won’t bother her anymore.

He was definitely a psychopath. Mariano looked back at the house nodding to Julieta for only a second, who rushed inside the house and whose figure could be seen running in between the trees through the side of the path on her way to the plaza to look at señor Hernandez, she just hoped to get there on time. Mariano raised his hands in the air to grab Pablo’s forearms but the man was in complete emotional disarray and his otherwise just simply weird demeanour was now a full on manic attack. Alma watched in slow motion the back of Mariano as he raised his arms in the air, everything was too alike but this time she wasn’t going to just stand aside and let it all unfold. Passing her shawl to Dolores she walked towards them just in time to watch a fist flying towards Mariano’s face making contact with his jaw when she was just a few feet away. Anger fueled her body from that moment on and with the strength of a horse she pushed Pablo away from Mariano making him fall flat on his back a few feet from where she was.

-Como le vuelvas a tocar un solo pelo te juro por todo que no volverás a ver la luz del día. I want you to leave town, right now. If you are still here by dusk I’ll tell the authorities to arrest you and leave you in a cell for the rest of your life.

-A feisty woman, I like that. I like that very much. - at the speed of light he jumped to his feet towards her but her reflexes were sharper than ever and with her hand on a fist she knocked him out cold before he got to grab her. The unconscious man laid on the dirty path while Alma shook her sore hand, turning to check on Mariano’s swollen jaw. If he hadn’t been here watching it all unfold he would have never thought her capable of something like this but her angry red knuckles and the soft strands that blew on the breeze around her face as she checked him was confirmation enough. Dolores rushed to her tia who had returned to ask for help moving señor Hernandez to his home now that she had taken care of his injuries, hiding Pablo’s person with her skirt in case Antonio happened to pop his little head out the front door. Rosa accompanied both ladies now that her plan wasn’t needed anymore leaving Alma and her nieto to go inside Casita to ask Luisa and Isa to make sure the butcher never set foot inside the village again making extra clear to her eldest nieta that he was to remain alive watching the disappointed grin on her face. Alone at last by the stairs of Casita once more Alma rested her head on Mariano’s forearm chuckling at the situation. And it wasn’t even lunch time!

-Promise me that from now on we’ll have a relaxing life, please Alma, I can’t go on pushing man off of you and getting beat for it.

-Just one! Don’t make it sound as if I have three hundred men following me everywhere.

-Well, one thing is for certain, Mateo won’t be able to take that stroll with you down by the lake this afternoon.

-No, but I know an idiot who was in the middle of something with whom I very much like to.

-Ahhh, my proposal. I did ask the question, I just never got the answer.

-Well, señor Guzmán, with such a brave man and that beautiful ring I can only think of one possible answer.

-If it's no, just leave me here and I’ll figure it out.

-Not today, not ever. I do. I will. Yes. Si and if I knew more languages I would accept in all of them.

-Are you sure?

-Couples have arguments, some are better and some are worse but at least you are learning. Pablo didn’t, he wasn’t even my partner and I knocked him out.

-Now I know where Isabela got it from. Can I have your hand? - careful he pulled the ring out of the box and slid it on Alma’s finger, the woman raising her hand in the air to observe it before smiling up at him pulling him down to kiss him softly on the lips. What a wonderful feeling it was to have him in her space once more, to feel his scratchy beard on her skin, to taste apple pie from his lips. When they parted a full on rainbow shone over the blue sky, Pepa’s eyes shining with tears holding onto Felix’s shirt. From one of the balconies up on the second floor Bruno watched as his vision changed before his eyes, no longer giving two possible futures when tilted. His mother would marry Mariano and Bruno's gift would be this, at least he wouldn't have to buy a wedding present, perks of his gift

#alma madrigal #abuela madrigal #encanto #dolores madrigal #julieta madrigal #pepa madrigal #bruno magridal #mariano guzman #señora guzmán #disney

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aggieharkness · 2 years

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Just a little note for those who are reading my Encanto story "Hay que encontrar su propio futuro"; It's also in Ao3, so if you find it easier to read there here you have the link and I accept requests, so if you'd like me to write something just for you I'd love to. Enjoy!! 😊😊

#alma madrigal #abuela madrigal #encanto #dolores madrigal #julieta madrigal #pepa madrigal #bruno magridal #mariano guzman #señora guzmán #disney

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aggieharkness · 2 years

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Hay que encontrar su propio futuro

a/n: Welcome back to this little story of ours!! The turn of events has arrived but before you all freak out let me remind you that there are still chapters to be written so keep calm and enjoy the angst. As you already know if there's anything you'd like me to add or change just tell me and I'll be happy to comply and if there are any requests don't hesitate to tell me. Enjoy :)) I'm Spanish so I used expressions from my own language. I'm afraid I don't know Colombian ones so I had to work with the ones that I know. If there are any Colombians out there that would prefer for me to change what I have written I would very gladly do it, but even so, I hope you like the ones I have used.

warning: age difference, implied sexual content, blood, swear words. Most importantly no Alma Madrigal bashing, i love this woman.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16

Hay que encontrar su propio futuro

Where did everything go wrong? What did she do to deserve this? There were people outside her door pounding, calling out her name, but she couldn’t move from where she was kneeling in a corner of her bedroom, eyes staring at her hands. In a continuous rhythm droplets of blood stained the carpet underneath her but she didn’t try to stop it, the gash on the palm of her hand bleeding as it rested on her lap. Why did the world think she ought to be punished? It wouldn’t budge, the wooden door flickered, the light shining dimly as if it was losing its power, the urgency of everyone's voices crossing the walls but they didn’t reach her ears strongly enough for her to understand them not that she would have listened. The pool of blood under her knees mixed with her tears as they fell quietly, in utter silence. She should have thought about this all for longer, should have realised it was nothing more than a game, a passing fancy that like the fool she was, she had believed. She had jumped into the bloody abyss and had found an abrupt end with sharp rocks that had killed her on impact, slicing through her chest. The flame of the candle flickered ever so slightly, rumbling sounds filling the halls of Casita shaking its foundations just like last time, the cracks on the walls deep and long breaking through every part of the building the same way they broke through her heart. Her brain replayed the scene over and over, his words loud and clear as if he had just been standing in front of her mere seconds ago, her body shuddering in anger and despair. Where? Where had it all gone wrong?! The question flowed through her veins like poison killing her slowly, gently almost, mocking her and her feelings. If only she had stood her ground from the very beginning, if she had realised it was all a mistake none of this would have happened, she wouldn’t be here bleeding on her clothes and floor with an invisible knife slicing through her heart over and over again.

All her vases and photographs laid on the floor shattered, the frames broken in several places from the strength used to throw them against the wall, pillows ripped apart with feathers all over the bed and carpet, some had even flown out the window, not that she cared much about it all. She hadn’t even noticed that her wedding picture laid now against the door with its glass cracked right on Pedro’s face. She couldn’t figure out what hurt most, her heart for what had happened or her soul for having believed in silly tales that at her age should have been for her grandchildren. Pure fantasies of a knight in shining armour that would sweep her off her feet and take her beyond the horizon on his pristine white horse, but it all had turned out to be but a joke from a cruel witch that laughed mercilessly in her head, that voice that had chased her in her nightmares returning. Why had he led her on when he knew he wasn’t interested, why use her like this, let her fall in love at last only to be thrown away at the first chance he got? The voices outside her room got louder and louder until they became screams that she still didn’t hear, how could she when the ringing in her ears was deafening and the voices in her head were drowning everything else taunting her; in a way she felt like they were telling her the truth. Images of her worst nightmares flashed before her eyes and as much as she wanted them to go away they just wouldn’t leave, blinking as fast as she could nor closing them completely helped in the slightest. Her family murdered pareaded over her carpet dripping viscous coagulated blood on it leaving pools of the hot sticky liquid everywhere as they walked, the gurgling sounds of slit throats mixing with those cruel evil words that she knew so well.

Hands pressed against her eyes moved to her ears in hopes it would all stop, that they would leave her alone but it only got worse and the banging noises on her door deafening until it all reached a breaking point. Before she knew what was going on a bleeding scream tore itself out of her chest leaving her throat raw and the metallic taste of her own blood in her mouth but she couldn’t stop. This pain, this hurt was astronomical, worse than the night she had lost Pedro and the night she had cried in front of his painting after it all had started, that fateful moment that had doomed her into this dark hole of pain, despair and profound guilt and shame. Her heart was being pulled out right out of her chest and ripped into pieces in front of her by those hands that had held her when she had been down, by those fingers that had dried her tears; she had been backstabbed by who she was most in love with and it had broken her once more. At the same time her scream had reached those outside her room the cracks on Casita were starting to spread around the Encanto, and this time Mirabel feared they wouldn’t be able to fix it, her eyes watching how some roof tiles plummeted to the floor smashing into pieces as soon as they made contact with the ground, paintings and photographs falling of their spots on the walls as the house shook under the force of her voice. Luisa hit the door with her fists a dozen times but it didn't budge, it was as if their home wasn’t letting anyone in and it was driving them crazy.

Bruno had rushed to his room right after everything had happened in the courtyard not even bothering to explain himself to his sisters, not that they would have asked, they were too furious and shocked to even think about it, they hadn’t even noticed his absence until after their mother had practically run to her room slamming the door shut. It had taken four people including Luisa to keep a hold of Pepa but not even Felix had been able to calm her cloud down, it thundered with such fierce power that her lightning could have killed someone, not that they would have stopped her if they had wanted to, the tears that had streamed down Alma’s face had burned her children’s souls as much as hers and it had initiated a fire that if not controlled would incinerate him as well as Pepa. It had been the wisest idea from all of them to have Isabela throw him out with one of her vines landing hard on the dirty floor outside Casita, the figure of Rosa barely appearing in the distance when the front doors had closed, unwilling to open at her request. They still hadn’t calmed Pepa’s fury, her cloud raining and thundering threatening to cause a hurricane of biblical proportions, but no one dared speak to her in case they made it worse, only Felix could do that. Dolores’ face had been expressionless for a while until she had picked up Antonio and vanished inside his room without a word and was yet to come out. As soon as the loud voices had reached her ears from where she had been in the garden she had simply stood in the background refusing to interact with anyone and hadn’t moved from her spot until Alma raised her voice leaving a soft ringing in the poor girl's ears. Mirabel had tried to talk with her after their abuela had vanished inside her bedroom but to no luck, Antonio’s door wouldn’t open for her either.

The only one that hadn’t said a word and who had remained fairly calm to get all the information crystal clear had been Julieta, that was until he had said that horrible thing to her mother and all hell had broken loose. She hadn't even noticed that her hand had collided with his cheek until she found Agustín wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her away, her voice loud and venomous towards him. As angry as Isabela had been the situation had called for someone to keep their heads cool enough since her ever so calm mother was actually threatening to cut him open and cook his insides and then feed them to him, quite a gruesome sight and by the sound of it all things were only going to get mesier from there; she had grabbed his ankle with one of her vines and had thrown him out the door. It hadn’t made anything go away, the anger and fury were the new oxygen for her family and much to her dismay it would take too long for them to let go, if they ever did. The magenta skirt of her abuela had practically levitated up the stairs after that. After what seemed like hours they were still trying to get inside and talk with her hearing her heartbreaking sobs and the sound of glass breaking, of fabric tearing, her words filled with agony. And it had all started because instead of Julieta it had been Alma the one that had decided to head down to the village to do the shopping.

Julieta had mentioned at breakfast that she was running low on a few ingredients that she needed for dinner and casually dropped a hint that she might be heading into town later today and would appreciate some help. The idea of seeing Mariano after two weeks of barely being able to glance at him, filled up with work, preparations for parties… before she could admonish herself the words that she would be going dropped out of her mouth raising eyebrows around the table. The lie she made up was hardly believable, but no one brought it up; after all, what harm could it do for her to see her boyfriend? Dios, qué equivocados estaban todos. She had left the house with a smile as bright as the sun and lovestruck eyes only to return with absolute sadness pouring out of every single pore in her body, a painful veil covering her chocolate eyes. Maybe everything had been just a dream, a wonderful lie she had created in her mind to feel like she deserved to be loved once more and she hadn’t seen the signs that were practically screaming at her that none of this was real, maybe she should have listened to those life consuming voices that floated in her head.

Alma hadn’t even finished tying her alpargatas before rushing out the door catching the basket that Casita had thrown at her as she left the house. The sky was blue, not a cloud in sight, filled with the beautiful sight of young birds flying high above her head, butterflies and little dragonflies jumping from flower to flower on the riverbend, the scent of fruits and blooms encircling her form just as she was crossing the bridge. She wondered where Mariano might be, he had closed his stand months ago to fully focus on constructing their little house in the mountains, much to her dismay since she loved talking to him while they shared a bowl of fruit, she loved seeing him cutting them and making the juices people requested, he looked so happy as if he had been doing that since he was born. The excitement had only grown as she approached the plaza, there were a few places she could have checked before heading to their spot but she hadn’t expected to find what she found. The plaza was absolutely packed and it was hard to even breathe let alone find someone on the sea of heads and hats that filled the village, for a minute she wondered if she had forgotten about any festivities but when she got to the butchers she didn’t hear anything out of the ordinary, just the normal conversations and greetings that one gets out of politeness. Thirty minutes later with the eggs and chicken safely tucked in her basket she made her way out of the store paying no mind to the disgusting compliments she was getting from that horrid butcher, if only they had another one so she could throw this guy out of the town, one could only dream.

Fate had other plans for her though, and the mission to find Mariano soon came to an end as she saw him coming out of the florist with a beautiful bouquet of roses and daisies that she suspected was for her, cheeks the shade of beets as she started to walk towards him, but he wasn’t alone. A young girl with long black hair flowing in the breeze and sparkling green eyes was accompanying him, a beautiful young thing with perfect teeth as she smiled up at Mariano, cheeks the shade of pink tulips and perfectly full cherry lips. This girl was perfect, and Alma couldn’t remember who she was but didn’t like the fact that she was standing so close to him, a wave of jealousy rising in her chest, but she quickly had calmed down, after all he had made it very clear he wanted her to trust him and he would never do anything to hurt her, that was his motto. But he did, he broke her heart right there over the cobblestones as if her soul meant nothing to him. The bouquet wasn’t for Alma, he handed it to the girl asking her if she liked them, to which she had responded that they were beautiful and that she was extremely grateful he had found time to be with her instead of the Madrigals but his reaction wasn't what Alma had expected to hear, he didn't tell this girl that he loved spending time with his girlfriend as old as she might be, no, the idiot had laughed while nodding as if he was confirming her that he had been trapped somehow by her and her family. The jealousy became anger at his words, they had spent wonderful days together, he had made that very clear, wasn’t he happy with her? Did he need more space to do what he pleased? They had been apart for two fucking weeks, wasn’t that enough?!

It all crumbled before her when he suggested lunch holding out his arm for the girl which she took without hesitation, but that wasn’t the worst of it all, Alma must have been a masochist because she watched in slow motion how the lips of this girl landed over Mariano’s in a quick loving peck before they started walking away both smiling as if they hadn’t done anything wrong. The strength in her legs and arms weakened to the point where her basket slid out of her grasp landing on the ground with a loud breaking sound along with that of the eggs cracking open, the yolk mixing with the whites staining the hem of her skirt. The commotion it created brought people to check on her, loud voices spreading all over the plaza but her brain was completely blocked her eyes glued to the back of Mariano’s head, utter disbelief filling her like boiling water, that was until he turned his head to check what was going on and his eyes locked with Alma’s. The fear that had crossed his face didn’t go unnoticed by the girl next to him who turned as well, pushing him away as soon as she saw her standing in complete shock right outside the butchers with her fingers twitching softly. Alma was far too stunned to notice the hot salty tears that were streaming down her face, unable to stop all the questions and voices, dull noises in the background as the ringing in her ears got louder and louder. Mariano quickly made his way towards her but when he was barely six feet away Alma stumbled backwards her back hitting a lampost, the metal cool to the touch through the thin material of her blouse. He held his hand out as if asking for permission to touch her but he didn’t get an answer, with a dramatic turn, her skirt wrapping around her legs, Alma ran back to Casita, the sobs that had been choking her up until that moment finally escaping her throat.

It all replayed in her head over and over, the girl's lips kissing who she had thought until that moment was hers and only hers to kiss, to hold, but of course fate had proven to her once more that her life was nothing more than a succession of unfortunate events. Her rosy lips had touched his and he hadn’t pushed her away, he hadn’t even thought of telling her that he had a partner, the son of a bitch had smiled and walked with her to have lunch. Had he grown tired of Alma already and was seeking affection in others? She had given every bit of herself to him, she had changed her ways for him, the way she dressed, the way she handled the town, everything had been for him and this is what she got in return? The agony she felt was far too great, she hadn’t felt such an amount of raw visceral pain in a long time but somehow it was worse than when she had lost Pedro, that time she had watched him die right in front of her, he was no one else's but Gods, but Mariano had given himself to someone else right before her eyes, the man she loved was slipping away and she would have to see him build a life with someone that wasn’t her. She understood now what Dolores had felt, what she had done to the girl and the pain and defeat turned into guilt, a feeling that she had learned to live with long away slamming its way towards her heart in a wave too great for her to handle. His footsteps chased hers, but she couldn't hear the world around her, the beauty that had graced her eyes when she had left the house was nothing but a black void of absolute despair that she didn’t know how to cope with.

Slamming open, the wooden front doors hit the stone with such force it shocked the foundations of the house almost as a reflection of how shook Alma felt, the basket forgotten down at the plaza with the eggs and meat lying over the stones. Heads poked out of the kitchen and living room, some door on the second floor opening at the feeling of the house trembling beneath their feet to find a distraught Alma standing in the middle of the courtyard shaking like a leaf with both hands covering her face to quiet her sobs down a bit, but it only made things worse. Darkness met her blurry eyes and her mind horrible and evil as it was started playing tricks on her forming figures with the bits of light that came through from in between her fingers, figures that she couldn’t blink away of those memories that hadn’t come to her since her last nightmare months ago. Those ghosts that she had thought were gone returned to her stronger than ever. An invisible knife had been planted right on her chest piercing through her heart mercilessly, the devil's hand twisting it ripping it apart, making it bleed inside her chest. Mariano got to the house just a couple minutes later panting and leaning on Casita’s doorframe; something must have given him away because a second later Isabela and Mirabel were heading towards him with anger blazing around them as Pepa, Julieta and Bruno rushed to their mother but they couldn’t pray a single word out of her, its was as if she was physically unable of speaking, just the thought of voicing what was in her mind brought such pain to her already suffering form that only made her sobs grown louder and more agonising.

-Alma, please, let me explain. - he had been screaming that at her since she had fled from the plaza and although she wanted to understand, the facts were there and they were impossible to hide when she had seen it all with both her eyes. - Please, it’s not what you think.

-What did you do?! Everything was fine!

-I didn’t do anything, I swear Isa. Please, let me explain myself.

-WHAT IS THERE TO EXPLAIN?! - she could have sworn her tears would turn to blood in no time, the pain and the stinging sensation that she had in her eyes was far too horrid to keep the open, but as much as she blinked to escape it it wouldn’t go away and she suddenly found herself face to face with his blurry figure the words pouring out filled with such torment and fury that he stepped back a bit. - YOU KISSED HER! I SAW IT ALL OR ARE YOU GOING TO TELL ME I’M LYING?!

-Alma, please calm down. It’s not what you think.

-Really?! Her lips were on yours and you didn’t even think of telling her that you are with me!

-Mariano, you didn’t. Please tell me you didn’t. - Pepa’s words were soft, it took him by surprise that she wasn’t already thundering, over the entirety of the Encanto a thin layer of grey clouds covered the previous bright blue sky. She was trying to remain calm after all they had made case out of this whole situation and had won, they had made them believe this could work, for fuck’s sake he had asked Alma out, courted her and told the family that he loved her, he couldn’t have done such a despicable thing to her mother. - Mariano, por tu padre, dime que es mentira.

-Pero no lo es, ¿verdad?¡ Vamos, ten huevos de decirles que no es verdad! Have the balls to lie to them when I saw it all with my own eyes!

-I kissed her, but it wasn’t what you think. She’s my friend.

-You son of a fucking bitch! - there was the normal feral Pepa they knew and loved, the sky flashing with the biggest lightning the town had seen in years, the sound of her thunder rumbling all over the village making the ground shake under them as if the Earth was going to swallow them out of the blue. Felix’s hand quickly grasped his wife’s wrist pulling her back towards himself, but the static energy was growing bigger by the second which only meant one thing: she was getting ready to fry him into dust. - You disgusting cheater! We welcomed you into our home, fed you from our table and this is what you do?!

-I didn’t do anything wrong! Sofia and I have known each other since we were in school, we are nothing more than friends!

-Friends with fucking benefits, right? You don’t kiss people just because you have known each other for an entire bloody lifetime Mariano! Do you think I’m dumb?!

-Don’t get smart with me Alma, you know I would never hurt you. Do you think me so incredibly heartless as to cheat on you?

-You almost raped me in the kitchen! - the words came out harsher that she had meant but she didn’t find it in her to care, he was standing there telling her that they were just friends? The audacity! Anger flowed inside her veins so hot and furious that her heart rate was probably spiking, her body burning to the touch two seconds away from being set on fire. She had even cursed and hadn’t noticed at all but her family had indeed heard it and weren’t sure how to intervene to stop this before things went too far. - You are quite capable of hurting me and you know it.

-You said you had forgiven me about that!

-I said we could move forward, not that I had forgiven you! I said I didn’t want to be scared of you, that I wanted to trust you and you just fucked up all the progress we had done!

-I kissed a girl, so what? It’s not as if I’ve fucked her, don’t make this a bigger deal than it has to be.

-No, you don’t need to fuck her when you have me to use and throw away like a tissue! And don’t you tell me this isn’t a big deal, it’s fucking huge and you know it. You are cheating on me!

-I’m not! It was a harmless kiss between friends.

-And the flowers? And the lunch? I wasn’t born yesterday Mariano. You think you are so smart, sweet talking an old lady into believing she can have your love when you clearly don’t give a shit about me! You came here claiming to love me Romeo and Juliet style when in reality you are nothing but a Don Juan, a womanizer who thinks he can be with other women because I’m so stupid to have welcomed you into my life after all the mistakes you’ve made!

-That’s not true! I love you, I truly do, Sofia means nothing to me, I kissed her as a thank you for having helped me. I’ve done everything for you and only you!

-STOP LYING TO ME! YOU TRICKED ME INTO SLEEPING WITH YOU, ALMOST RAPED ME IN MY OWN KITCHEN BECAUSE ACORDING TO YOU YOU DIDN’T KNOW WHAT YOU WERE DOING. ¡UNA MIERDA!

-I didn’t trick you! You asked me to be with you, I simply complied!

-WHILE YOU WERE GOING OUT WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER!

-YOU ORDERED ME TO BE WITH YOU! DON’T BLAME IT ALL ON ME! AND MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE HAD YOU IN THE KITCHEN TO SHOW YOU THAT I’M THE ONLY ONE WHO WILL EVER LOVE YOU! I’M STILL HERE PUTTING UP WITH ALL YOUr SHIT WHEN I COULD HAVE HAD ANYONE!

-Don’t you dare head that way Mariano. Don’t you fucking dare.

-Why?! You want the truth, isn’t that what you are always telling me? Or do you want your truth?! I could have had anyone I wanted, I could have your daughters if I pleased, your granddaughters, anyone but I chose you and here you are telling me that I’m cheating on you!

-You kissed her!

-But I didn’t fuck her!

-What does it matter?! You still cheated for God’s sake! Why are you being like this?

-Why are you being like this?! It’s not important, what I did can’t be changed, simply move on Alma. We have something beautiful, don’t do this.

-Me?! I’m the one being unreasonable?! You are destroying this by pushing it all aside, grow up Mariano, the world is a horrid place and it won’t always play in your favour. You fucked up, admit it, don’t try to tell me that you didn’t do anything wrong when you were kissing a girl in public in the middle of the plaza for everyone to see!

-I won’t say it because I didn't do anything wrong. She was helping me and I simply thanked her! Don’t you think I know the world is shit? My parents left and never returned, you are not the only one who’s lost family, stop acting as if your losses are the only ones that matter. You lost your sister, so what?! No one knows who the fuck Eva is and will never know because you are too much a bitch to tell your own family that you had a sister all because of the stupid excuse that the world was bad to her and they don’t deserve her. She’s been buried for fifty fucking years, get over it! You lost Pedro, what good has it done to you the goddamn miracle? that stupid sacrifice maybe doen’t matter at all. Why do I have to kiss a dead man's ass when he’s done nothing but die! Your deaths don’t matter to the world, get that through your thick head and move on! I grew up without parents, stop being a bitch about your husband having been killed and all that shit because we- DON’T-CARE!

Time stood still with only the sound of Mariano’s heavy breathing filling the space of the courtyard, words echoing against the walls. They just stood there for several minutes before a strange sound shook them out of their stupor, eyes searching for what had caused the noise but it didn’t take them long to find the source; a deep long crack had appeared right underneath Alma’s feet making the house tremble as it spread through the tiles breaking them mercilessly. He had been so angry that his tongue had got the best of him and before he could register what he was saying he had told her all those terrible things watching in horror as her face switched from surprise to anger then to pain before settling in a neutral expressionless mask that made all his alarms go off. He had made mistakes, but in all this time he had never even thought of saying something like this to her, whether they were true or not, but today he had done something he was quite sure he would never be able to fix. He had told her as plain as day that the death of her beloved sister and husband who she had been honouring her entire life didn’t matter and she should forget about it all and carry on with her life because the rest of the world didn’t give a crap about it all even if they had a home thanks to her. For a minute he wished he could read her mind, see how deep the damage he had done run, but the instant the floor beneath him started trembling and her expressions practically flashes in the blink of an eye showing the crack beginning right on the spot where she was standing he understood he hadn’t simply hurt her; he had broken her.

Without warning his cheek suddenly started burning and stinging, Julieta’s arm raised high in the air with her palm a furious shade of red from having slapped him, the outline of her hand bright and angry on his pale flesh. The calm collected Julieta had inflicted pain on a person, the realisation that he hadn’t only been talking with Alma about her family but also about her children and grandchildren dawning on him as the energy around them started sparkling, Pepa’s eyes flashing yellow with the raw strength of her powers taking all her control away from her, a full electrical storm ruthlessly broke outside the house as much as inside, winds picking up at a speed that some of the animals Antonio hadn’t taken with him to his room when Dolores had took him away from the argument hardly being able to hang onto Isabela’s flowers. Julieta’s figure was pulled away from him, her eyes a bright shade of blue making the stinging sensation worse. The only one who simply stood behind his mother was Bruno, but his anger was visible in the way his eyes glowed green and his face was bathed in pure anger. That quiet show of power from his part scared him more than what his sisters were doing, Felix, Camilo, Luisa and Mirabel holding Pepa in place. Alma stared at him and if it weren’t for the new stream of tears that were cascading down her cheeks and the cracks that were spreading all over the house he would have believed her to be calm in his presence. She took a step towards him, just one before stopping on her tracks, hands in fists, knuckles white as snow.

-Get out.

-Alma, I’m-

-Get out. I don’t want to see you ever again. If you place a foot inside this house I’ll kill you with both my bare hands. This, what you've said, is the last straw. Go away and never return, leave me and my family alone because I swear that if I ever lay my eyes on you I’ll wire your neck like a chicken. Vete ahora mismo y no vuelvas, jamás.

Saying those words was the hardest thing she had done in her life and seeing the way he stepped backwards at her emotionless tone that at the same time spewed venom only added another knife to her already bleeding heart. She didn’t wait to see if he would actually leave, she stormed out of the courtyard towards her room with tears running down her cheeks in quiet cries hearing him wrestling to get to her calling out her name until the door slammed closed and everything became suffocating silence. Isabela’s vines had iron grips on his arms and legs but as much as he fought to set himself free they remained in place and as the girl walked towards the entrance the vines followed, the wind and rain bursting inside the house soaking everyone wet. He had expected her to bite at him, to pour slicing words at him but Isa didn't utter a single sentence, all she did was with a nod from her head watch as the plants threw him outside in the air until his back collided with the damp soil underneath him, in the distance the shape of Rosa coming up the path with Alma’s basket and what she had managed to safe from her shopping, but the house didn’t wait until the older lady had reached it, it closed it doors with a loud thump leaving everyone standing in confusion over broken tiles and deep cracks that shook them to their cores. They couldn’t lose Casita again, this time it would take Alma with it and they had worked too damn hard to be a happy family to let something like this destroy her, though as the house trembled once more they wondered if they were too late.

The door felt warm to the touch since Alma had both her palms resting on it, her knees buckling under her weight; she didn’t trust them to take her up to her room but as warm as the magic of her glowing door might feel she was freezing. Every bone in her body, every muscle even her veins felt like sharp ice that had exchanged her once human body to this weak crumbling thing that she couldn’t even control. Like gelatin she turned around pressing her back against the entryway looking with red puffy eyes at the stairs before her, an endless dark hallway that she feared she might never cross taking all her vision, but her feet were working on their own, she was no longer the owner of the body, just the broken soul that resided inside it and she didn’t have the strength to stop it or command it to not carry on. It had been childish to think that at her age a man like that would ever love her, he had an entire life ahead of him and she was reaching her twilight years, soon they would be celebrating her funeral instead of her birthday, she should have seen it, maybe the signs had indeed been there and she had just been too blind to acknowledge them, she couldn’t be sure but the only thing she had clear in her head was that she had fallen in love with a lie and it had backstabbed her to the point where she was alone once more. What could she give him? There was no way they would have ever had a family and all those promises that he had made to her now felt flimsy and empty, just another set of lies to add to their relationship. If he could go around kissing other women, how could she know whether his words were truly just for her?

The small flame from the candle flickered once or twice as she reached her bedroom, thin fractures extending all over her walls and ceiling but she paid them no mind, her hands had grabbed the first thing they had seen and had thrown it against a wall and the only thing Alma did was watch in slow motion as the vase shattered into a million tiny pieces. Somehow it only made her pain get worse and what had been a tiny black void of endless sorrow was now a black hole the size of the universe and it only expanded into the infinite confinements of the boundless continuous space swallowing her whole. Fingers twitching as if they had been electrocuted picked up another vase and with the strength of a god she threw it against another wall feeling the exhilarating way the anger and the pain mixed into a deep agony that she couldn’t control and wouldn’t control letting her hands do the work for her exhausted mind throwing things in the air that she didn’t register in the slightest. Over and over her fiery eyes chose another lifeless object to kill, watching like a masochist as it broke into a thousand little shards, a mirror image of how her heart was exploding each time a picture or a random object collided with the walls. Without thinking she bent to pick a pick a fallen photograph but upon grabbing it the broken glass sliced through the palm of her hand staining the edge of it with her crimson blood; at last her eyes focused on what she was holding to see that it was her wedding picture, Pedro’s face invisible under the broken glass, the frame chipped and ruined because of her hot sticky blood.

Something in her brain clicked then and all the euphoria that she had been feeling along with the blinding rage vanished, a tsunami of pain, remorse and agony washing over her body as she let go of the picture, knees finally giving out underneath her weight crashing over her soft carpet. If she had been crying before she hadn’t noticed until now feeling how her face was on fire, the salty droplet pooling on the neck of her blouse sobs rocking her body with such force that she couldn’t stay still. Down in the courtyard Agustín was trying to calm Julieta down while Felix and Camilo were more worried about not letting go of Pepa in case she went outside and killed Mariano remorselessly, Bruno nowhere to be seen since he had vanished into his tower as soon as his mother had left. Everyone was confused and angry, they had welcomed Mariano into the family forgetting about the doubts and all the signs that had warned them that it wasn’t a good idea and in the end this is what he had done to her, cheat like the scum he was. It wasn’t until the sound of the first object shattering that they rushed upstairs watching in absolute terror as the previous steady glow on Alma’s door flickered losing that light several times as the screams and sobs got louder and louder and then everything stopped, no sounds whatsoever. They pulled, pushed, kicked the door but it remained unmovable with only the thunderstorm and hurricane outside to fill the silence that had encircled them until that banshee-like scream filled the air all over the Encanto and the previous still cracks started spreading like wildfire.

The house was falling bit by bit but no one moved, only pulled harder on the door to get to Alma before it was too late. The fractures outside the house had stopped close to the bridge but now they run underneath the church and were getting closer to the plaza, Mariano watching in shock as his home shook and trembled at the pain Alma was experiencing, but he suspected it wasn’t just his doing, something in the back of his mind was telling him that a small part of this whole thing was her soul steaming all the grief she had kept locked up about her family and that had been his own selfish fault. Rosa stood behind him watching in fear as it all happened again feeling like a failure of having let him do this whole thing to her best friend; she had been right all along and it had been a bad idea from the minute she had seen them in the kitchen with his hand on Alma while she cried. Time hadn’t made it all go away or better by all means, it had only made him grow accustomed to having someone around that he knew would be there for him as he went around with other girls, she should have stopped her nieto from hurting her, they could have avoided all this from the start. Finally after several tries with a crowbar and Luisa’s fists pounding on the wood the door gave away, flying over the railing until it landed on the wet tiles of the courtyard, Julieta and Pepa practically levitating up the stairs to find the room completely destroyed and Alma in a corner with blood on her face that mixed with her tears staining her blouse that was beyond repair, the same face of despair she had had after watching Pedro being slaughtered resting on her worn features.

Hands were on her in under a minute but at the touch she recoiled hiding further into the shadows. An invisible wall surrounded Alma separating her from the outside world and the living nightmare of her own, forms and faceless figures dancing around her with shrilling laughs of mockery at her stupidity, spilling salt over her raw open wounds making her scream in her mind for any release of this agony that was suffocating her but they only joked and taunted her even more. Whatever her daughters were saying fell on deaf ears, the voices in her head were far too loud for her to hear anything but them and every time she blinked the image of a dead Mariano rising from the land of the dead to smirk at her and tell her repeatedly that he never loved her, that she was undeserving of such a thing only made the headache worse as if she was going to explode any minute, that was of course until a hand collided with her cheek and suddenly the world of shadows and loud painful laughs was gone. It was silent at last and what her eyes were seeing were no longer mockeries of her nightmares but real people that kneeled before her crying in worried tones as they asked her if she was alright. What a question, if she was alright. Had she ever been? Maybe she had tricked herself into believing her life was perfect because she knew everything was but a curtain of smoke that covered her true self: small, cowering in a corner just like she was doing at the moment. A weak laugh escaped her lips, low and sinister at what Julieta was asking her, after all she was bleeding from the cut on her palm as much as she was bleeding from within her chest, how can anyone be fine when they’ve been lied to and cheated on? What had made her believe she could ever have something similar to what she had shared with Pedro so late in life with someone as childish and heartless as Mariano? He would have married Dolores without even thinking whether he would have made her happy or not only to get to Alma; he was a manipulative son of a bitch that didn’t deserve her in the slightest, but that didn’t mean she did deserve to be punished this way.

The tears wouldn’t stop flowing and slowly her brain seemed to be registering what they were talking about, word by word her mind formed the simple sentences. They were long done with the questions, she was in no state whatsoever to answer anything harder than whether she’d like a cup of coffee or not and even then she feared she would have lost the ability to speak after such a display of screams, they simply talked to her reminding her that she was Alma Madrigal, that she couldn’t let a stupid boy like him do this to her, she had been through too much to let heartbreak defeat her, and as pretty as the words were it didn’t feel as easy to walk pass it all in her heart, it was torture to have all those memories of their wonderful dates and presents, their private jokes and the taste of his lips still on hers; they were building a house por Dios! A home they had created between the two of them that would never be finished and all those dreams they had once thought of and shared with each other would only be added to the graveyard of unfulfilled goals and fantasies like every little moment in her life. They pitied her, they didn’t need to say it for her to know, after all the way Agustín’s eyes gleamed in the light of the candle with a soft veil of sadness that he didn’t even try to hide, the fool, well maybe he wasn’t the fool here, he was happily married to the love of his life while Alma was sitting on the cold floor crying over a boy after fifty years of being a widow. Que imbecil. She could have had the world, she thought she would have a different life, that she would be a different woman but who was she kidding, she was but an old lady whose ship had sailed fifty years ago; she had forced herself to see new boats over the waters only to find herself sinking into the cold ocean, drowning after having jumped into a fantasy that she had been the only one to see.

Two strong arms lifted her off the floor, curtains being drawn to let in what little light they could still see coming through Pepa’s thick dark clouds. Alma hadn’t seen all the destruction up until now, her room was a complete mess with glass and porcelain all over the floor and bed, feathers sticking to their shoes from where she had ripped the pillows, her wardrobe half open with some of her dressed thrown on the floor; thankfully Agustín had examiend them and determined they were intact, maybe a button or two were missing or there were small tears on the hems, but nothing that couldn’t be fixed. The scent of lilies filled her nostrils as her head rested on the shoulder of her nineteen year old granddaughter; she didn't want to see where they might be taking her, she was too tired, head pounding at the sight of the light in the hallway once they had emptied her room. Alma hadn’t fought them, she was dead weight in her nieta’s arms and as much as she wanted to be put down so she could return to her corner she couldn’t find anything inside her to voice her choices, her wants. She actually couldn’t find her voice. Julieta’s footsteps differed from where Alma was going, flying towards the kitchen after having talked with her sister in hushed tones not that their mother would have tried to communicate with them let alone listen to what they were talking. Pepa’s room was close by and the woman had refused to let her mother stay with anyone but herself, so Felix had agreed to stay with Antonio so she could stay with her mother or the carcass of who used to be Alma Madrigal, right now she was but a ghost of her former self with pale sunken skin and red puffy eyes holding onto the fabric of Luisa’s blouse with weak fingers that were barely touching it. Wherever Alma was both her daughters knew she was in too much pain to come out of her shell just yet, they only hoped to get her back soon enough.

All the cracks in the village were dissipating now that her tears had become silent rivers streaming down her face, not a sob or whimper in sight, her throat sore and raw from screaming. It eased Mariano’s worry but Rosa knew better than to trust this, she had been too close to the woman to know that Alma was hiding it all inside her, locking it away. Inside Casita the fractures were another story; they weren’t as deep as before but they were still there visible through every inch of the building and as much as Isa, Mira, Luisa and Camillo tried to make it better they got no reaction from her, she had dissociated and was far away from the land of the living at the moment sitting on the covers of Pepa’s bed. They had been barely five minutes inside the room when Julieta came in with a cup of strong lavender tea steam floating lazily over the hot liquid. It had worked after that breakdown she had had months ago, she only hoped to cure the cut as well since it was still bleeding dripping on the floor rhythmically. Drop. Drop. Drop. With the help of Pepa they got her to take a couple of sips, Alma’s eyes growing heavy after a couple of minutes, a pink scar forming on her hand before it was substituted by flawless skin as if nothing had happened although her blood stained clothes spoke of a different story. Her body grew heavy and her already darkened mind became a blank void of no thoughts as she slumped into Pepa’s arms before she was carefully laid on her back chest rising and falling with each breath she took. This was their fault as much as Mariano, they felt that they should have watched him more, that they should have been around him more often to avoid things like this but the happiness their mother had felt had clouded their minds and so the fairytale had turned into a horror story where the killer had infatuated his victim and was now murdering her slowly without even touching her just like the professional heartbreaker he was. Just because he hadn’t been holding a weapon in one hand and her sliced heart in the other didn’t mean he hadn’t killed her.

Everything had happened so fast that the cloud of confusion was still hovering over the house, they had been fine up until that moment in the village that only Alma had seen, but apparently he had kissed someone, after all the things they had done to build their relationship he had cheated on her. Her frame looked weak and old, worn by all the crying and screaming, and even in her sleep Pepa could see that the pained expression wouldn’t leave her features, the wrinkles defined by her ruined makeup because for some reason she had woken up today feeling like she wanted to impress him. What an idea it had all been, but if she hadn’t seen it Julieta would have and then her daughter would have had to go around wondering what was best for Alma, whether to tell her the truth or keep it all hidden. Another what if to add to the endless list of possibilities. A knock on the doorframe startled the redhead who with a few stray tears still falling down her cheeks and the clouds above her head raining heavily turned to see Julieta and Bruno signalling her to follow them. It wasn’t much of a choice but a silent order and hesitantly she stood up from the chair Felix had brought her glancing at the sleeping form of their mother before closing the door. Down in the courtyard Alma’s door laid in sharp shards of wood, her figure lifeless as it rested over the tiles as a sign of what had transpired there just a few minutes earlier, the entryway to Alma’s room free of any sort of gate showing a deep dark hallway. They moved aside from Pepa’s door towards the stairs until Bruno held both his sisters' wrists, stopping them on their tracks.

-Do you understand what just happened?

-Sort of. I was busy trying not to electrocute him but it doesn’t take a genius to figure it out. Where are the children?

-In their rooms. Luisa and Isa were very anxious so Agustín took the pot up to their rooms after I made mamás cup. Dolores as far as I know is with Antonio and Mira and Camilo I have no idea. They were there one minute and the next they had disappeared.

-Mira helped me figure something out and Camilo accompanied her. I just sent them to their rooms so I could talk with you both in private. Mamá won’t wake for several hours right?

-Minimum six. Why? Is everything alright Bruno?

-Did you see something? - even if he hadn’t answered with words the way his eyes sparkled was all they needed.

-I did. I had the same vision I told Dolores about when she was little.

-You had a vision about my daughter?

-No, I had the same vision but it has nothing to do with her, I don’t think it ever did. She wanted to know if she would end up with the love of her life and I said no, but what I didn’t know was who he was going to end up with. Back then the figure was faceless.

-What’s changed then?

-I can see who he’s going to marry now, Juli. There are two options, if I tilt the vision to one side I see a stranger but if I tilt it in the opposite direction I see mamá in the church marrying Mariano.

-There’s a possibility they might get over this? You’ve seen her Juli, she’s in no state to even see him without having a mental breakdown.

-That’s all I can tell you. I tried to see more but everything’s blurry and confusing and I think it’s because of what mamá is feeling right now. This vision is linked to her and it's only her who can make the choice and make it go one way or another.

-Well, it won’t be today. Even if she were awake I wouldn’t allow it, she needs rest and time just like we all do, you understand right Pepa?

-So what do we do then, just wait? Seems like a waste of a good vision to me.

-Bruno, we have to let her tackle this whoever she wants or whoever she can. We should wait until she’s fully awake tomorrow to see where we stand and make a plan.

-Pepa, our plans never work.

-No, our plans don’t but Juli’s do. You are in charge of telling us what we have to do to fix this. Have in mind that the best might not be for them to have a happy ending.

-We’ll see. I ought to go down to Rosa’s place to get the basket and do the shopping.

-I’d go with you but I don't think mamá should be left alone. Your tea might not be strong enough to keep the nightmares at bay. I’ll have Dolores look out for you just in case though and tell Bruno to go to the rescue if necessary.

-Perfecto, until then we must keep the children away from mamá and just simply wait.

What no one had seen was that Dolore’shead had been poking out of Antonio’s room listening intensely to what they were saying, some voices in the distance mixing with those inside the house and so like a mouse she slipped out and entered her own bedroom in complete silence running towards her balcony to listen to that third set of sounds that came from the village. It took her a minute to find Mariano’s voice and that of his abuela but soon enough she was hearing every word they were sharing, putting the missing pieces of the puzzle in their rightful place. He repeated several times to his abuela that he wasn’t cheating, that he would never do that and that the kiss had been just a symbol of gratitude but she wanted more, she needed to know exactly why he had allowed it. Rosa followed the same train of thought and after he answered the question with a simple it's a secret he finally gave up and told her that he had asked her to help him practise with him what he was going to do and say to Alma because… Dolores blinked several times trying to process his words slowly, almost forgetting to continue listening, not that she would have heard anything, Rosa was as much in shock as she was. He had asked for Sofia’s help because he was planning on proposing to Alma and no one in the family had been free today so he had asked a friend to give him a hand. If what Bruno had said was true and it probably was, Alma had been destined to be with him since Mariano had been a child, fate had been planning this since he had been born and they were one second away from losing it all. Regardless of the kiss that shouldn’t have happened Dolores didn’t want her abuela to live the rest of her life sitting in a corner crying for the love that could have been and never was. The little wheels in her head were already turning formulating a master plan to fix this all in a much quicker and better way than anything her mother, tio and tia might come up with but she needed the help of the master matchmaker herself, and something told her Rosa would be down for it if her silence was anything to trust at the moment.

#alma madrigal #abuela madrigal #encanto #dolores madrigal #bruno magridal #pepa madrigal #julieta madrigal #mariano guzman #señora guzmán #disney

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aggieharkness · 2 years

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Hay que encontrar su propio futuro

a/n: Hello my dears!! Someone in the comments asked me a few things about the way Mariano feels in all of this and it made me realise that I had hardly written any of this from his point of view, so I hope this clears things up in regards to that. It is shorter than other chapters I've done but I've just finished my exams and my brain has turned into mush. If there's anything you want me to change in this chapter or add or ask don't hesitate, let me know and I'll make sure to do it, and if you have any requests or ideas I'll very happy to do them. Enjoy:)) I'm Spanish so I used expressions from my own language. I'm afraid I don't know Colombian ones so I had to work with the ones that I know. If there are any Colombians out there that would prefer for me to change what I have written I would very gladly do it, but even so, I hope you like the ones I have used.

warning: age difference, implied sexual content, past use of alcohol. Most importantly no Alma Madrigal bashing, i love this woman.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16

Hay que encontrar su propio futuro

Winter was long gone making way for Spring, the trees all around the Encanto full with life and pretty blossoms that were waiting for the heat to properly set in before opening up and becoming the juicy fruits people would later collect to sell and consume in the plaza. The air of the night was fresh and filled with so many different scents, early birds waking up singing their songs to start their day along a few people that needed to clean their stores or get an early start on their crops. Today Mariano was one of them. The clock had barely rang five thirty in the morning when he had pushed the covers aside and stood, the open window letting in the breeze that blew the curtains from side to side in the dark room. He made his way to the bathroom quietly so as not to wake his grandmother and quickly washed and got dressed checking his hair and beard in the light of the candle he had lit when he had woken up. The packages he had received yesterday were neatly wrapped in brown paper near the front door waiting to be delivered as he headed for the kitchen to have a bite to eat; he would wake up half of Colombia if he started preparing some coffee. He ate in pitch darkness a bowl of fruit and some milk before heading out into the plaza, all packages secured on his back by a huge bag Mirabel had made for him with strings to tie at his front to take wood up to his and Alma’s cabin. They were heavy and delicate and the trek towards Casita was long but the excitement he felt covered up any exhaustion he might feel. His plan was neat, perfectly calculated to the minimum detail, the only thing that was left was to go get Alma.

During his walk over the dirty path he happened to stumble over some random rocks as dawn wouldn’t be happening for another few hours, and by then he would be just in the right spot. His thoughts didn’t stay with him though, they travelled back in time to examine all the things that caused him to be right where he was walking at five forty five in the morning towards Casita to wake his partner up. He could hardly remember a time when he hadn’t been madly in love with her, his memories were all filled with moments of his life where she had been around. The earliest he could perfectly recall was from when he was about five, before that everything he remembered only short snippets of time that he didn’t know whether were real or a product of his imagination. He held that first memory very dear. School had just finished and he was waiting by the gates for his grandmother talking about nonsense with his teacher but the minutes went by and there was no sign of her and Rosa was never late but from among the masses of parents and grandparents the sight of a magenta blurr caught his eye, and as the figure became clearer he saw her, Alma heading his way with a bright smile on her face and a little bag of food with his name written in her beautiful calligraphy. She had kneeled in front of him explaining that Rosa was helping Julieta with Dolores birthday party and couldn’t pick him up but he hadn’t mind, he had been completely sweeped of his tiny feet by this woman who everyone said was stern and scary with evil eyes; to him she was the kindest person he had ever met apart from señora Julieta and his abuelita. She had come to him with a smile and sweet words and his merienda!

Thinking back she might have become his favourite person right there. From that instant on there was not a moment when he didn’t ask for her or look for her; he would tell Alma everything, even things he wouldn’t have even thought of telling his abuela or his friends, she just knew him better than anyone in the entire world. When he argued for the first time with his abuela and had burst out of the house screaming he hated her his feet had taken him to her, and as much as she wanted to ask and find out more she knew he was too distressed to talk to her without getting mad at her as well so she simply sat with him in the garden holding him in her arms as he cried. His tears had left a wet splodge on the front of her dress but she hadn’t cared, the only thing in her mind had been to calm him down and get him to talk with Rosa again. When he had finally built up the courage to go back home he saw Alma smiling at him from the window giving him a thumbs up; he hadn’t stopped coming to her when in distress from then onward. The sound of the water streaming underneath the river reached his ears but he was still miles away, eyes fixed in the horizon before him not really seeing where he was going simply trusting his feet wouldn’t fail him and make him take a wrong turn, but he highly doubted it, he knew that path like the palm of his hand and could go to and from Casita with his eyes closed or in the pitch darkness of the night. Every day of his life had been filled with her, somehow she always seemed to be there, when he came back home from school she would be playing cards with his abuela or waiting for him along her nietos to pick up the entire troop of children. When he started his first job at the grocers she had been his first client with the proudest biggest grin on her face he had ever seen, she had even refused Julieta to go down to the market that day because she wanted to be there for him to encourage him and help him calm those nerves she knew would be there. He had been sixteen then and Alma had been plaguing his thoughts by then for years, not that he would ever complain, her lavender perfume had become his favourite smell and one that would help him sleep when he felt anxious about things, those softs vanilla tinges from her soap were delicious to his mind enfolding every memory of her like frosting on a cake.

Every birthday was spent around his friends and family but somehow she would always be the one bringing her nietas to his parties, their parents were always busy and she couldn’t take those puppy eyes that Dolores had mastered in her first years of life; that’s how he would always ignore everyone around him until she showed up and would run to her and cling to her dress for several minutes before he was swept away by the other children. It had been a strange behaviour that his abuela had tried to correct but it had been a lost battle, something called him to her like moths to a flame. The first time she had kissed his cheek had been when he was eight and he still felt that tingling sensation her lips had left on his chubby skin. He had been playing in the park with Isabela and Dolores when his swing became detached from the pole, sending his body flying onto the sandy soil underneath. The pain of his scraped hands and knees had been astronomical, in child standards, and at the sound of his first wail Alma practically flew from her spot with Luisa in her arms leaving the girl to run to her sister so she could attend to the boy. One arepa later he sat on a bench sniffling holding onto her hands, Alma’s eyes travelling from his form to the ruined swing promising heaven above she would search for whoever had built the park and give them a piece of her mind; to calm him down she had kissed his cheek and told him they should go back to Casita to have some of Julieta’s buñuelos.

The sound of Casita’s door creaking open woke him up from his walk down memory lane. Good job feet, he had been completely and absolutely gone to the point that he could have fallen down a hole and he wouldn’t have noticed. Silently he patted the doorframe as thank you before entering the house leaving the packages safely beside it, heading up the stairs but when his foot reached the first step the doubts started assaulting him; what if she refused to open the door or sent him on his way? He had everything ready for today and couldn’t wait for another week and give away his surprise. He would have to risk it all, but just to make sure he sent a quick prayer to the sky while walking up the stairs into the hallway. All the doors were glowing softly in waves reflecting over the tiles, the owners of each room sleeping soundly oblivious to this “intruder” in their home. The church bells struck six o’clock, time running out. His steps became faster in his need to get to her as soon as possible, before Julieta came out and caught him inside her mothers bedroom, she would hardly believe he hadn’t spent the night there and he didn’t want Alma to have to face the wrath of her daughters for something that hadn’t happened, yet. Once in front of it he couldn’t help but admire her image carved on the wood; it had changed after Casita had been rebuilt, all of the doors had been modified somehow, hers showed now a candle without flame but a butterfly that represented Mirabel and her previous unfeeling expression now showed a bright smile that made her look far younger. His fist hovered over it for a second until it finally made contact in three quiet knocks hoping it would draw her out of bed without having to explain to anyone but her what the hell he was doing there at six in the morning. He remained there for five minutes waiting, not hearing anything coming from the inside, not even a cough, absolute silence the little bubble that has flared up in his chest getting smaller by the second in disappointment. Just as he was lifting his hand again the door opened slowly, Alma standing on the other side in her nightgown, hair in absolute disarray and eyes blinking rapidly to adjust to the light and wake up a bit more.

-Mariano, ¿qué estás haciendo aquí? No son ni las site.

-Get dressed, quickly. - rather brusque, but he needed to be straightforward before dawn came and the moment would slip out of his grasp. He saw how her features hardened at the way he had practically barked the words out in a hushed hurried tone.

-Why? What are you going on about?- as if a bucket of freezing water had been poured over her head, her face turned into the sort of wide awakeness that one gets after twelve coffees in under a second, panic bubbling inside her chest, a shadow of fear crossing her eyes. - Has something happened? Is Rosa alright?

-Everything’s fine, everyone’s alright.

-Dios Mariano, me vas a matar un día de estos. What do you want? In case you didn’t notice I was asleep.

-I know and I hate to have to wake you up so early, but I have a surprise for you.

-Mariano, cariño, I love your surprises, but can’t it wait until, I don't know, maybe eight? Nine so I can have a very large cup of coffee?

-I’m afraid it can’t. I promise it’s worth it, just get ready and I’ll wait for you downstairs, okay?

-You better be taking me to see diamonds or I won’t let you in for an entire year.

-It’s very worth it caramelito, I swear. Just hurry it, okay?

If glares could kill he would already be buried six feet under, Alma was really starting to feel this murderous tendencies but she loved him too much to actually get rid of him, she simply threw a last hard glance at him and nodded. Mission accomplished and no one had been lost in the process, gracias a Dios. With the door closed he could hear her tired steps on the stairs becoming quieter as she walked away from him so he turned around and went back to the courtyard. Every inch of this house held some sort of memory, from when he was a child up until now, and everywhere he looked there seemed to be a ghost of her clinging to each stone. His feet took him to the dining room watching from a certain distance the kitchen. He had sat at this table, he had eaten with her many times and had danced with her in the continuous room, but at the sight of the back wall guilt settled deep in his bones. He couldn’t understand why he had done it, why he had pressed her against it and refused to listen, it had been as if his brain had been turned off and all he had done was let his most primal instinct guide him. He had felt her tense in his hold, her voice filled with fear and pain as she pleaded him to let her go but he hadn’t, he didn’t listen. Did she still fear him? She hadn’t given him any indication but maybe it was something that she didn’t want to talk about just yet and was hiding it deep within her soul. There was no way he would let her live like that, hiding her thoughts and feelings from him as not to hurt him, they were in this together and it had been his error, his mistake; the tiles around him raised as if they were confirming whatever he was thinking, the sentient house knew that he was trying as best as he could to change and be the man Alma deserved.

In these few months he had grown more mature, decisive, assertive and he liked this new part of him, it didn’t make him feel like he was a child still. In a short period of time his entire life had changed from a naive young man that didn’t know what he wanted and was rather volatile to this down to earth guy that was fixing all his mistakes for the women he loved to have the chance to create something strong and beautiful with her that would be able to survive anything. Looking back at the wall his guilt became determination, after all she had told him that the trust they once shared needed to be regained after what had happened that night at dinner. The counter next to the wall brought the memories of the party back as well; how her body pressed against his with the small of her back resting on the counter had felt, her warmth, her scent. It hadn’t been planned, none of the things that had happened in those two days had been planned, fate had just shown him a path that although it had been unorthodox had led them to where they were now. There were many things he would have changed, not telling Dolores for example, their friendship had suffered greatly after everything had come out but things had got better once the previous hate had turned into acceptance. To Dolores he was nothing but a crush that would pass because she had seen the little things that made her abuela smile, from the soft touches of fingers when they were at the plaza to the way she leaned on him after a long day when they rested outside in the garden.

He wouldn’t have lied to Alma either, the pain in her eyes when she had remembered and discovered the truth he had been hiding had broken his heart little by little and their argument had only made things worse for a bit; he hadn’t thought of how important sharing ones truth was for people until then. Some many things could have gone differently if he had done things right, maybe if he had courted her the way he was supposed to she would have said yes to him, but all those what ifs were nothing but numerous possibilities that were as real as magic and at the same time impossible to happen as a statute of smoke. If he let his mind wander down that long path he might forget to look at what’s right in front of him, which is the prospect of having a future with the woman he loved, pushing aside everything but the present. Everything from their shaky start had been plaguing his mind for months unabling him to sleep or eat, the guilt he felt at having used lies and manipulation to be with her; he hadn’t meant to sleep with Alma but he could’t refuse her when she had stood before him asking him to make her feel human again, the conflict of his feelings had been torture to him ever since. A cough from the courtyard startled him so badly he jumped on the spot he was standing on in the dining room, eyes still looking at the kitchen. Alma was waiting for him neatly dressed in a spring dress designed by Agustín himself with her black shawl draped over her shoulders giving him a questioning look, hair loosely pulled into a braid.

-What are you looking at? The house is all dark and you are staring at the kitchen like some creep.

-I was just observing the way everything’s placed to get ideas for our house, no need to call me a creep.

-You broke into my house to wake me up before dawn and are now staring at a wall with no candles lit; that classifies as creepy.

-I didn’t break in, Casita let me in and for information I wasn’t doing anything weird with your magical house. Come on, we have to get there before dawn.

-Get where? - her question fell on deaf ears as Mariano took the packages and quickly placed them on his back trying the strings to the front to secure them. The next instant he was grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the door. - Mariano, ¿a dónde me llevas? ¡Mariano!

-It’s a surprise, keep your voice down or you are going to wake up the entire village.

-I wouldn’t scream if you told me what the hell you are doing?

-No can do, just keep quiet and follow me.

-If this how you are planning on murdering me to steal my house and fortune I have to tell you… We are poor and everything's an illusion.

-Ahh, my plan has failed. Come on, this is heavy and I know a shortcut. How good are you at climbing?

-Climbing?! I have a hard time staying on the ground. How am I supposed to climb?!

-We’ll just take the path around the fields then.

They didn’t even stay in that so-called path for more than ten minutes, they crossed the forest to head west from where Casita stood. Alma kept up with his speed quite well even without her coffee, probably out of anger and curiosity more than anything, in the distance the church bell ringing six thirty; they were still far away from the spot he had in mind so absentmindedly his feet speeded up a little more, crouching under branches and jumping roots and rocks. Feeling her hand tightly in his only encouraged his mind to wander off again to a particular moment when he had been around eighteen. Pepa had been having an awful time with Antonio in weeks prior to Mariano’s birthday and that had made it a little difficult for Isa or Dolores to spend time with him so he passed most of his days alone waiting for people to come to his fruit stand, but that day the clouds had threatened to rain any moment and so no one had really went out for much but he would remember it for the rest of his life as one of the happiest days in his life. It had been three days before his birthday and the sky above him had been the darkest most dangerous shade of grey he had seen in years which only made his anxiety grow throughout the day. Around midday the thunder began and he knew better than to stay out during one of Pepa’s angry outbursts so after closing his stand for the day he began his trek home only to see Alma coming out of the butchers with face as red as a beet and a shoe in her hand, basket broken on the floor. The instant his eyes had landed on her form she had practically run to him, the butcher screaming words he couldn’t remember at her but all his attention switched form the man to her when he had felt he hand hold onto him, her brown eyes pleading him to stay with her and help her without the need for her to voice her wishes.

The way her hand felt was practically similar to how it was right now except for one little detail, it had started to rain back then and neither of them moved for several minutes getting soaked to the bone but for some reason he hadn’t noticed it. Her eyes had been filled with gratitude and a slight shadow of fear that quickly changed when he had held onto her into affection, he could finally understand now what that new sparkle he had seen in her dark oceans had been; every little detail of her face was still fresh in his mind from the way the droplets of water had fallen from her eyelashes and the tip of her nose to the way random strands of hair stuck to her face; not a single bit of her hadn’t gone unnoticed by him. When the butcher had slammed the door making the glass vibrate at the sheer force the spell broke and his eyes finally looked up to watch the man disappear through the back door but Alma still hanged on to him refusing to turn her head towards the shop. A new crash of Pepa’s thunders close to where they were made him realise they were out in the open and without thinking he had pulled her with him as he started running towards the covered patios around the plaza sheltering them from the rain. Her laughter at her soaked clothes and the adrenaline of whatever had transpired with the butcher had been music to his ears to the point that he had joined her and completely wet and shivering from the cold both laughed at their predicament her hair out of its normal confinements cascading down her back, her skin glowing with a rosy tint caused by the cold of the rain. If he had to choose a single moment in his entire life he could freeze and hold onto he would choose that one.

In the moonlight that still shone high in the sky the leaves around them glowed in silvery tones and highlights casting white shadows over their form, their steps fast but steady. Underneath their feet the dry leaves and tiny twigs broke in quiet cracks as they walked over them, the only sound in the silence of the still night that enfolded them only accompanied by some birds that usually woke up before dawn. When they reached the edge of the forest the green endless fields in front of them shone as if they had a thin layer of fresh snow over them, green trees with big unripe fruits hanging from their branches swaying with the morning breeze, flowers of pale colours beamed under the night sky into the horizon. Alma was no stranger to the beauties of the night, but in all those sleepless moments she had been plagued by too many things to actually notice what mother nature had planted right in front of them. Today she was able to see for the first time what they had created, what the miracle had given them and she couldn’t think of a better way to honour her late husband than to look at her surroundings. Every single detail was engraved in her mind as they kept walking up the mountain through a narrow and dirty path, her skirt getting caught on some of the rocks and plants as they went higher and higher but she wasn’t looking at her feet much. The clear night sky was full of stars, the universe just barely out of reach with its reds and white nebulas spinning thousands of light years away from them and yet so close they reflected on her eyes as if she were in a trance. She kept on walking while her mind was miles away just as Mariano was. If he dared turn around to look at her he knew he would be lost and his plan would be thrown out the window the instant his eyes landed on her glowing form and as much as it pained him to miss that he stayed strong and kept on guiding her through the fields of daffodils and hyacinths.

After around thirty or forty minutes of walking his steps slowed down significantly making Alma tear her eyes from the sky towards him. She wondered what was inside those packages he was carrying so secured on his back, maybe they were something for the house, like some sort of special curtains or tiles but then again it made no sense for him to take her up a mountain to show her some curtains as beautiful as they might be. The path branched off into two, one that went up ahead, the other made a curve and went a little steeper up the mountain and of course it had been that one which Mariano took, his grip on her hand never faltering. He really would have climbed with those huge things on his back? She hoped not, thankful that they were walking instead of goating all around the Encanto. The only followed it for maybe five to ten minutes until they reached a bright green endless field of grass where no trees or bushes were seen, just the deep emerald green gleaming against the whites that rained upon it, little purple and blue flowers randomly popping in between those hundred of greens that you could only see at night when the world was quiet and the sun was completely gone. They still had time before the sun began to rise; in the east the previous dark sky was lighting up with those pale blues mixed with soft lavender tones among some now clear white fluffy clouds. Standing in the middle of the field he finally let go of Alma’s hand, turning around to face her, pale olive skin glowing, curious eyes staring intensely at him. The knot that had secured the packages to his back was undone and as carefully as he was able they were laid over the damp grass. There was no sound, not even the birds could be heard up here, just the soft breeze that flew around them moving their hair and clothes ever so slightly, the hem of her dress becoming wet from the grass underneath their feet that was soaked in the morning dew.

-Is this it? It’s not scenery that would make me drop to my knees, you’ve done better Mariano.

-Trust me, it gets better. Turn around.

There wasn’t much room for arguments, she simply turned with her back to him, eyes wide open when she set them on the scenery in front of her. Forty or fifty metres below them the village shone to the glow of the streetlights, some of the rooftops beaming with thin layers of ice that had frozen throughout the night, flowers still beautiful not wilting under the chilly night. The forests around it swayed softly from side to side, some random fireflies still floating in the air lazily in the streets as señor Flores worked to turn the flames in the lamps off one by one now that the sun was coming out. Alma took a few steps towards the edge, stopping a few feet from it, observing how the world was slowly waking up, the farmers heading to their crops with their dogs, windows opening to let the fresh air in, the sky getting lighter with each passing minute. To the west of the village the church stood proudly, its bells ringing each hour right on point, the tower the highest point in town, Casita presiding over the town with still silent halls. In her fifty years of having lived here she couldn’t recall having seen her village like this ever, no one had taken the time to show her how it all had changed, how her hard work had thrived. Mariano watched from a distance how her body reacted, all the tension slipping from her shoulders onto the damp grass under her feet like rain.

-I came here once after school and I couldn’t forget how beautiful it all looked. I thought it would be a nice surprise.

-It is Mariano, the most wonderful one in its simplicity and beauty. Thank you.

-I’m not done. Come here. - reluctantly she returned to him eyebrows raised in a questioning manner. - Now,you are not allowed to complain at all, it's a gift and that’s ir. I bought this months ago and it just arrived from Bogotá but I’m sure you are going to love it. Go on, open them.

So they were indeed presents for her and they came from miles away no less. Kneeling on the ground in front of the packages, her hands untied a bit shakily each string until all that was left to do was rip the brown paper. Fingers took hold of the first big parcel and pulled off the wrapping, the ripping sound revealing a suitcase of some sort made out of wood, heavy in her arms as she turned it around. The following gasp made him smile, her eyes reading the words Rembrandt in golden letters engraved over the wood, her face lighting up in utter surprise and delight.

-You… Tell me you didn’t.

-I did. I asked Gregorio to purchase the best painting equipment when he went to Bogotá. I told him to spend as much as he wanted, that I didn’t care how much it cost because it was for a very special person.

-But this is… You must have spent all your savings! What were you thinking!?

-Ah ah ah, no complaining, I already told you. I don’t care how expensive it might be, your brushes and paints are dry and overused; I would have done this sooner or later.

-Oil colours, my favourites. Dios Mariano, es maravilloso, gracias. Gracias. - at the speed of light her arms wrapped around his neck crashing her lips against his in short kisses, pecking him over and over as she thanked him in between kisses. - It’s wonderful.

-There’s more. I didn’t forget a single thing.

The rest of the packages were sets of paint and brushes and a brand new easel with a white canvas. The bristles were soft to the touch in dozens of different sizes, big and small tubes of unique colours she had never seen in her life filling several more cases. All the emotions reflected on her face were like oxygen for him, hands caressing every item with the utmost care as if they were made out of porcelain. Suddenly the image of her changed to one of a brunette young woman who was kneeling on the floor of a bedroom picking up from inside a wooden box a rag doll; at first he didn’t know what he was seeing until the woman lifted her head to look at him and he found himself face to face with Alma’s younger self giving him the brightest smile in the universe, but this memory wasn’t his, that much he knew and didn’t how on earth it was that he was seeing someone elses happy thoughts and moments of their life with her. Something in the back of his head was whispering that he did indeed know who they belonged to but preferred not to listen to it, he didn’t want to find out something about himself that could eventually drive her away from him. If he was the reincarnation of someone who had cherished her as much as he was hoping he would be able to, he would only accept it and move on remembering bits of a life that had never been his to live but from where he could learn. Seeing her in front of him now with her dress wet from the grass, hands grasped tightly at her chest admiring how she couldn’t seem to keep her eyes still on one single spot, the same bright smile that he had seen in that memory was all he needed inn this life.

She quickly picked up on why he had brought her here right before dawn and had given her all this brand new equipment. He wanted her to paint the sunrise from this specific point as it bathed their village with its golden rays waking up this little bit of the world to start another day. He didn’t even have time to suggest it to her, she was already getting the easel ready with the canvas on it, throwing the case wide open just in time to see the first oranges and purples tainting the sky, dawn finally arriving for their eyes only. If someone asked him when he had fallen in love with her he would probably say that he wasn’t sure, every breath she took, every word spoken, every step taken only made him adore her even more, but if had to choose a specific moment it would probably be when he turned nineteen, or at least when he finally realised it. His grandmother had wished him a happy birthday before he had left for work but no one else had come all day, it’s as if the world had forgotten about him, not even Dolores or Isabela had come to pull his ears, nothing. Defeated and in a very sour mood he had closed the stand to go have lunch and just as he was heading for the nearest restaurant Alma had showed up out of the blue holding a little box. The weather had been dark and gloomy until that moment, a bright rainbow had shone through the clouds letting the sun wash its heat over the empty streets for the first time that day. Upon seeing him she flashed him a big smile and approached him, handing him the present along with a happy birthday; inside it was a beautiful golden watch, the most beautiful and expensive piece he would ever own. There had been no need for her to give him anything at all, just a nice birthday wish would have sufficed but the fact that she had spared the time to look for something to give him was more than many had done in their entire lives. He had been the one to ask her to have lunch with him after that and to his surprise she had agreed, and just a meal turned into a wonderful evening around town and the lake strolling until dusk came and they were forced to return to their homes. People had chased after them to ask Alma for things, to talk with her but she had explained that she was unable to attend them at the moment and with certain anger on their faces they had left; she had gone out of her usual calendar to be with him and she had done it because she had wanted to, not out of pity. If someone asked him when he had fallen in love he would have to say that it would have been right then and there, as he watched her walk away feeling like a part of his soul was leaving him.

The sun broke through the mountain tops washing its warmth over the buildings, more activity on the streets. In her palette drops of reds, yellows, whites and purples mixed on the bristles of the brushes painting in soft strokes the sky that swam around them, meticulous in the way her hand moved over the canvas. There was no way he could actually look at the beautiful scenery when all his eyes could do was stare at her as she worked so completely engrossed in the world around her. It could thunder, an earthquake could happen just underneath his feet, a bomb could go off next to him that all he would see was her and the love she poured on the canvas. She only turned her head briefly towards him giving a sweet smile, but the universe had aligned to make this a sight to remember, the golden glows giving her a halo of light so pure that he could have sworn he was looking at an angel sent by God himself, her skin glowing with pink cheeks and cherry lips, thousands of freckles covering her flesh; she was a portrait that deserved to be in a museum, he didn’t feel worthy of this heavenly vision that was laid in front of him. Still looking at her he sat down behind her wrapping his arms around her torso feeling how she leaned on him closing her eyes for a brief moment before returning to her work.

-Gracias Mariano, de verdad. No one has ever given me such a gift.

-I owed it to you for all the pain I’ve caused you.

-Don’t. All that is behind us, you know you don’t have to buy me things to apologise.

-But I did do you more harm than anything and I am sorry. I made you fear me when I should have been the shoulder you could lean on. I broke your trust and I’ve been trying to fix it ever since.

-I know and I appreciate it. You getting this for me is not an apology, it’s just a present that my wonderful partner has gifted me after seeing that my own paints were old and overused and I am very thankful to him. You’ve apologised enough and have been trying your best to regain my trust, which I’m proud to say you almost have.

-Thank you for being in my life. I wouldn’t know what to do without you.

-Let’s hope that moment never arrives.

Her scent mixed with the morning blooms and the fruity perfumes of the early berries, her words floating inside his mind like flowers that get carried by the stream of a river. Those three days he had spent away from her had been hell and the argument with his abuela the night before hadn’t helped things at all. He had feared something inside Alma’s brain had clicked and made her realise that she didn’t want him around, that he was dangerous and he had forced himself to believe just that, if he stayed close to her, if he tried to pursue whatever this was that things between them might end up being destroyed completely and that is one thing he knew he could never live with, but it also angered him that she hadn’t even told him what she was going to do or warn him that she needed time, everything had happened so fast and all the commotion of those two days vanished into thin air with only his guilty and anger at himself to console him. It had even been crossed his mind for a minute or two when he was sitting on a chair in his room that it might be better if they didn’t see each other at all, that things should go back and would go back to normal if he stayed away, but his heart wouldn’t let him, every waking moment she was there like an apparition looking at him with emotionless expressions, nightmares plaguing him in his sleep of an angry ocean swallowing her into the depths were he couldn’t reach her, save her, a reflection of what he had done to her when he had promised himself he would never hurt her. Even if her words right now sounded truthful he’d rather spend the rest of his life apologising and earning her love and trust because he shouldn’t have harmed her the way he did when he claimed he loved her, one moment doesn’t mean that he will do it again, but it also doesn’t mean that he won’t and the clearest thought in his mind was to swear on his life he would never lift a finger to her even if it killed him. Right then with her between his arms it dawned on him that he wasn’t just in love, all those dreams he had of her were more than just things one would write in fairytales, he wanted to marry her and spend the rest of his days being blessed by her beauty and her kindness. He wanted to kiss her eyes when they cried and take her in his arms in the dead of the night feeling her warmth pressed against his chest hearing her even breathing. He wanted to marry her.

#alma madrigal #abuela madrigal #Encanto #dolores madrigal #julieta madrigal #pepa madrigal #bruno magridal #mariano guzman #señora guzmán #Disney

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aggieharkness · 2 years

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I have a request for Agatha. So you know how Agatha is always the top what if R was top I would absolutely die of happiness to see one where R tops Agatha and she doesn’t really know how to reasons to her cause she hasn’t ever been topped before.

Thristy for more than blood (Part 3) (Agatha x reader)

Summary: You and Agatha have been arrested and taken to SWORD headquarters to kill you both, but once free you have a lot of lost time to make up for and Agatha can be very persuasive.

Subsummary: finally you decide to turn the tables and let Agatha have a taste of her own medicine.

a/n: I hope you like what I wrote but if it's not what you had in mind or there's something you don't quite like tell me and I'll change it or write you something else, but I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it :)) Part 1 and part 2 of this series can be found here.

warnings: smut, blood, public sex, dom/sub situation.

Thristy for more than blood

It was an absolute treat whenever Agatha decided to attend to her magical but dangerous garden. Yeah, the plants were pretty and all that but you didn’t give a crap about them, your eyes were far more interested in the way she would kneel and bend to take care of the soil or to pluck weeds out; it put all those yoga teachers out there to shame. On this clear spring morning she had woken up thinking that today would be a great day to work on her Belladonna and Poison Ivy but she had conveniently forgotten to tell you that before she had left the bedroom, so when you walked down to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee your eyes opened wide at the sight. Endless white creamy skin reached your vision from where she was kneeling over a rug, her bottom raised to the air as the upper part of her body was lost in between the leaves of her extremely overgrown plants and a translucent purple mist to protect herself from getting rashes. It wouldn’t be as scandalous as it was if it weren’t for the garments she was wearing. Anything Agatha wore looked exquisite, clinging to her body just in the right places, leaving nothing to the imagination when the occasion called for it, so it wouldn’t have been quite as hot if she had worn her usual black leggings; it always sculpted her ass in the most wonderful way, round and hard almost as if it was fighting to be set free, but no, today she had chosen to wear shorts, and not the basketball player sort of shorts, that wouldn’t be as fun; what she had picked up this morning looked more like underwear than something someone would wear to go to the mall, not that you were complaining, the amount flesh escaping from the jeans was enough to make you forget about coffee, entranced by the way the sun reflected on her skin making it glow.

There had always been something about her legs, even after centuries of you two being together the sight of her pale flesh that never seemed to end woke up a hunger that you most certainly weren’t going to keep to yourself. When you got up the first thing you had picked up to cover your naked body had been Agatha’s forgotten clothes from the night before,her purple shirt that sometimes you used for sleeping, with just your panties underneath and hair wrapped high up in a bun, the perfect look for your very ungodly intentions. Heading for the garden through the kitchen door you heard soft humming coming from the woman, her ass moving softly from side to side along with the music. You were definitely getting her more of those shorts. As you got closer you saw that her t-shirt had been discarded and was resting beside her bare feet which of course made you realise she might either be wearing nothing waist up or she might be in one of those extremely tiny lace bras that she was so fond of, either way you weren’t going to complain. Her lavender perfume mixed with that of the magical flowers around her, but your nose picked up the spicy scent of her essence, her magic. The sun that came through the leaves created patterns over her skin as they moved with the breeze, making Agatha's body respond by spreading a soft pink tint over her knees and elbows along with goosebumps that followed the line of her spine. The power emanating from her was grandiose, controlled, careful in all her movements and you could feel it deep in your veins calling out for you. And you weren't one to disappoint.

The grasp of your hands on her hips was strong, slightly painful if Agatha wanted to encourage you to go on but it wasn't hurting her by any means. She had sensed your own power as soon as you had stepped into the garden, a smile painting her lips as she plucked daisies out of the bed in which her Belladonna's grew, her covered chest brushing over the soil ever so slightly. When she felt your hands on her body it responded with a quiet biting of her lower lip although you couldn’t see it. She wanted to get this done before full spring came but your skillful movements were proving to be a most exciting distraction and she couldn't really find a reason why she shouldn't indulge you a bit so she slowly came out of her hiding spot revealing her smooth back to you were her dark long hair rested in soft locks. When her head turned to look at you over her shoulder you came face to face with her flushed cheeks and dilated pupils. There wasn't anything more beautiful in the world to you.

-Finally up I see. Find anything interesting in the waistband of my jeans, pumpkin?

-Quite an interesting garment. Doesn't leave much to the imagination, now, does it?

-That's the whole point. - your fingers travelled at a torturously slow pace down her sides towards her butt where her body was trying to escape from the shorts, feeling her firm ass underneath your palms as you kneaded it gently. The movements of your hands were rewarded by a quiet moan that escaped her cherry lips before she could stop it, holding your gaze in a taunting manner. - Learned new tricks, have we?

-One has to innovate Aggie, we can't have a boring sex life.

-I can assure you that it's impossible to be bored with you. - with a flick of her fingers you were laid over the plucked bed of daisies, purple threads of magic holding you down lazily in place. - All your tricks light me on fire, baby, the way your hips move when we are out, - she crawled around to face you properly giving you a magnificent view of her flushed chest heaving under her tight bra, small bits of dirt still clinging to her skin. The way she moved towards you left your mouth dry but made another set of lips extremely wet, her eyes devouring your body; even without touching you your body felt as if it was about to burst into flames. Her hands made way for her swaying hips until she was hovering over you, her body lowering to press her mouth to your ear, her chest resting over yours over the shirt that you were wearing. - the way I can make you scream into the night. I can do it over and over until your body's so numb you can't even feel my tongue licking you.

She always knew how to turn you on without even touching you, her voice husky and low, as dangerous as she always was, but as much as you wanted to treat yourself you still owed her an earth shattering experience just like the one she had given you last night. The only tinsy winsy little problem that no one could fix was the fact that she had magic and you didn't. With a twist of her wrist, a snap of her fingers even with the smallest movement of hand she could do anything she wanted to you and it just wouldn't do; she liked to always be in control and when she let you handle things there was always some sort of percentage that she still held some dominance over. In other words you had never fucked her, she always let you fuck her but oh boy, that was about to change. Your hands that had previously been pressed against the flowers were pushing Agatha's arms away, an idea popping into your head.

-Wait a minute, Ags, I need to pee first, I'll be right back. - there was a shadow of doubt in her eyes but she didn't question you, just moved aside to let you up.

As fast as your legs could run you practically slid into the bathroom but not to do what she thought you were doing, your hand shot towards your makeup bag to grab your liquid eyeliner. The black ink stained your skin as you began to draw runes all over your body: behind your ears, on your armpits, the back of your knees, anywhere really that you knew she would not find or see straight away but wouldn't be able to get rid of. She should thank whoever invented waterproof and smudge proof makeup. As you finished the last one underneath your right boob you threw the eyeliner back into the bag and rushed back out. She had barely moved from her spot, dawning on you when you saw her still very flushed skin that you had done it all at superspeed and had probably taken no more than a few seconds. As soon as her eyes fell on your form again her hand waved, thin strands of purplish magic floating in between her fingers, but this time the puff of her magic dissipated around you without the slightest effect on you. You took the opportunity to jump over her, sending her body backwards into the fresh soil she had just attended to, both hands trapped under your super strength. All she did was raise an eyebrow in a questioning manner narrowing her eyes.

-Do you think you are the only one with tricks up her sleeve? - now that she was secured underneath you by the strength of your hips pressed against hers as you straddled her your hands travelled to your shirt. With each button that you unhooked her eyes became darker, pupils dilating so much her baby blue was barely visible, fingertips brushing over the garment you were wearing as the last button came undone. Her hands shot towards you to push it off your shoulders to reveal what was underneath but you quickly pressed her arms against the soil bending to put your mouth against her ear, shirt hanging open only letting some of your cleavage through. - I'm in charge now.

-We'll see about that. - another puff of purple mist came and went, your body still strandling hers completely unbothered. - Why isn't it working? You are not a witch, you can't cast protective spells non verbally.

-I'm following your teachings, buttercup.

-Stealing my words?

-I'm going to steal more than just a nickname. - returning to a sitting position you let the garment slide off your body before tossing it to the side. Her eyes devoured you now that your firm breasts were out for her to see but a little black thing just above your collarbone caught Agatha's eyes and upon closer inspection when you lowered your body again she connected the dots.

-You little shit.

-Ah ah ah, language Aggie. You have a very bad habit of teaching runes to every living thing.

-Not all of them are mine, you've been snooping in my books.

-Obviously, and the best part is that you can't do anything about it. I'm in control now, so relax and enjoy the ride.

Your tongue made contact with that sweet spot behind her ear sending shivers down her spine but she refused to let out a sound. Never in her life had she ever been a bottom, always a top and she wasn’t very pleased with the fact that you were using her own area of expertise against her to do what you pleased; without magic you were the most powerful being in the relationship. Your kisses followed to her pulse point feeling the rush of blood through her veins as each beat of her heart made contact with your tongue leaving a tingling sensation. Sensitive thin skin protected her jugular from the world; she knew perfectly well you could just bite your fangs into her and suck each droplet of that delicious metallic liquid that gave her life but you very much preferred to feel the rush of it hearing the speed of her heart as you played her like a musical instrument drinking each noise, each little motion as if it were water. Sucking softly you finally drew a quiet moan out of her, smiling against her flesh encouraging you to suck harder, brushing her skin with your fangs leaving two deep red marks. Agatha squirmed underneath you to try and get some sort of control over you but the tender purple magic simply crawled lazily around you, she couldn’t even read your thoughts, she was completely clueless as to what your next move would be and it unsettled her. The tension on her muscles was hard not to notice and made you think about whether to give her what she wanted or what she needed. Her eyes locked with yours when you rose to stare at her seeing that condescending veil cross them before returning to her previous aroused state. She really thought she was in any sort of position to get mad at you for forcing her to enjoy herself, it made your blood boil; the nerve of this woman. Your hands practically slammed her arms against the floor earning a pained growl mixed with pleasure, your face barely a few inches away from hers.

-Such an ungrateful little witch. You think you can do as you please? You are mine and I’m going to make sure you don’t forget that I know how to play as well.

She was taken aback by this show of power from your part but for once since she had woken up that morning she was actually looking forward to this new side of you, her previous doubts and need for control forgotten in the back of her head at the sight of your glowing eyes barely a few inches from her. Your mouth crashed against hers unceremoniously bruising and biting at her cherry lips forcing her to open her mouth granting your tongue access. It was hard to breathe but her mind was completely focused on the way you felt against her, the taste of the chocolate cookie she had left in your nightstand still on your tongue intoxicating her senses. When you finally broke the kiss her gasps for air were loud but you didn’t give her time to take a proper breath before your mouth attacked the flesh of her neck sucking hard making sure to leave bruises and angry red marks. In between the scents of the Belladonna and daisies something musky and sweet caught your attention. One of your hands let go of her, travelling down her side purposely brushing against her breast before you found the waistband of those devilish shorts but you didn’t follow the path Agatha had hoped you would do, no, your fingertips caressed the fabric as it went lower until it felt a damp spot just in between her legs. So wet just for you and you had barely started. The palm of your hand was pressed against that exact spot making her buckle her hips but you quickly pulled it away returning to the trail of kisses that you had been delivering all over her chest. What you were doing to her could be considered old fanshioned torture, but hell, what a way to go she thought as your lips found the fabric of her bra, nipples hard underneath the black lace. She didn’t notice, her eyes were too focused on what you were doing, but with each kiss, each brushing of your fangs over her skin a whine or a moan would escape her throat, growing more urgent and demanding as your actions became slower, teasing.

When your mouth made contact with her breast the ungodly sound that she made brought a new rush of accomplishment and raw arousal through your body but you ignored the latter and carried on sucking and playing with the peak twirling it around your tongue through the fabric. The way the garment felt against it along with what you were doing with your mouth was heavenly, and when she went to move her hands towards your head she found that they were still trapped in that iron grip of yours. It was frustrating and she didn’t bother to keep quiet about it, mixing a new rush of pleasure with the wine of disappointment. Such arrogance couldn’t be rewarded, she had to learn to lay back and relax, let things come her way, so with certain reluctance you let go of her nipple with a dull pop sound and sat back to look at her, flesh red and bruised where you had done your masterpieces, chest heavy and flushed along with her cheeks, and all for you. The trees above you provided enough shade not to fully set Agatha on fire out of arousal and frustration, she needed to get things going at a faster rate, to get in charge but it was no use. Blue eyes dared to hold your gaze as if challenging you to do your worst, to give her a weak moment so she could turn the tables but you were smarter than that and played with a card that she wasn’t thinking about. You knew Agatha, her weaknesses and her strengths and knew perfectly well when she was planning something. A rush of anger made you raise your hand not really knowing what was going on until you felt the back of it collide with the soft skin of her cheek, a surprised yelp escaping her lips. You bent over her frame pressing your fingers against her throat, words dangerous filled with power coming out of your mouth.

-You think you have the right to complain, I am your master, I’m in control of you and you will do anything I say. - she could still breath but the way your slender hand pressed against her sensitive flesh was driving her insane. This whole dom situation was starting to grow on her. - Who is in charge? Say it.

-You are.

-Louder.

-You are! You control me!

Pleased beyond belief she was rewarded by a rough kiss that was planted on her lips both your hands letting go of her arms pressing your palms on her still covered breasts. You fondled them as if they were cushions listening to her yelps of pain and pleasure against your mouth. This whole foreplay situation was starting to bore you, the need to feel more of her, to see more of her was becoming torturous to you instead of her. Without much thought the kiss was broken and your hands ripped the bra apart finally freeing her gorgeous bosom to the spring air around you. She would complain later that this was her favourite bra and all that but right now neither of you gave shit, your thumbs rolling around her stiff peaks drowning in the sounds Agatha was making. In the back of your head there was the question of what if someone happened to come by and see you both like this, staring at your bodies as you gave your wife all the pleasure in the world. It actually made you work harder instead of shying you away, if there was indeed someone out there in the woods hearing the moans and screams that were coming from her then you might as well accomplish two things; give them a show and make her come harder than ever before. Your mouth kissed softly just above her right breast before taking her nipple in your mouth, biting and sucking, your other hand kneading the other one, delivering a long lick over her sternum when you finally decided to head down.

The waistband of her shorts came in contact with your chin when you finished trailing kisses over her abdomen, long nails scratching her flesh leaving red lines over the pale skin. By then Agatha had stopped fighting you and simply laid there waiting to see what you were going to do next, feeling everything a thousand times enhanced by her magic now that she didn’t have to waste energy holding you in place or using it to fuck you until you laid unconcious. With one sharp motion the shorts were pulled down and thrown aside presenting her fully naked to your eyes, lips swollen and dripping wet, her juices glistening in the sunlight. She bent her knees to grant you a better view, an evil smirk on her lips. Oh, so she thought she was getting you to do just what she wanted, she truly believed she held the power again? Your hand was pressed against her throat sending her back against the soil to lie down, a shadow of fear crossing her eyes ever so briefly, but you knew her better than she knew herself, and it was all a show to get you to pull her up. Your other hand traced slow circles on her thighs moving to the inner part at the pace of a snail until your fingertips found her heated cunt begging you to touch it. Unconsciously she buckled her hips to find some sort of release but the tightening of your hand around her throat served as a warning to stay still. Her juices coated your fingers when they made contact with her lips, spreading her folds apart, exploring every inch you could hearing how her moans were becoming more guttural and deep. Without permission or warning two fingers dipped inside her, a scream tearing its way out of her, but it only made you move them faster, deeper and harder, curving them just so to hit that sweet spot inside her; her eyes rolled to the back of her head at the sudden wave of pleasure, returning to stare at you after a second.

This was a race to see who could maintain the composure longer, but then again you were knuckles deep inside Agatha and she was only grabbing and scratching onto the soil underneath her. Two fingers became three, her moans switching to screams at your increased speed causing black and white spots to begin appearing in her vision, that tightness in her lower belly becoming bigger by the second. Your body bent towards her, the speed never faltering, until your mouth was an inch away from her ear but what you were going to say was cut by her quiet words that took you aback. “Bite me” it wasn’t much of a request, it was an order and one you loved to comply with whenever she wanted. Your fangs sank deep into the skin of her shoulder, the metallic taste of her blood assaulting your senses as you drank drop by drop. She was two seconds away from letting go, the pain and the pleasure a killer mix that she couldn’t get enough of. “Cum for me, Agatha'' the instant those words reached her brain she exploded like fireworks, a white hot fire spreading all over her body as she came, walls contracting around your fingers coating your hand in her juices, back arching of the floor with a loud powerful scream, but you weren’t done yet. She whined when your fingers left her body feeling empty, but much to her surprise the hand on her throat didn’t move, the grasp only became harder as your fingers were exchanged for that skilful tongue of yours. She hadn’t even come down from her high when she felt your mouth on her pussy licking her clean from the mess she had created, tongue playing with her folds until it grew tired and searched for her clit, finding it wollen and needy. One suck, then another and some playful grazing of your teeth over it and she was screaming for the second time, another orgasm claiming her but you didn’t stop, your movements only became faster until you felt her tensing underneath you for the third time, pushing your fingers inside her at superspeed as deep as they could go.

She felt as if she was floating in the centre of the universe as her third orgasm washed over her and instead of hearing that primal scream, her mouth opened in a big O the force of the pleasure having stolen her ability to speak, back arching off the floor until she was almost sitting with her thighs trapping you in between her legs, tongue still circling her clit and fingers pumping in and out of her. You had expected her to take a bit more time to come to be honest, but that game of dominance you were playing had her on the edge since you had pressed her against the floor the first time, it had aroused her more than that time you had opened the door completely naked with a dildo deep inside you and that time the sex had been amazing, but today the way her mind was completely gone from this plane of exixstance as you helped her ride her orgasm was something she had never experienced in her life, and there had been extremely good ones over the centuries. She slumped back onto the soil completely spent her body still twitching every once in a while with her eyes completely closed focusing on the way her limbs felt like melted butter. She hadn’t even noticed that your fingers weren’t inside her any more nor that you were kneeling in between her legs looking at her completely cherry red body with her chest rising and falling in quick breaths. Both of you spent nearly five minutes like this until Agatha was able to open her eyes, her baby blue glistening with a veil of pleasure that refused to leave her yet. You took the opportunity to run a single finger between her folds watching as she shivered from overstimulation following it in the air until it was placed inside your mouth sucking the sweet taste of her.

-Someone has been eating pineapple.

-I had a bowl of fruit before you came down. Like it?

-Love it. Want to try? - bending over her frame your lips connected with hers in a gentle kiss, a moan at tasting herself escaping her lips revervariting into your mouth. - Well, some feedback would be great, flower.

-I’m never topping you again, but I do think I’m going to have to hide your eyeliner so you don’t use my teachings against me, although I must admit that I wasn’t expecting to see runes all over your body.

-I could get them tattooed if you’d like.

-No, I prefer to have you at the mercy of my powers.

-Who’s at the mercy of who, eh? Watch your mouth Harkness, you are still underneath me and I won’t hesitate to get the handcuffs or the chains if necessary.

-Bullshit.

-Want to bet? - this time it was Agatha who initiated the kiss but you didn’t mind, by the smell of her she was still leaking juices onto the soil fertilising the flowers underneath

#agatha harkness #kathryn hahn #wandavision #marvel #agatha harkness x reader #agnes x reader

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aggieharkness · 2 years

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Hay que encontrar su propio futuro

a/n: I'm Spanish so I used expressions from my own language. I'm afraid I don't know Colombian ones so I had to work with the ones that I know. If there are any Colombians out there that would prefer for me to change what I have written I would very gladly do it, but even so, I hope you like the ones I have used. Hello my dears, I hope you like this chapter, it differs a bit from the usual line of what I've written in this story but I wanted to give Bruno Nad Camilo their very needed spotlight. Feedback would be appreciated and don't hesitate to give any ideas for future chapters or stories, questions about the plotline, requests... Your comments and your love are shaping this story as much as my writing is. Thank you so much and enjoy the chapter :)

warning: age difference, illness. Most importantly no Alma Madrigal bashing, i love this woman.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16

Hay que encontrar su propio futuro

The water in the basin was freezing, small irregular cubes of ice floating lazily on the surface only disturbed when Alma dipped the cloth inside it, squeezing the excess before placing the now cold compress on Camilo’s forehead. The boy whimpered at the touch but soon stopped fighting, slumping back onto his pillows; it made Alma draw a defeated sigh as she washed the boy’s face. The sun was starting to come through the curtains it’s weak rays barely heating up the room, black dangerous clouds filling the sky outside Casita but no one in the house found a reason to care; dawn was coming after what felt like centuries not even bothering her into standing up to get dressed or have breakfast, exhaustion wouldn’t have let her eat anyway. The contrast of his burning up skin and the freezing cloth against her fingertips sent a wave of pain through her chest.

It had started in the middle of the night, Dolores had woken up to get some water when some noises had caught her attention and upon approaching the downstairs bathroom she had found Camilo sweating like crazy sprawled on the floor trembling uncontrollably. Her first reaction had been to scream. She had called out for her mother, her tia and her abuela panic flooding through her veins as she kneeled on the floor placing his head on her lap. Alma had been dead to the world, absolutely exhausted from having helped Mariano take materials from the village up to their spot so they could start with the foundations of their house as soon as possible, so the hurried footsteps, the loud voices, all of that had gone through one ear and out the other. It wasn’t until the bed shook underneath her, sending her to the floor in a blur of blankets and absolute half asleep confusion, that she finally woke up but the tiles of the house didn’t even let her get up from the floor, they had carried her to the door, throwing her into the hallway in a most unceremonious way. Thankfully Mirabel had been just at the other side and had helped her stand trying to answer her abuela’s confused questions; the girl didn’t know what was going on either, but they didn't have to wait much, Pepa had come running with tears streaming down her face claiming that Camilo was seriously ill and wouldn’t wake up, that not even Julieta was able to help because he couldn’t swallow. The unconscious body of the boy had been carried back into his bedroom by Luisa’s strong arms and delicate touch, the girl leaving him on his wrinkled bed sheets before vacating the room at the request of her father.

Alma had only been able to see his face for a second before Felix and Pepa were all over him trying to wake him up, the woman begging to her sister for help, to wake her boy up, but that second her eyes had landed upon him had been enough to see his waxy complexion and sickly greyish flesh sinking into his bones. Her knees had buckled slightly at the sight but Bruno’s hands had come to the rescue holding her upwards. A silent understanding was shared between them: neither of them could do anything but be there to console Pepa and reassure Julieta, and in between Alma would pray for Camilo to recover as soon as possible so her daughter’s gift could cure him completely before morning came. But her prayers weren’t answered. Pepa stayed beside her son all night trying to make his fever break, moving the boy from the bed to the bathroom to have cold baths and back into bed again, but nothing seemed to work and it was breaking her daughter to see her own child suffering like this. Bruno had stayed with his sister when Felix said he was going to check on both Antonio and Dolores, the man smiling sadly at Alma as he left the room. That was her queue to check on her eldest and of course she found her in the kitchen going through all her books and notes that she had collected through the years to try and find anything that would help, that would wake him up, but it all ended up in nothing, hope vanishing like smoke. Nothing Alma said or did helped Julieta, her mind was on one thing only, curing her nephew and she wasn’t going to stop even if it took her an entire lifetime to find the answer; Alma just hoped it didn’t take more than a few hours.

After an hour or two, she couldn’t quite tell, Agustín entered the kitchen nodding at her before heading for his wife as a sign that he had everything under control now. She saw how Juli’s shoulders visibly relaxed upon meeting his touch through her robe, how her eyes drifted close for a minute before returning to their previous task this time with less hurried moves coming from her hands. She was well taken care of. Nothing was keeping her there anymore and as quietly as her slippers would allow she vacated the room. The trek up the stairs felt as probably the longest Alma had ever taken in her entire life but her legs kept on walking and at the top of the stairs she met Bruno who simply swayed his head from side to side explaining wordlessly to his mother that everything was still the same. She felt the disappointment and pain radiating from his thin frame, the knowledge that he couldn’t do anything, that no one could do anything; they shared the same sentiment, and at the sight of his big brown blurry eyes her arms wrapped around him hiding his face into the neck of her robe, the feeling of his tears wetting her clothes not bothering her in the least. Her fingers ran though his soft curls in circular motions, words of reassurance escaping her lips with as much confidence as she could muster even if in her heart she didn’t feel it much. Time passed but he didn’t move, he had spent ten years craving his mothers hugs, to whine at her kisses and complain at her motherly affection, in truth he missed being held when the world was against them, when everything felt like it was going to collapse around them any minute, and lately there had been a lot of that. She didn’t care how much time they spent like this, her whole life could pass in front of her and she wouldn’t care, wouldn’t dare move a muscle and break the spell of rightness that had enfolded them. In this night of hell her Brunito in her arms seemed to be the only thing that was fine, right, natural.

Footsteps behind them walking up the stairs disturbed the moment and with certain contained reluctance Bruno left his mother’s arms and stood aside to let Julieta pass with a tray in her hands. A bowl of steaming soup rested over the metallic object along with a cup of tea, whether it was for Camilo or Pepa, she didn’t know. When her eyes returned to her son he was knocking on Dolores’ room to check on her and the other kids; Agustin and Felix had asked them to stay together and share a room so Dolores and Antonio wouldn’t be left alone and could get some sleep. His green ruana disappeared inside the room leaving Alma alone in the hallway, eyes locked over her nieta’s glowing door. Once more she stood there not knowing what to do, she was at a loss. The sight of Julieta opening Camilo’s door and pushing it open with her back finally made her legs start moving towards it, her steps unsure and heavy. She was supposed to be with her other daughter, but at the same time she wasn’t sure her heart would be able to stand the sight of her nieto, the way his chest would shake with each raspy breath, the shivering of his small thin body. Without really knowing how she had got there the door closed behind her as she was now inside the room trembling, watching how Julieta as a professional checked his pulse, his eyes, his mouth and limbs, anything that would indicate if he was anywhere near waking up, but her sad eyes and fallen lips answered the question that no one dared ask. She didn't know what was going on or why he wasn’t waking up, or if he would ever do. Pepa’s tears fell harder and faster but instead of jumping into her husband’s embrace she turned briskly on her chair standing up in one fluid motion before running towards Alma and collapsing in her arms.

They had never shared an extremely healthy relationship, but in the last year they had improved quite a bit, and as much as Alma tried to be stern, to be more like a soldier with her youngest daughter she was still her mother. She had forgotten that in the last ten years or so. She didn’t say a word when the cloud that Felix had been trying to shoo away started raining soaking both women, she simply held her distraught little girl caressing her hair while whispering words into her ear for only her to hear. The soup rested on the nightstand, now lukewarm to the touch, but no one moved the bowl. Alma walked towards the bed, sitting her daughter over the mattress before gathering her in her arms again, rocking back and forth until her heartbreaking sobs had turned into nothing more than quiet hiccups and whimpers. Being in the room with Camilo wasn’t going to achieve anything, and given the bags under Pepa’s eyes she needed to rest, so once she was calm enough Felix coaxed her into getting some rest with Alma’s help and promised that she would stay with him and run for her if anything changed. Everything had been so sudden, no one had even remotely ready for such a thing. As Pepa left the room Alma took her seat next to the bed. She didn’t know how long it had been since then, time was but a relative concept to her today, something that she didn’t pay attention to and didn’t seem to be of any importance whatsoever. Minutes turned into hours, and one hour became two and then three the same actions happening over and over again. She would bathe his body with the freezing cloth, change his pyjamas and try to check if there were any signs of him waking up soon. He had started whimpering more, he was becoming more vocal which gave Alma hope that he might actually return to her, but his eyes remained closed and so she found herself dipping the fabric back into the water, her fingers aching from the ice but without complaint she placed it back on his face and neck, the bowl of soup now completely cold beside the basin.

No one had come to check on them for hours and if they had she hadn’t seen them, they must have been like ghosts, specters that had floated around them like unhappy souls around them doing their chores before retiring into the darkness of the night again. She hadn’t uttered a word since she had been thrown out of the bed at midnight. His curls were damp and sticking to his face because of the water and the sweat, Alma’s free hand pushing them gently away. He had the same facial features Pepa had, they were so similar, and even if his eyes weren’t the shade of green fields Alma could see the shadow of her sister in him. She had been so young when she had passed, she had never got to meet Pedro nor their children, Alma had been left alone in the world when her sweet Eva had been taken from her. She remembered sitting beside her bed playing cards and gossiping about the boys in the village, sharing all the rumours that went around the streets; it had brought a smile to her pale face, but it had been so genuine that it seemed to radiate with a light of its own. Eva had seemed to have a light of her own. Alma could still feel the way her soft redhead waves knotted against her fingers when she asked her to braid her hair, she could still remember the riginging of her laughter at the sight of Alma dressed in ridiculous clothes or when someone would share a joke through her open window. It had broken her heart when she had entered her room to close it after twenty years of it being open.

Two hands rested on her shoulders startling her to the point where she had let go of the cloth, it landing on the floor with a quiet thump dampening the spot on the carpet. She didn’t need to see who it was, his scent, the way he was pressing his strong hands gave it away and to be honest she didn’t want him to see the tears that had suddenly stained her face. She had been there watching how the life of her little sister came to an end, she didn't want to think this illness that Camilo was experiencing would end in the same fateful way; it had been horrible to see her angelic face white as milk, her lips blue smiling softly as if at last she was at peace, her beautiful green eyes hidden behind dead eyelids that would never open again. Alma had brushed her hair in silence, braiding it slowly and carefully to make it absolutely perfect. No one would take her until Eva was ready. She had refused help from her friends and had even pushed her father out the door when he had asked if she needed any assistance; Alma wanted to do this alone. As different as Camilo’s ailment was, she couldn’t help but feel like she was sitting in the unstable wooden chair next to her sister’s bed smiling through the tears of despair. The cloth was forgotten, her eyes couldn’t move from his figure, they were glued to his chest watching as it rose and fell rhythmically, but another pair of hands retrieved it from the floor placing it back into the basin for her.

-No change? - words wouldn’t come out, she tried but they were stuck in her throat, so she simply shook her head, more tears blurring her sight. How she longed to hear her nieto’s voice, to see him running around the house making pranks on Isabela, Dolores, anyone. It was probably a not deadly illness but the fear was still there. - Have you slept at all?

-No. - at last she managed to croak a monosyllable out, that’s all she could do at the moment, but Mariano didn’t complain, he simply nodded before retrieving another chair and joining her next to the boy’s bed. He watched the figure carefully, observing the way Camilo’s fingers twitched sometimes and how he seemed to curl into his abuela’s touch whenever she put the compress on his forehead. This is how she had been when the triplets were young? He knew children got sick, often, but it had never really dawned on him that everyone else in the village had two parents to take care of them, Alma had to care for three all alone. How many nights had she gone without sleep before they had got their gifts, how many times had she had to run across town to get to her babies when they got sick and Julieta wasn’t around to help? Like a robot her arms moved from the nightstand to the boy and back, her face always hidden from him.

-If it makes you feel better I asked Felix and Agustín where your daughters were and they said that they were asleep in Pepa’s room. They know Camilo is in the best care with you.

-Have I been a good abuela to him, Mariano? - it took him by surprise but he couldn’t simply refuse to answer the question, the pain in her voice wouldn’t easily leave.

-Of course, why do you say that? What’s brought this on?

-I lost the most important person in my life, way before I met Pedro. She was the most wonderful person, but she had been born sick. I was able to go out and live my life when she was stuck at home in a bed only observing the world through a window. I was selfish, I spoke of all the wonders that were on the other side and never thought of the pain I was causing her, telling her things that she never got to see. Did I do the same thing to Camilo? Did I tell him that other people were more important than him? I forced him to shapeshift to get things done, I never once asked him if he as himself could do them. Did I make him believe he wasn’t enough just as he is?

-I can assure you Eva loved every single story you told her, and was more grateful to you for telling her the wonders of the world outside than she would have been if you had kept it all hidden. Camilo knows you love him just as he is and takes great pride in you asking him for help. You are acknowledging his abilities that he has worked very hard on and you have been trying to get closer to him in the past year. Trust me when I tell you that he loves you more than he loves anything else in this world. You accepted his risky choices in life, it never stopped you from loving him just as he is. You were a wonderful sister to Evan and an amazing abuela to Camilo. - there was a moment where he could see himself standing in an unknown street watching from the other side of a window the shape of a redhead girl sitting on a bed accompanied by a brunette woman slightly older than her. Something told him that it was Alma and her sister but at the same time he had no recollection of having ever met the woman or having been told about her. Alma had the same thought, her head turning to look at him, her eyes filled with confusion and pain.

-How do you know about her? Who told you her name? - he had no answers and wouldn’t lie to her to protect himself from her wrath if it ever came to that, he simply shrugged his shoulders. It only seemed to confuse Alma even more; she searched for any signs that would tell her if he was lying to her, that maybe someone had found the letters that she kept hidden in her drawers in her bedroom but there was nothing; not even Rosa had known about Eva, how could he know? There wasn’t a soul alive in this village that remembered her sister and she would rather keep it that way, no one was worthy enough of her little baby hermana.

-I’m sorry if I hurt you, I just thought that you would appreciate to know that she told people how grateful she was for all the things you did for her. I don’t know why I know her name, no one ever spoke to me about her, but I must have heard something or read something about her.

-No one knows she ever existed apart from me.

-Not even your children? - this time she refused to answer the question, her hands returning to the basin to pick up the compress. - You’ve never told them they had an aunt?

-She passed years before they were born.

-It doesn’t matter. Why don’t you want them to know about her?

-Mariano, I’m too tired to have this conversation. I made a decision that at the time seemed reasonable. End of story.

-I know that my abuela had a brother who died when he was seven. I never met him, my parents never met him, but she still told me about him. What’s different with Eva?

-She was only alive to me. No one wanted her, my parents barely even spoke to her because in their eyes she was just a nuisance. I was the only one who saw her for the wonderful woman she was. They didn’t even give her a stone with her name when they buried her, I had to build her a cross. When we fled from our village I was only able to glance at the graveyard where they were destroying the headstones. I didn’t even have a picture, a painting, nothing. I don’t want the world to know about her because I don’t want to have to lose her again when they start forgetting.

-She’s family Alma, she’s your sister. Your children deserve to know about her, the world might not be ready, but your kids are. If you don’t tell them about Eva when you are gone she will be forgotten completely, on one can think of someone they’ve never heard about.

-What if Camilo suffers from the same illness? Pepa wouldn’t want to hear about her then, she would hate her.

-He will recover. The chances of your sister's ailment being the same as his are very slim. You don’t have to tell them right away, just give it a thought, but I think your children deserve to know there was an angel in your family and her name was Eva.

New tears streamed down her cheeks. She still didn’t know how he knew about her but his words were a balm for her aching heart. He had never met her kind soul and sweet words, he had never seen the world through her eyes, everything Eva had ever seen had been through a pink filter that she had created to cheer herself up in the dark confinements of her room, but Mariano could almost imagine how she had seen her sister, the way her heart had raced and jumped at the sight, limbs tingling in excitement at what news she would bring her. For some strange reason Mariano could understand Eva even if he had never met her and in exchange was trying to sooth Alma’s grieving heart into realising that keeping her in her heart didn’t mean she couldn’t share her with one or two people. Of course her sister had never laid unconscious in bed until her last days and only for brief period of time, Camilo was in this state because of the fever that had claimed his body out of the blue, that irrational fear that she was going to lose him just as she had lost her had been eating her from the inside and even after he had spoke those words of reassurance that evil seed of doubt was still there. Her eyes returned to look at Camilo whose raspy breath shook his body as if he was fighting or running a marathon, brow furrowed and damp with sweat. She couldn’t bear to see him like this, in pain, sick before her and without being able to do a damn thing. The way she was clutching the compress in her hand was turning her knuckles white. Mariano didn’t think about it for a second, his arms encircled Alma’s body bringing it against his chest, her face hiding in his guayabera as she let the sobs wreck her body. She felt useless and somehow at fault for him being sick, she thought she should have paid more attention to any signs, should have checked on him more, that if she had found out something was wrong sooner they might not be waiting for him to wake up to feed him, that Julieta might have been able to cure him even before he had began showing any signs of feeling ill. The water leaking from the cloth was dampening his trousers as well as her robe but neither of them cared much, Alma was far too exhausted to fight her feelings anymore.

Her hair was knotted in several places, his fingers running through her silvery locks trying to undo them as carefully as possible so he wouldn’t disturb her. His body shook along with hers, sobs loud and horrid, heartbreaking for anyone to hear; the despair and absolute defeat radiated from her tears as they soaked his guayabera. With each passing day he found a new side to her, a new light shining on these new angles that he had never seen before but today was not a good day and this new bit of Alma was too painful to watch. He didn’t know for how long they remained seated with her almost trying to crawl into his skin to escape her own, but he didn’t dare move, he didn’t have anything to do that required his attention more than Alma at this precise moment. A whimper coming from the bed made her jump away from Mariano towards her still unconscious nieto, the cloth almost flying towards the basin, both her hands travelling to Camilo’s face while fingers soothed his furrowed brow removing more wet curls from his face. She didn’t really know if he could hear her, she had read somewhere that unconscious people could listen and sometimes remembered what they had been told but she was a bit exceptical; nevertheless she spoke sweet words to him in hushed tones comforting both her own heart and her little boy telling him that he could recover, that Julieta would soon enough find a way to help him get better. Mariano used this moment to observe her features in the soft glow of the almost spent candlelight. Her eyes were puffy and red from crying, the streams of tears dry on her flushed cheeks, nightgown still underneath her soft pink robe, bare feet resting on the supports of the chair she was sitting on; her slippers laid forgotten over the carpet. She was a complete wreck with tired shoulders and exhausted sighs, but she didn’t yawn nor complained about wanting to go to sleep, her lips remained shut as she attended to her nieto.

-¿Quieres un café? Felix was making a pot when I came in.

-Si, por favor. I don’t want to leave him.

-Should I fetch Pepa? You need to rest as much as she does.

-I’m fine, I don’t need to sleep. She’s been sitting here all night trying to break his fever, let her get some rest.

-Vale, vuelvo en un minuto. - a soft kiss was planted on top of her head as he stood from his chair, his hands squeezing her upper arm before heading towards the door. There were new wrinkles on her skin, the light making her look older than she was; still beautiful in his eyes though. Standing on the doorway she didn't move to look at him, her eyes were glued to Camilo’s figure as she pressed the cloth against the boy’s bare arms once more. She could feel Mariano’s eyes on the back of her head watching, observing, his pine soap still twirling around her like a cloud of smoke after taking a puff from a cigarette.

-Why did you come? - unexpected; her tone didn’t hold any anger, just complete indifference as her wary bones stood to take the top of Camilo’s pyjamas off to change them into a dry and clean pair. His hand had barely touched the doorknob, his body frozen in place at her question.

-I woke up, saw the clouds and quickly got dressed to come here. I was worried something might have happened to you but I’m afraid this is no better than what I feared. I was actually hoping to show you the planning of the houses but it can wait. I’ll be right back with your coffee.

Acknowledgement was met from her as she nodded but no words came out to thank him, she didn’t trust her voice to work right now. His steps faltered, he couldn’t get his body to move out of the room; how was he supposed to leave her like this when her heart was bleeding in her hands as it shattered. The strength with which he was grasping the handle was making his knuckles turn white as he debated whether to go downstairs or turn back to her. “Shhh, no pasa nada mi niño, ya está, ya está”, the words floated towards him, constricting his chest as if he had been punched in the stomach. There was nothing to argue anymore. As fast as his legs could take him he crossed the room just as she was heading towards the laundry basket but she didn’t make it, his hands grabbed her shoulders forcing her to look at him, surprise written all over her face. His grasp was strong but not painful, it only startled her a bit, hands heading up to cup her cheeks wiping the few stray tears that still fell from her eyes with his thumb as he pressed his forehead to hers. His breath brushed against her lips in short puffs, the warmth of his palms on the flesh of her face making her draw a shaky breath as she closed her eyes. The gap that separated them was closed when he lowered his mouth to meet hers in a slow and gentle kiss. It spoke of promises that neither of them knew could ever be true but believed anyway, of the love he felt for her and the hurt of not being able to save her from everything that caused her pain pouring all he felt into this kiss washing away all her self deprecating thoughts like a wave of pure raw love. When they broke apart her big brown eyes were glazed with tears once more. She looked the exact same way she did the night he had left her standing in the river with their three newborn children.

It was a random thought, the brief image of her young perplexed face watching as he walked away from her in the darkness of the night vanishing from his mind as if it had never happened. They stood there locking eyes for what felt like hours but in truth it had only been a minute before Alma granted him a small smile breaking away from his grasp to resume her previous task. This time he opened the door when he reached it only stealing a glance at her form before stepping into the hallway. The air around him was completely different, less suffocating, but when he looked up to the sky he could still see the dark clouds that warned a storm might be coming. Heading for the stairs he didn’t see Bruno walking his way, his much bigger body crashing against Bruno’s sending him backwards until he was sitting on the floor.

-Señor Bruno, I’m so sorry, I didn't see you there. Are you alright? - he stretched his hand for him to grab, pulling him into a standing position with such ease he almost flew in the air by the sheer force with which Mariano had helped him, his sandals finally making contact with the floor after a second of flying like a moth.

-Si, I’m quite used to ending up on the ground. You know the whole wearing sandals in a house where they can get caught on everything… How is Camilo?

-No change.

-And mamá? How is she doing?

-Not good. It’s taking a great toll on her but you know Alma, she won’t rest until she knows he’s fine. Maybe you could help her, I’m heading to the kitchen to bring her some breakfast. -I don’t know what I could do, my gift won’t be of much help and well… I haven’t taken care of a sick person in ten years, that’s always been Juli’s area of expertise.

-You don’t need to do anything but be there for your mother, she shouldn’t be left alone. I trust you Bruno to make it a little easier for her.

Without another word Mariano continued his journey to the kitchen leaving Bruno stunned to the spot scratching his arm. She had gathered him in her arms, he could at least grant her the same and so he took a deep breath and finally headed for Camilo’s door. He highly doubted he was able to do anything except for occupying space and maybe being in the way, but this was his mother and nephew, and if they needed him he would be there. Casita opened the door for him, the hardly light room enfolding him as he stepped into it watching his mother from her spot on her chair, unmoving, unresponsive. With univen steps he made his way to her sitting beside her in the chair Mariano had conveniently left there. Bruno had only seen his mother in true distress the night Mirabel hadn’t got her gift, but their argument had tainted all that fright when she had called him Pedro. He wasn’t sure she remembered, but he had been thinking about it for ten endless years. The way the light shone against her skin showed a much deeper kind of anguish, one he had never seen in her. He didn’t speak, he had no idea what to say but Alma didn’t try either, stifling silence filling the room choking both of them. His bony fingers played with the ends of his ruana but his eyes were roaming over Camilo’s body. He was a thin boy but he had never thought he was this thin, he could count his ribs even from his place beside the bed, he could almost swear he had seen his heart beating underneath his skin a few times. A weight on his thigh broke the spell, drawing his eyes towards the spot to find his mother’s hand open, waiting for him to take it on his own; of course he didn’t wait more than a second before his palm was pressed against hers, their fingers intertwined.

-You scared me like this when you were little. So small and the coughing wouldn’t stop. I thought I was going to lose you. - she had never told him of any illnesses he had had when he was young, he simply assumed that all the big things had been taken care of by Julieta when she had got her gift, but hearing the desperation in her voice as she told him not daring to look at him made him wonder what things she had kept to herself from those five years before the candle had granted them their powers. - No one knew what you had, and I couldn’t make you stop crying as much as I tried. Everyone told me to get ready for the worst because you weren’t going to survive it. You were but a babe and I couldn’t even imagine a life where I had to bury any of my children. You were so small.

-But I didn’t leave you, I’m here. He will be alright mamá. Camilo is a strong boy, very stubborn and will eat like a turkey as soon as he wakes up.

-And if he doesn't?

-He will. I survived didn’t I? No one in this family gives up when there’s a fight to be won. I know he will be alright.

-You had a vision? - her eyes twinkled in hope that there would be an answer, a happy ending for this whole thing. He flashed a timid smile towards her looking at the floor.

-I had a vision. He will wake up and recover.

-When did you see this?

-Fifteen minutes ago? I had to coax Mirabel into letting me do this one alone in case it turned out to be… bad. Didn’t want the girl to see her twin sick or worse.

From underneath his ruana he took an emerald tablet and handed it to his mother’s waiting free hand. The weight of the cold gem against her palm comforted her somehow but it was the sight of Camilo sitting in bed laughing at something Mirabel was saying with Pepa beside him that made her heart burst with joy. She had grown used to his visions always being bad, she hated what seeing all that made him feel like but there wasn’t anything they could do, the future was what it was and as much as she had prayed to give him better ones she always went to bed devastated when another person left the house in screams or tears. She didn’t care what it made them feel, she only wanted to make it better for her Brunito but she had failed to show him that in favour of placating the angry masses. Seeing his proud smile at having seen this and being able to help his mother finally made him realise that his gift might not be as bad as he thought. Never had he witnessed such a smile from his mother. In the delight of the moment she wrapped her arms around his body so tightly that he was finding it hard to breath but didn’t push her away.

-Gracias a dios. Gracias.

-I didn’t… do anything… mamá.

-Oh, but you did. You gave me this. He’s going to be alright, he’s going to come back to us. I’ve never been more grateful for anything in my life except for you and your siblings.

-Mamá… afloja que no… puedo resp… respirar. - Still clutching the emerald tablet in her hands she let go of Bruno, the smile on her face never faltering, happy tears streaming down her cheeks. - Don’t cry, this is good.

-Oh mi niño, es maravilloso. I’m the happiest I’ve been in a long time. Thank you for seeing this.

-It was involuntary really. I was worried about Pepa, Camilo, you… I felt it coming and asked Mirabel to leave, she wouldn’t but I knew it was going to happen so I pushed her out. I’ll have to apologise later but I wasn’t ready to see anything like this with her there.

-She’ll be fine. Can I keep this? I’ll put it with the other ones and cherish it with my entire being.

-You’ve kept the other ones? I thought you would have thrown them away after I… left.

-I could never get rid of any of your things. Your plate was safely stored inside a cupboard wrapped in one of my shawls, I would never throw it away; you are my son and not knowing why you had left or not seeing the reason why you did what you did destroyed me. None of the things that happened were your fault, you were just a child, you didn’t understand and as you grew older I… I should have done something, I should have stopped them but I didn’t. I tried but no one listened because their anger was bigger than anything. Your visions are not just bad omens, they never were, you are simply telling the world what they have brought on themselves. I’m sorry I never had the time to sit down with you and understand.

-People insulted me, they hated me and I tried to tell you but you always dismissed it the same way you told Pepa she had to calm down. You did things wrong, some were pretty down right bad but you were trying.

-It wasn’t enough. I’m your mother and I never behaved as such with you. I never sat down to talk with you and try to find out who you were, who you are. Your visions have brought joy to this village, anything else that you might have seen shouldn’t even be thought of. You saw that Julieta would get married to Agustín and predicted all of her pregnancies. You saw that Pepa would find happiness with Felix and would give us three beautiful children. You saw Isabela’s future, the recovery of Camilo, anything else is unimportant and it should have been from the start. I’m sorry I wasn't the mother you deserved Bruno, I just hope we have time to fix this.

-We built Casita from scratch, we can fix anything mamá.

-I don’t deserve your forgiveness and should have never expected you to apologise for leaving. I shouldn’t have yelled at you and called you Pedro.

-Did papá ever refuse to help you?

-No, he was always the first one in line to do whatever was necessary. You look so much like him that sometimes it’s as if I’m still seeing him, what your father would have looked like at this age if fate hadn’t taken him from us. In the heat of the moment I was so afraid we might be losing our miracle, Pedro’s sacrifice that I never even thought of what I was saying. All the things I’ve ever said to you were out of frustration or guilt… I love you Bruno, you know that I do, but I haven’t told you enough and we’ve lost ten years that no one can bring back because of my errors.

-We’ll both work it out. No one has smiled the way you just did at seeing one of my visions, that says a lot, mamá. You are better than you think. We all make mistakes, yours are just a bit louder and slightly bigger, but at least you didn't resent your own family for being as weird as we are. I haven’t seen anyone going around with rats in his pockets or cacti in her hair. We’ve turned out the way we are because of you. I don’t mean it in a bad way, that would mean that you haven’t done a good job which is not what I’m saying, I mean that we are strong, smart and brave because of you. - all those kind words that she had been trying so hard to believe when they had been spoken by everyone else had felt undeserving, as if they had been trying to paint a lie in pink colours, but somehow when they were coming from him suddenly they felt real, as if they might actually be true. One hand still clung to the vision while the other one rested on his cheek fingertips brushing against his dark curls. Bruno always spoke the truth, whether people liked it or not was up to them; maybe she hadn’t done so bad with her children and grandchildren after all, maybe just maybe this time this words could finally make sense to her and her mind could finally start to see that she was not the monster she had force herself to believe. He leaned into her touch, closing his eyes briefly before resting his head on her shoulder side by side, her hand never leaving his hair eyes locked onto the sleeping form of her nieto. - You don’t know the amount of times Camilo has defended you in front of the butcher or anyone who was bad mouthing you. Even if you think you’ve failed us, we are still here. That should tell you just how much we love you and appreciate you.

The sound of a raspy breath mixed with a fit of coughing cut their conversation short, the emerald tablet almost slipping from her hand in her hurry to get to her nieto. Bruno was quicker though and grabbed the vision to put on the nightstand before jumping into bed to hold Camilo down now that he was thrusting over the blankets. Alma’s first instinct was to check his temperature, her lips on his forehead just for a second before a hiss escaped them. His fever had got worse. Understanding what that noise meant Bruno grabbed Camilo’s legs while she took hold of his shoulders to lift him up and carry him to the bathroom. Ever since Casita had come back to them a bathroom had magically appeared in each room along with one downstairs for guests to use if needed, so they didn’t have to carry him across the building. Bruno’s back made contact with the wooden door pushing it open to the sound of running water; as the smart house it was, Casita was already getting the cold bath together, shelves moving to bring towels and a new set of dry pyjamas to Bruno’s waiting hands as Alma sat on the toilet with the boy in her arms sushing his whimpers and moans with words filled with hope, something her son had brought to her when she had been at her lowest. They wouldn’t be able to put Camilo inside the big bathtub on his own, he didn't have the strength nor the consciousness to hold himself up so without thinking she stood once there was enough water and stepped into it with the boy in her arms not giving a fly about her clothes. Camilo wailed at the contact with the water but quieted when Alma pressed him against her chest as she sat deeper into it bringing a wet hand to his face and hair to dampen it enough so it would help lower his temperature. They stayed there for the longest time filling it up once it started to warm up, shivers invading Alma’s body but she still refused to get out or switch places with Bruno who sat beside them on the floor of the bathroom speaking to his nephew about his latest telenovela.

The breakthrough happened after an hour and a half of being in there. Alma couldn’t feel her feet by then but at least the boys skin was cooler to the touch, almost back to normal, both bodies rocking back and forth still listening to Bruno narrate excitedly how Blanca had found out her mother was actually her cousin’s best friend who had married her father who was not really her father. The only voice in the room was his until a chuckle joined. Alma looked down to the boy in her arms to see galaxy eyes watching Bruno from his spot in the water, tired brown orbs that she had never noticed how beautiful they were, full of life even through the veil of the illness that had claimed his body. A sense of urgency filled the room now that Camilo was finally awake, his tío tumbling towards the door while promising he would be right back leaving Alma sending silent thank yous to heaven above, tears pooling on top of the boy’s head. He was trying to say something to her, but she quickly quieted him down, no need for him to overexert himself and fall back into a state of unconsciousness from which it might take longer for him to recover from. Bruno had burst the door open and with the help of Casita had slid down the stairs towards the kitchen. Sitting at the table were Pepa and Julieta, both sisters grabbing onto each other's hands with their spouses behind them. The atmosphere was gloomy, dark; it didn’t match Bruno’s joyful little jumps at all and it brought a angry scornful expression to Pepa’s face, murderous glances being thrown his way, but he didn’t seem to notice. Julieta picked up the reason for her brother’s state much faster than their other sister did and jumped to her feet to grab a cup in which to pour some hot soup. Even Agustín understood what was going on and remained at a safe distance from his wife so he wouldn’t make her accidentally spill the precious liquid. The redhead was about to complain when she saw Felix radiant smile and slowly her brain finally started registering what was happening, tears forming in her eyes as she raised her eyebrows at her husband; he nodded. The race to get to Camilo’s room was won by Bruno, closely followed by Juli with the help of Casita. The brunette was in her element, concentrating on her task, focused, all the emotions that she felt were being repressed in exchange for her medical knowledge and abilities, there would be time later to rejoice. The doors were wide open, voices coming from the bathroom, finding from where they were at the doorway Mariano kneeling beside the bathtub talking quietly with the boy bringing short tired smiles from him.

Alma’s fingers run lazily over his damp curls, face pressed to the top of his head with her eyes looking at the figure of her partner from the other side of the tub. He had been on his way back with the cup of coffee when he had seen Bruno speed out of the room with a smile so wide on his face it would surely make his muscles hurt later on. There was no need to ask, no one could change their moods at such velocity unless something so happy and long awaited had finally happened and so he had hurried into the room to find it empty, a line of light coming from the bathroom. When he had pushed the door open he had been greeted with the sight of her in soaked clothes and damp hair but with the happiest smile he had ever seen on her lips, the boy looking up tiredly to see who had just come in. He hadn’t expected to see Mariano there, but he didn’t mind and nodded at him when he was asked if he could join them. Camilo’s eyes moved from him to the door, smiling at his tío and tía from his spot inside the freezing waters. Julieta didn’t waste any time and walked over to them handing the cup to her mother; his lips had barely touched the rim when Pepa and Felix burst into the room, his mother shoving Bruno aside to the head of the tub to be as close to her little boy as possible. As much as she was trying the words seemed to be getting stuck in her throat and she could only whimper as droplets of salty tears fell over the surface of the water, both hands touching his face and hair, anything she could get to almost knocking the cup of soup from Alma’s hand. The expectation was through the roof and time felt as if it was slowing down just to torture them, eyes watching impetianctly as his lips finally made contact with the food, the hot liquid warming up his chest after taking the first sip; his tías magic soon followed and that warmth turned into a tingling sensation that spread from limb to limb and from head to toes.

The previous constriction he had felt on his chest was now nothing more than a memory, the shivers and hot flashes vanishing into thin air, aches and pains none existent now that most of the cup had been emptied from its content. That rosy tint his face always had was returning and the weight lost during the night was returning to his bones. When he was finished sipping the last bit of soup Mariano took the cup from his hands, but Camilo didn’t turn to look at him to thank him, his eyes searched for those of his abuela. She couldn’t help but see Eva through him, her soul lived on inside him as much as it lived inside Pepa; her nieto was fine once more, still cradled in her arms safely, at the same time the stifling feeling that she had been holding onto another ghosts of her past dissipated. Looking at him now she could see what might have been if life had been kind to her sister and she couldn’t be happier life had granted her this moment. Felix suggested they get out of the tub and change into dry clothes but Alma wasn’t listening, her fingers traced the freckles of her nieto’s cheek as if they were answers to the millions of questions she had never seeked to know. Eva couldn’t be forgotten as long as she was here, as long as her descendants were here. The boy was lifted from the water by his father leaving the room to dry him and change him with the help of Agustín fater a short nod from her that she hadn’t even realised she had done. Alone with her children and Mariano all the adrenalin she had been running on made way for the exhaustion she had been fighting. Her joints hurt in areas she hadn’t known existed and her muscles shook underneath her skin in twitches as she tried to stand. Mariano was faster than Bruno this time and lifted her effortlessly into his arms before placing her gently back on the floor still holding onto her; he didn’t trust her legs to support her.

-You stayed with him, you could have caught a cold or something worse but decided to stay beside him. Mamá, he might have woken up thanks to you.

-I did what any mother would do.

-Not everyone steps into a tub filled with freezing water with their nieto. You are a saint mamá and I can't thank you enough for this. My son is alive because you stayed. Gracias, gracias.

-Pepa, mi amor, it’s fine. - she had been holding the rain and the rainbows inside her all day, the tension was now steaming out of her body in the form of a spring shower that soaked through Alma’s already very wet figure as the redhead jumped into her mothers arms. - I did the same thing I did when you were little. Giving birth to a child doesn’t make you a mother, staying with them through thick and thin does, and it’s the most rewarding thing in the world. Go to your son, he needs his mamá to fully recover.

-You are right. You are always right.

She very much doubted she was always in the right, but didn’t have the heart to fight her daughter on this. Pepa disappeared through the doors to join her family. Julieta held onto Bruno with a proud smile, yes, she had cured Camilo but why should she feel jealous that Pepa thanked their mother but not her? Camilo had woken up in Alma’s arms, he had felt safe and secure, comfortable… he woke up to the person who needed him the most in this world and she couldn't feel bad about that. Something in the back of her head told her that she wasn’t supposed to be there right now so she took the empty cup of soup and the untouched cup of coffee, giving her mother a short peck on her cheek before heading out.

-Thank you Bruno.

-What? I didn’t… Why are you thanking me Mariano?

-For having made your mother smile, for taking care of her just like I asked you to. Whatever you did I’m a thousand times grateful for.

-It was nothing special, really.

-Brunito, - she could trust her legs once more, making Mariano let go of her when he felt her body move forward towards her son. He had a habit of picking on his ruana when he was nervous, but she didn’t give him time to make a hole in the fabric, she took his hands and brought them tightly laced with her towards her chest. - You are the most special man I’ve ever had the pleasure to call my son. When I thought everything was lost you came to save me. After Mirabel made me open my eyes to all my mistakes you came back to me, and just that small action is the most wonderful thing you’ve done apart from being born. You gave me a vision that showed Camilo alive, no one had ever given me a sign that I wasn’t going to lose another loved one. You are my little boy, mi niño and everything you do is special and marvellous. I should thank you for letting you be my son.

-I could get used to this kind of thing. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten so many compliments in such a short period of time, but it feels nice. Real nice.

-We’ll be fine now.

-Yes.

A knock on the door made them turn their heads around. Felix was smiling that sweet wide smile of his pointing with his head towards the bedroom. Alma didn’t hesitate and followed its direction to the bed where Camilo seemed to be waiting for her. She was still wet but he didn’t mind, just held his hands out for his abuela who happily took them cradling the boy in her arms once more as towels were wrapped around her body and the duvet was placed over both their legs. Pepa and Julieta joined them sitting on the left side of their mother while Bruno sat on the right. The ajar door was gently pushed open by Antonio who at the sight of his hermano mayor rushed into the room and jumped into Camilo’s arms. At the foot of the bed sat Dolores and Isabela, Mirabel and Luisa joining their tío at the right side of their abuela. It had been years since she had had the entire family in one room and even though the reason this time had been quite scary the sight of everyone around her talking with each other, Camilo looking from his siblings to his cousins warmed her chest. The sound of laughter erupting from within her arms made her look down to see Camilo cracking up at something Mirabel had told him and at the realisation that Bruno’s vision had come true her eyes locked with that of her sons. He had brought her joy, truth and the sight that the future might have beautiful things ready for them.

-Te quiero abuela. -the words were quiet, almost whispers for her ears only; Dolores had heard them of course but kept it to herself along with an internal smile. His eyes only looked at her for a minute but they were filled with immeasurable amounts of pure love that made her heart skip a beat.

-Yo también pequeñajo, yo también. - her lips brushed the top of his head in between his tight curls still damp from the bath. From the corner Mariano watched in silence the scene playing before him and he found in his head as well as his heart that he wanted one day to sit beside her in bed and fill the empty spot Pedro had left

#alma madrigal #abuela madrigal #Encanto #bruno magridal #camilo madrigal #dolores madrigal #pepa madrigal #julieta madrigal #mariano guzman #señora guzmán #Disney

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aggieharkness · 2 years

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Hay que encontrar su propio futuro

(The title has been changed, it used to be Shame on whoever invented Tequila but as the story progressed it didn't feel like the right choice anymore so I changed it.)

a/n: I'm so sorry it has taken me a lifetime to post this chapter but I'm in the middle of exams and my wifi just stopped working, in other words, everything is going like shit around here, but here it is. I'll try to post the next one relatively soon but I can't promise anything. I hope you like the next few chapters because they are going to be cute and full of fluff, the turn in the tables is yet to come (evil face :)) I'm Spanish so I used expressions from my own language. I'm afraid I don't know Colombian ones so I had to work with the ones that I know. If there are any Colombians out there that would prefer for me to change what I have written I would very gladly do it, but even so, I hope you like the ones I have used.

warning: age difference, implied sexual content, past use of alcohol, nude bodies (they don’t get described) Most importantly no Alma Madrigal bashing, i love this woman.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16

Hay que encontrar su propio futuro

-The flowers, ¿donde están las flores? ¡Isabela!

-Mamá, calm down, I’m sure she’s around, somewhere.

-But there are no flowers and I can’t find Luisa with the wine barrels and, where on Earth has Mirabel gone to now? It’s almost lunch time and nothing is ready for tonight's party!

-Mamá, sit down, only for a minute.

-Have you finished the food for the village Julieta? If not, go and do it instead of standing there doing nothing but get on my nerves!

The woman was too stunned to speak. Her mother didn’t look mad at her, she was just a bit, very, nervous about tonight’s event, after all it’s not everyday that one's children turn fifty one, all together after ten years. Everything needed to be perfect for them, for the village and a bit for herself. Alma didn’t get the chance to turn around and leave her perplexed daughter standing in the courtyard, she was grabbed by her arm and dragged in between protests towards the kitchen. Julieta had thought that Pepa would be the one to ruin the day, she had been all over the place for the past week and in response it had rained everyday without stopping, but when they had woken up that morning and had looked out the window she had almost screamed at the sight of the bright and clear blue sky; she had jumped out of bed so fast she had accidentally hit Agustín with her elbow on the nose. She had been so excited and happy about it that it didn’t dawn on her that he was bleeding through his smile at seeing his wife so happy until he pressed a corner of the already ruined blanket to his nose to stop the bleeding. She had spent all morning checking on him after that and apologising for having been so careless but he didn’t give a fly; seeing her like this, happy and joyful on her birthday made him the happiest man alive, bloody nose or not.

Julieta stopped on her tracks as soon as she stepped in the kitchen, her very flustered mother behind her still fighting to get out of her grasp, but for such a small woman Julieta had one hell of an arm. Casita moved a chair over from the table forcing Alma to take a seat even though she kept on saying that she needed to get back to work, that everything was a disaster and she needed to know what was going on, why no one seemed to be at home on such an important day as today. She looked two minutes away from meeting Saint Peter. Julieta finally let go once she was sure Alma was too busy complaining to stand up and leave so she took it as an opportunity to put the kettle on and take some of her lavender tea to calm her mother down a bit, she was the one getting on Juli’s nerves and not the other way around. Since Alma had woken up that morning all they had heard from her was do this, do that, where’s Fulanita, where’s Menganita and why is nothing done, and it was getting rather old, like a broken record. At least they knew she was doing it for them, to make up for the lost time, but they had already settled on a plan to get it all done and Alma was just getting in the way. Of course they wanted her to help but this felt more like a race towards who can commit a murder first and given past histories it would be either Pepa or Julieta and she honestly didn’t want to get her apron dirty, not so early in the day anyway. As soon as the kettle started whistling she quickly poured the boiling water in the cup and took it to her mother who was still babbling even after ten minutes. This would become a horrible headache later on.

-Drink mamá.

-And then I told her… what? What’s this?

-Tea. Drink.

-I don’t have time to drink! We have a list of things to do and none of them are even remotely ready!

-Mamá! Drink! Now! - with no room to oppose her daughter's command she quickly snatched the porcelain cup from her hands and took a sip, the sweet taste of the sugar masking the bitter tones that otherwise she would have been able to savour. - No need to worry mamá, everything’s fine and will get done before tonight, okay?

-How can you be so sure? No one is around, it’s almost lunch time... I’ve been on my feet all morning trying to check if there’s enough food and drinks, if all the decorations have arrived and I’m still to see any of the children doing their chores.

-Trust me. We are all doing our bit, what we need from you is to just… lay off a little. Just a little. We know what must be done.

-You want me to step aside? To not help? - the face of absolute bewilderment was too hard to ignore for Julieta. Her mother could be overbearing but she didn’t do it on purpose, she usually just wanted things to be right, perfect, and that always ended up deriving into Alma going around like an admiral driving everyone insane. Juli knew how important this was for her, but it was also important for the rest of the family to start working on their own, to make plans and do things their own way. Alma deserved to rest a little. The hurt in her voice broke Julieta’s heart a little but knew that it was for the best, she just had to paint it in a nice light so as not to offend her already incredibly offended mother too much.

-We appreciate your help, honestly mamá, it’s just that we were kind of hoping to do this one on our own. Prepare this party with Bruno, Pepa and me in mind. Do this for ourselves.

-I can do that, why didn’t you tell me you wanted a private party? We don’t have time to change it all now but we can think of something.

-Mamá, that’s not what I mean. We want people to come, but we want to do this for each other and who better than ourselves to prepare it all? Mamá, we are not trying to push you aside, we just want to give you some free time and get this done another way. You understand?

-But I don’t need free time, why would I want to spend the day reading or listening to the radio when it’s your birthday?! Look, here’s what we’ll do, you get both Bruno and Pepa and we can all discuss how you want the party to go, that way we can get it all exactly how you want it.- the half-drunk cup rested on the table as Alma stood up excitedly clasping her hands together.- Sounds good?

-It really sounds great but…

-But what? We’ll get it done your way. - she was already writing things down on a little notebook that Julieta could have sworn hadn’t been in the kitchen before. Heading for the door she didn’t see how her daughter was rolling her eyes and raising her arms in exasperation before she took a couple of calming breaths and prepared to try again.

-Mamá, we’ve already planned on how to do this… without you. Don’t think we don’t need you, we do, it’s just that… not for this one.

-Oh. – it felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured on her head, freezing her on the spot just underneath the threshold, both hands almost letting go of the notepad in surprise.

-Mamá…

-No, no, it’s alright. One day I won’t be here, and you all need to start handling things without me. It’s fine Julieta, really.

-Are you sure? I’m sure that if I talked with Bruno and Pepa we could find you something to do.

-No, no, you want to do this on your own, it’s perfectly understandable. I’ll… I don’t know what I’ll do but I’m sure I’ll think of something. Here, - she handed the notepad to her with sad eyes before smiling at her the way she only knew, a smile that never quite reached her eyes, and squeezed her hands. - maybe it will help you. Give you some ideas.

-I’m sure it will. Are you sure you are fine? I didn’t mean to-

-I’m fine Julieta. Go ahead, this party won’t get prepared on its own.

The way Juli’s eyes pleaded with her mother made her almost, just almost, accept her offer to help but in the end, she knew her daughter was right. They needed to do things without her breathing down their necks, they needed to discover what they were capable of and if that meant Alma stepping down every once in a while, she would do it as much as it bothered her or hurt her. She ran her hand over Julieta’s cheek before turning around and leaving the kitchen with no idea where she was going to go or what she was going to do. All the ideas that came up to her mind didn’t quite sit right with her, nothing sounded very appealing. She had hoped to make this the best birthday for her Brunito, but now she had nothing to add to this party, they had planned it all without her and it kind of bothered her, after all she had been doing this since they were born. At least she hoped to be able to wish them a happy birthday. Just as she stepped into the courtyard, hands playing with the ruffles on her sleeves, the doors burst open and one by one the kids set foot in the house with a bright red Mariano holding several baskets in his arms.

-Hola abuela, look who we brought. - Grabbing poor Mariano by the collar, Isabela pushed him towards Alma making him stumble and almost land on top of her. – We saw him making his way here and we started chatting and discovered that he’s had a great idea, isn’t that right?

-I… Hola. I suppose I did have some sort of idea.

-Go on, tell her!

-Isabela, please, calm down. He has a mouth and unless suddenly he’s lost his tongue, he has the ability to speak for himself. – he was fighting Isa’s grasp as well as the weight of the hampers all while smiling coyly at Alma. She looked so cute when she scolded people, what a woman.

-Perdón, but it really is a great idea. Go on!

-I thought we could go out for the day. Like… on a date. – her brain had just turned into a gigantic blue screen with the word Error written in bold letters; either she was becoming hard of hearing or she had misunderstood his words, there was no way he could have said that.

-Sorry, I must have heard you wrong, what do you want to do?

-Go out on a date with you, like right now.

-A date? Me on a date with you?

-I’m not speaking with any weird accents am I? Cause that’s what I said.

-Don’t worry Marianito, you did just fine, she’s just having an internal mental breakdown, give her a moment until her brain restarts.

-Camilo, what the hell?!

-I’m just stating the obvious, see the twitch in her eye Mira? Now we know who Luisa got it from.

-Que te calles, pesado. Abuela, what do you say to his proposal?

-I… I… I would love to, Isabela.

-Great! Mission accomplished. Hasta luego, we have things to do. - the kids spread like wildfire all over the house in under a second leaving the two of them alone once more. Staring like two fools at each other they didn’t notice Isa’s and Dolores’ heads poking out the living room spying like two old ladies ready to gossip with their mothers later on.

-I wasn’t sure you would want to, whether you’d like the idea.

-I’d love to go out with you on a date. I haven’t been on one for years.

-Great then! I have so many things planned, do you have any special places we could go to?

-Not really. Do you?

-One or two, but they aren’t the most beautiful or easy to access. Shall we try them? -from the corner of her eye she could see Julieta talking with Agustín through one of the windows, Luisa already heading to the back door, Camilo and Mirabel pointing at different parts of Casita conversing in hushed tones. No one was paying her any attention and well, the party wouldn’t be until almost dusk.

-Of course, we have plenty of time. Where should we go first? - Normally she would take his arm but today they were filled with baskets and there wasn’t even one little space that she could grab, not an inch. - Eh, mejor te ayudo con eso primero.

-No, no, I can handle it. - as if on queue one of the hampers fell with a crash on the floor, several decks of cards falling from one of the pockets. - Maybe I could indeed do with a hand.

-Why are you carrying so many of these anyway? One would have sufficed you know.

-I wanted to spend time with you and since I didn’t know what we could do, the kids didn’t stop suggesting things and I ended up like this. We can check what’s inside and just take one basket if you’d like.

-No. Let’s see what they’ve come up with but let’s share the weight or you won’t even make it out the door.

There was nothing for her in the house and as much as she hated leaving when there was just so much to do she didn’t want to waste the opportunity of spending some time with her new boyfriend. Sounds weird when you say like that, she would call him partner for the world to know but she liked to keep using the less dramatic term for herself. Boyfriend. Boy-friend. It made her feel so young, like she was fifty again (let’s not exaggerate too much). Grabbing two baskets she managed to wrap her arm around his and step out of the house into the front yard where the warm sun and slightly chilly breeze of the morning was greeting them. Her family would do fine, they did manage to build Casita without her help when she was focusing on other things, and it hadn’t fallen in the process, they could handle the preparations for a party; she just hoped the one in charge was Julieta and not Bruno or Pepa, is not that she didn’t think them capable it’s just… Well, yes, they were rather diffuse to be capable of handling such a thing, they would begin one thing and never finish it because something else had distracted them. She just hoped to return to a perfectly upright house and not shambles.

The trek to the first location was long, like an hour long carrying heavy baskets filled with Lord knows what. They had crossed the village careful not to bump into Rosa and had entered the jungle forty five minutes ago. Yes, the scenery was stunning, the thousands upon thousands of shades of green that the leaves projected were the most gorgeous on the planet, the absolutely divine smell of the autumn flowers that filled the air, it was wonderful but she wasn’t enjoying it as much as she should. She had bumped into several trees that for some reason she hadn’t seen, two snakes had snuck up on her making her scream at the top of her lungs to later apologise to Dolores in case she had scared her and she had been face to face with a very suspicious looking chameleon. It didn’t pass the vibe check at all, it had evil eyes. Finally just when her legs were about to give out underneath her after having jumped the fourth fallen tree Mariano came to a halt letting her arm go. She thanked all Heaven above for whatever had caught his attention as she put the baskets on the floor raising her hands in the air in silent prayer. Mariano vanished in between the trees after having told her to stay put which of course she wasn’t going to fight, they had spent the entire trip going, not a single bit of the path had been horizontal, but her goofy, grumpy mood soon started to vanish when after ten minutes he hadn’t returned yet. There was a bad feeling crawling up her back, or maybe a spider, she couldn’t be sure but it only increased after those ten minutes became twenty and she still knew nothing about him.

It would be considered reckless, and he would be mad, but she didn’t give a crap, she picked up her baskets and started moving forward in the direction she suspected he had gone. Everything around her were trees, trees and more trees, that’s all she could see along with creepy crawlies but no Mariano. In hopes of finally getting a location she called out his name but no answer, though she wasn’t going to give up so easily; she kept calling his name out over and over but he still didn’t respond; she was two seconds away from crying in despair. What if he had got hurt and he couldn’t speak? What if someone had attacked him? The Encanto wasn’t secluded anymore, anyone could enter and hide in the jungle waiting for the right moment to strike. Damn, she should have brought a weapon. The trees suddenly became thinner and smaller letting her see the side of a mountain where the entrance to a cave could be found. She called out his name again as she stepped out of the bug infested jungle to look at the huge entrance to the mountain. The rocks looked to be some sort of carbonate of greyish tones with small veins of pristine white calcite inside fractures. Her fingers traced the stone roughly as she bent to look inside the cave, a soft humming coming from the inside.

She had two choices: turn around and look for Mariano somewhere else, there was no way in hell she was staying to see who the hell was in there or go inside and hope not to get murdered. The logical smart part of her brain was screaming to get the hell out, but of course the stupid part won; she stepped inside. At least she didn’t call out his name inside the small rock halls, she would prefer to have time to escape if there was anyone or anything in there. As she walked deeper and deeper into the cave the humming became louder, the dark hallway lightning up as if there was another entrance not far from where she was. She stopped on her tracks when she heard a loud crash followed by a curse; it didn’t quite register in her mind that she knew the voice until a couple of seconds later. With renewed anger she stomped in the direction of the voice. The instant his figure came into view she dropped the baskets and ran towards him hitting him on the back of the bed.

-¡Eh! What was that for?!

-You left me alone in the forest! Anyone could have hurt me, a snake could have eaten me!

-I didn't think you were scared of nature so much.

-I’m not! But you shouldn’t have told me you were going to be five minutes and then leave me waiting for thirty! I thought something had happened to you!

-I thought it had only been ten minutes. I’m sorry I didn’t check the time, honest, but I was doing this for you.

All anger dissipated when she saw what was at the other side of the cave. Following the direction of his stretched arm she opened her eyes wide. A bottomless gorgeous lake of crystal clear waters filled most of the valley surrounded by small sturdy trees and grass as green as life. Small birds sang in the background and tiny multicoloured butterflies flew from flower to flower as the slow waves the breeze created crashed in silence against the shore, the sun high in the sky reflecting over the water creating rainbows on its surface. This little piece of heaven was secluded by mountains, like the remainder of a crater or a glacier. Alma had no words to describe what she was seeing; she couldn’t find a single way of expressing just how unbelievable this place was; it looked taken right out of a fairy-tale. She couldn’t even bring herself to thank Mariano for having selected such a gorgeous place, her eyes were jumping from his figure to the scenery as if she couldn’t believe what was in front of her. She only noticed what he had prepared when her eyes followed a canary to its nest in a nearby tree where a hammock was tied, a red blanket laid over the grass with plates of food and drinks scattered over trays. Hanging from the branches were small succulent shaped lamps with unlit candles inside.

-Madre del amor hermoso. Es lo más bonito que he visto en mi vida. How did you find this place?

-I came across it not long ago, I was chasing a bird that had stolen my hat and I simply followed when he entered the cave. This was on the other side.

-It’s amazing. It must have taken you a really long time to figure out how to decorate it. Nothing can make it more beautiful than it already is.

-Three weeks to be precise, but only because Pepa wouldn’t stop raining and I couldn’t get here, but it seems as if it’s secluded enough not to be affected by her clouds. I’m glad, I've been making these candles for ages and it would have been a great shame to lose them.

The baskets, the party, everything had been forgotten as she stepped more into this little spot. The air smelled different, the scents that it carried were filled with rich tones of freshly groomed grass along with the strong smell of flowers in bloom and tall pines that looked as if its branches could almost touch the sky. It was silent, peaceful with only the waves echoing in between the stone walls, random fishes coming up to the surface very once in while to enjoy a short touch of the air above the body of water before sinking into the depths once more leaving ripples on the surface of the lake undulating the reflection of invisible rainbows that only the sun could make. Away from the shade the trees were providing Alma stood on the shore letting the rays bathe over her exposed skin, the warmth like soft kisses over her body making all the tension and hurt of that previous morning vanish out of every muscle, every cell. Coming from behind Mariano wrapped his arms around her waist; she was surprised but quite content like this, held in such a gorgeous place.

-I take you like it?

-It’s beautiful. I wish we could stay here forever, away from everything just enjoying a quiet life.

-I could build us a house.

-What?! - her neck almost snapped due to the speed with which she had turned her head to look at him. The love radiating from his chocolate eyes was threatening to drown her but she wouldn’t have minded, the way they were looking at her, it felt as if she was looking at Pedro all over again. It was wrong to compare Mariano to her late husband but she couldn’t help it, the similarities were impossible not to see, at least by her, and she knew he didn’t mind. No one likes to be compared to a previous love, but in this case he was proud to be considered as such, not a copy, just similar to him. Of course there were different things, Pedro’s facial features had been softer, more round, Mariano was more angular and broad, more muscular, but just as kind and understanding and a bit goofy. They were equal and at the same time different in their own essence and she was sure she had fallen for those little things that made him his own person and not for the parts that reminded her of a past life. She was straying from the topic of conversation as she fell into the abyss of his soul through his eyes.

-I could build us a house so we can spend time here and come whenever we need a break. Our own little place to live our own simple little life.

-Our own little life. - she was considering his words quite seriously. They could wake up together and have breakfast in bed, go out into the garden and tend to their flowers while still in their night clothes, read in silence while laying on the hammock and swim naked in the lake at midnight. To do all the things she had heard others do and knew her own daughters had done once upon a time. To be a wife once more but this time without the ring. She could live without that commitment. - I’ll help you. We’ll make it our own beautiful cabin with wooden floors and white curtains.

-We’ll make it however you want it. If you want red walls, I’ll paint them red, if you want a bronze goat on the roof I’ll find us one. This will be your house as much as mine.

-No goats, the last time I interacted with one I ended up with a broken toe, but a small hen would do nicely, don’t you think?

-A hen it is. I’ll make us tables and chairs and the frame for our bed. The only thing I’m sad about is that I’ll never get to make a crib and carve the name of our baby on it.

-Oh. - the thought had crossed her mind more than once, that as much as she loved him and how happy they were she was taking away from him the possibility of having a family, a tiny, beautiful baby to call his own. He felt her shoulders tense in the embrace and quickly pulled her against him a bit tighter, his head hidden into the crook of her neck smelling her vanilla soap and lavender perfume.

-It’s fine. I would have liked to have a kid, but only with you and since it couldn’t have happened even if we had started going out sooner. I’ve simply learnt to love what I do have, which is you; as long as you are with me I don’t mind not having a family because we are already one.

-I wish I could give you that, but I’m not sure whether I would want to go through what I went through with the triplets. I love them with all my heart, but getting them here was a nightmare.

-I wouldn’t have forced you to have children if you had explained to me why you didn’t want to. We can always get a dog or a parrot, we have to feed them and talk to them but at least we don’t have to enrol them in school. And we don’t have to worry about them slamming doors on us telling us that we don’t understand them. I won’t have to kill the suitors our beautiful smart daughter might get. All advantages.

-You wouldn’t be able to look intimidating, they would laugh at your little pout and we both know it. You are too cute. - he faked being offended but gave into her lovestruck eyes and bent his head to kiss her lips softly. It would always be a thorn in his heart not to get a baby, but his words had their desired effect and Alma had relaxed in his embrace once more and seemed happier, less at war with her own body for ageing. - What did you have planned for us? There’s food, plenty of it by the looks of those baskets but I saw a deck of cards.

-I only did the bit of the food, I have no idea what we could do.

-An idea or two comes to mind, but only if you are up for the challenge and if you promise me no one is going to come here.

-No one knows where this is, I got lost the first five times I tried to get here. What’s in that pretty but dangerous mind of yours?

-Luisa wants to teach me how to swim, but some extra classes wouldn’t hurt. What do you say, are you up for it?

-Won’t the water be too cold?

-I’ve bathed in the lake in winter and I’m still here. Are you scared? Oh… Don’t tell me you don’t know how to swim?!

-Of course I do. I was just worried it would be too much for you, besides our underclothes will be rather heavy, mainly yours and it might not be easy for you to move your legs or your arms. -Who said anything about being in our underclothes?

-You mean… swim naked? - alarms went off in his head. Suddenly the thought of seeing her without clothes made him warm, far too warm, and nervous as if she had just asked him to do the most unseemly thing in the world.

-You’ve already seen me, does it bother you?

-NO! I mean, no. I just… Uff. It’s been two months and I thought we were going to wait a little longer before-

-We are not making love, we are swimming, Mariano. If it flustered you this much we can wait, but I was hoping to learn how to at least float before Luisa started teaching me.

-I would love to help you, I just hope I don’t faint at the sight of you or decide to devour you right on the spot.

-You will be very careful to keep things… cold between us. At least for the time being. Come on, the sun is right above us and I don’t know for how long it will stay up there.

In under five minutes he was undressed except for his underwear. Alma took her sweet time though, to tease him, to make him suffer a little for having left her in the woods all alone. Her hair was pinned to the top of her head before her hands started unbuttoning her pale magenta dress; she folded it and placed it a couple feet away from the water turning her body again to face him so she could take her alpargatas off and her underdress leaving her in a set of short white bloomer and a lace bra, another invention that had been brought to the Encanto. It was weird at first seeing a lingerie store in the plaza but soon the old corsets that they had been wearing were discarded and patterns and clothes were bought; she had been extra careful so no one would see her buying lace bras. There was no way in hell she was getting patterns to ask Mirabel or Agustin for some underwear, it would be mortifying. Once everything was neatly folded she stood in front of, such hunger in Mariano’s eyes that it sent shivers down her spine, but he remained at a decent distance from her. At the same time, they got rid of the rest of their clothes, standing like two idiots over the grass, she hadn’t seen him since that morning when she had woken up still under the effects of the drinks but the snippets of the night they shared were very much there and couldn’t do justice to his real form. His feet started moving towards her slowly stretching his hands out for her to take.

-Rule number one. Relax, the water is not your enemy, work with it.

-Be one with the water?

-If you want to drown, sure. Just trust me and don’t get nervous, don’t panic. We’ll simply float for a bit and then I’ll let go of you.

Saying that the water was cold would be a lie, it was like stepping into an iceberg with penguins all around them; it sent goosebumps all over their skin the instant their feet touched it, but they weren’t turning back now. Inch by inch they walked over pebbles and stones into the deeper part of the lake. Once the water reached Alma’s neck Mariano stopped walking, still holding onto her hands tightly as she was struggling a bit, kicking her legs roughly under the surface, afraid that if she stopped her body would sink and she wouldn’t be able to get out. Seeing that fear all over her face he simply placed her arms around his neck and let her hold onto him, his arms around her waist.

-Relax, close your eyes and just focus on the way the water feels around you. You are fine, everything’s fine. In and out, in and out. - Slowly her body stopped trembling and her arms started to loosen; with each second, he gently pulled her away from him while continuing to coach her through it. Her body wasn’t fighting anymore, her legs moved smoothly and gently under the surface while holding onto Mariano’s hands. - That’s it, you are doing great.

-It’s cold.

-I warned you but you still wanted to do it.

-Don’t get smart with me young man. - she was shivering from it, still trying to adjust to the temperature, the smirk on his face almost making her laugh although she was trying to look stern. - I simply stated a fact which doesn’t stop me from doing what I want.

-You are doing excellently, señora mía. Floating like a flower.

-Gracias.

-Ready for me to let go?

-Already?

-You don’t want to let go of me? Be independent and all that?

-It doesn't count here. I just learnt how to do this; do you want to get rid of me so soon? Leave no traces?

-Not yet. How about you laying on the surface. That would be better for you to let go of that fear. I’ll hold you up for a bit and then let you float, okay?

-I’ll get my hair wet.

-It will dry. Come on, lay back. - she wasn’t precisely sure of whether she wanted to do it like this but didn’t want to fight Mariano’s teaching method and so she laid back slowly over the water with his hands resting on the small of her back and in between her shoulder blades holding her up. With her ears under the water, she could hear an entirely different world, the way the currents swayed the algae and plants, the movement of the water around Mariano’s legs and her own body, the sound of the breeze hitting the surface; everything that was above the surface had been muffled in exchange for this underwater world. She almost couldn’t make out Mariano’s words. - That’s it, Alma. I’m letting your hair down.

His hands moved from her back to her head, unclipping her long hair, but she didn’t move, she kept on floating listening to his hands take the hairpins out. This was the life, she had never felt so calm, her mind completely blank only focusing on all the things her body was feeling and hearing, the cool breeze brushing over her exposed skin that wasn’t under the water making her shiver gently with goosebumps, the sun heating up her figure, the new sounds of fish and water surrounding her. She was so entranced that she didn’t see nor feel how Mariano’s hands hadn’t returned to hold her up, he was swimming beside her watching the way her chest rose and fell with each breath, the small circles her fingers were making, her happy face with flushed cheeks. No one would ever get to see her like this, no one would watch her let go the way he had seen her, no one would share anything like what they were sharing right now. He couldn’t stop watching her, take in every detail that he hadn’t noticed in the darkness of her room that night. There were more freckles all over her skin that he had seen then, her eyebrows curved at an angle close to the outer crease of her eyes, her eyelashes were long and slightly curled and there was a tiny scar on her left thigh. She had never mentioned any accidents that Julieta hadn’t been able to cure, he couldn’t understand why she had never mentioned this. His fingers traced it, making Alma open her eyes and raise her head, her entire body sinking underneath the water.

-Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you, I just wondered-

-It’s fine, it’s a very old injury, nothing to worry about.

-When did it happen?

-The night we escaped from our village, the night the Encanto was born.

-But you never said that they had hurt you, only that your husband had… passed.

-It wasn’t important. I was pushed aside and one of the blades cut through my skirt. I was really close to Pedro when he was killed but didn’t notice my own wound until I was standing inside Casita. It got better and left a scar, it’s fine Mariano.

-You shouldn’t have got hurt, no one should ever hold a sword if their intention is to kill. To know that someone harmed you, that they could have killed you.

-Hey, hey, I’m fine, it’s just a scar, nothing more.

-It’s not nothing more. What if it had been deeper or a little higher? I could have lost you. - with the gentle touch he had on her hands he placed them on his neck so she could grab him, his forehead resting against hers. - I could have lost you.

-But you didn’t. It’s just a scar, I’m fine. I'm right here. - Before the entire incident no one would have ever discovered it or anything about the many things that she had gone through, but everything was different now. The ends of his hair were wet as her fingers played with it. - Worrying over something that happened half a century ago won’t solve anything. It’s just a memory, not a thrilling one that’s for sure, but just a memory now.

-I know, I shouldn’t worry but it angers me. How could anyone harm such a wonderful person like you?

-They didn’t know that they simply saw a target. That’s how some of our friends passed away, they were… murdered. It’s not a pretty story, but that’s life I suppose.

-I’ll make it up to you.

-But you didn’t do anything.

-I don’t care. From now on it’s just going to be happiness in your life, I’ll make sure of that even if it's that last thing I do. No more scars or tears. I want to hear you laugh every day and wake up to your smile each morning.

-I think, mi amor, that we can do that. I won’t sneak you in though, I’ll simply conveniently leave my door open for anyone to come in. - the gap between them was closed as their lips met in short, sweet kisses floating among the waves and currents. There was nowhere else she would rather be. - Mariano, tell me one thing; have you ever wondered what our baby would have looked like?

-Sometimes. I’ve imagined a little girl with your nose and big eyes, freckles all over, my wavy hair and your temper, standing next to you wearing a lovely pink dress with a clip on on her hair in the shape of a butterfly smiling up to you as if you are the most important person in her life and the only thing I can do is grin like an idiot thinking “Wow, that’s my wife and my daughter”. Other times it has been a boy who still has your nose and eyes, but curly hair like Julieta does. He’s taller than our girl and he’s wearing the clothes I used to wear when I was a young boy; he’s next to you trying to impress you by imitating me. It doesn’t cause the desired effect, it just makes you laugh, brightly and loudly and either way, boy or girl, you are there like the proud mother you would have been.

-That’s so… descriptive, you have really given this plenty of thought.

-Yes. It’s the only dream I can’t have but I’m willing to give up in exchange for what ifs and phantoms of what is never going to be.

-I never thought about it, I’ve never had time to wonder whether I wanted more kids with the three hurricanes I have, but I suppose that once they had been old enough it would have been nice, the only objection is that you wouldn’t have been there and to be honest I wouldn’t let anyone else father my children. I wish I could give you what you so desire, but not even a magical candle can change my ageing body.

-I don’t mind, I love you just the way you are, and we can always get a parrot.

-What is it with you and parrots? Did you have one when you were little and miss it?

-No, I just think it would be fun to come home to a bird that could yell at us random words like bacon or toilet.

-You would teach it words like that?

-Definitely. Just to piss you off.

-You are evil. So evil. - an idea struck her suddenly, a naughty one at that, and before he could even register that devilish gleam in her eyes she had let go of his hands and splashed him all over his face earning a gasp of surprise. - Two can play that game, querido.

-Oh yeah? Let’s see.

Another splash was thrown in her direction landing on her face. Her eyes twinkled as they played, not noticing that they were moving towards the deeper part of the lake, splashes flying around them and over their heads along with laughter and complaints of “you’ve hit me in the eyes” or “I think a fish just slapped me”. Alma was growing tired after twenty minutes, her legs not used to swimming for long periods of time yet, so when she tried to put her feet on the floor there was nothing underneath to rest them on and her body went under the surface before she could stop it. Absolute panic filled every pore, her arms moving incessantly, legs kicking trying to get to the surface but with no luck, she was sinking. Mariano had watched in slow motion how she had disappeared under the surface and had taken him just a few seconds to jump into action diving in search of Alma. He saw her trying to swim upwards just a few feet underneath him and quickly got to work putting one of his arms around her waist and pulling her up until they broke the surface Alma coughing like a maniac wrapping her arms around his neck. Breathes came in short gasps, water falling out of her nose and mouth all while Mariano swam as fast as he could towards the shore. Seeing her disappear like that in front of him had made his heart stop beating for a minute; it had been his fault, he should have paid more attention to how far away they were from shore but he had been so caught up in the moment that it hadn’t even crossed his mind and it could have cost him her life. He helped her walk out of the water sitting them over the pebbles bringing her to rest on his lap holding her close now that her breathing had returned almost to normal, and her heartbeat was slowing down. They remained in silence for several minutes before he worked up the courage to speak.

-Are you alright? - she nodded against his chest still not letting go. Not seeing her face, knowing that she was probably terrified angered him, he felt like an absolute idiot, a reckless man that had scared the wits out of her like the fool he knew he was. - Alma, please, look at me, let me see that you are fine.

-I’m fine, just a bit shocked.

Her cheeks were a deep shade of pink as well as her neck and upper chest, droplets of water falling rhythmically from her eyelashes. His hand travelled from her back to her face, fingers caressing her cheekbones, her cherry lips that were turning a pale shade of blue as the cold settled around them, short strands of hair sticking to her face. He didn’t wait for permission, he didn’t ask for it, but he could apologise later if needed, right now he only needed to know she was truly fine. His lips crashed against hers rough and almost painful but the absolute feeling of fear that was in both of them vanished as they kissed, recognition and safety flooding inside Alma’s veins. The kiss ended after a few minutes, when their lungs started screaming for air leaving them gasping but it didn’t last long before their mouths were connected again, and he lifted them up from the floor carrying her towards the blanket. As much as he wanted to take her, have her right there, when they separated, her head didn’t continue kissing her way down his jaw or neck, she hid her face in his shoulder grabbing softly the ends of his hair. She needed comfort, not sex, and so he gently sat her on the blanket and retrieved a couple of towels from one of the baskets and wrapped her up in one. She crawled back into his lap after only a minute letting his arms hold her close to him, the scent of his skin calming her nerves at last now that she was safe away from the water. It would be a little bit before she set a foot inside the lake.

-I’m so sorry, if something had happened to you. Alma, I swear I won’t teach you ever again if that’s what you want. I could have killed you; you could have got seriously hurt and I just didn’t know… I’m so so sorry.

-Mariano, - she lifted her head to look at him, her palm pressing against his chest. - I’m fine, we should have been more careful but I’m not mad at you. You would never let anything happen to me, it was just a moment, a scary one, but nothing more. The only thing is that I think I’ll wait some time before we get in the water again.

-Of course. Are you warm?

-Yes, I’m rather comfortable like this.

-Good. Good. - they didn’t speak for a few minutes listening to the birds sing and the sound of the leaves moving as the breeze passed among them. The panic of the moment was slowly receding, easing the ache in his chest, his arms holding her more gently against him. Talking about it would only make it worse, it would upset her and make him more anxious, it had been such a great day so far. As if she could read his mind she patted his chest with her palm, her skin drying as the sun moved towards them. Out of the blue a thought popped into his head bringing a smile along with it, a sparkle of the happiness they had shared just a few minutes earlier returning. - Alma, do you really want me to build you a house here?

-I don’t know. It’s a nice thought and a lovely place, I think it would be nice to have a home of our own. I suppose I do, yes. Yes, I want to build a house here with you.

-Where would you want it? There are several spots where we could settle it.

-Hmm. - roaming around their secret place she couldn’t help but notice a patch of grass in between two tall pine trees that was big enough to construct a house with a nice garden around it and it was only six feet to the right of the cave entrance. - Over there. Far enough from the shore in case it rains, and the water level rises but with enough light to have big windows and a garden.

-Perfect.- the towels were stretched over the grass to dry as they put on their underwear leaving the rest of their clothes folded on the side; the breeze was warm, just the right temperature, there was no need to get fully dressed when no one apart from themselves was going to see them. Mariano opened the baskets and started handing out plates of food to her which she skilfully unwrapped and placed carefully over the damp blanket next to the ones he had already placed there, quickly returning to her side. - What should we use, wood or stone?

-Why not both. We could make the foundations in stone so it will be sturdy but use wooden panels all around it to give it a rustic look and if we don’t like it, we can always just leave the stone. Beautiful dark wood contrasting with white walls. Hand me the jug of water please.

-I’ll be honest, I never thought of using both, but it could work out. It will be expensive though.

-I’ll pay for it all, you are building me a house, it’s the least I can do when I won’t be able to help you do the plumbing and such.

-We could have a big porch with big windows that could illuminate the entire living room.

-And big glass sliding doors so we can go out through the kitchen. - the food was delicious, but of course he was quite a wonderful cook, she would never have to lift a finger in the kitchen as long as he was around to feed her. Arepas, tamales, buñuelos, carimañolas, arroz con leche, bowls of cut up fruits and many more things had filled the blanket leaving them to almost sit in a corner, but it was worth it. He still had his arms around her to reassure himself that she was fine, a primitive need to feel her skin under his fingers, warm and smooth, filled with life.

-Quite different from Casita.

-Yes, but I want light, I want the sun to come in and lighten up every single inch of the room. Casita has dark spots like my bedroom because that’s what I needed back then. This will be our home and we get to build it just as we want it.

-I’d like a pale blue living room instead of plain white and we could have a room just for your painting equipment.

-Really? That would be wonderful, we could paint together and see how much of an artist you are.

-A horrible one, I can’t even colour inside the lines.

-I'll make sure to change that and if not, you can always bring me cups of coffee and tell me that I’m the next Miguel Angel or something like that.

-Humble, am I right?

She slapped him in the arm before taking a bite out of his tamal. Time passed so quickly that they hadn’t even bothered to check Alma’s watch, they had already been there for over three, almost four hours and it had felt as if they had barely been there for one. Midday made its way into afternoon, the sun would be setting soon since the days in autumn are shorter, but they were completely oblivious to that, the rest of the time was spent chatting and imagining how their dream house would look like, the furniture, the flowers Alma would plant in their garden, everything they could think of and more, the plates emptying as time went by until they couldn’t eat anything more and the leftovers were put away in a container along with the empty plates. Stretched out over the now dry towels they watched how the fluffy white clouds would cross the sky looking for shapes that both knew weren’t there, but it was fun seeing one of them point towards the sky excitedly for the other one to lose their shit looking for the cloud that wasn’t really there. The sun was setting over the mountains casting purples and pinks over the sky when Mariano looked to his left and saw Alma simply staring, the reflections of the new colours on the water landing over her skin making her shine with life, her long legs bent slightly with her feet over the deep emerald grass. There was nothing more beautiful in the world, not even the most stunning woman in existence could compare to her. He couldn’t believe that she was his and only his, that she had allowed him to see her naked in broad daylight when she had been so self-conscious about her figure the night they had slept together. He didn’t know what had been through her mind in those three days they had spent apart, but whatever it had been had changed her completely, it had freed her from the chains that had stopped her from being who she so desperately wanted to be.

-Alma, are you really okay?

-Of course I’m fine. – her hand reached out for his fingers lacing, her eyes melting his soul with just a simple look. - I panicked, yes, but you were there. As long as you are within my reach I don’t have to be scared, you’ll be there to sweep me off my feet and save me. I’m perfectly alright.

The breeze was turning colder, making her shiver as it brushed against her skin, the light fading slowly. It was time to go back to reality, to leave behind this dream and join the world that was at the other side of the cave. Neither of them moved for several minutes until the shadows of the night started creeping upon them; Mariano was the first one to stand, stretching his hand out for Alma to take, pulling her up. It would have been faster if they had dressed themselves, but Alma had other plans; instead of picking up her dress she had picked up his guayabera holding it out for him to put on. They struggled for a minute to get his left arm inside the hole, but once that was achieved, he turned around to face her, her thin fingers tying each button carefully, brushing invisible wrinkles off the fabric when she was done. Before he could react, she was kneeling to take his trousers off the grass, handing them to him. Her hands would be too close to his regions, not that she minded much, he was a fine specimen, but he wouldn’t be comfortable with her touch being so close and yet so far, it would be torture and she didn’t fancy that right at the moment. Once zipped it was his turn to pick up her dress helping her step into it and brushing her hair over her shoulder, her back just inches away, but he resisted the urge to run his hands over her smooth skin and instead focused on closing the garment, only indulging in the feeling of her locks in between his fingers as he rested it where it had been before cascading down her back. When she turned around to fetch her stockings there was a small shadow of disappointment in Mariano’s eyes as he put his socks on stealing glances when he knew she wouldn’t be looking, but of course she could see him from the corner of her eyes. Neither of them wanted to leave just yet, they wanted to stretch out this time as much as they could before having to join their families again, but today was a special day, and part of her needed to be at Casita with her children even if Julieta had made it clear that today they didn’t need her help. She was woken up from her musings when two strong arms wrapped themselves around her waist.

-What are you thinking about?

-It’s the triplets birthday.

-The kids mentioned it and asked me to take you out of the house. Before you say anything I didn’t do this because they asked, I had already planned to go out with you since it was sunny and beautiful, and I hadn’t seen you for days due to the storms and my abuela.

-They are good children. They knew I needed to be away today, that I would drown in the preparations to escape…

-Escape what?

-Today is the day we lost Pedro.

-Today? Why didn’t you tell me?

-Because I didn’t want you to be sad, I wanted to spend a lovely time with you and not think about the past, at least not this particular bit of it, but now that the sun is setting, and night is coming it’s as if I’m going to go out there and those murderers are going to be standing in front of us. They are probably dead, I know, but the fear of it happening is still there. I’m sorry, you must think me an old fool.

-I think you are a remarkable woman that has been through a lot. I can promise you that when we go out there into the jungle there’s not going to be a soul except for us. I’ll protect you from those ghosts that haunt you Alma, I swear it on my life.

-You are a good man, if things hadn’t been so strange between us at first this might have been even lovelier than it already is. No one has swum with me naked before, so consider yourself lucky.

-Oh, trust me, I already do. – the blanket had been folded as well as the towels, everything was ready for them to leave, but they just stood there watching as they pinks and purples mixed with new orange tones as a wave of midnight blue started covering the world until the last hue of green was seen and their spot was submerged into the night. – We can visit his grave before we head to Casita, if you’d like.

-I’ll go tomorrow morning, I have things I want to talk to him about, and I’d rather be alone. One day we’ll go together.

-When you are ready. Let’s go.

-Wait. Just one more thing. – standing on her tiptoes, both hands resting on his cheeks, she lowered his head to meet his lips. It was but a phantom touch, gentle and caring and it only lasted a few seconds leaving him wanting more, needing more. – This can stay here if you want, make you look forward to seeing me again.

With one hamper on each arm, they made their way through the almost pitch black cave until they reached the jungle at the other side. With her arm holding his they took the same path to return to the village a comfortable silence meeting their steps as the crickets and owls began to wake up to start their day, the last few daytime birds returning to their nests, the small mammals jumping into their holes in the ground bidding them goodnight as they walked past them. The sun had completely set when they reached the outskirts of the village, the lamps burning brightly casting orange shadows over the houses. There weren’t many people out yet, they were getting ready for the party. Crossing the bridge Casita came into view decorated in the most exquisite flowers Alma had ever seen, mixing the blues and the yellows with the greens and pinks, a line of white daisies springing from the floor as she pushed the doors open. They had been right, they hadn’t needed her to prepare this; there were fireflies dancing among the small candles that were hanging from the beams and ceilings, butterflies flying in between the flowers in hundreds of different shapes and colours, nacreous clouds floating in the air creating translucent rainbows from time to time, a big sign painted thoughtfully with the names of her children and a big “Feliz Cumpleaños'' underneath it hanging from the top o the stairs. The flowers reached every corner of the house and there wasn’t a spot where there wasn’t a chair or a couch for the guests to sit. It was original, it was unique. Just what her family wanted.

-¡Mamá! Gracias al cielo que ya estás aquí. Dolores was worried because she couldn’t hear you and it was getting late and no one knew where you had gone-

-Pepa, calm down, I’m here so no need to panic. Looks like you’ve outdone yourselves.

-No thanks to Bruno. His stupid rats were trying to eat the decorations all the time, we had to lock him up in his room so they would stay away.

-You know Bruno loves his rats, you shouldn’t call them stupid.

-I’ve seen you eyeing them when they are in the kitchen. They gross you out, don’t deny it.

-I won’t deny nor confirm any accusations against my person, now where’s everyone?

-The kids are in their rooms, Bruno and Juli are in the kitchen.

-Perfect, come with me, you too Mariano. – the baskets were placed over the tiles as they headed towards the other room, Casita moving the hampers swiftly into the dinning room. Julieta was finishing the cake putting some cut up strawberries over the icing, Bruno simply watching with wide eyes the gorgeous chocolate cake that his sister had warned him not to touch otherwise she would cut his fingers and cook them. As soon as Alma set foot in the kitchen both heads rose to look at her, raised eyebrows asking Pepa what was going on, meeting Pepa’s poker face of I have no bloody idea. – Before the people begin to arrive I wanted to tell you something. It’s not bad, so you can breathe.

-Alma, are you going to…?

-Si Mariano, ya va siendo hora. Brunito, Pepa, Julieta, I think it’s about time I tell you that Mariano and I decided a few weeks ago to give it a try and we are officially-

-Together. – the triplet finished the sentence for her unbothered looks on their faces. - We know.

-Dolores told us ages ago, mamá. You know that my daughter can’t keep a secret as juicy as this quiet for too long.

-You’ve known all this time and didn’t think to tell me? Esto ha sido un sin vivir y os lo tenias calladito.

-It’s fine, mami, you know, we know, the village probably suspects it, just chill. Take a deep breath and just go with the flow, it’s what I do now and it’s working wonders.

-For once I agree with Mr. Rat here. Everyone knows and we are cool with it. We’ve had time to think it over a thousand times and we’ve seen that you deserve to do as you please. It’s a bit unorthodox going out with a man fifty years your junior, yes, but look at Juli, she married a younger man, and we love her the same.

-I don’t think it’s quite the same hermanita but thank you for your aportación. Now, let’s go out there and greet our guests before-

-AHHH!

-PAPA! EL JARRÓN!

-Estoy bien, estoy bien. Ah, hay sangre. Juli!

-Not even five minutes, five! If you’ll excuse me, I have to go and kill my husband.

In the last thirty minutes he had miraculously fallen down the stairs, got stung by bees and just landed on a vase doing lord knows what, it had to be a record, no one even knew where the bees had come from. Picking up a plate of arepas that was labelled “Comida de emergencia para Agustín” she headed for the door sighing in defeat. Before crossing the threshold Alma grabbed her by her shoulders and kissed her cheek wishing her a happy birthday letting her go to attend to her injured spouse. The other two siblings were already standing up to head out, so she simply repeated the action kissing Pepa on her cheek and Bruno on his forehead wishing them a happy birthday watching as they smiled back at her before joining the rest of the family, a couple of rats running after her son. Later she would sit with her babies and have that famous birthday chat at one in the morning while drinking some hot chocolate, a tradition that had never truly felt right since Bruno left, now it could be just like old times. Left alone with Mariano in the room she could hear the voices of her family and guests starting to fill up the courtyard.

-I’m not going to lie; your family is weird. Pepa almost killed me and now she’s happy we are together?

-People talk querido and come to realise that things are not always what they seem. I was expecting more reluctance, that’s true, but better this way, no more fights, no more arguments, just us and our little house.

-I hope my abuela sees it this way soon. I want to go shopping with you and argue about whether we want this toilet or this other one, if the curtains are white enough, or if we need a bigger bathtub. The normal things couples argue about.

-I can’t wait to yell at you for choosing an awful red carpet for the living room. It’ll be the best day of my life.

Their laughter was cut short by the sound of music surrounding them, un bolero was being played by skilful hands, probably Agustin’s now that he was cured, a slow tempo and gentle notes mixing with the voices. Without thinking Mariano’s hands were reaching for hers swaying them both along with the music. They looked like two idiots, but it brought out a chuckle from Alma, her hands travelling towards his shoulders as they started dancing properly in the empty kitchen.

Pintor nacido en mi tierra Con el pincel extranjero Pintor que sigues el rumbo De tantos pintores viejos.

Their eyes were locked, staring unblinking at each other as if they would disappear the instant, they closed their eyes. They were no longer controlling where their feet were going or how they were dancing, the slow movements and calculated steps moving them from side-to-side, hands still holding onto the fabric of their clothes.

Pintor si pintas con amor Por qué desprecias su color Si sabes que en el cielo También los quiere Dios.

The party was on full swing now, plates of food flying from one corner of the house to the other, happy congratulations making their way to the triplets who were looking for their mother now that the kids were also downstairs. Suspecting they might still be in the kitchen and knowing Alma, they imagined she was preparing things or finishing up dishes to take out, but as soon as their heads popped into the kitchen they stood still. Her head was resting on his chest, both eyes closed with Mariano’s resting on top of hers the world forgotten for a minute. The triplets nodded smiling and retreated back into the party.

Siempre que pintas Iglesias Pintas angelitos bellos Pero nunca te acordaste De pintar un ángel negro.

#alma madrigal #abuela madrigal #Encanto #dolores madrigal #julieta madrigal #pepa madrigal #bruno magridal #mariano guzman #señora guzmán #Disney

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aggieharkness · 2 years

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Hay que encontrar su propio futuro

a/n: Hello!! Mariano is back, at last, and I hope you are as happy to see him as it made me to write him. I'm warning you all, this chapter is long, like wayyyy longer than the other ones, but I promise it's worth it. I hope you like it and give this story lots of love. :) I'm Spanish so I used expressions from my own language. I'm afraid I don't know Colombian ones so I had to work with the ones that I know. If there are any Colombians out there that would prefer for me to change what I have written I would very gladly do it, but even so, I hope you like the ones I have used.

warnings: blood, death, murder, mutilation, age difference, implied sexual content, past use of alcohol. Most importantly no Alma Madrigal bashing, i love this woman.

Part 1Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16

Hay que encontrar su propio futuro

The pain radiating from her legs was nothing compared to the way her lungs were burning, begging her to breathe, to take deep gulps of air but there wasn’t time. Her body was running on astronomical amounts of adrenalin, under other circumstances she wouldn’t be jumping fallen trees like she was some sort of overgrown goat and wouldn’t be sliding over the wet soil to escape low branches. There were scratches on her hands, face and legs stinging like hell and oozing blood as she once more forced them open when having to pass bushes of roses and thorned flowers; there wasn’t time to look for another path, she could hear them getting closer. Ahead of her she could see her family running faster than she could, gracefully escaping rocks and wild animals that showed up at the most inconvenient of times. Julieta and Agustín were following their daughters a few steps behind so they wouldn’t lose sight of them at any point, they didn’t want to have to go through the same unnerving situation of not knowing where they were like with Mirabel, Juli’s heart wouldn’t survive it. Luisa tried her best to break trees and rocks apart to make it an easier escape but as they kept on running more and more obstacles were showing up and as Alma had feared the girl was getting tired and it was slowing them down more than helping them. Pepa and Felix were pushing their children to move faster to go way ahead of them both, but everytime Antonio lost sight of his parents from his place in Dolores' arms the boy would start crying and begging his sister to slow down to which she agreed only because it worried her when she couldn't hear them over the sounds of everything else. Bruno was guiding everyone, the head of this committee, grabbing onto branches to balance himself and use them to get away from danger as quickly as he could, perks of being thin and having lived balancing over pipes and beams while he was inside the walls.

This was probably the only reason why Alma hadn't given up yet, her family kept on running determined to escape, to find refuge and remain alive. A low thick branch showed up suddenly in between the darkness of the night and although she hadn’t seen it Alma managed to duck under it just in time; it made her lose her balance though and as she stumbled to get back to her previous speed she encountered a rock, the strings of her new alpargatas getting caught under it making her completely unstable. As if in slow motion she watched the floor getting closer and closer until her heavy body collided with it ripping her shoe off, pain shooting through her arms and elbows from having used them as a shield so as not to hit her head. It soon spread all over her body mixing with the cramps her legs were experiencing and the constricting need for air that made her cough uncontrollably. It was only a few seconds what she remained on the floor, a few damned seconds but as she stood her knees buckled at the sight. They had reached a clearing, she was sure that hadn’t been there before but that wasn’t the problem, her family was surrounded by faceless horsemen that were cornering them as they pulled their weapons out. The droplets of rain that Pepa was making as fear and realisation that they were done for slid over the featureless figures like syrup that slides over a flat surface. Alma tried to move towards them, begging these people to spare them but she found that as much as she tried to take a step she couldn't, her feet were trapped under a layer of thick sand that felt almost like cement. She fought with all her might to escape but it wouldn't budge. Then the noise came. She hadn’t needed to lift her head to know what it was. Sharp metallic swords rose high up in the air slicing body after body, hot sticky bright red liquid pouring out staining the soil as well as the clothes they were wearing the gurgling pleads of mercy for their children falling on deaf ears as Alma watched frozen in time.

The first one to fall was Bruno, his ruana a deep shade of green where the stain was growing with each second dripping small beads of blood. His body kneeled over crunchy leaves and broken twigs staring up at Alma with glazed lifeless eyes almost as if he wanted her to see him like that; Julieta and Agustín followed just a matter of seconds later. Her previous spotlessly clean apron was a mosaic of splashes of hers and her husband’s blood, the woman falling on her back with a knife stuck to her chest piercing through her heart while her spouse fell limp with his head on her abdomen grabbing onto his sliced throat. Somehow they were both staring at her as well. Her youngest daughter fought like a champion but fell over, face down on the ground with a sword stuck to her back, Felix meeting a similar demise with his arms over his wife as if he could shield her from their murderers little red spots on her daughter’s freckled cheeks watching as her green eyes went out of focus. Alma’s children didn’t get the chance to fight or beg for more than a few seconds before they were brutally murdered. Her need to get out of that blasted sand was becoming an obsession at this point, anything to protect her nietos, the only family she had left, but with each movement it swallowed her faster, not only her feet were trapped now, she was knee deep in the fucking thing. Her screams didn’t seem to be reaching the horsemen or the kids, she was ordering them to run but they weren’t moving, it was as if she was inside a soundproof room where no one could hear her, encased in transparent glass with no chance of escaping.

She watched in horror as Isabela fell next. The girl’s flowers and plants seemed to be made out of paper, useless ways of protecting her siblings, cousins and herself. The blade made a swift but deep cut on her abdomen, the wound bleeding incessantly as her hands tried to apply pressure to stop it but it was futile, under a second she was laying on her back still clutching onto her dress as if that would do any help. At the same time Camilo dropped to the ground with a broken neck, his body twisting in a horrendous way, the sound of the snap echoing as if they were in a cathedral. Both their heads were turned towards her, their now dead eyes pleading for help. Alma’s heart was ripping apart, unable to do a thing, her screams getting louder, more desperate but no one seemed to be hearing her still. She couldn’t take it, she couldn’t stay there and watch but at the same time she couldn’t avert her gaze hoping that maybe someone would come to their rescue and not everyone would have to be lost tonight. Luisa managed to throw one of the men off his horse but the girl hadn’t stood a chance, her limp body resting on her side with a dagger on her neck, her white blouse now red as the blood poured out of her. Dolores and Antonio fell unders the brutal force of the horses hooves, bruised and blooded with the little boy still in the girl's tight embrace. Their faces were drained of any colour, white and blue with half opened mouths; they had been asking for help but no one had answered. The only one left standing was Mirabel. Maybe not everything would be lost, maybe the girl would be smart enough to find an exit, a way of getting out of there, anything, but she didn’t, she turned around and faced her abuela. In slow motion she watched her fall on her knees with both hands on her chest, thin trails of blood falling from the corners of her mouth as she smiled at her. Her figure dropped her side, the light in her eyes fading slowly but the smile still on her face. Everyone was gone, they hadn’t spared any of them, they sure wouldn’t let her live would they? Her eyelids closed for a minute hoping this all would be just a dream, that when she opened them they would be at Casita, but no, this wasn’t over yet.

The sound of water forced them open, the sand reaching up to her hips by then. There was a river where her family had just been, their bodies nowhere to be found but the blood still staining the soil and broken leaves that covered the river bank. There wasn’t anyone around, no sounds except for the water moving lazily downstream. Both her hands tried to reach for a vine that she hadn't seen before. It was just a foot away, she could get it, surely she could grab it and try to use it as leverage to get out; her fingertips were brushing it, they were so close when footsteps were heard. She lifted her head to see who it was, to see if maybe they were there to help but it was nothing of the sort. A tall man with dark hair stood with his back to Alma in the middle of the river just there looking ahead but there was no one on the other side, just trees and darkness where he was looking. She went back to trying to grab the vine but when she looked it was gone and instead of the scratches she had had on her hands from pushing leaves and branches away there were litres and litres of warm, almost burning blood. The sight made her scream. As if someone had pressed a play button four horsemen appeared from in between the woods raising their swords towards whoever was standing in the river, but he wasn’t still anymore, he was raising his arms in a peace gesture, his wedding ring glinting in the moonless night as if it had a light of its own. It couldn’t be, not again, this couldn’t be. Alma opened her mouth once more to tell him to run but it was now filled with sand and dirt preventing her from speaking. The man fell over the water splashing it with the weight of his slaughtered body, his face finally turned for Alma to see. Recognition swam through her body. She wasn't breathing anymore, the sheer pain that radiated from her body prevented any air from going through, her head dizzy and her vision blurry. This couldn’t be happening, they couldn’t all be dead, murdered right in front of her withouth her having had any possibility whatsoever of doing something, anything, to save them. Tears were flowing freely out of her eyes as she spat all of the sand and dirt out of her mouth but as much as she tried it seemed to never end.

“You killed us” a voice behind her spoke coldly almost in a threatening manner causing shivers to run down her spine, to stop all motions. It was Pepa’s. “¿Por qué no nos ayudaste, mamá?” no, no, no, no, she had tried, she had been trying to escape the fucking quicksands for what felt like hours, they had to have known she was trapped, they had to understand. She had screamed her voice away, at the top of her lungs, she had tried. Her nails were digging onto the soil as she forced her arms to take her out of there but it only left scratches on the ground. “Weren’t we good children mamá?” Of course they had been, they were the sweetest most wonderful children any mother could ask for, why was Julieta asking her that? The temperature was rising around her, her flesh covered in a thin layer of sweat; she kept pushing forward, she kept on trying to push herself out of that hole, but it seemed as if skeletal hands that grabbed onto her overheating skin were pulling her the opposite way. “I saw this mamá, your sins” she hadn’t done anything wrong, she was getting better, she was fixing things. Por favor, Bruno, she thought while her head tried desperately to locate their voices moving from side to side, don’t do this. She stopped searching when three figures appeared in front of her looming over her frame casting threatening shadows. Her children were staring down at her, their wounds still bleeding, the liquid falling on the ground and like serpents surrounding Alma in a ring of red fire. “Weren’t we enough?” “Did you love us mami?” “You made me leave” Stop, please, stop. She wanted to yell, she needed to tell them that she loved them, that they were her pride and joy, but her mouth was still filled with endless sand and so her words were drowned back into the black hole that was forming inside her chest. The ground beneath them swallowed Alma’s body inch by inch, the cold deathlike grips on her dress and ankles pulling her away from the triplets. “You didn’t help” “You left us alone” “We needed you” Her head was pounding so hard she thought it would explode any minute, their words playing over and over in her head. Why couldn’t they shut up?!

“I tried to be like you abuela” Isabela showed up from in between the shadows followed by her siblings and cousins all of them with pale skins and blue lips, their white lifeless eyes making Alma tremble and shake. “I couldn’t do it, I couldn’t make you proud” “You pushed me away”She was proud of both Luisa and Mirabel, she hadn't meant to make them feel like they were less or that they were only important because of their gifts, she really hadn’t, why were they doing this? “Have you ever looked at me for me, abuela?” “I was scared, but you didn't help” “You took him from me” She couldn’t take it anymore, she couldn't keep on listening to this, it was suffocating her. The heat around her was scorching, the blood that still escaped her family's bodies surrounded her getting closer and closer threatening to drown her. “You killed us” This time it was Pedro’s battered body that was still laid on the floor who spoke. His lips turned up into a twisted smile, his eyes crying blood, the strength of the river rising like dough turning violent and shaking Pedro’s figure as if he were nothing but paper. She had killed them. She had killed them. After a second she stopped trying to break free from the sand, she simply looked at them as their mouths moved automatically blaming her for everything they had ever gone through, all their problems and pains, everything was her doing. It was the new sound, and like a round it was also in the background, everywhere to be exact, inside her bones, inside her soul. With each word a new knife stabbed her heart ripping it more apart making her believe that she had been the cause of everyone’s grievances. Suddenly everyone fell quiet, her figure freezing, stopping from falling down the hole. The dirt that had been in her mouth fell out like a sand castle, freeing her at last. Alma spat as much as she could to the side, taking deep gulps of air. She could only taste the bitter dirt, but at least she could talk once more. It all remained still for a couple of minutes before someone turned the lights off and she found herself surrounded by darkness, alone. She couldn’t see nor hear anything but she couldn’t move inside the quicksand either, her hands now trapped as she was waist deep into it, what was going on?

One step, maybe she was imagining things, another step, no, someone was definitely there with her, a third step, this time closer. “You broke me mamá” Pepa’s figure came up front with a cold dead smile, hollow cheeks and protruding eyes that made her look like a corpse. “You let them use me mamá” Julieta stood beside her sister, her frame thin almost as if she was a walking skeleton with Agustín behind her both with blank expressions, unbothered by the blood that was falling over her shoulder from her husband's throat. “You made me want to die mamá'' Bruno was angry, furious even as he stood at the other side of Pepa looking at Alma with a death glare through his veiled eyes. This had to be hell, she must have died and was now being punished for her mistakes, this had to be the end. “You took my own life away, abuela” Isabela was crawling towards her, her freezing hands grabbing her face with such strength that it would leave bruises a smile like Pepa’s on her lips. “You let them use me as a mule, abuela” Luisa looked weak, small in a corner of the darkened room looking at her with terrified child-like eyes, her clothes too big for her thin frame. “You would have let me die for the candle, abuela” Mirabel was in front of Pepa with the miracle in her hands, the flame black and the wax melting over the girl's skin. She wouldn’t have let her die, she couldn’t have cared less for the candle but… she had never told her that, she had never said just how worried she had been that she could have died. She had moulded Isabel after herself never caring about what the girl wanted, she didn’t allow her to become herself and Luisa, dios, what had she done?

“You took my love from me, you stole him, abuela” Dolores sat behind her father in the back of the room with blood pouring out of a deep wound on her chest, Felix’s face blank, unresponsive. She hadn’t stolen anything, she hadn’t even asked him out, she wasn’t sure she even wanted him; she hadn’t taken anything but she had tried it and maybe that was just as bad. “I don’t know who I am because of you, abuela” Camilo, where was he? All she could see was a mix of people’s features coming from a small figure standing beside Bruno, as if he couldn’t remember what his own body looked like. “Did I do something wrong for you not to save us, abuela?” Toñito, oh the poor boy. He was alone in the back of the room looking at her with teary eyes holding his hands out. Had she done this? Had she really hurt this family so deep that even in death they were blaming her for the way they were, had she made them like that? “I didn’t die for you to do this Alma” Do what? She couldn’t see him, she couldn’t find Pedro’s figure among the others but could hear his voice over and over again like a broken record that wouldn’t stop playing the same part of a song. Had she wasted the chance Pedro had given her? Was she undeserving of all the things she had ever got in life? “I slept with you, but what makes you think I love you? Nobody can love you, Alma '' Suddenly she was back in the river, the quicksand eating her alive at a faster rate than before her family around her voices overlapping as she watched Pedro die all over again and again and again. This was torture, simple pshycological torture. Each time his body would fall over the water it would start again, like a cycle while her family repeated the same things as if she didn’t know them already, as if they thought they weren’t getting through but she couldn’t get them out of her mind.

Her head was barely out of the sand when it became a deep puddle of viscous coagulated blood that burned her skin. The new pain made her scream, her body having become numb to the other wounds at this point. When she lifted her head to see the scene play again she found a different person raising his hands in the air and it wasn’t a horseman this time the one carrying the weapon. “If I can’t have him, neither will you” and so Dolores stabbed Mariano ten then twenty then thirty times on the chest. The crystal clear water was now a river of death, the rivulets of blood playing lazily almost in a taunting manner with the man’s hair once he laid on his back over the bottom, his head turning to look at her. “You killed me”. That was it, she couldn’t take it anymore, a scream tore its way out of her so strong and raw that left her deaf for several minutes, but she didn't stop. The sound of something crumbling way up in the sky made her look up. Casita was breaking apart above her head and falling towards her. It would kill her, she needed to escape but her arms were trapped, the faces of her family getting closer to hers, dead, pale and blue with thin strings of blood falling down the corners of their mouths, eyes, even their ears. It was getting closer, the walls and floors, their doors, there just six feet away, there was no escaping this. Then they laughed, shrilling unnatural laughs as it finally fell over her, her head swallowed by the bloodied coagulated quicksand as she screamed, her mind finally quiet and black. When she opened her eyes she was staring at her bedroom ceiling, short and shallow breaths shaking her body, a cold layer of sweat covering her entire form soaking through her nightgown. Everything was still so bright and vivid in her mind, her eyes still seeing like a transparent film reflecting on the ceiling, their battered and dead bodies lying on the ground, their voices ringing in her ears as if they were with her in the room. Trembling, she blinked several times to make the images go away. It wasn’t working. Careful with her still shaking body she pushed herself into a sitting position rapidly checking that there wasn’t any blood on the mattress or her hands; she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her pale palms completely clean. She traced the lines on them watching the blue veins underneath the skin, the golden wedding band contrasting with the way the light made her olive flesh look. Glancing towards the window she saw the morning sun just starting to come through the horizon casting its golden rays over Casita’s roof, the candle burning bright and strong on its stand. As if a gush of wind was going through her mind the nightmare slowly became smaller until it vanished, the breeze taking it with it through the window towards the sky. She remained sitting looking at nothing, zoned out for twenty minutes, the little handle on the clock going tick tack as Alma tried to remember what she had just experienced.

She was used to nightmares, they were her daily reminder that her husband was no longer there and neither were friends that had been beside them since they were practically born, people that she could hardly remember came back to her as if she had just seen them that morning and even in the horrors of her subconscious she was still glad to see them. This nightmare though, it had been different and she had been having it for three days now, ever since she had refused to see Mariano, ever since she had stopped walking on eggshells around her family but with each passing night it got worse and she would wake up feeling like the most horrible person in the entire face of the Earth. Tonight hadn’t been any different. At the sound of a door opening and closing her mind returned from its futile search, jumping softly on the bed at the sound. She couldn’t keep on having them, they were bound to end her if she was not careful, but she couldn’t drink a cup of Julieta’s tea every night before bed, it would stop working after a while and the nightmares would return. Getting up her bare feet stood over the cold tiles, her hands grabbing onto the mattress as she took a couple deep breaths to calm herself. At least she hadn’t woken up in the middle of the night in deep darkness. She should head for the bathroom but her legs didn’t take her there, not yet, they walked of their own accord towards the window. Everything downstairs was calm, Julieta and Agustín talking in hushed tones as they headed for the kitchen. A sudden fear that they might be hurt or worse crept up her spine but at the sight of her daughter's rosy cheeks and loving smile towards her very healthy looking husband her fears seemed to diminish somewhat until they were nothing but ashes at the bottom of a drawer. Alma’s fingers traced the wax of the candle, warm under her touch, the little flame flickering softly as if it was greeting her. Her heart was still beating rather fast but seeing that the world was starting to wake up, that the sound of the birds singing their love notes still echoed in the morning light as the sun warmed the ground and their feathers, that life kept going, reassured her that all those ghosts that she was so afraid of were nothing more than fantasies that were playing with her mind.

She wasn’t going to let them scare her and make her live secluded in her own head. Hugging her nightgown close to her body in an attempt to escape the cold that she was now feeling from the sweat she made her way to the bathroom. Her hands rested on the counter next to her lotions and hairbrush, Alma’s head raising to see her reflection looking at her with tired eyes. There were bags under them, not very protruding, but still there and her hair was all over the place, she almost looked as if she had been hit by one of Pepa’s lightning. Why was she having these nightmares, why did they still chase her? She had stopped having the ones were casita fell on Mirabel a few months ago, it should be clear that it had something to do with this whole Mariano situation, but what was the cause? The conversations with Pepa and Dolores? Mariano himself? Maybe it was because she hadn’t gone to talk with Rosa or because she didn’t feel guilty anymore about wanting him, she couldn’t be sure but she had to do something. As if it could read minds Casita started a warm bath for her dropping some lavender salts and vanilla bubbles. The feeling of absolute horror was fading just leaving her with a tired body that very much needed to have a bath and an unruly hair that needed to be washed before she could brush it. The nightgown was thrown inside the laundry basket before she dipped inside the water feeling every muscle relax, her eyes closing at the gentle smells that filled the bathroom. Whatever she had dreamed of was now nothing more than an anecdote in the back of her mind.

The whirlwinds of steam with lavender loosened the feeling that had constricted her chest so strongly when she had woken up, the vanilla washing the sweat off her skin leaving trails of bubbles over her legs as she rested them on the side of the tub. If it hadn’t been for Casita dropping an empty bottle of conditioner in her head she would have fallen asleep smothered to death by the bubbles. Sitting more straight in it her hand shot up to rub the spot where it had fallen glaring at the shelf which simply moved up and down, yes, an inanimate object had just shrugged at her, the cheek. The magical house was telling her that it was about time to shower and get a move on, everyone would be waking up soon. Ten minutes later she was wrapped in a fluffy robe and walking out towards her bed to tidy it up as her body and hair dried. Something in the back of her mind was telling her that today she had to go out, that today for some reason she should do her rounds or go take a walk, anything, but she was meant to be outside. Although she didn’t feel like having to face the town alone, Luisa had been teaching her to say no in a subtle way, to not be too forward or rude, but maybe today she could do it on her own, give it a try, and so she moved from the bed towards her wardrobe opening its doors. Ever since the sleepover her entire closet had gone from the same style dresses to several different kinds of clothes, all made by the expert hands of her youngest nieta and her gifted father. Her own fingers traced the fabrics, she was so used to the same sort of thing that having to choose what to wear every morning was a foreign feeling. Nothing too revealing, she now owned a couple of blouses that were low cut and a skirt that finished around the knee; according to the girls they were for summer or heatwaves, but she didn’t buy it, not that she minded too much, they were beautiful and she might have a chance of wearing them someday for a special someone.

The idea of doing something so impossibly naughty as to show a bit of cleavage and her calves made her giggle like a teenage girl. Madre mía, le ha dado fuerte. Finally she shook the idea out of her head returning to her serious calm demeanour and selected a soft orchid coloured shirt with a cascade collar and butterfly shaped lace and a dark magenta skirt with three black ruffles at the bottom. Inside the wardrobe underneath the dresses were several new alpargatas that Camilo and Bruno had bought her in the last few days; quickly getting dressed and selecting the ones furthest on the right, a gorgeous pair of turquoise ones she tied them while on her way down the stairs, careful not to fall and roll out into the hallway like a human ball. Before opening the door she grabbed her butterfly clip that held her keys and watches from where it rested on a little table and put it on the waistband of her dress. Now she was ready to head downstairs and have some breakfast.

The house was quiet, apparently everyone else was still in bed or in the process of waking up, no one came out of their rooms as she walked past them towards the stairs. Pedro’s portrait hung from the wall in the same spot, like everyday, but the way the sun shone over it made it seem like it was alive, bringing out the pink tones of his skin. Buenos dias amor, Alma greeted the painting brushing her fingers lovingly over his cheek before continuing her way towards the kitchen. It felt nice to look at him in this new light of not feeling guilty over his death, of not feeling like she was replacing him because she was starting to fall for another man that even though she had been the one to decide not to see, she found she missed terribly. She hadn’t gone so much as a day without having him over, three days felt more like a punishment than a very much needed time to think. Crossing the threshold of the kitchen she smiled at the smell of freshly made coffee.

-Buenos días, mamá. What are you doing up so early? On Saturdays you normally sleep in a bit more. - Julieta greeted her mother from her spot in front of the stove as she made some eggs and warmed some arepas for herself and Agustín.

-Woke up and couldn’t fall back asleep, you know. It’s… - she picked up her watch to have a look at the time. Eight o’clock, that was a normal hour to get up, maybe even a bit late for Alma, she was usually up and about around seven each single day. - not that early, the children should be waking up soon.

-Do you want me to make you something or would you rather wait for them?

-Un café me vendría bien para despertarme. I shouldn't take baths in the morning, they relax me too much.

-You’ve been saying that for fifty years and you still take them. ¿Azúcar?

-No, lo quiero solo. And what are you two planning on doing today? It’s your free day this week.

-Juli and I want to spend some time with the girls so we are going fishing down by the lake. - Agustín took a sip from his own cup flashing a radiant smile towards his wife. Poor man, Alma had made his life miserable when he had been young and started courting her daughter, but it had all worked out for the couple in the end. She was glad they had defied her and got married, not even Alma could have found a better man for her Julieta and he had given her three beautiful miracles that she loved as much as if they were her own, in a way they were. He had done a very good job and worked hard to become a Madrigal each day. - Isa has enough flowers to look around and Luisa loves to swim there, so we are all happy.

-Wonderful idea. It’s a shame you can’t share it with Pepa and the children but Camilo works today with Señor Gutierrez at the grocers and Antonio wanted to go with Dolores to church.

-He’s a little devil our Camilo but works so hard, I think I’ll give him some sandwiches to take with him later. Here you go, un café solo. Are you sure you don’t want anything else?

-I’ll be heading to town in a minute, corazón, so I’ll just have something to eat while I’m out.

-On your own? Don’t you want Luisa to go with you? - they knew of course that she wasn’t helpless, for God's sake she had survived a war and the beginning of an entire town, a walk wasn’t about to force her into manual labour for three weeks straight, but they were still worried, it was so hard for Alma, she struggled so much with saying no.

-I’ll be fine, I can always use my temper to get away from them. Do you know if Pepa will be heading for the crops today? I heard that they were having some problems with the corn.

-She didn’t mention it, so I don’t think so.

The kitchen fell into a comfortable silence as everyone enjoyed their coffees, Julieta preparing with great care several sandwiches along with some chopped fruit for Camilo. It was true, he was a little devil, always playing pranks and getting on their nerves, but he made himself lovable and worked as hard as Luisa did, just not as often. He was a very independent boy but there was a small thorn in Alma’s heart; she didn’t know how to connect with him, to have a relationship like the one she had with the girls. It made her feel like she was unconsciously pushing him aside just because she didn’t know what to do. She had had the same problem with Bruno when he had been little. It had been so hard trying to figure out what to do with him when Pepa and Julieta were out but it had somehow worked out in the end, right? On this warm day her hair was already drying into soft waves and short curls that framed her face, her eyes glued to her coffee watching how the dark liquid moved around the glass before picking the cup and taking a sip. What a wonderful taste the bittersweet flavour the coffee beans created and how wonderful it felt to have it pass down the throat warming up her body in tender waves as she took each sip. This was a gift from God, it had to be. Soon enough the cup was empty and her previously tired and lazy body was now functioning just fine.

She stood and placed it on the sink and was about to turn and leave when an image of her daughter with a knife pierced through her chest lying lifeless on the ground with Agustín oozing blood out of a deep wound on his neck, his face resting over his wife’s abdomen flashed before her eyes. In the blink of an eye it was gone but the silent jumpscare it had caused Alma was very much there, a hand on her chest to even out her breathing. She had no idea where it had come from but a feeling told her that it had to do with the nightmare. Was she remembering it? Quickly she turned her head. Julieta was now preparing the dough for some arepas in one bowl and buñuelos in another talking softly with her spouse. She was fine, there was no blood or weapons, she was fine. Instead of heading out once her heart rate had returned to normal she headed for her daughter, grabbed her face between her hands and kissed her cheek.

-Please, be careful down by the lake, accidents can happen - she stole a glance at Agustín. - as you both know very well.

-Don’t worry, the only one who’s going to get hurt is going to be Agustín, it’s impossible for him to go a day without an injury.

-Well, listen here young man, - her index finger was now pointing at his chest, her eyes glued to his and although she was trying to look stern she was happy he was fine as well. - you better not get hurt today or I’ll make sure my chancla gets stuck to your bottom. Understood?

-Si, mamá. I’ll try my best.

With a sharp nod she headed for the door but not without placing a hand on his shoulder and giving him another quick kiss on the cheek first. With her back turned she didn’t see the look of utter bewilderment and confusion Agustín was giving Juli nor the way she shrugged her shoulders with raised eyebrows. They knew Alma’s love language was physical contact and they weren’t complete strangers to her kisses, but they sure weren’t expecting her to just out of the blue show that she was worried for them by giving each a kiss; Julieta didn’t think she had ever seen her mother be affectionate towards Agustín in like… never. They had been to the lake many times, more than they had been to any other place in the Encanto, but today Alma had worried over them both and they weren’t about to complain if it made her feel better to know they would be extra careful.

Casita’s front door opened wide as soon as Alma set foot back into the courtyard letting the gentle morning breeze ruffle the leaves of the flowers that decorated the pillars and beams of the house, the sun bathing its tiles and the hem of Alma’s skirt. The sounds of birds had been rather drowned in her room by the walls but now they could be heard loud and clear, inviting her to escape her mundane life and join them in the free nature of the forest, the fields, the lake. There was no need for a shawl but this was the only thing she would never ever give up, she could let go of her clothes, she could invite strangers into her house, but she would never take her ring off or leave her black shawl at home when she was going into town. Grabbing it from the rack it was laid swiftly over her shoulders. Stepping out into the stairs she closed her eyes as the tender heat of the sun enfolded her being, the smell of autumn filling her lungs with fresh tones of pumpkin and distant rain. She loved autumn, it wasn’t stifling hot but it wasn’t freezing either and the amount of weird looking bugs was way less than during spring; the flowers had stopped blooming a long time ago, but you could always count on Isabela to find perfect plants for this time of the year to decorate the town and give it a lovely atmosphere to walk around in. She had barely lifted her foot when Casita forced her inside. Giving the house a stern look she waited with her hands on her hips for some sort of explanation but the only thing that came was a turquoise ribbon that she quickly picked up from the table. It always knew what to give her before she left, always the attentive magical house. As a thank you she patted the doorframe finally stepping on the dirty path that connected them with the main street. Lazily she started walking while braiding her almost dry hair looking up at the sky enjoying the sight of pure cyan mixed with small translucent clouds at the top of some of the mountains, white hawks dancing far away from her like small pearls that soared in the air.

What was she going to do while in town, no idea. Maybe she could get some wool with which to start teaching Luisa how to knit, yes, that was a great idea and maybe she could get some new books for Dolores, she had helped the old librarian put them away a week ago; she had several ideas of what titles to get her. She crossed the bridge looking at some ducks floating calmly over the water letting the current move them from one side to the other, Alma’s fingers tying the ribbon at the end of her braid. A calm relaxing morning, something she hadn’t had in a very long time. When she got to town it was quiet, only a few people were out cleaning their windows or heading for the plaza, quiet hellos and waves of hands greeting Alma along with a couple of raised eyebrows by the way she was dressed. Not everyone approved of her getting a bit more modernised by her family. The mural stood proudly in one of the streets that connected with the plaza; small differences had been painted at her request a few months prior: Bruno no longer had a scornful glare, he smiled along with his sisters a small tiny rat on his shoulder as he held a vision of Mirabel with her doorknob. Both Felix and Agustín had been added next to their wives and each of the grandchildren, including Mirabel, sported proudly a bit of themselves and their gift; Isa wore her new dress and instead of roses she had cacti around her, Antonio was holding a baby capybara that after great discussion had been baptised as Albondigo, Mirabel held a golden butterfly in between her sisters. Alma didn’t want the girl to feel excluded no more, she had never meant to, but now she could show her properly that this was her family and they loved her dearly.

Upon entering the plaza her body froze. Standing just outside the fabrics shop was Mariano. Should she turn around and wait until he left? Through the window of the shop she saw Rosa chatting with Elena, the owner, while handing her some thread and a couple bits of lace. She had forbidden him to see her, Rosa had made it very clear to both Dolores and Mariano that he couldn’t see Alma at all, that all hell would break loose if he did, but how could she stay away? He had trimmed his beard and instead of his usual white guayabera he was wearing a light blue one, his wavy brunette hair casting chocolate highlights, some strands shining golden under the direct sun. He was looking at nothing in particular, he seemed lost in thought, almost sad, his eyes certainly looked like they had cried not long ago. Her heart clenched at the sight, her chest heavy; she hoped this wasn’t her fault but given her luck recently she was quite certain it was. The logical part of her brain was screaming at her to let it go, to just leave and preserve some sort of pride, but the other half that also shared thoughts with her heart told her in big neon letters to screw it. And so she did. She held her shawl tightly in her hands, her feet carrying her towards him passing by the fountain. Since she wasn’t wearing her usual high heels he didn’t see her coming, his vision suddenly being clouded by the hem of a magenta skirt he had never seen before.

He lifted his head not taking in the figure of whoever was in front of him until he was face to face with her, eyes wide as saucers. She wasn’t sure what to say, being this close to him once more, to see his face after three horrible days of thinking, of going back and forth over the same issue at all times, it was the best thing that had happened to her. His eyes roamed her body, exploring quietly but not in a lustful way, they held a simple and pure veil of adoration in them. The sun was right behind her, just peeking from over the roof of one of the houses making it look as if a soft halo of goldens and oranges had just formed around her head, big expressive eyes smiling at him like he had never seen before, the small freckles that decorated her skin accentuated by the new colours she was wearing, some short strands of silver and brown hair framing her face swaying softly with the breeze. This was what he had always thought angels looked like. Alma’s fingers played with her sleeves casting a downward look, she didn’t want him to see how nervous she was; she knew she shouldn’t be, but he always made her feel anxious, as if she had swallowed thousands of bees and butterflies.

-Hola.

-Hola. - neither of them knew what else to say, should they talk about how she had refused to see him for three days? Or were they supposed to mention Rosa’s ban? Either way they remained silent for a couple more minutes looking away every time their eyes met. If they wanted to talk they had to do it now, before Rosa came out and murdered them right on the spot.

-Yo… I better go, abuela wanted me to get her some milhojas from the bakers and… well… Nos vemos.

-Don’t! - she grabbed his sleeve just as he was about to turn and walk away. No running away, not anymore. - Don’t go. Stay, please.

-Why? You don’t want me around, I suppose that it's better this way.

-I don’t… Yo… I do want you around.

-Then why did you stay away? It wasn’t one morning Alma, it was three whole days that I went by without a single word from you. You promised that we would talk with my abuela, but you were nowhere to be found, Dolores had to come with me. - his fingers traced her knuckles as he tried to unhook her hand from his guayabera, but she wouldn’t let go. -Actions speak for themselves, Alma. I understand.

-But you don’t! I needed time to think, and so did you.

-I didn’t, I had everything extremely clear in my mind and I told you. You are the one who has doubts, you are the one who keeps going from yes to no all the time. - the grasp she had on his clothes loosened at his words. He had grown tired of waiting, he had grown tired of her indecisive demeanour. She had him in front of him and at the same time she felt like she had lost him and as much as was trying to hold it together, it hurt, it hurt like hell, she didn’t want to see another man she loved slip through her fingers. He was silent for a few seconds but she didn’t say a word, she couldn't find what to say. His face fell. - It’s alright. I have to go, good day señora Madrigal.

Nothing could have been worse than hearing him walk away, his guayabera sliding out of her hand. The opportunity to tell him whether there was still any chance whatsoever of them getting together had slipped away when they had locked eyes and the only thing he had seen had been her unfocused chocolate pools. Alma still had her hand stretched towards him but she wasn’t seeing him, standing in front of her was but an illusion of the man she had been staring at a second ago. Blood was soaking through his shirt, eyes completely blank, skin sunken and pale, a trail of the red liquid escaping his nose. If anyone was talking she couldn’t hear, the world had suddenly fallen silent. When she blinked again he was closer, his bony fingers grabbing her forearms. “What makes you think I can love you?”. The voice was foreign to her, deep, dark and it seemed to hold a mocking tone. This wasn’t real, this isn’t real. Her head shook violently but when she opened her eyes he was ten feet away from her walking towards the bakers, his guayabera pristine and his body muscular and tall, gloriously alive. Once more that bloody nightmare had made an appearance preventing her from telling him just what he had wanted to hear. Ghosts of her worst fears making themselves known away from her sleep. She wasn’t going to stand aside this time, she was tired of running and letting fear take the reins of her life. If they were playing games, so could she. Her legs moved of their own, sprinting in his direction.

-NO! Mariano!

-What? I don’t want to argue if that’s - the next thing he knew Alma was grabbing his lapels and pulling him towards her. His lips crashed against hers drawing a sigh from them both, at last they felt at home, her mouth still holding the taste of the coffee she had just had. Mariano’s first reaction had been to freeze but when he realised this was happening he melted into her, his hands holding her against him at the waist. It wasn’t gentle at all, it was rough and needy but it calmed Alma’s screaming mind and forced him to accept that this wasn’t over, that they couldn’t part just like that. A few seconds later they separated gasping for air.

-Don’t leave me. I should have told you I needed time but I was angry at you for not telling me that you were sober, for having lied to my family, I was an emotional wreck and I just couldn’t deal with it all.

-If you had-

-Please, listen, just listen. I felt like I was a horrible person, that I had destroyed my life, my family, I wanted you and at the same time I didn’t because I thought I was replacing Pedro, but you are not him and that’s alright. You love me for me, and I can forgive you for not telling me the truth because you know what?

-What?

-I don't care. I’ve done everything posible to convince myself that we couldn’t be together, that this would end up being a disaster, but I know it was stupid to think that we can’t be anything but together. I spent three days without you and I thought I was going to go insane, but it was worth it because it made me open my eyes, it made me find myself. Dolores is not angry anymore, still hurt, but she’ll be fine, she wants us to be together.

-So are we done playing the cat and the mouse? Can we just start from scratch?

-Yes. - her hands moved from the lapels to the back of his neck pressing her forehead softly against his before pulling away. The smile she was giving him could light the entire country. -Hola, Mariano, I’m Alma and I think you already know that I lo-

-Mariano! - at the speed of light Alma suddenly found herself being pushed away from him by a pair of hands, stumbling backwards a couple of steps. Rosa had left the shop just a few minutes ago and when she had started searching for her nieto, her entire body had frozen in anger and disbelief at what her eyes were seeing; even after all they had been through, all the arguments and broken vases he had still defied her, his own abuela. The nerve of that boy! - What the hell do you think you are doing?! I told you to stay away from her!

-Abuela, please.

-No! Absolutely not! We are going home right now. - she grabbed his arm and had started pulling him away when she felt him fight against her grip freeing his arm in under a second. He placed himself in between her and Alma both his hands holding onto Alma’s shawl. Rosa was impossibly furious almost to the point that she was going to throw hands any minute. He was siding with her, after all the heartache he still had the balls to stand by Alma! The glare she gave to her could have been considered a weapon if she had dropped dead right there and then. - Mariano, I’m warning you, I won’t tolerate any more of this, so get your ass going. Now!

-Abuela, please, just listen, okay? You two are best friends, is really an entire lifetime so unimportant to you that you would lose what you two have because of something than neither of you have talked about?

-She’s nothing but a slut, a horrendous woman that took you to her bed when she knew perfectly that you are just a child! She disgusts me.

-Don’t you ever call her that! - this time it was Mariano’s turn to glare, a shadow of fear crossing Rosa’s eyes for just a second before she returned to her previous rage. This was getting worse by the minute but neither of them seemed to notice they were outside for everyone to hear and see. They were lucky no one had come by yet. With measured care Alma took a step towards her, Rosa’s eyes switching from her grandson to her.

-Rosa, I’m so sorry that it took me so long to talk with you.

-Do you honestly expect me to accept that excuse for an apology and to just drop it?

-Of course not, but then again I didn’t think you would treat Mariano like this either.

-Like what? My family is not as perfect as yours, we are not worshipped by the village or have gifts that make us important.

-Is that how you see us? My house fell over my nieta’s head, my son left because he knew just how upset I was going to be about his vision. We are far from perfect but we are facing our problems, Rosa, and actively trying to solve them. Have you ever thought of doing that? Some self reflecting?

-This is not about me! Don’t turn it around Alma, I know how you work.

-And have you ever seen me doing something for my own selfish gain? - she wanted to refute her, Rosa wanted so badly to tell her something, anything, but suddenly all her arguments, all her facts were gone, vanished in the blink of an eye. She just stood there with her mouth open as if she was trying to find words to say in her blank mind. - Rosa, what happened happened, and we can’t change it, but this isn’t just some childrens game. This has been going on for longer than either of us have known. Us sleeping together was just what we needed to open our eyes.

-But why him?! You have dozens upon dozens of men to choose from, why did it have to be my boy?

-There isn’t a reason, we didn’t decide to do this just because! We’ve been dancing around each other for years but we were just so stupid that we never saw it. It was going to happen Rosa, if it hadn’t been during the party it might have been another day, but this was going to happen.

-You are seventy five years old for God’s sake, why didn’t you think before letting your instincts run wild?!

-You just don’t want to see it, do you? I didn’t choose this! I didn’t point at him and though good, I’m going to shag him. I saw him and my mind simply understood that that was the right moment to finally make me realise that that something that had been there all this time was more than I had anticipated.

-No! This is wrong, what you both did… God, no!

-I love her abuela, - the steps he took towards her were cut short by Rosa raising her hand up in the air. She couldn’t hear this, she couldn’t stand there and simply let him tell her those outrageous words. - and nothing you do is going to stop me from feeling like this. We didn’t murder anyone, we simply let our hearts do what they’ve been wanting for years. Please, just try to understand that this isn’t lust, it’s love.

-Was it the same with Isabela and Dolores or you were just practising with them?

-Don’t go there Rosa, we’ve already talked about that enough. We’ve talked about this whole damned thing enough! I can’t tell you why we did it, I can’t make you understand just how hard this has been for the both of us. You have every right to be angry but don’t pay your frustrations on us.

-He tried to rape you in the kitchen! Was that something you wanted as well?! - just because she’s kept that part hidden doesn't mean she was not hurt about it. She wanted to forget it but as much as she tried it just would leave her. It had made her doubt herself more times than she could count, it had made her wonder if they could actually do this. What if he did it again? What if he lost his temper and didn’t let her go one day? Her confidence and trust had disappeared the instant the first tear had slid down her cheek that night, the memory had replayed itself too many times during these three days for her to go back to that dark place again.

-No, but I don’t want to fear him, I need to trust him, that’s why I haven’t talked with him for three days. I needed to see if I could believe him, if there might be a chance for the trust we once shared to be built again. We can move past that moment, I won’t forget it, but we can learn from it and move on.

-Move on?

-Yes, move on. Just think about it Rosa. It’s been there all along, all the signs, we just didn’t pay them enough attention. We started the wrong way, but it doesn’t mean we have to continue the same. It doesn’t have to hurt Rosa.

-I’m angry, that won’t go away by you speaking sweet words. I’ll never understand what made you think this can happen. You are so different.

-Not really. Rosa, - the woman’s basket was placed on the floor so Alma could take her hands. - we’ve been friends for longer than many in this town, I know you and you know me and I think it’s right that I tell you this. I love him, not as in, oh my God he’s so cute I love him, I mean as in I’m in love, madly. It doesn’t make sense, I know and it’s strange, weird even, definitely, but it’s there, and I won’t push it aside the same way I’ve been pushing everything else. I’ve changed but I’m still your stupid friend Alma, the one who chased you with a frog when we were eighteen because you had taken my favourite ribbon.

-I didn’t take it, I saw it laying around and I simply picked it up. The frog was nasty.

-It was. What I mean is that your feelings are valid, you can be mad at us, but it won’t change the fact that love is there and it can’t be ignored.

-Nothing I say will make a difference, will it? - both shook their heads. What was the point of screaming until her throat hurt, of destroying her house if they were going to do whatever they thought was right for them. This wasn’t about her, but she couldn’t help thinking that if she accepted, that if she tried her darndest to understand that she would be losing him. -I have a problem with you two being together; it’s not right, but my words won’t make you stop loving him and well, better you than any of those young girls that one day are with one boy and the next with another.

-Does that mean that you’ll let us see each other, abuela?

-I can’t stop you from growing up as much as I would love to, Mariano. I just hope that you haven’t made a mistake. I won’t give you my blessings, not yet at least, just keep a low profile and let me adjust and calm down. Don’t think I’m not angry, I could chop your heads off, but fighting will get us nowhere and I’ve already run out of things to throw at you.

-We’ll give you all the time you need and we’ll keep a low profile, the lowest we can manage as long as I don’t lose my best friend.

-I’ve helped you sneak Pedro in and out of your house, I was there when the triplets were born, you are not getting rid of me so easily.

-I’m glad. Cards and coffee next Tuesday?

-Not yet. I’ll go to Casita when I’m ready.

The tension was slowly dissipating but the uneasy feeling that this was wrong wouldn’t leave Rosa’s mind. She was glad her friend was in love, really, but she didn’t like that it was with her grandson, it was just weird. She had read and heard stories of older women that got with younger men but they weren’t past the sixty mark and hadn’t been to her wedding or the christening of her nieto. This wasn’t going to be easy for her seeing them grow closer, holding hands, sharing kisses, but there was nothing she could do. Mariano’s hand twitched in the need to be close to Alma again but he hid it well, there wasn’t need for any more words even if Alma really wanted to tell her that she needed her, her best friend. Picking up her basket from the floor Rosa sighed and bid them a good day heading for the bakers. Once more they stood alone in the plaza.

-That went way better than I had expected. I thought she was going to kill us.

-She still might, we’ll have to be careful until she comes round.

-Do you think she will?

Finally his hand connected with hers, fingers intertwined, their feet starting to move, taking them through streets and alleys with no real destination. When she had woken up she hadn’t understood why she had felt that overwhelming need to escape the house and go out but with Mariano by her side now as they strolled over a path near the woods she began to think that destiny might be playing cupid with them. There were still some fireflies jumping from leaf to leaf and a couple of small little bees starting their day a bit later than usual when they passed Osvaldo’s donkey farm.

-In the end, yes. She didn’t like Pedro at first and you are her grandson, she’s trying to protect you, you are her boy, the only family she has left. Can you blame her?

-She didn’t need to call you names to get the message through though.

-I never said this would be easy or clean.

-We haven’t actually decided on what this is, who we are to each other. - In between the trees the droplets of water cast rainbows above their heads, the toucans screaming perched on the branches. It had been a long time since she had enjoyed this little bit of paradise.

-I like the idea of us being a couple and you being my partner.

-Not your boyfriend?

-I’m far too old for boyfriends. That makes me think of mamá looking out the window while twenty of my friends chaperone us. Partner seems more distinguished.

-Anything you say, caramelito.

-Please, don’t use that while we are hanging out with my family or they’ll take it upon themselves to use it all the time the same way they use Brunito. OH! Mariano!

-What? - instead of continuing their walk towards the fields she pulled him back into town not bothering to greet her neighbours as they passed them. It had barely been ten minutes since they had left and the square was already booming with life.

-I forgot I was going to buy some wool for Luisa and some books for Dolores. Sorry to have to cut our walk a little bit short.

-Doesn’t matter, just don’t scream like that again please, I thought you had seen a snake or a giant spider. Ugh.

-Perdón, I promise I’ll try. - they had barely reached the fountain when she let go of his hand looking at the floor while playing with her fingers. She didn’t want to leave him, not now that they had finally found each other, but her chores would bore him and she didn’t want that to be the beginning of their relationship - If you have something to do I won’t keep you.

-As a matter of fact I do. Be with you, and in my most humble opinion that is something extremely important.

-Are you sure? It’s bound to be boring and-

-Lead the way.

-Alright. - no one thought it strange when she took his arm on their way to the old bookshop in the corner of the square, they had seen them do that so many times they actually considered it odd when they weren’t touching somehow. - I was thinking we could check on Camilo while we are at it; I want to have a better relationship with him but I don’t know how and since you were a teenage boy once…

-Perfect idea, I’ll help you two become the best of friends, leave it to me. By the way, I was too busy before to tell you how incredibly beautiful you look. Even your blush seems to fit with the colour scheme. I hope this new style of yours is here to stay, you know how much I love your long hair.

Her entire face had turned a rich shade of pink, her head turned away to try and hide it but it only earned her a laugh, a wonderful happy laugh from him. In the back of her mind far away from her thoughts the nightmare was getting smaller, the flashes of death she had had during the day vanishing as if they had never happened, as if the world right now resolved only around them and which book to get for her nieta

#alma madrigal #abuela madrigal #encanto #dolores madrigal #julieta madrigal #pepa madrigal #bruno magridal #mariano guzman #señora guzmán #disney

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